World Cup story lines: Aussie Moore makes cancer comeback

By Mike Foss, USA TODAY

With eight matches complete and a full week ahead, a few developing story lines:

•A comeback story: Australia defender Craig Moore is playing in the World Cup after having surgery for testicular cancer 19 months ago. He was diagnosed in late 2008. "The doctor told him he needed surgery straight away," said Moore's spokesman, Ian Hanson. "He said, 'You could either have it on Friday or Tuesday.' Craig said, 'Can I have it on Tuesday so I can play Saturday night?' "

•Messi against the rest of Group B: "La Pulga Atomica," the atomic flea, was nuclear against Nigeria in Argentina's opening match. Said coach Diego Maradona: "As long as he has fun close to the ball, then we will all be fine. If you take the ball away from him, it would be like taking chocolate away from a kid." Don't take Messi's chocolate. His next game is Thursday against South Korea.

•The week ahead: Cup favorite Spain makes its debut Wednesday against Switzerland, serving as the opening act for interesting matches. In Group A, pairings of South Africa-Uruguay on Wednesday and France-Mexico on Thursday are the most compelling.

•How will England respond? After goalkeeper Robert Green fumbled Clint Dempsey's 25-yard shot into the goal in Saturday's game, Green's teammates are standing behind him. Which is where they should have been all along in hindsight. "It is unfortunate for keepers," England's Frank Lampard said. "They are the last line. And when they make a (mistake), it gets picked out."

•Biggest blunders? English fans watching Saturday's broadcast on Britain's ITV missed Steven Gerrard's opening goal when the station cut away to a commercial. No mention of the glitch was made until halftime when host Adrian Chiles apologized.

In another apparent hitch, FIFA said it was investigating whether transportation and ticket distribution systems failed after at least 8,000 seat-holders failed to make the South Korea-Greece game Saturday in Port Elizabeth. Only 31,513 people attended South Korea's 2-0 win in a stadium that holds 42,486.

The problem might have occurred again Sunday as Algeria and Slovenia played in a stadium that appeared one-third empty. FIFA said 700 unsold tickets were available hours before the game played in the 41,733-capacity Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Official attendance was 30,235.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2010-06-13-world-cup-story-lines_N.htm

Disappointed fans stage mass walkout from Darling Harbour

GEORGINA ROBINSON
June 14, 2010 - 10:22AM

It never looked good for Australia but it took exactly 68 minutes for the 20,000-strong crowd at Darling Harbour to lose faith.

The Germans' third goal prompted a mass walkout from the Cockle Bay live site today, where intrepid Australian fans had gathered from as early as 9pm yesterday to cheer on the Socceroos.

Thomas Berger, 20, from Picton, was among the couple of hundred bitterly disappointed former faithful who made for the exits 20 minutes before full time.
German fans show their joy during the Australia v Germany game at Darling Harbour.

German fans show their joy during the Australia v Germany game at Darling Harbour. Photo: Nick Moir

"It's just not good enough," Mr Berger said.

His friend, Hayden O'Connell, 19, said the opposition was a "class above Australia".

"We were looking forward to it but Germany was just too good in the end," Mr O'Connell said.

The demoralising loss may have helped keep a lid on rowdiness among the capacity crowd at the waterside venue, which had filled up by 2.20am, organisers said.

A few more groups forced their way past the gates throughout the evening, but event officials reported nothing more serious than a few cuts and bruises, as well as one 17-year-old male who was treated for mild hypothermia after falling into Cockle Bay.

"We've treated 25 patients and none have been transported to hospital at this stage," St John Ambulance commander Daniel Willis said.

As the Socceroos' fortunes fell, German fans in Sydney went into party mode.

The beer was flowing at the Löwenbräu Keller in the heart of The Rocks, where about 400 expats and tourists who had gathered to watch the game, partied into the morning.

"This is what winners look like!" they sang to the tune of a 1970s German pop song and "Germany four Australia nill ... you can go home now!"

"We were tense until the second goal, then we relaxed," German company director, Manuel Coronilla said.

"We can have breakfast now."

Young soccer fans were undaunted by the Australians' loss.

Ashby and Riley Kerr, aged 10 and seven, travelled from Bowral with their father, James Kerr, to soak up the atmosphere.

"It's pretty cool but Australia had better score," Ashby said at half-time.

Mr Kerr said he wished his boys, who both play football, could have experienced the excitement of an Australian goal.

"It's just a shame Australia didn't score ... because they haven't heard the crowd roar."

It took about two minutes for the rest of the crowd to clear the area at match end, leaving behind a sea of discarded pizza boxes, coffee cups, newspapers and aluminium cans, as well as a few battered World Cup dreams.

- with Paul Bibby
http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/disappointed-fans-stage-mass-walkout-from-darling-harbour-20100614-y7i6.html