World Cup: Amazon, Italy Devour England in Jungle Rumble

MANAUS, Brazil — Back in 2013, before this summer's World Cup groups and match-ups had been set, England manager Roy Hodgson called Manaus "ideally the place to avoid." That triggered a touchy response from the mayor of this isolated jungle city of more than 1.5 million residents. Hodgson backtracked on his comments, deeming them irrelevant in a press conference at Arena da Amazonia Friday

But after England's opening game against Italy Saturday, it seems Hodgson was right all along

Mario Balotelli headed home the game-winning goal. Wayne Rooney remained a World Cup goal-scoring virgin. The masses of Brazilians in the stands aligned themselves firmly behind the Azzurri, and England lost the much-anticipated match by 2-1, setting up a must-win date with Uruguay on Thursday in São Paulo Read more...