The Rolling Football Thread: Season 2025/26 - thread 2

[DuncinToffee]

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sports/5383976-the-rolling-football-thread-season-202526?page=40&reply=147893728

You mean the international break most clubs have players at?

A draw was a fair result, the Sunderland goal was IMO a very good goal

some exciting matches today

abd Bayern Munich also lost there 100% win record

A lot of teams are going to struggle at Sunderland this season.

Being without Gyokeres, Havertz, Odegaard, Martinelli, Jesus, and Madueke would make it hard for any team. I do think Arteta should have given a chance to one of the youngsters on the bench though - particularly Dowman, as he tends to win free kicks and penalties.

I read somewhere that Sunderland is going to lose 9 players to the Afcon

Ouch!

I must admit only one defender substitute is an odd move considering how they could have potentially killed it off with 3rd given how all out Sunderland were going

Looking at FotMob I would say 7 with 3 in the first team

that will be an advantage to Arsenal overall (although it will be interesting to see the impact of not having Salah on Liverpool and whether it may weirdly be an advantage)

3rd match of the first round of the best of 3 for Inter Miami will be interesting to see if they can get through that

I'm not sure we would have killed it off. Sunderland sat back in the second half until we were in the lead, but then they went for it as they had in the first half, and that definitely made it difficult for us.

Yes, we hit the bar, and there was a great save followed by a block at the end, but sometimes these things just don't go your way.

At least I don't have to blame the referee (although I wasn't particularly happy with him allowing their defenders to foul at whim) for this one.

Unlike the ladies match earlier, which was dreadful...

Yes it was good while it lasted.

Yes it was dreadful.

We need City and Liverpool to draw tomorrow

Gosh, the Gladbach vs Cologne match was exciting but too long (11 mins of official added on time, but 14 played... due to 3 of 4 VAR decisions having to be endlessly discussed and looked at)
I do like having the VAR explanations by the ref in the stadium tho.

And Gladbach won 3-1 so we are all very happover here - Derbywinners. Yes.
The Boro-loving-DC is watching the Chelsea vs Wolves and using Very Choice Language. (he reckons if Wolves go down, Rob Edwards won't stay)

Yes I heard that too. Will be a definite advantage to anyone playing them during that period

Stadiums announced for Euro 28

So if I am reading it right England will be B1, Wales A1, Scotland E1 Northern Ireland D1 and Republic of Ireland F1

good to know - UEFA will start selling tickets before the groups are announced/drawn so at least can put bids in for the ones I wouldn’t mind going to rather than buying last minute

does seem a little skewed though Wembley gets the semis and final

oh it so annoys me. I get Wembly for the final, but the semis should be elsewhere.

I mean I live in London and I agree!

it is basically setting England up to be in their home stadium for the QF onwards which is fine if they were the only hosts!

It bugs me that the FA cup semi finals are at wembley too - especially if it's 2 northern teams.

I'm also still annoyed with FA cup semis there now as opposed to neutral grounds.

It's a much dearer do for us to go to London instead of Villa Park for example.

They guaranteed so many games to be played there when they built it though didn't they with no consideration for anyone outside the capital.

I think this is worse - it favours England as a host massively over the other 3 At least with the FA cup it is a neutral ground for all teams even if travel varies

although I also think having the semi finals there takes away the going to Wembley for the final

Great result for Ireland

Another clean sheet for Pickford.

Oh wow Ireland!!!

Haaland is a machine - he seems to be on a serious mission to get a ballon d’or.

Voldemort scored for Germany again this evening.

4 PL players scoring for Holland; Reijnders, Gakpo, Simons, Malen.

So happy for Kieran Tierney.

That was some goal