Meet the match official Slavko Vincic will become the first referee from Slovenia to take charge of a World Cup final. He previously officiated the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley, where Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0, and handled Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. The 46-year-old’s World Cup […]
Continue ReadingSpain’s manager Luis de la Fuente has ruled out deploying a dedicated marker on Lionel Messi during the World Cup final, despite the Argentine captain’s staggering tally of eight goals and four assists in the tournament and a personal lesson that hints otherwise. Ahead of Sunday’s showpiece in New Jersey, De la Fuente recalled his […]
Continue ReadingDuring the 37-minute stretch where England first seized the lead against Argentina and then surrendered it, they managed to hold the ball for just 12 percent of the time. It’s safe to say the World Cup final will present an entirely different kind of test against Spain. The Spanish don’t share that deep-seated English impulse […]
Continue ReadingWill the 2026 World Cup final be a triumph for Spain or Argentina? There is also the match nobody aimed to compete in, the third-place play-off, where France and England will battle for the final spot on the podium. “I have watched Argentina many times in this tournament, and by their previous standards, this is […]
Continue ReadingBy the time he reached 19, Messi had struck 11 professional goals and had won La Liga and the Champions League once apiece. Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, has already racked up a remarkable 56 goals, claimed three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, and triumphed at Euro 2024. Yamal is not the […]
Continue ReadingAvailable for over a year Spain delivered a commanding exhibition of football to defeat the highly-rated French team 2-0 in Dallas, earning a spot in only their second World Cup final. Football reporter John Bennett tells Lee James why this display from the European titleholders ranks among the finest he has witnessed at this tournament. […]
Continue ReadingStaging its final in the world’s largest media hub ensured that the North American World Cup would inevitably place a heavy emphasis on its marquee players. The broadcasting approach certainly leans into this trend. Matches are promoted as prizefights pitting two supremely gifted individuals against one another, rather than a tactical battle involving 22 players […]
Continue ReadingSpain secured their place in the 2026 World Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the Dallas semi-final, as strikes from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro proved decisive.
Continue ReadingMike Maignan: Dived the correct direction for Mikel Oyarzabal’s spot-kick but was beaten by its velocity and precision. Also culpable for some wayward clearances. 5 Jules Kounde: Had difficulty with his distribution at times. France had been so resolute defensively throughout this tournament, yet they crumbled in what many will view as their first genuine […]
Continue ReadingMatches at the World Cup carry a unique weight. Across their history, England have only contested 79 fixtures in the tournament finals, a number barely exceeding two full campaigns in their domestic top division over the 76 years since their debut. These contests attract vast audiences: more than 17 million viewers in the UK tuned […]
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