World Cup
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Five things Russia and Qatar did right to win World Cup bids
Russia and Qatar were able to set themselves apart enough from the rest of the World Cup bidders to get FIFA’s vote Thursday. Russia will host the tournament in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. Here are five things they did right.
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Africa Monitor
What to do with World Cup's vuvuzelas? Design an alternate use and win $1,500.
An ad agency in Cape Town, South Africa, has launched a contest for what to do with the controversial plastic horns. Suggestions include refashioning the vuvuzelas into candlestick holders, light stands, even ‘vuvu-brellas’ to keep you dry.
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World Cup legacy: more bids to get South Africans out of their cars
The Fan Walk – a car-free stretch in Cape Town that connected a downtown public soccer viewing area with a World Cup stadium – has spurred plans for more pedestrian malls at sporting events.
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Africa Monitor
Spain celebrates; Dutch blame octopus
As fans of Spain luxuriate in the glow of the country's first World Cup championship, fans of the Netherlands search for an explanation of what went wrong. Some blame the referee, others point to Paul the Octopus.
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Africa Monitor
Spain wins World Cup final, makes history with Iniesta extratime goal
Spain wins World Cup final in an ugly game filled with hard fouls and cynical dives. Dutch stars Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder failed to have the big match they needed to beat the pre-tournament favorites.
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Africa Monitor
World Cup doubters were wrong: South Africa hosted a great tournament
With the World Cup final match between Netherlands and Spain tonight, South Africa confounds skeptics who predicted high crime rates and inept management of the World's largest sports event.
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Africa Monitor
World Cup final: Netherlands to play unfamiliar role of spoiler
When it plays Spain in today's World Cup final, the Netherlands will face the image of its 1970s self – a team for whom a soccer pitch is as much canvas as playing surface.
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Africa Monitor
World Cup final: Can Netherlands' Wesley Sneijder win the Cup, the Golden Ball, and Golden Boot?
Star Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder goes into this World Cup final with the opportunity to win Golden Boot for most goals in the Cup and the Golden Ball, FIFA's version of MVP. Can he do it?
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Africa Monitor
The Netherlands vs Spain: Three reasons why the Netherlands will win
In Sunday's World Cup final – The Netherlands vs Spain – the Dutch will emerge victorious because they will not be intimidated by Spain's style of play. Why not? The Dutch invented it.
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Africa Monitor
Spain vs The Netherlands: Three reasons why Spain will win
In Sunday's World Cup final that pits Spain vs the Netherlands, the Red Fury have an edge in experience, Carles Puyol, and David Villa.
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Spain vs The Netherlands: No dramas, just pure soccer
In Sunday's match of Spain vs The Netherlands, most Europeans are excited about watching two great teams whose styles and history go way back, but who have never won.
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Africa Monitor
South Africa jazz great Hugh Masekela prays for peace
Many of South Africa's poorest are spreading rumors that all foreign migrant workers will be chased from their homes or killed after the World Cup. But at a concert this week, South Africa jazz great Hugh Masekela reminded South Africans of the essential humanity of their concept of ubuntu.
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Africa Monitor
German vs Uruguay: Three reasons why Germany will win
In Saturday's battle for third place, the Germany vs. Uruguay match, Germany has key advantages: youth, Klose, and a fading Forlán.
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Africa Monitor
Uruguay vs Germany: Three reasons why Uruguay will win
In the Uruguay vs Germany match, Saturday's World Cup fight for third place, Uruguay has the edge in pride, defense, and Luis Suarez.
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Africa Monitor
Patience pays as Puyol and the Red Fury make World Cup history
Spain will go to the World Cup championship match for the first time after a header by Carles Puyol helped them expose the weaknesses of Germany’s counterattacking style. In the Germany vs Spain semifinal, Spain wins 1-0.
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Africa Monitor
Key to Spain vs. Germany: Will Schweinsteiger outplay Xavi?
Today's Spain vs. Germany semifinal match may come down to a midfield battle between Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger and Spain's midfield maestro, Xavi.
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Africa Monitor
Spain-Germany: Why David Villa will win duel of the strikers
Today's Spain-Germany semifinal may come down to which top striker – Germany's Miroslav Klose or Spain's David Villa – is able to find the back of the net. If so, Spain will have the advantage. Here's why.
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Morning after: The Netherlands' World Cup fans euphoric in Cape Town
The Netherlands' World Cup fans are basking in the orange glow of Tuesday's semifinal victory over Uruguay, which propels Holland into the championship match for the first time since 1978.
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Africa Monitor
Spain, Germany face off on World Cup schedule Wednesday
Germany vs Spain is on the World Cup schedule Wednesday at 2:30 pm ET. The winner of the Spain-Germany match will go on to play The Netherlands on Sunday in the World Cup championship.
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Uruguay-Netherlands semifinal: Historic Holland win sets up an all-European final
The Men in Orange hung on in a thrilling 3-2 victory in the Uruguay-Netherlands semifinal. Now the stage is set for a European final, but will Holland face Spain or Germany?
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Africa Monitor
Spain vs Germany: Three reasons why Spain will win
Spain made it this far without even hitting its stride. The team is overdue for a breakout game, and is primed for it to come in Wednesday's Spain vs Germany semifinal.
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Africa Monitor
Germany vs Spain: Three reasons why Germany will win
Superior organization and a lethal attacking force will propel Germany to victory in Wednesday's Spain vs Germany semifinal. Oh, and then there's Miroslav Klose. Watch out, Spain!
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Africa Monitor
Netherlands vs Uruguay: Dutch fans paint Cape Town orange
Ahead of today's Netherlands vs Uruguay semifinal, Holland fans swarmed into Cape Town, South Africa, draping themselves in bright orange and appearing to outnumber their South American counterparts by at least 5 to 1.
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Africa Monitor
World Cup schedule Tuesday: Uruguay vs Netherlands
The World Cup schedule restarts at 2:30 pm ET, with Uruguay vs Netherlands. Diego Forlán leads the last remaining South American team against a favored Dutch team.
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Africa Monitor
Netherlands vs Uruguay: Three reasons why the Netherlands will win
The Dutch team that dispatched of Brazil in the quarterfinals is heavily favored to beat a weaker South American team in today's Netherlands vs Uruguay semifinal. Here's why.
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