In short
Canada’s historic World Cup run—qualifying for the Round of 16 for the first time—plus debate over the expanded 48-team format and predictions for the knockout bracket. The episode also includes a discussion with Jurgen Klopp about his Liverpool style and a segment on group-stage “team of the group.”
Guests (podcast panel)
Don Hutchison (ESPN FC analyst); Mark Ogden (ESPN FC writer); Craig Burley (ESPN FC analyst); Frank LeBoeuf (ESPN FC analyst); Alexis Nunes (host). Additional voices referenced: Carlos Quiroz and Jose Mourinho (on expanded World Cup criticism), and Jurgen Klopp (interview with Shaka Hislop).
Key claims
Canada advanced despite not playing “prettiest” football; the decisive factor was team spirit and a lone goal by Stephen Eustáquio; Alphonso Davies’ first minutes came as a substitute. Panelists argue the 48-team format can be “vulgar/ordinary” but also creates valuable underdog stories (Cape Verde, DR Congo, Haiti, Canada). Klopp says Liverpool’s exciting style came from wanting to be successful and entertain, not from copying Barcelona/PSG tactics.
Notable examples
Canada vs South Africa (South Africa had little threat); Scotland’s failure to reach knockouts; Cape Verde reaching the Round of 16; Sweden finishing bottom of qualification yet still reaching the World Cup; USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina preview.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOCanada vs. South Africa Recap
0:45 to 2:14
Analysis of Canada's victory over South Africa and the team's performance.
“to a lone goal from stephen eustachio and he plays for lafc so familiar territory for him as jesse marsh and the canadians make history hello everyone and welcome to this edition of ESPN FC.”
Player Highlights and Coaching Insights
2:14 to 3:52
Discussion on key players like Alphonso Davies and the coaching impact of Jesse Marsh.
“And Craig pointed out the fact that Canada have made it this far without Alphonso Davies.”
Scotland’s Football Legacy and Canada’s Rise
3:52 to 5:35
Comparison of Scotland's football history with Canada's current success at the World Cup.
“I'm going to somehow shoehorn Scotland into this.”
Team Spirit and Qualities Required for Success
5:35 to 8:28
Exploration of the importance of team spirit and mentality for achieving success in football.
“Because you can fall in love with a team in Canada.”
Looking Ahead: Canada’s Next Challenges
8:28 to 9:46
Discussion on Canada’s potential opponents and their chances in the knockout stage.
“But what Canada have is a group of players who are good players, solid hard-working pros with a little bit a couple of guys playing at a higher level and a team spirit that's taking them thus far.”
Critiques of the Expanded World Cup
13:32 to 14:00
Discussion on criticisms regarding the expanded format of the World Cup and opinions from notable figures.
“It's one opinion that is based on my personal feeling.”
Debating the Expanded World Cup Format
14:00 to 22:44
Panel discusses the implications and opinions surrounding the 48-team World Cup format.
“Must be something in the Portuguese waters because he said, I'll be honest, for some, I tune out after 10 minutes.”
Predictions for the Knockout Stages
22:44 to 28:57
Hosts share their predictions for the upcoming knockout stages of the World Cup.
“Well, let's talk about some predictions now, shall we?”
Klopp's Football Philosophy
30:33 to 33:21
Understand Klopp's approach to football and its effects on Liverpool's success.
“You introduced a style of football at Liverpool that thrilled so many of us that you see replicated not just on the international stage, but more so, especially so, in league football.”
Assessing Klopp's Tenure
33:21 to 35:29
Analyze the successes and challenges Klopp faced during his time at Liverpool.
“Well it took him a little bit of time to implement that and when Slott came in he made some little tweaks to it.”
Show all 21 chapters
The Future of Liverpool Post-Klopp
35:29 to 38:45
Discuss the challenges Liverpool might face in the post-Klopp era.
“And I mean, Andoni Raola, he played some exciting football at Bournemouth.”
Don Hutchison's Team of the Group Stage
38:45 to 39:09
Join Don Hutchison as he reveals his picks for the best players of the group stage.
“Well, coming up next, we're going to show you Don Hutchison's team of the group stage.”
Bracket Predictions and Fun Discussions
39:09 to 42:00
Engage in lively discussions about bracket predictions and player performances.
“And let me tell you, Don Hutchison's been working overtime.”
Predicting the US Men's National Team Performance
42:00 to 45:07
Discussion on the performance predictions for the US Men's National Team.
“And remember, we've been timing everyone.”
Predicting the US Men's National Team Performance
45:13 to 46:18
Discussion on the performance predictions for the US Men's National Team.
“The one that makes buying so incredibly easy?”
Analyzing the Upcoming Game Against Bosnia
47:04 to 51:48
Analysis of the upcoming match between the US and Bosnia, focusing on strategies and player performances.
“Looking at a bracket now, just a reminder that one of the host nations, Canada, have already booked their spot in the round of 16.”
Scotland vs. PSG: A Career Decision
56:00 to 57:42
The discussion centers on Diomande's choice to join PSG and the implications for his career.
“I'm not saying the Scotland boys were doing that.”
Balogun's Future and Scotland's Managerial Situation
57:42 to 1:00:40
Analyzing Balogun's potential and the implications of Steve Clarke stepping down as Scotland's manager.
“Maybe he prefers the lifestyle in Paris over Liverpool, right?”
Coaching Changes and Fan Expectations
1:00:40 to 1:04:56
Discussion on potential successors for Steve Clarke and what fans expect from the new management.
“Craig, what are your thoughts about Stevie Clark stepping down as Scotland's manager?”
Scotland's Spirit and Team Dynamics
1:04:56 to 1:09:25
Exploring the camaraderie within the Scottish team and its media interactions.
“Bielsa Ball, Scotland named Bielsa Ball.”
Scotland's Spirit and Team Dynamics
1:09:28 to 1:09:47
Exploring the camaraderie within the Scottish team and its media interactions.
“It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00This podcast features Mark Ogden and Don Hutchison.
0:34massive scenes and celebrations at a canadian watch party in los angeles because canada have made history they are into the last 16 at the world cup for the first time and it's all thanks to a lone goal from stephen eustachio and he plays for lafc so familiar territory for him as jesse marsh and the canadians make history hello everyone and welcome to this edition of ESPN FC. I'm Alexis Nunes alongside Don Hutchison, Frank LaBeouf and Craig Burley. Let's get right into that game. Canada up against South Africa. It wasn't the prettiest of affairs, was it, Craig? But in the end, Canada get the job done.
1:14South Africa didn't do very much, as you can see. If you watch the game and you look at that graphic, South Africa did very little with the possession that they had. They really didn't have much of a threat. Canada, more so with less of the ball. a bit more quality in their side particularly when Davies came on at the end that gave them a little injection of pace two poor sides I think most people would agree but Canada into the last 16 great for them great for Jesse Marsh who I think is a very good coach if I'm being honest with you and I think there's a part of him looking at the US men's national team and looking at Maurizio Pochettino and thinking that should have been me and so he's got a point to prove with less to work with.
1:58And so that's a big achievement for them, getting to the knockouts, getting to the last 16. They deserved it, but with equality or lack of on their side, I think that might be the ceiling for them. Yeah, absolute big scenes there in Toronto, as Canada definitely have won this one. And Craig pointed out the fact that Canada have made it this far without Alphonso Davies. This now he's getting his first minutes of the World Cup. Pretty impressive, Frank. It is impressive, you know. I remember four years ago, I put them like favorites of the World Cup. So maybe I was in advance. So it's all thanks to you.
2:31Well, you know, I don't think they're going to achieve anything. I think it's, as Craig said, that's maybe the ceiling for them. But it's great for Jesse March, for the team, for the players. And for Davis, he's going to have some time to play and have an interesting game to play in the last 16. So it's a great adventure for the Canadians. and I'm very happy for them. Sad for South Africa because especially when it comes to the last minute goal, it's like everything in the world is falling apart. Don, what did you make of it? Of course, we're looking at the XI and we know that Alphonso Davies did not start.
3:09He started on the bench, though, despite Jesse Mars saying he was more than ready to play in the pre-match press conference. But who stood out to you? I don't think it was a case of who stood out. I think the goal was a mood changer. and in the end, what you have to say, and you can park your analysis because there was plenty of analysis before the goal went in, as if to say, I'm not sure what this Canadian team do. They don't dominate the ball. They're not really a counter-attack inside. Jesse Marshall's style when he was in England was a man-for-man type high press and energy. I didn't really see that in a game.
3:37But then you can put all that in the bin and go, well done, Canada, for getting through. It's an amazing story. So sometimes, you know, you can deep dive into it and you can try and over-analyze it and micro-analyze it, but who cares? If you're a Canadian now and you're through, just enjoy it. Enjoy the ride. I'm going to somehow shoehorn Scotland into this. As you should, Craig. We miss them. Well, you miss the supporters. You don't miss the team. That's true. I don't know if it's a compliment. The supporters were great and the team were not. But over the years, Scotland have had, and I'm not talking about Don and I, over the piece, Scotland have had some great players.
4:1570s, 80s, whatever it is, players that have played on world-class stages for some of the best teams in the world, best club teams and there has been many of them. The Douglasius, the Sunnis there's been loads and yet Scotland again and always has failed to get out of group stage and yet here we have teams like Cape Verde, DR Congo, Canada and I know it's changed from 32 to 48 teams but here we have these teams and the US men's national team, which I think has been to the quarter-final of a World Cup or thereabouts. These sides overachieve and get better. Every tournament seemed to get better, sometimes with less players, with less quality, but yet are able to continually, like the US, get out of groups, and now Canada have done it.
5:05And yet, we as Western Europeans from a so-called country that invented football, soccer, turn with nose up in these countries. It's embarrassing. Well, me and Stevie had a good debate turned into an argument in the end. And my point was about Scotland. There has to be a mentality shift as if to say we're not just going to be happy getting to a World Cup because Ecuador beat Brazil. You know, Cape Verde drew against Spain. We're seeing Canada go through. Why can't Scotland do this? Because you can fall in love with a team in Canada. They might not be the best team in the world. But if you're a Canadian, you can fall in love with your team because you're no one to Jesse Mart.
5:42They're going to have a go. And that's all you want as a fan, you want to see your team have a go. Haiti have gone home and they've gone home with their head held high. Because they played some really nice football for a tiny nation who hasn't played at home for years because of the problems in their country and all that goes with that. And they came, they got beat, but boy, they left nothing on the table. And teams that have gone through, like Cape Verde, like Diaconga, I'm just mentioning, and Canada, and I suppose South Africa, but more so Canada, you know, they're not coming with that attitude.
6:16Well, we're here and, you know, let's just see if we can get a couple of points and we're in the hotel for a month. You've got to compete. You've got to enjoy it. But you have to compete and you have to believe. And you've got to play with a little bit of freedom. Craig, if you want to compete, you have to keep your fighting spirit and your origins and your mentality. And I remember in 98, I'm pretty sure the first game of the World Cup when Brazil played against Scotland and Craig, they knew that they would suffer. They knew that the spirit of the team in Scotland, we're warriors. We are not in a movie, but it's kind of freedom.
6:48We go for it and we're going to die on the field if we need to. That's what made Scotland, England and so many teams different. When you were playing Germany, that was different as well. Spain as well. Brazil, it was different matters, different technique. But that's what I don't see anymore. I see team being all the same, playing all the same football, kind of tiki-taka, not creating anything in terms of chances like we saw today with South Africa. Give your spirit. Show your character and your mentality and your signature. And we don't see that anymore. It's a worldwide football. Everybody plays the same, tries to be a proper, classy football.
7:27Sexy football. Yeah, but it's not that sexy because I want to see warriors. I want to see a team who fights until death to win something. And we didn't see that with Scotland. and we don't see that with many, many teams and that's what I regret. It's what gets the likes of Canada through, isn't it? And you saw that team spirit there with Jesse Marsh and his players at the end with all the staff and there was a couple of injured players, one in Coney who broke his leg. I think it might have been in the first game a really nasty leg break from a pretty innocuous challenge and yet he's there. I think he was back with the camp and he's back on the pitch with his crutches celebrating, but no doubt deep down gutted that he's not out there playing in this knockout stages.
8:10But it's about that team spirit and when you don't have the quality of a France or a Brazil or a Spain or whoever it is, then you have to have something else to get you through. If you don't have the quality and you don't have the belief or the fighting spirit or the squad togetherness, then you are totally screwed because you've got nothing. But what Canada have is a group of players who are good players, solid hard-working pros with a little bit a couple of guys playing at a higher level and a team spirit that's taking them thus far. And you can't knock that. Well, as we said, Canada into the last 16 of a World Cup for the first time in their history.
8:48But just look at who they could have next, either the Netherlands or Morocco. Don, does this mean that the round of 16 is probably the ceiling for Jesse Marsh in Canada? Maybe, but you can't look at it like that. If you're Canada, enjoy tonight and then prep for Holland or Morocco. You can't afford. That's what I'm saying about the loser mentality with Scotland. If you're Canada, you can't go, well, we've got here, but we're going to play Holland on Morocco next and we're going to go home. You can't have that attitude. You've got to play to your strengths. And although Morocco and Canada will be a better footballing side and offer a lot more than South Africa did, Canada might have to find a way, whether it's man-to-man, whether it's going long ball and playing to your strengths, whether it's having a fight and stopping Holland from playing football.
9:26But you can't just look at that and go, well, that's us. We might think that because we're analysing what we think is going to happen and we're looking into a crystal ball, how Morocco and Holland play. but Canada have got to have the attitude of, come on, let's give this a go. You know, we've got the crowd behind us. We've got the country behind us. We're in a World Cup. We're joint hosts in a World Cup. Why can't we go one more and then see who we get? That's the attitude you've got to have. Well, I'll give you Canada a little bit of hope here. And this, strangely enough, involves Scotland again.
9:54Or Scotland, catching strings. I'm telling you. And it also involves Scotland and Haiti. And Canada are through to the round of 16. and whether it's, if it's Morocco or Netherlands and we're doing a bracket later, oh, isn't that exciting? We love brackets. Looking forward. Wait and see, Frank. Oh, yeah. So, say it is Morocco, right? Morocco, Scotland gave them a game and Scotland were poor and Morocco fell over the line. They were behind twice against Haiti in the final game. They are not invincible, this Moroccan side. Yeah. And if I was Jesse Marsh, I might be hoping it's actually the Moroccans that go through.
10:34Because he would have seen, and if he didn't, he will in a video, the way they played. He doesn't want to watch the first 20 minutes of how they played against Brazil because they were very good in that first 20 minutes, half an hour. But they were really poor as the game went on against Scotland and Haiti really gave them a game. So it's not like there's not a chance for Canada. That's certainly not the case, obviously depending on who goes through. Frank, is that how you see it? Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm convinced that everything is possible in football. Otherwise, you don't show up and you stay in the dressing room.
11:04And we see Cap Verde. Cap Verde, they showed that to the world that normally you should have lost like 8-0 every game. Yeah. But they showed the strength, they showed pride, and they showed quality. And it's why they're there. And they believe that it's possible. So Canada has to believe that either Netherlands and Morocco can be beatable. And hopefully they're going to show up and show what they showed today against South Africa. The great thing for Canada, they can relax tonight. Yeah. They can relax tomorrow and watch that game unfold. So as Craig said, the team spirit, you know, you've been at the World Cup.
11:37I've done many games in Scotland where the analysis teams will show the opposition. They're in a fantastic space now where they can have a glass of red wine or wherever it might be, a meal tomorrow, sit back and kick back and watch that. That's loud. Sounds good. That sounds grand. Sit back and go, listen, one of you used to have got to play us. This is a party political broadcast for the Canadian national team. Just in case we're on Canadian TV as well tonight. But let's see what you do on the bracket later on. We're just encouraging festivities because, as we said, congrats to Canada, the first team to book their spot in the round of 16.
12:09Well, Gab and Jules are here throughout the World Cup. Make sure to look out for a new episode of their podcast dropping tomorrow. Well, with the group stage of this expanded World Cup finished, we'll get some opinions on the state of it so far coming up next.
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13:31Welcome back Well, Ghana manager Carlos Quiroz had some strong words About the expanded World Cup Following the Black Stars 2-1 loss to Croatia on Saturday He said the number of teams that qualify for the World Cup I'm afraid that it can turn this competition Into a vulgar, ordinary competition I think the value of the competition comes from it being rare to be in the World Cup. It's in my opinion, still debatable. I need to see. It's one opinion that is based on my personal feeling. Well, Jose Mourinho chimed in as well. Must be something in the Portuguese waters because he said, I'll be honest, for some, I tune out after 10 minutes.
14:06The World Cup has to be the creme of the crop. I understand that socially it's important for some countries to participate, but there's another side to it. The sporting side. 7-1 in the World Cup group stage is not possible, apart from Brazil-Morocco, which was a nice match. I slept well. I had good dinners. I didn't stay up until 3 a.m. All right, some tough critics there. Mark Ogden is joining us right now, though. Oggy, you're usually our beacon of negativity, so I'm going to start with Frank Leboeuf on this one. Frank, what do you think of this expanded World Cup? Do you understand what Carlos Chiaras and Jose Mourinho are saying?
14:42I do, and I was thinking the same before the World Cup, Because I thought that, especially when we saw the first game, that they were referring to Germany against Curaçao 7-0, 7-1. I thought it would be like that with Haiti, it would be like that with Cape Verde. And it didn't happen. So I'm pretty okay with that 48 teams. But I still think that the World Cup is the elite competition for big teams and best teams. So I'm not convinced yet. and I have the tendency to say, OK, the World Cup is going to start now with the last 32 and the real World Cup. But you have to be nice and fair to teams who came and fought and we see Cape Verde being in the last 16, which is amazing.
15:30So you have the right to believe that it's all good for everybody and it's OK with the 48 teams. People that are in favour, and by the way, Gianni Infantino will try and get it to 64 teams at some point. But people who are in favour of this format will cherry-pick the games that have been good and the stories, but they won't talk about all the other games that were kicking off at ungodly hours around the rest of the world that people really weren't watching. There's been a lot of them as well. You're always going to have some stories at a World Cup, regardless of how many teams there are. You can't get away from the fact that, and I know the Euros do, and that don't necessarily mean it's right, but you are effectively rewarding, basically, failure, in terms of some of the best third-place teams.
16:23And you can't debate that. It is what it is. There really should be more jeopardy, is my point. So I'm with Frank at the moment. I'm yet to be convinced. And I can see what Kiyos and Jose Mourinho are saying. That being said, it's been okay up to now. You've been entertained. Well, some of the times, yeah, some of the games I wouldn't even reach for the remote control if I'm being honest with you. That's the way it is. We have our eyes open to be convinced. Well, Augie, I was joking that you are a beacon of negativity but you've actually been, I wasn't joking, you're right, but Augie, you've actually been enjoying this World Cup, haven't you?
17:00I have because, look, the big stars will come out to play. You know, Messi's been brilliant, Haaland's been brilliant, Abate's been brilliant. it's a stage where the best players have to deliver and they're delivering so we've got the we've got the situation where the best players are doing really well but we've also got the situation where you've got your Cape Verde story which is fantastic you know Algeria last night that was a great story as well and if what you want the World Cup to be do you want it to be just for the best like back in the old days it was 16 teams then nobody could really qualify or do you want it to be a celebration of the game a carnival of the game to give hope to teams that might never get there and that we've got that with Cape Verde now the point I'm trying to make is that where do you draw the line?
17:36Do you just say it's for the established teams? Well, if that's the case, then Uruguay, two-time winners, were absolutely rubbish at this World Cup but they'd get in because they've got a pedigree, they've got a tradition, they're heavyweight in South America but they bring nothing to World Cups and haven't brought anything to World Cups since 2010 maybe, so I don't think the established nation should have a kind of a strangled hole in the World Cup. The teams that we've seen excite people over here, you know, you can even add Canada and the US into that, I mean, I know the US are a growing nation but they're not a global superpower but they've had a great tournament, so So I think opening it up actually makes it a better tournament, but the quality will rise.
18:08So we'll see that. We'll see the next knockout stages. By the time he gets to the quarterfinals, there won't really be any Cinderella stories. It'll be France. It'll be Spain. It'll be Brazil, Argentina. So everybody gets what everybody wants. You know, when you see the graphic, I don't agree with the graphic with the most goals scored in 2026. I'm going more global on that, where I really think that teams don't know how to defend anymore. Players don't know how to defend. They know how to attack, but they know how to defend. And coaches are responsible for that. Most of the time, they work on the attacks and what they can do.
18:41And it's good for the football. It's good maybe for the entertainment. But as a former defender, when I say that, I wasn't a great defender. I met and I played against many fantastic defenders who doesn't exist anymore. Those tough guys who are hard to beat. Old school defending. It's like everybody is beatable. It's like old Frank LaBeouf, you know, in defense. Offensively, it was another story, but defensively, I really think that if you have many goals, it's because you don't have real defenders. What was the graphic saying? I was saying that... I should have been paying attention. Don't worry.
19:17I've got to say, the language from Quiros is disgusting. Calling it Volga. That is... Yeah. That's a horrible word. And Jose, I think, is being very insular. I think we're seen by the likes of Italy who couldn't even make it, which is, that is another story. But we're seeing some of the underdogs, the minnows that have been allowed to get into the tournament actually qualifying and going through. With actually fighting. Absolutely, but you fell in love with them because it's the first time you've seen, it's the first time I've seen Haiti at a World Cup. It's the first time I've seen Cape Verde and Curacao.
19:48So why not, why has Jose got to be insular and just think, oh, it's got to be Portugal, it's got to be Brazil, it's got to be England, et cetera, et cetera. Why can't these guys and these teams be allowed to compete? Well, I think what they're saying, if they'd qualified to a 32-team World Cup, then fine. But maybe it's too difficult. So why... That's the whole essence of qualifying for a World Cup. It has to be difficult. Why can't Curacao move on from this and grow from this, same as Cape Verde, and all these minnows that have qualified and done really well, they should be allowed to then move on, strengthen.
20:21and it was the same probably with some African teams back in the 80s and the 90s. Look what they're doing now, the African sides. I think 10 made it through. Nine out of 10. Nine out of 10 have made it through. So it shows you over a period of 25, 30 years what you can do if you are allowed to grow and maybe this is the future for some of the Minos. I've got two issues here. The goal is not an issue. The goal scenario, I think, is Frank's right because the game has changed. It's not because of the World Cup's 48 teams and Gianni Infantino is a genius. is because the game has changed, there's less emphasis on defending.
20:54The full-backs don't defend as much. Centre-halves are left more often than not. Who gives Kleros the right to say it's vulgar? He's not the oracle. But he's got an opinion. He's got an opinion. It's a strong one. He has a right to have an opinion. It's a hell of an opinion. And to go back to the... I do agree, I do love to see a pathway for smaller nations, but not to the detraction of the competition itself, which he hasn't really done thus far. My worry with Infantino is he looks for more parachutes to please people. He's looking to please more countries and more countries. He wants re-elected.
21:35His rhetoric will be we're spreading the money around, FIFA spreading the money around. That's fine, they are, but they're making more money than ever. But my issue is, and I go back to this point, and Dan certainly laughs and goes bananas, Sweden finished bottom of their qualification group. and yet through this Nations League another parachute for a World Cup has got nothing to do with a World Cup the qualification has a big queue qualification, they finish bottom of the group they are here, not only here they didn't win a game, they're in the knockout stages that's the worry I've got with Infantino he drip feeds this pathway for more and more and more and more teams and I don't think that's going to make the tournament better, I think it's just going to completely oversaturate it which we can have a debate about being oversaturated at the moment.
22:21But I think as time goes on, he will do that even more. For Sweden, you know, they're going to play against France. Bye-bye. It doesn't matter. How can you finish bottom of a qualification group and the name of the thing is qualification and you still get here because he's opened more doors. That's the worry I have. Qualification with an asterisk. Right. Well, let's talk about some predictions now, shall we? because now that the group stage is done and dusted, our panel is getting their predictions in. Don did his own yesterday, right, Don? I did, I did. And Shaka did his own this morning. And guess what?
22:56We have timed everyone's predictions. So let's see who's been. Stevie Nichol has done it slowly, the slowest of the lot, just ahead of our Ali Krieger. So far, Don Hutchison. That's all right. See exactly what he was talking about. Is Stevie being thorough or was there any mistakes in there? I guess we will find out and see. So, Don, you are currently our speedster, getting your predictions in in just three minutes. Is it all about speed or is it about quality? Well, we're going to find out because right now it is all about our Frank Leboeuf who made it over to the touchscreen. He didn't trip.
Read the full transcript
23:28So, Frank, give us your predictions because we're timing. Yes, I'm going. So, I'm going to start with that group, you know. And I'm going to pick Germany. Let's go, you know, against the almighty France, of course, you know. And then, so, we have Canada, so I don't bother. I'm going to go for Morocco. Oh, yes. Yes. I don't know if it's a surprise, but they very impressed me during the group. We don't need an explanation. This is a time game. Okay, okay. Well, I have to, you know, make sure. Portugal against Croatia. Oh, I have to go for Portugal. Why? Why? Because Ronaldo. Because otherwise, you know, the fans are going to get crazy.
24:05You're just slating Ronaldo. Spain. Spain, of course, because they're going to fight against France in semifinal. Oh, oh, United States. Yeah, I want my visa back, you know. We'll become Senegal. You don't need one. Our cousin, our Senegalese, you know, I want Senegal to go. You want Senegal? Oh, yeah, I want Senegal because they were good against France. Brazil, Japan. Yeah, Brazil, of course, you know. Football without Brazil is not football. Oh, I've heard it because Norway. Norway, Norway, Norway. I love Norway during the qualification because Caesito plays for Chelsea. I have no other reason.
24:41I go for Ecuador. I'm sorry for the Mexican people. I go for Congo. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Do it. Do it. Do it. Congo. Oh, come on, Frank. No, no, no, no. It's only fair. Argentina, Kevin. I go for, no, I go for Messi, of course, and Argentina. Or Egypt. Mo Salah. Maybe his last World Cup. So I want him to go for. Switzerland against Algeria. Algeria were very good yesterday. But Switzerland will do the job, I'm pretty sure. And Colombia. I'm going for Colombia and Ruiz and James Rodriguez so let's go there quarter final press the button no you're right no the right button top right that one?
25:26no the other one that's right so France of course what are you doing Craig? Canada, Morocco you've done that already? No, I didn't do that. Men of course, of course they didn't do that. Yes, you did. Yeah, I did. So I do it again. So Spain, okay. No, I didn't do that. He hasn't done that one. See, we just wasted some time. And I'm going to United States. Yeah! Come on. And on the other side. No, that one. No. That one. I'm lost. No, that one. You've got to do the bottom half. Ah, yeah. Do the bottom half. Click your quarterfinals. So I do that. That one? Yeah, Brazil. That's good. So Brazil, no way.
26:12No way. I'm going fast because I'm going to be sober. You're going to be sober than Stevie. Okay. Yes, yes. Argentina. Yeah, sure. Come on, Frank. Come back. Help me out. Yeah, okay. There we go. Okay, okay. So Norway, England. Where is that one? Where is that one? Press it. Press it. I have to press that one? No, press the quarterfinals. I have to go back. You have to go back. I have to go back. Yeah. Switzerland, Colombia. That's a nightmare. Okay, Argentina and Colombia. Los Cafeteros. Okay, we're good. So I go back there. America final. Okay, semi-fin... Oh, my God. Press the button. Okay, France, Morocco.
26:54It's hard, but France. I have to go for France. Always. Okay, France. Yes. Spain, United... Bye-bye, United States. Bye-bye. I'm very sorry, guys. Norway, England. Norway! He's not coming home! And Argentina again! Whoa! And so, I'm good? You're good, you've got your seven finals. That one, that one. France-Spain. That should have been the final. Vamos, Francia! Yeah, of course. Lele blue, shock. Of course. And Argentina again. The revenge! Oh, a revenge! I won the revenge. And the winner is Argentina. Yeah, friends. Come on. Wow, I can't wait to see the timing on that one. That was about 20 minutes.
27:44All right. For the full predictions and more in-depth talks, make sure you check out our podcast. Just download it wherever you get your podcasts. Well, our Shaka Hislop got to sit down with Jurgen Klopp. Stick around to see what he said about his time at Liverpool.
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30:22Welcome back. And in almost a decade at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp won it all from guiding the Reds to their first Premier League title in 30 years to the Champions League. It was quite the run. And here he is chatting with our Shaka Hislop. You introduced a style of football at Liverpool that thrilled so many of us that you see replicated not just on the international stage, but more so, especially so, in league football. PSG and Barcelona. How much credit did you take for that? No, no. I'm giving you all the credit to me. I'm not sure if you are. Maybe you are the first one who makes that comparison.
31:00I'm not. I'm absolutely certain I'm not. The reason for the football we played was we wanted to be successful and we wanted to entertain the people. Easy as that. We wanted to play in the most exciting stadium, in the most exciting atmosphere and we want to be as successful as possible. That means as long as you are not the best team in the world, you have to play a kind of football which can beat the best team in the world. And that's what we tried all the time. And that's why we played the way we played. You cannot really compare. I don't know too much about the actual Barcelona team, but PSG, for example, Bayern, they play now man-marking, at least man orientation, we never did that whereas it was always more orientation but that's a football tactical detail but from an excitement point of view I take the compliment, thank you very much I enjoy the games of my team as well as much as I enjoy now watching them I'm kind of sticking with Liverpool for a moment well, incredible successes while you were there you leave Arna Slott comes in Liverpool win the title but then a little bit disappointing last season why did you drop off?
32:19I'm not close enough to judge that I was super happy that they won the league a year before and I have no idea what was wrong the year after so I think nobody was really happy with the season that was obvious but they still qualified for the Champions League and that's great success then so now you can go again and have a new manager and Arnaud Arnaud is a great coach as well, like Arnaud Slott is, but it has to click, it has to work together for a long time and for that and you need luck and there was a situation before last season at Liverpool which nobody expected to happen and to deal with these kind of things is really difficult so I don't know what exactly went on but so the last season is now past as well and how they can look into the future.
33:17Our Xhaka Hisslop there getting very up close and personal with Jurgen Klopp. Mark Ogden still here with us but Craig what did you make of what Jurgen had to say about his style of football and the style of play that aggressive style of play that he brought to Liverpool and how it probably just isn't there anymore? Well it took him a little bit of time to implement that and when Slott came in he made some little tweaks to it. It was a little bit of a hybrid between the two. It still had a bit of pace, but it had a bit more control. And they lost control of that last season. They really lost their way.
33:51And I'm not surprised he sort of batted the question about Liverpool's bad season last year away. He was always going to do that. And it was quite easy for him because he said, look, I was on the outside, so I don't know what happened. But yeah, he He wasn't always, you know, it wasn't always success. I think we should remember that. Not every season was super successful for Jurgen Klopp. And there was only one title. I say only one, but it was only one title. It could have been more, but for a very, very good Manchester City side. So that's a kind of timing issue. But yeah, he looks like he's in good shape and enjoying himself and chilling out.
34:26And we might see him back in management at some point. Who knows? Augie, what do you make of Jurgen Klopp's time at Liverpool? Do you feel like now with what we're seeing, he almost overachieved? I don't think he overachieved. I think he is a great manager and he's up against a super machine in Man City, I suppose. You could say he underachieved and that isn't a criticism of Jurgen Klopp. It's just that the team he was up against. But I think considering who they were up against, he did a fantastic job. And I think, you know, Liverpool are going to take a long time to get over losing Jurgen Klopp.
34:55I mean, the reality is that Arnie Slott came and won the league. But midway through last season, the fans had lost patience with his football. So Jurgen Klopp has sport the Liverpool fans in the sense that they want this kind of fantastic football, this exciting attacking football. But most coaches aren't going to deliver that. So anyone that comes after Klopp is going to find it extremely tough. Now, Areola is a really bright coach, but he's never managed in the Champions League before. He's never managed a big club. So there are question marks as to whether he can step up. But they're all measured against Jurgen Klopp.
35:23And that is really difficult for a Liverpool man who comes in because Klopp sets a really high bar. And I mean, Andoni Raola, he played some exciting football at Bournemouth. He got Bournemouth to playing some exciting football. But how close is it done to that rock star football under Jurgen Klopp? And can he get Liverpool playing like that? It's similar. It's never going to be Jurgen because Jurgen's got a personality. Jurgen, when he went into Liverpool, and I know guys that are behind the scenes at Liverpool and good friends of mine, ex-players, and they said he had a presence, he had an aura.
35:53When he was in the tunnel, you know, people knew Jurgen's on a good day, bad day. but he had an aura. He's tall, he's 6 '4 and he carries himself well and he's got a voice and he's got a presence and he took charge of Liverpool. When Mike Ledger was there, sporting directors and the hierarchy, he got rid, he went, no, no, no, I don't want data guys. I want guys that I can analyse with the eye test and I want to bring players in and then you look at the players that he delivered with Firmino, who was probably one of the most underrated number nines that's ever played for Liverpool and he was the perfect foil for Sadio Mane and Mo Salah and then the guys that played the item like Fabinho and Jordan Henderson and Van Alden, these guys were workhorses.
36:31These guys didn't score goals but they supplemented the forward line to get goals and then the signers of Van Dijk and Alisson took them to another level. So the job that he's done was phenomenal and then Arna Slott, as Craig said, carried it on. I think there's a number of factors which fans don't really like. I think the board really let Arna Slott down in terms of when they sold loads of players last year. They were light on the bench. it was Chiesa or kids. And I honestly think the passing of Diogo Jota in the summer, I can't even imagine, because I'm quite emotional, and I can't even imagine stepping into a dressing room when you've lost your best mate, you've lost a friend and a brilliant player.
37:07So I think all these sort of factors, and you stick them all together and you join them together, I'm not surprised that Liverpool struggled. But the Liverpool fans really bought into what Klopp was selling. He came with an aura and he took that aura to another level. and although it took a little bit of time they bought into what they were seeing because what they were seeing they liked. Well they want to relate Craig you know what it's like when you play for a club like Liverpool a working class city fans who have had it hard over the decades they want to relate and Jurgen Klopp was a man that they could relate to a hard worker, a grafter and he knew exactly what Liverpool wanted he didn't go in there with an attitude of yeah we're going to play silky little football and slow football he went no we're going to play German football We're going to play gag-impressing style.
37:54We're going to attack and we're going to stop Man City from playing so the fans could latch onto that because it's hard-working. That's what the City and Liverpool crave. I played for Chelsea and Chelsea is my club when I was young in the late 70s. I was following Liverpool, Kigan, Dalglish, Saunas, those great teams, Ray Clemens and so many others. And they were showing a football that you couldn't see elsewhere. And when I played against Liverpool when I was a player, that wasn't the the spirit that I knew and saw and watched on TV. And then when Klopp came back and when we saw some years that it was successful, I felt that spirit again came coming back.
38:34That's what he brought to that club. They regenerated from their past and that's where he's been very successful about. Well, we will see if Jurgen Klopp ever in the future rekindles his love affair with Liverpool. Never rule out anything, right? Maybe. All right. Well, coming up next, we're going to show you Don Hutchison's team of the group stage. You don't want to miss that, right?
39:09Welcome back to ESPN FC. And let me tell you, Don Hutchison's been working overtime. We put him to the test to give us his team of the group stage. Don, walk us through it. Never mind that. That's the Scotland kit I've got on there. Love it. Young Don. Right. I went for Fazzina. Hey. 40 years of age. Yeah. What a story, Carlos Quirós and Jose. What a story. Anthony Robinson, who's been playing at a very high level now for the last couple of years. I think he's probably due a big move. He's had a good start in the tournament. Saliba in Van Dijk. Two superb centre-backs. Well, we knew you were going to get Van Dijk in.
39:41Oh, for sure. For sure. And Munoz, he was on the bench for Colombia. He scored in the first couple of games, though, didn't he? Wait, he was benched, though. I don't care. They rested him. They rested him. He was very good on the bench. Weston McKenney's played all three games and he is undroppable. He is never going to be dropped. If they play a million games, he's always going to play. Bruno Gimaraes, he's holding that Brazil midfield team together with Casemiro in that midfield in Paquette's arm. That Newcastle connection. I was just going to say, shock. I think without him, then the front guys speak for themselves.
40:15Dembele, Elise, Mbappe and Messi. Yeah. Beat that. You forgot Dewey. I would never. Desi Ray. I would never. Frank, what did you make of his... You forgot Lauren Shankland, the Scotland's raker. Do not shoehorn John McKenna into my best 11. What about Scott McKenna and Grant Hanley? That big story. In order to make that first best, 11 players, you had to watch every game? As many as you can. Did you watch every game? I watched as much as I could, but in England, some of the games are 2 or 3 o 'clock in the morning and 7 o 'clock in the morning. And so, are you not professional? Frank, that's why we didn't ask you for your 11, because we know you've not been watching.
40:54No, no, no. You've been doing a Jose Mourinho 10 minutes. I had a remote problem. Who would you take at 11? Anyone? Bring me 11 back up. Yeah, maybe I would have put Rabiot in the middle of the park, you know, instead of one of the two you pick. That's a McKinney. Guimaraes. There we go. Yeah. Maybe Rabiot instead of Guimaraes, because Rabiot has been absolutely... The four at the top, correct? Yeah, yeah. Shouldn't the manager be somebody like from Cape Verde? Well, can I tell you why I went for Scaloni? Because Roberto Martinez has not got the ability to manage Ronaldo and Scaloni's managing Messi perfectly.
41:33They're having a conversation. You just want to manage that one man. Of course, he's gone to Messi in the last game and the conversation might be 100 % Messi to Scaloni in the last game when he rested him. He came off the bench and scored. So take note, Roberto Martinez. That's how you manage your star players. This could be on the back pages of the Scottish sports newspapers. It probably will be. Tomorrow that you have omitted at least four or five of their players. What? All right, well, let's talk about some times, right? Because earlier on, Frank gave us his bracket prediction. Oh, I'm OK.
42:03I'm average. And remember, we've been timing everyone. Now, Frank, you are officially the fourth. Is that a haircut? Or the third. Oh, it's actually. You're actually faster than Ale Moreno. We just got to switch you over there. So you're the third. Alexis, what was Stevie? Shut up. I'm on my way. I'm on my way. Hey, two minutes. I'm doing this one. Stevie, do you have five and a half? All right, so Don is still the fastest, and Craig is going to have a go right now. Well, Don is still the slowest. Is he? All right, right. Come on. Wasting any time. Come on, Craig. I'm not wasting any time. Okay.
42:32Come on. Germany. Yeah. Boom. France. Yes. Obviously. Canada through. I've got a sneaky feeling it might be the Netherlands. Oh, okay. Right, we're moving on. Yeah. No mistakes yet. Portugal, Croatia, Asian team. Spain, come on. The US. It's when you start being late. Shut up. United States, they will beat Bosnia-Herzegovina. Senegal. Come on. Come on. Well done for Africa. Okay. Shut up. Brazil. Go on, Norge. Jan will be happy. I can see Ecuador winning in the Azteca. Come on, Craig. Come on, Craig. You're going home. Congo. No! It's going home. No! Oh, my God. You have to be professional, we say.
43:26Argentina. Mozilla. Yes. Switzerland. Yeah. Colombia. Oh. Okay. So far, so good. You're the fastest. All right. Okay, now. Oh, France. Oh, Netherlands. Yeah. Ooh. Where should go Spain? Spain will come good. Spain will come good. I think Senegal will be too good. The US. It's all right. I've got my citizenship. I don't care. He's cleared through. Brazil. He's cleared through. Ecuador. South American. Argentina. Yeah. Colombia. Oh. A little corner in my wall quarterfinals there. He's good. France. Yeah. Spain. Brazil. Yeah. Hey. Argentina. Oh. Where am I? Where am I? That's a proper semifinal. My God, you're good.
44:17France, too strong. Yeah. Come on, Craig, do it. Argentina. Oh. And then... Oh! Get out! Get out! Back to back! Bye, England. He did it. Bye, England. He did it. Wow. That's a proper bracket. We're going to find out his official time later on on Extra Time. That's where we answer all of your questions. Thank you so much for sending them in. You can find it over on our YouTube page.
44:50All right. Well, the U.S. Men's National Team players talk to the media ahead of their round of 32 games. We'll check in on them after this break.
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47:00Pitch Preview is brought to you by DraftKings Sports. Looking at a bracket now, just a reminder that one of the host nations, Canada, have already booked their spot in the round of 16. And now it's over to the USA. They will be facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in their round of 32 game. Let's hear from Flo Balagun and Serginio Dest. There's no hiding. and we do have the opportunity to do something extremely special. So, you know, you can't have the good with the bad. You know, we have the opportunity to do something very special, but we also, you know, can lose and, you know, it will be a lot of commiserations and a lot of annoyed people and upset people.
47:40So, as I said, you can't have the good without the bad, but, you know, we definitely do have the opportunity to really, you know, make a fantastic run. You know, playing against a lower block is never easy. It's going to be a challenging game. And then on top of that, World Cup, knockout game, it's not something we're going to take lightly. So we're looking forward to just going out there. We know we're going to need to be creative. We know we're going to need to be intense like we have been so far. There's no doubts we can go out there and win. There's a little bit more pressure because you have to be sharp.
48:16You cannot be loose in these moments. You know, you got to be sharp at all times. And, yeah, that gives you a little bit more pressure, but also kind of a boost, you know, because even though, for example, sometimes if you play against opponents that are better on paper, you know, you just need a lucky day. So I feel like it's a pressure for everyone, you know. Right, so the USA getting ready to face Bosnia and Herzegovina, which on paper, Craig, looks like it could be a tricky game, but we also said that about Paraguay and Australia, and they got past those. What are you expecting from this one?
48:50I think it will be a tricky game if the US don't play well. But I think if they play anything like they did, particularly in the Paraguay game, I think they can win this game, I say relatively comfortably, there's no comfortable game when you get to the knockouts because one mistake here or there can change things. But I don't think Bosnia can live with the intensity and the pace that this US side can play at if they're at their best. And that is the big question. Can they take the group stage games into the knockout stages? if they do and Pulisic is fully fit and McKennie and Tyler Adams operate and Dest and Balogun all these players that have played with an unbelievable confidence and pace if they do that they beat Bosnia for me but it depends how they play that would be the key the pace they put in the game the verticality of it and if they do so they're going to win it and they're going to win it easily because Bosnia they're strong but they're not fast they need the time to settle down and they play together, but they're united.
49:52But comparing to that United States team, which you can see craziness coming from everywhere, verticality again and pace in the game, you cannot cope with that. I just want to say something, you know, I wish I would have played in Monaco, you know, I would have a nice diamond in my ear. Like Flo Balago, and he's been definite. He deserves that diamond. By the time this World Cup finishes, I'll be disappointed when we go to New York if you don't come into the studio one day with one dangling from your... Should we go for a piercing? I already have a whole... Do you know what? Yeah, we'll go with Kieran.
50:22We'll get a piercing. But back to the game, Don. How do the USA approach this one? Yes, it is. How do the USA approach this one? Early goal? Easily. And that's it? No, easily. They play the game that they want to play. They'll play against a low block, but they can't afford, when I watch the USA, to play tippy-tappy football. And Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie all of a sudden think that they're ballers, and they get their ball down. They try little flicks and cute football. That's not their style. I think they win the game hands down, and I hope they do for Pochettino's sake so he can give it to the journalists that criticised him on the last one.
50:50Because there's a reason why he made, what was it, 10 changes for the last game to rest these big players for this one. They'll beat Bosnia, I guarantee it. All right, let's get quick predictions in, Craig. Honestly, barring a disaster, I think the US have too much youth, quality, pace, confidence and a belief in their manager, regardless of what some of the media say, a belief in their manager that they can go further in this competition. So I think this could be a comfortable game for the U.S. men's national team. 3-0? Go 2. Let's just calm down. That's what I was thinking. I go for 2-0. I don't want to be that long to express my view on that game.
51:32But I would say, yeah, 2-0 for United States. I'll go one more. I'll go 3. I was going to go 2, but I can't just say 2-0 and 3-2-0 across the board. 3-0, comfortable. And have we got an update? Have I won the speed? Surely. Oh, don't you worry. We'll never know. We've got to wait for Extra Time. Get it on Linear TV. Thanks to everyone for tuning in to ESPN FC. We'll be back again tomorrow morning. See you then.
52:08All right. Welcome in to Extra Time. Alexis alongside Don, Craig and Frank. A me six for a time. You know why. You're more impersonal. All right, well, you can do it all on your own then. No, Craig, you got to come back because we have some times to get to Indeed. We'll find out in a bit, but let's get to the very first question now. Some teams in the round of 32 have just four days rest while others have as many as eight. Is there a point at which there are too many rest days? Which would you rather have, Craig? Six. Six? In the middle, yeah. Right in the middle. I'd rather have more. Yeah. Yeah, I'd rather give them the choice because you can chill out.
52:47You don't get antsy? Not with eight. Not with eight? Not with eight. Well, yeah, it depends whether you can... Players might carry knocks, so you can do rehab work. Physios can get into the players, the masseuses, or they can do their work on the players. You can kick back for a few days. You might go play tennis or do whatever you want to do, take your mind off things. I mean, eight days, you're getting a game of golf. Yeah. Oh, yeah. All day long. You're listening to those two Scots, you know. They want to have a drink. They want to have a drink. That's why they want to have eight days. We ain't got eight days, we'd be home.
53:23A lot of rest days now. I was getting to the drinking part of it. Hey. A wee game of golf and... Shandy. Shandy, yeah. Shandy. I'm going to call it. We all know what a shandy is. Yeah. Now, the thing is, the thing is, the four days, they would wonder, you know, can we have a drink? Yeah. They would have a drink. They would. And they would have regretted it to have a drink. Where eight days, they don't care. They would have a drink, they would play golf, they would have a drink, and they would start a bath the next game. That would keep them going. The trouble is with a four-day gap between games is you're having to sneak the drinks up into your hotel room.
53:59Four days is no man's land. Because your manager's not going to be too happy, so you have to find where the fire stairs are and all that sort of stuff. Do you vote and get them, or do you kind of have a little chat with the hotel staff? Well, I think there's a little slipping of dollars. We had one. I don't know if Craig was there. Nope. You would have been San Marino, beating 1-0. I scored the winner. You're not playing that. And you drank about that? No, we did. San Marino? Yeah. San Marino, I'm pretty sure it was. And there was a wedding in the hotel. Oh, no. And we gatecrashed the wedding.
54:32Is this a Paul Dickhoff story? It's not that story, but it's the same trip. Were you there? No, I was talking to Paul there. So we gatecrashed the wedding and Archie Knox was our number two and Craig Brown and the coaching staff were dressed and they went for a late night walk and they seen us through the window all drinking with the... And they tried to get in but we paid the bouncer and when anyone with a Scotland tracksuit on, do not let them in. So the manager couldn't get into the establishment and we're all partying away. with your mental guys. That explains a lot. That explains that. Frankie, what about you in your day?
55:10Did you... No, no, because I was serious. I was professional. Yeah, you know what? Paul Dickhoff, off the back of what Craig's saying, he was out with this, but he went for an extra drink elsewhere and he couldn't get back in the hotel. So he was literally climbing five or six sets of windows to try and get in his window. Yeah. But you know what? You know what? Never played again. I was smoking at the time and something that I don't do anymore. and that's what I found in culture-wise, where Anglo-Saxon and Scottish, English, they drink, and Latin, they smoke. Yeah. So that was your advice? Yeah, that was my advice.
55:48Frank, what you've found out, well, you haven't found it out, you've known this for quite a number of years. Mm-hmm. Scotland don't do well in major tournaments. It's not just a lack of talent. It's a lack of... It's a lack of professionalism. Discipline? I'm not saying the Scotland boys were doing that. No. This time. I would say. By looking at them playing, they should have been. Exactly. Get it into them. It's the Scotland way. No, but they follow the fans. They dried old bars, you know, in New York, Bastogne and everywhere. So they just follow the vibe. It's because they knew the English fans were coming after.
56:23Next question now. Frank, Diomande chooses PSG reportedly. Right move over the Reds. You see Berts and Isak not doing so well. better project at PSG? Of course, it's a good choice to go to PSG, but if you're a young player, talented player like Jomande, you have to wonder where I'm going to play and how it's possible that I'm going to play because all the talent, you have Bacola, you have Dewey on the left side, of course, you have Dembele, you have... Gravescalia. Gravescalia, bien sûr, of course. And you have so many talented players at front that you're going to be the sixth choice or maybe the seventh choice.
57:00So is that good to go there? I don't think so. Even if you are that talented, you won't have the time to play. And it's not fair for players. I would pick a team where I'm sure to play. Maybe Liverpool, maybe somewhere else. I don't know. I think you've got to have the conversation. If you're Diamande and your agent and you sit down with Luis Enrique and you say, where am I in that peck and order that you just mentioned? And behind the scenes, coaches have that conversation with a player like Diamande and say, don't worry. I'll give you some time. I'll give you some time, but two of the three of the guys that you've mentioned will not be here next season.
57:34So Barcola, for instance, you might see him at Liverpool. They might dive elsewhere after missing out on Diamande, but that's going to be the hard thing for him, actually getting game time at PSG. That's the thing. Craig? Sorry. No, next one. I was happy. Maybe he prefers the lifestyle in Paris over Liverpool, right? What are you suggesting? Just saying. I've done about the lifestyle in Liverpool. In Liverpool? It's not quite the Parisian lifestyle. Oh, that's a different style. Yeah, that's only for that. I think the Scots probably prefer Liverpool. Him and... Spice Boys. Was Rob Jones part of that?
58:08Yeah. Spice Boys. Jamie. Yeah. Jamie Redknapp. Neil Ruddock. Julian Dix. Oh. What a career. Trouble. I wonder why we didn't win anything. I think we all know why. Next question now. Craig, how high is Balogun's ceiling? I've never been at his house. Ten foot. Full of diamonds. Full of diamonds. I've got standard eight foot. Insert lights. Little crown. Insert lights. Sorry. Maybe at least at this one. Well, he had a... And Frank would maybe attest to this a bit better than me. He had a very good season in France at Monaco. He looks really sharp. Makes some great runs in behind. He's a different type of player to a lot.
58:50He likes to stretch defenders. So, I don't know. I mean, he... The World Cup. It's a great platform as much as your club football is. I mean, you've only got to look at James Rodriguez. Yeah. He goes into frozen ice for four years and they defrost him for World Cup. He gets defrosted three months before a World Cup. I mean, even last night's game. Yeah. Which I thought was a really good, brilliant nil-nil between Colombia and Portugal. He was out there pulling these strings and then you don't see him again. So his career, and not just built, but a lot of it was that brilliant goal in Brazil. Well, Jess Volley.
59:28Jess Volley. So, it's a platform where you can go to different levels.
59:36So, I don't know. And he's maturing well, isn't he? You know, when you're a young boy at Arsenal and you're trying to forge your way, you know, like Liverpool conversation, trying to get in their first team back in the day. But with Balogun, you're a young boy trying to forge your way into an Arsenal side and it's now impossible. Yeah. And then you move away and you have one or two moves and loans and you end up at Monaco and you do really well in a good league and then you're playing the World Cup and scoring, he must feel as though he's hit his prime. The best example is Saliba signing for Arsenal, not playing there, being on loan to Marseille and showing his quality the last year that he played for Marseille and coming back and Arteta, do I take him?
1:00:14Thank God he did. And he did the job. So there is a maturity you can get and we don't know what the age and the best age will be for him. but there will be a time where if he goes that, that is keeping the level and the standard that he is right now, there will be a time for him to maybe leave Monaco and leave for the biggest club in terms of fame. Could that time be after this World Cup? Maybe. All right, let's go to the next question, shall we? Craig, what are your thoughts about Stevie Clark stepping down as Scotland's manager? I think it's the right thing for everybody. He signed a contract before the World Cup, which was not strange on his part, but certainly strange on the SFA, the Scottish Football Association's part, because you want to really see how things unravel.
1:01:01The football obviously was a problem, but I think what didn't help was his, unfortunately for him, was the flash interviews after the game, where he was, like a lot of Scottish people, but he was extremely grumpy. He was over it. and the interviews and it didn't it just didn't come over well and I think it it exacerbated the already issue that the fans had with performance and maybe the media had as well so I think he realised that and I don't know what kind of agreement they've come to whether they've paid part of that contract or not or whether he's just stepped down but what we do know he's gone so I think it is and he's been there look he's been there I think six years they've been at two European Championships and they've been at a World Cup so so achievement No one can say he failed as a Scotland manager, but I think people are just looking for more.
1:01:54Now, whether you're going to get that or not, that remains to be seen. I'm not surprised by Steve Clarke's behaviour. I mean, we played with him and the guy was a warrior, but never been a talker. And he was fighting for the team and he was thinking about football, drinking football, the Scottish. Sleeping football? No, but that was really, I think, and he's not a talker. He doesn't know diplomacy, maybe, and when he has to say something, he will say. I think he had a great career as a national team coach, and Scottish people should thank him, but it was maybe a time for somebody else. I don't think Stevie Clark has ever been someone who is comfortable with the media.
1:02:35Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not the life of Saul, is he? No. No, and I think he's very good, and we all know him. Well, Frank and I know him. He's got a very dry sense of humour. right? But it didn't come across well. It did not come across and this is sometimes this is maybe not your own fault in a way because he's not he's not what you would call a natural at talking to the cameras. Yeah. And when you mix that in with a bad performance and bad results and it's the camera stuck in your face straight away you have to be quite cute to be able to get around it and he didn't even try to get around it. And I just think that did not sit well with his supporters.
1:03:15But that's who he is. He's not comfortable in that scenario. And that's the argument should managers... And is it any benefit to broadcasters to have a camera shoved down a manager's face at half-time or straight at the end of the game? You could sort of debate that. It's what where Didier Deschamps is very good at. He exactly knows what to answer to the fans. He anticipates the question. He's very political in that matter and he exactly knows what he has to say to make sure he doesn't put his team in danger, himself in danger, the federation in danger and it's why it works and it's why he's been there for like 14 years and but of course you need results.
1:03:52I mean look at Marcelo Bielsa who didn't even look at the camera for his team manager photos for the World Cup. Can't get on the plane home. He's up but he's I mean I'm going to say he's just crazy though isn't he? Bielsa. No. You can see you can see why players a lot of players wouldn't want you can see why a lot of players with down tools with him and just say, listen, I'm not having this nonsense. I think it's okay, you know, when you watch Scotland in a World Cup and it's okay to be emotional in terms of what you saw with Steve Clarke and the team's performance but then, in all said and done, once you hear the news that he's stepped down, then you start putting your football head on and like Craig said, the job that he's done over his tenure has been exceptional.
1:04:33Two Euros in the World Cup. I mean, Scotland haven't delivered a World Cup for 28 years so when you analyse all that, you go, what a fantastic job you've done, not in this tournament granted, but who's going to take over the mantle. Now, the rumours in Scotland are Ange Postacoglu and David Moyes, who are very, very contrasting managers. But I think for Scotland fans now that just want to see a little bit different. Bielsa would be wild. Oh, that would be fun. Bielsa Ball, Scotland named Bielsa Ball. Bertie Vokes. We had German Bertie Vokes who won the World Cup as a player manager. And he said something nice.
1:05:05Bertie was a great guy. I mean, left field. I mean, left field as you get. like we put we we try to play under him in it it was i only played once under him don i won my 46 cap under him and that was enough austria at home and a friendly that was the night my dad told me to retire he he tried to have scotland and have us players playing like his german side and we couldn't do it now that because he couldn't understand you're scottish but he couldn't understand it so when we lost the game no but everyone in the morning running session we're I just lost a game. Well, tell you what then, let's have it the other way.
1:05:39You should better have gone back to Germany and tried to get the German side drinking like us. Exactly. And play Scotland. Yeah, yeah. See if they can do it. Germans who love their beer. Right, should we get to the important stuff now? And that's the times for the predictions because remember, Craig Burley gave us his bracket predictions all the way to the final. We finally have the times. Let's see how Craig... Whoa! It's not even close. Unbelievable. It's not even close. By the way, he's won. Look how rapid he is. He gave no explanations. He put England out of the competition against Congo. And the guy, he just wanted to get the best.
1:06:15By the way, can I just say, he took four minutes off Stevie. He took four minutes off Stevie. And that included a little cheeky wave goodbye to England. A couple of waves to the camera. You know, got a bit of me time. I reckon I could get that down to one and a half minutes. Easily. How did Stevie take so long? By the way, I was told that you regret putting Argentina winner of the World Cup. Yes. Let's say it here. I kind of lost my way at that point. You were just focused on the time. But then I thought about it, and I just completely forgot about all this talent. And then I thought, as Don said when I got back to the desk, he says, can you imagine Messi back to back?
1:06:55Yeah. You fell in love with it. Legacy, nice. I just got carried away. Did Stevie have his lunch or something to take five minutes? Honestly. Did the napkin go in and did he have lunch? He never eats, he drinks. Well, the interesting thing was Dan had to press the buttons for him. Really? I believe he couldn't do it on his own because his big thumbs were getting him. I heard you did with TV. I did. Did you not fall asleep during it? No, it didn't honestly. It didn't feel like five and a half minutes. I must admit though, at 1.55, at 1.55, there wasn't a lot of analysis to the choices. Yeah, sure, no more explanation.
1:07:29explanation, but you know what I like about that team that we have known for a while now? They love each other. Yes, this team. This team, especially the Scottish, you know, they have no shame of pointing, you know, Steve Nichols and I know he's not good enough, he's not doing... Shaka chucked him under the bus yesterday. Yes, he did. Did you see it? Shaka opened up with Mo Salah. Mo Salah, legendary player. Shaka didn't say, Stevie said. Yeah. Xhaka said Stevie Nicholls said when Mo Salah plays he gives the ball away a lot and he's a bit infuriating and he chucked it onto and Stevie's gone you see the spirit of the group to be fair though Stevie's reputation back there has long been shredded because he's been in the Liverpool Echo more often than not yeah yeah yeah so you know true true and now you guys are going to make the Scottish newspapers tomorrow oh yeah We should have played a drinking game for how many times we mentioned Scotland today.
1:08:31Oh, we'd all be under the table. We would be indeed. All right. Well, that's it for extra time. But make sure to catch us on ESPN FC every single day, twice a day during the World Cup.
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ESPN FC is live after the conclusion of South Africa vs. Canada. The Maple Leafs scored late to advance to the last 16. They'll play the winner of Netherlands vs. Morocco. Will their journey end next round? Next, we react to what Carlos Queiroz and Jose Mourinho said about the idea of a 48-team World Cup. Will it dilute the product? Later, Don Hutchison and Mark Ogden reveal their teams of the group stage for the 2026 World Cup.
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