Reacting to our Club World Cup predictions

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3:09Luke Moore: Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. It's time for us to reveal our Club World Cup predictions. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Andy Russell. I'm Luke Moore. I'm Pete Donaldson.

3:33Luke Moore: Hello, everybody. It's that time again where we do the predictions reveal and it goes without a doubt that we are just winging this whole operation. if predictions are anything to go by Andy Brassel if they are an indication of what we know about football then this is where we really really do embarrass ourselves but if Marcus you're in any doubt that the Club World Cup is worthy competition this ends that conversation because if it was not a worthy competition we would not be doing our very important predictions and I think the football world will respond to this we do predictions for the World Cup of course the Euros, the Premier League and Champions League is in there sometimes we put that in there not Ligue 1 despite me pushing for it on a weekly basis I actually asked Leon to be relegated and then reinstated so it's backfired I'm a little bit annoyed because I did quite well in the Premier League predictions and now we've gone we've gone straight into surprisingly well another competition of predictions I'm not having it I feel like Jürgen Klopp is the congestion don't you worry I can't perform at this level don't you worry despite my protestations my predictions will be read out today I've not had a prediction pre-season at all so I'm not I would say I've had a proper mare We put the dick in it.

4:45It's a strange modern phenomenon that for some reason everyone loves to hear about predictions of tournaments. Even though every human being that's worth anything knows that no one can predict the future. People still love to hear it though. They love to hear us fall on our faces. I'd buck Lars. Lars is quite good. I think Pete, we're obviously going to see. We're going to find out. I think Pete, you might be pleasantly surprised.

5:07Luke Moore: Okay. How it's going to work is we're going to go around the table and reveal our predictions. Luke has Pete's predictions. Pete has Andy. Andy has mine and I have Luke's. Jim and Vish are not here. So we're going to do our predictions first and then after that, we're going to reveal Jim's predictions and Vish's to see who is going to come out on top of this prediction game. We're going to go through it by category. We're going to start with winners. Seems an obvious place to start. Luke, what did Pete say for the winner? The winner, of course, being Chelsea. Well, Pete didn't predict Chelsea.

5:39I'll be surprised if anyone did. but Pete did in fact predict Paris Saint-Germain who got to the final we're embarrassing the final let's be absolutely clear but they were the second best team in the tournament and so I don't think that's too bad okay yeah it's the second best I think I could have said

5:57Luke Moore: these are other than the notable match and one or two others these are quite binary you know they got it or you have it absolutely but can I just make the point it's really it's an important contextual framing when it comes to specifically Pete predicting things. Pete did do really well in the Premier League. I think he won it last year, right? And the reason he won it is because for some reason, he was able to get out of his own way and do quite a common old garden set of predictions. He must have been busy that day, run out of time, just didn't think about it. I caught palmer dick. Yeah, you probably did.

6:30But I think that what Pete's problem is that he tends to be too clever and therefore he gets found out. I don't think he's really done that this year. and PSG is a solid if unspectacular opening and I don't think there's anything to be embarrassed about there. You know, and if you put brackets before the prediction, like should have been the, I mean, it's my most hated thing in popular music when in a song title you have brackets before the full title. Oh, yes. It's just how to say couch them, you know, hedge their bets a little bit. But in this case, it would have worked for you. It would have done.

7:01Yes, like it. Peter. I've got Andy's and Andy went for Man City as the winners. Yeah. Okay. Fell rather short, unfortunately. Well, they fell down against, in a surprise result against Al-Halal, didn't they? They're in transition, aren't they? Really, one would suggest. Yes. They got beaten in transition in that game. 4-3 in the round of 16. The totally unnecessary round of 16, I should add. Absolutely pointless round of 16.

7:29Luke Moore: They got to the knockout stage, though, Andy. Yeah, there we go. They got to the knockout stage. So, you know. Andy, who did I have? you had what I can only describe accurately as a wrong answer as the first European team to be eliminated Atletico Madrid oh wow what was you thinking there too clever I'll tell you what the thinking was I thought to myself Real Madrid said it would be fitting if we win this tournament I thought right I'm going to go for your noisy neighbours that's not a reason is it I know oh I like it and now look at the embarrassment is mine you need to take a leaf out my book Marcus Bella It's not thinking about anything.

8:06Luke Moore: I do not say that lately. That's how bad it's got for me. But when it comes to the predictions, Pete is pretty good. Luke Moore also had a wrong answer. Yeah. So it doesn't matter if your team went out in the first round or in the final. It's a wrong answer. It does though, doesn't it? Based on your face, it kind of feels like it does. Luke also went for a Madrid-based side. Yeah. The royal one, Real Madrid, as we affectionately call them. This may or may not be of interest, and I can provide proof for anyone who cares enough. They've won it before. No, I also, I had a toss-up between Real Madrid and PSG.

8:39Did you? And I thought, what I'll do is I'll back Real Madrid in this competition. Ah, genius. On the predictions, but I'll back PSG, a little bet on PSG to win it.

8:47Luke Moore: I thought you were going to say, there's a dark horse. And I thought, oh, and then going into the final on Sunday night, I thought, should I hedge my bets? I thought, no, I think they'll beat Chelsea pretty easily. And it came unstuck anyway. So, Real Madrid, who got to the semi-final, had been embarrassed by PSG in the semi, of course. So, Pete's got the closest on that. So, we were all wrong. All wrong. Yeah. Okay. Now, we move on to the next category, dark horse. And I think Chelsea is a correct answer here. I would say Fluminense is probably the one. I think Fluminense... Chelsea have won the Champions League in quite recent years.

9:17It seems a while ago now.

9:19Luke Moore: But you know what I mean. No, I think Chelsea's a dark horse for this competition. It's a perfectly good answer. It is, but I also think any non-European team to get the furthest is probably the dark horse, in my view. Yes, I hadn't finished. Okay. So Chelsea, Fluminense. I think even Al-Hilal getting to the quarterfinals, I think we could be generous. Yeah, fairytale, given that they've spent more money than the rest of the clubs at the competition combined. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Doesn't always work, though, does it? No, it doesn't. And that's what we've got to cling to in our hearts. So I think we're agreed.

9:45Luke Moore: Those three answers, Chelsea, Al-Hilal and Fluminense. Yeah. It depends if anyone has put Al-Hilal. We may roll back on that. But Chelsea, Fluminense and Al-Hilal, right now, in this second, they are correct. Yeah, I'd say so. They're good answers. Luke, what did Peter have? Peter went for Benfica. who won their group and were knocked out because they basically gave up an extra time against Chelsea in the round of 16. I think that's quite a neutral result for Pete. I don't think it's terrible. I don't think it's great. I've not shanked it. It's on the fairway. They beat Bayern. They're not a million miles away.

10:18I don't think it's on the fairway. I think it's the first cut of rough. You're not going to win the tournament.

10:23Luke Moore: No. It's a shame. From my point of view, they reached the knockout. So it's not a terrible answer. As you said, the useless round of 16. Every point Marcus will make on this show will be about his own predictions. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because he is the host of this show, likes to think of himself as the big dog. Is that right? It turns out he's been defanged today. There was a comment on the YouTube thing of the last time we played Luke's game. So we just wrote, Marcus is not anything. Yeah, outrageous. Outrageous. I don't mind that. What I do mind is that Marcus has, for the last 17 years, somehow managed to occupy this pedestal of the good guy of the Ramble.

11:00despite overwhelming evidence of his behaviour every single week. He puts cigarettes on us sometimes. Yeah.

11:06Luke Moore: And it's a place you'd love to occupy, Luke. I'm looking forward to your answer. He pees in the sink. So Pete, Benfica is not terrible. Again, it's probably not quite there with PSG in the finals, a better answer, I think. But Benfica, again, you're enjoying an Indian summer to your predictions career. I think Benfica's absolutely fine. No one's going to remember that and that's fine. Peter. And he went for the Dark Horse of Panmiaras. Yeah. Wrong Brazilian side. Not a million miles away. And they were definitely better. So hang on a minute. If Al-Halal were in the quarterfinals, could we have Palmeiras in there as Dark Horse?

11:42I'm not against that. There are two different ways of looking at it. Firstly, they gave Chelsea, the eventual winners, a much better game than Fluminense did in the semifinals. Totally agree with that. But on the other hand, if you know anything about Brazilian football, Palmeiras were a much better bet than Fluminense. so I'm happy to take the L on that

12:00Luke Moore: Andy I really appreciate that because that is the spirit if you're up to me I'll give you a point for that do you know what though Andy I think actually I think that I would actually having said I did say in that particular second a handful of seconds ago that Al Hillel are in there I think the fact that you have Chelsea and Fluminense as the answers because often we're kind of going who is the dark horse who went furthest I'm actually going to I'm considering thinking just Chelsea and Fluminense because Palmeiras a quarter final when you have two other sides, one of whom won the damn thing and another side who went further.

12:32Luke Moore: I think actually it's just Chelsea and Fluminense. So I wouldn't have El Hilao and therefore I appreciate your integrity, Andy, there and I don't think you get the point. What do you guys think? Palmeiras also had quite an easy group. Do you see what I mean? Because you've got Chelsea and Fluminense so I don't think the quarterfinals are there. Fine. To me, that's not how you make the calculation but that's my personal view. My personal view is the Dark Horse is someone who out shoots their kind of... Which Fluminense and Chelsea did, but Palmeiras didn't. Al Hillao was the only one. If Auckland City had got to the court final.

13:04Fucking hell.

13:05Luke Moore: I think Luke's point about the group stands for me. Okay, okay. So, Andy, you're taking no point there? Yeah, no point. I'm fine with that. Fair play, sir. Fair play. Andy, let's get this over with. Are you asking me... Is the question you're asking me who were the second European team after Atletico Madrid to be bumped from the competition? Oh, good. This is excellent. Come on, just remove the pass. It would be Andre Villas-Polish's FC Porto, who reacted to their not fulfilling your prediction of Dark Horse by firing their coach just afterwards. Nightmare. Nightmare. Always nice to add context, I think.

13:40They did pull off out of a group that had Inter Miami in it. I thought, yeah.

13:44Luke Moore: That's on them. I put my faith in those beautiful boys. They made Messi look like 25-year-old Messi. Marcus, this is surgical from you. This is absolutely surgical. It's not finished. So just so we know, for the record, everyone, does Marcus get a point for that or not?

14:01Luke Moore: Oh, I see. He's got his buttons out, has he? I don't know what noise it's going to make. Palmyras, Porto and Al Ackley didn't win a game. No. Unfortunately. They didn't. I'm about to get embarrassed probably as well. Oh, Luke Moore. Yeah. You put aside who couldn't even beat Auckland City. Oh, fuck's sake. I'm a fucker. You did. Fuck it, man. Yeah, that's poor. Get it, man. Oh, dear, oh, dear. So, no points all round there. Can you see where I was going with Boca, though? No. Okay. Now, top scorer. So, the top scorers in the tournament with four goals each were Gonzalo Garcia of Real Madrid, Angel Di Maria of Benfica, Saru Garassi of Dortmund, and Marcos Leonardo of Al-Hilla all scored four goals.

14:49Luke Moore: Luke, did Pete put any of them? Peter had for his top goal scorer Mr... Harry Kane. Oh, I love that, Peter. He got through it, to be fair. Again, Pete, it's solid stuff. He got three goals. He's a joint, I guess, second, if you like. I guess it'll be technically joint fifth because four players got more than him. But he's in that group of players alongside Erling Haaland, Jamal Masiala, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Gael Pedro, who scored three. So again, not a disgraceful. Is anyone else really alarmed that Pete has turned from Kevin Peterson into Mike Atherton? It's mad, isn't it? So solid, it's unbelievable.

15:23leading the chasing pack

15:25Luke Moore: yeah no I think as Luke said it's a good solid guess he made a contribution to the tournament he scored goals he was there on the pitch so yeah I'm trying to curry favour with an England presenter I can't remember what mine is but I'm presuming it's an exact terrible Pete what did Luke sorry what did Andy have Andy had for top goalscorer Suhu Gerasi oh it's a right answer it's a point go on Andy he had enough chances to win it on his own Andy Andy you've got a correct score and often one correct score is enough to get you over the line based on what we've seen so far I think you're going to be fine I think you'll be okay I've got that key jangle in my pocket alright let's get this one out of the way then this absolutely breaks my heart I don't even want to take the piss about this it's so sad in a way this is even worse Andy's been sorry for you Marcus' top scorer Ali Mitrovic oh no you know right stop doing fucking fuck Why?

16:24People listening to this. It's a fun soundboard. Can I just... I farted in a poopy almost like that. My dad tried to hit me with a...

16:32Luke Moore: Let's just get rid of that. I've closed the browser. That's your voice AI, isn't it? That's you. I can tell that. Isn't that your voice? I've closed the browser. I don't know. Can I just suggest... Go on. Maybe Spells gets half a point here. Yes, I think you're right, Andy. Because when you... Let's hear him out! You know when you go to the game... Have you ever played Golden Goal at the football? Ah, many times. So where you get player seven is going to score in minute 45. Right. If player seven goes off, you get the man who replaces him. Basically, Marcus Leonardo has replaced. I think that's an excellent shout out.

17:04Luke Moore: Nice. Mitrovic. We got to the point now where we're giving Marcus half a point for a completely different player. Doing quite well. Potentially. Yeah, baby. Told you. It's him. He's recording his own voice and putting it in a little sound box. No, I don't get a point because Mitrovic didn't even play a minute of the tournament. He's not getting even a tenth of a point. Andy knows that my half point won't get... I won't get past his full point, so he's fine. But I appreciate that, Andy. And Luke Moore put Ismana Dembele. A respectable guess. He played. Did he score? He played. He scored a couple, yeah.

17:43Okay, good.

17:43Luke Moore: But it is an incorrect answer. I'm still not really troubling the points, am I? I'm getting away with it because Mark has been so poor. Right. Here's a chance. Here's a chance to get a bit of respectability back on the scoreline. Total goals. Yeah. Okay. The total goals in the tournament was 195. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Luke, what did Pete put here? I mean, again. Go on. So how are we doing? Are we doing closest? I think you've got to do closest. Okay. How many goals did Pete go for? Well, again, this is a complete reinvention of Pete as a performer in these types of competitions. because you're right to say the total goes was 195.

18:19Peter went for 186. Nine away. Not bad. That's decent. Nine away.

18:26Luke Moore: She's a good baby. It's good. It's very good. Peter, what did Andy go for? Andy went for, an equally delicious, in my opinion, 180. Yeah, not bad. You're up there. You're 15 away, Andy. It's okay. Andy, what did I go for? You went for also 180. 180. It's the best showing so far. Finally, an ounce of respectability, but I've still not got the point. And Luke, of course, you went for 132. You thought no goals in that heap. I was expecting fuck all, clearly. Yes, so obviously, as we said, we've got to wait to see what Jim and Vish predicted. But Pete's in the box seat again. Pete's in the driving seat for that one.

19:07Luke Moore: Now, the total number of fans who attended the tournament. It's really not finger in the air, this sort of thing, is it? It is. You've got to do your research. Yeah, and it's more than I thought. Quite a fair bit more. So the answer is, the official answer is 2 ,486 ,688. And we have to believe it. Which means we should have added another 400 ,000 to our guesses, really. So you're nearly at 2.5, as I say, 2.4 and a bit, or a fair bit. Luke, what did Pete go for? Pete went for 3 million. 3 million, okay. A little bit over. Not too bad. Half a million now. You were hanging out with Pantino. Hard to know if that's good enough.

19:46Well, we'll find out. About the context. I think I was thinking that they were going to, you know, Vince McMahon bump it up. You said FIFA will claim six million.

19:53Luke Moore: So you're just over 500 ,000 over there. Yeah. Okay. What did Andy go for? Andy went for 1.7 million. 1.7. So you're in the driving seat. So he's 700 ,000. Am I right? Okay. Yeah. Okay. Marcus has gone for 1 ,892 ,317. Quite specific. What are you doing there? Yeah. Well, I'm having a go. So you're getting about another half million. A bit more out. Yeah, but I still think Pete is just in the driving seat. He is, yeah. So you're going to do that. And Luke Moore, you went for, very similar to me, 1 ,895 ,000. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So we'll have to do some quick maths to see who's closest. Probably Pete, I'd say.

20:28That's maths.

20:29Luke Moore: Yeah. Next category is most famous non-football celebrity spotted at a match, but in the stands, watching the game, not performing, not involved in any of the organisation, anything like that. Just there. Are you allowed to be on the pitch doing some kind of ambassadorial role? Yeah, okay. That's what Jay-Z did. Jay-Z was on the pitch after the semi. Andy was talking to me earlier. He had to wander around. Yeah, okay. So Jay-Z would be a correct answer. Trump probably doesn't count. No, Trump doesn't count because we knew he was going to... Tom Brady was there, but he's not a football celebrity, so he kind of counts.

21:05Russell Wilson was also there, the NFL quarterback. He kind of counts.

21:10Luke Moore: I know Tom Brady's involved in football but I mean I don't think that counts yeah I think Tom Brady would count if you selected him Pete didn't put Tom Brady what did he put Pete put Sylvester Stallone which I think is a good guess actually I understand Tony yeah but it's not John Rambo unless you can provide evidence that he was actually there Peter it's going to be a wrong answer I'm afraid I'll check his Twitter while you do the next answers good idea Pete what did Andy put Andy put hopefully not Vladimir Putin but not to be ruled out no fucking way Putin's ever going to be there he's got a travel embargo he don't trust he don't trust anyone that would have been mad I'd love that it wouldn't have shocked me wouldn't have shocked me imagine beaming him in like on a big screen like a super villain yeah like Tupac at Coachella more objectionable hologram slightly more objectionable yeah Marcus had Justin Bieber yeah I don't think he was spotted though no he wasn't he's had a bad few weeks he's had a bad few years yeah I would say but he loves his football he does but he wasn't there he wasn't there Luke Moore said The Rock.

22:09Luke Moore: Now, we're going to give you the benefit of the doubt and that is Dwayne Johnson, I shall be wonderful. And apparently, he was there. Oh, really? Yeah, he was. He was watching the first match of the FIFA Club World Cup into Miami versus Al Ackley, apparently. There we go. Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. It's a correct answer for Luke Moore. All you ever hope for is just one point in this. It takes the pressure off. So, fair play to you. And a category that doesn't really give you any props, but that's not the name of the game. I think that's the category I'd most like to have won yeah and you've done it you've done it just so you know so technically speaking then the Rock was there probably for a bit longer than either Mitrovic or Atletico Mitrovic you would say so you would say so well Cole Palmer and Usman Dembele were spotted on top of the Rock weren't they they were the day before the final the day before the final the day before the final yeah top of the Rock that's right this episode of the Football Ramble is sponsored by Square Square is the system that powers half the places I go.

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24:02Hi, Pod fans. Max Rushton here from the chart-topping Guardian Football Weekly Podcast. Don't like to crow. If you enjoyed the World Cup with us, you'll be glad to know we're back for the new Premier League season. Expect three episodes a week, questionable predictions, and the biggest stories in soccer from the Premier League to the Champions League and beyond. Watch now on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, it's Mark Bittman from the podcast Food with Mark Bittman. It's back to school time, which means many of us are going to be busier than ever. But from getting out the door in the morning to enjoying delicious meals together at the end of the day, Whole Foods Market can help with convenient options and delivery.

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25:26Luke Moore: All right, next category. Gianni Infantino will say... Yeah. So, I'll give you an example. It's already the most successful club competition in the world, was one of the things he said. Luke, what did Pete have a crack with? Pete predicted that Gianni Infantino will say that he'll want an official FIFA-sanctioned match on the International Space Station. He hasn't said it yet, but it's very understandable. Luke, sorry, Pete, what did Andy have? And he had, Gianni Infantino will say, ladies and gentlemen, it's not a party without this man, Robbie Williams. I mean, Robbie Williams. Did we know Robbie Williams was going to be there before?

26:05Did you not? I don't know. The thing is, it was a safe bet. I sent that prediction and literally half an hour later got an email in my inbox from FIFA media people saying, Robbie Williams to open. I think he's got the point there.

26:21Luke Moore: Hang on, but Infantino, did he say that? He didn't introduce him on stage. No, he did the old Cristiano Ronaldo thing. He did a video with Robbie Williams that came out at the same time as that press release. I saw that, yeah. Well, I'll tell you something. It's got to be a point. And the way Pete said it, Pete said he was going to say it like Lou Baker said, ladies and gentlemen, this is Manvo number five. Andy, what did I have a crack at? Now, look, I don't mean to be presumptuous. I think you get a point for this. This was the greatest show we've ever seen. And you, Mr. President, are the greatest president we've ever seen.

26:52Let's make love. outrageous guess to me I think that was pretty much fulfilled

26:59Luke Moore: I think the last bit ensures that I don't get a point for that no yeah there's a low percentage answer by putting that bit at the end I reckon he whispered that bit when Trump was refusing to get off during the trophy lift and Trump held Infantino close there's no doubt that Infantino said well I mean Luke was channeling the sort of vibe as me when he said Gianni Infantino will say Donald Trump is the best president in the history of the United States I think he may have said that before the tournament. I can't quite remember. He definitely said some pretty nice stuff to him around that time. But I'm happy to not get a point from that.

27:30Luke Moore: It's pretty easy. All right. Well, a bit of interpretation there, but I only get to the point. Okay. And the last category, which one might say is the most important one, is the notable mad shit that happened during the Club World Cup. Here's some examples for you. The game's being delayed up to two hours. The Juventus squad forced to meet with Donald Trump as he spoke about various international political conflicts. Dynamic pricing, meaning tickets went as low as$13. Yeah. Over$2 billion was made, according to Infantino, by the way. Pre-match show featuring Robbie Williams and a halftime show featuring Coldplay.

28:06Luke Moore: Stadiums only 51 % full in the group stages. An amateur team being beaten 10-0. And Fluminense's general shithousery, of course, which included them having to go into taunting Flamengo and Botafogo, fans putting ketchup on pizza, all that kind of good stuff. so without further ado Luke Moore what did Pete put Pete had three goes at this three run ups I always do yeah that's fair enough and just a bit fun this bit you can't really win in my opinion well I think you can one of them I don't understand right one of them is dangerously close and the other one is funny I guess so the first one is a fan will accidentally turn up to the women's Euros what do you mean by that well like remember when Genk and Gent that confusion I thought they might get on the wrong flight and just end up at a Bucharest and Budapest yeah exactly yeah okay did that happen America and American Samoa almost guaranteed that it didn't no the state of Georgia and the country of Georgia there we are you see England and New England the one that you could possibly find your way to giving him half a point for this massive power cuts in Texas cancel a match now there was stuff delayed for weather I think my point was that Texas is really reliant on a dodgy power grid so I just thought that was good True.

29:19So one would suggest that that didn't happen, so I wouldn't even... All right, that's the third. And your third one was, I show speed gets banned for performance-enhancing drugs, brackets, not speed.

29:31Luke Moore: That didn't happen. As fitting as that may well. He didn't even turn to the final end, according to you, Luke. Possibly because he was banned. But he's banned, yeah. Yeah, well... For Nandrolon. You don't have a point for that, but in the coming days, it could be apparent that maybe you do get a point for it. You get a retrospective one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes. Okay. Peter what did Andy tempt at this question Andy for notable man shit due to intense fatigue even Chelsea run out of goalkeepers it's a wrong answer they did have to play Robert Sanchez in the final how good was he though enjoy it Andy what did I have you put Phil Brown turned up on his army nice for banter that's coffee in there that's very good that's the stuff you know I think I think it's quite clear that I haven't won these predictions, but I think I've won the argument.

30:20Luke Moore: You've won the hearts of mine. Before you do mine, can I just make a very quick point about mine? Go on. Just so you know, as a matter of public record, for the last three Premier League seasons in a row, I have always traditionally gone for a team will lose a game 10-0. Yeah. Right? Oh, you didn't do it. I didn't do that this time. And what fucking happened? And what happened? Oh, no. So notable mad shit, Donald Trump will be on the pitch after the final. I don't think you can have a point for that because it's so obvious. We knew that was going to be the case. You knew he was going to be in the trophy presentation and therefore...

30:48Luke Moore: Do you know, my thinking was... You have to be more expansive with your answer. I'm happy to not take a point. Good. But I think that my reasoning there was I thought there was a reasonable chance and it kind of did almost happen that he wouldn't end up turning up because he was worried he'd get booed so much. And he did get booed a lot during the game, during the final. So I thought, oh, him kind of leaning into it and get on the pitch. I was going to say something about an assassination attempt, but I didn't bother. Thank goodness. We'll never know what you really thought. Yeah. but I think I don't think it was absolutely cut and dried he would have been on the pitch oh come on you reckon it always going to happen I do he was always going to do the trophy presentation what do you think Pete I don't know he gets bored easily doesn't he he's a UFC guy he probably would I wasn't 100 % that he was going to turn up for any of these matches to be honest Andy same so we're saying Luke and I don't think he should get a point well I'm here to I'm here to have a nice time Pete and Andy what do you think what was written down what was the exact sentence that was written down Donald Trump will be on the pitch after the final.

31:48Well, they got it. Yeah. Yeah. That's the point, isn't it? Hit that button, big boy. All right. That's the point. Thank you very much. Is that going to be the win?

31:54Luke Moore: Oh, we've got to find out because Jim and Vish. So, yeah. So, we're going to do Jim and Vish's predictions now. So, the scores were, Andy, you're on two. Luke, you're on two. You know, you could be sharing the predictions trophy. The trophy with a key. We've got a key each. Yeah. Pete's on zero, but he's still in it, though, because total goals and... Total fans. Total fans. Exactly, yeah. and so Pete, you could join them. But we are going to do Jim's predictions and Vicious predictions now. So we could have an outright winner. Take it away, Jim's predictions. Okay, so for the winner, Jim, these are going to be fairly straightforward.

32:27We'll go through them pretty quick so you can get on your buttons. Oh yeah. Jim had for the winner at Bayern Munich. The dark horse, Jim went for Botafogo who did qualify out of the group. And did beat PSG? Yeah, they did in the group stage but they didn't get much further because they were beaten by Palmeiras in the second round. And Jim, again, top goal scorer, Harry Kane. But not too bad. Total goals, 161. Still, Pete is in the driving seat. So no point for that. Now, Jim's for the total number of fans who attended the tournament. He's gone for 1.6 million. So Pete's still the closest. Yeah, Pete's still the closest.

33:04Most famous celebrity spotted at a match. I can see where he's going with this. I don't think we can give him a point for it. He went for Tom Cruise. Yeah, I don't think Tom Cruise was spotted, was he? He wasn't. Not according to our reporting. Gianni Infantino will say it's been such a success that Canada and Mexico should become part of the US. Again, not happened. A notable mad shit, Jim's just written Tom Cruise.

33:27Luke Moore: I love that. He's watching Tom Cruise film. But if he, you know... Jim was watching Mission Impossible at the time. But if old Tommy turned up, he would have been quids in there. It was a low percentage play, a high risk, high reward. Right, so Jim joins me on Zero Points. Nice to have a bit of company, if I'm honest. Thank you, Jim. In terms of the great Denise Welsh, dive in, it's lovely. It's an off-air conversation. Crack on. Do crack on.

33:57Not our story to tell, but crack on.

34:07Sorry, go on.

34:11Time-wise, he could have been Matt Healy's dad.

34:20Luke Moore: Okay. Which is predictions.

34:25Okay. Winner, he went for Real Madrid. They didn't win it, Marcus. They didn't win it. They got knocked out by PSG. They were humbled.

34:32Luke Moore: Dark Horse, he went for Chelsea. He gets a point. He got a point. Well done. Impressive. Well done, baby. Top scorer, he went for Kylian Mbappe. No. Total goals, 126. No. Total number of fans who attend the tournament, 127. Press the button. Is that 127? Is that 1.27? Either way, it's no way to get to worry about it. Peter, what I've been handed just says three numbers altogether that form 127. So that means Pete's won total goals and total number of fans. So Pete's... I'm back in the non-driving seat. There's a few more categories. Vish could still win this. most famous celebrity spotted at a match.

35:10Luke Moore: He also went for Tom Cruise. It's incorrect. Very cruisy. Very popular guess. Gianni Infantino will say something in botched Spanish. I mean, he probably did, but it wasn't near a microphone, so you can't guarantee that. And notable mad shit, Vish put Job Bellingham and Jude Bellingham will go in for a 50-50 and tackle each other so hard that they just become one super player. A mega Bellingham. Yeah, a bit like... A big Bellingham. Station in... A big, beautiful Bellingham. Bill and Ted's bogus journey. Yes. Yeah, okay. Nice reference. Sorry, did that happen or not? It didn't because Job was banned.

35:44Luke Moore: Oh, there's a suspension. Suspended for the game. So we didn't get to see that, sadly. I could have done. Yeah. So, ladies and gentlemen, the winners of the Club World Cup predictions, and kind of shame on them for doing so, are the three gentlemen who are in the studio with me. Yes, guys. Me, Pete and Andy. Yeah, well done. We're sharing them. We're getting a key each for the trophy. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I do think that you're lucky to be in there because your note or merge, it was, you know, I think there's a stewards inquiry there. Well, you put it to the table. No, I think that's absolutely fine, to be honest.

36:12Luke Moore: Let's hope that we're still waiting on the iShowSpeed ban. Yeah, exactly. So Pete could be crowned the winner in a few days' time. It's a Nottingham Forest Crystal Palace situation. It really is. But we can all blame John Texter. I would also say, if the Belly-Hams come out by the end of this week and they've formed into one super player, then Vish gets on a podium with you. Vish gets a retrospective point. Yeah, okay, fine, fine, fine. I think one thing is clear, Jim and I have gone home packing. Oh, big time. And a credit to us. Yeah. I blame Diego Simeone. I do as well. I blame Tom Cruise, letting you all down.

36:43Luke Moore: Yeah. Disgusting. Before we end today's show, there is one very, very important thing to say. Today marks Andy Brassel's last episode of the Football Ramble. Boo. Does it? Yeah. Oh, my God. Luke, you do not finger Marcus's sound bod. I will not have this. As a general rule, yeah. And I think it is really, really fitting that Andy, you're a fine journalist, a fine man, quite frankly. Multilingual, it's just one of his many, many strengths. Tall, sexy, looks like Sean Derrick, a better looking Sean Derrick. We want to be clear about that. He loves a bit of hot yoga. Norse Goldie. With Goldie, yeah.

37:25Luke Moore: You once had your microphone chucked in a river by Christian Ronaldo. There's a lot there. But Andy, you joined us back in 2020 and we knew you for years before that, of course. and you've done stuff with it. But it genuinely has been a pleasure, not just working with you, but you have wonderful insight into football. You shed light on things. We've had a bloody good laugh as well. Do you feel it fitting that after all this time, when you've quite literally lowered yourself to come to us? Yes, I agree. This is Robert Prozinecki at Portsmouth. Bit of big time. Right? Before they went on to get relegated again.

37:58Luke Moore: Meet Trump at Fulham. Yeah, I've been dying for him. That's a terrible thing to say. Despite the Prozinecki at Portsmouth thing, I've been denied the pleasure of smoking in the studio but do you feel though after what you've done for us what you've given us it is fitting that your very last show was a Club World Cup predictions review which you won where Tom Cruise was mentioned 15 times for some reason is that part of the reason why you thought I'm done with this I cannot besmirch my good name anymore it's like completed it mate yeah it's everything I ever dreamed of if I thought for a second I wouldn't be seeing you as much as I usually do.

38:35I would be absolutely gutted, Andy. You are going to be continuing doing shows with us. So I'm more than happy to accept a little less Andy in my life. But as long as I don't, I get zero in my week. From my point of view, Andy is you are the best European football journalist in the world. And I mean that sincerely, bar none, bar none. But the thing that makes me love working with you so much is that you wear that knowledge really lightly. You've got a great sense of humour about you. and more importantly, you're a fantastic human being. I wouldn't actually, I was thinking about this on the way in this morning, knowing it was going to be your last show today.

39:11And I was thinking to myself, is there a better human being I've ever worked with since I left university and came to London in 2004? And I honestly couldn't think of a better human being. And that is the most sincere tribute. I promise you that is absolutely the case. So you are brilliant. You're amazing at what you do. There's no one knows more about football than you. and I fucking mean that sincerely none of those other pretenders out there do and you're a better bloke than Pete and me apparently and you are Andy is the best guy like people don't get it because I don't know him we know him he's the fucking best guy and not in a thick way like you know simple people no but like yourself like myself it's easy to be nice when you're simple so Andy we're pleased you're going to be sticking around other stuff and Marcus is going to go into detail on that in a bit in a minute but from the bottom of my heart thank you for everything you've done for us I know I've given you a lot of shit on the show but it's all in good spirit and we just wouldn't be here without you.

40:04But most importantly, you're a great guy. You're great with all the production stuff. Everyone loves you. I've never met anyone to say a bad thing about you. And trust me, when you're me, that jars. Best thing to come out of that Chinese lab in 2020.

40:17Luke Moore: That's it. Andy, you are going to be doing more podcasts, of course, videos and interviews, more than ever with On the Continent, which is the home of European football. So you're staying part of the family. Exactly. It's important. you are a part of this dirty set up Andy no matter how much you want to distance yourself still got teeth in but genuinely Andy from all of us and from all the listeners around the world thank you so much my good man as I agree with everything Luke says just yeah thank you so much for being involved thank you guys it's been an amazing five years and you know what Paul McCartney said the worst thing about being in the Beatles is you don't get to watch the Beatles play live so now I'm just going to go back to what I always was listening to the Rambler as a fan which is going to be absolutely delightful I have to say thank you to the listeners as well who've been really great who are really great when I see them out and about as well I will be dipping into the Discord so I'm kind of I won't be on the Rambler anymore but like you you'll be on the Patreon it's a Patreon you get ad free on the continent exactly you can put a question on the mailbag if you want you've still got don't do that you've still got your office fob is what we're saying yeah okay yes thank you you guys you're a delight well thank you for you good listeners for tuning in to today's Football Ramble plenty of good stuff for you to enjoy this week on the Ramble feed tomorrow and Thursday we'll be releasing two brand new best of the Football Ramble episodes from the 2024 25 season now it's finally come to an end and then we'll be back on Friday for another round of Luke's game right it's time to go thank you from me thank you from you thank you Thank you from Pete Donaldson.

41:58Luke Moore: Thank you. And for the last time, thank you, Andy Brassel. Thank you.

42:07I knew you were going to do that. I knew you were going back on the head.

42:20The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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