Football
Harry Kane, almost a midfielder in England’s new setup, still decisive in front of goal
Essentially a classic playmaker, almost an extra midfielder in Tuchel’s England. A brace against Croatia.
Before and after their first World Cup match, Scottish fans drank enough to empty Boston’s bars and pubs
Another record of conviviality broken by the Tartan Army at this World Cup. Next, McTominay and his teammates on the pitch.
Ruben Amorim at Milan Runs Against the Grain of Serie A
A spiky coach, radical ideas. Milan reshaped. Take it or leave it.
South Korea boycott domestic press after journalists mock Heung-min Son during training
Journalists question Son over mandatory military service, squad responds with boycott, federation support.
Lionel Messi, finally reconciled with Argentina, and the pursuit of a World Cup that would put him beyond dispute as the greatest of all time
After a complicated career with the national team, Leo has won the World Cup and entered the hearts of his compatriots. He now plays with a new freedom, a different joy, the historic hat-trick against Algeria still somewhere in the memory.
One match was enough for Kylian Mbappé to show that the World Cup is still his own playground
France–Senegal, another match shaped by Mbappé, again uncontainable at World Cup level.
New patches appear on World Cup kits, beneath the commercial layer
Debut patches, veteran patches, others. FIFA–Topps agreement.
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.