England Out! Tuchel Got It Wrong & Genius Messi Delivers Again!

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1:22Stop him getting it in that area, so stand next to him and make him go more central. So what's happened the last 20 years? No, but I'm saying you're right, that is something you can stop. We thought they might beat us by the spirit, the fight, the message. They beat us through quality in the end. We've lost a goal from a header with a back five of Spence, Byrne, Stones, Konza and Gaye. We've lost to Latoro Martinez. We couldn't have had any bigger defenders on that pitch to deal with that header. The last seven World Cup Golden Glove winners. If we get this wrong, it's spoiler-by-night.

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2:12Well, we're a bit messy tonight. We've just come off the watch along and if I've seen that once, I've seen that. 15 times, 16 times I'm actually more flat today Than I was when we got knocked out by France In the quarterfinal in Qatar Because we had a right go at them throughout the match I thought it was like a sort of bit of a basketball match I can't stand us losing like that Can we have the minutes where they made some substitutions? Yeah, come We can He made the 72 minute substitution Which was Gordon coming off For who? That's the momentum Thank you That's the momentum in the game after that Yeah, but who can't...

2:50What's the white momentum when Argentina took over? That's momentum for England, I think. This dropped off. No, sorry, hang on. What's going on here? Sorry, no. This is momentum for England. Yeah, I didn't see it. Yeah, it's Argentina. I didn't see it, yeah. Yeah, but that's not from the sub on the second, is it? Yeah, this is 72 minutes. Thank you. Right, look.

3:08Ian Wright: Okay, yeah, yeah. Go on, go on. I know, but we... So for me, it's made substitutions, Gareth, are not attacking. They're defending. Look, the substitutions will definitely get... For a brave... Just quickly, Gareth, For a manager that's been as brave as he's been, with the selections from the start, with the players that he's brought in, the selections and the substitutions he's made up to this point, was that positive, Gal, that game? Well, look at Mexico when we were 3-2. I know we were down to 10 men, but we did go back into a back five with Dan Byrne and we tried to hold on in there and protect that.

3:37Yeah, but that was 10 men. And we did. Look, the big problem for me was before we even made substitutions, we'd started to drop deep into the box before then. and Ian I've seen it so many times but you know what I know the stats we can all get the stats but Adrian Janet had 28 touches in the box England's box how many do you think England had? how many? in a game of football seven and one was a good in the opposition box do we agree though up until 60 minutes that game was to be fair hours or even it was hours or even it was a struggle it was a battle

4:14Ian Wright: you felt like we were in I only felt that we needed a bit more pace up front so as we can get... Because the width, on the wide, on the flanks, I only thought that that's all we needed, a bit more pace up front, because when we were deep, Roy, and we were just kicking it up, and then when was we going to get control of the ball? At some stage, they were going to get a grip of the game. At some stage. Yeah, but they were afraid... England, they're playing England, they're not playing Spain, where Spain were just, we saw yesterday, way down. So they were going to get some momentum. They're chasing the game.

4:43and don't forget they have the greatest player we've probably ever seen on the pitch. That influences decision making. You've got Messi. What are you going to do? Right, he was on the pitch in the first half. He was still the greatest player. No, I'm not about the second half. The first half can be cagey. The first half took care of itself. Cagey, people afraid to make mistakes. England eventually get a goal. Poor defender from Argentina. And all of a sudden they have to take risks. They're bringing on attacking players. They're bringing up... They're making change. They're bringing on... Listen, a very, very good striker

5:13Ian Wright: we could have brought him and they've got Messi and you analysed England's two top guys who have been amazing had a quiet game Kane and Bellingham Messi put the ball in the first thing you think of Messi what's he bringing that left foot it's a wand he puts the ball in with his right foot they should have scored earlier from a couple of his crosses what a cross that is that is bringing football I think there's two things that I saw in the last half an hour because I think the first 60 minutes to be fair we're 1-0 up and I think we're pretty much doing a decent job it's a struggle of a game it's a World Cup semi-final the minute we scored that first goal we started to sag into our own box and drop narrow and drop deep the second that we saw that the likes of Pickford who've been here before and seen that before against Italy in a Wembley Euros final the likes of John Stones the likes of Harry Kane the likes of Thomas Tuchel who've seen these games they have to they have to push out five to ten yards and the midfield players Anderson and Rice have got to get out five to ten yards away So you're blaming the players?

6:15So I'm saying that you know I'm not blaming them right because I did it in games where we lost tournaments and semi-finals and quarter-finals I've been there where they were but we've had so many of these lessons I've said it to you so many times we dropped deep for no reason we weren't dropping that deep before that goal we score and this is before Messi started coming out to the right hand side because that's the second bit I'll come on to the first bit was before even Messi started coming out to the right-hand side, we dropped deep. The mistake I think he then made was that he went 5-3-2, which meant our midfield three, Messi then saw the space in these packets.

6:46That was negative. So that was negative, and I think that's where he got it wrong. And Messi started to drop out here. He then corrected it by putting a four in midfield with Nico O 'Reilly on the left. And for some reason, he didn't just go and say to Nico O 'Reilly, I don't care whoever else is inside you. Stay with Messi when he drops outside you. Do not let him go. Man-mark him. and when he comes out here force him to go back inside because if he goes central he can't cross it. The minute he's out here he's where De Bruyne used to be he's where Beckham used to be he's basically putting them wicked crosses in and they're the two things that I think I've seen so many times before.

7:19Listen to yourself. No listen to yourself. Just cool your jets. I'm not killing my jets. I don't need to kill my jets on that. But Messi. I know. Roy how can you not go and just man mark him in that channel? Do you not think teams have done that in the last 20 years? What makes them great? In that channel. What did he cross? if you were marking Messi and it was getting towards the end and remember they scored with five minutes to go so whatever the six yard mid to seven England were still no Roy alright let me just finish this point so Messi crosses if you went out to him whether it's O 'Reilly or whoever not out to him I'm just standing next to him so he can't get it there football's not like that you can't stand next to people no Roy okay right Messi's out here on this side do you know I think people have tried Messi's out here on this side what you're saying Gary

7:59Ian Wright: he's just got to stop that ball from getting to him just alright it's difficult to mark Messi However, you can stop him getting it in that area. So stand next to him, Nico, right? Jed Spence as well, and make him go more central. So what's happened the last 20 years? No, but I'm saying, that is something you can stop. So what's happened the last 20 years? All the great coaches and players have done that. Because he'll go, you can stand next to me, but I'll do a little shimmy or I'll move. No, no, stop him getting the ball out there. Make him go somewhere else. Make him drop deeper and go into central areas.

8:25But when he did eventually get it, what would you say to a foot? No, no, no. Eventually when he does get it, what would you say? You're dead, you're dead. Of course you're dead, but you might go. a couple of his great crosses where they should have scored early he was coming on his left so what you might eventually say to him hey show him on his right he puts him on the best crosses once he's got the ball and he's working his magic he's playing little one twos he's playing his little run and fall pass and runs he's playing his right foot you're dead you're done once he's got the ball with space you've finished the first goal the first goal came from a corner you have to the first goal came from a corner you have to the first goal comes from a corner it does so that's not to do with Messi or space that's players switching off I think we switched off in the middle Of course they switched off.

9:03Really badly. But why do you switch off? Right. Because your hands are on your knees, you're looking at each other and you're blowing. But I think Jordan should save that as well. Okay. You mentioned last night about players dropping back. You praised Spain yesterday. Spain for playing a high line. And their goalkeeper was unbelievably wanted. And he made some big decisions. So maybe there's less than where England go. Could pick for a set. Lads, keep going up. And I'll be your sweeper. That was my first point. Okay. We've got to push up more. We could not drop deep and go narrow. The second point around Messi.

9:32you're not going to stop him all together but you can block that side and fill that side where he is you can block it you can just put three or four players there and say right give it to Rodrigo De Paul give it to others I know but even a few times in the first and the second half he was in them pockets we admired him when I went into him and he's he's making things happen he's making things happen

9:50Ian Wright: but never Gary I know what you're saying we sunk in and let him go here yeah but Gary what was our what was our what was our plan when we went 1-0 up what was it because the only way we were going to beat them They were hanging on and hoping for the best. So I'm saying we've got players on the bench with pace. We've got players on the bench with pace. We needed to get out. He didn't change anything in respect of us getting out. So it turned into him putting players on to load up and be defensive. Something that Messi wants. Messi wants to tackle through people and dribble through people. Put the ball in the box to chaos.

10:26I honestly think the problem we had, and again it's been something that's been seen before with England, the real ball's decision at 1-0 up was probably to take Harry off. I mentioned it during the actual watch-along. I said, look... And what was the real example? If you're going to take Jude and Harry off and put, say, for instance, Rashford and Rodgers up front as an example. No, no, I'm not saying you take that. I'm saying, if you want pace on the counter-attack up front in central areas, you've got to take off Jude and Harry, or one of them, right? You haven't got to take... No, no. Morgan Rodgers maybe could have came off.

10:56No, no. Ian, you've got to have someone that can run and damage... The only thing I'd say about that now, I agree obviously you need pace and space you do but England weren't even getting a grip of it to play a pass they never even got to that they weren't even getting their heads up they were never getting out they were just getting suffocated by a brilliant Argentina team who showed spirit fight quality they're world champions listen to their manager two months ago they got interviewed are we going to win it no we're not we're going to retain it criticising Argentina were amazing they're street fighters they were 2-0 down we'll talk about England to start with we'll talk about Argentina in a minute But with England, I agree with you.

11:32Sometimes you don't do it. If you're sitting in, you need space and pace, but they weren't even getting on the ball. They couldn't get on the ball. They couldn't even... You could have had the best sprinters ahead. They weren't getting... Look, if we go back to pre-tournament, I think we all said, the minute that England come up against a team that are technically going to keep possession of us in the biggest moments and pressurised moments of matches, we're going to struggle. We've not really played a team so far. If you think about who we've played, we've played Mexico, Norway and Diarco. So we've played three teams that, to be fair, I think Mexico was a tough game really tough but it was still Mexico, Norway and Diarcon this is the first team we've played that's what you'd call a real high level real high level we've been found wanting the minute we've played a tough team and I think that's the closest that you're going to get to a World Cup final you're 85 minutes 1-0 up against Argentina and you've got a World Cup final within your grasp and these lads have been brilliant these last 5-6 tournaments because they've got to semi-finals and finals but that is that is a painful one for them that.

12:29And Thomas Tuchel, to be fair, will get a lot of criticism because of his substitutions here, but he'll also get a lot of criticism that he's not been able to turn the... If he gets over the line the way playing 5-4-1 at the end with all the defenders on, everyone thinks he's a genius. He's got us over the line. And when you don't... What if Gareth done that today? He would have got criticised. Thank you, this is what I'm saying. What would I have said about Gareth?

12:52Ian Wright: The thing is that now probably all the questions come about, well, we couldn't get the ball, we couldn't keep the ball we couldn't get the ball into a position of offensive that was a problem right again they couldn't get the ball because we didn't have the players who could do that so even forget about contra attack they couldn't get any shot at the foot we didn't have players who were comfortable enough now in that position where someone who can get on the ball and be able to pass it get it back maybe pass it out there pass it wide we didn't have that I do think we didn't have that ordinarily what Thomas Huckel have done in terms of his tournament sort of substitutions when we've had moments of difficulty he's gone he's gambled and he's been brave and he's brought on the likes of Saka and Madweki and Rashford and Gordon at times he's brought on players up front all of those players are the same though he went no but I'm saying to you he went today for the first time apart from Mexico when we were down to 10 minutes he went very defensive in his substitutions today he brought every defender on you could wish to imagine to hang on to it if you're going to do that the minute they score we're like we both said it they're going to score again we're done yeah we're done and what happens I always think I know you're you're bringing on defensive players and I think sometimes that gives you a false sense of security because you go we're getting lads back we're getting oh no and Balls come here and go we've got loads of defenders but the headed goal he's just the quality and he's in between two defenders two sitting there so that's what's going to happen McAllister's just scored with the header you know what McAllister's won the one before that should have been scored he was free the one where he hit the post the one where the goal he saved it and then obviously the one where Martin has scored in between two I'm just really disappointed that midfield four went in front of that five.

14:27With a back five and a midfield four, I'm really disappointed that no one's gone to young Nico O 'Reilly and said, Nico, don't tuck in so narrow. You don't need to. Just stay wider on this occasion with Messi. Be closer to him so that when the ball arrives to him, you're nearer to him and you can compete with him. I was going to tell him that. But that's either the manager, the coaches or it's the senior players. If I'm a full-back and I've got Messi there and I'm having to tuck in, I'm saying to my wide player, get out wide forget this leave Rodrigo de Paul there although he put a great cross in but don't leave him that was the one thing that I thought apart from the dropping deep and narrow

15:00Ian Wright: who's the player you think that let's pick Phoenix Stones they're the experienced players at righty out on the pitch they've been there before where they've dropped deep do we think you should save the first shot the one with the side foot I think what will happen is is that when you see it and people continually play it you'll see it didn't go into the side netting I think if you look at it I think he was one of them ones. He was kind of... Again, his weight was on his leg. Trying to see it. Yeah, and then it was too late for the time. And again, he got his range in a couple of shots earlier.

15:29Ian Wright: You mentioned that as well. He was getting his range in, and then all of a sudden you're going... And they just switch off, and it's these decisions. And fatigue kicks in, mentality. The corner, Messi just takes a bit quicker. Short goes back to the end of the box. Do you see how they recognised? Do you see how they smelt the moment? They can smell the blood on us now. You can see it. The blood was in the water. Once they got that, it was... The biggest word in football, they got it against Egypt. When you get momentum in a game, we've all been there, far and against, it's hard to wrestle us back.

15:57When they got 2-1 against Egypt, it's over, it's 3-2.

16:00Ian Wright: Yeah, we said that. And today, when you go back, you go, hey. Remember, that was in the 80s, 50s, 80s. Instead of Argentina going, hey, hey, thank God, we're going to extra time. They're like, hey, we're not interested in extra time. We're world champions for a reason.

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17:17Ian Wright: Trent. Trent, everybody. So what happens? He's signed now. We've signed him. He's signed for another three. Is his honeymoon period over now? Oh, without a doubt. I think so, yeah. Look, I'll be really honest with you. I'm totally... It has to be. Look, do you know where I'm at with it? If you just said to me at the start of this tournament that we get to the semi-final... We did say that. I know. I'm saying that. Look, I'm disappointed right now. But we got to a World Cup semi-final with a squad that, to be fair, I'll be honest with you, I think that's the maximum. You mentioned it just now, the teams that we played, that we should be beating.

17:47Ian Wright: and we did beat them and we'd come up against a decent team but was it like the last Euros when England got the last final is it against it's always kind of stuttering isn't it it's just there's never efficiency to Spain or even I know France slipped up but this is a record that is stuck and it's a film we've seen so many times before this so on one hand you have to give them credit for being making this and there is because again it's not easy we've played but just to keep coming up short and to be in that winning position which they have before that's what Thomas Tuchel but remember against Norway there's little signs there when Norway were 1-0 up they had a great chance to go 2-0 up you know there's moments where you go listen you all need a bit of luck a poor decision but again what I enjoyed about the game today like again Argentina world champions it's nice to watch the quality it was great watching Spain yesterday but you all sit back and you go that's what it's about that's that quality deal of pressure I remember Italy when we were the final Euros Wembley yeah Wembley Spain and then today same thing there's patterns yeah every time we're in the game Luke Shaw scores bam we drop off with no way out same we equalise against Spain in the Euros we drop back you know what I mean they score again they score to death and it happens again today so righty go back to 2004 we're beating Portugal in a European Championships quarter final and we drop that deep and that deep and that deep and I'm playing and you know I'm part of the problem and Hilda Postiga from Tottenham do you remember the forward?

19:22Yeah He scores from like five yards out from a header just like McMartin has did and we go into extra time it's 1-1 We've been here so many times this is a pattern that's reoccurring maybe at different times in tournaments not always in the semi-final But was that with an experience back four? That was with John Terry with Sol Campbell with me with Ashley Cole So why aren't you getting up? Honestly we were absolutely dead out on our feet we couldn't get out of the box we literally get pushed back and then the midfield players sag back onto you because their legs have gone. I always remember that tournament.

19:49In that game, Scholes, Gerrard and I think Bex all got substituted because they were knackered. I think the three of them were all absolutely out on their feet. Is that... We're all getting too deep. The decklum was today, wasn't it? But is that the demands of the Premier League at this stage of the season? Some of these lads are playing in the Premier League. I know they are. Romero, Martinez, you know what I mean? McAllister, Fernandez, Enzo. They're all playing in the Premier League. Four or five of these lads. Yeah, all of them played. But not all of them. in the 4-5 yeah but I just think look you look at you look at sort of today Declan definitely he's not been right since game one has he look that's a big problem for us him not having the energy and the speed and the getting to the ball we know what he's like he's a fantastic player he's not been right since day one has he

20:31Ian Wright: no he's not so why flog him in every game even in some of the games you're thinking they're going to win or friendly games that's what happened with Saka the manager's got to be brave enough to say to him you're going to miss the first one or two game you've got a peak at the right times Cobby Mayne you would be asking a question wouldn't he or he'd be of course he'd be asking a question if you're Cobby Mayne not coming after you because he can handle the ball a bit as well do you know what maybe yeah he can handle the ball that's what I'm saying you think to yourself that's what I'm saying Gal our manager made those substitutions and he might have just done a dribble as well and won your free kick yeah but that's all it is so as we can take some of the steam out again but you think to yourself Cobby's there to be brought on as well but at no stage was even thought of it was all about defending and digging him you're talking about the first goal as well lads the first goal if you're on about Pickford we've always said Pickford is Pickford really going to be producing amazing saves he's been very good for England he's been obviously very good for everything but is he really top class goalkeeper you know what when he made that save with that header where we're saying well the header where he saved with his hat was a great one obviously the one where he missed what hit the post you're thinking yeah he makes a great save like that's a great it's a match kind of saving, but the one that went in, you're feeling like...

21:45Ian Wright: Obviously, we'll watch it back again. There's your two milkshakes, right? You have one. You can't finish that, will you? Cool. Thanks. This is it. This is like, you know... Right, let's move on to... Did you enjoy the watching along? No? Did you enjoy watching it? Let's move on to Messi. No, but what is Royce wanting to say about the watching along? The watching along. Look, it's hard watching it without the sound on. it's hard I didn't mind it to be honest it's alright especially with them as well I didn't mind it not because they would have been singing it would have done my head in more but like I didn't mind watching it without the sound it was tough watching it the way in which it unfolded in the last half an hour because you just knew what was coming I normally have strawberry chocolate's amazing as well chocolate's amazing sorry go on girl what are you saying this episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybet

22:40Lionel Messi well well what we have just seen there in that last 20 minutes 25 minutes that match is absolutely unbelievable do you know something a different level in terms of grabbing a game by the scruff of the neck and by the way going to the part of the pitch that he needed to to win his team the game yeah and that wasn't even the middle of the goal that wasn't even you know what's really interesting about it as well

23:02Ian Wright: Roy you know what he does he gets the ball and he's in the middle and he starts going to walls you're playing to him playing to it and keep moving but then what happened was he said that's not working for me and he came out here yeah he came out in then he all he started to do was that if he's if he's going to go down that center and he'd go out of that down down that side or he cut in and cross it's just like he just recognized that's i'm going to i'm going to stay here and then unfortunately we didn't pick i'm realizing what your team needs yes so he's a genius we played football at obviously a pretty good level but this guy sit back and this guy's He's amazing But you know what I loved about him today We're talking about his genius player But it was his crossing Crossing was amazing So you don't necessarily Right foot and left You don't We won't look back at 20 years ago Remember Messi His crosses were good We always think of him His individual skill His goals How long he'd done it for But his crosses They should have had another three goals Should have You're on about stopping Messi So today Every time he got it As you'd expect They were getting people So he went I'm just going to get half a yard And cross it I'm not going to try I'm going to be three or four players.

24:05I'm going to cross it. Talk about reading the situation. He's a 39 going on the outside. The guy's a genius. He's won everything in the game. At the end of the game, you see him.

24:14Ian Wright: So you've got to go with what Martinez scored. You've got the one where he hit the post and you've got the one where Jordan Pickford saved. Martin, if Martinez was on for the other two, probably would have scored three goals there. Probably would have scored three goals because... That's great, right, again. The service was amazing. Isn't it great to see headed goals? We'd love to see headed goals. When you watch Martin... His winning goal last, a couple of days ago. No, no, no, this one here. Oh, I know that, yeah, but his winning goal the other day was brilliant. This one was, again, the cross was so good, but it was so, the way, obviously he's close enough, but it's the way he got himself into that space and just edited it so beautifully.

24:44So when he's in that space, right, and he sees Messi putting that in, is he looking and going, this is me.

24:49Ian Wright: And then the thing is, you see it because it would have been like, so where Gary is there, that's the space. John Stone's just missed it. And it's like he knew, he knew it was just like, again, I keep saying about a team that they don't know when they beat, They just do not know when they're beaten. I can't remember. Do you know something right here? What beat us in the end, though? The shithousery we saw for the first half, didn't we? When they were diving and they were grabbing us and we were grabbing them. It was a bit of a mess. In the last half an hour, they beat us at football. Pure football, yeah.

25:18When they stopped actually thinking, when they needed a goal and they needed the game to be fast flowing and when they needed the game to be moving. Don't forget about that. They were far better than us at football. So we thought they might beat us by the spirit, the fight, the message. They beat us through quality in the end. Their quality in the last half, this is McAllister, this is Fernandes, this is Rodrigo de Paul, this is Paredes, this is Messi, obviously, and Alvarez were important. Messi was unbelievable. But even Fernandes, Enzo Fernandes, that goal he scores is with his in-step. It's with his in-step.

25:53Ian Wright: Again, people will question it, but when he ended the goal, but again, you were saying it, Roy, he had a couple of shots, I said, why would you shoot from there? It doesn't even look right. A Thomas Tuchel quote, it was not a structure problem. We played maybe our best game. No regrets. That's bollocks. That's what I understand. He's got a quote with some sort of... Yeah, but then Roy, you can't say we played our best game. We didn't play our best game. How many times have you touched it in the box? Did you say seven? Seven, I think. Come on, man. If you're playing your best game and you've had seven touches in the box...

26:26Ian Wright: In the box. You're not asking a lot of yourselves. You're not asking a lot of... Seven touches in the same position. Look, 28 Argentina. Why is he saying that? It's actually, it wasn't insulting our intelligence. We watched the game. Do you know what? Maybe after the game, because what he said the other day when he was criticising, maybe trying to keep everyone on side a little bit, he'd want to be upsetting people. Yeah, but Roy's saying that he's got no regrets. He's got no regrets. So, Kobe Maynard, even if you think, you know what, could I put Kobe on? Maybe he could have looked after the ball we might have been able to get on.

26:56Ian Wright: Should I put Marcus Rashford? Should I maybe take off Morgan Rodgers at some stage? so we get some pace to go down this hole, we can actually give the fucking defenders a breather or something. Can't come out with a quote like that, man. Or is he going to say that my two best players didn't play well in the big game? I'd rather him say something like that than say that he's got no regrets about this game because there's a load of regrets in this game. Justin, John, another quote as well, Gary. We were too passive, etc. We were too passive? Yeah. I think that's the quote I would like to see. we decided to go back five because the gaps were too big and to be strung in the air straight after the goal with no substitutions we conceded far too many crosses we tried to help the players but the responsibility is on the coach of course we wanted to go for the second goal but it doesn't help if you don't have the ball we became too passive we couldn't keep the ball I don't think it was a structural problem I understand that these discussions are out there that there are a million coaches out there who know better I have to make a decision the only question that I would ask Thomas is he saying it's the players then?

27:55because it's not a structural problem. Look, I think when he says we're too passive, he's right. But the only question I would ever ask any England manager for the last 40 years, and player as well, including myself, why do we, after we are in a big game and we go a goal up, why do we drop and sag into our own box? I said it from the 60th minute straight away. I went, oh, no. You drop into your box, you're at three or four yards. What you do, it's one of them where early in the game, you clear the ball and then you're getting up you're moving up as the defenders the defenders are clearing it and then they're like they're waiting for the next one they're not you also have something you have something to protect as well I know they're not shifting their legs but before the World Cup that was the same where did you before the World Cup where did you think they'd get at no I think this is probably this is right yeah so there shouldn't be any I'm not I'm not screaming and shouting I'm angry here today I'm just saying you said the same right didn't you you said semis I said semis

28:48Ian Wright: but then I thought that we'd be yeah but then there's a bit of motion the last few days but really listening confident that we'd get to the semis especially with our running yeah but you weren't sitting there going so the semis and you always get found out so it's how you get out though isn't it it's always the way you go out every time you go out there'll be a disappointment this was a 50-50 game probably in some ways I'm so I'm struggling and flat because of the way we've gone out I was happier in Qatar a few years ago when we got knocked out against France where we played a good game it was a battle it was a punch up we lost it 2-1 Harry missed a penalty I've got no problem with that I came out of that game thinking do you know what I can live with that.

29:25Today, so you don't dig today at England felt to me today, bro, I'll be honest with you, that felt like a step back to Italy at Wembley. Yeah. You know, where we go a goal up and all of a sudden we go deeper. They start to keep the ball. Who's the lad in midfield that played for Chelsea that played for Arsenal as well? Jorginho. Jorginho, yeah. He ran the game. Yeah, I remember.

29:43Ian Wright: He ran the game. He ran the whole game. Have you done the same against Spain? Against Spain. It feels like I thought that we had a chance today because I thought Tuchel might get us over the line just I thought you might have the you know this about street wise a manager who's got that that's what he was brought in for in that game to get through that last 10 minutes 15 minutes that we had from 85 through to whatever it was 110 or yeah 100 minutes sorry so that to me is that I'm flat because of the way we're beaten yeah me too a bit disappointed because I felt I felt like wow we could get there and then when we scored the goal I was always saying about our scoring and it's going to come from the flank it's come from somebody breaking from midfield and getting past their back four.

30:25Ian Wright: But we've lost a goal... I can't remember how many times. We must have done it three times. But we've lost a goal from a header with a back five of Spence, Byrne, Stones, Konza and Gaye. We've lost to Lutoro Martinez. He's not massive, right? We've got five, six foot three, six foot four defenders. We couldn't have had any bigger defenders on that pitch to deal with that header. And we didn't deal with that header. So that's another problem. Don't get me wrong. but they were so deep and then when you drop so narrow and deep you can't then get out to people I think he would have been three yards out when he did that wouldn't he yeah he was three or four years out he's just messy messy it's messy you know I mean that's the well we watch games you're not about having all the players back but when we watch games at an all different level when a ball leaves someone's foot no matter how many he's back in the box you sit there and go it's trouble here isn't it so you can have 20 defenders back a good cross is going to cause you trouble one way or the other let's just look we've all I think to be fair he's 39 right we've run out of things to say about 38 39 how old is he 39 39 going past people on the outside we've run out of things to say about Lionel Messi you can't you're trying to come up with different words every time you speak about him that are greater than the last words we're lucky enough to be watching him yeah we told people you should talk about Perle we didn't see Perle should we anoint him here because he's going to get to two World Cup finals that's absolutely off the scale, almost on his own, really.

31:53Has anyone done that before? Honestly. Don't you stand. He's a good star. I know, but they're not bad. What are you saying? They're not a great Argentina team. They might win World Cup back-to-back. If they win back-to-back World Cubs, are you going to say they're a great team? No, but he is like 20%, 25%, 30 % of them. You know what I mean? He's literally... Roy, to be honest, though,

32:16Ian Wright: it was him that really... It was him. It was him that really grasped the game because in with all the crosses. Of course, I get it. In with taking the corner to party. That's what great players do. Michael Jordan, the Bulls. I hear what Gary's saying. Is this the greatest football player of all time? What we've just seen in terms of... I know it's just after a game, but what we've just seen against England there today. To score two goals in the last five, ten minutes with what he's done. At his age as well. At his age. At his age. You know something, I can't... What you said, the greatest ever.

32:43Ian Wright: I just were in our time. Can we now start to place him above Pelley and Maradona? can we now start to do that with what we're seeing but he's still behind Ronaldo

32:53you know what we're still not ready to anoint him maybe we have to wait until Monday you know what you know the thing is Sunday evening we'll anoint him

33:00Ian Wright: he's got that the last World Cup we've seen a white smoke coming out of the ITV studio he's got the last World Cup it's a white smoke when you're anointing him you've got the last World Cup and you've got this one if he does it then you probably two World Cups yeah two World Cups but then you look at Maradona when Maradona went to Napoli he's like he's going to like Southampton and they won the league twice and that you can't take that away from the greatness of Maradona I'm not having to go at Maradona I'm not having to go at Maradona I'm saying are we anointing Messi as the greatest player of all time are we waiting until after the final no no no you know what we'll wait shall we every time you have a discussion particularly about Maradona Messi Messi mind boggling we'll be here all night but I think there seems to be more of a character about Maradona that's what it is we do like that Napoli stuff and the fact he was a bit...

33:47It's the floor of the genius and the fact that what he was... Yeah, I think this is... Yeah.

33:50Ian Wright: Is that a different conversation? I think it might be. If we're talking about purely as an achievement and what he's done, he's probably going to go down as the best. If Messi... And again, a few years ago when he came to America, remember all the criticism? Yeah, everybody's saying, oh, he's come for the money. I think he was smart. I thought he'd come to a league where I just look after my body. I'm picking and choosing my games. And I'll be... Pick and choosing my games. Pick and choosing my refs. I'll be peaking for the World Cup. pick and choose my refs pick and choose my everybody no I don't go on that road tonight it's nasty it's nasty I've got to be having a little bit of nastiness you know what I mean I've put my country out of the World Cup you know one of the greatest players ever and what I've got I've got to just give him Toffee continuing a victory in your feet I think I have in the end don't mention referees then no no no did the best team win today yes they did I think that was great today you're not sitting there going to send an officer the best team won and look to be fair there's no blame on the referee about anything?

34:43Ian Wright: I don't know, I said when I was watching it, I said the referee's done pretty well, didn't I? You can see I'm messing about. Right. The World Cup final is here and the biggest ever ITV7 football jackpot is up for grabs. A huge£150 ,000 could be yours after£325 ,000 has already been won throughout the tournament, including£100 ,000 in two of the last three rounds. answer the seven questions on the ITV7 app or website for your chance to win it's completely free to play good luck 18 plus T's and C's apply

35:24is this the final one? well if you win it's the final one if we win it's the final one in the past seven golden globes golden globes and then I'm just going to go back to my room and retire and crash so someone won tonight so someone had the score like you right oh yeah I might get my money what was the bet? Seven. Are we dollars each?

35:40Ian Wright: No, we didn't know. It's not dollars each. It says dollars. No, it's not real money. Golden Gloves. Yes, the last seven World Cup Golden Glove winners. Well, Martinez is in there, isn't he? Yeah, because you did a picture of a memory done when he got it. The Spain keeper is definitely in it. Which one? I think it's Casillas, because I don't think he won the World Cup. Oh, Casillas. Yeah, because they didn't concede a goal in knockout gate phases at all. Casillas. How far does it go back to? It goes back to 1998. I think it's Casillas. I think it's Casillas. Can you remember him visualising lifting that trophy?

36:15No, but I can't. But he's got a great check. I know Spain didn't concede in the knockout phases. You're looking at him right here? Casillas, 2010. I think he would be Casillas. Must be a German keeper. What's the guy? Neuer. Neuer. Yes. Yeah, 2014. Manuel. I think we should go with that. Neuer. Yeah, happy with that. Definitely.

36:33Ian Wright: Neuer. He's first. Right, here we go. 2018 was France so who was that in goal Borges no it was Fabian Fabian will be down there somewhere yeah well you're going to lock him in let's get Fabian in did the winners who did France play in the final Croatia in the final Brazil no they played Croatia in the final in 2018 did Croatia beat England in the semi yeah Croatia yeah it was Croatia so did the Croatian keep no it was Fabian Barges in goal no it was Loris I'm talking about the other time they won it but Loris was he the best Did they keep a clean sheet? Loads more clean sheets. So when we look out here...

37:12I think Pickford might have done it, you know. Did we keep a load of clean sheets? I don't think we conceded a lot of goals. It did cross my mind that he could be in the mix. So is it the least... Surely you would have remembered... How is it the least goals conceded? Is it least goals conceded in the tournament? Or is it clean sheets? Is it clean sheets? It must be clean sheets, wasn't it? I think Pickford or Lloris. It's just best goalkeeper. Just best goalkeeper. Oh, best goalkeeper. Yeah, but that would be judged then. your clean sheets no doubt Pickford Pickford might be in does that ring a bell does that ring a bell does that ring a bell at all who did France beat in the other semi who did France beat in the semi final

37:49Ian Wright: no Pickford has Pickford got one I think Pickford's got one I'd go Pickford we've got a free anyway can we put Pickford you're locking in yeah Pickford that's incorrect go Lloris then I knew it wasn't right Lloris that's incorrect

38:05so what's the score under quit how much are we 4-2 or 5-2 so we can't you can't lose can we know you can win it today it's 5-3 but if it's 5-2 you need to win tomorrow was that did brazil get to the allison edison i'm trying to think of the goal so how far back what year we've gone back this is 1998 2002 2006 208 well france was in 98 98 is that fabian well i think probably i'm dealing with go for one yeah batters correct just go for it who's the Brazilian keeper in 2002 yeah but not always the winning two no I know was it was he called the boy from his that but he had long hair like you like remember him for which you've got one more life so I'll give you a clue so the last three are all European goalkeepers for different countries.

39:02Oh. So just to steer you on the right track. Who's in the semi-final with France and Croatia and England in 2018? Hang on. Who did France play in the quarter?

39:12Ian Wright: Hang on. What's his name in the big France? Buffon. Buffon. Do you want to like that then? Yeah. That's correct. 2006. GT Buffon. Well done. Right. 2002. So England get knocked out early. in Brazil. She's not a Brazilian because they win it. Can? No, not Can. Whatever. Must be another German goalkeeper. But what Germany keepers are there? What German keepers? Was that Courtois? Belgium. 18. Was that Courtois? They got us in the semi, didn't they? We played them in the third, fourth play-off. We played them in the third, fourth play-off. That'd be a good show. We did. We played them in the third, fourth play-off.

39:48Where were you, Gary? Go for a pop. Go on, Gary. Go on, Gary. But was it? Yeah, go on, Gary. Is it him in goal? For Belgium? In 2018. was he?

39:56Ian Wright: Of course he would have been in the goal. Puchwa. Yeah. Correct. Nice one. Well done guys. Back yourself. Right. 18's you've got one more left. I think that's it. So who was in this final here? What can you remind me? Right. Brazil definitely win it. Brazil with... And South Korea definitely gets to the semi. Here. England get beat by Brazil with the one where Ronaldinho kicks it over Siemens' head. Right. So that's 20... They win it. It's not a tap for Rose. South Korea in the semi. No. Here. It's who's in the other semi. I don't know who these... What this looks like. you're right Germany should be considered who's the German keeper then?

40:27Who's the German keeper then? It's a can the Bayern was he not around then? Oliver Kahn Am I getting mixed up? Yeah it could be 99 That's what I'm saying Yeah it could be 99? Is there a World Cup in 99? No we played against Did Germany get there in 2002 though? But did they get they were crap when they got to this No I'm not sure Germany got there in Korea Well he parried it and now I might get mixed up with different World Cup Right so who's the Spanish keeper then? If we get this wrong a spoiler might be nice Who's the Spanish keeper? I want and I need you to pay me up tonight who's the Spanish keeper?

40:56I have a German vibe going on in my head right okay

40:59Ian Wright: another German can it be another German? of course it can yeah it was between when I gave that clear it's Belgium oh Ciarán you're killing me here I think it's a German keeper can't was can't still around can't was in our time wasn't he? he was he couldn't be that good I left I left a few past him I'm a little bit like England I've not got the belief you're getting deeper and deeper I've got me deeper in a vault Can we just go Oliver Kahn? You're locking that in? Yeah. If this is right. Should have trusted Roy from the start. It was. Get in there! Never dub me! Never dub me, you! But you didn't back yourself.

41:34Ian Wright: Do you know what I meant? You know what I mentioned earlier? What? When I mentioned it and they dismiss it, it must be him. As soon as they do it, it's him. You always get a mention of the right ones. Thanks. Nice one. You know what? I got my stuff. Now I think... Yeah. Now I can see him now. See him? I scored a few against him when he was at Bayern. Shall we win the money? Congratulations. How much did we win? £7 ,000. For Jill. Well done, Jill. Jill. Send a picture to Jill. Make sure you send a picture to Jill. Every cloud has a silver lining. Take a picture. Don't make it like Roy's only holding it because he's sitting down.

42:16Ian Wright: Send that to Jill. Go on, Jill. Well done, girl. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybet. Would you rather have the best manager in the world or the best player? Best player? Got to be player, hasn't it? Yeah, fucking Messi. I don't think Scallone is the best manager in the world, is he? Mm-mm. He's going to end up with two World Cups while he's looking for this. But what I'm saying is, though, he's... Considering I've said they're not really a good team with winning two World Cups. No, I... No, yeah, maybe... Best player. The greatest player, isn't he? From a player's point of view.

42:50No, who would you rather have the best manager in the world or the best player in your team, at your club, in your country? Best player. Best player, I think. Best player? Yeah, I think. Yeah, not a doubt, is it? Yeah, who else there? That's a good question, don't you? Yeah. That's a good question. Which player has been the biggest disappointment at this tournament? Wow.

43:07Ian Wright: Sorry, why are we going for that one? Why are they asking about disappointments? Do you know who's had a poor trip? Bruno. Bruno would be disappointed with his stuff after the back of his season with United. Yeah, Cristiano, Bruno. Oh Ronaldo scored Didn't he I think he's Been the biggest Disappointment Pundit

43:29Are we going there What do we reckon Pundit Biggest disappointment No it sounds harsh The biggest disappointment I don't

43:38Ian Wright: Yeah I think Bruno Would be disappointed With his He will be Just the fact He's had such a Brilliant season at United Did he get a goal Or assist in the World Cup They've got an assist. Consider it if anyone talks about assists. Mussi Arlo, yeah, maybe versus. What about Vinicius? Vinicius will be disappointed. Vinicius will be disappointed. Vinicius will be disappointed in terms of, like, just... He's got some good goals, hasn't he? I think his team's not... Sometimes you can be that player and your team's not right around you. Like, Messi's team's right around him. You know, we can maybe say the same about Ronaldo for those years.

44:13I just thought England have got to play a third and fourth play-off game on Saturday, haven't they? Do you want to go to it? Where is it? What a pointless game. Where is that game? Anyone know? Grimsby, I think. It's in Grimsby on Saturday. So who plays in there? It was like Scotland. You know, they had to hang around for three or four days. This would be like for England. Oh my God. This is horrible. This is horrible. It's a bit sad. Yeah. It's horrible now. Do you reckon Manu would get a game? I would like to think so, would you? Yeah. Trinkie, what do you think he'd say? How hurt would he be going?

44:42Oh, absolutely. Be gutted, wouldn't he? I'd be saying that. How do we look at Jodovates, a young player? How'd you play in that game as well? You know what I mean? What'd you do in that game? Did England win it last time against Belgium? Did they win it last time? Against Belgium? I can't remember. Did England beat Belgium last time in it? I think Belgium won, didn't they? Belgium won. Would you want to win? Would it be important to you to finish third? Do you know something? He spoke to me. I've heard people in the years where they said they wish they...

45:04Ian Wright: Is there something on it, right? Is there... You get a bronze medal. Yeah, a bronze medal. You get a gold, silver, bronze. You get bronze for third. Do you remember we used to play in that Super Cup? Remember we played somebody in Monaco one at the United? and it was all a bit weird it was a super cup was it Latio we played? yeah we won two world club cups though yeah but was it Latio beat us and Monaco and you were like that's a bit and then after it was weird we'd done that with AC Milan we played AC Milan in one of those do you know something I think it was actually if you think about it it might have been Gilles no no no it was like because we won the cup winners cup didn't we and they won the if you gave me a bronze medal in a world cup I think to be fair I'd probably you'd have that I'd value that you know what yeah of course let's not be applause He was talking about the actual game, actually playing that game when you come so close to the big champ.

45:50Is it a great opportunity to say to me, I know you're upset, but you can play in the World Cup. You know what I mean? Who knows? Who knows? Well, we saw genius today. We did. Find a way to win. Yeah, we did. We did. We saw genius.

46:00Ian Wright: That's why we can't complain about the fact that we saw what it's like to watch a great... Just like... That's what I think. Come on, everybody. To me, I think that's just soft and a blow for you. I know you go... We've got the greatest play in the world. But you're up against... The champ is beat you. Do you know when you watch... Hey, if Norway would knock you out the other day, when Norway would be giving a proper pass. Do you know when you watch Francis today and you think to yourself in the last 20 minutes, you're thinking Mbappe, Dembele, Elisse, Dwayne are going to turn up. Individuals didn't turn up.

46:29He's rocked up today. He's rocked up today.

46:31Ian Wright: Yeah, but you know what's good about them is that he cannot be unbelievable Messi like we've seen him. He could just be that Messi where, OK, let me just provide, let me just provide. And the rest of them do enough. Because like you said, they played great football. They played good football. And then he just had to do the basics from him. Just get the ball into an area. He sat out of the game. He knew he wasn't going to get space in that central area, in that middle bit. He was no point in waiting for someone to cross it to him. So he went and sat out in a position in a pitch. And provided. I still think, I know that you said not right.

47:04I still think we should have flooded that fucking area with people. We didn't recognise the danger of being there. We thought, oh, he's out on the wide and the right. We're all right. and that was a big mistake. It was. The first big mistake was dropping deep. The second big mistake was when we dropped deep and narrow, he comes and sits outside of the game and we thought we're okay. And they attack the box well, didn't they? They really do. Oh, absolutely.

47:26Ian Wright: They have a hunger and desire. You look at McAllister, you look at Lutaro Martinez attacking the box. They attack the ball really well. You're right. Romero, Martinez, McAllister, Lutaro, Martinez. They're not six foot. Romero might just be six foot, yet they win that many headers. It's untrue. I think McAllister McAllister would be very disappointed with the two. You used to win headers when you ran into the box. I think sometimes it's about timing and... Casimiro. It is about timing and obviously having a good leap and a desire to head the ball. There's a great scene, I work with managers, you're on a book, there's only one ball and they wanted a header.

48:10Do I keep this or do I have to share this? It's all yours.

48:14Ian Wright: No, we take this back and give it to Jill. No, but, yeah, but... I should put my name on it, because I've got money. Jill have this and I have the money. Oh, by the way, are we still filming? Yeah. We've got an episode coming. We've got an episode coming with Peter Crouch that will be out on Friday, so you can stay in for that one. We've got two coming in quick, so tell you. This has been a Global and the Overlap production. Thanks for listening and thanks to our partner, Skybet. If you want more, please subscribe and you won't miss an episode.