2026 FIFA World Cup Finals

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MagpieRacer
Yeah sounded more to me like Kane protecting Tuchel, he knows that those changes were a complete miss. The Rashford/Toney change needed to come after Argentina equalised, give them half a chance of having an impact.
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There was a period between the goal and the defensive subs where we did start to sit back. So Kane could be talking about that 10 minute spell after taking the lead. But what we needed when Argentina starting coming at us, which they needed to so, was give us more control and pace to counter. It was totally the wrong call to go more defensive.

Mainoo isn't the answer to everything, but why he didn't get used at all this tournament is baffling, Especially when you look at who came on in midfield instead. It wouldn't have hurt for Mainoo to come on instead of O'Reilly.
 
Dave A
Mainoo isn't the answer to everything, but why he didn't get used at all this tournament is baffling, Especially when you look at who came on in midfield instead. It wouldn't have hurt for Mainoo to come on instead of O'Reilly.
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When I said Tuchel had got most of his changes right up til now, this was the real outlier in my mind. Against Norway Rice was clearly not right and it was obvious he had to come off at HT but instead of the closest like-for-like replacement (Mainoo) he replaces him with Eze, moving Bellingham back... and the next 20-30 minutes resembled a game of musical chairs for every substitution thereafter.

For someone who professed to have faith in his substitutes to deliver when needed, he showed a complete lack of it in Mainoo and Watkins to name but two.
 
MUSC4EVER
Is there anything more pointless in Football than a 3rd/4th place off game in a World Cup?
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It's like rubbing salt in your wounds. No one cares, especially the players who have to perform in it after the massive blow of not making the final.
 
I don't understand why teams have to finish 3rd or 4th in a tournament, why not just call them semi finalists?
 
There’s still top scorer to play for, to be fair. But yeah, not that I’ve been in that position but I can imagine losing the semi kills your motivation somewhat...
 
TheCracker
It's like rubbing salt in your wounds. No one cares, especially the players who have to perform in it after the massive blow of not making the final.
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If you've won the world cup before I guess you might not care much for a 3rd place, but for a country like Norway it would be like playing in the final.
 
Heart of Midlothian v Rayo Vallecano are playing a friendly tonight in Edinburgh.

I'm not sure how they knew that Scotland wouldn't still be in the World Cup this weekend, so it's lucky that we didn't go further than we did.
 
I didn't think it was possible, but France are playing even worse than they did against Spain.

England probably can't believe it - a second string team, 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, a disallowed goal for offside, and at least two other good chances. France did have an excellent shot well saved, but otherwise they are pretty abject.
 
Touring Mars
I didn't think it was possible, but France are playing even worse than they did against Spain.

England probably can't believe it - a second string team, 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, a disallowed goal for offside, and at least two other good chances. France did have an excellent shot well saved, but otherwise they are pretty abject.
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Who'd have thought we just needed to drop Kane and Bellingham, play a false 9 and actually move the ball forwards.
 
MagpieRacer
Who'd have thought we just needed to drop Kane and Bellingham, play a false 9 and actually move the ball forwards.
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Yeh, it's maybe going to hurt a bit to realise that a different strategy has worked.

That said, France have been crap. They aren't defending at all, and England are casually playing right through them. It could be a cricket score if France don't improve. Mbappe is nowhere and looks like he would rather be anywhere else than on the pitch right now.

It's a pity because England are taking it seriously, and France are clearly not.
 
England are playing like they've got a point to prove.
 
Crazy how as soon as there isn't an elimination to worry about if you lose that a front-foot play style is suddenly really effective and successful.

Kane and Bellingham must be looking at this stat-padding game and wish they're out there to challenge for the Golden Ball.

It does help though that France are defending like it's a Semi-Final at home in 2014.
 
This is almost a worse result for Tuchel then if we lost. Shows England had it all along, yes France have been poor, but we've played against poor teams this tournament and not shown this level of fearless, attacking, confident play.
 
MagpieRacer
This is almost a worse result for Tuchel then if we lost. Shows England had it all along, yes France have been poor, but we've played against poor teams this tournament and not shown this level of fearless, attacking, confident play.
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Tuchel is probably wondering what's going on.

I don't think I've seen a performance as bad as France's... it has been an utterly horrible display, and I kind of hope that England thrash the hell out of them for not bothering to play properly.
 
You'd think the new players/bench wanting to show something and prove to coming Zidane that they belong in the starting XI but what the hell are they doing? Shocking and shameful lack of energy. At minimum three changes halftime, even four. Don't let this continue.
 
This is actually turning into one of the games of the tournament!
 
The people behind the goal on the right must be a bit cheesed off by now... crazy game!

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Hmm, Tommy Tuchel might be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory here - if England lose this, I think he will be getting a plane home to Munich and not London...
 
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Nice of JB to let Saka score his hat trick...

Nutty game - England could have acored 5 or 6 in the first half, France could have scored 7 or 8 in the second...
 
So, how did the game go?...

Cant Speak Nathan Fillion GIF
 

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