French national team coach Didier Deschamps has worries like few other World Cup coaches. On just about any other national team, Paul Pogba would be an automatic choice tostart in Russia. On Saturday night, the Manchester United star should start against the USA at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium, where he will be playing for a spot […]
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World Cup Retro 2006: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 18th World Cup, hosted by Germany and won by Italy. Angela Merkel. “A Time to Make Friends” was the officialslogan of a World Cup in which Germany would have a chance to show it’s a “hospitable, joyful and modern nation bursting with ideas,” said […]
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Germany's most exciting young player cut by Coach Loew
Leroy Sane, the most talented dribbler Germany has recently produced, won’t be on display at Russia 2018. If the dynamic 22-year-old winger, whose Manchester City exploits earned him2017-18 PFA Young Player of the Year, was on the brink of bringing his outstanding club form to Die Mannschaft, Coach Joachim Loew didn’t believe so. pointed out, […]
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Why to be bullish on Brazil
With a score to settle after that game against Germany in the 2014 World Cup semifinals, Brazil, as usual, looks to be one of the top five teams in Russia. Any fear thatNeymar would lack game sharpness after a three-month injury layoff was squanched when he took the field in the second half against a […]
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World Cup Retro 1998: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 16th World Cup, hosted and won by France. Major League Soccer. In the first World Cup since MLS’s 1996 launch, U.S.coach Steve Sampson’s squad included 16 MLS players, among them 1994 World Cup players who had returned from Europe to play in the new […]
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World Cup Retro 1994: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 15th World Cup, hosted by the USA and won by Brazil. Silverdome. Some soccer purists around the world objected to a WorldCup in a country without a great soccer history — a nation that didn’t even have a national pro league. U.S. media, on […]
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World Cup Retro 1990: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 14th World Cup, hosted by Italy and won by West Germany. Paul Caligiuri. The USA, after a 40-yearabsence, returned to the World Cup thanks to Paul Caligiuri’s goal that gave the USA a 1-0 win at Trinidad & Tobago in the must-win final qualifying […]
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World Cup Retro 1986: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 13th World Cup, hosted by Mexico and won by Argentina. Televisa. Colombia was slated to host, but it became apparent that a 24-teamtournament was too much for it to handle. Mexico, thanks to financial guarantees offered by Televisa, became the replacement and the first […]
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World Cup Retro 1982: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 12th World Cup, hosted by Spain and won by Italy. Armando Betancourt. Despite its success at the club level, Spain had underachievedat the World Cup. But even hosting the tournament — which had been expanded from 16 to 24 teams — didn’t bring better […]
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World Cup Retro 1978: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the 11th World Cup, hosted and won by Argentina. Madres de Plaza de Mayo. Human-rights advocates were appalled that FIFA let Argentinahost the finals while its ruling generals carried out the “dirty war.” The left-wing guerillas (los Montoneros) promised not to disrupt the tournament — […]