England did what they needed to do to send the Norwegians and their little gimmick back to whence they came.
I’m not sure it was a shining example of beautiful and dominant English football, but there was certainly a lot of guts and determination on display from a group of players clearly cooked by the sun and the season they’ve all just had. Not to align myself with world-class athletes, but as a middle-aged man, I had to play in a professional stadium in 100-degree heat the other day, and it was debilitating. I have no idea how these kids keep it up. It is seriously impressive the work rate they put in and how they still keep it going after 120 minutes.
Declan Rice didn’t last the whole game. He didn’t even make it out to the second half. Apparently he has been very ill. It was a shame, because you could clearly notice the difference in midfield when he wasn’t on the pitch. But man, three days in bed and he can still play like that? What a warrior.
Saka really was quite sublime when he was introduced. He was beating men and finding no one in the box for his delightful crosses. I think our collective worry at this point is why he isn’t starting these games. Is it tactical… use Noni to stretch teams, then Saka to finish them? Or are the underlying fitness issues still bogging him down?
Jude Bellingham was, once again, the man who stepped up when he was needed. Another two goals for a 23-year-old who is refusing the option of not being that guy. He’s such an all-action type of player… but he has that rare ingredient most of the top central midfielders in the world don’t really have… he likes to put his name on the score sheet. Well, at least at this World Cup. Though it does have to be said, there is this side of him which isn’t great.
Personally, I can’t believe that the English media wait 100 years for a chance like this, against a team like Argentina… and the move is to provoke a crack in the dressing room. We don’t need this being the story of the next 3 days. Focus on what we’re seeing on the pitch and the magnificence of what is at stake. Petty bullshit storylines might be good for clicks, but do we really need this sort of carry-on? Have we learned nothing? Why are we already teeing up who is the fall guy if it goes wrong?
England rode their luck with some woodwork rattling, some favourable ref decisions, and a night where the worst of Pickford was on full display and he got away with most of it. In the end, the difference between the teams was a reserve keeper for Sevilla. Rogers smashed a shot from 30 yards out, Nyland spilled it, and Bellingham was sharpest to the ball.
I don’t know if I was just watching the game through an Arsenal lens, but I thought Harry Kane looked like an older striker. He seemed to struggle. I don’t know whether it was the heat, the back-to-back nature of the games, or just that he is actually not 27 these days… but it wasn’t his finest appearance. He only won 27% of his ground duels. Two shots on target is fine. I just didn’t feel the immensity of Harry like we normally do.
Still, what is it all about? Wins. They aren’t all going to be pretty. Tuchel wasn’t happy after.
"We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. I'm not happy with the performance. In every sense. We were lucky."
I do love seeing him on the touchline. What a manager. All these top guys are a little on the spectrum. Watching him remonstrate with the players like a crazy man is very funny. Imagine having a boss like that in accounting? It’d be better let me tell you, way better.
‘This v-lookup is not where we need to be. You must picture yourself in it. Now BREATHE. Get out there and WIN FOR THE MOTHERLAND.’
Sensational. I’m gonna make a real nice spreadsheet later imagining my boss is Tuchel.
Broader point is that Thomas Tuchel should be provoking players to better performances. We haven’t won a World Cup since 1966. I want my manager pushing the players to the limit and beyond. No one needs to be besties. Just get the job done. Become legends. Move on.
Sadly, one of my bosses is, in fact, Argentinian. This week will be spicy, no doubt. Their game against the Swiss in Kansas City was… not the most spectacular. It was also split by another favorable decision for them that slanted the game hard in the direction of MESSI IN THE FINAL PLEASE. Embolo dived to earn a free kick, the Argentinian assailant was booked. The VAR overlords called it a foul, so the yellow card was basically transferred and the striker was sent off.
Kind of tragic.
Yes, he dived. But he didn’t dive to win a penalty or to get sent off. He kind of dived to absorb the challenge. Cheating? Of course. The worst kind? Not really. Just overturn the free kick. But destroy the make-up of a quarter final? Not for me boss. I don’t like it. You should be doing all you can in big games to ensure it’s 11 vs 11. If someone is out raking ankles, fine. But killing a big game like that over something so silly? It’s just not additive. I’d agree even if it went the other way.
What I do like is that the purpose of the rule is to address cheating in game and give refs a little bit of ammo to relitigate. I’d like that in the Premier League. Interesting that Michael Oliver is having a largely issue-free World Cup over here. Wonder what joys PGMOL have for us next season? Hope they’re watching some of the genuine innovations to the betterment of the game. Chances are, they are not paying attention, and it’ll be more of the same next season.
Back to the Argentina game… the game was split by a moment of magic from Julián Álvarez. He cut in from the left, spotted the top corner open, and unleashed a shot of World Cup perfection… beating Kobel with ease. It was a big game moment from a player who has a habit of being in the mixer in those sorts of moments.
Miguel Delaney is reporting that the Arsenal deal for Álvarez might be a little easier when the World Cup is done. There are fewer teams involved, Arsenal have played their cards right, and the club are pushing to have the deal done before pre-season proper starts. Would be nice. Club going for a £90m fee which seems a little more in keeping with reality.
Ok, this… THIS is the week things start to get exciting with transfers. Right?