Mike Kirkham

[Man City Brazil @ManCityBrazil]

O comentarista suíço David Lemos, encerrou a transmissão resumindo com precisão os problemas desta Copa do Mundo, ele foi perfeito.

🗣️"Não há dúvidas de que esta foi a Copa do Mundo mais comercial da história e também uma das mais politizadas."

"Não esqueceremos os preços que pessoas sem grande poder aquisitivo tiveram de pagar para viver sua paixão pelo futebol."

"Em alguns casos, sequer puderam entrar no país por causa de sua nacionalidade, fossem torcedores, jornalistas ou até árbitros, como o somali Omar Artan."

"Também lembramos do tratamento inaceitável dado à seleção do Irã, que não pôde defender suas chances de forma adequada durante o torneio."

"E há ainda o caso de Folarin Balogun. Vimos um presidente se vangloriar de ter ligado para o presidente da FIFA para conseguir retirar a suspensão de um jogador."

"A política se infiltrou no coração do futebol, embora a FIFA afirme querer mantê-la acima de tudo. Fica claro que isso só vale até certo ponto."

"Foi uma Copa do Mundo em que todas as partidas foram disputadas em quatro tempos, e cuja final teve um intervalo de quase 30 minutos."

"A crise tem dois nomes: dinheiro e poder. Hoje existe uma crise de confiança entre muitos dos envolvidos no futebol e a FIFA."

"Nas próximas semanas, muito dinheiro será distribuído a diversas federações e a muitos agentes do futebol, que serão educadamente convidados a permanecer em silêncio."

"Esperamos que tudo isso seja levado em consideração e que não volte a acontecer."

[Zack Guzmán @zGuz]

I’ve hated most of the momentum maps this World Cup, but the England Argentina one is so good

Parking the bus after scoring at 55’ will never be forgiven

[Ed Davey @EdwardJDavey]

In August 2024 Rodri and Álvaro Morata were rightly banned for one match for singing “Gibraltar is Spain”.

Now the Argentine players who celebrated with the “Falklands are Argentine” banner must be barred from the final.

[Mike Kirkham @M_Kirkham]

Let’s see @FIFA apply its rules about political statements as strongly as when Harry Kane tried to wear a rainbow armband…

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Argentina players take banner from their fans and bring it onto the pitch, it read: "The Falkland Islands are Argentinian."

The moment happened after the team beat England in the World Cup semi-finals.

Read more: https://t.co/6VH3V6BYSE

[Guillem Balague @GuillemBalague]

The four World Cup semifinalists, in one line:

🇪🇸 Spain — the best team.

🇫🇷 France — the best player and the most frightening attack.

🇦🇷 Argentina — the best idea: doing more with less than anyone else.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England — two world-class players on form.

They all have what is needed to win the tournament

[James Melville 🚜 @JamesMelville]

Here’s Thierry Henry talking more sense about England’s World Cup mentality than some of the English media right now.

[Mike Kirkham @M_Kirkham]

Jude Bellingham. Phenomenal.
#ENG

[Rob Dorsett @RobDorsettSky]

Worth pointing out that Quansah’s “crime” is the same in FIFA terms as Folarin Balogun’s - serious foul play. Quansah’s one-game ban has been extended to two. Balogun’s was suspended for 12 months when Donald Trump made a phone call.

[NHS Million @NHSMillion]

You have our vote, Count Binface

[Dale Johnson @DaleJohnsonBBC]

Fifa bans England's Jarell Quansah for two games, meaning he misses Norway and a potential semi-final.

Quansah was sent off for serious foul play.

US striker Folarin Balogun, who was sent off for serious foul play, got one game which was suspended for 12 months...

[HLTCO @HLTCO]

When Sepp Blatter is taking to social media to call out corruption on your watch, it’s probably time to accept that the game’s up.

This is like Fred West critiquing your paving technique.

[R⎊M @LDNRom]

So America turns 250. That's cute. My local pub is 364 years old.

[Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenko]

To understand the scale of today’s Russian crime against humanity’s historical heritage: it is the equivalent of bombing St. Peter’s Basilica in a war of conquest against Italy, or Notre-Dame de Paris against France, Westminster Abbey against Britain, or Aachen Cathedral.

[Saint Javelin @saintjavelin]

When Notre-Dame burned in 2019, the world stopped.

Today, Russia damages Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, a monastery nearly 1,000 years old and older than Notre-Dame itself.

A thousand years of history deserves the same attention, the same sympathy, and the same protection.

[Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah]

Extraordinarily - and this seems to demonstrate a complete disregard of the seriousness of defence at the heart of government - John Healey was only told what the offer was for additional defence funding on Monday afternoon.

I am told Number 10 then tried to rush and publish the Defence Investment Plan on Thursday.

Then a handbrake was applied by Mr Healey and his military chiefs. The (now ex) defence secretary made clear that racing to release the blueprint without a settlement that had been accepted by him and his team would be a risk for defence and for its soldiers, sailors and aviators.

You can only imagine the tone of the exchange that must have taken place - and I know that people were in the MOD until very late last night.

But John Healey firmly believes the settlement was inadequate and, if left unchallenged, would not enable the UK to keep the country safe or meet its international commitments - such as help defend Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.

A key detail is that Mr Healey believes defence spending must be increased to 3% of GDP by 2030, up from 2.3% now. This would guarantee tens of billions of additional pounds for defence.

But - despite the stakes and the position of the defence secretary - the Prime Minister and Chancellor agreed just to inch it up to 2.68% of GDP within that time frame, after hitting a new target of 2.6% next year (which is already being inflated by lumping in the 0.1% that is spent on the intelligence agencies).

Utterly incredible.

What must our allies and our adversaries be thinking, let alone everyone in the UK armed forces and, frankly, everyone in our country?

We all rely on a secure UK to live, work, go to school, enjoy holidays, access healthcare, spend time with friends and families.

This is not a divine right. It happens because we have security - something that might not be apparent until or unless it is compromised...

[Troll Football @TrollFootball]

Respect Italy

[Theo Bertram @theobertram]

A defence secretary has never resigned in this way. Fox, Heseltine, Profumo - all resigned over scandals. To resign because the PM would not pay enough to keep the country secure - unprecedented.

[Mike Pompeo @mikepompeo]

Within hours of being announced as the nominee to be the U.S. Director of the CIA, I received a hand-delivered message on MI6 stationery congratulating me on my nomination. It was signed simply "C" in green ink. Legendary. I shared it with my son and even he thought I was now cool!

More than that, this note, from Sir Alex Younger, Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom, confirmed what I already believed: the work that the CIA and MI6 did together mattered, that the partnership was critical, and that two leaders focused on the mission could save lives and provide tools for our nations to deter our adversaries.

Alex's passing this week brought back so many memories of our time in service together. He flew to Langley to see me the day I was confirmed. We brought our two senior teams together in the UK to plan and coordinate and build in the first several weeks of my time on duty: making clear to them all that this relationship was more than special - it was critical for the security of our two countries.

Alex was a remarkable intelligence partner. When we needed help, it wasn't "let me see;" it was "this matters to you and America we'll get it done." And he and his team always did. I think he knew we would do the same for him and his team and his nation. Many Americans are alive today because of his leadership of MI6, I never knew how to thank him enough.

Alex became a friend as well. In the years since we both left office we would see each other from time to time. He was always so kind, so thoughtful, so smart. His deep love of his country was surpassed only by his deep commitment and love of his family. Decent and proper - and funny as hell - Alex was "C." As espionage requires, he was quiet, not attention seeking. He knew what evil was and he was ruthless in his efforts to crush it with every legal tool at his command. And he knew who his friends were and committed himself to supporting them.

I miss Sir Alex Younger. He was a role model for me and a man with whom every minute I spent was valued and savored. Blessings to you Alex. Praying for you and for your family. Well done and may you rest in peace in His hands.

[Mike Kirkham @M_Kirkham]

@Real_Rob_Warner My favourite England kit since the 90s 🙌

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

82 years ago, on the beaches of Normandy, brave British and Allied forces changed the course of history forever.

We must never forget the service and sacrifice of those courageous men and women.

Our debt to them can never be repaid.