FIFA released its team of the World Cup a few days ago, and it stirred up a bit of debate on social media outlets as it looked like FIFA had made some interesting decisions. 

In the era of fake news, some find it difficult to discern what is fact and what is not. For two Twitter users, Fredrik (@F_Edits) and @ClinicalFirmino, they single-handedly managed to troll almost every soccer fan in the world. 

The FIFA Team of the Tournament is fake. 100% fake. I know this because I made the photo

The Guillermo Ochoa Silver Glove award is a deserved recognition to one the most underrated goalkeepers in the planet.

The former Club América star made 25 saves in four World Cup matches, averaging 6.25 per game, more than any other goalkeeper in Russia.

Embed from Getty Images

Pussy Riot, the notorious Russian punk rock activist group, staged a show of defiance during the World Cup final between France and Croatia on Sunday. Four of the group’s members, one man and three women disguised in police uniform, ran onto the pitch during the 52nd minute of the second half before being chased and dragged out by security.  

In the early ’90s, pre-Wengerian Arsenal earned a reputation for playing a brand of football that was effective but far from entertaining, resulting in chants of “Boring, Boring Arsenal.” It was a refrain that easily could have been repeated throughout the Three Lions’ campaign in Russia, including at the England vs Sweden match on Saturday in Samara, Russia.

It should come as no surprise that teams from Europe (UEFA) and South America (CONMEBOL) have advanced to the knockout stages far more frequently than teams from Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF) and Central and North America (CONCACAF). Although the World Cup qualification spots take into account the relative strength of each region, the allocation also considers the importance of having a truly global spectacle.

After beating Germany in the World Cup opener, Mexico couldn’t afford a let down in the second match. Thanks to a Carlos Vela goal vs South Korea, El Tri stayed right on track on Saturday in Rostov, Russia. 

Monday’s match against Tunisia was England’s best performance at a major international tournament for close to a decade. After trying and failing and trying even more desperately and then failing even more stupendously than ever before, the Three Lions finally have an opening game in which they can take great pride.

I’m making this up — this could’ve happened at the 1934 tournament or something — but I’m pretty sure that Tuesday’s match between Colombia and Japan is the first-ever World Cup game in which a player has been sent off in the third minute, resulting in a successfully taken penalty, only to be followed by a 39th minute equalizer in which a player strokes a free kick under the wall.

I just have a good feeling that we’ve never seen anything like this before.