I agree OMOH. It wasn't a great performance from England, but it was solid. And solid is what you need in these tournaments.

There’s a good argument thatEngland should be playing White at RB and Rashford Left wing.
Then you get club pairings of White/Saka and Shaw/Rashford. You have to try to replicate what your best players do for their clubs.

I saw how Saka was pressing on the inside last night and there was an easy out ball to their left-back because Trippier wasn’t backing up the press high on his side. Kane doesn’t really know how to press effectively and it’s also not helped by the back 4 sitting too deep - probably a symptom of Maguire not wanting loads of space behind him.

Finally there has to be a place for Foden in this team. I’m not sure what Mason Mount brings

Indeed. If you are playing with Maguire and Kane you are going to get games like that. Let alone out of form Chelsea players. Kane is worth it because he is probably going to get you a goal, but Maguire?

England looked a lot better when Grealish came on.

I also wonder about Pickford. His unwillingness to come for crosses was on display, and why you have to have lump like Maguire.

Wales is a potential Banana skin, for sure.

Not much chance of that decaf. We've been poor for a few games now; Bale, Allen and Ramsey not 100% fit and getting slow, and too much inexperience in the rest. Second tier players in the main; we've done ever so well to qualify to be fair.

I just pray it's not a battering.

Wales have looked bad and are lucky that the yanks let them back into the game, and of course England should beat them.

But ... if England play like they did against the US and its 0-0 deep into the game, anything can happen.

True Gooners.

Great penalty save by Wozzer for the Poles and the follow up too

Awesome penalty save by Szczesny. Conned the penalty taker. Shaped to go one way and then reversed immediately to make the save. And saved the follow up too.

As you say.

Remarkable double save Well done Ches

Really enjoyable game, Lewandowski wraps it up for Poland but the Saudi's have been decent. Really pleased for the Poles, have good friends there and have visited many times. Lovely country and people.

Giroud breaking the national scoring record for France is weird.

He sits above so many class players. He always had his strengths but my god Frances greatest goal scorer. Plain weird

Btw Southgate should play Ben white instead of Trippier. Trippier has no connection with saka and they aren’t on the same wavelength. Kyle walker might be different.

He won’t do it because for some reason trippier is a favourite but it’s clear they aren’t a fluid right hand side

It turned out this afternoon that I was watching a young Arsenal player in action.

Pretty damn good too. https://www.arsenal.com/ovie-ejeheri-jo ... -term-loan


Ovie has joined on loan from Premier League side Arsenal until January 2023. Ejeheri, 19, signed his professional contract with the Gunners in August 2021 after playing for their Under 18s side, and then progressed last season into the Under 23s, making 8 appearances in the Premier League 2. He appeared in the FA Youth Cup for Arsenal in the 2020-21 season, playing 4 matches as they made the quarterfinals. Last season he played for Arsenal U23s in the Papa John’s Trophy, with Ejeheri playing against Wigan Athletic, Ipswich Town, Newport County and Swindon Town.

This is supposedly an English vs Wales fans melee. I have no idea, but their fighting skills are lacking.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/566437668 ... tid=6AJuK9

Out of nothing Messi flicked the switch and revived a lacklustre Argentina. The greats can do that.

Loads of hammerings in European qualifying groups these days and more games than previous generations since the break up of the soviet block. Memphis Depay has more international goals than Patrick Kluivert and Marco Van Basten.

Kane will double Shearer's England tally. He sure isn't twice the player.

Awful game and he scored the type of goal he has done so many times. One touch, very little blacklift and early strike into the bottom corner. Lightning fast execution. You could feel the relief. Huge pressure lifted.

And while everyone is fretting over whether England can make the final and win it, I am really happy that Australia, won a game and has still a chance of making the round of 16. It not often we even win a game at the WC. Its all relative.

Tomiyasu could be turning into another Rosicky unfortunately.

https://www.justarsenal.com/arsenal-man ... cup/324464

The other half is Polish so I am following them. Gonna be tight it that group.

Henry does it again.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ARMsgGS6Fhw

This hurts.

Brilliant technique - reminded me of one he got against United in the ECL.

Uncertain how serious the injury is - hopefully not very. The Japanese just lost to Costa Rica, surprisingly. Hopefully the Spanish beat them too and knock them out, so Tomiyasu can get back to us.

This would be a massive boost for the club heading into the 2nd half of the season. He’s precisely what we need

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... l-28590212

I hope they get through and if so I'll toast them with a shot or two of the bison grass wódka

Morocco deservedly ahead again Belgium. They look very decent.

It’s more that it seems to be an ongoing recurring situation, just like Rosicky.

That is tasty Vodka

He seems to have had 3 years of reoccurring calf injuries now.

Class player but there’s a massive question mark there.

Question mark and fingers crossed.

So far he has missed more than he has played for us.

I'm reading that Mbappe has refused to speak with the media for 2 days running?

What's his problem? Ego most likely.

Rumor Inter Miami, Becks' team will make a massive bid for cristiano. I called it a while back he would go to MLS, but thought LA Galaxy.

Are you sure that it’s not Pontefract Athletic?

Messi makes goals from outside the box look so effortless and easy. In the history of the game I've never seen anyone come close to him for the regularity and quality of goals scored from outside the box in open play.

Respect the Moroccans
Played very bravely

It's been great to see the number of lower ranked teams getting stuck in and Morocco played well against a very high quality Belgian squad on paper. If there was any fear they certainly didn't show it.

I was quite sad to see Japan lose against Costa Rica after having largely dominated the majority of that match.

Most groups still up for grabs so still a few good games to come and it will be interesting who gets through.

Agreed - the man is a master of it. Bobby Charlton could bang them in from outside the box, but usually with power - Messi far more subtle.

Was that a dummy kick or a missed kick for Ghana's 3rd goal?