The World Cup is an occasion for joy, wonder, and discovery — of the enthusiasm of fans, of the talents of unheralded squads, of the new prowess known favorites will deploy. But also, it seems, an occasion for many to rediscover the temptations of easy demonization and flat political generalizations. We are thrilled to see our Argentine side show again why fútbol is the beautiful game, accompanied by polemics from the usual suspects, like the UK Tory press or our traditional rivals in Brazil.

However, it’s been surprising to see the progressive media across the Anglo-American world take up the most ridiculous and unfounded claims about our country as a whole. All the lazy articles with titles playing on a certain Andrew Lloyd Webber production are definitely a sign. Anglo-American commentary has lost its mind, blending bitter “VAR-gentina” conspiracies with potted claims about race and (in-this-case-only justified) outrage over Argentine president Javier Milei’s fawning relationship with Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu.

Gritting our teeth and bearing it, in this vigil before the final match we dare say a couple of things. Above all, allow yourself to enjoy the game, let the beauty of it all sink in, root for whoever you want. Rewatch Cabo Verde’s Sidny Lopes Cabral score against Argentina until you fall asleep, look for new angles to discover another genius touch in the collective masterpiece ending in Lautaro Martínez’s header against England, rejoice in the naïf rowing of the Norwegians, the prodigious talents of Kylian Mbappé, the elegance of Mo Salah. Close your eyes and envision the adventures of the many players born in slums and now parading as Greek demigods. But don’t fall for the moralizing, for the flattening of the features of entire nations, for the lecturing of entire fandoms.