[World Cup] Messi, Robben aim to put down World Cup underdogs

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – Lionel Messi's Argentina is to take on Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday again aiming to prove that they are a not a one man team.The match in Salvador starting at 2000 GMT and Netherlands' quarter final against Costa Rica in Brasilia at 1600 GMT could see the end of the World Cup's dark horses and underdogs.Messi's side went out in the quarter finals at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and the four time world player of the year is desperate to get the only

SoccerJuly 5, 2014

[World Cup] One-man wrecking crew

MOGI DAS CRUZES, Brazil (AP) ― So far none of Argentina’s opponents has been able to stop Lionel Messi.Perhaps Belgium has what it takes. But even if doesn’t, the Red Devils present a fresh challenge for Argentina at this World Cup.For the first time in Brazil, Argentina faces an opponent with attacking potential that rivals its own.“We will have to adapt, but what really interests me is to see how they will adapt to us,” Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said.Argentina has struggled on its road to the

SoccerJuly 4, 2014

Bouchard into Wimbledon final

LONDON (AP) ― Eugenie Bouchard could have lost her focus after the fourth game of her Wimbledon semifinal Thursday, when play was delayed for five minutes during Simona Halep’s medical timeout for a left ankle injury.Bouchard also could have gotten sidetracked when action was halted again, smack-dab in the middle of a tiebreaker, because an ill spectator was being attended to in the Centre Court stands.And everything really could have unraveled for Bouchard later, as she let match point after ma

More SportsJuly 4, 2014

Given reprieve, coach Hong must return to basics: experts

Now that he’s been given a second chance after a disappointing World Cup, South Korean men’s soccer head coach Hong Myung-bo should return to basics, experts said Friday.South Korea suffered two losses along with a draw in Group H at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil last month, finishing last among four nations in the country’s first winless World Cup since 1998.The early exit put Hong, one of South Korea’s most iconic football stars and ex-national team captain, on the hot seat. Yet the Korea Footb

SoccerJuly 4, 2014

Murray sent packing

Andy Murray reacts during his match against Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday. (AFP-Yonhap)LONDON (AP) ― The silence at Centre Court made abundantly clear that Andy Murray’s time as Wimbledon champion was coming to a close.Out of sorts from the start of his quarterfinal against up-and-coming Grigor Dimitrov on Wednesday, Murray ― who in 2013 ended Britain’s 77-year wait for one of its own to win the men’s title at the All England Club ― sailed an awkward backhand slice long to fall behind by a set an

More SportsJuly 3, 2014

Ryu gets no-decision as Dodgers fall

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin hits an RBI double in the fifth inning on Wednesday. ( USA Today-Yonhap)LOS ANGELES (AP) ― The Cleveland Indians had plenty to talk about on the flight home at the end of a 4-4 road trip.There were back-to-back losses in one-hit shutouts, and a rare 7-2-4 triple play that required two video replays to confirm. There was also the three-run eighth inning they had against Brian Wilson on Wednesday, which Mike Aviles capped with a two-run single en route to a

BaseballJuly 3, 2014

Teenage shortstop signs with Yankees

Teenage shortstop Park Hyo-joon and his parents (Yonhap)South Korean teenage shortstop Park Hyo-joon has signed with the New York Yankees.Park Dong-hoon, father of the 18-year-old player, said on Thursday the shortstop signed for $1.16 million and the Major League Baseball club also agreed to provide an interpreter and a trainer.The infielder with Yatap High School in Seongnam, just east of Seoul, becomes the second South Korean to join the Yankees organization after the retired pitcher Park Cha

BaseballJuly 3, 2014

[World Cup] France, Germany set to clash in quarters

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― A European presence in the World Cup semifinals is assured as Germany and France meet at the Maracana on Friday, looking to shrug off stumbling wins in the second round that exposed frailties in both teams.Contesting a quarterfinal for the ninth straight World Cup, the Germans will start as slight favorites because of their vast experience in major tournaments but with doubts surrounding a slow, porous defense that was breached repeatedly in the 2-1 extra-time victory over

SoccerJuly 3, 2014

[World Cup] In for the long haul

South Korea’s soccer governing body announced Thursday it has rejected a resignation offer by men’s national team head coach Hong Myung-bo in the wake of the country’s winless FIFA World Cup in Brazil.At a press conference, Huh Jung-moo, vice president of the Korea Football Association, also said the beleaguered bench boss will stay on board for at least the remainder of his contract, which runs through the Asian Cup tournament in January 2015.South Korea had one draw and two losses in Group H i

SoccerJuly 3, 2014

[World Cup] Neymar says Brazil ready for Colombia

FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) ― Neymar is tired of all this talk about the pressure of playing the World Cup at home. He guarantees Brazil is emotionally ready for the challenge.Just two days before Brazil plays Colombia in the quarterfinals, Neymar downplayed concerns about the team’s emotional state and said “all players are prepared.”The hosts showed their nerves when Brazil narrowly avoided elimination in a difficult match against Chile in the second round ― many of them crying after a penalty shoo

SoccerJuly 3, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium, Argentina surge through

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― The World Cup still has Lionel Messi. Tim Howard is heading home despite a heroic display of goalkeeping.A moment of Messi inspiration helped lift an unconvincing Argentina to a 1-0 win over Switzerland after extra time in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, creating the goal scored by Angel Di Maria in the 118th minute.Howard’s stunning shot-stopping performance could not stop the Americans falling to a 2-1 extra-time loss against favored Belgium that had a pulsating finale.The ve

More SportsJuly 2, 2014

Tiger is back but where is he going?

BETHESDA, Maryland (AP) ― Tiger Woods back on the golf course is a big deal.There was never any doubt, except for one sarcastic scribe who was walking toward the first tee at Congressional and noticed a sparse gallery for Woods’ first appearance in three months. “Tiger really packs them in.”This was before realizing a few moments later that Woods was starting his round on No. 10.Fans stood side-by-side down the entire left side of the 221-yard hole and three-deep around the green at 8 a.m. Thurs

GolfJuly 2, 2014

Strange day of upsets

LONDON (AP) ― Rafael Nadal ran out of comebacks at Wimbledon, losing to a brash, big-serving, between-the-legs-hitting 19-year-old kid who might just be a future star.Maria Sharapova, somehow, seemed on the verge of a turnaround despite a flurry of unforced errors, saving six match points before finally succumbing on the seventh with ― what else? ― a missed shot.And in the most striking sight of a memorable day of departures by past Wimbledon champions, Serena Williams couldn’t get the ball over

More SportsJuly 2, 2014

[World Cup] Brazil could revert to formation from 2002

TERESOPOLIS, Brazil (AP) ― Luiz Felipe Scolari is contemplating adding another central defender to Brazil’s lineup against Colombia in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, going back to the formation that earned his team the 2002 title.The Brazil coach has to make at least one change because midfielder Luiz Gustavo is suspended, and says he has a couple of options to replace him.“I have two options, either playing the same way we have been playing, just adding another player in the same sector

SoccerJuly 2, 2014

[World Cup] Lukaku rises to occasion

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates his goal on Tuesday. (AFP-Yonhap)SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) ― Romelu Lukaku had a point to prove at the World Cup. After Belgium missed countless chances during the 90 minutes of regulation time in the match against the U.S. on Tuesday, the striker came off the bench and soon set up the opening goal for Kevin De Bruyne.As the U.S. pressed for an equalizer, De Bruyne swiftly returned the favor to Lukaku, who made it 2-0. Despite scoring key goals in cup qualifying, L

SoccerJuly 2, 2014