Wales are probably gonna need four wins from four, this is a shame and it's pretty much gone now. They've not lost or even been behind so far this campaign. Just no had enough to win their games (drawn the last five).

All the others still in there though, England, Scotland, NI & the Republic. England + one of those would be good, it's nice to get behind another team during the tournaments.

World Cup Table & Standings - Sky Sports Football

**** that ref: that goal should have stood. We wuz robbed.
Still, a draw against Austria is not to be sniffed at. We basically really beat them though. Ireland gets ****ed over once again, story of our lives.

That's why it's the land of ire.

:clap: :beer:

Top drawer bants :cool:

I don't watch much soccer, but I caught a piece on RT about Russia letting North Koreans work to build the stadiums. It was intended to foment war between North Korea & the U.S.

Anyone gonna be locked in to the Confederations Cup?

If I picked a team I would back Chile for this. Brutal going forward.

Hope it's them and Mexico in the final.

viva mexico 4 ever because of Chicha

he's just one of those players you cant help but love

Really? I've always thought he was a loser.

i suppose as an arsenal fan you would know

Chile down 1-0 at HT.

Germany are going to be a threat again next year, no reason why they can't win it. Werner coming through at the right time.

Bastards.

Lukaku scored a hat trick last night, Belgium 9-0 Malta.

Ronaldo scored one too, Portugal 5-1 Faroe Islands.

The big hitters of world football shouldn't have to qualify imo, make it top 20 in the world rankings are included automatically and have everyone else fight for 12 places, what good do either Belgium, Portugal, Faroe Islands or Malta get from last night's games?

The Netherlands lost 4-0 away to France. The current Dutch side is as bad as I've ever known it, 3 points behind a play off place in 4th (need to finish 2nd). They've gone from 4th to 36th in the world rankings. Their squad no longer has any big hitters unless you count 33 year olds Robben & Sneijder and 34 year old van Persie.

really hope it's Belgium's year but i don't think we're there yet. France are looking brilliant and most of their best players aren't even in their prime yet. think they'll give Germany a run for their money as the powerhouse of world football in the coming years.

biggest difference for me is France have the star players whereas Germany is a team where everyone has a role to serve and that's it.

would rather have Pogba and Kante in a big game than any German midfielders and Mbappe and Griezy up front are better than any attack Germany can mount.

'course defensively the Germans are rock solid

Belgium have got no chance tbh. I said a few years ago on here, they have big names all over the pitch but aren't really a great team. Same as England were 2004-2010.

San Marino - Northern Ireland
Lithuania - Scotland
Malta - England

Tempted to watch the Scotland match tonight, no point watching England because it's a matter of how many we win by. Same with NI and they've already pretty much confirmed a play off spot. Scotland win and they are one point behind 2nd place with three games to go, so I'll watch them.

#TeamUK

Oh btw I think Brazil might win the WC.

disagree, they're a great team they just lack the depth of a France, Germany, Brazil, etc.

Hazard, Lukaku, Carrasco, Nainggolan, Dembele, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, De Bruyne, Courtois, Mertens, Benteke, etc etc etc

can't think of an English team that could rival that imho. with Naingo stepping down this year we have a big gap to fill though and it will be a few years before Tielemans or Dendonker are ready to fill it.

anyway, you're right that they don't have a chance but the ratio of overall players to great players is pretty ****ing spectacular. it's just hard to compete with the elite nations who can field 2 or 3 entire teams of world class players.

oh and i'll put $50 on France going further than Brazil right now if you want it

:cool:

Any time I've watched them they haven't looked great and I've seen a fair amount because I followed Wales in their qualifying campaign for the Euros. They're a solid, unspectacular team, no different to England were. Their tournament performances are nothing special at all.

England's 04-06 side was better than that on paper.

GK - James/Robinson, not great but not poor either.

Cole, Ferdinand and Terry were world class centre backs/full back who were all league champions (Rio would become one in '07). Campbell and Woodgate in back up as well.

Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes and Beckham were all world class midfielders at some point in their careers. Beckham was a Ballon d'Or runner up.

Owen won the Ballon d'Or and was unquestionably world class.
Rooney was actually very good back then too.

The only world class players I'd say Belgium have are Hazard and maybe De Bruyne. Courtois possibly, maybe one or two of their defenders if you're being really generous. Only area they're better than England 04-06 is GK.

Anything could happen between now and the squad announcements tbh.

they have coaching issues imo because it's constantly a matter of choking in big games that they should be winning.

the game vs the welsh boys was embarassing because it's not like we were robbed, we just played like ****.

if they can keep pumping out these youth studs they aren't far away from really stirring the football world up.

Spain/Italy tonight :cool:

winner all but locks up 1st place in their group barring any major slip ups

not sure who i'm pulling for yet

Italy for me. Better to watch, better supporters, would rather have them at the World Cup than Spain.

Watching Wales though. It will be so difficult now for Wales. Unbeaten and yet are 7 points behind in 3rd place.

Isco is a monster

have Wales on in the background, hasn't caught my attention much yet though.

nice goal by Woodburn, get in there mayhate.

only 17 years old too

Three games left, not over yet for Wales.

11-0 for the Home Nations, couldn't ask for better results.

England vs Slovakia
Northern Ireland vs Czech Republic
Scotland vs Malta

If England win tonight, we'll be five points clear with two games to go. Would need to lose both and Slovakia to win both of theirs for us to not finish top.

Scotland will be supporting us tonight, they'll no doubt beat Malta at home, so will be one point behind Slovakia, with two games to go (and their game after tonight, is Slovakia at home).

-------------Lloris

Sidibe--Varane--Umtiti--Mendy

-------------Kante

------Rabiot
-------------------Pogba

Dembele----Mbappe----Lemar

France should win it.

#MightJustMakeItOutTheGroups :cool:

https://twitter.com/MMcIlveenDUP/sta...89924171350016

Pretty cool. Total opposite of Wembley.

:laughing:

https://twitter.com/Wooflexis/status/904803118805745664

lol at the Dele tweet.

Syria scored a 93rd minute equaliser and make the play offs, so can still qualify. Saudis in the play offs, then an American side (could be the USA).

https://twitter.com/ThatChris1209/st...15153913565186

Wonder what their firm will be like if they make it.

ISIS akhis we are here
Beat your wives and don't drink beer

Lol everyone thought history was gonna be made last night if Federer beat Potro and went on to go up against Nadal for the first time at the US Open but Federer played some of the worst Tennis I've ever witnessed him play. Pretty funny if you ask me.

wrong thread, get your gay ass sport outta here.

Who you backing for the World Cup mate?

Whatever bruuuvs

Ireland ****ed up again, as per. No trip for the Green Army next year, methinks. Trip down to the local's about as far as we'll get. Ah well. We should be used to it by now. "Wait! You're supposed to WIN your games? ****! That's where we've been going wrong all this time!" :D :( :beer:

Tonight:

England vs Slovenia (we win 2-0)
Northern Ireland vs Germany (tough match, Germany 2-1 but means little)
Scotland vs Slovakia

Scotland game is massive. A win and they go 2nd as England will not lose to Slovenia. Maybe the biggest game Scotland have played since 1998 vs Brazil? Win that, and then they play Slovenia away on Sunday where a draw there will secure a play off place.

Wales without Bale for their two qualifiers. Now is the time to prove they aren't a one man team.

tbh i don’t think Wales are a one man team. i mean, obv will see how they perform, but i’ve never felt like Bale has been the one carrying them. it’s really nice to have someone to rely on when you need those big goals. Rambo will step up in his absence. maybe Ben Woodburn gets some time as well? he looks great so far.

Probably less of a blow now than it would have been a couple years ago where he really was carrying them and contributing to pretty much every goal. But it is a blow to the team. If they're trailing and need a goal, they are up against it imo.

Captain Kane :cool:

Deserved. Should be our full time captain too. Harry Kane should be leading England's Lions.