Category: Journal

Two matches to record, and only one that will keep me up tonight. Brazil went out to Norway, one goal to two, undone by Haaland as most sides eventually are; a hard way for Neymar to reach the end of his career, and he reaches it now. Norway row on, though I doubt they last…

The Round of 16 opened not with a spectacle but with a grind. Canada fell 0-3 to Morocco in a match that never found its footing, ninety minutes of fouls and questionable officiating, and Morocco advanced without ever needing to. The host nation is out, and it is a quiet thing to see a tournament…

The day belonged to Argentina and Cabo Verde, the finest match of the cup and one almost nobody saw coming. Cabo Verde were not supposed to trouble anyone, yet they held level through regulation and answered every blow. Argentina struck in the ninety-second minute and the thing looked settled, but Cabral leveled again at 103,…

The second to last day of the Round of 32, and for the most part the tournament ran to form. Spain saw off Austria three to nil and Switzerland did the same to Algeria by two, both efficient, both forgettable; the better side won and little else needed saying. The day belonged instead to Croatia,…

Another day of the round of thirty-two, two still to go. England put down DR Congo two to one, though they made hard work of it. Cipenga struck early in the seventh minute and the lead held past the hour, until Harry Kane found his voice and answered with a brace, the seventy-fifth and the…

Another day of elimination rounds, spent watching the field narrow. Norway and Ivory Coast ran level to the 75th minute, both sides seeming to make their peace with extra time, until Haaland did what only Haaland does and settled it at the 86th; the late ones always feel the most earned. France put Sweden away…

The knockout rounds have arrived, and with them the thin margins that decide everything. Brazil edged Japan two to one, though the Samurai held the lead at the half hour and looked, for a while, as though they might keep it; in the end they could not. Germany and Paraguay could not be separated in…

The tournament has reached its middle stages, and today brought the round of 32: Canada against South Africa. In honesty it was a poor match, slow and shapeless, the sort that tests a supporter’s patience more than his nerves. It seemed bound for extra time and the lottery of penalties. Then, deep in added time,…

The group stage closed today, and I watched it go out on a full slate. England saw off Panama without trouble, two goals to nil, and Croatia edged Ghana by the same margin it always seems to take them, 2-1. Colombia and Portugal could not separate themselves and settled for a goalless draw. The day’s…

Another great day for World Cup football.