COMPLETE RESULTS OF ALL FIFA BRAZIL WORLD CUP GROUP STAGE MATCHES

fifa world cup trophy

GROUP STAGE

GROUP A

BRAZIL VS CROATIA

VENUE – Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo

DATE – Thursday 12 June 2014

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT BRAZIL 3 – 1 CROATIA

Friday 13 June

GROUP A

MEXICO VS CAMEROON

VENUE – Estadio das Dunas, Natal

DATE – Friday 13 JUN 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – MEXICO 1 – 0 CAMEROON

GROUP B

SPAIN VS NETHERLANDS

VENUE – Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

DATE – Friday 13 JUN 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – SPAIN 1 – 5 NETHERLANDS

GROUP B

CHILE VS AUSTRALIA

VENUE – Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba

DATE – Friday 13 JUN 2014

TIME 18:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – CHILE 3 – 1 AUSTRALIA

Saturday 14 June

Saturday 14 JUN 2014 – 13:00 Local time

GROUP C

COLOMBIA VS GREECE

VENUE – Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte

DATE – Saturday 14 JUN 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – COLOMBIA 3 – 0 GREECE

GROUP D

URUGUAY VS COSTA RICA

VENUE – Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza

DATE – Saturday 14 JUN 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – URUGUAY 1 – 3 COSTA RICA

GROUP D

ENGLAND VS ITALY

VENUE – Arena Amazonia, Manaus

DATE – Saturday 14 JUN 2014

TIME – 18:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

ENGLAND 1 – 2 ITALY

GROUP C

CÔTE D’IVOIRE VS JAPAN

VENUE – Arena Pernambuco, Recife

DATE – Saturday 14 JUN 2014

TIME – 22:00 Local Time (02:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – CÔTE D’IVOIRE 2 – 1 JAPAN

Sunday 15 June

GROUP E

SWITZERLAND VS ECUADOR

DATE – Sunday 15 June 2014

VENUE – Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – SWITZERLAND 2 – 1 ECUADOR

GROUP E

FRANCE VS HONDURAS

VENUE – Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

DATE – Sunday 15 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – FRANCE 3 – 0 HONDURAS

GROUP F

ARGENTINA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

VENUE – Maracanã – Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio De Janeiro

DATE – Sunday 15 June 2014

TIME – 19:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – ARGENTINA 2 – 1 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Monday 16 June

GROUP G

GERMANY VS PORTUGAL

VENUE – Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador

DATE – Monday 16 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time 17:00

FT – GERMANY 4 – 0 PORTUGAL

GROUP F

IRAN VS NIGERIA

VENUE – Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

DATE – Monday 16 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – IRAN 0 – 0 NIGERIA

GROUP G

GHANA VS USA

VENUE – Estadio das Dunas, Natal

DATE – Monday 16 June 2014

TIME – 19:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – GHANA 1 – 2 USA

Tuesday 17 June

GROUP H

BELGIUM VS ALGERIA

VENUE – Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte

DATE – Tuesday 17 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – BELGIUM 2 – 1 ALGERIA

GROUP A

BRAZIL VS MEXICO

VENUE – Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza

DATE – Tuesday 17 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – BRAZIL 0 – 0 MEXICO

GROUP H

RUSSIA VS KOREA REPUBLIC

VENUE – Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba

DATE – Tuesday 17 June 2014

TIME – 18:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – RUSSIA 1 – 1 KOREA REPUBLIC

Wednesday 18 June

GROUP B

AUSTRALIA VS NETHERLANDS

VENUE – Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

DATE – Wednesday 18 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – AUSTRALIA 2 – 3 NETHERLANDS

GROUP B

SPAIN VS CHILE

VENUE – Maracanã – Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio De Janeiro

DATE – Wednesday 18 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time 20:00

FT – SPAIN 0 – 2 CHILE

GROUP A

CAMEROON VS CROATIA

VENUE – Arena Amazonia, Manaus

DATE – Wednesday 18 June 2014

TIME – 18:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – FT – CAMEROON 0 – 4 CROATIA

Thursday 19 June

GROUP C

COLOMBIA VS D’IVOIRE

VENUE – Estadio Nacional,Brasilia

DATE – Thursday 19 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – COLOMBIA 2 – 1 COTE D’IVOIRE

GROUP D

URUGUAY VS ENGLAND

VENUE – Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo

DATE – Thursday 19 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – URUGUAY 2 – 1 ENGLAND

GROUP C

JAPAN VS GREECE

VENUE – Estadio das Dunas, Natal

DATE – Thursday 19 June 2014

TIME – 19:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – JAPAN 0 – 0 GREECE

Friday 20 June

GROUP D

ITALY VS COSTA RICA

VENUE – Arena Pernambuco, Recife

DATE – Friday 20 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – ITALY 0 – 1 COSTA RICA

GROUP E

SWITZERLAND VS FRANCE

VENUE – Arena Fonte Nova,Salvador

DATE – Friday 20 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – SWITZERLAND 2 – 5 FRANCE

GROUP E

HONDURAS VS ECUADOR

VENUE – Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

DATE – Friday 20 June 2014

TIME – 19:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – HONDURAS 1 – 2 ECUADOR

Saturday 21 June

GROUP F

ARGENTINA VS IRAN

VENUE – Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte

DATE – Saturday 21 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – ARGENTINA 1 – 0 IRAN

GROUP G

GERMANY VS GHANA

VENUE – Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza

DATE – Saturday 21 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – GERMANY 2 – 2 GHANA

GROUP F

NIGERIA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

VENUE – Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba

DATE – Saturday 21 June 2014

TIME – 18:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – NIGERIA 1 – 0 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Sunday 22 June

GROUP H

BELGIUM VS RUSSIA

VENUE – Maracanã – Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio De Janeiro

DATE – Sunday 22 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00)

FT – BELGIUM 1 – 0 RUSSIA

GROUP H

KOREA REPUBLIC VS ALGERIA

VENUE – Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

DATE – Sunday 22 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (20:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – KOREA REPUBLIC 2 – 4 ALGERIA

GROUP G

USA VS PORTUGAL

VENUE – Arena Amazonia, Manaus

DATE – Sunday 22 June 2014

TIME – 18:00 Local time (23:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – USA 2 – 2 PORTUGAL

Monday 23 June

GROUP B

NETHERLANDS VS CHILE

VENUE – Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo

DATE – Monday 23 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – NETHERLANDS 2 – 0 CHILE

GROUP B

AUSTRALIA VS SPAIN

VENUE – Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

DATE – Monday 23 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – AUSTRALIA 0 – 3 SPAIN

GROUP A

CAMEROON VS BRAZIL

VENUE – Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

DATE – Monday 23 June 2014

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – CAMEROON 1 – 4 BRAZIL

GROUP A

CROATIA VS MEXICO

VENUE – Arena Pernambuco, Recife

DATE – Monday 23 June 2014

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – CROATIA 1 – 3 MEXICO

Tuesday 24 June

GROUP D

ITALY VS URUGUAY

VENUE – Estadio das Dunas, Natal

DATE – Tuesday 24 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – ITALY 0 – 1 URUGUAY

GROUP D

COSTA RICA VS ENGLAND

VENUE – Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte

DATE – Tuesday 24 June 2014

TIME 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – COSTA RICA 0 – 0 ENGLAND

GROUP C

JAPAN VS COLOMBIA

VENUE – Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba

DATE – Tuesday 24 June 2014

TIME – 16:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – JAPAN 1 – 4 COLOMBIA

GROUP C

GREECE VS CÔTE D’IVOIRE

VENUE – Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – GREECE 2 – 1 CÔTE D’IVOIRE

Wednesday 25 June

GROUP F

NIGERIA VS ARGENTINA

DATE – Wednesday 25 June 2014

13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

VENUE – Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

FT – NIGERIA 2 – 3 ARGENTINA

GROUP F

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA VS IRAN

DATE – Wednesday 25 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 3 – 1 IRAN

GROUP E

HONDURAS VS SWITZERLAND

VENUE – Arena Amazonia, Manaus

DATE – Wednesday 25 June 2014

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – HONDURAS 1 – 3 SWITZERLAND

GROUP E

ECUADOR VS FRANCE

VENUE – Maracanã – Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, Rio De Janeiro

DATE – Wednesday 25 June 2014

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – ECUADOR 0 – 0 FRANCE

Thursday 26 June

26 JUN 2014 – 13:00 Local time

GROUP G

PORTUGAL VS GHANA

VENUE – Estadio Nacional, Brasilia

DATE Thursday 26 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – PORTUGAL 2 – 1 GHANA

GROUP G

USA VS GERMANY

VENUE – Arena Pernambuco, Recife

DATE Thursday 26 June 2014

TIME – 13:00 Local time (17:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – USA 0 – 1 GERMANY

GROUP H

KOREA REPUBLIC VS BELGIUM

VENUE – Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo

DATE Thursday 26 June 2014

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – KOREA REPUBLIC 0 – 1 BELGIUM

GROUP H

ALGERIA VS RUSSIA

VENUE – Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

DATE Thursday 26 June 2014

TIME – 17:00 Local time (21:00 NIGERIAN TIME)

FT – ALGERIA 1 – 1 RUSSIA

FIFA

Eagles Bemoans Distraction…Keshi Says No Money Issues…Team Off To Brasilia

With the era of open letters gradually returning to the Nigerian polity, especially football, the national football team; Super Eagles have said they should be distanced from it and will not want distractions as the knock out stages of Mundial 2014 resumes.

Head Coach, Stephen Keshi says he has been hearing all manners of news from back home and wondered why some people are hell bent on distracting the team. “We understand that some people are playing politics but they must leave us out of it so that we can do well here and go far in the tournament instead of making press releases and statements that will distract the team”.

Stephen Keshi – Super Eagles Coach

He took exceptions to news making the rounds that his players say they will not play the next game because monies have not been given to them. “We don’t have money issues here, I talk to the players and the NFF leadership every time, so I wonder what some people want to achieve by always drawing us back from our set goals. Please, beg them to allow us concentrate on football and not any other thing.

Team Skipper, Joseph Yobo, also took time off to address the issue, declaring that he players want the best for the country and will not want to be dragged into unnecessary distraction. “We have reached this stage of the tournament, which is a special privilege, and we cannot afford to allow the whole of Africa and especially Nigeria down, so please let them allow us focus on our football and nothing else”.

The national team will travel out of their team base camp in Campinas on Friday afternoon at 2pm local time, which will be 6pm Nigerian time to Brasilia for the game against France on Monday. “All logistics have been perfected for the trip by FIFA in conjunction with the team”, declared Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor.

NFF blasts Sani Lulu

The Nigeria Football Federation has blasted immediate past NFF President, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, for his latest letter to President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) which among other claims, wrongly equated his pardon by the present administration to acquittal from offences for which he was impeached from office.

Reacting to Lulu’s latest tantrums in Sao Paulo, Brazil where the Super Eagles are doing the nation proud and have qualified for the FIFA World Cup’s Round of 16 for the first time in 16 years, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama lambasted Lulu, saying that the latter’s letter to President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) amounts to disrespect for the Office of the President of Nigeria. “That Lulu, who disrespected everybody while in office including Mr. President can now come to write an unnecessary letter of appeal, is ridiculous.

“Lulu’s ill –timed letter is clearly in bad faith, clear misrepresentation of facts and loaded with mischief. It is the Executive Committee of NFF that impeached him when he committed impeachable offences, and this was endorsed by the Congress. How can he now drag the exalted name of President of Nigeria into an association football matter? Occupying the office of President of NFF is not a do-or-die affair and Lulu should consign himself to history as a former NFF President.”

Stating that Lulu Abdullahi’s latest salvo against the present NFF has come at a very inauspicious time, Inyama posited that the action goes to underscore that Lulu does not mean well for Nigeria football and has embarked on an inglorious pull-down campaign.

Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama

“Instead of showing abiding patriotism by joining other Nigerians to give support to the team that is doing well at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, he has chosen to cause very unnecessary distraction of blackmail proportions. It is a big shame.”

Inyama asked Lulu to declare if he forgot anything in the Glass House, insisting that Maigari, who celebrated his birthday on Wednesday as the Super Eagles picked a Round of 16 ticket at the World Cup, deserved to be celebrated. “Instead, Lulu is going about deceiving himself. The truth is that a pardon does not equate to innocence. It was done in the spirit of reconciliation to move Nigeria football forward.

“It is an incorrect position for Lulu to assume that because he was magnanimously granted pardon by this well –meaning Board, he was innocent of all charges against him. That is outright self –deception. Pardon does not mean acquittal. As clearly captured in the communiqué of the meeting of the NFF General Assembly in Uyo on December 29, 2010, the pardon was a mere action ‘in the spirit of reconciliation,’ and does not mean that impeached Lulu was not guilty of the stated offences.

“When Lulu goes about reeling out what he calls the achievements of his Board, it pales into insignificance compared to Maigari’s legacy achievements. Maigari’s ascension to power is God –ordained and there is nothing Lulu can do about it.”

Inyama poopoohed Lulu’s continued obsession with the fallacy of having left the sum of N2.8 Billion in the coffers of the NFF at the time of his impeachment.

“We did not meet any N2.8 Billion when we assumed office. Perhaps, he kept the money somewhere outside the NFF. He has been talking so loud about this imagined N2.8 Billion but we challenge him to come out to the public space with the facts.

“We only meant well for his political future by vacating the impeachment, and it is inglorious for him to try and use that against the present Board.”

The CAF Media Committee member sneezed at Lulu’s call for the removal of Maigari as NFF President. “The Congress of NFF elected Alhaji Aminu Maigari as President through due process, and is set to endorse him for another term as a result of his marvelous achievements. Lulu’s campaign has failed.”

The Chairman of the Media Committee called on Lulu to wake up to the reality of having been booted out of office through due process as far back as four years ago, and accept his faith with dignity.

“It is amazing that Lulu has failed to embrace reality. The present administration meant well for him but he has consistently shown a terrible attitude. Our concentration is on the FIFA World Cup finals where our boys are doing well, much better than they did in South Africa four years ago.”

ITTF Lagos World Tour: Egypt Dominate As African Top 16 Cup Serves Off

HAN Xing Congo of Congo at the ITTF Lagos World Tour

Egypt on Thursday won three of the titles at stake at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour just as the African Top 16 Cup serves off on Friday.

In the U-21 event, Egypt’s Nadeen El-Dawatly confirmed her supremacy over compatriot, Dina Meshref to claim the title, while Nigeria’s Ojo Onaolapo gave the fans a consolation after beating Singapore’s Jing Yuan Yin in the boys’ event to win the diadem.

However, El-Dawatly made it a double after beating Congo Brazzaville’s Han Xing 4-1 in the women singles final. The Egyptians also won the men’s singles’ title.

Nadeen EL-DAWLATLY of Egypt at the ITTF Lagos World Tour

An elated El-Dawlatly said “I kept playing without getting distracted and I am happy with the outcome of this match. I was not thinking about winning but just remained focused.”

Speaking at the briefing to herald the commencement of the African Top 16 Cup, President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy said 32 top players in the continent made up of 16 men and 16 women who compete in the two-day tournament with the eventual winner qualifying to represent Africa at the ITTF World Cup later in the year.

“We are so excited with what Nigeria did after hosting the Lagos Classics in 2013, and we decided to bring the Top 16 to Nigeria and we are not disappointed with what we have seen so far.

The winner of this championship will hoist the continent’s flag at the World Cup,” the ATTF helmsman said.

The 32 players will be drawn into four groups of four players each with the top two progressing to the quarterfinal stage.

Ojo Onaolapo

Babatunde Undergoes Successful Surgery…,…Out Of Mundial…Moses Resumes Training

Babatunde Undergoes Successful Surgery…,…Out Of Mundial…Moses Resumes Training

Super Eager burgeoning midfielder, Babatunde Michael has undergone a successful surgery on his fractured wrist and has since returned to the team’s Camp base in Campinas, ahead of the trip to Brasilia for the second round duel against France.

Though, his team mate Ogenyi Onazi, whose shot did the damage jokingly said that Babatunde stopped his goal bound shot. “I swear that was a sure goal if not for Tunde’s hand, I wish him quick recovery”, he said.

Micheal Babatunde
Photo Credit: FIFA

“Unfortunately, he is ruled out of the tournament because it will take at least three weeks for that surgery to heal”, Head Coach Stephen Keshi told Team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya. He added that Nigerians should not fret over the development as there are capable replacements for the player.

“It’s not looking good that he will feature again in the tournament ,we are sad about that but we have people who can fill in for him very well and I think we have to go win for him now”, Keshi added.

The player has since joined his teammates in Campinas ahead of the trip to Brasilia for the second round game against France.

The national team boss also dispels insinuations that he has any personal issues with Victor Moses, hence he is not being featured. “It’s purely medical, my last child is older that Moses, so why will I quarrel with my son?. People must find out facts and not speculate especially when we have a capable media person in our midst.

The coach then added that Moses has a muscle strain that was discovered by the team’s medics after the first game against Iran and he was advised to rest it so that he can come out better in subsequent games.

“We can understand that all players want to play at the big stage but it’s up to us and the medical team to manage their career and balance it with due diligence regarding their health and that is why we have not played him.

We hope he should be back in training later on Thursday”.

Moses it would be recalled watched the last game from the stands with technical officials and was not dressed for the encounter but he looks ready to join the fray in the game against France.

Flying Eagles win test game 6-1

Nigeria Flying Eagles thumped Clinton Football Academy Lagos 6-1 in a test game on Thursday at the FIFA Goal Project in Abuja.

“This is our first game after a long time, but ee have to be more clinical in front of goal after the numerous chances we created,” said Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba.

“At this level, we cannot afford to throw away begging chances.”

Taiwo Awoniyi put the Nigeria U20s ahead after just eight minutes and six minutes later, Kelechi Iheanacho doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after Awoniyi was brought down on his way to goal.

A minute after he was denied from point-blank range by goalkeeper Faith Oje, Awoniyi grabbed his brace in the 22nd minute courtesy of an assist by Musa Yahaya.

Substitute Tunde Adeniji made it 4-0 two minutes after the interval when he was set up by Sulaiman Abdullahi.

Anu Egundipe pulled a goal back for Clinton Academy in the 61st minute, when he fired past goalkeeper Dele Alampasu after a blunder by skipper Musa Muhammed.

Adeniji completed his brace in the 74th minute with an assist from Chidiebere Nwakali.

‘Daddy’ Abdullahi wrapped up the emphatic win 10 minutes from time with an fine individual goal as he ran half way down the pitch before slotting home.

Flying Eagles

Joshua Enaholo (Dele Alampasu 46) – Musa Muhammed (Ifeanyi Nweke 82), Seun Olubayo (Mustapha Abdullahi 46), Wilfred Ndidi, Zaharadeen Bello (Izu Omego 46) – Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Idowu Akinjide 46), Kelechi Iheanacho (Tunde Adeniji 46), Musa Yahaya (Bernard Bulbwa 46 Eze Chisom 69), Abdullahi Alfa (Obinna Nwobodo 46), Ifeanyi Matthew (Chidiebere Nwakali 69 – Taiwo Awoniyi (Sulaiman Abdullahi 46 Segun Alebiosu 83)

Flying Eagles

Nominations announced for 2014 ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship

International Tennis Federation

The ITF today announced the nominations for the 2014 ITF Beach Tennis World Team Championship at Russia’s National Tennis Centre in Moscow on 17-20 July. The event is being hosted by the Russian Tennis Federation for the third year running. Brazil will defend its title, having defeated 2012 champion Italy in the 2013 final.

The Team Championship is a mixed competition in which nations compete against each other on a knock-out basis. Each team will be comprised of two men and two women, with ties consisting of a men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles rubber.

A record 25 teams will take part in the 2014 championship, an increase of five teams on 2013. The nominations include seven former Davis Cup and Fed Cup players, including Brazil’s defending champion Joana Cortez; Olga Barabanschikova and Natalia Zvereva of Belarus; Petros Baghdatis, Christopher Koutrouzas and Andria Tsaggaridou of Cyprus; and Maret Ani of Estonia.

The Team Championship joins the individual ITF Beach Tennis World Championships as the flagship events on the ITF Beach Tennis Tour. Since the launch of the Tour in 2008, worldwide participation has continued to grow each year. The 2014 Tour will see around 200 events held in 37 countries, while 54 nations are currently represented in the ITF Beach Tennis World Rankings.

2014 BEACH TENNIS WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

TEAM NOMINATIONS

Belarus
Men: Ihar Lakhvich, Pavel Kotliarov
Women: Natalia Zvereva, Olga Barabanschikova
Captain: Anastasiy Zvaryka

Belgium
Men: Joris Mees, Tom Beke
Women: Annouck Meys, Linde Mues
Captain: Britt Van Der Aa

Brazil
Men: Marcus Ferreira, Thales Santos, Vinicius Font
Women: Joana Cortez, Lorena Melo, Samantha Barijan
Captain: Guilherme Prata

Bulgaria
Men: Emil Argirov, Rosen Nentchev
Women: Diyana Miteva, Katerina Guenova,
Captain: TBC

China
Men: Sun Hong, Zhu DingQiang
Women: CiLi YongZong, Fang ChunXue
Captain: Peng XiaoLei

Cyprus
Men: Christopher Koutrouzas, Petros Baghdatis
Women: Antria Tsangaridou, Marianna Tsakkistou
Captain: Philip Alkiviades

Estonia
Men: Ainar Laube, Ott Ahonen
Women: Anelle Luik, Maret Ani
Captain: Margus Ungerson

France
Men: Jeremy Pont, Raphael Jannel
Women: Marie-Eve Hoarau, Mathilde Hoarau
Captain: Raphael Jannel

Germany
Men: Alexander Bailer, Oliver Munz
Women: Carina Blank, Dorothee Berreth
Captain: Gerd Hummel

Great Britain
Men: James McCabe, Richard Wheeler
Women: Gemma Sgariglia, Suzy Madge
Captain: Richard Wheeler

Greece
Men: Giorgos Martinis, Vasilis Mavraganis
Women: Aspasia Sotiriadou, Varvara Katakalidou
Captain: Anna-Aikaterini Chatzilouizou

Hungary
Men: Benedek Molnar, Mate Endrody
Women: Monika Erdelyi, Zsuzsanna Kovacs
Captain: Geza Kendik

Israel
Men: Danila Kourkoulin, Lior Brik
Women: Alona Pushkarevsky, Maayan Sela
Captain: Alexander Menukhin

Italy
Men: Alessandro Calbucci, Luca Cramarossa, Marco Garavini
Women: Eva D’Elia, Federica Bacchetta, Sofia Cimatti
Captain: Luca Bidolli

Japan
Men: Hideki Iwasaka, Susumu Kawashima
Women: Kaori Yanase, Tomomi Takahashi
Captain: Hideki Iwasaka

Latvia
Men: Oskars Vaskis, Rihards Emulins, Rolands Rembergs,
Women: Diana Isurina, Ilona Giberte, Inga Audrina
Captain: Andrejs Bukins

Lithuania
Men: Jurgis Rudgalvis, Luidzi Pakula, Skirmantas Macinskas
Women: Evelina Abaraviciute, Gabriele Sinskaite, Milda Preisegalaviciute
Captain: Donatas Pauliukonis

Portugal
Men: Filipe Rebelo, Pedro Correia
Women: Ana Pereira, Susana Rola
Captain: Dino Almeida

Russia
Men: Nikita Burmakin, Sergey Kuptsov, Vladislav Zaichenko
Women: Anastasiya Balenkova, Elisaveta Malanicheva, Ksenia Kesh
Captain: Stanislav Zaichenko

San Marino
Men: Davide Pedini, Nicolo Bombini
Women: Alice Grandi, Camilla Zafferani
Captain: Stefano Pazzini

Spain
Men: Antonio Ramos, Saulo Tejada
Women: Maria Pilar Escandell, Maria Rosa Sitja
Captain: Jose Maria Piza

Switzerland
Men: Kevin Fischer, Yves Fornasier
Women: Eveline Egger, Laura Galli
Captain: Yves Fornasier

Thailand
Men: Khunpol Issara, Oran Tungvongkij, Warut Korkiatthaworn
Women: Bongkoch Bortisa, Rada Manataweewat
Captain: Chin Kampanatsanyakorn

USA
Men: TBC
Women: TBC
Captain: TBC

Venezuela
Men: Jorge Penalver, Pedro Penalver, Ramon Guedez
Women: Andrea Pereira, Lady Correa, Patricia Diaz
Captain: Alejandro Quijada

ITF Beach Tennis World Championship

Rio 2016 Olympic Games : First Athletes Qualify

Athletes from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, China and USA are first to qualify for Rio 2016

Reigning Paralympic and world champions China beat Russia over five sets in Poland to book their places at Rio 2016 (Photo: World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships)

The first athletes have booked their places at the Rio 2016 Games! Three sittting volleyball teams – the Bosnia and Herzegovina men’s side and the China and USA women’s teams – confirmed their qualification on Friday (20 June) by winning their semi-final matches at the world championships in Elblag, Poland.

Iran’s men claimed the fourth Rio 2016 spot up for grabs in Poland by wining the bronze medal match against Egypt on Saturday (June 21). Brazil had defeated Iran in their semi-final on Friday, but as the host nation are already guaranteed a place at the Rio Games, it went down to the battle for third place at the world championships.

It was the first qualifying event for the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in South America. Throughout 2014, athletes from at least 10 Olympic sports and 12 Paralympic sports will earn qualification spots for the greatest sporting event on the planet.

In the men’s semi-finals, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the gold medal winners at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, overcame Egypt in straight sets (25-11, 25-23, 25-23), before Brazil produced a shock by beating defending world champions Iran 3-2 (25-19, 25-20, 18-25, 15-25, 15-12).

In the women’s tournament, reigning Paralympic and world champions China were forced to work hard to beat Russia in five sets (25-12, 25-16, 16-25, 20-25, 15-11) in their semi-final. USA, the London silver medallists, assured their qualification by overcoming the Netherlands 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-13).

“The competition in Rio will be really top,” said USA’s Nichole Millage after the match. “All teams play from their heart and show their best and it will be really good competition. I’m excited.”

In Saturday’s finals, Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Brazil (25-22, 20-25, 25-7, 28-26) to become men’s world champions, while China held on to the women’s world title by defeating USA in a fifth-set tie-break (23-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 17-15).

Goalball will be the next sport in which teams confirm their qualification for the Rio 2016 Games. The top three men’s and women’s teams at the world championships, that will take place between 26 June and 6 July, in Espoo, Finland, will be on their way to Rio for the Paralympic Games.

Rio 2016

FIFA World Cup: Benzema Tops Castrol Index As Enyeama Maintans Fifth position

Castrol Index Top Ten

Karim Benzema of France Tops the Castrol Index with 9.77 points, the french forward is closely followed by Robin Van.Persie who has 9.72 points.

Third on the Index is Dutch Dynamo Arjen Robben with 9.67 points, in fourth place is Brazilian Defender David Luiz on 9.63.

In fifth place we’ve got the highest ranked Goalkeeper, African, and Nigerian Vincent Enyeama with 9.59.

Sixth is Croatian Midfielder Ivan Perisic, on 9.56 points. Perisic is also ranked number one in the midfielders Rankings.

Ranked Seventh is Ecuador Forward Enner Valencia with 9.53 points, followed by the Amazing Mexican Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa on 9.49 on Eight.

Nine and Ten Sees Colombian Midfielder James Rodriguez on 9.46 and England’s Phil Jagielka on 9.44 points

Vincent Enyeama of Nigeria
Photo Credit: FIFA

1 – BENZEMA
Forward
FRA
9.77

2 – V. PERSIE
Forward
NED
9.72

3 – ROBBEN
Forward
NED
9.67

4 – DAVID LUIZ
Defender
BRA
9.63

5 – ENYEAMA
Goalkeeper
NGA
9.59

6 – PERIŠIĆ
Midfielder
CRO
9.56

7 – E. VALENCIA
Forward
ECU
9.53

8 – G OCHOA
Goalkeeper
MEX
9.49

9 – JAMES
Midfielder
COL
9.46

10 – JAGIELKA
Defender
ENG
9.44

About the Castrol Index:

Castrol, Official Sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, are experts in using pioneering technology and data analysis to understand the performance of their oils and have used similar expertise to create the Castrol Index, the definitive system for rating player performance.

Previously used at the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and 2013 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Castrol Index uses the latest FIFA tracking technology to capture data on each player, which will then be analysed by a team of Castrol Performance Analysts. Every pass, tackle and move on the field is measured and assessed to see if it has a positive or negative impact on a team’s ability to score or concede a goal. The team of Castrol Performance Analysts crunch all the data to award each player a Castrol Index score out of 10 – the stronger the player’s performance, the higher their score.