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World Cup 2026: Mexico, USA and Canada

It doesn't really reflect well on England. Or should I say it's quite telling.

There's literally zero mental pressure and expectation on this game. Let's have it right, no-one has given a fudge about this game throughout the history of the WC :).

Minds freer, weight lifted, nothing to lose and lo and behold the shackles are off, play how we'd want us to. All too little too late.
France treating the game as you should a game no-one cares about (with the caveat it's a bit disrespectful to Deschamp )
 
It doesn't really reflect well on England. Or should I say it's quite telling.

There's literally zero mental pressure and expectation on this game. Let's have it right, no-one has given a fudge about this game throughout the history of the WC :).

Minds freer, weight lifted, nothing to lose and lo and behold the shackles are off, play how we'd want us to. All too little too late.
France treating the game as you should a game no-one cares about (with the caveat it's a bit disrespectful to Deschamp )

Honestly I think France are an absolute disgrace. There’s not caring about a match and then there’s this. They are literally not trying. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a professional team play like this.

England have shown up and that’s great but this is like watching an NBA all star game where the players just don’t defend because they don’t want to get injured. They are not trying. And they’re not even pretending to try. And I think that’s a disgrace. For their fans who have paid to be there, and to the kids that look up to them.
 
I’ve listened to Tuchel’s explanation for them and I agree with his rationale. Doesn’t mean it worked. Doesn’t mean something else might not have either. But the rationale was sound.

What we saw was not purely a result of the substitutions. 12% possession after going a goal up is a fudging disaster, and no manager would coach that as part of the plan.
At the end of the day, England lost a semi final to Argentina with arguably the greatest player of all time and the winning goal came a minute from time. It was incredibly close in reality despite the Argentine dominance in the last half and hour. That’s the reality of it - a one goal loss in a semi final. Fine margins.

The criticism and vitriol Tuchel has been on the end of is over the top. He made some bad calls and certainly contributed to the loss. He made a mistake and was punished severely for it. In most jobs, you can hit the undo button, you can’t really in football management.

The guy is a very good manager who had a bad night. It’s nowhere near sack worthy or abuse worthy.
 
France couldn’t give a fudge about this game. I knew everyone would be saying “where was this against Argentina” and “this team should have played in the semi”.

We have played well but France just don’t want to be here.

Yeah it’s gonna be the most nauseating take. Again, insular and all about England. When actually…France just didn’t try.
 
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