Only have themselves to blame for not playing to their strength. It does feel a lot like our former coach.
2 Likes
Anyway, sad for SA, but itās great to have the non-malevolent host country advance.
2 Likes
First of the 3 host countries confirmed to the next round. That is a relief in many ways.
2 Likes
Well, one of them, anyway. Mexico-Ecuador isnāt going to look anything like that
1 Like
Expecting fireworks in that match, and a lot of play acting too.
2 Likes
True enough
lol that goal scorer is actually Portuguese 
Born in Ontario to Portuguese immigrants, his parents moved back to Portugal when he was 9. Has played most of his pro career in Portugal.
2 Likes
Again, congratulations to you all.
Enjoy the highlights from the game ^-^
https://x.com/Archer83Able/status/2071328271489245210
2 Likes
I had turned it off as I couldnāt bare to go through extra time and penalties. However Iām happy it finished before that.
Overall I think Canada deserved it. They did try to create even if they didnāt manage much.
3 Likes
Congratulations Canada! Lovely to see a host nation do so well and advance.
3 Likes
One team tried to win it, the other played for pens. Fine if the team you face is far better but I donāt think they are.
They attempted to do nothing and got what they deserved. Wish it was called out more by pundits.
2 Likes
Iām tipping Japan to cause a World Cup shock tomorrow.
5 Likes
Bollox.
Put the politics and conspiracy aside. Iran not good enough. They had 3 chances.
A lot of matches and overall fan action (barring some boorish English chants) has been outstanding. Iām loving the football.
The whole WC has been much better than I thought despite all the pre tournament shithousery from Trump and FIFA and ticket gouging that was well articulated on here.
1 Like
Wow someone who had lower expectations than me .
I just havenāt seen enough to make an assessment. What I have seen has been a disappointment 
. The matches I have seen I have generally stopped watching. This is because they all seem the same.
Morocco looked decent in their first game and thatās it.
England when they accelerated against Croatia looked like they could be interesting.
I do feel that reading the ref is the easiest way to get a win. The number of fouls not given for physically attacking a player in possession from behind is a real nonsense and the only way teams seem to be able to create a goal scoring chance. This if taken as the norm could really wreck what is left of football.
2 Likes
Iāve generally enjoyed the games Iāve watched and that is largely due to the banter on here. Itās added a different dimension to watching games which have on occasion been pretty dull
As far as the competition as a whole, Iāve no idea. I tune into a game with an 8-9pm kick off UK time and watch that in complete isolation. Whatās happening throughout the competition Iāve no idea.
And the talky bits before and after a game can royally fuck off. 90 (or was it 60?) minutes of talkies before England played the other night. Really?
5 Likes
I can say I donāt like the expanded format with 2/3 of 3rd place teams advancing. I feel like it waters the groups stage down too much.
But I am very much embracing my cranky old man things were better when I was young side.
2 Likes
Yes the third place situation does reward failure.
It was almost harder to get knocked out than go through in the expanded format so kudos to the handful of teams that managed it 
4 Likes