Iran's Treatment and Tournament Logistics

This is the Guardian Every wireless service comes with a cost, right? Wrong. The Text Now app lets you do your thing for free. Get real talk, real text, and five G data for must have apps with no monthly bill. Need more data? A it right from the app. Done, Go back to free. No long term contracts, no pressure, no surprises, just wireless that works around you Text Now, we've got your back. Download texts Now in your app store today. Wireless plans require the purchase of a simI card. visit textnow d. com for terms and conditions This episode is supported by Boss, former wear provider for the US men's national soccer team. For soccer' biggest event this summer, the US is playing on home soil and Boss will be dressing the US players and coach Mauritio Pocino in Boss performance businessinesswar for their off pitch appearances. Boss and the USMNT share the same values discipline, precision, and the confidence to perform under pressure US fans can look sharp too in the boss pererformance collllection and wear their passion with special fan wear capsule and embroidered badges in national colors. Own the moment with confidence, discover the boss performance collection as worn by the US men's national soccer team and the fan capsule of jerseys, polos and jackets in national colors. Wear your passion your way. Available now at boss dot com orr at your nearest boss store, hashtag, be your own boss Hello and welcome to Gardian football Weekly Killing Bappi scores two, Erling Harland matches him and Leonol Messi says I might be thirty eight, but I'll show you guys a hat trick, the joint top scorer in World Cup history. He even made a rebound from five yards look beautiful. But who's better? Messi Oronaldo, not today Christiano. And Bappe had led the day, France were brilliant in the second half. his supporting cast pretty impressive Eise Barcola And Rabio is Rabbio is actually quite good. Then Erling Haland got able support from his teammates and the Iraqis too. England finally get their worldup underway tomorrow, so we'll look ahead to that. There's some hobbit, some apple, and some sourdough to discuss. We'll answer your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly panel today in the studio with me in Los Angeles. Barry Glen. Hello Hello Max. Hello Ben Fisher. Hey Max. And over in Dallas ahead of England versus Croatia Lars Siton Hey Lars. Howdy? Howdy indeed? Root and Tooton and all that. We're recording before Jordan Austria so we'll discuss that tomorrow. Let's start with Group J Argentina three, Algeria Nil and Batz after andbapee and then Haraland for Messi to come out and score a hatchrick ty it's thirty nine next week. It is ridiculous. Well, for me and indeed, you Max thirty n still quite sprightly. That is I take your point I believe, unless I'm very much mistaken, as he took the field today Leo Messi became the first man to take to the field and play in six World Cups. And I can only imagine that know due to the vagaries of the fixture generator Cristiano Ronaldo will join him tomorrow and I'd say he's very happy about being the second male footballer to play in Six World Cups But what a way to mark the occasion. It was also his two hundredth international appearance. for Argentina And he scored a hatrick, had a goal dis allowed as well for good measure and went off with ten minutes to go. I've quite fancied him to get another one or two and they were all really good goals.. I think the first was my favourite pass Fiz Tb by Rodrigo de Paul like at incredible speed and he just controlled it. instantly trapped ball dead turned advanced L and shot. I think Lua Zedan should He got both sets of fingertips to it, probablybably should have kept it out, but he didn't and I'm kind of glad he didn't because it was such a great goal. Yeah. I guess Laz, you probably watched more MLS than anyone else here. And I don't know what I was expecting from Messi. You know, I know Messi is good, right? I'm aware of that, but I wonder if I was expecting I wasn't necessarily expecting to be this good Yeah, he is preposterous. I mean, he turns thirty nine in about a week, is it But he's playing. he's staying healthy. I mean, he started something like fourteen out of fifteen games from Ai this season. Like he's still around And he's so extremely clinical and I think that's the most devastating thing It's like you have this guy who has been doing this year in year out. He never stops. He doesn't seem to ever get injured. He doesn't seem to ever have a dip in form. There doesn't seem to ever be any problems. outside the pitch that that has been on. he just does the thing. And and you your you get into the situation now where he has the ball at the edge of the box. unbelievable pass for Rodrigo to Pul, like you said, like unbelievable. But like when he gets to the edge of the box, you just kind of know he's going to put it in the top corner. Like you're not surprised at all because that's just what he does And we say we run out of superlatives. We ran out of superlatives fifteen years ago. L it's been a really big problem for the podcasting fraternity. There's absolutely nothing new to say about them. You're just gonna have to update the numbers and just marvel at the fact that this man just never goes away. It's ridiculous. But I also just think, the only vaguely intelligent thing perhaps But maybe I'm stretching it here. I feel like I can add is that I do think this tournament sets up particularly well for him One thing is that he's played here for a little while. so traveling around, which I think might be a shock to some player system. he'll be very familiar with. Of course, they fly about a lot of in MLS. the various sort of humidity of certain venues, the altitude you might run into some places. all this sort of stuff that we freak out about ahead of the tournament, he'll have been a part of already. And I also think this is Because of his age, you think, okay, he can't really press and he can't really do all the stuff that the tactics people freak out about a striker not being able to do myself included sometimes. But I don't think it'll be that kind of tournament. I don't think anyone's just going anyone's going to press all summer. Like no one's got the legs for that. And then so it's going to be a tournament of moments and those moments he still has them. he has so many of them. Yeah. And Ben actually in the In the flat, we were watching it together and The second goal, which is sort of the least impressive of the goals. in a way, that was the one that you just looked at and you thought He has so much time. like so many strikers run onto that and blast it and probably score But just the way he just He makes that look beautiful Yeah, on the kind of face of it, it looked really simple, but I think that's that's the art of Messy, right? It was Just a sumptuous finish, just guided it in. as you say with so much confidence mean he's obviously done it so many times, but I think with Messi the thing that struck me today watching him was that That's kind of speed of thought and the fact that Like for the last goal where he he reacts quickest, he expects the, you know the rebound. he expects it to happen. And I think I don't know with him the debt or with as players get older, you maybe sometimes think are they're going to slow down or especially with him is he going to be more on the periphery but he was front and center. He's got you know, Hatrick and dis allow goal in the opening game. So Yeah, what a start to the tournament for him. Obviously level with M islav closer now in terms of Most gos ever Most gols at a worldorld Cup. Yeah I mean, I was trying to feel like we needed to say some more about message, you know what I mean? Barry? L you seem to need to. He has played against Zinidine Zidan and now his son. He played E Clasco inzero five I think that was the last time he played against. Sedans. Not many people have played against a father and son apart from sort of weird, you know Sunday leagues. I have no more questions about Messi Barry. I should have some But I can't think of anything to add that think we've established over the years that he's a pretty good player. Yeah I think you're probably right What I will say is that he He's got off to a flyer Hatrick in his first game and Bape scored to Erlinghalen scored two. I just know Harry Kane and Christiana Ronaldo will be watching those games today and going I need I need to score tomorrow att least once. Did that game make you think Argentina in a better place? Lars than than perhaps you did before the tournament or maybe you had them I'd heard people sort of writing Argentina off and having watched that and it's hard to gauge. I think Aljia are not a bad football team. But where dod you have them after seeing one performance? In the interest of like fair and transparent and open podcasting, I feel like you need to look up where I had them A, I see. I had them losing to Portugal in the quarterinals. I do quite like them for a few reasons, which is again Maybe I harp on about the conditions too much, but I think the conditions are going to matter. I don't think no one's going to gig and press their way to the final hair. I just don't think it can be done Whereas if I look at Argentina They have a lot of like smart footballers there. I think tactically clever, technically well schooled players who know when to raise the tempo, when to lower the tempo, to players who can control things That midfield, there's a lot of football IQ there, I think. And I think that really suits the situation and the circumstances. I think if they can get obvious it's an obvious thing to say, but if they can keep getting these magical moments out of Messy up frront There's a lot of good stuff in that midfield. That's the defense. They've got the maddest defense in the tournament surely. likeike Christian Romero and Lisandre Martinez at the back and Emmy the Martinez behind them That's just like there's a lot of lunacy per player there. But they're also very good. likeike if they can all avoid getting sent off or ideally not get sent off all at the same time because that'd be very bad. But you know, if you can keep them going and keep them vaguely saying, that's also very good. So I think there's a lot to like about this Argentina team. Yeah. meaneanwhile for Algeria but they started okay, you know had Their disallowed goal was tighter than Argentina's and maybe that makes a difference, I don't know, but they got blown away in the end, I think. they more than held their own in the first half and the only difference was the messy cheat code that Argentina had. And second half, they Yeah, they were completely dominated don't think they disgrace themselves, but Messy is a cheap code. and Argentina have them. Sure. And they have Austria and Jordan to play, so you know, they they still could quite easily get through to the last thirty two. That game is happening after we finish recording, so we'll talk about that tomorrow and that'll be for part one. Part two, we'll do France Senegal beginning with a nice chat with P Filippo Clet 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. theirir 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 d. com or download the grradientFC app from the Apple Store or Google Play. High interest debt is one of the toughest opponents you'll face. Unless you power up with a sof far personal loan. A so far personal loan could repackage your bad debt into one low fixed rate monthly payment It's even got suuper speed since you could get the funds as soon as the same day you signed Visit sofi. com slash power to learn more. That's SoFi d. com slash PW ER. Mans originated by Sofi Bank NA, member F theIC terms of conditions supppply N MLS S six nine six eight nine one. Welcome to part two of the Guardian F football weekly. as France three Senegal one in group I. beforefore I chat to the chaps here, I caught up with Philipp Pa Cler. And I greeted him in French. Bon Ja, Phili Aaucler Billa Max Hoston What is the French for hurling some tastoutes in the around the dressing room at half time because the second half was something else. Well, Yes, it was it was rather different was it? And yeah, quite quite a change of scenery. And I think I think probably Mi D Chon went to the mirror, looked at him svver said What did you do wrong, Didier? And Didier answered You're playing the best player in the world in the wrong position. So if you put him in the right position, which is in the middle Things will change and lo and behold You put the best player in the world at the moment, not the guy who scored the goals, but the guy who made them and who made front stick And then suddenly it's a completely different proposal and Senegal just couldn't live with with my colleagues say and And Kiram Bappe, who is tonight has now holds the record for the most goals sc by a Frenchman for the national team. And I wish somebody had written a book about him that I could refer to to explain how we got there, but there you go. Full confession time now, about half time was I had a few things in the script saying Bapee doesn't press. He's a bit of a luxury player. Would you be betterare if you just Mateta up there. and then well, I mean, as you say, the pass from Eise I mean there was a pass from Eise toba which almost made it and then then there was the goal. And then there was the way thatbape, you know, Senegal score and you think, okay, it's could be an interesting three minutes. And then Abae goes, all right. And I think A they proved today that he is quite good at football. is decent. I still think he's not the center forward And I still think it would be more effective if you played on the left and then the team would work better if he played from the left U but he is this was a typical Baet game because He had loads of half chances and even You would call three quarter chances. whichich he didn't quite put through and his first touch was a bit heavy sometimes He looked a little bit not uninterested, but a little bit petulant at times. And then suddenly something switches on. And then he's a different player and he's a Kidillian Bape who is now Franciss record goals scorea withty fifty eight goals. that's brother, brother a lot He's only twenty seven years of age. I mean, it's ridiculous And but The It shouldn't make us forget that Franance's first half was ab quote Alan Hansen was diabolical. It was really awful.. It had no rhythm, no pattern, no fluidity, no beat, nothing And to be honest, Franancez was very, very lucky to come off the pitch at halftime with a score you know at Nonil Barity score because Senegal was the better team, better organized and more dangerous. but they don't have Yeah. and Oice Bakola and Babe Belly was very quiet today, which is the first time he's been with the French National team, but again is he playing in the right position with that particular setup, I'm not too sure about that And it also shows that Desichan has got this amazing bench that he can count on. Because when you can't ask brring on churkey with five minutes left.. Yeah that's all right. And Barola of course. Yeah, you bring in Barola and you bring in churkey. so that's okay. There were a couple of other guys were there, but It's not perfect by any means, but I think I was actually dreading that game max because I thought that It could be I thought the ninety minutes or nearly a hundred minutes would be as tough as the first forty five were. That's what I was expecting But then Again pure quality spoke and paid off and France are basically already in the they're in the knockout stages. I mean, a three one victory is pretty much insurance that Whatever happens against Norway, which is going to be an interesting game U But Senegal though it's a tough one to take, I have to say. Telly who was good Pilip me And actually I thought was quite good in the first half, you made disagreement with. Rabio Yeah, th he was for me. In the first half he was Francis best player. That pass for Abercola. that that was we were talking with some friends about it and said that was almost worthy of Antoine Greisman, which is, you know, in my book, that's Yeah know it's apheric in terms of in terms of compliment, but He was this was the good raio that we saw, the very, very good rapio that we saw today And in fact, he was Francec's best player in midfield by some distance And he created, he intercepted a few bs. The decisions he took were Most of the time, the good ones scrapped a few balls in midfield as well. So no he was he was excellent And there would be, I mean, there were others, I think two arenoldays had had a decent game Des Ridway was a little bit underwhelming, was really had loads of problems on his flank in the first hf in particular, defending as well as attacking O in all, I think the show would be He would be more than delighted with that. In the end, the result is great U no inuries, we don't think so U and he's found He now knows You should have known before whereere to play What I keep saying is the best attacking player in the world at the moment and has been throughout the season with Michael Oise and he is going to be this World Cup star, I think. I mean, it's just I mean, What can you say? the elegance what Yeah I know Oh God. it makes me you know, it makes my hair stand on end. It's like this kind of playo actually makes me love football. makes you almost forget about Jenine Fantinou and Donald Trump and all the horrible things which have been happening all over America for the past well, for quite a while now, but before the World Cup even started. and yeah, that was Yeah, that was a decent second half, I would say. We're getting on for a full episode soon, so we will ready the lawyers for then. but for the time being, Abianto Auvoir Philly Bg Clair there. I mean, it's worth spend a bit more time on that second half passass because the difference in performance from the first to second was something else Yes, I'm glad you pointed out to the listeners that you greeted for in French because m other one. Thank you, Barry Yeah, the difference between I mean, Philippe has pretty much covered everything as far as I amm concerned, but the difference between first South France, who were Dperate, awful and second half France you know your chalk cheese or a chalqu fromage Yes. you don't know the French matqu? No L chqu. I have no idea. And Didier de Champ clearly gave them an absolute rollking at half timee And it's good to see, you know, people are occasionally concerned who runs that dressing room? Well I think in the second half, we saw who the boss is there Certainly, it was Brilliant performance. Michael Eise was brilliant, Killian and Bapee was brilliant. Adrian Rabio that pass for Barcolas goal brilliant I'm just repeating what Philippe said, so I might as well stop talking. Aually, I did love Benook And Bappee's second is so just at that moment where you were like, oh hello, Senegal could get something here And then just that turn and hit was It felt very Mexico eight six to me. And he didn't even look at the goal. He knew where it was going again, low finish diagonal cross goal, but again, Eise was the architect, wasn't he? And I was just thinking earlier because obviously Eise being born in London, I think he was grew up in White City And in Bapee's celebration, the flute that was from James Calorden or his time with James Calden. So it was kind of bit of a London link to M Ba's first goal as it were. The artistry behind them. Is that right? You're gromacing, Barry. I am gromacing That's okay People like some presenters and don't like others What did you make of Senegal in this game last? because they did have chances, didn't they that you know, Jackson hits the post. it bounces off mania that could go in Sah has that chance just before half timee If they take the lead is this game different? Jackson had a brilliant volley that went in Yeah. and I thought, o my days. it's a Jackson incredible finish that hits the nest. I was like this is okay. offide clearly. And I thought he was remarkably calm about that. I think for a guy who has missed as many chances as he has in his life when he finally hits like the sweetest volleally against France and the World Cup, if that was given I think you're entitled to kind lose your shade a little bit if that gets given as offside, but he was remarkably calm. I wonder still how much the first half was France just being bad and how much of it was France taking it easy a little bit Be I do think this French team has come here thinking we're going to be here for seven eight games. So we're not going to burn off a ton of powder in the first forty five against Senegal. But whatever they were trying to do, they ended up not doing much of anything. And for sure Senegal had chances. And from a Norwegian perspective, I was watching this going, yeh, I don't love this. Th these are quite tasty. Yeah we knew this already, but I have anxieties about facing Senegal for sure. But you' are at top of the group, Lars, aren't you after beating Iraq Forour one, How was it for you? I feel so incredibly relieved Max, That's the only thing I can really like moved on occasion just by seeing like the players and the anthem and everything. It's been twenty eight years. It's been ten ten thousand two hundred and twenty seven days, I think since the last time we played a game at the World Cup It's been a while. and it's strange for me because I've ended up sort of scraping a living, doing this sort of thing. W watched all these tournaments and I' done podcasts and written things But in my entire adult life, I've never like actually had proper skin in the game And I do have a greater sense of understanding for why you all completely lose your minds about England and stuff like this than I maybe had previously. in the same way that like yeah, no, I understand it much more now to the point where I found it really hard to like provide any analysis or forecast about this game in advance in any sort of rational way. becausecause yes, clearly, we are quite a lot better than Iraq But we've had like so far the story of the tournament. There's been so many upsets. you know, there's been Qatar nicking something against Switzerland. There's been Kere holding Spain. There's been Saudis stopping Uruguay, like the upsets have been coming. And as the match drew near, I became increasingly convinced and terrified that the upsets would come for us as well. And then when we played not well in the first half, I thought Iraq Iraq should get credit. Iraq had really done their homework, I felt. I got the sense that they their moments in terms of pressing and they really targeted those of our players who are not super comfortable on the ball. They really like made us uncomfortable and we couldn't play the way we really want to for a lot for certainly for the Certainly for the first quarter. when we had the drinks That's definitely not an ad break and we got into the second quarter of the game. We obviously scored a very, very good goal, nicely worked move and that settled everyone down a little bit But then they equalize and then yeah, when the equalizer comes, I'm thinking, Yeah we're the Swiss now. We are going to or we are the Spain or we we are Uruguay, whoever. I thought the upset was coming. And I'm just really relieved that we got through it, even though it was a scruffy performance that probably won't have convinced anyone Except for we know that Erling Hlland is a beast. is right on it physically. He's in great shape at the moment. He's so hungry And that that was really the big difference You can plug your book like Philie plugged his book about Mbae if you want to at this dage. I mean it's really great barry for Harand too get off the market I think most of our listeners know about it, but I have written a book on Alan Nolan. you can look it up. It's quite good. Check it out. You'll learn all about why he's that good if you didn't know already. What did you make of this spe Noor we weren't good for the first Well, they weren't good until they scored basically and It's no great surprise that Hallen got off the mark If Noray go deep into the competition, we know it's the semif final and final in which he'll fail to score. But Hopefully in the game against England where Harry Kaine also fays You'll be dancing in the streets. Everything proved right. Th these flat track bullies together. His goals I mean, the first was Bog Standard slid the ball home from a really good low cross at the P post. And the second one was gifted to him by the keeper dawdling over a backpack. I loved how long he took. because it was like you can see the ball coming to him me and you're like, I think you really need to go to the ball mate. And he's just w just waiting and waiting. You can almost hear the j music. Eactly I can go And so his goals were probably the two worst you know, worst in inverted commas of the game. I thought the Iraq the gold cort equalize Alamari. Alamari. What a brilliant header that was. Eric Torwit son, I thought he'd scored Norway's fourth O for the dads there, Eric Torresford obviously was a Spurrs goalkeeper, made famously made a nightmare debut for Spurs, but his son came on as a sub for Norway. And I thought he'd scored a fourth with a header from about three inches out, but apparently it was an own goal, possibly. So anyway. A actuallyually their third was an amazing twering. I mean, like the. That was a great greaty header. Definition of a towering header. Any other strong thoughts on this game? in terms of Iraq, a bit of a moment of history with Zudain Igbo coming on formly of Manchester United Uh believe he' becomes the first player of Pakistani heritage to play at World Cup when he actually has the Pakistan flag on one boot and the Iraqi flag on the other. So they were probably never expected to get a result. as Lar was saying, you always there's always that trepidation beforehand will Norway come unstuck? but a moment for Ireq despite defeat. So it's funny you mentioned Kristian Tolstead because actually this was a historic game. You had, I believe, for the first time in World Cup history, you had Three sons of fathers who had also played in the World Cup play for the same team. Kiss D Tolstt, but also Alex Solos, his father played in ' ninety four in that very memorable ball gaming against Ireland, I believe. And of course Aling Hoollland's father also played in World Cup ninety four. So we had three players whose dads also played in World Cup. And I want to just note as well on Neo Estigar I'm so incredibly happy for him getting a goal because he's lost his place. He's someone who cares a lot. He wears his heart in his sleeve. But it was him who made a terrible mistake in Scotland in the Euro qualifying campaign, which basically consigned us to not going to the Eururos. And I think It's been eating at him a little bit, I suspect. and so for him to be back in the frame and scoring a goal, I think that was a wonderful moment. Good stuff. All right that'll do for part two partart three we'll look ahead tomorrow's games, which include England against Croatia. Will the Croatians play know the rest. We'll be back in a second. High interest debt is one of the toughest opponents you'll face. Unless you power up with a so far personal loan A so far personal loan could repackage your bad debt into one low fixed rate monthly payment It's even got super spepeed Since you could get the funds as soon as the same day you signed Visit sofi d. com slash power to learn more That's SOFi dot com slash PoW ER. loans originated by SFi Bank NA, member FDIC terms and Cnditions apppply NMLS six nine six eight nine one. Every story is a technology story in one way or another. And on the interface, we decode the tech that's rewiring your wek and your world On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite workwek And this year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever. But is it making the game better or worse Listen on bBc d. com or wherever you get your podcasts Welcome to Part three the Guardian Fbot We weekly. So tomorrow begins with Portugal Dial Congo, Th then England Croatia, Ghana, Panama,zbekistan, Colombia. England Croatia. feels feels so late to be beginning in a tournament thenen. But like it's been really relaxing for me and now I'm going to wake up tomorrow thinking. Yeah, it feels crazy, doesn't it? And I do wonder what that does that have any effect on the players or management or what does that do? Certainly for the fans? it probably heightens the anxieties as you say. I think Toukor has managed probably that aspect really well though, even in his pre match press conference today, he was kind of just quelling all of the potential hiccups or things that could, you know create further noise. He was asked about even stuff like the tornado the other week, you know, is that affected? Is the kit get installed? And he basically just battered everything away and He said, you know he's reluctant to kind of overdo it in terms of motivation. We know there's loads of hype around the team. He knows that I think he's really savvy, really smart. And I think hisis management of these things, basically ever since England had been out on a training camp has been really impressive. And actually Ben whether he picks Ccer or Stones or Gay or whether he picks Gordon or Rashford or Rogers or Bellingham We sort of know the plan. It's not like we're going to be all there going Why is he at left back? Like whoever he puts wherever, we sort of know. unless of course, he does something different that we're not expecting. Yeah, definitely that the emergence of Elliot Anderson alongside Rice is that sense of plan. I think that maybe that was one of the areas certainly in previous tournaments or recent tournaments where we felt a little bit uneasy. I think now the defence is still probably the area of concern and you know Tino Liv Ramento's injury and therefore Salaba coming in you do think does that kind of just make us a little bit more susceptible build again, even though Livermmentor probably wasn't going to play loads of minutes, it's kind of another brick that's removed from that kind of defensive wall if you like, and That's the area of concern, I would say Barry, where's your theometer, having watched most of the teams In terms of this game, the theiometer isn't even switched on because I expect England to win and if they don't, it doesn't really matter. They're going to be quicker than Croatia. They're younger than Croatia. I think we're younger than Croatia ye. The new format means should the worst happen and they lose, which I can't see happening at all. It doesn't matter Las, what's your what's your take and specifically on Croatia actually. Yeah, I'm very excited. I'm going to this game, whether it matters or not Barry. So this is going to be a fun time for me. Croatia obviously like They have this an unfathomable amount of experience. and I just look this up now because it's kind of boggles the brain. Johny, you many games, how many caps Luca Modrich and Ivan Perisit have played together for Croatia Well, about two hundred and sixty Yeah, you'd think so. it is actually one hundred and thirty. They played eight thousand eight hundred and eighty minutes together for Croatia, according to the very excellent transansfer M. I was going each was like between them. Yeah. Okay. No that's fine. Yeah, that's that is mad. Don't often see that. do you do wonder with like some of the It feels like Croatia have You're kind of seeing the sunset of a pretty golden generation, but the next one haven't quite come through yet. So you do wonder if there's enough legs in this team to really make an impact in the tournament. But here's the thing, this is the first game So this shouldn't really be an issue yet. And as we think I think we've established on this team, they they're not tired yet. They're seemingly never tired And certainly they're not going to be in the first game of the tournament. I just wonder a little bit where the goals are coming from. Yeah. It does feel like that sunset has been setting That's something' sitting forever. It's the best sunset ever. It's a great fo. One of those countries where the sun just is always right on the horizon there. It never goes all the way down. Like in Norwegian summer. What about Portugal, Dial Congo laars? I guess it's all about you know, Renald though starting and his impact or not on the team. I am genuinely curious about how this is going to work because I am one of the many people who find it strange that he is still there. But the fact is they don't have a ton of options right now. Gonzalo Ramos hasn't been playing regularly for PSG for a long time. Are you playing are you starting Rph Feliix over Christian Ronaldo? I don't think so. So there he is. And I can't really get away from the fact that he does have a genuinely strong record internationally of late, including games against, you know good opposition in the nations Lague thing the other year. So maybe it could still work Ive got to be totally honest and say that it'd be very funny if it didn't. There's something about the hubris of the man that I find a little Distasteful and a few other things. Um Portugal away from him They're an incredibly exciting team. I mean, possibly the best midfield in the competition Nvison Virinia from PSG and Bruno Fernandez who is coming off an incredible season for many nicers with brew like Penado silver can just slot in where you need them if you need them. like an unbelievable team, really? If they had an absolutely elite top class number nine, you'd say they're a good semifinal potentially final pick to be honest. There's so much good stuff here. Can Christiano still be that player? I have my doubts, but I will say it'll be very fascinating to find out. Portugual's players tomorrow will be wearing commemorative wristbands in honor of Dioo Gota which were gifted to them by the Portuguese Prime Minister Louis Montenegro. But apparently he did loads of research to make sure that they don't fall foul of any of FIFA's Byzantine and myriad rules and regulations in terms and conditions of what players are allowed to wear and not allowed to wear on the field of play. So that's a little something Yeah. That's a nice. And actually, I don't think we talked about it, but I think D Goos's wife wrote a really beautiful that' Randy Robberts ahead of the Scotland game saying, you know, you're sort of playing for Diogo as well because Robertson and Jiotta were such great friends and that I watchatch that at a You know, emotionally weak moment and we cry my eyes out somewhere. The other games Gana Panama isbekistan, Columbia Ben An thoughts Well, You feel like Ben Yeah. That's bit of a hospital pass,n't it? You can't say no thoughts, you know, I said anything. I mean, I love you know, in normal times, Ben has the biggest beat in football journalism, which stretches from Middlesborough toth to Portsmouth, to Bristol. now at the World Cup. he's's covering Panama and Ghana. And isbekistan U Well, I mean, I did see Ghana play it wells in their one of their last friendlies before coming out se and they were pretty underwhelming, I would say. I mean, Semeno was wrapped up and caught him off for that game didn't even warm up. he was there but didn't even warm up. so It does feel like they're kind of counting on him to do everything, but I don't know, Jordan are you still knocking around in Fataru, obviously was at Leicester as well. I'm not too sure about how threatening they will be, but I'd expect them to be Panama You were at the Iran New Zealand game yesterday and you wanted to talk about what happened after the game Yeah no, I just it was there was obviously a lot of interest in the game going into the game. What was it going to look like in terms of the support the kind of reception that the Iran team would get, wouldould they sing the national anthem which they did And it was overwhelmingly positive in the stadium beforehand. there were some protests outside from probably a couple of hundred supporters who don't believe the team represents them or Iran. But the atmosphere inside the ground was brilliant actually. I think A lot of the handling of Iran's participation in the tournament has been Obviously Rudy Paul. And afterwards, Infantina went into the dressing room and spoke to some of the players and It was quite interesting because The head coach amir Galanoy He kind of just laid it all out as well. He didn't sort of give in Fantino an easy ride and he said in front of him, in front of the squad, you know the challenges they're facing and said, basically we need more help. and Iran had to fly back after the game rather than being allowed to do their recovery in the US. They had to fly back to Mexico late last night about eleven o'clock local time they were advised of that on the day they were expecting to be able to return at lunchtime the next day. And these things matter, you know, like other people have said our It was only a short flight, about forty minutes and other teams have done it, which is all true. but you know, in this kind of era of you know, teams flying because they don't want to sit on a coach for hours because of marginal injury It is that and I just think if you're going to allow Iran into the tournament, they have to be treated like everybody else in the realality is they haven't been. and afterwards, Meditorimi was highly critical of FIFA of the US And the head coach said their treatment is the most oppressive at the tournament, which is probably not the sort of tagline that Infantino and Co were hoping for. It's just what you want run around for ninety minutes is Janny coming in saying chill, relax guys and posing for selfies. Yeah. and there was even like this really awkward laughter when he said, you know, if the team needs a strikeer you know, count me in guys and everybody sort of felt compelled to laugh. but Yeah, I don't think it was genuine. Well one of the players Medie Terabi Winger He only has a visa for yesterday's game So he doesn't have one for the next He s he's since they've actually applied and they've got one, which again is an example, I think of FIFA If you want to give them a you know, a portion of credit is that maybe it seems they have listened because that's You know, people were looking at that thinking that's not going to happen in time for Sunday, the next game, but it has. so he will be eligible for for the remain games. very minor thing in the grand scheme of it.