Tim Spiers

It’s pretty much the dream World Cup semi-final line-up. Favourites France against Euro 2024 winners Spain and holders Argentina versus their old rivals England. The World Cup organiser wants to ensure the top-ranked countries do not meet earlier in the knockout rounds, thus potentially creating blockbuster games later in the tournament. The same ranking system was used for the Club World Cup last summer. 📝 @TimSpiers 🔗 nyti.ms/4eTfumc

As Thibaut Courtois left the field in tears against Spain, it felt like another cruel twist of fate for Belgium. However, it was revealed by both Courtois and head coach Rudi Garcia after their 2-1 defeat that the goalkeeper could have stayed on for longer. But Garcia’s decision to make the change regardless becomes less of a surprise when his impulsive tendencies throughout the World Cup are considered. ✍️ @TimSpiers 🔗 nyti.ms/4eS59qE

We do not yet know whether Cristiano Ronaldo will continue his Portugal career. Does Jorge Jesus being appointed head coach help or hinder the all-time record goalscorer and appearance maker in international football? The fact Jesus managed and had success with Ronaldo at Al Nassr does not necessarily guarantee a prosperous relationship at international level. Jesus was keen to point out at his unveiling, for example, that he effectively ended Neymar’s time at Al Hilal in 2025, implying that no matter how big the name, he’ll do what’s best for the team. On the other hand, he also said this: “As long as (Ronaldo is) playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team.” ✍️ @TimSpiers 🔗 nyti.ms/4aPQCJz

It’s France versus Spain in the semi-final of the World Cup in Dallas on Tuesday, a meeting of arguably the best two teams in the competition. This seems to happen at every World Cup, a ‘final’ but played out at an earlier stage. It will be pitched as the unstoppable force of France meeting the immovable object of Spain. Didier Deschamps’ team undoubtedly possess the competition’s best attack, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Desire Doue forming a formidable front line that looks almost impossible for any defence to resist. If anyone can, it’s probably Spain. There is also a school of thought that perhaps the best way to subdue or nullify France is by, well, not letting them have the ball and for all the magic of Lionel Messi and the gripping football of Argentina, Spain are, again, probably the best team in the tournament for that. Either way, it has all the hallmarks of a classic World Cup encounter. And the victor will be favourites to lift the trophy next weekend, regardless of who they face in the final. 📝 @TimSpiers bit.ly/4h4qzCf

Kevin De Bruyne is back for Belgium, having been left out completely for the 4-1 win over the U.S. It's no surprise to see him return given Amadou Onana's injury, but also with the game against Spain likely to be played at a slightly more sedate pace if, as expected, Luis de la Fuente's side dominate possession. A couple of games this tournament have passed the ageing De Bruyne by, but perhaps today could be his "Last Dance". Jeremy Doku also returns to the Belgium side (he was on the bench against the U.S.) but Romelu Lukaku continues in his super-sub role. Manager Rudi Garcia spoke this week about having a starting XI and a group of finishers, Lukaku being the prime example. Belgium have scored six goals beyond the 85th minute in their last three matches. 📝 @TimSpiers Spain vs Belgium live blog: bit.ly/4h4P7Lo

Rudi Garcia adds a maverick element to the Belgian setup. The former Marseille, Lyon and Napoli manager was four minutes away from his Belgium stint ending against Senegal. His contract is up at the end of the tournament and, having substituted Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, his decisions would have been ridiculed had Belgium gone out. Instead, since the 86th minute against Senegal, they have scored seven goals (all with De Bruyne off the field) and looked a completely different team in defence and attack, producing incisive, fast-paced football. Garcia's team selections and unorthodox, unpredictable calls during games can raise eyebrows. He dropped De Bruyne and Doku against the U.S. and one backroom staff member, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, said: "Sometimes even we are like, 'What the f*** is he doing?'." No one seems to know what he will do next. Garcia wasn't exactly popular with Belgium fans but since that Senegal match, a website has been set up where they can apologise to him. 'Sorry Rudi' had more than 10,000 apologies or comments posted on it as of Thursday. 📝 @TimSpiers 🔗 nyti.ms/4gwSVF5

DAY 28 AT THE WORLD CUP! 🏆 @acjimbo, @TimSpiers & @tomwfootball watch France show their class 🇫🇷 🤩 Is it definitely Spain in the semis for the French @polballus 🇪🇸? Or will Belgium shock us again @AxelBrisart 🇧🇪? youtu.be/RdHtKzXd8Kg

It’s one of the stranger trends at this World Cup. Centre-halves are taking an unusually large number of penalties - and missing more than half of them. Given this is not a new trend, it begs an obvious question: Why? 📝 @TimSpiers and @GeirJordet  🔗 nyti.ms/4h48i85

The Folarin Balogun affair, claims of favouritism for Argentina… the last few days have seen lurid allegations made about this World Cup. But the competition has always been a breeding ground for conspiracy theories. CIA poisoning plots, rigged draws, Ronaldo and Nike… all are colourful tales which help make the tournament what it is. 📝 @TimSpiers 🔗 nyti.ms/4y5tXTL

Belgium took the Balogun saga, won 4-1 and dropped a supersized mic on the US. "Overturn this" was the zinger of the World Cup. And yep, they were pretty fired up. In Seattle for @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74267…

🇺🇸 Can the U.S. ever be a serious World Cup contender? 🇵🇹 Will even Cristiano Ronaldo’s haters miss him? 🇫🇷 How impressive was Kylian Mbappe’s racism intervention? @TimSpiers dissects the big talking points from a dramatic day at the World Cup ⤵️ 🔗 nyti.ms/4vl1HtE

The 2026 World Cup may be the last trophy Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo ever jointly compete for. They are among the greatest players to ever kick a ball and their compelling rivalry has transcended the sport for decades. They may have barely shared a pitch in the past eight years but comparisons between the two remain constant — and perhaps always will, whatever they do for the rest of their careers and lives. It has been a rivalry of trophies, goals and resentment, even spawning a culture war. This is the story of football’s GOATs (Greatest Of All Time). We may never see this again. 📝 @TimSpiers @will_jeanes 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/74107…

With 86 minutes on the clock it was effectively all over. Senegal were 2-0 up, their fans were partying in the stands and Belgium were going through the motions. The Belgium golden generation obituaries were being written, not least after their greatest ever player Kevin De Bruyne – plus a seemingly disgusted Jeremy Doku – were substituted after just 55 minutes. Senegal were excellent value for their famous imminent victory. Precisely 159 seconds later, the scoreline was 2-2 thanks to one of the most unlikely World Cup comebacks in living memory. It was a comeback as devastatingly clinical as it was unlikely, recalling a previous miraculous Belgium recovery when they came from 2-0 down to beat Japan in the last 16 in 2018. This was the first occasion this tournament of a team recovering from 2-0 down and was an occasion no one inside Seattle Stadium will ever forget. 📝 @TimSpiers bit.ly/4vcuVuy

Norway World Cup wins pre-2026: 3 Norway World Cup wins in the past 14 days: 3 Stale Solbakken - who has an incredible backstory - is doing a great job. Better than when we had paint thrown over his car at Wolves. For @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/73975…

It was difficult to identify the primary emotion Cristiano Ronaldo felt when he finally ended his goalscoring drought at major tournaments. It had been some time since he scored a penalty against Ghana in Portugal’s opening match in Qatar 2022, with 10 goalless games at World Cups and a Euros since then. For context, his old pal Lionel Messi had scored 11 World Cup goals since Ronaldo’s last one. The roar that followed his sixth-minute opener felt like a mixture of relief, delight and an awful lot of pent-up frustration. ✍️ @TimSpiers 🔗 nyti.ms/4ah8RaA

Explaining complex tactics in a concise, authoritative, engaging manner live on TV - unscripted - is beyond most pundits Emma Hayes is the best I've seen at this World Cup. Misogynists trolls hate it, which makes it even better For @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/73824…

It would take 54 mins 39 secs to listen to every World Cup national anthem. Thankfully, @TimSpiers did it instead - and here’s what he noticed: 🗣️ A banal ballad that becomes a battle cry 🥁 The song lifted by a funky drumbeat 🎶 An acapella classic 😬 Some blood-curdling lyrics… and one particularly dour dirge This is his complete ranking, from 48-1. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/73524…

With Postecoglou + Hayes providing authoritative managerial analysis (lacking on BBC), plus Keane/Wright/Neville A-team + Jon Champion the best commentator.. They're not perfect but.. Are ITV winning the World Cup broadcast battle? For @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/73636…

- Peixoto first impressions - Recruitment departures...why? - A tribute to Kenny Jackett with @paulberry2303 Subscriber edition of @PoddyWolves #wwfc patreon.com/Wolvespod/post…

Enjoyed that! England 4-2 Croatia. Full-time analysis here (Bellingham, Kane's one-two penalty technique, some questionable defending, that Baturina goal) with @TimSpiers @LiamTharmeCoach and @JamesHorncastle here #ENGCRO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇭🇷 nytimes.com/athletic/73657…