Eye ties

[Mad Ferret]

Will they miss out on another WC? Forced to ET by Bosnia, and down to 10

Also, Potter leads Sweden to the WC.

[Massive Attack]

I was in two minds about Saka initially going with Bowen but found both in indifferent form this season and Saka does have the experience in Tournaments that made me think I'd start him ahead of him. I'd be fine with Bowen starting though, yet cannot see Tuchel taking him the way he thinks of him as an afterthought.

[Council Scum]

If all fit my best starting England XI would be..


Pickford

James Stones Guehi Hall

Rice Bellingham 

Saka Palmer Gordon

Kane




 

Wouldn't have Saka anywhere near the team, rest looks ok though. 

[Massive Attack]

If all fit my best starting England XI would be..


Pickford

James Stones Guehi Hall

Rice Bellingham 

Saka Palmer Gordon

Kane



 

[Come On You Irons]

My starting XI for the first England game at the WC would be:

Pickford

Livramento
Stones
Maguire
Shaw

Rice
Anderson
Palmer

Bowen
Kane
Gordon

That team would do well.

[El Scorchio]

Yup it's got to be Watkins. Who else is there? DCL for a big physical alternative to throw on if we need a change of plan or a goal? If you give Watkins chances, he will finish them. Rashford will go as he's seen as versatile and can play 2-3 positions. Trouble is he's either a match winner or he's shit. England have too many of those in contention to start games. You can't have 2-3 boom or bust players in the same side at this level because they will let you down in key moments. You need a guaranteed level of performance which the likes of Rashford or Madueke don't give you. If you're playing a Madueke you need a Gordon on the other side rather than a Rashford, IMO.

It's a shame Bellingham is clearly an ego and a cսnt, really. I'd like him nailed on for the 10 or the 8 as he's clearly a better player than the rest of them. It's a shame to see such talent not playing.

[Tomshardware]

Without Kane up front there’s no purpose, May as well play Wilson then what he’s experimented with, whats Watkins done wrong, at least he’s a decent backup to Kane, who is not going to manage many 90 minutes in the summer heat.

Agreed, Watkins is still a decent alternative and has proven he can score goals at that level.  I'd pick him over Rashford.

[Gaffer58]

Without Kane up front there’s no purpose, May as well play Wilson then what he’s experimented with, whats Watkins done wrong, at least he’s a decent backup to Kane, who is not going to manage many 90 minutes in the summer heat.

[El Scorchio]

Italy are a total basket case. Complete boom or bust with them. Still a crying shame we lost on pens to them in 2021. That really was a golden chance which we should have taken. Don't think that prick Saka has missed one since has he?

Glad to see our Czech mates qualified for the first time in 20 years

[Massive Attack]

Bosnia are ranked 65th in the World as well which rubs salt into injury.

As for Japan (19th), they're actually a half decent side now these days with some quality that can do damage. Quality goal once Pamler gifted it to them in their half. We had many missing but still no excuse to lose and one to take on the chin. 

 

[the coming of gary]

Last night was a laugh, but If i'm honest i think all previous winners should be given automatic qualification.

its only eight places out of forty - eight these days. And its better if Brazil Italy, Argentina are all there

Anyone who disagrees can watch Bosnia v Qatar on June 24th !!
.

[BRANDED]

What I thought last night was we learnt how to pass a ball but forgot how to play winning football.

[Rossal]

Anyone watch England last night?

Tuchel getting on my nerves. Another manager trying to fit square pegs in round holes and re write football. Started 7 midfielders last night and looked disjointed. 

Less confident for this tournament than I was with Southgate.




 

Agree with this.  Most the players that started against Uruguay wouldn't be on the plane for the majority of fans.  Last night Foden gets rewarded with a shit performance to start in the no 9. Rogers on the left was terrible, Palmer terrible. 

Not having Tuchel at all, we were awful last night and I am not convinced the back 4 will keep the likes of Mbappe and Yamal quiet in the latter stages. 

[Manuel]

I don't fancy this US world cup much and don't really rate England's chances. We do have some talent in midfield but the defense looks suspect and we're being told again today that we are heavily reliant on Kane up top while conveniently forgetting his mediocre performances in previous tournaments. 

Fancy we might exit in the QF.

[Perry Nium]

Remembering how smug they were after they beat England in the euros at Wembley, I very much approve of this.

[zico]

I usually forget England are on these days but caught it last night and realised how dull they really are and have been for a long time.  Even under Southgate with the element of "success" with semi finals and finals I just found them dull to watch, but it's systematic of football in general with this possession based, side, back, side, back, rinse and repeat style of play.  Wasn't a surprise when they forced it later on they gained plenty of corners.

I just think there are far too many players of average standard getting caps and a manager gives himself a headache trying to work out an 11 from 30 odd players.  Last night was a perfect opportunity to maybe see if Bowen for instance could play as a striker, a back up to Kane, but he went with a bizarre line up up top with no proper forward.  If I am honest I'd hardly seen a lot of these players, who was the left back who just watched for the goal?  

Like Italy I don't think the European big sides are as good as they were.  Do the German's, Italians, French, Dutch all have better players than they did in say 1990?  Maybe the Spanish are better than they were back then but on the whole I don't think the players are as good.

[goose]

Away???
And you can get WiFi in prison?

I know you’re poor son, but some people do go on holiday from time to time.

Stop crying goosestep what with Italy and Russia not being there you still have Iran to cheer on
Or maybe you could go and watch some opera and sing Figaro Figaro Figaro rather than World Cup watching Eyeties scoring Zero Zero Zero 
This is going to be a long summer for you ha ha ha 

Even longer for you, hiking in Ireland and sleeping in a tent.
Hilarious that you think opera is an insult. 

[Mad Ferret]

Anyone watch England last night?

Tuchel getting on my nerves. Another manager trying to fit square pegs in round holes and re write football. Started 7 midfielders last night and looked disjointed. 

Less confident for this tournament than I was with Southgate.
 

Was awful but you can read much into friendlies. 

Don’t really fancy us at all at the WC, but we got to the final of the Euros with a sub standard manager and an underperforming team, so anything is possible.

[XKhammer]

I’m away at the moment, wifi is a bit dodgy but hopefully this will post.

Terrible for Italian football but no more than they deserved. This generation really isn’t good enough, simple as that. The youth teams are doing well so hopefully better to come.

Maybe it will only be the two major tournament wins in my lifetime.

Away???
And you can get WiFi in prison?

I know you’re poor son, but some people do go on holiday from time to time.

Stop crying goosestep what with Italy and Russia not being there you still have Iran to cheer on
Or maybe you could go and watch some opera and sing Figaro Figaro Figaro rather than World Cup watching Eyeties scoring Zero Zero Zero 
This is going to be a long summer for you ha ha ha 

[dealcanvey]

Anyone watch England last night?

Tuchel getting on my nerves. Another manager trying to fit square pegs in round holes and re write football. Started 7 midfielders last night and looked disjointed. 

Less confident for this tournament than I was with Southgate.



 

[RBshorty]

As with most things with Italy. It starts and finishes with money.

[Manuel]

Italian football is well on the nose, apart from Donnarumma they really lack the quality you associate with Italians. They won the euros against Southgate's England though with a bunch of bang average youngsters and a couple of wiley old dogs and managed by Mancini who totally outthought the waistcoated one, in fact the last time the Italian won a shootout was against England!

Yea it's an annoyance, and slightly bizarre, that sandwiched in-between all their recent failings is that Euro win, and as you say with not a great side. No point in going over old ground but England really should have won that and who knows if we will get a better chance anytime soon.

[Sydney_Iron]

Italian football is well on the nose, apart from Donnarumma they really lack the quality you associate with Italians. They won the euros against Southgate's England though with a bunch of bang average youngsters and a couple of wiley old dogs and managed by Mancini who totally outthought the waistcoated one, in fact the last time the Italian won a shootout was against England!

[honky cat]

Yep can see the yanks shelling out thousands of dollars to see gippos v subsaharans.





 

[Manuel]

When you miss 3 it's not a coincidence, clearly big problems in Italian football. This one also seems less dramatic than the previous two, basically not even a shock. Would have probably preferred them to be there but not feeling much enthusiasm right now about the whole thing. At least Potter got there

[ironsofcanada]

Wan-Bissaka and our old pal Arthur head to the World Cup with a win over Jamaica in extra time.