Who should win it this year? World Football governing body, FIFA
today October 28th released its Ballon D'or
list for the 2013/2014 season aand usual nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and
Lionel Messi top the list. Only one African made the list, Yaya Toure
from Ivory Coast. See the full list after the cut and tell us who think
should win this year...
2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist:
Gareth Bale (Wales)
Karim Benzema (France)
Diego Costa (Spain)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Angel Di Maria
(Argentina)
Mario Gotze (Germany)
Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Zlatan
Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Toni Kroos (Germany)
Philipp Lahm (Germany)
Javier Mascherano (Argentina)
Lionel Messi
(Argentina)
Thomas Muller (Germany)
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Neymar
(Brazil)
Paul Pogba (France)
Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Arjen Robben
(Netherlands)
James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Bastian Schweinsteiger
(Germany)
Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)
Ipswich Town's play-off ambitions have ended after defeat by promoted Burnley.
26 April 2014
Last updated at 3:10 PM
Realistically, only a victory would have preserved the
slim promotion hopes of Mick McCarthy's side but this loss leaves them
four points adrift of sixth place with one game remaining.
Chances were scarce for either side at Turf Moor.
But Burnley earned their 26th win of the term when
Michael Kightly rolled in to an unguarded net after Dean Gerken had
denied Danny Ings.
Given that their Premier League status for next season
is confirmed and the title is now out of reach, Burnley might have been
expected to allow their ferocious intensity to drop just a little.
But that would be to misunderstand the side Sean Dyche has assembled.
They were afforded two days off after
clinching promotion with victory over Wigan on Easter Monday
but the hosts' characteristic desire was not dimmed.
Kightly's goal, after 54 minutes, epitomised that.
Twice Burnley players won challenges in midfield before
Ashley Barnes flicked the ball into the path of Ings. He veered past
Luke Chambers and, although Gerken blocked his effort, Kightly was on
hand to guide the loose ball into an unguarded net.
Until then, clear openings had been scarce for Burnley.
Ings posed problems with a couple of efforts from the edge of the area,
while Scott Arfield appeared to be impeded by Chambers as he strained
to reach a Kightly cross.
Indeed, the better opportunities had fallen to Ipswich.
Kieran Trippier was forced to divert a Tommy Smith header over his own
crossbar and Frazer Richardson volleyed wide after meeting a teasing
Daryl Murphy cross.
Then, as McCarthy's men chased an equaliser, Paul Taylor's free-kick was palmed wide magnificently by Tom Heaton.
Yet for all Ipswich's endeavour to haul themselves back
into the game, it was Burnley who came closest to scoring a second
goal. Unsurprisingly Ings was involved, meeting Dean Marney's cross and
cannoning an effort against the crossbar.
Full Time Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Ipswich Town 0.
90:00 +2:44 Substitution
Substitution Substitution, Burnley. Keith Treacy replaces Danny Ings.
90:00 +2:08 Foul by Ross Wallace (Burnley).
90:00 +2:08 Jonathan Williams (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90:00 +0:55
Attempt missed. David Jones (Burnley) right footed shot from outside
the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dean Marney with a cross.
90:00 +0:20 Ross Wallace (Burnley) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90:00 +0:20 Foul by Aaron Cresswell (Ipswich Town).
88:56
Attempt missed. Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town) header from very
close range misses to the left. Assisted by Paul Taylor with a cross.
87:45
Attempt missed. Frank Nouble (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from
outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jonathan Williams.
83:52 Corner, Ipswich Town. Conceded by David Jones.
83:12 Dean Marney (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83:12 Foul by Frank Nouble (Ipswich Town).
82:31
Attempt missed. Frank Nouble (Ipswich Town) right footed shot from
outside the box is too high. Assisted by Paul Green with a headed pass.
82:12 Foul by Ashley Barnes (Burnley).
82:12 Paul Taylor (Ipswich Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81:11 Booking
Booking Jonathan Williams (Ipswich Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
80:59 Kieran Trippier (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80:59 Foul by Jonathan Williams (Ipswich Town).
80:09 Corner, Ipswich Town.
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o made fun of manager Jose
Mourinho’s doubts about his age with an ‘old man’ celebration during his
side’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Mourinho sparked controversy last month when footage of him suggesting that Eto’o may be older than he claims — 32 — was broadcast by a French television channel.
After
putting Chelsea ahead in the 56th minute, Eto’o raced to the corner
flag, but abruptly slowed down, putting his left hand on his back and
stooping to mimic old age.The celebration met with a flurry of approval
on Twitter, with one picture quickly garnering more than 1,000 retweets
on the micro-blogging site.
Mourinho claimed to have enjoyed Eto’o’s celebration, telling Sky Sports: “It was fantastic. We knew it, because he was preparing something.
“I
think he’s amazing. The way he copes with the situation in the last
couple of weeks, I think he’s fantastic. And today I told him before the
game: ‘You are going to score for sure.’”
In the clip broadcast
on French television, which showed Mourinho in conversation with a Swiss
businessman during a commercial event in Switzerland, the Portuguese
said: “The problem with Chelsea is we lack a striker. I have one
(Eto’o), but he’s 32. Maybe 35. Who knows?”
Mourinho subsequently rebuked the channel for showing the footage, claiming that it showed a “private conversation” not intended for public consumption.
Eto’o, who laughed off the affair, has a birthday
on Monday and when Mourinho was asked on Saturday which milestone the
striker will celebrate, he replied: “I think now he’s 33.”
Fortuna Dusseldorf and new Super Eagles right back, Leon
Balogun, will after all not undergo surgery on his injured right foot,
German medics ruled at the weekend.
An
excited Balogun said from his German base on Sunday that when he went
for a second check on his injury he was told by doctors that the injury
he sustained in the friendly against Mexico
last Wednesday in Atlanta, Georgia, United States is not as serious as
previously envisaged hence there will be no need for surgery.
“They
told me that the two bones broken are in the base of my foot, which
will heal on their own and will not require me to undergo any surgical
operation. I was also told that within six weeks I should be in good
condition and another two or four weeks for rehabilitation. Overall I
should be back kicking the ball by the time the national team returns to
camp”, he declared.
Already, treatment for the 25 year defence
ace has already began in German and the Nigerian medics are also keeping
a close tab on his treatment. “Yes, I have been in touch with Dr
Ibrahim Gyaran, team administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor and I must say I am
totally overwhelmed by the show of love by Nigerians and fans across
the world. I remain committed to overcome this initial setback and
return quickly for the World Cup preparations”, he said.
He said he will keep fit while recuperating by visiting the gym regularly. “I just hope I don’t look too muscular when I resume training, but I will keep fit while I try to get myself ready for future challenges”, he said laughing.
