Spain vs Argentina: a final the world hasn't seen in ages

On Sunday, at MetLife Stadium near New York, a final is being played that looks like a duel between the past and the future. On one side Lionel Messi, at 39, the tournament's top scorer with 8 goals and 4 assists - a man who, if he lifts the trophy tonight, will be the oldest player on the pitch ever to decide a world title. On the other side Lamine Yamal, the nineteen-year-old still missing a goal in the knockout stage, but for whom a single spark is enough. Spain enter on 37 matches unbeaten in regular time and just one goal conceded across the entire World Cup; Argentina on 13 matches unbeaten and a record 19 goals in a single edition. Who cracks first?

Zidane takes over France, Deschamps leaves through the back door

While Spain and Argentina fight for the title, France plays tonight for third place against England - and it will be Didier Deschamps' last match on the bench. The federation has already lined up his successor: Zinedine Zidane, who hasn't coached since 2021, when he left Real Madrid. Deschamps departs with silverware few have gathered - world champion in 2018, a final in 2022, the Nations League in 2021 - but this time going out before the final was enough for the federation to trigger its plan for a change. Zidane inherits a squad with Mbappé and Tchouaméni, and a reputation that demands more than just a result. In the Balkans we know the scene: success is no guarantee you get to stay.

Man United pulled out, Ederson stayed in Bergamo

The summer's transfer saga ended without a twist. Ederson, the 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder of Atalanta (not to be confused with the Man City goalkeeper of the same name), signed a new contract after the move to Manchester fell through. The clubs had agreed on a fee of 35 million pounds, but Carrick's side withdrew over issues found in the medical. United have already brought in two midfielders this summer - Tielemans and Andrey Santos - and are not stopping there. A classic story: agreed on paper, then the medical report changes the plans overnight.

Gjorgjievski comes home: Shkendija strengthen their attack

Macedonian runners-up Shkendija have brought domestic football back into the story. The twenty-six-year-old centre-forward Marko Gjorgjievski signed for the Tetovo side after the Romanian club Hermannstadt were relegated to a lower tier and he swiftly found a new deal. Gjorgjievski carries rich international experience - besides Hermannstadt he also played for Cluj in Romania, and in Serbia he was part of Voždovac and Radnički Pirot. On the domestic scene he shone at Sileks as the top scorer in the second division, and over his career he also turned out for Brera, Shkupi, Borec, and Vardar. A signing the Tetovo faithful had been waiting for ahead of the new season.

Domestic football lives off transfers, but the goal is Europe

While the big national teams fight for a world trophy across the ocean, over here the summer is filled by moves, not by results. And that is exactly why the return of an experienced striker like Gjorgjievski is worth more than any rumour about a move abroad - Shkendija are building a team for the domestic race and for the European qualifiers, where the runners-up traditionally test themselves against stronger opponents. The question that remains is as old as the league itself: will the rhythm hold to the end this time, or will the season fall apart where it most often does - in the details?