England's Route and Tournament Contenders

This is the Guardian Hello and welcome to the Guardian Fotball Wekly Canada injury time, Stephen Astakio, surely the biggest moment in the history of Canadian men's football. It wasn't a classic, but Canada had the better chances and deserved the win. Then we'll look back at last night, a draw suited Austria and Algeria and it was a draw, but if they planned that, then fair play to all involved. Algerian fans celebrating Austria's late equaliser because it means they avoid Spain. Meanwhile, Leo Messi comes off the bench and scores a free kick, but who's better im or Ronalo Then we'll look ahead to the rest of the last thirty two, some great games. We can really get ahead of ourselves and plot England's route to the final semi quarters, deelete as appropriate. It's the final Langon vegetable count, getet your totalizers out, your questions, and that's today's Guardian Fotball Weekly on the panel today with me in LA Barrc N Dany, wecome Hey Max. from the Racing Post for the last time, Not ever, Mark, to let you know just for this tournament. Mark Landon welcome Hi Max and out in Hoston preparing to go to space. Jonathan Wilson, Hey Wilson. How you Dankks. Let's start then with Canada's one nil win over South Africa. I haveve been practicing Eo Stacio so many times because he deserves to have his name pronounced correctly. Colin Miller writing. He's the first ever number seven who's represented Portugal to score a goal in a World Cup knockout game. But what Barry, what a moment for him and what a moment for Canada Yeah, it was u a real thrilling outcome to a game I was certain was going to end in a penalty shootout. I think that's what South Africa set out to play for Canada were the only team who tried to win this game. and They should have won it more comfortably. They missed a couple of brilliant chances in the first half were denied a penalty a correct decision to deny it, I think, but it was fifty it looked fifty fifty at first. And just with the game in at a time, everyone resigned to An thirty minutes of not the most entertaining fare we've ever seen. U pops mister Steyiao to wellally the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the area and win the game for Canada. and it prompted a rousing address from Jesse Maris. A G good one, I thought Yeah, it wasn't as as mighty ducks as you wanted it to be. Well I thought it might be a bit more Jay Humphrey, but yeah, it was It was quite impressive, I suppose for him. He's clearly very proud of what he's achieved with Canada. He's clearly very proud to be Canada manager. and despite being an American, he gives it socks when they're a sing in all Canada before the game and Thoroughly deserve to win this because as I said, they were the only team trying to win it. I've been looking up, you know great moments in Canadian football after this. you know thinking, where does this sit? Because you know, you you can forget if you're from the UK, right that you know, it doesn't really matter how England do football will still be big, but this could be sort of life changing for Canada. They won the Olympics in zero four, but that only included three teams in a total of four matches and Golt FC based in Cambridge, Ontario, finished first and earn Canada Olympic gold.vious they won the gold Cup in two thousand. The women won The Olympics in twenty twelve, ozero four, by the way, nineteen oh four. they won Olympic gold This for them, Mark is just enormous. Absolutely. And you're right, Meter. I think yeah in Europe, you do take it for granted that ball soccer isn't kind of the main sport and it'll be the same in Australia. I remember Bge Bostoagu talking about this exact same thing in terms of, you know, like you become national heroes and Jesse M said basically the same thing afterwards. you know all of these players or virtually all of them would have had to have left the country to trying to make a name for themselves in terms of football because the standard just isn't there at home They would have probably been mooped in the playground if they liked football you know at one stage, given like in Canada hockey would be huge in the same in the US with all of their major sports. So it's been it would have been a hard slog for those players to have got to where they've got to. In terms of this game, you're right to say it wasn't the classic I actually think the hydration break really helps Canada because South Africa I felt were kind of dangerous in that first twenty minutes and then Jesse Marsh changed the way that Canada played. They stopped pressing South Africa and South Africa wanted Canada to sort of come onto them and then they tried to play round them. and after that hydration break, they just stood there and the South African goalkeeper, but there were times when he had the ball at his feet for twenty seconds and was just waiting and it never came. So you know, football is changing with these kind of breaks and turning it into quarters and it's not the first game where the rhythm of the kind of game is completely changed after a manager' had that kind of moment, a quarter of the way for a game. How did you see it Wilson? I was a little bit disappointed in South Africa. I've been dis spointed in them old tournament really that Yeah I saw them in twenty twenty three when they got to the semifinals of a Cpleinations and they were really good then. they were really good. whistable playing in possession. And then the semifinal that one they played a back of three the first time against Nigeria and nothing happened in the game and they lost. And then the opening game of this tournament, they they weren't great at the couple of nations this year They looked a bit flimsy and they lost a cameroon which was last sixteen, I think. And it's as if that defeat sort of really spooked them. So the opening game against Mexico, they played a back three again. I think that's the only time or the first time they played a back three since like game against Nigeria. was actually in twenty twenty four, even though it' the cpinations of twenty twenty three. And it feels like they've been too passive too often. I'm not really sure that's their their strength So that mean they got through and Huga Bruce deserves great credit for that. U do you wonder if it might have been better served playing their more natural game? Heroes are made from this, right? And players that we know nothing about. Hees he playaed for Porto for about four years until he moved to LA and lost his parents recently, both of them quite quickly together played Portgual in the twenty ones until he opted to play for Canada in twenty nineteen Just in what an ignormous moment for this guy. From living in Australia, I understand and you touch on it, Mark this idea that As far as this team get, like every round that Canada get through or Australia get through actually the US has got through and like you know, Alex and the U.S guys that have been as partot have mentioned this It isn't just for these players. It's actually for anyone involved in this sport in Canada. I think we have our fifth biggest audience in Canada, for those people, everyone involved in grassroots all the way up This will mean so so much Oh it absolutely will. and got next the Netherlands and Morocco They'll fancy their chances against either of those sides or even though they'll be underdogs More and more eyeballs will be be on the screen I mean, my sister is married to a Canadian. She lives in Halifax in Nova Scotia He's a big hockey man. I don't know if he's in the slightest bit interested in the World Cup, but he is into sport And if he wasn't watching this game today, I would imagine he will certainly be watching the next one my experience of going to sports bars in Canada is hockey is the only Game in town are the only show in town And if they're not watching hockey, if it's the off season, then it's generally basketball that's on. One day last year I asked for them to put on a Wen's World Cup match in the bar They did, but they had no idea what the Women's World Cup was. It took them a long time to find the game I wanted It was England women were playing someone I can't remember who. but yeah, no one was in the slightest bit interested in football. But we did seeark like and there'll be listeners who were in those faman parks in Vancouver and Toronto. I don't know, I get quite emotional of seeing those moments when that go went in. Yeah, they're definitely special the watch party that we saw in Vancouver I think as well the hope will grow because They've reached this stage mainly without Alfonso Davis their best player. like the crowd reaction when he came on although it was a neutral venue, Los Angeles was mainly full of Canadian supporters and like he made a difference just in terms of lifting the team when he came on. that Jesse Marsh has been saying throughout the World Cup, he's fit he's available And then we've not seen him. He did the same before this match and He's managed to get thirty minutes into his legs I think to stand a chance against Netherlands on Morocco, I'd be less confident than barrier them being able to give them a game, I'd say they're big outsiders He needs to be fit and he needs to play and he needs to, you know be able to impact and affect the game Because like Jonathan said like South Africa weren't great. I think we have to say that. Yeah. Even if they weren't great, Wilson is them getting to the knockouts We talk about like the impact on Canadian football. like And I know it's a bigger tournament. so getting to the last thirty two is not the same as getting to the knockouts in a previous World Cup, but do you think even if they didn't perform brilliantly in this tournament, they will view it as a success when the dust settled. I think they will. I mean, Soufrican foootball' gone through a slightly strange process that They won the Cpinations in ninety six. they were sort of decade after that. they were a pretty dominant side and then they've really faded in the last twenty years and getting to the semifinal in the twenty twenty three Cpinations playpl in twenty twenty four was a huge thing So yeah, the first time we got to the stage, first time we got out of a group That is a big thing. I don't think people would say this is as good a sideid as the sideides that qualify for World Cup in ninety eight. Yeah after twenty years, twenty five years away, it clearly is a major thing. I just think they might be slightly frustrated that they didn't give it more of a go. They've got Mamoi Sundown who won the Afican Champions League this year. It's not that they're not used to success. it just tends to have come a club level rather than at national level. And obviously it is different in an Afran context to a global contry. You mentioned I play Canada play Netherlands on Moro more in the last thirty two in a bit for quite a long time during this game interestnteresting thing about it was the fact that Danny Rojas from Ted Lasso was in the crowd And I want to know did that woman get her phone back? Yeah A lady who dropped her phone during the Mexican wave had it knocked out of her hand out of the top tier Yeah. super slow you could see just going over the barl on her face. Did she get it back? I reckon she'll get it back and I reckon we'll hear more about that. Did it have its cover on it? On that note, I think there was an Argentinian fan who lost his wallet some stadium and then the fans a fan found his wallet and started a chant for the person's wallet and eventually it got around all the Argentinian fans and they you know they reunited the wallet. It was like a sort of tempered down version of long lost familyily. Anyway, that'll do for part one. Part two, we'll look back at last night's games in Group J Welcome to part two of the Guardian F footall weekly So G group the last group to finish Argentina w all their games. nine points. Austria second with four, Algeria, third with four Jordan got no points U Argentina Be Jordan three one, but Algeria three, Austria three And Barry we were talking about, you know Could this be a draw? you know It suited everyone involved. I think it's fair to say this was not The disgrace of Hehw this was not No. as Wilson said on the group chat this morning, iss its most complicated recipe for a biscotto there hass ever been if it was a boscotto. This was a brilliant game and a really odd game Because I think we all thought it wass going to be a draw. But they traded goals. Austria w up, Algeria came back. Austria went two one up Algeria came back and that seemed to be that. They seem to have more or less have an unwritten agreement We'll just finish this out as a draw. and then two minutes into at a time Radmar pounces to put Algeria three two up And everyone you can see all the Austrians are just like, what the hell are you doing? What's happened here? And Riad Mrz has since said, you know he's acknowledged it was awkward. and he said, I have to score. I have to try to score if the ball comes my way like that. I know it's football and I have to respect it, but it was awkward. So that's kind of But he said. So we thought, right, that's it. And the thing is this goal he scored means that Algeria instead of having to play Switzerland in the next round now have to play Spain. But we're deep and out of time, but Austria go on and Kaladzic scores with his a header, his first touch of the game to restore parity. There's no way that the Algerians let them walk that into the net or anything. So if it was a fix, it was the most well choreographed fix of all time. And so now it finished three all much relief in the Austria camp. And they have to play Spain while Algeria get Switzerland. I mean Iran have been through every emotion in this in this tournament and like Teraini spoke afterwards as well just about kind of how disgracefful he thinks they've been treated off the pitch, but just on it as well you know, to have had that goal disallowed in the ninet ninety fourth minute f V are offide call that's so marginal they hit the bar twice as well late on and They will have expected that Austria game to finish in a draw. But when Marez scores, they haven't got that long and they're in. So they've gone through that agony all over again I think Austria though are quite dangerous opponents. I mean, you know Annautovich is playing well andz's got a brilliant goal as well. So they've got talented players in the team, but I assume this game is going to be a Paraguay Australia part two and I'm glad it wasn't. Yeah. And actually wasn't this weird moment then Kalazk scores, the Austrian fans are happy and the Algerian fans are happy. So you just get a situation where just everyone's happy. Yes U I mean I guess from their point of view, every every game is Every game more they play is valuable. So they wouldn't be looking too far down the line. But yeah, I mean it's I think it it'sgg just something about how format with best placeac teams going through is that there is such an obvious if betweenent to place Spain I to playace Switzerland. But yes, it was A rare instance where the group stage ended with everybody apart from Iran being absolutely delighted. I would also say there's a big advantage for those firstd place teams when you play last. So Austria and Algeria were the last teams to play and that they've got whole picture in front of them and what they need. So we need to play all the games at the same time. you know Scotland have had a lot of criticism I' say most of it deserved, but they did have to go out early and try and sort of set a bar or whatever it was. And you know a lot of those teams that went and played early, those like South Korea, you know weren't entirely sure what they needed to do. they went out, Scotland went out. So there was definitely an advantage to going late. Barry struggles to watch two games at the same time. can do. That should be a fly with compbound eyes, wouldn't you to watch all of those? Argentina beat Jordan three one. goingoing into the tournament Wilson, O said that Argentina weren't really at it U So they've they've confounded some critics already. I mean, they do look I mean, Jordan it's only Jordan this one, but so far, along with France been the best team in this tournament I mean they finished topop Sou American qualifying, so I don't think anybody thought they were terrible. I think you look at that side and You'd say I think the problem a lot of chumions have is they they stick with their champions for too long and it has been that that run of Champions going out in the group stage. I mean, obviously it didn't apply to France last time, but the three tonns before that was it? that happened Um, And I think there was maybe a bit of a concern that would be true of Argentininea. Youew I think it was entirely legitimate to wonder whether Messy doing it in MLS was the same as being able to do it in the Wor Cup U So that mean there were doubt But I'm not sure they've entirely been answered by beating Algeria and Jordan and a slightly patchy win over Austria where they' got quite a lot of decisions seem to go their way. So They've got they've now got a really easy run as well, haven't they? They they I got Cupard and then the winner of Australia against Egypt, which I mean, is obviously C certainly wants to getess for the lastast sixteen, There's no easy games the World Cup stillill some are easier than others And I'd say of the off the sort of five or six probable contenders, they probably have the simplest one to the semif final. Yeah, Messy again, Mark Good isn't even as good yet. It didn't start. I You why bring him on in the first place Well nice to see Gio Lasel, so Id forgot about him. he was somebody that you know, I hadn't realized he was in the squad really. you know, I'm sure it was kind of in the back of my mind, but yeah, he just sort of popped up and they were able to rest like virtue their entire eleven. Some teams have been able to do that. others have been more at faull til and that it could be an advantage later on, particularly with the age of some of their players. but They just feel like team that's playing international football. someome of the sides are like thrown together last moment This Argina team has been together such a long time. They all know their roles within the team and the squad and you don't hear of any arguments. Everybody knows that Messi's the star player. It's looking good for them and as Jonathan said, like the draw really couldn't have worked out any better. All right That'll do for part two part three We'll look at the round of thirty two three of the Guardian football weekly. should do tomorrowsames first then we can get into the brackets and the pathways And actually Wilson it's so night tomorrow is a great day. Brazil, Japan, Germany, Paraguay, Netherlands, Morocco. I think Brazil, Japan pererhaps the game of of the round. Yeah, and I'm very lucky that I'm going to it So yeah, we' looking forward to that. slightly annoyed that my flight from Houston to Dallas means I will miss the bulk of the Nher than Moroccco game, but I'd say those two are the Theyre they're the te. Thety standout game or something from this round. I've now lost all confidence in my capacity to understand C Aangegelotti sides because they seem to operate with a different logic to everybody else. so they play quite badly. and then somebody Normi Vinitius does something Aazing Japan I've seen twice, I think they're really good. I think if Cubo is back, which supposedly he should be, that'll give him a bit of creativity that maybe Maybe they lacked in u in that final group game. But I saw them beat Cunizio and they were they were playing well within themselves in that game after they were the first sort of ten, fifteen minutes. They could have been three or four and up and then they eased off. still want it fall ill So I think Japan, I mean' such an odd sentence to say, but I think Japan might have beaten a Brazil in midfield. I wouldn't be surprised if Japan won this. It's going to be I'm really looking forward to. It's going to be a great contrast to sttyles because Brazil or sort of this dysfunctional collective that are inspired by moments of brilliance from star players while the Japanese team are very much Quite a few of their star players aren't there because they're injured So it's just this Brilliant collective who have great team chemistry, they all work for each other And wouldn't be it would not surprise me if they beat Brazil. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it wouldn't surprise me. And Japan On their day, when they get the ball moving quickly, they're really, really good Yeah. I'm going to go back to what I said before the Scotland Brazil game in that Do Japan believe they can beat Brazil? I still so many countries play Brazil with this psychological barrier there of it's Brazil. And you get that in the Champions League with Real Madrid. often you'll think Real Madrid, they're not playing well And yet the team that they're playing against just is not playing the team. They're playing the shirts and the team that Rm was re useded to be. And that would be my biggest concern for Japan because when Morocco played Brazil They were all over them. they were playing better than them and they still couldn't beat them. And like that would that's why I'm probably just edge towards Brazil and Angelotti He is very good at this where it doesn't look like it should work necessarily on paper and it doesn't always work But he's so good at getting the best out of kind of individual star plays. and Vinitius has left his real Madrid formed behind from what was wasn't a good season for him personally and he's Be one of the best players in World Cup. How do you see Netherlands Morocco, Wilson Apart from not seeing it because you're on the plane V one of those seems slightly surprised me that they shouldn't have done because you look at the players and they clearly have good players in every position. Obviously, it's great that Brian Bobb' playing well and has scored three goals and I think he sort of deserved that given his form. in the season and fact he didn't start the first game. he's coming because of injury to to Somerville and I think he's made them better balanced Morocco Yeah, I think Are they are they the best African side ever? I think they probably are. I wouldn't have said that in January necessarily, but I think under Huabi they they've definitely kicked on a level that they they now are playing with more belief you know, I sort of Juring the combinations I didn't really take seriously Morocco fans who were frustrated with how they were playing under the Graggi I sort of thought that's a typical fan fans saying take the handbak off, but maybe you have to play a bit more conservatively. But now Huabi's come in and has taken the handbak off and They look really, really good. So I think it's I think this is fifty fifty. I think it's I was about to say this should go either way, but you know what fifty fifty means? I do. Thank you for explaining it to our new listeners. Barry, Germany, Paraguay I mean this would be an extraordinary upset of Paraguay It would be. yeah. I think Paraguay tried to be expensive and play free flowing football against the USA and got seriously bitten on the arse doing so They ended up getting battered. So in the next two games they ground out the necessary points. required to get them to this stage The game against Australia was one of the worst games of football I've ever seen in my life, but I appreciate both teams were there was a means to an end for both of them U They will try to contain Germany, they will hope to score from a corner a free kick This just isn't a vintage German side, but I expect him to have enough to be Paraguay. Mark now we've got to a last thirty two. That's why we're letting you go Be we we don't need toeter to someone to go if they play there if they finish there, who's going there and Marks just very diligently just you're not going out shut up like the rest of us I enjoy it. I enjoy that the math behind working out where the fir placeace teams are going and I love a bracket. you know I don't like basketball, but I feel like I should for March Madness and I can You know, I can just have the biggest bracket going. But yeah, I think it's a really like Interesting glass thirty two, isn't it? becausecause there the games tomorrow are the best ones and there are some unusual ties and some un some weak like kind of areas where you feel like the US they'll fancy their chances against Bosnia I think they will expect to be Belgium or Senegal at home and then all of a sudden, you know, they're in a quarter fininal. But then like Portugal could play Spain in the last sixteen, Germany could play France, I real heavyweight tussles early on in the competition. Yeah. England's route to the final cough. Yeah said with no belief. So they've got Dial Congo and then the winners of Mexico Ecuador. and that is in the same quarter quadrant, whatever you want to say with Brazil, Japan and Iivory Coast, Norway If you were going to plot that, Wilson, how do you see it going from an England perspective? I mean I think they should be all against ERC, but that game whether it's against Mexic, whether it'sst Euador, adtitude, That's a big challenge. I mean, it's two thousand two hundred and fifty meters above sea level. That's nothing I say having twice tried to going Mexicoity and found it incredibly difficult. m and you Even if Mexico lose to Ecuador Ecuador one of a tiny handful of countries in the world who are even better at Albte than Mexico. So I think it's Tibet and then we played Tibet. will be Real challenge for England. Yeah, I think you're right. Was someone telling me this on the pod? Were you telling me this, M about how to deal with altitude? Yeah, so did we do that on this? I forget. There's a lot of content out there, Maxwell is. didid I do it on selling suunset? I can't remember. Yeah, Christine Quinn was amazed at the kind of the two ways you can deal with altitude. One is is to go very ear in South American qualifying twowo ways that teams tend to do it is one you go very early, you acclimatize and you know you're ready for it as much as you can be. The other way is to go in late and not let it kind of impact you that way. So I mean England, if they get they won't really have a choice because they just have so few days to prepare for it. I just think from England's point of view, even if they get through that last sixteen game And then say they played Brazil in the court finals. that would be in Miami. So they would have gone they would played high altitude lastass sixteen Th then you're playing in the heat of Miami in the quarterfinals. I think and that'd be like a Brazil home game. Yeah I think they'll be blowown out their backside by the semies if they get there to.. Well C Ben Stokes play right back? That's the key. Get him Christine Quinn, like ourselves, is used to altitude because she lives in the top floor of the apartment O maybe we could all play. France you know widely seen as ve played best so far. They've got Sweden and then it's the winners of Germany, Paraguise. so presumably Germany thenen it will be you know, Netherlands or Morocco who be Canada, if, unless, of course, Canada with all due respect to Canada, etcetera. So do you see France France are the most likely to get to the semis in that little bit, aren't theyb? They are. I mean, I think they're the strongest team with the strongest squad, but they've also got the hardest routes. So in sence has worked out It's almost like a handicapping system that it works out really well. that they then have Spain, I think in the semiinal. So as a route to get to the Worcup final Certainly looking at historical precedent, Y're Sweden ' been in a Wlcome final, I mean, admittly not for nearly seventy years thenen Germany, then But Netherlands say Then Spain, that's pretty much as tough as it gets So Yeah, they I think Fans are the best team. That is the hardest rot and maybe they do fault it. Yeah important to point out there's nobody from that Wor cup final nineteen fifty eight team in the current squad Sweden I don't think Sweden A anything to worry about for France I made of only I've had one good game against Tunisia. No, they. I was just trying to ick it up. Sorry. Thank you. Keep people interested in football. What about the other Portual So Portugal play Croatia, Spain, Austria. So we presume Spain would get through I don't know if You don't say that Im Portugal? L I think Portugal might be better when they're playing against a better team and like they've not got the ball and theyre trying to do this thing with Cristiana Ronaldo that's not quite working anyway. I just think Spain have been pedestrian so far. Now that could change if you're now explodes into the tournament, but he isn't fully fit. Williams on the other side definitely isn't fit at the moment and I've not been that impressed with Spain so far. like they should be Austria, but Austria are good at set pieces and might be able to keep it tight. If it becomes a Portugal Spain last sixteen game I wouldn't be I wouldn't be confident that Spain would win that no Belgium Santegal is a really interesting game Wilson, I think. The winners will play the winner of the US. Bosnia So who are we going to see in the last sixteen in that in that little bit. Yeah. I, thats Senegal, Belgiian game is is, I think that's arguably the best balance for these last thirty two tres because I think Senegal are better than we saw in their first two games those games against France and Norway I think they possibly of got a problem with a couple of players who've just sort of you just start to go over the top of the hill just at the same time. So Kulibali, they left out for the third group game. and I think that was necessary Mane hasn't had a good tournament either. Now Mane was very very good It's a combinations. you w S or maybe won it, maybe didn't, we'll find out later. So I wouldn't worry too much about him, but I think Kulibali hass been showing signs of wear for sort of six months or so. So the fact they have finally sort of decided to take that decisition is probably good. And Belgium looked really sort of flimsy and flaky and then Yeah finally they they got together in the third group game as well. So I think that that's a really tight tie. What I will say about Bosnia is They are defensively very good and we know they good at penalties So I look, your I probably should win that But the longer it goes at Nil Nil, the more you think Bostonew' got a good chance. And then the other other four that we sort of touched on Argentine and Kate Verdy will, then they'll play the winners of Australia, Egypt. I met some Sccerus fans in a Australian Cafe this morning U Do you think Mark they can get past Egypt I mean, they can. I mean that looks a difficult one to call. I wouldn't think there'd be many goals in the game. but Australia want to play counter attack. I think Egypts are better when they can counter as well with Marmushin and Salu might be a doubt having gone off quite early in that third game. so I think that one might go all the way to penalties. And you presume Colombia would come out of the Switzerland, Algia on a bit. I think that they might be Argentina as well. I've got them down now as potential finalists. I think Colombia I have been the one of the teams that have impressed me the most so far in this tournament. so many fans there as well. so they're turning games into home matches, but like the defense has been strong. I mean, Davington Sanchzo, he's done no look marking before, but he's doing no look passes against Portugal like the midfield He's been able to rotate players as well like Munios didn't play in that that last match and was very influential earlier on. Luis Diaz is somebody that can, you know win matches on his own Suarez the the striker who scored a lot of goals in Portugal this season didn't play in that last game. Hamz he can't do it for nineteen minutes. So good But he's for sixty seventy minutes. he's still got that ability to open up defenses. So I think they'll get past Ghana. I think they'll beat probably Switzerland in the next round sets up I caught a final against Argentina where I'd go for red cards and a narrow Colombia win. and I don't see any reason if they were to be Argentina why they should then be scared of in England or Brazil. So yeah, I think Colombia are the new dark horses for me. Any other thoughts, Wilson? Yeah, I've seen Colombia twice live and the player who stood out for me who I didn't know anything about is the left B Mojica He gets forward really well delivers the ball really well. So I think here's a link up with Das on that left side is really significant for them Um I mean, I've seen u saw Spain against Uruguay and they were really disappointing. So would completely agree with Mark that I don't trust them to keep going at all and Portugal in that quarter quarter so quarters just four teams involved that bit like bit alone. o bit o something oct o oct bit T Okit yeah Um They they haven't they've failed to score to five of the last six Tournament games U so Yeah, there's a really obvious problem there. We don't need to point out again, but it's not going to go away U ono any other business. spepecifically Mark Langer and a Vvegetable watch. When you announced you had McDonald'sesterday, pizzasays was there pickle on the McDonald's? It was aakfast. It was a breakfast of course. But since then you've had some fried chicken which had pickles in it and you ate the pickles. I like pickles. Yeah, very much. Yeah. Well we saw that on the Instagram diaries. McGudder said Pickles staying is an absolute earthquake of a revelation. TR Marshall said Pickles. Mark Langdon is basically plant based So could we have could we have the final vegetable count? Well today the regular breakfast came back back. honey Nutchheerios. Honey Nut Cheios. Yeah. a solid starter. There was no need for a bridge because while the lunch was supposed to be early. the Uber driver seemed to go all around LA before he eventually delivered the fried chicken to me and Barry. So the chips did not survive the traffic that well. But the chicken burger was topop standard from Gus's fried chicken, add cheese, add mayo and pickles, lots of pickles. So for anybody that's worried about my health, you don't need to I've had my pickles intake and I'm ready to go. And I think dinner is in a steak restur tonight, isn't it I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, we're finishing early so all out for dinner together. Very exciting I might have a little nap first Barry said I'd like a cat today. My super barry is just sleeping whenever I can. Bruce Millington' been touch with a former colleague boss formerer boss. yeah, says Please markark is out there H's a great Lango fact that might give you some fudder. He once told us that at his school they didn't sing hymns in assembly. They sang pop songs, including intriguingly Beeen Around the World by Lisa Stansfield. I still can't get my head around half a school hall full of kids doing that high pitch bit she does towards the end. You may be able to glean more It's true. I mean I've got no added info beyond that, but I mean you know we were told what to do and we delivered it well. So did you have like a hymnook and it went number sixty four, Lisa Stancefield been around the world? I can't remember it's in primary school, but And they have the bit written down when they go, A yea, yeah, y I can't find my baby. I don't know. It must have done. I mean, we couldn't have known the words. So I'm assuming there was some sort of help there. But yeah, young I mean you know, when you're young and you're in school, you don't realize that that's abnormal. But you know we were in school, we did what we were told. Peet's all things' bright and beautiful,arry, isn't it? It's a hardr song to sing reallyally difficult Can there many others that you had to see eightight days a week by the Beatles. we sang that as well. I don't know why. No idea why. you know I don't know if that says anything about my education since and sort of the way I've dragged myself if if we end up doing karaoke tonight You can give us your best Lisa Stancefield. I met Lisa Stansfield. D did you? you was in a bar in Dublin. All right. Very nice woman. Well, that's nice. She used to live in Dublin. I don't know if she might still do. Okay. Did you have a nice chat? We did. Okay Yeah. Did you Did you call me Chuck a lot? Chuck Chuck. All right, Chuck. She's very Northern. Chuck Glendenning for our Chuck. Chuck Glenning sounds like someone who comes sort of seventh in the TPC at Sawgrass quite a long. Chuck Glndenning IId. I'd tell you I'd take a cuple of the seventh place finishes at Sawgrass you wouldn't be the last you to see me. Anyway, Mark, it's been a great pleasure. So thank you for coming. Thank you. Thank you I really enjoyed it. Yeah. I mean I suppose I seem to have built up there's certainly an angry community of tomato eaters have that have been on. but their're lectures and funnily enough are not going to make me change my mind on whether I should eat. people who love tomatoes ' you're going to upset someone. Yeah you know, I was speaking to somebody the other week and they told me they didn't like lamb.. And I didn't sort of, you ever go. I didn't dress them down for not liking you know the best meat around for know for a Sunday roast. I just said, Oh, okay. And we moved on and both enjoyed the rest of our day. I say I don't like tomatoes. tomatoes sts. The tomato ultras can do one, yeah All right, well thank you Bark. Thank you Wilson, thanks me to type out. The word I was looking for was eight. I I was m of eight days a week. I was finding about your octus. We'll see you in New York. Now now he's wondering who Lisa Stansfield is Lisa Stansfield' from Rochdale. I know that and Yeah, I once got death threats from the Oxford University Vvegan Society Mark, I have suffered from vegetableleases. Well, I am on myself. Fruiters don't upset the tomato a lot any more than we already have. That'll do for today. Thanks everybody. Thank you, Wilson Cheers on you. Thanks, M. Thank you much.heers,arry. Thankk you. Potb Weekly is produced by Roy Simon and Matt Bentley Viny, our execive producer Joe Grove will be back tomorrow This is the Guardian