The 2026 World Cup — Day 21

Troy Deeney says Pickford is crap and so we must be doomed if Troy thinks that. Oh well, maybe next time

Was not the congo a film about a big arsed gorrilla ?

Mark #1

The same Deeney who was a goal machine. Oh, wait.

Take no notice of him.
He’s an ex criminal spouting shite and jealousy.

Who's Troy Denney ?

UTFDR

Done more time in a cell than an England shirt !!

The atlanta stadium looks rubbish with those blue boards and void space. Not a patch on HD.

David 6.

Sorry to hear that.
When did you get out?

Well, that was shocking. What was Pickford doing at the near post? And where the hell was the right back? Who is the right back?

Get in !

UTFDRC

Harsh to blame Pickford for that. He was left exposed by a non existent defence.

Never replaced Kyle walker Michael

While everyone is enjoying the World Cup Forest have signed Glasner

Glasner gone to Forest? Brighton make record signing. Can't wait for next season.

Moyes will be busy preparing a big bid for Djed Spence to solve our right back problem

For me, Bellingham is just too sloppy. How many bad passes is that? And a yellow card so early.

That fuckin’ clock is moving too slow!

£330m of midfield talent? You must be joking,

Pickford getting the blame as predicted
Everton to be docked points ?

For me thats on the centre backs. Spence cant cover everything.

Pickford cant be beaten that easily near post.

Spence is having a shocker at the back so far. Winger has him in his pocket.

Rashford is gash!

100% Pickfords fault for the goal, shouldn't be getting beaten on his near post.

But my god how poor are England, but Tuchel is a tournament coach apparently.

Everton lass there

What an atrocious free-kick from Rice.

That was a pen

Who for Paul ?

The way Kane puts his feet together in the dive was a complete giveaway. Brian Phelps is applauding that one!

Not a dive MK.

Who's Brian Phelps?

That was almost as bad as eyelash gate from Kane when he got Doucoure sent off, I'm embarrassed to be English watching that.

Rice blowing out of his arse

Thought it was a pen initially but after replay I think Kane drags his feet to draw the contact, which was very minimal. Typical modern day footballer. Always looking to go down. If he goes into that touch with the intent to stay on his feet he scores.

Glasner new Forest manager. Another one lost

Rashford having a mare

Rashford having a mare

Mistakes galore from all over the place (including the ref). I'm really enjoying this.

Great entertainment

Forest FFS and there were peeps saying that he would not come to us.

Never a pen, should of been booked for diving

He was booked Mike

Spot on, Ian @32.

Good test for the totally biased punditry — and Paul Griffiths!

Kane is a cheating b'stard. He has form for that.

I wish the Congo would attack a bit more this English defence is very poor but I think England will win even if they have to cheat to do it like they tried to already.

A devious plan by St. Daniel ( borrowing that, Paul) to let Forest have him, only to be sacked as Moyes leaves.

Apart from a spell against Croatia, England have been poor throughout.
Flat, lacking ideas, defensively absolute frightening. Neither full back can defend and central pairing look suspect.
Imagine meeting France, we’d be embarrassed.

Bias MK. Mirror lad. And, by the way, I don't give a shit about England and I still want to know who Brian Phelps is.

Missed that Paul, he deserved to be booked

Zlatan, it was a 'clear penalty'; Henry it was a penalty. Zlatan of all people. I'll stick to my opinion MK, thank you very much. I think that I will put those two ahead of you.

I think Tuchel has made a monumental fuck up prior to the tournament with some of his selection.

Half of his picks are just box ticking exercises and the exclusion of quality players like Foden, Palmer surprised me, Maguire too for me is a loss in defence.

How Henderson and Madueke made the squad who knows and Bellingham still doesn't show me why he gets the hype he does.

Brian Phelps is an accomplished English diver (high diving, aquatics) and a convicted sex offender Paul

Kane wasn’t booked for diving

Andy Meighsn- I don’t think you can apportion 100% of the fault in Pickford for that goal. Where were the defence/midfield to allow the right back to be isolated 2 on 1? The right back who also allowed the ball to drift over his head Mykolenko style

Paul, it was an intended Michael Phelps refence, olympian swimmer. Brian Phelps was a Cleveland quarterback in the old days.

Agree Jim. Palmer v Henderson erm . And calling up a centre-half when whatshisname dropped out.

Sorry Mike/Christy.

Why would our editor compare 'arry with a quarter back? Perhaps he means that 'arry got sacked.

You daft Yank.

Look it up.

His entry in Wikipedia is:

Brian Phelps (diver)

Worth remembering that a superb keeper has kept Congo in front x3 - clatterburg penalty should have been awarded.

Look what up MK?

His entry in Wikipedia, Paul.

Another dreadful set piece from Rice.

And a lousy shot from Rashford

You mean WIKI for Michael Fred Phelps II Michael?

Chris Leyland 51.

Dont let your Everton bias get in the way in of what was a poor bit of goalkeeping,

I'm Pickfords biggest fan but that was poor from him.
Having said that fuck knows where Frank Spencer was.

To be honest unless England get a pen and they've tried that already, I cant see them scoring.

TFG in danger of being accused of total incompetence. Glasner, a much superior manager to the Moyesiah, is off to Forest. Shameful. Now Glasners' gone what's the chances of Davey lad resigning and going to Scotland.

Interesting isn't it how darlings of the media here don't get the calls, that are so often, nailed on in EPL and the CL. Kane looked for the contact and dived, like a swan showing off. No nice refs or VAR officials in the WC ready to say oh that's Harry Kane it's a pen. Presently it's making EFCs back 4 look almost competent.

England Right Winger Mandueke. France winger Dembelle.

Bissaka looking ok tonight.

This would surely rank alongside Iceland in 2016 as one of the all time most shock embarrassing results for England at a major tournament?

No disrespect meant to Congo but seriously, they aren't exactly a world heavyweight

Two feet together dive and looking for it. No penalty is a fair call.

Not sure kane needed to exaggerate it that much, as hed gave got the pen without the theatrics

USA 1950 Jim?

Oh aye Paul forgot about that

Get Saka and Eze on

I'll stick with Zlatan the biased ta Ian

Paul,

Read my post @55.

Gordon not Henderson?

Spence is having a 'mare at the back.

Is Corporal Jones in the team ? Every time they get near or into our pen area, the PANIC levels are off the scale.

Tuchel subs, Same for the same. He must have read the Moyesiahs Tactic Memo.

Declan Rice just gave up then. Embarrasing.

Sorry to the Englishmen here, go with Neil's take on that one.

MK, I will refrain from a riposte.

Few England careers coming to an end here

Spence is crap, I hope we don't end up going for him, there have been rumours about us chasing him, not for me, doesn't look made of the right stuff

Andy M - no Everton bias from me. He was partially to blame just not the 100% you apportioned to him!

Agree Jim.

It's a pretty young team Andrew, unless you mean the goalie!

Watkins has to come on.

Little full back overlap, so rice goes right back 🤦‍♂️

Declan Rice going to RB?

Good thing he didn't pick Garner

Cipenga plays for UD Almería Moyes.

Now THAT was a clean goal.

A good striker papers over a lot of cracks...

Brilliant ball from Gordon.

To be fair, England have been well on top. DRC have created nothing in this half.

What a cracker

Some goal that. Claire gets the assist.

What another brill ball from Gordon

You just knew that was going to happen. England deserve it, DRC's defence has been great.

In all fairness it's an embarrassing performance by England.

Stop being Irish Christy.

Rice did well at right back tbf

Agree Ian and Wan Bissaka

Paul it's Congo they were playing?

Yep but it was far from embarrassing mate.

Yeah, he knew Rashford very well, and had a good solid game.

That 2nd from Kane is ridiculous!!

Paul, Kane was the difference, but the shocking miss by Wissa to put them 2 up?

Arise Sir 'arry.

Play like they did for the first 30 minutes against Mexico, with that crowd behind them, they'll be two down before they know it.

And Gordon CR. Yep, DRC are a good team and Wissa will be in bits. We should buy him.

I still think Ban Wissaka would be a good buy for right back, £10m?

I wish Phil Foden, Trent ex RS and Cole Palmer were there. We lack quality in depth

That was a good sing-a-long.

We are unlikely to see an English centre forward as effective and lethal as Kane again in many of our lifetimes, devastatingly lethal player

Well that was brilliant winner and Congo were gone after the equaliser they had ran themselves into the ground and had nothing left, a brave fight but they didn’t offer much in that second half, will have to put up with the English media until the next game.

I saw the value of Anderson in that game, never stopped working in that midfield and looked like he could run for another ninety minutes, still not worth that huge fee but nevertheless he will be a good addition to that City squad.

Kane's unbelievable at 32 years of age, and Munich benefiting, rumours Barcelona are trying to sign him

Word is he is extending at Bayern Christy. 63 goals last season fecks sake.

Let's face it Tuchel is not as good as some think he is.

He was forced through desperation to bring on the subs. having selected the wrong starting eleven which underperformed for the most part against one of the minnow teams

Kane is a class act and was there long before Tuchel came along so we know he is first on the team sheet.

They will need to show a big improvement on Monday in Mexico.

Hard to see France not winning it all.

The bitterness on here is as entertaining as the match

Anderson has got a work rate Dave, but I don’t think City, would have bought him if Guardiola, was still the manager. Good player but I don’t think he moves the ball on quick enough and thinking about the premier league, I’m not looking forward to watching the cheats constantly getting the benefit of doubt, which hasn’t happened often in the games I’ve so far watched in this tournament.

The best thing about that game today was that it suddenly looks like football is finally becoming a man’s game, once again🤞

Kane carried Spurs for 10 years, look at the difference since he left, he’s also carrying England.
England's defence is all over the place, fitth right back in Rice used in 4 games, Guehi and Konsa like scared kittens in the middle, baba O’Reilly as good as he is going forward, is naive in defence, especially when he is roaming forward!
Hate to say it but slabhead Maguire would have been a better option in central defence, TTA at RB and a more experienced left back should have gone too, Tuchel has fooked up his squad options, he will hardly use Henderson(Palmer FFS)Foden would have been a decent option from the bench, but defensively they look really poor, Mexico at home will be the end of the road I’m afraid.

Darren, not so much bitterness DH, but the silence as people obviously had their tea/dinner ready when England equalised mate.

Tuchel deffo should have selected Foden, Slabhead, and Palmer. Detest Kane after eyelash gate but that 2nd goal was very nice.

Congrats to England getting past the mighty democratic republic of Congo and making it as far as Canada in the tournament. And Happy Canada Day to all, any guitarists or music fans out there give a listen to our REAL national anthem and Red Shea ripping it up 🇨🇦


https://youtu.be/YoaEbp3o6LU?si=gjPN2MPJb7oi1pZU

Glasner to Forest ?

Who saw that coming ?

As soon as I saw a WhatsApp picture today saying Forest, are considering getting rid of another manager, then I immediately thought that it would be to bring in Glazner, Darren.

People give the big Greek, a lot of stick. He goes through manager’s like he goes through gyros, but I’d love to have a chairman, who wants to succeed like the Forest chairman does.

What’s fuck stability in Greek?

Tony

Meanwhile back at the Texan ranch ....

Wan Bissaka would be fine at right back, but you need a bit more threat on the left. You cant have two stay at home full backs.

Yep, a big surprise this morning for me. Triple trophy Glasner leaves Palace to step down to lower level Forest with a mad Greek in charge. Palace = stability and erm Forest ........

Spurs sign Tonali for 100 million, that's 237 million spent so far. Why we haggle with every club over fucking peanuts. That's why there classed as a big club and we ain't. Bloody joke

Have a chairman, who is a lot more concerned about succeeding, than boring old stability.

Hes a joke figure that Forest chairman.
Cant he just accept it's only the big clubs that get success.
Instead of spending fortunes trying to break that "rule"

And fires managers for fun Tony.

Meanwhile Spurs sign Tonali today and three other lads yesterday, including Fernandes (another one was a contract extension to be fair).

And us: George possibly and (WIKI) 'Hayden Rhys Hackney (born 26 June 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Everton'.

I don't give a shit where Spuds ended up last season. It's now that matters. And the gulf between us and them in these transfer stakes is huge.

Do something to really impress us and make us dead happy Saints Daniel the Absent and Angus the Silent and that expensively assembled ace recruitment team.

" You cant have two stay at home full backs"

You can Ian.
Watch Everton, you will see it most weeks.

Ndiaye starts

England just about deserved the win today - they got seriously lucky with that sitter that Wissa hit the post with - had that gone in making it 2 nil would have been hard to come back from.
Touchel knows what he's doing and any team or country in the world would like a Harry Kane - he is some goal scorer.

In my opinion England will play better when playing teams that don't defend so much.
They are still in there, Mexico will be a super tough match in a stadium packed with their fanatical fans, and remember they have only lost twice in 89 odd games there - IF they can beat them it just gets tougher !
There is no doubt that a lot of this England team really need to up their game to have any chance of winning the trophy.
Fodin, Trent and Palmer would have made zero difference today.

I thought England played much better once they had to score, they started finding space. It amazes me how few players do that simple thing and look where they can go to receive the ball.

I think we will be well 2nd favs in Mexico at altitude and very hot, Mexico are also a top team.

Just looked at the betting :- to win the tie 4/7 England and 5/4 Mexico. I can't believe those odds, there's no way we are a 4/7 shot. The bookies know most English punters want to back England, hence the terrible price.
I wont be betting on the game, but at them odds I would have to back Mexico.

Arnold mate.
His name is Arnold

Weird stadium this one.

Hewey, it's better than ........ WTF! Brewdog Stadium! When did that happen? What happened to Knowsley Road?

'Get down to Brewdog. ..... We're St. Helens from the Brewdog ....... We're the Brewdog boys we are .... '

Awful name.

Agreed Raymond I'd take Mexico all day at those odds

Ndiaye looking mustard here

Senegal well deserve that goal.

This hydration/ad break is a little late

Senegal were 3/1 to win this match, tremendous odds.

Tonali and Fernandes to Spurs £185m, wanted to play for De Zerbi, nothing to do with £300k per week? Could we get Richi on the cheap?

Hydration/ad break Paul

Gotta think we're in 4 quarter territory no matter what the climate now

Very - VERY - good buys Christy. Richy is a different sort of player isn't he? Bergvall ought to be available.

Neil, I've heard at least 2 commentators refer to quarters.

Infant Eno sure gets around

My life in the shrub of boasts. Fucker sure knows a thing or two about making money

The fella behimd him at one match yesterday was a deadringer for that bloke from the Cure.

Good Byrne/Eno work there Neil. How I remember buying Remain in Light and putting it on to play!!!! 'Take a look at these hands ....... '

You can hear the crowd booing during those hydration breaks, but they make sense to me in these summer time tournaments.

I’m not sure if this equivalent of four quarters will become part of the sport, moving forward, especially in winter time, but with there being very stringent new rules coming out for time wasting, then it might actually make sense?

You can count on it Tony, ad breaks equals more revenue. Just look at the matches in air conditioned stadiums this year. I think it's here to stay.

There will be hydration breaks in December in the Premier Super League in 2145.

Anyone have Conor Gallagher from Spuds? He has to be on his way out and we can feed off the scraps dropping from the Spuds table.

Paul #141, if you can make it over, you can have my ticket for the first home game that season.

Against North Newcastle Eagles Brent? Should I meet you outside that lighthouse house by the golf course?

Get there by noon, Paul, and I'll buy the first round. If I'm a bit "late", just hang around a while!

Ha ha Brent #143

Get the money up front Paul will fall for that

Cheers mate. Don't rush on my behalf though.

Here's Rom!

Illy's had a hair cut. Looks good.

If it gets me the ticket it will be worth it Brendan.

You're invited, too, Brendan.

Wow, what a goal!

That puts Saar on 4 now. Great business by Palace.

I think that the winner of this will play the US in the '16, unless Bosnia-H say otherwise.

Some pass from the centreback for goal, but Mane at 34, don’t like him but immense.

Can someone please implicate Gianni in L'Affaire Epstein?

Apart from France and maybe Spain, this feels like the world cup where most of Europe got left behind. Germany and Netherlands out, England squeaking past the mighty Congo...perhaps Portugal and Norway will prove me wrong

Fuck me what an end to this game,.how are Belgium level here.

Wow, did not see 2-2 coming

I don't believe it

Keeper's ball all day on that equalizer, missed his punch

Tony @113

"fuck stability" in Greek, you can say "γαμώ τη σταθερότητα" (pronounced: gah-MOH tee stah-theh-ROH-tee-tah).Here is the breakdown of the phrase:Γαμώ (Gamo): The incredibly versatile, all-purpose Greek verb for "fuck".Τη (ti): The feminine definite article ("the").Σταθερότητα (Statherotita): The Greek word for "stability"

Idrissa Gueye hit a shot low? Seen it all now.

Senegal making the subs backfired

American commenators cannot even manage to master saying the obvious. No style.

I didn't know Rudy Garcia was manager of Belgium. I still like that guy.

Onana on to take a pen. Is the Belgium manager nuts,

Might get the winner ?

Anyone seen this supposed leak of the new home and away kits? Please say it ain't so.

https://www.tiktok.com/@bramleymooreblue/video/7657587132411743510

The young lad who came on for Idrissa, went on loan to Bayern Munich in January and played 4 games for them. He looks a prospect.

Will Senegal walk off the pitch

Could you blame them if they did after that penalty decision Paul?

Brutal. Senegal does an Everton

Why are the subs all allowed to run onto the pitch, when a goal is scored ? I thoight Tielemans did a Salah, felt the touch and fell over the guys foot.

Trouble at final whistle me thinks.

totally agree Jack.

Two great games. today

Porky Belgium.

If it takes 5 minutes of replays, it's not a pen. Leaves a bad taste that one.

The ref said it was a goal kick. What happened to it was an obvious error ? Var should have left well alone. I wanted to see Onana take a shoot out pen !

I didn’t think it was a penalty either. But none of us trust VAR so no great surprise.
The 2026 version of Rom may be heavier and a bit slower than the one we enjoyed …. But he’s still better than Beto/Barry.

Pay back for for the afcon never a pen. The Belgian instigated the contract. by putting his foot over the defenders,Cheats corrupt.

I thought it was a penalty as he played the opponents foot rather than ball.

On the Pickford ‘clanger’, he will be disappointed but it’s definitely only a marginal mistake not an absolute fuck-up. If the attacker is under proper pressure from defender so his only option is to try to beat the keeper at the near post then keeper has odds stacked in his favour, but when attacker basically has all options open to him the keeper is trying to keep all his options open as well. Slightly too much weight shifted to left foot and he’s a millisecond away from getting a proper hand on a very well struck and directed shot.

People forget that Pickford’s main strength and the reason he gets the nod for England is the fact that he’s much better than his rivals when passing the ball.

Different federation, but can't help thinking Senegal just paid (again) for having the temerity to challenge the powers that be at Afcon. Don't have a dog in the fight but that was really suspect.

If the Senegal player was just sticking his right leg to the ball, likely no penalty. However, he was swinging his leg not anticipating Thielemans beating him to the space. Striking his leg like that allowed the ref to interpret the contact as preventing Thielemans from making a play on the ball with his right foot.

Not sure I would call it but there was enough there for the ref's interpretation imo.

Did it take you 5 minutes to come up with that interpretation Dale, like it did the ref? Or whoever ultimately made the decision?

Clearly and obviously a very suspicious call.

Nicely put Dale and I agree. It's frequently the case that the situation gives the opportunity for a ref to interpret it. Was it harsh and soft? Yes, arguably. Could it be seen as a penalty? Yes. Was it corrupt or 'payback'? Absolutely not.

Senegal would have won on points and who knows how the penalties would have gone.

If the Yanks sneak past Bosnia-H they will play their first decent team this tourney in Belgium.

Got ya bandana on Dale?

Tonali to spurs £100million. Seriously.

I like that leaked 'new kit' if it is indeed the ket apart from that yellow on the trim which is utterly unnecessary. I love an all white hoop neck and white on the end of sleeves.

Paul you're hours behind.

Who would have bet on Tonali to spurs? Tonali apparently.😀

Tonali and Fernandes in two days is pretty good going. What are we up to?

Fk all Paul, sweet fk all😭

At least the thick Geordies will be livid Paul if they are able to process what just happened.

Sorry, but George if it happens and Hackney (an Everton player on WIKI) are 'nice' buys but they don't fill me with happy antiicipation for the new season.

Dear God, watching those two climb up the Empire State Building is hair-raising and gives me the willies. They got engaged when they reached the top apparently.

Well Paul, that is an uncomfortable question for me. Hanging out with my Colombian friend, who fast-tracked my football understanding, I learned to despise the gringo's approach to FFSoccer.

While they have obviously improved, I still do not have a healthy love for my nation's football adventures. The 2002 team almost converted me but I didn't get there.

I would feel a bit guilty about it but no relegation in the MLS and that league being a cushy European senior player retirement destination gives me an out.

I discovered football with this club in '95 when I had to pay $20 for Setanta feeds at random English/irish bars around San Francisco. I owe the national gringos nothing.

Jeez Dzeko must be 40 now

No relegation anywhere in any Yank sport right Dale? Unlike every other single country in the world. Paying asslicking homage to 'the franchise'.

Ta for the account of your personal journey and thoughts!

You sound like me when it comes to England. Take it or leave it. Win, OK interesting ...... Lose, what's the next game on the box?

Feck me he's at this game too, or is it a clone?

That was decent. That was offside.

He's a good lb is Robinson. A shocking indictment of us that we let him leave.

Left foot, with pace. No brainer

Nice finish by the English lad

Liam #196, I screamed as loud as I could. Threw an absolute tantrum when we gifted him to Wigan for £2 million. Never forgave Silva, that dumb putz.

Probably wasn't down to Silva or Silva alone MG

Yellow that not red

Absolutely brilliant by that kid. Instant legend. Woo hoo USA!

Spurs look like they mean business, when we had a chance to send them down last season, they'll probably finish about 15 points ahead of us next season, would be typical Everton that lol

The USA v Belgium match will be an interesting clash of "Legends".

Still very early days, but I still havent seen anything to suggest the Yanks cant win the tournament outright

Liam - when Robinson left he was 21 and behind Lucas Digne in the pecking order.

Digne was sold in December 21 - a full 2½ years later and you expect us to have kept Robinson until then?

Phil (204) There was also a doubt about trouble with his heart, I think a transfer was called off because of it, was it with an Italian club.

Now he has matured he is very good going forward but not so good defending, he’s better than what we’ve got obviously but it doesn’t bother me that he’s no longer with us although we might have got a lot more money for him if he stayed but that was long ago and a certain fan reckons that Mykolenko is the best defensive left back in the premier league, or he did not so long ago.

I haven’t watched USA, playing a game yet Darren, but it was obvious to me that the yanks, would really start to improve once they stopped looking across the pond, to see how the English, coached their teams.

Coach skill - coach movement - because the one thing that American sportspeople have always seemed very adept at is athleticism, and these are, I believe, the three main ingredients needed to really succeed at the highest level.

Let's face it Tuchel is not as good as some think he is.

He was forced through desperation to bring on the subs. having selected the wrong starting eleven which underperformed for the most part against one of the minnow teams.

Kane is a class act and was there long before Tuchel came along so we know he is first on the team sheet.

They will need to show a big improvement on Monday in Mexico.

Hard to see France not winning it all.

I cant see anybody beating the French to the title, some of their football the other night was at a different level to the rest of the teams.

I find it quite ironic the most hated manager this club has ever had sold Digne to Villa because he criticized Benitez tactics, and he got dogs abuse from some fans on his return and we still haven't found anybody as good as him.

He is still playing well both for Villa who qualified for the Champions League and France who will probably win the World Cup. Just a pity more players didn't back him when he argued with Benitez and we still might have had one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.

Brain (208),

Benitez sold Digne because he was told to get rid of the high earners like Digne and James and he was given little to spend, Kenwright negotiated the buying of Patterson and God knows who wanted Mylolenko, maybe that deal was done by Usmanov.

Whether you liked Benitez or not, he was a proven very capable manager elsewhere but not here — like several other managers — but most probably given the least to spend.

Not convinced on Pickford, the right back, the centre backs, £130m signing, Madueke, & Rashford was off it

Too many passengers, they'll get knocked out Mexico unless they can turn around half the team performances. That's a fair ask after two unconvincing displays in the group.

Spence struggled but was given zero cover by Madueke, the centre halves looked rattled playing with two such inexperienced full-backs and Pickford lost his composure for a while.

We need not retain the possession well enough, the offensive press didn't work as they outnumbered our attackers and the wingers were unwilling / unable to go on the outside. Elliot Anderson played like Darren Gibson for 70 minutes.

But in Kane, Bellingham and Rice they have 3 world class players -- the rest have to step up massively.

When you look ex Everton players who are now playing in the world cup and other Prem. teams, if we could have retained those players we would have very much better squad and have a realistic chance of reaching the top 6 even top 4. You can't keep selling your best players and hope to do well.

I thought England played well after Congo scored but I think the conditions in Mexico will be a big handicap to us and for that reason I don't fancy us. If we could win we have a chance to reach the final, but you have to say France look very hard to beat.

I don't think it was a penalty given against Senegal, I'm not even sure it was in the box never mind a foul. I didn't get a good view of it but that was my first impression.

Yes, the penalty decision against Senegal was bad. The ref had a good view on the field and didn't call it but we all saw multiple replays of it on VAR, as he did, and it was totally unclear and therefore should have not been called.

Having said that, Senegal should be criticized heavily for poor game management and that is down to the coaching. With 4 minutes left, they were still wide open when all should have been behind the ball.

So many scorelines decided in the last 5 minutes of games should warn those still to play that you cannot relax until the final whistle is blown.

Robinson never played behind Digne.

It appears he or his agent got the word that some negotiation was going on with Barca about Digne; a left-back. Robinson suddenly left for Wigan. Digne's signing was announced a week or two later.

It's worked out for both of them, at their respective clubs. We have Mykolenko for another 2-3 years.

Tony 206

if I had to describe in one word what Poch has brought to this USA team. I would use the word "Honesty" They have it in spades.

Cultured defenders will probably pass around their "press". BUT!!!!.. As Famous coach once told me. "When class goes to sleep, Honesty will prevail"


The "Seppo's" (as the Aussies call them) bring nothing new, but I cant wait until they are next up. They are so refreshing.

The Japanese have gone home. The Africans seem hellbent on shooting themselves in the foot. Football needs a new king.

I'm going all Yank. They're currently 25/1 - A pretty accurate reflection of their chances.

We all know how weird the Yanks are with their fascination of rounders and netball, but if they can win a couple more matches, football will absolutely explode,

USA. USA. USA...