
Epic Soccer-Like Battles of History
Here's our martial World Cup wrap-up -- where the beautiful game is just war by other means.

And the Winner Is… Schland
In case you couldn’t tell, a new Germany has won the World Cup.

So Far Away — and So Close
Why Germans and Argentines have so much in common, even in soccer.

Avoiding the Messi Curse
For Argentina's soccer team, like its economy, diversification is the key to success.

No One Cares About Third Place
In soccer or in war, a bronze medal isn’t worth much.

The GNOE’s Last Hurrah
Surprise -- there are limits to how well politics and economics can predict World Cup matches.

Pragmatism Is the New Orange
As a football team and as a people, the Dutch have replaced style with staying power.

Don’t Win for Me Argentina
The Argentine government’s exploitation of football would make a World Cup victory bittersweet.

Human Rights Hypocrisy
If chants and protests in Brazil left egg on FIFA’s face, Russia and Qatar are cooking up an omelet.

Bye-Bye, Brazil
Brazil’s stunning exit from the World Cup brings its other problems back into focus.

The Star Who Never Played at the World Cup
Alfredo Di Stéfano was a man without a country who may have played for three.

What Happened to Picardía?
Argentina has made it to the semifinals of the World Cup without its usual tricks.

It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses a Vertebra
Neymar’s injury shows what happens when soccer enters a bad equilibrium.

Blame the Foreigner
In soccer, as in politics, plenty of Russians think the root of all evil lies in the West.

A Game Rigged From the Top Down
Match-fixing by soccer players is the least of the sport’s problems.

Brazilian Soccer Takes a Tumble
Failure in this year’s biggest club competition shows money isn’t everything.

Why Is This World Cup So Awesome?
Hint: It’s the goals. But that's not the whole story.

How the Pivot to Asia Could Ruin American Soccer
German-Americans raised on U.S. bases in soccer’s Fatherland have carried the team to the Round of 16. Can our Asian allies really produce the soccer stars of tomorrow?

Argentina’s Soccer Is More Coherent Than Its Politics
Want to find out what an Argentine politician stands for? Ask him about soccer.

It’s Okay to Have Mixed Feelings About Luis Suárez
Just like in politics and law, saying otherwise won’t do anyone any good.