Tuchel Names England Squad

26:32Why now? It's the time. It's not wake up, go to sleep one day, wake up the day after, say now is the time to live. It is a process that I felt it for a while and always the club makes me unbelievable for the fact that the decision, the club has to be of course ready and I felt that listen, this job is every few days during many, many years and Southwoods Park and Anfield and Madrid and Madrid and Efe Cup and the and I'll have to to see, you know live my life, at least see what happened and 10 years is a lot of time and I think the club needs new manager, new energy with this incredible place that we have right now and yeah, start to write another chapter Let's start with you Jan say some nice things about Pep We miss him big time I mean he is charismatic and energetic in our role as interviewer Dan And he's one that keeps us sharp.

27:45I mean, you don't go into Pep Guardiola and say, listen, I think your midfield player didn't know that he cut you off. He's been fantastic successful. We want that for everybody to see. And I think the biggest compliment today is that he's up there among the greatest ever managers. And it's a small thing that has been a bit overseen. I saw that he's going to be global ambassador for City football group now and oversee a lot of the clubs. So it's funny now that him and Jürgen Klopp will have the same job in their respective football groups. But I think, I mean, we followed him. I've always been impressed by his intensity, how much that takes out.

28:28He will do 20, 30 interviews, press conference every week, still manage to have this power, still manage to kind of get this team going. I mean, he ending up with two trophies this season as well. He followed Arsenal all the way. So I do understand as a human being, you want to get a breath. You want to get your energy back. And I think from a human level, I mean, a big, big compliment to Pep Guardiola. Ali, we've been doing this show a very long time. I remember when he first came to the Premier League, didn't have that instant impact. I remember us having a conversation in the English media.

29:09Ah, it's different here. It's different here to Germany. It's different here in Spain. You know, it's different tactics. And then those people now just talk about eating your own words. Well, let's talk about the influence of Pep Guardiola beyond Manchester City. I believe it was about 10 days, two weeks ago, when we were having a conversation on this very studio and this desk, talking about how teams in the Premier League at the bottom end of the Premier League were trying to play out of the bag. Were trying to keep possession. Were trying to build, even though the makeup of that group did not match that sort of level of play.

29:48Well, that's because everybody now looks at Manchester City and go, we need to do that. What they're doing works so well. And that influence comes directly from Pep Guardiola and the style of play that for him was non-negotiable. And man, how many times we've also sat here and said, hey, there's got to be a plan B. Because this plan A, this is not working. Plan B. And he stubbornly so, but believing in his own truth, saying, no, my teams are going to play this way and we're going to make it work. And more times than not, he's made it work. But the reason that it is time to move on is because I think he alluded to it in his press conference.

30:29The message can get stale at times. Communicating with the players can get stale at times. And being able to carry that intensity can also get stale at times. It reminds me of us covering the 2014 World Cup. And Roberto Martinez was part of our commentary team for ESPN. And I went to breakfast one morning, up in the roof of the hotel. and there he was sitting in a table and I don't remember who else was on the table and he's moving a ketchup bottle and he's moving the salt and paper shaker and another cup of water here and saying this team should be doing this and this team should be doing that and I remember thinking to myself well this is not my table I gotta go somewhere else ketchup can you pass a ketchup and play a man down please but it's a picture of that sort of intensity that I imagine Pep Guardiola has in his everyday life, in which every conversation is about this team, my team.

31:26What is he doing? What's that player doing? He should be here. He should be there. And that has to take a toll. It has to be mentally draining. It has to be physically draining. And at some point, you have to say, enough. I think he's gotten to that point. But to your initial point there, Dan, the influence of Pep Guardiola in the Premier League is not just clear to see in Manchester City. it's clear to see everywhere else around the Premier League. Big shoes to fill, Shaq? They are. And by all accounts, it's going to be Anzion Mareska. That's a tough act to follow. And we've seen big clubs try to do it with their legendary managers in the past.

32:05Arnest Lott being the exception in that he wins the league after Jürgen Klopp, but then has this sophomore season that many of us kind of felt along the way would be his last. Other clubs, Manchester United, the Arsenals, have gone for so much longer in struggling to find that replacement. Andrew Maresca, again, ticks a lot of boxes because he's been at the club, worked under Pep Guardiola. So you want to feel he's best prepared to come in and keep things going as smoothly as they would hope. But that's far easier said than done. To get those same messages across to those players, to continue to regenerate their squad, have them have their own identity, have them have the faith in the manager that they did, that's a very difficult ask for Mariska.

32:53This is a tough act to follow. Meanwhile, it has been a day of surprise news. Michael Carrick has been given a two-year deal at Manchester United. Jan, will he see out those two years? Well, being a Norwegian, I remember what happened to the last coach, the Norwegian who got that kind of thing, that didn't last all the way in. But let's be honest. I mean, we shouldn't use the word deserve, but he deserves it. I mean, the way he's come in and do all the things that he has done, he knows Manchester United. And I think that, and I love Carrick, but he's not the Klopp of this world or a Pep Guardiola of this world.

33:36That is an understatement. But I think this is what Manchester United need now. You don't need any experiment. a guy coming in have no clue about Manchester United no clue about the Premier League stable ship got him into Champions League let's see now how we can do with the transfer window because there is certainly are some boys that need to be gone and there are some personality kind of definition of players that he needs to get in to that team so I think he will stay for a couple of years I think that they need they need a bit a boring time at Manchester United or boring in terms of developing and boring in terms of building up players like Manu now getting the chance to improve himself.

34:19And he needs to do that with more players and the players he get in. Can I just say about Michael Carrick that perhaps his best quality in his time with Manchester United is that as compared to, say, for example, Ruben Amorin, when he talks, it's normal. He's asked the question and he answers the question. Give it time, Ali. We've seen that. Well, maybe. We've seen this before. I know, but for the time being, there's been normal answers. And there's been a normal assessment of his team. What does he do with his ketchup at breakfast? I have no idea, but if he starts doing that, then you know you have a problem.

34:55We'll be talking about Jan and what he's been up to tonight on Extra Time. As always, you can check that out over on our YouTube channel.

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36:05vacation just to prove it that's the kind of brand this is no purchase necessary giveaway ends may 30th enter and find your closest bucked up at buckedupenergy.com grab a bucked up and feel like a million bucks now let's head to spain where the final round of matches is all about that fight for survival we know that oviedo are down it looks like according to the percentages mallorca will be joining them. But who else? Girona, Elche, Osasuna and Levante are all fighting to avoid Segunda Division football next season. Let's welcome in Alex Kirkland. Alex, for those who haven't been following this, try and keep it as simple as possible.

36:54Yeah, wish me luck with that, Dan, because the permutations are quite remarkable. I was sat looking at this earlier. I'm talking to Sid Lowe, actually, trying to work out what we think is going to happen. It gave me a headache. I know, Sid had page after page after page of notes. It was like that meme of a guy with a blackboard and an incredibly complicated equation written up in it. But let's keep it very, very simple. Two spots remaining for relegation and five teams, as you say, with Levante, Osasuna, Girona, Elche and Mallorca. Now, the big game, the big game, the one that's going to be the tensest game, is the one that pits two of these teams against each other, Girona against Elche at Montelievi.

37:29That is going to be incredibly tense. Elsewhere, Mallorca, the team with the fewest points of these five, have maybe got the easiest fixture because they're going up against Oviedo, who are already relegated at home. Tough games for Levante, Betis for Osasuna, Getafe as well. So yeah, five teams, two spots, a million different permutations. And it's going to be one of these where we're going to be keeping on multiple scorelines at the same time and changing all the time. Because as we know in La Liga, if the teams are level on points, it'll go down to the head-to-head between the two teams. if you've got three teams level on points, it goes to effectively a mini league between those three teams and how their results collectively panned out over the season.

38:10So yes, it's very, very complicated. I'm sorry. No, don't apologise. I feel sorry for you spending time with Sid and a notebook. We'll, of course, be covering all these games live on ESPN+. Meanwhile, obviously, Barcelona champions. For Real Madrid, this is Harba Loha's last game in charge. Here he is. You won't be sitting in that chair anymore. Yes, I know exactly what the team dynamics and the dressing room were like when I arrived, and the specific challenging circumstances I had to face. I would have handled things differently had the situation been different from the start. I'm certain that if I had begun the season here, things would have turned out differently.

38:56But it is what it is, and I had to deal with the hand I was dealt. I tried to handle it in the best possible way. Not my way, but the best way. Ultimately, the results weren't what we as Madridistas all wanted, which was to win silverware. Do you agree, Alex, if Abloh was in charge at the start, Real Madrid would have won the Champions League and La Liga? What?

39:22What's been really interesting, I think, Dan, is the way that Abloh's discourse has changed in the last few months. because what we're seeing in the last few weeks, basically since he knows that he's not carrying on, I think he's speaking a lot more openly, a lot more freely and saying what he means. Whereas earlier on, we heard him saying what I think he thought, you know, the players and the club wanted to hear. And I think it's remarkable hearing him say, you know, just then, I haven't been myself. I haven't done things my way. I've done things the way that I thought the club needed them to be done rather than what I thought was kind of the right thing to do as a coach.

39:54I think that's fascinating. Look, it's true he came in in a really difficult position. The season was a mess. The squad was sort of torn down the middle after the departure of Xabi Alonso. Key players like Vinicius Junior weren't on board. And he had a very, very difficult task. And ultimately, it's a task that he's failed in. I don't think we can dismiss him as a coach. I think we'll never know what might have happened if he had got a full season, if he hadn't been parachuted into that situation. But like I say, what I think is really fascinating is the way that he's being a lot more honest now and saying that he's been really limited by the situation, by the circumstances, by having to appease the players, and he hasn't been able to do things and take the decisions that he wanted to take.

40:34Yeah. Yeah. I think late now. Well, yes. And may I just say, in him suggesting that whatever he found when he was first appointed, isn't he taking a shot at Xabi Alonso, who he's supposed to be very close with? Look at the mess that you left me with, essentially, is what I heard there. The other thing I would also say is that having had the opportunity to be at Camp Nou for El Clásico, and I was sitting... Shaving off, Shaker. Thank you. Thank you, Barcelona. Thank you. Look, five yards, sitting away from Árvalo Árvaloa, as he is trying to address his team on the field. And his hands are going everywhere and doing this, that, and the other.

41:20Specific moments. He's telling Chua Meni to go and press. Chua Meni looks at him and took one step forward. At one point, Antonio Rudiger is driving with the ball, and he's telling him, and he's in his eyeline. He can see him. He's telling him to play the ball out wide to Frank Garcia, which is to his left. And Rudiger does this. No, I'm going to the right. In those two moments, as I said, these guys could not care less as to what this guy is saying. So whether he was being himself or not, whether he was given the chance to be himself or not, these players were not listening to him. And they would never have listened to him, even if this guy had done what he did from the very beginning and saying, the players are the best.

42:03The players are great. These guys are the best at what they do. This guy is the best at what he does. When you start accommodating the players and catering to the players and not asserting any sort of authority, the players run all over you. They've done that throughout the course of their career and they will continue to do that until there is authority. He was never an authority figure for this team. Last couple of bits of business with you, Alex. First, your poor children as well as you were having to part up with Sid Lowe here. Oh, okay. What was he talking about, Oviedo? You know what, Sid was very good.

42:42If journalism doesn't work out, he can try kids entertainment because he kept my kids happy. with a series, almost a stand-up routine. Just one bad joke after another. Dad jokes, basically, for about 45 minutes. Good stuff. If the kids need to be put to sleep. Yes, yes. Exactly. Just read his book. Yes. Very much so. That'll do it. And finally, Alex, congratulations on Arsenal. How did you celebrate? How did you watch it? Thank you, mate. Yeah, I mean, I had a bit of a cry. It was quite emotional. I got my mum and dad on the phone straight away because I wanted to share it the moment with them as best I could, even though they're a long way away.

43:18It was an incredible feeling of relief and just a kind of an outpouring of so much stress and years of, let's be honest, crushing failure finally coming to an end. So yeah, it was a beautiful thing and the pressure is off now. Nice, Alex. I won't even say anything sarky. Good. You thought about it. Last weekend over at Liga. That's cool. Lime. Maturity.

43:44Oh, dear. so grown up now

43:51I've got to say sorry all these games are live on ESPN 5 yeah not too as you know managing maintenance repair and operations is never easy but for the ones who always rise to the challenge Grainger has your back from professional grade products you can count on to fast dependable delivery they're there to help you keep things running smoothly plus their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANGER, clickgrainger.com, or just stop by.

44:28The NFL schedule dropped, and it's time to settle up. There's road trips to plan, hotels to book, tickets to split, tailgates to cover, scores to settle, all the things for the season. But now, when you send$10 or more to a friend with PayPal by May 28th, You can win two tickets to every home game of your favorite team. Yep, the whole season. Visit paypal.com slash P2P sweeps. No purchase necessary. See website for details, including how to enter by mail. Brought to you by PayPal, official peer-to-peer payment sponsor of the NFL. In Oslo, it's now only 90 minutes away. Brilliant finish, showing their quality in the women's Jenkins lead.

45:08It's rating goals in Lyon now. A bullet header is excellent! What a hit! It's a terrific go! The Champions of Spain face their biggest rivals of the modern era, Lyon, in a real showpiece occasion. You couldn't have scripted a better Champions League final tomorrow. In Oslo, Lyonnais taking on Barcelona, some of the best players in the world on show. Let's hear from some of the protagonists. It would mean everything. It's the 12th final for the club. It could be the ninth trophy. It could be the ninth trophy of Wendy sitting here, which is incredible. But we are very humble in our approach, but also confident in our strengths.

46:02And we will absolutely give it all tomorrow. Is this the best form you've ever been in coming into a final? The other, the media day in Barcelona, the journalists asked me. And for me it's like, it's a challenge for, it's challenging myself season after season because I want this question at the end of every season. So that's the meaning of that is because I'm doing good my job. For me, it's really a pleasure to play in this club and this team. I'm enjoying a lot playing with these teammates in this club. We fought these supporters. So I don't know if it's my best moment, but I try. I try. It dominates the news in Barcelona all around Europe.

46:58Six finals, of course. They're focusing on very much Barca against Lyon. Hopefully you remember Oslo for the fourth. That is what Barcelona are chasing. Let's remind you, of course, the last two Champions League finals, Barcelona were there and they lost. In fact, they've been to the last five Champions League finals. Before that, the last five winners were the opponents of Barca tomorrow. Lyon. For a lot more on this, let's welcome in, shall we, Natalia Estran is with us. I love it when all our ESPN FC gang get together. And that's exactly what's happening in Oslo. Because Julianne Laurent is there, as is Gemma Soler.

47:37We'll be hearing from the guys in a moment. But Natalia, we said it at the start, you couldn't ask for a better final, could you? Oh no, I feel fantastic for this final. I think seeing all the season, we can see tomorrow the two best teams in Europe. And probably in the world about women's soccer. And this is it, isn't it? I think Nadeem compared it a little bit yesterday, Jules, to the PSG Bayern encounter we saw in the Men's Champions League. Here you have the best players in the world on show. Yeah, it's the Clásico of Europe, if you want, really. And not just for this season, but for the last 10 years, they've been the two best teams by far.

48:15Yes, Arsenal have won one. Yes, you've got English clubs with the WSL that are strong too. But really, Lyon and Barcelona have been the two best teams. They've got depth, they've got talent, they've got Ballon d 'Or winners, they've got trophies, they've got great coaches, one especially here on the Lyon bench tomorrow that will know Barcelona really, really well in the Real Madrid. So I think it's just everything is there. It's the recipe for a perfect game tomorrow. Gemma, you've of course followed on Disney Plus all the way to the final. Exactly how both teams got there and it's fair to say these are the best teams in the competition.

48:49Absolutely. Actually, when they both fall in the different side of the bracket, we kind of could imagine that we could reach this final. Sometimes there are accidents like last season, but this year I think it's the two best teams, the best players in the world right now are in both teams. And I think Olympique de Lyon, they started the season with nine new players, but I think now they reached their best momentum. While Barcelona, it's true that they struggled because they lost some key players at the beginning of the season. Also, the big injury of Aitana Bonmati. But one month ago, I would say they are at their prime.

49:28But not right now, because they struggle against Bayern in semifinals. The performance in the final of Copa de la Reina was not at their best. They have two key players. They are available, but not 100 % fit. One is the centre-back, Irene Paredes. The other one is the Norwegian winger, Caroline Graham Hansen, one of the best forwards in the world and also the three-time winner, Aitana Bonmati, I think it's very unlikely that she will start. So I think it's a 50-50 final, but the physicality, the mentality of the comebacks and especially the fact that they have Jonathan Giraldes, he knows everything.

50:05Two seasons ago, he was winning the Champions League with Barcelona. Now he's in the bench of Olympique de Lyon and his second manager is managing Barcelona. Now, Pera Romeo. So for me, that is a key factor that can make a little bit 51-49 % for Olympique de Lyon. Do you agree? No, I am 50-50. I want to give Barcelona the tactical advantage about the game. I think depending how they manage the tempo, if Barcelona is able to dominate in the midfielders, I think they will control in the game. But if Lyon can stretch the game and survive the chaos and create this chaos and turn the game like a transitional then Olympique will have the advantage but when Barca plays really well I think it's so difficult to win to Barca.

50:55Barca though come into this obviously back-to-back defeats in previous Champions League finals how much is that a hindrance for them how much do they still have a hangover from those two defeats going into this tie or how much of a motivation is it? Yeah well they won in Bilbao against the Olympique Lyon and And then last season, I think that Arsenal was the underdog. And in the final, Arsenal surprised everybody. And I think this was very painful for Barcelona. The day you start the season, remember saying, oh, we are not the candidate. We are not the team to win. But I think quietly they were working about that.

51:29And then now I think they want to show the people that, OK, this is the Barcelona that can win. I think Olympic hub last year, like 10 years ago, they were winning and set up the standards in Europe about this mentality, but now I think it's the moment for Barcelona. Gemma, do you agree? I mean, Natalia, she's a FIFA coach. She knows a lot. She knows a lot of Barcelona. She's convincing me, but I want to be positive because following Barcelona during this amazing UEFA Women's Champions League, it makes you fall in love with this team. But I'm saying I'm being very cautious because this is what the locker room, the players, the entourage is also transmitting me, especially because I think the last month, the physicality hasn't been so, so good.

52:18But at the same time, a team who managed to be in six Champions Leagues in a row, it talks to you a lot about the consistency, the mentality and the fact that Alexia Putellas, we thought she wouldn't be that everywhere as she has been. She's got an amazing season, assisting, scoring, being the leadership, being almost like a mother figure from the young players. They got this terrible injury of Aitana Bonmaty. They look at La Masia and Clara Serra Jordi appeared and she's been amazing in the midfield. So it's true that they have a lot of resources. But I think if this final was a month ago, I would be a little bit more optimistic.

52:57What's the biggest danger that Lyon pose? I think for Lyon the most important is the momentum. We talk about the momentum of Alexia in Barcelona. I think for Lyon the momentum of Durmurai, the attacking midfielder. She's incredible. She's a very decisive player. She's very incisive as well. She knows how to run into the ball. She knows how to score goals. And she managed really good tempo in the midfielder. We We talk about Lindsey Hibbs, Billy Johannes, but I think this player, the Haitian player, the player from Haiti, is for me like a game changer of Olympic Lyonnais. We've heard them say already 50-50, 51-49.

53:44Let's see how the bookies have things set up going into this tie in Norway. Taking a look at this Barcelona, a big favourite. Olympic Lyonnais then, plus 400 to get the victory. We know where your money is going, Mr. Frenchman.

54:01Yeah, I think this is a good time for Lyon. I think the physicality that they have, how aggressive they can be on the ball will be very important, especially as we've been mentioning already in that midfield area, because again, this is the key. As often in those kind of games, there will be thin margins, but I think a bit like what Arsenal did last season to Barcelona in that kind of midfield, be very aggressive, don't let them play. And I think for that, Rejaldes has a lot of options, whether he starts with an all-American midfield with Lili Ioannis and Corbin and Lindsay, whether he goes with Dumont in that midfield, whether he even goes, if he wants to, with something a bit more attacking, really, there's a lot of things he can do.

54:39And maybe also the depth in the squad on that Lyon side. They can have a brand new front three for the last half hour that is very good, very quick. You know, Besho, Catoto can come on and have a massive impact. Chawinga as well if she doesn't start. So that depth maybe for the last 25-20 minutes could also be a difference. So I think you'll be super tight, of course, because they're two best teams. I agree with the 50-50, 51-49 for Lyon maybe. But I think in the end, they probably will get this one. Score, Jules? 1-0 to Lyon. Gemma?

55:14I think there will be a lot of goals. Do you think? 1-0, it's mean. No, they scored 39 goals, 26. Oh, well, no, there will be goals. They have to because the vulnerabilities in both teams are on defense. So lots of goals. I trust Natalia, so I'm going to go for 4-3 for Barcelona. 4-3, seven goal thriller according to Gemma. Natalia, your prediction? I feel very responsible now, Gemma. Yeah, exactly. It would be your fault if all goes wrong. It's all right. I would say 2-1, 2-1 for Barcelona. 2-1, Natalya will be on the call tomorrow. You can watch this game live on ESPN Deportes. Barca taking Lillene, the Women's Champions League final, kicks off at 12 p.m.

56:00Eastern. And more of Natalya on Football W. That's available now as they go in-depth, looking at both sides and the keys to victory over on Football W, which is available on ESPN+. Harry Douglas here. Game day brings the excitement. Your stay should feel just as memorable. With Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S. soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfasts, others give you room to spread out, space to stay productive, or extended stay comforts. So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Marriott Bonvoy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game.

56:43Marriott Bonvoy, where game day checks in. Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start? Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin? Or what that clunking sound from your dryer is? With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top-rated pros, see price estimates, and read reviews, all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. With the World Cup, just weeks from kickoff, and Ebola concerns surrounding Team Congo, there's a significant new development. Andrew Giuliani addressing it publicly for the first time in a sit down with ESPN's Tisha Thompson.

57:26Another challenge that's developing is Ebola with Congo. What is the latest with what you are doing in terms of how Ebola and the concerns around Ebola is impacting the World Cup? Yeah, so we are taking this extremely seriously, and I would say the federal government and the CDC is leaning in even heavier than the World Health Organization is at this point. We want to make sure that there is nothing that's going to come in or clear our borders here on this. What I could tell you is the Congo team has been in Belgium now for at least a few days at this point, three days at this point, and most of the players have been based in Europe.

58:08They've been playing a European schedule. So we've been very clear to FIFA, we've been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th. And if they introduce somebody new into that bubble who may have been in Congo and they are showing symptoms, then it does risk the team being able to come in. While the president signed an executive order allowing the Haitian team and the Iranian team come in to enjoy this World Cup, if there are players that are symptomatic, I would not expect a similar executive order.

58:47We are taking the health and safety of this World Cup paramount. Because it's not just players. I would think it's also staff. I was reading just yesterday, ESPN published that staffers are trying to get out of the country right now that will be part of the support staff for the team, that the team is out of the country, but those staffers are moving quickly. Is that partly because of this 21-day? Are we calling it a quarantine? How do we describe the 21-day? Is it isolation? Isolation, maintaining a bubble, right? And I think, and certainly we're very well aware of that. I was speaking with the public health minister yesterday on this, and we've made it very clear to the very top of FIFA.

59:25We've made it very clear to the Congo government as well. They need to maintain that bubble, or they risk not being able to travel to the United States. We cannot be any clearer. If there are other people that are going to be coming in, they need to have a separate bubble from that team. If they end up commingling and any of those people end up symptomatic, they are risking the entire team being able to come and compete in this World Cup. DLC is in Group K for the World Cup. Their first game is against Portugal on June 17 in Houston.

1:00:04The Coupe de France final. Oh, yeah. No, that's Germany. That's we. We, yes. He just loves it too much. Yeah. He's got the German out of him. Lons against Nice, 25 minutes in. Thauvin with the goal to make it 1-0 Lons. That's a nice finish. Udall with the ball on the left-hand side. Ball into Thauvin. Little roll on the other side of the boat before finding the bottom corner. Four minutes before the end of the first half. What a header from Edouard. It's a really good header. It's also wide open when he receives the ball to nothing. Just before the break though, Nice get one back. Koulibaly here.

1:00:40In at the near post. I think he's probably just trying to head that back into the general area but somehow sneaks in far post. However, Lons will get that all-important third goal to give them a two-goal cushion in the 78th minute. Seema here, by desire really, splits the defenders, holds the defender off. Defender, instead of playing the ball, is trying to play the body, doesn't get there in time. Good finish by Seema, 3-1. What a special night then for Lens as they win their first ever Coupe de France with a 3-1 victory. Speaking of cup finals, Bayern Munich against Stuttgart live on ESPN+. 1.30 Eastern, our coverage starts.

1:01:24Kick-off is at 2 o 'clock. We learned today that Neuer will not be involved for Bayern Munich. However, Neuer's been a big talking point in Germany with Nagelsmann recalling the veteran goalkeeper into his World Cup squad. And both of you aren't on Twitter or X. No. You would have missed Jan being out a big trumpet and saying, I told you so. I told everybody who should have listened to me that Manuel Neuer will be going to the World Cup. Yeah, I said it all along, but Julian Nagelsmann has managed now. I mean, this is the soap opera of the pre-World Cup series of Germany going to USA for a disappointment.

1:02:03Because how can you rely on Baumann saying for ages, for months, that he's my number one? And when everybody else says, listen, Manuel Neuer is maybe still one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Maybe you should call him before he goes for another ski holiday and just tell him that he can come to the World Cup. And then he waits, he waits and waits and waits. And when it's too late, he calls him. And everybody told me, no, Neuer won't say, he would say no, he won't go to the World Cup. Yeah, right one. Of course he said yes. He wants to be loved. He's like over 40 now, just signed an extension to his contract.

1:02:42So now, Julian Nagelsmann has managed to tell Baumann, listen, I was wrong. You're not my number one goalkeeper. I will put Neuer in goal okay so what's happening then Neuer get injured now he can't play the final hopefully he will be fit for the World Cup maybe not and then he has to talk to Baumann again and Baumann will say okay I'm number one again now I mean it is so popular that Eulen Nagelsmann has managed to do in these five first months that is like dynasty falconcrest and Dallas in one and that just shows you how old I am Yes, I was going to say thank you very much for those very current references.

1:03:23Very much so. Shall we go Love Island? That's too modern. Let's talk about the final. Bayern taking on Stuttgart. Let's remind you how these teams have got on in the last three occasions they met. It's looked good for Bayern, doesn't it? A 4-2 win, a 5-0 win in the Bundesliga, 2-1 in the Super Cup. Ali, what are you expecting? Is it as easy as it looks? No. No, because I do think that Stuttgart can do things that can hurt Bayern Munich, and they do have enough talent in the attack that can expose some of the vulnerabilities of Bayern Munich. Sepp Honnes has done a tremendous job with Stuttgart, and it's a name that I think should be thrown around to be taking on bigger and better positions.

1:04:03Having said all that, this doesn't depend on Sepp Honnes or Stuttgart. This depends on Bayern Munich and their own standard of play. And if they hold themselves to that standard, Stuttgart is not good enough to compete with Bayern Munich. Why do I bring the standard of play of Bayern Munich? Well, because all they have done since they won the title and since the last game of the season, it's been like celebration here and celebration there. I see videos of Luis Diaz and his dad dancing. It's like, hey, hey, hey, hey. And I'm thinking, well, yeah, I suppose you should be happy, but there is a final to be played.

1:04:41I'm assuming that Vincent Kompany and his players, when it comes down to it, they'll get their focus in the right place. And if they do, and they play to their best level, then Bayern Munich will go on to win this. Jan Agafjotov. For the final, I don't think they have had so much parties. I mean, Vincent Kompany is a very serious guy. I think sometimes it's good to kind of celebrate what you have achieved. I think there, I share your analysis of the Stuttgart game. Sebastian Hoeneß has done a fantastic job. I mean, if you can see, there are some weak points in Bayern. Maybe someone speaking up the defence is so fantastic.

1:05:26I'm not 100 % sure of that. And when you know the attacking options that Stuttgart's having, I think this could be more open than we think. And then you have this family thing that Uli Hoeneß, Don Corleone of Bayern Munich, his nephew is then the coach of Stuttgart. His father, Dieter Hoeneß, former Bayern player as well, is his agent. So you just feel they are building up for something here in Berlin. Wir fahren nach Berlin. Bayern fans are very, very happy to be in Berlin. There is a great, great cup tradition in Germany. and the Bayern fans love this Ausfahrt nach Berlin. So the Pokal in Germany.

1:06:08Meanwhile, in England, the big game on Saturday is the championship final. Hull taking on Middlesbrough. Come on, Borough! Come on, Borough! Well, kind of. Let's go to the very objective former Middlesbrough player, Jan-Augr Fjortov. These two teams, of course, met domestically in the league before. Hull 1-1-0, Borough 1-4-1, December the 5th. Right then, Jan. Now, well, I haven't spied enough on Hull to know how good they are. Yes. But, yeah, I mean, ching-a-ching-a-ching. Yes. But I'm very happy for Borough that, of course, they are in the final. I'm not objective. I'm very, very nervous for this game.

1:06:48I guess there's a lot of people in and around the world that maybe said, felt that the punishment of Southampton was a bit over the top. I think that it wasn't. I think that was the right decision. I think that every other team in the world managed to stay away from this and now we see the investigation that is getting worse for them. Having said that, I think this is a very, very open game. We've seen Borough this last four or five months. Sometimes they're overdoing their passing and they're not efficient. I would love them to be. I'm very nervous for this. I hope, of course, that my Borough comes back.

1:07:25We'll of course be reflecting on that final, the relegation scrap in Spain. Also what's going on in the German final in the next edition of ESPN FC. That is it. That brings us to the end of today's show. Be sure to stay tuned. We'll be catching up with Ali, who's been away for the last few days. Seeing what he's been up to. Jan had a fancy dinner tonight. We'll be getting news on that. Shaq has been here with me. Extra time is coming up now.

1:07:55Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time. Thank you for all your questions. Shakir is here, Jan joins us as well. Ali, you've been away for the last few days. Your youngest graduated. Congratulations. Yes, high school graduation for Gregory and all the graduation activities that come with it. Emotional time for the family. My mom was here visiting. There were friends that came actually from Germany just to come to the graduation. Friends of yours? His friends. Oh, yes. beautiful man alohandra on the right my beautiful wife and then gregory who just graduated graduated with highest honors as well congratulations oh yes god it's my proud father today and um i'm always so proud of my kids i'm proud of my family oh brilliant and you'll be an empty nester soon enough yes dan and uh baby i'm i'm taking it well my wife melissa not so much yeah yeah because She doesn't want to be empty nester with you.

1:08:50Yeah, she knows. She knows. She looks around and sees me and says, yeah. That's a tough gig. There's got to be more delight than this. But you see, what else is happening? Shaka, you're going to be an empty nester also. Yeah. So maybe the Ali and Shaka household, that is Sopso Moreno. One big nest. You could just move into Ali's nest. That sounds like a plan. Plenty of space, Shaka. Plenty of space. Because your daughter graduated. She graduated college. She graduated college. Yes. But she's going to do another year of grad school. Nice. My son is heading off to college this summer as well. Wow.

1:09:28Yeah. Lucky Desha.

1:09:35If I may just say, my lovely wife is holding it together so far. But I think because we've been so busy with all the graduation activity and everything, that she's just kept it in. It's all bottled up. And as the kids move on and my oldest goes back to college and Gregory goes on to the next thing he's gonna do in his life. Yes. There may be an overflow of emotions and then we know that empathy is not my strongest asset. No, no, it's not. But it's gonna have to be. I'm sure she's glad you've made that public. Well, that's all right. Good luck, man. I can tell you. Obviously the best policy. I can tell you when my third kid moved out, I said to my wife and we had a family dinner, I said, but Marianne, you still got me.

1:10:20And it went very quiet around the table.

1:10:25And Jan, what have you been doing tonight? Where have you been? You can see I've got my white shirt, I took off my tie. I was a big surprise when I saw in the show that Gemma and Jules were standing on my veranda. I mean, just down the road from me where I'm sitting now they were doing the report and as you were hearing this a Champions League final in Norway and Oslo tomorrow A lot of Norwegians again involved also on the pitch, but we are very proud to have these giants of women's football in our country in our capital So tonight I went to the dinner the dinner before the game with all the big big guys and women around a big table in our city hall So it was a good night.

1:11:10But then I had to leave, of course, to come home here and talk with you guys. Yeah, privilege. Would you say you're a fan of all different types of football, no matter what country? No. No? Well, no. No, but I'm very interested in women's football because when I came back, no, but I would say that because sometimes we men need to say that we support women's football because it's not enough that just women say, yeah, we're going to do this and that. I mean, we have to be in there. And when I started off my career in TV, I worked with women's football for 25, 26 last years. So I think it's important that that needs to be said.

1:11:50I was walking you down a different path, Jan. Because I'm wondering... I know, I know, and I went another way. No, that's fine, that's fine. I just wonder why you hate La Liga. Wow. Why do I hate La Liga when I said that? Well, I think if we take a look at your reaction when Alex was talking about... That is unfair. That is unfair. That is unfair. I must say, I've been having the privilege and working with you guys, and the biggest challenge in this job at ESPN is when I work with Xhaka, not that he's the best lad around, but when he starts being tired before we start our show, is very contagious.

1:12:36So let's put it this way. Oh, I can't believe in this. I can't believe they used that unplugged. I must be aware. I was reading as well. That is even worse. It could have been worse, Jan. Exactly. Maybe he wouldn't have been yawning. Move on. If Arsenal win the Champions League, will this make them greater than the Invincibles, Jan? Are we talking about the women's team now? No, we are talking about the men's side. If Arsenal win against PSG next weekend, they will do something the Invincibles failed to do, and that is win the Champions League. No, I would say that it's harder to go through a season without losing than winning a Champions League.

1:13:23A Champions League can be won by doing what they've done now. To go through a season, it's unbelievable. But of course, to win the Champions League, win the Premier League in the same season, will make them legends, of course. Thoughts? I just think that there is a mythical sort of power and aura around Invincibles team. And the way that this group has gone about playing their games, they're missing on style points. Now, while there's no taking away of their accomplishment of winning their own league and potentially winning Champions League and how historical that would be for that club. In the style points, I think they lose a lot.

1:14:08The artistic points and the Invincibles, again, they have this sort of aura about them. I don't believe that that would take them above the Invincibles. Xhaka, does Slott have to start Salah against Brentford and give him a proper farewell regardless of the differences? I don't know if he didn't. Yeah, well, that would make up, sure. The more fun would be great. Of course. You've got to start Mo Salah in this final game. Give him a descent off that his career deserved. We were always going to be talking about Mo Salah in this final game. He's just kind of changed the conversation, which is odd in my opinion.

1:14:44But let him play, let him walk out that door. Now, this is interesting, Jan. Any issues with Tottenham's captain, Kuti Romero, staying in Argentina for Spurs' final game of the season. He won't be on the sidelines for this tie. He is injured. He's doing his rehab in Argentina. Is this a big deal, Jan? It is. I think it's embarrassing. I think it's unbelievable. If that doctor, if that physiotherapy is the best in the world, fly him in. You stay with your team. It's live and let die for Tottenham Hotspur, for all their fans in the stadium, in and around the world, Spurs and your captain is away.

1:15:25I'm just looking for metaphors when a captain will leave the ship or whatever, a spaceship or whatever. You have to be there. Unfortunately, that sums up the commitment I think that Romero has done, sometimes, with his job at Tottenham. Captain leaving the sinking ship. Well, yes. And while players sometimes make really dumb decisions and self-centered decisions because Cristian Couty Romero is only looking out for himself in this case, there's also the presence of a manager and a club and a front office that can say, no. Yeah. Good point. You may ask, you may request, and it may be dumb for him to do it, but you say no.

1:16:16In this moment we need you here. And again, that speaks to something that Jan was talking about that it's not just what we see from the players at Spurs, it's also what we see from the decision makers at Spurs. You put all that together, that's why they're in the position they're in. The weirdest thing out of this is you see what happened with Mbappe a few weeks ago and nobody stops to say, you know what, as much as we were thinking about it, kind of given what happened nobody took any lessons from that like none so all the all the flag that they're getting is well deserved Jan get ready for this one with Guardiola leaving English football who is now the Premier League's best coach Arteta or Emery listen I'm doing Crystal Palace Arsenal on Sunday so my The basic answer is Arteta, obviously.

1:17:14But in terms of if you use that Pep thing, creating a team, winning games, I think that Emery is ahead of Arteta, as for the time being. Because what he's done and how he's managed to get the Aston Villa team going, I still think he's ahead of Arteta. I go Arteta. Because? Um, similar to what Jan is saying, Arteta built this team from the ground up. You know, it took some time, quite a few second place finishes, but finally getting over the line, I think... Look what Emery did at Villa, he took over a side that were facing relegation with Steven Gerrard. Granted, and Arsenal were eighth I believe when Arteta first took over.

1:17:58I'm just making that, by the way. Just look like you.

1:18:07Eighth was it? Eighth. Absolutely, absolutely 100%. You always convinced yourself. It was eighth. And he built this team and strategised and delivered. I give it to Arteta. Stubbornly. Well, I'll go Arteta before I go viral like Dan, so... Well, it depends what you want to do with it. Oh boy. That's the thing. Nobody's going to go viral like Dan. Well, if Ateta wins the Champions League, if he wins the Champions League then. Oh yes. I found out about this while I was abroad and I'm like, what did Dan do? You're on the show with me! I know, I know. And somebody asked me about it, I'm like, I don't remember him saying, I mean, I thought it was silly.

1:18:52What did you say, Dan? We'll tell you're off here because we don't want to go viral again. It's been picked out of context by the tabloids. I thought it was silly. What did you say? It wasn't that bad. Right, Jan, now that Pep is leaving, do you think Haaland will stay at Manchester City or will he go to Real Madrid to replace Mbappe? Yes, he will stay. OK. There you go. That's definitive. Which host nation, Ali, will exit the competition first? USA, Canada or Mexico? Oh. I believe Canada. Right? their group is more conducive for them to have a difficult path as they get out of their group. I don't believe they're gonna win their group and therefore it puts them in a situation in which even if they get out of the group which I expect them to do they'll probably lose their next match.

1:19:50Mexico has a far more accessible group and one that they should win and the United States I'm concerned about the United States. I'm not nearly as optimistic as some may be. And those that are casual fans, and really just World Cup fans in this country, may just think, well, the US all the way. The US some of the way. The US potentially, kind of, maybe, somehow. They will get out of their group. They may just win a round of 32, but then after that, it's a bonus as to what you do with this group. Can I ask a question, please? You're saying that there are some parts that are very optimistic for USA.

1:20:33What are they basing that on? What's the base for that? No basis needed. On we're number one. Yeah. We're number one and we'll forever be number one and it doesn't matter what we do. Yes. Okay. Yes. That is the thing. That's all. Okay. Thank you. Which is a powerful thing in many of the things that this country undertakes. but in order to do that in the World Cup you have to have the material and the personnel to be able to do it and they don't. A couple of questions for Shaka to end things. What's the average amount of times that Shaka says oh boy per episode? Well it kind of depends on what direction you take things down.

1:21:13Whether you want to go viral or not. They brought up yesterday when he called me a little chaff boy. That was a long time ago though. You've grown up since. Well, I'm now a big chaffling.

1:21:29Your hands is obviously unbelievable. Unbelievable. But you have made me that popular. Because you always kick on that. Yeah, no, no. Unbelievable. And Ali's obviously 100%. Yeah, there we are. Everyone's doing things. And what is Craig? I'm not bothered. When he's very much bothered. Always been away, so he will be like, I didn't see any of this. My catchphrase? Don't punch me in the face.

1:22:00Xhaka, how much AI plays a factor in your power rankings, and why is your data centre located in Portugal? Yesterday, Xhaka had three Portuguese teams, and he had Benfica higher than Sporting, despite the fact that Sporting finished higher than Benfica in the league. Yes. The same discussion we were having about the Invincibles and the current Arsenal team. Manfica did not lose the game, so I gave them. The Invincibles did win the title. That's all right, Dan. Semantics. When do facts actually play a part into your power rankings? I know. I am very much the romantic. Okay. That is it. When did intelligence put things into the game?

1:22:43When did intelligence ever feature on the show? Artificial or not? Wrong show, wrong show. What's your plans for the World Cup? Are you coming here? Where are you? No, I'm working with you guys, but I'm staying in Austria. I'm working for a channel there. So I'm not coming over. But I will hopefully be discussing some breaking news that Julian Nagelsmann has been struggling. I need that. You hate Julian Nagelsmann so much. I've been so right. I get so right. During the show, England will be disappointed as well. So I can up it. Yeah, yeah. Dan's a proper fan when England are playing. It's so funny.

1:23:27It's so funny. My expectations are so low. No, it won't be. No, but the worst thing, if all foreign journalists call me and say, you could be surprised by this World Cup. I'm talking about Norway. Yes. And unfortunately, I can also see the players we have in the defence areas. That's my problem. And if people keep telling you a surprise, it's not a surprise. That is it. ESPN FC returns to your screens tomorrow. We'll be talking about the Championship Final in England, the Pukka Cup, which of course is live on ESPN +, plus the relegation scrap at the bottom of the table in La Liga. Oh, it's going to be busy.

1:24:03Come on, Borough. Craig's here to cheer everyone up.

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