EP. 398 | That Liverpool Legends Episode: Thiago, Reina & Rush - “Modern Players Are Over-Coached”

0:00Hello and welcome to That Peter Crouch Podcast. Me, Peter Crouch, Chris Stark and Sid's with me. Is everyone okay? Very good. You two are looking really fresh. I feel refreshed. I was straight out of holiday. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I had a lovely time. Very quickly, just want to shout out the omelette station in a hotel breakfast. I've been a big fan of these for a long time. Yeah, Abbey's favourite meal of the day is breakfast, a hotel breakfast specifically. Even when I want to lie in, I'm forced to get up. But they keep it open late enough. I tend to find when you're on holiday, I don't know if we put enough respect on the omelette station.

0:36They should be knighted. They make it look so easy. And it's three or four on the go. Yeah, how are they doing that with the three pans? One's bad enough, isn't it? If I'm making omelettes for the kids in the morning, it's one pan. Yeah. And also it sort of sticks to the pan or whatever. But even on holiday when it sticks to the pan, they still somehow fold that thing over and it comes out on the plate. it's just a work of art I think it's hard for me to flip flip one you know like to get it nicely yeah because it looks it kind of looks like a half eaten kebab yeah but on holiday they always make good with it and I don't know where they're learning this skill I don't know what point in your career because it's not really they're like omelette ninjas aren't they they're just they're so talented with it I just wanted to give a shout out just to start this podcast I love I just love a holiday breakfast you know that moment as well when you go through you get your seats either given to you or you choose where to sit with the family you have to part your ass on there for one second just to almost sit there take control of the table and then you get up and go yeah that annoys me that one I think I'm sure I heard Peter Kay talk about that yeah or you've got to put your sunglasses on the table haven't you or just under the napkin unruffle the napkin and just you know

1:59it's so true it's like it's like the like the wine tasting you know no one gives a fuck just pour it unless you're a connoisseur of wine you know then just pour it really have you hit a point in your life where if they get you to test the wine do you do you just I mean like we should start maybe our thing go real John Smith's on it no nonsense just if they pull you out one just fucking grab that down it like don't do the whole like sniffing it like swirling it I feel like that could be that could be the thing that could be our new thing you sit down when they make you pour it just bang it bang it and then and then have a line just bang it and then do a line Take a taste away.

2:51That's a line. Can you imagine the fella's face? Oh my God. What is he doing? I'm going to do that. I'm going to do that. Next restaurant I'm in, wherever it's the Savoy Ritz or my local, it doesn't matter. I'm just going to... Do you know what? You're always so good if you did it totally deadpan as well. You know, like, don't even laugh. Just go, right, oh, thank you, sir. Swill it and go, bang. Lie now. Get a lie. That's fine. That's fine. Let's do it. How will you deal with the lime situation now? Have you got to ask them for the lime? Previously, before you ordered the wine. To be prepared for the moment, because they're going to do it.

3:31Even on the screw tops, they get you to try it, don't they? Yeah, yeah. Someone pointed that out to me. They said, well, if it's a screw top, it's not going to be corked, is it? Yeah, good point. Also, you know, it doesn't matter if you're in, like you say, the Ritz or the Harvester. You know what I mean? Yes. The Harvester, if you order a bottle of wine, I still think, don't quote me on that because I haven't been for a while but I still reckon they make it tasty oh yeah echo fools please oh beautiful yeah let's love you bang whilst they're holding the bottle next to you holding the echo fools like that like a 16 year old girl from fucking in the sick form she's been told to hold this echo fools and go you gotta do this sorry it's just what we do I don't want to I don't know anything about one this is really great great stuff It's on.

4:18It's on. How are you, Crouchy? I'm good, mate. I'm quite rested as well. I had a lovely time. I was away at Easter time. A lot of golf. Nice. Played some golf. Nice time with the family. A few beers and the sunshine. Good. So we are well rested. Great to be back. Good. Beach football. A little bit of beach football, yeah. Love it, beach football. Which is great, yeah. Played a bit of beach football. But yeah, nice to be back in it. I love getting back to the Jumbo 1 bar. It just keeps me... We're back. Keeps me back on the straight and narrow. And we've got a great episode today, you know. we managed to speak to a load of legends.

4:48Obviously, the Jurgen Klopp episode was so massive. Which I knew it would be, you know, because he doesn't do podcasts, really. So it was an honour, really, to have him on. And then, you know, having the chat was amazing and it kind of went everywhere. A lot of good feedback from it. Yeah. You know, he's everything you expect, really, isn't he? Gif-gaff shout went down well. Gif-gaff didn't. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. What thoughts on Klopp and the gif-gaff? It's all good, isn't it? Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think so. I'm finding everywhere I go people shout gif gaff at me now as in like I am gif gaff I feel like I've turned into Ronald McDonald almost as in I am now the brand which I'm totally I'm on board because I'm a huge advocate it's like yeah I feel like I'm fully signed in with gif gaff now that's fine also we've had a lot of people getting in touch about doing this potentially doing this far other side I love this idea and yeah I mean 3 called it on 3 EE EE have slipped in the DMs all over it yeah apparently EE have got a top team oh don't you think we should do you think we should do like I'm really keen that it's like Peter Crouch podcast like rivals or like it's its own series and we set all these rivalries so it's not just phone networks we get like you know Domino's Pizza Hut Papa John uh you know all of them yeah tops all of them yeah yeah like and settle that one yeah and then what and then what do you move to do you do restaurants bus drivers tube drivers um you know what else is there pilots yeah you're right you're right um transport i don't know tfl game Yeah, but I think we can settle everything here, you know.

6:44It's definitely one for us to look at. I like it. Holiday companies. That's a good one. Who do you fancy there? Airlines. Thomas Cook.

6:57Airlines, yes, Airlines is good. Airlines is good. But I think there should be a whole rivalry series and we just pick them off occasionally, take them to a five-a-side down here and just settle it for good. I like that. Yeah. It's a good time. Thanks, Ponda. Yeah, just before we get into the pod, which is a cracker, by the way, we've got some great names on. Thiago, fantastic. Ian Rush, Pepe Rayner, someone I've wanted to have on for so long. Love him. Absolute ledge. But we've been inundated with people sliding into our DMs, tagging us in on all of this on social media. Just about the shin pads.

7:31It was Lewis Holtby. Oh, Lewis Holtby. Lewis Holtby, yeah. You played with him? I played with him. Did you really? He was on loan to Fulham. Come on to Fulham. Yeah. Great lad. Is he a good lad? Really, really good lad. Horrible injury, Sid. Did he wear small shin pads back when you played with him? Yeah. Or has he just gone with the way of the game now? Which is... I mean, I'd be lying if I said I remembered what shin pads he wore. But I think he's just gone... He's one of them sort of technically flared players. I think he's just gone with the way of the game. But it was a nice one, wasn't it?

7:58It looked like a stud or a blade just nipped him. It's like open wound. Yeah, not good. and I'm just, you know, as Chris has been saying for years, you know, the big pad would have, you know, don't wish it on anyone. But if he had the big pads on, I think he could have been avoided. I think it's going to take one of these, one or two of these injuries to happen though for people to see since. Yeah. Because it's mental. I still don't understand it. Like, how can you see an injury like that and no managers going, like, that's a biggie. I've been tagged in this so many times, this one thing. It's a massive case for bigger shin pads.

8:34but that's what we're trying to do as a podcast. We're trying to protect our players, aren't we? Yeah, I mean, you know, it's very similar to, I think, the penalty situation. You know, we go back to full missionary. You know, I don't want my player, I don't want him doing a stuttered run-up, you know. And my issue is I feel like it's been done for effect. You know, it's like to look cool. Yeah. Whereas I think the shin pad thing, it's not cool to wear big shin pads. You know, it's not. And I think it's not cool. Well, it wasn't, Pete. It wasn't. but I think now that you've got behind it I think weirdly you know we're getting a lot of messages and we're getting tagged in where teams you know grassroots Sunday League like all the way through the pyramid actually you know we've now got a couple of players in the Premier League is Ryan Wilson behind it yet?

9:18we're going to bowl it out Harry Wilson's just you know he wants to get involved and wear the shin pads as well one slight issue with the shin pad situation is that I gave them to Steve and Gerrard for a Legends match and they were they were out every 10 minutes all over Anfield they kept falling out I don't know if it was maybe there's a little bit tuba grip on it or just a little thing around them a bit of tape just to keep them in maybe my side mission here needs to be to design the ultimate big shin pad you know and I go and get it tested you know like in labs with you know like bulletproof yeah crash test with the pads just drive a car into them or something that's what I mean like see what they can withstand and then we can go to a park and maybe we invite 30 40 podcast listeners to come and just give me a good kick in yeah yeah and come and two foot you do you know what i mean they just take it in turns

10:16just to test the integrity of the shin pads i reckon yeah might get plenty of yeah pretty good yeah yeah but i do think to your point perception is everything you know and i think as a podcast it's great especially you know we don't want more Lewis's about do we? Certainly not I don't want this to be a start of a trend you know it's something that we were trying to get ahead of unfortunately there are things that slip through the net but you know I think there will become a thing things come back round you're telling me now that fans wouldn't enjoy Alan Shearer stepping up for a penalty and dispatching it you know or would you prefer a stuttered sloppy run up no of course not do you remember David Luiz do you remember that one when he ran from like the halfway line and bang one in the top corner yeah and then carried on his run carried on his run through celebrated get in there love that bring it back yeah full mission yeah alright let's get into the pod

11:11okay we're here in the Sky Bar in Liverpool with Thiago pleasure to have you on the podcast nah my pleasure thank you man I really appreciate it this obviously we've got panoramic views of the city of Liverpool here what were your first impressions when you signed for the club now today is very strange first of all when I arrive because it's sunny yeah yeah yeah everyone says that wow Liverpool said the same thing yeah when I first arrived here was a Covid situation at the time and it was a bit weird because Premier League the full stadiums crowd attendance but suddenly everything empty was a bit strange at the beginning but then we just discovered the magic of Anfield yeah cool so yeah you played in some of the biggest clubs in the world right how does Liverpool compare you know with the fan why is the city and the football club well you know that my roots are Brazilian so a while ago when we came to Europe and played for Barcelona from Bayern Spain Germany you have this kind of European culture about Spain the tactical German the transition and suddenly here not in England but in Liverpool you have this mix between the style of England that is challenges is a rhythm and it's duels all the time all these kind of things but also the south american behave of football it's pretty like a religion here yeah okay so i've got that mix here and that's why i felt was the right place to come yeah amazing that you played you know for the top clubs in kind of in all those those countries what i found so amazing about you is i know the game is so quick in the premier league I'm sure you'll agree you managed to slow the game down to whatever tempo that you want to play and I think that shows the measure of the player you are yeah it was not about my physicality running I didn't slow it down because of that

13:11imagine if we share the attributes that's fine after the guy finishing I was like for the audio listeners there's Jermaine Pennant just gate crashing

13:24you play with some crazy characters right in your time yeah how does he compare ah man he he was is what i said when we slow the tempo it's not because of the legs it's not going through because i know that physically probably i can cope some situation but the demand of the game yeah probably to imagine you playing as a striker to reach the ball there's a tempo to arrive at everything all that kind of situation when I play with Mo and with Sario sometimes I feel that I have to in one touch just ping in the deep space yeah exactly so depends on the player depends on the rivals depending on on the way you feel that day you slow it down it's like a wave let's say like that you seem to have a tremendous understanding of the game like and what it kind of needs at that particular time like you say there even that just one little comment there you know you need to play to their strengths you need to play it quickly or you there might be a time where you're one nil up you need to slow the game down is that something that you want to offer you know at the end of your career now like like what are you going to go into would it be coaching is it is it like a sporting director and where do you want to go with it i think i'm more it's like teaching way so it's a coaching way and i think these are tactical aspects for myself to teach others how to play but then we have to encourage the young young players to enjoy and and compromise themselves to the game but they have to play in this state of flow not okay there's spain is very tactical you have to do this isn't that and players are losing the freedom i feel really do you see that in certainly in the premier league i think they are it's almost over coached a little bit yeah like tactically you have to fit in these positions is that something that you would have enjoyed as a player or you know there's a there's an argument that the responsibility has been taken off the players a little bit it's not enough freedom yeah it's i think in in very specific moments tactics or set pieces are great but then the moment of uh of great matches when you face the best players on earth they are the best players because in one-on-one they are they eat you so when you lose that from a player this natural kid that you have inside I want to challenge someone and win him we are losing that and I think that's why some big teams are struggling in Champions League like quarter semifinals or final because they lose in that peak moment they lose this kind of things yeah but you played obviously the biggest clubs internationally as well could you give me a top three of players that you played with then you will give me your top three.

16:05I'll give you a top three after. I would say, let's do something. I will tell you, for me, my understanding, the best players I've played in the three teams I've played with. Barcelona can choose from the goalkeeper to the striker. But for sure, the understanding of the game, this kind of mix between tactical and talent was Andres Iniesta. Really? Because he's understanding his natural skills in football. Then you had Messi, had Xavi, Busquets, had a lot of great players. Then at Bayern Munich... Iniesta was your favourite though, someone who just... Yeah, because he was playing more or less in my position and you mirrored yourself into that player.

16:45But then I would say in Bayern Munich, we have Frank Ribéry, we have Robben, but I'm going back to my position and to see a player like Philipp Lahm, he was very consistent as a fullback and started to play in the middle and say, this guy played. always in the middle. He was not a fullback. So he surprised me a lot. And then Liverpool, I would change the position. I would say Bobby Firmino was, I was in love with that player. Really? Yeah. All the players that played with him said the same thing. It's about that. It's about, he puts his talent in the service of the team. And he was so good in ball.

17:27He was quick. He was strong. He was a great goal scorer. so yeah all season yeah can I ask you about no no no I will ask you I thought you forgot I thought you forgot so many Steven Gerrard for me the best job I've ever played with you know as I say your position that could do anything you know defensively the strongest head fast go past people score goals even for England at that time we had you know David Beckham Wayne Rooney Frank Lampard we had some amazing players but Stevie for me was a level above yeah and then I think I played with Gareth Bale when he he was just he went from a left a left back to a free roll he destroyed in the San Siro Michael and home and away and he was at that time was Michael was the best fullback in the world I think when I played with him he went from there to just a different level and Nuka Modric at Tottenham as well, you know, so I think those three for me, I mean, there's plenty of others.

18:36I played with Torres here, you know, fantastic and he did brilliant things at Liverpool and with England as well, Rooney, Owen, people like that. But I think Modric was just a joy to watch. Oh yeah, it was. Just Spain's chances at the World Cup. Do you think they have a strong chance? I think so. They just recently won the European champion. So I think they have a really, a good mix between experienced squad plus great young players I think with I would say France, England Argentina they're the top my favourite top four teams yeah listen Tiago I would absolutely love for you to come maybe to London we have a place called the Chamba Wamba where we record our podcast we'd love to have you on properly because I could talk football all day with someone like you it really is a pleasure to spend time with you Any excuse, we'll go back to London, so it'll be nice.

19:33I'm going to hold you to that. I really appreciate it. They told me that your children told that you have to score a hat-trick today. Yeah, that's it. So we tried to make it. If you don't mind, I'm going to be hanging around the back post. Just floating them off. I know you can do it for me. We have a little thing where we're trying to make shin pads great again. I imagine you were a smaller shin pad type of guy. We're trying to bring back the bigger shin pad. No one's wearing them anymore. so this is a little gift from us from the podcast to make shins great again my shin pads are I think my leg is shorter than the shin pads yeah I don't know you can maybe you can keep them or throw them in the bin but no I won't throw them in the bin are we Diego thank you so much we've got a team meeting now I really appreciate it thanks for the gift thank you thank you brother

20:24Pepe it's been a long time coming it's been a long time my friend It's great to have you on. I've been threatening to get you on a long time, right? Because this man is one of my heroes. He was threatening to be in me, but never has accomplished. Somehow. Mate, what a legend, mate. It's great to have you on, Nike. I was just looking at your career. I think we signed around the same time for Liverpool, right? 2005. 2005, yeah, same as me. And we had some good times together. Did you sign on summer? I think I was summer, yeah. Oh, yeah? Yeah, so we were around the same time. Same time. Yeah, I think so.

20:57And then you go on to achieve... Did you play the European Super Cup? Yeah, you know what? I was actually injured for that. But I was there. I was at the club. All right. You did that, right? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. What was it like for you? First impressions at Liverpool? Being honest? Yeah. I wanted to come back to Spain because of the weather. Really? The first two weeks, they were terrible. And I continued looking to my wife and said, listen are you really sure about where we're coming for the next four years uh it was raining pissing down two weeks in a row mid-july fuck i just listen it can't be yeah yeah no worries the the the weather will change we'll be fine and because of of uh pairing systems and and be patient.

21:47The weather never changed, but it was two years so-so and then, you know, we lived here eight years. Yeah, eight years, mate. So what was it? I mean, the fans took to you so much, right? And the players took to you so much. I think with you, obviously, you know, the language at first was a little bit difficult and then we could just see how much you were trying, how much you wanted the lads, you know, how much, and obviously what a great goalkeeper you were. I think to be an important member of Adderrama's room is to build the spirit, to build good connections, good human relations. And I've been all my career fixed in that, to create a good atmosphere.

22:36If you go to another country or different culture, just get yourself in a position to understand and learn the quickest you can. and I think it's what we it's what it brought later on on my career always good memories for whoever played team I played or whoever was my teammate or whatever country it was so it was good I can see that though with you know when when you win things with Spain you know you didn't play but I see you in the celebrations and I think when I look at you I'm like it makes me happy because I know what everyone thinks about you. It's an amazing thing to have. But that's whoever knows me.

23:21It's your case. That's a lad, you know. That's a weird pepe coming over. It was a fantastic day for us. Obviously, we had a little bit of help. We all had that moment. But it was great. It's a moment that I will always remember. Incredible. In a Liverpool show, what's your favourite moments? I think for me, 2006 World Cup, 2006 FA Cup we shared together. That was good. I think the atmosphere we lived the year after in the semifinals against Chelsea. Oh, the atmosphere. It's something that I've never lived again. I mean, that noise, that passion, that commitment from the people, that effort from the boys and get to play that final, beating Chelsea, who was one of the biggest rivals at that time.

24:12it was something incredible also yeah what about the we shared some some good nights off the pitch as well yeah you enjoyed Liverpool and spending time to be honest it was more of a more of a familiar time we create as you know we have five children Liverpool was cold was not much to do to be honest at that time and we decided you know a different way and build a family not many night outs maybe one or two back in Manchester or in Liverpool or one team dinner but it was not you know it was not common to go out and get and get drunk or get you know happy yeah happy yeah I was happy at home happy at home Fordham happy at home Pepe you got you won the golden glove right the most clean sheets in the Premier League three years on the spin I mean a great time for you personally when you you were in the team playing every week but back to the lads I mean you know how strong we were defensively if I don't mention Carra in this podcast we'll be mad so the Carras the Aggers the Skirtles the Hippias you know made my life much more easier and also the defensive organisation we were a very very rocket solid team difficult to beat and obviously because of that I was able to to leave that trophy three years in a row yeah what's your what's your highlight for playing for Liverpool I think I think those those days when we were competing back until May for every single title for everything yeah unfortunately we didn't leave that Premier League trophy it would have been a dream come true but obviously to play semi-finals quarter-finals final of Champions League you know compete in the league until the very last day to do 86 points at that time and got beat by Man United winning, I don't know, they had a streak of 19 wins in 21 games or something like that.

26:23So trophy-wise, it's a bit short of memories, but they were, every single time you get across that Anfield byline and listen, you never walk alone. it's something to be blessed. Yeah, massive. What do you think of Spain's chances? Obviously, you played in a very successful Spain team. What do we think of Spain's chances in the World Cup? I think it's one of the favourites, being honest. I think it's a generation of very talented players. They have won already the Euros and they know what it takes to be competitive and be at the final stages. but obviously there are three, four, five big contenders and he will be there for the small details that will make the difference.

27:18Who are the players we should look out for? Lamin Jamal 100%. Rodri at his best we know what's capable of but then you know I think Pedri Olmo there's plenty of talented players and they have created something really, really, really positive. Let's see what they're able to do. What are you up to Pepe these days? I'm a manager. I'm a coach. Yeah. I took over. I got retired last year and then straight ahead took over the Villarreal under-19s. We get knocked out the other day in the quarterfinals of Champions League. It's been a tremendous season it's been it's been a really interesting other side of the of the picture because you know you get used to go to a training ground and then do a couple of hours maybe a little bit of gym have lunch go forget football until the next day now it's impossible yeah yeah it takes you it takes you for living it takes you for sleeping it takes you for dining it's it's 24 hours thinking about football thinking about the boys their families many people but it's been entertaining it's been very good and nice and quiet when you get home with the five kids as well yeah yeah yeah it's you know it's something normal and most of them are you know my children's age so it's the two oldest are girls and the and my boys football wise are the same age and I from the from the very beginning I said listen if anyone ever looked one of my children he's a dead man walking Pepe we've got a campaign going at the moment for making shin pads great again too many players wearing small shin pads so this is a gift if you want to wear it today at the foundation oh nice yeah we make shin pads great again yeah yeah we need them back we need them back right that's ridiculous yeah yeah it's useless it's terrible now yeah it's useless now we're making the shin pads look at that look at this one other question yeah just your mobile service provider why is that well my friend Chris Stark who's a co-host with GiveGaff oh I would never go no I would never

29:59does it work apparently it does work but I don't know but no Movistar Movistar yeah yeah yeah Spanish typical yeah Sid's met Brazilian Ronaldo recently okay he was movie star movie star it's what I expect from you okay okay no gift card no gift card

30:22Matt so this is absolutely incredible like do you have to pinch yourself sometimes you think about kind of what the foundation can achieve because I'm looking at some of the legends that are walking around here you've managed to get them all back and and 60 ,000 people sell out at Anfield. That is incredible. Yeah, I think it's, yeah, there's something about this club, you know, having played here. I'm not comparing it. I've worked at a few different clubs and they all do unbelievable stuff and fans and supporters around the country. Every club are amazing, but there's something about Liverpool that just, you know, to be able to sell out over 60 ,000 for a Legends game.

30:59And I think it's partly because of success and history and the players we can get back. but as you say the facts yourself Thiago Steven Peperena to name a few there's so many legends yeah it's amazing and I think this is our ninth legends game I think I'm right saying seven sold out in a row and I don't think any other UK club does that I think Real Madrid do it which you can sort of understand but I don't think they do a game every year so yeah it's amazing yeah absolutely incredible can you tell us a little bit about what the foundation does in the community because obviously it's very prevalent around the city as well, isn't it?

31:37Yeah, so we primarily work in the Liverpool City region. Last year we supported over 140 ,000 people. We focus our work on, our purpose is tackling social inequality. So we don't say we're a football provider, but we use football and sport to tackle issues. And the main things we focus on is employability, health and learning. So if we're working on the basis, if young people get the best education they can, if they're healthy they've got more chance of getting good jobs unfortunately I think it's something like almost over 40 % of young people in some parts of Liverpool are living below the poverty line so I think anything we can do to help and what we're passionate about is that the postcode of kids born into shouldn't affect their life chances sadly it does so how can we use the power of that unbelievable football club we were just talking about to try and give them more opportunities and then the final thing we're trying to do now is without taking their eye off the ball locally is trying to develop more internationally.

32:36Like I said, you would have, you know, probably been on pre-season tours and been around the world and people probably ask you about Liverpool straight away. So we started running projects. We're now doing some work with partners in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Japan, Dublin, US. So just trying to develop more internationally. But again, crucially, not taking their eye off the ball here. With regards to just this game today, what will that bring in for the foundation? Is there a target you've got and can you exceed that or how did we do last year? Yeah, it's a good question. So the challenge is, I think I'm right in saying today is we've surpassed 60 ,000 sales which is our biggest ever for a Legends game.

33:21I think that's partly because the stadium's obviously got a bit bigger which was a bit worrying because we didn't know if we'd fill it. But yeah, so I think we're on track we think to generate about 1.1 million um which is our biggest single fundraiser um we and that then supports our programs supports forever reds which is the former players association which is super important too um and yeah and then that enables us the big thing for that is when you can generate that sort of income in one event you can then use that to draw in other further further money to do more um and i think ultimately as a as a charity i think we're sometimes you nervous about talking about money, but I think if you generate more income, if you're doing it properly, you help more people.

34:03I think it's hard to track because not all foundations publish it in the same way, but we're pretty confident we're probably one of the biggest in terms of supporting people. And ultimately, I'd say just over 140 ,000 last year, but we've got ambitious targets by 2030 to support half a million a year. So yeah, and I think the other thing it does is just the awareness and understanding of what we do. So to have, you know, I know for you guys, probably one of our team pecking you all on the head every video, but I think that sort of coverage, things like this. I think Jürgen was on Sky Sports yesterday.

34:41So having that sort of profile and awareness because of the international break, you got the England game last night, then a gap, and we can, you know, our team can get brilliant coverage and awareness and understanding of the work we're doing. well hopefully listen hopefully today we can get a result for everyone that'll be pleasing but the most important thing is the foundation gets everything that they need to have today so all the best thanks mate thank you cheers mate thanks so much

35:10right joining the pod I'm going to call you Sir Ian Rush I've got Sir Kenny Dalby exactly right I've put you you know you're in that bracket and certainly for me Rush Eli you know growing up kind of watching you scoring goals and um i mean it just incredible like do you ever feel like i just had a look there 231 league goals right yeah and it never gets talked about kind of because of the premier league era right 230 puts you know second on the list and yeah you know and of course you went abroad as well so do you ever feel like you know a little bit angry about the premier league coming in and not people not talking about your goal scoring enough well Firstly, not angry.

35:52I think records are there to be beaten as long as you win trophies. But I think maybe disappointment where the Premier League comes in and people only go from the Premier League. If you ask how many trophies Liverpool won, they'll say from the start, 20. When the league titles say 20, well, Premier League, they've only won, I think, one or two. So when it goes to individuals, they go with the start of Premier League. And when you start thinking about it and all that, I say, yes, I said I was a good player. I was the best goal scorer because I don't have to do it now. That's the way you look at it.

36:24I look back at everything now and people at one stage didn't realise I was the record top scorer for Liverpool, but now they do. So I think it's time maybe to shout a bit more now because I don't have to do it anymore. Yeah, yeah, yeah, true. Where would you put yourself, Rasha? I know you're a very humble man considering the player you are. Where would you put yourself in in the players' wise? You know, obviously the top goal scorers a Shearer or a Carl I suppose in the Premier League era who were the best to have done it? Well I think you're looking back at if you're looking at one club I would be the second best and the best one there ever was Dixie Dean he scored more goals for one club now I'm the second on the list on that so when you look at all them you look at top players you know Alan Shearer Gary Lineker was quality and everything you know and you look at look at now look at Mo Salah he's not even though he's not like at number nine so that's a different sort of play but and Allen knows coming good and all that but at the end of the day for me it's when you finish your career look back at what you've done and I'm proud to do that Yeah It's amazing I suppose obviously you take your role as an ambassador you know seriously for Liverpool How is it important because when I think of Liverpool I kind of think of you I think of Steven Gerrard Kenny Dalgleish There's only a kind of handful of players that I immediately just think of Liverpool and you're certainly one of them How important is it to kind of be an ambassador whenever you're going abroad?

37:54I most probably got one of the best jobs. Really? No, I travel the world every year. You look like you enjoy it, to be fair. Whenever I've seen it. No, I get to travel places, the middle, the far east and everything. And it's funny when you go out to that, even like Australia, when you go to these countries, you realise how big Liverpool Football Club is. Now, absolutely, the support out there and people come to watch it is absolutely incredible. so I'm proud to do that and I'm helping Liverpool Football Club there's only like 60 ,000 can get to the ground and all that so we have to take Liverpool Football Club to the world because we see ourselves as one big family club and by doing that you get more support at Liverpool and it makes my job a lot easier Yeah What about with regards to Mo Salah you know, obviously he's leaving at the end of the season just how much of an influence has he had and you know I know he's a different player to you entirely but what a goal scorer oh he's incredible like I think his first season he got I scored 47 in one season which is incredible by the way just dropped out I got 47 and Mo scored 43 so was he going to catch my most goals in one season so I think he took off from there but I think he was not just a goal scorer but the way he plays he's got a great football brain and everything you know as you get older as we know you don't be as fast as what you were but you've still got the football brain and I think most probably one of the best is when you had Salah, Firmino, Mane them three none of them were number nine but you all interacted with each other like they see where the space was and the others would go in there I call that a football brain you know them three together but when Mo when he's coming down that wing you know he's absolutely incredible and he's you know all Liverpool fans will love him and they'll be sad to see him leave yeah do you know I don't know if you remember this but we went to Singapore and we played golf together and I remember it was me and you I think we were partners and the other two made you putt and I think it was within gimme range and they've made you putt you've putt it in and he said I can't believe you've made me putt there I got 500 of those in my career from that range but like proper goalscorer right yeah when the goalie drops you tap it in I wasn't one of them scored like I didn't score too many outside the box put it that way and I think I'd still be playing today if there was no off sides yeah yeah yeah your movement was so good though Roshi right is that what was your probably your biggest attribute would you say because I just felt like your movement your hold up play was very very good as well also the headers like you be able to glance them yeah I wasn't great in the air to tell you the truth you know I got the name when I scored one really good goal with my head against Benfica and another fellow Welshman John Toshiak he was very good in the air so after that I think Phil Thompson nicknamed me Tosh so ever since then my nickname at Liverpool is Toss because I scored one great header but I was more you're right about glancing headers that I like to guide them in I never won them for blasting I won them I believe if you side foot them into the sides the goalkeepers are not going to get them also I think I could kick with both feet doesn't matter if it was on the right or left that'd be exactly the same so my strength there was most probably you know kick with both feet and then people ask me what can you what do you say what advice can you give people and I say as a striker never be scared to miss I think it's a mentality where you know if you miss one you miss two and score the next one people forget about the two you missed I'd most probably say it was different with a goalkeeper they can make three great saves and let one in and they remember the one that let in but for me it's a mental toughness that's what it's all about never be scared to miss and that's what I kept going and that's where I got my strength from yeah just got to touch on Wales Russia obviously a bit heartbreak for them we had Harry Wilson on the podcast recently and top player I know he's at Liverpool as well someone you know yeah heartbreaking not to make it well we had such a great start under Craig you know we've done really well and we're thinking no we'll get through we play Italy and if we lost to Italy you think no maybe that's okay but to lose our own especially in Cardiff against Bozhena it was disappointed they played well but when it comes to penalties anything can happen so the hardest thing now is you know is picking themselves up and getting started again No, it's for the next day to the Euros.

42:17No, the Euros are going to be in the UK and things like that. So I think it's... I believe the hardest thing for Wales was getting there. And I think if they got there, the group they were in, they were 100 % would have got out of that group. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think it's disappointing because we haven't got that chance to get to the World Cup this year. And we've just got to keep marching on. Yeah. All right, Rushy, listen, it's always an absolute honour to talk to you. I've got, just before we go, So we're doing a campaign at the moment to make shin pads great again. And I don't know if you've noticed, but a lot of the lads now, they have very small shin pads, you know, little bits of plastic.

42:53So we're saying, you know what, let's bring the pads back again. So it's an absolute honour to present you with the Ian Rush shin pads, mate. I'll be wearing them. Any Legends matches? I know you're the gaffer today. On the beach. So a little gift from us, mate. Thank you so much. Pleasure. Thanks a lot. Cheers. Thanks a lot.

43:18Right, great episode, Dat. It's great to hear from so many legends and them giving us the time, really. Yeah, we spoke about it. I think it was the last one about when you play for that club, it just always feels like there's a connection. And then you see that with all them interviews there. Every one of them, like the affiliation that they've got, they always want to come back. They love coming back. There's a massive connection with the fans. which never leaves. And he's so good to see. It is funny. You see, a lot of those players have played all over the world and a lot of their kids are Liverpool fans.

43:54You know, like it's a weird thing, you know, like it's a massive club and it does touch you in a lot of ways. Just on that, obviously another legend of Liverpool was Andy Robertson. He's just announced he's leaving Liverpool. Yeah, thoughts on him. I mean for me that done so many great things for Liverpool I didn't realise like 65 assists in the Premier League which is mental for a left back by the way considering value for money what they paid for it yeah from home from home yeah it's got to be one of the signings of of like Premier League history really in terms of like what value for money what he's done what he's produced what he's won as well there was a period where Trent and him were unplayable weren't they they were the highest players yeah and also like his attitude I think is you know even speaking to Jürgen Klopp he was talking about when we had him on the pod he was talking about Milner Lallana Oxlade Henderson said those lads were kind of driving things and then Robertson kind of took that on you know himself he didn't have to be arsed he just kind of almost learnt from them I suppose Milner maybe looked up to him and then took it on and I think a lot of the success that Liverpool have had have been down to people like Andy Robertson not just through his performances but also his attitude around the player and the same does for Scotland as well I know people that are in the Scotland camp and he's been brilliant for them in terms of the qualification them getting through to the World Cup and then what he's doing behind the scenes you know like just sort of a social bit of like lads this is like you know bus waiting outside let's go out bit of out bit of sort of down time bit of us time like you need that yeah I think when a player's won everything like that as well you know certainly in that Scotland squad at the time you know they would all look up to him you know and he's obviously conducted himself in the right manner throughout it's been a huge support of this podcast as well he's provided us with at least one of my favorite podcast moments could be what it's up there with the top three i think it's a hundred percent yeah i think we might have even touched on it and in previous podcasts not too long ago but yeah the the covid one where he actually went off to ask his missus to turn the internet classic to turn netflix off sorry so he could carry i said i think it was our producer at the time said uh you know is anyone else using the internet it's unbelievable and he said well I'm missing watching a film upstairs and the shout was would you mind asking him even the audacity to ask at the start audacity I think you know I think he just beaten Barcelona at Anfield a couple of weeks previous and he's getting asked and we could hear him would you mind turning that on she had to lie there in silence whilst he recorded a podcast because it was Covid we made that last 2-3 hours I think I had a beer or something along the way as well it was brilliant Andy if you're listening mate we'd love to have you on again yeah love to have you on again alright let's get into the football league

47:02ok let's get into the football league I mean I had a massive three-pointer this week it was massive and it pains me to say it but unfortunately I've seen Spurs enough this season and I've seen Sunderland enough this season to know that I genuinely thought Sunderland would get a result and I didn't think they'd score many but I think I couldn't see Spurs scoring so yeah the 1-0 was a three-pointer for me and that puts the situation Chris you're on 53 points I'm on 61 looking up now at Sids on 63 it's been a comfortable season really no I'm never comfortable are you Arsenal when I Manchester City at the moment or no one cares no one cares about the top no one cares about the top you're right we've had this conversation it's a good point actually yeah because I've not once seen or cared how far away you are it's more the question here can I catch up this this gap it's almost like I need a game in hand or something you're not even looking at me I'm 10 points clear so you've never looked You're 53.

48:02I've never looked at you. So look, I'm 63. You're 61. And Chris, you're 53. So I'm 10 points clear of you, but you're not even looking at me. You're just looking at Pete. You're looking at eight points. Eight points. That's nothing. Yeah, it's not actually. People have got more on their driver's license. I know, but I haven't hit a three-pointer, I don't think, now for months. For months. I started the season so well. I'm a bit stressed about it. I think you need to get your missus on board. Sorry? I think you need to get your vintages on board. What, her predictions? Yeah. I think she's... Do you want me to turn away from the people and go...

48:40I just think you've got something special there. And whenever she's been on, she's always been there or thereabouts. Yeah, you are right. Okay, the next part of the podcast is supported by Paddy Power. Big weekend fix, Sean. This is a big weekend fix, a monster. Manchester City versus Arsenal. Just for the integrity of the league. Do you remember when Paddy Powers, Minister of Mischief, the one who stitched Chris up with the legendary Ali Pali cheerleader situation? Well, we've heard from him. He's back. We've had a mysterious letter arrive with his signature stamped on it. I'm going to read this to you.

49:15This looks like a real serious... Actually, letterhead's at the top. Their address at the top of everything. It's a proper letter. I genuinely have no idea what I'm about to read. Crouchy Chris, Notorious S.I.D. It's been a while, hasn't it? Last time we spoke, I was stitching Chris up with the PDC cheerleaders. Fond memories. Although I suspect he might be a little bit more receptive to my involvement this time around. Sid's perhaps not so much. Now, while I do enjoy a bit of chaos for chaos sake, I still find the time to tune into the pod. And lads, I've got to say, I'm disappointed. The mischief has fallen off a cliff and the league has gotten a bit flat.

49:56we've got Sid's coasting at the top Crouchy hanging around like a bad smell and Chris already waving his white flag this is outrageous I don't know about that it's gotten a bit predictable and I don't do predictable so we've decided to step in allow me to introduce a little invention of mine something I like to call Paddy's Chaos Cards I don't like this here's me by the way thinking that you know this was my league but it's coming I don't like this at all. Well, each week, till the end of the season, I'll be sending you a fresh card, each one carrying a rule that applies to you all for that game week.

50:35Play along, pick well, and you might just bag yourself for some extra points. Think of it as a gentle nudge or a firm shove to wake this league up. We'll start simple. This week's chaos card is golden goal. Pick the minute of the first goal in the Manchester City versus Arsenal and the closest guest takes home five bonus points. Five, yes, five points. I'm sure you can see how those cards might set the cat amongst the pigeons. And that's before we even begin to discuss this year's forfeit. So without further ado, I'll leave you to it. Get your predictions in and I'll be back next week with another card.

51:15Best of luck, lads. You're going to need it. The Paddy Power, Minister of Mischief. P.S. SIDS. Enjoy the view while it lasts. That is a liberty. Paddy Power Chaos cards. Five bonus points. Yeah, but you could win them as much. I mean, this could make the gap bigger. There's one for you. Thank you. This is a golden goal, five-point bonus card. So we all guess the minutes. So the first goal, guess the minute, and the closest to it gets five bonus points. Right, I'm really trying to think now. there's got to be a way of biohacking this what? okay listen while you're thinking about it what the odds are Manchester City clear favourites 4-5 Arsenal underdogs even though being top of the league at 3-1 that's mad yeah I'd be interested to see the first goal scorers like Haaland you know Nico O 'Reilly scoring goals at the moment his odds would be did he come off did he come off looked like a little hamstring whether it's precaution or not.

52:25Interesting. Shirky was one of them who was flying. He's a character, isn't he? Can we just quickly talk about him as a character? He's great, isn't he? Do you see him sort of side of the pitch just doing, trying to toss a bottle onto the top? Is that the difference, do you think, a little bit between City and Arsenal at the moment? It feels like City are quite enjoying the chase and sort of... They were written off, weren't they? All the pressure's on Arsenal, wasn't it, really? Yeah, but it's a bit... All of Arsenal. They're also... yeah, there is a pressure there, right? But they're also ahead.

52:55Like, can you not enjoy that situation of being ahead and having the advantage? I think you would if you'd won it before. It's like Rory with the Masters the other day. Like, I felt like, you know, I know there wasn't a freedom in the middle there. Yeah, they won. But it did feel like, you know, he's won it once. You know, so you can't accuse him of choking because he's done it. Do you know? I've been asking why they haven't in recent years. Yeah. the things with the Arsenal lads as well back when we was playing it would have just been newspapers and maybe a little bit of TV whereas now it's on your phone it's socials it's on people on the trains everyone's talking about it everyone's talking about Arsenal slipping up yeah I'm not sure whoever wins this game wins the league this really is a big weekend Vic Shire and Sid this is the biggest bring your Sunday lunch yeah that's what that's what I'm saying and your dinner and your dinner and your dinner when I'm finished with you you're gonna fucking need it right this is hard because for me I feel like this is a city right they're in good form they're in really good form I can just visualise it them just coming out of traps yeah coming out of traps like all guns blazing do they do they get that early goal they're gonna have chances there's going to be saves there's going to be corners but are they going to get that early goal took to the second half last weekend didn't it yeah I think or is it going to be a really cagey match I think Arsenal get a bit nervy in these and I think they play differently in big games but this is this is like this is this game's so massive this is like cup final isn't it yeah yeah it's humongous yeah I know what I want to do do they turn up with this sort of siege mentality kind of thing I don't know is it maybe Artes's mind tricks do work I don't mind going first you know I say I say City get this over the line I say City come out I say Man City doing this 3-1 and I see first goal on the 12th minute 12th minute God just did okay because the thing now is do you go under that well I wouldn't know what minute you'd like to do yeah but if i if i give you the minute because if you go eighth minute i'm flying if you go you see what i mean yeah yeah so that means i'll get my scoring before yours but you yeah you're you've got an option to get a scoring so you're in charge anyway so do you want me to go you decide what's best listen you're bottom of the league i feel like you know it's like letting the you know opening a door for someone i'm trying to predict what a gentleman anything to do.

55:45One minute you're... Would you like me to go first? You go first. Okay. 2-1 Nancy. Yep. And the 31st minute. So... Tactically very good there. Thank you. I think he's done maths and he said that. Okay, I'm going to go 3-0 City. And what minute did you go for? 31st. So I will go the 32nd minute. that's shit house I'm taking such a risk he's got so many more minutes than us yeah but I've that is shit house I'm having to hope there's no goal for the first think of how many minutes he's got do you understand how stressful that is as a watch for me that is do you know what that was that was Diego Simeone

56:38the dark arts the dark arts right okay so just quickly so I've got really for the first go I've got from minute one up to 12 and then past 12 to like 16 maybe and then you've got 15 and then you've got maybe 15 so I've got the first 15 minutes and then you've got really 16 so I've got no minutes at all really it's like it's a window of like 12 minutes and I'm you know I've been you've got crudely fucked there I don't think Paddy Powell would sign up do you know what I mean right I think they would have got a better deal I need a fucking tight as game tighter than anything you're imagining but that's five points by the way so it doesn't actually matter about the scoreline whatsoever if he nicks in that window that's a five point I need I need to I've got points to chase so there's no if you get three points in that because you get the score right and I only get five I've only got two point advantage no good so well listen well it's interesting It has brought a bit of chaos to proceedings.

57:43That's what they do, isn't it? That's what they do. Love the cards, by the way, as well. Enjoyed them. Okay, we've got Paddy's boost as well, lads. Each pick a leg of the CrouchPod bet builder. The odds on that bet builder then put on Paddy's website and app. It's boosted by 20 % as well. Okay, player to score first. Fingers on player book times. Docu. Oh, good job. Okay, player to be carded. Someone in and amongst it. Declan Rice. and a player to have two plus shots on target. I'm going to go Erling Haaland, but I'm going to hope they're not going to happen until obviously the latter part of the first half.

58:17I hope it's nil-nil after 32 minutes. It's outrageous, isn't it? Okay, the odds are correct at the current time of recording. Please gamble responsibly. Okay, moving on. Spurs versus Brighton. Have you spoke to the people? Chris? I'm just looking now. Got any good names for them? Yeah, Rob Pickup. Rock Pickup? It's a bit what I'm currently looking at. It's a good little chocolate bar, that pickup bar. Is it? Yeah. Is it? It's like a biscuit. It's like a biscuit. Is it a pickup? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like a little blue. You sure it's not a picnic? No, no, no. It's not a chocolate. It's like a biscuit, two layers of biscuit on the outside with chocolate in the middle.

58:54We'll have to get them Kit Kat and dot, dot, dot on a five-a-side. No, we'll get them down on a five-a-side. Get that settled. I'm not sure if there's any really pickup people around. Well, he's a die-hard pickup, isn't he? I wasn't aware. what's Rob Pickup saying Pickup Rob Pickup hello mate saying hi gents I'm a one club man me E since I first got a mobile phone long term he's gone for a Brighton win against Spurs he's gone 2-1 in that one I'll probably follow Pickup on that one this is at home they need a win they need a win this is crazy deserve his whole team as well remember but what I can't tell here I can't tell if everyone who's messaging here like Jay Rodhouse another good name Alex Gibbs Jack Jardin Tom Kingsbury it's hard not loads of people are backing Spurs in this I don't know how you can well look at the form guide Brighton are flying at the minute they obviously they lost to Arsenal but they've been in good form in good form yeah I did I don't know I saw bits, I think.

1:00:06Certainly first half. Spurs. Spurs. Yeah. First five minutes, really, for me. No, it was. I thought, here we go. Yeah. The thing is with this one, I know we're trying to rattle these out. He's going to want these Spurs players to stay on the ball, especially the centre-halves. You know what they're like? They stay on the ball, wait, suck them all in. When you're not confident, that is hard to do. It's hard to do. Did you see he came out and said they don't need a coach? Yeah, this was his... Yeah, we don't. you said that before they hired him they need someone to go in there and raid the trail or something they need confidence don't they this is tough Spurs at home I just feel like they have to win I think they're at home Brighton are a good side very good side I just feel like they have to win so that's why I'm going to go for Spurs and I feel like this might be hard overhead well it is because the form's right there I mean Brighton have beat Burnley big Liverpool Sunderland big wins and there's this weird feeding frenzy on Tottenham as well isn't there like teams are viewing it as a game to win like yeah yeah but I'm going to go for I'm going to go for it I think they pull this one out of the bag this is the start of them getting out of it 2-1 Spurs yeah it sounds like you're going to go Brighton I'll flip your missionary to the other side and go 2-1 Brighton yeah sure you can do that can you I'll flip a missionary surely who's who's on top here I'm not totally sure myself but it's never been done flip a missionary so basically so basically you've got missionary and you've gone basically you've gone cowgirl see the thing now for me would be to go for the draw I'm saying Brighton I'm saying I feel like I have to say Brian

1:02:09alright let's go I'm going to go for a draw oof draw they've not really worked for me they've not really worked for me the draws I'm going to go 1-1 then cool cat amongst the Pigeonias okay moving on to Newcastle versus Bournemouth Newcastle poor form yeah poor form I mean listen I thought they'd bounce back after the Sunderland game you know where it was kind of kicking off there but Palace managed to get a result against them yeah last minute wasn't it a bit harsh I think the penalty it was a penalty but a little bit harsh they need like we talked about Spurs needing to win Newcastle need to win this and they're up against Bournemouth that are absolutely flying yeah good side done really well against Arsenal hmm what do you think yeah for me a lot of draws as Bournemouth I'm thinking draw okay well you go first then yeah you're thinking draw yeah you can't go 2-2 well I'll go 1-1 he's so confident with his 1-1 Sid oh did he have Voldemort and Visser on the bench again yeah he did because he started the lad who scored took his goal really well striker alright Right.

1:03:32I'm going to go Bournemouth away win. I'm going to go Bournemouth away win. I'm going to say 2-1. Okay, I'm going to stick with Bournemouth as well. I'm going to go 1-0 Bournemouth. Oh, no one's got Newcastle. Right, well that concludes the greatest football league in the world. We've got Ben Foster on next week. Oh, decent. So that'll be fun. Nice. Oh, shit, lad. Sorry, I've got something for you guys. I've just remembered. Can I get something quickly? Is this a gift? No, no, no. Honestly, I've literally just remembered it. Mrs. Banks and banana bread. What have we got here, Stephen Sidwell? Sid, hold on.

1:04:15This is a nice surprise at the end of the pod. Sorry, lads. We spoke about it at times, but the wife bakes banana bread. Is she now? Yeah. You've got to try something. I said I'd bring it in, didn't I? Have we talked about this? I don't know if we have. Thank you mate I hope no one's allergic To allergies It's massive We've just Laddie I got this That's so kind Please send our regards to your missus Yeah regards Regards to your missus Take it out We've just Do you want to send it down to Should we save the poodle For a listener Oh there's loads coming So we've just She's finally sort of cracked the She's finally cracked the that's lovely she's so the chocolate chips now don't sink to the bottom we've got them to stay in the cake how's she doing that then she put in some more baking powder or something what do you think oh fantastic really good mate good yeah but it was after matey around the corner was banging out the banana cake and I see it I was like he was saying who was around there he was saying he does like 20 of these a week I've seen Anisha I think we can bang out some banana dabbing the market Oh, so you're selling them to the cafe bit down the road.

1:05:31Well, I might take it. I was going to take it. I was going to take it. I was going to take a sample. Send my regards to your Tupperware. Because look at the size of that. Yeah, it was a big, she'd done a big one. That's a batch, isn't it? She'd done a big one. Enjoy that, lads. Sorry, I did. Appreciate that, Sid. No worries. Maybe you should bring something in next week, Chris. Our wives, we're back. Do you remember? we couldn't even get our wives to make a sandwich for us. It was that challenge one week. Steve's just fired off Bake Off on the podcast. Unbelievable. I feel like I'm on Saturday Kitchen all the time.

1:06:08People are just talking whilst eating. You know when you go on them shows, right? And you're getting pissed. You've done it. You were a recent show. That's a mad show. You're battered. Yeah. Battered. It's just such a strange like collection of people as well. Yeah. Always. And you talk throughout and then they give you the food. Yeah, the food's a nice touch. We've not really done food as a podcast, have we? It's a nice thing to do. We're constantly evolving. We'll bring enough one in. Yeah, all right. Cheers, guys. We'll see you next time.

1:06:39Immersing yourself in all things soccer ahead of this summer's World Cup? I'm Alex Abnos, senior sports editor from The Guardian. And whether you're a soccer beginner or you know the game inside and out, we've got you covered. Read, watch and listen as our journalists connect the dots between the games, the cultures and this political moment. We'll have daily newsletters throughout the tournament, reporters on the ground with all the big teams, and the legendary Football Weekly podcast, The Guardian, bringing you the whole picture on soccer. Search Guardian Soccer for more.