Apart from winning the European Nations Cup( the forerunner of the Euros) in 1964 Spain was the poor relation of European football.In the 60s,70s and the 80s Italy,West Germany and the Dutch were the top Euro nations.France was an also ran during this time. Real Madrid was the dominant club...

Spain totally controlled the game and it would have been a travesty if it had gone to a penalty shoot out and Argentina had won.If Spain had Mbappe they would have blown Argentina off the park by half time.That is their only weakness that they don't have a excellent central striker though...

Just listen to your Mum like a good boy now-mums know everything

MOTM for me.

I hope you are talking about menisci not the possibilities that razorblade and HonestSpursFan raised.

The stumbling blocks of the K2 league!

I thought he might be useful this WC but again disappointing as when he has the ball time seems to slow down and nothing happens.Velupillay likewise was a surprise call up -Younis,Silvera and Boyle could have done more.

You did for sure but we need to be able to do this at least five or six times a match if not more.We have a top defence but our attacking players and tactics are still way behind.Bos and Volpato have the skills and drive as does Nestory when played out wide but when you look at the top teams...

Egypt to their credit went upfield in an attempt to score after Messi scored the equalising goal but got caught out and lost .A bitter blow and then they got stroppy and lost their rag.Such an interesting game and how well did Egypt play.Maybe Popa knew they would be too good for us if we had...

Having qualified for 6 WC finals and 3 times getting out of our group I hoped in that game against Egypt we would have been more proactive for more of the game.At various though brief periods we did take it to them and looked good .However in the last part of extra time we went back into our...

Players in the mix for next WC cycle Keepers: Beach,Devenish-Meares,Gauci,Maynard-Brewer,Peraic-Cullen,Hall,Plusnin RB/Wingback: Bos,Italiano,Miller,Overy,Bennie,Metcalfe,Adamson,Nasso LB/Wingback: Bos,Overy,Majekodunmi,Mauragis,Wilmering,Farrell CBs...

Portugal v Spain was possibly the most boring game of this WC.

For the Belgium v USA game the world wide viewing audience would almost to a person been barracking for the Red Devils.

Go Belgium keep piling the goals on.

Truly a classic game.Mexico just don't perform as well when the chips are down.However they did contribute to a tense and hard fought match with a spirited and game English team .Bellingham's two goals were so important and great to see a diving header.Pickford was great and commanded his area...

A blight on the sport.Non football people are turned off by these antics.

Paraguay used the dark arts trying to unsettle the French and Mbappe in particular and they did frustrate them .

Kudos to Aziz Behich who ran himself into the ground.Also Aiden O'Neill who played out of his skin .Beach's save from the header was first class.Circati,Souttar and Herrington built a wall which the Pharoahs could not break down.Bos was so good until his injury from. that no holds barred...

I have had a few hours to settle down and watching Cabo Verde take it to mighty Argentina renewed my faith in football .Lots of recriminations and vitriol on the forum and understandable.Sorry for Souttar and Herrington who had both played their hearts out and had put up their hands to take the...

What an effort by Cabo Verde .Brave and had some excellent transitional play.I guess Infantino will say their progress justifies a 48 team WC and he has a point.

Capo Verde scored against Argentina from open play so makes our effort look anaemic.

Cabo Verde scores from open play making it 1-1.Capo Verde better attacking side than Socceroos as they are more willing to spread the ball.

These slow looping corners are just so poor and make it easier for defenders.

Poor marking for their goal .It was a great header but uncontested and gave Beach no chance.

Yes Volpato has not been up to scratch in that part of his game.

Wait until the VAR human officials are replaced by AI directed bots -then football is finished.

I don't love VAR as often takes too long for decisions to be made.Of course it is fallible as in the end humans still have to make a decision .

Switzerland accounted for Algeria 2-0 and did it mainly in first gear.Xhaka is such a top all round footballer with that touch of mongrel which makes him such a difficult opponent.Manzambi one of the best young players in the tournament.

Algeria caught out and Manzambi sets up Embolo for Swiss goal.Algeria are looking good in attack and I think more goals will come.

Very well said.We do miss McGree who has good technique but also creativity.The same goes for Nisbet( but he needs to play in a higher league than the Dutch 2nd division to really show if he can cut it at a higher level) and maybe for Robertson.Mooy definitely had football nous and understood...

You are generally correct though.South American teams do win outside of their own continent,particularly Brazil who have won in Sweden and Japan.

Spain growing into the tournament.Almost flawless display in attack and defence.The Austrian team worked hard but outclassed.

Germany in Brazil 2014 say hello.

Tomorrow's games could have more penalty shootouts on the cards but I will pick Portugal,Spain and Switzerland as winners.

Mexico v England will really be a test for the Poms at the Azteca Stadium.Kane has produced when needed and his second goal against DR Congo was brilliant-technically difficult but hit with great force-one of the best of the tournament so far.Mexico are well organised and have a great record at...

Yes smaller players with quick feet and ability to change direction can disrupt a low block.However for this tournament a player like Arzani or Nisbet would not have fitted into Poppa's style. As you said the idea of the press pushing opponents wide was a eye opener for me. Even though Poppa's...

Detailed analysis and comments.

I never doubted O'Neill's value in this team.Has had lots of detractors because he is not flashy but does the hard work his position requires-screening the CBs,covering for the wing backs,intercepting passes and blocking the passing lanes.He and Metcalfe play Popa's game strategy almost to...

Mexico looks so strong at the Azteca.If they win the next round( DR Congo or England) they will be playing in Miami which is a very Latino city and most likely against Brazil who should be too strong for Norway,Viking row and Haaland not withstanding.

France beat Sweden who actually played some good football.They have Gyokeres,Isak and Elanga but France have Mbappe,Olise and Dembele so a great strike force against a very good strike force.That first goal by Kylian with his incredible quick feet was a thing of beauty.