[UNDER THE MICROSCOPE] According to some observers, Dutch mifielder Wesley Sneijder hasn’t been very prominent, a stance that is hard tojustify when he leads the team in shots (20), goals (4) and fouls committed (12) for a team that has won all five of its games at the 2010 World Cup and faces Uruguay Tuesday […]
netherlands
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Oranje favored to reach third final
[NETHERLANDS-URUGUAY] The Netherlands and Uruguay have both played for the World Cup title twice. The Dutch lost in 1974 and 1978, while the Celeste won in 1930and 1950. Both teams will be without key players, but the Netherlands is given the edge to return to the final. For more on Tuesday’s game and the predictions […]
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 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 inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: Bravo Netherlands, No tears for Brazil
Twenty-eight years ago, they were crying in the streets of Barcelona, Brazilian fans tearfully acknowledging their team’s exit from the tournament, knocked out by Italy. I was there, inBarcelona — not weeping, but I certainly felt the sadness. It felt as though the sunshine had gone from the tournament. We were left with a banal […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
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 […]
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 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Japan flair joins Dutch efficiency in knockout phase
[GROUP E] The favored Netherlands closed out group play with maximum points by rallying to beat Cameroon, 2-1, while Japan advanced for only the second timein its history by racing past Denmark, 3-1. Here’s what we liked and didn’t like from Thursday’s Group E games. … What we liked … — GOING FOR IT. MaybeDanish […]