[World Cup] With new captain, Russia ‘100% prepared’ for Korea faceoff

 CUIABA, Brazil -- Russia’s new captain Vasily Berezutskiy said Monday he was 100 percent prepared for Russia and South Korea’s World Cup opener in Brazil.Anticipation is high for Russia’s Tuesday opener with Korea, which ends its 12-year World Cup drought four years before it hosts the World Cup.Vasily Berezutski (Right) of Russia fights for the ball with Maris Smirnovs (Left) of Latvia during their friendly soccer match in Moscow, 16 August 2006. (Yonhap)“I am 100 percent prepared (for Tuesday

June 17, 2014

[World Cup] US emerges bloodied and victorious against Ghana

After 90 brutal minutes of end-to-end action, the Americans emerged with a thrilling 2-1 win over Ghana.``It was a grind, but it was a wonderful win at the end of the day,'' coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.U.S. fans were screaming for revenge Monday after the Black Stars eliminated the Americans from the last two Cups. They got it. At a price.(AP-Yonhap)Clint Dempsey scored a shocking goal a half-minute in, but the U.S. couldn't make it stand up. Andre Ayew tied the score in the 82nd minute after a

June 17, 2014

[World Cup] Nigeria held 0-0 by Iran in World Cup's first draw

Nigeria and Iran delivered the first draw of the World Cup on Monday as they ground out a scrappy 0-0 stalemate in their opening match in Group F. The draw at the Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba followed 12 mostly high scoring and attacking games. After a first half in which Nigeria failed to capitalize on its dominance, chances were few and far between in the second. (Xinhua-Yonhap)In the early passages of play, Nigeria had shown menace, with much of its attacking th

June 17, 2014

[World Cup] Russia coach expresses confidence against S. Korea

On the eve of his World Cup showdown against South Korea, Russia head coach Fabio Capello said Monday he has "great expectations" for his side."We've done everything in our power to come to this beginning in top form," Capello said through an interpreter at the pre-match press conference held at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, the site of the Group H match between South Korea and Russia at 6 p.m. on Tuesday."All of our players are in excellent physical condition,"Capello added. "I am confident in the

June 17, 2014

[World Cup] Mueller scores 3, Germany routs Portugal 4-0

Thomas Mueller picked up where he left off at the World Cup, scoring a hat trick in Germany's 4-0 victory over 10-man Portugal in the Group G opener on Monday. Mueller scored five goals at the 2010 World Cup, along with three other players, but he also had three assists and that gave the Bayern Munich forward the honor of top scorer in South Africa.``To score three goals in the World Cup opener against such an opponent is great,'' Mueller said of his performance against Portugal, which was outcl

June 17, 2014

[World Cup] Defense key for Korea in WC opener

CUIABA, Brazil ― As Korea heads into its first World Cup match, it has just one focus: defense.The squad arrived in Cuiaba on Sunday morning from its Foz do Igaucu training camp, two days ahead of its premiere showdown at Arena Pantanal on Tuesday (7 a.m. Wednesday, Korean time) against Russia for the final opener in Brazil.Come kickoff, the team will be entirely committed to supporting the defense. Park Chu-young, Korea’s main striker, said before the training session on Sunday that he feels in

June 16, 2014

[World Cup] Belgium full of confidence

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) ― Belgium returns to its first World Cup in 12 years brimming with confidence and determination before the Group H opener against Algeria.Belgium’s best cluster of players in a generation is in fierce competition for a starting place Tuesday at Estadio Mineirao. It’s so fierce that a couple of players have picked up knocks in aggressive training sessions.Coach Marc Wilmots hopes the competitiveness will produce a strong fighting spirit against the Algerians, who have

June 16, 2014

[World Cup] Messi lifts Argentina

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― Lionel Messi scored a stunning second-half goal to push Argentina to a 2-1 victory over World Cup debutant Bosnia at the Maracana stadium on Sunday in the Group F opener for both teams.Messi lifted Argentina in the 65th minute, moving in from the right and striking a low left-footed shot off the inside of the post behind Bosnian keeper Asmir Begovic. It was just the second World Cup goal for Messi, adding to one he scored eight years ago in Germany.Vedad Ibisevic scored a c

June 16, 2014

[World Cup] Lee Yong: Korea needs to be tough mentally

CUIABA, Brazil (Yonhap) ― South Korea will have to dig deep and stay mentally strong when it opens its 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign against Russia, a South Korean defender said Sunday.South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, on Sunday arrived in Cuiaba in the central-west region of Brazil, the site of its first Group H match against Russia. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. at Arena Pantanal.Ahead of the team’s first practice here, defensive back Lee Yong said it will take more than just a physica

June 16, 2014

[World Cup] Messi magic gets Argentina up and running

Lionel Messi scored a trademark individual goal as Argentina opened their World Cup campaign with a narrow 2-1 win over Bosnia-Hercegovina at Rio de Janeiro's renovated Maracana on Sunday.The Barcelona superstar created the third-minute own goal by Sead Kolasinac with which Argentina went ahead, but it took a mid-match tactical shift for him to really start influencing proceedings. (AP-Yonhap)In the 65th minute he scored a goal befitting of the iconic 78,800-seater stadium, collecting the ball d

June 16, 2014

[World Cup] Seferovic gives Swiss last-gasp win over Ecuador

Haris Seferovic scored in the last minute of injury time to grab Switzerland a dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador in their Group E game at the World Cup finals in Brasilia on Sunday.Seferovic's winner capped a remarkable comeback by the top seeds in the group as fellow substitute Admer Mehmidi had taken just 121 seconds to make his mark as he levelled the game in the 48th minute. (AP-Yonhap)Enner Valencia had given Ecuador the lead midway through the first-half as he scored for the fifth successive g

June 16, 2014

[World Cup] France beats Honduras 3-0

Karim Benzema scored twice and created a third that was confirmed by goal-line technology as France beat Honduras 3-0 Sunday in its first World Cup match.The dominant win was a relief for France, whose team of highly paid players failed to win in South Africa and was sent home in a disgrace after going on a training strike. ``Winning 3-0 at a World Cup isn't easy,'' France coach Didier Deschamps said. ``(The players should) savor the moment, there's nothing more wonderful.'' France's forward Kar

June 16, 2014

(Photo News) Hopes dashed

Japan’s football supporters, watching at the Tokyo Dome stadium in Tokyo on Sunday, are disappointed after Japan is defeated by Ivory Coast in the World Cup. Japan was defeated by Ivory Coast 1-2.(AFP-Yonhap)

June 15, 2014

[World Cup] Park looks to come through vs. Russia

FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (Yonhap) ― The objective of soccer is rather simple: Score more than the opposition.Things haven’t been quite so simple for South Korea, however, in its preparations for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.In 16 games coached by Hong Myung-bo, who took the reins last summer, South Korea has found the back of the net just 15 times, an inflated total given that four of the goals came against an overmatched Haiti.In six matches in 2014, South Korea has scored only three goals while c

June 15, 2014

[World Cup] From the pitch to the booth

As the Korean team readies for its first match in the World Cup in Brazil later this week, heroes of the unforgettable 2002 event are back, sharpening their soccer instincts. Their battle, however, isn’t on the field. It’s on TV screens. From striker Ahn Jung-hwan and mid-fielder Park Ji-sung to defender Lee Young-pyo, a total of six players of the 2002 squad which advanced to the semi-finals have joined the country’s three major TV channels as soccer commentators. Here’s the lineup of football

June 15, 2014

[World Cup] Ivory Coast double downs Japan

Ivory Coast scored two goals in two minutes to beat Asian giants Japan 2-1 in their World Cup Group C battle on Saturday.Japan's AC Milan star Keisuke Honda knocked the Elephants groggy with a 16th minute goal to make it 1-0.But goals from Wilfried Bony and Gervinho in the 64th and 66th minutes saw Ivory Coast home. (AP-Yonhap)Honda gave Japan hope after escaping his markers at the edge of the penalty area and firing home a left foot shot that gave Boubacar Barry Copa in the Ivory Coast goal no

June 15, 2014

[World Cup] Colombia's verve sets tone in Group C at World Cup

Colombia's new generation unlocked Greece's notoriously steely defense with such verve that they could just have become the team to beat in Group C at the World Cup.The Colombians beat Greece 3-0 on Saturday, and didn't need star striker Radamel Falcao to do it.  (AFP-Yonhap)Falcao, who was ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury, was just one among the thousands of Colombia supporters who dominated the crowd, turning Mineirao Stadium into a sea of yellow, tinged with red and blue in the

June 15, 2014