Spain’s delicate touch paid off as it overcame the brute force of the Netherlands in a 1-0 victory that secured the European champion its first World Cup.
Like many fans, WBUR’s sports commentator has been watching World Cup games for the past few weeks. Unlike most of them, he may have recently made a fool of himself while doing so. He’s not sure.
Dutch stars Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben scored three minutes apart in the second half as the Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2 Tuesday night to advance to their first championship match since losing in 1978 to Argentina.
RUSTENBURG, South Africa — The United States was eliminated from the World Cup by Ghana for the second straight time as Asamoah Gyan scored 3 minutes into overtime, leading the Black Stars to a 2-1 second-round victory Saturday night.
Landon Donovan scored in the first minute of stoppage time off a rebound, advancing the United States to the second round at the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Algeria.
BOSTON — Fans of the Germany and Brazil soccer teams gather in Boston to watch their teams in the World Cup. Join them for a game, and it begins to seem that the “global game” is even more international than expected.
BOSTON — France, winner of the World Cup in 1998, runner-up in 2006, finished at the bottom of Group A this year. They have gone home, allegedly in disgrace, though WBUR’s sports commentator is inclined to see the circumstance as comic rather than tragic.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — It was supposed to be North Korea’s moment of glory, a revenge match against Portugal aired live for the first time in a communist country that exerts strict control over media coverage.
BOSTON — Every four years, the World Cup pits U.S. citizens who hate soccer against U.S. citizens who love it. As this year’s tournament proceeds in South Africa, WBUR’s commentator offers a context for the debate.
JOHANNESBURG — Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley scored in a furious second-half comeback, giving the United States a 2-2 tie against Slovenia on Friday that kept alive the Americans’ chances of advancing in the World Cup.
