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

[PeterWithesShin]

The top four teams in Fifa's world rankings have made the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time.

And the progress of Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3) and England (4) was aided by a Fifa change for the 2026 World Cup.

They were put in separate quadrants of the draw so they could not meet before the semi-finals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2ey9l3yl4vo

[PeterWithesShin]

Fairly QI that the semi will be the first time Messi plays against England.

[Toronto Villa]

Yep correct. Lionel Messi has played in 205 games for Argentina but never against England. Messi made his first international start for Argentina in 2005, and Argentina have played England only once in that time (Nov 2005). Messi missed that game because he was serving a suspension.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

They had a goal disallowed, England had a penalty disallowed. If they really want to have a go at someone, look closer to home with Sorloth wasting a two-on-one  at 1-0 when England were shaking.

The was also cablegate which led to England's first goal. Of course it could have been some kind of wormhole but it was still strange how a ball pumped high suddenly just drops vertically out of the sky. FIFA claim their sensors didn't pick up on anything so that's alright.

[PeterWithesShin]

Did ball hit spidercam before England goal? Snicko says not - Norway unsure

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd95335dp10o

[UK Redsox]

Optical illusion of some kind, due to the camera angle ?

If snicko can sense a hair, it could probably sense a wire

However, I'm still not sure that it's a VARable occurrence if not spotted by the on field officials

[Brend'Watkins]

I can’t work out what the injustice is regarding Norway? It’s about time a team got penalised for cheating during a set piece and the ref also got it spot on with the penalty we thought we won.

Agree. Premier League take note, it’s even still a foul if the perpetrators wear red and white.

[Dogtanian]

Yep correct. Lionel Messi has played in 205 games for Argentina but never against England. Messi made his first international start for Argentina in 2005, and Argentina have played England only once in that time (Nov 2005). Messi missed that game because he was serving a suspension.

Messi really can do things Ronaldo can’t!

[brontebilly]

Ezri Konsa for England vs Norway

90 minutes played
98% passing accuracy (52/53)
68 touches
100% successful dribbles
6 passes into the final third.
1 tackle won
2 clearances
2 recoveries
100% ground duels won (2/2)
100% aerial duels won (3/3)

But apparently he’s a shit RB*

*Except in World Cup quarter-finals, Champions League games against Bayern Munich & Juventus, PL games against Arsenal & Man City and marking Vini Jr v Brazil.

* Including friendlies but excluding games v Ipswich Town, Spurs, Leipzig and the many reasons Emery hasn't played him in that position in over 12 months. Ever think of getting a job with VAR? Subjective lines are your forte.

How many stopped crosses last night from him?

[Percy McCarthy]

Ezri Konsa for England vs Norway

90 minutes played
98% passing accuracy (52/53)
68 touches
100% successful dribbles
6 passes into the final third.
1 tackle won
2 clearances
2 recoveries
100% ground duels won (2/2)
100% aerial duels won (3/3)

But apparently he’s a shit RB*

*Except in World Cup quarter-finals, Champions League games against Bayern Munich & Juventus, PL games against Arsenal & Man City and marking Vini Jr v Brazil.

* Including friendlies but excluding games v Ipswich Town, Spurs, Leipzig and the many reasons Emery hasn't played him in that position in over 12 months. Ever think of getting a job with VAR? Subjective lines are your forte.

How many stopped crosses last night from him?

I think the main reason Emery hasn’t played him there in 12 months is the improvement in Cash. I’d also guess a supplementary reason is he doesn’t like playing there. Let’s not forget you think he’s pretty crap at centre-half as well, and your explanations and ratings of what you think you’ve seen in football matches we’ve all watched are often both the subject of ridicule and the source of much hilarity.

[RamboandBruno]

Absolutely not getting involved in Konsarightbkgate, Diego Carlos was good etc.
But anyone watching that game last night, coming away with any conclusion other than Konsa put in a great performance, either doesn’t know what they are talking about, and/or has a deep rooted anti-Konsa agenda….can’t think of any villa supporters on here with such an agenda.

[Somniloquism]

Optical illusion of some kind, due to the camera angle ?

If snicko can sense a hair, it could probably sense a wire

However, I'm still not sure that it's a VARable occurrence if not spotted by the on field officials

I don't think the player(s) next to Anderson who were waiting for the ball or even the Norwegian bench who were right there as well saw it. So yes I do expect it to be an optical illusion from the camera behind the goal.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I think Konsa did have a good game but his limitations in the final third were apparent. Not his fault and he did what was asked of him but a more attacking fullback would have been an advantage last night to go beyond Madueke and provide another option as Norway were pretty blunt down the wings. However that’s on Tuchel rather than Konsa.

[Dave]

I think Konsa did have a good game but his limitations in the final third were apparent. Not his fault and he did what was asked of him but a more attacking fullback would have been an advantage last night to go beyond Madueke and provide another option as Norway were pretty blunt down the wings. However that’s on Tuchel rather than Konsa.

It's also pretty clear that the full-backs aren't really in the team to be attacking. Arsenal won the league playing four centre-backs.

There are plenty of attacking full-backs out there, Tuchel decided that he prefers Quansah and Chalobah.

Konsa barely crossing the half-way line is a feature, not a bug.

[Dave]

ITV doing their utmost to spin a narrative that all is not well in camp. Why can’t they just enjoy the win and look forward to us beating Argentina?

It would rather help if Bellingham (and Tuchel, to be honest) would do the same! I appreciate Richard saying he likes how Tuchel speaks his mind, but I'm mindful of how Unai virtually never criticises the players in public, even after one of those strange days where the players look like they've never met. And Bellingham, for sure, should not respond publicly either. None of it looks big or clever.

...really this was just a case of Tuchel and Bellingham disagreeing to agree: a manager focusing on the visibly improvable technical aspect of a performance, a player directing attention to the team’s almost unparalleled strength of spirit and attitude, and both being asked provocative, deliberately misleading and decontextualised questions about the thoughts of the other.

That England have adults on the touchline and the pitch capable of sensibly rising above that pearl-clutching noise to put their points forward cogently and respectfully before coming together to lead them into a World Cup semi-final, is remarkably refreshing.