England Made History Against France, and Tonight Spain and Argentina Play for the Crown - With a Skopje Stamp

England 6:4 France: Mbappe Made History, but Saka Stole the Show

The third-place match usually interests no one. This one was the exception. At the Hard Rock in Miami, England beat France 6:4 in a duel that looked like a basketball finish, not football. Declan Rice opened as early as the third minute, Ezri Konsa scored with his head, and then came Bukayo Saka - two goals by half-time and the French defence completely shattered. France came back through Kylian Mbappe, who with his ninth goal of the tournament became the top scorer in World Cup history - a record for the ages. But the night wasn't his. Saka added a third from the penalty spot, and Jude Bellingham sealed the triumph with a solo goal near the end. For England, this is the first World Cup medal in 60 years. Records are tumbling, and the question remains: what is bronze worth when the dream was gold?

Spain - Argentina: A Final Between Two Generations, Gold for One

Tonight at MetLife in New Jersey, they play the match that made everything else a warm-up. Spain, the reigning European champion, against Argentina, the world champion from Qatar chasing something no one manages in the modern era - defending the title. The last time two consecutive tournaments were won was by Brazil in 1962. Spain arrives on a run of 37 matches unbeaten in regular time and with six matches without conceding a goal at this tournament, which is a record. Coach Luis de la Fuente, at 65, could become the oldest manager to win a World Cup. On the pitch, it's also a clash of generations - Lionel Messi against Lamine Yamal, the boy carrying Spanish football into the future. Spain is the favourite. But Argentina with Messi rarely reads from the predictions.

Ederson Stayed at Atalanta After United Backed Out at the Medical

While the world watched the final, the market worked in silence. Ederson signed a new contract with Atalanta after the transfer to Manchester United collapsed. The English had already agreed a fee of 35 million pounds, but pulled the move after the medical raised suspicion of an injury. A classic story: the deal almost closed, then fell apart at the final check. United is still looking for a third midfielder after Casemiro's departure and Ugarte's injury, and Roma's Manu Kone is also in the frame. Atalanta, for its part, kept its own - which in today's football is worth as much as a good signing.

Scaloni and Pandev: When Argentina's Coach „Had the Back” of Our Greatest

Here's the Balkan angle many will miss tonight. Lionel Scaloni, the man carrying Argentina towards another crown, was in the 2007-2009 period a teammate of Goran Pandev at Lazio. Exactly when our best footballer was cutting through everything in front of him and Lazio was playing in the Champions League. Scaloni was twice in the lineup against Real Madrid - a 2:2 draw in Rome and a 3:1 defeat in Madrid - matches in which Pandev scored all three goals for Lazio. That the man conducting Messi today once ran the right back while Pandev directed the magic - that's a story only a Balkan fan knows how to savour as it deserves.

And Scaloni Also Played in Skopje - and Saw the „Macedonian Messi”

There's a sequel that sounds unbelievable. On 25 August 2011, in a Europa League tie, Lazio were away in Skopje against Rabotnicki, and Scaloni was in the lineup with the captain's armband, at right back. Lazio won 3:1 - Lazarevski scored for Rabotnicki, while for the visitors Rocchi shone with two goals and Hernanes. That same night, from the Rabotnicki club a young player nicknamed the „Macedonian Messi” got his chance - Ivan Nastevski. Football's ironies are endless: the man who saw our „Messi” in Skopje will tonight, at the biggest final, sit on the bench and lead the real Messi. The Balkans have a way of weaving themselves in even where no one expects them.