7 reasons James Rodriguez is the breakout star of the World Cup

James Rodriguez

You will be forgiven if you hadn’t heard of Colombia’s James Rodriguez before this World Cup. The 22-year-old attacker plays his club football for AS Monaco, a team that plays in the French first division, which is a league that isn’t televised very often in the U.S. Now that he’s made his debut on the world stage, though, you’re going to hear a lot more about him.

Argentina advance to quarterfinals behind late winner vs. Switzerland

Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring the extra-time winner for Argentina

Angel di Maria broke Swiss hearts with a late goal in extra-time to lead Argentina into the World Cup quarterfinals 1-0 on Tuesday night. 

Lionel Messi was once again the man of the moment for La Albiceleste, picking out di Maria with an inch-perfect cross to set up a low, hard strike to the far post.

Tim Howard Lost, But He Just Had the Best Match of the World Cup

Tim Howard (C) reacts as Belgium's players celebrate.Tim Howard sets new World Cup record after making 15 saves for USA against Belgium

After losing 2-1 to Belgium on Tuesday, the U.S. men’s national team will be left to contemplate its future; after years of steady improvement, there are hints U.S. men’s soccer has hit a plateau. But one American left the tournament with a strong argument for his international quality: Goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Neymar Making the Most of Being the World Cup Poster Boy

How quickly he has grown, and how dependent a nation of 200 million people has grown upon Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. 

Neymar scored the first goal of this World Cup two weeks ago and then the 100th goal of a tournament that still has not reached its second, knockout phase. But what is remarkable about Neymar is that he not only lives with the stardom and the expectancy placed on his slender shoulders, he embraces it.

Edward Snowden Responds To Release Of E-mail By U.S. Officials

Former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden responded to questions from The Washington Post following the release of an e-mail he had sent while working for the National Security Agency. 

Q: How do you respond to today’s NSA statement and the release of your email with the Office of General Counsel? 

The NSA’s new discovery of written contact between me and its lawyers - after more than a year of denying any such contact existed - raises serious concerns. It reveals as false the NSA’s claim to Barton Gellman of the Washington Post in December of last year, that “after extensive investigation, including interviews with his former NSA supervisors and co-workers, we have not found any evidence to support Mr. Snowden’s contention that he brought these matters to anyone’s attention.”