pearcey_90

Kyle Hudlin.

Was it? Seemed more like a 4-4-2 they played, with Messi strolling around the middle, picking the ball up where he wants, which tends to be just off right centre as he comes onto his left.

Saka was great. Not sure who else RW was better than him?

Guy saved a penalty to spare their blushes against Canada, and was overall strong in that game considering how bad Belgium were first half.

I would be. Fair chance Maguire probably starts like 1 or 2 games by then if all the CBs for Man Utd are fit Tomori is one defender we should be trying out in more games, especially if he's playing regularly for Milan in various big games. Easy to forget too that Maguire was having some poor games for England coming into the World Cup, so we have to looking longer term.

It will be interesting now to see how some of the Argentine players fair in the coming weeks, mostly in the Prem. Will the likes of Martinez etc be back for games over Christmas/New Year, or will clubs allow them a nice bit of time off. Because it’s going to be hard psychologically go from 4 weeks of draining games ending on a high, to then following week pick yourself up for a meh domestic league/cup game. Not like previous tournaments where you get few weeks break, then few weeks to ease back in (unless the clubs grant that time).

They always want to look at how to decide games that are tied after ET, and it always goes back to penalties is only way. So based on that, I agree goalkeepers are a big factor, so I would like a change to be made for penalty shootouts, that anyone in the squad can take one, and you can choose a keeper. I do think as the game progresses, it's proper archaic that only the players on the pitch at the end can take a penalty, so you get subs made with 1 min to go. Just allow the manager to pick the order from any of their squad, and change the goalkeeper if they have one on bench that would be better at saving.

Every penalty is poor if keeper saves it. Dybala and Paredes pens were poor, but went in so good.

I’m not a fan of Southgate, but even I’ve unfortunately fallen into the camp of ‘There’s no other options right now’. He showed signs of changing with the 4-3-3, but tactical changes still lack for him and getting the overall edge in the games against the big sides. We have a meh 18 months in terms of football going into Euros, so it just comes down to winning the Euros. Can’t accept anything less. I just want to see him try out more players in different positions over that time, so options are expanded. The big things for me: Foden long term position. I want to see him central for England, Saka RW and endless options LW. The balance in the middle. Rice/Bellingham/Foden. Phillips/Mount/Maddison. Try stuff that has that bit more creativity, whilst being solid. It can be done. LB options. Chilwell hopefully comes back like he’s not had an ACL injury, but if things are not good we just have Shaw who can be hot and cold, both form and injuries. So need someone else as an option that isn’t Trippier or Saka CB pairing. Maguire I just can’t see being a Man Utd regular, so unless he moves in summer, we have to look at edging him out the starting XI and try someone else alongside Stones. Even with Stones you can’t be confident long term at Man City he’ll be a regular. Had it been a summer World Cup, he’d have been going into it with just 13 prem appearances. So we need to try out some people, especially in the ‘tougher’ games. Start Ramsdale more in qualifying. Need to rotate between him and Pickford, again to keep options open.

I think giving how successful the tournament was in terms of drama, it’s opened the door for more winter world cups. Before, you’d probably say it may be a few decades before next one, now I reckon Saudis will be going all out for 2030, and FIFA would be keen on it being winter. Giving how they’ve not sorted out 2026, I genuinely wouldn’t rule that out being in the winter. Stadiums that are used for NFL and it during NFL season should stop that, but FIFA might try and see what can be done. Either way, can see the 2030 one being in Winter, as even the temperatures in Uruguay/Argentina are good for it if it wasn’t to be Saudi Arabia.

Solid 9 for me. Group stages had some amazing drama in final round of games, but a lot of it came down to the final 15 minutes, so had to endure some boring crap for large parts, but the endings made up for it. First round of knockouts were proper meh. Morocco win on pens was great, but that didn’t make up for some dull games. After that, things spiced up with all QFs being good. SFs lacked the drama, but that’s just because they were two uneven ties IMO, then the final delivered spectacularly thanks to Otamendi. Had he not been his usual braindead 2 minute heads gone as we’ve seen many times before, Argentina probably end up coasting to 2-0 or even 3-0 win and it’s a fitting finale for Messi but a proper awful final. That moment pivoted it from being one of the worst finals to easily the best ever

FOOTBALL HAS A HAPPY ENDING!

Martinez is getting freedom of Argentina!

You surely can not give Martinez a pen. He's head must be gone after that chance.

LOOOOOL **** off Martinez!