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Raul: Striking worries could see Spain switch to 4-6-0
By Enis Koylu
Jun 12, 2014 1:36:00 PM
The Roja legend is concerned by Diego Costa's injury problems and the form of David Villa and Fernando Torres but insists the holders are still among the World Cup favourites
Spain legend Raul has predicted that Vicente del Bosque could use a strikerless formation at the World Cup due to a lack of options in attack.
The world and European champions brought in the natrualised Brazilian Diego Costa to provide some extra fire power in attack, but the Atletico Madrid star has been struggling with injury in the build-up to the tournament.
Del Bosque has experimented with using Cesc Fabregas as an unorthodox forward before, and Raul expects Spain to use a similar system once again should David Villa and Fernando Torres be unable to make up for any of Costa's fitness problems.
"David Villa and Fernando Torres were not inspiring for their clubs. We might see Del Bosque switching to 4-6-0 again," said the Real Madrid icon.
"If it helps scoring goals, there will not be any problem. But if it fails, he will not be spared! That's the life of a footballer or a football coach. One bad day and supporters will be after you.
"To defend a World Cup is tougher than winning it. Whether Spain can do it is the question Spanish fans are asking. Vicente del Bosque knows his team and the formations he needs.
"In the absence of [Carles] Puyol, the defence will be weaker. The fitness of Diego Costa will also be a big concern for the manager. Costa was in great rhythm this season before getting injured."
Despite voicing his concerns over Spain's strike force, Raul insists the holders are one of the firm favourites to win the trophy in Brazil - along with the host nation.
"Spain are definitely one of the favourites to win the World Cup in Brazil. There are other contenders but my country ranks first.
"Brazil will play in their back yard and it will boost their confidence. Luiz Felipe Scolari has delivered whenever he has been in charge of a World Cup team.
"Brazil have more attractive defenders than attackers this time."
Hackers claim attacks on World Cup-related websites
By Esteban Israel
SAO PAULO Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:21pm BST
The official match ball for the 2014 World Cup named ''Brazuca'' is displayed on the table before a news conference at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo June 11, 2014. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj
(Reuters) - Hackers claim they have carried out attacks against dozens of Brazilian websites linked to the football World Cup, including those of tournament sponsor Hyundai, a state government and Brazil's intelligence agency.
"We had a busy last few days and there is more still to come," a hacker who calls himself Che Commodore and who claims to be a member of the Anonymous hacker collective told Reuters on Wednesday.
"Companies and institutions that work with a government that denies the basic rights of its people in order to promote a private, exclusive and corrupt sports event will be targeted," he said, declining to give his real name.
Hackers have used a DDoS, or Distributed Denial of Service, against some government sites, a sponsor and companies partnering with the World Cup organization, he said, adding that there was also defacement of some government sites.
A DDoS consists of taking a web site down by overriding its server with multiple access requests. Defacement is when hackers manipulate the appearance of a site, often introducing hostile messages.
The cyber attacks add to concerns about the 32-nation soccer tournament that kicks off on Thursday in Sao Paulo.
Experts have warned about Brazil's lack of infrastructure and awareness to withstand computer attacks.
The tournament has already been overshadowed by widespread discontent among Brazilians over the billions of dollars spent on stadiums.
The web site of the government of Mato Grosso state, where Chile face Australia on Friday, came under attack on Sunday afternoon, an official said.
"Our site was hacked," said Daniele Cunha, a spokeswoman for the local government. "We were able to take it off the air and restore the service within 30 minutes."
Hackers last month broke into the foreign ministry's email service, accessing dozens of classified documents including a list of foreign dignitaries planning to attend World Cup matches.
A spokesman for Brazil's defence ministry said they have detected an "increase in hacker activism," but no attacks on federal government sites have been reported so far.
A loosely-knitted hacker network this week posted a list of 27 websites they claimed to have attacked ( here )
A spokesman for Brazil's intelligence agency ABIN said its web site was briefly taken off the air on Saturday for scheduled maintenance and denied this had been a result of an attack. "Totally false," he said.
Automaker Hyundai in Brazil, whose site was also included on the target list, also denied it was hit by hackers.
Computer experts this week warned about Brazil's weak cyber defenses. William Beer, a cyber security analyst with Alvarez & Marsal, said it could be too late.
"Even though people are starting to realize there are problems, a lot of sites have probably already been attacked and are infected," he told Reuters. "Now it is not so much a question of if but when they will be brought down."
(Additional reporting by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Editing by Todd Benson and Andrew Hay)
The Barcelona star came to the rescue after the host nation had fallen behind at the Arena de Sao Paulo on Thursday night
Two goals from Neymar and a late Oscar strike inspired Brazil to a 3-1 comeback victory over Croatia in the opening game of the 2014 World Cup.
The host nation fell behind to an early own goal from Marcelo, before Neymar was perhaps fortunate to be shown just a yellow card after catching Luka Modric in the throat with a stray arm.
Soon after, the 22-year-old levelled with a fine 25-yard effort on his left foot, before converting a controversial second half penalty after Dejan Lovren was adjudged to have brought down Fred.
And as the game entered injury-time, man-of-the-match Oscar sped forward and toe-poked home an effort from the edge of the box to give Brazil breathing space and, most importantly, three points.
While Brazil had the luxury of naming the same side that started last year's Confederations Cup final success over Spain, Croatia were without suspended striker Mario Mandzukic, leaving Nikica Jelavic to lead the line in his absence.
Also without injured left-back Danijel Pranjic, Croatia fired the first shot in anger as Mateo Kovacic steered an effort wide in the first minute.
Brazil's first significant foray forward saw David Luiz's tame header saved, but the pressure was on them at the other end of the pitch.
Ivica Olic's header wide served as a warning for Brazil, and it was one they did not heed, as Croatia claimed a surprise 11th-minute lead.
Olic galloped down the left wing in space before crossing for Jelavic, and although he could only scuff a left-foot shot, his effort was inadvertently steered in by Marcelo from six yards.
Brazil's initial response was frantic and anxious, but they soon found their rhythm, with Neymar's run to the byline and subsequent centre causing panic, and almost the equaliser, as Oscar saw a 20-yard left-foot effort superbly saved by Pletikosa after Croatia failed to clear their lines.
Neymar's contact with Modric then drew an angry response, with replays showing that the Barcelona star had caught the midfielder in the throat with a stray arm, before Jelavic headed straight at Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Croatia's promising start was undone in the 29th minute, though, as Oscar, who did superbly in a cluster of players to find Neymar, watched his team-mate trickle a left-foot strike past Pletikosa and in off the inside of the post from 25 yards.
A lull was inevitable following half an hour of mayhem, but it lasted longer than expected, and although Brazil shaded the early stages of the second half, the best they had to show for it was a Dani Alves free-kick that sailed over.
That was until Nishimura pointed to the spot after Oscar's ball to Fred brought about slight contact from Lovren.
Neymar's stuttering run-up was far from convincing, and his tame effort ought to have been kept out by Pletikosa, but the goalkeeper could only get a hand to the shot on its way into the net.
A sublime Oscar cross nearly brought about Brazil's third goal, only for Luiz to head over, while at the other end Croatia's hard luck was summed up by Ivan Perisic's disallowed goal, ruled out because of Olic's minimal contact with Cesar.
Modric and Vedran Corluka both went close as well, as Croatia mounted a late charge, but Oscar's composed finish capped a stunning performance from the midfielder, as the hosts opened the World Cup with a victory.
The Croatia boss was furious at the performance of referee Yuichi Nishimura, despairing at some the decisions that the official made in favour of Brazil in the 3-1 defeat
Croatia boss Niko Kovac expressed his dismay at the refereeing decisions in his side's Group A loss to Brazil, suggesting his team were not treated fairly.
The Selecao benefited from a penalty in the 71st minute after a foul on Fred and also saw their opponents denied an equaliser when Ivica Olic was adjuded to have fouled Julio Cesar with the score at 2-1.
The Croatia coach was incensed by what he saw as unbalanced officiating, declaring that Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura had interpreted the match as if it was an non-contact sport.
"If that was a penalty, than we should play basketball, not football!" he fumed in a post-match interview with HTV.
"If you continue like this you will have 100 penalties. I think 2.5 billion people watching on TV saw this was not a penalty.
"This was ridiculous and if we continue in this way we will have a circus. I don't blame Fred at all. I blame the referee.
"The referee had different set of rules for us and different for Brazil. Shameful refereeing for [the] World Cup! And I am proud of my players, that is how you play for your country."
Croatia still have games against Cameroon on June 18 and Mexico on June 23, and Kovac remains confident of progressing from the group.
"With the way we played, this team has to have a place in round of 16," he continued.
"I am very optimistic ahead of the Cameroon and Mexico games."
The veteran defender has called on his team-mates to show their mental strength as they navigate a tricky group that includes England and Italy
Uruguay defender Diego Lugano has paid tribute the strength of character his team-mates showed in securing a World Cup berth.
Oscar Tabarez’s experienced side made a storming star to their CONMEBOL qualification campaign but a six-game winless run following a disappointing Olympic campaign meant they needed an intercontinental play-off victory over Qatar to secure a place in Brazil.
And Lugano took to Twitter to reference that triumph amid a stirring address ahead of their first Group D game of the tournament against Costa Rica in Fortaleza on Saturday.
In a series of posts on Thursday, the defender said: "Brazil 2014 World Cup begins today. Our really tough moment would have defeated many others but we turned it round with character and strength
"It's a characteristic of Uruguayan football that we rise from the ashes. In the toughest moment, we became even more united.
"The only World Cup that was played in Brazil was won by Uruguay and so the history, the legend, made it an obligation for us to be here."
Spain veterans at World Cup on merit, insists Del Bosque
Jun 12, 2014 8:27:00 PM
The likes of Iker Casillas, Xavi and Andres Iniesta have all endured difficulties at club level this season but their coach is adamant they deserve their places in Brazil
By Mark Doyle in Salvador
Vicente del Bosque insists he has picked his Spain squad on merit rather than reputation as his team bid to get their World Cup defence off to a winning start against Netherlands on Friday.
Del-Bosque's 23-man selection only includes nine players under the age of 27, while his starting XI will likely include 30-year-olds Iker Casillas and Andres Iniesta, 32-year-old Xabi Alonso and 34-year-old Xavi.
Casillas played second fiddle to Diego Lopez in La Liga last season, while Iniesta and Xavi both endured disappointing campaigns for Barcelona, but Del Bosque remains adamant they deserve their places.
"All of the players have their own history with the national team," he told reporters. "They’re playing very well. They’re playing for their clubs. We can’t say that this is a squad of veterans.
"We have young players and only a few players 30 or over. We’re not afraid of anyone or anything. We’re at our best.
"These players have been extraordinary in the past, but they’re not here for what they’ve done in the past. They’re here for what I believe they’ll do in this tournament."
Spain are bidding to become the first national team in history to win four consecutive major international tournaments, but the announcement of Cesc Fabregas' move to Chelsea has overshadowed their preparation.
Del Bosque, however, is confident the transfer will not prove a distraction for the player or his squad.
"There’s no interference," he insisted. "These are decisions that are always taken over the summer. It will not affect us at all. Either our football or our squad."
The Spain boss also had kind words for 2010 World Cup final opponents Netherlands, warning his squad that Louis van Gaal's men will present a stern test.
"It’s true that Netherlands have changed a lot over the last few years," he admitted. "We’ve done the opposite more or less. We have a very stable squad.
"But for Netherlands, there is a very good manager at the helm now who coached in Spain. He’s maintained the essence of Dutch football and I hold him in the highest esteem."
The midfielder believes it would be a mistake for Vicente del Bosque's men to try to change their approach to the game, given how much success they have had in recent years
By Mark Doyle in Salvador
Xavi says Spain have no intention of abandoning ‘tiki-taka’ ahead of their World Cup opener against Netherlands, proudly declaring: “We’ll live or die by our style of play.”
La Roja have won the last three major international tournaments with a possession-orientated brand of football that some pundits believe other teams have now worked out, citing last summer’s 3-0 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final as a case in point.
Netherlands are expected to play three central defenders and two defensive midfielders in Friday’s eagerly-awaited Group B showdown in Salvador on Friday in a bid to frustrate Spain’s attempts to pass and move – but Xavi sees no reason why the world champions should change their approach.
“It’s a repeat of the 2010 final, so we know Netherlands are a very tough rival,” the Barcelona ace told reporters at the Arena Fonte Nova on Thursday.
“ They have very fast attackers, so they’re very good at the counterattack, but also strong in defence.
“But we have our own style of play. We’ve been playing that way for many years and we’ll try to impose our style on them.
“Our style of play is very clear. We want to dominate the game; keep possession. We’ve had this style for many years and had a great many successes, so I think it would be a mistake to change it.
“All of our players have adapted to it by now. We’re going to win or die with this style of play. We want to make history again with this style of play.”
Xavi acknowledges, though, that Netherlands are more than capable of upsetting Spain’s rhythm, not least because they are coached by the man who gave him his first big break at Barcelona, Louis van Gaal.
“I have extraordinary memories of him,” the 34-year-old enthused. “He was very frank; marvellous with me. He believed in me 100 per cent. I am very grateful to him.”
Xavi also feels that Spain can ill afford to be complacent against a Netherlands outfit that will be spearheaded by Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie, with Wesley Sneijder tucked in behind.
“They have three very experienced attackers,” the playmaker warned. “Lately they’ve been playing with five at the back. I think we’ll have more possession but I think they’ll play a good game.”
Robben, of course, had a couple of excellent chance to win the 2010 final for Netherlands, only to be foiled on both occasions by Iker Casillas in the Spain goal.
The Real Madrid shot-stopper is still his country’s No.1 and he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with his former team-mate.
“Robben played with me with two seasons,” the goalkeeper reminisced at a press conference in Salvador. “He was a vital player for us back then. But then, he’s always been a decisive player.
“There have been times when he’s been luckier than me in our personal duels – but then the other way around.
“But Robben, along with Van Persie and Sneijder ... these are three very important pillars with a lot of international experience and Netherlands’ chances rely greatly on that triangle.”
Casillas insisted, though, that what happened in Johannesburg in 2010 will have no bearing on what unfolds at the Fonte Nova on Friday evening.
“These are two very different games,” the Roja skipper insisted. “The game four years ago has nothing to do with the game [on Friday].
“We’d like to repeat our victory in South Africa. But we know it will be difficult. We are the favourites but everyone wants to play well against Spain.
“But we are always motivated. We’re trying to get that second star for our country. We’re seen as the best national team in the world and everyone is going to do their very best to beat us.
“But if we have the enthusiasm, ambition and humility that made us champions four years ago, we can progress and hopefully retain the title we win in 2010.”
The 29-year-old could face a fight to be fit for his nation's World Cup opener on Monday after leaving the session prematurely
Cristiano Ronaldo set alarm bells ringing for Portugal on Thursday as he failed to complete his side’s training session and left the pitch in Campinas with a large ice pack on his left knee.
The Real Madrid forward has been struggling with tendinosis but returned to action for 66 minutes in Portugal’s 5-1 friendly win over Ireland on Tuesday.
After that, the 29-year-old told reporters he was “99.9 per cent fit”, but participated only in stretching with his team-mates on Thursday and left the pitch with his knee in an ice pack after signing autographs for fans.
Ronaldo then watched the rest of the session from the bench and his fitness remains a cause for concern ahead of Portugal’s World Cup opener against Germany in Salvador on Monday.
The Ballon d'Or winner has been hampered by injury problems ever since Real Madrid's Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid.
'No masterplan for England to stop Pirlo' - Cahill
Jun 12, 2014 5:00:00 PM
The Three Lions defender claims Roy Hodgson's side will not give the Italy playmaker any special attention in their World Cup opener in Manaus on Saturday
By Greg Stobart in Rio de Janeiro
England defender Gary Cahill claims there is no plan to stop Andrea Pirlo in the World Cup opener against Italy on Saturday.
The Three Lions take on Italy in the Amazon city of Manaus in a repeat of the Euro 2012 quarter-final, when Pirlo produced a man-of-the-match display before the Azzurri won on penalties.
Much has been made of how Roy Hodgson’s men will try and handle Pirlo in the Group D clash on Saturday – but Cahill insists they will not give the 35-year-old playmaker special attention.
“I don’t think there is a masterplan,” said the Chelsea defender when asked about Pirlo’s threat. “We’re respectful of what he’s done and what a player he is but our message is about how we want to play and approach the game – we want to control the game.
“I think the key is to be organised and solid at the back, and to give our more creative players the ball to create opportunities. That’s the plan.”
Cahill missed Euro 2012 with a jaw injury sustained in a warm-up fixture against Belgium, and he admits the painful memories of watching that tournament from home have given him added motivation in Brazil this summer.
“For me it’s huge,” Cahill added. “Selfishly, I missed out last time and it’s my first major tournament with England.
“The blow at the Euros for me was huge, just before we were going to leave for the tournament. Hopefully I can be part of things this time and I can’t wait to get started
Three Lions goalkeeper says Roy Hodgson's side have made giant strides forward in the last two years and has no concerns about Manaus pitch ahead of World Cup opener on Saturday
By Greg Stobart in Rio de Janeiro
Joe Hart believes Italy will face a brand new England team in their opening World Cup game on Saturday.
Roy Hodgson has taken a youthful squad to Brazil and Hart believes the Three Lions represent far more of a threat than at Euro 2012, when they were knocked out of the tournament by Italy at the quarter-final stage on penalties.
“The Euros was two years ago. We’ve all moved and we are looking forward to this game now as a new team with a lot of changes and positives,” said the England goalkeeper ahead of the clash in Manaus.
“So much has changed since then and so much has changed for us. We’ve moved forward as a squad. We’ve made nothing but positive strides forward.
“It’s exciting times. We’re a positive team and we’re looking to stamp our authority on the game and look to win. We know what we are capable of.”
Concerns have been raised over the state of the Manaus pitch after pictures emerged showing the playing surface looking in dry and patchy condition.
Hart insists England are not thinking about the pitch or the humid climate in the Amazonian city as they prepare for the Group D game.
He added: “It’s a football pitch. We’re playing in the middle of the jungle, it’s a different experience for us, an interesting and exciting one. We would play on anything in the World Cup.
“We’ve worked hard and had a good three weeks together. We’ve spent a lot of time together as a group and feel like a team. And personally, I feel ready for what’s going to come my way.”
Argentina pair Ezequiel Garay and Lucas Biglia are not surprised by the way the Brazilian people treat a player they deem to be the best in the world
By Ben Hayward in Belo Horizonte
Argentina pair Ezequiel Garay and Lucas Biglia believe Brazilians' affection for team-mate Lionel Messi is to be expected - because he is the best player in the world.
The Albiceleste were watched by thousands of fans in Belo Horizonte at an open training session on Wednesday night, but the practice ended in chaos as many - including a Ronaldinho lookalike - invaded the pitch in an attempt to meet Messi.
"The rest of us were calm because most of them went for the same player," Lazio midfielder Biglia joked. "We have the best player in the world and the fans want to see him, to touch him. It's normal. He's the number one and that's why he receives so much affection from the fans."
And Garay added: "We took it with good humour. The chance to see the best player in the world isn't something that happens every day. Leo is a point of reference and we saw that in the training session. We are here to help him and we will do everything we can to get the ball to him."
Messi and his team-mates were in good spirits at a more relaxed session on Thursday as just the media were allowed in - and only for 15 minutes.
After light jogging and a passing drill, Alejandro Sabella's side split in two for a practice match at the Atletico Mineiro training ground.
Biglia and Benfica defender Garay are both close to full fitness after suffering problems over the past few days, but Napoli centre-back Federico Fernandez has a knock on his thigh and Inter striker Rodrigo Palacio remains doubtful for the game against Bosnia on Sunday after training alone on Thursday.
Wilmots: Even Hazard not assured of Belgium starting berth
By Jack Davies
Jun 12, 2014 6:12:00 PM
With so much talent at his disposal, the Rode Duivels boss says the Chelsea star must fight for his place alongisde all other 23 players ahead of the World Cup opener
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has warned that even star attacker Eden Hazard is not assured of a place in his World Cup team.
The Belgians arrive in Brazil tipped as dark horses for the tournament with what is being heralded as a 'golden generation' that includes Hazard, Dries Mertens, Vincent Kompany and Adnan Januzaj among others.
And Wilmots says he has so much quality at his disposal that even the €40-million Chelsea star has to cement a starting berth.
"Nobody is guaranteed to start the game, even Hazard," Wilmots Sportwereld.
"Each player is perfectly replaceable."
However, when asked whether he had already settled on his starting line-up for their World Cup opener against Algeria, Wilmots said: "Of course. But I do not want you to know the team.
"I've also been through, as an analyst, the guesswork for the team. Now it's up to you to guess.
"This is a World Cup, I want to play hide and seek."
Wilmots' men kick off their campaign against Africa's top-ranked side, Algeria, before coming up against Russia and South Korea in Group H.
The German coach has called on his players to ensure the Real Madrid star has a difficult day when they meet Portugal in Manaus
USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann says his side must find a way to stop Cristiano Ronaldo when they come up against the Portugal star in their second World Cup Group G match on June 22.
The United States open their campaign in Brazil against Ghana in Natal on Monday before meeting Portugal in Manaus.
And Klinsmann says nullifying Ronaldo will be vital to their chances of earning a favourable result.
"Our job is to stop Ronaldo in beautiful Manaus," he said.
"We'll think of ways to make it really miserable for him"
The German has played down USA’s chances in Brazil, insisting that football is still growing in the country and stressed the importance of American players joining Champions League clubs in order to further their development.
"Our goal is to get as many players as possible playing in the Champions League," he said.
"On the club level that is the creme de la creme, it is where you want to be, to have that confidence and experience of playing among the best players in the world.
"I think we have very special players on our team that can play there, players that can make it to that level. Right now the statistics prove we are not there yet."
USA end their group campaign against Germany in Recife on June 26.
The Selecao captain believes the 33-year-old will pose a significant threat to the hosts when they meet Cameroon on June 23
Brazil captain Thiago Silva has warned his colleagues to be concerned by the threat posed by Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o.
The Selecao open the World Cup against Croatia on Thursday before facing Mexico in Fortaleza next week.
The hosts will meet Cameroon on the final Group A matchday on June 23 and the Paris Saint-Germain skipper knows four-time African Player of the Year remains a tough opponent, despite the player having clashed with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho over comments concerning his age this season.
"He is the striker who most worries me," said Silva, who faced the 33-year-old in the quarter-finals of the Uefa Champions League with Chelsea last season.
"He is an experienced player and a handful to deal with. In the Champions League he wasn't 100 per cent but he made his presence felt.
"He has impressive technical abilities and is lethal in the box."
Eto'o's countryman Stephane Mbia, meanwhile, hopes this year's finals can help to banish the memories of the tournament in South Africa in 2010, when Cameroon lost every game and crashed out at the group stage.
"Four years ago we were catastrophic," he said. "The mood in the camp wasn't good, there were a lot of problems.
"But this time that's not the case. We'll be making our mark on this tournament."
Ancelotti: Italy must invoke Decima unity in Brazil
By Rupert Fryer
Jun 12, 2014 3:44:00 PM
The Italian trainer believes the Azzurri must show the same spirit that led Real Madrid to their 10th European crown if they are to progress in Brazil
Carlo Ancelotti says team unity was the secret to Real Madrid’s Champions League success last season and has urged Italy to show the same spirit at the World Cup.
Los Blancos ended a 12-year wait for their tenth European crown in May by overcoming city rivals Atletico Madrid 4-1 in extra-time.
And the Italian says that sort of togetherness is vital to Italy's chances in Brazil as they attempt to navigate a group including England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
"People are sceptical about Italy’s chances and do not believe in us,” Ancelotti wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I can guarantee that if the team and the coaching staff stay united and all read from the same page, then the atmosphere will become more favourable, and results are more likely to go our way.
“That is how Real Madrid won the Champions League. That's why now it's important to encourage Italians to get behind our lads.”
The former Chelsea, Juventus, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain coach went on to admit that the Azzurri face a tough group but insists that the experience of Cesare Prandelli’s men can see them through to the knockout stages.
“One thing is for certain: facing Italy is difficult for every team,” he added.
“We are a strong team tactically, we are experienced and we have players that can make the difference.”
Italy open their World Cup campaign against England in Manaus on Saturday.
The Germany boss believes the Bayern Munich duo will be instrumental in making sure the Portugal winger does not impose himself on Monday's Group G clash
Joachim Low has tasked Jerome Boateng and Philipp Lahm with keeping Cristiano Ronaldo quiet when Germany face Portugal on Monday.
The Ballon d'Or winner was a pivotal figure in his nation's World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring eight times including all four in the Selecao's 4-2 play-off aggregate win over Sweden.
Low expects his Germany side to face a tough challenge in getting their campaign under way but believes that his team have the defensive strength to keep their opponents from successfully hitting them on the break.
"We're up against a side who are right behind us in the world rankings," the 54-year-old told a press conference.
"And they are the world champions when it comes to the counter-attack. Look at the class they have got - Portugal are definitely tough opponents.
"Boateng has played a role who can keep Ronaldo in check. So too has Lahm, so together they will deal with him.
"You cannot let him out of your sight, literally. You've always got to ask 'what's Ronaldo doing, where is Ronaldo?'.
"Ronaldo and Nani seem to be drifting into no-man's land, then the ball is suddenly there at their feet and they are ready to attack you."
Portugal failed to progress beyond the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat to Spain, but Low believes that they have the potential to have an extremely successful championship.
"Portugal have always gone a very long way in tournaments," he continued.
"They reached the semis in 2006, and the semis in the last European Championships when they were just one penalty kick short of sending Spain home.
"You could see Portugal as a finalist, with the likes of [Joao] Moutinho, Nani and Ronaldo up front, then [Bruno] Alves, Pepe and [Fabio] Coentrao all experienced guys at the back.
"They all play at the highest level and there is no other side in the world who know how to defend while preparing their next attacks the way Portugal do."
The Brazil head coach rejects suggestions his side received any favourable decisions in Thursday's World Cup opener, as claimed by his Croatia counterpart
Luiz Felipe Scolari insists Brazil did not benefit from a contentious penalty decision against Croatia despite angry post-match claims from Niko Kovac.
The Selecao fell behind after an own-goal from Marcelo after 11 minutes before two goals from Neymar, the second a hotly-debated penalty, and a late Oscar strike gave them all three points in a 3-1 win.
Croatia boss Kovac was furious at what he saw as an extremely soft penalty when Fred went down under a challenge by Dejan Lovren, but Scolari claimed he saw nothing wrong with referee Yuichi Nishimura's decision to point to the spot.
"The ref saw a penalty. He gave the penalty, and he's the one who decides," the 65-year-old told reporters after the game.
"And we think it was a penalty as well.
"I'm not going to talk about what the other coach said. All I say is Brazil has five world titles. So Brazil had five circuses to win five cups?
"I understand what my colleague has said, and I respect it, because I think the reason he said was due to the result, and I would probably be complaining if I had lost the match as well. But I didn't see us getting favoured by the referee. That's just something that has been said and it will stay said and there's no point in arguing about it."
The Brazil boss was positive about his side's chances in the tournament after the victory and also reserved special praise for Chelsea midfielder Oscar, who delivered an impressive performance in Sao Paulo.
"Neymar took the man-of-the-match award, but if there was a second award it would have to be Oscar's," he continued.
"Oscar is a good boy. Before the game I went to him and told him he still owed me a goal and that today was the day, and afterwards he came to me and said he paid his debt.
"But one of the things that we all wanted to see and had doubts about was over the resilience of this young group. Today we know we have evolved at least a bit. There's still a lot we need to improve to see if this group can take a punch and get it back together to make it to the end of a match with a win."
Netherlands will go the distance in World Cup - Van Gaal
Jun 13, 2014 1:30:00 AM
The incoming Manchester United manager says his squad are determined to enjoy their time in Brazil and has promised they will survive for the full five weeks of the tournament
By Mark Doyle in Salvador
Louis van Gaal insists Netherlands are determined to enjoy their World Cup experience and has promised they will be in Brazil for the full five weeks of the tournament.
The Dutch begin their campaign in Salvador on Friday with a rematch of the 2010 final against reigning champions Spain as they bid to qualify from a formidable looking Group B.
Australia and the highly-rated Chile await in the other two group matches, but nothing has dented Van Gaal's confidence in his team's ability to go the distance in Brazil.
"You have to enjoy yourself," he told reporters. "You can’t be serious all the time. You have to release the tension. Cope with the pressure. We have five weeks here. Make no mistake: we will be here for five weeks."
However, the incoming Manchester United manager admitted the prospect of refereeing decisions making the final difference between success and failure at the World Cup makes him nervous.
"I also feel the tension in my stomach," he added.
"If you play such a big tournament, of course not everything just depends on your technical and your tactical skills. We saw that [in Brazil's win over Croatia], for instance - you can't control everything."
Spain are widely tipped to top Group B as they bid to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive major international tournament, and Van Gaal was full of praise for their enduring success.
"Spanish football might be the best in the world, with the physical and technical sides all linked up," he insisted.
"I like the dedication of the Spanish players. They are ranked No.1. We are ranked No.15. We have to play a compact game against them.”
Van Gaal was also quick to play down speculation that the protracted saga which led to his announcement as the new United boss might have affected his ability to prepare for the World Cup with his country.
"Distraction? Well, it may be a distraction," he admitted. "But perhaps Manchester United was a good distraction."
Standing paraplegic patient kicks ball to open World Cup
SAO PAULO Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:40pm BST
Brazilian neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis holds a soccer ball covered with a hood of electronic sensors in Sao Paulo May 21, 2014. REUTERS-Paulo Whitaker
(Reuters) - A standing paraplegic man kicked the first football ball of the World Cup in Sao Paulo on Thursday, a triumphant moment for a research project aiming to give patients who have lost feeling in their legs the ability to walk again.
Brazilian neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis, normally based at North Carolina's Duke University, has developed a robotic exoskeleton to assist patients' movement.
In late April, three patients took steps while wearing the exoskeleton, according to Nicolelis, who posted a celebratory tweet on Thursday saying "we did it!". His team plans to publish research on the project soon.
Sao Paulo's Corinthians arena has been criticized for delays and cost overruns, but wheelchair-bound fans, including Congresswoman Mara Gabrilli, were pleasantly surprised at the access and army of support staff they had at a rehearsal game on June 1.
About 60,000 cheering fans attended the match between Brazil and Croatia that kicked off the month-long football tournament.
(Reporting by Eduardo Simões; Writing by Caroline Stauffer, editing by Ed Osmond)
Argentina scoff at defensive doubts, play for Messi
By Andrew Cawthorne
BELO HORIZONTE Brazil Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:49pm BST
(Reuters) - Argentine players laughed off criticism of their supposed defensive weakness on Thursday and vowed there would be no repeat of their 2010 World Cup quarter-final thrashing by Germany.
Having waltzed through the early rounds of the South Africa World Cup, then manager Diego Maradona's team were humiliated 4-0 by the Germans in a game that exposed what many see as the frailty behind arguably the world's greatest forward line.
"We know what happened, it's in the past. We won't repeat that," centre back Ezequiel Garay said after a lively training session in front of hundreds of reporters in Belo Horizonte, where Argentina are based for the tournament.
"Obviously, we have a very offensive team, but we know our rivals are strong, so we will be defending well also and doing the dirty work," added Garay, who plays for Benfica and hails from national team captain Lionel Messi's home town of Rosario.
Messi, 27, under enormous pressure to add a World Cup trophy to his otherwise impeccable haul of honours, looked relaxed and happy during training. He did, though, balloon one shot high over the bar to the dismay of a few fans who had sneaked into Atletico Mineiro's training ground.
"He'll handle the expectations," said team mate Lucas Biglia. "We just have to help him feel comfortable and happy so that on the pitch he can make the difference."
With their attacking "Fab Four" of Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, Argentina are among the favourites to win the World Cup, and should have little trouble topping Group F which they open against Bosnia on Sunday.
"We're an attack-minded team, but that doesn't mean we're weak in defence. Remember the first attack always starts in defence," Biglia said, answering repeated questions about Argentina's ability to avoid a repeat of the Germany result in 2010 when they come up against the best teams in Brazil.
Given their long rivalry with Brazil for South American supremacy, the Argentines said they were surprised at the warmth of the welcome they have had from fans, including thousands who turned up to an open practice session on Wednesday.
Messi was even fooled by a look-a-like for former Brazil forward Ronaldinho, who ran on to the pitch to see him.
"Leo gave him a hug, he took it with the affection and fun it was meant," Biglia told the news conference.
Argentina have reached the last eight at three of the last four tournaments, going out to Germany in both 2006 and 2010. They have not made the semi-finals since Italy 1990 when they went on to the final and were beaten by the Germans.
Their other Group F rivals are Iran and Nigeria.
"We mustn't be impatient in our first game against Bosnia," said Garay, who has recovered from a thigh injury.
"They have good, tall players. We need to avoid corners and set pieces. But we are Argentina and we have to go out to win. We fear no one."
