World Cup 2026

[gallsman]

If you're Mainoo you'd be absolutely sick at Reece James coming on in midfield ahead of you. Wtf.

Wtf wtf.

James has routinely played midfield the last couple of years, particularly under Marrsca.

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Right to reverse yellow. But harsh red to Swiss. VAR wants an Argentina-Eng semi.

Harsh how?

Yeah think if I was on a yellow I wouldn't be diving like that. Few Swiss be better reflecting on this rather than the usual blame the ref

[weareros]

Right to reverse yellow. But harsh red to Swiss. VAR wants an Argentina-Eng semi.

Harsh how?

I've yet to see a yellow for dives by the top teams. Swiss were on top until that moment. Ref was only required to remove Argentina's yellow. If Swiss is getting a yellow then every dive should get a yellow. Harry Kane would be on 3 or 4 yellows by now.

[imtommygunn]

England have dangerous players but was surprised how badly they struggle to control tempo of game and poor in the centre. Norway played them off the park at times but ultimately very sloppy when it really counted. Haaland looked like he had the shits for the last week.

England can never control the tempo of games - just not in their football dna. France look like a cut above the rest currently but Argentina England probably 50-50.

[rodney trotter]

Gianni Infantino has said FIFA will examine expanding the World Cup by a further 16 nations to a 64-team tournament ahead of its next edition in 2030.

The competition was expanded to a 48-team format for the 2026 finals, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an increase from the 32-nation version that ran from 1998 through to 2022.

The 2030 tournament will be spread across six nations and three continents: 1930 hosts Uruguay, 2022 winners Argentina and Paraguay — the base of the offices for CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body — are scheduled to host one match apiece at the start of the competition, with the remaining games (101 for a 48-team tournament) split between Morocco, Portugal and Spain.



https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2076261775494840499#:~:text=Gianni%20Infantino%20has,Portugal%20and%20Spain

[DaleCooper]

Argentinas two goals were top drawer. The header perfect but the 2nd was made better when you see the bobble it took in slow mo

[Look-Up!]

England have dangerous players but was surprised how badly they struggle to control tempo of game and poor in the centre. Norway played them off the park at times but ultimately very sloppy when it really counted. Haaland looked like he had the shits for the last week.

England can never control the tempo of games - just not in their football dna. France look like a cut above the rest currently but Argentina England probably 50-50.

They generally waltz through their qualifying groups though outside tournaments against the lesser European teams. And Norway are hardly European juggernauts. What should have been a bread and butter shift was a struggle and hinged on individual moments. A moment of brilliance by England and some sloppy moments by Norway. But on the whole Norway looked the much more structured team and technically composed, in stark contrast to the story the rankings tell. 

Agree, Argentina is a coin toss. I really can't see them stay with France. But then again it wouldn't surprise me if Spain sucker punch les blues. Spain's big problem is fannying around and not scoring but they could catch fire for one big game. And if they do make the final and England do also, it really is a coin toss. Spain can control as much of the game as they want but it only takes a moment to beat a team who refuse to shoot.

[gallsman]

Right to reverse yellow. But harsh red to Swiss. VAR wants an Argentina-Eng semi.

Harsh how?

I've yet to see a yellow for dives by the top teams. Swiss were on top until that moment. Ref was only required to remove Argentina's yellow. If Swiss is getting a yellow then every dive should get a yellow. Harry Kane would be on 3 or 4 yellows by now.

This is a ridiculous take. You want two (or more) wrongs to make a right. It was a clear dive that was correctly punished. Whether Kane has been getting away with it is irrelevant. People spend half their lives complaining about diving and now that maybe, just maybe, referees have the power to do something about it they're still complaining. To do that while on a yellow card was f**king moronic from Embolo.

Álvarez scoring could be huge for Argentina. Another big star who has been struggling for fitness. He was brilliant for Qatar and has been sensational for Atléti.

[nrico2006]

48 teams has made this world cup a lesser competition. 60 would be a disaster.

[weareros]

Right to reverse yellow. But harsh red to Swiss. VAR wants an Argentina-Eng semi.

Harsh how?

I've yet to see a yellow for dives by the top teams. Swiss were on top until that moment. Ref was only required to remove Argentina's yellow. If Swiss is getting a yellow then every dive should get a yellow. Harry Kane would be on 3 or 4 yellows by now.

This is a ridiculous take. You want two (or more) wrongs to make a right. It was a clear dive that was correctly punished. Whether Kane has been getting away with it is irrelevant. People spend half their lives complaining about diving and now that maybe, just maybe, referees have the power to do something about it they're still complaining. To do that while on a yellow card was f**king moronic from Embolo.

Álvarez scoring could be huge for Argentina. Another big star who has been struggling for fitness. He was brilliant for Qatar and has been sensational for Atléti.

I absolutely have no issue with referees punishing it.
Whet i have an issue is they don't do it to the favoured teams/players. Therefore that was harsh and biased against tbe swiss. When Kane, Mbappe, Messi, Ronaldo get sent off, then fair play will start happening. This World Cup has been biased the minute Ronaldo got his suspension reduced after dinner with Trump abd Infantino. No way did they want Argentina going out to Swiss (or worse again Egypt) and until that red it was looking like it.

Example

https://x.com/the_shep_/status/2072371437088788938?s=46

[Captain Obvious]

Bellingham,Kane will exploit that Argentina defence. Still on course for the most interesting final, France v England.

[Wildweasel74]

Ah lads  Harry Kane goes down most times with hardly any contact, should be on multi yellows for it by now.

[AustinPowers]

England have dangerous players but was surprised how badly they struggle to control tempo of game and poor in the centre. Norway played them off the park at times but ultimately very sloppy when it really counted. Haaland looked like he had the shits for the last week.

England can never control the tempo of games - just not in their football dna. France look like a cut above the rest currently but Argentina England probably 50-50.

They generally waltz through their qualifying groups though outside tournaments against the lesser European teams. And Norway are hardly European juggernauts. What should have been a bread and butter shift was a struggle and hinged on individual moments. A moment of brilliance by England and some sloppy moments by Norway. But on the whole Norway looked the much more structured team and technically composed, in stark contrast to the story the rankings tell. 

Agree, Argentina is a coin toss. I really can't see them stay with France. But then again it wouldn't surprise me if Spain sucker punch les blues. Spain's big problem is fannying around and not scoring but they could catch fire for one big game. And if they do make the final and England do also, it really is a coin toss. Spain can control as much of the game as they want but it only takes a moment to beat a team who refuse to shoot.

That's exactly  what I thought before England's second goal. That Norway aren't prepared to  take on a shot. A second later , England did... and well, you know. Too much fannying about. Reminded me  of Armagh v Kerry

Spain are the  same. Too much fannying about. I'm hoping a bit of Messi magic  will beat England. England were poor last night. Norway  should have won it easy if they'd have kicked  the f**kin  ball

[Look-Up!]

England have dangerous players but was surprised how badly they struggle to control tempo of game and poor in the centre. Norway played them off the park at times but ultimately very sloppy when it really counted. Haaland looked like he had the shits for the last week.

England can never control the tempo of games - just not in their football dna. France look like a cut above the rest currently but Argentina England probably 50-50.

They generally waltz through their qualifying groups though outside tournaments against the lesser European teams. And Norway are hardly European juggernauts. What should have been a bread and butter shift was a struggle and hinged on individual moments. A moment of brilliance by England and some sloppy moments by Norway. But on the whole Norway looked the much more structured team and technically composed, in stark contrast to the story the rankings tell. 

Agree, Argentina is a coin toss. I really can't see them stay with France. But then again it wouldn't surprise me if Spain sucker punch les blues. Spain's big problem is fannying around and not scoring but they could catch fire for one big game. And if they do make the final and England do also, it really is a coin toss. Spain can control as much of the game as they want but it only takes a moment to beat a team who refuse to shoot.

That's exactly  what I thought before England's second goal. That Norway aren't prepared to  take on a shot. A second later , England did... and well, you know. Too much fannying about. Reminded me  of Armagh v Kerry

Spain are the  same. Too much fannying about. I'm hoping a bit of Messi magic  will beat England. England were poor last night. Norway  should have won it easy if they'd have kicked  the f**kin  ball

For that reason alone England deserved it more because, despite their faults, at least when they get a gap they are aggressive. Norway got some great over loads last night but flunked them. Poor final decision making by the ball carrier maybe, but Haaland looked so disinterested and static. That would be the most disappointing thing if you were a Norwegian fan. The team actually set up the stage beautifully for him.

[gawa316]

Sorloth has a lot to answer for