sportsfan2006
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:53 pm Post subject: FIFA World Cup, Group F |
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FIFA World Cup
Group F
Brazil-Croatia-Australia-Japan
By Jacob Mitchell
http://www.wagerweb.com/
Contributing Writer
The clock is ticking, the kick-off at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany is drawing ever nearer and the 32 participants are arriving at their training camps to prepare for the impending global showdown. At least that is the theory.
For several days, Brazilian sports betting fans in the picturesque Swiss town of Weggis have contributed to an extraordinary series of events. Against the majestic backdrop of the Alps, around 10,000 fans have turned out to transform the world champions’ training sessions into Samba parties. Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Kaka and company seem to appreciate the support, showing their gratitude by stopping to sign countless autographs before returning to the changing rooms.
Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar praised FIFA World Cup rivals Japan on Thursday after they held hosts Germany 2-2 in a warm-up game. He was confident, however, that his side would beat the Asian outfit in the group stage of the tournament proper and progress to the knockout stage alongside Brazil.
"I saw the friendly and I must say we have to be cautious ahead of the game with Japan. I still believe it will be the decisive match for us in the group," Kranjcar told the Vecernji List daily. Croatia opens their campaign in Group F against holders Brazil in Berlin on June 13th. They face Japan on June 18 in Nuremberg and Australia on 22 June in Stuttgart. Croatia plays two more warm-up games, against Poland in Wolfsburg, Germany, on June 3 and Spain in Geneva on 7 June.
Harry Kewell may play in Australia's final warm-up match against Liechtenstein five days before the team's FIFA World Cup opener with Japan, team officials said on Thursday.
Kewell is recovering from a groin muscle injury, which forced him to miss Australia's 1-0 win over European champion Greece in Melbourne last week and more than likely against world No.3 Netherlands in Rotterdam on Sunday.
The Liverpool striker-midfielder completed a series of successful hour-long drills late on Tuesday at Australia's training camp in Mierlo, near Eindhoven, press reports said on Thursday. "Harry's not far away," Socceroos assistant coach Graham Arnold told Australian reporters in Mierlo.
"He's running at 85, 90 percent. He's maybe one, two days off full training, and it will be great to have him back on board. At the same time, he's missed two weeks of hard, intensive work, so he'll have some catching up to do.” Arnold has indicated a comeback appearance for Kewell against Liechtenstein on June 7 now looks more likely.
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