World Cup — Day Two

Interested to see how Mo Salah is health-wise and if he'll play.

Guilty pleasure watching him. He's fantastic, red or not.

I think he's on the bench, Jamie. Agree, fantastic player and I hope he plays.

To anyone who ever complains about the commentary in the UK, be grateful you don't have to sit through the horror show that is Fox Sports in the US. Already on the verge of turning it to the Spanish commentary.

Agree with Barks.

For a guy like Murdoch, who will absolutely splash the cash to sign on-air "talent", I can't believe he didn't tell Darke and McManaman to name their price.

The studio group are poor so far. And these two in the booth will not shut up.

Morocco versus Iran, This is one of the worst games I have ever seen. But it is miles better than anything Allardyce served up as football and made us watch, when the git was in charge.

Iran have just won, Trump is going to be pissed off. happy days

Not being hyperbolic at all, but through the first three matches, the football being served up is absolutely dreadful. There is next to zero quality on the ball, horrific passes in the final third, and some of the worst shots on goal that I can remember.

And sadly it's only going to get worse when this tournament expands to more that 60 teams. The European nations and Brazil should make quick work of these other nations. It really is shameful that we don't get to watch a player like Bale because we limit European nations at the expense of the likes of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco and Egypt.

Focus, Evertonians. Our rumoured new midfielder Carvalho is starting for Portugal against Spain. Let's see if he's got what we need.

Amen, James (#4). Of course, any studio team that includes Alexi Lalas is poor by definition.

James #6 "Iran have just won, Trump is going to be pissed off. Happy Days!"

Nah, fake news.

The completely defensive setups are getting worse and worse as well. I wish football would stop rewarding 0-0 draws. Don't know what the right solution would be, but something please. Most shots on goal gets the point and the other gets nothing, I don't know. Or let them go to a shootout like hockey does now, but make it favor in some way the team that was actually trying to attack. It's just dreadful.

Agreed David

Some of the shooting has been really poor.

I must admit though, When Cheryshev shaped to hit the I'm-a-good-player strike yesterday (outside of the left boot) I thought, Yeah right, but what a fantastic execution?

Is it me or are the Yanks more up for this World Cup than the rest of us? Certainly seems that way on the initial threads

When the World Cup Finals go up to 48 teams, you had better get used to this kind of game, lads. It's bad enough now at 32 teams.

Darren,

It's because in the US the only other sport going on right now is baseball. And if you know of a more boring sport, I'd love to know what it is so that I can avoid it at all costs.

Is it me or do people think that the grass is longer on these Russian pitches, and are slowing the passes down quite a bit. I've only watched bits and pieces of games but they are pretty poor and the pitches are not helping the speed of the game.

But it could just be me seeing something that isn't there.

Cracking game Spain vs Portugal so far. William Carvalho looking a passenger so far, Schneiderlin-esque

Darren #12: I can't speak for the Americans but I'm loving it so far. It's been a bit of a slow start but it was always going to be with the likes of Egypt, Iran, Morocco and Saudi Arabia playing the early games.

It starts for real now with Spain and Portugal and it's a cracker up to now.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to social media either. The whole thing is like one big competition as to who can be most cynical. The BBC comments section was nothing but negativity about the announcement of the 2026 World Cup being awarded to the USA, Canada and Mexico and I don't understand it. A great infrastructure (for the most part), relatively easy to get to, games on in the evening UK time, good climates and the only other contender was Morocco!

Couldn't agree more Sam @16, brilliant game so far. Some absolutely cracking players on show... and we are linked with the big yard dog in midfield!

Carvalho, in 35 mins, has done nothing, other than a couple of 4-yard passes and let the game pass him by. He doesn't track players' runs or make tackles. Please don't buy this yard dog, we have better players now.

Agree, Rob, and some of those short passes have been awful. He's committed two major giveaways, one in the middle of the pitch and one just now on the sideline, that immediately produced opportunities for Spain. And the total absence of pace just jumps out at you.

This is one rumour that should be circling the drain by now.

Carvalho looks a lot like Yaya Toure after six burgers, a bottle of wine and a couple of Xanax. No thanks.

Yes, Carvalho looking stuck in the middle. And that De Gea is a liability!

Dave "Is it me or do people think that the grass is longer on these Russian pitches?" – try turning the green down a bit on your telly.

Huge blunder from De Gea.

I got needled a bit the other day when I nominated Navas as the best keeper right now, but I stand by it.

Michael #21, that one put my ass on the floor. Excellent.

Michael (#21),

You would be able to make a better judgement on the player if you laid off the drink and sleeping tablets...

What happened to VAR? Some dubious decisions but no reviews Portugal v Spain.

They reviewed Costas challenge on Pepe before the goal Steavey.

I think the thing with VAR is that the referees initial decision not only has to be wrong but also “clear and obvious.” This translates to “don't overrule the referee unless it's a slam-dunk.”

As it happens, I thought it was a foul. Soft. But a foul.

Costa 2, Ronaldo 2.

Up to now I haven't been concerned for England but these are two teams I wouldn't really fancy playing.

Having said that, England are a lot like Everton in that we turn up more often for the bigger games. Still lose, but we turn up.

Text book strike by Nacho.

Serious cheese from Nacho.

I could forgive Carvalho being slow but he has no hustle. Been watching him closely and he hardly ever bursts into space to show for the ball. Frequently Portugal are having to go long because he won't move into space in the middle. Please no Marco.

Sam. Couldn't agree more, if anything he would remind you of Schnederlin. Trotting about doing or offering very little. Hope to god Marco stays well clear.

Carvalho must be on the booze or drugs. I thought nobody could be as slow as Schneiderlin, there obviously is.

Silva wants to play a pressing game so there's no chance this guy should come here.

Carvalho marks space very well. Never gets away from him.

Darren (12) - Don't know about you or any non-Americans, but the reason for our National interest in the World Cup is that we have 10s upon 10s of millions of soccer fans. It's reflected in here to the degree there are American ToffeeWebers.

That's the reason. Not Barks' dim-bulbery.

At least one good game today.

Ronaldo... brilliant free-kick. Apparently, he's been working up to this with the last 47 he's taken — all missed!

James,

What? I'm in America and am well aware of the tens and tens of millions of football fans. Simply making a joke that there are no other sports if interest taking place here since the NBA wrapped up and baseball is extremely boring. Relax.

What you saw today is EXACTLY what you get from Carvalho.

He is disciplined, in that he holds his default position well, and is for the most part tidy in possession with crisp, accurate passing. Very rarely does he spray the ball about beyond 15 to 20 metres.

Because his game awareness is so good, you don't see him raising much above trotting pace all game. He is generally where he should be, whether his team is on the defensive or offensive. Don't misinterpret that as being lazy.

If he steps beyond the centre circle in the opposition half he is likely to get a nose bleed. And whilst his size, physic and gait makes him like look like Yaya Toure, any similarities to their respective games end right there.

A prolific provider and scorer of goals Carvalho will never be.

He is a real nuts and bolts player. Could he improve us as a team? Possibly less wasteful than Gana in possession, maybe. But – even though he may be on a cut price transfer fee due to the fall out at Sporting – I'm not convinced he is a worthy addition to the squad.

Jay. Have to say I reckon my Mrs could have done what he did in that game.

Didn't see a tackle, simply 5- or 10-metre passes, most of which were sideways or back.

Like you, I'm NOT convinced but SURE he'd be a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere.

Neat and tidy but not the modern midfielder which our league needs. His defending was dreadful in the build up to Isco's shot which cannoned onto the line. Not mobile enough.

Carvalho is a brilliant reader of the game and doesn't have to run around like a headless chicken. He's a man mountain and would provide the muscle, and passing ability, we so desperately need in midfield.

ps: He will need speedy players around him to make up for his lack of pace.

I still can't believe Manny Fernandes is around and making it with the national side. I will never forget that belter he scored against Man Utd. Shame we didn't get him on a permanent basis.

Jay, if that's Carvalho in all his glory, then I hope he kisses and makes up at his Club.

I hate to say it but he's a poor man's Schneiderlin based on that performance and I'd sooner keep what we have, including young Beni, rather than waste money on him.

Just can't see him in any sort of Silva's high pressing game.

Kunai @ 44, thought you were taking the mickey!

Has a great scoring record in Russia, but then again so does Niasse!

John, but Silva isn't Klopp. It's not a high pressing game. They press from the front but the defence and midfield drop into position. If Carvalho plays for us, it's the position he was in today, that is flanked by two centre mids but slightly deeper, sat behind them.

What you saw today was the defensive side of his game. He sat and defended and kept the ball well, I think he only missed his pass a couple of times.

But Portugal are not Silva's Everton. We don't have Ronaldo and we don't have Joao Moutinho. Moutinho might not be the player he once was, but he's still the playmaker and Carvalho's brief was to get it to him.

Portugal are also a very slow team. They've slow players like Carvalho, Joao Moutinho and Bruno Fernandes in the middle. Nothing was done in a hurry. They build it up very slowly. But when it was played in a hurry and those three were bypassed Portugal looked great, due to the brilliance of Ronaldo.

Carvalho would be in the Everton side for his ability to hit the long pass. We didn't see that tonight. But you did see that he was neat and tidy. Do you guys really think he's that slow? He never really broke sweat, he just plods along, but you don't see him getting left for dead because someone has done him for pace. He's plodding along because he just what he needs to do. If he really has to, he can actually sprint, and whilst he's not fast, he's hardly the turtoise some think he is.

But long passing aside, that was a very average Carvalho performance. If you thought he was crap and slow, you'll think he's crap and slow for us too. The only difference would be if he is able to showcase his long passing and Everton play on the break and get forwards at speed, with him coming up plodding along behind looking to cover the gap and recycle possession (pass sideways).

Edit: one thing he did very badly on, and an example of his "laziness" was the Iniesta chance. He let Iniesta run off him twice in that move and just watched him, particularly the point where he had the shot that flashed just past the post. Ok, maybe it was a zonal marking system and he passed his man onto the centre back (Pepe?), but there was no communication, no pointing and there did not appear to be any shouting, it looked like he just left him, and Iniesta got a pass and a shot off unchallenged.

Colin #43, yep, a brilliant reader of the game. Leafing through it, page by languid page. Perusing it sleepily while the rest of his teammates were fiercely competing in it.

Of the muscle and passing ability you suggest, we saw no sign today. Zero.

I say leave this man mountain in Portugal.

Superb game. You have to hand it to the Narcissist. He keeps on producing.

Sadly, this Portuguese side will make it hard for him to go far.

Carvalho? Big no from me.

If Marco Silva's tactics require the deployment of a lumbering tank which goes from 0-60 in a week, then those tactics need revision.

He never really broke sweat, he just plods along, but you don't see him getting left for dead because someone has done him for pace.

You don't see Joe Anderson getting done for pace either coz HE never gets involved in a race for the ball either.

Seen plenty of players run past him while he ambled around mind. Carvalho, I mean — not Joe Anderson.

That's why no one has picked him up Brian. But a slow build up style doesn't suit him. This is Marco Silva vintage Carvalho:

Link

But yes, Sandro and Niasse looked like Maradona on YouTube too.

Have to admire Ronaldo though. Just watching his "routine" for the equalizing free kick was fascinating.
Total focus, completely blocked out the outside world. Placed the ball while all the hubbub went one around him and it was as if he was the only person in the stadium.

Brian, I can't stand the guy. But as Portugal is my third favourite nation for family reasons, I have to be behind him, and so see a lot of him. As much as I think he's an arrogant, selfish prick, he's almost the most perfect professional. Has any world class sportsman made more of their natural talent than this man? He seems to live his life like a robot.

Everything is geared towards achievement on the pitch, and so you have to respect him for that and say he deserves everything he gets. He's unbelievable in so many different ways.

I think now he is physically on the decline, and he has to use his brain more than ever, we are seeing an even better Cristiano Ronaldo Aveiro. I just don't know how he does it.

Steve #48, I'm sorry but you have shanked this one over the bar.

Carvalho was not neat and tidy -- in fact, he had three horrendous unforced turnovers, two in the first half and one in the second, that sent Spain away for chances.

He was repeatedly bypassed for speed, not only by Spain but by his "slow" teammates Coutinho and Fernandes. On every Portugal counter, he was left behind. "Left for dead" implies someone might have at least noticed the corpse. He was simply ignored.

Defensively, he contributed absolutely nothing to an otherwise high-energy effort by Portugal. He didn't tackle, didn't win any contested balls (except one bouncing header over the diminutive Iniesta), didn't close down, didn't mark a man even on free kicks, and as you noted he didn't track anyone, not only Iniesta on the play you mentioned but twice on Koke and once on a late run by Bousquets. If there was a zonal marking system, I didn't see it. Apparently Carvalho was the only one who did.

I've seen him play a couple of times previously, and thought his appearance of languidness was just controlling the pace of the game. But it wasn't. He is genuinely languid. Today, in the biggest game of his life, he was almost comatose. His side's worst player by a mile.

I have high hopes you are right about Silva. I have absolutely no hope you are right about Carvalho. He would be a terrible mistake for us.

Inclined to agree with Mike, see very little in Carvalho to suggest he is worth pursuing. We need pace and dynamic players, not another scheiderlin.

Mike, he is languid. He will never be a top player because of it, and he seems to get slower every season. Watch the video I posted and you'll not recognise the guy. He used to get forward and he even scored goals (not all of those goals can be from 2014-15 though, he only scored a few that year, certainly not as many as shown unless it's including friendlies as well).

I don't know if Silva will bring him in or not. Those comments about Schneiderlin appear to suggest not. But we need someone who can pass and sit deep. We don't have anyone but Schneiderlin. I think Silva will bring him in if he's free or cheap. I can't see us spending 㿏m on him though.

And I do think he was neat and tidy today, I only counted twice that he gave the ball away, but I'll probably watch it back another day, so I'll take you word for it. Football is all about opinions isn't it. I think Carvalho is a decent player, and I'm not alone in that. But I can certainly see why no one has ever spent the money needed to get him out of Sporting.

James, we need a better Schneiderlin. We need players who can pass the ball. No one can pass the ball over 20 yards, so how can we counter-attack?

This the 5-6th time I have had a good look at him and although I accept that isn't enough to make an accurate judgement, I would be very worried if Silva intends to go into this season with him and Schneiderlin as 2 of his 3...

Darren, there's no way he and Schneiderlin play together.

Steve Ferns @ various.

Remind me never to buy a second hand car from you.

The YouTube link you shared on Carvalho is totally misleading, making him appear a much more all-round player than he is, laced as it was with so many goals. The video title is also a deception, giving the impression it was from a single season, 2014-15.

The reality is Carvalho has only scored 14 goals across 8 seasons in his 245 1st class club career. A goal every 17 games, with his best return in a single season just 4 goals. He has 2 goals in 43 games for the national side - a goal every 22 games.

Granted, goal scoring and creation is not his primary role, but you and I both - as keen followers of Sporting and Portuguese football - know full well (if we are being honest) tonight was a bog-standard typical Carvalho performance.

He anchors the midfield base; is disciplined and sound in his positioning (a reason you rarely see him going in for full-blooded tackle: he snipes out intended passes before needing to resort to tackling); due to his bulk, he is very difficult to displace off the ball; he is mostly neat and tidy in his passing (in the main, moving the ball on quickly to the better and quicker players); he can hit accurate longer balls, but his default range is 5-20 metres; he very rarely moves above gentle jogging speed, but it would be wrong to conclude from this he is lazy.

There are greater priorities for Silva to address ahead of even thinking about recruiting Carvalho.

LOL, Michael at #21. I would not want to see him or Yaya in an Everton shirt.

Jay (60), would you say Carvalho is a similar sort of player to Dembele at Spurs?

Vijay, certainly not! Dembele is (or was) a dynamic player who gets stuck in and is capable of beating men and getting up and down the pitch quickly. A young Dembele type is exactly what we need in my opinion. Someone fast, skillful and strong who can perform all parts of the game well.

Carvalho is a slight upgrade on Schneiderlin. He moves around slowly sticking mainly to the same patch of grass and plays some simple passes with relative consistency. That's fine but if you're that type of player I think the minimum requirements is to always make yourself available for the ball. Carvalho certainly did not do that last night. His languid style and lack of determination and hunger would make him an unpopular player in many Everton eyes I suspect.

There is no way either Carvalho or Schneiderlin should anchor our midfield next season, whatever variation of 4-3-3 Silva uses. Sam @ 63 is right that there is no comparison between them and Demebele (older or younger version). I would love Silva to actually try for Dembele - he is only 30 and looks a quality player still. He will need to rotate in and out the team at Spurs whilst he would be a regular here; he might also fancy another large pay day.

Carvalho was pretty average. As was Ziyech in the Iran-Morocco game. Portugal without CR9 are going to struggle. Spain are gonna tonk a few teams yet. Costa is a beast.