Sports

Sports

In Game Against Germany, Team USA Bears A German Strain Of Its Own

9:30pm June 25, 2014

Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated joins Melissa Block to speak about the deep German influence on the U.S. national soccer team, ahead of Thursday's World Cup game between the two countries.

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A World Cup Surprise: Arias In The Heart Of The Amazon

9:30pm June 25, 2014

by Russell Lewis

The final World Cup game in the Brazilian city of Manaus is on Wednesday. For fans who made the trek to the jungle for games this tournament, many were rewarded by something else: seeing a centuries-old opera house in the heart of the Amazon.

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A Warning For Soccer Parents: Wait To Let Your Kids Go Headfirst

9:30pm June 25, 2014

A new campaign is working to warn of the dangers of heading the ball in youth soccer. Former U.S. women's soccer team player Cindy Parlowe Cone speaks of her struggles with post-concussion syndrome.

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FIFA Probes Whether Uruguay Star Bit Italian Opponent

12:48pm June 25, 2014

by Tom Goldman

Uruguay beat Italy in a close match. But instead of celebrating, the team finds itself embroiled in controversy. Star player Luis Suarez was seen on TV worldwide apparently biting an Italian defender.

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Portugal Snatches Victory From U.S., Match Ends 2-2

11:11am June 23, 2014

by Tom Goldman

The U.S. men's soccer team had a chance to secure its spot in the second round of the World Cup, but it failed to hold on to its lead in the final moments of the match.

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"Right is pink, left is blue" is the new slogan for Puma's line of mismatched cleats. The Tricks are featured at this year's World Cup.

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Puma's Pink And Blue Cleats Make A Bold Play At The World Cup

6:25pm June 22, 2014

by NPR Staff

Soccer players aren't the only ones battling on the pitch: Shoe brands are fighting it out as well. While Adidas and Nike dominate the market, Puma has a sneaky counterattack: mismatched shoes.

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Ecuadoran Province Churns Out Top-Notch Soccer Players

7:29am June 20, 2014

by John Otis

Ecuador produces some excellent soccer players, but they predominantly come from the same area. The sparsely populated Pacific coast province of Esmeraldas. What makes it Ecuador's soccer hotbed?

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Even If Their Team Loses, Japanese Fans Still Sweep The World Cup

7:12pm June 19, 2014

It's common to hear of soccer hooligans taunting players and fighting in the stands. In Japan, it's a different story: Soccer fans there have a tradition of cleaning up the stadium after matches.

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A World Cup Stunner: Spain Fails To Defend Its Crown

7:08pm June 18, 2014

by Tom Goldman

With an upset by Chile Wednesday, defending World Cup champion Spain has been eliminated from this year's tournament.

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In Brazil, Predictions Of Doom And Gloom Give Way To Minor Annoyances

4:32pm June 18, 2014

by Russell Lewis

Brazil's World Cup preparation endured some heavy criticism leading up to the games. Stadiums were still under construction, Internet connections were sketchy and transportation faced major challenges. A week into the tournament, NPR's Russell Lewis has traveled to three airports and three cities so far. He talks to Melissa Block about what has worked and what remains a challenge.