Japan’s inspiring play last night (and Tony’s post) have me daring to wish for what in any other Cup would have been the impossible: greatly favored sides being shown the door by nominally modest rivals. If France and Italy can both go out in disgrace, and the U.S. finish ahead of England, why not hope for (but not lay lots of money …
World Cup
All Bets are Off in a Multipolar World Cup!
The unceremonious (and richly deserved) dumping of Italy and France out of World Cup 2010, and the travails of England, Germany and Spain — and arguably even Serbia and Denmark — are a sign that world soccer has gone multipolar. “Multipolarity” was a term coined by French foreign policy wonks fretting over the Bush Administration’s …
What’s Wrong with the European Sides?
World Cup Rebels: Why U.S. Soccer Should Reach the Semis
Now that the euphoria has faded – perhaps ever so slightly – following America’s remarkable 1-0 win over Algeria in the World Cup, it’s time to look ahead. And believe it or not, on paper, the U.S. is a favorite to reach the semifinals.
Ah, They’re Home! After Them!
It just keeps getting uglier. Not 48 hours after their World Cup elimination, members of France’s soccer team returned to a French public whose lust for pay-back hasn’t been seen since locals who collaborated with Nazi troops were being shot or shorn of their hair. Indeed, the public, press, and political denunciation of the …
A Last Gasp Winner for the U.S.
Landon Donovan finally found a distance from which the U.S. couldn’t miss the goal. About 4 yards away. After Jozey Altidore missed a sitter from 6 yards and Clint Dempsey hit the post from 12, Donovan ended an almost desperate second half siege against Algeria with a scrambled last-gasp goal in the 91st minute—the first minute …
A Close Shave for England
World Cup Miracle: Could the U.S. Win the Whole Thing?
Oh my, scratch the obits – on both sides of the pond.
Not Yet Out of Africa, but the Africans Are Almost All Out
After Wednesday’s round of games, we may have a World Cup on African soil with no African teams present in the second round. Cameroon was already eliminated after two dismally underwhelming performances. A much-vaunted Nigerian side and the plucky, but ultimately inadequate hosts South Africa both limped out last night. Tonight, the odds …
Argentina to Face its First Real Test
As the dust begins to settle on the group stage, we know the identities of the teams that will contest two of the eight games that will determine the quarter finals: Argentina, having sailed through a ridiculously easy group, will face Mexico, which shut out hosts South Africa to make second place in Group A, while Uruguay will face …
Why Maradona Wears Two Watches
Argentina has to be the most entertaining team in this tournament. The team has exceeded the country’s tapered expectations, and played beautifully in group play. Argentina finished with three straight wins, the latest a 2-0 victory of Greece. Both Lionel Messi, and his floppy mane, are awesome. And watching coach Diego Maradona’s …
The Agony of Defeat (Not To Mention Group Suicide)
And so the miracle the entire world had waited for transpired after all. No, France didn’t pull itself out of the pathetic, self-mocking off-field tantrums for which it had become a laughing-stock in recent days. And didn’t knock in enough goals to beat South Africa and sneak into the knock-out round as Mexico lost against Uruguay. …
Budgetry Ball Blues: Why It’s Not Easy Being English
There was only one place to go to escape the misery enveloping England the day after the team’s dismal draw against Algeria: the movies. But even the big screen couldn’t disguise the malaise that continues to seep through the camp. And now, 24 hours before the crucial clash with Slovenia, we must deal with the new government’s …