Blatter: number of World Cup spots ‘unfair’ for Africa, Asia

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the numbers of World Cup places for Africa and Asia are "unfair" considering the large number of associations in the two confederations.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 11:29:46

Cakir from Turkey to referee Netherlands-Argentina semifinal

Cuneyt Cakir from Turkey will referee the World Cup semifinal between the Netherlands and Argentina, which kicks off in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 11:16:08

Scolari: We are ready to cope without Neymar

Luiz Felipe Scolari has insisted Brazil is physically and mentally prepared to overcome Germany in the World Cup semifinals despite the absence of injured talisman Neymar.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 9:45:05

Zuniga escapes punishment over Neymar tackle, Silva ban upheld

Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga has escaped punishment for a tackle that forced Neymar out of the World Cup with a fractured vertebra.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 9:37:36

Nicaragua opens virtual stadium for World Cup fans

Some 30,000 Nicaraguan football fans will be able to follow the 2014 Brazil World Cup at a virtual stadium set up by the government, a source said Monday.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 9:34:22

Low: Neymar injury 'terrible'

Germany coach Joachim Low has lamented the absence of Brazil star Neymar from their World Cup semifinal in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 9:33:31

Argentine cinemas screen national team matches

More than 100,000 Argentines around the country have watched their national team compete in the 2014 World Cup at cinemas broadcasting the games.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 9:31:55

Scolari eyes Alves recall against Germany

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has hinted he may recall Barcelona defender Daniel Alves to his starting lineup for Tuesday's World Cup semifinal clash against Germany in Belo Horizonte.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-8 9:23:52

After the goal rush, negativity marred quarterfinals at World Cup

After the attack-minded tactics and goal glut of the group stages, the World Cup quarterfinals were predictably marked by caution and even aggression as hosts Brazil pushed soccer's laws to the limit in dispatching Colombia.
Source: Reuters-Global Times | 2014-7-7 22:18:01

Di Maria to miss semis, Aguero fit

Angel di Maria has been ruled out of Argentina's semifinal against the Netherlands but fellow forward Sergio Aguero has recovered from a muscle strain and is fit to play, the team doctor said Sunday (Brazilian time).
Source: Reuters-Global Times | 2014-7-7 22:18:01

Van Gaal vindicated for goalkeeper mind games

To say no one was expecting Tim Krul to come on to the Salvador pitch with less than a minute to go in extra time is not quite true, but one man definitely had no idea.
Source: Global Times | 2014-7-7 20:23:01

Salvador is superb setting for engrossing quarterfinal

Salvador's impressive Fonte Nova ­stadium nestles between the hills of the historic Old Town and the city's main highway.
Source: Global Times | 2014-7-7 20:23:01

Changing battles

As Brazil and Germany prepare to do battle in their World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, old stereotypes of both countries’ soccer philosophies are ­being rewritten.
Source: AFP - Reuters | 2014-7-7 20:23:01

Messi on way to surpass Maradona on cap

Lionel Messi is on the way to surpass Diego Armando Maradona's mark of number of games played with the Argentine national team when he faces the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-7 11:34:01

Preview: Brazil seeking 'something different' against Germany

As much as Brazil might try to argue otherwise, there is no escaping the impact of Neymar's tournament-ending back injury on their hopes of lifting a sixth World Cup title.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-7 11:32:39

Germany wary of Brazil desire to win for Neymar

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger said the absence of Neymar will provide Brazil with extra motivation in their World Cup semifinal in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-7 11:30:00

Aguero set to return for Argentina against Netherlands

Argentina have been boosted by the return to fitness of Sergio Aguero ahead of their World Cup semifinal against the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-7 11:27:18

Mexican Rodriguez to referee Brazil-Germany semifinal

World soccer governing body FIFA on Sunday announced that Mexican Marco Rodriguez will referee the World Cup semifinal between Brazil and Germany, which kicks off in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.
Source: Xinhua | 2014-7-7 10:44:42