

Rory Smith
Posts

African Teams Pad World Cup Rosters With European Recruits
More than 130 players at the World Cup represent a country other than that of their birth. A few of them committed only months before...

How Japan Defeated Germany, the World Cup’s Latest Fallen Favorite
After a pregame protest against FIFA’s armband ban, the Germans lost their lead and then lost control of their group.

A Saudi Win at the World Cup Rings Out Across the Arab World
Even the country’s de facto leader had downplayed expectations. After a win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina, one of the most shocking results in World Cup...

Saudi Arabia Stuns Lionel Messi and Argentina in World Cup’s First Shock
Argentina entered the tournament as one of the favorites in its star’s final chance at the trophy.

Everyone Is on a Long and Forlorn Search for Goals
A team hoping to reach the knockout rounds can’t score only perfect goals. It must score the cheap and scrappy ones, too. And this U.S....

Qatar Embraced Its Big World Cup Moment, but Didn’t Like the Ending
At last it was here, the last word in Qatar’s attempt to announce itself to the world, to showcase all that it could do, all...

Welcome to the Joy-Free World Cup
Soccer’s biggest championship is supposed to be a celebration. So why is everyone so unhappy?

Gareth Southgate Cannot Make England Whole Again
Being the England manager was never an easy job. And that was before the country started falling apart.

France’s Karim Benzema Is Out of World Cup
The forward was seen as critical to the title hopes of a France team already hit hard by injuries.

Who Has Qualified for the 2022 World Cup?
The coaches have picked their players, the squads have arrived in Qatar and the schedule is set. But who has put together the winning team?