Lionator

I think Australia might run out of time here. They only have 305 overs left to get it.

Like Langer just said, going to the short ball approach here is such a weak mindset. Pitch it up and aim for the stumps ffs. You have 4 85mph bowlers.

This. It’s funny I was posting about Ukrainians pocketing money on the last page. If any ex-Soviet state was doing what Johnson and co did during the pandemic, we would obviously call it disgusting corruption. That’s what it is. And that’s only the start.

They can go at 2 an over for 2 days if they want and still win comfortably.

Pitch is tricky but not awful so a lot will depend on if this pair survive the new ball. If they get 300+, we’re cooked.

Yep, probably only him and Kasper would be good I think! I’m glad that he’s going for it anyway, if he does well there he’ll shoot through the divisions.

1. In Ukraine there’s NABU which is basically an American ran anti corruption programme which seeks to sniff out corruption which has stopped Ukraine fully integrating into Europe. There’s the domestic SBU too. Zelensky a few months back tried the reduce the powers of the NABU for little reason. The public protested and he overturned his decision. Then last week NABU announced they’d ran an investigation into an oligarch called Timur Mindich who owns the media company which Zelensky co owned as well as Andriy Yermak (essentially the fixer). That company was getting huge energy security contracts and a lot of that money has gone missing and been located to Mindich and his cronies. He escaped the country last week. The allegation is that Zelensky and Yermak would’ve at least known about this, and may even be profiting off it themselves. 2. At the moment Russia doesn’t want an actual war with the rest of Europe because it’s busy in Ukraine. However once it’s over they will have hundreds of thousands of soldiers and billions of rubles of military equipment at the ready. They will invade the Baltic countries so that when the USA doesn’t respond, they will say that NATO is dead. Russian tanks won’t be rolling down Gallowtree Gate but they want to be the dominant power in Europe now that the USA is disengaging.

Didn’t help them in the play offs for the last two world cups. At home you can beat them.

Critical few days in Kyiv by the way. Trump is ultimately prepared to throw Ukraine under the bus, in light that Europe have offered nothing of any merit. Zelenskyy’s mates have been pocketing money that was meant for energy infrastructure, so Ukrainians are becoming divided against the government. Losing critical ground in the east too. If this happens, then we have about 2-3 years to prepare for a great European war.

I think he will make a good manager. Very charismatic and clearly understood the game very well.

The ship isn’t in territorial waters and if it enters it, should be driven out immediately. The laser thing is common is you look at Cold War history as well as what goes on in the South China Sea these days. Also it wasn’t a fast jet, it was a P8 maritime surveillance plane. This ship is bad news, and I’m defending Russians, I’m just saying that the government are highlighting this particular incident as it produces a narrative of ‘strength’ when the majority know we can’t defend our borders from illegal migrants, let alone Russians.

Not defending the Russians but this is relatively normal maritime stuff being used by the government for political gain that they’re strong in defending the country.

Iraq and DR Congo are automatically in the final matches, I’m guessing they’d both want to avoid Bolivia’s side of the draw. Itll also be the first World Cup draw I can remember where all teams aren’t qualified. Will make it an interesting dynamic in terms of how many teams from each confederation can qualify. All in all this has been an amazing week, and for those of us disillusioned with LCFC and the general direction of top level club football, international football alongside non league is the last bastion of wholesomeness.

Would rather Potts than Cook. Potts and Atkinson would clear up on these Aussie pitches, instead we’re going to pack our attack with 90mph sicknotes who could break down at any given moment.

Think it’s one of the most densely populated places on earth too.

All jokes aside, Scotland have continuously been decent under Clarke in qualifiers, they just need a good run in an actual tournament now

This night has turned some very average footballers into GOAT Scottish heroes haha

Trump is SO unintentionally funny, I’m sorry if this makes me a terrible person (I obviously hate his politics). https://x.com/atrupar/status/1990839006171472256?s=46

Imagine they qualify and we draw them. Friday night 1am kick off UK time. Would be absolutely unbelievable.

I swear his Achilles just went

Dont think you could rule out a team managed by Ancelotti and Argentina are far and away the best South American team. Americas world cup’s have all but one time been won by South American teams so theres clearly an advantage for them. I’d agree it is very open.

Bloody brilliant for them, gotta be up there in terms of their greatest footballing moments. Not many would’ve seen them winning the past two games back to back. Parrott’s a star.

Also, the same blighters a few weeks back putting up English flags are now celebrating the pedo president suing a great English and British institution. What an act of patriotism!!

Currently navigating the housing/mortgage system and I think the horse bolted a long time ago (30/40 years ago). Any interventions are purely plasters on a gaping, terminal wound.

If he’s taking fights against people half his weight purely for dollar then his career is already finished.