World Cup 2026

[Nanderson]

Up to England scoring they contained any threat Messi had, then after that allowed him to sit on the right wing and have influence on the game, he took every corner on the right wing the same? And they allowed it, it was obviously a training ground exercise but they switched off..

Inviting a team that good to push you back the large square for 20 odd minutes defending was never really going to end well

Taking Gordon off and going to a back 5 meant that there was no extra cover on that wing which completely freed up Messi,  and idiotic move.  If they were going to a back 5 I would have kept Gordon on but taken off Rice and gone to 3-4-3 with it going to 5 when out of possession.  That would have closed the space down on the wing but they went to a straight back 5 and tried to Tony Pulis the win!

I was surprised they didn't just put someone to man mark only messi and follow him about the pitch, kind of like what Fergie used to use Ji Sung Park and Mourinho with Ander Herrera. Mind you its a lot easier said than done. Would require elite discipline which is something the England players lacked

[RedHand88]

Up to England scoring they contained any threat Messi had, then after that allowed him to sit on the right wing and have influence on the game, he took every corner on the right wing the same? And they allowed it, it was obviously a training ground exercise but they switched off..

Inviting a team that good to push you back the large square for 20 odd minutes defending was never really going to end well

Taking Gordon off and going to a back 5 meant that there was no extra cover on that wing which completely freed up Messi,  and idiotic move.  If they were going to a back 5 I would have kept Gordon on but taken off Rice and gone to 3-4-3 with it going to 5 when out of possession.  That would have closed the space down on the wing but they went to a straight back 5 and tried to Tony Pulis the win!

Agree completely with all this. A team trying to win a tournament should never need to resort to a flat back 5 with a defender in midfield unless you are a man down and it's the last 5 minutes. Trying to do it for half an hour was suicidal.
That one will haunt England for a long time.

[DaleCooper]

Tuchel knew the goal came against the run of play and it was from a defenders mistake.

Bellingham surely fouled Messi for peno as well. Then Spence did a great tackle.


Would be interesting to see stats on chances / crosses. English players lost it on the night.

Is the Argentina manager getting the plaudits? No. Messi is

[Hoof Hearted]

The 2 world cup finalists have failed to beat Cape Verde over a 90 minute game.

[mouview]

The 2 world cup finalists have failed to beat Cape Verde over a 90 minute game.

Cape Verde therefore are the best team in the tournament.

[AustinPowers]

Up to England scoring they contained any threat Messi had, then after that allowed him to sit on the right wing and have influence on the game, he took every corner on the right wing the same? And they allowed it, it was obviously a training ground exercise but they switched off..

Inviting a team that good to push you back the large square for 20 odd minutes defending was never really going to end well

Taking Gordon off and going to a back 5 meant that there was no extra cover on that wing which completely freed up Messi,  and idiotic move.  If they were going to a back 5 I would have kept Gordon on but taken off Rice and gone to 3-4-3 with it going to 5 when out of possession.  That would have closed the space down on the wing but they went to a straight back 5 and tried to Tony Pulis the win!

Agree completely with all this. A team trying to win a tournament should never need to resort to a flat back 5 with a defender in midfield unless you are a man down and it's the last 5 minutes. Trying to do it for half an hour was suicidal.
That one will haunt England for a long time.

Sure they did  the same  v  Mexico. Only Mexico didn't  just have the quality/luck to  equalise. So Tuchel was labelled a genius for it , and the  England players were  labelled as heroic and  warriors.

They concede two here , and  Tuchel's a numpty.

[RedHand88]

Up to England scoring they contained any threat Messi had, then after that allowed him to sit on the right wing and have influence on the game, he took every corner on the right wing the same? And they allowed it, it was obviously a training ground exercise but they switched off..

Inviting a team that good to push you back the large square for 20 odd minutes defending was never really going to end well

Taking Gordon off and going to a back 5 meant that there was no extra cover on that wing which completely freed up Messi,  and idiotic move.  If they were going to a back 5 I would have kept Gordon on but taken off Rice and gone to 3-4-3 with it going to 5 when out of possession.  That would have closed the space down on the wing but they went to a straight back 5 and tried to Tony Pulis the win!

Agree completely with all this. A team trying to win a tournament should never need to resort to a flat back 5 with a defender in midfield unless you are a man down and it's the last 5 minutes. Trying to do it for half an hour was suicidal.
That one will haunt England for a long time.

Sure they did  the same  v  Mexico. Only Mexico didn't  just have the quality/luck to  equalise. So Tuchel was labelled a genius for it , and the  England players were  labelled as heroic and  warriors.

They concede two here , and  Tuchel's a numpty.

Mexicos only plan was to lump it in after that.
Argentina are a better team and realised it left a huge amount of space in the number 10 position and Enzo took advantage. The second goal was just a perfect cross.

[square_ball]

Up to England scoring they contained any threat Messi had, then after that allowed him to sit on the right wing and have influence on the game, he took every corner on the right wing the same? And they allowed it, it was obviously a training ground exercise but they switched off..

Inviting a team that good to push you back the large square for 20 odd minutes defending was never really going to end well

Taking Gordon off and going to a back 5 meant that there was no extra cover on that wing which completely freed up Messi,  and idiotic move.  If they were going to a back 5 I would have kept Gordon on but taken off Rice and gone to 3-4-3 with it going to 5 when out of possession.  That would have closed the space down on the wing but they went to a straight back 5 and tried to Tony Pulis the win!

Agree completely with all this. A team trying to win a tournament should never need to resort to a flat back 5 with a defender in midfield unless you are a man down and it's the last 5 minutes. Trying to do it for half an hour was suicidal.
That one will haunt England for a long time.

If Tuchel had replaced Gordon and Rogers with Rashford and Saka there's a good chance England could have scored again when Argentina were becoming more open. As brilliant as he is, Kane is not the man to be your only outlet when you go that defensive. A game there for the taking no doubt.

[Hoof Hearted]

The 2 world cup finalists have failed to beat Cape Verde over a 90 minute game.

Cape Verde therefore are the best team in the tournament.

Well they can certainly take some satisfaction

[rodney trotter]

Shearer is unbelievably biased on England games.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Up to England scoring they contained any threat Messi had, then after that allowed him to sit on the right wing and have influence on the game, he took every corner on the right wing the same? And they allowed it, it was obviously a training ground exercise but they switched off..

Inviting a team that good to push you back the large square for 20 odd minutes defending was never really going to end well

Taking Gordon off and going to a back 5 meant that there was no extra cover on that wing which completely freed up Messi,  and idiotic move.  If they were going to a back 5 I would have kept Gordon on but taken off Rice and gone to 3-4-3 with it going to 5 when out of possession.  That would have closed the space down on the wing but they went to a straight back 5 and tried to Tony Pulis the win!

Agree completely with all this. A team trying to win a tournament should never need to resort to a flat back 5 with a defender in midfield unless you are a man down and it's the last 5 minutes. Trying to do it for half an hour was suicidal.
That one will haunt England for a long time.

Sure they did  the same  v  Mexico. Only Mexico didn't  just have the quality/luck to  equalise. So Tuchel was labelled a genius for it , and the  England players were  labelled as heroic and  warriors.

They concede two here , and  Tuchel's a numpty.

Mexico were down to 10 men so the backs against the wall approach was needed but this game Argentina had like a 3-1-6 set up when they went behind which would have left holes all over the place to exploit but instead England just tried to defend and keep guys like Kane and Bellingham on who were quite clearly knackered. When they go out on penalties it's a bit of a laugh for us but they can say they were unlucky or just shite at penalties but this time it was just all a bit pathetic. When Ireland play like that it's annoying but at least it's because we don't have the players to do much else wtf were England at.

[Snapchap]

instead of enjoying the moment they want to try and wind up the English players and fans who by and large couldn't actually give a toss about the falklands

Well, I mean, the Malvinas are 7,000 miles from England. Just 300 miles from Argentina. And it's the Argentinians who feel they are getting the raw deal. So they're going to care more, aren't they?

But let's not pretend the English don't care. I don't think I saw one news bulletin/preview of the game in the last few days where the english media were not referencing the political/historical significance of the fixture.

So I'll not get annoyed as you appear to be for the "two world wars and one world cup, England f**ked your country up" crew who have just been so terribly offended by a banner!

[tiempo]

Kane and Bellingham will be left scratching their heads, Bayern and Real wouldn't be accustomed to parking the bus like that with 20mins to go when 1-0 up 11 v 11

It was evident that Mexico didn't have the quality when given 20 opportunities to put the ball in the mixer
The Argies did

Long balls to Dan Burn and Ivan Toney to finish, life comes at you fast

[weareros]

instead of enjoying the moment they want to try and wind up the English players and fans who by and large couldn't actually give a toss about the falklands

Well, I mean, the Malvinas are 7,000 miles from England. Just 300 miles from Argentina. And it's the Argentinians who feel they are getting the raw deal. So they're going to care more, aren't they?

But let's not pretend the English don't care. I don't think I saw one news bulletin/preview of the game in the last few days where the english media were not referencing the political/historical significance of the fixture.

So I'll not get annoyed as you appear to be for the "two world wars and one world cup, England f**ked your country up" crew who have just been so terribly offended by a banner!

Farage even tweeted before the game:

"Let's do it all over again like 1982".

There was AI Slop doing the rounds of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham winning the Falklands War. Henderson was flying a war jet. Same fella who broke his arm trying to jump over an advertisement hoarding was now winning a war. Maggie appeared too rolling her hands loviningly on teary eyed Bellingham's face.

The mindset of many English supporters is military jingoism, which is why they are still singing about two world wars and one world cup, even with a German manager (they turned on him quick) and a captain who plays in Germany. Their language and much of gene pool is German. Eejits.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Tuchel played that card v Mexico. The Argentinians couldn't believe their luck that he did the same again. At any level the analysts are analysing. At a WC semi final....