English, Swedish players hope for cave rescue
MAE SAI, Thailand — English and Swedish soccer players competing in the World Cup are sending messages of hope to the members of a youth soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand.
A rescuer filmed one of the boys wearing an England jersey. England defender John Stones says "we're hoping and wishing that they get out safe and sound."
He added that "everyone, their friends and families, all of the boys (here), all the England squad, all our thoughts are with them."
Sebastian Larsson, on the Swedish team that faces England in a quarterfinals match Saturday, also hoped for good news, saying "all you can do in any situation like that is just pray for them."
Rescuers raced to pump water from a flooded cave before trying to extract the 12 boys and their soccer coach ahead of more rain.
The Japanese squad that competed at soccer's World Cup in Russia has tweeted a good-luck message to the 12 members of a youth soccer team trapped with their coach in a cave in northern Thailand. The message delivered from the @ jfa_samuraiblue urged them in Japanese: "Don't give up! Hang on!" and in English "Hang on! Football Family are with you."
A Thai navy SEAL who has spent time with the boys in the cave has said they asked about the World Cup results.
Japanese Football Association president Kohzo Tashima afterward praised the national team for sending the public message of support, saying "Japanese players have grown to be able to do these kinds of things naturally, and I realize that Japanese soccer is becoming mature." AP