Updates and reaction as FIFA prepare to rule on whether Suarez should be punished for his clash with Chiellini PLUS all the latest from Brazil

 Bosnia-Herzgovina striker, Edin Dzeko, has expressed his pain as his country crashed out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil vowing never to forget his disallowed goal against Nigeria.

Dzeko had been incorrectly adjudged to be offside in the game Nigeria eventually won 1-0 through an Osaze Odemwinge first half strike.

Bosina completed their group match with a 3-1 routing of Iran with goals from Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic and Avdija Vrsajevic and Iran's consolation goal came from a Reza Ghoochannejhad tap-in.

"Despite the victory, we go home sad as we could've gone further.

"The goal they cancelled out against Nigeria I will remember until the end of my life."

Safet Susic's men were disappointed that they could not progress and midfielder, Pjanic, voiced their emotions.

"I'm glad I scored at the World Cup, but I am sorry that we did not achieve what we wanted.

"If we had a bit more luck we could have got out of the group. We gave our best and it was a great experience for us. In the second game we did not work hard, but we have to look forward."

   


England manager Roy Hodgson has stated that he will not resign from his post despite England looking on the brink of World Cup elimination at the group stage, following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Uruguay on Thursday.

Mail Online report that Hodgson maintained that he doesn't feel the need to walk away, but would be powerless to stop the FA dismissing him from his post should they see fit. Hodgson's side suffered at the hands of a Luis Suarez double either side of Wayne Rooney's equaliser to fall to their second successive defeat in Brazil.

Hodgson said: "I've been really happy with the way the players have responded to the work we've tried to carry out. I'm bitterly disappointed, of course, but I don't feel I need to resign, no.

"On the other hand, if the FA think I'm not the right man to do the job, that will be their decision not mine."

Hodgson saw his side produce a lacklustre performance, by having gained the equaliser in the final quarter of the game the 66-year-old felt his side could go on to win the match having looked on the front foot, before Suarez struck his second.

"We believed we could do enough to get a result in this game. Having worked so hard to get back to 1-1 I believed we would go on to win the game or at least draw, so to concede the second goal is an unbelievable blow. I don't really know what to say at this time."

The second goal originated from a direct long ball, and after captain Steven Gerrard failed to deal with it sufficiently Suarez found himself all alone against Joe Hart before smashing the ball into the net.

"We are more than disappointed, we're devastated. It was a goal we don't expect to concede. Long goal kicks with the type of players we have in the team, we deal with them," Hodgson continued.

"I thought we would go on possibly to win the game and certainly I didn't think we would lose the game at that point.

"We had been in control for such a long time. After the first five minutes (of the second half) we got back on track. We've been near their goal so many times, but it doesn't matter how many times you get near the other team's goal, it matters how many times you put it in the back of the net and we haven't done that enough."

Suarez, who underwent surgery on his knee just one month ago, returned to punish England for a lacklustre performance to put them on the brink of elimination. Regarding the Liverpool man, Hodgson said: "He scored the two goals. The first goal in particular was exceptionally good, Cavani's chip and his pulling away to the back post and the cleverness of his header I thought was really top, top play. The second one I thought he was a bit fortunate, but when he got himself through he made no mistake."

England must hope Italy win their final two games whilst the Three Lions beat Costa Rica handsomely in their final group game to stand any chance of progressing to the next phase.

   

Mourinho: Muller hasn't been tested yet

Jose Mourinho says he would like to see Thomas Muller tested more rigorously than he was in Germany's 4-0 win over Portugal on Monday.
The Bayern Munich attacker scored a hat-trick and Mats Hummels added another as Joachim Low's side secured a comfortable victory in their Group G opener after Pepe was sent off following an altercation with Muller.
The striker was top-scorer in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and his three against the Selecao took him to eight goals in seven World Cup finals appearances - though Mourinho suggested he found it too easy in Salvador.
"I would like to see Muller up against a compact defence," the 51-year-old told Yahoo Eurosport.
"That would test him. Portugal were far too weak. There are plenty of teams at this World Cup who defend far better, are much tighter and better organised."
Mourinho did, however, take the time to praise Muller, who scored 13 times in the Bundesliga last season, for his ability in front of goal whilst stressing that his national side were lacking in that part of the pitch.
"He's incredibly dynamic and has a unique goalscoring instinct," he continued.
"He finds room on the field that nobody else knows about. But I still think that, even with Muller, Germany don't have a real forward in their team."
Germany play Ghana on Saturday in their next Group G game.

 

    

14 killed in Nigeria football centre blast

Fourteen Nigerian football fans were killed while watching a World Cup game on Tuesday after a suicide bomb attack in Damaturu, Yobe state.

The explosion occurred during the World Cup game between hosts Brazil and Mexico which ended in a 0-0 draw.
According to Channels TV, the bombers brought the explosives in a tricycle before exploding it at the viewing centre which also left about 26 fans injured and 15 others in critical condition.
Survivors are presently receiving treatment at the Sani Abacha Specialists Hospital in Damaturu with the incident being investigated by the Nigeria Police Force.
Prior to the start of the tournament, some states in the country had banned football viewing centres from showing any World Cup games in order to avoid attacks from the Boko Haram insurgents in the country's north east.

 

      

A must-win game for both sides is usually one that creates a rather turgid and cagey affair, though this was not the case from the off in England’s second World Cup fixture of the summer.

Pre-match was of course dominated by the return of the ever-dangerous Luis Suarez and the potential damage he could cause England’s defence. He did not go into the game fully fit, but the Liverpool man is dangerous whenever he is on the pitch.

For England, Wayne Rooney moved from the left to the centre into his preferred position and was expected to perform and prove that he is worthy of the England shirt.

Although not as cavalier in going forward as they were against Italy in their opening fixture, England still looked more comfortable attacking than they did without the ball. Early chances ensued.

The game did not settle down for the first ten minutes, though Suarez almost embarrassed Joe Hart early on as the Uruguayan caught the English ‘keeper off his line and almost slotted home directly from a corner.

England showed flashes of good attacking play and Rooney almost opened the scoring and his own World Cup account on 10 mins. A few minutes later more good forward play resulted in a chance for Daniel Sturridge, though still England couldn’t break the deadlock.

The sharp incisive passing that England showed against Italy wasn’t quite there in the first-half and though there were some half chances of note, the game was a bit flat when compared to the opener.

More chances came from both ends and Cavani blasted over from a low corner on 26 mins. Up at the other end Uruguay were fortunate that Diego Godin was not sent off. The Atletico man could have easily been dismissed for a second yellow card for taking out Daniel Sturridge on the edge of the box.

England went on to win a succession of free kicks though had little end product. Rooney did narrowly shoot wide eventually however, and soon after hit the crossbar after a dead ball from the left was expertly delivered.

Despite all of England’s pressure, the almost inevitable sucker punch came from a beautiful ball from Edinson Cavani. Suarez peeled away from Phil Jagielka like only he can and headed the ball just out of the reach of Joe Hart.

England regrouped quickly and almost replied instantly with a good Daniel Sturridge shot after a fine ball from Wayne Rooney, but Muslera was more than up to the challenge of blocking his near post.

At the very beginning of the second half, Hart was caught out again by Suarez from a corner and once more the prolific forward almost found the back of the net directly from the corner flag.

An intense period of Uruguayan pressure began, where Edinson Cavani certainly should have doubled his side’s lead.

England did not defend well immediately after the break but they did counter with intent. A Leighton Baines’ cross landed at the feet of Rooney on 53 mins, the forward took a good first touch and got away a decent shot, though Muslera was equal to it.

Baines continued to be dangerous up the left-flank, so much so that Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez was forced into changing his game plan to try and stifle the Everton full-back.

Nevertheless, it was a Glen Johnson surge from the right that brought England back into the game. The Liverpool man skipped past one defender, put in a good ball and Rooney was left with a tap-in to level the score.

England were looking good to go on and score again but for Luis Suarez, who proved the difference between a player of his quality and England’s current crop. From a nothing goal kick, Steven Gerrard glanced a poor header backwards, directly between between the two English centre-halves and Suarez found himself running free. He confidently blasted the finish past Joe Hart.

And simply, that was that. England tried and failed to salvage the draw and now need significant favours from Italy if they are to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

TOTO WOLFF yesterday admitted he is struggling to prevent the feud between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg from boiling over agai in Montreal this week.

   

The duelling drivers head into this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix with Hamilton claiming he and Rosberg are friends again despite their bust-up in Monaco when the Brit accused Rosberg of pulling a dirty trick to stop him getting pole.

It proved crucial as Rosberg won from pole, with Hamilton runner-up, snapping his four race winning run, knocking him off the top of the championship tale and leading to a frosty podium ceremony with the pair ignoring each other.

But Wolff knows another clash could reignite the feud and said: "It is a matter of managing the situation.
"In our case we adopted the philosophy of letting them race, which as a consequence means management is a bit more difficult.
"Monaco was obviously a difficult one, but our sixth win in a row, so let's continue to let them race and hopefully we'll end the season without any incident."

AMIR KHAN's trainer Virgil Hunter believes his man could still face Floyd Mayweather this year.

   

Mayweather, 37, announced recently that his next fight will be on September 13.

That rules Khan, 27, out of facing him as the Bolton-born Muslim's preparations would be disrupted by Ramadan in July.

But Hunter reckons the cut Mayweather suffered in his May win over Marcos Maidana could keep him out until October or November - which will open the door for Khan to land the money-spinning match-up.

The American trainer said: "I've got a gut feeling Mayweather won't fight in September because of the cut he suffered against Maidana.

"I don't think he really wants to come back that quickly as it would be really close. We will see what happens.

     

"He had a bad cut and a cut like that usually takes three or four months, but considering his age and how old his skin is he could very well see a doctor and the doctor would say I don't think you are ready.
"Fighting and sparring two months after a cut like that can open it back up."
However, the potential fight between the two has been made more complicated by the fact Mayweather split with Khan's promoters Golden Boy yesterday.
Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer quit the company on Monday and Mayweather will no longer work alongside them in promoting his own fights.
Khan and Mayweather still share the same adviser -Al Haymon - and the British former world champion will be hoping the American businessman can strike a deal for the fight.

   
CHELSEA are close to signing Cesc Fabregas and his Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique has revealed the reasons why. 

Pique thinks his Spanish compatriot is vastly undervalued by Barca and the club have let the former-Arsenal star down.

Fabregas returned to his boyhood club three years ago and while he has picked up a raft of silverware, the Barca hierarchy appear happy to cut the ties for the right price - and Chelsea have stumped up the cash.

Pique said: "I really like Cesc and I know he is going through a tough time because the club don't appreciate him as much as they should.

"He is one of those players who would be first-choice at any other club in the world, the star of the team.
"Despite that, he is finding it harder at Barca. I don't know what he is going to do; we haven't spoken about that.
"I hope he stays because if you look at his stats this season.
"He is our highest-scoring midfielder and the one with the most assists. Of course I want him to stay with us."

Chelsea look set to wrap up the deal, making Fabregas their second signing of the summer after Diego Costa arrives from Atletico Madrid.
The Atleti striker has passed his medical and it's now just a matter of time before the club confirm the transfer.

ANTHONY JOSHUA will take a step up in class to face Matt Skelton next month after blowing away yet another opponent.

      

Former British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion Skelton is now 47 but is expected to offer the 2012 Olympic gold medallist more of a challenge than Matt Legg.

Joshua, 24, completed his sixth stoppage in as many professional fights in just 83 seconds at Wembley on Saturday as he finished Legg off with a sweet right uppercut.

He said: "I could potentially now step up but I've never been past two rounds.

"I'll be out again in Liverpool on July 12 against Skelton so it will be good to get six to eight rounds in."

     

Doncaster's Jamie McDonnell claimed the vacant WBA regular bantamweight strap with a stunning 10th-round stoppage of Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat.
McDonnell outboxed his Thai opponent for the majority of the contest before a superb left hook finished him off.
Dagenham's Kevin Mitchell was being well beaten by Canadian Ghislain Maduma in his lightweight clash before he stopped his man in the 11th.
Mitchell won with a left hook after having Maduma down earlier in the round.
The fight was billed as an IBF lightweight final eliminator to face champion Miguel Vazquez.
But Mitchell was two pounds over the limit on the morning of the fight at the check weigh-in and is now not guaranteed his shot.

  

CARL FROCH could quit boxing after the biggest night of his career.

      

The IBF and WBA super-middleweight king retained his titles with a stunning eighth-round knock-out of bitter rival George Groves at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.

Froch, 36, has been a professional for more than12 years and may now bring down the curtain on a glittering career after taking part in British boxing's richest night.

The Nottingham puncher will take the summer off to think about his next move and retirement is a real option.

      

He said: "Of course there is a possibility that I will decide not to come back. That is definitely an option - 100 per cent it could happen.
"I've had a fantastic, glossy career. I've been a pro for 12 years, I've got two WBC belts, the IBF and 13 world title fights back to back and now I've just fought in the national stadium and created history.
"If I bowed out on that moment I would be a happy man. If people remember me for that, that is fine."
It was an amazing night for British boxing as almost 80,000 packed Wembley and nearly one million watched at home.
Froch finished Groves off in a fairly even contest with a devastating right and referee Charlie Fitch did not even bother to count.
Froch will now discuss his next move with coach Rob McCracken.

The lure of Las Vegas may prove enough to stop him retiring though.
There is a potential third fight with Dane Mikkel Kessler and also a unification bout with WBC champ Sakio Bika, who were both ringside for Froch's dismantling of Groves.
British rival James DeGale also moved into the mandatory position for Froch's IBF belt with his win over Brandon Gonzales on the night.
The three-time world champion said: "There has to be something special for me to put myself through another three months of pain.
"I could hang my gloves up now, quite happily and quite comfortably and spend time with my beautiful partner and children at home."

THIBAUT COURTOIS has confirmed he's held talks with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho over his Stamford Bridge future.

     

Belgium goalkeeper Courtois has been on loan at La Liga champions Atletico Madrid for the past three seasons, after joining the Blues from Genk.

He played a starring role for Diego Simeone's side as they pipped moneybags rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona to the domestic title and eliminated parent club Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals.
Courtois says he was sure of his future before that European clash at Stamford Bridge, but feels the situation may have changed in light of Atleti's win at the Bridge.
“My future seemed clear but then we played in the Champions League,” he told Belgian newspaper La Derniere Heure.
“And yes, Mourinho called me before the [final League] game against Barcelona.
“What we talked about stays between us. I have a two-year contract with Chelsea, so in principle I will be there for training, then we’ll talk.

ANDY MURRAY will have to silence the French crowd if he wants to book a place in the Roland Garros semi-finals.

      

The British No.1 must face home favourite Gael Monfils tomorrow after an impressive 6-4 7-5 7-6 win over Fernando Verdasco.

Monfils, one of the most exciting players on the tour, will have massive support as he attempts to stay on track to becoming the first Frenchman to win this tournament since Yannick Noah in 1983.

And Murray knows he'll have to find a way to keep the fans quiet to keep his own Grand Slam dream alive.

"Monfils is great to watch, an unbelievable entertainer," said Murray after an almost faultless display against Verdasco.

"I think in the Grand Slams he's played his best tennis here by far. He loves playing in front of a big crowd.

"He's a great athlete, maybe the best we have had in tennis. He will have the crowd on his side but I will just have to block it out and do my best."

Murray hit 135 winners against Spaniard Verdasco as he deliberately went on the attack to finish off his opponent much faster than he did in the previous round against Philipp Kohlschreiber.

"I tried to play more aggressively and fortunately the balls went in," added the Scot.

"I thought I dictated as many points as I could. It's not always possible, because you're playing against top tennis players. He's got a lot of firepower as well. I did a good job of that.

"I was tired after the match against Kohlschreiber. It was a long match. It was mentally draining as well when you don't have that day to recover and you're coming back on court at 7-7."

Rafael Nadal, who could meet Murray if they both win their next matches, takes on David Ferrer in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
Eight-time French Open champion Nadal crushed Dusan Lajovic 6-1 6-2 6-1 to notch a record 32 straight wins in the event.
Only three of the top ten women's seeds are left, with No.5 Simona Halep defeating Sloane Stephens yesterday to set up a clash with Svetlana Kuznetsova.
While still not the Folies Bergere, at times it is like watching the Glee Club with the new, smiley Andy Murray, even in the midst of battling into last eight in Paris.
He won't make money in the old nightclub telling jokes but the old racket is dazzling the crowd as he steadily returns to the form which brought the house down at Wimbledon last summer.
Understandly, Fernando Verdasco was not an admirer being too busy chasing around trying to make the tie the triumph he hoped for rather than the 6-4, 7-5. 7-6 drama that it was.
Even when Murray sportingly conceded a point in the third set which gave Verdasco a 4-3 lead, the Spaniard stomped to his chair and delivered a full, cursing rant at the umpire who did nothing.
Verdasco felt that Murray had touched his serve when it was called out and began shouting about it. Murray could have stayed quiet and let Verdasco completely meltdown but he said he had and that should have ended the matter.
But then the official also neglected to do anything when Verdasco kept up his habit of continuing to sit and fuss around when time was called and Murray was at his end waiting to serve.
These are the kind of tactics which the Scot understands but it does not make it right.
By that moment, Murray was 2-0 ahead and striking the ball much cleaner, more accurately and making far fewer mistakes than Verdasco.
The ideal way through a marathon seven round Grand Slam event is to work to a peak and Murray has done stepped up in performance in each match so far.
He hit 135 winners compared with Verdasco which backed up hsi plan to come in swinging and be more aggressive to try to get the match over in energy-conserving order unlike his previous two day, five set war.
This was another improvement as it had to be against the danger of Verdasco with forehand and doublehanded backhand functioning superbly, serve more reliable.
He was happy to have created 19 break points, less so that only four of them were converted wheras Verdasco managed only six opportunities against the world number eight and took two.
When the match threatened to escape from his control after he lost serve and found himself in a third set tie-break, the experience and calmness showed through as he dominated and ended the match in early evening sunshine rather than cool shadows.
Another level will need to be found when Gael Monfils appears across the net tomorrow with the 

 

      

Rafael Nadal, who could meet Murray if they both win their next matches, takes on David Ferrer, who he beat in the French final last year, in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
Ferrer went down tamely twelve months ago as the pressure got to him in the all-Spanish clash but in April he defeated the number one seed in the quarters at Monte Carlo.
"I happy with the way I arrived here,"said Nadal after defeating the lowly ranked Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-1 to notch a record 32 straight wins in the event.
Others wonder if his run through has been too easy as he has not dropped a set and has had the easiest passage but the man to test that theory is Ferrer.
Only three of the top ten women's seeds are left and the smart money looks like it should be on Maria Sharapova if she can get past Spain's Garbine Mugurza today.
Simona Halep seeded a place higher than the fifth ranked Russian, defeated Sloane Stephens of the USA and will now face a resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova who ousted Lucie Safarova. Sara Errani, the diminutive Italian tenth seed, battled past Jelena Jankovic and now has Andrea Petkovic, who loves reading philosophy books, to ponder.
Defending doubles champions Boband Mike Bryan, the top seeds, were beaten 6-4, 6-2 by the 12th-seeded duo of Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez of Spain.

GEGARD MOUSASI is ready to muscle his way into the middleweight title scene after turning on the style in Berlin.

      

The Dutchman gained an impressive first round submission over Mark Munoz at UFC Fight Night in his second bout in the division.

The display was in marked contrast to his 185lbs debut in February where he disappointed in a unanimous points defeat to Lyoto Machida.

But, after Munoz tapped to a rear-naked choke after 3 mins 57 secs of the opening round, things are looking up for Mousasi.

Now, the 28-year-old is ready to face anyone in his bid to get into the title mix.

He said: "I think it looks as though I'm going to get Luke Rockhold or Tim Kennedy, although I'm not challenging anyone.

"But, of course, I'm going to get someone who has been winning. Whoever it is, it will get me closer to a title shot - I'm ready."

Either of those opponents would offer Mousasi the chance he has been hoping for since moving down from light-heavyweight.
Rockhold (12-2) is fresh off a first-round submission over Tim Boetsch while Kennedy (18-4) has racked up a four fight winning streak.
Geordie Andy Ogle, meanwhile, is hoping that he still has a future in the UFC after suffering his third straight loss on the Berlin bill.
Ogle gave a gritty performance against Maximo Blanco but lost a unanimous decision with all three judges marking the contest 29-28.
Like Ogle, Blanco went into the bout on the back of two defeats and victory has saved his job with the organisation.
Ogle, 25, though, must now await a decision on his future with the UFC normally releasing any fighter who loses three on the bounce.
Featherweight Ogle said: "Hopefully, it's not my last."
Cambridge middleweight Luke Barnatt suffered his first UFC defeat in Berlin against Sean Strickland who maintained his perfect record.
Barnatt entered the Octagon on the back of eight straight wins but that came to an end via a split decision.
The judges scored the fight 28-29, 30-27, 29-8 with Strickland extending his unbeaten run to 15.

TONY CASCARINO believes Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas would be the ideal replacement for Paul Scholes at Manchester United.

      

Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and United are all preparing bids to lure Fabregas back to the Premier League with Barcelona keen to offload the £30m-rated midfielder.

Fabregas' former club Arsenal - who held a buy-back clause in the deal that took the Spain international back to the Camp Nou - closed the door on a return by rejecting the chance to re-sign him.
Arsenal's decision not to pursue Fabregas could be United's gain according to Cascarino.

    

The former Chelsea striker believes Fabregas, 27, would be the perfect candidate to fill the void left by United legend Scholes, who retired from the game in 2013 and has arguably not been replaced.
"Manchester United desperately need someone like Fabregas. They need someone to replace Paul Scholes," Cascarino said.
"Michael Carrick is fantastic on the ball but Cesc just gives you a little bit more"
Cascarino told talkSPORT: "He's 27 years old now and has been in and out of the team at Barcelona.
"He's not cemented a place in that side. He should be playing week in and week out."

  


Radamael Falcao's World Cup 2014 dream is officially over, as manager José Pékerman did not name him in his final 23-man squad.

The 28-year-old striker tore his anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, after a heavy challenge from Soner Ertek in Monaco's 3-0 Coupe de France win at  Monts d'Or Azergues on January 23. Despite the injury, that normally has a recovery time between 8-10 months, the Colombian striker was poised to make a daring comeback and compete at this summer's World Cup less than six months later.

The striker's recovery was said to be going at an incredible rate and it seemed as though he could in fact pull off the seemingly impossible and perform at the World Cup in Brazil.
However, Falcao fell just short of his World Cup dream as he was not deemed fit enough to be named in Pékerman's squad.

With Falcao omitted from the Colombian squad, Los Cafeteros will rely heavily on frontmen Teofilo Gutierrez, Jackson Martinez, Adrian Ramos and Carlos Bacca to lead the line and provide the goals.

The squad that will face Greece, Ivory Coast, and Japan in Group C is as follows:

Goalkeepers: David Ospina (OGC Nice), Faryd Mondragon (Deportivo Cali), Camilo Vargas (Independiente Santa Fe)

Defenders: Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Pablo Armero (Napoli), Cristian Zapata (AC Milan), Mario Yepes (Atalanta), Carlos Valdes (San Lorenzo), Santiago Arias (PSV Eindhoven), Álvarez Balanta (River Plate)

Midfielders: Abel Aguilar (Toulouse FC) , Carlos Sanchez (Elche), Alexander Mejia (Atletico Nacional), Aldo Ramirez (Monarcas Morelia), Juan Quintero (FC Porto), Victor Ibarbo (Cagliari), Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina), Fredy Guarin (Inter Milan), James Rodriguez (AS Monaco)

Forwards: Carlos Bacca (Sevilla), Jackson Martinez (FC Porto), Adrian Ramos (Hertha Berlin), Teófilo Gutiérrez (River Plate)