The 2026 World Cup — 3rd Quarter-Final

A tough ask for the Three Lions. I venture to say their best chance is extra time and penalties.

However, their defensive work has been poor at times and, with Haaland sniffing around, that can be a problem.

They showed a lot of grit at the Azteca after Quansah's craziness, especially Bellingham, who finally put in a good shift.

Norway are a good outfit, probably the best they have ever been, so it's vitally important everyone is on top of their game to help advance to the semis.

Stop Ødegaard, and I think it won't be too hard to beat Norway. Everything goes through him, he's got the freedom to go deep, wide, forward and if he's out the game, they will struggle to control possession.

More quality in the English side, so it's theirs to lose.

Tuchel to play another centre-back (Konsa) at right-back, despite it not turning out too well with Quansah last time.

Obviously following the Moyes playbook in refusing to play a natural full-back.

2 - 0 England

Oh shit, I missed the goals.

Hang on... are we under way already?

Wtf are you on about MK?

2 - 0 England

Although I'm not seeing this anywhere else.

Gawd, that woman looks like an actual witch.

Kane might be challenging for the Golden Boot, but I think if England are to continue on this run, it's Bellingham who drags them along, leading, battling, and scoring.

Kane could play shite and we might still win; if Bellingham doesn't play well, England generally don't either.

Talking in riddles…next level!

She speaks very highly of you Michael.

close game, England will win, I have liked like Tuchel ever since he messed with Conte

Spent too long in the ice bath, methinks.

Get out sharpish.
It will shrivel your town halls

You can tell Tuchel wants it bad. That is what I like about him.

Not me, ya daft bugger.

Karen the witch.

Tuchel was good in that vignette...

Right on the money.

England's defense is a worry, maybe put Burn in to (try and) deal with Haaland?

We can outscore anyone on our day though, and we have the best goalie obviously.

Lee fuckin Dixon!! Really??

The most boring of all the boring bastards!!!

How Dixon still gets the gig is beyond me.

A fucking countdown, WWFTF?!?

Here we go,
Here we go,
Here we go!

Poor from Madueke there.

Anderson looks the most likely to put it on someone's head in the box.

Gordon is getting nothing from Ryerson.

Boring.
So much so called possession - not much action.
Match needs a goal...and not a Norwegian break away.

Ooh some near action

Slow, obviously because of the heat and humidity but England should be getting more ball into the box, you really need to capitalise with this possession, I don’t think the other players trust Mandueke, I can see why.

Norway look jaded, sickness definitely in the camp despite their denial I think

That was cardable.

Sorry Dale, l don’t even think it was a foul imo

Wish Norway had scored then. Just clear the bloody ball

And that's why we don't want anything to do with Stones

I can see Gordon getting very frustrated here and doing something stupid...

How the fuck did that go in???

He’s always had that in him,now it’s going to be on the increase as his legs start to go.

England deserve that

Oh dear... Pickford not tall enough!

England look suspect defensively, not at all sure on these fullbacks and Guehi isn't living up to the hype

Foul on Kane.

T-Rex arms?

Burn down the Jorvik Centre in York.

How has Madueke made this World Cup squad?

Looks so poor on the ball

Hopefully that will wake them up.

They need to play at a much higher tempo. Fuck the heat and humidity.

Guehi was shite at our place

That Viking font, kind of pissing me off at this point.

England have completely lost it

So poor at back again

Stones and Guehi are liabilities

Agree Jim. Not even an Arse regular.

Norway's high press since the AD break has changed things completely

Is this OAP walking football ?

I don't think you can win the World Cup with England's defensive back four to be honest

I'm not bias. But you telling me KDH wouldn't improve this midfield over Anderson?

Norway are cutting through them

What about Swedish and Danish vikings?

That was manly.

I'll happily hold my hand up here, I was wrong about Bellingham.

I've not seen him live much, but he's got something about him that none of the other midfielders have.

Brilliant from Bellingham.

More please.

Lot’s and lots of poor performances here, Bellingham our only decent performer

Bellingham and Gordon again!

That's the way to do it

Ro!

Great finish our 'arry, shame

Well off Hewey

Now I don't think that's offside.

1/2 a yard off, but not much VAR scrutiny

Bellingham totally on a different level. Some player.

Bellingham is ridiculous... 23.

As good as Kane is, Bellingham is the driving force.

How Madueke gets in front of Saka is a complete mystery to me.

England need to step up the speed and also the end product.

Pickford, no fault as a mishit!! He is head and shoulders above everyone.

Can we have Hewey on VAR please, imagine the kick off:

“No, I refuse to look at the screens, I don't think that was offside!“😀

Pickford getting destroyed on ITV.

Just watched the Norway goal.

Pickford actually let the ball go past him, I think.

Bloomer by Pickford

Shocking from Pickford. He could have saved that. Took his hand away.

Madueke? Really???

10 players having stinkers, Pickford gets the blame.
Obviously it’s the nature of the position,but none of the others are getting called out

Madueke crap, no end product

None of the others are the goalkeeper !

Rice is well off the pace and his set pieces are shocking. He was ill earlier this week but the bench looks short in midfield.

Eze and Saka coming on

Madueke is shite and should be benched for the semi

At least Tuchel has reacted, Moyes would sit on his hands until they are 3-1 down, then change it.

'Courageous' subs there. Let's hope it doesn't back fire.

Gordon doing a good job in the wall there…err.
Is O’Reilly any good? I’m not convinced

Picks doesn't like any aerial balls you know, as much as I love the guy

Yup, there it is again, England fucking abysmal defensively, that all comes from Picks with that fumble for the original corner btw

Nothing wrong with that

Lucky escape here

Thats a foul

England seriously asking for trouble here though

Jesus Hewey do you get anything right? Two handed push on Anderson.

Didn't know Ravanelli had made a comeback with Norway

That was definitely not a foul. Went down far to easily

It’s not a foul in rugby

Paying Norway far too much respect

Ho hum Hewey. This is footy not eggball.

Do Norway have a record number of baldies? Blonde baldies look shite. No Yul Brynners there.

Thats a foul in rugby too

Jordan as the best England 'keeper since Shilton knows how to read an attacking situation against him - obviously.

The Norwegian lad wasn't intentionally shooting as far as I'm concerned. In the blether of the Scottish side of my family (the other side is total Scouse btw) he "sclaffed" it but scored, and by inadvertently doing so deceived Jordan, who could hardly have foreseen it.

Pickford-is-innocent - again,

Unless you're a top-six obsessed gob-shite on TV, obviously, as ever.

Hewey’s more of a rugby fan.

Pickford getting involved when he’s not required there, just leave it to the centre half

Sorry it's embarrassing going down so easily. Stand your ground man.

Oh well Pickford will no longer deserve to go a Champions League side

Reece James is not fit,hasn’t been fit for 2 years, shouldn’t have even gone. Rogers for Anderson for me.
Surely Rashford for Gordon? Reece fucking James!!

He was fouled by a fucking tree-trunk sub-human monster Hewey, ever player anywhere goes down. Should it have been a scrum or line out?

Teuchel's HT subs backfiring a bit. Way too much space for the pillagers in midfield.

Maybe the AD break will change things in the 4th quarter.

Kane doesn't win enough physical tussles

It does not look that England believe there is a semifinal with a win here, let Norway back into the game

Rubbish PG. That push wouldn't push a toddler over. Footballer yes.

Norway controlling the game here, we are lucky this wasn't France, the game would already be gone by now.

England are not winning this tournament playing like this.

Dixon keeps calling Anderson, Elliot, what a nugget he is.

Give it up Hewey please in your world of one.

HT subs not working yet, but brill ball from Saka

Are they a pair Jeff?

Tuchel’s subs are mind boggling

it's midnight and England have turned into a pumpkin.

Fuck Spence. Why does he wear his Hannibal Lecter stuff.

Pillagers far more creativity and energy

First time i've heard O'Reilly's name in the 3rd and 4th quarters

The second half is fully on Tuchel. Terrible substitutions.

The bracket is not inspiring confidence.

Close, exquisite from Saka. Here we go, Rogers.

Rogers 30 minutes too late

Why does Tuchel remind me of Roger from the 1978 Dawn of the Dead lol

I will give up once footballers stop being tarts.

Why would you give up? Cos then they wouldn't be tarts, that's what you want.

Whenever Eze gets the ball when he plays against us, whether that was at Palace or more recently at Arsenal I immediately think oh fuck here's a goal coming. For England he looks terrible, clueless. Why is that ?

YOU FOOKIN TART BELLINGHAM

Hewey's insane one 'MAN' campaign.

Get down to BrewDog Park for the real men who reject deodorants and only eat roadkill raw with their hands

F off with your “moments” pundits talk shite all the time.

Norway just so much more effective with their possession.
Think jude looks tired, but a tired Bellingham is still better than anyone else we have.

Pickford to win it in shootout if the defence can hold on.

Andrew@100. Kane has pulled England out so many times over the years but sometimes he vacates his post too often and stops playing centre forward.

You need a centre forward in these games, so hopefully Harry gets that tired he loses the energy to keep drifting.

Talking rubbish PG. Nothing to do with rugby. Stop going down easily. Grow a pair FFS.

Rogers shot caused that goal, Bellingham is unreal.
Rogers should have been on at HT instead of Tuchel’s Chelsea favourites like Reece James, I still think he’ll find a way to shoehorn Chalobah into this game.

Tired Bellingham still best player !!!

GET IN

Pickford like clanger.

Hewey's prediction in danger. Tears in Clampitt Lane St. Helens.

I was never convinced by JB until this tourney.

Now feck off rowers and sail home on wood like proper Vikings

C'mon !!

No foul.

Spence fell over like a tart. No pen.

HAHA see Alfie H do the diving arms and then the finger to someone

he's just blown his chance of a dream move to Everton.

Cheats don't prosper.

Could’ve gone 3-1 now it gives Norway a massive boost

Tony @ 120, not doubting his goals etc but he doesn't win enough physical battles with defenders.

I'm surprised Mainoo hasn't seen any minutes

Never a pen

Pen not given

Should have brought Mainoo on instead of Eze or Reece "fucking waste of space"James
Fuck me he's took Haaland off!! WTF!

Look at Haarlands head when England score that goal, he’s give up, hasn’t ran since he’s fucked, now if that jinx doesn’t inspire him nothing will.

Haaland off - wimp

Reece James is doing a nice job at right back.

I’m sorry but if Haaland is not injured you do not take him off
If nothing else he takes a great pen.

Put him in the dingy and let him row to the showers.

Dan Burn could play eggball league he's that hard.

Yank commentator - 'Pickford does not play at a high-profile club'.

Jonas Gahr Støre, can you hear me? Jonas Gahr Støre, your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!

Deal with it Norge.

King Bellingham!

Henderson, full kit wanker

1/4 finals was a bare minimum 'par' for Tuchal and the team from a performance point of view.

So a spot in the semis is good.

Just keep beating whoever they put in front of you and you never know.

The best team lost to VAR and their corruption

Erik the Red, Eric Bloodaxe, Harald I Fairhair, Rollo of Normandy, Leif Erikson, Harald Hardrada your boys took one hell of a beating

Bellingham the main man, but the disallowed Norway goal totally wrong, the corner hadn't even been taken?

ERM where is Viking Sven-Roger?

Stop being Irish again Christy!

Cheating won. Good luck against Argentina. Dont expect VAR to save your arse again

Thanks again Paul, but was I wrong? Just watching on RTE, the equaliser should have been disallowed, the ball hit the cable cam?

England looking more together with each game. Genuine flair and skill. Real resilience, grit, heart and tough.

This England squad would easily win the eggball Betfred Super League.

Not sure Christy. I'll definitely have a close look.

'Cheating won' LOL LOL get on deck and start rowing Svein-Roger. You need English grit and heart to win these games and Noway simply don't have it.

Noway are English Championship level.

Jo Nesbo is a cracking writer though.

Kane didn't look as good now Henderson can only rub his balls 1 handed

Thank Bellingham and the referee.

Hahaha - Norway - Not even proper Danmark!
But I’d love to see Anthony Gordon play super League - I’d pay good money for that!

PG@141. He doesn't

Christy - you need to learn the new rules. It cannow a foul before the corner is taken resulting in the corner being retaken - as it was tonight

England should be confident, and Argentina scrapped through the last few games, won't be easy against a dogged Swiss team.

What a total farce VAR is for football!

Erik den røde, Eirik Blodøks, Harald Hårfagre, Rollo av Normandie, Leiv Eiriksson, Harald Hardråde – gutta dine fikk virkelig bank.

Så bitter du er, Svein-Roger. Når alt kommer til alt, er ikke Norge gode nok for en VM-kvartfinale. Og dere har altfor mange skallede karer.

Kom deg ned på gulvet og begynn å ro hjem. Ro!

Noway's slightly salted butter is shite. Lurpak all the time. Danmark – ekte vikinger.

Scandal. Even Tuchel admits they were lucky.
The equalizer should been ruled out for hitting the camera wire. The the defender goes down teathrically. But enjoy it you deserve all the help!

I thought VAR evened things up Svein-Roger. Seen penalties given plenty of times for the tangle of legs Spence engineered. Can’t see a significant difference between it and what Kane was penalised for against Mexico. Leg across and you kick it, it’s a foul ten times out of ten anywhere else on the pitch.

Bellingham was clearly fouled (doesn’t matter if it’s accidental) and got nothing.

I think the ball striking fixtures and fittings (even overhead wires) should just be play on. I’ve seen players done by the ball bouncing back off the corner flag.

Mind you, I do think Norway squandered chances to put the game out of reach in the second half and I agree with Tuchel’s dissatisfaction.

Saka had some moments but still looks miles off his top level to me. Hopefully he is making strides to get his mojo back game after game. Eze is another who can’t seem to get out of second gear.

Need Rice to be fully fit for the semi to really knit this team together into a cohesive unit.

Oh, and I think clearly shoving the guy marking you to the ground has to be penalised somehow. There is far too much manhandling goes on that has nothing to do with fair competition and it needs to be reduced as much as possible.

It took nothing more than some English play-acting to deny Norway a 2–1 lead against England. Torbjørn Heggem scored early on from a corner, but referee Clement Turpin and the VAR team found a flimsy pretext to disallow the goal.

Erling Braut Haaland had given Elliot Anderson a gentle shove in the scramble in front of the English goal, giving the Englishman a chance to dive. Anderson seized that opportunity with both feet.

A theatrical dive, and Norway’s momentum was halted:

English substitute Djed Spence engineered a penalty against Oscar Bobb, and referee Turpin was fooled again.

But this time, the VAR team put a stop to the deception.

Great win, poor performance but sometimes you have to win ugly.

Great win, poor performance but sometimes you have to win ugly.

Great win, poor performance but sometimes you have to win ugly.

Svein-Roger, your boo-hoo sour grapes are getting a tad tiresome now. Unhappiness is understandable after Noway lost but taken too far it's absurd.

'A gentle shove'!!!??? Erling Brute Haaland gave EA a full-on two-handed shove.

The Noway '2-1 goal' was properly disallowed for a clear foul and that was not the only reason to disallow that goal.

Plucky Noway did well to reach the QF. You ought to be celebrating that with a ringnes pilsner. No way would anyone have predicted last month that Noway would reach the QF. You made it. Enjoy.

SKAL!

A scandal of massive proportions

After the match England defender Dan Burn said:
- I don't think it would have been cancelled in the Premier League
At least one honest player

Wayne Rooney said the same

No he didn't Svein-Roger. You absolutely made that up. Or perhaps you can show us where he said this or provide a link? Burn has not yet had a post-match interview.

Ditto Wayne Rooney. Give us the link.

https://www.dagbladet.no/sport/en-skandale-av-dimensjoner/84891234

How about Norway’s second goal being called back via a retroactive VAR of major flop before the ball was ever in play? It should have been 2-0 going into halftime. Anyone who says FIFA’s thumb isn’t on the scale is lying to themselves. This is part of the plan - they want England vs Argentina and to hype up the rivalry from the Hand of God goal in 1986.

HAHAHAHAHA that link is to some Norwegian spiel untranslated and nowhere do the names Burn or Rooney appear. Or, perhaps you could show us where they do Svein-Roger in English so that suspicions that you make crap up can be cleaned up.

The best team did not win tonight. The game should have been over in regulation time. Norway were robbed. This result is so wrong and bad for the sport

And what about the clear elbow to the back of the Norwegian player trying to score a goal? Should have been a penalty right?

People are upset that the var is seemingly used at random and not for every important decision.

Money talks, and FIFA benefits far more from England reaching the semi-finals than Norway. It’s a known fact.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://x.com/DuncanCastles/status/2076102636915347481&ved=2ahUKEwia5_a2iMyVAxVKEhAIHekULfoQFnoECBwQBQ&usg=AOvVaw0oI4fIMs83nOGurq_X_yRX

OK folks, you might remember that I asked Svein-Roger for a link to show/prove that Burn and Rooney said the words that he put in their mouths.

I/we got a link to some Norwegian fella with a chip on his shoulder.

There is NO mention of either Burn or Rooney. Svein-Roger made it all up and then posted a false link.

Make yer own minds up.

Translated from the Norwegian (what do you think Svein-Roger? Let's hear your reply)

"Cowardly England Lay down, and got a semi-final from the referee.

It took nothing more than some English play-acting to deny Norway a 2–1 lead against England. Torbjørn Heggem scored early on from a corner, but referee Clement Turpin and the VAR team found a flimsy pretext to disallow the goal.

Erling Braut Haaland had given Elliot Anderson a gentle shove in the scramble in front of the English goal, giving the Englishman a chance to feign a foul. Anderson seized that opportunity with both feet.

A theatrical dive, and Norway was cynically thwarted:

"If that’s a foul, then I should get a foul in every situation," Haaland told *Dagbladet* afterwards—a view supported by neutral international commentators:

"Was Norway robbed?" asks the *New York Times* this morning. The major American newspaper has been cheering us on during the World Cup, and essentially answers "yes" to its own question:

"Simply reaching extra time was a victory for England," the paper writes, describing Norway's dominance and the referee's "robbery" in the second half.

For this was the night the English favorites had to resort to cheap tricks to beat a tiny opponent—one that, on this occasion, was every bit as good.

That is why the English cheating continued in Miami. The second act of the charade unfolded in extra time.

English substitute Djed Spence won a penalty against Oscar Bobb, and referee Turpin was fooled again

But this time, the VAR room put a stop to the theatrics.

After all, the favorites, England, were leading 2–1 at the time.

"We must be gracious in defeat and not dwell on refereeing decisions," a tearful Ståle Solbakken said bravely after the match—and he is, of course, right.

This is common in football. Especially at the World Cup, small nations have to fight to get what they deserve.

That’s the way this sport is, and that’s the way it’s going to be.

In that case, it is far more important to remember that mighty England needed play-acting to win this match. That is how brilliant this national team has become under Ståle Solbakken.

Patrick Berg—the standout player—dispossessed Harry Kane deep in the English half, allowing Martin Ødegaard to set up Andreas Schjelderup for a chance from a tight angle on the left. A playful, half-instep finish with his left foot made it 1–0—one of the World Cup’s delightful goals.

Then, the momentum shifted completely. It should have been 2–0 when Alexander Sørloth (with the ball) and Erling Braut Haaland (making a run) found themselves in a two-on-one situation with plenty of space, but the pass never came.

Instead, it was Jude Bellingham who demonstrated world-class quality with his breakthrough to make it 1–1, before the referee took center stage.

this championship could hardly have ended more dramatically for us, with only five matches remaining in the entire tournament.

The athletic performance was extraordinary. Even in 40-degree heat, the Norwegian players pushed themselves to the limit to secure the equalizer.

n exhausted Haaland on the bench fifteen minutes before the end, an exit from the World Cup, and time to reflect on the fairy tale that has captivated both Norway and the entire football world.

—an exit from... So, how long does a summer fling last?

– Not very long, according to the American writer Sam Anderson, who—just before this match—published the ultimate declaration of love for this little country of ours, far away in the North, in the major newspaper *The New York Times*:

– "How the World Cup Made Me Norwegian" is the title in the US, but the subtitle isn't quite as steeped in national romanticism:

switching national allegiances can be as easy as changing trousers," writes Anderson—who isn't exactly a huge football fan—with refreshing honesty.

So be it. For this writer—with Norwegian roots tracing back to the era of emigration—has come to understand what the global football community’s intense, quadrennial infatuations are really all about:

A fleeting spectacle on the TV screen over a few summer evenings, featuring intriguing foreign faces and powerful sporting imagery.

All in all, it’s great fun in the moment. Think Cameroon in 1990, Bulgaria in 1994, South Korea and Senegal in 2002, Croatia in 2018, and—come the 2026 World Cup—most definitely Norway.

But once your new TV favorite has to head home, you simply move on.

And those exotic World Cup images fade into distant memories—unless, that is, you are among the global elite and find yourself swayed by *Condé Nast Traveler*. That international luxury magazine, boasting 48 million readers, is tipping Norway as the absolute hottest destination for 2026, following all this magnificent football.

AND ON IT GOES …

Absurd decision to overrule Norway’s second goal for Haaland pushing back on Anderson ahead of a goal where the England midfielder would have had no impact on the eventual finish.
Once again FIFA VAR favours the bigger nation.

Just reply to @181 please Svein-Roger.

Wayne Rooney on Norway’s second goal being overruled by VAR: ‘That’s not a foul. I think we’ve been lucky there.’
#NORENG #WorldCup

Just look it up on x Mr Griffiths.

I'll ask again Mr. Jensen for your response to and explanation for @181.

That's not Rooney's post @184 Mr. Jensen.

It's words put in his mouth by someone who also posted this:

(In the same way that you put words in the words of Burn and Wazza)

Duncan Castles @DuncanCastles - Absurd decision to overrule Norway’s second goal for Haaland pushing back on Anderson ahead of a goal where the England midfielder would have had no impact on the eventual finish. Once again FIFA VAR favours the bigger nation. #NORENG #WorldCup

Rooney has not posted on X for 17 hours Mr. Jensen.

I'll take this as a fecking big yellow flag Mr. Jensen.

Gratulerer Mr. Jensen, fra nå av er du ToffeeWeb's Noway offisielle sjefsprodusent.

Four highest ranked teams in the world are in the semis. Just about right, I suppose.

Rooney has been critical of England’s performance against Norway.

“Thomas Tuchel was exactly right in what he was saying after the game,” Rooney said on BBC Sport.

Rooney added: “We’re all delighted that England have got through but the performance wasn’t great but they found a way.

“I just loved that interview from Thomas Tuchel. I thought he was spot on in terms of the mentality, the character of the players has got them through that game because for large parts of that game Norway were the better team.

“They got lucky with the second goal for Norway, I thought that was a little bit harsh.

You'll get over it Svein. I mean we've all got over Clive Thomas haven't we 😉

The rule is different in the English premier league, under our rules, in a wild theory,every defender can be knocked over before the corner is taken, the ball is crossed, hey presto, free header for anyone still on their feet, no foul in play, now I know this wouldn’t happen but at least in the World Cup the foul is legitimised before the kick is taken, Everton were robbed of a penalty by a mili-second towards the end of the season, when we were 2-1 up against Citeh with 5 minutes to play, the rule can work both ways and is far better than the EPL version, which I hope is changed for the new season.

I am used to see Everton treated the same unfair way so will get over it.

To be fair I also liked Bellingham’s response to Tuchel,and Rooney for that matter, basically saying the manager didn’t have to play in those hot and humid conditions.

Fuck me Alan, he keeps trying but has no response when he's called out for his lies/inventions.

Svein-Roger you got beat by a much better team. Your Haaland was shite and cancelled by England. You make things up. Fabricate. Post shite.

Have some dignity in loss FFS. You did well to reach the QF. Now go back to things you're good at like ski-jump, slalom, cross-country skiing, writing crime novels, and making yuck Fårikål,

PG don’t forget pillaging and fake rowing,
a la The Gap Band, I said oops upside your head I said oop upside your head.😂

Seven-Roger
All joking aside I see your point about “if that was Everton..”
That Norway goal would’ve been given, I’m 100% sure, even though a push is a push. The wrestling at corners needs to be stamped out and the more disallowed goals and, even rarer, penalties given, for such nonsense the quicker it will be.
I also thought that DJed Spense did a classic Stevie Gee starfish move and no penalty was the right decision but we know from history that that would’ve probably stood have been given against us. And a red card to (Hibbert) the defender to boot!
So you could argue both teams were equally treated.
Norway lost it because they didn’t execute that 2 v 1 to make it 2-0, not because of “cheating English”
And Alfie Haarland should be reintroduced to Roy Keane after his diving and two fingers theatrics from the sidelines.
The twat.

Paul keep on believing FIFA is not corrupt. You are blind and just lie down with your pathetic comments

Svein I don't think anyone would disagree that FIFA is as bent as a nine bob note..but I'd never consider it to be pro England. And don't get me going about Eurovision !

lose the lead in a World Cup quarter-final following an assist from a cable? And then have the naked eye pepper-sprayed by technology enthusiasts

FIFA claims that their own analyses show nothing happened, but we can all see that isn't true. The moment the ball touches that cursed camera cable, it suddenly changes trajectory. The players also react immediately and try to adjust their movements.

xxxxx xxxx Svein-Roger with your 'pathetic comments' lad

You lied x3. Got caught out by me and never responded you coward/liar.

'Pathetic'!!!!!!

YOU LIED AND MADE THINGS UP YOU SAD LAD.

Jeff A, fucking brilliant, I mean seriously massively fucking brilliant.

Here you go Seiven-Roger ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdChXdo6klE

- 'Oops upside yer head'.

RO, NO

Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head (oh!)
(I'm back at ya again
Radio stations, WGAB)
Say oops upside your head (now I want all you jackles)
(And your fingers snap because you're so talented)
(And you love lasses, I want y'all to say this with me, sing!)

but we can all see that isn't true.

HO HUM.

'All'.

Give up soft lad

'No commitment, you're an embarrassment
Yes, an embarrassment, a living endorsement
The intention that you have booked
Was an intention that was overlooked'

Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head, say oops upside your head
Say oops upside your head (oh!)
(I'm back at ya again
Radio stations, WGAB)
Say oops upside your head (now I want all you jackles)
(And your fingers snap because you're so talented)
(And you love lasses, I want y'all to say this with me, sing!)

Everyone can read papers except you Paul. What a clown!

You lied x3. SRJ Got caught out by me and never responded you coward/liar.

'Pathetic'!!!!!!

YOU LIED AND MADE THINGS UP YOU SAD LAD.

Oops upside your head liar.

Want to give us the links for your Burn and Rooney quotes liar?

Huffed and puffed, quality player made a difference.
They wont win it imo.

Paul you and Trump are the same with this fake news attitude. Pathetic and childish behavior.

The problem with referees and VAR, is the lack of consistency which sometimes means way too many subjective decisions are always changing depending on the team. (I wonder what percentage of people on this website have the same opinion as myself having this view on this subject?)

Make them speak - make them speak - make these officials who are involved in the decision making consistently tell us their reasoning behind the major decisions that they make. (With an interview the day after the game)

I’ve seen goals both given and disallowed for the type of shove Haaland, pushed Anderson, over with and I’ve seen loads of penalties given for the one that was taken away from England.

Norway, had England on the ropes, they will definitely feel cheated, but England found the strength to keep going. I have to agree with Paul G, because when James and Spence, went to fullback, I thought it gave England a much better balance. We all see a different game but other than the goal scorer, I thought it was the one player that I am not totally convinced by who was incredibly important for England last night.

I disagree with Andrew, when he says that Kane, doesn’t win enough physical battles. Again opinions but mine has always been that you have got to be disciplined and do your own job first. I thought Kane was trying to do everyone else’s job rather than his own and this didn’t help his teammates last night, especially when they were under the cosh and looking for an out-ball, to relieve the pressure, but one kid, who I thought definitely played his position last night whilst seemingly covering every position on the park, was Manchester City’s new signing Elliot Anderson.

He might not be looking forward to his first day at his new club now because Haaland, is going to fuckin batter him, but if he shows the spirit, effort and determination that he showed last night, then the Big- Norski, might just come off second best again!

Back to VAR, I have just watched the highlights of Argentina, (who I think will suit England more than Switzerland) and although it was heartening to see a player sent off for cheating, you just know that the same referee is not always going to be so consistent with his reasoning or his decision making?

https://www.facebook.com/MenInBlazers/photos/d41d8cd9/1552584929561674/

So this is all a lie Mr Griffiths?? GET LOST

John (206) I think Argentina will be a walkover for England on Wednesday and only France can beat them that’s why I’ve had a bet on England but has there been an outstanding team in the tournament?

England are not a great team but they believe, as a squad, they can win it and being honest they have had injury problems since the beginning of this World Cup and maybe the manager left two or three players back home that he might have changed his mind on since, but if they win it he will have no regrets.Lets be honest they haven’t beat one team that they wasn’t expected to beat, same as France, I think they will meet each other in the final and may the best team win without cheating — that will be impossible of

I havent watched Argentina Dave tbh, watched very little in comparison to what I normally watch in tournaments.
While Messi is on the pitch mate they have a chance against anyone.
I agree on England, they showed a will to win at all costs. Nice to see a team do that.

England players amazing actors. What a dive.
Shakespeare is proud of the English DRAMA TEAM today. Most of the team is ready for their
acting careers.Robin Hood is jealous for such skillful manipulation.

Give it a rest Svein -Roger, you just keep posting the same thing over and over, you’ve made your point( several times) now be a good Evertonian, accept the injustice of it all, and move on.

Svein-Roger, Norway played well but your keeper’s mistake cost you the game not theatrics from the England player.

The referee disallowed an English goal and reversed a penalty - both the right decision. As was his decision to disallow Norway’s second goal. Haaland stupidly pushed Anderson to the ground and cost his team the goal.

The main difference between the teams was Bellingham turned up while Haaland didn’t.

He let him self fall at that light push and cried foul. What a joke. Haaland get held the entire game.Fifa is corrupt and Norway was robbed. End of story.

Svein-Roger, do you think Haaland played well?

I thought he was a major disappointment.

Svein...I don't suppose we'll be getting that big fuck off Xmas tree from Norway anymore will we 🫤

PG I don’t know if you had access to the BBC coverage but I’m watching a rerun of the immediate post match reaction and Wayne definitely does say, several times, that England got lucky with that decision and the goal should’ve stood.
He also said it wasn’t a penalty on Spense.

Are we sure Clement Turpin isn't a descendant of Dick Turpin? After that goal was allowed, Norway might argue it was a case of highway robbery... although with VAR involved, maybe it was high-wire robbery instead just a thought

Snickometer said no on the ball hitting the wire so end of story.

Svein... We won, you lost...get over it.

FIFA are corrupt no doubt, Egypt was daylight robbery, as for the shove on Kane, you can't go pushing people over like that, it was blatant and petulant by a player that believed his own hype and didn't get a kick all game.

Not as angry as my compatriot Svein. The push, although entirely constructed by Anderson is ok I guess. When VAR asked Turpin to look at it, the conclusion was already made. Soft asf, but still within the rulebook.

As for the wire incident, if it really hit the wire it is pretty fucked up. Honestly can't tell from all the footage i've seen so far. Some unlucky moments. Sørloths poor decisionmaking when through on goal, Heggems header off the bar, and Nyland's clanger.
Feel proud of what we did, and we were nowhere near played off the pitch, as you'd expect with Norway. I actually we just edged it, but that's football. Bellingham made the difference in the end.

It was a really even game that could have gone either way. Good luck to England onwards, but my money is on France.

Bring on the Euros already!

Sorry it wasn't Kane who was pushed

John (211) John I have only seen Argentina v Egypt they were not very good and if Egypt had kept their heads they would have kept their 2-0 lead and won the game.

Messi scored a very good equalising goal but he wasn’t the Messi that everyone thought was a fabulous footballer, he looked and played like the old player he is now, to me anyway even taking a very poor penalty, mind you Myppe took a worse one the other night.

I expect England to beat them by a couple of goals even though in the last week or so Argentina were second favourites to France winning the Cup.

Messi has set himself such a high bar over the years that at 38 he's obviously not the same player as at 28, but he's still in the top 10 players at this tournament, top scorer, hardly ever wastes a pass and his weight of ball is still spot on.

He's as influential on the pitch as many others and has helped immensely to get his team into the last 4, and he used to miss pens at 28 too!

Oh and I think this thread at 226 posts is a lot more than some of the Everton match threads of last season, so not all Evertonians hate International football and England in particular.

Okay, 200 of them have been by Sven Roger post game but at least it's garnered interest 😂

Jeff (226) Jeff it’s amazing, to me, how many football fans in this city, who go to the game, are indifferent to how England compete in the World Cup or even plenty who want them to lose in every game they play in it.

I put a lot of that down to the hype by the media before and after every game when they try to tell us how great the victories are when the only one really was Mexico when you couldn’t knock that win because of how they performed after going down to ten men.

A good percentage of those were two people arguing about what Wayne Rooney, did or didn’t say though Jeff!

The game was a typical latter stages of a major competition, tense affair, but growing up at a time when nobody in England, had anything good to say about the Germans, I had to travel myself to realise differently and that’s why I enjoyed Tuchel, speaking so matter of factly, after the game.

The man asking the questions was obviously a clown but it was great to see the matter of fact German, shaking his head at the suggestion that his players lacked mentality, simply because anyone who has been following England, can see that the only thing they have got completely right so far in this tournament, is how completely fantastic their mentality as a collective unit, has been 👏👏

Every team has at least one great game in them during these incredibly difficult competitions. It’s only one extra game I was informed the other week, but it’s a very long tournament, the survival of the fittest, and this is probably why the French, are only one game away from playing in three consecutive World Cup finals, because in amongst their obvious qualities, they have imo, definitely built their teams on physicality.

My lad said same on Egypt game Dave.
I saw a clip oh the side walking out for one game.
Messi on his own with 10 doormen behind him.
Love Messi Dave, 9 goals to date, but imo he is second to the best footballer I've ever seen.
Nobody can match Diego for me

Pace and expolsive power Tony.
Its Frances to lose for me.
First time I have really watched Kone.
Hes some player mate.

The most surprising aspect of this tournament is the outrage and hysteria surrounding every controversial decision - On or off the field. Screams of "Cheat" and "Corruption" after every match. Howls of protest that there isn't enough integrity and honesty in the game anymore. A collective crazed clamour for "Justice"..... Do me a favour!

Poor decisions have been made since football began. Cheating is as old as sport itself. There has always been jockeys who will pull a horse. Boxers who took a dive. Performance-enhancing drugs, Bribery, Politics, Outside interference.

Svein-Roger. I agree that push by Haaland wouldn't have been enough to make an arl woman take a backward step, but if you are seeking fairness and justice, you need to give this sport lark a very wide berth.

The guy who coined the phrase "cheats never prosper" was talking right out of his arse. The better you are at it, the more successful you will be. Ask Man City or Chelsea.

Or those twats across the park

You were never privileged to see Pele then John ?

Seen him a couple of times Les.
All individual choices mate.

Darren...Great post !

John (229) Yes I love Messi, how couldn’t you, as well as Maradona, Pele great at a very young age in a World Cup final and just as good nearly 20 years later in another World Cup final, Cruyff from Holland bringing a new style to the game with his turn to beat men and a whole lot more to his game.

My favourite from long ago, Alfredo De Stefano from Argentina, just one of the three countries he played for, a maverick who started a players revolution in one country, came to Spain and signed for Barcelona but Real Madrid claimed he had signed for them, so the Spanish FA decided he would play for each club for six months starting with Barcelona where he stank the gaff out, maybe on purpose and became one of vReal Madrids best ever playerI never saw him live only on TV but he was a real team player and could have played in any position and stood out.

It’s all a matter of opinion and the only idol I ever had in football wasn’t a great footballer at all but had the heart of a lion on the pitch especially when he played for the Blues— Dave Hickson and I always made a fuss of him when I was a very young boy and made the same fuss whenever I saw him at Goodison when I was in my 50’s and sixties.

I've read about Di Stefano, Dave, some player by all accounts.

What were the other two countries he represented?

Svein...

Did you know that one of your subs last night went to the same school as John Lennon?

John (237),

He played for Columbia when he was playing in their league and became a naturalised citizen of Spain when he lived there and played for them.

I presume he lived the rest of his life there after playing and managing teams in Spain.

Dave #236 Back in the World Cup qualifiers in 1958, Scotland played against De Stefano for Spain, and Tommy Ring and Bobby Collins stood out over the two legs, but lost.

When I was at primary school if it looked like we were ready to riot they'd get the projecture out and show us Real v Eintracht Frankfurt 7 - 3 game. 1960 ?

Christy (240) I don’t know what the Spanish team was like in 1958 but it was likely that Di Stefano was one of their star players and he could have been the difference between the two teams and Scotlands international team then was much much better than today’s poor standards with Bobby Collins and your dads cousin along with quite a few players well ready to give most other countries teams a hard game.

Alan (241) That game was rated as one of the best football game ever, I watched it riveted in one of my mates house in the Four Squares with Puskas scoring four and Alfredo getting the other three and if I’m not mistaken one of the Rahn (?) brothers from the 1954 German World Cup winners scoring two for Eintracht.

That Real Madrid team had bought players from all over the world, they even had a good look at Alex Young before they decided not to take him so he put two fingers up to them and signed for a better team !

Well, I don't think I have ever really given a monkey's fuck about England winning, but I hope they can beat Messi and Co in the semi final - for one reason...

I watched a section of Argentina fans throwing beer and cups at Egyptian fans and later taunting the Egyptian manager and his staff with the Israeli flag.

That's it - my only reason, hope they get a bit Karma on Wednesday. In saying this, England are going to have play much better to win.

Alan, I did not know that.

Who was it?

Forgive my spelling Svein...

Aasgaard?

Dave, he was Argentinian, I think he played for River Plate before moving to Colombia.

Only ever played a friendly for Barca.

Svein... he was born and brought up in Liverpool. Attended Calderstones School that had been called Quarry Bank. The Quarrymen?

A scouse Norwegian... as opposed to the thousands of Norwegian "scousers" that flock to see that lot!

Tony (247) Yes you are correct I read up about that to make sure I was correct but after the Spanish FA made him play for Barcelona for 12 months, not six, Real Madrid decided to buy him off Barcelona for a decent sum.

I was also wrong about Helmet Rahn scoring two for Eintracht Frankfurt— he never played for them but he did score two for Germany in the 1954 cup including the winning goal— getting my wires mixed up there — mind you it was 66 years ago since that European Cup final and the World Cup final 72 years ago so maybe I’m allowed a bit of leeway and better check my facts before I post in the future.

Thanks anyway for your correction.

Thanks Alan!
Thelonious Gerard Aasgaard is the least-known player in Norway's World Cup squad.

HAHAHAHA Sevin-Roger (209). it''s Duncan Castles again. Get lost loser.

Mark(218) P.G don't belive it until Wayne tell him to his face. 😂

Dave,249, I do have an advantage in Barca knowledge as I live not far from there. Over the years Ive had the whole story of how Di stefano almost signed and how history would of favoured them rather than real. Its a real sliding doors moment in european club football.As you probably know the spanish f.a. gave them an impossible choice,imagine Rooney had to play 1 year for us then go to r.s. or utd the next, then back again for the next few years. No wonder they turned the deal down and got their money back.

Great place to live Tony.
Love the spirit of the Catalunyans.

A Franco backed decision on Di Stefano I would have thought.?

Tony (253), thanks again.

I understand the regrets Barcelona fans would have not getting hold of Alfredo permanently. I don't doubt the huge difference he would have made in the fortunes of their club.

My regret is I never saw him live, only on TV. To me, he was a very special footballer playing for a very special team, although they did sign the cream of the crop and made The European Cup their own in those first few years of its beginning.

I'm presuming you were far too young to see Di Stefano yourself!

Hi John,yes its pretty fair to say, the whole affair was done under watchful eye of the spanish sports ministry ( very George Orwellish, ironically enough, he was in Barcelona during the spanish civil war ).
Dave, Ive only ever heard good things about him as a footballer, could do anything he wanted apparently.It s hard to get that impression from video footage,which is presumably why he s never heard of much in the best ever debates. From what I ve read about him, he could pick the ball up very deep and create his own goals, two footed, fantastic in the air.
Funnily enough when I used to coach primary school football,I had a lad called Johnny,great kid, fantastic attitude, not the most skillful at the time but full of enthusiasm. He d pester me before every game,where am I playing Mr.Dunn? I never gave him a position because he would pick the ball up anywhere on the pitch, try to beat everybody to score, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didnt. If he lost the ball he win it back within a very short space of time or at least made sure we did. That's how I always imagine Di Stefano would of played.

Btw,Johnny is Jonathan Rowe,currently at Bologna,linked with chelsea.
Yes Dave,I was too young to watch Di Stefano,even on telly. Best players I ve ever seen in the flesh ? Probably Messi,Iniesta and Xavi.

👍 Thanks Tony

I once asked my immensely knowledgeable German boss - God rest his soul - about this young upstart Muller.

Was he a warrior? Was he a hard case? Can he fight for his life? I still remember his response today: "Oh he doesn't get involved in arguments. He simply settles them"...

Over the following 10 or so years, I grew to understand exactly what he meant.

If "Der Bomber" wasn't the greatest player who ever lived. He was definitely the greatest argument settler.

It would be lovely to have a Pele, a Maradona, a Di Stefano, or a Cruyff. But I'd quite literally give my right hand for us to produce a Scouse Gerd Muller. I've been dreaming about it all my life.

I'm all Diana Ross on that score, though -- I'm still waiting...

Tony (257);I liked your choice of Iniesta and Xavi, midfielders never seem to get the acknowledgment of goalscorers,

One player similar in many ways, for me, was Denis Law he could do anything, passing, dribbling. movement, tackling then assisting and scoring plenty of goals, a player who could make his teammates play— Di Stefano had a better temperament I think than Denis who got involved in a lot of things that he would have been better leaving alone. By the way Everton bid as much Man.City when he first moved from Huddersfield but he chose City, imagine Denis alongside another favourite of mine Bobby Collins who was a complete team player and made other players add more to their game.