The news from the the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen was not good for German fans on Tuesday. Octopus Paul, who has been perfect with his picks in Germany’s first five games, has selected Spain tobeat Germany in Wednesday’s semifinal in Durban. The octopus has made his selections by eating a mussel from one of […]
germany
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Germans given slight edge
[GERMANY-SPAIN] Germany has beaten Spain twice in the World Cup, knocking the hosts of out the 1982 tournament, and they tied their third meeting. It’s giventhe edge in Wednesday’s meeting of the Euro ’08 finalists in Durban (TV: ESPN/Univision, live, 2:30 p.m. ET). For more on the game and the predictions of Soccer America editors […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: The Best Ever? Or the Worst Ever?
By Paul Gardner It is to be expected that each World Cup will, from now until eternity — or until television and the marketers and the sponsors and the hype-merchantsbury the whole thing under the relentless flow of their infantile antics — will be the best ever. We shall be told that, over and over […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“The Germans have played a brilliant World Cup so far. We’re also at the top of our game, I think. It will be a game between two rivals who enjoy having the ball, and I think it will bea beautiful battle.” — Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta on Wednesday’s rematch of the Euro ’08 final between […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: The final four
So all that fuss about how the Latin American countries were dominating this World Cup has gone up in a puff of smoke. The notion was, of course, generated by statistics, and given life byour dear friends at ESPN, who seem to enjoy that sort of thing more than they enjoy the actual soccer. It […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
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 […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
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 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
South Americans out to make history
[QUARTERFINALS] Will the prospect of an all-South American final four materialize, or can Ghana break new ground by punching through to the semifinals? Either would be a first. South American nations have contested the final only twice (in 1930 and 1950), and never have they filled all four semifinal slots. Cameroon lost to England, 3-2, […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: The Beautiful Game — from Argentina, not Brazil
By Paul Gardner The eternal question in soccer — I suppose in any sport, for that matter — is: what do the fans want to see? Very easy to answer on ashallow, short-term basis. They want to see their team win. Looked at with more thought, and taking a wider view of the sport, that […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Argentina, Spain and Brazil: 1-2-3
[FINAL EIGHT] A record four South American teams, three from Europe and one from Africa. That’s final eight for the 2010 World Cup. Here’s how we rank themafter four games … 1. ARGENTINA. Few gave the Albiceleste much of a chance after a tumultuous qualifying campaign, but it has run off four straightwins — the […]