Alastair Fielding

2010 FIFA World Cup Opening match: South Africa vs Mexico World Champions: Spain 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening match: Mexico vs South Africa World Champions: Spain

@piersmorgan Parades should have had a second yellow shortly after Fernandez went off

Disgusting behaviour by the Argentinians at the end, especially Paredes. Just a bunch of nasty violent thugs, and a disgrace to football. Never been so happy to see a team lose.

@matteusjack @HLTCO Exactly!

@HLTCO Should be a second here, Parades should be off

Lovely stuff.

@JWeisgard Fingers crossed Simeone goes next and then Spain win it

This reminds me of the 1990 World Cup Final. Argentina tried to stifle W Germany. Took it to extra time. Had 2 men send off and lost 1 0 #fifaworldcup #ESPARG

@Sanny_Rudra The Azteca should be hosting this match

Didn’t Canada and Mexico co-host this World Cup?

@themichaelowen Hope so Michael

Who you picking people? It’s Spain for me.

@JamesMelville Started on BBC but turned onto ITV when Richards etc started eulogising over the upcoming musical performances. Will have BBC match commentary

Are you watching ITV or BBC for the World Cup final?

@RobHodkinson The problem is apart from Italy, what country of that footballing size has failed to qualify in this expanded format anyway?

Top 3 at Fifa World Cup should get automatic entry into following tournament. Would give something to play for in 3rd place match. #FIFAWorldCup

@TheGillsFC I bet you sell nothing healthy in the ground

As we prepare for our home pre-season friendlies, please note that external food and drink are not permitted inside MEMS Priestfield Stadium. Visitors may bring one plastic water bottle (no metal bottles) of up to 500ml. #ActuallyGills

@PompeyTom83 We played Belgium. I think we lost

Without cheating… In 2018 after we lost to Croatia who did we play in the pointless match and what was the score? I knew we’d lost but have no memory of the game or the score. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🦁🦁🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@JamesBeardwell You know things are bad when James has lost hope

@ENG2Stars1Day @Kippercricks It was only eight years ago we were last in a WC Semi Final. Agreed it was absolutely crazy scheduling. They should have had a game each night one week and then the Finals Day in August. Of course they can't do that now though

@Kippercricks Incredibly poor planning by the ECB. Whether some like it or not, other than to a minuscule number of people, an England World Cup Semi Final is a genuine event of national significance. A once in a generation thing.

Notts v Surrey pre-match Apparently we’ve sold 2000 tickets 🎟️, would get 10,000-12,000 normally probably Whoever’s decision it is to schedule this game today needs to visit a psychiatrist 🧑‍⚕️ in my opinion

@IanCheeseman Good choice!

Saw Something Rotten again tonight - it was brilliant!

@bushontheradio I don't mind him. Now if you'd said most of the others, Simeone, Romero, Fernandez, etc

@JonnyGabriel At least that rat Simeone didn't score!

@PictureSporting It was done on purpose. The lack of coverage on the BBC website also winds me up especially given such an epic effort from Overton

In fairness, the ECB could not have known in England would be in the semi-final. That said, the dates for the semi-finals were known a long time ago and even without England it would inevitably impact on attendances. Yet another example of how the ECB does all it can to screw the county game

@DaleJohnsonBBC @Myerla23 Bet they wouldn't have given an English ref any Argentina matches. Argentina need to move on like we did in Europe after WW2 - it's over 40 years ago now

@Myerla23 It is about a final.

While it is true there is a "Falklands rule", it's not the key reason why Michael Oliver cannot referee the World Cup final. Officials of the four semi-finalists all go home, and do not get another game. So as soon as England beat Norway, Oliver's tournament was over.

@freddiejturner @willis_macp Especially as there was always a fairly high chance England Football could have a semi final that night if they won their original group. The Hundred just absolutely messes up the English summer schedule

@willis_macp I don’t envy the schedulers, an impossible job. But 4 QFs at the same time has to be the wrong answer

Tasty lineup this. New format has a rushed ending around the World Cup and England’s ODI series, but it’s got to be better than having knockouts in deepest, darkest September, two months after the groups end

Over 48 hours & no contact from Callum who has links to @AFCFylde Following a straight forward chat about CR7 he left this comment with a final paragraph, blocking me before I had chance to ask what he meant. Said it before, willing to meet to educate without malice. RTs welcome

@RoshhJo66 @PDrillin @emilyhewertson Argentina need to move on. It's over 40 years now. Lots of German refs have done English teams in Europe with no drama and vice versa.

@PDrillin @emilyhewertson Argentina versus France neither country was ever at war together what part of that don’t you get you thick fuck?

But FIFA can issue a full line up of Argentine officials for the France v Morocco match… Make it make sense. 🤦🏼‍♀️