Hiddink, 71, becomes the latest big name coach to move to China since the country’s president, Xi Jinping, stated his desire for the nation to become a global football power.

The Dutchman joins fellow European Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi on the payroll of the CFA, with the Italian World Cup winner currently preparing the senior team for the finals of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates in January.

Top coaches such as Luiz Felipe Scolari, Fabio Capello, Manuel Pellegrini and Andre Villas Boas, have also had stints with clubs in the Chinese Super League.

Hiddink’s appointment was announced on the Chinese FA’s official website.

It said he had been tasked with leading the country through to the 2020 Asian Under-23 Championship, which serves as the continent’s final qualifiers for the Olympic Games.

Hiddink is no stranger to football in the region, having led South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup before taking Australia to the last 16 for the first time four years later in Germany.

His most recent job saw him work as an interim head coach with English Premier League side Chelsea.

China has not appeared at the Olympic football finals since 2008 when Beijing hosted the Games and the team were given an automatic berth.

The post Hiddink appointed coach of Chinese Olympic team appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The 1994 World Cup-winning captain returns for what will be his second stint in charge of the Selecao, having spent four years at the helm between 2006-2010.

He succeeds Luiz Felipe Scolari, who left the post after failing to claim Brazil’s first World Cup on home soil following a humbling 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals.

In Dunga’s previous spell in charge of his country, he won 42 and lost just six of his 60 games, guiding them to the Copa America 2007 and Confederations Cup 2009 titles, but was criticised for his pragmatic approach.

The 50-year-old was fired from what was his first senior coaching role in 2010 after suffering a World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.

Dunga’s only other experience in the dugout came at Brazilian club Internacional last year, but he lasted less than 12 months before being dismissed after suffering four straight league defeats.

His first Brazil squad will be announced in late August ahead of the Selecao’s Gillette Brasil Global Tour friendly fixtures with Colombia and Ecuador in the United States.

Follow Us

The post Dunga replaces Scolari as Brazil coach appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The forward exposed a vulnerable defence with glee in Brasilia on Monday, his first-half double sandwiching Joel Matip’s unlikely leveller.

Brazil ultimately progressed with a degree of comfort, as the much-maligned Fred and substitute Fernandinho added further goals after the interval to secure a last-16 tie against fellow South Americans Chile.

Mexico were victorious against Croatia in Group A’s other closing fixture, but failed to make up a goal-difference deficit as the hosts retained top spot.

While a routine triumph in which Brazil’s star man took his tournament tally to four goals will provide comfort, Luiz Felipe Scolari is unlikely to partake in too much backslapping.

Indeed, after coming through a group featuring no other major footballing powerhouse, Scolari is likely to demand more of his side as they prepare to face a Chile outfit that have impressed in the tournament to date.

The game immediately took on a frenetic nature as Paulinho and Vincent Aboubakar had goal-bound efforts blocked at either end.

It was Cameroon’s susceptible backline that was first to be breached when Neymar, inexplicably unmarked, cleverly turned home Luiz Gustavo’s low cross from the left.

Follow Us

The post Neymar double sets up Chile clash appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Having won their opening fixtures last week, both sides came into the clash knowing a win would all but assure them of a place in the second round.

Unlike much of the action previously seen at the finals, what followed was a disjointed affair devoid of any real pattern, although the hosts created the clearer goalscoring opportunities.

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made a superb save in each half, scooping Neymar’s header away following a pinpoint Dani Alves cross in the first period before being in the right place to keep out Thiago Silva’s free header five yards out with just three minutes remaining.

Brazil dominated the latter stages, but ultimately Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side failed to deliver the goal the home crowd so desperately craved, and the stalemate leaves the two teams locked on four points at the top of the group.

Cameroon and Croatia meet in Group A’s next game on Wednesday, with each knowing defeat would see them exit the tournament.

Brazil made one alteration to the side that defeated Croatia in the opening match, Ramires coming in for the injured Hulk, while Mexico were unchanged from their win over Cameroon.

After a slow start to proceedings, Mexico’s Hector Herrera had the first meaningful effort in the 24th minute. Julio Cesar tipped a rasping 25-yard drive over the crossbar, although the officials failed to see the touch and awarded a goal-kick to the hosts.

Brazil’s response was immediate, Neymar rising highest to head Alves’ cross towards goal, but Ochoa flew to his right to brilliantly claw the effort away.

Ochoa was called into action again 10 minutes before the break, this time making a much more routine save from Fred’s header after the forward met Neymar’s right-wing corner.

Mexico hit back, Jose Vazquez momentarily worrying Cesar with a swerving effort from the edge of the box which ultimately flew wide in the 41st minute.

Paulinho was then denied by Ochoa shortly before the break, the goalkeeper rushing from his line to block the midfielder’s poked effort following a driven Neymar set-piece.

The opening of the second period matched that of the first with neither side able to assert themselves, Vazquez and Herrera both fizzing shots just over the bar from distance in the only efforts of note prior to the hour mark.

Neymar sent a 30-yard free-kick narrowly wide in the 63rd minute and went close again six minutes later, jinking into space inside the penalty area only to see his strike repelled once more by Ochoa.

Suddenly the hosts looked more lively, substitute Jo dragging an effort wide from a tight angle after being slipped in by fellow replacement Bernard, and Silva planting a header straight at Ochoa when it seemed easier to score.

Raul Jimenez brought a smart stop out of Cesar in stoppage time as the game became stretched, but both sides had to settle for a draw that means they each remain in control of their own fate.

Follow Us

The post Neymar caged as Mexico hold Brazil to barren draw appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

But in the end, Brazil matched the big billing with a victory on the World Cup’s opening night, and it is Neymar – inevitably – that has steered headlines back towards football.

After all the rhetoric, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side managed to come from behind to win 3-1 against a Croatia side which matched their opponents for long spells, but in the end just couldn’t cope with the weight of emotion descending from the bleachers.

The big build-up was always likely to take a turn for the worse, and Marcelo’s own goal inside 11 minutes provided exactly the moment Brazilians had feared.

Ivica Olic – not for the first nor last time – found space in behind Dani Alves after a neat pass from Ivan Rakitic, and after using the Sevilla man as a decoy runner he played a low cross in towards Nikica Jelavic which Marcelo inadvertently turned home at the far post.

Croatia were always going to need a little extra though, and they knew they had to keep Neymar quite somehow.

The entire Croatian side – save for goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa – rushed to the referee to demand that the Barcelona man be sent off following his stray elbow caught the face of Luka Modric.

The action didn’t look particularly malicious, and Yuichi Nishimura deemed it only worthy of a yellow card, but the fact it was Brazil’s star player who was the perpetrator gave the Croatians an extra reason to want to see red. Only a minute later, they were punished by the ex-Santos man.

Follow Us

The post Neymar shines brightest, as Brazil thrash Croatia 3-1 in World Cup opener appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.