World Cup 2026

[die Mannyschaft]

9 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Let's be honest though, that was a pretty horrendous game. Also obvious that all the underdogs are gonna play exactly like that 😵

One of the Wurst games Germany have played.

[die Mannyschaft]

Is Tonda available for Germany job? At least he would have spied on penalty takers and Uruguay low block training. I blame Boro for those missed pens

[Jimmy_D]

4 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

It will now be interesting to see how England perform as they are expected to get to SF and easily QF. With a German manager can he get England in the correct mindset and game plan not as we have seen German just fuck it up from 1st half .

One thing you can say is, he's made us difficult to beat in competitive matches. It's not always the prettiest performances, but Tuchel knows tournament football.

That said, knockout football, one unlucky or poor performance (that England do have in them), and that could be that.

[Jimmy_D]

Woke up in time to see most of extra time, and possibly the best/worst penalty shootout I've ever seen  

Now back to sleep...

[AlexLaw76]

5 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Is Tonda available for Germany job? At least he would have spied on penalty takers and Uruguay low block training. I blame Boro for those missed pens

No

[Dark Munster]

I thought England were bad at penalties, but I think the Dutch take the crown for being the most shit at them. 

[East Kent Saint]

Morocco spent most of the match looking most likely to score , Netherlands played with a back 5 so obviously seen them play ! Morocco were practiced in cheating,  much like the old Italian teams , sly pushing and holding coupled with going down easily ! 

[East Kent Saint]

I see Germany had an excellent goal Vared off ! The keeper dropped like a sack of spuds and the refs fell for it .

[SWLondon Saint]

Fully expecting Ghana to be in park the bus mode against us. The Havertz goal was the model for scoring against these low block teams though, inswinger with both the striker and then someone behind him also attacking the ball is tough to defend even with everyone back. Still need the threat of someone going to the byline though which Germany just didn't have.

[vectraman]

35 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Fully expecting Ghana to be in park the bus mode against us. The Havertz goal was the model for scoring against these low block teams though, inswinger with both the striker and then someone behind him also attacking the ball is tough to defend even with everyone back. Still need the threat of someone going to the byline though which Germany just didn't have.

Why do we have to play Ghana again? I was expecting DR Congo next up…😉

[Badger]

Shame Germany went out. They might have raised their game next round to beat the French. Can’t see Paraguay doing that.

French look the outstanding team at the minute which is annoying as they are currently in the ‘Anyone but ..’ pole position for me. A not too exclusive list of former members include Argentina, Germany, and Andy Murray. 

[Saint86]

8 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Is Tonda available for Germany job? At least he would have spied on penalty takers and Uruguay low block training. I blame Boro for those missed pens

Someone should probably make this case to the FA - ban him from saints and he'll unleash the Germans on us at the next Euros 😆

[Lee On Solent Saint]

23 minutes ago, Badger said:

Shame Germany went out. They might have raised their game next round to beat the French. Can’t see Paraguay doing that.

French look the outstanding team at the minute which is annoying as they are currently in the ‘Anyone but ..’ pole position for me. A not too exclusive list of former members include Argentina, Germany, and Andy Murray. 

Don't think I have ever seen such a poor German side. Likely they are going to need a huge reset now. 

[rallyboy]

It was cool that the Germans paid tribute to Chris Waddle with Tah's penalty that still hasn't fucking landed.

Now he just needs to get together with Kimmich and do Diamond Lights. 

[saintant]

8 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

It will now be interesting to see how England perform as they are expected to get to SF and easily QF. With a German manager can he get England in the correct mindset and game plan not as we have seen German just fuck it up from 1st half .

The way Germany play is very similar to England. From the start knock it around between the centre backs with zero urgency or purpose then try to get the ball down the wings and cross or lose possession - rinse and repeat. 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, East Kent Saint said:

I see Germany had an excellent goal Vared off ! The keeper dropped like a sack of spuds and the refs fell for it .

Ignore the fall. The keeper was deliberately blocked off. The German player ignored the ball and was only intent on stopping the keeper from getting to it. 

[Whitey Grandad]

16 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

It was cool that the Germans paid tribute to Chris Waddle with Tah's penalty that still hasn't fucking landed.

Now he just needs to get together with Kimmich and do Diamond Lights. 

Leaning back and not looking at the ball. A typical defender's clearance.

[gio1saints]

One potentially GOOD consequence of this Germany squad exit that DID NOT INCLUDE JANDER OR QUARSIE is that there may be a rethink back in the German FA about players.    
 

This might mean our two might get a full international chance sooner rather than later ( or not at all!) . And that means their future transfer value would go up significantly.

It would be sick if they were full internationals playing for Saints! ( oh yeah Q has to up his game somewhat but I hope he gets that chance if we see CB vacancy as is possible)

[LeBizzier69]

25/2 on DRC to win tomorrow night..

[sandwichsaint]

22 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

25/2 on DRC to win tomorrow night..

I assume that’s to win in 90 minutes, rather than go through to the next round? Probably a fair price, is their a price for England making hard work of it but finding a way?

[Challenger]

Brazil,  Argentina, France or Spain.

An expensive holiday for everyone else and a bit of an increase in beer sales at home .

[East Kent Saint]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Ignore the fall. The keeper was deliberately blocked off. The German player ignored the ball and was only intent on stopping the keeper from getting to it. 

The ball was no where near , the keeper was able to make a failed save from the header , referee commentator said it was "soft" but not a surprise in this WC !

[East Kent Saint]

BTW I don't have much hope for England progressing with their defence strategy so far , seeing Morocco surging forward etc 

[Window Cleaner]

33 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

The ball was no where near , the keeper was able to make a failed save from the header , referee commentator said it was "soft" but not a surprise in this WC !

And yet there is so much thuggery that some refs let go. Reffing is inconsistant, VAR as well. 

Germany didn't look like a last 4 side apart from the first half against Curacao.

There will be other upsets in this competition. Netherlands isn't one though, Morocco is a good side and the dutch are mostly OAPs. Koeman has lost his way, will be replaced by another ex player..

However if the results ar this world cup help bring the demise of tippy tappy pass the ball around in circles football, that would because step forward.

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Window Cleaner

[Osvaldorama]

1 hour ago, LeBizzier69 said:

25/2 on DRC to win tomorrow night..

Brave to bet on that but we did look a bit ropey at the back. 
 

Has anyone watched DRC? are they better than Ghana? I assume they’re not as good based on paper 

[Window Cleaner]

4 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Brave to bet on that but we did look a bit ropey at the back. 
 

Has anyone watched DRC? are they better than Ghana? I assume they’re not as good based on paper 

Nowhere near as good as Ghana. Belgian or French second stringers mostly.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, East Kent Saint said:

The ball was no where near , the keeper was able to make a failed save from the header , referee commentator said it was "soft" but not a surprise in this WC !

The position of the ball is not relevant to the obstruction. The keeper was blocked off from going for the ball.

[James]

34 minutes ago, Window Cleaner said:

Nowhere near as good as Ghana. Belgian or French second stringers mostly.

DRC are 20 spots higher than Ghana in the FIFA world rankings so seems a stretch to say they are “nowhere near” as good as Ghana. Either way, a team we should be beating. 

[AlexLaw76]

2-0 uninspiring win for England

 

[Osvaldorama]

After last night, I’m not taking anything for granted. 
 

The ‘lesser’ teams have all taken huge steps forward.. and we struggle with a low block. 
Hopefully we have enough. 

[die Mannyschaft]

4 hours ago, sandwichsaint said:

I assume that’s to win in 90 minutes, rather than go through to the next round? Probably a fair price, is their a price for England making hard work of it but finding a way?

price for England making hard work of it but finding a way?

i would guess something like

let in goal in first 10 mins 13/18

key play off injured 3/1

Side to side, triangles for 80 mins 5/6

Added time corner header 2/1

pen straight after going  going 6/1

Play like Germany last night and lose on pens 50/1

Bellingham Red card 18/1

Pickford to forget his bottle with pen information and rant at DR Congo players 33/1

Back pass by England leading to DR Congo goal 10/1

England miss 3 pens in shoot out 40/1

England miss 2 pens in shoot out 20/1

England miss 1 pen in shoot out 5/2

 

[die Mannyschaft]

2 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

After last night, I’m not taking anything for granted. 
 

The ‘lesser’ teams have all taken huge steps forward.. and we struggle with a low block. 
Hopefully we have enough. 

If you match England players to Germany players then its highly unlikely England could play as bad. Or drag the game out to Pens. If Germany launched crosses in box in 1st half as the did 2nd half goals would have gone in. Can't see England making the same tactical mistake as in group games. Tuchel by now must know the pitfalls of deploying Russball against low block.

[die Mannyschaft]

3 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

After last night, I’m not taking anything for granted. 
 

The ‘lesser’ teams have all taken huge steps forward.. and we struggle with a low block. 
Hopefully we have enough. 

If you match England players to Germany players then its highly unlikely England could play as bad. Or drag the game out to Pens. If Germany launched crosses in box in 1st half as the did 2nd half goals would have gone in. Can't see England making the same tactical mistake as in group games. Tuchel by now must know the pitfalls of deploying Russball against low block.

[die Mannyschaft]

Latest odds.

 

[benjii]

6 hours ago, LeBizzier69 said:

25/2 on DRC to win tomorrow night..

Save your money for Mexico in the next round, who will almost certainly knock us out.

[skintsaint]

5 hours ago, East Kent Saint said:

BTW I don't have much hope for England progressing with their defence strategy so far , seeing Morocco surging forward etc 

Thing is, England are a counter attacking side so would probably do well vs a team 'surging' forward.

[East Kent Saint]

7 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Ignore the fall. The keeper was deliberately blocked off. The German player ignored the ball and was only intent on stopping the keeper from getting to it. 

The ball was elsewhere at the time etc I'm backing Shearer who condemned it as well. 

[East Kent Saint]

47 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Thing is, England are a counter attacking side so would probably do well vs a team 'surging' forward.

It's the defending bit that England are a bit useless at so no !

[East Kent Saint]

All teams seem to have signed up to the knocking the ball about in their own half before cocking up the going forward bit . Pretty boring so far ...

 

[Window Cleaner]

35 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

All teams seem to have signed up to the knocking the ball about in their own half before cocking up the going forward bit . Pretty boring so far ...

 

So slow...every game is much the same. .

[Sheaf Saint]

Ivory Coast looking the much more dangerous team here. 

[Sheaf Saint]

Great finish. 

[adrian lord]

Apart from the goal, another dire game. 

[Turkish]

Norway look bang average but could be 5-0 up missed a few big chances 

[Window Cleaner]

33 minutes ago, adrian lord said:

Apart from the goal, another dire game. 

Yes, there are so many teams playing below their level. 

Hard to pick a winner of the WC really,any team could go out on an off day.

[benjii]

Ivory Coast got some mad ballers innit 

[die Mannyschaft]

2 hours ago, benjii said:

Save your money for Mexico in the next round, who will almost certainly knock us out.

Mexico unbeaten at home 21 games I think bbc said

[Window Cleaner]

Norway's game is too complicated for their skill set.

[Window Cleaner]

1 minute ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Mexico unbeaten at home 21 games I think bbc said

Have they beaten anyone decent?

[Baird of the land]

Haaland was nearly embarrassed by his attempt at an uber casual finish.