World Cup 2026 - Official Thread

Looking at the Norway and Argentina games together, I think Kane showed two different kinds of performance. Against Norway he was quietly world class, even without filling the highlights. He kept dropping in, linked everything together, occupied defenders and created space for the runners around him. England's attack functioned because of the work he was doing, even if it wasn't the flashy stuff.

Tonight, I thought he was good rather than world class. He did plenty of good work early on and was involved in England's best attacking spells, but once England dropped deeper he became isolated and couldn't really influence the game in the same way. That's not all on him, but the very best performances tend to come with a defining moment when the game is in the balance, and that never really came. Over the two games, I'd say one world-class performance and one very good one.

His strength is football IQ and technique rather than intelligence or pace and that requires looking closely at the game and understanding it to assess impact rather drawing a colourful heat map. Any number of forwards can run, but very very few can influence games, grasp moments or finish as well as him.

But you're setting me up to defend him after two games which aren't his best, which is palpably unfair. If you want to understand how good he is and why what he does is harder than running and pressing ask why Nicolas Jackson, who can run and press all day long, was so much less effective in the same squad as him. Look at his stats across the year. Watch what he does next year.

Why are you debating with the weirdo (likely paedo) who only posts shit to try and get someone to reply?

Listening to Tuchel post match, he sounds like he knows he's gonna get flak for sitting back, as much as he verbally explains his justification for why he did it... and that deep down he knows he fucked up.

The tactic of packing the defence and defending a lead were awful. We scraped through v Mexico, and Norway wasn’t much better. You can’t expect to pull everyone back behind the ball including the number nine for 30 mins+ against a good team like Argentina and expect to get away with it.
I think tuchel got a lot wrong all tournament. Too many players were played either out of form or out of fitness (why persist with a clearly fucked Declan rice in every game) or out of position. Kane didn’t really feature after the Congo game (as usual - he’s always the same in the knockout stages) but of course he’ll never come off because he’s the captain and he takes a penalty. Bellingham can’t do it every game. Nobody else was really given an opportunity.
Somehow we made it to another semi final despite not being very good. I preferred things when Southgate was in charge.

You’re clearly been watching a different tournament to me

I don't agree, but I don't think either of us is going to change our minds on this. It's an emotional night, so it's probably best we agree to differ. We clearly value different things. I tend to look at it through a lens which feels more in tune with that of coaches, players and analysts, you see it more from a contrarian fan's perspective. The game's subjective.

I never thought I'd see an attempt to recreate Forest 2006 twenty years later in a World Cup semi final. Dan Burn and Gareth Taylor, despite playing at the opposite ends of the pitch, have a huge amount in common, for example, they're both massive lumps of shit. Reece James had all the mobility of Nicky Eaden. Harry Kane was as far behind the play as Scott Dobie.

I'll say this very quietly, but I actually enjoyed Rooney's punditry this tournament. I think playing for top managers has rubbed off on him, with some decent tactical and psychological insights, and even bits of his own show are interesting. I'm probably getting carried away in the moment here, but I wouldn't be adverse to him joining a future England coaching staff, as someone who's been there and, more importantly, has an more than an inkling of what needs to change.

That has to be one of the worst tactical displays I think I have ever seen. I seriously would have preferred some controversial VAR shit than such a meek capitulation from a position of strength.

It was a nothing game until we scored. Then we sat back. Against Argentina. Thinking they had the same quality and mentality as Mexico or Norway,

Tuchel got away with some shit subs vs Norway. What he did today was unforgivable. Resign or get fired, I don’t care.

Nothing at all. He’s supposed to be an upgrade.
I can forgive the backs to the wall vs Mexico. All other games were dodge.

We didn’t break down Ghana
We we lucky vs Panama and DRC
terrible tactics vs Norway which handed the game to the them

Today was really awful, sure we dealt with Argie constitute I the first half. Got both central defenders on a yellow. Scored a decent goal. Then…. Surrender the game and end up lobbing the ball to Dan Burn.

I would definitely get rid. I’m sure he’s a decent bloke but I could not believe what I was watching after we scored.

Agree. Southgate was never supposed to be an elite coach. He improved the culture and got us further in tournaments than we had in recent years (favourable draws notwithstanding). Tuchel was supposed to be the ruthless winner than built on that. And he shat the bed.

Djed Spence was great first half and that tackle, but he was really poor for the second goal.

He wasn't alone in being poorer as the game went on, but if he'd followed Messi out to the ball it can't have hurt.