James: I prefer Real Madrid to Barcelona

The Colombia and Monaco star has expressed his desire to move to Spain and says he favours a switch to the Champions League winners over the Catalan giants

Nigeria put aside financial wrangling

The Super Eagles have traveled to Brasilia for their game against France after meeting with federation officials

The Dossier: Why Herrera makes more sense than Fabregas for Manchester United

The Bilbao-born playmaker is a natural heir to Paul Scholes, blending defensive bite with craft and invention on the ball, and is the perfect midfielder for Louis van Gaal

Sagna wary of Nigeria threat

The French defender has warned his teammates not to underrate Stephen Keshi’s men when both sides meet in Monday’s World Cup second round encounter

World Cup Team of the group stage: Messi, Neymar and Robben join fearsome selection

The devastating attacking trio are joined by some of the tournament's more surprising stars so far in our select XI from the opening phase of matches in Brazil

The devastating attacking trio are joined by some of the tournament's more surprising stars so far in our select XI from the opening phase of matches in Brazil

Official: Shaw completes Manchester United move

The teenager has completed his €37.5m move from Southampton to the Premier League giants, having completed his medical and agreed personal terms with the Old Trafford club

Window Watch: Herrera & Shaw just the start of Van Gaal's Manchester United overhaul

Goal's weekly column looks at the latest in the transfer market, including the Red Devils' double swoop for Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, and Manchester City's capture of FernandoLUKE SHAW & ANDER HERRERA JUST THE BEGINNING FOR MANCHESTER UNITED

Adidas shirts, Nike boots – the battle for Nigeria’s sole

The competition for who wears what in the national team is growing as kit companies turn on the heat

Argentina - Switzerland Preview: Hitzfeld's men looking to halt in form Messi

The European side scraped through to the second round but come up against a strong Albiceleste team on Tuesday

Belgium - USA Preview: Injury worries overshadow last 16 clash

The Red Devils are sweating on the fitness of captain Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen, while the Stars and Stripes are monitoring the progress of Jozy Altidore

Shame of Gijon: The story of Germany & Algeria's unlikely rivalry

Jupp Derwall's side's complicit 1-0 victory over Austria saw both teams progress at the expense of the North Africans back in 1982 - leaving fans and neutrals alike outraged

Germany - Algeria Preview: Low's side battle vibrant Africans for quarter-final berth

The three-time winners are looking to set up a last eight match against either France or Nigeria but Halilhodzic's side should not be underestimated

France - Nigeria Preview: Les Bleus in form to down Super Eagles

Didier Deschamps' side cruised through the group stage and will fancy their chances against the Africans despite a couple of injury concerns

Nigeria can finally count on Odemwingie - Fabian Biastoch

Peter Odemwingie is one of the most controversial players to have ever put on the Nigeria shirt at a World Cup.

Nobody wants to be Nigeria's Maradona, says Mikel

Chelsea midfielder has stressed that it's all about the team rather than about individual glory, while Stephen Keshi has stressed he doesn't have any problems with Victor Moses

Emile Heskey Emile Heskey Heskey: Benzema will be a handful for Nigeria

Emile Heskey, the former England and Liverpool striker and now a Sony Team Ambassador at the World Cup in Brazil, looks at some of the striking talent on show …

Should John Obi Mikel be dropped against France?

Following a series of underwhelming performances, the Chelsea midfielder has come in for criticism from some Nigerian fans. Should he retain his spot in the team?

DEBATE

Japan - Colombia Preview: Pekerman's side aim for perfect record

The coach has seen his side win convincingly twice and will look to head into the knockout stages with the confidence of three straight group victories

Odemwingie: Our hard work paid off

The striker has hailed his team's character after the Super Eagles recorded their first win of the 2014 Fifa World Cup win against Bosnia on Saturday

Emenike and Odemwingie inspire Nigeria

Stephen Keshi's decision to start Odemwingie proved to be inspired as he and Emenike ran the show against Bosnia

Manchester United host Swansea City on opening day & all the 2014-15 Premier League fixtures in full

Louis van Gaal begins his reign over the Red Devils by hosting Garry Monk's side at Old Trafford, while Cesc Fabregas could make his debut for Chelsea at Burnley

Neuer warns Germany against complaceny

The goalkeeper described the team's 4-0 thrashing of Portugal as far from perfect and insists Germany need to remain focused to secure a victory against the Africans

BREAKING NEWS: Kaka set to join Orlando City

The Brazilian midfielder is in advanced talks with the new MLS outfit, who confirmed that the AC Milan man would join up with the team in January

Will I stay at Juve? I don't know - Vidal

The 27-year-old has admitted he is unsure whether he will still be playing in Serie A next season and only wants to focus on the World Cup

Mourinho backs Fabregas to 'prove his worth' at Chelsea

The former Arsenal captain agreed to join the club from Barcelona earlier this month and his new manager has backed the 27-year-old to make an impact at Stamford Bridge

Del Bosque gets Spain backing

Secretary general Jorge Perez admits they never envisaged the dismal World Cup campaign they have endured but is adamant the current coach is the best man for the job

Inler relishing battle with 'huge talent' Pogba

The Switzerland captain is eager to go head-to-head with his Serie A opponent in Friday's group game, while Steve von Bergen insists there is no set plan to stop Karim Benzema

Ronaldo is 'training, jumping and shooting' - Veloso

The midfielder has shrugged off concerns over the Portugal skipper's fitness and says he will happily fill in at left-back to cover for the injured Fabio Coentrao

Santos frustrated with Japan draw despite Katsouranis red

Greece' 10 men battled to a point on Thursday but their head coach believes they could have stolen a win had their counterattacking been stronger

Motta: We must treat Costa Rica clash as a final

The Italy star has warned of the threat posed by the Central Americans' attack, while former goalkeeper Luis Conejo claims Keylor Navas will become one of the world's best

'I don't like it when he hurts like this' - Suarez expresses sympathy for Gerrard

The Uruguay striker - who scored his country's second goal in the 2-1 win over the Three Lions - says his club-mate is "one of the best" despite his late error in Brazil

Traore joins Bursaspor from AC Milan

The 29-year-old has struggled to force his way into the first team at San Siro and has now signed a three-year deal with the Super Lig side

‘Love, devotion and song’ - why Argentina fans stand out from the crowd

With the FIFA 2014 World Cup™ in Brazil under way, Goal takes a look at the fan culture of the competing countries. Here we explore Argentina

Alonso: We lost the hunger to retain the World Cup

The Spain midfielder admitted that the defending champions lost their desire and says changes will be made after they were dumped out in the group stage

Keshi hopes Oboabona can recover before Saturday

Loss of the defender would be a big blow to the Super Eagles who are expected to fly out to Cuiaba on Thursday for their match against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Nigeria await Oboabona scan result

The defender copped an injury during Monday’s game against Iran and failed to train with the team in Campinas on Tuesday evening

Russia 1-1 South Korea: Kerzhakov rescues point for Capello's men

After a dull first half, the Eastern Europeans fought back to earn a point from their first game against Hong Myung-bo's side

Iran coach Quieroz wants to ‘surprise’ fancied Nigeria

The Portuguese said his team will play with joy and respect despite their country’s economic difficulties in Monday's World Cup opener against the African champions

Nigeria’s Mikel looks to banish sad memories of 2010

The Chelsea man has said that the Super Eagles are not in Brazil to make up the numbers but to contend for the trophy alongside the favourites

Moses is Nigeria’s most marketable player

The Chelsea winger has been headlining the biggest commercial deals leading up to the Mundial.

World Cup 2014: Predicting the Fortunes of Africa’s Five

The Goal Nigeria team talk through their expectations and predictions for Africa's Five Nations at the Brazil World Cup this summer.

Arsenal understudy Campbell steals centre stage from Cavani

COMMENT: The 21-year-old has once again alerted Arsene Wenger to his abilities after a fine individual display against Uruguay that left the Paris Saint-Germain man in the shade

Casillas: Blame me for Netherlands thrashing

The Spain shot-stopper admits he was well below par as Louis van Gaal's side crushed the world champions 5-1 on Friday

Fabregas adds new dimension to Chelsea, says Mourinho

The Portuguese has played down the severity of previous altercations with the midfielder and insists Ramires will not be leaving Stamford Bridge this summer

Mourinho was right about Casillas - Maradona

The Argentina legend has criticised the Real Madrid goalkeeper following his nightmare showing on Friday night

Mourinho wants Diego Costa at Chelsea

The Atletico Madrid striker has passed a medical ahead of his €44m move to Stamford Bridge and the Blues boss has now admitted he is keen to sign the Spain international

Eagles must beat Iran, says Amodu Shaibu

The former Super Eagles handler has urged Stephen Keshi's men to go for victory when they square up against Carlos Quieroz's men on Monday

Messi: My goal was a relief

The forward scored what proved to be the decisive goal in La Albiceleste's 2-1 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina, with Alejandro Sabella changing his tactics at half-time

Chile-Australia Preview: Sampaoli sweating on fitness of Vidal

The Juventus midfielder is struggling with a knee injury and could miss the entire group stage but the South Americans should still comfortably see off the Group B minnows

Spain-Netherlands Preview: Dutch bid to avenge 2010 final defeat

The Roja boss has a predictable wealth of talent to choose from but faces a dilemma over whether to play a false nine or trust that Diego Costa has fully recovered