Messi Resurrected, Ronaldo Departed, Vardar Sank: a Tuesday Football Will Long Remember

Argentina from the Abyss to the Quarterfinals - Messi First Missed, Then Saved

Egypt led 2:0 and was already writing the biggest upset of the World Cup, and then the champion woke up. Yasser Ibrahim scored with a header in the 15th minute, Messi missed a penalty in the 21st and became the first player in World Cup history with four missed penalties, and Zico doubled the lead for the Africans in the 67th. And when it all looked over, Argentina turned the world upside down in 15 minutes: Messi assisted Romero in the 79th, equalized himself with a volley in the 83rd, and Enzo Fernández in stoppage time delivered 3:2 at the stadium in Atlanta. Messi cried at the end - and Switzerland awaits in the quarterfinals. The Egyptians were left wondering how history slipped through their hands.

Spain Snuffed Out Ronaldo's Last World Cup, Martínez Left

No one writes scripts crueler than football: Mikel Merino with a goal right at the death for 1:0 erased Portugal from the tournament, and with it the last dream of Cristiano Ronaldo for a world title. A day later, coach Roberto Martínez announced he was leaving: "It's the end of a cycle, it's time for a new voice. Without winning the World Cup, there's no point in continuing." His contract expired with the final whistle. Portugal now seeks a new coach for a new era - the first in many years that won't be built around Ronaldo.

England with the Wind at Their Backs Before Norway - James Returns, Quansah Out

After a dramatic 3:2 against Mexico at the "Azteca" - a brace from Bellingham, a penalty from Kane, and a red card for Quansah - England also got good news before the quarterfinal with Norway on Saturday at the "Hard Rock" stadium in Florida. Reece James, who missed the last three matches with a hamstring injury, has a real chance of returning to Tuchel's team. Quansah is suspended, so James's return comes at the perfect moment - Konsa and Spence remain backup options. The question all of England is asking: will the defense hold up against the Norwegian machine?

Vardar Fell to KuPS at Gradski - 0:2 and Three Percent Chance of a Miracle

The Macedonian champion's return to the Champions League qualifiers lasted exactly one half. In front of around 4,000 spectators at Gradski, Magassa was left alone at the far post before the end of the first half and scored with a header, and Armah in the 49th minute struck along the ground for a final 0:2 for the Finnish champion. Nikolov hit the frame in the 73rd, Bosančić earned a sending-off with two yellow cards, and the calculations now give Vardar a 3.1 percent chance of advancing. "The mistakes were entirely our own, the opponent didn't outplay us. We're going there for a miracle," coach Fabiani said before the return leg next Tuesday in Finland. Miracles in football happen - we saw one last night in Atlanta. But for a miracle, you first have to score a goal.

Michelin Dinners in Italy, a Finnish Slap in Skopje

Here comes the part of the story the management would like us to skip. Vardar prepared in Italian Norcia, where its opponents were a local lower-league side - beaten 12:0 - and a San Marino representative, with which it drew 1:1. Dinners in restaurants, team-building rafting, nice photos for social media. And then the first real opponent in a competitive rhythm showed the result of such preparation - on the pitch, in front of full stands that paid 200 denars a ticket and gave it their all. The fans love Vardar. The question hanging over Gradski is whether those who make the decisions at the club love it just as much - or only love the photos with it.