INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL - FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 (JUNE)

FIFA WORLD CUP - Germany reach Qr final to beat Algeria in extra time.

01.07.2014 KFC. | www.kolkatafootball.com HOME PAGE | LIKE FB ||

01.07.2014 : GERMANY 2-1 (aet) ALGERIA
GER : Andre Schurrle 92', Mesut Ozil 120'
ALG : Abdelmoumene Djabou 120+1'

GER : Neuer, Mustafi, Boateng, Mertesacker, Howedes, Schweinsteiger, Lahm; Kroos, Ozil, Gotze, Muller.
ALG : Mbolhi, Ghoulam, Belkalem, Halliche, Mandi, Lacen, Soudani, Taider, Mostefa, Feghouli, Slimani.

PREVIEW - JAYDIP DASGUPTA and LALTU CHAKRABARTY : Being the champions of Group G Germany is now set to face a relatively easy hurdle of Algeria in the knockout round opener, at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre on Monday. Germany won Against Portugal and USA but failed to cross the barrier of Ghana in the Group League stages.

On the contrary Algeria emerged as the second seeded team from Group H, but has yet to be seriously tested in the 2014 World Cup. They won against South Korea , drew against Russia in the Group stages, but lost the match against Belgium had scored seven goals in the tournament so far.
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STATS

  • Germany met Algeria only 1 time in World Cup. In the year 1982 16th June Germany lost to Algeria 1-2 in the 1st Round Group B match.
  • Germany met Algeria in a friendly in 1964 where Algeria won 2-0 on New Year's Day
  • This is Algeria's 4 time World cup appreance have reached the knockout stage for the first time and in past three World cup Algeria was unable to reach in Round of 16 in the year 1982, 1986 and 2010 World Cup. The only African nations to reach the World Cup quarter-finals are Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.
  • Germany striker Miroslav Klose ( 15 World Cup goals so far) have a chance to break Brazilian Striker Ronaldo's 15 World cup goals record to create a new World Record in FIFA World Cup.
  • German's Lukas Podolski will miss the match against Algeria because of his leg injury.
  • Germany have won 8 of their last 9 matches in FIFA World Cup.
    PLAYER TO WATCH : Germany: Thomas Muller. Thomas Muller has scored nine goals in as many World Cup appearances - the same record as Pele after his first nine games in the tournament. This Bayern Munich sharpshooter has his eye on the quarter-finals, as well as a second consecutive Golden Boot.
    Algeria: Islam Slimani. He has two crucial goals for Algeria. He currently shares the record of two with Salah Assad, who scored twice in 1982.
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    Germany one of the favorites in the 2014 World Cup is on a target to proceed to the quarter finals. They have looked one of the strongest teams during the group stages and are among the group of teams that could go all the way. The Germans have been more efficient than prolific making sure they topped the Group.

    The German Brigade are playing as a unit fortified with the individual brilliance of some world class footballers. It is expected that Jaikim Loe will opt for the same line up, but it is likely that the midfielder Lukas Podolski may be dropped from the line up due to his injury.The German up front will lead by Thomas Muller who has scored nine goals in his last nine World Cup matches.

    Algeria, had nothing to loose against Germany on Monday evening. The Algerians are compact in defense and waits for the counter attacks. This is a completely different Algeria from the one, that played in the 2010 World Cup failed to score a single goal. Algeria have a talented footballers - Sofiane Feghouli, Islam Slimani, Yacine Brahimi, and Abdelmoumene Djabou, who could pose a threat to Germany.

    The Algerian coach Vahid Halilhodzic while interacting with the media in the pre match meeting said, "When you see the Italy, England, Portugal and Spain already eliminated, it is exceptional to be in the 16 best teams. Now, Germany has the right to lose.

    I said again that if in 1982 an Algerian team can beat a great team of Germany, then why can't we? If we lose, we will congratulate them because they will have been better and if we win everyone will appreciate this Algeria team a little more. Now, we are confident in our chances and we know we can make something if we are at our best. We will have to be up for the fight on Monday."

    This is probably the most predictable match of the Round of 16. Germany is the absolute favorite which they confirmed in the group stage, ending as the first in the group and having lost no matches, although they were truly brilliant only in the first match. But Algeria is expecting to repeat the history of 1982, when the defeated Germany in the Group league stages.

    FIFA WORLD CUP - France beat Nigeria to reach Qr.Final.

    30.06.2014 KFC. | www.kolkatafootball.com HOME PAGE | LIKE FB ||

    30.06.14: FRANCE 2-0 NIGERIA

    FRA: Pogba 80', Joseph Yobo 90+2'

    France: Lloris, Debuchy, Varane, Koscielny, Evra, Pogba, Cabaye, Matuidi, Valbuena, Giroud, Benzema
    Nigeria: Enyeama, Yobo (c), Ambrose, Musa, Odemwingie, Emenike, Mikel, Moses, Oshaniwa, Onazi, Omeruo

    Referee: Mark Geiger

  • France have lost just 1 of their last 14 matches (against Ukraine)
  • Nigeria beat France 1-0 in St Etienne in 2009. Akpala score the all important goal on 32nd minute for Nigeria. Benzema, ribery, Evra were then in that team of France while Enyeama the current keeper of Nigeria was the winning team of Nigeria.
  • This is the first time that two african nationas Nigeria and Algeria have reached in the Round of 16.
  • If Nigeria win then they will touch the record of Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010 who reached in the Ar. Finals.
  • France won the world cup 1998 but lost the opening game of 2002 world cup to African side Senegal. France have lost two of their last three World Cup matches against African nations: 2002 v Senegal and 2010 v South Africa.
  • In Round of 16 matches of France in World Cup France have won their previous three matches 2-0 v Italy in 1986, 1-0 v Paraguay in 1998 and 3-1 v Spain in 2006.