ONE GUESS WHICH CUP TEAM TURNED GAME UGLY

 More THOUGHTS WHILE THINKING

… like the beautiful game turned ugly last week… and you will 

never guess which team lowered the bar in the 2026 FIFA 

World Cup.

Oh, no, say it isn’t so … not Paraguay. Who else?

In a first-round match against Turkey, the South Americans 

eked out a 1-0 decision, scoring 65 seconds in on a pinpoint 

goal from outside the box by MATIAS GALARAZA then 

resorting to all the nonsense that drags the sport down – like?

Well, going ballistic just about every time a call went against 

them … and complaining constantly when they didn’t get the 

benefit of a perceived foul by the opposition.

Paraguay spent the second half a man down when MIGUEL 

ALMIRON slapped a Turk in the face during a break in first-

half stoppage – which, we were quickly told, was an automatic 

red card. It probably should have played short-handed most of 

the match after Galaraza was guilty of a reckless tackle, nailing

 YUNUS ARGUN on the foot in the seventh minute. He got a 

yellow card instead.

Worst of all, it says here, they constantly delayed the match by 

faking injuries, start to finish, and the referee (from El 

Salvador) didn’t know what to do about it.

“I don’t know why they keep stopping the game for these 

[alleged] injuries,” said Fox analyst ROB GREEN after the 

Turkey coach was slapped with a yellow card for losing it after 

another dive by Paraguay was ignored.

Finally, late in the going, with Paraguay a man down, and its 

embattled goalie on the ground, grabbing his ankle and 

writhing in pain (either real or imaginary), the ref motioned for 

him to get up … and let play continue.

Naturally, in this case, the goalie REALLY was injured. He got 

to his feet and limped back to his position. Fortunately, for 

Paraguay, he wasn’t tested again.

Let’s hear it for ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC … YEA! YEA! 

And more YEA! He has be THE talking head of the 

tournament. Who knew?

Well, obviously someone at Fox did his homework, putting the 

12-time player of the year in Sweden on the A-team in-studio 

with REBECCA LOWE,  THIERRY HENRY and ALEXI 

LALAS … and turning him loose. He has made fun of Lalas, 

who has always taken himself too seriously, to the point at least 

one uneducated viewer wrote the two don’t like each other.

I mean, what’s not to like about Ibrahimovic, who is funny, 

glib, and gets it done with few words and a sly smile.

Then there is the canned segment with the former scoring 

machine, with 7 Serie championships, on passing the ball, 

telling us … “Don’t do it. Every year thousands of promising 

attacks are ruined by one reckless decision: passing the futbol.”

MONDAY’S SCHEDULE, which included Messi going for a 

record-17th Cup goal in the first game … as well as ERLING 

HAALAND(Norway) and DYLIAN MBAPPE (Venezuela) … 

figured to be must-see TV. 

Messi opened with a hat trick (a fourth goal was denied for the 

barest offsides in a 3-1 victory for defending-champion Argentina over ). Two days shy of his 39^th birthday, he is the 

tournament’s oldest (and best, of course) player.

“What can he do for an encore?” said Lowe, adding, “He 

always finds a way.”

“If you’re not watching today … I’ve got no time for you,” 

Lalas said, spoken like the ultimate fan.

And guess what? The G.O.A.T. proved he’s human, after all, 

swinging an early penalty kick wide right.

“Oh, HE MISSED IT!!! said Fox play by play’s DARREN 

FLETCHER. “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT. People all around us 

are in disbelief. You just expected it to be automatic.”

Cut to a shot of Messi scratching his head. “He’s not the only 

one,” Fletcher said.

‘TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS,” according to Fox 

reporter JENNY TAFT “has become a bit of an anthem for 

[Team USA]. We watched as the Americans sang along with 

their fans [after the 4-2 opening victory over Paraguay] in 

Seattle. It has been playing everywhere … even coming from 

[Coach] MAURICIO POCHETTINO’s office.”

Next for the USofA is a date Thursday night in Arlington, Tex., 

with Turkey to complete play in Group G, which it has already 

won. They will play at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.

“We invited the Cowboys’ cheerleaders to appear with us on the 

set,” said Fox’s  ROB STONE. “They declined.”

Until next time ...

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petition … we weren’t surprised. Clearly, they have got to practice this nonsense. How else to explain?)

Of course, it’s all about intimidating the referee who, sad to say. is caught up in the game’s rules … or lack thereof. Paraguay, for ,