Do Americans hate football? Not regular football, of course. Not football as in first and ten, going long, late hits, special teams, pneumatic cheerleaders in abbreviated costumes, serial brain concussions—the game that every American loves, apart from a few, uh, soreheads. Not that one. The other one. The one whose basic principle of play is the kicking of a ball by a foot. The one that the rest of the world calls “football,” except when it’s called (for example) futbal, futball, fútbol, futebol, fotball, fótbolti, fußball, or (as in Finland) jalkapallo, which translates literally ... Read More

Tags: 2010 World Cup

Spain midfielder Xavi described his country’s FIFA World Cup™ victory as a dream come true following their 1-0 defeat of the Netherlands at Soccer City. Xavi’s club and country team-mate Andres Iniesta scored the only goal of the game four minutes before the end of extra time after a drab encounter as Spain added the world title to the European crown they won in Vienna two years ago. And having also won everything on offer in club football, Xavi now has a full set of international medals. But being part of the first ever Spanish team to win the FIFA World Cup has topped the lot ... Read More

Tags: 2010 World Cup

Two years ago when Spain lifted the European title in Vienna, a Brazilian-born defensive midfielder was widely regarded as the team’s unsung star. With all the focus on the goalscoring feats of David Villa and Fernando Torres or the silky skills of Andres Iniesta and Xavi, Marcos Senna still managed to attract as many plaudits for his vital role in helping the rest of the team tick. He was also named in UEFA’s squad of the tournament. But after a poor and injury-plagued season in Spain, the 33-year-old was left out of coach Vicente Del Bosque’s FIFA World Cup™ squad. Inste... Read More

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It was past 11pm before Bastian Schweinsteiger emerged from the Germany dressing room, bitter dismay at defeat by Spain in their FIFA World Cup™ semi-final etched across his face. Before heading towards the waiting throng of reporters, the player paused for a moment, leaning against a wall and seemingly struggling to compose himself. Spotting this, his coach Joachim Low gave the midfielder a few words of consolation. “We’ve come up short and it’s a shame,” Schweinsteiger said a short time later. “We never showed 100 per cent of what we showed against England and Arge... Read More

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  It will not come as much of a consolation to heartbroken German fans, but at least Paul, Germany’s now world-famous “Octopus oracle”, has maintained his perfect record. The “psychic” creature has correctly predicted all six of Germany’s FIFA World Cup™ games and, amid excruciating drama broadcast live on national television on Tuesday, plumped for Spain, causing anguish up and down the country. And the eight-legged soccer soothsayer was spot on Wednesday, as Carles Puyol’s semi-final header shattered Germany’s dreams of winning their fourth ... Read More

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The unforgettable scenes of Angela Merkel passionately supporting the German national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ on home turf four years ago will live long in the memory. The German chancellor was once again in the crowd on Saturday, getting behind Joachim Low’s charges as they powered past Argentina 4-0 in Cape Town to book their place in the semi-finals of South Africa 2010.   Ahead of the match, Merkel met with South African president Jacob Zuma at his residence in Cape Town, before visiting a German-sponsored urban-violence prevention project in the Khayelitsha township. ... Read More

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Brazil team doctor Jose Luiz Runco admitted on Sunday that star midfielder Kaka, who failed to shine at the FIFA™World Cup, was not properly fit and would not have played at a lesser event. “Maybe in other situations Kaka would not have played even the World Cup, but he really wanted to be there,” said Runco as the squad touched down in Rio following their flight back from South Africa. Kaka came into the tournament on the back of a disappointing season with Real Madrid which was marred by thigh problems which forced him to miss more than six weeks of the season. And when he did... Read More

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There were tears for all the teams involved on Friday – tears of joy for the Netherlands and Uruguay, and of despair for Brazil and Ghana, as the first two quarter-finals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ served up almost unbearable drama and tension. The Dutch beat five-time world champions Brazil 2-1, while Uruguay needed penalties to overcome brave Ghana. A continent cheered for the Black Stars as they bid to become the first African team ever to make the FIFA World Cup semi-finals. It was looking good for Ghana at Soccer City in Johannesburg when Sully Muntari blasted his side in front f... Read More

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Should Spain get to the FIFA World Cup™ Final, in-form striker David Villa could write a new page in the tournament’s history and over-take Raul as his country’s all-time top scorer. Whereas strike partner Fernando Torres has laboured in four scoreless appearances on his return from ankle surgery in April, Villa appears to have the Midas touch. Virtually everything the Barcelona new boy has touched has been turning to goal, the hiccup of an early loss to Switzerland aside. For a generation, Spanish fans have been weaned on goals from Real Madrid goalscoring machine Raul, but sud... Read More

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Chile and Slovakia will be driven by the shared desire to spring an upset when they tackle respective rivals Brazil and the Netherlands in the Round of 16 on Monday. Both the Brazilians and Dutch enjoy a worldwide reputation for spectacular play, but arguably no team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has been more attractive going forward, not to mention more resolutely attack-minded, than Chile. That said, Marcelo Bielsa’s men will be put to a gruelling test by their fellow South Americans, whose strength and serenity particularly caught the eye during the group stage. The current Brazil li... Read More

Tags: 2010 World Cup