FIFA World Cup 2026

[Emelee]

WHAT IS FRANCE DOING?! Yes, Spain is a super strong team. But France is playing so far beneath their capacity. The passes are bad and they seem to be unable to understand each other. Nothing is going their way tonight.

Both France and Spain are teams I root for, but it wasn't until this match that I realized I root more for France. So I am both annoyed and disappointed right now. I will for sure root for Spain in the final, but I will be sulking tonight.

If Spain can play this good in the final, no team can beat them.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Well what do i know? France and its best players didnt turn up tonight.

Spain were great, what a defence they have. Always liked Curcurella at Chelsea and Rodhri was fantastic. Going to be hard to beat

Ps Yamals wee brother is so cute!! x

 

[Emelee]

So far, my guesses before the round of 32 have been excellent. I guessed France vs Spain in one semifinal and England vs Argentina in the other. I also wrote down Spain as the winner of semifinal 1. For semifinal 2, I wrote down England as winner. Now, I am thinking that will be wrong. But then again, a match is never played on paper or based on previous matches.

 

[Whovian]

So we sacked Southgate for only getting us to semi-finals and finals only for the FA to say they'll keep Tuchel for getting us to a semi-final? Make that make sense.

 

[Emelee]

So we sacked Southgate for only getting us to semi-finals and finals only for the FA to say they'll keep Tuchel for getting us to a semi-final? Make that make sense.

I think England is probably overestimating themselves. The team is great, no doubt. But they haven't been amazing. There have always been teams that are better. And because of that, they have not won the World Cup since the 60s.

Sacking Southgate was likely a symptom of that overestimation. Thinking "If only we have a different coach".... When maybe it isn't the coach at all, but rather the players not being excellent enough, or not in sync enough. Not enough excellent players who dare to be excellent when it matters most.

I think England needs a better defence from what I've seen. Argentina came too close too many times. It was just a matter of when they'd score. Their attack play is just excellent with Messi as the director.

When it comes to Spain, their defence is just brilliant. Their opponents aren't allowed to come close. Spain has only let in ONE goal this whole tournament. Look at what they did to France who definitely has the best striker line-up of any team. Spain's defence crushed them. Spain's attack play is almost as good as Argentina's, but their defence is better. So we ended up with the 2 best teams in the final.

 

[Barbara Fan]

COME ON SPAIN

I dont know how Argentina got away with so many dirty fouls against England - who should have been playing Egypt but corrupt Fifa made sure Argentina won the match

I hope for the sake of football its a fair ref and match officials and I will be rooting for Spain 101%

 

[Emelee]

Time to get rid of 3rd place match? Teams that are used to play in the final aren't interested enough to play for real after not reaching the final. Arrogant France is like "whatever". The French players are even smiling. WTF!! I like France, but this is disrespectful to the paying audience. Can't they at least play for their coach who is leaving?

 

[Whovian]

Time to get rid of 3rd place match? Teams that are used to play in the final aren't interested enough to play for real after not reaching the final. Arrogant France is like "whatever". The French players are even smiling. WTF!! I like France, but this is disrespectful to the paying audience. Can't they at least play for their coach who is leaving?

Hardly, disrespectful. It's a glorified exhibition match, nothing wrong with taking it lightly.

 

[Whovian]

Ok, maybe a glorified exhibition but still nice to read "best World Cup finish since 1966."

 

[Angela Channing]

Time to get rid of 3rd place match? Teams that are used to play in the final aren't interested enough to play for real after not reaching the final. Arrogant France is like "whatever". The French players are even smiling. WTF!! I like France, but this is disrespectful to the paying audience. Can't they at least play for their coach who is leaving?

I do see your point but I don't entirely agree.

I think the third place play off is worthwhile because squad players who have travelled to the World Cup, trained with the rest of the team but get very little match play time have an opportunity to play in a high profile match seen around the world. Players like Mbappe have another match in which they can score goals to win the Golden Boot. Players like Declan Rice have an opportunity to captain their team. All players get a chance to take home a medal to show for their efforts over the course of the World Cup. Yes, it's not got the excitement of the rest of the tournament but it's still worthwhile.

 

[Whovian]

So the final is tonight. Everyone's backing Spain, right?

 

[Emelee]

Spain was clearly the best team in this World Cup. Much better than the others.

The statistics:
Attemps on target - Spain 12, Argentina 0.
ZERO.

Each time Argentina were allowed to borrow the ball, they quickly lost it again. And it's not like the Spanish players even individually impressed. They didn't. I expected more from several players.

Best young player: Cubarsì (Spain)
Golden Glove: Simón (Spain)
MVP: Rodri (Spain)
Plus Mbappé (France) with Golden Boot.

And the most impressive of all: Spain only let in ONE goal the entire tournament. Against Belgium. One!

Hats off to Spain.

By the way: how embarrassing was Trump after handing over the thropy? He wouldn't get off the stage. Infantino had to escort him away. Narcissist!