Rio Defends Jeremy Doku and Cristiano Ronaldo & Picks His Top Front 3

0:00Host unforgettable backyard barbecues with savings from Whole Foods Market. Get the good times going with made-in-house chicken or pork sausages and ready-to-cook kebabs for hassle-free flavor. Grab tasty flatbreads and their new balsamic chicken salad in the prepared foods department. Keep things fresh with organic red cherries, strawberries, and peaches at their peak. And stock up on bug sprays and sun care must-haves. Make your summer sizzle at Whole Foods Market. I think it's a horrible comment, especially in the circumstances that we're in, where all of the news feeds are now talking about it and putting pressure on him.

0:38I hope he stays strong and does what's true to himself and goes to see his missus. We've built football up to be such an important thing and the most important thing in our lives. But when it comes to things like your baby being born and family and life or death, it should really put it into perspective, actually. It's really good. It's a great thing. We love it. But there's more things that are more important and family is definitely one of those things.

1:02so still you know Joel's been talking about going on a few like escapades yeah we're gonna do some yeah well got onto my Airbnb app yeah looked at a few things that are going on I found the perfect one horseback riding through scenic Malibu see ya so like you meet your horse your guide you start running through the ranch you stroll through like the wooded canyons get all the views spot a bit of wildlife unreal he's gonna love it you have seen him on a camel that's why when he was in Qatar that's why I picked this I like your thinking yeah good I'm going to try and find a cowboy hat just a cowboy hat got to go all out all jeans like jeans shirt it has to be jeans yeah all jeans oh jeans jeans jeans yeah jeans on jeans a jeans hat with a jeans jacket and a jeans waistcoat I don't know about a jeans hat but jeans on jeans will go top and bottom jeans boots yeah in the heat he's going to hate that sorry guys I'm late just had to sort some stuff out bro why are you guys so giddy why are you late seriously I don't know I was just I was getting a drink it's a fine you should do press ups it's a fine innit yeah I've been doing press ups all day no you've never I saw what you put in a group chat by the way I don't understand why you're getting on to me brilliant press ups in my opinion well you're either late or you don't attend or when you're there you don't do it right so why are we why do you think we're getting on to you hurry oh man relax we're in LA baby we've got Airbnb you know what I mean we've got the sun here we're here to enjoy it man calm down he's gonna hate it yeah he's gonna I'm here for it.

2:27Good. Hit what? Don't worry, man. So where do you want to start with this episode? We went to the Belgium-Iran game. But you know what? I want to speak about the Jeremy Docky situation. You heard about that. It's crazy. We're going to get into that. We'll look at England's next game. And we'll be chatting about front threes. We've got to talk about it because front threes is where it gets exciting for me. That's what gets me off my seat. So after nearly all the big players have played and added some sort of impact, we can start now judging and really formulating a front three across the whole tournament.

2:53So we'll get into that, man. Now you've mentioned it though, Rio. let's start with the attacking options. Like you said, big topic of conversation. The majority of the big strikers have scored. What are you saying? Who have you been impressed with the most?

3:09Mbappe scored two. Alise. Those two for me stood out for France. Yeah. I thought they were both outstanding. Mbappe with his finishing. Alise with his creativity.

3:22Messi obviously scored a hat-trick. You can't even put no further than Messi. Ridiculous. to come in at his age, 38 years old, and dominate. People think, you know what, he's gone to America, shut down, all over, chilling out now, slippers are on. That's what I thought. He came here and said, no, no, no, no. Hat-trick, first day, let's go. Those three are my standouts. Harry Kane, again, got two goals as well. Havertz has looked good. Pardon? Havertz has looked good. Havertz has looked really good as well. Yeah, I agree. Diamundain, the first game I thought was outstanding. Second game, not as influential.

3:56Still got an assist though, right? Got an assist, yeah. He's like not as much with the goals, but he's got three assists. Yeah, he's looked good as well. Yeah. It's quite a lot, isn't it? It's quite a lot. It's a lot. Harland as well. Harland got his customary couple of goals. It's not what you expect from him. But I think the outstanding was Lamin Yamao again, against Saudi, stepped up and said, yep, I'm here, guys. Don't forget me. Arazabal scored a couple as well, hasn't it? Yep, Arazabal as well, yeah. I mean, the reality is I want us to pick a top three, right? Best of the tournament so far, but there's a single rule one from each country alright so you can't have for example Mbappe and Elisa in a team because they're from the same nation that makes it a bit easier you know I like that shall I go first do you want me to go first give me four three my four three I'll give you two I'm going Elisa on the right I'm going Messi as my false number nine and I'm going Balogun on the left okay different I'm going Kane on the middle Messi on the right and Mbappe on the left hmm that's the same as yours Mine?

4:52Yeah. I see. That means we're right. I want to switch it up, but I can't argue. I definitely agree. I think you could put five or six players in that three and be quite happy to have the argument about it and you'd be quite convincing. You can, but I think the reason why I think you're right is because Elise, one game, but what a game that was. No one can argue with that. Messi, hat trick. My man made it look super easy. There's no arguments. He weren't even, he weren't even like down for top goal scorer when he first started. So, and then you look at Balogun and you go, wow, is this the player that left Arsenal?

5:28You can't argue with that. I think, I think that's the best front three possible so far. Okay. Yeah. We'll take that. Yeah. Obviously, it's a bigger mission in all of that. Cristiano Ronaldo stunk the gaff out a little bit. What do you make of the whole response to it? I don't expect anything less. I've got to be honest with you. I may not agree with elements of it, but I would not expect Cristiano Ronaldo to play good, bad or indifferent and not get huge headlines. And I think he accepts that as well. He knows that. He may not like it. He won't like it. But I think he accepts it because he knows how big he is.

6:03I think he looks at it like, because I'm the biggest player in the world, I am going to get criticised if things aren't going to plan. And I don't know. Yeah, I think it is a bit crazy. It's one game. You've got to remember, right? Everyone's going, he shouldn't play. he's messing their squad up. I would go as far as to say if he didn't play in the qualifiers, they don't get there. Because his goal's got him there. But, we had this discussion over there, day one of the tournament, I think they're a better team without him right now. And you can say they wouldn't have been there without him, that's cool.

6:36But right now, I think his job has got to be close a game out for us or come on and win it last 30. Also, if one player's been so integral in getting you to a tournament is it normal that you would go actually when once we've got here now he's not really the guy for us that doesn't really happen but what you do have usually happen is like the 180 of that where you've had someone like look at Shearer in 96 hadn't scored for like was it over a year or something like that prior to 96 but the guy was always going to play because he was always going to be the number one the Ronaldo situation is almost like the flip reverse of that in terms of he got us to the qualification but maybe he's no longer the guy that he was.

7:16You've got to remember, it's also an age thing. Not everybody goes into the tournament, into the World Cup being 41 years old. I mean, even if you look at the situation with Jao Neves, he's getting a lot of heat for his quote, which he said, he is just another player here to help, right? He is no different from the others. He is here to contribute just like the rest of us. So then everyone's giving him flat for that online. Do you think he should be getting heat for that? To me, it sounds fair, but... I just think that quote, if he had it again and said it again, he'd probably give it a bit more context.

7:44and I think without the context, people can start pulling it apart. And I think he's somebody, I've met him, I've interviewed him, the kid's got huge respect for players that have gone before him and players that he plays alongside now. There's no way I think he's sitting there trying to discredit or play down the importance of Cristiano Ronaldo within his squad. He would have grown up having Cristiano Ronaldo as his idol, as his icon. So he definitely wasn't trying to slight Cristiano Ronaldo. I just think people twist things massively and what he's basically saying is that we're all equal within our squad.

8:17Like if they're going to win and Cristiano Ronaldo will tell you this himself, I don't go into this squad thinking that I'm bigger and better than everybody else and that you've got to put me on the pedestal and I've got to be over here and everything's got to be different for me. Cristiano Ronaldo at heart is a team guy. Absolutely. Yeah, he wants to score all the goals that God sends. He wants to be the man that wins the game for you, etc. But around that, he's a real team guy. I ain't buying that one personally. you're not buying it but you've not been in a changing room so you need to relax you can pull the Ronaldo card of me as much as you want I'm just saying what I've seen I hear you right but everything about how he sets up and the way he is doesn't doesn't strike me as he's the most team guy player he is about records he is about doing it himself I've seen many a times when he scores or someone else scores by the way he's upset if it wasn't him you know like to me that's not really team friendly is it mate I've seen many players do that just some people can hide it better than others so let's not pretend that he's the only person doing that I was on a plane with England on the way back from a game and David Nugent nicked one of Defoe's goals it was going in he's nicked it on the line Jermaine Defoe wanted to kill him was almost crying on the plane because he's why has he took my goal like it happens this is normal but this is what strikers this is how they live and breathe so just think that you're going to go, oh, I'm going to actually strike this guy down because he's like that.

9:47And you know what it is? Maybe he shouldn't show it. Maybe it's better if he contains that and leaves that inside of himself. But I don't think Cristiano gets anywhere. I guess where he is, right, without being the emotional kind of guy who sometimes lets it out for people to see. Do you think that Messi is less passionate than Cristiano Ronaldo or less demanding of people or less demanding of himself than Cristiano Ronaldo? People might go, oh yeah I think so but only because he doesn't show it as much he doesn't show that emotion doesn't mean that he isn't that's my point Cristiano Ronaldo gets the heat because he's the one who shows it and is quite like he doesn't care he says this is me everything's out there his heart's on his sleeve but what do you think you're a bit quiet I'm just thinking Rio's definitely secured part two interview with Ronaldo what we're doing here innit oh man listen but I want to move on you were both at the Belgium versus Iran game today wait hold on sorry before you go on just to go back to that point no no I've been sitting here saying louder than anybody if I was in charge there'd be games that I wouldn't start Cristiano in I'm not sitting here saying he should start every game and play 90 minutes no way he's 41 years old I thought that's what you were saying no you didn't listen to the previous podcast didn't you you're selective hearing again selective okay cool I want to move it back on to the Belgium versus Iran game You guys were there celebrating without me.

11:13What was that game saying today? Two things. Yeah. George Weyer. Oh, we saw Sir George Weyer. Oh, you said, no. Yeah. Sir George. Yeah, he gave me his, his Taylor's number actually, because he was looking slick. I said, where do you get that from? He said, just my Nigerian Taylor. Go on. Give Izzy's number. Boom. Rio, growing up in that era of football, players like that meant everything. We were talking about it in the way home, weren't we? talking about the retro AC Milan kit with a gold chain. Oh my gosh. Do you still get that giddy feeling when you see someone like Sir George? A hundred percent.

11:49Like you saw when I saw him. The pair was just like, Sir George, Sir George, where are you? Sir George, come here. That's like, I don't know. There's certain guys that evoke like certain feelings and memories and take you back. So he's one of them. Like for an African guy to come to Europe and win the Ballon d 'Or, like he will never be forgotten. Right, man, we got loads still to come, right? out on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this. Host unforgettable backyard barbecues with savings from Whole Foods Market. Get the good times going with made-in-house chicken or pork sausages and ready-to-cook kebabs for hassle-free flavor.

12:25Grab tasty flatbreads and their new balsamic chicken salad in the prepared foods department. Keep things fresh with organic red cherries, strawberries, and peaches at their peak. And stock up on bug sprays and sun care must-haves. Make your summer sizzle at Whole Foods Market. Hello, I'm Max Rushton. The World Cup is back and Football Weekly is going daily. If you want award-winning soccer coverage from a podcast that's been over-analyzing the game for more than 20 years and still hasn't run out of opinions or just repeats the same ones over and over again, this is where you'll find it. We'll be producing 33 daily episodes across the tournament, breaking down all the action, the results, and of course, the drama.

13:00Can the US make it out of the group stage and into the spotlight on the biggest stage. World Cup Daily, listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch full episodes on YouTube.

13:11I mean, talking about Belgium as well, why is it that Lukaku can't get into the games? Usually, these tournaments, he's banging in goals. He's got a great record for Belgium. What's going on? I don't think they're teams as good as it was before. Don't forget, other teams were playing against them before you haven't taken it at all, like defending De Bruyne, a fit firing De Bruyne. Hazard. Do you know what I mean? And then you've got Lukaku, probably the third one in people. He's getting more 1v1s. They played many players in the back line today, even camped in front of him. So he didn't have much spaces, to be honest with you.

13:42Every pass into him had to be inch perfect. Yeah, his touch was off as well, to be fair to him. But he didn't look himself. But Belgium didn't look himself. I mean, Rio said it in the game. Trossard was probably the best player on the pitch in a Belgium shirt. De Bruyne was like... People want to talk about the way De Bruyne creates chances and the way Bruno Fernandes creates chances. He was a bit erect. Don't you, De Bruyne? He was kind of just slinging it in without a lot of care, really. Trossard was the one that looked like he was going to do something. And Tealman, Tealman was fantastic. And the young lad that got sent off was probably the other one that was in with a shout.

14:17But, and guy even. Iran defended. They had a back five, which was completely shutting them down. He was two or three around Lukaku at all times. They had a disallowed goal as well, right? It was unreal. What a goal that was. Great work, free kick. Yeah. And that was, I mean, I don't know if that would have made the game even worse, to be honest, if they'd have scored that because they wouldn't have even attempted to do anything. But yeah, it was a frustrating game to watch because it was kind of like attack versus defense for most of it. How amazing is the stadium? Because from watching it from TV, it looked incredible.

14:51I'm going to be going to the next USA game, right? And I just want to know, what should I be expecting? What's the atmosphere saying? Expect the best stadium you've ever set foot into. It's the best in terms of getting around in there. It's the facilities. The Wi-Fi even is ridiculous. Quicker than your house. It's phenomenal what they've got in there. The actual, wherever you sit, everything just looks like you're in 4K, isn't it? You said that. Every colour and everything is so vivid. The ambience in the stadium is great. I love it. It's a great stadium. It's like eight levels. It's mad because there was only 70 ,000 in there.

15:25It feels so much bigger than 70 ,000. I think it's because each of the levels is like quite like don't go far back because you think like Old Trafford and stuff it goes real far back each of the tiers whereas they don't they don't really do that but it is an unbelievable stadium You were talking earlier on about the Jeremy Doku thing you wanted to ask Rhea a few questions I don't know I can't remember exactly what you were saying So a French journalist has absolutely stuck it on him I think she was a French journalist anyway I don't understand where she's coming from the ignorance of that comment listen I've been in this situation where I had to make a choice I was playing for United.

15:59I think we had a cup semi-final or final. I don't know what, I can't remember what it was. And yeah, you do like have those moments in your head, like, am I letting down my teammates, the manager, the fans, the club? And I went and spoke to the manager and he said, listen, son, do what you feel is best. I can't tell you what to do. It's your family, you decide. And at the end of the day, my missus called me about, I think it was midnight or something. No, just before midnight. um i got in the car drove spooked it straight back up to manchester from london i got there i missed the birth by about 12 minutes which is a killer but the intention is what i'm talking about how important it is to you as a person to go and be with your family to be with the person who's having your baby your kid's going to be born there's so many things that can go wrong potentially as well like so this is a one in a once in a lifetime opportunity to see your baby be born, how are you going to be told that you shouldn't be there for your baby?

16:53And I don't know, I think it's a horrible comment, especially in the circumstances that we're in where all of the news feeds are now talking about it and putting pressure on him. I hope he stays strong and does what's true to himself and goes to see his missus. You know what's crazy is our research team has just brought up her actual quote from the French presenter. She said, word for word, you're living out a childhood dream, yet you're going to walk away from all of it to attend the birth of your child a disgusting moment she said if you'll pardon the expression where the dad is completely useless what there that bit at the end where the dad is completely useless i don't understand that bit but i just feel that like like for listen we build football up to be such an important thing and the most important thing in our lives yeah but when it comes to things like your baby being born and family and life or death it should really put it into perspective actually it's really good it's a great thing we love it but there's more things that are more important and family's definitely one of those things yeah well we don't know how much his wife would have wanted the support it's ridiculous man but she has since apologised my one weren't quite as big I left this hotel travelled back missed a birth by about 12 or 13 minutes drove back again and played the game you get the rest of them you get the others or the rest of the births I've seen the rest of the births yeah I was there you know what's funny he actually missed today's game because he had a chest infection so it wasn't because of anything.

18:20But he had already scheduled to miss the quarterfinal game or potential quarterfinal game because of the berth. Do you know what? Don't worry about it. From that performance I saw from Belgium today, he ain't going to be missing anything. Cool. Okay, cool. So you've got England playing Ghana next. Black Stars. You already know what that's going to be like in London, Rio. It's going to be crazy. What do you want to see different from this game when it comes to England? The only thing is just a quicker start. If they start the game the way they started the second half of the last game, there'll be no problems.

18:50I think Ghana are going to be a different type of proposition to this England team because physically they're going to be capable and they're going to be a much more dynamic team than Croatia. And I think they'll ask different questions of England, but I don't see England have any problems in this game if they continue to play the way they did. And I think that I'm interested to see what he does with a forward line. Does he mix it up? Does he mix the two wingers up and start the two boys that finish, Saka and Rashford? That'll be nice to see. I think just fresh legs again. I'd love to even see Kobe Manu maybe come in there and just play some minutes and give some people some minutes.

19:24But yeah, I'm quite confident in this England team after what I saw in the first game. Anything you would want to see more from the England players, Steve, now that you're a secret fan? I'm not a secret fan. An obvious one. I'd like to see better playing out. I'd like to see them repeatedly get over the halfway line from goal kicks more often because that was frustrating. I'd like to see a change in the back four, to be honest with you. I'd like to see Gay brought in and Eva Stones or Contra alongside him. I just think that's the one that makes the most sense. I mean, I could make a case to drop every single one of the back four to be honest with you.

19:58They were all poor in different ways. They all made mistakes but I don't think swapping all four of them is going to happen so I think just bring in Mike Gay and hope that can kind of settle it down a little bit and just give them the confidence. He obviously did them that at half-time. Sounds like the half-time team talk was exactly what England have needed for 30 years, to be honest with you. It's mad because talking of Tuchel and the halftime team talk, have you seen the clips? He is on people in training. He's on to people. He's in the game. He was on to Pickford. He's hugely demanded on these players, but I love it.

20:32I love that. He was on to our boy Jed as well, wasn't he? Yeah, Jed. Wake up, wake up, wake up. It's been five minutes already. Wake up, my boy. Oh my goodness. I have to say though, you see the analysis that you made on this show when it came to the centre-backs and playing from this side. That is what the people love to see on this channel, you know, bro. That's when we remember, okay, yeah, you are who you are. No, it was a really good analysis and I saw it in the comments as well. Yeah, no, I mean, that's one of the reasons I'm here. When you play the game, you see things maybe a little bit different.

21:01You can talk about your experiences, but we had someone on Rio Meats just now. Clarence Seedorf came through the house, sitting in there on the sofa and he was talking and waxing lyrical about our midfield and just like how much he absolutely loves Jude Bellamy. So, guys, certainly notifications on the Clarence Seedorf-Rio meets where he talks about, especially Drew better than Paolo Maldini, Ronaldo, R9. He speaks about Declan Rice and Anderson as well. He's a, yeah, I mean, who better than to talk about our midfield than Clarence Seedorf? What a player. You're talking about Clarence Seedorf coming on next, but bro, the channel.

21:38This week I've seen Kaka, Thierry Henry. Like, I'm seeing the surprises coming out. You've got Ciro coming. You're not taking your foot off the gas, man. No, the foot's on the neck and it's staying there. Yeah. In the car, we just started out our next series. Oh, yeah. We've got a banger coming, guys. Next season, we've got a saying that's coming new to you guys. New series. You have to audition for your role. What?

22:03Steve's trying to write you out. I said, no, no, we've got to give him a chance. Is it going to be a live audition or what? No, no, I don't know. We can't let anyone know, but boy, it might be on the road. No, but I love it, man. absolutely loving it here and you know what we will be back together after that England game that we spoke about to do a reacts and stuff like that and we want to hear your opinions in the comments let us know what you think let us know what you want to see us do let us know which game's been which game has surprised you the most which team has surprised you the most Holland have just made everyone sit up a little bit and everyone's kind of gone oh hello what's going on here and the biggest thing to finish on by the way have you invested in a pair of armbands yet no why can you just do that We need to get in the pool and actually walk you through some lessons.

22:45Are we really going to do that? Are you going to teach me? But I can't, we can't have people in the house who can't see them. I can't take my eyes off you when you go in the garden. It's like having a kid around. I know, it's like a waste of the Airbnb space, isn't it? Come on, man. Flipping heck, man. You know what? I'll get that sorted ASAP. Guys, thank you very much for watching. As usual, lots of love. Joel Baer, Stephen Alson, Rio Ferdinand, signing out. Peace.

23:41We'll see you next time. then this is it. Join me, Max Rushton, and our expert team of soccer journalists every day of the tournament. Can England end 60 years of hurt, or will this be another year of falling just short? Probably. World Cup Daily, listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch full episodes on YouTube.