Growing Up Every Four Years: The World Cup Isn’t Just A Tournament, It’s A Timeline
Growing Up Every Four Years: The World Cup Isn’t Just A Tournament, It’s A TimelineThe World Cup.What a tournament.What seems like just a game of football is far from the truth.It’s the music. It’s the adverts. It’s the television coverage. It’s being in the stadium. It’s meeting friends. It’s having a sense of togetherness and community.No matter the circumstances, the World Cup always seems to bring joy. It always seems to create memories.Every four years, we gather around to watch football’s showpiece event. We come together, sharing emotions and experiencing the same moments.Over the past 28 years of my life, I have found myself connecting memories to football matches. More often than not, those memories come from summers and one winter spent watching the FIFA World Cup.In this piece, I want to explain my journey through the World Cup and why it matters not just to me, but to millions of people around the world who love the beautiful game for what it is.It is a journey that goes far beyond the four weeks of a FIFA World Cup.The memories last for years.The conversations last years.And in many cases, the World Cup can be a conversation starter on the other side of the world.There always seems to be something within a country that links back to the World Cup.For example, when I have been in Paraguay, people still talk about England’s meeting with Paraguay at the 2006 World Cup whenever they got the chance. The memories remain as strong today as they were then.Likewise, I have been in Brazil speaking to friends who tell me about the night they won the World Cup in 2002 and what it meant to them as a nation.That is the beauty of the World Cup.It is more than football.It creates memories, stories and connections that can last a lifetime.Even when the tournament ends, the conversations never really do.2002: The First MemoriesWe start in 2002.I was four years old at the time, so I don’t remember much, understandably. But I do remember sitting in nursery watching one of the early morning England matches. I’ve always been a football fan, and I always will be.Bizarrely, two sporting memories stand out from my early childhood. One is Steven Gerrard scoring against Manchester United in the League Cup. The other isn’t football-related at all; it’s Shane Warne taking wickets at the 2003 World Cup.As strange as it sounds, despite being football-mad, those two memories have always been linked together in my mind.2006: The World Cup That Hooked MeThe 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany is the first World Cup I can properly remember.Bizarrely, considering I was only eight years old at the time, I can recall so much of it. In fact, I can almost break the tournament down game by game and explain why certain moments have stayed with me all these years later.I remember England playing Jamaica in a friendly and winning 6-0 before the tournament, and as always seems to happen with England, that result suddenly had people believing.On the opening day of the tournament. Before the football started, I went to Morrisons with my dad and bought a Football CD with all random World Cup songs on to play on the CD player before the games started.Then there was the football.I remember Germany kicking off the tournament with a win over Costa Rica, and from there, my attention quickly turned to England’s opening match against Paraguay the following day. Looking back, it makes things even more bizarre because, years later, I would fall in love with Paraguay as a country through football.England v Paraguay should not really be one of the standout games of the tournament for an eight-year-old, but it is one that has always stayed with me. I remember the David Beckham free-kick that led to the own goal, and I remember exactly where I watched it.I was in an Irish bar linked to Halifax Irish, the football team I played for at the time. There was nothing particularly special about it; we were just a group of kids who loved playing football. Yet for whatever reason, that afternoon has remained crystal clear in my memory.Having since travelled to Paraguay and experienced the country for myself, those memories feel even more special because every time I mention I’m from England, the Paraguayans always bring up this game.I played in a football tournament that weekend. Funnily enough, it was a futsal-style tournament, very much inspired by the Brazilian way of playing. Looking back, it was quite unusual, but I remember it being a great event, although we lost in the final.I watched England v Trinidad and Tobago on a small television in the kitchen. England were struggling to break their opponents down before Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch, both Liverpool players, scored late goals to secure the win.As a young Liverpool supporter, seeing two of my club’s players get England over the line was fantastic. It might sound strange now, but watching those goals on one of those old box-style televisions made the moment feel even more memorable.England’s third group game against Sweden is another one I remember vividly.Earlier that year, in January, I was wearing a Sweden shirt despite the freezing weather. My fingers were numb with the cold, and England had recently been drawn against Sweden in the World Cup. I remember my uncle looking at me and asking, “Why are you wearing a Sweden shirt?”For whatever reason, that moment has stayed with me ever since.The match itself is remembered by many for Joe Cole’s stunning goal and Michael Owen’s knee injury. I can still remember the concern around it at the time and how quickly England’s World Cup seemed to change after losing one of their key players.England progressed into the knockout stages, where they faced Ecuador.Going into the match, there was a feeling that England would get through comfortably, but it never worked out that way. Instead, it took a moment of brilliance from David Beckham. His free-kick was enough to separate the two sides and send England into the quarter-finals.Ever since that match, Ecuador has always been a country I have associated with the World Cup. At the time, I never imagined that years later I would travel there, work on football-related projects in the country, and make friends with Ecuadorians along the way.That is one of the things I love most about football. A match that lasts 90 minutes can create a connection that stays with you for years. What began as England facing Ecuador in a World Cup knockout game eventually led me to learn more about the country, its people and its football culture.Next came the quarter-final against Portugal.This is where things get even stranger because I remember watching parts of the match in three different locations. The first was at home, the second was at my grandad’s house, and the third was at the local pigeon club, where my dad spent a lot of his time.My dad was passionate about pigeon racing back then. Plenty of famous people have shared that hobby over the years, and for him, it was more than just a pastime. Even now, he would probably tell you he had a knack for it and a method that worked in training. I have no reason to disagree. As a kid, though, I wasn’t interested in pigeons. All I wanted to do was play football and watch football.What amazes me, looking back, is how much I can remember from that World Cup.I remember Wayne Rooney’s sending-off. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo becoming public enemy number one in England. I remember the frustration, the controversy and, ultimately, the heartbreak of another penalty shootout defeat.Even more bizarrely, I remember the fallout that followed. A few weeks later, Liverpool played Sheffield United in their opening Premier League match of the 2006-07 season. I was in Cleethorpes with my family, and I can still remember the newspaper headlines asking how Rooney and Ronaldo would ever play together again for Manchester United after what had happened in Germany.Football has given me a strange gift when it comes to memory.Like most people, there are plenty of everyday things I struggle to remember. Yet if you tie a moment to football, I can often tell you exactly where I was, who I was with and what was happening around me at the time. The matches become markers in my life, helping me remember moments that otherwise might have been forgotten.I can still remember Jamie Carragher stepping up. He scored his penalty, only for it to be ordered to be retaken because players had encroached into the area. He then missed the retake.As a Liverpool fan, I was absolutely fuming.At the time, it felt so unfair. England had battled their way through the match with 10 men, only to suffer yet another heartbreaking exit on penalties. Like so many England fans, I felt we deserved more, but football does not always give you what you deserve.It did not happen for England that day, and once again, the World Cup dream was over.After England’s elimination by Portugal, I do not remember watching much of the semi-finals.One game that stands out, non-England-wise, is Italy against Australia.The thing I remember most is Fabio Grosso going down in the box, which saw veteran striker Francesco Totti come off the bench and score the penalty.I was furious. I was livid. I was angry. At the time, it felt completely unjust.Being a huge cricket fan, as I touched on earlier, it felt strange wanting Australia to do well. Just a year earlier, I had watched them suffer defeat in the 2005 Ashes, so supporting Australia in anything did not really sit right with me.But on that occasion, it did.Maybe if VAR had existed, the penalty would not have stood. Then again, maybe it would have. Who knows?The final too was an astonishing game. I remember Zidane’s penalty, where the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down. At the time, there was that split second where everyone wondered whether it had crossed the line or not. Of course, it had, and France took the lead.There is something about a ball hitting the underside of the crossbar before going in that always seems to make a goal more iconic.Italy responded not long afterwards when Marco Materazzi headed home from an Andrea Pirlo corner to level the scores.Truthfully, I do not remember every detail of the match itself, but there is one thing nobody could forget: Zidane’s headbutt.I remember watching it and thinking, “What is he doing?”Even now, it remains one of the most shocking moments in World Cup history.I also had a bit of a dog in the fight, in my own way. At primary school, we had a sweepstake-style competition where everyone was allocated a country. If your country won the World Cup, you got a reward.Because Italy eventually went on to lift the trophy, we were given an afternoon away from lessons to do a fun activity. In keeping with the theme, we spent the afternoon making pizzas.It sounds like a small thing, but it is one of the memories that has stayed with me. Italy winning the World Cup gave us an experience that we otherwise would never have had, and as a kid, that was pretty cool.2010: Football Was My ChristmasOne of my favourite World Cups has to be the 2010 World Cup.I spent weeks on end with my friends listening to all the World Cup songs. Akon’s Oh Africa, Shakira’s Waka Waka, and who could forget the iconic Wavin’ Flag by K’naan?I remember it being January, February and March, and all I could think about was the World Cup. I was thinking about the summer, thinking about how good it was going to be, and counting down the days as it got closer and closer.Then, finally, the day arrived.South Africa v Mexico.Honestly, it felt like I was a kid on Christmas morning. In fact, it was probably better than Christmas. Football was my Christmas, and still is.I remember being in IT at school during my last lesson of the day, and all I could think about was getting home to watch South Africa against Mexico.That is the beauty of the World Cup. It makes you care about matches you would never normally watch. On any other day, I probably would not have planned my evening around South Africa v Mexico. Yet because it was the World Cup, it felt like the biggest event in the world.Even the city names stood out to me. Pretoria. Bloemfontein. Johannesburg. Durban.They sounded different. They sounded unique. They sounded cool.That is another thing the World Cup does. When you are young, it introduces you to places you have never visited and probably know very little about. Suddenly, these cities become familiar because they are hosting matches that you are watching every day.It might seem like a small thing, but it is one of the memories that has always stuck with me from the 2010 World Cup.A day later, England would play the United States, and I remember being at a local gala all day, once again thinking about the game and wondering how Fabio Capello’s men would get on.My cousin and I had our faces painted with the St George’s Cross. Looking back now, it is probably something I would never do, but back then, it was cool. It was part of the occasion.Later that day, all my cousins gathered at my aunt’s house to watch the match.England got off to the perfect start when Steven Gerrard fired them into the lead. At that point, everything seemed to be going to plan.Then came one of the most bizarre moments I can remember watching football.Back then, televisions were not always perfectly in sync. I walked into the kitchen and happened to see Rob Green make what I thought was a save. Excited, I rushed back into the room to tell my cousins, “Wait until you see this save from Rob Green.”I genuinely thought he had pulled off something special.The problem was that I had been so quick to react that I had not actually seen what happened next. In reality, it was the complete opposite of a great save… Rob Green somehow let the ball slip through his hands and into the net.I can still remember the confusion when I realised what had happened. One second, I was about to praise him; the next, everyone was talking about one of the most infamous mistakes in England’s World Cup history.The rest of the game was fairly forgettable. England huffed and puffed, everyone expected a winner to come, but it never did.In typical England fashion, the goal never arrived.I remember spending that summer playing cricket for my local club, Illingworth. As a junior, we would play all over the place, and one of the things I loved most was listening to the radio on the way to matches and hearing all the talk about the World Cup.We were at Stones Cricket Club, which felt quite far away when you were a junior playing in the Halifax League. Every time I go back there now, I think about the World Cup, sitting there watching Denmark v The Netherlands.England’s tournament would come to an end disappointingly. First, there was the goalless draw against Algeria, then the 1-0 victory over Slovenia, a game I mostly remember for John Terry trying to save the ball with his gigantic head.Then came Germany.England were thumped 4-1, but like pretty much every England fan, I felt hard done by. Frank Lampard’s goal was miles over the line. Had that game gone to 2-2, England would have had a far better chance.How true that is, who knows? We will never know.But one thing is for sure: that game helped bring in goal-line technology.It was quite a cool World Cup, really. It had different moments, different stories and different characters, even if the football itself was not always brilliant.I remember one of my relatives in Holland telling me about Uruguay because he had seen Luis Suárez play. Uruguay were one of the most exciting teams in the tournament. They are a country that has always punched above its weight, but before then, they had never really stood out to me during my childhood.That changed in 2010.Watching Uruguay that summer was fantastic.Then came the game against Ghana.When Suárez handled the ball on the line, and Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty, everyone seemed disgusted with Suárez. Everyone felt sorry for Ghana.Looking back, though, Suárez did what any footballer would do. He tried to stop his country from conceding a goal in a World Cup quarter-final.Would most players have done the same thing? Probably.That moment became one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history, and ironically, Suárez would later become one of my favourite footballers to watch.2014: Growing UpNow this is where things get really bizarre.The gap between 2010 and 2014 feels much bigger than four years. Looking back, it feels like you grow up so much during that period of your life. I cannot explain why, but it certainly felt that way for me.By the time the 2014 World Cup came around, life was very different. It was the first World Cup where I was old enough to enjoy a beer, even if I perhaps was not always doing so entirely legally.The World Cup was, of course, in Brazil, and it was another tournament where I found myself falling in love with the city names.Recife. Porto Alegre. Belo Horizonte. Fortaleza. Brasília.They all sounded beautiful. They rolled off the tongue and felt different to anything I was used to hearing.Once again, football was introducing me to places I had never been. It also started what would become a love affair with Brazil. At that point, I had never actually visited the country, but I always wanted to go. Looking back now, I think the 2014 World Cup played a big part in that.Eventually, I did make it there in 2017, and in many ways, that trip ignited my love for South American football.The first game I watched was Ceará against Santa Cruz, a second-tier match at the time.The opening game saw Brazil take on Croatia, and although Brazil eventually won 3-1, I remember coming away from the match thinking they had not played particularly well.What stood out more than the football itself was the atmosphere.The passion and excitement of the Brazilian fans were a joy to watch. Every tackle, every attack and every goal felt like it meant everything to them.At the same time, like many neutrals, there was a part of me that wanted the underdog to spoil the party. We all love an upset at the World Cup.Croatia gave it a good go, but in the end, they could not do it. Brazil found a way through, won 3-1, and the celebrations began.The Brazilians had their party, and the World Cup was underway.I watched England’s opening game against Italy at my uncle’s bar. Just a few weeks earlier, I had been in the very same place watching Carl Froch fight George Groves, a sporting event that would go on to become iconic in its own right.Despite England losing to Italy, I remember the atmosphere more than the football itself. The place was packed, everyone was singing England songs, and there was a genuine sense of excitement. Looking back, that is what I remember most from the evening. It was one of those occasions where being around friends and family mattered just as much as the result. On a side note, I should probably admit that I was very drunk that night.England’s second match was against Uruguay. I watched that one at a friend’s house, and once again, it is the memories around the game that stand out. I remember being in the garden before kick-off, playing football and enjoying the summer. By then, I was no longer a child watching the World Cup. I was an older teenager who could enjoy the tournament in a completely different way. It was the same night James Rodriguez lit up the stage for Colombia against the Ivory Coast, and the Colombian celebrations were a thing of beauty.Unfortunately, England suffered another defeat, and with it, their hopes of progressing were hanging by a thread.The third game against Costa Rica was a strange one. England were already on their way out of the tournament, and on a hot day, I chose to play cricket instead.When I returned home, my dad told me of Suarez’s bite on Giorgio Chiellini, and I knew his Liverpool career would come to an end.Then came the knockout stages, and with England already out of the tournament, I could sit back and enjoy the football without having a dog in the fight.The round of 16 was packed with memorable games.I watched Brazil narrowly beat Chile on penalties in a game that could have gone either way. Chile pushed Brazil all the way and came within inches of causing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.I watched Colombia beat Uruguay 2-0, with James Rodríguez scoring an absolute stunner that lit up the Maracanã. It was one of those World Cup goals that everyone remembers.I watched Algeria frustrate Germany for long periods, but the Germans eventually found a way through.Then there was Costa Rica.Who could forget Costa Rica’s incredible run?After coming through a group containing England, Italy and Uruguay, they went on to reach the quarter-finals. They beat Greece on penalties and continued to shock everyone watching. Every neutral seemed to get behind them.Belgium against the United States was another brilliant game. The Americans were underdogs, but they pushed Belgium all the way to extra time before eventually suffering defeat.Brazil progressed to the semi-finals with a victory over Colombia, while the Netherlands edged past Costa Rica on penalties.Argentina also found a way through.I remember watching them earlier in the tournament struggle against Iran. Messi eventually scored a late winner whilst I was on a tea break during cricket, and it felt like one of those moments where great players simply find a way.Then came the semi-finals.I remember being on FIFA Pro Clubs with a few friends when Germany played Brazil.Every few minutes, it seemed, my friend’s stepdad would walk into the room shouting, “They’ve scored again!”You could hear the disbelief in his voice.Then they scored again.And again.And again.It got to the point where nobody could quite believe what they were watching.Brazil 1-7 Germany remains one of the most astonishing results in football history.The final itself was a much tighter affair.Could Messi lift the World Cup?For so long, it felt possible.But in the end, the answer was no.Mario Götze broke Argentinian hearts with his extra-time winner and helped Germany secure a fourth World Cup title.Looking back, Brazil 2014 was a fantastic World Cup.It had great goals, shock results, underdog stories and unforgettable moments.In many ways, it perfectly captures what a World Cup should be.Even now, whenever I see the famous ESPN montage from that tournament doing the rounds on social media before a new World Cup begins, the memories come flooding back.2018: The World Became Smaller2018 was another World Cup that was, once again, fantastic.This time, though, it felt different.A few weeks before the tournament, I had met some Russian Liverpool fans in Kyiv ahead of the Champions League final. It was nice keeping in touch with them during the World Cup and seeing how excited they were to be hosting football’s biggest event.It was the first World Cup where I was really invested in countries beyond England. Yes, I had always subconsciously followed countries like Paraguay and Ecuador, but by 201,8 I was older. I had travelled to Brazil in 2017 and met many Brazilian friends and locals, some of whom I am still in contact with today.Twitter was bigger, too, and I was far more active on the platform. It genuinely felt like the entire world was watching the World Cup together. It felt like an interactive global event where everyone had their eyes fixed on the same thing.Of course, people have always watched the World Cup. That is nothing new. But in 2018, it felt different. It felt like every goal, every result and every talking point was being discussed instantly by people from all over the world.I wanted to watch as many games as possible.It was also the first World Cup where I was working full-time. I remember booking a day off on the Friday so I could sit and watch all three matches. One of them was Portugal against Spain, where Cristiano Ronaldo scored what was probably the worst hat-trick I have ever seen. But a hat-trick is a hat-trick.The tournament itself kicked off with Russia against Saudi Arabia.It is one of those games that you would probably never sit down and watch under normal circumstances. But in a World Cup, it is completely normal. Nobody thinks you are weird for spending your afternoon watching Saudi Arabia against Russia.I remember watching the game and thinking that Saudi Arabia actually wanted to play football. They were playing out from the back, passing the ball around and trying to keep possession.The problem was that they were not really doing anything with it. They wanted to play football the right way, but it just was not working.Russia, meanwhile, were ruthless and ended up winning 5-0.This is one of the things I love about the World Cup. You could watch a game between two countries you would never normally pay much attention to and still come away with opinions, memories and stories that stay with you years later.Being a Liverpool fan, I am well aware that some supporters are not fans of the England national team.I have followed international football from a young age. It is something I have always been interested in. Like many people, I would probably say club comes before country, but it does not have to be one or the other. They play at different times. Supporting your club does not mean you cannot support your country as well. I know some Liverpool fans’ reasons go far beyond that.When it comes to a World Cup, I have never backed down from wanting England to do well.England began their campaign in Russia against Tunisia. I was watching at the local cricket club when Harry Kane scored a late winner to give England all three points in what had been a very frustrating game.Later that night, I went into Halifax to celebrate and ended up in Yates’s. While I was there, I bumped into my now late grandfather.It was strange seeing my grandad in Yates’s, even though he went there quite often. It just felt unusual bumping into him on a random weekday evening, following what, on paper, should have been a fairly routine England win.But it is memories like that which make the World Cup special.The next game against Panama was very different. I was at a friend’s house with my dad, and I remember being absolutely blackout drunk. The game kicked off at lunchtime, and I think I was asleep on the sofa not long after the final whistle. It was only a couple of hours into the afternoon.The match against Belgium was a bit subdued. Both sides were already through, and neither really wanted to show their hand.That in itself felt unusual for England. Normally, they find a way to make things difficult.Then came Colombia.It was nervy. It was dramatic. It was everything a World Cup knockout match should be.At the time, I remember being angry with some of the Colombians’ antics. Having since travelled to South America and followed their football closely, I now see it slightly differently, and sometimes you’ve got to respect the mischievous dark arts.When England finally progressed on penalties, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted.That set up a quarter-final against Sweden.Such was the excitement around the country that many cricket matches were given the option of finishing early so people could watch England. That alone showed how much the nation had bought into the tournament.England won 2-0 thanks to goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli, sending them into a World Cup semi-final for the first time since 1990.Heading into the semi-final against Croatia, it all felt a bit surreal.Many England fans had never experienced their country reaching this stage of a major tournament. Nobody quite knew what to expect.Then Kieran Trippier stepped up and curled in that unbelievable free-kick.At that moment, England genuinely believed. For a while, it felt like we were going to reach a World Cup final.Unfortunately, Croatia gradually took control of the game and eventually ran out 2-1 winners.The disappointment afterwards was enormous because, despite England exceeding expectations, it felt like a missed opportunity.I remember watching France against Belgium the day before and thinking what a tactical battle it was. It always felt like one goal would decide it, and ultimately that proved to be the case.Overall, Russia 2018 was another fantastic World Cup, capped off with an exciting final.The football felt better. The quality seemed to improve with every tournament, and there was just a real buzz around the competition.The city names stood out to me as well. Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi and Volgograd. They sounded interesting, different and unique.2022: The Winter World CupThe 2022 World Cup in Qatar was, like many World Cups, surrounded by scrutiny before a ball had even been kicked. What actually transpired, though, was a fantastic World Cup.In many ways, having it in November and December meant players arrived fresher and closer to their peak. It was strange, of course. It felt weird watching World Cup football when it was dark outside at four o’clock in the afternoon. But it was unique, and I enjoyed it.It was also the first World Cup since I had started doing football writing.Earlier that year, I had travelled to Guayaquil for the Copa Libertadores final, where I met many Ecuadorians, as well as plenty of Brazilian supporters with Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense contesting the final.What stood out was how quickly the conversation switched from club football to international football.As soon as the Libertadores final ended, it felt like every Brazilian I spoke to was talking about the World Cup. The conversation instantly became about Brazil, about their chances and about whether they could bring home a sixth world title.There was a real confidence about them.I remember flying back from South America, travelling through Asunción on the way home, and all I could think about was the World Cup.For weeks, I had been focused on travelling around South America, watching football and meeting people, but suddenly my attention had shifted.There was a World Cup just around the corner.I remember sitting on that long flight thinking about the groups, the fixtures, the players and how the tournament might unfold.One thing that has never changed, regardless of the year, is the build-up.The excitement always grows.No matter how many World Cups you have watched, there always comes a point where all you can think about is that opening game and the month of football that lies ahead.The tournament began with Ecuador against hosts Qatar, which was a really exciting game for me to watch.Having travelled to Ecuador and made Ecuadorian friends over the years, I was genuinely interested to see how they would do at the World Cup and how the people I knew felt going into the tournament.In a strange way, it also linked me back to 2006 when England played Ecuador in the last 16. It felt like things had gone full circle.I then remember watching England’s opening game against Iran. I took an early lunch break at work so I could watch it, and what followed was one of the most bizarre England performances I can remember.All the build-up had been about how well organised Iran were defensively and how difficult they would be to break down.England simply blew them away.They played without fear, without pressure and seemed to enjoy themselves. Before you knew it, they were 6-2 winners.It felt strange because England had not really done that in previous tournaments. Usually, there is tension, frustration and nerves. This time, they just got on with it and ran away with the game.This World Cup was different for me as well because I was writing during the tournament and covering the South American teams.One thing that really frustrated me was Uruguay’s handling of Giorgian de Arrascaeta.It felt obvious to so many people watching that he should have been playing more. He was one of their most talented players, yet they seemed reluctant to use him.Then, when he finally got his chance against South Korea, he was the star of the show. That almost made it more frustrating. He showed exactly what he was capable of, which only raised more questions about why Uruguay had waited so long to trust him. At the time, it felt completely ludicrous.I was at the local cricket club on Friday night to watch England against the USA, and it turned out to be a bit of a snoozefest.In truth, the USA were probably the better side on the evening.It brought England back down to earth after the free-flowing football they had produced against Iran. Suddenly, reality had kicked back in.However, in their final group match against Wales, once again watched at the cricket club, it was nice to see England progress with a comfortable 3-0 victory and set up a last-16 tie against Senegal.One of my favourite matches from the group stage was Ecuador against the Netherlands. Ecuador were really exciting to watch and, despite the game finishing 1-1, they were unlucky not to take all three points.That ultimately cost them.In the final game against Senegal, they looked nervous. They never quite went for it, and the 2-1 defeat saw them eliminated and Senegal progress instead.I also remember the excitement when Argentina suffered that shock defeat to Saudi Arabia.Bizarrely, despite loving Lionel Messi, I never really had a connection with Argentina. I was never quite sure why. I just never took a liking to them.Having since visited the country, that opinion has changed completely.Argentina is a beautiful place with wonderful people. Every Argentinian I have met has been sound. The country was incredibly welcoming, and I had a fantastic experience there.That said, football is football. Sometimes you end up supporting or not supporting teams for reasons that do not really make much sense.I also remember the madness of that group involving Japan, Spain, Germany and Costa Rica. For a brief period, it felt like Japan and Costa Rica were both going through and that Spain and Germany could be heading home.It was chaos.Eventually, Japan beat Spain 2-1, and Germany beat Costa Rica, but for a while it felt like anything could happen.Then came the knockout stages.England comfortably beat Senegal, although the opening part of the match was far more nervy than the final scoreline suggested. Senegal were probably the better side early on.Looking back, Qatar 2022 is probably the World Cup where I watched the most football in terms of sheer minutes.I watched Australia push Argentina all the way on a Saturday evening and found myself hoping the Australians could somehow pull off the upset.Then Morocco stunned Spain.That was one of those moments where you just sat there and thought, wow. Nobody really saw it coming.Then there was Argentina against the Netherlands.I have relatives in the Netherlands, so I have always kept an eye on their results in major tournaments. Watching them come back from 2-0 down to make it 2-2 in the dying moments was incredible. The game looked dead and buried, and then suddenly it came back to life.The tournament just kept producing moments.Then came another shock as Croatia knocked Brazil out on penalties.Not long afterwards, England were eliminated by France. On the same day, I had watched Morocco stun Portugal.I genuinely felt England were the better side. France had the cutting edge and took their chances, whereas England did not.Harry Kane’s missed penalty will always be one of those moments people remember. I was also not particularly impressed with referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio that evening.The strange thing was that, because I was now so invested in football beyond England, it did not feel quite as crushing as previous eliminations. There was still so much football left to enjoy.One thing that really stands out when I think back to Qatar is walking to the cricket club on icy December evenings to watch World Cup matches.It was weird, it was bizarre. But it was unique. This was the World Cup. Just not the World Cup we were used to.I watched Argentina beat Croatia, and France overcome Morocco, setting up what looked like a fascinating final.And what a final it turned out to be.At that point, I was rooting for Argentina.For large parts of the match, they were brilliant. Alexis Mac Allister, Ángel Di María and Lionel Messi were all outstanding. Watching Di María in full flow was a reminder of just how good he could be when everything clicked.Argentina looked comfortable.Then suddenly they were not.France came roaring back into the game and, for a while, it looked like they might somehow pull off the comeback.Even in extra time, there were huge moments, none bigger than Emiliano Martínez’s incredible save near the end.Then came penalties.Argentina held their nerve.Messi finally got the trophy that had eluded him throughout his career.It was nice to see.And despite all the doubts before the tournament, despite it being held in winter and despite it feeling different to every World Cup before it, Qatar 2022 turned out to be iconic.A fantastic World Cup and one that will be remembered for a very long time.2026: The Excitement Never LeavesNow, we stand just days away from the 2026 World Cup.As always, there is plenty of noise before the tournament begins.A lot of the discussion seems to be trying to distract from the football itself. There are debates about ticket prices, travel costs and now, in Europe at least, complaints about the time zones.Some of those criticisms are fair.The ticket prices are ridiculous. FIFA deserve criticism for that.The travel costs are also a genuine concern for many supporters. It is important that these things are discussed.The time zones, though? That is just part of football.Every World Cup has its challenges, depending on where you live. If you really enjoy football, you find a way to make it work. You plan around matches, you stay up late, you get up early, or you watch games whenever you can.That is what fans do.One thing I have noticed in recent weeks is that the excitement is starting to build.It happens every time.You see the squads heading off to the USA, Canada and Mexico. You see the training camps, the warm-up matches and the first glimpses of what teams might look like.Slowly, the World Cup starts to feel real.The discussions become more frequent, the predictions become bolder, and the excitement begins to grow.That spark that only the World Cup seems to create starts to return once again.And after following this tournament for more than two decades, I can safely say that feeling never really goes away.
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