Great day for Germany, but
excitement lacking
SEOGWIPO, South Korea – German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who was
celebrating his 33rd birthday, had only one complaint about his
country's 1-0 victory over Paraguay on Saturday. The 25,176 spectators
weren't very rowdy.
"That wasn't a World Cup match atmosphere, and that can make you relax a
little bit. At times I thought it was a friendly in a German village,"
Kahn said.
Extra rest probably will
assist Mexicans
JEONJU, South Korea – Mexico's players get an additional 24 hours of
rest compared with the United States players before the teams meet
Monday.
South Korean coach Guus Hiddink, the man of the hour in that country for
guiding one of the host nations into the second round, coached the Dutch
team in 1998. The Netherlands fell in the semifinals to Brazil, which
had an extra day of rest.
Hiddink said at the time that the extra rest may have been the
difference in a closely contested game that was decided in penalty kicks.
– Steve Davis
Japanese headline a
tragic mistake
TOKYO – Japan's largest news agency falsely reported some heartbreaking
news for area soccer fans: "Tragedy in Osaka ... Japan's dreams
shattered with triumph in sight."
Kyodo News accidentally sent the headline, prepared in advance in case
Japan lost its last Group H match, to an Internet news site just before
the co-host beat Tunisia, 2-0, Friday to advance to the round of 16.
The report immediately appeared on the Japanese language SportsNifty Web
site – and stayed there for three hours.
The report was removed when a Kyodo staffer noticed the mistake. No fans
called to complain.
FIFA would consider
event co-hosts again
YOKOHAMA, Japan – FIFA is pleased with the two-nation setup for the
World Cup and hints it could be repeated in 2010.
Splitting the tournament between Japan and South Korea was seen as a
risk, creating extra logistical difficulties for what already is one of
the largest sporting events in the world. But FIFA president Sepp
Blatter said in 2010, when he hopes the tournament will be played in
Africa, it will be considered again.
Illegal gambling rings
smashed
Hong Kong and Singapore police smashed nine illegal soccer bookmaking
syndicates, arresting 11 people Saturday in a joint operation as part of
a crackdown on World Cup gambling.
Hong Kong's Organized Crime and Triad Bureau arrested two men and seized
betting slips worth $89,000 after breaking up two bookmaking syndicates.
Singapore police smashed seven illegal betting centers and arrested nine
men. Police seized betting slipping totaling $55,919.
Paraguay players not too
disappointed
SEOGWIPO, South Korea – Despite their 1-0 loss to Germany, most Paraguay
players felt good about their performance. "We went down like heroes,"
goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert said. "The Germans didn't outplay us."
