Markable

Before the final two squads in the World Cup face off on July 13 in Brazil, FIFA will get fans pumped up for the last winner-take-all match with the customary closing ceremony. Organizers unveiled the ceremony's entertainment on Thursday, tapping Shakira, Santana and Wyclef, and Brazilian stars Carlinhos Brown, Alexandre Pires and Ivete Sangaloto, to perform.See also: Katy Perry Sued by Christian Artists Claiming She Stole 'Dark Horse' Shakira, making her third consecutive appearance at the World Cup since 2006, will perform "La La La (Brazil 2014)" with Brown. Meanwhile, Santana, Wyclef and Pires will take on "Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)," which is this year's World Cup anthem. Sangaloto and Pires will add homegrown zest with a medley of Brazilian songs. There's no word on whether "Hips Don't Lie" sensation Shakira will recruit backups from the Colombian players, who last month used their hips to celebrate a goal  and caused an announcer to blurt out, "Move over, Shakira, there's a new Colombian No. 1." Shakira's "La La La" music video features flags and fans from countries participating in the World Cup, and athletes are shown playing soccer during some portions of the clip.

"I have an intricate relationship with football for obvious reasons, and I truly understand what the World Cup means to so many people, myself included," Shakira said in a statement. "I just feel so grateful for the opportunity to come back to perform ... it feels right." The opening ceremony featured Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and  Claudia Leitte.

Uruguay`s Luis Suarez has been accused of biting a player for the third time in his career after an incident with Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.   The Liverpool striker lunged at Italy defender Chiellini shortly before Diego Godin scored to give Uruguay a 2-1 win.   Chiellini pulled his shirt down to show the referee a mark on his shoulder but no action was taken by the official.   The maximum ban Suarez could face if governing body Fifa takes retrospective action is 24 matches or two years.   Godin`s winner means four-time champions Italy finish third in Group D at the 2014 Fifa World Cup and exit before the knockout stages for the second finals in a row.   "Suarez is a sneak," said Chiellini. "I`d love to see if Fifa has the courage to use video evidence against him. "The referee saw the bite mark too, but he did nothing about it."   Suarez, who committed a handball on the line to stop Ghana from scoring at the 2010 World Cup, told Uruguayan television: "These are just things that happen out on the pitch. It was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder.   "There are things that happen on the pitch and you should not make such a big deal out of them." After the clash between the players Suarez went to ground holding his mouth, apparently suggesting he had been elbowed.   As Chiellini, 29, ran after referee Marco Rodriguez, Uruguay forward Gaston Ramirez attempted to get the Juventus defender to cover his shoulder.   Fifa will wait to receive the referee`s report before deciding whether to investigate, with a spokeswoman telling BBC Sport: "We will gather all the necessary elements in order to evaluate the matter."   The disciplinary committee of world football`s governing body has the authority to "sanction serious infringements which have escaped the match officials` attention".   The longest ban in World Cup history is eight games for Italy`s Mauro Tassotti for breaking Spain`s Luis Enrique`s nose in 1994 with an elbow, while Zinedine Zidane was given a three-match ban for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the 2006 final.   Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce said: "There is no doubt Luis Suarez is a fantastic footballer but, once again, his actions have left him open to severe criticism.

   "Fifa must investigate the incident seriously and take whatever disciplinary action is deemed necessary."   Michel D`Hooghe, a senior member of Fifa`s ruling executive committee and the chairman of the world governing body`s medical commission, said Suarez should face a disciplinary commission hearing.   "I think that biting is not compatible with normal football practice," he told BBC Sport.   "This is really a serious case for our disciplinary commission."   Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez tried to play down the incident and said there was a vendetta from certain parts of the media towards Suarez.   "I`d like to see the images first before making any comment. If it happened, then the referee probably didn`t see it," said Tabarez.   "Despite mistakes Suarez has made, he is the target of certain media, a certain press."   Uruguay captain Diego Lugano also defended Suarez, whose two goals in the tournament so far came in the victory over England, and criticised the actions of Chiellini.   "What did you see? You saw this, really? You need to show me because I didn`t see anything," said Lugano. "Did you see it today or did you see what happened in other years? You couldn`t have seen it today because nothing happened.   "The worst of everything is the attitude of Chiellini."   Italy manager Cesare Prandelli, who announced his resignation after Italy`s exit, said: "I didn`t see the images of Suarez but I did see the bite marks in Chiellini`s shoulder."   Liverpool`s Suarez was banned for 10 games for biting Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match in April 2013.   He was also banned for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal`s shoulder while Ajax captain in 2010.   The forward courted controversy at the World Cup four years ago when he used his hand to block Dominic Adiyiah`s goal-bound shot in the 120th minute.   Suarez was sent off, while Ghana missed the subsequent penalty and went on to lose the quarter-final in a penalty shootout.   BBC Sport pundit and former England international Alan Shearer believes Suarez should be severely punished for the Chiellini incident if found guilty.   "I could not believe it," he said. "The pictures are pretty damning and, if found guilty, they should hammer him.   "He has built up his reputation over the last 12 months and to come into the tournament and do that, I am lost for words.   "I can understand why the referee did not see it clearly but they can look at video evidence and there is no way he can get away with that. It is pretty clear.   "What on earth is he thinking of?"   Former England international Chris Waddle said Suarez needs to be "severely punished".   "Let`s see how strong Fifa are," he added. "There will be people who will defend him, but I don`t know why. I`d make him wear a gumshield."

The African side trailed to a stunning Keisuke Honda strike in the first half, but the introduction of striker Didier Drogba off the bench proved the catalyst to turn the match on its head after the restart as they scored twice in three minutes. The victory at the Pernambuco arena moved the Ivorians level on three points at the top of Group C with Colombia, who beat Greece 3-0 earlier on Saturday. With coaches so often judged on their ability to make brave decisions, Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi put his neck on the line by leaving out Drogba, for so long a talismanic presence in the lineup, in favour of the in-form Bony. It looked a poor call as Japan had the better of the first half.  They were sharp and nimble in possession, working clever angles as they picked off their opponents' frequently misplaced passes and took the lead with a goal of genuine quality from Honda after 16 minutes.

Collecting a pass across the box, he took one touch to shift it out of his feet and then drove it powerfully into the top corner with his left foot, before galloping away in celebration as blue hordes of Japanese fans celebrated deliriously.The Elephants had their moments, with midfielder Yaya Toure showing occasional glimpses of his destructive powers, shifting through the gears with trademark bursts of raw energy.Yet there was little killer instinct as half chances came and went, with Drogba prowling on the sidelines before entering the fray after 62 minutes.

 The change had the desired impact on the Ivory Coast who levelled two minutes later when Bony leapt to glance a fizzing Serge Aurier cross into the far corner. Two minutes later and another drilled Aurier centre was met this time by Gervinho who got in front of his marker to direct a header on goal that squirmed past Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who should have done better

The South Americans made a blistering start with left back Pablo Amero scoring with a 5th minute deflected shot. Striker Teofilo Gutierrez extended their lead, stabbing home a 58th minute corner, and midfield James Rodriguez added a late third goal to seal the win. The Group C opener in Belo Horizonte's Estadio Mineirao showed that Colombia remain a force to be reckoned with despite the injury to Falcao, which overshadowed their buildup to the tournament. Greece had plenty of chances themselves. In their best opportunity, veteran striker Fanis Gekas hit the bar with a header when it looked easier to score soon after Colombia's second goal. Vassilis Torosidis put a header just wide, Panagiotis Kone saw a shot well saved and Giorgos Samaras struck just wide for the normally defence-minded Greeks, who were forced to attack after Colombia's early goal. The result pumped up an already pulsating atmosphere among the majority Colombian crowd. The yellow-decked South American fans were thrilled at seeing their team back at football's top table after being shut out since their great sides of 1990s. That joy was in evidence after Colombia's first goal, when the players danced together in probably the most joyous celebration so far of the Brazil World Cup. Defeat continued Greece's dismal record of never keeping a clean sheet at a World Cup finals. They have never gone beyond the group stage either, so will be hoping Group C rivals Ivory Coast and Japan prove easier opponents.

Armero's early goal came after sustained pressure down the right wing, with a lucky deflection squeezing past keeper Orestis Karnezis. Three Colombian players looked offside but were deemed not interfering in play. Gutierrez, with a heavy weight of expectations on his shoulders given Falcao's absence, scored an easy goal after a corner had been flicked on. Then Rodriguez, who had looked lively throughout, hit a low shot in stoppage time to send the Colombian fans delirious. Throughout the game, the Colombians targeted Greek left back Jose Holebas, again and again finding space on the right flank. Greek forward Kostas Mitroglou came off the bench in the second half but was unable to provide Greece's missing spark.

Franz Beckenbauer has been provisionally banned from all footballing activities by Fifa - for "failing to co-operate" with its inquiry into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.   The World Cup winning German legend had been asked to help with a Fifa ethics investigation led by lawyer Michael Garcia.   Beckenbauer, 68, was part of the Fifa executive committee that voted to give the tournament to Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.   He has been banned for 90 days.   Beckenbauer captained West Germany to victory as hosts at the 1974 World Cup, and was coach when they next lifted the trophy in Italy 16 years later.   He then managed at Olympique Marseille and Bayern Munich, where he is now honorary president.   Fifa said Beckenbauer ignored "repeated requests" to assist with an independent investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.   No details have been given on what Garcia wanted to speak to Beckenbauer about.   But Beckenbauer said: "I politely requested a meeting in which we could talk about the matter in German. That was apparently not desired. That aside, I wouldn`t be able to contribute anything to clear up the matter anyway."   World football`s governing body said Beckenbauer was asked to supply answers to written questions provided in both English and German.   In a statement, Fifa said: "The apparent breach relates to Mr Beckenbauer`s failure to co-operate with an ethics committee investigation despite repeated requests for his assistance.   "The case is now the subject of formal investigation proceedings being conducted by investigatory chamber member Vanessa Allard as chief of the investigation."   Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce said: "This very much shows once again how the Fifa reform process is working. The independent ethics committee are doing a good job and should have the full support of everybody."   Garcia says he now has "almost all" of the documents referred to by the Sunday Times report.   On Friday, Beckenbauer told German television: "I am the Bayern Munich honorary president. Even if I cannot do this for 90 days it is something the honorary president can survive."  

Source: BBC

Chile had to work harder than expected to defeat World Cup underdogs Australia 3-1 in Cuiaba on Friday.   The result nevertheless boosted their chances of progressing in the tournament following the Netherlands’ 5-1 demolition of reigning champions Spain in Group B’s earlier match.   Chile, with their all-attacking style, have been singled out as a real threat by Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, while the Socceroos are the team with the lowest FIFA ranking in the tournament.   And yet, despite also having most of the fans on their side in the Arena Pantanal stadium, the South Americans struggled to overcome a well organized team that grew in confidence after the break.   Few would have expected such a balanced match after the first quarter of an hour.   Chile started strong and netted their first goal in the 12th minute, with Alexis Sanchez collecting a loose ball in the area and firing home La Roja’s first from short range.   With the Socceroos still reeling from the first goal, the Barcelona forward then picked Jorge Valdivia, who was left completely unmarked outside the area, and curled the ball in from a central position for Chile’s second.   There was woeful defending from Australia. And yet, the underdogs pulled one back out of nowhere in the 35th, with Tim Cahill heading in a goal from the centre of the area. That goal means Cahill is now one of the few players to have scored in three World Cups.   The second half was a fast-paced affair, with Australia threatening their rivals on several occasions.   It got worse for Chile in the 60th, when star midfielder Arturo Vidal, who had been in doubt until the 11th hour, had to be replaced by Felipe Gutierrez.   Still, Chile could have scored a third soon after, but Alex Wilkinson cleared the ball as it was crossing the goal line following an Eduardo Vargas finish.   It was the first time in the tournament that FIFA’s latest innovation -- the goal-line technology -- was used to confirm the referee’s decision.   Despite the scare, Australia grew in confidence, meaning much of the rest of the second half was a balanced affair.   However, it was left to Jean Beausejour to seal the match in Chile’s favour in the 90th minute.   While the result was clearly in Chile’s favour, the South Americans will have to improve in discipline, particularly in defence, if they want to clinch a result against Spain and the Netherlands.

 

Mexico beat Cameroon 1-0 at a rain-drenched Natal on Friday in a World Cup Group A match scarred by more refereeing blunders.  Oribe Peralta grabbed the only goal after 61 minutes but Mexico will consider themselves unlucky not to have been more comfortable winners after Giovani Dos Santos had two goals ruled out for dubious offside decisions in the first half.  On both occasions, it was former Tottenham striker Giovani Dos Santos who was the victim.  In the 11th minute, the Villarreal player found the target with a sweet, stabbed volley from a cross by Porto`s Hector Herrara but his effort was ruled out by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan  On the 30-minute mark, a Dos Santos header from a corner by Miguel Layun was also not allowed to stand.  In between, Cameroon skipper Samuel Eto`o had a goal chalked off for offside although this time the referee made the right decision.  The blunders came just a day after Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura controversially awarded a penalty which set Brazil on their way to a 3-1 win over Croatia.  Eto`o had Cameroon`s best chance of the first half after 21 minutes but narrowly went wide of the post.  Early in the second period, Mexico had a golden opportunity when Peralta was clean through on goal, but he fired the ball straight at Charles Itandje in the Cameroon goal.  Peralta deservedly put Mexico in front just after the hour mark. Dos Santos`s shot was parried into his path and the Club Santos Laguna striker slotted in from close range.  Cameroon`s Benjamin Moukandjo had a chance to rescue a point in injury time but his header was well-saved by Guillermo Ochoa.  Mexico next face Brazil in Fortaleza on Tuesday with Cameroon taking on Croatia the following day.   

Source: AFP

Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben scored twice each as the Netherlands avenged their 2010 World Cup final defeat to Spain with a record 5-1 drubbing of the defending champions on Friday.   Van Persie pounced in each half as the Dutch recovered from a controversial Xabi Alonso penalty to inflict a crushing defeat on the reigning kings of world and European football.   Stefan De Vrij got the Netherlands` other goal as Spain slumped to the heaviest defeat ever inflicted at a World Cup on the reigning champions.   It was Spain`s worst defeat in more than half a century, coming 51 years after a 6-2 defeat to Scotland in 1963.   Thousands of fans gathered in Madrid to watch the game on giant screens were left stunned into silence by the rout.   The extraordinary Group B drama in the northern Brazilian coastal city of Salvador has potentially turned the World Cup permutations on their head. If Spain fail to recover the form which saw them win back-to-back European titles either side of their 2010 World Cup triumph, they could conceivably crash out in the first round, or face a daunting clash with Brazil in the last 16. The walloping eclipsed more refereeing controversies on the second day of competition.    FIFA officials earlier defended Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura after he awarded Brazil a bitterly contested penalty in their opening game victory over Croatia.   Referees chief Massimo Busacca insisted Nishimura had been justified in awarding the spot-kick after an alleged foul by Dejan Lovren on Brazilian striker Fred. 

  "He had a very good position," said Busacca, referring to a photo of the incident which appeared to show Lovren`s hands making contact with Fred.   "When he saw the hands doing something he makes it (the decision)."   But no sooner had referees chief Busacca sprung to Nishimura`s defence then the standard of officiating was again under scrutiny as Mexico took on Cameroon.   Mexico`s Oribe Peralta scored the only goal of a rain-lashed Group A game in Natal, securing a precious three points for Miguel Herrera`s side.   But the main talking point after the game was Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan who chalked off what looked like two valid Mexico goals in the first half.   "The referee has taken two goals off us but we go away with three points and in top spirits," Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said.   Football chiefs have introduced the use of goal-line technology at this World Cup, anxious to avoid a repeat of the fiasco at the 2010 tournament when England`s Frank Lampard saw a legitimate goal not given in his team`s last 16 match with Germany.   FIFA President Sepp Blatter said earlier this week the use of technology should be taken further, suggesting the introduction of a possible video-replay based challenge system similar to those used in other sports.   However referees chief Busacca said Friday he was unconvinced more technology was the answer.   "When the situation is clear 100 percent of course it (technology) can really help the referee to say `Yes, the player scored a goal by his hands`. But these situations are very rare," Busacca said.   In a separate controversy, the pitch in the Amazon city of Manaus due to host its first World Cup match when England play Italy there on Saturday is not up to the required standard, according to world players union FIFPro.   There are large dry areas on the pitch and some of it has been spray painted green, according to reporters who have been to the stadium.   Neither England nor Italy have officially complained ahead of the much-awaited Group D game on Saturday. Friday`s other games in Group B sees Chile take on Australia.   

Source: AFP 

Electrifying players and crazy drama are all part of the World Cup — but what really makes this thing go is the fans. En route from San Francisco to Manaus this week, your humble reporter got to see many smiling faces full of hope, optimism and good cheer heading to Brazil to root on their favorite teams. The Charlotte and São Paulo airports, in particular, served as impromptu United Nations of fans, jerseys and national team apparel.

But among the diversity everyone shared one thing: A love of soccer and excitement about the month ahead. So, before hopes are dashed and dreams deferred, here are 11 shots of soccer pilgrims making the trek to Brazil. Who knows? Some of them may even head home with a World Cup title to boast about.

As Brazil kicked off the 2014 World Cup as the host nation, the roars of excitement and anticipation within the Arena Corinthians were deafening. However, those soon turned into gasps as Marcelo steered the ball into his own net in the 11th minute to give Croatia the lead. That definitely wasn’t in the script.     The goal didn’t come without warning though.     On two previous occasions, Croatia broke forward with ease and comfortably got crosses in. In the 8th minute, Ivan Perisic crossed deep for Ivica Olic who headed wide.     Just three minutes later, Croatia countered again and Olic’s delivery was deflected into the net for the opening goal. Brazil were all over the place in the first quarter of an hour. They naively flooded forward, losing their shape and were lazy when having to track back. Their full-backs were unnecessarily adventurous so early in proceedings and left them vulnerable to the counter-attack, to which they soon succumbed.     However, Croatia have their own defensive issues and as Brazil went on to dominate possession, they began to find openings. Niko Kovac made the brave call of playing all three of his creative midfielders against one of the favourites in the competition and while they caused their opponents problems, they also cost them defensively.     The unadulterated creative presence of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Rakitic made for a lightweight Croat midfield and therefore a soft core. That weakness was exposed in the build-up to the equalizing goal. Oscar won the ball amongst all three Croat central midfielders and played in Neymar who could run at the unprotected back four and place his shot past Stipe Pletikosa in goal.     The second half started without incident but Croatia continued to look dangerous from crosses, highlighting Brazil’s good fortune that Mario Mandzukic missed the encounter through suspension. The Bayern Munich forward would have enjoyed the lackadaisical marking of the Brazilian center-backs.     That good fortune was only made more prominent for the hosts when Fred was awarded a penalty as Dejan Lovren was adjudged to have brought him down. The contact was in fact minimal, rendering it a soft decision. Neymar stepped up, performed an overelaborate run-up and struck his effort too close to the keeper who, despite getting both hands to it, couldn’t keep it out.     Having taken the lead, the Selecao only grew nervier at the back. Julio Cesar proved to be just as uncomfortable with crosses as his center backs when he was beaten to the ball by Olic in the air. Rebic struck the loose ball but David Luiz made the block before Perisic steered home the rebound. However, the whistle had already gone, as the referee deemed Olic`s knock down a foul on Cesar.     Croatia were denied a late equalizer but continued to push forward and were caught on the break. Once again, their lack of muscle in midfield cost them. Rakitic was nudged off the ball by the substitute Ramires who slipped in his Chelsea teammate Oscar. The 22 year-old then produced a magnificent toe-punt to finish before the keeper could set himself, making it 3-1 to Brazil.     It was a well-deserved goal for the youngster who delivered a great performance on the night. Neymar may have bagged two goals but Oscar was heavily involved in Brazil’s attacks, grabbing a goal and an assist. He was also quick to track back and win the ball, justifying his place in the team ahead of Willian.     With a couple of controversial decisions going against them, Croatia have every right to feel aggrieved not to at least get a point out of the fixture. Brazil were far from convincing but perhaps an early scare in the tournament is just what they needed to get a grip on reality.     They aren’t going to have things all their own way and will have to work a lot harder than they did in the opening game. They have to be a lot more committed to defending their lines and covering for each other if they’re going to be world champions.     Source: goal.com

Defending champions Spain take on the Netherlands in a rerun of the 2010 final that dominates today’s World Cup games.   Australia enter the tournament against South American dark horses Chile in the same Group B battle, while Mexico play Cameroon in Group A.   Andres Iniesta’s goal was all that separated Spain and the Netherlands on the score sheet four years ago. But the Dutch, who were given nine of the 14 yellow cards handed out, were much criticised for their negative tactics.   Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal admits that Spain may still be playing the better football now, but insists that revenge is still possible.   "There is only one way to block the Spanish, you have to defend in a very compact way," van Gaal said on the eve of the game in Salvador.   "Then when you get the ball, you have to have a fast, well executed game.   "This will not be easy as Spain also defend very well. But I have an iron belief that we can produce something special today even if you have to be conscious that Spain play perhaps the best football."   Everyone is looking for cracks in the Spanish side that has won two European Championships on the trot as well as the World Cup. Coach Vicente del Bosque says they do not exist.   Del Bosque could name a side with only one change from the one that won the 2012 Euro final. He has only one major decision over whether to use Diego Costa or Cesc Fabregas as his main attacker.   "We have a mature team and young players. We are not afraid of anything and we are in our prime," he said Netherlands will be relying on the veteran strike force of Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder, who has been rejuvenated by van Gaal.   Spain`s midfielder Xavi Hernandez acknowledged the threat from the trio but stressed Spain`s traditional dominance of possession.   "They have three very experienced players up front. They will sit in and then look for very quick counter-attacks. We know Spain will have more of the ball."   Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli announced that star midfielder Arturo Vidal is fit to play Australia in Cuiaba in a match that could be as important as Spain-Netherlands.   Both of the group favourites know that Sampaoli is waiting to see which one of them makes a slip that he can exploit.   But Sampaoli said he will have to overcome a physical challenge from the Socceroos first.   "We believe Australia will wait for us and counter. I need my players to be nimble and quick to break through strong defences," he said.   Australia are the lowest ranked team at the World Cup finals, 62nd on the FIFA list, but are ready to take on allcomers.   "We don`t care who we`re up against," said Swiss-based attacking midfielder Dario Vidosic.   "There can be 11 Ronaldos or Messis out there. We want to make everybody proud back home. We`ve worked very hard to get to this stage," he added.   Mexican coach Miguel Herrera has dropped Manchester United forward Javier `Chicharito` Hernandez to the substitutes` bench for the Group A clash against Cameroon in Natal.   Hernandez started only six league games for a struggling Man United side this last season, managing just four goals in 24 appearances, 18 as a substitute, in the Premier League.   Herrera has plumped for in-form duo Oribe Peralta and Giovani dos Santos up front. "There is very good chemistry between them," said Herrera.   Cameroon, who were embroiled in a bonus row before arriving in Brazil, will be relying on their veteran captain Samuel Eto`o to guide them through the tough group.  

Source: AFP

Neymar gave Brazil a winning start to its home World Cup, scoring twice to lead the host nation to a 3-1 come-from-behind victory over Croatia in the opening game. Brazil had a disastrous start when defender Marcelo found his own net while trying to clear a low cross by Ivica Olic in the 11th minute, but Neymar then showed why the nation’s high hopes are all pinned on him. he 22-year-old forward equalized in the 29th by clearing a defender near midfield before making a run toward the edge of the area and firing a low shot that hit the post before going in. Brazil was then awarded a disputed penalty in the 71st minute after striker Fred went down inside the area under light contact,

and Neymar scored the winner from the spot. Oscar slotted in the third in injury time. Those details, as well as the fact that the penalty was highly debatable, did not trouble the 60,000-plus crowd which exploded in delight as fireworks detonated outside."This is a dream come true, much more than I imagined," Neymar said afterwards. "But more important than anything is that our team won." Given the situation in Brazil, with ambivalence towards the World Cup and police tear-gassing protesters in Sao Paulo just hours earlier, the value of those goals could be high. When President Dilma Rousseff was seen on the big screen celebrating Neymar`s second goal, the crowd responded with a foul-mouthed chant. Protests around the country over the World Cup`s huge price have put a question mark over whether the tournament would be a success, despite the fact it is being played in football`s spiritual home. Neymar is Brazil`s undisputed star, adored for repeatedly snubbing European clubs before joining Barcelona and promoted so efficiently the phenomenon is known as "Neymarketing". He played like he had a point to prove, using his quick footwork to beat defenders and putting in a dangerous cross that could have brought the opening goal.Brazil went 1-0 down through Marcelo`s own goal in the 11th minute, and when Neymar was booked near the half-hour it looked like the evening could finish disastrously for the hosts.But almost immediately, Oscar found Neymar with space to run and his driven, left-foot shot, despite not being cleanly hit, had the accuracy to beat a diving Pletikosa.And when Fred won a controversial penalty in the second half, Neymar got his second despite theatrically checking his run-up and hitting a shot well within the goalkeeper`s reach.At the age of just 22, it brought his astonishing tally of goals to Brazil up to 33 in 50 games. After the match, wearing a baseball cap, earrings and bright green backpack, he gave thanks for the crowd support which included a spine-tingling pre- game rendition of the national anthem. "I have to give congratulations for the support, it motivated us a lot. They kept us going the whole time, and we needed it," he said.And Neymar did his best to quash the impression that he is not out to dominate the tournament. "I`m not focused on being the best in the tournament, thehighest goal- scorer... what I want is to win the championship," he said.

Brazil: Julio Cesar; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo; Paulinho (Hernanes, 63rd), Luiz Gustavo, Oscar; Hulk (Bernard, 68th), Neymar (Ramires, 88th), Fred.

Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Darijo Srna, Vedran Corluka, Dejan Lovren, Sime Vrsaljko; Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic (Marcelo Brozovic, 61st); Ivica Olic, Nikica Jelavic (Ante Rebic, 78th).


Source: Agencies

The 2014 Fifa World Cup officially got under way on Thursday with a colourful opening ceremony before hosts Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the first match. A cast of 660 dancers paid tribute to the country`s nature, people and football with a show around a "living" ball on the Arena de Sao Paulo pitch.The final act saw a performance of official World Cup song "We Are One" by Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull.The month-long tournament sees 32 nations compete in 64 games.Many fans took to the streets to sing and chant their support for Brazil as excitement built in the hours before the tournament began.But there were also demonstrations from those unhappy with the expense of hosting the tournament. Police in Sao Paulo used tear gas to break up one protest, which involved about 50 people, while striking airport workers in Rio de Janeiro blocked a road outside the airport, demanding a wage increase and a World Cup bonus. The strike was to have lasted for 24 hours but union leaders called it off early for legal reasons.While there was no trouble within the 65,000-seater Arena de Sao Paulo during the opening ceremony, there were complaints about the sound quality.Performers dressed as trees, flowers and various musical instruments all performed in three acts before the central ball opened to reveal singers Claudia Leitte, Jennifer Lopez and rapper Pitbull as they sang the official World Cup song as the finale.The opening game of the tournament between Brazil and Croatia kicked off at 21:00 BST, with the hosts coming from behind to win 3-1.Neymar scored twice, with his crucial second coming from a controversial penalty after team-mate Fred fell to the ground under minimal contact.Roy Hodgson`s team will also play Uruguay and Costa Rica in their Group D fixtures. Hosts Brazil start as favourites to win the World Cup for a sixth time, while holders Spain are aiming to win a fourth major tournament in a row after winning the European Championship two years ago.The other seeded teams are Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany and Belgium. Governing body Fifa said it had sold more than 2.9 million tickets, but they were still available for several matches on Wednesday, including some involving Germany, Italy and France.


Source: BBC

Jennifer Lopez will perform with Pitbull and Claudia Leitte at the opening ceremony of the Football World Cup despite reports suggesting otherwise. Her representative said statements that Lopez will not perform were a bit “premature”, reported People magazine. “Jennifer has always wanted to participate in the World Cup opening ceremonies. We have been trying to work out scheduling and logistics. Any statements to the contrary were premature. Jennifer would not want to disappoint her fans or fans of football. She will be there,” the representative said. Lopez, Pitbull and Brazilian singer Leitte collaborated on this year’s official World Cup song titled “We Are One (Ole Ola)”. Earlier this week, FIFA announced that the “American Idol” judge wouldn’t perform the track at the event tomorrow due to unspecified “production issues.

The student travel agency STA Travel has announced it will no longer arrange trips that involve the unethical treatment of animals.

They have stopped tours that include elephant rides, visits to Tiger Temple in Thailand and visits to SeaWorld parks in Orlando and San Diego. This is another blow for SeaWorld, which saw a 13% drop in attendance in the first three months of 2014 compared to the same period last year.

STA's social responsibility program manager Kathryn Kirkpatrick said that the moves to end these tours was the beginning of an effort to understand issues around ethical travel. STA arranges travel for about 2.5 million young people annually.

“We are reviewing our entire portfolio of animal-focused tours,” Kirkpatrick told The Guardian. "We take this seriously and listen carefully to feedback from animal welfare experts, customers and staff. If something isn't up to our standards, we remove it."

STA Travel asked the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to offer suggestions about which tours were irresponsible because of their treatment of animals.

“There is no doubt about the profound suffering that orcas and other dolphins endure in captivity, and with all the exciting activities available to travelers today, companies still profiting from the captivity of sentient beings have their days numbered," said Mimi Bekhechi, PETA's associate director.

In a statement, SeaWorld said it was disappointed by the decision.

SeaWorld Entertainment, which has a total of 11 parks around the world, saw an 11% drop in revenue in the first quarter of the year.

Despite the poor start to the year, SeaWorld CEO Jim Atchison told the Los Angeles Times he expects 2014 to return record financial results. He based his prediction on a strong start to the second quarter and the upcoming plans to open new parks.

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Ravi Shastri, the former India allrounder and IPL governing council member, has warned that a repeat of altercations such as the one involving Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc could result in much stiffer penalties for the players, including "double" their match fee or even a ban. 

"They should be given a fine and then a stern warning stating that (if) once more then it could be double the penalty and even a match ban," Shastri told ESPNcricinfo. When asked whether increasing monetary sanctions alone could prevent a breach of the IPL's rules, Shastri remained confident. "It could. It is in the hands of the match referee. But I would tell the player that next time if you even come close (to a breach) you will face serious consequences."

Shastri provided the example of the "stiff" $50,000 fine imposed on then Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne during the 2011 IPL for breaching the playing contract. Warne had allegedly verbally abused the then Rajasthan Cricket Association secretary Sanjay Dixit, and a disciplinary panel comprising former IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and Shastri imposed the penalty. "The penalties can be pretty stiff. We penalised Warne an amount which amounted to his match fee for a match. He was on a $700,000 contract with Rajasthan Royals. Tell me one player who has been fined $50,000 anywhere."

Shastri, who also sits on the IPL's code of behaviour committee and the technical committee, said that no advisory has been issued to match referees in light of the Pollard-Starc incident since the officials were aware of the rules. "That is the match referee's jurisdiction. Only after they take a decision do we have a right to comment."

The IPL's handling of the incident has once again reopened the debate about whether slow over-rates are more important to the league than bad behaviour and attract more fines because of the impact on TV programming. Shastri rubbished the notion and said that the IPL had set a better example than anybody else, including the ICC, when it came to penalizing tardy over-rates. "Slow over-rates slow the pace of the game and captains are appropriately fined. No other cricket body in the world takes so strong (an action) as the IPL. Even the ICC can take a leaf out of the IPL."

Shastri had earlier expressed his annoyance at Pollard and Starc's behavior in his Times of India column. "This one went beyond bad behavior," Shastri wrote. "You can joust, tease, stare, have a spat, give a send-off and all that can still be tolerated, but you can't almost come to blows. It bordered on violence, luckily without anything untoward happening. Both aimed to hurt each other with bat and ball. The faults by both are many - disrespect to umpires, abuse of equipment, utter disregard for the name of their employers, contempt for sponsors and injuring the spirit of the game itself.

"Starc likes to provoke. We all watched him give a mouthful to Virender Sehwag after his short ball had rammed the opener on the helmet and gone to the fence. Even that is tolerable in small doses. Pollard was nothing if not physical. Both need to be spoken to with a stern warning and not just a fine."

The altercation began with an exchange of words after Starc bowled a bouncer to Pollard in the 17th over of Mumbai Indians' innings against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pollard pulled away as Starc ran in for the next delivery, but the bowler continued and bowled the ball at Pollard's body. In response, Pollard threatened to throw his bat at Starc, but it fell close to the batsman. Andy Pycroft, the match referee, fined Pollard 75% and Starc 50% of their match fees.

The bad behaviour in the match, Shastri wrote, wasn't just confined to Pollard and Starc.

"In the same game, [Yuzvendra] Chahal was also involved in a pronounced send-off to the batsman he dismissed," Shastri wrote. "It was Chahal's good luck that Yuvraj Singh was at hand to humour the offended on-field umpires. Mostly it's the bowlers who are stepping out of line.

"All the stakeholders must clamp down on such behaviour. It doesn't improve you as a cricketer much less as a human being. It's been a splendid IPL so far and it deserves better from its performers."