World Cup report

Dutch Coach Louis van Gaal (right) wouldn’t mind another victory like in Friday’s opener against Spain, but right now he just wants to see the field.
Dutch Coach Louis van Gaal (right) wouldn’t mind another victory like in Friday’s opener against Spain, but right now he just wants to see the field.

U.S. hopes Altidore will return

SAO PAULO -- Jurgen Klinsmann is optimistic forward Jozy Altidore will return for the U.S. during this World Cup.

Altidore underwent an MRI exam on his injured left hamstring Tuesday after the U.S. squad returned to its Sao Paulo headquarters from Monday night's 2-1 victory against Ghana.

Results weren't immediately available, and there is some doubt because hamstrings aren't always quick to heal.

"With Jozy, we've got to see how he now reacts the next couple days with his hamstring, and we're full of hope that he comes back still in this tournament, and that's what we kind of work on every day," Klinsmann said. "The medical staff is doing a tremendous job (for) weeks, so we still have to hope that Jozy will be back. How quickly? That is down to his healing process."

In the first half Monday, Altidore was running down a ball with Ghana's John Boye when he lowered his head to attempt to control it. He immediately grabbed the back of his left leg and fell to the ground in pain. He was replaced by Aron Johannsson.

"Obviously we all hope he'll be all right," midfielder Alejandro Bedoya said. "I'm sure if he's able to work hard we're going to get him back. We have players that can play different roles and come in and do a job. Last night we had two subs come in and add something to the game. Aron is a good player and I think he did well last night under the circumstances. It was hard to get him the ball."

The Americans' next Group G match is Sunday at Manaus against Portugal, a 4-0 loser to Germany.

Central defender Matt Besler was replaced at halftime as a precaution with right hamstring tightness, and he also underwent tests Tuesday. Klinsmann said his injury wasn't serious and he would be fine for Sunday.

Captain Clint Dempsey broke his nose but is expected to play Sunday against Portugal in Manaus.

"Maybe he has the option if he wants a mask on," Klinsmann said. "I don't know how much a mask can protect him. Whatever he feels good with. I think a broken nose, yes, it was tricky during the game. He barely could breathe. He struggled with that. But once it's broken, it's broken. It will take time to heal completely. But unfortunately, it's also part of our game. He's going to be all right."

Funny, but coach wants to see game

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- Dutch Coach Louis van Gaal complained Tuesday about what he said was an obstructed view from the dugout at the World Cup stadium in Porto Alegre where his team will face Australia.

Van Gaal spoke after a training session in the Estadio Beira-Rio ahead of his team's second Group B match on Wednesday.

Van Gaal said he has "no view" because the dugout was too low and there was a TV camera position in front of his seat.

He said the problem was especially acute because he likes to sit during a match, unlike some managers who prowl the technical area.

In a statement, FIFA said it was looking into the possibility of "adjusting the current position of the camera to mitigate the obstructed view," but said it didn't intend to remove the camera or reposition the team benches.

FIFA also noted that the coaches of the first two teams to play in Porto Alegre, France and Honduras, didn't make any complaints about the dugout.

In the buff

SALVADOR, Brazil -- Croatia's coaches are urging their players to focus on facing Cameroon at the World Cup rather than lamenting the publication of photos showing some of them bathing nude at their training complex's swimming pool in Brazil.

Since the paparazzi photos were published by Croatian media over the weekend, players have refused to speak to the media.

"The players are talking about that theme, but we want them to concentrate on the match against Cameroon," assistant coach Robert Kovac said on Tuesday. "If those photos were not published, they would be thinking about Cameroon. Like this, they are distracted by things outside the pitch."

However, Kovac said he understood the players' reasons for boycotting the media.

"That was a private thing," he said. "They had a day off and they relaxed a bit. It was not appropriate by photographers to abuse the situation."

Meanwhile, the stakes will be high in today's Group A game at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, as both sides lost their opening match. Croatia was beaten 3-1 by Brazil, while Cameroon went down 1-0 to Mexico.

"I don't want to deal with that," Croatia Coach Niko Kovac said late Tuesday in Manaus. "That's behind us."

Sports on 06/18/2014

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