Rory Smith

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Selling Saudi Soccer, One Like at a Time

The standard of play in the Saudi Pro League doesn’t matter when no one’s watching the games.Neymar’s endorsement was not, perhaps, the most ringing. Back in Brazil to play for his national...

Spain Wins World Cup as Its Talent Trumps Its Troubles

A team that had endured all that Spain has in the past 12 months should not be able to win a World Cup. And yet that is precisely what it did.To win...

Wanted: Female Athletes. Multiple Vacancies.

Australia’s major sports need talent to stock their women’s leagues. They are all looking at the same athletes.Brooke Walker spent that first night watching as much Australian rules football as she could....

For Spain and England, a Swift Rise Is Also a Warning

The Women’s World Cup finalists showed how quickly title contenders can emerge. But believing the hard work in women’s soccer is over is a mistake.Not long after he had taken up his...

England Beats Australia to Reach World Cup Final Against Spain

Answering Sam Kerr’s tying goal with two of its own, England advanced to an all-European Women’s World Cup final against Spain.The noise was giddy, and gleeful, and just a little bit wild,...

The Matildas and the World Cup Crack Australia’s Code Wars

The World Cup has added a new dimension to a national sporting conversation often dominated by the rivalry between rugby and Australian rules football.Inside the vast sweep of the Melbourne Cricket Ground,...

World Cup: Spain Beats Sweden to Reach First Final

A late goal by Spain, an answer from Sweden, and then a dramatic winner by Olga Carmona that moved the Spanish one win from the trophy.The clock started ticking as soon as...

For Sweden, the Right Way to Play Is the One That Wins

The World Cup semifinal between Spain and Sweden will be a battle of styles, of passing versus pragmatism. Opponents discount the latter at their peril.Peter Gerhardsson’s plans for Monday evening sounded blissful....

Rory Smith

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