The Unofficial World Cup Thread

[Rob MacKillop]

Not overly impressed with England tonight: 0-0 with Ghana. I thought they would win. Still, they are through to the next round already.

[Palomorado]

Not overly impressed with England tonight: 0-0 with Ghana. I thought they would win. Still, they are through to the next round already.

Agreed, last week they were on fire but this looked like "same ol' England".
It's like they swapped with Portugal

[Rob MacKillop]

What a miss by Kane in the dying minutes. I would have bet my house on him driving that home. One of those nights, I guess.

The Ghanaian fans were wonderful.

[Palomorado]

What a miss by Kane in the dying minutes. I would have bet my house on him driving that home. One of those nights, I guess.

The Ghanaian fans were wonderful.

The Black Stars are always a blast to hang with...I lived in NYC for 20 years and LOVED going to the West African neighborhoods for World Cup. Such a beautiful scene.

[Rob MacKillop]

Ghana most certainly had a good penalty claim late on, which the BBC referee said should have been upheld. Poor Ghana. England were lucky there. I imagine there are sectors of the English (not British) media that relish the thought of getting stuck into a German manager. That might yet transpire, which would be a pity, as the guy has excellent qualities.

Anyway, time marches on, and tonight Scotland take on the mighty Brazil! The world would be amazed (self included) if we came out of that with a single point. More likely is a heavy defeat. But such is the complexity of the scoring system we might yet qualify for the next round, just by turning up. A lot depends on other teams…our future is not in our own hands.

[mheton]

Tuchel is a damn good team coach. If he can't lead them to victory, I doubt there are many others who could. For me, it would be a real treat if an underdog team like Cape Verde, Ghana, Scotland, or even Morocco were to win the tournament.

[GuyBoden]

Tuchel is a damn good team coach. If he can't lead them to victory, I doubt there are many others who could. For me, it would be a real treat if an underdog team like Cape Verde, Ghana, Scotland, or even Morocco were to win the tournament.

But, thanks to the new AI "Time travel app", I know Spain will win the 2026 World Cup.

[Palomorado]

tonight Scotland take on the mighty Brazil! The world would be amazed (self included) if we came out of that with a single point. More likely is a heavy defeat. But such is the complexity of the scoring system we might yet qualify for the next round, just by turning up. A lot depends on other teams…our future is not in our own hands.

Don't tell my Brazilian wife but I do not think that Brazil is the powerhouse you may think...

[Rob MacKillop]

I'm told they are "warming up" as they progress through the tournament...ominously so!

[Rob MacKillop]

Half-time: Scotland 0 Brazil 2

Not good. Dreadful mistake by the Scots defender for the first goal. Groan.

As the second half begins, the Scots have taken off their captain. Who does that?!

[Rob MacKillop]

3-0 to Brazil. It should have been 10-0. C’est la vie.

I don’t care if the arithmetic puts Scotland through or not. They don’t deserve it.

So, now I’m supporting Cabo Verde and/or Japan.

[nbevan3]

3-0 to Brazil. It should have been 10-0. C’est la vie.

I don’t care if the arithmetic puts Scotland through or not. They don’t deserve it.

So, now I’m supporting Cabo Verde and/or Japan.

... not England?

[Rob MacKillop]

Aobe

[Palomorado]

I was definitely disappointed in Scotland's performance...that first goal was so boneheaded.

As for making it to elimination rounds I'm just confused with the whole system...Monk tunes are far easier to grasp.

should be interesting getting thru the group stage these next few days!

[Rob MacKillop]

I don’t want Scotland to get through to the next round. They don’t deserve to be rewarded for these performances.

[GuyBoden]

I don’t want Scotland to get through to the next round. They don’t deserve to be rewarded for these performances.

Archie Gemmill

[nbevan3]

I don’t want Scotland to get through to the next round. They don’t deserve to be rewarded for these performances.

I just saw the highlights - a really poor performance based on the bbc edit

[mheton]

Our team wants to become champion, but after the game against Ecuador, all we can do is congratulate the Ecuadorians and share in the fans' joy. The better team won.

[Rob MacKillop]

In an international forum (based in Belgium) one wonders what "our team" refers to.

[djg]

In an international forum (based in Belgium) one wonders what "our team" refers to.

if only there was a way to find out who played ecuador...

[Palomorado]

Die Mannschaft methinks...

[Rob MacKillop]

Looking forward to Mbappe versus Haaland soon. Both have scored twice in each of two games so far. Neither team, though, NEED to win, but I imagine they will both want to top their group.

[Rob MacKillop]

Boo. Holland starts on the bench.

[GuyBoden]

Looking forward to Mbappe versus Haaland soon. Both have scored twice in each of two games so far. Neither team, though, NEED to win, but I imagine they will both want to top their group.

Yes, I'm looking forward to the Norway v France game too.

The 'Advert Breaks' stopping the game during each half are very annoying and pointless.

Football has always been a game of two halves since 1863, but now it's become a game of two halves, with each half having an 'Advert Break'.

[Rob MacKillop]

Yes, I think everyone hates that. It’s not a game of four halves!