FIFA 'not ashamed' of Brazil World Cup

With anti-government protests worrying Brazil, world soccer's governing body and the national government sought Monday to highlight the benefits of the World Cup investment, while stressing that the civil unrest during the test event posed no threat to the 2014 tournament going ahead.

More than a million Brazilians have taken to the streets during the Confederations Cup to protest about the lack of spending in public services compared with the billions of dollars being spent on the World Cup project.

Tear gas and rubber bullets have been fired at some demonstrators, leading to increased security around venues and suggestions that investment in Brazil is being wrongly diverted to fund a soccer tournament.

"We are definitely not under (siege), there is security," FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke said.

The government is projecting that $13.3 billion will be spent on stadiums, airport renovations and other projects for the World Cup, with an estimated $3.5 billion on the 12 venues.

At a briefing, Valcke and government officials outlined how the whole of Brazil will benefit from the fact infrastructure is being upgraded to host 32 teams and thousands of fans next June.

"I think there's a need to express all the good jobs we are doing," Valcke said. "We are doing plenty of good things. And again, it's never enough, but I am not ashamed about what we are doing.

"We are doing well and we are doing a lot of good things."

While protests have posed the greatest challenge to Confederations Cup organizers, anticipated problems with the six stadiums being used for the eight-team tournament have not materialized.

And FIFA is saying publicly that there is no prospect of Brazil being stripped of the hosting rights.

"There is no Plan B and, by the way, I have never received any official offer from any other countries around the world to stage the World Cup in 2014," Valcke said.

The government believes Brazil has proved the critics wrong.

"The country has been able to overcome the challenge of providing the infrastructure, logistics and conditions for the matches to be held in the stadia in accordance with the requirements of this cup, in terms of comfort and security," Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said.

Injured Balotelli sent home from Cup

Mario Balotelli was sent home from the Confederations Cup on Monday due to a strained thigh, leaving Italy without its top striker for both the semifinal vs. Spain and the final or third-place match.

Having already been ruled out of Thursday's semifinal, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli decided to send Balotelli home after consulting with team physician Enrico Castellacci.

"I feel like a loser leaving this way. I would have liked to stay but there's the Champions League preliminary round so I've got to take care of myself," Balotelli said upon leaving the team hotel, referring to matches in August with AC Milan. "Anyhow my teammates will do well even without me."

Balotelli injured his left quadriceps during Italy's 4-2 loss to Brazil on Saturday. He has been the Azzurri's most explosive player in the tournament so far, scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory over Mexico, converting a penalty in the 4-3 win over Japan and setting up a goal for Emanuele Giaccherini against Brazil.

"He's obviously very upset but there's just not enough time for him to return," Prandelli said, adding that the decision was made without any pressure from Milan. "We just used good sense."

USA earns 1-1 draw with France

A late goal from substitute Daniel Cuevas earned the United States a hard-fought 1-1 draw with France in the Under-20 World Cup on Monday.

France looked on pace to win and advance to the knockout stage after Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo scored his second goal of the tournament from a penalty kick in the 48th minute. It came after Dimitri Foulquier was sideswiped by America's Javan Torre in the area.

The United States, which lost its opening match to Spain, had few chances and missed those it did have - the worst when Luis Gil's penalty was easily saved in the 65th.

But the Americans grew in confidence toward the end and it paid off in the 85th. Cuevas pounced on a loose ball in the area and scored.