Bellingham’s Influence, Tuchel’s Anger & Argentina Next! | Stick to Football EP 141

0:00Gary Neville: Just before we get started, I just wanted to say a big thank you to our partner Skybet and please don't forget to subscribe if you like. I hope you enjoy this episode. Quick question. When was the last time a display ad changed your mind? Now think about the last time a friend told you about something they loved. Different feeling, right? That's how podcast advertising works. A host who's built real trust with their audience talks about your brand in their own words, in their own voice. It doesn't interrupt the experience. It's part of it. With Acast, you can access the world's largest podcast marketplace.

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0:52Gary Neville: What have we got, Kieran? A little pizzas. Yeah, little bits and bobs, yeah. Cheese and ham toast. A little cheese and ham toast. Oreos, chips ahoy, yeah, hot dogs, a bit of everything. Very good. Oh, that was exhausting. Yeah. At any point, did you doubt it, though? Did I doubt it? No, not really. I was never in a point where... I didn't think that either. I always pretty much... Roy said he loved this kit yesterday. Oh, look at that. Yes. And we'd got him one brought over, see? Ah.

1:30hey nice can nice hey how do you feel that's that oh it's beautiful there you go be happy

1:37Gary Neville: when he comes in he sees that little gift wrong chair jeez you would think i've been doing this long enough to know where they sit wouldn't you to be fair he's usually not back at home he's not opposite you Roy is he no it's opposite yeah it's true that actually yeah there we go up a little get out for him I've gone for Karen and Jill as well June you said you like the sulfur kit yesterday I already had I already had a little gift for you yeah I know I just in it is what's it cool he's lost it I love Big Josie, it's nice man. Let me see that. Beautiful, that. Is this the new one, Gap? It's the new one.

2:22But when Rady goes to solve the game, he says, I want it to watch it. I want it to be a real part of Solford this season.

2:29Gary Neville: I'm glad you've got a USA 94 top on, because that's where we're going to start. Apparently the conditions were the hottest, are we saying? Since that 94 game that you played in against Mexico. Is that right? Apparently it was 41 and the humidity was 82. Harry said that's as hot as it's ever been. We knew it was hot, but you don't realise it yet. And it was hotter when we played. I think it was just hotter when you played, yeah. Because we had an earlier kick-off time. The Irish kick-off time was... Mid-afternoon. Yeah.

3:09Gary Neville: This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybet, We're into the busiest end of the tournament now and we're delighted to have Skybet with us throughout the World Cup. There's still plenty to come, so make sure you're subscribed, keep the comments coming and stick with us for the rest of the tournament.

3:28Is that Sour Grapes, Alfie Arland, saying well done to Bellingham and the referee?

3:32Gary Neville: To be honest, look, we were critical of Harry Maguire's sort of family, weren't we, on the show before we came? I think that was just a bit low-blown from him. Because of us, so if you know, Ribiccio Romano's tweeted out about Hey Jude and Well Done England and Alfie Highland who's? Erling Highland's dad oh right well done Bellingham and the referee no I think the referee was he was giving England a lot of calls you and Alfie no I was watching the studio, the referee was giving but what did you think he could have done wrong? like 50-50s 50-50s more lads were classy and going, they seem to be just on the side of England.

4:15What's going to happen in a game? I'm not sitting here and going, he's cost, he's cost no way. No, absolutely not. But there was calls where you're going, you know, could have gone the other way.

4:25Gary Neville: You're not talking about the two big decisions, are you? I'm on about it in general. Would he have been thinking about the Erling Haaland push on Anderson that he would have thought was maybe soft and the goal is allowed? Was this the dadger ton? Yeah, so I'm saying, is he referring to that though? He can't surely be referring to that because that was just a ridiculous push. Well, he remembered again, because he obviously seems to be drinking alcohol at the matches. The dad, I'm saying, maybe he's... You know, can I just be honest with... No, he does. If he's having a drink, you're seeing the game differently.

4:49Yeah, in that particular moment, you know, he's like six, seven inches tall. Why does he need to be that aggressive with him on a corner? Exactly. Oh, yeah. When, you know... No, it is a foul. It is a push. It's a massive foul. He can't be talking that. And that's coming from me. Listen, I'll always be trying to go the other way. Against England, you mean? Well, yeah, a little bit. If it's 50-50, you're thinking. but the penalty the push the push is a push and then he heads it and then he heads it doesn't he yeah it's his head yeah so there you go

5:16Gary Neville: and then the other one obviously where England get it overturned as well where England get given a penalty with Jed Spence they overturned that which I think was right as well they were the two big referees yeah the big ones so the other big refereeing decision I think is that basically Norway are absolutely insistent that the ball has hit do you look you obviously see the big massive spider cam that flies over the stadium it's obviously held together by four wires in the diagonal corners of the stadium. I've never seen the ball hit, obviously, a wire of that. But apparently... I think it has happened, hasn't it?

5:44Gary Neville: Maybe. I'm sure I haven't seen it again. They stop it, don't they? They stop it instantly. But the Norwegian goalkeeper, he's gone straight over, hasn't he, after the goal, and he's saying the ball's hit that wire. And UEFA have said... Sorry, UEFA, FIFA have said... That... They've checked the data and there was no peak on the graph from the connected ball heartbeat sensor. Well, that's it, then. Hmm. That's our FIFA. That's FIFA. If they're the governing body and they're saying, that's it. Not what's saying, FIFA holier than thou. But if there's not enough in it for them to overturn it, what are we going to do with it?

6:20If you didn't mention that tonight, we wouldn't have come in here, even Harlan's dad talking to him. We wouldn't be going, the referees are bad. I wouldn't even brought it up. That's what I'm saying. I don't think the referees determine that game. No, you give a few decisions and I'm just talking about little bits. Can we be honest, if we're going to be talking about it, if their goalkeeper had an unbelievable game, blind during this and that, doesn't make that mistake and they lose the game. If Solov squares it, they're 2-0 up before half-time. They're not saying none of this. You know, they lost that game because they made mistakes in that game.

6:50It's not because the referee, the ball hit the wire or, you know what I mean? Whatever they are, they're saying. I would disagree with that. Foolishness. Do you know what? Do you know after games, we're like, listen, whatever families and fans after games, we saw the interviews from the England Manor. Yes. Felling him. Family members. they're all a bit emotional so you try and give them the benefit of those but when people wake up tomorrow you won't be sitting there going the referee's cost us you can't you can't you can argue a couple of decisions but you can't say he's cost us no I didn't think

7:20Gary Neville: it was a game where as an England fan that I thought we were lucky because of the referee I thought against Ghana we were lucky yes when Conza's penalty's not given and that's when you are lucky when you think that you've got away if one of the Garnadians if one of the Garnadians dad if that fella's dad said you know what I mean well done to and the referee would have said you can't argue with that Just on Erling Haaland I mean that was as quiet as we've ever seen he had to head in where he got in just over above John Storms just before the goal but for him to come off as well was a surprise he must have been injured obviously isn't he?

7:53I think well he must be carrying but you know what happens sometimes when you're playing against a teammate things happen sometimes where you totally dominate them or it goes the other way and I thought Mark Gahey in every kind of interaction they had. I thought he was amongst them. He didn't get bullied off it. He was fighting. He fought for his territory. I wouldn't say he did a bad game. They had the same kind of game that he normally has. He just, yeah. We were expecting a lot, weren't we? Yeah, but before the game, we were talking about he scores every 14 touches. So the fact is, a general player...

8:25Don't let him get 14.

8:27Gary Neville: That's the first time he's not scored in 14 matches. He scored 14 games on the bounce for Norway. He said, yeah, but there's got to be some correlation with playing against England, and playing against his teammates. And also for the other lads playing against them, obviously it depends on a bit of service. And again, you look at games, there was somebody, and sometimes you get to a quarterfinal, which they've done brilliant, you've ran your race. That might be it. They've just ran their race. Just couldn't imagine Norway in the semifinal, could you? And England had one or two players, a bit more quality than Norway.

8:59But Norway had their moments. Brazil had their moments against Norway. Brazil had some great chances. You forget that in the game. of football and you reflect and you start analysing it but going you'd have a few chances England England did look like they had loads of goals than them today they scored in extra time on the back of a big mistake and that's it it's defying the moment and Gary what you said as well I've been thinking about it what you're saying if we'd lost to that Norway it would have been a massive yeah when I was thinking about it I was thinking this wouldn't be good if we lost to these

9:28Gary Neville: I think before we went out onto the pitch I think I said that this is the last point of failure where people were going to probably go for... For Tuchel. Tuchel. If you get knocked out against Norway, I think in the quarterfinal, you're going to get some stick. But I think if you get knocked out by an Argentinian, Argentinian are playing now as we speak. If we get knocked out by Argentina in the semi-final, there's going to be a lot more leeway and you're in the semi-final. So you're saying that Argentina definitely beat Switzerland then? Well, to be fair, we'll keep you updated in. Yeah, please.

9:56Gary Neville: Keep us an update. The game is going on as we speak. So we think it'll be... Can you see Switzerland? Can we not watch it and have a watch along like all them other companies do? I mean, they're trillions. Can we not do, shall we? This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybet. We get to that first hydration break. I don't think I've ever been as comfortable about England in a game because the outlook's absolutely knackered, no way. I said it. I know, lads, but can I ask you something? How long have you been involved in football, truthfully? Long time. Are you ever comfortable? I think when people start saying we're comfortable or a team looks comfortable, that's when the trouble starts, isn't it?

10:38Because you're comfortable and you take risks and Stone and lads all get a bit... Like Stones, for example, where the momentum changes. Obviously, momentum changes in different ways in a game of football. But Stones receiving it, losing it. But how long have you been in the game where... They didn't look like a threat up to that. Yeah, of course. But that's what happens. That's why we feel comfortable. Maybe what you're saying, that's why Stones was like... Maybe just go...

11:01Gary Neville: it all became a bit easy for him he had a difficult couple of minutes didn't he where he obviously gave the ball away and Harland could have pounced it and then the second one where Harland gets above him and he heads it and then obviously the goal comes but you're not a header sorry to interrupt you but these things happen there do you not think Harland should be beating them for a header no but Roy from the moment that we from the moment that John Stones gave that ball away to the moment Harland scored sorry to the moment Norway scored Norway had 26 passes we had one We lost complete and utter momentum in that sort of two, three-minute period.

11:34Gary Neville: So, I mean, look, John Stones, the game probably came on top of him a little bit. He's obviously not that sharp. He just probably thought he had more time. But I thought he got better as the game went on. I actually thought he grew it. You need that, don't you? You need to go through the half of Norway to get your second wind. We've seen that many times before. But, Your Honour, we're done about Norway getting 26 passes. Remember when Norway played Brazil, they had 66 % possession. So there are no mugs in terms of keeping it. England were at their best at Mexico Mexico had 60 odd possession so this idea of possession I wouldn't necessarily panic over that side of it and at some stage they're going to have some passes but England definitely had the dodgy spell for 10 minutes which is going to happen What do you make of the goal that we conceded?

12:14Gary Neville: I mean I think we all thought that the keeper should have said it's frustrating isn't it we know that ball shouldn't go in the back of our net but we haven't got a goalkeeping coach in there or an ex-goalkeeper to tell us exactly. But do we need an expert? No, no, no, but just to say, because my view would be, I think he's probably got too, I think he's probably got too far past the near post or to the near post. He's probably, something's gone wrong in his positioning. He's lost, he's lost. Lost the flight of the ball, the pace of it. You know what? I think his position is wrong. He's lost his positioning, Roy, because when a goalkeeper moves their arm, that means they think that they're, They've got it.

12:50Yeah, they think that, well, this is missing the post or it's going over. When they move their arm. so he's obviously lost his bearings to where he is. They normally, when the ball's coming in from there, Dave Seaman used to always say to me, checks where the post is, he checks maybe where the six-yard box, that corner is, so he knows where he's meant to be. Oh, sure. Right, so it just seems like he must have lost where he was because he'd done his arm and then he moved his arm away. Do you know what I think with those ones?

13:16Gary Neville: If they loop like that, I think they can... That's where you... As if it got a slight deflection. Yeah, no, so if it loops like that, That's what I mean. If it loops like that, I think it gets a deflection. I think you can forgive a goalkeeper. If it goes flat like that, it can't go in. You've got to say, if it's in your vicinity as your arm, you've got to, you know what, I'll tip this over just in case. You don't really see many goalkeepers move their arm completely because... So we're talking about the quality of the game today. Remember, it's qualifying to our cup. Pickford make a mistake. And they make a mistake.

13:51The goalkeepers, it came down to them couple of mistakes. yes because i don't know there was a bit yeah it was a hit and miss with the two of the teams

13:57Gary Neville: on it yeah i don't think they're talking sorry they shot on target first half did we apart from obviously the goal of them there was one shot on target yeah how many shots inside did we have in that game i can't i mean rogers is one is on target for the second second sack had a shot sack had a shot memory cut inside many but that was on target on target wow i have to yeah how How many half time did we have on target? And in the second half, did they not have any on target? Second half, didn't have any shots on target? What about Saka's one? Saka had one that went straight to the keeper. That extra time, right?

14:30Extra time, okay. Why did they do that? It's still part of the game, it's the second half.

14:36Gary Neville: So we're going to go on to Jude Bellingham's first goal. I mean, the timing of the goal is incredible. The timing of the run is incredible. The pass from Gordon is fantastic. I made a statement on the TV at the end that if you think about players in a World Cup for England and their biggest influence are in tournaments for England you always think of Gazza, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney if I've missed someone out Garolinica Garolinica, yeah, back in maybe 86 is this the biggest influence on England we've ever seen in a tournament? I think, yeah Probably, yeah Yeah, it is, yeah I wouldn't disagree Because obviously Gazza missed that really He looked like he was going on to be unbelievable in that, but he missed that game and we lost that game.

15:20But leading up to it, Jude, he's done something in every game. Something that's match winning or match changing in every game. He's the full package. Yeah. Like his goal, his first goal. When a ball's brought into it, I think the pace of the pass is brilliant for him. So that means his touch obviously can take it away from him. People always worry about, you know when people zip a ball into it, the other passes you want. The good players want it zipped in. So then you're in control of the situation. I bet you the Norwell I saw, we kind of have him. And he's like, no, you haven't. I'm going what I want.

15:52That's the thing with the touches. Then even the left, the left. You know the thing with the touches as well, Roy, is that like the defending coach, I remember Ian Evans. He never gives him a chance to get it right. No, and this is what I'm saying with Ian Evans. But that's that bit of acceleration. I think you had a problem. Ian Evans was... Yeah, the same guy. Right. He was the one that, when I went to Palace the first half, he was the one that constantly tells me about the extra touch and the extra touch in the box when you're moving at pace because the defender is waiting for it to just be poor enough for him to come in because obviously you're giving away a penalty.

16:22His touches were so clean. He had the first touch, the second touch, he even had another one then the left foot shot and it's because we're dealing with just a high quality player that's not giving them any chance. They're at his disposal. And the timing, just on half time, wasn't it? And you know what? Even the finish, You know, again, you finish. You see, it just went over it. It didn't go in like that because then the goalie might save it with that trailing leg, what they're told to use. Whether he's done it on purpose or not. But it went over that, just over it as well. So everything was perfect.

16:57It was perfect. There's been a goal. 1-0 Argentina. Who scored it? And McAllister, header from a corner. Oh, McAllister's missing a two-chance. It's amazing, header. Yeah, but he's good in... He gets some... He does in good positions, but that's from a corner, he was saying. The air. Brilliant. We could air.

17:13Gary Neville: The best players make the hardest things, so the hardest things look most simple, don't they? If you think about Messi's goal against Kate Bird, that ball and the touch and then the finish, Jude's goal was a little bit like that. Maybe not as special as the Messi one because the ball comes out of the air, but there's that element of it's not easy to take that touch. When you're running at speed into a ball, look, I didn't do this, but I know, if I had to sprint onto a ball and take three or four perfect touches and then hit it with my left foot. That's very difficult to do. It's come from quite a long way.

17:44Yeah, you're admitting you're not capable of doing that. No, you are. Of course you are. And not many people can, never. But he made it look so simple. But I think the great players do do that. They make it. Because Messi made that look so interesting. Messi with his goal. And we saw somebody today with a chance, they put it over the bar. How many players do you see leaning back? Where's Messi's going? The one thing I'm going to do, I'm going to get over it and I'm going to hit the target. That was that Oscar Pogba one. They might get a deflection, yeah. And the one today, again, if you want to break it down, the pass into him, it's his first touch.

18:11He's in control of everything. He takes it away and he finishes with his left. And all the time, remember the defender, the international defender is just waiting for when that touch is just not right to get the attack. He can't do it. There was three of them in there by the end when he finished. It is amazing what's happening to him because we're praising him. So we're seeing everything about Bellingham as a player, as a character. So he's done plenty of interviews. He's turned up for the big goals. His interviews are coming across great and he's all this. He does the business again today and then we see him a bit spiky.

18:45So I love that. We're seeing a range because we want everyone to go, he's doing really well with the media. It's just whatever. It's when he said whatever, Roy. And then at the end he's going, oh, whatever. You're going, there's still an edge to the kid, which you need. The edge is the most important part. But we've seen the nice PR stuff the last few weeks going, hey he's fronting up to the media he's coming across really well hey where's Adidas I'm only joking but at your scene and even at the end the fact he was a bit edgy at the end I liked it I really did you like two colours I like both interviews because you know what after games what you want emotions after the match so the manager who's experienced and the players they've not had a chance to go in the dressing room they get media stuff in their ears they get PR teams going just be careful this is raw motion and even the fact they're edgy with each other going that's good as well because you will be edgy with your manager they're not all like patting each other on their back yeah and what when you're working with people they're really good people put demands on each other they're not like hey well done you're great you're great you go now can we do a bit better yeah but also then the player going hey we've just we've had a tough battle here 120 minutes the heat was unbelievable and the manager on the sideline thinking we need to better go and hold on a second give us a little bit of toffee so i think i think the mix and the package and the interviews You know, you see with them as well, because remember when they first started, Tukul and Bellingham, when he kind of got his words mixed up, what he said, maybe got lost in translation.

20:09And at that time, obviously, he's the manager, left him out of a squad and everything, talking about, you know, yes, and then obviously the Morgan Rodgers talking and everything. And I think Jude just bided his time. Yeah. Just bided his time, because I think if you look at it now, the power change, there's a change. You know, that's like, yeah. No, no, no. One fisherman can spot another fisherman.

20:32Gary Neville: There's an element of Thomas Tuchel's interview when he was staring down Gabriel, though, where he thought, he looks like a bit of a psychopath there. You know what? I think the managers that are successful, I genuinely believe they're psychopaths. They are not right. You know what's really strange about this interview as well? You see him, and Gabriel's here, but he's looking over here. And over here. And it's a bit like he's disturbed. It's like he's looking for someone who can I hit him with or something. Yeah, but Jude does the same with his. Yeah, but Jude's checked out of the act. That's what I'm saying.

21:00They ignored him. Yeah. Dude checked out the interview when he said, did you see the manager said he wasn't happy with it? And then when Jude looked, whatever. Dude checked out the interview. He's like, but you know, he should have said, whatever, Trevor. That would have made us laugh, would it? Whatever, Trevor. But he said he was shocked. Jude was shocked. This is why I said to you, I think at some stage, they're going to pick that up. They're going to run with that simply because it feels fiery. At the end of the tournament. Feels like there's a spark there. But when you've played the game and you've gone to extra time and they say that, the manager, you can do...

21:36You're not in a place to hear that. You're going, oh, come on. The manager said you can do better. Yeah, we could have that chat tomorrow morning, but not now. Let's enjoy the moment. It was good. It was good TV. Can I be honest? As much as you say you like it, obviously we're not used to a manager being that straight and honest and saying things like that, especially when we've just got to the... But you said you love the manager at O 'Reilly. I do like him, but I'm just saying, as a manager saying, that word you don't need to say it there you can say it in the dressing room yeah yeah but if you're going to say it and again we've mentioned he said it straight after the game he might have been agitated with Gabriel for something else waiting around whatever it could be but the reason when he's got the job you've said you've bumped into him and you like him and he's a bit honest he can be critical of players

22:14Gary Neville: that was why they signed him in I mean Ian they signed him because look I've seen this mate's act so over the years with England managers what they've always had the view of is they're not my players I only get lent those players for a few days every month so I can't upset them because I haven't got time to actually make it back up with them so I've got to keep them happy. He doesn't give two fly-in. He doesn't care and I think that's the reason he's got the power, the strength. That's why they signed him to disrupt. Yeah, but now he's got a top player who's now elevated himself to a place of don't talk to me like that, bro.

22:50So now, you know, we're going to see what happens now because I think that... Are you worried about... I'm not worried about Jude. No, you worry about what could happen in the next few days. Yeah, because I think it's just pressure that's going to come into the dressing room, especially if we play Argentina, it sounds like we're going to. To add on to, we should be thinking about them because they're going to be a massive problem for us in respect to the way they play and Messi. Without them talking about maybe the manager and Jude and what's going on in the dressing room. It's just we don't need it.

23:18We didn't need it. I think Thomas too didn't need to say it like that. He could have said, you know what, could have played better. I say something to him in the dressing room, like Harry told us he did.

23:29Gary Neville: I must admit, I'm pretty used to it, Ian, during my career, to be fair, having a manager and, to be fair, most of the time I was at United, the captain, that, to be fair, we're very rarely pleased with, even if we won, there was always an element of keep your feet up, there was always an element of bring you back down to earth, make sure you don't get carried away. It was always a case of it's not good enough. You know, I had a youth team coach where we won 5-1, they'd come in and have a go at you for the goal going in, you know what I mean? It's that mentality of sort of that... You're talking about these managers who sort of have these...

23:58Gary Neville: And you know something? There's an element of Thomas Tuchel, I think, after that game. I thought he knows how much criticism he would get if we'd lost that game. So I think he was watching that game thinking it was close and we were getting taken to the edge. And he's probably thinking, come on, you're better than this. And by the way, they've won. So he's just giving them a little bit of a warning. Now, to be fair, semi-final. I say today if we lost, it would be like a bogey. You know, it would be a bogey. In golf, yeah. Yeah, in golf terms. It would be a bogey. It would be one of them where Thomas Tuchel would get some criticism.

24:26Gary Neville: I think if we get beat by Argentina in a semi-final, I think unlikely we're going to get hammered for that because it's Argentina in a semi-final with Messi. So the reality is you've got to a point now whereby it's unbelievable achievement. And now, of course, it's a 50-50 game. So I liked it after the game because I'm used to it. I'm not sure England players are used to it. No, they're not. I'm not sure that, to be fair, players at certain clubs are used to it. That mentality, Jude would be, to be fair, at Real Madrid, the expectations there are enormous. So, I mean, he would be used to that, but he probably just got delivered to him at a point whereby it's a flash interview.

24:57Gary Neville: As Roy says, the emotions are high. Not a chance to be briefed by the press officer of what Thomas had said. And there's probably a little bit of an inquest going on now with the press officer sort of thinking, maybe we don't do as many flash interviews in future. But I like both reactions. I loved what you did with the whatever. I loved what Thomas Tuchel did with demanding more from them. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybet.

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26:07Gary Neville: Just back onto Jude. The reason that he elevates himself to world class, in my mind, is not just the goals, because the goals are obvious for everyone to see. We know he's got that in him. but it's the fact of the out of possession work it's the interviews it's what he did after the game today when he basically said I think that's the complete package for me that's what takes you into a different level of sort of what would be category and the fact that he's now not just a goal scorer midfield player or he's not just someone who delivers in big moments he does the ugly bit the ugly bit is turning up after a draw against Garner you know doing an interview after Garner when you've drawn that's the ugly bit that's the bit you don't really want to do but you do it the bit obviously Mexico at the back post where he clears it off they're the ugly bits and he's shown all these leadership skills recently and he's just turned 23 he's 23 years of age you know the thing as well you have to remember he's going to be peaking in a number of years so all these traits he's got now from being at Dortmund and learning his trade and making the good decisions making the decisions in terms of where he was going to go he was linked with United and Oli Club went to Germany how did he lose him?

27:16but he could go to a big club and play Champions League and learn his trade. We talked about Odegaard earlier. Sometimes you go to a big club at Real Madrid and not get a chance. So he's learned his trade. He's not Real Madrid. Still new to his career, really, in Real. So he's learning his trade. Then, obviously, he's got 50-odd caps already for England. He's known to double figures. All these boxes he's taken off, and again, that stuff with the media, he's shown... He's been really mature. And even tonight, be mature, keep that edge. The edge is the key to it. And remember, his number got retired at Birmingham.

27:48Well, that was... Yeah, but they say that's silly, but now you look at him and you think, well, look at him. He went to Real Madrid and took Zidane's shirt, number five. This is the level. This is the level of... That's ballsy. Yeah, but that's ballsy. I think it's ballsy, like, even a person who said, I'm looking at Jude, but I'm going to retire his shirt. Can you imagine what people would have said? You've lost your mind or something. Now, he must be loaded wherever he is, because Jude has gone to a level that's unbelievable. All that's part of the package of him. Yeah, but someone to retire his shirt when he's 17.

28:22Not to Georgie, but imagine when he's leaving there, he's speaking to all these clubs, he's at United, and all these, probably speaking to Ferguson, all them trying to get him on. Liverpool, wasn't it? Gerrard was his guy. Obviously, he would have spoke to every club. But then to go to Dortmund and be Spartan, if I'm going to go abroad, I play for a club where even if I probably have a difficult spell, I'll still play it, I'll still get my games, I'll still play Champions League football. I'm getting a taste of what being a footballer is about. And then walks it all out and then says, I'm going to Real Madrid you know what's really it's like what the great players do their decision making off the pitch from where they pick and clubs we see that with all top managers with Pep they're smart cookies and then he's done all this of course like bypassing the Premier League which everybody feels oh the Premier League the Premier League absolutely bypassing me he said no I'm not going to play for you guys I'm going to go to Dortmund then I'm going to go Real Madrid and then I'll see where I go from there do you think we'll ever see him in the Premier League I don't know I don't know because if he comes to the Premier League then he comes to the Premier League and then he's going to have to do his unbelievable stuff but maybe he's 23.

29:18Even if he doesn't come for another five years' time, he's 28. He's still got a lot of football to give, depending on, because if you look at how many games Jude's probably played up to this point, he's played a lot of football up to this point. So we see what happens to these players who are playing from the age of 17 and what happens by the time they get to 28, you see, you know, they're all insane. But what I like about, what I like about as well in this tournament, for all the things we've mentioned, around about passing a move, the amount of times he's got it and he went, I'm just running, with it I'm just going past people or I see the space because we're all about one, two touches passing me he's going no no I want to show that power and skill of getting us up to pitch winning free kicks he's we all think if you're going to be a top midfielder you've got to be brilliant at one or two things don't you you really have to be a goal scorer good defensively be a good athlete he looks like he's got them all absolutely that's my point he's got them all he's amazing

30:10Gary Neville: at all of them he's combining the goal scoring sort of what would be levels of Frank Lampard going that way and then Brian Robson was mentioning before I mentioned English players because Tufay does remind me of you when he would get in the box as well yeah but players who can go forward with such unbelievable we were told that you were either a 6 or an 8 or a 10 he is a 6 8 and 10 in 1 he literally is all in 1 he can defend he's powerful he can score he's good in the air he gets to people Rolls Royce imagine him on a bad day just say he's having an off day and he's got a few knocks he's still a big presence out on that football pitch he still has some sort of physicality out there even if he's not quite at his best but when he's at his best is he at the moment it's hard to stop him isn't it but even sorry can we give as much praise for a second goal the first goal was fantastic but his reaction is to like the little because you don't win the game if he's not that sharp we don't win that game we'd probably go to penalties or something, but in that moment, in that stage of the game, he's sharp enough to know, I know I'm out on my feet here, I'm following the scene.

31:23And do you know what, they say they're great players and great sports people, there's loads of stories about Michael Jordan when he first started playing, they said he's an amazing player, but the team won't win anything, and the coach got in touch with his old coach and got in touch, he said, Jordan, he said, no, he's not a great player, what the great players do is make the others around him better. And I think he's doing that with England, I think he is carrying people and making them a little bit better. but you still need a bit more from the other players to back him and Kane up against Argentina.

31:49Gary Neville: Who is the best midfield player in the world? Right now? Who is the best midfield player? No, if you said to me who's the best midfield player, we can talk about wide players, you know what, forwards, Ronaldo, Messi, Kane, Mbappe, Haaland, all that stuff, but we never really talk about who's the best midfield player in the world. Well, you have to start thinking about, what do you call us? Rodri, different type of player. Rodri, I know he's been offered, obviously he's had a few injuries. Take of all the big clubs, big countries. Bruno's would you put Bruno in that bracket I think you can't put Bruno with I don't think you can put Bruno with Bellingham I think kind of what he's done at his club this year and what he's done at his club over the last 5, 6, 7 years the numbers he's hit is out of this world you have to put him in you have to put him in the conversation I'm not saying you have to put him as the best yeah but then like me and Rice Declan Rice yeah but you get to this tournament and he's got that kind of those numbers Bruno and he gets there and he's one assist.

32:43Pedri? Pedri's another one, yeah. Some say it's a question, because there's no standout, is there? Who is the best midfield player? I'd say Jude Bellingham. Yeah, we're talking about form and the occasions and producing the big moments. And his walk, right? Because even the other games when he wasn't scoring and when England were having difficult spells, his walk, weight and running back, I kept praising him for that. Because the other stuff, obviously everyone's going to follow that. It's the other few bits. with hunting people on and running back and I said to him even when he comes back to close a lot of players come back attacking players come back to help out but it's a gesture he's coming back and he's gone I want to get that ball back and he's done it a number of occasions where he went do you know what that's just quick I'm going to be honest

33:26Gary Neville: with another field player Elliot Anderson is he England's best player in this World Cup apart from Jude Bellingham yeah I mean Harry Kane scored great but we expect that almost yeah in respect of performing because we keep talking about Harry Kane and Jude rightly but if we're going to say well and who else you'd say Elliot Anderson he's done everything what he needs to be doing in that team breaking things up even breaking things up and leading us to score I think we scored one of our goals was it the second goal one of the goals in the what was our last game he scored he passed the ball to Gordon today the Mexico game he was the one breaking things up he's the one that does he had a lot of composure to the end of the game where he was getting a bit of stretch easily easily like apart from Jude you know I mean is Jude is probably the best plays easily the second best player I mean unfortunately Declan is just not right I'm gonna come on to him because that's the one I say one big negative virus look at to be fair I was heartened a little bit by I mean the first half to be fair when he took the three corners yes when I was like what the what's going on he couldn't reach so actually when Mark Pugh got something that said to us just after half time he had a virus or he'd been ill during the week yeah there was that talk he was he was away from the team yeah but that so that that make that gives me some comfort that he could be okay for argentina on wednesday because him not we know he's not quite right but if he's not playing i had a big loss that but i always think when you have viruses well that you are a bit run down and you are feeling not great about yourself do you know i mean that's when you pick up these these viruses or these bugs that is not at this when you're weak your immune yeah yeah strong so maybe they're on planes for two or three hours after every game then they go in two days three days all the other players are but again when you're a little bit run down that's when something gets and you go he couldn't raise a gallop could he he's put so much he does put so much into every game anyway but he's put so much into that Arsenal season and they get into the Champions League final and it just feels like he's just got to the point where he's just not a robot and there's lots of pressure and over the last few years going back to even as West Ham did never misses a game does he at some stage there's a tipping point maybe again I know the Arsenal there's different demands and they had a run in Europe they'd run in the two cup competitions and pressure of trying to win the league and he's a big player for England again never misses a game can't imagine him missing too many training sessions he's a massive worry he's not a robot so come this stage of the season he's probably thinking I'm running on fumes now and that's what it is and then you look at it Roy we're going to have to start the season defending the league so how long are they going to leave him out for him how long how long break will he get yeah and it's not just physical we saw what happened with SAC it's the same thing before we get to Arsenal can England win a World Cup if Declan Rice isn't at for me if you said before the tournament would England win a World Cup I would have said no we'd get to a quarter or a semi I think we said that we said semi we did we said quarter stroke semi we'd like a semi we'd have a semi right so we said we got to the semi can if England were ever going to win a World Cup Anderson Bellingham Rice and Kane We're going to have to be All absolutely Is it possible That England can win A tournament Without Declan Rice At the levels That he should That we know He can get to Is it possible Is that too big Because you can't Replace him I mean Jordan Henderson To be fair Is obviously struggling now Cobby Maynew by the way Would he Would he have thought Today when Who came on in midfield In front of him Oh James Rhys James Rhys James Would Cobby Maynew Not have thought Hang on a minute He'll be feeling that Tonight As a fender but James did give him a bit of energy, didn't he?

37:04And a bit of quality. He's got a bit of that one. Yeah, and then he went to right back and there was nobody getting past him, was there? The thing with him is as well, when he, if you can keep him fit, there's no argument. But that's the only problem with Rhys. He's somebody that I worry about when he's playing because he's somebody that can't play continuous games at the moment. But again, we said at the start of the tournament, players will go down, you might miss it right, somebody will get a suspension. Yeah, that could happen. And then fans will come into the team I know Dan Burnett obviously exaggerating but lads will come into the team and do a big job for you going if you said four weeks ago these guys are going to have a big part but lads will some of the French players will step in and if Rice does miss somebody will step in that's the nature of the game that's a big question but I still think they're I still think they're come up short even with Rice I still think they're still short

37:50Gary Neville: do England play do England play in the semi-final do England play in the semi-final on Wednesday with Anderson and with Rhys James if Rice is not fit I think they might and then play Jed Spence at right back or Conzor at Avakadar. Spence at Avakadar when he came on. Yeah, that's what I'm saying to you. I think if you're going into a game of that magnitude... Well, good luck guessing the team because we've not got a right year that way. Honestly. Yeah, but then, you know, look at Argentina, right? They say it's going to be Argentina. And if it had to be Elliot and Rhys James, I wouldn't be fussed with that.

38:27They've got a narrow midfield. We need strength in there. Exactly. The thing with them is, in that game, if it's going to be that game, and it looks like it is, then our wingers have to turn up. Because they're very narrow. And the wingers have to turn up in that game. Then, all of a sudden, we're giving Argentina a problem.

38:47Gary Neville: Look, when I watch Egypt counter-stacking against Argentina and Cape Verde in those wide areas, because they are so narrow. They've got no pace, by the way, in the full-back area. None. None. We should be rampant in those wide areas. I mean, look, he's not being arrogant. We should be rampant. Especially conditions, because there's an air condition. Yeah. Whereas today, you can't play counter-attack with that, I think, in that heat. No. I don't think you can. Gordon has to play. Gordon has to play. And you know what? I tried to give Maddowek here the big bum up, and it didn't work out for him because a couple of times...

39:19He gives me the impression that he's the kind of player... He'll go past players, but then it's the cross.

39:23Gary Neville: We had a coach at United called Jim Ryan who was a really good technical coach. And usually when a lad doesn't cross a ball well with his right foot or doesn't cross a ball well, it's because their strides aren't right and their actual pacing running up to the ball. I think he's running too fast and doesn't slow himself down. And also, the other thing is, he might be looking up too much and thinking he can pick someone out. And I remember someone else to remind me, you're not David Beckham. You can't pick someone out, Gary. You're not good enough to pick someone out on the run at a cross. you've got to just choose an area David Becks could look at someone and he could whip it into an area and land it on someone's head I can't do that at full pace running down the wing I've just got to decide am I actually whipping it in with low with pace or am I pulling it back with pace low or am I standing it up to the back so I've got three crosses and then if you decide you've only got three crosses which is one across the goal low one pull back low or the one stood up to the back post you've only got three options in your head which one am I choosing you then at that point you have one little look and you make your decision you know where the areas are and then you concentrate on your stride and you make it like a pass I think he's sprinting too fast to be able to cross it well he's been let down by coaches in his part simply because when you've got that pace which we can't buy which everybody wants when you've got that pace and you're in the academies they're not working on his final ball and he's just carrying he's just carrying on through his career carrying on through his career with his pace, doing his stuff, doing his skills, but he's not working on getting to this level.

40:58And then it's evident. This is what we need now, mate, because you have to be putting that ball into that area. This is where you have to be slowing down and passing in there because Serloff, Serloff for them today, the big striker out on there. If they score, if he passes that to Haaland, I think that's 2-0, we're done. That is what I'm talking about. You get to a place where you will be embarrassed by the fact that you've not worked on what you should be working on.

41:27Gary Neville: Do you know something, right? They say about wingers are unpredictable, as if it's some form of positive. The best wingers are the most predictable players in the world. Riyad Mahrez, he's going to take it down the line, he's going to cut back, and he's going to put that ball in his left foot. Salah, he's going to put it into that far corner. Thierry Henry's finished from the left, he's going to set it out into that far corner. David Beckham, he touches it out of his feet, he'll whip it in. De Bruyne, he'll get it out of his feet, he'll whip it in. You know what they're going to do, and they repeat what they're going to do on a constant basis, and you can't stop it.

42:01Gary Neville: You're going to get players a little bit like Mardwecki that you think, and Doku's a little bit the same, actually, I think. He's another one. So if you don't know what he's got, if I don't know, having watched him 50 times last season, what he's going to do, I can tell you the players in the middle of the box that are trying to read his runs or his passes haven't got a clue what he's going to do. And that's the problem. You've got to know what wingers are going to do because if you don't know what they're going to do The the forwards that they're playing with don't know what they're going to do You don't know when it's coming in exactly so you actually have to be a bit more predictable as a winger That means you either go off two or three things It's either got to be I'm going down the line I'm standing up or I'm gonna go inside and miss it on my left or you've got are you gonna play your way in and even You could have two or three things that you do brilliantly well No one's world you've got wingers now obviously is left footed playing on the right So obviously maybe when he's young, he's on the left foot, maybe it might be easier for him, because he's going down the left side, he whips it in.

42:51It's easier because he sees natural sides. But now everything's changed where right, we want left footers on the right, we want right footers on the left. He's not worked enough on when I'm in a position to go outside and whip it in with the right. You know, if you can't do that as a winger now, then I can't understand. This is what I worry for Saka at the moment, because Saka's not blasting down the right. We know that he'll try to go down there, but we know that if he does go there, he will put a crossing, but you don't know what's coming from none. Do you keep hearing podcast ads, like this one, for example, but always wonder how you actually get involved with them for your own brand or organization?

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44:08Gary Neville: Player ratings Let's go through it You say it like We don't want to do it You say it like Right player ratings Player ratings Let's go through it Have I missed anything? No? Still 1-0 in that game Still 1-0 1-0 Argentina Is it half time now? Is it half time now? Oh five minutes to half time No we're going to get up for that Still 1-0 So John Pickford Where are we going with that today? He's a five Yeah I think I'd go five as well I think he was a bit I think he You know something I remember the game which game was it it would have been the Mexico game where he had a spell right at the end where he came and he was just punching everything it was just like whoa is this good I don't know what this is but like in the game today the reason why they scored that they scored that goal as well oh my gosh he gave away a couple of Daftons there was a shot where he's coming to just catch it and then the corner before it was going over maybe because he didn't Yeah.

45:04Saved the first one. But I was so nervous. He was unsure today, I think, wasn't he? So unsure today.

45:09Gary Neville: Yeah, I think five's probably fair today. Nico O 'Reilly today, six. What'd you say? I'll give him more than that. I'm six and a half, easily. Six and a half? Six and a half. Yeah. Yeah, OK. Easier. Six and a half. I would move Gehi up to a seven and a half, would you say? I thought he had to do it. And you know what? He was competitively highly. He was, you know what? And he probably wouldn't have been looking forward to that, especially with Harlan in the form he's been in and he probably Harlan's bullied him a couple of times in training because you see him a couple of times today really roughed and pushed Gai down so I think he done well he's got to get a 7.5 from me today yeah no problem John Stones he started slowly he's got to get a 7.5 he struggled for 5 he struggled for 5 minutes in the first half and then to be fair to him he did grow in the game yeah he made some good early appearances I think he's got to get a 7 7?

45:597.7 is he 7.5 Yeah. Konza. Just quietly got on with it, didn't he? Yeah. Yeah, I can't think of anything worse. Another radar. Seven. I think so.

46:11Gary Neville: Elliot Anderson. We're going eight and a half. You think so, was he that? I bet if we go through and watch the back of the game. I'd go eight and a half. If he got his stats, yeah. You know what I mean? He's another one of those that... Because Jude is just shining so brightly, there's no light. I think he's an eight and a half. He is. He's eight and a half. Especially with Rice going off. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Rice, Declan. Well, he's not right, is he? You know, I don't... Five and a half, would you say? I mean, look, he's caught... To be fair, you're right. He wasn't right. To be fair, the first...

46:42Gary Neville: Righty, I must admit, we were saying before half-time, what is... There's something... What's happened to him? And the thing is, watching him so much, so many times last season, when he's hit the first couple of... He's not right. Nine. Give him a nine. I'd... and I tell you we'll drop him down to a nine I bet you when you're not right either not he today if you're not at it can you imagine right we'll just give him we'll just give him a six then maybe and move on yeah let's give him a six and move on to be fair he can be fortunate with that because he wasn't right was he he wasn't right he wasn't right he wasn't right we're going to go left wing we're going to go Anthony Gordon six I tell you what he gave their right back a tough time but then the right back then stuck at it as well that was a good little battle 6 and a half maybe I was on 7 you know what give him a 7 I would have gone 7 but alright no 7 fine I think and I'm liking Anthony Gordon me and Roy are liking him now Madweke only Madweke 6 5 and a half 6 I don't know did he put any good cross can you remember anything that springs to mind at least when Saki came on he put that good ball across remember They should have scored from now.

47:56Gary Neville: Five and a half maybe. Yeah. Got subbed half time. Yeah, five and a half. Yeah. It's hard to keep up with the subs. Who's coming on and off? Yeah. Well today's special. We'll be in. Garen, if that didn't work out, would you have said, this is chaotic now? Because, can I be honest with the substitution? I thought, even I thought, he's taken the pace off. Ezio was the wrong one, I think. You think? No, I didn't disagree with the two subs. If you remember, we were talking about it. we said Declan may have to come off and to be fair Madweki so we were Saka for Madweki's perfect that would need to be done but I actually thought Declan's struggling Jude will go back one but I thought it would be Rodgers that would come on I think Rodgers played better when he came on I just think Rodgers has got more pace and a bit more about him in terms of a dribble Eze's got a bit more control but I didn't think Eze was the right one I was surprised it was him I thought we was going to get some pace because we felt like we were getting deeper and then we could have got it out if it was Marcus or someone.

48:53I don't know.

48:53Gary Neville: I think we made six subs in the end. It felt chaotic. It felt chaotic. We certainly made five. He doesn't wait, though, the managers. Oh, no. Oh, absolutely. Is that good, Ryan? Because I was one time... I think so, right. Oh, he doesn't wait. Do you know what the good managers... Whatever they're writing, the good managers don't wait. The gamblers. Yeah, sorry, the top managers, they don't wait to gamble. They go, let's make... How many times have you been in a match going, what are they waiting for, waiting for? And it just takes the initiative. The goal in halftime would have helped, obviously, with the mindset and the feeling and the dressing but he doesn't mess about that was one of the criticisms of Gareth wasn't it that he didn't make substitutions quickly enough I mean Thomas Tuchel to a fake you can't accuse him of that he is he's getting on he goes through like you wouldn't believe he'd change the whole team if he could I think if he had more subs anyway we're going to Jude 9 9 and a half it's just 2 goals we can't do 10 how many 9s have you we gave him 10 last game we gave him 10 I gave him 10 No, yeah, but we...

49:51Against Mexico. Because if we got a hat-trick. If we got a hat-trick, but then we... Ten's for a hat-trick. Nine and a half. We gave him nine and a half, but we gave the clearance as a goal. Do you remember the clearance? I think nine. Nine? Would you say? I think nine would be really... That's not enough. Nine and a half. Nine and a half. Okay, can I get it? No, just for the... No, he should get an extra one for his interview. The interview, yeah. Ten and a half. Ten for his interview? Ten and a half. Ten for the...

50:15Gary Neville: No, he gets a point of five for the whatever. Trevor. Yeah. Harry? You know, Harry was... I think the heat does seem to catch up with Harry, doesn't it? He did look as if... He did mention it as if... Of course he did. He did mention it because... Can you imagine while he's playing, he must be thinking, this heat, man. Did he have a shot on target? Did he not even get a shot away? No, he tried it one time. The one that came over the far post, was that it? And he just seemed... No, he headed one. No, no, but there also one came to him, but I can't remember. There's one where he came and he slightly backed off to try and...

50:46I thought, could he have gone ahead of that? I don't know. But if you're 32 and it's 41 degrees. He's done well. He's entitled to win half, dear.

50:54Gary Neville: Six and a half then, Harry, maybe. Six and a half, do you think? OK, do you want to go through the subs? Jed Spence, are we in with seven? No, I thought he'd done well. Seven and a half? Do you know why he just seemed a bit more when he came on to... He's getting more and more confident as well. No, he seems to be getting quicker. Getting forward as well. Why is Jed Spence not starting the game and Konza going there? I think that he likes Nico O 'Reilly and the way he plays. But go right back instead of Konza. Play right back, can't they? outdoor set pieces remember that's why you mentioned the set pence then seven and a half or eight seven and a seven seven seven a problem s a six and a half six six and a half three i can't remember doing anything no i said six six six then six for s a for the shot seven he had a shot seven you gotta be seven because it was his shot yeah dan burn eight for the for the edit at the end that was league two on it that was what it proves eight whitley bay or I'd love to sign Dan Byrne for Salford, honestly.

51:47Gary Neville: It'd be amazing in League Two, wouldn't it? He's a good centre-half in the Premier League. So you want to sign Dan Byrne from the World Cup to Salford in League Two? So he might come on and play against Messi.

52:01Gary Neville: Dan Byrne definitely would be the best centre-half in League Two. He'd be unbelievable. Dan Byrne could play to his 46 in League Two. Seriously? Or he could play for 45, maybe. What, he ain't got no quick little players that are going to cause him problems? He might get the odd little test away from home, the odd ground, but I tell you what, he just looks like a... He just looks like he should be playing for... That ball they played up was perfect, wasn't it? He had a 20-yard run at it. Jeez, he's one-headed. It's a massive ball ever. He's getting a bit uncomfortable. He's getting angrier the more that England go into the competition.

52:34Gary Neville: It's true, because we're getting closer. He's getting close. It's that part where he's two games away from the football. I was to relax, I was like, yeah, no problem. You know what's really good? It's like when they do that camera thing, when they start and then we jump up and he's like this. He's like... He's sat there like Muttley. He's sat there like a racket. No emotion. Fucking defender. Fucking referee.

53:01So Dan Byrne, what are we giving him? Eight? Now we're giving him seven. James? Did we give James? Oh, James. I think he's got seven and a half.

53:08Gary Neville: Yeah, seven and a half for his James. Yeah, seven and a half. But just, Rhys James. Eight for James. Rhys James fit. I tell you now I said something the other day if Rhys James and Luke Shaw were fully fit at all times of their careers they would be England's could be England's best left and right back ever I know they're that talented wow that's why that's why it's Attenborough with the injuries a really important part being honestly a professional footballer is being fit and available that's part of it these guys aren't they're just unlucky whatever it is It must be. It can all be unlucky, right?

53:45There must be something wrong physically then, if it's not unlucky, because how do you get that in injuries? I'd look sure being out as long as... And James is like... Is there six hamstrings he's had? There's something wrong with the make-up of their bodies somewhere. No, maybe the way they're training. They all go and get these private coaches. They go to gyms. Are they robust enough to play games? You know what's amazing? A lot of footballers, they'll actually look immaculate they're not flexing they play 10 games a season they're like they're not robust they're like F1 cars yes they're so finely tuned exactly

54:20Gary Neville: exactly look I don't know to be fair the lifestyle of Rhys James that much he's got he's got bad lifestyle no my point is he's got the kind of money where he can probably get the best of everything to sort himself has he had the right medical interventions has he been treated the same as any other players you know sometimes I'm sure you get bored you get born with sometimes issues like how you run and things like that and you sometimes have people He looks very strong in every every aspect is but I'm sure I think I'm sure I think of a player Roy that you know You know I had injuries towards the end of my career for last three or four years And I wouldn't say that I was you know injury prone but for 12 years 13 years I played every week nearly and all of a sudden they became injury prone towards the end when you sit in your 30s These lads are injury prone in their early 20s and mid-20s.

55:10Gary Neville: So I'm trying to think of like, do you ever play with a player at Arsenal or I'm trying to think of somebody at United or even maybe with Forrest where you thought they were always injured but they were doing everything right and they were good lads. They were just unlucky, you know what I mean? Yeah. But I do think these lads, and I don't mean James, I think sometimes they're on big contracts, they're wealthy guys and they end up going away from like, they end up getting too much coaching away from the game all these guys have their own fitness coaches and I'm not saying these fitness coaches aren't good but maybe they take them away from what the game is about it's like training properly a lot of times they spend time in the gym maybe they're doing the wrong exercises or when they get an injury they go off to Dubai to do their recovery instead of saying you want your players to be robust I get it, sometimes you've injured you can't shake them off sometimes the actual sports science in your club might not be right for what you're doing.

56:06Put it this way, a few weeks ago, we were talking about another sports person, Tom Brady. Remember he said he was getting injuries or he went off to somebody else. I'm guessing that works but sometimes they don't always get the best advice. And they go to gyms and they look amazing but you're going, you're walking on the wrong stuff. Again, I just look at lads. I love the lads who play a farting. Rice, lads who play 50, 60, 70 games. Salah, Messi, Naldo. Of course, all these boys. And again, I go back to it, it's like the muscles underneath the muscles, it's the lads who can play 40, 50, and who can play with a few injuries.

56:40This idea of like, now have everything. Listen, we all play with the Eagles, whereas maybe nowadays the players are so well off, or there's big squads and they're on great contract, when they have a Neagle, they're like, they're kind of ruling themselves out. Whereas maybe when we were playing, and maybe even going back to the 70s or 80s, where lads were playing loads of games, we hear about Aston Villa and Liverpool winning league titles with 13 players. They were like, you know, because you have to play. Big appearance money, Leeds have mortgages. And I'm not trying to compare that these lads don't have the same ambition, of course, but sometimes it's just a bit easier to maybe miss games, especially if you've got a nickel.

57:15Gary Neville: This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybet. Can England win it? We can win it, can't we? I mean, we're two games away from winning the World Cup, simple as that. I mean, what I'm saying is we have...

57:33World Cup final But do you believe it Do you have like faith in it Because when I'm watching the games You're truthfully You're like Oh yeah England It's all about England Do you have the belief And faith that they can win it

57:42Gary Neville: England have not been To a World Cup final England have not been To a World Cup final Since 1966 This It's an unbelievable chance This is Well you know It's not a vintage Argentina by any stretch. It's not as good as Argentina as four years ago, but it's still got danger, of course. I mean, it's got Messi, it's got an unbelievable spirit. And then you've got a France team that are... Oh, France and Spain are tough. Yeah. And Spain, I think that, I think that your level goes to another place. If we get to a France or a Spain... Difficult. Of course it's difficult, but it's got to be difficult. It's the final, isn't it?

58:21So, I don't fear Argentina like I'd fear France or Spain. Yeah. Because I think that Argentina there's a lot of fallacies with them what we can explain Spain the emotional side of it right it's the whole package the whole package of Argentina will be a different kind of France we look at technical stuff but it's what goes into winning a game of football it's the guys off the bench it's a bit of referees decision it's that momentum it's getting away with a mistake getting the benefit of a mistake today winning games I still think that Argentina

58:53Gary Neville: with Argentina you're playing against I think it's a little bit like Brazil you're playing against the legend the legend the legend playing against a bit of history you're playing against the history and the legend you're playing against this like spirit of fight and like uncontrollable anger inside them that they will do anything to win like anything when England had that bad little spell today when they were getting run when that chance it could have been I think Argentina France oh you're getting punished by them let's go let's go any of the other teams they have to obviously Switzerland don't get through France, Spain Argentina let's go let's go yeah oh without a doubt it's just that no with these other teams just to let you off the hook a bit like some of the other teams they are Congo Mexico this is another step up without a doubt can England to have another think that's why someone like to call so angry because he will look at it like that as well it's what you look at like I say we'd want to be of course we lose this game against one of them look do the two set of halves epitomize Argentina more than anybody else even and Messi in the sense that you've got Romero and Lissandro Martinez, who, I mean, they seem to give a goal away between them every single game.

1:00:01Gary Neville: And then you look at the full-backs and the full-backs ain't great. No, and then you basically go and watch them. And Lissandro Martinez and Romero, they're scoring goals and heading the ball and literally everywhere. There's something happens to them when they put on that shot. It's incredible, isn't it? It's like, I call them the best, worst centre-half pair in the world because they absolutely at times can be unbelievable. ball and then it's sublime to ridiculous. And they're another team where they're never beaten. Never. You know, if you're 2-0 up against them, you're not comfortable. If you're 3-0 up, you're not comfortable.

1:00:30They're never beaten. But you know what you say about England, going back, I'd like to know how many times England have been beaten for the last four to six years. I bet it wouldn't be many. So these teams do get used to winning. But the semi-final, obviously that's another level up. I don't know if I don't, truthfully I I think they'll come up short against Argentina even Argentina yeah and I think definitely against France Spain might be different Spain's get the job done but I think I think there's too much I think Argentina would just find something I think they're at the edge in a tight game I thought England would win today and it thought it'd be tough might be one goal in it and it was I think Argentina would win it do you think it'll be a repeat of the final in Qatar France-Argentina the excitement and the goals do you mean?

1:01:16No, do you think it will be repeat the teams that get there? Oh, that's what I've said I'm going to stick with that yeah I'm sticking with that Ian? Is that because you don't want to No, that's what I think from a I've said all along most weeks I've been saying the last few weeks and I think England I thought England would be today I thought they'd beat Mexico I think they'll just come up short I genuinely believe that watching Argentina and I think you know I think we could beat them Do you think Argentina are better than Norway? Without a doubt better than you know what I mean I just think it's the kind of game or step up to another place and maybe get something.

1:01:49But then it's France I would always be worried about. If we play Argentina, I think we'll need to score three.

1:01:58Gary Neville: And even if we score three, we may need to still win on penalties. I think we can score three again. No, I agree as well. I think we could score three. I think, honestly, I think... You know, you get Messi. But I think they could score three. It's like stupid. They could score four. Messi, could you honestly sit here and say Messi couldn't score four against us in our defensive line? No, I could see us winning 3-1 and then them coming back with two goals in the last five minutes. I can see they just never give in. I just, even at three goals, I think we would be, not saying. It's the same as how I felt with Ireland.

1:02:30It was never comfortable until Ireland came off.

1:02:33Gary Neville: Came off, yeah. You know what I mean? It's with Messi. You're never going to be in a game, even if we're 3-1 up thinking. If he's there. Oh, so you know what I mean? So what are you saying? They're going to beat, do you think they'll beat with Argentina? I think we'll beat them. Not just because I want them to. I just think that the way they play and how narrow they are, I think we'll be able to block them and break. But the wingers are going to have to do a lot more than they've done. I think Harry, look, the thing that keeps coming back to me is that those two centre-halves can easily go and score two at the other end.

1:03:02Gary Neville: I can't see us not scoring two goals. OK, I'll ask you again. Do you think they get through? Gary doesn't think we get through. He's taking too long to answer. Exactly. You're taking too long. Just say you don't think we'll get through. It's fine. I'll go on my own. No, no. Do you have something? We've got to say that. I'll go on my own if you two don't want to come to the party. You're trying to give the professor an opinion. My concern is we're not wise enough. Of course. There's lots of concerns. At the back to get through a game like that and that we would get found out by the Argentinians.

1:03:33Gary Neville: Would you have Bellingham or Messi in your team? Do you think that would be the difference? Who would you want? You'd have to have Messi, obviously, wouldn't you? You know what I mean? It's an unfair comparison. No, no, it's just a question. I'm going to get too deep about it. Yeah, because, like, we need... I'm up with all silly questions all the time. Sick. I've asked one question in six weeks. Shoot me down. I think we're... I think we're... I think we're faster. Listen, hear me out. I think we're faster. You asked the question five minutes ago. I think we're faster, quicker. Right, lovely, lovely, Jack.

1:04:10Gary Neville: I think we've got a better squad. Do you think they'll win? I think we'll just get over the line. No, sorry. Just, just. And it's, but just wait, it's penalties. It's penalties. Just the last thing. It's penalties. It's penalties or it's like a... Let's have a bet. Let's have a bet for charity. A hair's bread. Jill's charity? Jill's charity. Jill's charity. Okay. A bet for charity. I'll go. I'll go by Argentina. Okay. Have we got, are we nearly one to bet yet? What's happening, Kieran? Am I jumping to go now? We've got to go again. We'll go a thousand pounds. Argentina. Yeah, I'll go England. I'll go England as well.

1:04:42Gary Neville: OK. So you're going against both of us, a thousand miles each? Fuck off. Sorry. I don't like people swearing. That's£100. That's a fine. That's a fine that goes into the tin. Yes. It's costing me money. Right. ITV7, let's go. England have set up a breathtaking semi-final clash with Argentina and you can win£50 ,000 for free by answering seven questions about the game with ITV7 football. A massive£225 ,000 has been won during the tournament so far. Could you add another£50 ,000 to that figure this time around? Will England finally be able to stop Messi? Could you be the hero again? You can have your say for free.

1:05:22Gary Neville: Simply answer seven questions now on the ITV7 app or website for your chance to win. Good luck. 18 plus TNCs apply.

1:05:33Is this to win the money now? This is to win the money. Let's go. This is big. If you win this one. Oh, gosh. It's going to go tough here because they want to... They don't want us to do it. Not yet. England's last seven, number sevens at World Cups. World Cups only. So before we start, the next round of the ITV7 will be on Wednesday for England's next game. It's free to play if you download the app. But what I want from you is England's last seven, number sevens at a World Cup. So friendlies and Euros and Nations League doesn't count.

1:06:04Gary Neville: at the World Cups the World Cups at the last seven World Cups sex obviously World Cups in general World Cups in general yeah Bex obviously has got to be one of them well Bex will have been for like four World Cups yeah David Beckham's won yeah okay and this is the clue I give you it's in chronological order so number six is David Beckham yeah six just quickly though just when you say David Beckham there yeah so we've got we've got the years 98, 02 and 06 Okay, well, Bryan Robson will have been number seven, won't he? Yeah. No. He will. Oh, yeah. In 86 and 82. Bryan Robson will be number seven.

1:06:45Gary Neville: Yeah, definitely. Yeah. You're locking that in? Yeah. That's number seven. Let me see. In what years? 1990. Yeah, was my... What? 1990 World Cup. Yeah. Steve Coppola. Of course, yeah. Steve Coppola, in there? That means that's the... That's the one that... That's the last. As far back as we go. As far back as we go. Oh, thank God for that. Was Michael Owen number seven? Who? Was Michael Owen number seven? I think he was, you know. I think Michael Owen was number seven. Mikhail Saka? Yeah. Mikhail Saka? Mikhail Saka. I think Michael Owen might have been number seven in the tournament. Do you think?

1:07:23Gary Neville: Well, I imagine who was number nine? Was Rooney nine? Who was number nine? Rooney. Rooney was nine. Owen was ten. I was going to say who was ten. Michael Owen was ten. Bex was seven. Was Mike Owen not one number 71 tournament? Was Owen Hargreaves? So who's 2010 number seven then? So who's played right wing for England in 2007? Who's played in that sort of position? Rashford hasn't more of a ten, has he? Rashford. Number seven, you mean? Who wore it in 2018 and 22? Oh. Who wore it? Did Saka wear it? You got Saka there? Saka's wearing it. I'm just throwing names out there. Don't throw names out.

1:08:02No, no, I'm throwing amongst ourselves. Jack Wiltshire and all them ever played with their class, is that a type of... What about... There'll definitely be a weird one. What about 24... I'm guaranteed there'll be a weird one in there. What about 14, girl? Who was in that squad? Who was number seven and 14?

1:08:17Gary Neville: So the competition is where it is. It's 2010, 14, 18 and 22. They're the four missing. So there are obviously four different number sevens. So 14, our seven... well after our forward line was Sturridge Welbeck Rooney

1:08:40Gary Neville: Sturridge, Welbeck, Rooney our midfield was did Heskey ever like would Heskey have no not get him right I don't think jeez I'm just trying to think who could be what's the score in the games what are we you're 5-2 up so you've got so we can lose this one you can lose this one let's not i'm trying to think who's the only thing questions i'm irish who are the wing who are the wingers who are the wingers you think wide players i think why players for 2000 jesse lingard was in 2018 deli ali was in 2018. deli ali weren't number seven deli number seven was it but in english squad is seven seen as like a really important number if you don't mean like a united or a club but maybe not with England.

1:09:26Gary Neville: It is, but it could be a right winger, though. That's what I'm saying to you. Yeah, could it be... You know the thing with the seven for England, though, apart from Bex, it's just, it's jumbled up. It's jumbled, isn't it? It's not like, there's no... You can't say, oh, the number seven, like we'd say... I think if I've been with Jesse Lingard back at one of the tour and was there, got seven. I can't see... Jesse Lingard? Do you want that in? Yeah. That's correct. Yes. Locked it in? It was 2018. I love Jesse... See, he didn't help us there. He did mention, but I... Nice one, Jesse. I carried on.

1:10:00Nice one, Jesse. So we're at the Qatar.

1:10:03Gary Neville: That tournament's just happened, Qatar. So who's number seven? Who did Gareth have number seven in 2022? Who's in the start in 11? Who played... It's a tough one, this is, Kurt. You've been harsh. You said it's been too easy the last few, haven't you? We've had a long day. We've done extra time. Yeah, we've done a long day. I've had no food. Yes, yes. You had food. You had chicken. I did, yeah. You had food. Just concentrate. Just concentrate for one second. I'm trying to concentrate. We were at the game, England v France, quarterfinal. Kyle Walker's right back against Mbappe and all them. Kane's up front.

1:10:34Gary Neville: Who were England's wide players? Saka and who's on the other side? Who's playing on the other side to Saka? No, Jude was playing in that team. Yeah, Jude was playing. Henderson was playing. Atiyah Oles was playing. The guy from Leeds played quite early. He played, yeah, the midfield player went to City. Was he in midfield for us? How was he called? Richard. Oh my God, I can't remember his name. Aaron. Yeah. What's his name? He's disappeared off the face of the earth. He went to Sheffield United on loan. Yeah. What about Aaron? Aaron... I can't remember his name. Aaron Lennon? Aaron Lennon. Yeah, no, no.

1:11:15Gary Neville: No, no, don't lock that in.

1:11:20Gary Neville: Righty, you shouldn't listen to them. You're correct. Yes. It's 2010. Come on me Come on Well I should know 2014 2014 I was going for it twice That's what I'm saying There's too many people Who are just like Sitting on the fence Okay who's 2014 How's the coach in 2014 You were Gary's question it Alright then Who's in 2014 I was the coach in 2014 You tell me You know something I'm feeling like Who's our number 7 I'm feeling like it's Daniel Sturridge. Would he have been 11th of... Well, I think that he might have been... What about Studger? I think he might have been... Do you want to look that in?

1:12:01Yeah, I wonder what's it called? I want to throw that in. Not this time, mate. Sorry. It's a good effort. Yeah, it's a good effort. Dude, because he's done something with his eyes.

1:12:09Gary Neville: I knew number seven was in 24. Go on. Raheem Sterling. Raheem Sterling. Go on. Yeah. Can I in? Yeah. Yeah. Incorrect, Gary. So that's one life left. That's blown me away. Raheem Sterling was number 14, I think. But in 2022 though, would Raheem not have been here? Raheem should be number seven. We've only got one more. You've got one more life. I'll give you one clue if you like. At least one of these I know could have played for Ireland. Say that again. Jack Grealish. One of these. Do you want to lock that in? Yeah. That's correct. Jack Grealish was number seven here. I'm not giving you a clue for this last one.

1:12:45Have we lost a life?

1:12:46Gary Neville: We've only got two left. No, one life. One life left. Because Gary messed up. 2014, Gary's year. Right, the wide players, I think, were like Ashley Young. Ah, Milner. James Milner. Was it Milner? Milner was definitely a... Yes, James Milner. See, we had Alex Oxley. Was Oxley Chame been there? The wide players are coming back to me. Ashley Young would have been a seven. Ashley Young, Milner. I think Ashley Young knows left, though, isn't it? See how Kieran looked at me really, like, sly-eye. I'm not giving you any clues with this last one. Milner been seven. I feel like I could see Milner seven.

1:13:25I think Ross Barkley was in the squad. Not seven, no. No. Milner's got more chance of being in the first 11 than Ross Barkley.

1:13:33Gary Neville: I think Dele was in the squad in 14, you know. Yeah, Dele was in 14. He played for us a lot. Did he play in the game? Dele scored. Dele was fucking firing. Dele was firing around that time, I think. Was that too young for him, though? Was that 16? We could have had Dele We definitely could have had Dele as number 7 Because he was a star for us for a year or two Yeah but his 7 is our number for England You would I think you'd handle it with care I mean I'm not saying it always has been on there But you'd handle it with care Who did you say again I said Oxlade-Chamberlain I don't think it's him Dele Alli Who else to say What about Jack Wilshere It could be Jack Wilshere You know something It's not Jack Wilshere because I didn't get anything from Kieran there.

1:14:20Nothing. Look at him.

1:14:21Gary Neville: In midfield, we had Delph, Jack Wilshere, we did, and Henderson. Jack wouldn't have been number six. No, Jack could have been number seven. You lost your job. You don't do, you're midfielders. Jack, should we go? Hang on, hang on. See, I'm ready to go. Yeah, OK. I think we go. No, don't just do it just because you're tired. I'm not even sure Jack was... I'm fucking I'm convinced in the squad, but I think we should go Jack Honestly, who else is there? I think Dele or Jack Dele I said was the other one. I think Jack Go where you got feeling we support you. Hey winner lose Hey Dele Alli hit the booze Dele Alli.

1:15:04You like on that in? It's Jack Wilshere sorry. No Oh, no. Jack Wilshere, 24. You bastard. You know you're stupid. I've done you.

1:15:22So that's 5-3. Oh, man, you wanted us to lose. No, I didn't. You wanted us to lose. No, I did not. Right, are you walking it? Oh, Jack Wilshere. Did I mention Jack Wilshere? You did at the start, Roy. Thank you. You mentioned it. Yeah, but he doesn't stay with conviction. I'm Irish. Righty-Wenford.

1:15:44Gary Neville: He's at the end of the episode.

1:15:53Gary Neville: This has been a Global and the Overlap production.

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