World Cup 2026

[Sheaf Saint]

7 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I know the golden generation weren't great but when you compare the like of 

Neville Ferdinand Terry Cole 

To our current defence. It really does show we are rather poor at the back.

That back four picked itself quite easily. The fact that nobody really has a clue what our best back four is these days tells you all you need to know.

[adrian lord]

Bellingham and Kane aside, this squad is merely last 32 material not even quarters. Saka and Rashford stunk out the wings last night, crossing so badly, and the defence was hair-raising. Midfield anonymous with no movement in front of them to pass into. 

Edited 8 hours ago by adrian lord

[Toadhall Saint]

Not watched one game and by the sounds of things I’ve not missed anything.

[hypochondriac]

28 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

That back four picked itself quite easily. The fact that nobody really has a clue what our best back four is these days tells you all you need to know.

Not a single one of our defensive players would have got into that team. Beyond Kane and Bellingham we really lack characters and particularly at the back. 

[saintant]

England tend to grow into tournaments. They rarely perform in the group stages as has been the case here. I am hoping we will click now it's a knock-out competition but can't see us getting any further than quarter finals at best unless there is a drastic improvement and a few more players step up to the plate. Saka and Rashford constantly failed to beat their man last night and Anderson was left to do too much in midfield. Morgan Rogers was disappointing and the less said about the defence the better. I like Eze but not sure how he fits into the side. Let's be honest we don't have the elite superstars that other nations are blessed with, too many road sweepers not enough lead violinists.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Not a single one of our defensive players would have got into that team. Beyond Kane and Bellingham we really lack characters and particularly at the back. 

Not sure what this means other than you seem to be saying no Saints defenders would get into the England team. Hardly surprising seeing as we are a Championship side.

[CB Fry]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Not sure what this means other than you seem to be saying no Saints defenders would get into the England team. Hardly surprising seeing as we are a Championship side.

Er, he's talking about Neville / Ferdinand / Terry / Cole and he's right - those four are clearly better than what we played yesterday.

No idea why you think he's talking about Saints.

[chiknsmack]

19 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

And just wait for the Austria-Algeria lawn chair bore draw.

Got the result right, but otherwise this aged like milk. What a game.

[Badger]

On 26/06/2026 at 20:23, die Mannyschaft said:

Good news on the Scotland front.

How is it England end up playing Congo ?  
Last week we were due to play Senegal who at the time were 7th in the 3rd Place table. That place is now Paraguay, Congo are top. 

[die Mannyschaft]

At least England should get to QF then likely meet Brazil then Argentina in SF.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/48539270/england-route-2026-world-cup-final-road-knockouts-group-l-mexico-brazil-argentina-france-spain-portugal

[saintant]

2 hours ago, CB Fry said:

Er, he's talking about Neville / Ferdinand / Terry / Cole and he's right - those four are clearly better than what we played yesterday.

No idea why you think he's talking about Saints.

It's a fair cop. I hadn't followed the thread and didn't realise he was talking about previous England teams.

[LeBizzier69]

50 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

At least England should get to QF then likely meet Brazil then Argentina in SF.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/48539270/england-route-2026-world-cup-final-road-knockouts-group-l-mexico-brazil-argentina-france-spain-portugal

Japan could be tough to beat…..think they’ve a decent shout v Brazil.

we were utter shite last night.

Congo should absolutely be gunning for us. 
A half decent side will put us out. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

12 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Japan could be tough to beat…..think they’ve a decent shout v Brazil.

we were utter shite last night.

Congo should absolutely be gunning for us. 
A half decent side will put us out. 

Agreed - think we look pretty average compared to the usual top teams. I’m perplexed as to why Pickford still starts in goal - I think he’s a calamity waiting to happen and can’t believe there’s not a better English keeper. Then there’s the very average Roger’s, Spence and Anderson making up numbers. Without Rice the midfield looks weak. And the defensive line looks very unbalanced.

[AlexLaw76]

35 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Japan could be tough to beat…..think they’ve a decent shout v Brazil.

we were utter shite last night.

Congo should absolutely be gunning for us. 
A half decent side will put us out. 

Tuchel has fallen into the trap of banking on the fitness of injured/injury prone players.

Saka has been injured for a long time, James is a sick note (Tino the same), Henderson offers nothing what so ever. That is a shame as Tuchel is a brilliant manager, just gone weird with his squad selection. 

Madueke and Spence starting in the World Cup is hilarious. 

[qwertyell]

1 hour ago, die Mannyschaft said:

At least England should get to QF then likely meet Brazil then Argentina in SF.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/48539270/england-route-2026-world-cup-final-road-knockouts-group-l-mexico-brazil-argentina-france-spain-portugal

We're not beating Mexico in Mexico, should we get by Congo.

[Dark Munster]

4 hours ago, chiknsmack said:

Got the result right, but otherwise this aged like milk. What a game.

Yep, I couldn’t have been more wrong! I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn’t see that coming. Fair play to both teams. I’m sure both teams were well aware of the negative expectations and perhaps decided to go hell for leather instead. Mind you, it did end up in a convenient draw at the end. 😏

[VectisSaint]

On 26/06/2026 at 20:17, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

What's this weird Viking rowing thing the Norwegian fans have started doing. Its up there with "mauled by the tigers" for naffness.

Beats the Mexican wave

[Patrick Bateman]

On 26/06/2026 at 20:17, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

What's this weird Viking rowing thing the Norwegian fans have started doing. Its up there with "mauled by the tigers" for naffness.

Agreed, embarrassing. Even my wife who normally is a "let people do what they want blah blah" type opinion was like dear god, that is awful 😂

The England fanbase doesn't look the same as usual either, looks 'tame' and sounds quieter in the stadium. Granted I'm not there and can only go by what I see and hear on TV, but it feels sanitised and flat to me??  

[LiberalCommunist]

Oh no, I'm conflicted. Troy Deeney hates Djed Spence.

[qwertyell]

34 minutes ago, Dark Munster said:

Yep, I couldn’t have been more wrong! I’m sure I’m not the only one who didn’t see that coming. Fair play to both teams. I’m sure both teams were well aware of the negative expectations and perhaps decided to go hell for leather instead. Mind you, it did end up in a convenient draw at the end. 😏

To be fair, for the final 20 minutes, both teams looked like they'd pretty much agreed to shake hands on a draw and go through the motions.

And then in the last minute of injury time, Algeria attacked out of nowhere and scored - the old rope a dope. Which in turn led to Austria throwing the kitchen sink at them in the final seconds remaining, to avoid elimination (and possibly a diplomatic incident). 

[qwertyell]

16 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I know the golden generation weren't great but when you compare the like of 

Neville Ferdinand Terry Cole 

To our current defence. It really does show we are rather poor at the back.

Only Pickford (by default) and Kane would make the Golden Generation XI. 

Bellingham, Rice, and Saka would probably be in the squad. I suppose you could make a case for Alexander-Arnold being a better back up right back than most, but he's not presently even considered a better right back than, erm, Jarell Quansah by the geniuses in charge. 

The rest of this current bunch are incredibly average. 

Let's say (26 man squad):

GK: Pickford, James, Robinson/or a decrepit, barely mobile Seaman

DF: Neville, Alexander-Arnold, Carragher, Ferdinand, Terry, Campbell, A. Cole, Bridge

MF: Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes, Rice, Carrick, Hargreaves, Bellingham, J. Cole, McManaman

FW: Rooney, Kane, Owen, Saka, Heskey

Pointless, Sunday afternoon exercise, I know. But you could cobble together a handy side from that, I reckon. Probably woudn't even need to spy on our opponents to get a point.