Jack Lang

After the upsets and the feel-good stories, the World Cup shifted into a new gear on Tuesday. It could have been billed as Superstar Day. Three of the biggest names in global football were all looking to make an impact as their countries began their campaigns. In the event, they did not disappoint. Lionel Messi made the biggest splash, scoring a sensational hat-trick as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 win against Algeria. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland were outgunned but not by much: they scored twice as France and Norway respectively recorded commanding victories in Group I. It was, all told, a...

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