World Cup 2026

[Durhamfootman]

Ghana squeezed a last ditch 1-0 v Panama. Virtually the last kick of the game, I think

[Gingerfinch]

Re Emma Hayes

She mentioned that Cape Verde drawing was good for immigration.

As for Hayes. She's receiving quite a bit of stick on social media for her tactical analysis but she does make good points, unlike Roy Keane! Maybe not put her in place which looks like a kitchen? This is added fuel for some people to criticise her.

[Durhamfootman]

I haven't listened to anything the studio pundits have said at any match, so I can't comment on the points she makes. She has been a successful manager, so it isn't perhaps unreasonable to assume that she knows some football stuff

[mikesiva]

Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan

Diaz showing Liverpool what they're missing.

[Durhamfootman]

I'm tempted to think that the Konsa/Stones partnership needs some work. There does seem to be a general assumption that Stones should play and be partnered by one of Konsa/Guehi, but I'm not so sure. Stones is an experienced, cultured international centre back, but while he was out injured, Konsa and Guehi both played together and England conceded no goals in qualifying, so I'm guessing that they are now used to playing alongside each other and maybe they should be the default starters.

I also think O'Reilly is a very decent player, but Gordon seemed to have to do a fair bit of tracking back to cover for him defensively whenever he got forward, so I wonder whether he also contributed to England's sluggish and slightly passive defensive performance, especially given that James tended to get forward a lot too. And I don't like Rice sitting too deep, where he can suck the life out of England build up play. I'd prefer him to be further forward, linking up play and let O'Reilly sit a bit deeper. Anderson can easily cover the DM role, but he sometimes ended up as an old fashioned Centre Half between the 2 CB's whenever Croatia had the ball. I get that against the next strongest team in the group Tuchel probably wanted to set them up to be slightly more defensive and may not need to do that against Ghana and Panama, we'll see, but after Southgate, I can't be sure.

Bellingham has answered the No.10 question, btw. Rice was limping a bit when he came off, so Morgan might get an opportunity there in a less defensive set up. Speaking of Rice, I thought his set piece delivery was better last night than it was in the warm up games

[Durhamfootman]

It's a damned shame, because I fancied USA v Aus to be a good game, but it isn't

Australia haven't turned up at all. Totally dominated by America, who are first to everything and winning all (and I do mean all) of the duels. They were a bit fortunate with the opener, but they've deserved this 2-0 HT scoreline. Australia cannot get any sort of foothold in the game and consequently America are getting all the luck... every time the ball bobbles free it bounces kindly for them and Aus just can't catch a break. They are being completely overrun and haven't got the quality to break the shackles. I quite fancy one of the Aussies to get red carded in the second half, to add a bit of insult to injury, because that's just the way this game has gone

Disappointing. I thought I was going to be in for a closely fought, evenly matched contest, but not so... in the first half at least. Hard to see it improving in the second half

[mikesiva]

Morocco 1-0 Scotland
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Paraguay 1-0 Turkiye

Morocco and Brazil practically in the KOs. Turkiye go home.

[Durhamfootman]

Turkey have had 62 shots in two matches and have yet to score a goal

Scotland still alive despite losing to Morocco. It looked as though they were being lined up for a hammering, but with a bit of luck and a lot of graft, the only goal they conceded was the rocket after 2 mins. I presume that the 3rd placed finishers will need 3 points and a good GD, so Scotland could be in there as long as they don't get thumped by Brazil. Haiti were the first team to be eliminated now that the rules have been changed to using head to head results rather than GD to separate teams on the same points in their groups

[mikesiva]

Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast

Heartbreak for the Elephants, but both teams should advance to the knockout stage.

Japan 4-0 Tunisia

Japanese fans bring out the bin bags to tidy up after themselves.

[Durhamfootman]

Tunisia the latest team to exit the WC

Germany survived a scare, I see

[Durhamfootman]

Important that England don't muck it up against Ghana or Panama. They shouldn't, of course, but then again this is England..... and not even Southgate's England who was a master at getting it wrong and then fortuitously ending up on the soft side of the draw, this England will probably have to play Portugal in the last 32 if they make a Southgate error and don't finish top of the group. If they do top the table, then they face one of five possible 3rd placed finishers from groups E, H, I, J, or K.

Can you imagine having to play Portugal just to progress to the last 16? Refs being conned into sending England players off, losing on penalties, the whole shebang.... it's a horrifying thought

[Durhamfootman]

Spain race into a 3-0 lead over a hapless Saudi Arabia and are now content to just walk about with the ball. SA are happy to let them

[mikesiva]

Good to see Iran getting another draw, despite the ridiculous restrictions placed on them by the Americans.

So much for sports and politics being separate. That was always a farcical statement.

[Durhamfootman]

Goalless for Belgium v Iran

2 draws.... only

fortunately they can't be a 3rd placed opponent for England, should England not *modded* it up in the groups

[alfie]

Important that England don't muck it up against Ghana or Panama. They shouldn't, of course, but then again this is England..... and not even Southgate's England who was a master at getting it wrong and then fortuitously ending up on the soft side of the draw, this England will probably have to play Portugal in the last 32 if they make a Southgate error and don't finish top of the group. If they do top the table, then they face one of five possible 3rd placed finishers from groups E, H, I, J, or K.

Can you imagine having to play Portugal just to progress to the last 16? Refs being conned into sending England players off, losing on penalties, the whole shebang.... it's a horrifying thought

Of course it is not impossible that Portugal could end up as the third team in their group - in which case England might draw them by winning the group ! Really can't worry too much about permutations given the crazy expanded nature of this WC giving us a knockout round of 32 teams...just have to try and keep the winning habit. If you want to win the thing you have to be prepared to tackle anyone.

Not completely opposed to the 48 team thing despite my initial dislike of it. Has given some very small countries a chance to shine on the world stage - and a couple of them have already provided some thrills. Just hope we don't see too many weird results and draws and have several of the best teams eliminated too early...