FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 - commentary and banter thread

@Ghost-of-a-Duke said
It's a pity fellow midfielder Cole Palmer isn't in the England squad. (Has the nickname Chippy Chips).

Chips would have been a good substitute for Rice...



(I'll get my coat).

Lock the door on your way out and put the key through the penaltybox. Thanks.

@Very-Rusty said
You guys all seem very knowledgable about the game!

I am still learning the rules! 😉

I have even watched some games not involving Canada. The Dialsysis Nurses from the phillipines are all into soccer. I was watching a Blue Jays game last night which they lost, now 5 games in a row I believe. One of them asked me if all I watched was the games involving Canada....LOL...

-VR

Bloody heck Rusty, it’s not rocket science 😄

PS Canada are playing right now.

@diver said
Bloody heck Rusty, it’s not rocket science 😄

PS Canada are playing right now.

Bloody Hell Diver, I know it not rocket science, but I haven't watched the game all my life like you have. 🙄

Yes, I am watching the game now, plus making Chess moves.

-VR

@Very-Rusty said
Bloody Hell Diver, I know it not rocket science, but I haven't watched the game all my life like you have. 🙄

Yes, I am watching the game now, plus making Chess moves.

-VR

Canada through to last 16 👏🏻

That was a nail-biter

@diver said
Canada through to last 16 👏🏻

That was a nail-biter

They have made history also first time ever that it has happened. They have gotten further than most thought they would including myself.

-VR

@Very-Rusty said
They have made history also first time ever that it has happened. They have gotten further than most thought they would including myself.

-VR

Come on Netherlands or Morocco, we’re waiting.🤔😉😁

@Great-Big-Stees said
Come on Netherlands or Morocco, we’re waiting.🤔😉😁

@GBS,

I believe we are looking at two Giants of the game there GBS, I believe they are ranked 10 & 11th in the world, I am sure if I am wrong someone will be happy to correct me on that one. 😉 It is going to be a great experience and Promote the game in Canada even more than it already is, which is more than I thought it was.

I believe both teams are playing each other today if I am not mistaken, so we will get to see what we are up against. Yes I checked around 9:45 p.m. today it will be on in Atlantic Canada time may vary with you, I believe 1 hour difference.

-VR

@Very-Rusty said
@GBS,

I believe we are looking at two Giants of the game there GBS, I believe they are ranked 10 & 11th in the world, I am sure if I am wrong someone will be happy to correct me on that one. 😉 It is going to be a great experience and Promote the game in Canada even more than it already is, which is more than I thought it was.

I believe both teams are playing each ...[text shortened]... . today it will be on in Atlantic Canada time may vary with you, I believe 1 hour difference.

-VR

I never played the game but I did “coach” both my kid’s teams, when they were 5-6-7 years old. They, the soccer association, said that if one of the parents didn’t step up then there’d be no team as there was no coach. I bought a book on the basics and “coached”, for a couple, of years before I convinced another parent to “take the reins”. In the beginning the kids (the whole team on the field) just chased the ball and often kicked it into our own net. By the middle of the season I managed to get some of the kids to play position. When I say some I really mean, one or two. I really enjoyed the experience and did the same with my kids in hockey. And when push comes to shove the basics for both sports are somewhat similar.👍

@Great-Big-Stees said
I never played the game but I did “coach” both my kid’s teams, when they were 5-6-7 years old. They, the soccer association, said that if one of the parents didn’t step up then there’d be no team as there was no coach. I bought a book on the basics and “coached”, for a couple, of years before I convinced another parent to “take the reins”. In the beginning the kids ( ...[text shortened]... th my kids in hockey. And when push comes to shove the basics for both sports are somewhat similar.👍

@GBS,

That was quite a challenge to take on my old friend. The only similarity I see between the two is with the positional play after that Hockey and football/soccer are completely different. Football/soccer is a much rougher sport than I thought, already a guy out with a broken leg for the rest of the season.

In hockey Gear is much more expensive, so Football/Soccer I can see becoming very popular especially with men's National Team doing better than expected. I was probably more suprised than most people. We don't know the game as well as the Europeans do of course. Now the younger Generation are probably going to get more involved which is good, especially for getting people together aiming for the same goal.

Alfphonso Davies, came in and changed the game, appeared to be two guy on him at all times. I didn't know how good this guy was.

-VR

@Very-Rusty said
@GBS,

That was quite a challenge to take on my old friend. The only similarity I see between the two is with the positional play after that Hockey and football/soccer are completely different. Football/soccer is a much rougher sport than I thought, already a guy out with a broken leg for the rest of the season.

In hockey Gear is much more expensive, so Football/Socc ...[text shortened]... ed the game, appeared to be two guy on him at all times. I didn't know how good this guy was.

-VR

Soccer/football certainly is a lot “less expensive” to be involved in than hockey and I’m noticing that kids, now maybe with parental pressure, seem to be opting for the former. I figure which ever one the go for is a lot better than “sitting at home on some screen”.👍Go Canada Go.👍

@Great-Big-Stees said
Soccer/football certainly is a lot “less expensive” to be involved in than hockey and I’m noticing that kids, now maybe with parental pressure, seem to be opting for the former. I figure which ever one the go for is a lot better than “sitting at home on some screen”.👍Go Canada Go.👍

@GBS,

We come from a different time and era my old friend. We made our own fun and always out playing some sport, might be why we were in better shape than the youngsters of today when we were their age. 😉 I remember the old crank phone and party line, many, many moons ago!!! I even had a young man hold the door for me this morning going for morning brew. Some have been brought up properly, unfortunately many more have not.

-VR

@Very-Rusty said
@GBS,

We come from a different time and era my old friend. We made our own fun and always out playing some sport, might be why we were in better shape than the youngsters of today when we were their age. 😉 I remember the old crank phone and party line, many, many moons ago!!! I even had a young man hold the door for me this morning going for morning brew. Some have been brought up properly, unfortunately many more have not.

-VR

I remember stone tablets.🤔😲😉

@Great-Big-Stees said
I remember stone tablets.🤔😲😉

LOL@GBS!!!

Only you would come up with that one!!! 😉

Do you remember walking 5 miles to school in a snowstorm up hill both ways? 😉

-VR

@Very-Rusty said
LOL@GBS!!!

Only you would come up with that one!!! 😉

Do you remember walking 5 miles to school in a snowstorm up hill both ways? 😉

-VR

No, but I remember slipping on the ice while messing around waiting for the bus to school. Now if there's a bit of snow or ice they close the schools.

@Trev333 said
No, but I remember slipping on the ice while messing around waiting for the bus to school. Now if there's a bit of snow or ice they close the schools.

Wimps.😡😁