Looking ahead to upcoming matches

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Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly Cpe Verdy holds Spain in Atlanta utterly heroic defending from every single one of their players. an unflappable, flawless performance from forty year old Vazigno in Gol, who wept at full time. He commanded his box and stopped everything that Spain threw at him, which ultimately wasn't that much, and they had the chance to win it in injury time, just imagine Also in that group, Saudi Arabia cling on to a point against Uruguay, meaneanwhile in group n, New Zealand to Iran too, two great goals by Elijah Wood for the Kiwis, but they couldn't hold on Iran's equalizer were a brilliant header. Their fans fooed the anthem but supported the team. Belgium needed Romeella Lukaku to help them to a point against Egypt an own goal that deserved to be his. Egypt with a better side if either side deserved to win It was then. We'll find out how hard it is covering the game from the UK. answer your questions, and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly anel today in the studio with me in LA. Parry Glndeny, welcome Hello M. In Dallas, ahead of the England game, Barny Ronnie, Wlcome Barnie. Hi there everyone. And in Birmingham, notot Birmingham. Alabama, but Birmingham, England, Dan Bardell's been awake all night, Hey Dan. Hell, I mean, Birmingham is not the most glamorous of places at the best of times, let alone when you're all where you are. Well, we'll find out what it's like watching four games through the night. But let's begin with Group H and Spain Neil, Kate Verdie Nil. Siddlow was there and I caught up with him earlier and asked him how he found it Isn't football great Yeah. And my favite statistic of the game, which unfortunately I'm so stupid because when you're when you're in the process of writing the match report, you lose track of things Is that Cake Verde did that, that incredible defensive performance against Spain and committed one foul That's extraordinary actually. And the scenes afterwards, I mean, were exactly sort of what you'd dream of at a worldorld Cup, right for that goalkeeper The noise the noise as well at the full time whistle was incredible. I'll be honest, obviously when you when you're working, you've got earpieces in a lot of the time because you're trying to catch up with what's been said on the radio or details that you might need and stuff. But then you know, just before the end, you take it out and you get over the sense of the noise and the noise at the full time whistle was fantastic. And the goalkeeper crying and saying that you know, his grandparents had passed away and couldn't be there, that his mother couldn't be there because they couldn't sort out the visa in time and just a real sense of history made. the other nice moment, Max, obviously unfortunately this wasn't probably wasn't seen, but I'm sure that someone somewhere will have taken a video even though they're not entirely supposed to was the K Verde players coming coner lining out of the mixzone at the end of the game. didn't actually get the chazmon in time. So I can't cl to be able to tell you what the track was they were listening to, but they were enjoying it Yeah, and they defended I mean in the end, like because the keyper was was brillant but he didn't have that many unsavable there were any extraordinary saves. he was sort of unflappable in his box, but it wasn't like, Spain really did that Now I agree with you. I thought there was there was a little period, wasn't they just after the at the end of the first quarter just going into the second quarter. There was there was a period when Corda was getting behind them and he put a couple of crosses in and's, you know, it's his ball that leads to the one that hits the bar. if I remember rightly, I think it's his ball that leads to leadast to Fan having the really good chance which possibly he should have scored from And I agree with you that the goalkeeper made I think two very good saves and lots of pretty solid and endable saves Spain had that little flurry between between after the water break and until halftime. And then then maybe a little bit of a flurry at the very start of the second half. But after that, I would agree with you, didn't think they made a huge amount of happen. I felt they were a little bit blunt. I felt that Verde defended brilliantly really, really well, probably deserved it. Now look, obviously you can look at the stat, you can look at theXG, you could look at the number of the shots and all those kind of things. A in those last four or five minutes, the best chances were theres. It's the centre back, that moment when he's rising in the area. And you think here we go. this is it. And it wasn't to be, but it was pretty pretty brilliant anyway. I'm trying to imagine what the reaction in England would be to draw meal with Cape Verd and it would be utter panic, you know, like panic, panic, panic. Will it be the same in Spain? Look, I don't think it would be panic. I think it' be some concern with some of the things that happened. Louis Life went through and this team has enough credit in the bank that I don't think there will be an attack on him I think there will be a recognition that this team with Nicola Williams and Leminia Mild fully fit is slightly different And I think there's a element there, which is that when you have those two missing, it's not just that you're losing two of your best players. It's that the alternatives are of a different style, a different type You've got to change the way that you play as well. I think there will be a doubt about how that midfield works and I felt like Pedri was too far up the pitch. rather than at a base of what they do. and rather than having the game in front of him, I felt like he had the game behind him a bit. And I think those questions will be asked of Loser L Wuente. I think the starting position for Gavy will definitely be asked of him. and I think there will be big doubts about that But I don't think it will be panic because as I say because this is a good good enough team because I think there are some mitigating factors. I think there will be a recognition that if they take one of those chances in the in the final bit of the first half As I say the second quarter, if you like of the game. and I don't like it, but you know, that's what it is. then then perhaps you get to a free noil victory and it looks a bit different Yeah, I mean, it did look different when Yamal came on. And I guess there is a question about upf frront for Spain. You know what In a funny sort way there isn't. Now now there's always a quest about Spain up front And sort of in the back of our minds, that's always been there.' Marata, It's just Miratta looking sad. Where's that, you know? I think that's what it is. And you go back to to the European championships. And there was always this feeling that Maratta does lots of things quite well, but he doesn't really score a lot of goals. and he scored against Croatia at the start of the European Championships and that really helped. And you listened to his teammates, they loved him. They really love the way that he managed the squad. kind of sense of empathy and his kind of humanity within the team group. I know humanity is quite an overblown word but you know what I mean? But there was always that feeling that he kind of had everything to be a great striker but maybe quite wasn't quite. Mikai Athabel is a guy that had played on the wing until a couple of years ago and wasn't really a first choice until Mod Adam was basically left out of the team off the back of that European Championships or after the European Championships and the fact that he hasn't played well at all for Co He had scored in six games in a row for Spain before this. He'd scored thirteen in the last eleven. so there wasn't a doubt about him. I think you can look at it in a more simple way, which is to say they've still got to find him or your on And I saw a statistic flying around. I really hope this is right or I've remembered it right or seen it right that he didn't get a touch. In the first thirty minutute, half an hour, ye first play in sixty six apparently ye. now can you can criticize him for that and maybe say that his movement wasn't what it should have been or his showing for the ball was wasn't what it should have been. But they've also got to find him. And I think that suggests a system failure or systemic failure today, maybe more than the failure of the striker. So I don't think there's an enormous doubt in terms of saying oh, if only we had a number nine. I must admit though, there is one thing, which is that In a game like this when you've got the other team playing deep and when they're defending well and you maybe aren't having the subtlety to find a way through them, the alternative of course is to go over them You know, to put crosses into the box, to have someone who pushes the central defenders back to have someone has a presence in the area. And I think that partly explains the introduction of Michel Mardino Be of course he plays as a number nine despite not being a number nine and he has that physicality and he has that kind of mindset and that aggressiveness. But you do also look at it and think, well, if Bor Igllesius has gone to this World Cup, who's a big number nine, a of a traditional number nine, a body number nine, you know someone who bullies defenders, who pushes into them, who leans against them, who in theory forces them further and further back If you didn't get on in a game like this, You sort of think, well When does he get on Well, thank you, Sid. America treating you well U yeah, it's been awesome far. American people are very, very, very friendly No I totally agree. We'll have a lovely day. We' catch up you soon no doubt, J, Pel. Nice one. thank you Syid Dian Atlanta there, and he's right. Like you said at the top Barry, football is great and that was great Yeah, I said yesterday, Kpe Fado didn't get humiliated in this game and It was Spain who ended up embarrassed, hugely embarrassed, hideously embarrassed My result I didn't see coming at all. I thought K Fer would do well to hold them to five, Neil Maybe. I think I was in tears three times today before two PM. The first was when I saw footage of The Scotland supporters led by bagpipers and drummers converging en masse on Fenway Park last night That really got the The hackers raiseed and the tears the eyes moist And then at the end of this game, I I was genuinely emotional on the back of what Cape Very achieved in pulling off what I think is arrguably the greatest worldorld Cup upset of all time then a third time that was a chopping chili related incident. But yeah, three times by two o'clock this afternoon, I had cried. I don't cry very often. No. So this was just sensational Various capabity players have been singled out has been outstanding. I think every single one of them was brilliant because That was a real team effort It was a demonstration of togetherness, unity, organization, concentration, mental fortitude. They could have nicked it at the end, but they didn't sadly, but a result for them. Yeah, it wasn't just you that ced. their keeper Vazinia cried. He said I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid and they could not be there. They passed away a few years ago. My mum could not be here either because of a visa issue and the money we had to pay for it. We did not manage to do this in time. We work in life to have moments like this. I'm forty now. I was not a professional Up until I was twenty five, this is a reward. all this journey. It was just Barney He was I thought he was he was just so I've seen games like this where the keeper is a bit flappy and eventually cost him. And he was just Brilliant for the whole game Yeah, I mean, Barry is right, they were incredibly disciplined and wasn't it wasn't simply like backs to the wall kind of frantic defending It was a brilliant team performance. I have to say I do like watching Spain malfunction. You know, Spain have been the most beautiful team of the last sixteen years when it goes wrong There's something quite gripping about seeing that kind of glitch in the machine where they just can't stop passing, they can't stop going sideidways. It's like someone with a tick and you just can't help themselves. And I can't enjoy obviously nodding to myself saying things like, Hmm the absence of an Eventoni like figure and haaven't worked on the set pieces enough they they just couldn't stop doing the same thing and hoping for a different result And it was really gripping. I love I love the a guy who came onto Mark Leminia Mau, who plays in Romania Yeah. and really is just the ultimate kind of I want to have a care in football somewhere guy. who's obviously worked so hard And he's up against this kind of prodigy and this genius, obviously they will be injured and they will be different when he's fully fit if he's fully fit Yeah, the World Cup wins again. Dan. I mean, we picked out the keeper. Pico Lopez who Barry's talked about, you know, this Irish guy who thought someone was like pranking him on LinkedIn or something and eventually said, all right, I'll give it ay. I thought him and his partner Borges were just ammazing in this game. Yeah, like Barneny said, I mean it was backs to the wall at times, but the way they defended was actually pretty measured. and I just felt like they had a good game plan. And when you have a game plan like that to get a result, everything almost has to go impeccably. And it did. I mean, Barneny again mentions Spain malfunctioning It's not the best version of Spain that we've ever seen. but Cate Verde took complete advantage of that and got a result that they'll remember forever. The World Cup isn't won or lost in a single game. It isn't won or lost in a day. and I'm sure Spain will get better and they've got players missing that obviously make a huge difference to their team did feel like they just kept trying the same thing over and over again. They were the two, three, five in build, but the five always looked very static static to me. They've obviously got the solutions on the bench and when they're fully fit they'll come into the team. I just thought Spain's selection didn't really suit the game either and actually played into intoicate Verdo's hands a little bit because Laurenti wrote it back. played the game like a traditional right back, so they were going to do that. I would have thought Pedro Porro swinging some crosses into the box who's got a good delivery would have been more beneficial than some of the players they had out there. Butpain were poor, but you can't take anything away from C Ver. I know that's cliche, but they were absolutely sensational and in my time, I can't remember bigger upset in a world. I suppose the definition of an upset, it feels to me like you have to win for it to be an upset. and maybe I'm completely wrong because It's still an unbelievable result. I don't think you have to win. I mean, if they had won and they had that chance right at the end when Dene Borg is headed straight at Ua Simon If that had gone in, you the world, the planet would have shook on its axis, I think. I obviously I like to think I played my part in this by tipping Mikel Oorzaable for the golden boot and he needless to say became the first player in I think recorded World Cup sixty six not to touch the ball in the opening thirty one minutes of the game and then missed two quite presentable chances I mean, it's not really his fault. he didn't touch the ball because his teammates couldn't get the ball to him But u if he'd if he'd had his head aligned a bit better. he might have scored onener ahead or. he had a couple of decent chances. But Laminamal came on the very fact they had to bring on Leminamal and Nicool Williams spoke volumes for the oburacy and stoutness of the Cape Verde defense And what must they have felt like when they saw those those the numbers going up the two lads on the touch line I think it was around the seventy minute mark because Defending like that is so mentally draining and physically exhausting as well And but The mean you mou came onie flickkeered a bit B threatened with a couple of early moves and then he sort of seemed to realize it's not our day today. We can't get through this wall of resistance. Yeah. Apparently someone put a million dollars on Spain. winning this match, which had won eighty five thousand pounds or eighty five thousand dollars back. It doesn't really feel. I mean, that is silly, isn't it? yes, Barny. Can I just put in a word for the Fox coverage of this game? I watched it on Fox here in Dallas I think it's it was the perfect example of the issues Fotball sometimes has in this country because here you've got a Nil nil draw which we're talking about in joyous terms. as one of the greatest results in World Cup history to a U S sports phone U Baffling. like what it's Nil Nil after ninety minutes. But this is an incredible, joyful Everybody's just buzzing from it. There are so many ways of describing it there' so much detail. And to be fair, you could feel the fox commentators and pundits trying so hard to communicate this. They obviously understood this, even though they're American And they understood this and trying so hard to communicate to their viewers that what they're watching is incredible. Don't turn off, don't turn off no one scoring, please don't turn off. It's amazing. At one point the commenteror called Lemin Yamal a super duper star. just to make the point that he's a real star and this guy's having to mark him. But getet what he's trying to say, he's really trying to explain that this is important to someone.' like reallyally, really trying to explain to a classroom of eleven year olds why they need to read every single volume of Pst because it's really interesting And they did it. they did a good job. And hopefully the kind of romance of the stories, the players, the backstories kind of communicates itself because this is the kind of game makes people fall in love with football. Yeah. J just one more stat Colin Miller writing about the keeper. Voinia he was born during the nineteen eighty six World Cup and his dad submitted two options for his son's name inspired by that tournament. The first was Joge Valdano rejected by the island's registry and Josima honoring Josimar, of course. and he made seven saves and the only keeper over forty to have made more World Cup saves since sixty six is Pat Jennings versus Brazil in eighty six when Josimar scored that absolute banger. So it's quite nice that I went full circle. The other game in this group Saudi Arabia won, Uruguay oneon. Dan, I don't think I don't know what time of night was this one for you? I'm just trying to work out whereere had we got This was this was late evening for you, was it This was I can't even remember myself I think it was eleven PM down feel eleven? Iar he said it was one AM that definitely wasn't one AM because I definitely got a little bit more late than that. Yeah, it's tough to try and try and cover Barney asked me what the mood was like in this country. someome of the kickoff times do make it difficult when you when you're working in football and you then have stuff to do in the day as well. when I saw the link to to Riverside was to come on and do this podcast and it was all' eight fifteen PM kickoff for all you guys. I was thinking surely it's not four hundred fifteen. Surely producer Joel has made a mistake cards on the table. I made that game but did not make the final gameair.' the run before this podcast. and it just wouldn't have been possible. so on that. I mean, I felt that Uruguay equalizer was perhaps the most deserved equalizer I've seen. in a while because they had been Saudi Ray were good in the first half but then Uruguay just kept battering the door down in the second Yeahes, sometimes you wonder if the goal is going to come and for Spain, you felt like it would and it didn't. this Uruguay w it was it was always going to come they were all over all over them. B also made some changes. didn't for the second half. and I mean, Uruguay weren't terrible in the first half either, but they really went at them and Keper had a good day.'ll probably be a little bit disappointed with the goal obviously, both goals in that game were rebound, but Uruguay just full of energy and it's not terrible result in the first game of a group, especially in this iteration of the World Cup and for the for the second World Cup running, I'd say Saudi Arabia have come out with a more thanred creditible result in the first game. Yeah. Keper had a groin straint. So every time we made a brilliant save, they'd just be wincing in pain I couldn't get What did you make of this one Barnie? Well I've watched this game with large civizen bar while eating a really really massive burger. And while L told me a story about Thomas Myer doing his Everton Medical in the nude, being forced to remove his pants in a room with a really old man at the top of the terraced house. and just being made to do the splits and do that. He wass like, No, no take everything off because there's an example of how primitive English football So my mind just kind of reeling with Burger, Lars Naked Thomas Myer, takeake your pants off. Well I was watching this it's kind of simimilarly all I really took from it I'm always impressed by the athleticism and energy of Saudi Arabia. I remember the last World cuard. they were kind of terrifying and you know There are a lot of strong teams out there. It's it's kind of is one of the reasons this has actually been for all that all the things around it frustratingly, not frustratingly. I mean distractingly good round of games. like the World Cup is good. I know I know England are coming. It's going to happen. There will be pain b, anxiety, you know, terrible feelings of self loathing and all the rest of it. and that drum beating really slowly But the games have been really quite perky so far. Yeah. I mean, in this game, I thought Urugi were really poor in the first half And I thought Saudi Arabia were really poor in the second. And I think what made the difference was that halfime Feddi Ver Valde was moved from the right wing where they were struggling to get the ball to him into the center of midfield, which is where Feddy Valvvere should be playing instead of Manuel Lugarte. And that made a huge difference. And I think the half in which Uruguay played well, they played a lot better in that half than Saudi Arabia played in the half they played. So I think Uruguay deserved to win. they didn't. Their goalkeeper out of the way. I think had to make nine saves, something like that. but it was all right. It was all right, and that'll do for part one, which was also all right 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 gradientFC app from the Apple Store or Google Play Welcome to part I two of the Guardian Fotball We week So Iran to New Zealand two. You can have a close just shut your eyes for five minutes down. You're all right there. But this was a really good game, pass. You know, I don't know if New Zealand I think it's probably a fair result. I'm not sure. The New Zealand goals were brilliant and the head of the second goal for a ram is great too Yeah, well, I mean, it was it was a controversial Quite a political event. New Zealand just happened to be pitched in. but When the Iranian National anthem was played at the start of the game, there were a lot of booze from the Iran fans it was a massive Islamic Republic flag on the pitch and loads of the more old fashioned anti establishment line and sun flags in the stands, even though I think they might have been technically banned, but there was plenty to be seen anyway, theseese anti regime flags. And so Iran were obviously well up for this. their fans were supporting the players on the pitch very much not in favor of the regime. And u Iran went behind to win Elijah what's his name? Elijah Just. Yes. I think you called him Elijah Wood in the int. I think I did, yes. twice. It's because we were it's because that's any right. It's because producer Je just thought was a fun gag. It's because he's playing alongside Chris Wood. so we had a long chat during the game about Elijah Wood being up frront for New Zealand if you amalgamate Chris Wood and Elijah Wood. But yes, that was just a mistake that's okay.. But now you're going to fix it afterwards. No, won't fix it. It's al right. No, you can if you want. You don't have to. No, no, you can't fix it. You have to be natural, Max, to just let it go. Is Elijah Wood the Hobbit who then became a West Ham . Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah exactly bit like Julian Dick also had the same trajectory, but anyway yes carry on with Elijah Just. you know no one has ever scored two goals for New Zealand at a World Cup, I think in total, not just in one game. at least give him his correct name for. So he plays for Motherwell. he's apparently had a good season. Mototherwell have had a good season He scored two goals. New Zealand went ahead were' pulled back, went ahead again, we're pulled back again. And I think Iran is the better of it towards the end of the game If I remember correctly, there was Um Sorry, I've seen so many games today. They're all just a jumble. It's like Irish weddings Yeah You go you go to an Irish wedding. one of your mates gets married and so it's, you know, church country pub country house bar open until four in the morning, mostost of the same people are at the mall and you just can't remember which one was which. Anyway, so I'm just going to say yes, Elijah just ye two goals two good goals for New Zealand Fairpll what an evening for him? Yeah, and actually Barneie, Warren Barton on comments you said just after the second Elijah Just skull, if that had been Spain or Argentina, we were saying that was right off the top shelf, which is not how I would have describeed it necessarily, but it was a lovely move. That's the interesting thing about a lot of these teams.'s real of quality in them. I just want to you know about the booing of the flags and the booing and the flags. It's really important to be, I mean it's very complicated, but Those are Exats boooming there. Those are Americans, but they have fled the regime I sincerely doubt that those are Iranians who have flown to America to B. I mean, they can't be because they would be a, wouldn they? Yeah They're not allowed into the country. So I mean, it doesn't devalue the fact that they are doing that. It's very complex. Here you've got people supporting the team who don't support the regime, which has presumably persecuted and caused them to Please and holding up flags of the previous regime while also their Islam mean it's quite It's very complex and sort of reflects the strangeness of that, but It's not exactly a I wouldn't say it was a revolutionary act for Iranian expats to boo the regime that made them If you know what I mean? I know what you mean. which wasn't exactly answer to Warren Barton talking about the top shell the way he didn't necessily mean. Warren Barton is why is Warren Barton R Bartton is everywhere. Why is R Barton so important? I mean, he's obviously very, very good, good You know, great, great pundit. I think there's quite a few there's a few sort of clever ex pros who've moved to like Robby Mustowe, people in the UK probably don't know, whereere's Robby Mustowe? I haven't heard him at this Wor Cup. I don' know he carved out Dany Higginbottom. Danny Higgabbottom, who is really good actually. And think Warren Barton and Steve Nichols out here somewhere. Rebecca Low is. She's super strong. She's very, very good at it isn't she Anyway well done to NewZealand. I mean, they both kind of went for it. They didn't settle for a draw. We've seen some games in which teams have sort of got. We're happy we're happy enough with the draw draw all do. both these teams wanted to win. They were both going all out to try and win this game because winning it would have put them in a brilliant position. but O of them will probably go out. Yeah. And actually the Moebi goal, the header, the cross field pass, the cross, they were all brilliant as well worth mentioning. Belgium one, Egypt one, Dan. you're back awake. What did you make of this A the glory days of an eight PM kickoff in the UK. I really really enjoyed this game. I thought Egypt were absolutely fantastic. I thought the way they transitioned and got to Belgium and they just should have got set second goal shouldn't know they' gone t enough. I think Belgium would have probably gone under but credit to Belgium because they have gone under in previous tournaments of going a goal down to teams that maybe they're expected to beat and they they didn't do that. They again just lacking a bit like Spain. I just felt Belgium were lacking something and then Laku came on and bit of a throwback goal Moi again down the again down the wing and putting putting the ball across. I mean, Lu will get no goal and no assist, but he was definitely involved in that goal and it was a it was an instant impact. But I thought Egypt had I think I read that Egypt had five players that play for the for the same club team and I felt it showed because I thought they were They were really fluid and the better of the team for the majority of that game until Belgium made the changes. It does seem unfair that Lukaru won't be credited with that goal, not just because of the movement that led up to it, but He essentially kicked the foot of the defender thereby making the defender's foot kick the ball into the gf. Sounds a bit like a w now, doesn't it Well, if I were, for example, if I were to reach in, take Barry's hand and stroke your head with it, right, Who would be stroking your head? me or Barry I say me you'd to have the arms of Mr. Tickle to get here from Dallas, I would suggest. Or it be like the governor in catch the pidgeon you know what it was? Yeah. I can see your hands coming in. this is great for the YouTube viewers. I see what this is good. But technically I would be responsible for thees crime slash loving act of stroking your head. Not Barry, who's just an innocent. He didn't want to do. He's disgust week a week of living with me, Barry does not want to stroke my head. I can tell you that He doesn't even let me in an apple. Butakalu a great great tournament player. He has so many goals for Belgium I mean, it's it's he's He's approaching I think he's in the eighties now and at a really good rate And his career has really been defined by appearance at this tournament misses as well as successes. I'm I'd really glad to see him back. I give him the goal. It's morally his. Tony Wites, Is it just me or to the panel Leandro Trorosard looks like the ghost of a Victorian child sometimes spotted at the window of a deserted mansion, which I quite enjoy I kind of see it. I like Ruy Garcia in a baseball cap and suit. Y a very strong look, wasn't it? Now there was a game yesterday we didn't cover on the pod. We watched Sweden, Tunisia in a pub with a volume down, an ice hockey commentary while Ben Fiterate a burrito the size of a small market town. Yas and A arei with the goal of the tournament so far, Barry Um Well, he scored two, so which one are you talking? First one? First one? Yeah. Do you think? I think Right, I'd got to know. I mean Sweden were gifted their first three goals in this game by a very charitable Tunisian side who I believe didid not concede a single goal in ten qualifying matches and then conceded five in their first group sack their manager. And sacked their manager. Yeah yeah, well the long ball from the back, the goalkeeper be Alexander Isaac to the ball unconvincced and clear and somebody is The ball breaks to Aari and he fires into an empty net from the edge of the area. I mean that is. Was it that good? Is anyone Parny Anyone going it's more than just firing into an empty net, that opening goal, if you can remember it bit more than that,umugg and I'm struggling with because it's four forty nine here to come up with an alternative to your goal of the Dorood. I did watch the highlights again today and my exact nodes were ARi fires into empty net from Edgeera.. I mean, I think that's really harsh on ARi but ye I think goal of the tournament so far is Baligan, the one where he leaves two players on the turf and then smashes into the top corner with his left foot just because everyone wants to score that goal. That looks so much fun. Mbe. I think I prefer Gio Rayers to his with the outside of the right foot Anyway, we don't need to worry about goal of the tournament yet. But interesting Aar Because his dad is Tunisian. so he respectfully didn't celebrate his first goal. But his second goal That was for his mom was Yeah. That was for mom, clearly because yeah, Carl shot from I would argue his second goal was better than his first goal from Monest, and I wouldn't have either of them ne ne' the best goal that you had so far. but look, that's by the bye But yeah, he that curl shot from outside the box. he had no problem celebrating that one, but yeah, Chinesei were terrible in this game. They They gifted Sweden their first three goals. Keeeper wasn't very good. and now they need a new manager. Now they need Well I think they might have one already. They clearly had someone lined up I was going say it's Gham Potter but I he's already a job here wasn't anyyway,'ty can't multitask and he's the Sweden manager. Anyway, we're all tired. That'll do for part two, partart three. We'll look tomorrow's games Today, we'll attempt a feeat once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing, a soFI personal loan. With it, you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interest debt with a soFI personal loan. Visit sofi dot com slash st to learn more Loans originated by SopFi Bank NA member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply NL six nine six eight nine one. Welcome to partart three of the Guardian Fball We weekly. So tomorrow France Segaul, Iraq, Norway, Argentina, Algeria and Austria, Jordan. Barney, what are you looking forward to I mean, that's just such a welter of nations' ideas concepts Obviously France Senegal looks really interesting for many reasons me not Not all of them to France and Senegal here on a FIFA revenge mission, aren't they? And they'll be powered by the I guess injustice of being stripped of the Aficon title, which they refuseed to be stripped off. And France are really interesting. I mean, they This's a theory th thatough France be much better off dropping Killian and Bapee and Basically playing the PSG front three with Mela Lisee instead of Karisilia. because Ibac doesn't press he's always a problem in teams that he's in, they won't do that I really like seeing teams who aren't England have this problem of too many celebrity players and trying to fit in people who't just jam them all in there and we'll be fine. It would be interesting to seeing how that works. You can tell that Des Champ would really like to just have his front free pressing like mad But they have so much talent. they have a good solid midfield. Spain didn't look very good. So someone's going to have to stop France and I'm not really sure who that is. Norway, a lot of people's dark horses Dan. Erling Haland's first ever World Cup game. Johny Lou said. He'd get the golden boot just because they're playing Iraq How many did you see him racking up tomorrow? or could it be another they'll know As the thing the Cate Verde game has put the jitters on that kind of prediction now, I would say. I mean a lot of pundits have called Harlland for the golden boot as well and the main reason will be because of this game. But Cate Verde showed yesterday that you just never know what can happen and I expect Norway to win, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to say that they' they're dark horses. I don't see Norway coming anywhere near winning the winning the tournament. thirty eight year old Ll Messi his final major tournament I mean definitely his final World Cup unless of course we are s we're s in four years time We' in a bar in Madrid saying forty two year old Lal message. wouldouldn' rle it out I mean, there's a few couple of forty year old outfield players at this stour in theser Edin Jell. Lika Mudorich is. It his two hundred appearance tomorrow for Argentina. And it's twenty seventh at the Worl Cp. Okay. AOB then, the connection I didn't think we'd make of White Power or Malcolm in the middle But the video assistant referee Sean Evans, he was at the referees hub in Dallas during the Germany Curau game for that ridiculous turn to camera with his colleagues and he got his standing on by his side. He made a little finger with it sort of circle with his right hand. And sort of upside down okay sign. and it has two distinct meanings One is connected to an expression of white supremacy. The other is a kids game made by made famous in season two episode four of Malcolm in the Middle He said the coverage following this incident simply doesn't reflect who I am I understand how the gesture has been interpreted. I regret this. I want to be very clear and categorically say I did not knowingly or d.am is this him denying being a Malcolm in the middle f? Well, we don't know at this state. He's saying that it was just a just doesn't reflect who I am Malcolm in the middle is crriminally underrated sitc so I would never deny being a Balcome in the mid of U he said it was just a u sort of twitch. he said immages taken later during the matchhot I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers, offfficiating at a World Cup has been a biggest honor of my career. I look forward to supporting my colleagues for the rest of the tournament. He's available for selection for the rest of the tournament. The refs didn't turn to camera in the coverage today. They just stared at their screens. So we've been denied that inccredibly awkward few seconds each game been reported that Donald Trump will be allowed to lift the World Cup with the winning team as he did at the Club World Cup alongside Jann. That's good news, Barney, isn't it? Yeah. I mean I guess he's taking his lead from the in a sense from the Emir of Qatar who also joined in the celebrations I mean, it's just Pposterous isn't it? Why does he want to lift the World Cup What does it say? It's a big gold shiny thing. I imagine points the big gold shiny thing. I imagine that's why. Yeah, you're suggesting he's not a particularly humble individual. I suppose that's probably true. Yeah. I mean that tells you all you really need to know. I mean FIa of may play of talking about I mean of denying that they're overtly associated with a single divisive political movement within the host, who they have chosen this