The Brazilian federation has set up a special post office box for the letters sent to the national team. After receiving the letters, Luiz and Marcelo also had an unusual way to decide which player would talk first — they played rock, paper, scissors. NATAL, Brazil (AP) — A giant sinkhole has swallowed cars and damaged the homes of some 150 families living in a poor neighborhood in a northern Brazilian city that's one of 12 hosting the World Cup matches. A top aide to President Dilma Rousseff arrived Friday to Natal to oversee efforts to provide aid and housing to those affected when heavy rains gradually opened a hole in the earth beneath a neighborhood a short distance from a coastal road popular with fans visiting the city. Integration Minister Francisco Teixeira said that once displaced families are cared for, the government will develop a plan to stabilize the soil and rebuild the drainage system to prevent another tragedy. Natal next hosts a Group D match between Italy and Uruguay on Tuesday. Referee Bjorn Kuipers blew his whistle moments before the ball soared into the net on Benzema's curling, first-time strike, ending France's 5-2 win over Switzerland in Group E on Friday. The French had plenty to smile about despite that last goal not counting, considering they have won both their matches and are all but guaranteed to advance. At least if you believe Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella, who strayed beyond sport when he analyzed the Iranians on Friday before their Group F match. The Sunderland striker, who scored twice in his team's final sendoff series match against Nigeria, strained his left hamstring in the first half of Monday's 2-1 victory against Ghana in Natal. [...] that was all anyone could talk about at the team's base in Campinas, with scores of cameras zooming in on the reigning world player of the year's every move, twitch and gesture. Team officials sighed when asked about the status of Ronaldo, who has been struggling with a leg injury since before the tournament.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 51 minutes ago.
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