Other Games 2025-26

[Dave]

Serbia were the next best team to England in the group and seen as a potential banana skin. They’re far better opposition than North Macedonia or any of the countries listed as the FIFA rankings show.

In the qualifying round for the tournament before the one in which England beat them 7-0, North Macedonia won away in both Germany and Italy.

[PeterWithesShin]

And we drew 1-1 away to North Macedonia relying on an own goal for the equaliser.

This was a very good performance but the weekend wasn't so it's a bit early to draw conclusions.

[Dave]

Yup. Losing to Senegal wasn't a sign that Tuchel was terrible, thrashing Serbia isn't a sign that he's brilliant. Losing to Hungary wasn't a sign that Southgate was terrible, thrashing Ukraine wasn't a sign that he was brilliant.

Now that England have basically qualified (like they always do now), there's very little that Tuchel can do to show anything one way or the other until the World Cup starts.

But if I were a betting man, my money would be firmly on "getting through the group comfortably before going out to the first team England play that is better than them", like it has been since since 2018.

Which in itself is still an improvement on the previous decade, which was "getting knocked at some point early on by a team not as good as them".

[brontebilly]

Yup. Losing to Senegal wasn't a sign that Tuchel was terrible, thrashing Serbia isn't a sign that he's brilliant. Losing to Hungary wasn't a sign that Southgate was terrible, thrashing Ukraine wasn't a sign that he was brilliant.

Now that England have basically qualified (like they always do now), there's very little that Tuchel can do to show anything one way or the other until the World Cup starts.

But if I were a betting man, my money would be firmly on "getting through the group comfortably before going out to the first team England play that is better than them", like it has been since since 2018.

Which in itself is still an improvement on the previous decade, which was "getting knocked at some point early on by a team not as good as them".

Id agree, tournament football is where Tuchel will be ultimately assessed not the qualifiers. A lot can change in 9 months with player injuries and form. The England talent pool seems overloaded in the attacking midfield areas. Less so at the back and in midfield. I think stronger England squads will have gone to tournaments (Euro 2021). How will Kane cope in those US temps next June?

[VILLA MOLE]

Yup. Losing to Senegal wasn't a sign that Tuchel was terrible, thrashing Serbia isn't a sign that he's brilliant. Losing to Hungary wasn't a sign that Southgate was terrible, thrashing Ukraine wasn't a sign that he was brilliant.

Now that England have basically qualified (like they always do now), there's very little that Tuchel can do to show anything one way or the other until the World Cup starts.

But if I were a betting man, my money would be firmly on "getting through the group comfortably before going out to the first team England play that is better than them", like it has been since since 2018.

Which in itself is still an improvement on the previous decade, which was "getting knocked at some point early on by a team not as good as them".

Id agree, tournament football is where Tuchel will be ultimately assessed not the qualifiers. A lot can change in 9 months with player injuries and form. The England talent pool seems overloaded in the attacking midfield areas. Less so at the back and in midfield. I think stronger England squads will have gone to tournaments (Euro 2021). How will Kane cope in those US temps next June?

[/b]

He will drop and  sit in that midfield like he normally does

[Dave]

Id agree, tournament football is where Tuchel will be ultimately assessed not the qualifiers. A lot can change in 9 months with player injuries and form. The England talent pool seems overloaded in the attacking midfield areas. Less so at the back and in midfield. I think stronger England squads will have gone to tournaments (Euro 2021). How will Kane cope in those US temps next June?

I reckon midfield has gone from a problem position to fairly well-stocked. The emergence of Anderson and Wharton means that one of those, alongside Rice means it's not the problem that it once was. It's not France or Portugal, but at least it's upper-end of the Premier League good.

Right-back isn't as strong as other areas in the team, but whether it ends up being Livramento, James or Alexander-Arnold there aren't too many countries with an obviously better one.

Left-back is still very iffy. There are a good five or six teams with better centre-back pairings than England have and at least a dozen with a better goalkeeper. And the last thirty years suggests that teams tend not to win tournaments if they don't have a really good defence and goalkeeper.

[Somniloquism]

Left-back is still very iffy. There are a good five or six teams with better centre-back pairings than England have and at least a dozen with a better goalkeeper. And the last thirty years suggests that teams tend not to win tournaments if they don't have a really good defence and goalkeeper.

Livramento didn't do too badly there last night (albeit it wasn't a Yamal he was up against). He has also played there regularly for his club so it is not like he is only playing there for his country.

[VILLA MOLE]

I still think they could do more with Qualifying football to make it more interesting  .  They should look at what they have done with the Champs league and maybe have a similar format .   

[Dave]

Left-back is still very iffy. There are a good five or six teams with better centre-back pairings than England have and at least a dozen with a better goalkeeper. And the last thirty years suggests that teams tend not to win tournaments if they don't have a really good defence and goalkeeper.

Livramento didn't do too badly there last night (albeit it wasn't a Yamal he was up against). He has also played there regularly for his club so it is not like he is only playing there for his country.

He did fine. But putting one of your right-backs in at left-back because you don't have anyone else fit enough or good enough definitely makes it a problem position.

A bit like when Luke Young used to go in at left-back for us. He did absolutely fine, but he was only there because left-back was causing us problems and in turn it then weakened our right-back options.

[AV82EC]

I still think they could do more with Qualifying football to make it more interesting  .  They should look at what they have done with the Champs league and maybe have a similar format .

Yeah a Conmebol style all in one table would be fab.

[VILLA MOLE]

I still think they could do more with Qualifying football to make it more interesting  .  They should look at what they have done with the Champs league and maybe have a similar format .

Yeah a Conmebol style all in one table would be fab.

Get rid of the Nations League and Friendlies 

[cdbearsfan]

Nations League is fine but should be at the end of qualifying, and just have the best 8-12 teams from qualifying enter in a knockout format.

[Dave]

Nations League is fine but should be at the end of qualifying, and just have the best 8-12 teams from qualifying enter in a knockout format.

But isn't part of the point of it to give smaller teams the opportunity to have "competitive" fixtures against others at a similar level?

I'd say that the profile of player who needs another three or four competitive games at the end of the season the least are those playing for France, Spain, Portugal et al.

[brontebilly]

Id agree, tournament football is where Tuchel will be ultimately assessed not the qualifiers. A lot can change in 9 months with player injuries and form. The England talent pool seems overloaded in the attacking midfield areas. Less so at the back and in midfield. I think stronger England squads will have gone to tournaments (Euro 2021). How will Kane cope in those US temps next June?

I reckon midfield has gone from a problem position to fairly well-stocked. The emergence of Anderson and Wharton means that one of those, alongside Rice means it's not the problem that it once was. It's not France or Portugal, but at least it's upper-end of the Premier League good.

Right-back isn't as strong as other areas in the team, but whether it ends up being Livramento, James or Alexander-Arnold there aren't too many countries with an obviously better one.

Left-back is still very iffy. There are a good five or six teams with better centre-back pairings than England have and at least a dozen with a better goalkeeper. And the last thirty years suggests that teams tend not to win tournaments if they don't have a really good defence and goalkeeper.

Has Pickford ever let England down in tournament football? Tends to lose the head a bit and whack the ball down the pitch. But he's done well really considering the pressure on him and decent on penos.

Not sure about James these days. Not the player he once was. TAA in a weak defence could be a disaster but great option off the bench. I think Guehi has developed really well. But Walker and Stones were exceptional at their peak. Shaw and even Maguire in that low block Southgate preferred were very good. They are all gone now. Wharton did look very good against us recently, just calm on the ball.

Part of the problem for Tuchel are the likes of Bellingham particularly and maybe Foden. Very talented players but Bellingham has no tactical discipline which caused lots of problems in the last Euros. Not the type to accept a reduced role either. Foden just hasn't performed that I can remember, maybe another Scholes.

[cdbearsfan]

I think the "Champions League style" set up VILLA MOLE suggested would give those teams a mixture of games against teams at their own level while still offering them the chance to play the bigger teams (and, crucially, still get money from hosting said opponents).

Nations League feels a bit Mickey Mouse at the moment, it's a bit unfair, IMO, but could be fixed by a revamp. The system would also remove the boredom of teams knowing they already have a guaranteed playoff spot before they kick a ball in qualifying, and prevent the possibility that currently exists where you could be better to lose matches at the end of the campaign.