RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ― As England endures its worst World Cup for more than 50 years, Wayne Rooney wants his teammates to remember the pain of this campaign.England is already out of contention after losses to Italy and Uruguay, its run lasting less than a week. Not since 1958 had England failed to make it to the second round of a World Cup it qualified for.This is considered a debacle in a country where expectations, as the game’s inventor and host of the richest league, seemingly surpass its fo

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

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

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

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

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

Opponent in pursuit of its first World Cup win since 1982

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

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

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

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