[World Cup] Korea, Russia both happy with hard-fought draw

Head coaches for both South Korea and Russia said they were happy with the hard-fought 1-1 draw in their Group H match at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday. Hong Myung-bo (Yonhap)Lee Keun-ho put South Korea up 1-0 in the 68th before Aleksandr Kerzhakov pulled Russia even six minutes later.Though his players blew a precious lead, South Korean coach Hong Myung-bo said they played "a smart game, tactically and physically." "We played a solid game and got a point, and there's no reason

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Mexico holds host Brazil to 0-0 draw at World Cup

He was called a hero and a savior by his Mexican teammates. His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles.There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazil's hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament.  Brazil's Paulinho (8) watches as Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa punches the ball clear of the goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil, Tuesday, Ju

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Korea, Russia play out cautious 1-1 draw

CUIABA, Brazil -- South Korea and Russia played to a cautious 1-1 draw in their World Cup opener Tuesday in Brazil.Hours after Brazil and Mexico of Group A finished their game scoreless, South Korea’s Lee Keun-ho, a second-half substitute, and Russia’s Aleksandr Kerzhakov scored six minutes apart in the second half. Both sides took a conservative approach in the first half, avoiding long balls and risky passes. But late into the second half, Korea increased its scoring attempts and Lee broke the

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Wave of fans in red shirts fills streets to cheer for Korea

Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets across the country early Wednesday to cheer for the national football team against Russia in their crucial World Cup match.The Group H clash between South Korea and Russia began at 7 a.m. on Wednesday (Seoul Time) at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba in the central-west region of host Brazil. The two were scoreless at halftime.Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul turned into a sea of red with fans sporting Red Devil shirts and hair bands, and hol

Latest NewsJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Korea’s WC rival Belgium topples Algeria 2-1

Hours before South Korea and Russia’s World Cup opener, fellow Group H contender Belgium overcame Algeria 2-1 in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.Algeria opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Sofiane Feghouli converted a penalty kick down the center after Belgian Jan Vertonghen received a yellow card for tugging at the midfielder during an attempt on goal.Algeria played defensively in the second half, giving the Belgians little chance to find an opening.    Belgium's Dries Mertens celebrates after sco

SoccerJune 18, 2014

[World Cup] Portugal deny Meireles gave referee 'double finger'

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) -- Portugal denied midfielder Raul Meireles gave a World Cup referee the finger in his side's stormy 4-0 defeat to Germany, insisting that he was merely gesturing a tactical switch. Portugal's Raul Meireles looks at the ball during the group G World Cup soccer match between Germany and Portugal at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Pictures on social media show Meireles, who sports a distinctive Mohawk hairstyle, raising the third fin

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Germany dominates Portugal

SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) ― Thomas Mueller picked up where he left off at the World Cup, scoring a hat trick in Germany’s 4-0 victory over 10-man Portugal in the Group G opener on Monday.Mueller scored five goals at the 2010 World Cup, along with three other players, but he also had three assists and that gave the Bayern Munich forward the honor of top scorer in South Africa.“To score three goals in the World Cup opener against such an opponent is great,” Mueller said of his performance against Port

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Spain hopes to reverse Maracana luck vs. Chile

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) ― The Maracana is not filled with many fond memories for Spain, whose World Cup title is on the line at the iconic football stadium.Spain returns to the Maracana for Wednesday’s must-win match against Chile nearly one year after a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final.Spain’s 5-1 loss to the Netherlands to open Group B was its heaviest competitive defeat since a 6-1 defeat to Brazil at the famed stadium in Rio de Janeiro at the 1950 World Cup.Spain isn’t lett

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Honda: Japan must play to strengths

Japan talisman Keisuke Honda said Monday the side must try to dominate possession if it is to keep its World Cup hopes alive after a defeat in their Group C opener.Honda gave the Asian champion the lead against Ivory Coast on Saturday but, inspired by Didier Drogba, the Africans hit back with two goals to leave the Blue Samurai’s tournament hopes in the balance.Alberto Zaccheroni’s side cannot afford to slip up in Natal on Thursday when it meets Greece, who lost their first match, 3-0 to Colombi

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] N. Korea airs taped versions of WC matches

Despite its failure to join the 2014 World Cup, North Korea broadcast the taped version of the match between England and Italy on Monday, pointing to the reclusive country’s World Cup fever. Italy's Mario Balotelli, left, challenges for the ball with England's Gary Cahill during the group D World Cup soccer match between England and Italy at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Yonhap-AP)The England-Italy match was broadcast by the country’s official Korean Central

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Korean national team ready to take on Russia

With less than 24 hours to kickoff, the South Korean World Cup team’s biggest hurdle to overcome now is to stay focused in order to avoid defeat, head coach Hong Myung-bo noted on Monday.Hong said that in many previous matches, goals were generally scored early on in the first half. Attackers would barrel through an inattentive defense, as was seen when Ghana trounced Korea 4-0 in their final World Cup friendly on June 9.“What is most important for us is concentration,” said Hong at a press conf

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korean coach hints at conservative approach vs. Russia

South Korean head coach Hong Myung-bo on Monday hinted at a conservative approach against Russia in the upcoming World Cup showdown, saying his team should "play not to lose." (Yonhap)The Group H kickoff between the 57th-ranked South Korea and the 19th-ranked Russia will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, in the central-west region of the host Brazil. At a pre-match press conference held at the stadium, Hong said it was as important to avoid a loss as it is to try to win the opene

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] With new captain, Russia ‘100% prepared’ for Korea faceoff

 CUIABA, Brazil -- Russia’s new captain Vasily Berezutskiy said Monday he was 100 percent prepared for Russia and South Korea’s World Cup opener in Brazil.Anticipation is high for Russia’s Tuesday opener with Korea, which ends its 12-year World Cup drought four years before it hosts the World Cup.Vasily Berezutski (Right) of Russia fights for the ball with Maris Smirnovs (Left) of Latvia during their friendly soccer match in Moscow, 16 August 2006. (Yonhap)“I am 100 percent prepared (for Tuesday

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] US emerges bloodied and victorious against Ghana

After 90 brutal minutes of end-to-end action, the Americans emerged with a thrilling 2-1 win over Ghana.``It was a grind, but it was a wonderful win at the end of the day,'' coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.U.S. fans were screaming for revenge Monday after the Black Stars eliminated the Americans from the last two Cups. They got it. At a price.(AP-Yonhap)Clint Dempsey scored a shocking goal a half-minute in, but the U.S. couldn't make it stand up. Andre Ayew tied the score in the 82nd minute after a

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Nigeria held 0-0 by Iran in World Cup's first draw

Nigeria and Iran delivered the first draw of the World Cup on Monday as they ground out a scrappy 0-0 stalemate in their opening match in Group F. The draw at the Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba followed 12 mostly high scoring and attacking games. After a first half in which Nigeria failed to capitalize on its dominance, chances were few and far between in the second. (Xinhua-Yonhap)In the early passages of play, Nigeria had shown menace, with much of its attacking th

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Russia coach expresses confidence against S. Korea

On the eve of his World Cup showdown against South Korea, Russia head coach Fabio Capello said Monday he has "great expectations" for his side."We've done everything in our power to come to this beginning in top form," Capello said through an interpreter at the pre-match press conference held at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, the site of the Group H match between South Korea and Russia at 6 p.m. on Tuesday."All of our players are in excellent physical condition,"Capello added. "I am confident in the

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Mueller scores 3, Germany routs Portugal 4-0

Thomas Mueller picked up where he left off at the World Cup, scoring a hat trick in Germany's 4-0 victory over 10-man Portugal in the Group G opener on Monday. Mueller scored five goals at the 2010 World Cup, along with three other players, but he also had three assists and that gave the Bayern Munich forward the honor of top scorer in South Africa.``To score three goals in the World Cup opener against such an opponent is great,'' Mueller said of his performance against Portugal, which was outcl

SoccerJune 17, 2014

[World Cup] Defense key for Korea in WC opener

CUIABA, Brazil ― As Korea heads into its first World Cup match, it has just one focus: defense.The squad arrived in Cuiaba on Sunday morning from its Foz do Igaucu training camp, two days ahead of its premiere showdown at Arena Pantanal on Tuesday (7 a.m. Wednesday, Korean time) against Russia for the final opener in Brazil.Come kickoff, the team will be entirely committed to supporting the defense. Park Chu-young, Korea’s main striker, said before the training session on Sunday that he feels in

SoccerJune 16, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium full of confidence

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) ― Belgium returns to its first World Cup in 12 years brimming with confidence and determination before the Group H opener against Algeria.Belgium’s best cluster of players in a generation is in fierce competition for a starting place Tuesday at Estadio Mineirao. It’s so fierce that a couple of players have picked up knocks in aggressive training sessions.Coach Marc Wilmots hopes the competitiveness will produce a strong fighting spirit against the Algerians, who have

SoccerJune 16, 2014

[World Cup] Messi lifts Argentina

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Lionel Messi scored a stunning second-half goal to push Argentina to a 2-1 victory over World Cup debutant Bosnia at the Maracana stadium on Sunday in the Group F opener for both teams.Messi lifted Argentina in the 65th minute, moving in from the right and striking a low left-footed shot off the inside of the post behind Bosnian keeper Asmir Begovic. It was just the second World Cup goal for Messi, adding to one he scored eight years ago in Germany.Vedad Ibisevic scored a c

SoccerJune 16, 2014