John Leicester

Read the latest stories and analysis from John Leicester.

German supporters hold up a banner before the World Cup final soccer match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Germany wins terrifically entertaining World Cup

John Leicester · July 14, 2014 12:26 am

Argentina's Lionel Messi, center, runs with the ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between the Netherlands and Argentina at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo Brazil, Wednesday, July 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Column: Messi missing signature World Cup moment

John Leicester · July 10, 2014 1:54 am

Brazil soccer fans wearing their team's colors Brazilian react as they watche their team play Germany in a World Cup semifinal game via live telecast inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Germany handed Brazil its heaviest World Cup loss ever with an astounding 7-1 rout in the semifinals that stunned the host nation. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Column: Disaster’s branding iron burns Brazil anew

John Leicester · July 9, 2014 1:22 am

Brazil's soccer players, Fred, right, Paulinho, center and Oscar, joke around during a practice session at the Granja Comary training center, in Teresopolis, Brazil, Sunday, July 6, 2014. Brazil will face Germany on Tuesday in their World Cup semifinals' match, without superstar soccer player Neymar. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Column: Brazil World Cup killed ‘beautiful game’

John Leicester · July 7, 2014 9:05 pm

$Brazil's Neymar waves as he lies inside a medical helicopter at the Granja Comary training center, in Teresopolis, Brazil, Saturday, July 5, 2014. Neymar was airlifted from Brazil's training camp Saturday and will be treated at home for his back injury. Neymar, the biggest football star in Brazil, was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after fracturing his third vertebra during Friday's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)$ News

Column: Neymar a victim of the World Cup show

John Leicester · July 5, 2014 8:54 pm

Colombia's James Rodriguez grabs the ball after scoring on a penalty during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Brazil and Colombia at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil, Friday, July 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Fabrizio Bensch, pool)

Neymar injury casts a pall over Brazil cup win

John Leicester · July 5, 2014 1:12 am

Goal! Magic mix making World Cup score-fest: how?

John Leicester · July 3, 2014 4:08 pm

French soccer fans celebrate after France scored the first goal, as they watch the World Cup soccer match between France and Nigeria being shown live on a giant screen, in front of Paris City Hall, Monday June 30, 2014. France won the match 2-0, played at the Estadio Nacional stadium in Brasilia, Brazil.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

World Cup kisses goodbye to Africa

John Leicester · July 1, 2014 12:56 am

An England fan shouts during the group D World Cup soccer match between Costa Rica and England at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Tuesday, June 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Column: England too insular for World Cup success

John Leicester · June 24, 2014 10:51 pm

England's Raheem Sterling runs into Uruguay's Alvaro Pereira with his knee during the group D World Cup soccer match between Uruguay and England at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 19, 2014. Pereira was knocked out by the blow. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

World Cup focuses minds on concussion management

John Leicester · June 23, 2014 10:14 pm

Algerian players embrace as South Korean players bow their heads after the group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Algeria at the Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Sunday, June 22, 2014. Algeria won the match 4-2. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Asia having a terrible World Cup; Russia too

John Leicester · June 22, 2014 9:35 pm

An Italy soccer fan watches his team's World Cup match with Costa Rica inside the FIFA Fan Fest area in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, June 20, 2014. Italy lost 1-0 to Costa Rica. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)

World Cup of big surprises smiles on Americas

John Leicester · June 21, 2014 12:41 am