ExiledAjax

Never concerned

For me its the scarcity that makes it special. It's only every 4 years. Most of us will watch only 15 or 20 world cups in our lifetime. Therefore every knock out game is important, as if we lose them that's one more of those relatively few chances you have to see your team win. There's no club competition like it.

As a colourblind fan. Honestly, the only way I can really see the Senegalese in the long camera shots is because of their dark skin. This green kit is awful.

He scored 1 goal every 3 games, with a shot to goal conversion rate of 15%, consistently across 3.5 seasons of the Championship. Not many strikers manage a record like that, especially in a team like ours. He's carried that ratio on in Turkey as well, so he's clearly got something about him. As to the "true character" being revealed. Even if that is true, it doesn't erase that previous 3.5 years of excellent service. Anyway, to each their own opinion. In mine he's fully deserving of his place on our top scorers board. Now, were he to score a goal that knocks England out tonight, I may reassess.

He does 606 with Savage doesn't he? I bloody hope he's playing a character. Grumpiest person I ever hear on radio.

Such as whoever is on co-comms on 5live and was completely baffled at the notion that someone could calculate how fast Mbappe had ran.

He's also scored 51 goals for our club over the prior 3.5 seasons. For me that's more important than 6 months at the end of his contract.

Memento mori. If Pele wishes to live on then I hope he does so, if he wishes to die with dignity then I hope he does so. A man who found his talent and transformed it into greatness.

And again and again and again. And it still won't be enough.

Australia look well organised. Solid lines. For all the possession the Argies have had they've not had many shots or chances

UEFA is getting 3 more spots (13 > 16) CAF (Africa) gets the biggest increase of a further 4 spots plus play off (5 > 9.33) CONCACAF (N. America) are getting an extra 3 slots, but will also obviously be using potentially 3 slots for the 3 host teams. So that may be subject to change. (3.5 > 6.33) AFC (Asia) goes from 4.5 to 8.3, so essentially +4 slots. CONMEBOL (S. America) gets +2 (4.5 > 6.3), but there's only 10 nations in CONMEBOL so we could see 7 out of the 10 teams qualify! OFC goes from 0 guaranteed spots to 1 guaranteed plus a playoff. So New Zealand are now basically guaranteed to qualify for every world cup. So the biggest increases are going to be in Africa and Asia.

Apparently this is the first time that all 5 of the main continental confederations (apologies to the OFC) have been represented, and is the first time that all 6 inhabited geographical continents (apologies to the British Antarctic Territory) have been represented.

Also his third ? He also still scored 10 goals in that final season. 20% of all his goals for us.

But there's normally a day or two off between the end of the groups and the Last 16. 2018 you had last group games on 28 June, then the last 16 started on 30 June. So one free day. I guess where fans don't need to travel hundreds of miles it maybe isn't needed, but I'm sure there's some bleary-eyed journalists that would fancy a free day!

But with Euro's style top 2 go through plus the 8 best 3rd place teams or whatever numbers work. So still lowers the jeopardy and imo makes it less interesting.

First time since '94 that none have managed it. 3 teams managed it in 2018. 4 in 2014. 2 in 2010. 4 in 2006. So there's normally multiple teams that achieve it.

Last 16 starts tomorrow. This schedule is relentless.

This world cup is so mad that England might just win it.

The statement is pretty clear: "Following several months of due diligence at Birmingham City Football Club, Maxco has decided not to proceed with the purchase of the shareholding and stadium of BCFC at this time," the statement said. "In light of the due diligence we attempted to renegotiate the terms of the original agreements to reflect our understanding of the current business status, but we could not agree revised terms with the current owners. "We have been left with no alternative and are bitterly disappointed as we know what this club means to the community and the very loyal fanbase. "We really hope that BCFC finds a owner who is as passionate about the club as we are." In plainer English "it was even worse than we thought it might be and they wouldn't reduce the price"

If you treat France's first two matches separately from their third then yes. Of teams that have played all 3 England are definitely up there.

The loss to Japan was the killer. They scored in every game, are high up in every attacking stat, and a 1-1 with Spain and 4-2 in your final game is a good result. 4 points and positive GD would sometimes be enough to get you through, and indeed has been enough for Spain, and Poland have gone through with 4 points and neutral GD. They've gone out in the group stage, but 50% of teams do that. They're far from the worst team at this tournament. But the expectations on them are very high, so judged against that...they may be the biggest disappointment.

Weirdest bit was bloody Aluko trying to explain how her real time view from the studio should be more definitive than the VAR analysis.

Good lord Germany. xG of 6.42 is ludicrous. 32 shots, 11 on target. Oh well.

Why are ITV trying to cook up a conspiracy?

So Spain are just flat-track bullies right? Also, surely Germany are mainly out because a) they lost to Japan, and b) they gained only +2 GD v Costa Rica compared to Spain's +7. The Japanese winner tonight is coincidental when held against those two things.