The smallest country at the 2018 World Cup will have one of the largest followings, particularly among those who admire the underdog.
World Cup Watch
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
World Cup Retro 1938: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the third World Cup, hosted by France and won by Italy. Anschluss. The specter of World War II was emerging with NaziGermany’s annexation (Anschluss) of Austria — a move that also disbanded the talented Austrian “Wunderteam” and placed its stars in the German squad. The […]
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L'Affaire Benzema: 'If they need me, they know where I am'
France’s loss is Real Madrid’s gain. Karim Benzema has been having a crummy season by his standards — five goals in La Liga and two in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League– but the 30-year-old forward still has the faith of countryman Zinedine Zidane. That’s more than can be said for French national […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
World Cup Retro 1934: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the second World Cup, won by host Italy. Benito Mussolini. Il Duce had been in power 10 years when FIFA awardedItaly the tournament in 1932. Constructing lavish soccer stadiums suited the Fascist dictator’s penchant for grandiose buildings and he hoped for a nationalistic celebration amid […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
World Cup Retro 1930: Five names to have at your fingertips
Here are five names to have at your fingertips about the inaugural World Cup won by Uruguay. Estadio Centenario. Uruguay, with a population of just 2 million, was namedhost of the first World Cup because it won the previous two Olympic tournaments and it offered to pay travel costs of all entrants. It also used […]
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A third Asian finalist pushes panic button
Not for the first time, Vahid Halilhodzic qualified a team for the World Cup only to be fired on the eve of the finals. In 2010, the Bosnia-born Frenchman was fired by Ivory Coastin late February following the Elephants’ elimination in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. “I lose one game […]
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Brilliant for Spain, Isco finds himself in limbo at Real Madrid
Spain showed why it is one of the favorites to win the World Cup when it tied Germany, 1-1, in an exciting friendly played in Dusseldorf and demolished Argentina, 6-1, in Madrid. Only aworld-class save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied Spaniard Isco against Germany, but he scored a hat trick against Argentina. The 25-year-old Isco […]
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In the shadows, with futsal skills, Ben Yedder takes own path
Wissam Ben Yedder shares one thing with new French national team teammates like Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, N’Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi and AdrienRabiot. They all grew up playing soccer in the banlieues around Paris. After that, their paths rarely crossed until Ben Yedder’s first call-up at theage of 27 for France’s World Cup warm-up matches […]
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461 Places to Watch the World Cup
The 2014 World Cup starts Thursday. Here are 461 places Soccer America readers recommend where you should watch the World Cup and enjoy all the excitement. SOCCER AMERICA’s free e-eletters: SIGN UP Letus know where you will be gathering to watch the tournament. Email Soccer America with details of your watch party — bar or […]
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418 Places to Watch the World Cup
The 2014 World Cup starts Thursday. Here are 418 places Soccer America readers recommend where you should watch the World Cup and enjoy all the excitement. SOCCER AMERICA’s free e-eletters: SIGN UP ALABAMA Birmingham Good People Brewing Company |114 14th Street SouthAlley Bar | 166 Commerce Street The Tipping Point (@AOMontgomery) | 5015 Hampstead High Street | @TippingPointBar […]