Bodø Breeze by Inter

0:00From 30 for 30 podcasts.

0:09Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down. The key to this case, it's Brian. Boys, 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. In place under arrest. We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now.

0:35Welcome in to the latest edition of ESPN FC. I'm Dan Thomas, joined by Craig Burley and Stevie Nicholl. As we cover today's Champions League matches, we'll kick off in Italy. Inter taking on Bodo Glynn. Remember, the Norwegian side with a 3-1 lead going into this second leg. In the end, they would win 5-2 on aggregate. Another brilliant performance from the underdogs who are safely through to the next round. So four or more on this. Let's walk in Frank Leboeuf. But we've got to start with a former Inter man, Jürgen Klinsmann, is with us. Jürgen, how embarrassing is this for a side, let's not forget, who are 10 points clear at the top of Serie A?

1:13I think it's hugely embarrassing for every Italian football fan, obviously, not only for an Inter fan, because the other clubs, they're struggling the same way at the moment in the Champions League or in European football. So there are so many questions now being discussed in Italy, in Italian football, from all the experts there. How can this happen? How can, you know, you lose to a team that, you know, it made itself its name over the last two, two and a half years. Bode Klimt, obviously, in the Conference League, then in the Europa League, they went to the semifinal, and then they beat some big names, and they were outstanding today.

1:49I mean, they deserve the biggest compliments, absolutely. I mean, huge, huge compliments. But for a club like Inter, this is really a catastrophe. This is a moment where they have to reflect what is going on, what they're doing. They have to question every little piece that they're doing. The team was never really convinced of being able to turn it around tonight. I mean, the stadium was sold out. The atmosphere was brilliant. But they never created clean chances. It was all half chances that they created. Yes, they could have scored maybe here and there by one of these half chances, but they could never kind of step up rhythm-wise.

2:30They could never go to another gear. And this is what you need. If you have to come back in a European competition two goals down, you have to go in a far higher gear and keep the rhythm so high that sooner or later the other team will break down. And we're talking about Bode Klimt. That is in offseason, as I said last week. You know, they haven't even started yet their Norwegian championship, you know. So you have to tire them out. You have to be on their toes from the first, second on. But Inter was not capable to go into higher gear. And so the question really is here, you know, what is going on with Italian football in general?

3:07You know, the national team was blown out by Norway in the World Cup qualifying. You know, they have now to go into two more qualifying games at the end of March. And the club teams like Juventus lost against Cala de Sarai. They have their game tomorrow. Atlanta, Atlanta, the same thing. But what we saw tonight from Inter was there was not the Inter that you would imagine you could see. An Inter team that is dominating you, can go different rhythms, can go different speeds, has players on the field that can make a difference in a split second. There was not even one player on the field that gave you the feeling that he can turn it around.

3:46with, I don't know, a surprise shot, a surprise dribbling. You had almost no players that could go one against one and create something different. I mean, they hammered in the box, I don't know, 10, 15, 20 crosses, and they have these half chances by headers of their forwards up there. But that's it. That's it. And this is not good enough. So at the end of the day, it's a lack of quality that we would never, ever expect from a club like Inter Milan. So it's going to be some rough nights coming up for the entire club, for the fans, for the players especially. And that, even if you are 10 points ahead in the Italian Championship, ahead of AC Milan, and you pretty much won the championship already.

4:29But this was very, very disappointing. Straight home for the Inter players tonight, I would imagine. Yes, I wouldn't imagine you'd venture out at all. Not just tonight, by the way. I would imagine you sort of swan about the San Siro corporate areas for quite a while to let the fans disperse because I'm sure there'll be quite a few fans waiting on them. Look, Norwegian football with one or two other teams like Boro Glimpton, the national team, is flourishing at the moment. And Italian football, in a sense, the Italian national team, and now this, is floundering. There's no doubt that Inter have regressed.

5:02Maybe we could say the same about Napoli and one or two others. But they have regressed. We talked about this with Jorgen a few weeks ago about the ageing squad that Inter have, about some of the players that they lost. And I think also it's now looking like Simone Inzaghi did a really good job in the organisation of this squad, of utilising the roster and getting to the Champions League final last year. I know they were a little stronger. I know they got walloped in the end by PSG, who were brilliant. But I think it just shows that Inzaghi made a big difference to the organisation and the tempo and the counter-attack in the defending of this team.

5:42And that's been a struggle for them. And they've regressed. They might be top of the Serie A, but they've regressed. And they gave Bodo Glimt a glimmer of hope in both games, and they absolutely snatched it. They were brilliant. You know, they were absolutely... I said this, we were talking during the game, we've got these two huge clubs in Scotland, Celtic and Rangers, right? They call themselves two of the biggest clubs in Europe. And I suppose in some sense, their size and that they are. But they've got much bigger budgets than the likes of Borough Glimpton, one or two others have. But yet, as Stevie said to me, well, it's a cycle, isn't it?

6:23They've just managed to have these really good players at one time. And maybe that's the case. Like Rosenberg and a few others from smaller countries like Norway have done over the piece. But this is actually, it's not a fluke. They're a very good team. I get it, they've got a hybrid pitch in Norway and all that, it's difficult to play, but there's not a hybrid pitch in the San Siro, and they played there. They've beaten some other good teams like Atleti, like Dortmund, who was the other one, Man City, they beat, and by the way, that game wasn't a fluke. So yeah, they've been really good, I mean, what a shot in the arm for Norwegian football, but for Italian football, I'm sorry, it's just not the quality that it once was, and although they got to the final last year, I think that was a big, big tipping of the cap to the manager in Zaghi, who's no longer there.

7:11He's in Saudi Arabia. And they've been found wanting this year. That's the honest truth. Frank, it's interesting, isn't it? We talk, Craig mentioned Celtic Rangers. You can also mention quite a few teams in the Premier League. Bit robotic, not really entertaining to watch. Yet, Bodo Glynn not only are getting it done, they're getting it done whilst entertaining us. Exactly, exactly. Exactly. And yes, we can criticize Inter Milan, but you have firstly to talk about Bodo Glimpil. Everything I saw today, even when they were under pressure, they were fighting, working all together. They knew what they had to do when they got the ball back.

7:45They were going forward. There were four or five to go forward. They believed that they could do something. It was amazing to see the spirit, the organization of that team. And all credit goes to the coach and the willingness of the players as well. But even if they had maybe 30 shots from Inter Milan, I never thought that Boudreau-Glimm were in danger. And they could punish them. And it happened, what I felt, that they were able to finish the action and do their job. The second goal is simply amazing. The assist, the control, the pass. It's world-class, only world-class players can do that. But I'm very impressed.

8:28I sent a text to Jan to say, Bodo Glim is the best team in the world. They sent me a hardback. But it's really what it is. I mean, we're all impressed, but it's not, it's a fairytale. But it's not a surprise anymore for me. It's not a surprise after what we've seen. And Craig mentioned the team that they already beat. And we cannot say it's only at home with the AstroTuff. No, it's everywhere. They do the job. They're very well organized. I'm very impressed with that team. Not that much by Inter. Have they set a blueprint, Stevie, as how other teams on this sort of budget should approach these sort of games?

9:04Or is this like an anomaly? No, I don't think it's a... It's not a blueprint that nobody else knows about. It's just having a group of players at the right time. Craig was talking about it earlier. Having a group of players at the right time is a really good mix. They're all in tune with each other. They clearly know each other's game inside out. and when they do get the ball, they go at pace and the movement's fantastic. You know, the guy on the ball, and you see them streaming forward, there's always two and three passes, but it's at pace. It's one and two touch. And then, of course, when you can finish the way they did and you show it again tonight, then it's a real handful.

9:43But no, teams like that are going to go about it exactly the way they did. Other teams of their size just don't have the quality. I'd have to say the one thing that really surprised me though Was the way Inter went about it I sit here week after week Complaining that there's not enough balls put in the box In the Premier League Holy smoke This was like an English First Division team in the 1980s Where all they did was whip balls in You've got to be able to mix it up You know when you're playing against a side Who have got plenty of bodies in and around the box It's great for them Because all they've got to do is challenge and they showed today that you don't have to win the header as long as you put a solid challenge in, you put somebody off, which they did because Inter had a few headers, but none of them really troubled the goalkeeper.

10:33So they had no football players in their team. Look at that midfield. There's nobody there that's going to pick a pass or play little one-twos or do something clever. They never looked like scoring. and the fact that they did score was a bit of a shock. This game was kind of a mirror image of the game that I think Jürgen mentioned was the Norway game in the San Serio against Italy. Okay, Italy were chasing their tail, they had to win, but so were Inter tonight. And although the Norwegian national team was picking some players that are playing in the Bundesliga and the Premier League and others, there's still a bulk of them from the Norwegian league and it kind of was the same, except the national team pulled it off much easier.

11:17They allowed the Italians to get on to them. And then as the game wore on, they just started to pick them off as the national team got frustrated. And I think it's very similar here tonight. The more frustrated that Inter got, the more Boyd O 'Glimp felt that they could go and score a second, which they did, and maybe even a third or a fourth. So it's maybe something that's just gone all the way through in Norwegian football at the moment, how they're approaching a lot of these big games where they're very well organised, where they've got a lot of confidence in their own ability. They know they've not got the star quality of some of these other countries and some of these club teams.

11:55But they've got a very clear thought process of how they want to go about it. And how they've gone about it against the bigger teams has been really, really good. Well organised, good football when they get the ball, good counter-attack. And they always work their socks off. They're always working as a team and they've seen that in this competition. That being said, we can blow smoke up their backside all we want. Bodo Glimp will still be the team that people want in the last 16. Because people are still saying this can't continue and all the big guys will be hoping they'll be getting this Norwegian team because they are going to be probably still one of the weaker teams on paper, if not the weakest, come the last 16.

12:38But I would believe they're not frightened of playing most of the sides that are going to be in the competition. No, and you mentioned, of course, what happens in the next round. we know already, don't we, is either going to be sporting or it's going to be Manchester City. The draw to be made, of course, when this round is complete. Can I ask a stupid question, Steamy? Go on. Which would you prefer if you're Bolo Glyn? I think you'd prefer sporting. You prefer sporting? Yeah. Yeah, you ain't going to... I'm saying this, but... The reason I ask that is that you've already beaten Manchester City.

13:10But you're not going to... You don't want Man City. Man City know you inside out now Okay So are they really going to surprise Man City Particularly the way they did in the first leg That seems incredibly A long shot to me Manchester City are not going to turn up If they get Bode Glynn in Norway And produce what they did They absolutely will not So if I'm Bode Glynn I want Spontane Yeah, you agree? I think probably But there are Some glaring areas in this city side particularly at the back and in the full-back positions that I think you can get at. I think the problem with the City game, they've only played them in Norway, right?

13:52Now, as the two-legged affair would be, if, depending on where the first leg was, if it was at the Etihad, if they could get through that relatively unscathed, I really think they'd fancy their chances back in Norway against the City side. That being said, there's no doubt Sporting are the weaker of the two teams. but City or not it's not exactly you wouldn't be quaking in your boots at getting them the big worry would be the away game the away game you cannot get destroyed and City of course for all their issues at the back and with centre-halves and full-backs they could put four or five on you in a heartbeat so that would be the concern if you got City from Bodo Glimp's point of view depending on obviously where the first leg was but yeah I think sporting but they wouldn't be frightened of City I wouldn't imagine Jürgen what do you think?

14:41Well, I think definitely no matter who they play, nobody will underestimate Bode Klimt anymore. I mean, that doesn't exist anymore. It doesn't matter if you're Manchester City or Sporting. You now take Bode Klimt so serious because they have proven it now over two or three years that they are a very, very good team, that they are competitive, that they can handle big, big names. So now going forward, Bode Klimt is absolutely no surprise anymore. No, they are to be taken seriously by everyone. and so is Norway, you know, and I look at their progression over the last 10, 12 years, a little bit like, you know, in the late 80s, early 90s, more and more Croatia came into the picture, obviously, after the Yugoslavian war and the split of all the Yugoslavian nations, then Croatia came out with the most talent, with the most determination to break through on the world stage and look where they are now.

15:35They are among the top four in the world when they go to a World Cup or European Championship. And I see Norway is on the rise. Norway is to be taken very, very seriously going forward. I mean, we watch, obviously, you have another Champions League game with Atletico Madrid beating Bruges, 4-1, three goals, so a lot. Norwegian, you know. So, I mean, it's not only a few, few individual players that make the difference for these Norwegian teams. It's teams. It's teams. So they've done a lot of good things over the last years. What they've done exactly, I don't know. It would be needed to ask them a bit deeper.

16:19But they're no surprise anymore. If I was now obviously Manchester City or Sporting, I go in there and I know I've got to give everything I have to beat Bordek Limp. I might be wrong, the producer knows, because it was Tottenham. Was it the semi-final of Europa League or quarter-final last year? Yes, it was the semi-final. The semi-final of the Europa League, OK, it's clearly not as strong, and they lost. So it's been a bit of an upward curve for them. But this has taken it to another level, getting into this stage of the Champions League. But you throw a bunch of these players in with Sorloth and Haaland and Strand Larsson's just made for 45 million.

17:01That was a bit of a head-scratcher. But you can chuck him in as well before you get to Odegaard and Norgard and everybody else, they are producing some good teams and they're producing some really good players at the moment. For a lot more of what we've seen in the Champions League, just a reminder, the Gab and Jules podcast will drop on Thursday as the boys will be reflecting what we've seen across the board this week, plus looking ahead to Chelsea against Arsenal in the Premier League this weekend.

17:30And let's go Madrid through to the next round. Remember, it's 3-3 going into their second leg against Club Rouge. They've won by four goals to one, which include a Serlo hat-trick. Let's first reflect on what we saw in this tie. Frank and Jürgen are still with us. Jürgen, big strikers still exist in this world. Yes, they do, yeah, and they know how to score. No, it was fun to watch, obviously, you know, having a solid there, scoring three goals, you know, in a typical number nine way of doing it. Overall, I mean, the game was entertaining. First half was even. was in the game, but then the second goal killed it off.

18:10And the second goal came by Johnny Cardoso, and it's an American kid. And this is pretty cool. I think his story is remarkable. Obviously coming from Real Betis and then breaking into the Atletico side, which is a very difficult side to break in for a foreign player. And he did that and he had a very good game, not only because of his goal, because of the way he played. I know he was fearless. He was going into one against one battles. and threw himself in there. And I was really very, very pleased with this performance, which is obviously a good thing for the U.S. national team. Yeah, most definitely.

18:43Good for Atleti as well. They get him back into full fair. So meanwhile, Frank, someone like Solov is someone you battled with a lot, isn't it, in your playing days? Yes, yes. It's somebody you try to look for because you know that the power is there, that he has the feeling. Today, he was feeling the game. He was feeling the crosses and he was every time in a very good situation. And the second goal that he scores, and the guy was mentioning it, he had the time, but he took the time. He knew exactly what to do. His control was perfect and the positioning of his body was perfect and he knew where to put the ball in.

19:23It was very impressive. But I'm more impressed by the save of all black for me would change the game because as Bruges would have scored that goal just before the first half, I think it would have been another game. And All Black is still, for me, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Yeah, it was a save, wasn't it? That kind of changed how the game went. Do you want a word on Antoine Griezmann's hair? Anybody? As a man, of course, dyed his hair back in the day. And he's accused of dyeing it quite a long time, it must be said. Sorry? A lot of people suggest that you dye your hair now. Would you ever go for this colour?

19:58Well, I'm dying it grey. I think he's had a few daft haircuts. Yeah. Why are you looking at me? I think he's a little past this now, or should be. There's generally older females around 65 to 70 years old who dye their hair purple rins. I mean, I went through that. Let's be honest. I must admit, I've got an excuse. When I stupidly dyed my hair at the World Cup in 98, I was in my mid-twenties and I hadn't quite matured. When's that going on? When's that happening, Pearly? I mean, he's not going off up here. Anyway. When did you mature? When did you mature last year? So what that means, away from haircuts and purple rinses, what that means for Atleti they're going to face a Premier League side in the next round.

20:46That Premier League side will either be Liverpool or Spurs. Which one?

20:57Oh, my God. If you're Spurs, and we're having serious conversations now, obviously, about relegation, are we going to get to a stage where they're just going to have to put out second-string sides in the Champions League because they've got to focus so much on survival?

21:17No, I think the only way out is you try to field your strongest team in every single game you're going to play until the end of the season. I hope that's going to be the approach by Tottenham. If you're the best XI you can field, you've got to throw them in and get points in the Premier League and get positive results in the Champions League. Obviously, this would be a very, very tough one to play, but it's Champions League. There's no other way to do it. But I would definitely go all the time with the strongest team possible. Who are favourites? Just something. It's a voice. Sorry. Just something.

21:49It's coming from nowhere. Not because, you know, we're picking some. But the history is talking right now because Liverpool Spurs were the final of the Champions League some years ago. And where was the game held? And Metropolitain, and we were there, you know. So it's maybe a sign for Atletico to do something special about those two teams. I guess, yeah, it's better to play Spurs. You interrupted my link for that. Do you know what? Because nothing is important in life. Only signs are important. Feelings. Can I correct myself? You know when I said Bodo glimped of the team team to play. I forgot about Spurs.

22:27If it's Liverpool, who are the favourites? Well I think Liverpool have beaten them already this. Atletico Madrid? I think so, might be wrong.

22:38Well that's a difficult one I tell you because I tell you why, Liverpool, listen, they've not been good. Atleti on the day this season have been better than Liverpool. Think about the basse game a couple of basse games uh the sorry the madrid derby but they've had so many peaks and troughs i think they play oviedo at the weekend they could lose that's it isn't it that is it yeah and they they go from the the sublime to the ridiculous that's how yeah the pendulum swings too much for them uh and that's why they are you know almost a dozen points off the La Liga title race and they're not even actually in the race.

23:18I think at this moment in time, I would have to say a fully fit Atleti side if they got Barrios and a few others back and Solov continues this sort of form and Julian Alvarez picks up again and you've got I'd have to say, watching Liverpool recently, that Atleti for me would be the favourites. If you'd asked me last year, I would have been the complete opposite. But I just don't trust, I mean, I don't really trust Atleti because we watch La Liga every weekend and we see the topsy-turvy results. But Liverpool, for the most part this year, have been terrible. It was 3-2 at Anfield when they met in the Champions League, Stevie.

23:59Craig's just going Atleti. I'm trying hard to find a way to be really positive and say that it's Liverpool. I mean, Liverpool and Europe have been way better than they have been in the Premier League, but I don't think the opposition's always been the hardest. I think I would have to just go on the side of Atletico Madrid. Would you as well, Stevie? I think so. Liverpool echo. Yeah. I'm going to ring them up. Liverpool let you dismiss his chances. Right now, Liverpool have got a... I mean, they've got no bench. We were talking on the weekend about how he couldn't change the midfield as bad as it was because there was nobody on the bench.