June internationals (WC qualifiers and Nations League)

[Zen]

England and Wales fanbases chilling around Qatar is going to be something else.... Qatar isn't going to know what's hit them in general, but now you have 2 mental fanbases from Britain.

Is the English group even easier than 2010?

 

[MrMarcello]

astonishingly easy group England have, should be thrashings all round

I see echos from 2010 still doing the rounds.

 

[PoTMS]

astonishingly easy group England have, should be thrashings all round

Could've been harder, we could've faced Ukraine. Could've been easier, we could've faced Scotland.

 

[Mickeza]

Wales will be quite hated in the WC now. Everyone will be behind England to give them a tonking.

 

[Pink Moon]

Could've been harder, we could've faced Ukraine. Could've been easier, we could've faced Scotland.

Ukraine that you battered last summer at the Euros and Scotland that you couldn't beat last summer at the Euros?

 

[Woodzy]

We really do love a sing song mind

 

[TheReligion]

You’d think that was the first ref/VAR iffy decision in history or the first time a team have defended and had to hold on

Ive seen us play well, been unfortunate and lose. I’ll take fortunate and qualification any day

Ben Davies, great game.

It was a massive howler to be honest. Unbelievable VAR didn’t step in and award it.

Don’t think people like to see Ukraine getting absolutely shafted under the circumstances either.

 

[TheReligion]

So Bale put the captains armband on for the photos?!

Talk about ego….

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

VAR really is shite

I know it's a different sport but when you see how good DRS in cricket is and how much it's improved the game, it's so frustrating how crap VAR has generally been.

 

[VanDeBank]

Elanga bench.

 

[V.O.]

It was a massive howler to be honest. Unbelievable VAR didn’t step in and award it.

Don’t think people like to see Ukraine getting absolutely shafted under the circumstances either.

You should start a petition. Can think of a few Liverpool fans who'll be happy to help out if you sign theirs.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

I'm hoping bale is either injured or just out of form come world cup. If only USA had a real manager I'd have more faith in them. Don't worry England we will bench some of our European talent in order to put in our MLS quota players.

 

[PoTMS]

Ukraine that you battered last summer at the Euros and Scotland that you couldn't beat last summer at the Euros?

You mean the vastly superior Ukraine that battered you 3 days ago?

 

[TheReligion]

You should start a petition. Can think of a few Liverpool fans who'll be happy to help out if you sign theirs.

The Spirit of Shankly group on stand by

 

[roonster09]

VAR really is shite

I know it's a different sport but when you see how good DRS in cricket is and how much it's improved the game, it's so frustrating how crap VAR has generally been.

Yeah true but tbf in Cricket decisions are binary, it football same piece of play is interpreted in many ways by different people.

 

[One Night Only]

VAR really is shite

I know it's a different sport but when you see how good DRS in cricket is and how much it's improved the game, it's so frustrating how crap VAR has generally been.

Yeah, but cricket is dogshit to watch full stop.

 

[Zen]

Hang about, flights to Doha are still pretty cheap, or well maybe not, but at £800 direct with luggage... with 2 nations, that's cheap to me?

 

[Pink Moon]

You mean that Ukraine that battered you 3 days ago?

I don't support Scotland so your whataboutery and snide remarks are a bit pointless.

Ukraine are a better side than Scotland but they're also easier to play against because they aren't as defensive.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

Happy to qualify but the pitches look a bit rough…

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Yeah, but cricket is dogshit to watch full stop.

You're wrong and you're a grotesquely ugly freak*.



*Comedy reference before anyone gets too offended

 

[TheReligion]

Happy to qualify but the pitches look a bit rough…

He’s got the armband on again here

Top stuff

 

[V.O.]

I don't support Scotland so your whataboutery and snide remarks are a bit pointless.

Out of curiosity, who does actually support Scotland?

From what I can tell, all the Celtic fans either support Ireland or nobody, and all the Rangers fans don't support them because they're against Scottish nationalism/independence, and that's probably 80% of the football fans in the country.

 

[GlasgowCeltic]

I see echos from 2010 still doing the rounds.

don't see anything there that should be a threat to England, three non entity football nations

 

[One Night Only]

You're wrong and you're a grotesquely ugly freak*.



*Comedy reference before anyone gets too offended

I thought it was a compliment.

 

[PoTMS]

I don't support Scotland so your whataboutery and snide remarks are a bit pointless.

Ukraine are a better side than Scotland but they're also easier to play against because they aren't as defensive.

You realise how stupid that sounds in the context of my initial post? That's like saying you'd rather play Chelsea compared to Norwich because they're more likely to be more open against us. Scotland are the easier opposition 99 times out of 100.

It's funny how you think England would have more trouble against a team where McTominay is the starting centre back rather than a pumped up Ukraine just because Scotland somehow shithoused a draw against us a year ago.

 

[Camilo]

Delighted for Wales, first world cup 60 odd years?! Well deserved. Ukraine have had some good successes in recent times so nice to see different countries qualifying.

 

[matherto]

Considering this Wales team can get to a major tournament/3 tournaments with Bale, just how shit were the other Northern Ireland players when Best was in the team?

 

[BusbyMalone]

Rob Page has done an incredible job since taking over at Wales. Considering the circumstances in which he took over, what he's done there has been phenomenal. Now capped off by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 64 years.

Was also a great game. Hugely emotional, which I think Wales handled well. Shame it had to be Ukraine missing out, but that's how it goes, unfortunately.

 

[Djemba-Djemba]

Considering this Wales team can get to a major tournament/3 tournaments with Bale, just how shit were the other Northern Ireland players when Best was in the team?

Harder to get to tournaments back then though don't forget.

66 World Cup, around the time Best would have been at his best had 16 teams.

This next World Cup will have 32.

 

[BusbyMalone]

Delighted for Wales, first world cup 60 odd years?! Well deserved. Ukraine have had some good successes in recent times so nice to see different countries qualifying.

64 years. Incredible. Bale deserves it as well. It will be nice to see him there.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Now to watch boring Nations league with Sweden.

Since we play Norway I care slightly more.

A very boring lineup. Wanted to see more youngesters playing including Elanga.

Although Janne always goes for experience which feels like it is not serving him well anymore.

 

[djembatheking]

Considering this Wales team can get to a major tournament/3 tournaments with Bale, just how shit were the other Northern Ireland players when Best was in the team?

It is a lot easier to qualify now as there are more teams in tournaments. During Bests time there was only 16 teams qualified.

 

[FlapR]

Glad Wales are going to the WC, just a shame it was at the expensive expense of Ukraine.

 

[Pink Moon]

You realise how stupid that sounds? That's like saying you'd rather play Chelsea compared to Norwich.

It's funny how you think England would have more trouble against a team where McTominay is the starting centre back rather than a pumped up Ukraine just because Scotland somehow shithoused a draw against us a year ago.

Who is Chelsea in this scenario? Ukraine?! It's more like saying you'd rather play the team in 16th because they play open, attacking football than the team in 20th who park the bus and fight for everything. It's a valid point.

Clearly I'm in the wrong for thinking tactics and styles matter rather than 'emotions' and Ukraine being 'pumped up' worked wonders for them today didn't it?

Out of curiosity, who does actually support Scotland?

From what I can tell, all the Celtic fans either support Ireland or nobody, and all the Rangers fans don't support them because they're against Scottish nationalism/independence, and that's probably 80% of the football fans in the country.

In my experience most Celtic and Rangers fans do support them but the ones that actually go to the games and follow them aka the tartan army are generally made up of the fans of the other clubs.

 

[90 + 5min]

To be out of World Cup because of referee and VAR with that bizarre decision is just sad. Better team lost.

 

[Samid]

Glad Wales are going to the WC, just a shame it was at the expensive of Ukraine.

Wales are through but at what cost?

 

[MrMarcello]

Considering this Wales team can get to a major tournament/3 tournaments with Bale, just how shit were the other Northern Ireland players when Best was in the team?

Did some research. I don't know anything of his NI teammates so cannot comment on their quality. They had a great chance in 1966 but appear rather average/weak going forward.

1966 - finished second to Switzerland; needed a win the last qualifier to match the Swiss result ten days prior - gave up a late goal in a draw - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_–_UEFA_Group_5

1970 - couldn't topple the Soviet Union in head-to-head - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_–_UEFA_Group_4

1974 - finished third including a loss to mighty Cyprus - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_–_UEFA_Group_6

 

[Cascarino]

The VAR decision was awful. I’m happy with Wales though, the effort was outstanding and the stadium was buzzing. All the players went to the Ukraine section to clap them, was nice to see. The Ukrainian supporters were great.

 

[Pink Moon]

Wales are through but at what cost?

Brilliant

 

[FlapR]

Wales are through but at what cost?

Oops