No football, eh? Boring, isn't it? Even with this lot playing ...
Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari summoned the squad's psychologist to his side's training base after the emotional second round win over Chile. The hosts won 3-2 on penalties and a number of Selecao players were seen shedding tears during celebrations at the Estadio Mineirao like a bunch of girls. Brazil playmaker Neymar was one of them. He said: 'The game against Chile was exciting for everyone. But the team does not have any emotional problem in the group.'
FIFA says there has been no evidence of match-fixing at any World Cup match and has called on a German magazine making allegations to provide proof. Convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal has denied he correctly predicted Cameroon's result against Croatia before the game. Der Spiegel magazine, which made the allegations, is standing by its report. FIFA's head of media Delia Fischer said: 'So far we have no evidence of any match manipulation.' She added: 'We have requested Der Spiegel provide us with all the communications with Perumal and any other material in order to prove the allegations they have made.' Cameroon lost each of their three Group A games, including a thumping 4-0 defeat by Croatia in which midfielder Alex Song was sent off in the fortieth minute. The Croatian FA says it did not have any concerns 'during or after the match.' A spokesman added: 'We feel like we won that match on the field and at this moment it will stay at that.' Asked if he had seen any evidence or had suspicions of match-fixing at the World Cup, former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier - a member of FIFA's technical support group - said: 'No, not at all.'
Pele has backed FIFA's stance on its decision to ban Luis Suarez from all football-related activity for four months. Suarez's World Cup ended in disgrace, shame and ignominy when the Uruguay striker was retrospectively punished for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on 24 June. The ruling, which also saw Suarez banned from nine international matches and fined sixty five grand, was greeted with dismay, denial and paranoid accusations of conspiracy and gross unfairness in Uruguay. But with an appeal in the pipeline, Pele believes that the governing body was well within its rights to make an example of Suarez. Speaking at an event to promote G-Form shin guards, Pele said: 'If he was not sanctioned in this way, such incidents could be repeated. No player can do what Luis Suarez did. I believe that the punishment is fair. FIFA's decision is good and is correct because it sets an example.'
FIFA says there has been no evidence of match-fixing at any World Cup match and has called on a German magazine making allegations to provide proof. Convicted match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal has denied he correctly predicted Cameroon's result against Croatia before the game. Der Spiegel magazine, which made the allegations, is standing by its report. FIFA's head of media Delia Fischer said: 'So far we have no evidence of any match manipulation.' She added: 'We have requested Der Spiegel provide us with all the communications with Perumal and any other material in order to prove the allegations they have made.' Cameroon lost each of their three Group A games, including a thumping 4-0 defeat by Croatia in which midfielder Alex Song was sent off in the fortieth minute. The Croatian FA says it did not have any concerns 'during or after the match.' A spokesman added: 'We feel like we won that match on the field and at this moment it will stay at that.' Asked if he had seen any evidence or had suspicions of match-fixing at the World Cup, former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier - a member of FIFA's technical support group - said: 'No, not at all.'
Pele has backed FIFA's stance on its decision to ban Luis Suarez from all football-related activity for four months. Suarez's World Cup ended in disgrace, shame and ignominy when the Uruguay striker was retrospectively punished for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini on 24 June. The ruling, which also saw Suarez banned from nine international matches and fined sixty five grand, was greeted with dismay, denial and paranoid accusations of conspiracy and gross unfairness in Uruguay. But with an appeal in the pipeline, Pele believes that the governing body was well within its rights to make an example of Suarez. Speaking at an event to promote G-Form shin guards, Pele said: 'If he was not sanctioned in this way, such incidents could be repeated. No player can do what Luis Suarez did. I believe that the punishment is fair. FIFA's decision is good and is correct because it sets an example.'
