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

[Dave]

I reckon England will win pretty comfortably tonight. Then we'll draw 0-0 against Ghana. Smash Panama. Straightforward 2-0 win in R32. Quarter-final defeat.

Still a few games left on the nailed-on betting money train...

What's happening in R16? Win on pens?

Game cancelled due to me forgetting it existed.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

They keep talking about lack of creativity like we have no-one there, but Rogers is. I thought he looked decent in the little bits he had.

He did two things in twenty minutes. Not sure he even had a touch between winning a corner just after coming on and that lovely run and pass to Rashford in injury time.

He played a part in the build up to the O’Reilly chance as well. Good run for the Rice ball but didn't do enough with the header back across.

[villadelph]

It is remarkable Gordon has been signed by Barcelona. Actual Barcelona.

A club 1.4 billion in debt, who couldn’t register Olmo a year ago because of their financials just spent 70 million on Anthony Gordon.

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

It won't be coming home then.

[Steve67]

Madueke and Gordon just not working but it’s almost like Tuchel has a point to prove. Both crap, much better with Rogers and Rashford on the pitch.

[Villa Lew]

Well done Ghana an excellent defensive display and they should qualify now, as for England very poor effort, especially following the performance against Croatia. I would start Rogers.Rashford and Saka against Panama.

[Percy McCarthy]

I thought Konsa was fine. Pretty bizarre but predictable take to say he was poor.

98% passing accuracy (116/118)
125 touches
15 passes into the final third
100% accurate long balls
1 tackle won
1 clearance
3 ground duels won
1 clean sheet 

Which one of those doughnuts said he was poor? My money’s on Rooney.

[Villa Lew]

It won't be coming home then.

We've been saying that for the last 60 years.

[Somniloquism]

They keep talking about lack of creativity like we have no-one there, but Rogers is. I thought he looked decent in the little bits he had.

He did two things in twenty minutes. Not sure he even had a touch between winning a corner just after coming on and that lovely run and pass to Rashford in injury time.

Didn't he supply a sublime ball to James for an instant cross in the build up for the O'Reilly/Kane chance? As they pointed out in the first half that Madueke and others were playing the ball too hard meaning a first touch was needed and players then closed down.

[Nev]

Drop Konsa and keep Rogers and Watkins on the bench.

It's all about Villa.

[Somniloquism]

Pretty sure Rooney wasn’t saying what a difficult game it was before kick off!

A few days ago on his "podcast" he was stating barely anyone is qualified to question the players Tuchel was putting in his squad (I know because it was used as one of the BBC adverts about their content). That was released  day or two after he moaned that Shaw wasn't picked to replace the injured player and few weeks after moaning about no TAA and no Maguire. I don't think even he remembers what he said 2 hours ago.

[brontebilly]

If Gordon and Madueke start Saturday, I’ll eat my hat.
Rubbish the pair of them but Gordon in particular, was woeful.
Barca player my arse.

They were both shit, but the shittest was Bellingham who was largely anonymous apart from running the ball out of play for a goal kick, nearly getting carded, and then behaving like a brat at the HT whistle. This is the guy who we were told is England’s lightning rod for play but I’m not sure he has that mentality.

Needs space to run into. Not the smartest player tactically, there's a reason Ancelotti played him up front.

Rashford must have been fuming watching Madueke get switched over onto the left and only getting about 10 mins. Eze ending up in midfield, there was no logic to some of those changes.

[Somniloquism]

Eze and Rogers seemed to have been brought in to be a double 10 with Madueke (then Rashford) on the left and Saka on the right. It makes choosing him instead of Gibbs-White even more of a parody.

[adrenachrome]

I thought Konsa was fine. Pretty bizarre but predictable take to say he was poor.

AVFC Statto on X:

Ezri Konsa for England vs Ghana

90 minutes played
98% passing accuracy (116/118)
125 touches
15 passes into the final third
100% accurate lng balls
1 tackle won
1 clearance
3 ground duels won
1 clean sheet

Doing his job, perfectly.

[Brend'Watkins]

I don’t know too much about Anthony Gordon but I do know he’s not that good against a decent fullback. I couldn’t understand why when playing against such a low block they weren’t playing in a way that shots could be taken from distance. Like we do. Ghana were very good defensively.