Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

[Drico]

Both teams scored within minutes of bringing on a centre forward

It's as if the Gods were smiting Pep Guardiola.

 

[Connor]

 

[Billy Dean]

It's as if the Gods were smiting Pep Guardiola.

He who plays with the most prolific centre forward in the world leading his line?

 

[Drico]

He who plays with the most prolific centre forward in the world leading his line?

He does now. But there were rumours that he didn't want Haaland at the time of the signing...

Traditionally, Pep doesn't tend to play number nines.

 

[Drico]

German pundits believing they can win the thing now

It's Germany. When they get going, those Panzers don't tend to have a reverse gear...

 

[Charles Hawtrey]

I've been watching the world cup and it's completely unpredictable.

Germany are not vintage Germany and I think they'll struggle.

Aggree - do you think its so unpredictable becaause of the lack of preperation time for the traditionally stronger squads?

 

[degsy]

Both teams scored within minutes of bringing on a centre forward

Who knew - maybe we should try that?...it'd be a million to one chance, but it might just work.

 

[Wat Tyler]

It's Germany. When they get going, those Panzers don't tend to have a reverse gear...

Have the pundits mentioned the Germans “mentality” yet?

 

[Drico]

I've been watching the world cup and it's completely unpredictable.

Germany are not vintage Germany and I think they'll struggle.

They will struggle. And they're not out of the group yet. But they'll likely get better if they do get out - and it looks like it could be Morocco in the last 16. They will come acropper eventually, but even this gang would struggle to muff the needed win over a really poor Costa Rican side who will probably be bullied.

 

[Drico]

Have the pundits mentioned the Germans “mentality” yet?

That tends to be more of a British thing. They see themselves in Germany as a "Turniermannschaft" - a tournament team. Mentality is part and parcel of that. I don't think German pundits really expect anything other than a last four appearance or better. To be fair, if we had their record, we wouldn't either.

 

[Wat Tyler]

That tends to be more of a British thing. They see themselves in Germany as a "Turniermannschaft" - a tournament team. Mentality is part and parcel of that. I don't think German pundits really expect anything other than a last four appearance or better. To be fair, if we had their record, we wouldn't either.

This is why Musiala has chose them, he has a better chance of winning the WC with Germany than Bottlers in Chief, England.

 

[Wizard]

He does now. But there were rumours that he didn't want Haaland at the time of the signing...

Traditionally, Pep doesn't tend to play number nines.

Lewandowski?

 

[davek]

Aggree - do you think its so unpredictable becaause of the lack of preperation time for the traditionally stronger squads?

Maybe. Also, apart from Qatar, the teams from the region have done well too and might be getting a stadium home effect boost. ?‍

 

[Drico]

This is why Musiala has chose them, he has a better chance of winning the WC with Germany than Bottlers in Chief, England.

To be fair, there probably isn't a country any aspiring footballer would choose over Germany. I don't think that reflects badly on England. Isn't his mother German? That would probably have made his choice an easy one. I'm Irish and my other half is German. When our son was born in Ireland, the male nurse present at the birth asked me if he would play football for Ireland or Germany. We both laughed.

 

[Wat Tyler]

To be fair, there probably isn't a country any aspiring footballer would choose over Germany. I don't think that reflects badly on England. Isn't his mother German? That would probably have made his choice an easy one. I'm Irish and my other half is German. When our son was born in Ireland, the male nurse present at the birth asked me if he would play football for Ireland or Germany. We both laughed.

Yes but he played for England all the way through the youth game.

I thought he was Germany’s best player tonight.

Not overly impressed with Spain tbh, first decent team they’ve faced and weren’t great. Can you win the WC with Rodri as a CB?