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- FA chairman Greg Dyke calls on Fifas Sepp Blatter to step down
- Arsenal to re-sign Carlos Vela, says Real Sociedad president
- Greg Dyke tight-lipped over Roy Hodgsons England future post-Brazil
- Danny Welbeck scare puts Raheem Sterling on standby to face Italy
- Englands malaria tablets may add to World Cup headaches against Italy
- Englands Roy Hodgson: We respect Italy, but they have weaknesses
- Leeds ordered to repay £950,000 to David Haighs Sport Capital consortium
- Socceroos v Chile World Cup match recalls a painful history
- Yaya Touré battling to be fit for Ivory Coasts first World Cup match
- Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolaris nephew killed in car accident
- Justin Rose aiming to avoid distraction of World Cup during US Open
- Manchester Uniteds Louis van Gaal eyes up move for Alexis Sánchez
- John Hackworth fired as Philadelphia Union coach
- New goal-line technology for World Cup up to scratch, say officials - video
- World Cup 2014: Italys Mario Balotelli hoping his love story continues
- Hereford expelled from Football Conference for failing to pay creditors
- European football leaders call on Sepp Blatter to stand down as Fifa head
- Spains Diego Costa says he has fully recovered from injury for World Cup
- World Cup 2014 countdown as it happened!
- Lionel Messi vomits because of nerves, says Argentinas Alejandro Sabella
- World Cup memories and memorabilia: share your stickers, shirts and snaps
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to return for England against Uruguay
- Insert your own getting-a-lecture-from-Jack-Warner-on-ethics-gag here
- Mario Balotelli proposes to girlfriend before England v Italy in World Cup
- Classic World Cup moments: compilation from six of the best brick-by-brick animations video
| FA chairman Greg Dyke calls on Fifas Sepp Blatter to step down Posted: 10 Jun 2014 02:46 PM PDT Dyke says Blatters racist claim was totally unacceptable Qatar corruption allegations need to be properly investigated The Football Association chairman, Greg Dyke, has warned Sepp Blatter that an attack on the racist British media over Qatar 2022 corruption allegations was totally unacceptable and backed calls for Fifas president to stand down. In a co-ordinated attempt to derail Blatters plans to stand for another four years as president of the embattled world governing body, Uefa members including Dyke took on the 78-year-old head on. Mr Blatter, many of us are deeply troubled by your reaction to these allegations, the FA chairman told him. It is time for Fifa to stop attacking the messenger and instead consider, and understand, the message. Continue reading... |
| Arsenal to re-sign Carlos Vela, says Real Sociedad president Posted: 10 Jun 2014 02:32 PM PDT Arsenal can activate buy-back clause on Vela Striker made little impact in first spell at Arsenal Continue reading...  |
| Greg Dyke tight-lipped over Roy Hodgsons England future post-Brazil Posted: 10 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT FA chairman says he is a big fan of manager Progression from group would be considered a success Continue reading...  |
| Danny Welbeck scare puts Raheem Sterling on standby to face Italy Posted: 10 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT Welbeck limped out of England training session Roy Hodgson says Sterling is as fit as a flea Danny Welbecks participation in Englands opening World Cup game against Italy has been left in considerable doubt after he limped out of the squads training session on Tuesday, with Raheem Sterlings chances of starting in Manaus enhanced as a result. Welbeck, who was already wearing heavy strapping on his right thigh, was led away for treatment by the head physio, Gary Lewin, while the players undertook attacking drills at their plush base at the Urca military camp. His absence from Saturdays game would constitute a considerable blow for Roy Hodgson, who has leant heavily on the Manchester United forward throughout his tenure as manager despite his relatively meagre goals return for his club. Continue reading... |
| Englands malaria tablets may add to World Cup headaches against Italy Posted: 10 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT One in 10 takers of Malarone suffer bad side effects Roy Hodgson: Its better to have stomach cramps than malaria Continue reading...  |
| Englands Roy Hodgson: We respect Italy, but they have weaknesses Posted: 10 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT Manager says he has learned from Euro 2012 exit Italy will be well prepared and well organised Continue reading...  |
| Leeds ordered to repay £950,000 to David Haighs Sport Capital consortium Posted: 10 Jun 2014 02:17 PM PDT High court backed winding up petition against club Haigh being held in Dubai police station on fraud allegations Continue reading...  |
| Socceroos v Chile World Cup match recalls a painful history Posted: 10 Jun 2014 01:49 PM PDT This week's match in Brazil will stir difficult memories for those who fled to Australia to escape the Pinochet regime  |
| Yaya Touré battling to be fit for Ivory Coasts first World Cup match Posted: 10 Jun 2014 01:42 PM PDT Midfielder has not trained fully since having surgery last month Japan game may come too soon for Manchester City player Continue reading...  |
| Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolaris nephew killed in car accident Posted: 10 Jun 2014 01:32 PM PDT Tragedy strikes two days before Brazils World Cup opener Unclear whether Scolari will leave the teams training camp Continue reading...  |
| Justin Rose aiming to avoid distraction of World Cup during US Open Posted: 10 Jun 2014 12:39 PM PDT Defending champion to heed Travellers Championship lesson Rose not feeling optimistic about Englands chances in Brazil Continue reading...  |
| Manchester Uniteds Louis van Gaal eyes up move for Alexis Sánchez Posted: 10 Jun 2014 11:53 AM PDT Chile forward would cost around £20m Hoddle tips Rooney to shine in Brazil Alexis Sánchez has been identified by Louis van Gaal as a summer target for Manchester United, with the manager considering a move for the £20m-rated Barcelona forward. Although Uniteds interest has yet to reach any advanced stage, the manager is a firm admirer of the Chile international, who will face Van Gaals Holland during the World Cup in Brazil. Continue reading... |
| John Hackworth fired as Philadelphia Union coach Posted: 10 Jun 2014 11:12 AM PDT Two year reign ends after run of lacklustre results  |
| New goal-line technology for World Cup up to scratch, say officials - video Posted: 10 Jun 2014 10:29 AM PDT The latest goal-line technology is demonstrated ahead of its first official use in the World Cup in Brazil. Dirk Boichhausen, CEO of GoalControl, says the system uses cameras that tell the referee if the ball has crossed the line via a wristwatch. He adds that the technology is a positive and historic moment. Fifa first started using goal-line technology after Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in 2010. Johannes Holzmueller, Group leader of Fifa quality programme, also supports the system stating that it is 100% effective Continue reading...  |
| World Cup 2014: Italys Mario Balotelli hoping his love story continues Posted: 10 Jun 2014 10:28 AM PDT The newly-engaged striker attempts to translate his inner peace into goals for Cesare Prandellis Azzurri in Brazil Will he be selected to face England? Will he be on song? Will becoming engaged just three days before the World Cup starts distract the enigma named Mario Balotelli? Self-centred, immature, mercurial, maverick, super-talented. Pick your description, choose your view of the man expected to again be trusted to spearhead Italys tilt at a major tournament after firing the Azzurri to the Euro 2012 final. Continue reading... |
| Hereford expelled from Football Conference for failing to pay creditors Posted: 10 Jun 2014 10:21 AM PDT Cash-strapped club missed final deadline on Monday Relegated Chester reinstated to Skrill Conference Premier Hereford United have been expelled from the Football Conference after they missed their latest deadline to pay football creditors. Herefords expulsion means Chester, relegated from the Skrill Conference Premier League on the final day of last season, will be reinstated and Hayes & Yeading will not be relegated from the Conference South. Continue reading... |
| European football leaders call on Sepp Blatter to stand down as Fifa head Posted: 10 Jun 2014 10:01 AM PDT Blatter told not to stand for re-election next year There are very few people who still take Fifa seriously Continue reading...  |
| Spains Diego Costa says he has fully recovered from injury for World Cup Posted: 10 Jun 2014 09:04 AM PDT Striker had leg treated with horse placenta Spain meet Holland first in repeat of 2010 final Diego Costa says he has fully recovered from the nagging hamstring injury that dogged him in the final weeks of the season and was ready to seize his chance for Spain in his native Brazil. Costa, who scored 36 goals in all competitions for the Spanish champions Atlético Madrid, said: Im very motivated, I think Im 100% and ready. I cant wait for the competition to start. Continue reading... |
| World Cup 2014 countdown as it happened! Posted: 10 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT Roy Hodgson insisted that Steven Gerrard is fit and is hopeful that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit for England's game against Uruguay World Cup fever gallery of preparations around the world
And with that, we are out like the vapours. Thanks for all the comments, tweets, opinion and emails. The comments section will remain open and available for you to keeping on nattering away in. Enjoy the rest of your evening. Bye!
We here at the Guardian know that the World Cups are about much more than football, profit and aggressive marketing. So show us your stickers, shirts and snapshots from previous tournaments and we will build a gallery of your memories and paraphernalia and bung it into one of our delightful Guardian Witness projects. Come on. What are you waiting for?
This one has got legs: Lennart Johansson, the former Uefa president vanquished by Blatter in 98, says it is time for him to step down as Fifa president.
Keep this link in a safe place. It brings you to another link which has loads and loads of links to all the 32 teams squads with all the official numbers as well as articles on the most interesting players, tactical analyses and the secrets behind the players from our world-wide team of experts.
By watching this video of Spain training you will learn two things:
Earlier we gave you a smattering of the quotes from the England head honcho Roy Hodgson who was saying that he is hopeful Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit for the teams second World Cup match against Uruguay. Well here is our report saying much of the same thing but with more detail and love: England coach Roy Hodgson is hopeful Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be fit for the teams second World Cup match against Uruguay. The Arsenal midfielder injured his right knee during a warm-up match against Ecuador last Wednesday.
And it don't stop:
Those Dutch rappers sure like to be footballers:
"Memphis Depay could and should learn from RR Drenthe" modal verbs Duncan Smith. "Keep your mind on the football and don't squander whatever natural gifts you have. It can go from the Santiago Bernabeu to wherever the hell Reading play football all too quickly."
Chris Allen and Andrew Johnson have some answers to dublinro's World Cup teaser. In fact Chris Allen and Andrew Johnson have the same answers.They reckon it is: Juan Mata
Good news - courtesy of those wonderful people in The Netherlands - the first FA to step out of line.. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/10/us-soccer-world-fifa-ned-idUSKBN0EL1C320140610 Here are the quotes from the current chairman of the Royal Dutch Football Association Michael van Praag if you cannot summon the energy to click on the link: The image of FIFA has been tarnished by everything that has happened over the last years ... There are very few people who still take Fifa seriously and what ever way you want to cut and dice it, Blatter is responsible in the end. The election for the FIFA presidency is only next year but it will be good if Europe is well prepared and ready to make its choice ... If you are in a post for 16 years there comes a time when you have to ask whether you are still contributing. Another day, another hotel lobby. Uefa meeting now to decide how to oppose Blatter's re-election as Fifa president.
Michiel Jongsma is here to regale us with more stories about rapping footballers. Says Michiel: The promising Dutch youngster Memphis Depay has laid down some trackz in his younger years. Here he is aged 17 I believe, spitting a verse. His then-manager Fred Rutten told him to stop rapping and focus on the football, which given his inclusion in the World Cup squad of The Netherlands seems a wise advice.
Breaking news ... Hibernian have sacked manager Terry Butcher following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership.
Below the line, dublinroo has this question for y'all. Holler if you have the answers. Here's a trivia question I got asked yesterday: Seven World Cup winners since 1990 who have played for at least two English clubs?
That's your lot from Roy. He is off to put some cones out on the pitch and watch the lads do a few sprints. That leaves us with not much to do but argue all day about who's the best MC Biggie, Jay Z or Clint Dempsey?
And that's is where Sky say so long to the presser. Luckily we have the Twitter to know what the Brazilian journalists are asking: Hodgson: "It's not true that we complained about Manaus or Brazil ... that nonsense should be put to bed straight away" RH: I'm pleased to be back at a World Cup again, this time in charge of England, the team of my birth-right RH: It's always difficult to analyse yourself. In 20 years, since 94, you hope you have evolved and the work you have done helps you improve RH: I would like to think I'm in a better position now than I was in 94 and those experiences help me this year in Brazil RH on Immobile and Balotelli: The headache is Prandelli's but both will be given maximum respect, they are very good players. RH: I work on logic and what we can do in terms of preparation. I'd like to think when the whistle blows we've done everything to be ready.
Roy is asked about the threat of Pirlo and the players in his side that he reckons the Italians will be shaking in their brightly coloured boots at the very thought of: That is a better question for Prandelli. I can't second guess him or imagine what he is telling his players. It is quite normal people focus on Andrea Pirlo for them but there are a lot of other quality players also worthy of attention. We are not hung up on one player because his team does not depend totally on one player. I am expecting our players to run around a lot. A lot has been spoken about the conditions in Manaus. We will have to see what it brings. Let's see when we get there about how much conservation of energy will be necessary. We try to win every game and keeping possession of the ball is important. You need to move things around but we will be hoping possession leads somewhere. "It is very exciting. We have a potential, a lot of belief in this potential but I must advise some caution because the players haven't had a lot of chances in an England shirt to show they can realise that potential. I believe it will be but first lets see some good performances in England shirts. Lets calm down before we say we have world beaters because to have world beaters you have to put an international shirt on and play very well. We have more pace, more mobility, a lot of technical players. I am not trying to play down the future looks quite bright and there are interesting times ahead. This World Cup, we are also going to need our experienced players.
I think we are in a better place than we were at the Euros. It is the first game of the tournament and we have had a month to prepare and also, we have been working for two years and we understand each other better and hopefully we are in a better position but it is action that counts.
Those missing Oxlade-Chamberlain quotes: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did very well, you may have seen the running he was doing. Very positive, he was running so well and so fast and we will be stepping up his recovery in due course.
Roy is in the house. He says that the there was nothing wrong with Steven Gerard yesterday. In fact, the Liverpool captain did extra work yesterday. As for Oxlade-Chamberlain ... my feed cuts out ... but when it comes back Roy says he hopes that the Arsenal man will be fit for the second game of the World Cup, the one against Uruguay.
Our man in Berlin, Philip Oltermann, has been digging around and discovered that Franz Beckenbauer could be in a spot of bother for failing to assist the investigation into alleged corruption at Fifa. He writes: Franz Beckenbauer faces the prospect of being fined for failing to assist the investigation into alleged corruption at Fifa. According to the German newspaper Die Welt, Fifas ethics commission is considering sanctioning the former World Cup winner for failing to answer questions about his role in the decision to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar.
@ianmccourt Roshes are a damn fine Nike trainer. No idea about the bottoms.
OK. I'll ask it. What on earth are mayo coloured roshe's? And who are the certain guys that are wearing bottoms? Who'd have thought it'd be raining in Rio.... There's me thinking shorts and mayo coloured roshe's. Certain guys are wearing bottoms ��
Who will press high, who will play three at the back and who may even favour the Christmas Tree? And how much of Michael Cox's preview will you pass off as your own hard-earned knowledge?
Send your captions to the above email address pretty please: What's my fans up to back in England? @Alex_OxChambo @ITSOB @welcomeOVO @ovonoel @OVOREPSUPCHUBBS ballin gasolin #szn pic.twitter.com/IR8KaCEUtc
The kiss of death has firmly been planted on the cheek of Wayne Rooney. Pelé has backed Wayne Rooney to star for England at the World Cup. Wayne Rooney has scored 39 goals for England, but he has never found the net at a World Cup despite featuring in South Africa and Germany. The England striker struggled for fitness and form prior to the squad's training camp in Miami, but Pele expects the 28-year-old to perform well in Brazil.
Why is Mesut Özil so important in the final third? How does Thomas Müller score his goals? Why should you not bother with man-to-man marking against the Germans? Only Zico has the answers.
Just like Pirlo, eh?
Apparently, there is going to be an England press conference in the next few minutes. Stayed tuned for all jazz.
At the last World Cup it was tomato ketchup, brown sauce, squad unity and decent football. This time Fabio Capello has banned the Twitter. "I don't like when they tweet," grumbled the Russia manager. "They can still use sms though".
Said and Done's Jack Warner has been jabbering on to ITV news. In his opinion, Fifa will "never change" while Sepp Blatter remains top dog. He says: If Blatter had one modicum of decency he wouldn't even be at Fifa still. I have been with Fifa for 30 years ... I am still the longest serving elected officer of Fifa, and under Mr Blatter? I am saying to you under Mr Blatter, Fifa will never change.
Some essential language lessons ahead of this World Cup shindig courtesy of some nice people over on the Twitter. 'My nan could have scored that!'Soccer fans essential vocabulary in Brazilian Portuguese. http://t.co/oapSeHuGCv pic.twitter.com/HElOgsmXIA
Have you spent the day counting down the time till the launch of our brilliant interactive tactical guide to the World Cup's major teams by Zico went live? Wait no more, dear friends, wait no more.
Of course not everyone in Brazil is over the moon that the World Cup show is coming to town. And street artists are just one bunch who have let their displeasure be known. Of course, most of us are stuck in the office and don't have the time at weekends to fly to Brazil and see this art for ourselves. Lucky then that the nice people over in G2 have put together this gallery for us all to gawk at and pretend we know something about street art because we once flicked through a book about Banksy while waiting for the dentist.
There are general principles in life you should live by. Treat others as you would want to be treated is a good one. Set a good example to children is another. And don't laugh at old people when they fall over is a third. Of course, there are always exceptions. Always.
Good afternoon one and all. How are you this fine day? It's about time for those in Brazil to rise and shine so expect this afternoon to be full of Unless injury or a massive howler takes place, the former Queens Park Rangers benchwarmer Júlio César will be the Seleçãos No1 during the World Cup. This is bad news for his understudy, Jéfferson, who has made a handful of appearances for the team, stretching back over four years and under two different managers. And it means only an accident can alter an uncomfortable statistic in the history of the national side: in the last 64 years, only two black goalkeepers have had the honour of starting for the Seleção in a World Cup. More shocking is the fact that Moacir Barbosa and Nélson Dida, wore the No1 shirt 56 years apart.
And with that, I'm off! It's been a whole barrel o'fun. Ian McCourt will keep you company for the afternoon email him on ian.mccourt@theguardian.com if you'd like. Bye!
I'm told there's a social media-led campaign to give Rik Mayall a posthumous No1 with his, um, unusual football-linked England-themed song Noble England. It's on iTunes here, if you want to play.
To update my earlier mention of Joe Cole and the two-day Aston Villa medical he passed! "I'm really excited," Cole said after penning his two-year contract. "It all happened really quickly, I got a call maybe a week or 10 days ago and it just felt like it was a really exciting place to come at this moment." Hmmmm.
The FA website has a statistics engine, and are boasting about the fact revealed by said engine that there are fully twice as many under-21-year-olds in their squad as in the next most under-21-year-oldful squad. You can play with the FA's engine here. To be honest none of the stats are amazing, but I quite like the way the numbers float around the screen when you fiddle with it.
These reports freshly in from Croatian sports journalist Aleksandar Holiga It seems that Rakitic to Barca announcement is imminent. Reports emerging that he'll take his medical in Croatia team camp today. Other breaking news from Croatia camp: dead iguana + a giant snake with head chopped off found; Brozovic the ping-pong champion.
If someone gave the average Fifa exco member a pound for every comment article about Fifa launched in the last week or so they'd probably, well, do whatever they were told. Anyway, here's another from Jules Boykoff: The World Cup launches in Brazil on Thursday, but there's no need to wait for dramatic action the festival of dissent has already begun. In the past week alone, activists from the Homeless Workers Movement marched on the São Paulo stadium where host Brazil will square off against Croatia in the tournament's opening match. In Brasilia, indigenous dissidents clashed with tear-gas-happy riot police. The hacktivist group Anonymous vowed to level cyber-attacks against World Cup corporate sponsors. Public transport workers in São Paulo leveraged their Cup-induced advantage, carrying out a strike that gridlocked the city before suspending it on Monday night.
Robbie Savage in turning-up-at-airport-with-wife's-passport drama!
Sorry about the silence. I'm a bit busy watching this:
Toto Schillaci, boggle-eyed hero of the 1990 World Cup, has told the Corriere dello Sport that Ciro Immobile can be Italy's surprise star in Brazil this year. "There are the right conditions for Immobile to be (coach Cesare) Prandelli's trump card. He has played and scored a lot this season, he is in excellent shape and has great enthusiasm just as I had in 1990," the 49-year-old said. "He is fast, sees the goal like few others and he does not have the spotlight on him."
I'm not sure if these pictures are reassuring or terrifying
The good news is that it's now 7.35am in Brazil, which means something might actually happen.
In further England anniversary news, on this day eight years ago the team struggled to a 1-0 win over Paraguay in Frankfurt to get their 2006 World Cup campaign rolling. The man who scored their best goal of the tournament is today having a medical at Aston Villa (a two-day medical at that) ahead of a likely free transfer.
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear best goal England have scored or ever will. Happy birthday to you.
Chapter two of The Guardian's video history of the Brazil national team, which we've chopped into four and are publishing one part at a time, is here. Watch it. Go on. Do it. Now.
This ITV effort from 1986 is obviously great, though.
There's a small debate below the line about the best ever World Cup themes. Here's a few to choose from. Any favourites?
Footballers getting on/off aeroplanes latest: Belgium are on their way to Brazil! Brazil, here we come! #Belgium pic.twitter.com/SvFfW0HSxx Off we go. ..rumo ao brasil #teambelgium pic.twitter.com/as4wuIjBOt Nobody's getting passed here ... pic.twitter.com/k00va3L1K6
Looks like Mario Balotelli got himself engaged last night. On a very murky beach. She said yes.. The most important yes in my life. That was the place of my question! I Love you and http://t.co/0GarxJm43y
Jonathan Wilson has written a fine piece about the Ivory Coast. I'll give you the first couple of paragraphs, but you can read the whole thing here. Fate has not been helpful to Ivory Coast at World Cups. In 2006, as the so-called golden generation first emerged, they were drawn in an impossible group with Argentina, Holland and Serbia-Montenegro, lost their first two games and were out almost before they had begun. Four years later, they lost to Brazil, drew with Portugal and, although they beat North Korea, went out as Brazil and Portugal played out a goalless draw. The tournament has been rather kinder on this occasion but the truth is that time has probably been called in the last-chance saloon, and the Ivorians are outside on the pavement wondering if there is anywhere else still open.
Who's going to win the World Cup? What about the golden boot? How well will England do? Vote!
"Yes, England's France '98 suit was hideously of its time, but McManaman still looks cool as a choc-ice," insists Matt Dony. "Staring wistfully into middle-distance, looking away from camera, a wisp of hair on his forehead, what a man. Mind you, it's not hard to look good when standing that close to Martin Keown."
We asked Guardian readers to come up with some World Cup posters. And you did well.
Good news if you're in Sao Paolo and, um, want to get the tube: the tube workers who were on strike now are not, at least until tomorrow. They haven't ruled out the possibility of striking their way through Thursday's opening match, when 50,000 fans are expected to use the network.
Looking back over pictures of World Cup-related airport arrivals and departures, I am reminded of the horror that was England's France 98 suit:
There are some absolute crackers in this gallery of World Cup-related pictures from around the world. This is a particular highlight:
An interesting piece by Alex Bellos, who wrote a very good book about Brazilian football once, about some uncanny coincidences involving World Cup players and birthdays. Talking of which: When it's Wesley Sneijder's birthday, Wesley Sneijder gets a birthday cake. Perfect man management by Van Gaal pic.twitter.com/mgfVc3xLtC
It's coming! And there's nothing much you can do about it now, so you might as well just enjoy it. Of course, you might have been enjoying it anyway. Probably were, if you're the type of person who reads World Cup build-up live blogs. The point is, whether you were enjoying it anyway or have only just started enjoying it, welcome. And if you're not enjoying it at all, the exit's this way. As if to prove just how real it is, photographers have been camping out in the airports of Brazil and these are the people they caught arriving last night: Continue reading... |
| Lionel Messi vomits because of nerves, says Argentinas Alejandro Sabella Posted: 10 Jun 2014 08:51 AM PDT Coach believes star player is suffering from anxiety Pressure on Messi to lead country to third World Cup The Argentina head coach, Alejandro Sabella, has put Lionel Messis habit of throwing up on the pitch down to anxiety from his star player. Nerves. I reckon that in these moments there is anxiety more than anything, Sabella said before the team departed for Brazil, where they open their World Cup campaign against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday. Its difficult to remain calm. Continue reading... |
| World Cup memories and memorabilia: share your stickers, shirts and snaps Posted: 10 Jun 2014 08:46 AM PDT World Cups are about much more than football, so show us your stickers, shirts and snapshots from previous tournaments and we will build a gallery of your memories and paraphernalia Every World Cup throws up its own imagery. Last time round we had the wayward Jabulani, the deafening vuvuzela and the unrivalled spectacle of watching football matches under the shadow of Table Mountain. In 2006, half of Europe piled into Germany's fan parks to see Zinedine Zidane drop his head into Marco Materazzi's chest, and further back we experienced American grandeur, French jubilation and England's (one) glorious summer. In the same way that every World Cup tells its own sporting story, so too the tournaments have their own cultural life. The winners, losers, heroes and villains all change through the years, and so do the ticket stubs, flags, mascots, scarves, stamps and wallcharts. The colours, shapes and iconography of every World Cup are unique and those idiosyncrasies are immortalised on key-rings, posters and scrapbooks.  |
| Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to return for England against Uruguay Posted: 10 Jun 2014 07:54 AM PDT Arsenal midfielder to miss World Cup opener due to knee injury Roy Hodgson plays down fears over Steven Gerrards fitness Continue reading...  |
| Insert your own getting-a-lecture-from-Jack-Warner-on-ethics-gag here Posted: 10 Jun 2014 07:45 AM PDT |
| Mario Balotelli proposes to girlfriend before England v Italy in World Cup Posted: 10 Jun 2014 07:37 AM PDT She said yes. The most important yes in my life Striker posts picture of ring on Twitter account Continue reading...  |
| Classic World Cup moments: compilation from six of the best brick-by-brick animations video Posted: 10 Jun 2014 06:56 AM PDT Dennis Bergkamp, Carlos Alberto and Diego Maradona stake a claim for the best World Cup goal ever while Zidane, Massing and the Zaire national team play dirty. Watch a montage of some of the most memorable moments from tournaments past, lovingly recreated brick-by-brick Continue reading...  |
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