The flower of youth bloomed sweet and true in the St. Petersburg night, as the France's free-wheeling youth turn Belgium's Golden Generation a shade of grey....

So, that's more an attempt at cleverness that a prediction ("dom" is "home" in Serbo-Croatian), because this Croatia team is running on fumes, and it's not c...

One's practically ready to show a Monty Python parody to sum up the fears of getting countered: "Oh, noooooo, we couldn't possibly take the ball! You, sir,...

One for the ages this one, and I have to eat some crow. I thought Brazil would win--and by golly, they almost did. But credit Belgium for a great performan...

1. A great, great first half to watch! Furious pressing by Uruguay, quick combination play by France, and a few of those hair-on-the-back-of-the-neck, eyes...

At last, Sweden will meet a team that is as bound to its coach--and each other--as they are, and that will negate their biggest advantage. Look for England ...

Belgium has a golden generation, but somehow a left back did not emerge, and they're going to pay against the Brazilian wide men. Brazil has everything going...

Club teammates face off in a match that will test whether France can withstand Uruguay's defensive grinder, while one wonders how Suarez can smash and grab a...

Agony and revival in a cardiac finish at Rostov Arena, where a little luck, an undeniable Fellaini header, and a lungbusting 100-meter sprint from Chadli rev...

. Two sides with stunningly unproductive attacks launched balls anywhere but on frame in St. Petersburg, only to be separated by a deflection. This was a fa...

Extra sour in the Moscow Mule, as England escape in a tawdry affair by both sides, more of an old school festival of nasty than the happy football we've witn...

Mexico cornered their prey and moved in for the kill at the opening bell, but a rock solid defensive core took every punch. Then Willian turned on the jets,...

France moves on, but the rest were nearly divided into those who packed it in, and those who are packing up. Only Super Subasic flipped the script for Croati...

*But the old guys almost pulled it out, somehow? How did that even happen? Well, that went exactly as I expected, except all the parts that i didn’t expect,...

Your work here is done, young Jedi. Three touches for eternity, and on to the youthful, enigmatic Les Bleus. Were I to be in some post-apocalyptic version o...

If ever two teams deserved each other more, it’s hard to remember, and as fans we can at least avoid the spectacle of two potential matches being mucked up; ...

Uruguay v. Egypt has so many angles, it's hard to know where to start, but let's note that it includes Liverpool's two greatest signings of the modern era. B...

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/jun/14/paul-pogba-not-the-star-france-world-cup-mbappe-dembele-griezmann This and other insights. Desailly's ...

20 years ago, the French National Team’s rainbow ensemble, spanning four continents of heritage, brought the nation an unadulterated exhilaration through its...

what ecstasy and heartbreak you bring. Best of times, worst of times, not much in between. When we last left you in 2014, your team was massive in physique, ...