Despite the attacking gems at Brazil’s disposal it is veteran defender Cafu who continues to impress coach Carlos Alberto Parreira ahead of the World Cup.
Brazil warmed up for the June 9-July 9 finals with another walk in the park on Tuesday night, following up their 13-1 demolition of the Fluminense junior side with an 8-0 thrashing of Swiss second division outfit Lucerne.
The scandal threatening to bring Italian football to its knees is now starting to affect the national team’s World Cup preparations, according to the Italian press.
With 41 people and most of Italy’s big clubs being dragged through the mud, the press said a “morbid atmosphere” has descended over the camp in Coverciano near Florence ahead of the June 9-July 9 football bonanza.
Argentina produced an impressive display to defeat a weak Angola team 2-0 in the South Americans’ final warm-up match before the World Cup from June 9-July 9.
Argentina showed great pace and variety in their attacking play as first-half goals from Maxi Rodriguez and captain Juan Pablo Sorin sunk their overwhelmed opponents.
Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan is suing former manager Iain Dowie after he joined south London rivals Charlton, just a week after walking out at Selhurst Park.
Jordan claimed Dowie “fraudulently” obtained a release from a one million pound (1.75 million dollars) compensation clause in his contract and a court representative tried to issue the manager with a writ as he spoke Sky Sports cameras.
World Cup hosts Germany needed a late comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against Japan in a warm-up for the finals.
With the World Cup just 10 days away, Germany — who open the tournament against Costa Rica on June 9 — looked to be heading for an untimely defeat at 2-0 down.
Spain have asked football’s world governing body for permission to replace injured full-back Asier del Horno in their World Cup squad, FIFA confirmed.
The Chelsea defender injured his calf muscle a week ago and will not be available for another 20 days, meaning he would not be able to play for his country until halfway through the footballing bonanza.
England’s new look was good enough to secure a 3-1 win over Hungary without quite convincing that it will resemble the finished article in time for the World Cup.
Brazil warmed up for the World Cup with a comfortable 8-0 thrashing of Swiss second division team Lucerne.
It was more a case of shooting practice for the World Cup holders rather than a meaningful test against hopelessly outclassed opponents in front of a crowd of 30,000.
Atletico Madrid have raided Dynamo Moscow’s defensive ranks to sign Portugal’s holding midfielder Costinha and Greek defender Georgios Seitaridis.
“Atletico Madrid have reached agreement with Dynamo Moscow to sign Georgios Seitaridis and Francisco Jose da Costa (Costinha),” said the club’s official website http://www.clubatleticodemadrid.com.
Ivory Coast warmed up for the World Cup with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Chile in a bruising encounter that saw the Africans finish with 10 men.
Six yellow cards — five for the Ivorians and one for the South Americans — told the story of a physical contest that finished all square after Chile’s Humberto Suazo cancelled out Aruna Dindane’s penalty with a spot-kick.
