England Forum - FIFA World Cup 2026: Other Teams Thread

Fully agree that the Premier League hampers development. More young English players should go abroad. It is becoming more common and Bellingham has blazed a trail. Something else to thank him for. I also think that players that go abroad want to prove themselves even more on international duty but that might be me making things up!

 

I can't say ive ever seen anyone seriously bemoan the fact that Haaland doesn't play for us. Certainly not a widespread thing. The birth alone thing would be silly if you think about it for me than a millisecond. The idea that Terry Butcher for example should only play for Singapore would be farcical.

Not much with Musiala and Olise in comparison to pretty much any other nation either. Even to the extent I've ever seen criticism it's almost always on the fa rather than the players themselve, which is again fairly unique.

 

🚨🇵🇹 OFFICIAL: Ruben Dias misses Portugal opening game against Congo. ❌⚠️

“He’s not fully fit and we won’t take any risks”, says Roberto Martínez. pic.twitter.com/qRhRBrHCi7

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 17, 2026

Heung-Min Son has received a public apology after a massive row saw the South Korean players boycott the country's World Cup media over the use of a slur in a media video discussing the winger's military national service - The Sun

 

Zidan needs to change his name

what a terrible display

 

🚨 “It’s true some supporters couldn’t fly to America. I think every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot have their people” - Kalidou Koulibaly on travel bans for #Senegal fans at #2026FIFAWorldCup @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/ZC8PxmolOU

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 17, 2026

 

Blimey talk about throwing your hands up in the air before the battle's even commenced! Thank God in the 'old days' people like Wellington didn't think this way :-D

 

We're not 'miles off' anybody. If you look at our squad we have 'one of' the best squads on the planet. What we've been missing all these years is a half competent manager. Ask yourself how many teams at this world cup would love our roster? With the exception of one or two I doubt that there are many that wouldn't swap their 'level of talent' with ours.

Lets be honest Gareth Southgate, a nice bloke but hardly 'up there' in terms of world class managers - England over the last Decade or so is a good example of a talented team with a bang average (at best) manager.

 

Ok fair point but is tuchel that much of an improvement so far? I don't think so

 

He got the boot

 

Touché

 

Time will tell, we can't judge him until he's had a chance to manage in a tournament but at least Tuchel has a history of success, in club football he made the final of every tournament he was in (5 finals), Southgate had the opposite - he took Middlesbrough down before taking on England U21's and exiting the group stage of the U21 Euro's.

 

Southgate took England to a semi final in his first WC. That's a hard act to follow for Tuchel. And no, 2018 was'nt luck, it was proper tournament path planning.

 

Same with the Nmechas who were both born in Hamburg, I believe. But given them and Musiala left English academies to play in Germany again makes their decision more acceptable to the public than Olise I'd guess who didn't show interest in England even when at Palace.
I renember there was a discussion some days ago whether Ampadu would have made this England squad but if we're talking about dual midfielders who could have chosen England, Felix Nmecha is on a completely different level compared to Ampadu! And imo the closest like-for-like replacement for Rice at this moment.

 

Do many think it should be birthplace only? Or are you just saying this, Haaland doesn’t have a passport, and barely lived in the country until an adult, I’ve not seen anyone mention his name seriously.

 

Lukas scored the winning goal for England in the 2017 u19 Euros final. Felix with 16 youth caps for England.

 

Tyler Bindon's appearance for New Zealand on Monday meant he and his mother Jenny became the first mother-son pair to both appear at a World Cup ❤️

Bindon Sr. played at the 2007 and 2011 Women's World Cups 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/jVwrsGVlBD

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 16, 2026

 

Former English youth internationals Tuanzebe and Wan-Bissaka starting for DR Congo

 

Portugal lead. We're going to need these two games tonight to be low scoring affairs. Portugal Congo, Colombia Uzbekistan

 

Portugal have a better midfield than us

 

Today in history, 32 years ago, everything stopped—including the opening ceremony of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

32 years ago today: The US hosted the World Cup, the Rangers had their Stanley Cup parade, Arnold Palmer had his last run at the US Open & the Rockets-Knicks Game 5 was played as the OJ Simpson "chase" was happening. #June17: pic.twitter.com/UKPiUcd8kN

— Charles T (@ChuckyT3) June 17, 2026

 

I watch Vitinha a lot and I think Anderson could be as good as him if he plays at a higher level. Vitinha doesn't play 60 yard passes he plays it short. Anderson could easily do that

 

What disgusting play acting from neto

 

1-1 the African nations have done well so far apart from South Africa

 

Portugal really phoned it in after the early opener. Passed it around at glacial speed like they were 3-0 up and waiting for the game to end. Their expected goal for the half was only 0.07, which is a good measure of just how little they produced.

 

A goal that was coming. They were the better side the longer the half went on.

Portugal are playing at a snails pace.