NPR (Natalie Alcoba) - Old rivals, new battle: Argentina and England clash in World Cup Semifinal
Old rivals. New stakes. A World Cup final spot on the line. Argentina vs. England.
HUFFPOST - Even The World Cup Final Grass Is For Sale. But It's Not Cheap.
Players and coaches have criticized the quality of the field at MetLife, which usually uses an artificial surface for NFL games of the New York Giants and Jets.
HUFFPOST - Egypt's Coach Waved Palestinian Flag After Winning World Cup Game
Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has waved a Palestinian flag on the pitch after his team's victory over Australia in the World Cup.
YOUTUBE (The Hill) - Iran coach complains of World Cup travel restrictions despite interim end of war agreement
Iran’s players and coaches have increasingly found themselves under a microscope, particularly after they were forced to leave the United States after their first game without recovery time. Iran’s team is training in Mexico. Iranian team managers have said the extra travel could impact them on the pitch. There have been protests of both the regime and the war outside Iranian football matches, while some supporters have said FIFA will not honor tickets issued through the Iran Football Federation, citing the ongoing conflict with the U.S. A FIFA official told The Hill it is “working closely with the IR Iran Football Federation to identify compliant solutions that maximize opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches.”…
NYTIMES (Alan Burdick) - The Scientific Quest for Perfect World Cup Pitch
Every match must be played on natural grass that gives players as consistent a surface as possible, no matter the venue. Cue the years of sod studies.