The loudest Bellingham chants usually arrive after a goal. The irony is that football Twitter still values isolated scoring moments more than continuous tactical authority and control across the game state.
This is the narrative to die for, BDO Messi got yanked out with zero goals in the quarter finals in 2010, Ronaldo has no WC heritage, Maradona got grouped in 82, Cruyff did not play a WC until he was 28, half fit Lamine is going to play a SF, this is the real narrative.
Messi hanging with Mbappé and Haaland in 2026 is sort of like
Maradona competing with R9 and Zidane in 1998
R9 competing with Messi and James in 2014
Ronaldinho competing with Modric and Kane in 2018
In fact all were younger then than Messi now 😂
However, his mechanics & coordination in the final action is of amateur standards.
It’s like his body reacts quicker than his mind, they are not in a sync.
Ferran in flow state, doesn’t feel the game in a slow mo.
So,
Ferran’s replacement must move y think like Ferran inside…
chega a ser engraçado como a iluminação de um jogo com 12 anos de idade compete e até ganha de alguns jogos lançados recentemente simplesmente porque rasterização é muito melhor pra direção de arte do que essa BUCETA de ray tracing
Mikel Merino goals at major tournaments:
119th minute against Germany, quarterfinals, 2024 Euros
91st minute against Portugal, Round of 16, 2026 World Cup
88th minute against Belgium, quarterfinals, 2026 World Cup
Right now, for you!
France are in a supraposition, either leave their rest attack in Mbappe holding the height of the team and Cubarsi and Laporte managing the transitions in a 2v1 (their speciality).
OR
France leave 2-3-4(?) attackers for their rest attack and leave Spain to suffocate them with their low tempo and positionalism approach.
France will like an end-to-end game, but Cubarsi’s interpretation of spaces without the ball + Rodri’s counter pressing genius and manager & him being one of the greats rest midfielder will leave no room for that.
Moreover, it’s hard for a team to go on transitions when their AM (Olise) is a 4th attacker and Spain’s (Olmo). acts as a 3rd midfielfer + Baena who’s a wingfielder, the 2nd ball are easier and in-reach for Spain to neutralise the game and make it closed & a positional battle.
And in a closed game, where France will see less of the ball and don’t have the transition variable space necessary, Spain will go through.