I don’t think you will have much worry about to be honest. Not that I don’t believe in the players, or Tuchel. But the conditions will give far too much advantage overall to a few countries as good or even better than England. I’d have been much more hyped for this tournament if it was being played somewhere in Europe.
-
The Fighting Cock is a forum for fans of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Here you can discuss Spurs latest matches, our squad, tactics and any transfer news surrounding the club. Registration gives you access to all our forums (including 'Off Topic' discussion) and removes most of the adverts (you can remove them all via an account upgrade). You're here now, you might as well...
Competition World Cup 2026
- Thread starter 5purs
- Start date
Latest Spurs videos from Sky Sports
I don’t think you will have much worry about to be honest. Not that I don’t believe in the players, or Tuchel. But the conditions will give far too much advantage overall to a few countries as good or even better than England. I’d have been much more hyped for this tournament if it was being played somewhere in Europe.
I think England will be up there. Can certainly see a world where they win it. Very strong squad. Not much to choose between the top half dozen squads to my semi-interested eye. Going to be a strong quarter final line up, at which point, I’ll probably be watching.
To win a World Cup you need players that can do something to unlock a game in the later stages ... quarter final, semi final and final. You can't win it with work hard huff and puff merchants.
I’m not sure when Kane, Saka, Bellingham, James, O’Reilly, Rashford etc became “work hard huff and puff merchants” as opposed to top players playing for elite sides but hey ho. City want Anderson to replace Rodri but I guess they’re just after a huff and puff merchant too.
England have plenty of talent. If Tuchel (a top coach) felt we were lacking lockpickers he’d have acted accordingly.
Like
Tyyy
my only concern is that this tournament is being played in disgusting conditions.In spite of who he plays for I think Reece James is an incredibly high football IQ player and Bellingham has a bit of the swagger about him. Now watch England pick neither of them to start ...I’m not sure when Kane, Saka, Bellingham, James, O’Reilly, Rashford etc became “work hard huff and puff merchants” as opposed to top players playing for elite sides but hey ho. City want Anderson to replace Rodri but I guess they’re just after a huff and puff merchant too.
England have plenty of talent. If Tuchel (a top coach) felt we were lacking lockpickers he’d have acted accordingly.
Like
Kane obviously is iconic but Saka, Rashford and O'Reilly are nowhere near being good enough to win a world cup.
A new Nike advert - it really is World Cup time now.
View: https://youtu.be/IyZ1WIua_1s?si=qrHSaccsMfLw6Zqa
And holy fucking shit, what an advert.
The best one was in 2006 with the kids picking the best players in the world for their team, which somehow ended up including Defoe who was only picked to play in goal.
Maybe so. Strong spine though. They’ll definitely go far. Possibly just lacking that sprinkle of magic dust that drags them over the line though.
Stephan Guivarch says you can
Who are people fancying?
Have a look at Argentina team last year. 3 of the back 4 were pretty average players. One of the full backs couldn’t get a game for Forest the season after. They won it cos they were all playing for Messi.
World Cup winners are not full of star players .
Certainly not a strong defence. I think that will be our downfall. We are carrying 3 players who are often injured and havent played much this season. Reece James cannot play 3 games in a week. Recently he hasn’t been playing full back for Chelsea, played midfield . Won’t be racing up and down the pitch, I doubt anyone will in that temp and humidity.
Should win the group as Croatia are not what they were, Modric still there at 40, Perisic at 36.
Last 32 will be a 3rd place team , poss Uzbekistan or Congo or others of that level. First test is poss last 16 game v Mexico in Mexico City at altitude. Late kick off so should be better for us, prob about 8 or 9pm their time . It was said Southgate had lucky draws and was beaten by first decent team he played.
Not this time. Poss Brazil then Argentina if we beat Mexico .
Just look at when Liverpool were at their best under Klopp. They had 3 hard workers in midfield (Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum), two quick wide players in Mane and Salah, and Firminho who dropped deep, along with two very attacking full-backs who often provided the creativity . There’s no reason why England can’t emulate that. Okay, Rashford/Gordon and Saka aren’t Salah/Mane level. But the midfield three are better than Liverpool’s and Kane is better than Firmino. If they start, James and O’Reilly can and will be a big threat from full-back.
Point being, you can have success without a side being full of flair and skill.
Very good team. Good shout.
Tuchel’s picks seem to indicate to me to be getting Kane as the main man then have lots of quick players around him to make the runs like Madueke and Rashford. It’s a fine plan but one that is fucked if Kane gets injured.
Can’t wait for the commentators and fans to start saying ‘’why is Kane dropping deep, he needs to stay up top’’ forgetting Kane is a 10 and a 9 in one player and his game is as much playmaking as scoring. They never say that about Messi, why is Messi sitting deep, Kane is a much slower and obviously less talented version but doing much the same role.
Can’t wait for the commentators and fans to start saying ‘’why is Kane dropping deep, he needs to stay up top’’ forgetting Kane is a 10 and a 9 in one player and his game is as much playmaking as scoring. They never say that about Messi, why is Messi sitting deep, Kane is a much slower and obviously less talented version but doing much the same role.
Don’t know why Bellingham has never been considered as a false 9 alternative to Kane. He was outstanding in that role in his first season at Real Madrid. Also allows you to get Rogers in the team as the 10.
Hasn't the winner pretty much always has a player that is out of this world and on top of their game when it really counts ... Maradona, Pele, Zidane, Messi, R9, Beckenbauer, Charlton, Klinsmann, Rossi, Mbappe ... with 2 or 3 players that are not light years behind in quality.
Unless Father Time has done them in completely Messi and CR7 have the stardust and a supporting cast. Mbappe has decent support if he can get back to what he was. Anyone else that might step up and take centre stage ... Yamal maybe? Doue?
Exception that proves the rule could be Brazil last time it was in the US? Maybe that is what gives a bit of hope ... Italy were clearly better but Brazil got it over the line.
To be fair Romario and Bebeto both had a great World Cup for Brazil.
I cant see it tbh. I really hope Im wrong but I think northern european teams will struggle with the heat.
Slow tempo hot country teams are best suited. Brazil/Argies/Portugal/Spain.
If Tuchel sets em up to absorb pressure, dictate with the ball and play on the counter. Maybe they have a chance. But its not our natural high pressing, all action style. You cant do that in 32 degree heat.
I really hope you’re right.
This just isn’t true at all. They’re all key players for trophy and title winning sides. O’Reilly is an amazing talent - PL TOTY 100%.
To win a World Cup you need a good team ethos and a few top players. The rest don’t need to be elite, just good. England’s entire team is made up of some of the best the best league on earth has to offer, and then a few Barcelona, Bayern and Madrid players.