Well, something hasn’t sat well with me today. I’ve been productive at work, I don’t feel exhausted and I haven’t been aggravated by VAR related reels invading my headspace (& instead appear to have been replaced with quite amusing Count Binface snippets)…. Yes, after 96 matches crammed into a month long frenzy, today was a blank day. So a perfect opportunity to take stock of recent events.
Most notably, and a blog first I believe - a first hand report of one of the games as I had the privilege to attend the France vs Paraguay game. Thank you FIFA for graciously accepting my credit card details. The prior week I had endured and survived the English heatwave with a quick trip home. Little did I know, but this would actually prove to be perfect endurance training to prepare me for this game. 102 degree F heat in Philadelphia, with 70,000 of my closest friends, this proved to be the hottest conditions across all 96 games played to date. Lovely. Thankfully I was able to have all my boys decked out in England shirts, clearly identifying them as high risk potential heat-stroke victims - a tactic that can only have helped my two youngest be waved in by officious FIFA stewards despite carrying water purchased outside of Gianni’s realm.
The day can be summed up as a brilliant experience & a shit game. Paraguay got a lot of bad press after the game for the “dark arts”, but the English press seemed to fail to comprehend that this is precisely how the game is played in abundance across South America. Faced with vastly superior opponents, the playbook was predictable: 90 minutes of shithousery to level the playing field. It entirely met expectations and credit is needed for Paraguay making it entirely the type of game they wanted. Ironically from our vantage point, we didn’t even see a lot of things that were picked up on the tv cameras, including infuriatingly the VAR call for the penalty as no replays were shown in the stadium. And while hydration breaks were actually a blessing on this scorching day, the Americanization of the match day experience was summed up well as the break was immediately filled with a 1,000 decibel blasting of Livin’ on a Prayer over the speakers. Hoping this is my first and last experience of football quarters.
But while I can wistfully think of the missed France v Germany classic we almost got, or a jealous glance at surprise blockbusters like Argentina vs Cape Verde, it was still a wonderful spectacle and we were still able to see the depth in French talent as Doué came off the bench to make the difference in a tight game. We also got to see Mbappe score a World Cup goal and the boys thoroughly enjoyed their day out.
In the other game that day, we’d grabbed lunch in the city while watching Morocco get absolutely pummeled by Canada 0-0 in the first half. We then left to head to the stadium and when we checked the score on arrival, of course Morocco had promptly scored 3. Still wondering how that happened.
What that unknowingly triggered was a quick fire expulsion of all three hosts in short order. Mexico and the Azteca. A genuinely inspired England performance that included the highest quality (Bellingham and Kane), combined with a 10 men backs to the wall effort that felt very English. And despite a bit of a mixed bag tournament leading up to this, Pickford produced a flawless performance. A little time has passed now since the game, and while the euphoria has slightly subsided as I nervously study Haaland stats, it’s a victory that will live long in the memory. And shout out to Hendo for cementing his place in pub quiz folklore - a yellow card, and being stretchered off with a badly broken arm despite not actually playing a single minute. Madness.
Last but not least, the USA. No way around this - they completely stunk the place out, reverting to type not seen at all in the other games this tournament. Inferior in every aspect of the game, including even goal celebrations as Lukaku led the certain dance for the 4th goal. Sporting karma is undefeated - the undoubted corruption that soiled the reputation of the team pre-game, dispatched and silenced by a motivated and much improved Belgium team. The only true sign of progress for the US is that this result was met with abject disappointment, versus a shrug of the underdog. There was genuine belief, and well founded - but ultimately this relatively young team froze on the day.
The last 8 is set. Haaland beat Brazil in a result I think everyone actually saw coming. Special mention for his second goal celebration, just walking off driving a winning goal perfectly in the corner to kill off the Brazilians. He’s really enjoying himself…. I’m very worried. As should Argentina fans be - it feels like they can’t possibly continue squeaking through (amazing) games 3-2. Spain grinded their way through in a game that wasn’t a thriller although looked better after watching Columbia fail to win 1-0 again and ultimately go out on pens to Switzerland, completing a very Euro-centric final group.
It’s the serious stuff now. While France remains overwhelming favourites, you can make a case for almost any team winning any of these quarter finals. Including England! There, I said it. Hope is alive and well….livin’ on a prayer….
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