UEFA World Cup Qualifying Playoffs Draw Revealed

21:07But I do think Arsenal will win it. Yeah, I just think they're the better side.

21:10Dan Thomas:Yeah, and a little bit tighter for you, Frank. Yes, yes, because I really think that there aren't a big margin between the two, a big gap, sorry, between the two teams. And also because Arsenal, we know how they play. They're not going to look for, you know, that brilliant, pithelian win. They're going to do what they have to do. So one is going to be enough. And they're very well organized. They're very structured. So one nil. And they can keep the clean sheet. And that's going to be enough. And they're going to win that game. It's what I think. But Spurs can surprise. And they have qualities.

21:43And they've showed away from them that they are capable of tormenting, I would say, Arsenal. But I know what Xhaka did three nil. Is there an Italian player playing for Spurs? I don't think so. He's only one. And there is Calafiore on the left side. So I know why he put 3-0. That's why. He has something against Italy right now. All right.

22:06Dan Thomas:Okay, keep up to date with all the Premier League talk over on our YouTube page, ESPN FC. Some good games this weekend coming up in the Premier League. Newcastle will host Manchester City. City of favourites going into this game. It's going to be interesting because we've got a battle of the big strikers as well in Erling Haaland. and Nick Volta-Made. It's not much of a battle, is it? OK, well, we'll see. Let's get word from Big Nick because Gabriele Marcotti sat down with him to talk to him. So you mentioned the Premier League. It's a different league. It's a different set-up, different club.

22:43You're taking the place of a striker, Isak, who moved for a ton of money. And Newcastle also signed Johan Wiesa, but who's not been able to play so far. You weren't expecting to play almost every minute of every game like you've had to do so far, were you? So quickly? Yeah, to be honest, I was expecting it. No, not like I play every game, but maybe also now sometimes with Huysa or Zula, sometimes I thought we could change sometimes because I play now a lot of games and I play now a lot of games and this is also the first time for me that I play in this rhythm, like every three days now I play every game and of course I wanted to play when I come there so I'm really happy that I play every game and I still want to play every game and but I'm also really happy with us coming back and I think we can also play really good together maybe and I think then like the situation for sometimes you don't feel so good in the game then maybe some other striker can come in and help each other together so we get more power and I think I'm really excited for the guys to come back.

23:49A lot of times if I have somebody who's this tall and he's a centre forward, I don't want him to play with his team. I don't teach him to necessarily control and have the vision, the close control. I just say, no, no, you just head it, bang it, use your body. Did you have a coach who would encourage you to play with your feet? Yeah, I changed when I was eight to Werder Bremen already, so I had a really good academy, like my whole youth teams and everything. So in this time I played most of the time also in the midfield, not even always striker. So I think like my skills, my defeats and stuff, they're coming from this because I always had to use this.

24:26And now I combine everything together and I train also a lot of headers. So I think now I'm getting a really better player because I can score goals with my head. I can play the balls to my guys in the feeds and also can dribble some guys. So I think I'm getting more competitive players. And I think at Stuttgart you often played with, was it Undavus, in front of you. Can you talk a bit about the transition now? Because with Newcastle so far it's been straight 4-3-3. In Stuttgart I was always dropping deep a lot. Also now in Newcastle I was dropping sometimes, but not so often than in Stuttgart.

25:05And now I'm more on the position number nine. So most of the time I'm going back to the goal and just lay the balls off for the guys or turn around into the sides, so that's different. But I think Eddie, like Eddie Howe here at the Gaffer, he wants also that I'm coming deep and dropping the midfield and getting the other balls. So I'm feeling good at this position, it's different because I don't have so many balls, but it's also the playing style of the Premier League because it's different. I think in Bundesliga the strikers are more involved in the game, in the Premier League you have more attention just to score goals.

25:41So that's very different. But yeah, I think I did really good also now in the first game, but I have to come also in a little bit. You talked about your playing handball and how that was potentially another path for you and how playing handball helped you in football. And I couldn't understand it because you're good with your feet, not your hands. But can you explain it for those who don't know handball? Yeah, handball is really popular in Germany. I think after football, after soccer, it's the most famous sport there. So I was at a handball school and we always trained in the morning and then in the evening I always had football.

26:17So yeah, I think like my body, I don't look so strong, but sometimes I can push the guys good away because I have a good feeling for my upper body too because of handball, I think, because they have to use more your upper body than in football. so I think also now the coordination with hands and feet I think I get a good development in the handball so I think that's helped me a lot

26:44Dan Thomas:6 '6 centre forward his teammates at Stuttgart used to call him Walter Messi but he's proved to be a solution for Germany and Newcastle right now Craig, what do you think of him? I like him actually, I think for a big guy he's got really good feet you mentioned he's been scoring goals for his country as well I don't think he's the issue for Newcastle. People talk about Newcastle's away form. I know this game's at home against City. People talk about their away form. Well, their home form's not much better. If you look at their away form, they're 15th in the league. If you look at their home form alone, they're 14th in home form.

27:17So they've not been able to marry any of it. Now, Eddie Howe has to... Now, he won some award the last couple of days. I don't know where it was. Did you see that, Jack? No, I didn't see that. Some Newcastle inducted into some Newcastle Hall of Fame or something. But he has to get their form...

27:30Dan Thomas:Better not be the mare. No, that's Shaka. He's going to have to turn that around. Valtomar, that I like, I think he looks a good player. There's no doubt about that. Regardless of what Carol Heinz Rummenigga said, that was just bitterness when Bayern didn't get him. They wanted him to beef up the squad. They weren't prepared to pay the money. But this is going to be tough for Newcastle, because as I mentioned, it's both home and away where they have struggled. And Man City are looking quite good, particularly with the guy at the other end, who just seems to be having a continuation of this goal-scoring phenomenon that he has in Erling Haaland.

28:05And City have looked pretty good in most departments. But yeah, the fact that it's at home gives Newcastle a bit more of an advantage in terms of trying to get a result. But just they have struggled this season.

28:16Dan Thomas:You worried, Shaq?

28:19Frank Leboeuf:Not particularly because it's at St James' Park. And Newcastle away from home, as Craig was saying, is just totally different, hard to explain, but at home with that crowd at their back. Yeah, but their home form is the 14th in the league in home form. I think Newcastle's performances have been better than their league possession suggests. Right, yeah. And you saw that especially against better opposition. And while losses to Liverpool and Arsenal, as I mentioned yesterday, those winners came deep into injury time in both those games. I think these games, for some reason, Newcastle are up for them.

28:55Frank Leboeuf:and I feel they'll be up for this one as well. I'm still not convinced as well that as good as City are, as hopeful as I am or maybe, that they're the only team who can really chase Arsenal down and at least have some kind of a title race back in the season. I still don't think they're as consistent as we'd seen two years ago, three years ago. I think this is a draw. I don't think Newcastle will be undone.

29:26Dan Thomas:Frank, you think it's a draw too. Why? Well, because it's at home and with the pressure that St. James' Park can give from the fans, that there can be a game changer. And, you know, what I see the Newcastle offensive line and with the Manchester City defensive line, I think there is something to play for the Geordi. So I really think that it's possible. Just one thing that I want to say about the interview. We say handball. No, we don't say handball. We say handball. It's been invented by the German. They don't say handball. Oh, OK. Thanks for that, Frank. Absolutely no idea. That's very important.

30:08Dan Thomas:Ian, you've been impressed by Erling Haaland, as everyone else has this season. You're going for a City win. Is it because of him?

30:18momentum and i think they're going to score a hatful of goals i think from now on i mean voltemada is interesting isn't he doesn't look like a footballer he looks like a renaissance painter i think you know and i think he's i think he's got lovely touches and craft he's a cult figure but i think he's part of their problem you know away from home because they had isak running the channels and they could get him behind teams and he got them up the pitch i don't think Volta Mata, for all his lovely touches and skills, can do that. And they just can't win away from home at all. They are better at home.

30:52I mean, I've just looked through after what Craig was saying, and they have won their last five at St. James' Park in all competitions. So they'll make a game of this. I think it's a thriller, but I think Sydney will edge it.

31:04Dan Thomas:Well, there we go. That's how things are looking there. Just don't mention handball or say it wrong in front of Frank, and you'll all be okay. Thank you. Thank you. Make sure to be with us for the latest edition of Extra Time. All of the panel will be answering your questions. You can check it out every day over on our YouTube channel.

31:25Dan Thomas:We'll also return this weekend. Bayern will take on Freiburg on Saturday 9am Eastern. And you can also see how the lakes of Leipzig and those that are the chasing pack will fare. Dortmund against Stuttgart, also a top of the table battle to look forward to. So good, so good, so good. New summer arrivals are at Nordstrom Rack stores now. Get ready to save big with up to 60 % off brands like Rag & Bone, Levi's, Adidas, and Free People. Join the Nordi Club to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first, and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices.

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32:41Dan Thomas:Tonight we have an NWSL Championship special. 8.30pm Eastern on ESPN+. Be sure not to miss that.

32:56Dan Thomas:Ashraf Hakimi has been named African Player of the Year and you can understand why when you see everything that he achieved in the past year with both PSG and also helping Morocco to qualify for the World Cup as well. Happy to see it, Frank, a defender too? Yes, definitely. And so deserved because defensively improved so much comparing to the first year that he was here playing for Paris Saint-Germain. He grew up like crazy and what he brought offensively on his right side It was simply amazing. And, yeah, we can see what he won last season. He was the perfect guy in a perfect time for the Paris Saint-Germain and for Morocco.

33:40And, yeah, he simply deserved it. I don't even know who else could have been at the same level fighting against him. It was already given.

33:49Dan Thomas:Yeah, obviously. He's fighting against the likes of Salah, Ossiman, but Hakimi, it's hard to argue against him with everything he achieved. I've liked him for a long time. I know he's been around. and he's been in Italy and other places. Certainly he looks more comfortable here in Paris. Both full-backs for Paris and Germain were terrific, weren't they? Let's be honest. They were all terrific, the whole team, but both full-backs just gave them another dimension. And Hakimi, I think he really has matured. One of the things that's been one of his strong points over the years, even when he wasn't as consistent, he's one of the quickest players on the field I think I've seen and he's now utilising that pace to go with his talent and his experience, he's more experienced now from a defensive aspect and he has been, yeah, he's been absolutely brilliant so fair play, well done to him

34:43Frank Leboeuf:I think you can easily make an argument that Hakimi is the best right-back in world football or certainly had been over the last year and while you understand the comparison Chelsea Mann and Salah and the goals that they scored but as strikers, it's easy to quantify their value to teams. As a right-back, it's far more difficult. But again, when you're talking about the best in the world in a certain position, I think with that shorter list... Why was Osman in the list?

35:11Dan Thomas:I'm just thinking of other players that might have been there. I have not actually listed off. When Frank's saying to beat out, I think it was Osman and Salah. So when Frank was saying, who else would it be? I'm just adding some of the names. For his goals in Turkey? but I think not I'm sorry to put a jumper on it mind you he did qualify with Nigel, oh no they didn't Colin Udo, where's Colin Udo? There's no argument is there Ian? No, no argument at all, I mean I like the point Frank made there, it's always strikers and creative number 10s who get all the glory and the glamour so it's great that it's gone to a right back and that caption you put up Kay 11 goals and 14 assists.

35:55That is phenomenal for a guy playing a right-back, isn't it?

35:58Dan Thomas:Yeah, scored in the Champions League quarterfinal, semifinal and final as well as a full-back. Well, I said to you, get something down that field like he's a machine. He's like an absolute machine. Remember those days, Shaq? No, no. No, I don't. No arguments here. It is fair to say. Congratulations. Well, we can find an argument. I mean, we can if we stay on it long enough, but let's not do that, shall we? Let's remind you that La Liga returns this weekend. Ian and myself will actually be at the Elche Real Madrid game on Sunday. Are you? Yes. Why is that? Why what tomorrow? See, there's the why.

36:30Dan Thomas:It's on ABC as well as ESPN+. So, yes, we're heading over to there. But make sure to catch Barcelona against Athletic as well because Barcelona are back at the camp now and Gemma and Luis will be there to report on how things are going now that Barcelona are back at home.

36:51Are all batteries the same? That's like asking if all soccer players are the same. Take Messi, the most decorated player ever.

37:01Frank Leboeuf:Is there any other player who has achieved that? No, just him. Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with Power Boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Remember, goats only trust goats because they're built different. And Messi only trusts Duracell.

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37:49Dan Thomas:Shaka Hislop's feel-good power rankings. Absolutely.

37:53Frank Leboeuf:Tell us more. Given everything about this international break, the expanded format of the workup to come, Curacao qualifies as smallest nation to ever participate in a workup. Cape Verde, also their first appearance at a workup. Haiti back in the workup for the first time since 1974. Given everything that's happened with that island, all they've had to endure, unable to play at home during this qualifying campaign. Melissa hitting the island two weeks ago. It's good to see them there. Uzbekistan, their first World Cup. And now I've got to appease my castmates. Norway perfectly qualifying. That would please Jan.

38:34Frank Leboeuf:What do you mean cast? I'm not a Disney character. Well, I'm not cast.

38:36Dan Thomas:Well, what are you? You actually are a Disney cast member. That's what I call us, Disney cast members.

38:41Frank Leboeuf:Anyway, if you tapese these people who show up here every day with me. After the drama of Glasgow and the Park. Listen, I have a soft spot for the Scottish. Good to see them. Good to see them back. You have a soft spot for me. I do. Well, less you than every other Scot that ever existed. That hurts. Not going to lie. I can't remember the rest. I'm sorry for stealing your salt. That's all right. Yeah, I'm sorry.

39:07Dan Thomas:Now, maybe there's a reason for him putting them in the top three. or maybe it's just lucky that you put Haiti in the top three back at the World Cup.

39:14Frank Leboeuf:They deserved it.

39:15Dan Thomas:After 52 years. They deserved it. We are very happy to now be joined by former Haiti captain Patrick Tadieu. Patrick, thank you so much for being with us. Tell us what it means. Yay!

39:27Frank Leboeuf:Patrick,

39:29Dan Thomas:great to have you on. Tell us more. What does it mean to your country, Patrick?

39:33Frank Leboeuf:Listen, Kay, I usually have beautiful glasses, right? But they're not blue. They're of a different color. And I'm wearing these ones because they're blue. My flags, blue, red, and white. My soccer ball. I mean, I could not describe to you the joy that those kids provided to us. Words are not sufficient. Nor would you give me enough time to tell you about what it is and what it means for us. It was a colossal accomplishment. It is something that people would not understand. You need to go back to our country to understand the level of poverty, to understand how poor our people are, how desperate we are.

40:23Frank Leboeuf:But yet for our boys, for our people to be so resilient and to be able to achieve what they just achieved without infrastructure, without capital, without, I mean, I have no words, you know. And imagine Craig right now is super happy. His country made it, right? But it's normal. It's expected for Craig, right? It's even expected for Shaka, right? Because Shaka's team is supposed to be better than us. They're more prepared than us. They have much more financial resources than we do. However, and I'm sorry, Shaka, but, you know, it happens. However, we're still able to make it. And as I'm saying, I don't have enough time to share with you or describe to you what that means to our Haitian people.

41:18Frank Leboeuf:And I conclude with that. I'll conclude with this saying that that game took place on the 18th of November, right? The 18th of November is the celebration of what they call la Bataille de Vertier. La Bataille de Vertier was this victory that the Haitian forces had against the French, and I'm sure Frank won't be happy to hear that, though I know he's happy that we won because he knows his ancestors made us suffer. It was really that same day that we kind of fought and we were able to overcome the French army to get our independence and make our country the first black republic that got its freedom.

42:03Frank Leboeuf:I mean, I don't know. I would conclude with that because I imagine I don't have that much time. I'm too excited. I don't even know if I conveyed that joy properly in that two minutes that you offered me.

42:15Dan Thomas:Patrick, you absolutely did. It's great to have you on. Look, Frank, I can see you're happy to see Haiti there. Oh, yeah. Oh, my God. Yeah, because I think about it. And Patrick, bravo. Bravo. Bravo.

42:32Merci, Patrick. Bravo a toi. I'm so happy because I have a friend of mine, Jimmy Jean-Louis, is a great actor living in America, in Los Angeles. and we played together with Hollywood United and I know the guy must be thrilled like all the population of Haiti. And don't worry, we lost against other countries like England, you know, in Trafalgar. And I'm happy for you guys. You got your independence and you are so proud of being in the World Cup. You deserve it. And I just want to congratulate Xhaka in the power ranking. I think that's the best power ranking ever that he ever made, you know. Well done, Xhaka.

43:06Frank Leboeuf:I'll take it.

43:08Dan Thomas:And on top of all of it, The fact that Haiti did it on neutral territory because of the troubles that are going on, just a massive challenge and they've still managed to do it yet.

43:15Frank Leboeuf:Every single game is played as an away game, even when they were officially the home team. And then even just kind of replaying these scenes at the end there, it reminded me that Haiti's game finished before, I can't remember who was the other game in the other group. So all the players are standing around watching the ending of the other game on somebody's phone and can't celebrate until that final whistle goes. It's little things like that. There'll be a lot of time for us to talk about who goes on and wins this tournament and everything that comes with it. But moments like this, I think, are as big in these countries' history as anything else we've talked about in football.

43:55Frank Leboeuf:You've seen the... May I share something with you? You're talking about a big moment. Let me express to you how big it is. It's not so much about the joy that's coming from that. But it's the message and the power of the message that can be conveyed through that. Why? Those players, my former teammates, well, I'm so much older, but I like to say they're my former players or teammates. Those players from the national team are the only ones today that are capable of sending a message to those gangs that are running the country. And to tell them, listen, guys, we want to come back home. We want to be able to play home.

44:38Frank Leboeuf:We want to be able to play in front of our people. Give our people a break. Give us an opportunity to be able to at least share that joy with our people. And you know what? I wouldn't be surprised that that message is transmitted properly and is listened to. As I know, some of our players are having a little bit of a campaign about that and expressing this, and this is so touching, and it can make a difference that makes such a huge difference in the life of our people down in Haiti. So to put things in perspective, you can understand how much bigger than just the joy of it that it may be. I was just going to say quickly, for all the money that washes around the game these days, that we love and we follow.

45:28For all the talk about the Premier League and La Liga and the Champions League, we have seen in the last week or 10 days what it means. What it means, not financially, but what it means for hundreds of players to go to a World Cup. To go and play at the pinnacle of your sport when you were a kid, growing up, kicking a ball about in your garden or on the field or on the road with your mates and you dreamt of going to a World Cup. Nothing money, money can't buy that. And we've seen it this week from various countries around the world, the emotion and the joy of qualifying for a World Cup. And that, at this moment in time in this game, is great to see.

46:14Dan Thomas:It really is. Patrick, you wish... Go, that's quite frank. Sorry. Just last word, Patrick. Do you know what? Isn't it the second goal was called by a guy called Providence.

46:28Frank Leboeuf:Only you would come with that. That's meant to be. That's meant to be.

46:34Dan Thomas:That's what it is. Lovely stuff. Only you would come with that. Patrick, thank you so much. We wish you well. We wish Haiti well. Thank you for bringing your joy to the show tonight here on ESPN FC. Thank you, guys. Salud, bravo. So see that we're in a feel-good moment here on ESPN FC? We've had a geography lesson today. We've had a geography lesson today. And now we've had a history lesson today. History lesson today. Yes, lots going on. And then tomorrow, you can all share the joy because Dan Thomas will be back in the studio. It is a momentous moment. Correct. A couple more moments coming up like this.

47:12Frank Leboeuf:How much bigger than mine? I'm not giving you a high five. Well, who's going to give me a high five then? I don't know. You're the only one to take it. Not me. Because you don't deserve it. We've got to frame up. I've got to show you the difference between Shaka's hand size and mine. Can we do this with camera? Right, so there's Shaka's hand. Look at that. Look at those. Look at them twice, Michael.

47:38Frank Leboeuf:That hurt my hand. You could do a two-handed high five. Oh, dear. I could fit my whole hand in my mouth. Would you like to see that? No thanks. See, don't get out of the gab.

47:53Frank Leboeuf:Go on, show the people. I think the people want to see you put your whole hand in your box. Ready? Yeah. Here it goes. This is good television now.

48:01Dan Thomas:Yep. Sports Emmys, you watching?

48:07Oh, my God.

48:11Frank Leboeuf:Goodness me. That's a big man for a small hand. Right. And that's how we got the job.

48:23Dan Thomas:That's a big return coming off on Saturday on ESPN+. He returns Saturday tomorrow. I think we might be seeing him tomorrow too, but we're definitely seeing him on Saturday. It is Saturday. Oh, Saturday. Saturday's show, Saturday's FC. Is he ready? We're going to find out. We better be. We're going to find out, aren't we? Well, he better be, because I'm in on Saturday. And I'm telling you now, I ain't been nice to him. If he thinks he's waltzing back in here after life-saving surgery and getting sympathy, he's wrong. I don't think he'll be nice to you either, so... No. It's just going to be like it always was.

48:57I've got two months' worth to get out of my system.

49:01Dan Thomas:We love to see it. We're so happy to have Dan back. Make sure you tune in on Saturday for FC and tomorrow, because we're back tomorrow as well. Just not with Dan. Not yet, anyway. Stick around. Extra time's on the way next. Ian and Frank will join us to answer your questions.

49:18Dan Thomas:Welcome into the latest edition of Extra Time. It's been a really feel-good edition of ESPN FC today. We've had all sorts going on, but I just don't have the questions right in front of me right now. Just take a turn. Yes, Frank and Ian are joining us as well, and I'll bring those questions up for you so that we can see. You do that. You do that. You just carry on. We'll just sit here and wait till you... I'm not going to sip a water with him. Wait till you fluff around. Come on. All right. Have a cup of tea, can I? Great. A cup of tea. Here's the first one. Are you excited to finally be able to cheer a team at a World Cup after decades?

49:52Frank Leboeuf:He was still dining out on being the last four of us got on.

49:55Dan Thomas:You might still be.

49:57Frank Leboeuf:He's walking to restaurants, you know who I am. You know who I am. Who said I'll be cheering?

50:03Dan Thomas:Your joy, you could not hide it the other day. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no. I was really happy for the players and for Stevie Clark and the supporters. But I'm not sitting here with my wee Jimmy Bonnet on and my tartan scarf. No, no, no. He will be. Pretending he doesn't care what he does. Not that I don't care. I don't get carried away. I don't like Dan Thomas, the aforementioned Dan Thomas, who apparently is coming off his sickbed back to work. He is the punter, isn't he? He is. When England are playing, he sits there. He is. He's all upset. Well, look. But, yeah, no, it's great.

50:38Obviously, I've been watching the reaction in Scotland, and so it's great for them to have this opportunity. But I would pull the reins in at the cheering bit of that. All right. I'm not a cheerer. Jack?

50:55Frank Leboeuf:I'm staying under this entirely.

50:57Dan Thomas:That's why it was best when they said to me the other day, try and get some videos of Craig and Stevie watching the game. I was like, it's not going to be worth it. I will, but it's not going to be worth it. No, I would have taken your phone and thrown it out the window anyway. Also that. We can't have that reputation. but, you know, cheering on teams. No, and he wasn't either, don't worry. No, I was saying, Stevie wasn't either. He's at camp. Yeah, but he did start progressively getting out of his seat and walking closer to the screen. Yeah, but that was his off. And then he swore a lot and laughed a lot.

51:26Dan Thomas:And so that was like his way of cheering. Yeah, but that's a normal day for him. He's trying to keep his emotions in check. OK, question for everyone. Which of the home nations do they think has the best chance of making the World Cup through the playoffs? I'll give this to you, Ian. Wales, Northern Ireland, or my beloved Republic of Ireland. Love the show, Kay, all the way from Dublin. Thanks, Dermot. Yeah, I'll probably think of those three, the Republic of Ireland, because they've got a bit of momentum now. I mean, who would have thought they'd beat Portugal and then go and win again in the way that they did, you know, sensationally.

52:04So, you know, Troy Parrott, five goals. Who knows where the story ends? maybe like Scotland, it's written in the stars for them. When are these aforementioned playoffs? March. Everything's happening. The Irish, we'll call them the Irish, because it's Northern Ireland. The Republic boys, they didn't want to have it like now, because they had this great momentum, which they might still have the confidence, but the momentum they had from the Portugal game in Dublin and then the game in Budapest was just, You just ride that wave. You've got to bottle all that up and go again in March. But, yeah, I'd agree.

52:43They've got probably the best chance out of all the teams. All right.

52:49Dan Thomas:Craig, given the fact Thomas Tuchel has practically... Oh, no. Sorry. Which big nation is most in danger of missing out from the World Cup in the playoffs? Italy, Denmark or Turkey? Well, Italy are the... You know, there's no comparison in terms of footballing nations. Italy are the biggest by a long shot historically all the major tournaments they've won all the players that they've had okay yeah no who's in but out of those who are most who's more in danger of missing out probably Turkey I would say I think Denmark are a better side than they've showed the last two games against Belarus and Scotland they're better than that but they underperformed and that's why they got put out.

53:35They actually didn't play terribly badly in Glasgow, but they made some bad mistakes and Scotland scored some great goals. But I would say Turkey are probably, if you're calling them one of the three big ones, Turkey are probably most at risk, I think.

53:50Frank Leboeuf:I think Denmark is in the toughest of the three groups of those three nations that you mentioned. So I'm going to lean Denmark. Well, they've got North Macedonia.

54:00Dan Thomas:Yeah.

54:01Frank Leboeuf:Yeah. And then it's Republic and Czechia. And the Republic of Ireland to come next. I just think in terms of a group of four, that's the toughest thing. Nobody's asking. You don't have to explain. Can you just ask? You don't have to explain. Just tell us who you think it is. That's what I said. We don't need the explanation off the back. Can you ask? She said why. Can you ask? Can you ask why?

54:26Dan Thomas:That's Shaka's interpretation of the question. Mm-hmm. Yeah. No, the question was who do you think? Who's in the most endangered? Yeah, we didn't want like a whole paragraph off the back of it. You didn't. You give a paragraph. Maybe don't Hutchison did. You give four paragraphs. Maybe don't Hutchison, who asked the question, did. We'll ask for it if you want to. OK, this is for you, Craig. Given the fact that Thomas Tuchel has practically confirmed that Rice and Anderson are guaranteed starters at the base of the midfield, if everyone is fit and in form in the most important matches, who should start as the 10?

54:57Dan Thomas:Foden, Bellingham, Palmer or Morgan Rodgers?

55:03Well, first things first. Nobody's guaranteed to start on the team in November when the World Cup is six, seven months away. Gary McAllister was our captain of Scotland and a talisman. he didn't make the World Cup because he ruptured his cruciate ligament that season so there is no such thing at this moment as a guaranteed starter for Elliot Anderson or Declan Rice so I don't think Thomas Tuchel will have said that, I would be surprised but in terms of the number 10 role for all the headlines and all the good stuff Morgan Rodgers has done and Phil Foden is playing better if Jude Bellingham is playing well Jude Bellingham will probably play in that number 10 role I would imagine now there's a there's a lot of stuff going in the periphery of Jude Bellingham at the moment that I'm not going to get into right don't criticise him he shouldn't be criticising criticising him too much all this sort of stuff if Jude Bellingham's playing well for Real Madrid he will play for England if he's not playing well for Real Madrid is it up in the air under Thomas Tuchel I think it is I think it is but if he's in form I think Jude Bellingham plays Ian?

56:24Well, I think it's interesting. I mean, Craig's trying to veer away from this debate, but it is a debate. You've got one of the leading football writers in the country writing an article, a back page splash, the other day, saying Bellingham should be left out of the team because his attitude isn't right. Now, people are trying to turn around and blame the media for this, but it was Thomas Tuchel who started it by saying that his mother found that some of Bellingham's antics were, quote, repulsive. OK, he's withdrawn that remark or that word since then. But this debate's been going on. I mean, and I think it's now becoming like victimisation of Bellingham.

57:02OK, he did protest a little bit about being subbed wrongly the other night, but they've made a mountain out of a molehill. I mean, he is the best player, and I think he will wind up playing. But there's no doubt at all that Tuchel has just shot a little bullet across his bowels in recent times, leaving him out of the last squad. He was fit again by then. And, you know, he could have said nothing the other night. When Bellingham was subbed and the journalists asked him afterwards about it, he could have just said, no player likes coming off, there's nothing in here. And they could have moved on.

57:35But he didn't. He gave the journalists more quotes and more headlines about it. So can you blame the journalists for writing their stories? I don't think you can.

57:45Dan Thomas:OK. Interesting. What do you think the role for Foden and Palmer will be, Ian, in this upcoming World Cup? Well, they're going to struggle to get a game. I think Foden hasn't been great for England. Let's be honest about it. He's played 45 caps. Very talented player. Hasn't really turned it on for England. So I think it's between the other three. I think he likes Morgan Rodgers a lot, though he didn't play that well in the last couple of games. I think Bellingham on class alone, I mean, he is a world elite player. they should try to get him into the team. So I think it will be Bellingham, but I think Thomas Tuchel is just trying to say to him, look, we want a band of brothers here.

58:26There's no room for egos. Join us on that journey.

58:31Dan Thomas:Next question, Frank. Gerard Martin said in a recent interview that he has trouble sleeping at night. Oh, sorry, I've missed one. Sorry, guys. It's gone well, this today. Yes. You're having a difficulty with the reading part of... No, do you know I've just got my first readers in my life. And now I've got to read it off my phone. I'm like, oh, it's OK. Just borrow Craig. Just borrow Craig. Take off. Reading for Ian, first favourite World Cup memory that you've commented on. And can we get a reenactment of your go-go USA call? Well, it is that goal, to be honest with you. I mean, I know people bang on about it.

59:07But it was a great moment for the USA, that or going out of the world cup they score with the last kick of the game and suddenly they're top of the group and yeah it was a light bulb moment i think for the game in the united states but um you know i wouldn't normally come out with a kind of line like go go usa it just came out it it's of the moment um can i do it again now no of course i can't because the adrenaline isn't flowing like it was that day in uh where where were we ellis park or somewhere

59:37Dan Thomas:I bet you've got some good memories of commentating with Ian We haven't done that many games together We did a Premier League game a few years back, didn't we? At Leicester But no, because Ian was at Sky most of the time And I was at the opposite broadcast at the time Santander Sports I've done a lot more I would have liked to have worked more with Ian I've done most of my work with John Champion Peter Drury, Jim Proudfoot and people like that, but they're all great all these guys are great operators but Ian's been dining out on that go-go USA in years now you keep dining out on that Ian, especially with the World Cup coming here next year okay Frank, Gerard Martin said in a recent interview that he has trouble sleeping at night because of the stress involved in holding a very high defensive line after a match, is it worrying that this is What's the level of struggle players have to endure to follow Hansi Flick's tactics?

1:00:40Well, I guess so. I mean, I would have been as stressed as Martin is. And I would have said even to the coach, I would have said, you know, I don't want to play like that. I don't want to look like a fool, like committing suicide, you know, and not doing the right thing, because that's not what I think the football. and that's not how I think the football and how we should play because that makes no sense for me. So I understand him. I mean, it's like going to an arena and fighting and being a gladiator and having no tools. And you see that guy with all the things that he needs to kill you. That's exactly what he does for the defenders.

1:01:25That's a nightmare. That's a real nightmare for defenders. as I understand him having nine years before the game. Well, Gerrard Martin shouldn't have to worry, should he? Really, because as long as Baldi's fit, he won't have to play a high line because he won't be playing. And if he does play, I can give him some advice for sleeping. Red wine. Never fails. And lots of it. All out that I like. Now, take some water to bed because you'll wake up with a dry mouth. But I tell you what, you won't have any problem getting to sleep. No high lines for me, Shaq. Tell you that now.

1:01:56Dan Thomas:we'll see if we continue to talk about the High Line this weekend, Barcelona back at the camp now and we will be covering everything on ESPN FC guys thank you so much for sending in the questions even though you couldn't see them even though I couldn't read them or see them I got them in the end on the last question sign the ball is that the best thing was was Craig so happy to lend me his glasses yeah right they're dirty okay thank you so much guys for sending in your questions And we'll be back tomorrow on ESPN MC with more of the same.