Marcus Dibley

A little late to the party...

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@SkySportsBoxing I’m reminded of the Mark Twain maxim with Joshua’s post-fight antics. “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to talk and remove all doubt.”

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@StokeyyG2 Fair play to Lineker on the Netflix extension for the next two PL seasons, but it’s no real threat to MOTD. Fans ultimately want the actual goals. As long as the BBC has the highlights, they’re perfectly safe. We can only hope we might hear and see less of Shearer & Richards.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@bbcnickrobinson @BBCSport Absolutely agree, this montage is brilliantly put together. Would love to see that same creativity and imagination brought back to those iconic tournament intro themes the Beeb used to nail.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@wbuxtonofficial The choreography was impressive, but it couldn’t mask the lack of quality in the performances. A lot like the game itself.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@JamesMelville Switching channels for the final. Sticking with BBC during the game, Matterface just doesn’t know when to stay quiet and let the action do the talking. Swapping to ITV at half-time and full-time for punditry from Keane, Neville and Wright.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@BBCSport As many third place World Cup games have been over the years, this one has followed in this vein; highly entertaining if meaningless game. No need to over analyse the match.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@JamesMelville Rice is a defensive minded holding midfielder who was taken off in both games because he was tiring in the second half, likely due to the virus he’d recently suffered from. That doesn’t negate Souness’s point. Fundamentally, we lack midfielders who can actually play the game.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@EeziTy @SportsUncensrd Yes, Rice is excellent at shoring up the midfield and giving the defence cover, no denying that. But it doesn’t negate Souness’s point. We scored and then basically stopped playing football. The deeper issue is we lack midfielders who can actually play “football”.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@BBCNews Andy Burnham’s summer ‘listening tour’ is giving strong early Tony Blair vibes… roadshows and town halls right after 1997, all about doing politics differently. Blair’s didn’t last long once governing got real. Interesting throwback.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@henrywinter A case of England losing a game they were in control of as much as Argentina winning it. A completely self-inflicted defeat. Credit to Argentina’s mentality and will to win.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@WelsbyElton A completely self-inflicted defeat for England tonight. At 1-0 up after Gordon’s goal, we had the perfect chance to kill the game off. Instead, Tuchel dropped deep and tried to defend a fragile lead for 30 minutes. Argentina went all in and deserved the win.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

A completely self-inflicted defeat for England tonight. At 1-0 up they had the perfect chance to kill the game off. Instead, Tuchel dropped deep and tried to defend a fragile lead for 30 minutes. Argentina went all in, sensed the fear, and deserved the win. #ENGARG #WorldCup

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@robstaton I am entitled to disagree with you. France weren’t awful, they were tactically suffocated by Spain’s elite high press and positional play. There’s a big difference. I’m also not fixated on X all day, but calling it out isn’t ‘bonkers’. Relax and enjoy the football tonight.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@robstaton There’s a massive difference between a team being ‘awful’ and a team being completely suffocated, Rob. France didn’t play badly, Spain’s elite high press and flawless positional play outdid them. Don’t mistake tactical destruction for a poor performance.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@robstaton I don't think so. My point is that Spain's high-level pressing and positional play made France look far worse than they have against lesser opponents. This Spain team under De la Fuente is excellent at suffocating teams through structure and intensity.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@robstaton Let’s not be pedantic Rob. France were poor precisely because weren’t allowed to play by a Spain side that high-pressed and retained possession beautifully. As you say a masterclass.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@henrywinter France were so poor because they weren’t allowed the room to play by high pressing Spain. The Spanish players commitment to the cause and their technical ability to win and retain possession was the difference.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

@prodnose No way. The technical nous, teamwork and precision passing of Spain are making France, the team of the tournament to this point look like chumps. The winner of this game will be heavy favourites to win the World Cup.

[Marcus Dibley @marcusdibley]

Credit where it’s due, the technical nous and precise passing from Spain right now is making France, the team of the tournament look like chumps. #FRAESP