News: The One No One Can Afford - 2026 World Cup Thread [R]

So I have some past playing as a CB for a youth team in ancient history, every CB takes up a certain position and man certain area. You can add another to patrol the space but more you add the marginal utility actually decreases and you are likely to confuse your players.

 

Lautero just admitted as much post game.

Said England pressed them off the park for 60 minutes. Then after the goal, retreated back to their box and let Argentina play their game, play to their strengths.

Even Argentina know what happened!

 

Quoting myself all Cb or any other position have been drilled since 12 to take certain positions, act certain way. Duplicating roles hardly help unless opposition is inept. Changing formation may be more effective than replacing midfield with defense.

 

Managers are scared to play and lose.

I was initially going to criticize him for the players he brought, but they made it this far.

Maybe one day and England coach will be brave enough to play and bring players who can help that.

 

Should crucify football federation, too impressed with Guardiola and ruined what made German football different.

 

Noni Madueke lolz

 

******** man, if you're going to bunker like that every game, at least take Maguire. Hes among the better choices for that specific approach when closing out a game.

 

That's almost forfeit

12% - Average possession between Anthony Gordon's opener and Lautaro Martínez's winner (55th to 92nd minute):

12% - 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England
88% - 🇦🇷 Argentina

Trapped. pic.twitter.com/J5S9wlHCpx

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 15, 2026

 

If only England had a midfielder at that tournament who is excellent at ball retention, controlling things and being press resistant. Rice and Anderson are too damn similar for those type of games.

 

It's typical tuchel thing, bunkered in the box, did it with Bayern and iirc Madrid scored 2 late goals and both were headers. Allowed Messi to cross ball one after another when he should have been double marked.

Thomas Müller: "I cannot believe and understand how England approached this game after they're leading. I cannot understand how they invited Argentina to play one cross after the other in perfect crossing positions" pic.twitter.com/QdOW5Q6zlV

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) July 15, 2026

 

Agreed, poor tactics to sit back and allow Argentina the space to create chances, they hit the post 3 times. But also very poor execution from the players:

First goal, two players get drawn to Messi leaving Enzo totally free with space, also Pickford doesn't shift and actually leans the wrong way just as he strikes the ball.
Second goal, how is Martinez not marked, nobody near him with so many CB's in their backline?

Poor tactics or not, the players really f-cked up there.

Spain won't allow that to happen. When they went ahead against France did they sit back? No. When they got their second goal, did they bring on defenders? No, they brought on Fernan Torres, Merino & Pedri. The opposite to what England did and France never got a whiff.

 

I know it's selective clipping but still..

Elliot Anderson after England scored
pic.twitter.com/kZi60ETOXA

— ☈ッ (@TheFergusonWay) July 16, 2026

 

Sounds like Mainoo needs to withdraw from national team whilst Tuchel is there.

 

Apparently “injured” for the third place match. Hopefully he’s already on the plane to his vacation.
Hoping France will tank them here.

 

France looking lazy and down 0-2 already

 

Counter attacking has always been Rashford's strength. I wish we'd used it more.

 

Just checked the score and it's 3-0 England. Not watching so no idea how has England managed it.

 

Or England what if.

 

France have been woeful. CB’s are shyte and no press or tackle in midfield.