MISTY, WATER-COLOURED MEMORIES
The Geopolitics World Cup has begun to recede from memory, giving way to a sparse July filled with pre-season matches and transfer news. However, it’s still an opportune moment to revisit the remarkable 48-team, 104-match, 308-goal spectacle that captivated us over the past six weeks. Here are 48 compelling reasons to celebrate this year’s World Cup, excluding the geopolitical aspects.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa featured three red cards, with ITV showcasing their studio’s stunning Manhattan view, alongside a duck that was hailed as a national hero. Germany made a powerful statement by scoring seven goals against Curaçao, whose lone goal sent Telemundo commentators into a frenzy. Vozinha’s outstanding performance for Cape Verde had fans reminiscing about Spain, as his mother traveled to see him play.
Another legendary figure, Lionel Messi, netted six goals in the group stage, momentarily taking the title of the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. Cristiano Ronaldo had a dismal performance, briefly bounced back, and then disappeared again. Scotland’s supporters left a lasting impact on the tournament, adopting Boston as their spiritual base. England showcased a brilliant offensive display against Croatia that was never replicated again, while Anthony Barry embodied the frustrated demeanor of a lower-league manager during his halftime interviews.
As the tournament heated up, it seemed time for a hydration break, but Mauricio Pochettino accidentally knocked over the Powerade. Poch impressively portrayed a middle-aged actor playing a World Cup coach, and for a fleeting moment, the US appeared to be a formidable team before losing their momentum. Co-hosts Canada celebrated their first-ever World Cup victory in style, thrashing Qatar, who received two red cards. Also dismissed was Miguel Almirón for a seemingly innocuous gesture of covering his mouth while speaking—an action that did not save Turkey from elimination after registering a staggering 1,057 shots on goal.
Group E witnessed Japan maintaining composure both on and off the pitch, while Sweden had a rollercoaster ride, winning and losing 5-1. Herve Rénard’s unexpected appearance raised eyebrows, and Ecuador’s “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,”, Sebastián Beccacece, caught eyes, while Marcelo Bielsa could only watch in dismay as Uruguay struggled in real-time. Riyad Mahrez bewildered many by putting Algeria ahead 3-2 against Austria, who quickly leveled the score, adding to Iran’s woes as they were denied a last-minute winner against Egypt by VAR.
Take another hydration break, courtesy of the exhilarating elixir of goals. Sidny Lopes Cabral from Cape Verde delivered the most memorable goal and celebration against Argentina, who responded with extra-time magic from Julián Alvarez. Haiti’s Wilson Isidor and Uzbekistan striker Eldor Shomurodov added their names to the list of unforgettable World Cup goals, while Egypt’s brilliant counterattack against Argentina was heartbreakingly disallowed. Their manager, the fiery Hossam Hassan, reacted passionately.
The knockout stages introduced a more intense atmosphere, with Germany eliminated by Paraguay’s clever tactics and the Dutch thwarted by a Morocco team that lived up to expectations. The match between Portugal and Croatia was filled with drama, while Belgium appeared more inclined to bicker among themselves than to recover against Senegal. The Battle of the Azteca delivered thrilling moments, as England players threw themselves into every challenge, Javier Aguirre provided the tournament’s most memorable touchline moment, and Harry Kane struggled to speak. Brazil’s delicate, vibe-based campaign was shattered by Erling Haaland’s ruthless precision, as Norway maintained near-perfect harmony, with Haaland overpowering defenders and social media controversies. Neymar, on the other hand, earned the Mark Corrigan award for achieving victory in the most minimalistic way.
Advancing to the quarter-finals, Kylian Mbappé dominated the field as France appeared, albeit briefly, invincible, and Spain conceded a goal (with Charles De Ketelaere becoming a trivia answer for eternity). Breel Embolo’s needless dive was captured in stunning detail, England received a touch of divine assistance against Norway, Gabriel Clarke stirred the pot, and Danny Murphy shared the sobering saga of Bob the Cat. The semi-finals can be encapsulated by two pivotal moments—Lamine Yamal turning Lucas Digne’s mind inside out and seven defenders failing to mark Enzo Fernández. Oh, England!
The match of the tournament occurred during the third-place playoff, a chaotic encounter that England won 6-4, with Mbappé padding his stats on the way to the Golden Boot. The final, however, was far less entertaining, with Wayne Rooney succinctly summarizing the disorganized halftime show, and Fernández’s reckless second yellow card encapsulating Argentina’s lackluster efforts. Yet, there’s no greater moment than the one that clinches victory; take a bow, Ferran Torres.
After a tournament filled with tedious celebrity-spotting, it was refreshing to see Javier Bardem and Carlos Alcaraz genuinely celebrating Spain’s triumph, while Keyne Yamal showcased his skills on the pitch. Looking ahead, Luis de la Fuente’s red-and-gold army will co-host next time, where we may need to compile another 64 memorable moments. We’ll begin that task soon, so feel free to start making your predictions as we prepare for 2030.
KEVIN KEEGAN (1951-2026)
In the wake of Kevin Keegan’s passing at the age of 75, tributes have poured in over the last day. His playing career was nothing short of remarkable—he remains the only British player to have been named European Footballer of the Year twice. Keegan won three league titles with Liverpool, a European Cup, and a Bundesliga title with Hamburg, while also being a mainstay for the England national team for a decade. His influence as one of football’s early celebrity figures transcends medals, thanks to his television appearances, advertisements, and even a top 40 hit. His turbulent managerial career is often remembered for his infamous confrontation with Alex Ferguson in 1996. “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.” Ferguson remarked on Tuesday. “My hero. My manager. My friend. Sleep easy Boss.” Alan Shearer expressed his sentiments succinctly: “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”
For more on Keegan’s extraordinary career as a player and manager, check out Rob Draper’s heartfelt tribute, Richard Williams’s obituary, and Louise Taylor’s retrospective on his three eras at Newcastle, along with a collection of his life in pictures.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“As time goes by, you realize 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,” said Enzo Fernández, reflecting on Argentina’s performance despite their showing in the GWC final, and perhaps not fully grasping the concepts of “pride” and “humility” as they return home.
Big Website: on BlueSpace, TikBook, Instachat, you name it.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
If you have any thoughts, please send your letters to the.boss@. Today’s prize-winning letter 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.
“President Trump confused (yesterday’s Football Daily)? Maybe that was down to someone telling him that Spain, who he has relentlessly criticized for not spending enough on defense, actually had the best one of all the GWC participants,”
wrote 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 netting plenty of goals, it was quite intriguing to see who would come out on top. For a brief moment, one of my countrymen, Elijah Just, had the audacity to be in the mix with his three goals for New Zealand. Exciting,”
wrote 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,”
wrote Rowan Sweeney.
