The Reykjavik Grapevine - World Cup Football / World cup

14.10.2010

What Happens When Journalists Take Their Summer Vacation?

11.7.2010

Passion Play

A lot of people are viewing the World Cup Final through the prism of morality. I try to figure out why.

9.7.2010

Are Spain Boring?

There's been a lot of talk as to whether Spain are boring or not. The easy answer is: Not if you're Spanish. But here's my attempt to come up with a complex answer.

8.7.2010

It Took a Great Effort Not to Use Mannschaft-related Puns

Spain licked the competition on their way to the final. A few thoughts on last nights game and I also start thinking about the final, starting with Mark van Bommel.

7.7.2010

Some thoughts on yesterday's game and what tonight will bring, but also cheap jokes at the expense of Dutch names.

6.7.2010

Uruguay vs. Holland

Some thoughts on the first semifinal game, played later today.

3.7.2010

Review of First Two Quarterfinals

Here's my review and analysis of the first two quarterfinals.

1.7.2010

Which of the Last Eight Teams Should Icelanders Support?

There's only one team that we Icelanders should support, only one team that we have a familial connection too. Before I tell you which one that is, let me first offer spurious reasons for not supporting the others.

29.6.2010

Three Fun Links

Soon we move into the ultra-seriousness of the quarter-finals, then the deadly importance of the semis, and finally the world-changing event that's known as the World Cup Final. But first, some links I find amusing.

28.6.2010

Previewing the Second Round, Part 2

Here are previews of the latter four second round matches.

27.6.2010

Football History Links

Here are three links about football history. The first being about US football history, an old classic game, and the world's first organized sport.

26.6.2010

African Football

This is the first World Cup in Africa. There were great hopes that African teams would do well. Only Ghana made it out of their group, and they face a tough game against USA. Here are three links about football and Africa. They come in three different flavors, funny and depressing, depressing, and so depressing you'll want to resign as a human being.

25.6.2010

Previewing the Second Round, Part 1

Here are previews of the first four second round matches.

24.6.2010

The Experience of Watching

Any spectator sport takes its audience on a journey. It can be joyous, heartbreaking, thrilling or dull. I want to talk about three games in this World Cup and what kind of experience they offered viewers.

23.6.2010

The Greatest Rivalry in Sports

There are many greatest rivalries in sports, Yankees and Red Sox, the Glasgow Old Firm of Celtic and Rangers, but few rivalries have the drama, intensity and history of Germans and the Dutch in football. Here are a few links.

22.6.2010

The Stories of This World Cup

Every World Cup is a story. No, every World Cup is many stories. Here is a guide to the narratives that have emerged in the first two series of matches in the group stage.

21.6.2010

The Vuvuzela Menace

Seldom has a dinky plastic item so thoroughly inserted itself into the world's consciousness as the vuvuzela at this World Cup. So here are three humorous links for your monotonous enjoyment, as well as an explanation as to how the vuvuzela is played.

20.6.2010

Hypothesis for Football Beauty

I talked about "the beautiful game" a few days ago. To football obsessives it is self evident that beauty can exist on the pitch, not mere entertainment or suspense, but beauty. To others this seems ridiculous, even risible. Let me offer one hypothesis to explain how a simple ballgame can be beautiful.

19.6.2010

Three Fun World Cup Videos

The World Cup may have all the high seriousness of ancient Greek drama, but all festivals bring out entertainers. Here are three fun videoclips.

18.6.2010

Americans and Footb... Soccer

A few links about football in the US, including an explanation as to why they call it soccer.

17.6.2010

Who to Support, the Underdog or the Beautiful Game?

World Cups always set you up for heartbreak somehow. One classic way it happens is when underdog teams meet the team that plays the most attractive football. Spain - Switzerland was such a game.

17.6.2010

Three Good Articles about Football Tactics

Sometimes one hears people say that there are no such things as tactics in football. That is a misunderstanding, as these three articles about football tactics demonstrate.

16.6.2010

The World Cup in the Middle East

None of the Middle Eastern nations made it into this World Cup, yet the football loving region is following the tournament avidly. Here are three links. I especially recommend the first one, about following the World Cup in Beirut.

16.6.2010

What's So Special About the World Cup?

Why do people care so much about the World Cup? Let me try to answer that question

15.6.2010

My Top Three World Cup Websites

There are plenty of good websites out there for the World Cup obsessed, but let me recommend three.