BISHWAJIT ROY

The group stage of the World Cup unfolded largely as expected. Most of the traditional heavyweights secured their places in the Round of 32, reaffirming the established hierarchy of international football. If there was one notable casualty, it was Uruguay, whose early exit stands out as perhaps the tournament’s biggest disappointment so far.

The stars who arrived carrying the burden of expectation have, by and large, delivered, sustaining the romance that only a Yet

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