World Cup 2026

[NAG1]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

I get your point but I genuinely think they do have the players, it is about getting them playing together and getting them not to fall apart once the pressure comes on at that level. Yes there is that bias and the media make them out to be better than they are but they are amongst the best squads for sure.

Look at Spain, two full backs who wouldn't be massively rated in the EPL but put them into a system that they know & understand and good players around them and they both looked so much better and more comfortable. Sum of the parts and all that.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

England have the players. They could even afford to leave Palmer, Foden and TAA at home.

The problem is they are pampered arseholes who dislike each other and don't really listen to coaches.

[imtommygunn]

They don't have the players though. They don't have the players in centre midfield in particular to be winning these kind of tournaments.

The pampered arseholes is possibly an issue too yes...

[Armagh18]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

[WT4E]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

Rice looked fresh as fcuk in the 3rd place playoff the only game with no pressure maybe thats an issue for him. Is he that good?

[JollyGreenGiant]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

Rice looked fresh as fcuk in the 3rd place playoff the only game with no pressure maybe thats an issue for him. Is he that good?

Yes. He is that good. I understand he was sick earlier in the week which dulled his talents in the Quarter and Semi final. But Rice is a controller with a peach of a pass. If he had stayed on against Argentina (and was fully fit) with Bellingham ahead of him, that game wouldn't have been lost (at least int he way it was).

[Armagh18]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

Rice looked fresh as fcuk in the 3rd place playoff the only game with no pressure maybe thats an issue for him. Is he that good?

Decent player but again not one the top dogs be losing sleep over playing against.

I think the quality in football in general has gone to feck. Outside PSG and Bayern, the other big clubs are at a low ebb.

Spains big 2, United, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, the Italian clubs all shadows of their peak teams. Arsenal a tough team to beat but would rather watch 2 snails racing in the garden.

Even in the premier league what proper top top players are there that you'd go out of your way to see? Haaland, Rodri, Bruno? Struggling after that tbh. 

[Captain Scarlet]

But again Rice can do things for the club based on the players from other countries around him eg Odergaard, Zubimendi, etc. He can drive forward and leave gaps knowing they have the tactical knowledge to fill in and then behind that a lad from France and Brazil who are top centre backs.

TAA is all well and good on the ball but after Valverde scored a feckin Champions League Hat Trick he still had to come back and spend the rest of that game protecting him.

Bellingham is a big moments player for Real when he had the same man there and Kroos before that. He does do it for England but withoit those lads he ends up having to dive in and do more donkey work.

Even look at how they highlight Keane v Viera. They love the crash, bang, wallop aspect of that rivalry but they don't appreciate their control or passing. There's another two main men they needed to buy in running the two dominant Premier League teams of their day.

[tiempo]

Very true

Was it a lapse not bringing Wharton or Lewis-Skelly (who kept Zubamendi out of the CL Final lineup)

A few mins before Eng scored v Argentina Anderson hit a cracker of a crossfield ball along the ground through the lines to Gordon on the wing, they were combative, well in the game and playing decent stuff, after the goal they froze, several tactical mishaps later it was a car crash - it really was right there for them to make the final

[AustinPowers]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

Rice looked fresh as fcuk in the 3rd place playoff the only game with no pressure maybe thats an issue for him. Is he that good?

Decent player but again not one the top dogs be losing sleep over playing against.

I think the quality in football in general has gone to feck. Outside PSG and Bayern, the other big clubs are at a low ebb.

Spains big 2, United, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, the Italian clubs all shadows of their peak teams. Arsenal a tough team to beat but would rather watch 2 snails racing in the garden.

Even in the premier league what proper top top players are there that you'd go out of your way to see? Haaland, Rodri, Bruno? Struggling after that tbh. 

The PL is  dull as dishwater.  Pep's city team were awful to watch , and Arteta has taken  boredom on  another notch. Arsenal seemed to  spend  the  whole season going 1-0 up then  holding the lead, pulling 11 behind the ball.

The likes of Rice/Anderson/Rogers etc 100m players , is absolute madness. Nothing special about  any of them.

The  player  I enjoyed  watching recently in the PL was Salah.  He was poor last season though. Who's left  now?  I'm struggling to name one

[Armagh18]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

Rice looked fresh as fcuk in the 3rd place playoff the only game with no pressure maybe thats an issue for him. Is he that good?

Decent player but again not one the top dogs be losing sleep over playing against.

I think the quality in football in general has gone to feck. Outside PSG and Bayern, the other big clubs are at a low ebb.

Spains big 2, United, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, the Italian clubs all shadows of their peak teams. Arsenal a tough team to beat but would rather watch 2 snails racing in the garden.

Even in the premier league what proper top top players are there that you'd go out of your way to see? Haaland, Rodri, Bruno? Struggling after that tbh. 

The PL is  dull as dishwater.  Pep's city team were awful to watch , and Arteta has taken  boredom on  another notch. Arsenal seemed to  spend  the  whole season going 1-0 up then  holding the lead, pulling 11 behind the ball.

The likes of Rice/Anderson/Rogers etc 100m players , is absolute madness. Nothing special about  any of them.

The  player  I enjoyed  watching recently in the PL was Salah.  He was poor last season though. Who's left  now?  I'm struggling to name one

Bruno can be a little p***k but he's super to watch when on form he's always trying to make something happen rather than playing it safe. Haaland is a joy to watch in full flow but can be anonymous as well. Can't say I watch huge amounts outside United but anything I do see is poor.

From a United perspective Cunha and Mainoo have some exciting qualities but are levels below the good old days watching Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani or obviously further back Kanchelskis, Cantona etc. Look at Arsenal now and none could lace the boots of Henry/Bergkamp etc etc.

[Baile Brigín 2]

They don't have the players though. They don't have the players in centre midfield in particular to be winning these kind of tournaments.

The pampered arseholes is possibly an issue too yes...

Central midfield is their strength. The lack of goalkeeper and fullback is the actual problem.

[tonto1888]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

Rice looked fresh as fcuk in the 3rd place playoff the only game with no pressure maybe thats an issue for him. Is he that good?

Decent player but again not one the top dogs be losing sleep over playing against.

I think the quality in football in general has gone to feck. Outside PSG and Bayern, the other big clubs are at a low ebb.

Spains big 2, United, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, the Italian clubs all shadows of their peak teams. Arsenal a tough team to beat but would rather watch 2 snails racing in the garden.

Even in the premier league what proper top top players are there that you'd go out of your way to see? Haaland, Rodri, Bruno? Struggling after that tbh. 

The PL is  dull as dishwater.  Pep's city team were awful to watch , and Arteta has taken  boredom on  another notch. Arsenal seemed to  spend  the  whole season going 1-0 up then  holding the lead, pulling 11 behind the ball.

The likes of Rice/Anderson/Rogers etc 100m players , is absolute madness. Nothing special about  any of them.

The  player  I enjoyed  watching recently in the PL was Salah.  He was poor last season though. Who's left  now?  I'm struggling to name one

Bruno can be a little p***k but he's super to watch when on form he's always trying to make something happen rather than playing it safe. Haaland is a joy to watch in full flow but can be anonymous as well. Can't say I watch huge amounts outside United but anything I do see is poor.

From a United perspective Cunha and Mainoo have some exciting qualities but are levels below the good old days watching Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani or obviously further back Kanchelskis, Cantona etc. Look at Arsenal now and none could lace the boots of Henry/Bergkamp etc etc.

I think football in general lacks top top quality players. Maybe we were split with the Messi era backed up by C Ronaldo. Before that you had zidane and R9. Kaka and Ronaldinho etc

[thewobbler]

Something struck me again when listening to the Kevin Keegan stories this week.

When that superstar decided to go abroad, Liverpool handpicked another superstar in Dalglish to fill his shoes. A few years later they picked up Paul Walsh to become Dalglish's replacement, though that didn't work out. Then Beardsley.

Clubs didn't hoard the more talented players those days like City (and others) do nowadays. They picked one star player and built their team around him.

Whereas now they force their collective or creative players to conform to positional, stats-based football, otherwise they get fewer minutes.

The game is surely a poorer spectacle as a result. 

[Armagh18]

Some thought Tuchel and Ancelotti might be the ones to buck the trend but obviously not

The mystery is that there's still some that think it in Brazil and England.

Probably more so Brazil just dont have the players currently to even have a proper tilt at it.

England have the players, just can never seem to get it done when it really matters.

I hear this alot but is it true? I thought them a shocking outfit to make it to the SF. Riding their luck against DR Congo, Norway and Mexico? Maybe I dont know enough about soccer but those players look not great! Bellingham and exception and maybe 1 or 2 others

Had Brazil scored their peno against Norway I think Engerland would have been out in the QFs

Bellingham in fits and starts in fairness stood up with big goals a few times, Kane is quality. Rice is good player but looked knackered, Anderson good player as well but not one opposition be losing sleep over.

Outside of that they're average enough all round.

Rice looked fresh as fcuk in the 3rd place playoff the only game with no pressure maybe thats an issue for him. Is he that good?

Decent player but again not one the top dogs be losing sleep over playing against.

I think the quality in football in general has gone to feck. Outside PSG and Bayern, the other big clubs are at a low ebb.

Spains big 2, United, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, the Italian clubs all shadows of their peak teams. Arsenal a tough team to beat but would rather watch 2 snails racing in the garden.

Even in the premier league what proper top top players are there that you'd go out of your way to see? Haaland, Rodri, Bruno? Struggling after that tbh. 

The PL is  dull as dishwater.  Pep's city team were awful to watch , and Arteta has taken  boredom on  another notch. Arsenal seemed to  spend  the  whole season going 1-0 up then  holding the lead, pulling 11 behind the ball.

The likes of Rice/Anderson/Rogers etc 100m players , is absolute madness. Nothing special about  any of them.

The  player  I enjoyed  watching recently in the PL was Salah.  He was poor last season though. Who's left  now?  I'm struggling to name one

Bruno can be a little p***k but he's super to watch when on form he's always trying to make something happen rather than playing it safe. Haaland is a joy to watch in full flow but can be anonymous as well. Can't say I watch huge amounts outside United but anything I do see is poor.

From a United perspective Cunha and Mainoo have some exciting qualities but are levels below the good old days watching Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani or obviously further back Kanchelskis, Cantona etc. Look at Arsenal now and none could lace the boots of Henry/Bergkamp etc etc.

I think football in general lacks top top quality players. Maybe we were split with the Messi era backed up by C Ronaldo. Before that you had zidane and R9. Kaka and Ronaldinho etc

Yeah agreed.

Obviously Messi and Ronaldo were out of this world, but even during their era there was plenty more brilliant players around at that next level below them- Lewandowski, Suarez, Neymar when he was arsed, Rooney, Zlatan, Bale, Benzema, etc etc.

Closest to that these days is Mbappe, maybe a few of the PSG lads, Haaland and Kane.