Week 456 was posted by Charanjit Chana on 2026-07-20.
What I don't understand about the World Cup final yesterday is the Argentina have, probably, the best player to play the game and their entire approach in the last two games at least has been to bully the opposition.
Against England, they were awful. Against Spain they were even worse.
There was sweet justice in Enzo Fernandes being sent off and the Spain goal arriving of the back of a tiny lapse in concentration from Simeone.
We did not need 120 minutes of their nonsense. 90 minutes was too much. But Spain stuck to their plan, were disciplined and didn't fall for their tricks. They're world champions for a second time and deservedly so.
My highlight
Top of the list for me is knowing that my son will remember this World Cup. He has recollections of the last final in Qatar as it was at a reasonable hour and he has read a lot about football so has almost encyclopaedic knowledge. He watched the first half last night before he was marched of to bed (and was spared the half-time shitshow), but cheered for Spain as we caught up with the highlights this morning.
I remember the 1994 World Cup final but nothing else about it, it wasn't until 1998 when I really paid attention so he's getting into it a little earlier than I did.
The lowlight
Argentina's behaviour during and after the final. Unnecessary for professionals to behave in that way and even more so when you see them playing after going behind.
The actual lowlight
Immigration issues and wars.
The whole americanisations of the World Cup was sad to see. Ticket prices, hydration breaks, rings and half time shows. This is not what the World Cup is about. The players should be at the centre of it.
The shocks
Italy not being there was one, Cape Verde and Curaçao doing so well another but Germany and Netherlands departing so soon.
World Cup 2030
I hope Infantino is long gone and I hope the host nations take Canada and Mexico's lead.
No need for hydration breaks (temperature dependent) and certainly no need for half-time shows. Oh and I'd advocate for a reduction in sponsorship of the tournament. License away, but making money for FIFA should not be at the expense of hosting the greatest tournament in the world.
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