The New Republic

PRETORIA, South Africa -- The guy standing near me was crying, too. READ MORE >>

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For decades, superstitious sports fans have lived in fear of their favorite athletes and teams making the Sports Illustrated cover. READ MORE >>

The most error-strewn World Cups Jonathan Wilson: "Serbia must battle their own demons" Wilson (again!): Uruguay could be dark horses READ MORE >>

Well, maybe he is. The contrast between Argentina and France or England is total and not simply because Argentina are winning and a winning team tends to be a happier team. Nevertheless, keeping the players contented—and unified—helps too. And here Maradona has, I think, done well. All but one of his outfield players has now played a part in the tournament and the man who hasn't, Ariel Garcé, is, well, Ariel Garcé: READ MORE >>

On Twitter this afternoon we had some fun remembering French
embarrassments in Africa: the Battle of the Nile, Fashoda, Mers El Kebir, Suez, Bocassa, Rwanda and now, of course, South Africa 2010.

 Flippant, obviously, but France's meltdown this tournament has been 
richly entertaining (the shame of it is that Les Bleus cannot meet 
England. Now *that* would be a perversely amusing moment of anti-entertainment). READ MORE >>

With South Africans' dreams of soccer glory dashed by the elimination of their Bafana Bafana from the tournament today, fans may now be hoping that at least the World Cup will deliver on the economic boost its organizers have repeatedly promised them. They are likely to be disappointed again.  READ MORE >>

As Group A wraps up, here's some selections from our writers. Leon Krauze on the quality of Mexico's victory over France: It’s not only that Aguirre’s men played a wonderful game tonight: air-tight defending, wonderful ball rotation and physical fitness that, as far as I’ve seen, is probably the best in the whole tournament. By the end of the match, even Jeremy Toulalan—by far the most committed of Domenech’s disappointing team—simply wanted to throw in the towel. READ MORE >>

The best World Cup game you never saw How Chile broke down Switzerland's defense The Cup's mixed economic legacy for South Africa READ MORE >>

Simon Kuper: Brazilian football has moved from poetry into prose Familiar pattern emerging in Capello's reign Will fans just have to accept diving? READ MORE >>