Key events
Meanwhile, in ‘Let’s get jazzed up about Brazil v Japan’ news:
something tells me the Japan Brazil game is going to be greatest game of the World Cup so far.
there is going to be tremendous carnivalesque fan-energy in the stadium that you could bottle and sell on Amazon for 5000 yen a 330ml unit. and some individual brilliance by a handful of Brazilian players are going to give us some goals that will look more like athletics where the ball is an acrobat. but i think Japan will tikka-takka weave the ball around their decluttered player-grid and equalize twice with pointed shots just inside and outside the box for this reason i’m going to get to the supermarket shortly to buy a bottle of Korean soju and a six-pack of Guinness
People love to hate commentators, in general, so it’s refreshing to see good work being recognised and praised:
Fantastic BBC Radio coverage last night, from Vicki Sparks and Dion Dublin. How to commentate on an important game that, actually, wasn’t a very good match? Be as entertaining, as honest, as smart and as funny with your words over the lack of action on the pitch.
(And while we’re on the subject, for all the haterz: until you’ve actually picked up a mic and tried to commentate on a football match, or any other sport, you are hardly in a position to criticise.)
If you would like to email thoughts about any of this, please do so here.
Let’s begin with everyone’s favourite subject: His Majesty’s England football team.
Andrew Beasley takes a look at the data on the Jude Bellingham x Harry Kane collaboration for England:
Preamble
Canada are the first team into the last 16:
And in a little over nine hours, Brazil v Japan will go toe-to-toe in Houston, as the mouthwatering-ness of the knockout ties increases further.
Let’s talk about the World Cup.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jun/29/world-cup-2026-reaction-canada-brazil-japan-germany-paraguay-live
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