| The ultimate World Cup thread 22:40 - Jun 11 with 252973 views | Logman |
Think we need a designated thread for general World Cup 2026 chat. There only seem to be the England and sweepstake ones so far.
Well that opening game got me nodding off nicely. VAR/the laws of the game the talking points as always. Well done FIFA. Not long before the highlights are just a reel of refereeing/VAR decisions.
When does the EFL start ?
[Post edited 11 Jun 22:41]
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:19 - Jun 30 with 2483 views | BrianMcCarthy |
They're being very arrogant just now, taking the píss out of the oppo with flicks and stuff....
Hope that doesn't last. |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:20 - Jun 30 with 2476 views | daveB |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:18 - Jun 30 by Wegerles_Stairs |
Wait - Olise is from Hammersmith?  |
yep, massive cock up not to get him playing for England |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:30 - Jun 30 with 2408 views | BrianMcCarthy |
What do you do with them?
They defend with all eleven deep, sometimes all eleven ten yards inside their own half.
Then they hunt you there and when they win it they attack in huge numbers, using that savage pace.
If then they win a goal kick or a corner, they camp ten yards inside your half, knowing they have the pace to beat you if you go over the top. | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:34 - Jun 30 with 2372 views | ted_hendrix |
What a goal. |  |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:45 - Jun 30 with 2315 views | MrSheen |
Pulling wings off a fly would be more of a fair fight than this game. Maybe a team like Morocco would rattle France out of their groove, but I doubt it. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:47 - Jun 30 with 2311 views | connell10 |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:45 - Jun 30 by MrSheen |
Pulling wings off a fly would be more of a fair fight than this game. Maybe a team like Morocco would rattle France out of their groove, but I doubt it. |
Let's see how they do when they play a good team. |  |
| AND WHEN I DREAM , I DREAM ABOUT YOU AND WHEN I SCREAM I SCREAM ABOUT YOU!!!!! | | Poll: | best number 10 ever? |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:58 - Jun 30 with 2259 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:47 - Jun 30 by connell10 |
Let's see how they do when they play a good team. |
Fair point, Connell.
And that's the hard thing to judge right now. As talented as they are, have they the real grit, tactics and pure bollix to beat the few teams left who're used to winning, and know how to win? | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 00:15 - Jul 1 with 2189 views | GroveR |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:30 - Jun 30 by BrianMcCarthy |
What do you do with them?
They defend with all eleven deep, sometimes all eleven ten yards inside their own half.
Then they hunt you there and when they win it they attack in huge numbers, using that savage pace.
If then they win a goal kick or a corner, they camp ten yards inside your half, knowing they have the pace to beat you if you go over the top. |
All true and they're awesome to watch in full flow but Sweden were shockingly negative. Two of the most expensive strikers in the Premier league and they couldn't be arsed to get above a jog. Only the keeper and Elanga looked interested.
Japan showed, albeit briefly, what ratting down the ball can achieve even if you're outclassed technically. |  | | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 00:26 - Jul 1 with 2160 views | connell10 |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:47 - Jun 30 by connell10 |
Let's see how they do when they play a good team. |
I'm just stating a fact , none of the teams they have played are world beaters, don't think my observation deserves a tick down. | |
| AND WHEN I DREAM , I DREAM ABOUT YOU AND WHEN I SCREAM I SCREAM ABOUT YOU!!!!! | | Poll: | best number 10 ever? |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 01:25 - Jul 1 with 2079 views | SydneyRs |
France barely got out of second gear. Didn't need to. Maybe only FIFA's desire for another Argentina/Messi moment can stop them? | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 03:41 - Jul 1 with 1972 views | Match82 |
Blimey Mexico are looking absolutely lethal. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 04:53 - Jul 1 with 1945 views | FredManRave |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 03:41 - Jul 1 by Match82 |
Blimey Mexico are looking absolutely lethal. |
Yeah, good luck to which ever team has to face them in the next round, again at the Azteca! |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 05:13 - Jul 1 with 1925 views | CLAREMAN1995 |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 04:53 - Jul 1 by FredManRave |
Yeah, good luck to which ever team has to face them in the next round, again at the Azteca! |
England V Mexico looks a lot more attractive now that Mexico have won 4 games in a row without giving up a goal.
Plus they did not kill themselves in the second half either and its probably going to be way hotter Sunday the storms kept it down tonight.
Arsenal's Hincapie showed pretty bad sportsmanship he went face to face basically headbutting the Mexican guy before he covered his mouth and got his marching orders with the game basically over |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 05:25 - Jul 1 with 1907 views | Match82 |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 05:13 - Jul 1 by CLAREMAN1995 |
England V Mexico looks a lot more attractive now that Mexico have won 4 games in a row without giving up a goal.
Plus they did not kill themselves in the second half either and its probably going to be way hotter Sunday the storms kept it down tonight.
Arsenal's Hincapie showed pretty bad sportsmanship he went face to face basically headbutting the Mexican guy before he covered his mouth and got his marching orders with the game basically over |
Presuming we get past Congo I think we'll lose to Mexico there. They look the best to me of any team at the world cup outside France and Argentina. I'm sure some of that is the venue...but that doesn't exactly help us out considering that's where we would be playing them. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 05:53 - Jul 1 with 1892 views | Toast_R |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 05:25 - Jul 1 by Match82 |
Presuming we get past Congo I think we'll lose to Mexico there. They look the best to me of any team at the world cup outside France and Argentina. I'm sure some of that is the venue...but that doesn't exactly help us out considering that's where we would be playing them. |
Well, theyve had a pretty easy run so far havent they?
Again, lets see how good they are against a team that will attack rhem with world class players. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 06:23 - Jul 1 with 1860 views | Mick_S |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:18 - Jun 30 by Wegerles_Stairs |
Wait - Olise is from Hammersmith? |
Professional footballer Michael Olise—who plays for Bayern Munich and the France national team—attended The Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School, a Roman Catholic academy located in Ickenham, London Borough of Hillingdon, near West Drayton.
My son (and lots of other kids) played against him. |  |
| Did I ever mention that I was in Minder? |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 06:40 - Jul 1 with 1807 views | HAYESBOY |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 06:23 - Jul 1 by Mick_S |
Professional footballer Michael Olise—who plays for Bayern Munich and the France national team—attended The Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School, a Roman Catholic academy located in Ickenham, London Borough of Hillingdon, near West Drayton.
My son (and lots of other kids) played against him. |
Born in White City and at a young age moved to Hayes where he then grew up.
Went to Dr Tripletts juniors just of Church Rd in Hayes. |  |
| Smells like a trout farm in here |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 07:37 - Jul 1 with 1717 views | Paddyhoops |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 06:23 - Jul 1 by Mick_S |
Professional footballer Michael Olise—who plays for Bayern Munich and the France national team—attended The Douay Martyrs Catholic Secondary School, a Roman Catholic academy located in Ickenham, London Borough of Hillingdon, near West Drayton.
My son (and lots of other kids) played against him. |
Might be an overstretch but he’s probably the best footballer I’ve seen at this World Cup .
Absolute world class and the French are a joy to watch . | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:23 - Jul 1 with 1624 views | TK1 |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 23:58 - Jun 30 by BrianMcCarthy |
Fair point, Connell.
And that's the hard thing to judge right now. As talented as they are, have they the real grit, tactics and pure bollix to beat the few teams left who're used to winning, and know how to win? |
France are probably more used to winning than any other group, more grit, bollox and definitely tactics too.
Core of team been together a while and they got to the last World Cup final and won the WC before that. Players have this season won domestic league titles and some the Champion League (back to back), coached by a guy who captained teams to win a WC, Euro, CL and domestic titles in France and Italy, and has subsequently won the WC already as a coach.
Hard to think of a team and management with more experience of winning in this tournament. More winners than Spain, possibly Argentina.
They'll be tested by Morocco and then Spain (in theory) before a final, but it's their's to lose.
Think those questions actually apply most of all to England who, Croatia aside, haven't beaten a good team in a crunch match for a very long time. | | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:35 - Jul 1 with 1575 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Fair summation of France, TK1.
We'll see. | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:31 - Jul 1 with 1486 views | TheChef |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 08:35 - Jul 1 by BrianMcCarthy |
Fair summation of France, TK1.
We'll see. |
I can't see how France don't get to the final at a bare minimum - let alone their starting eleven, the amount of talent they have off the bench is insane. And they've got to the last two finals so they know what it takes.
Our side of the draw I'd expect it to be Argentina to make the final again; although Norway are my dark horses, reckon they've got enough to beat Brazil in the next round and go further. |  |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:38 - Jul 1 with 1474 views | BklynRanger |
Was interesting hearing Eddie Hearn on Lineker's Netflix show , talking about a possible Mexico - England game.
He was pretty open about being no more than a casual football fan but he was all over the idea of attending that fixture. Talked from his boxing experience about the pandemonium there'll be across the city, on the way to the ground, before you even get in there.
Worth staying up for the atmosphere alone, assuming a result today of course. |  | | |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:39 - Jul 1 with 1472 views | TheChef |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 05:13 - Jul 1 by CLAREMAN1995 |
England V Mexico looks a lot more attractive now that Mexico have won 4 games in a row without giving up a goal.
Plus they did not kill themselves in the second half either and its probably going to be way hotter Sunday the storms kept it down tonight.
Arsenal's Hincapie showed pretty bad sportsmanship he went face to face basically headbutting the Mexican guy before he covered his mouth and got his marching orders with the game basically over |
A lot more attractive for who??  | |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:49 - Jul 1 with 1412 views | Konk |
If England get through, it is going to be really, really tough against Mexico. I saw a meaningless league fixture at the Azteca and it was proper loud when it got going. It also seems relatively tight/on top of the pitch considering the size of the place. It will be absolutely bouncing, the city will be heaving with fans on the way to the ground, and then you have to deal with the altitude and temperature. Fans apparently making loads of noise all night outside the Ecuador hotel on the eve of the game. Plus they look a decent side! |  |
| Fulham FC: It's the taking part that counts |
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| The ultimate World Cup thread on 10:14 - Jul 1 with 1347 views | Watford_Ranger |
| The ultimate World Cup thread on 09:49 - Jul 1 by Konk |
If England get through, it is going to be really, really tough against Mexico. I saw a meaningless league fixture at the Azteca and it was proper loud when it got going. It also seems relatively tight/on top of the pitch considering the size of the place. It will be absolutely bouncing, the city will be heaving with fans on the way to the ground, and then you have to deal with the altitude and temperature. Fans apparently making loads of noise all night outside the Ecuador hotel on the eve of the game. Plus they look a decent side! |
For all the typical England, won’t turn up when it matters etc. stuff, we should have enough to beat them even factoring that all in. Some tasty scenes in the stands with the no segregation last night and could imagine it not going down brilliantly should we play there and win.
The choice of ref will be important in the circumstances. | | | |
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