Rob1981

At one point they were talking about 1 point for a draw with penalty defeat, 2 points for a draw with penalty win, 3 points for an actual win. Suppose it's to try and add some more jeopardy to the three-team group stage so that two teams can't collude and put the other one out. Although whenever one team has already finished when the other two play I don't see that it can make that much difference. I think they are now doing penalty shootouts like this in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, although I've taken no notice of it whatsoever since they let the B teams in.

BBC took two group games out of three and also wanted first pick for the semis... super confident we are making the last four obviously Far cry from the 1990s and 2000s when they used to fight like cat and dog over the first R16 pick because they didn't expect England to go any further

Yeah, that turned out alright in the end. Joint record points haul in a group stage. Two clean sheets. Nine goals from midfield. Only two shots on target from the opposition teams in 200+ minutes. Everyone getting rotated and getting some match time. Injured players even getting back up to speed in time for the knockouts. Even a golden boot contender. Imagine if he actually knows what he's doing.

Meh. Doing what we need to do. Wales parking the bus even though they are on the verge of going out. Highlight undoubtedly Harry Maguire surging forward like Sol Campbell at France 98.

Deserved a goal that. Knocking it about like Brazilians in an airport lounge.

Too right. Nobody wants to miss Netherlands v Iran

tbf Iran deserve to be the main story tonight anyway... in their own hands, and potentially a first R16 appearance at the sixth attempt.

Heard someone argue quite convincingly that actually Bale should be left on the bench. Realistically if Wales aren't going to win 4-0, their best hope is a narrow win... maybe 1-0 or 2-1... and then hope that the other game is a draw. So you could bring Bale on for the last half hour if it's opening up and if they can nick a late goal. Instead of that now he runs around all game... but if it's still level on 70 minutes and the other game is in Wales's favour he is shagged out by the time it's getting interesting.

Obviously not

Doesn't know his best team.

You love to see it.

Pleased for Senegal after they went out last time on the yellow card rule. Bit of an surprise though, Ecuador looked a lot better to me over the first two games.

Everyone is on Iran v USA anyway apart from @Confused Clarity

Imagine putting Netherlands v Qatar on ITV1. Absolute clownshoes.

We could always go back to shoehorning our best eleven individual players into the same side, that always worked well.

People so obsessed with a throwaway Southgate comment It has always been about the squad and the group for him, never about individual players. Whenever he gets asked a direct question about an individual player, he either shuts it down quickly or just answers it in the most non-committal way possible. But suddenly it's "Southgate doesn't rate Foden!", even though Foden has started about the same number of games as Mount, Saka, Grealish and the rest.

Gakpo to Leeds Don't think so now.

@git2thachoppa Stick Wales v England in the thread title as well pal

PERMUTATIONS: Netherlands are through if they avoid defeat against Qatar, or they can afford to lose if Ecuador beat Senegal. Ecuador are through if they avoid defeat against Senegal Senegal are through if they beat Ecuador; they could go through with a draw but only if Netherlands lose to Qatar and GD ends up in Senegal's favour. Does that about cover it?

Make this a double thread for both games! Ecuador v Senegal is what the smart people are watching

If we’re going to win it, we might as well right all the historical wrongs along the way. Holland in the R16. Trippier goes the full Koeman ‘93, hauling someone to the floor when they are clean through. Then he dinks in a FK after he should have been sent off. Then it’s Argentina in the quarters. Foden goes on a mazy run through their entire team, then punches in a second goal with his fist to make sure. Portugal in the semis. Pickford takes off his gloves and smashes home the winning penalty after Ronaldo has been sent off for stamping on Jude Bellingham’s testicles. And finally Brazil. They think they’ve won it after Maguire dithers on the ball and presents them with a first half lead. But then we carve them open just before the break, and second half Mason Mount accidentally floats in a free kick from 50 yards out. Job done.

Group A 15:00 Ecuador 3-1 Senegal 15:00 Netherlands 3-0 Qatar Group B 19:00 Iran 2-1 USA 19:00 Wales 0-2 England Group C 19:00 Poland 1-1 Argentina 19:00 Saudi Arabia 1-1 Mexico Group D 15:00 Australia 0-2 Denmark 15:00 Tunisia 0-2 France Group E 19:00 Costa Rica 0-2 Germany 19:00 Japan 2-2 Spain Group F 15:00 Canada 1-1 Morocco 15:00 Croatia 2-1 Belgium Group G 19:00 Cameroon 0-3 Brazil 19:00 Serbia 1-2 Switzerland Group H 15:00 Ghana 3-2 Uruguay 15:00 South Korea 0-0 Portugal

Wait until Gary Neville sees this.

Said this mostly in jest yesterday, but the more I look at the table... can’t we just gift Wales a 1-0 win and let Iran win the group? We get to avoid France, the Welshies get the bragging rights, all the Southgate haters get to moan even more... Everyone’s happy, surely? Might actually watch Iran v USA tonight. Our game will either be a car crash or a meaningless win, Iran can make genuine WC history if they reach R16 for the first time.

Lovely stuff.