Wednesday 3 June 2015:

Qatar 0 – 4 Portugal

Mexico 2 – 1 Uruguay

Senegal 1 – 1 Colombia

Serbia 2 – 0 Mali

Fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka has beaten Roger Federer 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to progress to the semi-finals of the French Open. Are the Federer days over???

Sepp Blatter has quit as FIFA president, BBC reprts. He says: “An extraordinary congress is to be called to elect my successor as soon as possible.” Sepp Blatter also says: “I have thoroughly considered my presidency and thought about my presidency and the last 40 years in my life. “These years were closely related to FIFA and this wonderful sport of football, I appreciate and love FIFA more than anything else and only want to do the best for football and FIFA and our institution.”  “I decided to stand again to be elected because I convinced it was the best option for football. The challenges that Fifa are facing have not come to an end.””Although the members of FIFA gave me a new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everyone in the world. “This is why I will call an extraordinary congress to held as soon as possible for a new president elected to follow me as new president with a new election held.”

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The German Football Association would not support a boycott of the 2018 World Cup in opposition to the way FIFA is running the game, BBC reports. Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has said England would support any such action led by Uefa following FIFA head Sepp Blatter’s re-election. But German FA chief Wolfgang Niersbach, speaking ahead of a meeting of UEFA officials this week, said: “We don’t want to go down the route of a boycott. “That won’t accomplish anything.” Niersbach added: “We don’t want to get into a situation like with boxing where there are several parallel associations. That doesn’t work.” Blatter, 79, was last week re-elected for a fifth term as the president of football’s world governing body despite seven FIFA officials being arrested by the US Justice Department over allegations of corruption. Blatter himself has not been implicated. Niersbach’s comments come on the day that Blatter’s top deputy Jerome Valcke denied allegations that he is the person responsible for a $10m (£6m) transfer of funds cited in the US indictment. Swiss prosecutors have launched a separate investigation into the bidding process for the tournaments in 2018 and 2022, which will be held in Russia and Qatar respectively.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is “an extra-terrestrial who plays with us humans”, according to Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The duo go to head-to-head in Saturday’s Champions League final, with Argentina’s Messi bidding to become the first player to score in three finals. “We hope that on 6 June he returns to earth and becomes a human too,” added Buffon, 37, ahead of the Berlin final. Messi, 27, has scored 58 goals for Barcelona this season. His partnership with Brazil’s Neymar and Uruguay’s Luis Suarez has brought Barcelona 120 goals this season, helping the Catalans to the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey. Buffon, who has won 147 Italy caps, added: “I think it’s the strongest attacking trio in the world. They have an offensive power which is certainly scary but we also have weapons, not maybe to stop them with but to limit them a bit.” Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci said: “What do I think about when I see that front three? Applauding. No, obviously the front three scare anyone but Barca isn’t just those three up front but a collective of footballers which play for each other.” Serie A champions Juventus have not won the Champions League since 1996, while four-time winners Barcelona last lifted the trophy in 2011 when they defeated Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley.

France striker Loic Remy scored the winner with a thunderbolt of a strike after 30 minutes and a typically solid defensive performance from Jose Mourinho’s side sealed a triumphant end to their long campaign. Sydney, runners up in the A-League final last month, ensured it was not entirely an exhibition match but Petr Cech, in Chelsea’s goal for perhaps the last time, and his back four were in defiant mood. Mourinho promised to put out a strong side and he was true to his word with the attacking trio of Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Remy causing problems for the home defence from the start with their skill and pace. Remy spurned the first couple of chances his team mates carved out for him but made no mistake on the half hour, cutting inside from the right wing on to his left foot and lashing the ball into the top corner of the net. Sydney almost struck back immediately but Cech saved from Christopher Naumoff and Chelsea centre half Branislav Ivanovic cleared Alex Brosque’s follow-up off the line. The Londoners went straight back up the other end and Costa’s left-foot shot across goal was pushed just wide of the post by goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic. The Spanish striker was substituted five minutes before halftime after indicating to the bench that he had a problem with his calf while Hazard played on until the 89th minute. It was the Belgian’s pass which set up Remy for what should have had been his second goal in the 68th minute, only for Alex Gersbach to shoulder the shot off the line. Sydney thought they had equalised a minute from time when defender Seb Ryall bundled the ball over the line from close range but the referee ruled he had handled.

Barcelona have tied Spanish full-back Jordi Alba down to a new deal, with the 26-year-old extending his stay at Camp Nou until 2020. Alba joined Barcelona in 2012 from Valencia and has since gone on to win two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey, and is now just one match away from claiming his first Champions League medal as the Catalan club take on Juventus in the final on Saturday. Alba has cemented his place as the team’s first-choice left-back and has now extended his deal at the Nou Camp until 2020, with the club penning a €150 million (£108m) release clause into his bumper contract. A Barcelona statement read: “Barcelona have arrived at an agreement with Jordi Alba for the renewal of his contract until the 30th of June, 2020. “The left-back, 26, has this season won La Liga and the Copa del rey, which adds to another league title in the 2012/13 season – his first at Barca – and the 2013/14 Spanish Supercopa. “His buyout clause will be €150 million. He will sign the contract in the coming days.” Alba was released by the Barca youth academy but went on to prove himself at Valencia before he was brought back in 2012. He has since thrived in Barca’s quick-passing system with his pace and ability to attack down the left wing. He had two years to run on his existing deal.

Nigeria’s U-17 male football team, Golden Eaglets will attend in invitational four-nation football tournament to help tune them up for the upcoming 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be hosted by Chile in October. The Suwon International Tournament in Korea will have Nigeria, Brazil, South Korea and USA as participants.

Tournament Schedule:

Wednesday 10 June 2015:

Korea vs USA 7am

Brazil vs Nigeria 10am

Friday 12 June 2015:

Korea vs Nigeria 7am

USA vs Brazil 10am

Sunday 14 June 2015:

Korea vs Brazil 7am

Nigeria vs USA 10am

*Time = Nigerian (GMT+1)

Ryan Taylor was told he was being released by Newcastle in a phone call from John Carver, who then asked the player to pass the phone to team-mate Jonas Gutierrez so the Magpies boss could tell him he was going as well. United secured their Premier League status on the final day of the season. “John Carver rang me and told me the club weren’t going to offer me a new deal,” Taylor told Sky Sports News. “Then he asked me to pass the phone to Jonas, which was unbelievable.” Defender Taylor, 30, spent six years at St James’ Park, while midfielder Gutierrez, 31, had been at the club since 2008. Gutierrez, who has fought testicular cancer, scored in a 2-0 win over West Ham as Newcastle avoided relegation. Taylor said he had some sympathy for Carver. “I spoke to him and he seemed upset about telling two good pros, who have been there a long time, that it’s come to an end,” said the defender. “I can’t really blame John because he’s under instructions on what to do.” The pair are currently in Belfast at a coaching course.

Chelsea’s John Terry took the Premier League trophy to Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney and met young fan Connor Ansell who is battling leukaemia. Chelsea play Sydney FC at 10:45 am today in an end-of-season friendly as part of their tour of Thailand and Australia.

Manchester United and England captain, Wayne Rooney was pictured holidaying in the Bahamas with his family when met a surprise. “Didn’t expect to see pigs in the sea in the Bahamas! Haha”, Rooney twitted. Holidaying things for footballers… the real ballers. Lol!

Tuesday 2 June 2015:

Myanmar 0 – 6 Ukraine

Austria 2 – 1 Panama

New Zealand 0 – 4 USA

Argentina 2 – 3 Ghana

Premier League-bound Watford have signed Austria international defender Sebastian Prodl on a five-year-deal. The 27-year-old, who has 49 caps, was a free agent following his release by German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, with whom he spent seven years and played in the Champions League. The 6ft 4in centre-back also played for Sturm Graz in his native country between 2006 and 2008. He is the Hornets’ first signing since promotion to the top flight. Prodl moves to Vicarage Road amid continuing uncertainty surrounding the future of head coach Slavisa Jokanovic, with Quique Sanchez Flores reportedly close to agreeing to replace the Serb.

Defending champion Maria Sharapova is out of the French Open. Russia’s Sharapova, who has reached the final in the previous three years, was beaten 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 by Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova in the fourth round. It is second seed Sharapova’s earliest defeat at Roland Garros since 2010. “I felt I had small openings but I wasn’t able to play a few good points and Lucie was a much more aggressive player,” said Sharapova. “My opponent was at a much higher level, more consistent than I was, and that resulted in a bad day at the office.” Safarova, 28, will take on Garbine Muguruza in the last eight, after the Spaniard beat Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 6-3 6-4. “Maria is an amazing player. I needed to play aggressive and to come forward for the points,” said Safarova.

Jurgen Klopp says he will take a break from football after stepping down as Borussia Dortmund manager. The 47-year-old had been linked with a move to Liverpool since announcing he would leave at the end of the season. “After seven intense and emotional years, I think it’s a good idea to let the numerous memories settle in before I take on a new challenge with my team refreshed and motivated,” said Klopp. “I’m going to take a break until further notice,” he added. The German had previously stated he did not intend to take a sabbatical. When announcing he was to step down in April he said: “It’s not that I’m tired. I always said that when I believe I am not the perfect coach anymore for this extraordinary club I will say so.” Klopp won two Bundesliga titles and one German Cup in the seven years following his appointment as Dortmund manager in 2008, also reaching the Champions League final in 2013 where his side were beaten by Bayern Munich. Former Mainz manager Thomas Tuchel is to take over from Klopp at Dortmund, who recovered from being bottom of the German league in February to finish seventh and qualify for the Europa League.

Footballers can enjoy during off season ehh! I don’t blame them because it’s a very serious business during the season. Manchester United defender, Chris Smalling posted the above picture on Instagram from his holiday in Barbados.

Former Brazil striker Pele has welcomed the re-election of Blatter as Fifa president. “I was in favour. It was necessary because it is better to have people with experience,” Pele told reporters on his arrival in Cuba on Sunday to see a charity match in Havana. “He’s a man who has been there for 25 years [with Fifa], you have to respect him, it was an election.”

Midfield lynchpin Yaya Toure has cooled speculation surrounding his future at Manchester City, the Ivorian saying he will “definitely stay” because he wants to win more silverware at the Premier League club. The 32-year-old Toure, who joined City in 2010 and played a dominant role in two Premier League title wins in 2012 and 2014, endured a frustrating season after suffering a loss of form as City failed to claim any trophies. “I will definitely stay. The fans don’t have to be worried,” Toure told the Manchester Evening News. “My target this year is to try to do everything possible to make this team improve well.”

Chelsea players and staff are on an end-of-season tour of Australia where they took time to visit a zoo in Sydney. More pictures follow.

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Monday 1 June 2015:

Nigeria 2 – 4 Brazil

Germany 8 – 1 Fiji

Korea DPR 1 – 5 Hungary

Uzbekistan 3 – 4 Honduras

So I woke up by 2am to see the Nigeria vs Brazil game. With the moves I saw, I believe the Flying Eagles could play better but they appeared jittery. Brazil didn’t have it easy either. Our goalkeeper was suspect. I was complaining until he made that howler that led to the fourth goal. Our attack seems okay considering the runs they made but the coaches should do more work on the defence particularly and then the midfield. We loose the ball a lot. Go guys! I think you can still make it out of the group.