Over 100,000 supporters poured into the streets of the Norwegian capital, Oslo, to offer their side a heartfelt homecoming, transforming the disappointment of a World Cup elimination into an immense nationwide celebration. A 2-1 extra-time loss against England on Saturday ended Norway’s trailblazing campaign at the quarter-final stage, dashing their hopes of reaching the last […]
Continue ReadingGuillem Balague, a journalist from Spain: Spain – the strongest side. France – boasts the finest individual and the most terrifying offensive line. Argentina – the smartest approach: achieving more with fewer resources than the rest. England – two elite performers hitting their stride. Each of the four remaining teams possesses the qualities required to […]
Continue ReadingA final call on Declan Rice’s availability to feature in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina will be made closer to kick-off. Nevertheless, there is still confidence that the Arsenal midfielder will overcome the lingering effects of an illness in time to take the field on Wednesday. Rice, who was dealing with a stomach virus […]
Continue ReadingDeclan Rice is expected to shake off a sickness bug and keep his spot in the lineup for England’s World Cup semifinal clash with Argentina on Wednesday. The Arsenal player was taken off at the break during England’s quarterfinal victory against Norway, after manager Thomas Tuchel disclosed that Rice had been bedridden for much of […]
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 […]
Continue ReadingAlthough Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to find the net in six different World Cups, one particular milestone remains out of reach for both him and Lionel Messi, who turned 39 during the tournament. Ronaldo opened the scoring against Uzbekistan in Portugal’s second group fixture, becoming the second-oldest goalscorer in the competition’s history at […]
Continue ReadingAvailable for over a year Nestory Irankunda, Antonio Rudiger, and Alphonso Davies each represented their nations—Australia, Germany, and Canada—at the World Cup, yet all three share a connection to Africa through refugee backgrounds. German centre-back Antonio Rudiger recounts on the podcast a harrowing episode in which his brother narrowly avoided being forced into becoming a […]
Continue ReadingIn contrast to the legends who have fruitlessly pursued his World Cup scoring record for nearly seven decades, Fontaine remains somewhat obscure to today’s fans. Although figures like Pele and Messi are deservedly celebrated as the greatest male footballers, Fontaine has been reduced to a mere footnote. However, this overlooks the extraordinary journey of Fontaine […]
Continue ReadingThe change is remarkable, yet it did not happen by chance. In 2013, soon after becoming chairman of the FA, Greg Dyke sharply criticized the setup of English football. “The issue is grave, extremely grave,” Dyke remarked regarding the “worrying” shortage of domestic talent. Dyke outlined two goals for the England side: a semi-final spot […]
Continue ReadingIn 2017, the Fifa council agreed to enlarge the World Cup from 32 to 48 nations. Conmebol, the South American football body, submitted a formal plan in April 2025 to increase the 2030 World Cup to 64 sides, but no final ruling has been made. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will be the main co-hosts of […]
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