Mourinho Urges Petr Cech To Stay

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said he hoped goalkeeper Petr Cech will stay loyal to the club despite losing the starting spot to Belgian Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois, 22, who has returned to Chelsea from a successful loan spell with Atletico Madrid, was Mourinho's choice for the club's Premier League opener on Monday, a 3-1 win at Burnley.

Cech has been Chelsea's first choice keeper since joining the club 10 years ago, part of three Premier League winning squads and the 2012 Champions League winning team.

Real Madrid Confirms James Rodriguez's Arrival @jamesdrodriguez @realmadrid

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign FIFA World Cup™ adidas Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez from Monaco, the European champions have announced. The Colombia international has agreed a six-year contract with Madrid and underwent his medical with the club on Tuesday morning. He will be presented on Tuesday evening.

"Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of James Rodriguez, who will join the club for the next six seasons," a Real Madrid statement read. "The player will be presented today, Tuesday 22 July, at 20:00 (Spanish time), in the Santiago Bernabeu's presidential box. Following that, James Rodriguez will take his first steps on the Santiago Bernabeu's pitch wearing the Real Madrid shirt and will attend the media in the press room."

#FIFA Boss Sepp Blatter Questions Lionel Messi’s Golden Ball Award

Just like many, Fifa president Sepp Blatter has said he was surprised that Lionel Messi won the World Cup Golden Ball award.

Messi, 27, was named the tournament’s best player despite a 1-0 defeat to Germany in the final on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.

“I was a little bit surprised when I saw Messi coming up to collect the best player of the competition,” said Blatter, who presented the award.

Argentine legend Diego Maradona has also called the award “unfair”.

#FIFAWorldCup: Holland Crush Brazil To Clinch Third Place @Brazil2014

Robin van Persie and Daley Blind scored two first-half goals in quick succession, as Holland defeated Brazil 3-0, too clinch bronze at this year’s World Cup.

The hosts fielded a much changed starting 11 in the third-place match, but were able to call on Thiago Silva, who missed the 7-1 thrashing in the hands of Germany through suspension.

His first meaningful contribution, was to pull down Arjen Robben who was in full flight and the referee pointed to the spot. Van Persie stepped up and smashed the ball high into the roof of the net.

Man Wins £2,500 After Betting On Germany To Beat Brazil 7-1 In World Cup

One lucky punter was celebrating yesterday after winning £2,500 by predicting Germany would thrash Brazil 7-1. John Moore, 28, an unemployed chef from Woodford, east London, won the bet after placing a fiver on the incredible game.

Mr Moore said last night: "I was shocked that I actually put a fiver on it to be fair.
"It was a bit of a mad one. You could call it a premonition or a sign. I was just seeing 17 everywhere. I looked at the clock and it was 17:17."I had a package come and they left it at the gatehouse and a letter came through the door and it had number 17 on it. It was one of them days.

"We live in a block of flats and someone had put a note through the door saying we had a package to collect from the front desk - but they had put number 71 on the slip, not our flat number.

Greece Players Turn Down World Cup Bonus

You might not like their style of play, but this would appear to be another reason to like Greece ahead of their World Cup last 16 clash against Costa Rica.

This World Cup has been dogged with bonus rows. First with Cameroon, even before they set off to Brazil.

And, most famously last week with Ghana where 3 million dollars had to be shipped out to Brazil ahead of their final game against Portugal.

Now, the Greece team have written to their prime minister Antonis Samaras and told him they are not interested in their World Cup bonus but simply want the money to be put towards a sports centre for the national team.

#WorldCup: Luis Suarez @luis16suarez Handed 9-Game Int. Ban And 4 Months Suspension From "Any Football-Related Activity"

Luis Suarez

The Uruguay striker was handed a nine-game international ban and a four-month suspension from "any football-related activity" by Fifa following his bite on Giorgio Chiellini
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will miss the first half of his side's Champions League group-stage campaign as well as key domestic fixtures against Manchester City and Everton after FIFA handed him a four-month suspension from "any football related activity" for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez will miss the rest of the Uruguay's World Cup campaign - England's conquerors are due to face fellow South Americans Colombia in the last 16 - as well as next summer's Copa America and a significant portion of the upcoming Premier League season.

#Suarez Faces Two-Year Ban Over #Chiellini Biting Incident #luis16suarez

FIFA has confirmed it will investigate the clash between the Liverpool striker and Italy's Giorgio Chiellini
Luis Suarez faces a worldwide ban of up to TWO YEARS for his latest biting incident at the World Cup.

The Uruguay striker clashed with Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini during their crucial group match in Brazil.
Footage appears to show the Liverpool player sinking his teeth into his opponent as they tussled in the box.
FIFA has announced it will investigate the incident with the Liverpool striker likely to face a lengthy ban if found guilty.
A FIFA spokesperson told Press Association Sport: "We are awaiting the official match reports and will gather all the necessary elements in order to evaluate the matter."      

#FifaWorldCup: Fifa To Launch Investigation Into Germany Fans In Black Make-Up During Match Against Ghana

FIFA has promised its disciplinary committee will investigate photographs that show several German fans attended their team’s match against Ghana wearing black make-up.
Pictures circulated on social media of smiling Germany fans with blacked up faces wearing T-shirts on which they had felt tipped the names of their opponents. A Fifa spokeswoman said that any evidence of discrimination would be considered by its disciplinary committee under what she called its zero tolerance rules.
“We always take any evidence or submissions to our disciplinary committee. It is the disciplinary committee that will meet,” she said. “If they see any grounds they will open proceedings. Then it is up to the disciplinary commission to take the decision.”

T.B Joshua Predicts CamerooN Will Win The World Cup??? #Brazil2014

Prophet TB Joshua

Famous Nigerian Pastor Apostle T.B Joshua, who likes to forecast the outcome of soccer matches and other things, has come out with another prediction.

The Prophet has given us a clue as to who the winner of World Cup will be.

Leader and founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet T.B Joshua has proclaimed the winner of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil during one of his recent sermon.

Neymar and Oscar Star As Brazil Survive Early Own Goal In World Cup 2014 Opener [Hilights+]

This was a World Cup in just one game with brilliance, calamity and controversy. And, with it, Brazil had the victory they so desperately craved and could not possibly have dealt with being deprived; the tournament exploded into life.

They have a star also, the star they wanted, the star they cherish, with two goals from Neymar.

There was an own goal, a storm of emotion, and there was a bad taste as the Japanese referee, Yuichi Nishimura, awarded the penalty that should never have been given but which provided Brazil with their release.

In such a proud occasion that was a shameful moment even if Oscar gilded the occasion with a superb, late third goal – toe-poking from outside the area.

For Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazil coach, his team, his nation is underway. They will have to improve but already this World Cup is set to be one to remember as everyone prayed it would be beyond the protests and the vastness.

#Brazil2014: Injury Boost for Portugal As Cristiano Ronaldo Returns to Training @Cristiano

Ghana’s world cup Group G opponents Portugal received a timely boost to their preparations with the announcement that Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul Meireles are set to join the team in training having recovered from separate knocks.

The issue of the availability or otherwise of Ronaldo has resonated around the world since his injury came to light, but the Portuguese Football Association has put the issue to bed with a statement indicating his return to training.

This news follows on the heels of claims by Ghanaian witch doctor Kwaku Bonsam that he orchestrated Ronaldo’s injury to keep him from playing against Ghana. It now seems like the obvious attempt for publicity and fame might have been made by the Ghanaian witch doctor a little too soon.

#BreakingNews: Cameroon National Team Refuse To Board Plane To Brazil After Dispute Over Bonuses #Brazil2014

Cameroon's national football team players (1st row, LtoR) Henry Bedimo, Eyong Enoh, Cedric Djeugoue, Stephane Mbia, Benjamin Moukandjou, (2nd row, LtoR) Nicolas N'koulou, Joel Matip, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Alex Song, Charles Itandje, Samuel Eto'o pose for a team photo prior to the start of the friendly football match Germany vs Cameroon in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2014

The Cameroon squad have refused to fly to Brazil for the World Cup on their flight scheduled on Sunday morning over a bonuses row, according to L’Equipe.

Te Indomitable Lions Cameroon are due to start their World Cup campaign against Mexico on Friday.

The Indomitable Lions squad have been battling with their federation over bonuses for some time, and the players suspended a scheduled strike on May 23 in an effort to find an agreement on the thorny issue . But nothing has happened.

Rows over bonuses have been going on between the squad and the football federation for some time, with the players suspenind a scheduled strike on May 23 in order to rightfully address the issue.

#BreakingNews: Frank Ribery Ruled Out Of World Cup #Brazil2014 @RiberyOfficiel

Frank Ribery

France have called up Remy Cabella and Morgan Schneiderlin to replace the Ballon d'Or nominee and Clement Grenier, who have both suffered injury setbacks
France have announced that Bayern Munich attacker Franck Ribery will not feature at this year's World Cup in Brazil.

The 31-year-old winger has been toiling with a back problem in recent weeks, and Didier Deschamps, the head coach of Les Bleus, confirmed during a press conference on Friday afternoon that the Ballon d’Or nominee’s situation has worsened.

“This morning Ribery stopped during a run. Now, he cannot train,” Deschamps explained. “Tests have confirmed a worsening of the situation. He cannot play.”

Diego Costa Passes Chelsea Medical

Diego Costa and John Terry

Spain striker Diego Costa has passed a medical at Chelsea ahead of a proposed £32m transfer from Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea met the buyout clause in the 25-year-old's contract with Atletico and he will now negotiate personal terms.

Costa scored 36 goals in 52 games for Atletico this season as they won their first La Liga title since 1996 and reached the Champions League final.

The Brazil-born forward is in Spain's World Cup squad.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said in May that the addition of a "killer" strikerwould be a key priority during the summer.

#BreakingNews: Falcao to miss World Cup @FALCAO #Brazil2014

Coach Jose Peckerman has confirmed that the Monaco striker is not yet fit enough to play competitively, which Amaranto Perea also drops out because of a physical complaint
Colombia striker Radamel Falcao has failed to recover from a serious knee injury in time to make Jose Peckerman’s squad for the World Cup.

The Monaco striker sustained ligament damage in his knee while playing in a Coupe de France encounter against Monts d'Or Azergues in January, and though he was able to train with the squad, he will not be risked for the summer’s tournament.

Frank Lampard Confirms Chelsea Departure

Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard has confirmed that he will leave Chelsea this summer after 13 years at Stamford Bridge.

Speculation had been rife over the 35-year-old's future with his contract running down in west London, and the former West Ham midfielder confirmed in a statement on Monday evening that he has played his last game for the Blues.

Lampard has been heavily linked with a move to the United States to join New York City FC in recent days, but his statement gave no indication over where his future now lies.

"When I arrived at this fantastic club 13 years ago I would never have believed that I would be fortunate enough to play so many games and enjoy sharing in so much success," he said.

#TransferNews: Chelsea target Lavezzi as they prepare to listen to Oscar offers @PochoLavezzi @oscar11 @chelseafc

Ezequiel Lavezzi

Chelsea have made a renewed attempt to capture Ezequiel Lavezzi from Paris Saint-Germain as they prepare to listen to offers for Oscar, Goal understands.

The Londoners made an enquiry for Argentine attacking midfielder Lavezzi ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash with the French champions.

Further discussions about Lavezzi were conducted between the two clubs during the negotiations over the transfer of David Luiz, who clinched a £40 million move to PSG last week.

Doubts, meanwhile, have now emerged about the Stamford Bridge future of Oscar, who is expected to play in the No.10 role for hosts Brazil at this summer's World Cup.

Manchester United Owner dies at 85 @ManUtd @Malcolm_Glazer

Malcolm Glazer Malcolm Glazer, the controversial owner of Manchester United has died, according to a statement from his NFL franchise the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The American businessman, 85, leaves behind his wife, Linda, six children and 14 grandchildren. The statement said: 'The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are saddened to announce the passing of Owner/President Malcolm Glazer earlier this morning at the age of 86.' Born in Rochester, New York as one of seven children, Glazer took over the family watch-parts business at age 15 following the death of his father and then continued his foray into the professional world, investing in other businesses.

Lionel Messi Wins Ballon d'Or, Continues Building His Legend

lionel messi

Another record falls. Lionel Messi finished 2012 on 91 goals in 69 games. He began 2013 by winning the Fifa Ballon d'Or (with 41.6% of the votes), Cristiano Ronaldo (23.7%) came second and Andrés Iniesta (10.9%) third. It is the fourth time Messi has won it and no one else has won it so often. Because the award is a merger of the old European Footballer of the Year and the Fifa World Player of the Year which was inaugurated only in 1991, Diego Maradona never won it and nor did Pelé but it is doubtful if they would have matched Messi's achievement. Marco van Basten won the European award three times in five years, Johan Cruyff three in four and Platini three years in a row. Alfredo Di Stéfano won it twice. Messi has superseded all of them.