FIFA World Cup 2026

Nuffle said:
The attacking full-back we had got injured; unfortunately, he also falls short of the quality of players like Cafu, Roberto Carlos, or Daniel Alves.

In reality, Brazil has always produced better forwards than players for other positions, with center-backs close behind, while midfield and full-back roles remain the most critical positions where Brazil struggles with player development.

Brazil's real challenge will be between the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals.
Click to expand...
Whats the role of Neymar in the WC ? Surely the coach can't make him sit on the bench from now onwards. He is more than 'impact substitute' forward striker.
 
Musings said:
I wake up and find Germany AND Holland out and even better Morocco through! Happy days!!
Click to expand...
Two European heavy weights already out relatively a bit early in the tournment. Its hot in Europe these days so their fans would had prefered staying in US more.
 
SolarWarden said:
So I'm guessing you folks were ok with goal review and taking away German goal? To me I was ok with either call it really could have gone both ways.

Congrats to Paraguay... I hope the US just makes it to round of 16, if they don't consider this a Word Cup fail at home.
Click to expand...
Frustrating decision but goalies are overprotected so it is probably consistent with what goes on in other similar scenarios.
 
Musings said:
I wake up and find Germany AND Holland out and even better Morocco through! Happy days!!
Click to expand...

I told you so. The Netherlands are always thrown out of competitions. They are arrogant and think they can win against supposedly lesser teams. Morocco is a much better team and the Dutch found out.
 
Dalit said:
I told you so. The Netherlands are always thrown out of competitions. They are arrogant and think they can win against supposedly lesser teams. Morocco is a much better team and the Dutch found out.
Click to expand...
Morocco could go deep into the tournament bro - they got Canada next and then in the last 8 anything could happen
 

US security chief 'danced happy dance' after Iran exit​


Homeland Security secretary Markwayne Mullin smiles during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington DC on 25 June 2026


Markwayne Mullin was approved as Kristi Noem's successor in March

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist

The United States' head of homeland security said he "danced a happy dance" when Iran were eliminated from the World Cup.

Iran missed out on qualifying from the group stage on goal difference after having a stoppage-time winner against Egypt disallowed for a marginal offside.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team were the "most oppressed" at the tournament amid the backdrop of the country's conflict with the US and Israel.

Iran's training base was switched from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico before the World Cup began and they faced travel restrictions throughout.

Despite Saturday's 1-1 draw with Egypt, Iran still had a chance of qualifying as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

But their elimination was confirmed when Algeria and Austria played out a dramatic 3-3 draw on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said: "I'm just glad they're done, and they're not coming back.

"I was so happy when we were able to pull their visas and said they could leave the US soil, and I might've sung a song or two or maybe even danced a happy dance."

He added: "There wasn't a single team that we had to spend more time dealing with than Iran."

Iran were only permitted to enter the US the day before their first two matches and had to leave on the same day as the game, under the terms of their visas.

Those restrictions were eased for their final group game in Seattle, allowing them to arrive two days early, but they again had to return to Tijuana after Saturday's match.
 

Is the World Cup ball making it hard for goalkeepers?​


p0nv8rvh.jpg


Joe Hart answers your questions about the World Cup ball
Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

25 June 2026
Heroic goalkeepers have repeatedly stepped up at this World Cup.

Spain could not find a way past Cape Verde number one Vozinha on his nation's tournament debut.

Curacao keeper Eloy Room made a record-equalling 15 saves as his side also claimed their first ever World Cup point.

Iran's Alireza Beiranvand produced a string of superb stops to keep Belgium at bay in a goalless draw.

However, there have also been several instances of international keepers being caught out in increasingly familiar fashion.

England's Jordan Pickford and Senegal's Edouard Mendy are just some of the household names who have managed to get their hand to the ball, only to fail to keep it out.
 

'They build balls to score goals'​

Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil looks on as France forward Kylian Mbappe's shot hits the net in the World Cup group game in Philadelphia on 22 June, 2026


The Trionda is the official match ball of the 2026 World Cup
Kasper Schmeichel thinks so.

The former Denmark goalkeeper took no chances and familiarised himself with the Adidas ball long before the tournament even kicked off.

Schmeichel trained with the Trionda following its release, in October 2025, only for his side to go on to lose their play-off final against the Czech Republic.

Now retired, Schmeichel is well-placed to give an insight into what he calls the "serious difference between the balls".

"The thing about this one is the construction of it is four panels this time," he told the BBC Football Daily podcast. "There's no stitching in it - it's all bonded together.

"When you mix that in with the different weathers, the air density, there's less drag on the ball, which means it doesn't spin as much, but it also means I find it a split second faster and I think we're seeing that a little bit.

"There's a couple of goals where you're seeing keepers getting close to it - Pickford, with the first goal of the Croatia scores - and you've got Luca Zidane against [Lionel] Messi and even Edouard Mendy against Mbappe.

"The thing about this ball is that we want to see goals, so they build balls to score goals."
 

'Goalkeeping is a game of margins'​

Adidas spent around three and a half years developing the ball and carried out an estimated 300 lab tests.

Designers even tried it out in seven of the World Cup's 16 host cities to ensure it performed in all manner of conditions.

Upon its release, Adidas stressed the four-panel construction - the fewest ever for a World Cup ball - was designed with "intentionally deep seams" and "strategically placed debossed lines alongside embossed country icons".

"[It creates] a ball surface that produces optimal in-flight stability by ensuring there is sufficient and evenly distributed drag as it travels through the air," Adidas said.

"The embossed icons also provide the added performance benefit of elevated grip on the ball when dribbling or striking the ball in wet or humid conditions."

Some have clearly adapted more quickly than others, but Hart has highlighted how a number of goalkeepers have struggled with their timing and the ball's trajectory when it's not a curling effort.

Schmeichel, similarly, feels "speed is the thing with this one".

"It doesn't wobble as much, but the speed of how they strike it is slightly different," the former Leicester City and Celtic goalkeeper said.

"It's marginal, but it's enough. Goalkeeping is a game of margins."
 

FIFA World Cup Top Scorers​

1782815539146.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 25 (members: 0, guests: 25)

Pakistan Defence Latest

Country Watch Latest

Latest Posts

Share this page

Back
Top