FIFA World Cup

RIP St. Louis Soccer Legend Harry Keough

Harry Keough, the soccer great who was a defender on the legendary 1950 U.S. World Cup team and who went on to become the longtime coach at Saint Louis University, died yesterday morning at home in St. Louis. He was 84. Keough was one of five St. Louisans on the U.S. national team that beat 500-1 o ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Special Soccer Edicion

RIP Paul the Psychic Octopus

Gut Check followed this year's World Cup with unusual fervor, including our "World Cuppage" reports from venues around town, so indulge us as we pay our respects to one of our favorite characters from this year's competition. Paul the Psychic Octopus, who correctly predicted eight out of eight World ... More >>

Is That a Vuvuzela in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy to See Lindsay Davenport?

We had $50 on the St. Louis Blues home opener as the St. Louis professional-sports debut of World Cup noisemaker icon the vuvuzela. However, an operative passed along this photo from last night's St. Louis Aces team-tennis match of a shirtless man serenading Aces Lindsay Davenport and Andrei Pavel w ... More >>

The Ten Best YouTube Videos of the 2010 World Cup

Image Via​A month's worth of incessantly buzzing vuvuzelas and ready-made excuses for early-morning drinking came to an unforgettable end yesterday afternoon when Spain, the pre-tournament favorites, defeated the Netherlands 1-0 on Andrés Iniesta's extra time goal.The matches might be over for th ... More >>

The World Goblet: Semifinal 1 - New Zealand vs. Spain

​While scanning the World Cup groups in order to plan our daytime drinking over the next month, Gut Check noticed that most of the great wine-producing nations are represented in the tournament field, including all of those with a reputation for crafting good, value-priced wines. Because Gut C ... More >>

World Cuppage: Spain 1 - Netherlands 0; Campeónes at Guido's Pizzeria y Tapas

Here are a few photos and videos that encapsulate wild ambiance at Guido's on the Hill during Spain's 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final. Andrés Iniesta scored with just four minutes remaining in overtime to propel España to the first World Cup Championship in the nation ... More >>

The 5 Best Places to Watch the 2010 World Cup Final

The World Cup trophy is pretty darn ugly. But nothing says balls like the Golden Cup!

World Cuppage: Spain 1 - Germany 0; Alegría Roja at Guido's Pizzeria and Tapas

photos by Keegan HamiltonJavier Mendoza goes loco after Spain's winning goal.​There wasn't a Spain fan on the planet who was sure their team was going to win today. Everyone knew that they stood a decent chance of defeating the German juggernaut (they beat them two years ago in the EuroCup and wer ... More >>

Netherlands vs Spain

10 Things to Do for $10 This Weekend in St. Louis, July 2-4, 2010

​It's America's birthday on Sunday, and you know St. Louisans are going to celebrate hard. But if you're not sure what to do this weekend, just walk under the Arch on Saturday morning and stay there. You'll catch Fair St. Louis and performances by John Legend and the B-52s. Across town, there are ... More >>

The World Goblet Round 3: Argentina vs. Spain

​While scanning the World Cup groups in order to plan our daytime drinking over the next month, Gut Check noticed that most of the great wine-producing nations are represented in the tournament field, including all of those with a reputation for crafting good, value-priced wines. Because Gut C ... More >>

Uruguay vs. Ghana

Netherlands vs. Brazil

Argentina vs. Germany

This Week's Tip of the Tongue Newsletter

Sign up for Tip of the Tongue here.​Gut Check not providing enough dining tidbits for you? Consider subscribing to Tip of the Tongue, the Riverfront Times' weekly e-mail dining newsletter. This week, take a look at some summery menu options at I Fratellini and then find savings ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: The Mexican explains the hate over Landon Donovan and exclusivity

The Morning Brew: 6.23

Dinner gets cooperative. New York Times writer Laurie Woolever and a group of young food literati in her building have built on the old idea of the dinner co-op to make life easier, cheaper, and dinner more exciting. Manhattan's defunct Tavern on the Green gets a new life as a food cart hub. The W ... More >>

The World Goblet Round 2: New Zealand vs. France

​While scanning the World Cup groups in order to plan our daytime drinking over the next month, Gut Check noticed that most of the great wine-producing nations are represented in the tournament field, including all of those with a reputation for crafting good, value-priced wines. Because Gut C ... More >>

US vs. Ghana World Cup Match

Wash. U. Prof Explains American Indifference to Soccer

Image sourceZakumi, the official mascot of the 2010 World Cup tournament. He's a green-haired leopard, in case you couldn't tell.​You know the World Cup is on, right? Yeah, it is. Till July 11. Lots and lots of soccer. The rest of the world is going berserk right now. Here in St. Louis, a few ... More >>

World Cuppage: USA 2 - Slovenia 2; Pints, Passports and Piss-Poor Officiating at the Dubliner

Photos by Keegan HamiltonBudweiser: It's what American soccer fans drink to drown their sorrows.​The lingering question after watching the American soccer team get robbed of a comeback victory against Slovenia earlier today has nothing to do with the offside rule or the poor eyesight of referees f ... More >>

10 Things to Do for $10 This Weekend in St. Louis, June 18-20, 2010

Darth Vader Pez Dispenser: "Impressive."​Have fun this weekend, but don't go broke. Here are our ten suggestions for weekend entertainment that will cost you $10 or less. Eighteenth-annual National PEZ Convention at the Marriott St. Louis West (Saturday) If you remember our 2007 feature story ... More >>

10 Catastrophes Blamed on Koman Coulibaly, the Blundering World Cup Referee

Who was behind the awful "bros icing bros" trend? Ah-ha!​Still reeling on this Friday night from the horrible officiating during this morning's USA vs. Slovenia World Cup match? Even if you're not, you can appreciate a good public, global failure. It's the American way.With that in mind, we took a ... More >>

So Where Do You Get a Vuvuzela in This Town?

Image source​The rise of the vuvuzela has been nothing short of astonishing. Last week, nobody outside South Africa had even heard of the things. This week, they have spawned outrage and jokes and even iPhone apps. Next week, they may even be banned. What a trajectory! Of course we all know t ... More >>

World Cuppage: Mexico 2 - France 0; Gringos and El Chicharito at Carniceria Latino Americana

photos by Keegan HamiltonMexico vive aqui.​"I feel like I'm rooting for the neighborhood team."That was the perfectly succinct explanation given by Evan Sult, the drummer/vocalist for local indie rock duo Sleepy Kitty, when asked why he, a very gringo looking gringo, was rooting for Mexico in thei ... More >>

The World Goblet Round 1: Argentina vs. Portugal

​While scanning the World Cup groups in order to plan our daytime drinking over the next month, Gut Check noticed that most of the great wine-producing nations are represented in the tournament field, including all of those with a reputation for crafting good, value-priced wines. Because Gut C ... More >>

World Cuppage: Switzerland 1 - Spain 0; Coffee and Cigarettes at the Amsterdam Tavern

photos by Keegan HamiltonIt's soccer 24/7 at the Amsterdam Tavern in Tower Grove​It wasn't a good sign for the Spanish contingent when Rob, the co-owner of the Amsterdam Tavern, started rattling off the final results of the previous winners of the EuroCup in the World Cup. Like some soccer Rain Ma ... More >>

The Morning Brew: 6.15

Almost ten years after "Fast Food Nation", author Eric Schlosser's fighting for food safety reform. He recently answered some questions from Food Safety News about the FDA, the USDA, and how the American food system favors commerce over safety. Yesterday we looked at the crazy amount of junk food ... More >>

The Morning Brew: 6.14

In World Cup-frenzied South Africa, nutrition researchers are concerned about the amount of junk food advertising during FIFA games. The Tabelo Times quotes the World Cancer Research Fund: "It is disappointing that these companies have been chosen as sponsors and partners." Can't get enough Food N ... More >>

World Cuppage: Netherlands 2 - Denmark 0; Going Dutch at the Scottish Arms

photos by Keegan HamiltonNetherlands fans cheer for goals...and pasties.​The clock just struck 7 a.m. and there's beer and pasties all over the place. No, it's not the end of a debauched night at a strip club in Sauget. It's Monday morning World Cup soccer at the Scottish Arms.The "pasty," in this ... More >>

The World Goblet Round 1: Australia vs. Chile

​While scanning the World Cup groups in order to plan our daytime drinking over the next month, Gut Check noticed that most of the great wine-producing nations are represented in the tournament field, including all of those with a reputation for crafting good, value-priced wines. Because Gut C ... More >>

Dr. Freeze Blows His Vuvuzela for Murray's Shaved Ice

Dr. FreezeMurray's Shaved Ice on Watson Road in Lindenwood Park​World Cup aficionados might be interested to learn that, as a youth, I was quite the footballer. My introduction to the game was not the schoolyard pitch, mind you -- and it certainly was not the "rec league" of today's overprivileged ... More >>

World Cuppage: Italy 1 - Paraguay 1; Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Tostones at Fritanga

photos by Keegan HamiltonThere were no Italy fans at Fritanga​In his guide to the 2010 World Cup, author Steven Sark theorizes that every Italian team is "a cross between Machiavelli and Michelangelo" because they play the game with incredible skill but are also willing do whatever it takes to win ... More >>

World Cuppage: USA 1 - England 1; Yankee Doodle Culinaria at the Old Post Office Plaza

photos by Keegan HamiltonThe US streaked to a 1-1 draw against England.​"Let's hear it for cloud cover!"That's the cry that drew the second-loudest cheer of the day from St. Louis' American soccer hooligans. It was a sweltering 94 degrees in downtown on Saturday afternoon and the sun beat merciles ... More >>

World Cuppage: Mexico 1 - South Africa 1; Gringos, Mexicans and a South African Bond At Carniceria Latino Americana

photo by Keegan HamiltonMinerva Lopez is a Mexican superfan.​And so it begins.I arrived at Carniceria Latino Americana at about 8:45 a.m., a full 45 minutes before the kick-off of the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. Still, it took some wrangling to find an open seat ... More >>

Best Places to Watch the 2010 World Cup in St. Louis

Image sourceThe gold is actually foil and there's milk chocolate underneath.​The 2010 World Cup is finally here. Well, it's actually in South Africa, but thanks to the modern miracle known as ESPN, the games will be broadcast live at dozens of bars and restaurants in St. Louis.There's nothing quit ... More >>

Wanna Know Where to Watch the World Cup in St. Louis?

Image sourceThe 2010 World Cup: ain't it a kick in the head?​Head on over to Gut Check and check out our definitive guide. 

St. Louis Soccer Legend Harry Keough Offers Advice on Beating Brits -- He Oughta Know

Keough in the 1950s.​It was 60 years ago this year that Harry Keough joined five other St. Louis natives (Frank Borghi, Gino Pariani, Pee Wee Wallace, Bob Annis, and Charley Columbo) in forming the bulk of the United States' 1950 World Cup soccer team. That 1950 team was the last to face England a ... More >>

The World Goblet: The World Cup of Value Wines

via​While scanning the World Cup groups in order to plan our daytime drinking over the next month, Gut Check noticed that most of the great wine-producing nations are represented in the tournament field, including all of those with a reputation for crafting good, value-priced wines. Because Gu ... More >>

For Country and Glory

Where to Watch the World Cup in St. Louis

St. Louis Beats England

International Tap House Opens in Soulard on Thursday, 6.17

Image via​Fittingly enough, Mike Sweeney of beer blog STL Hops broke the news: International Tap House (a.k.a. iTap) will open its second location at 1711 South 9th Street on Thursday, June 17, at 9 a.m.Why the early hour? Might it have to do with a certain global sporting competition being held s ... More >>

RIP Ruben Mendoza: St. Louis Soccer Great Played for the U.S. National Team in the 1950s

Wikimedia CommonsRuben Mendoza performs his signature move, the bicycle kick​Ruben Mendoza, a legendary soccer player and coach from St. Louis, died Sunday at the age of 78. He was a three-time Olympian and a member of the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame.Mendoza was perhaps best known locally as the ... More >>

World Cup 2018: St. Louis Loses to Kansas City

gousabid.comSt. Louis fails to net World Cup bid.​St. Louis won't host any World Cup 2018 games.The USA Bid Committee this afternoon announced the roster of U.S. cities that will vie to host games during the world soccer championships. The eighteen cities chosen: Atlanta, San Diego, Phoenix, Dalla ... More >>

World Cup o' Beer!