World Cup 2026

[Armagh18]

See the English fans causing hassle in the shock of the week...

[Baile Brigín 2]

They are a top teams, the squad is decent, defensively ordinary though

Starting Stones who has played limited football this season ahead of Guehi was a strange one for me last night.  I would have had Guehi down as the first choice centre back.

Not sure you can win a World Cup with Stones and Konsa at centre half, they did look excellent going forward which is a worry. 

Think I heard Guehi wasn't fully fit?

Nor was Stones.

They were good, but there are questions. But ultimately that's by a distance their toughest opening game and they dealt with them.

[tiempo]

Have to admire Tuchel's no nonsense approach, and I think he's correctly identified that while the lad is a pure dose with a ridiculous haircut Marcus Rashford has the physical attributes to make a huge difference, is well fit for the level and forces teams to respect Englands attack which should be a pre-requisite for any attacker

Made some excellent tactical adjustments last night, they looked to be camped in holding on to 3-2 with Rice on, Rice went off and they went even more negative as Bellingham isn't as effective in a traditional centre mid role, to take Bellingham off, stick James to MF and the much maligned Djed Spence to right back wrestled back control prior to the 4th goal to kill the game

Also the players are giving it the big one about the half time team talk, seems the might have got a GAA style rocket up the arse and seem to be eating out of Tuchels hand at the moment, all put together this does make England rather dangerous, like Mayo once in a while

I still think Bellinghams ego will get the better of him and will get exploited as he tries to cheat tactically and grab headlines at the business end

Should be excellent from last 16 onwards by the time it comes around

[AustinPowers]

Croatia players very  good on the ball.  Some great intricate passing. Was just the  passing in the final third  that let them down , although their second goal was brilliantly worked.

I've just realised that 32 from 48 go through.  When you consider the  likes of Curaçao, Qatar, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Katie Price etc are in there ,  the odds of any big team missing out is  practically nil. 

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Good man Austin. Knew you'd get there 😄

There will be the odd good game and great for the smaller nations to say they've played at the world cup but yes it's largely sparring at the minute, finding form etc.

[statto]

Have to admire Tuchel's no nonsense approach, and I think he's correctly identified that while the lad is a pure dose with a ridiculous haircut Marcus Rashford has the physical attributes to make a huge difference, is well fit for the level and forces teams to respect Englands attack which should be a pre-requisite for any attacker

Made some excellent tactical adjustments last night, they looked to be camped in holding on to 3-2 with Rice on, Rice went off and they went even more negative as Bellingham isn't as effective in a traditional centre mid role, to take Bellingham off, stick James to MF and the much maligned Djed Spence to right back wrestled back control prior to the 4th goal to kill the game

Also the players are giving it the big one about the half time team talk, seems the might have got a GAA style rocket up the arse and seem to be eating out of Tuchels hand at the moment, all put together this does make England rather dangerous, like Mayo once in a while

I still think Bellinghams ego will get the better of him and will get exploited as he tries to cheat tactically and grab headlines at the business end

Should be excellent from last 16 onwards by the time it comes around

The Assistant Manager who's name escapes me did an interview at half time and was absolutely furious. In fairness to them they started like a train in second half and Croatia were well under the pump when England played high energy game, game could been long over before Rashford made it 4-2. 

[An Watcher]

Only time will tell how good that result was last night ie how good are Croatia?  Modric looks finished and their defence for the 3rd goal i think it was, was dreadful, not to mention the others.  Unfortunately the other teams in the group don't look to be any great shakes either

[AustinPowers]

Good man Austin. Knew you'd get there 😄

There will be the odd good game and great for the smaller nations to say they've played at the world cup but yes it's largely sparring at the minute, finding form etc.

Well, I remembered  rather than realised 

Ive no beef in the  tournament other than wanting England to lose , so  they  could probably only  need to beat Panama 1-0 and still  qualify. Frig sake , even Scotland should make it!

They'll probably go the whole hog next time and  have 64 teams. Sure it makes sense with the top two  from each group fitting nicely into the  round of 32 

[gallsman]

Didn't realize Rashford's haircut was such a big deal.

[Milltown Row2]

To be fair I felt his pace looked more sluggish rather than a bad hair cut

[gallsman]

South African lad with one of the worst stepovers I've ever seen.

[Milltown Row2]

The SA lads are some moaners

[JPGJOHNNYG]

These Czech guys are dung because that south African team are a pub team. Makes our failure all the more annoying

[Mourne Red]

Swiss running/ran away with this

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Qatar could get smashed here .