England hoping to play it cool

A combustible England will look to the weather for help when they face World Cup Group B rivals Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday.

'What a load of rubbish' as Koreans celebrate

World Cup soccer fever has turned South Korea into a nation of litterbugs, newspapers said on Thursday.

Americans still unknown to Italy

The United States' quarterfinal appearance at the last World Cup gained the team international recognition. The squad is ranked fifth by FIFA, eight spots ahead of Italy.

Long wait ends for Australian fans

Soccer may not be the most popular sport in Australia but the natinal team can still boast some of the most dedicated fans at the World Cup.

Al Jaber joins World Cup greats Pele and Maradona

Saudi Arabian striker Sami Al Jaber joined an elite group of players that include Pele and Diego Maradona when he scored against Tunisia on Wednesday.

Late goal earns Tunisia 2-2 draw

A stoppage time header from defender Radhi Jaidi earned Tunisia a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia after a thrilling finish to their World Cup Group H opener on Wednesday.

Spain gets off to bright start at Cup

Spain's quest to lose its title of perennial underachiever is off to an impressive start.

Late goal overshadows Ballack's return

The game had ended long before and a thunderstorm was breaking out, yet die-hard German fans were still at the stadium, singing the chant now heard across the country.

Ballack and Shevchenko set to grace Cup

German playmaker Michael Ballack and Ukraine marksman Andriy Shevchenko, two of the game's greats, should take their opening bows on the 2006 World Cup stage on Wednesday, a day which could spell doom for Poland.

Few security problems at World Cup

Three French soccer fans were pinned to the ground, handcuffed, and put into vans by police in Stuttgart on Tuesday, the most tense encounter on another tranquil day of World Cup action.

France still can't find the net in World Cup

France couldn't find a single goal half a world away as it crashed out of the last World Cup in Korea.

Officials for June 15 matches at the World Cup