World Cup Notes and Other Soccer Capsules: Mandela relative killed after World Cup concert
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Nelson Mandela's 13-year-old great-granddaughter was killed in a car crash on the way home from a concert in Soweto on the eve of the World Cup, his office said Friday.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation said Zenani Mandela died in a one-car accident after attending the World Cup kickoff concert at the Orlando Stadium.
The foundation said later Mandela would not attend Friday's World Cup opening ceremony and game in Johannesburg, dashing South Africans' hopes the frail 91-year-old former president would make a rare appearance. Mandela and his family were "torn up" by the accident, the foundation added. Mandela would be at the ceremony in spirit, a foundation spokesman added.
Johannesburg Metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said the driver of the car, a man, had been arrested and charged with drunken-driving. Mamonyane said the driver, who police would not name, could also face culpable homicide charges.
"The Metro police found that he was drunk," Mamonyane said. "He lost control of the vehicle and it collided with a barricade."
The Mandela foundation has also denied reports that the former president's ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was in the car.
"She was not in the car," foundation spokesman Sello Hatang told the AP.
Hatang asked that the Mandela family be given space to mourn, adding that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was treated for shock at a hospital after being informed of the accident and the death of her great-granddaughter. Hatang said Madikizela-Mandela was admitted "for a few hours" and had now been released.
Thursday's World Cup concert had drawn tens of thousands of people to Soweto, and traffic was congested into the early hours Friday.
Zenani, who celebrated her 13th birthday June 9, was one of the anti-apartheid icon's nine great-grandchildren.
"The family has asked for privacy as they mourn this tragedy," the foundation said in a statement.
Mandela, who turns 92 on July 18, has largely retired from public life although it had been anticipated he would make a brief appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony Friday, depending on his health and the weather conditions.
In a statement Thursday, the Foundation said it had been "inundated with requests for meetings, and it will be impossible for Mr. Mandela to accede to even a small fraction of these." But Mandela met this week with members of the Black Eyed Peas, one of the main acts at Thursday's concert, and Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Carlos Queiroz — the latter a former coach of South Africa.
Cristiano Ronaldo gives Mandela a Portugal jersey
MAGALIESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Carlos Queiroz met with Nelson Mandela ahead of the World Cup and gave him a jersey with the No. 91 on the back.
The Portuguese Football Federation said Ronaldo and Queiroz went to Mandela's home in Johannesburg following "a personal invitation" from the former South African president.
The back of the Portugal jersey had Mandela's name and the No. 91 — his current age.
The statement posted on the federation website Thursday gave no further details.
Queiroz is a former coach of South Africa and guided the national team to the 2002 World Cup.
On Thursday, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said it had been "inundated with requests for meetings, and it will be impossible for Mr. Mandela to accede to even a small fraction of these."
"Mr. Mandela's diary will remain closed for the duration of the World Cup," the foundation said, while adding the former president "remains in good health."
Mandela, who turns 92 on July 18, has largely retired from public life. There has been speculation he would make an appearance at the World Cup opening ceremony Friday, when South Africa plays Mexico. He was not included in a list of dignitaries and important figures who confirmed their attendance, though his former wife, Winnie Mandela, was included.
"He wants to attend and it will depend on his feeling on that day," Rich Mkhondo of the local organizing committee said. "There is an open invitation for him and he will decide tomorrow morning if he attends or not.
"If he doesn't, we understand, and if he does we will be excited."
Portugal squad feeling at home in South AfricaBARRY HATTON,Associated Press Writer
MAGALIESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Despite having traveled thousands of kilometers from home for the World Cup, Portugal's squad is finding southern Africa to be familiar territory.
About 500,000 Portuguese immigrants live in South Africa, and 30,000 fans turned out in Johannesburg on Tuesday to watch the team beat Mozambique 3-0 in its last warmup game. They've also shown up in large numbers for the squad's public appearances.
Coach Carlos Queiroz believes the local support could be a sizable advantage at Africa's first World Cup.
when Portugal opens its schedule at Africa's first World Cup against Ivory Coast on Tuesday at Port Elizabeth.
"It's going to be like playing at home," Queiroz said. "The Portuguese community's support will be massive."
Queiroz was born in what is now Mozambique, leaving the neighboring nation to South Africa when he was 22. He played as a goalkeeper for a local team in the southeast African country, which is one of five former Portuguese colonies on the continent.
Queiroz's 26-year coaching career across four continents includes a two-year spell as South Africa's coach, guiding the team to qualify for the 2002 World Cup but departing before the tournament.
He is still a regular visitor to the continent, saying "all my family has its roots shared between Portugal and Africa."
Looking ahead to the team's opening Group G match on Tuesday at Port Elizabeth, Queiroz says he is aware of Ivory Coast's strength and potential.
"Everyone reckons it could become the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup," he said.
Brazil and North Korea are also in the group.
Eusebio, Portugal's 1960s football great who was nicknamed the Black Panther, was also from Mozambique and dozens of Africans currently play for top Portuguese clubs.
At the World Cup, Portugal central defender Rolando is a naturalized Portuguese who was born in Cape Verde.
Like France's national team, which also features players of African descent, Portugal is benefiting from the legacy of a one-time empire. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to settle in sub-Saharan Africa, in late 15th century, and they were the last to leave, in the mid 1970s.
Evidence of that heritage can be witnessed in Cape Town — venue for Portugal's match against North Korea — where there is a statue of Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias, who was the first to round the Cape of Good Hope in 1488.
In Durban, where Portugal takes on Brazil, there is a bust of Fernando Pessoa, Portugal's best-known 20th-century poet who also wrote in English.
-- Barry Hatton
Italy feeling comfortable at high altitude
IRENE, South Africa (AP) — Two weeks of training in the Italian Alps has benefited World Cup holder Italy as it prepares for matches at high altitude.
Team physician Enrico Castellacci said Thursday that compared with last year's Confederations Cup in South Africa — in which Italy failed to make it past the group phase — players are no longer having trouble catching their breath or sleeping through the night.
Italy spent 15 days preparing for the World Cup in Sestriere — at an altitude of 2,035 meters (6,670 feet) — and sluggish performances in friendlies against Mexico and Switzerland last week prompted fears they'd overdone altitude training.
"You can't say that there's a Sestriere effect," Castellacci said. "We've adapted to the altitude."
Italy's South African training base in Irene — near Pretoria — is at about 1,400 meters (4,600 feet).
"We've noticed that the players are not having as tough a time recuperating after brief sprints and runs," Castellacci said. "And nobody is waking up during the night like last year."
Castellacci also offered an injury update.
Andrea Pirlo's injured left calf is being treated with "aggressive" therapy, with the hope that the Milan midfielder can return for the third group game against Slovakia.
"In the upcoming hours we will perform another MRI to complete the clinical picture," Castellacci said, refusing to set a precise return date.
Another midfielder, Claudio Marchisio, is nearly recovered from a bruise to his calf, while Mauro Camoranesi has recovered from a left knee injury sooner than expected.
-- Andrew Dampf
World Cup volunteer hopes for better future
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) — Wonga Mabizela is a struggling video cameraman — struggling to find a job to help his mother and sister move away from the noisy, crowded "urban township" they live in.
The 23-year-old Mabizela has been without a full-time job since taking classes at a local university, so he's been freelancing, shooting and recording corporate functions, weddings and even funerals to help him and his family pay their bills.
But this week and for the next four, he's one of 1,200 volunteers in Port Elizabeth and one of an estimated 15,000 across South Africa at the World Cup. While the country stands to reap tourism and infrastructure benefits from the tournament, Mabizela hopes it will help him improve his and his family's future.
"Definitely there has been a vast improvement," Mabizela said Wednesday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. "Before the World Cup a lot of investors starting coming in and basically said, 'Here is a place to invest in eager minds, so let's do something.'"
One of those eager minds is Mabizela, whose family is from the Xhosa tribe. He lives in Kwa Magxaki township in a modest three-bedroom brick house with running water, and realizes he is one of the fortunate ones.
About a half mile away, ramshackle huts make up most of the area. It's not as bad as Walmer township near Port Elizabeth's airport, where arriving passengers taxiing to the terminal see the poorest of Port Elizabeth's townships.
Since Mabizela was a toddler, he remembers his mother, Vuyina, working two jobs — in the day a long shift as a librarian, and at night from midnight to 3 a.m. as a radio disc jockey.
His dad, who died in 2003 from a variety of health problems, was also father to his 27-year-old sister, but never married his mother and was instead married to another woman.
"In the rural areas, that was quite common," Mabizela said. "I was fortunate in that until my father passed away, he spent time with us when he could."
His mother retired from her disc jockey job a few years ago and still works as a librarian, so Mabizela is poised to take over his family interest in the broadcasting industry.
He took a sound engineering course in 2005 after graduating from high school, did a film and television production management course at Nelson Mandela Metro University in Port Elizabeth in 2006 and this year is taking a TV production operation course and freelancing.
"There are not many media opportunities here, so I do mostly corporate events, weddings and funerals," he said. "Videotaping funerals are very much part of our culture. People want to see the visitors involved, and any funeral that we do is very big in the villages. All the villagers have to know about the ceremony, and this is one way that more people can see it."
Mabizela is working in the media section at the World Cup, helping escort television cameraman from the media center to the stadium tribunes and filming locations, most of them carrying expensive gear that he hopes to one day be able to afford.
He'll also be asking plenty of questions, trying to gain as much experience and make contacts with people in the industry who he might able to one day ask for a job.
When that happens, he may have to move to Cape Town or Johannesburg, where there are more opportunities available.
But first things first — his family.
"My mother is 52 and a bit overweight, and she's getting on," Mabizela said. "I'd like to help her and my sister and I get out of where we are and somewhere nice, where it's quieter and seems more normal.
"We have a saying we inherited from our grandfather: 'Don't leave the house without leaving something behind. If the house is falling apart, fix your house first and make it look beautiful.' That's what I want to do."
-- Dennis Passa
AP Interview: Pele eyes Spain challenge to Brazil
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Football great Pele has singled out Brazil and Spain as the strongest teams at the World Cup, yet wants to see an African side take on his country in the final.
"At the moment, we have Spain in Europe and Brazil in South America. They are the two best teams — no doubt," he told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday on the eve of the opening match.
"I am very proud to see the World Cup in Africa ... FIFA worked hard for it, and many people like me worked hard for it," he said. "It would be fantastic to see Brazil playing an African team in the final."
Pele said Argentina was likely to improve after an erratic qualifying campaign, while noticing the major football powers remain split between those with efficiency and those with flair.
"There are certain teams like Italy, Germany and England that play a very good game, a strong game. They are defensive and decisive but ... it's difficult to imagine them playing the beautiful game," he said. Pele listed Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Brazil as those with the more entertaining style.
Pele said the sport's increasing globalization has narrowed the gap between teams at the World Cup in South Africa. While that made matches more competitive, it counted against the emergence of an unheralded player, and that coaches are better prepared to negate opponents.
Brazilians Kaka and Robinho along with Argentina's Lionel Messi remain the tournament's most dangerous players, he said, while upsets could come from countries with disciplined tactics like the United States and Paraguay.
Pele, who turns 70 this year, played in four World Cups for Brazil, and helped his country win three. He played most of his club career at Brazil's Santos before retiring at the New York Cosmos.
Pele spoke to the news media Thursday during the launch of a sportswear company that sells clothes and sports equipment under his name.
Company officials said they were hoping to sign several national teams to the new label before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They said products include a ball designed for dirt pitches and a reinforced football sock to help barefoot players on sand and uneven ground.
"We used to play barefoot when we were kids and we'd use anything for a ball, even a coconut," Pele said.
The launch featured African traditional dancers and a five-a-side match with local school children on a dirt pitch created on a construction site behind a shopping mall.
He chatted to the young players and briefly joined the dancers before leaving.
-- Derek Gatopoulos
Bus crash kills 3 Britons in SAfrica ahead of WCup
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Three British students were killed when a bus crashed Thursday near one of South Africa's World Cup host cities, police and British officials said.
Provincial police spokesman Capt. Leonard Hlathi told The Associated Press the vehicle was carrying 22 people — including 18 students and two teachers — when it veered off the road near Barberton, just outside the World Cup host city of Nelspruit in northeast South Africa.
Hlathi said two female students died in the wreckage. A male student died at the hospital.
Four people were in intensive care or were in a "highly dependent" state, while another eight were staying in the hospital overnight in Nelspruit, a British High Commission spokesman told the Press Association later Thursday.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the three young people who have died in this tragic accident," the British High Commissioner to South Africa, Nicola Brewer, said in a statement.
The students and two lecturers who were injured were part of a tour group from Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire, England. The group had reportedly arrived in South Africa on June 1 for a field trip and was due to leave Friday.
Police said a Zimbabwean driver and a South African tour guide were also on the bus when it overturned. The driver had reportedly been treated and released from the hospital.
Hlathi said a tourist safety doctor and a bus safety inspector from the provincial traffic department arrived at the crash and some of the injured were treated at the scene.
Brenda Greaves, whose 20-year-old daughter Rachel was among the injured students, told the BBC that she had spoken to her daughter, who was treated for abdominal pain after the accident.
"She said that they were going round a very nasty bend and the driver just lost control and that the bus just toppled over," Greaves said.
Brooksby Melton College issued a statement confirming that 18 adult students and two teachers involved in its animal management and welfare course were in the accident.
"As you can imagine, we are all deeply shocked and our thoughts and concerns are for the students, their families and staff involved," college principal Chris Ball said. "We would like to assure all our students and their parents and families that we will support them at this very difficult time."
-- Mark Walsh
Notebook: Germany gets vote of confidence from 'Der Kaiser'
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Franz Beckenbauer believes Germany's young team can reach the World Cup semifinals.
The absence of injured captain Michael Ballack does not have to be a drawback, Beckenbauer said, adding that the star-free squad is very balanced.
"I am positive. The Germans are among the favorites," Beckenbauer said after visiting the team's base outside Pretoria on Wednesday. "With a bit of luck I expect them in the semifinals."
Beckenbauer won the World Cup as captain and player in 1974 and was the coach of the German team when it won the last of its three world titles in 1990.
The Germans, who were runners-up in 2002 and semifinalists four years ago at home, have arrived with their second youngest World Cup team ever, with the average age just under 25. Ballack and four other players have been ruled out with injuries.
"Ballack was the leader, captain, the head of the team and Germany will be missing him. But the team is very balanced and it doesn't have to be a disadvantage. If they go on as they have so far, they don't need a big star," Beckenbauer said.
Beckenbauer said he was encouraged by Germany's last two tuneup games, a 3-0 win in Hungary and a 3-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"They showed a lot of joy on the field; everybody wanted the ball," he said.
Traditionally a strong tournament team, Germany's potential this time is somewhat of a mystery because of its inexperience.
Coach Joachim Loew said the team was well prepared and looking forward to facing Australia in its Group D opener on Sunday in Durban.
"We are full of enthusiasm and anticipation. We've done everything that we could and we have a good feeling," Loew said. "After the injury setbacks, we put them behind us and looked ahead. I can see a lot of enthusiasm in training and that the team has been together for a while.
"We can play at high pace, we have more movement. Maybe the players have not much experience, but they are willing to learn."
A LOOK AT 2014: Brazilians will be able to check a website to see if building projects for the 2014 World Cup are on schedule.
Officials said Wednesday the website run by Brazil's sports ministry would be available by the second half of this year.
Building delays in many of the 12 cities that are to host games are already worrying FIFA. The Brazilian government initally has called for spending $12.4 billion on preparations. That includes building new stadiums and remodeling old ones, updating airports and transportation links, and enhancing other infrastructure, including hotels.
FRENCH DONATION: The French soccer federation will donate $120,100 for the renovation of a field when it visits a South African township in Knysna.
France team director Jean-Louis Valentin says the donation "is a strong show of solidarity" toward the development of soccer in South Africa and that more money could be invested in the future.
Although the France team is not obliged to visit the township Sunday, Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna said he wants to go. Valentin said Wednesday that France also plans to have a public training session.
"I think it's a duty for everyone, and I think everyone will be there," Sagna said Wednesday. "Everyone wants to look behind the scenes, to go and meet South African people and see how they live."
France plays its opening World Cup match against Uruguay in Cape Town on Friday.
UNCLE SAM'S ARMY GENERAL: General David Petraeus, the commander of United States' military operations in the Middle East, has a jovial suggestion for England coach Fabio Capello ahead of the World Cup match against the Americans.
Petraeus says Capello should "rest Wayne Rooney on Saturday night so he is refreshed for those other games."
The general was speaking Wednesday at a conference in London organized by the Royal United Services Institute. British troops are currently fighting with U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.
Petraeus praised the delegates at the event for their attendance, "given that any self-respecting British citizen should be checking their satellite reception and reserving their seats" for the game in Rustenburg, South Africa.
Algerians priced out of widespread WCup coverage
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Hackers and high prices are thwarting Algerians' plans to watch World Cup matches not involving the national team.
Algeria reached the World Cup for the first time in 24 years by beating fierce rival Egypt, thrilling a country reeling from more than a decade of civil war and now grappling with terrorism linked to al-Qaida and massive unemployment.
Only a few hundred Algerian supporters are expected in South Africa to cheer on the sole Arab team. The rest of the country had planned to watch the tournament from home, but many fans are finding themselves priced out of cable television access.
The Algerian government has the rights to broadcast 22 games, but state TV will only show the national team's three group matches.
Fans with a satellite dish turned to the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera, which sold a card that promised full access to World Cup games for the considerable sum of 7,000 dinars ($95).
Except it doesn't work.
Al-Jazeera spokesman Ali Benafla said hackers had worked out the code to the World Cup channels, forcing the organization to re-encrypt it and make the old cards worthless.
Now, to watch the World Cup on Al-Jazeera, viewers need to buy a new card — at a cost of 17,000 dinars ($224).
"It's true that my clients are victims but it's the same for me," said Benafla, who added that he has been threatened by clients demanding to be reimbursed.
Fan Nabil Kramdi called it "a scam."
Meanwhile, Russian-made pirate satellite cards are filling the market for 4,000 dinars ($53), and vendor Mordicus Lyes says they're selling well.
"I know it's illegal but I'm convinced that I am providing a service to Algerians who don't have the means" to buy the official cards, Lyes said.
The Algeria team hasn't played at a World Cup since 1986, when it was eliminated in the first round.
-- Aomar Ouali
Chile players boosted by Suazo progress
NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Chile's players have been boosted by news that striker Humberto Suazo could be fit to play in the team's opening World Cup match against Honduras.
Suazo was the top scorer in the South American qualifying group but injured his left thigh last week. However, coach Marcelo Bielsa has said he should be available for next Wednesday's opener.
Defender Pablo Contreras said before Thursday's training that "it's superb news, we are really surprised."
Forward Jean Beausejour added that "he was one of the best players in the qualifying games and he's a player that deserves to be here."
Suazo, of Mexican club Monterrey but who played the second half of last season at Spain's Real Zaragoza, continued light training on Thursday at the squad's base at the Ingwenyama resort, near Nelspruit.
Following yesterday's 2-0 victory over New Zealand in a training match, the rest of the squad took part in basic shooting practice, as well as stretching and jogging.
Suazo joined the rest of the squad for a team talk with coach Bielsa during which the players seemed relaxed, enjoying jokes and breaking into a round of applause at one point.
Suazo, wearing only socks, then took part in a light jog around the pitch with his teammates before leaving the training pitch with the team doctor, headed for the gym.
Rodrigo Millar was the only Chile player absent from the training session. Millar was in the gym, according to Chile spokesman Claudio Olmedo.
-- Mark Walsh
Denmark coach resumes command after illness
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Denmark coach Morten Olsen is back on his feet after being out sick for two days with a virus.
Olsen led the team's practice Thursday in Knysna, but canceled a news conference because he still hasn't fully recovered from his illness, team spokesman Lars Berendt said.
The 60-year-old Olsen had stayed in bed since skipping practice Tuesday, and temporarily left assistant coach Peter Bonde in charge of the team.
Denmark faces the Netherlands in the opening match of Group E, which also includes Cameroon and Japan.
It remains unclear whether 22-year-old striker Nicklas Bendtner will be fit to play against the Dutch. The Arsenal target man, who scored three goals for Denmark in qualifying for the World Cup, is recovering from a groin injury and trained separately on Thursday.
"We want to have him fit, we want him to do well, so of course he is a crucial player to us," midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer said. He called Bendtner Denmark's "No. 1 striker."
Defender Simon Kjaer, who hurt his right knee in a friendly last month against Senegal, also trained separately. Both Kjaer and Bendtner are following a special fitness program, the Danish football federation said.
The Danes are coming into Monday's match as underdogs and will have to rely on their disciplined defense to stop the Dutch "attacking forces," Ajax winger Dennis Rommedahl said.
"I rate them very high," he said. "They are probably one of the best teams in Europe in this moment. ... So we have to watch out for people in front and put down a good plan to stop them."
-- Karl Ritter
South Korea arrives in Port Elizabeth for WCup
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) — South Korea has arrived in Port Elizabeth on a charter flight at a military airport ahead of its opening Group B match against Greece in the World Cup on Saturday.
The South Koreans were scheduled to have a short workout later Thursday at a local stadium. FIFA said Greece was not expected to arrive until Friday morning.
South Korea and Greece will hold their first and only training session at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday, about 24 hours ahead of their afternoon match in the new 45,000-seat facility nicknamed the "Sunflower" because of the unique design of its roof.
More than 25,000 are expected to attend a Fan Fest screening of the celebration concert at Soweto featuring Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas on Friday night. The local celebrations at St. George's Park has a 75-meter square video screen.
The South Korea-Greece match will offer a low-key start to the eight games scheduled for Port Elizabeth, the birthplace of former president Mandela. But security officials will have to deal later with an influx of often rowdy English, German and Serbian fans.
Ivory Coast takes on Portugal in a Group C match next Tuesday in Port Elizabeth, followed by Group D match between Germany and Serbia on June 18.
Chile plays Switzerland in Group H on June 21 followed by England's match against Slovenia in Group C two days later.
Port Elizabeth will also have a second-round match — which could pit France, Mexico or South Africa against Nigeria or Greece — on June 26, followed by a quarterfinal on July 2 and the match for third place on July 10.
-- Dennis Passa
Vieira thinks African country could win World Cup
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Former World Cup winner Patrick Vieira thinks an African team could lift the trophy this year.
Vieira, who was born in Senegal but was part of the France team that won the 1998 tournament on home soil, said Thursday that Ivory Coast and Cameroon were best placed to be Africa's first World Cup winner since many of their players are with Europe's leading clubs.
"I would love to see France winning the World Cup again. It would be fantastic," Vieira said. "But seeing Ivory Coast or Cameroon lifting the trophy would mean a lot to myself and to the African continent."
Vieira was left out of France's squad for this year's tournament but believes the team can win the tournament despite patchy form in qualifying.
France, which was runner-up in 2006, kicks off Friday against Uruguay before facing Mexico and host South Africa in Group A.
"It's always difficult to play against Uruguay because they are really well organized team and tactically they are strong enough," Vieira told The Associated Press. "It will be tough but hopefully France will come out and win the game."
-- Pan Pylas
Uruguay arrives in Cape Town after delay
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Uruguay arrived in Cape Town for its opening World Cup match after a delay caused by an airplane problems Thursday.
Spokesman Matias Faral said the team touched down in time for its scheduled training at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium.
Earlier, star striker Diego Forlan said a problem with the plane had kept the team from flying and tweeted desperately: "Is there no other plane available?"
Later, he tweeted: "We've arrived in Cape Town!"
Uruguay was preparing for the tournament in the northern city of Kimberly and faces France on Friday in a Group A match.
Dutch squad banned from using Twitter due to slur
AMSTERDAM (AP) — Netherlands defender Gregory van der Wiel says his squad is banned from using Twitter during the World Cup, one day after a teammate used a Dutch term insulting to Moroccans on a live streaming video.
Eljero Elia appeared to make the remark Tuesday in response to a jesting insult made by a Moroccan friend on a chat forum connected with the video.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Elia apologized and won't be punished after saying he used the term without any racist intent.
Van der Wiel wrote Wednesday on his Twitter page: "We are not allowed to tweet anymore. So I end it now, speak to you after the world cup, sorry."
The English and Spanish squads are also banned from using Twitter by their coaches.
Argentina team doctor refutes Messi injury rumors
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — Argentina's team doctor says all 23 players in coach Diego Maradona's squad are in "optimal" physical condition, refuting rumors that Barcelona star Lionel Messi and some others are struggling with injuries ahead of the team's first World Cup match.
Speaking briefly to reporters after Argentina's training session on Thursday, Donato Villani said Maradona will be able to count on the full team for Saturday's match against Nigeria at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Messi practiced corner kicks with his masterful left foot at the end of practice, with Maradona standing beside him and talking to the star striker for several minutes.
Swiss doctor: Frei still in doubt for Spain match
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Switzerland's team doctor says captain Alex Frei is undergoing "intensive" treatment for an ankle injury and it's unclear whether he'll recover in time for next week's World Cup match against Spain.
Frei sprained his right ankle during the team's final preparations before flying to South Africa. Team doctor Cuno Wetzel told reporters Thursday the Swiss medical team is treating Frei with medications and physiotherapy, but it's too early to say how soon the 30-year-old striker can play.
Frei is a key player in the Swiss team, which is in Group H with Spain, Chile and Honduras. Switzerland and Spain will be the last World Cup teams to enter the tournament when they play each other Wednesday.
Pirlo gets encouraging news on leg injury
IRENE, South Africa (AP) — Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo has had another medical test on his injured left calf and the results appear positive.
Team physician Enrico Castellacci described the outcome of Thursday's MRI as "encouraging."
Pirlo was injured during a friendly with Mexico last week and Italy is hoping he can return in time for the Azzurri's third World Cup group game against Slovakia.
Coach Marcello Lippi brought Andrea Cossu to South Africa as cover for the 23-man squad in case Pirlo's injury took a turn for the worse but it now appears Pirlo can remain in the squad.
Teams have up to 24 hours before their opening World Cup match to replace injured players. Italy opens Group F play against Paraguay on Monday.
Rueda waiting on injured pair for opener
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda will wait until the day before his team's World Cup opener against Chile before deciding whether David Suazo and Wilson Palacios should play.
Rueda says he's decided on 90 percent of his lineup for Wednesday's Group H match, and that "remaining 10 percent is made up of Suazo and Palacios."
Striker Suazo and midfielder Palacios are key players for Honduras. They trained apart from the 23-man squad Thursday while the other players took part in a training match.
Rueda said the pair had muscle injuries that were not serious, but needed to be treated with care.
Drogba back at training in boost for Ivory Coast
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Didier Drogba has returned to training just days after surgery on a broken arm and could be considered for Ivory Coast's opening World Cup match against Portugal.
The Ivory Coast captain had surgery Saturday on a broken arm sustained in a friendly against Japan the previous day, casting doubt over his availability for the World Cup.
The 32-year-old Drogba wore a light protective cast on his arm during practice on Thursday, raising coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's hopes the Chelsea striker will be fit for Tuesday's Group G match at Port Elizabeth.
"If the match had been today or tomorrow, he wouldn't be able to play," Eriksson says. "But it's in a few days. He might play."
Police confirm Greece players had money stolen
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Three Greece players at the World Cup have had money stolen from their hotel rooms, police say.
Lt. Colonel Leon Engelbrecht said Thursday the unidentified players reported $1,921 had been stolen from their rooms on Tuesday night at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the resort of Umhlanga, just north of Durban.
Engelbrecht said the Greek squad has told police it doesn't want a case opened over the theft.
The theft happened only hours before three foreign World Cup journalists were robbed, one at gunpoint, at a hotel in Magaliesburg, in the northwest of the country. The journalists lost money, camera equipment, laptop computers and mobile phones.
Future World Cups
Australia drops out of race to host 2018 World Cup
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Australia pulled out of the race to host the 2018 World Cup on Thursday and will instead focus on the 2022 tournament.
The announcement by FIFA and the Football Federation Australia leaves the United States running against four European bids — Belgium-Netherlands, England, Russia and Spain-Portugal — for the 2018 tournament.
"The FFA ... were among the very first to enter into an open and constructive dialogue with me after it became apparent that there was a growing movement to stage the 2018 World Cup in Europe," FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said. "Their announcement of today therefore, to henceforth focus solely on bidding for the 2022 World Cup, is a welcome gesture that is much appreciated by FIFA's leadership and executive committee."
FFA chairman Frank Lowy said the Australians have been in contact with FIFA for months about withdrawing from 2018.
The decision was a reversal from Lowy's comments on Wednesday, when he said Australia would push ahead for 2018 despite Asian Football Confederation president Mohammad bin Hammam officially throwing his organization's support behind Europe instead of one of its own members, Australia.
Asked to comment on Bin Hammam's snub Wednesday, Lowy said: "He's said what he has said. He is my boss. We are bidding."
Bin Hammam said Tuesday that individual FIFA executive committee members from Asia would not have to follow the official AFC stance.
"It will be an open bid and everybody is free to support anyone," Bin Hammam said. "But our support is for Europe when it comes to 2018. The mood inside the FIFA executive committee is that Europe should host the 2018 version."
Europe last hosted the World Cup in Germany in 2006, and following this year's tournament in South Africa, the 2014 competition will be in Brazil.
For the 2022 tournament, Australia will be up against the five bidders for 2018 as well as Japan, Qatar and South Korea.
FIFA's 24-man executive committee will decide the host of both events in December.
Abramovich promotes Russian 2018 World Cup bid
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Roman Abramovich is meeting international football officials to push Russia's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
The billionaire owner of Premier League champion Chelsea was making his first formal appearance in Russia's campaign Thursday on the sidelines of the FIFA Congress in Johannesburg.
The nine candidates to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 explained their bids to delegates from FIFA's 208 national members. The exhibition was closed to the public and media.
Abramovich was joined by Russia's team captain Andrey Arshavin.
David Beckham was there with England's bid team which is expected to be Russia's main rival for 2018 hosting rights. FIFA's 24-member executive committee chooses the two hosts in December.
Elsewhere
FIFA president Blatter declares re-election bid
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday that he'll seek re-election to another four-year term, drawing applause when he told soccer officials from 207 nations he'd run again.
"I will continue to put all my strength, energy, experience and passion in football. If you want it, yes or no?" Blatter said at that the end of the annual FIFA Congress.
The 74-year-old Blatter, of Switzerland, will stand for election at next June's meeting in FIFA's home city of Zurich.
At a news conference, Blatter elaborated on a quote from Winston Churchill as he explained his decision to run, which was expected.
"Politicians are asking for election, but statesmen are working for generations," Blatter said. "So we shall work for the next generation."
He said his unfulfilled mission — after 12 years as president and 35 years with FIFA — was to persuade people "that football has social and cultural value in the education of young people."
Blatter was elected FIFA president in 1998 and won a fierce re-election fight at the 2002 congress before being returned unopposed in 2007.
"If there will be more candidates it will be interesting. If there are less candidates, the better," Blatter said.
Under the Swiss official's leadership, FIFA has built up reserves of $1 billion thanks to the World Cup's commercial success.
FIFA agreed to give some of the surplus to its national associations Thursday with one-off payments of $250,000 to each country, and $2.5 million to each of the six continental confederations.
Blatter also said FIFA dropped the so-called "6-plus-5" rule proposal he supported which sought to limit the number of foreign players in a club team's starting lineup.
After seeking support for "6-plus-5" at the past two annual gatherings, Blatter said the plan had become "a little bit diluted" because of problems with European lawmakers.
The European Union regards any move to restrict clubs' choice of players by nationality as an illegal restraint of workers' rights. It prefers a UEFA rule which obliges clubs playing in the Champions League to include eight players on a roster of 25 who were trained in that club's country, regardless of citizenship.
FIFA said it would continue working with the International Olympic Committee and other team sports federations to develop an eligibility rule.
Also Thursday, FIFA confirmed it would meet the IOC's wish to maintain an age limit of 23 for the men's football tournament at the 2012 London Olympics, with three overage players allowed.
Blatter revealed he was visited in Zurich by "a very angry" IOC president Jacques Rogge when an under-21 tournament had been proposed. The younger limit would have pleased European clubs who fear losing their best players during the Olympics, when Champions League qualifying rounds are played.
-- Graham Dunbar
Benitez signs 2-year deal to coach Inter Milan
MILAN (AP) — Rafa Benitez signed a two-year contract to become Inter Milan's new coach on Thursday, taking over a club that won three titles this year under Jose Mourinho.
Benitez, who left Liverpool last Thursday after six years at the English club, will be presented in Milan next Tuesday after agreeing to a contract with Inter until June 30, 2012.
"That's great — I hadn't heard that so I'm happy," midfielder Sulley Muntari told The Associated Press after being informed of the news while at the World Cup with Ghana.
"He is a top manager, he did a great job with Liverpool and I look forward to meeting him. We are very happy to have him."
Mourinho left Inter to join Real Madrid last month after guiding the San Siro club to the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup titles this year.
"Mourinho is hard to follow — he did his thing and I wish him all the best," Muntari said. "We have a new manager now so we will follow him and do whatever he wants."
Having started well at Liverpool by winning the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup, Benitez came under increasing pressure as the club failed to break its run without winning the domestic championship.
"It's most definitely important (he is a Champions League winner)," Muntari said. "We will work hard with him to achieve our aims."
Liverpool last won the English title in 1990 and in recent years has seen rival Manchester United equal its record of 18 championships.
Benitez also clashed with American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. over a perceived lack of transfer funds. Having led Liverpool to second place in the league in 2009, the team finished seventh this season, spelling the end of his tenure.
Before joining Liverpool, Benitez won two Spanish titles and the 2004 UEFA Cup with Valencia.
Thai prisoners stage their own World Cup
BANGKOK (AP) — The ball slipped through Alexander Kreps' hands. Rotten luck, since his team Mexico was leading by one goal. But he would have plenty of time to think about his mistake.
Serving a 16-year sentence for drug trafficking, Kreps is one of 190 inmates participating in The World Cup Behind Bars, organized by Thailand's Ministry of Justice to coincide with the actual World Cup kicking off in South Africa Friday.
At Bangkok's Klong Prem Central Prison, 16 teams of seven players will be battling on a muddy pitch, hoping to lift a World Cup replica trophy after the monthlong tournament.
The tournament "is an opportunity for our foreign inmates to strengthen their physical and mental health," said Justice Minister Peerapan Salirathwipak. "We want to help make it easier for them to reintegrate."
For Kreps, the game was fun although he would have liked to get a better result. His team drew 1-1.
"This is just not my day. But I sure as hell had great fun," the 51-year-old Kreps said. During the 20-minute football game, Kreps made several key saves against a pressing South Africa side.
Authorities hope the event, which was staged during the last two World Cups, will also improve the image of Klong Prem, nicknamed the "Bangkok Hilton" by ex-prisoners who have described its notorious living conditions inside.
The tournament is a way to illustrate how prisoners are treated respectfully, said Thanis Sriyaphan, deputy director general of the Department of Corrections. "We observe the human rights code of conduct. Prisoners are given chances to study and improve themselves with discipline," he said.
The spectators at the tournament were raucous in their support and some 70 prison guards were laughing and smiling. There were even cheerleaders, albeit a group of transvestite prisoners posed for journalists in front of flags and a World Cup logo hand-painted on a wall.
They were recruited for the tournament, proud and wearing heavy makeup. Dancer Panattawi Srivilai, 30, traveled all the way from Chiang Rai Central Prison in northern Thailand for the event.
"I can express myself here," he said. "I love the atmosphere and would like to be transferred here."
-- Kinan Suchaovanich
Flachi gets 12-year ban for 2nd cocaine offense
BRESCIA, Italy (AP) — Brescia defender Francesco Flachi has been banned for 12 years after a second positive test for cocaine.
The 35-year-old player tested positive following a match between Brescia and Modena on Dec. 19 2009. He previously served a two-year ban after a positive cocaine test while playing for Sampdoria.
The new ban was imposed Thursday by the Italian Olympic Committee. The ban was backdated to begin on Jan. 13, 2010, and will last until Jan. 12, 2022.
Fenerbahce signs Miroslav Stoch from Chelsea
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Fenerbahce says Slovakia midfielder Miroslav Stoch has agreed to join the team from English champion Chelsea on a four-year deal.
The Turkish side did not reveal Thursday any other terms of the transfer. Stoch helped FC Twente win the Dutch title while on loan from Chelsea last season. Fenerbahce finished second in the Turkish Super League last season, behind Bursaspor.
Besiktas signs Bernd Schuster as coach
ISTANBUL (AP) — Besiktas says it has signed Bernd Schuster as its new coach on a two-year contract.
Besiktas says the former Real Madrid coach has agreed to a €2.6 million ($3.12 million) deal. The Turkish club made the announcement in a statement to the Istanbul stock exchange.
Schuster takes over from Mustafa Denizli, who quit last week for undisclosed health reasons. Besiktas finished fourth in the Turkish Super League last season, behind Bursaspor, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
