..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Robben apologises for diving against Mexico

Arjen Robben has apologised for diving during Netherland's dramatic comeback victory over Mexico in the World Cup round of 16 at Arena Castelao on Sunday.

Robben tormented the Mexican defence on numerous occasions with his pace, skill and direct running, and had several penalty appeals turned down before finally winning a spot-kick in the second minute of injury time when he went down under a challenge from Rafael Marquez.

Substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar converted from 12 yards to send the Oranje into the last eight of the tournament, after Giovani dos Santos' opener had been cancelled out by a late Wesley Sneijder equaliser.

After the match Robben insisted the incident which won the game was a justified penalty, but admitted going to ground far too easily on one occasion in the first half.

"I have to be honest and must apologise," he told NOS. "One of the moments in the first half was a dive. Sometimes you get kicked, but that was not the case at that particular moment. I shouldn't have done that and I'm really upset with myself about it. It was a silly action.

"The other one inthe first half was a clear penalty. If that's not a spot-kick, then what is...

"The one at the end was a just penalty call as well."

Robben also revealed why he entrusted Huntelaar with the responsibility of the penalty rather than taking it himself.

"Usually I am comfortable with taking a penalty, but this time I was the one who was tackled," he explained. "I felt comfortable that Huntelaar would capitalise.

"It was his moment, he deserved this. I'm almost crying from the emotions. The feeling is so strong, we want to win this, to fight together. These youngsters ... I am so proud."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Last 16: Netherlands 2 Vs 1 Mexico in Pictures

 

[Wolverine GTR]

FIFA World Cup 2014 Round of 16 Fixtures 2014.06.30

FIFA World Cup 2014 Round of 16 Fixtures 2014.06.30

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France Vs Nigeria

Germany Vs Algeria

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[Wolverine GTR]

Ada France & Germany Quater-Finals walata qualify wei kiyala hithanawa​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United,William Carvalho wa ganna try karanawa kiyala kiyanawaThawath BEBE kenek da manda
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[rcccc]

Ada France & Germany Quater-Finals walata qualify wei kiyala hithanawa​

Nigeriath hodhayi habayi

 

[rcccc]

Costa Rica 1-1 Greece AET (Pens 5-3): Navas the hero as Central Americans make World Cup history

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Nigeriath hodhayi habayi

Ow machan group stages wala Argentina match 1keth hoda fight 1kak dunna3-2 neh
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[rcccc]

Ow machan group stages wala Argentina match 1keth hoda fight 1kak dunna3-2 neh
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ow hodha gamek yayi France ekkath

 

[charitha chandi]

No penalty called for this

3mins to finish game, penalty for this

referee should be given a life time ban. he is said to be from portugal. that explains a lot

chater case eka..! mata num pattama dukai..! paw wada.. maxico elatama play kala..!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

ow hodha gamek yayi France ekkath

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[Wolverine GTR]

chater case eka..! mata num pattama dukai..! paw wada.. maxico elatama play kala..!

Robben unath dan pihigena thiyenne eya dive una kiyala.Ath ithin dan wadak naha wenna one de wela iwarai neh

Goal line Technology 1ka wage meh wage dives check karanna review system 1kak introduce kalanam hodai aiyaSpecially penalty area 1kenathnam aparade opposite side 1kata wenne thanikarama aparadayak

Hodama example 1ka thamai yesterday robben ge dive 1ka
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[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

chater case eka..! mata num pattama dukai..! paw wada.. maxico elatama play kala..!

maha jarama ekek. minissu kochchara hope thiyagenada world cup ekak balanne awurudu 4kata parak. penalty shootout ekakin wisadenna tibuna match eka aru unge kittu ratata adala thindu dunna. mata mula indama theruna netherlandslata adinawa wadiy kiyala. ussan yanna thiyenne okawa mexicowata, ehe drug lordsla tika ekathu wela

 

[sdlrs6]

NERDLAND UN KANAWA THUK THUK OKUN MAKABAWIYA

 

[Michael]

Robben apologises for diving against Mexico

Arjen Robben has apologised for diving during Netherland's dramatic comeback victory over Mexico in the World Cup round of 16 at Arena Castelao on Sunday.

Robben tormented the Mexican defence on numerous occasions with his pace, skill and direct running, and had several penalty appeals turned down before finally winning a spot-kick in the second minute of injury time when he went down under a challenge from Rafael Marquez.

Substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar converted from 12 yards to send the Oranje into the last eight of the tournament, after Giovani dos Santos' opener had been cancelled out by a late Wesley Sneijder equaliser.

After the match Robben insisted the incident which won the game was a justified penalty, but admitted going to ground far too easily on one occasion in the first half.

"I have to be honest and must apologise," he told NOS. "One of the moments in the first half was a dive. Sometimes you get kicked, but that was not the case at that particular moment. I shouldn't have done that and I'm really upset with myself about it. It was a silly action.

"The other one inthe first half was a clear penalty. If that's not a spot-kick, then what is...

"The one at the end was a just penalty call as well."

Robben also revealed why he entrusted Huntelaar with the responsibility of the penalty rather than taking it himself.

"Usually I am comfortable with taking a penalty, but this time I was the one who was tackled," he explained. "I felt comfortable that Huntelaar would capitalise.

"It was his moment, he deserved this. I'm almost crying from the emotions. The feeling is so strong, we want to win this, to fight together. These youngsters ... I am so proud."

Match eka dinnata passe kawruth sorry kiyanawa thama!

 

[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

Netherlands, The Nation of Cheaters

Cheater Practising to dive

 

[Wolverine GTR]

France 2-0 Nigeria: Pogba breaks Super Eagles' hearts

Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama went from hero to zero as his error helped France to a 2-0 World Cup last-16 triumph.

Enyeama, who plies his trade with Lille in the French top flight, made sensational saves from Karim Benzema and Paul Pogba, but the latter capitalised when the keeper flapped at a 79th-minute corner to book a quarter-final place.A Jospeh Yobo own goal in stoppage time further compounded Nigeria's late misery.

The African nation entered the match under the cloud of a dispute over bonus payments with the Nigeria Football Federation, but Stephen Keshi's men played a full part in an entertaining goalless first half.

Emmanuel Emenike thought he put Nigeria ahead, only to fall foul of a marginal offside call, while a stunning stop by Enyeama somehow prevented Pogba from volleying France in front.

As in the first half, France weathered pressure and finished stronger - Victor Moses' goal-line clearance and further heroics from Enyeama denying Benzema either side of Yohan Cabaye clattering the crossbar.And Pogba headed into an unguarded net before Yobo put through his own net to set up a last-eight tie for France against either Germany or Algeria on Friday.

Nigeria's pace and drive in attack left France disorganised early on and when Olivier Giroud hacked over from Benzema's 15th-minute pass, it marked a rare moment of encouragement for Didier Deschamps' team.

Emenike was similarly off-target from a promisingly-placed free-kick, before the Nigeria forward was denied by a 19th-minute offside flag.

France right-back Mathieu Debuchy breathed a sigh of relief having horribly sliced a clearance to Ahmed Musa, whose low cross was touched home by Emenike at the near post.Enyeama made a remarkable reaction save after Pogba drove forward and smashed a 23rd-minute volley goalwards on the end of Mathieu Valbuena's return cross.

A drop in tempo around the half-hour mark clearly suited France, but Debuchy could not capitalise when a patient spell of possession sent a half-chance his way.
The Newcastle United defender was wasteful again in the 40th minute having been teed up by the impressive Valbuena.

A frantic close to the half matched its opening, with France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris far from convincing behind a speculative Emenike drive.

Peter Odemwingie - the match-winner in Nigeria's decisive Group F victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina - tested Lloris with a 65th-minute drive that bounced awkwardly, while tension in the French ranks was increasingly shown by sloppy errors in possession.But Deschamps' men came agonisingly close to leading with 20 minutes left as Benzema exchanged passes with Giroud's replacement Antoine Griezmann.

The Real Madrid forward's effort was partially stopped by Enyeama and Moses was back to hack clear as the ball looped towards the net.Benzema's low cross was cleared for Cabaye to thunder a rasping shot against the bar and Enyeama excelled himself again to keep out a Benzema header.

But he erred from Valbuena's resulting corner as France took the lead, making a later outstanding stop to thwart Griezmann seem particularly cruel.Nigeria's defence became disjointed in the closing minutes and Yobo's own goal under pressure from Griezmann made the defender's 100th cap one to forget.

The last five times that France have taken part in the knockout stages of the World Cup, they have reached the semi-finals or better. Now Germany or Algeria stand between this sequence continuing.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

‘Amazing’ Messi having the World Cup we expected – Sabella

Lionel Messi’s fantastic form in the World Cup should not come as a surprise to anyone, says Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella.

The Barcelona star had only previously scored one goal in tournament finals history, but has netted four times in just three games in Brazil so far, with a round of 16 clash with Switzerland on Tuesday up next.

And Sabella insists that it is a return to form that, he, Messi himself, and the rest of Argentina had seen coming.

“Messi is playing an amazing World Cup, as everyone expected. He expected it, his colleagues expected it and all Argentines expected it,” Sabella told a press conference on Monday.

Parallels have been drawn between the influence of Messi on Argentina and his Barcelona colleague Neymar’s effect on Brazil, while the legacy left by Diego Maradona in leading the Albiceleste to glory in 1986 also draws comparisons.
But Sabella insists it is natural for successful teams to be built around such outstanding talents.

“I think both Messi and Neymar are amazing players. Messi is the best in the world and Neymar is a great player, and with players like those it’s normal that teams depend on them.“Maradona was a very important player to the team in 1986 and Messi is very important to us now.”

After winning three games from three in Group F, Argentina take on Ottmar Hitzfeld’s Swiss outfit in the last 16, and the 59-year-old coach says it is now the time for his team to ramp up their form.“We’re improving. The last match [against Nigeria] deserved a mark of seven [out of 10], since I know you like ratings. But maths is not everything.

“The team is very spirited. We’re all positive, but it’s true this is a different phase and mistakes are not acceptable.“You can make mistakes in the first phase, but we know we have to keep focused and stay balanced. There are two reasons for that. We cannot go back, and mistakes are not acceptable at this stage.”

The clash at Arena Corinthians kicks off at 18:00CET on Tuesday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

I’m ready to emulate Messi, Neymar & James – Hazard

Eden Hazardsays he is ready to become one of the World Cup’s biggest stars by drawing inspiration from the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and James Rodriguez.His Belgium side face USA in Salvador on Tuesday with the reward a place in the quarter-finals, and Hazard insists he will deliver his best form in a bid to match what he has seen from the star trio so far.

“I have looked at what the other stars have done and try to take as much inspiration from them as possible,” Hazard told reporters at Belgium’s training base, just outside Sao Paulo.“Have I been impressed by Messi, Neymar and Rodriguez? Of course I have been, and I know there are many good players in my position.“As for my tournament so far, I rate it at 50-50. I have been decisive for the group, but in terms of consistency I can do better.

“I hope it will be the case from now on, but I know you will see the best Eden.”
While Hazard has not been on top form to this point, he delivered match-winning assists in his two starts in Group H, and he says that is partly down to his cool head in all situations.

“Do I feel the pressure? No, it remains the same. I know there are a lot of people watching me but I will deal with that in the same way I approach all the other games, and just make sure I give the best of myself.“I have no idea what people think of me and my performances in the tournament so far, but I always try to give the maximum I can to the team.

“I just want to be good so that our team can continue our adventure together.”
Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA were one of the surprise qualifiers for the Round of 16, and Hazard is certain that they carry a threat for the Red Devils.

“It is true that a lot of people thought we would play Portugal, or perhaps Ghana. But USA have shown they are a very good team.“They have a lot of qualities and we know we will have to be serious and show our best.

“They are a very physical team, but if they foul me a lot it means I am having a good day – and I hope they do because it will mean we get lots of free-kicks and scoring opportunities. “They are a great team but we will carefully analyse their strengths and weaknesses – and we will win.”

The Round of 16 clash kicks-off at 22:00CET on Tuesday at the Arena Fonte Nova, with the winner meeting Argentina or Switzerland in the last eight.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Robben: I was too honest for my own good about silly dive

Netherlands star Arjen Robben says he was too honest in confessing to a ‘silly’ dive against Mexico – but remains adamant that he did not cheat to win his team’s decisive penalty in the World Cup last-16 clash.

Holland beat Mexico 2-1 in Fortaleza on Sunday when Robben won a 93rd-minute spot-kick after a challenge from Rafael Marquez, which substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar converted to book a quarter-final match against Costa Rica.

Robben was branded a ‘cheat’ by Mexico coach Miguel Herrera and caused a storm when he admitted after the game that he had dived earlier in the match in an attempt to win a free-kick.

On Monday, the Bayern Munich man sought to clarify his comments in a press conference at the Netherlands’ training base in Rio de Janeiro, at which he claimed that he was too honest for his own good.

Robben said: “It’s a shame because yesterday in an interview I was very honest. Maybe honesty is sometimes punished.

“I always prefer to be honest and I said there was one foul in the first half where I went to the ground when the opponent took his leg away at the last moment.

“That was silly from me but it didn’t influence the game. It had nothing to do with the game and the penalty was a clear penalty.

“I apologise for the action in the first-half but that’s football and it had nothing to do with the game.

“We had two clear penalties, one was given and that’s it. We shouldn’t think about it anymore.”

The victory for Louis van Gaal’s men was the third time in the tournament that they have come from behind to win a match and extended their record to four victories from four matches in Brazil.

Holland will be favourites to reach the semi-final when they face Costa Rica in Salvador on Saturday, and Robben believes the Dutch squad is full of confidence.

“We are very proud to reach the quarter-finals and that is the main thing for us. I think the cardiologists in Holland are very happy with us.

“Costa Rica is a very good team. They were in a very difficult group and not many people expected them to go through, but they are a very strong team.

“We have a chance [to win the World Cup]. We have a lot of confidence in the team.

“I feel good. I have the strength and power to get away from my opponents and I am feeling good at the moment.”