Argentine ref to officiate opening match
June 6, 2006Horacio Elizondo will be the referee when host Germany plays Costa Rica in the opening match of the 2006 World Cup. The Argentine was picked to officiate Friday's match in Munich by the FIFA Referees Committee. The other 15 referees to work during the first set of games in the first round were also selected, FIFA said Saturday. Elizondo, a FIFA referee since 1994, officiated his first international match in 1996 but is at the World Cup finals for the first time.
Switzerland beats China in final WC warmup
June 6, 2006Switzerland got a good send off to the World Cup on Saturday with a 4-1 warmup win over China. Strikers Alexander Frei and Marco Streller each scored two goals to boost Switzerland after two straight draws against Ivory Coast and Italy. Frei opened the scoring after 40 minutes, tapping in Raphael Wicky's pass from close range. Streller doubled the lead just after halftime. China goalkeeper Liu Leilei attempted to punch the ball, which bounced off the charging Streller and into the goal.
Poland edges Croatia behind Smolarek
June 6, 2006Euzebiusz Smolarek scored in the second half Saturday to guide Poland to a 1-0 win in its last warmup game against fellow World Cup qualifier Croatia. The win came six days before Poland plays its first tournament game against Ecuador in a first-round group also including host Germany and Costa Rica. However, Croatia dominated first-half possession and created its best chances on free kicks.
Working together for common good
June 6, 2006A few years ago if UEFA and the European Union were caught working in unison it might have been a sign of the coming apocalypse. But now, as Bobby McMahon explains, a number of problematic issues confronting the world's most popular sport are forcing the two entities to come together for the good of the game.
Troublemakers hand over passports
June 6, 2006More than 3,000 people designated as soccer hooligans had until 1700 GMT Tuesday to hand their passports over to British police to prevent them from traveling to the World Cup, the Home Office said.
Ukraine coach: Reach semis, get sex
June 6, 2006If Ukraine's players want any, um, quality time with their wives and girlfriends during the World Cup, they better play awfully well.
Looking at the World Cup from A to Z
June 6, 2006The world's biggest sporting event is less than two weeks away. In anticipation, Bobby McMahon brings you a special World Cup A-Z, from the largest crowd to ever watch a finals match to the oldest player to ever wear his national team's jersey at the Cup.
FIFA to adopt stricter doping policy
June 6, 2006Bowing to pressure to enact stricter doping penalties, FIFA will adopt minimum two-year suspensions yet still allow national soccer associations to reduce bans for special circumstances.
Koller scores twice for Czechs in win
June 6, 2006Jan Koller scored two goals and set up another Saturday to lead the Czech Republic over Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in their final warmup match before the World Cup. Koller, the Czech Republic's all-time leading scorer, scored his 41st and 42nd goals for his country, both in the first half. In the sixth minute, he headed in Karel Poborsky's cross from close range.
World Cup relief for war-torn Iraq (AFP)
June 6, 2006World Cup fever may be sweeping the world, but many war-weary Iraqis fear they will miss out on the spectacle.