Tunisia v England, 18th June, 7pm(GMT)

[JJ1532]

And here we are again, the biennial "how can England embarrass themselves in a major tournament" event.

In all seriousness though, there is no reason this group can't get to the last 16. Besides Belgium, their group is very favourable, as is their opening game. The squad is relatively controversy free, besides some half hearted arguments over Wilshere and Hart. There are no fitness concerns(touch wood), no "where do we play Rooney", no "Lampard or Gerrard" and hopefully no "Why the fuck is Harry Kane on corners?!".

Kane has had a good season, Sterling his best ever. Alli has come back into form, Rashford could be a surprise hit. Yes, the squad lacks in high end talent and there are questions marks everywhere, from the manager to the defence, to the inexperienced set of goalies. It won't be a squad that goes deep, but a respectable tournament with an honourable quarter-finals exit to Brazil or Germany would be fine with me.

Got to start off strong with a win here though, our opening game record is atrocious.

As for Tunisia, they appear dead on arrival according to the media. An injury to Youssef Msakni has heavily dented their attack and it seems a few other big names are carrying fitness problems. That will mean they will probably heavily focus on sitting deep and playing for a 0-0.

I wouldn't expect a classic here. Can England break down a defensive minded Tunisia team, which has so often been their downfall in past tournaments.

Anyway, all match chat in here.

 

[Stevencc]

Here we are, the day St. Juste has been waiting for for four (fore) years.

 

[TractorBoys]

A predictable, slow start, for me. 1-1.

 

[Gassy]

With a blank slate, I get a feeling we could win this comfortably with a fresh group of young players & enthusiasm/

However, the scars run too deep.

Boring 1-1

 

[Liam_SWFC]

Heart says 2-1 win, head says typical England and a 1-1. Who has the bigger population out of England and Tunisia? That will give us the biggest indicator of who should win this game.

 

[DarkSithLord]

Think we are going to be nervous and tight against a hard to break down Tunisia side but will scrape a 1-0 win.

 

[Skinner]

Have fears we'll draw this and then in typical fashion Tunisia will finish above us on goal difference, due to Panama opening up against them

 

[Modernist]

A win we're through, a defeat we're out, a draw and its anyone's guess.

I genuinely have no idea how it will go tonight.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

A win in this, and beating Panama on Sunday should secure qualification as Belgium will get 6 points from Tunisia and Panama. If we get off to a fast start and get an early goal I think we'll be fine, if we cant break through in the first hour it'll get get nervous and the longer it goes on the less likely we'll be to score.

 

[Gassy]

Have fears we'll draw this and then in typical fashion Tunisia will finish above us on goal difference, due to Panama opening up against them

Have fears we'll draw this and then in typical fashion Tunisia will finish above us on goal difference, due to Panama opening up against them

This is EXACTLY what I've been telling the gf.

She's Croatian and thinks I'm being stupid and that there are many different scenarios that are much more likely.

Ahh naivety, I remember when I used to think like that with England

 

[Stevencc]

Allow me to inject some positivity in to this thread.

We're gonna bloody win and by at least two goals.

 

[Gassy]

England have released this message before todays game:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1008586073486716928

 

[Habbinalan]

I have a "Football's Coming Home" omen.

The wife (who has zero interest in sport, never mind football) CAME HOME WITH A FOOTBALL at the weekend. We've not had one in the house for decades.

It's from Screwfix - she's marginally more likely to go into a DIY store than me, perhaps once in a blue moon.

She asked me to blow it up and when I asked why she'd got it, sanity returned - it was free and we can put it in the pond in winter to stop the ice suffocating the wildlife.

Nervous 2-1 win is my guess.

 

[Luke_1884]

1-0 England for me. Don't care how we get it, let's just get our tournament rolling.

 

[FishyMackem]

A guy at work has a bet on 4-0 England. Poor guy.

 

[TractorBoys]

Ludicrous. Pretty much only thing I'm sure of is they won't gift us goals.

Will be a tough unit to break down.

Some cracking pop music below, thought it was quite topical. Imagine it's coming from the boys in white instead of JLS.

 

[Gassy]

I have a "Football's Coming Home" omen.

The wife (who has zero interest in sport, never mind football) CAME HOME WITH A FOOTBALL at the weekend. We've not had one in the house for decades.

It's from Screwfix - she's marginally more likely to go into a DIY store than me, perhaps once in a blue moon.

She asked me to blow it up and when I asked why she'd got it, sanity returned - it was free and we can put it in the pond in winter to stop the ice suffocating the wildlife.

Nervous 2-1 win is my guess.

Ice? How cold is it in Cambridge?

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Heart says 2-1 win, head says typical England and a 1-1. Who has the bigger population out of England and Tunisia? That will give us the biggest indicator of who should win this game.

I really can't wait to see Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and US go deep this World Cup.

 

[Liam_SWFC]

I really can't wait to see Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and US go deep this World Cup.

There's no wonder Scotland are so shit at football, how can they compete with those powerhouses of football?

 

[Leo]

There's no wonder Scotland are so shit at football, how can they compete with those powerhouses of football?

But, but we're not....someone said so.....When do we play ?

 

[DarkSithLord]

There's no wonder Scotland are so shit at football, how can they compete with those powerhouses of football?

They are genetically superior (according to St Juste)

 

[DippyDon]

I'm quietly confident. For once this team seem to be going into it with no care about what's happened in the past, we have a manager that's been in this scenario and has been through the worst of times in 96, and by his own admission nothing can be worse than that so why not have a go.
It won't be an easy win of course, but if the injury problems mentioned previously are true then I can certainly see us winning by two goals or so. I'm just hoping Sterling has a great tournament, after the shite he's been getting it'd be great for him to just stick two fingers up at the press.

 

[TractorBoys]

Starting to get nervous. Which is quite a nice feeling, kind of expected not to be too invested this time around.

Hitting the pub at 5.30. May treat myself to a bag.

 

[Nilsson]

I reckon we'll win.

Tunisia are no mugs but I think the movement of Alli and Lingard will cause them too many problems, hopefully our finishing is good enough.

 

[Skinner]

May treat myself to a bag.

Does this mean what I think it means

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Does this mean what I think it means

Yeah, go up to the bar, order an Aspall and a bag of crisps/ peanuts...

 

[Luke_1884]

I had this pictured tbf...


Thanks for clearing this up.

Edit: Didn't work, moments gone. Carry on.

 

[Chris FGR]

Easy 2-0 win. Kane and Alli scorers.

Think we can top the group, Belgium aren't great.

 

[SALTIRE]

8 - 0, Hendo with a double hat-trick.

 

[Skinner]

Been in pub since 4, dunno why I do this to my self because I won't remember the game and I'll go to work late tomorrow, on the plus I only stopped getting paid 3 minutes ago

Feeling more confident now, 3-0 England, Kane putting out a real statement and joining Ronaldo at the top of the charts (one of them a peno).