Iran will start the World Cup as rank outsiders but their players have vowed to make life tough for their fancied opponents in Brazil. “No game is going to be easy for us,” midfielder Andranik Teymourian said at a training camp in eastern Austria. “…
Browsing: World Cup
England defender Phil Jagielka says he is on course to win his fight to be fit for the World Cup. Jagielka struggled to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in February, raising doubts about the Everton centre-back’s ability to get back to full…
Japan qualified for their eighth straight Rugby World Cup with a 49-8 win over Hong Kong Sunday to claim the Asian Five Nations title in the final sporting event at Tokyo’s National Stadium. Japan have never lost an Asian Five Nations match in the seven…
Uruguay star striker Luis Suarez took to Twitter on Saturday to pledge to his teammates and fans that he would make the World Cup despite undergoing knee surgery. The Liverpool forward and Premier League’s Player of the Year required arthroscopic surgery…
Luke Shaw cannot drive and watched the last World Cup on television as a 14-year-old, but now he is being thrust into football’s fast lane on the global stage. The precociously talented Shaw won a battle with his boyhood idol Ashley Cole for a left…
Thousands of Brazilians backing a movement to help homeless workers rallied in Sao Paulo to protest a lack of housing, shoddy public services and huge spending on the World Cup. Police put attendance at 15,000 while organizers said it was more than…
England striker Wayne Rooney said Thursday there would be no excuses if he failed to deliver for his country at the 2014 World Cup. Rooney broke through on the international stage at the 2004 European championships as an 18-year-old where his performances…
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez is set to undergo surgery on an injured knee Thursday just 21 days before the start of the World Cup, reports said. Liverpool’s Premier League Player of the Year injured his knee in training on Wednesday giving his side a…
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…
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…
Russia coach Fabio Capello has urged the country’s football bosses to toughen rules for foreigners playing in the domestic league as he grapples to find a team to play in the World Cup. The 67-year-old, who took over in 2012, has complained of the very…
Honduras wants only one thing at this year’s World Cup finals — to finally win a game. But the tiny nation, making their third appearance at the finals, have been drawn in Group E with 1998 champions France, a solid Swiss side and Ecuador. Having become…
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…
Manchester United interim manager Ryan Giggs says Phil Jones and Wayne Rooney will both be fit to play for England…
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has played down concerns over Brazil’s hosting of the World Cup by saying he’s never known a host nation get everything ready on time. Blatter, who was greeted by placard-wielding protesters in Hong Kong, urged people to…