The 48-team, 104-game, 308-goal World Cup has faded, but here are 48 reasons to cherish it, minus the geopolitics. The tournament began with Mexico vs South Africa, featuring three red cards, ITV's Manhattan backdrop, and a duck as a national hero. Germany looked ominous, beating Curaçao 7-1, while Vozinha's heroics for Cape Verde sparked questions about Spain.
Group Stage Highlights
Lionel Messi scored six group-stage goals, briefly becoming the all-time World Cup top scorer. Cristiano Ronaldo was inconsistent, while Scotland fans made Boston their spiritual home. England beat Croatia with attacking intent, and Anthony Barry's half-time interviews channeled a frustrated lower-league manager. Mauricio Pochettino kicked over a Powerade bottle in a memorable touchline moment.
Canada earned their first World Cup win, smashing Qatar 6-0, while Turkey crashed out despite 1,057 shots. Group E saw Japan's tidy play, Sweden's inconsistency, and Herve Rénard's appearance. Ecuador's Sebastián Beccacece turned heads, while Marcelo Bielsa watched Uruguay collapse. Riyad Mahrez put Algeria 3-2 up against Austria, who equalized, and Iran was denied a winner by VAR.
Memorable Goals and Moments
Cape Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral delivered the goal and celebration of the tournament against Argentina. Haiti's Wilson Isidor and Uzbekistan's Eldor Shomurodov joined the pantheon of forgotten World Cup goals. Egypt's breakaway goal against Argentina was disallowed, sparking manager Hossam Hassan's fury.
In the knockouts, Germany was eliminated by Paraguay, Morocco beat the Netherlands, and Portugal vs Croatia was pure psychodrama. Belgium fought among themselves against Senegal. The Battle of the Azteca was a thriller, with England players throwing heads at everything. Brazil's vibes-based journey ended against Norway's Erling Haaland, while Neymar won the Mark Corrigan award for winning minimally.
Quarter-Finals and Beyond
Kylian Mbappé dictated play as France looked unstoppable, and Spain conceded a goal to Charles De Ketelaere. Breel Embolo's dive was exposed, England got help from above against Norway, and Danny Murphy continued the tale of Bob the Cat. The semis featured Lamine Yamal turning Lucas Digne inside-out and seven defenders failing to close down Enzo Fernández.
The third-place playoff was the game of the tournament, a 6-4 win for England with Mbappé winning the Golden Boot. The final was less fun, with Wayne Rooney summarizing the half-time show and Fernández's red card summing up Argentina's efforts. Ferran Torres scored the winner for Spain.
Kevin Keegan Tribute
Kevin Keegan died at 75. He was the only British player twice named European Footballer of the Year, won three titles with Liverpool, the Bundesliga with Hamburg, and was an England stalwart. His impact as a celebrity breakout star and wild managerial career, including his blow-up at Alex Ferguson in 1996, defined him. Ferguson said, "Kevin carried the love of the game on his sleeve." Alan Shearer called him "My hero. My manager. My friend."
Quote of the Day
Enzo Fernández hyped Argentina's performance despite the final loss, saying, "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."
Letters
John Myles noted President Trump's confusion about Spain's defence. Rod de Lisle enjoyed the Golden Boot race, with Elijah Just scoring three for New Zealand. Rowan Sweeney called the third-place game pointless and the final a remake of 2010.
