Nick Ames visits GOP convention

This is the Guardian Today we'll attempt a feat once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing, a soFI personal loan. With it, you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interest debt with a soFI personal loan. Visit sofi dot com slash stuck to learn more Loans originated by SFi Bank NA member FDIC. Terms and conditions apppply NL S six nine six eight nine one This episode is supported by Boss, former wear provider for the US men's national soccer team. For soccer' biggest event this summer, the US is playing on home soil and Boss will be dressing the US players and coach Mauritio Pocino in Boss performance businessinesswar for their off pitch appearances. Boss and the USMNT share the same values discipline, precision, and the confidence to perform under pressure US fans can look sharp too in the boss pererformance collllection and wear their passion with special fan wear capsule and embroidered badges in national colors. Own the moment with confidence, discover the boss performance collection as worn by the US men's national soccer team and the fan capsule of jerseys, polos and jackets in national colors. Wear your passion your way. Available now at boss dot com orr at your nearest boss store, hashtag, be your own boss Hello and welcome to Guardian Fot Week Well, that was good, wasn't it? England for Croatia two twoou's men pressed high, attacked with pace and purpose, especially in the second half. No handbaks here. The first forty five was one of those come on boys games. Harry Kanaine had two goes at a penalty before Croatia scored a beautiful equalizer, then Kane again bizarrely unmarked at a corner. but another lovely leveler for Croatia two two Toul not happy Then Ellliot Anderson set Bellingham away and he buried it. England somehow failed to score the fourth despite waves of attack and they did start to drop deeper, but Tl's changes worked and Marcus Rash would put the game beyond doubt. How's Barry's fearometer now? How carried away do we want to get or will better younger attacks take advantage of an imperfect defence? The Croatians and Luka Modrich did they look well Also in that group, Ghana Panama is bad. And then Diar Congo, Johann Whiser scores their first ever World Cup goal. They deserve the point against a toothless Portugal. Can anyone think of any way that Roberta Martinez could change things? Anyone, anyone, Bueller, anyone? L' tomorrows Games Nickames went to the GOP convention on his day off. There's more on Apples, believe it or not And that's today's Gardian football Week On the panel today in the studio with me in LA, Barry Glndenning, welcome. Hello Max. and hello Lucy Ward. Hello Max. Very nice to see you're in Houston, Nick Ames, Hey Nick? Hello, Max, so should that be Howdy Yes, the second howdy in a row, We need to learn some more hellos in American Vvernacular, don't we? But just so you know, we are recording before Azbekistan Colombia. So you'll hear about that on tomorrow's pod. But let's begin with the game in Dallas then England for Croatia two. England twenty one shots eleven on target an XG of two point eight two against Croatia N point seven one. first time since two thousand two that England have beaten a team in the top fifteen at a World Cup ending a nine game winless run And it was not without its stresses, Lucy, but it was really impressive. Yeah, I mean I paint the scene now. so I'm out in LA with you, but not with you. I'm doing some games for ITV and we've got our first game tomorrow Switzland, Bosnia. So I went to the stadium, got my accreditation and then walked to a bar full of Bosnians and some Croatians. to watch this. Quite a small screen, but I sort of got the gist of what was going on because the Croatians were cheering like mad and one screen was five seconds in front of the other. So That's just Just just in an. Okay, we've got the context. Okay. so I think First half Deensively, I was a little bit concerned, but I just think that going forward we just look so accomplished. You know, that you've got Bellingham who's full of confidence, you've got Kayaine, who's obviously scoring but my only worry in the first half was defensively we looked like We were sort of defending in sort of a zonal defense, but then when Croature came ono us, we didn't go and engage. And I think that's probably where at least a second goal came from But other than that it's four two. I think that by the end when Rashford scored, it was quite comfortable and we had a lot more shots on target than they did. So in terms of that, we created better chances. So you know for initial thoughts quite pleased that. And Nick, it was a brilliant second half, wasn't it? Yeah, it was a fantastic second half performance. I think a lot of the players talking after the game have I think paid tribute to Tool' halftime team talk. I gather Anthony Barry came on at halfim on the TV at home and was being quite honest about the pitfalls of the first half performance. and really they really cut loose. They look like men possess committing men forward moving the ball quickly against a Croatia defense that was there to be got at. I watched them player friendly against Slovenia in Croatia about ten days ago I have to say that they looked like porreist there. So I've been really keen to see England really go on with them fourth Gotleven. And to be fair, they did. and there was only a little spell or maybe around ten, twenty minutes to go where you felt they were dropping off a bit,ickford made a save or two. but ultimately the game was made safe, I think they were ruthless when they had to be and I think you can quibble aboutove the goals, which were great great efforts by Croatia, to be fair. I think for an opening day's work at a World Cup. You can't ask for a lot more than a performance that was genuinely fun. because how often do we see that Yeah, it was fun. Barry, you didn't sit on the sofa next to me in Joel because it was too English you say it. How How's theerometer after game one? That fine. Like I said yesterday, even if England had lost this game and I wasn't I was fairly confident they'd win. It wouldn't have been the end of the world by any stretch of the imagination. I saw In the first half, they were Good and bad They got that penalty bad for silly foul by Luca Mas no need for that and thatack of England a good start. Croatia obviously equalized Harry Cane put England ahead again with a brilliant header And I imagine they went in at two o giving away cheap possession. they were making defensive errors and The two goals they conceded while good goals were very avoidable. But the second half they were excellent, really, really impressive Dude Bellingham was very impressive. He said after the game, I've got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. and said ye we know Dude You don't have to tell us. But he said, it's nice to show people what I'm about The subs that Thomas Toukele made, if anything's going to get my nervousometer or feiometer going, it's the proactive substitutions Thomas Tkele made because Garet Sougate, I don't think would have made that He'd have settled for three, two, put the hand brake on, brought on more defenders But Thomas Tul brought on subs and decided to really go for it and put Croatia to the sword and it worked. I think The three or four subs he brought on Morgan Rogers, Jed Spence Sack Rashfot all one scored and the other three all played a part in the fourth goal. Yeah I mean, Spence lookeds like he was going one hundred miles an hour for the whole thing. George writes, I thought the way England tried to draw Croat' players into pressing them high before playing through the gaps left Al Bellingham's goal was disgusting and unennglish. Bring back the days of knocking it between centrebacks before knocking it long to a big man small man combo and scoring two goals a tournament. And actually like the organisation, Lucy, when they got it right in that second half And even at moments in the first half, I just thought every player seemed to know where they were meant to be, what they were meant to be doing, and when the changes happened, it didn't really affect that. Yeah, I mean in the first half, you found Rice and Anderson on the same line drop in. so that sort of stifles that little bit of creativity as well. I think you know, you look at Jhon Stonees's question whether he would start or not. It's not used to defending at Man City in fact I don't remember the last I know you've probably talked about this. The last time he played, he just seems to be to be fit for all the Euros and the World Cup. But yeah, I mean The thing about the wide players, I mean he plays this sort of system that that four two three one and quite a lot of the stuff will go central When you've actually got why players who when they got it right in the second half and they, you know they hit those spaces, the full backs actually came inside in the second half. that affected things. So the fact that he made changes that were not just substitutes but tweaks that actually affected the game. I think against a team as good as Croatia, there are little bits who, you know, you when we're playing moreor elite teams will find the gaps behind the likes of Rice and Anderson. But I think, you know, it was fun. it was positive and you know, we scored four goals. And actually Dick, that intensity After we went three to up. That ten minutes which just felt like a permanent goal mouse scramble in the Croatia goal. It was sort of endless attacking. I don't I don't feel I don't know if I'm just getting carried away, but I don't think I've I felt like that during an England game for a long time and certainly in a group game Yeah, you haven't tended to see those concerted spells of pressure where bulls are fizzing across the box and then they're regaining it and piling menths again. But there was that spell where the goalkeeper Hitlvakovichic resembled an octopus, didn't he? was here there and everywhere across goal and it's nice to see it it's important too that they went for it because goal difference can and and probably will be important in this group because I would expect Croatia potentially to to beat Fair the ordinary garner and Panama teams, for example, you want to rack the goals up and go from there. and they didn't sit on their leads. they kept their foot on the fls. Well I think Touko said afterwards that that the players were knackered, absolutely exhausted and that is the kind of team he likes at the end of the game And I was quite pleased to hear that. I was pleased that he felt England had run themselves into the ground on day one. and maybe just maybe they they are reaping the benefits of having gone out earlier I then quite a lot of teams to the US to start their preparation. I was talking to the Croatia manager. like K Denich after that game that I referenced when they beat Slovenia ten or eleven days ago. and you could tell he was almost he was talking very appreciatively of the fact that England had gone out so early. I got impression. he wished that his FA had given him the wherewith all to do that. So maybe just maybe the fact that they've been able to set off at such an intensity in such a pace owes something to that preparation. Now we'll find out down the line. We'll see if hopefully in six or seven games time they're still able to operate like that. but at the moment, so far so good You mentioned Bellingham, B so much of the conversation before this was Rogers or Bellingham And it felt. I mean, they were both good, but you felt like Bellingham, especially in that second half really Well, I actually thought I thought for the whole game, I was really impressed with him. Yeah, he was impressive. Thomas Duchas said It's more or less a coin toss whether he starts Rogers of Bellingham and it was interesting when Rogers came on Bellingham dropped back into a more defensive role. His goal was excellent. I think the ball from Elliie Anderson was intended for Noni Maduke, but Spellingham just took over and said, I'll have this good turn a speed and precision strike into the corner, but he's a Fantastic player My only concern about Jude Bellingham is I think he has a questionable attitude and that calluse of his earlier kind of is indicative of that bob. he did very well. Who's to say Morgan Roggers wouldn't have been just as good if he had started Yeah Yeah? I mean, interestingly, all the players and maybe they would say All say that the sort of media portrayal of Bellingham is absolutely nothing what he is like I've heard a first hand account of how G a bloki is from a friend who's son met Bellingam while. new friend? Not your new friend from friend, I'd saying nothing. Thank you I'm delighted Lucy said that, but I'm saying nothing. From a friend who met Pellingham with his son my friend's young son, who was wearing a West Brom shirt Jude what fed contempt for this boy because he was wearing a West Bromshirt. came the players that, you know, Toukul has picked Lucy to be either side of Kave. It's been all about, you know pace and directness. and you saw a couple of times, especially down the right with Madueki That really works. In previous tournaments you've had Fodden and Palmmer more technical players, but when Kane Cane dropped at some point he was so deep, I think he took off pickfld in the penalty area. But he you know, we know Cane can do that. It just seems so obvious now have some quick players out there. Yeah. I mean, if you can have there's nothing wrong with him dropping that is not There's nothing wrong with that. If you haven't got the runners beyond and the quick beyond, particularly in wide areas, then it is't effect it isn't effective at all. you're not actually and what it does is encourages the opponents to come onto you if you're going to drop that deep and not have that threat in behind. But I do I mean I don't think Gordon had his best game, but I do think how positive he is. Madw is taking his chance. you know, quite a lot of people talk about him being in the squad, but to you can tell the ones that Ta likes and talk about Bellingham and Rogers, the only thing about Bellingham is when England lose possession or when when they've not got it, he probably isn't as diligent as Rogers will be in that in that temp. I did see him doing that. Yeah really making lots of tackles and actually Gordon and Gordon didn't do a lot of offensively, but I mean, he Its must be very tiring to play against them. And we yes, you know, like It was air conditions, but actually you saw the way they were sort of setting traps to press which looked more organized and I've seen that before. that's the word accomplished to me is that, you know, the There was no sort didn't look to be any sort of anxiety. I mean your point about Bellingham is right, but sometimes when you haven't got it, it's about being in a position rather than chasing after it. that I do think that it you know, Rogers will get the game time and particularly as, you know we've done so well in the first game and probably will win the other the other two that it may spread because the conditions will be different in the next two games. On England, I can get a bit more action from Dallas because I caught up with Jacob Steberg, who was there in a corridor under the stadium. You're fresh out of Thomas Tuch's press conference, What did he make of it He was happy. He was not so happy with the first half felt like England playayed with a lack of freedom that they maybe had a psychological block. You felt like the Perhaps that they wanted it a little bit too much, that they wanted it to Um, you know, they felt like Everything in the camp was good yesterday, good in the hotel in the morning and then they got to the game and just felt like they played with a lack of freedom, which is something obviously we've seen from ignant team so often in the past felt like the leads didn't actually give them the freedom that they needed. They kept going backwards. And I think the big takeaway for me from that first half was you know, obviously like the defs just looked reallyally brokely at times. The two gracial goals were lovely, but u worrying in the way that they could that they could see it and I felt, you know, an open play. lot we didn't England didn't look like they had a lot of flow they Pressing, I think from Croatia surprised them And then comes the second half, which was obviously well trailed by Anthony Barry on ITV, quite an astonishing honest interview from number two. and then they come out and it's just sensational, you know, properly the Premier League style I guess that we wanted to see from the two f wants to see of intense, fast brave. bo all those things that he's been asking for his team, you know, he's come into this tournament. and ever since he got the job, he was talking about how he wanted England to play, you know in that Premier League style. And for those twenty minutes after Jue Bellingham scored that amazing goal to make a three. That's what we've got Th then I just feel, to be honest, it just felt like a little bit like, you know, some people have a little bit more positive than I was. I just felt Before the fourth goal, I turned to Dave Heitner in the press box and I said, Croatia are going to score. It looks like they're going to go to three three. I don't know if you felt the same, but I thought that Croatia goal was coming Instead, England have the the substitutes or the finishes to to actually hit teams on the brakes. For the listeners that didn't hear Anthony Barry, what did what did he say? 's pretty much what Tugall said retty much on NightTV. they did these half time interviews now apparently, which I didn't know that they did, but He was saying that they they played they played forward when they should have played back back when they should have played forward. complicated it and choo it for themselves. and I think that's pretty much what's too cool as well is kind of what he came in and said in his press conference, but he told him in the I don't think it's by the sounds bit. doesnesn't sound like he ripped he actually ripped into them in the dressing room. What he told was to do in the dressing room. was to just be courageous, go out there and show yourselves and show the world what you can do. I guess there will be teams who probably will look at this and go, oh my God, you know this is one of the best attacks in the World Cup. There probably a lot of teams you might look at it or some ofes those top sides will look at it and go that's a defense that we can get at. So those are the Those are the two things. The other worry, I guess is that declum rice going off on sixty five minutes. with Tul saying that he had pain in his lower back upper hamstring, couldn't take the risk. Very unusual to see Declam Rice go off what England are defending and leave with twenty five minutes to go that's a worry. And I think that might have played into pererhaps some of the structural problems they had in fil between him Anderson and Bellingham A fit rice maybe, but there's not so much bace for Great should the good thing is obviously got six days till the next game. If they win that, then they probably can restrest people against Panama. positive as well. Ser coming off the bench to make the goal, give the issues that we've had with him. I just do come back to that defense though. and you know, John Stones on that first goal E concert on the second goal was was Maybe not so great. Are we going to get to a point where we do need to get Mar Get back into the side? What was the atmosphere like? It's an absolutely incredible stadium, theallas Dallas stadium. It's got this enormous this enormous screen. I sat down next to Barnie, who hadd already He was here for the Hollowing game, wasn't? In in his match report, he wrote about this screen and you sit down and go, oh my God, you can't take your eyes off it. When they do the introductions for the players they sort of looked like they're about to jump out off of the screenort the hologram around the place. It's amazing. It abol it's of the best I think it's the best savient that I've ever been to. for anything, but apparently the sof far is better, so maybe if we ever get there, I don't know how that can be better than this one. Amosphere was good. I mean the problem with these these stadiums is that because they're built for NFL, in the press box are behind glass, but in this one somet sometimes you can't hear the you can't hear anything. In this one, you really could U And the atmosphere was good. you know, the Croatia fans, it looked like they had a lot of people here A a lot of Boracious shirts, England, I think outnumbered them. A lot of good vives outside the ground beforehand So you know, it's a positive day all in thing for England. and I would imagine Croatia get through the group. were probably in second place. very I mean, I've not seen how Gar I play, but they are a they are a dangerous team. I mean, that first game against Croatia is probably about as tough as you could get it for England. group game. Yeah. And just one on the I mean, you were so you were behind glass because a lot was made that the press was good for England actually Crozia as well, but it was an airc Stadium. So that is very different. Was it cold for the players, do you think I don't think it was cldght I mean it's set to twenty two degrees, I think was what it was set up. I mean, that's this sl might worry for England, isn't it that that they that they've obviously gone and conceded two goals and been slightly ragged in an aircong stadium. They're going to be playing maybe if everything goes as as expected Brazil, in Miami in the sun and everything. So we don't know exactly how England are going to fare in the heat when that comes without a roof And you know, again the defending in the way that they were without the ball in first h That would be another concern as well againgain There'll be a lot of teams who will look at how England's played on the break. they'll be really worried about'll be well, they'll be worried about coming out against against those forwards. Thank you, Jacob. I hope you make it out of the corridor. that you scry there's a l there's a lift it's o there are two lifts behind me, but there was it was packed with many journalists. so All right. Yeah, you're safe. Good stuff, Chersp Thank you. Jacob Steinberg there. lotots of people got in touch with me, Barry during this game to say Is Lua Modrich tired? and maybe he did fininally after eightight years since I first thought that the Croatians did look a bit tired and leggy in this game, you know him, especially. He didn't have a good game. He gave away that penalty. He was pretty ineffective in midfield, but he certainly didn't impress today. Perisich, his fellow pensioner. he's headed set up set Croatian goals. I mean they don't age they don't age with the. I mean, I know you're talkking about him sort of, but he is sort of, you know pensioner for a footballer, isn't he But they just they just age very, very well. the Croatians and now Persage is certainly one of those. Yeah. it was a great little head up, wasn't it? Also in this group, Ghana one, Panama Nill, Nick, you watched the whole game except for the ninety fifth minute. It's because I was coming upstairs very professionally to prepare for this podcast. M and I therefore did miss the goal. It was It was it was att tritional Gana' very much missing Mohammed Kuris he's obviously injured for the tournament. They they came to life a bit more in the second half, got some meno into the game a little bit more Panama and recreate a lot Basically not that much happened until the thing that happened that I didn't see We did see that last minute Baron actually the three of us got quite engaged for the minutes after that. Yeah I saw last I think it went to one hundred and one minutes this game. I was fortunate enough to see almost all of them. It was a terrible game and it's no great surprise because Gan are managed by Carlas Quiros, who is just Mr Pragmatism and You know, what he's I think Semenu had something like four touches in the opposition box in the It might have been just four touches in the first half, but He was starved of service. so Jordan Iu was subsequently starved of service. but yeah, the game sort of sparked into something resembling life around the sixtieth minute And then when Gana scored the late goal, which I'm gott it for Panama because they showed more ambition than Ghana for most of this game and to go down to that late sockcer punch was heartbreaking for them But after they went to go down, they knew like if we lose this, we're pretty much out we're out of the competition even though it's only the first game. So they very much threw the kitchen sink at Ghana They had their goalkeeper coming up for aate corner free kick. He actually got his head to the corner down and one of his teammates just the header was way too soft straight into the kezone. I mean, their kickoff was a bit like American football. It was like the NFL wasn't it? was like you know, it was like a punt and then off ten players lined across the house. And then the referee brought it back as well the first one of my word. But then we were all engaged because we were all then stood in front. I don't know how you watched hundred and one minutes because when I came in you were facing a ninety degree angle to the television. He watches separately to us. Does he work? Yeah, I don't know with hisods in We watched on the TV. What were you watching? Was you watching it on the laptop? I was watching the English coverage I TV. Yes. What did you think I was watching? I didn't know M summer murders There's every chance. It would have been better. A twenty minute review of that game would' have been better. Anyway, that'll do for part one. Part two, we will do Diarongo's brilliant draw against Portugal. Hi pod fanss Max here Barry here too. Hello Weekly is supported by Gradient FC. Now Barry, with the World Cup underway, we know player performance will be under a microscope. fromrom superstars cementing legacies to upstarts vying for big summer transfers. But with forty eight teams and up to six matches a day, it's hard to catch every moment and that is where the Gradient FC app shines. Their player rankings update daily during the World Cup So you know whose performances are trending up or down on the world stage How does it work? Well, grradients rankings use the same grades trusted by clubs across Europe's top leagues for player recruitment. Each match is graded by a team of experts who evaluate over two thousand actions per match, not just by outcome, but by execution. So for example, a completed pass that leads the receiver into danger is graded negatively, while one that puts the receiver in on goal is graded positively Now I know you hate making match predictions, Barry, but maybe all that could change at the World Cup with Gradient FC with head to head player comparison tools that show who's best across more than a hundred grades and metrics. It's easy to build and defend any prediction. And here's something else that will appeal to you, Barry, It's free Fantastic. Explore it for yourself at gradientFc. com or download the grradientFC app from the Apple Store or Google Play. Every story is a technology story in one way or another. And on the interface, we decode the text It's rewiring your week and your world On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite workwek This year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever But is it making the game better or worse Listen on bBc d. com or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to part two of the Guardian F fob Wekly,ortgal Di Congo one. Nick you're out in Houston. You are at this game. before we get ono the obvious Ronaldo bit, can we at least start with DR Congo? because what was that moment like when they scored their first ever World Cup goal D Crongo were fantastic. I think it's important to say a bit like Kaate Verde, but even more so that this is a team that are no mugs. They've played together well. a lot of them they've got a lot of premiereague experience in players like Ao Tan Zabi. you've got Chance Bember in there. you've got Aron Wan Bisaka who played very well Dama right. you've got Joan Whiser who headed in that equalizer from from an in swinging Ath and Masuaku ross by the way. He rose and thundered this header in, right right on a stroke of half time and all the little blue pockets of DRcongo fans because this stadium was mainly full of people in red Ronaldo seven shirts with Texan accents. I have to say But there were these little pockets of DR Congo fans in light blue And it was really nice partly because I think some of that the backdrop to their preparation that has been covered, but they had to spend twenty twenty one days in a bubble preparing in Belgium before they came to the US because of the devastating Ebola outbreak back in their home country and some of their staff had come directly from there. So their preparation hadn't been ideal. One of their famlies was cancelled as a result They came over at actually based in Houston. I was there when they were greeted at the airport last week because they they roved just after me and it was a really lovely moment with various fans and volunteers there But their own fans basically can't can't afford to come over from from DR Congo and quuarantine for three weeks. It would it would just be impract atical logistically and financially. So to see That goal go in to see the supporters who were there, who were mainly experts have that moment and then to hear all of the dedications afterwards to the fans back home who follow their country very passionately. It was a wonderful moment because of course they haven't qualified for a World Cup since as Zayire in nineteen seventy four, which went a bit disastrously. So this was a good moment. and it was also a moment that you know we can romanticize these teams a bit, but they're a serious team. They're very well coached by Sebastian D Sabre. As I say, a lot of experience, a bit of flair in there Unlike their opposition, they had in Cedric Bacambu, a veteran centre forward who could move and link the play and get some shots away and generally cause Quite a lot of trouble. So know I enjoy watching them play. I expect more from them. I think there's a good chance they make the next round now and it wouldn't be an accident. They were a good sign. Yeah. And actually I was really impressed how they moved the ball. you talk about pockets of Dial Congo fans. There's an amazing video of this. I think it's a fan park somewhere in the states, it almost could be in Lisbon because it is just like thousands of Portugal fans and there's ten DR Congo fans dancing away when they score. There were brilliant scenes in Kinhasa and in North London as well, Lucy. I looking at the stats from it, there' similar amount of shots, but the quality of the chances that DR Congo had were better than Portugal. So that's no fluke. you know the draw is no fluke and And like Nick says, they obviously are at that sort of level and Portugal will be disappointed as Spain where, you know, there's a few teams that have been disappointed. Ryan says who moved least during the ninety minutes Ronaldo or the Diar Congo statue man. Ian saying nice of Ronaldo to honor his suspension by doing fuck all. L you're in the stadium, Nick and presumably're watching R outed quite a lot What did you make of his performance? Trd really enjoyed his first contribution, which was a square pass to Go Canllo in midfield. They couldn't get enough of anything he did to be honest But I have to say, he just didn't do enough. Roberto Martinez came out afterwards and he had his excuses slash reasons ready for why that didn't happen. The balln wasn't progressed down the winings enough. The cutbacks weren't there, that kind of thing And then the second half there was a couple of cutbacks from a substitute conse So who added a bit of directness downamai and one was a bit behind Ronarado, one he was couldn't quite adjust his body. and he put them why. They weren't sitters. they were kind of half to a quarter chances. but But really, it was a slow and slightly pedestrian performance from Portugal who should have built on the platform of the early goal from Jo Nz. And I just don't think it helped to have what is now a human void up top. It's very hard to justify. And then even even with seven minutes to go, you see Gonalo Ramos stripped and ready to go. and I remember being at a game with Switzerland in Qato in twenty twenty two when when they actually dropped Ronaldo and put Ramos in. he goes and scores three and they win six one And I think, okay, maybe Ramos is coming on for Ronaldo again. And instead he brings off Shiao Felix and Ronaldo gets for ninety minutes or ninety eight minutes and whatever it was I just I know I know we can pop up with a goal from a header and a set piece these days and that's most of what he's got. And I know Portugal we're looking for a winner, but there is just sccant justification for it it's mind blowing. and I think I don't know And and no of positivity has been around Portugal before this tournament. Generally, the midfield, especially is on paper, probably for the best first choice midfield anything's got anyone's got, but it was all very, very labored today. and I just wonder whether that was partly because You can't play through the middle and play in behind when Ronaldo is your number nine now. You having to try and go down the sides. And if that's not working, what have you got U and the answer was not much and Iess it's absolutely true that what chances there were, what clear chances that there were once the score got to one one really fell to DiL Congo. So look, I've got no doubt that Renarddo starts against Uzbekistan in six days time. I think there's probably a fair chance he scores in that game, frankly because I'm not sure Uzbekistan again going to key portch go out, but I do not see how you can get to the end of a tournament with that guy up top at the moment. It was it was baffling to see him out of there It's interesting that in a fairirer world, Christiano Ronaldo would have been suspended for this game and Portugal's second because he got a three match band for ellbowing was Darow Ser and Athan Collins in the face When Portugal played Ireland, two of the games were weirdly pend so served his one match ban in the final group game against Armenia, I think it was. So he should be suspended for this and the next game. that I'd say would benefit Portugal no end, but FIFA in an act of what looks like blatant favoritism or obsequuiousness towards Ronaldo suspended two games of the band. We knew this was going to happen. Right. And everyone knew this was going to happen. You don't have to be some soothsayer to predict this was going. What worriry me is Vitina and Bruno Fernandez were really poor in this game. And I'm wondering, are they poor because Ronaldo's there? Is his presence causing them to play badly A. Did they just play badly and would have played badly whoever was up top? I don't know the answer to that question And if there's sort of cowardice from Roberto Martinez. Well was so nice Rberta Martinez. they needed someone with a little bit more backbone. I think he's just a nice guy. But what he's doing is negligence. It's he did the same like he's squandered Belgium's golden generation and now he's going to do the same with Portugal you know, everyone needs a thing and that's his thing. Give me a golden genereneration He looks like a good guy, but he's just goless. All right, that'll do for part two. rememinder that we've got live shows in September, Vicer Street in Dublin on the first, the Soho theatre Waltham Stow on the eighth Please buy your tickets and sell out so I don't need to spend hours on Blue sky or Instagram trying to sell them. Guardian. co dot uk slash football weekly live. If you'd like to come, it'd be lovely to see you and we'll be back in a second High interest debt is one of the toughest opponents you'll face. Unless you power up with a so far personal loan. A so far personal loan could repackage your bad debt into one low fixed rate monthly payment It's even got super speed Since you could get the funds as soon as the same day you signed Visit sofi d. com slash power to learn more That's SoFi d. com slash PoW E M loans originated by Sofi Bank NA, member F theIC, terms of conditions Apply NMLS six nine six eight nine one Every story is a technology story in one way or another. And on the interface, we decode the tech that's rewiring your wek and your world On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite workwek And this year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever. But is it making the game better or worse Listen on bBc dot com or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to partart three the Gardian Fotbot We week. So look we recorded before Austria, Jordan and you and I Barry watched some of this in the bar down the road and the first Austrian goal was excellent And the scenes when Jordan scored were also great and that's all I've got on this game. Yeah, Romano Schmid scored with an absolute surface to aware screamer for Austria into the top corridor, rocket from nowhere And a real wonder strike to give Austria the lead. Jordan equalized Ali Alwin was sent on his way up the left wing, cuts inside, Cls one inside the far post, another brilliant goal. And then Marco and An out oficch scrambled one home from a corner. There was a handball in the build up, so that was ruled out much to Mr. Arnnautovic's discussed, he argued for so long with the referee. And I mean it was a handball. It was a blatant handball. Austria went ahead from another corner. I think the ball bounced in off the back of a Jordanian defender and or out of it got his goal in the end scored a penalty for one of those handballs that you' not so keen on M Dender diving in cross ball. it's He did lift his hand a bit, but maybe if Arntoich hadn't argued so much, he wouldn't have had the twelve minutes of extra time. He score his penalty Tomorrow then cheheck your South Africa, Meico, South Korea and Mexico, South Korea, the pick of the games probably. They're both on three points for a win for one of those Gives them control of that group. Switzerland, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Canada, Qatar. everyveryone's on one point Lucy, you' at the Switzland, Bosnia H Sch. Yeah. So Switzerland well Switzland with Pg back wor by Katart, Bosnia did really well against Canada, Bosnia big strong set pieces actually did really well, but tied towards the end of the game It is quite it's like a greenhouse in that the LA stadium because with the roof shut So it would be interesting Switzerland need to be better. I know that Granite Jacer has had a go at the subs that came on, you know, basically saying we're you know, we're a team. It's not about being wonderful. It's about coming on and being effective for the team because they were obviously leading one nal right right to the end. So it's quite an important game because both under pressure now Switzerland in particular because of the favorites in this group So I'm looking forward to my first my first game actually in in a stadium I've done three off tubes, so I'm looking forward to. Nick, you had a day off the other day you're in Texas and you decided to go to the GOP convention. Now I know a lot of our listeners are full MAGa. So they'll be very interested to hear how that went Yeah, how else would you spend your free time? it was it turned into almost a day and a half, very much not off. I arrived in Houston and went for a little walk just to acclimatize downtown, get the world cut vibes. and walked past this big convention centre and realised it was the the Texas Republican Party convention taking place at the same time as the start of the World Cup. And then Uh I I thought, well, I'm sure if I walk in they'll be very happy to give accreditation to a left leaning newspaper and a football journalist from the UK who works for it. So I went up and in fairness, I'm very, very obliging, very, very lovely, let me in. And then I had freedom to Ram and I came out with a piece sort of try trying to work out whether the World Cup had landed with any of these people who were quite Quite hardcore grassroots activists, it's fair to say. so spoiler of the World Cupn't really landed with many of them whatsoever.