World Cup in brief
Cameroon arrive after bonus row
A DAY later than scheduled Cameroon’s World Cup squad finally landed in Brazil, after a row over bonus payments was resolved. The players, including Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o and Tottenham’s Benoit Assou-Ekotto, had refused to leave their hotel to board a Brazil-bound flight on Sunday complaining that the £61,000 fee for appearing in the finals was not enough. Cameroon begin their campaign against Mexico on Friday.
Spain are not tiki-taka Talibans
SPAIN manager Vincent del Bosque is adamant his world and European champions are not one-dimensional ahead of their tournament opener against Holland, a repeat of the 2010 final. Del Bosque insists Spain do possess a plan B if their normal tiki-taka approach is nullified. He said: “We are not Talibans with just one way of playing. Football is played in many different ways and there isn’t just one.”
Pele wants Maracana revenge
LEGENDARY striker Pele is dreaming of a Brazil v Uruguay final on 13 July in order for his home nation to finally avenge the 2-1 defeat to their fierce South American rivals in the 1950 final at the iconic Maracana stadium. Meanwhile, pop star Jennifer Lopez has pulled out of performing the official World Cup song alongside rapper Pitbull at Thursday’s opening ceremony that preceeds Brazil’s Group A match against Croatia.