BRAZIL BEAT: Uruguay fans still reference 1950

NATAL, Brazil (AP) — Uruguay had yet to even advance to the knockout stage, but its fans seemed confident before the match against Italy that the team will go on to spoil Brazil's World Cup dreams — just as it did in 1950.

A group of four Uruguay fans at the Arena das Dunas in Natal wore 2-foot tall light blue foam hats, spelling out 1-9-5-0. The friends drew big crowds posing for pictures before the match. Even some Brazilians joined the fun.

And they weren't the only ones to bring up the upset victory over the host country at the tournament 64 years ago. Many of the Uruguay fans carried some sort of mention of 1950, from banners to pins to writing on their sleeves.

"This is a reminder of Brazilian heartbreak," said Alvaro Fernandez, 51, who traveled from Montevideo and wore the No. 9 hat in the 1950. "We will do it again."

— By Jim Vertuno — www.twitter.com/JimVertuno

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MUELLER MOVES ON

PORTO SEGURO, Brazil (AP) — Germany's Thomas Mueller would like fans to know he's just fine after sustaining a nasty cut above his eye at the end of Saturday's draw against Ghana.

A smiling Mueller posted a picture of himself — complete with bandaged right eyebrow — on Twitter. He wrote: "Thanks for the many get-better wishes. Everything fine with me, even if I look a bit like a boxer."

Germany plays the United States on Thursday in the Group G finale, needing a draw to assure advancement.