Shak

That was class, delighted for you @oldtype Korea v Japan in the quarters?

Yeah reckon the idea will be to replace our poorer squad players with talented youngsters who won't necessarily represent a massive immediate upgrade but will have time to bed in as fringe players and push for starts next year and beyond. Would hope we sign at least one player for the front three, even with everyone back fit and Joelinton showing he can play well on the left I think we're thin there. Aside from that, I'm very much all-in on the signing a bunch of teenagers 10 or 15 million camp.

I mean it's not like he had time to think it all through, the ball came at him and in that split second he instinctively put his hand out to block it. Something in his subconscious told him the only way to stop it was with the hand and that's what he did. Personally think it's a bit weird he gets so much stick for that, to me it was no different to any of the professional fouls that you see on a regular basis. It's just because he's a cunt, really.

I mean if they play a team full of backups and he's not part of it you'd imagine he's pencilled in to start the second round game? Teach two classes full of mostly Brazilians and they all say there's a lot of people calling for him to be in the first team.

Was in Korea at the time, went into my class the next day and took the piss relentlessly about those penalties. Possibly a dick move

Spain's route with a loss is Morocco then probably Portugal and with a loss it's Croatia then probably Brazil... is that right?

I assume it's not possible for St. James Park to be expanded by building down into the ground and having the pitch significantly below ground level? Like the Camp Nou, for example. Would mean you wouldn't have to make the East Stand any taller and get around that issue that way. I've no idea if it's architecturally feasible at all to lower the Leazes and Gallowgate stands, probably not or would be more hassle than it's worth? Would be a real shame if the stadium moved significantly from its current location, best thing about SJP is where it is.

Some very suspect lack of added time and then blowing it up 10 seconds early there mind.

Wish the defender hadn't reached that and Lukaku blazed it over.

What a touch by the defender there.

Lukaku should have scored at least 11 goals this half by my count.

That counter attack a minute ago was so good and then they just slowly wasted it by not even attempting a shot or pass

Players are entitled to ask for a new contract if they've outperformed their current deal and established themselves as as players that could play for any team. If they've done it to the extent that Bruno has, I'm sure the club will be happy to offer them a new deal.

Disappointed in your attitude, tbh. I'm going to make it my business to have sex with Ana De Armas in the coming weeks, perhaps then you'll see what can be achieved with a positive attitude.

No reason at all we can't make a serious run at Bellingham. There are a decent few teams out there that'll be able to offer him something better, not many of them though. If we make an offer that Dortmund accept and none of those teams are willing and ready to make a move then I think we'd be very attractive to Bellingham. Odds are we wouldn't get him but it's not an outrageous notion. Howe has shown he can get results without a massive rebuild, we can afford to just add a couple of players every window and with our growing revenues I think we should aim as high possible and I think we will.

As someone who's going to be able to watch the 3pm game on Saturday in the pub I'd really love a Netherlands v England game if at all possible. Netherlands v USA would be fine too.

Irish TV here has a nice little Bruno montage and Liam Brady talking about how he changed the game for Brazil.

They're not the most selfless group, these Brazilians. Feel they could have taken the absolute piss with some one touch stuff at the end but Vinicius in particular clearly just wanted to score himself.

There was a deflection, like. Was well hit enough that it would have been hard to save anyway but looked from the behind angle that it would have been straight at him.

Aye, saw another replay. Thought there was another touch by a Brazilian before it got to Richarlison but there wasn't.

Feels like that's not the rule? I dunno, maybe it's changed but had he not got himself back onside?

Such a composed finish

Man, Switzerland had a great chance there if they'd just played one more pass.

Switzerland have looked good in the second half. Brazil look pretty poor tbh, they have so many quality players that you assume something will happen for them at some point but it's all very disjointed in possession.

Page 11 in the thread still if not for my NPW wankery.