US to invade Rio World Cup

SAO PAULO – The 4,080-mile overnight flight to Sao Paulo was easy for the US World Cup team.

A four-mile bus ride from its base hotel through the city’s perpetually congested streets to the Americans’ training camp was another matter.

“We haven’t had any problem, other than the traffic. But other than that, not too bad,” goalkeeper Tim Howard said Monday after the Americans arrived in Brazil exactly one week before their World Cup opener against Ghana.

The US landed from Miami and reached its hotel about 2 hours, 20 minutes later on a bus with the American flag and the slogan “United by team, driven by passion.” Police on motorcycles with the Stars and Stripes sticking out of their wheels led the way, and a helicopter hovered.

Four soldiers in fatigues and about two dozen police in riot gear stood outside the hotel, which is adjacent to a park on a tree-lined street. Bleary-eyed players were applauded when they entered the lobby.

What on maps appears to be a short ride to the Sao Paulo Futebol Clube’s luxurious Barra Funda training complex took 45 minutes in late-afternoon traffic as a subway strike in its fifth day tightened bottlenecks. At a downtown station, riot police used tear gas against striking workers.  (AP)