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A little late, but I Just watched Qatar crawl to a 1-1 draw against the Swiss. I swear I was having severe flashbacks to a wet Tuesday night at the JobServe Community Stadium. Qatar’s tactical masterclass today was basically copy-pasted from our 2023 relegation scrap.
They largely played five at the back. They passed sideways for 80 minutes. They looked terrified of the football. Honestly, if you put them in blue and white stripes, you could easily convince me it was us playing Forest Green away (not that one!).
Their equaliser was pure Colchester Jamie McDonnell heritage. A sublime cross. A defensive scramble, and a bullet header that left the keeper no chance. It lacked only one thing. It needed the satisfying sound of 2,000 freezing Essex fans shouting "how on earth did we get that?!"
Well done Qatar, now sort out your record on human rights!
I can imagine the conversation went something like this….
FIFA Sorry, we didn’t expect England to progress this far. SPONSORS. But the UK TV audience will be poor at 0100. FIFA Let’s blame the weather and move it six hours forward. FA. We’ve prepared for 0100 am, this isn’t fair. STARMER I’ve opened the pubs until 0500. TRUMP We can’t expect Starmer to do yet another YouTurn. TRUMP I’ll invade Mexico if it’s not changed back FIFA This was merely a rumour started onTikTok BBC VERIFY A Panorama investigation will be broadcast on Monday Evening MEXICAN TV NEWS Caramba, we thought you said a Hurricane not Harry Kane…..
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The U'sual World Cup thread on 18:18 - Jul 8 with 1564 views
The last two world cup finals I’ve been invited around the neighbours for a piss up and a barbeque, as we all cheer on Les Bleus, but this year I’m fearing an In-ger-land v France final as I’ll be forced to sit the ‘Tebbit Test’.
If there’s any Karma, Spain will win it and the orange manbaby will explode when he has to present the trophy.
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The U'sual World Cup thread on 10:38 - Jul 9 with 1486 views
Just like PL countries and clubs favoured, top billing Messi should have had a red earlier in the competition. Shearer also lost his composure in the Aztec, both the red card and penalty were correct against England, but The Kaiser showed everyone how to park the preferable red bus . Will be interesting who marks that big blonde guy in the next round, to sink their boat or is it ship ?
Tuchel was correct, despite a win against Norway stating the team could have done better was right. Even has manager with a comprehensive win, a team can always be better .
The U'sual World Cup thread on 08:57 - Jul 13 by bwildered
Tuchel was correct, despite a win against Norway stating the team could have done better was right. Even has manager with a comprehensive win, a team can always be better .
You can't beat win ugly. It could even be said our fate was hanging on a wire, but that might be considered disrespectful by our Nordic cousins.
High praise is due to Erling Haaland for his post- match sportsmanship. He congratulated the England players and whilst my lip-reading isn’t great I’m convinced he said to Kane, “now go on and win it”.
I’m hoping England (at least) make it to the (Sunday) Final else Saturday could be a very long day for me…and probably will regardless….
First, Colchester v Epping in Castle Park which starts at 11:00, an Essex Premier Cricket League fixture that might see the return of (Essex CCC contracted) Simon Fernandes if Cox and Pepper are both involved at Edgbaston. Free admission to ground and Pavilion Bar.
Then the Vitality Blast T20 Finals Day on Saturday might involve Essex CCC who must first beat Hampshire on Wednesday, a QF which starts at 16:30 to avoid a clash with the England v Argentina fixture.
Then on Saturday, the Colchester fixture should be completed before the Blast Final, followed by the World Cup Third Place Play-Off (which hopefully won’t involve England). Whatever happens this week I’m going to be square eyed.
It’s good to see Colchester United Fans supporting our local cricket team in Castle Park. The quality of cricket is (near) county class. Free admission, a decent range of (bottled) real ales at low club prices, Summer sunshine. What is there not to like?
The U'sual World Cup thread on 22:36 - Jul 15 by CrashBandicoot
We'll be cheering Spain on Sunday, hopefully they'll thump La Cheats..
[Post edited 15 Jul 22:37]
Sadly can't argue with the result overall. Despite all their skullduggery, the Argies were better than us where it counted. Looks like it might be a tense participation award game for TAFKAT with his gallic neighbours.
The U'sual World Cup thread on 22:51 - Jul 15 by wessex_exile
Sadly can't argue with the result overall. Despite all their skullduggery, the Argies were better than us where it counted. Looks like it might be a tense participation award game for TAFKAT with his gallic neighbours.
I don’t know why they mess around with third place, both teams just want to get home. I expect neither I nor mes Voisins could care less about the result. There’ll be no Barbie as they’re banned for fear of setting half the country alight. So it’s just a piss up. At least it’s forecast to be a chilly 31 degrees, so it should be safe to venture outdoors for once.
It’s been mildly amusing looking at all the talk of heatwaves in the UK whilst it’s been over 40 degrees here (not expecting any violins). Mad dogs and Englishmen…
Once you get the hang of it there’s quite an art to living with stupid hot weather and I’ve been nocturnal for the last two months. If you see someone at a Us game in August wearing an overcoat scarf and gloves it will probably be me
It’s getting a bit serious over here, the heatwaves are every year now and getting worse. Many people have spent a fortune on aircon, but the electricity supply can’t cope. It was 45 degrees in Bordeaux last month and the supply cables overheated and 86000 people were without power for a couple of days. It makes you wonder were this is all going.
[Post edited 16 Jul 10:43]
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The U'sual World Cup thread on 08:47 - Jul 16 with 1052 views
The U'sual World Cup thread on 22:36 - Jul 15 by CrashBandicoot
We'll be cheering Spain on Sunday, hopefully they'll thump La Cheats..
[Post edited 15 Jul 22:37]
Yes indeed, if there's any karma Spain will triumph. Trump has probably been on the phone to FIFA already to make sure his mate Milei has an advantage.
The U'sual World Cup thread on 08:48 - Jul 16 by bwildered
More bazball required in the last thirty minutes … oh wrong sport .
For their first, Fernández had more grass to himself than a long leg fielder and our defenders marking of Martinez for their second was like Mitchell Johnsons bowling in 2010/11.
For all the hype in Mexico, the Argies were the only half decent team we faced and we were a distant second for most of the match.
We tried our best and it's still a good effort to get to the semis, but we are well short of Spain, France and the Argies.
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The U'sual World Cup thread on 10:22 - Jul 16 with 1036 views
You have to feel a little sad for all the Scottish (and Irish) that were cheering on the Argies last night.
Watching Alexis Mac Allister, a world cup winner, playing alongside one of the greatest players that ever lived, born in a town with a sub-tropical climate and he’s adored by thousands of young ladies, many of whom are exceedingly easy on the eye.
Had his Scottish/Irish ancestors not been such quitters he could have received perpetual humiliation playing for the Haggis Shaggers, in the freezing cold, where pasty faced Isla would have snogged him for a deep fried mars bar and a four pack of Tennents.
Life can be tough.
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The U'sual World Cup thread on 13:23 - Jul 16 with 1006 views
The U'sual World Cup thread on 10:22 - Jul 16 by TAFKAT
You have to feel a little sad for all the Scottish (and Irish) that were cheering on the Argies last night.
Watching Alexis Mac Allister, a world cup winner, playing alongside one of the greatest players that ever lived, born in a town with a sub-tropical climate and he’s adored by thousands of young ladies, many of whom are exceedingly easy on the eye.
Had his Scottish/Irish ancestors not been such quitters he could have received perpetual humiliation playing for the Haggis Shaggers, in the freezing cold, where pasty faced Isla would have snogged him for a deep fried mars bar and a four pack of Tennents.
Life can be tough.
Talk of the Devil. Liverpool FC haven’t done themselves any favours posting support before the game for Mac Allister, with a strong arm emoji and a dirty Argie flag.
I appreciate they have a large anti English element to their fan base, but you would think they’d be careful who they let loose with their official media.
Some are trying to claim the post wasn’t anti-English, but OJ Simpsons lawyers would struggle to get a not guilty verdict.
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The U'sual World Cup thread on 22:15 - Jul 16 with 948 views
O J Simpsons last request to the judge after acquittal was “ can I have my glove back”.
On reflection, Argentina were the better side. Scored twice, hit post twice, whilst England scored from what was largely their only chance.
I’m annoyed at the (IMHO) unfair criticism of Tuchal. Against Mexico, the same tactics were deemed genius, especially as we had only ten men. It’s easy with hindsight to criticise, but we must accept England were second best. Winning against France might need a miracle.
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The U'sual World Cup thread on 09:25 - Jul 17 with 902 views
The U'sual World Cup thread on 22:15 - Jul 16 by noah4x4
O J Simpsons last request to the judge after acquittal was “ can I have my glove back”.
On reflection, Argentina were the better side. Scored twice, hit post twice, whilst England scored from what was largely their only chance.
I’m annoyed at the (IMHO) unfair criticism of Tuchal. Against Mexico, the same tactics were deemed genius, especially as we had only ten men. It’s easy with hindsight to criticise, but we must accept England were second best. Winning against France might need a miracle.
For me the criticism is justified. Playing Mexico in the Azteca was very much a one off situation, especially when down to 10 men and VAR working overtime against England. I never thought it was genius but it was probably the only option we realistically had and somehow we pulled it off. With all due respect to Mexico they are not Argentina and they do not have Messi. Giving, arguably, the best player to ever play the game a free rein to control the match was a massive mistake and was only going to end one way. The more defenders we brought on the less outlets we had. Kane was effectively a number 6 by the end and whenever we did win the ball back we had nowhere for it to go apart from up field to one of their players. We were meant to be younger, faster, fitter and stronger and we took all of that away from ourselves by defending deeper and deeper. It's right up there with one of the most disappointing England defeats of all time for me simply because we didn't even give it a go. We got ahead and then tried not to lose and you can't do that against someone like Argentina with Messi pulling the strings. Even at 1-0 it felt like only one team believed they could win and it wasn't England. We weren't brave enough on the biggest stage and I'm sure the players are feeling pretty regretful right now. Also, and this may not be Tuchel's fault, but it felt like he only trusted 60% of his squad with the rest getting hardly any or zero minutes. This meant that players like Kane, Bellingham, Rice and others were pretty much spent by the time we reached the Semi-Finals.
John Terry was on a channel lambasting Tuchel on the parking the bus scenario after the Argentina defeat . Wonder what would happen with an away defeat at some northern outpost in L2 ?
In a competition that if anybody doubted, the game for the common people, totally sold itself down the river in the land of commercialism and also FIFA pandering to all host demands in altering rules with twenty minute intervals, half hour half time for the final, and rescinding red cards, together with not letting a participant reside in the host country. But have the FA dodged another bullet from the Wild West, remember the presentation last time with the winning captain unable to wear his football jersey, so expect the winning captain having to wear cowboy boots and ten gallon hat before receiving the trophy from the Orange man who in his red baseball cap refuse to leaving the rostrum for the celebrations. It was football, not soccer, but not has we know it.
The U'sual World Cup thread on 14:17 - Jul 18 by bwildered
In a competition that if anybody doubted, the game for the common people, totally sold itself down the river in the land of commercialism and also FIFA pandering to all host demands in altering rules with twenty minute intervals, half hour half time for the final, and rescinding red cards, together with not letting a participant reside in the host country. But have the FA dodged another bullet from the Wild West, remember the presentation last time with the winning captain unable to wear his football jersey, so expect the winning captain having to wear cowboy boots and ten gallon hat before receiving the trophy from the Orange man who in his red baseball cap refuse to leaving the rostrum for the celebrations. It was football, not soccer, but not has we know it.
Tell you what though, that was a hugely entertaining 3rd place match last night. 4-0 up and we could have easily lost it.
A highly entertaining game. But is there anybody else thinking (like me) that if Harry Kane had been on the pitch England would never have played like they did?
I’ve felt for a long time that Kane’s propensity to drop too deep disrupts our other more pacy forwards. A quicker, more advanced #9 will instead stretch an opposition defence so creating space down the flanks. Admittedly, if we get Kane in the opposition box he scores goals, but unlike Haarland (or Toney or Watkins) he plays more like a midfielder and that often results in a ponderous build up. Quick passing and electric pace was the key to beating France. Yes, he can pick a switch pass to the wings, but we play nothing through the middle as he isn’t sufficiently advanced.
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