Mexicans still can't get over losing to the United States in the World Cup.
Many insist the 2-0 second-round defeat was a fluke, even though the
Americans no longer are dominated on the soccer field by their southern
neighbors.
"We lost to an inferior team. That is what is more disappointing for
us," Alejandro Burillo, president of Mexico's National Team Commission,
told the newspaper Reforma.
Hugo Sanchez, Mexico's greatest player and now a club coach, echoed
those sentiments in a column for the sports daily Record. "... I
know and I am convinced that we are better than they are," Sanchez wrote.
Injured midfielder OK with missing U.S. party
CHICAGO – Chris Armas, who played a key role in getting the United States
to the World Cup, said it has been "bittersweet" watching the team advance
as he nurses a knee injury at home.
"It hasn't been too tough, really," said Armas, a defensive midfielder
who was injured in a May 12 warm-up match.
"One of the first things I said to my wife when we were home is, 'I'm
not totally crushed, I'm just so upset because I know the team is going
to do something special.' " I had a feeling," Armas said.
Japanese politician upset over empty seats
TOKYO – The governor of the region where Japan lost its second-round World
Cup game denounced the tournament's ticketing agency Wednesday over
hundreds of empty seats.
Roughly 700 seats were empty Tuesday when Japan lost 1-0 to Turkey in
the northern state of Miyagi and was eliminated from competition.
"It is very regrettable as the host site that there were so many
unoccupied seats in a match that was watched by people all over Japan,"
Miyagi governor Shiro Asano said.
Asano said he would demand an explanation from Britain-based Byrom Inc.,
which is in charge of World Cup ticketing for FIFA.
FIFA defends referees, says they're only human
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Facing criticism of the officiating in the World Cup,
particularly from the Italians, FIFA defended its referees Wednesday. It
also acknowledged the refs make mistakes, too.
"It's been said on many occasions that referees are subject to making
errors, just as players, coaches and journalists are," FIFA spokesman
Keith Cooper said. "That is always going to happen. Every effort is
being made to reduce them to a minimum, and the general opinion is that
those inaccuracies have been kept to the minimum."
The Italian team complained it was stymied by repeated calls against
them throughout the tournament – and particularly in Tuesday's 2-1
overtime loss to South Korea.
Among the headlines that greeted the Italian team upon its return home:
"Thieves – the killer referee hounds the Azzurri out of the World Cup."
