Mad start to these games.

Ere, does UK telly have the score from the other game permanently on screen in these final group games? It's a bit distracting!

Good game - Ecuador look half decent. Mad to think Scotland are above them atm in the “third place league”.

This is great

So VAR gets it right this time but let the first one go, Germany shouldn't have a goal on the board.

51 minutes ago, Bertie said:

Good game - Ecuador look half decent. Mad to think Scotland are above them atm in the “third place league”.

Where have this Ecuador side been?

Great game this one.

While I’ve offered criticism for the 8 third places qualifying for knock-out, surely this game offers a bit of balance in its favour?

These Ecuadorians are giving it large here. Hope they hold out.

There were 10 German Bombers in the air, there were 10 German bombers in the air and the RAF from Quito shot them down!

Brilliant that.

Wow!! That was brilliant from Ecuador

Was getting a bit pissed of with this 3rd place finish malarkey but that’s an argument for it

As it stands we play Ecuador in the next round.

8 minutes ago, freds dad said:

As it stands we play Ecuador in the next round.

That’s likely to change. Group K and Group I is more likely if one of them qualifies as a best third place.

Great game that

4 hours ago, L/H White said:

I've got 4 teams ahead of Brazil at least

IMO

the bookies currently have 5

Tunisia have to be contenders for the worst qualifiers of all time.

Austria V Algeria playing for 3rd place, rather than 2nd

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ-f-SOsQBW/?igsh=MTNtOTJ4bXRydm9qcw==

I fear this is the game that will kill my 4+ corners in every game bet

3 hours ago, desperado said:

Where have this Ecuador side been?

Great game this one.

While I’ve offered criticism for the 8 third places qualifying for knock-out, surely this game offers a bit of balance in its favour?

Indeed, whilst I still think it's a bit daft, this 3rd place qualifying should ensure far less dead rubbers, than if only the top 2 going through in each group.

It also, hopefully, means it gave Scotchland some false hope for a while.....🙂

4 hours ago, Sweep said:

Indeed, whilst I still think it's a bit daft, this 3rd place qualifying should ensure far less dead rubbers, than if only the top 2 going through in each group.

Is where I’m at. Ghana’s anti football approach hoping to scrape a 3ed place countered by Ecuador game. Been a good thing overall imo

5 hours ago, Sweep said:

Indeed, whilst I still think it's a bit daft, this 3rd place qualifying should ensure far less dead rubbers, than if only the top 2 going through in each group.

It also, hopefully, means it gave Scotchland some false hope for a while.....🙂

It doesn't though. There would have been a total of 1 dead rubber if top 2 went through (Senegal v Iraq) with far more at stake in lots of the other games.

Look at Paraguay v Australia last night for the result of third placers going through - both teams happy to play out a stalemate to both go through in 2nd and 3rd. Austria v Algeria and Croatia v Ghana could be exactly the same, with a draw securing both teams' qualification, rather than 3rd having to try to beat 2nd.

Edit: new head to head rule means there are a few dead rubbers regardless of top 2 or top 3 going through. This should also be scrapped and returned to goal difference.

Edited June 26Jun 26 by Stig

Japan v Sweden by all accounts also fizzled out into a draw suiting both teams because of the 3rd place safety net, rather than Sweden having to go for the win. I'd take 1 dead rubber over multiple games played without much consequence.

The Equador game was good, but we should be seeing that level of jeopardy from all the groups to try to get 2nd place

I have no idea how they decide which 3rd place team we play.

But on a separate note by my maths Scotland are out. They need both Belgium and Caoe Verde to lose. But if they lose the team they are playing will have more points than Scotland.

13 hours ago, L/H White said:

I've got 4 teams ahead of Brazil at least

IMO

Yes mate. Can't argue with that - you may well be correct.

Not absolutely sure how I rate them all at present. Six of 'em in any order - Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Spain.

I do have a hunch however that the Ancelotti factor could be a major factor this time around before he leads Italy to Spain in 2030.

12 hours ago, L/H White said:

VAR again. Booted in the head and not even looked at.

Madness

What is the fucking point of VAR if they can't get them right with multiple angles and replays?

6 minutes ago, bolty58 said:

What is the fucking point of VAR if they can't get them right with multiple angles and replays?

its fans fault its got to this stage mate, we had mass protests when they announced the super league

same should and still needs to happen over this shit, it's destroying the game

1 hour ago, Ani said:

I have no idea how they decide which 3rd place team we play.

But on a separate note by my maths Scotland are out. They need both Belgium and Caoe Verde to lose. But if they lose the team they are playing will have more points than Scotland.

You are correct. They are gone. No more fawning BBC News reports about how wonderful the ginger minge wig cross dressers are; no more tortured cat noises; no more wild predictions; no more shite anthem. We'll miss all of those eh? Not.

1 hour ago, bolty58 said:

Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Spain.

France

Spain

Argentina

England

Brazil

(Portugal - however Martinez is holding them back)

Germany

Edited June 26Jun 26 by jmjhb

2 hours ago, L/H White said:

its fans fault its got to this stage mate, we had mass protests when they announced the super league

same should and still needs to happen over this shit, it's destroying the game

the protests were by fans against their own clubs making a decision of their own

not sure how you protest against a decision made by the authorities

I wouldn't boycott Bolton games because the EFL made us use VAR

the EFL aren't arsed if I go or not