Shogun wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:09 pm
Bizarre team for me. Midfield of Rice/Anderson/Bellingham is top quality and Kane is too but I just can't imagine this team winning a world cup. We're only an injury to Reece James from Jarrell Quansah playing at fullback. Luckily Reece James never gets injured.
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Pickford
James Konsa Stones O'Reilly
Anderson Rice
Madueke Bellingham Gordon
Kane
Right back will largely be playing as a third CB when we're in possession so I'm not sure it's as big an issue as it looks on paper.
Stones is next to O'Reilly to have an experienced head next to him to help him through the game which is a good idea imo.
I'd be more worried if O'Reilly got injured tbh, he'll be expected to rotate positions with Rice and Gordon, and I don't think anyone else can do that, makes not calling up Hall even more bizarre.
TheRam wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 6:54 pm
Compare Ronaldo to Messi last night.
Argentina are at least intentionally constructed to carry Messi and let him work his magic opportunistically. Whether it holds up against higher quality opponents is the question.
Ronaldo is just hanging around a Portugal team he doesn’t fit because Bobby is one of the softest man managers to ever exist.
I'm happy to be proven wrong but I'm just not having that back 4 at all. If Stones is injured at any point which is likely then there must be about 50 caps between the 4 of them with Guehi coming in and half of that will be the repeatedly injured James.
O'Reilly is very good but is he when you take him out of a Pep team into this one? A lot to prove.
Just think they'll be all over the place. We'll see I guess.
Shogun wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:44 pm
I'm happy to be proven wrong but I'm just not having that back 4 at all. If Stones is injured at any point which is likely then there must be about 50 caps between the 4 of them with Guehi coming in and half of that will be the repeatedly injured James.
O'Reilly is very good but is he when you take him out of a Pep team into this one? A lot to prove.
Just think they'll be all over the place. We'll see I guess.
Yeah it's definitely the weakest part of the squad and doesn't stack up compared to other nations we're expected to have to beat to go far.
Time will tell, I'm nervous and optimistic in equal measures.
AjaxAndy wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:54 pm
Yeah it's definitely the weakest part of the squad and doesn't stack up compared to other nations we're expected to have to beat to go far.
Time will tell, I'm nervous and optimistic in equal measures.
Also realistically if you look at France the other night with Mbappe, Dembele, Doue and Olise then it'll be tough for any team to beat them this tournament.
Be interesting to see England in possession in this group stage because the squad and team look set up to be counter attacking spoilers. Could be a frustrating night against teams they're expected to roll over.
