Low-key Aussies kick off World Cup arrivals
30 May 2014 4:59 AM IST
Australia became the first team to touch down for the World Cup in Brazil, but it was a low-key arrival as they dodged well-wishers and were ushered away under tight security.
About 100 Brazilian fans were waiting at Vitoria airport but the Socceroos, arriving in darkness, went straight from their plane to a bus with blacked-out windows and were whisked away to their hotel. Dozens of heavily armed riot police were also at the airport, with authorities apparently fearing a repeat of protests which have marred the tournament’s build-up.
Fans trying to catch a glimpse of the squad, who were wearing suits, rushed into the street to wave as they set out on the short drive to their town-centre hotel. Australia, who are playing their third straight World Cup, have their first match on June 13 against Chile. They will also face Spain and the Netherlands in a difficult Group A.
‘Neymar more mature’
The head trainer of Brazil’s national football team has sounded a warning to the Selecao’s World Cup rivals by declaring Neymar, a more complete player after his first season at Barcelona.
According to Paulo Paixao, Neymar is now better than last year’s Confederations Cup, when he led Brazil to victory by winning the Golden Ball for the tournament’s best player. ‘He has grown not only in the physical sense but also with more experience. That makes us more assured about his fitness. We are going to see a player who is sure of himself, mature and conscious of what he needs to do, Paixao said at the training base.
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