Sao Paulo: In the perfect picture of contrasting coaches' styles at this World Cup, Alejandro Sabella of Argentina stood near midfield dressed in a suit that looked appropriate for Wall Street, while Bosnia's Safet Susic stood nearby looking like he was headed for a workout.
Plenty of coaches are setting high standards for style this World Cup, with fitted jackets, gleamingly shined shoes and ties in the national colors. Others look like they want to be comfortable exhorting their players and yelling at referees.
Croatia's Niko Kovac, a doppelganger of actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, has been a style star, wearing a fitted suit in the opener against host Brazil in Sao Paulo, but then losing the tie and jacket for a game in steamy Manaus.
"Very simple. For me, managing Croatia is a matter of great pride," Kovac said Sunday in Recife. "It's a holiday for me every day, and our custom back in Croatia is, when it's a holiday, you put on your Sunday clothes, and that's it."
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli and Costa Rica's Jorge Luis Pinto certainly planned their World Cup wardrobes thoughtfully. Each dapper in their dark suits, they brought some serious style to their postgame handshake Friday in Recife.
