World Cup 2026 Special - Episode 6 (they're coming home!)

Geoff & Dom chat heartbreak for England in Atlanta, Argentina's flag bearers, Tuchel's England future and the possibility of David Raya in goal for England!

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Hello everyone, welcome to the 90 football podcast. I'm joined by just Dom again. Dom, how are you doing? You okay? Yep, smashing thanks, Jeff. So we thought we'd pop on and do a little recap. Obviously, England won, Argentina two. We've got to give some reaction. Dom, how you feeling? How did you find the game? What what were you saying?

SPEAKER_01 0:38

Uh it's inevitable, isn't it, Jeff?

SPEAKER_00 0:43

Yeah, I guess so.

SPEAKER_01 0:45

It's the hope that kills you. Yeah. Um, and I I messaged you this morning and a bit of uh a confession. I actually felt some relief when the second girl went in.

SPEAKER_02 0:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

Just thought I haven't got to go for another half hour of this.

SPEAKER_00 1:01

You can have a nice, calm, relaxing Sunday.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Uh yeah. Sunday's not gonna be ruined. No. I'm not gonna have to go through 90 minutes, 120 minutes on Sunday.

SPEAKER_00 1:11

Yeah. It's over. It's a good point. It's done.

SPEAKER_01 1:15

And the thing is, I am so used to watching a team in white bottle it in the 90th minute. It's just it's just half of the Salisbury are Salisbury aren't that bad, are they? Come on. No, we're not that bad, but we're very good at bottling late on. Right, okay. And when I when you've driven three hours to the other side of, I don't know, Chelmsford or something, you've been holding on the whole game for an early what you know, early goal, and then we come back out second half, get another early goal. We're two one up now.

SPEAKER_00 1:44

Bottle it. I've heard you say some interesting stories about Salisbury actually. I mean, we could go off. That's I mean, that's the podcast. Yeah, but let's not talk about that.

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:52

I mean, I think I've heard you say you've even travelled to games in you know four or five hours and they've been called off when you've arrived. So um yeah, Halifax away, yeah, Tuesday night.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

Went back for the replay, lost 5'1. That's giving a foot what I was seeing though. It's end-to-end, it was like a basketball match. It could have been like 15-16, like it was end to end, but we only scored one, they scored five.

SPEAKER_00 2:13

Well, I mean, a lot of credit to you for coming back and not just watching England but but Salisbury. But but yeah, I mean, it was uh a very hard way to to go out in a World Cup semi-final. I I kind of felt that if we'd have just lost 2-0 and not really ever had a chance, it would have almost been easier to take. But no, I disagree. I disagree. No?

SPEAKER_01 2:36

I disagree because we had that feeling. It was like when Luke Shaw scored that. We had that feeling. Yeah, fair enough. I see that. See that point. Like, and that's what football's about. It's not just about the end goal, it's about the journey and enjoying it, in my opinion. I know it's not for everyone, but like it's all about the ups and downs, and don't get too high, you'll never get too low.

SPEAKER_00 2:59

And good life advice, that that I think that's spoken like like a true kind of um I don't I don't want to be disrespectful. No, I was gonna say like low uh lower league supporter, where yeah, you know, you you've perhaps some of the games at Salisbury Bad in the FA Cup where you just want to have that it's almost like backing a horse in a race, isn't it? You you want to have that chance maybe at the final fence or the final couple furlongs, you want someone you want somebody to shout out, someone to cheer, and I guess England did give us that. But did you think did did you think we played well overall or up to the up to the point where we went one nil up?

SPEAKER_01 3:39

Was it managed? People say since when we went one nil up, I I I don't think it was that was the issue. It was after the drinks break. Because you're always gonna get a little bit more defensive going one-nil up.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:55

It's only natural to try to let's cement this for a little bit, let's take the tempo down a bit and let's soak up some pressure. That's it.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

They're always gonna react, aren't they? So you have to adapt to that, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 4:07

So we've seen it for the whole tournament with them.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:11

They've been bang average. But we've not been any better.

SPEAKER_00 4:15

No, no, true. No, it's a fair point. I yeah, I've apart. I mean, that Croatia game was was good, um, and I think Mexico, we didn't necessarily we weren't all over them, were we?

SPEAKER_01 4:27

But we didn't pay, we didn't play well in Mexico.

SPEAKER_00 4:29

No, but it was a good result, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 4:31

It was a great result and and a good team spirit performance, you know, backs against the wall, ten men, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:39

It was satisfying, wasn't it? It was satisfying at the end of it.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

Uh so do you do you think the obviously a lot's been made about the substitutions, uh Tuchel turning into South Gate and all this jazz. Do you think the stuff gate was do you think we had a drinks break?

SPEAKER_01 4:54

We had a drinks break, Jeff. We had a drinks break to to change it, and he did his substitutions at the drinks break. So it was the perfect time to go, right, boys. You sat back to the drinks break. I understand that. We're not doing this now. He had three minutes to organise, didn't need David Rare to lie down. He had three minutes to organise. And you bring on you okay, you could see Declan Rice was tired. Yeah, Harry Kay was tired. If you're gonna bring Gordon off, absolutely fine. I haven't got a problem with that. But you put on other outlets, so if you need to get the ball out, you can punt it up. And if you want to bring Dan Burn on, that's not a problem. Because I just thought it was so good in the first half from the initial very start of the game after the press. When the ball went back to the keeper, we didn't close them down, we just had all the players marked. They had no ball to pass out. That's what they wanted to do. So, what did he have to do? He had to hoof it up, and then we could clear it and then try to go for another attack. That's what they should have done. Yeah, you're gonna bring Dan Bernard, he can you can see the fight of the ball, you're gonna edit back forward, and let's try to get forward again. Because you're gonna. I know you could get done on the counter-attack. Yeah, I I I actually but we proved, we proved we could we could get back on the counter-attack.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

Yeah, I actually I actually thought to myself when when Argentina were all were all at attack, and although we were defending, I actually thought there's a there's a chance we could win this 2-0 here because we could we could get something on the break. But we had nothing up there, Jeff! But that's I was just gonna say what what I thought would have been sensible. It's a really hard a hard sell. I I get it with with Kane as your captain and your man who has done so much for us. But I felt someone like Watkins up front, if you if we were going so much.

SPEAKER_01 6:37

I've been crying out for Watkins all the time.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Yeah, would have been a better outlet. Or even keeping Gordon on would have been good because he's full of full of running. I I thought Rogers had a good game. It was a you know, it was a lovely, lovely setup. But like you say, there wasn't really that outlet, was there? And although although there's a fair argument for bringing people like Dan Byrne on, I just felt when Consa came on, and what was it? We had five, we suddenly went five at the back, we had James stayed at right back, then it was Consa, Stones, Gay, and Spence, wasn't it? And then within just trying to think how long it was, probably ten minutes later, O'Reilly and Burn O'Reilly and Byrne came on, yeah. And I just thought if you were John Stones or or gay, you're thinking, right, hang on, a minute five. Okay, now now Dan Byrne's there, Consert's right back, and you've got everything else going on around you, they must have been at sixes or sevens. I know they're professional footballers, and you know, they they should be uh well well used to um to dealing with those kinds of changes, but just in that scenario, and particularly then when you know Riley was was playing midfield, which I I don't really know. I didn't really see I didn't really see that as a as a positive move when I know I've mentioned Mainu before and no, but he but but he has got legs on him, he's young, he does it for City at times. It's not the end of the world that but my wife Jeanne said to me, which uh after me mentioning a few a few kind of opinions, um, she said, So surely what you know you say there's technically six defenders on the pitch now. What what happens if Argentina equalized and England need to try and go and win this game? And that was and it was never gonna happen. What they're gonna do, and I said, Well, that's that's that's my point exactly, you know. Like I I don't see there was a way to adapt. And then for all for all that kind of tactical um tactical analysis they must do into a game, you know, you see I know it's a complete different kind of topic, but Pickford with his water bottle with all the penalties that they were looking at at the end of the game, where they go, you know, the detail of analysis they must go through with every player in every position against every player on the opposition, to then with two minutes to go, just be like, okay, right, Dan Burns up top, uh, right, Rashford and Tony, you're on, just knock it long. That to me, just that's just utter desperation, isn't it? And you just kind of feel as if I expected a bit better from Tuchel than just park the bus, defend, and then when it goes wrong, just chuck everyone on who might have a chance of bundling one in. Can we talk about Tuchel? Yeah, yeah, go on.

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Um I got in the car to drive home, I put um Red of Five Live on, so I didn't have bloody advert because I was angry anyway. And they were they had his interview on there. He blamed the players essentially for sitting deep. So he then he thought they're sitting naturally deep, so and we got a lot of pressure, so we've got to soak up that pressure. So we're gonna go even deeper.

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Oh, honestly, it's it's it's it's giving an addict the drugs. Like you don't do it.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

The Enzo Fernandez goal. The Enzo Fernandez go. There'd been a couple of warning signs. I don't know if you thought the same. He'd had a pop shot before that. Yeah, and there was someone out, someone else had a shot, I think, and there was certainly evidence of some space there, but we were so deep. Well, we were in the all the centre house were in the six-yard box, and then I don't know if you saw the Bellingham, there's that clip of the Bellingham reaction when I think he saw the goal on the big screen where he's like, it's in the middle of the goal or something. He says it's in the middle of the goal, man, or something. But I think I I sympathised with Pickford a bit because I imagine he was unsighted because there were so many people right in front of him, you know, probably 10 yards, 10 yards.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

And Bellingham was close Bellingham was closing down, but Anderson shouldn't have gone over to support Spence. Spence was absolutely fine with Messi, he shouldn't have gone across. That was that that was Anderson's man. Yeah. 116 mil, by the way.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

Um that Jed Spence tackle, though. Oh man. That was I mean, I've been a bit of a critic of Spence. He had a good game last night.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

Um, but that tackle was apart from the start of the Dr.

SPEAKER_00 10:58

Congo game, he's had a good tournament. Yeah, yeah. But that that tackle was, you know, even as an Arsenal fan talking about Tottenham player.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

How he got back, yeah. How he got back, and I did love the celebration.

SPEAKER_00 11:10

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely lightning. Um, so in terms of the the aftermath, obviously there's a bit to go through. Um I thought Messi just about kept his class. He kind of stays clear of all the the trouble, doesn't he? Really? I mean, like I think he was still he was still dancing behind the flag. Yeah, I guess there is that. But you know, he doesn't really get involved in the in all the kind of wind up antics during the game, does he? But I was gonna say the rest of them. Do you do you not think?

SPEAKER_01 11:37

I do not think he's looking at the he looks at the referee with his puppy dog eyes and pointing like.

SPEAKER_00 11:42

Yeah, but he's not he's he's not in players' ears, is he? He's not winding people up, leaving foot like. Oh, he can't speak English, so that's probably part of it. True. But I mean, Enzo Fernandez, oh gosh, he's a nasty piece of work, isn't he? I don't see and and even like Romero and Martinez at United, they were heavily involved with that banner, weren't they? Well, what's what's your take on the banner? What what do you think about that?

SPEAKER_01 12:06

Um I would love to have seen something like that with another nation doing something similar. What do you mean? Like, well, if another nation did something similar, there'll be consequences.

SPEAKER_00 12:20

Right, okay, but you think because it's because do you think messy Argentina the messy Argentina uh Argentina finds? 100%. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:26

100%. Have you seen the photos of um Gino when we' when we're 1-0 up? No. Looking stressed. Is he? Oh, okay. Looking stressed, very happy at 2-1. Okay, yeah, fair point. Uh like imagine if that was the other way around.

SPEAKER_00 12:44

Well, that's what I was gonna say. If imagine if England players did that, they would it doesn't feel I don't know about you, it doesn't feel like something that England players would would ever do. I don't, it's not our style, is it?

SPEAKER_01 12:56

It's not it's not the British style, we're more classic than that. Um, but like I don't know if it's too extreme, but like I think there's serious consequences, and I don't think a fine's enough.

SPEAKER_00 13:08

No, I agree.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

Um I was just gonna say I think playing, I think I think the player that went and got it from the crowd needs to be suspended for the final minimum.

SPEAKER_00 13:17

Yeah, I agree. I I I think that there's a fair point, a fair case for all the players, particularly in the close vicinity to that fag blag, like because you know Romero was holding it up, Martinez had hold of it at one point, there was another player, I can't remember who it was.

SPEAKER_01 13:31

If I had a political message on my t-shirt and I scored a goal and celebrated with my political, I would be sent off with that political message. I'm pretty sure for the game, they could still be sent off.

SPEAKER_00 13:41

I'm pretty sure it was La Salso who was holding it up. I've just had a check. Um, number 11. But they're but they're all players that played in England. That's what I think is bizarre. And I know, like, I know clearly And they're paying the taxes to protect it. I know that's right. That's oh brilliant. I haven't thought of that. That's fantastic. Um, but I haven't but what I was gonna say is is these I know they they're clearly not the brightest bunch, but to be playing your football in England and earning your living, I know Romero's gonna leave Spurs, but you know, from Martinez's perspective, yeah, it's just it doesn't really make sense. Um I feel like if England did it, it would be factually correct as well, because obviously it is a British overseas territory, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 14:22

God save the king. Um and and and and the last referendum, Jeff, 98% of them wanted to be British. Sadly, yeah. Yeah, I did see that. Um and I think that's the worst referendum they had on it as well.

SPEAKER_00 14:35

Really?

SPEAKER_01 14:36

When they've did when they did it originally.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

Those two percent were like that their numbers are rising. The numbers are rising. Might might be 3% next count. Um might be now, yeah. I I did see a headline where there it's it's it's happened before. I don't know if you saw this. Um happened in 2012. Argentina played Slovenia, um and it was a proper kind of maid banner rather than uh you know one from the crowd. But they got a $27,000 fine for it. Um I was thinking, I don't know if you remember, I'm pretty sure. I'm pretty sure this happened. I didn't dream it, and I'm pretty sure this was this player. But do you remember Bentner got didn't he get like a he got a ban, didn't he? I'm gonna have a look. For wearing the Patty Power pants. Patty Power Pants. Yeah. Yeah, Patty Power Pants, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:24

I just and I feel like that sent And that was that's that was because it was it was a sponsorship. But if you had a political message, it'd be exactly the same. If you show a political message, well you get you get yellow card for showing anything anyway.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

Yeah, you can't have a message on a shirt. Yeah, I'm just I've just Googled it. Nicholas Bend responded to 100%. He was fined 100,000 euros and handed a one-match ban by UEFA for an I know it's UEFA rather than FIFA for an ambush marketing stunt during 2012. Yeah, well they're not much better UEFA, are they? But but I mean like that kind of sets a bit of a marker, doesn't it? If they if they don't if FIFA don't take this seriously, it's gonna be a bit well, I mean, what what do we can't expect much from FIFA can we? Let's be honest.

SPEAKER_01 16:06

But um nothing. Also, what what what w w was VAR taking a holiday last night as well?

SPEAKER_00 16:15

Anything was reviewed. Anything no, I thought the Enzo Fan I thought Enzo Fernandez should have been sent off. I know I've I've got it, I've I'm in for Enzo Fernandez tonight, but I feel like he should have been sent off probably what was it, four minutes in for the album?

SPEAKER_01 16:30

Um Anderson in the back of the head.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

Red card.

SPEAKER_01 16:33

Yeah. Also, what what what about um the stamping on Spence's foot by Messi not not intentionally, but it's still a foul. Then gets the ball, whips it in two one. Yeah. Also, before that Pickford made a good save, or he made it look like a good save, but the ball was going over. Yeah. Gave the corner, they score from that corner. So the one time his arm was long enough, he tipped it off for a corner when it should have been a goal kick.

SPEAKER_00 17:05

Um I did, I don't know if you saw this as well, but I did particularly enjoy um Bellingham's slap on Barco at the end.

SPEAKER_01 17:12

I think he should just get it.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

Yeah, he wasn't even playing, did he? Yeah, he didn't play.

SPEAKER_01 17:18

He ran on the pitch after the first goal, the equalizer, and was taunting our players after the first goal.

SPEAKER_00 17:23

Uh was he? Uh okay.

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Why why is he even on the pitch at the end? Yeah, yeah. I did enjoy that. I actually didn't think the referee was too bad. Because he tried to make the game play uh like flow and let things play. I thought on paper, I thought on paper, in the matter. Yeah, but he could have changed it.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:44

He could have changed the the old attitude of the game at the start by just clamping down on the little both sides, yellows, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:50

A couple of yellows.

SPEAKER_01 17:50

Both sides are doing it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:54

I guess there is an argument that some people would say keep your cards in your pocket, everyone stayed on the pitch. But like you say, you command a bit more respect, don't you? You've only got to give out two or three yellow cards first 15 minutes and say to the players that one of you is gonna go in a minute, so wind your neck in.

SPEAKER_01 18:08

Like all's one thing I did have um criticism of him, and I hadn't noticed it in any part of the rest of the tournament, was if a player goes down injured off the ball, we're now stopping the game.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

Yeah, not seen that once.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

Yeah, when did he do it three times? I've not seen it once in the whole game.

SPEAKER_00 18:28

Yeah, stones was one, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01 18:30

That was a head injury.

SPEAKER_00 18:31

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I get that, but yeah, I remember that.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

Understandable.

SPEAKER_00 18:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:34

But we had it other time with um Argentinian players going down. Oh, well, let's just stop the game. We're gonna do a non-consessive drop ball and give it back to Argentina.

SPEAKER_02 18:42

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Well, what's that all about? Yeah, I I don't know. I I felt I felt he did all right, but on paper beforehand, when they said he's an MLS ref, I just uh and I'm not no disrespect to the MLS, but a little bit of disrespect to the MLS because I don't know if a referee refs in the MLS is has got sufficient experience to refereeing us.

SPEAKER_01 19:01

Who would you want then, Jeff? What nation's ref would you want then?

SPEAKER_00 19:04

Not necessarily about nationality, just about where you know where they've refed. I'd want a ref with I'd say Champions League experience.

SPEAKER_01 19:12

Um or maybe I get that because we're but we're a UEFA nation, so they couldn't put a UEFA ref in it.

SPEAKER_00 19:17

Could they not?

SPEAKER_01 19:18

So what it had to be they can they can they can only do that if it's two UEFA nations, so it's fair another UEFA you can't have one well it had to be someone from North America then or Asia or Well, it could have been from Asia or Africa.

SPEAKER_00 19:33

Okay, yeah, I suppose we're stuffed either way then, really. Yeah, in terms of qual in terms of quality and experience, baby. No, fair point. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

Yeah, you are, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:41

Yeah. Um so in summary then does Tuco has has apparently today retained the FA's backing. Does he get your backing? Because he said he's gonna stay, isn't he? What do you think? On paper, semi-finals. I I I thought on paper before the game, but sorry, before the tournament, semi-finals would just about be enough to say it's not successful, but it was acceptable.

SPEAKER_01 20:08

I I agree. I I I thought a little bit harsher than that, I thought if we get the semi-final it's a tough one because we've seen semi-finals, we've seen two uh eurofinals for Southgate. It's a tough one. Is it enough? He he said to himself and to the players the goal was to get the second star. He hasn't reached that goal, that means he's failed. Should he carry on in his role? Have we seen anything in a tournament that's different to Southgate that gave us more hope?

SPEAKER_00 20:45

No, probably not. I'm not sure. I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

I'm not sure. But is there anyone a better? Do I want Eddie Howe?

SPEAKER_00 20:52

No, not yet. No, true. Yeah, I was thinking that today. Who would be an English replacement? There's no one really that screaming out.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

There is no English replacement apart from Pep.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

So Pep would be the one pet. That Pep would be the one that most people would would want, I'd say, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:07

100%. I'd say bring Pep in personally. Um break break the Pep. I feel like Pep might do it one day, maybe. What do you mean one day? No, do it tomorrow.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

Yeah, yeah, maybe tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01 21:20

If I was the FA, I'd be sniffing out to see if Pep is available, if he would like to do it. Even if we did a pre-contract agreement for after the Euros or something.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

Yeah, I can't. I don't know. I can't see Tuchel doing another World Cup. I just feel like that's too far away.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

Then if that's the case, yeah, he needs to go.

SPEAKER_00 21:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:38

Because the goal is Euros.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Yeah, I'll be right back. The goal's not Euros. Yeah, no, yeah, the goal will be the it should be.

SPEAKER_01 21:45

So if we go with so say he stays another two years and we win the Euros, oh brilliant, great. Excellent.

SPEAKER_00 21:51

But he just said he's not gonna carry on. Well, he might do. I I just can't see, I think too cool, like regardless. Of what we're saying about him. He's a manager with a lot of calibre for you know success. Not enough. But he's won the Champions League, he's a sought-after manager. I just can't see him staying. Well, I just can't see him staying in international management for that long. Like it's a bit of a it's not the most exhilarating role, is it? International management, let's be honest. I think it's a cracking gig. Oh, from a perspective of like chilling out, watching a watching a few Premier League games, doing a little bit of work every few months.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

If you love football, apart from the critics from the media, which is something else that I've talked about, um I think it's a it's the best job in football.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

As long as you can keep it in your pants and keep your keep your resume unloading. Yeah, and and and don't take any bugs, you're absolutely fine. You're fine, aren't you? That's right. If you keep it on football, you're alright. But um, so so would you if you were so say you were like at the one deciding member of the panel, um, would you keep him or would you would you sack him and seek someone else? I'd seek Pep first before sacking him. So if Pep said no, keep him. I ain't got anything else. No, no, fair enough. No, I yeah, I would I would say that's about it.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

I haven't got anything else.

SPEAKER_00 23:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:21

Yeah, it it but but but but I do think we have failed English um coaches in this country. Yeah, they're not in abundance now, are they really? No, why when was the last time an English manager won the Premier League?

SPEAKER_00 23:39

Um that's a good question. I'd I'm gonna have to I'll have to sit for a while and is it is it not has it happened? Correct. It's not happened. No, okay. Yeah, I suppose Dal Gleish was black by money, Scott. Yeah, gosh. Not happened, Jeff. English have never won the English Premier League. So what we talk we're talking what, Guardiola, Klopp, Ranieri, Venger, Ferguson, Dal Gleish. Someone else? That must be Ancelotti or something, Chelsea, Mourinho, obviously, yeah. Yeah, all of them, yeah. There's probably another random Chelsea one, someone there for a season or something. Yeah. Avran Garden with it, he went on. That's right, yeah. Um so moving on from Tuchel. Um, Harry Kane said he wants well, said he's gonna carry on. Uh, we were talking about this, weren't we, a couple days ago, actually, that I think he's got is it five, maybe four appearances now to get the all-time record appearances for England. He's yeah, is he five, or probably four behind Shilton now? Uh I think he's four behind Shilton now, yeah. And he's ten or eleven. Is he eleven goals off a hundred? So we were the opinion that he probably would carry on his head. He's got more than that. I thought he's 85 goals, isn't he? He's 85, yeah. I mean he's not from Kane's perspective, that's doable, isn't it? But I was thinking he probably would do the Euros, but well, not if we have big games.

SPEAKER_01 25:01

If we have big games, you don't play, he's not gonna score many.

SPEAKER_00 25:03

No, no, he's just he's well, yeah, he's proved that, hasn't he?

SPEAKER_01 25:07

We need a few more Moldovan, Liechtenstein, Samarino. Let's have another let's have a friendly with the Falklands and then we can score some against that.

SPEAKER_00 25:14

Like oh, brilliant. Um but yeah, I I guess he'll carry on, like you'd think, wouldn't you?

SPEAKER_01 25:21

Yeah, I think I I think yeah.

SPEAKER_00 25:23

I think he's th I think he's 33 in a couple weeks' time, but I got a lot of things.

SPEAKER_01 25:28

Have you seen the stat though, Jeff, about English strikers that are going to be under the age of 30 at the next World Cup?

SPEAKER_00 25:33

No.

SPEAKER_01 25:35

Yeah, not many. Not many, is it not? Not many. No. I can't remember that.

SPEAKER_00 25:40

Someone else will come. Someone else will come through by then, surely. There'll be I hope so. We need a 16-year-old now, peaking at 20. I I feel like strikers strikers are dying off really a bit, aren't they? You don't really get out in our strikers anymore. There's no not many of them. I mean, look you look at you look at Spain, you look at Spain, what what they're doing, like they haven't got a striker, have they? I've got a striker in their squad. But it's a problem. But they got to the final. Yeah, but equally. And I mean, even Argentina, like Argentina, who played up front for Argentina last night?

SPEAKER_01 26:09

I don't know if they're talking of both the finest, Jeff, both of them.

SPEAKER_00 26:14

Well, I suppose like Alvarez on the left, Messi on the right, who was up front? No, I don't know. Anyway, sorry, carry on.

SPEAKER_01 26:24

You're right. Yeah, they don't play like an NXT forward, do they? No. But like I said, both teams failed to beat Kate Verdi in 90 minutes. Like, it's embarrassing. They're both in the final.

SPEAKER_00 26:34

Kate Verdi, close to being world, close to being world champions.

SPEAKER_01 26:37

They could have been, like, you know, different, different day.

SPEAKER_00 26:40

Yeah. Couple headlines. I just want to quickly read you. Um, some England players disappointed at tactics as two cool questions teams DNA. Um, apparently, some of the players when speaking to their family members last night were were disappointed at the how the team approached the final stages of the game. So, not just us. Um, and just going back to our um Falkland's uh topic, um, I just thought this is a brilliant, just a brilliant headline um from well, I guess a brilliant statement from FIFA. FIFA are in um speech marks assessing match reports over Falkland's banner. Um, I'm not sure what match reports they need to look at. I'm looking at the photo underneath that headline which says which is um of Lissandro Martinez and um Christian Romero holding up the uh the sign there. So I'm not sure what match reports they need to look into there. But I just thought that was quite funny.

SPEAKER_01 27:39

Probably the referee's match report. We didn't see it.

SPEAKER_00 27:41

Didn't see it, yeah. He ran he ran down a tunnel. So we've got a final on Sunday then, and we've got a third place playoff. Um do you care about a third place playoff?

SPEAKER_01 27:53

It's never game football for me to watch, Jeff, so yeah, I'll watch it.

SPEAKER_00 27:56

Yeah, I'm probably I'm probably in the minority there, but equally I'll I think I'll watch it. It's 10 o'clock Saturday night, isn't it? It's kind of it's a doable time. One sec, Jeff. You might want to cut this out, just turn the light on. Um I'm gonna leave that in for real authenticity purposes, it's fine.

SPEAKER_01 28:16

Um I forgot what I was gonna say.

SPEAKER_00 28:20

Uh so we were saying about third place playoff, 10 o'clock Saturday night. You're gonna watch it. Yeah, it's another game. But I mean, do you like are you gonna be cheering England on for third?

SPEAKER_01 28:30

Yeah, 100%. We won't we'll come fourth. Um the thing is, like, I will watch it and I will probably have my English shirt on, maybe my Dobby hat as well. But um the issue is like have you taken the flags off the car yet? Um, I did drive home with them on, but they did come off when I got home. Because I I could and I couldn't walk out and see it, and my magnet as well on my roof. Um I got three lines on the roof that that had to come off. Um, I had it, it had to come off. Yeah, so I didn't want to see it in the morning. Um magnet is firmly back on the fridge. Um what I was gonna say, what I was gonna say about the third place playoff. A lot of England fans and football fans will obviously get behind the team in the World Cup. But I'll watch the Nations League, I'll watch the Little Friendlies. If I'm available to watch it, I'll watch it.

SPEAKER_00 29:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:29

And a lot of people won't get behind it. So I think that's part of our problem, Jeff.

SPEAKER_00 29:36

Yeah, maybe. Well, I think Tuchel said that, didn't he, in the um in the lead up that he said Wembley's quiet and you know, people don't take it seriously. But I would argue that that's because that is because of these international breaks. There's too many of them, there's too many games.

SPEAKER_01 29:50

Yeah, no, I don't disagree.

SPEAKER_00 29:52

I think that's international football across the board. You you look at some of the players that have played for England, you know, some of the legends that have won the World Cup, they didn't really get that many caps because international football, I think, was a bit more special back then. It was there was less frequent. You had all most of the games were competitive games. Whereas now, and you know it's about money games. I'm just saying that's what I think is the problem. I think it's it's there's there's too much of it. Like the you know, the Nations League, I don't even know how that works. There's two pools or something. Well, it's changing changing, isn't it? Oh well, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 30:26

Like I don't I just I I think I actually think the new nations the new nations league, don't knock it because I think the new format will be much better than what it has been.

SPEAKER_00 30:36

Hopefully. But I mean I just think you you create you create you just create a tournament. It's a bit like the conference league, isn't it? You know, you just I know teams want to win it, but I it's hard to kind of. Yeah, but I guess it's that gives us 39 football. Don't take that away. No, no, well, but you but you've already got the Europa League, you know, Europa League.

SPEAKER_01 30:53

You'll get like a 530 kickoff as well, though.

SPEAKER_00 30:55

So yeah, true. Um, so do you think so you think France will beat England then, obviously, on Saturday night? I think they can.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

Oh what?

SPEAKER_00 31:04

Do you think two will make some changes?

SPEAKER_01 31:05

Or yeah, I think he probably will. I think he'll probably I'd like to see him play Trafford in goal.

unknown 31:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:12

Or Dean Henderson. Yeah, I think it's worth a shot, isn't it? Just I'd like to see him. Trafford's young, Trafford is is much younger.

SPEAKER_00 31:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:21

We need to blood who our next keeper's gonna be. Yeah, can you see Pickford being the England goalkeeper in four years' time? I don't know, maybe what is he, 33 or something like that? Let's have a look. I think he's if he's going to be our keeper in four years' time, we've got a problem.

SPEAKER_00 31:41

Yeah, 32. So I mean 36, not beyond the rounds of possibility, any is no, no, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 31:48

But what sort of levels is he he's not gonna increase his levels now. He'll he'll get to well he'd be peaking now. He's not gonna get any bigger.

SPEAKER_00 31:55

No, true. But some some keepers go on, don't they? No, some some keepers go on though, don't they? And he's been solid for England, isn't he? I think really. But I know I know what you mean.

SPEAKER_01 32:06

See, see, I see I don't understand the solid for England, Jeff. Right. He is that keeper for Everton.

SPEAKER_00 32:16

Yeah, no, yeah, no, but yeah, I'm sorry, I'm I mean he's been solid for England. I don't mean he's not been solid for Everton.

SPEAKER_01 32:21

I I I actually rate him as but but but but people but who who there's no big team taking him on, not taking him out of Everton, like you know, in Champions League. Why is that? Because he's not elite, he's not world, he's not in you know, he's not eating off the top table, Jeff.

SPEAKER_00 32:37

No, maybe not.

SPEAKER_01 32:38

No fair point. He's championship, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:40

So my opinion. Um so what about the final?

SPEAKER_01 32:49

Um, I think Spain's gonna make Argentina look stupid.

SPEAKER_00 32:53

Yeah, I think I think there's a chance of that. I'm just I'm hoping for a I'm hoping for a Mikhael Marino winner, just in a selfish way. Um yeah, but yeah, I th I think you're right.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

Well I could see I could see a Cuccarella sent off though. That could really put things in.

SPEAKER_00 33:08

Oh yeah, cuccarella versus all those Athletic Madrid players for the Archie's, yeah. Obviously, the fact now he's the fact he's at Real as as well now. That's gonna be that could be spicy, couldn't it? There's gonna be some hair pulling going on in there. I can see Simeone Simeone's lad pulling his hair or something, or yeah, um but yeah, so I guess Spain. I I've I I'm gonna go 3-1 Spain. We all said before the tournament it's France or Spain, really, didn't we? Yeah, I mean they were two favourites, weren't they?

SPEAKER_02 33:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:41

Um score prediction. 3-1 Spain, is that good?

SPEAKER_01 33:50

I think it could be I can think I think it could be worse. What like four or five-one? No, three-nil something, yeah, something like a three-nil, four-one, maybe. Yeah, yeah. Because I think Spain would see what what happened to us, and they if they get an early first half goal, yeah, they're gonna have to start throwing men forward trying to attack Argentina, and then what's gonna happen is they're gonna pass it round, hold the ball, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass, pass until eventually they find the back of the net.

SPEAKER_00 34:24

Yeah, they are they do seem well sort of organized, don't they?

SPEAKER_01 34:27

And and then what will happen is they'll have to put more men forward.

SPEAKER_00 34:30

Yeah, I think Spain will be more adept at kind of and that's what I really thought was gonna happen when we scored.

SPEAKER_01 34:38

I put it to 3-0 because I honestly thought as soon as we scored, depending on that doesn't matter how late, if we stay at them, yeah, we'll break them down again.

SPEAKER_00 34:48

I I think we made Argentina look look look pretty good because they had they had to start playing football, didn't they, once once they won a goal down. Um we just sat back, but they I mean they were just they were doing everything but play football, weren't they?

SPEAKER_01 35:02

It was like a non-league team. Yeah, it's a non-league team going up against a championship premiership team in the FA Cup, getting a 1-0 lead, and thinking, right, let's try to hold on here, and then inevitably they'll lose 3-1. That's what happens. Yeah, yeah. Because they're a non-league team, they can't def they can't defend out the the the class, the determination that they know they've got to get through.

SPEAKER_00 35:25

Yeah, yeah. Um, so just to finish then, World Cup as a whole. Yep. You happy with it? What have you what have you thought of it? Have you you know can we can I've can have a rating out of 10?

SPEAKER_01 35:36

Uh there could have been more games.

SPEAKER_00 35:39

Um always want more football, Jeff. Um could be more, even though you've even though you've had 48 teams and an extra round.

SPEAKER_01 35:47

Yeah, the issue was obviously some I obviously trying to like listen at night with the radar on under my pillow, that sort of thing. It would have been nice being in our our time zone, wouldn't it, Jeff?

SPEAKER_00 36:00

Yeah, that would have made a made a big difference, I think, wouldn't it, for us?

SPEAKER_01 36:03

I I missed a two I missed it. I miss a two o'clock kickoff in the afternoon that I can have it on and the on my second screen at work and just dipping in and out. I'm looking forward to watch.

SPEAKER_00 36:16

I'm looking forward to set you know, August, September rolling back around and and the old firm being on at midday. Do you know what I mean? Like wake up, you're like, oh, sorry, we're gonna file off today. Just um yeah, you know, all the latest. I'm using the car going up the M3 though, Jeff. And there's like four, you know, four games on through that day. Um but yeah, so rating out of ten. Score out of ten.

SPEAKER_01 36:40

Score out of ten.

SPEAKER_00 36:40

The World Cup as a whole.

unknown 36:42

What?

SPEAKER_01 36:42

As a whole, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:44

Not not like England, just as a World Cup experience. Seven. Yeah, I was gonna go six out of ten because I just feel like you say the time, the time difference has made it hard to get into. It's just FIFA's just made it hard.

SPEAKER_01 37:02

Trump Yeah, I was trying to I was trying to take that out of it. I was trying to take the controversy of that's that's what I think has just kind of hindered it slightly. Um one thing um I don't know if you've seen online, Jeff, about Argentina being investigated by the FBI?

SPEAKER_00 37:19

Well, this sounds like a pretty good conspiracy theory. Argentina, what that's sort of the foot the the kind of football association of Argentina.

SPEAKER_01 37:26

Football association. Um don't know how true it is, you don't know what you read on uh on Twitter.

SPEAKER_00 37:33

FBI's so what so what what's it about?

SPEAKER_01 37:36

Some illegal monetary transactions, not knowing where it's going for what the money's doing.

SPEAKER_00 37:44

So like sort of paying MLS referees or uh anything.

SPEAKER_01 37:49

I don't know. They had a lot of their games were late at night or in air conditioned stadium. Okay. Don't think they played a game in the heat outside?

SPEAKER_00 38:03

Really? Okay, that's interesting.

SPEAKER_01 38:05

Is the final kickoff time?

SPEAKER_00 38:08

The final the the final's earlier, so Yeah, don't be sweating. We played them at eight o'clock, didn't we? Is is there is the final air conditioned stadium?

SPEAKER_01 38:16

Inside an air conditioned stadium we played. They are playing at 8 o'clock, so 5 o'clock New York time, at the MetLife, which doesn't even have a roof.

SPEAKER_00 38:27

So there's no air conditioned stadium? It's an open air ball. They're finally coming start then. Yeah, wow, too right. But yeah, I think I think just the I mean it's it's been fine. Uh I don't feel like it's really I think that you know the the there's been some some I was gonna say the the top scorer and a race has been has been pretty hot, hasn't it? Um Mbappe's uh score effects.

SPEAKER_01 38:56

Diluted the competition with weaker oppositions.

SPEAKER_00 38:59

Yeah, fair point, actually, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:00

Yeah. Um I suppose it's gonna be a good one. Yeah, it it it's it's it's it's not quite 2010 Vu Vu Zalas, is it?

SPEAKER_00 39:09

No, it hasn't. I I don't feel like there's been a great deal of magic with it. I don't know if it's because it's uh because it's in this in the I say it's in the states, I know it's in Mexico and Canada, but I feel like it's been I mean states have had the most stadiums, haven't they? Do they have 11 other 16 stadiums and it's it's fouled an American World Cup, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 39:26

Yeah, and and and also like you don't drive everywhere and see every car a flag on it. People haven't got flags outside their houses. Um I think the hype has been watered down. Yeah, but in the past there was always loads of fan hype, but media knocking us down.

SPEAKER_02 39:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

Well, we're trying to get we're somewhere in the middle now on both of them.

SPEAKER_02 39:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:58

Like do you know what I mean? You know, the media apart, you know, apart from Gabriel Clark, um, haven't been too bad, haven't been too bad, have they?

SPEAKER_00 40:07

Yeah. Yeah, no, I think I mean Tuco had a fair bit of stick today, didn't he? But I think there's been a a general kind of consensus behind everyone. I did see I did see someone, I can't remember the name of them, but they were criticizing Saka and Rice going to the um like like being in the squad essentially, um, and saying that they thought that Arsenal would had pushed them too like too hard, which I thought was a pretty ridiculous kind of um idea.

SPEAKER_01 40:35

Well, how many games did um Deck and Rice play this season?

SPEAKER_00 40:38

I've not a clue, but I mean probably most of them.

SPEAKER_01 40:40

But I just thought as if Arsenal should go was it not 62 games before he entered the World Cup?

SPEAKER_00 40:47

It may well be something like that. Wouldn't surprise me, I'd actually know. Unreal. Yeah, but to sort of suggest that that Rice or Arsenal should go, oh hang on, there's a World Cup around the corner. So I know it's Champions League semi-final, and I know there's only three games left in the Premier League, and we're going for the title. Should we just should should we just calm down? I'll have a couple games rest during the the most important part of the season. Or you know, in December they're like, Oh guys, I think we need to rest Rice and Saka because uh um because remember they've got there's a World Cup this summer. Like you you can't that's just consequence of being successful. And I'm sorry, but and I know I I know you're right.

SPEAKER_01 41:21

You put your arsenal hat on, though. You've got your arsenal hat on.

SPEAKER_00 41:24

But I'm sorry, your your club plays you pays you wages. I know it's a the biggest honour to play for your country, I agree with that, but in whether you like it or not, inevitably club football comes first.

SPEAKER_01 41:34

No, I I I I don't disagree with the comment that club football comes first, but you look at other players from other nations, yeah. They naturally knowing I'm going to the World Cup, I want to perform, they'll lift their own foot off the gas.

SPEAKER_00 41:52

You think, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:57

I think the attention's not on them, but because they're playing in the Premier League, the attention's on them.

SPEAKER_00 42:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 42:06

They can't lift off.

SPEAKER_00 42:09

Um just to finish, last question I want to ask you. So um a friend of mine asked this today who I think listens to the pod, so um they asked me if I could pick any Engl any player from from you know not English to play for England. Who would you pick? Well current. So yeah, so you you can you can you can put a player in the England squad, like current England squad, I know we're out, but you you know, let's let's wind the clock back to the start of the um start of the tournament. You you you can pick a player to go in the squad, any player from any country, any position. Who would you pick? I had a little think my answer my my answer was a cent half. Um because and I actually picked Saliba. I kind of there was a bit of a toss-up for Gabrielle and Saliba, and I do I do prefer Gabrielle to Saliba, but I just feel like Saliba's a bit classier, um, even though his back's gone now. Um that wouldn't happen if us. Yes, right. I think he's out for five months as well. Yeah. I don't think he's having an op. But yeah, I felt Saliba would be a good addition, although there's plenty of superstars. I thought about Elise maybe, um, and I don't feel like we've got that. Well he's English anyway, so yeah, I wouldn't like to. Yeah, true. But we we were discussing it and saying that there's um you know, we're we're kind of maybe lacking that creative flair um in midfield, even though we've you know Bellingham's a bit more Lampard style. We haven't really got that.

SPEAKER_01 43:50

Well, you you might have done if you had Phil Fod and Cole Palmer at you know, playing well.

SPEAKER_00 43:55

Yeah, you might have had that there. Definitely, I agree. But I that's why I went for Saliba. But I j I just feel like I s defen defensively we're not quite there. But anyway, who who would you go for?

SPEAKER_01 44:05

I was agreeing, I think in how was I gonna short my defence. Right, yeah. So I so I think I think you're you got a good idea. But actually, he was wasted at the tournament, not gonna play a cat, stick down a rare in goal. What over Pickford? Oh, you know Pickford in goal for Arsenal.

SPEAKER_00 44:26

No, no, not at all. But I'm just saying, like easy. Easy then you think you think that Pickford is you think Pickford would be better off assessing rather than a cent half? Because I like I say, I think Ryas streets ahead of Pickford, but I feel like Pickford's not our not our weakest link.

SPEAKER_01 44:45

I see I disagree in the sense that a goalkeeper is not like a team unit.

SPEAKER_00 44:53

Yeah, yeah, a bit more individual.

SPEAKER_01 44:55

It's an in individual. Yeah. Where are we lacking on the pitch currently?

SPEAKER_00 45:02

Like for the future, I I I I yeah, kill keeper, I suppose, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:07

And the thing is a keeper if you change your keeper for the the next tournament, I'm not saying between games, but like a next tournament.

SPEAKER_02 45:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:18

It won't change the look of your squad, really.

SPEAKER_00 45:23

Yeah, true.

SPEAKER_01 45:24

But I'm just thinking you could bring in some yo young younger defensive players that might not be at it yet.

SPEAKER_02 45:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:35

Like obviously you you've got your nucleus of your squad that's going to go on to the next tournament.

SPEAKER_02 45:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:42

That's why I don't really mind.

SPEAKER_00 45:46

Yeah. Do you think Raya would have um saved the Enzo strike? Uh the equalizer. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:53

Yeah, I think he would have done. I also don't I also think he wouldn't have tipped over the shot that went for the corner.

SPEAKER_00 46:00

What would have just like let go, it's going over. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Perfect. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:06

Pippi did it in the first half as well, didn't he? One was going over the over the bar and he tapped it over.

SPEAKER_00 46:12

I think he's got he's got PTSD from Arigi, isn't he? Van Dyke. And Origi. He's you could I I actually thought that I think he did it in a previous game as well. One was going over, and I that stuck in my head. I thought he's he's been there. Yeah, yeah. I'm sure that I'm sure that would come in the back of it in the back of your head. It must do. Like to do that in a Merseyside Derby, was that like 90th minute, wasn't it?

unknown 46:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 46:35

But yeah. Great stuff, mate. Thank you so much. Um, we'll we'll leave it there. Yeah, they're coming home. It wasn't to be, they're coming home. It wasn't to be. We go again. I'm gonna try and I'm gonna try and um get you back involved for the the start of the domestic season. I'd like to hear about Salisbury, I'd like to hear your thoughts on um Sandra Tanali at Spurs and Bruno Gimaraesh at Arsenal and um yeah, Bergval's gonna sign for for Forrest. I've just read. So you know there's plenty to talk about domestically in the Premier League, and no doubt Salisbury will be signing some better players.

SPEAKER_01 47:16

We've made some sign-ins.

SPEAKER_00 47:20

So yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna try and get you back involved for that. So um stay tuned. We may well come back with uh with some domestic thoughts. Um but yeah, thanks mate for your for your thoughts over the last uh last few weeks. Um that's all right. Not gonna do the final roundup. We we could do if you want, but we'll see. If we don't let's see what happens on Saturday night. Yeah, let's let's see what happens Saturday night. If England beat France 5-0 and Mika Moreno scores a hat trick, I'll see you back. Equally, if we if we lose 5-0, two show out, he's gotta go. Yeah, maybe maybe that could be like that that it could rest on that, maybe. The players might strike. Maybe that's right. Be like the France squad in what was it? I can't remember what year it was. 2006, was it? Or 2010? Was it in South Africa? 2010 when they it was uh Dominek, wasn't it, when they striked? Everyone was captain. 2010, I think. I've got my head. Really good documentary. Anyway, um, yeah, thank you, mate. I've I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Um if we don't speak after the World Cup final, I'll see you at the start of domestic season. See you then. Cheers, mate. Cheers, mate.