Naomi’s here, Charlize is here, Morgan’s here, even Placido is here - but, finally, the last missing piece of the South Africa tableau was put in place at Soccer City tonight when Nelson Mandela made a 2-minute tour of the pitch.
World Cup: Last Few Hours, from the Stands
We’re in the last hours of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first in Africa, and as 94,000 fans of Spain and Holland assemble here at Soccer City, it seems appropriate to review what South Africa has achieved in the last month.
In South Africa, Catalans Lead Spain; In Spain, Catalans Want (More) Freedom
Just an addendum to Tony’s excellent tableau of the kind of historic and political forces “at play” when Spain and Holland meet in the 2010 World Cup final tomorrow: On Saturday, on the eve of arguably the most important match in Spanish history, over one million people in Barcelona marched on the streets of the Catalan capital behind …
The Shackles Come Off As Germany Defeats Uruguay 3-2
A confession: I’ve never had any time for the third/fourth play-off game. The players don’t want to be a part of it, unless they’re in the running for the Golden Boot, and management surely either wants to be back home, receiving plaudits for getting their side to the last four or sunning themselves on a beach, licking their wounds after …
There Is No 4th Place
Bravo to Germany for it’s “little final” win 3-2. But with all due respect (with the exception for the fishy stinkitude of a yet again awful Bastian Schweinsteiger), Uruguay gets the sporting “moral” tie on this one.
90 Seconds With … Former England Goalscoring Legend Gary Lineker
Spain vs. The Netherlands: A Neutral’s Dilemma
World Cup soccer is often the continuation of war by other means, a ritual reenactment of past conflicts that allows those who perceive themselves as victims to claim some sort of symbolic vengeance. Algeria’s coach sought to raise his players’ passion for their showdown with England by showing them watch The Battle of Algiers, a movie …
TIME Writers’ World Cup Memories
Exclusive Interview with Paul the “Psychic” Octopus
It’s the big one everyone wanted. A one-on-one, man-to-octopus chat with possibly the greatest World Cup tipster in history. The two-year-old cephalopod who resides in the western German city of Oberhausen has become an international celebrity thanks to his correctly predicting every German result. But now his legacy is assured after …
Introducing Your World Cup Final: Ajax vs. Barcelona
The build up to World Cup finals always serve as an appropriate time to take stock, reflect on football’s past and generally get excited about the prospect of the crowning of the new world champions. But there’s an inexorable link that provides the basis for this Sunday’s clash between Spain and the Netherlands.
You Can’t Say You Weren’t Warned, Part 2
An All Too Rare Occurrence: The World Cup Will Get a New Owner
Every World Cup final since the quadrennial tournament began in 1930 has involved at least one of just four teams: Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina. That this year’s final will break that 80-year quadropoly is cause for celebration: Either Spain or Holland will win the World Cup for the first time on Sunday at Johannesburg’s Soccer …
Spain Pushes Past Germany 1-0 to Reach the Cup Final
I had to step out of my office for a couple of minutes while I was watching Spain’s 1-0 semifinal win over Germany. Spain had the ball in its possession as I was leaving, and when I returned, Spain had the ball in its possession. Xavi to Iniesta to Xavi to Villa to Sergio to Xavi. It’s possible Spain never gave the ball up during …
