[MY VIEW] Rampant, near-hysterical promotion is a staple of ESPN’s philosophy, yet it came up short with its World Cup slogan, “One Game Changes Everything.”Nice try, guys, but as the first day of group finales vividly showed on Tuesday, one goal changes everything. By virtue of beating Greece, 2-0, in its opener on June 12, […]
argentina
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
South Africa and France face almost certain elimination
[PREDICTIONS] The World Cup moves into the final stages of the first round when group matches will be played simultaneously. Mexico and Uruguay have the edge inGroup A, while Argentina is all but assured of advancing to the knockout phase from Group B. For a look at Tuesday’s four games and Soccer America’s predictions … […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: Beware of coaching nonsense
By Paul Gardner We’re now reaching the stage of the World Cup when we are forced to put up with a good deal of crap about coaches and coaching. From the coachesthemselves, of course, but also from their players (how would they dare contradict their coach?), and from their followers in the media. Of the […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Finally, goals, lots of goals …
[GROUP B] Want goals? We got goals for you on the second day of play in Group B. Eight goals in total. As many as in the previous five games combined. Argentinaisn’t yet assured of a berth in the second round, but its play in its two wins puts the Albiceleste among the favorites to […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rating the big seven
[MY VIEW] The seven seeds other than host South Africa were considered the favorites to win the World Cup. How did they do in their openers? They ranged fromGermany, magnificent in its 4-0 win over Australia, to Spain, upset by Switzerland, and Italy and England, both lackluster at best in opening ties. Here’s how we […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
What tricks does Maradona have for South Korea?
[PREDICTIONS] Argentina players are crediting Coach Diego Maradona with coming up with the play that produced thewinning goal against Nigeria. He’ll need to come up with a plan to stop South Korea, so impressive in its win over Greece. For a look at Thursday’s three games and Soccer America’s predictions … ARGENTINA (3 pts., 1-0) […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Messi, Enyeama and young Koreans stand out
[GROUP B] Lionel Messi didn’t score but didn’t disappoint either in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Nigeria, whose goalie Vincent Enyeama was the game’s outstanding performer. Young stars Lee Chung-Yong and ParkChu-Young helped South Korea to an easy 2-0 win over a terrible Greece team. Here’s what we liked and didn’t like about the opening Group […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Argentina starts against old foe Nigeria
[PREDICTIONS] Argentina has played and beaten Nigeria at the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. But it did not portend well for the Argentines the rest of the way. Formore on Saturday’s games and Soccer America’s predictions … SOUTH KOREA (0-0-0) vs. GREECE (0-0-0) June 12 in Port Elizabeth Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision. Referee: […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Di Maria grateful to get second chance
[PORTRAIT] Young Argentine Angel Di Maria shares a lot in common with Albiceleste star Lionel Messi. Both hail from Rosario. Both are left-footed. Both have already won an Under-20 World Cup title and an Olympic gold medal. And both their national team careers got off toterrible starts. Messi’s first game lasted 44 seconds before he […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Does Messi have anything left in his tank?
[ARGENTINA] All indications are that Argentina’s players are united — a far cry from the chaos that surrounded the team during qualifying. But off the field,problems persist. On Thursday, Argentina national team’s doctor responded to comments by its fitness coach the day before that star Lionel Messi is sufferingfrom exhaustion by saying that all 23 […]