After escaping unscathed from a nearly disastrous group stage predicament and surviving two difficult encounters against Portugal and Paraguay, Spain has reached the semifinal stage of the World Cup without actually shining, while certainly benefiting from some good recent fortune.…
Author: 91minute
Argentina Rolled Over by Germany
It is Argentina’s turn to suffer after being knocked around, down and out by an irrepressible German team that controlled the match almost from start to finish and left Maradona’s team shell-shocked, tearful and out of the World Cup at…
African Hopes Extinguished
After treating spectators to 119 minutes of a tight, tense, fairly even cat-n-mouse game, drama of the highest caliber engulfed the Ghana – Uruguay quarterfinal with an unprecedented sequence that will be long remembered by both nations and African fans…
Holland Overcomes Dunga’s Brazil
“I would not pay one guilder to see this Brazil play.” Those were the words of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, one of the main protagonists and developers of total football so sorely missed from this World Cup, prior to yesterday’s…
Villa Delivers Again for Spain, as Cristiano Ronaldo Drops His Swagger
Spain knocked out Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal without putting together a memorable performance, but controlling most of the possession and relying on its sensational savior to come through once again. David Villa has been invaluable for Spain reaching the quarterfinal…
Brazil Rolls into Holland Super-Clash
Brazil eased into the quarterfinals with a dominating win over a good Chile side that suddenly looked over-matched in every respect. Rarely sweating, Brazil made a strong statement about its World Cup ambitions with an imposing style of physical play,…
England Crash Out of the World Cup, Argentina and Germany Meet Again
Fabio Capello’s reign may come to an abrupt end after England was crushed by arch-nemesis Germany in a match that will be remembered for a critically controversial moment and for an English team’s persistent ineptitude. Despite fielding a roster of…
Ghana Ousts Exhausted USA Team, Will Meet Uruguay in Quarterfinal
A dejected, physically depleted American team bowed out of the World Cup after going down in extra time to a very efficient Ghana, just as it had captured unprecedented global attention and affection. Having reached this point of the tournament…
Knock-Out Phase Kicks Off with Decisively Latin American Flavor
All five South American teams that entered the tournament advanced to the Round of 16, with four of the five winning their respective group – Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Only Chile came in second in Group H. It is…
Gracias Honduras: Spain and Chile Advance, While Ivory Coast Bows Out
Despite playing its poorest match of the tournament, Spain ended up winning Group H by edging out a 10-man Chile who continued to play with great determination and winning neutral fans in the process. Both teams advanced as projected, largely…
Arrivederci! Italy Knocked Out After Lackluster World Cup Performance
Four-time World Cup winner Italy was knocked out of the tournament by a resilient Slovakian team yesterday, but perhaps more than anything Italy failed due to its own inability to put together any kind of coherent performance on the big…
91 minute magic! USA Wins Group C, England Advance to Germany Clash
Prouder than ever! That has been the sentiment of every USA supporter at the end of the USA-Algeria match and for the team’s performance throughout this tournament. USA deservedly won Group C with another impressive display of determination, commitment, perseverance…
South Korea Survives, Nigeria Gutted, Mexico to Meet Argentina Next
Nigeria had the opportunities for a miracle finish that would have seen them claim the second spot in the group despite forgettable performances in their two previous games, but it was not to be. Obafemi Martins missed Nigeria’s last great…
The New Brazil: Spain’s Jogo Bonito
Spain’s World Cup became complicated after its unthinkable loss to Switzerland in the first group game, possibly setting up an earlier than anticipated meeting with Brazil next week. It was a match that demonstrated once again that anything can really…
Italy and England Look Within
If France has provided the biggest scandal at the World Cup thus far, Italy and England are on the threshold of either disaster or a new beginning, depending on their performances in the final group match. Italy has a serious…