Football

A goalless draw against Portugal has given Ivory Coast the confidence it needs to tackle top ranked Brazil.

Korea Republic will need to succeed where far more illustrious teams have failed this past year.

Spain open their World Cup campaign against Switzerland today.

Now that the pressure and tension of the opening day draw is out of the way, the hosts are gaining confidence.

Both the players failed to recover from ankle and thigh injuries respectively.

The win is Japan's first at the WC on foreign soil, and puts them at the top of Group E along with the Netherlands.

Veron landed a corner close to the penalty area from where unmarked defender Gabriel Heinze powered a diving header.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said Saturday it was too risky for the winger to play at Soccer City on Monday.

Uruguay are a defensively sound unit, while France have typically been involved in tight matches.

The France centre back said he would refuse to speak to the press during the World Cup.

He was singled out by fans after Argentina failed to get past the group phase in Japan in 2002.

The Arsenal player was due to meet reporters at the French press center in Knysna on Tuesday but chose not to come.

Cruyff says England's play is too similar to Italy's as they are "only interested in the result".

Honduras team doctor Raul Perez said Palacios was taken to an Austrian hospital for tests.

Robben, who came on as a second-half substitute, scored two goals before leaving the game in the 85th minute.

The England goalkeeper was restricted to the gym with knee problems the previous day.