South Korea beat 2-0 Bosnia in World Cup warm-up

Saudi hope veterans can improve on 2002 debacle

Saudi Arabia heads to their fourth consecutive World Cup hoping to improve on a dismal showing in 2002 and the team will rely on veteran players and a manager who is new to the job.

Argentina given rousing send-off by fans

Argentina will leave for the World Cup in high spirits on Thursday after a passionate send-off from 55,000 fans and encouraging signs about the fitness of Gabriel Heinze and Lionel Messi.

Ivory Coast carry African continent's hopes

The Ivory Coast represent Africa's best hopes of a ground-breaking achievement at the World Cup finals, fuelled by a runners-up performance at the African Nations Cup finals in Egypt earlier this year.

South Korea unlikely to repeat World Cup fantasy

South Korea will be taking part in their sixth successive World Cup finals in June, but even their most die-hard fan would be hard pressed to expect a repeat of their fairytale foray into the semi-finals on home soil in 2002.

Togo desperate not to disappoint in Germany

Having forged a fairytale finish in the qualifiers last year, Togo now threaten to become one of the World Cup's worst ever sides as they head to Germany.

Tunisia seek to finally get past first round

Tunisia are the only African representatives at this year's World Cup finals with previous experience, making a third successive trip to the tournament and showing increasing potential of being competitive.

Australia ready to impress at game's top table

With the deafening roar of 95,000 fans still ringing in their ears, Australia set off for Europe on Friday confident they could give a good account of themselves at the World Cup finals starting next month.

Japanese soccer team leaves for World Cup

The Japanese soccer team left for the German World Cup finals Friday afternoon, two days after closing a weeklong training camp in Fukushima Prefecture.

France need Zidane at his brilliant best

When Zinedine Zidane announced late in April he was bringing down the curtain on his illustrious career by retiring at the end of the World Cup, no-one was really too surprised.

Spain shrug off concerns about a lack of goals

Spain's players have shrugged off concerns that the side will struggle to find the back of the net in the World Cup finals next month.

Mexico sets sights on World Cup semifinals

First came the "Blanco Bounce." Entertaining, but ultimately only a sideshow. Four years later, there was the humiliation of being bounced from the World Cup by a country that doesn't even care — well, much — about soccer.