Red

Portugal - Spain 0-1

The Iberain derby is a weird affair. Either a spectacular affair of no consequence, or a drab game that consignes one side to underachievemnt for a generation.

Yesterday's one was one of the latter. The force that can't move anything versus the object that immediately folds. The amount of talent on the pitch is riduculous, including two of what are universally acknoledged as the best footballers on the planet: one of the greatest ever at the zenith of his career, and the 18 year old superstar, mature beyond his years and set to become one of the greatest of his generations. The clash should have been epic.

Well, it wasn't. It was a slow leak of enthusiasm over the course of 90 minutes in which, when normal time was heading to a close, the objectiev viewers were begging for a goal, any goal, just so we don't have to watch another 30 minutes of this. Enter Merino of Arsenal, specifically for this purpose. Good goal, but by that point it didn't even matter.

Ronaldo has been an immense footballer, but never great for his country. They won the Euro in 2008 without him on the pitch, and hopefully they'll have a better run without him in the next world cup, on home soil. I want a good run for Bruno.

USA - Belgium 1-4

This game was meant ot be dominated by the talk around the cancelled red card to Folarin Balogun, but was instead dominated by Belgium, and thank fuck for that.

The issue with Balogun's red card cancellation was not the deed in itself, after all, it would not be the first nor last injustice in football. The issue is the blatant disregard for rules, common sense, or supporters with which it's been done. An affair between two strongmen heading highly corrupt organizations, both highly disliked, and both oblivious to it. People like Trump or Infantino make me wish there was a hell.

And annoyingly, Pochettino didn't have the common sense to keep the American forward on the bench. Had he scored, the scandal would've been even bigger, so thank fuck Belgium dominated in such a categorical manner.

Belgium did not deserve to beat Senegal, but I dare say Senegal would not have beaten USA. So maybe somewhere on a higher plane things are being arranged. Now Belgium will face Spain, and I don't even know. Sounds like a good game on paper, and one that Spain should win. But who knows what the gods of football have in store for us?

Never heard of Ketelaere before yesterday, but kid has done amazing. Happy for big Rom too, 3 goals at a World Cup is not too shabby for a 37yo, and I still don't get why he doesn't start. And a good fucking thing Trump will no longer be president (or alive, God willing) next time USA will play in a World Cup. I tried hard to like them, they tried hard to make it difficult. But now it's over.