Copa Independent

The World Cup finally started, with a comfortable win for Mexico, a wretched display from South Africa, a flurry of red cards and even more adverts featuring Christian Pulisic, many of them during the actual game.

Chief football writer Miguel Delaney and senior football correspondent Richard Jolly discuss the ever greater commercialisation of the World Cup and the commercials in the new hydration breaks in the World Cup, Fox Sports’ dumbing down of their coverage and lack of insight, as well as a goal for Raul Jimenez to cherish and a victory to keep Miguel’s hopes of visiting the Azteca alive.

Copa Independent will be recording several podcasts throughout the tournament, hearing from our reporters dotted across the United States and from the heart of the England camp.
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After a controversial and seemingly never-ending build-up, today is finally the day the 23rd Fifa World Cup begins. Tonight, co-hosts Mexico face South Africa at the Azteca, the most famous stadium in World Cup history. And it was also in Mexico City where Gianni Infantino held his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. Three-and-a-half years on from his infamous 'Today I feel...' monologue, and with key topics like Iran, ticket prices and visa issues to discuss, what did the Fifa president have up his sleeve this time?

Senior sports writer Kieran Jackson is joined by chief football writer Miguel Delaney, dialling in from our base in New Jersey, to dissect and analyse Infantino's hour-long media conference and look ahead to the tournament opener. We also pick our star substitute for our World Cup XI, ahead of picking our manager next time around.

Copa Independent will be recording several podcasts throughout the tournament, hearing from our reporters dotted across the United States and from the heart of the England camp.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is nearly here and this week on Copa Independent, the team discuss the tournament favourites, the dark horses and, erm, Scotland, as well as how politics and money have created a World Cup like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

Will Carlo Ancelotti deliver a record sixth World Cup for Brazil? Is Spain’s midfield the best at the tournament? How far can England go? And could a side like Ecuador or Norway go all the way?

Plus trivia on World Cup records, and it’s time to pick the striker in Copa Independent’s all-time World Cup XI.
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The World Cup is nearly here, and we’re counting down the best of all time. This week a panel of Independent journalists have voted on their greatest stars.

From Pele and Messi to Maradona and Beckenbauer, with a sprinkling of Zidane, Mbappe and Ronaldo in the mix, these are the players who have lit up the “greatest show on earth” over the past 96 years.

Independent sports writers Lawrence Ostlere, Miguel Delaney and Kieran Jackson discuss the controversial name in the top 10, why Cristiano Ronaldo was overlooked, and why our No 1 pick just had to top the list.

See the full list of the top 50 World Cup players here https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-50-greatest-players-pele-maradona-messi-zidane-ronaldo-b2984529.html
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Miguel Delaney and Lawrence Ostlere were at Wembley to see Thomas Tuchel explain his England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

They chew over the big-name omissions and why Tuchel didn’t pick Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold – and how Ivan Toney mysteriously returned to the conversation this week.

Miguel also discusses his intimate briefing with the England manager. And, under severe pressure from a diligent Wembley security chap, they even find time to pick one more player for Copa Independent’s all-time World Cup XI.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.