Marcos cautions Brazil
Sao Paolo: Brazil’s starting goalkeeper in the 2002 World Cup says players have to avoid getting caught up in the fan euphoria that is starting to take over the country. Marcos says that as the home World Cup approaches, anxiety can affect the Brazil players’ performance throughout the tournament. The former goalkeeper said he expects the opening match to be the most difficult one for the national team because it will be hard for players to control their nerves. He said he was “a lot more relaxed” in the final against Germany in 2002 than he was for the team’s opener against Turkey in the tournament in South Korea and Japan. This time, Brazil will open against Croatia in Sao Paulo. It then plays Mexico and Cameroon in Group A.
Yet another strike
Sao Paolo: The Brazilian city that hosts the World Cup opener in one week is in transit chaos because Sao Paulo’s subway and some overland commuter train operators have gone on strike. The strike for better wages was called early Thursday and unions say there is no set date for ending it. Nearly 3.5 million commuters rely on the subway and overload trains each day. On the streets, people were spilling out of buses which were operating normally. Angered commuters kicked in a large door at the train station closest to the Itaquerao soccer stadium that will host the World Cup opener on June 12.
No fireworks, please
Moscow: Fans flocking to Brazil for the World Cup will not be allowed to carry fireworks, food, beverages, huge banners and a host of other items into the tournament’s 12 venues. FIFA has issued a long list of objects in its “Stadium Code of Conduct” that cannot enter the stadiums. Brazilian fans frequently unfurl gigantic flags of up to 8,000 square meters (86,000 square feet) to cheer on their teams. But during the World Cup, only flags and banners no bigger than three square meters (32 square feet) will be permitted. Only food and beverages purchased inside the stadiums will be allowed and instruments which produce an excessive volume of noise, such as megaphones, hooters or vuvuzela horns, are forbidden.
Oxlade-Chamberlain hurt
Miami Gardens: England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will undergo scans on his right knee after being injured during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Ecuador in a World Cup warm-up match. England coach Roy Hodgson says he fears “there may be ligament damage” and doesn’t expect to get the results from the medical examination until Thursday.
Hodgson says Oxlade-Chamberlain’s “knee buckled under the challenge” from Carlos Gruezo in the second half. England opens its World Cup campaign against Italy on June 14 and has one more friendly before then against Honduras back at the Sun life Stadium on Saturday.
‘Spain not the only favs’
Washington: Defender Gerard Pique says reigning champion Spain is one of several favourites to win this year’s World Cup, mentioning host Brazil, Argentina and Germany as other teams to beat. “Anything can happen in a World Cup,” Pique said at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday. “There are several favorites, and it is clear we are among that group.” Spain lost 3-0 to Brazil last year in the finals of the Confederations Cup in Rio. The Spaniards arrived in Washington on Monday to train. They face El Salvador at FedEx Field on Saturday in their last tuneup game before heading to Brazil. Spain plays its Group B opener against the Netherlands on June 13 in Salvador, then takes on Chile and Australia.
FIFA's surprising ranking
Zurich: Defending World Cup champion Spain will travel to Brazil as the No. 1 team in the FIFA rankings, and the host nation will kick off as No. 3.
Spain and Germany remain 1-2 in FIFA’s monthly standings, while Brazil leapfrogs No. 4 Portugal. Argentina and Switzerland both climb two places to Nos. 5 and 6. Colombia drops three to No. 8. Group D rivals Uruguay, Italy and England are also all in the top 10. No. 11 Belgium is the lowest-ranked of the seeded World Cup teams. The United States at No. 13 leads CONCACAF nations. Algeria, at No. 22, is top-ranked in Africa and No. 43 Iran heads Asian confederation teams. Australia, No. 62, is the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup.
Some respite for injury-hit Germans
Frankfurt: Germany’s World Cup injury problems are receding ahead of Friday’s final friendly against Armenia. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been laboring with a shoulder injury and won’t face Armenia, but only “because we don’t want to take any risks” coach Joachim loew said Thursday. “(Team doctor Hans-Wilhelm) Mueller-Wohlfahrt says there’s absolutely no danger of him missing the first game against Portugal” at the World Cup, loew said. “We know how important a good start in the competition is for us.” Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller will play against Armenia. loew said he expected both Philipp lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger to play some part on Friday.
Oscar leaves for birth of first child
Sao Paolo: Brazil midfielder Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior has left their training camp to be with his wife for the birth of his first child. Coach luiz Felipe Scolari said Oscar was allowed to leave the camp outside Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday for an interior city in Sao Paulo state. The couple was expecting a girl, which will be named Julia. Scolari said Oscar will rejoin the rest of the group later Thursday in Sao Paulo, where Brazil will play Serbia on Friday. He said the Chelsea playmaker is expected to play against Serbia in what will be the team’s final warmup before the World Cup opener against Croatia in a week, also in Sao Paulo.
Ronaldo will miss Mexico friendly
lisbon: Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Friday's friendly against Mexico as he tries to recover from leg injuries in time for the team's World Cup opener against Germany on June 16. The Portuguese football federation says on its website that the Real Madrid star and injured Portugal teammates Pepe and Raul Meireles are all "unfit" and would miss the warm-up against Mexico at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Ronaldo is recovering from tendinitis and a muscle injury, both in his left leg. Portugal will play Ireland in a friendly next Tuesday at New Jersey's Metlife Stadium before heading to the tournament in Brazil. Portugal also play the United States and Ghana in Group G.