[World Cup] Hong: Algeria will attack

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- South Korea’s coach Hong Myung-bo doesn’t expect to play the same Algerian team on Sunday that was defeated by Belgium 2-1 last week. This time, they’re going to be faster and ready to attack, he said Saturday in Porto Alegre on the eve of Korea’s second group-stage match of the World Cup.Team Korea (top) and Team Algeria attend soccer practice at Estadio Beira-Rio, the venue for Sunday’s match, on Saturday in local time. (Yonhap)After Algeria scored the opening goal agai

June 22, 2014

World Cup of big surprises smiles on Americas

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The World Cup of surprises is turning into a sweet samba party for teams from the Americas. Having already stunned one former world champion, little Costa Rica shocked another on Friday and sent a third one home. Then the French exploded with five goals against their Swiss neighbors. In the evening game, Ecuador downed Honduras 2-1. The story so far: Two European powers -- Spain and England -- are out of contention after just two games. European teams have played eight tea

June 21, 2014

[World Cup] England has no case for the defense at World Cup

No excuses. No one to blame but themselves. Feeble defending has sent England home from the World Cup. England's forward Wayne Rooney lies on the ground after being fouled during the Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (AFP-Yonhap) Costa Rica's surprise 1-0 win over Italy on Friday meant that England made its most humiliating exit from a World Cup since 1958, following consecutive defeats by th

June 21, 2014

[World Cup] France romp, Costa Rica stun Italy

France thrashed Switzerland 5-2 to surge closer to the World Cup last 16 as Costa Rica booked their place in the knockout rounds with a 1-0 upset of Italy, which confirmed England's exit.Costa Rica's head coach Jorge Luis Pinto, left, celebrates after winning 1-0 against Italy in the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Goals from Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema and

June 21, 2014

[World Cup] Korea faces tough Algerian defense

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil ― Korea’s World Cup squad heads into its match against Algeria on Sunday with all eyes on whether it will be able to penetrate Algeria’s labyrinthine defense.Korea was able to shake off two scoreless pre-World Cup defeats in a promising display in its 1-1 draw with Russia on Tuesday with improved positioning and passing, especially in its back line. But the opening match exposed the team’s lack of endurance and creativity.Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo runs a practice sessio

June 20, 2014

[World Cup] Suarez pushes England to edge

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Before the World Cup, Uruguay was worried about Luis Suarez’s knee and Colombia was fretting over injured Radamel Falcao. Considering the wild celebrations Thursday, neither should have.Less than a month after surgery, the incomparable Suarez came back Thursday to score two vital World Cup goals, and Colombia is through to the second round despite missing its star striker. Both South American teams won 2-1 Thursday, Uruguay pushing England to the brink of elimination, and Colomb

June 20, 2014

[World Cup] Kompany often deals with injuries

MOGI DAS CRUZES, Brazil (AP) ― There is little not to like about Belgium defender Vincent Kompany at the World Cup. He has vision, poise and leadership ― all the qualities teams look for in a captain. Well, there is one downside ― he is injury prone.So when all players bar one came cycling down to the training pitch on Thursday, there was a sudden worry Belgium’s World Cup campaign might not look so perfect after all, despite the opening 2-1 win over Algeria. Kompany stayed up at the team hotel

June 20, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korea must be wary of 'speedy' Algerian

South Korea must guard against "speedy" attackers from Algeria when the two countries collide at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a defender for the Asian side said Thursday. Park Joo-ho (Yonhap)Fullback Park Joo-ho said Algeria may have problems on defense but will be sharper on offense."Their attackers have speed and great individual skills," Park said at a press conference before South Korea's practice in its base camp, Foz do Iguacu. "As one of the defenders, I have to be prepared for t

June 20, 2014

[World Cup] S. Korea seeks first win in Brazil vs. Algeria

Coming off a spirited 1-1 draw against Russia to open Group H action at the World Cup in Brazil, South Korea will eye its first victory when it takes on Algeria on Sunday. Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the group H World Cup soccer match between Belgium and Algeria at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)The kickoff between the 57th-ranked South Korea and the 22nd-ranked Algeria will be

June 20, 2014

[World Cup] Scoreless draw keeps Japan and Greece alive

Reduced to 10 men after captain Costas Katsouranis was sent off in the 38th minute with his second booking, Greece held on for a 0-0 draw with Japan on Thursday that kept both alive in Group C and sent rival Colombia through to the knockout round of the World Cup.  Japan's Shinji Kagawa, left, and Greece's Giorgos Karagounis challenge for the ball during the group C World Cup soccer match between Japan and Greece at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Both t

June 20, 2014

[World Cup] Colombia down Ivory Coast as Suarez returns

Colombia maintained South America's strong start to the World Cup on Thursday, downing the Ivory Coast 2-1 to stay on course for a place in the last 16.Colombia's Mario Yepes, second right, heads the ball during the group C World Cup soccer match between Colombia and Ivory Coast at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)A day after Chile eliminated defending champions Spain, Colombia produced a fine attacking display to down the powerful Ivorians in Group C

June 20, 2014

[World Cup] Suarez scores brace as Uruguay beat England 2-1

Luis Suarez made a sensational return to action by scoring a brace to lift Uruguay past England with a 2-1 victory at the World Cup in Sao Paulo on Thursday. England's Wayne Rooney hits the goal post with a header defended by Uruguay's Martin Caceres during the group D World Cup soccer match between Uruguay and England at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)The victory resurrects Uruguay's last 16 hopes following the 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica in their G

June 20, 2014

Korea returns to base camp

FOZ DO IGUACU, Brazil (Yonhap) ― After playing Russia to a 1-1 draw to open Group H action at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, South Korea returned to its Brazilian base camp of Foz do Iguacu on Wednesday.South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will face Algeria in Porto Alegre, about 600 kilometers east of the base camp, on Sunday. The group finale will be against Belgium in Sao Paulo, some 850 kilometers northeast of Foz do Iguacu.Before the South Korea-Russia clash, Belgium defeated Algeria, 2-1, t

June 19, 2014

(Photo News) Not meant to be

June 19, 2014

[World Cup] Croatia knock 10-man Cameroon out of World Cup

Striker Mario Mandzukic scored two second-half goals as Croatia knocked 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup with a 4-0 rout in Manaus on Wednesday. Cameroon's Pierre Webo (left) and Croatia's Dejan Lovren challenge for the ball during the group A World Cup soccer match between Cameroon and Croatia at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, Wednesday, June 18, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Croatia bounced back from their opening defeat to hosts Brazil to keep alive their hopes of progressing from Group A wi

June 19, 2014