Closing Remarks and Future Streams

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So make it a good one. Search Champions Travel. Summer weekends are all about family, sunshine, and making memories together. Before everyone arrives, I stop by my local total wine and more to pick up a great bottle Maybe a favorite we already love, or something new to enjoy with dinner on the patio. With so many bottles to choose from, it's easy to discover something amazing. and with the lowest prices, it's easy to grab an extra bottle for the table. Not sure what to pick, their friendly guides are always there to help. Find what you love and love what you find, only at total wine and more Cerbside pickp and delivery available in most areas. Visit totalwine dot com to learn more. Spirits Not sold in Virginia and North Carolina. drrink responsibly must be twenty one Hello and welcome to the TFo Football podcast. I'm Joe Deivine and I hum my own flute. Yeah there we go. That sounds like aute. Well, what a start. It's not exactly what I expected that to sound like something can't get cut. Yeah, somethingomet can't get cut. It's live stream. L. There we go. Anyway So I have my own flirt There is. Anyway, I'm delighted today to be joined by' surprising Steph was going to go toeed but he' laughing. So instead I'll go to Ryan Han. Hello Jo. Allright, how's it? All right, thanks, man, how are you? I'm good. Thank you. I'm just having a terrific time here. Also, wow, wow, what a special treat. Joined of course by Muusarawanga. I'm going to clap for Musara Kanga Ryan I clapped to you the first day youalked in. All right, I can't Capping I't I can't believe either. It's veryous. And our third and final guess, it's only a little old Stestaff of bllw. There he is. Hey Pal Hey man, how you doing? I'm really good. I've been humming my on gloom.. it's good, I'm really good I'm really good. Anyway, this is kind of an unofficial slash official Stadio TFo crossover. If you're a listener to the TFo footbodcast and you haven't listened the St studio podcast, today's your opportunity to jump sh in folks. That's it. There you go We've just been joined by Musa Ryan and Seb to watch through the Belgium Iran game, which was like one of the more fun Nil Nil games at this World Cup tournament so far. And what else are we talking about on today's episode? Well, a bumper packed one I've got. Belgium Iran, of course, we're going to talk a little bit about Spain who put four goals past Saudi Arabia earlier on this afternoon. Ecuador and Groupy. What's happening for Ecuador? We'll talk about that Cuso Getting a nill draw. Wh players this is the second half. Now which players are putting themselves on the map at this World Cup tournament? Find out a little bit later on. And with the sort of spiritual power rankings changing every day, what are the panel's thoughts on what the final of this tournament will look like? There's also a Rndo thrown in there too. I accidentally prepared it and so now Ryan has to compete. It was supposed to be the other way around, but I sort of forgot for a moment instinctively And we'll check in briefly on points of bad, but since I'm the only real player here today, we won't be actively playing it. There we go. Did I miss anything, Ryan? I dont think so. All right. Well, after someone has later added music to this bit, we shall do a podcast. Yes, there we go. Okay. Starting with Belgium Nil. Nil Iran tightly contested Nil Nil, of course played out between Belgium and Iran in what we're calling the group of drawers. The group of drawers. I'm sure people listening to this tomorrow will know whether or not Egypt or New Zealand was a draw, but I have my fingers crossed that it will be. That'll make the third round Very much fun Belgium tried to take charge of the game, but Iran was pretty tricky to break down and a sixty seventh minute red car for Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy set up a fascinating last twenty minutes. Mus we just watched this one. Thoughts of the game generally? I thought they both could value for it. Belgium were quite enterprising, I think, particularly in the start the second half Iran just so resilient at World Cups and they continue that trend. Yeah, absolutely. I mean they won't be sorry, there will be Belgium will be disappointed not to have taken a win in either of the first two games. I mean both tricky games, but They would have fans would have wanted at least one win. I think yeah, this is a subpar performance really you expect maybe four points at least from these two openers The abence of Jeremie Docu for personal reasons is expecting his first child to be born undernderstandable, but in his absence, Belgium didn't have the joker to open them up. and I don't they used use their fors that well. they weren't very dynamic an attack in terms of movement. so they kind of got what they deserved, I think. Yeah, somewhat didn't they? They I think we saw towards the end of the second half, I didn't see the final game XG although I expect it wasn't that different because when we saw the statistic it was just before the red card Yeah yeah. They created over one XG. There was one or two opportunities he felt like that maybe they could have done better. but didn't finish that game feeling like Belgium should have won No, absolutely. I agree with that. And again, Iran just full credit to them over they're going through off the field, but also just so well organized, effectively playing with a back seven at certain points. mayaybe could have been a bit lucky with the Tami free kick beautifully worked. But apart from that, I guess they pretty much optimized what they had out there. Yeah very impressed Chad, Kevin De Broyer Yes, who was a kind of icon for and still is an icon, but was an icon for such a long time in the Premier League. He was benched with ten minutes to go in this game at Neil Mill, which which you know And it comes for everyone, time does, it's sad, but it feels as though that's a bit of a sea change for the Belgium team Well, I don't know, Jon, I think it was one of those things where you have to try something because if you're if Kevin De Brneer, you you're a creator, you're a deep line playmaker and number ten all at the same time And you kind of depend on what's happening in front of you. We made this observation at halfim. we said Belgium got to take more risks to win this game. in the absence, we've covered Docu not being there. In the absence of a speed dribler, someone with really aggressive ambition, someone who can do things with quick turns, in small amounts of space, you can change the game in that way you're it kind of I don't know I'm not sure what else Kein DeBronne could have done in that game. Yeah because everything that he was set up to do Iran dealt really well with they defended their box very, very well. They took away the space in front of the penalty box too. But they targeted DBroyer a little bit. But the heavy challenges went in But then that's why you probably need more support for him becausecause if you're Iran heading into that game and your game planning, your defensive strategy is right. anyone else can beat us. it's not going to be the buiner. right becausecause that's the obvious threat. That's the one that you try most to take away So yeah, I mean, I I I'm not quite as down on Belgium as everybody else Potentially I'm not down Belgium. I just mean generally It was like watching mess without D Maria, wasn't it? Yeah know that you're the The outlets And also I've got to say this as well, the referee did not penalize Iran enough for some of these fouls. There was a point certainly half through the first half where if hed started giving yellows then It would have sent a message, but then it just really I mean, there should have been a red for I think for the Foul on Troad actually. Yeah That was on the studs down the that is going to look worse and worse upon review. And I just think if the rest's going to be prroudact him give the red that he should have given to En Goy, by that standard of diligence, we should have seen two or three more cards from him. Ion. agree completely. It was one of those situations, wasn't it where the red for Enngoy was was you know, forced, right? There's no way of not giving that but. If I was the referee in that game and I'd let some of the other challenges go, my heart would be dropping. I think o this That's what I'm saying, that's the level that red He was so assertive, so proactive. It felt like other times he was just there was preamble, there was small talk, and there was no actual card. Yeah. What's that thing a little less conversationalational action?'s energy, you know? I mean, thinkking about this Belgium team overall. Obviously we're missing Docu maybe Docu' Docu I mean, is Docu the protagonist of this era of the Belgium team? mayaybe he isn't yet, but I'm looking at Players are started today Laku de Brinne, Trosard Munier, who I think might be fifty years old possible. Telerman's who you know you know, it's not an old player by any means, but like is a player I would argue who's at the perhaps towards the end of his generation. it's I mean, I strgg to call it a transitional team. It's a team knows in between areas. It feels like it's still on clinging onto the previous era. That's why I'm wondering is Daku the kind of center of the next generation of this team? I think it would have been handy today for sure. I know that actually there was a lot of talk about him going home for the birth of his child. He was actually ill. it was a respiratory illness thing that difficulty in a training session as well. Yeah Garcia said that they, you know, they have to be careful not to overplay him because of that issue. so I think they're trying to st back But if you actually look at the game I think that Belgium didn't do a huge amount wrong in terms of their approach to it. I think they cre they were working the ball especially in the second half we We're talking about on the live stream how felt like they noticeably went up a level and were working the ball into much better areas. Yeah. But I think when you have a defense as well organized and as kind of stubborn as the Iran defense, someone like Docu It's so handy just to throw a defender on their wrong foot. It's just that and in games like that, it sounds hugely cliche Belgium could have come away with that with a one no win and no one's really being like, o yeah well actually would have been the narrative would have been a lot more like actually they just stay patient, they waited for the opportunity and they got the job done. Do you remember the game that Man City played against Everton towards the end of the last season? Lague Terran City played badly. And yet he's there doing things that ch could potentially change the course of the game it might have changed the course of the title race You don't if you have a player like that in your side, you don't have to build a lot of momentum, you don't have to create a lot of chances. you can do something and snatch a victory from it. Yeah. What also say, Joe is there are enough players on the pitch where H they performed up to better standard. We wouldn't necessarily be talking about Docu, the Briner Lukaki, Tillerman' is there Troroside is there Salamakas is there. they amongst their unused substitutes Ch Cataler, Andrea Nana This is a strong side. Yes that' between areas, it's not the goolden genereneration, sorry, quote unquote. This is still a team that should have won this game. Yes. Actually, sorry to jump in, but I' actually it's not because of My arsenal bias But I was actually quite impressed with Trosssard because it looked like he was the player along with when D Broner was getting so much coverage and in that first half he was on the receipt there was a moment where he looked to the referee almost to be like Dud He' let that just ye Yeah He was getting he was drawing so much coverage that Tosard in the second half seemed to move a little more centrally and actually try and get on the ball a little more work work more from a central position, which is something that He has done over the last couple of years at timimes Aral, but it's usually been when he's done ed as like a false nine or dropped into he hasn't he didn't really do it last season but the season before he quite often played as onene of the eight A'maduanna I called him Andre, I think. Oh, didid you? No. I've done that before. It's like a mental tick like when I used to call, it's called Denver Bar Ivorian. and he's actually from Senegal. didid it again and again and again and again I used to call Cultovigo Cultvigo. For a man as cos and as cosmopolitantan as you, that's quite. Guys, I can't list the number of you can chop. So yeah, I think Good point about Troa and I feel like actually Belgium's front line could and should have been more fluid M generally. they might say, look, in our defence, Docu is the leading Pret much in terms of elite dribblers, you could argue like he's the best at what he does Like it's arguable. if you look at like all of the kind of, you know from PSG across the city, the amount of like ball carrying he does because the PSG forwards you know just don't play as much football. Yeah. Docku in terms of like the amount of ball carrying, successful dribbles, penetrated dribbles and can score off either foot either flank is a huge asset. That's like that's like a W Cup winning asset. Like Docku could start for a World Cup winning team Yeah And he was missing. and that is just Iran take one look at that and go actually O day jobs going be a lot easier today because that guy's not there. So we've gott to mention that. I think from a purely functional point of view, Belgium would be fairly happy with that, I think because the process if you want to use that was fine. But then to use a basketball analogy I think it were Andrew the most O and R moment from the free kick, which was genuinely brilliant and well worked. and a real shame that It was just a backside away from being a lovely goirl. What do we call it in the studio, Ryan? Spiritually on sideide. It's a very stadioism. It's one of the most spiritually ons sideide golals upps I've ever seen.ve seen, yeah yeah. What a quick shout for Iran's goalkeeper as well, Ali Reza Berenvan, who had a great performance and has some of the best hair I've ever seen on a footballer. phenomenal. B wr. So he under be assignment The alignment was have good hair. Be if you're a goalkeeper, actually spend more your time starting than the player, right? So you're effectively a statue at certain points.es. you've got to look like one and the man was frankly was sculpted. Also is there a better position on the field in which to have long hair? Because one of the fears of course, if you're an outfieill player you got to do a lot of scanning, the hair can get in your eyes unless you pin it back. If you're a goalkeeper, you're really just diving. and when you're doing that, there are a lot of slow motion replays of your diving Luscious locks bouncing in the wind, counterpoint What if you're a wingback and you spend ninety minutes running back and forth and blows in the air? You look very athletic. You like like the dragon from the N endnding store, exactly there. Then the Palamaldini was of the headband Yes. And then you've got this sort of mix. you've got sort of the cropped elements so there's a control but it's flowing Yeah contontrol pl L era Nestor. mayaybe that was a good look, I think Can you imagine looking like that There are men that look like they walk the earth and they look like this and they play football to that level.. It's almost like, oh, how did you get all of that? Like, o I also play professional football. Yeah, thanks, buddy. I mean to our credit. I mean, I suppose Can you imagine how much slow we would be sort of getting around life if we had hair, all that extra air resistance. I think I'll be really slow because if I looked like that and had hair like that, I would walk very slowly everywhere. You also I mean, you're a very aerodynamic man. just That's true. that's tr. I've never y ye. Yeah. I've neverissed I've never missed the flight for that reason. I always make my gate ye. One last st on Belgium before we move on. I heard someone saying the other day. I think this was a topic of debate online that Roberta Martinez, you know that the old criticism of Roberta Martinez is that he wasted Belgum's golden generation. I don't know that that's necessarily true. I mean, I think it's reductive. You think it's reductive? No I wanted to ask, I was just looking back at their there how far they made it in previous World Cups. I'd forgotten that in Qatar, they didn't make it out though Group stage. G France in twenty eighteen. That's right. Yeahah. And obviously they but they did, you know, in the twenty in the twenty eighteen World Cup,, you know, third place playoff there U So I don't know, does it feel Is anyone looking at that squadon th think? Well, I definitely should have won the Wld Cup. There wasn't any more in the tank. No. L that twenty eighteen, like? And Bap even vapor trails Felaney having to almost like spraining his ankles trying to mark that guy and they only still got the single goal victory. I just think It theyqu with themselves as well as they in Beli thats a h large country as well. Also look at the teams that ultimately won those tournaments. is right Would you say that Belgium in a one off game would be favorite to be any of them? That sort of. So twenty eighteen, France, no, twenty two Argentine or France? No Now even if you go down to a European championship, I'm still sure that Belgium it's a really good team full of players with whom we are familiar or were familiar because they were Premier League players most of them. doesn't necessarily mean that they had either the deepest or most talented squad It doesn't I think it's a hangout from eighty six. That's my hot t. Ezo SFo. when they had the eighty six Belgium team and then in ninety They don't quite get further. and I think it's the hangover of, oh, can the next Belgian being do it but it's a completely unfair comparison. Prudon the goalkeeper. Do remember?in of the father? Of course, ye,ah, Michelle Prd. It's the sin of the father. Its like oh the kids have to redeem it. so it No, you can't. That is a bare pit. L more international football right now it's like twenty eighteen France No one was beating them. No. They had an extra gear at every single point. Yeah. I'm surprised that anyone beat twenty twenty two, France I will be surprised well I w in twenty six France If Banbape continues heating up like this ness is the correct word. Yeah. Now let's have an advertisement break and when we come back, we'll play ando Ever been at the checkout wishing you had more cash to spend? you're watching the total climb, doing mental math, getting ready to put your favorite yogurt back. It's the worst. Clio lets you access an up toar two hundred fifty dollars cash advance fast, so you can cover your groceries without the panic. No interest, no credit checks, just simple, flexible repayment Get up to two hundred and fifty dollars with Clio and keep grocery shopping stress free. Depending on eligibility, you can get up to a two hundred and fifty dollars cash advance. Terms and conditions apply Finance professionals need trusted insight, they turn to CFA Institute Now, as private markets become essential to modern portfolios, we bring the same commitment to ethics, education and professional excellence that has defined our work for over seventy five years. With professional certificates, a new private markets pathway in the CFA programe, the latest research and more, we are helping professionals build deeper knowledge and stronger judgment in a complex field Visit CFa Institute at cfainstitute. org to learn more. What's on your football bucket list? A European Kight at Anfield? The North London Derby. Seeing the San Cerro. We're sampling some German football culture at Bayer Munich. Whatever it is, tick it off with Champions travel. Official ticket partners are of the biggest clubs in European football, plus the F one, Wimbilding, rugby, and more Trusted by thousands of fans, Champions traravel sorts your ticket, hotel, and hospitality. You just need to pick the game. So make it a good one. Sarch Champions Travel Hey, we're back. Look at that. what a great break that was. We all love that break. Mus did you know what the Rndo is? No, what's that? Here's a Rndo. We play the Rndo midway throughrough a podcast, a little fun game here. It's called The Rondo. I've said that part of it already, haven't I? Now, here's how it works. I give you all question A question that has multiple correct answers. someome may call it a category. o. We go around in a circle like in a rondo. And you give me correct answers. If you give me an incorrect answer, you are ejected from the Rndo. If you dither, dilly dy, take too long. If you're rude to me or I don't like your attitude, I'll eject you from the Rndo myself. And the final person standing is named Rondo Del Ray. I know that's wrong. I know it's wrong. Okay? Please stop telling me it's wrong. I know that it's wrong. But I like how it sounds The question, the category for today's rondo is as follows. What I'm looking for Every British transfer record. now that's in and out. So players that Premier League clubs have sold to foreign teams and players that Premiereague clubs have bought from foreign teams. everyvery single one of those in the Premier League era A little clue, the first one's nineteen ninety five. Okay. I think Paul Gascoign was the last of the prior era. So anything after that, there are fifteen correct answers. That's how many times the British transfer record in and out has been Broken first the first figure I will give you is seven million pounds. The last figure is one hundred twenty five million pounds. And boy around two thousand nine did things start to escalate really seriously. How does it work? He's in the Rundo. So I'm going to start with you. Oh I'm in it., you're in it right now' three I thought I wasn't in're it You're one of the Id say you're the protagonist in it right now. because it's on you. if you give me a correct answer, you'll be in it. We'll move on to Seb. it' willll come back aroundound to you. You also you get the you get the debutant Grace. So if you get one wrong, you get to s question seven million No no. The question is any of those players. any player you can name any one of the fifteen that has at some point been a British transfer record in and out. Andy Cole Andy Cole is the first one that' seven million pounds yet in january nineteen ninety five. Congratulations Sb Alan Sarer. Alan Sarer, you can have, of course, the newewcastle that's fifteen million pounds in nineteen ninety six. Ryan Christiana R Yeah, Christina Ronaldo' in there. Now this is quite funny because just before It was The one before that was thirty two and a fivealf million. Renald there was eighty million. so there was quite a significant jump Now back to you, Mis Mooses Cido. Moes Cuedo Sadly is not there because I believe of the order in which things occurred. But you get your debutce grrace, you get one more guess Oh Gareth Bell is there, absolutely. eightighty five point three million pounds in septtember twenty thirteen Enzo Fernandez. Enzo Fernandez is the one that you were looking for. That's correct. one hundred and six millionars in january twenty twenty three. Ryan back to you? Paul Pogba. Paul Pogba is of course there eighty n million pounds to Manchester United you say insure Alan Ser has been said It's a tough g. You know, when we play the Cino Philip Catino is there. I was going to say when we play the Rondaou live as well, the pressure is just so on, isn't it How about that? Now set back to you, Alexander Isac Isac is of course, the most recent one hundred twenty five million pounds to Liverpool in twenty twenty five must mean Florian vets was Oh hip Florianverts is well, obviously, if Isac is the I was he I was say he was after. so it was Florian I'm not helping. If it this way, if Florence Veters was after then he wouldn't count who was b. He wouldn't count Was he more than ENzo would be the question. I'll give you the answer No,t don't say him Um okay if you would like a little clue here The clue and this applies to everyone. The clue is that the most recent player now is not from the last fififteen, sixteen, seventeen years. Going out anyy of the players here anyone out A struggling thinking which ones were the record. You can think of like really expensive players. It's t. How many are left by the way? Left are seven and that is a delightful way to waste time, but I will have to hurry you along People at home, they're always leaving comments, Mus saying, Oh, it's so easy. How did they get it wrong? Be when you're in Hondo It's incible' so hard. sixteen years. ten. I'm going have to start counting you down. I'm so sorry. Rubino two thousand eight. There you go. That was the most recent. That was the most recent remaining. All of the other answers are before that now. thirty two million pounds To Manchester City, of course, Mussa, we are back with you. There are six correct answers left. That was I was going to say that one. can you give us a number hint I can tell you that the most recent was in two thousand six And the earliest was in nineteen ninety five. an Torus wasn't Fernand Turres, Feranda Turres. Sadly no. You are ejected from the rondo. Oh that was sh. have to say this is a really friendly Rndo. I was in show I was say been here, that's my one h st.. It's a shame when someone steals the one you heard in your l half million something. It's tough. I'll come back to you afterwards for a reaction to your loss. Sb We're going to take a risk Um Hernan Crespo. Hernan Crespo is not there. So Ryan, if you can get a correct answer here, you will be named Rondo Dell Ryan fine Dennis Burkamp in there. Dennis Burgkamp was in there. Yeah, well done. R. Seven point a half million pounds in june nineteen ninety five. hereere's some other people you could have had. the five remaining also in june nineteen ninety five were a big month for the British transfer record. Stan Colllymore H moved to Liverpool. eight and half million pounds. Big jump for the next one in nineteen ninety nine, Nicholas Anelkca to Real Madrid, twenty two and a fivealf million. Juan Sebastian Veron to M man United Rio Ferdinand to man United and the final one, Andre Sheepchenko to Chelsea thirty million pounds A is really good one, Joe. great That's a good one. That was quite a great. How much did H and Cstpow cost I don't know. off the top of my head, I just don't know that information to look up Yes, of course, I'd love to. Why should we all just pause for a moment? Yeah Yeah, no one say anything? Just have a nice bit of silence Hm Eleven million euros. No Yes H and Cress by to Chelsea from from Inter No for m fromom anentter, ye. U or fifteen million euros, it's one or the other Was it worth the pause I found it interesting and the answer was not what I was expecting, so I've learned something. Hey, if people listening didnn't enjoy it, that's the cost of doing business. There we go. How about that?o someone in the chat, know your speakers haven't broken Mooir, I come to you now for reaction to your first Rndo. How did it feel to compete and we s had to go out first Ituch quite exciting. Yeah hes yeah. And it was actually quite fun to reminisce on those players in that era like How the money is just exploded and actual sometimes how much less you get for your money these days. Yeah consonsidering right? There was some real value in those early years. Can I just say as someone who has read out a couple of Rndos this week? Y, and that's the first one I've played And I have I play along at home when I watch you guys. Yeah. It is terrifying It's first one. It's really hard. You really need some reps to get used to it I. I completely agree with it. And I say as well, this is a little bit of a peep behind the curtain. Obviously we're here in the studio and we're recording and ITV IT is on the background and I saw someone I had not seen since Uni And for twenty something years, I'd wondered what had happened to them. and I saw Yasmine Botle by presenting like during the Rand, I'm like, this like out of body experience. She was holding a piece of paper I'm not video. I'm didn't I knew that person and Jasmine's right there. There there's Yasmine.. Literally have not seen Yasmine in That's the first time I've seen her in twenty like twenty four years. It's quite an out of sort of the justifications for it run all run of performance, that must be probably the most creative. I think that's That was very good. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, for sure. there we go I will say also this reminds me that K Kaya has a submitted script. I think I think it was Ka Ka Ka. K submitted a script or a Tifo video. I think it might be a conversion from the athletic, but I can't recall In fact, I think you might have written it, Se Did you write something recently about how central midfielders are now is it the new normal? Yeah, this was really interesting. The reason that I thought of this category for the Rondo is because separate a piece for the athletic that we are I think alongside a couple of other people, that we are converting to turn into an illustrated TFO video. and it's about the idea that now one hundred million pound plus central midfielders are the new normal Whereas when you read through that list, with the exception of Fuanebastin Veron, there are none in there. Everyone is like an obvious goals scorer or someone who's an over attacking player one way or another. Whereas now the most expensive players that you often get are a centr of midfielders. take The moment the turning the tide, I think was that some when Corez goes for like twenty minutute and Carrot goes for nineteen. Yeah to replace Roy Kin And That was the first time he had a defenseive midfielder and an elite striker roughly comparable and Pryice. I think this was the moment because it was like people understanding this role, this playmaking role, what character is doing at Surs. was going to be so important because this was also the era where people were putting two defense midfielders to stop the ten. Yeah. because people at R cost have been so damaging and destructive or like, we need two players to put it the back four. Yeah. So this is where I think mid two thousands is where that trend began to escalate, I think. You also got to say as well that the absence of Roy Kane and you that sort of saying that Manchester United fans had for years, which was we still haven't replaced Roy Keeene. I mean, dis resrespect to Michael Carrac, they were saying it beyond the Michael Carac transfer as well. I think that did a lot for the profile of defensive as they are midfielders in the Premier League generally because there was this ongoing discussion that the absence of one of them was having such a big impact. However true it was That was the perspective. The problem is it' working into like or five different things. And it was totally unfair. and actually it's not so much Can re place where keinas Nothing exists like that before since Yeah. I mean I always compare Declan Rice to Brian Robson because I think those skill sets are broadly comparable But there's always a danger. whenever you sell a pivotal player, this is a general football thing, you don't do like for like. you actually divide up the jobs they did and you buy two players that do kind of similar things. and you just reconfigure and PP was always amazing at that. Replacement by committee, right? P always reconfigured. Yeahah, different jobs. ye. Yeah. OkayK, well, let's have a quick chat now about Spain four Nil Saudi Arabia are now after being held to a nil and draw in their opening game against Kaba Verd, Spain put four past Saudi Arabia in a somewhat something of a statement victory. I think it's a statement adjacent victory, isn't it? Lemini More played the first half, rested the second And one would argue Spain will confidently go into their final group game against Uruguay. Seab, we watched this one together. How close to a statement victory is it? I would say it is precisely a statement victory. It is precisely a statement victory. Ruthless. You know what? we said off fair, we were talking about the teams that have struggled in tourament, the big teams that have struggled in tourament And generally it's been about ball movement and finding angles and disrupting opposition's defense. No one has done it better than Spain so far the creativity from we've mentioned Aminu Marl, but it was everywhere. Every player in that in that sort of front six probably seemed capable of finding an angle, creating space for someone, creating a half chance. It was just coming from everywhere. It was so, so impressive. And I remember thinking when we were planning Satudi Abrael quite quite a good side. We sa themt beat Argentina four years ago. lookook at the players they had their you didn't expect it to look as it did after half an nowour, which was kind of Hey, this might get really, really ugly. So could not be more impressed. What what what a response also from from Spain after what happen on to them in the first game because that would had to be a little bit. U A little bit humiliating. they almost certainly had a tough time with their local media, I guess. so a great response Ryan, you were disappointed to see Oathaal tak off at halfime. He's on for a hat trick, you said. And you're just you seem like his biggest fan I think he's a great player had a great season at Ralsuc had Ver, very important player those. the capaptain came up through the youth system, won the coppered RA this season when they be outleting the final on penalties and J someone who Again, probably not the trendiest name in the Spain squad for people who maybe aren't Spanish or watch a lot of Spanish football Um Maybe not the biggest superstar. I think even for people who are Spanish, he's not the biggest superstar. Probably Yeahah. But like he, you know, he startled the first for Lemin Nimal Score two was probably Spain's best player in that first half he looked extxtremely busy, extremely dangerous and I think like Hes he's just such a great player to have in a team. Yeah. we were we were talking though during the game where we For halfime we looked at Spain's bench And it looked. Absolutely terrifying the fact that you've got the names here. I honestly feel like we should find them because you read them out and the list just kept going. And every time I thought you were finished, you said another player. Yeah shake. So let me find it. It was here. So basically this is the non starting players for the Spain side tonight. David Ryer, Joan Garcia, Eric Garcier, Mark Pubeill Maros Laorente, Alejandro Grimaldo, Fabian Rubies, Gavi, Martin Zubaendi, Micel Marino, Jeremy Pino. Boglaaz, yes. Ferntorres, Nico Williams, Victor Mun' our ag's a Wor Cup semiinalist.' in that list, I think o, it's done now Now, we're starting to say names and then okay fine, you know, and then it comes back up again. It's incredible. We always talk about this how like Santi Gazora got fifty caps for Spain in that era And David Silver Davitor was not a regular starter in any one of those Spain teams. the one like a leading title. He was not a regular starter. Yeah. and maybe well some might say o eight, you know was part of that configuration, but he wasn't like the main guy and he was the main guy for the city for a while. Yeah. like absolute wild the Spain depth and this is why They still remain to me They're so dangerous, the way they can control a game especially a really, really tight fixture That's the one thing I think other teams start to I'm jumping head slightly, but match control. If I look at the favorites who can control a game of football for ninety minutes Spain are still the number one for me in that context. I think France got to work out the midfield configuration. I think there's still too much runners and I think they can be unpicked. We sort the last euros if they don't sort out their passing configuration. We're getting Zia Emory in the mix, they're going to really struggle. Yeah. Argentina, the low block, Spain, Argentina, I think Spain win that match upp because Spain can just pass you to pieces. I agree. They can Yeah espeally over in extra time, Spain will pass you to pieces England funnily enough are the one I think that match up best because they have more tools than they had last euros. The emergence of Elliot Anderson is one of the most significant developments in like domestic and international football. It's astonishing what Tk is what makes Tickkle such a genius because I don't think any other England manager plucks Edit Anderson out like that and makes him so central. think I think what's really interesting about England is Their ability to apply pressure is now so much greater with especially those wide forwards, right? Like you could imagine I would still favor Spain in that matchup, but I think England would be able would be best equipit maybe to disrupt them Theyin you so what were the praullbacks Ironwide yeah, but this is a bit of a jump but Spain off all the teams, if you look at all the weaknesses, They have in my opinion, that the fearst actually And I think the Cabo Vverde results going to age very well because I think that team is underrated and maybe a little bit not disrespected but overlooked. Yeah because they they've been serious contenders for a while. Beautiful. ye. What I will say is that while I love your hand gestures, you're blocking your beautiful face. Oh you want to see my face. I want to see that face from the camera. and this c it adds a lot of emphasis to the point But it gets in the way of that beautiful face. Well thank you. There we go. Okay. Now let's discuss Ecuador Nil, Nil Corusound. Cound earned their first ever World Cup point largely thanks to goalkeeper Eooy Is his name Eooy Rome? or it'selt Rome is it? They were pronouncing Rome. Rome. I'm not sure if that's correct. Allooy Rome. So they have him to than he made fifteen saves. Ecuador registered anXG of over three in the game without scoring Nearly forty shots and no goals. bothoth sides of course still have a chance of reaching the knockout stage. Fabulous result for Kur M. I mean, they've had like a, you know, obviously they lost seven one to Germany in the first game. They scored their first goal in the first game, first point in the second game. I feel like they're going to win the third. They're going to win this deceptive result actually the seven one they were better value I think And that scoreline showed Pic in the first half U And in this game, I think the crucial one is that it's the first save from N Valencia. That goes in early. And I think it's the best save actually of the lot. It's an amazing. I ag. because I think all the saves are quite standard They all involve excellent footwork, but I think this one timing of it, the fact he had to get down and across and actually get like a strong wristle because he hits with a bit of pace and a Valencia. very I think he's like one of the record appearances for Ecuador at World Cup. so he's you know got all the experience. But Yeahah, I think they gave Kurosao the strength to withstand it and just A World Cup point and not to patronise like that's a huge deal. ye That's a huge deal against the side that has experienenceced a World Cup has gone to the lockout stages and equitted itself pretty well, so yeah, just meories that going to last a very long time for them. Absolutely. Sb, I'm kind of curious what what you thinks happened to Ecuador because they came into the tournament as, you know, some would say dark horses to go, you know deep into it. Ryan than I were chatting about their squad, even just that starting eleven earlier, they've got a pretty terrific team that we knew that coming into the tournament they weren't perhaps the best at scoring But they are they still yet to score in the World Cup so far? Yeah, because they lost to Ivory Coast one n. Yes I'm a big believer in tournament momentum, Joe, and I just feel like I remember watching that that Ivory Coast game and thinking that could have gone either way. Yeah, either side could have won that match. And then you go into the second and all of a sudden Having had a bit of a free hit in the first game because of the new format gives plenty of safety nets, right? By the time you get into the second game, if you've lost the first game, things start to change Yeah And you can kind of feel it when you're watching that game, there is the golkey makes a lot of saves, he plays really well. at the same time, you can kind of feel the anxiety rising and When that happens, your superiority on a kind of individual basis tends not to matter quite as much.. I still think Mister and I were talking during the liveestream about how B differences between the so called Mnows and the established sides or the sort of more seasoned teams is a physical conditioning disparity and you kind of saw that towards the end of that game where Even though they clearly wanted to and the threat was obvious, Chrisal couldn't quite close down in important moments. They were relyant on either their goalkeeper or Ecuador missing a chance. and they just weren't they lack the kind of the efficiency to take their opportunities. It was very like Really Turkeys's game the other night where they created loads of chances and then there was just this element of panic right between the final ball and the finish and it just it just didn't go in they actually play pretty well They ced a lot of chances just didn't just didn't happen. So I feel bad for them actually One interesting thing about this game was I think you saw a glimpse of what the Germany Cussel game could have been had Germany not taken the lead. and how impressive that result was and maybe how people underrated because the goal that they scored against Germany We were talking about it at the time being like it feels like Germany I feel like we've said this or used this example or for a couple of examples now, but how Germany have certain moments in a tournament And it felt a very familiar thing with Germany. takeake a lead against the side they're expected to be, get pegged back. But I think if it show shout to that he's not here tonight, but shout to John and the game state, the importance of game state and how somethings so 's not minor taking a It seems minor doesn't it? But you can take everything statistically out of it and just take the score lines away and it just shows you how important it is and how small thoseose margins can be between being a nil nil draw or being able to break up to a seven one victory. Tally.. The thing I think this is group E obviously also yeah, Germany, Corusao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador. The thing I think is so interesting about this group too is that now that we've had two games played, we're going into the third round, we can see the impact of the new forat but also the possibility that you could in theory have a team finish fourth with an improved goal difference than another team in one of the best third placed finish rounds. That's a mouthful to say. in theory as wordy as one of your jokes. In theory, if Ecuador were to beat Germany in the final group game and if Cacau were to beat Ivory Coast, Ivory Coast could be could be the fourth place team in this group, but have a better record than a third place team that progress from a different group Which w There's so many permutations. I'm not feasible. I one of those equation gifts Because now at point you've got to go out and get the wind, don't you? Because so many different permutations acrosses so many teams It feels like the last match day of the you look Champions League. Yeah. It also like I feel like when you're playing going to the tournament they would have seen this as the safe game. Yeah, right. They'd have seen it as the one way you get to win, but you also probably get to do something positive with your goal difference. And then so when when that doesn't happen, you get to half timee it's now there. get to sixty minutes, seventy five minutes. That's how the anxiety comes in, even though you probably do have the safety net. That's difficult. It's difficult. It's a challenge we probably probablyably underplayed before the tourament started. I think people thought they were going to run of the score and Cse out And Haiti as well to be honest. I think people thought they were really going to run up scores and all of a sudden it's like, oh, there's like airm resistance there. Yeah. These people have been in the weight room actually tactically and physically and it's not it's not playing out like that. Like said with his AAFC training after the there it is. Oh someone said it's a good job. I managed to win the Rondo after the EFC. No No he's already in the ch. ex basically swingers I basically the Sweden of this podcast. This is a reference to during our live watchlongs, which incidentally if you're just listening to to the podcast, you're not joining us live, We're doing live Wlongs most days for the games that the UK Times start around eight or nine PM. although tomorrow we're starting at six PM with Argentina, Austria exiting time. Looking forward to that. But halfime in the games we're playing EAFC twenty six and Seb is a perhaps perhaps it'satronizing to say a surprise champion. I don't know No no, I think because if someone with more patronising is champion. think I think expected champion will be worse because it feels like that. That's like you're making assumptions about my social life, my personality, and how I spend my free time. which forty one year old person, right? Yeah. It's just a natural gift Y that of ca. My expectation about your social time is that it's spent amongst all of your myriad friends in hands up. myri time. My myriad friends. Myriad friends, ye AQ quick correction for the pocket. We start five. The game starts. Oh we start five That's right because we've got Jhn's back tomorrow's going to do some analysis ahead of the game, right?. Myarriad Friends is a good name for a band. Myriad Friends.. It's also a good aim in life Isn't it? is. We' still lucky on it They're working on it again. Now, let's have a quick advertisement break. No need to work on those You're a pro at running your life, at committing to your workout, at showing up every day. At Bombus, we're pros too. Pros at making socks. Our sport asorbment has specialized socks for whatever sport you're committed to. Running, hiking, golf, pilates, and so much more. made with sweat wicking yarns, blister fighting details, and targeted art support. Bombus sport is pro level socks from the pros of socks For another pro. you go to bombas d. com slash audio and use code audio for twenty percent off your first purchase. 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I It simply says Muser general focus. but we have something more specific. We talked about the idea of discussing breakout seasons, which players we think at this tournament are putting themselves on the map? I mean, we spoke today that many goalkeepers so far have been having posive tournaments, but all players generally, who's putting themselves on the map for you, Misir? I was actually excited to see Yas Niari in the opening game against Tunisia. Now I know some might say not the strongest opposition, but I've seen that know Africon, they were tough to break down and you know, Japan had to open them up really, really well. You need some tactical sophistication to open them up. and Aari was sensation in the opening game. And the thing about the World Cup is players, you know, established and also R of newcomers taking the stage and just going for it. I thought Aanga as well. you know, Aanga fun enough, when they came on against the Netherlands and was like, we in well up for it and it felt like it couldd come back to four two at one point.. So yeah, just this kind of this themam of players just coming in and just taking the stage. I love that. Yeah, abbsolutely. also I'm remembering now Ueda, the Japanese striker who scored that incredible looping Oh the teard drop The te That's a perfect way of describing it. That was such a lovelyky fade away. Absolutely just backing away just the floaty angle of some of stuff Japan played against Tunisia They were really good advice. They are going to be a serious stumbling block for somebody in the knockout stages impressed with them and they're opening two games. They were against the Netherlands again. Cerly they're missing arguably they two best players two of their most important players. Yeah. They've madeisy look slightly worse than they are, I think, actually. with that goal difference. Not the greatest side, obviously, Tunisia going forward But again, like The attack and the guile that Japan showed, like some of these combinations, these passing patterns. Yeah. Well, they held the Netherlands team that went on to beat Sweden five one. Well, I'm good that the potoment is not there I you imagine this Japan team with Matoma. Anyway, this what it is. Seb, any players standing out for you? Yeah, I've enjoyed watching Aib Bo Adi from Morocco. A couple of years ago I was interviewing Pao Fon Sako when he was cohing Leil And at the end of the interniew, I said, you know, is there anybody I should paying attention to like you know, guys that are really coming through and he said without missing a beat really R a a good player. He just given him his European debut at something absurd like sixteen years and four days ridiculously young. And you expect coaches to pick up their players and to kind of promote their own coaching and successes. He was absolutely right. and watching play he just looks like a a world class orchestrator in the making. looks fantastic.. Al so great hair I think he made that Brazil midfield look slightly worse than it was. Yeah I agree. D it wasn't great, but like I think Pacatar in those deep lying areas where he was getting caught in possession, that doesn't happen to him. He's like you know my touch is, I've got more time in this and Badi was just on him like a bear trap. He left class. play now? He's still a little, Right. I don't know for how much long they belong They got some good players at this tournament. Yeah, they do. they do, which is always a little bit of a danger, I guess if you're in that position. but he looks like the real deal. So tip of the hat to Palafonseka. He called that, right? Yeah. Yeah. That makes sense. Okay, Ryan have you got one? Two very obvious ones, Lamin Mal and Ellen Holland. two very, very, very high profile superstar players who were going to get a lot of attention and a huge amount of pressure going into their first World Cups Both just it's like like they're playing in their second or third and they've done it before.. Especially with Yamal who's so young still we forget But Hauland I think it was it kind of feels like it would have been a very easy thing for Hauland to struggle and then there's narrative to build and bit like, o well, know he kind of didn't really do it at a World Cup. So I think just to kind of see him being the exact same th in Holland. Yeah you see all time It was really impressive. and yeah, I mean No he kind of came on in the first game but started the second game with meaniwal look very good. Yeah and then got a rest. So yeah. It's not the hottest take, but with the way these gold scores have started and with the expanded tournament, I'll be surprised at this point where we don't see a golden boot and double figures actually. sh because they'd really like They're really making and it's not just like they're scoring goals, it's like Like look at Bape, like when players run hot in the World Cup and take the stage, they just they go off. We've talked about Messi just about we talked about it on the show a few days ago and we talked about it on Studio as well. so I don't want to rehash it, but it's just it's kind of Kind of feels a bit wild that he just rocked up and was just like Hatrick. Yeah It's just like even the tapping, you made the point about how. I think it's one of the best guysirl I've ever seen. I know that sounds so stupid, but like that is it's the most magical moment of the World Cup so far. it's the only transcendent thing I've seen at the World Cup so far It's like being transported to a completely destic you see that The mess has happen. The messy second goirl if you don't remember it, may maybe you wouldn't because it was just a tapping. go and watch it again It's it is The most surgical tapp in I've ever seen's when he sets off early as well. eight world sniffing in the box,. Great, great comment in the chat. Thierry Minetal said tapping was Federer backhand clay. Yeah Loved that. abbsolutely. Yeah. Well good about that as well. Messy scing that Hatrick is like when There's like, was it nineteen ninety eight when like everyone was dropping classic albums DMX dropped twice, Yeahah, the outcast dropped, like gang star like it's like when when a big artist drops a record And then it's like, oh wow, like the game has changed. we have to catch up and Eone feels the pressure up I was like, drop, drop drop Messy drop that hatrick and can I can't prove it, but I think it like It gets everyone else going, Oh, if he's feeling it, then I'm feeling it. Yeah yeah. abbsolutely. That's the tone. What you've done is you've caught me there just while I'm adding up the final scores. Okay so bad. I'm going I'm going to fill the gap, I'm going to give a little bit of a shout to Nathaniel Brown from Germany. love that because like, okay, so going into the tournament, he has a sort of an obvious possession role for Germany. But I'm always already skipping ahead to what he might be able to do for Vincent Company at Barn because compananyies like I would argue that his biggest achievement is to be able to blend a lot of different players into a fluid system there and make it really versatile. Brown is a classic example of that. So what you do when you put him into that mix to, what can you do with that midfield? is that is that the gib the gib? the gap bridged between where they were in the Champions League this season where they want to be next season. Yeah. That's really interesting to a margin as well Yeah bridge too. Yeah. straight set pieces. Really want se work ahead of was Yeah Last player I want to shout out Harrican. who I think hes scored two goals already. He's going to I think I mean, he's alm certainly going to come home as England's top leading all time well cup goals scorer. Yeah. I feel like he's in with a shout of scoring a brace in every single game. I think this is long the longest they stay in, the more goals he's going to come home with. I feel also as though he is his I'm so happy that he's gone to Bayon for a season or two to just like find his confidence again to be The most efficient version of who he can be right now. I think he is currently the best version of himself that he's ever been. And it's playing the same system. play the same role for the exactly. That's unusual. Yeah It's unusual. You don't get that. Does that make sense? It maybe's a givenook. It's a very specific thing he doesn't buy and And he's doing exactly the same thing for England. Cami number nine can you name? got further back and got more dangerous We've never seen this before So I was doing a piece on Kane for Tomorrow's coming on the Athletic and he actually last season in the Bunzleiger alone played the fewest minutes of his career If you go back all the way to the point at which he becomes an automatic starter at Spurs in twenty thirteen fourteen, tyypically in the Premier League, he would play around three thousand minutes or more between three thousand and three thousand five hundred. for Byn, he played under two thousand four hundred and the Bunzliger. This is purposeful. Well, I mean, it's just an advantage of being there because one of Bayn's advantages is that you don't need Harrry Kane to start every single game either in the Champions League or in the Buns League just because you have such an advantage. In addition to which you've got a three week winter break. Huser in December and January. And so you come into the tournent relatively fresh. You willll see he's been uninterrupted by injuries I also it's kind of a fun quirk to see that in their first games in the tournament Lisee, Diaz, Kane all man of the match in their respective games all had similar situations at Byer were able to be rested a little bit through April and just a little bit of an advantage there. Yeah Yeah. watchatching him in that team amongst those players. I feel like it's also and his success of the last two years, it's also been the deceiding factor in like everyone's favourite social video either or question for years it's been Harry Canaine or Wayne Rooney And I feel like up until the last two years, your standard response to that answer was Wayne Rooney. And the standard response for the last year or two has been Harry Kane. I feel I haven't heard many people say it's Wne Rooney. put Kainar. I don't know how Kaine got to Bryan and got better. I'm not saying it's because he's not an amazing footballer. It's like I did not think we would see a better Harry Kane than the version which terrified Pet Guadiola Yeah