Iran and Wales making us look good at moment. Draw here and we can qualify tonight. 🤞

Let's see how this pans out. I'm still a bit sceptical:

Sorry Mike, not having it. I can't excuse them when they specifically said different in advance. The now FIFA Senior Adviser said in 2020: “We will see a progressive change in all of those aspects and rainbow flags, t-shirts will all be welcome in the stadium — that’s a given. They understand very well that is our stance." And a World Cup Chief Executive said: “When it comes to the rainbow flags in the stadiums, FIFA have their own guidelines, they have their rules and regulations,” 2022 World Cup chief executive Nasser Al-Khater told the AP. “Whatever they may be, we will respect them.” When you bear in mind what they were talking about then was potentially a sea of flags and T-shirts in the crowds being allowed. And here we are now with one poxy little armband getting worn by one player (the captain) being aggressively stopped, it's oceans away from what was promised. I don't blame Qatar, as ever, I lay the responsibility firmly at the door of the abysmal organisation that FIFA is. https://egyptindependent.com/ap-exclusive-qatar-to-allow-rainbow-flags-at-2022-world-cup/

So frustrating this Canada team in the final third. They're going to be kicking themselves if they end up with nothing from this game. It's paining me as a neutral.

Yeah, tbf I've been more entertained than I was expecting. Actually ended up with a bonus day off Tues so watched SA's win. And now Japan are holding Germany. Let's see if Junior Hoilett can help Canada make a game of it tonight. Shaping up all right this WC. 😲😲😲 Japan now winning!

I can't help but say it in an aussie accent along with him:

Interesting you mention young coping and then pressure. So more mental break than physical. And then they all go for a jolly to Marbella/Dubai and get hammered for it. Particularly while we're all jealous freezing our arses off. I'd be a supporter of it, everyone could do with a week forgetting about everything and recharging, even millionaire sportsmen. The cynic in me can't see it ever happening. Particularly when the TV schedule needs constantly fed.

Blow the FT whistle ref! Hope there's not much added time.

USA look a good team. Going to be tough Friday. Aaron Ramsey having a shocker.

My word, you can't play the same goal music everytime at a World Cup. They only got one CD? Stands out a mile when you have 8 goals in a game. Free from desire?!....It's giving me a really strong desire to put my foot through the TV.

Yep, cos he's actually happy. Unlike some of the other miserable gits- Ashley Cole, Lee Dixon, Michael Owen, Karen Carney etc - they seem like they're commentating on a funeral sometimes.

So, somewhere between 10th and 52nd in the World.

I like Foden too. Just seems everytime we doubt Sterling, he shows up in the big games. He was on crap form for City last year before Euros. Probably why he was eventually sold. But was our player of tournament. That earns big credit in the bank surely.

Keep slagging him lads, cos everytime that happens he seems to end up goalscorer and match winner. It's a tried and tested formula.

Would be quite amusing if Qatar took a pasting here. 5 or 6 nil please. Taken a hammering before the tournament, let’s follow it up with one on the pitch. 🤞

And this guy is due to be re-elected without opposition apparently. If this speech doesn't put a stop to that then nothing has changed at Fifa since Blatter. As much of a shambles as ever.

🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ I'm genuinely speechless. The head of corrupt Fifa's defence of Qatar is basically a Catherine Tate ginger sketch. I don't think I've heard anything more tone deaf in my entire life.

I get your sentiment, but I've just got to be honest, and out of the games I can watch this week when not at work (barring our group), I'm left with: Qatar v Ecuador, France v Australia, Belgium v Canada, and Brazil v Serbia. Not really getting the juices flowing. And I'll be very surprised if any of the underdogs shine in those games. I think there's some very boring games there, and a couple whitewashes. Will be happy to be proved wrong and look foolish tho.

I hadn't really looked at the fixtures properly till today. What a load of crap. Very little to interest me there. Barring England's games, and I suppose the others in our group, the first games I actually want to watch don't start till next weekend when we have: Sat 26th: France v Denmark, Argentina v Mexico Sun 27th: Spain v Germany Mon 28th: Brazil v Switzerland, Portugal v Uruguay I was all excited for the start of the WC, and now realise I have to wait a week till any decent ties. Gutted.

My best wishes and thoughts to you and the family SC. Your folks certainly sound like a couple of gems. If only they'd put you in a blue and white baby grow, then we could all agree they'd absolutely nailed parenting. 😉

Hell of an anecdote that. Would take a certain calibre of person to put ego and hubris aside and follow that advice through. Particularly at that young age.

Was Leicester's title an achievement or a fluke?

Such a myth how much we spent in the glory years compared to other clubs. On transfermarkt.co.uk I've picked 90/91 season to 01/02 to cover the period we won the 2 major trophies. On total expenditure we're 7th: 1 Newcastle United €236.98m 190 €132.61m 174 €-104.36m 2 Liverpool FC €212.33m 138 €100.84m 133 €-111.49m 3 Manchester United €204.51m 163 €98.92m 152 €-105.59m 4 Chelsea FC €204.05m 164 €93.06m 156 €-110.99m 5 Leeds United €202.13m 153 €64.84m 151 €-137.29m 6 Arsenal FC €199.07m 150 €137.59m 145 €-61.48m 7 Blackburn Rovers €177.03m 194 €131.51m 187 €-45.53m On net spend we're even lower at 13th: 1 Leeds United €202.13m 153 €64.84m 151 €-137.29m 2 Liverpool FC €212.33m 138 €100.84m 133 €-111.49m 3 Chelsea FC €204.05m 164 €93.06m 156 €-110.99m 4 Manchester United €204.51m 163 €98.92m 152 €-105.59m 5 Newcastle United €236.98m 190 €132.61m 174 €-104.36m 6 Tottenham Hotspur €145.85m 180 €57.81m 184 €-88.04m 7 Fulham FC €90.26m 173 €7.70m 165 €-82.56m 8 Middlesbrough FC €137.19m 169 €72.36m 160 €-64.82m 9 Arsenal FC €199.07m 150 €137.59m 145 €-61.48m 10 Aston Villa €157.85m 147 €105.97m 141 €-51.88m 11 Manchester City €90.99m 215 €40.80m 208 €-50.19m 12 Sunderland AFC €86.02m 173 €38.17m 161 €-47.85m 13 Blackburn Rovers €177.03m 194 €131.51m 187 €-45.53m But people still talk like we were the big spenders of the 90's. Simply not true. Same goes for wages too.