Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

07:21

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Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Ghana v USA: World Cup 2014 live!

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 04:11 PM PDT

50 mins: Brooks had a good end to the season with Hertha Berlin and played himself back into the USA plans after a poor game against Ukraine almost scupered his hopes. He's been good in team camp. Interesting to see how he does as this game gets stretched. Still USA 1-0 Ghana as Jones steps across to put the ball out for a throw, with Opare bombing forward down the right.

48 mins: Gyan goes down immediately under pressure from Bedoya and Ghana have a free kick inside the USA half, to the left. Another poor delivery from Muntari and now the USA can break. Poor ball from Bedoya though and for an instant the counter is on. But Howard gets to the attempted high ball over the top for Gyan.

Now the USA have a throw deep into Ghana territory. This time Beasley's deep throw can't find anyone.

Peep! We're off again. USA lead 1-0 and they kick off.

Besler out

Whatever the USA get out of this game will come at a price. Besler won't be out for the second half. He's replaced by John Brooks.

An attack of the vapours

Kyle Brown is worried:

@KidWeil It took 10 minutes to get Dempsey/Altidore off the field and the ref adds only 5? Then he spends 30 sec lecturing. Unbelievable.

More email:

James Brown (not that one) sends an email to Graham Parker (not that one) saying:

Half-time thoughts

So the USA got off to a dream start catching Ghana off guard from the kick off and seeing Clint Dempsey becoming the first American to score in three World Cups. After that, the anticipated onus on them to try and dominate in the first 20 minutes, was understandably altered, and Ghana grew steadily into the match, finding particular joy through Christian Atsu running down the right past Jermaine Jones and towards DaMarcus Beasley.

45 mins +6: Half decent chance there, as Atsu, the Ghana danger man from the first half, wriggles into the box and slips a ball to his left for Jordan Ayew, but he can't get a clean shot off and that will be that for the half.

Half time thoughts in a minute...

45 mins +5: The USA are ending this half in the ascendancy. Jones checks to his right and slides a ball forward towards Bradley, who's been quiet in this half. Bradley steps over it anticipating a runner, but nobody had followed in behind him and Ghana get the ball back.

Now USA have a corner to defend after Beasley takes no chances on a deep cross to the back post, and heads it over the byline. Again the corner doesn't clear the near post.

45 mins +3: Ball still bobbling around in the Ghana final third for a moment, which will please Klinsmann. Eventually a frustrated Muntari goes in late on Jones, who shares his feelings on the matter. The referee steps in quickly to cool things down before Jones or Muntari can pull a Pepe-lite.

45 mins +1: Now then...USA earn a free kick wide left when Jones is fouled. The center backs jog forward. Bedoya swings it in, but Kwarasey is able to punch it clear. Corner though. We'll have 5 minutes to add on after Altidore's injury. The corner comes to naught as Ghana read Bradley's attempted dummy off the ball in the box.

44 mins: Half time approaches and with it a gift of brief respite for the USA as Boye's ball floats aimlessly forward into the USA box, where it's gathered by Howard.

That #GHAUSA @GuardianUS live blog (@KidWeil http://t.co/wMa86rlnY7) Clint Dempsey broken nose in full pic.twitter.com/Y37O8KS8Vf

42 mins: More bad news for the USA as now Besler is clutching his hamstring. He's playing on, but that's a worry.

Nice move for the USA as Bedoya does well to turn a defensive header into an attack, and finds Johannsson ahead of him. The striker holds up well and finds Bedoya racing forward again in a lot of space on the right. His cross is headed clear, but only as far as Johannsson on the edge of the box. His shot is weak, but that was better from the US and Bedoya in particular, who's been their best player so far.

40 mins: Opare down clutching his head after an aerial clash with Johannsson but now he's up and joining another Ghana attack. This one ends with an interception and a lob forward to Johannsson, who runs into traffic on the left. Still USA 1-0 Ghana.

38 mins: Dempsey's goal unofficially timed at 32 seconds by the way. Seems a long time ago now. When US fans were young and full of optimism.

Atsu finds space wide right as that US diamond midfield shows some of its problematic inflexibility when faced with crossfield balls. Now Atsu picks up the ball again and sends an inswinger towards the penalty spot where Gyan's glancing header flies up and over.

36 mins: Dempsey jogs back on to a big cheer after his treatment. Straight away he has defending to do as Ghana have a free kick wide left. Curled towards Boye again, but again he can't do any damage this time the ball just glances harmlessly off his head near the penalty spot.

34 mins: Nasty...Dempsey is the latest US player on the ground, bleeding from his nose after a high boot from Boye catches him in the face. We'll take the opportunity to check in with Stephen Davenport:

"Writing as an English person living in the USA, I would aver that The Star Spangled Banner is superior to God Save the Queen in two very important
respects: it does not bang on about either God or the Queen every two seconds; and the tune is an old Anglo-German drinking song. The pace and jauntiness with which I tend to try sing it in whatever company. Although I haven't met the President yet"

32 mins: A little bit of a lull now, as Ghana regroup for another attack. Muntaro tries to thread the needle with a pass up the middle towards Gyan, but it runs straight through to Howard. A second later he has to be rather more engaged as Gyan lets fly from the edge of the box, and Howard has to get down very well to parry the ball firmly away out of danger.

30 mins: The anthem issue is not going away judging by my inbox. Meanwhile in less important matters, Gyan cuts inside on the edge of the box and is fouled by Beckerman, but when the referee plays the advantage, Atsu sends a tame shot over. A minute later Beckerman gets clattered in the air by Rabiu, who picks up a yellow for his troubles. Still USA 1-0 Ghana

Live from Guardian World Cup party central

Crowd goes deep at the #GdnWorldCup party at @Terminal5NYC! Where are you watching #GHAUSA? http://t.co/Mghx4F6y9v pic.twitter.com/zfTmBrUD6e

28 mins: Another Ghana corner after a Besler block, but yet again it's not a great one, and doesn't get beyond the near post. Meanwhile USA fans on witter sounding understandably anxious.

@KidWeil Oh man, I really wanted Jozy Altidore to have a good tournament to shut up all the haters.

26 mins: Now it's Beckerman sprawling on the turf as Jordan Ayew crunches him with a striker's tackle. He's fine, but that was a clumsy challenge, and maybe could have been a booking.

How will the USA handle the loss of Altidore in these next few moments? Encouraging sign there, as Bedoya steps wide then shapes for a shot from distance. Confident. But it flies over.

24 mins: Whatever the problems with Altidore up front, he was still the USA's main hope up front coming into the tournament.

Ghana have a croner and again Boye gets a header, this time at the back post, but again he heads it down and harmlessly wide.

22 mins: Uh-oh, if you're a USA fan. Bradley just lobbed a long ball forward for Altidore down the left flank and the big attacker pulled up sharpply grabbing his hamstring. This looks bad for him...

Aron Johannsson coming on, as Altidore is carried off. Only his 9th cap.

20 mins: Jordan Ayew is penalized on the edge of the USA box and now the US go on the attack. Bedoya gets his head up and sees Johnson galloping forward on the right. His low cutback is behind Bradley, but retrieved by Altidore. He turns and gets something like a shot off, but Ghana had just about got men between him and the goal and it's blocked. Similar move to the USA's goal against Nigeria last time out though. Still USA 1-0 Ghana

18 mins: On the touchline, Klinsmann's gone from looking delighted to looking his more familiar pitch-side pensive, as he leans on the dugout roof like a worried knitwear model. He could have a long evening if this pattern of the game remains.

Ghana inching their possession ever further up the field, and now Opare floats in another cross to the back post, but it's over Gyan's head.

16 mins: Ghana ambling forward when suddenly Atsu changes pace to send a dangerous low ball between Beasley and Besler towards the onrushing Gyan. Howard's out smartly to block though, and kicks the ball clear at the second attempt.

14 mins: Brian Cook is gloomy about Geoff Cameron:

"America's/Stoke's answer Pepe, he has all the psychosis of the Portuguese but even less subtlety. Will be culpable for at least a goal here."

That goal in full

WATCH: What a move, what a goal from Dempsey. A dream start for the #USMNT. Who is writing this stuff?! #GHAvsUSA http://t.co/hcy8Nidztl

12 mins: More anthem demographics:

@HadleyFreeman @KidWeil And as a Brit, I can confirm the theme tune to 'Fresh Prince' can be sung by more people than our national anthem.

10 mins: Bradley drops deep to pick up the ball and sprays the ball forward for Johnson bombing forward down the right. He can't get to it though and Ghana will have a goal kick.

Atsu makes a decent run to the edge of the USA box now, but the move breaks down and it's still USA 1-0 Ghana after ten minutes.

8 mins: USA throw midway inside the Ghana half on the left now. It's worked wide right where Bedoya swings in a cross that Altidore gets his head to, but he can't direct it on target. All USA at the moment, but now Gyan gets forward down the right and sends a teasing cross towards Ayew in the box, but Howard comes out to claim comfortably.

6 mins: The anthem debate rumbles on, while the rest of the world ponders Ghana's terrible defense of the throw that led to the goal.

@KidWeil Basically, the US national anthem is 3 long convoluted sentences that are recited by rote w/ no thought as to their meaning.

Never mind Obama

.@clint_dempsey for President. #WorldCup

4 mins: Klinsmann looked something resembling delighted on the sideline there, at that emphatic start by the USA. Ghana get on the ball and try to settle down after that stunning start now, but there's a lot of space among their lines. jones scampers forward wide left and tries to square a ball to Bradley. A better pass could have given the US another chance. It wasn't a better pass.

Lordy! Beasley and Jones with some neat interaction down the left, then it's slid into the box for Dempsey, who strokes the ball in off the far post! That'll be that good start then.

Peep! Ghana get us underway!

USA win toss...

...and choose the word "soccer".

Well-timed music criticism

Julia Kite knows there's a game on, but really, she can't let this go:

Teams coming out

This means that children all over the world are catching sight of Kyle Beckerman for the first time. His hair looks magnificently unruly in the breeze, as the anthems play.

@KidWeil as a young american i can confirm "Juicy" by The Notorious BIG can be sung word for word by more people than the national anthem.

Ghana: Kwarasey; Opare, Asamoah, Mensah, Boye; Mohammed, Atsu, Muntari, A Ayew; J Ayew, Gyan,

USA: Howard; Beasley, Besler, Cameron, Johnson; Jones, Beckerman, Bedoya; Dempsey, Bradley; Altidore

More email

We like nothing more than to reward those who never look up from their screens. Hence this contribution from Daniel Stauss:

In my bid to be published in 3 MBM's in one day, here are my top three biggest pre-match freak-outs, in reverse order: Will the US backline fold like a cheap suit under Ghanaian pressure? Will Jozy Altidore show up to play? Will Jermaine Jones go full-on de Jong and actually kill a man on the pitch today? Of the three, Jermaine Jones is my biggest dread. The man is a walking red card.

Midfield

This is my final bid to salvage some kind of credibility...

(Alexi) Lalas, a fellow American traveller to Italian football, concurs. Michaels 10 times the player I ever was, but I benefited so much from playing in Serie A, because of the way they think about the game the tactical discipline and devotion and passion and love for the tactics of the game. And I think when he got to Italy he found he was immersed in a culture that thought like him to a certain extent. And he grew as a person, as a player, being in that culture, because thats the way he thinks about the game. He has the tools to implement that on a consistent basis.

Such incremental edges will be crucial to the USAs hopes in Brazil, where they can expect to play a lot of their three group games, against Ghana, Portugal and Germany, on the back foot hoping to take advantage of rare opportunities. To those without confidence, its the sort of game dynamic that can breed timidity. For Bradley, who relishes the well-timed counterpunch and who in a recent interview called possession the most overrated stat, fighting on the defensive suits him fine.

More innovations

@KidWeil I've insisted for years that the US should change its anthem to the Magnificent Seven theme.

Guardian viewing party

If you're in New York by the way, and want something other than my droning on for company, you could do worse than head to the Guardian World Cup viewing party at Terminal Five (that's the name of the venue don't go to the airport). We'll hopefully have some updates from Kayla Epstein, who's there, working, and definitely not just sneaking out of the office early.

More singing

Our man on the spot, Paolo Bandini, just posted this Vine of the Ghana players looking not terribly concerned:

#Gha players' singing, dancing, drumming arrival into the stadium. Wonderful. https://t.co/TTdxGRwCEd (via @TSBible)

Sunderland strikers

It will doubtless be a source of endless reassurance to all concerned that both teams fortunes in this group of death may be determined by the form of Sunderland strikers, past and present, in the form of Asamoah Gyan and Jozy Altidore. Heres the Guardians North East football correspondent Louise Taylor on the fortunes of the latter

Anthems (part two)

And yes, the USA are singing too. Heres Tim Booth of James, whose most recent album was called La Petite Mort. Of course had he known in advance of his particular role in this World Cup, James could have called the album The Group of La Petite Mort:

Its a decent melody, actually quite rousing. Like most anthems its intended to create unity in the face of adversity, coming from a time when America was a new country trying to forge its identity. Its certainly better than God Save the Queen, because its less sturgy and ploddy, but my theory is that anthems should be changed quite frequently so they reflect the times we live in, in a language we understand. Oer the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming what does it mean? Its a martial national anthem and maybe in peacetime, or something close to it, we should be having more forward-thinking anthems, with lyrics that inspire us to be more inclusive of races and genders.

I think in Britain were aware that our country has seen better days, and were a bit more cynical about the flag-waving thing. Americas a younger country, with more naivety and innocence to it, and they believe they were born into the best country on earth. They do what humans do when theyre extremely fortunate, which is to say God gave it to them, or that they earned it in some way, when in fact theres a lot of luck involved, and these things are always cyclical.

Anthems

Almost forgot. Yes, yes, events on the field, best start to a World Cup ever, blah, blah, blah. What about the anthems, man?!

Apparently, this was adopted to take over from God save the Queen when Ghana stopped being a British colony in 1957. Ironically, youd be hard pushed to find anything more British. Sounds like it was rescued from Elgars recycling bin. Im struggling to understand why they couldnt come up with something a little more independent sounding to celebrate their Independence. That said, it contains all the elements required to stir the loins: a glorious and triumphant opening string and brass salvo, followed by a regal and stately middle section (to the manor born), building to a rabble rousing climax. Classic stuff. Looking forward to hearing Michael Essien belt this one out.

Rabble rousing

This is just irresponsible...

President Obama's got a message for the @USSoccer team https://t.co/A0gNdpIbj2 #GoTeamUSA #USAvGHA #WorldCup #USMNT

Some Ghana team news

So much for Waris then... A report on the Ghana FAs website is suggesting that Waris is indeed out of the Ghana attack, and that Ghana have gone with Jordan alongside Gyan up front with no Prince-Boateng or Essien. Truly a changing of the guard if true (though both had been injury doubts in the lead up, as well)

GH line up v USA: Kwarasey, Boye, Mensah, K Asamoah, Opare, Rabiu, Muntari, Atsu, Jordan, Dede, Gyan.

Some USA team news

The #USMNT lineup for #USAvGHA. @J_Klinsmann's #USA starting XI! pic.twitter.com/25LPFNnKTG

Ghana

Before the World Cup started, the Guardian assembled a network of experts to break down the tactical prospects of the competing teams. Heres Godfred Akoto Boafo on Ghana:

The Black stars manager, Kwesi Appiah, has a disdain for systems. According to him players should be allowed to play free of tactical restraints to get the best out of them. He also believes in sticking with what works and is not known for experimentation.

In qualification for the World Cup, he stuck to the same group of players in a rigid 4-4-2; for so long Ghana have been masterful proponents of the 4-5-1. Appiah discovered the best way to get more out of his team during qualification was to give his captain and striker Asamoah Gyan some support. That came in the form of the diminutive striker Abdul Majeed Waris, whose willingness to run at defenders and take them out of position opened up space for Gyan. Nine goals were scored between the pair in qualification.

A pundit tweets

I am completely, totally & utterly convinced that #USMNT are going to stuff Ghana. In other news, I need to start following some Ghanaians.

The bomb pop

Scott Bassett emails:

Paolo Bandini is embedded

Hes traveled to Brazil with the USA supporters group, the American Outlaws. Heres his report from Natal in advance of the game , presumably typed while repeatedly pushing back a fresh-from-the-packet stars and stripes bandana out of his eyeline (Bandini is Method):

Other Graham Parkers are available

Yes, my name is Graham Parker. No its not a rumour. Somewhere in England there are 100 40-something monkeys with typewriters cranking out puns by the barrel load, while listening to Squeezing out Sparks, if the emails currently being forwarded to me by Jacob Steinberg (in some kind of gleeful revenge for being made to watch Iran vs Nigeria) are anything to go by.

Twitter awakes

@ussoccer I hope their pre-Natal care was up to the standard my wife received at @PiedmontHealth @KidWeil

Group of Death

Nigeria and Iran finished 0-0. Sorry to all the children watching their first World Cup who didn't know such a thing could happen.

Afternoon all

Welcome to our coverage of USA vs Ghana though frankly Im surprised to see you here so early. Shouldnt you be over following Jacob Steinbergs liveblog of Nigeria v Iran?

Hello

Graham will be here shortly. In the meantime you can read his preview of this evening's game, while waiting for your face-paint to dry:

While Portugal taking on Germany is Group Gs undoubted marquee game, the USAs match against Ghana is what the US coach, Jürgen Klinsmann, has called a final of sorts.

You can see his point. This is a game that both teams need to take something out of to have a realistic chance of progressing, given what follows for both. Klinsmann may like to point to World Cup history and note that nobody will panic if the USA do not get a win against Ghana, since they have already beaten Portugal in a World Cup finals in 2002, but theres a flipside to that sort of logic. If we are looking at World Cup history, Ghana have been the USAs nemesis in the last two tournaments.

Continue reading...

Cameroon lose their captain as Samuel Etoo pulls out of Croatia game

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 04:05 PM PDT

Skipper may play no further part because of a knee injury
Daniele De Rossi sits out Italy training with neck strain Continue reading...

Andrea Pirlo | The Gallery

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 04:05 PM PDT

This week's winner is William Wilson, who wins a copy of Neymar: My Story - The Official Autobiography. Get in touch to claim your prize. Next, we'd like to see your takes on World Cup pundits: from Phil Neville to Jonathan Pearce, Clarke Carlisle to the Robbie Savage/Thierry Henry interface. Send your efforts to gallery@theguardian.com by noon on Monday 23 June as a jpeg or gif, complete with a CAPTION. Anyone who forgets will have to play for Spain Continue reading...

Fabio Capello: World Cup owes England for goalline technology

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 03:46 PM PDT

Russia manager blames Fifa for mistake at South Africa 2010
It was my England team that was punished four years ago Continue reading...

The Joy of Six: Tim Cahill

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 03:01 PM PDT

From exquisite headers to his pride in pulling on the green and gold, memorable moments from a brilliant career

There is a pretty simple reason why Tim Cahill is so beloved of football fans in Australia - its that every time (almost) he pulls on a national team shirt he scores goals. Theyre game-changing goals, game-saving goals, credibility-restoring goals; screaming headers and miracle match-winners that lift you off the sofa in ecstasy and make you punch the air in joy. Australias been blessed with players of greater trickery, skill and flair but none whove timed their runs so well as Cahill across three World Cup campaigns and a distinguished top-flight club career.

Continue reading...

Ronald Koeman becomes Southampton's new manager - video

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 02:46 PM PDT

Ronald Koeman is the new Southampton manager. The former Holland international replaces Mauricio Pochettino on a three-year contract with the club. Koeman left Dutch club Feyenoord last month after seeing the side reach the second place in the Eredivisie league. Koeman said in a statement on Southampton's official website that he cannot wait to get started with the club Continue reading...

Fifa promises to clarify goalline decisions after France confusion

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 02:41 PM PDT

France situation was quite unique says Fifa
Goalline decision replays to be improved

Fifa has promised to change the way decisions involving goalline technology are displayed to avoid confusion, amid external concern that the system selected by the governing body is untested in major events.

There was confusion during Frances match with Honduras when Karim Benzemas shot hit the post, then the opposition goalkeeper, Noel Valladeras, and then narrowly crossed the line.

Continue reading...

World Cup 2014: Uruguays Luis Suárez is 100% fit to upset England

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Liverpool forward to use insider knowledge to gain edge
Wayne Rooney looks for sharpness with extra shooting drills Continue reading...

Uruguays Martín Cáceres says England game is do or die

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT

We have to win against England, admits defender
Uruguay say Suárez return would be big boost

Martín Cáceres says that Uruguay must beat England or face the end of their World Cup, and has outlined the boost that the return of Luis Suárez would provide to his country in Thursdays Group D tie in São Paulo.

Uruguay are licking their wounds after Saturdays disastrous defeat to Costa Rica, the supposed minnows, when they surrendered a 1-0 half-time lead and a general feeling of assurance to lose 3-1.

Continue reading...

Englands Daniel Sturridge will do whatever it takes to beat Uruguay

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT

Daniel Sturridge was in a jovial mood when facing the media but his focus sharpened when discussing Thursdays crunch clash with Uruguay, and his Liverpool team-mate Luis Suárez

There was a wonderful moment on Englands first day in Rio de Janeiro last week when the players were taken into Rochina, the largest favela in the country, with its dwellings rising into the hills like row upon row of broken teeth, and the locals put on a session of capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines acrobatics and music.

Historically, it is the sort of event Englands players have been guilty in the past of treating as a pain. Yet here were Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck immersing themselves in the moment, including one-armed handstands and various other dance moves that would probably have given Roy Hodgson kittens with the World Cup a few days away.

Continue reading...

Brazil captain Thiago Silva hails the World Cup of all World Cups

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 02:05 PM PDT

Defender thrilled by exciting start to competition
Hulk hoping to prove fitness for meeting with Mexico

Thiago Silva believes that Brazil is hosting the World Cup of all World Cups, the ultimate festival for lovers of attacking football although, for a defender, he admits it has been painful at times.

The Brazil captain is focused on neutralising Mexico at the Estádio Castelão on Tuesday in his countrys second Group A tie. The stakes are high, with qualification likely to be assured for the victor. But the defender took a moment to reflect on what has so far been a thrilling tournament, loaded with goals and enterprise.

Continue reading...

World Cup 2014: Gus Poyet only has eyes for his beloved Uruguay

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 02:00 PM PDT

Sunderlands manager has a son who plays for young England but he is no doubt who he wants to win Thursdays group game Continue reading...

Portugals Paulo Bento accuses referee of bias after rout by Germany

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 01:59 PM PDT

Coach says Serbian official showed bias on big decisions
Joachim Löw: Our only option was to try and win Continue reading...

Nigeria and Iran lower World Cup pulse with forgettable goalless draw

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 01:58 PM PDT

Well, it had to happen some time. But at least it was a long time in coming. Thirteen games into the 2014 World Cup there was finally a match that was not very good. Not that it quietened this arena: there was noise in Curitiba, and lots of it, there was just not much else. For a moment this felt as if it was going to be enjoyable, the momentum with Nigeria, but that moment was brief; the opening seven minutes were exciting; the remaining 83 were not. And so Brazil has its first draw as well and a 0-0 draw at that.

There had been 41 goals in 12 games before this match, at an average of 3.4 per match. There were not much more than 3.4 shots in this game not on target anyway. Apart from one superb save from Vincent Enyeama, neither goalkeeper made a significant stop and, but for Ogenyi Onazis very early effort, no striker came agonisingly close. At times this was painful, though.

Continue reading...

Iran v Nigeria: World Cup 2014 as it happened

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 01:53 PM PDT

The first draw of the World Cup was a disappointing affair, with Nigeria uninspired and Iran too defensive

Continue reading...

Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo outshone by Germanys Thomas Müller

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 01:23 PM PDT

Germanys shambling forward did not look the part but he certainly played it as the big talent on the night Continue reading...

England train ahead of World Cup match with Uruguay - video

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 01:22 PM PDT

England train on Monday for their next World Cup match against Uruguay on 19 June. Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joins the practice although it is unlikely he will play in the game due to a knee injury. The rest of the squad are at the session and Roy Hodgson catches up with Wayne Rooney as well as directing training. England must win against Uruguay in order to qualify to the next round safely Continue reading...

Lukas Podolski dedicates Germanys win to Michael Schumacher

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 01:13 PM PDT

Arsenal forward: 4-0 victory over Portugal was for F1 legend
Hes doing well and hes getting better. Its really good news
Schumacher discharged from hospital in Grenoble on Monday

Lukas Podolski dedicated Germanys defeat of Portugal at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador to Michael Schumacher, revealing that Germanys players had been inspired in part by the news that the ex-Formula One champion had been discharged from hospital in Grenoble.

He [Schumacher] is a good friend of mine and it is important to all of us to hear that news that hes come out of hospital. Hes doing well and hes getting better and its really good news, Podolski said, shortly after Germanys 4-0 victory in their opening match in group G.

Continue reading...

Paradox of Fred divides Brazil after pratfall in opening game

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 12:53 PM PDT

Strikers contribution to World Cup opener against Croatia was decisive but many fans, and Fifas statistics, doubt his worth

What is the point of Fred? It wasnt a proud moment at all and Brazilians themselves were embarrassed, hence the plethora of memes doing the rounds on social networks.

But in a strange way Freds tumble that led to the award of a controversial penalty for Brazil in their World Cup opener against Croatia vindicated Luiz Felipe Scolaris decision to stick with his paradox of a centre-forward. His pratfall was basically the only moment where the Fluminense striker came out of the shadows in a game where Neymar and Oscar had to bail out the Seleção.

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Barcelona confirm signing of Croatian Ivan Rakitic from Sevilla

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 12:49 PM PDT

Midfielder signs five-year contract to move to Camp Nou
Ex-Manchester City player Denis Suárez joins Sevilla on loan

Ivan Rakitic will join Barcelona from Sevilla after agreeing a five-year deal at the Camp Nou.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the leading midfield talents in the Primera Division during three seasons with Sevilla.

Continue reading...

Mario Balotelli uses Panini album to cover Italy team with own sticker

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 12:40 PM PDT

Striker posts image of all-Balotelli squad on Facebook
Balotelli was Italys matchwinner against England on Saturday

Mario Balotelli has shared his vision of an Italy all-star World Cup team, filling up the squads pages in this years Panini sticker album with images of himself.

The striker, who headed in the Azzurris winning goal in Saturdays 2-1 victory over England and is no stranger to self-referential humour, placed the stickers on each of his team-mates spaces in the book before posting the result on his official Facebook page on Monday, accompanied by the now-familiar meme: WHY ALWAYS ME?

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Uruguays Luis Suárez is 100% fit to face England at World Cup

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 12:10 PM PDT

Liverpool striker expects to play in São Paulo on Thursday
Im training today with the team and I feel in good condition Continue reading...

Fabio Capellos chastening England experience finds echo with Russia

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 12:01 PM PDT

Italian coachs disciplinarian streak is in evidence again but there are hints he has learned from harsh lessons of 2010 Continue reading...

Sunderland sign Costel Pantilimon after release by Manchester City

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 11:36 AM PDT

A privilege and honour to join Sunderland, says goalkeeper
Pantilimon signs four-year contract at Stadium of Light

Sunderland have signed the goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, whose contract was not renewed by Manchester City at the end of last season.

Pantilimon said he had no hesitation is joining after talks with Sunderlands manager, Gus Poyet. It is a great privilege and honour to join a club like Sunderland, he said. They have an amazing history and tradition and, of course, passionate fans.

Continue reading...

Thomas Müllers hat-trick and Pepes petulance sink bedraggled Portugal

Posted: 16 Jun 2014 11:15 AM PDT

The best action from Salvador in pictures
Barry Glendennings minute-by-minute report

Iberians must be sick of the sight of Salvador. In the stadium where Spain were routed by Holland last week Portugal suffered the same fate against Germany, getting their campaign off to the worst possible start by shipping four goals and seeing Pepe dismissed in the first half.

The Germans were good, as they usually are, and Thomas Müller was well worth his hat-trick, though long before the interval the story was one of Portuguese disintegration. Paulo Bentos side made life easy for Germany with a series of defensive mistakes even before Pepes complete lack of professionalism turned a much anticipated contest into a one-sided procession.

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