Qatar 2022 World Cup best and worst moments
Best moment
Every moment you are in the stands and Lionel Messi is on the pitch. We are watching the last stages of an epic quest for football’s ultimate glory by probably football’s ultimate player. He is like nothing else and has done things, in Qatar, that rank with any of his most divine expressions of talent. It is simply the privilege of one’s football-reporting life to be in the stadium.
Worst moment
Grant Wahl was a friendly, open, kind and intelligent person; lovely company and someone whose upbeat love of football and the industry reminded you to be grateful to be doing the job. He was also a superb, boundaries-pushing sportswriter and his death at the age of 49 while covering Holland v Argentina nine days ago remains impossible to comprehend. When you get the chance, go read his work.
Best goal
Richarlison. Brazil v South Korea
It started with some ball juggling and featured “No 10” passes from two centre backs, then involved a smooth finish and the whole squad – plus their manager – dancing in a circle. You could not get a more “Brazil” goal. The Brazilians came up with other stunners, like Richarlison’s scissor kick v Serbia and Neymar’s piece of genius against Croatia, but Richarlison v South Korea was jogo bonito in purest form.
Biggest surprise
Australia. Morocco went far further but have quality players all over the pitch. Australia, featuring A-League triers, Scottish Premiership journeymen and a beanpole centre back whose last start was for Stoke Under-21, were a revelation. They reached the round of 16 and through Aussie spirit pushed the possible champions, Argentina, to the wire.
Biggest disappointment
Belgium. Third in 2018 and the world’s No 1 team for nearly four years until deposed by Brazil in March, the Belgians had a horrific World Cup. They scored just once, against Canada, and fell out with each other after Kevin De Bruyne bizarrely wrote off his own team-mates as “too old.” The country’s golden generation finish without a trophy.
World Cup 2026
That the expanded 48-team competition does not result in a bloated, drawn-out feel to the finals and a slew of meaningless group stage games. It is almost certain to, though.
