WORLD CUP 2014: NETHERLAND DEFEATS BRAZIL

Host nation Brazil’s miserable run of form at the World Cup continued with a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands in the third-place playoff in Brasília on Saturday afternoon.Any hopes of Brazil saving face at its own party evaporated within two minutes, when Thiago Silva pulled down Arjen Robben on the edge of the area. Silva, who missed the 7-1 semifinal rout against Germany through suspension and was supposed to bring stability to a shaky Brazilian backline, was lucky only to receive a yellow card for the foul. Robin van Persie made no mistake with the penalty, firing his spot kick past Júlio César into the top corner.

It got worse quickly. Playing a high line that invited counterattacks from the Dutch, the Brazilians went 2-0 down in the 16th minute when David Luiz headed Jonathan De Guzman’s cross straight to Netherlands defender Daley Blind, who had time and space to control and volley past Júlio César.
The Dutch comfortably defended a two-goal cushion against a ramshackle Brazilian offense for which long balls and crosses, not skill, were the order of the day.

Brazil attacked without purpose or intelligence; it was no surprise when Georginio Wijnaldum fired home a shot between Júlio César and the near post after some good work by Robben and Daryl Janmaat in stoppage time.Dutch coach Louis van Gaal will now leave the team to take over managerial duties at England’s Manchester United. The future of his Brazil counterpart, Luiz Felipe Scolari, is far less certain.

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SUAREZ JOINS BARCELONA FOR €88 MILLION

Luis Suarez is on the brink of officially completing his sensational transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona after the terms of a deal worth just over €88 million were agreed on Wednesday night.

An agreement has now been reached and the final formalities will be completed before Suarez is announced as Barcelona’s marquee signing of the summer.

The 27-year-old is currently serving a four-month ban – which runs until October 26 – for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini while playing for Uruguay in his nation’s final World Cup group stage match.

Under the terms of the suspension, Suarez is not allowed to train with his club or enter the confines of any stadium during his ban.

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KESHI DEMANDS N10m A MONTH BEFORE SIGNING A NEW CONTRACT

Stephen Keshi has reportedly demanded a significant salary raise before he puts pen to paper on a new contract to remain as Super Eagles coach. Keshi, who announced last week that his contract with theNigeria Football Federation had expired after the Super Eagles crashed out of the World Cup following their 2-0 defeat by France, told President Goodluck Jonathan that he will sign a new deal if the NFF agrees to pay him N10m a month, double his initial pay of N5m a month in his contract.

Africanfootball.com reported that Keshi made the demand when he met with Jonathan at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on arrival from the World Cup in Brazil. He was also said to have demanded that his new salary be paid upfront to avoid the delays he suffered in the previous deal, as well as the recall of his former assistant Sylvanus Okpalla.

A top official at the Presidential Villa told africanfootball.com, "He (Keshi) demanded for N10m a month, which he wants to be paid upfront to check any delays.

"He also wanted what he called a free hand as regards his team selection and preparations, saying he no longer wishes to deal with the technical committee.He also wanted Okpalla back to his backroom staff.

"The President has assured him that his demands will be considered."

Meanwhile, Keshi pocketed a total of $300,000 when he led Nigeria to the last 16 of the World Cup, africanfootball.com has learned.

He reportedly got $260,000 as appearance fee for the World Cup

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