Spain's World Cup reign ended by 2-0 loss to Chile

June 18, 2014: Chile's Eduardo Vargas, right, scores the opening goal during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and Chile at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

RIO DE JANEIRO –  Defending champion Spain, the dominant global football power for the past six years, was eliminated from World Cup contention Wednesday with a 2-0 loss to Chile.

Spain's famed passing game failed against a high-tempo, tenacious Chile team, its era ending in the storied Maracana Stadium filled mostly with Chilean supporters.

Eduardo Vargas tricked goalkeeper Iker Casillas into diving the wrong way, then shot into an unguarded goal in the 20th minute. Charles Aranguiz scored in the 43rd when the ball landed at his feet after Casillas punched out a free kick.

Spain's second loss, after a 5-1 rout by the Netherlands, ended any hope of advancing. Chile and the Netherlands will both advance, regardless of who wins the game between them.

Spain won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, in addition to the 2010 World Cup.

Spain came to Brazil with a very similar -- but older -- team than the one that won those titles. They added Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, but he failed to score a goal.

Their "tiki-taka" style of play -- keeping the ball for long stretches with short passes, and only shooting when you had a clear opening -- had not been working as well in recent years. Brazil defeated Spain 3-0 in last summer's Confederations Cup, a warm-up for the World Cup.

Spain became the third straight European defending World Cup champion to flop in the group stage. France in 2002 and Italy four years ago also failed to advance, or even win a match.

Badly needing a win, del Bosque stayed loyal to captain Casillas despite the veteran goalkeeper's errors against the Dutch.

Two pillars of Spain's title runs, Barcelona pair Xavi Hernandez and Gerard Pique with a combined 194 appearances, were left out.

Xabi Alonso probably should have joined them. His agonizing first half typified Spain's problems and his errors led to both goals.

And Alonso's selection left a younger version of his former self, Atletico Madrid's Koke, on the bench until the logical change was made at half time.

Alonso gave away the ball to Alexis Sanchez to start a move down Chile's right wing by Arturo Vidal and Aranguiz, leading to Vargas' score. Alonso trailed behind the play and put his hands to his head.

Alonso was booked in the 40th before conceding another foul, on Sanchez, three minutes later 22 yards (meters) out.

When Casillas punched away Sanchez's curling free-kick, Aranguiz trapped the ball then flicked a rising shot spinning away from the goalkeeper's reach.

Alonso had Spain's best early chance, a 15th-minute shot smothered by Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Often wayward in its passing, Spain missed two clear chances early in the second half.

Costa was slow on Andres Iniesta's threaded pass in the 49th, and Sergio Busquets was guilty of a glaring miss, volleying wide from five meters in the 53rd.

After Bravo pushed away shots by substitute Santi Cazorla and Iniesta, Chile's win was sealed.

FIFA World Cup 2014 Match Preview: Belgium v/s Algeria

Much is expected from Belgium's impressive roster at this World Cup and everyone will get to witness a first sample when the Red Devils take on underdogs Algeria in a Group H encounter. Belgium and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku has been declared fully fit for his side’s World Cup opener against Algeria in Belo Horizonte on Monday. The Chelsea forward, who spent last season on loan at Everton, injured his ankle in the Belgians’ 1-0 friendly win against Tunisia last week but resumed full training on Wednesday and told the media on Sunday he was looking forward to participating in his nation’s first World Cup since 2002. Lukaku is set to start for Belgium after Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke was ruled out of the tournament with a serious injury in April.

AFP

The 21-year-old is in fine form after scoring against Sweden earlier this month and then netting a hat-trick in Belgium’s 5-1 win over Luxembourg, although that match is not now recognised by Fifa as coach Marc Wilmots made seven substitutions instead of the permitted six. Wilmots, now 45, is the last Belgian player to have scored in a World Cup after netting against Russia in 2002. Belgium later lost out to Brazil in the second round, with Wilmots (appearing in his fourth World Cup) seeing a strike controversially disallowed in that match against the eventual winners. Back in Brazil as coach, Wilmots is sweating on the fitness of Kevin De Bruyne and Divock Origi, although both are expected to shake off ankle problems in time for the game against Algeria at the Estadio Mineirao.

AFP

North African side Algeria are participating in their fourth World Cup and will be aiming to make it out of the group stage for the very first time. The side, coached by Vahid Halilhodzic, overcame Burkina Faso on away goals to qualify for this competition and warmed up for the showpiece in Brazil by beating Armenia 3-1 and Romania 2-1 recently. Midfielder Hassan Yebda is doubtful for the Group H clash with an ankle injury.

Fact File:

Belgium have won one of their last nine World Cup games (3-2 v Russia on 14th June 2002), drawing five and losing three. They have kept one clean sheet in these nine games: v Netherlands in 1998 (0-0).

Belgium are unbeaten in their last two World Cup group stages, in 1998 and 2002 (Won-1 Drew-5).

Algeria have failed to score in their last five World Cup games, attempting 71 unsuccessful shots since their last goal on 3rd June 1986 against Northern Ireland (1-1, Djamel Zidane with the goal).

Belgium are unbeaten in two previous internationals against Algeria, winning one and drawing one (both friendlies). 

AFP

Thibaut Courtois saved 87.1% of shots faced in the European qualifiers, the best ratio among goalkeepers who featured more than five times.

Eight of Belgium's ;last 14 games at the World Cup have come from set-pieces ( 5 from corners, 2 from direct free-kicks, 1 from an indirect free kick).

Only Spain (3) conceded fewer goals than Belgium (4) in the 2014 European World Cup qualifiers.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in two previous World Cup games against sides from Africa, winning one and drawing one.

Fifa World Cup Brazil 2014: Crazy fan watch, Day 5

June 16, Day 5

A group of Ghana fans get in a festive mood at halftime gathered with US fans to follow the action off a big screen from the pier at Hermosa Beach, California on June 16, 2014, as the United States defeated Ghana 2-1 in their first round World Cup match in Brazil. (AFP)

Iranian and American soccer fans pose for the picture holding their national flags during a live broadcast of the World Cup match between Iran and Nigeria, inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. (AP)

Soccer fans celebrate Germany's victory at the end of a live broadcast of the World Cup match between Portugal and Germany, inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. Germany routed Portugal 4-0 in their group G opener on Monday. (AP)

Fans watch the 2014 Brazil World Cup Group G soccer match between Ghana and the U.S. at a viewing party in Hermosa Beach, California June 16, 2014. (REUTERS)

Michelle Lopez, 14, (R) and her brother Erick Lopez, 12, watch the 2014 Brazil World Cup Group G soccer match between Ghana and the U.S. at a viewing party in Hermosa Beach, California June 16, 2014. (REUTERS)

Fans watch the 2014 Brazil World Cup Group G soccer match between Ghana and the U.S. at a viewing party in Hermosa Beach, California June 16, 2014. (REUTERS)

Fans cheer during the 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match between Ghana and the U.S. at a viewing party in Hermosa Beach, California June 16, 2014. (REUTERS)

U.S.A fans wait at half time for the 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match between Ghana and the U.S. at the Dunas arena in Natal June 16, 2014. (REUTERS)

Fans of the U.S. wait for the 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match between Ghana and the U.S. at the Dunas arena in Natal June 16, 2014. (REUTERS)

Soccer fans, many supporting Germany, raise their arms and cheer at the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach, after Thomas Mueller scored Germany's fourth goal against Portugal on Monday, June 16, 2014  in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during Germany's World Cup soccer match with Portugal.(AP)

 

June 15, Day 4

Ecuador soccer fans arrive at the national stadium to watch their team play Switzerland in a 2014 World Cup match, in Brasilia June 15, 2014.  (REUTERS)

Fans of Switzerland cheer during the 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match against Ecuador at the Brasilia national stadium in Brasilia, June 15, 2014. (REUTERS)

France fans pose before the 2014 World Cup Group E soccer match between France and Honduras at the Beira Rio stadium in Porto Alegre June 15, 2014. (REUTERS)

Fans take photos as Argentina's national soccer players arrive ahead of their 2014 World Cup Group F soccer match against Bosnia at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro June 15, 2014. (REUTERS)

Fans wait for the 2014 World Cup Group F soccer match between Argentina and Bosnia at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, June 15, 2014. (REUTERS)

Bosnian fans celebrate a goal against Argentina during the 2014 World Cup soccer match against Argentina, at the main square in Sarajevo June 16, 2014. Argentina won 2-1 in their opening Group F match on Sunday at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. (REUTERS)

The bus carrying the Brazilian team is surrounded by fans outside the Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis Brazil, Sunday, June 15, 2014. Brazil plays in group A of the 2014 soccer World Cup. (AP)

Soccer fans smile as they wait for the start of  the group E World Cup soccer match between Switzerland and Ecuador at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, June 15, 2014. (AP)

Bosnian fans cheer during a Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia-Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2014. (AFP)

Fans wait for the start of a Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2014. (AFP)

Argentina's fans cheer before the Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia-Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2014. (AFP)

Argentina's fans kiss a fake trophy before for the Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia-Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2014. (AFP)

Argentina's fans cheer before the Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia-Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2014. (AFP)

Argentine fans cheer for their team before the start of a Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio De Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 15, 2014. (AFP)

French fans cheer before the group E World Cup soccer match between France and Honduras at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Sunday, June 15, 2014.  (AP)

June 14, Day 3

Costa Rica fans cheer as they watch the 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match between Costa Rica and Uruguay at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 14, 2014. (REUTERS)

Italy fans celebrate after Italy won their Group D football match against England at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 14, 2014. (AFP)

A man driving a Beetle painted with the colors of the Brazilian flag drives by Argentine fans gathering at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday June 14, 2014. (AP)

Italian fans cheer before the group D World Cup soccer match between England and Italy at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, Saturday, June 14, 2014. (Antonio Calanni)

  

Fans wait before the 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match between England and Italy at the Amazonia arena in Manaus June 14, 2014. (REUTERS)

Uruguayan soccer fans watch an open air broadcast of the 2014 World Cup Group D soccer match between Costa Rica and Uruguay in Montevideo June 14, 2014. (REUTERS)

Italian national football team fans arrive to the Arena Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14, 2014, for the FIFA World Cup 2014 match against England. (AFP)

Japanese football fans pose prior to a Group C football match between Ivory Coast and Japan at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 14, 2014. (AFP)

Japanese fans cover protect themselves from the rain prior to the start of a Group C football match between Ivory Coast and Japan at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 14, 2014. (AFP)

Japanese football fans pose prior to a Group C football match between Ivory Coast and Japan at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 14, 2014. (AFP)

Japan fans cheer prior to the start of a Group C football match between Ivory Coast and Japan at the Pernambuco Arena in Recife during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 14, 2014. (AFP)

Soccer fans pose in front of a giant screen during the World Cup football match Italy vs England in central Rome's Piazza Venezia on June 14, 2014. (AFP)

World Cup 2014 : Mueller hat-trick leads Germany to 4-0 win over Ronaldo's Portugal

Thomas Mueller scored a hat trick as Germany turned on its style and power to rout 10-man Portugal 4-0 in their World Cup Group G opener on Monday.

Mueller, who scored five goals in the 2010 World Cup, was ruthless against a weak Portugal team that was clearly outplayed despite the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

"To score three goals in the World Cup opener against such an opponent is great," Mueller said.

With Chancellor Angela Merkel supporting in the stands, the German team celebrated its 100th World Cup match with a rousing victory that was virtually assured by halftime.

Mueller celebrates after scoring his third goal. (Reuters Photo)

"After 20 minutes, we looked up at the clock and thought it was going to be a long day," Mueller said. "But we got into the match very well and when you lead by 2-0 in this heat and then even get the third, it was all over."

Germany always aims to have an impressive start and it certainly did this time. Four years ago, it started with a 4-0 win over Australia and reached the semifinals.

What must be worrying for Germany's opponents is the apparent ease with which Joachim Loew's lineup disposed of the fourth-ranked team in the world. Germany next faces Ghana on June 21 and the United States on June 26.

Germany coach Joachim Loew said his team implemented his game plan very well, winning the ball in midfield and then quickly attacking. Mueller scored either side of Mats Hummels' headed goal as Germany took a 3-0 lead at the break, and added his third goal in the 81st.

Portugal's Pepe , left, puts his head on Germany's Thomas Mueller(AP photo)

Ronaldo started at Arena Fonte Nova after overcoming a knee injury. He faded after threatening early in the match, including a shot from a break that Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer could only block, but there was nobody from Portugal to pounce on the rebound.

"We lost the game already in the first half," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said. "We couldn't come back in the second. Germany played very well, we couldn't do anything."

Portugal was already 2-0 down before Pepe was red carded in the 37th minute for apparently head-butting Mueller when the German player was sitting on the ground. Pepe had stuck his hand into Mueller's face and the German went down.

"I got hit but after that I am not really sure what happened," Mueller said.

Germany's Mats Hummels (5) and teammate Benedikt Hoewedes (4) celebrate Hummels' goal(AP photo)

It was Mueller who opened the scoring in the 12th minute after Mario Goetze had been pulled down by Joao Pereira in the box, coolly slotting the penalty kick into the right corner of Rui Patricio's goal.

"I've been in some big matches before, so it's not like I was afraid," Mueller said.

Hummels had risen above Pepe to double Germany's lead with a well-timed header from a corner in the 32nd, and Mueller extended the buffer just before the break when he stripped the ball from Bruno Alves and drilled in a low shot.

The Bayern Munich forward completed the rout late in the second half, poking in from close range after Patricio had fumbled a low cross from substitute Andre Schuerrle. He said the margin should have been bigger.

"We should have used some of our chances better," Mueller said, adding that it was hard to play in midday heat and humidity.

Portugal's chances were limited. Ronaldo fired a powerful free kick late in the match but Neuer punched it away.

Portugal also lost big striker Hugo Almeida to an injury. He was replaced by Eder in the 28th.

Fabio Coentrao injured a groin muscle and was helped off the field in 65th, to be replaced by Andre Almeida.

Hummels then limped off the field with a right-knee injury, giving substitute defender Shkodran Mustafi his second cap.

Germany could have scored more goals after the break but Mario Goetze and Mesut Ozil wasted good chances.

FIFA World Cup: Rio Officer Shoots Live Round During Protests

Rio de Janeiro:

A motorcycle policeman can be seen on an Associated Press video firing what appeared to be a live pistol round at anti-World Cup protesters Sunday near Rio de Janeiro's Maracana soccer stadium.

During the small but violent and chaotic protest that played out about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) from the stadium, another man in plainclothes who identified himself as a police officer also pulled a pistol and fired two shots into the air.

Pedro Dantas, a spokesman for the Rio de Janeiro security secretariat that oversees all security forces, said in a phone interview that if authorities verify the accuracy of the video, "we'll immediately open an investigation into the incident."

A Brazilian during a separate protest against the FIFA World Cup.

© AFP

In a later emailed statement, the secretariat said riot police were hit by Molotov cocktails thrown by protesters. The statement didn't indicate if any officers were hurt.

The action took place around the beginning of the soccer game between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina — the first World Cup match played in Maracana stadium since 1950.

"We're seeing tonight the same police brutality we've seen during the past year, and that's why we have to keep protesting," said Karen Rodrigues, a 23-year-old student at the demonstration that drew around 200 people.

Another protest occurred in the capital, Brasilia, but drew only a handful of participants, and a small protest also was held in Porto Alegre.

Mass protests broke out across Brazil during last year's Confederations Cup soccer tournament, the warm-up to FIFA's premier event. At that time, more than 1 million Brazilians took to the streets on a single day in the largest demonstrations this South American nation had seen in a generation.

But those mass protests died down after about two weeks. Since then, hundreds of smaller, violent protests have been seen across the country, though primarily in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

The demonstrations have turned violent largely because of the almost constant presence of masked adherents to the "Black Bloc" tactic of protest. Black Bloc is a violent form of protest and vandalism that emerged in the 1980s in West Germany and helped shut down the 1999 World Trade Summit in Seattle.

The masked, young Brazilians are following the main anti-capitalist tenets of earlier versions, routinely smashing the windows of banks and multinational businesses, as happened Sunday night near Maracana.

The protest turned violent as demonstrators left the plaza where they gathered and marched toward the stadium on a main avenue. When they reached a security perimeter about a kilometer (half mile) from the stadium, riot police unleashed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

The protesters sprinted into a maze of smaller streets as World Cup fans drinking in small bars looked on. As the protesters regrouped and ran down roads, they frightened families with small children pressed themselves against buildings or took refuge in restaurants or taverns.

Before the violence broke out, the protesters marched through streets and chanted "FIFA, go back to Switzerland," referring to international soccer's governing organization. The protesters are angry over the lavish public spending on stadiums for the World Cup while conditions in Brazil's schools and hospitals remain woeful.

F1 legend Michael Schumacher 'out of coma'

F1 champion Michael Schumacher has left hospital in Grenoble and is no longer in a coma, his family says.

The 45-year-old has been transferred to Lausanne's university hospital in Switzerland, officials there say.

Schumacher was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering a severe head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps on 29 December.

His family thanked people who had sent messages of support, saying: "We are sure it helped him."

They also praised the "excellent job" of medical staff at the hospital in Grenoble, in south-east France.

Doctors had kept the seven-time champion in a coma to help reduce swelling in his brain.

Michael Schumacher had been treated at Grenoble's University Hospital Centre in the French Alps

"Michael has left the CHU Grenoble to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not in a coma anymore," Schumacher's manager, Sabine Kehm, said in a statement on behalf of his family on Monday.

"For the future we ask for understanding that his further rehabilitation will take place away from the public eye," she said, without giving further details.

Relatives have previously warned that "it was clear from the start that this will be a long and hard fight for Michael".

The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the university hospital in Lausanne is one of Switzerland's most renowned hospitals, with all the expertise a patient would need.

But it is not clear what Schumacher's condition is and his process of recovery is still expected to be a long one, our correspondent adds.

Monday's statement was the first substantial update since early April when Ms Kehm said the German racing driver was showing "moments of consciousness and awakening."

Medically induced coma

• Can be induced by powerful anaesthetics and is broadly similar to the sedation and artificial ventilation used during surgery
• Used to shut down many brain functions, lowering blood flow and pressure
• Taking a patient out of an induced coma is a delicate process, especially after a prolonged period of sedation

Meanwhile, the German football team sent their wishes to the F1 legend from the World Cup in Brazil at the weekend.

Lukas Podolski, the Arsenal striker, told a news conference: "I'd like to greet a good friend, who unfortunately is unable to be here. He is Michael Schumacher.

"He is just as crazy about football as all of us. We wish his family a lot of strength. If we win the title, that would be something that would make him happy."

The BBC's James Allen says the reaction from the F1 world has been enormously positive on one level, but the lack of specific details about his condition has left a question mark for many people.

Michael Schumacher

• Born: 3 January 1969
• First GP win: Belgium 1992
• Last GP win: China 2006
• Races started: 303
• Wins: 91 (155 podium finishes)
• Championships: 7 (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Investigators probing last December's accident said Schumacher had been going at the speed of "a very good skier" at the time of his crash in the resort of Meribel.

He had been skiing off-piste when he fell and hit a rock, investigators said.

Schumacher retired from racing in 2012 after a 19-year career.

He won two titles with Benetton, in 1994 and 1995, before switching to Ferrari in 1996 and going on to win five straight titles from 2000.