Turkey suspended their league campaign before the play-offs to help coach Montella. He eventually advanced to the next round and will enjoy the World Cup from the bench, on the ground.

In Italy—we wrote this before the final against Bosnia—the Serie A Federation and League made a spectacular blunder, underestimating the problem of a team lacking in talent and assembled in a matter of hours. The championship continued as normal, and goodbye to the World Cup. You won a World Cup and a European Championship on penalties, and it can't always go your way.

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