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In short
The Guardian Football Weekly episode covers England’s 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico at the Azteca in Mexico City, plus Norway’s 2-1 upset of Brazil and a US disciplinary controversy.
Guests
Barry Glendini (Guardian football writer), Archie Rintat (panelist), Nikki Bandini (panelist), and Max (host).
Key claims
England’s win was “heroic” in altitude and chaos; Thomas Tuchel paced the game and kept shape; Jude Bellingham emphatically answered critics with two goals and a crucial clearance; Mexico squandered chances and were punished after Jarrell Quansah’s red card and a VAR-awarded Kane penalty.
Notable examples
Pickford’s 26 long balls; Kwanzaa’s red-card tackle; Gordon winning a penalty; Neymar’s bizarre trash-talk after a penalty in Brazil-Norway; goalkeeper Erling Haaland’s long-range goal; Martin Odegaard’s skills vs Neymar. Later, FIFA suspended Foller/Balogun’s red-card ban after alleged Trump lobbying, sparking claims of scandal and hypocrisy.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOMatch Recap: Mexico vs England
0:30 to 2:14
Discussion about the thrilling match between Mexico and England, highlighting key moments.
“Has there been a more exhausting half an hour watching England?”
Panel Introductions and Reactions
2:14 to 4:53
Introduction of the panel and their immediate reactions to the match.
“Nikki, you watched this like most of our audience at 2 in the morning.”
First Half Highlights
4:53 to 7:01
Analysis of the first half of the match, discussing pivotal moments and players' performances.
“I can't think of too many games where the fans of a team end up being in the same condition as the team on the pitch by the end of it because we were all so breathless.”
Late Game Tactics and Strategies
7:01 to 10:04
Exploration of England's tactics and key player performances as the match progressed.
“I was like, if someone's going to get cramped, be Dan Byrne.”
Final Thoughts and Player Analysis
10:04 to 14:00
Final reflections on the match, individual player performances, and overall implications.
“In praise of Thomas Tuchel, the way that England paced the game from the start, they made sure to just keep their shape and not do anything too silly.”
Bellingham's Impact on the Game
14:00 to 15:12
Discussion about Bellingham's crucial role in the match's outcome.
“It was just just the exhaustion levels are incredible.”
Controlling the Match's End
15:12 to 17:19
Analyzing England's performance and composure towards the end of the game.
“And obviously these tournaments, they can, you know, it can be over like that.”
Looking Ahead to Norway
17:19 to 20:11
Exploring the implications of the match for upcoming games, particularly against Norway.
“Because coming into it, I was not thinking, oh, this Mexico team.”
Mexico's Performance
20:11 to 20:44
A brief analysis of Mexico's initial strengths and eventual shortcomings in the match.
“because not just it was at the Azteca, but it felt like they lost it rather than England won it in that they just didn't pick their moments correctly.”
Norway vs Brazil Recap
20:44 to 23:01
Recapping Norway's significant victory over Brazil and its historical context.
“How did you feel as that ball was looping towards the back of the net?”
Show all 15 chapters
Brazil's Tactical Approach
23:01 to 26:41
Critique of Brazil's strategy in the match against Norway and its effectiveness.
“He made the exact changes I would have expected him to make after 65, 70 minutes.”
Odegaard and Neuland's Performances
26:41 to 28:01
Highlighting key players from Norway's win and their contributions.
“I saw James Benj of CBS was posting that in Brazil's last three World Cup eliminations, they've actually put up shots worth 8.48 XG.”
Brazil's World Cup Struggles
28:01 to 32:30
Exploring Brazil's unexpected loss to Norway and the game's key moments.
“Speaking to a Brazilian friend of mine, this is our worst World Cup campaign in decades and getting knocked out by Norway is one of our biggest embarrassments in a World Cup for sure.”
Balogun's Controversial Ban Suspension
32:31 to 39:00
Discussing the implications of Balogun's suspension being lifted amid political lobbying.
“and that'll do for part 2 Part 3 we'll discuss the excellent news that following Balogun is back in for the US against Belgium Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly.”
Matt's Culinary Adventures
42:01 to 43:50
Matt shares a humorous account of his meals leading up to the England game.
“Then in terms of dinner, went to a Turkish butcher's supermarket, got a load of chicken sheath, some Turkish flatbread, spicy rice, new potatoes, some garlic sauce and also some mixed salad leaves.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Nicky Bandini:This is The Guardian.
0:30Nicky Bandini:when John Stones rolled it inches wide. Has there been a more exhausting half an hour watching England? Harry Kane couldn't even talk. There was a game before that game. Mexico went close, Pickford brilliant, and then Jude Bellingham, and Bellingham again. Was this going to be easy? No. Quinones, brilliant volley. Bellingham won goal-saving clearance. Halftime, nothing silly, first five. And then Jarrell Kwanza dived in. He'd been excellent. His leg rolled over the ball and into the Mexican shin. It was a red. Panic. But then Gordon felled in the box. Harry Kane nerveless. It would all be okay.
1:00Nicky Bandini:But then VAR, conspicuously absent for the last couple of weeks, noticed Harry Kane's errant kick. Penalty, Raul Jimenez doesn't miss them. And then the panic. They all crumpled at the final whistle. Breathe in that altitude. An unforgettable football match. There is balance here. Not everyone supports England. Don't worry. Before that, Erling Haaland sunk Brazil. One header and one wallop are truly historic. The biggest day in Norwegian football. We'll get Lars' thoughts on that. And then there's Foller and Balogun's red card suspended ahead of the US game with Belgium. Purely coincidental that Trump called Gianni to ask for that to happen.
1:30Nicky Bandini:It stinks. And the worst bit is, it's not a surprise. Mark Langdon's left us a voice note about tomatoes. Not now, Mark. We'll answer your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly.
1:44Nicky Bandini:On the panel today, Barry Glendini, welcome. I think you covered everything in your intro, Max. So if you don't mind, I'll just head off and go to bed. I did say, do you want to go out for dinner after this? and you said not with you. Okay, fine. Archie Rintat, hello. Hi Max. You'll come for dinner. I'm very much in. On the night shift tonight, Nikki Bandini. Hey Nikki. Dinner time. It's breakfast time over here, Max. No, of course. Let's start then with Mexico 2, England 3 in Mexico City. Mexico hadn't lost at the Azteca in 26 games. Two losses in about 100 years. An unbelievable football match.
2:20Nicky Bandini:Nikki, you watched this like most of our audience at 2 in the morning. How was it for you? It was so worth it. I mean, I was just saying before we came on air, there's no way I'm going to be able to sleep after this, despite not having gone to bed yet, because I'm absolutely wired from that. I think the first half, the last, you want to call it the second quarter now, because I've been ruined by hydration bakes, but that second part of the first half after Bellingham's two goals, and then the goal back for Mexico, it was like watching, I saw someone say this on socials, I'm sorry for stealing this line, but it was like watching just a game that was permanently in the 90th minute for about 20 minutes it was just constantly like oh my god and we were not even a half time yet and now that feels almost like ancient history because so much happened in the second half as you as you um laid it all out um this was this was one of the best world cup matches i think i've ever seen i really do i think this was it's it's i i know we all have recency bias i know we all have um have focus bias as well because of course we're talking about England but I thought this was such an entertaining game of football it faded a little bit at the end I think actually after all the talk about England and altitude it felt like Mexico ran out of steam at the end of the game but it was it was chaotic brilliant wildly entertaining football with lots of flaws I'm not suggesting it's the best in terms of absolute quality of of of World Cup games but in terms of entertainment this was magic well worth staying up for as an england fan actually that last half hour i can't remember who turned to who and said well they can't do this for half an hour in like the 75th minute and it was absolutely exhausting and they defended actually sort of heroically i think i was tucked away in the bedroom of our apartment out of superstition in that we were continuing with the same formation that we had against against congo and let me tell you living this alone was an even greater hell the agony that I had cramp in my leg from just tensing all the time and when I saw the substitutions that it was Dan Byrne and Jed Spence coming on for Nico O 'Reilly and Elliot Anderson I wasn't full of joy, I was thinking he's taken off the defensive midfielder who doesn't have a yellow card this better work and are we not betting in a little bit too early here?
4:50I thought back to half an hour before when I'd said, I think it was at 0-2, and this game doesn't seem so memorable, and Barry went, it still very much could be in the sense that if Mexico win it, and to be honest, you knew that if Mexico were to score, then the game was done, because England looked completely out of it. I can't think of too many games where the fans of a team end up being in the same condition as the team on the pitch by the end of it because we were all so breathless. But I salute Jordan Pickford for 26 long balls. I counted them. It was sensational. Can we think about how much hang time there was on the ball each time?
5:33I reckon we were up to about two minutes. And there was, oh, it was glorious. And you could just go down each member of that team. And when you think about the complaints of the previous four games, oh well you know this it's not looked that good here it all went out the window and that's why i think it was even more beautiful baz um i totally got it it's quite funny actually because
5:57Max Rushden:we did one of our little diaries on the way out of the apartment to come to this studio and i was you know philosophical enough about it but it's a like a 12 minute walk to the studio which I did alone with my thoughts and I'm by the time I got here I was crushed I won't lie because all sorts of scenarios as to what might happen next for this England team were playing out in my head and none of them were satisfactory as far as I was concerned so yeah the shit just got real as they say in terms of the fearometer having said that I think England are to be applauded for that heroic defensive performance.
6:44Max Rushden:I very much enjoyed Dan Byrne's cameos. Amazing. I mean... Has anyone headed it further? Yeah. Well, they say the ball travels further at altitude. So when Dan Byrne is heading it at full power, it's going to travel, isn't it?
6:59Nicky Bandini:I was saying, I hope Dan Byrne gets cramped because it would take so long to stretch that leg. I was like, if someone's going to get cramped, be Dan Byrne.
7:06Max Rushden:But I think Mexico will feel they left this behind them. They had the chances to win it. Even though he scored a penalty, it really wasn't Raul Jimenez's day. He missed three big chances in the first half. I think two brilliant saves by Jordan Pickford. And as much as I dislike the England football team, I do have a soft spot for Jordan Pickford and Henderson because of their Sunday-node connections. Jordan Henderson managed to get booked without being on the field. I'm not sure why. another five seconds will take you time wasting yeah mexico when they had the man advantage and they were throwing the kitchen sink at england they were overheating cross after cross after cross and the ones they weren't overheating they were putting too close to pickford and i think they squandered their man advantage and that will be a source of big regret for them and for me
7:59Nicky Bandini:I suppose, Nicky, there are so many sort of turning points in this game. I guess, actually, England winning that penalty so soon after going down to 10 men is so crucial. And Anthony Gordon, who won it, there's so much talk about the wingers and who played well and who hasn't played well so far this tournament. He had a brilliant game. Yeah, I mean, let's remind ourselves, by the way, Mexico never conceded the Azteca. That's the thing they don't do. They don't concede goals at the Azteca ever. So the fact that there's been this moment of chaos in which Bellingham scored twice in the first half already is England have done the thing that's supposed to be hardest to do.
8:35They've already done the bit that's supposed to be the hard bit. and then the Kwanzaa red card suddenly it's like oh actually is this all going to fall apart the timing of that penalty is is so huge Max like you say it's such a a back-breaking moment for Mexico and credit to them for for not yielding to it because they did of course get another goal back and and put themselves in striking distance again but I I do think again if you're the team that is in your big forge. I mean, the whole thing, God, Max, the whole game was so much theatre. Like, I kind of want to throw in here because it's going to be completely forgotten amongst everything else needs to be said.
9:13But like five minutes into the game, I think it was Lyra gets in a little squabble with Harry Kane. And there's just this moment when the camera's on Lyra and he's doing such a pantomime villain face. I love it. I loved everything about the nonsense that was going on with it. But yeah, you know, this is your theatre. This is your Azteca where you don't concede goals and giving away one that cheaply for them. I think that was a really, really obviously killer mistake for Mexico, but such excellent, excellent opportunities by Anthony Gordon, who saw that moment and went for it. And that's kind of the story of the night all over for England.
9:52And again, little things that will get forgotten. Elia Anderson pouncing on the ball to start the move that leads to the second Bellingham goal. England were all about taking their moments when they arrived. And that's why they're going through. In praise of Thomas Tuchel, the way that England paced the game from the start, they made sure to just keep their shape and not do anything too silly. but also when you look at how England made a decision not to pass the ball too much and instead to dribble lots. Because thankfully there are lots of good dribblers in this team and we saw that on many occasions with Gordon, Bellingham.
10:27Bukayo Saka actually got stopped more, but that's another decision that Tuchel got right in that Saka paired with Kwanzaa was excellent for the defence on that side and we saw Nico O 'Reilly going up a little bit more. It was so well played. and look, ultimately the time, I know you don't like Lord of the Rings, Max, but the time that we chose to helms deep in the end and just batten down the hatches, it worked perfectly. So it has to be said, credit to Thomas Tuchel.
10:54Nicky Bandini:Yeah, just to note on Harry Kane that when that penalty graphic came up, there were all those goals that he'd scored. There was the one against France that was like 25 miles away. And you can think producer Joel said they've had to zoom back for that. And you're watching that going, that must, maybe it doesn't go to his head because he scored so many penalties, but you know he missed such a massive penalty in the World Cup four years ago you don't know how many World Cups he has left that's a huge moment for him and we haven't yet talked about Jude Bellingham yet Barry and you know what an amazing like to score those two goals and that clearance in that sort of short space of time is unbelievable
11:28Max Rushden:yeah he's a massive big player for the big occasion we kind of knew that anyway it's great to have him in the side I think he's emphatically answered anyone who thought Morgan Rogers should be in ahead of him, which is not to disrespect Rogers in any way. I think he's a terrific player. But Bellingham has been excellent throughout this tournament and was excellent again tonight. And I'm sometimes guilty of saying he's doing too much. I think you have a point when you say that, though. There are times, there was one stage this game, he did a lovely bit of control, took the ball away from two Mexicans into space and then tried to take on another one instead of passing.
12:12Max Rushden:So I kind of concur with your opinion that sometimes he does try to do too much. I think you could say the same tonight about Quinones, who has been brilliant for Mexico in this tournament. But after he scored, he started taking pot shots from stupid places or shots that were obviously going to be blocked when other options were available to him. And that was, there were other Mexican players doing that during kitchen sink time. Again, just, you know, shooting the ball into a wall of players. It's obviously going to be blocked. It might get a lucky deflection, but, you know, maybe try something different.
12:50Nicky Bandini:And it's such a relief for Kwanzaa, right? Who had a brilliant game until that moment. And he is foolish to go to ground. And, you know, when the ref waves play on, most of us in the room are like, oh, it's fine. And then you see the replay and you go, oh. and then you see it again, you go, and I think he's unlucky, Archie, that he rolls on the ball, but it's a definite red card. It's a definite red card. Maybe if we lobby in the right way to FIFA, we can get it overturned. Let's find out. But yeah, as soon as you see it go to VAR, you know exactly what's coming. Max, how did you find the final 20 minutes?
13:26Nicky Bandini:Oh, I mean, just so exhausting. I think, like everyone, just the fact that we were so deep and it was either the left winger for Mexico and you could see Concer just couldn't walk. He was like a zombie. You were like, God, look at him, the poor bloke. I don't know if he got all the altitude sickness for the whole England team, but he was absolutely fucked. Excuse my language. And then it was the little guy on the right, he's got a lovely left foot and it was just like, I thought Spence and Gordon did a really great job doubling up on him, just making it really hard to get the crosses in. But every time they got a corner, every time.
14:01Nicky Bandini:It was just just the exhaustion levels are incredible. Yes, Nikki? Things that get forgotten in all this. Bellingham scores the two goals. We haven't even mentioned that Bellingham basically saves it from being 2-2 at half-time. Bellingham was the one who took the ball off. I can't remember who it was. Montez. The ball fell to. It was Montez. I think it was Montez. And that's the thing. There's so much happened in this game that you almost can't pick it all out. It's funny how you're talking about the end of the game, Max, because I actually felt like England really controlled the end of that game so well.
14:39My worry levels weren't even that high at the end. I thought that England were really, really strong. And I think, again, the substitution is fantastic. Obviously, you mentioned Byrne, but Stones as well, who has that very nearly stick in his own net at the end, but doesn't.
14:52Nicky Bandini:Oh, gosh. Yeah, we've only just heard Harry Kane's voice. it broke in a pre
14:58Max Rushden:post match interview can I just interrupt this loving briefly at the risk of sounding like Barry Boskill I think you were being incredibly generous to Jarrell Kwanzaa for saying he was unlucky to get sent off we were clutching our perils yesterday about the dirty Paraguayans that tackle was way worse than anything anyone in a Paraguay shirt did yesterday that's all I have to say about that
15:24Nicky Bandini:I think he was unlucky but he definitely shouldn't have gone to ground it's a really silly thing to do but I think he's unlucky because if his foot doesn't roll on the ball then he doesn't go into the guy's shit I think he does do you think it's a wild tackle I think it's a wild tackle I'm with Baz I don't know if it's worse than what happened yesterday because yesterday there was some pretty bad stuff but it was that was a very easy red card yeah well at least it means we get to continue the right back problem there's a consistent thing to worry about it's just so exhausting I mean, I suppose, I don't know if the time is now to look ahead to us playing Norway, Archie, but you sort of think that, you know, we actually talked about France yesterday in the dressing room, what it would mean to get off that pitch against that side kicking you and what it means and like the belief that you have.
16:09Nicky Bandini:And obviously these tournaments, they can, you know, it can be over like that. But in that England dressing room now, after all the talk of the altitude and how difficult this was going to be, and it was, and it was like a heroic effort. and there'll all be so many people will be so broken. But the spirit that gives you and psychologically that gives you is just incredible. You can look at it two ways. You can say, look, this shows our character. This shows what kind of a team we are. And maybe people were riding us off back home after the first four games that we couldn't bring a consistency of performance.
16:41But you can also say emotionally how much this might drain the players as well and how difficult it's going to be to, how do we match that high that we've just reached? And there's also a very uncomfortable element to the Norway game in that Premier League fans and England fans know so much about their two best players in Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland. And it's kind of like, oh, how do we deal with that? Because as we'll get on to, they did very well against Brazil today. So it's nice to actually, as an England fan, not have a feeling of we should beat them. And that was, I think, also what made this such an enjoyable win.
17:21Because coming into it, I was not thinking, oh, this Mexico team. We all knew about the altitude. We all knew how well they played so far in this tournament, unless you were Brad Friedel. Ultimately, this is an excellent win. And to be honest, one of my favourite England wins that I can remember.
17:39Nicky Bandini:And I think that's a good point that you don't watch that half hour when England don't have the ball. Or when they do, they're passing it to their centre-backs going, what are we doing? why are we not attacking or pressing? You're actually quite satisfied that they're just keeping it tight, I think. Barry, you've already ordered a long boat, haven't you?
17:54Max Rushden:Well, our socialist team very kindly bought me a Mexico hat, baseball cap, because they were either too tight to, or couldn't source a sombrero, a sombrero and some maracas, yes. So it's in the Burr Colors, Burr GA club, so I'm going to hold on to that. I think they probably are. And it's been you, I'm sure it'll end up in some socials so that means they can push it through expenses.
18:21Nicky Bandini:Well, I was going to say, you know when someone says you've read 300 articles this year, we're funding really important journalism and actually we're trying to buy Barry a longboat and a drum. And a hat with horns sticking out. Exactly. Do you have any thoughts on the game against Norway, Nicky, or anything else from this game? There's just so much, as you say, there's just so much to cover. just pulling things out of my head and saying things at random sorry max is very helpful but
18:47Max Rushden:very much uh rmo yeah i think so things out of your head and say them
18:54Nicky Bandini:did you have any other thoughts about this game nikki or the norwegian yeah i might the only thing i suppose in all of this is is have we said enough about mexico who um i thought the first part of this game they came out so well i think england handled it well but i thought the energy and the directness in that early part of the game. And you saw Mora get on the ball and you thought, oh, is this going to... And actually, he ended up not having so much impact. But I thought they really came with something at the beginning of the game. And I thought they were... Oddly, I thought maybe they were the better team in the first half, despite being 2-1 down.
19:27They just had two moments of being undone by really, really excellent England attacking, efficient attacking. Getting to watch them at the Aztec has been a treat. Let's just say that. Even without being there, It's been a treat to see them in a World Cup playing there and having that energy.
19:41Nicky Bandini:And actually, Moura and Lira were fantastic, I thought. Moura was the one who was robbed for the second goal. He will be picked up, I'm sure, both emotionally by his teammates, but also by a club at some point. Eric Lira as well, 26 years of age, plays for Cruz Azul in Mexico. If he wants to go somewhere else, I think he's shown more than enough at this tournament that there will be plenty of takers. I think from a Mexican point of view, this game will hurt so much more because not just it was at the Azteca, but it felt like they lost it rather than England won it in that they just didn't pick their moments correctly.
20:23That'll do for part one. Part two, we'll do Brazil-Norway.
20:32Nicky Bandini:Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. so a great win for Norway they beat Brazil 2-1 I caught up with Lars full time Lars I don't want your XG I don't want you running the numbers I just want to know how you feel the expected feelings the XF
20:46Lars Sivertsen:they're giddy Max they're giddy I was actually cackling like a lunatic for about five minutes after the second goals I became completely incoherent which I think is the only way to respond to this kind of situation
Read the full transcript
20:58Nicky Bandini:I think you're right I mean that second goal that really was Erling Haaland just going I'll just score
21:04Lars Sivertsen:it's a weird sort of he's really good at shooting from range like he's got a great he's got a foot like a traction engine we know this but he almost never does it uh which is maybe why the defenders didn't see it coming because you notice they're not really like closing him down they're just okay it's on the edge of the box yeah we got him under control there's not a ton of runners around and then he goes ah whatever i'll shoot you should do it more often he's really good at it
21:26Nicky Bandini:the nylon save the one where the defender was at eye i can't i couldn't remember who it was I mean, it's an amazing piece of goalkeeping. How did you feel as that ball was looping towards the back of the net?
21:37Lars Sivertsen:I actually shouted. I had an involuntary physical reaction, which I'm quite a stoic football watcher, generally speaking. Watching it with friends, I think are often surprised that I'm not more like, obviously emotional. But I just actually shouted, no, very loudly, because I could see what was happening. And you don't want it to go wrong like that. Like, that's just unfair and bad. this kind of looping, nonsensical. Elyon Nieland, unbelievable from him today. Saving a penalty, saving that, saving several other things. And this is the goalkeeper who's been questioned by everyone. He's been our number one for a long time, but he's never been like the sort of, we're very happy and comfortable to have Elyon Nieland in goal.
22:18Lars Sivertsen:He's often been on the bench for various club teams. This is the guy who was on the bench for Reading not that long ago. It's just a couple of years, right? He's been constantly questioned and doubted by absolutely everyone. So for him to turn up like this, I mean, I would have said, I don't remember if we talked about it. My mind's a little gone at the moment, but if we did like a Norway preview pod, I would have flagged him up as a weakness. 100 % I would have said that. I have to be honest and hold my hands up. So for him to have a day like this, where he just stops everything, I have to expect him to save the last penalty as well.
22:47Lars Sivertsen:I mean, it didn't, doesn't matter, but there will be a real Neyland statues now, for sure. There should be, there should be many of them, and they should be very large, which is again, not something I ever would have thought I was going to say out loud, but here we are. Solbach had made those changes at halftime, and they both worked. He made the exact changes I would have expected him to make after 65, 70 minutes. Alex Solos, our right wing, is a strange situation, but it's something of, we'd like Alex Solos to be on the field. We can't play both of him in all enough fun, so we stick him out wide, and just, off you go, Alex, just be a winger, even though you're a 6 '5 center forward.
23:20Lars Sivertsen:And it's an awkward position for him, and I think he does a heroic amount of work to try to make it work, but it's not his natural position. and Oscar Bob offers you obviously more quality on the ball. And Nusa was a little not at his best, maybe a little not super good defensively in the first half. So Sheldrup was there. He was chomping at the bit and I thought he was very positive when he came in. So I thought those were really brave and assertive moves to make. They were to make it at halftime. I think I like a coach who sort of there's no need waiting the extra 10, 15 minutes. Like these are probably the changes we're going to make anyway.
23:52Lars Sivertsen:So we might as well make them now. How big is this for Norwegian football? Very big. The biggest? it's very clearly the biggest result match performance in our history. It's the biggest everything. It is one of those things that, like, I'm almost like, I'm in America and I'm having a great time this summer, but I'm also kind of sad. I'm not at one of the big public watch parties at home. Never mind in the stadium. Like, it would have been fun to be at home with friends and family for this. No, it's beyond anything that we've ever done on a football pitch. You could already debate that beating Ivory Coast in a knockout game.
24:25Lars Sivertsen:you know we'd never won a knockout game before so that was big but this is that this is absolutely ridiculous you ask me how big it is it's the biggest it's full big can't get none more big
24:39Nicky Bandini:xb expected bigness is big well i'm absolutely delighted for you xb famously can never be 100
24:45Lars Sivertsen:xb this is 100 xb and the xf is out of control just now remembering it when the second goal went in i sat down in the pub which is a strange thing to do i was standing by the table because i couldn't sit down and i just sat down and i was sat on the floor laughing uh in the first sort of 15 seconds i guess that's how i react when these things happen you learn new things about yourself every day i'm excited for how happy you are lars
25:13Nicky Bandini:uh you enjoy the rest of your day i'm about to get very stressed watching mexico uh cheers my friend bye look Lars said a lot of it there Baz but we all loved that Haaland second goal so much yeah
25:27Max Rushden:he just twatted it didn't he the ball came to him in acres of space outside the penalty area it's like well we don't need to mark this guy who's this guy we don't need to mark him and he had a look around and he just went wellied it and put it in the bottom corner great goal I thought Norway were deserving winners I was baffled by Brazil's approach to the game just sitting back and attacking on the counter that's very much not the Brazil I grew up watching and I presume Carlo Ancelotti will get hammered for it in Brazil and I'm sure he also had his reasons for setting up like this but it didn't work they had their chances sure two very good chances shortly after Norway went 1-0 up but if you're going if your approach to a game like this is going to be this meek you have to take your chances because you're not going to get many of them yeah and that's they didn't do it and
26:29Nicky Bandini:they missed the penalty as well I mean Nyland was brilliant in goal but yeah I mean Lars has done a lot on Norway Nikki what did you make of Brazil's approach I agree with Baz I think it was it was really underwhelming I think that it is one of those things where you can we always write narratives to fit results right that's how it always happens and this was definitely a game where if Brazil do take those chances and they're really good chances right it's a penalty to start off with then when Endrick goes through a really bad first touch but he should score right that's there's two times where they should score and if they score those goals and they go through maybe we go well it was a bit cynical but it was what they needed to do to get past a dangerous Norway team and and you don't think about it anymore and actually this feels like this is now the recurring narrative with Norway.
27:16I saw James Benj of CBS was posting that in Brazil's last three World Cup eliminations, they've actually put up shots worth 8.48 XG. They've allowed 2.02 now. I'm sorry, XG is boring. No one cares about it. But I do think there's a point there, which is that actually Brazil have now got this absolutely entrenched narrative that what happens at World Cups for, what is it, the last four cycles, get through the groups and lose to the first European team you play. That's basically been what they do over and over again. And it is worth saying that in one of those games, it's not like they haven't made chances to do something different.
27:52They have. And actually what you need is to have someone as ruthless as Erling Haaland on the end of it, because if you take those chances, everyone has to tell a different story. Speaking to a Brazilian friend of mine, this is our worst World Cup campaign in decades and getting knocked out by Norway is one of our biggest embarrassments in a World Cup for sure. That's despite the circumstances of the game. And I think it's partly to do with the fact that Norway played like you'd expect Brazil to play and Brazil played like Norway. And yet Brazil were the ones who created way more chances in this game.
28:29And Martin Odegaard, I found an interesting figure because usually we just associate him with great creative moments. But actually Brazil got after him quite well. it's just they couldn't take the chances after they got after him and Odegaard just kept going, he didn't let himself get affected by those mistakes, of course Oja Neuland, wow That save is unbelievable I think if you're a Norwegian fan, when that when you make that save from Christopher Ayer's it wasn't an attempted own goal because I don't think you ever try to score an own goal but it's at that moment you go, you know what I think this is going to be our day and that Norway have a hoodoo over Brazil.
29:11What a team to have a hoodoo over.
29:13Nicky Bandini:I know, five times. That is an insane thing. And actually, we mentioned it with Lars, but that change at half-time was big from Solbakken. And both the players that came on played really well.
29:23Max Rushden:Well, Schleder played a parrot in both goals and had a real influence on the game. And Oscar Bob, let's just say he was a credit to the Murphy cat after whom he is named.
29:41Nicky Bandini:I was going to say, I actually was going to say, yeah, maybe he's stepped out of the shadow of Danny Murphy's cat, Bob.
29:48Max Rushden:No, he caused Brazil
29:49Nicky Bandini:all manner of problems.
29:50Max Rushden:He was excellent.
29:51Nicky Bandini:We should mention, Nicky, as well, that the shit talking from Neymar for that penalty is like, what are you, mate? What are you doing? Oh, my God. Like, one of the most ridiculous scenes of the whole tournament, talking about pantomime earlier, but, yeah, you're losing 2-0 in the eighth minute of seven minutes of injury time, you score a penalty, you're still losing. And that's the moment to go and talk, well, shit, since you said it, to the goalkeeper who's just had an absolute blinder. And then this very dramatic crying afterwards when they go out. That was a really weird scene. That was a really weird scene.
30:28I just want to sort of add as well, because I feel like maybe you got lost in there. When I was talking about the XG and everything, I think Brazil deserved to lose this game. That was not by any means me saying I think Brazil deserved to win this. I think Norway deserved to win this game. And it did feel like in some ways that Neymar moment is emblematic of something more fundamental that's just not right in the attitude, isn't it? I mean, that's your response to scoring when, who knows, maybe if you go grab the butler net and charge back, you can find some miracle. It's very weird. Very, very weird.
31:00that Neymar moment Phil Kiptramilidis who we've had on before said if you want a translation of what happened I went Phil tell me all about it please so Neuland was trash talking Neymar in Spanish and Neymar was replying to him where do you want it and when Neymar scores he runs up to Neuland and goes no as in you don't do that to me right is that the time to pick that battle I don't think so I don't think it is and there's also So after that, you saw that when Norway were trying to run down the clock, Martin Odegaard was having the time of his life doing skills against Neymar. As a professional who would have grown up watching him as well a little bit, that must have been such a joyous thing.
31:44And to see that Neymar then loses his rag and you just see Martin Odegaard celebrate like that. Yeah, a great moment for Norway. Just one more thing to add with Brazil. Yeah. Just quickly, Carlo Ancelotti might point to the fact that he had several starting 11 players be out with injury and that kept on coming. Militao, Rafinha, Rodrigo, Vanderson, their right back I think is worth pointing out. Him missing the tournament because of, I mean we saw with Danilo for that, Schilderup cross for Haaland, that didn't help. And Lucas Pacqueta as well. he's got a contract until 2030 that they signed before the World Cup I'm sure there will be calls in Brazil that there should be a Brazilian coach again but he's got a lot of problems to sort out
32:28Nicky Bandini:Alright, well done to Norway So England-Norway is on Saturday I think and that'll do for part 2 Part 3 we'll discuss the excellent news that following Balogun is back in for the US against Belgium
32:47Nicky Bandini:Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. So tomorrow, Portugal play Spain, USA play Belgium, and literally the whole of today up until the first game, and even during the first game, was this news that Foller and Balogun is available to play for the US after his one-game ban was suspended by FIFA. Their statement, in line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year. The Guardian's reporting that Donald Trump lobbied FIFA to lift the ban. Sources have told The Guardian Trump made three calls to FIFA starting from Wednesday to ensure the change was made.
33:22Nicky Bandini:Trump thanked FIFA in a post on Truth Social. Thank you, FIFA, for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice. President Donald J. Trump, the Belgian FA said they were astonished. Belgium head coach Rudy Garcia said, I didn't know the World Cup. The 5th of July is actually the 1st of April. It's April Fools. We're not defending the national team or federation. We're defending football. Norway manager Stahl stole back and after the game, said it's a big mistake by FIFA. It's not a great conclusion. And it stinks, Barry.
33:49Max Rushden:Yeah, it's a scandal. And I think it will end up being one of the biggest scandals in World Cup history. And there have been other scandals surrounding this World Cup. The Somalian referee Omar Arfan not being allowed into the country, the treatment of the Iranian team. and I think this is right up there with any of them and possibly bigger. If this suspension was lifted through some very transparent process that is also available to anyone else who gets a red card in the tournament, I don't think anyone would have a problem with it. And, you know, I think the red card Balogun got was justified.
34:30Max Rushden:Others think it wasn't. That's kind of irrelevant at this point. But because this ban was suspended on the back of a nod and a wink between Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump, it's a scandal that isn't going to go away. And the irony is that if Balogun wasn't a good footballer, Trump would be lobbying for him to have his birthright citizenship revoked. So make of that what you will. So I feel sorry and embarrassed on behalf of the USA fans. And I mean the fans who have been supporting the USA say for a long time, not just the ones who started watching soccer three weeks ago, who seem to think this is great because this they're going to be tainted by association with this scandal, which as far as we know, is not of their making.
35:24Max Rushden:And it's unfair on them. It's unfair on Balogun and because he's going to be forever associated with it. And I think this is something that will be talked about long after I'm gone off this mortal coil and and it's it the precedent it sets is it's disastrous yeah since the introduction of
35:44Nicky Bandini:yellow and red cards at 1970 world cup no player has ever received a red card and gone on to play in the team's next match gaurincha was sent off in the semi-final in 62 uh he was cleared to play in the final but there were no automatic bans there um but that wasn't necessarily all above board in 1962, I think it's safe to say.
36:03Max Rushden:People are equating this with the ban we've already talked about that was suspended on Ronaldo's behalf, two games of a three-game ban he got for being sent off against Ireland. This is completely different because the Ronaldo ban wasn't suspended due to the intervention of some high-ranking Portuguese prime minister or president.
36:24Nicky Bandini:We should say that FIFA sources reportedly denied that White House pressure influenced the disciplinary outcome. And actually on that, the journalist Leda Hammett said, look, recently FIFA suspended Nepal's football federation over government interference. Several federations have faced sanctions for the same reason. So, you know, it is in the statute, isn't it? You cannot get involved politically. Your FA is meant to be separate. And in many cases it isn't, but it's meant to be separate. And for Belgium now, of course, this is massive motivation for Belgium. but it is also you know they Baligan wasn't playing they have planned to play a team that didn't have this guy in the team and now they have to plan differently it's difficult to add too much to what Barry said there because it's all spot on with the hypocrisy of it I'd add to be honest though did they need it even the way they've been playing at this World Cup and everyone stepping up as a team I mean it isn't Pele it's Baligan it's good it's not Pele but still football is also about dealing with the injustice that you face as a team and whatever USA go on to do at this World Cup it now also fosters the conspiracy theories from every previous game where people may look back at refereeing decisions and go oh but was that one also part of this and the mental arm wrestle that I find constantly having in my head during this World Cup of enjoying the football before Or it then going back in the way of the people intent on ruining the football is, look, obviously it's not the worst thing, right, you know, in terms of a problem.
38:03But it's still something that I'm sure that other people are going through as well because it's just infuriating. And look, Gianni Infantino, a man without shame, he must be the most hated guy from Switzerland that I can think of. I cannot think of any, I mean, probably before Sepp Blatter.
38:20Nicky Bandini:yeah but everyone's going you know Lazor wasn't all that bad you know and for the referee as well it's you know what happens if Balogun flies into someone after five minutes you know uh Nikki I don't know if you could add anything well it's I think anyone who is paying any attention at all to the noise during uh the games today would have heard the same joke being made in some variation a hundred times over oh why isn't someone on the phone about the Kwanzaa red card or even deck and rice's yellow card at the start of the game the problem is now you've opened the door to this question of well so a red card that we all understood everyone in this podcast everyone watching understood if you get a red card you're not playing the next game that's always been clear um and the explanation that was given and was explained by christina uncle very well is that this is not again first of all they haven't revoked the red card they just suspended it and it's about a technicality of how the rule was, about how the VAR was used, right?
39:19So what the US has challenged the red card on is, oh, well, they use slow motion still frames when you're not supposed to use that. You're supposed to use real-time speed replays to decide these things because everything looks worse in slow motion. Well, are we certain they didn't do that for Kwanzaa? Are we certain they didn't do that for the penalties? Should we go back and take away some of the penalties that happened in this tournament? because the var was done incorrectly i mean it's just such a ridiculously dangerous kind of worms um yeah it feels like it feels like if balagan comes in now and plays a big role and and they knock out belgium it's going to be a thing that everyone talks about forever and um and yeah i i i i hate it i don't know what else to say i hate it i hate it on the flip side i did two posts that
40:09Nicky Bandini:did reasonable numbers. One suggesting that the US could choose to suspend a Belgian player of their choice and they're toying up between Tielemans and De Bruyne and then one saying that actually since Belgium complained they've been replaced with Rotherham United and now Belgium have to play West Brom in the first round of the Carabao Cup in August. So you know, yin and yang.
40:27Max Rushden:I'm surprised those tweets did good numbers.
40:29Nicky Bandini:Thank you so much Barry. I thought you'd like them. Anyway, Portugal play Spain.
40:33Max Rushden:I suggested and was widely ridiculed by a number of Americans whose timelines I checked and none of them had posted about football slash soccer before 22 days ago, citing all sorts of historical precedent that didn't take long to demolish. To avoid being directly tainted by association with this chicanery is just leave Balogun on the bench for the game, not play him. but that won't happen because Potch has come out and said like everyone that really loves the sport and trusts ethics and integrity I'll leave it there I don't really need to carry on do I we celebrate this decision yeah
41:22Nicky Bandini:do we Potch okay well look that'll do for today stay tuned for some Mark Langdon information but for the time being thanks very much thank you Archie thanks Max shall we cut persuade you for dinner Barry what if we didn't talk about football
41:36Max Rushden:I wouldn't be good company for you and he won't be good company for me so I'll just paddle my own canoe and this one and then we can all Hug in the morning
41:46Nicky Bandini:You can paddle your own longboat
41:48Max Rushden:I'll paddle my own longboat
41:50Nicky Bandini:to the beat of my own drum Thank you Nicky Thanks guys Football Weekly is produced by Rory Simon and Matt Bentley Viney Our executive producer is Joel Grove and we'll be back tomorrow
42:01Max Rushden:Hi Matt, Mark Lendon here just thought I'd give an update Now I'm back home So for breakfast this morning I had a crumpet I'm sure everyone will agree The only reason you have a crumpet is to Just put lashings of butter On it and I didn't disappoint In that regard so it was mainly Butter with a little bit of crumpet I'm sorry to disappoint The Bridge fans out there but Didn't have a Bridge today Got up late in preparation For the England game so it was straight into lunch which was prawns and seafood sauce and then I call them bagels and other people call them bagels but you know bagel bagel tomato tomato all the same really in talking of tomatoes I was at a hospitality event yesterday and the starter was a plate of tomatoes I actually thought somebody was on a wind-up there.
42:58Max Rushden:Then in terms of dinner, went to a Turkish butcher's supermarket, got a load of chicken sheath, some Turkish flatbread, spicy rice, new potatoes, some garlic sauce and also some mixed salad leaves. Did then leave the mixed salad leaves in the fridge, totally forgot about them until the rest of the food was demolished so we'll have to have them later on in the week. Anyway, in preparation for the England game tonight, I've got some bacon rashers and I've got very strong views on the best and worst of the bacon ration varieties out there at the moment. Maybe we'll save a top five for the international break pods.
43:40Max Rushden:But for now, enjoy the rest of your trip in America and I'll speak to everyone soon.
43:50This is The Guardian.