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Czech Midfielder Smicer Strains Muscle
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LONDON (AP) _ Queen Elizabeth II has set aside July 10 to welcome England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and his players for an open-top bus World Cup victory celebration to Trafalgar Square.
  Girondins Bordeaux striker Vladimir Smicer during a training session of the Czech national soccer team in Seefeld, Austria, on Monday, May 23, 2006. The Czech Republic will play against USA, Italy and Ghana in World Cup 2006 Group E. (AP Photos/CTK, Radek Petrasek) (Radek Petrasek - AP) Injuries and Fantasy   Zinedine Zidane could face disciplinary action Thursday for his head butt on Marco Materazzi. Brazil Coach Alberto Parreira quits following a disappointing World Cup. Zidane apologizes for his head butt during the final, saying he was provoked by insults about his mother and sister. Italian soccer power Juventus is one of three teams demoted from Serie A to Serie B following a match-fixing scandal. Juergen Klinsmann resigns as Germany's coach after leading his native country to a third-place finish. France cheers on Zinedine Zidane but still wonders what provoked his head-butt. The 2006 World Cup had too many red cards and stoppages in play. Championship could help boost Italy's economy. Italian fans enjoy their country's World Cup title. The World Cup final television ratings are the best since 1994. Italy wins its fourth World Cup title, beating France 5-3 in only the second final decided by a shootout. After 31 days and 64 matches, the championship of the world's most popular sports event came down to one moment. Italian goalkeeper Gianlugi Buffon finishes the World Cup not having allowed a goal from the other team in the run of play. MULTIMEDIAPost's Jon DeNunzio and Jason La Canfora review the championship game. XM Satellite Radio's Dave Johnson calls of the key moments in Italy's win. U.S. REPORT After eight years at the helm, Bruce Arena, pictured, will not be back as coach of the U.S. soccer team. Video: The challenges facing soccer in the United States and ways to improve its national standing. U.S. Soccer Federation president, Sunil Gulati, defends Coach Bruce Arena. Arena draws the ire of the MLS. Arena weighs his next move. Though a commercial success at home, the U.S. team's performance in Germany is a disappointment. The Americans are eliminated after a 2-1 loss to Ghana. » Match Report WORLD CUP JOURNAL The road has reached Germany, and Post staffers continue to keep you updated with the latest tidbits. Save & Share |
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Wishful thinking? After all, the World Cup doesn't kick off until June 9.
The Times reported Wednesday that the Football Association has begun making arrangements with police and Buckingham Palace officials in case England wins the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
If England wins the title, the celebrations in central London will be far bigger than the million people who thronged the area after England's 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph. And larger than the tens of thousands of people who turned up after the cricket team's Ashes triumph over Australia last September.
The FA declined comment.
"We have no comment to make on any such plans," said FA spokesman Adrian Bevington. "We certainly don't want to tempt fate by discussing any plans we may or may not have."
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SHANGHAI, China (AP) _ Chinese customs agents have confiscated 600 soccer balls illegally stamped with World Cup logo.
The balls were impounded Tuesday in the eastern port of Ningbo after being found in a shipment traced to a travel agency in the northern city of Baotou, a Ningbo customs agent said Wednesday.
The balls were stamped "FIFA 2006 World Cup Germany," said the agent, who declined to give his name. He refused to say how agents determined the balls were produced without the endorsement of world soccer's governing body, or give other details.
Customs agents haven't said where the balls were being shipped to, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Protecting trademarks for major international sporting events is a special concern for China, which has been heavily criticized for rampant product piracy and trademark violations.
China has been trying to boost awareness of the problem among law enforcement leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, strengthening laws and cracking down heavily on any unauthorized use of the Olympic logo or slogan.