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World Cup 2026

Watching England is like watching Tranmere at times. Not good for the heart! Just glad we got through..
 
We created enough chances to have won the game comfortably. However, the defence remains a concern and the wide players flatter to deceive. I think only Saka is top class, but he is not fully fit.

However, we have two of the best players in the world and they could yet take us a long way.
 
What a great test for us next. Mexico were impressive last night, ripping into Ecuador from the first whistle, and they’ll surely try the same against us. Atmosphere superb, they’ve hardly ever lost a competitive game at the Azteca either, and then there’s the altitude. If we can find our A game, though, this is a winnable game, and it’d certainly be a great one to win.

We could get blown away or we could deliver a backs to the wall masterclass, I wouldn’t be too surprised either way, so I’ll hold off on my prediction for now!
 
O4anotherplayoff said:
What a great test for us next. Mexico were impressive last night, ripping into Ecuador from the first whistle, and they’ll surely try the same against us. Atmosphere superb, they’ve hardly ever lost a competitive game at the Azteca either, and then there’s the altitude. If we can find our A game, though, this is a winnable game, and it’d certainly be a great one to win.

We could get blown away or we could deliver a backs to the wall masterclass, I wouldn’t be too surprised either way, so I’ll hold off on my prediction for now!
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I agree. England have not been helped by one or two questionable squad decisions. Strangely to some I would have taken Maguire. He offers stability particularly against more physical opponents. Tuchel has clearly got some issue with TAA. Not the greatest defender but a visionary player. No Palmer means that Eze is the only player in the squad with ability to do the unusual. Both Rice and Anderson are strong committed players but both are a bit robotic. See who they go against Mexico. I am old enough to remember the loss to Germany in 1970 in Mexico with Bonetti having to play in goal at the last minute when Banks was ill.
 
The altitude may cause us a problem at the Azteca, but I don't think the atmosphere will. We have a squad full of players playing at the biggest clubs in Europe, who are used to Champions League football. I doubt they will be fazed.

It is a step up in the quality of the opposition, but a more open game will probably suit us, particularly the wide players who have struggled against teams defending deep. We have the better squad and I would say we are 55:45 favourites.

That defence does worry me though.....
 
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Rockford's Love Child said:
We created enough chances to have won the game comfortably. However, the defence remains a concern and the wide players flatter to deceive. I think only Saka is top class, but he is not fully fit.

However, we have two of the best players in the world and they could yet take us a long way.
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Kane clearly in that category, but unsure any of the others have hit that level. Bellingham blows hot and cold and Rashford might be in with a sniff as a forward, but not in a winger role.
 
Boz said:
Kane clearly in that category, but unsure any of the others have hit that level. Bellingham blows hot and cold and Rashford might be in with a sniff as a forward, but not in a winger role.
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Bellingham is certainly world class. He has been excellent in this tournament and would have scored a couple tonight if not for the heriocs of the keeper.

Rice and Saka are two of the best players in Europe, when fully fit. There is then a drop off to the rest of the squad, and I am not a great fan of Rashford personally.
 
drwhoman said:
I agree. England have not been helped by one or two questionable squad decisions. Strangely to some I would have taken Maguire. He offers stability particularly against more physical opponents. Tuchel has clearly got some issue with TAA. Not the greatest defender but a visionary player. No Palmer means that Eze is the only player in the squad with ability to do the unusual. Both Rice and Anderson are strong committed players but both are a bit robotic. See who they go against Mexico. I am old enough to remember the loss to Germany in 1970 in Mexico with Bonetti having to play in goal at the last minute when Banks was ill.
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Tuchel made some very strange selections with the squad. I don't get his beef with Alexander-Arnold, we definitely needed a proper right-back when Livramento was ruled out; selecting him and the injury-prone James was risky to begin with. Agree about Maguire, taking none of Gibbs-White, Palmer and Foden, yet giving Henderson a place felt odd. He reminds me of Capello at present and it's hard to feel confident of much further progress.
 
Rockford's Love Child said:
Bellingham is certainly world class. He has been excellent in this tournament and would have scored a couple tonight if not for the heriocs of the keeper.

Rice and Saka are two of the best players in Europe, when fully fit. There is then a drop off to the rest of the squad, and I am not a great fan of Rashford personally.
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I agree. But I thought Gordon looked on the same wavelength as Kane and Eze offered something a bit different so those were plusses from yesterday.

Rooney says some strange things like 'Tuchel has some answers now,' To me he has a load more questions. Who plays at right back? At altitude against a good side, how does he configure the midfield? Does he start any of Gordon, Saka or Eze?

In terms of selection I feel we are short not just at right back, but also left back and central midfield and have taken players who are not the best cover in those positions. What if Anderson/Rice run out of legs after 60 mins at the Azteca?

Although the odds are 55/45 England, I think the altitude, the travel plus short recovery time and home advantage tip the balance the other way. But there have been tournaments before when we have seen England click into gear..... Here's hoping.
 
There are not many players as consistent as Kane and Bellingham who have been our two best performers by a mile. Rice has also been good. Players such as Gordon for example where terrible in the groups. Rashford had a decent 45 in the groups when he scored but was shocking against Congo. We need more consistency from the rest.
 
Rockford's Love Child said:
The altitude may cause us a problem at the Azteca, but I don't think the atmosphere will. We have a squad full of players playing at the biggest clubs in Europe, who are used to Champions League football. I doubt they will be phased.

It is a step up in the quality of the opposition, but a more open game will probably suit us, particularly the wide players who have struggled against teams defending deep. We have the better squad and I would say we are 55:45 favourites.

That defence does worry me though.....
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If you look though at the way Mexico set up and played yesterday, it was very similar to DRC against us, with which we struggled. The Defence are going to have to be very, very much more disciplined and solid or we risk conceding one or two early on and then struggling to get back in, we won't be able to rely on superior fitness as the altitude will eventually tell. It's certainly a very winnable game if we play well, if we don't it's very very losable.
 
Ian said:
There are not many players as consistent as Kane and Bellingham who have been our two best performers by a mile. Rice has also been good. Players such as Gordon for example where terrible in the groups. Rashford had a decent 45 in the groups when he scored but was shocking against Congo. We need more consistency from the rest.
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Wonder if Palios can bring kane in and jude the rest not good enough to wear Tranmere shirt
Haha
 
Rockford's Love Child said:
The altitude may cause us a problem at the Azteca, but I don't think the atmosphere will.
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The atmosphere shouldn’t intimidate us, if anything it should inspire us. But the crowd can certainly also be Mexico’s 12th man. If they go for us from the first whistle and create good early chances - as they did against Ecuador and as they’ll surely try to do against our suspect defence - then the place will be like a cauldron. Wrestling the initiative back off Mexico in such circumstances would require a level of confidence and resilience that, given current form, might be beyond one or two of our players, and I don’t think we can afford to carry any passengers in this one.

The old adage of quieten the crowd might be the first priority in Tuchel’s game plan, so it’ll be fascinating to see how we do approach it. Really looking forward to it, should be a proper cup tie.
 
Rockford's Love Child said:
Interesting that Tuchel credited our former managerial candidate Anthony Barry with the decision to switch Rice to right back in the closing stages.
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Rice is excellent; athletic, skilful, a great footballing brain and disciplined. I'd play him at right back any time, as long as he was in midfield as well!
 
Rockford's Love Child said:
Interesting that Tuchel credited our former managerial candidate Anthony Barry with the decision to switch Rice to right back in the closing stages.
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Barry seems very switched on and a good analyser.
The altitude could indeed be problematic. No time to acclimatise. Maybe some unorthodox substitute timings and strategy would help. Maybe one or two before the usual 60 mins.
 
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