The World Cup Thread

[OttawaSaint]

2-2. Fonte nowhere to be seen on that one. Must barely have to break sweat in the Chinese league.

[OttawaSaint]

What a goal!!!! 3-2 Spain. What a game!

[whelk]

Hierro has put together some side

[captainchris]

Cedric .... Oh dear oh dear o dear... Never engages the attacker ever...

Rabbit in headlights

[OttawaSaint]

Cedric .... Oh dear oh dear o dear... Never engages the attacker ever...

Rabbit in headlights

 

He had help too. Both of them stood off. Bizarre defending.

[vectraman]

De Gea

 

He’s done a Karius! Bizarre how they both have stupid wispy beards and top knots, and both have played how they look

[verlaine1979]

Not sure I've ever actually seen Carvalho break into a run. A real walking-pace player.

[Micky]

That's pure class.

 

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[Winnersaint]

OMG!!!

[Batman]

You don’t save those!

What a player

[OttawaSaint]

Love him or hate him, he’s a phenomenal player. Beauty free kick.

[Winnersaint]

What a cracking game!

[Cabbage_Face]

Wow. Knew he’d score that. Can Messi follow this?

[Shroppie]

Not sure he didn't dive for the free kick though.

 

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[johnnyboy]

I wouldn't count on it

 

Oops !![emoji1303]

[davefoggy]

Oops !![emoji1303]

 

ha ha! happy to be proved wrong on that one!! What a game, had it all. How did Spain not win it? Ronaldo is proper world class, makes me realise England don't have any world class players? Or do they....I have been wrong before lol

[davefoggy]

Some of this Spanish football is sublime

 

This

 

England are light years away from playing like this

[Cabbage_Face]

This

 

England are light years away from playing like this

 

And that is half the problem, stop trying to play like Spain and play to our strengths. Which is quick counter attacking football, not tika taka with players like Henderson. [emoji23][emoji1303]

[doddisalegend]

Not sure I've ever actually seen Carvalho break into a run. A real walking-pace player.

 

seems to have the safe 5 yard pass down to a fine art though

[davefoggy]

And that is half the problem, stop trying to play like Spain and play to our strengths. Which is quick counter attacking football, not tika taka with players like Henderson. [emoji23][emoji1303]

 

Yeah fair enough. Vardy could do some real damage if played properly

[S-Clarke]

Loved that game, one of the best end to end football matches I've seen in a tournament since Euro 2004. (Ceczh's/Holland)

[Mystic Force]

This is why we watch world cups not the crap served up earlier in the day. I was expecting a nervous affair with both teams more worried about not losing than trying to win, boy was I wrong, yet still ended with a draw! If you up the number of teams you will get more crap and devalue the thing. I am for alowing people to compete but they have to be close enough on ability to create an intresting contest, although as watching Morocco v Iran proved it is still not great to watch if both equally bad.

 

I suggest some kind of pre tournament to sort out the teams that should go, maybe speead across multiple countries, and divided into sections possibly by continent, and then into groups, with the best teams advancimg to the main tournament, oh they already invented that! Maybe some of the worst teams should have to pre qualify for this to make fewer lopsided match ups.

[Wilf]

I thought Cedric had a good game, especially going forward.

[Jimmy_D]

That was a bloody good game of football!

 

I fear my chances of best goal sweepstake are gone with that third Spanish goal. Reminded me of Martina's against Arsenal

[ChiefScummer]

Spain and Portugal both absolute quality. What a game that was.

[Charlie Wayman]

Game almost as bad as that woman pundit ITV had. Absolute nightmare.

 

Oh Dear! Why single her out, she makes about as much sense as the rest of them. Hope that's not prejudice on display.

[Charlie Wayman]

I thought Cedric had a good game, especially going forward.

 

Hope not or he'll be off.

[hypochondriac]

Oh Dear! Why single her out, she makes about as much sense as the rest of them. Hope that's not prejudice on display.

To be fair it was a bit grating when she started giving advice to the Spanish strikers, using her own experience as a striker in women's football. It really isn't comparable in any way.

[Dark Munster]

This is why we watch world cups not the crap served up earlier in the day. I was expecting a nervous affair with both teams more worried about not losing than trying to win, boy was I wrong, yet still ended with a draw! If you up the number of teams you will get more crap and devalue the thing. I am for alowing people to compete but they have to be close enough on ability to create an intresting contest, although as watching Morocco v Iran proved it is still not great to watch if both equally bad.

 

I suggest some kind of pre tournament to sort out the teams that should go, maybe speead across multiple countries, and divided into sections possibly by continent, and then into groups, with the best teams advancimg to the main tournament, oh they already invented that! Maybe some of the worst teams should have to pre qualify for this to make fewer lopsided match ups.

No, teams save those for the knockout matches. Plenty of exciting group matches in the past, but dour, safety-first matches afterwards (often with both teams content going to penalties). Of course FIFA have addressed this in 2026 with groups of 3 instead of 4, so fewer group matches and more fear of losing in them too.

[qwertyell]

To be fair it was a bit grating when she started giving advice to the Spanish strikers, using her own experience as a striker in women's football. It really isn't comparable in any way.

What the hell else is she supposed to do? Talk about shopping and lipstick?

 

She's an experienced international footballer, presumably hired to share some insight based upon her specialist knowledge.

 

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[Saint-Fred]

To be fair it was a bit grating when she started giving advice to the Spanish strikers, using her own experience as a striker in women's football. It really isn't comparable in any way.

 

Should we ignore everything you say on here the? she clearly has more experience than you in professional football and you ink she should not comment and yet you feel qualified to comment on all things football with zero experience?

[egg]

To be fair it was a bit grating when she started giving advice to the Spanish strikers, using her own experience as a striker in women's football. It really isn't comparable in any way.

 

Mourinho uses his own experience of playing a few lower league games as a goalkeeper and coaches nternational outfield playrs. Not really comparable in terms of experience, but he ain't done bad.

 

Fool.

[percy windham]

To be fair it was a bit grating when she started giving advice to the Spanish strikers, using her own experience as a striker in women's football. It really isn't comparable in any way.

?? Do you ever read the **** you write?

 

I’d only there was something about her career, and her specialist job in that, that might give her the tiniest bit of insight; certainly a touch more insight than that of a colossal dullard such as yourself.

[egg]

?? Do you ever read the **** you write?

 

I’d only there was something about her career, and her specialist job in that, that might give her the tiniest bit of insight; certainly a touch more insight than that of a colossal dullard such as yourself.

But she's a girl Percy, so according to Hypo that automatically means that her opinion doesn't count.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

And that is half the problem, stop trying to play like Spain and play to our strengths. Which is quick counter attacking football, not tika taka with players like Henderson. [emoji23][emoji1303]

 

Said exact same thing to my nipper watching the game last night. So true. Regarding Henderson, is it my anti-Liverpool bias, or is he pretty **** in almost every game? Pedestrian, can't pass, can't hold the ball. I don't get it at all.

[hypochondriac]

What the hell else is she supposed to do? Talk about shopping and lipstick?

 

She's an experienced international footballer, presumably hired to share some insight based upon her specialist knowledge.

 

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I'd prefer to hear from those who have played at a similar level and therefore have a greater insight into what is needed. Not sure why people are saying she's better than me- I expect she is and I'd be a cr*p itv pundit too which is why I'm not on the telly...

[Micky]

That was a bloody good game of football!

 

I fear my chances of best goal sweepstake are gone with that third Spanish goal. Reminded me of Martina's against Arsenal

TBF hanging your hat on a goal scored by Russia against probably the poorest side in the competition was never really a strong claim. You'll see much better goals from the genuinely big teams as the competition progresses, as yesterday's match proved. Reminded me of Martinas goal as well, which I think was better because it was further out, more difficult technique and had lovely bend on it.

 

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[Wade Garrett]

Oh Dear! Why single her out, she makes about as much sense as the rest of them. Hope that's not prejudice on display.

 

"You have to use your forehead". Absolute nightmare. PC gone mad.

[hypochondriac]

?? Do you ever read the **** you write?

 

I’d only there was something about her career, and her specialist job in that, that might give her the tiniest bit of insight; certainly a touch more insight than that of a colossal dullard such as yourself.

 

I'm afraid you've failed to comprehend what I wrote. She plays or played women's football which is essentially a different sport. I'm all for women presenters if they are decent- gabby loan springs to mind- but pundits are supposed to provide a level of analysis and typically this is best achieved by those who have played the game at a similar level and thus have a good insight into the minds of the players involved. There are exceptions of course but I didn't think she was up to much last night. No need for the personal attacks, not sure what me being a dullard has to do with the quality of punditry.

[Wade Garrett]

What the hell else is she supposed to do? Talk about shopping and lipstick?

 

She's an experienced international footballer, presumably hired to share some insight based upon her specialist knowledge.

 

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Yes, that's obviously why she was hired!

[shurlock]

When has playing the game at a decent level been a bar to providing football analysis?

 

For starters, that would rule out Les Reed and Ross Wilson. Then again...

[Micky]

"You have to use your forehead". Absolute nightmare. PC gone mad.

I have to say I cringed when I heard her say that as well, I think she even tried to demonstrate it as well. I kind of get where Hypo is coming from as well, if we're honest there are better qualified male players who could do what she is, and probably give better analysis. That said, I always remember Gary Nevilles first time on sky sport and he was pretty dire, but he's pretty damn good now, so perhaps all she needs is time and media coaching.

 

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[shurlock]

Who are we talking about? Eniola Aluko or Alex Scott?

[hypochondriac]

I have to say I cringed when I heard her say that as well, I think she even tried to demonstrate it as well. I kind of get where Hypo is coming from as well, if we're honest there are better qualified male players who could do what she is, and probably give better analysis. That said, I always remember Gary Nevilles first time on sky sport and he was pretty dire, but he's pretty damn good now, so perhaps all she needs is time and media coaching.

 

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Yes possibly. It may be that there is a female pundit capable of doing the job well, but I don't think she's up to the task as it stands. That's not to ignore the many terrible male pundits either. Shame that quite a few jumped straight to the sexist labels and personal insults though, it's just an opinion on football punditry, hardly the end of the world.

[hypochondriac]

When has playing the game at a decent level been a bar to providing football analysis?

 

For starters, that would rule out Les Reed and Ross Wilson. Then again...

It isn't always needed but I find some of the best pundits are normally those who have played the game at a very high level- someone mentioned Neville and I'd agree.

[shurlock]

It isn't always needed but I find some of the best pundits are normally those who have played the game at a very high level- someone mentioned Neville and I'd agree.

 

But then again there are absolute dog**** pundits and commentators - Niall Quinn and Dwight Yorke, among others, are horrendous.

[Graffito]

It isn't always needed but I find some of the best pundits are normally those who have played the game at a very high level- someone mentioned Neville and I'd agree.

 

Some of the best and some of the worst. So what does that prove, nothing.

[hypochondriac]

But then again there are absolute dog**** pundits and commentators - Niall Quinn and Dwight Yorke, among others, are horrendous.

That's true but when someone has the brains to actually use their own experience effectively to provide a level of insight that the man on the street cannot, then I think they make the best pundits with things worth listening to. Unfortunately a lot of footballers are not blessed with intelligence and football programs often equate playing success with skill as a pundit. Imo you would ideally want both...

[Shroppie]

That's true but when someone has the brains to actually use their own experience effectively to provide a level of insight that the man on the street cannot, then I think they make the best pundits with things worth listening to. Unfortunately a lot of footballers are not blessed with intelligence and football programs often equate playing success with skill as a pundit. Imo you would ideally want both...

And far too many just spout what will be popular, or is expected. Some of the media today have been brave enough to say that Ronaldo's performance, apart from a stunning free kick, was average.

 

One of his goals was a goalkeeping error and the other two came from a penalty and free kick won by simulation - blatent cheating. And that is deserving of the pundits' hero worship?

 

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[LGTL]

BBC have got one on today, ticking all the boxes once again. They had that squealing, horrendous girl commentator yesterday too doing the highlights of the Iran game. Terrible.