6 JULY 10, 2014 Germany Burries Brazil in Semifinal Nightmare Scolari Apologizes BELO HORIZONTE (Goal) - If whistles. you saw the game on television, no, for Brazil Failure An elderly man cradled a replica you didn’t imagine it. of the World Cup trophy in his BELO HORIZONTE (AP) - Bra- If you didn’t watch it but heard arms, knowing it was gone, know- zil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari apolo- about it, the rumors are true. ing he would have to give it up. gized to fans for failing to lead the Brazil really did concede five Minutes later, he walked over to host to the World Cup final, saying goals in the first half hour of its a surprised German supporter and the ‘’catastrophic’’ defeat to Ger- World Cup semifinal against Ger- gave it to him with a solemn nod. many marked the ‘’worst day’’ of many. It really did get dumped out A woman with yellow- and his professional life. of the tournament 7-1. The dream green-painted fingernails, a Brazil ‘’I have to apologize for the nega- really did end in little more than a jersey, Brazil phone case, Brazil tive result, for not being able to heartbeat because of a devastating scarf and Brazil flag wailed as she reach the final as we all wanted,’’ burst of brilliant attacking and ut- spoke on the telephone at half- Scolari said, speaking calmly after terly inept defending to form the time. the humiliating 7-1 loss. most extraordinary outcome of all. A man stamped his feet and Scolari took full responsibility for The World Cup is magical, the screamed. He picked up his In- the drubbing, and said he knows that sort of thing that everyone should credible Hulk mask, a tribute to it’s very likely that his career may be defined by what happened at the sample at least once in their life- Brazil’s coach Luiz Felipe Scolari talks to his players after the World Brazil winger Hulk, and threw it Mineirao Stadium - even though he time. But not like this. Unless you Cup semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Germany. on the ground. Brazil’s coach Luiz Felipe Scolari are a diehard Germany fan you “My message is for the Brazil- also led Brazil to the 2002 World were lucky not to be here at the through the face paint of the hope- of sight in your home World Cup ian people and to Brazilian fans. Cup title. He said there are ‘’no excuses’’ for Estadio Mineirao as perhaps the ful masses who dreamed no, ex- and being powerless to stop it. Please forgive us for this nega- ‘’Naturally, if I think about my life what happened, not even the ab- proudest soccer nation of all was pected so, so much more. The crowd, which before kickoff tive mistake,” said Brazil coach as a player and as a coach, I think sence of star striker Neymar, who humiliated and had its heart shred- Losing is one thing. Losing at had given the most spine-tingling Luiz Felipe Scolari, who took the this was the worst day of my life,’’ was ruled out of the tournament ded. home is another. Brazil could rendition of a national anthem blame for the embarrassing defeat. Scolari said. ‘’I know I’ll probably because of a fractured vertebra sus- Everywhere you looked there have, just about, handled either of that you could imagine, was first “I am sorry we weren’t able to get be remembered for losing 7-1 to tained late in the match against Co- were tears. They rolled down the those things. But this was another silenced, then outraged. The posi- to the final. This is a catastrophic, Germany, for Brazil’s worst loss. lombia in the quarterfinals. faces of small bespectacled boys level of suffering. This was tor- tive and patriotic songs and chants terrible loss, the worst loss. We But it was a risk I knew I was tak- ‘’They (Germany) probably would and anguished old ladies and ture. This was being smashed out stopped, replaced by jeers and have to deal with that.” ing. I have to take responsibility for have done it with Neymar playing,’’ it. Life must go on for everybody.’’ Scolari said. ‘’I don’t think there’s The coach said he has to find a any reason for us to suppose that World Cup Scalping Scandal Continues way to learn from the ‘’catastrophic with Neymar it would have been loss’’ in front of the home crowd. different.’’ RIO DE JANEIRO (FIFA) - A World Cup ticket scalping case has revived a reputation FIFA tries hard to fight, and threatens to stain a tournament which has been better than critics expected. Football’s international governing body and its president Sepp Blatter have tried to present a new face Netherlands vs Argentina: in recent years after so many allegations of vote-buying and top officials seeming entitled by seeking favors. How They Compare Though many rules and faces have changed at the game’s headquarters, a skeptical view that the old culture remains in the inner circle has been fueled by the arrest this week of a director from a longtime World Cup commercial partner. Released from custody by Rio de Janeiro police early Tuesday, Ray Whelan returned to work within hours at the five-star hotel where Blatter stays and the MATCH group of companies operates during FIFA’s showpiece event. The Copacabana Palace is also where police conducted parts of an undercover operation known as Jules Rimet - named after the former FIFA president who launched the World Cup in 1930. Ray Whelan, a longstanding director Whelan, a brother-in-law of MATCH founders Jaime and Enrique Byrom, is suspected of providing and project manager within the MATCH tickets to a scalping ring dealing corporate hospitality packages at highly inflated prices. Reselling group, arrives at a police station after tickets for profit is illegal in Brazil. being arrested. Sabella: Messi Is Best of Them All *Netherlands’ Arjen Robben, right, and Robin Van Persie are SAO PAULO (AFP) - Normally four years ago, Messi has car- was a victory in itself. seen during a training session, a reserved man who avoids hype, ried Argentina into the semifinals ‘’After 24 years Argentina is Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella in Brazil, scoring four goals - the among the four best teams in the RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - the World Cup, but has grown in- isn’t shy about declaring Lionel same tally Neymar reached before world,’’ Sabella said. ‘’I think this When Argentina plays the Nether- creasingly solid as the tournament Messi to be the best player in the injury ruled him out of the tourna- group of players has already won. lands in the World Cup semifinals on progressed. Switzerland and Bel- world. ment. Robben, who faces Argen- Let’s see if we can win even more.’’ Wednesday, it will be a matchup of gium were both held scoreless in Comparing the Argentina captain tina in the second semifinal on If it does win the semifinal, Ar- arguably the two best attacks in the the knockout stages - the Swiss with Arjen Robben of the Nether- Wednesday, has scored three. gentina won’t have to worry about tournament. through 120 minutes - although lands and Brazil’s Neymar, Sabella Though he’s been named world rival Brazil in the title game. Sabel- No less than five of the world’s neither team features an attack as on Tuesday held up Messi as the player of the year for times for his la was just as stunned as everyone best forwards could be on the field, dangerous as the Netherlands. Pab- undisputed No. 1. accomplishments with Barcelona, else to see Brazil lose 7-1 to Ger- which would normally raise expec- lo Zabaleta anchors the back four ‘’Robben is a great player. He is Messi hasn’t had the same kind many in the first semifinal, a game tations of a flurry of goals and end- while his Manchester City team- very important for Holland. Like of success with Argentina, which Argentina’s players watched the to-end attacking football. mate Martin Demichelis may again Neymar is for Brazil and Messi for hasn’t won a major title since the end of on TV at Itaquerao Stadium, But there’s too much at stake for get the nod after performing well Argentina,’’ Sabella said. ‘’Each of 1993 Copa America. even delaying their training session either team to push forward relent- against Belgium. them is important for their teams This is the first time since 1990 for around 20 minutes. Argentina’s head coach Alejandro lessly, meaning that the game in This is the area where both teams but Messi is the best of them all.’’ that Argentina has reached a World Sabella said the heavy defeat for Sabella touches the head of Argentina’s Sao Paulo is about much more than field world-class players. Dutch After a disappointing World Cup Cup semifinal, which Sabella said Brazil was clearly ‘’not normal.’’ Lionel Messi during a training session. its star strikers. duo Robin van Persie and Arjen Here is a look at how the teams Robben tore defenses apart in the measure up in every area of the group stage, scoring three goals Iran Wheelchair B-Ballers Lose to Britain field: each, but have been kept fairly chair Basketball Championships in 73-69. Netherlands coach Louis van quiet in the knockout rounds. Van South Korea, going down to Great On Saturday, the Iranians fell to Gaal surprised many by adopting Persie was also struggling with a Britain.