World Cup 2022 thread (football only)

[Open End Numb Legs]

I am assuming Sterling could return if needed on the basis that there isn't an COVID bubble in use - there can't be as the TV showed the players after the Wales game climbing up into the seating area to join their families?

[Malago]

25 minutes ago, pillred said:

Vindaloo, we'll score one more than you is what i think it will come down to.

Could be cagey with both teams scared of being hit on the break.  Might be wrong but I don’t think it will be a goal fest.  1-0 to either side or 1-1 and ET and pens.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, Lrrr said:

Think the only reason we would change to 3 would be to congest wide areas in our third and to get wide overloads in their third

…sure, I just think it would disrupt the cohesiveness we have built.  Good learnings today too, things to work on that will happen against France too.  Don’t force it. Keep the ball, frustrate France by keeping it.

1 hour ago, Sheltons Army said:

Why can’t we play 532 or 5311

As @Davefevsposted you either stay with our threat and play a bit of Russian Roulette 

or go with 3/5 at back and , in theory , suffocate their threats

Big call

My concern is how the back four real with Mbappe / Giroud / Dembele

I see Dembele as nearly as much , creative wise at least , a threat as Mbappe

Are we happy to leave Shaw & Walker 1 on 1 with them - Brave 

As I said,  Big call 

Would be interesting to see who plays in front of them, and how much they can influence them to have to go back the other way.  We are now perm three from two (Foden, Saka and Rashford) in front of our two FBs.  They will have a big say in the effectiveness of Mbappe and Dembele.

1 hour ago, MarcusX said:

Agree Dave, as usual.

Was surprised (well, not really) to see so much negativity on here in the first half.

For 20 minutes we were in almost total control, but as you say we forced a few too many passes. One thing I like in Maguire for England is he always looks to play forward, breaking the lines. It’s risky though and when it goes awry can expose us (and I worry against France). 

However prior to this game the stats show our pass success rate was very high, second only to France. Yes some will call it “boring” but it’s patient and careful. You have to keep the ball moving and look for either gap, or a moment of magic - much like Netherlands goal yesterday, we did it too with one very clever flick and we were in. 

Agree completely. Other than 5-10 minutes where we weren’t careful enough (and an outstanding save) we were in complete control really.

Three sublime goals that if any other team scored we’d be purring over. 
 

m I won’t say I’m confident for Saturday, but I’m very excited. Win that and the cup is ours to lose IMO

It’s a big like a goldfish at times…we only remember the last thing that happened, which was Senegal’s chances and forget any positive stuff we did before that.  That then becomes “what happened”.

Re Patience…there was one passage of play in the phase when Senegal were snuffing us out, where the commentators were getting on at England’s backs a bit, blaming lack of creativity.  We missed a risky pass into Kane, instead went back into the CBs, and about 4 passes later, Rice popped off a first time pass and we got Shaw free well into their half.  It just showed waiting for the right pass was the right approach.

[Davefevs]

27 minutes ago, pillred said:

Apart from getting the KO time wrong let;s hope the;re right.

They a US website?

[pillred]

7 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

They a US website?

Yes I think it is I just didn't want any confusion about what time we kick off, though the way social media works these days I doubt there is much chance of that, you have to remember I'm old enough to remember the days of the Green Un :laugh:.

Edited December 5, 2022 by pillred
Punctuation.

[Super]

4 hours ago, Open End Numb Legs said:

I am assuming Sterling could return if needed on the basis that there isn't an COVID bubble in use - there can't be as the TV showed the players after the Wales game climbing up into the seating area to join their families?

Maybe but family comes first and it sounds terrifying what they went through.

[TedsHeadIs Red]

7 hours ago, Lrrr said:

Think the only reason we would change to 3 would be to congest wide areas in our third and to get wide overloads in their third

Are you LJ in disguise? 

[And Its Smith]

Bookies saying England have 45% chance of getting through. Seems about right 

[Major Isewater]

11 hours ago, BCFCGav said:

Running out of superlatives for Jude Bellingham.

Need to order some more. 

[Major Isewater]

8 hours ago, Swede said:

Which is a shame, really. With a bit more application and a more professional attitude he would've added more goals to that tally. He was being paid very well during the last six months of his contract and our former chief exec went on record stating that they made him an even bigger offer to keep him which he refused. He could've easily done a deal and signed a new contract and give something back to the club that gave him the platform and helped him get where he is today.

He should've been showing the same professional application and desire whether its the first six months or the last six months of a contract he was more than happy to sign for in the first place.

He is partly why we're trying to navigate through these tricky financial waters.

I think there has a been a quiet revolution in football that has taken many clubs by surprise. The days of big trading and big transfer fees are largely gone as players opt for the freedom of choice as they run down their contracts. Many clubs , us included, have been slow to realise this change and have been caught out in the interim.

In years to come people will find it incredible that clubs signed players on three year contracts and only played them for two! 
I think we are well placed for the future with our academy not necessarily for generating transfer revenue, other than the exceptions like Scott, but for supplying players for the first team. 
We can only blame Diedhiou for his perceived lack of application during the last six months of his contract other than that he fulfilled his contractual obligations. 
 

[italian dave]

9 hours ago, Swede said:

Which is a shame, really. With a bit more application and a more professional attitude he would've added more goals to that tally. He was being paid very well during the last six months of his contract and our former chief exec went on record stating that they made him an even bigger offer to keep him which he refused. He could've easily done a deal and signed a new contract and give something back to the club that gave him the platform and helped him get where he is today.

He should've been showing the same professional application and desire whether its the first six months or the last six months of a contract he was more than happy to sign for in the first place.

He is partly why we're trying to navigate through these tricky financial waters.

I think we too easily expect players to have the same devotion to their clubs that we do, and we expect a commitment to their employer way beyond what the vast majority of us would even expect of ourselves.

Yes, he could have signed a deal: he could have agreed to play for nothing if he'd wanted to. But why would he, or why should he do something that he doesn't think is going to be in his best interests career wise and financially. 

It's not like clubs - generally - show any such loyalty to players. They are ruthlessly ditched at early stages of most careers, they are loaned out, traded around, and very much secondary to the interests of any individual club. Players are seen by most clubs as a commodity. So it's hardly surprising that players in return don't feel the sort of loyalty that you're suggesting - to give something back.

Not always the case, I'd accept. But if you go back to the time Fam was with us then, at Bristol City, that was very much the case. Our esteemed former chief exec, whose word you hold so much store by (unlike most on here!) absolutely personified that approach that saw players as commodities. Buy cheap, sell at top price, they were more about the bottom line of his spreadsheet and of his financial targets than they were footballers with a career. 

And blaming Fam for our financial plight is grossly unfair. If you're going to point fingers at players there were plenty whose cost benefit analysis would look far far worse - but the bigger picture is that its not the players who run the clubs finances. He signed a contract with us and he honoured it. There will be different views about his performances (clearly, from the above) but that's the case with any player, and with 51 goals you'd be hard pushed to argue that his contribution overall was anywhere near poor. 

Glad he didn't score last night though!!

Edited December 5, 2022 by italian dave

[slartibartfast]

Does anyone think  (worried) that we haven't actually played "anyone" yet ?

[Major Isewater]

8 minutes ago, slartibartfast said:

Does anyone think  (worried) that we haven't actually played "anyone" yet ?

Just the nobodies of the United States and Senegal,champions of Asia and the champions of Africa, a walk in the park up until now. 
As we all know anything can happen in football, one of the reasons  why we love the game, and in one off cup ties you don’t get a second chance. 
To win the trophy you have to beat the best and have that little bit of luck that has so often deserted England when it really mattered, perhaps this time, more than any other time, , football’s coming home, back home.

[cidercity1987]

14 minutes ago, slartibartfast said:

Does anyone think  (worried) that we haven't actually played "anyone" yet ?

No because the only teams in the last 16 that have played anyone are Spain (drew with Germany), Japan, Croatia (drew with Belgium), Morocco and arguably Portugal, South Korea versus Uruguay.

The only likely QF team to have beaten anyone will be Portugal 

[2015]

I must admit that the narrative has gone from 'Dont underestimate Senegal' to 'Its only Senegal' in such quick fashion is amusing

Edited December 5, 2022 by 2015

[1960maaan]

I've given up trying to understand the Laws of football , or how they are enforced. But just catching up on the France Vs Poland game.
Didn't they bring a Law in that said a Penalty taker could not stop in his run up? It may have been amended to not stopping during the last step or something. Lewandowski stops, skips and then shoots. Got a 2nd go when he missed as Szczesny moves for the first shot and so leaves his line. 

As I say, can't keep up so just wondering.
All I've found is...

Yes he is allowed to stop but its not so simple. If the player starts the run up and stops immediately that fine but if he gets very close and stops then kicks the ball this would probably be regarded as fainting the kick rather than the run-up (which is allowed).
Above from a forum question 

Which echos the Law 14:2
feinting to kick the ball once the kicker has completed the run-up (feinting in the run-up is permitted)

I guess the stop ,hop could be considered still in his run up at a push.

[lenred]

7 minutes ago, 2015 said:

I must admit that the narrative has gone from 'Dont underestimate Senegal' to 'Its only Senegal' in such quick fashion is amusing

Genuinely hilarious isn’t it.   People are so desperate to put us and GS down.  I genuinely just do not get it.   People must have very very very short memories.  

[2015]

1 minute ago, lenred said:

Genuinely hilarious isn’t it.   People are so desperate to put us and GS down.  I genuinely just do not get it.   People must have very very very short memories.  

If we beat France it will be 'but they didn't have Benzema, Kante or Pogba'. The rest of the World really cannot admit we are actually a decent side.

People need to think this isn't the England of 2016 anymore. I must admit I've been overly critical of Southgate for the past year because admittedly performances were really bad and so were the results, but I have had to endure a massive amount of humble pie this World Cup and i'm glad I've been proved wrong.

[lenred]

6 minutes ago, 2015 said:

If we beat France it will be 'but they didn't have Benzema, Kante or Pogba'. The rest of the World really cannot admit we are actually a decent side.

People need to think this isn't the England of 2016 anymore. I must admit I've been overly critical of Southgate for the past year because admittedly performances were really bad and so were the results, but I have had to endure a massive amount of humble pie this World Cup and i'm glad I've been proved wrong.

Not sure if it’s the rest of the world.  There’s plenty of Englishmen who feel that way that I’ve witnessed!  I don’t know what people expect and why they think that we have some divine right to beat these teams (Wales excluded ) Fair play for partaking in the pie! 

[Northern Red]

Let's be honest, even consistently beating the teams that we "should" beat is a significant step forward from where we were.

[rednotblue]

12 hours ago, Davefevs said:

I dunno tbh Shelts.  I hope not.  We have 2 CBs in form defensively…the concerns in recent years necessitating another CB (wrongly imho) aren’t there, and to break up the way we are setting up, would seem ceding an advantage in midfield to France.  They’ll be shit scared of Bellingham burst through as part of a three, with three options ahead of him.  Think he has to trust Walker in a conventional four against Mbappe, as I think it means we can stop Griezmann floating into dangerous positions.

I think you have to trust to luck (a little that Mbappe has an off day). I don't see how playing 3 at the back helps if only Walker has a chance of keeping up. Also as vs. Croatia at the last WC the 352 will become 532 so we will have little attacking outlet. Stopping Griezmann getting too much of the ball will slow the French down as he makes them tick.

 

[rednotblue]

11 hours ago, Sheltons Army said:

Why can’t we play 532 or 5311

As @Davefevsposted you either stay with our threat and play a bit of Russian Roulette 

or go with 3/5 at back and , in theory , suffocate their threats

Big call

My concern is how the back four real with Mbappe / Giroud / Dembele

I see Dembele as nearly as much , creative wise at least , a threat as Mbappe

Are we happy to leave Shaw & Walker 1 on 1 with them - Brave 

As I said,  Big call 

I suppose France have the same issues worrying about Englands front 3.

[Sheltons Army]

Just now, rednotblue said:

I suppose France have the same issues worrying about Englands front 3.

Absolutely 

[Open End Numb Legs]

4 hours ago, Super said:

Maybe but family comes first and it sounds terrifying what they went through.

Of course. What I was trying to say but didn't make clear, was I assume that England don't have a policy that says once you have left the squad and travelled back to the UK you can't rejoin in case you bring illness with you that could spread and scupper the campaign.

Not saying whether he should either way, but his family might say 'get back there, it is a lifetime opportunity' and the medics might say 'hang on, we agreed not to allow this, it is a one way journey'.

Or maybe they don't bother with these things now. Sorry for the ramble!

[italian dave]

37 minutes ago, 2015 said:

If we beat France it will be 'but they didn't have Benzema, Kante or Pogba'. The rest of the World really cannot admit we are actually a decent side.

People need to think this isn't the England of 2016 anymore. I must admit I've been overly critical of Southgate for the past year because admittedly performances were really bad and so were the results, but I have had to endure a massive amount of humble pie this World Cup and i'm glad I've been proved wrong.

@lenred beat me to it - but I don't think its the rest of the world, its us! Including on here!! I don't think I've seen any evidence of other countries underestimating England under Southgate. 

[RedRock]

Having a nice slice of Henderson Humble Pie this morning.

Hats off to the bloke, Energetic, controlled performance capped off with an excellent goal - led by example. Superb.

McGuire also showing some bottle given what he’s been through, although relying on him and Stones as our main play-makers out of defence is more than a worry. Think Rice was told at half-time to give them better options - but that only lasted a few minutes. 

 

[robin_unreliant]

11 minutes ago, RedRock said:

Having a nice slice of Henderson Humble Pie this morning.

Hats off to the bloke, Energetic, controlled performance capped off with an excellent goal - led by example. Superb.

McGuire also showing some bottle given what he’s been through, although relying on him and Stones as our main play-makers out of defence is more than a worry. Think Rice was told at half-time to give them better options - but that only lasted a few minutes. 

 

Me too. I haven't been a fan of Henderson and wasn't happy to see him start. I think that must be one of his best ever England games though, he was excellent.

Maguire has shown real mental strength and played very well. I still worry for him though if he drops a ricket against France that costs us a goal. Poor bloke will get monstered by all forms of media.

[downendcity]

17 minutes ago, RedRock said:

Having a nice slice of Henderson Humble Pie this morning.

Hats off to the bloke, Energetic, controlled performance capped off with an excellent goal - led by example. Superb.

McGuire also showing some bottle given what he’s been through, although relying on him and Stones as our main play-makers out of defence is more than a worry. Think Rice was told at half-time to give them better options - but that only lasted a few minutes. 

 

I can't understand the antipathy towards Henderson and especially from fans who see his inclusion as somehow negative and defensive.

He has been an integral and crucial part of a Liverpool team that has been one of the most potent and exciting for the last few years. Presumably both Klopp and Southgate overestimate his abilities and that, had they replaced him, their respective teams would be better/stronger.

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, cidercity1987 said:

No because the only teams in the last 16 that have played anyone are Spain (drew with Germany), Japan, Croatia (drew with Belgium), Morocco and arguably Portugal, South Korea versus Uruguay.

The only likely QF team to have beaten anyone will be Portugal 

30 minutes ago, downendcity said:

I can't understand the antipathy towards Henderson and especially from fans who see his inclusion as somehow negative and defensive.

He has been an integral and crucial part of a Liverpool team that has been one of the most potent and exciting for the last few years. Presumably both Klopp and Southgate overestimate his abilities and that, had they replaced him, their respective teams would be better/stronger.

Because most / a lot of fans only watch what happens on the creative side of the game.  They don’t watch players off the ball, the runs they make to drag opponents elsewhere, creating space for teammates, the marking they do to stop passes, the freedom they give others, etc.

For a couple of years, England couldn’t win the ball back unless Henderson was playing.

[And Its Smith]

Henderson probably the most underrated player of the last 10 years. Superb player. At least Southgate rates him or else it could have been another Carrick situation, a player who got far too few caps for his talent 

[Davefevs]

8 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

Henderson probably the most underrated player of the last 10 years. Superb player. At least Southgate rates him or else it could have been another Carrick situation, a player who got far too few caps for his talent 

I never really rated Carrick.  Decent player, absolutely, but I didn’t see him at the levels of others.  I rarely saw him drag United’s performance up in a big game.

[Super]

Just out of interest if you could win one game on saturday would it be City at Rotherham or England beating France?!

[lenred]

Just now, Super said:

Just out of interest if you could win one game on saturday would it be City at Rotherham or England beating France?!

England.   All day long! 

[cidercity1987]

Just now, Super said:

Just out of interest if you could win one game on saturday would it be City at Rotherham or England beating France?!

3 points out of 138 available or being knocked out of the World Cup? 

[Super]

Just now, cidercity1987 said:

3 points out of 138 available or being knocked out of the World Cup? 

I'm sure some will say City though which is fair enough.

[ExiledAjax]

Do we get to fly subs out to Qatar?

Ben White went home earlier, Sterling yesterday.

I know Sterling has said he intends to return to Qatar once his situation is sorted, but England are now running a squad of just 21 outfield players.

I've no problem with players leaving for good reason, but can we summon reserves?

[lenred]

4 minutes ago, Super said:

I'm sure some will say City though which is fair enough.

Mostly our Welsh supporting contingent Id imagine! 

[And Its Smith]

Just now, ExiledAjax said:

Do we get to fly subs out to Qatar?

Ben White went home earlier, Sterling yesterday.

I know Sterling has said he intends to return to Qatar once his situation is sorted, but England are now running a squad of just 21 outfield players.

I've no problem with players leaving for good reason, but can we summon reserves?

No we can’t. I think 21 should be enough!

[Davefevs]

Also, the reason they expanded squads to 26.

[redkev]

As regards Henderson .

I think just as much as needing a steady on the pitch (let’s be fair we have more flair players than ever in the team ) one of the commentators during the Welsh game said all they could hear was Henderson constantly telling people what to do where to go and geeing them up ( a real leader ) could do with him at the gate I reckon 

[ExiledAjax]

37 minutes ago, And Its Smith said:

No we can’t. I think 21 should be enough!

I should have known, as France haven't replaced Benzema.

19 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Also, the reason they expanded squads to 26.

Ah fair.

[italian dave]

44 minutes ago, Super said:

Just out of interest if you could win one game on saturday would it be City at Rotherham or England beating France?!

Oooooh, tough one - especially with the potential different consequences of each! @cidercity1987 says it's only 3 point out of 138, but what if it's the three points that's the difference between relegation and staying up at the end of the season? And we beat France only to lose in semis?

What would you go for if the options were:

City 3 points - and you know that it's the three points that's the difference between staying up and going down this season

Win v France - and you know that England would go on to win the WC

??

[redkev]

Actually sounds a bit like my mrs .

Henderson I mean telling everyone what to do and where to go

Edited December 5, 2022 by redkev

[TonyTonyTony]

4 minutes ago, redkev said:

 could do with him at the gate I reckon 

Reckon he will finish up back at Sunderland for a year or so, when he finishes at LFC

Edited December 5, 2022 by TonyTonyTony

[redkev]

Just now, TonyTonyTony said:

Reckon he will finish up back at Sunderland for a year or so, when he finishes at LFC

Reckon he will finish up back at Sunderland for a year or so, when he finishes at LFC

I agree 

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

I should have known, as France haven't replaced Benzema.

Ah fair.

Can replace injured players up to 24 hours before first game.

[Super]

2 minutes ago, italian dave said:

Oooooh, tough one - especially with the potential different consequences of each! @cidercity1987 says it's only 3 point out of 138, but what if it's the three points that's the difference between relegation and staying up at the end of the season? And we beat France only to lose in semis?

What would you go for if the options were:

City 3 points - and you know that it's the three points that's the difference between staying up and going down this season

Win v France - and you know that England would go on to win the WC

??

I would have to go with City 3 points in that scenario.

[cidercity1987]

6 minutes ago, italian dave said:

Oooooh, tough one - especially with the potential different consequences of each! @cidercity1987 says it's only 3 point out of 138, but what if it's the three points that's the difference between relegation and staying up at the end of the season? And we beat France only to lose in semis?

What would you go for if the options were:

City 3 points - and you know that it's the three points that's the difference between staying up and going down this season

Win v France - and you know that England would go on to win the WC

??

City relegation for England to win World Cup?

Absolutely yes, we are bound to come back up at some point but the winning the World Cup is a once in a lifetime euphoria

[And Its Smith]

3 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

City relegation for England to win World Cup?

Absolutely yes, we are bound to come back up at some point but the winning the World Cup is a once in a lifetime euphoria

No way for me. Would be financial nightmare if we went down. 

[Swede]

4 hours ago, italian dave said:

I think we too easily expect players to have the same devotion to their clubs that we do, and we expect a commitment to their employer way beyond what the vast majority of us would even expect of ourselves.

Yes, he could have signed a deal: he could have agreed to play for nothing if he'd wanted to. But why would he, or why should he do something that he doesn't think is going to be in his best interests career wise and financially. 

It's not like clubs - generally - show any such loyalty to players. They are ruthlessly ditched at early stages of most careers, they are loaned out, traded around, and very much secondary to the interests of any individual club. Players are seen by most clubs as a commodity. So it's hardly surprising that players in return don't feel the sort of loyalty that you're suggesting - to give something back.

Not always the case, I'd accept. But if you go back to the time Fam was with us then, at Bristol City, that was very much the case. Our esteemed former chief exec, whose word you hold so much store by (unlike most on here!) absolutely personified that approach that saw players as commodities. Buy cheap, sell at top price, they were more about the bottom line of his spreadsheet and of his financial targets than they were footballers with a career. 

And blaming Fam for our financial plight is grossly unfair. If you're going to point fingers at players there were plenty whose cost benefit analysis would look far far worse - but the bigger picture is that its not the players who run the clubs finances. He signed a contract with us and he honoured it. There will be different views about his performances (clearly, from the above) but that's the case with any player, and with 51 goals you'd be hard pushed to argue that his contribution overall was anywhere near poor. 

Glad he didn't score last night though!!

I actually agree with a lot of what you're saying. I don't blame the player for our financial plight, more so he typifies our current situation. We signed a player for £5M plus lucrative contract and offered him an even bigger contract to stay but that same player left for nothing. As far as that ex chief exec is concerned I think you'd be hard pressed to find an agreeable word for him by anyone on here. 

[Sturny]

Right lads, it's war this Saturday. 

No baguettes from now on

No croissants

Don't even ****** dare look at macarons

Play waterloo full blast before the game

Hopefully we'll go quickly 3-0 up and they'll surrender at half time. If we're 1-0 down the Prussians will rock up. 

Edited December 5, 2022 by Sturny

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, Sturny said:

Right lads, it's war this Saturday. 

No baguettes from now on

No croissants

Don't even ****** dare look at macarons

Play waterloo full blast before the game

Hopefully we'll go quickly 3-0 up and they'll surrender at half time. If we're 1-0 down the Prussians will rock up. 

@PHILINFRANCEwhich side are you on…need to prep myself!!!

[PHILINFRANCE]

15 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

@PHILINFRANCEwhich side are you on…need to prep myself!!!

Most firmly for England.

I have sent messages to many French friends and business acquaintances bigging up next Saturday’s match, and received the expected responses.

I am currently over here in England, not returning to France until Monday, and am not sure whether I should return home singing loudly or sneaking in via the back door.

Fingers Crossed.

Où est le papier?

[Red Army 75]

1 hour ago, Super said:

Just out of interest if you could win one game on saturday would it be City at Rotherham or England beating France?!

City for me. It would piss me off more 

[ExiledAjax]

19 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

and received the expected responses.

White flags?

[MarcusX]

1 hour ago, Super said:

Just out of interest if you could win one game on saturday would it be City at Rotherham or England beating France?!

Absolutely England

[And Its Smith]

City go down and England win World Cup or city go up and we lose on Saturday. Assuming everyone is City in this circumstance!

[ExiledAjax]

City mention and photo on BBC sport just now. Ashely Williams played against Bellingham when with us and Lineker has brought that up.

City at the World Cup. We're massive.

[AppyDAZE]

Nice little mention on BBC

Ashley Williams leaving one on Jude  :laugh:

[Red Army 75]

Come on Japan  

[ExiledAjax]

Just now, Red Army 75 said:

Come on Japan  

Yep. Would love them to advance.

[Red Army 75]

1 minute ago, ExiledAjax said:

Yep. Would love them to advance.

Ye same love an underdog. But very decent side 

[ExiledAjax]

2 minutes ago, Red Army 75 said:

Ye same love an underdog. But very decent side 

They've done well and I'd like an Asian country to advance (and think Japan more likely than S. Korea).

[lenred]

The empty seats at this tournament has been a sad sight to see but this game can barely be 75% full, if that. Such a shame.  

Edited December 5, 2022 by lenred

[ExiledAjax]

Fun opening 2 or 3 minutes there. Japan nearly taking an early lead and then a slide tackle on the Croatia keeper. Lovely.

[RedRock]

Continuing to enjoy this tournament, particularly its timing.

Shout out to the officials, think most have been excellent and a special mention for the women, with the extra pressure on them, performed exceptionally imo.

The players have helped as I’m sure there has there been less play-acting and professional fouling this time thankfully.

Come on Japan!

 

[Malago]

Don’t know what it is, but I love watching Japan play.

[Super]

Japan playing so well

[Super]

GET IN!

[redsince1994]

5 minutes ago, Malago said:

Don’t know what it is, but I love watching Japan play.

Skillful without being flashy. Direct without being a long ball team.

All helps to be a really entertaining team