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

[Flamingo Lane]

McNulty at his best.

Tuchel started the World Cup with Ezri Konsa and John Stones as his favoured central defensive pairing against Croatia, but has switched to Konsa and Marc Guehi in the past two games.

Stones only started five Premier League games last season before leaving Manchester City. Is he now out in the cold? Or is Tuchel saving this outstanding and classy operator for the knockout stages?

I read that earlier, and thought what a pathetic piece of writing.

[Monty]

That Phil McNulty still has a writing job in 2026, in the age of AI, paid for by a compulsory levy on the people, should be reason enough for the young* of the west to rise up and seize the means of production from the terrible old craps who wave their pensions over them like the One Ring. He's not even mediocre; he's barely even mediocrity's second-best socks. Fucking decrepit.


*Anyone under say 50.

[Mellin]

England have managed to avoid every single big European country on their side of the draw.


Last 16 - Mexico away
Quarters - Brazil/Japan/Norway
Semis - Argentina or, erm...Switzerland/Colombia/Ghana
Final - France/Spain/Germany/Portugal/Netherlands/Belgium/Morocco

Mad. Shame we're a bit crap.

[Dogtanian]

So it’s Wednesday at five versus Dr. Congo then.

Does anyone know where you can still buy Um Bongo?

[Tayls_7]

So it’s Wednesday at five versus Dr. Congo then.

Does anyone know where you can still buy Um Bongo?

I know where they drink it.

[Nev]

I missed last night but so far England's campaign has the air of an extension to the qualifiers. Underwhelming but ultimately successful. Teams can grow into a tournament which is a good thing in this case, peaking too early can be a problem.

I only see it through Villa eyes and first and foremost I want our players to do well and avoid injury. Pleased for Ollie but when they all come home, England or otherwise, safe and sound, then it will have been a good WC.

[Ian.]

So it’s Wednesday at five versus Dr. Congo then.

Does anyone know where you can still buy Um Bongo?

I sold my Bongo a few years ago back.