Worst defeat in 100 years: Brazil plead for forgiveness

Belo Horizonte - Brazil's World Cup dream was smashed into oblivion Tuesday as majestic Germany ran riot to win an extraordinary semi-final 7-1, sending the hosts crashing to the worst defeat in their 100-year footballing history. Germany scored five goals in 18 astonishing first-half minutes on their way to a 7-1 semi-final mauling of Brazil on Tuesday setting a string of records and leaving the host nation's fans angry and bewildered.

Germany will meet Argentina or the Netherlands in Sunday's final in Rio de Janeiro after an unbelievable performance in which striker Miroslav Klose became the tournament's highest scorer of all time with his 16th World Cup goal.  Fireworks boomed across the city, and fans in the German capital took up the refrain chanted by the German supporters in Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: “What a day! So beautifully wonderful is today!” Their national team had stunned the world, including Germany itself, with a 7-1 trouncing of Brazil to reach its eighth World Cup final.

World Cup 2014: James Rodríguez Leads Colombia Over Uruguay

RIO DE JANEIRO — His name is James, but he pronounces it Hahm-ez, and that was the way the Colombian fans shouted it on Saturday night. They have been singing James Rodríguez’s praises all along, in fact, but in the flurry of goals and teams and story lines in this World Cup, there was a chance a few people had not yet noticed Rodríguez. Everyone knows him now.

Rodríguez scored two more goals — giving him five at this World Cup — in a 2-0 victory over Uruguay that sent Colombia to the quarterfinals for the first time. Things become tougher now, to be sure, with a matchup against host Brazil on Friday in Fortaleza. But with Rodríguez having scored in each of Colombia’s games, and with Brazil struggling past Chile on penalty kicks earlier Saturday, anything seems possible.

“We’re very happy because we’re making history,” Rodríguez said. “We want to do even more.”

World cup ‘bite’ incident: Suárez could be banned for up to 24 matches under Fifa code

            Italy's Giorgio Chiellini shows his shoulder,
claiming he was bitten by Uruguay's
Luis Suarez in their World Cup match

Luis Suárez wrote his name into World Cup infamy by biting the Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini towards the end of a dramatic Uruguay win to risk another lengthy suspension of anything up to 24 matches.

Uruguay looked to be heading for the exit in the 79th minute with the game locked at 0-0 – the South Americans needed victory – when Suárez tussled with Chiellini as they chased a ball inside the Italy penalty area. The Liverpool striker leaned his forehead into Chiellini, in what looked, initially, to be a butt before biting down on his opponent’s shoulder. 

Suárez flung himself to the ground and, moments later, he could be seen holding his teeth.

World Cup: Costa Rica advances with win over Italy, knocks England out

Switzerland 2 (Dzemaili 81′ Xhaka 86') France 5 (Giroud 17' Matuidi 18', Valbuena 40', Benzema 66', Sissoko 72') - FT
France lay down their World Cup credentials with an impressive victory
Switzerland get two stunning late consolation goals from Dzemaili and Xhaka
Italy 0 Costa Rica 1 (Ruiz) FT

Costa Rica continued its startling run through the World Cup Friday defeating heavy favourites Italy 1-0 in Recife. The win assures Costa Rica of a trip to the second round. It also took away any chance England had of advancing. Italy needed to beat both Costa Rica and Uruguay for England to have a chance to advance.

Now Italy will be forced to play for its own life. They take on Uruguay in their final group match. Both have three points but because of a better goal differential Italy only have to tie Uruguay.

The way the Italians played against Costa Rica, that’s hardly a given. While Italy was dreadful, full marks for Costa Rica. They’ve spent days listening to how their 3-1 win over Uruguay was a fluke.

Brazil 2014: Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Nigeria are on the right track

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel believes Nigeria are on the right track to build on their success as African champions at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles have played in five of the past six World Cups but after reaching the second round in 1994 and 1998, have taken just two points from their past six matches in the finals.

They come into the tournament on a high, however, after winning last year’s Africa Cup of Nations and boasting the likes of Mikel, his Chelsea team-mate Victor Moses and forward Emmanuel Emenike.

“This is my first World Cup,” Mikel said after a training session in Campinas. “I want to make sure we achieve something coming here. We don’t just want to come and make up the numbers, we want to do well.

“I have to make sure I lead by example. We are all driving in the same direction. We all know what we want and hopefully we will have a good tournament.”

Latest FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Eagles Move Two Positions Up

Super Eagles of Nigeria were ranked 47th in the last Fifa rankings following their goalless draw with Mexico in last month’s international friendly, while Europe occupies the top three places on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking after Portugal climbed third behind leaders Spain and Germany.

They are followed by four South American sides in Colombia, (4th, up 1), Uruguay (5th, up 1) and fierce rivals Argentina (down 3) and Brazil (up 3), who share sixth position. Just 12 points separate this quartet. Greece return to the top ten for the first time since October 2012, while Scotland moved up 15 places to the 22nd position in the world.