Our 2026 World Cup Predictions

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2:38Luke Moore: You're a good soldier choosing your battles, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. It's World Cup Eve because it's Wednesday, 10th of June. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Luke Moore. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm Pete Donaldson.

3:03Ah, it's the Football Ramble. Oh, it's World Cup Eve. So that means after this show, to give everyone a little insight, all of us get into a room. We have a lot of candles around the bones of Zhao Haviland. Yes. and we pray around them with Jules Rimet masks on and then Pete commences the address yeah do you want to tell people a bit about the World Cup address the kind of seance World Cup address you do it's not until Teixeira kind of Ricardo Teixeira ramps up his little mobility scoter and he does a circle around the pentagram yeah touching each of us on the shoulder with his magnificent appendage which has got a tiny a little Mexican hat on the end of it because Mexico is the best World Cup country and a tribute to Ochoa and then we all turn about 15 people away at the border and then get on with our day covered in locusts thanks to friend

4:00Luke Moore: of the ramble Shakira for giving us that intro line nice to hear from her for a future episode she's not involved in the Jao Havelange seance no she's not involved not after last time but we do shout whenever wherever let's just say Jao Havelange's hip bones do lie and leave it at that. I'll have to explain this all to my vicar. I'm going to World Cup and you're all better off. I didn't think we would hear about Stop all your religion, Marcus. I didn't think we would hear about Forsake him before the World Cup has begun. That's very naughty. You don't have to do it. I didn't think we would hear about Joel Haviland's bones to be honest with you.

4:36Luke Moore: And that's the thing, everybody. It is a prediction show. Fever is an illness. You can't be blamed for how you behave. I don't think you can. We were born with it. And that is just the portent of things to come because the prediction around it, we could say anything. But I do need to say, if you want to submit an intro line like Shakira may or may not have done for a future episode and you want to get an extended edition of today's show, then become a friend of the Ramble on our Patreon. Just head to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved now. Let's get this out of the way because I've got to go for a vegan pizza with Sepp Blatter.

5:04There we go. There we go.

5:05Luke Moore: So yes, we are going to be revealing our World Cup predictions. That's right. Today, we're giving all of our predictions for the World Cup 2026, of course, it'd be odd to do it for the one in four years. No, I'd like to give my predictions for the 1990 World Cup. Would you? Yeah. I've got a big feeling about West Germany. Have you? And Andrews Braver in the final. No, I don't. I think Cameroon might do all right. They might do. They might do. We also want to hear your predictions too, everybody. Whether you think England will win it all, Scotland will win it all or crash out after losing to Haiti or Donald Trump will demand to manage the US at some point of the tournament.

5:39Luke Moore: We want to hear your predictions. Tag us on X and Instagram at Football Ramble and use the hashtag RamblePredictions. You'll be able to see all of our predictions, including Vish and David's, later today on our socials. How many red cards reckon David's predicting? Well, if he has his way, probably not as many as there should be. Yes, exactly. I think that's fair to say. Now, as we discussed yesterday, a German guru has tipped the Netherlands to be champion. So let's start with winners. I am the German guru. Do you not, when you say the word, tell me, if I'm on my own here, we touched on this a bit yesterday, but just help me out here.

6:14Go on, bruv. Am I on my own when you say the worst German guru? I imagine a naked, fat German man. Well, a naked... Well, guru is automatically cross-legged, lotus position, loincloth, topless, beard. Also, just a con man. Just, yes, and a liar. Like the breathing guys you get now. Yeah, those guys who like... They basically charge you for you to sit there breathing, which is fair play. You pissed off when you think of it, aren't you? Yeah, it's an incredible way to make money. Which one of the moonies is a bounce. It's a fly. They just said they could fly, but they just jumped up and down. Oh, yeah.

6:47They were claiming they could fly for a bit. Yeah, they said they could fly and they would cross their legs and they would bounce up and down like that. Do you want to centre yourself? Think about what we talked about before. Very 80s. Just calm down. Jim, has your German guru got a loincloth or is he naked? It's a towel, but it's not big enough. Okay, yeah. A towel on a lounger. He's got plausible deniability, but he is flashing. Has he got continental stroke pornography on the television during the day? He will do. possibly actually in a semi-public area too. And he's eaten sausages. He's recently done that.

7:18You can see that he's done that. What, is it stereotypical? Around his mouth. Just doing stereotypical German stuff. We are, actually. It's all right. They've got a travel squad this year so they're not going to be part of the conversation. It's the World Cup, yeah. You've got to be able to take the piss off the Germans. Did you see Kai Havertz and Nick Valtemada and Wurtz in, I think it was Chicago on the banks of the river dressed like maniacs? No. Isn't that just the young people's fashion these days? Well, flip-flops, big baggy sort of cargo pant jeans, some white jackets, it was all over the place.

7:49But I'm just concerned that Pete's talking about other people's dress sets. I know, I know. Young footballers particularly do like to. Long footballers like Voltemada. Yeah, Voltemada's got a really kind of quite daring fashion sense, doesn't he? I like it though. Pete's also wearing a busty sphinx today. You are wearing a busty sphinx. Stand up and show the camera. Show me a tool belt. A busty sphinx. Nice to see. Tribute to Vladimir Romanov.

8:11Luke Moore: well go on then are we doing predictions or what? I think we should stop messing around you serious absolute peace sorry everybody right let's get down to it then so the categories as always these are the categories for the World Cup so winners surprise package and it has to be a genuine surprise because if you know Ancelotti and Brazil get it together okay come on underachievers yeah where England's tournament will end top goal scorer and most famous non-football celebrity spotted at a matchup. We're not including politicians and all that kind of stuff. What Gianni Infantino will say. Yeah, the most notable Infantino quote, I guess.

8:53Luke Moore: Something ludicrous. And obviously the much-celebrated category, notable mad shit. And we've got total goals and total cards as well, right? We do have total goals. We always do that, just for a bit of fun. Yeah, exactly. Okay, so it's a combination of things that you want to take seriously and things you don't want to take seriously. so Luke Moore we're going to start with you and we're going to start with winners I don't want you to give a prediction I want you to tell the world who's going to win this World Cup well as you know I've got my own supercomputer it's up there yeah yeah god 48k memory yeah he's always cracking and these are big deep a lot of hidden folders they'd be ruinous if people found them yeah it'd be ruinous if I found them again yeah yeah he's got an RFK junior brain worm in there VPN thinks it's in the US yeah and you know a lot of pornography.

9:40Winners, I've gone for, it's actually quite a disappointing start for everyone after the chat I've given all year. I've put my money where my mouth is and gone for France. I can't hear what you're saying for all that money. I was doing the predictions as Michael Aliso's goal went in against Northern Ireland and that kind of pushed me over the edge towards France. I did my predictions

10:02Luke Moore: before that goal went in. I don't think Argentina will defend it. I like Spain. To me, it was a toss-up between France and Spain and they went for France. That's my story. I agree with what Jim said yesterday. The squad is just frightening. Everywhere you look, it's frightening. And that's even if you just put to one side the fact that Malo Gusto's in there. Everyone else is brilliant. So I just think they've got the best chance going. So sorry to be boring, but that's how I'm starting. Yeah, okay. Of course, Opta, the Opta supercomputer or the Opta analyst, as it's put. France are second favourites for them, but Luke thinks they are the favourites.

10:36Luke Moore: Jim Campbell. I've gone for Spain because that's boring as well boo him no because I probably get to Spain as well I shan't so my thinking there is that those France do look very frightening as I mentioned yesterday there is a sense that perhaps Deschamps doesn't always get the best out of them I know they've won the World Cup under him got to the final last time yeah and got to the final last time but they weren't particularly inspiring in the Euros as we've mentioned and that was that was more recently I think Spain are similar when you look at that squad. And they've got a lot of different ways to play.

11:12They can be very exciting, but they can strangle you with possession. They've got a similar situation with talent all over that pitch. And I think Spain are impressively unflappable as well. And I think that that's what makes them slight favourites for me.

11:25Luke Moore: Yeah, okay. Okay. So, yeah. Peter, I'll be honest, I've not been as calculated as the others with some of these predictions. Right. I need you to back me up on this. are you going for winners? Well I'm going for Spain as discussed they will get out their group if I mean and that's the first and that is the first hurdle that's the first hurdle if you get out the group and winning is not the same you think they have it in them to be at least one of the third third place best teams in the tournament in a group with Saudi Arabia Uruguay and Cape Verde you think they've got that in them? Well look we can only what a take La Roja we can only hope that they will get there if it all kind of works out how the supercomputers kind of think it's going to work you know pan out round of 16 Croatia then Belgium that's doable it's the semi-final against France and I think they will yeah they could be in the semi they'll hit their stripes by then you know your players like Williams and Lamal back in contention obviously by then hitting your stripes isn't a saying what was it hitting your straps hitting your straps sorry you've got to earn the stripes you've got to hit your straps nice okay so which are they going to do are they going to earn their stripes or hit their straps well they're going to take someone else's stripes borrow them for a bit yeah and go through like that hit their straps hit their straps I'm desperate to hear what Marcus thinks so I and I've spoken to a few people actually and the general consensus is that people despite what the supercomputers are saying the general vibe in what I've picked up from as I say talking to a handful of people who have you been speaking to well Jim Campbell for example okay you know was one and other and other friends of mine that it's quite a hard one to call this because Spain and France they are the two best teams I would say and then obviously England and Argentina the other two cities I think that Argentina surely they won't be as good as last time round for obvious reasons but Scaloni's record is unreal no it is and I think that they are a force to be reckoned with but I just don't feel that I think Portugal have got a really good squad Have you gone Portugal?

13:35Luke Moore: Hang on, I haven't said who I've gone for yet. So I think Portugal have got a really good score. Don't do a Craig Brown listening to the team. I think he's filling for time. He's having to think. He's not decided yet. Yeah. I think Luis Diaz of Colombia. He's lost it. He's lost it. His head's gone. I'll get it back in a second. What kind of team talk is this on the eve of the tournament? You've gone Netherlands. And I think there's something about Brazil. He's gone Netherlands. He's gone England. There's something about Brazil where much has been made about them not being better. There's a Carlo Ancelotti factor.

14:03Luke Moore: and I was I'm in an hour in this Trumpesque weave we've got going on he's drunk off predicting Arsenal when he's gone for England and I thought to myself I thought to myself that in my head my head is not coming up with anything oh here we go right okay here we go come on come on easy easy easy easy easy easy easy easy you've got Scotland so I turned to my heart yeah We're going to win! Yes! England! Did you go England? Come on! Good man! Good man! Good man! Silly man. And then I was reminded that the last time we beat a side that is ranked higher than us was 2002 Argentina. In the 21st century, England have beaten three sides that are ranked in the top ten in tournaments and I thought, whoa, we are going to have to return a lot here.

14:56Can I just check? I just want to double check. So you've gone for England. Can I just check with everyone here? Have you been on a fizzy hand? Yeah.

15:02Luke Moore: Come on. Have you kept pretty quiet up till now? I think so. I think so. Look, like I say, as Jim says, hot off, tipping Arsenal for the league. I willed that into existence. Can I do it again? Lovely stuff. I willed that into existence. Yeah, he's taking the credit for that. But it's nothing to do with the player's performance on Miguel Arteta. So that's what I've gone for. Is that what the bones of Gio Havelange told you? I think so. Yeah. I think Big Jouel and his boner, whatever you said. He was 100 when he died. Do you have a bit of respect? Great innings. Great not. Didn't get a letter from the Queen, no.

15:33Luke Moore: He didn't, no. No, not British. Not a subject. No. So I know what I've done is ludicrous. I love it. Why not? I'm happy for it. I love it. Right, let's move on to surprise package. Now, a lot of listeners have gone for Ecuador. They seem to be quite a fancied side. I think we talked about their very, very stingy defence. So Ecuador are in there. and Japan are quite a popular one. I think Japan are good. When they played against England at Wembley, they were excellent. Yeah, they were. Is it a surprise though if they do well then? Well, apparently England are going to win it. I think that would be a surprise to me.

16:09Luke Moore: So surprise package then, Luke Moore. Kick us off with what you've got. I've fucked this up massively. This is going to be a nightmare. I don't even want to reveal it. Come on, come on, come on. I don't know why I said it. I know everyone's social media is going to hammer me. You're going to say Scotland, aren't you? No, I'm not going to say Scotland. But again, this is about timing. Curacao. I kind of convinced myself. I don't know why I did this, but I can't. Wait, I've just predicted England to win it. Okay, I've predicted England to win it. For some reason. There will be egg all over my face at the end of this tournament.

16:37Luke Moore: You'll be fine. I went for hating. Oh my goodness. Why have you done that? Because. Wow. I'll tell you what, you've taken the heat off me there a bit. Wow. Because they're better than people think they are. Yeah. They were really decent against New Zealand. All right. And I think they could give Scotland a problem. They have to win a game to get out of that group. but I think they might beat Scotland yeah they're not going to be actually playing at 2am also there's a method to this madness if they get out of the group I love the fact you've gone for that if they get out of the group you would say that's a surprise right so there we go that's all I've got to do no no no because that is in the true spirit of it because I think the surprise package there are certain teams and we'll see what everybody's put where like you say if they never you can't put Turkey Haiti, Curacao, Cape Verde if they get out of their group that's a surprise package it is nailed on you can't put Ecuador Ecuador one of the best teams in South America you can't put that I suppose it depends how they do if they're third place getting out of the tournament if Ecuador reach the semi-final I think that would be yeah okay yeah definitely I think but you're right though with Haiti if whatever if they do something then they're in there but if they get because of the extended extended amount of teams if they get out of the group as a third best place do you think that's a bit of a cop out for no no I think if they go through the group I think look if they go through third best place so anyway okay So Luke's gone for Haiti.

17:55Luke Moore: I love that you've done that, Luke, because that would be genuine surprise package because, as you say, nobody rates them. Nobody knows anything about them. And I think it's difficult with surprise package for reasons given, but we know a lot about some of the teams and so on and forth. Anyway, Jim Campbell. I have gone for Ecuador because I think they've got a chance of actually sort of maybe getting, if they get to say the quarter finals, They've got to go deep for this to be a surprise. Of course, yeah. But I think they're really, really difficult to beat. I think once they come up against anyone sort of of a higher profile, they will be considered underdogs.

18:23but I think actually they've got enough to get past some good, good teams just because they're so solid. Tricky group? Tricky group. It's a hard one to call this. I actually did consider going for Takiyah because some of the talent they've got in that squad were all sort of burned by the Andy Brassel prediction of the past. Yeah, exactly. That's true, yeah. So, yeah, but I have gone for Ecuador in the end. It's a difficult one, this, by its nature. I understand, I suppose, what we're saying is that the category will be satisfied in different ways for different teams. If Ecuador get out of the group and go out in the round of 32, then no one's really going to notice.

19:01If they push through to the quarters or even the semis, that would be a massive surprise to me.

19:05Luke Moore: I think if people are talking about them. Yeah. People are like, oh, have you seen that one? That was, you know. Peter, who have you gone for? I'm going to go for your friend of mine, Japan. Obviously. Surprisingly. Yeah. But I mean, why don't you just put them down as winners, you coward? Yeah. Because aren't they going to win it? It's a fair answer. Yeah, that is a fair answer. not the spear of it though you watch the way they play at this moment in time and you certainly saw that against England you think you've got them pegged and they just swarm and swarm and swarm and they score goals they spend so much time in the opponent's box mob handed they're just irresistible they're quite solid at the bat these days the manager's been in the job for a very very long time no one's been quite conservative but I think he's by all indications he looks like he's getting a tune out of them and they've got some good players playing in some decent leagues.

19:53They've got, you know, their big striker obviously is playing for Feyenoord, I think. King Kazoo. They qualified very strongly, didn't they? He's obviously not playing in a good league, but he's not going to be in for fun and I think they are really going to be strong. I think they're going to get easily out of their group. They've got a doable group, definitely. With Sweden, Tunisia, Netherlands, I've got, I think. Yeah. I mean, it's a big miss. Mitome's a big miss because he was a good outlet for when they were kind of pegged back a little bit in their own half. I'm loving it. I'm loving the idea.

20:26And I was in Japan last week and they're really going for it. Curious George in one of the department stores I noticed had a Samurai Blue tie-in thing going on. So with Curious George the monkey behind them. So Pete, you've actually been to Japan to do your research. You can't argue with that kind of rationale. No one else has done that. I didn't find much information at the bottom of a beer class, but we'll have another one and see if that happens. I've not been to Haiti to check them out.

20:51Luke Moore: No. I can't complain. Well, that's what I like. So they would surprise you. Yeah. Among many, many others. They would. Yeah. Taniguchi's basically Harry Maguire. And you like him. Now you're talking. Yeah, I sort of thought, should I go for like Columbia or something like that? And I thought, yeah. Columbia are the perennial kind of prediction for this. Which is why I've also not gone for Switzerland either. Because Switzerland won't. I regularly go for Switzerland. I know. And especially if you look at the groups, you think. but I cast my mind back to the Euros and I remember Austria playing some nice stuff they did play really well so I'm going to go for Austria very nice for this good shout I believe in Austria yes I believe in Ralph Rangnick Specs I thought he did enough at Manchester United for us to believe in him for this World Cup they play some really good stuff the only thing that may go against them is you know playing that high pressing style you know they have to pick and choose their moments to do it but I think Austria could bloody the nose of some bigger sides.

21:49They could definitely get past, I mean, Argentina are the favourites in that group, but they could definitely get past Algeria and Jordan fairly easily. You would think. Yeah.

21:55Luke Moore: You would think. So that's an interesting shout. Okay, so I've gone for Austria there. So, yeah, Haiti for Luke, Ecuador for Jim, Japan for Peter, and Austria for me.

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24:25Luke Moore: Now then, I look more. Underachievers. Well, so... I am massive. Earlier on, I said that... Was it today or yesterday? I can't remember if I said it earlier today or yesterday. That people were fancying Netherlands. I've gone for them to be underachievers. Okay, all right. I think that... Partly because I think Japan are good. Yeah. And partly because I think Sweden can definitely hurt teams. Graham Potter factor. Yeah, well, Sweden have got some good players. I don't really know much about Tunisia, but I think what you're looking to do here with the underachievers thing is you are looking to find, there'd normally be at least, particularly in a tournament of this size, there'll be at least one big name will be a casual team.

25:10You're basically just trying to pick it. And it'll be a team that doesn't manage the expectation, doesn't manage the occasion. And I think you can never really get away from the fact that Netherlands are always quite volatile. There's always kind of egos and that kind of stuff. And I know Netherlands did okay in the Euros. but I think they might just fall flat. I know a lot of people fancy them, and I think they might just come up short. Okay. Delicious. Jim, going for Germany. Do you think Germany will get out of their group, though? I think they will, yeah, but I think they still have lots of opportunity to underwhelm after that.

25:42I think by their own standards, it's not the best squad. I think under Nagelsmann, they're not particularly exciting or impressive. The group is pretty tricky. They've got Ivory Coast and Ecuador in there, but with the whole third place qualifying situation they'll probably be fine even if they have an absolute disaster which I don't think they win in the group but that could mean though

26:06Luke Moore: that if they finish second or third then they get a tougher team of course I think obviously again underachievement is different based on each team and I think Germany won't go deep in the tournament do you know what put me off going for Germany? the saxophone guy they've got the strikers and they've got Neuengel no I had similar I had similar feelings to you but the thing that put me off it was the last time people were saying and that was 2002 and they got to the final and so the problem is you can never get past the fact that Germany are always going to be Germany so it's a brave shout by them I don't believe in jinxes so I'm okay with that well it's because Arsenal just won the title right do you believe in sphinxes I do busty ones the busty of the better actually the busty of the better ideally on the front of a house for no reason Pete Donaldson underachievers as I said to the Newcastle fans who make me cry in the comments on YouTube you can support a team but you can also be realistic about their chances and I think it's Ivy England.

27:00I'm so sorry.

27:02Luke Moore: I think, look. Peter, sadly, despite having sort of listened to my heart, I don't think it's an outrageous thing because we haven't seen that much from England. No. Whereas, you know. I think somebody at some point has to step in and go, it's like, you know when they have that little Xbox controller on the Titan Submersible? Yeah. Someone has to point it out and go, sorry, are you seeing that as well? it might affect the vibe but somebody has to point out the Xbox controller on the submersible yeah sorry what is the Xbox controller in this context for England just the general just John Henderson general performances confusing overloading on the left I don't know just everything really you feel that like England have not had any particular performance for a little while where you go oh there's a little something we're going back to a Serbia match that was nearly a year ago we're all telling ourselves every game is going to be like that Serbia were terrible.

27:56Down to 10 men by the end of it. No, no, I agree. And barely any of that side played top plate football. A lot.

28:02Luke Moore: As I say, I don't think having put them as winners, but that again, I know what I've done there. I don't think it's ridiculous. It's because you put them as winners because Pete gave you a very reassuring weather update. That is also... That's a good point, actually. Yeah. The heat will matter. So this is the category I think I'm going to regret even more than what I've put for winners. Okay. and I there's always as Luke says there's always a big casualty I don't think Netherlands is that big a casualty I don't think Germany's that big a casualty I think you're both cowards for going that low I'm going France are we talking like that's the heart that's the heart and the stomach I'm one way down I'm listening to me bum on that one is this not getting out of the group Netflix documentary stuff well the Ram and Domino's documentary I thought maybe a bit more of that I'm going to AI YouTube documentary so again I think this is such a difficult one to call this World Cup for reasons I've bored everybody about before I'm going on the law of averages I think with this and nothing more so again I expect a big old fried egg on my face after this one but bollocks you go big or go home and there was a tube strike the other day and I couldn't get home so I had to go big so I know it's ridiculous and so on and so forth but let me try to spin this okay let me have a go so it's very rare although I did remind myself that Brazil did it in 94, 98, 2002 for a team to reach three finals in a row okay so I'm thinking can they do it again Deschamps so on one hand I think his approach to tournament football slow and steady wins the race and all that kind of stuff will suit them perfectly for this long and exhausting World Cup but it may not work and that's my argument, Jim.

29:51L 'Equipe have been reporting that Usman Dembele has been talking to Kylian Mbappe about his defensive contributions. Yes. So if they are going to have one of those tournaments, that's the seed of it right there. Exactly. He's got Vinny Jr. on FaceTime.

30:06Luke Moore: If they're expecting 35-year-old N 'Golo Kante to do it all, which he probably still can, I'm just hoping that that falls down at some point. I mean, when you look at the attacking talent they have, because it is utterly incredible, they can't play them all. And the midfield does seem a little bit like the hole in the Death Star, doesn't it? Well, I think the midfield isn't as strong as, as, as, it is strong. It feels like when, what am I doing? What am I doing? It's like when Real or PSG, like, who they're bringing on at like 70 minutes, you're like, fuck off. I know, I know. To be honest with you, I was, I was thinking, I was thinking, I think there's going to be a big casualty and I initially put down Spain and I thought, I can't do that.

30:45Luke Moore: I think the midfield is pretty good. the midfield is very good and they know how to win in tournaments I just think that Deschamps has had his critics despite you know having won the World Cup which was you know a while ago now you might say in tournament history and so on they didn't they weren't great at the Euros I don't know I just think there might be a few you know I'm hoping for a Ramon Domines kind of bust up and it all to go oh listen I'd bloody enjoy it yeah exactly I just don't think it's very likely I think this is what I'm going on from what I'm hoping really and I you know again egg will be all over my face come the end of it.

31:17Luke Moore: Right. Where England's tournament will end? Luke Moore. I've gone semi-final. Okay. I think if you look at how it gets mapped out, I think they'll get through the group. I think that'll be fine. I think the team they're likely to play, if they win the group, the team they're likely to play is going to be the good doctor. And I think we'll have enough to get past that. We're very healthy. There won't be any prescription needles from the Congolese. Then I think it's most likely to be Mexico. In the Azteca. England are better than Mexico though and then they in the quarterfinal they'll most likely play if it works out this way I think the quarterfinal they're most likely to get Brazil Ancelotti's Brazil as they've now known and that's probably a pick 'em game so I mean you could go quarters it could be a situation that happened in the last World Cup where England they play well they come up against a good France side and they come off the wrong end of a 50-50 game really and that could happen they could go to the quarters but I think semis I think they'll most likely come up against Argentina and I think they'll lose that So I think semis for me seems about right.

32:18Yeah. Jim? I've gone for exactly the same semifinals. The logic is the same. So I think actually what's happened with England in this recent generation is we've perhaps gone up a level, but not quite to the level we need. Whereas in the past, I would have expected us to come up against a team in the quarterfinals we'd have not enough for. I do think this England team have it in them to get past a Brazil or to get past a tricky, tricky team. Perhaps even a Portugal. but I'm not sure if that's possible based on how it all pans out but I don't think they've got enough to go all the way personally.

32:53To beat an Argentine, Spain or France. Exactly, yeah. And I might put Portugal in that bracket as well. It just feels like that. To me, I agree. I think, you know, do I really believe, and obviously it's not my job to believe, it's the players' job to believe and what do I know? Maybe they will. But do I genuinely believe that they could get past a France or a Spain or an Argentina? I think those are the three teams that beat them. And at some point, you're going to have to play one another.

33:19Luke Moore: Okay, so all this logic is going into my head, and I'm going, can I rethink my predictions? My heart is saying no. We need you to believe. I know, the hopes of the nation are ultimately on me. So Pete, presumably, because you've gone for England underachievers, you've probably gone what, group stage? No, I've done quarters. I've done quarters. And you think that's an underachievement? I think that is. Oh, yeah, I think so. I think semis would be where you would imagine them to be. I think for them to underachieve, I think, would be quarters. and all I'm seeing from Tuchel is just experimentation and very little kind of I think it's based on expectation isn't it where underachievement lies and is defined England are ranked in the top four nations in FIFA so I mean getting to the semi-final would be par yeah yeah okay that's why I think they're just going to fall a little short we know what you think Marcus because you're not going to win it podium podium you said they're going to win it you said they're going to win it more than a podium yeah well being on the podium isn't winning it is it hmm you're on the podium because you won it oh okay but the podium's got three people on it right where's the third where's the third coming from gold silver bronze you say podium it means top three no I'm fine alright the stage then ok yeah it's slap your stripes so what was what did Donald Trump join the Chelsea players on when they won the club world cup he got bronze days no he is bronze well anyway we're there with old Trumpeton we know what you think yeah so there we are and we are hanging on it like some driftwood in the ocean I'm such a flipping idiot.

34:43Luke Moore: Let's move on quickly. Top scorer, Luke Moore. I've gone Harry Kane. Love that. I've gone H. I think that to me, it was a straight toss up between Harland. Excuse me, Harland. Harland. Harland. He could have been one of those. Kane. Yeah, he could have. Harland, Kane or Mbappe. Is that right? And I think, I just thought, might as well go for Kane. I've gone for Michael Alise, because it's not always what you expect, is it? Well, that's genuinely part of the thinking. He's been really, really prolific for Bayern this season. I know he'll play a little bit more centrally, so he might not have access to the cut inside and bang it in from distance goal that he's so, so good at.

35:23But I've got a feeling about him and this type of stage. He's so, so unflappable, and I can see him being fairly consistent with his scoring. You don't necessarily need to score loads of goals, do you? No, you don't. It really just depends on how it falls. There's more teams now, so maybe it would be a higher number. realistically it's only one more game though isn't it yeah so for each side Peter I you can either go for the team you think is going to win the tournament and therefore their striker but I mean that very seldom happens yeah exactly and to be honest a lot of like the better teams don't really have a great kind of you know focal point so I would say I'm going to go for Rafinha because Tim will go you know deep in the tournament but probably not win it or even potentially get the semi-files but he does of knocking them in.

36:10Yeah. He's a similar player

36:12Luke Moore: on the big stage as well. And you've got to think who's going to start because sometimes you think, okay, they're going to go for that and the other. Yeah, no, I see what you're saying. You're not an out-and-out striker. For that reason... Just having a bit of fun. Just a bit of fun. For that reason, I nearly went for Luis Diaz of Colombia and I thought, I'm not sure how much he'll go for. You're looking around the groups and you're thinking, could he knock two or three against Uzbekistan or something? Because you're right to say it doesn't happen very often with the winning team because would it only be Ronaldo in 2002?

36:37I think

36:38Luke Moore: probably the last one yeah I think it's the I think it's the only ones they started doing it is that right because 1982 I think this is according to ESPN but that was Gregor's last I think it was the top score in 82 no it's Paolo Rossi oh no 78 I'm getting confused yeah so 82 Paolo Rossi so yeah oh that was another time yeah yeah and then obviously Lineker in 86 Scalacci in 90 Silenko and Storchkov in 94 Suker in 98 Klose in 2006 Muller in 2010 Rodriguez of Columbia in 2014 Kane in 2018 of course and then Mbappe last time and they were beaten in the finals so I think it's only Paolo Rossi and Ronaldo so it doesn't happen that often yeah Lato was 74 by the way just in case if you want to get that in who are you going to vote for?

37:19Luke Moore: I'm going to go for Mikel Ojazabal of Spain okay because I think he's been tipped quite heavily well he has yeah I mean I think he will lead the line there's a bit of a Miroslav closer vibe about him little bit little bit he's got a surprisingly good scoring record for Spain they've also got Cape Verde in their group. Oh, yeah. I mean, that's a game where, honestly, Spain could win four or five. So you're hoping he fills his boots in that. Saudi Arabia as well, yeah. So I'm looking at that, but I think Spain will go very deep in this tournament. I think semis may be even final. Yeah. And he is, I'd say, probably going to be the focal point of their attack, knows how to do it on the big stage.

37:55Luke Moore: And especially with question marks over the two wingers, are they going to start in the first game or not? You know, again, it will be, and there's goals everywhere in that team. And you've got to think, I mean, Harland was, it was tempting to go for him because you think Norway will do it, but they're in a tough group. Yeah. So is Haaland really going to bang up against France? Get a hat-trick against France, probably not. I mean, he may well not do it. I mean, he could score just one goal in the group stage and then actually maybe he gets a couple in the next round and so on and so forth. I think it's difficult to predict the future is what I'm trying to say.

38:21Luke Moore: So I'm going to go for Oyazabal. But do you think, obviously Spain beat Peru, didn't they, the other night? Last night, maybe, the day before. Right. But they've been fairly underwhelming in their friendlies going into this tournament. It's half England, baby. Yeah, but they've drawn with Iraq and Egypt. Yeah. in their build-up, so I don't know. Interesting to see. Well, it may be yet another category, which I'm wrong. So Luke's gone for Harry Kane, Jim went for Michael Alise, Pete's gone for Rafinha, and I've gone for Mikhail. Oh yeah, I'm just that.

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40:23Luke Moore: right next category most famous non-football celebrity who will be spotted at a match I think we also banned politicians from this category yeah we did because it's obviously going to be Donald Trump So, yeah, Europa League Luke O 'Neill on the Football Ramble Discord said, Victor Wembenyama, the NBA star, plays for San Antonio. Again, I feel that's maybe not quite in the spirit of it. Because it's another sports star. Yes, a non-sporting. Well, down on Instagram says the Pope. Does that count? Yeah. I think that counts. Do you think? I'd be surprised if the Pope was at a game, to be honest. Yeah, I think the Pope counts.

40:58Luke Moore: I think with sort of world leaders, politicians, and the Pope. we depend on what states Lars were pertaining to marijuana true well okay so let's well I've not gone for a political figure I've not gone for another sports star because I don't think that's in the spirit of it I've gone for Tom Cruise nice I went for Tom Cruise last year with the Club World Cup was he seen he wasn't but that's why I didn't go for him this year he's saving himself he loves this stuff he might be on the stadium roof and you wouldn't know running around if I see any man running around strapped to the roof doing some kind of absiding I'm going to claim it's Tom Cruise and it's a safe assumption yeah do you remember I appreciate this is a bit like going for Erling Haaland to finish as top scorer in the Premier League but I've gone for Timothee Chalamet he will absolutely be at the France Games he's very very famous proper A-lister I don't think that's in the spirit I don't think it's in the spirit but Peter how is it not in the spirit he's a famous person he's a famous person but he's a notable football fan no no no I think Jim's fine to have that answer obviously because he stayed within the lines however there are definitely more famous like Cruise is more famous for example yeah I would have gone for Cruise but I went from last summer but I think you've gone for if I may a slightly more safer answer but there are definitely bigger cards to play I've gone for a safe a safe choice I think Doide, Maga, Pervert, Magnet Sidney Sweeney okay Sidney Sweeney I don't know who that is you don't know who Sidney Sweeney is not me on the internet in the last two years who the hell is Sidney Sweeney She's a famous actor.

42:33She's in Euphoria. She's in White Lotus. She has caused some controversy over her apparent alleged political leadings. But she's basically like, I suppose people would say, the modern Marilyn Monroe, right? That kind of vibe.

42:47Luke Moore: Yeah, I know who she is. Peter, you think you'll see her again? I think you'll see her again. Dressed as a baby. Weird. Is that part of the prediction? That was the new thing. Or a dog. Marcus, go on. She needs a better agent. The most famous woman in the world needs a better agent. Marcus, carry on. I went for the most famous person I could think of. And I've gone for Dwayne The Rock Johnson. I think I went for The Rock last time. Did you? I think we've all gone quite safe. I think there's a suggestion he could be the most famous man on the planet. Trump is. And he needs the PR, The Rock. In this, non-sporting, non-political.

43:27Luke Moore: I read an academic, I can't remember it was now, some fucking professor a while back saying that he thinks Donald Trump is the most famous person to have ever lived based on the amount of mentions, the amount of people know about him, the connectivity of the world. But I think that Dwayne Johnson's a great shout because there's lots of talk that he might want to be president one day. So he's obviously going to want to be seen here. Home, tournament, all the rest of it. I'm surprised no one's gone for Arnie. I'd love to see Arnie there. Maybe Vish or David have. Their predictions will be on social media.

43:55I'd love to see Arnie there as well.

43:56Luke Moore: All right. Gianni Infantino will say... So I've gone for, we have achieved world peace through football, despite the several wars going on. That's the kind of thing he would say, I think. Jim? In a similar spirit, I've gone for, the World Cup has made America great again. Oh, yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes. That'll stick in the craw as well. Lovely. And forgetting Canada and Mexico. Yes. Peter? I don't know the exact term, how he would actually say it, but I think he will try and justify a three-mile private jet journey like Taylor Swift. I think he'll be forced to kind of defend it somehow. But people just assume that at FIFA now, don't they?

44:35Yeah, maybe. He won't get held up for that now.

44:37Luke Moore: So come on, what is he actually going to say? He's saying, I need to be at the airport very quickly because I am Gianni and Fettino, the head of FIFA. Marcus, notable thing Gianni and Fettino will say, I need to be at the airport quickly. I'm the way I'm in state. It's not a memorable statement, is it? I need to get to Chicago. The Pope is arriving. Jim's is a good bet. Yours is an unbelievably boring and safe bet. All right, fine. It's very specific, though. It's the biggest swing of all of us, to be fair to Pete. Imagine we're doing this show in like 2040. Do you remember what Gianna Fertino said back in 2040?

45:11I need to get to the airport quickly. Can you believe it? Exactly. Sounds like something you hear in like a translation book. Sounds like something you hear in central London every single coffee shop you go in. Where is the bibliotech?

45:22Luke Moore: Would you like to have a rethink? No. Stick it by it Taylor Swift style Fine Marcus what's yours? Gianni Infantino will say I didn't want England to win it They've ruined everything Fingers crossed Cross all those fingers Alright We're not going to do Total goals and cards Because Stick on social Notable mad shit Luke Yeah before I do it Can I read some of our Listeners suggestions Please That'd be a bit of fun Before I do mine I think it'd be a lovely bit of fun So Ethan Pollitt Hello to you Ethan On X He says Trump adds his own face to the World Cup trophy. And what I like about this is Ethan added an AI-generated idea of what that would look like.

46:03And it's terrifying. But you can definitely see that happening.

46:07Luke Moore: I thought he would, because he's gone for the side at the front, as you could imagine. I thought he would do it on the top. So every time you kiss it, you have to kiss Trump. No, but he's got a face around the world as well, hasn't he? It's a very odd thing. And it's gold, obviously, which fits Trump's aesthetic perfectly. Simon on X says, broadcasters will use AI or augmented reality to make the crowds look bigger. That could be a scandal. Yeah, juice it up. Because I think the crowds are going to be terrible. I like that. This is my favourite one. Haitian Renard on the Football Round with Discord said, Trump falls asleep during a game and never wakes up.

46:39Oh dear.

46:40Luke Moore: I'll tell you who would, there would be conspiracy theories about them. Matt Tissio. Mossad. Right, Jim, not for my ad shits. I haven't done mine yet. Oh, I thought I've just done mine yet. Oh, all right. I thought you were going to choose a little bit of water. All right, Luke, let's get you out of the way. You've got to clean that chimney, haven't you? So you get this out of the way and get up there. I think that there will be so many chemtrails over the stadium that you'll be playing under a milky blank enough for the rest of the game, the tournament. No, I've gone for a game will be abandoned due to a protest or riot of some sort.

47:13Okay. What do you mean? Takes a lot to cancel a game like that. I suppose you need a crowd for a riot. which might be difficult. I mean, they're probably going to be a passionate crowd. Weather delays. So maybe you can argue that Zeus is displeased and has brought some lightning strikes. Chucked a milky blanket on. Yeah, exactly. Jim, I've gone for the US men's national team to have a shaky start and Jake Paul turning up to their training and demanding to be in the team. Nice. I like that.

47:46Luke Moore: I can see it happening. Yeah, good. Peace, yeah. There was a dog that arrived at an Alebrijes de Oaxaca, I think, and Dorados de Sinaloa match a couple of years ago. Just a random dog, and he stole the ball, showed off his skills, and nobody got the ball off him. That was Maradona's dog club. I think he's going to appear at a Mexico match. What, this is the specific dog? Yeah, the specific dog. Do you know anything about the dog? How do you know it's the same dog? It's a big dog. Will you be able to identify it? Well, if it's got the name, in the Mexican tradition of people getting, the lucha mask after their father had the lucha mask.

48:19I bet he gets annoyed when you press them. It's a real Mysterio Junior situation. So you're basically... It's a dog Junior situation. Is this something you won't possibly be able to prove?

48:27Luke Moore: You're hedging your bets there, aren't you? Well, I'm not going to DNA test a Mexican dog for the sake of winning a prediction contest on a third-rate podcast. Thank you very much. You've changed. On a what-rate podcast? Peter, would the Apple operating system use a third-rate podcast to announce their new features? I know. We saw Apple of Cupertino. They did a big announcement about all of the new features in their new operating system for their mobile phones. And they used an example of a podcast you might want to listen to. And we were there. The Football Ramble. And people think we've made it up, but we didn't.

48:56It's definitely true. The episode, My Kind of Buffet. My Kind of Buffet. It's not third rate if that's happening. No, exactly. First rate. I would very much like to know who at Cupertino put that in the keynote. Can we just get a clarification from Mark? I dare say I'll get an email from somebody. Clarification about what you were actually predicting as the match here. A dog is going to spit on the pit. A dog, a famous Mexican soccer dog will be will be attending okay it has to be that specific one sorry Marcus and you're happy with that are you I'm happy with that okay good Marcus what's yours

49:27Luke Moore: I think Thomas Tuchel gets into a war of words with Donald Trump I'd love that that would be great that would be great come on then if anyone's going to do it to be fair I think it's him I think you should do it yeah I think you should start now honorary knighthood you haven't won the tournament but you have Bielsa's only going on in it so let's see if he gets in the country. Lovely old joke. Well, there we are, everybody. Yes, our predictions will be up on our social media. I can't believe what I've just said on this podcast, but there we are. There we are. Time will tell. Thank you for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the Acast Creator Network.

50:00Luke Moore: Friends of the Ramble, don't go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble Uncut. And if you're not a friend of the Ramble, head over to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to sign up now. And remember, we want to hear your predictions too. Tag us on X and Instagram at football ramble and use the hashtag ramble predictions to get involved. You can also see Vish and David's predictions over there on our socials. Thank you, Luke Ball. Thank you very much. Thank you, Duke Campbell. Thank you. Thank you, Pete Dalton. Woof, woof. And thank you, the Mexican dog.

50:38The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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