As frequently happens, Donald Trump has been the one to articulate the unspoken truth. During an interview aired ahead of the World Cup final, the US president told a national news network, “We have to do this again and we have to do it while I’m around, you hear that Gianni?” Over the last month, […]
Continue ReadingThere is absolutely no obligation to give credit to Fifa. What must be recognized, though, is that the 2026 World Cup achieved every objective it set out to accomplish. The matches were intriguing, closely fought, and full of tension, even if the overall quality was often unremarkable – though that is rarely essential for a […]
Continue ReadingAs the second half of extra time unfolded in Sunday’s World Cup final, it was evident that Argentina intended to make Spain endure a grueling contest. Every tackle was fiercely committed. Their backline worked tirelessly to cut off the service routes that striker Mikel Oyarzabal typically thrives on, forcing Spain to fire eleven of their […]
Continue ReadingFootball’s global governing body has launched a disciplinary inquiry into the altercations that erupted after Sunday’s championship match, with multiple Argentine players potentially facing suspensions. Nahuel Molina was seen striking Spain’s captain Rodri in the midsection as he entered the field following the final whistle, while a significant confrontation unfolded at midfield, where Leandro Paredes […]
Continue ReadingOn the evening when Spain claimed their maiden World Cup in 2010, Rodrigo Hernández was away at a camp, deep in the Connecticut woods. He had been out canoeing when the national side defeated Germany in the semifinal, disappointed to have missed that match, so for the final he persuaded a supervisor to let him […]
Continue ReadingRodri has recaptured his finest form following a series of injury setbacks. The recent Ballon d’Or recipient has featured in only 22 starting lineups since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in September 2024, yet his displays at the World Cup gave no hint of the physical troubles that had hampered him over the previous two […]
Continue ReadingIt might be premature, with confetti still drifting across the New Jersey evening, to deliver a definitive verdict. That clarity will only emerge once the dust has truly settled, when recollections have had time to crystallize, and when the ripple effects of pivotal decisions become apparent. Still, let us attempt to gauge where this tournament, […]
Continue ReadingOnly England could secure a third-place finish at the World Cup by outlasting France in a remarkable 10-goal encounter, yet somehow leave the pitch with even greater frustration aimed at the head coach. Sentiment remains raw following the dramatic collapse against Argentina, and simply winning a match with little at stake will not be enough […]
Continue ReadingThe World Cup final grew contentious after extra time as Spain claimed the title. Here is a frame-by-frame account of what unfolded. The match is over… or is it? When referee Slavko Vincic sounds the final whistle, Spain’s substitutes rush onto the field to celebrate winning the World Cup with their teammates. Molina throws the […]
Continue ReadingIt concluded almost exactly as Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump had envisioned. Earlier on a seemingly interminable day of the World Cup climax, the trophy had emerged from a Louis Vuitton case, a moment entirely in keeping with the tournament’s extravagance. They then walked up to the podium together and handed it to a delighted […]
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