Canada Frays Nerves to the 92nd Minute, Lewandowski at 37 Flees to Chicago, and Our Clubs Wait for Europe

Canada Frays Nerves to the 92nd Minute, the World Cup Enters the Knockout Stage

The group stage is over, and the round of 16 immediately showed that at this World Cup nothing is finished until the referee blows the whistle. Hosts Canada emptied the stands with nerves - a goal by Steven Eustaquio in the 92nd minute for 1:0 against South Africa and the first knockout win in this national team's history. Today bring duels that smell of a classic: Brazil - Japan in Houston, where Ancelotti finally returns Neymar to the starting line-up, and Germany - Paraguay, after the shameful loss to Ecuador in the group. The Netherlands, meanwhile, play against Morocco - the same Moroccans who reached the semi-finals three years ago. Whoever poses as the favourite at a tournament like this usually ends up home earlier than they thought.

England Got Past Panama 2:0, but Its Defence Is Falling Apart Before Our Eyes

On paper, England 2:0 Panama and first place in the group looks clean. On the pitch, less so. Jude Bellingham was the only reason England did not struggle more - a goal with a difficult volley, an assist for the second, player of the match without question. The problem is at the other end: Panama punished the English defence on every lost ball, and manager Thomas Tuchel is left almost without a right back - injuries to James, Livramento and Quansah leave him with one clean option ahead of the round of 16. When your biggest star has to shine just to beat a weaker opponent, that is not strength, it is a warning.

Lewandowski at 37 Heads to Chicago - Europe Sees Him Off, MLS Welcomes Him

After four seasons at Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski closes the European chapter and heads to Chicago Fire on a two-year deal as one of the highest-paid players in the league. At 37, with 10 Bundesliga titles, three in La Liga and the 2020 Champions League with Bayern, he becomes another big name in the American league alongside Messi, Son and Müller. Chicago is counting on the large Polish community in the city and on a new stadium in 2028. A realistic move for a player who has already won every trophy in Europe - or a way for the league to once again buy interest with a name that shines even when the legs are slowing.

Vardar Opens the Road to Europe on 7 July Against Finland's KuPS

While the world watches the World Cup, our clubs are preparing for their own mission. Vardar, in the first round of qualifiers for the Champions League, plays against Finland's KuPS - the first match on 7 July at the „Todor Proeski" National Arena in Skopje, the return leg on 14 July in Kuopio. Finland is no side to underestimate, but the home match before a Skopje crowd is a chance not to be missed. For a Macedonian club, every round passed in Europe means both money and a ranking that our football has lacked for years. The question is whether Vardar will seize this chance or whether we will be saying goodbye early, as so many times before.

Shkëndija and Sileks in the Conference League - Both on 9 July

The other two Macedonian representatives set off in the Conference League on 9 July. Shkëndija travel to Gibraltar to face Europa, with the return leg on 16 July in Skopje. Sileks, as Cup winners, draw a tougher opponent - Belarus's Dinamo Minsk - but the first match is played on neutral ground in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, due to international restrictions on Belarusian clubs. The return is on 16 July at the FFM training centre. Three clubs, three different roads into Europe in the same week. How many of them will see the second round depends on whether our football has learned something from past failures, or merely repeats them.