Not all the best players are at the World Cup. Italy are not there, for a start. But many other nations have great players, too. Here is a Premier League 11. Probably not the best 11, but shows how many players aren't there simply because their country did not qualify. I think this team could go far if it were at the World Cup.
'Loser keeps James Corden': England taunts America ahead of clash tonight - as social media jokes game will be renamed SOCCER if US win
With both sides still battling to make the knockout stages, there's plenty at stake for England's clash against the USA tonight. But social media users believe it's also the perfect chance to solve two hot button issues: which country gets to keep James Corden... and whether the beautiful game should be known as football or soccer. 'England vs USA - loser gets to keep James Corden,' one Twitter user joked. 'The whole world will eventually call it soccer after tonight's USA win against England,' another cheeky American fan added.
I think Rob Page has been caught out at this World Cup. His team selection in the first game was wrong, and it took him 45minutes to rectify it. Today I think he bottled the tough decisions all true managers or leaders have to take, the difficult, possibly unpopular ones. Wales have basically played two games now with ten men and a passenger, Bale, a thoroughbred in his day, more one of those broken down work donkeys, you see in those charity commercials, really should have been on the bench today. You could argue it was his nouse that won the penalty for the equaliser against the USA, but he was a shadow of the player he once was. Page should have given him a rest, in the hope he could produce an “ El Cid “ moment against England next week. Ramsay also looks as though this tournament was akin to Arnhem . The younger players are talented and at least fit enough to run around. The loss of the lad Brooks , a really good creative midfielder, due to his recovery fro cancer , didn’t help. It was however, a great achievement to reach the finals .
WALES played like ENGLAND used to ...... can't keep hold of the ball for more than 20 seconds .....and just keep hoofing it up the field in the hope of a mistake from the opposition's defence.
I will always respect any opinion held by @pompeynic But, on this occasion, I only agree with half of his earlier post.
Bale is, sadly, a shadow of the player he once was. That is without question. Happens to every player, but it happened rather earlier for Bale.
Where I disagree is in relation to the Manager, Rob Page. The sad fact is that 3-5 years ago, Wales had a top quality squad, with a sprinkling of world class players. Now, due to age, injury, or loss of form that squad is nothing like as good. Most of that squad aren't household names in their own household.
That's why a half fit, aging Joe Allen was still a better bet than players from Swindon, Portsmouth or MK Dons, none of whom are first on the team sheet even at those clubs.
Wales are likely to struggle for the next few years. That happens periodically at countries with smaller populations. But, like say Scotland or Ireland, there will be a resurgence in due course. And I don't think it will be another 64 years til they qualify for another World Cup.
Comments
@rabdeniro
+1
Eventually, the players will realise that it's self-defeating to waste time. It'll take a while for the penny to drop though.
oof
Bazunu (Southampton/Ire); Coufal (West Ham/Czechia), Lindelof (Man U/Swe), Evans (Leic/NI), Robertson (Liv/Scot);
Odegaard (Arsenal/Norway), Jorginho (Chelsea/Italy), Almiron (Newc/Paraguay);
Kulusevski (Tott/Swe), Haaland (Man C/Norway), Salah (Liv/Egypt)
It's a bit like England. World class in lots of positions, but Central Defence looks iffy
They do like mass shootings.
With both sides still battling to make the knockout stages, there's plenty at stake for England's clash against the USA tonight. But social media users believe it's also the perfect chance to solve two hot button issues: which country gets to keep James Corden... and whether the beautiful game should be known as football or soccer. 'England vs USA - loser gets to keep James Corden,' one Twitter user joked. 'The whole world will eventually call it soccer after tonight's USA win against England,' another cheeky American fan added.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11468931/Loser-keeps-James-Corden-England-taunts-America-ahead-clash-tonight.html
His team selection in the first game was wrong, and it took him 45minutes to rectify it.
Today I think he bottled the tough decisions all true managers or leaders have to take, the difficult, possibly unpopular ones.
Wales have basically played two games now with ten men and a passenger, Bale, a thoroughbred in his day, more one of those broken down work donkeys, you see in those charity commercials, really should have been on the bench today. You could argue it was his nouse that won the penalty for the equaliser against the USA, but he was a shadow of the player he once was.
Page should have given him a rest, in the hope he could produce an “ El Cid “ moment against England next week. Ramsay also looks as though this tournament was akin to Arnhem .
The younger players are talented and at least fit enough to run around. The loss of the lad Brooks , a really good creative midfielder, due to his recovery fro cancer , didn’t help.
It was however, a great achievement to reach the finals .
Agree with you regarding Bale too Nic @pompeynic
@pompeynic
!00% agree with that Nick. Bale is way past his sell-by date I'm afraid.
So now i think of this
I will always respect any opinion held by @pompeynic But, on this occasion, I only agree with half of his earlier post.
Bale is, sadly, a shadow of the player he once was. That is without question. Happens to every player, but it happened rather earlier for Bale.
Where I disagree is in relation to the Manager, Rob Page. The sad fact is that 3-5 years ago, Wales had a top quality squad, with a sprinkling of world class players. Now, due to age, injury, or loss of form that squad is nothing like as good. Most of that squad aren't household names in their own household.
That's why a half fit, aging Joe Allen was still a better bet than players from Swindon, Portsmouth or MK Dons, none of whom are first on the team sheet even at those clubs.
Wales are likely to struggle for the next few years. That happens periodically at countries with smaller populations. But, like say Scotland or Ireland, there will be a resurgence in due course. And I don't think it will be another 64 years til they qualify for another World Cup.