Football
France’s dominance in world football, and a national team defined by multiculturalism
Expanded boundaries, talent from the banlieues and the Clairefontaine academy have made Les Bleus a football superpower. Beyond divisions and political instrumentalisation.
Scottish fans set a World Cup noise record
A Braveheart-scale roar during the match against Haiti, like a firework going off. All sparked by a song tied to Braveheart.
Credit to Cape Verde, but Spain cannot do without Lamine Yamal
The countdown to the Barcelona prodigy’s return is underway, but matches like this suggest La Roja can no longer wait for him.
Real Madrid’s World Cup-linked signings and the revenue they bring in
Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, Cucurella and Konaté are with their national teams at the World Cup. Real Madrid pick up FIFA-linked bonuses for them.
Spain’s internal shirt-number rule leaves Lamine Yamal without the 10
Seniority and caps accumulated, Yamal remains a few years behind Dani Olmo and his teammates.
Maurizio Sarri at Atalanta, a gamble both sides needed
The coach arrives after a draining spell at Lazio, the club coming off a season below expectations: a double reset is possible, provided a compromise is found between the different parts of this new project.
Japan without several key players, holding its own against anyone
Moriyasu’s Japan without Mitoma and Minamino among others, a strong showing against the Oranje.
The World Cup’s halftime breaks are popular with almost no one
National team coaches and former players have raised concerns, while the fact that several broadcasters use them for advertising adds to the perception of football increasingly aligned with North American sporting models.
Brazil–Morocco night and 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, talent and personality evident from the start
Refined technique, relentless focus, athletic build and the lightness of elite players: the Lille midfielder has the qualities to play at the highest level of football.
A Morocco national team unlike anything seen before
High tempo, refined technique, few familiar names: behind Hakimi and Brahim, the World Cup turns to the rest. Brazil included.
Juventus need rebuilding from the ground up and put Giovanni Carnevali in charge
The former Sassuolo CEO is well suited to the rebuild, both in experience and in managing relationships.
Mauricio Pochettino as US head coach, with involvement from a group of American billionaires in the process behind his appointment
A strong start could vindicate the decision for the home World Cup.