Ada Colau’s decision not to enable giant screens in Barcelona to follow the Spanish national team is still drawing a line and has found a response in the Sala Astoria (a space that has hosted events, for example, by Vox), where the Spain’s draw against Germany and slogans such as “Catalonia is SpainThis and four more are the highlights of this Sunday’s World Cup of Shame.
Response to Colau’s decision
Before the World Cup, the municipal groups of Ciutadans and the PP asked Ada Colau to give up public spaces in Barcelona where they could follow the matches of the Spanish national team. The mayor, with the support of the first lieutenant of the mayor Jaume Collboni, rejected it because the appointment is contested in Qatar: “There is a limit; it is a dictatorship and a World Cup should not take place there”. But a group of supporters has found in the Sala Astoria, on Calle París, a space to show off their shirts the Red, flags redheads and chant slogans like “Catalonia is Spain“. At least that’s what it sounded like when TVE news decided to connect to it live. The Sala Astoria has also hosted, among other events, parties organized by Vox.
Riots in Brussels
Dozens of people rioted in the center of Brussels after the duel between Belgium and Morocco (in which the Moroccan team won with a surprising 0-2), destroying vehicles and street furniture, which ended with the police forces intervening. The city’s mayor, Philippe Close, condemned the incidents and advised fans not to travel to the center of the Belgian capital, in a message on social media.
The riots began in the second half, when more than a hundred people set fire to a container and threw firecrackers and fireworks, damaging vehicles parked in the area, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reported. It is unjustifiable and a shame that a victory is celebrated like this, but in no case can it serve as an excuse for the numerous racist comments that have appeared on the networks.
Canada’s historic and bittersweet goal
In Canada’s defeat against Croatia (4-1), Alphonso Davies scored his country’s first goal in the final phase of a World Cup. It is the fastest goal of Qatar’s World Cup match, in the second 69 of the game. But what were the fastest goals in World Cup history?
- Turkey’s Hakan Sükür scored a goal after 11 seconds against South Korea, in the 2002 World Cup third-place match that ended up being won by Turkey (2-3).
- Czechoslovakia’s Vaclav Masek scored a goal after 16 seconds in the 1962 semi-final against Mexico.
- Germany’s Ernest Lehner beat Austria by 25 seconds in Italy 1934.
- Spain’s 1982 World Cup saw one of the fastest goals in World Cup history when England’s Robson scored for France at the old San Mamés stadium 28 seconds into the game.
- American Clint Dempsey scored a goal after 29 seconds in a match between the United States and Ghana, held at Brazil 2014.
A love letter to Leo Messi
Argentina’s victory on Saturday was also remembered this Sunday. Do you remember that Messi, tired of criticism, left the Argentina national team for a while in 2016? Then Enzo Fernández wrote these lines. This Saturday both scored in a triumph as balmy as it was crucial for the Argentine star to continue dreaming of the only major title he has yet to win.
Richarlison to make Neymar forget
Brazil, without Neymar, with huge bad luck with injuries in the World Cup matches, face Switzerland this Monday (5 p.m., World Goal). Richarlison, author of two goals on his debut for the Brazilians, will look to be the protagonist again. Read this profile if you want to know more; he is one of the few Brazilian footballers critical of Bolsonaro.
