Tony85

It is Hartson.

Maddison is injured.

Not really surprised. Qatar have said loads of things about this competition that they've changed after the fact. They probably decided years ago they weren't going to allow this but they know they have all the power / money to do whatever they want. Just waited for the appropriate moment to release the news.

Because they wanted to be the first game but late enough so they could have a fancy fireworks display.

You make me laugh. If England had been taking this competition seriously this year - why did he change so many players right in the summer? Like most countries they chopped and changed lineups because it was a World Cup year and they didn't have the friendlies to try things. He obviously didn't want to get relegated but it's hardly like his priority was to get the results rather than try a few things. The things he tried didn't work out. Hopefully he has learnt from that. But I doubt it. And again - I remember your comments about the Nations League. Croatia don't care about it. It's a joke competition. Blah blah blah. Then they win a few games and you start talking it up again. You are full of so many contradictions. As for the other stuff you said. There is no double standards. Plenty of people don't rate Southgate. You can see that just from reading the threads on here. They think he has got loads wrong. But some people are willing to forgive things because he has managed to get results too. If Capello hadn't ****ed up so badly they may have forgave a few things. It's not a case of foreigners bad. English man good. He's just managed to get better results than pretty much any manager England has had in a long time so some people are willing to give him some slack. Can you really trust that England would pick the right manager as his replacement? Is it really worth the risk right now when he's getting England there or there abouts? And for the record - I don't rate Southgate either. He took us from a well established PL team challeging for domestic cups. Playing in Europe and got us relegated. He replaced Schwarzer with Brad Jones and Ross Turnbull. Viduka, Hasslebaink, Yakubu and Maccarone with Aliadiare and Mido. Gutted the midfield but right now he's still the best choice just for the simple fact I'm afraid of who his replacement might be.

Not if he's about to be charged.

Everyone knows he's not good enough for the top level. The question is whether his man-management and being able to bring the players together and get results as a team has been worth his lack of tactical nous. So far he's just about deserved to remain although this wlll probably be his last tournament. It's OK sayng he should go but it's not like international football is full of great managers. And I'd be more worried with who the replacement might be when most top level managers wouldn't be interested in the job at this stage of their career. And Tomori probably ****ed himself over with his two displays against Chelsea. Probably two matches that he paid more attention to then the rest of his season. As for Toney - if the betting thing looks bad - Southgate might be under pressure to leave him out within the FA.

It will be a national disgrace if Akpom misses out. He's In the form of his career just as the squad predictions suggested he would be. 0.82 goals per 90 mins. 35% shot conversion.

Would it be worth creating a list / thread of players out (major doubts?) of the World Cup? Not volunteering to do it. The injuries are starting to stack up now for teams.

The only people suggesting the Italians got in instead were the Italians.

Apparently managers have the option of doing half-time interviews with broadcasters during the World Cup. Who is going to be stupid enough to agree to an interview if it's optional? Any managers out there who love to talk?