World Cup 2026

[Sheilbh]

I must say I'm enjoying some of the banter on r/threelions right now

Absolutely love Spain. That Cucurella seems like a nice chap, I've always said so.

I don't want to say he's the only reason I might not be able to support Spain - but he is large one

[Zoupa]

So the world is Spanish now right?

Yes so I can say portugal could have won, but we're beaten by the best in a close game 

Yeah, you have a stronger case now that England is out. If England had made it to the final there would always have been a question of the wire tip goal

There would never had been that question because it had no impact. You need to let it go. Even the Norwegians admitted they were well beaten on the day.

It led directly to a goal, how can you say it had no impact?


And of course, the Norwegians are acting like good sports. They are good sports, but that doesn't change the fact that the ball hitting the camera wire led directly to a goal and should never have happened.

Of course it should never had happened, but in the grand scheme of football things that never should have happened this isn't even a footnote.

[Zoupa]

I must say I'm enjoying some of the banter on r/threelions right now

Absolutely love Spain. That Cucurella seems like a nice chap, I've always said so.

I don't want to say he's the only reason I might not be able to support Spain - but he is large one

I despise Cucurella, but the whole Argentina roster is, to a man, worse. More racist, less fairplay, just all around shitbirds. That includes Messi, who never disavowed those racist chants by his teammates.

[Sheilbh]

But this is the point one might question whether they got there despite him if these are his tactical decisions .

Oh well. Go Spain!

Just to return to this as Tuchel has been pretty defiant in his press afterwards - but it is made a bit more difficult in that this was exactly the criticism made of Southgate, and the diagnosis Tuchel gave of the Euros: "they were more afraid to drop out of the tournament than having the excitement and hunger to win it." Feels like after two years in charge the same problem happening again is an issue...

[crazy canuck]

So the world is Spanish now right?

Yes so I can say portugal could have won, but we're beaten by the best in a close game 

Yeah, you have a stronger case now that England is out. If England had made it to the final there would always have been a question of the wire tip goal

There would never had been that question because it had no impact. You need to let it go. Even the Norwegians admitted they were well beaten on the day.

It led directly to a goal, how can you say it had no impact?


And of course, the Norwegians are acting like good sports. They are good sports, but that doesn't change the fact that the ball hitting the camera wire led directly to a goal and should never have happened.

Of course it should never had happened, but in the grand scheme of football things that never should have happened this isn't even a footnote.

But that's a very different thing than saying it had no effect

[HVC]

Any update one why Bellingham slapped that dude in the head?

[Sheilbh]

No idea - seems very random. Especially as it came after him shaking hands with one of the Argentine players - only thing that occurs to me is that Bellingham speaks Spanish so if he said something maybe?

[Zoupa]

Keeping it classy as always, Argentinian players. Political messaging is strictly banned by FIFA. I'm sure there'll be dire consequences for lil golden boy Messi's team, right? Right guys?

[HVC]

They did the same thing a decade ago and got a slap on the wrist.

Also, favourite comment so far was:

"It was like a scooby doo episode where the bad guy takes off his mask and it's Gareth Southgate"

[garbon]

Also, favourite comment so far was:

"It was like a scooby doo episode where the bad guy takes off his mask and it's Gareth Southgate"

Of course, England is also the country that spawned this and its TV adaptation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_England

[Josquius]

Keeping it classy as always, Argentinian players. Political messaging is strictly banned by FIFA. I'm sure there'll be dire consequences for lil golden boy Messi's team, right? Right guys?

Yeah.... They need severe punishment for this shit. Using their win to push imperialist claims.
Just imagine anyone else pulled anything remotely like this.

Not happening of course.


Edit - actually don't need to imagine. Albania - Serbia

[Sheilbh]

They did the same thing a decade ago and got a slap on the wrist.

Also, favourite comment so far was:

"It was like a scooby doo episode where the bad guy takes off his mask and it's Gareth Southgate"

We brought in the guy who diagnosed that problem and was supposed to fix it and then he went and did it again.

I basically totally agree with Tim Vickery (BBC's South American football specialist - always really interesting):
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/videos/cedj1vl7y93o

And the weird thing is there was loads of criticism of the squad Tuchel picked - but it was clearly a squad with one purpose in mind which was basically to have pace and runners for games later in the tournament. So there might not be the sort of creativity you need to break down a solid defence but against "better" teams that would be pressing you you'd have runners to release and then Bellingham and Jude behind them to cause problems for the defence and score. So Tuchel designed his squad for one thing which was a game like Argentina and then took off the runners and put on an ever increasing array of centre-backs

As an England supporter with the possible exception of Mexico which was unique (down a man etc) I cannot think of a time when England have ever been able to soak up pressure for a sustained period of time. I also think that is a very brave strategy against Messi (would you like more of the ball? ) - it's up there with English centre-backs trying to knock it about at the back in things that cause immense stress because it never ends well.

Edit: And most damning stat - after England scored, we had 12% possession. Such an implosion.

Also very much not the main story, but I think it's a slight shame we won't have England fans booing the "half-time show" for thirty solid minutes and I hope the Spanish and Argentine fans make their feelings known.

Of course, England is also the country that spawned this and its TV adaptation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_England

Haven't seen the show - but the play was really good

[HVC]

People keep calling it an implosion. It's not. It's so much worse. It was a tactical decision.

Of course, England is also the country that spawned this and its TV adaptation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_England

Haven't seen the show - but the play was really good

Gaaaayyyyyy!!!!

[Duque de Bragança]

My second choice to add a star was England.

Not sure who to support on Sunday. Spain is definitely the more deserving of a win on their overall tournament than Argentina, imo.

Was the 3rd place game always a thing? They should scrap that. Talk about a bummer of a game for everyone involved.

At least as far back as 1966.

Your tribute to Eusébio and Lev Yashin is duly noted but since 1954 all World Cups had one. Some of them, from 1934 on had the bronze medal game as well, but not all, see 1950 and its weird tournament formula, not just the Maracanaço.

[Sheilbh]

People keep calling it an implosion. It's not. It's so much worse. It was a tactical decision.

Fair and point well taken.

Gaaaayyyyyy!!!!

I went with friends who are big football fans (I think two Saints season ticket holders and one Arsenal fan with a family season ticket) and it was the weirdest theatrical experience I've been to. It was a good play, Joseph Fiennes was fantastic and carried it - I think we had Dervla Kirwin as the sports psychologist who was great. But there were people in their football shirts getting all emotional with it too.

I also really enjoyed the very parodic sort of montage (one actor just playing them all) run through of England's recent managers - Sven shagging around, Don Fabio, Sam Allardyce with a pint of wine (I think they rightly decided there was limited comedic potential in Roy Hodgson.)