Nation dressed in blue kicks off  a World Cup without frontiers
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Sport: Rugby union: This year's World Cup provides the sport with an enviable window of opportunity to spread its gospel, says Robert Kitson.
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Football's Copa America tournament kicks off in Venezuela with a colourful ceremony.
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Three of the seven World Cup teams playing warmup matches Wednesday came away with wins &amp;#151; France, Iran and Paraguay.
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By the narrowest of margins, but the widest of gulfs, Scotland were edged out of any reward at Hampden Park by a Norwegian side who kick-started their World Cup qualifying
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The Americans are going for the gold &#151; in gold. The U.S. women's team unveiled its jerseys for the upcoming World Cup, and the look certainly is distinctive. The primary jersey is gold, with red, white and blue trimming.
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For the first time since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the team standing atop the podium for the gold medal ceremony won't be wearing red with its white and blue.
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England and Ecuador vaulted into the second round of the World Cup with wins, and host Germany advanced without even having to play.
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Less than three months on from their Euro 2004 defeat by the Czech Republic, the Netherlands begin their World Cup campaign against the same opponents on Wednesday with a new-look side.
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Bosnia and Balkan neighbor Serbia and Montenegro play to a scoreless tie amid tight security in a World Cup qualifying match Saturday in Sarajevo.
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Sport: England began their World Cup defence with a low-key 28-10 victory over the USA.
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Defending champions Germany begin the Women's World Cup by crushing Argentina and setting a new record score for the tournament.
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in Germany, the fourth-place team will play the No. 5 nation in Asia in a. on the road. The Americans reached the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
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The idea is to put the ball in the net, not just keep it out. Ukraine figured that out a lot quicker than Switzerland in the shootout Monday night. And the World Cup newcomers are headed to the quarterfinals because of it.
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Argentina, England, the Czech Republic and Tunisia got ready for the World Cup with victories in warmup games Tuesday.
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FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday world soccer&#39;s governing body will break tradition by hosting a 90-minute show to kick off the 2006 World Cup a day before the opening match.
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The 2006 World Cup will break with tradition and begin with a separate show a day before the opening game. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Thursday the theme of the 90-minute show will be the cultural impact
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The next World Cup will break with tradition when hosts Germany play the opening match in Munich on June 9, 2006. The defending champions normally play the opening game of the tournament.