You must be getting soft. Every game was like that in the Manchester Industrial League back in the 60’s. Minus the harassing of the ref of course.

I like the physicality of the Iranian team. They put it about like teams used to do. We could have done with a bit of that attitude at the dingledome. The ref let a lot go, it must be a tough old league in Guatemala.

Yep, Wales huffed and puffed but Iran were clearly the better team in the second half. Bale and Ramsey anonymous.

I think Casemiro is as good as Rice. Raphinha was poor last night but he’s a match winner on his day. I like how they have two wingers right out on the touchline, It makes the pitch big when they have the ball. Kompany has the dingles set up the same way.

I take my red, white and blue glasses off when I watch England. I try and be objective about football in general. It’s better for my blood pressure.

I thought once Brazil got going they looked like scoring with every attack. Having said that I think that any team with Fred in it has a weakness.

Whoever wins it will have to beat Brazil.

Another one from the North East who played for both clubs was Johnny Price. I really liked him, a little old fashioned winger. Before he came to Rovers he played for Stockport County. They were crap then but I never saw Johnny have a bad game for them.

They were great, they never gave up at all but if you miss a pen you’re making a rod for your own back. That had to go in for them to have a chance of the 3 points.

Looking at the events back in Iran I wonder how much their hearts were in the game. They might be in Qatar but their families are still in Iran. Imagine the meltdown here if the team refused to join in with the national anthem. We’ll know more after their next two games.

Of course.

Looks like we’ve all forgotten about England v Iceland.

I saw a few times after he left Dr Feelgood. He had a style all of his own.

Yeah that’s a great find. I loved “ The Shangri-Las “ back in the day. There’s a terrific bit of film of them doing “ Give Him A Great Big Kiss “ live on YouTube. Their singles came out here on the “ Red Bird “ label. The Tommy James version of “ I think We’re Alone Now “ is brilliant. “ Crimson And Clover “ was another top record he did. He was big in America but unfortunately never made much money because the label he was on was run by the Mafia !

I could see that coming for the Premier League clubs.

I thought Greizmann had a good game tonight. He was pulling the strings in an advanced midfield role.

I’d want a goal start if we play them.

And Dembele.

MBappe must be the fastest player I’ve ever seen. He makes defenders look like they’re running the other way. Dembele is no slouch either.

A workmate of mine did a lot of odds on betting. He had £650 on France in that game. He wasn’t a happy bunny at full time.

I was at the Brazil v Hungary game later on. I went to see Pele play but he was injured. I thought Eusebio got 4 goals in the North Korea game. I can’t think of anyone who hit the ball harder than Eusebio.

Ron Atkinson saw something in him and put him on a diet of steaks and “ Guinness “ to build him up.

A pal of mine had a few games for the reserves over there back in the day before he moved to Bury. He told me the story about the coach coming back almost empty. He said it was amazing how many Geordies were at the time. If I recall correctly from that era Angus, O’Neil, Talbut, Adamson, Harris, Jimmy Robson, Pointer, Bellamy, were all Geordies. Keith Newton was at Bolton and was let go.

I think it was Hickson or Hixson. In the 1960’s when the dingles reserve team played away at Newcastle in the old Central League the team coach went up full and came back almost empty. The players all stayed at home for the weekend after the game. Why the likes of Newcastle, Sunderland and Boro were allowing local lads to leave the area in such numbers is a bit of a mystery.