FIFA World Cup 2026: England Tournament Thread [R]

I really am. This world cup has surpassed any of my expectations

 

I'm really shocked.

 

Me neither. The long second half spell against Norway where they had us pinned in our own third was a real concern. It was old habits creeping in, and if they had better players they would've won it in normal time.

If we win, it'll be our best victory since 1966, without any caveats.

 

Maybe its just me, but I honestly don't form some kind of pre game expectation of the outcome, obviously the thought of both winning and losing enters my mind, but there's so much variances its hardly worth it. Unless we are playing someone who is completely inferior like we often do in qualifying.

 

If I was a neutral I would say this England side would be a nightmare for this Argentina side. But i'm not neutral so I can't bring myself to think like that.

 

I think people are giving Argentina too much credit, they've struggled as much as we have against probably weaker opposition and it took a sending off and extra time for them to beat Switzerland.

If we don't have any silly sending off or penalties against us we stand a good chance imo.

 

I've just realised this comment makes me look like an Argentina fan. I'm just not trying to over think it and put the kibosh on England winning.

 

If it wasn't for the fact they are called Argentina going by there results I think we'd be quite big favourites.

 

The interesting thing about Argentina is its perhaps our first match since Croatia where we have a significant physical advantage, and that was clearly something central to Tuchel's squad selection - though facing very physical Ghana, DR Congo and Norway sides, and the altitude being a leveller at the Azteca we've not seen a great deal of advantage from it (though our better fitness took the game away from Norway in the quarters).

Argentina have struggled with it all tournament so we really need to press our advantage on this. Key to that will not be getting involved in any silly antics that lead to silly cards. I dare say we should really be instructing our players not to engage with the Argentinian's in any way because if it comes down to that, its their bread and butter.

I suspect the big factor is going to be how much England can actually recover from the intensity of the Miami game on such a short break (also how fit Rice is to play). Though at least on that front the Argentina side looked pretty dead on their feet going to extra time against Switzerland as well.

 

Unfortunately the word 'IF' is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in that sentence. They've been getting a LOT of extremely dodgy calls in this tournament, as they did in the last one.

It seems obvious to me that FIFA wants to have a Europe vs. south America final, again, as they did in the last one, (particularly against Holland), so the chance of us knocking Argentina out is slim.

In that game Messi deliberately handballed and wasn't given a card and then an argie guy scythed down a player, and then hammered the ball straight at the Dutch bench, either of which should have been a red for violent play and/or violent conduct and just got a yellow card.

Someone posted this the other day. I don't know if it's accurate but it looks like it might be...

According to Gemini, this is the fouls per Yellow Card

Argentina 19.3 – 19.6 ~59 fouls committed / 3 yellow cards received
France 11.8 ~49 fouls committed
England 6.8 – 7.4 Highest carding rate per foul among the three

Bear in mind that's just for the fouls given... not for the fouls committed.

I mean, I hope I'm wrong, obviously but I won't be surprised if we get some early cards so we can't tackle them while they get away with pretty much anything they want.

 

I’m once again asking for some positivity.

Like a morgue in here.

 

One thing I can almost guarantee (would probably put my mortgage on it), whatever the result on Wednesday, at the end of the match, Messi will be crying like a f***ing child.

 

I wouldn’t be too shocked at a very easy result for us or Argentina. We both have flaws and the semi’s has history of being where a flawed team implodes.

 

Since the semi-finals were reintroduced into the 1982 world cup, of 22 semi-finals, 2 have been by 3 or more goal margin, 5 by 2 goal, 10 by one goal, and 5 by penalties. I wouldn't say they have a history of teams imploding, they are overwhelmingly cagey games.

 

It feels like more than that. Brazil v Germany sticks in the mind by too much.

 

Yeah, sorry.

After having followed the England football team for 60+ years I've found it easier to keep my expectations under control.

TBH I also won't be surprised if we play well and beat them by 2 or more goals

 

If they could arrange to be 4 or 5 up at half time that would be good. Then I might consider booking my flight.

 

Rice to start says the Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/39747452/declan-rice-england-argentina-world-cup/

 

I have zero nerves over this game. By now I'm usually a gibbering wreck. But I feel 100 percent confident we'll win. I just don't see Anything In this Argentina team, Messi aside, that should frighten us

 

This game could go either way but I'm confident. If the ref is fair and we don't lose our heads (they will be all over us trying to get us booked/red carded) then IMO we have the better team and players. We are also bigger and can exploit their wings.

Saying that, we also have weaknesses which they can get at, of course Messi is still very good but he won't run and track back all game long

 

I am worried about fatigue and sickness. But it goes both ways we don't need to have none just less than the opposition. Messi looked gassed against Switzerland. Argentina I would say it is about 50-50, maybe a slight edge to England, because Argentina has not been up against top teams, and Messi is old and hopefully tired. If we can get through them. We will be underdogs in a final. But not impossible. Maybe it is 60-40 or even 70-30. Still possible. But I also am thinking about the long term here. Grinding out good results tournament after tournament. If we can keep producing results like Southgate and Tuchel has done. Eventually there should be a tournament win.

 

That's not historically the case is it?

Lack of travel for their quarter was a nice bonus for them. Venue against Swiss was in Kansas the city where Argentina training facility is also held.

Do opinions voiced on this forum have any relevance to the players?

 

England should win. This Argentina are on a victory lap and have not been performing like a team that will make the final outside the fact that they have quality in the final third and a never say die attitude. They have the mentality of champions but even in 2022 they were an old world cup finalist. Messi not being able to defend means it is like playing a man up. This is why they leak goal. While players like DePaul Parades along with Messi are not playing at the highest levels any longer. It's too many flaws on paper.

Without adding extra pressure for me it would be a serious bottle job for this England with a golden generation and Jude/Kane in a rare crossover of generational primes to not beat this Argentina. Of course it will never be easy but the opportunity is right there. I think Argentina are playing with no pressure outside the fact that they don't like to lose. Of course they want Messi to have another world cup final but they already climbed the mountain. Few of their players are not world champions already.

England has to win.