World Cup 2026

[coalman]

3 hours ago, CSA96 said:

FIFA President Gianni Infantino: 

“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.

“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.

“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.

“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”

Methinks the baldie doth protest too much.

[adrian lord]

POR-SPA is a muted affair so far. 

Chris Sutton is incredibly disagreeable. 

[Dark Munster]

38 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Southgate has completely changed the culture around the international team and it's relationship with the fans. He's laid the foundation for future sides to genuinely compete in a way we never could from late 90s to mid 2010s because of the club cliques.

One thing I give Southgate credit for, is he took penalty shoot outs seriously, getting the squad fully prepared for them. Except for Venables, all his predecessors didn't bother ("why practice, you can't replicate the pressure of the real one?" bullshit). Hence England's appalling record before he took over. Venables did have 5 players fully prepared, but didn't realise that it could go beyond 5 kicks. As we found out in the Euro semi-final at Wembley against Germany in 1996.

[Window Cleaner]

A half of good saves and wasted chances.

[Lord Duckhunter]

18 minutes ago, Dark Munster said:

One thing I give Southgate credit for, is he took penalty shoot outs seriously, getting the squad fully prepared for them

Yeah it was great the way he brought 2 subs on specifically to take penalties….and then both missed. 
 

There’s a reason he hasn’t got a job since leaving the England job. I doubt there’s one set of premier league supporters who would want him as manager. 

[Convict Colony]

25 minutes ago, adrian lord said:

POR-SPA is a muted affair so far. 

Chris Sutton is incredibly disagreeable. 

agree and I was only watching for the hotties and random US celebs no one knows until the commentator is fed "that Christy mcfuck fuck, famous woman's football in the US in the 80s" and seen none.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Hilarious how shit Ronaldo is these days. Mad that he still gets selected for international duty.

[Sheaf Saint]

29 minutes ago, coalman said:

Methinks the baldie doth protest too much.

It's mental isn't it. 

We all know he's lying.

He knows that everyone knows he's lying, and he also knows there's absolutely fuck all anyone can do about it.

[revolution saint]

Appreciate they’re good technical teams and all that but Spain v Portugal is very dull.

[Sarnia Cherie]

13 hours ago, Badger said:

I wonder what the lead news item is in Scotland this morning 

I have a Scottish son-in-law who has been as much fun as a dose of haemorrhoids since Scotland's pathetic performances and early exit.  He is full of the joys this morning. 

[Oldandtired]

16 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

It's mental isn't it. 

We all know he's lying.

He knows that everyone knows he's lying, and he also knows there's absolutely fuck all anyone can do about it.

He's obviously learnt a lot from his time in America.

[Sheaf Saint]

Well I was expecting this game to be the battle of the Iberian Peninsula, but it's been drab so far. Both teams happy to play for penalties it seems.

[egg]

2 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Well I was expecting this game to be the battle of the Iberian Peninsula, but it's been drab so far. Both teams happy to play for penalties it seems.

Yep. Really boring game. That said, Norway/Brazil, us/Mexico, are hard acts to follow. 

[John Boy Saint]

I have to say reading all this cobblers about Southgate is just like a Saints game match thread “this is s**t” “this is terrible” “ he should’nt be near the team” 2 minutes later every pit pony wearing a Saints shirt is a bleeding god because we’ve smashed in 2 goals. 

For England  International tournaments, after the hullabaloo of 1966 we have been pretty pants flattered to deceive - no World Cups from 1970 to 1982 (where we got nobbled) - in general we had been pretty grim for well over 20 years.  Then a quiet chap turns up who “missed that bloody penalty” - “did bugger all a Boro” - but he gets hold of England and suddenly there is hope, we are getting in and around the business end of tournaments - yes we should have won one of them, at least,  but England were where everyone with an opinion thought they should be in the tournaments in the 20 plus years previously. 
He deserves all the plaudits he’s got from within Football - yes we could have done better - but after 20 years of abject tournament performance Gareth Southgate gave England fans hope more tangible than many had felt before and not just once.

That’s my  tuppence ha’penny worth - he doesn’t deserve the some of the slagging he’s been getting on here! 

[whelk]

3 minutes ago, egg said:

Yep. Really boring game. That said, Norway/Brazil, us/Mexico, are hard acts to follow. 

Norway Brazil was pretty shit until the last 20 mins

[Saint Pete]

4 hours ago, CSA96 said:

FIFA President Gianni Infantino: 

“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.

“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.

“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.

“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”

Absolute bullshit from the corrupter in chief but what else would we expect? So these independent Fifa disciplinary committees are just applying the rules and regs as they always would do, yet have done something that has never happened in a World Cup before with red cards?! OK... 

And he seems to be trying to distance himself from the decisions they make as they are "independent" and sometimes he agrees with them and sometimes doesn't. So is he saying that he as Fifa President isn't independent then?! 

[Turkish]

And there it is, injury time winner for Spain 

[Turkish]

36 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Hilarious how shit Ronaldo is these days. Mad that he still gets selected for international duty.

He was shocking in the last euros too, still plays every minute of every game somehow 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Just now, Turkish said:

And there it is, injury time winner for Spain 

Thank fuck it's not going to extra time.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Just the seventy cameras around Cristiano Ronaldo at the final whistle.

😂😂😂

[Willo of Whiteley]

Cristiano Ronaldo makes it all about him doesn’t he.

Standing on his own. Cameras surrounding him. Crying. Not with his teammates. Not even attempting to shake hands with people and be gracious in defeat.

Wet wipe.

[Patrick Bateman]

Just now, Willo of Whiteley said:

Cristiano Ronaldo makes it all about him doesn’t he.

Standing on his own. Cameras surrounding him. Crying. Not with his teammates. Not even attempting to shake hands with people and be gracious in defeat.

Wet wipe.

Came here to say the same thing!!

[Whitey Grandad]

3 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Just the seventy cameras around Cristiano Ronaldo at the final whistle.

😂😂😂

Almost one for each year of his age.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

21 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He was shocking in the last euros too, still plays every minute of every game somehow 

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. 

[egg]

36 minutes ago, whelk said:

Norway Brazil was pretty shit until the last 20 mins

I thought it was a cracking game. 

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Fucks sake Henderson's world cup is over.

Complete waste of a squad place.

Managers need to F off about bringing in cheerleaders at the expense of another player.

[bpsaint]

2 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

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. 

Surely this is it for him and Portugal now right? I know he’s come out and said this is his last World Cup but surely he can’t be planning to stink out the Euros in 2028 as a 43 year old. See if the new Portugal manager has it about himself to take the decision away from CR.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Surely this is it for him and Portugal now right? I know he’s come out and said this is his last World Cup but surely he can’t be planning to stink out the Euros in 2028 as a 43 year old. See if the new Portugal manager has it about himself to take the decision away from CR.

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.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Fucks sake Henderson's world cup is over.

Complete waste of a squad place.

Managers need to F off about bringing in cheerleaders at the expense of another player.

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

[saintant]

50 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

I have to say reading all this cobblers about Southgate is just like a Saints game match thread “this is s**t” “this is terrible” “ he should’nt be near the team” 2 minutes later every pit pony wearing a Saints shirt is a bleeding god because we’ve smashed in 2 goals. 

For England  International tournaments, after the hullabaloo of 1966 we have been pretty pants flattered to deceive - no World Cups from 1970 to 1982 (where we got nobbled) - in general we had been pretty grim for well over 20 years.  Then a quiet chap turns up who “missed that bloody penalty” - “did bugger all a Boro” - but he gets hold of England and suddenly there is hope, we are getting in and around the business end of tournaments - yes we should have won one of them, at least,  but England were where everyone with an opinion thought they should be in the tournaments in the 20 plus years previously. 
He deserves all the plaudits he’s got from within Football - yes we could have done better - but after 20 years of abject tournament performance Gareth Southgate gave England fans hope more tangible than many had felt before and not just once.

That’s my  tuppence ha’penny worth - he doesn’t deserve the some of the slagging he’s been getting on here! 

I think Southgate deserves a fair amount of credit for his time as England boss. However, his legacy is tainted by the fact that he did screw up that final against Italy. Once Shaw got the early goal we should have smelt blood and gone after them. They had two aging centre backs and Southgate wasn't ruthless - sadly his nature is caution but he should have thrown that to the wind and had he done so I'm convinced we'd have won comfortably.

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, coalman said:

Methinks the baldie doth protest too much.

Good job JWP isn’t in the England WC squad otherwise Infantino would have been on the phone to Nuno and had JWP frozen out of the competition. 

[Challenger]

5 hours ago, CSA96 said:

FIFA President Gianni Infantino: 

“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance.

“FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected.

“Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues. During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.

“I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree.

“What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.”

Sycophantino is so far up Trump,s ass I'm surprised he's got enough room to write this.

[skintsaint]

2 hours ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Hilarious how shit Ronaldo is these days. Mad that he still gets selected for international duty.

Was Spains best defender tonight. Everytime it went to him, he slowed down the play, stopped any momentum they had going forward and then lost the ball the majority of the time.

[sadoldgit]

17 minutes ago, Challenger said:

Sycophantino is so far up Trump,s ass I'm surprised he's got enough room to write this.

It’s amazing isn’t it? Little Southampton FC cheat in the EFL and get the book thrown at them. The President of the US cheats for his national team in front of the whole world  and FIFA bend over backwards to help him.

[sadoldgit]

1 hour ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Fucks sake Henderson's world cup is over.

Complete waste of a squad place.

Managers need to F off about bringing in cheerleaders at the expense of another player.

If they want to bring along an older player to add experience in the dressing room, just add one of them to the coaching staff. Job done.

[Saint Pete]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

I think Southgate deserves a fair amount of credit for his time as England boss. However, his legacy is tainted by the fact that he did screw up that final against Italy. Once Shaw got the early goal we should have smelt blood and gone after them. They had two aging centre backs and Southgate wasn't ruthless - sadly his nature is caution but he should have thrown that to the wind and had he done so I'm convinced we'd have won comfortably.

I agree his caution held us back in that final, but that doesn't mean his contribution should be written off in the way some do, or that his achievements in reaching 2 major finals should be belittled. If it is so damn easy to do what he did, how come England have only ever reached 3 finals and 2 of them were under Southgate? 

I personally think he didn't have as many truly elite world class players at his disposal than a lot of his predecessors had, so I think his legacy in addition to those finals has been instilling a togetherness and team ethic back into England that wasn't present previously and a belief that we can get to Finals and potentially win tournaments. The current England squad is still benefiting from that legacy to some extent in my opinion. 

Edited 16 minutes ago by Saint Pete

[austsaint]

49 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Was Spains best defender tonight. Everytime it went to him, he slowed down the play, stopped any momentum they had going forward and then lost the ball the majority of the time.

Age is always the great leveller, isn't it.    Messi perhaps the exception.