German for beginners - Football Über Alles

It may be the World Cup where the trains run on time and the matches start on schedule but, says Tom Humphries, a moment, a fragment, an instant can change all that and make it all seem worthwhile » Read more

That '70s show

The last tournament on German soil witnessed the birth of ‘Total Football’ and brought Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer face to face in the final. The careers of two great players were to mirror each other in the years that followed, but only one of them lifted the World Cup. Emmet Malone looks back » Read more

He who laughs last

World Player of the Year twice in a row, Ronaldinho is poised to join the list of football immortals who have defined World Cup tournaments through skill and personality alone, writes Keith Duggan » Read more

Socceroos turning into soccer whose?

In a country where soccer has relied on ethnic support, Padraig Collins finds that Australia’s qualification has unexpected complications » Read more

A nice of timing

Gary Lineker did his best work in the box. Now he does it on the box. Tom Humphries visits the ‘Match of the Day’ studio to which former England striker has transferred so seamlessly » Read more

It makes the world go around

Richard Gillis on the windfall for Fifa as companies jostle to be associated with soccer's showcase tournament » Read more

Breakthrough still looks a long way off

Corruption, chaotic organisation and civil strife look set to undermine Africa's challenge, writes Matt Spiro » Read more

The greatest barrier to success is fear of failure

As England survey a post-Rooney landscape, Andrew Fifield says that the coach will have to rid himself of his tactical straitjacket » Read more

'Telling' it like it is...or isn't

Mary Hannigan watches the ‘Aprés Match’ team limber up ahead of the finals, and assesses our viewing options over the next month » Read more

 

Football fever but no football facilities

James Helm, Dublin correspondent for BBC News, travelled to Togo and found an impoverished, politically unstable nation preparing to take on football's elite» Read more

World Cup History

At look back over the complete history of the World Cup, from it's humble begginings in 1930 to Brazil's triumph in Korea and Japan four years ago. » Read more

Dancing the Samba in Weggis

Alex Bellos was on hand as the Brazil squad arrived at their pre-World Cup training camp, the quiet Swiss tourist town of Weggis.» Read more

Angola gripped by dreams of glory

Mention Angola, and images of war, hunger, disease and corruption immediately spring to mind, even though the devastating 27-year conflict ended in April 2002.» Read more

Berlin aiming to leave a strong impression

The city split by the Cold War was reunited in 1989 after the euphoric collapse of the Berlin Wall but divisions between the formerly Communist East and West Berlin's enclave of capitalism still linger.» Read more