? Russia
Russia coach Fabio Capello has received a vote of confidence by Russian officials following his side’s
flop in Brazil. The Russians failed to reach the second round despite having a relatively easy group and returned home without a win. That performance has led to calls for Capello to be sacked, but Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said he did not agree. “Capello’s competence is beyond doubt,” said Mutko, who was president of the Russian Football Union from 2005-2009. “We have never had a coach of such a high level at the helm of our national side. Some hotheads are calling on us to sack Capello and install a young manager, but the post of the national team’s manager is not a testing ground and we should refrain from any unreasonable experiments.” Mutko also said that qualifying Russia for the World Cup finals for the first time in 12 years was a success for Capello in itself.
? Germany
A free kick that provided one of the most comical moments of the World Cup when Germany’s Thomas Muller stumbled before stepping over the ball was a rehearsed trick that went wrong. Germany earned a free kick in the 88th minute of the second-round match against Algeria on Monday and, after a huddle, Bastian Schweinsteiger ran and stepped over the ball. Muller followed but stumbled, then got up and ran over the ball and behind the Algerian wall. Toni Kroos then tried to chip the ball to him, but it was low and easily cleared. Muller told German television, “it almost worked”, and did not rule out trying it again. Kroos told German television the move had worked in training, “but it looks awful when it doesn’t work”.
? Uruguay
Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke has given disgraced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez credit for apologising over the biting incident that saw him expelled from the World Cup. Valcke, though, pointed out in an interview with Brazilian television station SportTV that Suarez’s apology had not gone as far as accepting he had deliberately bitten Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini in a group game on June 24. “It is good he has apologised,” Valcke said. “He does not, however, accept that it was intentional, he says it was an accident.” Valcke said he could not comment on how the apology could affect Suarez’s appeal.
? Netherlands
The Netherlands have come from a goal down to win three of their four World Cup matches, thanks in part to their swift system swaps. Louis van Gaal largely relies on a 5-3-2 formation, with two wing backs expected to push forward in quick counter-attacks, but the team has reverted to the traditional Dutch attacking 4-3-3 if it goes behind. Quarter-final opponents Costa Rica will have to be nimble to keep up with the Dutch when they meet on Saturday. The Dutch will have to adapt after Nigel de Jong suffered a groin injury that has put his World Cup in doubt.
Follow us on twitter at
