As the World Cup gets serious, differences become more acute

The Independent’s football newsletter [SUBSCRIBE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( December 02, 2022 [View in browser](   [The Independent]( [The Independent]( As the World Cup gets serious, differences become more acute Messi not looking the same, but looking dangerous If [Leo Messi](isn’t looking as he’s sharp as he’s been for Paris Saint-Germain in the last few months, there are perhaps two reasons for that. The first is fairly obvious. At the Qatari-owned club, he has Kylian Mbappe and Neymar running off him, occupying a lot of opposition attention. It means Messi has so much more space to run into. Here, as has happened in virtually every game so far, he has four players around him. One thing that has been striking is Messi doesn’t seem to accelerate away from players when he beats them. That is something that has been such a characteristic of his career, but had been recovered the last few months. It was why there was such [excitement about him going into this World Cup]( in “peak” physical condition. He instead looks a bit more like he did in 2014, where he is devastating in moments rather than throughout. That has led to rumours and growing questions that he might have a muscle issue, that has him at less than 100%. It has been denied in the Argentine camp. One thing figures in the camp are talking about, however, is how the marking around Messi has made recalculate where he can have effect. He is constantly seeking to drop into pockets of space, that initially seem out of danger. Some in the squad, who naturally look up to him as previous squads did to [Diego Maradona](, talk about it “as he if is a super computer”. Another theatre piece that's more than a press conference There was a surge of excitement around the Doha Main Media Centre - the airport-sized complex where all pre-game press conferences are held - [when it was announced that Luis Suarez would be speaking ahead of Uruguay’s crunch match against Ghana](. The context was obvious given what happened the last time they met, in the 2010 quarter-final. The motivation also became clear. Anticipating there would be a lot of Ghanaian rage about what had happened, potentially firing the game, Saurez wanted to completely undercut it. He wanted to confuse, to remove the focus that can come from that kind of emotion. He didn’t apologise for that handball, basically saying anyone would have done it, but he did speak frankly about how he didn’t miss the penalty. He took his punishment, which was a red card and spot-kick. “I didn’t injure anyone.” It was a wonderful piece of football theatre, especially given the nature of the question that prompted it. A journalist told Suarez that he was seen as “the devil himself” in Ghana and that the country looked forward to retiring him. [Suarez took that in his stride](. England face a battle between two unified teams The England players [rallied around Ben White when told he was leaving the squad for personal reasons](, and it speaks to the unity of this group. They may now be a man short, but the genuine belief is that there can’t be a squad as united. Christmas lights have been put up to add to the spirit, with advent calendars handed out Aliou Cisse has forged a similar bond in the Senegal squad, though. After the manner they got through the group stage, there is a firm feeling destiny is on their side. The fallen heavyweights bring major debates The recriminations have started for both Germany and Belgium after they became the biggest casualties of the first round. With a month and a half until the Bundesliga restarts, [sources in German football are expecting to some major backlash and big debates over the next few week](s. There have been increasing murmurs over a rift in the camp, with some players feeling there was too much focus on political issues like the armband. Others believe this was even more important than the football. [There is then the wider debate over the type of player Germany is producing](, with no top-class centre-halves or strikers, and a growing question over whether the tactical philosophy of the Bundesliga is removing some other qualities given how dependent it is on pressing. With Belgium, it's much more straightforward. This was an old and stale team, just as Kevin De Bruyne said. That doesn't mean they had to go out like this. Many of the players loved Roberto Martinez, but there have been questions over some decisions, particularly the selection of the strikers and persistence with Eden Hazard. [Romelu Lukaku]( is taking his display "hard" but he is not fully fit, and there is a feeling that feeds into another issue. [Belgium have been unfortunate that they've now gone into the last two tournaments with key members of the squad not at their best](. De Bruyne went into Euro 2020 with a cheekbone issue after the Champions League final and wasn't in peak condition. The only tournament where they really felt they showed their best level was the last World Cup, where they were beaten by the eventual champions. Poland feel you would have done the same The [Polish players were totally unrepentant](about the manner they qualified for the last 16. They were almost defiant about it, as they fought to riskily maintain a 2-0 defeat to Argentina while trying not to get booked, at the expense of Mexico. They happily spoke about it at length in the mixed zone. The view is that, even if people on the outside don’t like it, everyone in the same situation would do it. It was the difference between staying in the World Cup and not.   Top stories A wake-up call or a warning? The big question facing Spain at this World Cup]( [‘The German debacle’: Newspapers in Germany react to group-stage World Cup exit](   Enjoying this newsletter? Unlock unlimited, ad-free reading on the website and in The Independent app when you subscribe – plus, benefit from our [welcome offer when you join today](.   Miguel's Dispatches Today is the last day of the group stage, but it’s not just a dividing line in terms of the tournament. It’s a dividing line in the experience. One of the ironies of a World Cup is that, just at the point it gets really serious, it also empties out in terms of atmosphere. Half the people go home. Half the media goes home. It will be even more pronounced at this competition given how few have travelled with the expense, and the controversy.[I went for a walk on the much-heralded Corniche the other day and came across a stage of performers on rollerblades dancing and singing to no people](. Not that there was much space in the media facilities, mind. Ahead of England-Wales the other night, I found myself sat across from Diego Forlan, who was just minding his own business watching Senegal-Ecuador. He happened to be in the “photographers’ area”, though, and was promptly told to move. When someone pointed out he was a winner of both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in 2010, it didn’t hold much water. “He’s not a photographer,” came the reply.     QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I take the handball - but the Ghana player miss a penalty, not me. Maybe I apologise if I injure a player but in this situation, I take a red card, the ref say penalty, it's not my fault.” Luis Suarez may not be able to press anymore but he can push buttons.   Reading the game quiz Reading the game quiz In the history of the World Cup, eight teams from outside either Europe or South America have won a last-16 tie. This can include a win in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties. Name the eight. ([You can find out the answers here](. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too)   INDYBEST /BEST SPORTS BUY]( England World Cup kit 2022: Where to buy the home and away shirts so you can roar on the Lions [Click here for more details](   Essential reading [Jack Grealish on loving the game and taking lessons from the ‘stupid stuff’](   [Magnificent Morocco overcome the odds to rewrite their own World Cup history - and add to Africa’s](   OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [Sports Brief] Sports Brief Every Monday, 6pm (UK time) Written by Ben Burrows [Join now]( [Fantasy Football] Fantasy Football Every Thursday, 6pm (UK time) Written by Mark Critchley [Join now]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's football newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. 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