A very cool little story: primary school kids and parents up at 5am to watch the Final, because it's a Spanish-language school. www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Question for #BlueskyClassics: I’m trying to track down something from the Kentucky Classics mailing list, but the existing website (lsv.uky.edu/archives/classics-l.html) is unresponsive. Does anyone know if it’s been moved?

It’s funny how both sides lived up to their many-decades-old stereotypes: Spain with sterile domination, Argentina with violent shithousery. Also true in the semis: France with a tournament of style but lacked substance when it mattered, England mindlessly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Oh shit is Trump gonna present the trophy? Or Infantino? Either way best to turn off the TV now.

[read as Australian, complimentary]

That was like a weird mashup of the 2010 and 2014 finals (Spain ET winner, Argentina ET loss) except much worse than either of them.

2. Success at this World Cup correlates with having Arsenal players on the pitch: - who got Spain out of gaol every time? Merino. - Norway’s run? Odegaard. - the semi finals? Saliba and Rice both go off, leaving their teams Arsenal-player-less. And so they lose. - this game? 3 Arsenal v 0 Arsenal.

Well that was shit on a stick.

You know people, you don’t have to watch this travesty. You could just doom scroll like me until the second half starts.

Social media makes me envious of those not watching football the Australian way (struggling out of bed at 4.30 in the morning).

Apropos of nothing, this is my favourite Messi moment. It isn’t a goal or assist. Five minutes into the best team performance I’ve ever seen (the 5-0 clasico in 2010). A corner breaks down, he’s got nothing on. So he just lobs Casillas from nowhere. Hits the post. youtu.be/j_Gf7dEhrUU?...

Anybody know what is the nearest royal first to the tower of London during the medieval period? I mean if you're in the tower and want to hunt where would you go?

Wes Anderson’s Oedipus Rex

My favorite take on the interminable Helen of Troy casting controversy. (Those who know about ancient Greek theater will get this.)

Interestingly (at least to me), I’ve been reading a book by an economist who worked in the Ministry of Aircraft Production from 1941 on. Definitely a free-market guy. But also a guy who thought that only planning won the war. (It’s also possible the Cato Institute thinks the wrong side won.)

My man looks like he has a stack of magazines with letters of various shapes and sizes cut out of them for some reason

My man looks like the skinhead other skinheads refuse to be seen with

My man looks like he says "my struggle" too often for it to be a coincidence

Excellent! It's a great film and hope everyone gets a chance to see it! 📡

If they have to play a game that doesn’t matter, then “gloriously bonkers with ten goals” is EXACTLY the way to do it.

Rice is completely done and needs to come off now

Two things this game shows: 1. How much work rate matters to defence. France can’t be arsed defending properly. A team of average but hardworking players will defend much better than the best defensive team who isn’t putting in the effort.

Stephen Miller’s favourite art style: drawing pictures of mountaintops, with him on top, arms raised in a V while the dead lay in pools of maroon below.

The below led me to search again for this: bsky.app/profile/davi...

The English football media once again completely failing the perspective test, by treating it as obvious that the guy who coached to a World Cup semi-final at the first time of asking clearly isn’t up to the job.

For those watching #AFL on 7: that Kia ad with the centaur. Surely I’m not the only person to think of this?

I will provide sustenance for local dogs.

Patroclus funeral games is crazy I’m going to stipulate in my will that my grieving family and friends have to do a sports day

This is a good one from Ronay. And while there is reason to criticise Tuchel and the England players, really it comes down to the best player there has even been turning the match around himself. It is a privilege to have seen his career. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Fact of the day: Donald Trump is younger than Arrigo Sacchi…by ten weeks.

football and everyone can play football Above all, the utter, uncompromising, irrepressible determination and will to win they evince is quite simply awe inspiring. From the very moment the teams walk out onto the pitch every last player wearing an Argentina shirt carries a kind of aura, ... 6/

The other thing I want is, if Spain beat Argentina in a knockout match, Messi gives Lamal his shirt in a Puskas-to-Eusebio passing-the-baton moment.

England and France *both* lose? Who’s in charge of this World Cup? Maurice Gamelin?

The guy I feel sorry for is MacAllister. Hits *both* posts.

As in the Euro final, Kane did absolutely nothing. But at least he wasn’t a detriment this time.

What’s the point of five at the back if you don’t man-mark the huge centre forward?

That cross could not have been better. The one just before the ad break.

Time for a pint?

Everyone else on the field* is playing like they’re afraid this game will define their career. Spence is playing like he hopes it will. *Messi obviously safe from this

All right, running ads for THE ODYSSEY with the tag line "He's Coming Home" during the England game is inspired

The levels of #gender in this match are off the charts.

An England game where the only Liverpool and Man Utd players are on the opposition team. Have we seen that before?

Not a prediction, but a parallel: the last Women’s World Cup Final was England v Spain. So, in this semi, England will win but Messi (the closest parallel to Sam Kerr) will score one of the greatest goals you’ll ever see.

Look at the guy on the left (dunno who he is). But there’s something about that look: the open shirt with the jacket, the hair, the unnaturally tanned skin. It just says SPIV really loudly. (“spiv” is absolutely a word we should use more)

Okay, now I’m worried about my appointment tomorrow with Emperor Palpatine.

Don’t know who to credit for this. But it is how I feel.

I’m surprised to see this so low. It’s a brilliant song, by a band at the top of their game.

Voting is open in the #LedZeppelinJongMedal. We want to know your top three songs by Led Zeppelin. Give us your 3-2-1