Scorpion Kicks
Talking about everything to do with football, from teams, players, managers to owners, and everything else in between.
Scorpion Kicks
Football 4
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1. Christian Eriksen Collapses again.
2. Referee Omar Artan gets banned from the World Cup.
3. Kieran McKenna takes a break from football.
4. Roy Keane and Bruno Fernandes shake hands.
5. Wolves sack manager Rob Edwards as manager.
6. The 2026 World Cup kicks off.
7. Omar Artan correction.
8. Brazil play Morocco.
9. Germany play Curacao.
10. Previews of Portugal versus Congo and England versus Croatia.
11. Portugal play Congo.
12. England conquer Croatia.
13. Rain and Cold poem.
I have some unfortunate news regarding um Christian Eriksson, the Denmark international. He was playing a friendly, I think it was against Ukraine and he collapsed again. It happened after 65 minutes, and the 34-year-old who plays for Wolfsburg, his league club, he collapsed again. The first time it happened was in the Euro 2020 match against Finland in 2021. After that, he spent um eight months out, and when he came back, he had a kind of pacemaker fitted. Um and he was also at Brentford before he went to Man United and then Wolfsburg, his club now. But um I'm not happy about this because I thought that this pacemaker was fitted to prevent him from collapsing. It's the second time it's happened now, and and every time it happens, he collapses, and I think he loses um consciousness. So there's obvious there's obviously a problem there that they can't sort out. Um he's back at home now, um thankfully, with his um his wife and children, but maybe this is a sign that he needs to stop playing football. I know he loves the game, I know he loves playing for his club, his country, but there has to become there has to come a reason, a point where you know what your health is more important than a football game or a sport for that reason. So as always, I wish him well, but I just wish that he would think about giving up. He's still a young man, he's only 34 years old, he's got a young family, so you know, um I'm sure that they would welcome him to give up, but I think his love of the game is too much to give it up, and I just hope that he doesn't have a third collapse because we don't know how that's gonna end, you know. But every time he has a collapse and he loses consciousness, you think, is this it? You know, so I hope he thinks about not playing again if I'm honest, and just to spend time with his um his family. So yeah, I wish him all the best and I hope he gives this collapse an awful lot of thought.
Referee Omar Artan gets banned from the World Cup
SPEAKER_00Um the next news is the Somali referee Omar Artan has been banned from entering the USA and refereeing at the World Cup. Um, according to US officials, there was some kind of problem with his visa and he had it rejected. Apparently, they think that he's had ties or links with terror organizations in the past. So after um an 11-hour immigration interview, they banned him. Um, apparently, as well, um the president has banned 12 countries, and Somalia just happens to be one of the countries that is on the list that he's from. So, yeah, um he was the men's referee, um top referee in Africa last year. So he's a top referee, but obviously they haven't allowed him access to um referee at this world cup, but he's vowed to um referee at hopefully the world cup um in 2020. Um some
Kieran McKenna takes a break from football
SPEAKER_00more news. Um, Kieran McKenna resigns as the manager of Ipswich after they secured promotion to the Premier League. It's the third time that he's done this in four seasons, so Kieran McKenna is a very good um manager. Um, the reasons that he's leaving is to take a break from the game and to spend more time with his family. Um, he's a top manager, he reminds me a bit like um the Oliver Glasner um sort of comparison. Although Glasner has won um trophies, and um I don't think Kieran has won any um um trophies with Ipswich, so yeah, he's taking a break. So again, I wish him all the best. He's a very good manager, he knows how to manage a team, he knows how to get um promoted and winning things, so yeah, I wish him all the best. Um,
Roy Keane and Bruno Fernandes shake hands
SPEAKER_00the ongoing spat between Keane and Fernandez is now over. If you can remember, um Roy Keane accused Bruno Fernandez of wanting more pacifists over wanting team success. But yeah, they've had a good chat, a lovely chat, and um that um that disagreement is now over, so hopefully the two of them can um move on and have enjoyable world cups because Roy Keane is gonna be a pundit for I think ITV, and I think um Bruno is in the team um for Portugal, so let's hope they have enjoyable World Cups.
Wolves sack Rob Edwards as manager
SPEAKER_00Um Wolves have sacked Rob Edwards as their manager after seven months in charge. Um, he took over in November Um last year, and he only had about three or four wins, um, 24 losses, and he only managed to rack up 20 points for Wolves. So, and I don't think they spent that much money on players or decent players, so it's always hard when you're fighting to get out of the bottom three, like I said, it's like quicksand, and once you're in there, it's virtually impossible to get out of. Um,
The 2026 World Cup kicks off
SPEAKER_00and lastly, the World Cup has started. Um, it started with Mexico playing South Africa in the Aztec stadium in Mexico, so that is the first game. Um, obviously, I am looking forward to watching England. I won't be watching all the games because obviously um I'll be at work and due to time difference, I won't be allowed to watch all the games. Um, obviously, I'll watch as many games as I can on the weekends. So, apart from England, I'll be watching Portugal, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina as they are the favourites to again lift the title. So um let's hope we have a good World Cup, no violence, no racism, no chance. Um yeah, so let's hope it's a a good and enjoyable World Cup that everyone remembers for a long time. It's the biggest World Cup. Um 48 teams are playing, so yeah, it should be enjoyable. So, yeah, um most of these podcasts for the next few weeks or months or so is gonna be about the World Cup, and hopefully, I'll be talking a lot about England and how we get out of the group and how we progress to the knockout stages and and hopefully get deep into the tournament. Um when I say deep, I say semi-finals and final, hopefully, because England, like I've said before in the past, have got the players, it's just they have to sort out how to play as a team, and I don't think they've done that really because they haven't won anything, as we all know, since 1966, and we all hope the country hopes that it ends very, very soon.
Omar Artan correction
SPEAKER_00I would like to make a correction earlier on. Um, I said that Omar Artan, the Somalian referee, hopes to um referee at the 2020 World Cup. Obviously, that's impossible. What I meant is he hoped to referee at the 2030 World Cup. So um, yeah, that was my mistake, and I apologize, and that's
Brazil play Morocco
SPEAKER_00it. The time is just gone just gone five past one in the morning. I have just watched Brazil's first game against Morocco, and I'm telling you something now. Morocco are a good team. I thought that um Brazil would win 2-3-0, but um in the first 20 half an hour, 40 minutes, Brazil looked um sluggish, um tired, um lethargic, they were slow to the ball, and it was all Morocco. I tell you something, Morocco have got a strong team. I think they got to the semi-finals of the last World Cup, so yeah, they got a strong team, um, and they scored first. Um I think he this I think the goal scorer was Siberi. It was a um a ball over the top through the centre, and he lobbed the goalkeeper. And up to that point, it was all Morocco, they they were quick to the ball, um, they were faster, they were thinking faster, um they were just moving faster to the ball. Brazil were just watching, and um there were uh there was a point that I thought that Brazil was gonna lose the game, but then um after they scored, you know who came to their rescue. Um Vinicius Jr. He made a great run in, he caught inside and right foot shot into the top corner. It it it was a great goal. And after that goal, Brazil started to play then. Um they woke up because Brazil was sleeping um up to that goal. So yeah, um it was a great game. Um Morocco going forward are gonna be a strong team. Um they're well drilled, they're well trained, um they know how to pass, move, they're quick to the ball. And for the first half an hour, 40 minutes, um Morocco with a bit with a better team by far, and they looked like Brazil. Um and Brazil looked like Morocco, if that makes sense. Um but yeah, um Brazil done enough. Um the the game ended in a 1-1 draw. So um Brazil, I think we're lucky. Hakimi for um Morocco played well. Um did I think it was a draw? Overall, yes. Um, I think the second half the game slowed, but Brazil showed more in the second half. Um but yeah, Morocco are definitely a team to beat, and um on another day, Brazil could have easily lost that game. Um, but the next game, Brazil will have to step up. But yeah, it was a very good game. Um obviously there was water breaks um in between, but the water breaks did not spoil the game. Um it was end from it was end to end, and yeah, I really enjoyed the game, um, even though it was a 1-1 um draw. So yeah, um Brazil will need to step up, and I think they can step up. Um but yeah, I think for the next game, Brazil will have to um wake up and start playing from the first 15 20 half an hour, they will have to have to start playing because um on another day Brazil could have lost that game, but the quality with Vinicius Jr. Um came through and shone through, and yeah, I think overall they deserve the draw, but yeah, um that group won't be as easy as Brazil thought I think it it was gonna be. Um straight after this game, Scotland play. But obviously, it's um it is now 10 past one, so I'm not gonna um watch that game, but uh um on paper I think Scotland should win that game, and if they do win that game, um Scotland will be in charge of the group, so yeah, um it's anybody's game, it's anybody's group. Um but yeah, it's this group I thought would be a weak group, if I'm honest. But yeah, this is this game was good. Um people say that the World Cup doesn't start until Brazil play, and Brazil have played, and Brazil were not convincing, and I don't think you need to be convincing in the first game of your group, um, because if we can remember, I think when Italy won in 2006, they lost their first group game. So um you don't have to win your first group game, but it would it helps if you draw or win it, because it takes the pressure off you going forward. So, yeah, um this World Cup is gonna be exciting, and I think there's gonna be a lot of upsets. Um with with 48 teams, um there's new countries in there, obviously, and I think there's gonna be a lot of upsets, and there's gonna be a lot of banana skins waiting to happen. Um, I don't think the top teams are gonna get easy um three points overall. It's gonna be very iffy. So I think the top teams will have to be on their guard and will have to be um to every ball, they'll have to concentrate up to um 90 minutes and beyond. So, yeah, um I'm looking forward to the next game that I tell you about. But yeah, this game was a very good game, it was exciting. As I said before, it was from one end to the other, it was Brazil, then it was Morocco. Um, it was mostly Morocco in the first half, but yeah, um well done Morocco and Brazil. I think you need to wake up. Um but yeah, if anybody can wake up from their slumber, I think Brazil can. So, yeah, um looking forward to the next game.
Germany play Curacao
SPEAKER_00I just watched Germany's first um group game against Kirkau. Um, I must be honest and say that before I um heard of Kukau, I never heard them, but Kerkau is um a small island in the Caribbean just north of Venezuela. Um the population is about 150,000, so not very big. Um and Kirkau is the smallest country to qualify for the World Cup finals, so yeah, good for them. I watched a game and um Kerkal held Germany for the first five minutes before they went behind, I think five and a half minutes or there or thereabouts. Um so it didn't take long really for them to score. But astonishingly, about 10 or 15 minutes later, I think it was Kirkaw scored a great goal, an equalizer, and um everyone thought that an upset was on the cards, but um in this in the same half, Germany scored two and three, and I think they scored a fourth, I'm not sure before half time. But anyway, um the game ended um 7-1. Um, I think Kirkow has got one player from um Man United. I'm not sure if he's still there or not, but yeah, um I think that on paper Germany couldn't lose that game actually. Um but you know um Kirkow played very well, they scored their first goal ever in the World Cup um final competition. So yeah, um congratulations to them, even though they lost. Um so yeah, with that goal advantage, Germany take control of the group. So yeah, um, I mean it did not take Germany that long to get going, obviously, five and a half minutes or something like that before they scored the first one, and they took off the top stars, um Wurtz and Moziala, things like that. Uh players like that. They got a good team, um Leroy Sany as well, a place for them. So, yeah, um Germany are after um a flying start in the group, really. So, yeah, um there's not much more I can say about that game. Um if we're honest, I don't think there was gonna be an upset there really, um, because Kirkow and having got um that many top players. Um most of um Germany's um players play for Bayern Munich or Bruce or Dorot Dortmund. So yeah, um they had the quality from day one and they were not expected to lose, and they never lost. So um yeah, going forward now, they'll just look towards their second game. They look to have some a day off or something, and then practice and then um yeah, go again. So um
Previews of Portugal versus Congo and England versus Croatia
SPEAKER_00I think the next game that I'm gonna be um talking about is on Wednesday. Um, I believe that's when um Portugal play. I'm not sure who they're playing. I think it's Congo, I'm not sure. I'll have to check that game out. But obviously, the big one is England at nine o'clock versus Croatia. The last time that we played Croatia, I think they beat us. Um I'm not sure um if it was in the World Cup. I know that it wasn't in the Euros because obviously um England got to the final and were beaten um by Spain. So I think it was the World Cup that um Croatia knocked us out in. So yeah, Croatia got a very good team. Um, all their players play in either the top leagues of um Premier League, France, Germany, um, La Liga, um, Italian League, so yeah, they play in the top leagues, so that won't be an easy game. Um if England get a draw, I think they'll take it. If they get a win, they'll be over the moon. But yeah, they've got some top stars um playing for the team, so yeah, um it's gonna be a tough game, it won't be easy. Obviously, I'll be watching it. Um I've booked the day off from work so um to get ready for it because with England games, um I can't just watch them for some reason. I have to prepare for the game. If it's on a work day, I'll book the day off just for that one game. Yeah, I like I like the build-up towards England games. I like how ex-players say about um what they need to do, how they need to prepare, how they need to be focused from day one, how um they have to concentrate for 90 plus minutes and they can't turn off. I like how they talk about how England qualified for the World Cup. Um I I like how they um target every player from the goalkeeper to defenders to midfielders to the attackers to um the subs. Um I like the profiles of each player, um, what they've done for their um clubs and how they were chosen, what they feel about playing for their country, what it means to the country if they um progress deeper into the tournament. So, yeah, I love everything about the build-up of England, and I also like the roller coaster of England where nothing is guaranteed. Um I don't like when England obviously get knocked out. I hope the games get settled before the penalties, which I don't like. Um there's no way games can be decided now, apart from penalties. I think the authorities, um FIFA and UEFA, have looked at other ways of um settling games, but penalties is the only way that all the authorities. Authorities can think of settling a game. Obviously, players can't keep on playing forever. They do get tired, and penalties, sadly, is the only way where a game can be finally decided. I would think that England have practice for penalties. I know that they have a penalty taker in Ivan Tony. He plays in the Saudi League and he's a great penalty taker. I think he's got a great technique. He doesn't look at the ball or something, or yeah, he doesn't look at the ball, I think, and he takes a penalty. And I don't think he's missed. I might be wrong, but I don't think that Ivan Tony has missed a penalty and he knows how to take penalties. So I think that is why they've taken him. That's why Tugel has chosen him. He's a strong player. If you pass to him, it's very rare that he's gonna get knocked off the ball. He can hold it up until more players get involved in the game, in the attack. So yeah, Ivan Tony, top player, underrated, but yeah, top player. So yeah, um, I'm looking forward to Wednesday. Um it should be a good game. Um it won't be easy, but when when every country qualifies for the World Cup, um out of the 48 teams, there's not going to be any easy games. On paper, it should be an easy win for the the favourites, but um as we know on the pitch it's not that easy. So yeah, looking forward to um looking forward to talking about um the Portugal game and also the England versus Croatia. So yeah, I'll see you
Portugal play Congo
SPEAKER_00then. Um before the England match, I watched the um Portugal game versus Congo, and that was a very good game. Um after about six minutes, I think it's Jao Neves scored um a great header. He got up, um, he scored a great goal, and you thought that the floodgates were gonna open against Congo, but then I think they scored on the stroke of half time or something. Um it was Wissa who plays for Newcastle, scored a great goal, who's unmarked, really, and then it was 1-1, and then you thought that um um Portugal and Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandez were gonna um work their magic and team up, but it never happened. I think Cristiano missed um two chances, which which really should have been on target. There wasn't, and there wasn't um playing the normal game, which is a passing game, um, and I think that um Congo defended for about 65 or 70 percent of the game, and they played really, really well. Um, I think at some points um um Portugal were getting frustrated and they gave away um a few fouls. I think that I think Bernardo Silva got a yellow card in the first half, so you could tell that they were getting frustrated then. And then, yeah, um you thought that um Portugal and um Cristiano were gonna pull off a stroke of genius, but it never happened. Um I don't think they got enough service to Cristiano. Um we know that he's good in the air, and they never had enough set pieces um or corners really to take advantage of his his aerial um aerial um um excellence in the air and his superiority because it all because we all know that um Cristiano has got one of the the biggest leaps in in world football. When he leaps, he's about a foot or eight inches above any other player. So yeah, he's got an amazing leap, but they never um they never took advantage of his um his heading ability and you thought that um Portugal were going to get that vital goal that would get them the win, but it never happened, and they had to be um they had to be um what do you call it happy with a draw which leaves the group wide open and that goal I think was Congo's first World Cup goal. So yeah, um you know um if Congo can hold um Portugal to a draw, they can do lots of things in the next game. So um I think Um Portugal will have to start all over again now from their second game. I don't know who they play, but they'll have to do it all over again because even though they've got a point, it's still nil-nil in their heads, so yeah, they'll have to go again. Um so yeah, they'll be very disappointed. Um Cristiano had two chances. There wasn't two good chances, but he should have got those on target. He never did. Um, I think uh Cristiano is 40 or 41, so maybe his age getting to him. Um I think it is. Um four years ago, I think those shots would have been on target. But um Cristiano is arguably one of the greatest players in history. Um the only accolade that is missing off his CV is a World Cup. Uh so are Portugal um strong enough to win the World Cup? I think they are, but um is is Cristiano a bit too old? Um maybe he's, maybe he isn't. Um but they can't just rely on Cristiano to get them the goals. They have to win it as a team, not as um not as relying on one and only player. So yeah, um they live to fight another
England conquer Croatia
SPEAKER_00day. Right then, I move on to the main course, which is England, who played um Croatia. I've just finished watching the game, and even though I was happy with the way England won, they won 4-2. Um, I wasn't happy with the way that England um they switched off after scoring a goal. Um they scored a goal from um from Harry Kane. Um I think it was um I think it was um a Croatian player that gave away the penalty. Um Madiwaka got to the ball got to the ball first, and then it was um I'm trying to think of that player now, he's um he's 38. Um Mudrich, yep. Mudric, he um kicked Madiwaka, it was a plain and simple um Um penalty, but the penalty was taken by Harry Kane, he missed, but luckily for him, there was two encroachments. I think Guardiola he stepped over the penalty line, which meant um the penalty had to be taken again, and also the goalkeeper, his both of his feet were off the line. So after looking at the replay, the referee um awarded the penalty to be taken again, and after the penalty was saved the first time, the second time, Kane scored it again, and England went ahead 1-0. But after they went ahead, they switched off and they they dropped the pace and they kept passing the ball at a stroll, they wasn't really going for a second goal, and then um and then within about five or ten minutes later, um they gave way the they gave way the ball and it was a pass to um Baterina. He sweeped it in with a um right foot shot, which um Pickford got a hand to it, but it was too strong. But again, England switched off. They wasn't going for the second goal. Um anyway, after that second goal, um basically there was a corner and there was to England, and um the corner was taken, and it was Harry Kane who met it, who's unmarked. The goal was a set piece from the the training ground, and basically he headed it in. Nobody challenged him, and it was 2-1. And I thought that England would push on again, but again, they never again, but they never did, and again, after they scored their second goal, England switched off again, which it's it is frustrating because when you get a second goal, really you have to think about getting a third goal, but again, they switched off, they lost concentration, and um in injury time of the first half they gave away um a second goal and it was 2-2. And I thought to myself, why are England going ahead and twitching off? It's as if they were too complacent at just getting a goal ahead and just switching off. So, anyway, after the half-time break, England came back. Um, I think they had it must have been one of the greatest team talks in the history of England because after the first half, um Jude Bellingham scored, he was given a great pass. I think Saka was involved in it as well. Um Madiwaka, again, I'm not sure. I can't remember now. Um, but anyway, Bellingham got hold of the ball, he went on a 20 or 30-yard run. The defender tried to get to him, but he never did, and um it was a half shot, half like he didn't get hold of the ball, right there, but it was enough to score him the goal, and then England went ahead again 3-2, and then after that third goal, um England didn't switch off, and then um I'm trying to think now, so much happened in that game. Yeah, England just kept on pressing Croatia, and then I think it was Marcus Rashford. Um, it was a great build-up from England. There was lots of passes across, back and forth, and then um I think Rashford got the ball in, he went left, he went right. The um defender kind of slipped, lost his lost his position, and then um Rashford put it onto his right foot and he scored the goal to make it 4-2. But that that fourth goal really um it killed off any Croatian comeback. But yeah, um I'm happy that England won 4-2. But um, if you take away those two goals, which were sloppy goals, because England went ahead, they were in control of the game, and they switched off, they lost concentration, they slowed the pace of the game, and um the game was played um with the roof on in Dallas, um, Texas, and it was only 22 or 22 degrees, so really there was no need to drop the pace after they um went ahead twice. So I don't know why they done that. Um I think that that is something that um Tuchel and England are gonna have to look at because I'm not happy with it um personally. For me, when in England go ahead and get a goal, they have to get a second goal. And um after they went ahead, I think 2-1, they had about a 15 or 20 minute period where they had the possession. And for me, when a team has possession for 15 or 20 minutes, they have to score another goal. Because if you lose that possession and lose those chances, at some point the opposition are gonna equalize, and Croatia went behind twice and they came back twice. Um, they could have easily made it 3-3, but luckily for England then they never did. So I'm not happy with the sloppy um two goals. England will have to look at their defence because it was creaking at some points. They switched off, which I'm not happy about. Um but yeah, overall, 4-2, it's a good win because Croatia were one were one of the danger teams and the um Banana skins. I think they knocked us out of the 2018 World Cup, I think. So they're not a weak team, they're a very good team. But yeah, um, England got the win and they're off to a flying start. I'm happy that England got the win. They'll have to look at the defence, and England have to have to keep switched on all the way up to 90 plus minutes. They can't switch off because teams like Croatia will always look for an opening and they won't give up. Um today, England never um switched off apart from the two goals. A better team would have punished England and would have made it uh uh um sort of 3-3 um and maybe won the game. But today I think Tuchel got his um his picks right, he picked the right players. When they went behind, he was there to say, you know, come on, basically, um remember what we've done in training, don't give up. Think about the tenacity that you've learned, think about the mental um toughness, um, the positivity. So, yeah, um I'm happy with England's performance um overall. So um before the game, I was I was saying to myself that England have to win no matter what. If it's beautiful or ugly, England have to win, and England played some good football. Harry Kane scored two goals, Jude Bellingham scored, Madiwaka scored, um Anderson scored Declan Rice. All of the play all of the players for me were 75% and over. Um, so yeah, I'll roll them happy. Um, I suppose England will have a day's rest and then hit the training pitch again. They'll watch the replay, they'll look at the goals that they're let in, and the defenders will have to make sure that they're switched on because going forward England are gonna face stronger teams, and I believe that they are gonna be teams that are gonna be a kind of banana skin there for England on paper. Um teams are gonna be there for the beating, but when they play, they're gonna be very hard to beat. So England have got to be aware of those teams. So, yeah, um, I don't know who they're playing in the second game. My focus was just getting the win for the first game. They've done that. Um I think England are in control of the group, I'm not sure. But if you win your first game, you take control of the group. Um, so yeah, England have scored four goals. So yeah, they are in control of the group. So yeah, let's um let's move on and think about the game. I think they play again next Tuesday. So yeah, I think that's the 23rd of um June, I'm not sure. Um, but yeah, I don't care at this point. At this point, England can be happy and think about the next game. So yeah, great England.
Rain and Cold poem
SPEAKER_00And lastly, a poem. This one is called Rain and Cold, and it goes something like this The weather is wrong when it's even tall right. That warm evening forecast is now a cold, bitter night. We listen every time and forget their last prediction. They have their own separate rule. It's called contradiction.