World Cup 2022 thread (football only)

[Champfan45]

Maguire was the only English player that impressed me today. As much as I detest parking the bus he's effective when the priority is a clean sheet or protecting a lead. Tyler Adams was the best player on the pitch for me. I've seen where people have compared him to David Batty and while it's still early days that's probably his ceiling. For €17M he's one of the steals of the summer market.

Edited November 26, 2022 by Champfan45

[fgrsimon]

Calm down, calm down.

USA needed the win more then we did and you could see that. Unlike me, GS had worked out that a draw was enough tonight.

If you don't play well make sure you don't lose, the subs did that.

Take a step back, we're through to the next round (we won't lose 4-0 to Wales, whichever combination of 11 players we pick) after 2 games, can rest players in the next game and still everyone is complaining. Argentina and Germany would do anything to be in our position right now.

 

 

Edited November 26, 2022 by fgrsimon

[W-S-M Seagull]

1 hour ago, fgrsimon said:

Calm down, calm down.

USA needed the win more then we did and you could see that. Unlike me, GS had worked out that a draw was enough tonight.

If you don't play well make sure you don't lose, the subs did that.

Take a step back, we're through to the next round (we won't lose 4-0 to Wales, whichever combination of 11 players we pick) after 2 games, can rest players in the next game and still everyone is complaining. Argentina and Germany would do anything to be in our position right now.

 

 

But 1st place is far from guaranteed.

[sticks 1969]

Rule 1 qualify for World Cup TICK

Rule 2 get out of group top spot if possible TICK 

after that with a little luck anything can happen 

sit back and enjoy the ride 

[Port Said Red]

People are also forgetting that we are playing in a condensed tournament in stupid heat, the aim of these three games is to get through the group stages with the minimum of effort. 

[Bris Red]

Wasn’t vintage from England but the same bed wetting happened after the 0-0 draw with Scotland and we got to the final of that tournament and came within a few spot kicks from lifting a trophy.

Yes Southgate is negative but so far the guy has taken us further in tournaments than any other manager. His England teams aren’t pretty to watch but i really wouldn’t bet against us getting to the semi’s or final again in this tournament. 

[frenchred]

7 hours ago, pillred said:

So a team that got to the semi finals of the last world cup and the FINAL of the euro only last year is not by the fans expected to beat a team many places below us in the world rankings is embarrassing really? 

With all at his disposal he should be winning tournaments 

What's he won?

 

 

 

 

[Port Said Red]

1 minute ago, frenchred said:

With all at his disposal he should be winning tournaments 

What's he won?

Ridiculous statement. Since he became Manager, has he had more at his disposal than France, Germany, Brazil, Belgium? It's elite World Class competition, winning it is as rare as hens teeth. 

He has made us consistently competitive and that's an achievement in itself at this level. 

[Bris Red]

28 minutes ago, frenchred said:

With all at his disposal he should be winning tournaments 

What's he won?

 

 

 

 

Have you lived under a rock for the past 56 years or what? Have you not seen the countless managers that have tried and failed to get us to be competitive at international tournament level..

Just getting to the later stages of tournament football has proved impossible for the vast majority of previous England managers let alone winning things. Some have had better squads than what Southgate has at his disposal right now.

Some people in this country unfortunately are fairly deluded when it comes to international football. If people think winning world cups and euros is all about playing scintillating attacking football every game then they are very mistaken.

Just ask the Italians or the Germans - both countries masters at grinding out results and winning trophies not always playing pretty expansive football.

Edited November 26, 2022 by Bris Red

[Port Said Red]

3 minutes ago, Bris Red said:

Just ask the Italians or the Germans - both countries masters at grinding out results and winning trophies not always playing pretty expansive football.

It's the same people who are complaining about England who compliment the Germans for "knowing how to get through a tournament". 

[RedHienz]

Can we all agree that Southgate failed to either anticipate or deal with the playstyle of the USA.

Wales struggled with them in their first half and while second was a case of pressing and working the channels to get both possession and chances.

What's frustrating is Southgates complete inability to change a game. 

[Mr Hankey]

A point was a fair result, shame we didn’t see Foden but can clearly see why Mount is a managers favourite. Saw something online which said we are currently watching the generation of the “over-coached” which i sort of agree with & makes sense for a lot of 0-0’s - it’s all about safety first, backwards passes, stats & no real mavericks. Its a shame as it’s making football a very dull sport.

[RedRock]

No, I don’t get this ‘it’s a tournament’.

As a team we were disjointed, lacked any cohesion, plan and individuals were lethargic, hesitant and over-cautious. It wasn’t just bad, it was shockingly bad from the very first minute where we appeared to ‘revert to type’ with the ball being passed slowly, sideways, backwards and aimlessly in our defence. 

It’s clear from our first game and the pattern of the tournament so far, front foot, fast, aggressive pressing football is the way forward. That’s what Southgate promised us before the Tournament started. What we had last night was Southgate-ball - negative, back foot, lazy, safety -first shite. 

Let’s hope that Southgate is stung by the criticism and takes the brakes off. 

[italian dave]

38 minutes ago, Bris Red said:

Have you lived under a rock for the past 56 years or what? Have you not seen the countless managers that have tried and failed to get us to be competitive at international tournament level..

Just getting to the later stages of tournament football has proved impossible for the vast majority of previous England managers let alone winning things. Some have had better squads than what Southgate has at his disposal right now.

Some people in this country unfortunately are fairly deluded when it comes to international football. If people think winning world cups and euros is all about playing scintillating attacking football every game then they are very mistaken.

Just ask the Italians or the Germans - both countries masters at grinding out results and winning trophies not always playing pretty expansive football.

You’re right, of course. It’s just hard to remember and buy into that when you are sitting through a waste of 2 hours of life like yesterday evening. 

[Northern Red]

1 hour ago, frenchred said:

With all at his disposal he should be winning tournaments 

What's he won?

 

 

 

 

I don't think you actually believe this.

[Port Said Red]

40 minutes ago, RedHienz said:

Can we all agree that Southgate failed to either anticipate or deal with the playstyle of the USA.

Wales struggled with them in their first half and while second was a case of pressing and working the channels to get both possession and chances.

What's frustrating is Southgates complete inability to change a game. 

No I don't agree. Yes the US team played a different game to the Wales game. They realised that pressing against a more technically adept set of players was just going to wear them out again, like it did in the previous game. They adopted the sit back and hit them on the break mode. Southgate realised that they had the pace to play that way against our defence, so we just held them off. 

We tried to encourage the press by passing it around the back, with the hope of exploiting the space behind the pressers, but Americans for the most part were well disciplined. 

The important thing then was to not lose to a late breakaway goal, hence the substitutions. Grealish, who can create, but can also hold the ball and win fouls, Henderson for the tiring Bellingham etc. 

I think he did all that was necessary.

Edited November 26, 2022 by Port Said Red

[22A]

OK then; if England are going to have one bad performance in he tournament, hopefully last night was it.

One of the studio experts reminded us that during the Euros we were all depressed after a draw with Scotland, but still reached the final.

[Show Me The Money!]

2 hours ago, frenchred said:

With all at his disposal he should be winning tournaments 

What's he won?

 

 

 

 

Why should we be winning tournaments? Are we better than France, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, even Italy maybe (and they didn’t even qualify)? No, I don’t think we are

[RedHienz]

17 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

No I don't agree. Yes the US team played a different game to the Wales game. They realised that pressing against a more technically adept set of players was just going to wear them out again, like it did in the previous game. They adopted the sit back and hit them on the break mode. Southgate realised that they had the pace to play that way against our defence, so we just held them off. 

We tried to encourage the press by passing it around the back, with the hope of exploiting the space behind the pressers, but Americans for the most part were well disciplined. 

The important thing then was to not lose to a late breakaway goal, hence the substitutions. Grealish, who can create, but can also hold the ball and win fouls, Henderson for the tiring Bellingham etc. 

I think he did all that was necessary.

I think almost everyone knew they were going to counter with pace! It was extremely basic hence the stagnation to the game and frustration with the approach.

[Show Me The Money!]

1 hour ago, RedHienz said:

Can we all agree that Southgate failed to either anticipate or deal with the playstyle of the USA.

Wales struggled with them in their first half and while second was a case of pressing and working the channels to get both possession and chances.

What's frustrating is Southgates complete inability to change a game. 

So we can’t say that the USA played well and if England didn’t play well that it’s all Southgate’s fault and not the players at all.

[Seventeen]

Absolutely no creation and he brings on Henderson and leaves Trent and Foden on the bench. Didn’t even utilise all his subs 

[spudski]

England v Wales...state of this lot. It's like a comedy sketch. Some blokes even thumping his own head  

 

[Super]

Is there actually anyone that would have Mount ahead of Foden. Well apart from Southgate.

[Red-Robbo]

3 hours ago, Port Said Red said:

People are also forgetting that we are playing in a condensed tournament in stupid heat, the aim of these three games is to get through the group stages with the minimum of effort. 

 

Well, they certainly put that in... 

As a spectacle, it was awful. Going out to win helps build momentum. Teams with momentum win stuff.

[lenred]

6 minutes ago, Super said:

Is there actually anyone that would have Mount ahead of Foden. Well apart from Southgate.

It was frustrating - the one thing I didn’t agree with him on.  But if you watch his post match press conference he gives his reasons why Foden didn’t come on in quite a bit of detail and they are rational and thought through - even if you don’t agree. 

[Globe Trotter]

8 minutes ago, Super said:

Is there actually anyone that would have Mount ahead of Foden. Well apart from Southgate.

Still can’t get my head around that decision 

[RedHienz]

32 minutes ago, Show Me The Money! said:

So we can’t say that the USA played well and if England didn’t play well that it’s all Southgate’s fault and not the players at all.

Players play a formation and role outlined by the manager. Did he change anything after the first 45 to change the game?

Thats unless you think players just get on the pitch and do what they want.

USA played well. England have better players man for man across the pitch, unfortunately sitting deep doing anything but attacking.

[RedHienz]

4 minutes ago, Globe Trotter said:

Still can’t get my head around that decision 

Baffles me also. Unless he is injured.

[chinapig]

4 minutes ago, lenred said:

It was frustrating - the one thing I didn’t agree with him on.  But if you watch his post match press conference he gives his reasons why Foden didn’t come on in quite a bit of detail and they are rational and thought through - even if you don’t agree. 

I was actually confused by his explanation. His argument was that he didn't bring Foden on because he wanted to change the wide players and playing in midfield in this game didn't suit Foden.

So is he saying that Foden is in the squad as a midfielder and not a wide attacker?

[exAtyeoMax]

6 minutes ago, chinapig said:

I was actually confused by his explanation. His argument was that he didn't bring Foden on because he wanted to change the wide players and playing in midfield in this game didn't suit Foden.

So is he saying that Foden is in the squad as a midfielder and not a wide attacker?

He didn’t sound convinced himself. 

[robin_unreliant]

We played exactly the same side as the previous game but got a totally different performance. You might say it was due to USA being better but I have a feeling Iran may even beat them. 

Not sure how you can come up with any logical reason for the drastic difference in performance. I'm not a fan of GS and feel he holds us back. Can't blame him though for not making changes after a great performance in the first game. 

It did seem a definite ploy to pass around the back, expecting USA to press. They were too smart to fall for that and we were too slow to shift tactics. 

I don't get the outrage at not picking Foden. Neither he or Grealish have done much in previous England games. Bellingham has been over-hyped and he needs to drop Mount who is out of form. 

[Lanterne Rouge]

1-0 to the convicts.

[The Bard]

12 hours ago, downendcity said:

On the basis that we go through, far better to get a performance like that out of the way in the group stage 

Imagine going through with 3 sparkling performances only to hit the buffers with such a flat performance in the knock out stage.

 

Stop being so calm and logical.

To win a tournament you play 7 games.  No team has ever played well in all 7.

2006 Italy beat Aussies with a last minute penalty after a turgid performance.

2010 Spain lost 1st game to Swiss.

1982 Italy drew all 3 group games playing awful football.

 

 

[chinapig]

2 minutes ago, The Bard said:

Stop being so calm and logical.

To win a tournament you play 7 games.  No team has ever played well in all 7.

2006 Italy beat Aussies with a last minute penalty after a turgid performance.

2010 Spain lost 1st game to Swiss.

1982 Italy drew all 3 group games playing awful football.

 

 

Fair comment. There seems to be a belief that teams win the World Cup playing thrilling attacking football throughout, which tends not to be the case. France won in 2018 yet Deschamps was getting a lot of stick at home for being too cautious.

By their own admission the 2010 Spain side kept the ball for long periods to prevent the opposition from scoring. They won the competition with a succession of 1-0 wins; exciting they were not!

Whether all that justifies playing for a clean sheet against the USA remains a moot point though.

[Bris Red]

7 minutes ago, The Bard said:

Stop being so calm and logical.

To win a tournament you play 7 games.  No team has ever played well in all 7.

2006 Italy beat Aussies with a last minute penalty after a turgid performance.

2010 Spain lost 1st game to Swiss.

1982 Italy drew all 3 group games playing awful football.

 

 

This. 

Your Wasting your breath though pal, many in this country just don’t get international football.

[Sir Geoff]

33 minutes ago, chinapig said:

I was actually confused by his explanation. His argument was that he didn't bring Foden on because he wanted to change the wide players and playing in midfield in this game didn't suit Foden.

So is he saying that Foden is in the squad as a midfielder and not a wide attacker?

He said the reason for brining on Rashford was his pace. I thought the opposite to you that he was saying Fiden isn't a midfielder and therefore not a suitable midfield replacement.

 

[Red-Robbo]

5 minutes ago, The Bard said:

Stop being so calm and logical.

To win a tournament you play 7 games.  No team has ever played well in all 7.

2006 Italy beat Aussies with a last minute penalty after a turgid performance.

2010 Spain lost 1st game to Swiss.

1982 Italy drew all 3 group games playing awful football.

 

And, of course, there are other Cups you could mention where the eventual winners DID look handy in group games.

The US offered little bite, but what was disappointing wasn't the final score, but the manner of play and the fact that a team that didn't even arrive after their customary win in the CONCACAF sector had the best of it.  Imagine playing like that against Spain? Pickford would get a repetitive injury from picking the ball out of the net!

From a personal point of view, that's the only group game I will be watching, so it's disappointing it was such a poor spectacle for the fans. I regret angling my head to look at the screen rather than focussing on the tasty blonde lady on the far table. 

Hopefully, this blip of boredom has taught Southgate something, and a more attack-minded side can humiliate Wales. However, I feel anyone watching last night is quite right to feel disappointed and let down. The atmosphere in the boozer was as flat as the proverbial pancake after the game. 

[Open End Numb Legs]

I think when Southgate gets it right pre game it goes well, what he has shown is he struggles to adapt during the game when it isn't panning out the way he expected.

He was simply too slow to react last night in terms of subs, we played 2 touch football, US played 1 touch, our man marking in defence was very poor.

We have all the talent required, he just needs to make the right calls.

[chinapig]

24 minutes ago, Sir Geoff said:

He said the reason for brining on Rashford was his pace. I thought the opposite to you that he was saying Fiden isn't a midfielder and therefore not a suitable midfield replacement.

 

Maybe we heard different interviews as he didn't mention pace in the one I heard just that he wanted to change the wide players. Point taken though.

However pace isn't much use if you have no space to run into. I don't recall us ever switching the play to create that space for instance.

So if there is no space perhaps it's better to bring on someone who can beat players as Grealish at least tried to do.

[Show Me The Money!]

1 hour ago, RedHienz said:

Players play a formation and role outlined by the manager. Did he change anything after the first 45 to change the game?

Thats unless you think players just get on the pitch and do what they want.

USA played well. England have better players man for man across the pitch, unfortunately sitting deep doing anything but attacking.

If only football were that simple

[Ashtonboy]

Are Stones and Maguire the new chuckle brothers? Me to you , you to me!

[BigTone]

1 hour ago, Lanterne Rouge said:

1-0 to the convicts.

Tunisia fighting back but leaving it late.

[Port Said Red]

One good thing about this tournament being squeezed into a shorter period is that I am getting to know the players of other teams better. Usually I forget most of them from one game to another.

[Never to the dark side]

Viewing figures Iran 3.9 million

England v USA 15.9 million

 

[McNasty Filth]

7 minutes ago, Never to the dark side said:

Viewing figures Iran 3.9 million

England v USA 15.9 million

 

Do feel a bit sorry for the Yank Tv floating supporter. Just imagine being served up with that. How can they expect to grow the game out there when a pile of steaming manure is placed full and centre screen. No wonder they have such a negative view of soccer when all they have to wet the appetite is international football!!!! 

[Sheltons Army]

Fair play to the Aussies

The footage of the utter delight of Dukes son celebrating and responding to his Dads celebration , my favourite moment of the tournament to date

[ExiledAjax]

Well done Australia. Now make sure to salt the earth to head of any notions of revenge from those sneaky Tunisians.

[The Bard]

1 hour ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

And, of course, there are other Cups you could mention where the eventual winners DID look handy in group games.

The US offered little bite, but what was disappointing wasn't the final score, but the manner of play and the fact that a team that didn't even arrive after their customary win in the CONCACAF sector had the best of it.  Imagine playing like that against Spain? Pickford would get a repetitive injury from picking the ball out of the net!

From a personal point of view, that's the only group game I will be watching, so it's disappointing it was such a poor spectacle for the fans. I regret angling my head to look at the screen rather than focussing on the tasty blonde lady on the far table. 

Hopefully, this blip of boredom has taught Southgate something, and a more attack-minded side can humiliate Wales. However, I feel anyone watching last night is quite right to feel disappointed and let down. The atmosphere in the boozer was as flat as the proverbial pancake after the game. 

Mention them then?

Deschamps got pelters in France for being cautious and won the wc beating Argentina 4 3 and Croatia 4 2. He still gets criticised. Sir Alf was playing negative football apparently and would never win the wc.

Let's be honest, vast majority of criticism is sanctimonious horseshit.

[Calculus]

On 25/11/2022 at 12:13, Red-Robbo said:

 

Never understood that, as Sam Hammam (who now has no link to the club) was not Iranian, and more to the point, recent Ayatollahs have been horrible bastards. Might as well 'do the Hitler'. 

Never understood it myself either, but then that goes for much of fan humour and culture for me.

BTW, shouldn't let this go without congratulating you on the quickest demonstration of Godwin's Law I have ever seen. No messing about straight in with the H bomb. Brilliant!

[BigTone]

37 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

One good thing about this tournament being squeezed into a shorter period is that I am getting to know the players of other teams better. Usually I forget most of them from one game to another.

Forget who ?

[Mr Popodopolous]

We got the point and are in pole position to win the group but think we need to dominate those central areas a bit more to control the game better and both guard against the counter.

Unsure Mount in a central 3 does this and certainly vs better sides..I have certain tactical biases granted.

What about Rice, Foden, Bellingham in a genuine CM 3?

We only really played in fits and starts, bit disappointing.

Edited November 26, 2022 by Mr Popodopolous

[Red-Robbo]

19 minutes ago, Calculus said:

Never understood it myself either, but then that goes for much of fan humour and culture for me.

BTW, shouldn't let this go without congratulating you on the quickest demonstration of Godwin's Law I have ever seen. No messing about straight in with the H bomb. Brilliant!

 

Difficult to know who to compare Khomeini and Khameini to, but they are both hypocritical power-mad dictators and murderers. One name comes to mind....

[W-S-M Seagull]

6 hours ago, Port Said Red said:

People are also forgetting that we are playing in a condensed tournament in stupid heat, the aim of these three games is to get through the group stages with the minimum of effort. 

Hence why he should have made changes to the starting 11. We looked tired last night. 

[RedHienz]

1 hour ago, Show Me The Money! said:

If only football were that simple

Stellar reply. 

[big dosser]

2 hours ago, spudski said:

England v Wales...state of this lot. It's like a comedy sketch. Some blokes even thumping his own head  

 

just need some benny hill music and that is comedy gold,not one good punch between the lot of them and it looked like they were fighting on a ice 

[W-S-M Seagull]

13 minutes ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

We got the point and are in pole position to win the group but think we need to dominate those central areas a bit more to control the game better and both guard against the counter.

Unsure Mount in a central 3 does this and certainly vs better sides..I have certain tactical biases granted.

What about Rice, Foden, Bellingham in a genuine CM 3?

We only really played in fits and starts, bit disappointing.

Because for some bizarre reason Southgate considers Foden to be a winger. 

[Major Isewater]

23 hours ago, EstoniaTallinnRed said:

How does JP know all the info on most of these players, must do a lot of homework.

It’s his job to know isn’t it? 

[Midred]

Apparently FIFA's technical director has described Ronaldo as a genius for "winning" a penalty! I always was under the impression that a player was awarded a penalty. No doubt after hearing that Ronaldo will be "winning" alot more penalties! 

Seems to have the right credentials to be given a future job at FIFA! 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Because for some bizarre reason Southgate considers Foden to be a winger. 

That 3 then 2 of Mount, Sterling, Saka, Grealish and Maddison is what I'd like to see...wingers or fluidity around Kane I don't know- perhaps some games wider players, some games more fluid but I'd be keen to see that template.

[Red-Robbo]

23 minutes ago, The Bard said:

Mention them then?

Deschamps got pelters in France for being cautious and won the wc beating Argentina 4 3 and Croatia 4 2. He still gets criticised. Sir Alf was playing negative football apparently and would never win the wc.

Let's be honest, vast majority of criticism is sanctimonious horseshit.

 

It was dull and tedious. That is the main point for me - because it doesn't have to be. We have some very exciting players.

I certainly don't expect England to win every game they take part in, but I do like to be entertained, not frustrated by timidity.

As for naming teams that do well in the group stages and advance to finals, you only have to cast your mind back to Russia, where Croatia beat Argentina and Nigeria to top their group and looked good VFM throughout. They may not have won it, but they advanced further than their nation ever had. Or take Brazil in 2002, scoring 11 goals to top their group and going on to win. 

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

And, of course, there are other Cups you could mention where the eventual winners DID look handy in group games.

The US offered little bite, but what was disappointing wasn't the final score, but the manner of play and the fact that a team that didn't even arrive after their customary win in the CONCACAF sector had the best of it.  Imagine playing like that against Spain? Pickford would get a repetitive injury from picking the ball out of the net!

From a personal point of view, that's the only group game I will be watching, so it's disappointing it was such a poor spectacle for the fans. I regret angling my head to look at the screen rather than focussing on the tasty blonde lady on the far table. 

Hopefully, this blip of boredom has taught Southgate something, and a more attack-minded side can humiliate Wales. However, I feel anyone watching last night is quite right to feel disappointed and let down. The atmosphere in the boozer was as flat as the proverbial pancake after the game. 

CONCACAF until lately perhaps, used to be quite a challenging zone. Bit of a segue but away to the smaller Latin nations the US and Mexico well not easy. Fans certainly played an active role.

In fact USA didn't qualify for the 2018 WC of course.

Probably a bit homogenised now, bit like CONMEBOL...the hostile away atmospheres a bit less than they once were historically. Not that long ago though they used to be very notable.

[Red-Robbo]

Just now, Mr Popodopolous said:

CONCACAF until lately perhaps, used to be quite a challenging zone. Bit of a segue but away to the smaller Latin nations the US and Mexico well not easy. Fans certainly played an active role.

In fact USA didn't qualify for the 2018 WC of course.

Probably a bit homogenised now, bit like CONMEBOL...the hostile away atmospheres a bit less than they once were historically. Not that long ago though they used to be very notable.

 

I may be wrong, but I think it's the first time Canada won it, and they looked an exciting running side from what I saw. I know a couple of Canadians and they've suddenly developed a never-seen-before World Cup fever. 

[tin]

Tournament football is all about momentum. We laid down a marker in the first game, but that was woeful last night. I don’t expect us to win every game, but I expect us to put in a shift every time. 

I don’t care if it was a repeat of the performance v Scotland. If he wanted to conserve energy for the latter stages, why not rotate his squad and give others a chance? I suspect they’d have shown more urgency.

Credit to the US, they outfought and outperformed us in every department. But no other nation will be fearing us now. As someone said on Twitter, it’s like Southgate has the keys to a Ferrari and is driving it at 15mph. 

Edited November 26, 2022 by tin

[glynriley]

48 minutes ago, Sheltons Army said:

Fair play to the Aussies

The footage of the utter delight of Dukes son celebrating and responding to his Dads celebration , my favourite moment of the tournament to date

I think my favourite bit of the tournament so far, is all those who definitely weren’t going to watch this tainted, abomination of a World Cup, moaning how shit England were last night. 

[Red Army 75]

Overall I’ve enjoyed the football in the World Cup. Also been impressed with the majority of the officiating and the adding of minutes for time wasting. 
 

Last night was shit though. Reminded me of watching City sometimes 

[Mr Popodopolous]

6 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 

I may be wrong, but I think it's the first time Canada won it, and they looked an exciting running side from what I saw. I know a couple of Canadians and they've suddenly developed a never-seen-before World Cup fever. 

Maybe it's a bit more of a thing if the past but some of these stories fairly startling by modern European standards.

https://www.frontrowsoccer.com/2022/01/26/offside-remarks-the-truth-about-world-cup-qualifying-in-concacaf/

Yes some of thst is Covid specific but some talking 10, 20 years back.and beyond.

I think Mexico as a big regional player will also get the treatment in various places too.

Think Canada qualified in 1986 but don't know the format back then. Suspect you are right- should have beaten Belgium without doubt, exciting side.

Edited November 26, 2022 by Mr Popodopolous

[chinapig]

20 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Hence why he should have made changes to the starting 11. We looked tired last night. 

Southgate said after the game that we couldn't be expected to play with the same energy as in the first game. So why not make 1 or 2 changes?

[chinapig]

20 minutes ago, Midred said:

Apparently FIFA's technical director has described Ronaldo as a genius for "winning" a penalty! I always was under the impression that a player was awarded a penalty. No doubt after hearing that Ronaldo will be "winning" alot more penalties! 

Seems to have the right credentials to be given a future job at FIFA! 

There was an identical incident with a Qatari player yesterday but no penalty was awarded. His fault for not being called Ronaldo I expect.

[chinapig]

1 hour ago, Show Me The Money! said:

If only football were that simple

It isn't I agree.

But Southgate said afterwards that the USA posed us a tactical problem yet he did not change his tactics to counter that.

I'm generally a supporter of his given his record for England but I thought he got a number of things wrong last night and an inability to respond tactically in game is his key weakness imo.

[Coin-op]

Can anyone explain what a forced turnover is? Also what is a defensive line break? Are these for American audiences? Not heard (seen) these before.