Lamine Yamal Lifts Spain to Victory

22:46And obviously Ronaldo was poor in his game. You know, son's been poor for career. So today was the day we got De Bruyne and Lukaku playing for Belgium earlier. And we got Salah playing today. So it's a case of, let's see how they do. Now, Lukaku and De Bruyne were pretty poor for Belgium. They looked like players that had come to the end. I mean, Belgium's golden generation, this is their fourth World Cup now, and it looked like they're carrying the burden of that team that failed to deliver. They struggled. And Salah struggled for the first half, but he showed his class second half. He delivered.

23:13Egypt had never won a game in the World Cup before. He was the reason they did. He's one goal away from the all-time record of Egypt's all-time scorer, which is held by the coach. He might drop him for the next game. but Salah delivers but I do think there has been an issue with the older players and inevitable really considering the conditions they're playing in Did you drop that into the column in brackets? Showed his class in the second half No, no, no It was all negative then you went brackets then show a bit of class in the second half He also had to credit Dan because Dan mentioned what about Son?

23:46Oh yeah, I forgot about him Wow, you're getting fun I'm giving you some credit for once Dan Luckily, I wrote my intro at the end, so it's all very positive about Mo Salah. You've got to wait until the end. I'm not one of these guys who writes it before the game. Right, I see. Well, you're typing away with that. Rewriting rapidly. Where, of course, your point was proved was Belgium against Iran. If you didn't see this game, you missed absolutely. It was one of the worst games we've seen in this World Cup so far. It just wasn't particularly entertaining. Belgium having chances, but not being able to convert.

24:20And as you say, you look at a team that has Kevin De Bruyne in it. You think, oh, but you think of that kind of Kevin De Bruyne of old. And you think Lukaku, we discussed about the impact he made when he came on against Egypt. There wasn't that impact today. No, I mean, they both had really badly injury-interrupted seasons. But they're all like, I think Lukaku's 33, De Bruyne's 34. And, you know, De Bruyne's had injuries from their, what, last three or four years. That's why Man City let him go a year ago. Now, it's quite sad to watch De Bruyne because one of the best midfielders, you know, ever in my book.

24:46But he's been around the Belgian squad to the 2014 World Cup. And it's his fourth World Cup. but you can see he's got a lot of miles in his legs, a lot of injuries there. And I think he looked frustrated today because he couldn't do what he used to be able to do, couldn't get up and down the pitch. He gave the ball away the last five minutes, which could have led to a goal for a run, which would have been disastrous. So, you know, they've still got a chance to bounce back, but like Craig was saying, they can beat New Zealand, but they won't go much further. No, there isn't that fair factor at all with Belgium, you feel, in this one.

25:11No, and look, you know, during the Portugal first game, we were talking about who did the DR Congo, who were able to play a relatively high line because Portugal had a front man in Ronaldo that couldn't run away from me. Well, if you think Ronaldo can't run at 40-something, Lukaku's worse at 30-something. And I think that's the worry for Belgium, is that here they are at a World Cup and their supply line of strikers, according to Rudi Garcia, is so limited they have to go with a guy that played a handful of games at Napoli this season and seven games and looks as if he can't move he's overweight and listen he's unfit he's not sharp and he's coming towards the end of his career and he's leading the line in a World Cup match he's never going to run away from anybody De Bruyne is not going to run away from anybody yeah they've got a bit of pace with Doku and one or two others but they just don't have enough within this team.

26:17So yeah, not a surprise, but if they're getting crosses in the box and lots of possession, then fine, he can go and attack it, but he's not going to do anything else. He's never been a great link-up player and he's certainly not going to run away from anybody. Decatelare played centre-forward in the first game, so didn't play particularly well. So they changed it for Lukaku, who didn't play particularly well. He looked cumbersome. He didn't look as though he could run in behind. And when they took him off, they had to get Luka Bakio, who's a right winger, who is quick, but they had to play him at centre-forward when they're desperate for a goal.

26:45That says everything about the Belgium attacking. Salamakas, who the last time I saw him play particularly well was for AC Milan several years ago. He was playing on the right-hand side. It's not a particularly good Belgium side. And when you're relying on the likes of Lukaku and you're relying on an unfit or not effective De Bruyne, you've got problems. And they got a man sent off. And Doku didn't play today. So, not good for Belgium. No, indeed. Some brackets have Belgium maybe meeting the US at some stage in the tournament. if things work out. Some are surprised that the US are going to make it into the knockout stages.

27:19Just a reminder of Mark Ogden and what he wrote before the start of the tournament when asked of the most surprising team that won't make it out of the group. He said, the United States, when Turkey won their World Cup playoff against Kosovo in March, it was bad news for the US. Turkey were the best team in Group D by some distance, so it heaps the pressure on Mauricio Pochettino's team to beat Paraguay and Australia. But Pochettino has failed to create a feel-good factor and the US team has done nothing in the past two years suggest it will suddenly come good now. Done well, haven't I? ESPN's senior writer.

27:52Mark, that's why he's wearing glasses. Well, Turkey are doing well, aren't they? I play like De Bruyne and Lukaku today. You said, that's what you said. How did you get everything so wrong? I don't know. Yeah. I based it on form. You know, before the World Cup, they lost three of the four warm-up games in the US and weren't very good. We know that the last 18 months have been pretty fractious with Focatino's, not happy. But I was there in LA for that first game and they started fantastically and they just built some momentum on it. Yeah. But I was right, they've had to beat Australia and Paraguay first.

28:19They might lose to Turkey, it doesn't matter. Turkey are going to be the best team in the group. They're the unlinkiest team in the world. They've created chance after chance and not taken any of them. Right. Ogi, Ogi. Stop digging. Ogi, schoolboy error. You've got to play the long game because there's always a time you can stick the knife in. Yes. But you've gone in early there at the start. Well, you know. It was noticed anyway. Talk to me about brackets, because you know better than I do who could face who down. So, obviously, we know the US are going to top the group. So, in theory, they'll get an easier draw in the round of 32.

28:54Well, that's subjective, because it depends who finishes third. If a bigger country has a bad... Yeah, so I think there's three or four options for each team. The current situation, yes, it's Ecuador, but I don't buy that, because Ecuador got one point. They'll probably lose to Germany in the last game, so they're not going to get a third place with one point. Germany have already won the group, though, does that? Yeah, but it's Germany, isn't it? I don't think Germany will want to... I mean, they're not guaranteed to win the group, I don't think yet. I think they're still... Right. ...positions to play for.

29:18They have won the group, I'm being told, Mark. Is that right? Yeah, there's another thing you're wrong about. Are you sure? That was up in the air yesterday. It's all these permutations. The US, as you said, there is... It changes all the time. But there is potential, not in the 32... Well, I remember there is, but certainly in the last 16. If they get to that, which they should, that they could play Belgium. Now, Belgium beat them in a friendly match here in the US 5-2. But there's five or six players played in that US team that day that are not playing for this US team. And also, the momentum has completely changed.

29:51Belgium have to get to the round of 16. Well, they do. But if that happens and you're looking at the match-up and you say, well, yeah, it was March, they beat us five. Things have changed completely. The US are on a positive note. They're playing well. They're confident. They've had two great games. and as we've discussed, Belgium have been so flat. Two draws have looked terrible. So in the space of what, three months? Yeah. The pendulum has completely swung in the US's favour. If indeed that's what happens in the match-up, which probably won't because who the hell knows what's going to happen.

30:26The other thing is, you know, with this game against Turkey now, surely he's going to, A, he's going to arrest all the players with the yellow cards. Absolutely. And B, why would you even think about playing Christian Pulisic? Yeah. with some sort of knock, injury, muscle problem, why would you even risk it? You just leave him to the knockout games, make sure he's fresh, everybody's ready to go again, you pick the batting up, that would be the sensible thing to do. You don't think that if you do that, keeping fresh, that would be three weeks later again. Does that not lead to ring rust? Not in two weeks.

30:57Not in two weeks. I mean, Pochettino's still got to make it a big game. He's got to say, so those players coming in, if he leaves out the players that have been booked. That's another column in writing tonight. This is still an important game. We've still got to go and win it. We still want to play well. And those players coming in, you might have a chance later in the tournament to prove yourself now so that you do play later. I would take a little bit, a smidge of an issue of lacking match sharpness over playing in a pointless game and potentially, you know, getting the injury flaring up again and been out for another two or three weeks or indeed the rest of the tournament.

31:35You're only going to do that, Augie, if you need the result. The positive thing that I think maybe surprises a bit with the US, two big things is that energy that they brought to the table right from the off against Paraguay and against Australia. We've talked about how good that midfield looks together. And they've been desperate for a man on top, and they've found it with Balogun. And you look at other teams around us that we've seen in the World Cup who are struggling to find that striker, the one who can put the ball away. It's all about that, isn't it? It's all about momentum. and people emerging from World Cups over history have had players that went into the tournament as a squad player maybe that emerged to become a star player.

32:10And it's all fallen in the right place for the US. You know, they've got a home run on the West Coast and they're right through to the, I think, to the semi-finals. So, like we're getting carried away with ourselves, but everything is how we would want it to be. You know, Pochettino's now probably the most popular man in the US. I know. Behind Russell Crowe. But it's just going so well for them. And they are riding the wave of euphoria. I saw the video of the Country Road song, which was being played in Seattle which the whole nation is getting behind them which is fantastic. Why did you mention Russell Crowe?

32:37Because apparently he looks like him. Really? Have you not been reading the papers, Dan? No, I haven't been reading the papers. That's his look-alike. That's his look-alike apparently. Oh, I need to go and read them all in good. Gladiator Russell Crowe, I think. Gladiator Russell. I'll tell you what, what's the most impressive thing thus far, not so much in the Australia game because obviously that's the lucky shirt for the tournament he's more at the first two times. Not quite the Australia game because they're a bit more of a rugged side. Certainly maybe early on against Australia. What's impressed me most, or one of the facets of the way they've played has impressed me most, is the pace in which they've played the game.

33:17It's the pace in which they've turned the ball round from the back line to the midfield to the forward line and then all of a sudden they've been in behind and stretching teams. That has been what's impressed me the most thus far. If they can keep that going, then they're going to have a good tournament. Meanwhile, if you missed the late-night game yesterday, Japan thrashing Tunisia by four goals to nil. These are the celebrations in Tokyo. They had to wait for the lights to change before they went on the pedestrian crossing to celebrate the victory. Japan looked great. Tunisia looked terrible.

33:54Tunisia were a bad side. They've changed their manager already. A new one comes in who's got a record of doing well with African countries. They looked all over the place. And Japan were able to play at their own pace. And when they needed to quicken it up, there was too much space. They were great in the forward areas. Lovely little one-twos, clever play in midfield. Japan look a decent side. Isn't there a column out there? Someone that Augie wrote about Tunisia are going to have a great team. No, I think they're going to suck the manager and have the third manager. But Japan looked good. Japan always looked good at World Cups the last World Cup they were really good and I think people underestimate them but they are a very good team, very well organised and they're a tough team to beat but when they've got the cutting edge up front that's what always lets them down Two very hard working midfield players who play in the Premier League Tanaka they're high energy, they win the ball back they switch the play as you were saying it's a decent side Speaking of a decent side, Gabagels are available for their podcast Are they doing it daily here?

34:55Or is it? No. What are they doing then? OK. Just doing it when they want. Yeah. The latest edition of the Carbager will show then drops on Monday. Be sure to check it out. After we'll be discussing the sending off of Al Moronford covering his face, we hear from former Manchester City player Ilkay Gundogan.

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36:48Mouamiron, of course, made history being the first player to send off after FIFA introduced the new rules that you can't speak to opponent while covering your mouth. Iguoduan was on our early show and he disagreed with the decision. Because it's such a new rule, I think it's something that as a player you need to get used to still, you know. I mean, even myself, when I remember me playing or when I remember games of myself, I've done it, you know, I've done it in the past. And it's not in a disrespect, just to have a conversation because I didn't want the cameras maybe to catch what I'm saying.

37:26And sometimes it's not just joking around. Sometimes you speak about other things, but it's not something bad, actually, you know. I've done that in my career so far. and I think it's a little bit also in our human nature that we might forget about specifically this rule, especially in the beginning. So it didn't look like it was a very bad intention from the player, from at least what I've seen, but the reaction of the Turkish player obviously on the opposite speaks maybe a different language. But that's the problem that we have a little bit. It's something we will never know. We will never 100 % probably also agree about that rule.

38:04but as a player at the end of the day you must know that this rule exists now and you have to follow it. Do you agree, Craig, it's harsh? Well, it's not harsh because that's the rule. Right. But I do pick up on the point there that it's become second nature for almost all the players for quite a few years now across multiple leagues to be doing that. And I think to go as quickly... And look, I'm not making an excuse, but to go as quickly from nothing to a red card for it, when players in the heat at the moment might just slip their mind, I think that's the harsh side of it. Rights and wrongs, but I think a yellow card would suffice.

38:50And if you did it again, it was a red card. But to go straight to a red card when it might be a case of forgetting, which I think is a nonsense in the first place. Players were doing, we were talking about this, players covering their mouth as if they're giving away state secrets. but this is obviously to stop they're stopping the cover of the mouth because of the potential for racism or something offensive but I think generally players are saying something innocuous when they're doing it and if somebody forgets then they're simply going to get sent off which I think is a little bit harsh Yeah, it's a little bit harsh but as Craig said, it's the rules every other player in the tournament has not done it because they've kept with the rules Almiron forgot or didn't think he'd be seen or whatever.

39:33This is the case. Obviously, the Turkey player highlighted it to the referee and it went to VAR. VAR sees it and says, yeah, he's got to be sent off. But of all the things you can get a red card for, that seems a very silly one from the player's point of view. But to be sensitive to the other player, he must have been saying something. He's not saying, oh, you're playing well. It's something disrespectful. It might not have been racist. It might not have been homophobic, whatever it was. But he's obviously saying something disrespectful. He's still got sent off for kicking somebody. Yeah, exactly.

39:59Well, yeah, I wish I did something meaning to it properly or meaningless It's gonna be introduced across the board now. Yeah, I mean I was actually I've been February with Infantino and he made the point then this is gonna come in because it was on the back of the press the army Vinny Gini situation now So every player in the world must have been aware of that because that was a huge story for days and weeks So that's why it's been brought in so it's not just a World Cup thing that will continue because it has become a bit of an issue And the reason why players cover the mouse apparently is because there have been situations, I think mainly in Spain, where people, you know, newspapers or media organizations...

40:31Yeah, there's a TV show that we've... They've employed lip readers. Yes. So, more often than not, the players are talking nothing important, but they might be saying something about the coach or the teammate or something, so I mean, that's a bit out of order, doing that lip reading, but that's where the players are covering their mouths, but the rule is brought in to stop incidents like the misunderstanding, so we said, between Vinajuni and Prestiano, which ended with he was suspended because of homophobic remarks rather than racist remarks because they couldn't prove what was announced. So that's why they brought this in.

41:00So I think Armour must have known. Rob was right. There is only one player has done it at this point. So all the other players know the rules. Yeah, yeah. You should understand the consequences. That one of a few new directors that have been brought in for the World Cup. I know we're a bit Luddite-y here but these have been good haven't they? They have. They're like, you look at that. They expanded far for the... I think the goal kick corners worked out brilliantly. A wadding of the Ronk. Yeah. Because unfortunately it was Elmer Ronk also got the yellow card turnaround because he died. Reem was...

41:32I think for that they need to make it quicker. Yes. But the great thing about the goal kick corners is that it's been really quite rapid hasn't it? There hasn't been any faffing. No. The throw-ins are done much quicker. Oh my goodness. How are Arsenal going to cope? No. Oh don't you start. Don't you start. Don't be asking me. I was at the Mexico game on Thursday and 91st minute Mexico won the loop and one of the defenders goes down and Javier Aguirre was going crazy at him saying get up because he knew that if this guy had to go off for a minute without one of the main defenders and Seth Coeur could have equalized yes it's really quickened it up and these hydration breaks have added to the the clock but you take them away there's not a lot of time wasting for throw-ins for injuries no so that's what we get annoyed about when players go down when you know they're not really injured and the game stops that's going to come out the game yes if they carry on doing it but what if you are genuinely injured you still have to go off for a minute yeah but you'd be replaced you'd be No, no, but what I mean is, if the physio has to come on...

42:25Yeah, you have to give you treatment, then the player has to go off, and then he's replaced by a sub-issue. I think it's to stop players conning the referee or trying to run the clock down. So if you are injured... If you're injured, but you can still carry on. You're genuinely injured, but you can shake it off and come back on. You still have to be off for a minute. Yeah, because you've got to take a minute to recover. Ah, I like it, Oggie, I like it. Are these going to be introducers? This time-wasting has to be, surely, because it seems to work so well. They'll be introduced, but as we know, in domestic leagues, they'll be interpreted differently.

42:55I mean, I go to Premier League games and I see it winds up all the time that every slight bit of context is a foul now. And I think referees in this World Cup have been... They've been great as well, haven't they? They've been letting a lot more go. So whether that continues, but I do think that a lot of these will come in. And you were joking about Arsenal, but some of these will affect Arsenal. The Premier League needs... Yeah. You said it, Oggie. You said it. Red free. Anti-Arsen. Anti-Arsen. Can't believe it. The time wasting in a game these days is just getting too much, isn't it? So some needs to be done.

43:25Yes. Between the goalkeepers and people with throw-ins, people rolling around, substitutions. So, yeah, there's no reason they can't implement this across the leagues. Now, what you're going to get is the conspiracy theories who are sat at home with a little stopwatch. He's been six seconds, he's been five, he's been... We're going to get all that. But you're never going to get it 100 % correct. But the referees, what I love about them here, they're not suffering any fools. As soon as they think it's any time-wasting at all, the decision gets reversed. And was there a directive before? Because they seem to be letting a lot more go.

44:01I don't know about that. I mean, that to me is a surprise. They are letting more go. But I don't think a lot of these will be applied in the Premier League, for instance, because I don't think the referees are strong enough to deal with the managers on the touchdown or the high-profile players that are in the rear all the time. What does that all mean? Well, it means that these guys know, Craig and Stu know that players put referees under pressure and that will happen familiarity breeds contempt a lot of these referees that are unfamiliar to the players they're not trying it on because they know that if you try on a World Cup you get a book and you get a red card and that's it and I would say people always ask me what's the difference between playing a home and away, why do so many home teams win it's because of the crowd's influence on the referee it might not be the big decisions, it'll be the little decisions in midfield which means the flow of the game will go in the home side's favour it's just natural If you hear 60 ,000 people shout at you, oh yeah, it must have been a foul, and you give it.

44:50When nobody says anything, oh no, it wasn't a foul. That's the home advantage, and that will never stop. If you think, you said, oh, the referees have been good, but think about it, this is the cream, supposedly. If you think all the best referees are in England, you're wrong. Clearly, we've seen it, they're not. If you think they're all in Spain, you're wrong. So there are good referees around the rest of the world, and we're seeing that. The best referees, according to FIFA, are here. Now, you can certainly debate that. But generally, the top guys are here, men and women. They're officiating, and that's why they are as strong as they are, and that's why they're not taking any nonsense.

45:29To go back to that point we all get with some of the other leagues, as you go down from the top referees to the more average ones in those leagues, they're weak. And what we're seeing here with the officials, there is no weakness whatsoever. they're in charge and the players absolutely know that. How long will that last? Do you think there'll be no controversial decisions? Apart from the guy that never sent Messi off the Roblox did. Fair challenge. You can't send Messi off, can you? Just a reminder, Sofing continues here on ESPN. July 5th, Boston Legacy against BFC, NWSO Action Live on ESPN. Hey, some intriguing ties we'll see tomorrow, including Norway, who are very much enjoying their time in the States, who will take on Senegal.

46:41My time. It's my treatment, my way. Visit vivgartmyway.com. That's V-Y-V-G-A-R-T myway.com. And talk to your doctor about Vivgart Hytrulo. Brought to you by Argenics. Game day at my place is kind of a big deal. If I'm grilling, chilling, and watching hoops, my outdoor patio setup better be ready to play. That's where Wayfair wins. From patio seating and umbrellas to grills and grilling accessories, Wayfair has got it all, and it shows up fast. I'm talking championship-level fast and easy delivery. So level up your grill game and your outdoor chill game and head to Wayfair.com now to get your outdoor space ready for the season.

47:29There's been some great videos with Chris Turner and fans around the States during this tournament. He's with the Norwegian fans. You can see that wrap tomorrow morning on our show at 9am. They'll be looking ahead to some good games. Norway's Senegal really stands out, doesn't it, Mark? Will you look at these matches there tomorrow? Oh, it's a great game. I mean, that's a really good group, is it? Those top three in that group could go a long way. They kill Augustine final, to be honest. Senegal looked good, didn't they, in the first half against France. Then France turned it on. So you're imagining they're playing for second place.

47:58Yes. Which could be important for them regarding second or third in terms of which way they go in the bracket. it. Senegal are a very good side, but Norway, I don't know, I just fancy them to upset one of the real bigger nations in the knockout stages. I think they could, and this has got the makings of a great, a big test actually for Norway at this World Cup. Obviously they won the group in World Cup qualifying, I think they won eight out of eight, they beat Italy, Italy had a great World Cup qualifying and finished second, that's how good Norway were. so yeah this is a huge one in terms of if we think France will win the group who's going to get the better second or third and meanwhile Robert Group J Argentina in action once again Lionel Messi stealing all the headlines from that opening game Austria should prove a big attack they should Austria are a decent side under Ralf Rangnick they press the ball quite high they're quite energetic Argentina with Messi will have to be somewhere near their best yeah it should be a good one as well should he even be playing should he Messi should be suspended Should be suspended, should have been.

49:01Austria are a dangerous side, so they could really upset us. You've written a column about that? Just on France, we're all suggesting France is going to win the group. They play Norway on Friday. Norway could beat France. Yeah. That could, you know, real set the cap on. There you are, head to head. Oh. Just a reminder then, ESPN FC, live with you tomorrow, 9am Eastern, on ESPN2. How is your World Cup fatigue? Xhaka hit the wall yesterday, in case you didn't see it. be sure to check it out. Stay with us.

49:40Plenty of coverage. So much coverage for the World Cup over on our YouTube channel. That coverage maybe is getting to some of our pundits. Here's Shaka. Never mind. Never mind them other two. Let us do it right now. Rosa. Roll on your jib. God almighty, Shaka. I shall come sleep tonight. Hey, weeeee.

50:09I can play some basketball, Mike. Should have been a basketball, you know. You should have been. Yeah, look at this. Oh, baby. Oh, baby. Look at this. My finger roll. Mike just tries to make me look bad. with my mark right here anyway ah boy oh man I haven't seen Shaka like that before I was confused the camera's like his new friend it's like a movie gone mad it was an amazing day yesterday how are you doing Oggie with all your travelling around and everything yeah I'm looking forward to a little local trip on Tuesday to Vancouver oh nice just the six hours you can't be complaining travelling around getting paid to watch the world come.

50:57No, it's amazing. I'm not complaining at all. I feel like there was a little bit of complaining. What about Burley coming and saying, oh, we're not talking about Egypt, are we? New Zealand. Which of the game was on the tenet. We'd been sitting here for five hours watching all these games. Yes, we talk about every game. I was off doing sports. I don't have time for Egypt and New Zealand. And I got cancelled on that. We had to put up with all you writing his article, which he wrote before the game. Oh, my God. What was up with Shaq there? He's just lost. Was it a long day? It must have been. I don't know what happened to him.

51:29Robbo, you must be on the brink of... Hey, don't you worry. A couple of coffee and I'm all ready for it again. A couple of coffee. A couple of coffee, yeah. He's got a long shift tomorrow. Another long shift tomorrow. 12 hours tomorrow. You've got to be in early because they said you may as well be in early. I'm looking forward to it. I love it. You know? Yeah. I'm not on with you, Dan, so that's even better. No, I'm with you all through tomorrow. Two-faced. In the right wing on the sofa. Yeah, yeah. Oh. That is it. We will be back tomorrow as we continue our coverage of the World Cup. As we say, Norway against Senegal, very much the standout game.

52:02Mbappe in action for France, Messi in action for Argentina. What more could you want from life?

52:15Welcome in then to the latest edition of Extra Time. Thank you for all your questions. Mike's chosen ones that we've already spoken about, but there we go. Craig, with Williams fully fit and Jamal healthy, Spain clear favourites or no? No. No. Simple answer. No. No. Nico Williams, I don't think, is ever going to be fit in this tournament. Right. So, Bahena, is he good enough on the left wing to cause problems to the bigger teams? I'm not sure about that. France still stay the favourites. Who's your order and favourites from what you've seen so far, Mark? I'd say France, Argentina, England. Argentina ahead of England and Spain?

52:47Yeah. Because they're so good. And Messi is 39 this week, but it doesn't seem to matter, does it? Right. England were really good, I have to say, they were a good second half. And Spain, it's Saudi Arabia which created early. I'm not sure they've got enough cutting edge to go all the way. I mean, Laminemal, amazing, but I'm not sure they've got the goal scorer. Do you think the new rules implemented for the World Cup has cut time-wasting and improved the quality of the matches? Five-second rule for goal kicks and throw-ins. Players have ten seconds to leave the pitch when substituted. One minute off the pitch if treated by the physio.

53:15We talked about this in quite detail on the show, didn't we? I don't think it's necessarily improved the quality of the games, but it's certainly improved. I think as watching a game, I think it's... I agree with you. What we've seen now... I agree with me. Yes, but we were worried about slow tempo games and all that sort of stuff, but they haven't been slow tempo. The heat hasn't seemed to have affected the teams. They've played at a high tempo. The game has been played... It's just down the hydration breaks. Well, that game today wasn't a high tempo. No, it was not. There's always a novelty.

53:44Yeah, there were still a lot of chances. The Kuyper should have scored three goals. The keeper made three great saves. I think we just dismissed that. Oh, do you think we did it? Because I said it was awful. No, I didn't think it was an awful game. I thought that Belgium had some big chances and so did the opponents as well. So were the opponents? I'm trying to think now. I know you're trying to think. It was Iran, wasn't it? Yeah, there we go. Got there in the end. Such a great game. I enjoyed the game. Such a great game. You forgot who was playing. That was the second game of the day. I was intrigued by it.

54:12For Mark, has the World Cup excited you yet? I remember at the draw, Frank Leboeuf said you looked miserable. Well that's standard. Everyone says they always look miserable so we'll follow what's different. Listen, it's been a really good World Cup, it's been beyond expectations because the games have been great, the crowds have been pretty much full, the pitches have been good, all the stuff that everyone was concerned about before the tournament has kind of melted away so so far it's been a great tournament. I mean I was watching the Uruguay-Cate Verde game, it was fantastic. So the games are surprising as well so that's good.

54:41Let me tell you, people say you can be miserable. I've been out on a little tour with him. Were we in New York? Yeah, last summer. He was the fun of the group. Well, yeah, because he was more miserable. Look at who he was hanging out with. There was Frank, there was Alexis, there was... Shaka. There was me, of course. He was the fella of the ball. The fella of the ball, we'll see. There you go, he got there in the end. Yeah, he got there in the end. Mark, the main argument against 48 teams was that there would be more weak teams that would keep getting blown out. But as the likes of Cape Verde, South Africa, DR Congo etc have shown there hasn't been the case South Africa is a 48 team World Cup South Africa yes that's what it says I'm just reading what it says is a 48 team World Cup the best balance of quantity haven't they lost two games and quality I don't know why they put that you could put Kurosawa in that would be a much better anyway balance and quality they got beat 6 or 7 Kurosawa yeah but they drew yesterday didn't they got a great draw yesterday yeah a great draw yesterday who was that against against Ecuador against Ecuador yeah but they got blown away yeah but still against Ecuador the question was you were worried about getting them blown away but they did get blown away but they weren't blown away against Ecuador because that's Ecuador but they weren't blown away no but that's Ecuador not still not Germany I think everyone thought Ecuador were going to blow them away no I don't think they did I think they did but again the worry was the worry was that teams were going to sit back and defend and defend and defend not cause any problems the games would be slow Scotland didn't play particularly well yeah you're absolutely right but the games have been much better than we thought Cape Verde would have qualified anyway by the way even if it was still 32 teams they've been.

56:13Yeah I think the issue is the continental balance but I think some of the South American teams have been poor. Yeah they have been poor. Some of the European teams have been poor. Scotland for example they may sneak through but they've beaten Haiti 1-0 they'll probably lose to Brazil so I think there's too many European teams there's too many South American teams and maybe have more African teams and more Asian teams. Right. And that would make it I think a better World Cup because you might argue that these extra teams from Africa and Asia aren't going to win it but then now they're Scotland and now they're in Ecuador so I think redraw them map a little bit.

56:41Oggy, which of these Premier League midfield players is most likely to live up to their exorbitant price tag in case they make a big money move in the summer? Anderson, Matias Fernandes, Matias Fernandes, or Sandro Tonali? I mean, I think Anderson's fee is ridiculous. Forrest won£120 million and that is just... And he'll go to City? Pretty much, well, they're the only club that can afford it. Right. But if City are prepared to pay that, that is a high fee, I think, for Elliot Anderson, considering what Forrest paid for him two years ago. I think if Sandro Well, Tonali moves for around£80 million.

57:11That is OK. I think that's probably over the top. And Mateus Fernandes, I don't think that anyone's going to pay£80 million. Why is Tonali linked to Spurs? Yeah, that's it. Well, Spurs have been ambitious. Why do you want to go there? I don't know. Newcastle, London. Yeah, London is a big thing, obviously. If Man City come in, that'll make it a bit different. But London is a massive draw for players. Right. And obviously, Newcastle... Not the Wetherspoons in Newcastle where he had his first night. Yeah, well, Newcastle over the years have lost their big players. it's always a problem and the Saudi owners don't seem to be putting the money in to keep players.

57:42I mean they've already let you know players go this summer, they let Esak go last summer, Anthony Gordon's gone, all the big players seem to be leaving so maybe that's why Tanaani wants to leave. About 30 % of goals at this World Cup have been scored after the 75th minute. Is heat exhaustion playing a larger role in match endings? No, it's more to do with the urgency of the result. That's It happens in football all the time. Always happen. When teams, you know, they might be, again, we've talked about being too patient. We need a goal. What do they do? They start crossing the ball in the box. They start getting players in the box.

58:13They play at higher tempo. It's always been the case. I always say you should start that way. And then when you control the game and you're winning. Like Spain did. Yeah, like Spain did today. You can play at a slower tempo. Some of the games have been indoors as well. Yes. Air conditioned. It's not been, even the outdoor ones, not been ridiculously hot, has it? I haven't been to any of them See last summer at the Club World Cup it was really hot I think Philly was 40 degrees at one point We did just prior to the World Cup Certainly the games in Boston We had this little mini heatwave of High 80s, 90 But it's cooled back down again by the standards here There's nobody playing in a hundred There's a heatwave at Miami For Brazil Scotland that could be interesting They'll have to put the suntan lotion on the Scots Oh dear What a lovely job that'll be.

59:02They put it on themselves. They're capable. What, the Scots?

59:11You're going to start a stall in Miami. Come over here and get your lotion on, you Scottish people. Shark tank. There we go. Sell that. Roberto Martinez strongly hinted he will leave the Portugal job and several journalists highlighted that he's in advanced negotiations to become the Alnacier manager. Does this job opportunity compromise his ability to bench Ronaldo in his current role? He's got to make decisions. He's the manager of the national team. He had a chance when he was the manager of Belgium with great Belgian players, the best Belgian side for a long time. He didn't win anything with them.

59:50He's got an excellent Portuguese side in terms of all the players, but he persists with Ronaldo and I think he's the weak link in that team. And he said, well, you never take off your best strike. But he's no longer the best striker in the world. He's a player that doesn't run in behind. He's a player that is just playing inside the box. And I think you could get Ramos to do exactly the same thing and he'd score as many goals as Ronaldo. Thoughts? I'm surprised that he's been linked with Al Nasser. I mean, I thought Roberto Martinez had bigger ambitions and had to go back to the Premier League maybe.

1:00:21But obviously, whether he's managing Al Nasser or Portugal, He doesn't want to drop Ronaldo, does he? And I think Robbo's right. He's hindering the team. But it's the same in the Euros. Landed at the last World Cup. Yes. How long have we had this argument for now? Too long. Too long, Mark. That's it. Let's go to bed. Where are you going next? Are you here tomorrow? Not here tomorrow. I'm going to Vancouver on Tuesday. Lovely. With Canada versus Switzerland. Oh, lovely. You said that with such enthusiasm, didn't it? Where are you going tomorrow, then? Are you going to Vancouver? What are you doing tomorrow?

1:00:46I'm in the office tomorrow. But I'm not in here. In the office? Well, this is the office. But not the studio. Where are you going to be? I'm just going to be writing. Whereabouts? In the office. He's getting cold in, hey. In the building. You ask him why he's wrong all the time. Yes. They want it off. Mark, you get everything right, don't you worry about that. You're a great writer. Yeah. Thank you. US won't make it out of the group. ESPN FC returns tomorrow. Thank you, Will. Just a reminder, early show with Kay and the gang. We'll be here later to reflect on some big games, including Lionel Messi in action, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland.

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