The first day of rest since the tournament began June 9. The quarterfinals begin Friday with Germany playing Argentina at Berlin, and Italy playing Ukraine at Hamburg.

HEADLINES

FIFA president Sepp Blatter continued his criticism of the referees in the tournament. On a day when two senior refs, Graham Poll of England and Valentin Ivanov of Russia, were not given any more assignments, Blatter said:

“I’ve noted that instructions aren’t being followed consistently from one match to another. When a coach complains to me that shirt-pulling earned his player a yellow card one night and nothing for his team’s group rivals the next, how am I supposed to respond?

“And then there are the tackles from behind I’ve seen go unpunished and the violent conduct that has escaped sanction, not to mention the serious errors made in applying the rules.”

Claims of racist abuse targeting players at the World Cup emerged hours after FIFA and local organizers promoted the “Say No to Racism” campaign.

France coach Raymond Domenech said black players were taunted as they entered the stadium before their second-round match against Spain at Hanover on Tuesday night.

“When the bus arrives at the stadium, when you hear some fans making monkey chants … I just turned my head away,” Domenech said in Hameln. “I don’t even give them the satisfaction of a look.”

He declined to say more. Spanish fans whistled and booed during the French national anthem, the “Marseillaise,” and several Les Bleus players said that gave them extra incentive to win.

HISTORY

The first quarterfinal, in Berlin on Friday, seems like a final. Of course, with Argentina playing Germany, maybe it should be.

In 1986, Argentina beat West Germany 3-2 to win the World Cup title in Mexico City. In 1990, the Germans turned it around with a 1-0 victory. Argentina has two World Cups, Germany three.

The last quarterfinal also is a rematch of a previous World Cup championship game. In 1998, France beat Brazil 3-0. They play Saturday night in Frankfurt.

QUOTABLE

“I hope (Zinedine Zidane) makes his last World Cup match on Saturday. I don’t know if it’s going to be his last (career) match, but I hope it’s his last match at this World Cup.” – Brazil assistant coach Mario Zagallo, who in 1998 was Brazil’s head coach when it lost 3-0 to France for the title. Zidane scored two goals in that game.