FIFA World Cup 2026: England Tournament Thread [R]

Fox in the USA hasn’t confirmed if they will be showing ads during the Water Breaks. The Spanish language Telemundo (Who traditionally get high ratings for the World Cup) have said they won’t.
ITV rejected the chance.

 

Croatia's starting 11 yesterday were probably the oldest team I've ever seen, their only players under 30 were in the back four. but I wouldn't be that surprised if Dalic goes with that same group vs England. Their Midfield may even get the better of Rice and Anderson.

Livakovic 31

Stanisic 26
Erlic 28
Pongracic 28
Gvardiol 24

Modric 40
Kovacic 32
Pasalic 31
Kramaric 35
Perisic 37
Budimir 34

 

If that midfield gets the better of Anderson and Rice it would say far, far more about the quality of Anderson and Rice than it would about Croatia's midfield.

 

you would have to leave USA not to be within 5 miles of a shooting at all times when it comes to USA

 

Mark modric out the game. You've pretty much nullified Croatia

 

I would say there is very little chance that will be Croatia's line up against England. Petar Sucic has been in their starting line up all through qualifying and the friendlies and almost certainly be starting the world cup. I think Baturina will most likely start also.

I think they'll definitely cram the central midfield in a similar manner to their set up in the Belgium friendly, perhaps not as a back 3 though. No way they'll go against England with Kovacic and Modric isolated in midfield.

 

This shooting was "within 5 miles of England's Kansas training base". The squad is in Florida pre-tournament so this is a non-story.

 

Possibly, with Modric being 40 and Kovacic out injured until very recently. But on paper alone, I wouldn't expect a Midfield pairing of Rice & Anderson to win on dominating midfield rhythm over Modric & Kovacic. And when comparing a younger/fitter Modric/Kovacic to Rice/Anderson, it's not really a conversation among neutrals as to who's the better pairing.

 

"It hasn't been comfirmed if they will be showing ads during the water breaks"

 

Why would anyone be comparing a younger/fitter Modric/Kovacic to Rice and Anderson? Also taking nationality out of it Rice and Anderson are 2 of the best midfielders in the PL and I would think they would come out on top. I mean even in his prime Kovacic was hardly Roy Keane.

 

In 2021 we beat Croatia 1-0 in the Euros. That day we had Rice, Phillips and Mount in midfield and Croatia had Modric, Brosovic and Kovacic. England held more possession at 52% to 48% and the xG was 1.51 - 0.44 in England's favour. Kalvin Phillips was the pick of the midfielders that day and won Man of the Match. While Croatia's midfield three made more combined passes they were largely nullified and it was a deserved victory for England.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...king-role-that-showed-the-depth-of-his-talent

I think a midfield three of Rice, Anderson and Bellingham is probably the best and most balanced that we've had in my lifetime. I just don't share in the negativity about the midfield this time.

 

Its a real shame whats happened to Phillips

 

You hear people giving him the 'overrated' slander now but he was actually really good for a few seasons. I think that game against Croatia was one of England's best under Southgate. When people talk about England's record against big sides under Southgate, Croatia are unfairly left out of the conversation. Euro 2020 was sandwiched in between Croatia reaching the World Cup final in 2018 and the World Cup semi final in 2022. They were demonstrably one of the best teams in the world at that point.

 

The last part of your post I completely agree with, this is easily the strongest England midfield on paper in my lifetime (assuming that Tuchel picks Bellingham - I'm part of that camp thats terrified he picks Rogers!). But the one caveat I would also add, is that England's midfield has always been by far its weakest point. So in spite of how impressive Rice/Anderson looked in qualfying. I won't be fully convinced (yet) how it will hold up against the best Midfields in the WC until we play (and beat) one of them in the business end of the tournament. Thats not to say I'm not excited by the pairing, I am, but it still hasn't yet been tested or overcome an elite opposition Midfield when it really matters and I'm dying to see it.

And I will still hold that view even if we beat an old Croatia on the 17th and Rice/Anderson do very well vs Modric/Kovacic.

I've also mentioned in my earlier posts that England should be winning this game and Croatia are often much more beatable in Group stage matches - It's the WC knockouts, when they often turn into nightmare draw and teams want to avoid them.

Moreover, if the winner of the opening England v Croatia match ends up deciding the group winner, as many are predicting. Then this is highly likely a must-win game. I don't wanna hear any excuses made for Tuchel if we end with up a draw. Southgate won all four of his opening games

 

It remains to be seen of course but Anderson is the first midfielder we've had in a long time that wants to dominate the ball and his energy levels are up there with the best. I don't think they'll necessarily dominate the ball against the likes of Spain but I'm hopeful we compete much better in the middle of the park against that calibre of opposition.

 

Put it this way if France rocked up to the WC with a midfield of Anderson,Rice and Bellingham we would all be shitting ourself.

 

There seems to be a lot of snobbery about Anderson, that I've seen from fans outside the UK, I'd like his next move to be outside the PL to a top European club if I'm being honest.

 

PL clubs would be mad to let him leave England.

 

Anderson would be a good fit for Bayern Barcelona or real madrid

 

I've not heard anything about Wharton's future. Surely clubs are still looking at him

 

Sure, but I'm really thinking what would be best for Anderson. The PL is brutal in terms of demands. Its just whether a top club would stump up a fee, I think forest would take less money from a non PL team.

 

I have a sinking feeling Tuchel won't do that, but that's the PTSD I have with Hodgson trying to handle Pirlo against Italy.

 

This is how I think the game will go. Probably 1-0 or 2-1.

 

Why do we, in England, always want to do our players down. People calling this player overrated that player overrated etc. Its pathetic. This wouldn't happen In Germany Spain France Brazil etc. Its irksome. 'Supporters' are desperate for England to do badly

 

I think someone mentioned on here the other day that it's a protective barrier some fans put up. The idea that people convince themselves they're not arsed or find it funny when England do poorly so when it happens, they're less disappointed. The way the nation get gripped by England when we actually do well supports this to some degree. A lot of people really emerge from nowhere.

Club loyalties are probably part of it too. People are seriously club tribal in this country. A lot of the Bellingham vitriol you see online comes from Liverpool fans (Bellingham rejected them) and Man City fans (he's knocked them out of the CL a lot).