2014 FIFA World Cup

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Set to kick off their 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ campaign against Algeria on 17 June in Belo Horizonte, Marc Wilmots has sent a shot across the bows of his star-studded Belgium squad, declaring “no-one is guaranteed to start”.

Arguably enjoying a greater depth of talent than any Belgium coach in FIFA World Cup history, ex-midfielder Wilmots, who was selected for four editions of the global showpiece between 1990 and 2002, is determined to take full advantage. The last Belgian to score at the finals – he netted the clincher in a 3-2 group win over Russia at Korea/Japan 2002 – Wilmots’ main mission has been to foster a sense of togetherness in his squad.

"I tend to focus just as much on those that aren’t playing," the 45-year-old told FIFA.com. "I want my substitutes to show the same level of desire as the starters." He then added that “half our winning goals in the qualifiers were netted by substitutes”.

Never less than fully committed as a player, Wilmots has also been swift to put in place a framework of rules and regulations for his young charges to follow, noting that “any man that doesn’t respect them will not be selected”.

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John Brooks could not have asked for a better FIFA World Cup™ debut. On what was only his fifth senior appearance for USA, the defender came off the bench to nod the winning goal against Ghana – a team that had beaten the Stars and Stripes in the group phase of Germany 2006 and the Round of 16 at South Africa 2010.

“I couldn’t imagine a better first goal for the team, and the fact it won us the game makes it even better. It’s simply wonderful,” said Brooks to FIFA.com, after an encounter in which Jurgen Klinsmann’s charges sank the Black Stars 2-1 thanks to his 86th minute clincher.

Welcomed into the dressing room following the match with a rapturous round of applause, the 21-year-old was still clearly struggling to take it all in: “That was a really emotional moment. I wasn’t expecting it and it shows the great atmosphere we’ve got in this squad. All I can do is be very thankful to them all.”

“He used his head very well in that set-piece play,” said experienced keeper Tim Howard. “He’s a brilliant lad, this is a great opportunity for him and I’m really happy for him.”

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The leading goalscorer at every FIFA World Cup™ finals is awarded the adidas Golden Boot. If two or more players are tied on goals, the winner will be decided by the total assists. If assists cannot split them, the players who played the least minutes will emerge with the prize.

The adidas Golden Boot accolade is coveted by every top striker on the planet, but only the highest scorers at the FIFA World Cup™ finals are awarded it. Have a look at past winners:

2010: Thomas Muller (Germany ) 5 Goals
2006: Miroslav Klose (Germany) 5 Goals
2002: Ronaldo (Brazil) 8 Goals
1998: Davor Suker (Croatia) 6 Goals
1994: Histro Stoichkov (Bulgaria), Oleg Salenko (Russia) 6 Goals
1990: Salvatore Schillachi (Italy) 6 Goals
1986: Gary Lineker (England) 6 Goals
1982: Paolo Rossi (Italy) 6 Goals
1978: Mario Kempes (Argentina) 6 Goals
1974: Gregorz Lato (Poland) 7 Goals
1970: Gerd Muller (Germany) 10 Goals
1966: Eusebio (Portugal) 9 Goals
1962: Florian Albert (Hungary), Valentin Ivanov (Soviet Union), Drazen Jerkovic (Yugoslavia), Leonel Sanchez (Chile), Vava (Brazil), Garrincha (Brazil) All 4 Goals
1958: Just Fontaine (France) 13 Goals
1954: Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) 11 Goals
1950: Ademir (Brazil) 9 Goals
1938: Leonidas (Brazil) 8 Goals
1934: Oldrich Nejedly (Czechoslovakia), Edmund Conen (Germany), Angelo Schiavio (Italy) All 4 Goals
1930: Guillermo Stabile (Argentina) 8 Goals

[Dr.Shree Vijay]

Thanks for updates.....

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20वें फीफा वर्ल्ड कप के ग्रुप-जी के एक मुकाबले में पुर्तगाल पर तीन बार की वर्ल्ड चैम्पियन जर्मनी भारी पड़ी। स्टार फुटबॉलर और पुर्तगाल के कप्तान क्रिस्टियानो रोनाल्डो पूरी तरह फ्लॉप रहे। वे अपनी टीम के लिए एक भी गोल नहीं कर सके। जर्मनी ने पुर्तगाल के खिलाफ यह मुकाबला 4-0 से अपने पक्ष में किया। जर्मनी के लिए स्टार फॉरवर्ड थॉमस मुलर ने धमाकेदार हैट्रिक लगाई और मेट्स हैमल्सन ने एक गोल लगाया।

इसके बाद हुए एक अन्य मुकाबले में यूएस ने घाना को 2-1 से हराया, जबकि दूसरा मैच नाइजीरिया और ईरान के बिना किसी गोल के ड्रॉ खेला गया।

थॉमस मुलर की धमाकेदार हैट्रिक

फीफा वर्ल्ड कप की पहली हैट्रिक जर्मनी के स्टार खिलाड़ी थॉमस मुलर के नाम रही। उन्होंने पुर्तगाल सरीखी स्टार खिलाड़ियों से भरी टीम के खिलाफ हैट्रिक लगाया। थॉमस ने पुर्तगाल के डिफेंस की धज्जियां उड़ाते हुए 12वें, 46वें और 78वें मिनट में गोल लगाए। जर्मनी की ओर से लगाया गया एक अन्य गोल मेट्स हैमल्स के नाम रहा। उन्होंने 32वें मिनट में गोल लगाया।

जर्मनी का 100वां मुकाबला, मुलर का धमाका

वर्ल्ड कप में 100वां मैच खेल रही जर्मनी की ओर से फीफा वर्ल्ड कप-2010 के गोल्डन बूट विजेता मुलर ने 12वें मिनट में पेनल्टी को गोल में बदलने के अलावा पहले हाफ के इंजरी टाइम और 78वें मिनट में गोल दागे। टीम की ओर से चौथा गोल मैट हैमेल्स ने 32वें मिनट में किया। कप्तान क्रिस्टियानो रोनाल्डो घुटने की चोट से उबरने के बाद इस मैच में खेले थे, लेकिन उनकी मौजूदगी भी दुनिया की चौथे नंबर की टीम पुर्तगाल को बड़ी हार से नहीं बचा पाई।

12वें मिनट में लगा पहला गोल

पिछले विश्व कप के गोल्डन बूट विजेता मुलर ने पेनल्टी पर गेंद को गोलकीपर के दाईं ओर से गोल में पहुंचाकर अपनी टीम को 1-0 से आगे कर दिया। पुर्तगाल की टीम इस गोल से सकते में आ गई, लेकिन टीम ने इससे संभलते हुए कुछ अच्छे मौके बनाए। टीम को 25वें मिनट में गोल करने का मौका मिला, लेकिन लंबे क्रॉस के बाद गेंद को अपने कब्जे में लेने के वाले नैनी का शॉट क्रॉस बार के ऊपर से निकल गया।

37वें मिनट में रेफरी ने पेपे को किया बाहर

पुर्तगाल को मैच के 37वें मिनट में करारा झटका लगा, जब रैफरी ने पेपे को लाल कार्ड दिखाकर मैच से बाहर कर दिया। पेपे का हाथ मुलर के चेहरे पर लगा, जिसके बाद वह चेहरा पकड़कर मैदान पर बैठ गए। पेपे इसके बाद इस फारवर्ड के पास पहुंचे और उन पर अपने सिर से प्रहार किया, जिसके कारण रेफरी ने उन्हें लाल कार्ड दिखा दिया। पुर्तगाल की टीम इसके बाद 10 खिलाड़ियों के साथ खेल रही थी, जिसका जर्मनी ने पूरा फायदा उठाया।

इंजरी टाइम तक जर्मनी की बढ़त पहुंची 3-0

जर्मनी के हमले तेज हो गए और पहले हाफ के इंजरी टाइम में उसने स्कोर 3-0 कर दिया, जब क्रूज के पास को पुर्तगाल के डिफेंडर ब्रूनो आल्वेस क्लियर नहीं पर पाए और गेंद मुलर के पास पहुंच गई। बायर्न म्यूनिख के इस स्टार ने इसके बाद अपने बाएं पैर से शॉट लगाते हुए गेंद को गोल में पहुंचा दिया। दूसरे हाफ में भी जर्मनी ने तेज शुरुआत की। टीम को शुरुआत में ही स्कोर 4-0 करने का मौका मिला, लेकिन मेसुत ओजिल के शॉट को पुर्तगाल के गोलकीपर पैट्रिशियो ने बाहर निकाल दिया।

मुलर ने पूरी की हैट्रिक, जर्मनी की एकतरफा जीत

पुर्तगाल ने हालांकि इसके बाद एक बार फिर पैट्रिशियो की गलती के कारण जर्मनी को गोल करने का मौका दे दिया। पैट्रिशियो की खराब गोल किक के बाद गेंद आंद्रे शुरले के पास पहुंची। शुरले ने दाएं छोर से शॉट लगाया, जिसे पैट्रिशियो ने रोक तो दिया, लेकिन गेंद को अपने कब्जे में नहीं ले पाए और उनके पास ही खड़े मुलर ने इसे आसानी से गोल में पहुंचाकर अपनी हैट्रिक पूरी की। इस गोल की बदौलत जर्मनी ने पुर्तगाल के खिलाफ 4-0 की बढ़त मिल गई। मैच के अंतिम लम्हों में फ्री किक पर रोनाल्डो ने दमदार शॉट लगाया, लेकिन जर्मनी के गोलकीपर मैनुएल नुएर ने बेहतरीन प्रयास करते हुए उनसे शॉट को बाहर कर दिया।

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Brazil can complete part one of their World Cup mission Tuesday against Mexico, knowing a victory will virtually ensure a place in the last 16 and help relieve some of the huge emotional pressure. The five-time champions opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Croatia while Mexico edged Cameroon 1-0.

Mexico shattered Brazil's dream of winning the only major prize missing from their honours list two years ago, when they stunned the South Americans 2-1 to claim the Olympic gold medal.

Brazil striker Hulk insists there is no question of Brazil looking to settle a score at Fortaleza's Castelao Stadium, the same venue where they met in the Confederations Cup last year, when Luiz Felipe Scolari's side claimed a 2-0 victory.

But it is also the site of one of the World Cup's big shocks so far, Costa Rica's 3-1 upset of Copa America winners Uruguay.

"In the Confederations Cup we tried to think only about winning the game and it will be the same this time. If we think about revenge it could cause us problems," said Hulk.

Nevertheless, the Olympic defeat left its mark on him, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Oscar and Neymar, the five members of Brazil's 2014 squad who featured in that Wembley gold medal match.

"It will certainly be as difficult as last year. In the World Cup there is an extra desire to win and I hope we can do so again this time," said Chelsea's Oscar.

The opening round of group games ends Tuesday with Group H clashes between dark-horses Belgium and Algeria in Belo Horizonte and Fabio Capello's Russia up against South Korea in Cuiaba.

Belgium are blessed with players such as Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, powerful striker Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany.

They have not appeared at a major international championship since the 2002 World Cup but they impressed in qualifying and will fancy their chances of matching their semi-final showing in Mexico in 1986.

Belgium will come up against a side looking to cause an upset of their own to go alongside their shock win over eventual finalists West Germany in 1982.

Despite that famous win, Algeria, taking part in their fourth World Cup, have never gone beyond the group stages.

Key players for the north African side include defender Madjid Bougherra, midfielders Sofiane Feghouli and Medhi Lacen, and forward Islam Slimani.

South Korea's fortunes have nose-dived since 2002 when they turned the formbook on its head by becoming the first Asian side to make it through to the semi-finals.

But before reaching their eighth consecutive World Cup, they struggled in qualifying, squeaking home only on goal difference.

Coach Hong Myung-Bo gained iconic status in Seoul after his side-footed penalty took Guus Hiddink's side into the 2002 World Cup last four.

Russia are back in the World Cup for the first time since 2002, when like in 1994 they failed to make it out of the group stages.

Under Fabio Capello, who guided England to the last 16 in South Africa four years ago, Russia coasted through qualifying and in stark contrast to South Korea are unbeaten in 10 games.

Capello's disciplinarian approach failed to win many friends in the England camp, but it's gone down well with the Russians.

"Capello demands discipline and it's a good thing because everyone is working hard, giving 100 percent in every session," forward Maksim Kanunnikov said.

Meanwhile, the fall-out from Monday's action, which saw Germany rout Portugal 4-0 and African champions Nigeria labour to a 0-0 draw with Iran, continued.

Portugal denied midfielder Raul Meireles gave the referee the finger in his side's stormy loss, insisting that he was merely gesturing a tactical switch.

Pictures on social media show Meireles, who sports a distinctive Mohawk hairstyle, raising the third finger on both hands to referee Milorad Mazic who had sent off Real Madrid defender Pepe.

But the the Portuguese football federation (FPF) defended the Fenerbahce player, claiming there was nothing vulgar about the gesture.

"He was passing on to teammate Bruno Alves the instructions being relayed by coach Paulo Bento," said a FPF statement

Meanwhile, former Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha blamed coach Stephen Keshi for the African champions dropping two points against Iran.

"This was a must-win for Nigeria but we did not take it. We did not do enough in terms of our tactical play. Keshi did not do enough work on the team. The tactical play of Eagles was so bad, I hold Keshi responsible for this."