Having won the last three major international tournaments, it is worth wondering if reigning champions Spain might finally come a cropper at this World Cup. Their remarkable run of success simply has to come to an end eventually, and there are concerns…
Browsing: World
Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak was Wednesday named captain of Australia’s World Cup squad following the axing of Lucas Neill. He will be backed by vice-captains Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano. “It is a privileged position and an accolade he richly…
Japanese figure skating world champion Mao Asada will sit out competitive figure skating next season but will take part in potentially lucrative commercial ice shows in the coming months, a report said Monday. Asada won her third women’s world figure…
Brazilian police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a protest near the airport in Sao Paulo, the city hosting the football World Cup opener in less than a month. Scores of protesters torched at least two vehicles and launched fireworks at…
Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi, making his debut at the World Cup finals, will be crucial in determining how far Nigeria go in Brazil. According to former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia, Mikel and forwards Victor Moses and Emmanuel Emenike will be the…
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe Friday backed veteran striker Yoshito Okubo’s surprise selection for the World Cup and said he could help inspire younger players. Okubo has played only once in the last four years under Alberto Zaccheroni and there were…
When Alejandro Sabella was handed the task of reviving Argentina’s fortunes after a poor campaign at the 2011 Copa America, not everyone in his homeland was convinced he was the right man. “I don’t know why they chose him,” said the country’s legendary…
Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri said Wednesday that he was considering his future in international football after being left out of the French World Cup squad for a second successive finals. The 26-year-old — who had an outstanding season as…
Luis Suarez, one of the explosive talents and characters in football, is unrepentant about his World Cup infamy, but would love to make a more positive impact in Brazil. His season at Liverpool has marked a stunning comeback in his campaign. The 2010…
Oscar Tabarez enters his third and probably final World Cup finals as Uruguay coach hoping his players can go one better than four years ago and reach the final. However, he is adamant that emulating the remarkable defeat of Brazil by their forebears…
Having landed themselves a nightmare group at the World Cup, Costa Rica hope a blend of tactical stability and technical effervescence will enable them to pull off a shock in Brazil. The Central American minnows excelled in qualifying, finishing second…
Carlos Tevez’s excellent form for Italian champions Juventus this season failed to earn him a recall when Alex Sabella named a provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup finals on Tuesday. Tevez, capped 64 times, scored 19 goals for Juventus as they…
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman maintained hopes that star striker Radamel Falcao could make the World Cup finals by naming him in his 30 man provisional squad on Tuesday. Falcao is recovering from surgery on ruptured cruciate ligaments. Despite major…
France coach Didier Deschamps on Tuesday left Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri out of a young 23-man squad for this year’s World Cup in Brazil. Neither 26-year-old Nasri, who has won 41 caps, nor Monaco captain Eric Abidal, capped 67 times, feature…
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli on Tuesday lifted the World Cup hopes of Giuseppe Rossi, Antonio Cassano, Ciro Immobile and Mattia Destro by naming them in his 30-man squad for Brazil. Prandelli is to trim his squad to 23 by June 2. Rossi only recently…
Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni believes his “love affair” with Japan will bear fruit at the World Cup after four roller-coaster years which has seen Asian Cup success but also intense criticism for reverses. The 61-year-old has been in charge of a…
Iran’s World Cup coach and players have hit out at the country’s football federation and kit sponsor for providing shrinking socks, boots that are too small and not enough equipment. The row has worsened tensions between coach Carlos Queiroz and the…
Greece will create a little bit of history in Brazil in June and reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, coach Fernando Santos has confidently predicted. The 59-year-old is stepping down after the finals but he is so confident his solid…
Everton breakthrough star Ross Barkley, 20, was named in a youthful England World Cup squad on Monday, but Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick only made the standby list. Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole announced his international retirement…
Gregor and Lewis Young made history when they became the first twin brothers to represent Scotland at the same time in the modern era in the final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series at Twickenham. And the duo went one better than that in their Pool…