FIFA World Cup 2026

[Dalit]

Mexico will certainly believe they can beat this lacklustre England at the Azteca.

Most certainly. It will be a really good game. I think Mexico should win it they way England played today.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Not going to let a good meme go to waste:

 

[Master Chief]

That's what I was saying. Home field advantage for Team Mexico. They have not lost at home since Sept. 2013 in a match against Honduras.

Mexico City is at 7000' ASL. England will struggle on all accounts.

And to think; I started watching just to be able to listen to Rebecca Lowe and now here I am looking up stats and other details.

A remarkable stat that. And that sort of home advantage must surely swing it in Mexico's favour. I wonder if the bookies would still have England odds on!

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

Mexico will certainly believe they can beat this lacklustre England at the Azteca.

You're either being very slyly sarcastic or that is some serious hopium.

 

[Master Chief]

You're either being very slyly sarcastic or that is some serious hopium.

@Watandar is the master at jinxing here. I cannot hope to compete.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

@Watandar is the master at jinxing here. I cannot hope to compete.

 

[SolarWarden]

FINALLY! A very solid win for England however they cannot get behind in Azteca Stadium or it's pretty much over. Mexican team history, much like US, struggle against tall physical teams and both US and Mexico have beaten teams that they physically match well this World Cup which is why I/m nervous about the US game later.

 

[Desert]

King Mohammed has also done a lot for football inside Morocco to be fair. Their structure is superior to that of other African nations and they manage to attract the diaspora that you speak of back to Morocco because of this. There was a time when all North Africans chose to play for France etc. That is no longer necessarily the case. Yamal is an exception.

their structure superior to that of other african nations? man , no way ..
Egypt and South africa are faaaar more superior.

and many of the current moroccan squad chose morocco because they were neglected by other european team , like isa diop he was neglected to join the french team ( even tho he was in u-20 or u-19 french squad) so he chose morocco later and other examples.

 

[Desert]

Sad for Congo that they couldn't win, England is a bad team.

 

[AZ_HighCountry]

FINALLY! A very solid win for England however they cannot get behind in Azteca Stadium or it's pretty much over. Mexican team history, much like US, struggle against tall physical teams and both US and Mexico have beaten teams that they physically match well this World Cup which is why I/m nervous about the US game later.

Are you serious? It was Kane who won. The rest of the team was along for the glory not to mention Congo looked like a different team in the 2nd half.

Looking at some of the various analysts, this one could go either way. Some are leaning towards Mexico. Others England. The key being is how quickly can England get acclimated to the altitude.

 

[PakAl]

Are you serious? It was Kane who won. The rest of the team was along for the glory not to mention Congo looked like a different team in the 2nd half.

Looking at some of the various analysts, this one could go either way. Some are leaning towards Mexico. Others England. The key being is how quickly can England get acclimated to the altitude.

People will see the real England against Mexico, the team is just getting warmed up.

 

[Master Chief]

their structure superior to that of other african nations? man , no way ..
Egypt and South africa are faaaar more superior.

and many of the current moroccan squad chose morocco because they were neglected by other european team , like isa diop he was neglected to join the french team ( even tho he was in u-20 or u-19 french squad) so he chose morocco later and other examples.

I'm not talking about the leagues per se, but about the academies for youths. Yes Egypt's league is better but Morocco has invested well in a football academy modelled exactly on Europeam academies (education, coaching, scouting all under one roof). Maybe Egypt and RSA also have such academies and I am simply unaware. One big element of their success seems to be the employing of French or French-Moroccan coaches there, who honed their trade in France before returning to coach properly in the academy.

I would imagine this is the best route for success for ANY Asian or African nation (Pakistan included) as opposed to throwing money at some expensive franchise league.

The Moroccan academy has produced 1 or 2 players in the present national team. There is no way this can be described as anything less than a great success for Moroccan football.

 

[Master Chief]

FINALLY! A very solid win for England however they cannot get behind in Azteca Stadium or it's pretty much over. Mexican team history, much like US, struggle against tall physical teams and both US and Mexico have beaten teams that they physically match well this World Cup which is why I/m nervous about the US game later.

One of your guys on the radio, Gary Apple I believe was his name, was also saying USA's weakness is exactly as you have described. USA has lost about 10 consecutive games to European opposition. Bosnia is a big test with Dzeko, Alajbegovic and other tall players but I hope American home advantage will be just enough!

I have USA in the office sweepstake so yes...I'm going to be very biased tonight.

 

[Master Chief]

Wow. Senegal 1 - 0 Belgium.

 

[F-22Raptor]

Senegal up 1-0. Winner faces the US-Bosnia winner