Morning all.
What a day for Japan, Takehiro Tomiyasu and the world of football really. The German team were beaten by pure desire, passion and never giving up. Look at how they left their dressing room.
Ex Arsenal player Takuma Asano scored the winner for Japan but talk about how substitutes can make a difference. Incredible really as Japan really came alive after their manager made changes. Asano was refused a work permit when Arsenal signed him so that’s the real reason we never saw him play for the club. Water under the bridge now though and it’s not like he’s gone on to make a big name for himself. Until yesterday….
That’s two of the big guns beaten now as Argentina suffered a shock defeat a couple of days ago too. Spain are up next for Germany in what should be a great game. Spain will be high on footballing life after battering a really bad Costa Rica side last night. I didn’t see Canada v Belgium but have read a few headlines it seems Belgium were very fortunate to win.
Has there been a 90-95 minute match yet? It seems each game I’ve watched the added time has gone well in to double figures. I guess FIFA are trying to clamp down on time wasting. There’s still a lot of ‘stuff’ going on relating to the ‘one love’ armbands many European teams want to wear, there’s even talk of the Germans suing FIFA and Denmark withdrawing from FIFA altogether and encouraging England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany to do the same.
Back to the football though and it’s all about Arsenal today as Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli could be in action for Brazil, Granit Xhaka for Switzerland and Thomas Partey for Ghana. Tomorrow of course, England play the USA so there’s more Arsenal interest in that match. I’m looking forward to seeing Matt Turner in action because I think it’s fair to say that the jury is out on him at the moment.
I’m not sure what all the fuss is about with Harry Kane. If he’s out, so what? I read a headline which suggested that if he’s injured, England can’t win which is absolutely bonkers in my opinion. I think there are other players who England miss before him. Bellingham and Saka if Monday was anything to go by, Trippier and Shaw too and I never thought I’d write the latter.
Lastly, good luck to the Arsenal women for tonight as they’re in Italy to take on Juventus in the Champions League.
Enjoy the football guys…
Morning Rico and all
Good luck to all our players tonight and hopefully the ladies can have a nice win
Hi Geoff, I think the ladies will need a bit a luck with all the injuries they have.
Live on DAZN you tube channel 20.00.
2018 friendly Arsenal 5 – 0 Juventus. Rico, never played them in a competitive game. Our old coach, Joe Montermouro is in charge tonight.
Toss up which to watch, Arsenal v Juventus or Brazil v Serbia.
Didn’t realise he’d gone to Juve Cicero. Tough call re viewing..
Arsenal get an equaliser to come away with draw in Turin. No prisoners taken by either Arsenal or Juventus.
Considering the injuries our ladies done well to get a draw
Morning Rico. I haven’t watched any of the WC but thought I’d check out Brazil last night. The hyperbole and nonsense was unbearable especially where Neymar was concerned. He only had to leap theatrically in the air, his face contorted in agony, for the commentator to wet himself. I made it about 30 minutes before realising that Brazil are quite average and hyped over old memories and then I switched off, denying myself the chance to see “one of the greatest footballers of his generation”.
Morning Adam, we’ll, it would be karma if Neymar is now ruled out for the rest of the competition.
How Wales ever qualified I’ll never know..
Agree Geoff
England need a win tonight because we all know that the England match is Wales’ cup final.They will leave everything on the pitch before they creep off for a couple of weeks on the beach. So far they have been rubbish but I fully expect that they will go up a few gears when they play their last game.
So far so good Martinelli and Jesus got 20 minutes and with the greatest goalscorer the world has ever seen getting a couple they will be behind him in the queue for minutes on the pitch. Hopefully the “” one “” gets worn out whilst our two have their feet up.
Still too early to see if the Germany and Argentina losses will impact on the later rounds ,all England can do is keep winning and from our perspective hope that Saka is not flogged to death as Ramsdale and White have probably got their cigars out in their deckchairs.
This is absolute rubbish from England. There is no hint of threat from any of our attacking players. The midfield and defence are just getting swamped.
Football coming home? 🤣🤣
Dreadful…
Total rubbish , out run ,out played if they had better finishers we would have lost . Saka was in number 4’s pocket , ,should have subbed him for Foden early on . U.S.A are an athletic team without a finisher , if they ever find one they will become dangerous.
Afternoon Rico and all.
I have not watched any matches, but Did England play that bad or have they just lost interest in the world cup because of it’s location.
Apparently, a lot of Australian fans don’t like Qatar and claim the condition are so bad including their hotel rooms that they are ready to come home early.
Hi Geoff, England played badly and couldn’t have complained had they lost imo.
There’s an international career for Balogun if he wants it.
For America?
Yes they need a good goalscorer , don’t run away with the idea that they won’t be putting no end of cash into the 2024 event as it’s being held in America , Canada and Mexico.
Oh I’m sure American will spend big, everything about the competition will be big I’m sure.. Balogun is very very unlikely to get a game for England imo, who could blame him if he opted for the USA.
Good morning all, very quiet on the Arsenal front. The WC get more boring with the passing of every successive game.
I just know that Rico will come up with a truly stonking post in the near future. No pressure Rico. 😉
I hope everyone is keeping well, don’t forget to turn down the heating, wrap yourself in a blanket instead, turn of the lights and, if your desperate for a warm place for the night glue yourself to a road and wait for the police to put you in a cosy cell. You know it makes sense!
Cicero are you on your own or do you have to share the cell with someone else, also does it come with free meals, coffee and tv
My cell comes with padded walls and a straightjacket Geoff. 😒
Ha ha Cicero.
Just switched on Brazil v Switzerland. Embolo looks good in red and white. Lol
..and I’ve just switched it off Rico. Not impressed by either team. Brazil marginally the better side but not a game to get the neutrals excited.
Perhaps things will get better in the knockout stages.
Arsenal away to Oxford in FA Cup third round.
Rico… the draw was kind to us – nice and close hey?! 🙂
I’m so bored with the WC.. some of the games have been dreadful! Roll on Boxing Day 🤣
Just think once the world cup is over, we will then when the delight of reading all the crap about all the top players at the wc are having interviews with Arsenal
Why wait until after the World Cup , I give you Danilo , Locatelli , Vlahovic , Mudryk , Pulisic , Jao Felix , Nico Williams and Declan Rice all linked this morning.
The circus in Doha is so boring that the web sites and media are off and running already.
Not this one Potter. 😆
New post up.
Hi Sue, sure has. I take it you’ll be making the short trip to see the boys in action?
Cicero, ditto. I soon switched over too. Zzzzzzzz