The American dream | 2026 FIFA World Cup

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3:19Luke Moore: Star Spangled Banter, everybody Welcome to the Football Ramble Canada got a point and the US cruised to a famous win It's Saturday 13th of June, I'm Marcus Speller I'm Luke Moore And I'm the Dushin of Hunter Roger

3:43Wow Wow

3:46Luke Moore: The hosts, the big hosts and the other hosts are all up and running. Yes. But the main hosts, my goodness. How about that, boys? The main hosts? Yeah. Okay. They've got the most venues. Okay, yeah. I think that's fair. What about America's hat and America's beard? They're the biggest hosts we've got the most venues. Oh, for fuck's sake. Get them knocked out so he stops doing that.

4:06Marcus Speller: Would you say by America's performance, they doffed their cap, their Canada, to the world and said, welcome. And stroked their beard.

4:16Luke Moore: Yes, yeah. I'll tell you what, I've been listening to that. I don't know if Mexico liked being called America's beard or if anyone even calls them that, but I know that the Canadians don't like being called America's hat. America's beanie.

4:28Marcus Speller: That's good. Doesn't look like a beanie though, doesn't it? With Alaska being like the little ear that comes out the top.

4:34Luke Moore: Yeah, there we are. All makes sense at the end, everybody. We've got to start with USA. The US men's national team, they gubbed Paraguay at 4-1. It was a gubbing as well. It was a total gubbing. Yeah. It was an absolute gubbing. Drubbing is another one that rhymes with gubbing. US, they equalled their best ever win at a Men's World Cup, matching the 3-0 victories against Paraguay and Belgium in 1930. Can I just say it was a panelling as well? Yeah. It was a panelling. Andy Brasso would say that. That's a good word. Yeah, absolutely panelled Paraguay. Yeah, it's the most goals they've ever scored in a World Cup game, isn't it?

5:07Luke Moore: It is. It was a very, very impressive performance. I think you have to say that first 45 minutes, I think that's the best I've seen the US play oh yeah 100 % it was relentless I tell you them and Canada we'll get on to Canada a bit but the energy levels as well it was just everyone's going on about the heat everyone's going on about are you fatigued well let's show them what we've got because I was hoping it would be a good game I was hoping we'd have a couple of good games yesterday because I obviously listened to yesterday's show and all I heard was you having to go out and suit checks kids and I thought oh this is going to be a long tour we did do that you and Pete did that

5:39Marcus Speller: you did a bit as well you were hosting it you didn't stop them they're guests that you fail to control Marcus

5:45Luke Moore: innocent bystander so it's good to get some good football under our belts just following the running order it's good to get some good football under our belts but look I don't know if I really knew what to expect from the US coming into this because they either embrace the pressure or they kind of crumble under it and there's been a lot of storylines coming into this tournament on and off the pitch around this team and around the country generally but they seem to just from the very off they were erratic they were just very very difficult to contain and you've got to put it in context right you might want to watch you might watch that and go well Paraguay must be a poor side I think they're 41st in the world which isn't actually bad but they're record in qualifying they beat Argentina they beat Brazil I think only Ecuador can see fewer goals than them they're the same kind of defensive record as Argentina they're a proper side yeah and they had absolutely no answer to what the US repeatedly brought to the table over and over again.

6:43Couldn't deal with it. They couldn't.

6:44Luke Moore: No. Former Arsenal man Florian Balogun was amongst it. He was. He was, yeah. A couple of goals. That second one I want to finish.

6:53Marcus Speller: Lovely finish. Proper top binge. Lovely. He's a good two-footed finisher. I wouldn't say his hold-up play or his play outside the box is particularly two-footed but you get him in there.

7:03Luke Moore: Good to get some critique in there as well. Yeah.

7:05Marcus Speller: But I think Honestly, fuck him. Yeah. Bring him back down to earth. I think the point is that he is a proper shooter. He's one of those players where... He's a proper what? Shooter! Yes, yeah. More of Bublé later, though. Yes! But he obviously works really well with their front line. The energy side of it, that midfield three, they're just not going to stop running, are they? No. Tillman, McKinney and Adams, I think they're like... Especially Adams, we've seen a fair bit of him over here, but McKinney and how influential he can be now in that final third I mean we saw it there with that own goal was a really shit way to start a game was yeah but they'd be delighted with that get yourself off the mark if they're going to kick it in for us brilliant yeah exactly I think if you weren't I mean because of the the final the Gio Reigny goal was a fucking beauty as well lovely so they ticked all the boxes really I think going forward I mean I suppose the one thing you would level up them is that they weren't really tested going back towards their own goal.

8:09They need to see what they like defensively, although they've got...

8:11Luke Moore: They'll have a chance with that against Turkey. They've got some seasoned operators in there. I'm seeing all sorts of teams I don't want Inger to play already. Yeah, I know, yeah. I thought that. I thought to myself... Can we get Costa Rica every round? That's what I'm saying. I thought to myself yesterday, I thought, yeah, I've overlooked the chance of playing Mexico in Mexico City. I don't want that. No way do I want that. No, I don't really want the US either. I don't want any of it.

8:33Marcus Speller: Sometimes when you're in the US, whether you're at a bar or simply in conversation with them when they're just a bit too much you're like I regret coming into this situation I'm in no but more with Americans but they're politer that's what I feel a little bit tend to talk less about politics but that is what I thought of with America I was like if we get involved with them in America can't get out of it again they're all doing their shit chants they have some of the worst chants in the world the American soccer fans are you having a pop at the American Outlaws? great great fan group very passionate you see some of the scenes some of the videos dotted around I saw a brilliant video from I think it's Hartford in Connecticut of that branch of the American Outlaws it's absolutely pumping absolutely pumping they're well into it so you can't just excuse yourself out of a conversation when you're playing against this lot in the middle of a game mate that's what I mean the awkwardness is going to be it's going to be too much to bear as you said I don't want England to come against them no when they played against them the last time it was terrible wasn't it It was awful, yeah.

9:34It was one of the worst games of football of all time.

9:35Luke Moore: I think you boys jumping ahead to the knockout rounds. For both teams? Yeah. You just said before the show that you think USA are basically through now. Well, I do. Yeah. No, but I'm talking about England. England haven't kicked a ball yet.

9:47Marcus Speller: You predicted England to win it. Yeah, I know.

9:49Luke Moore: And I don't want you to get in the way of that. I mean, yeah, with this victory, barring a disaster, you probably would think USA have got at least a big toe. Australia next. Australia next. In fact, they'd be favorites for that. Yeah, absolutely, yeah. Richard Pochettino asked his team to play like they are a child. One big child. Because that's obviously... With a big trench coat. Just roll up and down. It's frightening.

10:12Marcus Speller: Is that for set pieces? Yeah.

10:14Luke Moore: Childlike qualities are all in vogue at the moment when it comes to leadership in the US, you might say. Really good. But on the pitch, enjoy. That's definitely a message you hear from a lot of teams and a lot of managers is, you know, enjoy. It's the reverse Warnock. Be disciplined, but also really, really enjoy it as well.

10:31Marcus Speller: I think it's particularly true for the US and how the conversation has been in America for the last few years. There's so many ex-pros talking about what they, sorry, ex-internationals talking about how good they should be, what they should achieve. And the pressure has been ramped up with the players immeasurably. And so, you know, I mean, that's not particularly bad message to put across because it is supposed to be fun. I know a lot of stuff in the US isn't fun anymore, but this is supposed to be fun.

11:01Luke Moore: Well, I mean, you won't be surprised to know that I have not bothered to look at what any former US players from the 1994 team have said about this performance and victory. But shove that up your bollocks, lads. Do you know what I mean? Because they have been especially old Alexi Lalas. Because the pressure this US side have been under a little bit from some of those former players and so on is huge because they're the host team. The only host team I think really have had a disaster in World Cups. I can think of as Qatar last time and nothing was expected of them. And to be honest, despite that lovely opening goal, South Africa in 2010 didn't give a particularly good account of themselves and went out in the first round.

11:37Luke Moore: So there is huge pressure on the hosts because you don't want to go out in the first round of your own tournament. I always fancied the US to get through. I don't think it's the toughest of groups. But that performance there, like that's a proper win and a proper performance as well. It's not a jammy one or, you know, on another day. You play that game 10 times, America will win that 10 times. and that is exactly what the football watch in public and beyond go and that can capture the imagination of the wider audience blah blah blah 100 % there's winning games opening games and then there's winning opening games and that's definitely going to put a marker down and I think what's actually quite encouraging about the World Cup in terms of the football so far all the games have been pretty good but it's not been this caginess when you're in a group of like four teams sometimes it's a bit of what we have we hold right you don't want to lose the first game because that's disastrous but most teams, unless they've been incapable of doing so, have shown some real kind of intent, and the tempo has been good, which is kind of surprising given the amount of football players play these days and given the temperatures that have been reported.

12:41I don't know if the tempo is going to continue, but so far it's been really good.

12:44Luke Moore: Everyone's just going to collapse by the round of 16. I hope so. Yeah, as you say, energy levels and the swarming and so on. Gio Reyna scored a lovely one. You mentioned that. Both of his parents played for their American... That's great, Claudio, yeah.

12:58Marcus Speller: Yeah, and his mum Danielle. Do you remember in the 22 Qatar World Cup when he had that massive falling out with Greg Berhalter over a perceived lack of effort in training and then his parents made it quite a public feud and it really had a... He was almost at home for that. Yeah, it was a massive cloud over all that. And the idea that he gets to have this moment at home and I suppose it shows that they've moved past.

13:23Luke Moore: Was it the kick up the arse he needed for this World Cup? Almost certainly.

13:27Marcus Speller: I thought it was nice when he said, this one's for you, Greg. That was very nice. I'm sure Greg raised a glass to him. And leaving Borussia Dortmund famously, you know, a bad place for young players. Exactly.

13:38Luke Moore: Tim Ream made history in this match because he became the oldest player to represent the US men's national team at a World Cup. But he also became the first player at a World Cup to benefit from IFAB's mistaken identity rule change. Yeah. This is interesting. So I thought mistaken identity would be, oh, you've given Luke Moore a yellow card, whereas actually it should have been given to Marcus Speller. Yeah. Whereas this was because Tim Ream was just to have fouled Miggy Almiron, who quite clearly dived. And the play, it was kind of, it was like a couple of minutes after the incident or a little bit of time, and it was taken back.

14:13Luke Moore: And the referee looked at the footage, and quite clearly Tim Ream shouldn't have been booked for that. And the booking was rescinded for him and given to Almiron for diving. Yeah, so I guess it's like a mistaken identity technically because it's not exactly what we'd expect the mistaken identity rule to be used for. But then I guess technically Almiron's committed the infraction and not Ream. So I guess they're applying it to that as well. Yeah, to be honest, it was a pretty difficult occasional round for Paraguay. It's a real kind of bring down to earth eye-opener for them. I mean, they've got to rebuild quickly and try and rescue something out of their second game because they were not in this.

14:53If you had seen Brazil play like this in the first half, you'd have been like, bloody hell, they're contenders, right? Yeah, yeah, totally. I know it's Paraguay, but Paraguay aren't bad. They're not bad. Unless there's something going on that I don't know about ahead of this game, which is entirely possible, they've given a good account of themselves, Paraguay, in the qualification process. They'd have been fancying to give the US a bloody nose and they've come nowhere near it. And I guess the only kind of, as I said earlier, the US haven't really been tested at the back yet, which will happen at some point, right?

15:21So we've got to see what goes on there. But also, Pulisic went off at half-time, right? Felt a bit of tightness in his calf. But that was a luxury they had, 3-0 up and taken off. He was absolutely key for them. Yeah, he was. And so they need to be crossing their fingers that it's nothing more serious than just a little tweak or something that he felt in there that's not going to graduate into a much more serious injury. So other than that, it's a great night out of the office for them.

15:45Luke Moore: It was good to see Pulisic doing his stuff, having Jason Cundy say that he had a heart the size of a pea earlier in the day. And then put a Greg Valhalter mask on. He praised him as a player, but he was just like, he's not the man you want next to you in the trenches. Not in the trenches, though, are we? I was about to say. We're at the Sophie Stadium.

16:06Marcus Speller: At least we're not to war. Yeah, exactly.

16:10Luke Moore: Although we do like... Apparently Jamie O 'Hara is the man you want next to you in the trenches, though. so you know the idea that

16:15Marcus Speller: Pulisic in that situation would turn to his riot and see Jason Cundy go oh thank god yeah you'd be pleased

16:20Luke Moore: to see O 'Hara

16:21Marcus Speller: next year it would be Ange Postacogli wouldn't it he'd see Ange Postacogli with like a helmet on and a gas mask it'd be very difficult to know the difference

16:29Luke Moore: very difficult yeah O 'Hara would take a bullet for you he wouldn't mean to but anyway from a Conway probably from a friendly fire

16:40Marcus Speller: yeah yeah US love that yeah

16:43Luke Moore: there were some words of advice elsewhere in the US for the US men's national team from Elmo and the Cookie Monster the Cookie Monster said have fun and don't crumble under the pressure don't eat the soccer ball maybe have an orange slice at half time well they've done all those things they've had fun they've not crumbled under the pressure they've almost certainly not eaten any soccer balls even before or after the game and they probably did have an orange slice at half time yeah it does remind me of that Simpsons one open wide for some soccer

17:13Marcus Speller: Elmo's having a rough time with it Obviously Sesame Street is in Manhattan Yeah So the rent's through the roof presumably It is, yeah It's all run sort out though No wonder that fella lives in a bin He's got a legacy property He's been there for a while So Yeah, he's from New York For the NBA Finals He refused to pick a side Like a proper coward Why not? He wanted both teams to have fun Come on, Elmo that's his personal brand but you've got to come on and in typical New York fashion after they went 3-1 up someone had Elmo's head on a spike outside Madison Square Gardens I mean Elmo is all about the good vibes we know that but if he's a New Yorker it's a no brainer it's not like it's the Knicks versus the Nets or something it's against the Spurs they're fucking from miles away

18:02Luke Moore: you've got to back your team it's Paul putting his head on a spike because normally it's on a fist yeah it is I've had enough of all this Knicks chat okay alright That's why we can move on. Yeah, we'll move on then. You're the host. Thanks to everyone who messaged us about Tom Cruise. He was at the game. A point to Luke and Vish. Great stuff. Or is it? Because it's got to be the most famous celebrity at the game. So if Tom Cruise is eclipsed by, say, Dwayne the Rock Johnson, then you wouldn't get a point, would you?

18:28Marcus Speller: Tom Cruise is more famous than Dwayne the Rock Johnson.

18:30Luke Moore: No, he isn't. That's why I picked the Rock. We're in the box seat at the moment. You're in the box seat. Because the Rock's not turned up yet. You're absolutely right. So you can have a theoretical Rock all you want, but he's not manifesting himself yet. I smell in there. No, you are. You're in the driving seat with that one. I mean, listen, if halfway through the World Cup final, on the PA you hear, if you smell, then fair enough, you can have it. But at the moment, he's nowhere.

18:53Marcus Speller: I know I should have picked paper.

18:55Luke Moore: Exactly. Exactly. And if anyone picked the US for tournament winners, then they're in the driving seat as well, you have to say. Yeah, absolutely. You have to say. Speaking of predictions, Nick the Greek on Instagram said, it's not a dog, but surely Pete deserves some credit towards his notable match. shit prediction. Pete said that he predicted a very, very specific soccer dog to be... Mexican soccer dog. Yeah, exactly. And Nick the Greek is saying the duck wearing a Mexico shirt. Pete should get some credit. I don't think you understand how this works, Nick. No. I mean, I'm torn though because...

19:28I'm not. It was a sensational clip. It was. I mean, it's a top class clip. Yeah, come on. I mean, the duck is just walking in formation like he does it all the time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's amazing.

19:36Marcus Speller: It's also when his mate checks back, oh, he's there. He's there, he's still there. Yeah, exactly. but he's not clearly not a dog

19:43Luke Moore: someone was saying it was a goose either way it's not a dog but it's not the specific dog that Pete predicted well producer correct producer Finn and I were in early this morning and we did spend quite a lot of time Google imaging the difference between a certain type of duck and a goose and I can confirm it is a duck it's got the same slender kind of longer bill that a duck's got when compared with a goose pervert it's not pervert is it research it is with what you were doing I've read your cricket columns

20:07Marcus Speller: lovely curves

20:10Luke Moore: Dirty, dirty bastard.

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23:30There was something very hierarchical in the football landscape about how this game basically started. Because, you know, Canada were excellent. They were the better team.

23:41Luke Moore: Talk about energy levels. They were right up there. Everything. Relentless. It was actually kind of similar in performance to the US performance. They just didn't get the goals. Particularly that second half. Yeah. And then, like, there's this kind of very, like I say, hierarchical idea that a European nation, who are quite hard and physical, we're just like cornering, flick on, bang. That's how you do it. That's how we've done it for years. right so stop your fucking nonsense this is how this sport works but I was delighted that Canelo got back into the game because they deserved at least a point for sure there was actually a moment where Bosnia could have gone two zip ahead one on one he kind of dilly-died on it a bit the keeper did well but he was given a chance to make the save the keeper he should have been dispatched and if it had been 2-0 that would have been an absolute sick enough well I thought to myself I worried and I thought are we going to be saying at the end of the game oh they were they were too inexperienced the experience of Bosnia I mean Bosnia quite far down in the rankings you love the rankings now well I'm just trying to is this your new Premier League table the FIFA rankings don't lie he's a FIFA guy through and through are they still sponsored by Coca-Cola the FIFA rankings could be they sponsored some even the rankings list is sponsored I know is it too early

24:48Marcus Speller: to be looking at the FIFA rankings could be

24:51Luke Moore: I don't think it is but either way I did yeah I worried for Canada I thought are we going to get to the end of this game where they've missed all the chances and Bosnia have been very Cani and so on and so forth. Something we can definitely take away that Bosnia Herzegovina are not a particularly good side because they were there for the taking. And yes, I mean, some great last ditch defending and so on. Oh, that Kolasinac clearance off the crossbar. That was stunning. Ridiculous. It was. But when Jonathan David missed that chance in the first half, which was, it was the shot of a player who is a bit low on confidence.

25:25Luke Moore: It's don't miss the target, don't miss the target. Whereas actually, you've got to be sticking at that in the corner. You stick that in the corner, it's a goal. And he's their star man. He's their best player. Yeah. And when he missed that chance, you thought, oh, okay. Is that a sort of... And they've also got this thing hanging over them with Alphonso Davies, who's their other best player, who he's been out for so long. He was obviously, he's in the squad. He was there. They've won him back for the second game. But that's always a tricky situation to manage for a coach when he's clearly one of the best players.

25:57England have had it. I mean, it affects a lot of nations have various different power in international football. We've had it with Kane, we've had it with Rooney, we've had it with Beckham. It kind of overshadows things because you're desperate to get him on the pitch. So in that case, when he's absent, you need someone like Jonathan David to step up.

26:12Luke Moore: If he stuffs that one away, they're 1-0 up. And they couldn't, they just couldn't, they just had no real cutting edge when it came to that final crunch moment. And when Kolasinac makes that clearance, Because that was the moment where actually he did everything right. He did. Because even with that clearance, it comes off the butt. It's so close. That was deflected before Kolasnacht got to it though. Off the keeper, yeah. Yeah, the keeper kind of gets... Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's still going in though. It was so unlucky because he did everything right. But at that point, you think they're not going to score.

26:38They're just not going to score. Yeah. They did score.

26:41Luke Moore: So that's why I think, you know, when Laren comes in and scores, it was a lovely, obviously a little flick to him. He does very well. Yes, aided by a deflection, but the way he took it, you thought, well, there's a guy who knows what he's doing. Obviously, you know, former Southampton man, Luke. he's actually a current so he was on loan from Real Mallorca and I think he signed permanently oh he signed permanently you know when he puts that one away I was so relieved for them which is why I think I think for me I would choose to spin it in a positive way this for Canada because yes I understand Jesse Marsh's frustration at the end of the game and some people say oh you could have won that you could have won that but you could have lost it as well and the fact is you're a goal down to a side which is a little bit more experienced, who were a goal up, and you're knocking on the door, and the pressure of being the home side, blah-de-blah-de-blah, that they got that equalizer.

27:35Luke Moore: They didn't lose the game because they've got Qatar next. That's a must-win now. It's a must-win because you think that a point against Bosnia and Herzegovina is fine as long as you beat Qatar because Switzerland would be tough. Yeah, but this game as well, it's the first point they've ever achieved at a World Cup, so sort of that monkey's off their back, whatever. But I think getting that goal and not losing the game, you know, you've 11 minutes to go. I would say you've got to spin that into a positive because I think Canada, this will be a learning curve and they'll be better, I would imagine, against Qatar.

28:02Luke Moore: I'd very much fancy them to beat Qatar. I haven't checked where Qatar are in the rankings though. Well, that's an oversight by you though. So if they're in the top 10, forgive me. It's unlikely, yeah. Based on what I've seen, it's probably unlikely, yeah. But do you not think though, Luke, would you choose, if you're Canadian, you have to spin that into a positive and say they showed character because they didn't lose the game. Because I think what happens a lot and it's not as easy to do this in such a short term period as a rarefied atmosphere but what a lot of top coaches will do is they'll focus a lot on the performance the play because they'll essentially say this is how I want my team to play and if they play like this to the way I want them to play regularly the results will kind of take care of themselves and you can't do that as much clearly in a group where you've only got four teams and three games to play but ultimately they can take a lot of positives from the way they played

28:47Marcus Speller: but do you not think the way that they came back was just you know it's a real confidence builder for them not least because they basically controlled the second half even the substitutes showed a bit of depth I'm assuming I didn't know they have I wondered why he took off Miller and Buchanan David was great because he as you said he wasn't wasn't particularly confident didn't have a good game but then bringing on promised David and obviously Laren came on a bit later but they bring on Ali Ahmed on the right wing as well and they just went for them went for Bosnia straight away and Bosnia just kept going further and further back.

29:21Marcus Speller: They had a chance to win it at the end. I think they did a lot of good things there that don't necessarily, you know, that can definitely cover for the fact that they didn't win the game. Can I bring something into the table which I mentioned in the WhatsApp group and no one replied to it, so it might even be as boring to the listeners as it was to you guys, but I'm going to give it another go. At one point last night, the Bosnian goalkeeper basically punched the Canadian player in the back of the head with both of his fists. Yeah, he got the ball first. Yeah, he did get the ball first. And I just don't think you should be allowed to do that.

29:56I just think... What if he did it in a pub? So let me put it in...

30:00Luke Moore: Is that a cheat if you're going to lamp someone? Depends on the pub, depends who it was. Throw a ball up, knock it and then bang. How many pints? As many as you like. Let me put it this way, right? If there's a defender who tries to clear the ball and puts his foot way up in the air, clears the ball but also takes a former's fucking head off as well is that an infringement or not? Yeah I get what you're saying I think that they would they would surely invoke the part of the law which says was it unavoidable contact you know has he done something dangerous? No because the ball was there to be won and he's won it very cleanly and the way the players jumped it's just an unfortunate one I get what you're saying though and I think it was it was quickly overlooked by the commentators and stuff so I understand what you're saying I looked at it Yeah, but let me just read you something.

30:50Luke Moore: Right, go on. Right, law 12, IFAB, fouls and misconduct. Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that while trying to play the ball threatens injury to someone, including the player themselves. Like, you can't say punching someone in the head with two fists quite hard isn't endangering someone.

31:05Marcus Speller: No, I thought it was a foul, but it wasn't my team, didn't care. Did you think it should have been given? Yeah, yeah, he punched him in the head. Twice, effectively twice with two hands. You get fouls for following through in tackles, even when you get the ball cleanly. Yes, exactly. He was out of control. Otherwise, he wouldn't have punched him in the head. Yeah. Interesting. Because the BBC brought out Darren Cam, which they didn't really explain it. He just sort of turned up. In a polo shirt. Yeah, that member of production star. That's very confident, isn't he? It was very much like around a kitchen island.

31:37Marcus Speller: Yeah, it was. I really like Darren Cam. He's a nice guy. He's a nice guy. Son's friends having beers, and he's like, are we out tonight, are we? Yeah. Yeah, it was really like that. It's hands in his pockets.

31:48Luke Moore: Less confident than uncle. Yeah, probably. Christina, uncle's great. She's brilliant. I'm so glad that she's back. Darren Cairn did say that he felt it wasn't a foul. Yeah, I think it's a conversation point. I think it could have affected the game in a big way. And I don't think it sends the right message that every time you even brush past a goalkeeper in the penalty area, it's a foul. Yet the goalkeeper themselves, who technically have an advantage because they can use their hands can punch a player in the head with both fists quite hard and no one says anything.

32:20Marcus Speller: In his defence, he was wearing gloves. True, so it softened the blow. 16-ounce gloves.

32:25Luke Moore: Although some say they shouldn't wear gloves so they would get tired of doing it and they weren't doing it as much. Yeah, with it anymore. Well, it wasn't given. It wasn't the biggest disgrace of the game, though. The biggest disgrace of the game was the BBC pundits talking over Michael Bublé. That was pre-kick-off, yeah. Are you a Bublé fan? I think he's a class act and you've got to acknowledge that. Okay. I think that sums it up beautifully. I think the type of music he does is always going to be odd for an opening ceremony. No, I thought he got them going. As much as he could. No, I think...

32:51It was hardly ACDC, was it?

32:52Luke Moore: It was hardly... Boo, play! But you know that's not going to happen. They're torn, though, aren't they, the Canadians? Because they're like, this guy is unquestionably one of our greatest cultural exports. His music is not going to get anyone up for anything. I disagree. But we've got to get him in there anyway. You're right, though. The BBC sort of started with Boubla and then they sort of went back to the studio and he was on in the screen in the background and I thought this is not fitting of the man. No.

33:18Marcus Speller: Did they, Alonis Morissette was there as well? Yeah, she did the national anthem. But did they, she only did the national anthem? No, she did other stuff as well, didn't she? I didn't see the whole thing, I can't remember.

33:27Luke Moore: No, I think, well yeah, I mean the BBC just fudged it, didn't they? She might well have. It was like in Glastonbury that time when the BBC coverage of Glastonbury one year showed Joe Wiley and Zoe Ball talking about how much they liked Neil Young while Neil Young played on stage. It's a shame because their Glastonbury coverings are great. Overall it is, yeah. But that was a low point.

33:48Marcus Speller: It's quite funny that Ryan Reynolds, obviously they showed him in the stands and it was probably the lowest profile he's kept at a football match in the last five years. But an ex of Alanis Morissette. Oh, is he? Okay. She's great.

34:03Luke Moore: She's great. I wrote this song about you. So thinking about it, I think she only did the anthem from what I saw. She might have done. I had to go.

34:11Marcus Speller: Do you think the Canadian anthem is ironic?

34:15Luke Moore: There's a lot of O's in North America. O Canada, O Say Can You See. The South Korean chap who scored. There's your hat trick. I had to take to social media to find out what Bublé was actually getting up to. And it started very slow and I thought, Michael, what are you doing here? He got me going. He knows what he's doing. Don't worry about that. I'm not worried at all. Michael, you take requests. Listen, as a performer, he's a class act. Yeah, chased out the stadium by two raptors and everyone was happy. They finally caught up with him. I thought he was much better than Katy Perry who sung an odd song with a child.

34:51Like a 10-year-old Norwegian boy. It was strange. Very strange performance, I thought. Given that she's got so many... Given that...

34:58Luke Moore: Firework. Just give us firework. You've literally been to space-ish. Yeah. They're in California. Play California Girls. It's fine. Yeah, there's that one. California Boys. Loads of options. Change it. Men's World Cup. Yeah, exactly, change it. Exactly, yeah. Jesse Marsh, he was singing the Canadian National Anthem. That's an American. And many people in this parish... He won't be allowed back in. Many people of this parish think he's a bit of an attention seeker. Uh-huh. So, yeah. That's a mild way of putting it. But he was pleased with the second half performance, to a degree. To a degree. All right, coming up after this.

35:28Luke Moore: Oh, England have been robbed.

35:36Luke Moore: This next part of the podcast is brought to you by icons.com, the world's leading signed sports memorabilia company. Icons.com is home to authentic signed memorabilia from football's greatest names, including Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Pele, Zinedine Zidane, R9, Gaza, Jude Bellingham, and many, many more. And every last signature on the icons.com website is guaranteed genuine, so you can be sure you're getting the real deal. Icons.com CEO Dan Jameson joins us now. Dan, you go to some extraordinary lengths to serve the fans and get these pieces of memorabilia signed. What's the most memorable trip that you've had to make?

36:17Oh, man, I mean, we chase footballers all over the globe, so it's a great job to have. we got the license for the Ballon d 'Or and you have to start collecting all the Ballon d 'Or players like we had most of them so the greatest person we had to track down was George Weyer who was the reason no one had done it was because he was being the president of Liberia and also because they couldn't tackle him because he was just taking the ball around people all the time

36:42Luke Moore: he was still dribbling it had just gone on forever so yeah he invited us he just lost his election so he invited us to Liberia. So we jumped on a plane, took two days to get there, landed in a random airport and were escorted by a gun-toting security man into a compound. So yeah, so we signed sort of Liberian shirts and AC Milan photos of the classic goal. And yeah, and then we kind of flew back, got stuck in Morocco on the way home and eventually collapsed with a Ballon d 'Or signed and a authenticated products that was pretty brilliant and speaking of travel you recently had to do some pretty incredible traveling i understand to get both lionel messi and you bellingham signatures inside the same 24 hours right so we are the exclusive worldwide partner of leo messi which is pretty good we've been working with him since he was 17 so it's been a long sort of 20 year journey uh i hear he's quite good so that's been a excellent excellent pick there was a horse worth backing down yeah exactly um and um he basically says i need you in fort lauderdale I've got an hour, we need to sign things.

37:48So you jump on a plane, you rush to Fort Lauderdale, you hire a hotel, and we do our authentication and signing and witnessing and all the great stuff that we do. But at the same time, Jude Bellingham becomes an icon for the first time, first ever signing with anyone. And he's like, I need you in Madrid on Thursday afternoon. So you jump on a plane, you fly overnight, but only after there's been a thunderstorm in the area, which prevents us from getting in the air on time. We get diverted to Milan. We then miss our connection. We then jump on the plane to get back to Madrid, only to have missed the signing.

38:29So my fantastically professional team who came from England managed to get there on time. So they're the ones with all the Instagram selfies to prove that we met Jude.

38:38Luke Moore: What is it like then? I mean, it must be quite something when you get the nod. Well, the classic story is pretty much one of my first ever stories. So it's 2009. We're in Buenos Aires. Oh, now you're talking. Diego Maradona is saying, I can't see you tonight. So what do you do? You go out into Palermo in Argentina and you have a few beers. Midnight, you get a call that Diego will see you now. Ha, nice. And you have to drop everything, including your pint, rush back to the hotel, grab the stuff, drive across town and go to his mum's house because they've just finished watching their telly novella.

39:19And it's now over. You go into this little house and Diego is in the back room and he goes to one of those beaded curtains and he sort of emerges. This is about quarter to one. And he's got a big smile on his face. And, yeah, he sits down and starts signing everything.

39:36Luke Moore: Dan, a pleasure talking to you. I'm sure we could have talked a lot longer about so many stories you've got, but thank you for sharing those ones that you did with us. Absolute pleasure. Thanks, fellas, and enjoy the World Cup. It's going to be iconic. Indeed it is. So Jude Bellingham is the latest player to join the collection, and to mark this worldwide exclusive, icons.com are running a special competition where you can win a 2026 England shirt signed by Jude Bellingham himself. Just head to icons.com forward slash win, that's icons.com forward slash win, and follow the instructions. All you need to do is answer one question for your chance to win this amazing prize.

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42:05Scottish fans are known for three things. Their kilts, their chants and their libations. I've been drinking since what time did I get up this morning? One o 'clock in the morning I got up. That's when some fans began heading to the airport, bound for the US, bound for the World Cup. We ran out of beer. That's my only complaint. The pilot telling us when the beer ran out, he switched to wine. So I'm going to go and have a nice whiskey at my digs and then I'm going to go out and hit the town. I've got to find cheers. That's what I want to do. I want to find cheers.

42:38Luke Moore: Well, back to football animal, everybody. The Scots have landed. They have, yeah. More on them in a bit. Yes, England. Let's turn our attention to them. Scotland's friendly neighbours. They've completed their move from Florida, where they were having their pre-tournament camp to the outskirts of Kansas City, but they'll stay for the rest of the World Cup. The Kansas City camp is apparently situated next to a notorious dogging site. Who's worked that out? I didn't know they had dogging in the US. I thought that was a British thing. Yeah. It's got such a British name. One of our most popular exports.

43:12Marcus Speller: For example, they've put up St. George's flags there. They have a lot of snacks from the UK that's out there. Maybe that's just another way to make them feel at home. Yeah, it's nice. We've got you a lovely lay-by.

43:25Luke Moore: Maybe they don't know what it is, the Americans. Maybe this is foreign people doing it and they turn up with their dogs. I'll go to the dogging site. Oh, dear. Yeah, it's not what I thought.

43:32Marcus Speller: Yeah, yeah. With the misunderstanding, like pants or what, you know, are they trousers? Or underwear, yeah. Oh, yeah. Take off your pants and jacket. Sorry, what do you mean? Yeah. There's got to be a Stan Collymore joke in there.

43:45Luke Moore: Yeah, I've made a mistake. Can I have a rubber? Oh, what? So niche. That was a thing in the 90s. Yeah, I know it was. For some reason, when you were going on holiday to the US, or by the way, do remember though, that they call rubbers erasers out there. Rubber is a very different thing. I'm not going to school and also I'm like I'm 10 so if an older person gives me a condom they're going to have a problem with their own we'll have a water bomb fight yeah that's exactly what we'll do at most I'm going to put it over my head in a comedy fashion oh dear but you said England have been robbed hopefully for the last time this tournament let's hope so yes no not by a referee not by a referee yes yeah well that's coming but no they've had their boots stolen from a van on its way to their training base two people have been arrested

44:32Marcus Speller: who are they? Scott McTominay Billy Gilmore this is very Sopranos the bus is on the way it's pulled over and then they just rob it it's Christopher Moltisanti who doesn't realise it's Uncle Junior's crew it's Uncle Junior's lorry yeah I hope not I mean what is the detail here there's apparently just some stuff was taken and then off the back of the story the story ended by saying there is only now one football left in the camp they're going to get more footballs I mean come on

45:03Luke Moore: this is Saipan-esque come on well footballs, whiteboards

45:06Marcus Speller: Jude, pass it

45:09Luke Moore: footballs, whiteboards and massage tables were also stolen at the whiteboards let's hope there were no tactics on there well let's also hope that England don't have to play their first game against Croatia in their socks because there's no boots left I imagine there's a contingency plan here yeah, at a sports shop nearby Dick's Sporting Goods that's a real great I mean do you know what Dick's Sporting Goods in Boston is fucking great is it it's gigantic can you get a Fulham Top

45:36Marcus Speller: if you don't know sport you don't know Dick's I imagine you probably could get a Fulham Top is it that good yeah I'll never get one

45:42Luke Moore: in Sports Direct I got a Zamboni for my son from there it's one of his favourite toys what's a Zamboni a Boston Bruins branded Zamboni it's a machine an ice resurfacing machine for hockey oh right it comes out in between the periods you must have seen it Yeah, I didn't know what it was called.

46:00Marcus Speller: Do you have it in your head alongside Stromboli? Do you know what Stromboli is?

46:04Luke Moore: It's similar to a Jabroni. How are we going to do this? Jude Bellingham is set to start against Croatia ahead of Morgan Rodgers. Who's reported this? Is it Orny? I have. No, but is it Ornstein?

46:18Marcus Speller: Loads of people have reported this. Loads of people. I think people have just been talking in the kind of like Mick Zoney area off the record. because a lot of the they talk about all the other reports talk about players believing that Bellingham is going to start

46:34Luke Moore: well I think I think with what Tuchel's been doing pre-World Cup it's very much he said Morgan Rodgers plays the way I want him to play Jude you need to do that otherwise you won't start and I think he's you know we saw him start against Costa Rica and I think it would be fair to say Bellingham's probably got the message he was maybe a little bit too Hollywood with some of his stuff against Costa Rica in that pre-tournament friendly but I think with Tuchel he had to get that message across to Bellingham okay you're one of our best players you know blah blah blah but you have to play the way I want you to play for this team to work and you're not rooming with your dad again dad's not in the meeting let's hope not let's hope not but did you see Bellingham and Rodgers were talking on Lion's Den Lion's Den I was trying to think what's it called the England corner no it's the Lion's Den and they were both very very effusive of their praise of Jordan Henderson

47:27Marcus Speller: Were they?

47:27Luke Moore: Yeah.

47:28Marcus Speller: Is that what you got from that?

47:30Luke Moore: From that clip, yeah.

47:31Marcus Speller: They literally talked about what it's like competing against each other as lifelong friends.

47:36Luke Moore: Did you see the clip I put on my Instagram stories? No. Well, that was the clip. It's interesting, isn't it, because I'd quite like to talk about Jude Brenning and Morgan Rodgers, but I'm not allowed to. It's only a conduit into Henderson. Well, Henderson's reportedly scored in England's behind-closed-doors friendly against Miami FC.

47:49Marcus Speller: Who were coached at the time. Reportedly scored in a behind-closed-doors friendly. Against a team managed by Phil Neville, presumably.

47:56Luke Moore: Ivan Tony got a hat-trick. Come on. Yeah. Did he? Yeah, he did. Very nice.

48:00Marcus Speller: We know more about that game than we do about Tony's entire season in Saudi Arabia. We do.

48:06Luke Moore: We do. But interesting though, the Bellingham and Rodgers, they were sat there. They were talking very highly about Jordan Henderson and basically why he's in the camp. Well, I get why the players like him. But that aside, you've got two guys there who grew up in... The Midlands. In the Midlands. No, in the same area. Or maybe not the same area, but certainly in some of the academy. They knew each other from them that were very young and they're both competing. for the same spot. But it was, again, Tuchel talks about that brotherhood and so on. Clearly, if Bellingham's starting, it's going to be, there's going to be less diplomacy needed.

48:38Luke Moore: But you have two guys there who, again, on the little evidence that we have from that interview, two guys fully focused, fully relaxed, know their jobs, blah, blah, blah, blah, and know that at some point one of them is not going to be on the pitch and the other one will be. But it's not the first time this has ever happened. We're talking about it's not the first time it's ever happened. this is part of it well I wanted to talk about Jordan Enzo but you wouldn't let me try to bring it back to something fair enough I would be I think I would be I'm in the position where I'd be happy with either of them starting I liked Bellingham's performance against Costa Rica as I said at the time I think we all did we were confused at the time by the commentary and their take on it I thought he linked up with Kane really well I think if he is now as he's kind of been implied essentially following Tuchel's instructions and maybe even understands that Tuchel isn't frightened of making a big decision to his detriment if he needs to, then in far as obviously that can only be a good thing.

49:35And you've also got a situation where, as we say all the time in modern football now, what does it actually mean if Jude Bellingham starts? Well, it might just mean that he plays 60 minutes and Morgan Rodgers plays 30 minutes, depending on how the game pans out, depending on how they want to manage the load. So both of them are going to have a role to play. and it's also fucking interesting to me how quickly football moves on because we were talking not that long ago about who's it going to be? Is it going to be Palmer? Is it going to be Foden? Is it going to be Rodgers? Oh, it might be Rodgers.

50:01Oh, it is Rodgers. Oh, now it's Bellingham. So the whole thing just moves on so fast. We've got an embarrassment of riches in that area of the field so we've got to see how it pans out. Look, England, we'll do a proper preview of England starting next week but it's interesting to me this is coming out. Vish, as a kind of genuine, you and Lee are professional journalists. What do you think the camp themselves feel about how this stuff gets out? Do you think they care? Would people be annoyed if you think it's come out this way?

50:31Marcus Speller: I mean, probably annoyed because, I mean, it's out there, but I think it's... So the England football team used to do this thing where you would go to the hotel for a press conference and then you had to leave immediately. That was in place in a tournament before Russia. Basically before Southgate came in, right. Yeah, in 2016.

50:54Luke Moore: Right, yeah. Oh, sorry. In the Euros, yeah.

50:57Marcus Speller: So, yeah, they used to have that. They now keep allowed to be onside. They let them talk to players and mingle about with the players. And the players know obviously how much, you know, that they really shouldn't divulge. I think also because fighting against that kind of information comes out, puts you, well, creates a bit of friction there. I think that's pretty that's pretty normal especially when it's someone like Bellingham where it actually makes sense if it was a real surprise left field option I think they'd be more annoyed because that might have been leaked from someone who is disappointed yeah but it doesn't sound like it's come from that kind of source and also you think realistically then Croatia would have prepared for facing both of them anyway I reckon so I don't think would you say that England played particularly differently with Rodgers in that role rather than Bellingham

51:44Luke Moore: we know how England are going to set up yeah but we know and it will be almost certainly that team against Costa Rica unless he feels Saka is ready. We know that the system they're going to play. The players he's picked in each position are, you know, he's doubled up. Yeah, but the reason I'm asking though isn't really for that reason. The reason I'm asking is because you wonder whether in a tournament situation you'd want your players to be a little bit more tight-lipped about everything and it not to get out. And the fact...

52:12Marcus Speller: He could have been a coach as well, to be fair. Yeah, yeah, no, I know, but the camp, I mean, generally. Sorry, not just the players, the camp. this is important this is the opening game of the World Cup let's just keep this to ourselves the team sheet will come up when it comes out but I guess ultimately that's why Gion and Lissa are good at their job I suppose because they can get the information I suppose as well four days out from an England opening game it speaks to a bit of stability if they've already pretty much nailed down their starting 11 without having to give you the starting 11 I mean I know it's a long time ago now different time altogether but the Rob Green thing ahead of the 2010 World Cup where he said Capella wouldn't tell any of the goalkeepers who was first choice and then he sprung it on green the day before and he was like I would really have loved to know a while ago Capello was bonkers at that point he's just fucking banal that's quite an extreme example I get it

52:59Luke Moore: I think players like to know where they stand generally I'm sure you'll find one or two maybe don't say that but generally speaking you often hear players saying oh when I was told whatever happens you'll be my starting number 9 or 10 or whatever they like that now you only hear that from the players of course who were picked did go on to play that But I think surely, as you say, Vish, you can't have players thinking, am I going to play, am I not? There may well be the odd individual who thrives on that. But anyway, we shall talk about England more the closer we get to that game against Croatia, of course.

53:29Luke Moore: Now, on yesterday's show, Pete mentioned Fox Sports in the US using the World Cup hydration breaks as commercial breaks. Which they're not supposed to be doing, are they? FIFA has said they're not going to do that, I think. During Mexico versus South Africa in the opening fixture, the referee reportedly had to keep the players waiting during the cooling break because Fox was still on a commercial break. Oh, good. It's a very bit more American story than that. I don't think so. Something, though, that I did notice, these hydration breaks, they will benefit a team who are getting panelled, to use Andy Brassel's expression.

54:04Luke Moore: They did last night. And against Canada, they were going for it and they had to kind of go again.

54:08Marcus Speller: I was really impressed by how Canada were able to start again after the break.

54:13Luke Moore: Yeah. But we're going to see this. It's almost a bit like, you know, you're waiting for the bell to go. You're like, oh, we need to...

54:18Marcus Speller: That is 100 % it.

54:20Luke Moore: We need to get to the hydration break.

54:21Marcus Speller: Because do you... Yeah, it's like that. Do you remember how Bosnia got to the hydration break? They bought a foul in the corner.

54:28Luke Moore: Oh, is that what it was? Yeah. Oh, interesting.

54:30Marcus Speller: Because at the point where the hydration break was going to be taken, Canada got a corner. The corner then had to be taken because, obviously, it's quite a big moment to suddenly pause. And then I think it might have been Klasternat, maybe someone else bought a foul. and basically got the foul and immediately started walking to the dugout. That's us. It's clearly a thing. Interesting. That boxing bell analogy is a really good one. Yeah, yeah. That makes perfect sense. I think maybe in the fine margins of knockout football, later on in the tournament, it's going to come down to who manages those situations well.

55:01Because if you can just get yourself to it, if you're up on the ropes, figuratively speaking, then that's going to be a massive advantage.

55:08Marcus Speller: England players have got to learn how to clinch as well. Yeah. They're going to clinch again.

55:12Luke Moore: absolutely right yeah now gentlemen Scotland are up tonight we turn our attention to Group C and first up it's obviously Brazil versus Morocco but we'll talk about them in a minute because let's talk about Haiti versus Scotland which is technically for us 2am tomorrow morning oh this is a big one this is a huge massive game the last time Scotland won a World Cup game was 1990 yeah it would have been beat Sweden of course yeah obviously they haven't played much in the World Cup it's been a long time to have a victory at the World Cup. This game, everybody is of the same opinion that this is a must-win game.

55:49Luke Moore: You'd say for both sides, but we're obviously going to focus on Scotland as they're our British brothers. Well, they're the hat of England, aren't they?

55:56Marcus Speller: England's hat. England's beefy to hat, the way it's shaped. There you go. England's really aggressive, beefy to hat, that's trying to fucking smother us every fucking time. People are presumably on tenterhooks about whether Scott McTonhamay still got the shits, right? Oh. Because he had an upset stomach, apparently.

56:14Luke Moore: Well, Luke, Steve Clarke has said Scott McTominay is in perfect condition and raring to go.

56:20Marcus Speller: Well, that's good news. That feels very, kind of, lovely Italian Mediterranean diet. Yes. Comes over to the US every week. Goes to fucking, yeah. Betty Hanna. I can't wait to try your tomatoes. What's that? Arby's. What's an Arby? Goes to Chuck E. Cheese for the night.

56:37Luke Moore: It's just a massive red Haribo. Big bowl of Haribo. Yeah. Well, the Scotland fans have arrived, as we established earlier. Some of them arrived at an Airbnb in Boston and started playing the bagpipes at 6.30am. Sounded magnificent, I have to say. It's really funny, cunty behaviour. Yes, that is really annoying. But it sounded great. Everybody loves us. Well, they won't do if you carry on like that. They've got guns, man! I used to do a bullet go through the sack. The bagpipe bag. My son gets up at 6.30am. Anyway, so I'd love to hear some bagpipes, yeah. The sound of dreams fading. I like the story of a load of Scotland fans turning up at Fernway Park for the Red Sox game and a load of Bostonians being confused while there's so many kilts and Scottish shirts everywhere.

57:24Luke Moore: You guys Irish? Yeah. There we go. You're talking too fifth-time-ish. Gah! You're not! They're Bostonian, not New York. Whatever. Yeah, do the accent. Forget about it. I say I'm from Boston, son. You don't talk to me like that around here. Yeah, no Boston. I duly declare. I'm like so from Boston. There you are. We've been sitting on those accents for a while. All done. I would like to... Would you like a hot dog? Still going. If you do want to know what the Boston accent is like, just watch Good Will Hunting. Yeah. It sounds vaguely Australian, weirdly. Vaguely? Yeah. But Scotland may be going into this game with no first-choice Central midfield players.

58:09Good. which is not the ideal situation. Well, look, I mean,

58:11Luke Moore: you obviously mentioned in a very different way Billy Gilmore earlier, but he's missing the whole tournament, which is a real sad one. Scott McTominay, yeah, hopefully he'll, his bowels will be okay by the time... A couple of imodiums, get yourself out there. The Scottish shorts are white annoyingly as well. I can't imagine that would... Oh, yeah, we'd be having... But he just could be weak and not ready to play and dehydrated and all that horrible stuff. The dehydration is a key thing, isn't it? But he'll be key. Because I think, you know, set myself up for a fall here. I'm not on tomorrow's show so I'll avoid it for 24 hours at least but if Haiti lose about 6-0 I was going to be egg on my face because I think they looked alright against New Zealand.

58:50New Zealand are a poor side but I thought Haiti looked quite decent and Scotland would do well not to overlook this.

58:56Luke Moore: Yeah, absolutely. I think everyone's got their eyes open going into this game. But do you know what I mean though? No, I do agree. On paper it's currently the easiest game you could probably play. Well, yeah. I think that the excitement of going into a World Cup is obviously enormous. They're here now. And Andy Robertson spoke the other day saying, what did he say, like a kid at Christmas or something like that. Yeah, because we went for your presents. Absolutely right. This game has to be put away shortly. Yeah, of course it does. But then we say that, I mean, even if they got a point, they would go into the next games and go, well, all focus, famous victory, blah, blah, blah.

59:30Luke Moore: Don't come home too soon. Yeah. All that kind of stuff. Look, it's going to be fascinating to see what happens. There's going to be some bleary-eyed people I'll be one of them yeah absolutely right I'll be setting the alarm for about 1.55 yeah but we've got a lovely treat before that Brazil versus Morocco I can't watch both can I I'll snap all night I've got a three year old at home oh come on I don't fancy any think about this get yourself a monster are you going to watch both of them snap all night rock star monster all the so basically you're telling me you're going to do Brazil-Morocco then Haiti-Scotland you're going to go to bed at about 4.30 in the morning you're going to be here for nine I'm not working on that show

1:00:03Marcus Speller: oh you're not very nice yeah I've got to sacrifice Brazil and Morocco I think yeah it's a shame you're going to have to watch you you're not going to do that Vish you're going to power through I don't know this is a thing why should I be over here on our time zone yeah it should always be in England yeah

1:00:22Luke Moore: well Brazil versus Morocco big game it's a massive game it's a really good game this it is a good game the Brazil squad gave Carlo Ancelotti a guard of honour for his birthday on Wednesday very nice a guard of honour yeah with cigars yeah he comes out the loo here he is everybody it's amazing how much He's got flares.

1:00:37Marcus Speller: No, it's a cigar. How much of a personality is the Brazil squad giving him a guard of honour? Yeah. The World Cup. Yes. Yeah.

1:00:45Luke Moore: Yeah, yeah. It's going to be fascinating to see what Brazil do at this tournament because of that Ancelotti factor. I think their squad has been a bit overlooked. I think you look at it and you think, actually, there is quite a bit of quality in there. Anyone's not saying that, are they? Well, I think... I think what's happened is... They're low down. The supercomputers are not having them. No, I know that. and they're definitely not what they were like 25 years ago everyone would just be like before every tournament Brazil were the favourites because you don't even have to go that far back yeah but the way it would work even Qatar yeah but the way it would work but no I think I think Qatar was different no Qatar people had them down to do something yeah but that's not the same thing what I'm saying is back in the day it was like Brazil are they're just they are the team they're just the World Cup team right and now because of various different kind of social economic reasons but also partly because players just leave so early.

1:01:36They're not, are they? And so I understand what you're saying when you say they might be overlooked and stuff. I don't think anyone seriously doesn't think they've got loads of really good players. It's just, I just don't know if they feature quite as heavily in the consciousness of football now, which is partly the problem. So look, it'll be interesting to see what they do. Morocco are a serious team. They're like a serious team. Oh yeah. And they've got to be on it to get past them. Morocco are a team who are used to winning. They're confident. obviously did so well in the last World Cup so well in the African Cup of Nations they're a force which is what makes it such a good game

1:02:10Luke Moore: Indeed I wonder if we'll see Neymar off the bench at all a lot of chat around him he might not even be fit for this game I haven't actually looked I know he's a bit of an injury Guillaume Ballagy was saying something interesting on the old Twittersphere the other day saying that Ancelotti was not going to call him up and then last minute went you know it might be better having him in the tent pissing out rather than the other way. But he gave him some conditions and said, you know, a couple of them were. Yeah, it has to be out the tent. Yeah. Basically, you're not starting and you've got to be happy with that.

1:02:42Luke Moore: Did he say that? Yeah, pretty much. That's what Balogay was saying.

1:02:45Marcus Speller: Coming from Carlo is a bit different, isn't it? It is very, very different, yeah. Sit on my lap, I'll tell you what's going on. Yeah, exactly.

1:02:50Luke Moore: Your wife's now mine. Do you want to be in the squad or not? Don't worry, you can keep your sister.

1:02:58Luke Moore: And he said, limit your time on social media was another one of the things. let's see if either of those things happens what's it been like three years since he's played for Brazil I think Neymar he's obviously been dogged with injuries and so on and so forth but yeah I'm very interested if Neymar features in this game if he does it will be very much as a sub or maybe Carlos reeling us all in maybe he's going to be front and centre so he's currently listed as doubtful Neymar yeah he is but a good omen for Brazil is that David Moyes has said he fancies a South American team to win the World Cup be more specific you don't mean Paraguay If you said that after the fucking USA game, it definitely doesn't mean power going on.

1:03:36Luke Moore: I mean, you can celebrate what you want in the US, but I think the South American team are going to win it. Yeah. Okay then, David. I think a European team's going to win it. We could all do that. Oh, dear. I want to finish with this, gentlemen. Pete Donaldson spoke about his mum using the word wanker yesterday on the show. Well, Alexi Lalas got in trouble for saying it on Fox yesterday. If anybody hasn't heard or seen it, this is what happened.

1:04:00Marcus Speller: This is going to be Alexi's moment.

1:04:02Luke Moore: Well done, well done. Later, can we talk about Jets of Sorden for a second? Oh, what do you guys call him? Full kit wanker, right? Or whatever. I mean, he's wearing that thing. He's all dressed up. Whoa. You did Jets of Sorden? Okay. Lucky we're on American television. Yeah, he called James Corden a full kit wanker. Alexi Lala's taking the piss out of James Corden is quite difficult to know how to feel, isn't it? It is a bit. It is, yeah. It's alien versus predator, as we were saying. I did find it funny Adam Cleary who's out in the States at the moment who does his brilliant tactics YouTube channel he tweeted yesterday the light night post game football adjacent entertainment show here in the US is James Corden and Rhea Ferdinand by the way however bad you're imagining it is I promise you it's worse

1:04:53Marcus Speller: Golden Globe Golden Globe

1:04:58I looked it up I didn't see any clips but I looked up and as soon as I saw that it was 60 minutes long my heart just sank. 60 minutes long. Yeah. Part of the reason American listeners to this show Yeah but ad breaks

1:05:11Luke Moore: every three minutes so it's probably only about 15 minutes. They should know that part of the reason that Corden and Ria Ferdinand is out there is because no one likes them here. Thank you for listening to the Football Ramble part of the Acast Creator Network. We'll be back tomorrow and every day through the World Cup so hit subscribe to make sure you do not miss an episode. I tell you what, we are properly up and running. All the hosts have played. And now we turn our attention to Brazil and the Balne Scouts. Thank you, Luke Moore. Thank you. Thank you for tuning in to Antharaja. Thank you. And thank you, James Gordon.

1:05:50The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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