World Cup 2026

[beatlesaint]

4 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Deadly serious. They've been talking about the altitude on the news.

It was interesting to hear Tuchel say in an interview last night that was recorded before the FIFA time change fiasco that if you cant have 10-12 days to aclmiatise then you are better off going as late as you can. Given that surely the 6 hour brought forward plan would have surely benefitted England so I dont really understand why the FA got their knickers in a twist.

Given the predicted 80% chance of thunderstorms in the area not taking that option could well backfire.  

Edited 2 hours ago by beatlesaint

[beatlesaint]

2 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Fucking hell, some of the pearl clutching on here is worse than those chumps in the BBC studio. Nothing about the French over reacting and pretending they were hurt, the worst being Mbappe. Bloke hardly touched him and “chappers” (or whatever his name is) was crying like a big girl “Beckham got sent off for that”, nothing about Mbappe trying to get the bloke sent off for it. 

What were Paraguay supposed to do, try and out play the French? There wasn’t a bad tackle in the game, just a bit of afters to try and goad the French into responding, a tactic that’s as old as the hills.

I think the main thing was the fact the referee was so fkin bad he didnt start brandishing the yellow card which would have at least curbed their antics a bit. Had they had the ref from the Morocco v Canada game he would have booked everyone on the pitch plus half the crowd!

Anyone who likes the dark arts (ahem Eddie Howe) would have loved that game.

[Lord Duckhunter]

The BBC were praising Mbappe for his “class” and the nodding dogs on the panel stating how much they respected him after the game. This has to be the worst World Cup for fawning over the top players, fucking hell, messi could knock one in off his arse, and the panel would be putting it in their goal of the season category. “Look at the way, he moved his left buttock to caress the ball into the back of the net”. Their like star struck teenagers, fuck me they’re getting as bad as  Rio “Ballon d'Or” Ferdinand. Do your job. 

Nobody brought up Mbappe refusing to shake the keepers hand at the end, don’t want to spoil the narrative. “I extended my hand to congratulate him, but he didn't pay me any attention, as if I wasn't there.” Yeah real classy. 

[Saint NL]

I'll watch the Brazil game, then try and get a quick nap in. Sounds like the England game is due to start during a storm, so it'll likely be a delayed kickoff. 

 

[whelk]

19 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

The BBC were praising Mbappe for his “class” and the nodding dogs on the panel stating how much they respected him after the game. This has to be the worst World Cup for fawning over the top players, fucking hell, messi could knock one in off his arse, and the panel would be putting it in their goal of the season category. “Look at the way, he moved his left buttock to caress the ball into the back of the net”. Their like star struck teenagers, fuck me they’re getting as bad as  Rio “Ballon d'Or” Ferdinand. Do your job. 

Nobody brought up Mbappe refusing to shake the keepers hand at the end, don’t want to spoil the narrative. “I extended my hand to congratulate him, but he didn't pay me any attention, as if I wasn't there.” Yeah real classy. 

Write in complaining. After all you pay their wages

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

11 minutes ago, whelk said:

Write in complaining. After all you pay their wages

Or send a voice note to Points of View.

[Window Cleaner]

3 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Fucking hell, some of the pearl clutching on here is worse than those chumps in the BBC studio. Nothing about the French over reacting and pretending they were hurt, the worst being Mbappe. Bloke hardly touched him and “chappers” (or whatever his name is) was crying like a big girl “Beckham got sent off for that”, nothing about Mbappe trying to get the bloke sent off for it. 

What were Paraguay supposed to do, try and out play the French? There wasn’t a bad tackle in the game, just a bit of afters to try and goad the French into responding, a tactic that’s as old as the hills.
 

The BBC chumps are supposed to be neutral, they highlighted the Paraguay over reactions, but nothing when the French did it. That one bloke with the dodgy hair & Hart, saying how great it was Mbappe was laughing at them, I was hoping someone would take one for the team, and chin him. As for messing up the penalty spot, that’s common practice in Europe, but as soon as a South American does it, they come over all moral.
 

The best team won, and deserved to win. But save get off your moral high horses FFS.

This french team are always victims of something or other, well in their own opinion anyway. I saw a couple of french fouls that a good few refs would have sanctioned with a card. It was a feisty match from the start. Ref could have got a better grip from the start but he was ineffective in both directions.

[whelk]

Is it mandatory to say ‘iconic’ before Azteca stadium?

[Saint NL]

17 minutes ago, whelk said:

Is it mandatory to say ‘iconic’ before Azteca stadium?

Pretty sure the BBC sounds effects team add the "Dum Dum Dummmm" sound every time someone says Azteca though

[Holmes_and_Watson]

28 minutes ago, whelk said:

Is it mandatory to say ‘iconic’ before Azteca stadium?

Yes.

"England will not just be fighting against the fierce passion of an entire nation when they face Mexico in the iconic Azteca Stadium..."

That's from Beeb's Phil McNulty, so I spared myself reading any more of his drivel.

[Saint Pete]

3 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Fucking hell, some of the pearl clutching on here is worse than those chumps in the BBC studio. Nothing about the French over reacting and pretending they were hurt, the worst being Mbappe. Bloke hardly touched him and “chappers” (or whatever his name is) was crying like a big girl “Beckham got sent off for that”, nothing about Mbappe trying to get the bloke sent off for it. 

What were Paraguay supposed to do, try and out play the French? There wasn’t a bad tackle in the game, just a bit of afters to try and goad the French into responding, a tactic that’s as old as the hills.
 

The BBC chumps are supposed to be neutral, they highlighted the Paraguay over reactions, but nothing when the French did it. That one bloke with the dodgy hair & Hart, saying how great it was Mbappe was laughing at them, I was hoping someone would take one for the team, and chin him. As for messing up the penalty spot, that’s common practice in Europe, but as soon as a South American does it, they come over all moral.
 

The best team won, and deserved to win. But save get off your moral high horses FFS.

They did go overboard afterwards, I agree. I don't blame Paraguay for trying to rough them up a bit, that was the only way they had a chance. But the ref was the main one at fault, he was really poor, that game needed a few yellow cards to knock some of the antics on the head or at least make some of the main offenders think. France are certainly not blameless especially with play acting, but suspect there would be a greater outcry if England were on the end of the Paraguay "tactics" if they went unpunished by the ref in that way.