World Cup: World Cup 2026 - Pre Tournament & Qualifiers Thread

[koyvoo]

England looked terrible vs New Zealand

 

[Savant]

So Rio Ngumoha “debuted” for England today. And they used him on the right. And it was pretty good



If Rio can play in the right that is going to be an interesting development next season

 

[koyvoo]

Brazil and Egypt is a show after 10 mins.

 

[cgf]

Sane making most of his opportunity to get into team and securing a starting spot by scoring.

Eh, the goal was nice, but I came away more secure in my hopes that we start Leweling over him, or a second striker.

 

[GeoRox89]

So Rio Ngumoha “debuted” for England today. And they used him on the right. And it was pretty good



If Rio can play in the right that is going to be an interesting development next season

Certainly looked a lot better than a lot of players. Toney selection looks worse by the minute no matter how used to ‘playing in the heat’ he is

 

[Brookbank]

Rashford was the best player on the pitch

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Rashford was the best player on the pitch

Good I’m glad he looked great against New Zealand united can use him

 

[cgf]

Absurd goal

Against the best or second best national team apparently

There goes D2M under-rating Germany as always…

 

[Savant]

Certainly looked a lot better than a lot of players.

Toney selection looks worse by the minute no matter how used to ‘playing in the heat’ he is

I don’t think Rio and Toney were necessarily “competing” for the same spot (Rio was never even going to go) but if people don’t like Tuchel selections, this isn’t going to help things

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Barco is so f***ing good.

Enzo and he should patrol the midfield.

 

[luiginb]

I don’t think Rio and Toney were necessarily “competing” for the same spot (Rio was never even going to go) but if people don’t like Tuchel selections, this isn’t going to help things

1 0 against New Zealand is bad, even for a friendly. Stopped watching at half time. I'm curious if anyone can name another player on their team aside from Wood. Haiti killed them the other day.

 

[GeoRox89]

I don’t think Rio and Toney were necessarily “competing” for the same spot (Rio was never even going to go) but if people don’t like Tuchel selections, this isn’t going to help things

No, he was never going. Nor was he going to compete with Toney, even if he’d played regular minutes all year, if the insistence was a third striker rather than just an extra attacker. Rio looking like he belonged was a great sign for 2028.

Quansah looking lost doesn’t help the should’ve taken Hall claims. Toney looking the way he did won’t help the idea that DCL or Welbeck would’ve been better choices either

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Penalty for Argentina ref is in perfect form ahead of the World Cup. Get ready for 12 v 11 clowns

Beautiful goal from Simeone.

I can finally allow myself to get hyped even tho I don’t envision Argentina going too far

 

[qcal1427]

Why would England give a practice player minutes in their last friendly????

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Why would England give a practice player minutes in their last friendly????

Integrate him to the team and make him feel like he belongs teams do this with big talents.

Argentina are starting a player today who isn’t even called up to the team. And he’s hardly the talent the Liverpool kid is

 

[qcal1427]

Integrate him to the team and make him feel like he belongs teams do this with big talents.

Argentina are starting a player today who isn’t even called up to the team. And he’s hardly the talent the Liverpool kid is

Seems like a waste of 45 minutes to me, plenty of other times to integrate guys into the senior team that aren't in the last or second to last game you'll play before a World Cup

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Seems like a waste of 45 minutes to me, plenty of other times to integrate guys into the senior team that aren't in the last or second to last game you'll play before a World Cup

45 mins isn’t going to make it or break it for anyone.

Hell some of those group games is basically preseason.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

45 mins isn’t going to make it or break it for anyone.

Hell some of those group games is basically preseason.

A bunch of kids getting minutes for Argentina now.

Interesting everyone got minutes but Nico and Messi.

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Tuchelball absolutely shit as usual. I lasted one half before I went and did some pre-WC cleaning.

Might be an upgrade over Southgate but I dunno what people are expecting with a manager who had Bayern finish almost 20 pts off the top.

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Tuchelball absolutely shit as usual. I lasted one half before I went and did some pre-WC cleaning.

Might be an upgrade over Southgate but I dunno what people are expecting with a manager who had Bayern finish almost 20 pts off the top.

Tactician according to some on here

 

[Savant]

Why would England give a practice player minutes in their last friendly????

To keep him away from France and Nigeria

 

[GeoRox89]

Why would England give a practice player minutes in their last friendly????

The Arsenal players were late coming and held out since they played a week ago. Unless a keeper was going to be played as an outfield player there weren’t enough with 4 guys missing to field 2 different sets of players. Keeps Rio happy so he doesn’t entertain playing for any other countries he’s eligible for

Also not the last Friendly, that’s on Wednesday. England’s opening match isn’t until June 17

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Balerdi isn’t the only one that will be replaced.

Scaloni said as much it might be paredes or Montiel/molina?

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Doing side quests in his spare time