Finals

Last world cup, I didn't even make a final post. Partly because I was annoyed with the cheating, with the result, and with the disgusting display of the closing ceremony.

This year's ceremony had its share of disgusting scenes, but it's the ridiculous that was the prevailing feeling. Anyway, before the final we've had the....

Third place play-off (losers' final): France - England 4-6

The game no one wants to be in , the game, dare I say, no one really wants to see. It is perhaps different when a small(er) team gets in, like Morocco last year, they might've been happy to play another game. Or Bulgaria-Sweden in 1994 (FMM Prunea), a fairly competitive game. Or the 2002 Turkey-South Korea, when Turkey administered the world's revege over the very much pushed-forward South Koreans.

So there is a case for playing the third place play-off. But this wasn't it. Two big teams with final aspirations, both former WC winners, none of them wanted to be in this game. So they very clearly stated the case for not having a third place play-off. Me, I don't know. It's extra money for FIFA, so I'm sure Infantino don't mind.

People have been saying, during and after the game, what an amazing football match this was. It wasn't. And to prove it wasn't, there were no massive celebrations on the streets, no joy, no singing, and no vandalising on the tube, no pissing on fences and buildings afterwards. It was just comentators and the English public at large trying to convince themselves the game mattered. To assure you it didn't, take England's third goal, the clearest illustration of how non-competitve it was. Saka and Rashford break on the counter against 3 French defenders. I think they exchange 4 passes between them, barely troubled, before Saka scores. A solid 15-20 seconds. And by the time he scores, there's still only 3 defenders in the French box. In a competitive game, 8 people would've been there within 10 seconds, and it would not have been a goal.

But it looked like a nice little friendly, the score was one of a friendly, After England went in the break 4-0 up, I didn't for a second doubt that France will score a lot. Came back 10 minutes into the second half, it was 4-2 already, and it would've very likely ended a draw, had this been possible. It wasn't, and no one wanted another 30 minutes of this, so England got their win - which they wouldn't have in a competitve game - and France got Mbappe to be the golden boot at this tournament and the highest scorer ever at World Cup tournaments. 10 goals in 6 games in impressive, as is 22 goals across 3 World Cups, and his record will probably last for a while, considering he's still got at least two World Cups left in him. Biggest story of the day.

Spain - Argentina 1-0

This is it, the World Cup final. No occasion bigger than this, and if the game itself didn't match the expectations, the memes certainly did.

Now, last two World Cup finals had 6 goals each and were a topsy-turvy of momentum. This one ended 1-0 with a goal in extra-time. But, as Nick Hornby says, complaining about a 0-0 means you've somehow missed the point. It wasn't the most beautiful game, far from it. I still enjoyed it. Spain knew they were up against a team that would bully team and would play physically agressive without being punished. So they came well prepared for that. The Spanish players came well prepared, they never got dragged into arguments or fights, as the red cards would have been quick to come out. They also knew how to counter Argentinian aggression without fouling, and that was the real art. Probably where the game was won.

Leandro Paredes only got a first yellow in the second half, after giving the ref plenty of reasons to get a red card three times over in the first. Enzo Fernandes only got a first yellow for insulting the ref, and the second becasue the foul was so blatantly obvious.

Still, Spain had a goal by Nico Williams disallowed for what would've otherwise not have been a foul - Merino stepping on Otamendi. Even that they handled admirably. And after they finally scored without any possibility of cancellation, 10 minutes later, they were well prepared to withstand a last ditch Argentinian attack. Luis de la Fuente did well for not falling into the same trap as England did, but also, the depth of the Spanish bench is impressive, they are able to field two teams of equal value easily.

And so it ends. The goat leaves the stage in disgrace, mocked by the internet and bringing back the Messi v Ronaldo debate, after Portugal's weak performance buried it for good. Ema Martinez is great keeper, and he put an awfully solid shift in this final, but his shithousery doesn't work if the opponents come prepared. And the rest of the favela gang is well deserving of spending their holidays with internet mockery chasing them.

My only worry is that Lucha Martinez had a few critical errors during this world cup, I hope he clears his act. 

I am now much mellowed about Spain winning the World Cup - I should've been since the Euros, really - and the thought of not seeing Messi or Scaloni at a World Cup again is comforting.

Oh, I said the ceremony was full of ridicule and I didn't mention Trump... but I don't really need to do that, do I?

Not coming home

England - Argentina 1-2

Well, I was genuinely upset at this. And the worst thing is, Argentina deserved to win this game.

For sure, they played dirty, the first half was chocked with all the tricks from the dirty book, Simeone should've been sent off within the first 15 minutes, and the ref was only blowing in one direction. But England came prepared. Excelent game management, stay clean, keep as much as the ball as you can, wait for the opportunity.

We barely saw Messi, he must've had like 3 touches in the first half. And opportunity came 10 minutes after the break, with Gordon doing really well to sneak behind the defender and slot Rogers' cross home. 1-0 England, and we're cooking.

Argentina ups the pressure, but England absorbs, Pickford makes an excellent save then immediately asks for the water break. Look at England, being all mature, doing game management and prepping for the World Cup final.

But this, the fourth quarter as our fellow Americans would say, is where it went tits up. More specifically, the substitution in the 72nd minute, Konsa for Gordon. You take out the biggest attacking threat of the game and the only goal-scorer to play a central defender in? That's small team mentality, that's not a World Cup winning team mentality. I suggested England plays hoofball, but it wasn't even that. It was keeping formation along the 16 yard box and lettign Argentina enjoy long spells of possession and have 20 minutes to come up with a plan.

Their goal wasn't even Messi, it was divine punishment. Although yeah, ok, Messi crosses the ball completely unbothered, and Enzo Fernandes heads it from the center of the box with 0 people marking him or challenging him for the ball. True, Josh Stones almost headed it away, but likewise, England ALMOST saw this game through.

1-1 with 5 minutes to go, everyone's thinking extra-time, but I already fear for England. And at least the suffering is cut short, with Lautaro Martinez hitting one from just outside the box, central. Pickford might've gotten it, but in hit Bellingham's leg on the way in, gave the keeper no chance.

Sure, let's put Rashford in for the last 5 minutes, see if he can come up with something. He can't. Argentina, mush as it pains me to say it, deserved to win the game, and they did it without being awarded a penatly or playing with superior numbers.

Spain are latey opportunists too though, with better organisation in midfield. I fully expect the final to be boring, but hopefully Marino will seal it at the death.

Ou est Mbappe?

France - Spain 0-2

Oh my, didn't the bookies sleep well tonight?

I got no explanation for this game. Reminds me a bit - though that memory has long ben repressed, it's just the feeling that survives - of Barcelona beating a seamingly unstoppable Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final.

How did it happen? We all saw it, none can explain it. Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, they were all on the pitch, yet none showed up. If I were to throw my mind back even further, to the 1989 Champions League final, I'd wonder - like we all wondered after the AC Milan's hammering of Steaua, if the players have been drugged or something.

The truth is, you don't have to be glamorous to be efficient. I also think the French had an off day, but if you're having an off day, make sure it's not the World Cup semi-final.

Was there a penalty for the first goal? I would not have given it. Digne's leg movement had started before Yamal attacked the ball, so the hit did not look to be intentional. I'm not even sure it would be a foul if it happened in midfield. Also true that it was a solid hit, fully into Yamal's leg. So I don't know. Once again, I'd like games to be decided by players rather than refs, but what do I know?

Whether it was or it wasn't a penalty is immaterial though, not because Spain scored another one, but because France never really looked like being in the game. Funnily enough, the stats tell a different story. France, having more shots on target? When? The half-arsed effort by Dembele deep into injury time, when it wouldn't have mattered anyway?

xG seems to be the most accurate description of the game, a stat I made fun of many times in the past. It's 0.31 to 1.63 for Spain. 

A lot of things I made fun of in the past are coming back to bite me in the ass. So I'll be cheering our boys tonight against Argentina along with the rest of the country.

Is this Spanish team as good as the 2010 one? I'd say certainly not. But they're incredibly well organized, disciplined in defence and relentless attacking, not losing heart until it's done. Went through R16 and Quarters with injury time winners. They have Lamine Yamal, who did not shine as bright as the other stars of the tournament so far, but he's still in it. And sometimes you don't have to score 8 goals, you have to score one when it matters. And Nico Williams has been playing more in recent games, maybe in time for him to be fully fit for the final.

I kind of want Spain to win now. Words I'd never thought I'd say.

Rule Britannia!

Norway - England 1-2

Ah, England playing on a Saturday, and I was off - kind of, so I could take refuge at home from the masses and the noise, and watch the game in peace. And what a great game it was!

Norway has done supremely well at this World Cup. As a matter of fact, last time they were at an World Cup, in France 1998, they had such a wonderful team that in the end it was a big reason of why I fell in love with Manchester United - a love story that still lasts today. Henning Berg, Ronnie Johnsen and of course, Ole Gunnar and, if we're to be completely honest, David Beckham had something to do with it too.

Back then, they lost the first knock-out game to Italy. This time, Ivory Coast and mighty Brazil were brushed aside. and England was looking shaky for large swathes of the game, but they used cunning.

Let me explain. The way the first half was going, it was Norway's game. That shot that opened the scoring was stunning! Pickford didn't know what hit him. And on a couple of occasions, I was left open-mouthed by Haaland's headers. They way he lifts himself in the air so effortlessly, with barely any flexing of the knees, the height he can reach and the power he puts in the ball, they're something out of this world. Very different than prime Ronaldo, but just as physics-defying, just as unstoppable.

And again, one cannot help but notice how disciplined, how well organised, how confident, and how strong in possesion this Norway team is.

Admittedly, England has done really well to pull back so close to half time. Bellingham's first goal was a thing of wonder, knotting defenders legs and throwing the ball across the keeper, with no chance for poor Nyland. Harry Kane was unfortunate to have his goal called off for offside just seconds later, but the execution was beautiful. Old school chip, the kind that forwards are to afraid to try nowadays. It would've been a different game, and not necessarily easier for England had they gone in 2-1 at half-time.

On Heggem's cancelled goal, and the preceeding Haaland foul: look, I don't know. The rules get changed, adjusted, interpreted and debated in all sorts of ways. It's obvious that Haaland's push is a foul. It comes before the ball was in play and has no bearing on the action. But a foul is still a foul, even if the ball is not in play. If it's a foul, corner should not be taken, and the ball should go to England. But why then, when the goal was cancelled, the decision was to retake the corner? Was it not a foul then?

It would be too much to suspect conspiracy, although I'm sure FIFA prefers England to Norway in the semifinal. But it is still poor refereeing, it's official decision taking precedence over what happens on the pitch. It's also a far cry from Egypt's second goal against Argentina, called off by VAR for a very soft step on foot 30 seconds earlier at the other side of the pitch. I saw a similar one in this game by the way, that was not sanctioned in any way whatsoever, nor was it brought into discussion by commentators, pundits or anyone. So Egypt's goal was clearly cancelled because of an agenda. Norway's... I'd say probably not. Should it have been cancelled? It's a 50:50 for me.

Even so, Norway knew they needed to score again. However. After the cancelled goal, and especially for the last 20 minutes of the 90, I think the Norwegians started to tire. Whether it was simply fitness, or that plus being overwhelmed by the occasion, by the intensity of the game, or both, their excellent shape and organisation started to crack. A marked drop in offensive intent, and allowing England to get close and threaten the goal on a couple of occasions, things that did not happen in the first half. As we headed towards the end of 90 minutes, Norway looked less and less like a team capable to score.

And it's in this that Engalnd's better game management showed. They held on, pushed as much as they could push, but most importantly, stayed calm and waited for their chance.

It didn't come in 90 minutes, but came pretty quickly after that. Rogers shot from a distance, Nyland spilled the ball, Bellingham was focused, and knew both how to be opportunistic, and how to convert the dropped ball. This goal looked pretty much identical with Marino's winning goal against Belgium the day before. Yet there was no talk about 'Nyland's big mistake', how the keeper should've done better and all of that. But Nyland's not playing for Manchester United, is he?

And after Bellingham's second, the game was pretty much up. Norway was tiiiired, and only threatened through a few individual actions from Nussa. Nothing to write home about, the game was done. Tuchel was right to say after the game that England didn't play as well as they should have, but Belligham is also right to reply 'whatever' to that. It was a tough, tough game, and they came out on top. 

I wanted Norway to win, but well done England! They did better on the day.

Argentina - Switzerland 3-1

Now, of course, I want Argentina to lose at the first available opportunity. That Egypt game was shambles, they should no longer be in the competition.

I didn't have much hope though, didn't see Switzerland capable of troubling them. It's probably why I fell asleep shortly after MacAllister's goal.

Woke up sometime in the 70-something minute, to see the score at 1-1, and Switzerland playing in 10. I wonder how red exactly was Embolo's red card, but I have not seen the action, so won't speak about it.

But of course, Switzerland did really well to pull level. The final minutes were an Argentina onslaught, and it was obvious that the Swiss are not hoping for much but penalties. They lookde tired too, especially going into extra time, but they did really well to anihilate Messi and hold on as much as they could.

The second goal, Alvarez in the 112th minute, was an opportunistic shot aided by a bit of luck, btu if you let your opponent get this close to your goal this much of the time, one of these what if shots is bound to get in at some point. 

There was an attempt to attack from the Swiss in the last 10 minutes, but it really was too little too late. Lautaro Martinez's 3rd goal sealed the faith of the game, but it was otherwise as useless as Neymar's penalty against Norway.

So, I don't know, well done Argentina I guess. They proved they can do it even when Messi has an off day, and they proved they can persist in attack until they get it. They were also 10 minutes away from elimination, but history is made up of what happened, not by what could have.

*

This is it then, France versus Spain and England v Argentina. I'll refer back to the movie Sixty-Six, when Eddie Marsden asks the kid: 'At the end of the day, who do you really want to win? Honestly?' and the kid replies reluctantly: 'England'

This is it, I switched allegiances, turncoat that I am, and after Portugal and Norway, I now want England to win. They won't, it's still France's tournament bar a miracle or some more cheating, I'm hoping at least England will dispatch Argentina quickly. Yes, exactly, like in the Falklands.

Watch out for Belgium

Spain - Belgium 2 - 1

One thing I really liked in this world cup is how I decide who I support during the game. Sometimes I start off as fully neutral, and am fully converted by the end of the 90 minutes, usually on the side of the underdog.

For instance, I wanted Portugal to win the tournament, but after a drab game against Spain, I cheered for Merino's late goal, as it meant we won't have to watch another 30 minutes of that game.

Throughout this tournament, I've been fairly indifferent towards Spain, although I was happy to see them draw with Cape Verde, and happy to see them beat Uruguay. Registered with indiffeernce their wins against Saudi Arabia and Austria.

Belgium, I started rather not liking them. A golden generation that has never quite achieved its potential, and now it's a swansong for most of them. Plus, I don't like the players individually. Tielemans and Witsel were always overrated, and de Bruyne is a great player, but surely you can't expect me to like him? 

I was laughing at them when they drew Egypt in the first game, but after seeing Egypt's tournament, maybe I shouldn't have. They did win their group. They didn't deserve to win against Senegal, but yeah, it's just the West African's fault for not being able to hold on to their lead. And I supported their emphatic win against USA due to politics more than anything. 

So for some reason, maybe remembering my hatred fron Spain from 15 years ago, and Belgium growing in my eyes, I kind of wanted them to win. Thought it a bit hopeless, but it costs nothing to want it.

Fabian Ruiz's goal for Spain didn't help my cause. I was wondering if Belgium is able to pull back, after all, for all their faults, Spain is a much more mature team than Senegal. And yet. And yet... I have no idea where Belgium pulled this weird looking Ketelaere kid, but my God, that equalising shot was phenomenal. 1-1 just before half time, and 3 world cup goals for the De Ketelaere kid.

And even though Spain dominated all of the game, it was flowing more into Belgian's hands. After Big Rom came in, danger was looming.

Now, the BBC comentataors made a huge deal of Courtouis having to go out injured, but Lammens is the better goalkeeper. Hugely unfortunate the way Spain's winning goal came in, but it gives ample opportunity to pundits to criticise him now, and we won't hear the end of 'if Courtouis was still on...'. But let me ask you this: it was a powerful shot, hard and low, like the manual says. Lammens keeps it out without emotions, but can't retain the ball. In such a situation, is it not the central defenders' job to get to the ball first? Why is Merino allowed to get to the ball free from any pressure? And what chance does tha fallen keeper has in this circumstance? So, lay off of 'Lammes' fault wagon' please.

Also, weirdly, everyone glossed over very quickly over the fact that Belgium should have had a penalty at 1-1, when their central defender hit a ball with the hand, far away from the body. Not sure why, and in the interest of not gettign too conspirational, let's say I have a blind spot in the rules of football. They changed the rules of handball so much, most refs probably have blind spots too.

I was hoping for a late Belgium equalizer, and Big Rom went relatively close on a cross, plus de Bruyne had a great shot on the turn, but it was not to be.

At the end of the day, it feels right that Spain would progress. I dreamt of a Norway-Belgium final but this is not a fairytale. This is real life, with Mbappe impossible shots, with Haaland the beast dispatching Brasil like it's nothing, and with refereeing decisions always going Argentina's way.

Not yet

Morocco - France 0-2

Well, that was harsh, wasn't it?

I thought Morocco played ok, but France is on a different level. And even if on TV the shape of the Moroccan team looks good, they looked well organised in defense and having some attackin and especially counter-attacking intent, the numbers tell a different story. That momentum graph was all white.

The xG is a stat I still don't understand well, hence I don't trust a lot, but France had 10 shots on target before Morocco's first. 

And you know, all of that is good and swell, you can still frustrate them into 0-0 and penalties, which the Moroccan keeper Bounou has proved a great saver of. It happened in the first half.

By the way, that penalty that Mbappe missed looked soft to me. Not to say there was any favouring of the referee, but also, not sure if Morocco would have gotten it if it was on the other side. Also, weird that Mbappe's execution was so poor. I guess even the best have their off moments.

Not that it mattered in the end. That first Mbappe goal was a wonder. Most forwards take a step on the inside in that position, to make space to shoot. Not Kylian. He curled that bloody shot to perfection. 

And then Dembele killed any hope fo Morocco getting back into the game with another banger which looked effortless. 18 yards out, barely any pendulation of the foot, powerful, precisely aimed shot. Poor bounou had a hand on it, but try and stop that if you can.

It is as predicted in the end, and the last African team goes out in the quarter-final, an all-too familiar story. Morocco have a lot to be proud of, not least showing that last tournament's semi-final was not a fluke, and showing, maybe for the first time, that an African team CAN go all the way. Cameroon 1990, Nigeria 1994, Senegal 2002, Ghana 2010 have shown that African teams should be taken seriously, but it will forever be Morocco the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. 

Before the quarters started, I was hopeing for a Morocco-Norway final, now it kind of looks like there's no stopping France, but I would like to see Norway in the final.

And how cool would it be, in 4 years time in Spain, to have maybe a Japan-Morocco world cup final?

Disgrace

First day without football yesterday, and it really felt like it's coming to an end. It would've felt even better if it wasn't for the daylight robbery that was

Egypt - Argentina 2-3

I've said a few times already, the GOAT debate has been settled. But why do they both have to try so hard to taint their legacy? After an amazing tournament, of course the whole planet will want Messi & Argentina to lose now. Was this robbery absolutely necessary?

Light penalty for Argentina (missed), goal cancelled for Egypt for a very light foul way before the goal, in the build-up (is that even allowed to be checked, or did we just need a reason, any reason, to overturn the goal?) and yes, Argentina scored 3 times in the last 12 minutes, but it gets much easier when your opponents have been taught that the lightest touch in their own box will result in a penalty.

This should've been a massive win for Egypt, instead, it's another disgrace for FIFA, and one of the biggest, if you can believe it. Good thing World Cups are every 4 years, so that people can forget the fixes of the last one before we do some more this time around.

A shameful tournament by a shameful organization, and Argentina will carry this shamfeul legacy of cheating in two world cups long after Messi would have died. Bit like Italy 1934 & 1938 if you will.

Switzerland - Colombia 0-0 (4-3 pen)

The internet will tell you this was a boring game. While not having the levels of excitement of the earlier one, it also didn't have its levels of match fixing.

Colombia has specialised in entertaining low scoring goals this torunament, while Switzerland, though never spectacular, plays a very efficient football.

Yes, it was a 0-0, but coming from two teams confronted with the possibility of advancing further in the world cup than they ever had before. And the game was open, there was plenty of attacking intent, as a matter of fact I'm not sure Colombia knows how to play any different.

By the run of play, Colombia should have won it, and they should've also known that it's better to force a win before the penalties, not introduce Yerry Mina in the last few minutes to preserve the draw.

As it happens, they were the most nervous party in the penalties, so they missed two. Poor form from Davidson Sanchez to miss, but Switzerland had a star player missing too, Akanji.

I'm sorry for Colombia, the QF should've been Egypt-Colombia, where Egyptian flair would've probably prevailed after an entertaining 1-0. Instead, we have Switzerland - Argentina, and I'm hoping the Swiss will frustrate the cheaters to a 0-0 draw, then beat them on penalties. Fully expect penalties in normal time too though.