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

[Somniloquism]

Yes, the consensus was that they’d need to rack up goals against Haiti, but given they only lost 1-0 there’s still a chance. I’d guess a couple of groups will see the third placed team on three or fewer.

Final matches will also have some teams playing already qualified teams who are guranteed that postion, and others playing the bottom team.

For example the two in 7-8th currently are the Czechs and Bosnia who have also played 2 matches. One has Mexico who are 1st no matter what, and the other has Qatar who should be a win for them. Neither are guranteed 3 points but I suspect the odds of them getting the points are slightly higher then Scotland. They might scrape through in the 3rd places but I suspect 9th/10th myself.

[Monty]

BBC: World Cup still waits for real Brazil to show up

This is the real Brazil! People keep buying into this jogo bonito nonsense. Brazil have been clunky and funtional more times than not over the 40 odd years I have been watching World Cups.

I know, it's such irritating boomer cliché mongering.

[Chip Butty 111]

BBC: World Cup still waits for real Brazil to show up

This is the real Brazil! People keep buying into this jogo bonito nonsense. Brazil have been clunky and funtional more times than not over the 40 odd years I have been watching World Cups.

It's like the BBC haven't been taking much notice since Mexico 70. Aside from 1982 they have never got near those heights.
The real story is the improvement of African/Asian sides at the World Cup, not when are the real Brazil showing up.

[PeterWithesShin]

Brazil '82 was the last 'proper' Brazil side. They came close with Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Carlos and Rivaldo but most of the time they are just a standard good international side.

[AV82EC]

Brazil '82 was the last 'proper' Brazil side. They came close with Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Carlos and Rivaldo but most of the time they are just a standard good international side.

So they’ve turned into England then? Admittedly an England that might actually win stuff.

[PeterWithesShin]

Since winning it in 2002 they been to the same number of WC semi-finals as Morocco and fewer than Croatia. And we remember with hilarity how that semi-final ended.

[AV82EC]

Since winning it in 2002 they been to the same number of WC semi-finals as Morocco and fewer than Croatia. And we remember with hilarity how that semi-final ended.

Without doubt one of the funniest nights in recent WC history, a total and utter hysteria induced meltdown.

[Dave]

Another "surely they're better than that?" statistic which sounds odd - since the 2010 final, Spain have only won three of their twelve World Cup matches, against Australia, Iran and Costa Rica.

[olaftab]

And amazingly 53 of those 98 are born in Paris. Whoever wins football is coming home to France.

[olaftab]

And for the size of the population 67 is a remarkable number for Netherlands. A world nation.

[Dave]

And for the size of the population 67 is a remarkable number for Netherlands. A world nation.

I imagine Curacao is doing a lot of the heavy lifting for that total (I'd guess around 25 of the 67)

[Pat McMahon]

And amazingly 53 of those 98 are born in Paris. Whoever wins football is coming home to France.

Before the 2018 World Cup Karl Heinz Rumenigge  said that the suburbs of Paris were the greatest pool of football talent in the world. France consistently have the greatest squad depth in the past decade

[Sexual Ealing]

South East London comes close.

[Pat McMahon]

Actually SE, that may have been the second part of his quote. It definitely cropped up in the discussion when I heard that Rumenigge quote but am not sure if he himself said it or the person who was quoting him.

[Meanwood Villa]

Is that a high proportion of second and third generation immigrants? Any particular reasons for this?