Klinsmann vs Germany: will the US get the draw they need?
World Cup whispers: A man divided, Suarez needs help, greenbacks for Ghana
JURGEN KLINSMANN: A MAN DIVIDED
Germany legend Jurgen Klinsmann will lead the USA against the fatherland tonight in a match he cannot afford to lose. "This game is very special for me", said Klinsmann ahead of the Group G clash. "Something like this comes along once in a lifetime." The US coach played in three World Cups and managed Germany in 2006, when current German boss Joachim Low was his assistant. A draw would send both teams through, raising the spectre of 1982's 'Disgrace in Gijon', when Germany and Austria drew 0-0 in similar circumstances.
SUAREZ 'NOT QUITE RIGHT', SAYS MURRAY...
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Wimbledon champ Andy Murray has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Luis Suarez, labelling the striker's bite on Giorgio Chiellini "just wrong". The incident is even the talk of Wimbledon, and Murray, who is known for the odd on-court tantrum but has never yet attacked an opponent, was asked about it after his second round match on Wednesday. "You can understand someone lashing out or whatever, but you don't just bite people – it's far too much," declared the Scot. "Obviously something's not quite right there", he added.
... AND A PSYCHOLOGIST AGREES
Andy Murray is not the only one concerned about Suarez's health, a psychologist believes Suarez needs therapy. The bite was the third such incident in the Uruguayan's career, and Dr Saima Latif told the Daily Telegraph that Suarez "requires psychological therapy to get to the root of the problem and address the deep-seated issues". The striker's inclination to bite may have begun in childhood, reasons Dr Latif, and it could be "habitual rather than pathological, which makes you wonder how many times he's done it off the pitch".
TIME TO GET BEHIND NIGERIA
With England home from the World Cup the big question is who to support now? Fortunately Dean Karlan, professor of economics at Yale has come up with a formula to rank countries by the "aggregate increase in happiness" a World Cup win would bring them. It is "calculated by a country's passion for soccer multiplied by its average level of poverty multiplied by its population". Top of the pile is Nigeria. An England win would have only created a 20th of the happiness generated by a Nigerian win, he says.
AMERICAN DOMINANCE TAKES A KNOCK
Latin America's dominance of the Brazil World Cup took a hit last night as both Honduras and Ecuador were knocked out of the tournament, becoming the first New World teams to exit. But things still look rosy for the Americas. Of the 12 teams through to the last 16, seven are American, four are European and one is African. The US would bump that figure up to eight teams if they too can make it through.
GHANA GET THEIR MONEY
Ghana take on Portugal this afternoon knowing victory could secure them a place in the last 16 of the World Cup. But if, for some reason, that is not motivation enough, the £1.75m in cash that the government has flown out to Brazil may concentrate Black Stars' minds. The money was sent over after the players threatened to strike over unpaid appearance fees. The payments come after Cameroon's players successfully demanded £60,000 each from their FA for playing in the World Cup.
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