Goals from substitutes Marouane Fellaini and Dries Mertens saw the strongly fancied Belgiu, side overturn a 1-0 deficit against Algeria to secure victory. The North African side took a shock lead when Sofiane Feghouli scored from the spot after being fouled by Stottingtot Hotshots defender Jan Vertonghen. For a while, the so-called Golden Generation of Belgian football played more like a golden shower, unable to break down a tough, organised Algerian defence. The Scum's Afro-fuzzy barnet-sporting Fellaini equalised with a looping header, shortly after coming on in the second half. And Mertens scored the winner when he finished off a swift counter-attack. The eightieth-minute strike prompted an eruption of relief from the Belgium bench, not least from coach Marc Wilmots, who had spent most of the match looking understandably pensive. 
His side had sixty five per cent possession but for most of the game found it difficult to penetrate an Algeria defence marshalled by former Glasgow Rangers centre-half Madjid Bougherra. The European side, the seeded team in the group and widely tipped to do well in Brazil after an impressive qualifying campaign, fielded an imposing starting eleven, with the Moscow Chelski FC pair of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku in attack, while Spurs' Mousa Dembele and former Moscow Chelski man Kevin de Bruyne sat in midfield. Pre-tournament fifth favourites with some bookmakers, they looked anything but for sixty nine minutes. They were rocked in the twenty fourth minute when forward Feghouli was hauled down by Vertonghen in the area as he aimed to convert Faouzi Ghoulam's cross. The Valencia player recovered to sidefoot a tame penalty past another Moscow Chelski player Thibaut Courtois, who dived the wrong way. That was Algeria's first World Cup goal since 1986 - five hundred and six minutes of football. Belgium's best early chances were from long distance and fell to Zenit St Petersburg's Axel Witsel, who had two efforts saved before failing to convert a header. The pattern changed with the Belgium substitutions. First to test the goal was nineteen-year-old Lille striker Divock Origi, who forced a brilliant low save from Rais Mbolhi. Gaps began to grow in a tiring Algeria defence, and a Fellaini took advantage of that when he outmuscled marker Carl Medjani and flicked his effort beyond the reach of Mbolhi with his big hairy bonce. The winner came from a move that showed off Belgium's attack at its best. De Bruyne tackled Feghouli in his own half and when the ball found its way to Hazard on the left, the PFA young player of the year sped down the wing and fed Mertens, who slammed his shot high into the net. Belgium almost grabbed a third through Fellaini, but Mbolhi produced another good save from point-blank range.
Brazil were denied a second win at their home World Cup by a combination of lethargy and the brilliance of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa who earned Mexico a deserved point. Neymar was denied twice by Ochoa, who dived at full stretch to push away a header before blocking the number ten's close-range shot. The keeper also denied David Luiz and produced a great late stop to keep out Thiago Silva's header. Raul Jimenez forced a good save from Brazil's Julio Cesar in stoppage time. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were again well short of their best in a cauldron of an atmosphere at Estadio Castelao, in Fortaleza. Neymar and captain Thiago Silva had the best of Brazil's chances but were denied by the superb Ochoa. Mexico more than held their own, testing home keeper Julio Cesar through substitute Raul Jiminez and peppering his goal in a breathless second half. The result leaves both sides with a chance of topping Group A. Brazil face Cameroon in Brasilia in their final match, knowing a point will be enough to see them through. This was a game in which the hosts' reliance on the brilliance of Neymar and Oscar was exposed. Fred failed to appease his critics with a toothless display in attack, while Paulinho and Luiz Gustavo lacked imagination in midfield. It is not the first time Brazil have struggled against Mexico - no team has beaten them more often in the Twenty First Century - and they were fortunate not to lose again.
Neymar was in the thick of the action from the kick-off, dancing away from Mexico defenders, and drawing several fouls. And, it was the Barcelona striker who had the best of the early chances. From Dani Alves' cross he rose high at the back post to head powerfully towards goal. Ochoa threw himself to his right to tip the ball to safety. In Brazil the save has been compared to Gordon Banks' famous dive to keep out Pele's header in the 1970 World Cup. Ochoa made another vital save with half-time approaching, spreading himself to smother a close-range stab by Paulinho, after Silva chested on a free-kick. But Mexico gave every bit as good as they got. Oribe Peralta led wave after wave of Mexico attacks, but it was Hector Herrera and Jose Juan Vazquez who went closest before the interval with piercing shots from distance, one of which Cesar tipped over, while the other whistled just wide. Though Brazil remained short of their fluent best, the introduction of Bernard for Ramires at half-time added zip to their attack. Neymar curled a free-kick wide and went closer still as he chested down Bernard's cross and drilled a fierce low shot at goal, only for Ochoa to deny him once more. Former Sheikh Yer Man City striker Jo, on as a substitute, dragged a shot wide as Brazil became increasingly desperate for a goal. Andres Guardado fizzed a shot just over Cesar's crossbar, while the Brazil goalkeeper had to react quickly to turn away a thunderous low shot from substitute Jiminez. Mexico finished the game with purpose and belief and has at least two decent chances to win the game late on.
Former England coach Fabio Capello saw his Russia side come from behind to draw with South Korea in Group H thanks to a goal by Aleksandr Kerzhakov. The substitute drove the ball home to join Vladimir Beschastnykh as Russia's all-time top scorer with twenty six goals. South Korea had led through a long-range shot from Lee Keun-ho that squirmed through the hands of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. The late excitement in Cuiaba was in stark contrast to much of what had gone before. South Korea had been marginally the more inventive side, although they needed a significant amount of luck to take the lead as the edgy Akinfeev gifted them the opening goal. But Capello's substitutions proved crucial for Russia, looking to build a platform from which to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since the Soviet Union reached the second phase in 1986. Son Heung-min had Korea's best two chances of the first half, linking well with The Arse striker Park Chu-Young on both occasions. But he failed to hit the target with either chance, while captain Koo Ja-cheol saw a deflected shot fly just wide. Russia had been limited to long-range efforts, Sergey Ignashevich's free-kick forcing Jung Sung-ryong into an unconvincing save. Neither goalkeeper inspired much confidence and after Jung had tipped a shot from Victor Fayzulin over the bar in the first minute of the second half, captain Vasily Berezoutski headed into the side netting from the resulting corner.
An alleged 'agenda' against Wayne Rooney could harm England's World Cup prospects Frank Lampard has claimed. Scrutiny of Rooney's place in the side intensified when the striker played in a wide role in the 2-1 loss to Italy. 'A fixation on one player - one of our most important players - is not going to help anyone,' said Lampard. Raheem Sterling, who occupied Rooney's position, said returning to their regular roles could be positive when England play Uruguay on Thursday. 'It's up to the manager to decide,' said Sterling. 'That's my normal position on the wing. So Wayne's vision and passing abilities and my running abilities, that could be a really good thing.'
Sterling joked he hoped he not to see Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez on the field at the Arena de Sao Paulo, but insisted Uruguay'"have other world-class players' aside from the Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws' striker, who is recovering from injury. Sterling's impressive display against Italy has prompted further speculation that Rooney - fifth on England's all-time scoring records with thirty nine goals - could again be denied the central role he prefers. 'It's a bit frustrating from a team group perspective,' added Lampard, an unused substitute against Italy. 'A fixation can become an agenda rather than a debate.'
Howard Webb will take charge of his first match of the 2014 World Cup when Colombia face Côte d'Ivoire in Group C on Thursday. Webb officiated the 2010 final, showing Netherlands' Nigel de Jong only a yellow card despite him kicking Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso in the chest. The Rotherham-born official has been a referee at two Confederations Cups and the past two European Championships. Webb will be assisted by countrymen Michael Mullarkey and Darren Cann.
Brazilian officials say they confiscated almost forty kilos of a caramel spread from Uruguay's football team as it arrived in Brazil for the World Cup. The spread, called dulce de leche, is extremely popular in Uruguay but the Brazilian authorities said that as it was made with milk, it needed sanitary documentation which was lacking. Some fans are apparently blaming Uruguay's shock 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica on the lack of dulce de leche.
Premier League champions Shekh Yer Manchester City will start their 2014-15 Premier League campaign at yer actual keith Telly Topping's beloved (though still unsellable) Newcastle. The opening weekend of 16 August also sees promoted Burnley face Moscow Chelski FC. Louis van Gaal's The Scum host Swansea and Ronald Koeman's Southampton visit Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws. Stottingtot Hotshot will begin life under new boss Mauricio Pochettino with a local derby at The Hamsters, while the Premier League's other new manager, Alan Irvine, sends his West Bromwich Albinos side into action at home to Blunderland. Last season's Championship winners Leicester will look forward to a meeting with Everton and Queens Park Strangers's Championship play-off triumph has earned them an opening day fixture with Hull Pussycats at Loftus Road. The Arse, who ended their nine-year wait for a trophy at Wembley in the FA Cup final last month, entertain Crystal Palace.
His side had sixty five per cent possession but for most of the game found it difficult to penetrate an Algeria defence marshalled by former Glasgow Rangers centre-half Madjid Bougherra. The European side, the seeded team in the group and widely tipped to do well in Brazil after an impressive qualifying campaign, fielded an imposing starting eleven, with the Moscow Chelski FC pair of Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku in attack, while Spurs' Mousa Dembele and former Moscow Chelski man Kevin de Bruyne sat in midfield. Pre-tournament fifth favourites with some bookmakers, they looked anything but for sixty nine minutes. They were rocked in the twenty fourth minute when forward Feghouli was hauled down by Vertonghen in the area as he aimed to convert Faouzi Ghoulam's cross. The Valencia player recovered to sidefoot a tame penalty past another Moscow Chelski player Thibaut Courtois, who dived the wrong way. That was Algeria's first World Cup goal since 1986 - five hundred and six minutes of football. Belgium's best early chances were from long distance and fell to Zenit St Petersburg's Axel Witsel, who had two efforts saved before failing to convert a header. The pattern changed with the Belgium substitutions. First to test the goal was nineteen-year-old Lille striker Divock Origi, who forced a brilliant low save from Rais Mbolhi. Gaps began to grow in a tiring Algeria defence, and a Fellaini took advantage of that when he outmuscled marker Carl Medjani and flicked his effort beyond the reach of Mbolhi with his big hairy bonce. The winner came from a move that showed off Belgium's attack at its best. De Bruyne tackled Feghouli in his own half and when the ball found its way to Hazard on the left, the PFA young player of the year sped down the wing and fed Mertens, who slammed his shot high into the net. Belgium almost grabbed a third through Fellaini, but Mbolhi produced another good save from point-blank range. Brazil were denied a second win at their home World Cup by a combination of lethargy and the brilliance of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa who earned Mexico a deserved point. Neymar was denied twice by Ochoa, who dived at full stretch to push away a header before blocking the number ten's close-range shot. The keeper also denied David Luiz and produced a great late stop to keep out Thiago Silva's header. Raul Jimenez forced a good save from Brazil's Julio Cesar in stoppage time. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side were again well short of their best in a cauldron of an atmosphere at Estadio Castelao, in Fortaleza. Neymar and captain Thiago Silva had the best of Brazil's chances but were denied by the superb Ochoa. Mexico more than held their own, testing home keeper Julio Cesar through substitute Raul Jiminez and peppering his goal in a breathless second half. The result leaves both sides with a chance of topping Group A. Brazil face Cameroon in Brasilia in their final match, knowing a point will be enough to see them through. This was a game in which the hosts' reliance on the brilliance of Neymar and Oscar was exposed. Fred failed to appease his critics with a toothless display in attack, while Paulinho and Luiz Gustavo lacked imagination in midfield. It is not the first time Brazil have struggled against Mexico - no team has beaten them more often in the Twenty First Century - and they were fortunate not to lose again.
Neymar was in the thick of the action from the kick-off, dancing away from Mexico defenders, and drawing several fouls. And, it was the Barcelona striker who had the best of the early chances. From Dani Alves' cross he rose high at the back post to head powerfully towards goal. Ochoa threw himself to his right to tip the ball to safety. In Brazil the save has been compared to Gordon Banks' famous dive to keep out Pele's header in the 1970 World Cup. Ochoa made another vital save with half-time approaching, spreading himself to smother a close-range stab by Paulinho, after Silva chested on a free-kick. But Mexico gave every bit as good as they got. Oribe Peralta led wave after wave of Mexico attacks, but it was Hector Herrera and Jose Juan Vazquez who went closest before the interval with piercing shots from distance, one of which Cesar tipped over, while the other whistled just wide. Though Brazil remained short of their fluent best, the introduction of Bernard for Ramires at half-time added zip to their attack. Neymar curled a free-kick wide and went closer still as he chested down Bernard's cross and drilled a fierce low shot at goal, only for Ochoa to deny him once more. Former Sheikh Yer Man City striker Jo, on as a substitute, dragged a shot wide as Brazil became increasingly desperate for a goal. Andres Guardado fizzed a shot just over Cesar's crossbar, while the Brazil goalkeeper had to react quickly to turn away a thunderous low shot from substitute Jiminez. Mexico finished the game with purpose and belief and has at least two decent chances to win the game late on.
Former England coach Fabio Capello saw his Russia side come from behind to draw with South Korea in Group H thanks to a goal by Aleksandr Kerzhakov. The substitute drove the ball home to join Vladimir Beschastnykh as Russia's all-time top scorer with twenty six goals. South Korea had led through a long-range shot from Lee Keun-ho that squirmed through the hands of goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. The late excitement in Cuiaba was in stark contrast to much of what had gone before. South Korea had been marginally the more inventive side, although they needed a significant amount of luck to take the lead as the edgy Akinfeev gifted them the opening goal. But Capello's substitutions proved crucial for Russia, looking to build a platform from which to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since the Soviet Union reached the second phase in 1986. Son Heung-min had Korea's best two chances of the first half, linking well with The Arse striker Park Chu-Young on both occasions. But he failed to hit the target with either chance, while captain Koo Ja-cheol saw a deflected shot fly just wide. Russia had been limited to long-range efforts, Sergey Ignashevich's free-kick forcing Jung Sung-ryong into an unconvincing save. Neither goalkeeper inspired much confidence and after Jung had tipped a shot from Victor Fayzulin over the bar in the first minute of the second half, captain Vasily Berezoutski headed into the side netting from the resulting corner.
An alleged 'agenda' against Wayne Rooney could harm England's World Cup prospects Frank Lampard has claimed. Scrutiny of Rooney's place in the side intensified when the striker played in a wide role in the 2-1 loss to Italy. 'A fixation on one player - one of our most important players - is not going to help anyone,' said Lampard. Raheem Sterling, who occupied Rooney's position, said returning to their regular roles could be positive when England play Uruguay on Thursday. 'It's up to the manager to decide,' said Sterling. 'That's my normal position on the wing. So Wayne's vision and passing abilities and my running abilities, that could be a really good thing.'
Sterling joked he hoped he not to see Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez on the field at the Arena de Sao Paulo, but insisted Uruguay'"have other world-class players' aside from the Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws' striker, who is recovering from injury. Sterling's impressive display against Italy has prompted further speculation that Rooney - fifth on England's all-time scoring records with thirty nine goals - could again be denied the central role he prefers. 'It's a bit frustrating from a team group perspective,' added Lampard, an unused substitute against Italy. 'A fixation can become an agenda rather than a debate.' Howard Webb will take charge of his first match of the 2014 World Cup when Colombia face Côte d'Ivoire in Group C on Thursday. Webb officiated the 2010 final, showing Netherlands' Nigel de Jong only a yellow card despite him kicking Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso in the chest. The Rotherham-born official has been a referee at two Confederations Cups and the past two European Championships. Webb will be assisted by countrymen Michael Mullarkey and Darren Cann.
Brazilian officials say they confiscated almost forty kilos of a caramel spread from Uruguay's football team as it arrived in Brazil for the World Cup. The spread, called dulce de leche, is extremely popular in Uruguay but the Brazilian authorities said that as it was made with milk, it needed sanitary documentation which was lacking. Some fans are apparently blaming Uruguay's shock 3-1 defeat to Costa Rica on the lack of dulce de leche.
Premier League champions Shekh Yer Manchester City will start their 2014-15 Premier League campaign at yer actual keith Telly Topping's beloved (though still unsellable) Newcastle. The opening weekend of 16 August also sees promoted Burnley face Moscow Chelski FC. Louis van Gaal's The Scum host Swansea and Ronald Koeman's Southampton visit Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws. Stottingtot Hotshot will begin life under new boss Mauricio Pochettino with a local derby at The Hamsters, while the Premier League's other new manager, Alan Irvine, sends his West Bromwich Albinos side into action at home to Blunderland. Last season's Championship winners Leicester will look forward to a meeting with Everton and Queens Park Strangers's Championship play-off triumph has earned them an opening day fixture with Hull Pussycats at Loftus Road. The Arse, who ended their nine-year wait for a trophy at Wembley in the FA Cup final last month, entertain Crystal Palace.
