Road to the World Cup Final

28:24and the things that we have seen it from Thomas Tuchel and this England version, but we've also seen it from Gareth Southgate and past versions of England. So as much as this is on Thomas Tuchel, may I say it may just be on the players as well. That when there's an opportunity to go and win the game, when it comes to winning time, go and win the game, these players and these coaches decided to go, we're going to go back, back, back, and further back. That's being scared of winning. And you cannot win if you're scared of winning. You know, another aspect of that amazed me, it's not like nobody could see it coming.

28:58Macalese hit the post twice. Enzo also. With crosses, with everything. So how do you see this coming? The footballing gods have been kind, and it come back off the post, and they say to you, hey, Thomas, things ain't going so good. But you double down on that? I just don't get this. I really don't. Well, speaking of doubling down, Just have a look at what Thomas Tuchel had to say in just continuing that he's not going to accept any blame for the loss. He said, look, I think ball possession plays a crucial role. It's maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or the Argentinian-Brazilian DNA to take the ball and control the game with the ball.

29:43Augie, what do you make of that? Well, I think he might have a point there in the sense that if you look at the Premier League, the best players in the Premier League that do that are not English players. Look at Rodri at Man City, for instance, Zubimendi at Arsenal. The players who can control games and control the ball aren't English, but I still don't buy this whole argument of let's blame the DNA, because England do have players who can control a game or play a different way, but he left them all at home. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Gibbs-White, Adam Warton. He left these players at home and picked a team that was basically a team of runners, a team of players that would go in vertical lines rather than try and change the game.

30:17So that is on him. that one of the only players in the squad who can actually control a game is Kobe Maino. He hasn't had a kick at this World Cup. So I do think that Thomas Tuchel is making excuses. And I think that what is significant now is that, I don't know if he's actually spoken yet in Miami ahead of the third and fourth place game, but what Tuchel says now, and even how this pointless game goes tomorrow, I think that could be very important because he's lost a lot of support in England right now. A lot of the fans have given up on him just because of what happened and because of his comments.

30:44And obviously the media are beginning to turn him as well. So I think he has a very important 48 hours ahead because if he keeps making excuses and keeps pointing to things that it's not my fault, mate, that sort of thing, it's not going to work in his favor, especially with the situation whereby there are other top coaches available that might do a better job. So he needs to be careful, Tuchel, if he wants to hold on to his job. You can't possibly make an argument about your DNA as a player and then watch this team over the last 20 minutes of that match in Argentina and not think, well, these guys are a bunch of cowards then.

31:14Is that what they have in their DNA? Because that's what they showed up. It's not a DNA of whether you can possess the ball or not. That has nothing to do with you retreating 20 yards from your own goal. That's being afraid of the confrontation further up the field. It's not a DNA of lacking possession or the ability to control the game with the ball, which you could have done had you gone and pressed the ball higher up the field. I'm not saying go and get stretched, but make your line of confrontation in the middle third. Not in your defensive third. It has nothing to do with DNA. This is a whole bunch of nonsense.

31:49This is a whole bunch of deflection. Look it over here. Look it over there. Instead of evaluating what actually happened on the field. And what happened on the field is this team retreated, retreated, and retreated. And Thomas Tuchel, he is the decision maker for this team. And so, therefore, responsibilities on him as it is on the players. Just a quick one, Augie. Just the fact that you mentioned. Oh, Augie's actually left us for now. All right. All right. But I'll tell you where you could find more of Mark Ogden. He's burning out there. Do you see that sunshine? He will be back with us. And you can also find more of Mark Ogden over on one of our other podcasts, The Football Reporters.

32:22There he is with James Olley and Tom Hamilton. I'm pretty sure they're talking a lot more about the fallout after England's loss to Argentina. Check it out. They all look very happy. Yeah.

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33:39All right, well, there's still a matter of the third place playoff that England and France have to contend. And many are questioning the actual value of this game. But our Santi Solari is giving us a different perspective. Have a listen. What the heck is the motivation for teams that went into this tournament as wanting to win the World Cup going into Saturday in the third, fourth place playoff. It's not the same being third or being fourth. Money-wise? No, no, no, money-wise. I mean, I would like to have the bronze. I mean, I would... Is that so you care? Yes, I care. I always care. In the Olympics, maybe...

34:17When it is about competition, I care. I mean, it's not the same to be first or second, even if it's a great achievement to reach the final. And it's not the same to be third or fourth.

34:29All right, well, look at that. Mark Ogden found a friend, and it's a French one and these two will be battling it out in that very valuable third place. What a fun time to be had by all. Look how excited they are indeed. Jules, let me start with you first. What did you make of what Santi Solari had to say and how do you think the France camp will be taking this game? I think the camp is divided anyway. Some players are really keen to play, especially the ones who haven't played much in this tournament so far, which you can understand. and we will see a few of them. Conte is expected to start. Zahir Emre is expected to start.

35:05Cherki as well. Probably the whole back four might change. Also need three of them. So for them, you can understand why they're finally happy to play and some of them have been very frustrated not to play a bit more, like Ryan Cherki, for example. And there are others who don't really want to play, who are already planning their holidays. They have families there. They're just waiting to go away now after a very long season. So I think every camp is probably a bit divided. for Deschamps, it's important because this is his last game ever as a French national team head coach, so he doesn't want to lose it.

35:34And again, you can understand that. But for the rest, and to show you that Deschamps really cares, the boys asked for last night to be off. They arrived yesterday in Miami. They wanted a night off to be with families. A lot of them go there on holidays. They've got, trust me, a few places they love to hang out in. And Deschamps said, no, you stay in the hotel. We have the game to prepare. Business as usual then for DJ Deschamps. Why did Jules say, trust me, they have places they like to go to? Oh, because all the places that they like to go to, Jules likes to go to as well. I'm so sorry, you can trust me.

36:07We're going to ask Jules the name of those places very soon. But, Shaka, what do you make of this? Do you see the value in this third-place playoff? Does it sweeten the pot a bit more for this France, considering it is at least a chance to give them a better farewell for Didier Deschamps? I see the value to Deschamps. I see the value to those players who have not featured regularly. I don't see the value to anybody else. I'll put myself in Mike Mannion's shoes as an example, as a goalkeeper. I've played all the games so far to this point. I came here to win the tournament. This is not some kind of consolation prize.

36:46Now, had this been a smaller country, had this been a, dare we say, a Norway, then it takes on a different value. But to France, in general, I just see the value in it. Can I just remind everyone that it was a third-place playoff game at the last World Cup that I was seated beside Xhaka Hissop that he did fall asleep in. So there you go. That tells you exactly how much weight it holds in Xhaka's eyes. Ale? First of all, I think we've done the impossible. We have found somebody who has more beautiful hair than Julian Laurent. Oh, boy. Yes, Santi Solari. Oh, yes. That man has got pretty hair. Not even Macca?

37:26No, no, no. That's a little messy. A little messy? Santi Solari. Santi's, oh. He's cute. Look, I went through this in Copa America 2011, where we lost heartbreaking semifinal against Paraguay in penalty kicks. And we were playing the third place match. And our team had no juice. We had nothing. And everything, all the momentum that we had built up until the semifinals, the moment we lost, all of that disappeared. And you felt like you had no momentum, like you had no life. It was difficult to get motivated for the game. And while it may have been, in theory, important to us to finish third, we just didn't have anything, anything to give, anything of substance.

38:15And not surprisingly, we got throttled in that match. Since we had nothing, we gave nothing. I have to imagine that this is a similar feeling for the guys that have played quite a bit for both England and France. So, to Jules' point and Xhaka's point, the guys that haven't played are the ones that are going to have to elevate this game. And they're going to be excited to play. And if indeed they're excited to play and there isn't that pressure of having to get to a final or win a final, usually the third place match can tend to be fun because these guys are excited to be on the field. So, I'm going to take the glass half full approach.

38:48Love that. Beacon of positivity. I expect this to be an open game and an entertaining game at that. Well, to our other beacon of positivity, Mark Ogden, let's talk about this one from the England perspective now too, because you did just speak about how the public has lost faith in Thomas Tuchel and it's going down even more with all of these comments that he has been making. Is this game now a huge chance to kind of strengthen his case on why he should stay on? No, I don't think this game will make any difference in terms of whether it should stay on. I think he's lost a big one and if he wins this game, it doesn't really matter, does it?

39:19But I think the issue is, can he keep the mood of the camp high or make it high, the morale, playing certain players? This is all about investing in the future now. If you ignore players who haven't played in this game, they're not going to play for you in the future. So he has to manage that as well if he stays as coach, obviously. But I think one issue I've got with this game is that, you know, Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane or even Jude Bellingham could win the Golden Boot by scoring in this game tomorrow or scoring a couple of goals. I just think that's wrong because this game will be played like a pre-season friendly.

39:46It's not that they've got the intensity of a World Cup final. So if Lionel Messi doesn't score tomorrow night, sorry, on Sunday night, he doesn't get the golden boot, possibly, if Mbappe or Kane or Bellingham scored. So I don't think that's fair. I think this game is a pointless exercise that nobody wants to play in. I'm not sure who wants to pay to watch it, especially at these World Cup prices. So it's a game that, I don't know, a game that we can all do without, I think. Could do without. Jules, what do you make of that? Because as we were saying, Kylian Mbappe is still very much involved and has a huge chance to probably even still win this golden boot.

40:17yeah trust me he's he's one that wants to play that game the juice that Ali rightly mentioned earlier he still has it just to go and win this golden boot and have it two years in a row I mean I know it's weird when you get the golden boot for the top goal scorer in the competition and don't end up winning the competition but but I think yeah it's important to him and you made a great you made a great point earlier when you asked the question to Xhaka Alexis as well for For Deschamps, all the players want him to finish on a high. And I know the disappointment of the semifinal is still there. They wanted to go all the way and win it.

40:48But if they can get third place for him, that means in three of the four World Cups that he was as a French head coach, he would have finished first, second and third. And that in itself, whether we debate or not, if they could have won more and should have won more under him in those 14 years, maybe. But one, two and three in three World Cups in a row is pretty special. All right, well, let's have a look at the odds and what they're saying about who are favourites to win this third-place playoff between France, which still blows my mind that they're even in this third-place playoff, and England, you can see right there, France, big favourites to win this one.

41:20But let's get some predictions from the guys, not the ones at the desk, because they'll be back tomorrow, apparently. So, Augie, let me start with you, because the shade is just coming for you. Should I take my glasses off? Shall I take off? No. No. Oh, oh, oh. Get back on. Oh, oh. Get back on. Oh. Oh. OK. Now that I can see it clearly, I'm going to say 3-0 to France. Oh. 3-0 to France. Wow. Because of positivity. The English because of positivity. I was going to say, what a very English prediction that is. What about the DNA? What about the DNA, Augie? Jules, what about you? Are you saying 3-0 France, too?

42:02No, I think that's a bit harsh on England, maybe. I said France will win, but 3-2. I agree with Ali. It's going to be an open game, quite entertaining game, but the French will win. Did Jules tell us to trust him again? Jules said to trust him. No way to the French. We're all right. All right. Well, there's clearly only enough sunlight left out there in New York for Jules. So Jules is going to stay with us as we find out more about his spots in Miami later on. But Mark Ogden, thank you so much for joining us with your cool shades. Oh, look at him. Look at him. What a man. All right. Well, if you want more talk about the World Cup, remember Gab and Jules have been hanging out in New York during the entire tournament.

42:41You can check out a new edition of the Gab and Jules show wherever you get your podcasts.

42:53This summer, serve up the cookout classics, Oscar Mayer hot dogs and Heinz mustard. Grill up a dog, add classic yellow mustard or loaded Chicago style. We all know it's not a cookout without Oscar Mayer and Hines. You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the WNBA. Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo three. From beyond the logo. Every did you see that moment. You bet. What records are going to be broken this season? All of it right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN. All season long.

43:56Right, it's been a while since we talked about the U.S. men's national team. Well, Mauricio Pochettino has now given us reason to, this is what he has to say about his future with the USA. And he says, we are evaluating it, looking at it. They, U.S. soccer, have made me an offer to continue, and we will see. Next week, we will make a decision. Ale Moreno. This sounds a lot like, I'm actually looking at other options and see what those options are. And if those options are not convincing enough, then I'll come back to you next week and I'll let you know how I'm feeling about it. Let me start around a little bit.

44:31Yeah, well, yes. Which is something that was already being done. Yes, he was flirting ahead of the World Cup and I imagine that there is some flirting going on right now as we speak. And I suppose that the U.S. soccer are in a position in which they've already played their card, they've already made their offer, and they're just waiting for Pochettino to go, sure, I'll pick you guys once again. It doesn't feel like Pochettino's like, yeah, USA, baby! America number one. That culture that we're changing, we're going to continue to change that culture. It doesn't feel like he's all that excited about the possibility.

45:06He's just looking at everything else and then kind of going, sure, I'll come back if I don't find something else. Shaka, does this feel like it would be more of a win for the USA than it would be for Potch? Well, clearly. Based on what he's saying. Yeah, the U.S. won Poch, and they've made that known, and they've made the offer, and they're happy with what they saw this summer, understandably. Up until that Belgian game, I think Pochettino had all of us kind of believing in this U.S. team, and then things come apart at the seams. For Pochettino, listen, I never thought he was going to stay on after the World Cup.

45:48Coming into the tournament, I thought he would see this tournament out, whatever came of it, And then he would be looking at a club theme as his next project. That hasn't changed. It didn't change during the tournament. It hasn't changed since. This statement certainly does not change that. If he stays on, I'll believe it when I see it. All right. Well, shall we talk about Michael Alise? Sure. Let's talk about Michael Alise. Of course, I think all of us enjoy watching him. And could we watch him a bit more closely now? because this is a headline in L 'Equipe. Now, I told you, my French is not very good, and I didn't consult with Jules before this.

46:28But Jules, we know that he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid from Bayern Munich. What's the latest there? What's the likelihood of it happening? Oh, look at Jules. He's looking cool. Suave like every Frenchman. I want you to look like a Hollywood star, like Augie. So, you know. It's because Agui has to cover the dark circles under his eyes, but you don't have them quite as much, Jules. Thank you. Let me take them off then. Thank you. Anytime. So, I'm in the front page. The front page says, as I'm sure you guessed, a desire for Real Madrid. And I think very much the information in L 'Equipe, which we have, ISPN FC, but slightly different.

47:12I'll come to that after. It's that he wants to go to Real Madrid. The problem is, and we stay like this, is that Bayern Munich are not going to sell him this summer. Not even to Real Madrid, not even to anybody else. Not even if Real Madrid put down an offer of, I don't know, 200 million euros, 230 million euros, which will make him, obviously, the biggest transfer fee ever. All of that, it's not going to happen. Not this summer. Next summer, probably, but not this summer. it seems like Markello Lise has a slightly different dialogue depending on who is asking him the question to Real Madrid he says I really want to come he discussed it with some of his French teammates who play for Real Madrid like Kylian Mbappé or Eliane Chouamini but to Bayern Munich he seems to say like listen I'm happy to stay too it's okay you know Real Madrid will be there next season at some point I would like to play there so it's slightly a different opinion on who he's been talking to in the last couple of days.

48:09If I had to put money down, I think he would stay at Bayern Munich because, again, I think that they would be very much against any negotiation, any discussion with Real Madrid or any other club for the future of Michael Lallese, who they want to stay for at least another season. Ale, what do you think should happen here? Well, I just think for the credibility of a club like Bayern Munich, they have been very clear about their intent to keep Michael Lallese and that Michael Lallese is going nowhere and that they're not taking any money from anybody and that Michael Rizzi is part of their present and their future.

48:39They have repeatedly said this. If they were to turn right back around and say, well, for the appropriate amount of money, we may consider it. I think it does take away from their credibility. And it also takes away, more importantly, from their sporting project. This is a team that was on the cusp of making it into a Champions League final and couldn't quite pull through. Couldn't quite see it through. And part of the reason they weren't in that position that they were in was because of the performances of Michael Olisse. If indeed their goal is winning the Champions League final, then getting rid of Michael Olisse doesn't get you any closer to that point.

49:23It actually gets you much further away. If you're Bayern Munich, and again, you have said repeatedly that he's not going anywhere, then you've got to hang on to that as long as you possibly can. Otherwise, credibility gone. Well, Jules, as we saw with the Kylian Mbappe saga, usually when Real Madrid wants something, it's only a matter of time before they get it. So how long do you think Bayern Munich really can hold out on this? And should Michael Olisse be Real Madrid's top target? I mean, I can understand why they would want to sign him because of how good he is and how good he's been in this World Cup.

50:04certainly up to the quarterfinal-ish. But then, let's say they sign Michael Olisse, there's a point where there's not enough room for Vinicius and Bellingham and Olisse and Mbappé and Adagoula. So in terms of squad construction and this team being built and the Mourinho of all people, I mean, I don't know where all the pieces would have fit. But that's another problem because I agree with Ali. I don't think he's going to move this summer. However, next summer, they can go again. They will probably go again. I think he'll be far more keen. That would lead Bayern Munich time to replace Michael Olisse, to have a plan A, plan B in case he leaves and to be much prepared for it.

50:46Then they will be now, end of July, if he was going to leave in August, for example. So for me, in a year time, we will talk about another Olisse saga to Real Madrid. All right, Julian Lerons, thank you so much, Jules, for hanging out with us. You can go give Agui back his glasses now. Buy your own. We know you have your fancy French money. It's true. We teach as well. That sounded personal. I mean, Jules is a man of very big brand names. Okay. We've seen it. Just check his shoes. All right. Thanks to Jules, as always, for more Transfer Talk, including how Aston Villa have added Swiss World Cup breakout star Manzambi to their ranks.

51:27Make sure to check out Transfer Talk over on our website.

51:34Well, Chris Turner, our good friend, you know we've been sending him all over the country to hang out with fans, to rap, to freestyle, to row with Norwegian fans, and to hang out, I think this was the Dutch fans, wasn't it? Well, of course, eventually, he finally made his way into our ESPN FC studios right here, where he absolutely treated us to quite the freestyle, including my name in it too, absolutely loved that. But now he was hanging out at the ESPN. So I am a freestyle rapper. I came runner-up on America's Got Talent. I promise this isn't a prank. I've been rapping for ESPN throughout the World Cup.

52:11But you were just saying you haven't really been watching since the games. No. Okay. What have you been doing? And I will rap about three of the things you've been doing. Sitting by the beach. Yeah, which beach? One in Montauk. Yeah. Traveling. Yeah. And coming to the ESPYs. Cool. Let's do it. Pay attention we're about to spit flame Travelling by road car or maybe on the airplane I know Western's looking at me like man stop But don't worry you were chilling by the ocean Montauk That's the beach, Long Island, the big drive Anywhere you're living it, best of their lives Seriously, the three things don't watch it But test me we're having fun Western McKenney down at the Espes Doesn't watch the football but plays like a baller Seriously, yeah I know the country might reward you Well there we go Yes from the man to the other man and now I politely ask to return my fan.

53:03Thank you for letting me. There we go. There we go. Oh, my gosh. I have to do your respect and you now. Thank you very much, Weston. Amazing playing as well. Pleasure to watch you. Thank you. All right. Our Chris Turner there. He traded us in for Weston McKinney and the red carpet of the... What an upgrade. That was an upgrade. I know we were paying attention to the rap of Chris Turner and Weston McKinney, but I don't know if you noticed our colleague from ESPN Deportes, Fernando Cuomo, who saw the ESPN camera. and did this while the rap was going on.

53:37I'm over here hanging at the ESPYs. I don't know. Yeah, here we go. Some of us have to come to work. Fernando. I'm just saying, if you run that back, Costa, we'll see Fernando. Fernando, try to get more air time. Cheeky, cheeky. All right, let's get to it for this show of ESPN FC. Don't go anywhere, though, because extra time with these guys and me is next.

54:06Welcome into Extra Time, everyone. Alexis Nunes here hanging out with Ale Moreno and Shaq Ahissap. Looking ahead to a big weekend in the World Cup. If we're just going to count the final because we already spoke about the third place playoff. I'm just trying to waste time so I can get the questions up. Right, I found them. Honestly, the best policy. Can we be honest about this outfit today, Shaq? Give us a little, Shaq. A little Miami vice. Yeah, but it's summer. It's summertime. It's summertime, Shaq. Summertime, fine. Is it because you're driving a sports car nowadays? Hello. Sports car Shaq.

54:41A convertible. Yes, yep, yep. Is that convertible Shaq? Yes, it is. A Maserati again? No, no, no. Convertible Shaq. Let me just say, sports car Shaq is a different Shaq. Oh, sports car Shaq. Sports car Shaq is different. Convertible Shaq, he like, it's like riding a horse Shaq. It's like riding a wild horse. Well, let me tell you. As soon as I pull out the...

55:04As soon as I pull out the ESPN campus, I put the top down. I know what y 'all are like, so don't do it while I'm still here. But get around the corner, top down. Do you do the lean back and just the one hand? He's not even touching the steering wheel. Oh, when you hand it over. Like that. Sports car, Shaq. Music up. Swordscar. Wind blowing in my hair. Oh, sunglasses on. Oh, man. They tell you something. I mean, if you had big bags in your eyes, you would be Mark Ogden. Oh. Poor Augie. Okay. I just meant he's been working really hard. Okay. All right. First question is for Ale. Are we doing this again?

55:50No, I was going to say, Shaka, do not leave. Not all of them are for Ale. That's not my fault. I'm not blaming you. I'm not blaming you. First question, Ale Moreno, what will you miss about this World Cup?

56:06Okay, it's a lot of fun for us to cover it. The morning show. Yeah. I miss the morning show. Morning show vibes. Morning show, not only the vibes and the energy of the morning show, but it also, it allows all of us to actually watch the games without having to worry about, now we've got to go into work or we've got to go do this show, we've got to go do this appearance or whatever. Actually, you do the show, you do the sandbox, you do the wrapping, you do the whole preview, and then you go and enjoy back-to-back-to-back games, which... Was a dream. Well, yes, it is. And I think we're fans of the game.

56:43So, some of the people that we work with are not really big fans of international competition or international soccer. I think the three of us, maybe because our countries are not in the World Cup, We really appreciate and value the World Cup for what it is and love the competition. So if you're a fan of this game, this is something that you want to be a part of and we get to be a part of. So we are thankful for it and appreciative for it. Petition for a morning show to be a permanent fixture. I would love that. So would I. Me too. I would love that. We were home by midday. We were watching the first game at midday.

57:16The next one at 3 p.m. The next one at like, what was it? Six. Then another at nine. And then a little cheeky West Coast one at like 11. When I first started in ESPN, we did morning shows. We recorded in the morning. Really? I was so good. And you were home? By 8 o 'clock, we're done. Oh. Had a nap? We used to be in the studio for 6 a.m., right? Oh, that's... Brutal start. Yeah. Brutal start. We were in the studio for 6. By 8 o 'clock, we're done. And by 10, you were napping. And by 10, you were napping? And you got napping. You know. That was a continuation of my sleep. Yeah. Imagine convertible Shaq at 10.

57:57Oh, Shaq just left the hand there. I love it. Oh, man. Morning shows. Those are the good ones. Next question for Shaqa. Shaqa, have you been satisfied with the way the tussling around the goalkeeper during a set play has been refereed in this tournament so far? Do you think top leagues, especially the Premier League, should adopt these rulings in the coming seasons? Well, to the first part, yes. I cannot think of a moment or an incident where a goal was scored and you think, well, that looked a little, you know, that should have been given or not. So the answer to that is yes. The Premier League have always done things by their own rules.

58:41I'll be honest. And that's one of the more amazing things in my perspective. like FIFA introduces, you know, whether it was, you know, video assistant refereeing or whatever it may be, whatever technologies. And they seem to get it right. And then England just decides that we'll do it our own way. And then we have this argument for two years about how awful it is. England, by its nature, is a very physical game. Maybe they're encouraging that. I want to keep encouraging that, but I just feel that England don't get things right in the way that the workup always seems to set an example for. It may very well be a physical game in England.

59:23It wasn't physical enough in the last 20 minutes against Argentina. I'll tell you that much. So I was thinking, right, if France score in the 12th minute, or if England score against France in the 12th minute. Do they just sit back? Go back! Everybody back! Everybody back! That bird! And just welcome Kylian Mbappe. For 15 minutes. How are you going to say it? Yeah, that was all right. I don't think Thomas Tuchel will last. How are you going to say that? Augie just talked about on the show that the next 48 hours will be interesting. I don't even think Thomas Tuchel will last an hour after that.

59:58Not after you say that he has no regrets. After they left the World Cup semi-final. And then you follow that up by saying that it's not in the DNA of the English player. or their DNA to keep the ball. Well, never mind that. How about you go and press somebody? Just fight. How about you take your line from holding hands with Jordan Pickford to actually go and confront somebody in the middle third? Just saying. Not holding hands with Jordan Pickford. Sometimes the loners get lonely back there. They get lonely back there. All right, next question. Xhaka's happy with him. Ale, with Conmebol reportedly considering bringing the Copa America 2028 back to the USA, has it become too reliant on the revenue that the U.S.

1:00:43generates? Would you be okay with permanently expanding the tournament as long as it stays in South America? How can it stay in South America if it's being played in North America? Well, would you be happy at least allowing other teams to play in it on the basis that they will have to be the ones to travel to South America? Sure, that has happened before. It's not ideal, but that has happened before, including the United States, including Mexico. They have gone down to South America and they have played. Jamaica has played in the Copa America as well. I don't mind that nearly as much, but I have said repeatedly, and I don't know how many times I'll say it, but I'll continue to say it, if you took the Euros out of Europe, would people, people would agree to that?

1:01:32They'd be happy about that? Absolutely not. Are we going to be okay with that? So why is it okay to take the South American tournament out of South America? Now, I know that behind this is people actually in common ball offices that say, hey, it's a great idea because we're going to make a whole bunch of money. And that's why things end up here in the United States. And I'll be the first one to admit that, logistically speaking, in terms of the infrastructure, yes, you get a superior product here in the United States. But it takes away from a tournament that at its core, in its heart, is South American.

1:02:09And it is not South American if it is being played in Seattle. That's true. The South American tournament being played out of South America doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Takes the soul out, la cultura. Well, exactly. Come to the rowdy stadiums where they shake. Come down to South America and deal with some of the circumstances that go with playing in South America. Now, again, why would you take it out of where it's come from? Where it's from? How does that make sense? Other than, of course, you're banking on the money and you're banking on everybody's going to cash in. Now, fans are going to love it.

1:02:48I'm sure they're going to have a great experience. they get a chance to see their team because they come to them and they don't have to go down there to South America to watch the games. Hey, go home! Go home and watch your team play at home. Where you came from, go home! Go back home. You have family back there, go back home and watch them play over there and actually be part of the culture. A tournament that is South American should be played in South America. How is that so difficult to understand? I'll never figure that out. Y punto. Jack, we agree with Ale. Let me just make this point. I am never disagreeing with Ale.

1:03:18Oh, no. Not on that. Not on that at least. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I mean, honest. I'm agreeing because I will never disagree. Because of positivity, what would he ever do? Stop an alley. Not on that. All right. Next question, and it's for all, including Alexis. Love that. If you won the World Cup and only had the option to choose one, would you prefer to have a gold medal or a championship ring? The medal. Medal. Medal. Rings are very American. This, of course, is because now they're talking about making a championship world, a World Cup winning ring, which is obviously like the Super Bowl rings.

1:03:56Yeah, but does that mean then that when the team goes and gets a trophy and they're about to raise the trophy, you know how they put the medals on the players? Are they now, what, like, they're just presenting you with a ring? Yeah. I don't know how that... Shaka, I feel like it, then you should have put a ring on it. Hey. Wait a minute. And what about this? Don't you need a different size of ring for different players? Yeah, but then I guess it's up to them to cut it after. Just a little small change. No, just give me the medal. Yeah, I mean, I think for all of us, we never grew up with any of our teams winning rings in international competitions.

1:04:32So, give me the medal. There's something symbolic about this. Yeah! This movement in which, you know, shake your hand and you get this. There's something symbolic about this too. And then the player looks at it and goes, yeah, that's right, we won this thing. We won this thing. Or walks away with a second place one. Yeah, rings, rings, forget about it. Next question, Ale Chacaste. That one was for all. Exactly. Ale, looking at how well Kubarcy has performed in the tournament, does he need someone experienced like Laporte to partner him at Barcelona to get the best out of him at club level? I think it would be helpful Some would argue that one of the major differences between Paulo Covars' performance last season As compared to the season before for Barcelona was And the dip in form was because he didn't have Inigo Martinez next to him That by Inigo Martinez walking out the door he became Franz Beckenbauer Did you know that?

1:05:31Who would have thought? He walked out the road of Barcelona and he was Beckenbauer, he was Baresi, he was Maldini, he was all of them players. The void that was left is still being talked about. Having an experienced player next to you always helps. Always helps. It helps you individually because you can trust that this guy, he's a problem solver, and he's going to put you in a position where you're going to succeed. and if you get yourself out of position, he's going to be able to read that and he's going to be able to bail you out. So that gives you a sense of safety and security. As for Pao Kuwarsi, while he's still young, he's an experienced player right now.

1:06:11And so it's important to have a guy that knows how to play the position and can lead so that he doesn't have to do it himself. So in that sense, I do think it makes, it's a valid point to be brought up. but at some point, Pau Cuberzi is going to have to start taking responsibility for his own quality of the game and not have to depend on an experienced guy next to him. All right. Final question now. Which performer are you looking forward to for the halftime show of the World Cup final? Shakira, Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, Burn-A-Boy, or Coldplay? That's a good... I think everybody here at least knows who everyone is.

1:06:54I started laughing because I was questioning if Aller and Shaka would know enough. All those people performing. Shaka, it's a 30 minute show. The game's gone. And the halftime is going to be 30 minutes? All those people performing? Yes, sir. All those people performing. BTS, is that K-pop? Yes. You love it. He knows it, he loves it. Those ones have a catchy song. I'll say right now. Cat's Eye, right? Yeah, oh, that's the girl group, isn't it? No, oh no, Gabriela, who sings that? Yeah, yeah, oh, I don't know, Ale. Oh, so you don't know? I know BTS and I know Blackpink. I don't know. But BTS, I mean, they're quite well known.

1:07:39Okay, but it's K-pop, that's K-pop. Yes, that's K-pop. One of them actually sang one of the World Cup songs, last one for Qatar, so... Alright. Kind of vibes him. Alright. Okay. I will say right now, I am not watching one lick of the half, I'm sure. Cheka, you'll follow. That's your nap. And then you come back up. Ready for the second half? Nah, I'm going to go make a cup of tea or something. 30 minutes for a cup of tea to order. Cup of tea, snack. I'm not watching. I'm not watching. I'm not interested. I will ask, this is a simple sort of entertainment question, and musical entertainment. How are you able to blend in all these people that are so different in their style?

1:08:18Yeah, yeah. Where is the crossover here? What are the fivers that put this thing together? Tell you what. You watch a halftime show. You come back with the answer. We'll report on it next week. That's your job, Ali. Second. Wait, wait, wait. I don't think I have the qualities to be able to do it. Wait, wait, wait. You can do it on the sandbox.

1:08:44Oh, baby. And move. Shakira entered stage right. Right, BTS entered stage left. Hopefully it came to the floor. How about you do a square? A square? For the stage, you could do a square. Can you use the arrows showing the room? And if you want to be like a front seat, then you do, you know, where you close up and it... It turns the field. There's going to be one sandbox and a half here. Well, for me, it would be Justin Bieber because I'm a believer. I will be watching him. That's a letdown. Justin Bieber? I am a Bieber. I'm ready for some baby, baby, baby. Sorry, not enough. Not that anybody knows what you're singing, but there's copyright things going on.

1:09:35You sound nothing like Bieber. Stick around for my singing on ESPN FC. ESPN Legal told me, shut up, stop singing songs because that's copyrighted, so don't copy me. ESPN FC available daily on ESPN. Nothing at all like people. Nothing but this.

1:10:16you