“I’m paying for a mistake I made” – Suarez

Barcelone, Espagne | AFP | Luis Suarez trained with his Barcelona team-mates for the first time on Friday and then admitted he was still paying for his “mistake” in biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. After getting the green light from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Uruguayan striker was the … Read more

Neymar’s injury update

MADRID (Reuters) – Neymar’s injured back is healing well and he is aiming to return to action in a friendly for his club Barcelona on Aug. 18, the Brazil forward said on Thursday. Neymar fractured a bone in his back following a challenge from Colombia defender Juan Zuniga in Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final and was … Read more

Pique relishing return of ‘angry’ Suarez

MADRID (Reuters) – Barcelona defender Gerard Pique believes an “angry” Luis Suarez will be desperate to prove himself when he has served out a four-month ban for a biting incident at the World Cup. Uruguay striker Suarez was given a nine-match international suspension and banned from all football-related activity for four months by FIFA after … Read more

One dead as overpass collapses, Brazil braced for quarters

By Mike Collett-White SAO PAULO (Reuters) – At least one person died on Thursday when an unfinished overpass collapsed in World Cup host city Belo Horizonte, overshadowing the buildup to the first quarter-finals in which France face Germany and Brazil take on Colombia. Nineteen people were also injured in the accident about two miles (3 … Read more

World Cup teams catch breath on rare day off

By Julian Linden RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – After three weeks of unrelenting drama and excitement, the World Cup took a rare time-out on Wednesday as the eight surviving teams tried to catch their breath before the quarter-finals kick off on Friday. A tournament which was derided as a disaster waiting to happen, has captivated … Read more

Neymar says he’s fit and ready for Colombia

By Rodrigo Viga Gaier TERESOPOLIS Brazil (Reuters) – Brazil striker Neymar says he is emotionally ready and physically fit for Friday’s World Cup quarter-final with Colombia in Fortaleza. However he warned his compatriots not to expect a feast of goals in what promises to be a tough game for the hosts. “It’s not always a … Read more

Neymar shines as Brazil ease through to last 16

By Iain Rogers BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil forward Neymar shot to the top of the World Cup scoring charts with a superb double in a convincing 4-1 win for the hosts over Cameroon on Monday that sent them through as Group A winners to face Chile in the last 16. After grabbing a brace in … Read more

Maradona criticizes Brazil’s game

After watching Brazil play to a scoreless draw against Mexico, former Argentina superstar Diego Maradona criticised the World Cup hosts for their unconvincing performance through two matches at the 2014 finals. “If they want to be one of the favourites, then Brazil need to drastically improve themselves,” the 1986 world champion told the De Zurda … Read more