CTV News said Brazilian security officials are concerned about the fans of the Argentinians, considering that they are notorious for being hooligans. Although Porto Alegre, which is the venue of the Argentina-Nigeria match, was generally calm on Wednesday ahead of the game, Brazilian riot police were taking no chances and were prompt to settle scattered fights in the area.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is playing in its first World Cup, has been unlucky to have gotten itself eliminated early on in the tournament, especially in its previous, controversial match loss against Nigeria.
Although tournament substitution rules dictate that the Colombians would no longer be able to reinstate their original lineup players in the match once replaced by a substitute, Pekerman's decision was a calculated move, as Mondragon entered in the 85th minute, and that the team eventually won 4-1 against the Japanese.
Citing data compiled by independent visual designer James Offer of Codehesive Production, Bloomberg said fifteen of the 23-player squad have parents or grandparents who were not born in the country. The team's national coach himself, Ottmar Hitzfeld, is a German citizen.
