\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 Spain seeking second WC title<\/h2>\n\nThe GIST:<\/strong> 2024 Euro champions Spain entered this tournament with high expectations, and it\u2019s safe to say they lived up to them. Hoping to capitalize on an extra 24 hours of rest, Spain just might have all the pieces in place to win their second WC title.<\/p>\n\u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udd25 Lights out defense allowed La Roja<\/em> to find their footing:<\/strong> Their surprising draw against newcomers Cabo Verde<\/a> inspired concern about the offense, leaving little attention for Spain\u2019s defensive masterclass. With at least one part of their game on lockdown, key injured players like teenage phenom Lamine Yamal were able to work their way gradually back into the lineup.<\/p>\n\n- Peaking at exactly the right time, Spain are now looking lethal. They\u2019ve conceded one goal this entire tournament, a feat only seen once in modern footy<\/a> \u2014 by Italy in 2006 who went on to win the WC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- And while their foe is known for their last-minute heroics, La Roja<\/em> boast a little late-game magic of their own: Super substitute Mikel Merino scored game-winning goals against both Portugal and Belgium in the knockouts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc40 All eyes will be on Argentina\u2019s Lionel Messi vs. the aforementioned Yamal.<\/strong> The greatest of all time facing his 19-year-old Barcelona prodigy<\/a> is a script almost too perfect to believe, but Spain\u2019s battle for the Cup could be determined by these players farther back:<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Rodri | Midfielder:<\/strong> Rodri has completed more passes<\/a> than any player in the history of the men\u2019s tournament. It\u2019s not as flashy as scoring goals, but efficient midfield play means less turnovers and less chances for opposing teams to exploit a mistake.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \ud83d\udfe1 Pau Cubars\u00ed | Defense:<\/strong> Another teenager poised to make history<\/a>, Cubars\u00ed has also played every minute of this WC and completely neutralized French star Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 in the semis. Just one more Golden Boot<\/a> contender to go.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7 Argentina aims to complete improbable repeat<\/h2>\n![\"Reigning](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/543220cc49dd13eac125446b27c5b2fadeadeba1-1638x2048.jpg?rect=348,601,943,1179&w=600&h=750&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: brfootball\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe GIST:<\/strong> If there\u2019s one thing this Argentina side is bad at, it\u2019s losing. They won the 2021 Copa Am\u00e9rica, the 2022 WC in Qatar, the 2024 Copa Am\u00e9rica<\/a>, and are trying to become the first country to defend a WC title since Brazil 64 years ago. Casual.<\/p>\n\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Argentina\u2019s road to the Final was filled with comebacks and controversy:<\/strong> La Albiceleste<\/em> cruised through the group stage thanks to several Messi milestones<\/a>, including oldest player to score a hat trick and all-time leading WC scorer\u2026at least for now<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n- But things got a bit dicey in the knockout rounds. Argentina needed extra time to down Cabo Verde and Switzerland, and had dramatic late-game comebacks against Egypt and England. Their semifinal was clean, but questionable calls<\/a> in the Egypt game brought the birth of the VARgentina meme<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83c\udfc6 So, will Messi earn his second WC trophy?<\/strong> The reigning champs enter as underdogs, but they\u2019re also unbeaten in 13 straight WC games. And even when they go down, they\u2019re never completely out, as seen in their semifinal win.<\/p>\n\ud83d\ude2e Alongside Messi, Argentina rosters several other players who can majorly impact the match against Spain:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd35 Alexis Mac Allister | Midfielder:<\/strong> Mac Allister vs. Spain\u2019s Rodri will be a potentially game-swinging midfield battle. Mac Allister plays higher up compared to Rodri and excels at finding his attackers even in tight spaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26aa Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez | Midfielder:<\/strong> Fern\u00e1ndez is a disruptor with a knack for big-time goals \u2014 the man loves a long-range shot<\/a>. When teams double or even triple Messi, Fern\u00e1ndez is there to make them regret it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83c\udfa4 The entertainment<\/h2>\n![\"Reigning](\"data:image\/jpeg;base64,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\")
![\"Reigning](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/afc6273320ca9cab57ab702829e9140b7f15f7a7-1080x1350.jpg?rect=193,419,695,869&w=600&h=750&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Global Citizen\/Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThis will be the first WC Final to feature a halftime show and the reactions are\u2026mixed, <\/strong>especially considering FIFA extended the halftime break from the usual 15 to 30 minutes in order to accommodate the performances.<\/p>\n\n- Will that be enough time to build (and disassemble) a stage big enough for Shakira, Justin Bieber, Madonna, BTS, Burna Boy, Coldplay, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets<\/a>, and more? We\u2019re about to find out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\ude28 Fans are concerned about how the longer break will impact players<\/strong> who\u2019ve only known brief halftimes. Plus the WC Final is spectacle enough for the majority of the world: It\u2019s the most-watched television event on Earth, bringing in more than a billion viewers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n- This tournament already allowed broadcasters to sneak in extra commercials during mandatory hydration breaks, making the traditional 45-minute halves feel more like quarters. Now the halftime show is widely seen<\/a> as an attempt to \u201cAmericanize\u201d the game even further.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83c\udf0e All that said, this star-studded lineup is not the problem.<\/strong> The performers are working pro bono in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund<\/a> with a goal of raising $100M to increase access to education and soccer opportunities for underserved children worldwide. Music<\/em> to our ears.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The GIST:<\/strong> 2024 Euro champions Spain entered this tournament with high expectations, and it\u2019s safe to say they lived up to them. Hoping to capitalize on an extra 24 hours of rest, Spain just might have all the pieces in place to win their second WC title.<\/p>\n \u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83d\udd25 Lights out defense allowed La Roja<\/em> to find their footing:<\/strong> Their surprising draw against newcomers Cabo Verde<\/a> inspired concern about the offense, leaving little attention for Spain\u2019s defensive masterclass. With at least one part of their game on lockdown, key injured players like teenage phenom Lamine Yamal were able to work their way gradually back into the lineup.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 All eyes will be on Argentina\u2019s Lionel Messi vs. the aforementioned Yamal.<\/strong> The greatest of all time facing his 19-year-old Barcelona prodigy<\/a> is a script almost too perfect to believe, but Spain\u2019s battle for the Cup could be determined by these players farther back:<\/p>\n Source: brfootball\/Instagram<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The GIST:<\/strong> If there\u2019s one thing this Argentina side is bad at, it\u2019s losing. They won the 2021 Copa Am\u00e9rica, the 2022 WC in Qatar, the 2024 Copa Am\u00e9rica<\/a>, and are trying to become the first country to defend a WC title since Brazil 64 years ago. Casual.<\/p>\n \ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Argentina\u2019s road to the Final was filled with comebacks and controversy:<\/strong> La Albiceleste<\/em> cruised through the group stage thanks to several Messi milestones<\/a>, including oldest player to score a hat trick and all-time leading WC scorer\u2026at least for now<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc6 So, will Messi earn his second WC trophy?<\/strong> The reigning champs enter as underdogs, but they\u2019re also unbeaten in 13 straight WC games. And even when they go down, they\u2019re never completely out, as seen in their semifinal win.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude2e Alongside Messi, Argentina rosters several other players who can majorly impact the match against Spain:<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: Global Citizen\/Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This will be the first WC Final to feature a halftime show and the reactions are\u2026mixed, <\/strong>especially considering FIFA extended the halftime break from the usual 15 to 30 minutes in order to accommodate the performances.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude28 Fans are concerned about how the longer break will impact players<\/strong> who\u2019ve only known brief halftimes. Plus the WC Final is spectacle enough for the majority of the world: It\u2019s the most-watched television event on Earth, bringing in more than a billion viewers<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf0e All that said, this star-studded lineup is not the problem.<\/strong> The performers are working pro bono in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund<\/a> with a goal of raising $100M to increase access to education and soccer opportunities for underserved children worldwide. Music<\/em> to our ears.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7 Argentina aims to complete improbable repeat<\/h2>\n
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\ud83c\udfa4 The entertainment<\/h2>\n
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