Eight will become four, the World Cup door slams shut on another quartet of nations across the next few days. Morocco has already been sent packing. Who else will join them on the plane out of North America? A look back and a look ahead. Issue 114. Go.

Tournament favourites France made light work of Morocco on Thursday night in a quarter-final clash that failed to live up to its billing. Maybe the night without tournament football heightened the senses, there was a sense of boredom by the final whistle.

Not because France were boring in their style of play, more that Morocco offered nothing in the way of attack. Their plan was to frustrate Les Bleus, they ended up frustrating a global viewing audience instead,

2022 semi-finalists, debatable winners of the previous edition of AFCON, Morocco felt as if they could have been in a good position to land a knockout blow on Didier Deschamps’ men, truth be told they offered nothing that would even bloody a French nose.

Two second half goals were the difference-maker as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele continued to show why they are the deadliest strike pairing in this tournament in the space of six minutes.

Mbappe’s goal was genuine quality, Dembele’s largely benefiting from the weak wrists of Bono. The Moroccan goalkeeper failing to find what he was looking for in that moment - that being the ball.

U2 puns aside, it was a Beautiful Day for the French and although it was a comfortable win in the end, the game should have been already out of reach before half-time as another player pays the penalty from 12 yards.

Kylian Mbappe handed the opportunity to place France ahead in the first half, an opportunity spurned after Bono’s save. Admittedly the delay in taking his effort would not have helped the Real Madrid forward, his technique would not have helped either,

Mbappe not the biggest culprit when it comes to this stuttering style but there is something to be said for showing more composure from such a distance, something that a fair few players have failed to display in this summer’s World Cup.

Brazil’s Bruno Guimaraes found guilty in their defeat against Norway in the Round of 16, Davinson Sanchez committing the same crime for Colombia in their shootout defeat to Switzerland in the same stage of the tournament.

Now obviously it is easy for someone such as myself to be critical from the comfort of my armchair, the simple reason being that I do not have the eyes of say 60,000 supporters burning down on me.

At the same time, taking a penalty is meant to be one of the simplest acts that you can do on the football field. Roughly a 70% chance of slotting past the goalkeeper, I’d love to know how much that chance diminishes when players take so long to take their effort.

Little effort, a lot of anguish for those who miss, a costly act on two occasions, France’s Mbappe lucky that he showed why he is Golden Boot calibre not long after. These are the fine margins at play and France are looking rather fine at the moment.

Not long after Brazil’s departure from the 2026 World Cup, the focus seemed to sharpen further towards Bruno Guimaraes. Not solely because of he and his teammates shortfall on the international stage but more a case of his next move on the domestic one.

A move that looks like he could be joining the exodus out of St James’ Park and with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali already leaving Tyneside behind, the Brazilian midfielder reportedly has his sights set on a move to Arsenal.

An announcement that although has not meant a move at present, feels like it cannot be far away either. Newcastle fans unwilling to go through another summer of transfer saga, if the player wants to go, then get him sold.

Whether the club’s board share that exact same sentiment could be argued but the only thing that is likely up for argument is the price that Arsenal are willing to pay for the 28-year-old midfielder.

Opening gambits for the Gunners are believed to be around £60m and even with a player who is reportedly want-away, that feels like a little too much of a bargain for Mikel Arteta to collect in the off-season.

Some will say that the bar has been raised with now former teammate Sandro Tonali’s move to Spurs and if he has gone for £100m, then why would the departure of Bruno not follow suit?

It’s not a lack of talent that will drive the price down more Guimaraes’ already public-facing desire to leave the club. Those comments have probably shaved £20m or so off his value. If Arsenal come in with a bid of £80m or so, it would be hard to say no.

While there has been plenty of dialogue around Newcastle’s frustration with PSR and this new alliance with former foes Aston Villa. Both have Tottenham in their sights, after their largesse that is currently taking place in North London.

Largesse that shows no real signs of slowing down at the moment, nothing in the way of panic buys by Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, a statement of intent that largely has their Premier League counterparts in a state of panic.

While this change of transfer tact in the white half of North London is also highlighting what Spurs were in the market under Daniel Levy and what Newcastle have seemingly become this summer.

In a Levy-led Spurs era, the frustration was always buying for the future and never buying for the now. All the revenue coming in from the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyonce and the NFL but when was it going to be spent on players.

That has now changed and it is Newcastle who are now changing their approach to what Spurs were doing in the past. Banking on the future, while trying not to break the bank at the same time.

The recent arrivals of Sean Steur and Bazoumana Toure will no doubt be welcomed but they are not the kind of signings that come with a club ready to take on the world, especially as they have set this target to be reached by 2030.

A sense of buying with one hand tied behind your back and the beginning of a new awkward phase on Tyneside. Isak, Gordon, Tonali, Trippier all gone, Guimaraes edging out the door. Phase one of Saudi ownership is over. Phase two is going to be even tougher.

European Champions Spain face off against Belgium in just a couple of hours and although they have not been the most exciting team in this summer’s tournament, they are doing exactly what they need to do in order to progress.

Football that has been largely functional rather than fantastic, that said they are yet to concede a goal in North America and this is going to be the biggest challenge for the Belgian Red Devils.

Then again, they may only need to bring on Romelu Lukaku off the bench, the Napoli forward has played the role of super-sub to the nth degree, he may not have 90 minutes in the tank these days, he has shown he can do the business in five.

England were on cloud nine in the small hours of Monday morning after getting the better of Mexico, now they must come down from altitude before the challenge of Norway on Saturday night.

No Jarell Quansah to call upon as he serves the first of the two games that he is suspended for. England boss Thomas Tuchel said to be furious with the length of punishment but left with nothing in the way of appeal.

While the prospect of Reece James at right back might not necessarily appeal to England supporters due to his fitness woes but it may be the only genuine option available to Tuchel on Saturday.

Especially with Marc Guehi said to be a doubt, if the Manchester City defender is unavailable, it puts further strain on a depleted back line. Dan Burn up against Erling Haaland from the start perhaps?

That said, there is a bug going around North America. No, not football fever, more of the stomach variety. Declan Rice missing training, his Norwegian counterparts also falling foul. It will be interesting to see who fails a fitness test due to needing the toilet.

How much luck do Argentina have left? That is the big question before their last eight encounter with Switzerland. Lionel Scaloni’s men pushed to the limit against African opposition in the Round of 32 and 16 before pushing out Cape Verde and Egypt.

Two matches that Lionel Messi and his teammates should have won with far less in the way of exertion but at the same time, the holders are doing exactly what is needed and that is winning matches.

Are they timing things just right or is there a simple over-reliance on the mercurial Messi? Perhaps a little from both columns, either or should see them get past a Switzerland side that have done well to get to the last eight.

The Swiss side is one that is pragmatic than opposed to perfect, but that blueprint has worked well up until now. Their modus operandi is to keep things tight at the back, the longer they can frustrate Argentina, the greater their chances of pulling off a shock.

That’s the end of Issue 114 as the World Cup edges towards its final week.

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Issue 115 lands Tuesday. Another round of distortions as football does what it always does: speeds up and makes less sense.

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