Brian

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Lionel Messi in tears is such a sad sight. Contemplating the defeat? Contemplating the end of his international career? He's brought such joy to the world of football. Too many of his team-mates were poor, too set on spoiling, but that cannot mask what Messi has done this World Cup. And previous tournaments. Legend.

[Men in Blazers @MenInBlazers]

JOHN OLIVER: “IT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY TO TURN THE ENTIRE WORLD AGAINST THE USMNT, JUSTIFIABLY” 👀🇺🇸

John weighs in on the Balogun red card debacle 🟥

[Dan Patrick Show @dpshow]

"When you play not to lose, you invite pressure – but it's more so, you set a mentality within your team."

– @stuholden recaps England's loss to Argentina

[🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @KieranCFC88]

all of them

[Casey Settleman @csett13]

Embarrassing decisions to ultimately lose the match from Tuchel

[Paul Pogba @paulpogba]

Elle est super dure celle-là, mais c’est le foot..
Merci pour tout, les gars 🙏🏾

[Mario MDP ✝️🤍 @mariomdp7]

8 años después, Francia todavía no sabe cuál fue el motivo principal por el cual fue campeona del mundo.

O lo sabe, pero no ha encontrado remedio a semejante ausencia.

[kemboi @Cfc_Kemboi]

Blaise Matuidi, Ngolo Kante, Paul Pogba. Put respect on the names.
France will never, EVER have a midfield that cold again. Never.

[Ororo😎 @McFlybowy]

This Spain–France game makes everyone understand one thing, elite midfield will always beat elite attack.

People are obsessed with front threes, goals and individual brilliance, but football has never stopped being a game controlled from the middle of the pitch. An elite attack can only be as dangerous as the platform behind it. If your midfield cannot progress the ball consistently, escape pressure, control transitions or dictate the tempo, then even the world’s best forwards will spend most of the game isolated, feeding on scraps. That’s exactly what happened today.

This is why history keeps repeating itself. The teams that dominate eras are almost always the teams with the strongest midfield, not necessarily the strongest attack.

Spain had Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Real Madrid’s three-peat was built on Kroos, Modric and Casemiro. Manchester City became the best team in Europe because they controlled games through Rodri, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. Even Barcelona’s MSN only reached their highest level because Iniesta, Busquets and Rakitic gave them complete control of matches.

People often think football is won in the boxes, but before the ball reaches either box, there’s a battle for territory, possession and control. That battle is fought in midfield.

An elite midfield doesn’t just create chances. It decides the rhythm of the game. It decides whether the game is chaotic or calm. It decides where the ball is played, when attacks begin, how quickly transitions are stopped, and whether the opposition’s stars even get enough touches to influence the match.

That’s why you’ll often see world-class attackers disappear in big games. It isn’t always because they had a poor performance; it’s because the midfield behind them lost control. No striker, winger or No. 10 can consistently dominate when every touch comes under pressure, every pass arrives late, and every attack starts 60 metres from goal.

People say goals win games, but midfields create the conditions for goals to happen.

You can have Mbappe, Haaland, Vinicius, Salah or any elite attacker. If the opposition controls possession, wins second balls, dominates the centre, and dictates the tempo, those attackers become passengers for large parts of the game.

That’s why, if I were building a team from scratch, my biggest investment would always be in midfield first. Elite attacks win moments. Elite midfields win matches. Over the course of a season or an entire tournament the team that consistently controls midfield usually ends up lifting the trophy.

[Men in Blazers @MenInBlazers]

SPAIN AND FRANCE COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT FOOTBALLING GIANTS 🇪🇸🇫🇷

The semifinal is going to be incredible

@newbalance

[● ᴥ ● @yor_eyes_tell]

Mbappe refusing to shake that goalkeeper’s hand has sent the entire country of Paraguay and their politicians into mass psychosis. His power is actually insane

[talkSPORT @talkSPORT]

"Are France that good??"

Jason Cundy & Jamie O'Hara REACT to France 2-0 Morocco!

[Antônio C. Costa @antonioccosta_]

Estou quase convencido: esta seleção da França joga o futebol mais belo que já vi em toda a minha vida.

Acompanho Copas desde 1970, quando tinha oito anos.

Nunca vi nada tão hábil, elegante, veloz e taticamente impecável.

Não é imbatível, mas encanta.

[Equipe de France ⭐⭐ @equipedefrance]

MVP 🏆 ©️
@KMbappe

[Joseph Lowery @joeclowery]

Until the USMNT has more talent, don't expect World Cup success.

Kids aren't touching the ball enough. There aren't enough quality coaches.

Those things must change for the U.S. to be a reliable threat to make a deep run 📺

[United Pride @UtdPride]

Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. Absolute cinema🔥🔥

[Nuel @LfcNuel]

Salah is disappointed that the referee keeps helping Messi and Argentina. Salah was through on goal and the referee blew a foul against Egypt for Parades failing to get the ball.
Truly Pathetic. https://t.co/CATa9mosTO

[Herd w/Colin Cowherd @TheHerd]

"Pulisic is fragile, that is not debatable... What would Erling Haaland look like against us? Gronk against a junior high. We need some size."

@colincowherd argues the USMNT needs bigger, stronger athletes to compete at the highest level

[UNSPORTSMANLIKE @UnSportsESPN]

There's a disparity between the best programs in the world and where we are right now. ⚽️

@msmallmon | #USMNT