Report, reaction and more
Gareth Bale’s verdict
Everyone’s disappointed but we’re all proud of what we’ve achieved to get here. We have to look how far we’ve come. Of course we wanted to get out of the group, but football’s difficult. We didn’t live up to our expectations at this tournament.
If you’d told us two years ago that we would play in a World Cup, we’d have all pinched ourselves. We’ll all walk out of that changing-room with our held high and proud of each other. It’s been difficult at this tournament, we haven’t played very well. But we’ve given everything and we won’t have any regrets.
I’ll keep going as long as I can and as long as I’m wanted. It’s a difficult moment now but we go again.
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Wales 0-3 England
That’s it for tonight’s live blog. Commiserations to Wales and congratulations to England. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight.
Gareth Southgate’s verdict
In the first half we controlled the game but we didn’t create enough clear chances. We wanted a bit more thrust in the final third, to play forward a bit quicker. The second half, once we got the two goals, we knew that their spirit had probably gone. I thought we kept our discipline right until the end.
It’s great for [Marcus Rashford]. He’s trained really well, I have to say, and he could have had a hat-trick. His free-kick was an incredible strike; that’s what he’s capable of. In moments I thought both [Rashford and Foden] were a bit quiet in the first half. We decided to switch them at half-time and they responded really well, and for them to both get their goals was great.
I’ve played in front of England crowds like that. It’s an amazing feeling when you see them in such numbers, especially when you think how far they’ve had to travel. I thought we dealt with the pressure really well – we were calm and we showed our quality.
Jude Bellingham speaks
I’m so happy for [Marcus Rashford] – what a performance. We’ve got loads of depth in attacking areas, and whoever comes in seems to make an impact. It doesn’t really change the style of them That’s quite rare, if we’re being honest. I’m really happy for Phil tonight; he’s had a lot of pressure on him the last few days with all the attention, but he showed again how good he is.
We weren’t aggressive enough [against the US] but it was more high-energy today. It was important for us to be on the front foot. Hendo brings that intensity every time he plays. We won a lot of balls really high up the pitch which was key to us keeping the pressure on.
The final Group B table
England 7pts
USA 5
Iran 3
Wales 1
Rob Page speaks
It’s very tough to take at this moment in time. I thought in the first half we were outstanding – the effort we put in without the ball was exceptional. We could have kept the ball better but I won’t have a bad word said about that group of players; they’ve given everything today. The second goal disappoints me a little bit, but I don’t want to talk about negatives today.
Five minutes before half-time, Gareth felt his hamstring. Joe Allen and Ben Davies had to come off as well. It was a massive effort from all the group and I couldn’t be more proud of them.
My message is: don’t do disappointed. We’ll build again for the future now, and to get to the World Cup is an unbelievable achievement for that group of players.
Dan James’ verdict
We knew it would be tough. I thought we defended well at times but they can score with anything. They scored a great free-kick, and then conceding the second goal straight away killed us a little bit. We’re super-gutted.
We’re proud to be here and we’ll concentrate on trying to qualify for the next Euros. I just wanna say thanks to the fans – they’ve been unbelievable.
Full: Iran 0-1 USA
The USA will play the Netherlands in the last 16 after a frantic victory over Iran. Christian Pulisic scored the only goal, injuring himself in the process, and the US held out relatively comfortably.
Marcus Rashford's verdict
It’s a great feeling. We were a bit disappointed after the USA game, and the only way to bounce back is to have a good performance in your next game; I thought we did it. It was just about taking the chances when they came.
I fancied a free-kick in the first half, but the one in the second half was in a better position. From there it’s about being calm and executing what you do in training. They don’t go in often but I was glad it did today.
At half-time the manager said we’d played really but that we could work the keeper more. In the second half we did that.
Moments like this, this is what I pplay football for. I’m really happy that we’re going through and I hope we can build on this performance. I have massive ambition for this team and I think we play even better.
"Well done England,” says Matt Dony. “The best side won. But, I’ve seen Wales play at the World Cup. That’s huge. There will always be a sadness over how the side have performed, but they were there. They played at the World Cup. Gareth Bale has scored a World Cup goal.
"In years to come, I won’t think about the one point or the fourth place. I’ll remember watching Wales play at the World Cup. Diolch, bois. Mae wedi bod yn anhygoel. Pasio y Penderyn i mi.”
It’ll make a great book one day
There are nine minutes of added time in the match between Iran and the USA. Get yourself over there.
Full time: Wales 0-3 England
Peep peep! England top the group after an ultimately comfortable victory over Wales. Marcus Rashford (2) and Phil Foden scored the goals, having been brought into the side tonight, and England will now play Senegal in the last 16 on Sunday evening.
It’s a sad end to a golden age of Welsh football. They defended well in the first half but again struggled to keep the ball, and Gareth Bale went off injured at half-time. They’ve done themselves proud – not necessarily tonight, but certainly over the past decade. This group of players have given millions of people some of the happiest moments of their lives.
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90+4 min After an absurd slalom from Grealish, Foden has a close-range shot blocked.
90+1 min John Stones misses an absolute sitter, half-volleying into orbit from six yards after Maguire had headed a corner back across goal.
90+1 min Four minutes of added time.
90 min Probably fair to assume James Maddison won’t be getting on the field at this World Cup.
90 min So anyway: England v Senegal on Sunday evening and, as things stand, the Netherlands v the USA on Saturday afternoon. That’ll be the first game of the knockout stage.
89 min “Has it been a ‘desperately disappointing World Cup’ for Wales?” says Vic Rushton. “They held a good USA team, lost in injury time v a superior Iran and, were it not for the set piece, were successfully frustrating England. As the Pompey fan pointed out, what could you realistically expect with the players they have available?”
I think it has, though maybe some of us expected too much based on previous achievement. It’s the meekness of the performances, rather than the results, that has been the really disappointing thing.
87 min A brilliant crossfield pass from Idon’tknow is chested down by Moore on the edge of the area, but Stones holds him up well and Moore eventually shoots miles wide.
84 min A loose ball falls nicely for Colwill, 22 yards out, but his snapshot goes high over the bar.
84 min Wilson’s free-kick hits the wall.
83 min Moore is fouled by Maguire, 25 yards from goal. The angle would be perfect for Bale, but in his absence it’ll be Harry Wilson to take it…
82 min Gianni Infantino’s self-satisfied coupon appears on the big screen, prompting a chorus of boos.
82 min “The problem England have now is that they’ve far too many players who play as a sort of inside left,” says Andy Flintoff. “There’s Mount, Grealish, Foden and Rashford. After a period where we didn’t have any, we now have loads. Where precisely have they come from? Was there some sort of secret inside-left factory set up in the early 2000s, when there weren’t many, and it’s only just bearing fruit?”
81 min: Wales substitution Joe Allen is replaced by Rubin Colwill.
81 min There’s a break in play while Joe Allen receives treatment. I think he may have suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that kept him out at the start of the tournament.
79 min Good luck picking a team for the match against Senegal. I suspect Gareth Southgate will go back to Sterling and Saka, but Henderson might stay in midfield ahead of Mount.
77 min: Good save from Ward! Callum Wilson – who really is deputising for Harry Kane by becoming England’s creator in chief – puts Bellingham through on goal. He slides a low shot across goal that is saved smartly to his left by Ward, and Bellingham’s follow-up just evades Foden.
77 min: Wales substitution Harry Wilson replaces Dan James.
75 min: England substitution Jack Grealish replaces Marcus Rashford, who gets the warmest of ovations from the crowd and a lovely embrace from Gareth Southgate. His comeback – before this tournament his last kick for England was that penalty against Italy – is becoming one of the feelgood stories of the World Cup.
75 min This is the first time England have scored nine goals in the group stage of a major tournament. Southgate out!
73 min An enterprising run from Brennan Johnson ends with a cross-shot that is blocked by Trippier.
72 min Almost a hat-trick for Rashford! Wilson ran at a backpedalling defence and again showed his selfless side by flicking it outside to Rashford. His low, sidefooted shot was kicked round the near post by Ward.
71 min It’s been a desperately disappointing World Cup for Wales. But we shouldn’t forget that this is part of a much bigger story, one that involves Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and, of course, Gary Speed. And while it was a tournament too far for Bale and Ramsey, they have been responsible for some of the most euphoric moments in Welsh football history. A crap fortnight in Qatar doesn’t change that.
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70 min Since Clueless Gareth switched his wingers at half-time, they’ve scored three goals.
That’s England’s 100th World Cup goal. Phillips arrowed a sweet pass down the right wing to release Rashford. He moved into the area, cut inside Roberts and belted a left-footed shot that went through the legs of the unsighted Ward.
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GOAL! Wales 0-3 England (Rashford 68)
Marcus Rashford is having a night out.
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66 min “Joe Morrell plays for Portsmouth,” says Paulo Biriani. “Portsmouth. That’s what Rob Page has at his disposal. And I’m a Pompey fan.”
65 min Another change for England: Kieran Trippier replaces Luke Shaw.
64 min And while we’re doing videos, here are the England goals.
WHAT A HIT!! 🤯
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2022
Marcus Rashford with a gorgeous free-kick to give England the lead! 🔥#BBCWorldCup #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/nqovEb64kv
The England fans wanted to see Phil Foden in the side and he's come up with the goods! #BBCWorldCup #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/3Mq8atvwaP
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2022
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63 min “Liking those subs Rob,” says Sean Boiling. “You must love seeing Wilson Phillips come on.”
Arf, very good.
61 min Aaron Ramsey is booked for a poor tackle on Henderson, who yelped with pain at the point of contact. Ramsey did apologise straight away but it was a bad challenge, studs into the ankle.
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59 min Another injury for Wales: Ben Davies, who has quietly been one of their better players in this tournament is replaced by Joe Morrell.
59 min “I thought it was Allardyce’s Bolton who parked the bus,” says Niall Mullen. “But you’re right, we all become the things we fear that we secretly are. I, for example, am a middle-aged man doing the equivalent of writing in green ink to the newspaper letters page.”
When Mourinho was in his imperial phase, I think he accused pretty much all of them of parking the bus. But I’m sure Spurs were the first.
58 min: Triple substitution for England Trent Alexander-Arnold, Callum Wilson and Kalvin Phillips replace Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker. That went really well for Walker, who didn’t look remotely rusty.
57 min As things stand, England will play Senegal on Sunday evening (English time), and the Netherlands will play the USA on Saturday afternoon.
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56 min All of a sudden, Wales are going for it. Moore’s long-range shot deflects off the abundant noggin of Maguire, and Pickford does well to change direction and push it behind for a corner.
55 min James cuts inside Walker on the left edge of the area and curls a very dangerous cross-shot that flashes just wide of the far post. Pickford dived for it but didn’t get a touch.
53 min That, as Roger Kirkby informed us earlier, is England’s 99th World Cup goal.
Rashford played a big part in the goal, robbing Ben Davies just outside the Wales area. Kane collected the loose ball and drove a devastating ball across the six-yard line. None of the Wales defenders could get to it, and Foden arrived beyond the far post to ram it gleefully past Danny Ward.
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GOAL! Wales 0-2 England (Foden 51)
Two in two minutes for England!
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51 min Having seen it again, I think Danny Ward is slightly at fault. He assumed Rashford would go to the near side and started to place his weight on his right foot, or rather his wrong foot. The free-kick from Rashford was very good but it wasn’t right in the corner.
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Marcus Rashford gives England the lead with a glorious free-kick. It was just outside the area, to the left of centre, and he simply flashed a curling shot into the far corner.
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GOAL! Wales 0-1 England (Rashford 50)
Pick that out.
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48 min Foden and Rashford have switched wings. Foden goes on a brilliant run infield from the left, swerving past three players before being fouled by Mepham. This is a chance for England, a free-kick 22 yards from goal…
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48 min If it stays like this, Gareth Southgate has plenty of decent options on the bench. England need a lock-picker tonight, so I’d be looking at James Maddison (if he’s fit), Trent Alexander-Arnold and maybe Jack Grealish.
47 min “Re: ‘sterile domination’,” begins Edward Chukwurah. “Perhaps the difference lies in Wenger coining that phrase while assessing his own team after a match, while Mourinho was accusing the opposition of ‘parking the bus’.”
I thought Wenger used it to describe Barcelona in the first half of Arsenal’s game at the Nou Camp in 2010-11. Would have to check though. Mourinho certainly first used it to criticise Spurs in his first season at Chelsea.
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46 min Peep peep!
Half-time substitution: Brennan Johnson for Gareth Bale
Ach, that’s a really sad way for Bale’s tournament – maybe even his career - to end. He must be injured, although in truth he barely had a kick in the first half.
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“And breathe,” says Matt Dony, gulping dementedly at the nearest bit of oxygen. “Wales have defended brilliantly, and they’ve had to. There’s been commitment, strength, and excellent game-reading. And there’s been a healthy touch of luck. That’s not sustainable for the whole 90 minutes. Now’s the time to go for it. Big 45 minutes. No need to panic and throw everything forward from the re-start, but certainly time to be braver and more enterprising.
“The other game is out of our hands. Doesn’t really matter. Just look for a positive result here. Absolutely heartbroken for Neco. He’s not had the greatest time, but I love seeing him in the pitch. Potentially the next Welsh star player. I really, really hope that he has a chance to show his ability at other tournaments.”
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“Can’t help thinking there’s a bit of mid-era Wenger about this England performance,” says Tom Atkins. “Some nice patterns around the box, a lot of sterile possession, but nothing really to frighten the horses.”
It’s odd that it was Wenger who coined the phrase “sterile domination”. Then again, Jose Mourinho did the same with “park the bus”. Self-loathing can manifest in some weird and wonderful ways.
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Half time: Wales 0-0 England
Peep peep! Another scoreless half for England, though as things stand they are top of the group. They dominated possession but created only a couple of really good chances for Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden. Wales defended well, though Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were again anonymous. They need a two-goal swing – one for them, one for Iran.
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45+5 min A nice training-ground throw-in for Wales. Roberts shaped up for the long one, then threw it flat to the unmarked Mepham. He fed it into Allen, who took a touch and thrashed over the bar from the edge of the area. A decent effort, though I doubt Pickford’s heart rate hit the roof.
45+5 min Roberts and Rashford briefly exchange unpleasantries, and why not. There was nothing much in it.
45+5 min “Trying to catch updates from an airport shuttle bus on Tenerife,” says Ellie Baskerville. “I seem to be the last drop-off in Puerto de la Cruz. Nobody score until I get to a TV.”
So long as you arrive before March 2027, you should be okay.
45+4 min Foden swings a very deep corner towards Stones, who loops a header back towards goal. Ward backpedals smartly to make a comfortable save under the bar.
45+3 min Maguire steals the ball high up the field and gives it to Kane. His low shot hits Maguire, busying himself in the area, and goes behind for … a corner. I suppose that evens out the one in the 18th minute.
45+4 min Brennan Johnson is apparently getting ready to come on for Wales, which is bad news for somebody’s soft tissues.
45+2 min “My wifi connection just cut out so this is a great time for my mates to wind me up with fake goal celebrations - and they are - they tell me we are 2-1 down,” says Omar Madha. “Am guessing …not true? (Am hoping you are all more reliable…?)”
Are you telling me you missed Connor Roberts’ fifth goal.
45+5 min Five minutes of added Neco time.
45 min Bellingham is starting to trouble Wales with his direct running. After another surge he cuts the ball back nicely to the edge of the area, where Henderson (I think) has a shot blocked.
44 min Has Gareth Southgate taken negative hashtags as far as he can?
England have killed goals
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) November 29, 2022
43 min There’s been a goal in the other game in this group. Here’s your clickbait.
40 min Fine defending from Roberts! England broke menacingly, four on three, after Foden elegantly took a Wales defender out of the game and found Kane. He gave it to Rashford, whose slightly indecisive cross was put behind by Roberts.
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39 min Henderson’s cross takes a deflection and loops invitingly towards Rashford, who tries a spectacular overhead kick and shins it well wide. Worth a try.
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39 min Less talk more embeddable videos please lads.
We need to talk about that skill from Jude Bellingham... 🤤
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 29, 2022
38 min: Chance for Foden! That was lovely play from England. Bellingham and Walker (I think) exchanged jaunty flicks on the edge of the area; then Bellingham produced another to find Foden. He turned smoothly and spanked a rising drive just wide. It was a decent chance.
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36 min Neco Williams, who has been through plenty in this tournament and looks pretty dejected, is coming off. He’s replaced by Connor Roberts.
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34 min Neco Williams is down again. He’s still struggling after wearing Rashford’s shot earlier in the game, which again makes you wonder what’s going on with the concussion protocols at this tournament. Under the current system, even Basil Fawlty would have been discharged.
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34 min A decent cross from Walker is headed away decisively by Mepham.
33 min Wales haven’t had a shot, they’ve barely had a kick – and it’s going pretty well for them. All that matters is that they are still in the game going into the last quarter, when strange things are much more likely to happen.
32 min Maguire surges through the inside-left channel, all the way into the area, and then belabours the ball out for a throw-in on the far side. That was… unusual.
31 min The England fans are chanting “you’re going home in the morning”, which will make for a helluva schadenfreude sandwich if Wales win 7-0.
31 min Possessionwatch: Wales 24-76 England.
29 min Dan James is booked for a late tackle on John Stones.
29 min Ramsey picks Kane’s pocket just past the halfway line. Williams breaks but is then taken out by Henderson.
28 min I’m not sure what to make of this England performance. They’ve passed it pretty well, with a swagger at times, but they’ve only created that one chance for Rashford.
27 min “I was born in England (London) and lived there 18 years,” writes Meher Rashid Shima. “I then moved to Wales (Cardiff) three years ago. Not sure how to feel about the match. I’d be happy either way, but I am secretly wishing England win!”
Your secret’s safe with me and both our readers.
26 min Williams is fine, play resumes.
23 min A fierce long-range shot from Rashford flattens Neco Williams, who stooped to head it away just inside the area. There’s a break in play while he has a concussion test, and a few boos as well. You can’t ban those, sadly.
22 min Shaw curls a terrific cross towards Henderson, in all sorts of space beyond the far post, but the ball kicks up awkwardly and Henderson can’t control it with his head. Moments later, Walker hammers a low cross that is kicked away in the six-yard box.
21 min Wales are defending perfectly well, but once again they are really struggling to keep the ball. I’d be tempted to switch the wingers for a bit – try Bale’s craft against Walker and James’ pace against Shaw rather than the other way round.
20 min “Quite boring so far from your account of proceedings, dear Rob,” says Edward Davey.
It’s the way I tell them.
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18 min That was a mildly pathetic free-kick from England. They spent an age whispering to each other, obviously telegraphing that something funky was coming up. In the end all they did was have two players touch it off for Shaw to float beyond the far post, where Maguire headed the ball off Ampadu and behind for a corner.
Well, it should have been a corner, but the referee gave a goalkick.
17 min Mepham shoves Kane over 25 yards from goal, a needless foul to give away. The free-kick is a fair way to the left of centre, and England have four players round the ball…
16 min Bale and Ramsey are playing different roles tonight – Bale wide right, Ramsey as the No10 – but so far they have been as quiet as they were against Iran. I still think there’s an argument for using Bale as a substitute. Fight tooth and nail to keep it at 0-0, then bring him on for the last 20-30 minutes.
15 min Shaw’s free-kick is headed away to Foden, 25 yards out. He shoots well wide.
13 min That chance aside, it’s been a cagey start to the game. England are having most of the ball, but their tempo is on the slow side.
10 min: Excellent save by Ward! The first chance goes to England. Kane put Rashford through on goal with a lovely pass, perfectly in sync with Rashford’s off-the-ball run, but Ward charged a long way from his line to narrow the angle and block Rashford’s shot.
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9 min Ampadu sprays a crossfield pass towards James, but it’s too heavy and goes out of play.
8 min “Are the final games of the group being played at the same time to keep the games competitive to the last?” asks Andrew Benton. “Or is it just for the TV schedules?”
It’s because of the Disgrace of Gijon, pretty much.
7 min Loads of early possession for England, though you can file it under sterile domination. Wales won’t mind this; they’ll be thrilled if it’s 0-0 after 70 minutes.
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5 min “As someone who’s from a country with a small population, much smaller than Wales, my heart longs for their success, even as my head knows how long the odds are,” writes Kári Tulinius. “I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way. There’s a small nation army behind Wales.”
4 min The first burst from Rashford, who combines with Shaw before being well tackled in the area.
2 min Tacticswatch: Aaron Ramsey is playing further forward, as a No10. England’s formation is as expected, with Bellingham playing as the left-sided central midfielder.
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1 min “Hi, Rob,” says Nicola Nanev. “I am a Bulgarian, who used to live in UK and now lives in USA. I have been a life-long supporter of English football.
“I have been following your minute-by-minute reporting from an office in Manhattan, which was full earlier, but, by now, has mostly cleared as if there is a big game coming up, to which the locals will turn their attention.
“I am one of the few that will stay behind and support England. There is no point going to the pub as they will be showing the OTHER game!”
1 min Peep peep! Wales, specifically Aaron Ramsey, kick off from left to right as we watch.
Today’s @guardian_sport FW@bglendenning @elisjames @Towno10 @barneyronay @NickAmes82
— Max Rushden 💛🖤 (@maxrushden) November 29, 2022
Questions throughout the game please
After the obligatory blast of Seven Nation Army, which somehow still sounds magnificent despite being forced into our ears approximately 147,824 times in the past decade or so, it’s time for the action.
“As an American, a Wales win is the last thing I want...” says Daniel Stauss. “But as an MBM devotee, do it for Dony!”
The players are on the field, and it’s time for the anthems. Despite the best efforts of Gareth Southgate in particular, it’s a win for Wales.
A reminder of the teams
Wales (possible 4-2-3-1) Ward; N Williams, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, Allen; Bale, Ramsey, James; Moore.
Substitutes: A Davies, Gunter, Wilson, Johnson, Roberts, Morrell, Lockyer, J Williams, Harris, Thomas, Levitt, Cabango, Colwill, Smith.
England (4-1-2-3) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice; Henderson, Bellingham; Foden, Kane, Rashford.
Substitutes: Pope, Ramsdale, Grealish, Sterling, Trippier, Phillips, Dier, Coady, Saka, Alexander-Arnold, Mount, Wilson, Maddison, Gallagher.
“Fired this up to get all emotional,” says James Womack. “The aging hipster’s alternative to Land of My Fathers.”
“England’s 100th World Cup goal could be scored tonight,” says Roger Kirkby. “They are on 97 and need three more to do it. Remember who scores it as it will be in pub quizzes forever.”
That’s Rob Page’s teamtalk sorted.
“Nice reference to Dylan Thomas there, Matt Dony,” says Nathan Barnes. “Here’s hoping Wales can surprise us one last time? Nathan, from South Africa (a distant observer of this tournament).”
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“Kia ora from Aotearoa/New Zealand,” writes Annabelle Garnett. “I just cleaned the remnants of cheese from our toasted sandwich machine. I could have sworn the sticky yellow goo resembled England. It can only be an encouraging sign! Up the Three Lions!!!”
That’s the first time I’ve seen the phrase “sticky yellow goo” in close proximity to “an encouraging sign”.
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No big Wales game would be complete without a pre-match stream of Matt Dony’s consciousness.
“Euro 2016 was an astonishing, magical, stars-aligning, life affirming journey. But, let’s face it, it was never going to be the pattern for future tournaments. Wales have a decent squad, but that’s it. Their strength has always been an ability to rise above the sum of their parts (and then for Bale to do Bale things).
“I think a lot of people outside Wales have underestimated just how much it means to be there, to be at the party, so long after the last time. I honestly never thought this would happen in my lifetime. The performance against Iran was disappointing, there’s no getting away from it. And as a result of that game, this is likely to be the end of the line.
“Wales’ best performances over the last decade or so have been when Ramsey, Allen and Bale have all been on the pitch. It’s happened with depressing irregularity more recently, but it would be nice if they could sign off with a bang.
“Time catches up to all players; knobbles their legs, throttles their lungs, clouds their vision. But if those three old boys have got one more monster performance in them, now would be a helluva time to rage against the dying of the light.”
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When is he going to give Charlie George his head?
“I know I’m old-fashioned (no social media presence) and naive, but I fail to see why a Twitter frenzy puts pressure on Gareth Southgate, or anyone else for that matter,” says Richard Hirst. “Simply don’t read it, ignore it, let the mob eat themselves, don’t give them the satisfaction etc etc.
“I appreciate that these are the words of a bah humbug geriatric but … imagine the frenzy if Twitter had been around when Alf Ramsey played Geoff Hurst rather than Jimmy Greaves, and that didn’t turn out too badly.”
It’s a complex situation that involves an evolving media landscape, changes in human behaviour and notions of identity in a digital world. I suppose the easiest way to summarise it is to say that, at some stage in the 2010s, the entire world went mad.
Group A is done and dusted. The Netherlands put Qatar out of their on-field misery with a 2-0 win, and Senegal pipped Ecuador 2-1 in the second-placed playoff.
That means the winner of this group will play Senegal ojn Sunday evening (UK time), and the runner-up will meet the Netherlands on Saturday afternoon.
Read Jonathan Liew on Jacob Maguire
And what exactly does he know about taking free-kicks at a World Cup?
Tom Lutz is a delightful human being – warm, smart, effortlessly funny, a creme de menthe connoisseur. A credit to the Guardian, and to humanity. Cherish him, appreciate him, say goodbye to him, because the poor bugger has been given the hottest potato in Guardian MBM history.
Pre-match reading
England team news: Foden and Kane start
Gareth Southgate makes four changes to the side that drew against the USA on Friday. The most significant, though not the most eye-catching, is probably at right-back, where Kyle Walker replaces Kieran Tripper. Walker is a key part of Project Mbappe (and, if England are really lucky, Project Vinicius), so England want to get him match-fit. Walker has played only 41 minutes since the start of September.
The public gets what the public wants up front, where Phil Foden replaces Bukayo Saka on the right wing. Marcus Rashford is in for Raheem Sterling on the other side and Jordan Henderson replaces Mason Mount in midfield.
Just one more thing: Ben White, who is unwell, isn’t among the substitutes.
England (4-1-2-3) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice; Henderson, Bellingham; Foden, Kane, Rashford.
Substitutes: Pope, Ramsdale, Grealish, Sterling, Trippier, Phillips, Dier, Coady, Saka, Alexander-Arnold, Mount, Wilson, Maddison, Gallagher.
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Wales team news: three changes from Iran defeat
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey start, despite speculation to the contrary, but there are three changes from Friday’s miserable 2-0 defeat to Iran.
Danny Ward, Dan James, Joe Allen replace Wayne Hennessey (who is suspended), Harry Wilson and Connor Roberts. That probably means a switch to a back four, though Ethan Ampadu’s flexibility allows Rob Page to play either way. Or he could go rogue and stick Gareth Bale at left wing-back, like in the old days.
Wales (possible 4-2-3-1) Ward; N Williams, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Ampadu, Allen; Bale, Ramsey, James; Moore.
Substitutes: A Davies, Gunter, Wilson, Johnson, Roberts, Morrell, Lockyer, J Williams, Harris, Thomas, Levitt, Cabango, Colwill, Smith.
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Permutations corner
England
If they win, they win the group.
If they draw, they will win the group unless Iran beat the USA by any score or the USA win by at least four goals.
If they lose, it gets complicated. They will still qualify unless they lose by at least four goals; if England lose by 1-3 goals, they will still top the group if Iran draw with the USA.
Wales
If they win by at least four goals, they will qualify for the last 16.
If they win by fewer than four goals, they will only go through if Iran draw with the USA.
If they don’t win, they’ll do one.
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Preamble
Wales v England is one of rugby’s most intense rivalries – “look what these bastards have done to Wales…” – but in football it has generally been a story of distaste rather than disgust. Tonight’s match can viewed in multiple ways: as a local derby, a one-way rivalry, or an FA Cup fourth-round tie in Fifa clothing.
The game doesn’t exist in a vacuum, which is one of the main reasons for the slightly odd pre-match mood. It’s inextricably linked to Iran v USA, a match which could determine whether #WW3 is trending by midnight Wales qualify and/or England top the group.
The strangest thing is that Wales go into the final group game of their first World Cup since 1958 hoping that England win their group. It sounds absurd – offensive even, and you can direct your complaints to the readers’ editor via guardian.readers@theguardian.com – but that, realistically, is the only way that Wales can qualify for the last 16. Unless they win by four goals tonight [spoiler alert…], Wales will finish below England. Ergo, if England finish second, Wales do one.
But a one-goal win for Wales certainly isn’t beyond the realms. If they manage that, and Iran draw with the USA, Wales will go through and Robert Page will complete the return journey from bald fraud to smooth-headed genius.
There’s a decent argument, albeit not one I’d volubly articulate in some of Cardiff’s less forgiving freehouses, that reaching the last 16 isn’t the be-all and end-all for Wales. This game feels as much about them leaving an impression on Qatar 2022 after two muted performances against the USA and Iran. Even if Wales go out tonight, the result and especially the performance will shape how their campaign is remembered. You never get a second chance to make a last impression. The likelihood is that this will be their final hit at the World Cup. But there are final hits and final hits. Which one is this going to be?
England, by contreast, are slightly in limbo. To some this is a lifeless rubber, a chance to play Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold and all the other generational talents (sic) who would walk into a World XI but not Gareth Southgate’s England. To others it’s vital for morale that England win – not just the match but also the group and, at least until the next game, the oscillating voters on social media.
This is a very complicated game, you know: lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous. It’s a night for both might and will, and not just as nouns. England might top Group B with a draw; they might be able to make multiple changes and still beat Wales. But another modest performance will exacerbate the absurd pressure that Southgate is under, largely because of hysterical criticism from Twitter’s finest.
England will top the group if they win, though there is an argument that finishing second is preferable. It would give them a tougher last-16 game (the Netherlands rather than Senegal) but a potentially less terrifying quarter-final (not France rather than France).
For the 974th time in this World Cup, I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s going to be that sort of night.
Kick off 7pm GMT, 10pm in Al Rayyan.
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