That England v Ghana Episode: HONEST reactions to the draw & a CRAZY Shakira Stat! I Ep. 409

0:06Welcome to That Peter Crouch podcast. It's me, Peter Crouch. I've got Tom Fordyce and Stephen Sidwell with me. Oh, formal. Yeah, formal. That's formal because it was nil-nil today. I've gone formal. Not even referees used to call me Stephen. But interestingly, you've not gone Thomas. You've stayed with Tom for me. No, I still, I don't, yeah, I don't class you as a Thomas. No. But that's your official name. My official name That's the official name On the team sheet Is it on the team sheet Yeah But it's only used By my mum If I've done something Which she doesn't approve Which I'm sure is the same With Stephen

0:40Tom Fordyce: Not really Oh No I've been a SIDS From like Even to your mum You know his missus Who's joined us today You know She's actually a SIDS Well as well But calls him SIDS She's actually a SIDS herself Which is funny enough So does everyone in your family Get called SIDS No, no. My brother doesn't. My, Harry, my eldest son, he's taken the mantle. But my dad, my dad's a big Sid. Yeah, I've been. He's big Sid? He's big Sid. Is he really? You can imagine big Sid. He's got the Harley Davidson. He's got the leather. He's just, you know, bob, bob, bob, bob. I bet he introduced himself as big Sid. Handshake.

1:22Hi, big Sid. I'm big Sid. Steady one. Do you know what's under me a little bit? is my daughter, her best mate calls her Crouchy. Oh, Sophia. Oh, wow. Her best mate started calling her Crouchy. She's kind of got it around school. It's a bit unnerving. Have you found yourself in a situation? There's only one of those, I'm afraid. That's true. There is. If I can't say to a young 15, you're going to have to stop that now. Yeah. So, boys, we are properly into the World Cup now. Yeah. Last time we got together, we were what four or five days in we've now had two England games you boys went to Dallas Sid tell us about your your Dallas experience Dallas was great that is great we went down there together didn't we we flew down there and then uh morning of the game the atmosphere around the stadium was

2:14Tom Fordyce: electric I've got to say went to like a like a fan park Texas live uh there's a few of our friends So it was there. Imagine like a food outlet on a Blue Water or Trafford Centre, you know, where all the restaurants are like around the side and in the middle is like booths and seats and there's a massive big screen as well. And it was like that, just full of England fans. And it was just, it set the tone for the day. Walked into the stadium, on the way there, you FaceTime me. On the podium, you was like, wait till you get inside and see this stadium. It is like unreal. It's one of those bucket list stadiums, you know, like I feel like you have to go and see it like once in your life.

2:51Yeah. When I turned up there, I was genuinely like, I was with some Americans who've been there quite a bit. And I don't know, I felt like a real tourist, you know, I was going, wow. You know, like the kid at the Toys R Us advert, you know, and he goes, wow. Do you know what I mean? In general, the big giraffe, and you just go like, wow, this is amazing. I felt like a kid, like, this is on such a grand scale that I've never seen before. The stadiums are being a really big part of this World Cup, haven't they? So if people are watching at home, they're getting a sense of the scale of the event.

3:27Whereas the last time the World Cup was in the US, there was a sense that a lot of the stadium weren't quite working for football. They were being converted from American football. The set-up wasn't quite right. Here, it feels like we're stepping into the stadiums of the future.

3:39Tom Fordyce: Feels like that. It's a different level, isn't it? Well, you've done the SoFi Stadium, and I flew over that coming back from Dallas to here. And you're right, it is low. and they've got 100 feet deep. Down below, yeah. Down below. But that Dallas one, I mean, I've seen it from little clips of my daughter. She loves the Dallas cheerleaders. So my wife and Emmy, they come to the game and you step in and my mate was like, you wait till you see the size of the screen at the top. Like the screen is mad. You'll end up watching the screen probably more than the game. And then when we was in there, you know, you just step in and I love coming and watching them play.

4:14Tom Fordyce: You just see the shirts. you see the St. George's flag like the red and the white and you see it plastered around like half a stadium that's when you know like the hair stand up and you're like come on, come on England I loved it there is something special about it it was an amazing performance as well was it good? eh? that was brilliant what do you think we'll talk about England Croatia in a moment but we are recording this late afternoon in Los Angeles and we've all just watched England-Ghana different performance different atmosphere is that one of those games Crouchy where it's almost inevitable after you have that really good first game that things just settled down a little bit because Ghana seems to have looked at Croatia and gone, okay, well you found loads of space down the flanks, we're just going to sit deep sit deep and you have to try and play through us Yeah, and I think, you know the manager Carlos Keros, he knows the players inside out, right, he's been around he's been spent a lot of time in and around the Premier League and the players around the Premier League and yeah, I think they did a job on us if I'm being totally honest, I thought they were defensively sound they had a few little breakaways themselves it's so hard to break a team down with those banks of four had everyone behind the ball and we struggled and I think it wasn't until kind of late on really where we were really pushing kind of last 10-15 that we created anything and I think there'll be a few changes but I'm one of those who's I'm not too concerned by it it was we've played in games like Axis where you just find a team so hard to break down and it's just one of those things that's just not going to be your day.

5:48Having said that, Harry Kane gets a chance nine times out of ten that he buries that. Nick O 'Reilly had the header off the bar, felt that it was a great header and then he should score that, we should win one there and we'd never speak of that game again. But I don't think, I thought we'd draw one game and we'd win two out of the group. I thought it might have been Croatia and then we were a bit nervy and we'd get through the other two but we were brilliant in the first game. draw the second I think we'll go and beat Panama in the third are you are you slightly concerned

6:16Tom Fordyce: from that performance or has it changed your opinion or are you still optimistic yeah I think that second half against Croatia was so good because it was you could finally see what Tuchel's been trying to do and it really got that sense of all the players buying into it which isn't always the case with England and I think we were saying earlier there's actually a little bit of a pattern here Pete so if you go back to the last Euros England start with a win and then had a bit of a disappointing draw, second game against Denmark. Last World Cup, win the opening game, and then drew with the US, nil-nil.

6:49I think at the Euros in 2020 or 2021, as they were in the end, drew the second game with Scotland. So there's a little bit of a pattern there. As we said, Sid, because we won that first game against Croatia, that settles everyone down. It's not a disaster by any stretch to be on four points after two games.

7:07Tom Fordyce: I am not worried one bit. A couple of reasons why. one is I love, even when we got to halftime, and I'm thinking this manager, he'll upset a few. He'll make changes if he has to make changes. He obviously done it about 10 minutes into the second half, dragged that left side off, didn't he? Made the subs. The subs look great when they come on. And then secondly, it doesn't worry me because we are going to come up against this later in the tournament against whoever we get drawn against. Do you know what I mean? like so instead of going through a clean sweep winning winning winning end to end matches it's nice for them to experience this now get a bit of flack because no doubt they're going to get some flack from the press back home unacceptable should be winning should be beating Ghana listen I'm all I'm here for the positives and I'm going to take that as a sign of a touch of salt with a little bit of sugar to go this experience is what's needed in this competition and we got it.

8:09Actually, Sid gives you the impression there that he wasn't worried. I need to tell you, because you weren't watching the game with us, you were doing it for TV. I do need to tell you that at around 73 minutes, Stephen Sidwell went for a walk. He went for a walk to conjure up a goal. To conjure up a goal. It didn't work. It nearly worked for Ghana. It did, actually.

8:28Tom Fordyce: The next time, walk in a different direction. Honestly, there must be people back home. I don't know whether you guys experience this. Whenever I'm watching football, and this has been going on for years, my wife will double down on this. Anytime I literally look down, do my shoelace up, walk out the room, go for a wee, make a cup of tea, there's a goal. There's a goal. I missed a goal. Is that when you were playing? No. You need to switch on, son. She did. It's got to go. Come and see. Listen, it happens all the time. Really? Not when I was playing. It happens all the time. So it happened, it actually happened at Dallas the other day.

9:11Tom Fordyce: I was like, I'll nip now to go and get a drink because you could drink in the stadium. So we were drinking tequilas during the England game. Tequilas? I was on the tequilas. I thought I'll nip over now. I was in the queue for 10 minutes, missed two goals. Missed an England goal and a Croatia goal. Happens all the time, honestly. So I was like, right, if I nip out, England will score. They didn't. Was that your first tequila at a football match? Yeah. It must be, mustn't it? Yeah. I'll tell you what, I had a tequila when I was, I'm going to say, 21. Yeah. So basically, what I realised, it was an older group of players at Aston Villa, like Steve Staunton and Dion Dublin.

9:50And I'm just getting, I was left out of the squad and so were they. And they said, right, we're up to the bar. I said, what? There's a match going on. I said, what if someone gets injured or something? You know, we've got to go on the bench. No, no, because obviously they've come to us. We're banging tequilas in the players' lounge.

10:05Tom Fordyce: That's like three o 'clock on a Saturday. Yeah, three o 'clock on a Saturday. And I was like half-cut watching the match going like, oh my God, what are we doing? There's a baptism of fire, that. This feels like we've opened a can of worms here. So the two ex-professional footballers on the podcast have both drunk tequila at a football match. If you're listening to this and you have also drunk tequila at a football match, get in touch and let us know the scenario. Yeah, we're with God since the game's gone. I don't know if you're like, I'm just talking about the tournament as a whole at the moment.

10:36Don't know if you've spotted the referee getting cramp. Oh, man, there was that. Did you see it? Mad awakey. I don't know what to make of that. What do you think? Okay, positive spin on it. The referee's put in an astonishing performance. He's tracked every single runner.

10:53Tom Fordyce: Bearing in mind, we've said about the referee's runs, haven't we? What I think here is he's overexerting himself for the ref cam. I think there's now competition for the best ref cam moment and because they've got their names on the back of their shirt now people do not know who they are they've got cameras, they've got names and I feel like they're working extra hard to try and make a name for themselves they're not just referees anymore, they're film directors is it good for the game? them being producers it's a very LA thing isn't it? they're content creators hi hi hi I'm grandpa. That is what they feel like they are.

11:32That is what they are. Yeah, I was actually in the visa queue and it was Saeed Martinez, you know, the referee out here. He's in the visa queue and I remember he was explaining, you know, why I was over and they said, what are you? And he said, I'm a content creator.

11:47First, slash referee. I'm sorry, you might know me as a referee. And then he goes, here's my reel. This is my footage. Look at that. I was right behind Cristiano Ronaldo and he scored his second. You can guarantee there is going to be a WhatsApp group between the referees at this World Cup and they'll all be posting their ref cam best of. Look at this. What I've decided to do here, I've gone slightly wider and I've just got the curl on this one. Unbelievable, yeah. And many people would have gone for that because he was behind like Cristiano. It was Nuno Mendes who scored two. He was behind him.

12:22He said, many of you, but I stayed on Nuno because I knew. Experience. And that is an experience content creator. I'm all for the footage.

12:30Tom Fordyce: I actually quite like it. It is good, isn't it? It's really net clip up and close. I agree, actually. Some of the ref cam stuff is really good. Do you reckon on a bonus? If you can get, if you're in the action, if we can use your... Clip it all up. If we can use your footage, we'll pay you right. Do you think we're approaching... Do they own it? That's the next thing. Are we also approaching... Where's their agent? Exactly. Are we approaching the point where a referee might have an agent? I mean, game's gone there, surely. The thing is, it's not about his work kind of on the field. If he can get a good shot, you know, the broadcasters can use.

13:08Yeah. Worth its weight in gold. Yeah. We're moving into different times. Referees with an eye for a goal. So, Sid, England nil, Ghana nil. Super weird for this point in a tournament. That was only the second goalless draw. First was Spain, Cape Verde. And then Cape Verde got a point in their second game. Yes, 2-2. 2-2. Brilliant. We thought a lot of the minnows in this one might just be there to pad it out. We thought they might be the whipping boys. Kosau got beaten by Germany heavily. But that whole Cape Verde thing is an amazing story. Incredible.

13:44Tom Fordyce: Really, really good. I watched the game they drew 2-2 in. And the first goal, which is their first goal in a World Cup final, the bench was up, everyone, the manager. it was it was a lovely it was a lovely moment like watching it because it's history as well so you can imagine the pictures will be plastered everywhere but also they've got some good players Mendes the right winger I had to Google him at one point I was like this is a player he was chopping he croifed someone he croifed me as well I was watching even I went this way I was like and he just went down the line yeah like it's been it's been one of them ones where I think there's four debutant nationalities, isn't it?

14:27Tom Fordyce: Yeah. In this World Cup and they have really, they've really gone above and beyond in this one. There's a little bit of everything, I think. Like, it's great to see kind of nations qualifying for the first time and having a go and doing really well because we love an underdog story, especially, you know, our podcast especially. We love the underdog but also I think we can't get too carried away on the flip side of that about people like Messi and and Ronaldo though, destroying teams like Uzbekistan or Iraq, you know, like, that is not the kind of standard. You know what, do you know what I mean?

15:01I'm trying to bring it back round, like there's two sides to every corner. It's amazing seeing them do well, but there are teams who are getting absolutely pumped and then records are getting broken, like goal scoring wise. The amount of teams...

15:12Tom Fordyce: Are you saying it should be elite of the elite, really? No, because I actually do like this format, where there are nations coming into it for the first time and having a go. But then also records of previous World Cups are getting skewed, in my opinion, on the fact that Pelé or Maradona, what they achieved against the elite, there wasn't a whipping boy that you could go and pump free pass. And what I'm saying is there's probably going to be, for instance, by the end of this tournament, I think we'll have the record amount of goals. Well, you will have. I think it's already happening. And that skews the integrity of the competition of the past.

15:51it's such an interesting debate because I was thinking the same thing Pete and then I was thinking back to World Cup's past and I think the counter argument to that I think you're right but I think the slight counter argument to that is that the standard in world football now is so good across the board partly because you have so many overseas managers going into teams whereas before you might have had a naivety with some of the smaller nations a lot of them have got really experienced managers who have coached other teams and you've also now more than ever before you've got players who are playing in leagues across the world.

16:23So I think there is that slight thing that some of the naivety you might have got 20, 30, 40 years ago might not be there. I think definitely in terms of the number of teams. The other thing is just the longevity of players now. When we look at the records, you know, we see Messi now as the record goal scorer at World Cup finals. It's the longevity of players. Like Messi is turning 39, Cristiano Ronaldo is 41. That's sad. That never happened. I mean, Pelé made his debut at 17 in 58 and his last World Cup was in 1970. But we're now seeing players playing five, six tournaments. That's incredible, really.

16:59Yeah.

16:59Tom Fordyce: I mean, what day was it? Is it yesterday or the day before? It was Messi in the morning. Yeah. Mbappe after Haaland after that in their respective games. All banging. All banging goals. They're obviously like, let's say Haaland, I think, was the last one. He's gone. Messi's got two. Mbappe's got two. I need to get on the score sheet I need to get two or a hat-trick minimum do you know what I mean that's magic Cristiano there each scored two didn't he as well I think the day after so what's good about that is the stars like the Galacticos they're all scoring even when you go to like Salah or you know Balogun like all the everyone's main goal scorer is Bang Goals and Kane as well like it's what you want to see I think it's what you want from a tournament it's the big dog world cup it really is you know and look at us

17:48Tom Fordyce: we're right amongst it so you've seen a good look at most of the teams who is the team to beat at the moment because there's been some big performances yep they have Argentina look good as well they do look good but France I said at the start I still feel the same way I think I'm back he looks in the mood like seriously in the mood you know like there was a couple of little little moves like moments where I went oh my god I forgot he was that fast and he's doing things and Alise just looks so silky it feels like he could open up his balance is unreal I think he'll be a player of the tournament I do, I think he's that good I agree on the Argentina front this is the way you phrased that question who is the best team in the tournament I think they are a team in the purest sense they all have a role in that team yes you've got your superstars but for every Messi you've got a Rodrigo de Paul who knows his role and is quite happy to play that role as Messi's minded like he does at Inter Miami.

18:48They've got a manager they all believe in. They've also got that thing, it reminds me about the best Italy teams that you used to get at World Cups. It's that Italy team that won the World Cup in 2006. One of the craziest stats, they conceded two goals from open play all tournament in 2006 and they had players like Cannavaro and Nesta who would put a foot in. They had that real mix of the creative and the beautiful side of the game but they had the nasty side of the game. When I watch this Argentina side, you watch the way that Romero plays. You watch the way that McAllister or Enzo are happy to put a foot in as well.

19:24But then they have the creativity. They really are. They're a really beautifully balanced team. I actually had an amazing stat the other day as well about the Italians. Is that in the last three World Cups, Shakira has made more appearances.

19:49she loves us she's everywhere she's everywhere Infantino must be one of the biggest fans of all time hips don't like it

19:56Tom Fordyce: absolutely loves Shakira what's the what's the take on the celeb watch at the moment we like they love a celeb out here doesn't it are we for it first game was mental I was at the USA game every time on a big screen it was like absolutely everyone yeah wouldn't believe it Darren Anderton was on there at one stage. He was. Was he really? He was. He was. He was so recognising Darren Anderson even though he wasn't the Darren Anderson we remember. He was Darren Anderson but bigger. Darren Anderson. Yeah. Unreal. But I think he lives out here. Yeah. He was in Dallas. I see him. He was in the same hotel.

20:28Tom Fordyce: See him at Dallas. Sorry, I forgot to mention about Dallas. When I was there, lads, the passing of the pod was outrageous. And the love for the podcast down there was brilliant. Not only from the England fans but also from Americans as well. So, yeah. They asked me to put on, I'm doing a bit of work for Fox, they asked me to put on those meta glasses that I put them on. And I'm not joking, so I'm not joking. I had to turn them off after a while. What were you seeing? Well, there's a lot of podcast stuff out there, but you know, some profanities as well. All good-natured. Yeah, all pod-orientated.

21:04I'm really proud of the England fans. Gave a good account of themselves. Go on. What about, talking about the celebrities, this man probably thinks he's, celebrity, Sids. Infantino is being shown on screen. Feels like a little bit of an ego play.

21:19Tom Fordyce: Yeah, I mean, who calls the shots on that? Do you reckon that's his team? There's chat that he stipulates that every game he's at, he has to appear on screen at least once. And if he's on his phone, the director is under strict instructions not to show Infantino on his phone. Who knows if these things are true, but I don't know. I think it's going against him a little bit because if he's that's so many, I think these people, these save the planet people, they're like, well, how's he getting from Houston to Boston in 15 years? Not many people in his jet, I don't think, are there? No, he's up and down the PJ, isn't he?

21:52Tom Fordyce: I think he's going for and against him on that one. Yeah. Yeah, good. Stay in your lane. Save the planet, I said. Boys, the quiz has been a big part of our World Cup experience, whether we've been out having a few drinks, having a bit of food, or when we had Brad Friedle on and we did a World Cup either or with Rio. I'm very, very keen to keep the momentum going. These Fordyce quizzes are fantastic. I have prepared a little quiz. Now, please no looking because the answers are on this piece of paper. Pete, I saw you look. I did look. They were right there. So the first question will go to Sid. I think the way we'll do this, it's one point for a correct answer.

22:31If you fail to get the right answer and the point goes across, yeah, half a point. So Sid...

22:37Tom Fordyce: And play along at home as well if you're listening. Very much so, yeah. It's not just our quiz, it's a communal quiz. It's the golden quiz. Sid, we've talked a lot about the potential winners of the Golden Boot. Can you give me the name of the Golden Boot winner who has scored the most goals in a previous World Cup to win the Golden Boot? If you can give me the number of goals this player scored, I will give you a bonus half point. Sorry, so... it's a long question yeah here's a long question so who has won the World Cup scoring the most goals in that tournament won the Golden Boot the Golden Boot winner with the most goals in that specific tournament okay

23:27Tom Fordyce: closer is coming to mind or Ronaldo is coming to mind you're probably both wrong I'm going to need one answer I'm going to go for Ronaldo is the incorrect answer which means that a half a point is up for grabs for Peter Crouch you just tried to look at my piece of paper I'm going to go for Mirosef closer with 11 goals the correct answer is Jus Fontaine of France 1958 13 so someone has got to score 14 goals to beat the record of Mr Jus Fontaine that could happen question number two Cratchy we'll start with you and we switch from goals to geography which of the following three nations competing at this FIFA World Cup is the most most southerly nation in the world is it A.

24:18New Zealand B. Argentina or C. South Africa hmm

24:26Tom Fordyce: southerly it's a trick question isn't it obviously because I automatically would think New Zealand but you're going to tell me it's not that or am I no your gonna tell me it's not that so I'm gonna say South Africa it's the wrong answer Steve Sibwell oh I've got to go New Zealand now haven't I it's Argentina no I knew it was a trick Argentina yeah it's very long country I knew it was a trick but it was just too tricky this quiz is going really well because we currently have zero points play zero points that's what you want yeah it's a quiz it's your turn for question number three The smallest nation at this World Cup is Curaçao.

25:06Curaçao has a population of 150 ,000. Which of the three English towns slash cities that I'm going to name has the closest population to Curaçao? Is it A, Ipswich? Is it B, Nottingham? Or is it C, Leeds?

25:28Curaçao, 150 ,000 people.

25:30Tom Fordyce: Is it A, Nottingham, Leeds? You've got Ipswich, Nottingham or Leeds. Incredible. Like a young Bob Monk house, aren't they?

25:41What do you reckon? Sid's trying to get some help off camera. Is this allowed? Nottingham. I mean, it's cheating really, isn't it? I'm going for Nottingham. You're going for Nottingham and that was a mistake because it is not Nottingham. It's Ipswich. Is it Ipswich or Leeds? It's Ipswich. It's Ipswich. Which puts Peter Crouch half a point up in the word. Half a point up! This is the equivalent of England, Ghana. Okay. Pete, which host city at this World Cup is hosting the most individual games? Which host city is hosting the most games at 2026 World Cup?

26:21Seattle. Is not even top four. Sid. I just get told where I'm going. that's true I couldn't even tell you

26:33Tom Fordyce: what the hoes cities are I am gonna go you love this city Sid I'm gonna go for and I was gonna say this this is the first one that comes to my mind because it is one of the best stadiums is Dallas it's the correct answer oh my god it's hard to point all is there a tiebreaker yes there is come on Bob give us another P Bob the tiebreaker goes first to Stephen Sidwell god they're on the edge of their seat Stephen Sidwell how does this work Tom Have you ever been in this situation before? I think actually it's just, shout out the answer. Yeah? No? Hold on, if you shout one out, you're out. No, you can keep going.

27:08No. Really? Okay, all right, go on then. Okay, Stephen Sibwell. Is this just Stephen Sibwell? Why is he called Stephen Sibwell? You're kidding me. Stephen and Peter. Why are you so formal today? Okay, you can both shout out and answer. What links USA player Gio Reyna and England squad member and most popular man in the squad, Jordan Henderson. What links Gio Reyna and Jordan Henderson?

27:41Tom Fordyce: They both made the same career appearances. Think about where Gio Reyna's dad played. They are both born in Manchester. You're getting very warm. They are both born in Leeds. Jordan Henderson. They are both born in England. Sutherland. It's the Greatest.

28:01He's born in Sunderland. He's born in Sunderland. His dad was playing there. Well, I didn't even remember that Jordan Henderson's from Sunderland. I know. I was on the right track and I just got it all... You blew it. In fact, you guided him in. I guided him in. Guided him in. So at the end of that quiz, the one of the world's worst ever quizzes, it's won after five questions by one to half. Yeah, well. That'll keep them coming back. Get us live on Amazon Prime. Right, that's as much fun as we're having here. Chris Stark is back at home and he's in an England watch-along party.

28:54Tom Fordyce: Jordan North hurry up I need a wee I want to look ahead in the tournament are we going to win the World Cup that's a very tough question Chris I always said give it the first game so ask me at full time but I think the first game will help us decide but 2-2 at half time it's uh yeah it looks incredible in the US right everything that we're seeing we get up in the morning we do the radio and when we get up early we see all the videos that are coming out of America and Canada and Mexico can you describe to everyone that's over in the US how it is in the UK right now. I think they should be here fully embracing what it's like for the working man who can't afford tickets to go out there.

29:44Tom Fordyce: So I think they should be here embracing the pub atmosphere, the pub culture of this great nation. But being honest, I showed you videos of the lads in LA and we were basically saying how class it would be to be out. I mean, look, if I got offered a ticket, I would go out there. It does look great, but this is what it's all about, being in the pub with people, speaking to people that you don't know, you know, slating players to other people that you've never met before. That's what it's all about and this is the best thing about this country. It's the summer, it's beautiful weather, we're in the beer garden, I'm five pints in, I'm up at four o 'clock in the morning and who's bothered?

30:23Tom Fordyce: England Gardner, next game, Jordan North, what's the score? 2-0 to England. Okay, England-Panama, the game after that what do you reckon? 3-1 England. And then the big question is it coming home? It's coming home. It's coming home.

30:42Tom Fordyce: You performed tonight did you enjoy it? I did I love doing these things so far. So for everyone who hasn't seen you yet what's your name? Do you want to talk about your music? My name is Moolah Jones and um hopefully you'll know me in the next year. I just I just sing my songs and hopefully frame the best. That's my motto. Go for it. Yeah, it's going to be good. I'm excited. It's mad. I reckon I run it on the crouchy pod of all places. This is going to be one of those. Then this video will get played in the future when you're a megastar. Because you are phenomenal. Thank you. I appreciate it. Yeah, definitely.

31:14Tom Fordyce: And very quickly, what do you reckon the score's going to be? Well, 2-2. Except that it was obviously offside. Like, that just pissed me off. No, I think it's going to be 3-1. No, 3-2. I think we're just going to score one more and then we'll just... Oh, God!

31:34Oh, my God!

31:37Tom Fordyce: Oh, my God! Oh, my God! She literally manifested it. Maybe this is your thing. I told you, I told you! You literally called for the goal. I swear, OK. Love you guys! Boys, what a night. I think now on to Ghana, on to Panama. could we win the World Cup? I think potentially so.

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32:42Okay, lads, the next part of the podcast is sponsored by Paddy Power. It's the big weekend fixture, or big World Cup fixture. We have another left for the Mr. Mischief. I'm going to read it out for you. Crouchy Tom and the Notorious S.I.B. First things first, I want to apologise. Truth be told, it's been a tough week since we last spoke. Can't eat, can't sleep. I can barely even take pleasure out of my mischief. Sorry, I wondered where that was going there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. All he can think about is how I missed the pun, the damn four dice and the four dice pun. Yeah. I didn't. Yeah, it was sloppy for him, really, wasn't it?

33:21I've let myself down, lads, but rest assured, I'll be back stronger. Very odd brand. Anyway, enough about my deep burning shame. We've two rounds of the league to catch up on, so let's get straight into it, starting with England versus Croatia. What a game, by the way. The supersize it chaos cards saw all of you choose to make your correct score prediction leg worth triple points, which paid off for Sids and Tom, who correctly called an England win, albeit not exactly the score, meaning their one point became three. Crouchy and Sids then both gained three points thanks to Kane and Bellingham notching two plus shots each.

33:53That's great. Leaving Crouchy and Tom on three points and Sid's on six. Usual service resumes. Exactly. Have you got your ring on? Would you put it on? Have you got it?

34:02Tom Fordyce: I've got it. I've brought it across the pond. It'd be wrong if I didn't put it on the pinky. It's a beautiful thing, isn't it? I'll wear that on Venice Beach, son. Look at the state of it, look. That is unbelievable, isn't it, that ring? Carry on. What a lovely ring. Yeah, it's got a nice ring, isn't it? I've always enjoyed the ring.

34:27right add on his five bonus points and it's a whopping 11 pointer for the league leader how

34:34Tom Fordyce: does he do it look at him he's getting uh incredible look at that he's a machine with the scores on to usa australia then we're a combination of dice related chaos thanks to the vegas baby card and some stinking shouts across you and other predictions meant none None of you registered anything more than a point for the US win. The tie across the board meant you were receiving bonus points, giving you six apiece. Some much-needed stat padding for Crouchy and Tom. But what does this all mean for the table? Well, Sid has opened up a sickening 16-point lead. 16? A 16-point lead. After three games.

35:11Jesus Christ. You've given me by half a point on the last quiz that we did. It's insane. Sitting pretty on 26. Crouchy and Tom way back on 10 Worry not though lads For a new game week is upon us And I can now reveal That your next Paddy Power Up Big weekend fixture Is France versus Norway It's Mbappe versus Haaland It's Baguette versus Brunhast It's what? Brunhast Oh okay Yeah you got it? I don't know what that is That is food But enough about the football This week the real stars won't be on the pitch at all Because your latest chaos card Is Gone Hollywood The rules are simple. You need to call a famous friend to select your bet builder for you.

35:54And if that sounds familiar, that's because a complete rip-off of last season's phone a friend. But anything that summons a trio of Carrot, Coley and Big John just can't be a one-off. And with that, I'll leave you. Choose your fighter wisely. That gap on SIDS won't close itself. Regardless of your families, lads, the Paddy Power Minister of Mischief, make your predictions for France versus Norway. So listen, I've gone to town with mine. I've got an absolute bank panger. Have you? Yeah, I really have. You're pleased with this, aren't you? I'm over the middle of mine. You've looked slightly smug, actually.

36:25Well, it's a big name. So with the time difference, boys, I think we've got a combination of voice notes and messages. I've got a message from a friend of all of ours, Joe Marler. I know you spend time with Joe on various quiz shows. Yeah, we like Joe. Yeah, and Sid, you know, he's a massive Brighton fan. Yes, great guy. Very close to your heart. This is Joe's message. Hi, Tom. Hi, Crouchy and hi, Sins. Hope you're all enjoying yourselves out there.

36:55Tom Fordyce: France-Norway, huge game. Mega game, apparently. So my score prediction is 2-1 France. Mbappe to score all three. and some form of French centre-half getting a yellow card. Now that is the level of detail I'm sure you and all your football fans have been dying for. Big love. That's confident. I have gone for someone that's played in this competition. Yeah, good start. someone that's captain the nation

37:45Tom Fordyce: it's the England former captain John Terry oh so I've actually not heard this I don't know what he's put he just said here's a voice note that you wanted so here goes

38:00Tom Fordyce: Cid Teller mate JT here good to see you flying in the World Cup predictions mate hopefully I can help and add to this so I'm going to go France 2-1 win Mbappe to have two or more shots on goal and I'm expecting a couple of changes and I'm going to go Kante to get booked. Hopefully, mate, it adds a few points to your score already but wish you well, mate, and look forward to seeing you over here. Wow. There's experience there. A few changes. Kante to get booked. I think that could be the one. It's nice. Interesting. Pete, drum roll. Wow. Well, lads, I've actually got LeBron James. What are you laughing at?

38:48Tom Fordyce: I'm not laughing. I'm just mind-dropping that. Do you want to hear? Yeah, I do want to hear. Yes, please. Joe Crouch, it's your man LeBron. Here we go. Unbelievable. I want to start. So, two of us shots on target.

39:14Tom Fordyce: I'm a DJ DJ's on there rewind rewind that see Gaz Gaz didn't think I'd remember see Gaz didn't think I'd remember two weeks ago I knew this was coming up so I spoke to Lebron and he was he was busy he was playing golf at our local golf club yeah Yeah. And he said to me, listen, no problem, Crouchy Man. It actually sounds like he's recorded this in the pro shop. I can hear that. Yeah. Some people said he might have recorded it just outside the front there.

39:52Unbelievable, LeBron. Play that again. Play that again. I couldn't believe it when he did it. Unreal. You want to hear him? Yeah. Yo, Crouchy Man, LeBron. I got you. Norway, France. Here we go.

40:10So two shots on target, that's Erlen Haaland, my man Erlen. Remember, hold on, my man, my man Erlen. It's his man Erlen. Yeah, that's it. My man Erlen, my man Erlen. All right. How did that hold on? Here we go, it's more. It's more, it's more. Yo, Crouchy, player to be called, that's Will.I.Am. Will.I.Am Saliba.

40:38He knows his football. Will I am saliva? Can't believe it. Will I am saliva from Brooklyn?

40:47Signs off really well, actually. Yeah, interesting. I've not heard these, actually. Hopefully he'll sign off well. Hopefully he'll sign off well, yeah. Yo, Crouchy. Score prediction in this game. Double dukes. Double dukes. Double dukes. He's thrown up the double deuce Oh there's one There's one He's thrown up the double deuce Yo Crouchy Score prediction in this game Double deuce Double deuce 2-2 And for the record I'm best in Liverpool And If I'd have been in charge When you were playing You'd have still been at the club man You'll never walk alone Oh that's nice Any day of the week

41:40that's what an endor how do you feel about that unbelievable well that makes me feel great you must be shocked the fact that Lebron obviously is a big investor in Liverpool isn't he yeah the fact that he would have liked it to me to still be at the club that's a big big praise

41:53Tom Fordyce: I mean I love the way that he introduced every single voice now you're crouching yeah each one you're crouching that's just Lebron it's so Lebron isn't it it sounds like you get on really well Could you get him on as a guest on the pod? Yeah, yeah, 100%. He said he would come on. Yeah. I'm just glad, you know, I've been tight with him for a while now and I'm just really pleased that he wanted to be a part of it. He wants you on his pod, I guess, as well, does he? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yes. That's that. I hope you've got all that down now. Great to hear from LeBron. So good. Nods are correct at time of recording.

42:32Please gamble responsibly.

42:42Right, well, you might have noticed that we've got changed if you're watching us on YouTube. These shirts that we're actually sporting at the moment, I think this is probably your go-to festival wear for the season. A million percent. This is basically a Peter Crouch podcast shirt. It's been designed by our friends at Icarus. I think they're belters, do you? This is our own jersey, lads. These are genuinely beautiful shirts. I mean that looks very very good on you particularly with your LA tan I think it really suits you Crouchy I know you are traditionally a long sleeve man very very rare to see you in a short sleeve but I think that might change your opinion I really love the shirt and also your guns look really good in it I think it highlights your guns that's the first time anyone's ever said that

43:24Tom Fordyce: your pistols I can see bucket hat sunnies festival vibes are we saying guys this is potentially people could win these or are we going to send them out to people no you can buy these can you wow fantastic yeah well I've made my purchase I know what I'm wearing to Glastonbury if it's not a fallow year I'm wearing this home she looks happy well listen lads this has been great to chat to you I know England weren't great today but I thought our podcast was first class great to hear from LeBron yeah that was amazing yeah I'm really pleased you know you know John Terry and of course Joe as well yeah and you know pleasure to spend time with you again we're back lads we're back we really are back 100 % got some great guests coming up as well by the way it's Juan Pablo Angel they're collared him in the hotel we have heard didn't really get away we've been told haven't we since that he has quote perfect skin is he yeah oh yes I've seen him in the gym most mornings he's in shape isn't he he's in good shape yeah what a legend as well So Villa fans, shoot him for that because he is a ledge and a great guy as well.

44:37Spend some time up there with him. Yeah, great. Let's get back on the beers. See you next time.

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