The World Cup Bong | 2026 FIFA World Cup

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0:59All of the seafood is either responsibly farmed or sustainable wild caught. So fire up that grill and get all of this and more at your local Whole Foods market for in-store shopping as well as pickup and delivery. Hey, Pablo Torre here. As a sports journalist, I've covered global sports for many years now. And there is one thing that I can promise you. Nothing compares to the World Cup. And this time it is even better thanks to McDonald's. you have the chance to take home one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal. The cups feature some of the biggest legends in football, like David Beckham, Terry Henry, and Ronaldinho, Christian Pulisic, Lamin Amal, and Alphonso Davies.

1:40Right now, get one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal, only at McDonald's. At participating McDonald's, only for a limited time, while supplies last, all rights reserved, copyright 2026. McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Hi, this is Jonathan Fields, host of The Good Life Project. What if your home could welcome you at the door, energize your kitchen, and calm your bedroom all automatically? With Pura's family of smart diffusers, you can scent every space perfectly. Choose premium, clean fragrances, adjust the intensity, and set schedules right from your phone. It's whole home scenting designed for the way you live.

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4:51Hello, everybody. It's World Cup Wednesday. Thanks to Friend of the Ramble, Robbie, for giving us that intro line. If you want to submit an intro line for a future episode and get an extended edition of today's show, then become a Friend of the Ramble on our Patreon. Just head to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved now. And of course, Patreon people will have been buying up some of those Football Ramble kits. We've sold a load of them already, and we're delighted to announce that the brand new Football Ramble X Admiral kit is available on general sale. Yes. So if there's any left, head straight to footballramblestore.com right now to grab yours before they're all gone like particularly hot cakes.

5:29Right. It's time for particularly hot takes, gentlemen. Argentina 3, Algeria 0. I told you Messi was still good. You did. He's proved it to everybody once again with a hat trick. He'll be 39 in a matter of days. and yet David Cartlidge the best player possibly of all time for some definitely of all time just pops up in the opening World Cup and just wafts in a hat-trick incredible absolutely incredible bow at the altar yeah he looked really really good like I'm not just actually his actual plate he looked good he looked leaner he looked meaner he looked really pumped how is he so fast still yeah I know it's just little little jets and he's learned like oh a little 10 yard little 10 yard dash and then I'll just slink about for about 30-40 minutes and I'll have another little one in the back.

6:17All this chat about the weather, he's been acclimatising for the last couple of years there, hasn't he? That was the grand plan. I'll go over there and then I won't bother with the qualifying. I can't be bothered with all that. Going up to La Paz in Bolivia, no thanks. But when it comes to the tournament, oh yes, there he is with his 200th appearance for Argentina. 200 international caps. Yeah, extraordinary stuff. And celebrates it with a hat trick. Yeah, I mean, the really interesting thing about this, I suppose, is because, you know, we've not been watching MLS particularly closely around this table, I'd imagine, unless, you know, either of you are doing that on the sly.

6:52So Messi, despite being, you know, one of the greatest players of all time and a reigning world champion, is oddly a little bit of an unknown quantity coming into this tournament. You know, we don't know what his level is and clearly it's still extremely high. and obviously he has adapted his games as you mentioned there David but like he's always been a very intelligent player he's always managed to do that with ease really when he's needed to add something to his game or you know modulate something in a particular way and it's just a glorious thing to witness isn't it and I think yesterday was clearly the best day of the World Cup so far all the big hitters delivered from the current generation you've got Harland Mbappe from the older generation you've got Messi now Naltovic and I love that he's in there I love that he's in there no no keep that in keep that in fair enough he's a Champions League winner of sorts and it was just I think it's really good for the tournament actually that those big hitters have just hit the ground running straight away we've been waiting for that yeah we have and all three of those players let's be honest there's not going to be a narrative around them now it's just they're up and running and it's exciting it is it's really good to see I think I always think for a World Cup to be enjoyable to be good you need three things and I think you need the hosts to do well I think you need your big stars to turn up and you need a bit of a fairytale run as well and I think if you look at those things Mexico and the US have won we've had the Cape Verde story obviously and now the big stars turned it on yesterday so we've had those three things already so it's like it feels like it was simmering before but now it's like another absolutely classic thing is Germany lurking in the background and we've got that as well yes and everybody going that Germany team isn't very good this time is it you see that every time I feel like this will somehow end with Italy winning could be could be Messi took Cristiano Ronaldo's record as the oldest player.

8:40I'll have that. I will have that. Yeah, I don't think it's interesting when you say he's a touch of this sort of unknown quantity about Messi. It sounds utterly ludicrous to say, but the man is going to be 39 soon. I don't think anybody thought he was going to have a shockingly bad World Cup for a second. But for that start, it's stunning stuff. Although, could he have been sent off early in the game? That was very naughty. I thought it was a little bit over a little bit of Phil Foden against Fulham yeah I know what you mean Jim some of them I'm kind of like oh sometimes it's a bit of a coming together and it looks like but he was not in the other ball a little bit Kai Havertz against who was it Burnley I can't remember but actually the reason that Havertz wasn't sent off according to the referee which I don't necessarily agree with was that he's corrupt was that he said there wasn't enough force in it and I think this might be similar I think with Messi, yeah, I think with those ones, we're so conditioned to think if it's a stud on the leg, it's a sending off for obvious reasons.

9:45And this is, you would say, the benefit of the doubt is he's trying to kind of, you've got to put your foot somewhere and he's trying to sort of sort his feet out and he's accidentally done it. I think he's trying to get his leg in between the player's legs to prod the ball. But I don't know, it's just the way that his motion just looked a bit, oh, that's a bit naughty. it's funny that well Javi Zimons against Liverpool you know there was another one it's funny if you look at all the ax men in Argentina's team who potentially would have made that the bouncers it was Messi who did it it was the VIP who did it and not the bouncers De Paul would have he would take a red card for Messi he'd take a he'd do a stretch he'd do a stretch wouldn't that be something if the referee goes to get the red card and Rodrigo Dima just dives in front like he's one of the president's bodyguards and just takes the red oh no we didn't think you could get round that rule like that Maybe he'll start styling him for him like him.

10:35He'd take a bullet for him. He'd take a torpedo for him. Like, what else? He'd take everything for Messi. He'd take a hug from an Englishman for him. Yes, absolutely. Yeah, which seems an unlikely scenario. Well, look, he didn't get set off. He went on to do the business. I mean, the first goal, after 17 minutes, it was just proper like, oh, the big man's back on the big stage. Have a bit of that. It was just the way that... I think what's wonderful about this is we're not talking about Messi as if, oh, you know, who is this guy? It's because he's not been playing in European football and in the Champions League for a little while now.

11:09We don't talk about him. We don't talk about, as you say, MLS, despite the fact he scored loads and loads of goals over there and assists and the general play. He's been obviously really, really good, not surprisingly. But we just, because of that, haven't really spoken about him. So it feels like you've got that same energy enthusiasm back that we've been missing for the last couple of years over Messi because we had so much of it. You ran out of superlatives. and it's just bloody marvellous to be able to just do it all again there's also an echo of Maradona in 94 right which is a similar thing where it feels like he's coming to the end of his career and then bang he scores that amazing goal you get that celebration obviously they're very different characters hopefully the next part doesn't happen after this game I think there's more differences than similarities but I take your point I'm stopping the comparison at a certain point shall we say I think so another thing in this game that I found a little bit frustrating actually and I appreciate that the rule is the rule and you can't change it.

12:02Two offside goals. In both cases, the player's feet are onside. I think they should count. Yeah, I know what you mean. I understand if your head is offside and you score with a header, that should not count. But they didn't score with their head. They scored with their feet. I totally agree. This shirt sleeve stuff. Do you know what I mean? Things like that. Jim, we've seen Arsene Wenger at games. If you can get yourself a plane ticket and get yourself a World Cup ticket for one of the games he's at, which will leave you penniless. and homeless, get next to Wenger and suggest these rules. Yeah, but...

12:34Because I think there's something we could all get by. He might slightly misinterpret it and just do some terrible version of the offside rule like he keeps threatening to, though, so it might be dangerous. You'd have a nice chat about Arsenal, though, so, you know, worth the money. Well, look, it was a good win for Argentina against Algeria, the darlings of the state of Kansas. Yes. Of course. And we briefly mentioned this yesterday, but Algeria have developed what can only be described as a love affair with the town they're staying in, which is Lawrence. It's roughly 40 miles outside of Kansas City, where a number of teams, including England, are staying around.

13:04I think the Netherlands are as well, and one or two others. But the University of Kansas have really rolled out the welcome mat to the Algerian national team. They learned the Algeria national anthem to welcome them at training. A lot of the locals have been on various news channels just saying just how wonderful and marvellous it is that Algeria are staying in the town of Lawrence. And there's a little bit of an Algerian diaspora around in Kansas as people have been saying. But it's been beautiful, Jim. It really has, yeah. And I think Algeria have really let those people down. And I expect...

13:40Imagine that, they go back, boom! What are you doing? Bunch of losers! What was that? We learned your anthem! Like in Italian football, they're trying to get the training down. They barricade themselves in. It's just bollocks! Expensive off of it. Get out of our town! Stinking out of place. As horrible as it would be if it turned like that, what's good for the Rambo may not be good for your town. Indeed, indeed. But it's not going to turn out like that. It is a beautiful story. Actually, it's a lovely example of how there are things about the World Cup that simply cannot be commercialised out of existence.

14:21I'll give them a chance. Yeah, true, true. FIFA are going to start charging people in Kansas. So if you want to speak to the Algerians, that'll be$100. That'll be a wholesome tax. And neither party know anything about it other than the middlemen. But yeah, it has been really, really lovely that. But unfortunately, they couldn't do anything against Argentina. They did score, as you say, Jim, but it doesn't count because it was offside. They are the rules of the game. Face was offside. David, what do you think of Argentina? Because they are one of the four seeded sides at this world cup. Obviously, France, we're going to talk about them in a bit.

14:50Spain, England and Argentina are the four. But obviously the thinking behind that is, if all four win their groups, then they can only meet each other in the semifinals, which is why I'm quite keen for France and Spain to win their groups, because if England were to go deep in this tournament, then they couldn't face them until the final. I understand that's all wishful thinking. Anyway, Argentina, though, you look at that side, David, obviously there's familiar names in there, you know, McAllister, Fernandes, Martinez, obviously Messi well there's a number of Martinez is in there the Martini exactly Jim do you think that people have slightly forgotten about Argentina in that France and Spain seem to be sort of the obvious too some like yourself understandably talking about Portugal there's the Ancelotti factor at Brazil blah blah blah blah but you look at that side that's a side who know how to win a tournament and Scaloni is still there and he's got a fantastic record that's the key thing a lot of the teams that you named are in a kind of state of transition.

15:50You've got to look at France as well. I think they've lost Griezmann, who was the most important player of the Champs era. And they're bringing in a few new players as well. And there's other Spain as well going through there. I think England, as we know, of course. Whereas Argentina, like you said, they won the last edition. They are very much set and know how to play and what they need to do. Obviously, the main thing is to get the best from Messi in his current state. But that's a very, very solid team. They're going to be hard to beat. I think Scaloni Scaloni likes to put emphasis on safety first I think so they're going to be very very tough to face for teams so I would not rule them out I'll put a bit of money on them because I still think they might win it But you've backed Portugal though?

16:31No no no Where did the Portugal thing come from? I don't know I thought somebody backed Portugal Who have you backed for winners on your official Oh you did put Argentina I'm pretty sure I put Argentina Yeah yeah Alright fair enough Maybe I did put Portugal I'm not too sure but Argentina are going to be there abouts I think we have the records to prove it. Yeah, you've got it in his head now. Yeah. You can't have two, by the way. God, where else did I say it? Yeah, don't worry, David. I put France as underachievers. Wow. Have you seen Michael Elyse play, Marcus? I have now. My goodness. David, apparently you did pick Portugal.

17:02Oh, right. Okay, all right. There we go. There we are. Trying to change it. All right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That spell I never forget. As I stupidly changed last minute, I had Spain as underachievers, and I thought, nah, do you know, I'm willing one of the two of them, and quite clearly I've picked the wrong one. We can't predict the future. I know, but I am a clown for that.

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18:03And there is one thing that I can promise you. Nothing compares to the World Cup. And this time it is even better thanks to McDonald's. You have the chance to take home one of nine legendary cups. when you order the FIFA World Cup meal. The cups feature some of the biggest legends in football, like David Beckham, Terry Henry, and Ronaldinho, Christian Pulisic, Lamine Yamal, and Alfonso Davies. Right now, get one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal, only at McDonald's. At participating McDonald's, only for a limited time, while supplies last, all rights reserved, copyright 2026, McDonald's at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

18:40Hi, this is Jonathan Fields, host of The Good Life Project. What if your home could welcome you at the door, energize your kitchen, and calm your bedroom all automatically? With Pura's family of smart diffusers, you can scent every space perfectly. Choose premium, clean fragrances, adjust the intensity, and set schedules right from your phone. It's whole home scenting designed for the way you live. Build your Pura system today at Pura.com slash whole home. This is Nick and Jack from The Best One Yet, and we are excited to tell you about Walmart Business. Staying ahead of business trends means moving fast and adapting quickly.

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19:51France 3, Senegal 1. Kylian Mbappe became France's all-time top scorer. He's got his eye on Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi's record, of course. That's brilliant, isn't it? Yeah, were you failed to mention that? At 27 as well. So he's got time to blow away that record now. He does. he does yeah and that was the other thing about Messi you know like equal in that record bloody hell but yeah Mbappe he'll have his eyes on that record in this tournament let alone future tournaments but you're right and became France's all time top scorer Olivier Giroud has been constantly asked about that on the BBC he's constantly maintained that beautiful facade he did look sad though didn't he when it finally happened understandably of course but especially because he didn't have to walk off set and go my World Cup is done I suppose Obviously, it must be an incredible thing to become the top scorer for your country.

20:39You probably want to enjoy it for a little bit longer than Giroud got to. A little bit. Yeah, like when Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, I remember that so Jeff Hurst said, well, you know, I've had a good run. Fair enough for most of his life, of course. But yes, Mbappe. Second goal, not too dissimilar to Messi's first goal, of course. Nice to have some goals from range, even though question marks over the keeper. But let's begin. Ah, forget the keepers. Okay, fine. They need to contribute to goals from range. If they're getting a weak hand on that, I'm all for it. True. They've had their time, haven't they?

21:09Not you, Jordan. No. Okay. Well, the country of Jordan's goalkeeper will be spoken about in a bit, but not Mr. Pickford. Now, Mbappe. Should we go straight to the penalty that wasn't given? Yeah. Because the first half, Senegal looked pretty good. France looked a bit cagey. I thought they were really good. Nicholas Jackson was being Nicholas Jackson. Missing chances, put it away. The one that came off the post, he was a bit unfortunate. And then classic Nicholas Jackson. He scores the one that he's offside on. Yeah. He's like a mirror image of a brilliant player, isn't he? Nicholas Jackson. Yes.

21:42I know. And Sarr had a chance at the end of the first half as well. Sarr, in the first half in particular, I thought was maybe the best player on the pitch. Yeah, I agree. I mean, it's the classic thing of take your chances. Yeah. Because, you know, if they do, obviously that changes the outlook completely. The fact is France, you know, probably relieved to get in nil-nil at halftime, come out a different side in the second half. Yeah, and that was really impressive, wasn't it? I think that's the story of the game. it's how France pulled a really brilliant performance out of themselves because Senegal were, if not quite slicing through them in the first half they definitely moved the ball up the pitch and threw France's midfield a bit more easily than you would have anticipated and expected.

22:17France just upped the tempo in the second half and also I think the quality of their passing changed it just got better. Alissé, I was wondering how France would operate with Alissé in that sort of Griezmann role rather than playing on the right as he does for Bayern. And they did switch the front four players around quite a bit in the first half, less so in the second half. The game changed when Elisa moved centrally. That was the defining point of the game. And it's unbelievable. He looks absolutely world-class in both of those positions. Just an outrageous player. Unreal talent. Quite clearly one of the best players in the world right now.

22:52And for him to turn it on in the manner that he did, really, really special. We're talking about big players turned on when we talk about Messi, but Elisa is one of the big players now and for him to do that, he can, and that's what he can do. Look, it was games that are quite flat and need a bit of inspiration. He's got that about him where he can just turn on a little swivel, pass through and then he changes the game. Yeah. Magnificence of the radio controlled ball. Yeah. The incident, which I think shocked a lot of people was the fact that Kylian Mavad did not get a penalty when he was, well, presumably tackled according to the referee by Sadio Mane.

23:28Proper striker's tackle. so when it happened when Mane goes in I'm watching it on TV the angle that we've all got on the telly when he goes in you just know that unless he's got a little nick on the ball it looks like a penalty straight away you can see that Mbappe was too quick even though Mane's obviously very quick himself and you think don't dive in ah you have that's a bit of a silly one you then see the replays and you think yeah no he hasn't got a nick and the referee even looking at VAR because he didn't originally give it. He didn't overturn it, Jim. Darren Kan couldn't believe it. And apparently all the best referees in the world started text messaging or WhatsApp and Darren Kan saying that should have been a penalty.

24:10But he wasn't given. No, and I think you could tell from the referee's stance and his face, couldn't you, that he was back in his decision. He was like, no. Yeah. You all think this is a penalty, but I know better, actually. And I don't think we're going to see him again. Do you think that's bad enough to get him? Omar Artan might be getting a call. what are you up to yeah we've changed our mind it's water under the bridge come on come back that's an appalling decision absolutely appalling decision how he's how he's got the front to stick by it after looking at it again it's it's mad he's made up something he's seen yeah and stuck by it he's he's you know deceived his own eyes incredible I I'm completely baffled some may say that there's not that much contact there was enough contact especially at that pace but also when a player jump dives in like that you impede the position of the the attacking player the attacking player just can't run through you I mean it's a penalty all day long yeah I mean that yeah I agree it was a penalty and that's where the connection was I think Mbappe actually was like what the hell and he hurled out the way but still got caught so yeah but it was just an incredible mad few moments everybody was like oh alright France score a penalty there we go there we go they're getting bailed out here do you know what France missed out on an amazing opportunity for a great gag.

25:29Should have gone off the pitch. They should have walked off the pitch. That's what they should have done. For 13 minutes, they should have walked off the pitch. I love that you framed that as a gag. Because they'd be sent off, wouldn't they? Because there's a new rule to stop that exact thing. Is it okay if you're joking? Yeah. I was like, I'm only joking, I'm only joking. Partner, partner. That would have been superb, eh? You won't moan about that one, setting it away. Liberty now. Well, fortunately for France, it didn't matter because Michael Alisse played. He threaded a through ball to Kylian Mbappe.

26:02That was an outrageous pass. As soon as that ball left his foot, it's a goal. Yeah. Unless Mendy can do something about it, which, of course, Mendy had a good game up to... Well, he had a pretty good game, obviously. Maybe the third he might have done better, but he'd made some important saves. But that one, David, oh. When you see Alisse and Mbappe combining like that, you think, yeah. they're not going to underachieve it's one of those passes where the aesthetic of it is just really nice because it was it had a nice arc on it but it was such a fizz like it was just drilled so nicely the pace that it was it was beautiful yeah and then they start bringing on the subs and you think yeah it's a flex in it yeah this isn't too shabby I mean because I wondered if that midfield the French midfield which they started with might be a tiny bit light and there'd be a few gaps in there.

26:53Yeah, Jim, well, indeed, an egg on my face. And Senegal, obviously, that first half, and Senegal are a very good side. I think that's what is particularly impressive about this France display in that second half is that they bossed a very good side. I know even on the break, Senegal, there was a few moments, and again, you mentioned Jackson, they still had a few chances. But, yeah, when Barkela comes on, and obviously he beautifully finishes from another lovely Elisa. Their attack and depth is outrageous. But that midfield, of Francis if he sticks with it what do you think about it I do not like it at all I'm about to say it's going to get tested further and I think we're going to see it exploited I think it's really flat and I would have look the Champs has won a World Cup and he knows a lot more than me about his team but for me Warren Zaire Emery had to be in that team I was surprised he wasn't there a bit more dynamic the rest of it is a little bit flat but he's not going to drop his boy Rabiot is he not yeah well this is it isn't it because if you do that you have to explain it to Veronique and nobody wants to do that.

27:54You'll be called, ma 'am, ma 'am, Didier's dropped me so you can't be dealing with that. You'll be straight there. I actually thought Rabiot Hydration break, she's making her way there. I thought Rabiot grew into the game but it does seem surprising to still see him in that midfield. It is and I just, I love how everybody's kind of in universal agreement about that. They're like, oh, is Rabiot in that team? Is it just because he's a little bit less of a Galactico than some of those other players? Possibly, possibly. A bit of a lesser Galactico and there's even more reason probably for Deschamps to have him in now with Griezmann gone.

28:21I need my known quantity in there. Is he the Blaise Matuidi of this particular iteration? You know, he does it. Look, with that attacking talent, I suppose really with that France midfield, you've just got to be a bit solid. And it's the first game and against a very good side in Senegal. I just think it can get found out. I really do. I sincerely hope so. But that attacking line-up that France have is just undeniably brilliant. And it does feel like, you know, perhaps they clicked in the second half and that's them click for the whole tournament. But it's like, there is probably more to come as well, especially because this is a tricky game.

28:56They're a tough group, obviously. Indeed, yeah. And as well, the fact is, you know, Senegal make it 2-1, they score a nice goal themselves, and then Mbappe's just a bit like, nah, today's my day. Yeah. He's a little heir apparent who scored as well, and buys on the books of PSG. Really good player. One to watch for the next few years. Very special player. Yeah. There's more to come from Senegal, but it would be, I mean, I understand, you know, third place might be enough, but I hope for their sakes, they do manage to get through the group because they're a good side. It just reminds me in 2006, I've mentioned it before and I'm going to mention it again, we're in that brilliant Ivory Coast side.

29:27They had Argentina and the Netherlands the first two games and then boom, they were out. The third place thing makes that a bit less likely though, doesn't it? Indeed it does, yeah. So hopefully for their sakes that they can turn it around. Can I have a little, before we move on, a little bit of love for France playing One More Time by Daft Punk as their goal music. Great. I like that. Absolutely perfect. Are they choosing that or is it the stadium? It's got a stadium, isn't it? Don't know, actually. Good question. They didn't go for the Dutch Old Lang Syne. Well, I think presumably Germany have chosen theirs because we heard it a can-can amount of times.

30:00Yeah, the trumpet song. That's the saxophone guy. Yeah, yeah, that's the saxophone. It's become a bit of a viral thing. So I would assume they've chosen that and therefore I would assume that countries can choose their own music. That's interesting. I wonder what we'll get. I know we're going to go around to Austria. Sweet carrot. No, please, mate. Anything but that, please. Who even is she? But yeah, I know we're going to go around to Austria, but I noticed their goal music was Scooter nice of course it was and I loved that yeah how much is the fish only Scooter knows 80 million records sold is it he's massive he's absolutely massive of course how many did he buy before we go to a break let's talk about another Frenchman Harvey Renard and you were right Jim news broke on the show yesterday that Renard was back in business and Luke and Pete were saying his mark was going to be gutted and you said he would just be very happy you were right Jim absolutely Once again, you were right.

30:49Your big red phone will have rung and you know what's coming. I said, give him the call. We've had so many messages, me as well. I'm just going to read out one from Liam Marcus. We'll be like a canine with two appendages. You're absolutely right, Liam. You're absolutely right. More than two. Yeah. One of those weird sea anemones rolling around. Exactly, yeah. The amount you've got. Just stuff them all down there and let me go. Yeah, Tunisia now, I think they've got to be considered dark horses for the cup. I mean look they were battered 5-1 I think I think the Tunisian football federation were probably a bit like you know the guy's pleading his innocence he's like that's grandpa of Sweden he doesn't win a game or qualify come on 5-1 5 bloody one but he was wearing a cowboy hat he'd only been there for five months so I don't know golf for every month quite yeah I don't know which is quite bad actually when you put it like that just as well he was never seen Deschamps would be struggling wouldn't he at this point if that was the rate he'd probably go as well yeah what can Harve do at this point what can't he do look good if he's going to do anything he'll look good he's literally a Marks and Spencers model do you know what I mean come in those crisp shirts the hair it increases the sex appeal at this World Cup the cutaway as well we see too much of Gianni Infantino come on we need some sex appeal and Harve will provide it Speaking of people spotted in the crowd Jay Zed was spotted at Ivory Coast versus Ecuador David you predicted him and Beyonce For your most famous non-football celebrity I think we can give you that I don't think Beyonce is going to turn up Because apparently she had a bit of an issue with FIFA I think she was going to be asked for the opening ceremony Then wasn't And there was a bit of a disagreement So maybe she might be silently boycotting that You can't step on Shakira's toes there The World Cup is Shakira's But they did a song together once Jim Sure Do you know why Jay-Z was at that particular game?

32:43Because he absolutely loves it I mean, he probably does, yes But a very sought-after young player Diamander, who's been linked with Liverpool Yeah, yeah, yeah So Jay-Z's label, Rockefeller Their sports kind of branch represents him He was just there to look after his new boy And represent him Yeah, represent him That's odd, isn't it? Yeah, well, no, they've got a sports agency Yeah Okay, nothing's odd these days Where the hell is Chalamet? Walter played and there's no sign of Chalamet I've been to Chalamet to be my most famous guy he's recovering from the NBA finals trust me he was in a bad way after that he's been too busy smashing up the city of New York like all the other Knicks fans yeah I think you'll be fine I think I might be struggling with Dwayne the Rock Johnson but who knows where does he where is his heritage is it Samoa Samoa yeah yeah when are they playing we need to increase the number of teams in this world alright coming up after this the update you've all been waiting for.

33:40Did Pete find his Richard Keyes head?

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34:35There are also grill-ready beef and chicken kebabs and house-made sausages. Yum. All the meat at Whole Foods Market is no antibiotics ever, and all of the seafood is either responsibly farmed or sustainable wild-caught. So fire up that grill and get all of this and more at your local Whole Foods Market for in-store shopping as well as pickup and delivery. I'm Jake Stouck, co-founder and CEO of Serval. We built Serval to automate the IT work that slows companies down. Onboarding, password resets, access to applications, my laptop stopped working. While employees wait for help, their real work is put on hold.

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36:00Good morning, Glenn! Can you tell us something your mum doesn't know? What about the football ramble, everybody? A reminder that we have done a separate pod for England's preview against Croatia, so that will be in your podcast pipe soon enough. Now, without further ado, an update on Pete's lost property. we have been flooded with message after Pete announced on yesterday's show that he had left a giant paper mache head of Richard Keys and a Kevin Keegan rug on a train the seven and nines on Discord said when do we march on Fenchurch Street Station demanding answers well Ewan on Instagram also said he's still got to go to Fenchurch Street and get something and I'll tell you I honestly I will love it when we get that rug back love it absolutely incredible Richard said brilliant from Ewan absolutely love that Richard said How could Pete forget he had that giant head with him on the train?

36:55So careless. I mean, it really is a fair point. It was my first question about this, yes. Doesn't seem an easy thing to mislead, does it? Well, I have this to play you all. Hiya, you're right. I just wondered if some lost property had been handed in from a train this morning. A big papier-mâché head. Yes. Yes, you've... Oh, wow. He got it back. He did. Somebody had handed in the key's head. Oh, it gives you faith in humanity, doesn't it? It does, yeah. What on earth did that person think? Who knows? Who knows? Is that a bomb? The camera was still there as well. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. As far as I know.

37:28But that was a genuine conversation that Pete recorded. Yes. And then he recorded a little video of himself dancing in the big dick head. The big dick head. In the station as well. Yeah. So Pete got the head back, everybody. The show can go on. The Kevin Keegan rug is also back. And also still smells of fish. Yeah. I mean, if he's been smelling of fish since the 70s, then it's unlikely that a day in Fenchurch Street, London Stadium Station will have changed that. But there we are. Let's douse it in links before tonight. Now, let's move on to some more World Cup football. Iraq 1, Norway 4. Erling Haaland obviously scored a brace in his first World Cup appearance.

38:08Iraq will be a sore lot this morning. Yes, Jimbo. Yes. There we are. Brilliant. See, he's still got it, old Jim, and so does Haaland. Two goals. that second one, what are you doing? What are you doing? As I said, he's like one of those things out of a quiet place, you know, just steaming around. He did that early on in the game when the defender, you remember when the defender, the ball bounced and he just came out from the side of the screen and headed it and ran. It's like, all the worries are there, put your foot through it and do it early. It's like a quiet place but rather than eat you, it's going to set the piss out of you.

38:40Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which in a way is worse. More humiliating. True enough. Have you seen the BBC's 3D simulation of this? Yes. It is terrifying. It is. Like, he is on the goalkeeper so quickly. If you've not seen this, the BBC are doing this really interesting thing where there's like a 3D simulation of the whole game so you can watch how it plays out from a particular player's point of view. And the one from the goalkeeper's point of view, it's like he just materialises in front of him. There's nothing he can do about it, which sounds ridiculous given how much of a howler it is. He did boot it and it actually comes off Ireland, of course.

39:15It's like a scene from Godzilla when he comes out the water and there's a tiny horse. yes and you just sit yeah I said but when the keeper does that it's like it's inevitable it's like clever Haaland you know he's got his second how so inevitable that Haaland was going to score why didn't I back him for top scorer I'm glad he did as well you know as we mentioned earlier I think it's good that these players are up and running and you know we want to see Norway do well I think Germany has neutrals don't because it's an exciting generation of players and an unusually exciting generation of players for Norway well it is because they haven't qualified since 1998 for the World Cup I think there's a lot of teams where you wish them goodwill.

39:49And often they're playing each other like Iraq and Norway. Iraq playing in the World Cup for the first time in a while. Amen Hussain scores the country's second ever World Cup goal. What a moment that is. He was a lovely header. He was almost denied entry as well, wasn't he? So he's that player. And that is a huge story. One in the eye for the border control. Absolutely. Not how they all see it. But yeah, I think there's a lot of that with this extended World Cup. There's a lot of debutantes, a lot of teams who haven't been in the World Cup for ages. But going on Jim's point, yeah, I think Norway would have a lot of goodwill from a lot of people.

40:22Definitely, until people have now seen their fans doing that Raw thing. Not a fan of that. Oh, I like it. Have you seen them doing it on an escalator? I saw that. That was when I first saw it and then they were doing it in the seats. I was going to ask you, David, because if somebody could provide a bit of balance with some fan activity. So my favourite thing, fan-wise, I've seen at the World Cup, one of my favourite things, and we've seen it at a number of tournaments is I do love the old Dutch left to right I like that I like that I like that like the lyrics of the song skip your medication so you can lose your mind you know it's like one of the most Dutch things of all time like it's just it's incredible I just saw that and I was just like there are some stereotypes which are keenly encouraged did you know that Jim?

41:06that's one of the lyrics no I'm not sure I didn't know that yeah yeah yeah I'm just really enjoying the impression yeah you like that I think we can get away with that yeah But yeah So I like that When they go left and right This seems like the whole Of the Netherlands is there Yeah It's absolutely extraordinary You know they travel well Yes But no I like that I like that You like that one There's a lot of The Tartan army Are brilliant at their own PR Everything they do is brilliant Oh yeah They're great I mean did you see them At Fenway Park For the baseball I mean that was just unbelievable Them singing there I didn't Dancing Queen It's like come on No that was good No I like it No it's a decent song I was on a staggered weekend And I was belting that up So yeah Fair enough But you didn't like The Norwegian rowers No It's Icelandic clap All over again It's like Yeah the Icelandic clap I thought it was a bit overrated I like it You don't need to like it Because they humbled England Yeah Yeah Yeah It's an awful flashback Yeah it was terrible I was hearing that sound The look that just came across Sorry right It's England day Against Croatia everybody Let's stay excited Apparently it's England day No I don't mind The Icelandic thunderclap You know well done them One thing I did get, another England flashback, was when Hussein, or no, it wasn't him, sorry.

42:19I forget who it was for Iraq, scored, but he didn't score. It was the old ghost slash mirror slash optical illusion goal. The Raheem Sterling. The Raheem Sterling in 2014, exactly. Best moment of the tournament, and it wasn't even a moment. I remember they celebrated that. Yeah, same. Hang on. Just running around my living room. Why isn't the score change? Yeah, that should have. but yeah we haven't got far yet that was disgusting oh yeah where's the goal line his watch hasn't buzzed yeah Akam Hashim with a beautiful effort and the commentator thought it went in as well for a moment and it's a great effort and you know yeah but it wasn't a goal that was a brilliant first half that just kind of capped the madness off I really enjoyed it Iraq set themselves up well didn't they you know they were pressing they were really good a lot of energy Norway took a while to get going I mean Haaland didn't have many touches early on before they finally started finding them.

43:13But it was a really good game. I think a lot of people are in this position with the 11 o 'clock kick-offs where they're like, oh, I'll watch 15, 20 minutes and see how you go. Yeah, and you're kind of like, looks like I'm getting to bed at one. Yeah, exactly. But I was like, oh, I'm sticking with this. This is great, yeah. I think so far, the energy levels actually have been pretty good at the World Cup. I think I've been quite surprised I'm England haven't played. But, you know, teams still kind of playing a bit more of their style and that kind of thing. I think the first halves have taken a while to get going.

43:38I think people's also getting used to the first hydration break on that key mark, like 2023. Yeah, yeah, ad break, sorry. Yeah, the ad break, yeah. Yeah, and then, but a lot of games seem to be really springing to life in the second half because I think they're both, a lot of the games seem quite balanced from the first half. It's all the electrolytes. Yeah, yeah, that's right, it is, it is, it is, yeah, yeah. Gentlemen, in the early hours of last night here, Austria beat Jordan 3-1. Austria won their first match at a World Cup since 1990. I mean, that's the thing, a lot of these games, a moment ago, you think, well, the story is with the World Cup debutants, you know, obviously Jordan scoring their first ever World Cup, that's amazing.

44:17But when you see, well, Australia haven't won a World Cup much since 1990, you know, you've got to be pleased for them because they've been at the Euros a lot and obviously the last Euros they played some lovely stuff. You think, well, they're an established international side, which of course they are, but they haven't been at the World Cup for donkey's years. So good to have them back and a winning start for old Specs, Jim. Yeah, it is. Ralph Ragnick. Nice to see him in the dugout. Who called him? It was the Man United players? It was the Man United players. But we didn't know who. It was a group of them behind his back, apparently.

44:46Was Alejandro Garnaccio playing at that time? Because if he was... Oh, okay. I don't know who it was, but it's great banter. Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it, that you mentioned, it's obviously their first win at the World Cup since 1990, Jordan making their World Cup debut. There's been a lot of talk about this expanded tournament, and we are only, like, we're not even a full round of games in yet, so I suppose you sort of reserve judgment on it because a lot of people are saying it's going to be too many games. It's going to start to drag. There will be dead rubbers. We don't know if that will yet turn out to be the case.

45:15But so far it has been good, isn't it? It does feel mad that there are still, what, eight teams to play? Well, it feels ages since the start of the Cup that we're still waiting for England to play. But you're right. And Portugal as well, another one, David's prediction, of course.

45:32But when the 48-team format was announced, which is something they almost certainly had planned. Why give it to a whole continent kind of thing? You knew they're not going to row back on that. And there's going to be so many... Apart from Norway. Apart from, yes. Indeed, there's going to be so many feel-good stories that, again, this is here to stay now, you would have thought. It's early days to start predicting this kind of stuff, but you would think... But you're right, Jim, so far, so good. But I'll tell you what, though. The Jordanian goalkeeper, Yazid Aboulala, had a bad day at the office, did he not?

46:05He really did. If you're playing Jordan next, just stick the ball in the box. He does struggle a bit with the old crosses. Specifically corners, wasn't it, that he really struggled with? Yeah. I mean, Austria score one goal from a corner. It's rightly disallowed because of a handball. Then like basically the next one. But ah, same again. I can't handle this. Yeah. It was an own goal. It's a shame because they gave a good account of themselves as well. It is. They were impressive for the first half. First half they missed chances as well. Obviously they scored, but you're right. But that is where even though they haven't been at a World Cup for a little while, Austria, Arnautovic, they've got more canny players in there.

46:42They can call them one of the world's best players. Exactly. One of the world's four best players. A World Cup legend, finally. Arnautovic, obviously, they scored a penalty. But yeah, Jordan, I think, they're going to struggle, of course, in that group with Argentina and Algeria as well. Jordan, Algeria will be a good one. They'll fancy that. Yeah, but Austria, though, I mean, look, on another day, maybe they don't get the victory there because, as you say, Jordan, they're missed chances and they look good. But Austria, surely, they've got to be looking right. Get beyond that group. And you never know kind of thing.

47:15Because, as I say, some of the Euros recently, you know, the last time they were beaten by Turkey and the time before that, I think it was Italy that beat them after extra time, if my memory serves me correctly there. So I think Rangnick and Austria, they'll be delighted with that victory. You know, I'm trying to talk them up because they are my surprise package. Honestly, I'd be confident about it as well. I think they're a very smart side. I like Ranić actually a lot. And they're very methodical in the way they play. But the way they play, that's where, the way they like to swarm and press and all that kind of stuff.

47:48Can they do it on a cold, wet, wet, wet? You've got Arnie, though. You've got Arnie as well. A bit of a joker in the park. He can just do something a little bit magical. He's just so bloody imposing. Every time I see him, I'm just like, has he grown? I thought you were talking about Schwarzenegger there. No, no. Arnie. Marco. there's only one Arnie come on true enough he would have been a fair bet though he wasn't seen yeah at the ground it might yet happen yeah when Arnie meets Arnie we probably need to set that up can he leave the state of California does he want to leave the state of California it's just him and Jürgen Klinsmann going no not interested he's got a couple of like are they donkeys that just roam about in his kitchen Arnold Schwarzenegger could be he is a fantastic follow on Instagram loads of animals and sometimes they're in the house oh right and they all love him they're like I can't believe if I'm Arnold Schwarzenegger's donkey, as we all would.

48:36Don't ride me. Okay. Right, gentlemen, let's turn our attention to FIFA, the governing body of football. We spoke about FIFA's excuses around attendance yesterday. Well, how about this? Reports have since revealed that FIFA have been clamping down on suppliers of cannabis in Toronto. Okay. And if you think, well is that is that sort of a positive thing you know are they trying to are FIFA turning into the local cops two brothers who own a shop called Cosmic Charlie's bought a bong shaped like the World Cup trophy before the tournament last Friday they were served legal papers from FIFA's lawyers ordering the object to be destroyed so yeah firstly Marcus cannabis is actually legal in Toronto so if FIFA did decide to do a drugs bust they wouldn't have a leg to stand on in Cosmic Charlie's if they were sort of knocking that door down.

49:35That is the kind of rule, though, that FIFA have... It's copyright infringement, isn't it? Yeah. But in previous World Cups, you know, we say they're like a floating government. They basically go, we'll do it. Come in and impose their... Exactly. Their laws. This honestly sounds like a plot for like a Judd Apatow movie in that Superbad era. Yeah, massively. These two storners are about to be sued. 100%. It's amazing to me that FIFA can all, essentially order you to destroy a physical object. Not just take it off sale. You have to smash it. And we want to see the video of you smashing it as well.

50:11Cosmic Charlies are not a threat to FIFA. Cosmic Charlies. I tell you what, they've got a good bit of publicity. They have, yeah. No, I can't say that. But yeah, you're right. With destroying it. If you want to stage a protest, next game in Canada, everybody. Get on the pitch. Throwing the bongs on the pitch. You know when you see tennis balls and all that stuff? Just World Cup-shaped bongs all over the place. Have some of that. Hot box of stadium. One of the roofed ones. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it has to be. Otherwise it would be too hard. Right, everybody. That's it. Thank you for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAST Creator Network.

50:50Myself and that guy, Jim Campbell, will be previewing England this afternoon, so keep an eye out for that. Friends of the Ramble, do not go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble Uncut. And if you're not a friend of the Ramble, Head over to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to sign up now and get tickets to our World Cup party right now. Ah, the World Cup. Bloody love it. England tonight. England preview coming later. Get your ears around that lot. Until then, thank you, Jim. Thank you. Thank you, David. Thank you. And thank you, Lionel Messi.

51:25The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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