England’s blind hope
For days before England played Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, the old dread had been rising in me like damp through a wall. England against Argentina has never once…
Argentina: World Cup villains
Argentina’s win over a faint-hearted England — in a decisive comeback of the sort now all but routine for the South American squad — should banish much of the “VARgentina”…
America: land of the cheats
“Ball don’t lie.” This phrase, originally attributed to NBA star Rasheed Wallace, comes from American basketball culture and implies that, no matter what the referees or back-office bureaucrats do to…
In defense of supersized America
The first Englishman to reach the New World brought home chips and fags. Or so we were told: many of us will remember primary-school lessons on Sir Walter Raleigh, fresh…
Why the US sucks at soccer
As the United States prepares to host the World Cup for the second time, it’s worth grappling with an uncomfortable fact. The Yanks are highly unlikely ever to become a…