Bishwajit Roy

For a team that has spent much of its 25-year Test journey searching for consistency, Bangladesh have often produced something more valuable: moments that refuse to be forgotten.

Injuries, questionable selection calls and familiar off-field distractions have once again overshadowed what should have been a defining moment in Bangladesh's Test journey.

"At the World Cup will be the best Rodri and next season will be the best Rodri." Those words from Pep Guardiola, spoken while Rodri was still recovering from the injury, sounded more like an act of faith than a prediction.

When Lionel Messi walks onto the pitch in New Jersey in the early hours of Monday (Bangladesh time) to face Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will reach its final act.

The quality of football has rarely dipped. Every match seemed to offer something worth watching -- tactical masterclasses, stunning goals, dramatic comebacks, controversial refereeing decisions or stories that extended well beyond the pitch.

Despite the celebrations, neither Thomas Tuchel nor Lionel Scaloni attempted to mask their teams' shortcomings.

France produced a performance that stripped away the romance and reminded everyone why they remain one of international football's gold standards.

Belgium did not spend the night trying to revisit those debates. They simply demonstrated that while power can influence headlines, it cannot guarantee outcomes.