I am from Russia but I am England’s devotee since 1990. You must remember that semi-final against West Germany when England lost on penalties. They had just beaten Cameroon in the quarters and had a very decent team with Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, and David Platt. Well, that was the start of England’s penalty nemesis…
This World Cup was England’s biggest chance since 1966. Yet, I suspected they had to make it to the semis; maximum, to the final, but no more. I think England achieved a very adequate result of 3rd place; I will remind you that they were fourth in the FIFA rankings before the World Cup. I think they would have lost to Spain in the final anyway, but… they surrendered to Argentina and that’s a mystery how a brave team can lose an advantage against a team that is no better technically, even with Messi.
Well, they also beat France in a crazy bronze final, 6-4, and that was fun to watch such an open game!
What else? I liked hydration breaks because players really take rest and it is fun to see changes in football.
Spain deserved to win the World Cup. They are exactly the right brew to be world champions. England lost to Argentina both tactically and psychologically, France was outplayed by Spain, and finally, Argentina could do nothing against the perfect Spaniards in the final.
Yes. Trump! I felt outraged when his call (presumably) denied a red card suspension to an American forward, I won’t bother to google his name. That was mean! And stupid. And I don’t think it was corruption in a classical way, it was just Infantino and FIFA doing lip service to Big Donald.
Finally, I have never seen a weaker Brazil. They are not a team to fear. Hopefully, their next generation will spark up. Norway did a great job, they will remember it for generations to come…
Amen.
P.S.
England have a good chance to hit their third consecutive Euro final in 2028. Well, I wonder who they would lose in the final this time… Again, at Wembley!
How I’ll Remember the 2026 World Cup
It was barely six weeks ago that I lamented, in this very blog, how the 2026 World Cup could become a symbol of division, disputes, travel restrictions, administrative confusion and the relentless commercialisation of the game. I also suggested that if the football itself turned out to be compelling, all that previous nonsense would fade from memory.
And for most people, it probably will.
Many of the 104 matches were genuinely thrilling, and I suspect this tournament will be remembered as one of the best.
Not by me.
England produced their best World Cup performance since 1966 – the year we actually won it, and when I naively believed we’d go on to win many more. But for me, this tournament became the perfect example of how the world’s greatest game can be manipulated into something almost unrecognisable.
It started with one of Africa’s finest referees, from Somalia, being barred from entering the United States because of immigration policies. Sorry, but what has that got to do with football?
Then the Iranian team faced residency and travel restrictions that inevitably affected their ability to compete on equal terms. Again, politics intruding where it had no place.
The most extraordinary episode came when a leading American player received a red card. Under FIFA’s own rules, that means an automatic suspension. Except, apparently, when it doesn’t. Faced with the possibility that the host nation might be weakened, FIFA somehow found a way around its own disciplinary process following Presidential intervention. Rules, it seemed, were suddenly optional.
Then came the decision to divide matches into four quarters. For 150 years football has been a game of two halves. But why preserve tradition when television can sell three advertising breaks instead of one?
And finally, the World Cup Final. A half-time interval that has always lasted 15 minutes was stretched to 30 so that FIFA’s president could bask alongside celebrity performers in a glitzy entertainment spectacle. Never mind the players, exhausted after five weeks of elite competition, whose carefully honed routines were simply brushed aside.
Perhaps I’m old-fashioned, but I always believed the World Cup was about football. This one too often felt as though football had become the supporting act. Long after I’ve forgotten the scorelines, that’s the memory that will remain.
How I’ll remember the 2026 World Cup
Most Americans will not have fond memories of the World Cup. I’m sure FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, had dreams of fat TV contracts and new markets. Naw, we good. Most of us will remember two things:
- Argentina’s team is childish and Trump loves them.
- Trump wanted to stand in the center of the Spanish team photo and the players had to shoo him to one side.
Even when Infantino came up and tried to physically move Trump from this side position, he didn’t want to give someone else the spotlight. The Spanish team cropped him out of the pictures and the White House released pictures of Trump with the Spanish team cropped out. I think he forgot that just days ago, he was busy insulting the entire nation. I cannot begin to explain how proud I am to be from a country run by six- year-olds.
That’s OK, the fans in the stands knew what to do: every time Trump’s face was on the Jumbotron, the stadium filled with loud boos. I read that one boo session lasted a full three minutes! If you have a fragile ego, this is going to piss you off. Trump left the stadium, early and angry.
As for my personal memories, I think most of those will center around the man-babies from Argentina. For me, it started with their match against England. The inappropriate banner, unnecessary physical assaults, the name calling; I found the whole thing distasteful. On their return to Buenos Aires, they were given a hero’s welcome, compete with open top bus parade and a night of fire and violence. Again, not the best impression but now I know why Trump likes them. Oh, and turning your backs at the final ceremony… classy.
In general, having a soccer match in the US was never going to be the winner Infantino wanted and having Trump in power only made it worse. Personally, I hope FIFA takes the hint and doesn’t come back. Yeah, yeah, I know, Infantino can just taste the money and will be back as soon as he can. Would a hydration break help? Mexico would have been a great solo host: classy President, adoring fans, and not so damn expensive.