Panama wasn't really a dead rubber though was it? There was still a chance that we could have finished 3rd in the group.

I don't get why Kobbie Mainoo hasn't featured not even a subs appearance, or Ivan Toney in the dead rubber group match for matter.

Just saw a friend of a friend had a rush of blood to the head after we beat Norway and decided to look for a ticket to the semi-final. Original price $995 as stated on the official FIFA resale site. Price today/yestersay? $49,995 and then you have to add another $7,499 for the “purchasing fee”.

Airsy - Spence is definitely a good shout, he’s done well when he’s come on. Madueke hasn’t really quite done enough for my liking, and I’d prefer to see Saka out there - Gordon has been great on the left, so it’s hard to know who needs to be left out, but good that TT has options…

Should have said that then Gordon could go to the right as Spence gets forward more than O'Reilly for me (or at least gets back quicker)

A4E. Could gamble and play Spence in place of O'Reilly, drop Madueke and then put James or Mainoo on to follow Messi everywhere (in a Park Ji-Sung on Pirlo style and which Ferguson said that he should have in done in the 2011 CL final). That way you don't have sacrifice Anderson or Rice in that role.

I agree with Kitey, the WC should represent the greatest of that current generation. Do I think there's a case for the entry of a few minor nations to be included, of course I do, but that would be based on a qualifying tournament, for those nations that finish 3rd in the regular qualifiers, for say 3 places. 28 (or 29), top 2's + 3 or 4 minor nations. the host nation always get a free pass to the main event, and rightly so.

Also, I think France will beat Spain, and I don’t think we would win in a final against them… But then again…..

How are people feeling about England's chances against VARgentina? I still have flashbacks to that Simeone moment in which he illustrated superbly how he chose the wrong career path - he could have been a wonderful Shakespearean actor, dramatically dying “in agony” night after night on stage… Before this tournament I said that I felt England should/would reach the last 8, and I thought that achieving the semifinals would be a bonus - but now, I’m feeling greedy, and I want to see them reach the final!! I’m worried that officials might fall for the inevitable Argentina shenanigans, and that the likes of Messi/Alvares may prove too hot to handle - but then again, if Kane, Bellingham, Saka, Rogers, etc are fully recovered and fit, why can’t we win? The Argentina squad were singing about Malvinas in their dressing room after the win against the Swiss, so there could well be some needle to the game - I just hope the England players are able to rise above the inevitable provocation and playacting…

The trouble with having a group a 6 is the number of meaningless games where matches are between teams already through or already out. Having a random draw is not good for fans trying to plan how to attend matches.

There will be an impact on quality that will downgrade the WC "brand" especially the qualification stages. At the end of the day, the four highest ranked countries will be competing at the semi-final stage. Only Brazil & Germany being eliminated could be defined as "shocks" and even then, the poor quality of those teams was well known

Yeah at least with 64 you can do a simple top 2 go through in each group but knowing them they will just add extra rounds with more 3rd placed teams, maybe even some 4th placed teams going through. If it was up to me i would just make the world cup like the fa cup. Straight KO competition with random draws each round.

Or if they stuck with 48, then 8 groups of 6, top two go through and then get rid of the round of 32.

But as for having 3 opening games in S America, it beggars belief. And how can you have 3 opening games in a competiton unless they all kick off at the same time (which they won't as it dilutes the money made).

I don't like the idea of 64 teams but it has to be better than hanging around to see if you qualify having come 3rd in your group

64 teams makes more sense than 48 teams and with the spread to multiple hosts, 16 countries could host the group stage before the 'proper' knock-out finals.

RIP Sam Neill, great actor

I'm sure it's April 1st and my brain fog has just got the better of me

Hogsback session ipa also £1.49 tonight

It will be a biennial tournament next.

Let's hope for some exciting times [Link]

South America will no longer need to qualify. All 10 teams will go straight to the finals. Italy will still fail to qualify after a penalty shoot-out in the play-offs with Ronaldo, competing as a one-man nation for the first time at 45. And the game will take place in 15 x 4 min segments between ads on TV"

Quelle surprise [Link]

Oakham citra £1.49 a pint, one of my favorite at 1986 prices🍺

OK no worries