I think the cheating , faking injuries will get me fuming again . Will I watch any games , I suppose I will . Years ago I would be well up for the games but now not so much .

well true to my comments on cheating and fake injuries it has happened in the FIRST game ... Three red cards !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How many former Ilkeston players have played at the World Cup?  I though, maybe, Kenny Burns... but no.
Maybe just Che Adams then...?

Good luck the to the 'lad'.... (but mostly to England). I did watch the 1966 Final too!
That said, it's (probably not) coming home - again - but I fancy we will go deep! I've gone for 2-2 -v-Croatia.
 

Just watched the canads game . It was actually a good game BUT the fake diving and fake injuries were still there to see . I was actually laughing ..... Is this what modern football is all about now . And what gets me no one mentions it ........honestly if I was a puntdit on the tv I would Annalise the game plus the shame all the players in diving and faking injury ...

Last edited by kevilsonlad (12/6/2026 9:12 PM)

Just watched Switzerland v Qatar. It was boring because it was so one sided. Switzerland missed so many chances it was ridiculous and the goal they did score from the penalty spot, looked like offside should have been given. But when you don’t take your chances more often than not, you get punished and Qatar scored a very late equaliser. 
Brazil v Morocco next then Haiti v Scotland. I’m staying up to watch Che Adams our Ilson hero. I so want him to do well.  Pizza in the oven.

With the games coming thick and fast and still 84 to go I am finding this bloated World Cup a bit overwhelming. Its is not easy to explain to non football fans that it is a tournament to find the best team in the World and Italy are not in it and Curacoa are. I then say its about growing the game and show casing the best in the world. I am then asked why is it in America and then I have to get a bit closer to the truth. The truth is that it is also about money! Anything wrong with this tournament usually has happened because money and lots of it dictate how things work (or dont)! Thats Wednesday rant over.
In the family prediction league and I am fourth (that is fourth out of four so bottom). I console myself by remembering there are still 84 games to go.
Tonight is the big one and we have a bit of a family gathering to watch the game. I have predicted England to draw but I would love it this time to be wrong. Like all England fans who have suffered sixty years of hurt I have that foreboding that it is all going to go terribly wrong! Again I hope I am wrong!

The second half performance restored my faith in England’s ability to win big games. We could have won 6 of 7-2 if their keeper had not had such a good game. In the first half I thought England were far too nervous and I ended screaming at the telly every time Pickford started trying to do a Beckenbaur with the ball at his feet. Tommy Tuckle apparently made a speech at half time and whatever he said did the trick as England took Croatia apart in the first fifteen minutes after half time. There was some good performances like Harry Kane but I thought Elliot Anderson was excellent and his forward pass made the third and decisive goal.
So in summary I did put my England flag up and I did not have to hide it sharply after full time and yesmy prediction was wrong! And yes I am bottom of the prediction league by even more points bug when England win like that, who cares! Bring on Ghana!

 I think they are allowed to move left or right but not forwards off of their line. If you allowed that there is nothing to stop some cheeky keeper standing a yard away from the penalty spot. You are right though it is rare for officials to pick up on a keeper moving too early or a player encroaching. It is good if they are consistent! 

Half time England 1-0 down and the next 45 are massive! Turn it round and we can beat anyone lose and the reality is we are not good enough! At my age we are starting to run out of chance to recreate the 66 feel! Maybe I will post in an hours time with a completely different story!