..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo is 100 per cent fit, insists Beto

Portugal goalkeeper Beto has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo does not have any fitness issues ahead of their crucial World Cup game against USA on Sunday.

The Real Madrid star had been plagued by injury problems in the closing stages of the 2013-14 campaign, but returned in time for Portugal's 4-0 defeat to Germany in their World Cup opener.

There continued to be question marks over the attacker's fitness, however, as he allegedly left training early on Wednesday, yet Beto has now stressed his team-mate is in fine shape.

"Ronaldo didn't leave training early. He finished his training at the same time as the rest of the players," Beto said at a press conference.

"Cristiano is 100 percent fit to play. Every match he starts to play, it's because he's fit to play.

"He loves football but his body is the most important thing for him, to be fit, to be healthy so if he starts the match it's because he's ready, he's fit."

Portugal desperately need a good result against USA after their defeat versus Germany and Beto is confident they can bag the full three points.

"The best version of Portugal can beat the United States. We respect the USA as a very good team.

"They have grown up over the last years so we have to respect them, but we believe in ourselves, we believe in our work, in our quality so we have to be responsible.

"We have to be in the best condition to win this match and we believe it."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kovac: Cameroon lucky to concede only four

Croatia boss Niko Kovac feels his side could easily have scored more goals in their 4-0 win over Cameroon in Wednesday's Group A game in Manaus.

A goal from Ivica Olic before the break gifted the Croatians the lead before Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic (2) put the match to bed in the second half, much to the satisfaction of Kovac.

"We weren't on top of our game in the opening five to 10 minutes and Cameroon created some chances," Kovac told HTV.

"But then we found our rhythm. Olic scored and that opened up the game for us. We could have scored even more goals.

"I can only congratulate the players, though. They won in very difficult conditions. It was hard to sit or stand, let alone run around on the pitch."

Kovac then looked ahead to the decisive game against Mexico and warned that a Croatia will have to be at their best in order to progress.

"The match against Mexico will be like a final. We have to get some rest, because a serious opponent awaits. Mexico are strong, but so are we.

"The Mexico players are very patriotic, just like us, and they have a great team spirit. They play some aggressive football with a lot of pressing. They are strong going forward, but also have some weaknesses in defence, like Brazil showed us."

Croatia currently sit third in Group A with three points from two games, trailing leaders Brazil and Mexico by one point.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mandzukic praises Kovac tactics

Croatia carried out coach Niko Kovac's instructions to a tee, striker Mario Mandzukic admitted after helping his side to a 4-0 win over Cameroon on Wednesday.

The Bayern Munich striker scored twice to add to an 11th-minute tap-in from Ivica Olic and a 48th-minute Ivan Perisic strike.

Croatia face Mexico on June 23 knowing a win would see them through to the round of 16.

It should be another stiff examination of Kovac's managerial ability but Mandzukic revealed his tactics against Cameroon were proved spot on.

He told Croatian TV channel HTV: "We did everything possible. We have trained hard and done what the coach wanted us to do.

"He wanted an early goal and at half-time he told us to finish the game as soon as possible."

Mandzukic could have ended up with a hat-trick after, prior to scoring, missing a one-on-one with Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje.

"It was a long run, I was tired and lost focus," he added. "But never mind, I never play to score but to help my team. My goals come as a reward.

"We have shown we have power, now we go into battle with Mexico."

Team-mate Eduardo added that he was in no doubt what tactics the Central Americans would adopt in the Recife clash.

"Mexico will aim for a draw against us," he said, knowing that will be enough for Miguel Herrera's men to qualify.

 

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FIFA World Cup 2014 Fixtures 2014.06.19

FIFA World Cup 2014 Fixtures 2014.06.19

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Group C

Colombia Vs Cote D'Ivoire

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Group D

Uruguay Vs England

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Group C

Japan Vs Greece

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[Wolverine GTR]

Toni Kroos aluth Bayern deal 1kak sign karana 1kak naha wage.Ganna try kalanam patta
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[Wolverine GTR]

Colombia 2-1 Cote d'Ivoire: James and Quintero seal dramatic win

Colombia put themselves in the driving seat of World Cup Group C with a 2-1 victory over Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday.Following a first-half that was low on goalmouth action, the match burst into life in the final 30 minutes.

James Rodriguez set the ball rolling with a powerful header from a Juan Cuadrado corner in the 64th minute, before Juan Quintero doubled the advantage six minutes later.Gervinho pulled one back for Cote d'Ivoire 17 minutes from time, but it proved to be mere consolation for the African outfit.

Ivory Coast created a number of late openings but Colombia captain Mario Yepes, playing in his 100th international was supreme throughout, repelling everything thrown at him.

The result sends Colombia three points clear at the top of the group, and will be assured of their place in the second round if Greece fail to beat Japan later in Thursday's action.

The unchanged Colombians had the better of the early chances - Teofilo Gutierrez sending a half-volley wide of the right-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.
The Ivorians, meanwhile, were struggling to get the likes of Wilfried Bony, Gervinho and Max Gradel into the game, though Cheick Tiote drilled over the crossbar 25 minutes in as they got a rare sight of goal.The best chance of the opening period came for the South Americans three minutes later.

Gutierrez found himself in acres of space in the centre of the Ivorian box, but could only scuff clumsily wide of the left-hand upright when he was delivered the ball on a plate by Rodriguez.

Serge Aurier's low drive at the other end forced goalkeeper David Ospina into a diving save shortly after the half-hour mark, before Gradel went down in the area in search of a penalty under the challenge of Cristian Zapata.Howard Webb – refereeing his first World Cup match since the 2010 final – was having none of it.

Victor Ibarbo failed to get the ball out from under his feet as he tried to set up a shooting angle at the beginning of the second half, before Yaya Toure curled a free-kick well wide of the target at the other end from a promising position.Didier Zokora then surrendered his place in Tuesday’s meeting with Greece by picking up a booking for a clumsy challenge on Cuadrado.

The Fiorentina man came agonisingly close to putting Colombia in front on the hour, firing an effort across goal only to see it touched onto the post by Boubacar Barry.

Barry was not so fortunate next time, however, as his touch was not enough to keep out Rodriguez’s powerful header from a Cuadrado corner.And the match appeared to be all but won six minutes later as Quintero found the space to slot beyond Barry.

However, Cote d'Ivoire were right back in it in the 74th minute when Gervinho burst into the box to power an effort into the back of the net, Ospina unable to keep the effort out despite getting a glove to the ball.

It would prove to be the Africans' only goal of the encounter, leaving them sweating on a place in the next round, with Greece to face in their final group fixture.Colombia's last match will be against Japan, but they may already be through by then.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

James Rodriguez & Gervinho patta!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

England fans hospitalised in Sao Paulo attack

Ten England supporters have been taken to hospital in Sao Paulo after they were attacked by local hooligans.

Eyewitnesses have told Perform that a Brazilian gang appeared to throw an explosive towards a group of England supporters near the fan fest in Sao Paulo city centre.

Here's what the hooligans were carrying when they attacked the #ENG fans here in São Paulo

The extent of the injuries sustained is unknown, but local authorities have confirmed that 10 fans have been taken to hospital requiring treatment.

Police arrested 14 people accused of involvement in the incident, with the assailants dressed all in black and carrying other explosive devices with them.

The incident happened hours before England's World Cup Group D clash against Uruguay in Sao Paulo.Local reports suggested the hooligans caused damage to shops and a bus as they tried to escape from the police.

One England fan at the scene told Perform: “We were having a quiet drink. We’d seen these people walking up and down all day. The police had seen them but did not stop them.

“We started singing, they started throwing smoke bombs and glasses. All we wanted to do was have a drink and enjoy the football.“I don’t know if they were local fans, we didn’t want trouble.”

He added: “I saw them walking up and down. They’ve been here for five hours, we’ve been here for five hours. It was going to happen. There was zero safety.
“Don’t come here, you get no protection.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Get well soon for all!​

 

[MihiCherub]

colombia qualify unane.... danmama ratawal 3k qualify wela inne.
Spain & Australia gedara..

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Uruguay Vs England

Starting Line-ups

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[Wolverine GTR]

Sides 2kama agollange 1st match 1ka paraduna nisa ada pattama gemak yai​

 

[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

Sides 2kama agollange 1st match 1ka paraduna nisa ada pattama gemak yai​

දැන් මැච් එක යනවද? අදවත් බලන්න ඕනේ කියල හිතෙනවා

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Full Time

Uruguay 2 Vs 1 England

Uruguay Goal(s)

Suarez 39',85'

&

England Goal(s)

Rooney 75'
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[Wolverine GTR]

Suarez nam patta2nd goal finish 1ka niyamai

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[Wolverine GTR]

Gotze: I want to score against Ghana

Germany's Mario Gotze is desperate to score his first World Cup goal when they face Ghana on Saturday.

The Bayern Munich player had a good chance in the early stages of his side's 4-0 thrashing of Portugal on Monday but was unable to convert.

He then watched on as Thomas Muller netted a hat-trick, while Mats Hummels also scored in their first game of the tournament.Gotze is hungry to get off the mark against Ghana - who lost their opener 2-1 to the United States - but acknowledged they will be tough to beat given their predicament.

"I had one good chance to score a goal [against Portugal]," Gotze told Kicker.
"I want to score against Ghana now. It won't be easy because the Ghanaians are under pressure and need to win."It's already a playoff for them but we want the three points."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Balotelli must give his all - Prandelli

Italy's hopes of success at the World Cup depend on Mario Balotelli remaining completely committed on the field, Cesare Prandelli says.

Balotelli scored the winning goal as the Azzurri beat England 2-1 in Manaus on Saturday - a result which puts them in a great position to reach the knockout stages.

The AC Milan striker's contribution silenced many who had argued for him to be dropped in favour of Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile prior to the match, but Prandelli insists his star man has to maintain his level.

"There are times when he was the asset and the weapon of this team, and it looked like he was take us to the moon," the coach told reporters.

"Then two months later he wasn't performing and some people weren't even sure if he would go to the World Cup.

"What really matters is that he concentrates and does what he did in the last match. We have 23 men and Mario is one of them. As in the last match, he must give 100 per cent."

Juventus duo Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Barzagli remain fitness doubts having missed the England game and Prandelli admitted he still does not know whether either will feature against Costa Rica on Friday.

"It's an hour by hour process. We need to understand if their problems have been overcome. Barzagli had a minor problem, today he is fine. We can't plan too far in advance. We'll see."The same applies to Buffon. He has been excellent in the last three days in training. There is still swelling but not much. We'll see the reaction [on Thursday]."

 

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Pekerman: We never lack courage

Jose Pekerman praised his Colombia players for the bravery they showed as they hung on to earn a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

The South Americans took a 2-0 lead through James Rodriguez and Juan Quintero in the second half, but were forced to hold off the Elephants after Gervinho scored an excellent solo effort on 73 minutes.

Speaking after the game, Pekerman underlined his pride in Colombia's display, hailing the way his younger players were able to handle the pressure of the encounter.

"I am very happy with the performance of all of my players," the 64-year-old Argentinian told reporters.

"We definitely do what we promise and we are never going to lack courage in games like that.

"I'm happy because we won a very difficult game. There was drama and that is the World Cup. We have many young players and we are working to reach a better level with the team."

Colombia have now all but qualified for the second round in their first World Cup appearance since France 1998 after adding to their 3-0 win over Greece last Saturday, but Pekerman refused to talk up their prospects."You can't assume anything until all matches are played," he said of Los Cafeteros' likely progress to the last-16.

"Colombia are feeling the pressure goes with that."Pekerman's side face Japan on June 24 in their final Group C game.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Neuer brushes off injury concerns

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says the treatment he is having for a shoulder injury is no reason for concern.

Neuer kept a clean sheet as Joachim Low's side began their World Cup campaign with a stunning 4-0 win over Portugal last week.

The 28-year-old had been an injury doubt ahead of the game, yet came through unscathed and is now looking ahead to Saturday's clash with Ghana.

"For me it [the injury] was not a big issue," he told the DFB's official website. "I knew always that I would come back in time.

"It's quite normal that I am still being treated. I can do all the things I need for my game without problems. The treatment is more or less cosmetic; it's no big deal."

Germany's comprehensive win has reinforced their position as one of the tournament's favourites, but Neuer is keen to guard against complacency.

"We all know that we cannot let up. Against Portugal, not everything was perfect; we know that," he added.

"I've always said that we start with the first final and will hopefully play a total of seven finals.

"Against Ghana, we face a second final. Compared to the game against Portugal, we have to try to be a bit tighter."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Isla: Juventus future down to Conte

Chile full-back Mauricio Isla has conceded his future with Serie A champions Juventus is dependent on coach Antonio Conte.

The 26-year-old has impressed at right-back at the World Cup so far this month, helping his country to victory over Australia and a famous 2-0 humbling of reigning world champions Spain.

But despite being a regular in Jorge Sampaoli's Chile side, Isla has struggled to merit a regular berth at the Juventus Stadium since arriving from Udinese in 2012 and made just 18 Serie A outings last term

"I am working hard for both Chile and Juventus, so everything is good for me,” he said.

"Will I stay at Juventus? I know that all the fans support me. Everything will depend on the coach.

"I have learned from many players at Juventus and will continue to work.

"If the coach wants me to keep me then I am glad, because I want to do my best at the World Cup and then return soon to Juventus."

Isla has been linked with a move to a number of European clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool.