Five things about riding the Mexican wave

PETALING JAYA: Mexico did more than secure a result. It delivered a timely reminder of what matters most at a World Cup: the football itself.

At a tournament overshadowed by controversy, politics and off-field distractions, the hosts pulled the spotlight back to where it belongs — on the pitch.

After weeks in which the headlines had little to do with the game, Mexico provided a much-needed reset.

Its performance cut through the noise and offered Fifa a lesson it should never forget: the World Cup’s greatest strength is not its spectacle, politics or commercial reach, but the football that brings the world together.

Riding the Mexican wave

Phew! The opening match kicked off on time. The Azteca Stadium was packed, deafening, and delivered a proper World Cup atmosphere. Something not heard since it was last held in Latin America in 2014.

This great football temple has already paid homage to Pele (1970) and Maradona (1986): will there be another god for it to celebrate its hat-trick?

Demonstrations were stopped by a ring of steel. Roads were closed, and fans had a long walk. Helicopters hovered and were not shot down. Shakira shook, sombreros flew and Mexico won.

El Tri, as they are called, could be a handful. Top of the group and with this level of home support, opponents should be wary. The last time they hosted, they reached the quarter-finals.

As they did then, the squad went into isolation – players were even pulled from the league – and it shows in their spirit and cohesion.

Already, English fans are suggesting it might be better for the Three Lions to come second in the group, or they could come up against a huge Mexican breaker in the last-16.

Referee makes his presence felt

The referee was determined to make his presence felt by issuing three red cards. It was one more than necessary and only one less than the lenient four in Qatar.

Brazil’s Wilton Sampaio was a strict headmaster-type, even using the water breaks when no one was thirsty. New rules were implemented and had a no-nonsense, no-shoving anti-Arsenal feel. Mikel Arteta, please note.

South Africa offered little else – they’re a rugby nation, after all. But the first half lasted 55 minutes with no injuries and only a four-minute stop. The shape of things to come?

Reporters felt it was a drag, so what more, another 103 games. Prepare for an ultramarathon. And that’s just the group phase.

Raul’s redemption tears

Better known for breaking his skull than scoring goals, Raul Jimenez finally broke his World Cup duck – in his fourth tournament.

Having lost his father in March, the former Fulham striker, who has just rejoined Wolves, wept after sealing Mexico’s 2-0 opening game win over South Africa.

The veteran striker, 35, fractured his skull in an EPL game in 2020 and missed eight months of football.

He said: “I almost lost everything, even my life. So I’m trying to enjoy football as much as I can. Not just football. Everything I try to enjoy more.”

He has worn a protective headband ever since and remained a penalty king through his outfield drought. His 67th-minute clincher was a header and we hope that, while remembering his dad, there were also tears of joy.

Infantino finally makes the right call

Fifa president Gianni Infantino needed this. Dubbed “King of Soccer” by big buddy US president Donald Trump, he’d endured a less-than-regal build-up. Even outright dissent among his subjects.

“Everyone is welcome in America,” he promised. Everyone except a Somali referee, 14 Iranian backroom staff who are still waiting for visas, and thousands of fans who can’t afford three months’ salary for a parking place.

And all that was topped, of course, by the only man he looked up to. The one to whom he gave the non-Nobel Peace Prize, and who promptly started two wars.

So, after all the fawning and flattery, Infantino now knows who really calls the shots. At least he had the consolation of the weather behaving itself.

No sooner had he suggested that his critics should “chill”, the temperature obligingly dropped to a temperate 22 degrees Celcius.

No skipper, no problem: are you watching, Portugal?

What looked like a dull draw and icing on the cake for table-topping Mexico, suddenly sprang to life. There was little to separate South Korea and Czechia for an hour, until the Czechs broke the stalemate with a goal by Ladislav Krejci from Vladimir Coufal’s cross.

It was soon levelled with a brilliant strike by Hwang In-Beom. With the scores at 1-1 with 23 minutes and a barn-storming finish on the cards, Son Heung-Min, of all people, was taken off. No injury, no tantrum, just saving the grand old man, now 33, for further action.

And it worked with a winning goal by Oh Hyeon-Gyu that stole the points. It not only gave Mexico food for thought, but surely Portugal, too.

This is what can happen when you take off your skipper. Somehow, we don’t think Cristiano Ronaldo will be shivering in his boots. All in all, a pretty good start for the World Cup.