2026 World Cup Qualifiers

[Ali TT]

Trump saying Russia playing in the WC could be an incentive for them to stop the war in Ukraine, not realising they are already banned, while Vance says fans coming to the tournament need to **** off straight away afterwards.

Promising start. Reminds me when my father-in-law hosted Christmas once - got really stressed and drunk so everyone felt uncomfortable, fell asleep after lunch then woke up mid-afternoon to moan "why is everyone still ****ing here?" Coincidence that he likes Trump.

To think they've got the Olympics as well during this term.

 

[shortpitched713]

Trump saying Russia playing in the WC could be an incentive for them to stop the war in Ukraine, not realising they are already banned, while Vance says fans coming to the tournament need to **** off straight away afterwards.

Promising start. Reminds me when my father-in-law hosted Christmas once - got really stressed and drunk so everyone felt uncomfortable, fell asleep after lunch then woke up mid-afternoon to moan "why is everyone still ****ing here?" Coincidence that he likes Trump.

To think they've got the Olympics as well during this term.

Something something 1936.

Hope Trump gets embarrassed in one or more ways.

 

[social]

Australia virtually certain to directly qualify after beating Japan last night

 

[Molehill]

Australia virtually certain to directly qualify after beating Japan last night

Looks like Iran will too - could be interesting given the latest gumph coming from DRT!! Will they be allowed in?

 

[the big bambino]

Yeah Australia directly qualify as long as they avoid a total melt down against KSA. We really have got there by by avoiding calamities and securing draws against potential losses. I wonder if that was the plan after our initial loss at home to Bahrain? Japan helped us out by resting a lot of their stars but dominated possession in the game anyway. Really was a nice goal right at the end. McGree (is that his name?) beat his defender beautifully on the turn and his centre kick back into the square, after chasing the ball full tilt in the opposite direction, was classy too.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Oh, are minnow countries still trying to qualify??

The big guns got through earlier by beating the likes of Fiji and New Caledonia.

 

[Chin Music]

Italy getting pumped by Norway perhaps wasn’t a total shock given the personnel Norway possess but even so their best chance of making their first World Cup since 2014 already looks very tough.

 

[Ali TT]

One thing you could say about Southgate is that his sides usually stuffed the minnows. 1-0 v Andorra not impressive; doubts about Tuchel starting to emerge already.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Didn't see it, but the XI we stuck out suggests maybe Tuchel treated the Andorreanaianese lightly. I mean, he started with the ghost of Jordan Henderson, ffs.

 

[GotSpin]

One suspects his ripperness is taking the Mickey Bliss, but really there's no reason why WC qualifiers couldn't be global nowadays.

Every tournie someone like the Netherlands, Italy or Chile miss out. Whilst acknowledging this is in no way not piss funny, it's pretty hard to argue they would bring more to the table than yer Panamas, yer Hondurases or yer Australias Qatars.

Chile are ****ing terrible though

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Wow. We won against/beat Ivory Coast in a friendly!

Edited

 

[Ali TT]

Wow. We won Ivory Coast in a friendly!

I think predominantly white nations stopped "winning" territories and possessions through sporting contests back at the end of the 19th century. It was usually games of cards back then too; football would've been far too coarse.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I think predominantly white nations stopped "winning" territories and possessions through sporting contests back at the end of the 19th century. It was usually games of cards back then too; football would've been far too coarse.

Will edit

 

[Chin Music]

Didn't see it, but the XI we stuck out suggests maybe Tuchel treated the Andorreanaianese lightly. I mean, he started with the ghost of Jordan Henderson, ffs.

I thought it was a disgrace he was still getting picked two years ago, let alone now. A very slow and lethargic tempo is never going to change with him in the middle of the park and it was laughable against Andorra.

 

[ripper868]

A 1-0 win against a nation of 80,000...bodes well for the creators of the game.

 

[sledger]

Eh moaning about performances against minnow nations in qualifying games is pretty much par for the course in the context of the England national team tbh. Has been for as long as I can remember. And when you stage these games at the end of gruelling club campaigns it's no wonder the players don't look especially interested/raring to go.

 

[Prince EWS]

I think predominantly white nations stopped "winning" territories and possessions through sporting contests back at the end of the 19th century. It was usually games of cards back then too; football would've been far too coarse.

Odd for something with so much on the line to be called a friendly too.

 

[Furball]

Eh moaning about performances against minnow nations in qualifying games is pretty much par for the course in the context of the England national team tbh. Has been for as long as I can remember. And when you stage these games at the end of gruelling club campaigns it's no wonder the players don't look especially interested/raring to go.

Exactly.

If England win the World Cup in 12 months time, nobody will give a **** they were shite against Andorra. Games like this, particularly when played at a stupid time of year, are about getting the 3 points and going home.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Odd for something with so much on the line to be called a friendly too.

Everyone was having a good time, what's the problem

 

[Molehill]

Eh moaning about performances against minnow nations in qualifying games is pretty much par for the course in the context of the England national team tbh. Has been for as long as I can remember. And when you stage these games at the end of gruelling club campaigns it's no wonder the players don't look especially interested/raring to go.

Was in the car at lunchtime yesterday and heard a 45 minute analysis on this monstrosity, actually, this analysis was worse. Get the win, don't get injured, enjoy your Summer, move on.

Although, given Tuchel's thoughts on Rice, I'm wondering if he's actually Skipper.