Match of the tournament
Paraguay 1-1 Germany. Ed Aarons: “There were plenty more games with more goals but none could match the drama of the penalty shootout in this last-32 tie. Germany aren’t supposed to lose in them but they did this time in spectacular fashion.”
Algeria 3-3 Austria. Alexander Abnos: “A completely strange fever dream, seeming to exist on a separate plane of reality. For a while in the second half, it looked like a draw would see both sides through. And finally, in stoppage time, chaos.”
Mexico 2-3 England at the Azteca. Nick Ames: “The buildup seemed to start as soon as the draw was made – fortunately the stars aligned and a grippingly tense game ensued in a venue like no other.”
Player of the tournament
Rodri was the standout player for the best team, according to Ed Aarons. Alexander Abnos noted Kylian Mbappé’s Golden Boot, but Spain’s Rodri was the fulcrum. Nick Ames: “It’s impossible to look further than Rodri, who looks back to his best.” Sid Lowe: “Lionel Messi.” Others praised Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, aged 40 and without a club, for his heroics. Jeff Rueter: “Erling Haaland leaves this World Cup with the greatest possible souvenirs: a credible Golden Boot campaign and a famous first Norwegian quarter-final.”
Goal of the tournament
Sidny Lopes Cabral’s brilliant equaliser for Cape Verde against Argentina was widely praised. Ed Aarons: “For sheer drama, it has to be Sidny Lopes Cabral’s brilliant equaliser for Cape Verde against Argentina. His reaction was almost as good as the goal itself.” Jonathan Wilson: “Wilson Isidor v Morocco. There were more consequential goals, but none struck quite as sweetly or quite as accurately.”
Personal highlights
Ed Aarons enjoyed Eloy Room’s record-breaking saves for Curaçao. Alexander Abnos loved watching stadium workers take over pitches after games. Nick Ames: “My first visit to the Azteca was Mexico’s win over Ecuador and I’ve never heard a noise like it.” Barry Glendenning: “Watching Senegalese journalists pass around a pack of malted milks during their anthem before their collapse against Belgium.” Sid Lowe: “Explaining to a mariachi in a gigantic sombrero how it could be that a team in third could get through the group.”
What did you make of the hosts?
Ed Aarons: “The level of interest from the American public surprised me. Logistically it was a real test of endurance.” Alexander Abnos: “The US seemed to show visitors their good side.” Nick Ames: “In Mexico I found a fervent, febrile, fascinating football culture that deserved not to be dwarfed by other co-hosts.” Ben Fisher: “It was a privilege to witness Canada’s first World Cup game on home soil in Toronto.” Jeff Rueter: “All three co-hosts fared about as well as I had projected. Jobs well done across the board.”
