Thread to discuss the football itself.
This is not a thread to discuss the hosting of the competition in Quatar.
You can discuss the hosting in the relevant thread.
He has been an embarrassment for his country at this World Cup.
Bale and Ramsey absolute frauds, stealing a living the last number of years for their clubs, Wales would of been better off bringing 2 younger players for the experience than those two passengers who haven't contributed a tap.
England are likely to meet France in the QF, I would be surprised if France did not win that easily enough.
That ref in the Iran USA game loves to be the centre of attention
I wouldn't right off Senegal beating them in the round of 16.
Look maybe he is injured but he wasn't even running during the first half to even half close people down. The absolute minimum you expect is someone to run no matter at what pace it is
It was a decent free kick no argument. But it was the goalie corner and it wasn't 'top corner'. Any decent PL goalie will save that.
I don't know what Ward was thinking. He was moving in the other direction just before the kick and wrong footed himself. Only for that he would have had it. Ward is a big drop from Schmeichel for Leicester.
Loved Queiros screaming and hopping on the sideline when 9mins injury time was announced.
I don’t buy that narrative at all. I think the truth is more Bale has been injury prone throughout his career. Played so many games from a young age and was a key player from a young age.
Similar to Michael Owen for England- the way Bale played meant burn out sooner than most, and more likely to get injured.
Ireland 2012 was horrendous. In 2012 for Ireland it was Spain, Italy and Croatia.
Wales had a conservative England that they didn't lay a glove on with USA and Iran. One decent half v USA.
They were shocking and both Bale and Ramsey have disgraced themselves towards the end of their careers.
Nothing in that.
USA are a 45 minute team it seems. The Dutch while not being impressive should dispose of them easily enough.
Both sides absolutely wrecked after the US Iran game
If Taremi actually focused on going for the ball there instead of flopping to the ground, he could have possibly gotten something from that ball in.
We also qualified with a team with a few of our legends who were sadly past it by the time the tournament came around.
Looks like Duff is wearing an Iran badge.
Na he sat on his hole and played golf and was flippant enough to laugh and joke about it.
Just cause people like the guy he seems to get off with getting paid to sit on the bench.
Well he won Real at leats one CL from the bench. If he wasn’t a good pro he would have sulked like Ronaldo is now. Only last year posters on the Ireland thread were saying - the only difference between Ireland and Wales was ‘world class’ Bale.
Glad the US got through - their teams have always tried to play the right way. They'll make it a more entertaining game against the Dutch than Iran would've. But - the US seem to burn out after 60 mins in every game which they'll not get away with against Holland.
Anything could happen in the England vs Senegal game. That could well be a 0-0 and penalties.
Ward very poor for the 3rd goal.
I think his play is open to critisism but he seems to attract a lot of hate due to him picking up the huge wages Madrid where silly enough to offer him.
He took a loan to spurs and Jose never played him much and I think they blocked a move of his to china at one stage also.
And the first. He's a poor keeper. If you find yourself 2nd choice behind Wayne Hennessy it should make you reconsider your life choices. Still, he's earning way, way, way more than me per week so I'm sure he's fine with life!
Ronaldo "won" a lot more Champions Leagues for Real than Bale did and a Euros too.
They both acted the bollix with clubs.
Whoever decided on the music for the rte player break thing, deserves a stint in guantanamo
Most players who sit on the bench and take the money get stick. I would say he has a lot more defenders than many similar players despite it.
I would agree that Bale hasn't really looked hungry and had not 'burned himself out' for a number of years..
Seemed happy enough to sit on the bench and play golf in Madrid and like @breezy1985 said he was making jokes about it on twitter. This went on for a while...
Then he showed up briefly at Spurs and wasnt doing too much there either. I don't know even weher he went after that. Is he playing MLS now?
He certainly didnt look top form whatsoever physically and his touch was off from the start today. Ramsey looked 'past it' too.
I mean look at this thread lots giving out about him doing that, he was perfectly entitled to that money and do what he did. I'm not sure its worth critisism myself
I was deffo critical of his effort to night but maybe he was carrying an Injury if he came off at half time.
A lot of this has to fall on the Wales manager he left a lot of energy and decent players on the bench. And you can't carry two players with no legs it was up to him to make that call
They also lacked any sort of a game plan even long balls up to Moore with the pace of Johnson and James would have been something.
Reports that Ronaldo is looking to claim Rashfords second goal
Is perfectly entitled to take the money but as people are pointing out it's a big factor in why a player of 33 looks completely finished.
That bloody tune gurgles and grinds around in my head for hours after a match!
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://w2.vanillicon.com/v2/2166e486d2270e36003cd1b3e3519b24.svg)
