Argentina faces Germany in final

SAO PAULO (AP) ― The World Cup’s second semifinal was supposed to put the silky skills of Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben in the spotlight. Instead, a goalkeeper and two rock-solid defenses stole the show.Argentina goalie Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after tough defending and a lack of creative spark from either team consigned the match to a 0-0 stalemate.In a twist of fate, Romero credited Nethe

July 10, 2014

[World Cup] Coach Loew, Germany take ‘tiki-taka’ to another level

PORTO SEGURO, Brazil (AP) ― Germany has taken the “tiki-taka” passing game so intrinsically used by Spain to another level at the World Cup in Brazil, by adding ruthless efficiency to the possession philosophy.Germany is one win from capturing its fourth World Cup title following the astonishing 7-1 demolition of host Brazil in the semifinals.Spain beat Germany at two major tournaments and coach Joachim Loew was so impressed by the Spanish game that he has taken over many aspects and, of course,

July 10, 2014

[World Cup] Fans delight in WC final berth

SAO PAULO (AP) ― It was Argentina’s joy, and another sting for Brazil.The Argentine soccer team beat the Netherlands on Wednesday to win a berth in the World Cup championship match ― doing it on archrival Brazil’s soil, and just a day after Brazil was humiliated in a 7-1 loss to Germany.Thousands of Argentina fans who traveled to Brazil for the tournament wept, kissed and raised their hands to the sky when their team won 4-2 on penalty kicks, sending it to the final for the first time in more th

July 10, 2014

[World Cup] Merkel to attend final

This 2010 file photo shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel celebrating after a goal at the World Cup in South Africa. (AP-Yonhap)BERLIN (AP) ― Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to the World Cup final in Brazil, giving Germany’s most prominent fan perhaps her best chance yet to watch the team lift a trophy after eight years of very public support.Merkel has become a frequent sight at Germany matches since the country hosted the World Cup in 2006, a few months after she took office ― and a regu

July 10, 2014

[World Cup] Hong Myung-bo resigns as nat'l football coach after winless World Cup

(Yonhap)Hong Myung-bo, the embattled head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, announced his resignation from the post on Thursday in the wake of the country's winless World Cup, a stunning development only a week after receiving a vote of confidence from the sport's national governing body. At a press conference held at the Korea Football Association (KFA) headquarters in Seoul, Hong said he takes the blame for South Korea's disappointing campaign in Brazil, where the country

July 10, 2014

[World Cup] Nat'l football coach Hong Myung-bo to resign after winless World Cup: official

Hong Myung-bo, the embattled head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, is set to announce his resignation from the post on Thursday in the wake of the country's winless World Cup, a senior official from the sport's national governing body said.The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Wednesday evening that Hong would hold a press conference the following morning at its Seoul headquarters, without specifying what the coach would discuss. The KFA official, requesting anonymity,

July 10, 2014

[World Cup] Argentina reaches World Cup final after penalties

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero saved two penalties Wednesday to send Argentina into the World Cup final with a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands after the game finished in a 0-0 stalemate.  A day after Germany lit up the World Cup with its clinical 7-1 destruction of host Brazil, the Netherlands and Argentina could not manage a goal between them in 120 minutes before the shootout. Romero thought to be a weak link in this Argentine team and not even a starter for his Monaco club most of last season

July 10, 2014

[Newsmaker] Klose's record compounds Brazil's defeat

Miroslav Klose found perhaps the only way to make matters worse for Brazil. On a night when Germany routed the host nation 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals, Klose also became the tournament's all-time record scorer _ surpassing Brazil great Ronaldo. Klose scored Germany's second goal in the 23rd minute, giving him 16 career World Cup goals. It broke the mark of 15 goals he shared with the retired Ronaldo, who worked the game as a TV commentator. Klose scored after a corner by Toni Kroos. His firs

July 9, 2014

Hiddink to coach Park at All-Star Game

Guus Hiddink (File photo)Former South Korean men’s soccer team head coach Guus Hiddink will coach a team led by his prized pupil at the upcoming K League Classic All-Star Game, league officials said.The league said Hiddink will be the head coach for “Team Park Ji-sung,” which will feature the former South Korean captain. Park’s squad will go up against the team of the K League Classic All-Stars, as voted by fans, league head coaches and team captains, on July 25 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.Hiddin

July 9, 2014

[World Cup] Klose scores vs. Brazil to set World Cup record

Miroslav Klose found perhaps the only way to make matters worse for Brazil. On a night when Germany routed the host nation 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals, Klose also became the tournament's all-time record scorer _ eclipsing Brazil great Ronaldo. Klose scored Germany's second goal in the 23rd minute for his 16th career World Cup goal in his fourth tournament. It broke the mark of 15 goals he shared with the retired Ronaldo, who watched the game in the stadium as a TV commentator.  Germany's for

July 9, 2014

[World Cup] Germany run riot in record 7-1 defeat of Brazil

Germany crushed shambolic World Cup hosts Brazil with a record 7-1 defeat on Tuesday to book their place in the tournament final in a match that shook football's superpower to the core. Brazil were booed by their fans and gathered shell-shocked on the Mineirao pitch with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after the worst defeat in their 100 years of competitive football. Brazil players sink to their knees after the World Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao Stadium in Bel

July 9, 2014

[World Cup] FIFA: No action against Zuniga for Neymar tackle

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― FIFA will not take action against the Colombia player who injured Neymar and ended the Brazil star’s World Cup. FIFA said its disciplinary panel “cannot consider this matter” under the rules because the match referee saw the challenge by Camilo Zuniga and judged it at the time.“In this specific case, no retrospective action can be taken,” FIFA said in a statement on Monday, because the incident “did not escape the match officials’ attention.”In a separate decision, the pane

July 8, 2014

[World Cup] Messi, Robben face off in semifinal

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― The World Cup’s best dribblers ― Lionel Messi and Arjen Robben ― face off when Argentina and Netherlands meet in the semifinals.In Brazil, Robben has been quick, Messi has been quicksilver.On Wednesday in Sao Paulo, either one could turn the semifinal with a dazzling turn of pace or a weaving run to propel his team to the final.“We have to cut the supply line to Messi,” Dutch defender Bruno Martins Indi told Dutch website Nu.nl.The Barcelona star led Argentina through the g

July 8, 2014