Jaspa

Ball isn't bouncing right on this surface either. Can't believe this is the best they can put out for a final.

Good. Hold.

It's where the Final is btw. America not especially into their sports turf.

They were bought up by Adidas a long time ago and they shat them out, much like Nike did with Umbro.

Draw today and either Ghana/Croatia beat eachother, or if Ghana beat Croatia whilst catching up with our +1 goal difference and overtaking it. Scenario 3 is we lose to Panama and either Croatia/Ghana is a draw or Ghana win.

Toronto, then Dallas, then LA, then Dallas again, then the New Jersey final. Verses Atlanta, Mexico City, New Jersey, Miami semi. I actually thought Miami was straight after Mexico City, sorry. But still one looks far less taxing on travel and playing conditions than the other. Compare that to France who are New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas. While also having their basecamp right near Boston. Argentina have a tough time with travel aswell but they might not have to play a major nation until the Semis.

I actually want us to finish second in the group. You have to win matches against the best countries if you want to win the World Cup, granted, but I think playing away in Mexico City's altitude and then straight after that in Miami in the heat and humidity will take too much energy from the players. Stick to the air conditioned stadiums. Focus on performances. Go as far as possible. Winning the group looks like a trap.

Blimey that was about 7 years ago or something. The Savile one is more entertainment than anything else, it's a classic conspiracy theory homemade YouTube documentary. Best moment is when it calls Leeds a literal esoteric portal to hell. Brings in a few secret society mentions, Peter Sutcliffe gets a mention. Savile's cigar being a wizard wand. Buried like a vampire. Someone took time to compile this thing and gave it their own unique thought. Suppose with the moon one you could see it as a guide to the arguments you'll face when encountering someone who thinks the moon landing was faked... or at least had to be reproduced on a movie set. People don't necessarily believe all of this stuff, they just like to ask questions of what they're being told; sometimes they're right, most of the time not.

Gary Neville spewing more shite after these games - said it shows the benefit of having an expanded World Cup with 48 teams by having Cape Verde qualify - facts are different though if he'd have paid attention to CV in the recent AFCON, and considered that even under the old 32 team qualification route they still would've made this WC. That they're a genuinely well organised unit who can compete at competition level. Neville underestimated them, so did alot of people, but he's too lazy to look into why and then tries kiss arsing up to FIFA/whoever backing this cobbledash format with dead rubbers in the groups and 3rd place qualification.

Uruguay getting desperate, they’re either going to get a red card or a goal.

Nice of Norway to rest their best players for that one, gives France a great run at winning the World Cup now. No games at altitude, air conditioned stadiums, one cross continental flight but everything else near their home base in the NE USA. How conveniently good for them, with a squad like that you wouldn't think they'd need luck/help, but here we are. They should absolutely steamroll the entire competition now, congratulations FIFA/France.

Oh yeah, if England do come through Mexico in Mexico City, the next game will be in Miami with no aircon. The way these fixtures are organised is crap. Lucky, lucky France btw, again.

Want to watch Sco-Bra but need to get up for work @5:45am

You'd expect us to beat Panama. This result puts the pressure on Croatia & Ghana in their game. England v USA in 2022 was a rubbish performance. With the first group game won the pressure isn't really on. If we were to not turn up in the knock out games it's a problem but really we're still very comfortable and it puts all the pressure on Ghana & Croatia in their final match. I expect some changes to the team after Panama too. Saka comes in, Rogers pushing too.

Twists the knife into Croatia abit, they'll have to turn up against Ghana. Heat is on in the knock out rounds, result like this dampens expectations a little bit too. You'd expect Saka to be coming in over Madueke, the defence today wasn't first choice either. Try to at least enjoy the ride

Abdul best player on the pitch

Looked like Konsa should've gave a pen away there, no contact on the ball, lept across both feet in the air, contacts the attacker on his leg. Gwon Fatawu btw

Argie fans delirious. So much of their national pride is based on football.

Shade of Weghorst v Argentina about that

These hydration breaks are weird. They take 3+ minutes but rarely does it seem those minutes are put back on, you'll see 4 goals in a first half like Germany Curacao but then the ref will only add 4 minutes on. So you're saying the "3 minute hydration break", 4 goals being celebrated, the ball being out of play and possible injuries added up to 4 minutes extra? Last World Cup we were getting 8 minutes added to some games without the water breaks. We're seeing less football and more adverts, I haven't actually seen that called out yet.

Quality celebration there, run up to the ginormous blue wall and crank your neck up 90° to the Saudi fans.

Won't be long before the sponsor is above the badge.

A

Oh dear. That predictor bloke might've been onto something.