ENGLAND VS USA – BUKAYO WATCH STARTS NOW

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It’s the BIG game today. I am on enemy territory but that is NOT going to stop me from engaging in the activity of BIG drinking in a local USA bar.

America is a bit weird with away fans, they kind of don’t fuss over them too much. I’ve sat at games next to away fans in a home section, and they sing. In the UK, you’d get a slap, here, they shrug. In fact, at a basketball game, I once asked why no one was going after the away fan in the home end.

‘Sir, this is a civilized country, we don’t do things like that here’

Ok.

Will that attitude carry over onto the international scene? Who knows, I’m about to find out.

All that matters this afternoon is a win, a Bukayo Saka masterclass, and no injuries to our players.

I was a little unnerved to see Neymar ruled out for the rest of the group stages with an ankle injury. This is the problem with World Cup games, subpar players can’t win, but they can be the guy that smashed up one of the best players in the world. I don’t want that happening to our players.

Brazil didn’t start with either of our two players. They rolled with Richarlison as the 9 and he scored one of the best goals I’ve seen this year. An unreal bicycle kick. Some were making the point that he only got himself into that position because of a janky first touch, but whatever, he delivered two goals. If that means he gets more minutes than Jesus, I’m not against it, though I do suspect his limitations will be exposed as the tournament progresses.

So what have we learned so far?

England, Brazil, Spain, and France are all pretty decent.

I really don’t know if anyone is head and shoulders above the rest, but at the very least, England is in with a shout.

They have to do it against USA today. The Americans aren’t in a good shape, which is odd, considering some of the talent they have. The worry is this game will be like a derby day for them, they might show up with a point to prove, and we might think it’ll be easy because the culture in the UK is write off anything America does in the beautiful game.

My gut says that this side just has too much quality these days. There are too many winners in our side. Too much technical know-how at the highest level.

… but I guess Germany thought that as well and look where they are right now. Mudded. Wiping their spectacles clean. Not good.

I also worry that Trippier and Harry aren’t the full ticket and Southgate is in fuck around / find out mode with them as he thinks they are besties. Get Benny Blanco into that backline and we’re cooking on the finest of fumes.

Little bit of Arsenal news before we go. The hot talk on the internet is that we’ll move on Danilo to cover us at #6. I honestly have no idea how good he’ll be, but Edu knows that market, and Arsenal haven’t missed too many times lately. It’s just a shame we can’t get him to our training camps early so he can bed in. Or can we? I am not sure of the rules. Anyway, one to watch!

ON THE WHISTLE AFTER THE GAME. MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN BELOW!

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Goobergooner

Yeah let’s just have the world cup without half the teams.

It’s as much about the occasion as the football

Goobergooner

Un seriously. Have a look at the results again and stop with the shit takes

Samuel

Hahahahaha
Burn baby burnnnnnnn
USA owns England 🙂

Goobergooner

Yesssss Samuel is a disco inferno fan as well 😂

raptora

Don: “We are the joint best team in the world right now so hate all you want”

According to who?

Goobergooner

England has the players but not the results to back up that claim

Goobergooner

It’s ok, don is just pissed off England couldn’t even beat a team from a country UK made

Samuel

Disco Inferno all day hahahaha

OOOOHHHH WEEEEEE
I can smell the burn through my computer screen
Lord have mercy
Burn baby burnnnnnn

Goobergooner

😂😂😂😂

Samesong

🍿

raptora

🍿

Un

Goober my old chum, there will be plenty more for me to cheer about in the coming days so stay posted
That goes for the rest of you too. Every time an Angel day goal goes in you’ll be hearing from me loud and clear

Batistuta

Rap

I also dont get all the moaning re the group stages. Surel no one is forcing anyone to watch the games.

Its a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of these players and fans as well seeing as the stadiums are filled up every game.

Not like we dont have absolutely torrid and utterly boring club football as well

CaliGooner

In you sound a bit deranged. Get over yourself.

Saying the euros is harder to win is peak white guy arrogance so you have that going for you.

Habesha Gooner

Un
Spain scored 7. They are the highest scoring team so far despite playing 1 less game than England. You are the 2nd highest scoring team so far. Just wanted to correct you.

Habesha Gooner

And the world cup is much harder to win. Latin teams are a much harder opposition than half of the 24 teams that play in the Euros. Uruguay, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia have been a serious opposition recently. And that is not counting Brazil and Argentina. When you see the likes of Iran schooling Wales, Japan beating Germany, and Ghana giving Portugal a proper game, you see why it is harder to win.

Un

Cali

Lol at you
What a soy boy
European penis envy much?? 😂 🙈

Un

Habs

Yeah you always get freak results and runs at world cups but the teams that line up at the euros beat the lower teams at t World Cup more than they lose if you play them 10 times each

If the nations had a league of 100 countries
50 from Europe and 50 non Europe the top 50 would be domInated by European nations

Goobergooner

Well that was another shit second half from Australia don’t know how we held on there. Some great defending but also some absolutely shocking play too.

Un I’m just taking the piss mate, I think England definitely have one of the best squads. Just need a coach to play to the strengths of that squad which is quick, direct attacking football.

And I’d also be gutted if even Australia drew with the US haha. Though they are better I can’t stand losing to them in anything

Goobergooner

But yep, 3rd win at a world cup for the Socceroos, they have already done me proud.

Goobergooner

Also only 44 countries in europe

Goobergooner

Well not including transcontinental

Un

Goober

I know pal. It’s my banter style. Don’t think I won’t be on here whooping and a harring throughout the tournament though, until we get knocked out. Probably by France.

Un

Ok 30 from Europe and 50 from non European nations
Top 50 will still be dominated by European sides

Un

Does the Vatican and Cornwall count?

Un

Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland too

raptora

Matty Cash with an elbow to the face of the Saudi Arabian player already on a yellow card. Atrocious decision not to send him off.

jwl

One thing I like about world cup is you get reminded of all our ex-players – today there was Mat Ryan and Krystian Bielik. I remember wondering why Ryan didn’t stay with us as second keeper because he looked decent but it seems like he wanted to keep playing full time so he went elsewhere.

GD4

Is the Bielik the former Arsenal kid playing for Poland.
Wow laddie almost scored.
Cleared off the line

raptora

jwl,
Ryan is still the reserve GK but instead of Arsenal’s reserve GK, he’s FC Copenhagen’s reserve GK.

In his interviews when he joined Arsenal he was incredibly happy saying joining the club he supported as a kid is a dream come true that just feels surreal.

I’ll bet Arsenal didn’t want Ryan. Which I found weird tbh as he was decent enough imo. But maybe the USA keeper is just better.

Un

1-0 Poland
Europe steps up once again 😝

Un

Cheer for my European brethren
Ah nearly 2
I’d like to see the Danes take France down a notch today

raptora

WTF IS THIS PENALTY?! ARE YOU FKIN KIDDING ME?! WHAT THE FUCK?!

He barely touched what is wrong with these refs?!

GD4

Oil guys given a lifeline.
PK

GD4

Wow Szcz saves it

raptora

Justice! Holy Szczesny

GD4

And he makes the save on the rebound.
Wow

Dissenter

Szcezny never saved penalties for us, I doubt he’s saved any for Juventus

raptora

Diss,
61 non-saved pens, 25 saved pens (11 for Juve, 6 Arsenal, 4 Roma, 2 Brentford, 2 Poland)

That’s so solid.

Dissenter

These Saudis are too theatrical.
Nice thing that diving and cheating in football has permeated every culture/religion..

Dissenter

raptora
Thanks for the correction
I just couldn’t recall Szcezny saving penalties but there you are.

raptora

Diss, tbh his last Arsenal pen save is in 2013 almost 10 years ago…

jwl

And speaking of Arsenal old timers, I completely forgot Chesney but he has had great career since he left us. What was with Wenger and goalkeepers? How does he decide to persist with Almunia for so long and then manages to sell both Fabianski and Chesney for Ospina, who both had decent careers once they left club.

raptora – yes, it is odd what happened with Ryan. I agree Arsenal must not wanted him to stay if he only backup at Copenhagen now.

Tom

Compare this pen decision to the one Qatar was denied yesterday.

Barging into a player from behind sending him flying with no intentions to play the ball whatsoever, aka “easing a player off the ball” lol, versus minimal contact on ankle followed by a dive( KDB style).

Un

That’s still nearly 1/3 penalty saves
Always had a soft spot for scz

Un

Jwl

Exactly what I was just saying to a bloke in my local pub I was chatting
For smoking in t the dressing room
I love Ramsey but to have had woj for the last 7-8 years would have been far better than the alternatives

Graham62

We lost the WC final to Poland because we had no creativity.
We lost to Italy because Southgate bottled it.

If England are going to have any chance of progressing, we need Grealish and Foden on the pitch, not on the bench.

If Southgate doesn’t do this, we’ll be coming home sooner than we think.

Graham62

Sorry WC semi to Croatia.
I’m on the mulled wine already!🤪

Un

Graham
Exactly what I’ve just been saying
The game was crying out for these two yesterday
I’d also start getting Wilson on the pitch as he’s a fucking brute. Doesn’t stop running. And is a threat in every way a modern forward should be
Kane wasn’t at it yesterday and was dropping too deep
You get foden and jack on they will get the ball to the box along with Saka and that’s where you want your no9 to be occupying the cb pair

Dissenter

I remember Szcezny’s father breaking protocol and publicly dissing Arsenal [and Wenger] for not managing his son properly.
Seems we made too much of a keeper having a few smokes because the lad has gone on to have an excellent career. You don’t take over from the great Buffon at the old lady if you’re shit.

raptora

Diss, I agree. We made a meal out of Szczesny and Emi Martinez as well. Had 2 strong keepers already playing for us but went on to the market to supposedly upgrade on them. Really odd.

raptora

First goal for Lewa on a World championship. It took him a while.

Un

Rap

I agree
You are correct
Pigs must have flown today

Un

2-0 to Europe 😂

Un

New post bitches

jwl

Un – the Almunia seasons are when I seriously started to question Wenger as manager and whether he was up for the job anymore. The Chesney situation was idiotic, we regularly play him as young keeper for a few seasons until he gets good and then sell him for cheap because of discipline issues. It never made sense to me, there must have been something else going on with Chesney other than smoking occasional cigarette.

Jim Furnell

Hope we’re not seriously in for David, he’s been poor in this World Cup, Davies looks useful.