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FIFA switches six World Cup game times
ZURICH (AP) -- FIFA has switched games times for six World Cup matches, saying its intention is "to maximize the international TV audience."The Yugoslavia-Iran game at Saint-Etienne on June 14, originally scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. EDT, will start at 11:30 a.m. EDT and the Argentina-Japan game at Toulouse that day will start at 8:30 a.m. instead of 11:30 a.m.
The Belgium-Mexico game at Bordeaux on June 20 will start at 11:30 a.m. EDT instead of 8:30 a.m. and the Japan-Croatia game at Nantes that day will start at 8:30 a.m. instead of 11:30 a.m.
The following day, the Germany-Yugoslavia game at Lens will start at 8:30 a.m. EDT instead of 11:30 a.m. and the Argentina-Jamaica game at Paris will start at 11:30 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m.
Japanese TV benefits from the first two changes, which move games originally scheduled for 12:30 a.m. in Japan into prime time at 9:30 p.m. In addition, the Belgium-Mexico game becomes a 9:30 a.m. start in Mexico City rather than 6:30 a.m.
With the third change, the Argentina-Jamaica becomes a 12:30 p.m. start in Buenos Aires and an 11:30 a.m. start in Kingston rather than a 9:30 a.m. start in Buenos Aires and an 8:30 a.m. start in Kingston.
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Pope to players: You're role models
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope John Paul reminded an Italian League soccer team Saturday that it's not whether you win or lose that counts, it's how you play the game.
The pontiff, a one-time goalkeeper with a long interest in soccer, held an audience with players from Atalanta of Bergamo, which plays at AS Roma on Sunday.
"Every competition should be a game for the good and should promote the authentic values of existence with the tenacity and the spirit of sacrifice that you've been asked to show in practice and matches," the Pope told his guests.
"Don't ever forget that others, particularly children, watch you, since for them you are role models and often important points of reference."
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World champions in town to face emerging South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- For Brazil, it is the fourth stop on an unbeaten global tour by the world soccer champions.
For South Africa, Sunday's match is a chance to avenge a defeat and prove it can play with the best at next year's World Cup.
The contest at Ellis Park is the first for both countries since Thursday's World Cup draw, but South Africa considers it a crucial gauge of its preparations for a June 12 date in Marseilles against France in the World Cup opener.
While Brazilian star Ronaldo will miss the match to play for Inter Milan on Sunday, the visitors' side includes international giants such as Romario and Denilson against a mostly full strength South African side.
South Africa has yet to beat a legitimate world power, losing in the last two years to Brazil, Holland, France, England and Germany. The Brazil loss, in April 1996 at home, was particularly galling as South Africa led 2-0 at the half before crumbling to a 3-2 defeat.
Brazil is coming off victories over South Korea and Japan that followed a 4-0 swamping of Mexico in April.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan