Football stories the mainstream media ignores.
worldcup
Egypt's coach accused referees of favouring Messi after a 3-2 collapse. The disallowed goal was controversial, but so was Egypt's own tactics.
history
Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties to reach their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954, without injured wonderkid Johan Manzambi.
players
Trump's call got Balogun's ban lifted, but FIFA had already used the same rule on Ronaldo. Now England want it applied to Quansah too.
Raw milk, cryotherapy, a father who played in the Premier League — the ecosystem behind Haaland's calm, lethal World Cup run.
Belgium's 4-1 win sent the USA out, completing a historic elimination of all three co-hosts and leaving Pochettino's future wide open.
From Mbappé's Cameroonian roots to Bouaddi's switch to Morocco, France's quarter-final carries decades of shared football history.
France beat Paraguay to reach the quarter-finals, but a senator's racist attack on Mbappé dominated the aftermath, not the football.
How Athletic Bilbao's quiet goalkeeper beat out Raya and Garcia, broke a 36-year-old record, and ended Ronaldo's last World Cup.
15 of 26 Cape Verde players were born outside the islands. Netherlands gave six — including both who scored vs Argentina. The full origin list.
Dan Burn was released by Newcastle academy at 11. Non-league. Darlington. Wigan. Brighton. Carabao Cup goal at 32. England debut. World Cup debut at the Azteca.
transfers
Newcastle cannot spend like Arsenal under PSR. Dan Burn for £13m has given them Champions League, a Carabao Cup winner, England caps and World Cup heroics.
Nyland played 4 games for Sevilla this season. Aursnes retired and came back. Berg beats Man City and Inter for Bodo/Glimt. Norway's first QF is no accident.
Norway beat Brazil. England won at the Azteca with ten men. Haaland has seven. Tuchel can join Lippi and Del Bosque. Miami, July 11. Everything is at stake.
Bellingham scored twice in 98 seconds. Quansah sent off at 54 minutes. England played with ten men at the Azteca for 40 minutes and won 3-2. The record is gone.
Norway beat Brazil 2-1. Haaland scored twice. Nyland saved the penalty. The sixth consecutive World Cup, sixth European team. Ancelotti is out.
Nigeria debuted in 1994 ranked 5th globally. Okocha was benched. Maradona's last World Cup game was against them. They were two minutes from the quarter-finals.
Ugarte suffered knee ligament damage playing for Uruguay at the World Cup. Manchester United will receive up to £6m from FIFA. Here is exactly how that works.
FIFA introduced ball recovery time in 2022. It explains Spain, Bouaddi and Haaland at the 2026 World Cup better than any conventional stat.
Spain broke Brazil 33-game world record. Zero conceded at this World Cup. Now Portugal, Ronaldo, Dallas on Monday. The full story and R16 preview.
FIFA introduced in-contest possession at the 2022 World Cup. At 2026 it explains Spain, Bouaddi, Haaland and Morocco better than conventional possession.
