Defending champions Italy made an unconvincing start to the World Cup with a drab 1-1 draw against Paraguay on Monday after Holland joined fellow giants Argentina and Germany as first-match winners.

Japan celebrated their first World Cup victory outside Japan when they edged past Cameroon 1-0 in the day’s other match.
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Soccer in Brazil resembles figure skating in that artistry is no less important than performance.

Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Brazil Coach Dunga, left, with Kaká. Dunga has been criticized for hewing the national team to European tactics and straying from the so-called beautiful game.
Goal
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Five-time tournament champions Brazil touched down Thursday for the World Cup in South Africa. Their arrival created huge excitement.

The team landed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and left directly for their five-star hotel in the city’s northern Randburg district.
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A goal in each half by Argentina striker Diego Milito helped Inter Milan overcome Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final on Saturday in Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium and end the Italian club’s 45-year wait for Europe’s top club title.

Coach Jose Mourinho may have dominated the build-up to this year’s final — not least because of what looks like his impending move to Real Madrid — but Milito stole the show on the pitch with two clinical finishes to help Inter become the first Italian club to register the treble of domestic league, cup and Champions League.
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Spain’s squad has gathered to begin training ahead of the World Cup.

The 23 players in coach Vicente del Bosque’s squad arrived at the Spanish football federation’s Las Rosas training facilities on the outskirts of Madrid to start preparations for the finals in South Africa.

Reigning European champion Spain plays its first Group H match against Switzerland on June 16 before facing Honduras and Chile.
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