World Cup 2026

[AjaxAndy]

22 shots, 11 on target, 4 goals

[Audrey Horne]

Tuchel is so relaxed

[kramer]

Cannavaro living out the most mundane FM journeyman save in history.

[Blueomar]

Aaaaah, love watching James and big Yerrold! Vamanos Columbia!

but fuck Luis Diaz.

[blueToffee]

Shame that last shot didn’t go in for Uzbekistan he caught it so well. Could’ve been in the running for goal of the tournament.

Colombia’s first was a great finish too.

[Cereal Killer]

Tuchel is so relaxed

Minus points for hugging that random guy from the Trivago ads though

[Risky]

I think yesterday's game was a vindication of Tuchel choosing Madueke to play on that right side, and the general principle of picking the best team rather than the best players. As has been England's problem for decades.

Just the pace and directness of Madueke was exactly what was needed, certainly last night. He just stretched the field and opened up loads of space. Must be really difficult to defend against, especially when you're also then having to deal with Kane dropping deep at times and Bellingham getting in to all sorts of forward positions.

I'm not at all convinced by the defence, but I think you have to respect that Tuchel is a genuine top tier coach and he makes decisions for really good reasons.

[Audrey Horne]

He only played him because he is keeping saka bubble wrapped.

Saka does similar but ten times better I think.

Felt good watching us.

When 3-2 up Southgate would have us defending for our lives, taking off forwards etc for defence.

It's why we lost the final v Italy. Once we went ahead, we reverted to defence.

Was good to push and keep attacking.

[Shogun]

Will have to see how the rest of the group plays out though, I wonder what level that Croatia team is now.

[Evertonfc15]

wow keep playing like that england and we have a chance to progress deep into the tournament
guehi should be playing in defence tho - not stones i dont think he is match hardened fit as guehi is
apart from that 10/10

[Shogun]

It is quite difficult to see anyone going through with just 3 points at this point. There might be someone who loses out on 3rd with even 4 points.

[StirlingBlue]

He only played him because he is keeping saka bubble wrapped.

Saka does similar but ten times better I think.

Felt good watching us.

When 3-2 up Southgate would have us defending for our lives, taking off forwards etc for defence.

It's why we lost the final v Italy. Once we went ahead, we reverted to defence.

Was good to push and keep attacking.

I think Madueke is noticeably faster than Saka and plays higher and wider vs Saka who drifts inside more.

Overall Saka is the better player but he probably causes more congestion in the space that Kane/Bellingham want to play

[StirlingBlue]

Yet Barca picked Gordon….

Gordon is a better player for a side who wants to press like England and Barca do - I think the first 60 minutes looks very different with Rashford on the pitch and Croatia would have found it much easier to play out from the back

Rashford's chance came when the game was stretched with Croatia pressing for an equaliser and having switched to a back 4

[MIG]

Guehi needs to come in next game for me. Having said that as dodgy as the defence looked (?) I believe Croatias goals were both very good that quite possibly could have been scored against anyone.
Perhaps not enough protection in front of the defence? I feel like Rice didn’t look right at all, he looked knackered and hot and no where near 100%

Apart from that I really enjoyed the game. Definitely reminiscent of Euro 96 vibes

[AjaxAndy]

Will have to see how the rest of the group plays out though, I wonder what level that Croatia team is now.

I only watched the highlights but Panama and Ghana both looked levels below Croatia.

Quite glad we got the hard game out the way first, and that it exposed some weaknesses that we can work on against lesser opposition over the next 2 days.