World cup 2026

[mr.bluesky]

Its just the same with rugby as footy
The fans aren't even aware of further matches
They think its a 3 match competition then fuck off home
Bless

They want to get back before winter sets in. It's a bit chilly north of the icewall   

[Iamforreal]

Very biased opinion, but Tuchel playing Henderson over Mainoo is criminal 

[timsussex]

Portugal Vs Croatia KO at midnight, come on Croatia I want to see Ronaldo cry again 

sadly VAR   denied Croatia a last minute equaliser  after a CR7 penalty

[john122350]

Late drama in Portugal vs. Croatia! Croatia thought they had grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the dying minutes but VAR ruled it out for offside.

The delay after Croatia fans threw objects onto the pitch only added to the chaos but Portugal held on to book their place in the Round of 16, where they'll face Spain.

Portugal got the job done but they looked sloppy and rode their luck at times. Based on that performance, I can't see them getting past Spain.

[Blackpool Rock]

sadly VAR   denied Croatia a last minute equaliser  after a CR7 penalty

Quite a lot going on in that game with both sides having goals disallowed, was it 3 or 4 in total disallowed 

Ronaldo had 1 disallowed which was actually a really great goal and then his eyes were filling up a couple of minutes later when he thought he was being subbed but he wasn't one of the four changes, he then scores the penalty to get them level

Croatia possibly deserved to win it and that equaliser at the end was unlucky, it didn't look to me that the Croatian player got a touch to make it offside but I guess the chip in the ball must have picked up a "snick" and that's what VAR used to rule it out 

[The0neAnd0nly]

Portugal Vs Croatia KO at midnight, come on Croatia I want to see Ronaldo cry again 

Well you got your wish... but it was for the Diogo Jota tribute at the end. What a game!!!

[bigden40]

Quite a lot going on in that game with both sides having goals disallowed, was it 3 or 4 in total disallowed 

Ronaldo had 1 disallowed which was actually a really great goal and then his eyes were filling up a couple of minutes later when he thought he was being subbed but he wasn't one of the four changes, he then scores the penalty to get them level

Croatia possibly deserved to win it and that equaliser at the end was unlucky, it didn't look to me that the Croatian player got a touch to make it offside but I guess the chip in the ball must have picked up a "snick" and that's what VAR used to rule it out 

Exactly this. And if he’s got the touch then it’s a clear offside


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[mills_and_bhuna]

As we all know you get an advantage by winning your group right 

Our reward for winning the group is to play Mexico who are 10th in the Fifa rankings

Croatia finished 2nd and will play Portugal who are 8th in the Fifa rankings

Ghana finished 3rd and will play Colombia who are 11th in the Fifa rankings

OK so not much to split it in terms of Fifa rankings but in all honesty i'd probably say Mexico were the hardest of those 3 to beat closely followed by Portugal but it's Mexico with home advantage at high altitude at the Azteca where they basically don't lose

IMO Ghana finishing 3rd got the best draw 

You clearly haven't watched much of Colombia.
I rate them higher than Portugal.
Indeed they should have beaten them in the group stage match.
Especially if Portugal insist on playing a 41-year old for 90 minutes.

[mills_and_bhuna]

You Scotland fans are so lucky, as soon as Scotland get knocked out early from every competition you have plenty of teams left to switch your allegience too 

I'm Scottish but 60 years of watching Scotland leaves you scarred .
I was expecting a struggle with Haiti and I was right.
So I don't really switch allegiance as such.
I started off supporting Spain but I'm quite happy for any team playing slick, entertaining football to overcome the cynical park the bus merchants .
The World Cup would seem like a waste of a summer if the 2026 equivalent of 2004 Greece are rewarded for their efforts in the gym.

[mills_and_bhuna]

You Scotland fans are so lucky, as soon as Scotland get knocked out early from every competition you have plenty of teams left to switch your allegience too 

Really lucky.
We are spared the good fortune of hunting down tickets the price of a house deposit
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[webpunter]

Really lucky.
We are spared the good fortune of hunting down tickets the price of a house deposit
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What do you mean a deposit
Sure you can buy a house for that north of the icewall

Anyone travelling into Mexico City for the match must be insane
Tourist travel is usually to resorts like Cancun where people stay there not leaving the guarded compound as considered too dangerous
There is apparently a truce between between the cartels & the govt forces for the duration of the WC when matches are being played there
The govt threatening an almighty crackdown - US supported - if anything kicks off
This won't stop street robberies & a load of pissed up tourists especially those seeking some action will be easy targets
There'll only be a few headline grabbing tickets @ 26k
There are some at 5k-10k which when adding travel costs adds a good few more bags on sand
Even 5k gets you a cheap flight to Dubai + hotel a buyers market for our fave sport fill your boots for a week the only danger will be your knob falling off through over use 

[myothernameis]

Mexico  v  England game, pubs can stay open up till, 05:00, but is this a good idea.  So if England beat Mexico, the English fans will be overjoyed and hopefully no trouble, but

Has the PM considered what happens if the England team play badly lose and then head home, so how will the fans re-act, especially when there all full of drink

[mills_and_bhuna]

What do you mean a deposit
Sure you can buy a house for that north of the icewall

maybe if you have a DeLorean with a flux capacitor installed.
You clearly haven't house hunted in Edinburgh

[mills_and_bhuna]

Mexico  v  England game, pubs can stay open up till, 05:00, but is this a good idea.  So if England beat Mexico, the English fans will be overjoyed and hopefully no trouble, but

Has the PM considered what happens if the England team play badly lose and then head home, so how will the fans re-act, especially when there all full of drink

Or the usual.
Lose on penalties.......

[Vice Admiral]

Mexico  v  England game, pubs can stay open up till, 05:00, but is this a good idea.  So if England beat Mexico, the English fans will be overjoyed and hopefully no trouble, but
Has the PM considered what happens if the England team play badly lose and then head home, so how will the fans re-act, especially when there all full of drink

Sadly, our soon-to-be-ex PM generally "considers" only what he thinks will make him popular.

Plod isn't pleased:
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It's just what the world needs, isn't it?  A lot of drunken louts (sorry, committed English football fans) yelling their way through the streets of England's cities at five o'clock on Monday morning.

The pubs won't just be open during the match but, depending on how it pans out, for an hour to two hours after the match ends.

Jaw-dropping.

[myothernameis]

Sadly, our soon-to-be-ex PM generally "considers" only what he thinks will make him popular.

If England lose, and then the fans riot, no doubt the fans will get the blame, rather than the choice to let pubs stay open till 05:00

There another side, unless your employer is giving you the day of work, how many fans will be absent from work, come Monday morning, and possibly not in a fit state to go to work

[ulstersubbie]

I'm Scottish but 60 years of watching Scotland leaves you scarred .

Slightly less than you mills, but I share your pain. To never get out of the group stage at a World Cup/Euros in my lifetime has been disappointing to say the least, will I live long enough to see a Scotland team actually do it, very debatable at this point.

[Jumping Jack Flash]

It’s a lack of planning from the police and yet another about turn from dithering Starmer. The draw has been known for several months so some “what if” scenarios should have been discussed.

Not all pubs are staying open. My local is but you have to book a table and any walk ups will be refused entry. Many are closing at their normal Sunday closing time.

[webpunter]

England match likely to be rescheduled to 7pm english time Sunday storms
It'll be scorchio KO middle of the day there

[southcoastpunter]

Beaten to it!

[myothernameis]

Possible re-schedule of Mexico v England to now start at 19:00 on Sunday night

Reason possible thunder storms and heavy rain

[webpunter]

Possible re-schedule of Mexico v England to now start at 19:00 on Sunday night

Reason possible thunder storms and heavy rain

There's an echo the 2nd one 

[Blackpool Rock]

Australia just equalised against Egypt to make it 1-1 from an own goal, the defender who headed the ball into his own net was basically knocked unconscious 5 or so minutes before the own goal and I can't help but think he shouldn't still be on the pitch as surely his judgement is impaired 

I know there is a concussion protocol but the rule is basically "If in doubt sit them out" 

[webpunter]

Beaten to it!

The bbc mentioned it on the half time coverage of the roos v carpet salesmen
Which was an incredibly dull 1st half
Until the roos just equalised

[john122350]

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[mr.bluesky]

Now fully confirmed

[mr.bluesky]

Australia just equalised against Egypt to make it 1-1 from an own goal, the defender who headed the ball into his own net was basically knocked unconscious 5 or so minutes before the own goal and I can't help but think he shouldn't still be on the pitch as surely his judgement is impaired 

I know there is a concussion protocol but the rule is basically "If in doubt sit them out" 

In Rugby a player who has a head injury has to leave the field for a concussion test

[Blackpool Rock]

Not fully confirmed yet

They also said there would be a knock on effect on the KO time for Brazil Vs Norway scheduled to start at 21.00 but they want to make sure that the England game has finished 1st before the Brazil game starts and need to factor in extra time and penalties

[Blackpool Rock]

In Rugby a player who has a head injury has to leave the field for a concussion test

Looked to me that they got this guy to stand up for 30 seconds looked at him and asked if he was OK to continue, just like the good old days eh 
No player even if their head is buzzing and they feel pissed is going to say they're not fit to continue 

[Charliehutton]

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FIFA really have no shame, do they? Thunderstorms my arse. They know the European TV audience will be shot to shit with a 1am kick-off. It's the weekend, it won't make much difference to the audiences in Mexico and Brazil. Money, money, money.

[webpunter]

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FIFA require England to be in Mexico two days before the match ?
No reason behind this given
Better to avoid altitude sickness flying in immediately before the match

There are issues with their training sessions being spied upon
Which of course will happen with the feckless dego hosts

& the team hotel being surrounding by home fans determined to keep the players awake
As happened to Ecuador
I cant see the Mexican police enforcing a wide enough perimeter & fans could fire bang type rockets from further afield

England & Tuchel should make it clear that unless they are allowed to fly in just prior to the match they're not playing
Citing player welfare altitude sickness, training being spied on & the players having sleep disrupted
England void the match giving the Mexicans i think a 3-0 win on paper which would be an incredible embarrassing mess for FIFA
FIFA will have no option to at least offer concessions
& an incredible mess too for those buying tickets to get refunds

FIFA clearly want a host country to progress
& the earlier kick off will make it even hotter tho it is forecast to rain

[john122350]

The earlier kick-off could make things even tougher for England, with temperatures expected to rise to around 26°C at the 7,220ft-high Estadio Azteca.

The famous stadium is one of the toughest places to play in world football, with the thinner air causing quicker fatigue, dehydration and shortness of breath. Mexico have also lost just twice in 89 matches there.

Marcus Rashford admitted the change is "not ideal' but insisted England are ready for "whatever challenges get thrown at us."

[Jumping Jack Flash]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a keeper substituted in the last few seconds of extra time immediately before penalties.

TV commentators are saying he’s a penalty specialist

[Blackpool Rock]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a keeper substituted in the last few seconds of extra time immediately before penalties.

TV commentators are saying he’s a penalty specialist

Didn't Chelsea do it in the final of the Micky Mouse cup a few years ago 
They lost 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

 It made no difference because he got nowhere near any of the pens

[Blackpool Rock]

It made no difference because he got nowhere near any of the pens

Glad to see the Aussies go out, while I do really respect what they achieve in terms of sport given their population size they are just too far up their own arses and in your face.

[mr.bluesky]

It made no difference because he got nowhere near any of the pens

Australia as good at penalties as we are at cricket 

[Charliehutton]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a keeper substituted in the last few seconds of extra time immediately before penalties.

Pedantic, I know. But Martin O'Neill brought on Zejlko 'Spider' Kalac to replace Kevin Poole in the 119th minute of the 1996 Championship play-off final between Leicester City and Crystal Palace. As it happened, Steve Claridge shinned in a winner for City in the last seconds so Spider didn't have a touch.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

Isnt Mondays match been put later because of predicted storms?.

[daviemac]

Didn't Chelsea do it in the final of the Micky Mouse cup a few years ago 
They lost 

The Dutch manager, Louis van Gaal, brought Tim Krul on for the penalty shootout in the 120th minute in the quarter final in 2014, they won.

The manager must've seen something in training we didn't see at Newcastle, he faced 20 and only saved 2.

[john122350]

 

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[webpunter]

The match is now supposedly back to 1am
You can't make it up 

Edit:  I can imagine the Mexican fans being well fucked off with the timing change
A day eating drinking before the evening match what's not to like
Its like 12 noon fuck off

[webpunter]

It made no difference because he got nowhere near any of the pens

Indeed not even close
He moved too early on the pens giving the taker the ability to switch where he placed the ball
Not particularly athletic & relatively short for a GK 6'0" 
He looked as unlikely to save any of the pens as the utterly useless pen stopper Lloris in the 22 final

[webpunter]

Get in the Blue Sharks 

[Blackpool Rock]

The Dutch manager, Louis van Gaal, brought Tim Krul on for the penalty shootout in the 120th minute in the quarter final in 2014, they won.

The manager must've seen something in training we didn't see at Newcastle, he faced 20 and only saved 2.

This is what I was remembering, Thomas Tuchel no less was the Chelsea Manager, Arrizabalaga was brought on by Thomas Tuchel for Edouard Mendy in the final minute of the game due to the former’s positive record in shootouts.

However, after all 11 Liverpool players had scored from 12 yards, it was the Spanish keeper who skied his effort over the crossbar to hand victory to the Reds

So not only did he fail to save any penalties but he was the one who missed the one he took 

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[Blackpool Rock]

Get in the Blue Sharks 

So Cape Verde held Spain to a 0-0 draw and now force the Argies into extra time promptly going 2-1 down but then grabbing another equaliser 

We do love an underdog story and Cape Verde must have 99% of neutrals cheering them on, maybe just maybe   

[john122350]

So Cape Verde held Spain to a 0-0 draw and now force the Argies into extra time promptly going 2-1 down but then grabbing another equaliser 

We do love an underdog story and Cape Verde must have 99% of neutrals cheering them on, maybe just maybe   

What a second goal by Cape Verde absolute screamer

[timsussex]

I would be disappointed if only 99% of neutrals are cheering CV on 

excuse me while I check that I didnt say expanding the WC to 48 was a waste of time !

[timsussex]

Shit 3-2 and might even be an own goal

[john122350]

Shit 3-2 and might even be an own goal

Messi breaks another record of assists total 9 surpassing  Diego Maradona 8