Tactical failures in African football

This is the Guardian 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 Mauritio Poicino in Boss performance businesswe 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 fanwar capsule and embroidered badges in national colors. Own the moment with confidence, discover the boss pererformance 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 the Guardian Football Weekly Can anyone stop England? Probably. But they are in the last sixteen, Harry Kane, the eventual hero, the first ahead of the second, a quite brilliant strike to turn things around after a simply heroic defensive performance from Dial Congo. They scored early, England's defense all over the place before the Congo keeper kept everything out. It was starting to look bleak before Tule made changes and Kane was the difference. Now to the altitude of Mexico, get those decoy hotel rooms ready Also today who doesn't love watching Potch sing John Denver? In the end, a pretty comfortable two nil win for the US over Bosnia Herzegovina. Borelin Ballagan was the main character scored, hit the bar, had one disallowed and was sent off. You expected Bosnia to push on, but they didn't really and then Malleik Tilman scored a great free kick to set up a last sixteen game with Belgium, an extraordinary comeback for them against Senegal, two nill d outbt. they've done virtually nothing until the Kaku and Tieermanss in the last five minutes And at the end of extra time a VAR penalty that assists lying on the penalty spot, Tieermanans had to wait an hour before caressing it into the top corner. Also, he might have gone two days ago, but there's more Mark Langdon vegetable correspondence. We'll take your questions and that's today's Guardian foootball weeekly On the panel today with me in LA, Barry Blen Dening, heo. Hello Max. I welcome Archie Rinut. Hey Max. And also in LA, but another part of LA because it's quite big Asasu O Bayawana. Hey, Assasu, you okay? No, I'm not fious. Absolutely furious and I'm trying to be polite and not use industrial language. You can use industrial language If you like, yes, your search for excellence continues, but go They were close to E Congo. Let's start with England's two one win Over D our Congo. We were wondering how to start this pot if England had lost. Could we get away with twenty minutes on Oliver Glausmner Forest? So the first game England have won at a World Cup when conceding first since the final in sixty six I will go to the other England fan here, Archie That was absolutely exhausting Very The first half started to feel like Lonol and Pasi against England especially when I think it was the It was the final moment of the half where Harry Kaine drilled it at him. and you were just thinking that Leonol L and Pasy is managing to show a different kind of save each time he's making one And There was a part of me that was thinking Are England doing enough here And in retrospect now, I'm happy with the amount of chances that were created. But at the time, it felt like England could be doing more Harry came is everything for England and I still don't think he's necessarily had the respect that he deserved rated Is that? Not quite, but that second goal is is exceptional and the sort of thing that I've seen peopleople in Germany throughout the last few seasons go This guy is world class But there were so many concerning things before that from Easy the DR Congo goal was. how really have to work at all to get into such a promising position The wingers again, for the most part, the quality of the crossing, I thought was pretty disappointing. Not enough movement to create space and Boy did we get away with one When you and Visa managed to hit the post from that promising moment just before halfime. And Barry did use very industrial language excludes the industrial language as ass, but there was a very loud fuck it from across the room. How you How are you, B? I'm all right. Look if that if whister scores that Who knows what kind of conversation we're having now and he should have scored it, but he didn't and as loow as I am to acknowledge the fact that football at this World Cup anyway is a game of quarters Um This was very much a game four quarters because England were absolutely dreadful in the first one. Excellent in the second one and were denied by the heroics of Impasi and the uselessness of WIA Th they were terrible again in the third quarter and very good in the final one. which is more or less when Tucal substitutes came into their own Um, Is a come on for Jed Spence who had a game to forget And Declan Rice moved to right back Will he stay there? Who knows? and Andy Gordon was on and he he had an impact on the game. So England, I think probably on balance of chances created deserve to win it They were shocking at points during that game And I think more confident and more elite team than the orr Congo would been well ahead by the time that third quarter started. Yeah. Aric Ce has more World Cup goals than Pelle now G Mullers next. He's got thirteen Pelle twelve mullers on fourteen On five for the tournament so one behind Messi in the golden boot race his season tally for club and country seventy two goals So if I can assassi, before we get on to Dial Congo talk about Kain and especially the second goalt, like the touch To create the space is so good, isn't it Well, I was just thinking what are the headlines in the newspapers in England Captain Marvel to the rescue Captain Marvel does it again. Captain Fantaskic gets England out of trouble Um As you all have said I think Without Harry Kanaine, I cannot imagine the position England will be in right now he has shown strength of character. leadeership and some high quality football to boot It is very clear that if England are going to go further in this competition His form and his leadership will be critical in that You are your search for excellence means you're in a bad mood, asessi. But it was a, I don't know, maybe you don't think it was. I thought it was a brilliant performance in Diial Congo. like We've mentioned the keyput and Passy, You know, we've all seen like Wambaaker two and Zaby, Chancella and Bember not play like that Oh and I just thought they Offensively were brilliant. off their wingers were great I thought they gave in just a brilliant account of themselves. Well, I'm sorry, Max. I am not in the business of o What a good effort they have put in. I'm an England fan so I have to be eventually. I know every time You are when you're talking about Scotland I am I am of the school that you are in games to win And when you're in a position to win, as Dar Congo clearly were in today, On to lose the game I mean, Whiser will regret that miss for the rest of his days becausecause I don't know when next Dial Congo will be at a World Cup They haven't been at a World Cup since nineteen seventy four You're in, you know, a unique position to get DRC place they have never been before And then you miss a chance like that. It's I'm sorry for me, it's unpardonable As for the goalkeeper, I mean the goalkeeper, you know it was ironic that he was brilliant for O game. Yeah And then he bungled The save that should have stopped came from scoring, but You know, foootball is like that Yeah. So do you think do you think then that like because there'll be a lot of coverrage in the UK, which is poor old D Congo they did really well. Do you think that is sort of patronizing? because I'm watching this game thinking For me it is. Yeah For me it is because Uh, Max In nineteen ninety Cameroon should have beaten England. okay. They had the game in hand They should have won the game and I spoke to Gary Linaker about that game many years afterwards And he was very honest with me that if they didn't get those two penalties, they had no chance in hell of winning that game So we've had these type of instances for African teams so many damn times I am frankly fed up of it now I mean, we haven't even begun to talk about the Senegogue. I was about to say I'm for to that. I am just as sick as a parrot today. I just couldn't be bothered to watch the USA Bosnia game, you guys are the ones who will talk about it because I didn't like it because I was so annoyed I just switched off. I thought Barry would be the most the saddest of the panelists. I mean, Archie we should talk about England a bit more. like I don't know. the biggest worry for me seems to be at the back. You've alluded to it already that how open and I don't think that's all on Spence, right? He's got to cover the centre backacks who may be covering something else. I don't know whose fault it is, but positionally they have looked open in all their games at times. And it sort of came home to roost in that moment pick out three players they're not just including Excluding Spence even thinking about pressure needing to be applied. bu in the first place Not only imagake being a better position to support him, but also Jordan Pickford from that angle think you would You would expect him to save it So It is It is concerning It is Well Whilst the Congo did look dangerous, it was a similar kind of opponent, I thought to what England have faced since Croatia And Mexico will be different again as well The problem that I have is actually how much buying will be like from the players from Thomas Tuckle right now when I've seen this before with him happen at Dortmund at Byon And What happens is that he absolutely players pieces on the touchline for instructions that look pretty simple to you and me. There was a moment in the first game which German TV picked up on actually. where Elliot Anderson plays a lofted ball out to the touch line. And he's fuming because he's saying it should go on the floor. And you think, is that that important? And I think that As a coach're saying, don't sweat the small stuff, Thomas, Is that your? I'm saying that I think as a coach you have to pick and choose your moments because players are quite sensitive these days. As a coach, he knows that games are won or lost by paying attention to the smallest of details. And he would feel that if the players don't pay attention to the small details early, when it really matters and they don't, it's going to cost them I mean, everyone knows that Thomas Toucool is a perfectionist and he does not tolerate sloppiness in his players. And I'm sure the players know that too. So They just have to realize that they have to plate and do the business if they want to be, you know, in his good books. Yeah. In terms of attacking Barry, it seems very much get it wide, get it in forty three crosses today Is that is that enough? Like eventually if you get that many crosses in, some will just hit the head. they're not all perfectly accurate I think maybe I think you making the point during the game that if you don't have Sakar or James down the right crossing quality is less with Madawaken and Spense. But do you think that is good enough tactic to go far in this been good enough so far and the quality of crossing has often been terrible England in this tourament just they keep doing enough And if they Keep doing enough they will win. But I suspect at some point they are going to get punished for their lack of quality. I mean, getting the ball wide and sending in crosses I'm fairly confident I could coach an leadite team to you know, tell them to do that I suppose if Thomas Tu gives the same instructions He's some tactical savant or genius. Are you less of a perfectionist than thas toal? D depends. Yeah, does des. Depends if it's coke bottles or football Texas. What did you make of the the penalty shout foringland Nasu and fact it wasn't gi Well, you know, some penalties are given and some not Don't forget that in the game against Ghana, Ghana should have been given a penalty as well and England got away with it. you can't complain when it works for you And then start to moan when it doesn't work. Oh I didn't. just to be clear, I didn't. that You did this morning. I did this morning. Yeah, yeah, we were losing. It's different. I think with that penalty shout. It very much depends on whether you want it to be given or not. Y opinion on whether it should be given or not I I'm inclined to think it shouldn't have been and because Harryic Cane because he didn't want it to A because I didn't want it to be given and B because I feel Harry Cane was very much looking for it. But yeah, there was a little bit of contact, but he was already halfway to ground by the time Contact was made by the goalkeeper, but ultimately it didn't matter. Yeah yeah yeah. I mean I've watched it the more I've watched it, the less I think it's a penalty, But the more I've watched it, the more I'm certain that England will win this game because it finished a long time ago I caught up with Jacob Steinberg after the game. He'd just been listening to Thomas Toual, this was our chat You've been in the game and youve just heard from Thomas Tukel. How was he after that? Pretty positive from Thomas Toul after the game proud of he said the way that the team didn't panic Not sure if that's necessarily the case during the first twenty, twenty five minutes when it looked really panicky after that goal from the DRC but I think, you know, he was pleased with the way that they didn't seem to lose their heads as the longer the game went on They stuck he thoughts the plan, refused to accept defeat and in the end found F found a way through. I've got my own heads. remember looking at the big screen on seventy three minutes thinking it's still one nill. England haven't done anything for a while. They actually might lose this And then two minutes later, Harry Kane popped up with that goal. So Yeah, it's been a it's been a very interesting afternoon, a wild game and probably on the balance of chances deserved to go through, but the performance was really worrying. Touca wasn't panicking. What were the crowd panicking? What were the England fans like in the stadium No because I think again, you've got that mix potentially of not entirely being a classic England crowd. I think that you know the boozs were largely at times for the hydration breaks. There were definitely booze for Rashford when I think more or less with his final act he put ac cross with his left foot miles over the goal and out for a goal kick and that was pretty bad. But generally speaking, they kind of stayed with them. I think that they're probably being followed at the moment by a slightly different type of crowd than the one that maybe would they would have experienced in Germany two years ago. And were you panicking? Tukel wasn't the crowd weren't I was, were you Definitely during the first twenty, twenty five minutes, I mean nothing Nothing at all went bright. Everything was bad. Sgal talked about afterwards about how they actually got the press wrong England and it meant that DRC were able to play through them really easily. I think again, it's another one where I think a bit like Panama, they expected it to be a low block, But then even especially with the slight formation change from DLC as well, where they dropped a striker and brought in him in field, I think they were expecting it to be a similar game to Ghana Instead, they just took it to England and the goal evenough it was only after seven minutes, wasn't really a surprise when it came and I thing them were a real mess in terms of the shape. I know there's going to be a lot of focus on Jed Spence, but I think is more than just him who was pulled out of position. Conser and I think Anderson potentially as well someone let Sadiki run through and pull Spence our position. and then eventually there's a free shot on the left. And from there, you know, you're looking at Hickford sending long clearances out of play and then frantically telling everybody else to calm down. that bizarre period where they England pass the ball around their own area and you're thinking, oh my go, they're actually going this is going to end with then giving the ball away for a goal and that sequence, I think ends with Bellingham losing possession with an over hit pass and then he gets the booking, which is something that I realized that he did when they were losing to Slovakia in the first half Um two years ago in the last sixteen, similar kind of from the kind of atmosphere that da to this one and You know, he was the one, I think as well he was really needed to be needed his head to sort of be put back into it and there's that interesting image of Rehese James during that first hydration break. Who knows exactly what's going on there, but it seemed like Rhese was trying to get you to calm down a bit and focus. But it's a very strange game because obviously they had the chance where Wister hits the post. I think because Rashford doesn't track back and'Rey' completely overrun by Wandersacker outnumbered. But then equally by halftime, England could have been winning. I mean, I thought it was a penalty on Harry Kain. The goalkeeper was sensational, made so many sakes and you're thinking at halftim England probably they're going to school at some point. They're actually the crosses, some of them are a bit off beam, but Some of them are finding their men and D actually they're not actually defending that well. They are allowing a lot of free headers and close range chances And then that period between sort of fifty minutes, seventy minutes until the second hydration break where where Tukl makes the second reigs yeah, I thought England just drifted and nothing was really happening. I It just seemed like it was getting away from him and that it felt to me like there was panic there. It just felt like they didn't really know exactly what it was they were meant to do. but that second hydration break, I don't think he said he said that he didn't say anything too reulatory to them. It was didn't need to do any major tactical tweaks. He said he said he felt the players weren't panicking. he didn't feel like the shirt was weighing heavily or anything like that. but it's just that I suppose that elite tactical moment from Tule where he does make that little shift where he gets ay on for Spence moves Rise to right back and it's just that little arsenal combination for a few minutes that eventually gets them in down the right. And another one of the substitutes or, you know, in the England parlance now where they the finishers these guys who come on Anthony Gordon You know, quite importantly given that he didn't play very well in his other two starts comes up with the assist. and then again for Harry Kane and aine obviously we'd had a few chances. I mean, he's just incredible, isn't he? afterwards? Tkool was asked What is it that sets Kane Messy in Bae and Harand and he just sort of leant into the microphone and growled, They are all sharks. they are all sharks from those He really liked delivering that line. you know, when there's blood in the water, he said they they smell it and they score basically. and that's what it is with Kane. I mean, Five goals now already. so much is is dependent on him and and Bellingham at the moment as we saw against Panama. but I mean, going into the game on on Sunday at FIs at the moment, just based on what we saw in the first twenty twenty five minutes and across a few of the other games, it feels like a tall order in the altitude at the Aztecca Are you ready for the altitude, Jacob? But a journalist to climatize for this Well, it's interesting isn't it? Be England are going to have to go on on Friday. They're not going to have a lot of time to prepare for it. It's going to be a complete I don't know. I assume it's going to be a complete shock to the system. We We're going to go on on Saturday. so I don't know if we'll be sitting there I mean, Jonathan Wilsons enjoyed his experiences at the Aztecca, so I'll get some tips from him and see how to attack Yeah, our next piece will be just you complaining about the WiFi. Enjoyea, We'llat after. Thank you. Mexic in the round of sixteen. Harry Kaine said, my understanding is we cannot adapt to the altitude. It's a huge advantage Mexico have. There's not enough time. We knew that before. It's just a disadvantage with which we'll have to deal But we showed the attitude. the Dcoy Hotels Barry This is what we need to do, you know, the altitude, there's nothing they can do You know, So they have attitude they can attitude isn't a problem. Altitude might Yeah I was thinking could you send some players early I mean, Dan Byrne has to acclimize even more than the rest of the squad, doesn't he? Yeah, But how early can it be? Because normally you need about twelve days to really adjust to altitude. Yeah, I don't think we have that We just have to deal with it the way it is. Yeah also, I think if if Mexican fans catch wind that England are coming earlier, they will just get even less sleep. Yeah in between as well. That is true. And a one AM kickoff in the UK, so like all my friends back home. I'm sure everyone in the UK listening to that If you nap first, what do you do? Now as somebody who watches a lot of games that's stupid out of the day I'd say If you're under thirty, maybe you can see it through, but you know, if you're middleledgeed, go to bed G get up at twelve, fifty five and watch the game or phoneess off up at five, watch it without any social media. would be They would be my suggestions for how to deal with a one AM kickoff A worth no goal to the pub power through. ad me. Have you seen me? Do you know me? Oh yeah. course you do. We'th talking about the social content we put up. Archie, you were superstitious. Plan A was sit on the sofa normally and watch the game like we did for England Ghana. However, England didn't score in those ninety minutes and that was already fostering a problem for me. Plan B was Go get the England shirt I have, mayaybe the presence of that would bring something. And then when we reached seventy minutes, I said, lookook, we need to go full nuclear. I think I'm the problem here. took myself off to the bedroom and suddenly, where you watch on German TV which was thirty seconds ahead. so our reactions are natural that you've got of us. I did put a camera in your face Barre full time. I got a great fuck off, which got more views than pretty much anything else we've put up Beard of James says canan you hang reels in the Louvre Then there was the fall in the pool, which we did, the selling sunset pool. Greg Jenner said Hey, Greg, I hope Barry did a risk assessment for this stunt. We know the insurance rules of this hotel. Sally says, does this count of one of the twice a year hair washes? Jake, while he's in there, can we get Barry to replicate the Nirvana cover? I mean, that is That is taking it a step too far. Anyway, that will do for part one. part two we'll talk about the USA win over Bosnia and Herzegovina so Sasu can just he can cool down before taking a long run for the Senegal game Hi pod fans, Max here, Barry here too. Hello. The Wekly 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 upsts 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. The player rankings upd 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 d. com or download the grradientFC app from the Apple Store or Google Play. Welcome to part two the Guardian footb week So we've seen US beat Bosnia Hereovina two Nil and I guess that moment when they're down to ten men, they' under pressure, even though not that much pressure B, I didn't really do much. as Mleik Tillman stood over that free kick I said, there's nowhere to score it. I was wrong, Archie. You've seen more of him than most of us. Yeah. came Lea Kusin's record signing for thirty five million euros last summer. and He was a product of the Bayn Academy. That didn't work out from there. went to Rangers was okay, went to PSV was a lot better and then he earned this move to Leveruzen where He's shown that he has something but not enough for people there And The most impressive Labour Cuz and attacker at this World Cup, I would say is actually Ibrahim Maza who we'll see later this week. And His satisfaction with life at Lever Czin was questioned when he did the old deleting all my Lvver Czin Insta posts. I think it showed that he can be quite a sensitive guy So For him to have this moment, having scored a few goals for the US before, but not many, this is a I'm him. moment. This I think can be a real platform for Malik Tillman and I'm reminded of a quote from Peter Bosch his old coach at PSV who says, please be patient with him, show him love and talk to him because this lad is such a brilliant footballer and for him to step up in that moment when the US haven't really had to face that much adversity yet in this tournament. They've had it nice when scoring early in their first two group games, for example And if he doesn't put that in, even though Bosnia looks very blunt throughout this game, who knows what happens So let's see what this can do for Mallek Tillman, but probably the best moment of his career today. Yeah. I mean, it was a very soft twick kick. We didn't see the Bosnian manager. with his double breasted suit and trainers on getting angry at that free kick. We was getting very angry about a minute before when Anthony Robinson took one of the Bosnians down. I mean, it is it It's a great win for them. And I thought they were so superior in this game. Pretty much all of it though I expected them to win this easily and They did Even when they were down to ten men, Bosnia offered very little and USA were totally superior throughout the first half. had gold this allowd scored on almost scored a second and wasasn't they very good? No, just not No. They did well to qualify what they went got through two or three penalty shootouts. but shown very little in this tournament and up against home team that has a massive crowd behind them. I expected little and they didn't surprise me Yeah at all. I mean Balligam was the sort of central character of this, you know, he's Clearly a really important player for them. interesteresting see what they do. now he's suspended. He scored, had the one disallowed hit the bar The red card feels so unlucky and I know we say intent doesn't matter. And when you hear Coom's going you didn't mean it think, it doesn't matter, we didn't mean it but he didn't mean it. And I sort of feel like He shouldn't get a red for that, but maybe I don't actually know if I'm right or not The biggest difficulty with it is that we've seen similar incidents at this World Cup which have gone unpunished, including Lean little messi against Algeria and Ive nototiced that one. so That's where problems arise. Lars made a good point as well by looking at the VAR protocol I'm glad someone did. Wh he was saying that In general, slow motion replays should only be used for facts, i. e Position of offence, point of contact for physical offensces, ball out of play And That doesn't seem to be what was happening here Also it it felt like battle between Muhareimovich And and Balligan was playing out and Muharimovich was losing that heavily despite his attempts to rattle Balligan at every turn. Balligan has had a a real Us and downs at Monaco He finished the season or part of his end to the season was with scoring in eight consecutive games And he's got this reputation of sometimes being the striker, who scores when you don't expect him to, but the more difficult chances he takes. and the thing is for the U.S so far He hass been excellent and the confidence that he's shown. so It will be Ricardo Pppi that we would do pretty good when it came on Come on Yes. Okay. I don't have as much confidence in him as Balligan, given how things are going The environment of this US team right now, players are finding levels that they've not been able to find at their clubs before. I think the team looks really balanced And I thought there were some really good performances, you know, and I thought Pulitic. I was really impressed with him today. you know, because he's probably still not a one hundred percent fit either. There was consistent talk on commentary about It looks like he's wearing here quite fast and but particularly the pressure that he's been carrying into this World Cup cannot be underestimated also because he didn't come off a particularly good domestic season so far. I think you can go through that US team and pick out so many players think of Tyler Adams as well who had that great flick which made the first goal Hes stepped up his performance. Yeah McKenney has McKennney as well. Tim Rem who I love because of his fulham days and There was always this doubt in my mind of sureurely teams are going to be able to get behind him, but that hasn't really born fruit yet So for Maruricia Poertino And There was a lot of bad press coming into this World Cup and lots of doubts as there often are before for a host nation. We've seen that quite a lot, but I don't think we've seen this US team hit those levels. It helps also when different characters in the team are stepping up. someomeone like Malik Tillman as well can help give a team a certain energy. Yeah. I mean, I hope I hope Pulisk is fit for the sake of our friend Jenny Taft He has to follow his carf around, you know, the whole the whole time An injury doubt is better TV Max. Well, I don't know. I think let her do something else. She does an incredible job considering And who doesn't love watching Potch singing country road. I mean that was just Really, I really enjoyed that. J having a ball. Isn't? Yeah He's earning a fortune. everyveryone loves him over here It's like Unit and he's just a He's a good bloke or he seem largely a good bloke until he starts call in up to President. Yeah. Oh well. Hey, Asassa, are you ready for your Senegal? Deep breath Hm Okay, we'll be back in part. We'll be back back in part three with that. Welcome to partart three of the Guardian Fotball Weekly So Belgium three Senegal two Asasu over to you. Well what can I say You have a game in hand, you're too nill up You have three minutes left And you concede goals in the eighty sixth and the eighty ninth minute And then you go on to concede the penalty in extra time and lose the game So I am I'm lost for words really. I don't believe that for a second U No, trust me, I'm I am because there is just no excuse Tnable for this mess that they have created it's unacceptable. The manager knows that He made a huge mistake by making those late substitutions. there were no need for those substitutions. I just kept the team the way it was. It was working You had the game in hand. changed players and then you changed the shape of the team and gave Belgium the opportunity. you gave Lukak and Tamans the opportunity to do what they did So There there's no, you know, there's not too much to say other than to to really Just express how disappointed I am with the tactical ineptitude That is responsible for a needless loss. Do you think they went too deep because they played so well, like they were in such control. I agree with you. And like no one could see this com. like just couldn't see this comeback coming at all Do you think the change is they just went too deep or what Yeah, but you could see that yes, it gave Belgium the the impetus to push when you should have kept the team the way it was because for the latter part of the game of a better part of the game Butlljum seemed quite confused and they were even arguing among themselves at a point whichich was working quite well for Senegal to see that you're up on it You know, that the players arguing And then you now hand them a lifeline And basically you snatched Deat out of the jaws of victory. It's crazy. crazy. The penalty Barryer, I thought it was a penalty. you're not so sure No, I don't think it was. I think it was an incredibly harish decision And I think the fact that Var were obviously not certain in the ref security wasn't certain he didn't give it in the first place Um, suggests that it shouldn't have been given if there was so much uncertainty surrounding I don't think camera felld Tieermans Telerman has just planted his foot in front of them. neither of them won the ball But the decision was given, the referee re refereed somethingomet that wasnt clear en obvious her. So I think Senegal have every right to febe caved. for the second time in No but Senegal sorry Barry to interrupt you. Senegal have no right to be agreed because they were too luck And the game should have been shut down and they should have finished it in regulation time I mean, they just have no excuse for this Yes, okay, I agree that the penalty was harsh Okay. If you'd closed down the game as you should have then there would have been no need for any of this. Yeah I agree with. No one but themselves to blame no one else the referee No one else, they are solely to blame. It is worth pointing out after the penalty is given the shit house with the highest order for I hope I pronounce it correctly pypesis to lie on the penalty spot I mean, I don't know if it was five minutes. Absolutely sensational. To have the balls. to have the goal to do that to go. this is where I'm gonna lie right on there. And the ref is like the ref is ushering other players away. The elephant in the room is the guy lying on the penaltty spot. I think it's easier to do that when he's not having to make eye contact with anyone. No, that's true. So he's just kind of making himself into exper some sort of tortoise. What' that Ct What's the yoga one when you're you that one? Child's pose. Child's pose There we are. Yeah. yeah, yeah, yeah. Honestly, that's annoyed me more than No, that's okay. That'says other thing. Remelo Lukaku. Yeah. I think we should we should mention because has had more minutes at this Wor Cup than for Napoli this season Yes Is that the point you were going to make? That was part of the point I was going to make. Carry on, I'll be quiet. Given that Yeah, he had a very serious thigh injury. thought he could come back. wasn't able to u and then had had to Rely on Rudy Garcia taking this gamble. on him So hisis presence in the box started to cause that chaos goalkeeping mistake as well for that second goal And I just also want to raise comments from Rudy Garcia who said after this game of Senegal. We know these teams They lose their tactical structure towards the end of the match We also knew that at Til They would do everything to protect their goal, which is a serious mistake. Remind me when we're too ill up not to do that I think Rudy going see it f it. It's a bit far, it's a bit much, particularly when look, his substitutions, which at the time you would have said I understood taking off Kevin DeBriner but Jeremy Docu seemed like a very interesting one They lose this game, which in ninety nine times out of a hundred, they should, then he's losing his job here This strikes me as the guy who who struck it lucky Yeah and was trying to make the most of it.'s a. I mean Tule could have gone today, you know, like that's it's I think I think that Belgium were luckier than England. You maybe yes, Asy Now I was going to say I may not like what Rudy Garcia said. But what he said is just the unvarnished truth And sometimes the unvarnished truth can be a bit painful. because what we have seen from the majority of the African teams at this tournament A this stage is that they do not control games as they are supposed to control them, even though they have the capacity to win And this is something which we have been discussing Over thirty years, thirty five, thirty six years, as I said. It's not the first time, it's not the second time. It's not the third time it has happened We need to address this issue Why is it that we have teams that have the technical capacity to win but are always making tactical blunders the most inoppportune moments These are questions that really need to be discussed generally within African football now because we've had too many incidences of teams losing games that they're supposed to win And that's not acceptable at all