Qatar 2022 cannot be separated from justifiable off-field scrutiny, but the first Arabic World Cup did at least deliver on the pitch, as Kylian Mbappe tore it up again and England burned brightly, only for King Leo to finally rule the world...
WORLD CUP
FEELING BLEU Kylian Mbappe shone again. The Golden Boot winner became the second man to score a final hat-trick and is just four goals behind Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record
FIGHTING TALK Before England vs USA, Will Ferrell hit back at being called ‘Wankerman’ by Aaron Ramsdale. “I’m delivering a bag of s**t to your doorstep, I’m going to light it on fire, you’re going to have to stomp it out and have s**t all over your boots. Alright Aaron?!”
OPENING ACT Before the first game between hosts Qatar and Ecuador came the ceremony, starring Morgan Freeman, K-pop favourite Jungkook and Gianni Infantino as the Lord of the Sith
LIONS’ PRIDE While they lost to France in the last eight, England impressed many with a front-foot style that bodes well for Euro 2024 and beyond
ROAR-SOME Gareth Bale and Wales celebrate their first – and sadly only – World Cup goal since 1958
FOR SALE: Draught excluder – pointless at 28C
LIMBS Lionel Messi’s second-half strike against Mexico settled Argentine nerves after their opening defeat to Saudi Arabia. How far could they go?
Top to bottom “Selfies are all about eye contact”; Marcus Rashford strikes in the Battle of Britain against Wales; “Qatar are great,” says man wearing maroon-tinted glasses
THE WORLD CUP ON TV Jon Champion at Stadium 974: “The major tourist attraction in this area is a desalination plant.” Ally McCoist: “Not sure about that.” Champion: “It is also the HQ for the Qatar Table Tennis Association.” McCoist: “Oh, I’m up for that!”
DESERT SAFARI A group of England fans got more than they bargained for in Doha, after befriending the son of a sheikh on a night out: “He took us back to his palace and showed us his lions,” one explained. Well, why not?
HANG TIME Richarlison’s best Michael Jordan hero pose – flipped 90 degrees – secured Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia with one of Qatar 2022’s best goals
THIS TIME FOR AFRICA It was a great World Cup for the continent, with fans from each of the five African nations having something to celebrate – including Cameroon’s
THE WORLD CUP ON TV Not many co-commentators can fit a howler into their very first words of a match, but Martin Keown showed his pioneering tendencies with his opening declaration, “Expect USA to play their same system”... in Canada vs Croatia
DREAM TEAM
