Ronaldo's Performance and Striker Roles

Man United might have to start reevaluating Marcus Rashford situation Gay Yeah You said you said I'm happy for buying parties. I'm happy for bu parties. They both moved on. I'm happy to change You know, everybody's. I'm not wrong and strong. That's not my game. Wow I'm happy to change Yes guys, welcome to the latest episode of Rio Rex. I'm here up in the Hollywood Hills in this Airbnb. Look at this place, man. this Airbnb house is flying the views, the pool, the gym over there. You can't even see, but I'll show you later. getet on the vlog, you'll see it. But you know what? we got to start somewhere. We're gonna to start. Oh man, completely happy to be here. Obviously big results, England and Portugal, which we will talk about Would you want to start real? You got to start in England,n't it You got to start England. Harry Kane inspired. Yes. Harry Kane inspired England. You know what You want to start this tournament with a win. You want to get a win. We've done that The most impressive thing for me, right? one was Thomas Tuool. Yes. and talking about how bold he's been with in terms of notot listening to the nise, doing what he wants to do Huge demands on individuals in the game that we witnessed. Yeah And The substitutions the the boldness, the kind of aggressive substitutions The amount of attacking plers that he brought on Tols end of the game completely changing a dynamic in that sense. Yeah. And I think I'm looking at it as an opposing player and an opposing coach And I'm thinking I don't want to play England It's true. That's. You know what I haven't seen that kind of attacking fret come on all season because you know my manager' not on that. But I want to bring it back to Harry Caine. I was the last England manager with massive Noz he had the box of tricks. Yeah. didid this mean nothing Everyone's been saying what's going to be different about this England team in this tournament? I think the manager' the big difference Yeah. And I think that I just think he's an aggressive manager on the front foot And and isn't just going to try and like sit there and and kind of not hope, but okay, we're going to just be on the backfot and just really try and try and win something. He's saying I'd rather go out there. And if we don't do it, it's because we've a because we've not tried because we've gone out there and we just aren't good enough. Yeah point on the subs though. What should have took Hurricane off. I want to talk about Harrryicane actually U the What's his role saying now for England? you know what I mean? What did you make of his role? and how did you see it yourself Match winner. That's it. Go beyond the pitch where you can be of impact because he's not going to play on the last shoulder anyway. So there's no point having him there. Let him come and get involved in a Link Cup play because his first touch is a joke. his vision is a joke. He will find you if you make runs. It shoulds just the wingers's jobs to stay high cheat a little bit and make the runs and he'll find you simple as that How many goals is it so far this season for him real? We spoke of fifty something goals something over fifty goals. like he he is he is our only genuine world class player right now. like I think there's others teetering around it U But he's the one who's like the absolute world class player right this second if you're talking about players and you go who's who's at the top table and sits there comfortably with all of them. Yeah. He's that guy for England Yeahah. And today I thought Deckan Rice was magnificent his delivery into the box from set plays and open play was great. So Anderson played really well today as well. I thought Maduke now listen, I think he's he's had some criticism in his career This guy is made of the right stuff. He's resilient played today instead of succer Right And he was our most dangerous player in the first half in terms of getting the balls into dangerous areas and crosses and runs off the ball. You got the pen as well, don't forget gotot the penalty. And I think that again, he's meant to be a fringe player. Like then the manager brings on man the manager brought on Rashford and Scer and Morgan Rogers. there ain't there's only France who can compete with that C still in the back. What Com C Manan even come on in the pitch, but there's only only France can compete with that debt. I'm telling you. Spain have got great players. They got a great team here, but the name brands that he's bringing on like that Now that Who would have said four years ago that Rashia andaka wouldn't start the first game of a World Cup And you still win and you still win as well Ctely. And you know, the good thing is as well, all those players now they've got experience in winning as well, you know, So it's like You know, L Liga, Europa, Premier League. it's really good for the team. I want to ask you about Jude Bellingham Tal to me about Judan. what are you saying Dude man. I mean, there was people even questioning should he start or not and and talking about oh, he's got an ego and he's got he might be a problem. That's why Jordan Henderson's there to help protect him and to Throw this guy Don you don't do what he's done in this short time he's add in the game with that having a bit of arrogance with that. Having a character, without having a presence, without expecting to be the number one guy because that's all you've been all your career since you were ten, probably years old Yet, why change him He's got this far and become this good and being one of the most integral main players in that team and you're telling me he needs to turn it down or not. please I'm not having it Yes, you want him to play within your guidelines that you have if you're a manager. But don't please I can't accept anyone trying to tell me it is a problem. This guy is one of if not the only one alongside Harry Kane. who at the biggest moments H presence gets bigger in the stadium. I mean, Haram Mcuire said that didn't? he said like, you know what I mean? like that's why he has to play. But how would you encourage this ego that you're talking about and manage it at the same time. Yeah I'd say go on just be you. whatever you however you approach these games, be you, but all I'm saying is I want a little bit more discipline within the way that you play within our structure. As long as that's kept in shape 's he's gesturing, he's posturing as a human as even his celebration, I love it because it's like, I am the guy That's what you need. The biggest and best players want to be the guy Not all of them can be the guy Jve shown already. He's both for him He wants to be and he can be the guy Do you agree Yeah, and his goalss class today class goal Yeah And you celebrated it, didn't you? Nearly. I celebrated Rford. I had there was a couple of nice balls in the final third that he played, but I don't think Jo it was one of those games where both teams shared the ball quite well. that you the ability of the Croatia team so technical and they had some really good players that surprised us You didn't really get the lion's share of possession that you would I think he played stones to have a bit more possession and it didn't really work out that way. England really struggled. In fact, Joah, I think I said it before the tournament but the defense today was awful. And I think the defense was the one major, major worry. It might be personnel, it might be relationships in there, but that defense is not going far. I think the rest of the team could Uhh Jonn Stonees playing, I'm against that. I thought Mark Gay would be the starter. I thought he was the number one centreback. Obviously that's not the case, right Jon Stone doesn't play on the left hand side for club or country ever normally. And but he's obviously, I think been put there to accommodate and to support the young left back you know rider that plays at Man City as well I people have to understand when you change sides as a center half, it's a massive thing. I think if you put Van Dyke on the right side of the center halves, you'd lose ten percent, twenty percent of the player And I consider him probably the best. he's been the best in the last five years, right to everyone I think it happens to. and I just think that the balance doesn't look right and a gay plays on the left. I think you just got to play gay and then it's have other stones or Co on the other side But yeah defensively I thought that's the only thing that I looked at and thought That doesn't look as clean and as crisp as we are going forward. But what I would say Their two goals are two special goals They were well worked goals, technically very, very high, high level. So I don't think you can go too hard defensive when you say the attacking Powis of Croatia today in those moments was of a high standard. You're talking about how it affects center backs Wh Why does it make such a difference when you switch sides? Not just the foot. So there's two sides of it. on the ball and defensively. So on the ball, when you've got the ball and then you're being pressed and what will happen if you're not natural coming out of that side on your left hand side, teeams will just force you there. So the press will come from this side and just make sure you go that way and everyone presses in because they know they're not your strong side. So then all of a sudden Your options become very limited on your weaker side. And if you're not used to that, you going end up playing playing the ball out of play giing the ball into supplies into bad positions and then defensively You got to remember that you're on the opposite side of the pitch. So when you're defending the positions, the shapes the way you go into something is all on a different side. So you're doing it on your left hand side over there where normally you're used to going out to you help your right back on that shoulder. So everything you're seeing is opposite to what you're normally seeing. These are small details when you think about it, but when you're in game, they're massive because Football has become good at things through doing lots of reps and seeing those pictures on a regular basis Now, if you're now sprung into a new situation, seeing new pictures, you do need time to adjust. Some players need more time than others and I thought today those adjustments hadn't hadn't tak place, especially at that level as well, and it's massive. Steve, spoke about England's defense. you said it was poor, but how did you feel about the way Tkool set up the team overall. It looked like when we didn't have the ball it was like a four two four almost. like we tried to set up against their backline. left the two midfielders just sort of protecting the deal a little bit and then a narrow back four Nothing wrong with that inherently, but I thought the distance was really compact and I'm thinking with the pace that you've got against the pace that they've got Why are we leaving at least one up? Like let them think about us a little bit, especially at one nill. At Nil Nill, you might want to be a little bit more conservative, but at one nill, like Let them think about you, that's an extra player that's not in the recycling of the ball and it's an extra threat or they just they leave him and try and recycle a ball and then it's a quick turnover There was two things that was happening. One, we weren't getting over the halfway line because their press was so good and we was reluctant to kind of smash it and go into the channel and fight for it But because their press was so good and we didn't have any depth, it just meant that we lived in our heart for longer than you want. And that needs fixing because don't I'm not sitting here thinking Croatia's got the best press on Earth. There's going to be teams that will press way better than that and we willll cover more ground than them So you need to have a way of playing through it. and I think that needs either a hold upp man, a little bit like youited have done this season with Cesco that can get on it Oh You do put it into the channel, but you need some paste that's stayed high and wire to get on it, stick it in the house space and see Right man, we' got loads still touma out on this pod, but we'll be back sh High interest debt is one of the toughest opponents you'll face Unless you power up with a so far personal l 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 d. com slash power to learn more That's soFi d. com slash PoW E L loans originated by SfFi Bank NA, member F theIC, terms of conditions supppply andMLS six nine six eight niney one So too Cool got' messaging right to the team today Yeah, yeah you' were saying do as I told you to Pickford. And that's I love that as well I've got a way we want to play I'm telling you to abide by that orr you'll be off and by the way, I'll scold you in front of millions L that for me, again, great signals, great messaging and a great statement to his team I'm not here to be messed about. We've got a short time I here together to try win this competition. Listen to me, I know how to win Steve, I saw you. I don't care what you say. I saw you celebrating Rashford's goal. There was we got there was a wasp. Now got got a clip. We got to insert a clip somewhere here. I mean, talk to me about his importance when it comes to coming on and you know pack that he has. I mentioned earlier on he's an illegal winner. There's confidence in him. What did you see that you liked? He's had an allright season, but I always think international footballs being nice to Marcus. I think it suits him in a big way to be honest with you. Like I was annoyed at the last World Cup how little he was used because he was our best player Like he was a most dangerous player Um I think it was a complete toss of a coin because of how the seasons have gone for both of whether it was him or Goden Goden was going to give you a little bit of a press, probably a little bit more of a fightback. but I think You'll you'll see him. You might see him for for sixteen, might see him for thirty, but you will see him And he's still got the ability to buy goals and the goaly score today was nice. Yeah. So please for him. You know, you know what? I think that Marcus restaurant, you see the maturity and you see actually the Barcelona phase in his career has worked out in a way that he now understands his role He was given a role at Barlona. you're going to be an impact player at times have to come on and change games for us and play that role. Sometimes you will start, but mainly that was his role And with England, it seems that could be his role Yeah. Golden starts. there's no stw he comes on impacts the game That's a huge asset to the squad to this in this competition because you need those players, those role players to play their part. And like I say again, when you're on opposing fullback and you see Marcus Rashard warming up at seventy five minutes you are looking over to the bench and saying, please get my number ready and take me off. I'm subbbing out myself because I don't want that smoke. You don't want that smoke Start of the game Let alone at seventy five minutes when your legs, the lactic acid is building, you almost a white flags out almost anyway. and then he's coming on and motoring with a with the intensity and the intent to go and hurt you. That's the key point. ain't coming on to see the game m. He's coming on say, no, I want to be I want to get on a score sheet. I want to score goals. There's no letting up here. there You know what Ill say again, I don't think there's going to be many teams. I'm not trying to boost England too much, but I just think with the way that the manager set them up and the way the manager made the substitutions, there ain't going to be many teams. They're going to be looking forward to playing against England. Which kind of teams could have that impact when those players come on like France obviously France can do it. Spain can do it still. I don't. there might be some less un known names for Spain. but they're such a great well well olded machine They've got players that can come and change it as well. It's true. I mean confidence Game by game Do you see us improving with that? And which areas do we need to work on as well Defensively we're going still have to do some work defensively playing through the press. I think will be something because first off I thought especially when we started the game we struggled playing through the press, but we warmed into that but like Stis said, there's going to be teams that press better than Croatia. So we've got they had two areas for me defensively U and also when when we're playing playing out for ear from the goalkeeper Same of you or. Literally ye but you, there was there was sometimes the spacings didn't feel right No there wasn't like basic stuff like letting it bounce in wrong areas and like that, but you know, you dealt with a good team in Croatia And that second goal was a disgrace A disgrace Yeah in a good way. What do you mean? He's an unbelievable girl Oh sorry, good care. Who second goal? first second toace second. Oh o yeah G great goal. Well let's move onto another game. I mean before that, you came up early today. You weren't meant to be until like midday. I woke up extra early. You early You came in to train. I don't know where you were. but we were training this. I was at the gym reo. What was you? Oh, you You know what I've noticed of you're quite a selfish, you wouldn't be good in a team of sport You' quite a selfish guy you just wantan to look after yourself. a program and it. Yeah, but you're on a program I' w on a program, but mean I'm incorporating my man, here. Re? I did a thousand meters in the pool. Yeah, we could have done about a thousand I can do a thousand meters in this pool. You could have, the turning' important Do know what I mean? I just think that you could have just come up here, shared the love a little bit, become part of the team. It's not just to come in. It just feels very transactional at the moment. Exactly. Nbling, man.ot Nibling. Not even close to Niblin. But now the game Congo versus Portugal. Massive obviously, we've got a Congolese member here. Yes. Absolutely massive. What did do you think? fromom doctor Congo? You know what? first five minutes, I thought we were in trouble here When I saw Joal Nervous' goal go and I thought, o really good headed by the way, I thought we're struggling. you can see that we were nervous in the first five minutes and it's normal we haven't We've been in the World Cup for what fifty two years and prior to today, we hadn't ever scored a World Cup goal. So but we say I know they stuck in there man. nextext thing you know, we're pressing we're pressing Aaron Wambasaka stopping them coming down the line and then boom, great cross in whista with a fantastic goal. And I'll be really honest. I sat with him recently ye Rio And I sorry When When speaking about Newcastle? You can tell, he knows he's got a lot of work to do Not at his most confident at the moment. but when he talks about Congo, that's the man that you saw today. And yeah honestly it was it was really important for us, man. So I bet the Congo streets tomorrow. I don't think anyone's going to work. That driraw is going to feel like a Is that the story though? I think there's a different angle on this different story.. We've seen all of the biggest gunslingers, the best guns slingers the goals scorers in the game Yeah Harland stepped up yesterday and Bapeay stepped up with two Messy went, I'll go one better and get a hatrick. Yeah. Hat's got two. Balligan. Balligans got two But the gold scores the number nes.ue I mean they're scoring two goals, right?. And then it was Christiano Ronal's turn and everyones sitting there and going, Will he do it?ill Obviously didn it didn't happen for him. I told you our first episode here can't play? I think the can't play. I think the difference is minutes at the end. Myself and producer George were talking about this earlier and we said We reckon that Even though he hasn't scored, it will be Ronaldo like to come back the next game and score a race and then shy everyone up. Don't get me wrong. They played with T manan. Yeah Well yeah, don't get me wrong. He was not he was non existent. stop sugar coating it. No I just said he's nonxistent today. And I'm happy about that. You know, I mean, this is the game where I didn't want him to show up. but one thing I've learned about this man is you can't write him off too soon. Remember I wrote him off in Germany? Where's he done since then? Score the Bager goes. Nations League, man's w the Saudi League, you know what I mean? L he's done incredible stuff since so you never know, man. Whatart I see a lot of people talking about him. He doesn't run, he don't get involved. He don't touch the ball if he doesn't score and blah, blah I understand what you're saying to a point, but those same people will go A's great, isn't it O Haand doesn't touch the boys touched ball six times and scored Now the problem is, if you don't touch the ball and you don't score, then you're going to get that level of criticism. But the venom with which I think people approach Ronalarddo Given that he plays in a very similar way in terms of having very little interactions involvements during the game. And he's just there to score goals now Haraland gets credited for that. and he gets vilified for it Does he get credit for it real? Who is Harlan because we've seen many times in Premier League he's been criticized by a lot of a lot of players because of that. Even as Latand the other day came out and he said a quote where he he himself said he's seen Harlland say He'd rather have two touches and two goals. It end Latin said something like, well, I'd rather have two touches and three goals. I mean? So not everybody praises him on that And I reckon Harand just does it the best at the moment. That's why it's easy for people to ignore He does it the best I just think H Harland and rightly so there's just different styles inn't it? D differentnt styles of players go out there and perform and play And it's really what your manager wants from you Now Harland with Man City and obviously even with to a certain extent with Norway is the focal point is get up front, occupy the defenders, allow others to play in between and then the chances will come and then it's down two to finish And I think that's a little bit like Christiano Ronaldo with Portugal. Go and stay out there, occupy the defenders, give others space to play and then the opportunities will come. had opportunity today If score if he scores one of those opportunities it's a different story. It's a different narrative that we're talking about What I'm saying is I reckon No disrespect to Christiano because he's still the guy, but I reckon Harlan finishes those chances. Yeah that's if buttss and maybeies. That's if butts and maybe loved it. my point is Christiano hass got almost a thousand goldm. So you can't sit there and say that. Pe credit Harland and say, wow he's such a qu clinical player and he he doesn't even have to have many touches of the ball and just scores and he's happy doing that And that's a that is a for me, that is an unbelievable skill because Harand knows what he's good at That's probably I think one of his most pent and biggest assets other than he's finishing is that he understands, I'm not a dribbler. I'm not someone who needs to go deep and get involved and if I'm not having touches, I don't get frustrated. I know what I'm here for Yeah Christiano at this stage of his career is a playow who stays up doesn't need many touches at ball, doesn't want many touches at. You think it's because the ceiling and the standard is so high. we think about him at Man United and we think about him, you know at Real Madrid and It's almost like audience, the fans can't accept the fact that his game is different. Yeah, I agree. and I think that like Christiano the chances normally come to him now he's missed two chances today, right? that people would normally expect him to bag. For ninety nine point nine percent of his career, he bags them chances. Yeah. So like he just didn't he didn't have a good game today d in terms of the most important part of his game, which he is finishing. Yeah. I mean, talking about Harry Kaine, one of the top strikers, Latan said that not only is it great that he score two goals but he liked the fact that he was defending outside his D, you know. That's that's where when you're looking at the top strikers, is it fair to say they're putting in a little bit more work than Christiana Christiano's forty one. notot allain's thirty three. And Bap aint it's a Chrian. and buapet cheets Messy cheatets There's a lot of players are cheating Is messy cheating? Yeah. Or is he walking in waiting., that's cheating. What's he being asked to do? That's the question. That's the important thing. What is Mbae getting asked to do? What's Harand getting's Tain getting ar to do. Tain We saw a closer version to By and Kane than any other game we've seen for England, I think today. That's true. because he's on the edge of his box Rrieving the ball, playing passes into people from a deep area and being on the end of things in the box, right But he's blocking one on the line by the way. Yeah later on in the game But he's may be being asked to do different things under Tcor now, being allowed to do different things What's Cristiano Ronaldo being asked to do? And I'll bet and I'd guarantee he's being asked to stay high and occupy two defenders and then the chances will come. What happened today Stay high, chances come. But then the critical point is today he didn't finish the two chances. Yeah. Now how often in our lifetime watching Christiano Ronardo are we sitting here going He's had two chances and has even got close to finishing it? Well disappointed. He's normally slaped the goals in the back of the net and we're sitting there going what a play again. we want to wrap up on this Harricane topic. We saw what he said after the match. I mean, he credited two kl for the words that he had for the team at halftime. That's some big stuff right there, man Yeah, I think you we spoke about this at the beginning of the pod. I think but we could see that it's like What he said there basically was like, if we're going to lose we're going to lose playing the way that we want to play. and that's in a real front foot attacking manner. and in terms of the substitutions, the aggressiveness of that. And I think it's a great a great point. And I think it's a manager putting his stamp on the team, his personality, his character on this team. And I think the more and more this this tournament goes, I get a good feeling that we're going to grow and grow into a better, more forceful and more dominant team in this in this tournament and the confidence is going to keep grow. I'm not going to get out of my pram and go too hard and go too early I'm really, really confused by what I saw today, mainly, especially from the substitutions late on in the game because I think that is one of the things that held us back in previous tournaments. I know you were happy to hear that. I'm just thinking he's off his nut because that defense ain't winning anything. Yeah How far do recck can England get? afterfter seeing what you saw today I just think we outscore teams Maybe. I don't know, it was pretty cool supposedly today and there C the heat stifle that, sllow the games down a little bit It's a long tournament this one. I think it depends on the draw could get Spain in the next round or somethingone like that. deepends where we're finishhing the group. So I don't know. I think you would expect quarter semis Yeah, hundred semis like I just think we minimum is semis given our past couple of tournaments and Yeah You know what I would say though, before we leave May United might have to start reevaluating Marcus Rashfords situation. Reog Yeah You said you said I'm happy for parties. I'm happy for parties. They both moved on. I'm happy to change You know, everybody' not stage. I'm not wrong and strong. That's not my game. Wow I'm happy to change Marcus Rusard it seems like he's matured the time away from the club on him good that he needed and it's cleansse both parties. And is it time? Is it time? I'm not sure sh come back. Well I think the first time he misses a tackle doesn't trp back misses an open hard for him the fan base would armor him. Before we wrap up guys, just before we wrap up, where's your armbands arbant Listen, they got the rubby duckies already in there. All I need is the armbands and I'm ready and a speedo hat as well something you know what I mean? Yeah I'm ready to go. but listen, that is it for Ro Reacts today. Obviously the tournaments kicked off England