Looks like maybe we all spoke too soon about Cape Verde, or are Uruguay way worse than we thought?
finished work early today just to watch Messi. Argentina aren't bad either
Nice to see this Argentine side are a bit tetchy - reckon there will be reds...
Also what happened in the build up to the Argentina goal - an Austrian went down at the throw in but play wasn't stopped & VAR didn't step in.
Ref is a little more lenient towards Argentina, as regards cards.
finished work early today just to watch Messi.
I nearly posted to say how ironic it would be if he ended up as tied leading all time scorer after that penalty miss, but normal service was soon resumed. To quote the great Cloughie and to prove I'm equal opps with penalty misses (I said it in the women's Euros and WC, I said it after this years Arsenal UCL defeat, and I'll even say it about Lionel) - "For missing the target from there YOU WANT BLOODY SHOOTING!!!"
In fact there's another couple of relevant quotes from Cloughie that can be applied here:
To Argentina - You can take all your medals, and all your caps, and all your pots and all your pans, and throw them in the bin. Because you've never won any of them fairly, you've won them all by cheating!
and on Messi (adapted)
I don't know if he's truly the GOAT, but he's among the top one.
And another.
Ronaldo is going to be raging!
5 goals in 2 games.
And he's 39 in a couple of days.
And Jordan next game, I'd expect another couple in that too.
Today's top football quote, from a Belgium fan.
"We also got a draw against Iran, but it didn't cost us $300bn"
And another.
Ronaldo is going to be raging!
If he plays as badly as he did last time out, and drags the team down with him, I predict the biggest 'toys out of the pram' strop that the World Cup has ever witnessed
Hydration break in the pouring rain.
That's more like it England, normal service resumed! Shame it can't go to penno's!
I'm glad we've got master tactician Thomas to find a way to unpick these defensive low block teams, in a way that others before couldn't
just tuned in at half time, and BBC pundits were really awful, so I got rid...
BBC pundits were really awful
The pre match sneering that most of the Ghana team plays in lower leagues around Europe. They're not sneering now!😎
Nothing about the very dubious challenge from Konsa? Got nothing of the ball - looked in the seen them given camp to me, but VAR didn’t even have a look.
Clear penalty for me. And I didnt think much of Pickford's challenge either.
just tuned in at half time, and BBC pundits were really awful, so I got rid...
I am in boston and have been watching matches with Spanish commentary, even though I don't understand it it's still better than any commentary in english
9/10 times thats given as a penalty. Lucky escape.
Always tricky to play a team that shows no ambition.
Carlos has done a great job with the team given he's only had them since April - so well organised. It'll be similar against Panama, besides Saka & Rogers did any England player successfully run past a Ghanian?
What was with the sound in the studio? It was bloody awful.
besides Saka & Rogers did any England player successfully run past a Ghanian?
Yes, Gordon and Madueke both did regularly.
And then cut back into traffic because they continued to be operating on the wrong wings for how Ghana set up, instead of getting crosses into the box.
Should have switched them after 20-odd mins to see what difference it made. At least when Saka cuts in he has the feet and ability to hit that left foot far corner curler.
Anyone else noticed that there seem to be far fewer England flags on houses and cars this world cup? Maybe it's the time zone, Trump, lack of hype about the team etc or possibly the flag shaggers have put people off showing their flag due to the unpleasant connotations it brings.
or possibly the flag shaggers have put people off showing their flag due to the unpleasant connotations it brings.
I've had to remind a few people that world cup is on so displays of st George's Cross doesn't necessarily equate to racist ideals.
The flags tend to come out more if we get deeper in tournaments.
A few regular football flaggers round our way are doing their usual thing.
Saw a great pic of a St Georges flag with "For football. Not fascists" on it
Just saw this thread, and it reminded me I should comment on yesterday's match. It reminded me of what I thought football was like. Kind of glad I only watch football about every four years.
I actually quite enjoyed the Eng vs Ghana came.
Ghana clearly were just hoping to get a draw from the game by shutting England down, fair enough. I thought they organised themselves brilliantly in defense, most didn't get rattled and generally kept a great shape throughout the game, they are clearly a well coached side.
Its not really up to other teams to play the way England want, they should be good enough to break down a side ranked 60 places below them.
I'd be absolutely delighted if Scotland managed the same feat against Brazil
Ghana clearly were just hoping to get a draw from the game by shutting England down, fair enough. I thought they organised themselves brilliantly in defense, most didn't get rattled and generally kept a great shape throughout the game, they are clearly a well coached side.
I absolutely agree. They played that brilliantly. It just made it a very dull game to watch.
I'm in Vancouver at the moment, tho not for the football....but weirdly everyone keeps referring to it as "the Fifa"......
"are you here for the Fifa?"
Very odd
Possibly because what they consider to be football is a whole different thing, so I guess they’ve taken to calling it “the FIFA” is a good way to differentiate…
Makes sense, although it sounds a bit odd to us. 🤷🏼♂️
S'pose I'll have to watch this Scotland v Brazil game then as it's too hot to sleep. Could be brutal.
Same here. I’ll see how many they’re down by at half time to see if I go the distance.
COME ON SCOTLAND!!
Oh well….
Don't try and play it out from the ba...
I appreciate it’s exciting just being at the finals & the hysteria is mental up here, but Scotland really don’t deserve to go through. Only one deflected goal against Haiti and two losses. They are really out of their depth.
If Cape Verde get another 0-0 draw would they go through ahead of Scotland on goal difference despite not winning a single game?
I appreciate it’s exciting just being at the finals & the hysteria is mental up here, but Scotland really don’t deserve to go through. Only one deflected goal against Haiti and two losses. They are really out of their depth.
I don't watch many of their matches but it does seem like they have been a bit sub-par, even for Scotland. Although to be honest any northern European side, playing in Miami (lazily assuming hot and humid?), against Brazil, were probably going to be lambs to the slaughter...
Only watched the first half as restless overheated sleep called me. But this is one bad Brazil side who'll not go beyond the quarters. But they met a Scotland team that gave assists for the first 2 goals and had zero teeth up front.
The heat was a factor but playing like that Scotland would still have lost any Tuesday in February playing at the Britannia Stadium in the potteries in inclement weather.
I appreciate it’s exciting just being at the finals & the hysteria is mental up here, but Scotland really don’t deserve to go through. Only one deflected goal against Haiti and two losses. They are really out of their depth.
this is what happens when you bring in 48 teams, the lower ranked are always going to struggle, remember Scotland are ranked 41st and we’re playing teams ranked 5th,6th (and 88th). For me , getting to be at a World Cup and have the chance to dream a bit is alright by me. The real football doesn’t come until the last 16 onwards anyway. I am happy we got a win, we were hopeless in the first half vs Morocco (better in second half) and despite shipping 3 to Brazil thought we were ok (at least had a bit of a go rather than just try to defend). And yes we are maybe not good enough for the last 32, but we did deserve to be there and have a go.
you never know we may squeak through yet, knock out Mexico and get into last 16…..🤣 but realistically it will be more glorious failure and we are coming home!
interesting fact, it was hotter in Scotland yesterday than it was in Miami.
We were well beaten. The reality is that this group of players did well to get to the World Cup Finals. We have not been good enough to progress any further .If we're lucky enough to get another game I'll gladly accept it although I do think expanding the tournament has devalued it.
Defensive mistakes and a lack of a goal scoring threat in the forwards have hurt us and we're in the position we deserve to be in.
That Denmark game at Hampden was our world cup final
We're an average team with a few good players who aren't good enough to carry a team. Mctominay is reliant on others to get the ball into the box, Mcginn is very good at what he does but is a very limited player, BGD is raw and promising but is very inexperienced and looked lost at this level. And to get him in the team Mcginn was played out of position. Our goalie has hardly played this season, had some good saves but flapped at crosses, our left back is getting on a bit and it was probably asking too much of him to play in all three games, McKenna has had a good season but hasn't played for weeks, Jack plays in Saudi Arabia and Patterson can't get a game for Everton. We've really missed Gilmour and Ferguson did really well but he's more of a box to box player who couldn't do that because he had to provide the defensive cover. I doubt we'll qualify now and I'm kind of relieved because it could be embarrassing if we play again.
interesting fact, it was hotter in Scotland yesterday than it was in Miami.
It is possible that, in fact, this fact, is not a fact.
You mean scraping through the group stage won't mean they turn it around and destroy all the actual top class squads and get to the final?!
