France first into the semifinal - and no one looks able to stop them

France became the first team to reach the World Cup semifinal, after casually beating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinal. The goals came from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele - two forwards whose team sheet would make any defender wish to be in another country that day. Morocco was considered the toughest exam, and it turned out to be a stroll. Deschamps' team came through the group stage without breaking a sweat - Senegal, Iraq and Norway, not a single real resistance - and then skewered the Swedes in the round of 16. The grand final is set for July 19, and the question everyone is asking is whether anyone can stop this machine at all. Argentina, Spain and England are mentioned, but no defence looks solid enough for France's attack. Only Paraguay showed a recipe in the round of 16 - an hour and a bit of frustration, until Mbappe decided it from a penalty - but even that with a healthy dose of the tricks referees do not like.

Shkendija opened Europe with a bang in Gibraltar

While the big names battle at the World Cup, at home we have our own European story. Shkendija opened its Conference League season with a convincing 5-0 against Europa FC in Gibraltar - and in a winning debut for new coach Artim Polozhani. Five goals away, a clean sheet, a coach entering through the front door. Gibraltar is not Real Madrid, of course, and the real test comes in the rounds ahead. But for a club from Macedonia that wants to stay in Europe as long as possible, a start like this is worth more than any summer friendly photo op. The question now is not whether Shkendija will get through one round, but how far it can go before the draw slips it one of Europe's heavyweights.

Manchester United pays 50 million for Andrey Santos

Manchester United is a step away from bringing in Andrey Santos from Chelsea. According to The Athletic, the deal is packaged at 48 million pounds plus 2 million in bonuses, with 10 percent of a future resale staying with Chelsea. The 22-year-old Brazilian international has already agreed personal terms and is going for a medical. United is strengthening the midfield after Casemiro left as a free agent and Ugarte got injured at the World Cup - so a second defensive midfielder looked like a necessity, not a luxury. They have already signed Ederson from Atalanta too. Santos mostly plays as the deepest midfielder, but can also push higher. The question at United is never whether they will spend, but whether they spend on the right people - and only time shows that, not the press conference.

Gashtarov stayed in Belgrade - a contract until 2029 with Red Star

Another young Macedonian player who does not need to prove himself in the domestic league to be noticed. Matej Gashtarov, a Macedonian youth international, has extended his contract with Serbian champions Red Star until 2029. After good performances in pre-season, the Belgrade management decided to tie him down for longer - which for a talent of his age is a clearer message than any statement to the media. Red Star does not hand out long-term contracts out of sentiment. If a young Macedonian gets a contract until 2029 at a club that regularly plays in Europe, it means they see something concrete there. It remains for that "something" to grow into minutes on the pitch, because a contract is only a permit, not a guarantee.

Xabi Alonso took the Chelsea bench - and this time they gave him the keys too

Xabi Alonso was officially presented as Chelsea's new coach, on a four-year contract, succeeding Liam Rosenior. The contract was signed back in May, and now in his first address he spoke of culture, of "the right path to success" and of getting the best out of everyone - the vocabulary every new coach uses until the results start speaking for him. More interesting than the words is that Chelsea this time gave him real power over transfers. The club that for years had a reputation for tying coaches' hands has now backed him with the signing of Palestra and tried to bring in Xhaka at his request, even though that deal fell through. The question is as old as Chelsea itself: how long the patience will last if autumn does not go the way it reads on paper.