MANGARATIBA, Brazil (AP) ― Call it tik-Italia.Italy has taken Spain’s famed “tiki-taka” system and revamped it to deal with Brazil’s heat and humidity.The Azzurri mesmerized England by completing an astounding 93.2 percent of their passes during a 2-1 win on Saturday according to data company Opta Sports ― the highest accuracy recorded in a World Cup match since the statistic began to be recorded in 1966. The previous record belonged to Denmark at 92.7 percent from a 6-1 win over Uruguay in 1986

PINEHURST, North Carolina (AP) ― Tiger Woods is making progress in his recovery from back surgery and starting to extend his swing, his agent said Tuesday.Woods already has missed two majors this year while he recovers from a microdiscectomy on his back on March 31. He last played on March 9 at Doral, when he closed with a 78 despite the pain in his lower back. Woods has said he has no idea when he will be healthy enough to return to competition.A report on Golf Channel’s morning show said he wa

Groans and sighs of relief were mixed among South Korean fans on Wednesday as their national team played to a 1-1 draw against Russia in their first World Cup Group H match, a better-than-expected result.Despite the early commute hours, nearly 50,000 South Korean fans gathered in front of giant outdoor TV screens set up in the central Gwanghwamun Square and southern Yeongdong Boulevard areas, two major street cheering spots in Seoul.The street cheering squads erupted with joy and yells when Sout

Video of a staircase most people use to get to and from Rio’s famed Maracana stadium shows the structure built atop scaffolding wobbling under the weight of fans who attended the World Cup game between Argentina and Bosnia over the weekend.Fans of various nationalities said Tuesday that they were scared it might come crashing down. Fans take photographs as they gather outside Maracana stadium where the first 2014 World Cup match for Argentina's national soccer team will take place in Rio de Jane

After just one match each, Robin van Persie and Lionel Messi have already equaled their goal tallies from their previous two World Cups combined. Robin van PersieTwo of football’s biggest stars are finally shining where it matters most.While it has taken van Persie and Messi three tournaments to find their feet, other strikers seem to thrive on the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the World Cup from day one.Thomas Mueller, joint tournament top scorer with five in South Africa four years ago, grabbe

Head coaches for both South Korea and Russia said they were happy with the hard-fought 1-1 draw in their Group H match at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Tuesday. Hong Myung-bo (Yonhap)Lee Keun-ho put South Korea up 1-0 in the 68th before Aleksandr Kerzhakov pulled Russia even six minutes later.Though his players blew a precious lead, South Korean coach Hong Myung-bo said they played "a smart game, tactically and physically." "We played a solid game and got a point, and there's no reason

He was called a hero and a savior by his Mexican teammates. His Brazilian opponents said he produced miracles.There is no doubt that Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa was the one responsible for spoiling Brazil's hopes of another World Cup victory at its home tournament.  Brazil's Paulinho (8) watches as Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa punches the ball clear of the goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil, Tuesday, Ju

CUIABA, Brazil -- South Korea and Russia played to a cautious 1-1 draw in their World Cup opener Tuesday in Brazil.Hours after Brazil and Mexico of Group A finished their game scoreless, South Korea’s Lee Keun-ho, a second-half substitute, and Russia’s Aleksandr Kerzhakov scored six minutes apart in the second half. Both sides took a conservative approach in the first half, avoiding long balls and risky passes. But late into the second half, Korea increased its scoring attempts and Lee broke the

Hours before South Korea and Russia’s World Cup opener, fellow Group H contender Belgium overcame Algeria 2-1 in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.Algeria opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Sofiane Feghouli converted a penalty kick down the center after Belgian Jan Vertonghen received a yellow card for tugging at the midfielder during an attempt on goal.Algeria played defensively in the second half, giving the Belgians little chance to find an opening.    Belgium's Dries Mertens celebrates after sco

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) -- Portugal denied midfielder Raul Meireles gave a World Cup referee the finger in his side's stormy 4-0 defeat to Germany, insisting that he was merely gesturing a tactical switch. Portugal's Raul Meireles looks at the ball during the group G World Cup soccer match between Germany and Portugal at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. (AP-Yonhap)Pictures on social media show Meireles, who sports a distinctive Mohawk hairstyle, raising the third fin