World cup 2026

[shed]

The problem with England is that the " armchair supporters" are always negative. Always have been. No enthusiasm for their country to win just the usual misery comments. Imagine you lot being in the stadium watching the games). Doesn't bear thinking about.

[Blackpool Rock]

The problem with England is that the " armchair supporters" are always negative. Always have been. No enthusiasm for their country to win just the usual misery comments. Imagine you lot being in the stadium watching the games). Doesn't bear thinking about.

Historically I was always very positive and optimistic, what did for me was when the "Golden Generation" performed so badly that I just lost most of my enthusiasm for the team

If we can get through a couple of knockout rounds then i'll start getting excited, I do think though that playing things down is partly to do with managing expectations and avoiding too much disappointment

[Thephoenix]

It's a fact of the modern game that a fair few games do go down to penalties however it's been the same for 30/40/50 years but only in the last few years or decade has the England manager actually recognised this and done any work on penalty taking.

I used to hold my head in my hands years ago when interviewers would put the question to England managers about whether they had been practicing penalties and the answer would always come back that they were planning on winning the game in 90 minutes thereby totally ignoring the prospect and so often setting us up for failure 

Gareth Southgate worked with Dr Pippa Grange, a performance psychologist, to help the England squad overcome their penalty demons.

If you haven't seen it, watch Dear England on iPlayer which chronicles  his tenure as England's manager. 

[Blackpool Rock]

Gareth Southgate worked with Dr Pippa Grange, a performance psychologist, to help the England squad overcome their penalty demons.

If you haven't seen it, watch Dear England on iPlayer which chronicles  his tenure as England's manager. 

I did watch it and thought it was very good, I was pleased that Southgate did indeed realise that penalties were worth practicing, you still may not win every shootout but at least the players are prepared in the best way they can be

[Davey Dykes]

Japan 1 nil up against Brazil and well worth it.

[Charliehutton]

I used to hold my head in my hands years ago when interviewers would put the question to England managers about whether they had been practicing penalties and the answer would always come back that they were planning on winning the game in 90 minutes thereby totally ignoring the prospect and so often setting us up for failure 

Hoddle was the worst. He'd insist it was a 'lottery' and would pick the takers on the grounds of who was the most confident and 'hungriest' to take them.

[WARSZAWA16]

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[timsussex]

Paraguay beat Germany on penalties scoring 4 out of 6 to beat Germany 3

[southcoastpunter]

What a shame - Germany out on penalties!

Edit - tim beat me to it!

[Stevelondon]

Did I just see that.
Germany losing a World cup penalty shoot out

Paraguay say Tah very much.

[john122350]

Wow Paraguay knocked Germany out of worldcup
Poor penalty display by Germany

Harvetz and Woltemade pentaly were saved

[mr.bluesky]

Well, well ,well who'da thought Germany out the World cup on a penalty shoot out. The masters of the penalty  kick are out .
First time they have lost a World cup penalty shoot out

[Stevelondon]

Did I also hear the commentary correct. The Uruguayan FA cancelled the transport back home for their team.

You could not make it up 

[myothernameis]

Did I also hear the commentary correct. The Uruguayan FA cancelled the transport back home for their team.

You could not make it up 

And on bbc coverage of the Germany game, it was suggested if Germany go out, they have to get a boat and row home 

[timsussex]

spare a thought for Woltemade - one poor header at the Stadium of Light and he has all the confidence of a 2 year old who has lost their teddy

I've never seen anyone have such a season of 2 halves - I dont think he has had a decent shot since and what a poor penalty 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

I enjoyed that shoot out, they’re always much more interesting when you’re not involved. The disallowed German goal was a bit soft though but let’s remember that they’re not the footballing superpower that they were.

You just know that our game is going to penalties on Wednesday though don’t you?

[john122350]

These underdog teams are putting on an absolute show! 🇯🇵 Japan pushed Brazil all the way and now Paraguay has knocked Germany out. The knockout stage is already delivering surprises. Now let's see what happens in  Netherlands vs Morocco.

[john122350]

Klopp on that Germany disallowed goal

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[mr.bluesky]

Klopp on that Germany disallowed goal

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I wonder if he will be Germany's next manager  🤔

[myothernameis]

Wow Paraguay knocked Germany out of worldcup
Poor penalty display by Germany

Harvetz and Woltemade pentaly were saved

And now Morocco knock out Holland on penalties as well 

[mr.bluesky]

And now Morocco knock out Holland on penalties as well 

Some really poor penalties in both of these games.

[Blackpool Rock]

Some really poor penalties in both of these games.

That almost sound like justification for our own exit coming up 
Well Germany and Holland both had bad penalties, perhaps it's the flight of this new ball 

So we now have 2 of the "Big" sides out who would have been expected to go further and Brazil haven't exactly flattered either

So i'm thinking of the other "Contenders" we still have France; Spain and Argentina but i'd also put a shout out for Mexico who also have home advantage although i'm not sure where their next games are being played 
Also worth a wild card mention are Morocco who are actually 6th in the Fifa rankings but have flown under the radar really, could this be the 1st time for an African team to win the WC 

Spain had a bad start only managing a 0-0 with Cape Verde, France; Argentina and Mexico won all 3 of their group games and an in form Messi could be crucial

At this stage my money would probably be on France 

[mr.bluesky]

If England beat DR Congo and Mexico beat Ecuador then the two teams will meet in the round of 16 in Mexico city on monday 6th July at 1am our time 6pm Mexico time 
Best hope for an upset and an Ecuador win because if we beat Congo I can't see us beating Mexico in Mexico city.
( handy having a World cup wall chart  )

[foreverchanges]

spare a thought for Woltemade - one poor header at the Stadium of Light and he has all the confidence of a 2 year old who has lost their teddy

I've never seen anyone have such a season of 2 halves - I dont think he has had a decent shot since and what a poor penalty

He saw all those Paraguayan fans in  their red and white stripes and all those memories came flooding back.🤣🤣🤣

[foreverchanges]

Some really poor penalties in both of these games.

The Dutch are nearly as bad as England when it comes to penalty shoot outs.

[bigden40]

spare a thought for Woltemade - one poor header at the Stadium of Light and he has all the confidence of a 2 year old who has lost their teddy

I've never seen anyone have such a season of 2 halves - I dont think he has had a decent shot since and what a poor penalty

Didn’t he score twice in the very next game against Chelsea? 

[myothernameis]

Well Germany and Holland both had bad penalties, perhaps it's the flight of this new ball

If Ivory Coast v Norway, goes to penalties, then maybe Norway will fall and suffer the same fate, and go out

[TomTank]

If England beat DR Congo and Mexico beat Ecuador then the two teams will meet in the round of 16 in Mexico city on monday 6th July at 1am our time 6pm Mexico time 
Best hope for an upset and an Ecuador win because if we beat Congo I can't see us beating Mexico in Mexico city.
( handy having a World cup wall chart  )

Mexico vs England would be a great game but really tough.
However Ecuador may have slightly less fans, but will also be used to the altitude - their capital is about 650m more above sea level than Mexico City (2,850 vs 2,200!!) .....

[nwluvit]

spare a thought for Woltemade - one poor header at the Stadium of Light and he has all the confidence of a 2 year old who has lost their teddy

I've never seen anyone have such a season of 2 halves - I dont think he has had a decent shot since and what a poor penalty

I agree 100%. He was clearly affected by the o.g at Sunderland. Not been the same since. Don't think Howe's midfield experiment worked either. Would like to see him and Wissa/Ossoula up top next season.

[john122350]

So Norway go through round of 32 and will face Brazil in round 16.

[webpunter]

So Norway go through round of 32 and will face Brazil in round 16.

Think we've figured this before the match started
I don't see the point of posts stating the obvious
What i like to see is an interpretation view on something that i dont already know
Adding some value / interest even if left field

[webpunter]

Klopp on that Germany disallowed goal

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This is good
I've moved the link to the PL 26 27 thread

[john122350]

Netherlands coach resigned

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[webpunter]

Netherlands coach resigned

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You broke the news again b4 the WC commentators 
He must be thinking what if coz their pens were on a par with the lionesses

[ratedj]

It’s simple: if you manage to beat France then you’ll win the World Cup.

[Blackpool Rock]

It’s simple: if you manage to beat France then you’ll win the World Cup.

Yeah I posted before tonight's game that France looked good and while the previous Sweden performances weren't anything special they were seriously outclassed tonight.

[Sunny]

AFC need to get rid of Gyokeres, terrible overrated CF.
France clear favourites.

[WARSZAWA16]

Germany will be needing Jurgen Klopp.
Not to take over as manager, just to get the players the best deals on hotel prices now that they’re on holiday.

[Blackpool Rock]

Good news that Tuchel is sticking to Gareth Southgate's penalty preparations 

England are odds on to beat DR Congo but it's already being said that it won't be a "glamourous performance" however he expects England to perform better against the better teams the deeper we go into the tournament


Hmmm, i'm thinking that today's game against Congo is likely to be comparable to against Ghana but if (IF) we progress then we face Mexico which won't be an easy prospect so they will have to start lifting their game considerably after which we're likely to face Brazil; Argentina and then France

On the basis that i'd be sceptical about us winning any of those in 90 minutes then effectively we could be facing 4 finals 

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[Fuzzyduck]

Germany will be needing Jurgen Klopp.
Not to take over as manager, just to get the players the best deals on hotel prices now that they’re on holiday.

[john122350]

Germany will be needing Jurgen Klopp.
Not to take over as manager, just to get the players the best deals on hotel prices now that they’re on holiday.

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[Punterperson1971]

Something to cheer us up before the match

Viral Paraguay fan suffers wardrobe malfunction as she pops out of bold outfit in excitement at World Cup

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[Fuzzyduck]

Something to cheer us up before the match

Viral Paraguay fan suffers wardrobe malfunction as she pops out of bold outfit in excitement at World Cup

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Why should I be cheered? I was waiting and waiting for that fucking zip to fail!

[john122350]

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[Punterperson1971]

Why should I be cheered? I was waiting and waiting for that fucking zip to fail!

[Blackpool Rock]

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Probably add the Germany Manager to that in the next few days

[Blackpool Rock]

Congo 1-0 

[myothernameis]

Congo 1-0 

England coming home 

[bigden40]

Pickford shouldn’t be beaten at his near post like that.

Let’s see what testicular fortitude England have, or don’t.

[dexpunt]

Can't believe Rooney saying thats' not a penalty. If that decision had been given against him while he was playing he would have gone nuclear