Saudi Arabia are trying to muster (buy) European support for a 2034 World Cup bid.
Only saw the second half...other fish to fry today...but england looked very pedestrian in the bits that I saw. Kane's movement was dogshit. Could have done with a sterling, or like.
By the way. Clougie would have had an aneurism if it was his striker playing the pass for that goal. What the fuck do you think midfielders are for? And strikers?
Madison over Foden was a brave (twattish) call.
The Harry Maguire photo collection continues to start for engerland. He hasn't ever let them down. Of course he hasn't. He's tried his best. He's just been crap.
I wasn't watching but have read Harry was marking our other centre half for their goal?
If I was coaching him I would have been very annoyed that neither centre-half was in front of the goal. Both had been pulled beyond the near post.
But on the other hand, what are you expecting? He can barely move.
If you get a chance, watch that incident in the Latvia Wales game, referred by VAR to the referee to review the incident.
Then tell me that some referees are not either bent, or have no idea what they are looking at.
The hilarious thing was that VAR seemed to play the footage until they were able to find a view where the ball was in the picture frame, and freeze it there. The ball was five yards away, and the Wales player two steps gone, when the Latvia player lunge scissor tackled his knee. Yes, said the referee. Looks like I got it right with a yellow.
That's taking homer to a whole new level.
I was tempted to say that you wont see a worse decision...but we seem to get them every match.
It was absolutely unbelievable that it didn't get a red.
I genuinely can't imagine how a qualified referee can come to the decision that he has, after seeing the review footage that he did.
Totally baffling. I would love to have a credible explanation for his decision. Unfortunately there isn't one, that doesn't have some element of totally unsatisfactory about it.
Harry Maguire off the bench and already put through his own net. Paging Tricky...
Jude Bellingham is ludicrously talented. My word, that boy can play.
Southgate has got very defensive about his players and selections, I feel like he's losing it. E.g. It's quite justifiable to question the selection of centre half who can't get a game for his club and looks permanently depressed. He can pick him if he wants fine he's the boss, but it's fair to expect challenge about that decision. I don't want him to lose it as I think, as things stand, Cooper would have a middling to high chance of replacing him.
Expect rumours of him quitting fairly soon - he used it as a tactic last time to get the press back in line.
And for all the defence of Maguire being unlucky with the own goal, who was the defender two yards deeper than everyone else which played the Scots onside for the break in the first place?England aren't generally able to appoint existing premier league managers - think Hoddle was the last in 1996.
It's just not that attractive a job for a decent manager in his prime years.
Think he's clever enough to realise that sentiment has tipped fairly decisively against him and it wouldn't work again - it's pretty nailed on now that he'll leave after next year's tournament.
