New rules have elevated the Football World Cup

The Football World Cup is currently experiencing a positive uplift, largely attributed to the introduction of new rules and the occurrence of unexpected upsets, writes columnist Anders Lindblad. With nearly half of the tournament's 104 matches already completed, Lindblad observes that the sport itself remains the central focus.

Lindblad acknowledges that he has not watched every minute of the tournament due to time constraints. However, his overall impression after this stage is surprisingly positive. He deliberately sets aside negative aspects, such as the Swedish team's defensive performance against the Netherlands and three unexciting 0-0 draws involving Ecuador-Curacao, Spain-Cape Verde, and Belgium-Iran.

The columnist highlights the new regulations and the surprising results as key positive factors contributing to the tournament's enhanced appeal. These elements appear to have generated more excitement and engagement among viewers.

Conversely, Lindblad points to the "water breaks" as a drawback, describing them as "invented." This suggests he views them as an unnecessary or artificial interruption to the flow of the game, detracting from the overall experience.