The Big Shiny World Cup thread

[BWFC_Insane]

May have got carried away having forgotten that the manager is a cowardly joy terrorist.

You've got a generational talent in Phil Foden who the best manager in the world picks regularly in one of the best club teams in the world. But Mason Mount. Actually laughed when they showed Jordan Henderson stripped off.

Spurs take plenty of the blame too. How they've allowed Harry Kane to turn himself from one of the best #9s in the world into a trendy #10 is criminal. Doubled his 5 assists while halving his 30 goals .

Couldn’t agree more with all this. What on earth Kane is doing I don’t know. You can’t drop him cos he’s still far and away our best striker but all this dropping into midfield is nonsense.

And yeah Foden and Grealish both way better than Mount who I’d not have in the squad.

Maddison too for the record is better.

For me we should have foden, Grealish and Maddison when fit behind Kane. That would be exciting. Southgate wouldn’t know how to make a team like that work though.

[Hoboh]

Denmark V France, best game in Cup so far IMHO.

[Worthy4England]

May have got carried away having forgotten that the manager is a cowardly joy terrorist.

You've got a generational talent in Phil Foden who the best manager in the world picks regularly in one of the best club teams in the world. But Mason Mount. Actually laughed when they showed Jordan Henderson stripped off.

Spurs take plenty of the blame too. How they've allowed Harry Kane to turn himself from one of the best #9s in the world into a trendy #10 is criminal. Doubled his 5 assists while halving his 30 goals .

Couldn’t agree more with all this. What on earth Kane is doing I don’t know. You can’t drop him cos he’s still far and away our best striker but all this dropping into midfield is nonsense.

And yeah Foden and Grealish both way better than Mount who I’d not have in the squad.

Maddison too for the record is better.

For me we should have foden, Grealish and Maddison when fit behind Kane. That would be exciting. Southgate wouldn’t know how to make a team like that work though.

I don't think he's missed the fact that Foden's good, but he's scored twice for England, 2 years back. Saka's had 6 since then. (I rate them both) So I can sort of understand why he has some faith in Saka.

I think we're all agreed, he needs to try someone other than Mount.

I think he's very loyal (maybe too loyal) to the.players that have worked pretty well.over the years..

[Worthy4England]

Denmark V France, best game in Cup so far IMHO.

Pretty good mate, aye.

[TANGODANCER]

Denmark V France, best game in Cup so far IMHO.

It was certainly a cracker. End to end and some real skill on show. France will really want watching. Lewadowski on form too for Poland. Argentina up next

[BWFC_Insane]

May have got carried away having forgotten that the manager is a cowardly joy terrorist.

You've got a generational talent in Phil Foden who the best manager in the world picks regularly in one of the best club teams in the world. But Mason Mount. Actually laughed when they showed Jordan Henderson stripped off.

Spurs take plenty of the blame too. How they've allowed Harry Kane to turn himself from one of the best #9s in the world into a trendy #10 is criminal. Doubled his 5 assists while halving his 30 goals .

Couldn’t agree more with all this. What on earth Kane is doing I don’t know. You can’t drop him cos he’s still far and away our best striker but all this dropping into midfield is nonsense.

And yeah Foden and Grealish both way better than Mount who I’d not have in the squad.

Maddison too for the record is better.

For me we should have foden, Grealish and Maddison when fit behind Kane. That would be exciting. Southgate wouldn’t know how to make a team like that work though.

I don't think he's missed the fact that Foden's good, but he's scored twice for England, 2 years back. Saka's had 6 since then. (I rate them both) So I can sort of understand why he has some faith in Saka.

I think we're all agreed, he needs to try someone other than Mount.

I think he's very loyal (maybe too loyal) to the.players that have worked pretty well.over the years..

Is the problem foden who plays regularly for Man City under a coach who has picked him over Sterling and is a stronger group of players than England OR maybe the problem is Southgate can’t build a side to get the best out of our best players?

The way I see it if you want to win the World Cup you need those best technical players included and firing. I don’t mind Saka at all. But like Sterling Southgate only seems to be able to deal with a certain type of player and way of playing. And that is to the exclusion of players who obviously play at a higher level for their club under a manager who can work with those more technical footballers.

[Hoboh]

Bit scrappy the Argentina game really thought someone would walk at some point. Good goals though and the argies were the overall better team.

[Worthy4England]

May have got carried away having forgotten that the manager is a cowardly joy terrorist.

You've got a generational talent in Phil Foden who the best manager in the world picks regularly in one of the best club teams in the world. But Mason Mount. Actually laughed when they showed Jordan Henderson stripped off.

Spurs take plenty of the blame too. How they've allowed Harry Kane to turn himself from one of the best #9s in the world into a trendy #10 is criminal. Doubled his 5 assists while halving his 30 goals .

Couldn’t agree more with all this. What on earth Kane is doing I don’t know. You can’t drop him cos he’s still far and away our best striker but all this dropping into midfield is nonsense.

And yeah Foden and Grealish both way better than Mount who I’d not have in the squad.

Maddison too for the record is better.

For me we should have foden, Grealish and Maddison when fit behind Kane. That would be exciting. Southgate wouldn’t know how to make a team like that work though.

I don't think he's missed the fact that Foden's good, but he's scored twice for England, 2 years back. Saka's had 6 since then. (I rate them both) So I can sort of understand why he has some faith in Saka.

I think we're all agreed, he needs to try someone other than Mount.

I think he's very loyal (maybe too loyal) to the.players that have worked pretty well.over the years..

Is the problem foden who plays regularly for Man City under a coach who has picked him over Sterling and is a stronger group of players than England OR maybe the problem is Southgate can’t build a side to get the best out of our best players?

The way I see it if you want to win the World Cup you need those best technical players included and firing. I don’t mind Saka at all. But like Sterling Southgate only seems to be able to deal with a certain type of player and way of playing. And that is to the exclusion of players who obviously play at a higher level for their club under a manager who can work with those more technical footballers.

I think the "what Pep has done at City" thing doesn't really apply and to some extent it's being used to support a narrative which is speculation and guesswork dressed up as "what Pep did and why"...So far we've had Foden needing to replace pretty much all of the front line. I'm not at all sure Pep "picked him over Sterling" that just happens to fit the "story" (the person he probably picked over Sterling was Haaland IMO)...maybe Pep thought Foden plays better off De Bruyne or Haaland than Sterling (and we don't have either) so for me it's a nonsense argument...

But we've quickly forgotten that we're top of the group and that Saka scored 2 and Stirling 1. Would we really expect 4 changes in a team that won its first game 6-2, against a team that then went on to beat Wales 2-0?

I'm not convinced we've been exponentially better when some of the people we're clamouring for, have started games. It's not like they're untried and unknown quantities, but I have no objection to Foden starting...

I was delighted how Southgate moved us forwards as a team and enjoyed WC 2018 and Euro's 2020. But he's been in charge for a while now and it might be time for a change...

[Hoboh]

I was delighted how Southgate moved us forwards as a team and enjoyed WC 2018 and Euro's 2020. But he's been in charge for a while now and it might be time for a change...

Time has moved on since then Worthy unfortunately tactics, team choice and the management have not.

[TANGODANCER]

Que sera, sera. We've made our choices (at least Southgate has) and we'll have to play the cards we have. Unlike Poker, there's no bluffing here, and every game is a World Cup Final. Worthy's points can't be denied and if we beat Wales convincingly the equilibrium
will level out and hopes will rise. Not sure how the draws will work out and who we can/can't avoid by winning, but "easy" isn't a word allowed now. Even Germany could be living on the edge and there will undoubtedly be better teams than us go out.

Our players focus now should be on attack and not containment (important at the right time,yes) because the only adage that matters in football is the timeless "It's goals that count" and the rest is just ink in the Stat records. Make those three lions roar...

[Worthy4England]

I was delighted how Southgate moved us forwards as a team and enjoyed WC 2018 and Euro's 2020. But he's been in charge for a while now and it might be time for a change...

Time has moved on since then Worthy unfortunately tactics, team choice and the management have not.

We had lots of folks who had a go at coaching "the golden generation" and couldn't get a tune out of them.

My point is, just changing "who starts" hasn't seemed to have dramatic effect, (so the team choice one),

I'm less convinced tactics have moved dramatically forwards in 2 years (whilst recognising there are other tactics we could use and we're not doing) The same was being said in 2018 yet we got to the EC finals 2 years later. But I doubt Southgate is suddenly going to be Mr Gung Ho, mid tournament.

I was disappointed with the USA game, but not surprised as I wouldn't be when we play Wales...we've not been in good nick the last 12 months, but it would have been a tough sacking for me, when his last major tourney saw us in the final...a fairly early exit in this one, then there'd be a case.

[Worthy4England]

Can't knock Costa Ricas efficiency. 170 minutes. Shots on target 1. Goals 1.

[Hoboh]

Can't knock Costa Ricas efficiency. 170 minutes. Shots on target 1. Goals 1.

I know mind you Japan are careless with some of their 'goal' attempts.

[TANGODANCER]

A Belgium side with the Hazard brothers, Lukaku and De Bruen in it just got beat 2-0 by Morocco.

[Hoboh]

A Belgium side with the Hazard brothers, Lukaku and De Bruen in it just got beat 2-0 by Morocco.

I know that's something of a shock result mind they didn't play that well seems to be a theme emerging here.

[Bruce Rioja]

A Belgium side with the Hazard brothers, Lukaku and De Bruen in it just got beat 2-0 by Morocco.

Saw the back end of the first half and based on that then I'm not too surprised.

I am surprised by how poor a side Belgium appear to have become though.

[TANGODANCER]

Cracking game Canada Croatia who have just made it 1-1. Croatia looking deadly dangerous with Modric doing what Madric does....

[Prufrock]

A Belgium side with the Hazard brothers, Lukaku and De Bruen in it just got beat 2-0 by Morocco.

Saw the back end of the first half and based on that then I'm not too surprised.

I am surprised by how poor a side Belgium appear to have become though.

With Roberto Goran Eriksen in charge?

Time has very much caught up with them.

[TANGODANCER]

Is there a finer sight in football than seeing Neur picking the ball out of the back of the net? (very unsporting of me, I admit. Sorry )..

[Hoboh]

Spain v Germany a good game for the neutral (well sort of) to watch.