In short
England’s World Cup Round of 16 win over Congo, celebrating Harry Kane’s goals and Anthony Gordon’s impact, then debating tactics and the next match vs Mexico.
Guest backgrounds
The episode is hosted by four England football fans (names referenced: Lewis, Reeve, Will, and Tom Garrett). No formal guest bios; they speak as supporters and analysts.
Key claims
England were brilliant for ~60 minutes but shaky early; Gordon changed the game with aggression and improved crossing, setting up Kane. Kane is portrayed as elite/“Sir Harry” and a header specialist. Main concern is right-back/defensive space, fatigue, and starting too slowly. Substitutions (Gordon, Eze, Saka changes) are praised as correct.
Notable examples
Kane’s header and winner after Gordon’s assist; Pickford’s questionable goal conceded; Congo’s strong defense/goalkeeper; Mexico’s expected threat (Quinones) at the Azteca.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOEmotional Reflection on the Game
1:30 to 4:36
Discussion on the emotional highs and lows during the game, including key player performances.
“We've listened to your feedback and we aren't drunk.”
Harry Kane's Impact
4:36 to 5:40
Analyzing Harry Kane's role in the team's performance and making comparisons with other players.
“Also, I know we're going to touch on England later on down the line, but can we just take a moment for Congo and how good that goalkeeper was and how well they actually defended?”
Defensive Concerns and Player Analysis
5:40 to 8:04
A detailed look into the team's defense and individual player performances, including Pickford and the right-back situation.
“Jude Bellingham, I am actually falling more and more in love with you every day, mate.”
Midfield and Tactical Discussions
8:04 to 14:00
Exploration of midfield strategies, player fatigue, and tactical soundness for future games.
“I'm not stretching here at all, by the way.”
Concerns Over Right-Back Solutions
14:00 to 15:00
Discussion around the right-back issues and player fatigue.
“Well, Gay basically stopped us going 2-0 down at one point anyway.”
Midfield Dynamics and Player Performance
15:00 to 16:55
Analysis of Dettin and Rice's contributions and fatigue levels.
“his set pieces are absolutely reliable every single time but I think you saw when he came off right at the end when he actually filled in the right back Like, no denying, he puts 155 % in every single game.”
Elliot Anderson's Impact
16:55 to 18:30
Conversation about Elliot Anderson's performance and technical abilities.
“Well, actually, to be fair, Forrest went deep in the Europa League.”
Debate on Flare and Discipline
18:30 to 20:16
A discussion on the balance between flair and discipline in players' roles.
“Yeah, the Elliot Anderson one was fully wrong.”
Gordon's Game-Changing Role
20:16 to 21:45
Analysis of Gordon's influence in the game and contributions.
“Yeah, I want Bellingham to get a yellow card in the first 20 minutes.”
Harry Kane's Scoring Ability
21:45 to 23:15
Discussion on Harry Kane's scoring methods and effectiveness.
“His delivery, because normally Gordon's delivery is a shit.”
Show all 21 chapters
Service to Harry Kane
23:15 to 24:48
Debate on the quality of service provided to Harry Kane during matches.
“I admit I'm wrong, but in general on this point, but I said, I know he scored ahead of this tournament, but I don't stop giving it to Harry in the air.”
Tactical Strategies for Upcoming Matches
24:48 to 27:24
Discussion on tactics and player roles ahead of the next match against Mexico.
“Lewis, name us a player who's forward, he's better in the air than Harry Kim.”
Next Steps for England
27:24 to 28:00
Concluding thoughts on what England needs to improve for the upcoming games.
“And I know we've briefly discussed on it with Kongo and that, but looking back at when we first met, do you really think that it was going to be an easy game, this?”
Knockout Football Mentality
28:00 to 28:39
Hosts discuss the pressure and mentality needed for knockout football.
Tactical Concerns Against Mexico
28:40 to 29:42
Analysis of England's tactical concerns facing Mexico, including player matchups.
“to see more of what do you want to see less of what changes do you want I want to see more pragmatic straight off the rip.”
Predictions and Emotional Stakes
29:43 to 30:29
Hosts express their emotional stakes and predictions for the upcoming match.
Fan Sentiment and Confidence
30:30 to 31:31
Discussion on the contrasting sentiments among fans regarding the England team.
“Soon as we get on the fucking podcast, they go, oh, no, we're actually going to win.”
Harry Kane's Legacy and Impact
31:32 to 35:10
Exploration of Harry Kane's significance as a player and his impact on the team.
“If you think England can even fill up 20 % of that stadium vocally to try and get the boys through, it's GG, man.”
Tournament Predictions and Uncertainty
35:11 to 36:16
Speculation about England's chances in the tournament amidst uncertainties.
Mexico's Strength and Home Advantage
36:17 to 37:18
Discussion on Mexico's strengths and the challenges posed by playing at home.
“Mexico haven't even conceded a goal yet they haven't conceded is that true?”
Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
37:19 to 38:13
Final thoughts on the match, encouragement for listeners, and sign-off.
“We were man for man better today by a bigger margin and we still won it.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Now, time to thank our partner of this episode, XTB. Now boys, the game is starting and you know what that means. Your investing should too. If you think about it, football and investing actually have a lot in common. It's about backing your picks, playing the long game and hopefully making some smart decisions along the way. And this summer, XTB is making it easy to get started. If you sign up with XTB, enter the court pitch side and deposit£50 within the first seven days of opening an account, you could get a free share of Nike. Yep, a free Nike share and get it cheaper than a Nike jersey with XTB.
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1:13Guys, for once We got to sing it again! Not a single drink has been consumed for this podcast. Not true. Well, to be fair, there's not really been. Well, Lewis has had one, me and Reeve had none. Yeah, guys were totally sober for once. I mean, for us, it was early in the morning. We can look back on the game with Total Mental Charity. Early in the morning at 12 o 'clock midday. We've listened to your feedback and we aren't drunk. No, you meant yet. Yeah, not yet. Come on again. I feel like it was a game of four quarters. Oh, like every game in the World Cup. And by the four quarters, I mean the hydration breaks.
1:45Let me sip my coffee. Yes. Where do we start? Where do we start? Should we start chronologically or should we start with emotions? I think we start with the positive news. Let's get out. We're into the round of 16, guys. And let's not have any stick. because we were brilliant for about 60 minutes and that's all that matters because that won us the game. Yeah, so we're starting with emotions, not chronologically. I feel emotionally and physically drained after that experience. At one point, Lewis goes to us, he goes, I'm shaking, I'm not sure because it's a celebration or the drink. Lou has this thing where if it goes past 70 minutes, he opens his British Airways app and books a flight home.
2:19Yeah, no, do you get what I mean though? You had to trip to Magaluf right up. No, if we went out. But once it's in 70 and you're losing, like 70 is like, It feels different than 67, you know what I mean? What did we keep saying, though, Lou? We kept saying it's coming. It's coming. No, but like... And guess what happened, Lou? What happened? It did come. It did come. It come big time. No, it came. It came because... It came. It all came because of one person, though. Anthony Gordon. Anthony Gordon, you have officially arrived. You have arrived. He's not a new basketball player. Yeah, exactly. He's also unbiased.
2:52Did you hear on commentary? They were like, oh, the Barcelona left wing playing so well. He did actually come on and change the game. What do you think he did differently, Lewis? He actually ran forward because Rashford pissed me off the Mounties going back. And also, it's more his game. Rashford was running forward. He had a chance. He could actually beat, not only match, but beat Wan-Bissaka for pace. And also, the rare thing from Gordon, which I thought was interesting. Wan-Bissaka shattered me. The rare thing from Gordon, normally his end product was bad. His crosses were actually good quality.
3:20He improved in that way. To add to that, I actually thought Rashford did do the running. I actually thought the difference was the quality. Rashford was actually getting balls into the box. They just weren't of quality that someone could get on the end of it. That's the difference. Gordon managed to get the ball onto Harry's Kane head. Harry's Kane head. Onto Harry's Kane head. Well, on the topic of Harry Kane, I would say I owe you an apology, but this is what we want from him. I wanted... No, we want to hear an apology. What do you mean? Say sorry to Harry Kane. Say sorry to Harry Kane. Absolutely not.
3:47What? Say thank you to Harry Kane. I'll say thank you, Harry. Sir Harry probably secured his knighthood for slapping up the Arkong. He's playing Pele at a World Cup, bro. More goals than Pele. He's on 13 now. It's incredible. Three behind closer. Potentially finish, yeah, higher than closer by the end of the tournament. Is he now in the competition with Messi and Mbappe for the all-time? He's only played in three World Cups, by the way. Hey. I'm sorry, Mbappe. Can I be honest? Yeah. Mbappe's been 18 and 18. More games. Can I be honest? Honestly, right, there'll be a lot of people here who aren't English fans or aren't England fans and say, it's Congo, it's embarrassing, blah, blah.
4:18Honestly, can we all just agree to be happy and relieved that it's not over yet? Look, maybe we won't win it all. I could have been way more negative about the reality of today, but we beat them. Maybe we won't win it all. Maybe we won't win it all, but I'm just so relieved that it's not over yet because if we went out now and we're just like, well, that's the World Cup done, I'd be so depressed. Also, I know we're going to touch on England later on down the line, but can we just take a moment for Congo and how good that goalkeeper was and how well they actually defended? Yeah, I was going to say, it wasn't just the goalkeeper.
4:46Transabia had the game of his life. Matsuaka was amazing. Matsuaka was always great. You're missing the player. And then Chancellor Mbemba, Of course, that is part of that back four. It was a unit again. They defended genuinely exceptional. And I think going into this, everyone's like, oh, it's Kongo. But Kongo are actually a good side. They held Portugal to a draw as well, who were talking about one of the best midfielders in the entire World Cup before we even came into the tournament. They were a good side. They defended well. They were very regimented. Yeah, tactically astute. Yeah, of course.
5:13They have to be. That's how they've been playing through the tournament. I thought Harry Kane's first goal of the header, that was probably the one he probably should have saved. The keeper. Keeper, yeah. Of all the amazing things he'd made all day. Yeah, shout out, Ambassador. What a performance. I will say, though, in moments of magic, especially in knockout rounds, the fact that we've got Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane in the team are kind of the reason why we can keep going through teams like this. Jude Bellingham, I am actually falling more and more in love with you every day, mate. I know you're watching this.
5:45Hey, Jude. You are the greatest person ever, and if we win the World Cup, I'm getting you tattooed on my forehead he had quite a poor start didn't he he had a poor like first 20 do you know what he is and then he came into it he has we were shocking he turned it round even when he's playing badly he he he does things or at least tries to do something he demands a ball yeah he has big fucking testicles when it's a I'm telling you he has the biggest balls like him and Harry Kane have balls the size of fucking bowling balls you'd think they haven't wanked in seven years they're that inflated they are taking the entire team on the back and they have enough ego to be like fuck all this and like just do it themselves whereas look no but this is the quality this is the quality that they have they are a couple of the best players in the world they should well one person on pitch side didn't think so but you know Tom Garrett he's what's that he changes his mind all of a sudden has he oh it's like he fancies him does he oh you love Jude now do you Tom what did we tell you from the start of the tournament bro he's the man you said he's having a breakout out.
6:48He is having a breakout. To be one of the greatest players in the world, mate. He's already was! Oh, don't wink at me, mate. He's already at Real Madrid. Yeah, if we're going to go far in this competition and potentially win it, I'll have my reservations on some of the teams that they are really, really good in this tournament, so we might not. But Argentina, they've got Lionel Messi, right? They'll beat us. France, I mean, they've got a multitude of people. Mbappe is the main man. He's pulling them through. Norway. They're amazing. Yeah, Norway, Haaland, great. Thank you for picking on that one.
7:21Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham. I will say, though, if they don't turn up or if he didn't pull that out today, we're gone. But is that not the point that they always do turn up? Well, they haven't always turn up. But that was my reservation after we did the Garner pod. Do you know what I mean? By the way, there's someone else who told me what Garrett owes an apology to. Fucking Harry Kane, Mr. Orr, he never shows up in big games. And he'll probably argue it's round of 32. This is a huge game. and that was a huge moment and he turned up. Contextually. Yeah. So, like, another L. Also, I was going to say, sorry, Will, we created a lot of chances today, by the way.
7:58It's not like we were playing against Panama and Ghana where we struggled to create chances. We genuinely created, what, seven big chances with about 20 shots on the goal. We actually made chances. I feel like... Which is a positive. I'm not stretching here at all, by the way. I know, I know. I agree. The keeper had a phenomenal performance. I agree. My concern is we were very, very lucky you know it'll be 2-0 down. Oh, yeah. So, okay. Now we can go break down the game chronologically because I have a lot to say about this. Oh, here we go. Don't anger Reeve. He's an angry man. Was it a pen? The Harry Kane one?
8:28Yeah. You could definitely argue that it was. I feel like he's playing for it, but like VAR have been shit throughout this, so we won't really touch on that anyway. Who cares? I will say, we come up against Mexico or anyone further in this competition and they go 3-0 up by the first 30 minutes. We're out of the competition. Well, that's not a rogue take if they got three. No, but I'm saying defensively today, Congo could have gone 2-0 down to Congo, in which case that's a totally different game. We'd have been out of the World Cup. I think we would have been out against Congo, yeah. Never mind Mexico.
8:59Yeah, we did have goals in the first half. No, no, no, but I'm saying... So it could be 4-2. Yeah, but they've started faster than us. Yeah, they started faster, but after hydration break, we got back into it and we were all over them. My worry was... So they could have scored two, yeah, but we could have scored four. I'm saying we can't start games like that in future. We can't keep going through this process of like looking really bad for the first quarter or whatever we're going to call it and then slowly making our way back into the game. We should be having a grip on it from the beginning.
9:24Defensively, we look poor. My concern was the amount of space around our box. Jed Spencer was getting rinsed down that wing. Like, our defence isn't very good. Pickford getting beat from Ports is like not acceptable for his level. We've got serious problems to write that. I don't know. He has to say that. What do we think, thoughts on Pickford at this tournament? He's still Pickford. He's going to be great. But like, I think Pickford will look at that goal and he'll be like, I should have saved that. I agree. And that's the standard he set for England. 100%. And like, what about Harry Kane? Harry Kane said in the post-match interview, like everyone can have their big moments, whether it's him scoring a goal or Pickford making a save.
9:59And that would have been Pickford's moment. Like, we need him to be solid. If he saved that, we would have gone that's routine, by the way. Yeah, because he is going to have more things like this where he's going to have to pull off huge saves. And it's like, that was a chance to help us out a bit. We definitely need to be more tactically sound from the get-go, though. Yeah. And we have a real problem with right-back now because DJ Ed, albeit we love him on this show, he's shown a lot of flaws in the game today. Even though I might have shouted that he shit a few times. Yeah, but we can't start with right-back.
10:26No, but that's the issue. The issue is that in that game, our best right-back was a centre midfielder. Yeah. That is an issue. And moving forward, who plays in that position? Who have we got to write-back for the remainder of the tournament? It's Rhys James. Rhys James. I got the answer. I have the answer. We played Declan Rice. Well, Rhys James is meant to be back now, isn't he? Jude in the eight. We put Declan Rice right back, and then we bring Jude into the eight. Morgan Rodgers starts. Boom. Where is he? It's great. I don't think that's... Well, that's when we scored two goals. Well, actually, one of the goals.
10:57Yeah, but that's because we're going more attacking. He did a great job right back. We can't start with Declan Rice right back. Let's go through the team, then. We've discussed Pickford. We've discussed Spence. Left-back, Nico O 'Reilly. I thought he had a good game. Yeah. I mean, you're not going to take them out. Yeah. I mean, most of their opportunities came from their left side. The only time that O 'Reilly got one-on-one, he won against the, I can't remember his name, but the substitute that came on. I think he dealt with it really well. He was obviously positive going forwards. He likes to drift into this central space, which is pretty cool.
11:28And that's why I think Gordon worked a little bit better with him. Because obviously O 'Reilly's coming inside. Gordon gives Gordon the option to drop back and then play the crossing, which is kind of how Kane scored the first one. but yeah I haven't got problems with O 'Reilly Gay Heel Can O 'Reilly play on the right? I think they're pretty good No he plays on the left on midfield doesn't he? Yeah I like O 'Reilly like today I'm not even saying this how biased today I was thinking in part like I would love a Hall in there just because like O 'Reilly's better than Hall what are we doing here? I don't think that's the position we need to be arguing about I think our left side is pretty good yeah I only say it because Hall and Gordon play the only reason I say it because Holland Gordon play a club level together like all season so like that sort of thing I know it's not FIFA on the team but it does actually like Gordon's We saw today of Rice Eze and Saka on the right hand side linking up to back your point I think the argument Gordon made some great ones sorry but like The issue is the right back position though Which is the right hand side Like Trent But there's no sign on it now It's the sign right hand side So what can you do now It's all hearsay Yeah like I wrongly went to DJ Sorry DJ about the goal but he actually had to come in because Concer was fucking two miles out of position.
12:38No, I mean, we're picking holes. Yeah, but that's not the problem that I had with him from today's game. EJ had. Yeah. EJ had just got rinsed down the right a little bit. He got better throughout the game offensively. After the hydration break, which by the way, I know it benefited us, but it proved how bullshit it was because our heads were gone as a team. People were smashing tackles in. I thought someone was going to get sent off and it changed everything. And if I was a Congo fan, I'd be absolutely livid. I feel quite annoyed about hydration breaks because I know it helped us this time, but it might not in the next time.
13:13It's like, it changed the game. One thing we were discussing sort of at the pub earlier was the substitutes. We all kept saying, this is obvious, this is the answer, this is the answer. And how often do we watch a football match where we say, this is the answer? As football fans, we think we know everything, right? So this is the answer. And actually the manager then goes and makes those subs and turns out it was correct. Yeah, we're going to give Tickle a bit of praise here. You said in the pub, well, you know, it was obvious, but the manager still has to make the substitutes. You're right. Southgate wouldn't have made them.
13:39Southgate wouldn't have made their substitutions. No, Southgate, Southgate, Southgate. Do we have to praise the fact that he's been... I know he's not fit, but Saka didn't start. Yeah, we haven't even touched on him. I'd start in just Saka. But let's go back to where we were. We'll go back to the centre-halves for now. We're going to go through the team. Centre-halves, Conce and Gay. It's fine. Well, Gay basically stopped us going 2-0 down at one point anyway. Gay's great. That was a great block. Yeah, it's fine. Yeah, I'm happy with those two. But the issue I have now is if we don't have a right-back solution, it'll be Contra across and then we're pairing up two different centre-backs again.
14:19Well, Wase James was meant to be only out of two games. Yeah, but this is the first one. This was the second. He was out against Panama. Oh, was it? Yeah. Oh, fair enough. If he's back for Sunday, then great. But that's a tough game to just jump back into. All right, so then we step into midfield. Dettin and Rice. I mean I thought he's not 100 % is he he's not 100 % I thought he did really he was really good in the second half when we took the lead and he was just really professional defensively his dead ball deliveries weren't quite the best I think that I honestly think that's just fatigue yeah that's what I'm saying he doesn't look too sharp because he does not want to kick a ball off the ground yeah but normally his set pieces are absolutely reliable every single time but I think you saw when he came off right at the end when he actually filled in the right back Like, no denying, he puts 155 % in every single game.
15:10He runs his socks off. But he looked exhausted. He loved that. Exhausted. And he's got five days to rest up. Of course. I don't want to be too downbeat about the performance. But I do want to bring in something realistic. Are you not worried that how many of our players look in terms of fatigue going into Sunday at altitude? Can I answer? 1 ,000%. I'm worried about every aspect of our team at the moment. but like fuck it let's just see how fair enough I will say did you get a bit sidetracked did you watch the first half of the Mexico game last night yeah I've never seen anything like it yeah they were like all on crack it was crazy this is exactly the point I was trying to make at the start of this we can be dangerous on the break as well that's why I think that Gordon would start my concern is if we go 2-0 down to that Mexico team again with how quickly they started against a really good Ecuador side to be fair to them we are cooked I think we're going out against Mexico don't get me wrong but I'm just living in happy land I think we're hooked if I'm honest but I'm living the dream do you not see like a couple problems yeah I see a couple problems yeah I absolutely see a couple problems but I also have seen how Tuchel has adapted in certain games in this World Cup and actually we've come out the other side winning yep that's fair we can only go with what we've seen but do you know what I mean we've won three out of four games I think today I think today though I'm only asking I'm only trying to pose the question because if we all said, England are great, we're going to win every game, then there'd be no realism about what we talk about.
16:40No, but that is football after the time. Right, next up. I want to talk about Elliot Anderson, please. Elliot Anderson, yeah. But once again, he's like a... Jordy Maradona. The way he sweeps up the ball is second to none. The way he wins that ball back. Obviously, he's not played the same amount of... Well, actually, to be fair, Forrest went deep in the Europa League. He's played a lot of football, but he doesn't look leggy at all, does he? no he may he played 50 times last year as of consistency behind the superstars I think he's been our best player he had 5 games less than Rice last year well I was saying to Reeve the other day Eddie Anderson he's like people don't realise how technically good he is on the balls so whenever he's on the ball and it's like it's a tight situation because he's a big lad he doesn't look like he's going to be that sort of agile guy I was saying to you he has fucking genuine flair but you had him rated like 3 out of 10 for flair when he's on the ball and he runs out he has a little bit of battle he's the Geordie he's not rainbow clicking anyone he could who is he got booked technically gifted is not the same as having flair no but he has a bit of flair he can switch that on but it's not his role he does the simple stuff he can do it he does the simple stuff he's like the master that's if he needs to switch it on and go make something happen he can't that's an implication that he doesn't choose to flair he's disciplined in his role he did one back hill today he kicked it straight out that was time wasted Lewis is getting confused.
18:02Lewis is saying he has the ability to do a rainbow flick. Of course he does. Yeah, so does every single footballer. By the way, actually, wait a second. That wasn't my point. You're saying he has it, but he's just not using it. No, you just went, I know what Lewis is saying here. He's just saying Elliot Anderson can do a rainbow flick. He's not a flair player. No, he has a bit of, I never said he's a flair player. I said he has a bit of flair about me. People don't realise on the ball that he wanted to be that exciting forward. We're talking about two different things here then. You're saying if he wanted to be.
18:26In tight spaces and close control. Yeah, but he's disciplined. wanted to be that they could but they're not what that's so okay Gehi could be a skillful player who runs forward with a ball yeah he's he can do a rainbow flick right okay well I don't know why we keep talking about rainbow flicks do you understand what I'm saying yeah yeah they are professional football I mean if you put them no no it's the same way no what Gehi can do a fucking rainbow flick mate I'm not talking about rainbow flicks what's going on you'll say you know what I'm not doing this let's agree to disagree on what the definition of flair is but I do appreciate that he is very technically gifted what I'm trying to say is what we're seeing from now he has like a lot more that he can do still but what I will say is he shouldn't be allowed to shoot from outside the box honestly lads if one thing's got exposed you say what you want about me I've already probably been slated in the comments from this episode like Will actually knows fucking now about football honestly I can't tell you Will you're now my top three people who I hate watching football I said three things that were probably wrong but I got frustrated watching football which is what a fan does oh he's getting all defensive and two of them are still standby it was the worst I actually shuffled my chair for him.
19:29Yeah, the Elliot Anderson one was fully wrong. But at the time, I wanted him to get it out wide. But he was probably right to shoot. But I don't really know what's wrong with that. He never really put the offensive on Will. He backed down straight away. There was no fight. There was no fight. He instantly was like, you're all right. No, no, I'll take it. What else? Go on then. Who's going to win the World Cup first? USA or England? France. England. I've always said England. But I think USA will win it in the next three, four years. What else did you want? What else did I say wrong then? The Anthony Gordon thing.
19:56There's so much. Yeah, about half-wingers slow the defender down. When you watch the football, you just say things. Well, you just can't say it at the time. You've seen it on the set. Yeah, but I wanted him to have a go at it. I haven't watched it back, and I'll happily hold my hand up. You thought football, wasn't it? That's football, wasn't it? The Bellingham one where he had a go at me, that's what he does when he gets frustrated. No, no, well, you said that's what I want from Bellingham. Get him a yellow card. Yeah, I want Bellingham to get a yellow card in the first 20 minutes. We understood.
20:20We want Bellingham to get stuck in, absolutely. But you don't want your main man in the number 10 with a yellow card after 15 minutes. Yeah, he did get better. No, we got better after the hydration break, not a yellow card. You still don't want your main man on a yellow within 15 minutes. Anyway, we're getting off. Let me see three people take so much joy in me seeing three things to disagree with. Oh! Gordon? Oh, yeah, yeah, we can touch on Gordon and Saka. We were in the process of talking about the substitutes. Well, we were talking about the midfielders, weren't we? Because you're on Elliot Anderson.
20:51Gordon was great. I disagree with the use of the word immense. I thought he was immense. but I think he was very, very good. Changed the game. Changed the game. You come on, you're 1-0 down, he gets two assists, we win 2-1. He changed the game. That's immense. I mean... It is immense. It is immense. The Harry Kane... Look, look, obviously... He's made it out of nothing. I'll keep back you here, brother. By the way, obviously Harry Kane, Harry Kane, great finish, especially on the second one. But Gordon, on that assist, I know the pass was actually short distance, but he had to like work it inside, out muscle, and then on the turn, like slightly past the game.
21:20That is really well done. And the main thing that stiffened to Rashford. It's aggressive. Rashford was quite like, he never goes that direct. Yeah, he re-circled it a lot. Or he'll cut inside. But otherwise he's passed it back. Gordon was taking risks and it paid off. You have to against legged defenders though. You could say immense. I just disagree with the use of the word. I think we had one immense player. He's arrived. What was immense about him tonight, Lewis? He came on, he was aggressive. His delivery, because normally Gordon's delivery is a shit. His delivery was great. And then, And yeah, he was just aggressive and he got two assists.
21:54He created the goals. Yeah. On the topic of substitutes, we just need to inject Saka with like some Formula V or whatever. Yeah, genuinely. Compound V. Yeah, compound V. That's the one. Honestly, he is the most frustrating footballer to watch on the planet. Maduweki. Yep. Yep. Do you know what? Because like, because one second, one second I'm calling, I'm calling him a shit prick. And the next second, he's dribbled past three people and he's through. Yeah. But he turns back and plays it out. I'm like, I either want to love you or hate you. Stop making me swap. I do get wonder what he's been told to do though because he actively was looking to cut inside and cross it but he looked so much better every time he went to the byline.
22:30I think he's just told to get at them. But every time he went to the byline he got past and he looked better. I imagine he probably has a bit of freedom and Tuchel's just saying because Tuchel was on the sidelines screaming. He loves him, doesn't he? He's obviously seen something we don't see because it's Groundhog Day. You can't go through 45 minutes of watching the same pattern of playing and being like surely do something different man him and DJ Ed together are good at getting past the men the problem is the end product's shit yeah and then you leave so much space in behind that's exactly how they score yeah literally exactly that we got a touch on the man the myth the cane he Lewis Bowden about 10 minutes before he scored a goal was trying to convince us you're calling him out for shit takes mate that's why he's done it by the way I didn't mean it in that way just accept it just do what Will did it's a humble pie yeah in the first apparently accepting you were wrong is not the right thing to do that's not the show you don't say sorry you have to fight it in the first half I think it was Rashford or someone on the left hand side put a ball in in the air and Lewis went don't fucking pass it to him in the air man Harry Kane don't score headers it's not by the way that's not what happened that is exactly how you said he said Harry Kane doesn't score headers you said he doesn't score headers I said I know he scored ahead in this tournament but Harry Kane you didn't say that I said the last score he scored was a header it's literally on camera no it's not on camera you because this is what happened I literally said it no no No, because my retort back was Lewis's last goal was ahead.
23:52Dave, you're wrong. I literally, I know. I admit I'm wrong, but in general on this point, but I said, I know he scored ahead of this tournament, but I don't stop giving it to Harry in the air. My overall point is, all of our service at the moment is down the wings with our wingers who are a weaker position and we're crossing the ball in for Harry Kane. Just pass it to him in his feet. It doesn't even have to be in a good position. By the way, Jamie's shaking his head because he filmed you saying all this, bro. Yeah, mate, that's fine. Bring up the recording. I know I said it. If you're in a position out wide and you've got the ball in the box, you whip it in yeah you can't he scored almost 70 career hits you were asking for an impossible ball in there no the only option for Harry Kane at that point was a crossing I'd say we can work it through the middle and get Harry Kane on the feet once he had it in his feet we saw what he did today boys we're getting beyond the point you said Harry Kane don't score headers that's his 69th headed goal in his career well yeah but how many answer me this how many has he scored with his feet most footballers every footballer has probably scored more percentage wise is Rooney score headers sometimes times.
24:48Is Rooney not these days. Did Rooney score headers? Lewis, name us a player who's forward, he's better in the air than Harry Kim. Oh, I wasn't going to ask that question. That's a good shot. I was going to ask a question of name a forward that scored more headed goals than with their feet. Don't exist. Visser tried to kick it with his head. I might exist. Peter Crouch. A number nine that scored more headed goals than with their feet in their career. It would be a really bad striker though. Surely it It would be someone who scored one headed goal and zero kickfuts. No, no, no. I'm saying like a good number nine.
25:22A number nine that's had a decent time at a top level. No one. Exactly. He's got more defeat, mate. Yeah, so let's put it into the feet then. You back my point. It doesn't mean it's a waste of time. It's a non-point. It's not a non-point. It was a terrible take. I agree. I said I was wrong. Now we've just gone around serving. So let's look at the changes now. So we've discussed Gordon. We've discussed Saka. Eze was he surprised he came on was that a good positive change that you've yeah I am because Southgate wouldn't have made we needed a right back change kept Rice on the field he played brilliantly there why do you think you went Eze over Rodgers good question Theo thank you why did he play Eze over Rodgers can I say I'm going to throw a question over to Liz Baden here I think Eze also has big testes he has some big moments big moment goals and he has a world and I know Rodgers does as well but Rodgers when he played did he do anything crazy when he was on the other day I don't mind I feel like I think I have my answer go on then is Rodgers profile is quite similar to Bellingham whereas Eze's is slightly different a bit more athleticism with Rodgers and Bellingham a bit more like Eze's a bit more technical Jude's still on the field right you don't need another runner alongside him in those positions Eze was more get the ball whip it out wide do you think it had to do with Saka Rice yeah exactly I was about to say there's the ultimate team argument.
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26:46You get the chemistry up in the team and you play it better. Yeah, we actually didn't need any runners in behind at that point. We needed more control of the game because it was 1-1 and we obviously like, we got the second goal by playing the ball through the middle. Admittedly, it wasn't Eze to do that but that's how it came to go. And then talk to me about that Harry Kane finish for the winner. It's just insane. I love him. I will say though, that's just pure muscle memory for him, isn't it? Harry Kane, man. No, but in terms of that goal itself, is training scenario, ball played into him, defender behind him, one touch out, bang.
27:21He must have done that a thousand times in his career. He's the greatest player in the world and I love him. He's made it look so easy. I think he's amazing. And I know we've briefly discussed on it with Kongo and that, but looking back at when we first met, do you really think that it was going to be an easy game, this? Yes. What? No, I predicted 1-0. I called 1-0. It was always going to be a tough ask. It was always going to be a tough ask. I said 1-0. You're never going to win a World Cup. breezing every game unless you're France at this rate yeah but we're not making it easy on ourselves no we're not but the bit getting it done is there not is there not something in it that we've been 1-0 down we've all got frustrated and then your players that you rely on have pulled out of the bag to take your food I was saying this before I was like it's knockout I was saying this as we went back I'm like look I actually don't give a fuck about the warning sign stuff it's knockout football and as long as we keep scraping through and finding a bit of balls and getting doing it I keep talking about balls today I'm happy I don't care we can play shit let's keep scraping through look no offence again but Arsenal won the league off it so there's something to it yeah you did some there's a lot of games where you just but like you didn't give a fuck and I said the whole time to you so I was like if I was Arsenal I'd like bring it on let's keep scraping through I don't give a fuck who it is as long as we win so through the next round now you don't care who it is Lewis but it is Mexico I'm very worried what do you want us what do you want us to see more of what do you want to see less of what changes do you want I want to see more pragmatic straight off the rip.
28:48As in we go into the game and take the sting out of the Azteca immediately. We do have a big issue. We can't give them early chances because then they'll just capitalise and then we're on the back foot. We do have a big issue with Mexico though. It's our right back and their left winger, Quinones. And the altitude. Is that the way Mexico started against Ecuador. first of all like Reeves said they were absolutely electric but Quinonez was just on fire the way he took his goal was incredible and he has been all tournament he's been electric right so coming up against whoever's going to be our right back if it's Declan Rice who I'm very confident with he doesn't have the pace to deal with Quinonez so we're hoping DJ Ed Spence will be absolutely fine but even that I mean defensively he's going to struggle against a guy like that I mean he looked at the Congo winger who was rapid who was just a bit mental wasn't he he was like coming inside left and right that's a bit like Quinonez that right back position is going to be a wire of frost against Mexico which is the biggest worry we have I think the centre back pairing are pretty solid are you playing it right back then who would I play it right back yeah you gotta go DJ who else you got you can have a concert against a quick winger you'll be on you'll be like on roller skates well I would say hope Rhys James is fit yeah I think that's the solution this is the last game hope Rhys James is available for some reason Mexico will play at the Azteca it is and it will be the last game full stop in this tournament as well bro they ever play because they're going out is that a bit more concerning was it because they're that place will be rammed anyways they're not going to have a World Cup for a while it's the third World Cup they've had it's the Lions then isn't it and unfortunately we're the fucking Lions yeah three Lions I'm alright boom yeah we're going out of Mexico but hey guys we just enjoy today we'll worry about the later honest honest prediction honest honest bottom of my heart honest bottom of my heart bottom of your heart yeah okay if you ask me now I think we go out but if you ask me on the day I'll say we're going through Penalties I'm an emotional man We're out on pens No no no I think we progressed On penalties But you're the most worried About the game What?
30:49You're the one that's been Most worried Yeah you're asking me today Right now Score predictions for Mexico Fuck it I changed my mind Actually we're winning 2-1 Fuck it I think so Yeah I really do I think we beat them I think we did Well do you guys Change your tunes I don't fucking know Do you know what it is Because I'm fighting Between my brain and my heart My head says that By the way, can I just say, all of these lot, all of them in the pubs, oh, Mexico are going to batter us. They're going to batter us. They're going to fucking batter us. Soon as we get on the fucking podcast, they go, oh, no, we're actually going to win.
31:18I'm just about to say, my heart says... That's just not true. I don't think anyone else says we get through. None of that was true. My heart says we get through, be it penalties or regular time. My head says Mexico win. I don't know what it is. I'm just scared. Can I be honest with you, guys? I'm just a little boy out here in New York, and I'm frightened, all right? If you think England can even fill up 20 % of that stadium vocally to try and get the boys through, it's GG, man. That entire ground's going to be Mexican fans. By the way, that's probably going to be the biggest game in their history.
31:48Yeah. I'm pretty sure that was their first World Cup knockout win. This is the last chance of playing them as Tech. They're playing England. Yeah. They're going to get battered, bro. They've never got through the second knockout stage of a World Cup before. They're going to be up for it. Lads, can I just say, are we not forgetting who we have in our football team? We've got Harry Kane. Yeah, but if they... Bayern Munich. We've got Real Madrid. They have an off day, we're out of the competition. We've got all these players who are at the top of the game, the biggest clubs in the world, who are playing the biggest games in the world.
32:15We're talking El Clasico. We're talking North London derbies. We're talking Euros finals, guys. Okay? Let's not act like these guys are no fucking scrubs. This is England we're talking about. We're going to go to the Azteca, and we're going to make them our little bitch. Have you ever tried running it? 2 ,000 Yeah we talked Mate Oh get off it Get off it They're playing on top Of a mountain Yeah Paco plays In fucking Paris mate Who? What? And he got Fucking schooled Yeah he did Yeah fair enough That's a terrible argument Raul Jimenez Raul Jimenez For Mexico Plays in Fulham Guess what All season Guess what He's been playing In Mexico For the last Three weeks of his life He's definitely Acclimatised To the top of a mountain We're talking about Some of the fittest Athletes on the planet Yeah and the Mexico team probably Yeah and they made Paco, one of the best centre-backs in European football, look like a mug.
33:02Yeah, fairs. That's a tough game. I don't... No, it is a tough game, but I still think we're going to win. I hope we do. I hope we do, but that's fucking hard. Because I actually think... Sorry, I know Jimenez looked like... It doesn't matter anyway. Raul Jimenez looked great, by the way, yesterday. But when he comes up against Gehi and Konza, who have played him many times, many, many times, many times, in the Premier League, they know how he plays a little bit. That is actually going to help us. that will help us and Capier's an Arsenal footballer you know that he won the Premier League yeah I know that but I'm talking about their number nine I'm saying like he played against that we used to play against Vissita and he got him behind a couple of times yeah but he's on about Mexico's striking against he's not good you're talking about Ecuador's left back yeah but in the defence I'm talking about the defenders that are against the Mexico team no but I'm saying how good Jimenez looked yesterday for Mexico he looked really really good I think when he comes up against a Gehi and a Concer who sort of know how he plays, I think that will help us a lot more.
34:01And he will look worse. That's fair to say. Do you know what I'm saying? I think they're dangerous, man. Am I scared of Quinonez? Yeah, I'm scared of Quinonez. All right, so we'll wrap up the pod in a minute, but I just want a final bit of this about Harry Kane. Spurs have signed Tonali for 100 million. Brilliant. We're going to get into that in a second. Sorry, say that again, Reeve. He's the greatest ever English footballer, well, that I've ever seen. That's probably the fair comment. he's the greatest English of all time do you know what he looks like as well people will say Bobby Charm do you know what he looks like he looks like I've ever seen he's the closest I can if you picture him just holding the World Cup and like in a Blackmine 4 he looks like a World Cup winner he does like with his receding English hair you know what I mean he just likes a classic English player in the year 2150 when people go through their digital digital photo books and it's like oh my god in the year 20 it's a hurricane this man was dominating Sir Harry Kane That's honestly Oh yeah he's 100 % Sir Harry Kane Don't get me wrong I wanted so much for England But I wanted for him He deserves it For like He's fucking class We need 11 of him That's the issue Yeah We wouldn't win If we had 11 Harry Caines How far we get in this tournament How many goals Is Harry Kane getting Optimistically now I think semi-final Against Argentina I think we beat Argentina I think they're too Reliant on Messi Okay even more optimistically We lose 5-0 in the final Against France No I think we beat France Too reluctant Mbappe Mbappe's going in We might go out against Mexico I think Honestly I genuinely I didn't even want to do that because I was trying to be more positive compared to the last part No no Honestly I keep We're going against Congo We're going to the fucking Azteca in their home Let's be honest We don't sell a fucking chance We nearly went out We nearly went out to Congo It's all It's all It's all Stop it No Tiz We're going to the final I don't know who can call it we don't know what team is going to show up yeah we don't know the England winning team they've done 3 out of 4 games so far I just think it's so hard to predict these tournaments because it's like each team is so unfamiliar to you number 1 it's not like predicting a Premier League game it's just like who fucking knows we'll find out that guy knocked out Germania exactly have they even conceded a goal yet who?
36:19Mexico haven't even conceded a goal yet they haven't conceded is that true? if they go 1-0 we'll just walk off that's what I mean should we just give them the try We will be the first top class nation they play though. Are you classing us as top class right now? 100 % we are. 1-0. Ecuador are decent. Ecuador are a good side. Maybe Germany. So the Paraguay to be fair. They will be worried about facing us. I don't think so. I mean it's reciprocated though isn't it? I don't think they're worried. They'll be more worried about us than we are then. I think they're looking at us licking their lips and we can go out these.
36:54It's going to be the most hostile game those footballers have ever played internationally. I guarantee you not one of those Mexican players all of them are so excited so hype it's in their home they are not where you're playing by the way maybe they should but they're coming in with full confidence. It's a giant killing for them they're going to go in there we could be the ones to take England down. 100 % they're going to be up for it they're going to be up for it they can't win but like man for man on that pitch we're better than them. We were man for man better today by a bigger margin and we still won it.
37:23Mate they subbed on a what? Mate they subbed on We were buying our fingernails off for 75 minutes of that match, mate. They'll be hyped for the game. Absolutely. They'll be absolutely hyped. Nil-nil. We've shown weakness. 2-0 England. Yeah. Honestly, Mexico, they could absolutely thrash us. 7-0 England. Harry Kane's going to have a shit on the pitch. Not physically. Harry Kane, shit on the pitch. Gary Linderger, hat-trick. 4-0. That's the toughest ground in the world. 9-0 England. Right, okay. I think we're... Are we done? Are we all excited? Well done, England. We are proud of you. Bring on Sunday.
37:55England will win please do it again they are going to win I beg and we're going to be there what we want nah tickets are too expensive alright rate us five stars on Apple and Spotify guys we will see you next time there's a couple of tenables out here and there couple of imposters stay tuned more World Cup content coming we'll love you and we'll see you for the next one Monday morning
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