No distraction here: Casillas plants one on Carbonero
Every time a player falters in the World Cup, the media desperately searches for reasons. And, more often than not, the wives and girlfriends are the first to take the blame. When England’s Robert...
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World Cup: One dejected Dutchman writes
So I wore my orange Robbens jersey to the newsroom today and I have had a lot of condolences from co-workers, a sympathetic bunch; it feels nice. It sure beats last night, when I wore my Netherlands...
View ArticleAll-knowing octopus Paul retires after perfect World Cup
BERLIN — No more World Cup, no more octopus oracle. Paul, the octopus who became a pop culture sensation by correctly predicting the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs — all seven of...
View ArticleDutch tactics, Spanish diving hurt soccer’s growth in North America
By Richard Starnes, Postmedia News Why, oh why did the dirty Dutch trade beauty for the beast in Sunday’s World Cup final? When time has passed and our memories of all that was so thrilling about the...
View ArticleDoes Paul the Octopus only have six months left to live?
We all knew this was coming. Paul the Octopus could be on his last legs. Sure, he’s been living on the edge recently. Between the death threats, PETA protests and world attention for predicting Spain...
View ArticleSpain tops FIFA rankings, Canada takes free fall
It has been a great week for Spanish soccer. On Sunday, the Spanish side edged the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time to win its first ever FIFA World Cup title. On Wednesday, it earned top spot in the...
View ArticleHenry says World Cup not a factor in decision to retire from French team
France striker Thierry Henry announced his retirement from international soccer Thursday, bringing an end to a dazzling career that saw him win almost every major trophy and honour in the game. A World...
View ArticleUnited’s Edwin van der Sar recalls Dutch pain
TORONTO — Edwin van der Sar is the most capped player in the history of the Netherlands’ national soccer team, making 130 appearances for the Oranje. But he was not on the field for this year’s World...
View ArticleFrench soccer star Ribery faces charges in sex probe
PARIS — A French judge issued preliminary charges Tuesday against soccer star Franck Ribery for soliciting an underage prostitute — the latest blow for a national team that returned from the World Cup...
View ArticleFrance coach Blanc drops all 23 World Cup players as punishment
France coach Laurent Blanc will drop all 23 World Cup players for his first match next month as collective punishment the team’s embarrassing fiasco in South Africa. The French federation said Friday...
View ArticleArgentina drops Maradona as coach
BUENOS AIRES — Diego Maradona is out as Argentina’s soccer coach, his stay ending after nearly two years on the job and a humiliating exit in the World Cup quarterfinals. The Argentine Football...
View ArticleNorth Korea’s World Cup team (predictably) reprimanded
A news report says North Korea’s soccer team and coach have been reprimanded by the government for the team’s poor performance at the World Cup. Radio Free Asia said the team was summoned to a...
View ArticleAngry Bayern blame Dutch for Robben injury
BERLIN — Angry Bayern Munich accused the Netherlands of allowing Arjen Robben to play at the World Cup with an injury after announcing the striker would miss the first two months of the Bundesliga...
View ArticleFIFA probes alleged North Korean player punishment
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said soccer’s world governing body has opened an inquiry into allegations that North Korea might have mistreated players and coaches after the team lost all three of its...
View ArticleFIFA considers eliminating ties in World Cup games
FIFA president Sepp Blatter says soccer’s governing body will consider eliminating ties in all World Cup games. Blatter said Saturday on Germany’s Focus weekly that the dramatic change would make the...
View ArticleAnelka scoffs at 18-game France soccer ban
PARIS — Nicolas Anelka says he isn’t interested in playing again for France, a day after he received an 18-match suspension from the national soccer team for his outburst against the coach during the...
View ArticleConcern mounting over South African World Cup stadiums
By Gerald Imray, The Associated Press JOHANNESBURG — Too small for cricket and missing suites for rugby, the stadiums that cost South Africa more than $1 billion for this year’s World Cup already are...
View ArticleWorld Cup final referee admits one mistake
World Cup final referee Howard Webb has seen several re-runs of the game since returning from South Africa but said the only thing he would change is the colour of the card he showed to Nigel de Jong....
View ArticleRIP, Paul the ‘psychic’ octopus
BERLIN — Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year’s football World Cup for his flawless record in predicting game results, has died peacefully in his sleep, his German aquarium said on...
View ArticleFormer French coach calls World Cup rebels ‘stupid brats’
By Jerome Pugmire PARIS — Former France coach Raymond Domenech broke his silence over the team’s World Cup debacle, labeling the players “stupid brats” for going on strike at a training session to make...
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