England kick off World Cup campaign with big win

Cash in heavy on him. The first 𧴜 million keeper.

I think it is nailed on he'll leave in summer with 12 months left on his deal. However, unless two of Chelsea, Spurs and Man Utd compete with each other for him, then I recon 㿨M will be more like the figure.

If we were offered 㿷M in January, we should take the risk. Begovic could have a decent 6 months and, if that money bought in 2-3 goal scoring front men, it could be a godsend.

Regardless of all that – Come on, Jordan lad, do the nation proud.

But I wish Jordan well and Conor Coady as well if he gets in ahead of the overrated Harry Maguire.

Big moment and honour for both players, so best wishes to both.

He was signed by Koeman on a season long loan with the option to sign him for 㾺M, but then Koeman hardly used him and when he did it was mostly off the bench, I thought he did alright, but Koeman didn't take up the offer to sign him permanently so that was the end of it.

I agree — cowardly bottlers. Obviously taking their cue from England's cowardly manager.

A more offensive line-up and it makes England a way better team.

I think Bellingham has to play, Christy, but I think he will be the one who has to taper his game if England go far in the competition, because Southgate is a very cautious manager.

I think a lot of international football is very cautious imo, especially once the group stages finish and it becomes a knock-out tournament?

It would be nice if this changed, but I'm not going to hold my breath, although I do think Southgate deserves a lot of credit for having England playing as a proper team, which is something the alleged golden generation, never it to grips with.

Wales and USA will be much tougher but England should go through then the test begins for real.

In the Premier League, it is used to ensure the so-called big 6 get the rub of the green. In this tournament, it is there to give a filip to the Middle Eastern countries.

Maguire gets rugby tackled – no review. Stones puts a slight hold on an Iranian that nobody saw in real time, and they get given a penalty, after the game had finished.

Whoever was the VAR should be sent home now. Or better still, made to stay in that shit hole for the whole tournament but given nothing else to do.

Having then seen England and Holland walk off and not played their opening World Cup games, the tournament would have imploded. Perhaps then and only then would Infantino and the World realise that enough is enough. I think the armband is the tip of the "inclusivity iceberg"

I really feel for the Gay community and I've never been remotely involved in any discussions or conversations around it but someone tell me why we are even bothering to play in a cup competition in this day and age that is clearly supportive of Sport for heterosexuality ONLY

I've probably said this all wrong but is it only me that thinks bollocks to Qatar, come home.

Thanks for your comments. As a gay football fan it means a lot to read those. With an extremely heavy heart I am boycotting the World Cup.

I can't support a tournament taking place in a country where being me will end up in, at best, a prison sentence, at worst a death sentence.

How can FIFA have a competition in a country that discriminates so harshly?

The Echo and the rest of the media will do their best to undermine Everton, and Everton players, regardless of where and in what competition there playing in.

As some of said, let's hope it's not history repeating itself, in view of his contract expiry in terms of Pickford being sold, but if so, 𧴰M, and no less.

I'm furious and deeply dismayed that we have rolled over and played. I cannot imagine how disturbing this must be for you. I was hoping that Bale would walk out wearing the armband but no, Wales have caved as well.

They have a huge LGBGTQ+ following and it's a very sad day for them and for equality in the World. It beggars belief really. I'm hoping perhaps the Germans will make a stand. Here's hoping.

The teams already put out a joint statement saying they're not going to wear the arm bands.

No wonder there are no out Premier League footballers. It is all deeply disturbing but my hope is that everything going on in Qatar will raise the profile of the issues that need addressing enough to start to effect real change, here's hoping.

Gareth would be a legend. Not sure that's why he was put on the planet or how that would play out for him but I'd support the lad. I'd like to think that most normal sensible people would too.

Maybe replace it with something more fitting for Qatar? Hate? Al Qaeda financing? Modern slavery?

The beginning of the World Cup got me thinking about Sigurdsson. Arrested in July 2021, career ruined and airbrushed out by Everton.

Here we are though, 16 months later and still no charges have been made. He would've been better off in Iran.

After this long, it could well be he will never be charged. In that event, I wonder what the Club will say. Greenwood was arrested on 22 January, 6 months after Sigurdsson.

I heard the same, and that it involves attempted blackmail from her family to get money from Sigurdsson.

Anthony, I remember the strong rumours regarding the schoolgirls and Johnson, Whittle etc.

Different days as we see by the case of The Two Toneys – one Ivan, the other being the unlucky and ill-advised Tony (MotM, ffs) Kay late of this parish. 1 bet vs 200+.

That's how bad things have been since his suspension.