Yeah, but we hounded out the manager who tranformed our tournaments for the better, so its effectively a fresh start for us.
TWT
World Cup 2026
- Thread starter Baldrick's Cunning Plan
- Start date
-
Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
-
TWT
Rice - no
Bellingham - maybe
Saka - no
Stones - no
Guéhi - no
Pickford - no
England don’t have any wingers anywhere close to Kvaratskhelia or Olise or deeper midfielders on the level of Rodri or Vitinha.
Pickford is definitely up there with the top keepers in the world. He’s usually outstanding for us.
I think Bellingham went backwards a little when Mbappe arrived. Season before he was on fire with over 20 goals in a team that won la liga and the champions league. He had to play deeper and he and Madrid suffered for it.
For England I’d have to disagree, can’t say I watch him much for Everton though.
Bellingham thrived in his first season because he was playing as a deep-lying forward with two ‘false’ wingers in Vini Jr. and Rodrygo either side of him in a diamond formation. He was essentially playing the same role Totti did at Roma.
He regressed because Ancelotti went back to 4-3-3 to accommodate a front three of Vini Jr., Mbappé and Rodrygo and Bellingham was asked to do Kroos role, which he’s not really good at. He’s a powerful and elegant runner with the ball, has a good touch and scores goals but he can’t dictate the tempo of a game like Kroos did.
England’s problem is that their three best midfielders in the squad (Bellingham, Rice and Anderson) are all powerful, athletic ball-carriers but none of them can just sit deep and control the game. That’s why you need someone like Wharton in that midfield to add balance and control with Rice/Anderson next to him and Bellingham behind Kane.
It’s a travesty that Wharton isn’t in the squad and an even bigger travesty that Henderson is instead.
Ghana have called up one of their goalkeepers from the League of Ireland. Cape Verde also have a League of Ireland player. Standards wise the World Cup is a broad mix and match, but I suppose that's what makes some of the games so interesting, players who would likely never be on the same pitch as Messi et al., get that one 90 minute encounter in their entire career.
I think that’s doing them all down a little if I’m honest.
All of the players above (with the exception of Pickford, but I’m basing this on his international form) have played consistently in teams that have been amongst the best club sides over the last few years. It’s not like they have had bit parts either - they’ve been really key to the way these teams have played. Guehi is maybe also an exception because he’s only just got his move to a big club, but he’s performed well at England and been a Man City first choice this season. I really think Rice is amongst the best in his position.
You could even argue Rashford is in a really good place, playing regularly for the LaLiga champions this season. That’s not an accident.
I actually don’t think that we will win the World Cup, but that’s because I think too much of the squad is in flux and still getting used to Tuchel and as you say I do think there are a couple of countries who do have an edge - but to say these players aren’t World Class doesn’t feel right to me.
I've not seen any of his play at Forest, but Anderson has looked very good as a deep lying midfielder for the England matches I've seen.
Agree, Pickford is decent, but let's face it, he isn't better than Allisson, Courtois, Raya or even Martinez.
England have some top talent and even though the togetherness of the squad is going to carry them far, I can see them struggling to cope with the likes of France, Spain or Argentina. I think they can easily make the semis if the draw is kind enough, but a lot of the teams who have randomly underperformed at recent tournaments have some ****ing frightening talent all of a sudden, while England have *checks notes* Dan Burn, Nico O Reilly, Jordan Henderson and Djed ****ing Spence in their squad.
There doesn't feel like there's the same buzz about an international tournament this year, nobody seems excited about it. Aside from the obvious fat orange reasons, it just looks like a mediocre England squad featuring Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, with Harry Kane plonked on top.
Can’t see past France( brace yourself for riots in Paris and Provances). If fact anyone than a load of hysterical Argentinians again.
I am quietly confident that we'll do well, I think the last couple of friendlies have thrown a negative slant on it, and Tuchel has made some bold choices in the name of his best team and not his "best collection of individuals", so people are tempering their hopes.
My three hopes in order of preference
1. We win the tournament
2. We beat a top team
3. Whatever happens, we play well.
Despite reaching the final in the Euros, and having a technically very good team on paper, we were ****ing dire throughout
My three hopes in order of preference
1. We win the tournament
2. We beat a top team
3. Whatever happens, we play well.
Despite reaching the final in the Euros, and having a technically very good team on paper, we were ****ing dire throughout
Last edited:
Dan Burn with a last minute header to win it for us, what a story that'll be
