World Cup Action Heats Up as Colombia Beats Greece | WPN World People News

Colombia beat Greece 3-0 during a Group C World Cup soccer match at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday.

Pablo Armero opened the score for Colombia five minutes into the game. Teófilo Gutiérrez doubled the score off a corner kick in the 58th minute. James Rodriguez added a third in the 93rd minute against a lackluster Greek side.

Group C's other matchup-- Cote D'Ivoire and Japan-- was scheduled to kick-off later Saturday, along with Group D's opening round pairings: Uruguay against Costa Rica and England versus Italy.

On Friday, the Netherlands took revenge over Spain, crushing the defending champions and world's top-ranked team, 5-1. The Group B game was a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final, when the Spanish beat the Dutch, 1-0.

Spain's Coach Vincente del Bosque said he could not find words to explain the defeat.

The Netherlands, ranked 15th in the world, exploded for four second-half goals Friday to break open a 1-1 halftime tie at Arena Fonte Nova in Brazil's eastern city of Salvador.

Dutchmen Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie each scored twice, with Robben's goal in the 53rd minute putting the Netherlands ahead for good. Stefan de Vrij tallied the other Dutch goal in a game dominated by his squad.

Spain took a 1-0 first-half lead when Xabi Alonso converted a 27th-minute penalty. De Vrij had brought down Diego Costa in the box, and Alonso stroked the ball past goalie Jasper Cillessen.

The first full day of matches in the world's premier sporting event began with Mexico's 1-0 win over Cameroon. Later in the day, Alexis Sanchez helped Chile trounce Australia 3-1 in their World Cup opener in Cuiaba.

Mexico is now tied with Brazil at the top of Group A with three points apiece. Mexico, the 20th-ranked team in the world according to World Cup organizer FIFA, upset Brazil to win the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Brazil is seeking a record sixth World Cup title and its first since 2002. The Brazilians are ranked third in the world, behind Spain at No. 1 and Germany in the second spot.

Other teams expected to challenge for this year's trophy include Argentina - Brazil's neighbor and fierce rival - along with European giants Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Source: Voice of America