Brazil 2014: 5 Days to go

The 3rd day of strikes by subway workers in Sao Paul has brought chaos to the Brazilian city which is due to host the World Cup openernext week, as Fifa’s vice-president urged authorities to make sure fans could get to the match. Speaking to the media in Sao Paulo, Blatter said the country would stage a successful event.

We at FIFA, we are confident, it will be a celebration. I’m an optimist. After the tournament kicks off I think there will be a better mood.

Plenty of friendlies last night to report on and a number to be played in the next couple of days as we enter the opening week of the World Cup.

The lowest ranked country in the tournament, Australia, showed some promising signs in its 1-0 international defeat to Croatia in Salvador in its final warm-up game ahead of the World Cup. A Nikica Jelavic goal in the second half being the only goal.

Friendly Results:

Colombia 3-0 Jordan
Croatia 1-0 Australia
Japan 4-3 Zambia
Costa Rica 1-1 R. of Ireland
Greece 2-1 Bolivia
Mexico 0-1 Portugal
Russia 2-0 Morocco
Poland 2-1 Lithuania
Germany 6-1 Armenia
Brazil 1-0 Serbia

Russia‘s hopes for a successful World Cup campaign suffered a serious blow with captain Roman Shirokov ruled out because he has failed to recover from a knee ligament injury.

Russia’s coach Fabio Capello said:-

On Monday Shirokov will fly to Finland to undergo knee surgery there. Shirokov is a very important member of Russia’s squad but I hope that the rest of the players will be able to perform at their best level in Brazil anyway.

Rubin Kazan midfielder Pavel Mogilevets will replace Shirokov in Russia‘s squad.

Friendly fixtures

Saturday 7th June
Argentina V Slovenia     19:45
Belgium V Tunisia     19:45
El Salvador V Spain     21:00
England V Honduras    21:45     Live on ITV1 from 9.30pm
USA V Nigeria        23:00

Sunday 8th June 2014
Trinidad and Tobago V Iran     17:00
France V Jamaica     20:00

Tuesday 10th June 2014
Ghana V South Korea     00:00

Former FIFA president Joao Havelange is in a Brazilian hospital with a lung infection. The 98-year-old, who was head of football’s governing body from 1974 to 1998. According to doctors at the Rio de Janeiro medical facility he is in a stable condition.

The Arena da Baixada in Curitiba is still not ready. It will be hosting Iran v Nigeria on 16th June.

Bayern Munich’s Ribery has failed to overcome a back problem and Grenier, a Lyon midfielder, has a thigh injury. Their withdrawals were confirmed by France manager Didier Deschamps, and they will be replaced by Montpellier’s Remy Cabella and Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin for the Group H games against Honduras, Switzerland and Ecuador.

Zambia gave Japan a tough game in Tampa. But he Asian champions earned a 4-3 win in their warm-up friendly last night.

Greece beat Bolivia 2-1 in New Jersey with goals from Panagiotis Kone and Kostas Katsouranis. Rudy Cardozo replied from long range for Bolivia.

The Republic of Ireland managed a 1-1 draw with England‘s Group D opponents in Costa Rica in Philadelphia. Costa Rica’s Giancarlo Gonzalez was sent off a4 minutes before the break after an altercation with Ireland striker Kevin Doyle. Doyle who was left with bloodied face.