FIFA World Cup 2026: England Tournament Thread [R]

Colour me surprised.................not!

 

Best ever from a five team group.
You could argue Germany with 100% in a six team group in 2018 with +39 goal difference, but it's splitting hairs

 

Sir David Beckham is expected to attend #England’s final training session in Miami, to wish the players well before their World Cup quarter-final against Norway.

England will fly from their Kansas City training base later today, and are due to train at Beckham’s Inter Miami…

— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) July 10, 2026

England assistant coach Anthony Barry has urged his team to “take the handbrake off and go all-in” ahead of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final with Norway.

Barry, whose candid half-time interviews have become a feature of this World Cup campaign, also denied that his interviews… pic.twitter.com/lzA1JCfcUl

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 10, 2026

 

Yep Norway are very dangerous on the transition. Probably better than England.

Its what makes this game so hard to call on Saturday, because both teams are very good on transition and I've said already, its going to feel like a super tight knockout game from the Euros

 

Burn is a good resource to have for the last 15ish minutes of games if we need to switch to 5 in the back and are concerned about crosses. Starting him should literally be the last resort if every other option is unavailable.

7 - Erling Haaland's most duels won against an opposing player in a Premier League match was in February 2026, when he won seven duels against Newcastle's Dan Burn.

Battleground. pic.twitter.com/e37JXiNwuC

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 10, 2026

 

Burn to grab a headed winner just so the headline writers can use "Miami Burns" or similar.

 

It's not my ideal scenario.

However he has a reasonable record against Haaland overall - 8 games and Haaland has only scored once. In the game you highlight Haaland didn't score and his assist for O'Reilly wasn't against Burn.

My other concern is Stones and Konsa are far more comfortable as right sided CBs so one of them would have to play a bit outside of their comfort zone.

Sorloth is likely to start on the right for Norway if they stick to recent line ups. That's two huge beasts to contend with.

 

It kinda worries me that we'll make Odegaard and Berge look like the reincarnation of Xavi and Iniesta.

That said, it's quite insane the possession dominance Norway had over Brazil. Are Brazil lacking in midfielders?

 

so much overthinking and analysis taking place right now!

you can only play what's in front of you, in the conditions that are present on the day!

lets hope we get a fully fit team who avoids any unnecessary disciplinary action.

onward

 

Brazil's midfield is very Immobile. Casemiro struggled all through the cup and they were missing paqueta for the Norway game,who is a good link up player. Brazil were the better team till ancelotti made that bizarre sub bringing on neymar. It completely upset the balance

 

Ancelotti probably told his team not to press Norway too aggressively to get the ball back and allow space in behind where Norway's front four can really hurt them.

Stylistically , Norway remind me a lot of Bodo Glimt in the Champions league last season. This is why I'm sceptical of people spouting the usual 'England should win, because they have much better players' rubbish.

Inter Milan, Man City & Athletico Madrid all have better players than Bodo Glimt, yet all three were soundly defeated by them in the Champions League.

 

I'm not making England clear favourites. We are slight favourites though. Look I've no fear of Norway. I fear haaland alot. Without him they're a decent team with him they're a major threat

 

Brazil's midfield has been like this all tournament. They missed paqueta, who was the player who could put those key passes in. Even a not classic Brazil team still found big holes in norway's midfield and defence. Norway did what they've done all tournament snatch it at the Death with haaland's finishing. England should control midfield and we'll create a lot of chances. We just have to hope we don't give haaland Any space

 

This game worries me deeply. As did Mexico. But its about time we had some faith in these players. I'm wondering if you are an Italian agent Catenaccio because you seem to shit on England at every opportunity. If you're not have some faith for once. I've doubted these players all tournament and they've surpassed my expectations. Like I said in an earlier post whether its blind optimism or belief I'm behind these players 100 percent

 

The CB situation is a clear concern. Starting a QF tie against a side like Norway with Konsa and Burn as the two centre backs is a significant risk.

I know Burn played well against Mexico but he was just defending the box, it's what he's comfortable doing. In qualifying he looked uncomfortable pretty much every time he played because he had to hold a higher line, which he'll have to do on Saturday.

 

World Cup 2026: England defender Marc Guehi a serious doubt for quarter-final clash with Norway https://t.co/Lp9gcL58Gi

— Rob Dorsett (@RobDorsettSky) July 10, 2026

 

I would assume that if Guehi is injured then Stones will play and not Burn. Burn came on against Mexico to play his specialist role, defenisve headers if England park the bus. Which he did very well. But I don't think that means Tuchel will start him. If Tuchel has said he will start, then its a worry, but I don't think he has said that.

 

In nearly every other circumstance I'd agree but given it's Haaland he might want a more physically imposing player.

Burn isn't very mobile but Stones is neither mobile nor physically imposing.

Still every chance Stones starts but I don't think it's cut and dry. I could see Tuchel going with either.

 

How many effing times do u have to post the same thing

 

Rob Dorsett is a numpty who gets most things wrong

 

Barney Ronay in the Guardian thinks Konsa will start at right back. https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...f-weekend-england-players-trust-thomas-tuchel

 

Doesn't matter who starts in defence. Haaland will get the better out of most defenders. What's important is we limit the supply to him

 

So who does he think will be CBs then? Stones and Burn? Konsa can be fine at RB in many circumstances, but if Guehi is out he is needed as CB.

 

I'm concerned about Burn starting but I'm also concerned about Konsa or Stones playing as LCB, particularly with Sorloth coming in off the left.

Which is the lesser of two evils?

 

Dan burn won't have to many issues playing against big physical players. It's if we get to the semi finals against Argentina where we would have problems. I highly doubt he'll start against Norway anyway