Found it hard to care about the game. Wales are championship level really. Championship players all over the pitch. Glad Saka got the rest but also annoyed that he was “dropped for Foden” and scoring goals against Wales will be justification for any decisions made by Southgate. Really I’m only invested in Jesus and Martinelli scoring and playing well for Brazil but not having too many minutes.

Who has who in the second round? Or is it still completely unknown? Going googling…

Senegal

Yes, the english are very good at this type of rumpy pumpy.

Well our opponents are all very naughty boys…

True, a bit of discipline never hurts : well actually it does.

Hope you're looking after yourself Rog.

Best wishes

To be fair, Southgate was proven right.

Foden is far better at diving than Bukayo.

C'mon Aussie

Tunisia leading France very late in the game. Are the traditionally good counties not as good or the other countries has just gotten better?

The others have gotten a bit better, but France had already won the group and were playing their second string side.

Also the offside on Var on Greisman's disallowed goal was really taking the *(*&*. Nonsense to overturn that.

Seeing it reported that Ben White has returned home from the World Cup for an unspecified personal reason.

Wow. Brilliant save by Szczesny to keep Messi's penalty out.

Rotten to hear Ben White has gone home, hope everything is ok. I’m not the biggest fan of him at right back but I have to say I think he would have given a far better account of himself then the 2 players England have selected there so far.

This World Cup is full of twists and turns, fantastic!

Unbelievable, into the last 16.

Well played. Not a fluke either and two of the best goals in the WC….today and against France

I am not sure I can take any credit personally but it reinforces that good systems, that the team buy into can have great rewards. No star players but everyone working for each other. Remind anyone of a club anywhere?

Well done!

Poland were very feeble last night (barring Szczesny's saves) but Argentina looked like real contenders. Messi's finishing was poor but otherwise he looked in fine form.

Congrats to all you Aussies.

Great effort. Impressive.

Anybody heard anything about the Cup game at Oxford? I can't find anything, anywhere.

DHD,
Match to be played 7, Jan, 2023.

High drama at the moment. As it stands Germany and Spain on their way out!!!

Edit - Germany equaliser which saves Spain. 20 odd minutes to go. Exciting stuff.

Japan's second goal was so dodgy, you'd think Sepp Blatter was involved.

Who needs Blatter when you've got Infantino.
Anyway, one of the angles suggests part of the ball might have been overhanging the line. But I think more than a few Germans would be interested to see some definitive evidence, because the on field decision was overturned.
Congratulations to the Japanese who were absolutely tremendous in that second half.

Some seriously weird decisions. Morocco's offside goal, Messi's penalty, etc. What are the Var guys on? It's funny when the Germans are the victims but it does leave a sour taste.

Spain did ask for it though, with that ludicrously risky and arrogant farting around at the back.

Yes they were. Both the Germans and Spanish took their foot off Japan's neck, are were very satisfyingly punished for their arrogance.

and a decent route through now. Australia in the next round and then the winners of Netherlands v USA for a place in the semis

I think you meant surprise addition USA in the semis, Rich.

But seriously, I am happy with the performance so far. They haven't embarrassed them selves thus far. Just hoping we get a hiding from Holland.

Looks like Partey will be back early from Qatar. Uruguay 2 goals up on Ghana.

Thanks Zed but that was the old-style default 'Cup Saturday' date.

It's just been announced as Monday 9th 8:00 pm - which is a typical pain-in-the-arse decision to suit TV!

In case anyone is interested, the Brighton away tickets have just gone on sale.

There's light at the end of the tunnel!

92 mins Korea beating Portugal 2-1 1

almost there

Jesus and Martinelli starting for Brazil. Martinelli has looked bright in the first 20 minutes, and I'm really hoping Jesus can get himself a goal.

Whoever is the moron commentating on RTE on the Swiss/Serbia match is he keeps calling Xhaka the Arsenal captain.

Without doubt one of the most interesting and exciting WC ever. I know such views don’t suit the media and many people but you know, I don’t care how they feel.

American Gooner wrote:
Just hoping we get a hiding from Holland.
Spoken like a fully paid up member of the Guardian reading England members club! Hi DHD

It really isn’t. If you’re old enough to remember the great German/Dutch teams of the 70s, Pele, Socrates, etc. you would understand.