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

[Somniloquism]

Konsa was playing as right back for most of the second half so would be struggling to have Jimenez in his pocket when he wasn't anywhere near him for most of it. I suspect he was quieter because we were playing so deep with 5-6 at the back.

[Dogtanian]

I'm just glad the game was worth getting up for. I'm knackered today and have a long meeting at 9am... let's hope I don't snore too loudly! 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Konsa was playing as right back for most of the second half so would be struggling to have Jimenez in his pocket when he wasn't anywhere near him for most of it. I suspect he was quieter because we were playing so deep with 5-6 at the back.

I've just finished watching especially Konsa, when Konsa had to move inside from right back, which after the red card was often, especially the last 25 minutes, he had Jimenez to take care of which he did extremely well. Not happy with the backs to the wall defending for so long but it never got desperate and the time flied by rather than the usual painfull experience.

[PaulWinch again]

Konsa seems to be getting decent ratings post match. Hopefully he can shut down Haaland like he normally does on Saturday.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Konsa seems to be getting decent ratings post match. Hopefully he can shut down Haaland like he normally does on Saturday.

From those woke footie wankers at the Guardian:

Ezri Konsa Uncertain display, losing Jiménez for first-half headers and defending loosely for Quiñones’s goal. Later moved to right-back. 5

Prefer this..

Ezri Konsa – 8
Made plenty of blocks and clearances at the back for England and dealt well with Jimenez for the most part, stepped up particularly well at right-back when England went down to 10 men. Very strong in the air.

[Somniloquism]

Belgium reportedly granted right to appeal Fifa's Balogun call
Belgium have been granted the right to appeal Fifa’s decision to suspend the one-game ban to USA striker Folarin Balogun, according to a report by The Athletic.

The ruling, which followed lobbying by US president Donald Trump, triggered widespread debate as well as a statement from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) ⁠that said it was exploring “all ⁠potential options”.

According to The Athletic, the RBFA ​formally wrote to Fifa to appeal the matter, which was granted. The RBFA and US Soccer were reportedly asked to make submissions by 1pm BST – exactly 12 hours before the scheduled start of the match at Seattle Stadium.

A member of ⁠the Fifa appeals committee has been selected to hear the case, according to the report. Belgium have not been guaranteed that a ruling will be made before Monday’s match. Reuters

Not that it will make one iota of difference to the current decision.

[Coop]

The incorrect use of the word as a pejorative aside: In the absence of "woke" players like Ezri Konsa would be enduring the same pig-ignorant abuse that plagued Cyrille Regis, Gary Thompson, and countless others. And their chances of representing their country in the first place would be severely reduced.

[Somniloquism]

Tuchel on appealing Quansah's card.

England coach Thomas Tuchel says there is total confusion over the disciplinary process at the World Cup after Fifa's shock decision not to ban Folarin Balogun.

United States striker Balogun, who was sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina, should have been banned for the last-16 tie against Belgium (Tuesday 01:00 BST).

But Fifa opted not to enforce an immediate suspension, meaning the co-hosts' leading goalscorer will be available to play.

With Jarell Quansah's sent off in England's 3-2 win over Mexico, Tuchel was asked if he would be petitioning Fifa to get the ban cancelled before Saturday's quarter-final against Norway.

"Where does this start and where does this end now?" Tuchel said. "Can we overturn it or not overturn it? What's going on?

"Where to draw the line is the question that I ask. I have no answer to that.

"Do we appeal if a yellow card is not a yellow card? Do we think it is not a red card or who thinks it? Where does this start and where does this end? It's my question. I don't have an answer."

Both Balogun and Quansah were sent off following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

[LeeB]

The incorrect use of the word as a pejorative aside: In the absence of "woke" players like Ezri Konsa would be enduring the same pig-ignorant abuse that plagued Cyrille Regis, Gary Thompson, and countless others. And their chances of representing their country in the first place would be severely reduced.

Knowing the poster that's more a jibe at the hipster twat client journalists that particular newspaper are fond of employing and seem particularly ignorant and dismissive of anyone outside of London or Manchester.

And I read the bloody thing every day, though too often through gritted teeth.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The incorrect use of the word as a pejorative aside: In the absence of "woke" players like Ezri Konsa would be enduring the same pig-ignorant abuse that plagued Cyrille Regis, Gary Thompson, and countless others. And their chances of representing their country in the first place would be severely reduced.

Site Rules, 23.2

'Not everything on here is posted with one hundred percent seriousness. Abuse, including politically incorrect abuse will liberally distributed when the good name of Aston Villa or any of their players are not judged to be world class and each worth hundreds of millions of Great British Pounds.'

[Meanwood Villa]

One for the ages that, very dramatic. Thought we went defensive too soon but held on so got the job done. Norway will be tough but they're still not elite tier so will take that in a QF.

[Richard]

One for the ages that, very dramatic. Thought we went defensive too soon but held on so got the job done. Norway will be tough but they're still not elite tier so will take that in a QF.

Yep. Elite tier I'd say are France Spain Argentina, we are perhaps one small step below. So we are going to have to beat 2 of those 3 at some point in the next 2 weeks.

[ChicagoLion]

One for the ages that, very dramatic. Thought we went defensive too soon but held on so got the job done. Norway will be tough but they're still not elite tier so will take that in a QF.

It was a brave decision to bring Burn on for a rearguard performance.
Maybe he worked out they didn’t have the legs to do anything else.

[TonyD]

Those 3 teams don’t have easy last 16 games. 
Can see at least one of them going out. 

[UK Redsox]

It's coming home, no doubt about it. Us life long Engleund fans will be forever singing the names of Henry Crane and Judd Bullington.




.....desperate attempt to jinx things, because I've got a horrible feeling that they are going to win this.