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3:32Luke Moore: First time I did it for the hell of it, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Harry Kane scored the goals and Messi went out with a bang. It's Wednesday 7th of October. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell and I'm Luke Moore

3:56Luke Moore: Hello everybody it's a wonderful Wednesday here at the Football Ramble and thanks to friend of the Ramble Dara O 'Brien close probably not that one close to being that to getting the big bald beauty super furry animals though early super furry animals are pleasing if you like old Dara gave us that intro line if you want to submit an intro line for a future episode then become a friend of the Ramble on our Patreon you'll also get an extended edition of the Ramble today and every single Wednesday it's called Ramble Uncut click the link in the show notes to sign up now England 3, Czechia 0, England have almost certainly qualified for those quarter finals for the Nations League next year Croatia would have to win 8-0 at Wembley to prevent that from happening it's not going to happen is it Jim, start celebrating now.

4:41Luke Moore: Yeah, why not? They're simply not going to beat us 8-0. You pleased though that England have all but qualified for the quarterfinals? Yeah. Generally, this kind of little, well, massive international window has been excellent. Use its proper term, please. Sorry, the great international break of November 2026. We're not even in November, are we? October. Come on, it's autumn now. I'm basically hibernating. To be fair, Jim did say to me earlier, autumn is my favourite month. Yeah. So I'm just getting stuck into it early. Exactly. It's the enthusiasm I like. It doesn't matter about the details. That's true.

5:14It's the great autumn international break of 2026, Jim. And the thing that's a bit disappointing is it's the most important part of the year for Marcus. Sure. Well, the World Cup was to a point. No, I think you're more of a nation's league purist in my view.

5:25Luke Moore: Yeah. I think the most important international window to you is either the current one or the next one. The current one. Exactly, Jim. Always looking forward. You know me. The World Cup is, for you, it's fine, but everyone's into it. Well, I don't need to bang the drum. It's not for the heads, is it? Everyone has a drum. I don't need to bang mine. No. I save it for the real stuff. Yes, England, it was a comprehensive victory. Harry Kane picking up his 125th cap, equaling Peter Shilton's record, of course. Not as much of a cunt as Shilton, is he? No, no, he's not. Not even slightly. But Shilton did share a nice message on X.

6:01Luke Moore: Well, you know, too little, too late. that was quite simply written for him. Yeah. Well, you know, everyone has a speechwriter. Yeah, well, not me. Other than Pete Donaldson. Let me be fair. If Pete's got one, sack him. Yeah. Absolutely firing right now. Not extreme enough. But it was a good performance by England again. I have a slight annoyance that Marcus, you might better disavow me of, because you're fairly good at doing that, particularly when it comes to England. I can't fully enjoy good England wins in these situations because I'm still smarting a bit from when it really matters they didn't do it it mattered in the Azteca yeah but it mattered more after that you don't even believe that yourself no of course it did at the time it did but in retrospect you're still smart when it comes to look you're talking about the the new bar the new ceiling that's been there for for a few years now yes but I also still think England are a better team than Argentina Yeah, oh no indeed.

7:02And it's annoying. Oh, it is annoying. And I can't, you get flashbacks whenever you see the players and the kit. It's so annoying because to me, I couldn't fully enjoy the Croatia battering. And I couldn't fully enjoy the Czechia game last night because, let me put it in more summarizing terms. What have we learned about England in the great autumn international break of 2026? I would say, other than a few bits and pieces like an Alex Scott here or a little bit, you Trent Alexander all being back in the fold there. In terms of the grand scheme of things, we've learned they can beat the teams they're supposed to beat and not beat the teams they can't.

7:39Luke Moore: Yeah, I... And it's annoying. Do you think it's annoying? That stasis of it is annoying. No, I understand. But you'll be in that permanent state of annoyance, really, until England win a major trophy. My whole life. That is ultimately what you're saying. Do you have any sympathy for that viewpoint at all? I do. Because, again, the bar has been set. and England have been in this place for a few tournaments now where we are ready to win a tournament and we just can't quite do it. Get to the bit where it's the really, really hard bit and go, oh, not sure about this. Yeah, and that's what's so frustrating because there's no possible test of that metal, is there, until a late knockout stage game.

8:20Luke Moore: So I'm with Luke on this. It feels like there's no momentum, even if England play really, really well. Feels hollow. Because the test that we need is simply not available to us at the moment. Well, I would say against Spain there is, but had England beaten Spain... But not in the same... A Nations League group stage is not the same. Which is what I was going to say. Have England beat Spain, you'd still sit there and say the same thing. Well, these are the only games that are available at the moment. Which is why I'm desperately trying to ramp up these quarterfinals of the Nations League. We don't need a solution, Marcus.

8:49Luke Moore: This is simply a lament. I see. It's a lament, yeah. Well, I don't want to... you just sit there and lament Jamal this, okay? Because I think that if England were to play France in the quarterfinals of the Nations League, for example, which they could, I think that is when you kind of go, okay, that's a proper game. It's when you get your easy out. Ah, yes, exactly. You smashed those slugs last time as well. And I think this competition has a little something. But I do stress it's a little something. My thoughts on this competition will very much be put to the test by a very, very sort of, I suppose, skillfully asked question in tomorrow's mailbag.

9:27Luke Moore: But I do think, I understand what you mean. I mean, England beat Czechia 3-0 at home. It's kind of like, well, okay, fair enough. But I think what is reassuring and pleasing for me is the feeling in the squad has continued to be good. And I do think that counts for some people. Well, there's always a good feeling in the squad in the previous tournaments. Fine. but it's always good to have a good feeling in the squad and that doesn't just happen by chance or it doesn't just happen because Oh, well, it always happens now. You still have to work for that And I think the way you saw Tuchel The way spanked Jude Bellingham on the bum when he came off or the way he was like, you know Hugging Rio and Gamow, you know when he was about to come on you see Tuchel He's he's still got a real desire to do well in this job And I think these camps in the last three games even parts of the Spain game have shown England are still absolutely determined to keep going, keep going and be the I don't know, the third or fourth best international team out there Spain are number one, you'd probably still have France number two maybe third, whatever and if you keep doing that surely at some point in our lifetime this will happen.

10:41Do you remember that kids TV show Dungeons and Dragons I do, yes. Where the gang would never get home. They think they're going to get home. Did they ever get home? No, I don't think so. Maybe they did in the final episode. Yeah, I don't know. It feels like one of

10:52Luke Moore: those shows that probably got cancelled before a final episode. Or you were out that afternoon and you missed it. There's no way of re-watching it. It just feels a bit like the Dungeon and Dragons gang and the Dungeon Master who is in this case I guess Gianni Impantino is never letting us win. Yes. That's what it feels like. It's his fault. Just when we... Yeah, I'm liking this. We could blame him. I think it's fair to blame him. Don't blame ourselves or our manager. We're not taking responsibility for our own shit. Yeah, but I do think, though, that there is now a little bit of public opinion.

11:24Luke Moore: I do think there's just a little bit of we have to move on from what happened against Argentina. Is the public opinion in the room with us right now? It is. You're looking at it, Jim. And I think that I do have more sympathy with that view because the semi-final of the World Cup, again, said it before, I'll say it again very quickly, you that there's absolutely no excuse not to learn from that now yes it's not like oh well beaten by Spain in the Euros final or even Italy in the Euros final where you can think oh on another I don't think on another day but well they lost on penalties to Italy on another day they could have won yeah well I'm more talking about the Spain game but what I'm saying is that whole thing of another day I don't think it's like the quarter final in World Cup 2022 where England you know you're just in a in a proper battle and unlucky lads, against Argentina, it was so stark and so bad that you can't let that happen again.

12:21Luke Moore: If you're going to go out in a big game, you go out because Spain have produced a masterclass or you've had a good slog and it was just one of those unlucky days. And actually one of the positives to take from the window is that England are clearly not on a downward trend. We want them to do this and we do expect them to do it. And they then have to therefore go out and live up to that expectation and they have. I think that's fair and I think part of my frustration as I said last week is that the cycle is so long. You know like part of what makes these tournaments so special. World Cup every summer is it?

12:54Luke Moore: No well. Up to you too have they? Well it means England win one. Well that's why people it's not two years to the next major next summer. But yeah the tournaments are so yeah the tournaments are so spread out compared to what we're used to in club football like it does feel really difficult to lift yourself after a disappointment. but on the, Marcus, you're one of the thought leaders in the England space, so if you're saying that we should all move on, I think lots of people will listen to you, mate, so you can take responsibility for that. But on the game itself, we have to point out that England scored one of the great England goals.

13:23Oh, it was lovely. That Elliot Anderson pass was absolutely sensational. It was good. It's so good, and that first time cross from Rodgers, it's a great goal. And I also love that Souffal gave us a little start as well, didn't he? He did, yeah.

13:34Luke Moore: He is old. He's hard. He's old. Is he actually old? He struck me as being someone who was probably up there in the hardest players in the Premier League conversation when he was at West Ham. But yeah, that was a little gift, wasn't it? It was a really, if you're the opposition team, it was absolutely ideal that that gets you off the mark. Because ultimately, you know, you could make an argument that if Gordon was playing in that position and not Eze, he gets in there and nips in the head of him anyway. Because he's so good at that. We actually talked about that specifically at the start of the week or end of last week.

14:03So perhaps Gordon gets in there anyway. but Eze's not really putting anywhere near enough pressure on there Eze, you know

14:09Luke Moore: Kufel massively helped Eze out because it's called a goal for him yeah well indeed but Eze the way he sort of pulls out I was looking at it going get in there you know he's patient to a fault sometimes right and I think it's a lack of and what you would say you know Sufel gets the own goal there's record and obviously he's gutted about it but actually it's one of those own goals where I do think the goalkeeper's to blame if he's not told him because it's poor execution from Sufel but ultimately if you were a defender than going back towards your own goal in that situation. You can't see how close he is behind you.

14:38Luke Moore: You've got to try and clear it. Clearly, the execution's wrong. That's painfully obvious. But I think he... Absolutely. But I think he waits longer than he needs to because Huancik doesn't tell him. If Huancik should just say to him, I think Ian Wright said it, he needs to just say, away, away, away. All keepers. One of the two. It doesn't look like he says anything. Yeah, Ian Wright quite enjoyably looked like some sort of secret agent on the telly. He was dressed like a French secret agent. Well, obviously French. That would be an incredible turnaround, wouldn't it? Imagine that, he's been a French spy the whole time.

15:09Luke Moore: Spying for the French. So why did he win a Le Tourne-Noir then? That's a cover story, isn't it? That's where he got recruited. And then a year later, France win the World Cup. It all makes sense now. As it often does in the end. And why is Ian Wright always wearing that 1998 France World Cup winner's medal? Yeah. Like a military medal. That should have been the giveaway. But I thought that Eze was okay. I think he looked like someone who's not played much football this year because obviously he hasn't started a game in the Premier League for Arsenal. But what I did like overall is that they can shuffle the pack and still look decent.

15:44And that speaks to probably your point about the camp and the mood in the camp. I think if everyone feels that they're playing a role, I just like the fact that I know he's a really good player, but Alexander Ronald comes in for what, two of these games?

15:56Luke Moore: Both against Jack. He's the man to play against Jack. And was good. Alex Scott came in, he's good. unfortunately got injured of course he's had problems with injuries like that I think did he have a really bad knee injury before he moved to Bournemouth and everything seems to have been it's a shame because he would have played in this game but Kwanzaa's played centre-back and did okay last night you know Miles Lewis-Skelly as well has done very well Miles Lewis-Skelly's been great you say that about Kwanzaa but it's not actually is it he hasn't really played in a two does he so even then he's kind of Swiss Army knife as a player

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20:35I was going to ask this to you guys, and perhaps this is a bit too late in the conversation to bring it in, but I will just try anyway. Is there an argument now that Kane's England's best ever player?

20:43Luke Moore: I'd say so. Oh, for sure. Because obviously you've got the two bobbies, you know, legends who've lifted the World Cup. That's not really in our lifetime. Hard for us to comment. But in our lifetime, would you say he's definitely the best? Yeah, I think he would. Wayne Rooney said he was. Yeah, I think, I mean, 91 goals is crazy. There are very few people who've ever lived who've got more international goals than that. 38 more goals than Wayne Rooney for England. 38. I know he plays a slightly different position and you can sort of, however much you do it, the gap in the numbers between the two is there.

21:11Luke Moore: I'm of the sort of hope that he gets to 100 before the Euros, just so that narrative's done. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because he's almost certainly going to get 100 goals. Oh, yeah, he would do before the Euros, definitely. You would think, I mean, prior to Kane's emergence, you would think it impossible that anybody would ever be in the conversation for getting 100 goals for England. And it's not just the goals, is it? he was dropping deep all over the place yesterday and that side of his game is is not changing yet I'm sure he will modify it as he gets older and he needs to conserve his energy a bit but he's a proper leader on the pitch he was he was coaching kind of younger players through it last night just popping up where he was needed it's absolutely exceptional performance the goal was brilliant as well I mean the ball from Rodgers as you as you point out was excellent he had a funny game Rodgers didn't he because he had a few moments that weren't so great and then a couple of moments that were absolutely brilliant I think that's sometimes what you get with him isn't it So that's what you get with a wide forward generally.

21:59Luke Moore: Yeah, I suppose so. But the finish had a real sort of finesse to it as well. It looks a little bit like a tap-in, but it absolutely isn't. And he can just do that stuff in his sleep. It's incredible. I also think if he maintains his level, which is a bit of an if because of his age, but if he maintains his level for the Euros and Bellingham continues on the trajectory he's on, obviously because he's still so young, you've basically got two players in really key positions. by which I mean positions where you can affect games it's not a reactive thing you know obviously not a defensive position on their day they're totally unplayable but Berling on this day is unplayable and Kane on this day is unplayable as well I mean so that is amazing they need to capitalise on that the problem is England have had a history of having like on paper quite a lot of world class players at the same time the old classic golden generation certainly very very good players and it never really it never really happens Yeah, I know what you mean.

22:57Luke Moore: There is a sort of, we have to do this right now when he's in the side. But I would have a little bit more faith, although Kane maybe is an outlier. But I don't think it's a sort of a messy Argentina situation or something. You'd have to have a bit more faith. But I know what you mean. But with Kane, I think it is possible that he could play at the next World Cup just because of the style of his game. And as you say, Jim, if he just conserves his energy or he... Because his game's not about pace, is it? Exactly. I mean, by then you would have to have another striker. Oh, absolutely. You know, you would have to have a bit more rotation.

23:31Luke Moore: But look, in the here and now, watching Hurricane for England is quite something. And also as well, I know this is a, you might find this a bit of a slight strike point, but if you think about what it used to be like going to Wembley to watch England in these types of games, sometimes it could be a real drag. It could be, what was the point of that? Slow and boring. Well, do you know what I mean? And I would think to myself, I've come from another part of London. It's taken me about an hour and a bit to get here. What about the poor sods who want to get their, as they call them, caps for England supporters group?

24:00Luke Moore: Who come down from Newcastle, they come up from Cornwall or wherever. The amount of money people need to plough into this and so on, at least give them some kind of performance. So when you do see one of, if not the finest England player doing something like that, at least the very long journey home or the cost of the hotel and the train and all that kind of stuff, you think, well, at least we had something to hang our caps on. And some exciting players playing in an exciting way. Yeah, exactly. I think it's all, again, England putting in these types of performances. There were times when England was zipping the ball about.

24:31Luke Moore: You think, again, this is so much better than what it used to be from yesteryear. People can have short memories. It doesn't translate into a trophy win. I understand that. But keeping that standard is very, very important, I think. Purposeful control is very different these days, isn't it? That used to be essentially just kind of passing it around between the defenders. Now there's a lot more to it. And it was also, it was nice to see a paper aeroplane last night because of how much the meaning of a paper aeroplane at Wembley has changed over time. It used to be people are just really bored. People have come to watch England and they're so bored that instead of watching England, which they have travelled and paid for, they're making paper aeroplanes and they're all collectively watching that instead.

25:12Luke Moore: One got on the pitch last night and it was an ironic cheer. Yeah, there usually is a cheer when it gets on the pitch. I mean, the absolute highlight, the peak of all that stuff. Was that the Peru game? It was the Peru game. And everyone was watching. I had a great view. I was in the sort of section where it came from. And I was like, that is going to hit the Peruvian fullback. Come on. And it did. And it just hits him on the shoulder. My goodness. I think they won that game about 3-0 or something, didn't they? Exactly, yeah. But that was my trophy win. Yeah, fair enough. But you're right. And I do think, again, to labour the point, damn it all, that the Nations League does provide that because these are competitive games.

25:44Luke Moore: It does add a little bit of something. you're not even being paid by the Nations League. UEFA aren't even paying you for this. Yeah. I wonder how much your mention of this and support for this, unfaltering support, unwavering support for the UEFA Nations League over the years would be worth in real commercial terms in terms of airtime. Yeah. Because you've done them an absolute solid here. Well, I think it's actually... Because they've done us a solid look. It's true. It's mutually beneficial. Tore the line. Yeah. Now, everyone's favourite England coach in the set-up, Anthony Barris, spoken about his half-time interviews during the World Cup.

26:18Luke Moore: That'd have been great if they'd have spoken to him at half-time in one of the games. It would have been quite fitting. But he said, it was just part of my role and responsibility in the World Cup. Thomas does enough media. We didn't think it was fair to ask a player to do it in the heart of a game. So I said I would. If it was well-received, which obviously I know it was, that's a nice thing for me. It's a nice thing for the fans too. It was giving them some feedback that they understood and liked. They run off. Yeah. That to catch him to get that quote. I think it was great in retrospect. It was a really interesting kind of novelty to it.

26:47Yes. But the way he executed it was also, which also made it better. He could, it's down to him really. The idea of having that kind of thing in the middle of a game lives and dies by the people you get. Yeah. And Tony Baz absolutely smashed it. Yeah, totally. If it had been a player who was on the bench who wasn't really going to feature or a player who was in the middle of the game, they're not realistically going to be thinking about it and not going to be focused on it. No. Tony Baz has given you spot on, spot-on kind of analysis of what England have been doing and what they want to do, but doing it also in a very eccentric way.

27:18Yeah, but charmingly eccentric. But in the finest British tradition, I think we can all agree. I think we'd all agree.

27:23Luke Moore: Do you remember when he got a little bit emotional during the France game in the third place playoff? Yeah. Well, he spoke about that, and I love this quote. He said, Thomas and I, with regard to the squad, he said, Thomas and I both fell in love with them from the minute we started working with them. Absolutely catnip for spelling this. Isn't it? This is catnip stuff, this is. Inside the camp for seven weeks. It was pretty special. I think you've seen that come out in the France game for me. I couldn't hide it, and I didn't want to hide it because these players just deserve so much. Oi, Scouse and English.

27:53Luke Moore: Exactly. They deserve so much, by which I mean third place. They got a medal. They did. They did get a medal. They did. So it was, you know, I think overall it's been a pretty positive international break for England. I know that obviously the Spain game, but Spain are the world. Are you gutted that the Prems back on Saturday? Well, I think... Have you dared to look at the Fulham game yet? This is protest boycott time. This is what we're doing. And we'll maybe arrange a few more international. Was Marcus boycotting the Premier League? Is it the Man City thing? No, he just loves England. It's specifically the Nations League.

28:31Luke Moore: He wants to see more of that. Jim, as we know now, the Premier League is a dirty league. It is. Whereas the Nations League is still pure. Is Fulham off to Portman Road? is that warming the cockles? Ah, blimey, hopefully. Because on one hand, it's... I've enjoyed watching my team win. On one hand, it's one of the most boring games in Premier League history. And that's very unnecessary. On the other hand, it's a good chance for Flum to actually win a game. It is a great chance. Hopefully they can take the spirit of England and Anthony Barry in there and get the hell out of there with a draw. I don't think Anthony Barry will be working there.

29:01I think he's got enough on.

29:02Luke Moore: Now, I'll tell you something. You said you were annoyed for some reason after that 7-0 victory for England against Croatia. Spain only beat Croatia 2-1. Do you reckon Bilic did a lap of honour? Still in the job after that. He's like, well, that is a victory for me, I tell you. Well, it was all about Ivan Perisic. It was. We kind of picked out, for the England game, he's obviously of advancing years, found it very difficult to deal with England's movement and stuff. Scores a goal, but then gets sent off. And so, Mourinho does Mourinho things. The second one was ridiculous. Great goal. Great goal.

29:29Luke Moore: He's such a weapon, isn't he? Yeah, he is. Great asset to have. And should have scored in the World Cup final. That would have been the crowning moment for him, wouldn't it? That's the stage to be doing what you're known for. Exactly, because he had the header. He probably should have scored and he nodded it just wide. It worked out well in the end. It was fine. He won't be thinking about that now. Yeah. But anyway, he came off and the bench and scored a brace. It's kind of interesting because if you think of... We're talking about broadly, and I think, and rightly so, of Spain being the best team in international football, right?

29:56Yet they are in a weird situation. They're relying on a player to come on and do the business for them. I know what you mean. Who doesn't... I mean, he's not an Arsenal's best team.

30:05Luke Moore: No, he doesn't start that often. but that's kind of a bit of the mystery of Mikel Moreno. He's not starting a single game in the Premier League this season. Sure, but he influences games when he comes on and he influences games when he starts. You know, I mean, he started, obviously, very, very different standard but in the Carabao Cup he kind of comes in as a leader and he is that focal point for everybody. That's not what a lot of kind of super subs are like, right? He comes on as the reference point. But just to keep it on international football just until we finally can put it behind us, Jim.

30:36Is it, It's weird though that Spain don't really have a striker of very, very top... I mean, would you say, are you asked about this to very top quality?

30:44Luke Moore: I think he's up there. Right, okay. I think he's a good foil, isn't he? Because their real kind of threat comes from Jamal and Williams. They're not a strikery nation. They're not. And they never have been, are they? Raul, Raul. David Villa and Raul, obviously. I mean, Torres was, you know, obviously got the winning goal in 2008. Actually, yeah, three amazing strikers thinking about it. But you're going back to 2008, really. That's five years ago, man. You know, and they did win a tournament, but obviously David Villa was really their main man. And then when they tried to plant Diego Costa in the team, it just didn't work.

31:15Luke Moore: It's taking the piss, aren't they? Just doing all this without a striker. Also, shout out Danny Guisa as well. Yeah. Oh, Danny Guisa. Was that World Cup 2010? That's a lovely mention. That is a lovely mention. No one talks about him anymore, does it? Danny Geisa. Well, we do. Yeah. We've done it again. We've done it again, everybody. Well. People said it couldn't be done. Well. A contextual mention for Danny Guisa in a football show in 2026. in October or November 2026. Not quite sure. I'm going to check in the break what he's been up to. Oh, he's got a restaurant. He's selling seafood. He's having a lovely old time is what Danny Guise is doing.

31:44Luke Moore: Speaking of checking things in the break, we've got a little update here from producer Rory. No, the characters in the Dungeons and Dragons animated series never officially made it home during the televised run. How crap is that for children? The cartoon was cancelled in 1985 after 27 episodes across three seasons before the final episode could be produced and aired. They're still there. Such an 80s story. Somebody's picked that up. It's actually very fitting for an 80s cartoon that the ending is horrific. Yeah, yeah, true. Danny Glees is still playing in the seventh tier of Spanish football. Wow.

32:12Absolutely love that. At the age of 46. That is super.

32:15Luke Moore: Yeah, there we go. You've got to hand it to him there. And obviously he looks great, by the way. Do you remember? That's harsh. Come on. He looks about 70 years old. But look, he's still playing in the Spanish seventh tier, so what do I know? And they're going to do a Guinness advert with his brother on the side. Don't worry, you'll never lose. Yeah, yeah. He's the ref. He's the line-up. He's on side. Yeah. One of the greatest adverts of all time, that. Right, coming up after this, it was a big night for Lionel Messi and, in a way, Cristiano Ronaldo.

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35:14Luke Moore: We are back with the halftime show after this break. You're listening to the Chicago Fire on WLS AM 890.

35:24Luke Moore: So that sucked. Well, about the football, everybody. That was the Chicago Fire radio commentator being caught on a hot mic. Oh, no. You ever caught on a hot mic, Jim? Not to my knowledge. Although, this is a hot mic. I suppose the whole concept of this is a hot mic. Do you remember Matt Dyson? Friend of the show? Yes, yeah, yeah. Pete Donaldson's friend, mostly. What did he do? He got caught on a hot mic on, I want to say, it could have been XFM, might have been Absolute. He didn't realise his mic was still up after he read the news. Yeah. And the producer got the threat down and the whole nation was treated to I think a minute and a half of him talking about how his daughter now eats avocados was before she didn't eat avocados.

36:03Oh, that's actually quite sweet. It's a hot mic. It could have been worse.

36:07Luke Moore: It could have been worse. It could have been much, much worse. Right, everybody. Scotland won. Ah, Slovenia two. Sebastian Pocignoli, which I love pronouncing that way, has lost his first two home games as Scotland manager. Look, this was all set up for a big Scotland win before they returned to the Scottish Premiership. They'd played well in Slovenia, probably should have won the game, but they were certainly the better side. Obviously beat a poor North Macedonia side against Switzerland. You know, you can lose to the Swiss, red card, etc. It was meant to be the moment for Big Sim. And they obviously were a goal ahead as well.

36:44Yeah. And what a goal it was. It was actually a nice finish. He backheeled it in. Yeah. It was that or nothing, wasn't it? It was basically pinball. He backheeled it in because all the other players around him had basically run out of things to do.

36:57Luke Moore: McBurnie gets an assist officially for that. He threw his head at it. Really committed to it. But anyway, but then they just, from Scotland's point of view, the two goals they conceded, I thought was so poor. Particularly the second one, what are they defending? They got caught out so badly. Now, I wonder whether, because the first goal I think is actually quite poor as well defensively. There's just no need to concede it because you're winning and you're at home. And the Ryan had been on the wall because, well, it was already 1-0 to be fair at this point when they scored and it was offside. Yeah.

37:24Luke Moore: You know, but it's like, okay, you're getting breached now, so you've got to be careful. Yeah, and then they just, I guess they just felt they want to go for the win and they get caught out. And to defend him for the second goal, as you mentioned, particularly, I mean, I feel sorry for, I forget which defender it was though, but he was caught in between. They basically sprung Scotland, got in behind them. And the final defender, it could have been Hendry, I can't actually remember, because they played it back three. It was one of those three. He gets caught between having to go across to meet the ball and also be aware there's a guy on the back post.

37:52He just has to go to the ball. and everyone else is so far behind play that they just get caught out. It was, yeah, it was a shame because I think that, because the way Poncognoli's been talking about how much you loved taking the job and how excited he is to manage games at Hamden and obviously it's not gone well, but then I guess they're at the start of a new journey, aren't they? Because Clark was in there for a long time. Do you know why didn't they play Bowie from the start?

38:17Luke Moore: I don't know. I think, I mean, what I do like, you know, obviously, I don't want to overdo this, but I like the fact that he played Ganondouk on that side, you know, Robertson on the other side with his sort of wingbacks, if you see what I mean, because again, he likes the sort of 3-4-2-1. They've got lots of good players. That's the thing. You shouldn't be losing to Slovenia at home. It shouldn't be. There were two slick goals from Slovenia. I think credit to them there, but you're right. I mean, they certainly, they left the door open for them to be slick in that regard, right? I mean, they zipped the ball up the pick pretty fast there, which I think was a little bit of a shock in terms of the first one.

38:55Luke Moore: Sure, but... No, I get what you say. I think, you know, it's difficult. Because Scotland, obviously, the clerk was in charge for a long, long time. So this is a new regime, new manager coming in, and all that comes with that. So I was just disappointed for them, because to me, this was all set up for, right, get that victory. You know, after what happened against Switzerland, get that victory, and you go into, you know, back to club football, and you can look forward to the next international break, which is just next month, Jimmy. That's the one I was thinking of earlier. I was so excited. A top two finish looks unlikely for Scotland and every position counts in the Nations League.

39:31Luke Moore: That's the way they've done it because this means they will probably have to play a relegation playoff and win to avoid going down to the third tier of the Nations League, which would be quite damning for a team, you know. They're a second to a side. They're a second to a side and it does go into qualification for the European Championship. It also becomes this sort of kind of negative churn, doesn't it? It's almost like quicksand in this regard, in that they are then regularly testing themselves against poorer opposition, so the opportunities for progression are less. It's slightly for their own making, though, isn't it?

40:02Luke Moore: I thought the keeper has to do better for the first one. I thought about saying that a second ago. A couple of moments like that that have really cost them. Yeah. Indeed. Did you like it, though, that the last four permanent Scotland managers, Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish, Steve Clarke, And obviously, Pocignoli came together to give Andy Robertson a shirt to commemorate his 100 caps of Scotland. Well, he's been an amazing servant to them. He's been a brilliant pro. It's a fitting thing. It is a very fitting thing. Elsewhere in the Nations League, let's go all the way down to the bottom tier, where Bulgaria beat Luxembourg 2-0, witnessed by Pete Donaldson and Vardushin Hantharaja.

40:38Are they coming back or not bothering?

40:40Luke Moore: Well, we shall find out. But I'll tell you something. If you've not been keeping up with their travels and their journey on our Instagram stories, please do because there's some very enjoyable content there. They're having a lovely little romantic time in Luxembourg, aren't they? It has been quite romantic, hasn't it? It has been a bit. Do you know what? I don't know why I found it so funny. That when they arrived, they obviously went to their Airbnb, and when they went out to have a little drink and go to the match, Vish had a proper nice shirt on. As if it's date night. You know when you get to a certain age and you go, well we never go out.

41:15Luke Moore: I know it might only be Nando's, but I'm wearing a nice shirt. You know, I never gonna wear this anymore. It was a bit of that vibe going on. Dalton was presumably wearing some kind of wrestling t-shirt. Some sort of wrestling t-shirt. But under a suit. Yeah, exactly. And also, didn't Dalton... It's like he just throws a dart at like a list of clothes every morning, isn't it? He said to me before that sometimes he's come in with some proper rascal stuff. And I've been like, what is happening? And he's like, oh, no, yeah, I got a bit late. And then I was driving in, so I just literally put on the first close I saw.

41:50But there's absolutely no thought going to it whatsoever.

41:52Luke Moore: But why are they laid out? But he also sailed way too close to the sun, Donny, because he cursed Bulgaria. Yeah, I know. And that's a really, really low percentage move when they're playing Luxembourg. But it turned out that they were sat in the Bulgaria end. So maybe the curse, because of that, transferred over to Luxembourg. We can only assume it did. I believe so. I think sometimes he gets the recipes on the curse slightly wrong. It's like a Freaky Friday touch situation. Yeah, exactly. You get the wrong host. That's the only reason I can think of that they wouldn't work. Same. Yeah. Well, anyway.

42:19Luke Moore: I tell you what, though. The two goals are nice ones, particularly the second one. A smashing volley. They've seen some action there. Yeah. They have seen some action. There's no doubt about that. Two absolute beauties watching two excellent goals. Well, I was going to say, Vish did message us on WhatsApp saying, Donnie might be the first person in Nations League history to come back during the second half with four glasses of Prosecco. Optivish. Yeah. What I did love, though, they were doing a little cheers with the Prosecco, and thanks, Andy Burnham. Again, all good stuff on our Instagram stories.

42:49Luke Moore: It's good stuff. Check it out. They will be here on Friday, along with Jim and I, to give more details about their trip. Could be X-rated, that show. Might have to be Ramble Nights. Yeah. Might have to be. Ramble Nights. You have to get cut up. Come in first evening. Marcus might have a little chubby under the table here in some of the stories. Just a little one. Little mini Mars bar. Right, gentlemen, let's go to Argentina. Them lot again. They played Benin in a friendly. 3-0. Always pleasing to win. Always pleasing to get a clean sheet. Always pleasing to win v Benin. There we go. Don't you say you pronounce it.

43:20It's Benin, isn't it? That'll do.

43:21Luke Moore: Yeah, it's fine. You know, no one's checking. They're not the main story here. They are benign. They are. This will be a pub quiz question in 20 years' time. Who is Lionel Messi's final game for Argentina again? Yeah, that's right. In one of the three remaining pubs. Yeah. Well, this was a huge event, of course, in Buenos Aires at the Monumental Stadium. Light shows, presentations, firework displays. Presentations? You know, it was like a PowerPoint. It was best moments. So this is what I did here when I twisted up that defender. It was Alex McLeish. Gordon's tracking. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Steve Clarke.

43:54Luke Moore: All came out to give Messi his final send-off. Oh, dear. But yeah, a huge, huge send-off. I mean, it was an incredible occasion. And incredibly, to use that word again, the Argentina FA seemed to get all the organization spot on. That was a surprise. That was the big win, I think, of the day. But Messi, yeah, I mean, 10 minutes into the match, obviously the number 10 Messi wears, play was stopped, standing ovation, more fireworks, everyone in play shook his hand. Were you guys in favor when John Terry did this in the 26th minute for Chelsea? I just want to see if there's any kind of hypocrisy going on here.

44:26Because for me, there definitely is hypocrisy. Because I hated it when John Terry did it, but I liked it.

44:30Luke Moore: He was sobbed off with a guard of honour. It was genuinely more ostentatious than this. Fine, okay. Fair enough. I never complained at the time. I just stayed quiet. Okay. So I can say what I want here. That's all the best people do when they see injustice around the world. Injustice. Yeah, genuine hateful injustice. True. One man's hate is another man's amusement. But anyway, Messi obviously got his standing ovation. Look, it was a hugely emotional affair, as you would imagine. Messi himself often wiping away tears during the game. I liked it at the end where they presented him with the Falklands.

45:09Luke Moore: Malvinas. Sorry, yeah, with last Malvinas. No, no, no, Jim. Falklands. Sorry, you're right. They are officially and they are called the Falklands. No one is more passionate about keeping the Falklands, British than Marcus. No. That's not true. In this room. No, I think we all are. Would it be a compromise for you for Messi to have them? Just Messi? No. It's not owned by Argentina. Messi just has them. Do what he likes them. I'm not joking about this. No, I'm thinking of the fine Falkland Islanders. Yeah, fair enough. You know, they had a vote and they voted 99.4 % to remain. For Messi to own it.

45:39Luke Moore: Who's that 0.6 %? Bring back the guillotine, Jim. Okay. Last... The producer's got his head in his hands. Do you know when the last guillotining was in England? It's going to be something like 1962. 1650. In France... Sort of. Do you know what it was in France? There's a six in there. So 1650 in this country. In France? Can I answer? Because I think I know this. In France? I'm gonna guess, I'm pretty sure I can get this close. Go on. About 1973? 1977. There we go. There we go. Never mind the bollocks came out around that time. That's incredible. Someone was getting guillotined in France. Anyway.

46:15Luke Moore: The last hang in in England? That was 50s, was it? 64. 64. Beatles have got albums out. It's quite Alan Partridge that he knows these off the top of his head. I was talking about it with my dad the other day. Oh, were you? Yeah, we had a little look. I think that's why. Lovely combo. It's great to bring it in, though. Someone was just sentenced to death by firing squad in the US. Yeah, I think you can request it in certain states. Wow, yeah. Let's not talk about the US and the death penalty. Lionel Messi, great. Yeah, yeah. Well, anyway, he absolutely killed it. And I tell you what, he was obviously, I mean, he always is a man on a mission to score a goal.

46:48Luke Moore: There's nothing changing. He missed some big chances. The fraud. He did. There was a couple of ones, but of course, Benin were very charitable. There was a definite penalty towards the end of the game. I just did have to tune it up. And do you know what I loved about this penalty? Is I thought to myself when I was watching the highlights, did the goalkeeper sort of go, go on then, you go that way and I'll go that way. He thumped it into the top corner. And I thought, fair play to you, mate. The only thing I could have asked for in that situation was for Enzo Fernandez to rip the ball off him. And say, you're not having it.

47:15I'm the penalty taker.

47:17Luke Moore: Proven even in that context, he just can't help himself. Pass the bat on. Pass the bat on. I'm the penalty guy now. Well, a number of his former teammates, now former teammates, posted messages of gratitude, including Neymar, of course, who played at club level, and Rodrigo de Paul, obviously, he would get involved saying things like, thank you for making me love football even more. Thank you for making me not just a better player, but a better man. And I felt Angel Di Maria went one further by saying about Messi, I thank him for life. Didn't know he was his dad. Lionel Messi is Angel Di Maria's father.

47:48I didn't realise that.

47:49Luke Moore: I think it's more that they quite simply are getting him confused with God, as they did with Maradona. But it's nice that that is the true passing of the baton. Isn't it incredible, the scenes, though? Like, the scenes in Buenos Aires generally were just incredible to watch, to witness. Genuinely felt quite emotional even watching the highlights because, I mean, so much of our kind of adult lives have featured Lionel Messi doing the amazing things that he's done. And obviously, it was frustrating to go out to them in the World Cup, but it even transcends that, you know. What he's done at the club level is unprecedented, really.

48:23Luke Moore: in our lifetimes. It's perfectly conceivable we'll never see another player like that. I think as you said about the transcendence of it, you know, that even you had, I mean, how many people, you know, I don't know and I don't care to know, but there were people in Brazil saying, you know what, when Argentina won the World Cup, I was pleased for Messi. Yeah, yeah, I was. Which shows you, I think everybody other than maybe one particular individual would have said that. And I think, again, it's that transcendence, you know, true greatness does that. And it suddenly feels really fast. It must feel like that to him as well.

48:54Luke Moore: Like it's just flown by and he looks great, doesn't he? He looks really statesman-like as well. Yeah, obviously the journey's not completely finished because he's still playing club football but it felt like a big moment. There was a feeling as well and I think this, look, I may have misunderstood this and maybe some people would disagree but my feeling coming out of the World Cup we've just had as well was that Argentina, for decent parts of that tournament, basically disgraced themselves. It wasn't just against England. They went out to play the game in a certain way and that seemed to be we'll let the referee decide what's an infringement and what isn't.

49:27This is our best chance of winning another World Cup. We're going to do this. And I felt like Messi was kind of a bit separate from it. I felt like Messi was a little bit kind of just because he's so special as a player and such a massive figure. Maybe I've projected it but it felt to me like he was kind of separate from it a bit as well.

49:46Luke Moore: Him and Julian Alvarez didn't seem to get involved in any of the shenanigans. whether they did or not there might be some message that godfather expression on his face where he didn't get a foul earlier on in the game against England that was great but even after the game when him and Harry Kane sort of embraced each other it was like I know what you mean I think that he always carries himself in a way again whether that's true or not that's certainly the perception anyway he's the greatest player to have played a game and the fact that he's retiring from international football where he's actually won the World Cup and two Copa Americas you know it's an incredible moment for the people of Argentina and for football fans everywhere, just because he is quite simply the best player to ever do it, that needs to be commemorated.

50:27And the way that, whatever you think about Argentina, the way they come out for their heroes is kind of unrivaled. I mean, you saw how the scenes when they won the World Cup were just ridiculous. And the scenes here as well last night looked incredible. So amazing. We still see him play a bit for into Miami, I'm sure. I'd love, really, I know, but I'd love a little last minute loan back to a European club for a few months. Remember when Beckham did that for a bit?

50:51Luke Moore: Twice to AC Milan. And to PSG as well. Yeah. That was his last game, oddly, for PSG. It was, yeah. It feels weird, doesn't it? Yeah, when they had thrown him up in the air at the end. Yeah, I mean, he goes back to Inter Miami and Luis Suarez looks at him and goes, right, you forget all that. It's nothing down there. Oi, if you don't want it, don't call for it. Exactly. Classic. Classic Suarez. I can't help but think back to when Messi retired from the national team as well. Yes. It's like we got to see a sliding doors moment where there was the version where it hadn't worked out and it all ended in a sort of disappointing...

51:23Luke Moore: After he defeated Chile in the Copa America final. And then this is how really we all would have wanted it to end for him. Yeah, indeed. Gentlemen, let us talk a little bit now about Cristiano Ronaldo. You know, maybe to contrast and compare, I don't know. The poetry of this, the symmetry of this is fucking amazing. It's so good how the universe throws us up together forever, aren't we? Same night! Same night! Was that by design? I don't know. One of them is doing what he's just done. The other one is releasing quite a lengthy Instagram statement about how pissed off he is. Yes, indeed. I mean, it is incredible stuff.

51:59Luke Moore: He released a lengthy statement after leaving the Portugal camp when he wasn't brought off the bench against Norway. Yeah. How dare you? It's eight pages long, isn't it? And there are so many things in it where you're just like, that's not that bad, Chris. This isn't that bad either. Also, what I love about the statement is the eight bullet points that he wanted George Jesus to say in a press conference to clarify the situation. So good. They read like they've been leaked by like an investigative journalist. Yes. And he would be embarrassed about them. But he's actually leaked them himself thinking it's perfectly reasonable.

52:37And I want you to... There's eight bullet points. I'm sure many people listening and watching would have seen them online. But if you haven't, I'd like to draw your attention to... to statements two, six, and eight. Six is my favourite. Okay, well, I'll come to it. I'll come to it. But let me just do them because essentially the context is that Cristiano Ronaldo claims that George Jesus agreed to go into a press conference after this all happened and say the following things that they sat down and agreed upon and George Jesus, as the manager of Portugal, would deliver them. I'm not going to do all of them, but I am going to do two, six, and eight.

53:11He wanted George Jesus to say the following things. This is point number two. I know how much Christiane lives and breathes the national team and the stature he has in the world, and even more importantly, the weight and positive influence he has had on the national team for 24 consecutive years, right? Point number eight.

53:29Luke Moore: So you kind of think, well, okay. I think it's ludicrous that he wants someone to say that. But by and large, it's kind of true. I'd sign off on that. Yeah. Number eight, he is the player who signs the most autographs, takes the most selfies, and gives the most affection to the supporters, right? Yeah. Number six is the best. Let's go back to number six. He wanted George Jesus to say, I made a mistake by asking someone of the statue of Pele or Maradona to warm up and then not putting him into the game. If it happened today, I would not do it. On the same night Messi's having his send-on. On the same night Messi was on the microphone for about 10 minutes giving a farewell speech to the crowd.

54:09Luke Moore: And he even said himself, I know I often don't talk that much. I think it's because I don't want to leave the field, so I just want to keep talking to you all." But Messi suddenly opened up in a way that we... Even the Argentinian fans would have never seen him. You know, his tears, his celebration, all the rest of it, and Ronaldo's doing this. This whole... It's like... What? It's perfect. It's absolutely perfect. It's like watching... It's like hanging out with Don Draper and a fucking incel on the same night. Isn't it? The thing is that really strikes me about this is that Ronaldo is 41 years old, right?

54:42Luke Moore: He has been in football a long time. He's achieved so much. He genuinely is of the status of Pelé and Maradona. It's like it diminishes it if you say it. But of course he is. He's another one of the greatest footballers of all time. Of course he is. He's achieved all that. And he deserves those accolades. But the fact that having to warm up for 30 minutes and then not coming on is like this seismic event in his life. Shows you just how far out of touch of any sort of humility he's become. And it was always going to end like this, right? Because he's made noise that he won't return to the national team while Jorge Jesus is there, right?

55:18Luke Moore: Which is kind of ideal for everyone involved. Exactly. He can just wear that. The other players can play with a striker with some mobility. And their results have actually been fine without him. so I mean this kind of ignominy feels like it was always going to be the way that this kind of situation ended because he he simply won't accept the realities of time I mean it's it is it is extraordinary Jim it is and I think some of the other stuff he said and it was a lengthy statement okay it's fuming I mean he said you know that you know I deserve to be I you know I walked away from the team I deserve to be punished for that so he kind of like was trying to be a bit humble and say you know But he moved on very quickly from that point.

56:02Luke Moore: It's incredible how un-humble he can sound while talking about how humble he is. After my suspension period ends, I will be available, as I always have been, to compete and win with our national team. And he went on and on and on and on and on. And then, at the end of the statement, he said, I can promise all my fans, naturally and especially all the Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that. Yeah, he's got his eye on what's going on in South America, isn't he? Look what happened in plain Renesiris. Well, we're going to go bigger than that. We're going to have more than one.

56:31Luke Moore: You think there's just one? Well, I'm one in Porto, Lisbon, everywhere else in between, Braga, we'll be there. Don't worry. And the Ronaldo farewell tour. It feels like he's just never going to accept it. It feels like if Luis Figo kept going, I'm available for selection. I don't know what's going on here. Oh, my goodness. It's like he's talking as well. He's talking like he is 25 years old. Yeah. And like, because when he was that age, you know, I mean, think about, 2008 when he wins the Champions League with United and he wins the Ballon d 'Or that year for the first time. How old would he have been then?

57:04I mean, that's 18 years ago. He would have been like mid-20s, right? That world at his feet kind of stuff and then obviously moves to Real Madrid shortly after that. If you're that age and you're that profiling, you're that good, you probably could see off a Portugal national team manager. You probably could. He probably has done. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I'm sure he has. You can't do it now.

57:21Luke Moore: Well, this is it. He's 41 and playing in Saudi Arabia. So I asked your friend of mine, Andy Brasswell, what's the mood like in Portugal? As you know, Andy has his ear to all of the grounds, but particularly the Portuguese one. And I was trying to get Andy to go, is it sort of a Keane versus McCarthy type situation now? Bring him back. No, don't do it. And Andy said, look, people are very pleased with the way the team's been playing under George Jesus. This is the annoying thing. I wasn't that worried about Portugal previously. I want him back in there. Just in case we get him in the Nations League.

57:51Luke Moore: Bigger picture, Jim. But anyway, Andy sort of said that it's not as simple as that. He said there are obviously you get a few people defending Ronaldo, who sort of give away what they probably think about wider things in society as well by doing that. But he said a lot of people actually, even though he's behaved poorly, they don't want him to just be like kicked to the curb because he's so significant, such a huge figure in Portugal football history. And so I have a little bit of a degree, but once again, it goes all the way back to my point and everybody else. I'm sure a lot of people have this feeling as well that Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time.

58:26Luke Moore: He is of the stature of Pelé and Maradona. He absolutely is, Jim. You're right to agree with Ronaldo in that. And people are saying, well, just because he's behaved badly, this is quite a shame. He's getting in the way of his legacy. He is. He's getting in the way of all this stuff. And his national team. And his national team. He's definitely ruined that. He's already ruined that ages ago. But the only thing I would push back on, on the stature of Pelé and Maradona, is that we are talking about this through the context of an international football break, like an international conversation. he's not of the stature of Pele Maradona in international football and to do that you're going to have need to have won the World Cup and Pele's won it fucking three times and Maradona won it almost single-handedly depending on who you talk to in international football he's not in the stature of that I don't think he is anyway but I'd like to give I think he's not far off fine we're splitting hands part of the conversation one of the greatest players of all time but I just think I don't think you can be I don't think you can kind of universally instantly agree with that I think it's a conversation if you wanted to have it.

59:25But I'd like to give the last word on this, if you don't mind, to Piers Morgan, if that's okay.

59:29Luke Moore: I think that's the only thing we can do. Who, on record, has come out and said, brilliant statement by a classy, honest guy who has been treated very disrespectfully. Proud of you, Cristiano. Will you come on my show? Tells you everything you need to know. Yeah, indeed, indeed. Well, we've reached the end of the show. And, of course, the end of the great autumn international break of 2026. And it's been a gas. I think we'd all agree. It's been absolutely marvellous. Next up, Portman Road. Yeah, exactly, yeah, where we get back to all that Premier League crap. But I just wanted to have a little load to the great autumn international break of 2026.

1:00:03He's got another poem going on. Here we go.

1:00:06Luke Moore: We've laughed, we've cheered, we've cried. We found out that Manchester City lied. The football's been great and England scored goals. And Northern Ireland have a defence without any holes. Wales beat Norway and Scotland won a game. England won three though we're beaten by Spain but Gordon excelled Bellingham was swell Kane picked up his 125th cap as well Alex Scott passed the test Declan Rice had a rest and Tuchel has plenty of thoughts to digest but England have us dreaming of a new and fresh story and it's one for next summer involving Nations League glory come on! the great autumn international break it's the one show it's the absolute one show Football Ramble does the one show takeover.

1:00:52Luke Moore: Thank you for listening. Well done, mate. Thank you for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network. Friends of the Ramble, don't go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble. I'm cut. Well, I'll be giving you a behind-the-scenes look of how I came up with that. Maybe you're not a friend of the Ramble. Sign up now to patreon.com forward slash football ramble. It's been a pleasure. Thank you, Luke Moore. Thank you. Thank you, Jim Campbell. Thank you. And once again, thank you. The UA for Nations.

1:01:22The Football Ramble is a stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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