BritBill

I'm really looking forward to Croatia v Argentina. In fact, you could say Croatia have under-achieved a little over the years. They have some top notch players. Mordic and Rakitic are as good as any midfield players in the tournament. Argentina have their hands full. I went to Zagreb a few years ago. It was the game where the England 'keeper completely missed a back pass and the ball rolled into the empty net. There was plenty of blood spilled before the game at the hands (batons) of the Croat police force. The flight home resembled a hospital emergency ward. The fans are happy with Southgate in terms of lowering the average age of the squad and introducing some of the players from the successful U21's team. Also, results have been good. Qualification for the World Cup finals was in general a breeze. As I mentioned in a previous post, he's found a system which the majority of the players look comfortable in. Only one are two look to be struggling. To be fair to Southgate, there isn't a lot of quality to choose from these days. I'd say Harry Kane is the only true world class player in the squad at the moment. For the first time in, well, probably my lifetime an England team has gone to a World Cup and expectations have been low.

Without a doubt. A win against Panama on Sunday should be enough to see England through. A boring 1-0 will suffice. I think Dele Alli would have been replaced at half time had England gone in at the break 1-0 up. His looked the only injury problem for England. Today's games don't look like the greatest match-ups. Russia v Egypt (if Salah plays) is probably the pick of the bunch.

I'm obviously pleased with England's result last night. We've found it hard to win the first game of a tournament over the years so to get the points was the main objective, no matter how we or the opposition played. I think Southgate has found the correct formation but not the right personnel to play it.

I went to the World Cup in Germany in 2006. I highly recommend getting to one if you can. The atmosphere among other supporters is fantastic.

The first game last night was a shocker. Saudi were abysmal. Russia were competence enough to take advantage. There will be plenty of games like that when the World Cup finals opens up to 48 teams. Roll on today's games which should be more of a contest. Looking forward to seeing how Uruguay start and then this evening for Spain v Portugal. Iran & Morocco should both be better than Saudi Arabia.

Ah ok, thanks. I mis-read the detail I saw earlier. I get things wrong.

I think Brazil and Germany are on the same side of the draw so can't play each other in the final. If they both keep progressing the latest they can meet is in the semi-finals. I've backed Portugal to win. If you can be European champions you can be World champions. 25/1 was too big a price to turn down for a team who now have greater attacking weapons than just Ronaldo, a talented midfield and an organised defence. I'm not expecting much from England. Maybe the 1/4 finals at the most.

USA, Canada & Mexico to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

I think our record will be worse that last year - 5-11 but that isn't necessarily down to the team being worse if that makes sense? The start of the schedule is brutal in terms of playing on the road and the teams we're going to be playing. We could easily be 0-6. Even playing well and to the best of our ability might not be enough in those first few games. The D will have to be a top 10 unit and running game continue or even pick up from last year for us to match the 9-7 in 2017.

One of my first soccer memories is of Gullit, Van Basten, Rijkaard and all destroying England at Euro 1988. My team actually beat Man Utd 3-0 at Old Trafford in the League Cup in the early 90's. That was the first leg. The second leg was Cantona's first away game since he returned from his ban after kung-fu kicking the Palace fan. If I watch a game of soccer on TV I tend to watch La Liga or the English Championship. We get the MLS games on Sky but by late on Saturday evening I'm usually all soccer'd out and ready for a movie and family time. Especially if I want to watch NFL on a Sunday night!

Sounds like we have a similar taste for cultured midfielders. I've always been a huge fan of Xabi Alonso. He was close to being the best central midfielder in the world a few years ago. Supporting a local team does have it's advantages. Like you say, the entrance fee is affordable. My son and I get to the match for under £20. But you do tend to get what you pay for. My team had suffered back to back relegations so are now in regional football. The standard is extremely poor. On the plus side, all the away games tend to be under 100 miles away. Leeds have probably spent more time in The Championship in the last 25 years than they have the Premier League. They spent a fair bit of time there in the 80's as well. Their fans are in general, neanderthals. I've no sympathy for the majority of them. What teams do you follow?

Yeah, Pirlo could've smoked a cigar while dictating a game. I support a small club which has fallen on extremely hard times recently - York City. As a rule you support your local team over here and unfortunately, my local team have been garbage for the vast majority of the 34 years I've followed them. We're only 20 miles from Leeds so there's a lot of their support around these parts. Their demise would be funny if our club had any sort of success.

Yes, this Liverpool side was nowhere near as talented as the one which was European Champions in 2005. Probably only Salah would get in the 2005 team. Definitely the least talented of all the Liverpool European finals teams. They did well collectively to get there. I could happily watch Modric and Kroos dictate a game of football for days if I had the time. So technically gifted. My little boy is a huge Modric fan. Even keeps his hair long and wears a headband in homage.

Liverpool play with a style which was suited to playing against Madrid. High pressing midfield with the intention of gaining possession in the opposition defensive third of the field. Then using the movement of their forwards to create chances. They rely on Salah so much. They didn't have much of a plan B other than hanging in there and taking advantage of a set piece should they get one in an attacking area. Once Salah went off Liverpool defended a lot deeper than they wanted to. Modric and Kroos took control of the game and with it the result was inevitability. Because they defended a lot deeper any attack had to break from deeper as well. Leaving so much space for the superior midfield of Madrid to do what they liked when they regained control of the ball. Marcelo and Nacho could bomb up and down the flanks at will.

Madrid too strong in the end but Liverpool were on top until Salah went off and should have been in front at half time. Second half was all Madrid and they would have won easily enough without the help of poppadom hands in goal for Liverpool. The difference was in the benches. Liverpool brought on Lalana, Madrid brought on Bale. Gigantic difference in quality. Ronaldo was nowhere near full match fit. I fear for his and Portugal's World Cup chances now where as I was going to have a decent bet on them to win it.

I hardly watch any boxing now. I too think it's become too obviously fixed. Also, the boxers seem to concentrate their talents on talking the talk beforehand instead of being able to walk the walk. As a Brit, my favourite boxing time was the 90's Super Middleweight division. There seemed to be a top class title fight every weekend. Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Michael Watson, Steve Collins, Gerald McLellan to name but a few. We had a local (he lived 100 yards from me) boxer called Henry Wharton. He was a wall. Like Homer Simpson in the episode of The Simpsons where he fought the world championship. Unfortunately, he was a Super Middleweight at the same time as the above mentioned fighters. He was as gifted a boxer as those guys. He lost on point to both Eubank & Benn. Then came along Nassem Hamed (bit of a gobshite) and Ricky Hatton. I lost interest after those two really.

I agree. Out of interest, of the 15 times McDermott elected to go for it on 4th down, what was the distance to go? Also, what was the play call by the OC whose name I've forgotten probably due to the insomnia he induced? There must have been a point when McD thought is there a point of going for it knowing the offense and co-ordinator weren't up to getting the job done? Game management was an aspect of McD's coaching which wasn't as high a standard as other parts. I'm not worried about it. I will be if there's no sign of improvement this season.

Yeah? Anywhere you recommend?

I'm not from London ? This trip is purely about the football and spending a small bit of time in Buffalo. If we get the time we might have a toby up to the falls. All depends on flight times and prices. I'm fairly well travelled - from the Pyramids of Giza to the Hancock Observatory. If I get to see some sights - great. At the moment I'm just focusing on getting to the game and getting fed and watered. Expedia is currently offering up this hotel to us - http://adamsmark.com/

Thank you all for the information so for. It's very much appreciated. Please keep them coming! I'm just waiting on a friend to confirm if he's joining me then flights will be booked tonight. @plenzmd1 Thank you for your help and offer of a ride to the game. I'll be in touch via PM once I know more. Go Bills!

Hello All, I'm starting to plan a trip to Buffalo from the UK for the game versus Chicago on 4th November. I plan on it being a short trip - Saturday to Monday so my time in Buffalo will be limited sadly. I'll be looking at staying in downtown Buffalo. Please can somebody tell me the best way to get from downtown out to Orchard Park and back on game day? Also, any suggestions on where to get a huge plate of wings, fries and a beer on the Saturday night would be greatly appreciated.