Holmes_and_Watson

Larin's here too...it's okay....come off the roof...BBD might sky a shot and hit you off it... 🙂

It's really Football Abolishment Beckons, but I'm sure they'll do a fine job supporting the views of the average fan.

Host

He got some minutes! Only now does Mainoo see a chance, in England's darkest hour, with Hendo crocked.

He's been able to dictate things for a long time. There would be discussions. But a departure would be a glowing one, at least seemingly on his terms. Rather than an incoming boss just dropping him.

If you found out, one of the Tracy brothers would have to bump you off.

He was less than happy, when Martinez took him off in their last game, which they promptly won without him. That would have been an interesting post match conversation. Martinez is a manager brought in to ease massive egos. He's going too after this. There's only so much of Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes anyone can stand. Or should have to. In fairness, Ronaldo was taking up decent central positions, as no ball came into him. Also in fairness, he's not been capable of too much more for quite a while. He's squeezed every last ounce from his career.

It's a tough call when he next sits in the stands. Do they use his Pinocchio nose to sit a camera on, or use it to support the roof? What a crook.

Thor goes another thread.

Great effort to hold on. As Saka was replaced, I wondered if Gordon could have gone. Just for him to earn the penalty, that made the difference. He and Rice were closing down and blocking right to the whistle. Lots of hard work to keep focused under a ton of pressure. No play acting from Mexico, when they knew they had to get a goal. Bellingham also superb. Getting Burn on, also proved to be important.

I thought he had got it. But replay clearly a red. As if it wasn't tough enough.

Tripping over his rainbow laces might distract them from shooting. Worth a go.

Turned it on at 35 mins. Just in time for the goals. Commentators smugness levels unbearable, but brought right back down after a couple of minutes. Excellent Bellingham cover to stop that being 2-2. England really hanging on there. Great atmosphere. No idea where they'll find the energy to keep that sort of pace going for another half.

As a fictional character, I only like battered fish due to Alf Tupper.

Amnesty

£3.60, I think for chips for me. And it's not like it's a big bag of them either. Meanwhile 3-4 doors up from the chippy, Iceland are selling 3 packs of Young's fish, so 6 fillets... ... for £10, and the chips are cheap too. It's not a fish supper, but there comes a point when common sense kicks in.

Well worth staying in there for all those hours, until you needed one. I prefer ale, and trying out new ones. It's not my fault that the local Wetherspoons stocks the best range, and it's much cheaper. I live minutes away from my town centre. Buying any coffee, or anything else from a Costa, is madness with a kettle so close. Equally mad to sell an organ that you might need to process cinema food. Given two similar things, I'll pick the clubcard deal one. I begrudge my local team putting the crisps up by loads, when I can see the giant box of golden wonder sitting there. But, in company, if someone really wants to do something, then that's fine. The last thing I want to do, is go on about it. 🙂

Yes. "England will not just be fighting against the fierce passion of an entire nation when they face Mexico in the iconic Azteca Stadium..." That's from Beeb's Phil McNulty, so I spared myself reading any more of his drivel.

Misunderstanding

We know we can send him a pack with details, without bothering his club.

It took a bit of the direct play, they lacked in the first half to get the penalty. While VAR was working on that, Almiron wiped himself out, racing up the pitch. It was an example of how much energy they'd used, and they had little left when they needed a goal. Galzara is the cheater's cheat of the tournament. The ref was clearly letting a lot go. In the first half this was mostly Paraguay, but a couple of France moments too. As it went on, it was clear the ref wasn't taking accumulated fouls into account. Let alone the little kicks or those hits across the chest. But then, on one of those, Kounde went down holding a face that hadn' t been touched. The ref wasn't impressed by any of that. Like a lot of sides, France lacked anything central, and no real desire to get a ball in there to cause problems. As the tournament goes on, that will probably be less of an issue, until you need a goal to stay in it. Well done to France, for not getting involved after the whistle. Paraguay had to go and moan at the ref instead. I noted the Beeb saying that the they were staying with the pics, basically so they could show any fighting, then tut about it.

Good game. The ref doing well, not falling for the theatrics we've seen, and stopping a lot more no doubt. We've not seen much end product from Paraguay. But they've some talented players just waiting for that break. They've got under France's skin a bit. Blocked their through balls mostly; doubling up on the floor flanks and eventually reducing France to a few longer range efforts. But it will be hard to keep it going. On the other hand, France will have more joy getting another body into that box. That might leave some space.

Binary

Mine is £9.70 for a fish supper. And that's battered, rather than breadcrumbed. It went up in leaps and bounds in the last few years, rather than smaller inflation based ones. It's been that price for a little while. But once the £10 is finally breached...

Down