A Socceroo off to Vietnam? 🇻🇳🇦🇺👀 According to Vietnam VN (Minh Hoang), Australia international Ajdin Hrustic has attracted interest from Hanoi FC in the Vietnamese top flight 🟣⚪️

Full season League One or German third league loan would be good at this stage.

The way the team mate starts pointing like something had gone wrong in the back play.

Should help us win a lot of dodgy pens.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. Money can't buy class yada yada yada.

Portugal has a lot of also rans so in the worst case Irankunda would get many games there but European competition is the goal.

Absolutely but I'm referring to people who compliment South Americans for being cunning yet went hard on Redmayne making out how hypocritical he is when they themselves are being hypocritical.

Just wow...

Watford were on unsteady ground but started the season well. I think Spurs will be more steady. I honestly hope Bournemouth go down. I think the new teams will have it tough but hopefully survive.

Tired of our players taking the bait of big clubs. We're just a number there.

I can't wait for the English fans to go hard at every Argentina player in club football. Yeah, they're rich and don't care but let them have it!

The way Australia slow down a game, even if they do, is nowhere near the blatant cheating other teams do. Officials need to clamp down on it. The injury and throw time rules were good.

Gauci back at Villa since 1.7 in a contract sense but he'll definitely be loaned or hopefully just sold for a permanent gig.

Congrats to the winners and I'll take 3rd. Did I give up a decent lead?

Didn't West Ham have interest in Souttar previously? Would be much better than Wrexham.

Yet when Redmayne throws a water bottle away he gets dragged down by his own as being no better than the South Americans.

We already knew it but the way Argentina consolidated their dirty play needs consequences. I suggest every team just point and laugh at them. In future. Just take the piss. Their pride won't be able to handle it.

Scuffles from the benches. Argentina are utter pish. Any sport, look at how they behave. Nalbandian, Chela. Absolute wankers.

Not exactly but just hogging the ball and doing little with it is boring to watch. Something of a mix with quick transitions and moving the ball quickly to stagger the defensive line is more my thing. The game moved faster than I had anticipated.

This is akin to an Australian swimming gold. We know we're good. Players spent after 120min but Argentina players hardly interested in giving congratulations.

Footage from the country or on the pitch?

Argentina didn't help themselves and England battered them for a good hour before imploding. They had this odd lethargy all tournament before only switching on late. Dickhead and his red didn't help.

Is this Spain's chosen victory music? Geez. Just sooth yourself down after 120min of fighting.

Otamendi moaning. Just STFU!

Yawn football triumphs. Players happy but nowhere near as emotive as previous winners. It's almost as if they knew their slow grinding away at the competition would get them victory. Additionally the fans at the game are unlikely to be purists and just there for vibes.

Nice officiating and the ref gets mocked by the players. Should be immediate bookings.

Geez that cross was actually cleared.

Something like 39 touches on 105min

Just kicking it into their faces instead.

That's embarrassing by Williams there.

Game about to get very end to end.

If Spain hold on here watch a massive dressing room fallout between Fernandez and others.

Despite it being tournament football finals still might not indicate the better team. That's the competition format. Certainly don't change to a league format and even with club football being over a long time, the table feels note indicative of performance.

Let's pretend we beat Egypt and then Argentina. We're going to win the cup! Was that O'Neill sent off then?

That too. We can certainly categorise players in many aspects. He'll leave his mark but the legends are such tough acts to follow and the game and eras change as well that comparisons are hard.

And people wanted to claim Merino as the best midfielder header and scorer the EPL has ever seen. Scoffs in Tim Cahill!

He's excellent but I don't think he's ever better than Federer, Nadal or Djokovic. A bit like Mbappe is a very good next gen but he'll never have the Messi or Ronaldo crown.

Missing the header?

Poster boy. Bit like the new tennis gen. Undoubtedly skilled but nowhere near the standard and grace of the recent legends.

Card for anyone else.

Sell out :D

The step on the foot albeit accidentally just gets blown these days. 20 years ago players didn't have wafer thin boots with these blades and defenders weren't a bunch of wimps looking for the first reason to not do their job.

The bloke gets beaten easily when it's somewhat near him and has had everything in his range today. Nothing special. Made to look a mug often at Villa and he is a mug anyway with his antics.

Sleep thieving bastards. Knew 0:0 was the go.

It's a small move to his left. Rudimentary stuff. Just leans to his side.

Easy for Martinez when everything has been right at him.

Paredes on a yellow but that hack probably not enough for a second yellow. He's got to watch it.

The bloke is a piece of shit. Blind refs never calling his blatant rule breaking. This isn't some solid fair play tackling style here.

Get the fuckwit off! Shouldn't even be playing today. Look at the left foot step into the opponent. Refusal to leave the pitch after a red should lead to an extra 2 game suspension and a fine.

It's not passion but contempt for the rules and officials by Fernandez. Send him off!

None of this will stop until people stop buying the products associated with the tournament. I think all these alternative gym clothes dent Nike sales but they're a juggernaut elsewhere.

This thread is more entertaining than the match.

It's a fucking card! Rodri decides to fall late but so obvious into the back off the ball.

Did they sing It's raining men?

The players needed 5min to get sorted from the tunnel to the pitch. It must have been cleared by then. I really don't keep count on matchday but I reckon it ticks over the 17 or 19min give or take with a few logistical bumps.

I saw an interview with a sport scientist about heat and intense sport and it's not surprising yet staggering what changes happen and potential risks. Alas player welfare is secondary and bad things still don't happen often enough for them to do something.

I just find the song flat and lazy compared to the others at least. Utter the same little title a bit and let some music spin around and sings the chorus once.

For another thread but God we need a renaissance of spaces for such things but zoning, councils and big corp and gov won't want people enjoying themselves at low cost. I saw a 'new' term, funflation.

Basically droning noise and screaming and jumping. Argentina would be familiar with that.

Shannon Noll still touring?

This world cup song was such a lazy version. Her voice for the chorus just once then some rapper droning on for the rest.

Checked the timer. Just under 12 min so the whole 30 min fake news was just that. Don't agree with a ht show but the fake reporting on it is no better.

A small break. Our camp might start a little earlier but it'll be a right release time with clubs.

Sure yet will their marketing efforts spur on even more purchases or related sales? It won't turn me into a zombie consumer. I don't think they can even accurately break down the ROI on the marketing conversion rate but rather hope the bottom line swallows what they spent. When Bud Lite got...

Ted Lasso is the unfunniest shit.

We'd like to be on their money and even with all the best facilities and treatments the pressure on the body and mind is ticking. A different type of stress compared to the average person you'd think. Look at Irvine and Metcalfe, no winter break due to the Asian Cup. The EPL slows down a bit...

Nothing funnier when Psy did Gangnam style for the Italian Cup final and got booed to hell.

So some silly recording or Madonna pulled in billions of ad money due to all the scene types tuning in just for the half time show. Yet are any of us going to buy any product associated with the promoted brands due to this?

So they needed how long to set up the half time show? Should've gotten my stopwatch out.

It's been reiterated by the biggest and hobbyist. Nothing wrong with cooling when it's cooking.

And that's the great thing about it. I appreciate teams doing things with the ball. The final has been more fluid than I anticipated.

Some podcasters observed it was perfectly sensible in the hottest conditions yet it was a rarity at the world cup so common sense won't prevail.

Going to miss the structure these drink breaks bring to my day!

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g3l22ry6wo

Not as bad as someone here calling Irankunda Iran but it's Olmo just for clarification. Olmo actually stepped on Macca.

Yeah, I mean the NY Jets. Seeing competence at MetLife is rare so this game is a treat.

As a Jets fan it's being perfectly normal to see a clear line breaknso early in the game by the visiting team.

Hmmm I think the ref might be right there not to give Spain a free kick. Slight block but the Spain player looked glad to try and milk it.

Well surprisingly swift movement to begin and not the slow trot and passing.

His lengthy interview was insightful and he will mature but I didn't like his constant 'I don't know' attitude and sometimes just being resigned to that's how things go. He turned the ball over a few times way too casually when basics would've sufficed. He's not at Hrustic levels of casualness...

Any player who signals a card should be booked!

Not to mention a few dives that make Robben blush.

No one needs a Boxing announcer...

Messi 10/1 to be fouled 3 times at least. Betting agencies accept any small hold or flop the ref blows for. Surely he goes down at least 5 times? Cucurella 12/1 for 4 or more times being fouled.

Knocking down parts of MetLife would be doing us a favour.

Trust the Latinos to already be behind schedule.

The Star Spangeled Banner is supposed to be sung faster! All the best versions are quicker as are the military versions. Idiotic Popstars

Reports of delays for journalists getting in. MetLife is such a shit place. SoFi wouldn't have these issues.

They'll be fine but this is Argentina's first game in the heat. Everything else indoors or at night.

One team just hogs the ball and puts you to sleep while the other refuses to play until it suits them. Both swarm the ref and can't accept a decision. Hopefully and early goal forces both teams to play more openly.

Can't support either team really. Both shit.

I just can't trust Popovic to adapt and get the best out of the players we have. Remember Arnold with squeezing the juice? I think Popovic is very close and only making it harder on himself by playing people in unsuitable roles.

It's become a self serving bubble. To be fair they do have some very good shows that come out but the lack of sport compared to the last is poor. That's pay TV to blame too. At least they don't enter your name with the credit authorities like in Germany where it's mandatory to pay and vigorously...

Volpato the biggest post WC media focus. Beach and Ryan with an episode. Anyone else with a long interview?

youtube.com/watch?v=2jFr1Olgqi8&pp=0gcJCZkLAYcqIYzv Well there's part of my Sunday sorted.

Here at FT of the final

That's my gripe with many broadcasters. Cut to music and ads at full time instead of a good 5min watching the players mingle and argue. The missing analysis is frustrating but I'm pretty sure many tournament games had analysis and this playoff was skipped.

England's Irvine. He needn't always start games. I reckon starting Watkins will free up other areas. Depends on the opponent.

Sarcasm metre.

Reckon the two teams have agreed on 4:4 and split the halves.

England's rugby won in Argentina. Rugby crowds are generally fair but apparently Argentina were feral tonight.

These aren't exactly improvements!

I don't think it has ever happened that a host or pre qualified nation has taken part in the qualification match stage.

I agree with sentiment already that Brazil isn't the right opponent before the Asian Cup and perhaps Uruguay isn't either. The bigger Asian nations are tough but I'd prefer someone a bit lighter so Popovic can practice tactics on the ball as that's how we'll be for most of the tournament.

First Brazil, Next: URUGUAY?! An epic rivalry could be set to reignite in October 🇦🇺🇺🇾👀 Football360 understands plans are in motion for the Socceroos to face one of their most iconic opponents in October at a yet to be decided venue. Details: https://tinyurl.com/vw3ud9m3

Germany used the game as a celebration in 06 and turned it on.

If Australia made it we'd certainly want to finish 3rd. I get for these big players this is really nothing but you should still give some kind of effort. Other sports have placing matches that teams keenly contest.

World cup spots still need to be earned. Better yet, maybe the Euros should have a top 6 incentive to make the world cup the the rest can have balanced groups and fight it out.

Would be a solid inside forward for Australia with his runs and finishing.

They've still got to win them. The big nations invariably do but the odd rocky moment along the way is there. I'm not a fan of pre tournament games determining something of a bonus in the tournament proper such as a bye. Nor am I a fan that the previous world cup should count to something for...

English food is already better than French so it's a moot point. Silly little portions and baby beers in France.

I'm not sure if a medal is awarded but I vaguely remember something is given. Olympic bronze is definitely a big deal but this game just can't compete. I doubt players will look at their award in 20 years and let it mask the fact the lost a semi.

I can't think of anything worse than being a big nation and having 4 years of friendly matches. So tiresome.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-18/australia-hosts-over-70s-football-world-cup/106926336

I had Watford go down last season. Bristol City have weakened. I've overlooked Stoke. I hope some of this ex EPL clubs finally do another drop to freshen things up more. Lincoln going up is great.

https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/rheinland-pfalz/trier/toedlicher-messerangriff-in-robert-schuman-allee-junger-mann-gestorben-100.html And the next one. Chuck it through the translator. Victim's mother is a CDU politician so now she gets to experience her party's politics firsthand and is...

It's just insane to think someone with a history of violence committing another offence and throwing a rail worker from a moving train can be allowed to go home before a court date.

Karlsruhe (Baden-Württemberg) – Despite having a prior conviction for a similar offense and being on probation, a judge has rejected pre-trial detention for the 36-year-old train attacker! The Karlsruhe public prosecutor's office announced this early this evening. The German man had punched and...

Criminal not to at least blood him against Brazil. Hrustic was called up against Brazil in 2017.

He needs more time on the pitch to show it. The small parts showed he's quicker and sharper at getting the ball around. The Saudi away start was good but Popovic just gave him half hours to round out friendly games.

It's what the locals name it at least :D

My predictions Championship Promoted: West Ham, Wolves, Southampton Relegated: WBA, Bristol City, Lincoln (begrudgingly) League One Promoted: Leicester, Reading, Luton Relegated: Burton, Bromley, Blackpool, MK Dons League Two Promoted: Chesterfield, Walsall, Salford, Gillingham Relegated...

I think all everyone wants to see is some combinations with our best ball playing players and appropriate tactics. If it doesn't work then we can revert back. This means not playing those on borrowed time and trying something like a Balard, Robertson, Yazbek midfield.

EFL nicely refreshed again for the season. The Championship looks excellent with West Ham, Lincoln and Bolton there and a lot of teams geographically close.

And I keep forgetting Yazbek...

Toure in this!

Stoke City and Macron have introduced the club’s 26/27 Away kit ahead of the EFL Championship season. Inspired by Reginald Mitchell and the Spitfire aircraft,the new Stoke City jersey features an irregular camouflage graphic in green and khaki across the front, shoulders and sleeves. A tonal...

Grimsby away. 2 top kits this season. These photos were taken in Grimsby which is known as the English Riviera.

Wallabies going fine against Italy. Matildas syndrome by picking a lot of old deadwood. Can't stand some of the names that are STILL there.

While I enjoy variation Bolton are just Bradford here!

Sampdoria just get it right. I read Brentford will have a kit 2 years in a row or something about sustainability. Schalke similarly have a kit that's often identical so a 2 year run is a good thing. Sales however...

Don't mind the Leicester away and logo variation. Won't see Souttar in it.

Nice. Wish Wednesday the best in their rebuild.

Good of the German police to admit their fans were the instigators but of course English fans weren't innocent.

I think teams should just point and laugh and Argentina when they fake injuries or do illegal stuff. It might result in a booking for taunting but it'll probably frustrate them into doing something stupid. A few nearest players should just mock them and call them cheats.

Popovic has his locks who may not even feature that much. Hrustic was one. From the outset it should've been Volpato in Hrustic out and the McGree absence probably triggered the chance. There was so much space for someone like Robertson against Egypt and a better RWB sub over Trewin was...

We did only a few times with Ange, Bosnich, Foster and then we went to feel good group think panels or most recently, an FA member shutting down Milligan and Oar.

The Argentina Switzerland had a UEFA ref so the confederation block wasn't in. The semis should've have Turpin or a few others with much bigger game experience. This USA ref who is actually Moroccan is blind to shithousery while the other extravagant El Salvadorian also lost control.

Ah right. Wikipedia massively inaccurate. Transfermarkt it is.

Interesting with Smyth scoring 16 in 8 for the VPS reserves and 0 from 7 so far for first team but at 22 there is time yet.

Contrary to popular belief, Santa's elves are actually massive units on the production line.

It's the fact that the fouls and play are blatant breaches of the laws of the game. There's nothing wrong with a hard fair tackle. It's the cheating that's the issue.

Definitely develop systems to beat them but the balance of the match is unfairly effected if refs don't give cards. Imagine if Fernandez had a yellow, he holds back. Fernandez should have had 2 yellows. Any competent ref does it for the punch in the head and the blatant trip. Enough evidence...

T Pressure off but something to prove.

Fernandez hits Anderson then later clips Bellingham. Both yellows. Ref had no authority. Better refs would've seen this. The standards and instructions must be improved. Argentina need to be labelled as a dirty team and the only way to stop it is to start giving yellows early.

Messi stomps on Spence before the winner. Spence stumbles and plays on. Roles reversed Argentina begin their scream and fall before the contact. It's blatant cheating and refs need instruction to go hard on this. Wave diving away and give cards. Immediate yellows for dirty play.

I'm all for solid fair play but the refs let so much go for Argentina. The problem is if the opponent treats Argentina the same, they get booked and Argentina start flopping everywhere.

It doesn't help when Argentina are already beginning a simulation before minimal contact. I don't think any English fouls during play were dirty. Argentina meanwhile..

Watched and it was great! Worth another watch.

I'm aware the upper classes also enjoyed the game and the laws were written by those higher up. We can expect it's working class in the vast majority sense but exposure and perhaps even control from upper classes was and is there too.

Your second sentence is the right party. It's a bandwagon fashion thing. Some may enjoy the sport that but more but it's like PSG clothing now being a fashion statement rather than football support. These people can't name more than 5 footballers.

The Fan boy stuff is so obvious but it's alright if it goes I've people's heads. Depends on your news feed I guess.

Football being a working class game wouldn't really be gentlemanly anyway. English cricket also has skewed views on the spirit of the game.

My first view it looked like a karate chop. What business does his hand have in that area to begin with?

Red card for Bellingham too.

I've just seen the footage of Spence being clipped before the second goal. Plenty of refs see that and blow and foul and the play is done. Blind officiating.

The time of the match should be irrelevant. If play is violent then the call should be made. Neither semifinal ref had control.

Why didn't the players just wear helmets. He doesn't get away with that in the EPL I think. The player is down that long they question as to why and check a review. Confederation doesn't matter but here two raw CONCACAF refs for semifinals losing control has seen very weak refereeing. Refs...

We'd be overjoyed to get so far that an extra match would be fun. We're still that little bit immature at the world cup.

The fuckwit comes in with a punch the head and tells the opponent to get up. This has nothing to do with good play. The refs need to be instructed that this still is foul play and it needs to be dealt with.

Bunch of degenerates. Would they like to go back to a dysfunctional military junta? As if the millionaire players care.

The photo is certainly blurred but the initial replay showed a clear fist into the back of the head. Anderson is down after that. He has no need to fake it unlike his opponent.

Both. The ref had no control and they're so blind to checking what's going on it there. There's some real stupidity now where refs are blind and petrified to rule against blatant foul play. Argentina meanwhile are good at disguising their fouls and refs don't rule against them.

Close Fernandez out and he resorts to breaking the rules. If he's given space he can do something. It's idiotic teams still don't realise this and he gets away with some much. Refs give him a free pass.

Early in the game a fist into the back of the head. It's just a joke how much Argentina get away with.

Yawn. They didn't do much for the vast majority of the game. A goal by one but the others just trotting around. Didn't dictate the game or win balls. If Fernandez gets pressed he's nothing. Dives and cries. I don't get why coaches don't do a Ji Sing Park on Pirlo shut down.

When you lose a semi the third placed game is brutal. If you win it's a minuscule consolation.

Tuchel channelling Popovic. With that much skill just get the ball and play it out. Tempts fate and look at that.

Fuck off. Stupid tactics and bad press with the goal.

O'Neill had been playing with an issue for a while. I hope a Trewin wasn't playing with an issue at the world cup and picked something up the surgeon suggested. I might just be a small issue.

Bus parking isn't good from England. Only giving Argentina chances.

Just said to mates, where even is Kane? And this is where in some games Watkins or others are better for a time. The Watkins goal against The Netherlands proved this.

Wow AA with more to follow just like that! MLS is fine provided you play and post WC there should be something of a familiarity of games on American soil with a decent standard. It's hard to describe but MLS still feels like an usual fantasy league but it's become established with many good...

Regardless of political direction, arrest and gaol for decades. Self confessed terrorist. Get these people locked up.

Argentina calculating a killer blow. England tame against a deep block.

England corner. I'm on an angle at the beer garden and couldn't see the clock. 55 sec. Was it 5 before the ending or a minute over? 3 added given all the lying down is a joke.

Fall forward and opponent gets a yellow.

Ref has no control. Messi dive and a yellow...

Argentina flop midfield and the whistle goes....they just start a fall and go to ground. It's momentum and not foul play.

2 fouls on England in a row and no flag. They're not fair duels there.

A chop into Anderson's head. Compare that to what Beckham got a red card for.

Was he maybe a bit underdone? Rogers has empty his tank. Could go to penalties.

Argentina just faking everything. They're pieces of shit.

Love these intricate geographical things. We live in the last apartment that is Hannover Döhren and across the street is Wülfel. Both devent addresses thankfully. East 96th St in NYC splits Spanish Harlem and Upper East Side and the stereo contrast is amazing.

Then there's that twat Thogden. How many T's could I get in a sentence. I'll admit I enjoy the angles they film but the hyperbole is too much.

Superbowl half time isn't even that long. News channels are overblowing this for clicks. 11min ht show with a slight delay to clear the stage. I don't want a show at all but it's hardly an issue.

There is a western part of Wagga? Sounds rough. My old primary school, Woodport, was called Erina West then as kids we wondered where the north, south and eastern bits were.

Away would make an excellent carpet at Bateau Bay Bowling club!

Oink!

He's doing it to be provocative. The history of the islands is the reason for this. Does he call Japan Nippon?

Oh now I've zoomed in the green on the gold isn't good...

Bloke is such a prat.

I reckon the away kit will look good once it's made. Very different but the photo doesn't do it justice. Home kit is a bit too simplistic for my liking.