Brazilian star Rodrygo has returned home after experiencing the World Cup in the United States. In his latest column, he reflects on the contrast between a nation reveling in the World Cup and one that is captivated by it. As a reminder, Brazil is set to face Norway in the last-16 today, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm BST.
“The rhythm of life in Brazil – the “land of football” as we call it – is dictated by the team’s progress in the World Cup. Work schedules are affected, as are the operations of certain public services. Daily life doesn’t stop, but we go to great lengths to shape it around Brazil’s matches. Afterwards, as one of our sayings goes, we “It takes some nerve to say that when you lose 3-0.” with everyday life.”
Emma Hayes shares her thoughts in her latest World Cup column, suggesting that while life may not begin at 40, it certainly doesn’t mark the end for a world-class footballer.
Insights from Spain’s Coach
It’s time for a Q&A session featuring Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, who addresses questions about advice for young player Lamine Yamal, the challenges of coaching, and comparisons between the current squad and the 2010 championship team. Sid Lowe has compiled these insights.
Controversy Surrounding Canada’s Performance
Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, has become a polarizing figure. Many might jokingly refer to him as “England stepped off their seventh flight in 12 days on Friday and are about to play their fourth game in 13 days. The period was always going to be a grind; one simply to plot a course through.” based on social media reactions. Did Canada truly outperform their opponents, as he claims? Morocco’s manager, Mohamed Ouahbi, responded, “This wasn’t really about the new style. This was a very old-fashioned Morocco performance, dogged and dour, admirably competitive, and with the undoubted ability of the more creative players seen almost entirely in counterattacks. Whether their cagey start was by design or because they were forced into it by Canada’s ferocity, though, was unclear.” following Morocco’s decisive victory.
As dawn breaks in Mexico City, it’s 1:30am. A chorus of noise fills the air outside the hotel. Are England’s players managing to catch some sleep? The match is set to commence at 6pm local time, which translates to 1am BST for those in the UK. David Hytner brings the latest updates from Mexico City.
England’s Grueling Schedule
“The World Cup favourites were forced to drop a gear or two but still had too much for a Paraguay team that set out for a fight but were ultimately no more than a nuisance.”
Our team of reporters is on the ground in Mexico City for this highly anticipated match. In addition to participating in 5K runs to acclimatize to the altitude, they have penned insightful pieces. Nick Ames has gathered quotes from both managers: England’s Thomas Tuchel and Mexico’s Javier Aguirre.
Morocco’s Historic Victory
Jonathan Wilson was present at Houston Stadium to witness Morocco, the 2022 semi-finalists, triumph over Canada. Three goals in the second half secured their place, making Morocco the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on two occasions.
“This wasn’t really about the new style. This was a very old-fashioned Morocco performance, dogged and dour, admirably competitive, and with the undoubted ability of the more creative players seen almost entirely in counterattacks. Whether their cagey start was by design or because they were forced into it by Canada’s ferocity, though, was unclear.”
Paul MacInnes reported on a hot and humid Philadelphia Stadium, where France achieved a 1-0 victory, mirroring the scoreline from their last-16 match in 1998, a World Cup that ended quite famously.
“The World Cup favorites were forced to drop a gear or two but still had too much for a Paraguay team that set out for a fight but were ultimately no more than a nuisance.”
Good morning, afternoon, or evening, wherever you are! The World Cup is reaching a critical juncture, highlighted by the emergence of the first two quarter-finalists. Morocco displayed clinical finishing against co-hosts Canada, while France survived a tough encounter with Paraguay.
We will provide all the reactions to these two last-16 matches and continue building up to the highly anticipated encounter between Mexico and England at the Azteca. Additionally, Brazil will face Norway this evening, signaling that serious competition is truly underway. Are you ready for day 25 of the World Cup? Let’s dive in!
