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  FIFA World Cup: Bernard replaces Neymar for Brazil vs Germany

  July 09, 2014 1:01 IST

  BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil : With Neymar out injured, Bernard will start as a third forward for Brazil on Tuesday in the World Cup semifinal against Germany.   Neymar will miss the rest of the World Cup

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  FIFA World Cup: Fans start gathering for Brazil-Germany semifinal

  July 09, 2014 0:06 IST

  BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil : At a local bar long before noon, a German supporter danced along with Brazilians playing samba.Tension will mount, no doubt, before the 5 p.m. kickoff (4 p.m. EDT/2000 GMT) in Tuesday's

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  FIFA World Cup: Zuniga escapes punishment over Neymar tackle

  July 08, 2014 13:45 IST

  Belo Horizonte (Brazil): Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga has escaped punishment for a tackle that forced Neymar out of the World Cup with a fractured vertebra.In a statement Monday, the world football governing body FIFA

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  FIFA World Cup: Loew warns about Brazil fouls ahead of semifinal

  July 08, 2014 13:11 IST

  Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Germany coach Joachim Loew is worried about Brazil's "brutal" tackling in recent games, and appealed to the referee of their World Cup semifinal to be on the lookout for such tactics.   Germany

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  ON THIS DAY: West Germany beats France in 1982

  July 08, 2014 13:03 IST

  On July 8 in World Cup history: In classic semifinal that sees first penalty shootout, West Germany beats France in Seville, Spain, in 1982. Late penalty helps West Germany grind out victory against Argentina to

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  FIFA World Cup: Fans expect Brazil to overcome loss of Neymar

  July 08, 2014 12:57 IST

  Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Brazil did it once without Pele, and just about everyone in the country is waiting and hoping to do it again without Neymar.   The Brazilians advanced to the semifinals of the World

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  FIFA World Cup: Brazil will be playing for nation, Neymar

  July 08, 2014 12:32 IST

  Belo Horizonte, Brazil: Neymar helped Brazil get this far at the World Cup. Now it's up to the rest of the team to win for its injured star, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said Monday.   Neymar

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  FIFA World Cup: History hangs heavy as Dutch, Argentina clash

  July 08, 2014 12:14 IST

  Sao Paulo: Fuelled by decades of hurt, Lionel Messi's Argentina and Arjen Robben's Holland will carry competing motivations into tomorrow's tantalising World Cup semi-final showdown at Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena.Argentina, who last reached the final

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  FIFA World Cup: Neymar denies attempt to play in World Cup final

  July 07, 2014 19:37 IST

  Belo Horizente, Brazil: Neymar and the Brazilian football confederation have denied media reports that the striker could undergo special treatment on his fractured vertebra to try to play in the World Cup final if Brazil

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  FIFA World Cup: Brazil wants punishment for Zuniga, cancelation of Silva's booking

  July 08, 2014 9:19 IST

  Rio de Janeiro: The Brazilian FA (CBF) has asked FIFA's Disciplinary Committee to investigate and punish Colombia's Camilo Zuniga after his collision with Neymar caused the ace forward a serious back injury.CBF demanded that FIFA

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  FIFA World Cup: Neymar felt numb below the waist after collision

  July 07, 2014 16:46 IST

  Rio de Janeiro: Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said his side were in "scare" after the violent collision between Neymar and Colombia's Camilo Zuniga in the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarter-final tie that sidelined Neymar

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  FIFA World Cup: All change as physical Brazil tackle German guile

  July 07, 2014 15:07 IST

  Belo Horizonte (Brazil): As Brazil and Germany prepare to do battle in their World Cup semi-final here tomorrow, old stereotypes of both countries' football philosophies are being rewritten.Amazingly for two World Cup powerhouses with 24

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  FIFA World Cup: Colombia return to heroes' welcome

  July 07, 2014 13:12 IST

  Bogota: Colombia returned to a heroes' welcome as thousands of fans packed the streets of Bogota.Los Cafeteros were beaten 2-1 by Brazil during Friday night's quarter-final but their progression to the last eight represented a

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  FIFA World Cup: Bastian Schweinsteiger fit for late World Cup stage

  July 07, 2014 12:56 IST

  PORTO SEGURO, Brazil :  Bastian Schweinsteiger's fragile left knee has been a matter of concern for weeks and the reason the Germany midfielder started the World Cup on the bench. Now he's fit again just

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  FIFA World Cup: Shootout tactic was fair play says Dutch goalie

  July 07, 2014 12:20 IST

  RIO DE JANEIRO :  Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul insists he did nothing wrong in confronting Costa Rica's penalty takers during a World Cup quarterfinal shootout. Krul's crucial two saves on Sunday night followed his novel

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  FIFA World Cup: Angel Di Maria ruled out of World Cup semifinals

  July 07, 2014 11:51 IST

  BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil :  Argentina midfielder Angel Di Maria has been ruled out of the World Cup semifinal against the Netherlands with a thigh injury while striker Sergio Aguero has been declared fit to play

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  FIFA World Cup: Germany wary of Brazil desire to win for Neymar

  July 07, 2014 11:43 IST

  Belo Horizonte (Brazil): Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger said the absence of Neymar will provide Brazil with extra motivation in their World Cup semifinal here Tuesday.The Bayern Munich midfielder told reporters that Brazil would be determined to

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  FIFA World Cup: Argentina have poor record against Netherlands

  July 07, 2014 11:26 IST

  Buenos Aires, July 7 (IANS) Argentina has a history of adverse results against the Netherlands, which it will face at the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup.Argentina defeated the Netherlands only in the final of

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  FIFA World Cup: Germany has no Messi or Neymar but strong team says Podolski

  July 07, 2014 10:56 IST

  Rio de Janeiro:  Germany's strength lies in the team's spirit and team-mates' performance that exceeds the individual distinctive merits of players like Lionel Messi or Neymar to Argentina and Brazil, says German midfielder Lukas Podolski."Germany

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  FIFA World Cup: Mexican Rodriguez to referee Brazil-Germany semi-final

  July 07, 2014 10:23 IST

  Brasilia:  World soccer governing body FIFA announced that Mexican Marco Rodriguez will referee the World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany, which kicks off in Belo Horizonte Tuesday.Rodriguez, 40, earlier officiated the group-stage matches here

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  FIFA World Cup: Brazil asks FIFA to overturn Thiago Silva ban

  July 07, 2014 10:06 IST

  RIO DE JANEIRO :  FIFA says the Brazilian football confederation is trying to overturn captain Thiago Silva's ban for the World Cup semifinal against Germany.FIFA spokesman Delia Fischer says its disciplinary committee is "analyzing materials"

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  FIFA World Cup: Doctors veto Neymar wanting to play in final

  July 07, 2014 17:34 IST

  Belo Horizonte (Brazil): Neymar has reportedly told family and friends that he wants to play in the World Cup final, should Brazil defeat Germany in Tuesday's semifinal.But Selecao medical staff is set to veto the

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  FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi on way to surpass Maradona on cap

  July 07, 2014 8:00 IST

  Buenos Aires:  Lionel Messi is on the way to surpass Diego Armando Maradona's mark of number of games played with the Argentine national team when he face the Netherlands Wednesday.The Barcelona's forward capped 91 times

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  FIFA World Cup: Brazil seeking 'something different' against Germany

  July 07, 2014 6:46 IST

  Belo Horizonte (Brazil): There is no escaping the impact of Neymar's tournament-ending back injury on Brazil's hopes of lifting a sixth World Cup title, but they seek to do "something different" in their Word Cup

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  FIFA World Cup: France needs to build on World Cup success

  July 06, 2014 8:55 IST

  RIO DE JANEIRO :  With no competitive games for two years, France coach Didier Deschamps may struggle to gauge just how much progress has been made by his young team after its run to the

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  FIFA World Cup: Marcelo stays in camp despite grandfather's death

  July 06, 2014 8:36 IST

  BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil :  The Brazilian football confederation says left back Marcelo's grandfather has died, but that the player will remain with the Brazil team at its World Cup training camp.   The confederation said Pedro

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  FIFA World Cup: Not even Keylor Navas can rescue Costa Rica this time

  July 06, 2014 8:20 IST

  SALVADOR, Brazil:  Not even Keylor Navas could rescue Costa Rica this time. The goalkeeper who made so many wonderful saves in this World Cup was outclassed in the penalty shootout that decided the quarterfinal against

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  FIFA World Cup: Robin Van Persie's misses nearly cost Dutch

  July 06, 2014 7:42 IST

  SALVADOR, Brazil :  On the same ground where Robin van Persie's spectacular diving header earned him the nickname the Flying Dutchman, the Netherlands striker nearly fell flat against Costa Rica.   Van Persie missed two golden