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.
Suppose you need to make up a few bob after your 70/1 flopped today.
Best of luck.
Jesus Pickford is quite unlikeable.
Ah that was just a thought, I don't put money on
Morocco at 110-1 to win WC is interesting
That means if you put €50 on Morocco to win the WC you will definitely loose €50
Fair play to Southgate, starting Henderson proved to be a great move.
Good save by Pickford at 0-0
Not sure Bellingham will have the license to roam forward as much vs France. Walker and Shaw will be tested far more by Djembele and Mbappe.
Good result for England after their poor start.
They'll need to be on it from the start against France, but the French defence have their own issues and are still without a clean sheet in the tournament. I can see that quarter-final being a tight one, and maybe going to extra time, penalties. That's the Saturday evening game. It should be a cracker.
Sam Matterface asking Lee Dixon might England use a back three vs France with Dixon suggesting more like a back six, and he's probably not wrong either.
minimum requirement done for england their real wc starts v france
For all the talent they have, they've an awful habit of playing within themselves and not driving on to cause damage against teams that have a low block - having Henderson on the pitch is a decent antidote to that as a proper leader. The fella literally never stops talking (was really interesting to hear him during the covid matches in empty stadiums), he's constantly at the players around him to keep the pressure on and keep pushing up in support of the attack, and keep everyone mentally switched on. And then is still more than capable on the footballing side too.
Might not make their first 11 on present footballing ability alone, but the mentality side makes him a valuable addition worth his spot. No harm getting used to this more solid structure now to have it well drilled against the likes of France anyway. Would expect this team to start again in the next game (pending injuries).
Starts now surely.
A Senegalese side without Mane and Gueye gave them lots of it in the first half, should have been ahead. Bellingham was good, their best player, and Henderson's energy helped turn the tide. They can't make the same errors against France though, giving away bad passes to the likes of Mbappe will be punished. Henderson struggles nowadays to play games quickly together, he has until Saturday so he may be OK. I thought both Walker and Kane looked off the pace, the game might help Walker but I can see France testing that side and he had better be at 100 percent.
I still can't figure out what Walker does that gets him a contract with a team as big as Man City.
If England play a back 4 and he gets dragged around by Mbappe then Theo is gonna have a great time on that wing.
Anyone hear any update on Sterling's absence?
Its mad that England has lost 2 players to personal issues. Good for England as it forces Southgate to play the much better Foden.
A break in at his home in Surrey, flew home , I find it a bit extreme to fly home for this though, unless family was harmed, but it's not the case, just shook up I'd imagine.
Reports that an armed break-in took place at his home in Surrey on Saturday night, with his family at home while intruders invaded.
I could totally understand wanting to be with his partner and kids in that event alright.
Two tasty quarter-finals already. Bottom right looks like a battle in Iberia, even though Spain will have a real game on their hands. I presume we can now go and tip Japan for a win, while Neymar-powered Brazil should easily beat South Korea.
True.
I'm sure he'll get back for Saturday
Morocco will give Spain a good run for it I reckon, is Neymar back? Thought I read he would likely miss the rest of the tournament, Vini Jr is their key man in attack anyway in all honesty. If they keep him and Casemiro fit, they should come through in another tough game v Korea
I'm no fan of England at all but I found Darragh Maloney and Ronnie Whelan to be quite childish in their anti English bias. Darragh was practically watering at the mouth when he thought Senegal were going to get a pen with the Stones' handball and Ronnie came across so bitter after England’s first goal.
Ronnie did seem to ease a bit at least when he realised England were going to cruise to victory
Suspect Tite might leave him on the bench and only bring him on if they are as sh1t as against Cameroon...
If Neymar doesn't play are they going to have another ego wnking funeral procession for him ?
Walker is a versatile and intelligent footballer that is why. He can adapt his game when required when England need to change shape. I view him as a Dutch type mentality player. There is an interview he did with five live or Talksport a few months ago. Where he spoke very articulately about different tactical nuances and changes of position. He is no fool.
RTE coverage of anything to do with English soccer is always odd. They don’t know whether to boo/cheer. Even Sadilier felt awkward wanting England to beat Senegal so they can play France.
Even at club level I always get the impression the RTE commentary are ‘shouting’ for British teams in Europe. The tone is different really odd state of affairs. I suppose it reflects a lot of Irish society. Total confusion for a lot of people.
But then it results in a bit of an identity crisis if an opposing footballer says Ireland play ‘British football’. Or are a British side. But all the Irish national players play in Britain!
I had to laugh today how Bono’s young one was bristling having being called ‘British’ by the NY times. But I think the confusion for ‘more distant’ foreigners is understandable. Ireland’s Close ties to Britain -same language, similar jurisprudence to England. Also similar cultural values - pop culture - music - film - sport- pub culture- sport and so on.
Being called 'British' by the NY times is not understandable. This isn't some idiot being asked random geography questions on the street.
Well she is from West Britain 🤣
Didn’t notice any particular anti-English bias last night, I think commentators in general have a tendency to sound more excited when the favourite for the match concedes or has a chance of losing. It was the same when Argentina lost to the Saudis and both Japan games.
Anyway, even if there was, it’s fairly normal for country to want to see a neighbour lose. I know plenty of Brazilians that feel the same way about Argentina that many Irish feel about England!
Our commentators are actually pretty bland. I would say we are far more kind to the former colonial masters than Moroccan TV will be to the Spanish tomorrow.
This was the ad that an Argentinian condom company designed before a BRA vs ARG game, showing what Argentina would do to Brazil
Brazil won the game, and their football federation placed this ad after the match!
I wasn’t going to go there the accents would be indistinguishable to American ears. Plus would we know the difference between Laos/Vietnam for example? It is over that direction somewhere.
If you look at it from a football context. Ireland’s greatest goal scorer has picked up a few phrases like ‘ever so well’ from his time in England.
And when in America I saw him in clips where he said the American type of pronunciation of defence/offence. ‘Dee-fence’ etc
As for Ireland and England rivalry in soccer. Is it really a ‘rivalry’ ? It has not been a competitive one since the mid to late 90’s.
And from an English point of view Ireland does not even register on their radar as a rival .
But the English might ‘cheer’ Ireland as one of the ‘home nations’ if Kenny does manage a miracle and get Ireland to the Euros proper. In a way I find that more annoying- pat on the head stuff.
I don’t see England beating France. But I honestly would consider myself neutral, makes no difference to me. Unless I had money on it.
