[World Cup] France romp, Costa Rica stun Italy

France thrashed Switzerland 5-2 to surge closer to the World Cup last 16 as Costa Rica booked their place in the knockout rounds with a 1-0 upset of Italy, which confirmed England's exit.Costa Rica's head coach Jorge Luis Pinto, left, celebrates after winning 1-0 against Italy in the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Goals from Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema and

SoccerJune 21, 2014

[World Cup] Korea faces tough Algerian defense

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil ― Korea’s World Cup squad heads into its match against Algeria on Sunday with all eyes on whether it will be able to penetrate Algeria’s labyrinthine defense.Korea was able to shake off two scoreless pre-World Cup defeats in a promising display in its 1-1 draw with Russia on Tuesday with improved positioning and passing, especially in its back line. But the opening match exposed the team’s lack of endurance and creativity.Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo runs a practice sessio

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] Suarez pushes England to edge

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Before the World Cup, Uruguay was worried about Luis Suarez’s knee and Colombia was fretting over injured Radamel Falcao. Considering the wild celebrations Thursday, neither should have.Less than a month after surgery, the incomparable Suarez came back Thursday to score two vital World Cup goals, and Colombia is through to the second round despite missing its star striker. Both South American teams won 2-1 Thursday, Uruguay pushing England to the brink of elimination, and Colomb

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] Kompany often deals with injuries

MOGI DAS CRUZES, Brazil (AP) ― There is little not to like about Belgium defender Vincent Kompany at the World Cup. He has vision, poise and leadership ― all the qualities teams look for in a captain. Well, there is one downside ― he is injury prone.So when all players bar one came cycling down to the training pitch on Thursday, there was a sudden worry Belgium’s World Cup campaign might not look so perfect after all, despite the opening 2-1 win over Algeria. Kompany stayed up at the team hotel

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korea must be wary of 'speedy' Algerian

South Korea must guard against "speedy" attackers from Algeria when the two countries collide at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a defender for the Asian side said Thursday. Park Joo-ho (Yonhap)Fullback Park Joo-ho said Algeria may have problems on defense but will be sharper on offense."Their attackers have speed and great individual skills," Park said at a press conference before South Korea's practice in its base camp, Foz do Iguacu. "As one of the defenders, I have to be prepared for t

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korea seeks first win in Brazil vs. Algeria

Coming off a spirited 1-1 draw against Russia to open Group H action at the World Cup in Brazil, South Korea will eye its first victory when it takes on Algeria on Sunday. Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the group H World Cup soccer match between Belgium and Algeria at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)The kickoff between the 57th-ranked South Korea and the 22nd-ranked Algeria will be

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] Scoreless draw keeps Japan and Greece alive

Reduced to 10 men after captain Costas Katsouranis was sent off in the 38th minute with his second booking, Greece held on for a 0-0 draw with Japan on Thursday that kept both alive in Group C and sent rival Colombia through to the knockout round of the World Cup.  Japan's Shinji Kagawa, left, and Greece's Giorgos Karagounis challenge for the ball during the group C World Cup soccer match between Japan and Greece at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Both t

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] Colombia down Ivory Coast as Suarez returns

Colombia maintained South America's strong start to the World Cup on Thursday, downing the Ivory Coast 2-1 to stay on course for a place in the last 16.Colombia's Mario Yepes, second right, heads the ball during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Ivory Coast at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)A day after Chile eliminated defending champions Spain, Colombia produced a fine attacking display to down the powerful Ivorians in Group C

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] Suarez scores brace as Uruguay beat England 2-1

Luis Suarez made a sensational return to action by scoring a brace to lift Uruguay past England with a 2-1 victory at the World Cup in Sao Paulo on Thursday. England's Wayne Rooney hits the goal post with a header defended by Uruguay's Martin Caceres during the group D World Cup soccer match between Uruguay and England at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)The victory resurrects Uruguay's last 16 hopes following the 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica in their G

SoccerJune 20, 2014

[World Cup] Croatia knock 10-man Cameroon out of World Cup

Striker Mario Mandzukic scored two second-half goals as Croatia knocked 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup with a 4-0 rout in Manaus on Wednesday. Cameroon's Pierre Webo (left) and Croatia's Dejan Lovren challenge for the ball during the group A World Cup soccer match between Cameroon and Croatia at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, Wednesday, June 18, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Croatia bounced back from their opening defeat to hosts Brazil to keep alive their hopes of progressing from Group A wi

SoccerJune 19, 2014

[World Cup] Dutch delight after Australia fright at World Cup

Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie scored as Netherlands came from behind to beat brave Australia 3-2 at the World Cup on Wednesday.(AFP-Yonhap)A second-half strike from Memphis Depay settled an electrifying Group B encounter at Porto Alegre's Beira-Rio Stadium after a stunning Tim Cahill volley and a Mile Jedinak penalty helped the Socceroos take a 2-1 lead.Netherlands -- who thrashed reigning champions Spain 5-1 in their opening match -- are now in pole position to finish top of the group with

SoccerJune 19, 2014

[World Cup] Spain dethroned as Chile dazzle

Holders Spain sensationally crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday with a 2-0 defeat to Chile that condemned them to become the fifth champions to fail to get past the first round.On a day when King Juan Carlos tearfully sealed his abdication after a four-decade reign, Spain's players were booted off their throne in 90 minutes after six years as the dominant force of world football.Chile's Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz administered the killer blows as a trophy-laden Spanish era was brou

SoccerJune 19, 2014

[World Cup] Honors even

CUIABA, Brazil ― South Korea’s meticulous World Cup preparations paid off enough to stop its losing streak, as the Taeguk Warriors reached a 1-1 draw with Russia on Tuesday in the final opening group match in Brazil.Korean forward Lee Keun-ho scored the opening goal in the 68th minute, followed by a dramatic equalizer by Russia’s Aleksandr Kerzhakov just six minutes later.The draw stopped Korea’s painful pre-World Cup slide after being routed by Tunisia 1-0 and Ghana 4-0. It also marked Korea’s

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Tik-Italia: Italy adapts passing game to the heat

MANGARATIBA, Brazil (AP) ― Call it tik-Italia.Italy has taken Spain’s famed “tiki-taka” system and revamped it to deal with Brazil’s heat and humidity.The Azzurri mesmerized England by completing an astounding 93.2 percent of their passes during a 2-1 win on Saturday according to data company Opta Sports ― the highest accuracy recorded in a World Cup match since the statistic began to be recorded in 1966. The previous record belonged to Denmark at 92.7 percent from a 6-1 win over Uruguay in 1986

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Korean fans hail result

Groans and sighs of relief were mixed among South Korean fans on Wednesday as their national team played to a 1-1 draw against Russia in their first World Cup Group H match, a better-than-expected result.Despite the early commute hours, nearly 50,000 South Korean fans gathered in front of giant outdoor TV screens set up in the central Gwanghwamun Square and southern Yeongdong Boulevard areas, two major street cheering spots in Seoul.The street cheering squads erupted with joy and yells when Sout

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Stadium stairs wobble under fans’ weight

Video of a staircase most people use to get to and from Rio’s famed Maracana stadium shows the structure built atop scaffolding wobbling under the weight of fans who attended the World Cup game between Argentina and Bosnia over the weekend.Fans of various nationalities said Tuesday that they were scared it might come crashing down. Fans take photographs as they gather outside Maracana stadium where the first 2014 World Cup match for Argentina's national soccer team will take place in Rio de Jane

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Some stars shining, others remain dim

After just one match each, Robin van Persie and Lionel Messi have already equaled their goal tallies from their previous two World Cups combined. Robin van PersieTwo of football’s biggest stars are finally shining where it matters most.While it has taken van Persie and Messi three tournaments to find their feet, other strikers seem to thrive on the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the World Cup from day one.Thomas Mueller, joint tournament top scorer with five in South Africa four years ago, grabbe

SoccerJune 18, 2014