World Cup 2022 - Team and Match Discussion

He looks so confident and sure of himself. How the hell is he only 19? I finally see now why every club in football wants him.

A lot of rivalries are like that. England don't care about us and think Germany is their big rival but Germany don't give a sht about England. Germany measure themselves against the other big boys like Italy and Brazil.

Canada have USA but USA have Mexico and Mexico care a lot more about beating the South American sides.

Also we could have given England a game up until the Southgate era but that says a lot more about the state they were in rather than anything good about us.

Will be a tough game, and feel it's probably a good thing for England to meet a team like France this early. Would likely need to beat France if you want to win the tournament anyway as I'd have them as favorites to win the WC.

If England can get past them they should have nothing to fear from the other teams on their side of the draw and none of the teams on the other side have really stood out either.

Deschamps is very pragmatic and a bit like Southgate in how he thinks international football should be played.

I think he would rather England have the ball (which they are not very good at) than risk being caught on the counter.

Both teams pretty similar in their strengths and weaknesses. Especially in goals where surely between Loris and Pickford the law of averages says one of them will fk up. I don't think either is no.1 for their country but loyalty and circumstances sees them starting.

Why do the Japanese fans tidy up after themselves answered here -

Would throw money on it being 0-0 or 1-1 and going to penalities. Southgate will switch to his preferred three CBs with possibly Walker RCB and Trippier RWB to double up on Mbappe. Only question would be does he go midfield two of Rice and Bellingham with three attackers, or keep that midfield trio to match France in midfield and go with someone to partner Kane and have Bellingham playing as the advanced of the midfield trio.

That was beautiful football from Japan, should have been a goal.

Really enjoying watching the Japanese. Very smart footballers by the looks of it.

The goal stands. 1-0 Japan. They have been the better team I think, just about.

Was listening to some ex-pros this morning. Not in the media - just eaves-dropping.

They all wondered how come Bellingham wasn't taken out before he got the pass away for the opener. Apparently that would have been the "football" thing to do. Take a yellow, stop a goal.

Croatia are level. Excellent header.

I'd love to see Croatia f*ck off home. I know it's ingrained in the game, but the amount of roaring/screaming these 'men' are doing with minimal contact is pathetic.

We're going to have our first bout of extra time in this World Cup. 1-1 at full-time.

Japan were very good in the first half...deserved the lead.

But Croatia gradually inched their way back into it and have been very very slowly turning the screw since they got the goal.

Will be surprised if this doesn't go to penalties tbh