The Word on the Street

14 Jun 2006

US forward ready for World Cup "war"

US forward Eddie Johnson dedicated the do-or-die clash with Italy Saturday to the American soldiers wounded in Iraq whom he visited at the military base in Ramstein at which the squad are staying.

"They made you feel like heroes. They were touched by us taking time out of our day to say hello," Johnson said.

"It's like the World Cup. We're here for a war. We're representing our country. We know they are watching us and counting on us."

"Whenever you put on your jersey and your anthem is on, and you're going against another country, it's like a war," he said.

The US certainly have a battle on their hands as a defeat to Italy coupled with a Czech Republic win over Gahana would send the Americans home.

Australia can beat Brazil, says Eriksson

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was impressed with Australia's performance against Japan and has tipped them to beat Brazil.

"I didn't actually see the Australia game because we were training or travelling, but I heard that they played very well, and congratulations," said Eriksson.

"Can they beat Brazil? Yes, why not. You have to believe it."

Australia take on the defending champions on Sunday in a highly anticipated clash following Brazil's less-than-convincing opening 1-0 win over Croatia.

Despite being ranked 42 in the world, Australia can take heart that they've beaten Brazil 1-0 in the 2001 Confderations Cup in Korea and had a scoreless draw with them in the 1997 Confederations Cup in Riyadh,

Brazilian media disappointed by win

The Brazilian press on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the nation's footballers following their narrow 1-0 win over Croatia in their opening World Cup clash the previous evening.

"A meagre victory - they didn't produce the fireworks the world was expecting," was how O Globo saw the win.

"Ronaldo put in a poor showing - Ronaldinho, the best player in the world, didn't shine either," O Globo added.

For the Folha de Sao Paulo daily the match was "one of Ronaldo's worst performances."

If Ronaldo was the focus of much of the criticism - he was substituted by Robinho - the press were not shy of venting their spleen on the squad in general.

"There was no magic. The squad put together by Parreira felt the weight of an out of form Ronaldo and the lack inspiration of (strike partner) Adriano'" Correio Braziliense wrote.

France say pitch favoured defenders

The Netherland said it first now France have joined the chorus in demanding pitches be watered nearer the game as dry grass slows the ball for passes and dribbling playing into the hands of defenders.

FIFA rules say pitches can't be watered in the five hours prior to a game.

"To water the grass six hours before a match in this weather isn't that useful," said France coach Raymond Domenech after the 0-0 draw with the Swiss.

Thierry Henry agreed with his boss.

"You must have seen that there was definitely something making life difficult for us dribblers.

"It's not easy when you have players like Zizou (Zinedine Zidane) or Frank (Ribery). Sometimes the ball was sticking at their feet. And the ball wasn't taking off when you kicked it.

German fans clash with police

German fans clashed with police in the streets of Dortmund on Wednesday ahead of the host nation's World Cup match against Poland.

A crowd of around 120 youths threw bottles and cafe chairs at police who had earlier tried to escort them out of the city centre.

Police said earlier they had arrested 56 suspected Polish hooligans in the city.

Spokesman Wolfgang Wieland said some of the men were detained because they were carrying potentially dangerous objects, while others were believed to be "potentially or certainly violent".

At least seven of the men were found to be in possession of boxers' gumshields.

Nakamura commits to Hoops

Japan playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura has ended speculation over his future by agreeing a one-year extension to his contract with Scottish champions Celtic.

Under the new deal, the 27-year-old midfielder, currently on duty in Germany, will stay at Parkhead until the summer of 2009.

The contract extension is Nakamura's reward for the central role he played in helping Celtic win a league and League Cup double in his first season at Parkhead.

"It will be common knowledge that there have been offers for me to play elsewhere and these are always very flattering, but I am delighted to be playing at Celtic, one of the world's biggest football clubs," Nakamura said.

"I am also pleased to agree a one-year contract extension with the club. It was fantastic being part of a winning team which lifted two trophies in my first season with the club and I hope to enjoy more success from next season onwards.

Police confident for England match

German police said they were confident that Thursday's World Cup match between England and Trinidad and Tobago in this former Nazi stronghold would pass off without trouble.

Nuremberg police chief Gerhard Hauptmannl said: "The attitude of the England fans in Frankfurt has confirmed my opinion that we can approach the match in a relaxed frame of mind."

Shawn Banks, 43, from the northern English town of Barnsley, who was relaxing with friends at one of the special fans' areas, said: "We have parked our camping van in the city because all the camping sites are full, but people here have been very kind and relaxed.

"The beer's good and we've been having a really great time here. Perhaps we'll come back one day with our wives."

Sex workers go into extra time

Sex workers in Berlin have gone into extra time at the World Cup and are doing double shifts to cash in, according to reports.

"Berlin's hookers are groaning - all brothels are creaking at the seams," mass daily Bild reported.

"In some establishments the girls already have to put in double shifts owing to the World Cup," the paper added, saying clients were virtually queuing up to get in to the host nation's 'Freudenhauser' (literally, joy houses).

Tne taxi driver was quoted as saying he had taken a fare from four would-be customers of some of the capital's estimated 8,000 prostitutes.

"But they were turned away. The places are too full."

According to 'Joy', a 21-year-old woman doing the morning shift with seven colleagues, "the guys come for a massage as they want to relax before the game."

"We are earning as much much in one day as we normally would in a week.

"But after the World Cup I'll need a holiday."

Trinidad have no fear of England

Minnows Trinidad and Tobago play their biggest ever match against England on Thursday, but have no fear of their star-studded opponents.

The West Indians are on a high after holding Sweden to a 0-0 draw in their opening game and while respect is there for England's array of talented players, they will not be overawed, said coach Leo Beenhakker.

"The ideal result for us of course is winning the game. You can't bring a team and prepare them for a draw. That is not the way professional coaches and players go into a game," said the former Dutch national coach.

"No-one has to explain to us that on paper there is a big difference in the talent, but we have seen that there are no guarantees for the bigger teams to win games.

"For many of their players it is the match of their lives so we expect a very aggressive and hungry team full of confidence after Sweden," he said.

Tunisia, Saudi fans gather in Munich

Thousands of exuberant fans were pouring into Munich's state-of-the-art stadium ahead of the all-Arab World Cup Group H clash between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

Tunisia supporters wearing red fez hats and blowing whistles, and a smaller group clad in Saudi green, were filling up the 64,700-seat stadium ahead of the 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) kick-off.

Tunisia were favourites to claim regional bragging rights, although they have not won a World Cup match since 1978.

Their opponents, reportedly on a 160,000-dollar bonus each if they make the second round, are determined to reassert Saudi pride after opening their last World Cup with an 8-0 thrashing by Germany.

The purpose-built arena, which cost 340 million euros, is three tiers high and encircled by an enormous white cover which was keeping out most of the intense afternoon sun.

Brazilian media disappinted by win

The Brazilian press on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the nation's footballers following their narrow 1-0 win over Croatia in their opening World Cup clash the previous evening.

"A meagre victory - they didn't produce the fireworks the world was expecting," was how O Globo saw the win.

"Ronaldo put in a poor showing - Ronaldinho, the best player in the world, didn't shine either," O Globo added.

For the Folha de Sao Paulo daily the match was "one of Ronaldo's worst performances."

If Ronaldo was the focus of much of the criticism - he was substituted by Robinho - the press were not shy of venting their spleen on the squad in general.

"There was no magic. The squad put together by Parreira felt the weight of an out of form Ronaldo and the lack inspiration of (strike partner) Adriano'" Correio Braziliense wrote.

Off-beat Aussies rehydrate

Australia have been using strange but effective methods to overcome the draining effects of their rousing 3-1 win over Japan.

"They've had ice baths and have been wearing tights to get rid of lactic acid and the recovery of the players from dehydration has been great," assistant coach Graham Arnold said.

Head coach Guus Hiddink has given his players Wednesday off to help freshen them physically and mentally for the second Group F game against the Brazilians in Munich next Sunday.

Croatia defeat sparks violence in Mostar

A man was shot and six policemen injured and 26 arrests were made in clashes between Croatia fans and Muslims in ethnically divided Bosnian town Mostar in the wake of Croatia's defeat by Brazil, police said.

The violence flared after a number of Bosnian Croats went on the rampage in downtown Mostar, damaging cars and smashing windows. A group of Muslims then began taunting them over the defeat, which led to the clash.

Although Bosnia's 1992-1995 war ended more than a decade ago, Mostar has remained ethnically divided between its Muslim and Croat communities who fought each other for 11 months during the conflict.

Aussie police bust Cup betting ring

Australian police said they smashed an Asia-based illegal World Cup betting operation Wednesday after arresting eight people in raids in Sydney.

Police said six Hong Kong men and two Malaysian women were arrested in a swoop on three rooms in a city hotel early Wednesday.

The officers also seized computers, networking equipment, calculators, mobile phones, documents and cash in the raids.

"Police will allege all were part of an organised betting operation eminating from Asia and that they flew into Australia three days ago," police said in a statement.

All eight were under the age of 26 and were charged with unlicensed bookmaking.

Saudis in a froth over award

Saudi Arabian footballers will not be allowed to accept World Cup man-of-the-match awards because the prize is sponsored by a leading beer company, officials said on Wednesday.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation made the announcement ahead of the desert kingdom's opening game, an all-Arab clash with Tunisia.

"The main reason is because the sponsoring company specialises in alcohol, and the award itself is a cup of beer," said Abdullah al-Dabel of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

"We won't accept this award for religious reasons. No Muslim player should accept it."

The Islamic nation enforces a strict ban on drinking, producing or importing alcohol with transgressors facing weeks or months in prison or even lashes.

Glory days returning for "awesome Korea"

South Koreans revelled Wednesday in the 2-1 win over Togo, seizing on a growing conviction that the glory days of 2002 are about to be repeated.

"Awesome Korea," crowed Sports Seoul, predicting that the country's next opponents, 1998 World Cup winners France, would be "crushed."

"Spirit of 2002 alive and well," ran the banner headline of the JoongAng Daily in reference to their semi-final run.

Some 1.5 million South Koreans took to the streets to watch the Togo game on big screen TVs set up in cities across the country.

Media sell out for Brazil

Interest in covering Brazil's matches, starting with Tuesday's encounter against Croatia here, has reached breaking point as more than 1,000 reporters vyed for the 506 seats available to them in the Olympic Stadium.

"There are 600 people on the waiting list," according to stadium head of media services Hans-Georg Felder.

With the main Berlin media centre just five minutes away from the venue those who haven't got a ticket are hoping for some no shows.

Seven suspected hooligans arrested

German police on Wednesday said they have arrested seven suspected Polish football hooligans in Dortmund where Poland was meeting Germany in a World Cup match in the evening.

The men were arrested after they were stopped and searched in downtown Dortmund and found to be carrying the kind of dental guards worn by boxers.

It gave the impression that they could be bracing for clashes with German fans, a spokesman said.

The police are expecting about 30,000 Polish fans to show up for the much-awaited Group A match between the host nation and the Poles, whose hopes of reaching the second round will be crushed if they lose here.

They said 11 Polish police officers who are experts on dealing with hooligans would be on the streets of Dortmund, but that for the time being the atmosphere in the western city was "totally peaceful".