FIFA opened an investigation after Argentine referee Nestor Pitana missed the incident which happened as Suarez tussled with Gonzalo Jara as they lined up for a corner during Chile’s 2-0 win in Santiago.

“The matter in question does not require the intervention of the FIFA disciplinary committee and therefore the disciplinary procedure in question is declared closed,” FIFA said.

Uruguayan Football Association president Sebastian Bauza, who has claimed Liverpool striker Suarez is persecuted – especially in England – said the forward needed to realise that he was being scrutinised.

“It’s very good news for Luis, the national team and for the whole group,” he said.

“We understand that from now on, Luis should realise that he will be watched from all sides and we hope that this experience, when added to others, will be useful, so that he becomes the player will all want him to be.”

The AUF had argued in his defence that Suarez reacted to provocation by Jara, who grabbed his genitals. It also submitted video evidence of incidents missed by referees in other games and which were not followed up by FIFA.

Suarez will, however, miss Uruguay’s next World Cup qualifier away to Venezuela on June 11 because of accumulated yellow cards after he was booked in a separate incident against Chile.

Uruguay, semi-finalists in South Africa three years ago, are in danger of missing the 2014 tournament in Brazil after taking only two points from their last six qualifiers and dropping to sixth in the South American group.

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World Cup – Suarez escapes punishment for punch

A test event scheduled for May 15 at the giant stadium, venue for the Confederations Cup in June and the 2014 World Cup finals, was cancelled by the Rio government on Tuesday.

When the venue was officially reopened at the end of April, four months behind schedule, it functioned at only 30 percent of its capabilities, only two entrances were used and it still resembled a building site on the outside.

The high-profile June 2 match against England, when the stadium will be open to its new full capacity of 78,000 spectators, will therefore be the only test before it hosts three matches during the June 15-30 Confederations Cup.

The Rio government issued a statement saying that instead of the May 15 event, there would be a series of simulations of the facilities “to optimise the necessary tests, focusing on the technical aspect”.

The Maracana, FIFA’s main concern during delays in the building or modernisation of most of the World Cup stadiums, has had a complete overhaul costing 290 million.

Workers are racing against the clock to meet the latest deadline of May 27 for the stadium to be delivered to world football governing body.

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World Cup – England visit turns into crucial Maracana test for Brazil

Brazil are the current favorites to win the World Cup in 2014. However, given their development over the last 13 years at international level and Bayern Munich’s and Borussia Dortmund’s success in the Champions League this year, Germany are best placed as the front-runner for a World Cup victory.

Brazil 2014 is only one year away, with the hosts as the only confirmed participants. When the dust has finally settled on the qualification campaign, Germany will enter the month-long tournament as one of the teams to beat.

Their rank as potential winners is well-deserved. Over the last decade-and-a-half, German football has been completely revolutionized.

Germany were knocked out of Euro 2000at the group stage after losing twice to Portugal and England, who beat their old enemy for the first time since 1966, and drawing with a poor Romanian side. That they failed to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament for the firsttime since 1984 caused a huge introspection into German football as a whole.

One year later,England destroyed Germany 5-1 in Munichin World Cup qualification, and all of a sudden, everyone realized that the game was in mortal danger. Football and how it was coached and taught, at all levels, needed to be changed.

As a result of a mass debate, theDeutscher Fussball-Bund (the German Football Association) determined, in conjunction with the Bundesliga, that domestic football coaching had to be overhauled dramatically.

Die Mannschaft did manage to finish second at the 2002 World Cup with the last generation prior to the coming change in philosophy. This triumph would have swayed a lesser footballingfederation than the DFB, but they knew that real victories could be achieved in a better way.

By the time they were knocked out of Euro 2004 at the group stage, the change in culture was well and truly under way.

Today, we can see the benefits of that complete change of direction and philosophy.FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, two of Europe’s most entertaining teams, are ready to lock horns at Wembley on May 25 in the Champions League final.

When the two teams take to the famous Wembley turf, no less than 12 German players are expected to play. That total would have hit 14 if it weren’t for injuries to Bayern stalwarts ToniKroosand Holger Badstuber.

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Why Germany Are World Cup 2014 Favorites Following Champions League Success

By Charles Sale

PUBLISHED: 19:11 EST, 2 May 2013 | UPDATED: 03:49 EST, 3 May 2013

The staging of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England will remain dependant on the goodwill of the Premier League and Football League right up until two months before the September start of the tournament.

England Rugby 2015 announced their full venue and fixture list on Thursday, seven weeks later than originally scheduled by the International Rugby Board, because of the fraught negotiations around the use of the Olympic Stadium and Old Trafford’s late withdrawal.

The World Cup have heads of agreement staging terms in place for the use of three Premier League grounds at Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa and four Football League venues.

Goodwill: Debbie Jevans (centre) was at the unveiling of the Rugby World Cup fixtures on Thursday

But both football bodies are adamant that no binding guarantees will be signed until after their 2015-16 fixture schedules are published in June 2015 and TV companies have completed their match choices the following month.

England Rugby 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans mentioned the ‘great support’ she has received from Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and Football League chairman Greg Clarke.

But the agreements remain just promises to do everything they can ‘within their gift’ to accommodate rugby – with the football venues reminded their sport takes priority.

The complexity of staging the tournament at the start of a busy football season is shown by Jevans also talking to UEFA over possible Champions League and Europa League clashes.

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Rugby World Cup wait for Football League and Premier League on fixture list – Charles Sale

The millions captivated by this season’s Six Nations decider between Wales and England will learn tomorrow where an even more significant encounter between the two great rivals the World Cup pool match in the autumn of 2015 is to be staged.

Unless there is a collective outbreak of insanity among the grandees of the Rugby Football Union, the game will be played at Twickenham, the biggest dedicated union stadium in the country and, more importantly, the home of the tournament hosts.

Commercial imperatives dictate that the one major venue on the “foreign” side of the Severn Bridge, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, will have more than its fair share of World Cup business: failure to secure the use of Old Trafford reinforces the importance of the 72,500-capacity ground to the organisers, who must sell 2.9 million tickets across 48 matches to have any chance of meeting financial targets.

When the draw was made before Christmas a draw that bracketed England and Wales with Australia in the “pool of death” the chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, generously offered to host the cross-Severn derby at the Millennium. If it seemed an ambitious suggestion at the time, the Welsh demolition of the Grand Slam challengers in Cardiff in March rendered it a non-starter. Indeed, many in Wales believe their team’s meeting with Australia will also be played at an English venue.

Twickenham will inevitably be the tournament’s centre of gravity: England are also expected to face the Wallabies on the old cabbage patch and there have been strong indications that when the knock-out stage is reached, two quarter-finals and both semi-finals will played there, as well as the final.

A handful of games will be awarded to the Olympic Stadium, even though the planned retractable seating may not be in place in time for the tournament.

Other leading venues include Wembley and the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. Only two club rugby grounds Kingsholm in Gloucester and Sandy Park in Exeter are in contention for fixtures.

The vast majority of shortlisted candidates are football grounds, stretching from Newcastle in the North-east to Brighton on the South Coast.

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Twickenham set to land plum World Cup matches

England 2015 RWC chiefs have been assured that construction work on converting the stadium will have reached the necessary point in time for the tournament in two years’ time.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which owns the Olympic Stadium, has not been able to offer guarantees that the retractable seating that covers the running track will be in place. But it is understood by Press Association Sport that, that is not viewed as a major issue for rugby union given Italy play their internationals at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, complete with running track.

The announcement at Twickenham on Thursday will mean a number of Rugby World Cup matches – perhaps even as many as five – will take place at London’s Olympic Stadium before West Ham move in as tenants in 2016, and further building work will take place after the Rugby World Cup to prepare for football.

In order to speed up the work and get an early start to prepare for the World Cup, the LLDC has decided to appoint sub-contractors for steelwork, electrical and mechanical work before the main contractor.

LLDC sources say building work should begin as soon as the athletics event marking the first anniversary of the London Olympics in July is over.

Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium is also set to be named as a venue – Old Trafford was withdrawn by Manchester United from the shortlist due to concerns over the effect the rugby matches would have on the pitch.

The announcement should also confirm that Twickenham and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium will split the quarter-finals, with the London venue hosting both semi-finals and the final.

The long list of 18 venues originally selected by tournament organisers contains 13 football grounds, including Wembley Stadium.

Apart from the Olympic Stadium, the rugby grounds are Millennium Stadium, Cardiff; Kingsholm, Gloucester; Twickenham Stadium, London; Sandy Park, Exeter. The Rugby World Cup will have 48 matches in all – 40 group matches played by four pools each of five countries, four quarter-finals, two semi-finals, a third-place play-off and the final.

Originally posted here:
World Cup – Olympic Stadium set for tournament green light

By Chris Wheeler

PUBLISHED: 16:49 EST, 28 April 2013 | UPDATED: 16:49 EST, 28 April 2013

Joleon Lescott admits he may have to leave Manchester City in the summer to safeguard his World Cup ambitions.

The prospect of John Terry coming out of international retirement would only increase competition in Englands central defence and Lescott says it was a reality check to be left out of Roy Hodgsons squad for the qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro in March. Michael Dawsons injury then earned him a late call-up.

With City unlikely to offer him a new deal as he enters the final 12 months of his contract, Lescott admitted he is concerned how that could affect his chances of making Englands World Cup squad.

Exit: Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott (left) is thinking of leaving the club to get regular first team football

Lescott played alongside Terry in all four of Englands games at Euro 2012, but Citys 2-1 win over West Ham on Saturday was only his 14th Premier League start this season five more than Terry at Chelsea.

Lescott said: It would be tough to have another season like this. Ive only started a few games and that is not great going into a World Cup.

I only got in the last squad by default. It was a reality check. I need to make a decision and it needs to be the right one for my career.

World Cup dream: Lescott wants to play more so he will get an England nod for the World Cup in 2014

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Joleon Lescott may quit Manchester City so he can play in the World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 27 (UPI) — An exhibition soccer match was held in Brazil’s Maracana stadium Saturday to mark the completion of renovations for the 2014 World Cup.

About 30,000 spectators, including President Dilma Rousseff and many members of the construction crew, were in the seats at Maracana to watch the scrimmage between current and past stars of Brazilian soccer.

The Rio de Janeiro stadium will hold 80,000 people for next year’s World international contests.

“The objective of a test match is to check the teams, facilities and infrastructure so that eventual adjustments can be made to ensure everything runs smoothly when Maracana is inaugurated,” the Brazil World Cup organizing committee said in a written statement.

The BBC said the renovations were four months behind schedule, which meant seats were still being installed and pavement was being laid at the site as late as this week.

The stadium will host another test match June 2 when Brazil hosts England in an international friendly.

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Match held in renovated Rio World Cup stadium

By Rex Gowar

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentina’s first World Cup victory in 1978 was a catharsis for fans desperate for a title to go with the belief their team had often been the best on the planet without being able to show it.

It was not what FIFA president Sepp Blatter claimed on Wednesday, “a kind of reconciliation of the public, of the people of Argentina, with the system, the political system, the military system at the time”.

The military dictatorship milked the 1978 World Cup finals at the height of their power for all it was worth, like they tried later with the Falklands invasion four years later when their authority was waning.

For Argentine soccer fans, Cesar Luis Menotti’s team represented a victory for the people despite the military, ending 50 years of watching neighbours Uruguay and Brazil lift trophies, from the 1928 Olympic gold medal to the 1970 World Cup.

The outpouring of passion on the streets of Buenos Aires and around the country might have been a feelgood factor for President Jorge Videla and his cronies but the average citizen did not share his or her joy at the victory with them.

Success let loose the demons buried deep in the Argentine soccer follower’s psyche as tournament after tournament went by with their team underperforming in the final in 1930 or being prevented from going to Brazil because of politics in 1950 or eliminated by Peru in the qualifiers for Mexico 1970.

It was a national necessity as much as throwing off the burden of military rule was five years later, but the players in Menotti’s squad had no idea what really lay beneath the surface in Argentina then.

Osvaldo Ardiles only became aware of the truth when he moved to England later that year to join Tottenham Hotspur, according to La Nacion columnist Ezequiel Fernandez Moores.

DICTATORSHIP PROPAGANDA

Read more here:
Blatter misplaces Argentines' joy at 1978 World Cup win

It was claimed the Manchester United manager put pressure on Rio Ferdinand to pull out of last month’s World Cup qualifiers with San Marino and Montenegro.

But Carrick said Ferguson had never pressurised members of the United squad not to make themselves available for international duty.

“I have never had anything from the manager saying pull yourself out or anything in that manner because it’s not in his nature,” Carrick told talkSPORT.

“We have got players here that travel the world to play international football. Chicharito [Javier Hernandez] goes to Mexico, Antonio [Valencia] goes back to Ecuador and from there he travels to wherever they are playing. If you have got the best players, or the better players, then international football is part of it.

“I don’t see a club v country row. There are obviously two agendas because it’s two different set-ups, but they can come together and work well.”

Carrick is on course to collect his fifth league title in seven seasons since leaving Tottenham for 16million prior to the 2006 World Cup. And it is clear his affection for Ferguson runs deep.

“He [Ferguson] knows how to react and how to get the best out of players – whether it’s a pick me up and pat on the back or a bit of a dressing down and kick up the backside,” he said.

“[The hairdryer] comes out now and again. It’s a little bit less these days but in the past it’s been known. That’s what top management is about and to do it for that long is incredible.”

Current England boss Roy Hodgson appears to be creating space for Carrick in his World Cup plans after he was largely overlooked by previous manager Fabio Capello.

However, with Steven Gerrard, Jack Wilshere, Tom Cleverley and Frank Lampard providing competition for central midfield berths should England reach Brazil, Carrick is taking nothing for granted.

Read more from the original source:
World Cup – Carrick: Fergie never made me withdraw from England

Wind out of their sails: Cyprus

The chance of record holders Cyprus being involved in the 2015 World Cup has taken a setback after they were omitted from the qualifying process.

Cyprus beat Bulgaria 79-10 on March 16 this year to increase their winning run to a record breaking 18 games, stretching back to November 2008.

That would make for an incredible achievement on its own, but consider the fact that the first independent rugby club on the island was only established in 2003, and they played their first international on March 24, 2007 and the enormity of their feats to date become even more apparent.

The ‘Moufflons’, as they are known, have won 22 of their 23 matches, scoring 1014 points and 116 tries along the way and only allowing 157 points against. They do not receive hefty government funding and are reliant on players sacrificing time and their own money in order to play for the side.

Football is the dominant sport there, so recognition has not come easily.

In December 2012, the official 2015 World Cup website specifically highlighted the unbeaten run as an example of how the game is growing and stated:

“If Cyprus can go on and win (FIRA-AER European Nations Cup) Division 2C then a series of play-off rounds will stand between them and the Rpechage – and the chance to compete on the biggest stage of all at England 2015,” it read.

The IRB were of course aware that the story of a textbook ‘underdog’ team like Cyprus ending up in a pool with England, Wales and Australia would capture the imagination of many across the globe.

However just a few months later in April 2013, Cyprus were told they would not be eligible to enter the qualifying stages for the tournament as they haven’t yet secured full membership.

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Cyprus floored by World Cup snub

Nine group winners qualify and four from play-offs featuring the best eight second-placed finishers.

Spain start slowly

Presuming they qualify, Spain’s push for an impossible fourth straight championship will be the dominant story of the World Cup. But the holders, who have won the last two European Championships, did not start their Group I campaign perfectly.

They needed a late Roberto Soldado winner to beat Georgia before letting leads slip in home draws with France and Finland. But Spain always seem to do what they need to and their 1-0 win in the Stade de France on Tuesday night, thanks to Pedro’s winner, has put them back on top of the group with three games left. Only their trip to Helsinki in September should challenge them.

Germany and the Netherlands set the pace

As with the qualification for Euro 2012, the Netherlands and Germany have started the fastest. The Netherlands are trying to return to their classical principles under Louis van Gaal and have won all six games in Group D, leaving them seven points clear of Hungary. Van Gaal is making use of young midfielders Kevin Strootman, Adam Maher and Jordy Clasie.

Joachim Lw’s Germany also have a young side, and 20-year-old Mario Gtze led the line in their 4-1 defeat of Kazakhstan on Tuesday. Germany, unlike the Netherlands, have dropped two points so far but lead Group C by six and should certainly qualify in September.

Rise of former Yugoslav countries

While Croatia and Serbia are fairly regular World Cup competitors, two smaller nations from the former Yugoslavia could play in Brazil. Bosnia have never reached a major tournament but they are two points clear at the top of Group G. Edin Dzeko is a superstar in Sarajevo and he has scored seven goals so far, the most in Europe.

Montenegro is smaller than Bosnia and newer as an independent football nation, but they are certainly effective, as England found out on Tuesday. They are two points clear in Group H but still have to come to Wembley in October. And Croatia are close in Group A.

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World Cup 2014: How the qualifying groups stand around the world

Steven Caulker with guest interviewer Jermain Defoe, Montenegro vs England World Cup Qualifier
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By: england

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Steven Caulker with guest interviewer Jermain Defoe, Montenegro vs England World Cup Qualifier – Video

The former Fulham forward has become a regular part of Juergen Klinsmann’s US national team and is in the squad for Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica in Denver.

A move back to the States a year ago, when he joined Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders has reignited a career which had badly lost its way after he moved to England as one of America’s most highly-rated young talents.

“I went over in 2008 in the MLS off-season in January, so I had to play catch-up,” Johnson told Reuters.

“Fulham were near the bottom of the table, fighting relegation so for an American player to come off his off-season into the biggest league in the world, with the most pressure, it was a big-time transition.

“It took me a long time to adapt. I got my chances but when I got them I wasn’t 100 per cent sharp. I wasn’t confident. You get a few chances over there but if you don’t deliver, the next person comes in and replaces you.”

Fulham loaned Johnson to Cardiff City, Greek team Aris Salonika and Preston North End, but the goals just never came for the Floridian.

“Given more time, if I was in better shape when I came over, it could have been a different experience,” he said. “But when you don’t have confidence, you start second-guessing your own ability.”

Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid believed Johnson was capable of re-finding the form he had shown with Kansas City before his move to Fulham, and gave him a chance, which the forward has made the most of.

Last season he struck 14 goals in 24 starts for the Sounders, quickly becoming a favourite with the fans of MLS’s best supported team who average over 40,000 fans per game.

He may have become a forgotten man in London but in Seattle he is a well-known personality in a city where soccer is truly mainstream and he enjoys the attention.

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World Cup – Johnson hoping second chance leads to Brazil

The Manchester United defender has a chance to revive his international career aged 34 after enjoying an excellent season at club level.

Manager Roy Hodgson hinted strongly that Ferdinand will start, saying he would not have picked the veteran to be a squad player or back-up.

Ferdinand won the last of his 81 caps in June 2011, Hodgson appeared to have ended his England hopes when he preferred John Terry in his Euro 2012 due to “footballing reasons”.

Terry has now retired from international football after being stripped of the captaincy for the second time following an incident in October 2011 involving Ferdinand’s brother Anton. The FA found Terry guilty of racially abusing the QPR player, though a court cleared him.

Tottenham captain Michael Dawson was preferred to Joleon Lescott in defence after the latter lost his place in the Manchester City team.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster returns to the squad after ending his international ‘sabbatical’ while Spurs midfielder Scott Parker is set to feature for the first time since Euro 2012.

England play San Marino in a World Cup qualifier in Serravalle on March 22 before taking on Montenegro in Podgorica four days later.

Hodgson’s side have failed to sparkle in qualifying and trail group leaders Montenegro by two points.

ENGLAND SQUAD

Goalkeepers:Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic).

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World Cup – Rio Ferdinand handed England recall

Rio de Janeiro, March 6 (IANS) Brazil’s national football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari insists that former star Ronaldinho remains in his World Cup plans despite leaving the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year out of a 22-man squad to face Italy and Russia.

Speaking during a press conference here Tuesday, Scolari said Ronaldinho would have another chance to earn a place in Brazil’s squad for June’s Confederations Cup, reports Xinhua.

“Ronaldinho will be called up next time,” the 2002 World Cup-winning coach said. “All potential World Cup squad members will be given at least two matches to be looked at.”

The former Barcelona star’s fellow veteran and Ballon d’Or winner Kaka was recalled after being omitted from the team that lost to England 2-1 at London’s Wembley Stadium last month.

Ronaldinho played in the match but missed an early penalty and was substituted at half-time.

“Kaka’s return goes with our philosophy of giving everybody a chance,” Scolari said.

“Many of the players are fighting for the same position. I will observe all of them and then I will decide who will go to the Confederations Cup.”

Brazil will play Italy in Geneva March 21 before meeting Russia at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge in London four days later.

As expected Paris Saint-Germain stars Lucas and Thiago Silva have been included along with strikers Neymar (Santos) and Hulk (Zenit Saint-Petersburg’s Hulk).

Scolari also called up in-form Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa for the first time.

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Ronaldinho still in my World Cup plans: Scolari

I love world football.

But I don’t live in England, Germany, Spain or the United States; I live in Australia, where world football is not our national sport or constantly displayed on televisions.

I live in a country that is significantly ahead of the rest of the world in time differences, meaning that football games are cast at 2 a.m. or 4 a.m. To watch a regular weekend of the English Premier League, I’d have to stay up from 11:45 p.m. and carry that all the way through until around 6 a.m., when the last of the Saturday matches is complete and English folk can go to bed.

And yet, despite this and the myriad sports I follow and cover throughout the year, I remain absolutely in love with football.

I just can’t get enough of it.

And so the notion of an all-star gamea chance for football to pit the best players it has against one another in a celebration of the sportmakes perfect sense to me.

Not just for the sake of more football to watch, either. It makes sense to showcase the best of the sport for all to see.

The NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB all have all-star games (they have entire weekends, really), and despite reports every year emerging about how supposedly tacky they’ve become and how boring they’ve been, people still flock to the events in record numbers.

Take the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest as an example. Despite people frequently discussing how boring the competition was, the event still posted incredible viewing numbers for the entire duration, and Twitter was abuzz throughout.

There’s just something about an all-star game that people love.

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Why World Football Should Have an All-Star Game

By Clemente Lisi NEW YORK, NY (Feb 25, 2013) US Soccer Players Nearly 63 years later, it remains one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. When the USA defeated England 1-0 at the 1950 World Cup, it sent shockwaves across the soccer world. To this day, it is considered by many to be one of the biggest if not the biggest victories in National Team history.

Twenty years after the United States reached the semifinals of the 1930 World Cup, the National Team found itself in a vulnerable position. Soccer remained the preferred game of immigrants in this country but struggled to find the mainstream acceptance baseball and football enjoyed. On an international level, the United States was a non-factor. After crashing out of the 1934 World Cup in the first round, the United States failed to qualify for the 1938 edition in France.

Following World War II, the USA fielded a team of semi-pros and qualified for the 1950 World Cup finals in Brazil by virtue of 1-1 draw and a 5-2 victory over Cuba. Although the Americans would fail to get out of the opening round, it did produce arguably the biggest win in World Cup history. For the players involved, the game seems to return to prominence every few years. Hall of Fame induction for the squad in 1976, the 2005 movie about the game, and the United States once again meeting England at World Cup level in 2010.

England was considered pretty good (at the time), noted historian Roger Allaway. This was the first World Cup it had entered and it had not yet been dethroned as masters of the sport. Going into this World Cup, it probably was co-favorite along with Brazil. Friendlies between major powers were still a big deal in this era, and two years before England had scored a landmark victory when it beat Italy 4-0 in Turin.

The story is legendary at this point. The squad of part-time players, the USA returning to the World Cup for the first time since a semifinal finish in 1934, and the disinterest of the American public. To call the USA underdogs fails to grasp what was at stake in Brazil.

Placed in Group 2 with England, Spain and Chile, pundits at the time expected an early trip home for the Americans. After losing to Spain 3-1, the USA took on England on June 29 at Estadio Independencia in Belo Horizonte. Before a crowd of 10,000, the Americans and English squared off in what would become one of the most talked about games in history.

The games only goal came in the 37th minute when Joey Gaetjens redirected Walter Bahrs 25-yard shot into Englands goal. The headed ball went past goalkeeper Bert Williams and the Americans took a lead they would never relinquish. Editors around the world questioned the wire reports following the game, figuring the score was a typographical error.

In a 2010 interview with US Soccer Players, Bahr recalled the win, saying, It was no fluke. The English were a very good team. The odds were 500-1 that we would win. We played our hearts out that day. We were better than them that day. There are also stories about how we walked around in straw hats and smoking cigars before the game. That never happened.

Bahr recalled that the Brazilian crowd ran onto the field and lifted Joe (Gaetjens) on their shoulders and paraded him around the field. The crowd had really been behind us for most of the game. The English players were really good sports. They shook our hands and were respectful.

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Remembering the USA in the 1950 World Cup

LONDON, Feb.25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ –The Hertz Corporation (HTZ), the world’s largest general car use brand, has signed with Rugby League World Cup 2013 (RLWC2013) as their Official Vehicle Hire Supplier. Hertz will provide a fleet of cars to carry players and officials between the tournament’s matches and vans for moving equipment such as players’ kit. In addition, a specially branded Hertz van will transport the iconic Rugby League World Cup trophy as it visits clubs, schools and landmarks in all of RLWC2013′s host communities in the months running up to the competition. The RLWC2013 Hertz van has been launched today with the help of international players Lee Briers, Tyrone McCarthy, Richie Myler and Ben Westwood.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130225/NY65526)

Michel Taride, President of Hertz International, said: “We’re hugely excited to be working in partnership with RLWC2013 as Official Vehicle Hire Supplier. Pairing with such a dynamic and well-respected international organization was a natural choice for us. As well as providing a fleet of cars and vans for players and officials, Hertz will be supplying a special trophy vehicle to make sure the all-important cup travels in style too.”

RLWC2013 Commercial Manager, Rob Singleton, added: “We’re really pleased to have Hertz on board as the Official Vehicle Hire Supplier of RLWC2013. With 14 nations playing at 21 venues the vehicles that Hertz will provide us with will effectively keep the tournament running. It’s great news too that the partnership starts right away with the specially-designed Trophy Tour vehicle hitting the road to take the Rugby League World Cup trophy across the UK.”

To celebrate the new partnership, Hertz and RLWC2013 are offering ticket holders a 10% discount off basic car rental for all car groups booked in the UK between now and November 30, 2013 for hire during the fixtures, which run from October 26 to November 30, 2013. The special offer can be obtained simply by visiting www.rlwc2013.com and entering the six digit discount code on display. The 10% discount applies to time and mileage (base rental charges) and all mandatory insurance and waivers that may be included in the base rental charge. Hertz standard terms and conditions apply.

As part of the partnership, visitors to the RLWC2013 website (www.rlwc2013.com) will witness a homepage takeover by Hertz this week. The Hertz brand will also be strongly profiled during the matches with large perimeter boards and match day programme advertisements.

Returning to the UK for the first time since 2000, the competition is hosted by England and Wales, and competing nations include Australia, France, Ireland, Italy, the USA and current champions, New Zealand. The tournament is also widely acknowledged as an addition to Great Britain’s bid for a ‘Golden Decade’ of British sport, alongside events such as the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2013 Champions League Final, and the 2014 Ryder Cup.

The RLWC2013 alliance is the latest addition to Hertz’s international sports portfolio, with existing partnerships including The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, British MotoGP, West Bromwich Albion FC, the New Zealand International Sevens Rugby Tournament, and Melbourne Football Club.

About Hertz

The Hertz Corporation (www.hertz.com) operates its car rental business through the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty brands from approximately 10,400 corporate, licensee and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand. Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,800 corporate and licensee locations in 150 countries. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 111 major airports in Europe. Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 1,580 corporate and franchisee locations in 80 countries.

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Hertz recruited as Official Vehicle Hire Supplier for Rugby League World Cup 2013

A construction worker lays blocks at the Maracana soccer stadium in November.

Felipe Dana/AP

RIO DE JANEIRO — Maracana stadium construction workers downed tools on Monday and threatened to strike, putting more pressure on World Cup organisers who face a race against the clock to get the arena finished on time.

The workers, who are demanding a wage increase, meal vouchers and private health insurance for their families, staged a one-day stoppage and threatened a full-blown strike from next week.

The famous arena, which staged the final matches in the 1950 World Cup, is being refurbished for this year’s Confederations Cup and next year’s World Cup at a cost of 900 million reais ($458 million).

It is due to re-open for a friendly between Brazil and England on June 2 and stage its first competitive match, the Confederations Cup tie between Mexico and Italy, on June 16.

Work has already overshot the original deadline of Dec. 31 and has been progressing almost non-stop, with three daily shifts, as the deadline looms.

“It was a warning for the construction companies,” said Wagner Antunes Siqueira, a director of the Rio de Janeiro heavy industry workers’ union.

“We are going to wait for negotiations on Friday. If there is no (agreement), we will hold an assembly to vote on an indefinite strike.”

Four of the six stadiums to be used for the Confederations Cup, a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, are still not finished. Only Fortaleza’s Castelao and Belo Horizonte’s Mineirao have so far re-opened.

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World Cup workers put down tools, threaten strike