I love this. We almost always cast Messi's magic in a positive light, because it's beautiful to watch. But imagine you're the magician's unwilling assistant. You would see that sorcery every time you closed your eyes.

I don't want to generalize, but Moroccans are big-time whistlers.

Morocco did so well, but the semi-final has almost always been the end of the line for dreamers. My latest for ⁦CBC Sports⁩. cbc.ca/sports/soccer/…

Qatar’s World Cup has been terrible and wonderful, brutal and amazing. Your view of it depends on where you looked, and who you choose to remember. My latest for ⁦CBC Sports⁩. cbc.ca/sports/soccer/…

My preview of the men’s World Cup final: blah blah blah, more than 1.5 billion people will be watching, and it’s gonna be batshit. This is Chris Jones, for CBC Sports, from Doha. cbc.ca/sports/soccer/…

I have a weird, semi-sinking feeling that while we're all focused on Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, the difference-maker is going to be Antoine Griezmann.

This is my fault, Argentina. I'd written a lede I quite liked. I can only apologize.

Well, there is some good news for Argentina: Historically, when they give up a 2-0 lead late to a European team in this tournament, they go on to win on penalties, 4-3. This is based on a sample size of one.

When I am an old man and someone asks me what was the best game I saw in the flesh, I will know my answer.

That's the greatest game any of us will ever see in our lives.

Sample size of two.

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