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.

[PeterWithesShin]

Gotta feel a bit for the Iran players, all the restrictions on them, a late winner ruled out that would have sent them through because a toe was offside, unbeaten in the group, and then an equaliser with the last kick in the last group game to deny them going through.

[Brazilian Villain]

Overseas fans seem to be enjoying their time in the United States.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260625-the-us-that-world-cup-fans-didnt-expect-to-love

[ChicagoLion]

I was at the game, the atmosphere was poor, lots of “ England fans” in club shirts.
The tourist type fans who only got animated when music was blasted out or when that Twat Beckhams face appeared on the giant screen.
The organisation getting to and from the stadium was pretty good, it’s America so if you wanted food or drink there was someone there to sell it to you. A few renditions of 4 German bombers on the way from the station from the sort of twats that somehow think it’s big and clever and so fkin funny.
Also met a lot of good folk in the bars an at the match.
The hydration break is even more annoying at the match, apparently Fox ( everybody’s favourite media outlet) sold the advspace for double what they paid to screen the whole to tournament.

[ChicagoLion]

Overseas fans seem to be enjoying their time in the United States.
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260625-the-us-that-world-cup-fans-didnt-expect-to-love

That’s great, there is so much to like about the place once you get over the bull shit and politics.

[AV82EC]

Putting aside guns, politics and appalling public transport the US is a fantastic place to visit. Let’s just say they don’t give a great impression of themselves on social media (who does frankly) but when you’re their it’s fucking ace.

[PeterWithesShin]

America is a fantastic place spoilt by 30% of Americans. Same as England is fantastic spoilt by 30% and so on.

[UK Redsox]

Putting aside guns, politics and appalling public transport the US is a fantastic place to visit. Let’s just say they don’t give a great impression of themselves on social media (who does frankly) but when you’re their it’s fucking ace.

I’ve found public transport over there to be pretty decent. The NYC subway, Boston T, SF Muni/BART etc are great. Amtrak works well when travelling on the East Coast, anywhere from DC up to Portland.

[pauliewalnuts]

America is a fantastic place spoilt by 30% of Americans. Same as England is fantastic spoilt by 30% and so on.

The Americans on the east* and west coasts are fine.

It's the fucking headcases in the bit in the middle** that are the problem.


* except Florida
** except Chicago