World Cup 2026: Page 57 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One more in the Tolly

World Cup 2026

JazzG

invisibleman18 Probably have players in the squad who need a rest and thought even their first XI probably will lose so might as well give others minutes.

Xcdude24

Been watching this Cape Verde match and I can’t help but thinking that Cape Verde would walk this if they had merino up front

invisibleman18

Cape Verde through! Great stuff. They'll be no easy beats either.

invisibleman18

Trossard looking Belgium's best player again. Hit the post and had it cleared off the line.

invisibleman18

And Trossard scores as NZ allow a corner to bounce in the 6 yard box.

TambourineMan

Trossard is so good. We should be keeping him for another season at least.

Him and Rogers can fight it out for LW.

invisibleman18

Trossard again. That's NZ's world cup done.

Burnwinter

Too bad for New Zealand. Looking like it'll be Australia versus Egypt in the round of 32 if things stay as they are. Should help the world figure out if Jordy Bos really has what it takes at left back ...

Burnwinter

Burnwinter Too bad for New Zealand.

Belgium didn't think it was bad enough apparently.

Claudius

Just finished World Cup marathon so happy for African teams. So far Morocco, Egypt, Cabo Verde, South Africa, Ghana and Ivory Coast all going through. Let’s see what Algeria and Congo can do.

Panda

England's 2nd injury prone right back is now out until latter stages of knockouts if we even make it there. 🙄 Stuck with bloody Djed Spence now. Defence always looked weak to me I'm sure it will cost us.

Sicario2

Panda isn’t Spence a LB? Chalobah will the deputy RB I think.

Panda

Sicario2 He plays both sides but he's right footed so more suited at RB. Tuchel has mentioned Konsa and Quansah as the other options there 😆🥲

Sicario2

@QuincyAbeyie Norwegian manager under fire from Gary Linekar on RIF for picking a second string team yesterday esp for someone like Haaland who is going for the golden boot. Thoughts? I don’t necessarily disagree but it puts huge pressure on your gaffer now for the next game

QuincyAbeyie

Sicario2 prioritizing the golden boot over anything else would be extremely stupid.

Panda

I think it was the right call. The knockout round was 4 days away. May as well give the other players the chance to feel part of it.

Haaland can have motivation to score in knockouts if he wants to get golden boot.

If he plays the first team and they lose anyway it's worse.

Sicario2

Panda yeah but this is their first WC in 28 years and how far are they going to get exactly? Quarters max. Might as well first team every game. Also once you lose momentum it’s hard to switch it back.

Finally, what about the poor fans who paid big money to see their country go and field a second team?

Panda

The game was pretty entertaining to be fair and the 2nd team didn't do too bad. Fans seemed pretty happy. I think he just wanted to give them best chance to go as far as possible.

They are currently scheduled to play Ivory Coast which would be tough and then winner of Brazil v Japan. Gabriel v Haaland loll.

Sicario2

Klaus

Lineker is an old twat. The manager has one responsibility only, and that's doing what puts the team in the best position to win the next game. Who gives a shit about the golden boot except for the one player who wins it?

Mirth

Klaus sounds more like Lineker has too many podcasts and presenter gigs and needed something to say during a complete dead rubber game.

Claudius

Klaus yeah. He made the right call. He would’ve just risked fatigue, injuries and suspensions afiant Dembele, Mbappe and Olise. Futile exercise so he can have the pleasure of playing Sweden instead of Ivory Coast in the next round?
Instead he’s rested his main men, and expanded his options by looking at the rest of his team in a low stakes game

awooga83

I'm sure that would be something haaland had in mind though as well it's pretty natural thing as a forward particularly if you're a good one to want to have a chance at top scorer.

Sicario2

awooga83 exactly. This could be the only WC Haaland plays in so can understand where Linekar is coming from. He is talking from experience because when he won the golden boot in 1986 it completely changed the trajectory of his career and got him a move to Barca

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