Morning guys.
Well, did you give in, did you tune in to watch England take on Iran? I did and quite enjoyed watching England win 6-2. I caught an interview with an Iranian women before the game and she said her teams ‘Iranianess’ would help her country against England. I soon learned that ‘Iranianess’ meant kicking the opposition to bits. Slight exaggeration perhaps but boy Iran weren’t afraid to get stuck in.
For all the stick Harry Maguire has received this season, when England have an attacking set-piece, he’s an asset. Trouble is, his defending, and he didn’t have much to do yesterday, isn’t particularly good. I’d be concerned if I was Gareth Southgate because if a poor Iran can score two, a better team could have a field day against England. Jude Bellingham was good I thought and so was our very own Bukayo Saka. Did you know Jude Bellingham has a younger brother called Jobe? He’s 17 years old, plays for Birmingham and he’s meant to very very good. #justsaying. Their day was a very good footballer in his day too…..
Matt Turner was in action later in the day and I suspect he’s pretty cheesed off with whichever player it was who gave away the penalty late in their game as he was on course for a clean sheet.
VAR is already stealing the show after the opening fixture of the tournament and again yesterday when England were denied a stonewall penalty early in the game yet in the second half, the referee was advised to view the pitch side monitor for something far less obvious in England’s own box.
A good start for Southgate and his players though. The USA are up next on Friday evening. Today though, William Saliba is likely to start for France as they take on Australia.
It’s such a shame though that this World Cup isn’t a show piece of football alone. Politics, racism and equality is the main topic of conversation before a ball is even kicked on a match day. We can talk, take the knee, wear the ‘one love’ armband as Alex Scott did yesterday at pitch side but little is likely to change in my opinion. How can the FA allow ‘non western beliefs’ ownership of English clubs and then protest against it? One minute we watch the Sky Sports presenters getting excited about how much money Chelsea, Man City and Newcastle Utd are spending on bringing great footballers to England, yet the next they are criticising the ‘politics’ of a country whose beliefs are similar.
Don’t get me wrong, not for one minute do I support the decision to play this World Cup in Qatar, nor do I believe or agree with what goes on around the world in relation to equality, politics etc etc, but it’s not like the FA, FIFA and every other footballing body didn’t know there would be controversy when it was announced that Qatar were going to be the hosts.
The FA need to decide whether they want to be the fox or the hounds because running with both won’t work.
Morning Rico. Didn’t we have Bellingham lined up a few years back, but it went cold when we sacked Caggagio? Ifs, buts, maybes?
The FA need money. The debt from the Wembley rebuild isn’t paid off 15 years after it reopened. They need games and exposure. They won’t let a few armbands get in the way of the filthy lucre.
I wonder what the players would have got if they refused to go and play at the World Cup,
@OzzieG A bit of respect ??
Hi Pete, Geoff.
Respect indeed had England players stayed at home. Same for any other nation who are anti this competition being held in Qatar.
I’d love to see him at Arsenal Pete, perhaps Dortmund would do a swap for Lokonga. 😂
Beth Mead is out for a while after suffering an ASL injury… ☹️
Evening Rico. Shame about Beth. The ladies have a few injuries now.
I haven’t watched any WC yet. Doubt I’ve missed much.
Evening Adam, yes, a real shame.
All you’ve missed is Bukayo in good form.. lol
The players would have got respect from us fans no matter what club they played for, but I meant from the FA and FIFA
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/12753559/world-cup-german-fa-taking-fifa-to-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-over-one-love-armband-ban
The outcome of the above will be interesting..
FIFA really have made a mess of these World Cup games, Germany looking at legal action over arm band, The main sponsor going by the media are seeking around forty five million dollars in compensation, a reporter threatened to have his camera smashed and fans told they can’t wear their rainbow hats.
Has Jesus played yet and if so has he scored any goals.
Brazil play their first game tomorrow, against Serbia Geoff.
Tomiyasu on the bench for Japan against Germany. Is he fully fit?
If he’s on the bench, I guess he is..
Asano is on the bench too….
He’s on as a second half sub.
Yep, I’m watching.
Go Japan. 😂
Costa Rica crushed by Spain 7 – 0.
Let’s hope Jesus can score a few goals to build his confidence.
any players standing out so far that we should go for.
New post up now