England Forum - FIFA World Cup 2026: Other Teams Thread

It's deliberate program by Argentine governments to indoctrinate the population into this particular geopolitical grievance from childhood. It's part of the school curriculum to teach it as colonisation and usurpation by the British. This education also contains straight lies like the British expelled a peaceful Argentine population from the Islands in 1833. The government also promotes widespread 'Malvinas' propaganda through billboards, public transport adverts and government communications.

Without wanting to get all Chomsky about it but it's quite clearly a population pacifier. Next time you hear the Argentine government whining about The Falklands go and have a look-see at how the Argentinian economy is doing, hint - it will be doing very badly.

 

Yes but Klose matched the record or just about as the oldest outfield player to start a world cup final. Which shows he was a historical outlier. This is why it was always absurd for Portugal to build around a 41 year old Ronaldo when they had a team that could contend/make a final.
It was denying reality. Yes a lot of athletes can push on these days but still majority of players leave the top 5 leagues between 34-36. Including Messi/Ronaldo.

 

I wonder how many people cared before the war in which they go there arse's handed to them.

 

They did care at that point too, to be fair. It's a long standing grievance. The reason they invaded is because the Argentine Military Junta was collapsing as a government. The war is viewed by historians as a diversionary one, a last ditch attempt for a government to retain legitimacy. The war falls into the same pacifying dynamic as the one I described in my last post.

Worth noting as well that when the British settlement was fully established on The Falklands in the first half of the 19th century, Argentina's official borders were over a 1000 miles away from the Island as they hadn't colonised Patagonia by that point.

 

Giroud was 36 also when he was a penalty shoot out away from winning the world cup as Frances starting centre forward in 2022, it's not that unfathomable. I think especially in the modern day where we see top players going on longer.

Probably much beyond that would be difficult but for a player who has never relied on pace I don't think Kane still being a force at 36 is particularly unlikely.

 

I just feel like Kane might call it a day after the Euros and focus on club football.

 

Well, you have predicted 34 of the last 3 England player retirements!

Kane is an unusual England player in that he clearly values playing for England above everything else and he's also heavily motivated by records. I suspect he will go for as long as his legs allow him too.

 

He's also playing at a the right team to be able to prolong his international career.
Fewer league and domestic cup games, good winter break. There's no reason he can't go on until the next World Cup if he wants to.

 

Yes Junta fell not long after

 

Yeah, of all Fireburn's mad predictions this has to be up there as one of the maddest.

 

That gives us 4yrs to find some really promising number 9's.

 

Whilst watching Olise yesterday for France. I was trying to recall all the players who have been produced by us over the past decade and how many of them have gone on to represent other countries.

And this got me thinking, if you were to put them all together. How far do people think the below team would get in this WC?

 

McTominay and Antonee Robinson could also be included, probably round of 16.

 

Pierce Charles
Aina Ballard Tosin Robinson
Ampadu Nmecha
Olise Musiala Semenyo
Balogun

In terms of putting out a team that's actually balanced this is what I'd do.

GK is extremely inexperienced and the defence would be a bit ropey but it could definitely get to a QF depending on the draw.

You could have a very strong bench with players like McTominay, Lookman, Iwobi, Chukwuemeka, Shea Charles, AWB etc.

 

Tosin still hasn’t declared for Nigeria!

 

I think with a more defensively balanced team (below), we'd be looking at a genuine knockout stage team. Rd16 bare minimum and semi finals its highest ceiling.

they could realistically beat a Brazil, Colombia or a Portugal.



Or a 433 version for you horris as I know you dont like back three's;

 

He's still waiting like Ameobi and Lookman were, but dont worry he will..

 

He's 29 in a couple of months. It seems he's not that keen on Nigeria. He has said in the past that his aim was to go with the World Cup in 2022 with either England or Nigeria. You must be right in that he's holding out for England. I guess that he's not a million miles away from a call-up if he can get a run going for Chelsea.

 

I always rated Lookman, someone who I thought had quite a high ceiling especially with that U20 side that won the World Cup. It’s kind of a shame that his career stalled for 3 or 4 years which basically walked him into Nigeria’s arms. You can’t blame anyone for not picking him after the U21’s because he didn’t warrant picking for the seniors until it became to late, just one of those scenarios you can’t win with.

 

Tosin aint ever getting called up for England. Chalobah practically killed any chance of that. The reason why he's not declared for Nigeria already is (I'm guessing) because they didn't qualify.

 

He could've declared last year to help them qualify.

 

I know its a different reason why he's not playing for us but Greenwood should be in there.

 

Over who? He plays the same position as Olise. Wouldn't take him over Semenyo or Lookman on the left either.

 

He hasn't declared for Jamaica though, he's not playing for another nation.

 

Balogun. Greenwood was top scorer in the french league a 24/25