FIFA World Cup 2026: England Tournament Thread [R]

In saying that I think scheldrup will start ahead of sorloth

 

I've watched Norway a bit live and will watch their highlights from past games. Odergaard is a big influence in their team. He'll drop deep and move across the pitch to receive passes and then get forward. He's the key man to stop because he plays a huge role in feeding Haaland.

 

I've watched him but he doesn't have a killer pass. The amount of time he got into good positions against Brazil then overplayed it or played a poor ball

 

If we can keep Haaland quiet, maybe. He only needs a sniff though. That second goal against Brazil, any other player in the world and I'd think it was half a chance - even Kane, in truth - but with Haaland you just know it's going in. He may not be the best all-round striker in the world but he's the best finisher hands down.

 

Yes. Basically, the Vikings kept raiding northern France, and hit Paris. The French then hired a Viking warlord and his troops to protect them. They gave him land at Rouen, which being downstream on the Seine was mainly to protect Paris, and a French wife. This land evolved into the Duchy of Normandy, ruled be his descendants.
The Normans were the result of these Norsemen mixing with local Franks.

 

And we got a cartoon out of it.

 

Worth also mentioning that the 2018 squad was also widely derided as the worst England had ever taken to a major tournament going into it so even an "easy" run was a pretty monumental task for a side who hadn't won a single knock out game in 12 years

 

So I was kind of close which wasn’t a bad effort I guess without using google or chatGPT.

 

@Marcho Gamgee if you’ve ever seen the TV show Vikings that Warlord was Rollo. At least according to Ancestry.com I can trace my ancestry back to Eleanor of Normandy who was The Conquerors aunt so that means that Rollo is literally my grandad (OK with a few ‘greats’ added)!

 

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England at World Cup 2026:

Kane & Bellingham: 10⚽️ from 5.71(xG)
Everyone else: 1⚽️ from 4.24(xG) pic.twitter.com/PE2mq9FmmK

— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) July 7, 2026

 

It's not bighistory.com, but I would say the normans were there own thing, but closer to French than Scandinavian. It had been well over a century since Rollo had settled after all. The army would have been pulled from the local dutchies as well, as far as I know.

 

Definitely, but they wouldn't have viewed themselves as French or Franks.

 

Yes but 2018 team was not a world cup winning side this is. I don't believe in favourable draws to win the world cup. You win because you are the best team it is extremely difficult. What I mean is a lot of traditional giants are not in a winning window and Portugal went down as well when they have a golden generation. Spain don't look as sharp as 2024 for me. France and England are favourites right now. This is their year. Have to strike when you can.

 

The Fact Kane, Rice, Bellingham and O’Reilly are all at risk of missing the semi if we get through is quite scary when you think about it.

 

Norway will play fair I'd guess. If we get a booking it'll be because we've deserved it more than likely.

 

Or because FIFA might want to help the other team in the semi…

 

IMO this whole situation should be avoided by scrapping this suspension rule or clearing cards at the start of the KO round. It is unfair and silly to ban players from a late tournament game for accumulation of cards IMO.

 

Cards are cleared at start of KO and SF stage.

All 4 players above have been booked in either of 2 ko games and have one more match before cleared again.

 

I don't see England keeping a clean sheet they will have to score at 2 goals

 

I wouldn't mind if Argentina were getting booked for similar fouls but they aren't.

Wanting Messi to win isn't in FIFA's interests. He won't be playing in the next tournament. FIFA are much better off having a new idol take centre stage. The refs are biased towards Argentina because they're scared of being blamed for knocking out Messi.

 

I don't see Norway not conceding 2 they'll have to score at least 3