World Cup whispers: Brazil and France win in the fashion stakes, no joy for Bosnia and Honduras
WHO'S GOT THE COOLEST WORLD CUP KIT? Who will be wearing the coolest kit at the Brazil World Cup? It's a vital question for the fashion conscious football fan wondering which top to fork out for this summer. Fortunately the Daily Telegraph has run the rule over the various outfits, ruling Brazil's home shirt and France's away top the best of the bunch. Australia and Greece's shirts (both home and away) get the thumbs up and there's even an honourable mention for England's red away number. ... AND WHO HAS THE WORST? At the bottom of the pile its best to avoid anything to do with Bosnia and Honduras, say the Telegraph fashion police (and that might not be a problem at your local Sports Direct). Germany's away kit also gets panned, as does Japan's luminous green second strip and Spain's change kit, which comes in black with dayglo stripes. The US home top, meanwhile, appears to have been designed for the golf course. ENGLAND WRAP UP WARM: Temperatures of 19C didn't stop England donning extra layers in the Algarve yesterday as the squad prepares for the scorching conditions they'll face in Brazil. "We did sweat testing today," said manager Roy Hodgson. "Three layers – T-shirt, tracksuit and wet top." Despite a late kick-off (6pm local time) against Italy in Manaus on 14 June, temperatures are likely to reach the mid-30s. And with humidity pushing 100 per cent, the players will need to acclimatise. Left-back Leighton Baines explained: "The logic behind layering is [to] get comfortable with that feeling of being hot and struggling". NO WATER BREAK ADVERTS ON ITV: ITV has pledged not to cash in on the sweltering conditions in Brazil during the World Cup and will not show adverts during drinks breaks. Fifa medical officers have the power to call for 'cooling periods' midway through each half when matches are played at temperatures above 32C. Fifa has told broadcasters that they can show ads during the three-minute stoppages but ITV told the Daily Mail it wanted to keep its broadcasts focused on the game.BRAZIL IS LAST HURRAH FOR RIBERY: French winger Franck Ribery has targeted victory in Brazil as he looks to bow-out from World Cup football in style. Although the Bayern Munich winger will feature in Euro 2016, which France will host, he conceded Brazil will probably be his last outing for Les Bleus on football's grandest stage. "This will be my last World Cup," he told French radio station RTL. "We have to go there to try and achieve something. Quite simply, we have to try to win." Despite a well-publicised revolt in South Africa four years ago, France are priced 20/1 with William Hill making the 1998 winners sixth favourites to reclaim the trophy in Brazil.for further concise, balanced comment and analysis on the week's news, try The Week magazine. Subscribe today and get 6 issues completely free.Source: Article
