Belguim knows who Origi is now

Teenage striker Divock Origi is Belgium’s World Cup hero of the moment. Just last month, many of his teammates – never mind much of his country’s media – didn’t even know who he was.

Yet Belgium now has the 19-year-old Origi, who plays in France and whose father represented Kenya, to thank for a place in the last 16 in Brazil.

After being a late call-up to the World Cup squad as an injury replacement, Origi scored his first international goal to send Belgium through with a 1-0 win over Russia in Group H on Sunday.

“I always believed that I could go far but in football you never know. It does come fast,” Origi said.

That’s for sure. This past season was only his first full season as a professional with French club Lille but he’s now scored at a World Cup and is part of a Belgian team heading for the second round.

Origi said his father, Mike, who is the person who “guides” him, was in the crowd to complete the day. Mike Origi was a Kenyan international striker who moved to Belgium to play and won the league title with Genk. But despite his father’s semi-famous status, the young Origi was little-known – even in Belgium – until coach Marc Wilmots decided to pick him as the replacement for injured striker Christian Benteke.

“I love launching young kids,” Wilmots said. “He is someone with discipline, someone with speed.”

Costa Rica complains to FIFA

Costa Rica’s football federation has sent a letter to FIFA demanding an explanation for why so many of its players were required to submit to anti-doping controls after a surprise victory over Italy.

Seven Costa Rica players were tested after Friday’s 1-0 win, angering team officials who say it could lead to people believing that football’s world governing body suspects Costa Ricans of doping.

“We believe in, accept and trust doping controls that FIFA carries out, but we want an explanation as to why so many of the players were called in,” said Adrian Gutierrez, the president of Costa Rica’s selection committee.

According to the federation, FIFA said eight players weren’t available for testing before the World Cup when a FIFA anti-doping commission visited Costa Rica as part of a routine control carried out on national teams competing in Brazil. Two of those players were tested after the Uruguay match and the other six were tested after the Italy match, the federation said on its website. A seventh Costa Rica player was chosen by lottery.

FIFA advised about fan

FIFA will be advised today that a neo-Nazi sympathizer invaded the pitch during the Germany-Ghana match. The fans’ anti-discrimination network, Fare, says it is preparing a report on Saturday’s incident, when a shirtless fan interrupted play.

Slogans written on his chest and back included “HH”, signifying Heil Hitler, and “SS,” referring to the Nazi paramilitary unit.

Fare executive director Piara Powar told the Associated Press “there would be no other explanation for it.”