World Cup: USA Out & Ronaldo's Final World Cup

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0:43That's O-D-O-O dot com. The Football Daily Podcast. At the People World Cup 2026. With Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith. Hello and welcome to the Football Daily with me, Rick Edwards. And me, Lloyd Griffith. Now there was a couple of things that we didn't get to talk about last night because we were too Excitable we were we were we were giddy we were dizzy I had to listen back to the podcast before I went to bed when it got released because big fan of your own work I'm a big fan of my own work big fan of me as well I'm a big fan of my own work and big fan of Dion I kind of I'm a big fan of Dion yeah Well hang on big fan of me And also big fan of the couple next door and because I kind of I think I was drunk on the result yeah it was yeah stone cold sober yeah and then producer Lizzie and Casey were editing the podcast last night and just turned around and they're like what are you doing it's like I'm re-watching the game because again I remember it and we talked about it afterwards but I was like I need to I need to relive that I remember when Grimsby Town when they get promoted oh for God's sake no when they got promoted Don't touch me.

1:54Through the playoffs, through those three incredible games a few years back, I just had to keep watching it because the adrenaline is so much that I think sometimes you forget what happened. So I listened back to the podcast, loved it, gave it five stars on all platforms. Can you do that? Oh, yes, you can. Get on that. Yeah, do it. Good idea, yeah. But, yeah, I think we were just giddy because it was such an amazing game and we had to just do the podcast straight away. Yeah. And there was a lot of things that we didn't talk about. We were euphoric. And I still haven't recovered. This is, what, 24 hours?

2:29No, there's still something in my system. And I keep thinking about it, and friends keep texting about it, the memes coming around, the videos. Harry Kane's voice. Harry Kane's voice. Harry Kane's voice. And I love that Harry Kane has just been getting totally involved in it today. I was chatting to Kelly Summers earlier, and she was like, I didn't even ask for him, and I wasn't expecting it. And I'm laughing, but I'm not laughing. but it was all very nice and well-meaning and stuff. I was chatting to Kelly Summers earlier. Honestly, you. Go for yourself. Honestly, we've just got a little WhatsApp group of all the...

2:59Is it everyone? That's a real shame. If Sutton's in there and I'm not, I'll be fuming. He created... It was what? I think, yeah, there's a few things that we didn't talk about last night because we were just so giddy. One of the things that I wanted to talk about was producer Lizzie, who looks after your... She's called Lucy. One of the things I wanted to talk about was producer Lucy. You should know everyone's names by now. I've been working with her for a while. Oh, come on. Who's that? That's producer Lizzie. Yeah, who's that? That's Casey. And who's that? I don't know that. He's the first time he's been here.

3:34I'm just joking, Paul. Dave. Producer Lucy, who works on The Breakfast Show. Yeah. So we'd finished the podcast and she went to go get some tacos from the Mexican place that is down the road. And she was in her England shirt, which I thought was quite brave because this area is quite heavily populated with Mexican people, Mexican fans. And they have been lovely. We've gone really well with them. There's quite a few people, that video that did the rounds last night of us celebrating where people were talking about you and your bare feet, which is unexplainable, really. A lot of people going, why aren't the others celebrating?

4:11It's like, oh, because it was mainly Mexican fans in the golf club that we were at. Anyway, the Mexicans have been lovely. A lot of people wondering why it looked like we were sitting on a curb as well, which it did. Someone did say, were people throwing change at you? Yeah. I mean, you're not, I'll take it, you're not wearing shoes. Venice is known for people walking around with no shoes on. I'm just embracing the ethos of the place. You really are. Anyway, producer Lucy goes to the Mexican stall after the game and says, can I get some tacos? please they say absolutely she then goes oh there's three um three or four dips here which one's like the mildest one and the mexican people who run this little cantina right right near where we live right near where we live when oh it's these two here they're they're the mildest anyway turns out they were the hottest sauces lucy ever eaten and then after when we saw she was swilling her mouth out.

5:13The lady went, oh, I'm so sorry. Yeah, no, they're the hottest. My mistake. In a Mexican accent, which I will not be doing, thank you. Are you sure? I will not be doing it, thank you. Are you sure? And so Lucy was like, absolutely fair play to him. I mean, we'd have done a lot worse. Would we? Well, not really. No, not really, no. What do you want? French mustard, English mustard, or whole grain? It's not really the same, is it? Well, English mustard has got a bit of a kick. It does, yeah. The other thing I wanted to mention, just because you see this, stuff in films you see people writing about it you don't really see it in the in the wild and you certainly don't well i'm coming to that okay sorry you certainly i don't think see it back home i'm queuing up to get us some drinks before the game starts right okay there is a mexican lady behind me or at least i don't know she's mexican she's certainly supporting mexico in a mexico shirt and an american gentleman who doesn't know her comes up and starts talking to her okay and it's quite bold and I think well fair play was he American or was he he was an American man and this and they start having a conversation and it's clear that he's come over because he's like well she's fit so I'm thinking oh interesting and and then he utters the line well put it this way if I was here with you you wouldn't be queuing for a drink and I was like that's that's incredible If I'm honest, I'd prefer the accent.

6:36And then, to see for better, he goes, what I mean is, I'd be curing for it. He's had to explain it. But the incredible thing is, it went down well. Oh, no way. She liked it. She's like, that's so sweet of you. Oh, my goodness. But that kind of line, to hear it in life, it felt like a real privilege. It feels like we're in Harry Metz, Sleepless in Seattle. Saving... Maybe not that one. Well, for all the noise surrounding following Balogun's red card suspension over the last couple of days, ultimately the story tonight here is that the USA have been knocked out of the tournament after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium.

7:18Well, you say that. I reckon someone might get involved and just try and reverse it. Have a look at those four goals. Yeah, I think they'll find... The White House will get onto that and go, well, actually, there was sun in someone's eyes. And I think, why not? Yeah, look. Why not? Get involved. It's worth a crack, isn't it? It's worth a crack. Adam Crafton from The Athletic joins us now. Adam, you were at the stadium just now. You broke the story about Balogun's suspension. We'll come back to everything that's happened off the pitch in a moment. But just on the football, Belgium just a bit too good for the USA tonight.

7:53I don't think the USA did anything particularly wrong. It's just Belgium kicked into gear finally. Yeah, I mean, I think that's probably a little bit generous even to the United States who, you know, really just didn't turn up on the night. If you look at the way they've played in some of their other games, admittedly not against, you know, as stronger opponents as Belgium, but, you know, they started those games with energy and they'd pressed within 10 and they had real purpose about them. But, you know, Belgium could have scored three goals in the first 10 minutes actually tonight. And they were really by far the better team and the US just didn't compete.

8:31They didn't really lay a glove on them whatsoever. And even in the second half, when it was 2-1, before that sort of slapstick third goal went in, they just didn't really have a go. And their best players, gone. I thought actually, frustratingly for them, that the momentum was maybe shifting towards the US just before that third goal. And I thought that they were, they looked like they had got a bit more intent and then the third goal just sort of killed it. Yeah, I think that's probably fair. That was that one period just after half-time maybe. I mean, they got that, they got equalised, right, with the free kick and almost immediately, within 90 seconds or so, they've conceded to fall behind.

9:15I think what was exposed tonight was some of their weaknesses in really key positions on the pitch. So the goalkeeper, who is a goalkeeper who plays in MLS, it's a mistake that can happen to anyone, but I think that's always been identified as a potential risk position and then also you know at centre back you've got a 37 38 year old Tim Ream who's also playing in MLS and I think you hit a certain point in the competition where any weaknesses that you do have are more likely to get exposed and then also just you know some of their big players you know Pulisic I'm not sure if he didn't look fit or if he's out of form you know he wasn't in good form going into the tournament he'd not scored for six months before the tournament he's had injuries he has some injuries within the tournament um but you know he's fallen short and it was it was a shame because that you know seattle for anyone who's been here during the tournament is probably one of the best host cities and there was a really good atmosphere before the game but it was like an air went out of a massive balloon as soon as that first goal went in and actually i mean even after the third goal where the goalkeeper made the mistake i mean the next time he passed the ball he was almost being cheered by his own fans, which was pretty extraordinary.

10:27I picked up on that. And when we interviewed Tim Ream the other week, he actually said something that surprised me as well. He said that we've never really had a pro USA crowd and they've never really got behind us before. And he said, obviously, I played in the Premier League and when it's not gone well, they've got on our backs. But I've noticed that when playing for the USA. And I was so shocked. I mean, the USA, the crowds have been well behind the team. Because they've been doing well. But then for one mistake, and bless him, he kicks the floor. I thought it was a really good touch, actually.

10:56He done the hard bit. He done the hard bit, and all he had to do was just play it out. And he made a mistake. It can happen to anybody. But for them to then jeer him for when he does it next, it's like, that's really not nice. Yeah, it was almost like one of those ironic cheers more than a jeer. I would say if we're getting into nuances of cheers and jeers. But yeah, it did surprise me. if you look at like Mexico last night, and I know we're comparing very different footballing cultures in that, but, you know, Mexico stayed with their team throughout last night. And, you know, at the end of the game, there was no like players walking around the pitch to kind of clap the fans after three, you know, brilliant weeks.

11:39You know, what has been, you know, really, for the most part, uplifting three weeks for the team, connecting with their country. but it felt like a very flat ending to what had been kind of an encouraging two or three weeks. Before we get into the whole debacle of what's happened in the last 24 hours, I loved your tweet this week that basically said that Maurizio Pochettino has got the USA team playing like a well-drilled club side, which I think was true of, you know... I was going to say they're more like Burnley tonight.

12:10Maurizio Pochettino, I think, has done amazing things for the team and the squad and then also for the nation. What do you think is going to happen to him now? Because obviously his name has been branded about for quite a few other jobs. Do you think he'll stay and build on that or do you think he's going to look elsewhere? Yeah, I mean, they made him an offer before the tournament started. So he's got an offer to do another cycle. So that would be for another four years. The thing is, at the moment, I don't think there is a job open at the moment for Pochettino to walk into. So Harnam is like, maybe you just stay on what is a fantastic deal financially.

12:44with the US team. And I think it's probably then about the Federation and Pochettino finding a balance that, you know, gives him a little bit of flexibility, perhaps, if the right club comes in. Obviously, that also compensates US soccer at the appropriate amount, but probably also needs to protect them in those periods close to tournaments, right? So that you've not got your coach walking away six months out from a tournament and then all of a sudden you're in a crisis because of that. I think that would always kind of be pretty logical. But it may also just be that, you know, he's done a couple of years in international football and he just really wants to get back into club football.

13:22I guess it may just come down, you know, to how much, you know, he wants to continue to be in kind of continuous employment and earning really good money, or whether he wants to kind of step out, you know, and try and get those first couple of jobs that maybe tend to come up in October, November. Right, we're going to have to talk about what has happened in the last 24, 36 hours, or whatever it is, because the Balogun story and the red card has become probably the biggest talking point of the tournament so far. And unfortunately, it's nothing to do with football, really. Donald Trump speaking publicly about it.

13:58And then the Belgian Football Federation making last-minute calls to try and appeal the decision. And then reports now that France are looking to appeal a yellow card for a lease. It's such a mess. And it's kind of come out of nowhere because my, and I think a lot of football fans fear was that with this tournament being in the USA and Canada and Mexico, Donald Trump would centre himself somehow. And actually, he hadn't at all. It wasn't at games and he was just letting it carry on and you assumed he'd pop up in the final and that would be that and everyone would be quite happy. And now that this has happened, he's literally called Infantino to ask him to look at it.

14:39It's kind of funny and also just an absolute disgrace. I still can't quite believe it. I don't know about you. Yeah, I mean, it is an extraordinary story. It's a couple of weeks for FIFA to start to tell, you know, a version of events, you know, that says they've kind of got away with it, right, in this tournament. You know, despite the outrageous ticket prices, the stadiums are full. ICE, although they, you know, continue to operate in parts of the United States, have kind of stayed away from where fans are during the World Cup. There was obviously visa issues, most notably around the referee who wasn't allowed in and also visa bond issues for fans from certain countries as well and travel bans.

15:21So it wasn't a completely Trump three story, but he'd stayed away from games. But this was inserting himself, inserting the White House, the administration into, I think football fans, they don't sit easily with all of the issues around visas and immigration and travel bans and all of that kind of stuff. But the point at which you start to interfere with what's going on on the field, i.e. are you potentially impacting my team's ability to win a football match? I think that's where both for FIFA and for the White House, this became really kind of murky territory. You can just see the reaction over the past day.

16:08You know, UEFA calling it a red line. You've had statements, I think, from Switzerland, from Germany, from Italy. You know, the European nations have kind of lined up behind Belgium and basically said, this is not acceptable. For days after the red card, FIFA were telling journalists, there is no way to appeal. This can't be overturned. And then for it suddenly to be overturned, and then all of a sudden, you know, we then find out that Trump has made a phone call. And look, we will never know. We may find out. It's very hard to know or to prove what weight that phone call actually has. But, you know, if the most powerful man in the world is making a phone call, and when you factor in all of those things that Infantino has done in relation to Trump over the past year, an office in Trump Tower in Manhattan for FIFA, the Peace Prize, a speech in Miami where he was encouraging people to get behind Trump because he's trying to do good things.

17:03moving the World Cup draw to the Kennedy Center that Trump had taken over having previously planned for it to be in Vegas playing the YMCA for goodness sake at the end of the draw I think it then raises questions and that I think is where a lot of people have landed over the past 24 hours what have FIFA said about what happened so I know they've released a statement but that doesn't seem to shed any massive light. No, it's like one of those very bureaucratic statements that doesn't really take a lot of words. Yeah. And it doesn't tell you very much. Look, what they've said is they took a decision to suspend the one-game ban, which is similar to what they did with Cristiano Ronaldo to also enable him to get into the tournament.

17:48What they've not done is explain why, you know, what the reason was. Because I have to say, I didn't agree with the red card for Balogun. I thought it was very harsh. but it was eminently like a defensible decision i think from a referee's perspective it wasn't one of those that you look at and you're like i can't see how that was ever a red card i think what u.s soccer pursued was kind of this idea that it was a misapplication of the var protocol the use of freeze frames and still images but we see that quite often you know we see that in the premier league sometimes and we don't see sort of decision as overturned or and you know we should also say, I mean, with the Trump administration, we had kind of between him and the Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, and Andrew Giuliani, who's on the White House task force, you had them kind of sorting lawyers to kind of look into this and to look into the Brazilian referee and what Trump said about the referee at his news conference in the Oval Office this morning, kind of raising questions about his integrity that FIFA have now subsequently, you know, come out and actually responded to that which is you know more than they really did when the Somali referee um you know wasn't allowed into the into the country so on that at least FIFA you know have have kind of found a little bit of a voice but it does cast a shadow it casts a shadow because it's the day the US go out as well so you know I think I think it is it's a shame yeah it's also I thought just personally, it's a real shame because I've been very much enjoying Team USA's success and it's always great when host nations are doing well and I've really enjoyed the football they were playing.

19:29But as soon as this happened I kind of switched and this is completely unfair on the team and on Portroutino, but I basically switched to well I hope Belgium win this game because just to kind of spite whatever has gone on between FIFA and the White House. So he kind of made his own because I imagine I'm not the only one who felt like that, made his own team unpopular for a position of popularity. And you're just like, well, just what is the point? Yeah, and I think one of the other things, I think that FIFA really underpriced in whenever this decision was signed off, and I think this is important, is this administration will always try and take credit for something where it is possible to take credit for something, and they will prioritise that over the optics of how it looks.

20:17So he was always going to take that opportunity, even if it actually hadn't been the determining factor. And that, I think, is where FIFA have been incredibly naive, really, because now, even if the decision wasn't influenced by that phone call, then the perception that people have because of the proximity of Infantino to Trump, as we've explained, and because of the way that Trump has been speaking about it, is that it looks bad. And, you know, that is the feeling that people have. That's great. Thanks so much, Adam. Really appreciate it. Right, let's bring in NBA player for the Cavs, Cleveland Cavaliers, and part owner of Leeds, basically the first person we met in the pub on our first day here.

21:00Sadly, this might be the last opportunity we have to talk to you. Larry Nance Jr., how are you? Oh, what's going on, guys? All friends at this point. I would like to think so, yeah. Yeah, look, it was a great, it was such a good run for the US men's side, not to be today against Belgium. But this surely is going to do so much, this whole tournament is going to do so much for US soccer looking ahead now. Oh, 100%. You know, just the availability to it, to Americans that may have not, you know, had the interest of watching. You know, it's been all of our sports shows and all of our news television.

21:39So, you know, whether you were exposed to it before, you are now. And, you know, it makes me kind of think back to, you know, some of like our women's team, you know, the Mia Hamm and the Brady Chastain's that, you know, that were so dominant, you know, so, so good back then. And it spawned this this new group of women, you know, that are so that are doing what they're doing. You know, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Trini Rodman and so on and so forth. Hopefully, this tournament and this team can have a similar impact as those women did. We spoke to USA Captain Tim Ream the other week about why did he get into soccer instead of American football, basketball, baseball.

22:17Why did you get into part-owning Leeds United? See, I only started playing basketball because I got too tall. They tried to put me in goal. I played football, soccer my entire life. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They tried to make me Thibaut Courtois, and I just... I'm about 6 '7", but the keeper wasn't for me. I'm not that crazy. Yeah, goalkeepers are all absolute lunatics. We know that for sure. They're legends. Yeah, no, I've got... No, my brain cells, those are intact. I wasn't going to be a keeper. You're a soccer player first and foremost, and then you transitioned to basketball. Yes, sir. Yeah, first 16 years of my life.

23:00it was soccer soccer soccer and that's what uh you know that's that's where my love love the game comes from tim ream also spoke about how he hopes you know he remembers little bits from usa 94 i imagine you're you're too young for that but yeah he was sort of you know like five or six or something he wants kids of that age to watch this and then be propelled into the sport do you think that's going to happen i mean i i certainly hope so and i i would i would think so you know it's it's one thing you know to have you know the men our u.s team you know let's let's support them during the world cup the world cups in um you know uh brazil or south africa or cutler like it's it's easy to not pay attention if it's if it's there but it this this world cup is in our faces and it's been you know we've gotten to see so many different cultures invade you know invade and take over our cities and be so like, you know, Scotland drank all of Boston's beer.

23:59And that was a major news story. And, and, you know, there were, you know, the Japanese and the such and such down in Texas were take, it's just like, we've gotten to see, you know, the joy that is the world cup and the joy that soccer and football can bring. And so, you know, I, I'm really, really, you know, I think, you know, Tim could be right. You know, it's, it's been so in our face that like it's it's you have no choice, but to pay attention. I've been following your escapades on Instagram since we first met and became best mates on the first day. You've been going to various different games and doing different events, which is great because people who know you for a different sport will then kind of invest into football, soccer, because you're talking about it and you're doing events.

24:43Have you noticed like different fans at soccer events at this World Cup that you wouldn't necessarily thought would have gone there to watch a normal soccer game that wasn't the World Cup? Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. You know, even even just some of my teammates that have no interest in no interest in soccer whatsoever. They go just to see the spectacle of it all. It's the greatest sporting event we have in the world. So, you know, you have to, you know, guys, people are going just to see the spectacle of it. I mean, the amount of texts I've gotten from people that know that I love the game that are like, oh, man, this side, you know, you might be out of some.

25:20This side of things are right. Yeah. Like, you know, this is it's yeah, it's not all that boring. It's like, I told you, you know, just you just got to watch every now and again. So, you know, it's definitely opening eyes. That's what I'm saying. Who would have thought the world's right? We only have one break. Well, I mean, actually, now it turns out it's come to America and we've got three. See, you've been Americanized. We have. We have. Although the hydration breaks have helped England. So we're actually quite pro-hydration breaks now. Who are you going to be cheering on now the U.S. are out?

25:53Oh, man. I mean, obviously, I want England to do well. I want England to do well. But is it not a romantic in me to want to see Leo Messi go as far as he can again? Yeah. We preferred you first, Anselm. I think England's good. Stick with England, I think. Okay. We'll just leave it there then. We'll leave it there. Or you know what? I do enjoy seeing the African countries do well. So Morocco, Morocco. But yeah, Morocco or Egypt to do it would be pretty amazing. Of the two, Morocco are looking very, very tasty. Larry, whilst we have you, do you fancy giving us an exclusive on who Leeds United might be signing this summer?

26:32Yeah, go on. Go on. Just quickly. Just really quickly. Just a couple of names. Just rattle a couple off. Look, here's the thing. Here's the thing. If they allowed me to make those decisions, we'd be in a load of trouble. We'd be in a load of trouble. My football manager database of players is long and extensive. So, you know, they just need to turn to me. Is this the plan? You went from soccer to basketball, made, you know, I'm assuming a fair bit of money. I've invested into Leeds United, but then you've just won over the trust of all the Leeds United fans, and then you're just going to put yourself on the right wing.

27:04Is that what's going to happen? on the right wing you're crazy did you not see what dan burn just did yeah i'm three inches taller big center back you know yeah yeah of course you definitely do a job yeah the occasional the occasional harry mcguire's throw me a striker when you need a goal late great i'm good for that absolutely love love to see it uh larry so nice talking to you thanks so much for your time man appreciate it cheers i appreciate you guys having me on

27:43The ultimate cookout starts with the ultimate ingredients. At Whole Foods Market, no antibiotics ever, burgers and kebabs are prepped and ready to throw on the grill. Fire up a juicy ribeye. Grab creamy potato salad and savory flatbreads from the prepared foods department and round it all out with 365 brand condiments, chips and dips at everyday low prices. Whole Foods Market, make your summer sizzle. Ask yourself, what are your best people spending their time on right now? Expense reports, receipt chasing, month-end close that takes weeks. You become what you spend on, and that's not what you're building toward.

28:24Brex is the intelligent finance platform that eliminates that work before it starts. AI agents that handle the manual stuff automatically, so your team can spend their time on what actually compounds. It's time to get Brex AF. Learn more at brex.com slash AF. The 2023 Ballon d 'Or France footballer is Lionel Messi. The winner is Cristiano Ronaldo. This is the story of the greatest rivalry in the history of sport, A rivalry that split football into two fates for a generation. There could be no, oh, Messi and Ronaldo are both great players. There had to be one that was better. They 100 million percent pushed each other to the next level.

29:10You know, we were the lucky ones who got to see it. I'm Steve Crossman. This is Sporting Giants Messi v. Ronaldo. Listen first on BBC Sounds. The football day at the People World Cup 2026. With Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith. Live from L.A. So we've seen what must be Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup game after Portugal were knocked out by Spain. 91st-minute winner from Mikel Moreno sent Spain through to the quarters. Guillaume Balaguet joins us now from outside an Irish bar, is it, Guillaume? That's what it is, yeah. The Irish bar has got a hotel next door. This is the hall of it, but through that door is an Irish bar.