19 Jun 2026 07:39:12
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Everton Need One Clear Squad Plan
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19 Jun 2026 02:04:01
Was Thomas Christensen a tad underated as Leeds United manager?
I thought he was fairly good at LUFC and he is also doing very well as international manager of Panama for past 6 plus years now with 48% win rate plus qualified for the current World Cup finals.
Then we have Jesse Brenty Marsch (OPs fave) . Who was mediocre at best at LUFC but we have to acknowledge is doing pretty well with Canada 6 nil tonight in WC albeit vs 9 men.
Then the marvellous Marcelo Bielsa who was a superb successful talisman for Leeds United and has various degrees of success with international teams Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.
It will be interesting to observe which of Marcelo, Brenty and TC go furthest in WC Finals 2026.
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19 Jun 2026 07:38:31
Will it?
I'm personally not bothered who goes further.
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19 Jun 2026 10:25:59
Well, from my perspective, I do feel the lesser cosch of the 3, Brenty, will be the one likely to go furthest in this WC (with Canada) .
I do hope that Leeds legend Marcelo Bielsa has at very least a relatively successful WC with Uruguay.
In what may well be Marcelo's final gig in football.
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19 Jun 2026 12:23:32
One goal after Qatar went down to 10, and another 3 after they went down to 9, one of those an OG. Good, but not that good, but will prob earn them 2nd place on gd.
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18 Jun 2026 21:31:27
This is the World Cup of the old men. Ronaldo 41, Modric 40, Vozinha 40, Dzeko 40, Messi 38, Perisic 37 - all old enough to be Lamine Yamal's dad.
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19 Jun 2026 10:40:30
Maybe one of them is JR? Hmmm.
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18 Jun 2026 14:48:48
Another thing is the question of whether a successful penalty should count towards the golden boot.
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18 Jun 2026 16:05:34
I'd like whoever was fouled to be the one to have to take the penalty, then it should count in a Golden Boot race (or any competition) .
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18 Jun 2026 16:21:24
Though, of course, many of the best penalty takers are also amongst the best penalty box divers, eg Bruno Fernandes.
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19 Jun 2026 09:25:09
That ain't gonna work, Canada. What, for instance, if the player is seriously injured!
Could hear that snap. Made me cringe. No, the sound really, well, snapped my femur clean in half while fishing!
15 days in Hull Royal back in the mid 90s.
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18 Jun 2026 12:18:03
Another debate worthy one. I'm naturally delighted that Kane scored the pen. But everyone is waxing lyrical about him teasing the keeper off his line with the stuttered run up. I played as a keeper until I was about 20. Before I became too vertically challenged (I'm 5'7, I had other deficiencies too) .
I hate the stuttered run up so so so much. As a keeper you are now beholden too your line (fair enough) . Back in the day keepers used to move miles off to save pens regularly think Dudek in Istanbul, Reina in FA Cup final.
Oliver Kahn. And I don't blame them for that. It never got punished even it was the rule. I don't think keepers even took it as breaking a rule it was just instinctual.
Now though it's miniscule punished and keepers can't really get much momentum unless they stand physically behind the goal and dive forward.
I'd prefer a hybrid approach where if there is a stutter a keeper can move. Or ban the stutter entirely. I'm looking just for equality on this not an advantage for either side.
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18 Jun 2026 13:53:10
Ban stutter. It's a bit cocky in my view. Keeper on the line, no movement until kick, except up and down. Simple.
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18 Jun 2026 15:04:43
The penalty was ordered to be retaken because a Croatia defender was guilty of encroachment and became involved in the play via the rebound, not because the keeper was off his line. The slow-motion replay shows that the keeper had, in fact, a part of his foot on the line, which is considered enough.
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18 Jun 2026 15:30:50
I would like the rules to be simple, and I would prefer a better contest between keeper and taker. I think the current rules put the keeper at a disproportionate disadvantage.
For shootouts, I like the way a penalty in hockey is played out. The ref blows the whistle, the striker gets 5 seconds to try and score; he can shoot and dribble as much as he likes, but the keeper can race off his line too.
I think this is fairer, because actually no penalty offence has taken place - it's just a way to settle a match.
Didn't Australia or the US FA have a system where the striker had 25 seconds to beat the keeper from the halfway line or something like that?
For a real "penalty" offence, absolutely no stopping or stutter should be allowed. It should be considered the same way as a double hit, in my opinion.
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18 Jun 2026 16:09:48
Topman, it was double encroachment, the keeper was shown to be off his line and you are correct, a defender encroached and played the ball.
I believe VAR used the first offence, the keeper, as the reason, but even if he was on the line, it would still have been called.
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18 Jun 2026 16:47:23
I like Harry Kane, but I think he's taking the piss by suggesting that he stuttered deliberately to make the keeper move off his line, just be honest, H, and admit that you screwed up and were rescued by the keeper's error. Usually, HK is a good old-fashioned penalty taker of the "just run up and hit it" school, but this time he made a mistake and got away with it. In the past, some keepers used to move ridiculous amounts off the line, but the Croatia keeper only moved a foot or so, and as the penalty spot is 33ft away, any advantage was marginal.
I'd ban stuttering, jumping and all these recent fancy dan tactics, and just make them run up and hit it like HK did 2nd time last night. I vividly remember Peter Lorimer taking the occasional pen, and when he hit it at near 100mph even the best keepers could get both hands to it, but still not keep it out.
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18 Jun 2026 16:57:38
I agree, JR. I'll deliberately risk my penalty to prove this keeper leaves his line - the prize for presenting the evidence is that you have the jeopardy of another penalty.
Forget the stutter, and forget what the keeper did or didn't do. It was a terrible penalty nonetheless, and we were pretty fortunate in my opinion.
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18 Jun 2026 12:07:26
Bit off topic but views on the Messi challenge the other night. I tried to take a step back from it. But I can't still see any reason how that was not a red card myself. Henry's intent argument was ludicrous.
I would argue that 99% of challenges that end up with broken legs the players didn't ' intend' to break the guy's leg. Seems one that has divided though, so interested in the debate.
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18 Jun 2026 15:41:09
In the modern game, especially with VAR re-refereeing, that would be a red card on any given day, intent or not.
Whilst, in general, I think VAR has been pretty good in this competition [against the backdrop, I wish it didn't exist], nevertheless, I am surprised at some of the leniency shown so far.
Not sure which game it was when the keeper came out and nearly took the striker's head off, but "got the ball first" - I seem to remember Liam Cooper being sent off against City, despite getting the ball first.
Numerous other examples like that; nonetheless, I think VAR and some of the new rules introduced have cut a lot of the crap out - I hope some, if not all, the new rules turn up in the EPL next season.
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18 Jun 2026 04:18:16
That was an interesting match. A lot of boring football in first half but a splattering of goals. A lot better second half and a deserved win v an able team. But not overly convinced defence will cope with more pacier teams. Time will tell. Happy with 3 points in first game. The other teams should be easier and qualification a formality from here.
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18 Jun 2026 07:40:02
Fair assessment, Aus. I'd have played Guehi ahead of Stones, but definitely a case of so far, so good. Should easily have too much for Ghana and Panama, so let's see what (and who) the knockout phase brings.
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18 Jun 2026 09:00:02
Stones makes Harry Maguire look pacy!
James and Stones just didn't look fit at all, and I worry when we face a top team. Pickford needs to stop dicking around, too. With those three, we kept inviting pressure on all game.
Overall, a good win against a decent team, but plenty still to be concerned about.
At least it was entertaining!
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18 Jun 2026 10:14:39
I know it's dangerous to go by World Cup performances, but Dominik Livakovic's heroics in goal (EUR6 million transfer value) show there are good keeper options out there, and, sadly, we seem incapable of finding a top keeper.
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18 Jun 2026 16:44:55
A ropey first half, but a convincing second half performance. A good star to build on.
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17 Jun 2026 21:28:15
Emma Hayes knows more about football than Lee Dixon that's for sure.
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17 Jun 2026 23:08:12
Not a big ask tho. 😃
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17 Jun 2026 23:13:20
So do I! 🤣
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17 Jun 2026 23:24:27
But why was she standing in her kitchen?
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18 Jun 2026 01:13:37
So they could grill her on tactics.
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17 Jun 2026 14:33:01
A very impressive second half from France last night. Real quality goals. Great starts to the tournament for Mbappe, Messi, and Haaland. Can England hit the ground running?
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17 Jun 2026 17:30:55
I think we will, tho a draw ain't a disaster, even if it would get hefty criticism.
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17 Jun 2026 19:48:00
Mbappe 2, Haaland 2, Messi 3, Kane?
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17 Jun 2026 20:38:24
Just watched the Portugal game - can now add to your list, JR:
Messi - 1 game, 3 goals.
Mbappe - 1 game, 2 goals.
Haaland - 1 game, 2 goals.
Ronaldo - 1 game, 2 touches!
Seriously, Ron, it's time to call it a day.
Portugal have every chance of winning the tournament - providing they bench Ronaldo!
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17 Jun 2026 20:48:32
It was the same at the last WC, Cleggy.
I've never seen a more selfish player on a football pitch. Is he so obsessed with breaking individual records instead of putting his country first?
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17 Jun 2026 20:49:51
Correct Cleggy, I too think Portugal play better without Ronaldo than with him. I watched the Portugal v DR Congo game, and when Neves scored, the Portugal players were all smiles, except Ronaldo, who was wearing his best "why not me" scowl.
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