World Cup '26 - in game discussion.

[English Natsie]

I understand why they have he games at the same time today but would be more fun if they were staggered.

With the new format, there's really no need for simultaneous games - it's harder to get eliminated than to qualify for the knock-out stage. There's also an unfairness for the third place potential qualifiers - those who play at the weekend will know what they have to do to qualify, whereas teams playing today (such as Scotland) can only aim for a result, and hope for the best. The format has also resulted in far more dead-rubber games, this week, than at previous WC's - expect to see many second-elevens being give a run-out, so that the starters can be rested for the knock-out stage. The relative lack of jeopardy, over qualification, long gaps between each team's games, and now more meaningless games  has not made the new format a success - rather, it's quelled excitement and interest by rendering the group stage virtually meaningless. The WC proper will get underway with the knock-out rounds.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Alpenhuns with their cowbells and cuckoo clocks 

Switzerland is always in the mix. 

don't know how I feel about the Swiss. I'm sort of neutral towards them. I guess that's kind of cheesy.

[imref]

Czech-Mex game tonight.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Czech-Mex game tonight.

addictive watching

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Watch out

don't know how I feel about the Swiss. I'm sort of neutral towards them. I guess that's kind of cheesy.

[English Natsie]

don't know how I feel about the Swiss.

They're on a roll...

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Saffa and Ecuador with some dazzling rectal snatches.  Can Sweden get a point out of Japan?  Seems unlikely with two elite strikers and then some guys from the pub team, but who knows 

One late game of consequence that will be very hard to find on TV in a bar.

[welch]

Netherlands-Tunisia, according to The Guardian:

Team news
Ronald Koeman sticks with a strong side despite the Dutch already having one foot in the knockout stages, while Hervé Renard makes several changes for Tunisia’s final game of the tournament.

Tunisia
XI Dahmen; Valery, Talbi, Abdi, Ben Hmida; Skhiri (c), Khedira; Slimane, Mejbri, Gharbi; Mastouri

Subs Chamakh, Ben Hessen, Rekik, Bronn, Achouri, Saad, Ben Ouanes, Ayari, Hadj Mahmoud, Elloumi, Chaouat, Chikhaoui, Tounekti, Arous, Neffati

Netherlands
XI Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk (c), Aké; Gravenberch, De Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo

Subs Roefs, Flekken, Geertruida, De Roon, Kluivert, Weghorst, Depay, Wieffer, Van de Ven, Til, Lang, Koopmeiners, Summerville, Hato, Timber

Referee Katia García (Mexico)

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Tomorrow's early games are completely pointless other than as an opportunity to run up numbers for the Golden Boot.  Senegal certainly underwhelmed this year.

[welch]

And it's "Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal" Paises Abajos! And smiles in the Welch hopuse in Manhattan, in another in Brooklyn (red-head daughter who usually comes to the WNFF M&G), and in KC, where son, who I called "Redskin Dan 1978) on the old, lamented, Hogs Net. Dan took one of the grandsons to KC to watch the giant screens and to sing "Go Left Go Right!"

And a second "Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooal"

[welch]

And the Nats scored 4 in the first. Mead with ANOTHER homer, his 14th. Wow!

[welch]

Telemundo says the score is "Dos at cero". Enough with "nil".

[welch]

Telemundo uses the pauses hydaraciocn to show highlights of the game. Shame on Fox

[welch]

Taking a baseball break, There is Dylan Crews out-running a play by our old friend Tea T.

[welch]

Halftime. Looks like KNVB is relaxing with the 2-0 lead,

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

This inspired me to go look for the knock-off Van Der Vaart jersey I bought from a street hawker in Bangkok (found it!)

KNVB

[Natsinpwc]

I’ve seen so many features about various fan bases having so much fun in the US.  But not the French. Are they just too sophisticated for revelry? Is all their time at Michelin 4 star restaurants.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

(exhales Gauloise smoke through nostrils while morosely contemplating glass of Pernod..."les Américains stupides n'ont aucune sophistication")

But cracks a wry smile as Dembele scores a brace 20 minutes in...

(also, the ones having the most fun have basically been looking through [cheap] beer goggles for 2 weeks, they would be just as happy in South Sudan)

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Senegal probably should be rooting for France but I suspect they would rather drink poison

[Natsinpwc]

Senegal probably should be rooting for France but I suspect they would rather drink poison

No Haaland and Norway rolled out its B squad as the USA did.

[Natsinpwc]

(exhales Gauloise smoke through nostrils while morosely contemplating glass of Pernod..."les Américains stupides n'ont aucune sophistication")

But cracks a wry smile as Dembele scores a brace 20 minutes in...

(also, the ones having the most fun have basically been looking through [cheap] beer goggles for 2 weeks, they would be just as happy in South Sudan)

Have to look up some of that.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

2nd half start times are off by several minutes.  I think it's supposed to be simultaneous but as has been pointed out here that is pretty much performative BS 

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

That was a crap PK

[welch]

(exhales Gauloise smoke through nostrils while morosely contemplating glass of Pernod..."les Américains stupides n'ont aucune sophistication")

But cracks a wry smile as Dembele scores a brace 20 minutes in...

(also, the ones having the most fun have basically been looking through [cheap] beer goggles for 2 weeks, they would be just as happy in South Sudan)

I am having a great time watching games on Telemundo. The "Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooal" call is like a lomg drawn out "See you later!" home run call. It was also a pleasure to watch a game in a MidTown bar with fans of Germany and Norway. The bar had the dismal Fox Sports video, with a couple of half-hearted English announcers who were not into the game. It is Telemundo for me, by necessity and by choice.Our son, Redskin_Dan_v.1978 had a great time in Kansas City with Dutch fans.

Inglaterra plays Panama tomorrow at 4:30. Vindaloo!

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

100%.  Unless it's Ian Darke & Landycakes, Owen Hargreaves, or Jacquie and Warren, I'm totally going with GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL as well

I am having a great time watching games on Telemundo. The "Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooal" call is like a lomg drawn out "See you later!" home run call. It was also a pleasure to watch a game in a MidTown bar with fans of Germany and Norway. The bar had the dismal Fox Sports video, with a couple of half-hearted English announcers who were not into the game. It is Telemundo for me, by necessity and by choice.Our son, Redskin_Dan_v.1978 had a great time in Kansas City with Dutch fans.