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United States 0-1 Germany

With a tie enough for both teams to progress, a lot of pressure was off as long as Portugal didn’t win by a large margin. Thomas Muller was once again Germany’s scorer, netting just 10 minutes into the start of the second half. It was a tight game with the American side trying to find opportunities via counter attacking football with the European team pressure hard in search for more goals. The match ended with a victory to the Germans, although both contestants are through to the next round.

Portugal 2-1 Ghana

Even though Portugal orchestrated their first victory of the tournament, it was a little too late to make a big difference as Ghana joined in on the pair being eliminated. The United States got the edge over the European side due to their goal difference after point having four points from three games. John Boye’s own goal in the 30th minute gave Paulo Beto’s men a little hope for qualification, but Asamoah Gyan cancelled the lead at the 57th minute mark. Cristiano Ronaldo was involved in almost all of his teams attacking play and eventually sealed all three points for his nation with a strike on the 80th minute mark.

South Korea 0-1 Belgium

Belgium began slowly once again, leaving it late before clinching all three points from their final game of the group stages. The 1-0 win over South Korea meant they were through as they picked up maximum points from the previous encounters. The Asian side should have capitalized on the fact that their opponents had only 10 men for the entire second half after Steven Defour was sent off in the 44th minute for harsh tackle on Shin-Wook Kim. Divock Origi’s 77th minute attempt was pushed into the path of Jan Vertonghen, who slotted the ball into the back of the net with ease.

Algeria 1-1 Russia

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History was made for the Algerians after their draw confirmed their progress into the round of sixteen for the first time ever. Russia was desperate for a win as it would guarantee their progression, which looks set to happen after Alexandr Kokorin scored an early header in the 6th minute. The match took a huge turn when Russian keeper Igor Akinfeev failed to grab a set piece cross leaving Islam Slimani to head the ball home from six yards out. The score line sent the Russians packing while Algeria await their encounter with Germany.

Liverpool’s 3-1 loss at Manchester City on Monday night brought about plenty of problems for Brendan Rodgers, even after splashing out on two defenders and bringing in a third on loan. Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Simon Mignolet were all accountable for the three goals conceded.

A major problem at Liverpool has been the lack of quality at defensive midfield. A quality addition for that role will certainly see the club improve on their defensive record of last season.

Brendan Rodgers has less than a week to address the defensive gaps in his squad and ensure Liverpool are capable of building on the season they had last term.

Here’s a look at five players who would help to strengthen the defence at Anfield.

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Click on Schneiderlin to start the gallery

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Alex Song

Marseille are said to be the latest club interested in Alex Song, who will more than likely leave Barcelona before the window closes next week.

A host of other Premier League clubs have been linked, including former club Arsenal, but Liverpool could also make use of the services of the Cameroon international.

Song’s ability to play at centre-back will also be seen as a plus for Brendan Rodgers, who, despite adding Dejan Lovren, still has defensive concerns.

Barcelona’s willingness to see of Song this summer will see him available for a bargain fee.

Benedikt Howedes

Liverpool have already signed three defenders this summer, but one more wouldn’t go a miss considering their defensive record of last season.

Benedikt Howedes has been on the radar of a few Premier League clubs following the World Cup, where he lined up on the left of Germany’s defence. The Schalke defender is a natural centre-back, but can also stand in at right full-back.

He’s experienced and would bring leadership to the squad at Anfield. The German international would be a big help during the team’s Champions League campaign.

Morgan Schneiderlin

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Liverpool return to Southampton in order to strengthen their defensive midfield position.

It’s been an area long in need of address at Anfield, with Lucas and Steven Gerrard the only options, and neither viable long-term solutions.

Schneiderlin has long been linked with a move this summer and would be a great addition at Liverpool. He’d come at a high price, but Brendan Rodgers has already hit the £20 million-mark three times this summer.

Sami Khedira

Whether it’s now or in a year, Sami Khedira will leave Real Madrid, but the preference of the European champions is a sale this summer, with Khedira’s contract coming to an end.

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The German international was reportedly close to a move to Arsenal, but Bayern Munich and Chelsea have also registered an interest.

Khedira is said to be available for a knockdown fee and would go a long way to helping Liverpool mount a challenge on the league title this season.

Asmir Begovic

Simon Mignolet was criticised for Manchester City’s third goal in the 3-1 loss on Monday night, allowing Sergio Aguero to fire in from his near post. It hasn’t been the first time the Liverpool ‘keeper has been questioned, and a replacement, or at least a good backup, may be needed.

At this stage of the summer it will certainly be difficult to find a club willing to negotiate the sale of their goalkeeper, but an option could be Asmir Begovic, who was strongly linked with a move out of Stoke last season.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international is a step up in quality from Mignolet and would play a big role in shoring up the leaky defence at Anfield.

We, at Football FanCast, have gone for the hat-trick! We’ve only gone and produced a social media gallery for your amusement!

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All the best bantz will be revealed by clicking on this rather spot-on cartoon summarising the Manchester United squad:

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Birmingham City missed out on £85million

Pick that one out!

Not sure Harry Redknapp is good at guessing weights

Fan reaction from Paul Pogba’s beauty at the weekend

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No pressure Liverpool

Arsene Wenger as you’ve never seen him before

This is what football is all about

Well, this is just weird

The Chilean superstar was clearly not happy with his team-mates

This is decent

Where does Lawro shop?!

Few were predicting anything from Southampton this season. A host of big names (including their captain and top scorer from the last four seasons) departed over the summer, but from the exodus, ecstasy has gripped the South Coast club. Some wise additions and good showings saw the Saints enter their tie with Manchester City in second spot, and although they lost, third place after 13 games is some going!

Some tricky ties are coming up for the Hampshire outfit, but we think these three factors make them genuine top four contenders.

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CLICK On St Mary’s TO REVEAL THE THREE

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Only conceded four goals at home all season

It’s quite bizarre to ready that Southampton have only conceded four goals at home all season! Yaya Toure’s driven effort was almost unstoppable, with the Ivorian’s goal following Charlie Austin’s for QPR at St Mary’s Stadium. With a solid base provided by the likes of Jose Fonte, Toby Alderweireld and Victor Wanyama, the Saints have enough to stem the flow of goals, unlike some rivals…

The Tadic and Pelle axis

Tadic and Pelle were not at their best this afternoon, but the pair have been excellent this season. Summer arrivals to replace Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert, the Italian and the Serbian have already notched a combined seven Premier League goals, while the latter has weighed in with six assists. Better than the men they’re filling in for…

Rivals all stuttering

It’s not wise to rely on other dropping points, but the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs are all stuttering right now, easing the pressure on Southampton. With such a buffer over their rivals right now, the South Coast side can afford a few losses on the upcoming run of tricky fixtures. However, some fans are a bit negative…

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Click on the squabbling children to reveal all the social media LOLZ

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“We as fans of the club have endured three years of shame under Paul Lambert … We as fans believe that things will never change under Lambert, and are therefore calling for action.”

As this leading statement from an emerging ‘Remove Paul Lambert’ petition unceremoniously outlines, things aren’t going particularly well for Aston Villa and their increasingly under pressure boss in the 2014/15 Premier League campaign.

The Midlands based club currently sit 15th in the table just three points off the relegation zone, but perhaps even more alarmingly, with only 11 goals scored so for this season. That is a goal tally lower than any other team in the league which, with all due respect to Lambert and his desire to bring the glory days back to Villa Park, is simply not good enough for a team of the Villan’s stature.

In light of such a poor first half of the season, should the Villa Park faithful continue to demand more from their foundering side, or should they simply make do with what they have, and be grateful that they aren’t worse off?

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While staying in the Premier League would most likely be the minimum requirement for some Villa fans, their top-flight status has hardly improved under such lowly ambitions, and the fans therefore deserve better as a result. This is a club that is not only one of the first established major football teams across the land, but also has a history caked in silverware and strong traditions.

Both domestically and in Europe, Aston Villa have developed a reputation as an important club with an important heritage throughout the years. They famously remain one of the few teams never to be relegated from the Premier League, and while that may seem like somewhat of a throwaway comment in today’s game, the magnitude of that statement takes on new meaning when looked at from a historical perspective.

Yes – trophies and silverware have hardly been a common occurrence down at Villa Park in recent seasons, but this doesn’t mean that the fans aren’t aware of where their club could be, and where it actually is in reality.

Even within the current confines of the modern game, where teams who haven’t been taken over by obscenely rich investors can’t consistently compete at the very top, the lack of backing given by Villa chairman, Randy Lerner, during the summer transfer window seemed nothing short of silly. The likes of Joe Cole, Philippe Senderos and Aly Cissokho had all been moved on by Premier League clubs in the recent past for not making the grade, so the fact that they are now being paid by Aston Villa must have come as a shock for fans of Lambert’s struggling side.

Lerner’s apparent desire, yet inability to sell the club has also thrown a few spanners in the works. He may not be the most hated chairman in English football, but his current stance with the club has perhaps left Aston Villa in a transitional state that won’t be easy to rise out of.

Back to matters on the pitch however, and although Christian Benteke’s long-term injury certainly hasn’t helped Villa’s cause, 11 goals from 22 games is concerning to say the very least. The fans have a right to be angry at such a lowly statistic. Football is ultimately meant to be entertaining, and as Leicester City have scored almost double Villa’s total despite languishing at the foot of the table, the Villa park faithful must be wondering just what has gone so wrong this season.

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The team just don’t seem to be responding to Paul Lambert’s style, and with the club’s official October goal of the month competition having to be scrapped due a distinct lack of entries, it’s hard to know whether or not this club want to take the rest of the season by the scruff of the neck, or are just simply happy to plod along while aiming for mid-table obscurity.

Whatever becomes of Aston Villa’s fortunes in the next portion of the 2014/15 campaign, hopefully for the fans’ sake, something can drastically change at this increasingly stagnant club. More investment, more passion, and perhaps even a change in manager, may all be required if Villa are to truly return to the good old days, and really give their heritage the respect it deserves.

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Arsenal legend Bob Wilson has slammed journalist Piers Morgan for his constant criticism of Arsene Wenger, labelling the Gunners fan and former chat show host an ‘incredibly pompous individual’, reports the Independent.

Morgan has become well known for his tirades against the Arsenal boss on Twitter.

He was amongst a number of Arsenal fans to react furiously to Wednesday night’s Champions League defeat at home to Monaco.

The 3-1 loss is already being labelled as one of the worst performances since Wenger took over at the club in 1996, and means his side will have to score at least three goals in the return leg if they are to make it to the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in five years.

Wenger has taken plenty of criticism since the result, with Morgan once again calling for the Frenchman to be sacked.

But Gunners legend Wilson has defended Wenger, and launched his own attack on Arsenal’s most outspoken supporter.

“I would like to say this about Piers Morgan,” Wilson said.

“He claims to be an Arsenal fan, but if you’re a supporter of a club you have to be through thick, thin, laughter, smiles and tears. He has never been a proper fan.

“I see him on Twitter and he drives me mad. He’s an incredibly pompous individual and he has no understanding of what it is to be the manager of a football club. I can only tell you this about Arsene, and I am biased to a degree, but i’m not stupidly biased. You will not find any manager ever, more dedicated to doing his job than Arsene.

“With him it’s always about the man before the player and that’s very rare for a manager. His first concern is about you as an individual rather than you as a player. Always has been and always will be.

“He’s been there for a long time with incredible glory times, league titles, appeared in a Champions League and FA Cup finals. He’s changed the club totally.

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“Above all that thought he’s a really decent human being, who cares.”

Morgan responded with a series of tweets in which he claimed to be ‘hurt’ by Wilson’s comments.

“I love @Arsenal with a passion. Disagree me over players/manager etc. But NEVER doubt my devotion to the Club. That hurts. #afc”

Even when things are going well for Arsenal which, despite the #WengerOut tweets still doing the rounds, they’re; the Gunners are well on course for a second place finish in the Premier League and a FA Cup Final title which isn’t a bad season for anyone. However, you always feel that Arsene Wenger’s side are never too far away from total capitulation whether that be down to their defending, over reliance on certain players or, in this case, injuries.

Mathieu Debuchy joining Arsenal was seen as a sensible bit of business for Le Professeur in replacing one of the best right-backs in the league when Bacary Sagna went off to join Manchester City’s bench, however, the Frenchman has spent a couple of lengthy spells on the sidelines.

In fact, the former Newcastle United man is looking at another spell in the treatment room after Wenger revealed the player has suffered a hamstring strain.

Although the news will be gutting for the Gooners, it does look like they’ve got a huge talent in the making in Hector Bellerin.

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Naturally, though, the Arsenal faithful took to Twitter over Debuchy’s latest setback:

West Ham have finally appointed a new manager to take them into the 2015/16 season – and whilst the high profile likes of Unai Emery, Rafa Benitez and even Jurgen Klopp have seemingly turned down the role in rather obvious fashion recently – Slaven Bilic nonetheless represents an ambitiously fresh move from the Hammers hierarchy.

He might not be tried and tested across the best leagues in Europe, his emerging status as a manager may see him arrive as a somewhat unknown entity among some Premier League fans, but as the former Croatian national team boss knows what it’s all about to play for West Ham and feel connected with the Upton Park faithful – the new man in the dug-out will likely fare a great deal easier than Big Sam in the east end.

With the 2015/16 campaign fast approaching however, and the Hammers being enlisted into the early Europa League qualifiers for next season, David Sullivan and co. have a huge task on their hands this summer in sourcing some adequate new faces to improve the overall squad depth at West Ham.

Soon to be free agent and former Marseille hit-man, Andre-Pierre Gignac, has subsequently been heavily linked with a move to Slaven Bilic’s new outfit in the Premier League, and as the striker commands a fairly decent reputation in French football, such a prospect would surely delight most of the West Ham fans.

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Having said that though, football transfers can be a tricky business even at the best of times – so although Gignac certainly represents a promising outlet for any new team looking to pick up his services this summer – is the big French centre-forward actually needed at Upton Park ahead of the 2015/16 season?

With Andre-Pierre Gignac successfully recording over 20 league goals this campaign, it could well be argued that the Hammers would be mad to turn down such an impressive proposition. On his day, the powerful front-man not only proves capable of destroying certain defences in the air with his lofty stature, but he can also work surprisingly well with his feet and help his teammates link up effectively with one another in the final third.

The 29-year-old Frenchman – who has in-fact represented his national side on occasion – also has a certain prowess in the volley department, as well as in tight situations in and around the opposition’s penalty box.

As his manager this season, the eccentric Argentinean coach Marcelo Bielsa, was also heavily linked to the Hammers job this summer, it seemed Gignac’s potentially impending move to Upton Park was all but on the cards until Slaven Bilic was finally announced as the preferred choice. The striker is nonetheless still supposedly desired by the West Ham chairmen, who have reportedly cast their eye over the player’s talents throughout the past few seasons.

Even with all that in mind though, it still remains doubtful as to whether or not the Hammers actually require someone like Andre-Pierre Gignac going into the new season. For a centre-forward as physical and header-friendly as the one in question, it seems that this particular transfer could seemingly have had Sam Allardyce’s name written all over it.

West Ham played some of their best football last season with Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia in a two man strike partnership. When Big Sam reverted to playing his classic 4-5-1 formation towards the tail-end of the campaign, Allardyce’s side inevitably stopped performing and fell by the wayside, leaving strong question marks hanging over future formation decisions going into 2015/16.

Andre-Pierre Gignac would likely be used as a solitary centre-forward in this country – but as the player himself could certainly do the business with a recognised strike partner up top – there is actually no reason to suggest that West Ham couldn’t tweak traditional trends in their forward line next term. 2015/16 is going to be an interesting season for the Hammers after all, and some risks will inevitably have to be taken if Slaven Bilic’s new side are to prove successful.

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With Andy Carroll’s recent injury record seemingly speaking for itself, and the advent of Europa League football requiring a vastly extended squad size – Gignac’s potential move to Upton Park this summer should ultimately be welcomed by the Hammers faithful if it eventually takes place.

As the 29-year-old represents a good deal as a free agent, and because Bilic will need a whole manner of new faces to contend with as the 2015/16 season begins, the high scoring Marseille striker could prove fairly successful in the Premier League with all things considered – even if he admittedly comes across as an ‘Allardyce type’ player on first impressions.

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Leeds United have started their shake-up already and have a few key players in the pipeline of early signings this summer.

Uwe Rosler is in as the new manager and with the help of the board has already laid out his potential targets for the summer transfer window. The German manager is keen on bringing in a couple of experienced defenders and a striker who can help improve and compliment the young stars already making such a massive impact on the team.

According to reports, they are hoping to bring in Chris Baird, Alex Pearce and Jermaine Beckford, but realistically only one of these has the potential to be a signing for the Yorkshire club.

Premier League side West Bromwich Albion have announced that one of Leeds’ targets has been released. Northern Ireland international Chris Baird has left the club, despite playing over 20 games for the club this season. The 33-year-old would be a superb addition for the Elland Road club as he is an experienced and versatile defender. Leeds have a fabulous youth set-up but lack the experienced players needed to help guide them through the season.

Although it seems likely that he will sign, two other potential signings remain unlikely. It had been hoped that Reading defender Alex Pearce would be arriving at Elland Road as his contract expires over the summer, but it now seems that the Royals are planning to keep him despite handling his contract renewal poorly. The club decided to wait until they had survived in the Championship before handing out new deals to those who were out of a contract.

The other player Leeds were hoping to bring to the club is former employee Jermaine Beckford. The striker has been extremely influential in his current club’s rise to the Championship scoring a hat-trick for Preston at Wembley in the play-off final. The 31-year-old has refused to comment on his future at the Lilywhites and many believe that struggling Leeds could be the first on his list.

While the two defenders seemed logical choices, it seems highly unlikely that Beckford would decide to move after the support he has had from Preston.

Before heading to the North West club, the striker’s career had begun to stall but, under the influence of manager Simon Grayson, the Englishman has found his form again. Preston are certainly keen on keeping him and will want to tie him down permanently during the summer transfer window.

Beckford has been on loan at Preston since the beginning of the season but is about to be released by his parent club Bolton. Grayson told the press before the League One Play-Off at Wembley: “The one thing you’ll say about Jermaine is he loves being here.

“We like to think we’ve got the best out of him, he’s a happy lad, so let’s hope we can make a decision easier by getting into the Championship.”

Preston obviously succeeded in that plan and despite Leeds desperately trying to sign him, it seems highly unlikely he will chose to move anywhere else.

If they need a new striker at Elland Road then they better start looking elsewhere because this one will not be coming back.

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