World Cup Brazil 2014. Pirlo and Balotelli(Italy)

.

World Cup teams: Italy look to become pentacampeão and match Brazil's record

The Azzurri once again lie their hopes on Pirlo and Balotelli, and for once not on their rearguard that still represents an unsolved rebus for coach Prandelli

Brazil police detain 11 protesters in World Cup city

 

Police say some of the group smashed the windows of nearby businesses.

Group of 100 protesters marched in the city of Salvador.

Brazilian police say 11 protesters were detained in the northeastern city of Salvador during a small protest against the World Cup soccer tournament.
A group of about 100 protesters in the city of Salvador - where the Netherlands beat Spain 5-1 on Friday - tried to march toward the FIFA Fan Fest viewing area.
Before the protesters could get within several blocks of the Fan Fest area, police opened fire with stun grenades and tear, halting their march.
Police say some of the group smashed the windows of nearby businesses, including a car dealership.

Spain 1-5 Netherlands: Van Persie stars for the Dutch

HELL SALVADOR FOR SPAIN

It was Spain’s heaviest defeat since Scotland beat them 6-2 in 1963.
Portugal beat them 4-0 in 2010.
Spain last conceded three in Brazil in the Confederations Cup final last June (lost 3-0 to Brazil (Fred 2, Neymar).
They last conceded two to Group B rivals Chile in a friendly in September.
They lost WC opener to Switzerland in 2010 (0-1, Gelson Fernandes).
The Dutch have scored as many goals against the World Champions as they did in both their qualifying games against Andorra combined (5)

At first glance Costa did seem to be brought down by Stefan de Vrij as he turned back inside on to his right foot but replays showed that he clearly placed his foot on top of de Vrj’s leg and, as such, no penalty should have been awarded.
Nevertheless, Spain had the chance to strike a real blow and Alonso did so, driving the penalty low to Jasper Cillessen’s right with his right foot. For a while the world champions seems set to assume total control. Certainly the game may well have been over had Silva done better after moving in to Andres Iniesta’s stunning reverse pass just before the interval.
As it was, Cillessen was able to stand tall and touch Silva’s chip round the post and within a couple of minutes Holland were level.
In truth they hadn’t looked much of an attacking threat in the minutes that followed Spain’s goal but that changed once left wing-back Daley Blind delivered a beautiful crossfield ball in to the path of Van Persie.
The Manchester Uniyed centre forward looked at first as though he would seek to control the ball on his chest but at the last moment he propelled himself forward and diverted a sensational header over Casillas, who had advanced in an attempt to narrow the angle.
At a stroke the Dutch were level and the wild celebrations that followed – including an untidy attempt at a high five between Van Persie and Van Gaal – showed how much it meant.

Thwarted: David Silva sees his chip comfortably saved by Cillessen

Waste: Wesley Sneijder hits his shot straight at the keeper when through on goal

Proceed with caution: De Vrij (second right) is shown the yellow card by Nicola Rizzoli

Clash of the titans: Alonso and Arjen Robben compete for a ball in the air as the Dutchman goes flying

Stop right there: Holland defender Bruno Martins Indi (left) grabs hold of Spain midfielder David Silva

With the rain pouring at the start of the second half, mistakes were to be expected. Even so, it was astonishing to see Xavi conceded possession so cheaply as Holland sprang forward to take the lead.
Again it was Blind who swept the ball in from the left and when Robben pulled it down, the Bayern Munich player eased inside Gerard Pique and then lashed his shot past Casillas before Sergio Ramos could close him down.
It was a quite stunning goal and one that shook Spain. A few minutes later Daryl Janmaat supplied Van Persie with a pass and the United striker shook the bar with a crushing right foot volley.
By now, however, Holland were not to denied and in the 64th minute Casillas made a mess of a free-kick allowing Stefan de Vrij to bundle the third in virtually on the goal line.
Van Persie capitalised on another Casillas mistake for No 4 and Robben rounded off the rout.

Revenge for Dutch over Spain in Brazil

Spain 1-5 Holland: Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben score twice as Dutch stun world champions in Salvador
Spain v Holland Match Zone

Three games in to this World Cup and already the champions have a weaker grip on their trophy. Spain lost the first game four years ago, too, but defeat by Switzerland back then cannot compare psychologically to the stunning events of Friday night.

Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque will ask himself quite how his team lost from a winning position. A goal up on the cusp of half-time, Spain were cruising.
What will have kept him awake, though, is the manner in which his team lose all semblance of discipline, confidence and organisation once they went behind.
For the final half an hour the world champions were an absolute shambles as Holland went on to exploit some surprising leaden-footedness in the Spain defence to score the goals that have threatened to turn this tournament on its head before it’s even properly got going.

Dutch destroyers: Robin van Persie embraces Arjen Robben on a superb night for Holland

Heading into the net: Robin van Persie hurls himself through the air to score a superb equaliser

Aerial ultra: Van Persie hangs as he watches his header go into the Spain net

Calamitous error: Van Persie robs Iker Casillas to poke home Holland's fourth goal

Can't believe it: Casillas looks downcast as the Holland players celebrate Van Persie's goal

Both the first two Dutch goals were wonderful. Both were created by astute passes from left wing-back Daley Blind and both were finished exquisitely, if in contrasting ways, by Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
Goals three and four, meanwhile, were down to calamitous goalkeeping from Iker Casillas. Ahead of Spain’s second game next week – a match they now have to win – there is an increasing argument for Manchester United’s David de Gea to replace the great Spanish ‘keeper.
As for the victors, who scored again through the irrepressible Robben, once again a team from the Netherlands has arrived at a major finals with attacking talent others would die for. Whether they remain solid and focussed enough to prosper in the long-term remains open to question but this was an incredible way to start.
After all the discussion beforehand about 2010 final, it was perhaps fitting that the early stages provided a couple of throwback moments.
In just the eighth minute, Holland found themselves with the opportunity to take the lead courtesy of a clean break on goal. Just as they did on two occasions at Soccer City, they failed to take it.

Bunch of fives: Robben (left) slams home Holland's fifth goal in their stunning victory

Stefan de Vrij (left) bundles the ball in at the back post for Holland's third goal

Arjen Robben's control and finish for Holland's second were sublime... click here for more from our brilliant Match Zone

Turning him inside out: Arjen Robben gets past Gerard Pique after taking the ball down superbly

Finish: Sergio Ramos can't close down Robben, who strikes the ball with his left foot

Net gain: Iker Casillas (right) is sent the wrong way as the ball goes into the goal

The best 11: Robben holds out his arms in celebration after scoring Holland's second

Pointing the finger: Nigel de Jong tells Fernando Torres to get up

Arjen Robben was the villain four years ago but here he played a perfect pass behind the Spanish defence to release Wesley Sneijder. The Galatasaray midfielder – making his 100th international appearance - had some distance to go to goal, but he was clear and should have done better than bring a relatively straight forward save from Iker Casillas, who had decided to stand tall.
Soon after, the Dutch were reminiscing again, this time through the brutality of their challenges.
Louis van Gaal had said on Thursday that there was nothing wrong with the way the Dutch approached the 2010 final but two challenges in quick succession by Nigel de Jong and Sneijder were thuggish in the extreme. That they chose to pick on Sergio Busquets – the most formidable man in the Spanish team – was indicative of bravery or stupidity.
Certainly the game had plenty in it during the opening exchanges. Often opening group games can be nervous, cautious affairs but here both teams wanted to get on the front foot and it made for some entertaining football.
Diego Costa was booed at every turn by Brazilian fans irritated at his decision to choose Spain over Brazil and for some time it appeared as though the occasion was proving too much for him.
He was stopped in his tracks by a well-timed Ron Vlaar tackle in the 13th minute and then blazed wildly wide with his right foot after Manchester City’s David Silva played him clear down the right.
As the game settled down, Silva and Barcelona playmaker Xavi were having the greatest influence for Spain and it was Xavi’s pass to Costa that provided the game with a moment of genuine controversy just before the half hour.

Happy Holland: Louis van Gaal high fives Van Persie after the forward's brilliant equaliser

Shut up: Diego Costa gestures to the Salvador crowd, who barracked him throughout the match

Trip: Costa is caught by De Vrij inside the area in Salvador

On the way down: Costa is tripped by Stefan de Vrij and the referee pointed to the spot

Spot on: Xabi Alonso rolls his penalty to the right of Jasper Cillessen and into the corner

Not too Xabi: Alonso celebrates putting Spain a goal up from the spot

Rafael Marquez v Samuel Eto'o

Former Barcelona centre-back Marquez, who will be captaining Mexico at a record fourth World Cup, will have his hands full against the wily (old) fox-in-the-box that is Eto’o. Cameroon, meanwhile, will look to their striker for inspiration in their opening game as they try and advance from a difficult group.

 Doing battle: Mexico's Rafael Marquez will be tasked with dealing with Cameroon's Samuel Eto’o

 Oribe Peralta (Mexico)

With eight goals in his last six competitive appearances for el Tricolor, Peralta will spearhead Mexico’s attack in Brazil. Miguel Herrera’s side have Peralta to thank for getting them this far, after he scored five times in the 9-3 aggregate play-off win over New Zealand.

Oribe Peralta is one of Mexico's key men

Opta stats

• Mexico have lost more games than any other team at World Cup Finals (24).
• Samuel Eto’o has been directly involved in Cameroon’s last four World Cup goals (three goals, one assist).
• Cameroon have only won one of their last 13 World Cup games (1-0 v Saudi Arabia in 2002), drawing four and losing eight.
• No Cameroon player scored more than two goals in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers (Eric Choupo-Moting, Samuel Eto’o & Jean II Makoun).
• This is only the second ever meeting between these two countries; Mexico won the first clash 1-0 in a friendly in 1993.
• Mexico boss Miguel Herrera has only taken charge of his country in two competitive games; the World Cup play-offs against New Zealand (9-3 on aggregate).
• Cameroon’s 17 previous World Cup goals have all been scored from inside the area (15 from open play, two penalties).
• Mexico have never beaten at African team at a World Cup Finals tournament, losing one and drawing two of their three meetings against sides from that continent so far.

Ready to surprise: Cameroon have a tough task to match their quarter-final in Italia 90

Fancy their chances: Mexico fans dream of their side lifting the World Cup

Group A: Mexico v Cameroon 

Referee: Wilmar Roldan, Colombia

Managers:

Miguel Herrera (Mexico)
Volker Finke (Cameroon)
 Mexico coach Miguel Herrera has left Manchester United forward Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez on the bench for Friday's World Cup opener against Cameroon.

Herrera has chosen Villarreal forward Guillermo Dos Santos and Oribe Peralta to start in attack for the Group A encounter in Natal, Brazil.

He also ended speculation as to who will start in goal with Ajaccio's Guillermo Ochoa selected ahead of Jesus Corona of Cruz Azul.

Cameroon go into the encounter at the Estadio das Dunas finally able to focus on football matters.
Volker Finke's squad threatened to refuse to board the plane to Brazil due to a row over bonuses before a deal was finally reached.

The African side beat Moldova 1-0 last week in a friendly after previously drawing 2-2 with Germany in Monchengladbach.