World Cup 2026

[HVC]

Some aussies are getting deported

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZsIZn2T71y

[Sheilbh]

Annoying (for the Americans) thing is that's a chant that can work for literally any (English-speaking) team

It's going to go far

[Jacob]

Some aussies are getting deported

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZsIZn2T71y

From Vancouver? I don't think so.

[HVC]

They're playing in Seattle in two days

[Sheilbh]

[Valmy]

Wait is England...actually really good? Huh.

[HVC]

It always starts with false hope. Don't fall for it

[Richard Hakluyt]

4th ranked in the world apparently.

I expect Argentina will knock us out. I'm tempted to put a hedging bet on them so that when they do at least I'll have some benfit from it. 9-1 to win the WC.

[Josquius]

I do suspect its less England are especially good and more most of the traditionally good teams are currently at a bit of a low.

England do seem way too Kane reliant.

[Zoupa]

I have to say the rules on time wasting are a godsend. Notable improvement on throw ins, corners, goal kicks and substitutions. The hydration break is an obvious ad grab though.

[garbon]

Some aussies are getting deported

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZsIZn2T71y

Was a bit lame.

[Sheilbh]

Wait is England...actually really good? Huh.

England has reached at least the quarter finals of every major tournament since 2018 - so I think there has been an improvement for a while now. But I think the coach matters a lot. As I say I think Southgate was necessary as a reset, but I think Tuchel is a far better coach. I said it yesterday but making subs at 3-2 there is no way that Southgate would bring on three attacking players who then contribute to score a fourth.

I think part of that is playing to the strengths of the team we've got. I'm not sure England are really good but I think they might be quite fun. I love Pickford but I think there are probably questions about the defence (particularly Stones-Konsa) - and they were a bit switched off a few times in the first half. But on the attacking side, Kane scored 60+ goals for Bayern last season. Bellingham and Gordon play for Madrid and Barcelona (Rashford also just back from Barcelona and was fantastic) and Madueke and Saka have just had very good seasons and won the league with Arsenal. Having said all that - I think solid defences tend to do a lot better than fun attacks in tournaments :phe34r:

As a slight aside I do also think it's basically good for English football in general that we've got players playing at high levels in other countries like Kane, Rashford and Bellingham last season. I hope it carries on - especially interesting careers like Bellingham's who may never play in the Premier League.

I have to say the rules on time wasting are a godsend. Notable improvement on throw ins, corners, goal kicks and substitutions. The hydration break is an obvious ad grab though.

To be honest the most patriotic I felt watching England-Croatia was the massive, massive boos by English and Croatian fans for the hydration break in an air conditioned 20 degree stadium

Agree on the rest and still intrigued at why there's so much less VAR kerfuffle.

[Grey Fox]

So far, set pieces have been poor for every team.

[Duque de Bragança]

Goal of the day by Marnic for Bosnia!
SWI 3 BOS 1
Bosnians playing with 10 players only (red card):

Nice dive by the Swiss for the 4-1 penalty though.

Deserved victory, all in all.

[HVC]

Goal! Let's go Canada!