IT’S A KNOCKOUT
Where to start? “Overturn this”? Romelu Lukaku dance-mocking Donald Trump? Civil war erupting between Fifa and Uefa? Maybe here: full-time in Seattle on Monday brought an end to the Geopolitics World Cup’s three-day hostmageddon. Saturday: Canada thunked 3-0 by Morocco. Sunday: Mexico Helm’s-Deeped 3-2 by England. Monday: USA USA USA routed 4-1 by Belgium.
For those who may have missed it, a quick catch-up: Folarin Balogun was sent off in the last 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a dubious decision made after a VAR review that triggered an automatic one-match ban. Trump phoned Fifa three times asking for the ban not to be imposed in the last 16 and these calls had, says Fifa, no impact at all on, um, the ban not being imposed in the last 16. So it was that Balogun, scorer of three goals in four games, was able to line up against Belgium in the Pacific Northwest, the footballing equivalent of the “It’s Fine” meme, the rest of the sport on fire with opprobrium, the final crumbs of Gianni Infantino’s credibility incinerated, a war of words between Fifa and Uefa bursting into flame. It was hard not to feel sorry for the home fans, their likeable and entertaining team suddenly made hired goons for a couple of clowning presidential supervillains.
Even so, the correct star-spangled response would surely to have been to swagger into Seattle with superpower certainty, the rest of the football world’s salty tears fuelling a turbo-charged flag-waving demolition job of this creaking, rickety Belgium side. Instead, the feelgood factor destroyed, they simply failed to turn up. The head coach was the only member of the squad showing the requisite passion, Mauricio Pochettino furiously hoofing a loaded case of bright blue hydration-break juice after his side had immediately wasted a slice of good fortune with their equaliser at 1-1 by conceding again within seconds.
The obvious conclusion is that the whole episode had a net negative effect on the team. But, while the performance as a whole was tentative verging on timid, blaming the ongoing off-field drama for the defensive disasterclass of the opener, Tim Ream’s supersoft defending for the key second or goalkeeper Matt Freese’s decision to go freestyling 40 yards from his own goal for the clinching third is stretching it a little. Perhaps this was just a half-decent national side finding things a little too tough at the business end of a tournament now for ever tainted by murky political machinations.
LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE
It’s the last of the last 16. Join Scott Murray at 5pm BST/12pm EDT for updates from Argentina 3-2 Egypt (aet), then Billy Munday will be on hand at 9pm BST/4pm EDT for Switzerland 1-3 Colombia.
RECOMMENDED FOLLOWING
How do you do fellow kids? Yes, there’s now a TikBook account with all things of a Big Website sporting focus. So, if you’re there, you know what to do.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I am sad to leave like this but I have given everything, always given my best … it was my last World Cup, yes, but as far as the rest of it is concerned: there will be time to think, to be with my family, [I will] not make decisions in the heat of the moment. Before Cristiano, Portugal had never won a title trophy … So I repeat: I leave here with a clear conscience. Tomorrow will be another day and life goes on” – Cristiano Ronaldo gets his third-person on to confirm he has played his last World Cup following the 1-0 defeat by Spain in the last 16. Roberto Martínez also confirmed he is throwing himself back into the jobs market, so if you have a golden generation to waste, you know what to do.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
I officially withdraw my request for the USA USA USA to regain one of our exclamation points (Football Daily letters passim). Fresh off his successful programme to suck all of the joy and pride from our nation’s 250th birthday celebration, now the president has managed to destroy any joy and pride that might be had from the USMNT at the GWC. Sigh” – Pat Condreay.
Followers of 1960s American movies will have placed money on the USA USA USA losing, because they knew that If It’s Tuesday*, This Must Be Belgium. *European time” – Duncan Steel.
Jordan Henderson plays a total of six minutes against Panama; gets booked as an unused sub against Mexico; and then breaks his wrist celebrating the victory. Is this the epitome of Minor Character Energy?” – James Maltby.
The Brazilian FA was planning a statue of Neymar, but it kept falling over” – Andrew Bryant.
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day goes to … Pat Condreay. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
Get your ears around the latest episode of the World Cup Daily podcast, or you can watch it instead.
RECOMMENDED LOOKING
It’s David Squires time, featuring one in the eye for Merlín, Neymar’s tattoos and a dark final chapter for Danny Murphy’s pet tales. Plus an inevitable cameo from the proxy Fifa president.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Kylian Mbappé has hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a “despicable woman” after she launched a racist attack on him. “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are … unworthy of your position,” said the France striker. “You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition … I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
Keir Starmer claims he “had to battle with the FA” after intervening to keep England’s game against Mexico from being moved forward.
In pushing-your-luck news, the FA could lodge an appeal against the entirely correct decision to send Jarell Quansah off against Mexico.
Unfortunate Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana will likely miss their quarter-final against Spain with knack. “It’s not good news for him as an individual or for us as a team,” sighed Rudi Garcia. “I do have the feeling that he is out.”
And more than 600 drones have been seized near GWC venues and fan zones in the USA USA USA, according to the FBI.
STILL WANT MORE?
How it all went down in Brussels.
The best fans at the GWC? José Orlando Ascenci on how “yellow fever” is powering Colombia’s run to the knockouts. Next stop: Vancouver.
England’s heroics at the Azteca, as told through stats – from Pickford’s punches to Burn’s blocks – by Andrew Beasley. Meanwhile, David Hytner reflects on how beating Mexico could galvanise Thomas Tuchel’s squad going forward, with a word from rhythm’s John Stones, while England fans – a few of them knackered – reveal how they watched the match around the world.
Brazil have gone home. And they’re not getting a very friendly reception, as Tom Sanderson describes. Bruno Guimarães’s penalty against Norway was the latest stutter-stop effort to rile people, but Tom Dart insists it’s here to stay.
Norway will go home at some point, predicts Paul MacInnes [as winners? – Football Daily Ed]. But there can be no doubt that Erling Haaland and co have been making the most of their time in the USA USA USA.
And Matt Hughes reckons the fallout from Folarin Balogun-gate has put Uefa on a war footing with Fifa.
MEMORY LANE
27 May 1934: Spain’s Isidro Langara heads clear during their last-16 match against Brazil at Genoa’s Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Spain won 3-1 but were beaten by hosts and eventual champions, Italy, in the quarter-finals. Holders Uruguay boycotted the tournament. Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2–1 in the final to become the second World Cup champions and the first European winners.
BEYOND THE GWC
Jonathan Morgan, Maddy Cusack’s former manager at Sheffield United, labelled her as “generally a liar” during an FA investigation into her death, an inquest has heard.
Newcastle United are close to completing the signing of much-hyped Ajax midfielder Sean Steur for about £23m.
Everton have parted ways with £24m in order to make Tyrique George’s loan move a permanent one. Oh, sentence ordering …
Liam Rosenior is back in the game, baby, after taking charge at Paris FC. “I can’t wait to get started with the new players,” he cheered. “It’s a fantastic project.”
Arsenal have snaffled Selina Cerci from Hoffenheim after her prolific performances in Germany in the past two seasons yielded 34 goals in 47 games.
