About the Soccer World Cup Blog
The world of professional soccer does not make headlines solely on the field–headlines are made off the field as well. Of course, when players are injured, teams are eliminated, or titles are won, it’s news. In professional soccer, what happens on the field doesn’t stay on the field, especially when it has potential to impact the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Professional soccer is creating more buzz than it ever has away from the field. Key players are moving—to new countries and new teams—with new sponsors chomping at the bit. Big companies are doing everything they can, including buying small companies, to ensure their dominance of the global soccer scene at the World Cup. Everyday, team nicknames are being debated, captains are being named, and rivalries are being ignited. All the while, the anticipation of the next World Cup continues, bringing with it all the drama that unfolds as the world waits to see the 32 competing teams take center stage.

Fans of professional soccer want a look inside. They want to know the ins and outs of the teams and players on the pitch and behind the scenes. There’s no better place to find it all than here on this Soccer Blog. For many of us, it’s the best way to South Africa.

---

• As some of you have no doubt noticed, we’ve been not just blogging but also moblogging the World Cup, by posting images and video here of fans in New York watching the matches in Germany. Even a quick look at these images shows that fans here have been living and dying with each touch […] Comments Off

• Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari pays tribute to England’s resilience after their dramatic World Cup quarter-final. Comments Off

• Rob Mackey’s live report on today’s quarter-final match between England and Portugal in Gelsenkirchen. Comments Off

• England and Portugal first met in the World Cup 40 years ago. Alastair Reid wrote about it a couple of months later in The New Yorker in his roundup of England ‘66. It’s fascinating to read his account of the match, played when blanket TV coverage of sports, celebrity play-by-play commentators and instant replays (or […] Comments Off

• Portugal vent their fury at the English press for “making up” an interview with their striker Pauleta. Comments Off

• Portugal’s Deco says England have under-performed at the World Cup - and insists his side can progress at their expense. Comments Off

• Deco will miss Portugal’s quarter-final with England after Fifa say his red card against Holland will stand. Comments Off

• Portugal skipper Luis Figo can face England in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final, despite his headbutt on Holland’s Mark van Bommel. Comments Off