Uruguay can still qualify and if they do, are capable of upsetting Brazil because they are over rated in my opinion.
If the coach lets off the handbrake. They played for about 15 minutes against portugal and gave them a chasing
They had nobody in midfield when Suarez, Cavani and Godin were in their prime. Now they have a few midfielders and all of those are past their best.
Croatia had a far better mix of players across the pitch and particularly in midfield. A solid defence and then Modric, Rakitic, Brozovic, Kovacic, Perisic, Mandzukic all very good players and a few other decent lads as well in attack
I would agree they are overly negative at times, a bit like Atletico in that regard
Its becuase they had Cavani and Suarez for so long, you could just sit in and hope theyâd win you a game. They depended on keeping it tight which godin will always do and then depending on those two.
With Bentancur and valverde Iâd love to see the handbrake off. Theyâre very frustrating.
2014 i liked their midfield Rodriguez, maxi Perreira and arevalo. I loved arevalo as a player
Gonna go with Ecuador and Senegal for the 3pm game.
Meeting the brother for a pint later so will need a non-footix pub as I was to watch USA vs Iran while heâs shiteing on about moisturiser
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The 3pm games are relatively straightforward. Qatar are out, so itâs 3 teams going for 2 spots.
Netherlands are playing Qatar and if they can get any sort of result, they are through (either 1st or 2nd). The only way Ecuador & Senegal can both go through is if they draw and Netherlands lose. Otherwise, itâs winner-takes-all in their game, with a draw putting Ecuador through.
Based on performances so far, youâd have to favour the Dutch to beat Qatar, possibly racking up a few goals to get them to top the group. Ecuador have been more impressive than Senegal, who have been surprisingly cagey, they really have missed ManĂŠ in the final third. You would think that Ecuador will do enough to at least get the draw they need.
In Group B, thereâs a little more to it as technically all 4 teams can go through. Theyâre going to be the first matches I miss in their entirety as weâre playing 21s Championship tonight; Iâm kinda sickened the times arenât reversed as Iâd love to see Iran vs USA.
England in pole position, any result puts them through: a win and they top the group, a draw and it depends what happens the other game. As far as I can tell, Wales would need to beat them 4-0 to knock them out as their goal difference is so good after the Iran game.
Wales are still technically alive but are relying on the other game to go their way too. They know they have to win anyway. The margin is what is up for discussion. They know for a fact that if they win by 4, they will leapfrog England and will definitely progress. That seems very unlikely based on performances to date. A 1-0 win would do if Iran & USA draw. That would put Iran to 4 points with a -2 GD, Wales would also be on 4 points with a -1 GD. Any other result in the other game would mean that Wales couldnât catch those teams and would need the 4-goal win over England.
Iran in pole position over the USA after beating Wales. The US have been very impressive but only scored the 1 goal across their two games and that could come back to haunt them. This match is pretty simple, USA win and they go through. Iran win and they go through. Draw and Iran go through unless Wales win by less than 4.
Personally, Iâm writing off the possibility of Wales winning by 4. I think Wales will go out hunting a win and will get opened up by England which will mean Iran vs USA is a straight shootout. I think the US are a very decent side but Iran did impress against Wales, they seemed to get their shit together after the first day, and they have something to hold onto.
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Piers is really milking his friendship with Cristiano 
Yep I think England could beat the snot out of Wales âŚ
I wouldnât completely write off Wales against England. They wonât win by 4 obviously But they could get a result. England looked very lethargic against the Yanks, they never got going, Kane isnât right and Mount and Sterling are bang out of form. Heâll pick the same team Southgate will.
Kiefer Moore is the type of player could ruin John Stones
Wales were so bad against Iran though. And really shit in the first half against the US.
Unless Page is very brave to switch things up completely, I just think England will kill them on the counter-attack as the game goes on.
I donât think Wales are capable of pressing with the same energy that the US did, which made England look slow and laboured.
I could see it being tight early on but England opening them up then, I would expect England to be a lot more clinical than Iran were. Iâll wait till I see what the teams are but I might fancy a bet on it.
Wales will play a low block, with a bank of 5, theyâll hit Moore long and ask him to do a job on John Stones. Win frees, be an awkward cunt and allow Ramsey and Bale get around him. I donât think theyâll press at all, and certainly wonât play a high line. England are very stifled against a low block. If he plays Foden instead of Mount, maybe he can unpick it. Other than that theyâll depend on set pieces and counters, but if Wales donât press they canât counter.
England will win by 3-1 at the very least. It could easily be 5-1.
If they do that, they might keep the score down.
But I donât think Bale has any interest in being in a low block, and Iâm not sure he has the legs to get in and around Moore if he is defending deep. Ramsey, also, may as well not have been on the pitch against Iran, he was an absolute disgrace.
I think England will find joy down the flanks even if Wales do defend deep. Now, if they play Henderson instead of Bellingham, and Wales do sit in with the low block, it probably takes away a facet of their attacking play.
Wales are awful, but the only thing that might be in their favour is mentality. Old enemy can bring out the best in a team. Theyâve nothing to lose etc. England will be a little rattled after the shite show the last day. But they are a vastly superior team to Wales.
Iâve gone for England -1, and Iran double. Iran v USA should be very spicy.
In other group Netherlands will surely bate Qatar by 2 or 3.
Ecuador v Senegal hard to call.
theyâll need Shaw and Trippier to be released. Southgate barely let them go beyond the half way line against the US. Heâs terrified of getting caught with the lack of pace at centre half. Bellingham is a terrific player but he isnât going to pick apart a low block.
Wales were very good in the second half against the States, after Moore came on. They probably should have won it.
They were septic against Iran but still only conceded deep in injury time down to 10 men.
Donât underestimate how bad England were against America, thatâs their form. Wales played similarly against them
But Wales donât have the pace to hurt England, bar Dan James, who didnât start the last day.
Moore is extremely physical but isnât going to run in behind, Bale has nowhere near the pace of old, Wilson canât run, Ramsey canât run. Now Dan James is a flyer but a limited footballer.
Shaw caused havoc down the left against Iran, Iâd expect them to target that channel because I donât see Bale doing the work he needs to do.
Bellingham wouldnât pick a low block apart, but neither would Henderson (I donât think England have that kind of midfielder really), what Bellingham can do is he can beat a player. He can draw a man in a tight space and go past them, so can Sake & Sterling. Get beyond one defender and that just starts a little bit of chaos and they can fire a ball across goal, or cut the ball back for players coming into the box.
Iâm not totally convinced Wales will play like that though, I think they might try and push on and play on the front foot at the start, get in Englandâs faces. And I think theyâll have a positive start and then get ripped apart (unless they actually score obviously).
If they get it tight until the last 20 minutes, England donât need a win. Get James and the young lad from forest whoâs been poor but is lightening as well on and try from there.
Kiefer Moore is quick enough by the way, certainly enough to cause stones and maguire problems