Are Germany World Cup Contenders?

30 Mar 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 19 chapters

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In short

ESPN FC debate on whether Germany are World Cup contenders, plus discussion of player form (especially Florian Wirtz at Liverpool), Liverpool’s season/defense issues, Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid in the Champions League, and controversy around Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez’s comments about his future.

Guests

Didier “Didi” Hamann (former Germany player; studio guest answering questions), plus regular hosts Kay Murray, Craig Burley, and Shekhar Hislop; other speakers referenced include Mario (Dutch perspective) and “Greg” (Craig’s/another host’s viewpoint).

Key claims

  • Germany’s realistic World Cup target is a quarter-final; they’re not among the top four title favorites.
  • Germany’s main weaknesses are defensive structure/fullback issues and key attackers out of form (Wirtz, Havertz, Sané, plus questions about goalkeeper Baumann).
  • Wirtz is struggling at Liverpool due to Premier League pace/physicality and Liverpool’s overall dysfunction; may need time or a manager change.
  • Liverpool’s drop-off stems from defensive errors (Van Dijk, Kanate) and missing Alexander-Arnold’s playmaking.
  • Bayern Munich are “to lose” vs Real Madrid due to being a well-oiled machine, but counterattacking risk remains.
  • Enzo Fernandez’s “I’d like to live in Madrid” comments add fuel to speculation, potentially affecting Chelsea focus.

Notable examples

  • Germany 2-1 Ghana friendly: Havertz penalty, Undav winner after Fatou equalized.
  • Liverpool stats: 24 points worse than last season; 10 losses already.
  • Bayern: Arsenal loss in group stage; Real Madrid manager change; Bayern’s Musiala/Davis injuries.
  • Enzo: March 18 “focus is here” vs March 30 “live in Spain/Madrid” comments.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Germany's Performance in Friendlies

0:45 to 3:06

Discussion on Germany's recent 2-1 win against Ghana and its implications.

“Germany got a 2-1 win here which makes it six wins in their last six games.”

Expectations for Germany in the World Cup

3:06 to 5:39

Exploration of realistic expectations for Germany's performance in the upcoming World Cup.

“It's probably harder not to qualify for the last 32 then to qualify so they should make that.”

Defensive Concerns for Germany

5:39 to 9:05

Analysis of Germany's defensive weaknesses and key player performances.

“the winner of the World Cup will come from that top four, everybody else will have to settle for, we got to a quarter-final and that's as good as we could possibly expect.”

Florian Wirtz and Liverpool Struggles

9:05 to 12:39

Discussion on Florian Wirtz's performance for Germany versus Liverpool.

“Give us a little talk about Florian Wurz then, because it seems that we see him doing better for Germany than we have been for Liverpool.”

Liverpool's Current Struggles and Player Adjustments

14:00 to 18:02

Discussing Liverpool's underperformance and the challenges faced by key players.

“I mean, he's got some money in the bank, Arne Sloat, but there's no doubt he's under pressure.”

Analyzing Liverpool's Transition and Expectations

18:02 to 20:24

Examining the impact of new players and the need for patience during transitions.

Defensive Issues and Key Player Performances

20:24 to 24:06

Exploring Liverpool's defensive shortcomings and the roles of key defenders.

“Maybe this season or maybe in the future for sure.”

Champions League Ambitions and Financial Implications

24:06 to 27:54

Discussing the critical importance of Champions League qualification for Liverpool.

“I mean, even in the game against Galatasaray away in Istanbul, he was lashing at balls and all sorts.”

Bayern Munich's Champions League Prospects

29:48 to 32:04

Discussion on Bayern Munich's chances against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

“And so let's talk about Bayern Munich as we look at them by competition.”

Analyzing Bayern's Team Dynamics

32:04 to 34:31

Insights into the team dynamics and morale of Bayern Munich ahead of key matches.

“The players in the team right now are saying that they haven't had an atmosphere and a camaraderie like this at Bayern for a long time.”
Show all 19 chapters

Bayern vs Real Madrid: Predictions and Strategies

34:31 to 36:20

Predictions and strategic analysis for the upcoming matches between Bayern and Real Madrid.

“and you've got all this position and you leave yourself exposed at the back.”

Enzo Fernandez's Future Speculations

38:08 to 42:00

Discussion about Enzo Fernandez's commitment to Chelsea and interest from Real Madrid.

“And so the discussion over the future of Enzo Fernandez continues.”

Enzo Fernandes and Chelsea's Future

42:00 to 46:01

The discussion revolves around Enzo Fernandes' comments about Chelsea and potential interest from Real Madrid.

“all now it's taking on a different gravity because was it last week or a couple of weeks ago you're having this this comment about him not committing his future and again when was it march 18 okay so 12 days ago.”

Chelsea's Management Issues

46:01 to 48:04

The hosts analyze the implications of Chelsea's management and how it affects player morale and future decisions.

“Well, from Clear Lake's perspective, now the fans have somebody to turn on for a lot of dysfunction.”

Extra Time and Player Discussions

48:21 to 52:40

The hosts dive into questions about player futures, including Bernardo Silva and potential moves to different leagues.

“Welcome to the latest edition of Extra Time.”

Relegation Predictions and Team Performance

52:40 to 56:00

The panel discusses which teams might face relegation and the challenges they face, particularly focusing on Spurs and West Ham.

“Who's the second most likely and who's the least likely of the three?”

World Cup Favorites and Rivalries

56:00 to 56:55

Explore the dynamics of World Cup favorites and Caribbean football rivalries.

“But Jamaica qualifying for the World Cup is great for Caribbean football.”

Team Analysis and Personal Insights

56:55 to 59:10

A discussion on second-tier teams' chances and personal anecdotes from the hosts.

“out of this second tier which team do the guys think could actually win it who's the second tier again so i think that they're just saying portugal germany netherlands Brazil, Belgium?”

Culinary Preferences in Football Culture

59:10 to 1:00:10

Debate over food preferences and cultural identity within the football community.

“But at the same time, while you're part Italian, frankly, part Scottish...”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:01The world moves fast. Your workday? Even faster. pitching products, drafting reports, analyzing data, Microsoft 365 Copilot is your AI assistant for work. Built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps you use. Helping you quickly write, analyze, create, and summarize. So you can cut through clutter and clear a path to your best work. Learn more at Microsoft.com slash M365 Copilot.

0:34Hello and welcome into the latest edition of ESPN FC. Kay Murray, Craig Burley and Shekhar Hislop here in the studio. The international week rolls on and so too do the international friendlies. Today we got to enjoy Germany taking on Ghana. Germany got a 2-1 win here which makes it six wins in their last six games. It was a penalty from Havertz at the end of the first half and a goal from Undav in the second half to seal it after Fatou had levelled things out in the 70th minute. So we've got Didier Mann with us, who no doubt answers some of those for us. A man who upsets more people than me. I know.

1:09Is that at all possible? That's a difficult job. It's a really difficult job. And I found out he actually agreed to do on a few things too. Now that I've said that, I'm going to have to up my game. Well, let's see. Start upsetting a few more people. You two go a little way back? You two know each other? We had a few beers. We had a bit of a late 1-1 night in London. Let's leave it at that. All right, we will leave it at that. Let's start then with Germany's win today, Didi. What stood out to you? Well, probably the Undaff go, because there was a lot of talk whether he should start the game. It is at his home ground in Stuttgart today.

1:47Didn't start again, came on in the second half and decided the game with two minutes to go. is a goal scorer, is probably the most potent force we've got going forward, the most efficient player. That was probably the story apart from that. Yeah, they started the game well, as Xhaka said, the first 10-15 minutes had a few chances, but then it petered out pretty quickly and Ghana did give them a game equalised and I think they're 72nd in the world, Ghana, so it probably wasn't the test we wanted or the fans wanted to see so close to the World Cup. I mean they got beat up five one-off for Australia last time out.

2:23Yeah so they're not they're not strong but I'm just wondering Didi when Jürgen's on the show we ask him about the World Cup and the expectations in Germany obviously Germany's had a lot of success over the years but this is certainly far from the strongest side that they've certainly far from the strongest period of German national team football. Jürgen always says well the expectations always to win the World Cup. I kind of get that but what's the realistic expectations of this current group? For me Craig, I'd say the quarter-final. I think if they get to the quarters I think they've done okay.

3:03Semi-final will be a bonus. With the way the format is now I think it's very hard. It's probably harder not to qualify for the last 32 then to qualify so they should make that. And then obviously you need a bit of luck with the draw but I I think the realistic aim or target is a quarter-final. I can't really see us winning the World Cup. I think there's, even in Europe, I think there's four or five teams better equipped than us. Then you've got Argentina. I think Brazil with Ancelotti will be a force. And I think the Africans will play a very good role this year in the World Cup. What about you, Mario?

3:35Where do you see Germany? Do you think the quarter-finals would be a good stopping point for them if it comes to that? You know the sensitivity. I mean, Didi knows the sensitivity between, you know, the two nations, you know, the Dutch ones and the Germans. It's all sensitive. So the only thing is that what I can say, being a Dutch boy, I think the Germans are always up there. It doesn't matter. Even like what Greg highlighted, you understand? The team might not be, you understand, in the capabilities of the years that I've seen going along and the time that Didi played there. But I'm just saying, like, as a German, you know, that country always seems to make sure that they're ready when they need to be ready.

4:13and less that the quality maybe could be not, you understand what it prior was to it, but if you can substitute eight players, you understand and bring up almost a whole new squad and then go and play against the African nation that is trying to play a certain tactic in the sense of like trying to hit you on the break and you still manage to play the game, of course they should have finished the game off, I think that's why the game became different but if I look at Germany I always put them up there, I'm always worried about them and it will never change. Listen, to Mario's point, I think that was a cliche, that Germany are going to be in the semi-finals.

4:45That was an expectation, regardless of what was happening before. The last two World Cups have shown totally different. Similarly, with Brazil, dare I say, that the expectation was they're going to be in the semi-finals, if not go to the finals and win it all. Yet, what you've seen over the last three World Cups has said totally different from Brazil. I think this is a moment and we saw the odds where I think there are four outstanding nations in the world that would be expected to get to the semifinals. Outside of that, and Germany is not one, I can't remember Brazil is one, Brazil are not one of the four.

5:23You just, as Diddy says, quarterfinal is as good as you can hope. and maybe you get there, maybe you have a day and you get to the semi-final, but you don't see lightning striking any more than that. So to the rankings here, yes, I think the winner of the World Cup will come from that top four, everybody else will have to settle for, we got to a quarter-final and that's as good as we could possibly expect. I mean Germany don't scare you anymore, you look at them, they've got some good players, really talented players but not enough of them they've got an Achilles heel at the back like a lot of countries but you're not it's not like yesteryear where you're you'd be a bit frightened to go against this German a German team because they would be as physical as you and they'd be probably more talented than you that's not the case when as Didi said because of this ridiculous you know World Cup of 48 teams now there's going to be umpteen I don't know how many off the top of my head third place teams going through so for countries like for the for the better countries even ones that are not in the same position they were a few years ago it's probably nigh on impossible not to get out of your group because you're probably at worst going to finish uh third at the very worst so you know getting to the knockout stages and around the quarters I think is is is about as much as this team I mean I might be wrong but about as much as this team could do because when you look at Spain and when you look at France and even you look at Portugal although they have issues in some areas and they're probably going to play Cristiano Ronaldo up front which the last two World Cups have shown that that's been a mistake but they're probably going to do that again because it's Roberto Martinez but the rest of their side is just super talented so there's a lot of teams in there that the likes of Germany are going to be battling against but if they came in a head-to-head I mean, Shaq I mentioned, Brazil they're not the team they were and Argentina won the World Cup but it was a very workman-like side with a Lionel Messi added to it, I think it's unlikely they're going to do that again.

7:26But if Germany was to come up against a really good team from the top of Africa, or one of the top European teams, like a Spinner of France, I just don't see how they're going to hold their own. I mean, they just don't think they're good enough, particularly defensively, at this moment in time, to go any further when it really gets to the nitty-gritty of the tournament. Is it the defence, DD, that's their weakness, Germany? Well, we have problems, yeah. At the moment, they play with Ty and Schlotterbeck. I think until the last game, they didn't concede a goal for the last four or five games. They conceded three against Switzerland the other day, one today.

8:01Fullback position is a bit of a problem, but Kimmich will probably play right back. But then when Craig mentions the players or the talented players, yes, we've got talented players. But if you look at them now, Valtima, he hasn't scored a goal, I think, all year. I think he hasn't scored since December for Newcastle. Wirtz has been a disappointment since he went to Liverpool. So these are two of the key players, and they haven't been performing. Harvats just come back from injury. He played a few minutes for Arsenal in the last few weeks. We don't know how many more minutes he's got. Zane, who doesn't even get a game, he doesn't even start for Galatasaray, he's still in the squad.

8:35He started the game the other day against Switzerland. So I think we've got some talented players. They're out of form. And in the back, Kay, as you say, I think that's always been our Achilles heel. Baumann is in goal from Hoffenheim. He's a good Bundesliga goalkeeper. Whether he's a keeper who wins you games in a World Cup, we are not sure yet. We don't know. We'll find out soon. So I think there's a lot of question marks about the team. And as I said, the players, we've got the talented players. Many of them, or most of them, are badly out of form. Give us a little talk about Florian Wurz then, because it seems that we see him doing better for Germany than we have been for Liverpool.

9:11What's the difference here for this player, Didi? Well, I think the game in the Champions League and in international football, in national teams, I think is a bit slower, not as hectic and not as physical as in the Premier League. and he played a very good game. He scored two goals the other day and assisted two. And he said afterwards, he said in the Champions League and then playing for Germany, it seems to work out better than in the Premier League. And I think that's exactly the reason because it's very physical, it's very hard, it's very fast, it's very hectic in the Premier League. And sometimes it does look to me that it just can't adapt.

9:54But then again, it's the bread and butter of the Premier League. You can't just play in the Champions League or for your country. He's got to perform in the Premier League so far this season. He hasn't done it. He had some OK games or decent games in the Champions League. Obviously, the ultimate test now against Paris in a few weeks' time. But I think, you know, we've seen players come to the Premier League needing time to adapt. But he's been there for seven or eight months. And over the course of the season, I've just got to say it's not enough. And when he first went, I said he's the best player we've had for a number of years, probably for one or two decades.

10:24I said he's too good to fail. but obviously I heard Craig's comments a few weeks ago I think so far it's been a big disappointment probably not helped by the whole situation at Liverpool with Salah who's leaving the club now and the team not really functioning but it'll be interesting to see what happens from now until the end of the season and then in the summer because I think he can't be happy and certainly the club can't be happy for the money they spend on him Do you think it's a kind of timing issue? I mean he's got to take responsibility for his own game, did he? but in terms of timing I mean if he'd have walked into this Liverpool side the previous summer it would definitely I think have been an easier transition because they played better he's come into this Liverpool side and since basically since the Community Shield when they lost to Crystal Palace they've struggled and so I think it's a little bit more difficult for him I mean I'm not making excuses but it's definitely more difficult going into a team that's not functioning and Liverpool this year is certainly not functioning.

11:26Yeah, no, 100%, Greg. But the team was functioning last season and obviously they brought these players in for an awful lot of money in the summer. And then I think a lot is down to expectations as well. It's always about timing. And obviously when he made the decision to go there, I'm not sure he knew that it was probably early in the year that Liverpool's going to win the league. Now, if you go there, you just won the league or the team just won the league. You go there and then Ekiteke and Isak come for you huge sums of amounts of money, then obviously the expectations are you're going to win the league again and maybe you can nick the Champions League as well.

12:00Now as it happens, they may not even finish in the top five and I think it's a combination of a couple of things. But then again, when I see him play, sometimes he loses the ball too easily, he's not been involved too much, he needs to affect the game in the last third and he hasn't really done that. And, yeah, it's just been disappointing, you've got to say. certainly not helped by the situation because Salah probably wasn't happy that three players were brought in for so much money when he had to wait for eight or nine months to sign his new contract. So a combination of things. But then again, he was brought into when the team does struggle, that he's the one to make the difference.

12:37And not often enough or too little he did it. And I've got to say, I know he said that Spellway's got two, three goals in a few weeks, but overall you've got to say he's been a huge disappointment. I think we're in full agreement that Fleur-Werth hasn't lived up to any kind of expectation. And yeah, the question is coming over from the Bundesliga, has the Premier League been a little bit too quick or more quick for him than he expected? But I'm still just going to sit on the fence a little bit. In that, whether he can come good for Liverpool. And I say that because I draw a comparison to Alexander Azak, who similarly has had trouble settling in at Liverpool.

13:15Injured right now, but he knew the league and was tearing the league up. in a Newcastle shape, but all of a sudden he's come into this Liverpool side and floundered by expectation. So now Florian Wurz has floundered by expectation. I don't want to say that it's because the league is so much faster than the Bundesliga or to Florian Wurz's own comments that it's about the pace of the league and the Champions League and domestically. I'm going to just lean that he will come good with a little bit more time, with a little bit more understanding within this Liverpool side because, again, there are players who know this league who've struggled this season, as has everybody in Liverpool.

13:59It might take a change. Listen, I don't want to. Sorry, Mario. It might take a change in manager. I mean, he's got some money in the bank, Arne Sloat, but there's no doubt he's under pressure. And the pedestrian nature of the way they've played, and particularly the way they've defended, Van Dijk and Kanaty, I know we'll get to Kanaty later, and Kerkhez has struggled, the young man's struggled since he came in since Bournemouth. They've struggled in the full-back areas, and that's difficult. And he's been moving, you know, Sabozlai's played right back, he's been brilliant, but he's played everywhere.

14:31If you're going to play Florian Wels, if you're going to give somebody a chance, and again, I'm not making excuses, but he's on the left, he's in the middle, he's here, he's on the bench, so it might take the fact that Liverpool may or may not change managers and somebody comes in that has more of a belief in Florian Vils and I'm not saying that's right but sometimes that's the way it is it takes a changing manager and the easy one to look at is obviously Xabi Alonso because he had him at Leverkusen and they won the league and he was brilliant, he's got a Liverpool connection so all that sort of stuff doesn't go away so I've no idea why that would happen but it could be that case that it might take that for Florian Verts or to see the best of Florian Verts that we saw in Germany because we're certainly not seeing that in England Mario?

15:22Yeah, but that's exactly what you just highlighted, you know, the Germans, you know, when he was there, it was in a comfortability for him because he was that good you understand, and I think when he came to you know, you come to a Liverpool side okay, we talked about the timing you know, they won the league, he comes in And then when it doesn't work well, people are always going to look at him and say, like, OK, you now have to bring the magic. While he is to try to find the, you know, also try this feat and try to understand and everything that works. And then the team has a big dip compared to what we have seen.

15:53I mean, prior to this, we're talking about last season was saying, like, wow, it's so great to watch him and everything. Now, it's almost like he's in a situation where the team is not playing well. So then we are expecting him to turn things around. And I think now it's a little bit too heavy and we see why it's heavy because it's also what happened to Salah. When a team is not performing, no, people start pointing fingers at him. Why? Because he was a man that was always scoring, always, you understand, important goals for them. When he stopped, the team got affected by it. And that's why the responsibility comes on him.

16:26I think he's very talented. He's also young. And I think when you come to a new league, it doesn't matter who you are. When you come in, you first have to understand first a culture difference, a big difference for the kid. The city where he is. And then the way they play, it's totally not what he's used to. Normally, all the balls come to him. And every time the ball comes to him, he comes up with some creativity. Now he's in a situation that when the ball comes, he doesn't even know where the players are going to move in a certain direction for him to be creative. So I think it's going to take time.

16:57And time is the worst part to be on his side because they paid a hell of a lot of money for him. but I hope for him that you understand because you can play in Europe you can play for your country and that's where we feel comfortable but I hope for him that he turn things around because he's very very talented as a player but he can have these performances briefly for Germany but Liverpool fans couldn't give a stuff what he does for Germany and what he did at Leverkusen they're only interested in what he's going to do at Liverpool and we said this in the show many times Mo Salah signed this new contract but he was always going to hit the buffers at some point.

17:31Didn't think it would be quite as quick as this season, but it was because of his age, it was always going to come. So those incredible numbers, those incredible goals, the amount of goals and the game-winning goals were always at some point going to dry up. Then you had to ask the question, where's the goals going to come from? And it had to come from other people around the team like Virts, like Ekotiki, like Gakpo. You're going to have to fill that gap. And thus far, and he's not the only the one but thus far they have not done a very good job of doing that yeah let's take a look at Liverpool's numbers this season compared to last season when they did win the Premier League and there has been quite the drop-off 24 points worse off at this stage as you can see 10 losses already which is the most losses by a defending champion since Chelsea in 2017-2018 recently in an interview with Kanate he was asked by us how come from winning the Premier League to now there has been such a drop-off.

18:31I have to ask about Liverpool. Yeah, for sure. From Premier League champions to now. You explained to us, to now, and I'm not saying anything, the league isn't done yet, but what's not clicked quite as it has last season from a player's perspective, from what's going on on the pitch behind the scenes that we don't get to see? What do you think it is? You know, we can say many, many, many, many things because we were champions last season people are going to talk about ok we bring new players and many things happen like we lost a player when we started the season, many things happen for us this season but what people as well have to understand and this is my point like before we we won the league last season we just build a team to win the Premier League in one moment and this is part of the success this is a way to the success and now we bring new players of course they will not perform straight from the first game and this is what I said with many players in my name I won't say the name because it's not important but I said we just have to be relaxed because this is part of the success like we bring new players we will adapt we will be we will try to work and understand each other all together and at a point with the time we will win trophies, we will have success and when we will win the league or the Champions League people will forget every bad season we have because now we won the league last season if I remember well two years before we played Europa League but people don't talk about this anymore but this is just part of the success and we have to be relaxed because we have just amazing fans and we have to stay together and the success will come for sure.

20:24Maybe this season or maybe in the future for sure. What do you think of what he had to say there, Didi? Just be relaxed and the success will come. Yeah, I'm not sure the fans agree with him. And it's not as easy as he says because, yeah, he's right that, you know, you build and you start building a team and you try to win things. But, of course, last year they overachieved. I said last Last year, before the start of the season, if they finish in the top four, I think Slott made a good job or did a good job. So they end up winning the league. But I think they underachieved more this season than they overachieved last season.

21:02And for a club like Liverpool, for the financial stability, it's very important to play in the Champions League. Now they're fortunate that England or the Premier League gets a fifth spot by the looks of it. But that might not be even enough because there's a chance they're going to finish sixth or seventh. And that's just not good enough for a team that's won the league, spent an awful lot of money. And at the moment, as we see the table, they're 21 points behind. They already lost 10 games. There's still seven games to go, so they probably lose one or two more. And you end up 20, 25 points behind the champions, and it's very hard to make it up within one season.

21:38And the one thing we obviously not talked about, and we can talk about certain players, but obviously Wierdze hasn't come up with the numbers, as Craig said. Salah was always going to... The goals were always going to drought because he found it hard to score goals from open play since last Christmas. It was already in the second half of last season that he struggled to score goals from open play. But I think the player that has not talked about enough is Alexander Arnold because I think he was a playmaker from right back. He's probably the best passer in the Premier League, one of the most gifted and technical players.

22:10And in Frimpong and Conor Bradley, they've got two players who are not technical players. They're runners. on the left-hand side is Greg St. Kirk has been and I think the importance of Alexander Arnold has been underestimated also for the way he left which I didn't understand the way the Liverpool fans welcomed him when he played with Real Madrid at Anfield I think it was disgusting I think it was shameful the way they received him and I think he's a player who's really been missing because he was like a playmaker from right back and they haven't got a player at the moment and this is why they you know the things haven't been coming together For somebody that is having the season he's having, Ibrahim Kanati he's a very cheery chap isn't he?

22:55He's in the France squad he's having a ball It was interesting to talk to him and maybe he did in a longer version of the interview I don't know but certainly in that clip there he talked about new players coming in but he didn't talk about the defensive errors that both he and you've got to throw in Van Dijk, have made. Now, Canati's have been more howlers. Van Dijk's have been more subtle, you know, positioning, not picking up in the box and so forth. And the two of them are as experienced players. And I get the fullback area has been an issue, doesn't it? And you're going to miss the passing range of Alexander-Arnold, doesn't it?

23:34And they made up for his defensive deficiencies and they got away with that. And they accepted it because he offered them so much going forward. But both Canati and Van Dijk as experienced players, the captain and the French international, have not helped the full-backs. They've not marshaled the back four very well. They've not defended very well. And whilst that's not the only reason, and they've not been great in midfield either. I mean, it's been the whole sort of team. But those two centre-halves haven't, they haven't marshaled that back four at all well. And Canati has made so many mistakes.

24:11I mean, even in the game against Galatasaray away in Istanbul, he was lashing at balls and all sorts. Didi Deschamps must be having kittens thinking, you know, what Canati am I going to get at the World Cup if I'm going to play him? Because we know he's a good player. We know he's big and strong and he's pacey, but he's just made a lot of mistakes this year and it's cost Liverpool. But at the same time, I don't have an issue at all with certainly the mood or tone of his interview. Listen, Canati... I mean, yeah. Canate's struggle like everybody else. You're absolutely right. And Didi's right in everything he says.

24:44But Canate's also right in that they win the league next season. Nobody's talking about this. But we all have played this game. And the old cliche, you're only as good as your last performance, still stands. Regardless of whether you're defending champions or not. That still stands. And while Liverpool continues to struggle, while Canate continues to struggle, the criticism will come for them both. at the same time and why I say I don't have an issue with the tone of the interview and I know we'll get to Chelsea soon enough you look at Chelsea who are just a point behind Liverpool and some of the comments from some of their players and I know it's a different dynamic and changing manager and all that that is a little bit more concerning at least we're not there yet with this Liverpool team the problem is and did you touch on it if they don't get in the Champions league places, you know, you might have one or two looking to leave.

25:36Then some of the players you're looking to bring in, because you had a big spend in the summer anyway. I mean, we sat in the summer and said, give them the title. And pretty much most people were saying the same thing. This is an incredible transfer window. Look at the players they're bringing in. Look at the guys that are already there. They kept Van Dijk. They kept Salah. And then they added to it. And to see the drop-off in this manner has been quite astounding. and everybody can lose games. Nobody that's ever played has not lost. But the way they've continually and consistently lost games and playing in the same manner has been worrying that Arnley Slott has not been able to rectify all these sort of issues.

26:15He continually looks as if he's just not got the answer. So if they don't make this Champions League, all of a sudden some of the guys you might be looking to bring in, that's going to be tougher to happen. and again, some of the guys might be looking to leave and when you're just throwing it forward and saying, well, if we win the league next year, everything will be fine. That's tough. Look at Arsenal. You know, 22 years they've been waiting to try and win it. So it's not as simple as saying, well, next year we'll be all right when we win the league because Van Dijk is going to be a year older.

26:47Salah is gone. It's not as simple as that. Last point, Mario, and Liverpool. No, no. If Liverpool does not make it to the Champions League, I remember my time when I went to Chelsea when they were not in it and they made me feel like it was a disaster so Having a big club like Liverpool Financially because people will talk about like all financially might be people be not focused on that But financially that is a big hit because of the planning of where they are now and the future they spent Okay, we're talking about the spending you understand they say they generated 300 and they spent 450 million it doesn't matter what number you spend the only thing for the health of the club you need to play Champions League if you have so many stars in your team if they don't succeed then the manager I don't want to see nothing happen to the Dutch man I would love to see him there and Craig don't smile because I see your eyes lighting up no listen I want my man to stay on so Arnold get your team ready and start getting that stuff going on because if not, the Liverpool, oh, that city is going to be some mayhem in there if you don't make it.

27:55No, I was just thinking, in my last season at Chelsea with Frank Le Boeuf and some others, we finished sixth, and that was a great season.

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28:04Life was so much easier back then, wasn't it? Absolutely. Given that we do have Didi here, and given that we've been talking about the Champions League, we're going to get to that next, but before we do, we do have this game for Liverpool coming up against Man City on Saturday in the FA Cup quarterfinals. That game will be available on ESPN. Be up bright and early with the boys, 7.30 a.m. Eastern. We've got Chelsea Parkville, Southampton Arsenal, and West Ham against Leeds coming as well. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back.

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29:15No long prep, no complicated game plan. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber, and crafted with 100 % whole grains, not refined white flour. So you're getting something that actually fuels you. And there's depth on the roster. Buttermilk and vanilla, blueberry, chocolate chip, even gluten-free options. Breakfast that delivers, snack that delivers. Find Kodiak frozen waffles and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box. And so let's talk about Bayern Munich as we look at them by competition. The Bundesliga, a foregone conclusion, as you can see by the odds.

29:57Favorites to go all the way in the Pokal as well. But what about the Champions League and that big game coming up in the quarterfinals against Real Madrid? Let's get a word from Didi German on how you feel about this for Bayern Munich, Didi. Well, as I say, it's a 50-50 game. Maybe Munich's slight favour is because of their form. They haven't really showed any flaws all season. And Madrid, obviously, they already changed the manager because things didn't go too well in autumn. Now on the RB lower, things seem to have settled and calmed down. Barpeh seems to be happy, even though he didn't play in the last Champions League games.

30:35He's got for France now. Vinny Junior seems to be a lot more happy than he was under Alonso. So this is the biggest test for Bayern Munich. You know, in the group stage, you need to get out of the group stage, whether it's through the playoffs or in the top eight. They finished in the top eight, didn't do an awful lot wrong, apart from the game against Arsenal, away from home where they got beat. And yeah, it's a huge test. And obviously they're in the harder half of the Champions League this season. and next will be Liverpool or Paris. So, you know, I think these four teams, one of them will win the Champions League.

31:10Can Bayern go past Real Madrid? Yes, of course they can. But I think sometimes I get the feeling because it's so easy for them in the league. Sometimes I get the feeling they get a bit carried away and saying, yeah, Madrid, you know, it's a good team, but, you know, we've got the better of them. And I think it'll be two very, very tough in hard games. They've got to go to Bernabeu in the first leg. and if they lose and if Madrid can play on the counter in Munich I think it'll be mighty tough to beat them so yeah I'm leaning towards Munich but I still think that that Madrid got a great chance but I think out of the four teams on that half I think Paris is fine in their gear so for me Paris is the outstanding team in that half and also in the Champions League but yeah I can't wait for the game Real Madrid against Bayern Munich it'll be awesome but I'm leaning towards Munich.

32:03Tell us what you see because you're on the ground, you live in Munich. The players in the team right now are saying that they haven't had an atmosphere and a camaraderie like this at Bayern for a long time. Is that the feeling that you're getting in Germany from this Bayern team and part of the reason why it is going so well for them? Well, that's how they play, K. But that can change very quickly in Munich, as you know. It only takes one result or two results and it all changes. So, you know, it's easy to give interviews and speak to the press when you win games. And I think, you know, sometimes when you lose games, you see how united the team is.

32:35Now, they hardly lost this season. They haven't really had any setbacks. They lost one or two games in the league. They lost to Arsenal, where Arsenal was outstanding. So they haven't had any setbacks. And you won't go through a season without losing games or having setbacks. So, you know, the question will be, if they were to lose a game in Madrid, which is a distinct possibility, how are they going to react? How united are they? because, as I said, he only finds out how close the team is when he does lose games. And that's a question they have to answer when he gets to that. But apart from that, you've got to say the manager has done a fantastic job.

33:09They haven't got a bigger squad, so he doesn't really need to rotate too many and upset too many players when they don't play. But everybody seems to be happy with him. He's got a good relationship with all of them. They're all firing. The only thing is Musiala and Davis came back, got injured again. I don't think they'll be a big help in these two games against Madrid. But so far, it's so far so good in Munich. But as I said, it can change pretty quickly. I'd say the same thing for Bayern Munich, as I said, when Real Madrid played. Yeah, Real Madrid, as you know, we cover La Liga every week. And it's certainly been better for Real Madrid, but it was a low bar because they were struggling.

33:47And I'll say the same thing for Bayern Munich, as I said, for Manchester City. if Manchester City had got their defensive structure right when they had possession and coughed the ball up they would have beaten Real Madrid because they had better players, were better going forward but they didn't they were defensively, they were terrible they got out done in the midfield particularly in the Bernabeu leaving Rodri on his own it was crazy tactics played four up front left himself exposed to the counter-attack which is what Didi's talking about Mbappe in behind, Vinicius in behind but if Bayern Munich can be very professional and certainly a lot more professionally structured than Man City, I think they'll beat Real Madrid over the two games.

34:30But there's always that worry that you get carried away and you've got all this position and you leave yourself exposed at the back. And if you leave yourself exposed against this Real Madrid front line, then you'll get knocked out. So it's a fine balance, but I do feel Bayern Munich have the upper hand. I agree. I think this is Bayern's to lose. Listen, I understand what Didi's saying about Real Madrid and coming to form and the talent that they have at their disposal. But to Craig's point, I don't think anybody's accused City of being a great team this season. City are second in the league, granted, but by their standard, they have not been at all good.

35:12Whereas you look at Bayern Munich and you see the exact opposite. They are just a well-oiled machine under Vincent Kompany. So while, yes, Real Madrid are Real Madrid and the Champions League, I just feel like this is Bayern Munich's to lose. Madrid or Bayern, Mario? Oh, we made the brackets a couple of weeks ago and I said Bayern, you know, so Didi, you can keep your smile. Why? Because exactly what the guys are saying. You understand? Didi, he can be florist and be saying like, yes, it's my team. Why? Because I think, look, the occasion is there, of course. When they go to Madrid, they have to make sure because a lot of teams, when they play away from home, so at home I'm talking about, like Bayern, if they play at home, they have the occasion too.

35:54But normally when they go to Spain, that is when they, you know, they glitz a little bit. If they can do both sides really well and stay focused and keep it like the way it's going, they have no worries. Because I think regardless if Madrid has the forwards, yes, they have the speed, they have all the comfortability. But I think if Bayern keep playing like a team, it will be harder for the individuals to shine. So that is going to be the biggest question also for Madrid if they can do that because Brian is a very good sign We should end it there with the dutchy being nice to the German twice in the show as well when it comes to the International scene and the domestic scene today.

36:28Didier you better be you better be giving me a hug when you see me next time It has been noted I've never seen Mario so excited Didi, thanks so much for joining us. We look forward to speaking to you again. Pleasure, guys. Thank you. Okay, good stuff. So plenty still to enjoy when it comes to the Bundesliga. It will be back once the domestic football is back. Freiburg will be hosting Bayern Munich, Bayern Leverkusen, playing Wolfsburg. Those games coming up on the Saturday morning and it will continue through to Sunday in both English and Spanish. La Liga will be back too. and it's back with a bang because we have Mallorca against Real Madrid and then later that day it's Atleti against Barcelona 2.30pm Eastern those games available as always on ESPN Plus Score more with the college branded Venmo debit card and earn up to 5 % cash back with Venmo Stash Got paid back?

37:30With the Venmo debit card you can instantly access your balance and spend on what you want like game day snacks, gear, tickets and more the more you do the more cash back you can earn plus there's no monthly fee or minimum balance sign up now at venmo.com slash college card the venmo master card is issued by the bank court bank na select schools available venmo stash terms and exclusions apply at venmo.me slash stash terms max 100 cash back per month protein is now at starbucks and it's never tasted so good you can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha try it today at Starbucks.

38:10And so the discussion over the future of Enzo Fernandez continues. A reminder, March 18th, I'm asked about his future. He said, I don't know. My focus is here for now. We have eight Premier League matches to play and the FA Cup, then the World Cup coming up. So we'll see after that. The following day, Liam Rossini responded and tried to calm things down. He said, I would say he made it really clear to me how happy he is here, how much he wants to win for the team and how passionate he is for this football club. He also, he said also the translation and emotion got misconstrued. He's completely committed to this football club.

38:47Then he's been on a YouTube channel and there's been some fresh speculation speaking now, Enzo Fernandez that is. This is on March 30th. He said, I'd like to live in Spain. I really like Madrid. It reminds me of Buenos Aires. Players live where they want. I'd live in Madrid. I get by in English, but I'd be more comfortable in Spanish. To offer a bit of context, he was asked where he would like to live besides England and Argentina, but he does know that these comments have been taken apart recently and still continue to say that. Remember the days, Shaq, you used to give an interview when you were away with the international team?

39:23Maybe you didn't do it, and I definitely didn't do it but you somebody would always say something in the press because you knew every international window something was going to come out back before all this social media nonsense how the hell did that get back to the newspapers was it a carrier pigeon how did it get back somehow it always got leaked back when a player went i'd really like to go and play for real madrid and i'm talking to the my colleague international football and he plays for real madrid he's trying all that sort of stuff but nowadays surely players are bright enough surely to know that every single thing they say travels never does player interviews and news travel quicker and faster and to more people than now so you have to be and listen it's his choice but it seems to me that he's saying one thing to certain people and another thing to his manager and I think and that's fair enough to an extent, if he wants to leave and wants to go and live in another country, I haven't got an issue with that.

40:26But wait to the end of the season, because there's a big finish to this season for Chelsea and a lot of other clubs. It's going to be a bun fight for the top four. It's going to be a fight in the FA Cup. And what you want is players committed between now and the middle of May. And then after that, you know, have your discussions. And I think that's one of the issues that both managers and supporters will have, is that when they look at a player making these comments, albeit an international duty, the first thing that comes to mind is a lack of focus or a lack of desire to be at that club. And when that happens, K, supporters turn very, very quick.

41:05We'll see what happens. At the same time, though, taking in a vacuum, there's not an issue. I'd like to live in Madrid, too. Yeah, me too. I don't expect my boss to be calling me any morning about it all, which is unfortunate and is par for the cause. You'd be living in Madrid working on this show. Yeah. He wants to live in Madrid and not be on his current show. We were just talking about he might want to live in Madrid and play for Chelsea. Who knows? So do you think that knowing the lay of the land though, even though he was asked about it, he could have then said, but I'm so happy where I am right now in London.

41:37Yes, yes he could. But to that point and Craig touched on it and it always happens. You're going international duty, you're speaking in your native tongue with reporters who who maybe you know and you feel relaxed with you do these long interviews long far-reaching interviews and somebody pulls out 10 seconds out of it and in in as i say in a vacuum and while nothing happens in a vacuum it this is this really is not it's not anything at all now it's taking on a different gravity because was it last week or a couple of weeks ago you're having this this comment about him not committing his future and again when was it march 18 okay so 12 days ago.

42:16You know, you have these comments and then now the two become conflated. And I just, I don't think that's fair. I wouldn't live in Madrid. Maybe I'll be Enzo's neighbour. Is it unfair to pick up on, Mario? Is there nothing in this? No. No, but you just have to count up of where, like, he comes from River Plate, goes to Manfica, comes to Chelsea. Now he's at Chelsea, of course, the settlement was not, you understand, when he arrived, it was still a bit of a turboloid going on. And, you know, he got the team, you understand, they started to play, they had some glitches when they look really good and you look really impressed.

42:52And then the rumors came prior to him making that comment. The rumors already were that Madrid was watching him. So now he makes that comment. And in the sense of like, this is a kid that arguably won the biggest trophy that everybody wants to win. And now there is a club coming, you understand. And I understand like, yeah, Chelsea, if you're going to compare to each other. Madrid is of course guys we can name it how we want to name it but it's a huge club and this kid is now looking at that too because if not he doesn't make that comment it is not in his head that not being in your head and then making that comment no he's thinking about it and for him to make that choice that's up to him if he wants to make the max he's of course he's gonna look at Madrid do do I like it no I would love you know Fernandes to stay at Chelsea and I don't I don't want him to look at a different club, but this comment is to me with a little wink.

43:42And you know what we talk about winks, when someone gives you a wink, when they're talking about a nice city, it's just like Saka, let Saka explain to you what somebody means with a wink. I can't explain that. Well let's be honest, you were winking at Didi Hemant the whole show. You and Didi, no dude. Greg, Greg, look at this. Miami of Munich before you know it. Well, you know what? You know what? He gave me some hard times. That's why, baby. Because when we were playing against him, he gave me some hard times. But away from that. Look, I don't want to rubbish the whole thing. He might get a bit of stick from Chelsea supporters, but it's not a huge story.

44:24Yeah, it is. You know, he's not gone. You know, whether you're in the right or wrong about it, he's not gone. Look, Chelsea, I hate Chelsea. I hate the manager. They don't know what they're doing upstairs. The ball are clueless. He hasn't done that. So it is what it is. And who can blame some... Who can blame maybe one or two at Chelsea going, do you know what? What is going on here at this club? Where am I going to be in a year or two years? Are we still going to be flapping around, hiring and firing? We're still going to be building the project and bringing in young players and giving them these long contracts?

45:03I mean, so if you're a player and you're 25, 26 or whatever you are, you're in the peak of your career, and you're at a club that really doesn't know what direction it's going in, if we're being honest, and has hired a very inexperienced manager, and they may not be in the Champions League next year, you kind of would look around. Unfortunately, supporters of whatever club you're at don't take kindly to this sort of news that rolls out. That's the sort of narrative of the social media these days. But, you know, whilst it might not be right, and a lot of people's eyes to say these things, who could blame one or two looking around going, you know what, this isn't working here.

45:44Maybe I should go and have the peak of my career somewhere else. To be honest, that's a really good point. If you're clearly Capitolo, whoever Chelsea's owners are, you're loving this because it's taken a lot of heat off of you. Nobody's focused on your mismanagement of the football club. and now you've got somebody to blame. Well, from Clear Lake's perspective, now the fans have somebody to turn on for a lot of dysfunction. Honestly, players like Enzo Fernandes. So if I'm sitting in Chelsea's boardroom and I know I'm making an absolute mess, he's doing me a huge favour here. And I'm calling everybody I know in the media.

46:18I'm like, man, talk about this some more. I'm loving everybody going to town on this. You see, I said the wink. Look, he's talking about the wink. I literally just said to you the wink. Luke Schaaf played the week. Do you remember the last sort of big name player? It might have been one or two in between. I don't know. Do you remember when Lukaku basically come out and said, it's a different situation, but basically said, I don't want to be here. Yeah. But then he was still there and the fans turned on him. Yeah. And that becomes very difficult for you. Listen, we all get booed from opposing fans.

46:50And you ask any professional, 50 ,000 opposing fans shout at you, boo you. You don't care. you're just used to it as a professional you just brush it off and you laugh about it when your own fans turn on you that really is a punch in the gut and I'm not suggesting that could happen but there's already rumblings at Chelsea some of the supporters are not happy with what's going on and if they're reading these quotes which I presume they are then Enzo Fernandes is just going to have to play well or the fans will turn it's as simple as that Okay. Wink, wink. Wink, wink. Maybe we should make it the Mario and Diddy show.

47:31A new podcast coming your way. Gavin Joel. Make sure to check out the latest edition of their podcast wherever you do get your podcast. They've got the latest on Spurs the second of Igor Tudor and what's next at Tottenham. And a reminder that tomorrow is the World Cup qualifying games. It's Bosnia against Italy, Sweden, Poland, Czechia against Denmark, Kosovo against Turkey, DR Congo taking on Jamaica and Iraq against Bolivia. All the reaction will be coming up on ESPN FC to what goes down in those games. My day kicks off with a refreshing Celsius energy drink, then straight to the gym. Pre-K pickup, back home to meal prep.

48:12Time for my fire station shift. One more Celsius, got to keep the lights on. When the three alarm hits, I'm ready. Celsius, live, fit, go. Grab a code refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate now at Celsius.com.

48:50favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. Welcome to the latest edition of Extra Time. Craig and Chakra here in the studio. Mario Melchiot joining us and we've got your questions here. Let's go for it. Bernardo Silva. Did you see yesterday's show? I didn't see yesterday's show yet, no.

49:14The presenter. The presenter. Oh, he's got himself into tonight's show, don't worry. Oh, I remember you. Sat at home, right? I'm not going to use the old underpants line again because it's getting a bit boring. But it's close, I think. Shoe-holding himself into this show he's not even on. But did he learn nothing from you when he was in Madrid about culinary, cuisine? No. Well, it's funny you should say that because it's to do with that. Alright, let's go. Yeah, so, okay, wait for that, alright. Bernardo Silva, if you were him, where go after the summer? Where do you go after the summer? MLS, Saudi or stay in Europe?

50:02I always say if a question comes in here and it's grammatically not correct, it needs to go in the bin straight away. How many years left at the top level? What? So you're not answering that one because you're not happy with it's grammar. I'm not happy with it's grammar. Did I miss this today? He announced he was leaving, did he? I think, did he? Was he? I don't know. I didn't see anything. If I'm, well, to the question, if I'm Bernard, I think Bernard of Silva has still got another three years at the top. Now, again, I'll say this every single time. You plucked that number out of nowhere. Yeah, yeah, I do, yeah.

50:38But I'll say this every single time. If Bernard of Silva decides he wants to go to Saudi Arabia for a huge pay packet, He's earned that right and I will not question that in the slightest. But as a player I think he can still play at this level, at the highest level in Europe for another three years. He was going to Barca a couple of years ago and I think City talked him out of, might have been a year or two, I think Guardiola and City talked him out of that move and he signed another contract but I think he is ready to go. As quite a few City players may be and it's not just the fact that the manager may go but the fact they have these potential points deductions or even a relegation or certainly a charge is coming their way so that is going to be difficult for them so yeah absolutely he can go and play at the top, I don't know if he's got another three in him That's the number I plucked Two and a half

51:33Two years and ten months Two years I give him two Yeah, I give him two too. But I think like, you know, what Silva is doing. I've been to this season. I think I've seen him two times or one time, at least minimum one time live. And what he means for his team and how he takes the responsibility from some of the players that are not in the game. And the way he does that, I felt like now this guy is just has it all. You understand? So and I don't see him quickly the way he plays as well and the way he thinks because he's certainly a player that is his brain of thinking that makes him even look quicker.

52:08because he's technically gifted, but also quick thinking. And I think sometimes it goes a longer time than someone that's just quick because sometimes you lose your speed or you lose certain things, but the way you think, that's what he has. And I think, yeah, wherever he goes, I think he can still stay where he is at the moment. So I don't see him quickly leaving, but two years I give him. I give him two years, not the three that Chaka gave him. Two years. Okay, Craig, start, bench, or drop. Team that will get relegated this season. Nottingham Forest, Spurs, West Ham. Oh boy.

52:46What do you mean? Who's the most likely to get relegated? Who's the second most likely and who's the least likely of the three? Ooh, I say squadron leader. Spurs is difficult to judge because they're still without a manager. And I think that appointment could be key. Most likely.

53:09I think at the most likely moment, I'm trying to do a show here. Yeah. Can you show me? I'm trying to do a live show and you're mumbling along. No points, lost last straw. Where's it got? Spurs, most likely. At the moment, because they've got no guts in the fight. Forrest next. And West Ham because of the position that they're in. No, no. Spurs, West Ham, Forrest. And I've got no idea what I'm saying. That kind of feels about right. Leeds are still in it. Leeds are definitely still in it. But Leeds have got guts and fight and spirit about them. Whereas I'm questioning Spurs at the moment. West Ham have put together a decent little run where they keep picking up points and I think that's working in their favour right now.

54:09Spurs without a match, of course, that's an uncertainty and that depends heavily on who they bring in. They bring in another Igor Tudor, well, yeah, then they're absolutely favour. The Zerbys looking like it could possibly happen. They're throwing the kitchen sink at that, allegedly, you know, in terms of money. which money that money and that's part of the problem that having to chop this money so we're told to get the Zerbi to come now rather than come in the summer because they're in there's so much in the mire and they're in the mire because they didn't chop money at the likes of Eze and others because they're holding back on the wages and now they're having to go the other way so it all depends on on on what happens.

54:51Spoo's West Ham Forest is that what you said Spoo's West Ham Forest? Go ahead, Mario. Greg, Greg, what happens if they bring the Serby there? They're bringing another fire, you know, another fire to the house. I know they're looking at him, but hey, when Mourinho came, fire. You understand? So many coaches that go there, it's fire. And now they want to bring a guy in that is, the Serby don't look to me, that he's going to accept certain things. And they don't want a coach that don't accept. So if they're going to bring another one that doesn't accept, they have to be ready that he's going to talk back and really quickly as well.

55:29So for me, if I look at the line, yeah, maybe I was looking at Forrest because I didn't expect the fight to come in earlier. But now I'm worried about Spurs, man, and people will go like, yeah, because you never know. I'm worried for Spurs, man, because they have everything beautiful except the direction they want to go. That's totally not looking beautiful. Shaka, are you secretly hoping that Jamaica lose tomorrow? No, I want Jamaica to win. Who are they playing tomorrow, Shaka? They are playing the Democratic Republic of Congo. They're not favourites, are they? No, Congo are favourites. But Jamaica qualifying for the World Cup is great for Caribbean football.

56:08Is there no rivalry then down in the Caribbean? I describe it as a sibling rivalry. Against each other, we're going hammer and tongs. It's a huge rivalry between the islands. But outside of that, outside of the Caribbean, we're family. And that's how I see it. It's a bit like that with Scotland and England, isn't it? Yeah, Netherlands and Germany, according to Maria. Yeah, apparently. We've just thought that out earlier. I mean, Scottish people are out there partying when England are playing. They're all so kind and parting also Scots. Wow. Yeah, so no, he's not. bookmakers say the four favorites to win the world cup are spain france argentina and england after that come the likes of portugal germany the netherlands brazil belgium and maybe italy out of this second tier which team do the guys think could actually win it who's the second tier again so i think that they're just saying portugal germany netherlands Brazil, Belgium?

57:07Not. Probably Portugal. Yeah, Portugal. I think I'll tell you... Portugal on paper. Yeah, I can't see Portugal. I can't see any of them winning it. I readily going to get there. Big game against Bosnia tomorrow. Yeah. What's the hubby doing? Stressing. Crying. Panicking. Yeah, panicking. Is he sat watching it in his underpants? How's he dressing up? Tomorrow's a big affair. Oh, no, he's sitting watching it with his dad, so I hope not. Because that would be quite a seat to watch, you know. Both of them in their underpants. The mum tried to get them to, they're in town, the in-laws tried to go up to Boston for a trip and they've said no because they have to be right in Friday Place in front of the screen for this.

57:48No stresses on getting back, so we'll see. Which does lead us to the next question from Dan Thomas. Yeah, well. Now she's pretending to be Italian. Don't believe Kay and her food snub ways. she was more than happy to help herself to my 1 euro 99 dear pizza back in the day which we all know is untrue because one as an Italian I don't eat pineapple on a pizza yeah yeah what do you mean as an Italian they well they're making fun of me the other day because I cheered for Tonali's goal that's all right yes but working where was it what was Bruce Tonali's it was in the semi-final for their World Cup qualifiers.

58:32I cheered on the goal that Tonali scored that would have got them to, that helped them along to the final, which wasn't caught on camera, but they decided to tell everybody on set. And I just said, I want a happy household. That's all right. I agree with that fully, Kay. I have no issue with that. And two, I was just wondering what top Dan wears when he goes to watch Brazil-France. England. Oh, he wore his Brazil top, didn't he? Did he wear his Brazil He wore his Brazil top. He was presented to Frank Leboeuf. Yeah. He got tickets from France and he wore his Brazil top. Well, he knows where his bread's buttered.

59:07Exactly, and I know where mine's buttered, so... Because he'd get battered. But at the same time, while you're part Italian, frankly, part Scottish... I'm actually not percent Italian. Part Scottish. You're from Minnesboro with a parmel. I'm still trying to figure out, well, a parmel. Kay, an Italian dish. Shakin, I am more Italian than you. Kate, Kate, are you really Italian? I'm not Italian at all, but my kids are Italian. Mario, they're part Italian. Okay, good. All my in-laws are Italian. That's enough for me, I mean. You know, so. That's enough. See, I'm giving you Italian. I'm giving you Italian.

59:45Italian by... But Dan, don't worry, I'll be cheering for England with you. Dan doesn't even understand Italian food. Yeah, he does not. Dan doesn't even understand Italian food, so don't worry about it. No, he doesn't know. He owns fish and chips. Dan don't understand food. Any food. Anybody that puts pineapple on a pizza should be frog-matched into a darkened room and locked away. Agreed. Agreed. Pineapple on a pizza? No. Agreed. And that's how we know I was never sharing Dan's cheap pizza. Alright, that will do it for the latest edition of Extra Time. Thank you so much for sending in your questions.

1:00:18How do you get pizza in Madrid anyway?

1:00:23Oh boy.

1:00:44From 30 for 30 podcasts.

1:00:53Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami. Gunned down. The key to this case, it's Brian. Boy, he's ripped him. An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with somebody. This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction. They're placed under arrest. We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now.

From the publisher

The FC crew react to Germany's 2-1 victory over Ghana and argue if Julian Nagelsmann's side is a contender to win the World Cup this summer. Plus, the guys question why Florian Wirtz plays so much better for Germany than Liverpool. The guys also break down Enzo Fernandez's latest comments on his future.
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