The Wrong Empire

Ages ago my nephews in Madrid asked me to come over to watch the World Cup final with them so it was great that Spain made it through. It was even greater that they won despite having a goal disallowed for no reason. Enzo Fernandez getting sent off was the cherry on top of the cake.

"This was a victory for football. This was a victory for those who believe the game should be about expression, not aggression. Argentina’s street fighters were put to the sword by the matadors of Spain. “Ole, ole,” chanted their fans as the game closed with a sweeping passing move and never has it sounded more fitting… Spain 1 Argentina 0 whistle report from the MetLife Stadium."

"Spain were the only team that turned up to play this World Cup final, from the first whistle to the last in extra time. Argentina were damned by their lack of ambition even before they had Enzo Fernández sent off towards the end of the regulation time. It was extraordinary to report that they did not have an attempt on goal until the 115th minute. Spain did not let them play. Just as they have barely let any of their opponents do so during the course of this tournament. Their miserly defence has been the cornerstone of everything. They have been breached just once in their eight matches."

We are living in Lamine Yamal's and Pau Cubarsí’s world:

Last but not least , shout out to Lemine's brother Kenye:

"Here is a statistic to frame above your fireplace and show your grandchildren: Argentina’s first shot of any kind in Sunday’s World Cup final arrived in the 115th minute, a record of futility for a World Cup. Spain finished with 20 shots to Argentina’s two, twelve on target to none. Not one. In a final. ESPN called it arguably the worst World Cup final in living memory, and that was the polite version. NBC Sports put it plainly: Argentina were more concerned with fouling and fighting than playing football, and the way several players behaved was a disgrace that tarnished their legacy. According to Football365, Scaloni’s men committed more first-half fouls than they completed passes into the attacking third. Their 12.29 fouls per game was, per NBC, far and away the highest of any semifinalist."

"As Spain’s World Cup-winning heroes assembled on the podium, opponents Argentina, bedraggled and beaten, turned their backs. It marked the culmination of a tetchy, petulant and distasteful performance by the now deposed world champions, which left them a man short on the field for the 30 minutes of extra time, and starting bar-room-type brawls on the pitch after the final whistle. In the heat of battle, scuffles and skirmishes can happen. Their shunning of the Spanish coronation, however, felt uniquely unappealing, a show of disrespect to the winners of the most high-profile sporting event in the world. It was, however, entirely in keeping with a charmless Argentine showing which offered little by way of substance or style over the 120 minutes."

This is me:

Have never watched one of these games and never will.

So dissapointed that England went 1-0 up and then parked the bus, rather than trying to score again:

Thought that France vs Spain would be a much closer game but Spain completely dominated in their 2-0 win:

"Instead, France will travel to Miami for a third-place play-off, wondering how and why everything unravelled so badly on a Tuesday afternoon in Dallas, where a team that had lit up this World Cup with its exhilarating attacking play, scoring freely and appearing to be unstoppable, looked unrecognisable."

“He enjoyed being tested, and I can see he’s still enjoying it now. Before the Euro 2024 semi-final against France, (France midfielder) Adrien Rabiot said he would have to “show more” in that game. “Then he goes out and scores an incredible goal. That’s the way it is.” In his latest column, Xavi discusses how Lamine Yamal thrives in challenging circumstances."

Come on England:

"I tell them that when you go out there, in this shirt, you have the opportunity to produce moments that people will remember forever. You are a part of an experience that lasts in the collective consciousness of our country. We saw that during Russia 2018, with the street parties, the barbecues and with every drop of beer thrown into the air in celebration. When England play, it’s not a few thousand — or even a few million — watching on subscription. You are representing more than 50 million people. You remember where you were watching England games. And who you were watching with. And who you were at the time. What is sometimes forgotten is just how much it means to the players. Players are fans too, after all. That’s how it starts. It starts with kids sitting in front of TVs, with wall charts and heroes. Undoubtedly, we’re in a different era now, where footballers aren’t as accessible to fans as they once were. They don’t ride the same bus home from games, or meet in the pub for a pint and a post-match analysis. But, despite all the changes in modern football, what cannot be questioned about the current generation of England players is their pride in representing this country. This idea that some players don’t know what it means to play for England — or don’t care — has become something of a false narrative. You don’t need to dig deep to realise that. The journey to earn an England cap is an incredibly difficult one, regardless of background or circumstance. Only around 1,200 players have represented England at senior men’s level. Ever. This is a special group. Humble, proud and liberated in being their true selves.”

"Watch Bellingham and you will see someone with zero interest in pretending he is anything other than a genius. Try to compare him to another athlete and the one who most comes to mind is Novak Djokovic, another one who can smile and charm a crowd but also turn into a pantomime villain or transform into something terrifying and unstoppable when confronted with someone who isn’t rooting for him. You want the other guy to win? Too bad, because I’m going to beat him. That Djokovic streak was evident in the way Bellingham relished walking into the Azteca bearpit when England faced Mexico in the last 16 on Sunday. He ran to the corner and stood with arms outstretched after scoring the first of his two goals. He wanted the crowd’s animosity because it brought out the best in him. This was pure aura; this was Bellingham letting everyone know there was no way he was losing this game."

Despite not playing particularly well, England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to get through to the semi-final:

"Bellingham is 22 and already controls games with the maturity of a veteran. He dictates tempo, wins duels, scores decisive goals, creates chances, and always seems to show up when the stakes are highest. Mbappe has been deciding the biggest matches in football for years with numbers and performances that would define an entire career for most players.

The standards have simply changed. Being world-class isn’t enough anymore. Fans expect sustained dominance for 15-20 years, Ballon d’Ors, Champions Leagues, World Cups, and ridiculous consistency before they even enter the GOAT conversation.

So glad Haaland got to play in the World Cup:

"He owns a tax-sheltered investment company in Luxembourg named Pillage. He bought an edition of the “Heimskringla,” a 13th-century Old Norse saga, for $130,000—then donated it to his local library because, he explained, “I’ve never been much of a reader.” He has flowing blond hair, often compared to a Viking’s. He brings the intensity of a raiding party to the sport. Haaland scores goals at a higher rate than almost any soccer player ever. He has said, “I think of football all the time.” His wake-up alarm plays the theme song for the Champions League. He once posted a photo of himself on a plane, staring ahead intensely, with the caption “Just raw dogged a 7 hour flight no phone no sleep no water no food only map.” The Guardian once called him a “ravenous Nordic goal-yeti.” Haaland’s style of play elicits not wonder but terror. He is enormous: six feet five, 200 pounds, about the size and speed of the N.F.L. wide receiver Randy Moss. “Watching him, I sometimes find myself giggling as I might over a big, obscene crash at a demolition derby,” Zach Helfand writes."

The England game finished at 1 in the morning so I didn't watch Argentina v Switzerland. Strange how another referee decision helped Argentina at a crucial moment:

"Not much to talk about today but you all were able to see my reaction after the red card, we knew something controversial was going to happen in the game but don’t know the exact time, the match officials and referees already have the script of the game before it even started.”

"When Switzerland threatened to complete the turnaround, a Swiss player was conveniently sent off. You can look away all you want, but the pattern is becoming impossible to ignore. The favouritism is glaring, and the stench of corruption is everywhere."

Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in a much more entertaining quarter final.

Felt sorry for Belgium as captain Youri Tielemans was injured in the warm up and couldn't play and they also had to substitute goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during the match:

Good to see Cape Verde getting their flowers:

Come on England:

Even though I support England, have to admit I love Haaland:

"But this superstar remains an egalitarian Norwegian. Where most footballers cannot bridge the chasm that separates them from ordinary mortals, Haaland has always treated others as equals.

When he left Dortmund for his dad’s old club Manchester City in 2022, he gave personally engraved watches to 20 Dortmund staff members. He explained: “To the physios who have massaged my feet every damned day for two and a half years. To the people who washed my clothes every day, made my food every day . . . I thought it was cool, and they deserved it.”

After a rest day the football was thankfully back. France became the first to reach the semi finals after beating Morocco 2-0. Mbappe had a penalty saved but made up for it with a fantastic goal.

Glad that Egypt are getting the love:

"The dramatic match transformed the Egyptians’ triumph into heartbreak, and then into anger over what many regarded as a refereeing decisions that favoured Argentina. Yet, amid the frustration, there was also a kindling sense of pride. When the Egypt team returned to their hotel in Atlanta, they were greeted by legions of fans who gathered to show their appreciation. It was an emotional reception, the players standing and applauding in a shared moment of gratitude – a reminder that, despite the heart-wrenching end, this team had given Egyptians their first glimpse of collective joy in 15 years, dating back to the 2011 Egyptian revolution."

So gutted for Egypt and Mo Salah who were 2-0 up against Argentina at 74 minutes before Argentina came back to win 3-2:

"I do not love how we are expected to ignore the inconsistencies in officiating and the interventions from VAR, which have largely been heavily weighted towards certain teams and its players. If you’ve watched and followed everything in this World Cup and are still subscribed to the idea that it’s all fair, delusionville must be a lovely place to reside."

The Egyptian King and Macca:

"Seeing someone of his quality leave the pitch disappointed is always difficult. For me, he’s one of the best players I’ve ever shared a dressing room with. If I had to rank them, I’d put him right behind Lionel Messi. His professionalism, consistency, and dedication are incredible, and he sets an example for everyone around him. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to exchange shirts with him after the game. You never know when you’ll get the chance to play alongside or against someone again. I’ve learned so much from him over the years, and some of the advice he’s given me has helped me grow both as a footballer and as a person. He deserves nothing but respect for everything he has achieved and for the way he carries himself.”

I admit I went to bed after the first half of the last final 16 match between Switzerland and Colombia and it appears I did not miss much:

Belgium 4-1 is karma after the blatant political interference:

"The United States began the tournament playing exciting football. We all enjoyed watching them during the group stage. They had a likable coach and plenty of support from neutral fans. Then suddenly, they decided to take off the football shirt and put on the suit of political influence. A reckless challenge, a deserved red card, and then the White House entered the scene as if football justice were nothing more than a piece of paper that could be rewritten with a phone call, political pressure, or a favor for the host nation. Belgium went into the game as if they weren’t just facing a football team, but confronting a disgraceful idea: that the United States is entitled to privileges no other nation would ever receive. That’s why the 4–1 scoreline was more than just a result—it was a deserved humiliation for a team that hid behind politics, and a slap in the face for FIFA after bowing to Trump’s arrogant political influence. I won’t blame the United States, because it’s a great country with an even greater people. I blame those who brought politics into football."

"He attended the Super Bowl and predicted a Chiefs win, but the Eagles blew them out. He was there when the Commanders hosted the Lions and lost at home. He watched from a suite as Miami fell in the College Football National Championship. He sat in the owner’s suite when the Knicks snapped their huge playoff streak in NBA Finals Game 3. And he attended the Ryder Cup where Europe topped the US team."

"Belgium didn’t just beat the USA tonight they made a statement to the entire world. They played with courage, personality and complete belief from the first whistle to the last. When the pressure was at its highest, they produced their biggest performance of the tournament. Reaching the quarter-finals isn’t luck. It’s earned through sacrifice, discipline and the mentality to rise when everything is on the line. Every Belgian player fought for every ball as if their World Cup depended on it because it did."

"It looked just like the 2014 team that lost to Belgium, or the 2010 team that lost to Ghana. It looked far worse than the 2002 team that beat Mexico at this very same stage, then gave the Germans all they could handle in a quarterfinal. It looked like American men’s soccer’s progress had, over the past month, been vastly overstated."

Was really excited about Spain v Portugal but it turned out to be a flat 1-0. This may have been because I got up early to watch England that morning and wasn't functioning by the evening:

Hey Jude:

Well deserved:

Really glad I got up early to watch England beat Mexico 3-2. A classic game which had it all. Have to admit I wasn't that optimistic before the game as we were playing at altitude, our defence has been terrible and the Mexican crowd are so passionate:

"4 Declan Rice gets a yellow card after just one minute 5 Quansah sent of after 54 minutes, leaving England to play 36 minutes plus 11 minutes of stoppage time with 10 men 6 The huge pressure of expectation to reach the quarter-finals 7 Chaos surrounding the kick-off time ahead of the game An England win for the ages"

"Winning football matches is about far more than pretty passing patterns. Sometimes it's about surviving, suffering and refusing to surrender. England defended with courage, discipline and belief in one of the most intimidating environments the game can offer. Every block, every clearance and every exhausted sprint carried the same message: this team were not leaving empty-handed. For the first time in a long while, I watched an England side that looked mentally stronger than the occasion itself."

"From the first whistle it had everything—two penalties, one red card, controversial refereeing decisions, brilliant goals and unbelievable intensity. It was the kind of match people will talk about for years. Mexico cannot leave this tournament with tears. They leave with their heads held high. Before the match I heard a Mexican fan say, ‘Whether we win or lose doesn’t matter. What matters is that we give the world a great game.’ They did exactly that. Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones, Edson Álvarez, Santiago Giménez and the rest of the squad gave everything, while the supporters never stopped believing. The football world will respect this Mexican team. England also deserve enormous credit. Jude Bellingham was outstanding, Harry Kane delivered again, and Anthony Gordon showed why he’s such a special player. I also have to praise Thomas Tuchel. It takes courage to trust these players, and they’re fighting for him with everything they have. You can see a team that believes in its manager."

"Then came the moment nobody expected. The England star asked Mora to swap shirts. Morita was clearly caught by surprise and told him he'd give him his shirt afterwards. Instead, Bellingham simply handed over his own shirt. Anyone who truly loves football knows there are few greater signs of respect than a shirt swap after the final whistle. Jude plays for Real Madrid. He's shared the pitch with some of the best players in the world. Yet he still chose to show his respect for a 17-year-old Mexican. That tells you everything about how special Morita is at just 17. BELLINGHAM, YOU'VE EARNED ALL OUR RESPECT."

"Gordon exploded into space at lightning speed and won the penalty that ultimately decided the game. And that’s without mentioning the 100 minutes he played, spending most of them tracking back and covering alongside O’Reilly and Spence. If anyone else had started in his place, the game could have unfolded very differently—and England might well have been heading home tonight. Bellingham’s celebration with Gordon after the final whistle said everything. No words were needed."

"Logic says that after coming back from something like that, he’d become extremely cautious—especially in aerial duels, fearing another collision could reopen old wounds. But despite everything he’s been through, Jiménez has never stopped loving the aerial side of his game. Every game, he attacks three or four headers with remarkable precision and complete fearlessness. I’ve genuinely never seen another player dominate headers with that level of consistency. A truly great player."

Death, taxes and Erling Haarland. He scored twice as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach their first World Cup quarter-fina

"Seven goals in four World Cup matches. Sixty-two goals in 54 international caps. Truly astonishing numbers. It's the first time Brazil have failed to reach the quarter-final stage of the World Cup since 1990. Neymar's late penalty proved to be nothing more than consolation for Carlo Ancelotti's side. Bruno Guimaraes will rue his spot kick, which was saved by Orjan Nyland."

Thought FIFA could not be more corrupt but then they met Trump:

Morocco beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 after coming to life in second half:

France beat Panama 1-0 in a controversial game:

"Kylian Mbappe was on the receiving end of most of the hostile treatment but he saw the funny side at full-time. He certainly had the last laugh. France are through to the quarter-final while Paraguay are on the next flight home."

"Matías Galarza was fortunate to still be on the pitch after what could easily have been two red-card incidents for violent challenges, while Gustavo Velázquez was deliberately scuffing up the penalty spot before France's spot-kick. There’s a difference between being streetwise and simply embarrassing yourselves. Tonight, Gustavo Alfaro's side got it completely wrong. They were absolutely embarrassing."

For me, Galarza was never in control of that challenge. There was no real attempt to win the ball cleanly, and when you go into a tackle like that, you accept the risk of seriously hurting your opponent. In my opinion, it should have been a straight red card. That is exactly why VAR exists—not to create controversy, but to correct obvious mistakes and protect the players. What worries me is the inconsistency we’ve seen with officiating throughout this World Cup. One match, a similar incident is punished immediately. In another, the referee allows play to continue. Players deserve clarity. Coaches deserve consistency. Supporters deserve confidence that the same rules apply to everyone. Mbappé was fortunate to continue, but next time another player may not be so lucky. These decisions have consequences, and I believe the officials should have acted much more decisively.”

The Egyptian King:

Unbelievably, Cape Verde came back twice to equalise against Argentina, before eventually losing 3-2 in extra time:

Sidney Lopes Carbal’s second goal for Cape Verde was the goal of the tournament:

"— He performs really well for CF Estrela Amadora getting 6 goals and 4 assists and earns a move to Benfica and officially joins the club on the 1st of January! What’s funny is he even scored in his first start for Benfica against his old club Estrela and wins MOTM. After the Prestianni racially abusing Vini Jr incident, Carbal asked for his Vini’s shirt after the game & they phased him out of the team. Before the tournament started he joined Trabzospor in Turkey for £6M He’s now just gone and scored the goal of the 2026 World Cup to make it 2-2 against the World champions Argentina."

"When we saw 1%, we just laughed.” Cape Verde liked those odds, and so did Sidny Lopes Cabral. “They gave us a 1% chance of reaching the next round, but we showed how big 1% is,” the defender says. He has always known there was a chance however small it looked, in Rotterdam or anywhere: in Germany, where he froze in the fifth tier earning £850 a month, using bin bags for curtains, and in America, too. His mates told him he was crazy; he told his mum not to worry. “I always told them: ‘Hey, I’m going to be a great football player: I’m gonna reach the top.’ And I’m living in my dream now.”

"I think they showed why they're world champions. I think I can say our team showed how willing they were to play this game, to play this match. I don't think any other team could have scored two goals against Argentina and then taken the match into extra time. I think that shows the character of our team, how skilled our team was throughout most of the match. We knew the quality of our opponent. It was going to be a tough match, as it truly proved to be against Argentina. But I think we did our best, and we did it with bravery. And we never failed to stay true to our identity, which is why I'm so proud of what my players did throughout the match."

"Cape Verde didn’t park the bus and pray. They defended like lions, yes, but they also believed they could score. They believed they could hurt Argentina, and they did it twice. Their goalkeeper refused to surrender. Their defenders never stopped fighting. Every substitution brought fresh legs and fresh belief. Even when Messi reminded everyone why he’s one of the greatest players in history, Cape Verde simply got up and fought again. That’s what impressed me the most. They never accepted that they were supposed to lose. This wasn’t only the first World Cup match for Cape Verde. This was a message to every small football nation around the world. You don’t need a population of fifty million to compete. You don’t need the biggest league or the biggest budget. What you need is personality, belief and courage."

Have to mention Messi, even though the story is all about Cape Verde:

Egypt beat Australia on penalties 4-2 in their first ever knock out game. So happy for the Egyptian King as Mo Salah scored with a panenka:

"During his nine glittering years at Liverpool, those three words surfaced every time he sent a record tumbling. Often, when his peers in the Premier League checked an impressive milestone off their lists, they found their accomplishment came affixed with that dreaded caveat. In the face of such high stakes, some players would succumb to the pressure. Others would put their head down and hope for the best as they smashed the ball with all their might toward the goal. But instead, Egypt's captain adjusted his shin pads and puffed his cheeks before dispatching a cool 'Panenka' chip down the middle of the goal that evaded the diving Mathew Ryan. Who would dare to be so bold when balancing the weight of a nation on their shoulders? Unsurprisingly, only Mohamed Salah."

"The way the Egyptian analyst shut the laptop — case closed — and the players jumped up ready to attack the situation was exactly the mindset shift they wanted. It appeared to give them a lift, like they suddenly felt they had an edge — even if technically they had no edge at all. Sometimes all you need is to take your mind off your own thoughts and the prospect of letting 120 million people down. Popovic gifted them that opportunity with his substitution."

Colombia beat Ghana 1-0 to complete the last 16:

"The World Cup, broadly, contains two types of teams. There are those whose success in the tournament depends on how long they last – the genuine contenders to win it, the aspirants who arrived expecting a deep run, the game’s major powers and their pursuers – and there are those for whom being here at all is success enough. What we have seen, again and again, is that the gap between those two groups is both much narrower than it has been previously and much narrower than we typically imagine it to be. The reasons for that are multifold, ranging from access to cutting-edge conditioning and nutrition and sports science to teams being able to boost their resources by tapping into their diaspora populations." 

Spain turned up to dominate Austria 3-0

"I actually thought Austria defended very well for long periods. Their goalkeeper made important saves, the defenders blocked shots, and they frustrated Spain. But football at this level is about concentration. You lose focus for one run from Oyarzabal, one overlap from Cucurella or Porro, and suddenly you’re behind. Lamine Yamal was outstanding without scoring. That’s the funny thing about football. People will remember Oyarzabal’s brace, but coaches will watch Yamal’s movement, his decision-making, how he attracted defenders and opened spaces for everyone else. The free-kick that struck the post, the rebound save, the penalty appeal—he kept creating moments. That’s what elite players do. Spain are beginning to look like a side that knows exactly who they are.”

Portugal beat Croatia 2-1, but the score doesn't reflect the drama :

Legend:

Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0:

England played terribly and were 1-0 down to DR Congo at half time. Thankfully, Harry Kane scored twice in the last 15 minutes to take England through. Not sure we deserved it as DR Congo played really well, especially their goalie:

Mexico will be our next opponents as they beat Ecuador 2-0:

"Even Javier Aguirre initially overlooked him for that reason. But Quiñones answered in the only way that matters: by finishing as the league’s top scorer with 33 goals, forcing his way into Mexico’s World Cup squad. And at the World Cup, Quiñones has only made Aguirre’s decision look even worse. He has already been directly involved in 4 of Mexico’s 8 goals, including today’s stunning strike against Ecuador—a perfectly timed run followed by a sensational finish into the top corner from a tight angle. What’s even more remarkable is that Quiñones is now just one goal away from becoming Mexico’s all-time top scorer in World Cup history, despite this being the very first World Cup of his career. He is also only the second Mexican player ever, alongside Luis Hernández, to score in three different World Cup games. Born into poverty in Colombia, he moved to Mexico at just 17 years old to help save his family from hardship. Today, he stands as Mexico’s brightest star at the World Cup."

Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 after after pulling of a comeback for the ages after from being 2-0 down:

"The Belgium golden generation obituaries were being written, not least after their greatest ever player Kevin De Bruyne – plus a seemingly disgusted Jeremy Doku – were substituted after just 55 minutes. Senegal were excellent value for their famous imminent victory. Precisely 159 seconds later, the scoreline was 2-2 thanks to one of the most unlikely World Cup comebacks in living memory. It was a comeback as devastatingly clinical as it was unlikely, recalling a previous miraculous Belgium recovery when they came from 2-0 down to beat Japan in the last 16 in 2018. This was the first occasion this tournament of a team recovering from 2-0 down and was an occasion no one inside Seattle Stadium will ever forget."

"Heartbreak at the death has been the story for the African teams bar Morocco at this phase so far. South Africa 92mins, Côte d’Ivoire 86, DR Congo 86. Belgium’s comeback against Senegal also started with 86 played Different stories but similar pain. South Africa did not impose themselves offensively, Côte d’Ivoire didn’t translate their possession into enough chances and even though they created more than Norway, they don’t possess a finishing machine like Haaland. DR Congo led, hit the post but were met with the menacing brilliance of Kane. Senegal should not have thrown away a game they bossed."

Belgium's next opponent will be the U.S.A who beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 despite going 2-0 down:

It's not as simple as doing hard things together. It's cultivating an underlying culture where trust is the foundation. Where you will sometimes screw up, but you know that those around you support you and want you to be better. It's knowing that the leader has the actual best interest at heart, that they care, and aren't just doing it for the paycheck, the reward, or their ego. It's the hardest thing in sport to create. But when you do, it's magic. Adversity tests us. It reveals who we are, both as an individual and a group. If you've got the culture right, it pulls you together. There's not much more powerful than a shared sense of us against the world. A family isn't the guys who celebrate together. It's the ones who, when a teammate goes down, look around and think: my turn to carry more.

Norway overcame Ivory Coast thanks to an 86th minute goal from the machine that is Haaland:

"For anybody new to watching Haaland… welcome to the full Erling experience. Almost every goal he scores is a record, so here we go again: he has become the first player to score on his first three appearances at a World Cup, and the fastest player ever to score 60 international goals. He has those 60 goals in 53 games. And yes, if you were watching most of this game wondering why he is not getting involved much, that is completely normal."

"60 international goals in just 52 games for Norway. Forget the fact that he has more goals than appearances. Have you realized that Norway doesn’t play nearly as many major tournaments as Argentina, Brazil, or Portugal? And even when they do qualify, they usually don’t make deep runs. Now, in his very first World Cup, Haaland has already scored 5 goals… and the tournament isn’t even over yet. And the craziest part? He’s only 25 years old."

Not only is Haaland freakishly talented, he also seems to be one of the good guys and doesn't take himself too seriously:

"This sort of solidarity among the global African diaspora provides a refreshing break from the so-called “diaspora wars” that are otherwise ever present on social media platforms (so ever present that on multiple occasions some users have questioned whether bots, or perhaps even intelligence agencies, are engineering them). Before the World Cup, on any given day it was common to see people fighting over posts by “Foundational Black Americans (FBAs)”, making race science-adjacent arguments about how Black Americans are not actually of African descent and that African and Caribbean immigrants should be forcibly deported from the United States. Or X users angrily quoting posts from Africans trying to stereotype Black American or Caribbean people as lazy. Even if it’s just for a few weeks, the World Cup has helped erase this division and ushered in a joyful Pan-Africanism to replace it."

France dominated Sweden to win 3-0, score could have been much higher. Mbappe grabs the headlines but Michael Olise makes that team tick:

The plaudits in the French press, though, were first and foremost for Michael Olise. For Le Figaro, the 24-year-old has been “an artist who has captured hearts”, while Le Parisien labelled him the “official distributor of happiness” for his two-assist display. L’Équipe dubbed him the “universal donor” to highlight his selfless performance.

“Two assists, a bicycle kick that hit the post, chances created everywhere—he controlled the game without needing to score. That is intelligence.” “Some players ask for the ball. Olise asks the game to come to him, and when it does, he decides everything. The pass is always one second earlier than defenders expect. That’s why he now leads the World Cup in assists. You don’t accidentally become the best creator in a tournament full of superstars.” “People call artists the players who dribble. I call artists the players who see pictures nobody else can see. Today, Michael Olise painted the match.”