Other Games - 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Edition (+ warm-up matches): Villa-watch

[PaulWinch again]

Just saw on BBC player rater that Gordon got a 6 and Konsa a 5....
Jesus wept, I give up with that shower...

I don’t think Konsa or Stones were great, but 5 is harsh.

[Richard]

Just saw on BBC player rater that Gordon got a 6 and Konsa a 5....
Jesus wept, I give up with that shower...

I don’t think Konsa or Stones were great, but 5 is harsh.

Nor me, think Konsa and Guehi will work better.

[PaulWinch again]

According to Gary Neville, conversation over, Bellingham starts every game. Because he’s the bestest. No disrespect to Rogers.

It couldn’t be that you play certain players based on what the team needs in certain games. Just pick Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard. It should work.

Yeah it shows a lack of understanding. Bellingham was generally really good, but Rogers could easily have done similar. It’s about having options and using them.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Konsa was much better in the 2nd half, when Guehi was on.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Thought Panama should have had a pen.

Uzbekistan nearly got the strike of the tournament, but off the underside of the bar.

[Hillbilly]

I suspect Konsa will be frustrated by the players around him. I bet he has less confidence in Pickford than he would give Emi, Pau Torres is a cut above this version of Stones and the midfield was much further away than Villa's. Nothing can be done about Pickford. Guehi would be a better partner than Stones, and Anderson and Rice could be more available. Basically if you are gonna dick around at the back learn from master Unai.

[john2710]

England played the game, especially second half, like a full on Premier League game. Anderson, in particular was running around at full tilt. Whilst they played Croatia off the pitch, there's no way they can put anything like that amount of effort into a game in the heat.

[ChicagoLion]

Pretty stupid to break up the centre back partnership going into a major tournament, Anderson and Rice were all over the place in the first half, Anderson running back to the stand by the centre halves instead of closing the areas in front of them, Ruce kept turning up on the left wing.
I think Mainoo and Anderson would be a better combination.

[LeeB]

Pretty stupid to break up the centre back partnership going into a major tournament, Anderson and Rice were all over the place in the first half, Anderson running back to the stand by the centre halves instead of closing the areas in front of them, Ruce kept turning up on the left wing.
I think Mainoo and Anderson would be a better combination.

Stones has clearly gone a bit, never really thought he was much of a defender anyway.

[LeeB]

Another thing that was clear is that you can't play Bellingham any deeper, he's not interested.

[Beard82]

Thought england in the second half were much improved. 

Without posession and defensively / midfield they need to improve - but I think a lot of that was more of a structual thing.   Rice and Anderson were very good in the second half, but first half they needed more discipline in the shape.

A solid start.

A final word - the ITV commentary team is so bad it bordering on a hate crime.