كأس العالم 2022 World Cup Thread!

Is it OK to have a special.thread for this tournament where we can post our thoughts on the football, experiences of Qatar, and expectations for the tournament as a whole!

 

Looking at our squad, I think it’s safe to say it’s not coming home

 

Can't see that we've got a World Cup thread yet, but if it needs to be merged into a different thread then mods work your magic!

26 Man Squad:
Goalkeepers: Pickford (Everton), Pope (Newcastle), Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Maguire, Shaw (both Man Utd), Dier (Tottenham), Stones, Walker (both Man City), Trippier (Newcastle), Coady (Everton), White (Arsenal), Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mount, Gallagher (both Chelsea), Rice (West Ham), Henderson (Liverpool), Phillips (Man City)

Forwards: Maddison (Leicester), Foden, Grealish (both Man City), Kane (Tottenham), Saka (Arsenal), Sterling (Chelsea), Wilson (Newcastle), Rashford (Man Utd)

First game:
Sunday 20th November - 16.00 - Qatar Vs Ecuador

England Fixtures:
Monday 21st November - 13.00 - Iran
Friday 25th November - 19.00 - USA
Tuesday 29th November - 19.00 - Wales

What's everyone's thoughts on the squad? I agree that JWP hasn't played well enough to get in, but how on earth has Kalvin Phillips made it? He played his first game this season last night for City's B Team? Just listened to Southgate's interview and he said that JWP is competing with Bellingham and Henderson, not Rice and Phillips.

Other talking points are Maddison's inclusion (good for me on form, despite being a cocky man-weasel), Wilson over Toney (not sure) and spaces for Maguire (really?) and Gallagher (wildcard).

 

Should this thread not be titled كأس العالم?

 

I’ll merge this with the other one then

 

I'm surprised that Walcott wasn't selected, for his influence in the dressing room.....

 

I suppose Southgate is damned for choosing Phillips and would have been damned for not choosing him. I suppose the only contentious issue being the exclusión of Tomori.

 

I'm not bitter at all that England cap-tied Tomori and then never actually uses him in competitive matches, given that Canada's biggest need is at CB.

 

Should we sticky this thread?

 

Totally agree with Klopp’s comments about the politics.

 

I know I'm being Petty and I know JWP has under performed this season and didn't make the England but the likes of Maguire did makes my blood boil. Again it's who you play for. For that reason I don't give a toss how England do.

 

Can we please have the title of our threads in English please!! This is a football forum not a bloody language test!!!

 

Having said that at least JWP will be here training with the new gaffer

 

Perhaps it will happen. Meanwhile, Inaki Williams was capped by Spain a few years ago, certainly at U21 level, but over the years he has continuously been ignored by successive Spanish national team managers. He has switched to Ghana because of his heritage. Meanwhile his younger brother Nico, a player with immense potential, was recently capped by Spain in a friendly. Hopefully he makes the Spanish World Cup squad as they desperately need pace in their forward line.

 

Think we'll have a poor tournament this time round. Certainly can't see us making a 3rd semi in a row.

Too many players out of form and I see us struggling with the heat given the short turnaround of a week so no time to acclimatise. Especially against Iran as they're playing friendlies already and have a much better build up.

 

Didn't realise that could happen. Inaki Williams definitely came on as a sub for Spain a few Euros ago, I remember it.

 

Kalvin Phillips has played 1 minute of PL football and just 53 minutes in all competitions.

Lol.

 

Only if you meet certain criteria; can't play a competitive match after age 21. Tomori unfortunately has done so, and consequently he can only play for England going forward.

 

Is Kalvin Phillips actually any good? In all the games I've seen him play in, he doesn't seem to do anything more than what any average midfielder could do.