FIFA World Cup 2026 - USA/Canada/Mexico (Part 3)

The Cruyff Turn
1083

I think when Brazilians went from Socrates, Bebeto, Ronaldo and so on to Fred, Enderick and Hulk that the rot set in. Oddest thing is they’ve probably just had the best two keepers they ever had in Alisson and Ederson, where Ancelotti goes from here is anyones guess but being reliant on Vinicius Jnr is a bit like being reliant on Neymar.

Apparently Carlo was talking up 2030 as being the one they targeted, but I can’t see past France or Spain as France will be hitting prime and Spain’s youngsters will be developing (Plus it’s home terrority for Spain and pretty much next door for France). Of course its hard to predict as a year or so ago both Foden and Palmer would be at this world cup but…

Maybe England though there will be a need to replace Kane.

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1084

He was responsible for the single biggest act of cheating that had it come from a Paraguay player everyone would have been raging at it.

England are fighting to get into half time and Gordon chases back to a loose bouncing ball towards the left touchline deep in egland’s half. With absolutely no intention of playing it he instead just looks over his shoulder waiting for the Mexican player and as soon as he got into touching distance, Gordon threw his bodyweight backwards into the player, screamed and then threw himself on the floor.

It’s the game I guess. But it’s still cheating

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1085

One Paraguay bloke elbowed a guy with no focus on play… yes it’s a dive but its ten a penny in world football.

Purposefully elbowing someone is a bit different. Compare that to the penalty Brazil got on what was an elbow but one where the guy was going for the ball. Gordon flopping over is not in the same ball park as anything Paraguay did in that game.

I dislike the guy but lets be a bit less hyperbole.

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1086

Yeah a lot of the decision will have been made based on how he came into the challenge before there was contact. He started off nearly knee high before lowering his foot to ball height on contact. It was an awful, reckless challenge that was lucky it didnt do damage, which is exactly the point of red cards. You want to stamp out challenges that could do damage, not wait until someone breaks their leg and only then punish it.

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1087

The criticism of Paraguay and the way they conducted themselves was not from a single elbow so I would counter by saying lets not require everything reach the worst of their behavior to criticize it

1088

Kounde went to block the Paraguay player (who then swang an arm) off the ball which is also cheating btw.

1089

Considering his ‘arms’ he does really well.

1090

So it’s okay that Galazara whacked Kounde in the face then?

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1091

The morning after. Well done England. They stood firm and got the all important win. Mexico made it a great contest. Fantastic football arena. Passionate fans. A team that gave its all and took the game to England. It was easy to see why they hadn’t been beaten at home in 13 years. So well done England for doing what was needed.

We had to defend with 10 men for a long time, as Mexico came at us in wave after wave. It was a justified red. Quansah was stupid. His foot was high as he went over the ball. His calf then bounced up off the top of the ball and his foot went even higher, taking the Mexican player out. Red card very much justified.

Henderson? Freak accident, but could have been more careful. These days he is a back up for England, and if he hasn’t been used so far, even to help close a game out, chances are he would have barely been used, if at all, moving forward.

I understand the discussion around certain players. I don’t like a few of them, for sure. Now that we are in the tourney I’m supporting England as a whole, but as individuals I don’t have any great feel for any of them. It’s just how it is for me.

As for wider fans not liking England, I get that, too. As an Englishman, when I look at lots of our fans, and the outdated songs going back to WW2 and all the rest of it, I want no part of it. There’s also a far right wing element embedded in the England fans that makes it all feel a bit MAGA.

So to fans of other nations, just know that plenty of English fans struggle with their own fan base, if that is what is representative!

But here we are, tourney time, now it’s the QF for England. Anything can happen. Norway are very impressive and it will be a great contest.

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1092

Just wanted to comment again on the Balogun situation. It is a bad decision to reinstate him, and even worse again if it is because the White House petitioned FIFA.

That has more to run.

Will they withdraw? Bring CAS into it? Play the game anyway?

I hate that football and politics have become so intertwined, especially with FIFA awarding tourneys to rogue nations like Russia and Qatar in recent years. Obviously this one is hosted by three nations, and Canada and Mexico can hold their heads up high.

Even America - the stadiums, the welcome that various towns have given to teams and so on, the buzz around the thing - it has all been great. However…

The leaders of America are unfit for purpose. The whole world can see it. And if Infantino and FIFA have overturned a sporting decision based on pressure from the White House, it is hugely problematic.

1093

Yeah in my view. I hate all cheating and it´s spoiling the game.

I´d let that be the punishment every time players grab or block others. Big whack in the face!

1094

When Blatter was in charge, as FIFA have their siege in Switzerland (maybe not for much longer though), I was exposed to much of his communications, the scandals surrounding him and FIFA at the time, but also to the way he was speaking about football. Honestly, Blatter was an innocent choirboy when compared with the current one. Levels of corruption are manyfold worse now, and Blatter was at least a genuine football fan. He had a passion about the sport. Platini would have had even more passion, being a former pro. Imo, he’d have been the right man to succeed to Blatter.

The same can’t be said from Infantino, who is nothing more than a corrupted, money- and power-hungry c*nt.

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1095

But that was Gordon’s worst dive…

Not saying he wasn’t a knob but fucking hell watch any football at a weekend and you get that, you don’t get elbow smashes to the face most weekends.

1096

Allowing the World Cup to adopt Americanisms has further ruined a gane already on the road to being fucked.
Ok, it can be argued that hydration breaks are necessary, but what they should have done is line up all the drinks on the opposite touchline to tge benches.
Games just turned in 4 quarters, conveniently allowing a couple of ads on US TV channels

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1097

Are all the English in here ok?

Does anyone need a hug?

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1098

Too early.
Come back around the 15th

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1099

Unfortunately not only on US channels. We have it here as well. They were too happy to take it over and make some money with it, the fuckers…

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1100

Can’t say I’ve noticed, but I’m not sure ITV show ads during the 2 additional coaching breaks

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1102

He just gave a presser. The upshot was that no-one knows as much about sport as Trump and he decided it wasn’t even a foul.

Oh , and he plays golf with Harry Kane.

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