Rio Picks His England XI… Mainoo over Anderson and Rashford starts too

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0:29There's got to be more to this story than the manager thinks there's better right-backs around. There has to be. There must have been more that's gone on. There must be part of it. There must be something to do with group dynamics or the way he's carried himself when he's been there before that the manager just rubbed the manager up the wrong way. There has to be something like that because his ability is too good for it to be down to just ability.

0:57Yes, guys, it's Rio Presents, brought to you by our trusted partner, Crafted, and I'm here with my usual suspects, Mr. Stiharson and Joel Baer. How are you doing, guys? Doing well, Rio. We've got a few things to talk about today. Thomas Tuchel's squad in the England camp, and of course, oh, Spurs, surprise, surprise, second, Igor Tudor. Listen, I thought he was going to last all the way to the championship, but they ain't taking the risk, Rio. De Zerbe is the big one who's the frontrunner at the moment. Yeah. Yeah, I've got a lot of time for it so we can discuss that. Yeah, for sure. But you know what?

1:28I have to talk about the England squad first. See, I had the opportunity to be inside the England camp this week. And Rio, Steve, the audience watching, do I have some gossip for you? We're doing Shade Barrow today. That's right, mate. Players that stood out to me. What have you got? What have you got then? The most impressive player, I have to say. Because you know what it's like? You go there, you'll see it. It's a 35-band squad. You've got most of the superstars there besides the Arsenal guys who are injured. You turn around and Jude Bellen and Rio. Wow, wow, wow. When people say this player's not that good and he's overhyped, they are chatting in Steve's language, Wibble, absolute Wibble.

2:10Rio, the way the guy just sprays the ball, keeps it. He's demanding, dominant, even in keep game balls, right? You've got players that are probably tighter with it than him, because obviously he's a little bit taller and lanky. But he sees visions, that pictures, as you say, that no one else sees. Really impressed with that. And I was wondering at one point, I thought, why is he training so hard? Is it because he's used to a higher standard at Real Madrid? Is it because, you know, he has a lot to prove to Thomas Tuchel? Or is it just the way he is? And I think it's a mixture of all three, if I'm honest.

2:44He looked like a man that was possessed. and it was even more impressive because he's only been playing for two weeks because he was injured, right? But he looked extremely fit, didn't look like he was struggling at all. At one point, I saw him play a bad ball to someone, Ria. I'm not going to name the player. It was a bad ball, right? Mate, the player should have like, he tried to shift, but he didn't really shift. Jude's like, what are you doing? What's this? What's this? And I thought, you're either a prick, yeah? or the demand on the player is just that much. And I actually think it's the latter.

3:20I mean, it might be both. You think it might be both? I mean, it might be both. Steve reckons it's both. But like, just to be in that kind of presence, Rio, like it was really special. I mean, the most surprising players, there's two. And I wish I had said this to you before, you know, everybody else has seen it now. James Garner. Oh my goodness. The way he kept that ball, Rio, I was super surprised. and I was saying to Stee and George, the producer, I said, is it because he's come from like the school of Man United that he's not really too phased? Who was the other one that you said impressed you?

3:53Kobe Maynou. Like Carrington, mate. Like the boy's got, Kobe Maynou who's got Velcro tied to his boots, bro. Like he's not losing the ball. The tightest situations. But yeah, going back to James Garner really quickly. Rio, like I've seen him play well in the Premier League, but you kind of think it's Everton, isn't it? Like, nah, he did not look out of place. And it kind of ties in with what... Doesn't one of them batter players look better with batter players? I think so. 100%. When you hear Thomas Tuchel, he said, I'm very happy with him. He's like our mini Valverde. And you can hear Thomas Tuchel on the side.

4:27Yes, James. Yes, James. Yes, James. I was thinking, do you guys know each other? Like, what's going on over here? Really surprising. But yeah, it was great, man. And you can see the way Thomas Tuchel, like, communicates with the squad. he's not too close. Like he... Yeah, that's what I was going to say. What was he like with the squad when they're training and stuff? Is he on them or is he demanding? Like, is he like part of every single part of it or what? He gives a lot of space for his coaches to do what they have to do. What he does, you can see he's analysing Rio. He's literally watching every single move for every session.

5:07And then he... Obviously, it sounds normal, but he'll call them by their first name every time he sees something good. Yes, James. Yes, Harvey Barnes was getting a lot of love as well, surprisingly. Yes, Harvey. Yes, like very... Is he gassing up the peripheral players there a little bit to make them feel a bit more part of the squad record? Well, I was hearing a lot of those names called out more than any of the other names, if I'm honest with you. But I think... Well, Joel, considering how much you've just like salivated over Jude Berlin, was he doing that with Jude? No. but there you go that's a good point you know I didn't even realise that really you know no but he just Jude seemed like he was just doing his thing anyway is that to like you got players that like first proper squads like that or first squads with him at least yeah is he doing this then to make them feel like you're part of this the likes of Jude don't need telling you're part of this that's what I think you know but however saying that though I saw clips of him bigging up Harry Kane the other day saying he gets it through the tight gaps where there is no gap like I see him saying that as well it's the truth but like yeah no I was just impressed by the way training is set up and yeah like it looks like he's the boss and when there's the time to put his hand around Cole Palmer he knows when to do it but he's not too close but he's not too far it's a good balance I have to say sounds like when you had Capello really good man management no you know I think managers manage differently I mean when we had I remember Andy Hinchcliffe let a ball run under his foot.

6:39He was like on the edge of the squad and stuff like that. He roasted him. Like, you know, like, rah. Like, you thought he might look after someone like that coming into the squad who's in and out a little bit, doesn't start. But all managers work it differently. And I think that you look at this England squad. I mean, 35-man squad is unheard of. Nobody's never seen anything like it. And I just think about the players that haven't made that squad. They must be thinking, wow. And obviously a lot of people have spoken about Trent Alexander and I'm sitting there going, there's got to be more to this story than the manager thinks there's better right-backs around.

7:13There has to be. There must have been more that's gone on. There must be part of it. There must be something to do with group dynamics or the way he's carried himself when he's been there before that just rubbed the manager up the wrong way. There has to be something like that because his ability is too good for it to be down to just ability, I think. You can't just go to me that, oh, he's just not good enough. He ain't good enough. Because I don't think there's that many that are that far ahead of him in any capacity that you go, okay, I absolutely understand why he's not there. And he's probably four to six if you include Carl Walker, who's retired, Trippier, who's retired.

7:53There's four to six players who you go, he'd be behind now. And that's like a wild kind of thing to talk about. But only Steve was the only person on this planet Earth who would have been saying that. Me and England manager. Before this 35-man squad. Him and the England manager, he says. I mean, just for context for everyone watching, you've got Livermento that's ahead of him, Jed Spence, Ben White, Kwanzaa as well. I mean, Roy Keane said that the players two-calls picked aren't really much better than Trent at defending. Steve, do you agree with that? No. I mean, Spence is different because he's a bit more offensive, but at least he grafts.

8:28I think that's the issue with Trent Is that he literally just unplugs When you haven't got the ball And you can't trust him When you watch him I just enjoy Hate watching him To be honest When they haven't got the ball Because it's hilarious Like He spins around Like he doesn't know what he's doing It's insane to me That he plays at the level he plays at For the teams that he's played for And doesn't look like he knows how to Even position himself on the pitch And you can talk about Oh he can do this That and the other with his right foot Alright cool But at the end of the day if you're a ghost when you haven't got the ball you can't be relied upon but you can't yes and no but again that's why it goes back to what you and Rio say you start different players depending on the teams that you play against oh yeah and Trent just doesn't start I think you could probably make him a case to be in the squad for sure yeah right because there's a time when you know I mean the game's stretched yeah you might need a set play you might have to gamble a little bit where you can just tell him to live as a right back right high up the pitch or a right wing back and just send balls into the box, especially if you put some of those, you know, if you have a Watkins or a Calvert-Lewin on and a Games, you know, you need to chase something and you just want balls banging in the box.

9:37That's a good option. Clearly, he don't feel like he's the sort of person that would take well to not start in games, maybe, and that's why he's gone, well, you either start or not. I mean... I think that's a big thing I think we have to consider. I think that, like, there are players that are... that would refuse and would not want to be part of it if they're not starting. I don't know if that's him, but that may be one aspect. And I think Steve, bang on with that. That could be one of the reasons that he might not be in there. His attitude, maybe his demeanour, his vibe, if he's not starting, may just drop off 10%, 20 % or whatever it is and just be a little bit aloof.

10:19And his reaction to those moments can be something that a manager would see as destabilised and they wouldn't want in the squad. If that's the case, then you have to understand what Thomas Tuchel is saying. Any other downsides, Rio, would you say to not bringing him besides that? I'll say if Rhys James stays fit, then I think Rhys James is the best. I've said this for a long time. When they're both firing fit, I always thought that Rhys James' seeding would be higher because I think he's better defensively. Not that he's better. Can we just dig on this point? It's not that he's better defensively, right?

10:55I mean, it is. I think that he actually... Well, listen, I think there's another way to put it. I think that he actually concentrates more and he actually has an intent to want to defend a bit more. My point with Trent, I've seen too many times where he has locked down some big wingers over the years, right? But the problem is, is that there comes too many times when he switches off. There's a concentration issue or there's just the intent and the will to want to defend sometimes. you just look at him and you go he actually doesn't seem like he wants to do it right now and whether that's like that or whether it's just that there's a concentration issue where he just lacks concentration, he switches off and then people get in, I don't know what that is but that's the thing I think that gets fired at him a lot and I think when you see it on some occasions it's warranted on some occasions and then you get another type of football fan and supporter of Trent who goes but what he can do with the ball is unreal.

11:55No one can do it. We've never seen anything like it. I get that, but there needs to be a balance. If one element's too far the other way from the other, it doesn't work. You need, and again, at the top level, that player will get highlighted and at some point will get found out and the team will suffer for it. So I've always said, if Trent went into the games and didn't think about his passing and didn't think about going forward and solely thought about just defending, I would think that he would be the top top right back around because that's the way I was right I was someone who just cared about football on the ball twisting up forwards doing a drop of the shoulder running out of the ball I've had a great game when I was a kid growing up and coming through the ranks even when I was at West Ham and I had to slowly just turn my thinking to go you know what with the ball I don't have to think because I'm natural and I think Trent is in that category it just comes naturally to him if he can play balls no one can think about that's natural but it's not natural for him to defend.

12:52It wasn't natural for me to defend first. I had to build that into my mindset, my nights before the game, morning of the game, thinking about certain things that are going to happen, visualising the forward who I'm going against. And I think Trent, if he'd done that and just really focused on doing that, I think you'd see a different trend because the point where he's been, because I've seen far too many times he locks down wingers at times. And I've seen it many times but then I've seen as many if not more times where he switched off and I think that's something that is a valid point to aim at him in that aspect I would love to sit and try and help him in that sense because I see a lot of myself in him.

13:31Now Harry Maguire played the second half as captain against Uruguay but Thomas Tuchel said that John Stones, Konza, Gaye and even Trevor Chalabar are ahead of the Man United defender. Rio, do you agree with that when you hear those names? I agree with his points that he made after that. Listen, this is a guy that could be a big factor at set pieces late in games, long throw-ins if teams have got that in their arsenal, and going and winning a game from a set piece at the end of a game. So he's one who can see out a game or change a game at the end from set pieces 100%. I mean, I think Harry Maguire would probably take that as an insult in some respects, maybe, and go, hold on a minute, I'm more than this.

14:15But in Thomas Tuchel's eyes, the word mobility is what he used in his statement. And he sees all of those other guys as having more mobility and he feels that's a massive factor in the way that he wants to play. So I get what he's saying. No one has to agree with it, but the manager, Thomas Tuchel, has these certain requirements that he wants from his defenders and he's clearly stated what they are. It's funny because he's actually another one that was actually a decent trainer. He was one of the standouts. Say him and Marcus Rashford. I could see that Rashford was enjoying not being in the spotlight as well.

14:49But you can't tell me that for tournament football, Steve, that Trevor Chaliba would be better than Maguire. I think from an athleticism point of view, Thomas Huckel's nailed it. And if he wants to play an aggressive press with a high line, that isn't playing to Harry Maguire's strengths. The guy's nicknamed Slabberd, for Christ's sake. You know what I mean? it comes with a certain set of physical characteristics. One of them is that he is not the fastest, but he is damn effective. And he's having a bloody good season, to be fair to him. And United are still playing a pretty high, pretty aggressive line.

15:25And maybe as he's got a little bit older, he's got a little bit wiser. He's using his body and his experience a little bit more. And I'll tell you what, he don't get caught out often. He really don't get caught out often. I think if you played him alongside Mark Gay, I think Mark Gay does the sweeping up and you let him go and be that sort of front foot aggressive defender, nailing stuff on the halfway line as teams play it forward. I don't think you'd have too many problems. I don't think his passing is as good as a lot of people do, but I don't think it's a problem. I think he's reliable and secure with it.

15:54Now, Rio, time to stick your neck out, right, for the England World Cup squad. I want you to name your starting 11 for the first game for England during the World Cup. Who are you going for, mate? I don't know about first game you know this guys I think it should be like when you get to the knockout stage because England in the knockout stage in the group stages could play six or seven different teams and still coast it I think you've got to talk about knockouts knockout the first knockout game in this tournament right quarter final it's France go and just before we start Rio let's base this on recent league form Pickford in goal Rhys James right back left back O 'Reilly centre-backs Konza and Gay three-man midfield

16:47I'm going to go with Kobe Mainu Declan Rice and Drew Benham in the 10 and I'm going to go Saka Wright after what I saw the other day Marcus Rashford left and Harry Kane. And there'll be stipulations on some of these players, right? Back four speaks for itself. Kobe Maynou, I want to dictate the game. And the reason why I'm playing him, his European championships experience and what he'd done in that tournament leads me to believe he'll be unfazed. He knows what it takes to play at that level. He's done it before. He was one of our better players there and he was one of the guys who was controlling things, right?

17:25So I want that Kobe Maynou again. I want the controller, the one who can get, when we're playing a bit higher as well, control things. When the ball pops out, yeah, he's there. Everything runs through him. Declan to be the engine room, yes. And Jude just to... I want Jude to be my moments guy. Yeah, when there's times to keep the ball and be that extra man in midfield, great. But I want him to be the Frank Lampard of Chelsea in the England team and come up with big special goals, what he's done at Real Madrid as well. And Rashford has to run long. Anything to feet, I'll bring him off. Don't want nothing to feet.

17:58Come to feet once or twice a half max. Every single time we get the ball, he must run in behind. Inside the full-back, behind the centre-half when Harry Kane drops in, or just straight blow the socks off the right-back you're playing against behind. And when you get in 1v1, we've worked all week to get you there. Beat your man. Outside or inside, I don't care. So that's the way I'd go for it. Eze would be one who'd be coming in on the left-hand side, if not. If the game requires somebody to manipulate and to draw people on that left-hand side. Morgan Rodgers will be the other one who might come in.

18:36It depends on the game. I'm surprised though, Rio, because at one point you were set with Morgan Rodgers starting. Yeah, I might start the tournament with Morgan Rodgers, but I just feel that when he gets down to the nitty-gritty, the experience and the energy and the mindset of Jude Bellingham will be like, I'll just say to him, listen, just wait till the knockout stages, get yourself fit for the end of the season and you're going to play 30 minutes, 20 minutes here in the group stages and come fresh in knockout stages to blow teams away. I agree with you. I don't think he's having it, but I agree with you.

19:13I don't care. You'll have to have it. You'll have to have it. Steve, your team is pretty simple. I mean, there are a few changes, actually, if you can go through them. I disagree with a few of them strongly. I've got Livermanto only because I don't think Rhys James is going to make it. otherwise there's no question it's Rhys James and you're going to need a backup because even if he starts tournament first whistle, is he making the end? The guy's had like 10 hamstring injuries in five years the chances are he won't make it but if he's fit he plays Right man, we've got loads still to come but we'll be back shortly after this

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20:23Can 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.

20:34Steve, Steve, just on that, could Jed Spence be your Kyle Walker type to go out with the pace that he's got and he backs himself 1v1 the way he does? Yeah, I just don't think he's as defensively solid. And because the back line, this isn't a golden generation of England defenders. Like, Concer and Gade is just a level off where you'd want it to be. I think you've got to protect that a little bit more. I don't think Livramento's like a better defender than Jed Spence. Oh, I do. I do. Really? Yeah. I think Jed Spence probably gets forward a little bit more. Yeah, he does. He's really good at that.

21:05But I'd go with, I'd just edge towards Livramento. I'd go with, but I'm not against O 'Reilly on the right. I think you could do that because I think he could play anywhere, to be honest with you. I think he goes, he's part of the squad and he goes because he fills in multiple positions and probably just does a job. but I'll go with Hall just because I think he's having I think 1v1 he might be the best one that they've got as a fullback at least at the moment anyway and I think there's going to be some wingers that he comes up against that you're going to want him to just deal with and I could trust him to deal with them I think Concer and Gay I think have we all gone with that?

21:39No you've not I think you need someone that's a little bit more aggressive alongside Gay and I think Concer gives you that and I could see Harry Maguire making a push for that as well to be honest with you midfield Rice is the first pick. Jude Bellingham is an absolute shoo-in. That's your match winner. And I love what Jude did in his first season, I think it was, at Madrid, where he was getting in beyond in the nine. And in my head, I see him and Kane just really rotating and working well with each other as one drops, one pushes. Otherwise, they'll just end up on top of each other. But the difference I've got within midfield is Anderson.

22:17Now, I agree with what Rio said about Kobi Menuh, and I think there'll be a time and place, It's probably earlier in the tournament. I can see Maynud come in. You're going to want someone to maybe hold the ball and get 70, 80 passes off. But I think in some of the bigger games, I want a little bit more physicality. And I think Elliot Anderson delivers that physicality. I think if Maynud makes the squad, it's going to be really hard to pull him out, just like in Germany. Maybe, but also I think Adam Wharton could do you a job. I don't think Adam Wharton would look out of place in there. I think there's so many really, really good options in midfield.

22:50it's absolutely stacked for once for central midfield in England Talk to me about your left winger that's the interesting one Rio have you seen his left winger? No go on I've gone with Jarrod Bowen for the same reason that Rio just said he wanted Rashford now I picked this team last week I was quite impressed with some of the running from Rashford the other night but I don't know how good Marcus's form is at the moment to rely on him. I want work rate and Jarrod Bowen's going to give me work rate. For the same reason I would have took Gibbs White just to be a different option, a bit of energy off the bench in Jude's role if it's not worked to try and change up a game against a France or a Germany or someone like that in the later stages, you're going to need to outwork them because you haven't got the luxury of just outplaying them.

23:42If Rashford can do it, then yeah, Rashford. Otherwise, I'd go with someone like Bowen because he's going to absolutely rack and he's got a bit of magic in him as well. And I think with the better players that he would have around him, like Harry Kane and that around him and Bellingham, I think he could be a bit of an X-factor. And then Saka, because it will be Saka, whether you agree or not. I think he might struggle to go, bro. I think he's borderline. I really do. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because of Meduake. But really quickly, my team... But then you've got too many players. This is the issue that Mr.

24:11took your underpants in your shirt had, which is too many players want to come to feet. Like if Phil Foden and Palmer are lining up with Harry Kane, might as well not even bother watching because it's going to be an absolute snooze fest. Really quickly. You know what? They should have. I would show them, and I know it's bad, I'd show them a video of France's forwards against Brazil in some of the moments that you saw there. And the amount of running off the ball, running into big spaces, hurting teams, and you can just see other teams thinking, I will not want a piece of that in their heat in their World Cup over there.

24:50It's going to be, I'm telling you. And we've got players who have got legs and wheels like these guys, but just they don't have the intent. I know we've got a Harry Kane who's different, but out wide, you've got players. Eze's not slow. He could run behind. Saka, I've always said, please just run off the ball behind and just hurt teams that way. He's quick. Rashford, that's what Gordon's in the squad for. So I think Gordon will get minutes in games as well. Rashford, if Rashford does that, consistently, mate, he's a problem. No, he can be. He really can be. Really quickly, I'm reading off my team so we can move on.

25:21But I've gone for Jon Stones at the back, you know, just because of the experience. I just don't think you beat it. I know he hasn't played a lot of games this season, but I would be wary of playing Konza's inexperience alongside Gay. You know, I think it's just too early for that. I do think Konza will eventually establish himself as the number one, but this is probably just a tournament too soon. I think if Rhys James doesn't play, then I would then put Jed Spence in there. The reason why I'm starting Hall over Spence is only because I think Hall has had like a better season, really. You know what I mean?

25:54He hasn't, the team really just hasn't worked in Jed's favour in that sense. But besides that, they're pretty solid there. They've got players that can come in. In the middle, same as Rio. Mayno, Rice, Bellingham, same reasons. I don't really need to go over that too tough. I just think Maino, the way he holds the ball and what I saw from that training session. I know training's different from when you're actually playing the games, but that alongside what we saw at the European Championships a couple of years ago, no one can chat to me about Kobe. Saka, I think at the current moment, he's pretty fortunate to be in this team.

26:27I think there hasn't been a lot of output. And right about now, he would be in this team based on what he's done in the past. It wouldn't be based on what I've seen this season. You could argue that Madweke plays ahead of him, which I don't think is going to happen. But yeah, because of what Saka's done in the past, that's why he stays. Rashford, look, I think you get the best Rashford when there's no media attention on him. I think when the cameras are away from Rashford, he can focus on his game, he can do his thing. I think when there's focus on Rashford, it all gets a bit hazy. Harry Kane, shooing, no problem.

27:04But I want to know, Rio, what are the biggest dilemmas that Tuchel will face with only one match before naming his final England squad?

27:17I think the biggest dilemmas are making sure that you get the right people in your squad so the ambience is right. That's one of them. Because there's nothing like a bad egg who can influence the team and the environment and you don't need that when you're away. that long period. So that's important, getting the right people.

27:41I think you have to, you have to, the midfield three, that mix is a, is a, not a conundrum, but it's something that needs working out and it needs to be sorted for the, for the games. I think you should have, there should be two or three options in there for particular teams you're planning against. When you know you're going to dominate possession, you're going to dominate teams and you're the team that are going to be probing, et cetera, there's one team for that, one's free for that. and when you know it's going to be against one of the bigger nations where you need the people with the personalities and the character and the beliefs that they can actually go out there and try and dominate a game when it's against a bigger team.

28:17Because I think that's where we struggled in past tournaments. We haven't found a way of being able to hold the ball against the bigger teams and play with the authority that we've seen before. So you need to find the three that can do that. and that might need one of the wide guys dropping in or you say Harry to be one of them to actually make an extra number in there. I don't know. But that midfield three, I think, is a huge importance. And I think finding the player, if not two players, that's going to run long and stretch teams. Because if we've got all our players, if Saka keeps coming back to the ball like he does, if Harry does that, because he always does that and he's great at that as well, and then the left winger does it as well, yes, you're going to have, if Jude plays, he's going to be running on.

28:59but they ain't going to be enough. Do you reckon Tuchel's going to be the first manager to pick a squad that gives him general multiple different midfield options that he's actually going to use? Yeah, I think we need to. I think you need to. The heat is going to... I was in LA last week. The heat's going to play a big factor. It's not even hot out there for them, right? And it was blazing. I burnt my forehead, right? I was peeling. These guys are going to be hot. So you can't expect the same three, the same 11 players to start every game. I don't think that's possible if you're going to win. You have to be able to shuffle the pack.

29:34And that's why I think the ability for the manager to be able to communicate this with the players and then to put their egos to one side and go, you know what, for the betterment of this team and for the idea that we're going to go in and be capable to win this, I understand what you're saying, boss. And I'm going to abide by what you're saying and I'm going to buy into it. Let's go. Use me when you need me. That's exactly why France are going to win this tournament, mate, because they are absolutely stacked. If they don't fall out, it's like three months to go yet. But they seem to be getting on well.

30:04I've been watching their camp. Yeah, give it five minutes when they're locked in that hotel room together. Ask Paddy Everett what they're like when they get locked up. Do you think, by the way, ask Patrice Everett, do you think though that Paris Saint-Germain winning with Dembele spearheading that team has influenced this French team as to go, you know what, guys? That represents what you need to do. We need to graft for each other. run he goes at the door and we've got the ability to go and blow teams out of the water and win I think that's what this French team looked like they might have just tuned into they got nine forwards that can do that they got 12 midfielders that can do that like they've just got they could enter three teams in this tournament and probably all make the quarters it's true it's true looks crazy well speaking about starting for teams and you know players coming back what are you laughing because he knows the section we're about to talk about But Arsenal have had 11 players drop out of their international squad because of injury.

31:02We've had Zubemendi, Hikapie... 20p sportsman's bet that they all start next week. You up for that? It's against Southampton, so I don't know. I'm not sure. Nikola Teta has worked his magic and told them, if anyone plays or anyone goes, you're getting fined. And they've all dropped out. So the players who have dropped out have been Zubemendi, Hikapie, Odegaard, Saliba, Gabriel, Trossard, Timba, Eze, Saka, Rice and Mardueke. Rio, should Arsenal be worried? Yes or no? No. Like Steve said, they'll all be available for selection at the weekend, bar maybe one or two. It's definitely the manager said, listen, this is the first win that we could get in terms of Premier League.

31:42We have to be ready, guys. I need your energy. Everything. This is a friendly for your national team. I've heard this. I've heard, I've had this speech. So, Alex Ferguson. So, I understand it. And listen, the guys' priorities, they've just gone Arsenal. we need to win the league wait wait Rio we're not glossing over that talk me back we're in the office so Alex is fuming because the 4-7 at Cheltenham just fucking fell over and you've walked in his office and he's gone right you're not playing against Andorra this weekend yeah how does he say it Rio how does the message get put across he's like it's like that it's like game's finished we've won the game before we all go away to our national teams and he's either in there going, we've got a fucking big game in 10 days or two weeks and that's just a fucking friendly.

32:34So, I don't want to see anybody playing more than 45 minutes. That's what he'd normally say. Anyone plays more than 45 minutes, you won't play here. You don't play when you get back. So, I don't care what you have to do to get out of it. You don't play more than 45. Simple as. And then, I know there'll be other players sometimes, like Wazza and that, when they've been playing so many games and they're the match winners who need protecting a bit more and then like Christiana, People like that, I know he'll be going to them privately going, listen, man, got to pull out of this one. We can't have you for getting injured.

33:00We can't have you being like, he would have, he would have. And he's protecting his interests, which is Man United, so I understand it. And he's Scottish, so he ain't got one care in the world for England. Did you ever have a drama when you was like, I can only play 45? Did you ever put it on the table with an England boss like, Fergie only wants me to play 45? No. So what did you have to do to get that message on you? I would go. I'd never pulled an injury or anything like that but I would go and just go like what's the situation boss we all play a 90 or is it 80 or 45 and you'd go like we're obviously in a championship race, we've got a Champions League as well a lot of games coming up and just drop a seed like that and walk off and see what happens and sometimes a manager would go right Rio you're doing 45 but invariably I'd go and play probably either the full game or maybe 80, 75 minutes to be honest here.

33:54Is there any manager that got the hint and he goes... I'll tell you, Glenn Hoddle didn't get the hint. Trust me. Glenn Hoddle was like, this is England. There's no way I'm bending for Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger or anybody. Whoever is manager of Arsenal, no way am I going to bend. I want the players here. They're fit. I want them to play. And he was very kind of like Team England, which was understandable. Do you reckon Fergie ever phoned any international managers up and politely requested? I reckon he did. I don't know for certain, but I wouldn't be surprised if the manager rang him and said, listen, I'm telling you, you need to give him 45.

34:38Or actually, you need to send him back with a bad hammy so we can play next week. We've got big fish to fry and you're playing a friendly. Yeah. after just 44 days Spurs are looking for another new manager after parting ways with Tudor like Rio just before we started recording right, the Zerbi has been linked with a move they're trying to get him in now, they don't want to go for the interim they want to get him in now on a five year deal what's your thoughts on that man? Imagine going into a team like a club sorry like Spurs the stadium, the training. Imagine the walk-round of both facilities.

35:20It's like the best in play, best in class, right? But obviously on the pitch, it looks very different. Listen, at the moment, I'd be more worried about the hierarchy. I'd be looking into that. Why has it gone so wrong for so many? Big names, new ones, et cetera. Why is this place just not being able to kick on? I don't understand. Because they've got it all sitting there. so are they going to be a hindrance to me behind the scenes? Are they going to ruin my reputation even more now? What's the situation here? I've always championed De Zerbe. I think he's a great manager in terms of he's a thinking manager he's always looking for new innovative ways to build his teams this might be the perfect time to get him but are Spurs in the right situation for him?

36:03Obviously no one can guarantee their safety that's not going to happen so you're De Zerbe Spurs are on the phone right now, contract is on the table. You can write whatever numbers you want on it. Five-year deal. Are you having it or are you not having it? I've got to be honest, I wouldn't go Spurs right now. I just think it's a club that's like, it's in such a bad way and like I say, there's been far too many managers that have fouled there. They don't, not that that's the only thing, I think, because we can look at lots of clubs like that, right? But they call themselves a big club or wanting to be a big club or get a, they're bemused if they're not mentioned in the big club bracket.

36:43But they don't spend like a big club to attract the biggest players. And then they wonder why they're not in the top echelon of football clubs in that sense when you look at them on the pitch and their output. Who would thrive under the Zerbe with the current Tottenham squad? I actually couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell you. I mean, I thought Van der Ven was going to be a top, top centre-half. Is it him or is it the lack of stability at the football club or the tactics, the way the team's being set up that's making him look bad? I don't know. I can go through so many players that you're looking at.

37:19I spoke to Carlo Ancelotti when he was the Everton manager and he had Richarlson there and he said, this kid will play for a Real Madrid or a team like that, a Category A club in Europe at some point. He couldn't be far enough away from it if he tried right now. And is that down to him or is that down to just the, the environment that he's in at Spurs. And so there's far too many players that are underachieving in terms of their quality of what you've seen before. Are they bad? Are we just sort of miss, sort of rating them? Are they better than we think they are or are they worse than we... Yeah.

37:55Well, look at Xavi Simmonds, the Euros. He was brilliant for Holland, right? Exactly. His club football, he was flying. He's gone to Spurs. He looks a shadow of himself. Confidence has dropped. The environment, is it sucking the life out of these players? I don't know. Madison's obviously had a lot of injuries, but he went to the Madison at Leicester, pulling up trees and getting them out of situations consistently all the time. By the way, speaking of clubs that are going absolutely tits up, we are about six weeks away from the anniversary of 10-year anniversary of Leicester winning the title.

38:32They're on the verge of League One. Wow, it's unreal. How are they doing that? I mean, listen, their owner, obviously, he passed away and your thoughts straight away went out to his family and everyone. But has that had a bigger impact than anybody would have imagined since that happened? The spiral out of control, out of the spotlight of the Premier League and into the shadows of the Championship and maybe, like you say, into Division I, it's just like the wildest dream or nightmare. mate, you wouldn't have thought it got this bad this quick. I think Leicester fans would have took that. Listen, you can win the league, you can have a Champions League season, but then you go into League One within 10 years.

39:14Yeah, they would have had it. Now, before we finish, we posted on our podcast channels a question. Which African team will go the furthest during the World Cup finals? Now, so far, there's nine who are through. You've got Algeria, Cape Verde, DR Congo, who are in the playoffs against Jamaica on Tuesday. Listen, I'm expecting a W. Egypt. I'm supporting Jamaica in that, not just because it's against Joel. I want Jamaica there. Have you seen that kit? He's got the kit. Yeah. So what, man? They haven't really had a good qualification. If Jamaica make it, that's who I'm supporting. And in the last couple of years, I don't really think Jamaica haven't really been as strong.

39:54And Congo, since the last African Cup competition, they've been really strong, man. So I think you're going to see them in the World Cup. First time since the 70s as well, by the way. so it's going to be a madness. Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. Those are the teams. I want you guys to let us know in the comments who you think is going to make it the furthest out of the African countries. Have we even talked about Morocco being awarded AFCO like six weeks after it ended? Oh my days. Listen, we know that we've got Moroccan fans here watching but me personally, I'm not having that, bruv.

40:34I'm there with the Senegal coach celebrating, doing all of that. It's just a... Have you seen they took the trophy to one of their army bases and was like, come get it? They had it before the game. They had it before the game this weekend. They were celebrating with it. Like, in my opinion, like, I don't know what has gone on there. And it's a shame, man, when you look at that and it's just a bad light in African football because once the referee makes a decision... Yeah, surely that should stand. That's the letter of the law. That's final. so how we've done a U-turn how we've done an usher I don't know six weeks later Premier League get your cock out let's get it done with City let's get them relegated and let's get Rio a couple more titles yeah one thing I will say I think this World Cup I think we'll see more more African teams in the knockout stages I think the conditions the weather conditions there are going to play into the African team's hands and they'll be more used to playing in them hot and humid conditions given given the African climate.

41:34I think that would be a huge factor. And the fact that a lot of them have got a lot of players that are playing in the best leagues. I think Morocco and Senegal, again, will be two of the teams that travel longer into the tournament than probably anticipated by many others outside of Africa. It's true. Now, Rio, I've never seen you act so joyful and childish around another professional, former professional. Mr. Batty Goal was on the podcast last week and you looked like a kid, man. You were happy. Like, your questions, they were almost not interview questions. It was like the younger Rio, the younger you was asking the questions.

42:14I mean, we've had a lot of clips and people talking about it online. What was your favourite part of the interview? I think where he talks about being a centre-forward and how his eyes are on the defender and where they are, how he scored goals. He breaks down how we used to look at the situation when the ball was coming into the danger areas. And it was really kind of insightful as to, if I can see you, he said, if I could see you, you're dead. So he said, I score. Do you know what I mean? Like he just, he had, obviously, and the change in certain runs, but also the stuff about Diego Maradona about like, he said he died alone.

42:53He felt that he could have done more. And just what Diego Maradona represented, the charisma, the personality beyond just being a footballer and those comparisons to Messi, they were the highlights for me. That's it, that was really interesting. A wonderful human being and it's weird because I saw, I was in LA the other day and I saw Seba Varon, you might have seen it on my socials what a guy and he was saying that yeah, Matt Stuttgart he was a gunslinger, he scored man he scored big goals. Joel just said something there about it was like young Rio interviewing someone who if if you cash your mind back to like early 90s someone you've not interviewed yet and maybe not someone that would do numbers on the channel because it's maybe a little bit more obscure but who would like young rio who's the three players that you'd like young rio would die to speak to them is it like a rude hullet or something like that forget forget like when R9, yeah?

43:52R9's the god, yeah? Because he's the obvious for everyone. He's every footballer's best footballer's best footballer. Your favourite footballer's footballer. Roberto Baggio. I knew you would say that. Romario. I knew you would say that. Paolo Maldini. Oh, okay. Them three there will be my three absolute go-tos. Zidane's another one. I think Zidane and R9 are just like you. If you could get them, you go to sleep at night forever happy, right? ah memories anyway thank you everybody for watching this week's episode of Rio Presents we love seeing you in the socials man keep on talking keep on keep on interacting as well in the broadcast chat that we have it's got a bit quiet since Arsenal been doing well it's got a bit quiet but uh but yeah please let us know who else you want to see on Rio Meets it's an open book man you know Rio's got all those numbers in his phone book man you tell him who you want to see not Maldini's though oh man guys thank you very much for watching this has been rio presents you got here myself joel bear steven alson and of course the main man rio fernand and we will see you soon signing out peace

45:37We'll be right back.

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