2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[ozgod]

Brazil has gotta be worried about how their midfield performed. They are basically playing a 4-2-4 with Casemiro and Bruno Guimares responsible for making it all work. Morocco had too much space and passed around Brazil too easily. Brazil's 4 forwards gotta work harder to get closer to the midfield 2 and help them out. They can't leave gaps that big.

It didn't get much better when Fabinho came on either. Not was their passing from central midfield good enough either.

And Casemiro and Guimaraes honestly looked like they were out of puff halfway through the first half. And Fabinho looked like he?d last had a competitive match three years ago (which is probably true). All of a sudden their squad looks old and tired. They have game changers, but that spine that characterized previous Brazil teams seems to be absent.

[Phantom255x]

I was not impressed by Brazil today, and yeah like @ozgod implied, Brazil's starting group today is on average nearly 30 years old, which is the oldest starting lineup Brazil has fielded in a World Cup tournament since their 2006 quarter-final match against France. And they looked like it.

Vini Jr. and others can create plays and some magic, like he did today to score their lone goal. But relying on just that is gonna be tough if they want to make a deep run. They should still get by the group stage easily, but after that if they draw any of the Top-10 teams I think they'll be in for a rude awakening.

[Adelaide Celt]

Adelaide-raised Nestory Irankunda gives Australia the lead against Turkey 

[Phantom255x]

I am shocked. Either Australia are actually elite or I overrated Turkey. Turkey is a good team yet they have looked meh. Certainly some chances to score but have not converted but Australia is also looking confident out there too

[Phantom255x]

Adelaide-raised Nestory Irankunda gives Australia the lead against Turkey 

TP 

[Adelaide Celt]

I am shocked. Either Australia are actually elite or I overrated Turkey. Turkey is a good team yet they have looked meh. Certainly some chances to score but have not converted but Australia is also looking confident out there too

It would be an exaggeration to say we're elite but it's an exciting group with a lot of younger guys getting their opportunity. I was worried before the tournament began we would struggle to keep any clean sheets so to start with a 2-0 win over a decent team like Turkey is amazing, most uplifting opening to a World Cup since beating Japan 3-1 in 2006.

Beating the host nation will be very tough, I'd be happy with a draw.

[Who]

Are Turkey a good team at the moment?

I never know what to expect from them. They are a footie mad nation but so often have lackluster teams. I read that the problem is their young players get paid huge money to stay in Turkey at a young age and often do not push on and become the stars they were capable of becoming.

Mexico is another nation like this. They should be one of the world's powers in football with their population size & love for football. They have some lovely players now and then but often struggle to put whole teams together. Certainly not consistently strong teams which they should be able to do. Similar issue with young players, paid to stay, not developing properly.

[Phantom255x]

I am shocked. Either Australia are actually elite or I overrated Turkey. Turkey is a good team yet they have looked meh. Certainly some chances to score but have not converted but Australia is also looking confident out there too

It would be an exaggeration to say we're elite but it's an exciting group with a lot of younger guys getting their opportunity. I was worried before the tournament began we would struggle to keep any clean sheets so to start with a 2-0 win over a decent team like Turkey is amazing, most uplifting opening to a World Cup since beating Japan 3-1 in 2006.

Beating the host nation will be very tough, I'd be happy with a draw.

Yeah I didn't mean to say Australia were bad, they are very good too. Turkey was seen as a better team and even favored to win this group, so now it's gonna get very interesting. I still expect all of Australia, USA and Turkey to advance, but Turkey may be the 3rd place team that makes it through which I didn't expect.