World Cup 2026

[East Kent Saint]

Unfortunately Rattin was demonised by our great British press , I think unconscious bias was applied by Ref etc . Not saying Argies weren't dirty bastards but that was normal in those days , Leeds for example 😄

The Great British media , Sky news , were commenting on Anne Widdicombe being a virgin ffs , of course Farage is milking for all it's worth etc

 

[BarberSaint]

54 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

You can't just stick your leg out sideways across an opposition player. If anything it is a free kick to them.

Depending on how you run e.g. if you're planting your foot to the side slightly to change your angle of motion so it's more lateral then you have to. Equally if you want to shoulder-charge/block someone when they do the same you have to. There are many occasions when your legs don't just go from front to back and if you're slightly ahead of someone and then cut across them (Leo does this a lot) then effectively you're doing what you've just said you can't do. While it might be shit for the defender, as far as I'm concerned that is good and proper forward play so could you be more explicit unless you mean someone has just decided to throw their leg out sideways as though they intend to just trip the other player up. If you mean that, then patently you've fouled them. Have to ask, can't remember last night's incident.

 

Doesn't matter anyway, we'll end up 4th to Spain after the France v Argentina final has been arranged (as many said it would be before the tournament started).

The only real thing I've noted about the French is that they shoot early which seems to be a good tactic.

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

We’ve defo got the easiest draw, Spain & France look the best sides in the competition imo, Argentina aren’t at that level. Probably sacrilege, but 39 year old Messi doesn’t get in that French team, I’m not even sure he’d get in ours if Saka was reproducing his Arsenal form. They’re going to run out of road eventually, they’ve had a pretty easy knock out draw, and have made a right meal of getting through. 
 

TT’s substitutions have been superb the last 2 games. Djed Spence who loads didn’t want to see in an English shirt again, has been excellent off the bench, and Dan Burn the ultimate cult hero. Rice a concern as he has been off pretty much all competition & the right wide position defo a problem, we need Saka to stand up and be counted as Gordon has the other side. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

12 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

Sky news , were commenting on Anne Widdicombe being a virgin ffs , of course Farage is milking for all it's worth etc

WTF has that got to do with The World Cup. 🤡🤡

[Lord Duckhunter]

13 minutes ago, BarberSaint said:

the France v Argentina final has been arranged (as many said it would be before the tournament started).

Yeah, the top 2 in the FIFA rankings, nobody would predict that, must have inside knowledge. I reckon the Premier league was fixed last season as well, loads predicted Arsenal & Man C would finish as the top 2, low and behold, that’s what happened…

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Ok, agree to disagree. All I saw was Spence move his leg to get it in front of Bobb who then collided with it so clear foul. Is there a rule that states one player can't place his leg in front of another? I get that Spence probably played for it but what in the rules says he is not allowed to do that?

He’s right though, seen quite a few pens not awarded this season for similar things where the attacking player has gone looking for a foul like that. First instance it looked a stone wall penalty but on it was the right decision. 
 

I see a few Norwegians including Alf Inge Haaland saying the ref cost them the game but I don’t see what he got wrong. The penalty got overturned, the push in the box for the disallowed goal was a push and some refs would have given a foul on Kane for their first goal, it was soft but seen them given. They were the better team, we did get lucky but it weren’t due to the ref 

[East Kent Saint]

6 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

WTF has that got to do with The World Cup. 🤡🤡

An example of demonised Rattin by the UK press , as media was known then , showing the media haven't changed , a thing for a few clicks these days 

 

[East Kent Saint]

The commentators fail to mention in detail the affect of the climate change excess heat on the players . Temperature is part of the equation but humidity plays a big part . They were playing in 33 C heat but the humidity made it 45 C 

 I have experienced it in USA and it is totally disabilitating , you could see the England players pulling their shirts off their body to try and get some relief but nothing happens due to humidity.  

[egg]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Ok, agree to disagree. All I saw was Spence move his leg to get it in front of Bobb who then collided with it so clear foul. Is there a rule that states one player can't place his leg in front of another? I get that Spence probably played for it but what in the rules says he is not allowed to do that?

Yes. You can't initiate a foul, or "brake test" players. It was a bloody tight call thou, and fortunately it doesn't matter. 

[sadoldgit]

Rice had been off all competition? What utter pony. He has been excellent apart from last night when he clearly should not have been on the pitch as he has been ill.

[Challenger]

Still think England have been a bit lucky so far, now watch that all run out against Argentina.

Fully expect the players and officials to fall for the usual underhand shite these perennial tards are masters at.

[Nordic Saint]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

And don’t forget 1966, which helped set the tone of the relationship between the teams.Alf Ramsey describing them as “animals”

I think we played them in a ‘friendly’ 1976 or 77, two players sent off after one of them smacked Trevor Cherry (one of those sent off)  in the mouth. 

I was in the crowd at Wembley when England played Argentina in May, 1974.  That was about as hostile a crowd I've seen at Wembley for a friendly. Throughout the match the crowd chanted, "Animals". I think we were still chanting it when we left. 

Channon and Worthington put England 2-0 ahead, but then the great Mario Kempes scored 2, the 2nd being a 90th minute penalty, which didn't go down too well with the crowd. 

That was the core of the Argentina team that went on to win the World Cup in 1978, when Kempes was the top scorer in the competition.

Incidentally, the England team that night had 5 players who either had or would have Saints connections: Shilton, Watson, Keegan, Channon & Worthington.

 

[Gloucester Saint]

56 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

We’ve defo got the easiest draw, Spain & France look the best sides in the competition imo, Argentina aren’t at that level. Probably sacrilege, but 39 year old Messi doesn’t get in that French team, I’m not even sure he’d get in ours if Saka was reproducing his Arsenal form. They’re going to run out of road eventually, they’ve had a pretty easy knock out draw, and have made a right meal of getting through. 
 

TT’s substitutions have been superb the last 2 games. Djed Spence who loads didn’t want to see in an English shirt again, has been excellent off the bench, and Dan Burn the ultimate cult hero. Rice a concern as he has been off pretty much all competition & the right wide position defo a problem, we need Saka to stand up and be counted as Gordon has the other side. 

Tbf to Saka he missed Arsenal’s run in and only now looks properly fit, made a positive difference as a sub last night. Hopefully he’s ready to start v Argentina. Rice has been decent until last night when he clearly hadn’t got a gastro bug fully out of his system. Madueke is terrible and agree on Tuchel’s subs. Spence was another difference-maker last night. Burn has been exactly what’s been needed in last 15 minute when crosses and corners fired in by teams chasing. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

Ok, agree to disagree. All I saw was Spence move his leg to get it in front of Bobb who then collided with it so clear foul. Is there a rule that states one player can't place his leg in front of another? I get that Spence probably played for it but what in the rules says he is not allowed to do that?

It was quite a bit more than just 'placing his leg in front'. Spencer was running alongside and then hooks his right leg across the defender at an awkward angle. Then he tucks his left leg up in an attempt to pretend that he had been brought down. In no way was he tripped and he was fortunate to escape a yellow card. 

It was embarrassingly bad by Spence but he nearly got away with it, which is bad.

[Whitey Grandad]

51 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

The commentators fail to mention in detail the affect of the climate change excess heat on the players . Temperature is part of the equation but humidity plays a big part . They were playing in 33 C heat but the humidity made it 45 C 

 I have experienced it in USA and it is totally disabilitating , you could see the England players pulling their shirts off their body to try and get some relief but nothing happens due to humidity.  

When we visited Charleston (in October) it was almost unbearably hot. One local told us that in summer it gets so stifingly hot that "you can’t breathe".

Ridiculous place to hold a football competition. 

 

[sadoldgit]

13 minutes ago, egg said:

Yes. You can't initiate a foul, or "brake test" players. It was a bloody tight call thou, and fortunately it doesn't matter. 

And yet Bellingham has “won” a few free kicks by doing exactly that and been praised for doing so by the pundits.

This is the problem with VAR. It is taking grey situations and trying to turn them into either black or white situations. When you look at things in slow motion and still frames you are applying science to something that isn’t scientific. The whole “obvious error” thing is there for a reason. What was the refs first reaction when the incident happened. If he thinks it was a foul originally then there has to be a good reason for that. 
There will always be differing opinions, even with VAR people still dispute decisions. The reason VAR is despised so much is that it has taken the human element out of a sport that is all about the human element. Not only that, the decision making takes so much longer and isn’t necessarily better.

Football, as we know, is a contact sport. Pundits and commentators have an expression for that contact. They call it a “coming together.” There have been a number of incidents where two players have challenged for the ball at the same time, made contact with each other and no foul has been committed. Do the forensic VAR test and then they decide, because one player has been a microsecond late, a foul has been committed. Has it really? Kane’s penalty offence was a perfect example. There was no intention to kick the players foot. They both tried to play the ball at virtually the same time (Kane believed that he did play the ball). In real time, to me, it looked like a “coming together” and the ref must have agreed as he didn’t give it. When you see a still frame Kane clearly gets there slightly later and kicks the players foot whilst both are going for the ball. The still clearly says penalty but in real time both players are challenging for the ball and whilst there is contact whilst doing so, you could argue that no foul has been committed as this came under the category of a “coming together.” I know that there will be disagreements about the decision still,but that is the basic problem. By trying to remove human fallibility we have just replaced it with human fallibility aided by technology. At least the gut instinct, right or wrong of the initial decision is made in the heat of the game. Has football improved since the days when the ref’s decision was final? Not for me. VAR is even making calls about corners/goal kicks now. How long before games are refereed by AI?

Sorry for the long waffle. It has taken me a while to decide whether I think if it is a good thing or not. It has taken the decisions made in this WC to help me decide that, in this format, it isn’t.

[Paulwantsapint81]

How is it possible for arsenal to send 3 wingers who are unable to beat a man & whip in a cross

[trousers]

18 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

And yet Bellingham has “won” a few free kicks by doing exactly that and been praised for doing so by the pundits.

This is the problem with VAR. It is taking grey situations and trying to turn them into either black or white situations. When you look at things in slow motion and still frames you are applying science to something that isn’t scientific. The whole “obvious error” thing is there for a reason. What was the refs first reaction when the incident happened. If he thinks it was a foul originally then there has to be a good reason for that. 
There will always be differing opinions, even with VAR people still dispute decisions. The reason VAR is despised so much is that it has taken the human element out of a sport that is all about the human element. Not only that, the decision making takes so much longer and isn’t necessarily better.

Football, as we know, is a contact sport. Pundits and commentators have an expression for that contact. They call it a “coming together.” There have been a number of incidents where two players have challenged for the ball at the same time, made contact with each other and no foul has been committed. Do the forensic VAR test and then they decide, because one player has been a microsecond late, a foul has been committed. Has it really? Kane’s penalty offence was a perfect example. There was no intention to kick the players foot. They both tried to play the ball at virtually the same time (Kane believed that he did play the ball). In real time, to me, it looked like a “coming together” and the ref must have agreed as he didn’t give it. When you see a still frame Kane clearly gets there slightly later and kicks the players foot whilst both are going for the ball. The still clearly says penalty but in real time both players are challenging for the ball and whilst there is contact whilst doing so, you could argue that no foul has been committed as this came under the category of a “coming together.” I know that there will be disagreements about the decision still,but that is the basic problem. By trying to remove human fallibility we have just replaced it with human fallibility aided by technology. At least the gut instinct, right or wrong of the initial decision is made in the heat of the game. Has football improved since the days when the ref’s decision was final? Not for me. VAR is even making calls about corners/goal kicks now. How long before games are refereed by AI?

Sorry for the long waffle. It has taken me a while to decide whether I think if it is a good thing or not. It has taken the decisions made in this WC to help me decide that, in this format, it isn’t.

Yep. In a nutshell, VAR is no longer being used in the way it was intended. The original intention was to rectify "clear and obvious" incorrect refereeing decisions. If used as originally intended, last night's England penalty decision would not have been reversed. 

It pisses me off big time that the game is being turned into a exercise of microscopic forensics rather than the spontaneous free flowing game it once was.

Exhibit A: The Premier League versus The Championship. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

1 hour ago, East Kent Saint said:

The commentators fail to mention in detail the affect of the climate change excess heat on the players . Temperature is part of the equation but humidity plays a big part . They were playing in 33 C heat but the humidity made it 45 C 

 I have experienced it in USA and it is totally disabilitating , you could see the England players pulling their shirts off their body to try and get some relief but nothing happens due to humidity.  

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but it was mentioned on hundreds of occasions in the days leading up to the match, in the pre-match build up, during the match and post-match.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Yep. In a nutshell, VAR is no longer being used in the way it was intended. The original intention was to rectify "clear and obvious" incorrect refereeing decisions. If used as originally intended, last night's England penalty decision would not have been reversed. 

It pisses me off big time that the game is being turned into a exercise of microscopic forensics rather than the spontaneous free flowing game it once was.

Exhibit A: The Premier League versus The Championship. 

The Premier League is focus on microscopic details in VAR.

The Championship is focussed on telescopic issues during training (yeah, yeah, it was just an iPhone, not a telescope, I know).

 

[benjii]

2 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

We’ve defo got the easiest draw, Spain & France look the best sides in the competition imo, Argentina aren’t at that level. Probably sacrilege, but 39 year old Messi doesn’t get in that French team, I’m not even sure he’d get in ours if Saka was reproducing his Arsenal form. They’re going to run out of road eventually, they’ve had a pretty easy knock out draw, and have made a right meal of getting through. 
 

TT’s substitutions have been superb the last 2 games. Djed Spence who loads didn’t want to see in an English shirt again, has been excellent off the bench, and Dan Burn the ultimate cult hero. Rice a concern as he has been off pretty much all competition & the right wide position defo a problem, we need Saka to stand up and be counted as Gordon has the other side. 

I think Saka is having his minutes managed. He's obviously the best option. 

[Turkish]

4 hours ago, saintant said:

Norway, your team took a hell of a beating and you can shove your rowing song where the sun don't shine!

Odin didn’t fucking save them did they. 
that’s for the 8th and 9th century you monastery burning savages. Bellingham is the modern day King Alfred 

[Convict Colony]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

When we visited Charleston (in October) it was almost unbearably hot. One local told us that in summer it gets so stifingly hot that "you can’t breathe".

Ridiculous place to hold a football competition. 

 

Qatar and Saudi Arabia would like a word

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, East Kent Saint said:

The commentators fail to mention in detail the affect of the climate change excess heat on the players . Temperature is part of the equation but humidity plays a big part . They were playing in 33 C heat but the humidity made it 45 C 

 I have experienced it in USA and it is totally disabilitating , you could see the England players pulling their shirts off their body to try and get some relief but nothing happens due to humidity.  

Will you fuck off talking about Widdecombe, Farage and climate change.

Get on your fucking soapbox of choice somewhere else.

[Wade Garrett]

Subs did well apart from Eze.  Thought it was an odd choice to bring him on and drop Bellingham back a bit when we could have just brought Mainoo on.

Spence was immense, but no way was that a penalty.  Unless of course, he was Argentinian.

[Teamsaint1]

2 hours ago, Challenger said:

Still think England have been a bit lucky so far, now watch that all run out against Argentina.

Fully expect the players and officials to fall for the usual underhand shite these perennial tards are masters at.

The Norway goal was a fluke. 

[die Mannyschaft]

2 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Subs did well apart from Eze.  Thought it was an odd choice to bring him on and drop Bellingham back a bit when we could have just brought Mainoo on.

Spence was immense, but no way was that a penalty.  Unless of course, he was Argentinian.

Ar least England now using the 'all part of the game' tactics. Pundits go on and each game about how good other teama players are at fooling the ref for free kicks, wasting time. Taking a yellow card for team and diving for pens. England and applies to Saints we dont cheat enough, not including spying. Argentina are one of the biggest cheats and England need to use every tick in book.

[BARCELONASAINT]

4 hours ago, saintant said:

Ok, agree to disagree. All I saw was Spence move his leg to get it in front of Bobb who then collided with it so clear foul. Is there a rule that states one player can't place his leg in front of another? I get that Spence probably played for it but what in the rules says he is not allowed to do that?

It was a freekick to Norway everyday of the week. Nothing contentious in that decision at all

[Saint NL]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Subs did well apart from Eze.  Thought it was an odd choice to bring him on and drop Bellingham back a bit when we could have just brought Mainoo on.

Spence was immense, but no way was that a penalty.  Unless of course, he was Argentinian.

Mainoo, Chalobah, Toney and Henderson won't get on the pitch at all. A complete waste of four squad places. Imagine Gibbs White coming on last night. Instead we get James coming on in Midfield...

[Dark Munster]

5 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

When we visited Charleston (in October) it was almost unbearably hot. One local told us that in summer it gets so stifingly hot that "you can’t breathe".

Ridiculous place to hold a football competition. 

 

Midwest and East outdoor stadia in the US, definitely. The AC ones are fine of course, as well as here on the West coast where June/July weather is usually fine.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Saint NL said:

Mainoo, Chalobah, Toney and Henderson won't get on the pitch at all. A complete waste of four squad places. Imagine Gibbs White coming on last night. Instead we get James coming on in Midfield...

Henderson has had some minutes. Because he is an experienced leader and inspiration, and not at all because Tuchel was pre-empting your post and giving minutes to save face. 🙂

Mainoo now waits in the wings for that role. Chalobah was a late call up, so wouldn't have been there otherwise (could have brought over a full back, but never TAA). No idea what level Toney is now at. Cover for Kane and Watkins anyway.

[Give it to Ron]

Rumour has it we are trying to get that cable in to replace Madueke as it contributed far more in the first half