Word of the Week

It's not uncommon for World Cup players to cover at least 10 kilometers (six miles) over the course of a game. And when there's overtime, as was often the case during this year's World Cup, it can be much more. Getting the ball past the goalie is one thing, but for most of us non-pros, the thought of running a quarter marathon (particularly in Brazil's tropical temperatures) is sure to evoke a stitch. And with Sebastian Schweinsteiger or Lionel Messi on our heels, that stitch is likely to poke our sides within the first few minutes of the match. (Perhaps that's what happened to Brazil during the quarter final?)

Germans in this case would get slightly more graphic and complain of Seitenstechen - literally "side piercing." Anyone's who's attempted to jog before getting into shape will know that side piercing is certainly no exaggeration. In the case of Brazil, however, their 7-1 loss to Germany pierced their pride more than anything else.