Not a single post about the World Cup so far.
Anyone staying up to watch tonight?
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Nope. Have no interest in soccer, nor in the World Cup.
My only concern about it at the moment is that we live next door to a pub which will be open for the match and our bedroom, whose windows are usually open in hot weather, overlooks said hostelry.
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I am not that interested and only watch selected matches in the World Cup and Euros but I'd like to see England do well, and am going to try to stay up, or at least awake, to watch tonight's game.
I always thought if I ever moved house in retirement it'd be to a house nearer a pub but I can there are downsides :-)
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I wouldn’t have thought many pubs will be open screening the game. I’m not sure any pubs are open for the footie early hours in my part of the world.
Sundays I go ‘early doors’ for a half + vat ( 5 pints) and non of my drinking buddies are watching the games…apparently there’s one at 21:00.
When much younger I watched Bradford Park Avenue as a nipper, and when they were relegation from Div4 had a season ticket at Huddersfield Town. Then watched Leeds in the Revie era but not been to a match for over 25 years. Zero interest TBH.
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>> Nope. Have no interest in soccer, nor in the World Cup.>>
Ditto. It's all a bit of a nonsense now. Neither you nor your parents need be born in England to be in the Ingerland team. Bit like only about two players in Leeds United (a team I used to support decades ago) were actually born in Yorkshire (population more than Scotland), let alone Leeds. It's now insufferably boring to watch as the ball just gets kicked from one player to another up and down the field. I hugely resent having to pay for their absurd salaries just so we can watch international tennis matches. They always seem to broadcast the few seconds worth watching on the news.
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I watched the DR Congo match from the 2nd half when I saw we were in with a chance and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I wouldn't watch the Mexico match, even if it was on at a decent time because I don't think we will win, and I don't like to see England lose.
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Yes, I'm staying up for it.
It's been a good world cup so far, much better than expected with no real stand put team. Very hard to pick a favourite.
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I'm not changing my sleep times for a match thousands of miles away. But I'm surprised that a World Cup allows a national team to play at its home ground, when that gives a clear advantage, especially when that ground is at altitude. If results work out as they have, it would be quite possible to swap matches so all teams 'played away' as it were.
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The joy of retirement, no work to get up for, no thinking up an excuse for a sickie, you can go to bed and get up when you like.
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>>But I'm surprised that a World Cup allows a national team to play at its home ground, when that gives a clear advantage,
The principle of countries "hosting" world cups or "Euros" or whatever
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Well, well, well. Well done England!!
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I'm not at all interested in football, but is there a world cup song or mascot for this time. I don't recall hearing anything.
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Wonderwall seems to have usurped Three Lions as far as I can tell! It’s part of the Manchester take-over ;)
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Yes well done England. Saw most of the match after a short kip. Really exciting and a desperate final quarter after tye second hydration break when down to ten men. . Great to havre something to cheer about.
Norway next.watched them beat Brazil last night so that’s not going to be easy.
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I watched it in bed on the phone, glad I did.
I was impressed at England's defence (though I suppose they were also a little fortunate), as the Mexicans were all over then in the latter part of the game.
Nevertheless, well done and I (a non-footy fan) am looking forward to the next instalment!
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An incredible match and a great performance.
The Yanks should never be allowed near football, not only the farce of the hydration breaks when it is barely warm, but the disgraceful intervention of Trump in getting their player's red card suspended. FIFA should be ashamed of themselves for not telling him to do one.
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The game wasn't shown on BBC Scotland. Instead they showed an episode of Wish You Were Here.
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>> The game wasn't shown on BBC Scotland. Instead they showed an episode of Wish You
>> Were Here.
Brilliant!
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Really, I am NOT a Mail reader but I went on to find a decent match report (though not being a regular i didn't realise the WAGS would have more column inches in the Mail than the actual game!) and this was the first comment under the England article at the time
"I’m sorry but I just can’t get behind England after the majority of our corrupt nation voted for Brexit. I will support whoever England are playing against and nobody can persuade me otherwise." Is that for real??
Anyway the second which I can't find now, was a Scot who said he will support anyone who England are playing just cos he hates us so much. I heard something similar once before from a friend who lives down here - without quite so much vitriol - and he dropped down in my "league of friends" as a result.
What is it with people?
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>> What is it with people?
You have to be a football fan to understand the depths of the rivalry between England and Scotland when it comes to football. Its at a level of vitriol that is found in no other way in no other sport. 1966 was a catalyst.
The jock football supporters make a good subject however, ever hopeful, wildly over optimistic, supporting a team that has consistently plumbed the depths of utter uselessness.
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>>
>>
>>
>> The jock football supporters make a good subject however, ever hopeful, wildly over optimistic, supporting
>> a team that has consistently plumbed the depths of utter uselessness.
>>
English people in general get behind Scotland on the (Rare) occasions they get to a major tournament. This annoys the Scots almost as much as seeing England do well as it makes them seem rather irrelevant, which feeds their massive inferiority complex.
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>> English people in general get behind Scotland on the (Rare) occasions they get to a
>> major tournament. This annoys the Scots almost as much as seeing England do well as
>> it makes them seem rather irrelevant, which feeds their massive inferiority complex.
And of course the English football world has an undeserved superiority complex which makes the rivalry even worse.
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>> but the disgraceful intervention of Trump in getting their
>> player's red card suspended. FIFA should be ashamed of themselves for not telling him to
>> do one.
UEFA have kicked off about this big time. "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable". "is not a discretionary option" and it is "a principle embedded in regulations".
"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," Uefa said in a statement.
"Equally, such a decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.
"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."
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FIFA, especially Infantino, totally embraced Trump with the made up peace prize so no way Infantino was not going to go along with it.
Re Scotland v England, speaking as a jock, I genuinely feel the "hatred" is actually towards the English media rather than the English team or English people.
Standard joke up here is no matter what game is on, how quickly can the pundits / commentators get in reference to 1966, or England or English teams or whatever.
And a pet peeve of mine - why is it always Arricane rather than simply his surname which most players get called?
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>> And a pet peeve of mine - why is it always Arricane rather than simply
>> his surname which most players get called?
Well at least they have someone memorable to talk about ;)
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"Why is it always Arricane rather than simply his surname which most players get called?"
By choice, and despite not being completely au fait with the all the nuances of the game, I watched with the commentary muted, and made coffee etc which neatly saved me from the half time ramblings.
You should try it sometime :-)
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>>
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>> By choice, and despite not being completely au fait with the all the nuances of
>> the game, I watched with the commentary muted, and made coffee etc which neatly saved
>> me from the half time ramblings.
>>
>> You should try it sometime :-)
>>
Amazon TV gives the best deal on that, you can switch the commentary off while still getting the crowd noise.
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>> Amazon TV gives the best deal on that, you can switch the commentary off while
>> still getting the crowd noise.
I think my son told me there was some button on I-player that synched TV with radio commentary, presumably 5Live, giving the best of both effect we got with test matches back in eighties when TMS was on Radio 3 MW.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Mon 6 Jul 26 at 15:25
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So Trump openly admitting today he asked Infantino to review the USA red card that has now been "suspended"
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>> So Trump openly admitting today he asked Infantino to review the USA red card that
>> has now been "suspended"
Which of course makes it even more heinous.
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FIFA and Trump are simply corrupt.
Get back to the good old days - the referees decision is final - be it right or wrong. VAR and political interference has the potential to turn sport into a lawyers wet dream.
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Talking of the Devils in Skirts, as we were, where's Runfer these days? He seems to have disappeared into the hills.
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Quote from Infantio: 'Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant. Respect for independent institutions and the rule of law is what protects the integrity of our competitions and the credibility of FIFA at all times.'
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So Trump intervenes to get a player suspended from the next match? Does that set a dangerous precedent, as the opponents could suggest a suspended player was included in their team? I understand that means the match is awarded to the opponents!
What will he do next, insist the FIA award an F! GP to the Cadillac team?
Perhaps FIFA should just award him a trophy - sorry, didn't realise they'd already done that!
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FFS.
You're criticising Trump for shattering your naive belief that international sports isn't a commercial operation?
TDS.
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Of course sport is a commercial operation but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have and need rules that are enforced. . Indeed it means that it is essential that it does. Once every decision can be arbitrarily overruled it makes it pointless. Ultimately it would destroy the game and the money it generates. It would become a show like professional wrestling.
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Dream scenario tonight, USA to lose 1-0 through an own goal by the player who got sent off.
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>>Dream scenario tonight, USA to lose 1-0 through an own goal by the player who got sent off
Need to make do with a 4-1 pumping, and a Keystone Cops third goal.
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>> Need to make do with a 4-1 pumping, and a Keystone Cops third goal.
And the Walloons doing a trump victory dance just to rub it in.
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>> Of course sport is a commercial operation but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have and
>> need rules that are enforced. . Indeed it means that it is essential that it
>> does. Once every decision can be arbitrarily overruled it makes it pointless. Ultimately it would
>> destroy the game and the money it generates. It would become a show like professional
>> wrestling.
>>
Then level your criticism at FIFA.
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>> Then level your criticism at FIFA.
>
For Kowtowing to Trump. Thankfully it inspired the Belgiums.
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Let's see Trump get that one overturned.
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Punitive tarrifs on Belgium to be announced by Donald at the NATO summit.
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He's just claimed that Belgium is two weeks away from developing a nuclear bomb.
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>> He's just claimed that Belgium is two weeks away from developing a nuclear bomb.
Hes right, Belgian Beer would blow any americans socks off.
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Seems Greenland is back on his agenda again and the Iran ceasefire is over. He is getting desparate for a real victory - or even some credibility!
Perhaps a really positive achievement will get history to look well upon him - lasting peace in the middle east, stop the wsr in Ukraine. His sally into the world of football didn't end well.
His current efforts for lasting respect and a place alongside the others on Mount Rushmore are less than convincing.
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I love this one, lifted from the Times -
“Brazil was better when their players were womanisers, drunkards and slightly out of shape. In other words, when they were behaving like Catholics,” argued one account on X, describing itself as the “Institute for Hispano Studies” a “think tank”. It claimed that “evangelical Protestant sterilisation has flattened their ball, ruined their samba and obliterated their swag.”
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when their players were womanisers, drunkards and slightly out of shape
Sounds like the 1966 England squad.
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The golden days of football expired 30+ years ago.
Players behaved like normal human beings - half time was an opportunity for some nicotine, a few beers and night out after the match, possibly followed by kebab, and a few after hours bevvies. Training was a jog around the touchline and a bit of 5 a side. Minor competitive violence necessary commonplace.
We now have "my body is a temple" footballers. They are unquestionably faster and stronger on their dietician controlled intake and training regime. Along with the money comes other pressures - VAR in case the referee makes a mistake, and presidents corrupting FIFA.
Players now appeal minutes after an incident insisting the referee reviews a decision made earlier. Commentators and crowds await anxiously the result of video evidence.
We don't yet have lawyers queuing along the touchline waiting to serve injunctions or writs on referees, managers, or players for real or imagined breaches of the rules - but the day is not far off coming.
All very sad!!
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>> when their players were womanisers, drunkards and slightly out of shape
>>
>> Sounds like the 1966 England squad.
Indeed, three members of which were often found well lubricated late at nite in "the room at he top" nightclub on the Harrison & Gibson in Ilford high road after a match.
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Harrison Gibson - I remember it well. Indeed I bought my dining room
Furniture there. Further down the High Street was the Swimming baths and the Ilford Palais where I spent many a Saturday evening. A bikers cafe as well where we used to play pinball.
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For our wedding pressie my future b-i-l bought us a proper teak dining table, chairs and sideboard which are still in use and look good today, along with a 3piece suite which is long gone - all from Harrison Gibsons (1976)
Last edited by: smokie on Wed 8 Jul 26 at 19:39
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>>
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>> Indeed, three members of which were often found well lubricated late at nite in "the
>> room at he top" nightclub on the Harrison & Gibson in Ilford high road after
>> a match.
>>
Stood next to Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters at the bar there one time.
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About the World Cup, but not about England - I reckon Egypt were robbed in the Argentina match. Their second goal - the one disallowed for an almost negligible 'foul' - was as good as you are likely to ever see. On a par (and rather similar) to the famous Gareth Edwards try in that old Barbarians rugby match.
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Well done England, worth waiting up for!
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A bit of a nerve jangler, that one.
Next up, The Battle of The Malvinas.
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The WC winner is going to come out of the France v Spain semi
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Certainly Spain and France look pretty formidable. Any thing can happen in a final though It might just be Argentina or us. That’s what makes sport interesting. The element of unpredictability.
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So that's Spain then.
I enjoyed that match, I know nothing but I felt the French had been better in the earlier matches than Spain. Still, that's not what counts...
And still the perennial and probably unanswerable question remans, why do they need to keep spitting? It really is quite unpleasant. Did they do it in the olden days (1966)? Do they do it in other sports? I don't recall seeing it in rugby (both) or cricket.
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>>
>>
>> And still the perennial and probably unanswerable question remans, why do they need to keep
>> spitting? It really is quite unpleasant. Did they do it in the olden days (1966)?
>>
>>
Yes, but in those days there were fewer cameras recording the games so they did not have enough for lingering on the players close up. Gobbing is part of any physical sport, all racing cyclists develop the skill of a well aimed snot rocket (Aimed towards the verge, not other riders).
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Yeah I think France peaked too early.
Thought Spain had been relatively poor but they sure controlled that game last night. Bodes well for them in the final.
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Well, they asked for that.
Play well, get a goal and then sit back inviting the opposition onto you. Happens time and time again, absolutely stupid.
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Up to a point I'd agree, but without being a footballing expert, I saw it a bit differently. We didn't maybe push as hard Argentina moved up a couple of gears especially in the second half and we were no match for them.
Still, we are at worst 4th in the world, which in itself is a massive achievement and a credit to the team and its management in my book.
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You could argue that Argentina should probably have been eliminated by Egypt, who would have been three goals up instead of two, if the ref had not disallowed it because of a trivial 'foul' called by the VAR ?
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To Sit back and defend a 1 nil lead is very tricky. You need a good well drilled fit resolute passionate defence, (which we aint got) and very fast midfield/forward combo to hit them on the break and make it 2 nil.
Its not a natural technique for players in the English leaugue, we have never been good at it internationaly. We are always going to lose to Argentina. they have a passionate cause.
Anyway, Argentina may have beaten us, but you still aint got the Falkland Islands PPPPfffffffttttttttt (rasberry)
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 16 Jul 26 at 10:10
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It's still only a game of football !! but admittedly with a h*ll of a lot of money and shenanigans attached.
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Once you stop attacking, you give all the cards to the opposition. They control the speed and the tempo of the game.
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Between Gordon's goal on the 55th minute and the Argie winner - Argentina had 88% possession. I was fearing an English victory and was already consoling myself that my English relatives would be happy but always had at the back of my mind, the Argie comeback against Egypt.
To try and defend the way they did, with the argument that it had worked against Mexico, is kind of understandable but this was different levels of opposition. As been the case since 1998, as soon as England met a Top 10 team they came a cropper.
You do wonder how the players react to that, if they all think we could have won that if Tuchel didnt go defensive,, then where does the team harmony go from here?
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"I was fearing an English victory " - really? Why?
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>> "I was fearing an English victory " - really? Why?
There are two simple facts in English/Scottish football rivalry.
The english take the mick, and delight in Scotlands long (long long long) record of miserable failure in international football. We laugh at their hope and belief it will happen.
The scots hate Englands sense of entitlement and despise any success that england may have knowing the english would gloat so support any team they play against.
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 16 Jul 26 at 14:09
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> "I was fearing an English victory " - really? Why?
There are two simple facts in English/Scottish football rivalry.
The english take the mick, and delight in Scotlands long (long long long) record of miserable failure in international football. We laugh at their hope and belief it will happen.
The scots hate Englands sense of entitlement and despise any success that england may have knowing the english would gloat so support any team they play against.> "
Pretty much sums it up Zero, though the main target part is definitely the English media as opposed to the average English guy supporting his country
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>> "I was fearing an English victory " - really? Why?
>>
Where have you been?
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>> To try and defend the way they did, with the argument that it had worked against Mexico, is kind of understandable but this was different levels of opposition. <<
It's one thing to try to defend a 2-goal lead, but with only one is asking for trouble, especially with over half an hour to play !
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Geoff Hurst - the only living person from an English speaking country to have played in a World Cup final.
Sobering thought.
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>>Geoff Hurst - the only living person from an English speaking country to have played in a World Cup final.
England 1966, the only English-speaking country in a World Cup final since 1930 when it started.
What annoys me most about England games isn't the result, it's the level of vitriolic "analysis" by their own pundits after they get pumped.
The expectation to win everything, and it's someone's fault when they don't, is amusingly quaint.
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>> The expectation to win everything, and it's someone's fault when they don't, is amusingly quaint.
Its not an excusively English thing. Heads must roll. And we ran out of responsible scottish heads to chop off centuries ago.
Last edited by: Zero on Thu 16 Jul 26 at 20:10
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>> You do wonder how the players react to that, if they all think we could
>> have won that if Tuchel didnt go defensive,, then where does the team harmony go
>> from here?
>>
Iirc it was the way around, Eng ended up on the defensive and TT tried to close up the gaps by bringing on another defender.
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Viagra are bringing out an commemorative England World Cup tablet, for those who can't get past a semi.
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I can't even bluff at fitbal. How is Trump going to win? Are they going to let him present the cup and the medals?
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AIUI Trump will attend the final and I'm sure I read he'd present the cup to the winners.
I think that's what would be expected from the head of state in the host country.
Hoping Spain win as seeing him present it to a nation he's condemned and tried to refuse to trade with would be funny.
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Can you imagine the speech?
"Well you don't deserve it and it shouldn't go to a third rate country that won't pay for its defence but they've told me I have to give it to you..." (slips gold medal into his pocket).
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More likely Trump will send apologies explaining that football is a game played by savages from across the sea, and not a patch on the national sports of the good old US of A - baseball and AMERICAN football. The US is world champions of both!!!
He may send the Head of International Federation of American Football to hand over the cup as they are both called "football". That the US version wear high tech suits of armour to protect them from an occassion knock does not mean they are pansies.
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By one of those coincidences, England rugby are playing Argentina on Saturday evening in Argentina.
England are threatening to walk off if there any racial abuse of England's players.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cx2k46n7x1ko
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God almighty, that was like watching West Ham!
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I don't know much about the 'ammers, but that was grumpy and tense.
Any road, we won, unless Trump overturns it.
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I went to bed knowing the score was 4-2 and looking threatening. Watched highlights just now: Egypt's disallowed goal against Argentina may have been the best, but this was certainly the best match, and the final Bellingham goal was brilliant.
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Yep, I'm sure a proper footy fan or the pundits would manage to find fault but as a fairly impartial spectator (just hoping that England would win!!) it was a really enjoyable match.
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>> I went to bed knowing the score was 4-2
>>
The score was never 4-2. How could it be?
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>> >>
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>> The score was never 4-2. How could it be?
>>
England led 4-0, France pulled it back to 4-3.
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You are responding to a reply to a post about the game of rugby played last night.
England beat Argentina. The score never was, nor ever could be 4-2 at any point.
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>> You are responding to a reply to a post about the game of rugby played last night. <<
Who is ? The text makes it perfectly clear which game is under discussion, so no further comment is needed !!
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>> Who is ? The text makes it perfectly clear which game is under discussion, so
>> no further comment is needed !!
Duncan, our duty pedant, is playing a game with you.
He started a sub thread about England and the game played by men with odd shaped balls in a match against Argentina.
If you select threaded view you'll see what's meant.
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Worst game I've seen for a long time. England v France deserved to be the final.
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I wish it had been the England game but had that been the final I don't think it would have been the same game or result - player motivation would have been very different for a start.
Those scenes after the match of the Argentine players roughing people up were a bit disappointing, to say the least.
Last edited by: smokie on Mon 20 Jul 26 at 01:13
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>>Those scenes after the match of the Argentine players roughing people up were a bit disappointing,
Typical Argies!
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>>England v France deserved to be the final
My thoughts exactly.
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Name the two things mising from Argentinian life right now?
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>> Name the two things mising from Argentinian life right now?
>>
The World Cup and the Falklands.
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>> >> Name the two things mising from Argentinian life right now?
>> >>
>>
>> The World Cup and the Falklands.
Correct
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>> Duncan, our duty pedant, is playing a game with you.
>>
>> He started a sub thread about England and the game played by men with odd
>> shaped balls in a match against Argentina.
I apologise if I was discourteous in any way.
Actually the problem is with the ludicrous way the threads are laid out (whatever that is called) why don't the posts simply appear in date and time order? Then there wouldn't be this ludicrous confusion as to who was replying to whom.
Any road.
The wendyball brigade lost to Argentina.
The oval ball brigade beat Argentina - mind you, it got a bit, er, interesting, at times.
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England - James Loveless
