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?