The 2026 World Cup — Day 17

I'm just saying, I said when Tuchel picked his squad, picking centre-backs to cover for full-backs could come back to haunt him.

With James now gone, it could backfire.

Guess what, the right back looks dodgy. Otherwise, a strong team finally without Gordon and Madueke.

Bellingham deeper is really interesting. Did Rice not make it with his injury?

Lee fucking Dixon!!!

Sound off!!!!!

That wasn't Anderson coming back for that takeaway at the box.

£130M... hmm. Weak pass earlier as well.

£116M, Dale.

Anderson so far Dale: 33 passes. 93.9% accuracy.

It's raining and we have a dehydration/ad break.

Hopefully the second quarter will be better.

Quansah is a weak link.

Poor from Tuchel to have no real cover at right-back, especially when Livramento dropped out and he replaced him with a centre-back.

Compare this dross from England with the skill of France last night. We are nowhere near them.

This is abject football. We have zero chance of winning the World Cup.

Should have called up Garner, Liam.

England currently in the runners-up spot. That means Portugal in the '32.

Yeah sorry, they were talking 130 two days ago, I can't keep up.

And not to be a rude yank but it was a weak pass to Saka that was intercepted. Being in the pivot can rack up some safe pass numbers.

Can we just buy the Panama defence.

No way England can go into a home tournament with the German Moyes in charge.

I love seeing goals like the Croatian one.

Sorry, I think it's Portugal or Columbia depending on their later result if England end up second.

I don't rate Spence highly but he needs to come on for the Q fella.

Commentary here suggesting Rice was left out because he's on a yellow. Then again, they said England's midfield bossed the first half and I didn't see it like that.

Should be beating these 3- or 4-nil.

Alright, that was quite good from Anderson to get the ball out of the box like that.

England are looking like Everton, playing with two full-backs who don't give the team enough going forward. I understood Lee Dixon saying they don't have to overlap, but when you see the wide players both getting doubled up on, then it's obvious we haven't got enough movement in the wide areas.

Harry Kane, what a footballer, but he is often quite static. I think this England team have got a lot of intricate footballers further up the pitch and would genuinely replace Kane with Gordon because I think his best position is playing centrally and because he has got a lot more movement in his game than Harry when he plays in this position, I think it would be an interesting change.

I doubt it will happen but I don't think Barcelona have bought Anthony Gordon to play him out on the wing.

Kane scored 61 goals for his club last season.

Bellingham, Rashford, Rogers, Saka, England are all scrunched up in the final third.

Spence and Madueke coming on

Easy enough in the six-yard box.

Finally.

Don't think Jimmy Garner would save this lot. Palmer or Foden, maybe.

Set up like these saying for the counter. Play better when teams come at them.

Question is: Can this defence hold out to counter a good side?

Always seems that when Bellingham scores he is making some sort of point in his celebrations.

Brilliant header. 81 goals for his country. Gordon should stay on the bench for the rest of this tournament.

More goals to come in the 4th quarter?

England v Idrissa and Illy in the '32 if things stay the same.

Gibbs-White would be a step up on Rogers

Amazed he wasn't selected Andrew. But, to be fair, Henderson has played a major part so far.

Henderson FFS; good to see Ollie though.

Who's messaging kanes balls if Hendos on the pitch ?

Nikola Vlasic with the gamewinner for Croatia. Off a header no less. Good for him.

Personally I didn’t think Anderson did too much of real note. Rice is better by miles in my opinion and its hairs breadth if anything between Anderson and the likes of Wharton and Gibbs-White.

Both Rashford and Madueke make things happen but then fail to actually deliver.

Colombia v Portugal should be good

Agree Neil.

Yep. Get it done, James!

You could forgive Colombia playing for the draw here, but they're really getting after it so far. Good on 'em and hopefully it pays off.

Seeing players like Vlasic and Rodrigues today feels like a walk down memory lane. James reportedly had a good game for Colombia and Vlasic had a shot against the post and then scored the winner for Croatia.

Cittah should have waited until the end of the World Cup to sign Anderson.

He would have been about £50 million cheaper based on how crap he is playing.

Munoz should have come on half-an-hour ago.

That looks onside

Great goal by Wissa seals it for DR Congo 3-1. They will play England next.

A fantastic 0-0

Jeez, brilliant freek kick from Le Celso

Best sign of the tournament... by a Jordanian fan:

"We Sold Our Camel For These Tickets"

...and right after that Messi scores again.

Perfect.

Wow! Last 2 minutes of Algeria/Austria. Alegeria go ahead 3-2 '93 - Austria eliminated - and then Austria equalise '94 3-3 and both of them go through.

Totally pissed off as it is Iran who do not make it. Undeserved.

Looks like it might be England vs Mexico in the last 16 at the Azteca.

The Iranians will be able to claim political asylum now Paul.

Didn't that happen with the women in OZ Eric?

After watching England last night, it looked like Tuchel has been watching Everton to study how David Moyes sets his team up, Kevin!

In saying that, my favourite ever World Cup was Spain 1982 and I don't think there was a person alive who would have predicted Italy to win after the way they limped out of the group stage.

My son has got a ticket for that last 16 game at the Azteca, so if England get through and play Mexico, what an experience that'll be for him.

Didn't watch the game.

Is it still coming home?

Yep, back to France or Argentina.

I think most of the smart money will have been placed on either of those two teams Steve.

Who's the favorite, Jimmy Krankie?

Steve 54.

No Spain in the equation for you?

Englands win top of the bbc lunchtime news. Can you believe it. God help us if we ever won it again.

Les...I thought we had won it. Haven't we ?