Ryan Baldi

THIS interim period between the culmination of a thrilling pair of semis and the anticipation of the final is the perfect time to reflect on all we have seen so far at the 2022 World Cup. It has been a tournament full of drama, controversy – even tragedy, owing to the death of American journalist … Ryan Baldi | Team of the Tournament

IT wasn’t a shootout this time, but failure from 12 yards has once again brought England’s tournament hopes to an untimely end. Harry Kane fired high over the bar after England were awarded an 84th-minute penalty that, if converted, would have seen them level and with momentum on their side, having largely outplayed France at … Ryan Baldi: “Three things we learned from England’s defeat to France”

ENGLAND have impressed along their journey to a place in the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup. They remain unbeaten, with a 0-0 group-stage draw with the USA the only minor blemish on their record in Qatar, and they are the joint-highest scorers in the tournament. But England’s status among the contenders will face the … Ryan Baldi: England vs France preview

ENGLAND’s 3-0 win over Senegal on Sunday evening saw the 2022 World Cup’s highest scorers set up a quarter-final date with the reigning champions, France. It wasn’t always as straightforward as the eventual scoreline suggests. England laboured at times in the first half, troubled by a studious Senegalese press. But Jordan Henderson’s opening goal settled … Ryan Baldi | England v Senegal: Three things we learned

SOME of the game’s biggest names have already lit up the 2022 World Cup as the group stage draws to a close, while others have dominated the headlines – from Kylian Mbappe driving France forward to Germany and Belgium crashing out; from Lionel Messi inspiring Argentina to Cristiano Ronaldo denied a goal he swears he … Ryan Baldi: 5 breakout stars of the group stages

BETTER. Much better. England’s 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday night to seal their safe passage to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup as Group B winners was the perfect tonic to the drab 0-0 draw against the USA four days earlier. Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden were the headline introductions as Gareth … Ryan Baldi: Three things we learned from England’s victory over Wales

NOW that every team has played at least once, here are five things we learned from the first week of the 2022 World Cup. Excellent England and Scintillating Spain Of the handful of teams considered among the favourites before the tournament began, England and Spain will be happiest with their opening-game performances. There were shock … Ryan Baldi | 5 things we learned at the World Cup this week

AFTER the high of England’s 6-2 opening-game smashing of Iran on Monday came the crashing comedown of a drab 0-0 draw with the USA on Friday evening. It was a game of few clear-cut chances for either side, and England struggled to break down the United States’ stern rear guard anything like as readily as … Ryan Baldi: ENG v USA – Three things we learned

IN a group also containing the USA and Wales, opening their 2022 World Cup campaign against Iran was never likely to present England with their sternest test of the tournament’s initial phase. Still, many talented sides – many former champions, even – have fallen at such surmountable World Cup hurdles. England vaulted theirs in style. … Ryan Baldi | England v Iran | Bellingham and Saka shine but who else made their mark?