Key events

1h ago Fulham confirm Arbeloa appointment
1h ago Preamble

Neymar penalty against Norway at the World Cup marks his first international goal on debut and his final one on his last appearance, both at MetLife Stadium, notes Griffin Cant. Are there other players with similar bookends to their careers?

Discover the answer along with more insights in this week's Knowledge column.

Time for initial reader comments, where Argentina-Egypt discussions lead the way.

MarkWatson1 writes:

Argentina and Messi seem destined to claim another World Cup title. Recent events have undermined the competition integrity, from the overturned red card involving Donald Trump to the questionable decisions against Egypt. VAR was meant to promote fairness yet appears to favor teams slated for advancement.

nomiddlename adds:

The Egypt goal was correctly disallowed after review showed a shirt pull despite initial impressions of no foul. The challenge on Salah before Argentina's goal looked like a potential penalty that VAR might have upheld if called on field, yet the referee let play continue without intervention. Argentina mounted a strong recovery nonetheless.

These views highlight how actions around the Balogun red card have fueled broader doubts about officiating. VAR continues to fall short on delivering consistency or clarity.

Overlooked coverage includes Barney Ronay's sharp analysis of FIFA handling in the Folarin Balogun red card matter:

Recent results show football uniting the globe, largely in relief over the USA early exit from its home World Cup after the Trump intervention. Global reactions celebrated Belgium's win in Seattle as a form of sporting accountability. Much US discussion centers on whether the noise around the attempted influence affected team performance, though the core issue remains the attempted interference itself.

Osasu Obayiuwana

The opening quarter-final between Morocco and France promises high intrigue as Mohamed Ouahbi's team, the sole African side in the last eight, aims for another semifinal appearance. Osasu Obayiuwana reports further.

Morocco has set multiple African benchmarks at the World Cup over six decades, from direct qualification in 1970 to the first last-16 finish in 1986 and the semifinal run in Qatar. Even a loss to France would mark them as the first African team to reach consecutive quarter-finals. Fans in Morocco express pride in the squad's achievements despite the managerial change. The win over the Netherlands boosted confidence in the new coach, while the result against Canada further lifted spirits across the country.

Fulham confirm Arbeloa appointment

Fulham have appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as head coach on a three-year contract, hoping for stability after previous challenges. Details follow.

The 43-year-old former Spain defender takes over after Marco Silva left for Benfica. Arbeloa stated it is an honor to join the historic London club and expressed gratitude for the opportunity in the Premier League while looking forward to the atmosphere at Craven Cottage. Co-owner Shahid Khan noted Arbeloa stood out as the right fit after meetings and brings valuable experience from top clubs to advance the team.

Preamble

Welcome everyone. Today marks the first without matches in four weeks, offering time for household tasks or quiet reflection ahead of the quarter-finals starting Thursday. All eight teams are now set after a day of drama including a controversial thriller and a tense penalty shootout. Egypt and Colombia exit while Switzerland reach their first quarter-final in 72 years alongside Argentina.

The schedule is as follows:

9 July France v Morocco (Boston, 4pm local/9pm BST/6am 10 July AEST)

10 July Spain v Belgium (Los Angeles, 12pm local/8pm BST/5am 11 July AEST)

11 July Norway v England (Miami, 5pm local/10pm BST/7am 12 July AEST)

12 July Argentina v Switzerland (Kansas, 8pm local/2am BST/11am AEST)