Good afternoon, football fans! Only two matches remain in this World Cup. Today is a rest day; did everyone catch up on sleep? Let's take a look at the World Cup news from the past day.
Top News
[Official: Slovenian referee Vincic to officiate World Cup final]
[Venčić was moved to tears upon learning he would be officiating the World Cup final]
On July 17, Beijing time, the referee team for the World Cup final was officially announced, with Slovenian referee Carlos Vencic officiating the World Cup final.
World Cup comments
Kyrie Irving slams Tuchel: His tactics are like those of a pickup basketball team.
"Back up, back up, pile all 11 of your players into your own penalty area, and then desperately kick and head the ball, even use your face to block it, and people think that's bravery. No, quite the opposite. Football isn't about getting your nose hit by the ball and bleeding, and then everyone saying, 'Great job, look how brave we are.' That's garbage. I could find any random local amateur team that could do that."
Klopp supports Tuchel: Don't underestimate football.
“If Tuchel hadn’t tried to control the game and Argentina had equalized again, these people would have asked again: ‘Why didn’t you hold onto the lead?’ In the knockout stages, no matter what you do, there will always be someone criticizing you.”
"The pressure of the World Cup final is really immense. You're really looking forward to the start of the match, and a lot of images are flashing through your mind. Then you arrive at the stadium and see flags from all over the world, people from different cultural backgrounds, and fans wearing your national team jerseys who support you... The stadium is filled with joy, passion, and pride. But the pressure is immense until the referee blows the whistle to start the match."
Pochettino: The World Cup final is a 50/50 affair; Spain should keep Messi away from the goal.
When asked how to limit Messi, Pochettino's answer was very clear. In his view, the key lies in prevention and teamwork. "Keep him as far away from your goal as possible," he said, while also believing that man-marking tactics are no longer feasible in modern football, calling them "almost impossible."
"If you consider that our top players are playing in positions they are not good at, or at least positions they are forced to adapt to, then this tactical concept may be fundamentally wrong. If that's the case, I would rather put a less capable starter in that position."
"I hope he can bring success to Germany and this country. I wish him all the best."
[Voznia: I hope the next team will value my football skills, not my marketing.]
“I hope to find a team that truly values my football ability, rather than using me as a marketing tool. That’s my first priority because I love football. To be able to stand here at 40… because I really feel that passion, and I want to play for at least another year or two. It will depend on my physical response, because nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, but I want to keep playing.”
Panoramic view of the US, Canada and Mexico
[The Sun: Haaland's World Cup headband sold out in the US]
The headband that Haaland wore at the World Cup recently sold out, as the product sold out due to soaring sales during the World Cup.
After England's loss, Bellingham appeared to slap Barco without any apparent reason; however, subsequent reports revealed that Barco had deliberately provoked England players multiple times during the match.
[Official: Venezuelan referee Valenzuela will officiate the France vs. England match]
FIFA has officially announced the referee assignments for the third-place match of the 2026 World Cup, with Venezuelan referee Jesús Valenzuela set to officiate the game between France and England.
[Photographer: Messi was very reserved while bathing Yamal, completely unsure where to begin]
[FIFA Official: 30 World Cup rings will be awarded to the champion, and 1996 will be sold.]
According to official sources, FIFA will award championship rings to members of the 2026 World Cup winning team.
According to Matt Law, a renowned journalist for The Telegraph, Tuchel privately denied asking the team to play defensively, but instead told the players to push higher.
[L'Équipe: Pelé's 1958 World Cup final jersey sold for $4.9 million]
According to L'Equipe, Sotheby's reported that Pelé's jersey worn during his first World Cup victory in 1958 sold for $4.9 million (approximately 33.2 million yuan) at auction in New York.
[RMC: Saliba diagnosed with a fractured back, played through injury throughout the World Cup]
According to RMC Sports reporter Hawkins, French defender Saliba has been diagnosed with a fractured back. The Arsenal defender was injured before the start of the World Cup and has been playing with the help of painkillers.
