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Replying To katser:  "Probably getting a little bit excited but I'm going to make a bold prediction for the World Cup Quarter Finals........
France v Morocco
England v Norway
Portugal v Belgium
Argentina v Colombia.
Possible Semi Finals......France v England and Portugal v Argentina.
Oh wow that would be awesome!!!!!"
I think you have your draw mixed up. Argentina are in the Brazil/England half, so that's one potential semi-final. Spain/Portugal could meet France in the other semi.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2933 - 03/07/2026 11:04:52    2683864

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Replying To Saynothing:  "Ah, Nooooo."
That made me smile.

Brummiejoe (UK) - Posts: 19 - 03/07/2026 13:36:39    2683923

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "I think you have your draw mixed up. Argentina are in the Brazil/England half, so that's one potential semi-final. Spain/Portugal could meet France in the other semi."
Yes you are correct....possible Semi Finals
Argentina v England and France v Portugal......oh double wow that would be super awesome!!!!

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2896 - 03/07/2026 13:56:55    2683930

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I'm not sure. A lot being made of the altitude, and no doubt it will be a factor. But Mexico are a limited enough outfit. Their record at the Azteca isn't all that impressive when you drill into it, and see the calibre of teams that they've played there.

Mexico's fans will demand that they try to force the issue, which will actually suit England I think. Can see England weathering a early bit of huff-and-puff by Mexico, before their superior quality eventually shines through.

The quality will ramp up a notch or two now for sure. Spain looked very good last night.

My QF predictions:

France v Morocco
Spain v Belgium
Brazil v England
Argentina v Colombia"
I think the altitude will be a big factor and an over 80k boisterous home crowd roaring them on. England haven't impressed so far. They've been good in spells, but overall underwhelming. Plus, they rely far too much on Kane.
Still, it should be an intriguing match. Unfortunately, it's on too late for me, I'll be well asleep. Although, if England score or manage to win, I could it could be in for a sleepless night.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2924 - 03/07/2026 14:40:44    2683942

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Replying To Brummiejoe:  "That made me smile."
Well he did ask a silly question.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2835 - 03/07/2026 15:32:04    2683953

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Replying To katser:  "Probably getting a little bit excited but I'm going to make a bold prediction for the World Cup Quarter Finals........
France v Morocco
England v Norway
Portugal v Belgium
Argentina v Colombia.
Possible Semi Finals......France v England and Portugal v Argentina.
Oh wow that would be awesome!!!!!"
France v Morocco
Mexico v Norway
Spain v USA
Argentina v Colombia

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2924 - 03/07/2026 17:50:02    2684013

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Replying To Cockney_Cat:  "I think the altitude will be a big factor and an over 80k boisterous home crowd roaring them on. England haven't impressed so far. They've been good in spells, but overall underwhelming. Plus, they rely far too much on Kane.
Still, it should be an intriguing match. Unfortunately, it's on too late for me, I'll be well asleep. Although, if England score or manage to win, I could it could be in for a sleepless night."
Talk about the game being moved to 7pm Sunday night,adverse weather predicted.

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 100 - 03/07/2026 22:28:22    2684065

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Terrible penalties from Australia. Or more to the point, the management choices.
The manager subs the goalkeeper, who had a fine game, just before the penalty shoot out. Two of the players who took the four penalties were centre-backs, one of them 18 years old, both of them missed.

Cockney_Cat (UK) - Posts: 2924 - 03/07/2026 22:42:51    2684066

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Wow what a game… the exploits of Cabo Verde is sure to be made into a movie.
Taking the World Cup Champions to extra time and so very unlucky not to equalise for a 3rd time, deep in extra time… what a save…
Unbelievable performance and achievement.
And Pico - build a statue for him… ;o)

Wow that was such an amazing game of football…!

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5141 - 04/07/2026 01:55:07    2684082

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Replying To katser:  "Canada, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, Argentina, USA, Egypt, France, England, Spain, Portugal, Norway,Switzerland, Belgium and Colombia all to qualify for last 16 of the World Cup 80/1.
One down 15 to go!!!!"
14 out of the 16 correct only Germany and Netherlands who should have won in normal time go out after penalties for a whopping 80/1 with 50 euro bet!
Luckily I did another 13 team acca at 45/1 with 50 euro have 12 up so far just waiting on Morocco to qualify v Canada, but by god I was rattling with Belgium, Portugal and especially Egypt v Senegal, Croatia and Australia respectively!!!
Surely Morocco won't blow the pot v Canada..............

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2896 - 04/07/2026 07:41:56    2684088

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France and Spain are the 2 best teams in the competition. It is a pity that they are seeded to meet in the semi final as it really ought to be the final.

To me, England look best equipped to come through from the other side of the draw. Mexico on their home patch is probably their trickiest fixture, If they get past that, I think they'll beat Brazil, and they will definitely beat Argentina should they meet ( and I'd have said that even before seeing Argentina play last night).

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2146 - 04/07/2026 08:45:07    2684090

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Heads up here we go.....
Morocco, France, Norway, England, Portugal, Belgium, Argentina and Colombia all to qualify for Quarter Finals 8 team acca 72/1 I'll slap 50 euro on that.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2896 - 04/07/2026 11:41:06    2684108

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P.S do we know of any Galway people travelling to Croke Park today with a big maroon hat on their head to "support " Galway in the All Ireland Hurling Semi Final but then decide to back Cork in the bookies?
Not me...I will be backing Galway to win.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2896 - 04/07/2026 11:48:04    2684111

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "France and Spain are the 2 best teams in the competition. It is a pity that they are seeded to meet in the semi final as it really ought to be the final.

To me, England look best equipped to come through from the other side of the draw. Mexico on their home patch is probably their trickiest fixture, If they get past that, I think they'll beat Brazil, and they will definitely beat Argentina should they meet ( and I'd have said that even before seeing Argentina play last night)."
I would agree that player for player, England look better on paper than Argentina.

But they are the most street-wise team in the tournament. In a tight game, they know every trick in the book to get in the referee's ear, to irritate the opposition, and of course in Messi they still have a player of bewildering class. He only operates in moments these days, but those moments are often better than what somw players manage in an entire career.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10411 - 04/07/2026 12:11:46    2684118

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "France and Spain are the 2 best teams in the competition. It is a pity that they are seeded to meet in the semi final as it really ought to be the final.

To me, England look best equipped to come through from the other side of the draw. Mexico on their home patch is probably their trickiest fixture, If they get past that, I think they'll beat Brazil, and they will definitely beat Argentina should they meet ( and I'd have said that even before seeing Argentina play last night)."
Many weren't too keen on Argentina before the last World Cup and they went on to win the thing. There was a debate on here saying they weren't even a good team. They had just come off winning the Copa America in Brazil's backyard. They lost to Saudi Arabia last time out, but went on to outplay France for the majority of the final. I don't think they'll win it either. Going back to back is extremely difficult and it's pretty much the same squad as last time. They don't seem to have the same energy, but they'll be a tough outing for anyone they play.
They're actually better when they have their backs to the wall and nothing to lose. They struggle to kill off games like Spain or France as they don't keep the ball in the same style or have the same pace in attack.
But they have real battlers who love to get stuck in and of course some real quality to provide big moments.
How they responded to France equalising in the final in '22 was remarkable. Most teams would have folded with the momentum completely against them and a young fresh French team coming at them in waves.
Instead they dug in, got back in front, created some very good chances and only another penalty got France level again.
Spain and France look the pick of the best at the moment, but knockout football can spring plenty surprises.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2933 - 04/07/2026 12:28:04    2684119

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