[Football] One of these teams...

[seagulls4ever]

Kane has scored 51 goals in 55 games in the last year. He’s alongside CR7 as one of the two best players in the world right now. No doubt about it.

We were talking about current form. If we're talking about over the past year Kane wasn't even the best player in England. Salah and De Bruyne clearly better than him last season. Pretty sure he won't make the Ballon d'Or top three. Most likely be Ronaldo first, Messi second and another other than Kane third (unless he wins the World Cup playing well which would substantially boost his chances, but that hasn't happened yet).

Ronaldo has 34 goals in his last 26 games ... absolutely ridiculous form.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Only 2 of which have previously been in a final, the last being in 1966.


Strange days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2frAPi1Pv8

 

[BNthree]

FIFA Rankings in our half of the draw

6 Switzerland
12 England
16 Colombia
20 Croatia
24 Sweden
70 Russia

It's coming home? Well, it's got to go somewhere...so why not?

The only reason Switzerland is ranked so high is that they game the rankings system and are very selective on the friendlies they play

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/footbal...nking-system-explained_sto4717005/story.shtml

 

[lawros left foot]

My prediction means nothing but I’ll post it anyway.

I think we have one more high scoring, entertaining win in us and that will come on Tuesday. Everyone will then go completely overboard. We will then find Sweden or Switzerland to be very stubborn and go out on Saturday, possibly on penalties.

I agree

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The only reason Switzerland is ranked so high is that they game the rankings system and are very selective on the friendlies they play

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/footbal...nking-system-explained_sto4717005/story.shtml

Does that mean we are shit then? Or what?

 

[BN41Albion]

But we’re playing Colombia ��

Ive been really surprised the last few days by how many times I've seen Colombia spelt Columbia. Not just on here - on social media/mates texting etc. Does no one look at a map anymore? Not like Colombia has never been in the news before either!

 

[BNthree]

Does that mean we are shit then? Or what?

Ha, no the opposite. We're better than the FIFA rankings suggest as it's possible to go down in rankings even if you win a friendly!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Ha, no the opposite. We're better than the FIFA rankings suggest as it's possible to go down in rankings even if you win a friendly!

Does that mean we are going to win the world cup, then? Sorry, these rankings are rodgering me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXFTSQw_2ZE

 

[Triggaaar]

...will be in The World Cup Final. Blimey.

View attachment 98250

We should have played a stronger team against Belgium

 

[Triggaaar]

Still feel no more optimistic than I do about my grand national bet coming in.

Are they still running?

 

[hart's shirt]

Ive been really surprised the last few days by how many times I've seen Colombia spelt Columbia. Not just on here - on social media/mates texting etc. Does no one look at a map anymore? Not like Colombia has never been in the news before either!

It's probably a result of the word's pronunciation with the short 'u' sound (e.g. 'but') as opposed to the short 'o' sound (e.g. 'not'.)

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/pronunciation/english/colombia

There's also familiarity with the Columbia Sportswear Company, British Columbia in Canada, and also Columbia University in New York.

It's caused enough confusion for a piece to be penned on the subject in The City Paper Bogota:

https://thecitypaperbogota.com/opinion/columbia-vs-colombia/1576

 

[LlcoolJ]

Russia are probably on $10,000,000 a man to win the cup. Absolute peanuts to Vlad, but a pretty big incentive to the players.

Incentive is one possibility......

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...ponsored-vitaly-mutko-euro-2008-a8425006.html

 

[Deleted member 18477]

If this doesn't motivate England to do well nothing will...

 

[GT49er]

France/Brazil/Uruguay must be licking their lips.

Why? At least two of them will be going home without even reaching the final.

 

[LlcoolJ]

Why? At least two of them will be going home without even reaching the final.

Exactly. [emoji106]

 

[kevo]

Also helped by the fact that two of the teams normally in contention, Italy and Holland, didn't qualify. Surely this has got to be our best chance of reaching the final since 1966.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

The six teams left in our half of the draw will all have realisitic ambitions of making the final. I wonder what effect that will have on the teams psychologically? It's easier to play with freedom when you are the underdog and expectations are lower. When there is a clear and viable path to the final for every team that must surely affect players thinking. There is something to lose now.

The media for once have been pretty good with England this world cup, will that change now 'it's coming home' is no longer necessarily ironic?

 

[The Optimist]

If this doesn't motivate England to do well nothing will...

Unfortunately you could say exactly the same for Colombia.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Belgium @6s looks fair enough

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Ive been really surprised the last few days by how many times I've seen Colombia spelt Columbia. Not just on here - on social media/mates texting etc. Does no one look at a map anymore? Not like Colombia has never been in the news before either!

Why exactly? It's not like the spelling isn't widespread. It is Columbia records after all and Washington DC ( District of Columbia). And it's pronounced with an uh sound in the middle so imo it's not exactly a shock that so many people spell it incorrectly.