Franck Ribery Will Not be Going to Brazil to Play in France-Germany Clash

France's national football team midfielder Franck Ribery and France's head coach Didier Deschamps pose for a team group photo.
Injured France star Franck Ribery will not travel to Brazil to cheer his teammates when they face Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Tuesday.
Ribery, ruled out of the World Cup after a recurrence of a back injury on the eve of the finals, had been invited to join the squad along with two injured players originally due to travel to Brazil, Steve Mandanda and Clement Grenier. (Also read: How France Beat Nigeria to Reach Quarters)
However FFF president Noel Le Graet said the Bayern Munich star would not be coming to Brazil.
"Ribery is on holiday with his family and is recovering," Le Graet said.
Le Graet said the FFF was still waiting to hear whether Mandanda, who plays for Marseille, and Grenier (Lyon) would accept their invitations to travel to Brazil.

Lukaku key in Belgium's 2-1 victory against US

Brazil's Neymar 'Recovering Well' From Thigh, Knee Knocks

Brazil's forward Neymar, Brazil's forward Hulk, and Brazil's defender and captain Thiago Silva swimming in a pool during a training session at the Granja Comary training complex in Teresopolis, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup football tournament in Brazil.

Messi: I want Brazil final

Argentina forward Lionel Messi says he would love to play against Brazil in the World Cup final at the Maracana.
The host nation have already reached the quarter-final stage after beating Chile on penalties and Alejandro Sabella’s side could join them on Tuesday when they face Switzerland in Sao Paulo.
The format for the draw means that the two sides would meet in the final should they win all of their remaining games, and it is a mouthwatering thought for the Barcelona man, who knows how much it would mean to the supporters.
He said: “I’d be lying to say that it wouldn’t be very special. Brazil against Argentina in the final at the Maracana? That would be some dream, wouldn’t it?
“You can only imagine how much the people back home in Argentina would love it if we could beat Brazil – it would be talked about forever.
“I know the passion of our people, and they have just as much love for football as the Brazilians do, it is fantastic. We should have a lot of fans in Brazil, too, so hopefully our games can feel like home matches, even though they aren’t”.
The three-time Ballon d’Or winner scored a goal in each of Argentina’s three Group F fixtures and says he would love to win the tournament’s Golden Boot, but would sacrifice his goals for a World Cup triumph.
“I like to score goals, and if I could get the Golden Boot, it would be something very special for me. But more importantly, it would mean that Argentina are doing well.
“The team of the Golden Boot winner usually makes it to the semi finals or further, and that is what we want. But I would happily not score any goals and swap that for a World Cup!”
The 27-year-old was part of the Argentina side that was beaten 4-0 by Germany in the quarter-finals at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but he believes it was an experience that helped the team learn lessons and grow.
“It was very disappointing losing to Germany, but they were an excellent side on the day. They still are.
“We learned that you have to concentrate hard, every moment. We are more focused than ever on the job in hand this time around. The most important thing is that the team be strong, that they be together, and they fight for each other”

World Cup Tourists Take Selfies With Toothy Suarez

Soccer fans from Finland and the U.S. pretend that Uruguay's soccer striker Luis Suarez is biting them

A U.S. soccer fan pretends that Uruguay's soccer striker Luis Suarez is biting him

A U.S. soccer fan pretends that Uruguay's soccer striker Luis Suarez is biting him

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Luis Suarez Barred 9 Games and 4 Months in Biting Incident

Luis Suarez holds his teeth after running into Italy's Giorgio Chiellini

 

Luis Suarez, the enigmatic striker from Uruguay, was barred for nine games and suspended from all soccer-related activities for four months after he was accused of biting an opponent that marred his team's 1-0 World Cup victory over Italy, FIFA officials announced Thursday. Suarez, who was suspended twice previously for biting opponents during league games in the Netherlands and England, will miss the rest of the World Cup and the start of the English Premier League season.
Suarez's suspension is the harshest penalty for on-field action in World Cup history, surpassing the eight-game ban imposed on Mauro Tassotti of Italy in 1994 after he broke an opponent's nose with a vicious elbow.
"Such behavior cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field," Claudio Sulser, the chairman of the FIFA disciplinary committee, said in a statement.
Suarez's latest incident happened near the end of a match Tuesday in which Uruguay and Italy both struggled to generate many attacking chances. Ten minutes before the end of the game, with the score tied, 0-0, Suarez ran into the penalty area and collided with Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. Suarez appeared to drop his face into Chiellini's shoulder, and Chiellini immediately recoiled as both players fell to the ground.
Chiellini pulled his shirt collar to the side and tried to show the referee bite marks on his shoulder while Suarez rolled on the ground, seemingly feigning a painful injury.
Afterward, Chiellini condemned Suarez for what he said was a painful chomp. "Suarez is a sneak," Chiellini said. "I'd love to see if FIFA has the courage to use video evidence against him."
Suarez denied that he bit Chiellini - he said he ran into his shoulder and "nothing more" - but FIFA announced late Tuesday that its disciplinary panel would open an investigation into the incident and would use all resources, including video replays, to make its decision.
While Uruguay's coach, Oscar Tabarez, and some of Suarez's teammates staunchly defended him, reaction from soccer officials around the world seemed to indicate little patience with Suarez considering his previous history.
Suarez was barred for seven games in 2010 after biting an opponent while playing for the Dutch team Ajax; that earned him the nickname Cannibal of Ajax from a Dutch newspaper. Suarez then moved to the English club Liverpool and, in 2013, was caught on video biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. He was suspended for 10 games.
The FIFA disciplinary committee has broad authority to consider any evidence, including Suarez's two past biting incidents, and determine any punishment.
Suarez and Uruguay's soccer federation were given a deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday to present their position on the matter and any evidence.

Ronaldo to the rescue for U.S ..Germany beat the U.S. 1-0 in their Group G match Thursday.

Germany's Benedikt Hoewedes, left, and United States' Jermaine Jones go for a header during the group G World Cup soccer match between the USA and Germany ‹› Germany beat the U.S. 1-0 in their Group G match Thursday. But the Americans made it through the Group of Death anyway because Cristiano Ronaldo put in a late goal against Ghana for a 2-1 Portugal victory.The Americans' likely opponent next week is Belgium, which has already secured a spot out of Group H. The final Group H games are Friday. Belgium will win the group with a win or draw against South Korea, or a loss combined with a loss or draw by Algeria against Russia. It will finish second in the group with a loss combined with an Algeria win over Russia. There were many empty seats in the Arena Pernambuco when the match kicked off but fans streamed in during the first half, apparently delayed by traffic jams as torrential rain flooded parts of this northeastern Brazilian city. Germany was quicker off the mark and Tim Howard intercepted a low cross from Lukas Podolski before Michael Bradley made a good clearance and Omar Gonzales defended well to deny Thomas Mueller a shot from close range. Howard's 103th cap was a record for a U.S. goalkeeper and he did well to stop Mesut Ozil's shot in the 35th minute.

Portugal defeat Ghana 2-1

Cristiano Ronaldo made it 2-1 to Portugal but the win was not enough to see his nation reach the round of 16
Ghana pay for past sins
A news conference on Wednesday included revelations about millions of dollars in cash being flown in to unpaid players, and then came Thursday morning's breaking news on the suspension of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari after in-fighting.
Africa has suffered in Brazil. Cameroon were pathetic, Ivory Coast failed yet again to break their round of 16 duck, while Ghana, despite featuring in two of the tournament's classics -- versus USA and Germany -- failed to match their achievements in 2010 (quarterfinals), or even 2006 (round of 16), for that matter.

 Ghana FA suspends Boateng, Muntari
The real damage was done in losing to Team USA; the profligate finishing, the hopeless marking that let in John Brooks to score. All after total domination of possession. That late Miroslav Klose strike when leading Germany was even more costly, perhaps, though a draw was the right result in Fortaleza.
In Brasilia, they were spirited -- too strong-arm for Ronaldo's liking at times, he took a hell of a buffeting -- yet the same problems were their undoing. They were often on the edge of the Portuguese 18-yard box, but that was where the move broke down. Overhit crosses, shots from silly angles and decent Portuguese defending were their downfall. As they pushed towards the end of the first half, Christian Atsu was hugely wasteful when Andre Ayew was in free space.
Gyan's goal had looked to open an escape path, before familiar problems closed off the route.

Chile leads Spain 2-0 at halftime at World Cup.

 Chile's Eduardo Vargas celebrates scoring the opening goal during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and Chile

The Chilean team line up for the national anthem before the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and Chile at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Spanish team line up for a group photo before the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and Chile at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Netherlands vs Australia.Dutch Rally to Thwart Australia

                          Netherlands  3 - Australia 2

The Netherlands' Arjen Robben takes a free kick. Credit William West/Agence France-Presse

Brazil Memphis Depay scored a late clincher as Netherlands withstood Australia’s unsettling challenge in a 3-2 comeback win in Group B on Wednesday to move to the verge of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

Netherlands followed its 5-1 rout of defending champion Spain with a closer-than-expected win against Australia, which is almost surely out of contention after two defeats.

Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, who each scored twice against Spain, added to their tallies before and after Australia’s goals. The substitute Depay scored the winner in the 68th.

After a quiet start the game burst to life in the 20th minute when Robben collected the ball near midfield, sped through a hole in the Australian midfield and shot powerfully past the outstretched left foot of Mathew Ryan.

Ronaldo gets the ice treatment with Portugal

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Cristiano Ronaldo needed an ice pack for his troublesome left knee during a training session on Wednesday, as Portugal prepared for its World Cup match against the United States.

Though his knee had been bandaged in previous training sessions, Ronaldo started without one Wednesday.
After some light work with the rest of the first team, followed by some stretching, the world player of the year had the knee ice-packed.
Ronaldo was doubtful to play before Portugal's opening 4-0 defeat by Germany, but said before the game he was "100 percent fit".

Cristiano Ronaldo declares himself ready to play.

Ronaldo says has recovered from the left-knee injury that has bothered him recently.
Ronaldo tells reporters he would be "the first" to tell the coach if he was unable to play.
The Portugal star and FIFA player of the year was seen earlier this week walking away from practice with ice bags on his knee. He wore a bandage on the knee during Sunday's practice at the venue of the match, the Arena Fonte Nova.

World Cup : France vs. Honduras.

Karim Benzema of France controls the ball against Roger Espinoza (L) and Emilio Izaguirre of Honduras during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between France and Honduras

Mathieu Debuchy of France challenges Roger Espinoza of Honduras during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between France and Honduras

France’s Karim Benzema (10) scores the opening goal from a penalty spot during the group E World Cup soccer match between France and Honduras

 

 

Colombia’s Juan Zuniga, Greece’s Giorgos Samaras battle for the ball during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Greece

Greece’s forward Georgios Samaras (R) vies with Colombia’s midfielder Abel Aguilar

Greece’s forward Georgios Samaras (R) vies with Colombia’s midfielder Abel Aguilar (L) during a Group C football match between Colombia and Greece at the Mineirao Arena.