Monthly Archives: June 2006

And so it had to be that the most anticipated match of the first round, the only game the experts might have ventured to call a preamble to the final, ended in a drab 0-0 draw. For those looking for flair and goals and lots of running and excitement, Argentina versus the Netherlands was a […]

Brazilians who’ve made the pilgrimage to Germany to see the national side defend its title may have found themselves stranded, after Varig, the largest Brazilian airline carrier, was forced to suspend service to several German cities, the Associated Press reports. In a statement Wednesday Varig officials said it would cancel 180 of 365 flights in […]

The media’s coverage of the hapless Michael Owen continues, as the striker says he feels he’s let his club down, after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Sweden on Wednesday. Owen told reporters that he feels guilty for Newcastle more than self-pity for an injury that will likely see him out of action until 2007. […]

Italy Coach Marcello Lippi praised the “terrific spirit” demonstrated by the Italians in their victories over Ghana and the Czech Republic. “This team has … probably the most fighting spirit I have had in any team,” Lippi said, adding that finishing top of Group E was important for several reasonsone of which is the likelihood […]

After his team’s 2-1 loss in its last game at the World Cup, U.S. coach Bruce Arena blamed the Americans’ exit at the hands of a very beatable Ghanaian defense on the crucial penalty call awarded by Markus Merk, widely considered to be one of the world’s best referees. Center back Oguchi Onyewu was called […]

When you receive this, you will probably already be watching or about to watch what we hope is the spectacle that Argentina versus the Netherlands could be. Right now, everyone watching this tournament, and apparently, everyone playing in it too, is anxious to see how Argentina responds to its crushing 6-0 win over a Serbia […]

In the American press, those who don’t understand that the United States not only played one of the traditional defensive powerhouses of world soccer, but had to do so after two of its players were sent off, might look at the team’s goal-scoring record and conclude that team USA needs “an offensive paramedic.” Against Ghana, […]

Mortgage lender Northern Rock, principal sponsor of English Premier League club Newcastle United, has pulled an advertisement that was scheduled to run throughout the World Cup, after it learned that Michael Owen, the Newcastle striker featured in the ad, would sit out the rest of the tournament with a cruciate knee injury. “Out of sympathy […]

Poor Michael Owen. It took him forever to recover from a broken foot sustained late last year. He clearly returned too early, was never really match fit, and now he’s suffered a torn ACLone of the most devastating injuries in soccerthat ends his World Cup and could take up to 9 months to heal. This, […]

According to the Independent, Sven Goran Eriksson somehow inspires “performances that defy comprehension, games that come with triumph and despair in equal measure.” In a typical England game, with Sven at helm, fair is foul and foul is fair, “and last night was his defining act,” the article said. Consider that: England played a great […]