Knockout Stages - Quarter Final

[21st Century Fox]

We really do have a c*ntish media in this country. They know they can sell rage bait better than good news so they’re trying to blow Tuchel and Bellingham’s comments out of proportion. Surely only in this country do we create this type of self destruction.

[Nalis]

Just seen the Switzerland 2nd yellow card, such an obvious dive wtf is the guy thinking

[Nalis]

5 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

I like Tuchels comments and I don't Bellinghams honesty either but it does now have the making of a fall out. 

Hopefully they can both accept each others words and move on. 

My take is Bellingham dismissing Gabriel Clarke trying to stir the pot, and not dismissing Tuchel

Edited 10 hours ago by Nalis

[Super_horns]

Did the Norwegian version of Donald Trump write this ?

https://x.com/LfcNuel/status/2076219814196994551

[Vlad the Fox]

19 minutes ago, Danizen said:

 

Let's all take a moment to show our appreciation to the referee for making Haaland play like shit!

Ha ha, didn't look so sporting when flicking the v's at someone and telling them to "fvck off" after the Spence penalty shout. 

[UniFox21]

Bit of a weird game overall for VAR.

 

Spence overruled penalty felt harsh, you're taught to get in-between ball and defender, he's off balanced tussling so of course he's pushing to be in front of the defender. 

 

Norwegian ruled out goal was a little soft, but ref had just warned them all for pushing etc. 

[Vlad the Fox]

1 minute ago, UniFox21 said:

Bit of a weird game overall for VAR.

 

Spence overruled penalty felt harsh, you're taught to get in-between ball and defender, he's off balanced tussling so of course he's pushing to be in front of the defender. 

 

Norwegian ruled out goal was a little soft, but ref had just warned them all for pushing etc. 

Yes, wasn't a if Spence was trailing a leg to initiate contact as he went part someone. 

[CosbehFox]

Usual suspects grumbling about favourable decisions. 
 

If Norway can’t defend the goal kick when Anderson receives the ball fifty yards from goal, that’s tough tits. While if Nyland didn’t turn into Danny Ward, we’d have been facing penalties 

[Number 6]

It was ultimately the correct decision, but I've no idea how that fell under "mistaken identity".

[peach0000]

6 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

It was ultimately the correct decision, but I've no idea how that fell under "mistaken identity".

In the traditional sense of that rule it doesn't which confused me. However, it does appear that the rules for this particular tournament had this scenario under that definition from the beginning. So seems fair enough.

[Samilktray]

I can’t believe after playing a high intensity football game in 30+ heat, after numerous games with very little rest at the World Cup, after a full season of elite level professional football… that a clearly loaded question would get that response from Jude Bellingham. Am shocked 

[Finnegan]

Breel Embolo's sending off might be the funniest thing in the entire World Cup. What is he doing

 

[Finnegan]

1 hour ago, Super_horns said:

Did the Norwegian version of Donald Trump write this ?

https://x.com/LfcNuel/status/2076219814196994551

 

It's called engagement bait, my friend. You ignore it.

 

[st albans fox]

1 hour ago, Number 6 said:

It was ultimately the correct decision, but I've no idea how that fell under "mistaken identity".

Happened in group game Paraguay v USA with almiron and reem 

because almiron didn’t have a yellow already it was a lot less consequential 

[Free Falling Foxes]

1 hour ago, Finnegan said:

Breel Embolo's sending off might be the funniest thing in the entire World Cup. What is he doing

 

My initial reaction was serves the cheating #*%@ right.

However, this morning, I found my self thinking about my playing days, only park football but still relevant I think

Sometimes you would see a strong tackle coming in from the corner of your eye, and you jump or try to 'ride' the tackle. In slow motion I can well imagine it often appears as simulation.

In this situation though he clearly feigns contact by clutching his leg so yes, quite embarrassing. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Free Falling Foxes

[MPH]

So for anyone wondering, the meal was a success… lots of steak, chicken drumsticks, ribs, bratwursts and sides of course.

 

 

 

But I’ve watched a replay of the game I have to say Bellingham is every bit a Ronaldo  or Messi to us. Just so important and phenomenal . We create a massive dilemma for the opposition.. do they set up to mark Kane out of the game in which case Bellingham get a a bit of extra  space or do they try and mark Bellingham out of the game in which case Kane will always bag one or two. It’s not a luxury we’ve had for as long as I can remember.

[MPH]

One more thing..

 

Anthony Gordon has won me over.  We started the tournament with me thinking he shouldn’t even be in the squad, so fair play to Tuchel.  Gordon is not one of the worlds best, or anything like that but he’s doing exactly what we need him to do.

 

 

his subs work great for the most part, his game management is very good, tactical switches at the right time. Hats off to you, Tuchel

Edited 10 hours ago by MPH

[DJ Barry Hammond]

55 minutes ago, MPH said:

One more thing..

 

Anthony Gordon has won me over.  We started the tournament with me thinking he shouldn’t even be in the squad, so fair play to Tuchel.  Gordon is not one of the worlds best, or anything like that but he’s doing exactly what we need him to do.

 

 

his subs work great for the most part, his game management is very good, tactical switches at the right time. Hats off to you, Tuchel

I thought his changes / selections were poor last night.

 

Madueke was a questionable selection to start… and went on to show why with a distinct lack of quality / football intelligence despite given ample opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

 

Rice was clearly under the weather, so a halftime switch was understandable… but choosing to bring in Eze and drop Bellingham back alongside Anderson (who was excellent last night be the way) was another bizarre choice.

 

Not only did it hinder your star player and take away from his growing and formidable partnership with your star striker, it also helped Odegaard to become a growing influence in the game, to the point Norway were looking the more likely.

 

 

He at least acknowledged his error later on, with the decision to bring James in for Gordon and shove Eze to the left flank (Gordon can count himself a little unlucky in that Tuchel couldn’t exactly take Eze off in order to correct England’s midfield balance issue).

 

But quite why you would bring James on in centre midfield when you have Rogers / Mainoo sitting on the bench I don’t know - with Roger’s cameo in extra time highlighting to me that he probably should have been the original change for Rice.

 

I even found the Dan Burn change questionable - at this point Norway had taken Haaland off, England looked reasonably comfortable with a more dominant and energetic midfield and I didn’t see the need to give up that and inevitably invite some late pressure.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

5 hours ago, The Bear said:

 

As far as the Spence penalty goes, yes he stuck his leg in front of the defender, but we've also seen plenty of those given and will continue to at all levels. I don't think VAR should have got involved. Certainly not after what Collina has had to say about re-refereeing incidents. 

I think VAR got both of the key decisions correct.

 

The Haaland push is so blatant that it can’t be ignored - and this was an area that FIFA highlighted before the tournament that was going to be looked at more closely… so Norway shouldn’t really have any complaints there.

 

And then the Spence penalty claim - if he plants his foot to protect the ball in a more natural fashion, it’s a stonewaller.

 

But he doesn’t - he essentially initiates the contact, at which point I can’t agree with the original decision and it’s only correct that VAR instigates a review.

 

As for the ‘ball hits wire’ business… I’ve yet to see clear and irrefutable evidence to show that happened, therefore ‘play on!’

[inckley fox]

6 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

I do think Bellingham could've been smarter with his words personally whether he was right or not. Just came across as dismissive and a little petulant imo. 

 

I'm kind of old school in thinking that the managers opinion is the most important and clearly we do need to be better with the quality of opposition about to get significantly more difficult. 

 

I'd like to think they'll both be professional enough to not let something so minor rock the boat

I think it was petulant. Yes contrasting views are normal in a dressing room, and it's tough to say the right things in the heat of the moment, but the fact that we're talking about it so much is proof in itself that this isn't merely a case of a mountain being crafted from a molehill by the blood-hungry media. And of course a reporter is going to ask those questions. It's his job to get the juiciest possible answers rather than bland platitudes, so let's not make out that it's in some way his wonky moral compass which has caused this. I actually thought the pundits in the studio played it down more than they might have.

 

It's being widely talked over by the press across Europe, with the Spanish press divided between the pro-Real contingent who have always felt that Tuchel has it in for their players, and the others who feel that Bellingham needs to grow up and take on criticism if he's going to make the most of his career. I've seen one headline - in Spain again I think - which talked it up as a 'civil war' in the England camp.

 

So yes, it is a fairly big story, and I can understand why too. As for the comments, well, Tuchel is clearly right. We haven't particularly clicked with any consistency in the tournament, have ridden our luck at times, and will have to improve considerably on that, or it'll be the same-old same-old come the back end of the week, and we'll be out. If that simple truth is really so hard for England players to take on, if they've got so carried away by this point that nothing and nobody can ground them, then not only will they go home empty-handed this year, but it'll go a long way towards explaining why they go home empty-handed every year.

 

They were celebrating that win like it was the final itself and the manager wisely wants to throw some cold water on it. I hope the players take heed, including Bellingham, who has only truly achieved one thing with his comments: if we put in a vastly superior performance and beat the Argentinians, everyone will point to the importance of having a manager who demands more. Tuchel will be totally vindicated. But if it goes wrong - and we know how short a turnaround there is in England from hero worship to nationwide vilification - then people are going to question whether the real problem with England was apparent in that interview this morning, and the players' unwillingness to accept that maybe, just maybe, they need to do a little better sometimes.

 

If there is a civil war going on in the dressing room (and I highly doubt it's that bad), or - let's say - a tug-of-war between those who think we've been heroic and wonderful, and those who think we need to do much more and have nothing to celebrate yet, then I know which camp needs to win that particular debate in order for England to be successful.

[Foxdiamond]

All a bit a storm in a teacup. Game of Chinese whispers. Tuchel was right about the performance and Bellingham was right about putting in a shift in difficult conditions. Interviews straight after a match. Media whipping it up and then the gossip starts. 

[Leicesterpool]

Haaland dad is bigger pr#ck than his son, did anyone see him stick two fingers up at the England fans over the penalty. Needs to show respect, forgets where his son was born, the country in which his sons club he plays. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Leicesterpool

[whoareyaaa]

2 hours ago, DJ Barry Hammond said:

I thought his changes / selections were poor last night.

 

Madueke was a questionable selection to start… and went on to show why with a distinct lack of quality / football intelligence despite given ample opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

 

Rice was clearly under the weather, so a halftime switch was understandable… but choosing to bring in Eze and drop Bellingham back alongside Anderson (who was excellent last night be the way) was another bizarre choice.

 

Not only did it hinder your star player and take away from his growing and formidable partnership with your star striker, it also helped Odegaard to become a growing influence in the game, to the point Norway were looking the more likely.

 

 

He at least acknowledged his error later on, with the decision to bring James in for Gordon and shove Eze to the left flank (Gordon can count himself a little unlucky in that Tuchel couldn’t exactly take Eze off in order to correct England’s midfield balance issue).

 

But quite why you would bring James on in centre midfield when you have Rogers / Mainoo sitting on the bench I don’t know - with Roger’s cameo in extra time highlighting to me that he probably should have been the original change for Rice.

 

I even found the Dan Burn change questionable - at this point Norway had taken Haaland off, England looked reasonably comfortable with a more dominant and energetic midfield and I didn’t see the need to give up that and inevitably invite some late pressure.

Agree with this he got it completely wrong soon as he brought Eze on then spent the rest of the game brining others players on to fix the issue he created.

 

Granted we wasn’t playing quality football but his changes didn’t help make it possible tbh.

[Corky]

9 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

All a bit a storm in a teacup. Game of Chinese whispers. Tuchel was right about the performance and Bellingham was right about putting in a shift in difficult conditions. Interviews straight after a match. Media whipping it up and then the gossip starts. 

It is only a big deal because our dreadful football media make it that way. Fortunately there appears to be adults in the dressing room.

[Wsl]

15 minutes ago, Leicesterpool said:

Haaland dad is bigger pr#ck than his son, did anyone see him stick two fingers up at the England fans over the penalty. Needs to show respect, forgets where his son was born, the country in which his sons club he plays. 

At the country to which he personally owed his own senior professional career, having played 187 out of 200 of his entire senior club appearances for any club for Forest, Leeds and Man City. And with the rest only occurring for Byrne/Rosseland 4 years after he’d effectively retired.