World Cup Watch

ARRESTS AHEAD OF FINAL

Brazil police told local news media they have arrested 19 people suspected of vandalism during recent anti-World Cup protests in Rio de Janeiro. Saturday morning’s arrests are apparently aimed at preventing more protests during Sunday’s World Cup final match between Argentina and Germany in Rio’s Maracana stadium.

The G1 news portal said police seized gas masks, fireworks and firearms. Calls to the police department for more details went unanswered.

On Friday, police said more than 25,000 soldiers and police will be deployed in the city on Sunday. It’s the biggest security detail in Brazil’s history. AP

EVEN THE HEAVENS ARE NOT SMILING ON BRAZIL

It seems everywhere Brazilians turn, they cannot escape reminders of their national side’s calamitous end to the World Cup. Ahead of yesterday’s final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, the city’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue was lit up in the national colours of the finalists Germany and arch-rivals Argentina.

Brazil lost 7-1 to Germany in the semi-finals last Tuesday, and 3-0 to the Netherlands in Saturday’s third-place playoff in Brasilia. AGENCIES

PELE GETS HAIRY WITH MESSI

Brazil legend Pele has joked that he has better hair than Lionel Messi.

Speaking ahead of yesterday’s World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, Pele, the only player to have won three World Cup winner’s medals, expressed his admiration for the Argentinian.

But he added, in jest, that he had “better hair”.

The 73-year-old also said he could not explain Brazil’s shock 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-finals. AGENCIES

UKRAINE CONFLICT NOT AN ISSUE FOR RUSSIA 2018

The conflict in the Ukraine should not affect Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup, said its sports minister Vitaly Mutko (picture), who is also the local organising committee chairman and a FIFA board member.

Russia is staging the next edition of the World Cup at an estimated cost of US$20 billion (S$24.8 billion).

When asked about incidents of racism and fan disorder at Russian club matches, Mutko suggested the problems were no worse than other countries and should not be mixed with the World Cup, adding he expects Russia to be cleared of any doubt when a FIFA investigation of the 2018 and 2022 bid campaigns is resolved, likely in September.

If Ukraine qualify for the next World Cup, they could be drawn in a group with Russia, who are automatically seeded as hosts. World Cup host city Rostov-on-Don is about 160km from the current conflict in Donetsk.

They are among 11 host cities which Vladimir Putin’s government is seeking to modernise with new stadiums and other infrastructure projects. One of the biggest challenges is providing accommodation outside the main cities of Moscow, St Petersburg, Sochi and Kazan. AP