Hello and welcome to another edition of Offside. First off, Spain saw off Portugal to win the Iberian derby, while Belgium won the world’s approval by ensuring there was no red-card redemption for the USA as they thrashed the hosts 4-1.There’s a saying that old age is a lot like childhood, and Ronaldo’s late-stage prima-donna career mirrored his younger days: a petulant man-child who couldn’t stop whinging. It is a hard watch, particularly for those of us who followed his career and saw him go from a teenager of touch and tease to a swashbuckling winger to a goal machine who became master of the box.With age, Ronaldo’s sphere of influence has decreased to the point that only inside the D did he remain a threat, but even that appeared non-existent at this World Cup. His majestic leap, his sharp finishing and the ability to take a half-chance all deserted the man in his final days. And it’s slightly more galling for him that his great rival, who is two years younger, looks like he has discovered the fountain of youth.Perhaps the romantics wanted one last showdown between Ronaldo and his great rival, but instead it ended with Merino, not Messi. Merino is the sort of utility player who can be called the John O’Shea Phenomenon: a player who doesn’t excel in one position but can give you an 8/10 performance in various ones. During the Premier League season, he even netted four times during the run-in in the absence of Viktor Gyokeres, but missed out on the title run-in after fracturing his foot in the 3-2 home loss against Man Utd. Merino didn’t think he would be at the World Cup, but he was there to write the final footnote in a former GOAT’s career.
It wasn’t a particularly pretty game, but Spain finally broke through. Incidentally, Spain still haven’t conceded a goal in this World Cup, and it is looking ominous for other teams, given Spain’s bench strength and their ability to call on players of the calibre of Ferran Torres and Merino to decide games. That Ronaldo could no longer cut it at the top level was evident to everyone whose name isn’t Piers Morgan or iShowSpeed.His World Cup and footballing career can be summed up in two images: winking in 2006 and whining in 2026. The first is him winking impudently at the 2006 World Cup after Wayne Rooney stamped on Ricardo Carvalho’s family jewels. After that, the adversity he faced in the Premier League forged the beast who would dominate world football and, despite not having Messi’s level of skill, compete with him at the highest level. The second is Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup, crying after being knocked out, an albatross around the neck of a talented Portugal generation that didn’t have the temerity to tell their national legend that he had become an albatross around their necks.
Belgium’s Youri Tielemans (8) reacts after Belgium won a World Cup round of 16 soccer match against the United States in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Speaking of albatrosses around the neck, Belgium earned the world’s approval after handing Team USA a 4-1 thrashing. The hosts had earned the wrath of football fans around the world after Donald Trump used what KBC fans call dial-a-friend to get Balogun’s red card rescinded. Ironically enough, it was the first time the leader of the free world had done something corrupt that benefited his country rather than his person, but it meant that, overnight, the USA had the global footballing world’s scorn, usually reserved for the English national team.Belgium have looked rather listless in this World Cup so far, but the red-card reversal appeared to spark the team. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and had an assist, while Romelu Lukaku added one in stoppage time to rub it in. Soon, the conversation switched to how football wasn’t a real sport, how Belgium had restored the rules-based international order, and how it was two years from a nuclear weapon.The red-card reversal managed to take away some of the shine from a US team that looked like it had finally found a way to love a sport more associated with orange peels, suburban mums and Ted Lasso. Hopefully, we will see a different Team USA from whatever we saw right now.For now, it’s going to be Spain vs Belgium in the quarterfinals, and while the smart money will be on Spain, Belgium have been known to pull out an upset or two.
Argentina vs Egypt
July 7, 9. 30pm ISTThe King vs the Maestro. All eyes will be on Argentina as they face off against Mohamed Salah’s Egypt. The Pharaohs are making up for lost time in the World Cup, and Cabo Verde showed that Argentina can be pegged back.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) applauds the crowd after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Fla., Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Warrior watchLionel Messi has scored seven goals in this World Cup so far, competing with the next generation’s superstars, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, for the Golden Boot. But more than the scoring, Argentina are built around Messi’s passing, and that’s where the challenge is.Mohamed Salah might not be 100%, but the King can decide moments on his own.Battle planArgentina’s best version is when they slowly tighten the noose around opponents until Messi finds the gap between midfield and defence. Against Cape Verde, they failed to press after losing possession. Defensively, Argentina will look to block the free pass into Marmoush or Salah.Meanwhile, Egypt must find a little more balance and composure for the Argentina game. The ideal plan is a mid-to-low block and selective targeting of Argentina’s full-backs.The key battle will be on Egypt’s right and Argentina’s left, where Tagliafico and Lisandro Martinez will run into Salah.Dinner table convo: Will the Pharaohs manage to seal Argentina’s World Cup hopes inside a pyramid?
Colombia vs Switzerland
July 7, 1. 30am ISTColombia vs Switzerland is one of those knockout matches that makes one wonder whether it is worth staying up for. Switzerland have ventured into the knockout rounds again, while football-mad Colombia will hope to keep the chaos coming.
Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi (9) celebrates after scoring during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Switzerland and Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Warrior watchJohan Manzambi has become the breakout star of Switzerland’s tournament and had a great club season as well, helping SC Freiburg reach the Europa League final, where they lost to Aston Villa. Manzambi was named the Europa League’s young player of the season and has three goals and two assists so far. Luis Diaz, on the other hand, is having a superlative tournament and will look to bring a little chaos to the Swiss world order.Battle planColombia have conceded only one goal so far and have a versatile system, with coach Lorenzo leaning into in-game tactical changes and positional shifts. Switzerland, on the other hand, are a team built on order, and their win over Algeria was built on tactical maturity that saw them morph into a modern 4-2-3-1, with Manzambi given the freedom to roam.One talking point has been Colombia’s travel load, which has seen them go from Mexico to Miami, Kansas and Vancouver. Switzerland, on the other hand, have managed to play their matches in Vancouver, giving them a slight edge.Dinner table conversationThe Second Law of Thermodynamics states thats in an isolated system, entropy always increases over time. Switzerland (order) vs Colombia (chaos) will tell us if that’s a good thing on a football field.
