[SPAIN-NETHERLANDS] Spain won the World Cup for the first time when it beat the Netherlands, 1-0, on Andres Iniesta‘sgoal in the 116th minute. Both teams had their chances to win the game before Iniesta’s goal, but much-anticipated final was marred by 14 yellow cards — a record for a World Cup final — and one […]
Special Edition
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Forlan and Mueller capture top prizes
[AWARDS] Uruguay’s Diego Forlan has won the adidas Golden Ball as the MVP of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa andGerman Thomas Mueller won the adidas Golden Shoe as the top scorer and the Hyundai Best Young Player award. Forlan scored five as surprise Uruguayfinished fourth. Mueller edged Forlan, Wesley Sneijder and David Villa […]
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Spain-Netherlands minute-by-minute
[WORLD CUPFINAL] Spain beat the Netherlands, 1-0, on Andres Iniesta‘s goal in the 116th minute to win the World Cup for the first time. The loss marked the thirdtime the Dutch have fallen in the final. The game at Johannesburg’s Soccer City featured 14 yellow cards — more than double the previous record for a […]
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Gyan: 'I'm all right'
[REACTION] The day after Ghana, the hope of African soccer, lost a heart-breaking decision to Uruguay in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, its players visitedNelson Mandela. Update: Meanwhile, FIFA’s disciplinary committee decided to give Luis Suarez a one-gamesuspension. Suarez, whose handball on the line prevented a sure goal and saved Uruguay when Asamoah Gyan […]
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What They're Saying
“I think I made the best save of the World Cup.” — Uruguay’s star froward, Luis Suarez, whose handball prevented what would have been thewinning goal in the Celeste’s game against Ghana.
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Germans soar into semifinals
[GERMANY-ARGENTINA] This World Cup’s most exciting team reassured us that attacking soccer pays off. The Germans scored 158 seconds after kickoff, never stoppedgoing forward, and routed Argentina 4-0 in Cape Town to advance to the semifinals. What we liked … — Germany reached the WorldCup semifinals for a record 12th time and for the second […]
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How Brazil unraveled
[NETHERLANDS-BRAZIL]The Netherlands reached the semifinals of the World Cup for the fourth time when it rallied from one goal down at the half for a 2-1 win over Brazil, which collapsed in the last half hour. What we liked … — Keyed by a superb save from keeper Martin Stekelenburg, the Dutch didn’tunravel and concede […]
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What They're Saying
“I asked for the players to be severely punished and for Patrice Evra never to come back into the France team. When you are captain of France, there is aresponsibility and a respect for the shirt and for people that you have to have.” — Former French national team star Lilian Thuram, whorecommended to the […]
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Germany celebrates its own 'Messi'
[PORTRAIT] Germany’s exciting 21-year-old playmaker plays down the comparison. He’s also left-footed, dark-haired and can trick his way past defenders. ButMesut Ozil says of his Messi nickname, “I believe it’s an abbreviation of Mesut and has nothing to do with Lionel Messi.” Ozil and Messi face off whenGermany and Argentina meet in the quarterfinals on […]
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Extra! Extra! Brazil eliminated
[OFF THE POST] Prepared for either eventuality, Brazil national team sponsor Extra, a supermarket chain, made two versions of a thank-you ad. Small problem: theFolha de Sao Paulo newspaper ran the wrong one. The morning after Brazil defeated Chile, 3-0, to move into the quarterfinals, the newspaper ran the version expressing sadness atBrazil’s “elimination” and […]