Rob Smyth's Blog, page 129

June 26, 2019

New Zealand v Pakistan: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!

Cricket World Cup updates from the match at EdgbastonAustralia deliver hammer blow to England’s hopesAnd feel free to email rob.smyth@theguardian.com

9.01am BST

Hello. The last-chance saloon is Pakistan’s second home. They’ve got an en-suite upstairs and they get free peanuts from the bar staff. It’s a place where everybody knows their name, and they’re always glad they came. That’s because there’s no more exhilarating sight in cricket than Pakistan on a roll, whether within a match or a tournament. All their major victories - 1992, 2009, 2017 - came after poor starts left them in the last-chance saloon very early in the tournament. And so, unlike ANOTHER TEAM I MIGHT MENTION, they won’t panic at being back there again.

Everything is simple for Pakistan: if they win their last three matches, against New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, they have a terrific chance of sneaking into the semi-finals. (There are lots of permutations, so you’ll have to take my word for that.) Today’s match is the big one – if they win it, I would humbly opine that England will be in appreciable bother. And Pakistan will be strutting round the last-chance saloon like they own the place.

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Published on June 26, 2019 01:31

June 25, 2019

England v Australia: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!

Cricket World Cup pdates from the match at Lord’sVic Marks book extract: my surreal time with TMSAny thoughts? Email or tweet @mike_hytner

9.05am BST

Hello and welcome. Sydney calling first up to set the scene ahead of today’s hugely-anticipated meeting at Lord’s, before handing over to London for the start of play (10:30am local, 7:30pm AEST). It hardly needs hyping, such is the, um, special relationship between these two countries, but the fact that this represents the first time the pair have met since Australian cricket imploded in Cape Town 15 months ago is sure to only add even more heat to an already five-chilli occasion.

But it’s not just about two very naughty boys seeking a kind of redemption and some inevitably cheap jokes emanating from the stands today, oh no. There’s a Cricket World Cup on, and with just two points separating the sides heading into this fixture, there’s table position to play for. Australia sit in second on 10 points, with England fourth on eight, both having played six games. An Australian win will see them leapfrog New Zealand into top spot; defeat will see England draw level on points. First place plays fourth and second plays third in the semis.

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Published on June 25, 2019 01:30

June 21, 2019

England v Sri Lanka: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!

Cricket World Cup updates from the match at HeadingleyCheck out the latest Cricket World Cup standingsAnd send your thoughts to rob.smyth@theguardian.com

9.09am BST

Good morning. Tense, nervous headache? Me neither. But trust me, it’s in the post, and I’m not talking about tomorrow’s hangover. For England fans the World Cup is about to get very serious, so today’s match against Sri Lanka at Headingley is the last that can be watched in the reclining position.

Before you start, this isn’t to say England are guaranteed to win today. They should, but they might not. All of that is what the point is not. The point is that whether they win, lose or tie, the remaining matches will have a nervous edge to them even before a ball is bowled.

View from the @bbctms box at Headingley.

Sun breaking through the clouds & a good forecast for the day.

Coverage of @englandcricket v Sri Lanka begins @5liveSport 9.30am. #bbccricket #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/1cTe6sHkyh

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Published on June 21, 2019 01:20

June 20, 2019

Netherlands 2-1 Canada, Cameroon 2-1 New Zealand: Women's World Cup clockwatch – as it happened

Ajara Nchout scored a glorious 95th-minute winner to send Cameroon into the last 16, while the Netherlands secured top spot with victory over Canada

8.09pm BST

7.06pm BST

Parochial department The upshot of that memorable finish is that England will play either Cameroon or Chile in the last 16 on Sunday.

7.05pm BST

Still want more? Bet you do. Tom Lutz is following Sweden v USA, which will decide, among other things, who Canada play in the second round.

6.58pm BST

That was an outrageously good goal from Ajara Nchout - not just the skill to beat Percival twice, but the composure to drift the ball into the far corner as Nayler came out, knowing that her country were out of the World Cup if she missed.

6.55pm BST

That was the last kick of the match. Cameroon are into the last 16 in astonishing circumstances!

6.55pm BST

Nchout’s second goal has put Cameroon into the last 16! They had a five-on-two attack, led by Onguene down the left. She found Nchout on the edge of the area, where Percival came to meet her. Nchout ran across the line of the penalty area, away from Percival, until she was almost at the edge of the D. Then, as Percival slid in to block a possible shot, Nchout twisted back outside her to move through on goal. She still had Nayler to beat – and she did so with a nerveless finish, opening her body to steer the ball into the far corner.

6.54pm BST

Oh my days!

6.53pm BST

90+4 min New Zealand are penalised for a foul on the keeper Ngo Ndom. It’s drifting away from both teams.

6.53pm BST

The Netherlands top the group after winning a fine game in Reims. They will meet Japan in the last 16; Canada will play Sweden or the USA.

6.52pm BST

90+4 min New Zealand win a free-kick on the halfway line. They send nine players forward; Cameroon leave three attackers up. This is a great chance ... for both teams.

6.51pm BST

90+3 min Now Ongeuene shoots wide from 20 yards when she should have passed it!

6.51pm BST

90+1 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand Cameroon have a six-on-four atack, but Abam takes the wrong option and shoots wide from the edge of the box.

6.49pm BST

90 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand There will be five minutes of added time.

6.48pm BST

89 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand They are running out of time. It’s a bizarre situation, with both teams desperate to score.

6.47pm BST

88 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand Both teams have now adopted a 5-0-5 formation.

6.46pm BST

87 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand What a chance for New Zealand! Wilkinson does superbly to control Gregorius’s right-wing cross and find Chance, who splashes a shot wide of the near post on the stretch.

6.45pm BST

86 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand Both teams are leaving three or four players up when they don’t have the ball. It’s desperate stuff, but great to watch.

6.42pm BST

83 min: Netherlands 2-1 Canada This has been an excellent game. Unless Canada score twice, Netherlands will top the group and play Japan in the last 16. Canada will play Sweden or the USA.

6.41pm BST

82 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand A goal for either side would put them through to the knockout stages. It’s frenetic stuff now, with New Zealand looking the likelier team to score.

6.40pm BST

81 min: Cameroon 1-1 New Zealand This could be a fun last 10 minutes, because a draw is useless for both teams.

6.39pm BST

Oh no. Bowen’s inswinging cross from the right is shanked into her own net by Awona at the near post, and that could put Cameroon out of the World Cup. That’s so cruel.

6.36pm BST

78 min: Cameroon 1-0 New Zealand As things stand, Cameroon are in the last 16. A New Zealand goal, or a couple of yellow cards for Cameroon, would change that.

6.34pm BST

The substitute Lineth Beerensteyn gives the Netherlands the lead! She started the move and then finished with a simple tap-in from Roord’s devastating low cross.

6.33pm BST

74 min: Cameroon 1-0 New Zealand So nearly an equaliser for New Zealand! A short corner came to White, whose flat cross was headed towards the bottom corner by the late-arriving Hassett. Ngo Ndom plunged to her right to make a deceptively brilliant fingertip save.

6.31pm BST

73 min: Cameroon 1-0 New Zealand Cameroon fully deserve to win this game. New Zealand have been toothless in attack - not just today but throughout the tournament.

6.26pm BST

68 min: Netherlands 1-1 Canada Christine Sinclair is coming off, presumably with the knockout stages in mind. Adriana Leon replaces her.

6.25pm BST

65 min: Cameroon 1-0 New Zealand If it stays like this, Cameroon will qualify unless Chile thump Thailand by at least three goals tonight. If that happens, my head will start hurting. Cameroon and Nigeria (who finished third in Group A) would be level on goal difference and goals scored, which means the team with the better disciplinary record would go through to the knockout stages. At the moment, Cameroon’s is better.

6.23pm BST

64 min: Cameroon 1-0 New Zealand Nayler makes a brilliant triple save! She denied Onguene twice, both from close range, and then got to her feet to make another fine stop. The ball ran free to Abam, who rammed it into the side netting.

6.22pm BST

64 min: Cameroon 1-0 New Zealand A fine stooping header from Gregorius goes just wide of the far post. That was New Zealand’s best effort of the match.

6.20pm BST

“If you want to see the most Canadian thing ever, there was a tenor – sadly deceased – named Roger Doucet whose specialty was singing national anthems,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “He actually released an album of them. In typical Canadian fashion, he made his name not so much by singing O! Canada as it was the old Salute to the Soviet during the USSR years. As you can see, the man took his job seriously.”

6.19pm BST

I told you Sinclair should be dropped. She’s just equalised with a clinical finish! Huitema played a short pass to the overlapping Lawrence, who slid a devastating cross into the six-yard box. It ran beyond the far post, where Sinclair slid in to crash the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle. That’s a great finish. She has now scored in five World Cups. Oh, and that’s her 182nd goal for Canada.

6.17pm BST

This is a superb goal, and it might put Cameroon in the last 16! Nchout received a cross from the left with her back to goal, turned smartly away from Erceg and passed the ball coolly into the far corner with her left foot.

6.15pm BST

“Would you be so kind to explain what happens if two teams get the same number of points in their group?” says Rudi Speckens. “I know you’ve explained it before, but I can’t seem to find it anymore. We’re watching the NL-CA match, and were just wondering what happens if it ends in a draw. Cheers from the Netherlands!”

If it’s a draw, the Netherlands will top the group because they’ve scored more goals than Canada.

6.14pm BST

Canada have conceded a goal! Or, to put it another way, Anouk Dekker has put the Netherlands ahead. She got in front of Buchanan to meet Spitse’s excellent free-kick from the left, and though she mistimed her header, the ball hit her shoulder and drifted into the corner. The Netherlands are on course to top the group.

6.11pm BST

52 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand The relentless Onguene has had a couple of half chances since half time for Cameroon, who continue to look the likelier scorers.

6.07pm BST

48 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand Both teams have come out for the second half with greater intent. It’s almost as if somebody informed them at half-time thaT YOU NEED TO SCORE A GOAL OR YOU’LL ALL BE ON FLIGHT NUMBER DO1 TONIGHT

6.03pm BST

Peep peep! The second halves are under way. Cameroon need a goal. New Zealand need a goal. We all need a goal.

5.53pm BST

“It’s a shame that this current Canadian team is about eight years too late for Sinclair,” says Rina Mapa. “If she were in her prime, I’d be confident in predicting them in the finals.”

Yes, agreed. I know it’s sacrilege but I do wonder whether they might be better with her as an impact substitute. Although she’s still very accomplished, she slows things down.

5.49pm BST

As things stand, both teams are going home, and based on the first half they could have precisely no complaints.

5.48pm BST

As things stand, the Netherlands will top the group and play Japan. It was a high-class half between two excellent sides, although the quality of the defences meant there were few chances.

5.46pm BST

45 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand New Zealand are having their best spell of the game, although these things are relative. It’s been a poor match, in truth.

5.43pm BST

43 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada Beckie pings a long-range shot on the turn that is comfortably hel;d by Van Veenendaal.

5.40pm BST

41 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada This isn’t news, but Vivianne Miedema is such a class act. Her movement, awareness and calmness in the penalty area are so impressive.

5.39pm BST

40 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand As things stand, both teams are going home. New Zealand look like they’re playing for a 0-0 draw, which is slightly odd. Cameroon have been willing if not always able.

5.38pm BST

38 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada Labbe charges out of her area to make a vital sliding tackle on Miedema, who is then chopped from behind by Buchanan. She is booked.

5.37pm BST

“As an expat Brit now living in Toronto, I used to be quite keen on VAR but since the Champions League semi, the Nations League and now the WWC, I have completely changed my opinion and think I actually hate it,” says Claire McConnell. “What on earth has happened to ‘clear and obvious error?’ VAR just sucks the joy out of the game and I am not looking forward to it coming to the PL in August.”

If I was being kind, I would describe VAR on its current form as an egregious shambles. I’m not necessarily against the concept, even though I understand the argument that it turns football into reality TV, but the wildly inconsistent application is embarrassingly amateurish. Imagine if courts of law were governed in the same way as VAR. You’d get 50-to-life in Scrubs for stealing a chocolate bar, while one in five murderers would be punished with a bit of community service.

5.35pm BST

33 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada Miedema hits the post! It was a beautiful piece of play; she twisted Zadorsky inside out in the area and smacked a low shot across goal that beat Labbe and hit the outside of the far post. Moments later, Van de Donk’s spectacular overhead kick dropped onto the roof of the net. Labbe had that one covered; the same can’t be said of Miedema’s shot.

5.33pm BST

“The Dutch have their own brass band, but they are less objectionable than the one that plagues England games,” says Charles Antaki. “I’m not saying they’re more musical, but three decisive reasons are a) they don’t play war movie tunes, b) they don’t play war movie tunes, and c) they don’t play war movie tunes. Also, the fans seem actually to like what they do play.”

5.31pm BST

30 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada A good chance for the Netherlands. Labbe makes a mess of an awkward, driven cross from Van de Sanden, leading to an almighty scramble in front of goal before Canada manage to clear.

5.28pm BST

27 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada Miedema is left one against one with Buchanan, who defends immaculately to win possession on the edge of the area. Canada are so good at the back. At the other end, Huitema surges thrillingly past a couple of defenders before dragging a tame shot wide from 20 yards.

5.25pm BST

25 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada Fleming thumps over the bar from 20 yards after a good header down by Sinclair. This is Canada’s best spell.

5.24pm BST

“It has nothing to do with that VAR decision,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “I’m a little too old and a little too wise to let who I’m cheering for colour my opinions, but... I love women’s football, how it’s grown and become accepted. In many ways I prefer it to the men’s game. But the refereeing standard is way, way below acceptable. Being in Scotland, I suspect you might agree.”

The foppin timekeeping was way, way below acceptable last night, never mind the officiating.

5.23pm BST

22 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada Huitema has a goal disallowed for offside. She was put through by a good ball from Schmdt, but was a couple of yards clear of the last defender. She was allowed to continue, under the new directive which encourages assistant referees to shatter as many hopes and dreams as possible, but the flag went up as soon as the ball hit the net.

5.20pm BST

20 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand Nayler makes a decent save from Onguene’s lob. At the other end, Chance miscontrols the ball when a good first touch would have put her through on goal.

5.19pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “To make life during VARtime less frustrating, I recommend that stadiums play this Talking Heads song while the fans wait for the action to resume.”

Won’t work: It’s only 3m41s long.

5.18pm BST

18 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand Cameroon are playing with much greater pace and purpose than New Zealand, who are struggling to get out of their half.

5.16pm BST

“Living in the Netherlands with the lovely Dutchies but today it is about my peeps!” says Kim Tomasson. “I want Christine Sinclair to make history (but not on a dodgy penalty and I agree with the call). Go Canada Go!”

I still think it was a penalty - or, at least, that it wasn’t a clear and obvious error and therefore shouldn’t have been overturned. VAR is such a kangaroo court.

5.15pm BST

15 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada The Netherlands are having most of the ball, although Canada, the immovable object of world football, don’t really mind that.

5.13pm BST

“That’s quite a recommendation, Rob - Canada ‘potential winners’,” says Charles Antaki. “I have assured my employers for some years now that I am a potential winner, and I intend to do so until I retire (or, more likely, my employers insist on seeing the potential realised in some discernible way).”

5.13pm BST

12 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand Onguene curls just wide from thge edge of the area for Cameroon, who are starting to dominate in Montpellier.

5.12pm BST

12 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada The game hasn’t really settled down since that VAR timeout.

5.09pm BST

“Please be advised that there is currently a problem with the boiler system in the building and there is no hot water available,” writes ‘Workplace Servicedesk’. “A replacement part is on the way and expected to be fitted early tomorrow morning.”

5.08pm BST

8 min: Cameroon 0-0 New Zealand Nothing much happening in this game.

5.06pm BST

Netherlands 0-0 Canada VAR, the coitus interruptus of football, strikes again. I’m not sure it was the correct decision either. I thought Beckie was fouled both outside and inside the box, in which case it should be a penalty. I think. I’ll level with you: I haven’t studied the laws of football much of late.

5.05pm BST

5 min: Netherlands 0-0 Canada Four minutes after the whistle was blown for a penalty, Sinclair hits the free-kick into the wall.

5.04pm BST

It’s been given as a free-kick just outside the area. As ever with VAR in its current form, this is a total farce.

5.04pm BST

The referee is still looking at the screen, a couple of years after the penalty was originally given.

5.03pm BST

The referee is going to the screen to look at it.

5.02pm BST

Quite a start, this. Van Lunteren dithered and was robbed by Beckie, who fell over just inside the area after a tangle of legs. VAR are checking it though. I’m not certain it was a penalty, but nor do I think it was a clear and obvious error.

5.00pm BST

Peep peep! We’re under way in both matches.

4.56pm BST

Pedantry will get you everywhere Thanks to those who pointed out the mistake in the preamble: it’s Chile, not China, who will be hoping to thrash Thailand tonight.

4.50pm BST

An email! “Looking forward to your broadcast, from a Canada fan in Ottawa, Canada,” says Ivan. “Should be an interesting contest...even with Sinclair past her golden years, they still have some good young strikers (Leon, Beckie, Fleming, Prince, Huitema) that can score a few, but their awesome defence is their strength (no goals against in over 420 minutes). Holland won’t have it easy. All Canada really needs is one goal to win 1-0. We’ll see...”

I watched the New Zealand game on Saturday and was hugely impressed by Canada; to my admittedly inexpert eye, they looked like potential winners.

4.16pm BST

Pre-match reading

4.13pm BST

Netherlands (4-3-3) Van Veenendaal; Van Lunteren, Dekker, Bloodworth, Van Dongen; Spitse, Van de Donk, Groenen; Van de Sanden, Miedema, Martens.

Canada (4-3-3) Labbe; Lawrence, Buchanan, Zadorsky, Chapman; Fleming, Scott, Schmidt; Huitema, Sinclair, Beckie.

4.10pm BST

Cameroon (3-4-2-1) Ndom; Leuko, A Ejangue, Johnson; Feudijo, Njoya Ajara, Yango, Awona; Abam, Aboudi Onguene; Enganamouit.

New Zealand (3-5-2) Nayler; Stott, Erceg, Green; Bowen, Percival, Duncan, Chance, Riley; Gregorius, White.

3.30pm BST

Good day. In an ideal world, the number of teams at all World Cups would follow the old geometric sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and so on until we reach the Fifa utopia of a 256-team tournament. Sometimes it isn’t possible to have such a neat number, for reasons too boring to go into here, and when that’s the case you need creative solutions to find out who qualifies for the knockout stage.

At this, the second 24-team Women’s World Cup, that means the return of an old friend: the Four Best Third-Placed Teams System!

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Published on June 20, 2019 11:07

June 15, 2019

Canada 2-0 New Zealand: Women's World Cup 2019 – as it happened

Jessie Fleming and Nichelle Prince gave Canada an emphatic victory in Grenoble which ensured they qualified for the last 16 with a game to spare

11.13pm BST

9.57pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s blog. A match report from Grenoble will appear, as if by magic, in the next hour or so. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight!

9.52pm BST

Peep peep! Canada join the Netherlands in reaching the last 16 with a match to spare. They were totally dominant against a willing but limited New Zealand, and probably deserved more than second-half goals from Jessie Fleming and Nichelle Prince. They also kept their ninth clean sheet in the last 10 games. They’re a slick, confident side, and no team would relish meeting them in the knockout stages.

9.50pm BST

90 min There will be three minutes of added time.

9.47pm BST

88 min The match is petering out. New Zealand will be glad to get off the pitch after a pretty chastening 90 minutes.

9.44pm BST

85 min New Zealand make their final change, with Emma Kete replacing Betsy Hassett.

9.42pm BST

84 min And another change: the excellent Nichelle Prince off, Adriana Leon on.

9.42pm BST

83 min Another change for Canada: the superb Beckie is replaced by Rebecca Quinn.

9.40pm BST

81 min There have been a lot of good performances - Erceg, Prince, Riviere - but Janine Beckie has been the best player on the pitch. She has so much class, both in her passing and dribbling.

9.39pm BST

Well, now they are battering New Zealand 2-0! Nichelle Prince has clinched their place in the last 16. Lawrence’s deep, hanging cross from the right was headed onto the near post by Sinclair, and the ball rebounded kindly for Prince to tap it into an open net.

9.37pm BST

77 min “Canada look strong all through their team with the exception of a sharp forward,” says Tony Reekie. “Beckie and Prince have been a delight. I’ve been enjoying Scott too. No-nonsense midfielders never get enough praise.”

They look an extremely good side to me; potential winners, in fact, although I agree that they need to be more clinical. They are developing a peculiar habit of battering teams 1-0.

9.34pm BST

75 min Canada make their first change, with Allysha Chapman replacing the impressive Jayde Riviere.

9.32pm BST

72 min: Fine save by Nayler! Sinclair, in an inside-left position, clipped an angled cross towards Prince, who arrived late in the box. She flicked a lovely header on the run that was going in the top corner until Nayler flew to her left to palm it over the bar.

9.30pm BST

71 min After another lovely passing move from Canada – they really do move the ball beautifully - Scott’s long-range shot is deflected behind for a corner. Beckie’s corner is headed behind for another by Stott. Nothing comes of it.

9.27pm BST

68 min New Zealand can barely get out of their half. It will be a travesty if Canada don’t win this match.

9.25pm BST

66 min Prince goes on another decisive run before drilling a low shot from 18 yards that is well held by Nayler.

9.21pm BST

62 min New Zealand make their second substitution, with Anna Green replacing the lonely Sarah Gregorius. She has hardly had a kick, such has been Canada’s dominance.

9.20pm BST

61 min Canada aren’t sitting on their 1-0 lead. In fact the game is exactly as it was when the score was 0-0.

9.19pm BST

60 min “Greetings from the western U.S.,” says Peter Oh. “Quite the Commonwealth Games flavour to this fixture. No skin in the game, but I’ll root for Canada simply because... they drive on the right side of the road? Incidentally, the Canadian men will also be in action today, as part of the CONCACAF (North and Central American federations) Gold Cup tournament. Their opponents are also an island country - Martinique.”

9.18pm BST

58 min Beckie twists Percival inside out and hammers a low cross that is diverted wide by Prince at the far post. She was at full stretch so I’d be loath to call it a miss. Those two have been superb for Canada.

9.17pm BST

57 min I had a sneaking feeling New Zealand would get something tonight. Not for the last time, I was hopelessly wrong. Canada have been far too good for them.

9.14pm BST

55 min Canada will qualify for the last 16 if it stays like this.

9.14pm BST

54 min Prince surges into the area and is about to shoot when Erceg makes an immaculate sliding tackle. She has been superb.

9.10pm BST

Poor New Zealand. After a strong defensive effort in the first-half, they get sucker-punched early in the second. You’d think they will struggle to come back from that, although they did create a few reasonable chances against the Dutch. They’ll need to find their shooting boots to leave Grenoble with a point or more.

9.09pm BST

50 min That should have been 2-0. Beckie twists Percival inside out and crosses low to Sinclair, who screws it over the bar with her left foot. She would take a chance like that maybe eight times out of 10.

9.08pm BST

Canada take the lead! It was made superbly by Prince, who charged onto a long pass down the left. She surged infield, leaving Stott for dead, before cutting the ball back perfectly for Fleming to slide a first-time shot into the far corner. That’s an excellent goal.

9.05pm BST

46 min Beckie has an early effort, curling over the bar from distance.

9.04pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Canada begin the second half.

9.01pm BST

Half-time reading

8.59pm BST

“‘There probably wasn’t quite enough for a penalty’ is an interesting concept,” says Paul Connelly. “If the defender pushes the attacker from behind in the penalty area, it ought to be called a penalty.”

It depends on the force of the push, surely? I didn’t think Percival’s push was strong enough for it to be a penalty, but I can understand the alternative view.

8.57pm BST

Half-time chit chat

“All Canadian fans are sure we should have had at least two penalties - one for the broken hand and one for the shove in the box,” says Miles Baker. “But we would have accepted just one. Was VAR just watching Overwatch streams in those sweet gamer chairs?”

8.50pm BST

I sat down with New Zealand coach Tom Sermanni this morning, who is one of the nicest people in football. I asked him what he thought of a column in the NZ Herald following their loss to the Dutch, which had the headline: ‘Sermanni has struck cultural chord with Football Ferns but the game sucks’.
The Scotsman was bemused by this, and offered quite a thoughtful response: “You have to play as you have to play. It’s a case of being pragmatic. If he wanted us to play like Barcelona, then the game sucked. If he wanted us to be a NZ team that went out to be competitive, to try and win the game in the way that we could, then we didn’t suck.” You’d have to say more of the same in this game...

8.49pm BST

Peep peep! As expected, it’s been tight and tense, with few clear chances. Sinclair headed against the bar for Canada, and Prince’s follow-up was cleared off the line. At the other end, Chance missed a decent, erm, opportunity for New Zealand.

8.44pm BST

44 min It’s been a frustrating half for Canada. They have totally dominated, yet they’ve created nothing from open play. The New Zealand central defenders, Erceg and Stott, are the main reason for that.

8.42pm BST

42 min Percival shoves Fleming over in the area. The referee waves play on. At first I thought it was a dive; replays suggest that, though there probably wasn’t quite enough for a penalty, it was a pretty risky challenge from Percival.

8.40pm BST

38 min New Zealand almost grab the lead on the break! They sliced through Canada with some nice passing, until eventually Hassett stood up a good cross from the right side of the area. Labbe’s feeble punch went straight to Chance, who miscued a volley back across goal from six yards. It was a tricky chance in that there were a lot of people between her and the goal, but it was a chance nonetheless.

8.37pm BST

35 min I’m with Kieran on the Mexican wave, which combines two of the worst things in life: banter and crowds of people.

8.35pm BST

The Mexican wave has started, after only 33 minutes. If/when I become Fifa president, I intend to implement a rule that only permits Mexican waves late in the second half. I’m not entirely sure how that will be policed, but - at the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man - is it that hard to sit down and enjoy watching the game?!

8.33pm BST

33 min Question: how did this New Zealand team beat England?

8.32pm BST

32 min The dangerous Beckie slides a nice ball into Sinclair, who controls it on the run and hits a shot on the turn that is blocked by Erceg. Moments later, Lawrence shoots wide from distance. It’s still all Canada.

8.29pm BST

29 min Zadorsky’s cross from deep on the left pinballs around the New Zealand area before falling to Sinclair. She guides the ball to Prince, who tries to take on the last defender Stott and is smartly dispossessed. Stott looks a fine player, with and without the ball.

8.25pm BST

26 min A quiet spell in the game. That suits New Zealand, who needed a breather after 20 minutes of almost constant defending.

8.22pm BST

22 min Canada have had 72 per cent of the possession in the first quarter.

8.21pm BST

21 min The teenager Riviere, who has made a fine start on her World Cup debut, wins a corner for Canada. Beckie drives the corner beyond the far post, where it skims off the head of the flying Schimdt. It was just too far in front of here.

8.19pm BST

19 min Annalie Longo has replaced CJ Bott. She has moved into midfield, with Ria Percival moving to right-back.

8.18pm BST

18 min When play finally resumes, Canada hit the bar and have a header cleared off the line! A corner from the left was flicked on and headed onto the bar from close range by Sinclair, who probably should have scored. The ball rebounded to Prince, whose header was cleared off the line by Bowen!

8.18pm BST

17 min Bott is close to tears as she leaves the field, with an ice pack around her right hand.

8.16pm BST

16 min There’s a long delay while the New Zealand right-back CJ Bott receives treatment. She’s going to come off, in fact. She blocked a cross from Beckie and went down in a lot of pain. Replays showed it deflected onto her hand, which snapped back at the point of impact. She may have broken her wrist.

8.14pm BST

14 min Prince ignores a challenge, cuts infield and slaps a fierce shot that is blocked on the edge of the area by Erceg. It feels like a Canada goal is coming.

8.13pm BST

13 min The dangerous Beckie beats Bott with ease on the left and lifts a cross that is headed away by Erceg (I think). This is very one-sided. That said, New Zealand know how to defend and they’ll be happy that Canada haven’t created any clear chances.

8.10pm BST

This is my sixth stadium of the tournament, and it easily takes the cake. With the foothills of the Alps visible in the background, lit by a softly-setting sun, the aptly-named Stade des Alpes is an absolute beaut. We are also very close to capacity tonight, a stark improvement on recent matches elsewhere.

8.10pm BST

9 min Canada look so classy in possession – better than I expected, actually, having read a few reports of their 1-0 win over Cameroon. They can play a more direct game, too, and a long ball leads to their first chance. It was headed on by Sinclair towards Beckie, who had to wait an age for the ball to come down and could only head straight at Nayler. It was a tricky chance.

8.06pm BST

6 min Kadeisha Buchanan, scorer of the winning goal against Cameroon in Canada’s first game, is struggling with what looks like a groin problem. She may need to go off.

8.06pm BST

5 min We haven’t seen anything of Christine Sinclair yet, but Canada have started brightly in midfield, Sophie Schmidt in particular.

8.04pm BST

4 min New Zealand’s first attack. Stott brings the ball out confidently and finds Bott, whose long, angled cross is headed away at the far post by the teenager Riviere. Good defending.

8.03pm BST

3 min Canada have started really confidently, with some slick passing and movement. Beckie shoots over the bar from long range.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! New Zealand, in white, kick off from right to left. Canada are in red.

7.55pm BST

The teams emerge from the tunnel on a pleasant evening in Grenoble. This is a huge game for both teams, and the players look on the nervous side of focussed.

7.15pm BST

Some World Cup reading

7.02pm BST

Jayde Riviere replaces Allysha Chapman in the Canada defence. New Zealand are unchanged.

Canada (4-4-2) Labbe; Riviere, Buchanan, Zadorsky, Lawrence; Prince, Scott, Schmidt, Beckie; Sinclair, Fleming.
Substitutes: Chapman, Quinn, Rose, Grosso, Huitema, Carle, Sheridan, Leon, Woeller, D’Angelo, Agnew, Hellstrom.

6.29pm BST

The Netherlands ensured their place in the knockout stages with a 3-1 victory over Cameroon this afternoon, with Arsenal’s brilliant Vivianne Miedema scoring her first World Cup goals to break the Netherlands scoring record - at the age of 22.

5.21pm BST

Hello. What happens when an immovable object meets an immovable object? We might find out in the next few hours. For both Canada and New Zealand, who meet in Grenoble, the best form of defence is defence. Canada have kept 12 clean shjeets in the last 15 games, while New Zealand looked superbly organised in their opening game. They were pretty unfortunate to lose 1-0 to the Netherlands in their opening game, the same score by which Canada beat Cameroon.

That means a win tonight for Canada would ensure a place in the last 16, and I suspect a draw would ultimately be enough. New Zealand probably need at least a draw, although they could still sneak through as one of the best third-placed teams even if they are beaten tonight.

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Published on June 15, 2019 13:57

June 11, 2019

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka rained off: Cricket World Cup 2019 – as it didn't happen

Heavy rain meant no play was possible in Bristol, meaning a third World Cup washout in five days

1.58pm BST

The umpires have called it off, so Bangladesh and Sri Lanka take a point each, and you’ll be able to see the updated league table shortly. I’m afraid there’s a chance of more washouts tomorrow (Australia v Pakistan) and especially Thursday (India v New Zealand). Whaddya gonna do?

Thanks for your company, I’ll leave you with another plug for Simon Burnton’s excellent Spin and Tanya’s live county blog. And the latest standings in the World Cup table. Bye!

1.46pm BST

“Me again,” says Steve Pye. “I’m not sure I’ve changed much into my adult life. I recently told my colleagues that on the first day of every English cricket Test summer since 1994 I’ve always eaten a Toblerone. I don’t know why, I’m just odd. One of my colleagues turned to me and said, ‘How did you ever get married?’ Harsh, but probably fair.”

I didn’t know you worked with your wife. Honk.

1.44pm BST

“My least favourite washout was the Ashes at the Oval in 2013,” writes Guy Hornsby. “My cricket mad friend Mel was due to attend her first Ashes Test but our enthusiasm was gradually wrung out of us (literally) by torrential rain from before play. We never even sat in our seats. Obviously we found liquid ways to pass the time, but I’ll never get over the fact I missed Ian Bell make a not-quite-enough 43 off 145 balls in a drawn Test. There’s no justice.”

Pop quiz: what unusual feat did Ian Bell achieve during the 2013 Ashes? And who else achieved it in the same series?

1.37pm BST

We’re hearing about what can be done to mitigate the effects of a spell of rain during a World Cup.

Chris Tetley from the ICC and Gloucestershire Chief Executive Will Brown are with us.

Live: https://t.co/ewvMB5nxMv #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/qkwZLhzUZW

1.37pm BST

I suspect the match will be officially abandoned at approximately 2.27pm. Even if it never rains again in Bristol, the outfield won’t be playable for a few hours.

1.33pm BST

Dear rain, please do one

1.29pm BST

“While I hope paying punters get to see a bit of cricket, I’m not sure I’d like to see a number of quasi-T20 group games that may determine which team gets to go through to the latter stages,” says Neill Brown. “An arbitrary draw, based on weather and/or the toss of a coin (at the end of the round robin), is a far better fit for cricket hosted in England. Also, if it all goes T20 and every ball is deemed sacred, we’ll be denied my new favourite thing in sport, namely Chris Gayle calmly, yet forcefully, refusing an easy single while he contemplates his next attempt to biff whatever comes his way over cow corner.”

I also like his extravagant, slow-motion leaves outside off stump, which he occasionally produces even in a T20 match.

1.22pm BST

Lunchtime reading

Here’s our latest World Cup bulletin from Matthew Weaver.

1.17pm BST

“Afternoon Rob,” says Dave Adams. “Steve Pye’s question took me back to the early 90s too. I was about 14 at the time and I was aware that Hampshire were playing in Portsmouth that week in June/July. I legged it home from school and looked up page 340 on Ceefax. Hampshire were batting and David Ivon Gower was one of the not out batsmen.

“I rushed to the station, hopped on a train, and got to the ground only to find they’d just gone off due to what barely qualified as ‘light drizzle’. So I sat there, on my own, bored out of my mind until play was officially abandoned for the day with no further play possible. Great days.

1.15pm BST

“I take it none of your readers today are South African,” says Andrew Cosgrove, “or they would all have emailed in with the infamous semi-final of the 1992 World Cup.”

The daftest thing about that game is the South Africa won the toss and elected to field. I’ve done some stupid things in my time, but none of th... actually, on reflection, quite a few of them have been more stupid than that. But it was still an exceedingly stupid decision to bat second given the rain rules in that tournament.

1.02pm BST

“Two days in a row?” sniffs Matt Dony. “I’m running a serious risk of being productive at work. Steven Pye’s have just struck a chord, though. Wondering why no one at school finds us attractive. If ever there was an OBO calling card, this it. Alan Partridge famously finished chapters of his book with, ‘Needless to say, I had the last laugh.’ From now on, I’ll probably finish most of my emails with, ‘And I wondered why no one fancied me in school...’”

Those lonely teenage years never leave you, eh, even when you’re happily grown up with three children and 12 wives.

12.57pm BST

Here’s Pete Salmon on the subject of exasperating rain delays

|Can’t believe no one has mentioned the semi final of the Ferntree Gully Cricket Association Thirds in 1990/91. We - Upwey - had snuck into fourth and rolled the undefeated top team, Ferndale for 82. ‘Horse Clarke’ finished with 6 for not many, and even I got a couple. We were 1 for 43 at stumps. High 30s all week, then the following Saturday it peed down the whole day. The next week, Ferndale beat Ferntree Gully - who we’d defated twice that year - in the Grand Final, to take the pennant, $200 cash and a meat tray. Still bitter.”

12.56pm BST

The cut-off time is 4.15pm. Those at the ground suggestt there is approximately 0.00 per cent chance of the match starting by then.

12.50pm BST

“Yuvraj Singh is the most impactful white-ball cricketer (perhaps even the greatest ever) to have played for India,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “Discuss.”

Well, I wouldn’t abuse you on social media for that opinion. Interesting that nobody really includes Gambhir in this discussion. (Most impactful, that is, not greatest.)

12.44pm BST

“Anybody else remember Lancs v Derbyshire at Buxton in June ‘75?” asks Peter Hutchinson. “SNOW!!!!”

Martin Williamson was there.

12.41pm BST

“Frustrating rain delays? Scotland v West Indies in Harare last year is still fresh in the memory,” says Simon McMahon, driving his nails down a chalkboard to enter the appropriate headspace. “Although I suppose what happened allows me to state that had the rain not intervened, Scotland would be lifting the cricket World Cup at Lord’s next month.”

12.35pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Steve Pye. “Not sure how I forgot the trauma of Trinidad in 1990 - that’s one for the amateur psychologists out there - but as soon as you mentioned that match, my heart sank. I was 14 at the time, and took the time to construct a tally chart with 151 lines on it to cross out during the run chase. And I wondered why none of the girls at my school found me attractive?!”

If only you’d been the boy in this advert, eh.

12.32pm BST

There’s plenty going on in the County Championship, including a lively counter-attack from the hugely promising Ollie Robinson at Canterbury. Get the latest news with Tanya Aldred.

12.28pm BST

Do we bother making the hour trip over? Will we get 20 overs each side in? Cant see it currently.‍♂️

No. You’re welcome.

12.27pm BST

“Your royal highness,” writes Sohid Ahmed. “Seeing there is no cricket imminent, can we talk about the most elegant left hander in the game who just announced his retirement? The one who took six sixes off Broad? A shame he did not get a proper farewell.”

The BCCI will organise a farewell match for Yuvraj, surely? Just in case you missed it, there’s a quite brilliant tribute to him on Cricinfo from Sharda Ugra.

12.25pm BST

“The Spin details the first modern ODI in 1987,” says Don Wilson, “but I seem to remember that the last truly old fashioned ODI, played in whites with a red ball, was in the late 90s, between India and Zimbabwe I think?”

The memory on you! It was December 2000 rather than the late 90s - but even so, I’m giving you full points.

12.21pm BST

The planned 12.15pm inspection has been postponed. I shan’t insult your intelligence by telling you why it has been postponed.

12.20pm BST

“The 2007 rain at Lord’s vs. India gets my vote,” says Matt Salkeld, on the subject of exasperating examples of cricketus interruptus. “Personally though, the rain-affected Saturday of the Lord’s Test against NZ in ‘90 sticks in my mind. It was my first-ever match and my 13-year old self was not long on patience. As it turned out, the drizzle was standing between me and the enjoyment/torment of a nuggety 185-run opening partnership between John Wright and Trevor Franklin. NZ’s eight-foot, big-jawed opening bat was not in expansive mood, as his strike rate of 32 showed...”

You should have seen him at Bengaluru in 1988. Mind you, it’s hard to begrudge him even a single dot ball after his leg was shattered by a motorised luggage trolley at Gatwick during the 1986 tour.

12.15pm BST

“Dear Rob,” writes Varun Mathure. Thought it was worth sharing that if Bangladesh v Sri Lanka is called off it would be the seventh time (eighth if you include the India v Sri Lanka semi-final game from CWC ‘96) that a game involving Sri Lanka at the World Cup would be either abandoned or not take place due to extenuating circumstances (again ‘96 and the two walkovers against Australia and West Indies).

“Outside of that little tidbit, whilst the weather gods have been particularly unfavourable this year, I am incredulous that there seems to be no planning from the ICC on how to prevent the tournament not being majorly influenced by the weather. This would be the third washout and we could easily see that number rise to five by the end of this week. No wonder then that we are seeing the game lose out on public interest and ECB coming up with the bemusing idea of the Hundred in an effort to keep the masses engaged.”

12.11pm BST

“Hi Rob, I’m a cricket fan from Spain,” says Carlos Pérez. “I’m travelling with my brother to Chester-le-street to watch Sri Lanka v South Africa on the 28th. I’m scared!! It’s going to be my first time watching cricket live and I don’t want the game to be rained off!! Let’s organise the World Cup in sunny Spain instead, shall we?”

I wouldn’t worry. The weather has been so contrary of late that you’ll probably have a Durham heatwave.

12.07pm BST

“Morning Rob,” writes Matt Emerson. “I’m old enough to clearly remember the 1980 Centenary Test at Lord’s, when the rain interruptions led to umpire David Constant being assaulted by an MCC member and Greg Chappell being shocked, shocked! by the members’ language. Yes, that Greg Chappell. A fuller account is here.”

12.03pm BST

“Kind Sir,” writes John Barnes. “Everyone is questioning the wisdom of a World Cup in England with our unpredictable weather - which makes me wonder the following: how many games in previous World Cups staged in England were washed out? We’ve held it f0ur times so it can’t be a horrendous amount that have been lost.”

They had reserve days in all of the previous tournaments. There was still one washout in 1979, Sri Lanka v West Indies, and another in 1999 (Zimbabwe v New Zealand).

11.56am BST

The Daily Plug

Two great new cricket books now in stock from @englandcricket legends Jimmy Anderson and Robin Smith! @jimmy9 @RobinSmithJudge #Wolverhampton pic.twitter.com/jqgoILgMrc

11.51am BST

“I thought you might be bored,” writes professional mindreader Steve Pye, “so I thought I’d try and start some kind of discussion related to cricket and rain. When were you most frustrated by a weather interruption in cricket? As an England fan, bad light at Lord’s against India in 2007 springs to mind. This was also frustrating at the time. England leading South Africa by 289 with three wickets left, against a strong South African team, only for rain to wash out the last day.”

Trinidad 1990, always. England would have been 2-0 up with two to play, and a draw away from the biggest upset in cricket history. Any others?

11.47am BST

Here’s David Peters, with a question inspired by today’s Spin

“I’ve been wondering (‘though India won, Mahanama was the man of the match’), how often is a player from the losing team named Man of the Match?”

11.45am BST

There will be an inspection at 12.15pm. Meanwhile, here’s some more injury news.

Marcus Stoinis is unavailable with a side strain. Mitch Marsh flying over to England. #CWC19

11.40am BST

“Is there anything in the rules preventing India from replacing Dhawan and then bringing him back three weeks later?” says Ian Forth, who didn’t get the salutations memo.

Yes, there is – when you replace a player it’s for life, not just for Christmas. They could theoretically bring Dhawan back in to replace another injured player, but that injury would need to be verified by the ICC. Which reminds me, I need to finish my screenplay about an unused squad member at a Cricket World Cup who is attacked by a hatchet man armed with only a pair of pliers and a clear understanding of the ICC regulations regarding the replacement of injured players.

11.16am BST

“Sir,” says Sanjay Pareek, who could TEACH THE REST OF YOU A THING OR TWO ABOUT SALUTATIONS, “what time will the match start?”

No time has been set for an inspection, never mind for the match to start. I would say the likeliest scenario is that it will be washed out, as light rain is forecast for most of the day.

11.12am BST

“The ICC should have considered the English weather conditions before organizing such a huge cricketing event at this point in time,” says Iqbal Rehan, “as the results may not be the true reflector due to limited opportunities to the teams because of rain.”

I have a fair bit of sympathy for the ICC, because this is forecast to be the wettest June in history, and you can’t really plan for that. I suppose they could have had Michael Fish on the organising committee.

11.09am BST

Something for the rain break

11.03am BST

There has actually been a prompt start in a few of the County Championship games. Get the latest news with the irritatingly brilliant Tanya Aldred.

11.01am BST

“Isn’t keeping Dhawan a no-brainer?” asks Andrew Hurley. “Rahul opens, and they have a couple of middle order options. They have also already beaten Australia so they have already some margin for error in their games against the other top teams. “

Yes, completely agree. Unless he’s out for six weeks it would verge on weird for them to replace him, and nobody wants to verge.

10.56am BST

The forecast for the next few days is not exactly life-affirming, although it does get better towards the weekend. India v New Zealand looks like it will be washed out.

Wednesday Australia v Pakistan, Taunton
Overcast changing to light rain in the afternoon

10.40am BST

Weather latest It’s still wet, it’s still not happening. Ach. Imagine scheduling a World Cup in England during the rainy season.

10.35am BST

And if you’d like to read about the first truly modern ODI, a match that went unnoticed at the time, this week’s Spin will make you happy.

10.31am BST

If you’d like to follow the rain in other parts of the country, with the occasional interruption by cricket, here’s our county blog.

10.06am BST

Injury news Indian’s ICC tournament specialist Shikhar Dhawan suffered a fractured thumb against Australia on Sunday and will be out for an unspecified period of time. There is talk of India replacing him. To me, that would be daft. They would qualify for the semi-finals if they had me opening the batting in his place, so surely they should keep him in the squad on the assumption he’ll be fit for the knockout games. The first semi-final isn’t until 9 July.

If indeed Dhawan is out for 3 weeks, India have a tough decision ahead of them. Do they seek a replacement, in which case he is out of the tournament (unless back as a replacement for another player) or do they back Shanker and Karthik to bat at 4 till he is fit again.

9.58am BST

A weatherman tweets

Tricky one at Bristol today for #CWC19 Showers expected on and off throughout so it'll depend how long the drier spells are and how much play they can get in between the showers ☔️ Fingers crossed #bbccricket @bbctms @bbcsport pic.twitter.com/wJfzS6e6HE

9.57am BST

Every cloud department

Attempting to get out and about in Bristol but not having much luck with the weather! But at least I can share this experience with family, friends and fans back home with Vodafone $5 Roaming’ vodafoneau… https://t.co/IuLlvzbNrv

9.54am BST

In other news department

If you're going to the England v India game at Edgbaston, YOU NEED TO READ THIS: https://t.co/CXpmOVqULR

9.32am BST

Some pre-match reading

I say pre-match. I’ll level with you: I’m not sure there’ll be a match!

7.59am BST

Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s daily weather report, also known in some cultures as the Cricket World Cup. We’ve had two washouts in the last four days, and things don’t look too pretty in Bristol this morning. Brizzle is made for mizzle and drizzle, but sadly the weather in the last 24 hours has more of a phonetic connection with somewhere like Teresópolis.

Yes, I know it’s an imperfect rhyme. I’m doing my best. Come on, work with me here!

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Published on June 11, 2019 05:58

Bangladesh v Sri Lanka: Cricket World Cup 2019 – live!

Cricket World Cup updates from the game in BristolWorld Cup standings: view the tournament table hereSend your thoughts to rob.smyth@theguardian.com

9.32am BST

Some pre-match reading

I say pre-match. I’ll level with you: I’m not sure there’ll be a match!

7.59am BST

Yes, I know it’s an imperfect rhyme. I’m doing my best. Come on, work with me here!

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Published on June 11, 2019 01:37

June 10, 2019

South Africa v West Indies washed out: Cricket World Cup 2019 – as it happened

Only 7.3 overs were bowled at the Ageas Bowl, where South Africa picked up their first point of the tournament after their match was abandoned

4.33pm BST

South Africa have their first point!

4.17pm BST

The umpires have conceded defeat, which means South Africa have avoided defeat for the first time in the competition. They and West Indies take a point each from another frustrating day. Whaddya gonna do? Watch Matlock at 5pm and find out who murdered the umpire, that’s what!

This is the second washout in four days, and there could be another in Bristol tomorrow, where Banglanka take on the Weather Gods. Thanks for your company and emails. Bye!

4.15pm BST

“I find it incredibly poor planning on the ICCs part,” says Peter Boyce, “that they didn’t think to play the World Cup last year when the weather was perfect.”

4.10pm BST

“As a South African currently living/weather-enduring in Yorkshire, might I suggest the most logical solution would be not to stage the World Cup in the UK?” bolditalicises Louwrens Botha. “Very strange that cricket, one of the most rain-sensitive sports in the world, has its spiritual home on this island. Maybe there’s an underperforming ICC country with a lovely Mediterranean climate, balanced pitches, delicious cheap wine and dramatic mountain backdrops that could be a good alternative? Just thinking out loud.”

I’m not sure the wine in Scotland is cheap, to be fair.

4.09pm BST

There will be a final inspection in 15 minutes, and then the umpires will formally accept what they have known in their hearts since around midday.

3.51pm BST

“Solved it!” says Matt Dony, high-fiving a posse of confused octogenarians. “If matches are washed out, then it probably is too much hassle to rearrange them. But also seems unfair to assign a single point each. Get the Pools Panel involved. Decide who would have won, and assign points accordingly. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could go wrong with that. I’m available to solve other problems, for a small fee.”

3.44pm BST

“Beautiful weather in Dallas today (couldn’t say the same yesterday),” says Ben Mimmack. “This business of awarding one point for a washout is a bit unsatisfying. There must be a way of deciding this game that would also entertain the crowd. My suggestions: Penalty shootout, Sprint relay, Karaoke contest, Yard of ale, Beauty pageant. Or a combination of all of them.”

3.43pm BST

Musical interlude, courtest of Anna Meredith MBE

3.41pm BST

“Seven days is too many,” says Tom Carver. “I blame Tom Wichert (13.39pm) for suggesting it. Set one day aside. Eleven grounds are involved. One more game at each ground, all played on the same day, should be ample to cover the number of lost games.”

That way you could have a team playing three games in three days, the last of which would be a semi-final. And what if one team has two or three matches washed out? I feel a bit guilty for playing the role of Baron Pooh-Pooh, but I can’t see a practical solution.

3.30pm BST

There will be another inspection at 3.45pm. Some of the covers have been removed, but don’t change your breathing pattern just yet.

3.25pm BST

Everything, the state thereof

3.20pm BST

“People have been saying it would be harsh to miss out on qualification after a washed-out no result,” says Andrew Cosgrove. “Looking at the cricket that actually has gone ahead today (eg Worcs skittled for 98 by Lancashire), it’s clearly not a batsman’s day, and will be miserable for the players. Is the point-apiece wash-out less fair than trying to get a game done in such conditions, which might be a lottery with one team being shot out in bowler-friendly conditions? It seems to me to be an equally harsh way to decide qualification.”

Yes, possibly, although red- and white-ball cricket are very different. I know what you mean, though.

3.20pm BST

“It is not difficult to arrange reserve days,” says Tom Carver. “Simply set everything up for seven games to happen in the week after round robin and before semi-finals, selling tickets cheaply on a contingent basis. If no games are needed then there are some wasted costs (but probably not significant in these days of zero hours contracts), but if the games are needed then there is some extra money earnt by the hosting grounds and a full quota of cricket played. More cricket and more money – just as the ICC likes it.”

Trouble is, even if that was feasible, what if no reserve days are needed? The tournament loses all momentum and teams go into the semi-finals having not played for 7-10 days. I think that’s a far greater evil.

3.18pm BST

“Since there’s nothing else to talk about,” says Andrew Cosgrove, “I’d like to say that Balaji Mannu’s pub visits (email in the 15:01 update) sound much more interesting than any of mine if they require permission from the council, TV coverage and DRS equipment.”

Wetherspoons really has changed since your visit.

3.11pm BST

“This is a bit of a tough sell,” says Abhijato Sensarma, “but here I go anyways: there is an off-season in the cricket calendar every year during the formerly CLT20 slot. I had an idea... Couldn’t the winner of the County Championship play the winner of the Ranji Trophy? It could be done on a neutral wicket, such as the ones in South Africa or in the Caribbean, which has something for everyone. It could be a three-match series, or even a knockout tournament of four-day matches between more champion domestic teams. I get the feeling people will like it!”

I wish I could say I get the same feeling.

3.07pm BST

The drizzle has returned. I’m probably not giving away trade secrets when I say there’s a 0.06 per cent chance of any more play in this match.

3.01pm BST

While we wait for more news, here’s an email from Balaji Mannu on the subject of reserve days. “From my experiences in real life of organising events (birthday parties, pub visits, match days etc.), the planning around security, hotel bookings, council permissions, TV slots & DRS equipment all make it very difficult to arrange a reserve day. It’s not about money. And as an Indian supporter may I say it’s not the BCCI’s doing.”

2.52pm BST

The umpires will inspect at 3.15pm local time. There’s a lot of clearing up to do, and the forecast is still dreadful for the rest of the day. But where there’s hope, there’s hope!

2.47pm BST

The covers are coming off! Crikey, I didn’t see that coming. We may yet have a game.

2.46pm BST

“Hints of sun here,” says Nick Miller down in Southampton. “Meanwhile they’re interviewing Clive Lloyd & Viv Richards on the big screen. They just asked Clive what his favourite food was.”

It’s like Small Talk never happened.

2.42pm BST

Here’s more on Jos Buttler’s hip injury, which may keep him out of England’s sizeable match against West Indies on Friday.

2.34pm BST

It’s raining again Great stuff.

2.27pm BST

“Is there any reason we could not have had reserve days for the group stage, as allocated for the semi-finals and final (I.e. reserve day only to be used if 20 overs per side not possible on the originally scheduled day)?” says Seth Levine. “I suspect the answer will include the words / letters ‘BCCI’, ‘television’ and ‘money’, but can’t work out what the objection might be. As long as ticket-holders have right to request refund for washed-out scheduled play, not sure who the losers would be.”

It must be a logistical thing, though like you I’m not sure what the specific problem might be. It’s a great, catch-all term, that. Look, it’s not you. It’s not even me – it’s a logistical thing!

2.21pm BST

Thank you so much @TheRealPCB. Inspirational #WeAreSomerset #WeHaveWeWill #CWC19 @cricketworldcup @ICC pic.twitter.com/AN2TIxH7d1

2.15pm BST

The rain has stopped and the groundstaff are going about their business. But before you get your cricket freak on, more rain is forecast at around 4pm.

2.13pm BST

“Shall we talk about Australia?” says Pete Salmon. “I was one of about 7 Aussies there in a crowd of 25,000 and had a glorious time, but it didn’t look good. I’m not feeling so down on Warner as most people seem to be – right from ball one he looked like he was having a rubbish day at the office, never middling it, but difficult to ask an international cricketer to just get out as quickly as possible. Main problem seems to be that we are a batsman short and a bowler short. Khawaja can score at a run a ball, but that’s all very 2013 now. Could Carey bat at six? Dreadfully makeshift, but the clock is ticking. And would allow one other bowler to at least absorb some overs – the Stoinis, Coulter-Nile, Zampa, Maxwell quartet looked very ordinary. Thoughts?”

Yes, Khawaja and Coulter-Nile - his Chetan Sharmaish hitting aside - look like weak links from afar, although these things are relative. I like Zampa, but Lyon is a very persuasive option and I’m sure both will play at some stage. I would have had Hazlewood in the team, never mind the squad; in his absence, I like what I’ve seen of Kane Richardson and would bring him in for Coulter-Nile. Not sure about Carey at No6 - that would mean a pretty long tail, especially if you’re chasing 300+. I wouldn’t worry too much. The spine of the team is so strong that they could easily win the tournament.

1.59pm BST

If this match is abandoned, as looks likely, South Africa will probably need to win all their remaining games - Afghanistan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia - to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.

1.55pm BST

“David Warner looks like he’s trying to disguise who he really is by growing a beard - understandably so,” says Ian Forth. “This simple technique works well in thrillers where often a baseball cap and an upturned collar is all that’s required to render oneself incognito (see, for example, Frank Underwood in House of Cards when he kills the [shut it! - plotspoiler ed]). However Warner might like to remember that the word ‘Warner’ is written across his shoulders.”

He’ll never make the all-time beard XI.

1.49pm BST

“I am retired, live in NZ and I love watching cricket but don’t know the finer details especially the procedures when the games get rained off,” says Rosemary Hooper. “Is it possible if it rains for the next 40 days and 40 nights NZ may win without facing another ball!”

If that happens, I think the apocalypse will be the winner.

1.39pm BST

“Just been thinking how incredibly unfair it is that teams could potentially miss out on a semi-final spot, cos they only got a point in a game they most probably would have won even half arsed,” says Tom Wichert. “Would a solution not be to schedule a week, or at least a few days, in between the end of the round robin and the knockout stages in which any games that were rained off can be played? I know it could hose it down then again, but surely a week would be enough time in which to complete these games?”

I like the idea in principle, but surely it’s a logistical impossibility? Like you, though, I fear the weather will effectively decide at least one of the semi-final places.

1.25pm BST

David Warner played a strange innings at the Oval yesterday, where India beat Australia by 36 runs. Geoff Lemon tried to make sense of it all.

1.23pm BST

The Spin is great, part two

1.23pm BST

The Spin is great, part one

1.22pm BST

“Rain here has almost stopped,” writes our own Nick Miller, “but is just spitting enough to prevent them coming back on. In short, the most irritating rain you can imagine.”

Obviously you’re not a golfer.

1.17pm BST

The cut-off time is 5pm, it says here. If play hasn’t resumed by then, the match will be abandoned and we’ll all be able to watch Matlock on CBS Justice. Looks like a good one: A baseball umpire is murdered, and all the members of a team have a motive for the crime.

1.05pm BST

“The chance to meet Robin Smith in the flesh almost makes me consider getting on the train to London next week if the weather looks terrible for the game at Old Trafford (for which I have decent seats),” says Guiy Hornsby. “Yes, this sounds ridiculous, but so does trying to put into words the adolescent admiration for one of Smith’s rapier-sharp, and devastatingly timed square cuts. Multiply by ten for those while facing the West Indies. I think I need a lie down.”

He hit some screamers during the 1989 Ashes as well.

12.58pm BST

“Re: Matt Dony’s comment at 12:29,” says Colum Farrelly. “There is an argument that TMS and OBO between them have failed to keep Matt Dony sane. Just saying.”

Motion sustained.

12.52pm BST

“Did you hear Michael Holding read out a message from a South African acquaintance on commentary the other day?” says Don Wilson. “‘The South African team will soon have some difficult decisions to make: beef or chicken, window or aisle seat?’ That’s pretty mean from one of your own supporters.”

Never mind that; what about the carnivorenormative attitude?

12.47pm BST

Most of the County Championship matches have also been rain-affected, though there has been enough dry weather for Ben Sanderson, James Anderson and Graham Onions to get among the wickets.

12.42pm BST

In other news, if you live in London and get high on a rasping square cut, this might be of interest: Robin Smith will be signing copies of his new book at Leadenhall Market next Tuesday. (Full disclosure: I get high on a rasping square cut.)

12.33pm BST

If you’re hoping to see more cricket, or even read about it, I’m afraid to say the forecast for this afternoon puts the ‘ugh’ in ‘laughable’.

12.29pm BST

“I am absolutely here all week,” says Matt Dony. “And beyond! I spend most of my working day alone in a lab (it’s not as Bond-Villain-y as it sounds...), so having a World Cup game every day is fantastic! TMS and OBO are keeping me sane and offering a welcome distraction from faux-science. So, yeah, the rain sucks.”

If you’re such a “hot-shot scientist”, can’t you make the rain stop, eh?

12.29pm BST

Injury Update about @josbuttler

“Jos sustained heavy bruising on his right hip during the match

He is responding well to treatment & will be reassessed later this week.

We anticipate he will train with the rest of the squad at the Hampshire Bowl on Wednesday”#bbccricket pic.twitter.com/TibylFJ6Gf

12.25pm BST

️ Yep.. still pic.twitter.com/Wmr3GGCoLs

12.17pm BST

“Totally unexpected and highly random bit of information for you,” says Phil Withall. “I just walked into the front room to find my wife watching The Voice Australia. Normally I would retreat as fast as my aging legs would allow. However tonight one of the singers was Henry Olaoga, former Zimbabwean cricketer and all round legend. Bloody hell, that man has some pipes on him.”

Yeah, right. Next you’ll be telling me Sir Curtly Ambrose was on Dancing with the Stars.

12.14pm BST

An email from Matt Dony, who is definitely here all week

“If it helps, Carmarthen is currently enjoying a spell of sunshine,” says Matt. “Few clouds, but nothing to worry about until much later this evening. Johnstown Cricket Pitch is empty. Can we get a couple of minibuses for the players?”

12.06pm BST

The covers are still on. We could be here a while, potentially all week.

12.05pm BST

“I’ve found the reason for England’s miserable weather,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “Since the World Cup started, I’ve had mathematics tuition on two days - the day on which PAK v SL was rained off, and now I’m on my way to the tuition again, with SA v WI threatening to be rained off too. Surely trigonometry is the bad omen here?”

It could well be trigonometry, but my money’s still on ostensibly random meteorological vicissitudes.

11.58am BST

Thanks Tim, hello everyone. Rain is becoming an unwelcome influence at this World Cup. Bad weather is intrinsically annoying for those who don’t like cricket but love it. And when you have a competition that includes a league stage, there is the potential for four years’ work to be undone by one downpour.

In the 1992 World Cup, the last time there was a round robin, the eventual winners Pakistan only qualified for the semi-finals - ahead of Australia - because it hosed down in Adelaide after England skittled them for 74. We may, at the end of this tournament, reflect on something similar. And if England fail to reach the semis because of washouts against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, I’m through with cricket, and even the most cautious hope.

11.40am BST

Still no sign of a resumption, and I’ve got a plane to catch (long story), so Rob Smyth has kindly agreed to take over early, on top of covering two football matches yesterday. The man is a team player as well as a star.

Thanks for your company, your emails and pedantries. See you on Friday for some more West Indies, when they face England in a match that looks like having a big say in the table.

11.35am BST

And here’s Robert Thicknesse. “V pleased to see I’m not the only one adding years to my age by obsessing about l.c. dus and des. And vans for that matter. Except those damn Van Zandts. (Actually the murderer in Dead Man Walking was always De Rocher too.) Anyway, keep up the Canute-style good work!” There’s a backhand compliment if I ever got one. And yes, Rob is the son of John Thicknesse, the late legendary Thickers, long-time cricket correspondent of the London Evening Standard.

11.32am BST

If you’re not pedantically inclined, look away now. “Morning Tim.” It’s Romeo, picking up on my remark in the 7th over. “And you don’t know how lucky you are to have someone reading what you write who cares about the fact that ‘lower case’ shouldn’t have a hyphen except when used attributively. Enjoy the day!” Too shay.

11.29am BST

It’s a good time for an old friend to resurface. “As a Saffer (ex),” says Richard Mansell, “I don’t even know if it’s cowardly to pray for rain. What happens if a match is rained out?” One point each: it’ll be South Africa’s undisputed highlight of the World Cup so far.

11.27am BST

We have our own weatherman. “I live just to the right of the match today,” says Peter Gibbs, “and there is some right filth on the rain radar that’s just hitting us now.” The right, meaning the east? Doesn’t the weather tend to from the west?

“We had thought to get one of those hotel rooms overlooking the pitch.” Hang on, didn’t you say you were just up the road? “But at upwards of £400 a night (usually just a quarter of that) we thought....nah. I should imagine those who have booked in for Friday’s match will be quaking at their commitment to booking the same room at £850ish for one night. It might still make sense if you can smuggle all your mates on to the balcony with you to risk the wash-out but really...” Yes, you’d need a lot of faith in the weather. And a lot of mates.

11.11am BST

Mid-8th over: South Africa 29-2 (de Kock 17, du Plessis 0) So you see off Kemar Roach (3-0-10-0) and on comes Oshane Thomas, who is faster and less rusty. No wonder de Kock takes a single first ball, running it down to third man. And then there’s a spot of rain, and the umpires take the players off, rather swiftly by English standards. The stump mike reveals that Rod Tucker is worried about the footholds.

11.06am BST

7th over: South Africa 28-2 (de Kock 16, du Plessis 0) That’s a wicket maiden from Cottrell as Faf du Plessis, the captain of a wobbly ship, plays safe for his first five balls. We have a man called du joining a man called de. They don’t know how lucky they are to have someone writing about them who cares about whether those little words are lower-case.

11.00am BST

Cottrell’s lifter leaves another batsman wondering why he played it. It was outside leg and would have been a wide if Markram had left it. Easier said than done, of course, and SA’s nightmare goes on.

10.58am BST

6th over: South Africa 28-1 (de Kock 16, Markram 5) A push for two from de Kock, nice and straight. It would be so good to see him get 80 off 50 here.

10.54am BST

5th over: South Africa 25-1 (de Kock 14, Markram 4) This pitch is usually good for batting but it reserves the right to produce a rip-snorter every so often. Cottrell does that again and has de Kock jumping for something other than joy. He bounces back with a couple of cuts, for two and four. Good contest.

10.51am BST

4th over: South Africa 17-1 (de Kock 6, Markram 4) Markram didn’t just play for Hampshire earlier this season, he made plenty of runs in 50-over cricket. He starts solidly enough against Roach and then produces a punchy off drive for four. The score predictor is giving SA 312, which raises the question of whether score predictors know the meaning of the phrase “In their dreams”.

10.46am BST

3rd over: South Africa 11-1 (de Kock 5, Markram 0) It was all going so well – we’d just seen the first signs of aggression as de Kock pulled Cottrell for three and Amla followed up with a square drive for four, easy as you like, all timing, only to depart two balls later, defeated by Cottrell’s bounce.

10.45am BST

Noooo... Cottrell finds some lift and Amla can only fend to Gayle at slip.

10.42am BST

2nd over: South Africa 4-0 (Amla 2, de Kock 2) Another push to leg for a single from de Kock, and another watchful start for this throwback of a World Cup.

10.40am BST

Roach’s first ball is nicked behind by de Kock – or is it? He reviews pretty confidently. Off the hip, so off the hook too.

10.38am BST

1st over: South Africa 3-0 (Amla 2, de Kock 1) Sheldon Cottrell opens up with a few dots to de Kock, who wafts at thin air before taking a single off his pads. Amla is more solid, spotting a full one quickly and pushing his first ball into the covers for two.

10.33am BST

If you prefer your sogginess to come with some county scores attached, go here to follow Tanya Aldred on the blog from Guildford, where Surrey badly need a win against Yorkshire.

10.26am BST

From the pre-match chat.

1 Faf du Plessis has a bruised knee, to go with any soreness about his team’s poor start.

10.20am BST

South Africa 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Quentin de Kock (wkt), 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Beuran Hendricks, 11 Imran Tahir.

West Indies 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Shai Hope (wkt), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Jason Holder (capt), 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Sheldon Cottrell, 11 Oshane Thomas.

10.11am BST

West Indies lose Andre Russell to a knee injury and leave out Evin Lewis, so Shai Hope moves up to open with Chris Gayle. In come Darren Bravo and Kemar Roach, to add even more pace to a powerful attack.

South Africa also make two changes. Aiden Markram, who has played here for Hampshire, replaces the out-of-form JP Duminy in the middle order, and the left-armer Beuran Hendricks comes in to add variety to the seam bowling. He is 28 but has only three ODIs behind him.

10.03am BST

We have one! Faf du Plessis spins, Jason Holder says heads, it is, and sure enough he elects to field. Faf says he would have done the same, but points out that it is likely to be overcast all day. Hard to argue with that.

9.33am BST

Morning everyone. We need to talk about the weather – this is England, after all. It’s been pretty good so far, with just the one match out of 14 washed away, and that, with all respect to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, only a medium-sized occasion. But the papers are full of gloom this morning, saying a month’s rain’s a-gonna fall in 24 hours flat. And today’s meeting between West Indies and South Africa at the Hampshire Bowl looks like being, at best, severely interrupted.

The chance of rain, according to the Met Office, is the wrong side of 50 per cent all day long. That said, the Bowl is only four miles from the sea as the crow flies, and the weather on the coast is more capricious than most, so there’s a glimmer of hope.

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Published on June 10, 2019 08:17

June 9, 2019

Portugal 1-0 Netherlands: Nations League final – as it happened

The hosts were deserved winners of the inaugural Nations League, with Goncalo Guedes’s thumping strike settling the final in Porto

11.13pm BST

9.51pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s liveblog. I’ll leave you with Daniel Taylor’s match report from Porto. Thanks for your company tonight, and throughout the 2018-19 season. See you in August!

9.50pm BST

The Portugal squad, led by their coach Jack Straw and the injured Pepe, stroll up to receive their medals. Cristiano Ronaldo is the last man up, and he collects the Nations League trophy for Portugal! This team are nowhere near as sexy as the Golden Generation of the 1990s, but they sure know how to win.

9.46pm BST

The Player of the Tournament is Bernardo Silva. There are few more admirable footballers in the world just now.

9.41pm BST

Portugal have done the European double - they won Euro 2016 and have added the 2019 Nations League. They are a slightly odd side, a bit of a motley crew with one or two class acts like Bernardo Silva. But they are brilliantly organised at the back, they work like stink and they have a demented glory addict in attack.

9.36pm BST

The Portugal players are celebrating like they’ve won a major trophy, and maybe that’s what the Nations League is. Either way, Portugal were much the better side and deserved to win. The Netherlands had lots of the ball but did very little with it, and this time there were no defensive gifts. In fact, the Portugal defence was superb, especially Jose Fonte and Ruben Dias in the centre.

9.34pm BST

That’s it! Three liong years of hurt have come to an end! Goncalo Guedes’s ferocious strike has won the inaugural Nations League for the hosts Portugal. Didn’t beat England, though, did they.

9.31pm BST

90+1 min Depay is booked for dissent.

9.31pm BST

90 min A headed clearance falls invitingly for Joao Moutinho, who thrashes it miles wide from distance. There will be three minutes of added time.

9.30pm BST

89 min Ronaldo spanks the free-kick miles wide.

9.29pm BST

88 min Dumfries is booked for a desperate foul on the substitute Rafa Silva, a lovely runner with the ball who has been excellent since coming on.

9.28pm BST

87 min de Jong goes down after a very late follow through from Ronaldo. I think it was accidental, but it’s hard to know these days.

9.27pm BST

86 min Portugal appeal for a penalty when Joao Moutinho appears to be dragged to the ground. The referee isn’t interested. Play continues, and moments later the underlapping Semedo drives a low shot that is comfortably saved by Cillessen. Replays suggest Moutinho may have been fouled by Blind, but not clearly and obviously.

9.25pm BST

84 min “It’s looking like Ronaldo will be adding yet another trophy to his collection,” says Matt Dony. “I just hope that the excitement doesn’t distract him and cause him to forget to thank Aaron Ramsey when he returns for pre-season at Juve. If it hadn’t been for Ramsey being suspended for the Euro 2016 semi, this would be the peak of Ronaldo’s international career.”

Wasn’t that because of a needless handball as well? That must smart.

9.24pm BST

82 min A long, angled ball is headed down by Luuk de Jong towards van de Beek, whose poor first touch almost sneaks in at the near post. Rui Patricio scrambles it behind for a corner. That’s taken short and crossed towards Luuk de Jong, who heads wide from 10 yards. That was a chance.

9.22pm BST

81 min A substitution apiece. Portugal bring on Joao Moutinho for Bruno Fernandes; the Netherlands introduce Luuk de Jong in place of Marten de Roon.

9.21pm BST

80 min Bruno Fernandes’s 48th long-range shot of the night is well struck but comfortably saved by Cillessen.

9.20pm BST

79 min Promes, cutting in from the left, plays an inviting pass back towards de Roon. He marches onto the ball and drills a rising drive just over the bar from 25 yards. That was a cracking effort.

9.16pm BST

75 min A change for Portugal, with Rafa Silva replacing the goalscorer Guedes.

9.14pm BST

73 min Portugal, Ronaldo in particular, are desperate to win this game. Now that the Netherlands have also stirred, it’s an intense, manic contest.

9.12pm BST

70 min “What is it about Pepe that makes him a pantomime villain?” says JR in Illinois. “He intentionally tries to hurt opponents, intentionally violates the laws of the game as often as he can, and intentionally tries to get opponents wrongly sent off. In my book that makes him an actual villain.”

If you don’t find Pepe amusing, I’m afraid you simply don’t hate yourself enough.

9.10pm BST

69 min Blind’s dangerous low cross is wonderfully cleared by Dias, stretching towards his own goal in the six-yard box. Dias, the young Benfica defender, has been really impressive.

9.09pm BST

68 min Since going behind, the Netherlands have played with much greater intensity. Human nature is a peculiar thing.

9.07pm BST

65 min: Good save from Rui Patricio! That was the Netherlands’ best chance. Depay met van de Beek’s deep right-wing cross with a firm downward header from six yards, but it was too close to Rui Patricio and he plunged to his right to make an important save.

9.05pm BST

65 min van de Beek wins a corner for the Netherlands. Fonte heads it clear.

9.04pm BST

62 min Portugal deserve to be ahead. They’ve played with much greater intensity and purpose in attack.

9.03pm BST

Guedes started the move with a lovely nutmeg that allowed a pass from the left touchline to run through to Bernardo Silva. He moved into the area and played a reverse pass back towards Guedes, who had continued his run towards the edge of the area. I thought Guedes should have slipped in Ronaldo on the right but instead he hammered a first-time shot that went through the left hand of the diving Cillessen and into the net. Cillessen should probably have saved it but it was a fierce strike.

9.01pm BST

Goncalo Guedes batters Portugal into the lead!

9.00pm BST

60 min Another change for the Netherlands - Steven Bergwijn is replaced by Donny van de Beek.

9.00pm BST

57 min “I share JR in Illinois’s genuine regret at the lack of Pepe in this game,” says Tom Hopkins. “In fact, he got me to thinking why they didn’t get Mark van Bommel out of retirement. It was just more fun with him rampaging about with impunity.”

Ah, you’re making me nostalgic.

8.58pm BST

56 min It’s been a cracking start to the second half, as if both teams can’t bear the thought of extra-time. Depay wriggles away from Fonte in the area and cuts the ball back. It hits somebody - no idea who - and is pushed behind by Rui Patricio.

8.56pm BST

54 min “Why do English people boo Virgil van Dijk?” asks Peter Giesen. “We are totally puzzled here in the Netherlands. Why are English people even in the Dragao? Is this some sort of desperate, drunken last stance before they finally leave the EU?”

The booing is from non-Liverpool fans, I suppose. As for the English fans, they bought tickets for the game in the knowledge that England would reach and then win the final.

8.55pm BST

53 min Bernardo Silva’s wicked inswinging corner from the right clears everyone in the centre of goal and is met by Fonte at the far post. His downward header is blocked, I think by one of his own teammates, and Cillessen gets to the loose ball a fraction before Fonte.

8.51pm BST

50 min Depay slides a through pass to Wijnaldum, who looks offside but is allowed to continue. He tries to chip Rui Patricio, who claws the ball away with his left hand - and then the flag does go up against Wijnaldum. All that blood pressure for nothing.

8.49pm BST

48 min The Netherlands, who were so passive before the break, have made a fast start to the second half.

8.46pm BST

46 min The Netherlands begin the second half. They’ve made a change, with Quincy Promes replacing Ryan Babel.

8.34pm BST

Half-time reading

8.34pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Breen Ó Conchubhair. “Who is winning the Ronaldo v Virgil Van D competition?”

He’s mainly been looked after by de Ligt, so hasn’t really come up against van Dijk. Ronaldo v de Ligt is about even, I’d say. De Ligt has been quite rough and ready with him.

8.32pm BST

Peep peep! Portugal have been the better team without creating any clear chances. The Netherlands have been neat, tidy and entirely sterile. See you in 10 minutes.

8.31pm BST

45+1 min The corner is taken short, swung deep and headed over by Fonte. And that’s that.

8.31pm BST

45 min Blind wins a corner for the Netherlands, their first of the match. It’s headed clear by Danilo and Portugal break promisingly. Eventually Semedo’s shot, which was going miles wide, deflects off van Dijk for another corner.

8.28pm BST

42 min “Either the German commentator on ZDF doesn’t seem to deem the action worthy of commentary, or there’s a technical glitch, but he’s been silent for at least 10 minutes now,” says Michael Dear. “Given the appalling state of football commentary in this country, though, I’m just as happy to hear the crowd noise, the occasional sounds of players shouting instructions to each other, or the thud of feet hitting the ball.”

Maybe it’s a protest against modern commentary, and specifically the inability of 99 per cent of commentators to even consider allowing a millisecond of dead air (sic).

8.27pm BST

41 min Portugal continue to chase Nations League glory. Ronaldo beats Dumfries and de Ligt before shooting straight at Cillessen from distance.

8.25pm BST

39 min “What a shame it is that Pepe isn’t fit to play in this final,” says JR in Illinois. “A real damn shame. It’s so sad that we are missing out on the opportunity to witness his delicate skill and unrivalled, impeccable sportsmanship. Terribly unfortunate, we are. Did I mention what a shame it is?”

A bit of pantomime villainy is just what this game needs, for mine.

8.24pm BST

38 min Make that five shots. Bernardo Silva shoves an inviting little pass back to Bruno Fernandes, who sweeps over the bar from inside the D.

8.23pm BST

37 min Bernardo Silva plays a nice little pass to Bruno Fernandes, whose shot on the run from the edge of the area is deflected behind by van Dijk. Fernandes certainly isn’t shot shy; I think that was his fourth of the half.

8.21pm BST

35 min Ronaldo plays the ball back to Guedes, whose low shot from the edge of the area takes a deflection before van Dijk boots it away. Portugal have been much more threatening in attack.

8.20pm BST

33 min Dumfries runs 50 yards down the right. He looks up at all the blue shirts waiting in the middle - and then he decides to play a short pass, the most abysmal pass I have seen in my entire life. I’m not even going to dignify it with a description.

8.18pm BST

32 min Louis van Gaal must be loving this Netherlands performance.

8.17pm BST

31 min For once, the stats are a perfect summary of the game. The Netherlands have had 60 per cent of the possession and no shots at goal. Portugal have had 40 per cent and six shots.

8.16pm BST

30 min Bruno Fernandes, on the right, whacks an awkward, wobbling shot from distance that is palmed round by Cillessen. From the resulting short corner, Ronaldo flashes a header straight at the keeper, though he’d been flagged offside.

8.15pm BST

28 min Ronaldo’s shot from the right of the box deflects wide off van Dijk. The resuling corner is swung towards Fonte, whose header from near the penalty spot is a bit tame and comfortably saved by Cillessen. That was a chance. In fact it hit his shoulder, which would explain why it looked so tame. While that was happening, de Ligt took one in the face from Dias. I think it was accidental.

8.13pm BST

27 min “Hello Rob,” says Kári Tulinius. “Viasat, the station broadcasting the Nations League here in Finland, certainly doesn’t seem to care very much for the final. The entire game so far has been shown from a camera high in the stands behind the Dutch goal, showing pretty much the entire pitch at all times. It’s interesting to watch the game that way, but it’s hard to tell what goes on when the ball’s near the Portuguese goal.”

It’s just like being there, sort of.

8.11pm BST

25 min Wijnaldum is fouled 40 yards from goal by Guerreiro. Ordinarily I wouldn’t give such incident the time of day but I’m starting to feel guilty about the lack of regular updates. I swear to you: nothing is happening.

8.07pm BST

21 min Portugal are having a good spell, their best of the match in terms of possession. It’s still not especially exciting, though, and the game really could do with a goal.

8.06pm BST

19 min Ronaldo is flattened by de Ligt, not for the first time in the game. This is the bit where I tell you that de Ligt was four years old when Ronaldo made his Portugal debut.

8.04pm BST

18 min “Mrs Dony and Master Dony are both in bed, I refuse to pay for Sky Sports (and goodness knows there’s nothing else on at the moment), and I’m currently on a diet, meaning I’m trying not to eat or drink anything unnecessary,” weeps Matt Dony. “So, my Sunday evening is being spent lying very soberly on the sofa watching a recording of the original Broadway production of Into The Woods. It’s come to this. No pressure, Rob, but if your MBM isn’t sufficiently entertaining, then I can’t guarantee I’ll see tomorrow. Might just disappear in a sad puddle of lower-middle-age (still south of 40!) ennui.”

I could do something wacky if you’d like.

8.03pm BST

17 min Fernandes plays a dreadful pass straight to Bergwijn, who charges at the heart of the Portugal defence from the halfway line. He gets to the edge of the area and tries to scurry past the last man Dias, who stays on his feet and makes a fine tackle.

8.01pm BST

15 min Portugal are playing like the away side, as they did so successfully for much of Euro 2016. They are so well organised in defence, and thus far the Netherlands haven’t been able to get behind them.

7.59pm BST

14 min “Great to see a Scottish market town getting a run out at right-back for the Netherlands tonight,” says Alan Walker of everyone’s new favourite defender, Denzel Dumfries.

7.58pm BST

13 min We’re having a few technical problems; apologies. You haven’t missed much, just a long-range shot from Fernandes that was comfortably saved by Cillessen.

7.54pm BST

9 min Bruno Fernandes has a shot from 25 yards, and instantly wishes he hadn’t.

7.54pm BST

8 min The Netherlands are dominating possession, as expected, but so far it has all been in front of the Portugal defence.

7.52pm BST

5 min “Impossible to see a shot of the Portuguese manager and not immediately think of Jack Straw,” says Charles Antaki. “Unfortunately.”

Well, it was possible to do so, but it isn’t any longer. Thanks a lot.

7.51pm BST

4 min A very long ball is driven towards Bernardo Silva, who takes it down beautifully on the chest before falling over just inside the area after a challenge from Blind and van Dijk. Portugal appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty. Van Dijk did put hands on Silva, but probably not enough for it to be a foul.

7.49pm BST

3 min It looks like Portugal are playing 4-3-3, with Guedes on the left of the attack and Bernardo Silva on the right. Ronaldo has just given the referee a rollocking for not giving him a free-kick.

7.47pm BST

2 min “I saw the Maradona movie today and I’ll confess I was disappointed,” says Gary Naylor. “The story is more one of addiction (and there’s a sense in which every addict’s story is the same story) and not so much the one of outrageous genius. What little football included, comprised footage shot close up with no sense of his peerless domination of space through technique, vision and personality.”

I suppose you could argue the football has been done a million times already, but that does sound a bit disappointing.

7.45pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Portugal, in red, kick off from left to right. The Netherlands are in their away strip. This polarised blue away shirt pays homage to the team’s classic 1988 changed colours, while a deep royal blue geometric pattern celebrates ‘Total Football’—the pioneering style of play which earned them reverential status in the ‘70s.

7.41pm BST

There’s a wonderful atmosphere in Porto; this feels like a Proper Game. Cristiano Ronaldo and the rest of the Portugal team are belting out the national anthem as if the match depends on it.

7.27pm BST

“Ronaldo will score and Portugal will win 2-1,” says Mayokun Mesole. “He’s been doing this for years tonight will not be different.”

There isn’t a particle of my being that will be surprised if that does happen. Amazing to think that once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, he was seen by many as a big-game bottler.

7.24pm BST

“What’s a 4-D-2-formation?” asks Lars Bøgegaard.

It’s a diamond midfield. I can’t type 4-1-2-1-2; I get too many Full Metal Jacket flashbacks.

6.57pm BST

Pre-match reading

6.40pm BST

Portugal (possible 4-D-2) Rui Patricio; Semedo, Dias, Fonte, Guerreiro; Danilo; Fernandes, Carvalho; B Silva; Guedes, Ronaldo.
Substitutes: Sa, Beto, Cancelo, Moutinho, Sousa, Jota, R Silva, Neves, Rui, Pizzi, Felix.

Netherlands (definite 4-3-3) Cillessen; Dumfries, de Ligt, van Dijk, Blind; De Roon, F de Jong, Wijnaldum; Bergwijn, Depay, Babel.
Substitutes: Vermeer, Bizot, Hateboer, Ake, Propper, Promes, van Aanholt, de Vrij, Strootman, Vilhena, L de Jong, van de Beek.

11.51am BST

It’s a question that philosophers will ponder until the end of time: what does it all mean? Why, truly, have we all been received the gift of the Nations League? I’ve no idea how much this inaugural Nations League final between Portugal and the Netherlands matters to those involved, or where it registers on the gloryometer, and that feels a little strange.

We know it won’t mean as much to the winners as Euro 2016 and Euro 88 respectively, but the evidence of the semi-finals are that it matters more than we thought it would when the idea was conceived. Winning it would certainly mean more to Portugal than the SkyDome Cup. Whichever side lifts the trophy tonight, it will be a good story. Portugal could win as hosts, something they failed to do at Euro 2004, and Cristiano Ronaldo could add to his already ludicrous list of honours. How many Nations Leagues have you won, “Lionel”?

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Published on June 09, 2019 13:51

England beat Switzerland on penalties to secure third place in Nations League – as it happened

After 120 turgid minutes, Jordan Pickford scored and saved a penalty in the shoot-out against Switzerland as England claimed third place in the Nations League

5.11pm BST

And with that, it’s time to say farewell. Thanks all for reading - Rob will be back to take you through the final between Portugal and the Netherlands in a couple of hours.

5.09pm BST

Here’s Dom Fifield’s match report from Guimaraes.

5.07pm BST

Jordan Pickford speaks: “It was a very tough game today and we showed character and belief to get through 120 minutes twice in a few days. I was a bit nervous taking my pen but never saving them. When we were practicing them I always seemed to be able to pick my spot. Obviously we took off Harry Kane and a few others who would take a penalty - not sure where I am in the pecking order. These two games are a lot better than playing two qualifying games [for the 2020 Euros].”

5.01pm BST

Keen to follow a game that definitely does mean something? Get right on England v Scotland in the Women’s World Cup with Gregg Bakowski.

4.59pm BST

So what do we take from this, from an England point of view? Anything? Trent Alexander-Arnold being the first-choice right-back? Did we already know that he’s a better option than Kyle Walker? Is that your lot for John Stones?

4.56pm BST

Does two penalty shoot-out wins count as a ‘habit’? Probably not, but it’s better than the alternative for England.

4.53pm BST

Rob’s going for a lie down and to get a finger rub down ahead of the final later. Let us reflect on these glory days for England.

England end 51 years of hurt by finishing third in a tournament for the first time since Euro '68.

4.51pm BST

Nick Miller is here to take care of the postamble. Thanks for your company - bye!

4.51pm BST

England have won consecutive penalty shoot-outs for the first time in their history. Even if today wasn’t exactly the most pressurised environment, that’s surely a good thing. They were the better side today and fully deserved to win.

4.49pm BST

Pickford flies to his right to beat away a saveable penalty from Drmic, and England have won the third-place playoff!

4.48pm BST

Eric Dier, who scored the winner against Colombia, scores again with a placed effort to the right.

4.47pm BST

Schar takes it to sudden death!

4.46pm BST

Pickford cracks an emphatic penalty to his right, sending Sommer the wrong way.

4.45pm BST

Mbabu hammers an excellent penalty into the bottom corner, despite Pickford going the right way. And now Pickford is going to take England’s fifth penalty.

4.44pm BST

It’s made for Sterling to miss - but he scores to Sommer’s right.

4.43pm BST

Akanji, with almost no run up, places a cocky penalty into the top corner.

4.43pm BST

Jadon Sancho scores – just about. Sommer got a hand on it, I think, but it went through him.

4.42pm BST

Xhaka sends Pickford the wrong way.

4.41pm BST

A jaunty little Panenka from Barkley.

4.40pm BST

A brilliant penalty, smashed high into the net.

4.39pm BST

The referee makes Maguire move the ball back onto the spot before taking it. No matter: he leathers it in.

4.37pm BST

England will go first; Harry Maguire, to be precise.

4.33pm BST

“Must be a boring game for you,” says Sigrid. “Should these third and fourth place games be abolished in future?”

Yes, or they should at least go to penalties after 90 minutes.

4.32pm BST

Peep peep!

4.31pm BST

119 min It’s going to penalties.

4.28pm BST

117 min: Sterling hits the bar! It was a fine free-kick, curled over the wall at pace, and it thumped off the crossbar.

4.27pm BST

116 min Sterling is fouled just outside the area by Xhaka, who is booked. Although Sterling has had a bit of a stinker, he wants the ball at every opportunity.

4.26pm BST

114 min Barkley, who has looked bright since coming on, wins another corner for England. He takes it short to Alexander-Arnold, whose cross is blocked. It comes back to Alexander-Arnold, who lobs a big, dipping cross onto the roof of the net. Sommer was scrambling but ultimately had it covered.

4.25pm BST

113 min The teenager Noah Okafor replaces Seferovic for Switzerland.

4.23pm BST

111 min A poor pass near the halfway line from Walker puts England in a bit of trouble. Zakaria slips the weary Maguire and finds Seferovic, who looks even wearier as he tries to beat the last man Gomez. He wheezes into the area before being stealthily dispossessed.

4.22pm BST

110 min The corner is headed away bravely by Drmic.

4.21pm BST

110 min Sancho wins a corner for England, who continue to attack with puppy-dog enthusiasm.

4.20pm BST

107 min Barkley slides a beautiful pass inside the full-back for Alexander-Arnold, whose low cross towards Wilson at the near post is put behind for a corner. He took the wrong option, I think, as there were two players with an open goal at the far post. The resulting corner is headed over by Dier at the far post; he couldn’t get over the ball.

4.17pm BST

107 min “If ever there was a player that just HAS to start for England it’s this kid Alexander-Arnold!” says James Harris. “He’s been brilliant today and he was brilliant in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona. Kyle Walker is as accident prone as Stones and isn’t the best right-back in England by a country mile. Play Alexander-Arnold at right wing back with Wan Bissaka behind and we will be deadly.”

4.17pm BST

106 min England begin the second period of extra-time.

4.16pm BST

England make their last substitutions: Jadon Sancho and Ross Barkley replace Jesse Lingard and Fabian Delph.

4.14pm BST

Since you asked, England’s best players have been Alexander-Arnold, Maguire, Alexander-Arnold, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez and Delph.

4.14pm BST

I don’t know about you, but I’ll feel cheated if this doesn’t now go to penalties.

4.12pm BST

105 min After a mistake from Walker, the tireless Mbabu puts over a good deep cross that is claimed at the second attempt by Pickford.

4.11pm BST

103 min “Sterling has been abysmal today,” says James Harris. “OK so he’s had a good season with City but perhaps he’s just a flat track bully and not a world-class player after all.”

Perhaps he is, but I’m not sure a meaningless game against Switzerland is admissible evidence either way.

4.10pm BST

102 min ... but he hammers it into the wall, and there’s a break in play because the free-kick flattened Elvedi.

4.09pm BST

102 min Alli is fouled 30 yards from goal. Alexander-Arnold is over it, and boy does he deserve a goal...

4.08pm BST

99 min: Great save from Sommer! Alexander-Arnold, on the left this time, puts over an excellent inswinging cross towards Alli. He towers over Schar and plants a fine downward header that is brilliantly palmed away by Sommer as he flies to his left.

4.05pm BST

97 min Lingard receives a chested pass from Alli and lobs a good little pass over the defence towards Sterling. He waits for the ball to drop before mishitting a left-footed volley that bobbles through to Sommer. Sterling could have had five today.

4.03pm BST

96 min Dier flicks a header wide of the near post from Alexander-Arnold’s left-wing corner. That was a good run from Dier and a decent effort.

4.03pm BST

95 min: Another chance for Sterling. The outstanding Alexander-Arnold puts over a ludicrous cross from a deep position on the right which bounces up in front of Sterling at the far post. He can only head it back across goal from six yards, and it deflects behind for a corner. That was a much tougher chance than some of the earlier ones because of the way the ball kicked up off the pitch.

4.00pm BST

94 min It feels like the match is drifting towards penalties. England will be irritated if they lose this, because they’ve had around 90 per cent of the clear chances. They aren’t always the most clinical side.

3.57pm BST

91 min Peep peep! Switzerland begin extra-time.

3.52pm BST

The World Cup match between England and Scotland kicks off in just over an hour. You can follow the build-up right here.

3.51pm BST

It will be extra-time in Guimaraes. You’re spoiling us, ambassador.

3.49pm BST

90+1 min There will be four added minutes. In the first of those, Alexander-Arnold - who has moved to left-back - crosses too close to Sommer with his left foot.

3.48pm BST

90 min Switzerland almost grab a late winner, but Xhaka’s low shot from 20 yards is blocked on the edge of the six-yard box.

3.45pm BST

87 min Switzerland make another change: Rodriguez off, Drmic on.

3.45pm BST

86 min It was a foul by Wilson, and on balance, much as I loathe VAR in its current form, I’d say it was a clear and obvious one. He pulled Akanji over off the ball, which made it easy for the VAR referee to raise the matter. “Fuck VAR!” chant the England fans.

3.43pm BST

Maguire started the move with a typical surge forward. He found Sterling, who skipped down the left and stood up a deep cross. Alli headed it against the bar but the rebound was shovelled into the net from a few yards by Wilson. But Wilson has been penalised for a foul on Akanji in the build up.

3.42pm BST

There’s a VAR check - and the referee is going to look at the screen.

3.41pm BST

Callum Wilson gives England the lead!

3.40pm BST

83 min “Hi Rob,” says Anthony Abdool. “Am I the only who, on hearing mention of Swiss defender Mbabu, says ‘Mbabu indeed!’ out loud?”

Well, you might be the only one saying it out loud, but I suspect it has found its way into many an internal monologue this afternoon.

3.38pm BST

81 min We’re heading for extra time in the Nations League third-placed playoff. Who says life isn’t fair?

3.36pm BST

78 min A confident statement from Maguire, who receives possession from Pickford near the penalty spot and loses Freuler without touching the ball. Nicely done.

3.34pm BST

77 min “A fit Ruben Loftus-Cheek would effortlessly glide into that midfield, scattering his rivals like so many nine-pins,” says Felix Wood. “I guess what this conversation proves is that midfield shouldn’t really be an issue for England, and that my campaign to get Will Hughes in the squad is destined to fail. And yet today’s team has Dier and Delph in it. Strange game, football.”

Funny and old, too.

3.34pm BST

76 min Zuber turns smartly on the edge of the area before dragging his shot a few yards wide. Pickford had it covered.

3.32pm BST

75 min Callum Wilson replaces Harry Kane, who has had a decent afternoon.

3.32pm BST

74 min Sterling heads over from six yards after yet another lovely cross from Alexander-Arnold. England want a VAR penalty for a foul on Sterling. Not for me, Clive.

3.29pm BST

70 min: Another chance for Sterling! Kane plays a fine pass to Alli, who releases Sterling on the edge of the area with an excellent square pass. Sterling shapes to shoot, changes his mind and miscontrols the ball straight out of play. It took a bad bobble, and I’m sure he wishes he hit it first time.

3.27pm BST

70 min England make a change, with Kyle Walker replacing Danny Rose. Walker has gone to left-back.

3.26pm BST

69 min After a fine start, Kane has faded a little. The same is true of England’s whole attacking group, really.

3.25pm BST

67 min A rare mishit cross from Alexander-Anrold almost drifts into the top corner. Sommer had it covered, in fairness.

3.24pm BST

66 min “I strongly suspect,” says David Flynn, “that Alexander-Arnold could learn the position by playing once every two months.”

I suppose you’re right. If it takes 50 games to become an expert in a new position, he’ll have cracked it by Euro 2028.

3.22pm BST

65 min Shaqiri limps off, to be replaced by Steven Zuber.

3.20pm BST

62 min Freuler, whose movement from the left has been excellent, wins a corner for Switzerland. It’s cleared by Gomez, and that’s the end of that.

3.19pm BST

61 min “Could Maddison be the Maddison-type everyone is looking for?” says James Whittaker. “Strange that he is not even in the squad...”

Gareth Southgate wants him to play in the European Under-21 Championship; otherwise I’m sure he’d have been in.

3.17pm BST

59 min There will be extra-time and penalties if necessary.

3.15pm BST

56 min: Fine save by Pickford! Switzerland almost sting England on the break. Seferovic hammers a crossfield pass to the right for Shaqiri, who drags an inviting ball back to the edge of the area, right into the path of the onrushing Xhaka. He opens his body to steer a fast, first-time shot towards the far corner that is pushed behind by the flying Pickford.

3.13pm BST

55 min: England hit the post! Or, rather, Schar does. He was stretching towards his own goal as he tried to clear Rose’s superb low cross, and all he could do was slice it towards the far corner. Sommer flew to his left to make another brilliant save, fingertipping the ball onto the far post.

3.12pm BST

54 min “I’m intrigued by your notion of Alexander-Arnold making the transition to central midfield,” says Geoff Wignall. “Not the least benefit would be to make room for Wan-Bissaka, which needs to happen sooner rather than later. Good as TA-A is, I see Wan-Bissaka as an even better prospect at full back or wing back - he might be in the Philip Lahm class and there’s no higher praise than that.”

There is if you had posters of the Neville brothers on your wall at university. I haven’t seen much of Wan-Bissaka but there have been so many good reports.

3.11pm BST

53 min Kane’s downward header bounces just wide of the far post. It wouldn’t have counted as Kane was penalised for a foul, but it was another terrific cross from Alexander-Arnold. He is so good.

3.09pm BST

51 min Shaqiri lobs a clever pass over his own head to Mbabu, whose dangerous cross is headed away from inside the six-yard box by Gomez. There’s an impressive calmness to Gomez’s work, which can’t be said of all England’s defenders.

3.07pm BST

49 min “Agree that we need a Maddison type in midfield - but I think also Henderson has been hugely underrated,” says Francis Mead. “We were instantly better when Henderson came on against the Netherlands. He does have the ability to hold it, make decisions, and play killer through passes. So we already have Henderson but need to add to him.”

Yes, if the World Cup final was tomorrow, and everyone was fit, and England were playing in the bloody thing, I’d probably play Winks, Henderson and Alli in midfield. I’m not entirely disgusted by the idea of Winks, Henderson and Foden in midfield next summer, assuming Foden develops as hoped. The other thing is that England are quite flexible tactically these days, and they have options in midfield to play a diamond, a 4-1-2-3 and a 4-2-3-1.

3.06pm BST

47 min Frueler zips infield dangerously from the left, but his shot from 20 yards has the sting taken out of it by Maguire and dribbles through to Pickford.

3.04pm BST

47 min “There’s no law that says Southgate can’t play Alexander-Arnold in a De Bruyne position for England,” sniffs David Flynn. “Does Southgate just follow what the club managers do?”

Oh no, I was talking about his natural development as a player. It’s not a position he could learn by playing there once every two months.

3.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! England begin the second half.

2.47pm BST

Half-time reading

2.47pm BST

Peep peep! England should be ahead, but they’re not. Harry Kane hit the bar, while Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli missed excellent chances.

See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

2.46pm BST

45 min “To me, Alli is drifting into the arena where Great Young Players go on to be OK Older Players,” says Tony Hughes. “We hear a lot about Trippier’s regression and maybe the need to move abroad to get his career back on track but Alli has gone backwards – like Trippier – since the World Cup.”

Yes, agreed. There are still games and moments when he looks quite brilliant, but they aren’t as frequent as they were a couple of years ago. He’s only 23, though, so he has plenty of time.

2.45pm BST

44 min The match is drifting towards half-time. England, without being overwhelmingly dominant, have certainly been the better team.

2.41pm BST

40 min “Hi Rob,” says Oliver. “Does the really important England game begin at 5pm?”

Yes. But the really, really important one begins at 10.30am on Friday.

2.40pm BST

39 min Seferovic is put through on goal, with England springing a hopelessly wonky offside trap, but Maguire and Rose recover well to block his shot from the edge of the area.

2.36pm BST

35 min Killer crosses like that. Alexander-Arnold curls over another glorious ball towards the unmarked Alli, who heads over the bar from eight yards. For somebody as good in the air as Alli, that was a sitter.

2.35pm BST

34 min I doubt it will happen in time for Euro 2020, but I think Alexander-Arnold will eventually become a central midfielder for Liverpool and England, a kind of ersatz De Bruyne who occasionally wanders to the right to put in killer crosses.

2.34pm BST

33 min I think Gareth Southgate will be happy with this start. England have had more possession and the better chances, and they haven’t bottled playing out from the back.

2.31pm BST

29 min: Another excellent chance for Sterling! Alexander-Arnold, surely the best English crosser since Beckham, drove a superb low ball towards the six-yard line, where Sterling completely missed his kick. Maybe it’s a good thing he did. Replays suggest that, had he scored, it would have been overruled by VAR for offside.

2.27pm BST

27 min Lingard is booked for a late tackle on Xhaka.

2.26pm BST

26 min Xhaka’s miserable shot from 30 yards dribbles wide.

2.24pm BST

23 min Rose is booked for a lunging tackle on Mbabu. He won the ball first but that doesn’t really matter any more.

2.22pm BST

21 min It’s been an enjoyable start to the game, with both teams playing some decent stuff. Kane looks as sharp as I’ve seen him in the last 18 months.

2.20pm BST

17 min “Rob,” says Felix Wood. “On the midfield conundrum, a lot would be solved by Harry Winks not being injured all the time. Dier has gone straight from potential to decline, unfortunately. But the other players you mention - none of them are the type of player who is going to take the ball off the centre backs on the half-turn and get it further forward in a way that keeps the momentum going. I haven’t seen enough of Rice to know whether he can do that.”

Winks, Grealish and Foden would be a decent ball-playing midfield.

2.16pm BST

14 min: Sterling misses an excellent chance. Kane, who looks sharp and purposeful, played a really neat pass to put him through on goal, but Sterling’s left-footed shot from 10 yards was too close to Sommer.

2.15pm BST

12 min “How I chortle at the speed with which our expectations change for England,” says Gareth Duggan. “People are saying finishing fourth two years in a row could be a negative. It’s not that long ago that we were being kicked out of the Euros by Iceland and wondering how much worse it would get. In the early 2000s it was ‘why do we always lose in the quarters?’. And at one point back in 70s (when every team in the top division was dominated by English players, lest we forget) we failed to qualify for the World Cup twice in a row. Now it’s a failure if we only finish fourth at consecutive tournaments? Sheesh. Let’s enjoy this side for the success it is achieving.”

You’re not on Twitter, are you?

2.13pm BST

10 min Switzerland have started well. Schar curls a long pass over the top that finds Freuler in a criminal amount of space on the edge of the area. He waits for the ball to bounce and hits a left-footed shot that is too close to Pickford. Maguire was coming across, so Freuler had to take it first time, but it was a surprise he had so much space in the first place.

2.10pm BST

9 min Sommer actually got a slight touch on Kane’s chip as he backpedalled desperately; it was a brilliant save.

2.09pm BST

8 min “I - and, I’m sure, many others - have a lot of time for Gareth Southgate and think he’s done a fantastic job with England,” says Ed Rostron. “And I think Gomez and A-A for their City counterparts is the right move. The thing is, though: Fabian Delph???”

I don’t mind Delph, at least not in a 4-3-3. Obviously there are better players but the alternatives within squad aren’t great. (Apparently Henderson is injured.)

2.08pm BST

7 min Nobody really expected England to change their style of passing out from the back because of that fiasco the other night, and nor have they.

2.06pm BST

5 min Pickford makes a smart save from Freuler’s stinging shot, although it wouldn’t have counted because Shaqiri was offside in the build-up.

2.05pm BST

3 min England are playing a diamond midfield: Delph left, Lingard right, Dier deep and Alli behind the front two.

2.04pm BST

2 min: Kane hits the bar! It was a brilliant effort, a first-time chip on the turn from the right edge of the area. It floated over Sommer and rebounded off the face of the crossbar. That was a majestic effort.

2.02pm BST

2 min Mbabu has an early shot from distance, and it goes into orbit. Switzerland smother England from the ensuing goalkick, but they play the ball out confidently. And then...

2.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Switzerland, in red, kick off on a sweltering afternoon in Guimaraes. England are in white.

1.46pm BST

Here’s Gareth Southgate

“We wanted to stimulate the opportunity to get the best possible performance today. In all positions we’ve got great competitions for places, and those two boys [Alexander-Arnold and Gomez] are pushing.

1.38pm BST

“I’d love to see a Grealish/Wilshere/Maddison/Foden player in this England midfield,” says Football Thanksalot. “Play all four of em, eff it!”

I’d get Foden straight in the team next season, I think. They certainly need more class in midfield; Grealish and Maddison also have plenty of that in their different ways.

1.30pm BST

An email!

“I think England actually need to win this to keep some semblance of positive feeling ahead of next year’s Euros,” says Oliver Atkinson. “Finishing fourth two years in a row is going to be hard to take.”

1.12pm BST

Read all about it

1.12pm BST

There’s all sorts of live sport going on this afternoon, and you can follow it here

1.06pm BST

Twitter: enhancing the discourse since 2006

#ThreeLions team news coming to you shortly.

Who would you like to see starting against Switzerland? pic.twitter.com/uuD9ZhMTsZ

Doesn’t really matter does it

1.06pm BST

John Stones has been left out, along with Kyle Walker, Declan Rice, Ben Chilwell, Ross Barkley, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford.

England (4-1-2-3) Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Maguire, Rose; Dier; Alli, Delph; Sterling, Kane, Lingard.
Substitutes: Walker, Stones, Henderson, Sancho, Butland, Chilwell, Keane, Rice, Barkley, Rashford, Wilson, Heaton.

10.44am BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Nations League third place playoff between Switzerland and the Netherlands. Both sides will be hoping to bounce back fro-

John Flipping Stones.

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Published on June 09, 2019 09:11

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