'Heroic,' 'hapless,' and 'disgrace': The most common words used to describe each World Cup team
The U.S. men's soccer team was "determined," "heroic," and "courageous." At least that was how the English-language media most often described them, according to a study by the Cambridge University Press.
As for other teams in the tournament, Italy was most frequently called "slow" and "vulnerable," while Russia was portrayed as "drab." The most common word associated with Ghana was "money." (The team made headlines by threatening to boycott a game against Portugal unless they were paid ahead of time.) And the Uruguayans, fronted by Luis "I crave human flesh" Suarez, got the worst coverage of anyone. The top two words tied to the team: "Bite" and "disgrace."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'Sports executives ushered a fox into the henhouse'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring record
speed read College basketball star Caitlin Clark set the new record in Iowa's defeat of Ohio State
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Eight-year-old Brit Bodhana Sivanandan makes chess history
Speed Read Sivanandan has been described as a 'phenomenon' by chess masters
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Watch Simone Biles win her record 8th US gymnastics championship
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Spain beats England 1-0 to win its first Women's World Cup
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
US knocked out of Women's World Cup in stunning exit
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Katie Ledecky surpasses Michael Phelps for most world championship titles
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Marketa Vondrousova becomes first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Former Mets player receives annual $1.1M payout despite retiring in 2001
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published