rans

📿💎||physician. Whilst it takes a village, don’t forget to be the village

[Gabby Otchere-Darko @GabbyDarko]

Is this FIFA World Cup revealing something subconsciously darker than many of us care to admit? Or these are merely isolated incidents?

Following England’s goalless draw with Ghana, the England captain referred to his opponents as “these type of nations.” The remark has understandably not gone down well with many Ghanaians, who felt it was insulting and diminished what was, in truth, a highly disciplined and tactically accomplished performance.

Yes, the draw was frustrating for England but only because they believed Ghana to be a cool chop. But, they rather got exposed not to have a response to Ghana’s game plan and yet still talked down how they were out-manoeuvred in post-match reviews!

It also brought to mind comments by Bastian Schweinsteiger (please don’t ask me what it means in German), the former German midfielder and now a television pundit, after Germany’s narrow victory over Côte d’Ivoire. Germany needed a late chance to escape with the win, yet his assessment struck many as surprisingly dismissive of the Ivorians, despite the balance of play suggesting a contest between two evenly matched sides.

Perhaps these are isolated examples of poor wording. But they are more than likely not.

One thing this World Cup is making increasingly clear, however, is that the more FIFA opens the competition to teams from every continent, the higher the standard of football becomes. Greater inclusion has not diluted the tournament. It has enriched it. Nations once regarded as outsiders are proving, through regular exposure to elite competition, that they possess the tactical sophistication, technical quality and mental resilience to compete with anyone.

The question, then, is whether our mindset and language have kept pace with that reality.

Too often, when traditional football powers are frustrated by African, Asian or CONCACAF teams, the discussion subtly shifts from praising the underdog’s quality to explaining the favourite’s disappointment. European teams are often applauded for their tactical discipline; African teams employing the same discipline are sometimes described merely as making the game “difficult.”

Words matter. They shape perceptions. And perceptions often reveal assumptions we may not even realise we hold.

Let us use this World Cup to not only change the footballing landscape. Let us use it to also help change some long-held assumptions about where world-class football comes from and reminding ourselves that excellence has always been more widely distributed than the game itself once allowed us to see.

Let us all learn from Declan Rice that prejudice is wrong. Let’s give all teams the opportunity to prove themselves where it matters, on the pitch.

[Mavelli✝️ @nlemavelli]

NEW📲: Fatawu Issahaku on Snapchat 😭🤣.

[Lisa @lisathebeauty1]

Instagram needs to understand I don't give a fuck who posted on threads for the first time.

[ACCRA MAYOR 🥲🥷 @0panaa_1]

Bro, when I saw O’Reilly and Saka, I knew it was over. Then Rogers came on, and now Rashford and Eze too?
We need to praise our defenders solid.

[ChampgneMami🥂 @Beebee__xo]

I see why men love football
I’m going about my day and I’m still thinking about how the Black stars were guarding their goalpost yesterday

[Lyn🦋 @_ayandamay]

DEAR NETFLIX,

I am a part of my parent’s “household” no matter where I live.

THANKS.

- Management. 😡🤬😤

[Menya @menyaaaaaaaaaaa]

You need exorcism.

[rufián @rufian]

Un brujo honrado, sin malicia. Cumplió su objetivo y ahora lo deja en libertad. Por más brujos así.

[AfcHenry @henryluv2]

when they prefer to swap Gyokeres plus 50M for Alvarez

[Dr. alleunammE💊🎤🎶 @Dr_nuellie_]

Oh but who made this suit for Chairman?🥴

[ARDENT GOONER @TheArsenalMind]

Gyokeres burned bridges to join Arsenal, while Alvarez is looking at Barcelona. Any swap plus cash idea is not ambition, it is pure disrespect to a player who actually chose us.

[Coinvo @Coinvo]

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Foreigners in the U.S. for the World Cup have refused mandatory tips at bars and restaurants.

"Don't bully us for tips, pay your workers better!"

[dedo 🇯🇴🇨🇦 @dlicps]

Thought it was a really nice visual seeing Benjamin Asare leading a prayer for Ghana’s Christian players, while Issahaku Abdul Fatawu is next to him making duaa for Ghana’s Muslim players 🇬🇭🤍

[Kaizoku-ō @Lester_O3]

Biegya

[Joice🤍🇧🇪 @Joiceoflagos]

This one 😭🤣

[Tomioka🥷 @GakpetorDaniel]

Oh me I like the football papa

[Vishwas Gaitonde @weareji]

If you have to bow out, do so with grace and elan!

[akin🇪🇸🇪🇨 @the_akinola]

hmm so 5 minutes is a long time?

[𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐢 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞 @BrodoSchemes]

Feels cool to be Ghanaian again until politicians ruin the vibe

[Stephanieeee Esq💗 @stepphhyy_]

Ne brofo nso dɛ🙈❤️