Brazil versus Norway and Miami anecdotes

This is the Guardian He's dribling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hkes and cuts past him. carrier contracts, drives the block. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the nonstop group chat trash talk. He clears on goal, he shoots. G to your local Boost mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile. After thirty GP, customers may experience lower speeds, customers will pay twenty five dollars a month as long as they remain active on the Boost twenty five dollars unlimited plan. You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfair gets it, planning on dining alfresco or relaxing poolide. Wayfair has everything you need to prep your space. Shop now and save up to seventy percent off during Wayfair's Fth of July clearance. sccore huge deals on outdoor furniture, area rugs, and more. We're talking thousands of products for every style and budget. Plus, sururprise Flash Deals July sixth. Don't wait. Shop Wayfair's Fth of July clelearance now through july six at wayfare dot com d Pay fair, every style, every home. Hello and welcome to the Guardian Fotball Wekly France in Morocco the first two sides throughre to the quarter fininals of the World Cup. Killing a Bappe's penalty was enough for the French, an extraordinary exhibition of shit Hsery and filth from Paraguay. You wonder what the Usbek League is like for the Paraguayans to get no yellow cards in this game, at least until after the final whistle? Matas Scarleazza could have had eight on his own. France kept their call just about and Bappe laughing his way through it ultimately probably good for football that France made it through. Meanwhile, Morocco looked second best for a lot of the game against Canada, but when it mattered, they took their chances brilliantly and will probably offer a sterner test for France in the next round. We've all climb a hill so we can give you deep personal and scientific insights into how England will fare at altitude against Mexico. Happy fourourth of July everyone. This is the Guardian Football Weekly anel today with me in LA, Barry Glen,lcome Hello Max Hello aret youre in tutch. Hey, Max. And just landed in Mexico City. Hey, Barney, how are you? I'm fine, thanks. I managed to survive. incredible electrical storm on the way to my hotel. So simply being alive at this point feels like a bonus. Has it made you treat every second differently? would you say? Yeah, I decided that from now on Everything has to be special, perfect. I'm just gonna to suck the sweetness out of life, which is why I'm here. Yeah, of course. What better way to begin the all new Barney Rone. All right, let's talk about Franceis' win over Paraguay first. and before I get the panel thoughts, I caught up with Philippe Au Cler at full time. So Okay, Philippe one nil then and Mba penalty. the difference. it was Paraguay' first and only foul of the game. I'm surprised I'm surprised you're not covered in blood, if I'm honest. How was it for you Oh U I see I think we could just keep it a thatous lovegh. I ra see anything like this I I understand I don't know. I don't know what to say. I'd like to know what the instructions given by Alfaro to his players were You know, instead, you know, we think of managers, you know in the on the trading pitch. I don't know, the reouse free kicks and corner kicks and transitions and playing ten V eleven And they must have like special courses like this is how you fall When a player is within two inches of you and you pretend to have been hit in the head Oh, this is how you Give an elbow to a player, wizly And you this is the way you have to do it, the angle you've got to take so the referee doesn't take you doesn't see you It's it's strange Max. I was absolutely Zen likeke throughout the whole game. I was just laughing because I think I couldn't believe it I was saying this is a shit houseory of that Of that level, I is absolutely sensational. But the thing is that the French didn't lose their temper and there was only one. I mean the way that three French players were booked and no paragia play was booked you k them off park by you kick them off the park Pili. Yeah, that's that's what happened. You booted them off the park. It does make you think what the Uzbeck League is like with that ref. I know they've been given instructions to let things go But thought I thought Paraguay and I'll get into it the lads were an embarrassment on that pitch today. Yeah, they were they were embarrassing becausecause they' actually far better footballers than that. They obviously thought they had no chance and that the only way they could possibly get something out of this game was to get a French player sent off to foul whenever possible to work the referee Who was He was so bad The ref was so bad. It was emrass It was embarrassing And it was an embarrassment, but there was And there is nothing in a way, there is nothing to show for this game because You think that's a game to get into the quarters of the World Cup. This is probably an opportunity that very few of those Paraguan players will ever have again. in their career and then they decide to do this with it Um That's that's shocking And from the French side, I think the positives are like there are no injuries, obvious injuries. Nobody got a red card. Duay was very good when he came on and you know the penalty whichich was a batalty for once was he got it because he's he's a super player. that Luadin I thought was terrific at left back, which I think would probably reassure the Judish a little bit Other than that, it was a game for nothing. I don't know if you felt that way. Yeah. I didn't feelelt feel engaged in that game that I've been like I've been in other games in those knockout rounds because I felt yeah, France is controlling No, of course, they're not creating an awful lot, but they will create something at some point. That's fine And it's just a matter of not being totally stupid and they were stupid. They controlled that. I think Ky and bad pace reactions throughout the whole game, which is basically I think you spent the last one forty five minutes just laughing at people. Just laughing at that guys you can't be serious. You really can't be serious. You know, justice was done and I don't think many people will miss Yeah, I don't think many people will miss Paraguay, to be honest. It's funny because I love shithousey, but get to a level where you're like, comeome on, this is ridiculous. I mean because it could have got dangerous, I think for the French players. I suppose the only question is is Is it a concern? This is the first time that you haven't seen France create buckets. You know, okay they didn't score until just on halfime at Sweden, but like they could have been tened up. Apart from, you know, Hill made that great double save from a Baet, he made a couple of other decent sa. He didn't really create much. Does bother you at all No, not really, because I think that when you think that the temperature on the pitch was thirty seven to thirty eight. Feing like forty to forty one Obviously this is going to have a big impact on the way the players in the transitions then is going to have a big impact as well. I mean, to be honest Paragay for the shit Houseery As As Sim's playing with the low block I can as well organized as anybody else. So it was going to be very, very tough to break them down. I think everybody would know that But I don't feel concerned that. I think it was a game for nothing to be honest. It happened and it didn't happen in the same way Next one will be against Morocco Which I think there will be moments where you will want to watch that behind the sofa. I think it's going to be a pretty tough one. But Morocco is a team that plays quite pro active football. So we're going to have a completely different game and you'll see againain, the French team that you've seen before It also shows Max that The fras we saw in the group in the group phase was a frast that wasn't playing against teams basically and against Sweden that was the same. Yeah. Senegal yes, perhaps And the first half against Senegal was not that great. Then it changed with Oise coming in the middle, as we know then the other group games, you know It was Norway fielded the B team. Sweden. afterfterwards wast def friend. So we didn't really know we still don't know how good or great this franchise team can be. What they did is that they did what they had to do. and In a way it was damage limitation as well because it could have gone bad very, very quickly and it could have gone bad very, very badly and it didn't happen. And I always felt they were in control of and I always felt that they had the possibility. It was not one of those where you're sitting the edge of the seat th they've got to score, they've got to score something stupid is going to happen. No, didn't feel like that at all But Honestly, I just have to laugh a bit I Rarely seen anything like this you actually in theyss. You're on for the full partod of the Morocco gamame, so we will tou to you then, but Mibuu auvoir Pition But here to mX Phiyaclair laughing his way through was I mean, Barry, the BBC called Paraguay stubborn, which It feels generous to me. Yes. They are a very obdurate team. and To be fair, there was a lot of perarl clutching on the BBC after the game Joe Hart in particular, who I love Joe Hart as a pundit, but Joe Hart was particularly exercised by the Paraguayans chit house tactics and said he would hate to win that way and he would hate if any players on a team if he's played that way And I suppose he has a point If everyone played like that No one would watch football. but when one team plays like it and it's your stereotypical team of South American underdogs It's kind of funny for a while anyway, but yeah, they they got away with murder from the Uzbeki Stan referee Iljiz Tantashev who somehow got through the game without booking any Paraguayan players. I think he booked one of their coaching staff. and as you said in your intro Galarza Matthias Galar my God. how all stayed up k. It's just incredible. But he was at everything and really he was really trying to wind up the French players and he did it up to a point. He was then I think when he realized the jig was up towards the end of the game and Paraguay had stopped actually trying to pull a goal back In so much as they ever did try to score. he was just focusing all his attention on kill getting Killian and Bapis sent off Embape was having none of it, was just laughing in his face. but Michael Eise was getting very wound up among other French players, but him in particular, but the Paraguines They time wasted, they foulled, they U through elbows, there was a couple of p rugby style pams off in the face of French players. They argue with the referee, they argue with their French players, Kicked machines, the elillboard, just the whole gamma of shitousery and While I commend their performances in getting this far, even though that game against Australia will live long in my memory for all the wrong reasons. I'm not sorry to see the back of them. No, that feels like enough. It did remind me, Barney of Sunday League games I've played in when they beat the living shit out of you and at the end of the game they go good battle mate But there will be no Greater feeling for that than being in that dressing ro, that French dressing room after you have beaten a team like that Yeah, I mean, I guess so. I saw them against Germany in Boston, Paraguay Um And they are a good team, you know, they can play. And I guess this was a decision, how do you combat France's attack? Well, there's one way. I really like U I really like their manager. I'm sad to see him leave the World Cup. Gustava Alfarro. There's been a kind of phenomenon at this World Cup last night, I was at Capa Verde in Miami. and The wonderful Bubista walked in at the end to talk about his players. And there's this kind of Sererene Gloomy man troes. Of these managers, I mean, Elfar is a sixty three year old Argentine who's managed everywhere And they talk in quite simple terms about being proud and dignity and being warriors and all this kind of stuff. But they're kind of nice men and they clearly love the game and they're kind of a nice antidote. to I would include Don Carlo Antiloti in that as well. sort of old men who you wouldn't mind just sort of sitting next to at a bar or kind of being in a lift with because they just raise an eyebrow And they're kind of a nice antidote to the shoutiness of the rest of the World Cup. So I'm sad to see him go and Bubbista was fantastic. I love Bubista. And if Bubista is listening or watching and would like to be my dad And H A, you made a good point. with this that we are so conditioned to support the underdog And you know, at the start of the game, you're like, I hope Paraguay win. but they they just got so filthy. I think it's the scuffing the penalty spot that just does' you know, literally when the penalty came in and every Paraguay player walked to the penalty spot and the ref was just like go away and another one would just walk up you didn' never getting a yellow card out that you sort of eventually you sort of think this would be a footballing crime if France didn't get through it Do you remember the goodwill Paraguay earned from the world when they beat Germany. Yeah. And everybody was thinking, wow, great for Paraguay. Look at them. they've got their own national holiday. I think that in France that has been extinguished at least. And you mention the scraping of the penalty spot. I've seen Julio N Ciso scraping away the referee's vanishing foam during this game. I showed you a clip from German TV, which they'd found where when Mike Magignon is trying to launch a quick a quick counter attack suuddenly from behind him, Juan Cassarez just falls on top of him. It's And you can see that Cassarez has been walking fine before that and he's just absolutely tanked it On top of him. you don't find any of this funny at all I was hilarious maybe more obsessed with the rules. It's seen as It's clever. Yeah. Football's a game where you try to kind of dodge in and out of the rulle slightly in some other football. I suppose the question is is does it get to a line where you might injure one of their players? And I don't know if they it felt to me like scratching the penalty spot I don't know why that really pisses me off, by. it just really pisses me off. Usually I enjoy shitousery as well I just felt that there was a line where it started to move into thuggery when Galasa hits Ubae there and you can say, oh, you know, but it's not hitting him in point of the body where it's going to really hurt, but still like you are opening the door there and the referee doesn't do his job, which is to caution these players. and that's what leads to this continontinuation of that in the second half I don't know. it just fell the wrong side of of my humor lines for the most part. I mean, I was I ended up just laughing in disbelief by the end of the game. and I thought it was interesting that Der Des Cheon said after the game that He was remembering when they won the World Cup in twenty eighteen and how they had a game against Uruguay and he had to take off Kleianombapee and he said that he asked two of the toughest players on the bench to protect him at the end of the game because he doesn't want to lose him to anything more. Gilam Bapee was speaking about how look They thought that we were going to turn up here in tuxedos, but we showed that we could play dirty football too.. It it is a great victory for France because We've seen a completely different side of them at this tournament so far. And I think they're going to walk out of this game with a different kind of confidence to them now because they've shown that they can stand up for each other and not take the bait. I think it just gave me PTSD of playing Finchy away or Garchonians away or hum away in Melbourne and just thinking I don't want to have my legs broken today. But And I make an interesting comparison. In eighty six, England played Paraguay in Mexico and famously The guy who was marking Gary Lineaker hit him so hard in the throat with his arm. that Liner couldn't speak for the rest of the half. And he actually made he made a kind of call Liner afterwards said I don't think he meant it. I don't want to think he didn't. Like obviously a terrible thing to do and's no one to be doing that. But England won three not and it kind of made me really like Gary Linaker and kind of admire he scored two goals in that game and Engam won and he was very gentlemanly about that and I kind of thought it made me ennobled the game and made me think that was kind of cool. So maybe with the passing of time Yeah, we'll look back on this and think it was good. Yeah, maybe. I mean, I think at this game at halfime we're all gone Paragoay well done. You frustrated them And I don't think Did France even have a shot on target in the first half? And I think Hill's first sa was a Kono shot from twenty five ys in the second half. Right. Okay. And you're going ye, you've set out to frustrate and shit house and spoil and you've done exactly that and So well done And because you're not as good at France, you know, everyone knows that It's the highest ranked team in the competition against the lowest ranked team left in the competition, I think And then they go a go down. they continue this approach and they're getting dirtier and dirtier and they go a go down and suddenly there's like seeven minutes left and They're not trying to score and equalize It's as if they didn't quite I know they scouffed the penalty spot. This as if they hadn't realized, oh we actually need to score a goal here. but all their attention was just on winding up various French play. And they did it. But not well enough. All right, that'll do for part one. Part two, we will do Morocco's win against Canada You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfair gets it. Planning on dining alfresco, or relaxing poolside? Wayfair has everything you need to prep your space. Shop now and save up to seventy percent off during Wayfair's fourth of July clearance. sccore huge deals on outdoor furniture, area rugs, and more. We're talking thousands of products for every style and budget Plus, sururprise Flash deeals july sixth. Don't wait. Shop Wayfare's fourth of July clearance now through july sixth at wayfare d. com fair every style, every home. He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hies and cuts past them. Carrier contracts drives the blockem. Oh he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the nonstop group chat trash talk. He clears on goal and he shoots. Visit your local Boost mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile. After thirty GP, customers may experience lower speeds, customers will pay twenty five dollars a month as long they remain active on the Boost twenty five dollars un Unlimited plan Welcome to partart two of the Gard for We weekly So Moroccco are through. they be Canada three nil. A actually not sure it was a three nil game. What did you make of it? Canada were on top in the first half And that was the way they had to approach this game because if Morocco were to make a first a fast start and get ahead than I don't think Canada would have had a chance. So the strategy call from Jesse Marsh made sense. The problem was the problem for Canada at this tournament where they've not been able to take all their chances at the right time. And there was that moment where Jonathan David had the chance to hit it when there was a great piece of buildup with all Oa and he just doesn't go for it. And you see a certain fragility in Jonathan David's confidence still, even though he had that hatrick against guitar He's just not quite making the right decisions at the right times for a striker where you just want to bank on your instinct And fair playlay to Morocco was they were overrun in the first half. They only had one touch in the Canada box They didn't panic These are the two sprintiest teams in the tournament left So we shouldn't have been surprised by the intensity which there was And even if Bono had to come to the rescue as well with one big save, let's not underestimate that they lost Ismail Sibari to a thigh injury We've seen Mohammed Uwabi, the Morocco coach say we're going to have a look in a few days. It seemed a slight injury which they'll really hope for, but this was some adversity that Morocco had to come through and that they score a kind of goal where as a defending team you are furious that it's that easy to school, but As the attacking team, you look quite smart. It's a really lovely finish from Azadein U Ni. And from there, they didn't really relinquish control of the game. Yeah. The finishing was great for Mocco Yeah, because they didn't have many chances, but the ones they did get they put away, which is Canada were unable to do and ultimately costs them. first goal, free kick, nicely worked set piece, etan received a pass from Kimi, I think it was and just drilled this low shot through traffic into the bottom corner. And then the second two were brilliantly executed breakaway goals and they almost got another one identical. By the time there were three nill up, I think they only had three shots on target and they scored all three of them And that one obviously doesn't count as a shot on tarrogators despite what Troy Townsend would have you believe. After the game, Jesse Marsh said there was one team on the pitch He said that of their start to the game, at least, we were better than the number seven team in the world. I'd rather be us than them U I mean, I quite like Jesse Marsh Barney. I think he's done well for Canada, you know, is you know, their most successful men's World Cup campaign They got their first point, their first win, their first group stage, progression, first knockout victory. How do you feel about Jesse? Fair enough. He wants to be ballsy and and kind of peppy in defeat, but It seems pretty graceless to me. Why would you say that? I think the right thing to do is to congratulate your opponent. Moroco really good team I quite want them to win the World Cup. I think they'll give France a really good game They're kind of a fascinating team. I mean, they have so many players who've come through IX through a French football machine through Belgium as well You know, who are Moroccans and can you can sort of call that a diaspera team if you want, but it's not, you know there's a reason why there are Moroccan people in those countries and it's not because Morocco has chosen that to happen to them. I like the way this World Cup is kind of piecing nations back together like a jigsaw in that way and telling new stories about them. And that's quite an American thing in a country of of immigrants and people who've moved around the place. I think I think they really I would think it would be such an interesting thing if Morocco to actually win the World Cup, which I really don't think is impossible. It's not impossible I think that would be really fascinating and really hard to tell Trump kind of compute as well, which I'd quite enjoy. This is definitely not in his kind of what think he has a script to he, but it's definitely not in his kind of fevered dreams Yeah, I think I think they're really good. and I I'd rather be there, I think than Canada. Sure. And it's an interesting point that you I thought this was actually, especially their first off was actually there the of the least impressive performance so far. Possibly. I mean, Canada have a brilliant pressing system. They're a really well drilled team. They've done really well. he's managed them really well. They They've really competed really well at this World Cup. They're really disciplined and they're really well coached. and he may be showed a way to play against possessition teams like that if you're willing to really press like that And that was good, but they still One, three nil. and you know, they are, I guess, um Champions of Africa if we want to say that, although N'mot really sure where that one ended up. If you can win three noil when a team has kind of slightly tactically got to you I think you're doing okay and they'll feel pretty good about it, I think The main thing for Jesse Marsh is that His players believe him and his players buy into it. It's difficult on the outside to buy into everything he says. For example, yesterday Max In an interview, he was talking about the US men's national team job where he said, peopleeople like to say, Oh, he wishes he coached the national team. Let me make it really clear, I will never coach the US national team ever and that's no problem There was the possibility of me at one point, but I'm done with it. I don't even care anymore Do you believe him I don't. I mean, he may never coach the US men's national team, but I'm not sure it will be his decision. He said after this game, I'd rather be us than them, you know, I'd rather be Canada than Morocco. and he's getting pless for this, but he seems to be very unpopular in the United States. That's the vibe I'm getting U and someone Admittedly it was just some bloke in a bar was telling me, but you know, who abolutely.'s journalism Barry Some of my Yeah They're your sources. Yeah. some bloke in a bar said that he really wanted the U.S job. he didn't get it and now He more or less took the Canada job as a bit of an FU to the states and I think his comment I'd rather be us than them has been misconstrued. I don't think he was saying Canada were better than Morocco because they clearly weren't. They lost three nill and it could have been worse I think he was Just I prefer our team spirit. I prefer my players Um And I I prefer the vibe we have in our camp And you know, say if Arsenal went out and hammered Sunderland in a match, I would still rather be a Sunderland fan than an Arsenal fan. I'd add to what Barry's saying that This is not to take away from the job that Jesse Marsh has done Yeah. When you consider that Alfonso Davies has missed basically the entirety of this tournament, I think if you told Canadians that four years ago that they'd have to go through this home tournament without him. Coneay as well, missing a lot of it It's a really good achievement and that he's brought everyone together and pushing in the right direction. Can Canada go beyond the last sixteen at the next World Cup It depends on the draw. It doesn't look like they have the players to consistently go further like Morocco have gone on to do. What was lacking was technical quality today. But yeah, just a bit of sadness as well for Alphonso Davies that his career was meant to have been building to this moment. And in the end, when Jesse Marsh asked him before this game, do you have enough in the tank to play, the answer was an honest no A journalist did say at the end to Jesse Mil. We want to thank you for making us dream before. We never believed we'd ever make it this farast. So we just want to say thank you. Will you say that to Thomas Tule? If Eng would win the World Cup Barny in a presser Thank you for making us dream Thomas Tker has already made me dream This is the post storm Barney we all wanted I really likek Thomas Dule. I One of my favourite things about him at the moment. is, u There's a whole thing on Mum's net. of kind of Right flushed and slightly thirsty mums talking about how they find him incredibly attractive. And it's seen as a guilty pleasure. I shouldn't. I don't want to, but I can't stop looking and he's been described as a kind of a vampire as undernourished vagrant But there's a whole thing on Mond'snet. to be honest, the for the vampiric Bogalide Germanic. community ' so often marginalizing that kind of discussion It's a really good thing. It's great to be I feel seen. I feel appreciated. I would normally go into a kind of thing about impossible beauty standards and it's really good to have like This is actually an impossible beauty standard. You think it's easy to look like this. It takes a huge amount of work. Thomas Thomas has been great for the whole community of of us guys who are kind of fifty three years old and have boggle eyes and look like that. We all want to belong. you found your I ask Bernie, how do you know? these. is on Mum's neck. Somebody sent it to me who has been joking about Doul's attractiveness and saying, this could be good for you So is that your wife No, it was a friend, but I do get England fans Now walk past me and shout Thomas Sukle. Oh that's I'm that guy. I have to do the kind of bter along. you prefer that or Donald Tusk or Niles Crane? What's your favorite? Oh it's much better than Tusk. Nobbody thought Tk was Tusk was not sexy. Tusk was powerful. Right. But it's incredibly flattering. took used to be a model when he was a younger man. He's an incredibly handsome man. I am not saying that I look like Thomas Sucher, but I'm very, very happy to be swept up The whole community is happy to be swept up in his aura. We have a leader now.. All right, that'll do for part two. Part three we' look ahead to the game or just do more on. Harneie's new job as a Thomas Tul lookookalike You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfair gets it, planning on dining alfresco or relaxing poolside Wayfair has everything you need to prep your space. Shop now and save up to seventy percent off during Wayfair's Fourth of July clearance. sccore huge deals on outdoor furniture, area rugs, and more. We're talking thousands of products for every style and budget. Plus, surprise Flash deals July sixth. Don't wait. Shop Wayfare's Fourth of July clearance now through july sixth at wayfare dot com d fair, every style, every home. He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past them. Carrier contracts drives to blockem. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the nonstop group chat trash talk, He clears on goal and he shoots Visit your local Boost mobile store today to get unlimited data with a price that never changes. Boost mobile. After thirty GP, customers may experience lower speeds customers will pay twenty five dollars a month as long as they remain active on the Boost twenty five dollars unlimited plan Welome to Part three Re the Guardian Fb We weekly so tomorr, Brail, Norway and Mexico, England., you're in Mexico. Has the altitude affected your? I mean it doesn't sound like it has. It's been one of your finest performances to date. But what are your general thoughts on the game Well, I'm trying to save myself from problems with alitude by not doing any exercise or moving fast. And so far it's working. I can confirm that the storm stuff they're not lookingucking about about that. I was in a taxi coming from the airport about two hours ago. And the traffic was so bad I mean, it was kind of, it seemed to be raining outside, but the traffic was terrible. So I said like I'm just going to get out and walk I walk the last mile and I've never seen a storm like it It was incredible. I walked through this storm,. you know, when you're just instantly drenched, my trousers just sticking to your leg. I had my trusty cagool on But that forget that, no function whatsoever. It was like being in one of those vampire films where there was literally like really really kind of clear forked lightning directly over your head, accompanied by really loud I've never seen anything like it. I was really quite scared. Luckily I had my trusty metal hat on. Yeah. So everything was fine, given the rain off. But no, it was amazing. They're not joking about these storms. That was a really, really frightening form. The streets flooded. I was stuck in an underpass for a while. It was very exciting. When I got to the hotel, I kind of discussed it with the guy there on the desk He just said, gos are angry. And then he said, Are you Thomas Toule? too the game itself, I mean, altitude however many journists have done at five K to say it's harder to run altitude, it is true. L it will be difficult for England. will it will change how they play. I wered you Do you think they should play a sort of Joose? Contte low block in this game. Well, I think they should do that anyway. I don't think this is a game to be. There's so many things wrong with this England team. There are combinations that aren't working and Touult has spoken about this. He hasn't solved the problems with his wide players at all. He doesn't know who goes with who's playing well. But there's lots wrong The central midfield that sort where it just doesn't have that shielding player that they need. So lots of things to fix, but this is not the game to fix them. It's a get in and get out game and The one thing I said this in my preview, the one thing England so far, they picked a team to run into spaces and to counter attack to be quick on the transition. That's the whole plan And they've played teams who don't want them to do that whove said we're going to have a load block and you must break us down. I don't think Mexico will be able to do that in the Aztecca where the energy is already advantage to them if they attack England, it will at least I'm not saying this is going to makeaking them win the game. It might make them lose at three nil, but it will at least give them something which reflects the game plan they're expecting to have to enact. I think I fancy England a bit more than most people I've got a feeling they might sc from a corner it might be one of those and the atmosphere might be more of a problem for Mexico than them. I mean think this play is a Whatever they are, they're not the greatest team in the world, but they are used to playing in stadiums where there's a lot of pressure and things like that U I think this might be their best game of the World Cup Isaac. Apparently, I remember years ago, I make a careful note of everything you say on the podcast so I can use it against you at a later date. But we were talking about some team or other not being able to sort out the defense probably spurs and Someone made a point it's a really difficult thing to do. And you made the quite salient point that Thomas Tul arrived at Chelsea when they were in disarray and sorted out their defense in an afternoon Why hasn't he been able to do the same thing with England do you I think because It's different U He would really like to have Jhn Stones. He's He's lost a whole defence from the South Gate era He's not got stones. he's not got he doesn't McGuire, he just doesn't think is going to work He's lost two fallbacks in Walker and Tripia and probably some other players I forgotten about And the people who've come in have made mistakes And haven't that great And also defense is a team thing. When he was at Chelsea, he just drilled them and drilled them and drilled them and he had some good players there. It's not like that in this job he's had eighteen months of some quite bitty games and players coming and going I'm not making excuses for him. It just hasn't worked the way he would like it to. and I think I think the defense comes from the entire team. For example, the goal that Jed Spence was kind of seen to be at fault because he got drawn into the middle for the goal against DL Congo U Really, if you watch that whole move, that came from the midfield. the guy he was tracking was a midfielder, who England's midfield had not tracked, he' made a forward run, so Spencer was drawn into that, as he should, because he's the man there, which left this huge gap over there and Jud, the reason the TV did a closeer of Decklam Rice shouting at people after that. because well, where were you, Declin? probably someone was shouting at him. I think he probably felt o that's my man And it's a team defense thing and Tuall doesn't really have the players hasn't been able to get his team defense thing into them in the same way for whatever reason. Yeah. Archie, what you I mean I was on Talport this morning. and So I flicked on Iort you know, I get the line about ten minutes before and they were doing, you know, the phone in what should happen? And people ringing up going, Well, you've got to put Declan Rice at center back. Reese Jes if he's not fit, doesn't matter. getet him in centerimid and you're go, oh God, we can't have this. And you know, really there aren't that many changes that Tle can make, right? You know, it's I would personally keep A gay in Cerateenter backack. I think it's a biggerk to bring stones in. And then I think Qantum Geral Qantum might be fit so you could play it right back. but otherwise I would keep for and really got to keep the centerred. you've got to keep Kan so it is just who you start on the wing, I think, but maybe you think they could bigger changes. No, no. I'm with Barney on the right winger combination needing to be found. but I think that can also be a game by game thing Nonn Maduequ is going to be really important for how much he stretches the Mexican left hand side and how much running they're going to have to do because England are going to have to counter them when it comes to them tiring us out CulianQinonez has looked excellent so far in this tournament. How England and how Tou will make a plan for that will be key to succeeding in this game as well If it was down to any changes in in the team. I'd look at Kobby Minu as a potential one in the center of midfield or who? I was doing something really fun that you would love to do, Max, which was looking at Declan Rice's running numbers. Oh in the Champions League. and he's running actually a kilometer less than he was for in some of Asen' Champions League games toward the end of the season. right now and when you have neural pain in your hamstrings. we saw it with Ismel Saibari, the top sprinter at this tournament with Morocco. Was it a surprise that his his leg went twang at some point when you're trying to do that amount of high intensity running and how much of Decklin Rice's game is based on energy and how much he gets about the place. And Cobby Minu had an excellent second half of the season for Manchester United. had similar success for England actually coming in halfway through the tournament as well I think it needs to be considered as an option because in a tournament as long as this where you are being challenged As much physically, you are going to have to make a difficult call at some point. It would be a huge call, I think, where you to do it. ahead of this game at the Aztecca. Brazil, Norway, Barry can you make a case for Norway in this game? I think I can make a case for both of them to be honest. Oh good. Here we are, Your Honor. Yeah, sit resolutely on the fence. Brazil are quite obviously very susceptible to high balls over the top And that is Norway's Game plan you know, I'm making it sound more prehistoric or Jurassic than that it actually is But I think Brazil could play right into Norway's hands in Erling Highland which is a you know, he is a case to be made for Norway winning on his own. But in Hand and Sorlos Norway have two big lads who are Physical handfuls very good in the air. and that's what Japan were missing in their game against Brazil. And I believe Norway sort of have a bit of a hoodoo on Brazil inso farar as they've played each other four times. And Brazil has never beaten them. So whatever if that counts for anything, probably not And then obviously Brazil are very good at football. they have Vinicius Jior, they have Carlo Ancelotti in charge and they seem to be grown into themselves with each passing game in this tournament. so I I amm really looking forward. I'm looking forward Pulse games tomorrow and I think the England Mexico one' going to be a great football occasion, whatever the outcome. I did say before ort when it started, I thought England would lose against Mexico and the round of sixteen, so I'm going to stick with that even though I'm not massively convinced it's going to happen, but Fingers cross and then this one, this is quite a greatay curtain raisor. this is Yeahah, I'll give Norway a good chance. justust to add to your point of Mexico there, just to give a peek behind the curtain before we started recording, I just quietly heard Barry going, M he he Barnie, you mentioned you at the Argentina Cape Verdigame, which the game of the tournament so far. and you know, the Sydney Lopez Cabral goal was just unbelievable. I just wanted likeike your reaction watching it there live. yeah, I mean, that was an amazing moment And we were quite close to it in the press box And I was there with Pablo, our US colleague We've got increasingly grippp by this game. We both started off on a cople this can be about Messy isn't it? Let's just how much messy should we do Sh I lead on Messi? How much messy? hadad all this kind of things I wanted to say about Messi? And that just quickly evaporated And when that goal went in I mean, it was it was can I just say it's lovely to be hugged? Yeah. It's lovely to feel to feel arms around you. And you know, Pablo is a lovely man and he smells nice. so that was really lovely. And it was great because he was down below us. So we got a full view of him going to see the woman who either was his wife'selest girlfriend or is now, or was just someone he'd also spotted on the camera and thought Well this's like a nice person I've kinded to talk to. if I score an incredible goal, I think I'll get up there. And she did very willingly come over and give him a hug. So yeah, that was an amazing moment. and what a goal, you know, was it was Josimar esque And they were fantastic. They really were. What a team. what a kind of spirit they have. And I've mentioned already Bubista and my deep Um quite emotional feelings for serene gloomy men who seemed to have the world in a kind of fairly decent balance. and he was really nice offors. again, in contrast to Jesse Marsh F first thing he said was Congratulations to Argentina. They showed why they are world champions and then talked about his pride in his own team. So it was a really wholesome occasion and I enjoyed it a lot It would be absolutely sensational if that woman was just some random Siddney Cabran had spotted on the jumb tron. swwipe right. That's what he's gonna do. She didn't look that bothered, did she? She was like I almost like, what were you doing? It's the middle of the game. Barnie, you've promised us an anecdote about the mafia in Miami. Are you safe? I am safe. I just lied to make that. Now it was just people sometimes wonder what it's like traveling around at these places and you have some odd This felt like a bookend. Do you remember when Iwen Gibson and I were kidnapped in Manaus in Brazil twenty fourteen in a taxi. and I was supposed to be doing the pod. and I had to kind of phone up and say, I'm in a taxi I'm in a car with some men and everything's fine. and they were they werere off to some sort of shady shady place that they wanted to take us to. It was it kind of felt slightly like that and there was a Basically, I traveled about eight hours from Atlanta to Miami It hadd been a really long day. I'd been at game the night before. chehecked into my hotel. I really wanted to watch the end of Portugal, Croatia, which was just entering extra time right at the end. It was really tight. I rushed into the bar, I kind of a hotel, had my suitcase with me, and I just ordered a drink so I could sit down And a guy next to me, I just heard a voice insisting that I sit down and have a drink with him in a kind of thick accent and I'm fine. I is going, I'm fine And he kept insisting. and then I looked down, it was a man in a kind of Hawaiian shirt with quiteort of weathered face, like stry a stringy looking kind kind you know, you're thinking Paully walnutsish. I ignored him for a bit. And then he said to me, I heard him saying I'm Sicilian. And he started whispering something about Cosinostra you need to show some respect