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World Cup 2026 - USA/Canada/Mexico
Comments
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Swindon_Addick said:
Both Qatar and Russia there were serious concerns beforehand that LGBT fans would face discrimination due to local laws. Both countries adapted their approaches and there was no problem. If the Yanks do similar I suspect people will rapidly forget the issues you've pointed out. If ICE were to start raiding the crowds looking for people to deport then it would be different, but we have no real evidence that they're actually willing to ruin their big event by doing that sort of thing.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I can't blame you for thinking that given the things that have gone on:Friend Or Defoe said:
Would love FIFA to prove me wrong and step in. This world cup is a shambles. I've never been more disinterested in a world cup.guinnessaddick said:Named by FIFA to officiate during the World Cup, the Somali referee 🇸🇴 Omar Artan was denied entry to U.S. territoryDue to his difficulties in obtaining a visa, he had benefited from the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which notably enabled him to obtain a diplomatic passportInsufficient for the American authorities, who immediately sent him back...
Insane ticket prices
Referee refused visa
Iraq player held at airport for hours
Some Iran backroom staff and even the head of their FA refused visas
Iran forced to move base to Mexico and fly in and out of the US on matchdays.
However..........once the tournament begins a lot of this will be forgotten and i'm sure the tournament itself will end up being absolutely fine. There was a lot of talk before the Qatar world cup about how it would be shit, but it actually ended up a great tournament and i don't know a single person who went out there (myself included) that didn't enjoy it.
I suspect the visa issues will lead to organisations having second thoughts about asking the US to host future big events that aren't already committed to. But that's a problem for the next president to face; the current one couldn't even stay awake for the basketball final so presumably doesn't care much either way.
In fairness SA, it's just down to Trump, his policies and his intransigence. I won't say that the long term damage will go away as soon as he's gone, but things will be better.0 -
Welcome to the USA. You might find a wand up there, but I doubt KDB is packing.0 -
It would be good if that does happen, but JD Vance is waiting in the wings and he is just as bad as Trump, perhaps worse as he is sane, but with the same vile views, whereas Trump is insane with vile views and changes with the wind.Algarveaddick said:Swindon_Addick said:
Both Qatar and Russia there were serious concerns beforehand that LGBT fans would face discrimination due to local laws. Both countries adapted their approaches and there was no problem. If the Yanks do similar I suspect people will rapidly forget the issues you've pointed out. If ICE were to start raiding the crowds looking for people to deport then it would be different, but we have no real evidence that they're actually willing to ruin their big event by doing that sort of thing.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I can't blame you for thinking that given the things that have gone on:Friend Or Defoe said:
Would love FIFA to prove me wrong and step in. This world cup is a shambles. I've never been more disinterested in a world cup.guinnessaddick said:Named by FIFA to officiate during the World Cup, the Somali referee 🇸🇴 Omar Artan was denied entry to U.S. territoryDue to his difficulties in obtaining a visa, he had benefited from the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which notably enabled him to obtain a diplomatic passportInsufficient for the American authorities, who immediately sent him back...
Insane ticket prices
Referee refused visa
Iraq player held at airport for hours
Some Iran backroom staff and even the head of their FA refused visas
Iran forced to move base to Mexico and fly in and out of the US on matchdays.
However..........once the tournament begins a lot of this will be forgotten and i'm sure the tournament itself will end up being absolutely fine. There was a lot of talk before the Qatar world cup about how it would be shit, but it actually ended up a great tournament and i don't know a single person who went out there (myself included) that didn't enjoy it.
I suspect the visa issues will lead to organisations having second thoughts about asking the US to host future big events that aren't already committed to. But that's a problem for the next president to face; the current one couldn't even stay awake for the basketball final so presumably doesn't care much either way.
In fairness SA, it's just down to Trump, his policies and his intransigence. I won't say that the long term damage will go away as soon as he's gone, but things will be better.
When a country agrees to hold a tournament, it should be a part of the agreement that any citizen of a participating country, has the right to enter.3 -
JD Vance is a more rational man who is just playing the game so that Trump doesn't throw him under the bus. It is fairly obvious to everyone that Vance opposed the Iran warME14addick said:
It would be good if that does happen, but JD Vance is waiting in the wings and he is just as bad as Trump, perhaps worse as he is sane, but with the same vile views, whereas Trump is insane with vile views and changes with the wind.Algarveaddick said:Swindon_Addick said:
Both Qatar and Russia there were serious concerns beforehand that LGBT fans would face discrimination due to local laws. Both countries adapted their approaches and there was no problem. If the Yanks do similar I suspect people will rapidly forget the issues you've pointed out. If ICE were to start raiding the crowds looking for people to deport then it would be different, but we have no real evidence that they're actually willing to ruin their big event by doing that sort of thing.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I can't blame you for thinking that given the things that have gone on:Friend Or Defoe said:
Would love FIFA to prove me wrong and step in. This world cup is a shambles. I've never been more disinterested in a world cup.guinnessaddick said:Named by FIFA to officiate during the World Cup, the Somali referee 🇸🇴 Omar Artan was denied entry to U.S. territoryDue to his difficulties in obtaining a visa, he had benefited from the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which notably enabled him to obtain a diplomatic passportInsufficient for the American authorities, who immediately sent him back...
Insane ticket prices
Referee refused visa
Iraq player held at airport for hours
Some Iran backroom staff and even the head of their FA refused visas
Iran forced to move base to Mexico and fly in and out of the US on matchdays.
However..........once the tournament begins a lot of this will be forgotten and i'm sure the tournament itself will end up being absolutely fine. There was a lot of talk before the Qatar world cup about how it would be shit, but it actually ended up a great tournament and i don't know a single person who went out there (myself included) that didn't enjoy it.
I suspect the visa issues will lead to organisations having second thoughts about asking the US to host future big events that aren't already committed to. But that's a problem for the next president to face; the current one couldn't even stay awake for the basketball final so presumably doesn't care much either way.
In fairness SA, it's just down to Trump, his policies and his intransigence. I won't say that the long term damage will go away as soon as he's gone, but things will be better.
When a country agrees to hold a tournament, it should be a part of the agreement that any citizen of a participating country, has the right to enter.1 -
That pretty crazy, i wasn't searched to that extent when i went to the US in 2024. Just got asked some questions at passport control then waved through.Bournemouth Addick said:
Welcome to the USA. You might find a wand up there, but I doubt KDB is packing.0 -
Anthony Gordon as a 5 year old said he will play for Barcelona. He now will.
He was asked by a journalist "you must be living the dream this summer, signing for Barcelona and now playing for England at the world cup"
Gordon's response...
"I'll be living the dream when we win.."
Gordon has said it. Not "if" but "when" we win it this summer. That's it I'm putting all my money on us to do it. It's coming home lads.. It's coming home..
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Not so rational when he joined in with Trump in the appalling humiliation of President Zelensky in the Oval Office. He has some pretty extreme Christian Nationalistic views.cafcnick1992 said:
JD Vance is a more rational man who is just playing the game so that Trump doesn't throw him under the bus. It is fairly obvious to everyone that Vance opposed the Iran warME14addick said:
It would be good if that does happen, but JD Vance is waiting in the wings and he is just as bad as Trump, perhaps worse as he is sane, but with the same vile views, whereas Trump is insane with vile views and changes with the wind.Algarveaddick said:Swindon_Addick said:
Both Qatar and Russia there were serious concerns beforehand that LGBT fans would face discrimination due to local laws. Both countries adapted their approaches and there was no problem. If the Yanks do similar I suspect people will rapidly forget the issues you've pointed out. If ICE were to start raiding the crowds looking for people to deport then it would be different, but we have no real evidence that they're actually willing to ruin their big event by doing that sort of thing.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I can't blame you for thinking that given the things that have gone on:Friend Or Defoe said:
Would love FIFA to prove me wrong and step in. This world cup is a shambles. I've never been more disinterested in a world cup.guinnessaddick said:Named by FIFA to officiate during the World Cup, the Somali referee 🇸🇴 Omar Artan was denied entry to U.S. territoryDue to his difficulties in obtaining a visa, he had benefited from the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which notably enabled him to obtain a diplomatic passportInsufficient for the American authorities, who immediately sent him back...
Insane ticket prices
Referee refused visa
Iraq player held at airport for hours
Some Iran backroom staff and even the head of their FA refused visas
Iran forced to move base to Mexico and fly in and out of the US on matchdays.
However..........once the tournament begins a lot of this will be forgotten and i'm sure the tournament itself will end up being absolutely fine. There was a lot of talk before the Qatar world cup about how it would be shit, but it actually ended up a great tournament and i don't know a single person who went out there (myself included) that didn't enjoy it.
I suspect the visa issues will lead to organisations having second thoughts about asking the US to host future big events that aren't already committed to. But that's a problem for the next president to face; the current one couldn't even stay awake for the basketball final so presumably doesn't care much either way.
In fairness SA, it's just down to Trump, his policies and his intransigence. I won't say that the long term damage will go away as soon as he's gone, but things will be better.
When a country agrees to hold a tournament, it should be a part of the agreement that any citizen of a participating country, has the right to enter.6 -
Let's not get the World Cup thread shut down two days before the tournament even kicks off11
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USA are a bit of an a extreme religious state anywayME14addick said:
Not so rational when he joined in with Trump in the appalling humiliation of President Zelensky in the Oval Office. He has some pretty extreme Christian Nationalistic views.cafcnick1992 said:
JD Vance is a more rational man who is just playing the game so that Trump doesn't throw him under the bus. It is fairly obvious to everyone that Vance opposed the Iran warME14addick said:
It would be good if that does happen, but JD Vance is waiting in the wings and he is just as bad as Trump, perhaps worse as he is sane, but with the same vile views, whereas Trump is insane with vile views and changes with the wind.Algarveaddick said:Swindon_Addick said:
Both Qatar and Russia there were serious concerns beforehand that LGBT fans would face discrimination due to local laws. Both countries adapted their approaches and there was no problem. If the Yanks do similar I suspect people will rapidly forget the issues you've pointed out. If ICE were to start raiding the crowds looking for people to deport then it would be different, but we have no real evidence that they're actually willing to ruin their big event by doing that sort of thing.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I can't blame you for thinking that given the things that have gone on:Friend Or Defoe said:
Would love FIFA to prove me wrong and step in. This world cup is a shambles. I've never been more disinterested in a world cup.guinnessaddick said:Named by FIFA to officiate during the World Cup, the Somali referee 🇸🇴 Omar Artan was denied entry to U.S. territoryDue to his difficulties in obtaining a visa, he had benefited from the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which notably enabled him to obtain a diplomatic passportInsufficient for the American authorities, who immediately sent him back...
Insane ticket prices
Referee refused visa
Iraq player held at airport for hours
Some Iran backroom staff and even the head of their FA refused visas
Iran forced to move base to Mexico and fly in and out of the US on matchdays.
However..........once the tournament begins a lot of this will be forgotten and i'm sure the tournament itself will end up being absolutely fine. There was a lot of talk before the Qatar world cup about how it would be shit, but it actually ended up a great tournament and i don't know a single person who went out there (myself included) that didn't enjoy it.
I suspect the visa issues will lead to organisations having second thoughts about asking the US to host future big events that aren't already committed to. But that's a problem for the next president to face; the current one couldn't even stay awake for the basketball final so presumably doesn't care much either way.
In fairness SA, it's just down to Trump, his policies and his intransigence. I won't say that the long term damage will go away as soon as he's gone, but things will be better.
When a country agrees to hold a tournament, it should be a part of the agreement that any citizen of a participating country, has the right to enter.3 -
Vance (not to excuse him) has an Indian wife and children, and previously compared the President to an infamous German leader before obviously having to walk it back to earn the VP nomination.ME14addick said:
Not so rational when he joined in with Trump in the appalling humiliation of President Zelensky in the Oval Office. He has some pretty extreme Christian Nationalistic views.cafcnick1992 said:
JD Vance is a more rational man who is just playing the game so that Trump doesn't throw him under the bus. It is fairly obvious to everyone that Vance opposed the Iran warME14addick said:
It would be good if that does happen, but JD Vance is waiting in the wings and he is just as bad as Trump, perhaps worse as he is sane, but with the same vile views, whereas Trump is insane with vile views and changes with the wind.Algarveaddick said:Swindon_Addick said:
Both Qatar and Russia there were serious concerns beforehand that LGBT fans would face discrimination due to local laws. Both countries adapted their approaches and there was no problem. If the Yanks do similar I suspect people will rapidly forget the issues you've pointed out. If ICE were to start raiding the crowds looking for people to deport then it would be different, but we have no real evidence that they're actually willing to ruin their big event by doing that sort of thing.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
I can't blame you for thinking that given the things that have gone on:Friend Or Defoe said:
Would love FIFA to prove me wrong and step in. This world cup is a shambles. I've never been more disinterested in a world cup.guinnessaddick said:Named by FIFA to officiate during the World Cup, the Somali referee 🇸🇴 Omar Artan was denied entry to U.S. territoryDue to his difficulties in obtaining a visa, he had benefited from the support of the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which notably enabled him to obtain a diplomatic passportInsufficient for the American authorities, who immediately sent him back...
Insane ticket prices
Referee refused visa
Iraq player held at airport for hours
Some Iran backroom staff and even the head of their FA refused visas
Iran forced to move base to Mexico and fly in and out of the US on matchdays.
However..........once the tournament begins a lot of this will be forgotten and i'm sure the tournament itself will end up being absolutely fine. There was a lot of talk before the Qatar world cup about how it would be shit, but it actually ended up a great tournament and i don't know a single person who went out there (myself included) that didn't enjoy it.
I suspect the visa issues will lead to organisations having second thoughts about asking the US to host future big events that aren't already committed to. But that's a problem for the next president to face; the current one couldn't even stay awake for the basketball final so presumably doesn't care much either way.
In fairness SA, it's just down to Trump, his policies and his intransigence. I won't say that the long term damage will go away as soon as he's gone, but things will be better.
When a country agrees to hold a tournament, it should be a part of the agreement that any citizen of a participating country, has the right to enter.
He strikes me as the prototypical slippery career politician that will do and say whatever he must to advance his own standing in the world, rather than a man of pure evil. Maybe we’ll find out, maybe we’ll never know.
Like I say, no intent to excuse some of the appalling things said and done and not someone I’d ever want in charge of anything given his views appear to change to extremes with the direction of the wind.
Anyway back to the football.1 -
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Can we not FFS8
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It is quite embarrassing that the best referee in Africa isn’t allowed into the host country, when none of this had gone on in Russia or Qatar previously.Hopefully FIFA are able to make some arrangements for him to ref games in Mexico and Canada.3
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With it all kicking off there.. Mexico have to be the biggest underachievers for a nation so obsessed with the game.
I'm just quickly thinking but their main guy is Jimenez who plays for fulham.
Why a large country like that just can't produce a team who could contend and why they have so few top class players over the years.1 -
This is slightly misleading (not saying that's on purpose!). The Liga MX pays very well for the region and means players don't have to leave. It's why a large proportion of their squad is Liga MX basedKarim_myBagheri said:With it all kicking off there.. Mexico have to be the biggest underachievers for a nation so obsessed with the game.
I'm just quickly thinking but their main guy is Jimenez who plays for fulham.
Why a large country like that just can't produce a team who could contend and why they have so few top class players over the years.0 -
I have no idea on their own league. So no little about the players who are representing Mexico in this tournament. Are they strong enough? Cos though they have had some pretty tidy teams before they just don't reach the heights like similar nations near them, Argentina and Brazil, have done what with their population and their obsession with the sport.fenaddick said:
This is slightly misleading (not saying that's on purpose!). The Liga MX pays very well for the region and means players don't have to leave. It's why a large proportion of their squad is Liga MX basedKarim_myBagheri said:With it all kicking off there.. Mexico have to be the biggest underachievers for a nation so obsessed with the game.
I'm just quickly thinking but their main guy is Jimenez who plays for fulham.
Why a large country like that just can't produce a team who could contend and why they have so few top class players over the years.0 -
The case of the Somali referee is not the only one. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned what I think is an even worse case regarding the Iraqi player, who of course we've never heard of, but is apparently their star striker. He's been allowed in eventually, but only after a seven-hour grilling. Then we have the case of the Swiss player who had his ESTA placed under review at the last minute and couldn't travel (although is expected to, eventually)
WTF?
Would anyone like to imagine for me what kind of questions these clowns had to ask Aymen Hussein that could not have been asked before the Iraqi squad, whose names would have been listed in advance, left the country? The team photographer was not so lucky. They refused him entry.
Let's not grace this bollocks with the term "policy", please. If you are privileged enough (according to FIFA) to be selected to hold this tournament, then the very least you can do is show a normal level of hospitality towards their players and their senior officials. You get their details in advance, so review them and, if you have any questions, be good enough to promptly flag them up quickly to the country concerned and get them sorted before they set off. If that isn't your normal system, make a special exemption for these players. It's not going to be difficult, is it?
There are also now reports of some fans running into problems with last-minute reviews of their visa waivers.
Let's be absolutely clear: all of this is on Trump. As discussed above, none of this happened in Russia. That's because Putin is smarter than Trump. He realised what he had to do in order to get the best possible publicity from staging the event. Trump on the other hand wants to be the bully who chucks his weight around.
I am sure the vast majority of fans will have a great time, and hope to hear about them from Lifers who are there. But personally I wouldn't spend a dollar of my own money on this, or going to the States for any reason while he is running it. There's no way I'd be deleting this post and all my other social media posts which mention him in order not to have hassle at the border just because it might offend that world class ****.12 -
Btw I haven't looked at the figures for population...Karim_myBagheri said:
I have no idea on their own league. So no little about the players who are representing Mexico in this tournament. Are they strong enough? Cos though they have had some pretty tidy teams before they just don't reach the heights like similar nations near them, Argentina and Brazil, have done what with their population and their obsession with the sport.fenaddick said:
This is slightly misleading (not saying that's on purpose!). The Liga MX pays very well for the region and means players don't have to leave. It's why a large proportion of their squad is Liga MX basedKarim_myBagheri said:With it all kicking off there.. Mexico have to be the biggest underachievers for a nation so obsessed with the game.
I'm just quickly thinking but their main guy is Jimenez who plays for fulham.
Why a large country like that just can't produce a team who could contend and why they have so few top class players over the years.I wonder if maybe playing the south American teams in the Copa America would help them. Though qualifying for world cups would be more difficult0 -
On reflection, given how much of social media is likely to be people ranting about how much they love/hate a particular president, I think I'm going to enjoy a thread where we can talk about the football, the ridiculous prices and whether Mexico are underachievers while trying to avoid politics.fenaddick said:Let's not get the World Cup thread shut down two days before the tournament even kicks off
So anyway. Can we pause for a moment to laugh at the Italians who would love to be having visa problems right now?0 -
I think they’re stronger than lots of people are giving them credit for plus they have home advantageKarim_myBagheri said:
I have no idea on their own league. So no little about the players who are representing Mexico in this tournament. Are they strong enough? Cos though they have had some pretty tidy teams before they just don't reach the heights like similar nations near them, Argentina and Brazil, have done what with their population and their obsession with the sport.fenaddick said:
This is slightly misleading (not saying that's on purpose!). The Liga MX pays very well for the region and means players don't have to leave. It's why a large proportion of their squad is Liga MX basedKarim_myBagheri said:With it all kicking off there.. Mexico have to be the biggest underachievers for a nation so obsessed with the game.
I'm just quickly thinking but their main guy is Jimenez who plays for fulham.
Why a large country like that just can't produce a team who could contend and why they have so few top class players over the years.0 -
I see the England lads had a game of cricket today, Morgan Rogers looks like he can play!0
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I hope so. Little bit annoyed they get another sort of home world cup but they always look good but can't do it in the latter stages of a tournament. I'm trying to think of a nation of their size and passion who hasn't won a world cup..fenaddick said:
I think they’re stronger than lots of people are giving them credit for plus they have home advantageKarim_myBagheri said:
I have no idea on their own league. So no little about the players who are representing Mexico in this tournament. Are they strong enough? Cos though they have had some pretty tidy teams before they just don't reach the heights like similar nations near them, Argentina and Brazil, have done what with their population and their obsession with the sport.fenaddick said:
This is slightly misleading (not saying that's on purpose!). The Liga MX pays very well for the region and means players don't have to leave. It's why a large proportion of their squad is Liga MX basedKarim_myBagheri said:With it all kicking off there.. Mexico have to be the biggest underachievers for a nation so obsessed with the game.
I'm just quickly thinking but their main guy is Jimenez who plays for fulham.
Why a large country like that just can't produce a team who could contend and why they have so few top class players over the years.0 -
Kane's not bad either apparentlyValleyGary said:I see the England lads had a game of cricket today, Morgan Rogers looks like he can play!0 -
Perhaps all the refs should say we won't ref the games until he's allowed in. No refs, no games.Callumcafc said:It is quite embarrassing that the best referee in Africa isn’t allowed into the host country, when none of this had gone on in Russia or Qatar previously.Hopefully FIFA are able to make some arrangements for him to ref games in Mexico and Canada.5 -
So I lived in San Diego for...four years maybe (Hence the "SD" in the name). Maybe longer. I'm bad at maths and memory. But it's a relatively big "soccer city" by US standards. That being said, it's a very disparate city. I don't think of it as having a large unified culture unless it's around the Padres or the now departed Chargers. Which I think is true to some extent of a lot of cities, but I think it's particularly true of SD.WSS said:Spent a week in San Diego last week and I appreciate it’s not a host city but you’d never even know a World Cup was happening. Not on TV, around airports, even chatting with people in bars etc. Complete lack of local interest.
I will add, we just spoke to my Uncle-in-Law who lives an hour outside of Kansas City, and he says that all the talk on the news it about the World Cup. And that is a host city. So I'd say it's kind of hard to say. I don't have the greatest finger on the pulse of American soccer, hence why I'm here and not at LA Galaxy Life or whatever, but I do feel like there's a decent amount of excitement. It's just that tickets are a fucking ball ache and expensive as shit. So it's really locked so many people out of going to games.
I think it's going to be a good World Cup. I've just finished my bets and predictions (more to come on that), and I think the whole 3rd place teams having a shot of advancing will mean we get to see more teams we wouldn't normally see, and it means more group games will be meaningful with more teams having something to play for.
I wouldn't say I'm as hyped as I usually am two days before a tournament, but I'd say I'm starting to get there!2 -
These are my final predictions...until I change my mind later today. An all Iberian final. Spain to win it all. England to the semi-finals on a largely easy path. Japan and Turkiye dark horses. It's all a bit chalk I think, but I also think with such a large field it's going to be chalk for the group stage and first round or two.0 -
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26179602.world-cup-john-swinney-intervenes-tartan-army-esta-row/
Loads of Scottish fans having their ESTAs cancelled at last minute. What a farce.0 -
Please, what is 'chalk'?SDAddick said:
These are my final predictions...until I change my mind later today. An all Iberian final. Spain to win it all. England to the semi-finals on a largely easy path. Japan and Turkiye dark horses. It's all a bit chalk I think, but I also think with such a large field it's going to be chalk for the group stage and first round or two.
Edit: ignore me, just looked it up. How can I have got this old without having heard that before?
(I'm 87, you know)2 -
What does chalk mean then in this context?0
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Well the World Cup has potentially brought a little bit of western civilization to Massachusetts. They just past a law that will allow bars to open until 3am, but the biggie, they will also allow designated outdoor drinking areas. That’s hard to find around here, as currently it’s restricted to spaces owned by the business. There are outdoor dining areas set up, but you have to order food before you can drink there.It will be interesting to see if any of this sticks once the tournament is over.1
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Anyone else fancy Portugal to do well ? .. they have one of the most experienced and talented squads in the tournament2
