Thomas Tuchel and England's World Cup Fever

This is the Guardian You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfare 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 Wayfare'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 Deals July sixth. Don't wait. Shop Wayfare's Fth of July clearance now through july sixth at wayfare dot com d Pay fair, every style, every home. This episode is supported by Boss, former wear provider for the US men's national soccer team. For soccer's biggest event this summer, the US is playing on home soil and Boss will be dressing the US players and coach Mauritiia Pocino in Boss performance businessinesswe 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 performance collllection and wear their passion with special fanwar capsule and embroidered badges in national colourors. Own the moment with confidence, discover the boss performance collllection 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 d Or at your nearest boss store, hashtag, be your own boss Hello and welcome to the Guardian Fotball Weekly, Canada batatter nine man atar six Nil a hatch trick for Jonathan David, the first for a cononquer calf player in almost a century, a massive result for the dancing Jesse Marsh, and a brilliant chance to top the group and stay in Canada for the start of the knockouts. Before that the Swiss must have thought they were in pold position to win the group after putting four past the Bosnians in a game that It didn't happen until the last quarter. In group A, Mexico, South Korea looked the best game on paper. A big mistake by the Korean keeper gave Mexico the points. It got pretty tense in the end the Koreans really going for it but couldn't find a way through and hosts doing well and staying home makes for a good tournament, so perhaps a good day for the neutrals. Also in this group, South Africa equalized late on against Czechia with one of those hand balls. There's Colombia's win over at Uzbekistan from last night. We'll look ahead tomorrow, Scotland Morocco and a bizarre needle match between the US and the Soakcurus. two cool moving cameramen, I'll try to tell everyone the correct date for the London live show And we've had more correspondence on one subject than anything else so far. Stop laughing Barry. We'll save that for part three. As always, we'll answer your questions and that's today's Guardian foootball Wek me today with me in LA, Barry Glen Denning. welcome. Do you want to skip straight to Bies? I think most listeners do, but no I don't. Also here with us, Ben Fischher Hello, Hey Max. And through the night she's been awake watching all these games. Thankk you for that Niki Bandini Hello Hey Max. Let's start then in group B with Canada's six nil win over Qatar in Vancouver. First time Canada score more than once in a game at the World Cup, but equal biggest margin of victory by a host in a World Cup ever and it was as comprehensive as it gets best. Yep, It was a brilliant performance by Canada. Obviously you can only beat what's in front of you and what was in front of them was a team of eleven players who were playing really badly that was then reduced to ten players and then reduced to nine and they got progressively worse. The win for Canada featuring Patrick by Jonathan David and hats off to him will obviously be overshadowed by the broken legs suffered by Ishmael Koney quite gruesome looking tackle by Asim Madibo So He was genuinely contrite afterwards, and I believe he went into the dressing room after the game and apologized profusely That's Ishmel Kone's World Cup over obviously. he's a key player for Canada. A really, really emphatic win by them trick goals scored by Nathan Saliba, Ky Laron scored one as well and then a comedy own goal to just add Qatar's wall was of a dismal performance by Qatar, but Canada were super impressive. Yeah makes you wonder how Qatar drew with Switzerland in their opening game. As we mentioned Bent, like in the intro, like it's good for a tournament the hosts do well, right? And so if Canada you know, they could well win this group. It's not done yet, but if they do that then They stay at home and these things are great for the momentum of the tournament. Yeah, this was massive for them. Obviously they got underway in Toronto a bit of lingering frustration, you know, only a draw in that game, but lots of positive signs and This for Jesse Marsh in Canada just feels yeah just huge. I mean, as you say, now that the team camp is in Vancouver, this game obviously in Vancouver, the next game is there. And like there's a lot of home comfort to be had and for Marsh in terms of the selection, it feels like He just got that so right. He put Larn this time up front with Jonathan David Larn didn't start the Bosnia game was not happy about it. but obviously came on and got the goal. And in that game, Jonathan David was brought off on the hour and people were like What's he doing kind of thing? but you know, this was quite the repost. So yeah, just perfect day in result for Canada. And Jonathan David interesting figure, Nicki, you know, currently at UVA didn't have a brilliant season, I guess, but you know that there was a time at Leal when he was linked to every club everywhere basically. Yeah, he's clearly in the absence of Alfonso Davis, who has been missing for them a lot in the last couple of years, he's kind of the next star up if there's going to be a star in this team, although I saw that in the build upp to this game, there was even I don't knowe, it felt like maybe this was deliberately provocative headlines, but there was I think it was one soccer in Canada was pushing this suggestion of, o, should Jonathan David even be starting after that first game? Is he still the guy who should be starting up front? And I don't think it was ever a really very realistic suggestion that he wouldn't, but certainly good for him to get his tournament up and running And yeah, he was certainly hot and cold. The event is more cold than hot. There was a moment after Spelltti came in. away yeah, there' absolutely horrendous penalty that he roasted for in the press, but I think a little bit excessively even though wasn't a good penalty. And then after that, Sletti stuck by him, and he got on a bit of a run for a while and you thought, is this going to be the moment when we see the best of him? And And then he faded out again. So we haven't seen the best of him this year in Italy do think he's He's got his flaws and perhaps not always finishing as well as He can do is one of them, but this was this is a great game for him even if he even got his hat trick at the end of it as well. So yeah, very, very good for him and very good for for Canada to have him up and running. And that actually bad he took his goals. they were all like Brilliant center forward finishes, I thought Yeah, the first was nice volley when the ball set up for him well, the second was justust a tapping really after Larn had a header parried his way by the keeper and the third I think was the most impressive. I think Nathan Calleibo was shooting. Oh definitely ye. All fizzing towards him. his first touch was brilliant took him away from the defender And then turn and shot home. So brilliant first touch, brilliant finish, three well, two really good goals the second I could have scored, I think. Would you have been in a position is the question? No. We've established I do have the fitness now M, or I had until a couple of months ago. That's true. Lib obviously holds up the number each of Konner as well you know, when they celebrated, which was nice and We will be interested in what they do on that going forward because spend a bit time in Canada before that first game. they definitely felt Konee was the one who could kind of elevate them push them through. So that will be one to address. He's coming off He's comeing off a great season at Solo. He scored six goals from midfield for them. and I think there's been a feeling in Italy that this was kind of his moment to launch to a big move this World Cup. There's been talk about some of the big clubs in Italy coming in for him and And and No, u not insignificant amounts of money being thrown around thirty million eurotpe fees for him, which I don't know if some of those again is paper talkalk, but listen, it's never, doesn't matter what stage of the career you're in, it's never going to be a nice moment to suffer a horrendous legbreak like that. And it was really encouraging to see him sitting up and and giving the thumbs up to the crowd as went off, but it does feel like it's an especially awful moment for a young footballer who was on the verge of, I suppose haaving that I don't know, explosion in his career, perhaps. Ab about the end, Bad that game is fainly ridiculous, isn't it? I mean there was one point where the Canada keeper was sort of advancing into the opposition half The fads were singing So and you just think Even if it's a well Cup, Catar just wanted to get off that pitch. Yeah, they wanted to get off the pitch and Canada wanted to score as many goals as possible. There was no let up I'd imagine Qatar were slightly fed up about that. Interestingly actually Nathan Saliba scored from a free kick The Tar Wall was a man short, so he was able to bend the ball around the outside, That was the first free kick that's been scored in this World Cup and was about twenty games in I think that's the first one So and after the game Julian Laapategi and Jesse Marish were having a conversation. L Lapategi was speaking very earnestly into Marsh's ear And it looked like They were having a very amicable discussion. and then Mars just turned away from notaking flung his hands up in the air and sort of stormed off So I'd be interested to know what was said there. And also the Jesse Marsh sort of, I think it was when they got the ree kick the p they got the penalty that then became free kick. He did a sort of odd and I'm in danger of recreating things after I recreated what the VAR did by mistake the other day. but yes, I don't know what dance it was, but you know, I look like an even more middle aged man than Jesse Marsh when I'm trying to recreate it. Yes. No, Jesse Marsh, I just find kind of semiascinating. obviously we know he's American and he's in charge of Canada. There's a sense that he pretty hacked off that he didn't get considered or was overlooked for the USA gig. And it just feels like he has got the Canadians in the palm of his hand really. before this world cup, they lost all six previous World Cup gam. Oviously got four points from two. Even his comments on eve of that first some way, you know sort made a dig saying that The Canadians sing the anthem with R Gusteau when he was with the US set up You know, it wasn't always that way we had to beg them to sing it. He He's scoring lots of points for the Canadians and you know, they' they're going pretty swimmingly.wit for Bosnia and Herzeovina won all goals score by substitutes and Nickk, you said, you know, this is a real game of One quarter and I'll go to bed first because you were there. What did you make of this? Yeah, it was slow burner you say. Johann Man Zambi, the twenty year old I was going to say the twenty year old midfielder, but afterwards Mir Yakin, the head coach was saying, you know, he can play striker, you can play wing center mid. he actually even said defense he was the player who changed the game. scored under three minutes of coming on And what I scored twice then. It was his passast to release Brill in Bolo which triggered the red card for Bosnia and Herzegovina Um Yeah, man Zambi was was was the match winner really, obviously finished four one, Granite Jacker penalty wouldouldn't let Manzambi take it. You kind of are thinking he's going to let Manzambi take get his hat trick potentially afterfterwards talking to Jacka, he said, no, These are the rules and like any good captain would, I suppose. But Switzerland needed that and a big big win for them. I'm never sure Ben how how much listeners care about you know the travails of a journalist, but in terms of late rewrites, that was an arse of a game. Well it was a pain because know it's a midday kick offff locally, but because of the time difference, it does mean deadlines back home in the UK. Yeah, a bit of a pain, but it was good to see the game come alive and Manzambi was kind of just sort of freestyling all over the pitch, kind of yeah, very much the architect of everything that was good for Switzerland.. Wasn't Jacker quite critical of him after the first game? Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah. and afterwards Barry talking to Granite Jacker, he was sort of saying, how good was Manzambi U and he said Yeah, he's good when he's got a clear head and he He kind of resisted, I suppose the obvious tap in of saying, yeah, he was brilliant and you know, well I play He he was keen to kind of balance it out and say, yeah, he's good when he's on it, but in the first game, he wasn't. And the other key thing to say with Jack is He was critical of that first performance against Katovious a dreadful result by their standards, the draw twenty six shots. they' only gold the Ebolo penalty And in the Swiss media, they were saying that that created kind of negativity even suggestions of sort of toxicity and Jacka said no, if I'm critical you know, it's me I'm the first person to criticize. So he was very keen to talk after the game today spoke to Almost a dozen outlets, I would say, think he had a message to get off his chest Nicki Yeah it's an interesting dynamic, isn't it? Because what he actually said after that that first game was he said if the coach brings players in and you don't have the discipline for certain positions then it becomes difficult. He was basically having a go at M Zambif for in his notot quite as many words for freelancing, for not doing what the team required. So that dynamic at the end then of well, no the team rules say that I take this penalty and you don't get your hat trick. it does feel like tension there, almost a little power struggle happening, which perhaps you can leverage that and make it a good thing by I do fear with that' the dynamic at a World Cup These are the things that you all have to live together. you all have to get on together in a training camp for this period of time and it does feel like that's maybe not been resolved or maybe been rought to the for. Yes, we all have to live together Barry. Grand Jacker screws the lead on to the guy called Botle properly. I bet Man Z Ary doesn't just burp in his face and not apologize, you know We'll get to that. L, I mean, I guess Switzer must have thought, oh, we've won the group now they've won for one. And so the way this is set up now, you know, Canada and Switzerland both on four points Switzerland playaying Canada of course, so that is a big game. Yeah, it is a big game and Canada will desperately want to win it to stay in Canada. Wells more interestingly now Bosnia have to play against and beat Qatar. They probably have enough mth them to beat them, but they may need to beat them by a lot. I mean they will have a few suspensions, Cast got enough plers I don't know. Well we've now had six red cards in this tournament already, which is one more than the entire last World Cup It's interesting, isn't it? What happen in the last World Cup? Just everyone was fine. E just got a lot It was niceaved. They wear minis like Granite Jacket. Anyway, that'll do for part one. We have live shows in September. The first of September we're at Vicer Street in Dublin The ninth of September. Is that correct? I'm just confirming. It is correct. Not the eighth. The ninth of September we are at the Soho there in Walton Stowe. We have been saying the eighth for a number of days. So I don't know look we win as a team and we lose as a team But you know, I ha't a clear what ch It definitely is't my fault. It's not your fault. it's not Nick'sault. It's Ben's fault. It may be mine But yeah, the ninth of September at the Soo Theatre in Northnsto go to the Gardian. co. Uk slash football weeekly live and come along and have a nice time. And in part two, we'll do Group A featuring Mexico, South Korea Cheechia, and South Africa Hi pod fans, 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 down on the world stage How does it work? Well, Gradients 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. You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfare gets it. Panning 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 Wayfare'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 Way fair, every style, every home Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. It's a huge win for Mexico then in Guadalajara. just a one goal in it. did What did you make of this one, Nikki? It was a slow watch, I would say at whatever it was by full time four AM local time. It certainlyk took its time to come alive, didnn't it? which was a shame because it was the one of the four games today that I was most looking forward to. I think it was something like ner point one XG for each team a halfim and even that I felt like it might have been being generous And I think the first corner of the game was in second half injury time actually. So yeah, was it was a slow burner. and I think that perhaps is somewhat what we're going to get out of Mexico at this tournament. I think they are not in a mood to give their opponents anything easily. They're not in a mood to push the boat out and be lavish in the way they played. It's interesting actually Lse Ramo ends up scoring the goal He did an interview last week, which some people weren't very impressed about where one of the questions that came up was, do you feel a responsibility and obligation to win this game againsts career? And he said Well, no, actually, we don't have an obligation to win it. And actually what he was trying to say was we just have to go and play our game. But I think that was read by some people as look at the lack of ambition in this team, look at the lack of courage to go out and say, no, we're going to go and win at home. And then of course, he becomes the hero scoring at the ground where he plays his home games for Civa. funny how that goes around, but It was It was a very stodgy game at the beginning. The inclusion of Vommer was in itself a bit of a message because he is a bit more of a combative, less less creative player was a bit of a surprise inclusion, but again, took his moment brilliantly. and I also think part of it was the way carearea approached it. Ka, I think clearly had had seen in that first game that Eric Gida was really able to do a lot of the pulling the strings from Mexico from the base of midfield. They had a clear plan to get on top of him and not give him the freedom to do that early in the game, which was effective. I thought Korea were crowding the midfield But it just led to a yab, a very A veryy uneventful first half. and even after the goal didn't get that exciting it didn? No, I mean it was good from about the eighty sixth minute on, I think, Barry, when South Korea were like, Oh actually, we should go for this. And then they really went for it. and it was quite compelling for that last few minutes injy time. Yeah. I would take exception, Max with what you said in the intro. and you're not the only person who said it Mexico scored on the back of a terrible mistake by the South Korean goalkeeper Kim Song Yu because I don't think he made a mistake. He came for the ball, he caught it and he just that one of his own defenders was in front of him and he had no he couldn not drop the ball because you think? I don't think I just think he was unlucky. I don't see how he could have possibly have held on to in the circumstances he found himself in. But anyway, that's by the by. I think South Korea went into this game playing for a draw And then they went into gold behind and they Yeah, they didn't start throwing the kitchen sink at Mexico till the last ten minutes or so and they had Three I would say, presentable chances. One massive chance. All from crosses in the last few minutes, but they couldn't put any of them more? Yeah. A great say from Raal Rangle, who also, you know is from Fr there as well And you know, that was that was the key moment, right? Because they win the group now Mexico, which means they they are at home for the last thir two and last sixteen if I think I'm right. Yeah which could mean England going there in the last sixteen. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Yeah obviously they've got a cult hero, haven't they Galermo orchoa the Mexico goolkeie part of this squad. We've seen a few times and nice sort of camera angles and stuff of him U But yeah, this was hell of a save Well double save and then his own defender Johann Vasquez ends up kind of falling over him. It was kind of like a mini ruck on the goal line. But yeah, quite the crescendnder to the game after quite a sluggish start. But end it was the chancellor at the end's ninety fourth minute, you know, career still have scored so It was a great over kick off the line by Al as well, right? was early in the game, which was off side anyway, but it was reallyiant over kick off the line still. Yeah and that was funn, wasn't it And Nick you sort of think, you know, there was a time when taking humuman Son off for South Korea when you need a goal would be completely unheard of. I'm not sure if the point I'm making, but people get older, I suppose and Sonny gets older. They do. And it would surprise me. I mean you're chasing a goal, you need that goal and you take off the guy who's still, I think, at least symbolically the talisman upfont, isn't he? And perhaps it was in some sense vindicated by the fact they do get that great chance at the end. I don't know what you think on that chance at the end. The commentators on the BBC are being quite harsh on Ch saying that they thought we should have done better. But I think he heads it down across goal. it gets the awkward bounce up. I'm not saying it couldn't be better but I didn't think it was I didn't think it was a shameful attempt on that header it just didn't quite work out that you'd make a good save. Yeah. I mean, the noise was great when Mexico scored. Despite a few empty seats, Tark Panjer runang should not be empty seats at a Mexico home game in the Wld Cup This country has gone bananas for its teams games. There has to be a way to fill every seat. I think we all agree with that. I was just going to say we might come to it, but sort of related to that. I was talking earer to somebody in tickets for the USA, Australia game Some tickets selling for around eight thousand dollars which is inssane So yeah, I totally agree with the sort of sentiment, but also, what are the ticket prices here? Well one hundred percent. Imagine paying eight grand to watch that. That's the for sayy five minutes back God Look. Yeah, Can you dynamically price it down as the game is going on is well Won. Exactly. But' South Korea they should beat South Africa who did get a draw against Cheechia, which isn't really great for either of them for those watching on YouTube. The scarf has fallen off the table. Hopefully people carry on watching. Hopefully that's not the thing that keeps us with this podcast and not arival. can we can try and put it back on Barry's be nice Isn't it?, we say that. Yeah,' C come on. let's do it proper. Yeah, come on. okay it's a dream. We're a married couple. Yes, Barry. to me a bit to you, to me to you could be our catchphrase. Anyway, Check you won Southfrica one. Check you haven't won either of their two opening games. that is that a surprise to you, Ben U a little bit. I mean, probably I they might have won this game. I have to say I thought the penalty for South Africa to equalize was re do not start off. I remember a couple of years ago I was at a PGMO L camp referees training camp in It was really interesting sat with all the referees and Was it really interesting? No, it wasn't. They're dissecting clips, and then basically going around the room saying, What is that? is that a foul? is it not? And the one thing that just sticks in my mind is that that if it's soft or if it's perceived to be soft, which it feels like it' something we say a lot is fans and watchers of it it's just a nonstarter and to me, the The fact that you can blast the ball at somebody and It's still handble. It feels like one of those handbles that we saw in the Premier League a little bit a couple of years ago and peopleeople were crossing it and just Yeah I think it's bit f. me, Mary was saying, what's he meant to do? L there's nothing he could do. It's completely And his arms were kind of tucked in as well. weren't Yeah curious about it. but I suppose Nicki does set up the group in quite an interesting way because B Check here and South Africa go into this final game knowing that if they get a big win, which may be unlikely, South Africa pay South Ka and Cheki pay Meico, they can still get through Yes, it keeps it alive. I mean, I think Even though the Mexico South Korea game was very, very low on instant, I think this game just felt like it was desperately low on quality to me. It really felt like this was two teams who You don't You almost don't want to see them going further in the tournament because they haven't done enough in the tournament to deserve to go further and there may be going to be one or two of those that do get through because of the best third places. but Yeah, it was It was it was not notot a particularly the brilliant game of football I thought. I thought Southfrica was resorting and not to just having a go from a long way out on one of those events you gets them a penalty and they was a nice goal from Madeecta to get things going and a very quick goal, but it just felt like after that that was the end of their ambition. they were just going to try to lock that down. Yeah. Shout to the referee, even though we didn't agree with the penalty decision. That's more, I would say, the laws of the game than the way of Torory Penso the second woman ever to officiate a men's World Cup match. So what ono her. Last night, Columbia beat Uzbekistan three one Um And actually Barrier, this is quite a fun game of football, I thought. Yeah, I watched this in a bar with a load of Colombians who had a very jolly evening. make any friends? No, I didn't make any friends, Max, but The Colombians, a great bunch of lads, I'm going to say. And weirdly, as soon as the final whistle left, they all left We just clod emptied. fine. But anyway, yeah, they had a good night. It was a hard fault win for Colombia, to be honest IT Uzbekistan give a pretty good account of themselves. Um, and Colombia didn't put the game beyond them until very late with an excellent goal. Brilliant campass header from a brilliant Juan Hernandez Cross But Lewis Diaz scored in this game as well bit lucky the keeper sorry let his weakest shot squirm under his body And D has also provided assist for Columbia's first lovely pass over the top and Daniel Moz of for Etern Palace fame helped it along with a good volly. I hope pass the zbekistan goalkeeper Ran Azbekistan scored their first ever World Cup goal. so hats off to them I believe a pitchide cameraman was also taken out I think by Abduckadir Kushinov tackled someone and both players went into this pit side cameraman And he he looked like they'd done a number on him I. Yeah, so I hope he's okay. but It was a decent game and Colombia were wor the winners, but Uzbekistan we were all right and a shout for the shot of the tournament in, you know in the last seconds of this game from Beck' Caram off Ben. Yeah was a hit. It was hell of a hit. It was kind of like a sort of FIFA street game brereaker, wasn't it? It correack thirty five yards, maybe. Yeah, an amazing effort.es deseserve more go in. I'm very sad. say the woodwork is still sh. I think that're probably right The Munos goal Brilliant, was it? We've already been treated to some great G golals' tournament, but that was right up there for me. It's kind of the world's best toe poke in terms of the finish. World's best toe poke That is a rabbit hole I could definitely go down. Anyway. Do it still count as a to poke if it's a hole on the ground Iose it can I suppose is still a toe isn't it? But yeah it wass a lovely finish. Anyway, that'll do for part two. Part three, we'll lookhead tomorrow's gam You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank? Wayfare 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 Wayfareair'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 Wayfare's Fth of July clearance now through july sixth at wayfare dot com d Pay fair, every style, every home. Podcast powers the world's best podcasts Here's a show that we recommend Hello hello. It's Brooke Davvard from Naked Beauty. Join me each week for unfiltered discussion about beauty trends, self care journeys, wellness tips, and the products we absolutely love and cannot get enough of. If you are a skincare obsessive and you spend twenty plus minutes on your skincare routine, this podcast is for you. Or if you're a newie at the beginning of your skincare journey, you'll love this podcast as well because we go so much deeper than beauty. I talk to incredible and inspiring people from across industries about their relationship with beauty. You'll also hear from skincare experts. we break down lots of myths in the beauty industry. If this sounds like your thing, search for Naked Beauty on your podcast app and listen along. I hope you'll join us Welcome to partart three The the Guardian foot We weekly. so tomorrow Scotland Morocco, USA Australia, Brazil, Haiti, Turkey Paraguay, It's a great set of games, isn't it? We should probably start with Scotland, Barry because the game against Haiti We got some pushback for saying, you know, they should have won by more because it was a win at the World Cup And they haven't done that in a long time And Haiti actually played quite well, I thought, but they need a point they need a point from Morocco and Brazil and that's not easy. Yeah I kind of thought we would get pushed back, but I stand over my opinion. any win at the World Cup is a good win. I think the team they were playing were bad. I don't think Scotland played well and I think Scotland under a day they would have won by three or four goals, but they didn't and that could come back to bite them. It may not if they get a draw tomorrow, then It doesn't matter how many goals they scored against Haiti, whether or not they will get draw remains to be seen because Morocco need a result as well after their draw in Brazil andm Scotland are definitely capable of a lot better than they showed against Haiti. so let's hope they showed against Morocco tomorrow. Yeah, and Niickki, they need that midfield. And they do miss Gilmore, but they need McGinn and McTomay especially to really perform Yeah, McTominy, obviously there was that talk of him having a bug right before the tournament. so perhaps he'll be in slightly better condition for this one. But it'll be interesting to see how they approach it, right? Because it was a four forty two against Heaiti and will they take out one of Sheay Adams or Shankland and pull someone else into that midlefield? Be it does feel like it's going to be all about whether or not they can They can exercise some control there. I thought Louis Ferguson was good against Haiti, but McDomay was a bit less his usual self and so how you aim to, I guess Maybe it's too pessimistic to say, but I almost feel like the Scottish plan is going to have to involve a certain amount of how to slow down this Morocco team because Morocco have got so many different ways of attacking you. They have got a lot of options on the flanks and they've got fullback so you can really kick on most obviously Aemi, but I mean, Mazraawi and canoes on the other side are also just as much going to get at you. So It feels like they're going to want someone else in that midfield. It feels like you're going to want an extra body in there and how theyre going to do that? We'll find out. Yeah, I totally agree. And then the US Australia, two sides who had absolutely brilliant almost s of life affirming performances, you know in their first games. And there's a sort of bit of needle now, I mean, mainly because the US have written off the Socceroos And I saw my mate Craig Foster saying, you know, You don't want to piss off the Aussies. you know, because because they don't like that. And I just think it' be really interesting to see how this game plays out. Yeah, I think it's going to be a cking game. People keep telling me that Seattle, where the gamees being played is probably sort of the US stronghold in terms of the football right soccer. Yeah and it's an interesting, I suppose the big talking point is Christian Putersit willill he play? won't he play? feeleels like his every move has been tracked this week sort of granular details, you know There's been a poor reporter at the ground for Fox and she's just basically watching Christian Put pitch beyond where the other players are training on his own trying to stare at how long the sock is on his calf. Yeah, yeah, I've seen that left calf too many times, Max. Murio Potertino kind of non committ on Pulitich, which makes me think he might play but equally I don't think they need to risk him. I think the fact they got that win on the board first time round probably takes the pressure off. Yeah. M maybe he's just injured from advertising Wells Fargo credit cards too many chocolate and everything else. But good on him. Cashian, when you can, Christian. So Brazil hates Tbaz, Any thoughts I should presume we' win very comortably. Okay, thank you. But I would welcome here to surprise me. Yeah, o me too. I must win for Turkey after that defeat to Australia. Paraguay were not good against the US. Let's see how the dark horses can get on. Thomas Tul has won a battle with FIFA to get photographers moved away from the bench during the National anthems. he said he couldn't see his team before the win over Croatia. I have to tell you something I'm begging FIFA to change the position of the photographers in the National Anthem because I could not see my team. One of the best things Nkki about being here is not having to engage with people furious about whether Thomas Suchal sings the anthem or not. I just wonder if he was sort of trying to placate them or he doesn't care about anything. So maybe he did just want to see his brave boys. Didn't he say that he isn't going to sing the anthem until he earns it? So it's not about sing himself, but wanting to, I suppose be able to share that moment. I understand that as a coach wanting to see your players. I don't know if you've seen like the actual images of what it looked like. They does have like hundred cameras right in his face and I can imagine as a coach wanting to have some sort of line of sight to your players in that moment for a game just to I don't know transmit those subtle cues to each other and remind each other of what you've talked about in in some way. I don't know. I feel like that is a moment that's slightly been taken from the coaches. So I think it's I think it's a valid complaint even if of course all these things are blown up into far too much discourse because it's a world cup It's also quite claustrophobic. having Wall of cameras right up in your grill And it's just ridiculous. It's another English obsession. it's like the capaptaincy Heimmer Halggrimson is the manager of the Republic of Vir. He's Icelandic. I have no idea if he sings the Irish national anthem. I don't care if he sings the national anthem. He probably doesn't because it's quite hard to learn. it's in a different language You know, it's in Irish And it's all about, you know shooting brits and whatnot. But yeah, I't no one cares whether he sings I mean, I certainly don't care. I doubt I wonder if King Charles cares if he's checking on T Thomas Tuchle. How does Thomas Toukele learn it by winning football matches or by becoming more English? You know, if he just sort of you know I was going to say it gets into faulty to, that's the wrong show to suggest, isn't it? see it You take my points, don't you? Anyway what did you think of England? Nicky, what's the vibe? Is there a World Cup fever after that? which I thought was a great performance against Croatia Yeah, I thought it was it was really fun. I don't know if it's also partly a a feeling reinforced by the fact that the PBC on all their on the iPay, they've got all these all these reflective nostalgic shows available to watch that I've been throwing on in the background or doing other things. So you've got the Dering them. but there's also there was a look back at the Golden genereneration and how all that went wrong in two thousand six And and there was something when you just contrast I think it's especially watching that Golden Generation one You contrast how There were these periods when England had quite good players, but somehow you knew that actually watching them at a World Cup was going to be dreadful. It was going to be painful. You're going to be sitting there for ninety minutes waiting for maybe David Beckon to do something that made it all okay And it was fun to watch an England team go out and score four goals in the first game of the tournament and look like they had and a good energy about that and enjoy doing it. I doesn't mean they're necessarily going to win it, but personally I do think they are in They're in the small group of teams that can win it? The videos of Dia Kongos fans celebrating I still filling me with joy. And there was one where Loads of them are in a sports hall. Some lad in the front row has the notification that they've scored, which is normally incredibly annoying But this is been watching the anticipation of this guy looking at his phone and looking around going We're going to this is going to be a goal and then like a few people start dancing in the background and then they're all it's just absolutely it's so so fun. And like there are obviously millions of videos from millions of different That's what the World Cup does, right? but you know, kids at school in carea or whatever, or whatever, it's great He did one last double take as well before the goal actually was confirmed. Yeah, amazing to see him. What was the one was it the Spain, Cape Verde? No, sorry. What was the goal the other day where there was a pocket of f? That was Dial Congoosan actually that was in Lisbon. That was was a long scen Lisbon. And so it is like a sea of red and then these ten blue shirts jumping up