A late spring sun is setting behind the hills, a cooling breeze picking up. Men sweaty from a 90-minute workout huddle in a circle and holler: "Wir sind ein Team! Wir sind ein Team!"
The Brazilian soccer player, characterized by prominent buck teeth, is surely not a pinup idol as the Englishman David Beckham, but it is not surprising to see millions of teenage girls have his posters in their bedrooms.
The 31-year-old midfielder - known as much for his glamorous lifestyle, fashion sense and tattoos as for his bending free kicks - has been eclipsed as his country's key player.
An anti-soccer demonstration on July 9 could pose security problems in the German capital on the day of the World Cup final, according to a police union leader.
Playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata will again look to provide the World Cup inspiration for Japan when Zico's men open their campaign in Germany.
Some 3,500 known English soccer hooligans will be stopped from going to the World Cup, Sports Minister Richard Caborn said Thursday.
Brazil's priority before the World Cup is to learn how to play when the opposition has got the ball, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said on Thursday.
Germany captain Michael Ballack will be forced to rest for a few days after suffering a minor ankle sprain in a practice match on Thursday.
The quadrennial, month-long carnival that is the FIFA World Cup? finals is not just about the football, just as football itself is so much more than just '22 hirelings kicking a leather ball', as was once famously suggested.
Most soccer fans in Britain believe crowds influence referees' decisions during matches, according to a survey released on Thursday.
Australia beat Greece 1-0 Thursday on Josip Skoko's goal in the 16th minute in an exhibition game before a record soccer crowd of 95,103 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The German World Cup organization committee will fine streakers at World Cup Football matches 10,000 euros, in an effort to stamp out such behavior, Chongqing Evening News reports.
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