WORLD CUP DIGEST on JUNE 7

by  Associated Press WORLD CUP DIGEST on JUNE 7 Associated Press - 7 June 2014 04:00-04:00

SOC--WCUP-SAO PAULO STADIUM

SAO PAULO (AP) Brazilian officials have authorized the use of temporary stands at the stadium hosting the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo next week. SENT. By Tales Azzoni. 523 words.

SOC--WCUP-JAPAN-ZAMBIA

TAMPA, Florida — Keisuke Honda had two goals and Yoshito Okubo scored in the 91st minute, giving Japan a 4-3 victory over Zambia in its final warm-up for the World Cup on Friday. SENT. By Fred Goodall. 425 words.

SOC--WCUP-PORTUGAL-MEXICO

FOXBOROUGH, Massachussets — Portugal won a World Cup tuneup without star Cristiano Ronaldo. He'll be needed more once soccer's biggest tournament starts. SENT. By Howard Ulman. 543 words.

SOC--WCUP-FRANCE-RIBERY OUT

PARIS — France's World Cup ambitions are dealt a significant blow just three days before the team's departure for Brazil, with winger Franck Ribery forced to pull out of the tournament after failing to overcome a back injury that has bothered him for several weeks. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT: 774 words. Photos.

SOC--BRAZIL-SERBIA

SAO PAULO — Striker Fred scores early in the second half to help Brazil defeat Serbia 1-0 in its final warmup before the World Cup. Brazil was struggling and fans were jeering the squad when Fred found the net from inside the area in the 58th minute. By Tales Azzoni. SENT: 350 words. Photos.

SOC--GERMANY-ARMENIA

MAINZ, Germany — Germany thrashes Armenia 6-1 in its last friendly match before the World Cup but influential midfielder Marco Reus' participation in the tournament was left hanging in the balance after limping off with an ankle injury. SENT: 426 words. Photos.

SOC--WCUP-ENGLAND-OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN

MIAMI SHORES, Florida — England coach Roy Hodgson will take the decision on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's World Cup participation right down to the FIFA deadline. By Rob Harris. SENT: 326 words. Photos.

SOC--WCUP-SPAIN

WASHINGTON — Coach Vicente del Bosque says defending World Cup champion Spain will include Diego Costa in the team to face El Salvador on Saturday, in its last tuneup game before heading to Brazil. By Luis Alonso Lugo. SENT: 200 words.

SOC--WCUP-PRANDELLI UNCONCERNED

MANGARATIBA, Brazil — Italy coach Cesare Prandelli doesn't appear the least bit concerned over the Azzurri's poor run-up to the World Cup. The four-time champions arrived in Brazil after seven games without a win. "When you know what to do, it puts you in a state of great optimism," Prandelli said. By Andrew Dampf. SENT: 404 words. Photos.

WITH:

— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCUP-NETHERLANDS. By Mike Corder. SENT: 328 words. Photos.

— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCUP-BRAZIL TO CROATIA. SENT: 363 words. Photo.

— JACKSONVILLE, Florida — SOC--WCUP-NIGERIA-US. By Mark Long. SENT: 736 words. Photos.

— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCuP--SLUM SOCCER-PHOTO ESSAY. By Jenny Barchfield. SENT: 292 words. Photos

— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCUP-HAVELANGE. SENT: 240 words.

— SAO PAULO — SOC--WCUP-STRIKE THREATS. By Stan Lehman. SENT: 981 words. Photos.

— CURITIBA, Brazil — SOC--WCUP-CURITIBA-STRIKING WORKERS. SENT: 126 words,

— MOSCOW — SOC--RUSSIA-MOROCCO. SENT: 305 words. Photos.

— MONACO — SOC--MONACO-JARDIM. SENT: 107 words.

— GLASGOW, Scotland — SOC--CELTIC-COACH. SENT: 282 words. Photos.

— NYON, Switzerland — SOC--UEFA-RED STAR BELGRADE. SENT: 272 words

— NYON, Switzerland — SOC--UEFA-TURKEY-MATCH-FIXING. SENT: 158 words.

— VALENCIA, Spain — SOC--VALENCIA-SALE. SENT: 133 words.

— MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — SOC--WCUP-URUGUAY-SUAREZ. SENT. 207 words.

— BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — SOC--WCUP-ARGENTINA-DOG FANS. SENT. 132 words.

— SALVADOR, Brazil — SOC--WCUP-CROATIA-AUSTRALIA. SENT. 130 words.

— CHESTER, Pennsylvania — SOC--COSTA RICA-IRELAND. SENT. 257 words.

— HARRISON, New Jersey — SOC--WCUP-GREECE-BOLIVIA. SENT. 536 words.

— BUENOS AIRES — SOC--COLOMBIA-JORDAN. SENT. 130 words.

News Topics: 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, Men's soccer, Athlete injuries, Professional soccer, Soccer, Events, Men's sports, Sports, Athlete health, International soccer

People, Places and Companies: Keisuke Honda, Yoshito Okubo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribery, Marco Reus, Marco Arturo Ramirez, Roy Hodgson, Cesare Prandelli, Brazil, Spain, France, Monaco, Germany, Florida, Argentina, South America, Latin America and Caribbean, Western Europe, Europe, United States, North America

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