

This episode of Football Ramble is mostly a football roundup and analysis, focusing on the UEFA Nations League final and other international qualifiers. Topic: Portugal winning the Nations League again (2-2 vs Spain, 5-3 on penalties), plus discussion of key performers and tactics; then England beating Andorra 1-0; and Scotland losing to Iceland 3-1.
the Nations League produces better finals because lower stakes reduce cagey play; Portugal’s “robustness” and depth helped them stay in the game; Ronaldo’s late-career role shows humility and poacher instincts; Roberto Martinez’s Belgium record is being unfairly mythologized; England’s performance vs Andorra was underwhelming but not disastrous, and Henderson’s inclusion is about on-pitch leadership.
Nuno Mendes’ left-back impact and goal/penalty; Rafael Leao changing the game after coming on; Ronaldo’s tears and celebration; Spain’s substitutions and fading legs; Germany’s 2-0 loss to France in the bronze match; England keeping a clean sheet; Scotland’s goalkeeper crisis with Kieran Slicker.
none. Hosts are Marcus Speller, Jim Campbell, Pete Donaldson, and Vinicius de Hunter-Raja.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes.
Analysis of Portugal's win against Spain in the Nations League final.
“We are still in the afterglow of the UEFA Nations League, Pete Donaldson.”
Discussion on Ronaldo’s performance and significance in Portugal's victory.
“And we saw Ronaldo tears of joy, which is fair enough.”
Examination of Spain's gameplay and substitutions during the final.
“But it was a glorious victory for Portugal.”
Highlighting standout players and their contributions in the Nations League.
“There is going to be a modicum of respect there.”
Exploring the flow of the game and strategies from both teams.
“And obviously his goal was brilliantly taken.”
The hosts discuss Portugal's recent matches, Ronaldo's impact, and future prospects.
“Pedro Porras shooting from the halfway line.”
The hosts humorously discuss Robbie Williams taunting Arsenal fans at the Emirates.
“He was in that Boy Bands Forever documentary recently, wasn't it?”
The hosts encourage listeners to support the show via Patreon for exclusive content.
“Well, you can become a friend of the Ramble by joining our patron for just$5 a month.”
A recap of England's 1-0 win against Andorra and its implications for qualification.
“England continued their unbeaten start to qualification for the 2026 World Cup.”
The hosts discuss Thomas Tuchel's comments on player attitude and performance.
“He questioned the player's body language and attitude, saying we lacked seriousness.”
A discussion on the current state of England's football style under Tuchel.
“We don't necessarily need a framework of bygone eras or something that's already out there.”
The hosts debate Jordan Henderson's selection and impact on the England team.
“and then you see the Nations League Fardland and they're going hell for leather.”
The hosts analyze Scotland's performance against Iceland and goalkeeper concerns.
“of kind of traditions and a certain process and that's now not there.”
A discussion on the issues faced by Scotland regarding goalkeeper selections.
“Like, you would have seen Rhea do that and put you got Saliba at the back.”
Discussion about Kieran Slicker's performance and the crisis in Scottish goalkeeping.
“Yeah, see, well, you know, good day to bury controversial opinions.”
A story about a friend's missed flight due to celebrating Aberdeen's Scottish Cup win.
“was at a mate's 40th, funnily enough, on the day of this game and I was talking to two Aberdonians who were as pleased as punch with their lot because they'd obviously not long witnessed Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup.”
Discussion on Scotland's prospects for the upcoming World Cup qualification.
“I want to see blimps smashing into the ground.”
Snoop Dogg expresses his desire to open a burger van at Celtic Park.
“and I hadn't seen the result of this, and he just held up his phone with the result.”
Analyzing Italy's recent loss to Norway and Spalletti's potential sacking.
“Well, of course, Wales beat them 3-0 on Friday night in Cardiff.”
Explore Italy's ups and downs in international football over recent years.
“That tournament now, in the last 10 years, is quite an anomaly.”

Get the gist, explore an idea or ask about something said.
On Football Ramble, what are the key points of this episode?
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.
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3:30Pete Donaldson: I was headed for disaster and then I turned back, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Portugal are the Nations League champions again. It's Monday 9th of June. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. I'm Pete Donaldson. And I'm Vinicius de Hunter-Raja.
3:55Pete Donaldson: Hello, everybody. Good to have you with us. It's a magnificent Monday. We are still in the afterglow of the UEFA Nations League, Pete Donaldson. It's a tournament that keeps on giving, and my goodness, we got a lot from it. We certainly did. Are you trying to curry me out a favour with me by using a pulp lyric in the intro? You're going to see them tonight, aren't you? I'm going to see them on Friday, I think. Oh, Friday is it? I don't know why. I mean, Monday's the new Friday. The new album, a strong 7.5 out of 10 for me. Wow. Everyone said really good things about it.
4:24Jim Campbell: Not bad. I've not heard Luke's take on it yet. I don't think you need to no
4:27Marcus Speller: I think that's the most optimistic I've heard you about anything yes so it's probably 9 out of 10 this album it's 7.5 out of 10 it's as good as it's ever going to get you were singing along to it the other day or rather you were just singing it it was lovely wasn't it yeah seeing me happy ah come alive come a little bit of nostalgia it's my away it won't last
4:46Jim Campbell: it won't last everything comes to an end yeah it's only temporary this
4:52Pete Donaldson: I know but my goodness Yes, grab it while you can. Now, before we get into today's ramble, a reminder that Stack is running a survey for all its listeners, and we'd love you to help us out by answering a few questions. If you submit a few answers about your Stack listening habits, you'll be entered into a competition with a chance to win a brand new PlayStation 5 at the end of every month for the next five months. These surveys really help us out, so just hit the link in the episode description, fill out the survey, and get entered into the prize draw. Thank you so much. Now then, gentlemen, Portugal 2, Spain 2.
5:24Pete Donaldson: Portugal won 5-3 on pens after extra time. And my goodness, they've done it. They've won the Nations League for a second time. It was a glorious victory for the Portuguese, Jim. They were in good voice all throughout the game. And certainly after the game had finished, you saw the supporters and the players having lovely moments together. Ronaldo had his tears. What did you make of the whole thing?
5:43Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, I wondered if we might see Ronaldo tears. And we saw Ronaldo tears of joy, which is fair enough. 40 years old, scoring a goal in a final like that. Scoring goals out of muscle memory now, which makes me think... He'll be able to do this when he's dead. He doesn't even need to be sentient. His body will carry on after he himself has expired. Rolling a defender in the grave rather than just simply rolling. Very good. Turning his man in the grave. I think what's interesting about the Nations League, or certainly this final, obviously very small sample size, is that I think because the stakes are lower in a game like this, it tends to make for a better final.
6:20Jim Campbell: It's not as cagey. teams don't necessarily approach it in the kind of let's not lose it way that you see quite often and it made for a really entertaining game. It was really, really good. Both sides showed a lot of quality. Obviously couldn't be separated in normal time and it only took the most predictable thing in the world from Alvaro Morata to separate it and I just really enjoyed it as a spectacle. I missed the beginning of the game and when I turned on, Mark Cucuraya was being booed. Part of me was like, I wonder why this is happening and I was like, this could be anything or it could be nothing.
6:51Jim Campbell: It could be that they just decided to do that from the beginning. Take against him, yeah.
6:55Pete Donaldson: I guess he'd be being booed for the handball in the Euros by some of the local Germans. They've not forgotten. Peter, what did you make of it all? I mean, it was, I think the way that Ronaldo celebrated his goal was very much like, I only need one chance to put it in the net. And you do sort of look at all of the other teams that, you know, played last night, for example, or played the weekend, for example. You know, teams like Germany who had chance, have a chance. and just didn't manage to get it in the net. You sort of go, oh, that's actually quite valuable, isn't it? Just ask someone at the top of the tree.
7:25But it was two teams that, you know, the Spanish substitutions made that team worse, I think. And they really didn't have the legs. Lamal spent a lot of time just kind of sort of passing back, I suppose, rather than actually, you know, moving the ball forward. So I think it was, yeah, it was just a team of, one team that had depth, one team that didn't have the legs and the other one that really did, headed up by a 40-year-old man.
7:54Pete Donaldson: It's incredible. Yeah, no, you're right. I mean, Spain did sort of fade a bit as the game went on. But it was a glorious victory for Portugal. But in the early stages of the game, Vish, I think that a number of people, including myself, thought, blimey, Spain are just going to... Like we saw in the semi-final, they could just blitz this.
8:10Marcus Speller: Yeah, I'm quite surprised that they didn't. I suppose, you know, whenever we're talking about football at this time of year, we'll always throw in the fact that we're so... you know, they've played a lot of football so far. And I wonder if that was a reason why they tailed off a little bit. But yeah, I thought, Portugal have this knack of just clinging on, don't they? Just staying in a game. And you don't really associate it with certainly a lot of the players that they have now. But there are a lot of fighters in there.
8:33Pete Donaldson: There is, there's a canniness about them. Yeah.
8:35Marcus Speller: And they always seem to like, underpinning everything, even like underpinning what Vitinha does. There's a steeliness that like, he doesn't necessarily have to have the ball in, you know, in his case. But it was weird. I found it a little bit weird as the game went on rooting against the 17 year old knowing that the 40 year old might win didn't seem right a man was called Lamal I meant Jamal I get stuck in Lamine Jamal it's a tricky one weirdly tricky yes
9:02Pete Donaldson: it's quicker you've just yeah Lamal enjoy it this is my favourite iteration of Cristiano Ronaldo at this age playing in this Portugal side because the ego is obviously it's there but it's not a ferocious beast because he understands as I mentioned on Friday he's kind of on borrowed time he's 40 yes exactly the team are kind of serving him in the same way that Argentina serve Messi a little bit I find Messi's got more of a tank obviously but I mean I guess I just sort of everybody's sort of opinion of Ronaldo is that he's a bit of an idiot outside of the Portuguese and the Portuguese team really seem to like him and it's like oh maybe he isn't that much of an idiot but maybe he is an idiot maybe he's got maybe you just have to respect all of his 86 goals since turning 30 I mean that's insane 138 international goals.
9:48Pete Donaldson: There is going to be a modicum of respect there. I mean, there's a lot of respect there. Of course there's a lot of respect. It's the other stuff. It's the other stuff. No, but what I was going to say was that Ronaldo in this team, there is a sort of, dare I even say, a dash of humility in that he realises. It's rare for him to acknowledge his surroundings, but he very much is in this side. That he thinks, you know, it's not a given that he starts, although some people may think, obviously, because he picks himself. but Who else is out there who can play out? I mean, Gonzalo Ramos would be the obvious choice.
10:20Pete Donaldson: But he's not exactly kicking the door down, is he? Well, I mean, he did when he scored those, what was it, four or five goals he scored against Switzerland in the World Cup? It was a while ago, wasn't it? Well, okay, but anyway, Ronaldo, again you see with the celebrations, he feels like one of the team rather than Cristiano Ronaldo. He really cares about him. Completely. And you can tell it's a genuine team as you say. Indeed, indeed. But obviously he got the fourth of the four goals. But again though, When Spain started the game, Guillaume Balaguet, who was in the studio on ITV here, was saying that with Spain at the moment, we just feel that we're going to turn up and win.
10:55Pete Donaldson: And there is that vibe about them. And it looked like, again, in those early stages, that was going to be the case. Zubamendi scores. And they looked on top. And Portugal, for a minute, were like a bit on the back foot, thinking, bloody hell, OK. But responded quickly, though.
11:08Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, Nuno Mendes is a proper superstar now. proper Galactico in the old school sense. Is there a better left back? I can't think of one. And he's one of those players where, he's one of those big players where kind of essentially regardless of their position, and this is why I kind of put him in that bracket, they influence and affect games every time you see them. They make a tangible positive difference every time. And he was no different here. He was brilliant. I thought he shackled Jamal very well. Nearly called him Jamal then. And obviously his goal was brilliantly taken. and his penalty was brilliantly tucked away as well.
11:43Jim Campbell: He was an absolute, like I say, an absolute superstar. And he was a big part of that drive. And actually the core of that PSG team were, again, a really big reason for Portugal getting that handle in the game. And you're right, because it is that robustness that they have, isn't it? That you feel like actually they are not comfortable conceding a goal, but they're not going to lose their heads. They know what to do.
12:03Pete Donaldson: And yeah, you're right. with Nuno Mendes at left back, he's a complete footballer. So when he bursts forward and he has a chance to score... He looks like a forward player. He finishes like a forward who gets 30 goals a season. It was a brilliant goal. And much was made of the players that he shackled this season. You know, Yamal, Saka, and you list them off. He's very impressive. But even then, though, I still felt Spain were on top, Vish. It wasn't until towards the end of the game where they started to kind of drift off a bit. But in that second half, Martínez starts to make a few changes and you see that depth they have.
12:46Pete Donaldson: Obviously, Spain have as well. But you see Portugal come back into it.
12:50Marcus Speller: Well, yeah, I think the change that I thought was really good, in part because A, it was quite obvious, and B, I don't really know what I think of him in terms of whether I truly rate him as an elite footballer. I don't mean like world class. I mean, just like someone who can change these kinds of games, but he did change his game yesterday. It was Rafael Liao because he comes on. And I think I wonder with him, he's always encouraged or discouraged by his first moment in a game. And maybe you, I think with him, you're also able to tell, are you going to have a good game today? And he, he blitzes past.
13:25Marcus Speller: Um, what's all it would have been, um, I think it was like Lenormand at one point. And he clearly has a bit between his teeth. He's like, yeah, I quite fancy this, actually.
13:35Jim Campbell: He's a perfect player to bring on in that moment, isn't he?
13:37Marcus Speller: Yeah, but then, you know, I suppose, as I said, I never really know what to expect from him because I feel like he's quite hot or cold. But that seemed to change the dynamic completely because then it gave them something to worry about.
13:47Pete Donaldson: What I love about that, though, is this brilliant Spain side, who, again, one can be very starry-eyed about. And, you know, after that game against France, where France, I know they rallied a bit, but Spain just sort of blew them away. You think, piss in hell, this side, surely they're going to walk the World Cup next summer. and then when you see them in the sort of towards the latter stages of the game and I understand the players are exhausted you bring in a guy who's just got fantastic pace and even they are resorted to bringing him down right it's your turn you know all that kind of stuff and you think ah yes sometimes football you know it's a very simple game yeah exactly
14:19Marcus Speller: yeah because they brought on Parra at the start of extra time
14:22Pete Donaldson: who nearly chipped the goalkeeper from his own yeah of course but you see though he's having a we talk about Bruno Fernandes and all these players like this must be a proper holiday and an absolute joy for them. Pedro Porras shooting from the halfway line.
14:36Marcus Speller: Nation League de Parti.
14:38Pete Donaldson: Yeah. Totally. But you were going to say Vish though.
14:40Marcus Speller: Well, yeah, the fact that they brought him on at the start of Extra Time and as you say, he still had to try and, well, he did foul Liao on the break and it was like, you've had a 30-minute head start on this bloke. He's probably still a bit
14:53Pete Donaldson: tanked up though, isn't he? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Certainly, yeah. But I mean, for all Portugal's array of talent and individual players and so on, it was the 40-year-old who dug them out. A nice finish. It was, you know, obviously deflected cross, but his movement and you saw that poacher's instinct, Peter. And the celebration was interesting, wasn't it? As Jim mentioned earlier, he sort of jested to the bench and he held up one finger, didn't he? And I thought, I don't know if he was going, yeah, that's one. I've got another one in me. I've got one hamstring left. What a hamstring though. Well, you do sort of worry that in a major competition, which you imagine Portugal will go very, very far indeed in it, the way that they're playing, at this moment in time.
15:34He's done two matches there where he's played really well and he's looked very much a part of that team.
15:39Pete Donaldson: Two vital goals, the winner and the equaliser. Where do you see him in a tournament? Do you sort of keep his minuteage down? Can you keep his minuteage down? Would he allow that? Would he want to play the opening three matches in the World Cup in that heat? He's had the Saudi training though. He has had the Saudi training. He seems like a master's throw bill. Exactly. how's he going to spend the next season where's he going to spend the next season
16:04Jim Campbell: well he's actually I think he's going to stay at Al Nasser according to something I saw on Instagram on the way here alright no further questions I think it was Romano right okay Romano's on the door I saw something on Instagram I think he'll probably stay with me you know that's all I've got but it's a fair question I can't reveal my sources no you can't I can just say it was probably for British go Romano
16:24Pete Donaldson: okay but you can't reveal his sources though because that would be bad because that's loads of agents. But no, you're right, Peter. But it is a fair question because I knew he was, obviously he's not going to do this. But in the same way, I wanted Poster Coglu to, you know, literally announce it on the pitch when the celebrations are going, and ask me, done, up yours, everybody. And of course he's never going to do that, really. I actually would, it would have been, I would have had so much respect for him that if he'd have retired last night and people would go, oh, come on, it's the UEFA. I just, the scenes of celebration.
16:58Pete Donaldson: But I understand, of course he's not going to do that because it's Cristiano Ronaldo. He's never going to retire. And the thought of being a part of a Portugal squad, which could really have a go at winning the World Cup next summer, is obviously tantalising. But it was just such a happy and joyous moment for him and Portugal. But anyway, I'm just being a silly old fool there.
17:18Jim Campbell: Did you see the fully grown man who'd brought a handmade sign that said, Cristiano, please let me touch you?
17:24Marcus Speller: Oh, yes, I did see that. Yes. right oh I see
17:28Jim Campbell: well it's sort of passionately inspires even now I think it's fair to say but I mean being
17:34Marcus Speller: I was going to make a terrible joke there that we would have had to cut out okay let's all pretend I made it
17:39Pete Donaldson: yeah oh steady careful but a year you know from 40 to 41 it is it's not 31 to 32 no so yeah
17:54Marcus Speller: the deterioration speeds up. Does he make little noises
17:59Jim Campbell: when he sits down like the rest of us do? Yeah. Maybe. Surely not. And my daughter. As I was saying before. Just copying you. She's copying my
18:07Pete Donaldson: old man noises. I mean, if he wants to be there and clearly he's in, I mean, we know he'll be in great shape.
18:13Marcus Speller: A lot of retirement cities in the US as well. A lot of them, yeah. That's a good point. I thought he might go
18:17Pete Donaldson: and play for a year there. Get himself bedded in.
18:19Marcus Speller: It's quite grueling, isn't it? There's a lot of travel.
18:21Pete Donaldson: There is a lot of travel and also it's much faster and physically than I'm here and he's staying And Al Nasser. Okay. Sorry, we are foolish to question that. Saucy Jim. Indeed. But it was a marvellous moment for him. And also for Roberto Martinez, by the way. Yeah, I think that's fair. And on ITV, they said something again. I have sort of turned into this Roberto Martinez apologist, right? Mark Pugash on ITV, who we all love, said when he was going through Martinez's managerial resume, He said, da-da-da-da, won the thing, won the FA Cup weekend, got relegated to Everton there. And then said, Belgium, it didn't quite happen at Belgium.
19:00Pete Donaldson: It's like, there's this myth that Martinez did. Martinez at the 28th, I'm going to do it again, everybody. 2018 World Cup, they won all three group games, had that great turnaround against Japan, brilliant win against Brazil in the quarterfinal, and they were edged by, I think we can all agree, the best team in that tournament, France, 1-0, and then they beat England in the third-place playoff, which some people go, who cares about the bronze medal match, but some people do, they get a medal. and when they returned home they returned home heroes Belgium's tiny exactly it was their best ever appearance at a World Cup he took over from Mark Wilmots who was really crap in charge and then the Euros what would it be three years later I think you saw them Vish when they went out to Italy or maybe I'm mistaken they got to the quarter finals they'd done okay but Italy were the best team in that tournament as they proved and they edged them and I think De Bruyne was a bit injured in that game and blah blah blah yeah in the last World Cup in Qatar yeah it was poor you know you held your hands up but that team was ageing and so on so this idea that he didn't really do very well with Belgium I really I would disagree with not like it's not a hill I might die on it's a hill I would I would take a punch on have I got have I got poogers for what you said about the Qatar World Cup I think I think that's been and done is that okay yeah yeah if he's still around for Saudi okay if he's still broadcast in there then we'll have another one that would be chewing in the tournament he's got the job if he wants it yeah like Cristiano Ronaldo if he wants to play at the Qatar I don't like alcohol Carlton, I think it should be a one-city welcome action.
20:26Jim Campbell: Well, Peter. Sorry, I'm pressing Mark Pugac. You've got to be careful because your daughter will start making that noise.
20:32Marcus Speller: You know at the start when you said we all respected Mark Pugac?
20:36Pete Donaldson: Most of us do. Most of us do, yeah. So, and Portugal at the last Euros were a little bit disappointing, considering the attacking talent that they have. But I think that we're just seeing a little bit more of a flavour of it in this Nations League. And that's why the Nations League is great, because it is a testing ground as well. but it's with the closest thing you'll get to a Euros or a World Cup.
20:55Marcus Speller: It's the intensity, isn't it? Totally, yeah.
20:57Jim Campbell: I mean, we do sort of laugh at the Nations League sometimes, and a lot of people do. I don't. And I know you don't. That is a hell I will die on. In terms of what it's replacing, it should be mentioned at every opportunity, that it's so much better than what came before. And it's an extra layer of competitive football, and I do think it makes a difference. It's one of the great triumphs of UEFA.
21:20Pete Donaldson: UEFA's bureaucracy. UEFA's got it done. Business. But yeah, so there was chat that the Portugal Federation would replace him with perhaps Georges Jesus or José Mourinho. Yes. So it looks like Martinez will carry on. So more power to his elbow until they beat England, of course, in the World Cup next hour. Now, in the bronze medal match, France got it. They got it. 2-0, they beat Germany, of course. As Pete mentioned earlier, though, Germany had their chances. It was a better performance from Germany. I think they needed that, Vish, because they've been a bit disappointing. And obviously, with that game against Portugal, they were second best.
21:59Pete Donaldson: And I think somebody was starting to get a little bit concerned within Germany about their national team at the moment.
22:05Marcus Speller: Good. It's supposed to be like this.
22:07Pete Donaldson: Yeah. You've got one, haven't you? Yeah. One of the big boys.
22:10Marcus Speller: You're not supposed to be able to rely on being good at tournaments. No. Where is the angst, Germany? Here it is. Yeah, exactly. you know having been to the semi-finals of the Nations League yeah I thought it was quite a strange game purely because I think it was like it was watching Deschamps reactions on the sideline of someone who clearly thought he was going to win then wasn't sure he was going to win and then when Elisa ends up scoring that breakaway goal when he gets played across by Mbappe celebrates like yeah he always knew it we're so good this is why I'm still in the job
22:45Pete Donaldson: he was happy to get his bronze He was, he was, yeah. Because he's got the other two. He's won a gold. He's won a...
22:51Marcus Speller: Yeah, of course, yeah.
22:52Pete Donaldson: He's won runners-up at the 22 World Cup. And now he's got the full set.
22:56Marcus Speller: Yeah. What every athlete wants.
22:59Pete Donaldson: Yeah. Not quite. One of each. Yeah, exactly. A bit like Chelsea when they won the Conference League. But we've won all three tiers now. So, yeah, they've got... I remember when England won the bronze at the Nations League and they said that there was... To have a bit of pomp and ceremony would be ridiculous. Right. But some bloke... Give us the autumn top. Exactly, yeah. But some bloke did just hand them the bronze medals in a plastic bag, apparently. Oh, yeah. Before he leaves. On a trading estate. Lovely.
23:24Marcus Speller: Exactly, yeah. I've come to pick up the bronze medals. Yeah, they're just over there. Like a first-round marketplace buy. It's someone posing in a mirror with the medals. Ah,
23:36Pete Donaldson: deary me. Gentlemen, do you see that Marc-Andre Testega made a great save from Kylian Mbappe? Yes. I didn't see that, yes. He's impressive goalkeeper. He's reportedly ready to go to war with his club Barcelona after news that Espanol goalkeeper, Joram Garcia, is expected to sign. Is that going to endear him to them? I'm going to go to war with you.
23:53Jim Campbell: Yeah, it's really strange this because he's said like, oh, loads of stuff has been leaked to make me look bad, etc, etc. And I think this is personal. It's not a sporting thing, which is mad. And he's insisting that he's going to stay there. He said a really interesting thing, which was the exact quote is, If I remember correctly, and if no news has happened in the last few hours, we only have two goalkeepers for next season, Inaki Pena and me. It's like, yeah, but they are going to sign Wojciech Czesny and they are going to sign Joanne Garcia. So that might be true now, but it's quite a mad thing to say.
24:29Marcus Speller: Also, I can understand its frustration simply because, where have you got this money from? You don't have any money. How do you buy these players? They always find it, don't they?
24:39Jim Campbell: I don't know. Well, levers this and, you know, boxes that. You can find a way.
24:45Pete Donaldson: Very strange. But, of course, he's not had much fun in the UEFA Nations League. Of course, two defeats for Germany. But, I mean, it's probably worth reminding the German back line that if you do pass the ball to Kylian Mbappe, he can't be offside. So, just worth remembering that. That's right. Was Mbappe in his own half? He was behind both defenders in his own half. what are they doing although as Pete says it's not the worst thing they did because passing him the ball was even worse
25:15Marcus Speller: yeah it was the moment where they were like I suppose we have to run after him don't we
25:20Pete Donaldson: I don't want to catch him and Alise and Alise yeah I was just like wouldn't it have been amazing if they'd have just stopped
25:25Marcus Speller: and the two of them
25:26Pete Donaldson: they could have played a one two round the goalkeeper you know like
25:29Marcus Speller: the last five minutes or five sides oh fuck it
25:31Jim Campbell: do you think part of you when you're playing with a player that high profile it's quite exciting you forget yourself go oh go on give him the ball see what he can do It was the very definition of a third-placed player.
25:41Pete Donaldson: Yeah, well, what a shame. Three defeats in a row for Germany and newly Nagelsmann now. Anyway, coming up after this, England, yeah, they beat Andorra.
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29:09How far away are Arsenal from the European trade? Four miles! Four fifty miles! Yay!
29:18Pete Donaldson: Welcome back to the Football Ramble, everybody. That was Robbie Williams performing live at the Emirates. Taunting Arsenal fans. Taunting. Cretan. Taunting.
29:27Jim Campbell: Is he a cretin? Yeah, actually, you know what? He was in that Boy Bands Forever documentary recently, wasn't it? And he came across really well, actually. Fair play to Robbie, but that's annoyed me personally. Would you like to pull his skin off? We would do that himself. Yeah, he'd do that himself.
29:43Marcus Speller: I've heard he's a small little monkey now.
29:45Jim Campbell: He's a dickhead. Based on his own song, Dickhead, which I urge you to Google.
29:49Pete Donaldson: Would you call him a prat, Jim?
29:51Jim Campbell: Yeah, I would. Not to his face. I'd probably say, you know what? You came across really well in that documentary. You're prat. Fair play to him.
30:00Marcus Speller: I didn't like what you said about my football club yeah exactly in our stadium curry favour
30:05Jim Campbell: you come round my house yeah yeah I may have mentioned once or twice I live near the stadium and oh there's not a drop of rosé left in that postcode he was there for two nights they've had a lovely time he ended with angels and then they all just sang angels for about half an hour after it was that gradually filtering out of the stadium all of them singing angels it was nice bring a bit of joy everyone had a lovely time Was that clip recorded from your bedroom?
30:31Pete Donaldson: Yes, it was. Well, actually, it was thanks to Friend of the Ramble, Robert from LA, for sending us that clip. You could hear it in LA. Indeed, yeah. Wow. I'm moving to LA. Isn't that one of his songs? Hot Fudge. God, no. Yeah, that's one of Robbie's songs.
30:43Marcus Speller: So we had Robbie Williams and Beyonce in London at the same time, performing, not she wasn't visiting. Oh, right. There were people milling about for hours and hours before it,
30:51Jim Campbell: and because you get used to the feeling of that, it felt like there's this great sense of anticipation. It's like, oh, we're playing Barlow tonight. This is a big one. It felt like Robbie had a big match, you know?
31:03Marcus Speller: The Robbie Williams archers walking through town and the Beyonce archers throwing stones at them, yeah.
31:08Pete Donaldson: Well, you can become a friend of the Ramble by joining our patron for just$5 a month. You'll also get every episode of the Ramble on the continent and upfront ad-free and access to the Football Ramble Discord. Of course, search patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved. Andorra nil, England one. Always pleasing to keep a clean sheet. England continued their unbeaten start to qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Three wins. And that's the story. Three wins out of three, Jimbo. Top of the league, the group, sorry, with nine points. No goals conceded. No goals conceded. So far, so good.
31:41Pete Donaldson: So we move on now to Scotland versus... Thomas Tuchel. He questioned the player's body language and attitude, saying we lacked seriousness.
31:51Jim Campbell: I look at this and the whole thing to me feels like an anxiety dream where you manage England and whatever you do, you pick 35-year-old Jordan Henderson. Hang on. Have I put Henderson in the squad? Hang on. I've started him. I've put him up front as well. Hang on. He's making the – he's cooking the food. He's doing the PR. Oh, no. He's doing the PR. Oh, God, don't let him speak. And we've got loads of space wide, but we're not using it. and we've seen this Southgate's done this before but then he changed up and we've not seemed to have learned anything from Southgate's tenure but I mean a win's a win no pitch on the score sheet Marcus let's move on let's move on I do think as is the case with England isn't it it's probably a bit overblown and it's not representative of what England will be like when they get to that tournament you do want them to look a bit more fluent and fluid and comfortable and what not and aside from Morgan Rogers having a lovely little dance through the Andorran defence, there was not much to sort of take away from him that was positive, was there?
32:56Jim Campbell: Not in Bad Awake. Yeah, actually, not in Bad Awake had a really good game. He can't shoot long, can he? No, he chose not to at one point.
33:04Pete Donaldson: Well, I mean, how much credence do you put into this performance? Because it's kind of, I think maybe, maybe sort of pre-Southgate era of England, this would be seen as a disaster. There would be an inquest and it would be all like, It's a disgrace. What are they doing? Even under Southgate, this would have been controversial. Well, I think the fact that this didn't really happen under Southgate. I mean, if this was under Southgate, then England would have been crucified. Whereas now there seems to be some people saying, don't worry about it, it's fine, it's dark, who cares? And some people go, well, hang on, there's a little bit more to this.
33:36Pete Donaldson: You can't just sort of dismiss it. Where do you sit on that?
33:38Marcus Speller: So I thought it was a bad result and not necessarily as bad a performance.
33:43Pete Donaldson: Right.
33:43Marcus Speller: If that makes sense. I didn't really expect anything different to what we saw. England, in a different situation, there are a couple of cutbacks which have a couple of cleaner finishes and England win that 3-0. But I do take the reaction to the result is kind of about right. I get that.
34:03Pete Donaldson: There was a very unique feeling that I personally had, and I'm sure one or two others had, where England are 1-0 up, of course, and there's, what, 15 minutes to go then towards the end of the game, and or a break and I found a couple of butterflies appear in my tummy and I thought how on earth have they appeared this is Andorra yeah exactly yeah you know but anyway you were gonna go and say
34:22Marcus Speller: something um but then I'm also like what did we expect I mean a lot of the talk around England has been about we need to find a style we need to have a philosophy is that Tuchel's problem it's certainly not his main priority no it's certainly not his he you know it's certainly not the first line in his job to help England out of this philosophical slump because it has been a bit of a slump for a while because we have the players now to create things and create even systems out of nothing to a point. We don't necessarily need a framework of bygone eras or something that's already out there. We could create something with the players that we have because certainly I believe we've got the depth there to do that.
35:06Marcus Speller: Tuchel did sort of go, you know, make a point of saying that he wanted to return England to that kind of blood and thunder kind of. So when you say it's not his problem, he's kind of made it his problem. I'm not saying it's not his problem, I'm saying it's not his job. It is his problem. But it's not the reason he's got the job, if you know what I'm saying.
35:24Pete Donaldson: Fine, but as Pete said, Tuchel was very clear saying, I want to play an English style.
35:27Marcus Speller: I think that's what, I simply believe that's just PR. I do not for a moment because I don't think he necessarily plays that team if he's worried about, I appreciate this is a World Cup qualifier so it's not necessarily like a chance to experiment in the way that I suppose I'm alluding to there but I think that's a bit of PR, I think he just wants to win, I think he's always just wanted to win when you look at his career as you mentioned the club side of it there and so I didn't necessarily see this in as I certainly wasn't as dismayed by the performance as other people because I figured that's just what this is about
36:06Pete Donaldson: I mean I'm probably I would be more towards your school of thought as I say if Andorra score late on it's a disaster well not a disaster you'd still fancy them to get through but the fact is they didn't and I kind of agree with you I suppose when people talk about it's been a long season and then players have got the Club World Cup coming up that's all valid and then you see the Nations League Fardland and they're going hell for leather. I think it's more, for me, there's more of a jealousy that you're not involved in that game rather than what happened because it is very difficult when you're faced with an opponent like Andorra to go in as if you're playing against Germany or something.
36:41Pete Donaldson: There is a different feeling. You think, okay, the goal's going to come, goal's going to come, and when it does, well, another one's going to come. But I thought Nani Maduweke was perhaps the only real bright spark.
36:51Marcus Speller: But he always plays like that. Yes, he does. He's always very, and part of it is because he's constantly playing for his place. He's constantly playing for a starting place at Chelsea. I appreciate, you know, he's only playing in this particular game, or starting anyways, because, you know, Saka's not there. But he's constantly, I don't think, you know, that could have been a Champions League final, and it, you know, was Andorra, and he'd put in the same kind of effort, I suppose.
37:16Jim Campbell: I think there's a sense in this that Tuchel mentioned that, you know, as you said earlier, Marcus, that it wasn't serious enough, he didn't like the body language, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I think, is there a potential issue that we don't really think about in international football where there's, essentially he's replacing a legacy manager where there's been a real consistency there. A lot of these players have kind of seen international football in a particular way and that's gone now and that's changed and maybe the approach is so different it's a little bit jarring and they're used to a certain set of kind of traditions and a certain process and that's now not there.
37:52Pete Donaldson: and it's not quite as focused off the field so that's why they probably went to see the Spanish Grand Prix they had a week long camp they were trying to foster that club spirit so they're trying to keep it going but inevitably if you have different people in charge of that it will feel slightly different here I go it's why he's got Jordan Henderson in there it is really the reason so he starts a game for the first time since November 2023 it is against Andorra I think he probably starts him because Henderson and is relentless with barking orders and trying to make sure standards are kept. And because he's playing Curtis Jones at right back.
38:27Pete Donaldson: Well, yeah. And there was a drop-off. There are drop-offs when he leaves the field. I personally, just for the record, I wouldn't take him to the World Cup and I wouldn't be starting him even in a game. Take him to the World Cup, he doesn't have to play. He doesn't have to be even part of the squad. He can, as a free man, go to the World Cup. That's fine. As he turned up at the Euros final. So they are my honest thoughts. But the reasons for Henderson being in that side are those reasons. For basically being the manager on the pitch, de facto captain, trying to make sure everybody, you know, he's good for team cohesion, he's good for team morale, all that kind of stuff.
39:03Pete Donaldson: I meant the Jones thing sincerely, by the way. I know, yeah, yeah.
39:05Marcus Speller: Because he comes in midfield and therefore he needs that cover, yeah.
39:08Pete Donaldson: Yeah, but I would rather see Jones starting at the base of that midfield because I think it's more likely, even though Jones is a bit of a Swiss Army knife type of midfielder.
39:15Jim Campbell: But I mean, whatever the reasons for putting Henderson in, I think you can argue it's also a missed opportunity to learn about someone else, isn't it?
39:22Pete Donaldson: Yeah. How much do you learn from a game against Andorra? I don't know. But I think the idea of being very experimental, I think he's a little bit silly, though. I think you have to have something approaching what you may well do rather than just go, ah, let's just...
39:36Marcus Speller: Yeah, we're only a year out from it. Exactly. And also, like, the thing that people mentioned, certainly that I heard on the coverage emanating from this game, was about how England need to get better at beating these teams. No, they don't. Honestly, when was the last time that was a problem? That bar's way too low. Yeah, but it's also from a bygone era. England have been losing finals in two Euros. They lost to France in the World Cup. Their problem isn't beating smaller teams.
40:06Pete Donaldson: Well, Southgate put that to bed, actually. That was one of the, dare I use the word, triumphs of his tenure, was England were winning the games they should win. It was when they came up against...
40:15Jim Campbell: We did your Andorras, though, didn't we? we beat your San Marinos
40:18Pete Donaldson: comfortably exactly Jim that was the big takeaway no but it was you know that's why they got to those two finals because you know slightly more fortuitous draws you could say but when they played against sides who were perhaps well better than them or of a more similar nature that was the glass ceiling that needs to be punched through that is why Tuchel's in you know to manage England through those types of games I was just furious that we couldn't play that much in Andorra because of the games of the small states of Europe were being played at Andorra's stadium. A performance that Andorra has never been very good at.
40:53They ranked ninth in the games of the small states of Europe. 65 goals. Cyprus and Iceland dominating with 555 goals and 535 goals respectively.
41:03Pete Donaldson: Yeah. Well, thank goodness we didn't play one of them, Peter. Yeah. Because we might not have won. But of course, Scotland did. They're a small nation. We move on. Scotland won, Iceland three. Was that a part of it? Yeah. Well, Iceland seemed to, they're second in the day. in the small games. Yeah, Scotland, yeah, it was a bad defeat against Iceland. Poor old goalkeeper Kieran Slicker handed Slicker as well. it's not what you want. You want glue hands, don't you? Johnny glue hands. You want Johnny glue hands in goal. I mean, I would say that, like, they had a lot to do and the defenders didn't cover them.
41:37I've seen Rhea do that. You know what I mean? Like, you would have seen Rhea do that and put you got Saliba at the back.
41:42Pete Donaldson: You've seen Rhea do that. You've seen Rhea do that. Give the ball away. Give the ball away. I love your dislike for David Rea as a goalkeeper. You're not having it, are you? I don't think he's good enough for Arsenal.
41:53Marcus Speller: How have I only happened upon this?
41:56Jim Campbell: It's a lukewarm take. It's a lukewarm take.
41:59Pete Donaldson: To live it on the 9th of June. Yeah, see, well, you know, good day to bury controversial opinions. Controversial opinions. Yeah. I once called Xenadine Zidane overrated, Peter. Don't worry about it. Don't the heads think that, though? Well, I don't know. But I do know, though, that Kieran Slicker had a terrible time. What is he, seventh choice or something? Kieran Slicker was like, oh, just talk about this with Alam a bit more, please.
42:22Jim Campbell: There is a crisis in literally being able to call up goalkeepers in Scotland at the moment. Steve Clarke's had a massive issue with that, by all accounts. But Slicker had to come on. He's barely played for Ipswich this season. And if you didn't watch the game, and I'm going to assume quite a lot of people didn't watch the game, he kind of gives the ball away fairly early. He re-edged. After coming on. because Angus Gumb got injured. Comes straight back at him and he's quite far off his line. It's a good shot, isn't it? It's a hell of a goal. It's a really good goal. It's impeached him. But he gives the ball away.
42:54Jim Campbell: Yeah, but he gives the ball away.
42:56Pete Donaldson: But he tries to make a pass and he knocks it straight to an Icelandic player who's about 50 yards from goal.
43:03Marcus Speller: Yeah, who heads it back immediately.
43:06Pete Donaldson: But the space he's given by the Scotland defence. I understand that they haven't really reset.
43:11Marcus Speller: But the defence are spread because they're trying to give him an option to pass to.
43:14Pete Donaldson: I think it's poor all round. And I think to hone in on the goalkeeper for that one, I think it's a bit harsh because it's a world-class finish. The second goal, it's a bit unlucky. It sort of pings around. And then the third goal, he should do better. Oh, Pat Bonner.
43:27Jim Campbell: Wasn't as bad as that one. But it's in the same kind of genre, isn't it?
43:33Marcus Speller: It was awful. It was awful.
43:38Jim Campbell: I'll try to help you. But I think we all feel terrible for him. He's not going to win the Golden Glove two seasons in a row like David Ray has.
43:46Marcus Speller: Yes. Yes. He's fighting back. Yes. Yes. That's it. He's only 22. Yeah. I mean, it doesn't help when the BBC, and I appreciate why they do this because a lot of people are Googling him, but when the BBC are like, what a terrible performance from Kieran Slicker. But what else do we know about the seventh choice Scotland goalkeeper? Because it looks like, right, let's go through his bins.
44:07Pete Donaldson: Well, Clark said he was seeking to draft in another goalkeeper. goalkeeper in Scotland who's not on holiday. They've called up free agent Ross Doohan and Bournemouth's 18-year-old Callan McKenna.
44:19Jim Campbell: So there you go.
44:20Pete Donaldson: So they are on a bit of bother. Funny and friendly. I mean, so I was at a mate's 40th, funnily enough, on the day of this game and I was talking to two Aberdonians who were as pleased as punch with their lot because they'd obviously not long witnessed Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup. One of them missed his flight back to London, so I had to turn up on the Monday. Sorry, wife and children. He said when he missed his flight from Edinburgh, he got the bus back up to Aberdeen, so he could have more of a jolly up. Anyway, one of them was saying... I assume you meant work then. One of them was saying to me, he's had a great year, if you like, that he said, I saw Scotland score a goal and get a point at the Euros against Switzerland, and I've seen Aberdeen, his team, was he winning the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1990.
45:13Pete Donaldson: And I started trying to make the case for Scotland potentially getting that first round exit hoodoo off their back. You have a wild weekend. Monkey off their back.
45:23Jim Campbell: You have the wildest weekend. And what did you do, Jim? I took my mum to Kew Gardens. Is there a better son in this room? Doubt it. I'm actually... She might be terribly allergic to some of the flowers. Is there flowers there at Kew Gardens?
45:38Pete Donaldson: No, there's loads of flowers.
45:39Marcus Speller: Yeah, it would be a terrible garden. That would have been a really cruel thing to do, wouldn't it? It would have been stung by a bee. Mum, do you want to go to the bleak garden without any flowers?
45:48Pete Donaldson: I actually have a year past at Kew Garden. It's a marvellous spot. Really?
45:51Marcus Speller: You've got a Kew Garden that's a black card?
45:52Pete Donaldson: He's the king of Surrey.
45:53Jim Campbell: He can eat any flower. Doors open up to you when you're the king of Surrey. Does Kew Gardens have one of those naughty poison gardens that some of the others have? There's a carnivorous garden. Is there a carnivorous garden? Yeah, there's loads of venous fly traps in it and stuff. Is that why you're talking horrible tubular plants? No, I'm talking about like sometimes... Does it have flowers? Sometimes it can...
46:10Pete Donaldson: Does it have flowers that can kill you? Sometimes in gardens, there'll be like a section that's all sort of like full of poisonous prints. Yeah, like Venus flytraff. Labyrinthums. Yeah. Fox gloves. Fox gloves, yeah. Okay. We've got a lot of fox gloves there. Very exotic.
46:27Marcus Speller: Imagine you go to the Cougar. I've come for the sexy flowery.
46:31Pete Donaldson: You're not welcome back. It reminds me of a boy I saw who I hadn't seen from school about five years after we left school. I saw him in the library in Hartlepool and he went to the desk and he went, have you got any books on disasters? Same energy for me. Where are the naughty flowers?
46:50Marcus Speller: I don't want just blimps. It's always blimps. I want to see blimps smashing into the ground. I want to see Goodyear, the logo, up in flames. Bloody hell. Disasters.
47:06Pete Donaldson: well anyway I was trying to suggest that if Scotland managed to qualify for the World Cup next year being the 48 team tournament being that it's 48 yeah I know being the fact that you know the 8 3rd best teams in the groups also go through I'm like they could genuinely like actually you know find themselves a knockout and as I was trying to genuinely go out in the last 32 they were The last 32, that doesn't sound right. Oh, man. I was trying to say this to them, and they were both just with me not having it, and he just picked up his phone, and I hadn't seen the result of this, and he just held up his phone with the result.
47:42Pete Donaldson: I went, that's... And I went, yeah, sorry, lad. I don't know if Scotland McTominay can dig you out of that. But they face Liechtenstein this evening, which is their final game before the World Cup qualification campaign begins against Denmark in September. So, you know, there's something to try and clutch to. In better news for Scottish football, though, Snoop Doggy Dog has announced that he wants to open a Paradise Burger van at Celtic Park. He loves the Celtic fans. He says they're the best fans in Europe. He's clearly got an affinity with the club. And he said that he would serve the burgers himself.
48:19Jim Campbell: He pops up every couple of years making some kind of mad pronouncement about something like this he's going to do in football. I think he's trying to buy several football teams.
48:28Pete Donaldson: He's always been involved in something. I think he wants to invest so this is the next best thing isn't it getting a burger van outside getting a burger van it's my favourite Snoop Dogg thing was he once left he does gaming streaming every now and again and he left the stream he's on whatever he likes I know he left the gaming stream on all night like in his house oh wow and then which I mean Jesus and then you and then in the morning he sort of came to sit down and it was a lovely little bit of realisation where he was like oh I've been to that on all night but presumably nothing was seen Presumably it was a gaming room, well away from us.
49:02Pete Donaldson: I was about to say, he shut the door. He shut the door. Oh, right. Okay, probably best all round. All right, coming up after this, Luciano Spalletti announces his own sacking.
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50:56Pete Donaldson: We mentioned Lichtenstein there. Scotland playing them tonight. Well, of course, Wales beat them 3-0 on Friday night in Cardiff. Lichten slugs. Yes. Battered. Lichten swines. Nice batters. Nice batters. Oh, Vish was very pleased with himself. Yeah, their Group J rivals Belgium could only draw one all with North Macedonia. And Wales face Belgium tonight. They're always playing. Yeah, absolutely. Lovely to see Harry Wilson, as always, getting on the score sheet for Wales. He's becoming a real sort of talisman, though, isn't he? I was saying he should be starting ahead of Gareth Bale. by the time when Gareth Bale was still knocking around.
51:28Jim Campbell: Right, I thought, yeah, it's not actually a controversial opinion now.
51:31Pete Donaldson: And I think it's fair to say I've been proved right.
51:34Marcus Speller: Yeah, he's had the last laugh.
51:37Pete Donaldson: Yet again, Marcus is right.
51:39Marcus Speller: Bale can't even get in a squad now.
51:42Pete Donaldson: Oh, you see that? Follow me for hot tips and opinions. But yeah, so they'll take some beaten whales. I think if I was in the Belgian Cup I'd be very, very concerned about tonight's game So we look forward to that one Staying with Welsh things, gentlemen Aaron Ramsey, have you seen this? He's agreed to join Mexican side Club Universidad Nacional Or you and I call them Pumas Union Aaron Ramsey, to Pumas, here we go Yeah, there's a vlogger from that part of the world Very excited Don't show your sauces Don't show your sauces, I'm sorry As soon as he started speaking Spanish You were like, hey, there's enough of that Yeah, stop talking about nonsense.
52:23Marcus Speller: We don't have the rights to the Spanish language. We don't have that, no. We can only do it on Thursdays with OTC. Hey, Jim, apparently Kepa's gone to Arsenal. I wonder why they're doing that. I could see your screen for the last half an hour and he's YouTube Is that why you've got that look in your eye? He had YouTube DJ horn and he just had it on the screen for the last 30 minutes. Were you waiting for it? It's only ever since It's like Chekhov's gun. Yeah, ever since the Rea chat started. he's not coming in
52:51Jim Campbell: to replace David Lea
52:53Pete Donaldson: we'll see yeah we will see won't we let's have a little wager the proof is in the pudding yeah and the pudding will be Spanish don't know any Spanish puddings but they're beautiful well beautiful well I sort of was hesitant it's Basque cheesecake it's still in Spain though technically but I know what I've done there that's controversial I know what I've done there what a shame are churros Spanish are they Mexican I don't know are they Mexican are they
53:19Jim Campbell: excellent whatever they are.
53:20Pete Donaldson: Either way.
53:21Marcus Speller: They have iterations in Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. I think we'll allow it.
53:25Pete Donaldson: I think we will and so will Aaron Ramsey when he goes to Mexico.
53:29Marcus Speller: Oh, it'd be great if he gets really fat. Yeah. I mean, especially because
53:35Jim Campbell: the Puma's kit has a Puma's face on it, doesn't it? Right. I've got one of those kits and when I'm carrying a bit of timber it does look like it's sort of peeking out of a bed. That'd be nice to see on a professional footballer.
53:46Pete Donaldson: The Gare Best there. I love this. I really do I think he's I don't know whether he'll play much or not because we know his injury record of course but I have actually seen Pumasa Stadium from a distance and it looks great it's like a you know like the sort of university stadiums with open open room in the US like massive
54:04Marcus Speller: yeah exactly
54:05Pete Donaldson: so yeah with the kit on and all that kind of stuff yeah you quite simply love to see it yes indeed he wants to play the World Cup next summer providing Wales get there of course yeah so he wants to play football and why not go to to do it go to one of the host nations yeah if you say look i know i know the how to play in this heat i'll get you the best heroes it's very clever jim see what he's doing there putting in the groundwork right let's end with some chat about italy luciano spalletti effectively announced his own sacking as italy manager in an emotional press conference on sunday he would eventually storm out the press conference when he was asked if he felt like he'd been betrayed which i suppose was kind of a yes Norway beat Italy 3-0 you know I actually think Norway are probably dark horses for the World Cup for the whole tournament well well they pissed all over Italy's cappuccino didn't they Jim to quote the great man on Friday night the president of the Italian Football Federation Gabriele Gravina said Norway is a better team than us their improvement over the years has been great and now they are one of the best national teams in the world.
55:16Pete Donaldson: So echoing your genuine thoughts there, Jim. You can lose against them, but the way they beat us was unacceptable. That was a game of two halves, that sentence, wasn't it? It really was. Norway were 3-0 up at half-time. And they were magnificent. It felt like Italy didn't have a midfield though. Every time Norway came through, they were like, I'm not being tackled. I suppose I'll slip one through.
55:38Marcus Speller: You used to have loads of players here.
55:40Pete Donaldson: Your whole thing. We have all the good men Garth. Spalletti, 23 matches he's been in charge of Italy, 11 wins. It is not great for him.
55:55Jim Campbell: I think it's important to think back to the final of Euro 2020 and conclude fuck them. I think it is, yeah. Do you know what though?
56:03Pete Donaldson: That tournament now, in the last 10 years, is quite an anomaly. It's an anomaly, isn't it?
56:08Jim Campbell: Because they didn't qualify for the World Cup, did they? No, so they got all the juice out of the remaining legacy players in in that game
56:14Marcus Speller: well Mancini played a blinder
56:16Pete Donaldson: because obviously it's a very annoying for England fans but I think most people would agree they were the best team at that tournament or certainly one of the best teams so it was a very good show dragging players don't we well indeed Peter but going into that tournament they were unbeaten yes Peter don't me air Hans I appreciate that going into that tournament they were unbeaten for a while so you know it wasn't just oh they just happened to turn up at that tournament Mancini got them in good shakes 2014 World Cup well 2010 World Cup they go out in the first round don't they 2014 World Cup the same Euro 2016 did alright 2018 World Cup they weren't there they win the Euros they then failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 and Euro 2024 they were awful I mean okay they got through the group just with the last minute goal okay they got through Switzerland hammered them so they really are I mean it's crazy to say this having had you know because obviously the England fans I think we probably probably swap it because it would mean a major trophy but look back at that Euro 2020 is a complete anomaly they've been piss poor and I think after Mancini where it was superb for a period and they win that trophy and then it goes sour they turn to Spalletti thinking well he's with Napoli was very impressive and so on
57:32Marcus Speller: Tactical genius yeah exactly
57:33Jim Campbell: and it just hasn't happened they are in a bit of a crisis in terms of personnel really Spalletti himself has bemoaned the fact that there simply aren't enough good Italian players coming through the ranks. But they're better than this. Of course they are. You would think. Although, I mean, are they? Norway are a good team. They're good enough
57:50Pete Donaldson: to qualify for a tournament. Sure. They're a long way off not doing that yet, though. Well, indeed. Apparently, Claudio Ranieri is the favourite to take charge. He must be a million years old now. Yeah. That is quite lovely. It would be a lovely end, wouldn't it?
58:04Jim Campbell: They're forgetting what he did at Greece. It is a kind of, you know, break glass for emergency appointment though, isn't it?
58:12Marcus Speller: Yeah, but this is like the third bit of glassy break, isn't it? Like getting Harry read that now,
58:15Jim Campbell: isn't it? Yeah, I suppose.
58:18Pete Donaldson: Maybe. Well, Spalletti will quite oddly take charge of tonight's game against Moldova, which he said would be his last game. They'll be executed at the end. All eyes on that. That's going to be an absolute flouncy mess, that one, isn't it? Get yourself on the bench, Luciano. Come on, just piss about. Third choice keeper up front. Bring your toys in. Brilliant. Just be, Switch two on the bench. Just playing Mario Kart. One, one, eight. Just piss about. I don't know. Well, we look forward to seeing what happens there. Thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble Park, the Acast Creator Network.
58:54Pete Donaldson: We're all back tomorrow to preview England versus Senegal. Also, Jesse Marsh has accused a club of poisoning his players. Get on that. And obviously, there's the small matter of Ange Postacoglu not being Spurs manager anymore. We'll get our teeth into all of that tomorrow. Make sure you subscribe in your podcast app so you never miss an episode. Thanks, Vish. Thanks. Thanks, Pete.
59:18Pete Donaldson: Thanks, Jim. Fuck, Vish. And thank you, Roberto Martinez.
59:32The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.
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Portugal have lifted the Nations League once more! Bobby Martínez's boys edged it on penalties in a fighting performance that well and truly puts them in the mix for next summer.
Marcus, Vish, Pete and Jim react to that – and England's definitely convincing not at all worrying 1-0 win over Andorra. Elsewhere, it was Slicker by name, not by nature, for Scotland in their 3-1 defeat to Iceland – but on the upside, at least they haven't got David Raya between the sticks. Plus, Jim reveals what he really thinks about Robbie Williams and Pete really wants to visit a poisonous garden.
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