HopOnBaby

The Nunez/Klopp bit is especially fun, given the conversation in the FPL thread right now

It's like the fans whose idea of a protest is to march from a pub they were going to anyway over to a stadium they were going to anyway.

48 teams, yeah; it's just how to arrange them once they're in the hat.

Watched every game I've been able to (two or three I was busy for) and loved what happened on the pitch. Totally understand why some didn't want to watch, but I'm glad I didn't miss it.

True, A and B weren't as goal-a-minute, but both Senegal and the US managed to turn around their positions in the group to qualify, while France losing is always fun and it was a lovely moment for Australia to get through.

Pretty much every group built to a crescendo - is it just recency bias, or are final matches not usually so routinely exciting?

Very much this, and for those who haven't had the pleasure, here you go.

Never fear, I'll always aim to bring the lols, Gricey lad.

How about taking inspiration from the Champions League and going for a Swiss system? Eight groups of six, with 12 top seeds, 12 second seeds, 12 third and 12 fourth, i.e. two from each pot per group. Then you play three games about one team from each of the other pots. So, if you're a top seed, you'd play one of the seconds, one of the thirds and one of the fourths. Once each team has played their three games, the top of the table go straight through, with second playing third, i.e. 2A v 3B, 3B v 2A, etc From there, straight knockout. Eight games instead of seven for 16 of the teams, but hopefully the final matchday should still have plenty riding on it.

He seemed pretty certain about it, but we'll see what occurs. Will feel a little odd - very 90s MLS. That said, if they make it a 35-yard-shootout, I'm up for it.

One of the commentators on this afternoon's games mentioned that there will be no draws in the 2026 group stage - all games will go to penalties if drawn after 90 minutes.

We're nearly there, lads - Monday is our final 10-1-4-7 day. From Tuesday on, it's 3pm and 7pm, so we can start to work/see people/live our lives again!

Only saw about the first half hour of France v Australia due to going to a comedy night and all of Belgium v Canada due to going for a meal. Won't see Belgium v Morocco or a fair amount of Croatia v Canada tomorrow due to playing. Wish I'd missed England v USA

Seems like you don't use Twitter, but you get served up trending topics that can give views that you wouldn't see otherwise. Also, friends seeing such views and sharing them to show their disgust/disbelief.

Hope some banter merchants go dressed as Zippy, George and Bungle to see if they get through.

Did she say where she got it from? Can't imagine they were widely available, so wouldn't be surprised if she had a word with/was approached by the England kit man.

The managers should wear them, like coaches in Primeira Liga do with their 'trainer' bands.

Aye, sorry about that. So, looks like we'll be getting people from the football team around to someone's flat for the USA game. Obviously not the same, although tbh I prefer that setting.

I'll be very interested to hear a first-hand account of how things are out there, without any kind of media filter

My money was on Holocaust denier.

Proud Maroons have some ideas that may be worth following.

That's them I don't know what pressure has been put on the brewery, but I don't want to criticise it, as people having these feelings is totally valid, it's just a shame that it's not compatible with the plans of our minority within the minority.

The brewery owns a number of LGBT+ venues, so they must have been concerned about wider implications with their clientele if they had it on in our bar.

Sadly, my team's sponsor (a gay bar in Clapham) has had to bow to pressure put on their brewery and now won't show games

I've managed to rationalise it in my head recently that when the games are happening, that's it - it's just the football: it's the World Cup, ffs - enjoy it (until we lose on penalties). Plus, with so much build-up having focused on other elements, it kinda feels like going into a movie without seeing trailers - you're much less prepped than you might have been otherwise. That's pretty exciting, I think. Then, between the games, it's fine to go back to dread, disbelief and disgust about everything else that's happening off the pitch. That's not going away, but you need to allow yourself an oasis of enjoyment amongst all the **** that's going on at home, in Qatar and pretty much everywhere else rn.