Lions Watch: Should Morgan Gibbs-White go to the World Cup?

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0:30Sign up for a free Walmart business account today at business.walmart.com. Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Abnos, senior sports editor from The Guardian. Whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered. From one of the fastest growing soccer newsrooms, The Guardian brings you in-depth World Cup coverage that gets into the winners and losers on and off the pitch. Read, watch, and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures, and this political moment. We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, a global perspective, and a squad of Americans, including me, on the ground with the U.S.

1:08national team. Plus, if you want to test your soccer knowledge, try On The Ball. It's a game in the Guardian app, and it's really, really fun. And if you're into stuff like this...

1:15Marcus Speller: Well, I think the problem is if you give footballers an inch, they will take a mile. Is it too much when it's this close? It's a bit much. It's a bit too real. Maybe you could just talk with a slight delay. Be sure to listen to our Football Weekly podcast for on-the-move expert analysis. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more. This is a Monday.com ad. TheSameMonday.com helping people worldwide getting work done faster and better. TheSameMonday.com designed for every team and every industry. TheSameMonday.com with built-in AI. Scaling your work from day one.

1:51TheSameMonday.com that your team will actually love using. TheSameMonday.com with an easy and intuitive setup. Go to Monday.com and try it for free. Yes, TheSameMonday.com.

2:18Jim Campbell: Hello, everybody. Good to have you with us. It's another edition of Lions Watch. We are doing Lions Watch every fortnight until the World Cup begins. We are 36 days away from the World Cup beginning. My giddy aunt, time flies. It's not long until it all kicks off in North America. My name's Marcus Speller. I've got two friends of mine with me. I've got Jim Campbell and Vodouja Nhantharaja. How's it going, guys? Good. Thrilled to be doing Lions Watch with you, Marcus, as always. Thanks, pal. 36 days, Vish.

2:51Marcus Speller: I know, yeah. It feels quite an honour to be... I feel like we're in Marcus's house now.

2:58Jim Campbell: It feels like being in his brain, doesn't it?

2:59Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah.

3:00Jim Campbell: Live-streamed to the nation. Well, that's what we're doing, everybody. We are live from Ramble HQ to the nation via YouTube. We're going to start with a question that I think has been on everyone's lips for a few weeks now. Morgan Gibbs-White. Has he earned himself a place in this England squad? I say this England squad. The England squad that will go out to North America for the World Cup in, well, they'll be there in less than 36 days' time, unless they leave it particularly late. So, yes, Morgan Gibbs-White. Jim Campbell, let's start with you. There's already comments about Gibbs-White. He is on the minds of a lot of players.

3:37Jim Campbell: Could he get into this England squad? He hasn't been in the England squad for a little while. He was there. He featured in the loss against Senegal under Thomas Tuchel at the city ground. But since then, there's been not much going on with Gibbs-White with England. Should he get in there on his form? I think on his form and on his merit, absolutely. And I think it's interesting that you mentioned that he's not featured a huge amount. I think he's only got six England caps in total. But I think that's really the only thing going against him at the moment. And I don't think Thomas Tuchel really cares about that.

4:05Jim Campbell: I think he is very likely to pick on form. And there have been times where this position or this area of the pitch looks really tough for certain players to break into. You'd put him in that bracket. You'd possibly put Ebrecht Yezer in that bracket. it certainly kin and dewsbury hall as well you think that's very unlucky to be a good player at this period when that's when that area is so busy but it doesn't feel quite as busy now because of the seasons that phil foden and cole palmer have had and obviously jude bellingham and morgan rogers are still in the way for all of those players but if he is going to make room for someone with some creativity some spark and some x factor i think gibbs white has to be front and centre, especially the way Forrester ending their season.

4:51Jim Campbell: Could he have Jack Grealish role off the bench for England? The guy who we see him warming up and we go, oh, hello, hang on a minute here.

4:59Marcus Speller: I suppose in lieu of...

5:01Jim Campbell: I'm expecting you to say yes, because you're a big fan of Morgan Gibbs.

5:04Marcus Speller: Yeah, I'm a massive fan of Morgan Gibbs. I think one of the things we posited early on Gibbs and England, I reckon we're probably close to two years ago now, was what kind of midfielder would he need to be to be trusted by an england coach regardless of who that is because he does so many things and actually what england do at world cups what generally you need at world cups is structure and how do you fit someone who is so off the cuff and and so um yeah like basically just a freestyler and you know without being too dismissive he's not you the floor.

5:45Jim Campbell: Well, he can't be that freestyling in Vita Pereira's Nottingham Forest where, you know, Europa League semi-final surviving relegation battles and all that kind of stuff. I don't think he's that free-spirited. Might it be that the chaos at Forest has made him appear that way?

6:00Marcus Speller: No, no, no. I maintain that he is, but the only reason that...

6:05Jim Campbell: Clarify your thoughts, man.

6:06Marcus Speller: The only reason it doesn't seem that way is because they've not had a good season. But by and large, he's entrusted to do many different things. He's a box-to-box midfielder. He is allowed to be more expansive with his passing and stuff like that. And I do, you know, I love him. I think he is in brilliant form. My only query would be when Tuchel looks at the formation, where does he see Morgan Gibbs-White fitting in? Because as you alluded to, there are the competition in various spots, whether it's out on the left, behind the striker, or the more advanced of the two sitting midfielders. there's just too much competition there but he could take him I think to cover almost be like a utility forward player in a way that I don't think England have too many of those specifically in midfield

6:57Jim Campbell: yeah I mean the enormous scar on his head will have to heal in time and that may well become an issue I hope not

7:05Marcus Speller: maybe it gives him an edge maybe it makes him look scary if you're playing against him in a world class this guy's bleeding from his forehead and doesn't seem to notice it. Yeah, true enough. If you're playing against Michelle's Frankenstein... Part of me thinks he's like

7:18Jim Campbell: an android from Alien or something. Yeah. Or like one of the things from Westworld. Because you saw that. It looked like his skull or it might have been some sort of protective tissue. It's like, oh my God. It was such a bad one. Well, look, I think, you have to remember it's a 26-man squad as well. I was doing an England squad selector this morning, everybody. That's how I live my life. And my goodness, I can't get enough of it but I think I think there might be room for Gibbs White just that little something even if I mean I don't think all 26 players certainly not the sub keepers are going to play so I don't know I mean look I'm going to go to the comments here Not Nottingham has said Foden has never been good for England doesn't play for City that much either and that's the chat isn't it I think that there was a time where it might be sort of controversial to suggest that Phil Foden shouldn't go to tournaments and whatnot, but I think we're past that now.

8:13Jim Campbell: I think I'd be very surprised if he's there. You can't make an argument to pick him on form apart from a short period of games four months ago. But do you pick him on class, though? Because he has feated a little bit with Tuchel. Tuchel has picked him a fair few times. You've mentioned Bellingham. He's had his injury problems as well, but you would expect Bellingham to be ready to go come the World Cup. We've spoken about Morgan Rodgers, who is very much a part of this England side. I mean, he can actually even play on the left if you want to look a little bit differently. And that may well become an option because the pace of Rashford, the pace of Gordon will be there at the World Cup.

8:51Jim Campbell: But in that heat, they can't be running up and down all day long. So maybe Rodgers could come in there. Eberetjezze again, another one, playing that left side or in the centre. But the two names really, and Nottingham has mentioned one of them, Phil Foden and Cole Parmovich. considering what Cole Palmer was doing in Euro 24 when he would come on and really improve England obviously got the goal in the final knows how to win tournaments in the United States of America knows how to stand on the podium knows how to stand on the podium with the president we still have Rhys James in there as well at the start of the season you wouldn't be thinking at this stage of the season that I think public opinion would say if you had to pick one of the three, it would probably go with Gibbs White.

9:43Marcus Speller: Yeah, I think they'd be right to. I don't think Cole Palmer's done enough. I also think he... There's clearly something up there that isn't going to fix itself between now and the World Cup. I mean physically as well. He's clearly struggling.

9:54Jim Campbell: Yeah, it's not actually his fault, is it? Yeah. In this situation, I would say.

9:57Marcus Speller: So it's hard not to feel bad for him. And at the same time, I can't really seeing... well he certainly hasn't commanded a spot in that World Cup squad on his performances and he missed a penalty yeah well he's human we know that but what to combine whereas with Gibbs White we're not sure exactly we need one and one don't we because if Morgan Gibbs White goes haywire we need all the support we can get

10:24Jim Campbell: aren't as a foreigner you're classified as an alien in the US he can be yeah so maybe that's our doing this on the plane you were going to say something perhaps more sensible though

10:37Marcus Speller: vaguely more sensible I think I wonder if Tuchel looks at what he has with England and thinks part of the reason that Palmer hasn't been as effective as Chelsea is it's a mess at England it's not a mess so therefore you coming in and playing the way that you do playing the way that you want to play is beneficial to us because it gives us an edge and that would be something for Tuchel to square I'm not entirely sure. I really do think quite a bit of spark has gone from gone from Parma. But people might disagree.

11:09Jim Campbell: What do you think of this question from Peter Maloney who says is form or experience more important when picking a squad for tournaments? So I mentioned you said the form is not there with Foden I said but the class is. And he said for example Foden plenty of international experience but poor form. Mourn Gibbs-White the opposite. Yeah. I mean there is something in that. Foden goes all the way back to Euro 2020 played in summer 21. He was in Qatar for the World Cup. He was in Germany for the Euros. But I think, I don't think he's really pulled up trees at any of those tournaments, has he, Foden?

11:39Jim Campbell: So I don't... I mean, Qatar, he did okay. Yeah, he did okay, right? And I think if you are picking someone on experience, it needs to be a positive experience, right? And I don't think there's anything that we've seen from Phil Foden in this season where if you were to take him to the World Cup, you would be expecting him to deliver. You would be hoping he would deliver. And there's a lot of competition from good players like Morgan Gibbs-White in those positions where you can reasonably expect him to make a difference in a way that I don't think you can from Phil Foden at this moment in time.

12:12Jim Campbell: I would also say with Kyle Palmer, again, sort of in his defence, that he has a chronic groin injury that he's managing at the moment. It's a pebalgia, I think it's called. I don't know how it's pronounced, but it's a bad thing and players get it and it really, really limits them for a while while they get over it. I think it's kind of fanciful to think that he'll be over that by the World Cup as well. So he is not operating at his full level because, you know, it's not really reasonable to expect him to. So that has to be factored in. Well, we're going to put it to the listeners or the viewers, should I say, which if you could just take one, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer or Morgan Gibbs-White, because I'm pretty sure it probably will be one from that three.

12:54Jim Campbell: Tom Spinks says Myles Lewis Skelly worth a punt on the plane following his recent performances in midfield as well as his ability to play at the back so I think if you take his season in isolation or positionally he's only played two games in that midfield role they've both been excellent and at a very high level and obviously he's got a really good understanding with Declan Rice which would be very very useful at left back it's not been a good season it's been a really poor season if you just judge it on him as a left back I don't think it would be wise to include him as an option for England as a left back based on the season he's had.

13:29Jim Campbell: I also think when you look at the players that he'd be competing with, it's Elliot Anderson, it's Adam Wharton. I think it's probably come a bit too late, this positional switch for him. If he'd been playing there since January, maybe, but he hasn't. I think it would be a bit of a risk. Well, I mean, yeah. And also, with Nico O 'Reilly, Vish, you do have someone who's had a decent season at left-back and can go into the midfield.

13:55Marcus Speller: Yeah, but I also think, I don't think Nico O 'Reilly comes into it, really, because Myles Luskelly has been so bad at left-back. I think the way that people were, you know, you speak to Arsenal fans about him, I think people were surprised about his lack of pace. But actually, it just comes from someone who's been reared with the ball at his feet as a midfielder. So it's not all that surprising. But yeah, I suppose if he does, you know, if he is going to go, he's not necessarily going to go instead of, say, a Lewis Hall. Instead of anyone at left back, it would be more as an option as the 26th man almost, isn't it?

14:27Jim Campbell: Yeah. So again, Peter Maloney back on the question says, with the likes of O 'Reilly, Lewis Skelland, Rhys James playing both fullback and midfield, is it more important to have specialists or versatility or a mix of both? Now, we know that Tuchel, the way he plays, he does like that fullback to drop into the midfield. I know a lot of managers like that as well. I was, see, I've been talking about Nico O 'Reilly, or we mentioned him there. I'm more convinced by him. I was very much, no, a left back, should be a left back, get Lewis Hall. Not attacking midfielder. Yeah, exactly. What on earth are you doing up there, man?

15:00Jim Campbell: And I was thinking, well, Lewis Hall should start for England. However, you know, England are one of the favourites for this tournament. You know, there's the four seeded teams, which is the first time it's happened in the World Cup, and England are in there. and I don't know maybe that idea of having Nico O 'Reilly starting I do quite like that to be honest I think him and Rhys James pack that midfield yeah we have two boxes in the midfield Jim but Haaland yeah are you a two box man yeah absolutely box away I think two box Campbell they call him yeah indeed because I can drink a couple of boxes of wine in a single night we all know I think they offer such different options that I'm going to to be happy with whichever one starts I think Trust the manager I do trust the manager and I trust both the players they're both young and they're both a little bit raw you know if both of them were two years further into their career you'd go in thinking we've got a left back for all occasions but they've both performed to a really high level this season so maybe that won't actually matter Yeah you'll be pleased to know everybody that I'm going to drop my Luke Shaw campaign as well Yeah I'm thoroughly convinced Wow this is huge It is huge Yeah I didn't realise how huge it was until it came out of my mouth.

16:14Jim Campbell: But don't worry, the Harry Maguire campaign is still in full flow.

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19:04Expanding business assortment and everyday low prices. Keep your momentum going fast with reliable shipping and fulfillment. Eligible organizations can take advantage of tax-free shopping, both in-store and online, saving you more while getting you everything you need. It's Walmart built for your business. Sign up for a free Walmart business account today at business.walmart.com. Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Abnos, senior sports editor from The Guardian. Whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered.

19:35From one of the fastest-growing soccer newsrooms, The Guardian brings you in-depth World Cup coverage that gets into the winners and losers on and off the pitch. Read, watch, and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures, and this political moment. We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, a global perspective, and a squad of Americans, including me, on the ground with the U.S. national team. Plus, if you want to test your soccer knowledge, try On the Ball. It's a game in the Guardian app, and it's really, really fun. And if you're into stuff like this...

20:04Marcus Speller: Well, I think the problem is if you give footballers an inch, they will take a mile. Is it too much when it's this close? It's a bit much. It's a bit too real. Maybe you could just talk with a slight delay. Be sure to listen to our Football Weekly podcast for on-the-move expert analysis. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more.

20:29Jim Campbell: Daniel Garside has said will Declan Rice be inundated with lactic acid after playing a thousand plus games this season come June I mean we talk about often in the Premier League players being tired and so on and so forth Declan Rice has played an awful lot of football he's so crucial to Arsenal and England he's playing against Atletico Madrid in the second leg we know it's going to be a war of attrition and he comes out with the man of the match award I mean Jim he just goes on and on the secret is pancakes I don't know if you saw this but he said last season that they have kind of nutritionists and stuff at Arsenal and he said they've given me these pancakes don't know what they put in them but they're really really good and I think he has them for breakfast and he says that's why I'm able to rat around so much

21:11Marcus Speller: so yeah

21:13Jim Campbell: hopefully he'll have his rat pancakes at the World Cup and it will be okay but it is a concern isn't it now his style is all action The Declan Rice second wind is a thing of absolute majesty, but the combination of the amount of football he's played and the heat in particular could be something that saps that energy from him. He is someone I kind of feel can... does appear to have endless energy reserves, which I'm sure we'll catch up with him later in his career is so often the case. But yeah, I mean, it's why we're blessed to have players like Anderson in there as well. Now, he's obviously covered a lot of ground in the Premier League this season.

21:52Jim Campbell: Adam Wharton will probably be the backup to Anderson, I would think. I would say so, yeah. We've got options in there. We're in the five substitutes era now. I think Tuca will be thinking of every single game as starters and finishers, as the trendy term is now at the moment. You simply have to. Absolutely. With the amount of games, where it comes in the season, and the heat, as I always bang on about with this. Do you think he'd be brave enough to take Rice off in a big game? It depends on the context, quite simply. I mean, Rice is just, he is the, you know, the Duracell bunny. He's a focal point as well, isn't he?

22:27Jim Campbell: He's absolutely incredible. I mean, one thing that does go, I suppose, in, you know, some players' favour is not having played as much football as others. You know, you always think, oh, you've got to play, you know, those who are in the top bracket and so on. I mean, I know Gibbs White's had Europa League football. A few comments about Gibbs White, actually. He captained the under-21s to a Euros win, I think. you know it shows you you know experience Juan of Carsley's boys Juan of Carsley's beautiful boys yeah definitely right now the England team we obviously had a little bit of a letdown of a of an international break last time round when there was the draw against Uruguay and the loss against Japan and it felt it felt quite flat now that feels like I hope it feels like a distant memory is that just always irrelevant yeah these things never actually matter when it comes to the tournament you feeling pretty good yeah I think so I mean I've got zero expectation that england win this world cup um and i think going into previous tournaments there's been an expectation because of we've gone quite deep in them like oh we might actually do something here don't really feel like this about this one and the heat is a big factor there um so yeah my expectation is just that i i think thomas tucall will give us a tournament with a lot of moments we'll enjoy yeah and that is kind of that is reverted for me to being my priority as a viewer and as an England fan.

23:51Jim Campbell: I'd love to see us win it, but, and I will be gutted if we go out, obviously as it's always heartbreaking, isn't it? But yeah, my expectations of this are quite sort of light. How do you feel about it? You seem very keen to answer that.

24:07Marcus Speller: No, no. The way you phrase it there, that your expectation feels light or seems light, I'd agree with that. I was trying to work out, I don't necessarily have implicit trust in Thomas Tuchel, full stop and I also acknowledge the difficulties that England will have in those conditions in North America and when you look through the potential run that England will have to go on to say get to a final with Spain I think

24:33Jim Campbell: I hate that we know that, it's really boring isn't it

24:36Marcus Speller: yeah I agree

24:37Jim Campbell: well that's obviously if they top the groups yeah

24:42Marcus Speller: but yeah I don't I expect to be sad when it happens but I expect it to happen quicker than say it did in either of the Euros. Oh,

24:53Jim Campbell: expect that. So have you got like kind of hopes that England will win this where you think there's a real chance of it? You said your expectations are light. Yes. Mine have got the weight of 10 anvils, Jim. I see. I think, I think England could win it. I expect them to, we're in, we're back in the phase now as we have been for a while, really since Gareth Southgate took over. that I would expect England to get to at least a quarterfinal. Yeah. And I think if they didn't, that would be disappointing. Again, it does depend on where you go. There's no given that you go through from the group, let alone win it, but they are one of the four top seeds.

25:31Jim Campbell: So I don't think it's arrogant to think, well, no, England should get through the group, right? You top the group, again, unless another team has a bit of a mare, you start trying to predict it. And whenever we try and predict it, we always get it wrong. for me it's still that glass ceiling of playing against a side who are equal or maybe slightly better than England and Southgate didn't, I mean there was Germany in Euro 2020 played in 2021 they beat, you know, it was slim pickings at Southgate it was home advantage, favourites because Germany weren't in great shape but they still did it I don't want to poo-poo that I think it's important to remember sometimes that those things happen because England raised their level Yeah, but they did have kinder draws to the finals, definitely in the last Euros in Germany.

26:20Jim Campbell: There's no doubt about that. We all knew that the winner was going to, we all suspected strongly that the winner was going to come from the other side of the draw, as it did in Spain. So I think with England, it's like, do I trust Tuchel that if indeed, and I sincerely hope they do, England find themselves in a knockout game against, say, Ancelotti's Brazil, I know I've not been great in qualifying, with that, it won't matter when the tournament comes around, or they play, you know, Spain at some point, or Argentina, you name it. Do I think Tuchel can get an England side out there on the pitch and win one of those games?

26:53Jim Campbell: I think he can. I really, really do. But I think it's so hard to call. So my expectations are, I think England should get themselves within three games of winning the World Cup. And once you're there, it's a boring answer, so let's reassess. But yeah, of course, I think they could do it. But I want to go back to the questions, if I may. Trouserfan asks this, is it too late for Kobi Mainu?

27:21Jim Campbell: I'd take him.

27:23Marcus Speller: Would you take him instead of Adam Orton?

27:26Jim Campbell: No. Again...

27:27Marcus Speller: I don't think he's going.

27:29Jim Campbell: Really?

27:30Marcus Speller: Yeah. I think that's the... To my mind, that is the depth of it. Although I suppose...

27:36Jim Campbell: Okay, so let's line up in a 4-3-3. I know it can shift around mid-game and all that sort of stuff, but that's the basic shape. In those two positions, you've got Rice, who we want to play more like at Arsenal. You've got Elliot Anderson next to him. We think that's where you'll start. Anderson isn't a natural holder like, say, Adam Walton is. Surely there's room for another one.

27:56Marcus Speller: Well, he's taking Henderson, isn't he?

27:57Jim Campbell: Oh, yeah. I forgot about Henderson. Yeah, I mean, it is absurd, isn't it? But you're right, he will take him.

28:06Marcus Speller: Manu played the last set of friendlies, didn't he?

28:09Jim Campbell: Yeah, Manu was... I understand, again, Manu is not a natural holder. And I suppose if you play him next to Rice, then that inhibits Rice slightly. But in-game, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Also, Declan Rice may want a tiny little rest at some point, you know. So would Manu slot in beside Watermore or Anderson? I think that would be quite nice. And niceness is what we're after.

28:32Marcus Speller: Yeah, exactly, yeah. I think he I'd like to see him go I mean obviously as a Manchester United fan he has been brilliant I just don't see I mean yeah maybe he could take him does that impinge on like Gibbs White's chances of going if there is the extra man

28:52Jim Campbell: yeah I know what you mean

28:55Marcus Speller: basically what I'm trying to say is where does Tuchel make the room in his broader squad to be able to pick someone like Manu who's not going to start who is just a nice option to have

29:06Jim Campbell: has experience though obviously with England and also is really fresh which I think will be a big well so who are then in going for those let's call it you know the two positions you really want four midfielders who can go there I understand that you know Bellingham could go a bit deeper he's not going to be picked with that in mind and I understand Rhys James could play there but you need cover and you've got enough places in the squad for cover Trent Alexander-Arnold Trent Alexander-Arnold

29:36Marcus Speller: That's the one thing that really irks me about Thomas Ducal Yeah

29:40Jim Campbell: Would it be outrageous after his goal at Villa Park to have Connor Gallagher in there? So yeah I mean it would be Rice Anderson and Wharton There's definitely room for another one Scott in Bournemouth Yeah Who has had a really really good season Yeah Again though possibly international inexperience might count against him I know he's had one call up hasn't he but I don't think he was on the pitch did he? James Garner so James Garner is a great shot Garner's a really good shot because he's so all action and he's had a brilliant season he's another one who covers so much ground and I think that's going to be important in this sort of environment that we're expecting England to have to play in yes yes yeah I think it would be hard to make an argument as good as Mainu is given how little he's played you know putting aside the freshness issue that I've just raised it's hard to make an argument on form that he should go ahead of Garner just because Garner's played so much more and played so well.

30:34Jim Campbell: And Garner was one of the very, very few England players during the last international break who actually showed a bit of something, you would say. The poll is complete, everybody, for the question, which of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, or Morgan Gibbs-White would you take to the World Cup? With 86%, Morgan Gibbs-White comes out very, very comfortably on top. Cole Palmer with 13%. Parallel Phil Foden, just 1%. Who voted for him? Own up. I want it in the comments. well that's pretty emphatic the people have spoken Thomas this is how we do should we should we have an England selectors board you know do you have that cricket still

31:14Marcus Speller: yes sort of it's done by four or five people

31:18Jim Campbell: but it's mad to think that you're going way back decades and decades ago but the England team was picked by a group of selectors is that the worst idea do we have time to answer that Jim Can you think of a worst idea? Sorry, a worse idea. Published author here.

31:37Marcus Speller: Yeah, I've got one.

31:39Jim Campbell: TikTokers choose the squad. Oh, yes.

31:41Marcus Speller: All the teams at the World Cup, you get allocated a different team and you pick their squad.

31:45Jim Campbell: Nice, nice.

31:47Marcus Speller: And the only thing is nationality. It doesn't matter if they play football or not.

31:49Jim Campbell: Right, just some guy could represent the country. I like that. By the way, we mentioned Adam Morton earlier. I think we're all quite keen and expectant that he'll be in Thomas Tuchel's squad. Georgie Boy says he won't take Wharton well I mean he doesn't seem to love him as much as we all do so I think that's a fair point from Georgie Boy that we are perhaps assuming he will take Wharton when we don't necessarily know that Alex says Wharton is too accident prone and then put injury prone in his next comment

32:20Marcus Speller: because I immediately thought of you yeah accident prone if I was if I was called up

32:25Jim Campbell: I'd be like nah sorry he would refuse

32:28Marcus Speller: a call up yeah you don't want this

32:30Jim Campbell: Jim's the Kevin Keegan of the football round. Love a barbecue. Yeah. So, I mean, I'm pretty sure he'll take Wharton. If he didn't take Wharton, I think it would be one of those ones where everyone goes. People wouldn't stand for it. Well, they wouldn't, Jim. Is that what you were about to say? A version of that. I think people would be very surprised, and that would be one of those talking points where I'd be like, come on, this is absolute madness. But I think he will do it. I think he will take him. Toby Sharp, Mainu looks class whenever I've seen him. He'll be in with a shout for sure.

33:06Marcus Speller: I mean, all these people are going to be in with a shout, aren't they? I just don't think... Get off the fence! I'm just not sure how Tuchel's going to balance it all out. I think we'd have a gauge one way or another of his tournament mindset with the squad. and I appreciate that's an obvious thing to say, but I mean more in terms of like how England are going to approach the start of games in terms of attacking because what we'll see, we'll probably be able to tell from the alternates really who he's taken and what he wants to achieve across 90 minutes because the Wharton thing would be interesting because he's a very different player to Mainu.

33:48Marcus Speller: He's a more... He's different to Ryzen - Anderson. Yeah, his passing is more progressive, so if he does pick Wharton he'll be like he almost wants a kind of I'm not saying he's under a Pirlo but he almost wants that kind of Pirlo like influence deep in midfield which is very different to how all the midfielders we've named play yeah

34:07Jim Campbell: and completely someone who can ping it from deep when running is hell might be a really really good thing to have yeah yeah indeed last question this is from Sam's Sam's Skymer sorry Sam bad pronunciation there chicken curry pie or sausage roll for dinner it is a Wednesday is a sausage roll a dinner I'd go chicken curry pie yeah that sounds that sounds more substantial yes oh it's a big sausage roll yeah how big are we talking like a sort of it's your mind you can do what you want is it long or is it fat so I'm thinking like a pig on a spit yep that's not a both that's not a sausage roll that's something that's a hog roast you're going for yeah I'm just quite clearly not what was in the question I want a hog roast sized sausage roll you said it can be it's your imagination it can be as big as you want and I regret saying that

34:55Marcus Speller: it's a different kind of but you want the sausage meat don't you and you're not going to get that from a pig because it's just going to you want it mashed down and minced don't you it's a pork sausage roll I don't agree with that

35:09Jim Campbell: I'm not sure if we've helped finally we found a disagreement between Jim and Vish there we are everybody thank you very much for watching this live stream of Lions Watch join us again in two weeks time for another live stream we will be back in the studio at midday in two Wednesdays time we'll be answering all your questions England related and sausage roll related ahead of the World Cup do hit that subscribe button so you get told when we go live next even though I have just told you you will get reminded perhaps a better way of saying it 36 days until the World Cup kicks off ooh can you feel it I flip a world game thanks for watching

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36:03Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Abnos, Senior Sports Editor from The Guardian. Whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered. From one of the fastest growing soccer newsrooms, The Guardian brings you in-depth World Cup coverage that gets into the winners and losers on and off the pitch. Read, watch, and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures, and this political moment. We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, a global perspective, and a squad of Americans, including me, on the ground with the U.S.

36:35national team. Plus, if you want to test your soccer knowledge, try On The Ball. It's a game in the Guardian app, and it's really, really fun. And if you're into stuff like this...

36:43Marcus Speller: Well, I think the problem is if you give footballers an inch, they will take a mile. Is it too much when it's this close? It's a bit much. It's a bit too real. Maybe you could just talk with a slight delay. Be sure to listen to our Football Weekly podcast for on-the-move expert analysis. The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more.