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- Japan v Greece: World Cup 2014 live!
- Yohan Cabaye fit to return for France in vital game against the Swiss
- Uruguays Luis Suárez bides his time then leaves his mark on England
- Colombia fans celebrate 2-1 victory against Ivory Coast - video
- Uruguay 2-1 England: World Cup Group D match ratings
- Jorge Luis Pinto says Costa Rica can beat Italy after Uruguay victory
- World Cup 2014: Suárez double edges England towards World Cup exit
- Uruguay v England: World Cup 2014 as it happened
- England sunk by Uruguay as Luis Suárez makes his mark
- England display plenty of energy but lack a man who can run the game
- Brazilian police arrest 14 people after fireworks thrown at English fans
- Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness under scrutiny ahead of USA match - video
- Serey Die plays for Ivory Coast after shedding tears for father
- Cesare Prandelli and Italy seek lift-off from a grounded Mario Balotelli
- England Women beat Ukraine to put World Cup qualification within reach
- World Cup 2014: Holland training hard for Chile match - video
- World Cup 2014: Uruguay v England in pictures
- Colombia win again as Juan Quinteros winner sinks skilful Ivory Coast
- World Cup: Cameroon coach slams disgusting player behaviour in loss
- Colombia v Ivory Coast: World Cup 2014 as it happened
- Belgium captain Vincent Kompany misses training with slight groin strain
- Victory over Spain leaves Chileans abuzz with thoughts of what may come
- England v Uruguay live World Cup 2014 webchat from Brazil
- Luis Suárez to start for Uruguay against England in World Cup Group D game
- Fifa will introduce new measures after lapses in crowd control
| Japan v Greece: World Cup 2014 live! Posted: 19 Jun 2014 04:14 PM PDT
55 min: Endo blooters the resulting free kick straight into the startled coupon of Maniatis. There's no point sugar-coating it, this game is awful.
54 min: Japan are enjoying the lion's share of the ball. Samaras is booked for cutting Okubo off at the knees, the Japanese striker dancing around 25 yards out, just to the left of goal.
51 min: A free kick for Japan, 40 yards out down the left. Endo whips a ball to the far post, where Honda does his best to get a head to the ball. But his run's mistimed, and the delivery's too high anyway.
48 min: A slow start to this half. The exception being the Pele homage, obviously.
And we're off again! A change for Japan, who switch their captain for Endo. And we nearly have a sensational start to the half! Japan are prannying around in a huddle. Then their keeper trots back to the area. So Greece simply kick off quickly, and Samaras attempts to score into the unguarded goal from the halfway line! His effort drifts off to the right, the nearest he'll ever get to being compared to Pele. It was almost a carbon copy of the great man's effort against Czechoslovakia in 1970! It would have counted too. Japan were so dozy there.
Half-time entertainment: A musical reminder to viewers in Britain of Japan's World Cup.
Well. There's another 45 minutes, lost to the ether.
45 min +2: Maniatis plays a gorgeous long diagonal ball from 40 yards out along the inside-left channel to Torosidis, breaking into the area in acres down the right. He's clear in the box, and should be allowed to shoot, but the flag goes up for offside. An appalling decision. Greece are within their rights to be furious, but appear to have given up and do little more than shrug.
45 min: Karagounis, taking a set piece just to the left of the centre circle, launches long. Torosidis, level with the right-hand post, isn't far from planting a proper header goalwards, but can only get light eyebrows on the ball.
43 min: Goals, please! Come along, we've all stayed/got up.
41 min: Greece respond to losing their captain/idiot by sacrificing Fetfetsidis in order to bolster the centre of the midfield with Karagounis.
40 min: Torosidis tries to free Samaras into the area with a cute pass down the inside-right channel. It doesn't come off. But the ball rolls back to him and, deciding that he may as well roll the dice under the circumstances, unleashes a screamer towards the bottom right. Kawashima parries magnificently. Nothing comes from the resulting corner, but what a shot! The nearest we've come to an opening goal, and it's the ten men of Greece. The beauty of football for you, right there, in a nutshell. Actually, this game probably isn't the best time to be prattling on about the beauty of football, but you get the general point.
38 min: And you think England's captain had a nightmare tonight. Katsouranis, already on a yellow, picks up his second booking of the night after sliding in on Hasebe, who was going absolutely nowhere. Greece have been struggling, and they're really up against it now.
37 min: Another skitter for Nagatomo down the left, another ball towards Okubo in the middle, another move that comes to nothing. But Japan are the dominant side now. If they had a Luis Suarez, they'd be a couple of goals up now.
35 min: Your medical correspondent, Dr Murray, is a right quack. Winging it on 31 mins, he told you that there was "no serious injury" to Mitroglou. Well, he's just been replaced by Gekas, holding his side and grimacing. Just as Mitroglou has been hooked, so Dr Murray should be struck off.
33 min: A bit of space for Nagatomo down the left. His cross into the box is decent, but Okubo heads clumsily over the bar from ten yards. A decent chance, and a fairly inept finish, albeit not a sitter.
31 min: Mitroglou and Hasebe come together in the middle of the park, entirely innocently, and both roll around for a bit. No serious injury. A lull, which is not exactly what this game needs.
29 min: Another free kick for Japan, and this time it's a decent one. Just to the right of the D, Honda whips a fantastic effort over the wall and towards the top right. Karnezis gets behind it to parry very impressively, though the loose ball nearly breaks to Osako, sniffing around. Japan can't make anything of it, and Greece eventually mop up.
27 min: Katsouranis is booked for a cynical trip on Osako, who was looking to break upfield at speed. Japan were reacting to a decent initial move by the Greeks. The excellent Maniatis danced in from the right and, for a second, looked to have time to shoot from the edge of the area. But Konno put paid to that idea with a stunning sliding tackle. At which point Japan looked to break, whereupon ... here, this entry has a similar cyclical structure to Finnegans Wake. And admittedly is probably not much easier to comprehend.
24 min: Free kick for Japan wide left, 25 yards from goal. Okubo launches it over Yoshida's head. The ball flies out of play on the right. Not a whole lot of entertainment being put on here, but the crowd are still giving it plenty.
21 min: And now it's Greece doing their level best to open the scoring. Holebas makes good ground down the left, drifts inside, and curls a low cross into the box with the hope of finding Mitroglou, six yards out. Kawashima comes out to claim.
20 min: Here, this was nearly it, too! Osako glides in from the left and looks to curl one into the top right from 20 yards. He's only a ball's width away from a spectacular strike, as I'm not sure the keeper was fingertipping that away if it was on target.
19 min: Okazaki cuts in from the right and attempts to send a low curler into the bottom left. Karnezis is behind it all the way, and gathers. "I think you should know that the favourite for 1st goalscorer in this match is No Goalscorer, followed by Kostas Mitroglou and Giorgios Samaras," reports Mike Wood. "I'm not confident either." Oh I'm full of confidence. This World Cup has hardly put a foot wrong yet. It's just a matter of time before the dam breaks. I'm
18 min: Honda, 40 yards out down the left channel, shapes to shoot but checks and clips a clever diagonal ball towards Osako, hovering just inside the box down the inside right. The striker's offside, but that's better from the Japanese, who have already made 132 passes to Greece's 26, albeit few of them executed in the final third.
16 min: Okubo twists and turns in the middle of the park, 35 yards out, and attempts a shot. Papastathopoulos is right up in his grille and blocks the effort, snuffing it out pretty much at source. Japan aren't offering much up front at the moment.
13 min: A mime from the Japanese captain Hasebe, who performs Man Waiting For Bus Considers Lying Down And Having Little Sleep While Waiting For Bus. Maniatis nips in and makes to bugger off with the ball, but he's tugged back by Hasebe, suddenly awake again and no longer interested in the contemporary arts. That's a cynical tug, for the Greek midfielder was heading towards the Japan area. A yellow card all day long. The free kick, launched into the area from 40 yards, comes to nothing.
10 min: Another blooter from Greece, but in the more creative style, as Kone takes a few strides down the inside-right channel and attempts to score from 40 yards. I'm not sure he was giving Kawashima the credit a keeper at a World Cup deserves, but you get nothing if you don't ask.
9 min: A downfield blooter launched by Greece, this time. A strange business down the right, with Maniatis in acres, but opting not to chase after the ball, presumably under the impression he was miles offside. But I'm not totally sure he was. The assistant ref didn't raise their flag at any point. A chance to romp free down the right. Think the Luis Suarez goal earlier tonight, only with added indecision (on the part of Suarez, to be clear, not Phil Jagielka or Gary Cahill).
7 min: Honda isn't very far from slipping Osako clear into the area with a lovely little dink on the edge of the D. Greece clear. Yoshida returns the ball in the blunt-instrument style, Okazaki nearly latching onto the long hoof. But the ball bounds out of play to the left of the goal, Greece just about shepherding it out.
5 min: Holebas wins a corner for Greece down the right. The resulting set piece is all huff and puff, the ball not breaking to a white shirt, and eventually getting hacked clear by a blue one.
4 min: Mitroglou is sent into a little space down the inside-left channel by Samaras. The striker bustles and gets a shot away, looking to Suarez the Japanese keeper Kawashima at his near post. But the effort's blocked and mopped up by the keeper.
2 min: Okazaki goes on a skedaddle down the right, cutting inside. His low cross is deflected out to Yamaguchi, on the edge of the area. He sends one low fizzer goalwards. Blocked. Then he sends another in roughly the same direction. That's dealt with too. Greece looking a bit ropey at the back, there, though, and remember they've got a terrible habit of shipping goals early doors.
1 min: Japan knock it around the middle for a while without going anywhere. Sterile domination, they call it, or tiki-taka. Switch to Plan B, folks! Plan B!
And we're off! After a long wait for the clock to tick round to 7pm local time, Japan get the ball rolling, with the place jumping. A magnificent atmosphere at the Estadio das Dunas in Natal, as there has been pretty much everywhere, really. What a lovely World Cup this is! (And for those reading in the Guardian's homeland of England, don't let Mr Roy and Luis Suarez ruin it for you.) The goals-per-game average at this World Cup is currently a round, plump and delicious three. Don't let us down, lads!
The teams are out! Japan will be playing in their first choice blue, while Greece are in one of their our-home-shirts-are-white-rather-than-blue phases, and are in their current favourite kit as well. The players line up to listen to their national anthems.
Japan drop the out-of sorts Shinji Kagawa to the bench: Kawashima; Uchida, Yoshida, Nagatomo, Konno; Hasebe, Yamaguchi, Honda, Okazaki; Okubo, Osako. Greece introduce Fulham striker Konstantinos Mitroglou and Genoa winger Ioannis Fetfatzidis to their starting line-up: Karnezis; Torosidis, Papasthathopoulos, Manolas, Holebas; Fetfetsidis, Katsouranis, Maniatis, Kone, Samaras, Mitroglou.
the Soccer Nippon Daihy, for those not conversant took 44 years to make it to a World Cup. Japan first had a go at qualification in 1954, eventually reaching their first finals in 1998. But they wasted no time in making a few impressions on the tournament. Their record of three defeats at France '98 distorts their actual performance: only against Jamaica did they truly disappoint, putting up a decent show in one-goal defeats against highly fancied Argentina and eventual semi-finalists Croatia. Four years later, as joint hosts, they made it to the second round, topping a group containing Belgium and Russia, before going out rather lamely to semi-bound Turkey. In 2006, they were a minute away from leading Brazil at half time during a group match, but Ronaldo burst that particular bubble and they eventually went down 4-1. Last time round they made it out of the groups again, doing for Denmark and Cameroon, before being beaten by Paraguay on penalties after a 0-0 draw, which let's face it is a fate that's befallen just about everyone at some point or other. And while their start to their 2014 campaign wasn't ideal a 2-1 loss to a Didier Drogba inspired Ivory Coast what a goal by Keisuke Honda! Continue reading... |
| Yohan Cabaye fit to return for France in vital game against the Swiss Posted: 19 Jun 2014 04:02 PM PDT France coach Didier Deschamps wont reveal team Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld says match is a derby France coach Didier Deschamps has promised Yohan Cabaye will be fit for Fridays game against Switzerland and expressed the hope the match can live up to the previous two in Salvador, both high-scoring and eventful encounters. Yohan is totally fit, recovered, no problem, Deschamps said. I know which players I am going to pick but I do not always tell them until the last day. The two games in Salvador so far have been great World Cup shows and I hope it will be the same when we play. Id like to think it will be another high-scoring game for the public, but you can never promise that. Continue reading... |
| Uruguays Luis Suárez bides his time then leaves his mark on England Posted: 19 Jun 2014 03:33 PM PDT A fired-up Luis Suárez showed little rustiness as he returned to make his mark on the World Cup and punish England Match report: Uruguay 2-1 England It was supposed to be the first contact, that initial leap from the turf or stretch in the tackle that opened up his left knee only 28 days after keyhole surgery, which would prove whether Luis Suárez was truly ready for competitive action. English hopes had been fuelled by the conviction no player can be fully fit just four weeks after damaging the meniscus in the joint. Even El Pistolero, a forward whose self-confidence rarely wavers, must have wondered just how he would react as the clattering came. When it did, there was an inevitability as to the identity of the perpetrator. This critical contest was in its infancy, the clock ticking over its first 30 seconds, when Suárez dangled a leg at a loose ball and was buffeted to the turf by Steven Gerrard. The England captain had warned in the buildup that the pairs club alliance would count for nothing on this stage, their friendship placed on hold while these teams tore at each other in desperation to prolong their involvement at the World Cup. This was supposed to be the early statement of English intent left on Uruguays returning icon, a reminder he was in a wheelchair a month ago, and, briefly, Suárez arms did spasm in protest at the non-award of the free-kick. Yet, by the end, the discomfort was all English. Continue reading... |
| Colombia fans celebrate 2-1 victory against Ivory Coast - video Posted: 19 Jun 2014 03:29 PM PDT Colombia supporters chant outside the Estádio Nacional de Brasilia after their team beat group C rivals Ivory Coast. One fan says its the first time in 24 years that Colombia has reached the second round of the World Cup. Despite losing 2-1, Ivory Coast fans feel that their team played well and are optimistic about winning the next match against Greece. Both teams will play their next games on 24 June Continue reading...  |
| Uruguay 2-1 England: World Cup Group D match ratings Posted: 19 Jun 2014 03:27 PM PDT Luis Suárez was the star man, while Edinson Cavani impressed. Wayne Rooney grew more influential as the game wore on but Steven Gerrards mistake was decisive Continue reading...  |
| Jorge Luis Pinto says Costa Rica can beat Italy after Uruguay victory Posted: 19 Jun 2014 03:05 PM PDT Manager says Costa Rica can still improve after Uruguay win Pinto says all four teams in Englands group are very strong Jorge Luis Pinto began as he intended to go on. We hope to play even better than we did against Uruguay, the Costa Rica manager boldly told his audience at the Arena Pernambuco, moments after taking his seat and before what feels like an even more difficult second Group D fixture against Italy. The naysayers have rounded on Pinto and his players ever since the draw was made and the press conference here was dominated by questions that related to the inferiority complex that Costa Rica were supposed to feel; how they surely could not fashion another lightning strike. The 3-1 win over Uruguay, which was marked by an electric second-half comeback, has not entirely altered the narrative. Continue reading... |
| World Cup 2014: Suárez double edges England towards World Cup exit Posted: 19 Jun 2014 02:49 PM PDT Although England is still mathematically capable of qualifying if results improbably fall their way, the familiar inquest now begins Continue reading...  |
| Uruguay v England: World Cup 2014 as it happened Posted: 19 Jun 2014 02:16 PM PDT Luis Suárez scored twice as England fell to defeat to Uruguay to stand on the brink of elimination from the World Cup Continue reading... |
| England sunk by Uruguay as Luis Suárez makes his mark Posted: 19 Jun 2014 02:01 PM PDT Pictures: all the best images from a dramatic match After four years of planning, all that emotional commitment and anticipation, Englands World Cup has unravelled in the space of five days and the defining image will be of Luis Suárez, on the floor, weeping with joy after the goals that had opened the door to show Roy Hodgsons team the way out. It is the first time England have lost their first two games and if, or rather when, everything is confirmed it will be an ignominious way to go. Hodgsons team attracted a certain amount of sympathy and understanding after the Italy defeat but it was beyond them to play with the same attacking panache and, if there is to be a feat of escapology, it will need an almost implausible combination of results and handouts in the final games of Group D. More realistically, they have blown it in their first week. It has been another unsatisfactory tournament and Hodgson, facing questions about his suitability to continue as manager and saying he will not resign, will be acutely aware the inquest will not be kind. Continue reading... |
| England display plenty of energy but lack a man who can run the game Posted: 19 Jun 2014 01:54 PM PDT Roy Hodgson finally got his first-choice formation out on the pitch but his team still found it difficult to gain meaningful control against Uruguay Continue reading...  |
| Brazilian police arrest 14 people after fireworks thrown at English fans Posted: 19 Jun 2014 01:11 PM PDT No one injured in São Paulo incident Nationality of those arrested not confirmed Continue reading...  |
| Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness under scrutiny ahead of USA match - video Posted: 19 Jun 2014 01:03 PM PDT Cristiano Ronaldo attends training with his knee strapped up at Portugal's World Cup base in Campinas. His fitness is in question despite Portugal maintaining that the Real Madrid forward is 100% fit. Portugal play the USA next and midfielder Miguel Veloso says the match will not be an easy battle, adding that the team must be ready if they want to stay in the tournament. Portugal lost their first game to Germany 4-0. They play the USA on 22 June Continue reading...  |
| Serey Die plays for Ivory Coast after shedding tears for father Posted: 19 Jun 2014 12:22 PM PDT |
| Cesare Prandelli and Italy seek lift-off from a grounded Mario Balotelli Posted: 19 Jun 2014 12:11 PM PDT Manager urges Milan striker to show consistency Prandelli prepares squad for Costa Rica game Cesare Prandelli has described Mario Balotelli as the man to take Italy to the moon with one performance and crash down to earth with the next, as the manager reinforced the need for high-end consistency from the striker. Balotelli was the matchwinner for Italy in their opening Group D match against England, his header giving them a 2-1 victory, and his overall performance delighted the manager. But, before Fridays game against Costa Rica, Prandelli warned that any drop in Balotellis levels would see the player replaced. Continue reading... |
| England Women beat Ukraine to put World Cup qualification within reach Posted: 19 Jun 2014 12:00 PM PDT Goals by Casey Stoney and Eniola Aluko secure 2-1 victory Only Wales now stand between England and qualification England require just one point from their last two Womens World Cup qualifiers to reach next years finals in Canada after early goals by Casey Stoney and Eniola Aluko secured victory in Ukraine. Intriguingly it is Wales, who while England were winning in Lviv were beating Belarus 3-0 in Minsk through a Natasha Harding hat-trick, who stand in the way of Mark Sampsons team. Continue reading... |
| World Cup 2014: Holland training hard for Chile match - video Posted: 19 Jun 2014 11:57 AM PDT Holland are keeping up the pressure in training ahead of their last group match of the World Cup. The Dutch national team's 3-2 win against Australia on Wednesday was the latest victory in what has been a strong start to the tournament. Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie have played a large part in this success, scoring three goals each across both previous games. If Holland win or draw against Chile in São Paulo they will come top of group B. Holland play Chile on 23 June Continue reading...  |
| World Cup 2014: Uruguay v England in pictures Posted: 19 Jun 2014 11:50 AM PDT The best images from England's second group game against Uruguay at the Itaquerao Stadium in São Paulo. With both sides having lost their opening fixtures, defeat for either will leave them on the brink of exiting the World Cup Continue reading...  |
| Colombia win again as Juan Quinteros winner sinks skilful Ivory Coast Posted: 19 Jun 2014 11:36 AM PDT José Pékerman continues to preach the importance of remaining calm but try telling that to a stadium full of Colombia supporters who have just witnessed their country win back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time in their history. This is the 1994 World Cup in reverse for Colombia and without getting carried away, it is tempting to wonder whether we are looking at a team capable of mounting a serious challenge at these finals. There were some nervous moments to endure towards the end, after Gervinho pulled a goal back and Ivory Coast started to crank up the pressure, but Colombia held on to secure the three points that all but guarantee their place in the knockout stage. Two goals in the space of six second-half minutes, from the mercurial James Rodríguez and the substitute Juan Quintero, inflicted the damage on an afternoon when Juan Cuadrado demonstrated why he is one of the most coveted wingers in the world. Continue reading... |
| World Cup: Cameroon coach slams disgusting player behaviour in loss Posted: 19 Jun 2014 11:04 AM PDT Volker Finke reacts to on-pitch clash between players Alex Song apologises for lashing out at Mario Mandzukic Match report: Cameroon 0 Croatia 4 Cameroons coach, Volker Finke, said an on-field brawl between two of his players during the teams abject 4-0 defeat against Croatia on Wednesday was disgusting, and bemoaned a lack of discipline and effort by his players. In the first half Alex Song was sent off for elbowing Mario Mandzukic of Croatia in the back, and towards the end of the game the defender Benoît Assou-Ekotto butted Benjamin Moukandjo after an argument. Continue reading... |
| Colombia v Ivory Coast: World Cup 2014 as it happened Posted: 19 Jun 2014 10:58 AM PDT Colombia withstood a terrific fightback from Ivory Coast to record their second victory of the tournament
Colombia's players celebrate jubilantly. Their bench runs on to the pitch. They've won again and are surely through to the second round of the World Cup. They made hard work of it though and Ivory Coast will feel they should have got something from that match. They nearly did, but Colombia were more ruthless. Still, they're in a good position. Thanks for reading. Bye.
It's over!
90 min+4: Drogba is penalised for a foul on Yepes. It didn't look like a foul. But it should be enough for Colombia. Yepes is up and he's geeing up the Colombia fans.
90 min+3: So close for Ivory Coast! The creaking Yepes misses a punt forward and Drogba is through, but he can't reach the ball before Ospina, who slides out to put it out for a throw! Drogba was inches away from getting there first. What a frantic finish.
90 min+2: The first minute of added time is spent with Howard Webb trying to work out where he is. We have to wait while he works out what to do with a drop ball. Eventually he sorts it out.
90 min: Another stoppage. Gutierrez is down and Tiote has been booked. The board has gone up - there will be only four minutes of stoppage time. Sabri Lamouchi goes mad when he sees it.
89 min: Another cross from Toure. Yepes clears. Another ball is flung into the box. Who's there for Colombia? Yepes. Colombia then counter up the left. They've got two over on the right but Quintero, around 45 yards out and by the touchline, spots Barry off the line and tries to score! He almost does but Barry gets back and saves it.
88 min: Arias is outpaced and outmuscled by Aurier, so he brings him down just outside the area on the right. Nothing comes from Yaya Toure's cross.
86 min: Play is stopped so Yepes can receive some treatment on a knock to his knee. Colombia have used all of their substitutions, so he's going to have to continue.
85 min: Kalou fluffs a presentable chance to equalise. He was teed up by Gervinho, who had put the fear into Colombia with another dribble, but Kalou scuffed straight at Ospina from 18 yards. He had more time.
84 min: Aurier crosses again. Bolly flicks a header not too far over. Colombia would like the full-time whistle please.
82 min: Ivory Coast are all over Colombia now. They're getting so many men in the box. "Gervinho will be redeemed when he can do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke!" says Paul Levine.
81 min: Yaya Toure almost pokes a pass to Aurier, but Arias is on hand to tackle him at the expense of a corner. Now, the last time Ivory Coast had one of these, Colombia scored. Not this time, though. Yepes heads away.
80 min: "At what point does Gervinho go from being much-maligned to much-redeemed?" says Robert Nease. "I think hes earned respect at Roma, and doubly so now in Brazil."
79 min: Colombia bring on Alexander Mejia for Abel Aguilar.
78 min: Boka whips a cross into the area, seeking out Drogba, who got ahead of Yepes but failed to stick his head on it. Colombia are getting edgy.
76 min: Ivory Coast believe again. Drogba bustles into the area but his shot is deflected. The sting taken out of it, Ospina collects.
Hang on! There's life in this one yet and what a stunning individual goal this is from the much-maligned Gervinho, one of the finest you could hope to see at a World Cup. The winger received the ball on the left. He cut inside, beating one man with a turn of pace, before driving into the area. A fine swerve left another defender on his backside, and then he rammed a right-footed shot inside the near post from 12 yards, which seemed to take Ospina by surprise. The Colombia goalkeeper might have done better but take nothing away from that. It's not over yet.
73 min: Ivory Coast bring on Bolly for Die. And...
72 min: Colombia bring on Santiago Arias for Pablo Arias.
Having scored from one of their own corners, Colombia have finally scored from one of Ivory Coast's. Serge Aurier went across to take the Ivory Coast corner but it was a dismal effort, truth be told, hit low to the first man. The ball was hacked up field but there didn't seem to be much danger, with Die in possession in his own half. However he gambled, trying to take the ball round Rodriguez, who diverted the ball to Gutierrez, who slid a perfect ball through to Quintero, who opened up his body and rolled it left-footed past the helpless Barry. The substitute has wrapped it up for Colombia. They didn't need a helping hand.
69 min: The corner is half-cleared but the ball is played back into the area. Toure's shot from the left is deflected behind for another corner.
68 min: Howard Webb puts down the magic spray and then it's time for Toure to smash his free-kick straight into the wall. He screams for handball in the wall, but Webb isn't interested. Back they come, though, and Aurier's cross from the right almost catches Ospina out at his near post, the Colombia goalkeeper reacting well to push it behind for a corner.
67 min: Didier Drogba tries to turn but he's brought down by Aguilar, just outside the D. This is an extremely promising position for Drogba, who will be having a shot here. Or maybe it will be Yaya Toure. Choices, choices. Before we get to that, though, Salomon Kalou replaces Max Gradel.
66 min: Ivory Coast shouldn't panic. They were one down against Japan and look how that turned out.
This had been coming and it's a fine goal from Colombia's best player. Cuadrado fizzed the corner into the area from the left and James Rodriguez rose above two Ivory Coast defenders - two of them! - to bullet a header high past the helpless Barry, who was unable to stop the ball zooming into the roof of the net despite getting a hand to it. That was like Andy Carroll at his very best.
63 min: From a seemingly hopeless position on the left touchline, Rodriguez somehow hooks a pass up the channel and through to Gutierrez, forcing Bamba to concede a corner. From which...
61 min: Didier Drogba is on for Wilfried Bony. His first act is to clear a Colombia free-kick.
59 min: Cuadrado hits the bar! He stood Boka up and then tricked his way past the dizzy left-back, before thumping the ball goalwards from an angle. However Barry was able to get two hands to the shot and push it against the bar and to safety.
57 min: Colombia almost have a defensive meltdown and gift Ivory Coast the first goal. A lax piece of control in the area from Yepes presented possession to Gradel, who momentarily had a sight of goal, but he was unable to shoot before Yepes recovered with a brilliant tackle.
56 min: This would have been an outrageous goal from Wilfried Bony. Yaya Toure picked him out with a forensic, scooped pass that he played with the outside of his right boot and Bony watched it drop before trying to score with an overhead kick. He didn't make contact, though, but still, full marks for intent. Neither Toure nor Bony have done much, but they could have made the difference there.
54 min: Didier Zokora is booked for taking out Cuadrado from behind. He'll miss Ivory Coast's final group game against Greece.
53 min: Colombia have had to bring off the injured Ibarbo and introduce Juan Quintero. Ivory Coast will be pleased to see Ibarbo trot off.
52 min: Yaya Toure, who has been quiet, has his first shot of the game, a free-kick that he bends round the wall but round the post from 25 yards.
51 min: And now Colombia attack. Ibarbo zaps past Boka on the right and whacks a low cross into the six-yard box that pinballs around the area, before being booted clear.
50 min: Gervinho - that one he used to play for Arsenal - has Colombia worried with another run. He ducks past one challenge and then skips past Yepes, only to overrun the ball and fall over as Yepes hung out a leg. There was no contact.
49 min: Colombia maraud through the middle again, Ibarbo swapping passes with Gutierrez but then getting the ball stuck under his feet as he prepared to shoot.
47 min: Gervinho swooshes past Zapata, who sticks out an elbow to bring him down. That's not nice.
46 min: Here we go again. Colombia start the second half and immediately storm forward, threatening to charge through the middle. Boka stops them. "I´m following your min by min report from an internet cafe in Montevideo bus station (no TV), while trying to send emails, and prepare myself for watching England in a bar full of Uruguayans," says Neil Clack. "I suppose Peckerman and Pardew both begin with P, but I can't see any other similarity at all. Peckerman looks more like Howard Wilkinson than Pardew, in my opinion - and he did have a long stint overseeing his country´s (Argentina) youth teams too. They may have even faced each other at international youth tournaments. That would really confuse Lawrenson!"
Howard Webb brings an end to the first half. Both goalkeepers have been underworked.
45 min: "Howard Webb making it up as he goes along?" says Simon McMahon. "What does he think he is, a policeman?" He's here all week, ladies and gentlemen. Seriously. I can't get rid of him. He's even here on weekends.
44 min: It's not a bad game but it could do with a goal. Failing that, a bit of thought in the final third.
43 min: Gervinho forgets himself and goes on a wee jink into the Colombia area. He's halted but the ball breaks to Gradel, whose fierce drive is blocked by Armero.
42 min: "Doesn't "Die skitters" play for Belgium?" says Fraser 'Frase' Thomas. Yes - it translates to 'The Skitters'.
41 min: When Ivory Coast have everyone back, Colombia don't have many ideas. They need space.
39 min: Donald Rett says: Being a bit pedantic, and not having seen the corner kick Law 17 states: The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves, the kicker cannot play the ball again. And In the guidelines and procedures, it states the ball does not have to leave the arc So" Look, there's a strong chance Howard Webb is making it up as he goes along.
37 min: Another Ivory Coast corner leads to another Colombia break. Rodriguez tries to release Gutierrez with a chipped pass but Zokora is on hand to make a stretching, last-ditch clearance. Colombia leave two players forward when Ivory Coast have a corner. "ESPN radio just said that Yaya Toure's heart is physically one and one-half times larger than the average human heart," says Daniel Stauss. "I am so flabbergasted right now; that may be the single weirdest factoid of the entire World Cup."
36 min: Die skitters through a couple of Colombia challenges and sees his shot from 20 yards deflected wide for a corner on the right.
35 min: Mark Lawrenson says that Jose Pekerman looks like Alan Pardew's older brother. I wonder what Pardew's affectionate nickname would be for him.
32 min: Yaya Toure looked like he was about to go into turbo-charge and romp through the middle, throwing off Colombia midfielders like a lion swatting flies off his back, but Sanchez sticks to his task, digs in and eventually wins the ball off a stunned Toure, shoulder-barging him out the way. Timber!
31 min: Ivory Coast attack down the right. Aurier crosses but Zuniga heads into the air and Opsina catches it. And then promptly gives the ball straight back to Ivory Coast with a poor throw. Aurier quick-foots it past Yepes and then drills a low shot towards the bottom-left corner, only for Ospina to make up for his error and make a good save.
28 min: Gutierrez wastes an excellent chance to give Colombia the lead! Ivory Coast were completely picked apart by a magnificent cross-field pass from Cuadrado to Rodriguez over on the left. Colombia had a two-on-one situation and Rodriguez clipped the ball into the middle, where Gutierrez - who might have been an inch offside made a horrible mess of his finish from six yards out. He swung with his left and it seemed to hit his standing foot and trickle embarrassingly wide. Oh dear. That wasn't very good. Even Diego Costa would have scored that.
26 min: That said, Ivory Coast haven't been troubled that much. It's an engaging game but we could do with a bit more goalmouth action. We're allowed to say that now that Spain have buggered off.
25 min: Tiote sends a rising drive over from 25 yards. Ivory Coast aren't offering a lot in attack. That'll all change when Drogba's on.
22 min: Colombia try to get away with some corner-based chicanery, but Howard Webb isn't having any of it. Zuniga walked over to the ball by the right corner flag and tapped it gently, before jogging away and leaving it to Rodriguez. Claiming that the corner had already been taken, he made off with the ball, looking to dribble into the area and catch Ivory Coast unawares, but Webb told him to go back and take it properly. I suspect it was because the ball didn't leave the quadrant. Remember Manchester United having a goal disallowed against Chelsea in 2009 when they did that? They were just too quick for the officials that day.
21 min: "On U.S. teevee Adrian Healy has decided that James Rodriguez shall henceforth be known as "J-Rod"," says Michael Plant. "Do you Brits have the same tradition of rewarding/punishing great play with egregious nicknames? Or is Adrian just playing to our presumed bad taste?" He should be calling him Hay-Rod at the very least.
20 min: "I understand the expression comes from would-be ranchers with more money than experience, who swagger around in big ten-gallon hats but can barely ride a horse without falling off," says James Lynn. "All talk, no walk."
18 min: Someone in the crowd appears to have some giant maracas. Whoever it is hasn't stopped shaking them all game. Perhaps it's Cuban Pete.
17 min: Cuadrado burns some serious ground on the right, Ivory Coast caught out on the counter again, and his awkward low ball is uncertainly hacked over by Zokora. That could have gone anywhere. Instead it's a corner. That's cleared, but Colombia come again, Sanchez testing Barry with a firm shot from 25 yards. Barry held it comfortably enough.
14 min: "Where does the expression more Hat than Horse come from?" says Thomas Krantz. "I'm curious." I have no idea actually. I'm also curious.
12 min: A free-kick for Ivory Coast on the right, conceded by Pablo Armero. Toure swings it in and when it's punched away by Ospina, Colombia counter at break-neck speed. Only a poor pass from Rodriguez stops Cuadrado from running clean through on goal. Ivory Coast seemed to be utterly unaware that there could be a danger of a counter-attack from Colombia.
10 min: The corner is taken short and then clipped into the area, where a header is blocked. Ivory Coast half-heartedly appeal for a penalty, more in hope than expectation. No one fools Howard Webb that easily.
9 min: Colombia get behind Ivory Coast again, this time on the right. Cuadrado speeds behind Boka and into the area, but his volleyed cross towards Ibarbo is cut out importantly by Zokora. From there, the Ivorians counter, Gervinho winning a corner on the left. "Drogba is the catalyst that made the Ivory Coast move from just ordinary to a very good team," says Amit Gupta. "You don't have to score. Sometimes, inspiring is more important."
8 min: Another ball has been chucked on the pitch. Will people stop chucking balls on the pitch? We only need the one.
7 min: Howard Webb has to stop play because a giant inflatable ball has drifted on to the pitch. Yes, really. After some mild conflusion, Rodriguez deflates it and chucks it aside. Pepe Reina wouldn't have been able to do that. Darren Bent must be in the crowd.
6 min: But we don't have to wait very long for something to happen! The wonderful James Rodriguez pings a glorious pass over the top of the Ivory Coast defence from deep, looking to release Cuadrado. He lays it back to Gutierrez, who scuffs his shot wide from the edge of the area. That was a good chance. He should have done better but didn't hit his shot cleanly.
5 min: Not a great deal has gone on so far. A nondescript start, so I won't bother trying to describe it, you don't need to hear about the various midfield skirmishes occurring. Although now you know that there are various forms of midfield skirmishes occurring.
4 min: Didier Zokora is at centre-back for Ivory Coast.
2 min: The Colombia fans are making an ear-splitting din, as is their wont. "More hat than horse?" roars George Tong. "Maybe a massive ego and an immature emotional time-bomb but, he was key if not responsible for ending the civil war in Ivory Coast. More highly regarded players will never matter as much beyond the game. Still infuriating but more hat than horse, no."
And we're off! Ivory Coast, all in green, get the ball rolling. They're kicking from right to left. They give it away within five seconds. Soon the ball's out of play. Onwards and upwards.
And here come the players. Yaya Toure strides out with a cake under one arm. There are plenty of Colombian fans in the stands, just as there were against Greece. They're loud. "It's true that they often need some media training, and some never get the hang of it, but that pre-game snippet with Phil Neville and Gaby Logan shows one of the things that former players can add to the presentation of a match," says David Wall. "He just slips in casually that he'd been chatting with Diego Forlan before the match and Forlan had been quite open with him, in a way he might not be with the press. A connected man. Thought Danny Murphy was excellent in co-commentary yesterday, by the way. Hopefully Neville will have been taking notes for the next time he does that job."
Hansen's been here for 15 minutes and he's already announced that "nobody can defend in this tournament". Some things never get old.
"Drogba is the African Ronaldo, a one-man show with a well-balanced chip on both shoulders," says Justin Kavanagh. "Sure he was a great player, but look at his behavior in the past and you'll find a self-regarding cowboy who is more hat than horse." In the past, maybe, but he dragged Chelsea to the Champions League in 2012 and so often turned up in big matches.
Alan Hansen's finally pitched up in the BBC studio. It's his last World Cup. Just his luck that the first day he's in Rio, it's tipping it down. It's not tipping it down in London and the BBC weather forecast says it's sunny in Liverpool. Can anyone confirm? Hansen's probably wondering why he bothered.
"Afternoon Jacob," says Simon McMahon. "I'm looking forward to this one. We should have a better idea if Colombia can go deep into the tournament after seeing them up against Drogba and co. rather than Scot .. eh, sorry, Greece. According to my Panini World Cup sticker book, the Colombians have one Macnelly Torres in their squad, although disappointingly I can find no mention of him in your team lines. Are Panini having me on?" They've had you on. I knew Panini couldn't be trusted.
Colombia, who are unchanged: Ospina; Zuniga, Yepes, Zapata, Armero; Sanchez, Aguilar: Cuadrado, Rodriguez, Ibarbo; Gutierrez. Subs: Arias, Carbonero, Vargas, Guarin, Mejia, Balanta, Bacca, Ramos, Quintero, Martinez, Mondragon, Valdes. Ivory Coast, who bring in Gradel for Kalou and leave Drogba on the bench: Barry; Aurier, Bamba, Zokora, Boka; 9-Cheick, Die, Yaya Toure; Gradel, Bony, Gervinho. Subs: Diarrassouba, Toure, Bolly, Akpa Akpro, Kalou, Drogba, Ya Konan, Diomande, Gbohouo, Djakpa, Sio, Mande.
In the 61st minute, it was Ivory Coast 0-1 Japan. In the 62nd minute, Didier Drogba came on. In the 64th minute, it was Ivory Coast 1-1 Japan. In the 66th minute, it was Ivory Coast 2-1 Japan and that's how it stayed. Conclusion: Didier Drogba's still got it. Pedants will probably point out that Drogba didn't actually score either Ivory Coast goal. Nor did he set them up. Serge Aurier was the architect of both, the raiding right-back's crosses turned home by Gervinho (for it is he) and Wilfried Bony, but we've started with this narrative so we're not going to be swayed off course now. Drogba. It's all about Drogba. And Aurier and Gervinho and Bony. And Yaya Toure. But mainly Drogba. It was his presence and his presence alone. That's our story and we're sticking to it. Continue reading... |
| Belgium captain Vincent Kompany misses training with slight groin strain Posted: 19 Jun 2014 10:25 AM PDT Kompany working individually with medical staff to get fit  |
| Victory over Spain leaves Chileans abuzz with thoughts of what may come Posted: 19 Jun 2014 10:22 AM PDT First win over old colonial power leaves country overjoyed Possible tie against Brazil now holds few fears Chileans crowned their midfielder Arturo Vidal as the new king of Spain on Thursday and hailed their victory over the holders as a portent of even greater things to come at the World Cup. Pure Chile crowed the headline in Las Últimas Noticias after Chiles 2-0 defeat of Spain, their first victory over the old colonial power in 64 years of trying. Those opening two words of the national anthem were also given a rousing rendition by 30,000 red-shirted Chilean fans in the Maracanã before Wednesdays match. Continue reading... |
| England v Uruguay live World Cup 2014 webchat from Brazil Posted: 19 Jun 2014 10:03 AM PDT Dominic Fifield was online to answer your questions about tonight's match in São Paulo  |
| Luis Suárez to start for Uruguay against England in World Cup Group D game Posted: 19 Jun 2014 10:02 AM PDT Luis Suárez will start for Uruguay against England in Group D at the World Cup after recovering from injury Continue reading...  |
| Fifa will introduce new measures after lapses in crowd control Posted: 19 Jun 2014 10:00 AM PDT 87 Chile fans detained after Maracana incident Ralf Mutschke: We have to protect media and fans Fifas security chief has admitted that lapses in crowd control have been embarrassing but said that fresh measures to improve standards have yet to be finalised. A serious failure in security measures before Spains World Cup match against Chile at the Maracanã in Rio saw 87 Chile fans detained after they forced their way past staff at an entrance and charged through the main media centre. Ralf Mutschke, Fifas director of security, said: It is embarrassing. We have to protect the media there is no doubt about it and we also have to protect the fans. They came in through a little gate in the outer perimeter and we have had meetings yesterday evening and this morning to assess the situation and to ensure that this will not be repeated. I am confident with measures being discussed this will not happen again. Continue reading... |
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