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

[Dogtanian]

Pape Gueye is not happy with the elimination;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqj18d7q2vwo

"I will come back to say a few words about the elimination... but I am announcing today that as long as this coaching staff is in place, I will be taking a break from the national team"

[ADVILLAFAN]

Pape was a rolling stone....

[AV82EC]

Pape Gueye is not happy with the elimination;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqj18d7q2vwo

"I will come back to say a few words about the elimination... but I am announcing today that as long as this coaching staff is in place, I will be taking a break from the national team"

Insert Roy Keane “what a baby” gif.

[Proposition Joe]

Quote:
Australian 10,000m runner Ron Clarke had to be revived through the use of an oxygen mask after collapsing from altitude sickness in Mexico City at the 1968 Olympics

Oh come on, you don't get altitude sickness at 2000m, it's not that high. Plane cabins are pressurised to emulate an altitude of more or less that. My wife is from nearby Toluca, which is 2700m above sea level, and there you do feel it a bit going up flights of stairs sometimes, but it's not really the High Andes or Himalayas.

The smog in Mexico City may be more of a factor than the altitude.

[Somniloquism]

So you can feel it when you climb the stairs even when used to living at close to that altitude, but it won't be a problem for anyone playing a professional football match when not acclimatised? Gotcha.

[Toronto Villa]

It will absolutely have an impact on the English players and certainly as the game goes on. The Mexican players will have that advantage from the outset. I don’t think England will beat Mexico for a number of factors. Mainly given what we have seen so far. To expect Kane to always be the hero isn’t going to happen every time. Yesterday was shit overall

[Monty]

Quote:
Australian 10,000m runner Ron Clarke had to be revived through the use of an oxygen mask after collapsing from altitude sickness in Mexico City at the 1968 Olympics

Oh come on, you don't get altitude sickness at 2000m, it's not that high. Plane cabins are pressurised to emulate an altitude of more or less that. My wife is from nearby Toluca, which is 2700m above sea level, and there you do feel it a bit going up flights of stairs sometimes, but it's not really the High Andes or Himalayas.

The smog in Mexico City may be more of a factor than the altitude.

How often does one run 10k on a plane?

[SamTheMouse]

So you can feel it when you climb the stairs even when used to living at close to that altitude, but it won't be a problem for anyone playing a professional football match when not acclimatised? Gotcha.

Yeah, I think when you consider the incredibly fine margins that determine the outcomes of elite football matches, there's no escaping the fact that the Mexican team will have an advantage in these conditions.

[cdbearsfan]

Quote:
Australian 10,000m runner Ron Clarke had to be revived through the use of an oxygen mask after collapsing from altitude sickness in Mexico City at the 1968 Olympics

Oh come on, you don't get altitude sickness at 2000m, it's not that high. Plane cabins are pressurised to emulate an altitude of more or less that. My wife is from nearby Toluca, which is 2700m above sea level, and there you do feel it a bit going up flights of stairs sometimes, but it's not really the High Andes or Himalayas.

The smog in Mexico City may be more of a factor than the altitude.

How often does one run 10k on a plane?

I'm pretty sure that's classed as cheating.

[Hopadop]

I did a bit of trekking in the Andes, at about 4500m.  When I say trekking, I put the tent up and then had a lie down.  It wasn't fun.

And I had a really bad upset stomach.  Less Touching the Void, more Touching Cloth.  I fear our brave lads will find themselves Linekered out there.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

Anderson is a defensive midfielder.

Anderson is a DM in the same way McGinn was when he joined us. Runs around a lot and breaks play up but isn't as positionally disciplined as you see from players like Kamara or Rodri. It's similar to Onana for us where they'd be better alongside a proper DM rather than in place of them.

Well, he's as defensive a midfielder England have. I can't really think of anyone at the top level who does play that role.

[PeterWithesShin]

[Toronto Villa]

yeh saw that the other day. We are up to 3 now but it's been pretty underwhelming foir our players overall. Palace have players who are just flying at the WC. They have recruited well and underlies why they done quite well overall in the league and cups. Sunderland have also had a dceent presence there and a shame that big Dutch striker they have is coming home.

[Dave]

Anderson is a defensive midfielder.

Anderson is a DM in the same way McGinn was when he joined us. Runs around a lot and breaks play up but isn't as positionally disciplined as you see from players like Kamara or Rodri. It's similar to Onana for us where they'd be better alongside a proper DM rather than in place of them.

Well, he's as defensive a midfielder England have. I can't really think of anyone at the top level who does play that role.

Yeah, there are different ways to play the role. If England wanted someone to do it in the same way as Rodri or Kamara does, I imagine sticking John Stones there is probably as good as you're going to get. Which wouldn't be very good.

But Anderson is still a defensive midfielder, he just plays it in the Kante way- relying more on energy and athleticism, running after everyone and taking the ball off them, rather than positioning and timing.

Or to go back a bit, Gattuso and Busquets were both defensive midfielders who played the role completely differently.

[Dogtanian]

I guess we are all cheering on Austria tonight?


For the love of strudel!