Hello and welcome to another edition of Offside. Earlier, 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 first-team career mirrors his younger days: a petulant man-child who couldn’t stop snapping. It’s a tough watch, especially for those of us who have followed his career and seen him go from a touch and tease teenager to a swashbuckling winger to a goal machine who became a master of the box.With age, Ronaldo’s sphere of influence has diminished to the point that only in the D has he been a threat, but even that seemed non-existent in this World Cup. His majestic jump, his sharp finishing and the ability to take half a chance, all left the man in his last days. And for him it is a little more pleasant that his great rival, who is two years younger, seems to have discovered the fountain of youth.Maybe the romantics wanted a final clash between Ronaldo and his great rival, but instead they ended up with Merino, not Messi. Merino is the type of utility player who can be called the John O’Shea Phenomenon: a player who does not excel in one position, but can give an 8/10 performance in several. During the Premier League season, he also scored four times during the run-in in the absence of Viktor Gyokeres, but missed out on the run-in title 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 note in the career of a former GOAT.
It wasn’t a particularly good game, but Spain finally broke through. Incidentally, Spain have yet to concede a goal in this World Cup, and it looks ominous for other teams, given the strength of Spain’s bench and their ability to call on players of the caliber of Ferran Torres and Merino to decide matches. That Ronaldo could no longer cut it at the highest level was obvious to everyone whose name is not Piers Morgan or iShowSpeed.His World Cup and his football career can be summed up in two images: winking in 2006 and crying in 2026. The first is him impudently forgetting the World Cup 2006 after Wayne Rooney printed on Ricardo Carvalho’s family jewelry. After that, the adversity he faced in the Premier League forged the beast that dominated world football and although he doesn’t have the skill level of Messi, he competes with him at the highest level. The second is Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup, crying after being defeated, an albatross around the neck of a generation of Portuguese talent who did not have the temerity to tell his national legend that he had become an albatross around his neck.
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 albatross around the neck, Belgium earned worldwide approval after handing Team USA a 4-1 thrashing. The hosts have earned the ire of football fans around the world after Donald Trump used what KBC fans call dial-a-friend to overturn Balogun’s red card. Ironically, it was the first time that 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 worldwide contempt of world football, usually reserved for the English national team.So far, Belgium have looked rather unremarkable in this World Cup, but the reversal of the red cards seemed to spark the team. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and had an assist, while Romelu Lukaku added one in stoppage time to tie it up. Soon, the conversation turned to how soccer 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 reversal of red cards managed to take some of the shine off a USA team that seemed to have finally found a way to love a sport more associated with orange peels, suburban moms and the Ted Lasso. Hopefully we’ll see a different Team USA than what we’ve seen now.For now, it will be Spain vs. Belgium in the quarter-finals, and while the smart money will be on Spain, Belgium have been known to drop a match or two.
Argentina vs Egypt
July 7, 9. 30 am ISTThe King vs the Master. All eyes will be on Argentina as they face Mohamed Salah’s Egypt. The Pharaohs are making up for lost time in the World Cup, and Cape Verde has shown that Argentina can be pushed back.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) applauds the crowd after the World Cup Round of 32 soccer match against Cape Verde in Miami Gardens, Florida, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Warrior watchLionel Messi he has scored seven goals in this World Cup so far, competing with next generation superstars Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot. But more than scoring, Argentina is built around Messi’s passing, and that’s where the challenge lies.Mohamed Salah might not be 100%, but the king can decide moments by himself.Battle planThe best version of Argentina is when they slowly tighten the cap around the opponents until Messi finds the gap between the midfield and the defense. Against Cape Verde, they didn’t press after losing possession. In defense, Argentina will try to block the free pass in Marmoush or Salah.Meanwhile, Egypt must find a little more balance and composure for the Argentina game. The ideal plan is a medium to low block and selective targeting of the Argentine defenders.The key battle will be on Egypt’s right and Argentina’s left, where Tagliafico and Lisandro Martinez will run into Salah.Dinner table talk: Will the Pharaohs manage to seal Argentina’s World Cup hopes in a pyramid?
Colombia vs Switzerland
July 7, 1.30am ISTColombia vs Switzerland is one of those knockout matches that makes one wonder if it’s worth staying. Switzerland have once again ventured into the knockout rounds, while soccer-mad Colombia will be hoping to keep the chaos going.
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 became the breakout star of the Swiss tournament and also had a great club season, helping SC Freiburg reach the Europa League final, where they lost to Aston Villa. Manzambi was named the Europa League young player of the season and has three goals and two assists so far. Luis Diaz, on the other hand, is having a superb tournament and will be looking to bring some chaos to the Swiss world order.Battle planColombia have conceded just one goal so far and have a versatile system, with coach Lorenzo relying on tactical changes in the game and positional changes. Switzerland, on the other hand, are a team built on order, and their victory over Algeria was built on the tactical maturity that saw them transform into a modern 4-2-3-1, with Manzambi given the freedom to roam.One point of contention was the travel load in Colombia, which saw them go from Mexico to Miami, Kansas and Vancouver. Switzerland, on the other hand, was able to play their matches in Vancouver, giving them a slight advantage.Conversation at the dinner tableThe Second Law of Thermodynamics states that in an isolated system, entropy always increases with time. Switzerland (order) vs Colombia (chaos) will tell us if this is a good thing on a football pitch.
