You might not have noticed, but Spain are rather good at football. All of it. All of the football.
After a summer that saw Spain’s men’s team win the men’s World Cup, the women’s team triumphed in the final of the U20 Women’s World Cup on Sunday.
So just to recap, Spain are currently champions of the World Cup, the Women’s World Cup, the European Championships, the Women’s Nations League, the men’s U19 Euros, the Women’s U19 Euros and now the U20 Women’s World Cup.
Oh look at me, I’m Spain and I’m unbeatable at football. Grow up.
VAR (Valuable Alternative Reading) is a weekly newsletter sent every Monday reviewing all the good stuff you might have missed from the weekend in football!
Please subscribe by clicking the button below 👇
Elsewhere, China secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Asian Games, Africa Cup of Nations qualifying kicked off and Gilberto Mora justified the hype with a stunner for Mexico.
Let’s take a look at some of the things you might have missed 👇
Something at the U20 WWC 🏆
Spain won the U20 Women’s World Cup for the second time on Sunday, beating North Korea in a tense penalty shootout.
The final played in Lodz finished 0-0 after 120 minutes, sending the match to penalties. Laia Lopez saved the decisive spot kick to ensure the celebrations in Poland were Spanish.
Pau Comendador finished as the tournament’s top scorer for Spain while Rosalia Dominguez won the Golden Ball for being the best all-round player. These are names you’ll be hearing again in the future!
North Korea were the defending champions. This newsletter from 2024 explored how the country is, very surprisingly, a superpower in women’s youth football.
Get this - North Korea didn’t concede a single goal in the entire tournament. Seven games, seven clean sheets.
Spain, however, are on a different level. With the senior Women’s World Cup next year, when Spain will aim to defend their title from 2023, the signs are very bright for the future of the Spanish game.
Something Levantine 🇯🇴 🇸🇾
Jordan and Syria played the first Levant Derby for four years on Sunday.
Ali Olwan scored this strike from outside the box to give Jordan a first-half lead. Can Yahya Moustfa, however, equalised after the break for Syria who held on for a 1-1 draw.
A better result for Syria than Jordan.
Something bowed
Republic of Ireland played Israel on Sunday after 48 hours of controversy which raised the prospect of the match being boycotted.
The players ultimately voted to play the game, although goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu chose to depart the squad. This report in the Irish Times does an excellent job of detailing what went on.
During the Israeli anthem, the Irish players bowed their heads in protest of the genocide in Gaza.
Something from a corner
Racing’s Gaston Lodico woke up on Sunday and decided to hit an Olimpico against Boca Juniors.
Boca ended up fighting back to win 3-2 away from home, but Olimpicos are worth double. Morally. So technically this was a Racing victory and you can take me to CAS to prove me wrong.
(Enner Valencia scored all three Boca goals with his head! A hat trick of headers!)
Something frantic
Iraq squeezed through to the semi-finals of the Gulf Cup after a WILD finale to their match against Kuwait.
A Yousef Nasser penalty in the 90th minute looked to have sent the game to extra time. Kuwait had a golden opportunity to win it. Then they had a man sent off for cynically stopping a counter-attack.
Then Karar Nabeel scored a winner in the NINTH minute of stoppage time for Iraq. Cue sceeeeeenes!
Something after 28 years
China are into the semi-finals of the men’s tournament of the Asian Games for the first time in 28 years!
The Dragon Team (real nickname) put three goals past Thailand in the quarter-finals to make the final four where they will face three-times defending champions South Korea. That will be a serious test!
Something prodigious
Mexican fans know all about Gilberto Mora who caught the eye for El Tri at the World Cup, but just in case you need a refresher - check this out!
The 17-year-old scored an excellent goal in Saturday’s friendly against Colombia. There’s a reason the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly tracking this kid.
Kid’s the real deal!
Something uneven
Wales suffered defeat to Denmark in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday and their defensive organisation wasn’t any better than their organisation for the team photo.
This is a whole thing. They’ve been doing it for years. I don’t fully understand it, but funny… I guess?
Something top bins
You might remember Nestory Irankunda from the World Cup where he was a breakout star for Australia!
Well, check out the stunning freekick he scored in a friendly against Brazil. The 20-year-old joined Sporting CP in the summer transfer window and has a very bright future ahead of him.
Something in the WSL 🏴
Alexia Putellas scored her first WSL goal in London City Lionesses’ 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday, offering a glimpse of what’s still to come from the Ballon d’Or winner at her new club.
Putellas’ departure from Barcelona was one of the moves of the summer and there are signs that she’s finding top form in her new surroundings.
Something on the front page 📰
Manchester City being found guilty of almost all of their 115 charges by the Premier League doesn’t exactly fit the mould of this newsletter considering it’s the biggest story in world football right now.
However, this front page of The Observer was too good not to include. Clever.
Something from three down
Curacao were one of the stories of the 2026 World Cup and they’re still riding the crest of The Blue Wave!
3-0 down to Costa Rica, Curacao were staring a heavy CONCACAF Nations League defeat in the face. By full time, though, Curacao had fought back to win 4-3! What a comeback!
Something in AFCON qualifying
AFCON qualifying is up and running and Sudan started their campaign with a 1-0 win over Ethiopia.
The Sudanese civil war continues to rage on with the country now facing an economic crisis as a consequence. Sudan qualifying for the 2027 AFCON would be an incredible story.
They have started on the front foot!
Something sent off
There was hair-related chaos in the CONCACAF Nations League match between Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla as TWO players were sent off for pulling locks of Aedan Scipio.
Straight out of the Marc Cucurella playbook - grow your hair so long that opposition players can’t help but pull on it, getting them sent off. Very clever. Tactical genius.
Something in the Old Firm 🏴
Another week, another Old Firm derby - three in a row! This time, in the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) and the bragging rights belonged to Rangers once again.
This terrific freekick by Katie Williamson was the pick of the bunch for the Govan side who put FIVE goals past Celtic in an emphatic 5-2 win that moves them three points clear at the top of the table.
Something cheeky
The National League is the place for some top shithousery!
Check out this celebration by John Marquis who netted a hat trick for Woking in their 5-2 win over Carlisle United. As if the goalline celebration wasn’t enough, check out the handshake fake! Brutal.
Something nerdy
Ousmane Dembele has heard of Oldham Athletic of the English fourth tier and it’s all thanks to Football Manager!
The Ballon d’Or winner is apparently a big FM-head and had this to say to an Oldham Athletic support who asked him a question in an interview. Dembele to Oldham - you heard it here first!
Something reunited 🤝
Look away Liverpool fans or start making your excuses about onions being cut in the same room as you… 😢
Jurgen Klopp had a big bear hug for Virgil Van Dijk before Germany took on the Netherlands in Friday’s UEFA Nations League encounter. Andoni Iraola could never!
Some TSD content you might have missed… 🗞️
🇺🇾 Can Diego Forlan fix what Bielsa broke as Uruguay manager?
The former striker has inherited a mess after a disastrous 2026 World Cup!