MISTY, WATER-COLOURED MEMORIES
The Geopolitics World Cup is already fading from view, replaced by a thin July gruel of pre-season friendlies and transfer tales. But there’s still time to cast another look back over the 48-team, 104-game, 308-goal leviathan that has dominated the last six weeks of our lives. Without further ado, here are 48 reasons to cherish this year’s World Cup (minus the Geopolitics).
The very first game between Mexico and South Africa saw three red cards dished out, ITV showing off their studio’s Manhattan backdrop, and a duck anointed as a national hero. Germany looked ominous, putting seven past Curaçao, whose solitary goal sent Telemundo commentators wild. Vozinha and Cape Verde had us wondering about Spain, and the giant keeper’s heroics helped his mum get over to watch him play.
Another classy veteran, Lionel Messi, banged in six group-stage goals, (briefly) becoming the World Cup’s all-time top scorer. Cristiano Ronaldo was bad, then (briefly) “back”, and then gone again. Scotland fans left a far greater impression on the tournament than their team, making Boston their spiritual home. England put away Croatia with a dazzling display of attacking intent that was not to be repeated, while Anthony Barry expertly channeled a frustrated lower-league manager in his half-time interviews.
It’s probably time for a hydration break, but Mauricio Pochettino just kicked over the Powerade. Poch did a great turn as a middle-aged actor playing a World Cup coach, and the US (briefly) looked like a really good team, before being derailed by something or other, we forget. Fellow co-hosts Canada earned their first-ever World Cup win in style, smashing six past Sunday League’s Qatar, who earned two red cards. Also sent off: discretion’s Miguel Almirón, for covering his mouth while talking – not that it helped Turkey, who crashed out after two games despite taking 1,057 shots on goal.
Group E saw Japan being tidy on and off the field, an inconsistent Sweden winning and losing 5-1, and Herve Rénard showing up for some reason. Ecuador’s “touchline dreamboat” Sebastián Beccacece turned heads, while Marcelo Bielsa could only shake his dome sorrowfully as Uruguay fell apart in real time. Riyad Mahrez confused everyone by putting Algeria 3-2 up against Austria, who immediately equalised and doubled the torment for Iran, already denied a dramatic winner against Egypt by VAR.
Time for another hydro-break, brought to you by the sweet elixir of goals. Cape Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral delivered the goal and celebration of the tournament against Argentina, who brought extra-time magic of their own thanks to Julián Alvarez. Haiti’s Wilson Isidor and Uzbekistan striker Eldor Shomurodov joined the pantheon of great forgotten World Cup goals, while Egypt’s brilliant breakaway against Argentina was cruelly disallowed. Their manager, combustible hardman Hossam Hassan, responded accordingly.
The knockouts brought a sharper edge, with Germany bundled out by ‘housery’s Paraguay and the Dutch denied by a Morocco team who lived up to their billing. Portugal v Croatia was absolute psychodrama, and Belgium looked more likely to fight among themselves than find a way back against Senegal. The Battle of the Azteca was a belter. England players threw their heads at everything, Javier Aguirre delivered the GWC’s best touchline moment, and Harry Kane lost his voice. Brazil’s fragile, vibes-based journey was shattered by Erling Haaland’s merciless precision as Norway rowed on in (almost) perfect unison, with Haaland dominating defences and Social Media Disgraces alike. Neymar, meanwhile, won the Mark Corrigan award for winning in the most minor way possible.
On to the quarter-finals, where Kylian Mbappé dictated the play as France (briefly) looked unstoppable, and Spain conceded a goal (Charles De Ketelaere becoming an eternal pub quiz answer). Breel Embolo’s needless dive was exposed in 4K, England got a little help from on high against Norway, Gabriel Clarke stirred the pot, and Danny Murphy continued the sobering tale of Bob the Cat. The semis can be summed up in two key moments – Lamine Yamal turning Lucas Digne’s brain inside-out, and seven defenders failing to close down Enzo Fernández. Oh, England!
The game of the tournament came in the third-place playoff, a ridiculous knockabout affair won 6-4 by England, with Mbappé stat-padding his way to the Golden Boot. The final was not nearly as much fun, with Wayne Rooney neatly summarising the chaotic half-time show, and Fernández’s bone-headed second yellow card summing up Argentina’s reductive efforts. There’s no bigger moment than the one that wins it all, though, so take a bow, Ferran Torres.
Finally, after a tournament of tedious celebrity-spotting, it was nice to see Javier Bardem and Carlos Alcaraz genuinely celebrating Spain’s success, before Keyne Yamal made the pitch his playground. Ominously, Luis de la Fuente’s red-and-gold army are co-hosts next time, when we may have to rattle off 64 memorable moments. We’ll get to work on that, you can start making your predictions and we’ll do it all again in 2030.
KEVIN KEEGAN (1951-2026)
Tributes have poured in over the last 24 hours to Kevin Keegan after his death at the age of 75. His playing career was remarkable – he remains (and will surely remain for a long time) the only British player to be twice named European Footballer of the Year, he won the title three times with Liverpool (and the European Cup), the Bundesliga with Hamburg and was an England stalwart for a decade. But through TV appearances, adverts, even a top 40 hit, his impact as one of football’s early celebrity breakout stars can’t be measured by medals alone. And that’s before we get to his wild managerial career, remembered mostly – for good or ill – by his blow-up at Alex Ferguson in 1996. “Kevin carried the love of the game on his sleeve, there’s no question about that, and that carried right on to the fans, to the players,” said Ferguson on Tuesday. “That period at Newcastle was of emotion, it was excitement. They brought these great players to the club too and they added to it, and it gave Newcastle – I think – their best ever team.” Amid a deluge of other tributes, Alan Shearer perhaps summed up his feelings most succinctly: “My hero. My manager. My friend. Sleep easy Boss.”
For more on Keegan’s remarkable career as a player and manager, here’s Rob Draper’s wonderful tribute, Richard Williams’s obituary, Louise Taylor on his three eras at Newcastle and his life in pictures.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“As time goes by, you realise there is something much bigger than just a result. For years, this group has represented the team in the best possible way. It teaches that competing isn’t just about winning; it’s about giving your all for the jersey and never giving up. It has been a privilege to be part of a group that always stepped up, competed at the highest level, and defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment” – despite their showing in the GWC final, Enzo Fernández hypes up Argentina’s performance without fully grasping the meaning of the words “pride” and “humility” as they return home.
RECOMMENDED FOLLOWING
Big Website: on BlueSpace, TikBook, Instachat, you name it.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
President Trump confused (yesterday’s Football Daily)? Maybe that was down to someone telling him that Spain, who he has relentlessly criticised for not spending enough on defence, actually had the best one of all the GWC participants” – John Myles.
Despite your rather mixed review (yesterday’s Football Daily), I actually thought the GWC was quite good. My main focus was the Golden Boot race. Forget match quality or results. With so many elite scorers doing loads of goals it was quite intriguing to see who would come out on top. And for a wee while one of my countrymen, Elijah Just, had the impertinence to be in the mix with his three goals for New Zealand. Exciting” – Rod de Lisle.
So the third-place game was 90 minutes of pointless action and the final was a shot-for-shot remake of the 2010 version? How fittingly American” – Rowan Sweeney.
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … John Myles. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.
This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
