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world cup 2014
Germany has issued a stamp celebrating its soccer team’s victory at the 2014 World Cup championship.
Five million were printed before the final match was even held.
The stamp was ordered by Germany’s finance ministry which holds a large stake in Deutsche Post.
Germany has issued a stamp celebrating its soccer team’s victory at the 2014 World Cup championship
Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he had “dared to hope very early on” that the national team would win.
If Germany had lost to Argentina on Sunday the 0.60 euro stamps would have had to be pulped.
The stamp will go on sale on Thursday, July 17, after the first commemorative copies are presented to the coach, players and team staff.
Graphic designer Lutz Menze told German news agency DPA that the image does not show individual footballers in order to honor the whole team.
He said that producing a stamp usually takes six months but he had been contacted by the government after the tournament had already started.
It was Germany’s fourth World Cup title after 1954, 1974 and 1990.
Brazil’s soccer team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned following his country’s failure to win the 2014 World Cup, reports Brazilian broadcaster Globo TV.
Luiz Felipe Scolari, 65, won the 2002 World Cup but the hosts could only finish fourth at this year’s event.
Brazil was thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals, their joint-heaviest loss ever and first home competitive defeat for 39 years.
They then lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in the play-off for third place.
Brazil’s soccer team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has resigned following his country’s failure to win the 2014 World Cup
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s contract was set to expire after the tournament but Globo TV says his resignation will be confirmed on Monday by the CBF, Brazil’s football federation.
UOL News, a Brazilian website, is also reporting that Luiz Felipe Scolari has quit, quoting two CBF sources.
During the defeat by the Netherlands, Luiz Felipe Scolari, in his second spell in charge of the national team, was booed every time his image appeared on the big screen inside the stadium in Brasilia.
Luiz Felipe Scolari first took over the Brazil side in 2001 and guided them to World Cup success a year later, beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final in Yokohama, Japan.
After spells in charge of Portugal, Premier League side Chelsea, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and Brazilian club Palmeiras, he resumed control of the national team in 2012.
Brazil hosted and won the Confederations Cup in 2013, beating Spain 3-0 in the final, and wa favorite to win a sixth World Cup.
They finished top of their group after two wins and a draw from their three matches, before edging past Chile on penalties in the last 16.
They beat Colombia 2-1 in the quarter-finals, but lost top goalscorer Neymar to a spine injury and captain Thiago Silva to suspension.
In the semi-final, Brazil were 5-0 down to Joachim Low’s Germany after only 29 minutes, before losing 7-1.
Luiz Felipe Scolari described the defeat as “the worst day of his life” and asked for forgiveness from the Brazilian people.
Germany’s soccer team were crowned world champions for the fourth time as Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner beat Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.
Substitute Mario Gotze controlled Andre Schurrle’s cross with his chest before volleying in with seven minutes left.
Both sides wasted chances in normal time, Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi both dragging wide.
Germany’s soccer team were crowned world champions for the fourth time at World Cup 2014 (photo AP)
Benedikt Howedes hit the Argentine post with a header late in the first half, but Mario Gotze sparked German celebrations.
Mario Gotze became the first substitute to score the winner in a World Cup final.
More than 250,000 German fans are estimated to have watched their country’s win at Berlin’s famous Brandenburg Gate.
More than 25,000 police, soldiers and firefighters ensured there was tight security around the Maracana stadium ahead of kick-off. Brazilian authorities said it was Rio de Janeiro’s largest ever security operation.
Thousands of supporters packed on to Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach to watch the match on big screens.
Shakira, who is the partner of Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique, performed some of her most recognizable hits at the World Cup 2014 closing ceremony ahead of final kick-off.
The World Cup 2014 final was also watched by Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Soccer’s global governing body FIFA has rejected Luis Suarez’s appeal against a four-month ban from all football-related activities for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez was also banned for nine international matches after the incident at the World Cup in Brazil.
The Uruguayan FA had described FIFA’s ruling as an “excessive decision” for which “there was not enough evidence”.
Luis Suarez can now make a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
FIFA also imposed a fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs ($105,000) on Luis Suarez, who has apologized for his behavior.
FIFA rejects Luis Suarez’s appeal against bite ban
Under the terms of the suspension, Luis Suarez cannot train with his club and is prohibited from entering the confines of any stadium, although players’ union FIFpro argue the details “lack clarity”.
Should Luis Suarez and the Uruguayan FA decide to appeal further, ordinarily the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) would sit and hear the matter while the player adheres to the terms of his ban.
However, as the World Cup is still ongoing, they could apply to the CAS “ad-hoc” division, which exists for the duration of the tournament to hear matters such as this.
The ad-hoc division could suspend the sanctions pending a full hearing later in the year, allowing Suarez to play and take part in “football related activities” in the meantime.
Since Luis Suarez was suspended, Liverpool has been in transfer negotiations with Spanish giants Barcelona, who have told the Anfield club they are willing to meet a buy-out clause of $120 million to sign the 27-year-old.
He has now been found guilty of biting three opponents in his career.
Luis Suarez was banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a Premier League match in 2013 and was also suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax in 2010.
Including this latest punishment, Luis Suarez will have missed 32 games through four separate bans since arriving at Liverpool in 2011.
The ban is the biggest in World Cup history, beating the eight games given to Italy’s Mauro Tassotti for elbowing Spain’s Luis Enrique in 1994.
President Dilma Rousseff has urged Brazilians to bounce back after the national soccer team devastating 7-1 World Cup defeat against Germany.
“Like all Brazilians, I am very, very sad after the defeat. But we will not let ourselves be broken,” Dilma Rousseff tweeted.
The coach of the Brazilian team Luiz Felipe Scolari called the defeat “the worst day of his life”.
Brazilian media reflected the mood of shock on Wednesday, describing the result as a “historic humiliation”.
The result was Brazil’s biggest defeat in World Cup finals history.
“I feel bad for all of us – for fans and for our players,” Dilma Rousseff said, urging Brazilians to “get up, shake off the dust and come out on top”.
President Dilma Rousseff has urged Brazilians to bounce back after the national soccer team devastating 7-1 World Cup defeat against Germany
Some have speculated that the team’s poor showing may affect Dilma Rousseff’s chances in the presidential election in October.
“Brazil’s historic humiliation has set off a warning signal in Dilma Rousseff’s government, which fears that the bad mood stemming from the defeat may affect expectations for the economy – already not very favorable – as well as the campaign trail,” a column in the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said.
It added that fans in the stadium had chanted insults about Dilma Rousseff.
The German team established a 5-0 lead within just 29 minutes, adding two more goals in the second half.
By the end of the match many of the remaining Brazilian fans were cheering the German team.
The match was the first time a team had scored seven goals in a World Cup semi-final, and the first World Cup game with eight or more goals since Germany beat Saudi Arabia 8-0 in 2002.
Shakira will perform at this year’s World Cup closing ceremony, which takes place before the final in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.
The 37-year-old singer will perform La La La (Brazil 2014) at the Maracana stadium.
It is Shakira’s third consecutive appearance at a World Cup closing ceremony, after performing in South Africa in 2010 and in Germany in 2006.
Shakira will perform at this year’s World Cup closing ceremony on the Maracana stadium
Shakira, whose home team Colombia will face Brazil in the quarter-finals, said she was “thrilled” to be performing.
“I have an intricate relationship with football for obvious reasons, and I truly understand what the World Cup means to so many people, myself included,” the singer said in a statement.
“The fans have shown the most incredible support for this song and I can’t wait to perform it for them.”
Shakira had a son with Spanish defender Gerard Pique last year.
She also performed the official song of the 2010 World Cup – Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) – which is reportedly the biggest-selling World Cup song of all time.
The Brazil ceremony, which marks the end of a month of football, will also see Carlos Santana and hip-hop star Wyclef Jean perform the official anthem Dar Um Jeito alongside Brazil’s Alexandre Pires.
Ivete Sangalo will perform a medley of well-known Brazilian songs, while there will be a Samba performance by students from a school in Rio.
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A bridge has collapsed on a bus in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte, reportedly killing at least two people.
The overpass was under construction and fell onto traffic on a busy highway.
The bridge has collapsed on a bus in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte
Aerial TV footage showed the front of a yellow bus crushed under part of the bridge. It is not yet clear how many people may be trapped.
The city, located in the south-east of the country, is due to host one of the World Cup semi-final matches next week.
Brazil’s GloboNews 24-hour news channel reports that at least 19 people were injured in the incident.
Emergency services are at the scene.
The scene of the accident is believed to be some 2 miles away from Mineirao Stadium, which has played host to several World Cup matches.
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President Barack Obama has praised the efforts of the US soccer team in the World Cup in a phone call to two of its star players.
President Barack Obama calling Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard in São Paulo
Despite the US being eliminated from Brazil’s tournament by Belgium, Barack Obama told goalkeeper Tim Howard and team captain Clint Dempsey they had made the nation proud.
“To see the way you guys captured the hearts and the imaginations of the whole country is unbelievable.”
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Millions of Americans stopped work early on Tuesday to watch US soccer team getting edged out of the World Cup by Belgium in a thrilling match in Brazil.
After a string of fine saves from US goalie Tim Howard, Belgium went 2-0 ahead in extra-time. The US then pulled one back to set up a pulsating finale.
Thousands packed public viewing areas across the country, despite a kick-off time of 16:00 EST.
Afterwards, the 2-1 defeat was hailed by many as the best game so far.
Millions of Americans stopped work early on Tuesday to watch US soccer team getting edged out of the World Cup by Belgium
Leaving Soldier’s Field in Chicago, where nearly 30,000 people watched the drama unfold on big screens, fans said they were “heartbroken” but proud of how the team had played.
It was a magnificent defensive effort, as Belgium launched wave after wave of attacks in the second half but each one foundered as American bodies – most often Howard’s – were flung in the way.
As many as 14 million workers were predicted to down tools to watch Tuesday’s game, costing the US economy more than $600 million in lost labor productivity, according to an estimate by Yahoo Finance.
Even President Barack Obama told reporters he had arranged his schedule around the match.
“I thought I’d get the cabinet together this morning, because we all know that America will be busy this afternoon. Go team USA,” the president said.
Large viewing parties were held across the US, including in Chicago, Kansas City and Washington DC.
At Freedom Plaza in Washington, the city government was hosting a viewing party, where viewers grabbed a spot on the stone plaza in the blistering heat hours before the match.
Team USA’s success in progressing through the so-called Group of Death had driven a wave of enthusiasm for soccer, which typically lags far behind American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey in popularity.
Even in Texas, traditionally American football country, soccer has taken a hold.
But not everyone will be tuning in. Despite the increased viewing figures, an NBC News poll suggests six in 10 Americans have very little interest or no interest at all in the World Cup. Only 22% had a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of interest.
The US and Belgium had not played each other in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, where the Americans won 3-0.
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Millions of soccer fans in America have stopped work early to watch team USA playing Belgium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil.
The match kicked off at 16:00 on the US east coast, so offices have emptied a little early.
Big screens have been erected in public viewing areas across the country, including at Chicago’s American football stadium.
An estimated 20 million Americans watched the US-Germany game last week.
This time, as many as 14 million workers could down tools to watch Tuesday’s game, costing the US economy more than $600 million in lost labor productivity, according to an estimate by Yahoo Finance.
Millions of soccer fans in America have stopped work early to watch team USA playing Belgium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil
Even President Barack Obama told reporters he had arranged his schedule around the match.
“I thought I’d get the cabinet together this morning, because we all know that America will be busy this afternoon. Go team USA,” he said.
Large viewing parties are planned across the US, including in Chicago, Kansas City and Washington DC.
At Freedom Plaza in Washington, the city government was hosting a viewing party, where viewers grabbed a spot on the stone plaza in the blistering heat hours before the match.
But not everyone will be tuning in. Despite the increased viewing figures, an NBC News poll suggests six in 10 Americans have very little interest or no interest at all in the World Cup. Only 22% had a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of interest.
Team USA’s success thus far – defeating Ghana and drawing Portugal to slip out of the group stage into the last 16 – has driven a wave of enthusiasm for football, which typically lags far behind American football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey in popularity.
The US and Belgium have not played each other in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, where the Americans won 3-0.
“I’m sure if we play to the best of our ability, we’ll get a positive result,” US captain Clint Dempsey said.
“For some of the guys, it’s the last opportunity, so we have to make the most of it.”
Speaking after the US lost 1-0 to Germany on Thursday, US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said: “We will work … to shift our entire game up forward. So that will put more pressure on the opponents and create more chances.”
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Luis Suarez has received support from World Cup winner Diego Maradona, while his biting victim, Giorgio Chiellini, branded the ban “excessive”.
The Uruguayan is not allowed to train with his club or enter a football stadium yet Spanish side Barcelona remains interested in signing the player from Liverpool.
For their part, Liverpool are seeking legal advice after being denied the services of last season’s leading Premier League scorer until the end of October.
Meanwhile, online gambling firm 888poker says it has terminated its relationship with Suarez with immediate effect.
Suarez, who flew back to the Uruguayan capital Montevideo in the early hours of Friday morning, denied the allegations following his clash with Giorgio Chiellini, claiming the centre-back had bumped into him.
However, FIFA decided he was guilty and gave him the longest ban in World Cup history.
Luis Suarez has received support from World Cup winner Diego Maradona (photo Telesur)
Luis Suarez also received a nine-match international suspension and a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs.
Writing on his personal website, Giorgio Chiellini, 29, said: “I have always considered unequivocal the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies but, at the same time, I believe that the proposed formula is excessive.
“Now inside me there’s no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that’s done. There only remains the anger and the disappointment about the match.
“At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult period.”
Former Argentina captain and coach Diego Maradona declared his support for Luis Suarez on his television show De Zurda on Thursday night.
“The FIFA sanction is shameful, they have no sensitivity towards the fans, they might as well handcuff him and throw him in Guantanamo,” said Diego Maradona, who was wearing a T-shirt bearing the message, “Luis, we are with you”.
“It hurts that they have cut short the career of a lad who is a winner. It’s an excessive suspension, FIFA cannot talk about morals to anyone.
“Suarez didn’t kill anyone. This is an unjust punishment, the act of an incredible mafia.”
Diego Maradona interviewed Uruguay’s president Jose Mujica during the program, broadcast on Telesur TV.
“We Uruguayans are full of anger, those coming from below do not understand anything,” said Jose Mujica.
“We kicked out Italy and England, no doubt they lost a lot of money.”
Jose Mujica claimed FIFA used “a different standard” to judge certain countries.
“That’s what hurts and angers us the most,” he added.
Uruguay will play Colombia in the last 16 on Saturday after qualifying from Group D behind Costa Rica.
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Ghana’s World Cup squad has expelled players Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng for alleged indiscipline.
A statement on the Ghana Football Association website said both players had “been suspended indefinitely”.
The statement added Kevin-Prince Boateng had used “insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah” and said Sulley Muntari was guilty of an “unprovoked physical attack on an executive committee member”.
The news comes just hours before Ghana take on Portugal on Thursday.
Ghana’s World Cup squad has expelled Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng for alleged indiscipline
Ghana still has an outside chance of qualifying for the knockout phase of the tournament.
The Ghana FA statement said the incident involving AC Milan’s Sulley Muntari took place on Tuesday and named Moses Armah, a member of the team management, as the man said to have been assaulted by the 29-year-old.
And Schalke 04 player Kevin-Prince Boateng, 27, was said by the Ghana FA to have shown “no remorse for his actions”, which took place during the team’s training session in Maceio on Tuesday.
Ghana’s World Cup campaign has already been blighted by a dispute over players’ appearance fees.
On Wednesday, the national government sent in excess of $3 million in a chartered plane to Brazil to pay the squad following their threat to boycott their final group match against Portugal if they did not receive their money.
To reach the last 16, Ghana need to beat Portugal and hope there is a winner of the match between Germany and US – although Ghana would also need to overtake their rivals’ superior goal difference.
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FIFA has banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for nine matches after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.
FIFA has banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez for nine matches after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini
Luis Suarez was also suspended from any football-related activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($111,000).
The ban means Luis Suarez will not play in Uruguay’s game on Saturday.
FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer made the announcement at a news briefing in Rio de Janeiro.
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Luis Suarez’s World Cup biting inspired plenty of hilarious memes in honor of soccer’s most famous flesh eater.
Luis Suarez appeared to bite Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Italy at the World Cup.
Luis Suarez’s World Cup biting inspired plenty of hilarious memes (photo Twitter)
The Uruguayan striker could now face a long ban.
FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings after Luis Suarez was seen pressing his mouth into the shoulder of the Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini on Tuesday.
Luis Suarez has been suspended twice before for biting at club level, once with Ajax and once with Liverpool.
Some of the most popular memes appeared within minutes of the incident.
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FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Uruguay striker Luis Suarez after he appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match.
Luis Suarez, 27, and the Uruguayan Football Association have until 17:00 Brazilian time on Wednesday to respond to FIFA.
The Liverpool forward clashed with Giorgio Chiellini during Tuesday’s Group D game, which Uruguay won 1-0 to qualify for the last 16.
The referee took no action at the time.
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez appeared to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during a World Cup match
The maximum ban Luis Suarez could face if FIFA takes retrospective action is 24 matches or two years.
Luis Suarez has defended himself in an interview with Uruguayan television, saying: “These are just things that happen out on the pitch.”
“It was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder.
“There are things that happen on the pitch and you should not make such a big deal out of them.”
Giorgio Chiellini, 29, described Luis Suarez as “a sneak”.
He added: “I’d love to see if FIFA has the courage to use video evidence against him. The referee saw the bite mark, but he did nothing about it.”
After the clash between the players, Luis Suarez went to ground holding his mouth, apparently suggesting he had been elbowed.
Giorgio Chiellini ran after Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez in an attempt to show him the alleged bite mark, pulling his shirt down to bare his left shoulder.
As he did so, Uruguay forward Gaston Ramirez tried to stop Giorgio Chiellini by pulling the Italian’s jersey back into place.
The incident occurred towards the end of the game, shortly before Luis Suarez’s team-mate Diego Godin scored the only goal of the match.
Diego Godin’s winner eliminated four-time champions Italy from the World Cup and secured Uruguay, semi-finalists in South Africa four years ago, a match against Colombia in the next round.
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Uruguay’s striker Luis Suarez appeared to bite Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during their Group D clash at the World Cup tournament in Brazil.
Luis Suarez pushed his head towards Giorgio Chiellini in the penalty area just before Diego Godin’s Uruguay winner.
Giorgio Chiellini pulled his shirt down to show the referee an apparent mark on his shoulder made during the clash.
“It was ridiculous not to send Suarez off. It is clear, clear-cut,” Giorgio Chiellini told Italian television station Rai TV.
“Then there was the obvious dive afterwards because he knew very well that he did something that he shouldn’t have done.”
Uruguay’s striker Luis Suarez appeared to bite Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini during their Group D clash at the World Cup tournament in Brazil (photo Reuters)
After the clash between the players, Luis Suarez, 27, went to ground holding his mouth, apparently suggesting he had been elbowed.
As the Italian ran after referee Marco Rodriguez, Uruguay forward Gaston Ramirez attempted to get Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini, 29, to cover his shoulder.
Luis Suarez has twice been banned for biting and, at the 2010 World Cup, committed a handball on the line to stop Ghana from scoring.
FIFA will wait to receive the referee’s report. The disciplinary committee of world football’s governing is responsible for “sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials’ attention”.
Any suspension could range from “up to three matches or up to two months”.
Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez tried to play down the incident and believes there is a vendetta from certain media towards Luis Suarez.
“I’d like to see the images first before making any comment. If it happened, then the referee probably didn’t see it,” said Oscar Tabarez.
“Despite mistakes Suarez has made, he is the target of certain media, a certain press.”
Italy manager Cesare Prandelli said he was resigning after the defeat by Uruguay, which eliminated his side from the tournament in Brazil.
“I didn’t see the images of Suarez but I did see the bite marks in Chiellini’s shoulder,” said Cesare Prandelli.
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez was banned for 10 games for biting Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match in April 2013.
Luis Suarez was also banned for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal’s shoulder while Ajax captain in 2010.
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The worst performance at a World Cup by England, period. Eliminated just 8 days into the tournament and after only two games for the first time in the proud nation’s history.
It was never going to be easy. It wasn’t a great surprise that England were eliminated before the second round but the manner in which it happened left a bitter taste in the mouth.
Two defeats in which England had more possession of the ball, more shots on goal but allowed the opposition to score twice in each match with some of their only attempts on goal.
Manager Roy Hodgson has the backing of the English FA. Captain Steven Gerrard wants at least a week to decide over his England future. Wayne Rooney is “hurt”, apparently.
England was eliminated after just 8 days into the World Cup soccer tournament (photo Nike)
The two England performances against Uruguay and Italy were barely encouraging. While England weren’t exactly favourites for lifting the World Cup, they were still expected to get one win out of two games. The exciting football that the team played was a treat and a rarity it must be said. The Sunday League defending and the lack of opportunities created were a big reason for England to catch the plane home early.
Only 8 nations at the 2014 World Cup had a younger squad than England. That included having 34-year old Steven Gerrard and now 36-year old Frank Lampard.
England took the most under-21 players to the tournament of all 32 nations – 18-year old Luke Shaw, 19-year old Raheem Sterling and 20-year olds Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ross Barkley.
Liverpool’s Sterling has already started both of England’s games at this World Cup, whilst Everton’s Barkley has made substitute appearances in both. Arsenal’s Chamberlain was not fit for either of the two previous matches, but if all four of these players are given a start against Costa Rica, alongside some of the senior players – surely this can only be a positive thing for England’s future.
Manager Hodgson admitted in Thursday’s press conference that he wanted to give as many of his 23-man squad an appearance during the tournament. 15 members of the squad have already made an appearance.
Two goalkeepers; Fraser Forster (26) and Ben Foster (31) are joined by Phil Jones (22), Frank Lampard (36), James Milner (28), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (20), Luke Shaw (18) and Chris Smalling (24) as those yet to play.
There’s a handful of names in this squad you think could be very great in two or four years’ time at the next tournaments provided England qualify. But how many of these do you predict to be World Class players?
How many of these players are going to go on to become the next Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Agüero, Franck Ribéry or Arjen Robben?
Since the decline of Wayne Rooney, the retirements of David Beckham and Michael Owen and the aging Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard – England now desperately need to be on the lookout for developing World Class players in the very near future if they’re even to consider reaching the final four of a major tournament, let-alone winning it.
Compared to the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, England simply don’t have the strength in depth and until that is developed the manager can only do the best with the blunt tools he has been given.
Soccer fans across the US celebrated a last-gasp win against the team’s World Cup nemesis, Ghana.
Soccer fans across the US celebrated a last-gasp win against the team’s World Cup nemesis, Ghana (photo AFP)
John Brooks headed in a late winner for USA in a dramatic finale to their opening Group G game in Natal.
It went a long way towards making amends for being knocked out by Ghana in the last two World Cups.
Supporters across the US planned to party well into the night.
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The 2014 World Cup officially got under way with a colorful opening ceremony before hosts Brazil kicked off against Croatia.
A cast of 660 dancers paid tribute to Brazil’s nature, people and football with a show around a “living” ball on the Arena de Sao Paulo pitch.
The final act saw a performance of official World Cup song We Are One by Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull.
The month-long tournament sees 32 nations compete in 64 games.
A cast of 660 dancers paid tribute to Brazil’s nature, people and football with a show around a living ball on the Arena de Sao Paulo pitch (photo Getty Images)
Many fans took to the streets to sing and chant their support for Brazil as excitement built in the hours before the tournament began.
But there were also demonstrations from those unhappy with the expense of hosting the tournament.
Performers dressed as trees, flowers and various musical instruments all performed in three acts before the central ball opened to reveal singers Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull as they sang the official World Cup song as the finale.
The opening game of the tournament between Brazil and Croatia kicks off at 17:00 local time.
No host nation have ever lost their opening World Cup game, with the previous 20 producing 14 victories and six draws for the hosts.
Brazil starts as favorite to win the World Cup for a sixth time, while holders Spain are aiming to win a fourth major tournament in a row after winning the European Championship two years ago.
The other seeded teams are Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany and Belgium.
FIFA said it had sold more than 2.9 million tickets, but they were still available for several matches on Wednesday, including some involving Germany, Italy and France.
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Sao Paulo riot police have used tear gas to break up a protest against Brazil’s World Cup, hours before the opening match.
At least one person was arrested and five others were injured, three of them journalists.
Protesters had tried to block a road leading to the stadium where the opening ceremony will take place.
Sao Paulo riot police have used tear gas to break up a protest against Brazil’s World Cup, hours before the opening match
Further protests are planned in other Brazilian cities over the expense of hosting the tournament.
In another development, striking airport workers in Rio de Janeiro blocked a road outside the airport, demanding a wage increase and a World Cup bonus.
The strike was to have lasted for 24 hours but union leaders called it off early for legal reasons.
Striking teachers also staged a rally in Rio city centre, further disrupting traffic.
Police charged with batons and riot shields, firing rubber bullets over heads of scores of protesters near a metro station on the route to the Arena Corinthians. Riot police moved in after the demonstrators refused to clear the road.
The demonstrators had been chanting “there won’t be a Cup”.
The violence happened about 8 miles from the stadium where Brazil will play Croatia at 20:00 GMT.
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Four years ago the Germans had Paul, the octopus, who caught the world’s attention with his surprisingly accurate predictions of the tournament’s results.
For the World Cup 2014, host country Brazil has chosen a sea turtle, named Big Head, as its oracle (photo Time)
Using sea creatures as fortune-tellers seems to be turning into a World Cup tradition.
For the World Cup 2014, host country Brazil has chosen a sea turtle, named Big Head, as its oracle and it has already picked a winner for the opening match this Thursday.
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The Thai ruling junta has ordered TV regulators to ensure that soccer fans will not have to pay to watch any matches at the World Cup 2014.
The military said it was part of its “happiness campaign”, which has seen a number of policy gimmicks, such as free haircuts and concerts.
Thailand’s football match with elephants representing World Cup nations
Meanwhile, an anti-coup protest leader has been charged with incitement and could face 14 years in jail.
The junta overthrew Yingluck Shinawatra’s government last month promising to restore order.
Bangkok and some other parts of Thailand have been under curfew ever since.
The military has since cracked down on dissent, detaining hundreds of potential opponents and releasing them with warnings about their future behavior.
FIFA’s World Cup 2014 begins today with Brazil opening the tournament against Croatia.
The month-long tournament sees 32 nations compete for a place in the final in Rio on Sunday, July 13.
The opening match will be preceded by a ceremony in Sao Paulo that pays tribute to nature, people and football.
Last year more than a million people took to the streets of major Brazilian cities to protest against what they see as excessive spending on the World Cup.
World Cup 2014 opening match will be preceded by a ceremony in Sao Paulo that pays tribute to nature, people and football
Brazil’s government is keen to prevent a repeat of some of the violence seen at those protests, and President Dilma Rousseff has said she will not allow violent demonstrations to mar the World Cup.
Thousands of extra police and soldiers will be deployed to ensure the matches get under way smoothly.
Hosts Brazil start as favorites to win the World Cup for a sixth time, while holders Spain are aiming to win a fourth major tournament in a row after winning the European Championships two years ago.
The other seeded teams are Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany and Belgium.
The host nation have never lost their opening World Cup game, with the previous 20 opening games producing 14 victories and six draws for the hosts.
A capacity 65,000 crowd is expected for the match, with their journey to the stadium eased after metro workers voted not to resume a strike over pay and the dismissal of 42 colleagues.
The host city for the opening ceremony had been braced for considerable disruption after traffic chaos was caused by a five-day stoppage earlier in the week.
As one problem eased another began, however, with airport workers in Brazil’s second largest city Rio de Janeiro announcing a 24-hour strike starting at midnight on Wednesday, meaning industrial action will continue through the opening day of the World Cup.
FIFA said it had sold more than 2.9 million tickets, but they were still available for several matches on Wednesday, including some involving Germany, Italy and France.
Jennifer Lopez has denied the cancellation of her performance at the World Cup opening ceremony in Brazil, despite claims she had pulled out.
FIFA said earlier this week J Lo would not be performing the official tournament song on Thursday.
However, Jennifer Lopez told the Associated Press on Tuesday she was flying to Brazil later that night.
“People get nervous and I think it was a little bit premature to announce anything,” she said.
Jennifer Lopez has denied the cancellation of her performance at the World Cup opening ceremony in Brazil
FIFA officials had said Jennifer Lopez was not able to attend the ceremony because of unspecified “production issues”.
However, J Lo said: “I think people get anxious, especially with me and my schedule when I’m like, <<Ah, OK, I can leave this day, that day, I don’t know if we can make it>> – but we are definitely going.”
Jennifer Lopez added she would perform We Are One (Ole Ola) alongside rapper Pitbull and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte – with whom she has recorded the song – before Brazil takes on Croatia at the opening game in Sao Paulo.
She said the World Cup song was orchestrated by Pitbull, who invited her to join on the track.
“I can’t take credit for this. This was one of Pitbull’s call-ins,” she said.
“He had this record and he’s like, <<I think this record could be great for the World Cup – will you do it with me?>> And I go, <<Yeah, of course>>.”
Jennifer Lopez added: “I’m so lucky that he gave me the opportunity.”
More than 60,000 people are expected to be in Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena to watch the ceremony and kick-off match. Up to a billion people worldwide are expected to tune in on television.
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President Dilma Rousseff says Brazil is ready for the football World Cup which starts on Thursday.
In a TV address, Dilma Rousseff said “the pessimists” had been defeated by the determination of the Brazilian people.
She rejected criticism of overspending, saying that the tournament would leave a lasting legacy of infrastructure.
Brazil has seen a year of protests against bad governance and perceived excessive spending on the World Cup.
Metro strikes are also threatening to disrupt the opening game in Sao Paulo.
President Dilma Rousseff says Brazil is ready for the football World Cup 2014
Speaking less than 48 hours before the start of the tournament, President Dilma Rousseff said that visitors would not be taking away infrastructure projects “in their suitcases”, which would instead remain in the country as a benefit for everyone.
Dilma Rousseff defended the $11 billion expenditure on the tournament, calling it a “false dilemma” that World Cup spending somehow diminished investments in health and education.
The budget for these areas between 2010 and 2013 was many times greater than the investment in stadiums, she added.
“Rest assured of this, the World Cup accounts are being meticulously scrutinised by the country’s auditing institutions,” she said.
It follows criticism by local residents who say that many promised development projects have been delayed or never materialized.
The World Cup will kick off on Thursday with a match between the hosts Brazil and Croatia at the Itaquerao stadium, or Arena Corinthians, in the outskirts of Sao Paulo.
However, work is still continuing to prepare the stadium ahead of the opening match.
Meanwhile, union leaders are threatening to resume a metro strike in Sao Paulo during the tournament if their demands are not met.
They are calling for staff threatened with dismissal for their involvement in strike-related disturbances to be reinstated,
A five-day stoppage that began last week caused wide scale traffic chaos, with fears that a repeat of the disruption could prevent fans and employees from attending group stage matches. The strike was suspended on Monday.
Dilma Rousseff has said she would not allow demonstrations to disrupt the tournament.
Thousands of extra police and soldiers will be deployed to ensure the matches get under way smoothly.
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