In a heated encounter in Philadelphia on Saturday, France’s Kylian Mbappé responded sharply to a Paraguayan senator who issued a racist remark against him. The match, which saw France edge past Paraguay 1-0 thanks to Mbappé’s decisive penalty, sparked controversy beyond the pitch.
Celeste Amarilla, the senator, unleashed a lengthy tirade on X, derogatorily labeling Mbappé a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French” and suggesting that Paraguay’s players should have retaliated physically after the match.
Mbappé, serving as captain for France, issued a powerful rebuttal aimed not just at Amarilla, but also in defense of the Paraguayan players. He stated, “brute who had not learned to write”
Switching focus to England, their recent match against Mexico was nothing short of thrilling. I briefly dozed off around 1 AM (BST), only to awaken to England leading 2-1 just before Quansah received a red card, igniting chaos on the field. The English defense in the final moments was nothing short of exceptional, with Dan Burn stepping up impressively, even as Mexico struggled creatively in attack.
Here’s a look back at a memorable night, as Guardian readers reflect on their experiences. One shared, “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition,”
Meanwhile, the USA suffered a disappointing exit against Belgium, losing 1-4. Oh dear. What a shambles of a defensive performance by the co-hosts.
Comments have been circulating regarding BalogunGate and other related soccer topics.
Reflecting on his own exit, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed, ‘Play a back five, and just hack the ball anywhere’
Notably, none of Ronaldo’s Portugal teammates appeared interested in offering him consolation or support following their loss to Spain, highlighting the impact he has within the team dynamic. While it is often tolerable to accommodate large egos from world-class players, the situation becomes less justifiable when their peak performance is a thing of the past.
Though many speculated that the Qatar 2022 tournament might be Ronaldo’s final World Cup, this exit certainly reinforces that notion.
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In podcast updates, Max Rushden led the World Cup Daily with a star-studded panel including Barry Glendenning, Archie Rhind-Tutt, Nick Ames, and Sid Lowe. They dissected the defeats of the USA and Portugal while also reflecting on England’s notable victory against Mexico, all with a dose of entertaining banter.
Belgium’s social media team deserves a nod for their clever quip, “When I was 18, I vividly remember Gazza’s tears [in the 1990 World Cup] but this was more dramatic.” which certainly caught attention.
Although it doesn’t quite match the classic, “I am sad to leave like this but I have given everything, always given my best,” from the 1984-85 Cup Winners’ Cup clash between Barcelona and Metz, it’s still noteworthy.
Alexander Abnos reported from Seattle, where he witnessed the USA’s elimination by Belgium. Here’s his match report, along with insights from the USA camp: Tim Ream, the captain, maintained that the Folarin Balogun red-card incident “I go with a clear conscience. This is football, it is the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. You have to carry on. It was my last World Cup, yes, but as far as the rest of it is concerned: there will be time to think, to be with my family, [I will] not make decisions in the heat of the moment.” on the game.
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