England Forum - FIFA World Cup 2026: Other Teams Thread

He might as well just hold off for a while since you think International football will cease to exist at some point soon.

 

📺 ITV's coverage of Morocco vs Norway faced significant disruption last night, with continual loss of audio and occasional problems with the pictures. No need to worry for the World Cup though, the game came from a third party international feed whereas ITV have full control…

— Bobby Manzi (@BobbyManzi) June 8, 2026

 

While on road trip from, L.A. to Seattle to keep myself awake, this is probably the best ex-athlete to ex-athlete interview I’ve ever heard.

Zlatan Ibrahimović and Tom Brady both admit they never enjoyed winning a single thing in their careers

Zlatan: "Did you ever enjoy your achievements when you were active?"

Tom: "No"

Zlatan: "Same thing. I never enjoyed whatever I won. I always wanted more. Even now as a… pic.twitter.com/vakdbLouGx

— Casper (@CasperOnChain) June 2, 2026

 

People laud this kind of mentality but I think it's pathetic. If you're not going to enjoy achievements then what's the point? Are you just collecting them as part of a vanity project?

Life is about human experience and the moments that come with it. Moments of joy and elation are effectively life at its peak. If you deny yourself that because of an obsession with an uncertain and ambiguous end goal, you're wasting your time imo.

It's like all they care about is their own standing in the eyes of the wider world but people soon forget and/or stop caring about things you've achieved. You can win everything there is to win ten times over but people will stop caring and lose interest after a few years.

If you want to get even more philosophical, we're due another ice age in about 20,000 years and I doubt anyone will give a second thought to how many Super Bowls Tom Brady won at that point.

People talk about individual legacies like they're permanent and posthumous but they're anything but. Transcendent cultural figures can be mythologised for a few generations but they're few and far between these days. An athlete's posthumous legacy is even shorter; I doubt anyone will talk about Diego Maradona or Pele in 100 years or so.

Maximise the life experience and the years you're a conscious being on Earth because that's the only thing that's guaranteed.

 

That's probably what they thought during WWII and we made it out ok.

 

Very much enjoyed watching some of the clips on YouTube. The most successful athletes are never satisfied with winning and typically goes for anybody whose great in what they do.

 

I get your point, and I would enjoy the achievement as much as anyone else. However, successful athletes are often very different and very stubborn from ordinary supporters, members of the media, or ordinary people who don’t follow sports. They possess a mindset and mentality that sets them apart from most of the population. The highest-level competitors are usually driven by an unwavering belief in themselves and their goals, even when the odds are against them.

Take Michael Jordan as an example. He was never satisfied for long after winning. Once one goal was accomplished, his focus quickly shifted to the next challenge. That mentality is common among elite athletes. They certainly enjoy success, but often not in the same way fans do. Supporters may celebrate an achievement for years, while competitors are already thinking about what comes next. Their standards are so high that reaching a goal can feel less like a triumph and more like fulfilling an expectation they set for themselves. Competition for them is an addiction.

In many cases, the pursuit is more satisfying than the achievement itself. What drives elite athletes is not simply winning, but the constant desire to improve, compete, and prove themselves again. That relentless mindset is one of the reasons they reach the highest levels of sport, but it can also make it difficult for them to fully savor their accomplishments for very long.

 

Andy Murray said something simpler when he retired.

 

I've no doubt athletes need to approach these things differently to fans and have to quickly regroup after any success to start pursuing the next thing, but I specifically think what Brady and Ibrahimovic are saying is very extreme (and quite sad).

I very much doubt there's one monolithic mental process that's conducive to serial winning. I'm sure it's possible to both enjoy your achievements in all their glory for a period of time then lock in for the next one when the time is right. I've always thought Pep Guardiola seems like he has that "work hard play hard" mentality to a nice balance.

 

Surprised at how late some of these teams are travelling to the World Cup.

 

France are torture to watch

 

I thought Frances second 11 could win the World?

 

Well done that young norn Ireland squad. Totally outmatched but really scrapping all over the pitch and brave. Only av age of 22 yrs as well.

 

Northern Ireland could have a decent team In the future

 

I wouldn't say outmatched at all. Northern Ireland have created chances

 

Olise scores 2. The cnut

 

Marcho feels the same. This loss will stay with me for the rest of my life. Hopefully Ngumoha can have a similar career

 

2-1

 

This is essentially a very young Championship/ League one side Northern Ireland are playing fair play to them for keeping it so tight and competitive.

 

This should be a warning for France.

 

I have a feeling Norway will beat them

 

Netherlands drawing with Uzbekistan

 

I'm calling it now Mbappe and Olise have a falling out before the end of the world cup.