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We won't change anything against Honduras, declares Rueda
By Mark Doyle
Jun 20, 2014 8:15:00 AM
The Ecuador coach has no intention of tinkering with the tactics he employed in their heartbreaking opening World Cup loss to Switzerland
Reinaldo Rueda sees no reason why Ecuador should change anything about their approach for Friday's must-win meeting with World Cup Group E rivals Honduras.
After seeing his side denied a deserved draw against Switzerland by a last-gasp goal from Haris Seferovic in their tournament opener, the 57-year-old Colombian has no intention of tinkering with his side's tactics for the game in Curitiba.
"We should not change anything [on Friday]," Rueda declared in his pre-match press conference.
"We played a good match against Switzerland and we only lost at the last second, which is a very specific scenario.
"Of course, the team suffered in such circumstances but, 72 hours later, you have to recover yourself, your composure and review the mistakes you made."
Honduras were routed 3-0 by France in their first outing in Group E but Rueda has nothing but respect for his successor as the Central American nation's coach, Luis Fernando Suarez.
"The work done by him [since taking over in 2010] has been great," said Rueda, who led Honduras for four years.
"This group has matured under him. They are a product of the things done by Honduras in the last few years.
"Honduras are now on a great level and... [Friday] will be an intense match.
"They will keep their own style and we've seen their potential. We know that they will be compact and tough.
"We need the victory, just as they do, so we'll go forward in search of the win."
Italy must not underestimate Costa Rica like Uruguay did
By Mark Doyle in Salvador
Jun 20, 2014 7:34:00 AM
COMMENT: The Azzurri know only too well that they will be made to suffer in Recife on Saturday afternoon - either by their opponents or the oppressive heat
Almost exactly a year ago, Italy's players trudged off off the field at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife. They had just beaten Japan 4-3 in one of the greatest international games of the modern era but you would not have known it. They looked deflated; they were simply drained. They could not bring themselves to celebrate their victory. They didn't have the energy.
"We really, really suffered," Italy coach Cesare Prandelli admitted in his post-match interview. "We need to deal better with the climate; it's really difficult."
Worryingly for the Azzurri, that game took place at night. Friday's World Cup meeting with Costa Rica will kick off at 13:00 local time. It is a nightmare scenario for Italy: they will be playing in sweltering heat and suffocating humidity, at the worst possible time, against a side well used to the weather.
As Prandelli pointed out on the eve of the Group D clash, "South and Central American teams have the advantage here because they live and work in these conditions." Costa Rica are well aware that the venue favours them.
"It's really hot here,” winger Christian Bolanos stated on Wednesday. "We know that the climate will be better for Costa Rica. People from Europe find this type of climate tough. For Costa Rica, it is much more similar to what we are used to.
"The Europeans have to adapt a little bit more. They have to change some things [about how they play] a little bit because of that. We know that we have to take advantage of that."
Worse still for Italy, Costa Rica will be brimming with belief when they take to the field at Arena Fonte Nova thanks to a sensational start to their World Cup campaign. Written off before the tournament had even begun, Jorge Luis Pinto's men blew Group D wide open by defeating Uruguay 3-1 in Fortaleza. This was no fluke win either. This was a fully merited victory over a side still containing several members of the squad that finished fourth in South Africa four years ago.
Prandelli insisted that he had not been surprised by the result. "We've known the draw for months, so we've closely studied this very well organised squad, who know their system of play off by heart," the Italy coach explained. "What we saw in Fortaleza tied in with exactly what we've seen of Costa Rica during our scouting.
"They play with a European style, so I expected this [performance against Uruguay]. But all of our players know what to do and that it will be a difficult game.
"Costa Rica are a complete team and we can't have just have one tactic against them."
Prandelli's trepidation is understandable. Not only did Costa Rica prove themselves a formidable counterattacking side, Italy have previous when it comes to underestimating less fashionable opponents.
Opta Facts
This is Italy and Costa Rica's first World Cup encounter.
Their only previous meeting was in a friendly on 11 June 1994 at New Haven in the United States before that year's World Cup. Italy won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Giuseppe Signori.
Costa Rica have scored in each of their six World Cup games against teams from the UEFA confederation.
Italy's pass completion of 93% vs England is the highest rate ever recorded in a World Cup game (1966-2014).
Italy have scored in their last 15 World Cup games, a record run for them and the best current run of any side.
Andrea Pirlo made 108 passes in Italy's first game but 59 of them were in his own half.
Other than Mexico and the USA, no CONCACAF team has ever won consecutive games at the World Cup.
Italy have not won their second game at a World Cup in any of the last three editions. (D2 L1).
If England and Uruguay draw then a win for either side will see them through to the Round of 16.
After all, they entered the 2010 World Cup as proud reigning champions; they exited a red-faced laughing stock, having finished bottom of a group containing Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand. The 1-1 draw with the All Whites was a particular lowlight, the Azzurri only spared an embarrassing defeat by a penalty equaliser from Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Italy have even come undone against supposedly weaker opposition on a couple of occasions on Prandelli's watch. There have been draws in competitive fixtures away to Northern Ireland and at home to Armenia, while they were also held 1-1 by Luxembourg in a warm-up game in Perugia at the start of the month.
Consequently, he has been impressing upon his players the perils of taking Costa Rica lightly. “In one sense, it's the most dangerous game in the group for us," he warned.
The message seems to have got through the players. "We will have to give 100 per cent, maybe even more,” midfielder Thiago Motta stated earlier this week. “We will treat it as a final."
Daniele De Rossi, meanwhile, described Costa Rica’s win over Uruguay as an “alarm bell”.
"We should fear them a bit," the Roma ace argued. "You need a healthy fear against a team that surprised everyone with their victory over Uruguay. Nobody thought they would get such a clear result against a very strong side.
"They'll be fired up after that win. If they had lost 4-0 then we could've underestimated them, but in this case we cannot possibly do that.”
Indeed, Italy have been warned. They know full well what awaits them in Recife. They know what to expect from Costa Rica. They know what to expect from the conditions. Win, lose or draw, they're going to suffer again.
World Cup 2014: Steven Gerrard haunted by more bad memories after England's latest defeat
England vs Uruguay: Many of Roy Hodgson's team lacked experience and know-how but it was the player with the most, Steven Gerrard, who unfortunately helped lay on Luis Suarez's goals
Steven Gerrard is consoled by Luis Suarez, after his role in both goals for his Liverpool team-mate Photo: AFP / GETTY IMAGES
By Paul Hayward, Chief Sports Writer, Sao Paulo
11:36PM BST 19 Jun 2014
How many times have we seen a Steven Gerrard assist for a Luis Suarez goal? It would pain anyone with a trace of compassion to report that Gerrard helped lay on both goals for his Liverpool team-mate, as his own time in an England shirt approached a cruel conclusion.
Gerrard has endured a wretched spring and summer. A great career is becoming littered with horrible moments. His miss-control and slip at Anfield against Chelsea helped steer the Premier League title to Manchester City. Here in Sao Paulo he was at fault in midfield before Edinson Cavani chipped a ball for Luis Suarez to head Uruguay’s first goal and again when he directed a long clearance into the path of his Merseyside colleague for Uruguay’s winner.
You come all the way to Brazil just to watch the Premier League’s best footballer do what he did all season back in England: finish with lethal precision. Only this time it was not Norwich on the receiving end. A Norwegian reporter reminded the England manager, Roy Hodgson, that Suarez had been in a wheelchair a month ago. Well, Lazarus has almost certainly ended England’s stay in Shangri-la. Suraez has beaten some high-class Premier League defenders in his time. On a cold night in Concrete City he destroyed one of the worst defences England have taken to a tournament in quite a long time.
To stomp on Gerrard’s record as a footballer is not a temptation. But nor can we ignore his part in England’s defeat here. One of the few leaders in a quiet squad, Hodgson’s captain and oldest player probably has one more game in international football, against Costa Rica next week. He has given his all for his country when the temptation was to retire from international football after Euro 2012 and concentrate on his quest for a first Premier League winners’ medal. Sticking with England, though, has left many fine players humbled and even humiliated.
You need more than a nice new manifesto to thrive at this level. There is the core of a good new England team here in Brazil but they are not good enough yet to cope with fellow World Cup winners such as Uruguay and Italy.
Combine the transfer values of Suarez and Cavani and you would be up to around £140m. Not bad for a country of 3.3 millions souls – the most diminutive at this World Cup. A small land mass delivered a huge setback to Hodgson’s plans.
In Manaus and in this vast metropolis we saw that successful teams need not only promise but the hardened, ruthless edge that comes only with experience. This was not boys against men so much as a team of worldly veterans against one that have just re-discovered creativity.
There was a terrifying simplicity about £140m worth of goalscoring talent combining to beat Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill, the two England centre-backs. Rooney’s first World Cup goal was wiped out by the second, a vicious drive after Gerrard had flicked the ball into Suarez’s path.
Deemed not fit enough to come on against Costa Rica – when Uruguay were losing – English football’s player of the year was considered sound enough to start at the Arena de Sao Paulo, with disastrous consequences. For the first half hour he chugged around, sizing up the England defence and mapping the movements of Cahill and Jagielka. A player of his quality can never be trusted to stay out of the action for long.
Cavani cost Paris Saint-Germain £50m and Suarez might fetch £90m on the open market. England can rebuild a team but they cannot give it instant know-how. Gerrard has experience to burn but it was no use to him here.
The hope was that England were facing a team slipping from their peak. The Italy result could be excused on the grounds that England had attacked, dribbled and probed like a thoroughly modern side. The players returned to Rio energised rather than depressed. There were glimpses in Manaus, however, of inexperience as a handicap, in the attacking third of the pitch, when decisions were rushed, or ill-conceived, and brought promising moves to a premature end. We saw them again in Sao Paulo.
‘Roy’s Boys’ is a pleasing rhyme but distorts the picture. These are not kids. Sturridge, 24, has played for Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Adam Lallana, Hodgson’s leading impact sub, is 26 and has worked his way through the leagues. Welbeck and Henderson are 24. Even Sterling, still a teenager, has starred in a Premier League title challenge that fell only two points short.
They are not youth team footballers, but nor had many of them been here before, in a must-win World Cup game, two fixtures in, against opponents who are workmanlike in parts but always dangerous, especially with Suarez. The joke before this game was that if England were eliminated they would have to play “the seniors” in a potentially meaningless game against Costa Rica – with “the kids” rested for the Euro 2016 build up.
Despite this blow the course is set in favour of greater ambition. England’s first substitution was Barkley for Sterling, whose play lacked a decisive edge. There were gaps aplenty but not the composure to take players through and finish. The defensive block of Gerrard and Henderson, Cahill and Jagielka, was exposed as flawed.
In the past a generation of England players routinely lost heart because crashing out of tournaments became soul-destroying. Learning is also hard work. These games are different to big Premier League fixtures or even Champions League engagements. There is another level of intensity, and no transfer market to solve a country’s problems.
Some things were familiar, though: the demon Suarez, and the sense of dread that watching England so often brings. The Chelsea game at Anfield haunted Gerrard before he arrived in Rio. Now he has more dark memories to fight. He deserves a kinder fate.
By Mark Doyle in Salvador
Jun 20, 2014 11:00:00 AM
The Switzerland captain is eager to go head-to-head with his Serie A opponent in Friday's group game, while Steve von Bergen insists there is no set plan to stop Karim Benzema
Switzerland skipper Gokhan Inler is fired up for his "duel" with France midfielder Paul Pogba in Friday's World Cup clash.
Les Bleus recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Honduras in their opening game while Ottmar Hitzfeld's side snatched three points in a dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador.
Victory on Friday for either side would all-but ensure their place in the last 16 in Brazil, and Inler admits he is relishing the prospect of meeting Pogba on the international stage following their battles in Serie A for Napoli and Juventus, respectively, over the past two seasons.
"I've spoken a lot about him. I've said the same thing: he's a huge talent and we've had a few meetings on the pitch in Italy," Inler told reporters when asked about Pogba.
"He's a nice guy and we've spoken to one another. He's a very important player for France. It will be a hard duel and I think that the important thing is that you show respect when you go onto the pitch - and we both have that for each other.
"We were a bit nervous in the first half [against Ecuador] and it was not a good... from us. Ecuador were also playing well.
"In the days after this great victory, we have been talking about it. We believe in ourselves, our ambition and I think that after the first match the team is now more relaxed.
"But then again, France is going to be a big game, like a final, and we really want to deliver a top match."
Karim Benzema scored twice and forced an own goal in the win over Honduras but Switzerland defender Steve von Bergen has warned they cannot focus on stopping the Real Madrid star alone.
"Just focusing on him means forgetting about [Mathieu] Valbuena and [Antoine] Griezmann, and all the others," said the Young Boys veteran.
"So there's no anti-Benzema plan. He's a world-class forward, he's just won the Champions League, he's a very good attacking player but he's just one player among many other very good players."
Switzerland moved up to sixth in the final Fifa Ranking prior to the tournament, while France slipped to 17th, but Von Bergen believes they deserve their place among the top-rated teams in the world.
"We always get asked about our ranking. It comes up a lot. I don't even remember what number we are. But if we're high up, it's because we've deserved it.
"We've beaten a lot of great teams. We've been very consistent. That's why we are where we are. But if the Fifa rankings are fair, or how they're computed, I don't know."
The Chelsea coach revealed his admiration for the Germany forward but stressed that he will need to prove himself against more robust defences than Portugal's in the tournament
Jose Mourinho says he would like to see Thomas Muller tested more rigorously than he was in Germany's 4-0 win over Portugal on Monday.
The Bayern Munich attacker scored a hat-trick and Mats Hummels added another as Joachim Low's side secured a comfortable victory in their Group G opener after Pepe was sent off following an altercation with Muller.
The striker was top-scorer in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and his three against the Selecao took him to eight goals in seven World Cup finals appearances - though Mourinho suggested he found it too easy in Salvador.
"I would like to see Muller up against a compact defence," the 51-year-old told Yahoo Eurosport.
"That would test him. Portugal were far too weak. There are plenty of teams at this World Cup who defend far better, are much tighter and better organised."
Mourinho did, however, take the time to praise Muller, who scored 13 times in the Bundesliga last season, for his ability in front of goal whilst stressing that his national side were lacking in that part of the pitch.
"He's incredibly dynamic and has a unique goalscoring instinct," he continued.
"He finds room on the field that nobody else knows about. But I still think that, even with Muller, Germany don't have a real forward in their team."
Germany play Ghana on Saturday in their next Group G game.
We want Del Bosque to continue, insists Spanish FA official
By Joe Wright
Jun 20, 2014 10:51:00 AM
Secretary general Jorge Perez admits they never envisaged the dismal World Cup campaign they have endured but is adamant the current coach is the best man for the job
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) are eager for Vicente del Bosque to continue as head coach of Spain, according to secretary general Jorge Perez.
La Roja's defence of their World Cup crown ended in premature disaster within the first week as they crashed out of the group stage following back-to-back defeats against Netherlands and Chile.
Del Bosque admitted after the 2-0 loss to Jorge Sampaoli's side that he could be forced to consider his future with the team, but Perez says the former Real Madrid boss has not yet offered to resign and insists the RFEF have no desire to replace the man who won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
"Not even in the worst predictions did we think that what happened could have happened," Perez told 'El Partido de los 12'.
"We have still not talked with Del Bosque. It's better to put it off and talk calmly in Madrid.
"When Del Bosque signed the contract [earlier this year] he said that if for any reason we decided he should not continue, he would go. I want him to continue.
"Del Bosque has not offered his resignation. If he does, we'll ask him to continue.
"The players are playing 60 games. Year after year it is a huge effort. And unfortunately it has shown.
"[Critics] don't affect him. His family could convince him not to carry on, but we'll find no one better. If we have the best, why change?"
Diego Simeone, who steered Atletico Madrid to their thrilling La Liga triumph, has joined us as Sony Coaching Ambassador for the World Cup. In his first exclusive column, he looks at the reasons behind Spain’s early exit in Brazil
Spain made us fall in love with the football we saw at Barcelona. It was an incredible moment which brought together a wonderful group of individuals – and the results were there for all to see.
Today, that moment is not the same as before and all the rest are always looking to try to beat them, to beat Barcelona and to beat Spain – so it’s logical some have found the formula for competing against them.
I consider that football is a game in which the rival is sometimes superior and in that respect, both Netherlands and Chile played better, with more intensity and identified the best way to play against Spain.
Football is very changeable. Spain’s players will have gone to the World Cup aiming to give their best, but when another team prepares as well as you and competes as you do, playing with more intensity and more aggressively, you can end up losing.
There was no Xavi against Chile, but Spain didn’t depend totally upon Xavi . . . they depended on a collective which dominated possession and was also very solid. In the last World Cup, Spain never won by more than two goals. But in this one, they have been unable to repeat that possession, with Xavi or without Xavi, and they haven’t been solid either.
With the result as it is, it would also be very easy to say that Diego Costa didn’t work out. Spain were used to playing at one rhythm and one pace, while Costa offers other characteristics. If you don’t take advantage of Costa’s runs, you isolate him.
He likes to exploit the spaces, to attack from deep positions and to get on the end of final passes, but Spain’s football focuses more on the collective. Playing that collective game, Spain haven’t performed at their best, nor were they able to take advantage of Costa and the characteristics he brings.
A coach knows why he picked the players he picked. I have never wanted to interfere or talk about that. And it wouldn’t be fair to talk about changes, either. Spain have always played this way and done really well playing this way. Those calling for a ‘Plan B’ should have done so when everyone was speaking wonders of Spain and the way they played.
The reality is that if others prepare to win and compete to win, sometimes they do better than you. And that’s what happened to Spain. That’s football. This time they lost, but I’m sure Spain will be back competing again – just like they have done for the last 10 years.
Italy 0-1 Costa Rica: Ruiz stuns Azzurri to book last-16 berth
Jun 20, 2014 6:54:00 PM
The Fulham winger nodded home in the first half to send his nation into the last-16 and leave England booking their return flight back home
Bryan Ruiz headed home the only goal of the game as Costa Rica stunned Italy 1-0 and booked their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup with a game to spare.
Few would have given Jose Luis Pinto's side any hope of reaching the knockout stages prior to the start of the Brazil showpiece.
But, after stunning Uruguay 3-1 in their opening Group D encounter last Saturday, Costa Rica produced another fantastic performance to progress from the group phase of a World Cup for only the second time.
Friday's game was settled in the 44th minute as Ruiz's header ensured that England will be heading home early following a 2-1 loss to Uruguay on Thursday.
A below-par Italy now face the prospect of a mouth-watering showdown with Uruguay next Tuesday to determine who will be the other qualifier from Group D.
Costa Rica started brightly and came close after just six minutes when defender Celso Borges headed narrowly over the crossbar from a corner.
But, despite enjoying the better of the opening exchanges, they were unable to really test goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was restored to the starting XI after missing the 2-1 win over England due to an ankle injury.
Italy, perhaps hindered by the humidity at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, struggled to create any opportunities of real note.
However, striker Mario Balotelli should have given the Azzurri the lead on the half-hour mark when he latched on to a superb ball from Andrea Pirlo, only to lift an effort over Keylor Navas and wide of the goal.
Balotelli showed greater composure when handed another opportunity just two minutes later, but the Milan talisman's volley was kept out by a strong Navas save.
Costa Rica remained a threat, though, and forced Buffon into action for the first time as the Juventus shot-stopper prevented midfielder Christian Bolanos' curler from finding the bottom corner.
And Pinto's men were aggrieved not to have been awarded a stone-wall penalty in the 43rd minute when Joel Campbell was barged over in the area by Giorgio Chiellini after the latter had given the ball away in midfield.
Thankfully, justice was served a minute later, as Ruiz met Junior Diaz's magnificent left-wing cross with an excellent far-post header that cannoned off the underside of the bar and over the line.
Cesare Prandelli's response to falling behind was a positive one as he brought on striker Antonio Cassano for midfielder Thiago Motta after the interval.
Italy dictated play from the restart with Navas twice drawn into acrobatic stops, first to tip over a long-range effort from defender Matteo Darmian and then to keep out a Pirlo free-kick.
But the opportunities soon dried up for Italy as they laboured to try and find a way through a determined and well-organised Costa Rica defence.
And, despite the introductions of Lorenzo Insigne and Alessio Cerci, the four-time world champions could not find a way through, with Costa Rica holding on for another famous result that ends England's slim hopes.
Italy's 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Friday confirmed the Three Lions' fate, having lost their opening two games of the tournament for the first time in history
England have been knocked out of the World Cup following Italy's 1-0 loss to Costa Rica on Friday.
Following a Luis Suarez-inspired 2-1 win over Uruguay in Sao Paulo on Thursday, all hopes of an unlikely last-16 berth rested on the Azzurri's beating both Costa Rica and Oscar Tabarez's side on Tuesday.
However, a header from Fulham's Bryan Ruiz at the end of the first half has moved Jorge Luis Pinto & Co. to six points and secured their own place in the knockout rounds.
It marks the first time England have failed to qualify out of their World Cup group since 1982, with the Three Lions never having lost their opening two games of the tournament before.
England now face Costa Rica on Tuesday, with Italy and Uruguay playing each other for a place in the knockout round.
The Italy coch admitted his side were second-best against Costa Rica but tried to remain upbeat about their hopes of making the knockout stages
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli offered no excuses for his side's 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Friday, but insisted there was "no need to panic" despite his side’s chances of World Cup progression taking a severe hit.
A victory in Recife would have put the Azzurri in a strong position in Group D but instead it was Los Ticos who advanced into the round of 16 thanks to Bryan Ruiz’s first-half header.
Italy will join them if they can avoid defeat to Uruguay on Tuesday with Prandelli trying to remain optimistic despite a defeat few saw coming.
"We deserved this defeat," he lamented to RAI Sport after the game. "But there’s no need to panic, we just have to recover and get ready for Tuesday’s match.
"It was a defeat in which Costa Rica were much more aggressive and played with passion.
"I don’t know if we were superficial but it would have been a huge mistake if we were. The players ran hard and in these conditions gave all they had.
"We had a plan, but Costa Rica were smart to close down every gap for the passes to go through.
"We already knew this was a particularly tough group and that we’d have to gamble our qualification in the last game with Uruguay."
Italy's best chance fell to Mario Balotelli but he could only put a weak effort wide of target around the half-hour mark.
"Perhaps if Balotelli had scored the match would have different," Prandelli added. "But there’s nothing else for us to complain about.
The Italy skipper says nothing can be taken for granted at major tournaments after his side crashed to a shock 1-0 loss to Costa Rica
Gianluigi Buffon admitted Italy's meeting with Costa Rica didn't go to plan as they lost 1-0 to the Central Americans and stressed there are no weak teams at a World Cup.
Bryan Ruiz's goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and sealed progression for Jorge Luis Pinto nation while Italy need to beat Uruguay to book their place in the next round.
The veteran goalkeeper says Costa Rica's win is proof that nothing can be taken for granted at major tournaments.
"At the end of the day, we had hoped to do better and do what we had prepared to make life difficult for Costa Rica," he told Sky Sport.
"Instead we had a few more problems than we anticipated and Costa Rica controlled the situation well after taking the lead.
"Costa Rica's qualification was a shock for those who take some things for granted and think there are still weak teams in a World Cup. We've known for several years that there's no such thing as a Cinderella team.
"You get on your feet by looking on the bright side. Even a draw wouldn't have changed anything as we still needed a draw against Uruguay.
"In fact, even a victory would have left us needing a point to be absolutely sure."
Italy's final game is against Uruguay on June 24, with kick-off scheduled at 18:00CET.
The coached has warned his side that they will face stiff opposition against Ghana, while he has praised both Muller and Schweinsteiger
By Robin Bairner in Fortaleza
Germany coach Joachim Low has warned his side against failure to win their second World Cup group stage encounter, against Ghana in Fortaleza.
Although Portugal were swept emphatically aside in the opening encounter, the Germans have historically struggled in their second match of major competitions and Low is eager that this group avoids that pitfall.
“It’s great to win the first game, but we have to continue. One win isn’t enough. So our objective is to maintain our focus,” he told the media.
“For example, Italy lost against Costa Rica and Netherlands almost didn’t beat Australia.
“In a psychological aspect we have to be very careful and pay a lot of attention. We saw this in 2008 and 2010.”
He is aware, however, that the African side will pose a dangerous threat, particularly after losing their opening match against USA 2-1.
“It will be a game that they think is a final. If they don’t win, they probably won’t go through to the next phase, so they will fight and will fight to the end.
“They are strong and are very fit. They like playing forwards. They have many players who play at well-known clubs. Even in high temperatures, they run for 90 minutes.
“We must be stable and have a good defence. All players have to take on this role. We need to be one team on the pitch. To defend jointly and to attack jointly as we did against Portugal and have ball possession, that would be very good.
“If we face a one-off game, it’ll be difficult in these high temperatures.”
Low also praised Thomas Muller, who scored a hat-trick against the Portuguese, not only for his contribution on the field but because of his comportment off it.
“He’s always there, he’s always there to score a goal,” he coach said. “He motivates his colleagues, he’s very positive – he talks to everyone. He is a team player who brings everyone together. He is able to transmit this happiness and that is important for our squad.”
After refusing to speak about the duel between the Boateng brothers, Jerome of Germany and Kevin-Prince of Ghana, Low turned his attention to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was overlooked in the opening match after a slight injury issue.
“Schweinsteiger is very important for us as a team and me as a coach. He analyses everything and he is very good to talk to. Even not having played, he will recover his fitness. We can see he is much better in the training sessions. We always need to have him,” the 54-year-old commented.
Germany faced Ghana at World Cup 2010, beating the African side 1-0 in the group stages thanks to a Mesut Ozil goal.
Del Bosque: I'll do what's right for Spanish football
Jun 20, 2014 8:20:00 PM
The 63-year-old will take his time before deciding whether to stay on as Spain boss following their shocking World Cup campaign
By Pilar Suarez in Curitiba
Vicente del Bosque has reiterated he will consider what’s best for Spanish football before deciding his own future.
The 63-year-old’s role as Spain coach has been called into question following the world champions' group-stage exit from the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Chile, which confirmed their elimination, the former Real Madrid boss, who has two years left on his existing deal, admitted he would take his time before determining whether to stay on.
And he repeated the same message on Friday, telling a press conference: "We still have a game to play in the competition. It is not the time to talk about my future. We will decide what is best for the [Spanish Football] Federation.
"I’ll try to do the right thing with the Federation that has always treated me well. I’m a defender of the Federation and football. I want things to work well. If I thought I was disturbing the Federation then I would certainly leave.
"In September we begin the qualifying period for the European Championship and the only thing I want is that our sport keeps functioning in the correct manner. Therefore, we will make the right decision."
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) say they hope he stays on as coach.
"We have still not talked with Del Bosque. It's better to put it off and talk calmly in Madrid,” RFEF secretary general Jorge Perez told El Partido de las 12 earlier on Friday.
"When Del Bosque signed the contract [earlier this year] he said that if for any reason we decided he should not continue, he would go. I want him to continue.
"Del Bosque has not offered his resignation. If he does, we'll ask him to continue."
There have been also reports of rifts in the Spain camp – earlier today Santi Cazorla rubbished claims from fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso that the players had lacked hunger.
Del Bosque, however, is adamant that the players get along just fine.
"We have been concentrated for 26 or 27 days, the relationship [between the players] is fantastic," he added.
"We are in a situation where we don’t find footballing reasons for our exit and that’s why we look for something else.
"We must accept that our two opponents – Chile and Netherlands – were superior than us."
Del Bosque admitted he may have made an error in dropping Barcelona veteran Xavi for the Chile game.
"He didn’t play the other day – and maybe it was a mistake – because we wanted to insert some pace into the midfield.
"That’s the reason we left him on the bench, not because he was at fault for the Netherlands defeat."
Fifa accused of failing to protect its players after Pereira concussion
By Vaishali Bhardwaj
Jun 20, 2014 6:44:00 PM
The world players’ union has called for "urgent talks" to ensure the governing body will take action against players who insist on playing on despite being knocked unconscious
The world players’ union, FIFPro, have accused Fifa of failing to protect Uruguay midfielder Alvaro Pereira after he returned to the pitch having been knocked out in his team’s 2-1 win over England in Sao Paulo.
Pereira was left unconscious on the pitch after being struck in the head by Raheem Sterling's knee while attempting a sliding tackle on the Liverpool winger in the 30th minute of the clash on Thursday.
Uruguay’s team doctors wanted to substitute him but, after waking up, the full-back pushed away medical staff before eventually completing the Group D fixture.
Despite Pereira admitting after the game that he did not do the right thing in playing on, FIFPro have urged football’s world governing body “to conduct a thorough investigation” into its concussion protocols and begin “urgent talks” to satisfy the union that Fifa can guarantee the safety of the players.
“Football is awash with incidents in which players suffer potentially concussive blows to the head and stay on the pitch. In Pereira’s case, he demanded to play on, overruling advice from Uruguay’s team physician for him to be immediately substituted,” Fifpro said in a statement.
“Fifpro understands that in certain moments, faced by the pressures of such an important international stage, many players would react in this way. There are times, however, when the players also require greater protection against the prospect of making any rash decisions.”
Pereira himself apologised for ignoring doctors’ advice after the victory.
"It was a moment of madness... I've apologised to the doctor because I know it's his job to look after the players," he said.
"I went back on dizzy but, in the heat of the moment, with a hot head, you don't think properly.
"Still, it was a time to help the team and to get a result. And the most important thing is that we got the result."
Soon after returning to the pitch, Pereira crunched England defender Glen Johnson from behind but escaped a booking – an action that sports medicine physician at the University of Missouri, Dr Aaron Gray, said was a clear symptom of concussion.
"No one in right mind makes that challenge on ball rolling out of bounds. Irritability, anger, confusion (are) all concussion symptoms," Gray wrote on Twitter.
"Pereira's rash tackle after returning likely caused by effects of concussion and could have caused him to be sent off."
Switzerland 2-5 France: Les Bleus demolish Swiss in seven goal thriller
Jun 20, 2014 9:51:00 PM
Despite missing a penalty, Didier Deschamps' men rolled over Ottmar Hitzfeld's side to pick up a second win in the World Cup
France produced a scintillating display to rout a sorry Switzerland side 5-2 and all but secure a second-round spot at the World Cup.
Having survived a physical Honduras side in their Group E opener, Didier Deschamps' men faced a seemingly more difficult task in Salvador, but they ran roughshod in an exhilarating display that left Ottmar Hitzfeld's men shell-shocked.
Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi and Mathieu Valbuena were all on target in a breathless opening 45 minutes in which Karim Benzema missed a penalty.
He made amends with his third goal of the tournament in the second half, before applying the assist for Moussa Sissoko to make it five.
Switzerland - who beat Ecuador 2-1 in their first pool match - were stunned by two goals in as many first-half minutes, first Giroud crashing a header past Diego Benaglio, before the goalkeeper was beaten easily by Matuidi's shot.
Granit Xhaka had a goal ruled out for Switzerland, before Benzema - who notched a brace against Honduras - saw Benaglio save his spot-kick.
It made little difference as Valbuena capped of a wonderful counter-attack in the 40th minute to effectively end the contest by half-time.
Benzema's close-range strike and a Sissoko effort added further gloss in the second period, before Blerim Dzemaili and Xhaka bagged late consolations.
France are now on the brink of the last 16 having taken a maximum six points, while Switzerland still have work to do in their final pool encounter with Honduras.
Switerland's woes started early when Steve von Bergen caught a boot in the face from Giroud and had to be replaced.
And Giroud was in the thick of the action again when he put France ahead in the 17th minute.
The Arsenal striker leapt highest to thump Valbuena's corner past Benaglio who, despite getting a full hand to the ball, could not keep the effort out.
Just a minute later France took complete control.
Benzema pounced on Valon Behrami's poor pass before playing in Matuidi on the left of the box and he side-footed past Benaglio at the near-post, the goalkeeper perhaps beaten too easily.
France were handed a reprieve when Xhaka turned home Gokhan Inler's mishit shot, only to be denied by the offside flag.
Having escaped, France missed the chance to extend the lead in the 33rd minute when referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot after Johan Djourou recklessly felled Benzema.
However, Benaglio dived to his right to keep out Benzema's spot-kick before Yohan Cabaye inexplicably volleyed the rebound against the crossbar.
But France did get a third just five minutes before the break.
Raphael Varane brought the ball away following a Swiss corner before producing an exquisite pass that sent Giroud free down the left and he in turn laid the ball across goal for Valbuena, who could not miss from inside the six-yard box.
Switzerland showed more intent after the break, but were restricted to long shots.
Despite the improvement, France had a fourth when substitute Paul Pogba's fine ball with the outside of his boot was swept home by Benzema, Philippe Senderos not helping his side with a poor attempted clearance.
France made it five just six minutes later, Benzema once again involved as he laid on for Sissoko to drill home from the right side of the box.
Dzemaili pulled a goal back with a low 30-yard strike in the 81st minute, before Xhaka added further respectability to the scores when he met Gokhan Inler's chipped pass with a superb guided volley, but it was too little too late.
Benzema was denied a stunning late sixth as the whistle had gone before his first-time strike from the edge of the box had hit the back of the net, much to the Real Madrid forward's annoyance.
Honduras 1-2 Ecuador: Valencia at the double in La Tri comeback
Jun 21, 2014 12:53:00 AM
Reinaldo Rueda's men came from behind to beat Luis Suarez's side on Friday night as they recovered from their opening game defeat to give themselves a chance of progressing
Enner Valencia's brace led Ecuador to a 2-1 win over Honduras to keep their World Cup chances alive on Friday.
Valencia continued his fine form for his country as he scored for the sixth straight international game to see Reinaldo Rueda's men to an important win in Group E.
Carlo Costly had put Honduras ahead before Valencia's equaliser in the first half and his second in the 65th minute proved to be the winner at the Arena de Baixada in Curitiba.
Ecuador climb into second in Group E, behind a France team they face on Wednesday, while Honduras are still alive despite being bottom without a point.
Honduras coach Luis Fernando Suarez made two changes to the team that was well-beaten by France.
Jorge Claros replaced the suspended Wilson Palacios in midfield, while Andy Najar made way for Oscar Boniek Garcia out wide.
Ecuador, who suffered a late loss to Switzerland in their opening game, saw just one change to their starting XI as Oswaldo Minda took Carlos Armando Gruezo Arboleda's place in midfield.
Valencia had the first real chance in the 20th minute.
Frickson Erazo's long pass put Valencia through the centre of the Honduras defence, but the Pachuca forward missed the target in a one-on-one with Noel Valladares.
Ecuador looked most dangerous on the counter-attack, while Suarez's men had a good chance in the 27th minute.
A Garcia corner found Victor Bernardez, but the centre-back could only direct his free header well wide.
The game came to life just after the half-hour mark.
A long pass from Brayan Beckeles found Costly and, after Jorge Guagua failed to clear, the Real Espana forward fired a powerful left-footed strike past Alexander Dominguez in the 31st minute.
It ended a run of 510 minutes without scoring in World Cup matches for Honduras, dating back to the 1982 tournament.
But just three minutes later and Ecuador were level.
Valencia was quickest to react to Juan Carlos Paredes' deflected shot from the right to tap in the equaliser at the back post.
There was late drama in the half as Costly headed a Beckeles pass onto the post and Jerry Bengtson scrambled in the rebound.
Referee Ben Williams correctly ruled the goal out for a handball – while Bengtson also appeared to be offside – in a dramatic finish to the first half.
Dominguez kept out Beckeles' 20-yard effort early in the second half, while Ecuador were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 58th minute when Felipe Caicedo appeared to be brought down.
Bengtson forced Dominguez into a save down low to his left moments later before Valencia put Rueda's side ahead in the 65th minute.
The 24-year-old climbed highest to nod in Walter Ayovi's fizzing set-piece from the left and the South Americans held on late in the encounter for a key win.
The 57-year-old was pleased his players struck when it mattered to see off Honduras' determined challenge
By Pilar Suarez in Curitiba
Ecuador boss Reinaldo Rueda hailed his side’s clinical finishing as they edged out Honduras 2-1 in a close encounter in Curitiba on Friday.
Enner Valencia scored both goals after Carlo Costly had put Honduras in front just after the half-hour mark.
His second of the evening, after 65 minutes, proved to be the winner at the Arena de Baixada.
Ecuador climb into second in World Cup Group E, behind a France team they face on Wednesday, while Honduras are still technically alive despite being bottom without a point.
Rueda said: “I think both teams played with a lot of intensity but the difference was the things we did in possession and, of course, the goals.
“We knew it was not going to be easy to find a way through Honduras because of their courage but the goals were enough for us to get the points.”
Rueda reserved special praise for Valencia, who stepped into the starting XI following the tragic death of Christian Benitez.
“Enner’s arrival in the national team has been very important,” he said. “He has been here for 10 months, has grown up and improved a lot.”
Rueda defended captain Antonio Valencia who struggled to make an impact and appears well short of his best form.
“Antonio had problems today because [Roger] Espinoza and [Emilio] Izaguirre know him very well,” he explained.
“We know he didn’t have a good ending in the Premier League, he didn’t play much over the last month with Manchester United because of a lot of factors including the crisis at United. That affects a player but we know Antonio’s virtues and we know he will improve.”
The veteran German believes his side had been "killed" after just 15 minutes of their clash with France but is still optimistic of qualification
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld believes his side's 5-2 loss to France will be remembered as a "black day" in their history.
Didier Deschamps' men claimed an easy victory, with Oliver Giroud and Blaise Matuidi scoring within a minute of each other after the first quarter of an hour, before Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema and Moussa Sissoko put les Bleus 5-0 up.
Granit Xhaka and Blerim Dzemaili restored some pride late on but the former Bayern Munich boss is still distraught with the result.
"This is a black day for the Switzerland team. These two goals after the first quarter of an hour killed us," he is quoted as saying by 24 Heures.
"We did not play at our level today. At 2-0, it became very hard for us. They exploited our mistakes to put us in trouble.
"They have shown a lot of composure. France are very strong, we should not be blinded by the Fifa Ranking."
However, the veteran German is still optimistic that Switzerland can make it to the knockout stage when they face Honduras in their final game on Wednesday.
"The team still had a lot of credit when they finished the game. The goals from Xhaka and Dzemaili show that we are still alive.
"I want to emphasise that qualification for the knockout stage is still within reach. We have our destiny in our hands.
"Now we have to heal our wounds, analyse the match and bounce back. We lose together, but we win together."
Siblings Jerome and Kevin-Prince will line up on opposite sides when Ghana meet Germany on Saturday but the Marseille player insists they won't be distracted because of it
Andre Ayew says team-mate Kevin-Prince Boateng will not get distracted when he meets his brother Jerome on the field when Ghana face Germany on Saturday.
While Kevin-Prince was born in Germany, he opted to represent the Black Stars at national team level but his brother Jerome plays for die Mannschaft and they will line up against each other this weekend.
Ayew has experience of playing directly against younger brother Jordan in Ligue 1, where the former continues to play with Marseille, while the latter spent the second half of the season on loan to Sochaux, and he says it will not be an issue at Fortaleza’s Castelao stadium.
"It’s not the first time [at international level] he’s played against his brother, he had that experience four years ago," Ayew told the media. "And he plays for Schalke, so he plays against him for Bayern, so it won’t distract him at all.
"When I play my brother, it’s something fantastic. It’s not often that players get the opportunity to play against each other at this level."
Ayew does not feel his team need to alter their style for this encounter, explaining that aside from the start and end of the USA match, which they lost 2-1, they played a good game.
"Ghana is just going to be Ghana," he stated. "The Germans are talking about our physicality, but we know we are also technical. We have a lot of qualities.
"We went into the US game with a lot of determination, despite losing a goal early. We just need to change the first five minutes and the last five minutes and we would have won. We have a lot of experienced players in the team, but the mixture is good.
"In 2006, we lost the first game and went through. In 2010, we won the first game and went through with four points.
"No one put us under this pressure; we put ourselves under this pressure so we need to get through strongly.
"We are ready to go out and die for our nation – we’re going to do everything to make our people proud."
The Marseille player’s father was nicknamed after Brazil legend Pele, but Ayew was keen to stress that the host nation of the World Cup has not yet produced any fond memories for him.
“This is my first time in Brazil and it has not given me anything – it could give me qualification to the next stage!”
Costa Rica sent England packing by beating Italy on Friday and the 61-year-old is immensely proud of his players' efforts thus far
Costa Rica boss Jorge Luis Pinto has remarked that the so-called Group of Death in the World Cup only lived up to its billing for the other teams.
The Central Americans claimed shock victories over Uruguay and Italy to secure their passage into the last 16 - and send England packing at the group stage.
And Pinto insisted his team were underrated heading into the tournament in Brazil as they made it extremely difficult for every other country.
"Maybe there are a lot of people who didn't have faith in us because we were in the 'Group of Death'," he told press conference. "But it’s the others who are dead and we’re going to the next round.
"Of course we want to win the next match now and I must ask my players to keep calm and play just as well.
"We knew that we could make history for Costa Rica and today we have done that. That’s what I told my players today – let’s change history.
"It was a beautiful match and the people of Costa Rica deserve this day. They have supported the team and me and this was for them.
"We have played a historic team. They’re really good. They have wonderful players so, of course, we feel really proud."
