2026 WC USA (et al): Worldwide Opponents Watch [all R's]

They really do.

Feels like France is playing like a classic 15-1 NFL team

England and Spain are more like those 13-3 teams

And Argentina is one of those underachieving 11-5 sides that keeps getting final drive TD's to advance (to be fair, actually, England is playing EXACTLY like Argentina in terms of their crappiness, they are just a more powerful team, at least to me).

 

I think that's really what it is.

However the only team playing up to their talent level for the most part is France.

Spain is just doing enough to win, and no more, England and Argentina are habitually finding themselves under siege against teams that should be clearly inferior, but aren't playing like that at least against them (Ghana, Panama, DR Congo, Mexico, Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland)......

Looks like an epic pair of Semifinals, hopefully they actually play like it. While I'd love to see a France-Spain SF like their NL Semifinal a year ago, I very much doubt we see that . Spain's basically been casting aside teams left and right while in neutral for the past month. Kind of nuts.

 

The winner of Argentina - England should sign Eli Manning.

 

I think Spain is playing more or less up to their ability. This is who Spain is, especially if Nico Williams and Yamal are out / playing a bit hurt. Take out those injuries and they score some more and that's them.

They've always been more of a grinder than people think and the rare times their offense has been explosive has been more variation than pure talent.

Argentina just look sooo old. Grit and grind and a slowing Messi. I think it would be hilarious for them to beat an England which still largely looks so far below their talent level.

 

Not seeing the love for England. They play like they think they’re France but they aren’t! I’d put my money on Argentina.

 

As from Bellingham, Kane and Rice ... this English roster is uninspiring. I know some guys had bad years, but it just feels like there's a lack of real explosiveness, and I include this version of Saka there.

 

id throw Pickford and now Gordon in there. If yesterday’s version of Saka and Spence show up they got a shot. Thats enough pieces to at least contend with France

 

England have been finding ways to gut it out. It seems like they shouldn't have made it this far, but somehow they have.

 

I'm just going to list their goals because I feel Spain is more explosive, but I wanted to double check

Euro 24
3
1
1
4
2
2
2
----------
Nations League '25
0
4
1
3
2
3
2
3
5
2
-----------------
WCQ
3
6
2
4
4
2

Seems like normally they're more explosive than they've been this tournament. Probably the two best attackers being hurt could be part of it.

 

Jerking needs to be more subtle, shoulda said Kurdistan and Yemen

 

Argentina feels like 2014 Florida State. Defending champs but don’t look very good getting back to playoff and then get blown out in the semifinal.

Before the World Cup I thought this semi would be England Argentina and that Argentina would win it but I think I’m leaning England now.

 

I can't see what will happen when I close my eyes, I can see England just avalanching them w/attacking talent. Argentina's defense has been exploited successfully by Cape Verde, and Egypt, the Swiss were making progress until the red card, even Algeria was breaking through early on in that game.

I can also see Argentina's attack just slicing through them too. They have such absurdly lethal finishers, and they have the sort of GOAT (I've moved from Pele to Messi, to Maradona as well).....

I just have a hard time seeing England lose to them because even when England was struggling, they never looked likely to lose exactly, other than maybe that Mexico game, erm, and the fact that Ghana should have had a penalty (but they play differently if they do give up that penalty too).....but Messi and Argentina basically looked 0-3 in the face, supposedly blinked, but I was putting my money on live Argentina hedges because I was sure it would go to extra time and I was only half right lol......

I can't see England losing, but I also can't see Argentina losing. Helluva game.

 

Yeah though I think Argentina also lacks depth compared to the other three teams. They can definitely beat any of the other remaining teams but they don’t have as much to call off their bench by comparison.

This is a big game for Saka and Gordon/Rashford to take advantage of their lack of wingers.

What they have is they are super battle tested, they know exactly who they are, and they have Messi.

 

Holy shit, Barton got France v Spain.

They could have put any experienced referee from UEFA there but they put the el Salvadorean.

I am hoping he does well but there is a chance it gets out of hand

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/s/sy9AOuzo3r

 

Big time chance of that.

 

I keep assuming that they try to get refs from different confederations than the teams involved. Is that true?

 

True, unless its the same confederation matchup, in which case they could get a referee from that confed too.

For example, Barton could have reffed a theoretical game between us and Canada.

 

I have posts on my timeline by Americans - AMERICANS!! - claiming that the Mistaken Identity VAR review was the first of it's kind. I just can't take these people seriously.

 

The main issue is Saka, Rice, and James are all not at full strength and all critical guys for them. I’d also say Anderson is very much underrated because he’s just making his big club move now. But he’s been excellent this tournament. Rogers also a very good player though hasn’t played a ton because his best position same as Bellingham.

Their center backs (Guehi, Konza, Stones, and even Dan Burn) have all been solid as has O’Reilly at left back. James injuries have really hurt because they don’t have another adequate right back and also Saka not being full strength because I don’t rate Madueke.

Tuchel also screwed things up yesterday on the subs when he took off Rice. I think Kobbie Mainoo should have been the move there.

One other thing to note if they do play France. In 2022 where they outplayed them in that quarterfinal and lost Kyle Walker was one of the few players in the world who could stay with Mbappe physically and that was a big factor. Something that’s missing from their current team, putting aside that James isn’t fully healthy.

But here’s the thing even Spain and France have weaknesses on their roster also, due to injuries or whatever other reason (though both likely favored in the final versus England).

 

yup........England have nice depth, make no mistake about it. And their centerbacks while not names have been nothing but rock solid so far.

 

I don’t usually make a big deal out of refs, but that guy stands out as absolutely horrible. Strong chance he and var turn that game to a shit show if the players don’t keep themselves in line.

 

My wife calls him the crazy ref

 

I think Argentina have a well-drilled squad where everyone knows their role and executes it to the best of their ability. I may be in the minority but I never got the sense that they were ever panicking against Switzerland. They just knew what they needed to do and were patient in executing. I didn't see many of those panicked long range shots that you often see when teams get nervous.

In terms of true talent, though, I'd rank them fourth of the four teams. In terms of will to win, I'd rank them first or second.

 

Some Pep to Italy chatter. Given Brazil, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, France, and England seem to not be options that seems like one of the only potential landing spots other than going to the USMNT or Argentina (if Scaloni decides to step down). Or I oppose Saudi if they want to splash a ton of cash and that’s interesting to him. Apparently his salary demands are one of main issues on the Italy side.

And Portugal’s new coach inclined to continue calling up Ronaldo

New Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo remains part of his plans for the national team 🇵🇹⚽ pic.twitter.com/vQykQPzlNu

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) July 13, 2026