speeeeeeedie

Might I also add that bringing players on late into extra time so that they can take a penalty also doesn't work. Spain brought on two, Morocco 1. All three of them missed. See England 2021 too.

Awful penalties from Spain. Who decided that walking up to take a penalty makes it easier to score? Having said that if Morocco's 21 could shoot they'd have lost too.

A mate of mine was at the England-USA game. His view of it in person was that Southgate set the team up not to lose, and with it progression secured. USA wouldn't have scored if they played for 3 hours. England do look confident. 1 goal conceded from open play (the second was never a penalty), and more chances being created.

He is. He makes other players better. He's not flashy at all. He has been on the right of the 3, which if where he plays his best football for Liverpool. He does a lot of covering for TAA. If Southgate keeps the same team (which I hope he does) he can help with Mbappe. I think that Rodgers and Gerrard would have had a league title if it wasn't for Henderson being sent off against City a few years ago. They were lost without him.

Well said. I am glad I stay off here during the games. It was obvious after 10 minutes that England were by far the better team. Pickford's save made them wake up, then lo and behold it was 2-0 and game over at half time. Lots of posts moaning about Saka. He scores again. Henderson; a title winning and Champs League winning captain is thought of as a complete plodder. It's completely lost on most that he can play. I say again and again that this board is anti-England, and is certainly pessimistic at the chances of winning. Of course history plays a part but it's gamblers fallacy to think that there is no chance of victory. The Germans are out again after the group stages, Italy are missing their second straight World Cup. I also think that a lot of it comes down to the mentality that pervades East Lancashire. Predicting the worst and being right is easier than hoping for the best and being wrong. Finally, as to Maguire struggling against Mbappe; the last time I looked he played on the left side of England's defence, and Mbappe on the left side for France. Maguire will be responsible for Giroud. Stones and Walker will work on Mbappe. Think big.

One lad was offside but wasn't involved. Lovren was deemed to be because the edge of his shoulder was past the defender. I think that they used the wrong VAR. I don't think that Carrasco touched the attacker's foot. Belgium look old.

You and me both.

Every Rovers fan around to see him appreciated how good he was. His only weakness was his kicking.

Injuries robbed him. He is still good, but his progress was stalled just as he was really on the up. I agree on your Dembele take - I never saw him lose possession. He was superb. Moyes' Everton had a good few; Baines (although did play a game or two for England), Pienaar, Cahill, Carsley, Jagielka. Even Leon Osman did a good job. Arjan de Zeeuw is another one. Never put a foot wrong for Wigan or Portsmouth.

Wales were poor. In the first half they didn't try to play, however I don't blame them for that as every time they ventured past the halfway line they'd lose the ball and England were off. As soon as England scored it was over as a contest. It was barely one before. Overall a good performance from England. 3 goals, although should have been more, subs got a run out, and first place in the group. Roll on Sunday against Senegal. After the 3rd went in I switched over to the USA-Iran game. I'm glad USA are through. They have a young, talented squad who work hard. Their undoing will be the lack of a goal threat. Iran on the other hand are a terrible advert for football. Diving, fouling, complaining, annoying the officials, dirty tricks all around. I'm glad that they are going home.

He's trolling as usual. Just ignore. He goes for whatever he thinks will get a reaction. Where has the Anti-American sentiment on this thread come from? By all means rag the USA in the Trump topic. I hope the USA wins today. It will keep the tournament alive over here, I know more of their players, and they don't play an ultra defensive style of football.

I noticed that. The Iran players were putting in some dodgy tackles. Trippier got one on his foot that looked painful. There were others too. It looks like Kane will be fit ESPN FC - Kane fit to play

Cheers. I also assume that as the 1 seed in the group England get first pick on kit.

I'm struggling to find out what strip are England wearing on Friday. Home or away? Anyone know?

Make your mind up. Iran have gone from a good side to a pub side in 48 hours. What happened to move your opinion? Oh yeah; England gave them a right beating. Pure trolling.

I was hoping for a real answer.

Why would it be? Game times? Teams?

I agree. The 32 team format pits seed 1 v. seed 4 in the first group game which offers up some iffy games. Qatar-Ecuador to open the World Cup is hardly exciting. As @Silas said, starting next weekend it gets interesting. Kicked off with England v. USA on Friday which is essentially a bank holiday over here. 2pm kick off. It's going to be great.

You'll be in for a surprise. World Cup 2026 will be massive in the USA. There are millions of football fans over here. MLS might not be the greatest standard but they draw big gates. Every stadium will be packed full for games. They'll do fan fests and the like.

Notwithstanding the notion that any England game is a potential banana skin, Iran are playing in a World Cup match where the players won't need any extra motivation. It won't be easy, but Iran is not a good team. Ex Man U coach Carlos Queiroz is their manager. He took them to Brazil and Russia. Left after 2018, then was reappointed a few months ago. He deployed a very boring form of defensive football in his previous tournaments so I expect Southgate is spending plenty of time on developing set pieces as Iran won't be strutting around like Brazil 1982 leaving space galore. The majority of the squad play outside of Iran. I don't know how bristled they are by the recent protests.

I have doubts that any of the boycotters will actually boycott. England have a winnable group. It's wall to wall football for the first 2 weeks starting in late November. Nobody will be able to get away from the coverage. The last 16 and quarter final games for England (if they get there) will be Fridays or Saturdays in December. Will there be that many competing Christmas do's? As I've said before; it's a travesty that the World Cup is in Qatar, and not in the summer, but I will still watch as much as I can as once a referee blows his whistle at kick off all politics goes out of the window and every player on the pitch will be trying to win.

You certainly have a soft spot for either Everton or Lampard. They will be bottom 6. Calvert-Lewin is out again for who knows how long. Without him they find goals hard to come by. Tarkowski and Coady at the back, with Pickford in goal will keep them safe.

It's the BRFCS way. On the whole this site is pessimistic toward the national football team. The oft cited reason I've been given over the years is that it's a Rovers forum first and foremost so why would people support the national team? England have nothing to fear, yet fans are used to failure, so it's easier to naysay at every turn.

Good point on Maguire and Iran. By all measures they aren't very good, the team hasn't been settled, and the country is currently in tumult. What's done is done, and I reckon it will be his last tournament for England. I made 1 change from my prediction the other week Walker in for Dier; Pickford Trippier Walker Stones Maguire Shaw Rice Bellingham Sterling Kane Foden

Southgate goes with what he knows. Tomori misses out, I've no problem with it. Like it or not, Maguire will play. Wilson is a surprise. Rashford somewhat, although he is playing much better this season than last. Maddison in is a reward for his form. Gallagher is an interesting one. He is mobile than Ward-Prowse but he's not playing at the same level as he was last year. Probably 5 at the back. I'm eternally optimistic at a good run. Argentina are unbeaten in over 30 games. Brazil, France, Holland look good, but anything can happen.