FIFA World Cup 2022

[sussexpob]

Southgate bringing on Rashford and not Phil Foden is all you need to say about his management skills.

The French TV journos put him in their current world XI, and Belgian TV rates him the top youngsterin world football. German TV says he's England's second best player.

Southgate instead picks a player who's now playing left back for his team, he's been so awful creating chances l

[yuppie]

Australia manage to get a win, and with this team that is a fair achievement. 3rd win for Australia at the WC which just shows what an achievement that is for these players.

This world cup is maybe showing that Asian teams have started to perform better than African teams and the Qualifying from Asia is actually much harder.

[sussexpob]

Said that to my friend earlier, Yuppie.

Really disappointing cup so far for Africa, but a few of the Asia teams have played well.

Tunisia and Morocco were both teams I thought could spring a surprise, but Tunisia especially have looked woeful.

Maybe morocco win tomorrow v Belgium and get the African train rolling.

[sussexpob]

Saudi Arabia can feel pretty gutted with their score. Thought Matty Cash should have been sent off four times, and Schezza pulled off one of the greatest saves I've ever seen from a rebounded penalty.

Saudi deserved something from this game

[yuppie]

Yeah the Asian teams have been doing well. I wonder if better organisation behind the scenes or if these conditions aren't the foreign to them.

African teams have threatened for many years but as yet have not kicked on with the talent.

With an huge improvement with USA and Canada they might even fall below them in rankings.

[mikesiva]

Lewandowski finally scored at a World Cup.

Poland 2-0 Saudi Arabia

[mikesiva]

Outstanding movement by Mbappe!

France beat Denmark 2-1 to become the first team to reach the knockout stage.

Argentina beat Mexico 2-0.

A better performance by the Argentinians, especially after Fernández came on.

[bigfluffylemon]

Well done Australia for keeping themselves alive. A point v Denmark would see Australia through unless Tunisia somehow beat France.

Still a tall order to take something away from the Denmark game, but not impossible.

[alfie]

Well done Australia for keeping themselves alive. A point v Denmark would see Australia through unless Tunisia somehow beat France.

Still a tall order to take something away from the Denmark game, but not impossible.

Denmark haven't looked anything special so I reckon Australia have a much better chance now than they did coming in to the WC... Tunisia surely aren't getting anywhere near France so a draw is all that is required. Only trouble with that is if you go in looking for a draw you run the risk of losing a bit of focus if you do go behind and there may be no way back. Not sure the defence is strong enough to keep making the saves they managed yesterday against Tunisia ! Denmark will be desperate ; but they'll need to produce a bit more creativity than we've seen so far from them. Reckon this one is close to 50/50 in terms of second place in the group.

[andy]

Well after that result a Germany win tonight would really throw this group wide open!!

[Durhamfootman]

Costa Rica pick Japan's pocket.

Japan looked pretty toothless despite having all the possession. Maybe Germany should have sat back and defended deep too, because Japan did not, at any stage, look like a team with the skills to unlock the parked bus.

[Durhamfootman]

England-esque from Japan

[Durhamfootman]

Morocco thought they'd taken the lead there. Belgium got away with it a bit. Just offside.... just

[mikesiva]

Two upsets today so far.

Costa Rica 1-0 Japan
Morocco 2-0 Belgium

Ziyech was very good today.

[Durhamfootman]

This Belgium plays like England, so I hope Sir G is watching because this will happen to his side sooner rather than later