@duewizard. Tata and Mexico are not at their best despite qualification. Argentina will be delighted with the draw starting hopefully with a goleada against Saudi. Match between El Tri and Poland will be decisive for both sides I think.
I've said this before and I'll say it again, I think that England have done relatively well under Southgate, but IMO it is IN SPITE of him rather than BECAUSE of him. I'll never know why he was given the England job in the first place, because he had done nothing in his managerial career to warrant his appointment IMO. It is my belief that virtually any manager could and probably would have done far better than he has manged so far with the vast array of talented players he has at his disposal. He has inherited the players that won two world cup age groups and reached the semi final/final? of a third one, just a few years back. These players are now of an age to represent the senior team, but he either overlooks them or uses those he has selected in a far to negative way, rather than utilising the vast array of attacking players he has in a far more positive way. I believe if someone else had been in charge we would have won the recent Euros and not lost out to Italy in the final. I also do not believe we will win the World Cup this year, although I do believe if we had a different manager we could do win it with the talent Southgate is wasting.
He was the Under 21 manager wasn’t he ? Made sense in a way tbh and Southgate at least has the respect and support of the players which hasn’t always happened in the past. Also has brought many younger players into the squad (who is missing from the side that won the Under 17s World Cup and playing top level football ?) Gallagher and Smith Rowe have broken through this season she just got called up. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_FIFA_U-17_World_Cup_squads#England I think there are limitations to his management and tactics particularly in big games though - maybe gets too negative and thinks defensive first . Having said that at the World Cup we did better than expected. Euros we did have home advantage generally I agree .
Absolutely. Watched almost every qualification Mexico game and it was painful. Was at the Azteca for the El Salvador game and it was tense all game. Against bloody El Salvador. Argentina should be happy. They will go through with 9 points and an insane goal diff like +10 or something. Honestly I think the Poland game will be a draw and who goes on will be decided on who gets less destroyed by Argentina and who puts more past Saudi. I have hope though because in World Cups we always play insanely well even after disatrous qualification campaigns (2010, 2014). I have hope we get rid of Tata but being honest that's not happening.
I think they were thinking of the Euros in which , admittedly, it is very hard not to qualify if you have anything about you .
Good news for England - two of their group games are on the BBC so should be ok in that regard . https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61011847
The Dancing Australian keeper was the hero then .. Don’t think France or Denmark will be fearing the Aussies .
What, just after he had lost only the second major final England have ever reached? Even Pozzo didn’t do that.
They did fire Jokanovic after he won us promotion,though. And I'm sure they would fire Southgate after today's match.
Looks like FIFA are moving Qatar's first game forwards to the Sunday night so the tournament will start a day early. https://theathletic.com/3494370/2022/08/10/qatar-world-cup-2022-start-date-fifa/
New England kits out. Away one isn’t bad but too much blue on the shoulders for the home one ? https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/england-world-cup-kit-awful-divided-b2171818.html
It's much better than Serbia's kits at least. Having said that, most kits at this World Cup are garbage imo. I like kits of countries that have adidas as manufacturer though.
