Keshi Leaves Out Uche

Nigeria manager Stephen Keshi decided not to pick Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche for the upcoming World Cup 2014. The 30-year-old has been in fine form for the Spanish outfit this season. He has scored 12 goals in the league. After not featuring for the Nigerian national team since the African cup of nations last year, it seems that his international career is over as far as Keshi is concerned. The striker does not feature in the preliminary squad announced by the African nation. Nigeria will be expecting a tough World Cup after being grouped alongside Argentina.

Argentina will clearly be the favourites to win the group, but the second spot is up for grabs. Nigeria will be competing along with Iran and Bosnia for this final qualification position. Despite missing out on the squad for the World Cup, the 30-year-old has stated that he does not have any regrets and anger against manager Keshi. He says that he will be supporting his teammates despite not being on the plane to Brazil. The manager has come under criticism for not taking Uche, but he has responded by saying that the media should focus upon the team rather than individuals.

Nigeria begin their World Cup campaign against Iran.

“We spoke two weeks before the squad was announced to clarify certain things that had been written and said in the media. Most significantly, it was a very good discussion. It gives me great pleasure that there is no ill will towards anyone. I thank the coach for that. I also wish my teammates all the best in Brazil because we are all one family whether you are in the squad or not,” said the 30-year-old striker.
He is one of the most experienced players available at the disposal of Keshi with more than 45 international appearances.

MOURINHO SET FOR WORLD CUP

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who will reportedly cost around £ 250,000 for a couple of matches to do punditry work at the World Cup 2014, says that the tournament will definitely miss the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gareth Bale. Despite being stars in their own self, these players will not be present at the tournament since their national teams failed to qualify for the tournament. Ibrahimovic plays for the Swedish National team, while Bale is regarded as one of the Welsh national team’s star players. Bale currently holds the record for the most expensive transfer at £ 86 million.

Ibrahimovic’s Sweden team were unable to qualify for the tournament after losing to Portugal, who were guided through by their own superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the play-offs. Despite the disappointment, Ibrahimovic came close to getting his team into the World Cup by scoring two goals in the 4-2 defeat on aggregate. Other star players who will also miss out on the tournament includes Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who is widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers. There are also several players set to miss the tournament due to injuries.

The likes of Radamel Falcao may actually return in time to play at the competition, but the likes of Victor Valdes are definitely out.

“In every World Cup there are a few big players that everyone would like to see there, and for different reasons they aren’t there. Zlatan? Everybody would love to see him there, but Sweden couldn’t make it. Gareth Bale is another fantastic player that I think everybody would enjoy seeing there, but Wales also couldn’t qualify. There are others. I have in my team the best goalkeeper in the world (Cech) and he’s not at the World Cup,” said Mourinho after becoming Yahoo’s ambassador for the tournament.

LEAVING IT LATE

A number of players are looking to get into the national team squads at the final moment in order to play at World Cup 2014. Parma striker Antonio Cassano is one of them and he has stated in a recent interview that he has lost as much as 10 kg in weight in order to make it into the Italian squad for the World Cup. Italy will go into the competition as one of the teams with a great opportunity to win the tournament. They have done exceedingly well in recent finals due to the leadership from Cesare Prandelli, but now, there is a feeling that the nation is ready to reclaim the glory days.

They come into the World Cup with the right mixture of youth and experience. The presence of striker Mario Balotelli upfront has provided a new dimension to Italy’s attack, which has boasted in the past the likes of Alessandro del Piero and Totti. Even though these players are still playing, they are unlikely to return to the international fold. One striker, however, is capable of doing just that and it is 31-year-old Cassano. The former AC Milan striker has been in fine form for his club this season, but he has stated that his diet over the last few months has helped him lose 10 kgs.

“I can’t do better than this. I’ve lost 10kg to go to Brazil. I’m on a diet and I’ve stopped eating focaccine, except for once a week. I don’t know if there’s still a chance but I’m doing everything to give Prandelli something to think about. I have never played at a World Cup and it’s something I’d love to do. I would be the happiest man in the world if it happened,” said the striker in a reference to national team manager Prandelli.

WILL COLE PLAY?

The future of England left back Ashley Cole at international level has been thrown into doubt after manager Roy Hodgson said that the inclusion of the 33-year-old is very difficult right now considering that he has not featured enough at club level this campaign. Cole is one of the record appearance maker for England, while he holds the record for the most number of appearances made by a left back. However, he is coming to the end of their career, which saw him lifting numerous titles with Arsenal and Chelsea.

Since the last few months, he has not been featuring regularly for Chelsea. Jose Mourinho has largely used him as a substitute, while in his place, right back Cesar Azpilicueta has been playing. This has mystified many because Azpilicueta is not playing in his natural position, but he is still keeping his place in the team ahead of a specialist like Cole. The future of the former Arsenal man at Chelsea is also in doubt since he has only a few months left on his contract. He signed a one-year contract last summer, but the club are likely to review his place before offering him a new deal – the prospects of which are decreasing by the week.

As a result, the probability of seeing Cole at the World Cup is also diminishing.

“For years people have been understudy to Ashley. Now it’s Ashley’s turn to sit back. It’s a bit of a problem when you are a full-back – you either play or you are an understudy. We know what Ashley can do. We know how fit he keeps himself, how experienced he is. I certainly wouldn’t write Ashley Cole out of any plans because he wasn’t playing in his club team,” said Hodgson.

Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw are waiting in the wings to take Cole’s place in the team.