World Cup 2026 - Official Thread

Used to manage there before Swansea. I had no idea he'd gone there. A better gig than I'd expect after his last Prem job.

Errr..Lee Dixon on ITV?

Some really good games yesterday. 2nd half of NED-JAP was excellent. I got involved in the first half of ECU-CIV which was everything a World Cup match should be, although disappointed Sangare didn't start (and can’t see how he doesn't get in that side). Sweden looked very good against Tunisia (based on highlights) and it would have been good if we’d been successful in signing Ayari from Brighton in January.

Amad also on the bench? Were they targeting Germany? Hard to think they wouldn't think they've got the beating of Curacao regardless.

I suggest listening back to even a snippet of the 5 Live broadcast before deciding

Agree, but quite like it. Don't want him getting too knackered.

Ryan Mendes starts for Cape Verde against Spain.

Nuno da Costa is sad. But maybe he'll get the chance to slot one in for Spain as a sub.

(That's unfair, he was pretty blameless for the og v Stoke, it's to his credit he was the last man as he'd chased back, that goal didn't make any difference anyway and it worked out better in the long run as it saved us from a single season in the premier league in empty stadiums.)

Ryan Mendes was very good for us at everything apart from finishing and delivering a final ball.

So the story goes, he and Mahrez were together at Le Havre and Mendes was considered the outstanding prospect of the two then, but it didn't turn out how it was expected as is often the case. That's why cashing in on players like Arvin Appiah, Olie Burke and on a much grander scale Elliot Anderson doesn't particularly bother me.

And Sabri has been fired.

Edit: have now seen this on the manager thread.

I think this afternoon tells us a lot. Cabo Verde include two Forest legends, get a draw from the tournament favourites. Belgium needlessly snub Sels, can only draw with Egypt.

Should be a lesson to all international managers.

Best hope Man City don’t close the Anderson deal before Wednesday…

Tuchel took Anderson but not Morgan. Out in the quarters.

I'm enjoying it a lot. Huge variations in styles and quality as should be expected and desired. Too early for any "shocks" to necessarily matter. My favourite match so far was the Korea v Czechia one, with high quality football, contrasting tactics, disparate physicality, and great comeback..

The ad breaks are annoying. The diving is endemic.