World Cup 2026

[sussexpob]

Anyone else think Congo isn't a walk over? Yea it's a good draw and will take it but they have some quality players in that side

The defence is relegation PL candidate quality being extremely generous, but more like a top 10 Championship team. The two wingers are both middling quality players who play in the secondary level of top leagues for average sides, and are rubbish. The CM has Sadiki who is good, but they play two DMs and have little attacking threat. The forwards are composed of a guy who couldn't buy a goal at a host of mid-level European clubs for a decade and a half and is now 36 and past it, and Wissa... who had an absolutely rubbish season at Newcastle where he couldn't hit a barn door.

I expect a very similar game to the last two. DR Congo with 10 behind the ball and hoofing it to Wissa.... if they concede early, England could smash them, but more likely a ground out 1/2 nil

[Gingerfinch]

Probably be a nervy win, unless, like Sussex says, we get an early goal

Gotta feel sorry for Iran. Had a last minute goal rules out (correctly) for off-side and then saw Austria grab a last minute equaliser.

[sussexpob]

Gotta feel sorry for Iran.

Not for me. I can't wait to see the back of these types of 11 men behind the ball, fouling, time wasting teams. You can't complain you just get knocked out, when in every game you only showed any interest in scoring goals when you absolutely needed to.

When they did try to score, they looked ok. So why just camp and wait to be knocked out.

[alfie]

Congo might not be a walkover as I presume they will opt to play that wretched ultra defensive game that England struggle to break down. But I reckon England will manage to do better than that dreadful Ghana match now they are through to the serious stuff. Never lost to an African team at WC , have they ? Would be a bad time to break that habit !

[Gingerfinch]

Gotta feel sorry for Iran.

Not for me. I can't wait to see the back of these types of 11 men behind the ball, fouling, time wasting teams. You can't complain you just get knocked out, when in every game you only showed any interest in scoring goals when you absolutely needed to.

When they did try to score, they looked ok. So why just camp and wait to be knocked out.

I've not seen them play, apart from highlights.

Still, they will be absolutely gutted in the manner they went out

[sussexpob]

This has been a brilliant game, Japan v brazil

[Gingerfinch]

Yeah Brazil on top. Vini Junior's attempt would have been goal of the tournament but for a good save from their keeper

[sussexpob]

Yeah Brazil on top. Vini Junior's attempt would have been goal of the tournament but for a good save from their keeper

Brilliant wasn't it. He's such a good player when he's on...

[Gingerfinch]

Gone a bit flat now

Picking up again now!!!

[Gingerfinch]

A deserved winner

[sussexpob]

Japan went Southgate. Just got locked in

[Gingerfinch]

Japan went Southgate. Just got locked in

They did

Remined me of the CL final

[Durhamfootman]

An awful half for Germany, by the looks of it. I only watched the last 20 mins, but they couldn't kick their way through a paper bag while I was watching.

Paraguay were refusing to play outside their own half, then suddenly bang, bang... great cross, unmarked, easy header 1-0

[Durhamfootman]

the second half for Paraguay may very well be full Southgate

and it might be good enough

[bigfluffylemon]

Germany.