The Korea Herald

[World Cup] Spain looks to avoid having worst ever WC defense

SoccerJun 22, 2014

CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) ― Spain will take on Australia in its final Group B match Monday in the knowledge that defeat will officially make its defense of the World Cup the worst in history.Following two straight defeats for both teams, neither can qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup.But Spain in particular has something to play for, despite having already made history of the wrong kind. It is the first defending champion in modern times to be eliminated after two matches, following a
[World Cup] Clashes keep city on alert

SoccerJun 22, 2014

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) ― Brazilian police detained on Saturday two suspected members of Argentina’s infamous hooligan gangs ― known in Spanish as “Barras Bravas.”The pair were among nearly 20 Argentines detained inside the Mineirao stadium where Argentina beat Iran 1-0. All were turned loose by Brazil’s federal police, but the two tagged as being known hooligans were ordered to leave Brazil within 72 hours, and not return during the World Cup.Meanwhile, policing of a central Belo Horizonte
[World Cup] Algerian coach calls Korea ‘better,’ still thirsts for victory

SoccerJun 22, 2014

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- Algerian coach Vahid Halilhodzic realizes the weaknesses in his young team, and he is not shy about praising his opponents. But his squad still thirsts for to secure its first World Cup win in three decades, he said Saturday, on the eve of the match between Algeria and Korea.Algerian coach Vahid Halilhodzic (left) and Korean coach Hong Myung-bo. (Yonhap)“I said … that the Algerian people needed this victory. But it will not be easy, because the Korean team is basically be
[World Cup] Hong: Algeria will attack

SoccerJun 22, 2014

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- South Korea’s coach Hong Myung-bo doesn’t expect to play the same Algerian team on Sunday that was defeated by Belgium 2-1 last week. This time, they’re going to be faster and ready to attack, he said Saturday in Porto Alegre on the eve of Korea’s second group-stage match of the World Cup.Team Korea (top) and Team Algeria attend soccer practice at Estadio Beira-Rio, the venue for Sunday’s match, on Saturday in local time. (Yonhap)After Algeria scored the opening goal agai
World Cup of big surprises smiles on Americas

SoccerJun 21, 2014

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- The World Cup of surprises is turning into a sweet samba party for teams from the Americas. Having already stunned one former world champion, little Costa Rica shocked another on Friday and sent a third one home. Then the French exploded with five goals against their Swiss neighbors. In the evening game, Ecuador downed Honduras 2-1. The story so far: Two European powers -- Spain and England -- are out of contention after just two games. European teams have played eight tea
[World Cup] England has no case for the defense at World Cup

SoccerJun 21, 2014

No excuses. No one to blame but themselves. Feeble defending has sent England home from the World Cup. England's forward Wayne Rooney lies on the ground after being fouled during the Group D football match between Uruguay and England at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 19, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (AFP-Yonhap) Costa Rica's surprise 1-0 win over Italy on Friday meant that England made its most humiliating exit from a World Cup since 1958, following consecutive defeats by th
[World Cup] France romp, Costa Rica stun Italy

SoccerJun 21, 2014

France thrashed Switzerland 5-2 to surge closer to the World Cup last 16 as Costa Rica booked their place in the knockout rounds with a 1-0 upset of Italy, which confirmed England's exit.Costa Rica's head coach Jorge Luis Pinto, left, celebrates after winning 1-0 against Italy in the group D World Cup soccer match between Italy and Costa Rica at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Goals from Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema and
Lewis takes lead at Women’s Open

GolfJun 20, 2014

PINEHURST, North Carolina (AP) ― Stacy Lewis had at least one thing in common with U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer. She made it around Pinehurst No. 2 without a bogey Thursday in the opening round of the U.S. Women’s Open, and that put her in the lead.That was about the only worthy comparison after one day of golf’s unique doubleheader.Lewis managed to keep the stress at a minimum on a steamy morning in the North Carolina sandhills for a 3-under 67, giving her a one-shot lead over Michelle Wie
[World Cup] Korea faces tough Algerian defense

SoccerJun 20, 2014

Opponent in pursuit of its first World Cup win since 1982
[World Cup] Koreans confident in team

SoccerJun 20, 2014

Nearly seven out of 10 South Koreans expect the national soccer team to reach the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil after a 1-1 draw against Russia, a poll showed Friday.According to the survey conducted by the polling agency Gallup Korea, 68 percent of 671 people nationwide who are 19 or older said South Korea will make it to at least the Round of 16. Of them, 7 percent believe the national team will advance to the quarterfinals and 2 percent the semifinals.The telephone survey was
[World Cup] Suarez pushes England to edge

SoccerJun 20, 2014

SAO PAULO (AP) ― Before the World Cup, Uruguay was worried about Luis Suarez’s knee and Colombia was fretting over injured Radamel Falcao. Considering the wild celebrations Thursday, neither should have.Less than a month after surgery, the incomparable Suarez came back Thursday to score two vital World Cup goals, and Colombia is through to the second round despite missing its star striker. Both South American teams won 2-1 Thursday, Uruguay pushing England to the brink of elimination, and Colomb
[World Cup] Kompany often deals with injuries

SoccerJun 20, 2014

MOGI DAS CRUZES, Brazil (AP) ― There is little not to like about Belgium defender Vincent Kompany at the World Cup. He has vision, poise and leadership ― all the qualities teams look for in a captain. Well, there is one downside ― he is injury prone.So when all players bar one came cycling down to the training pitch on Thursday, there was a sudden worry Belgium’s World Cup campaign might not look so perfect after all, despite the opening 2-1 win over Algeria. Kompany stayed up at the team hotel
[World Cup] S. Korea must be wary of 'speedy' Algerian

SoccerJun 20, 2014

South Korea must guard against "speedy" attackers from Algeria when the two countries collide at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a defender for the Asian side said Thursday. Park Joo-ho (Yonhap)Fullback Park Joo-ho said Algeria may have problems on defense but will be sharper on offense."Their attackers have speed and great individual skills," Park said at a press conference before South Korea's practice in its base camp, Foz do Iguacu. "As one of the defenders, I have to be prepared for t
[World Cup] S. Korea seeks first win in Brazil vs. Algeria

SoccerJun 20, 2014

Coming off a spirited 1-1 draw against Russia to open Group H action at the World Cup in Brazil, South Korea will eye its first victory when it takes on Algeria on Sunday. Algeria's Sofiane Feghouli, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the group H World Cup soccer match between Belgium and Algeria at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)The kickoff between the 57th-ranked South Korea and the 22nd-ranked Algeria will be
[World Cup] Scoreless draw keeps Japan and Greece alive

SoccerJun 20, 2014

Reduced to 10 men after captain Costas Katsouranis was sent off in the 38th minute with his second booking, Greece held on for a 0-0 draw with Japan on Thursday that kept both alive in Group C and sent rival Colombia through to the knockout round of the World Cup. Japan's Shinji Kagawa, left, and Greece's Giorgos Karagounis challenge for the ball during the group C World Cup soccer match between Japan and Greece at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Both t