That Mexico v England Episode: Lescott on England’s toughest test & Pete hugs Kane! | Ep. 413

0:05Hello and welcome to that Peter Crouch podcast with me Peter Crouch live and direct from Mexico City. I've got Tom Fordyce and Sid's with me and you're back in LA at the ranch. We are back at camp mate and what a day it's been. I mean let's get let's get into your day first please because you are in hq mexico yeah and when we talk about getting into your day pete there's one thing so many things to talk about there's one thing we need to talk about more than anything else and it's you peter crouch on the pitch at the azteca as england have just pulled off arguably their greatest ever away win and you are hugging sir harold of cane and you are dancing with him and you're shouting in each other's faces and there's man love there and there's striker love there and there's England love there and tell us all about it please oh mate yeah so basically I'm I'm working at the side of the pitch but for whatever reason we don't we don't go on so I'm now like just a fan at the side of the pitch and then obviously I'm behind the goal and singing with the England fans and then all the England players come over and get over the advertising audience and right into where i'm standing i'm there obviously so excited and then like all the lads start coming over i saw an anti gordon and mark gay come out i had a little chat with it and then um ollie watkins and then harry comes over and just gives me the biggest hug ever like we're kind of dancing around i'm telling him out how much i love him and then i thought to myself and then i looked around and it was kind of like a moment between me and harry and i looked around him, there must have been like thousands of photographers kind of around us.

1:49And then it suddenly dawns on me that I'm the fucking, I'm the new Salt Bae.

1:56Is Catter all over again the final? I've gone full Salt Bae. It was one of those like full kit wanker moments. I almost felt like I should have got the kit back on and pretended I was part of the team. I was so caught up in it all I kind of thought there was one point where I think Anthony Gordon kind of shouts me in to like sing Wonderwall like with them and I was I was that close to doing it and I thought no one would have blamed you oh I thought I thought thank god I didn't because you know the boys deserve all the credit I you know it's like I'm jumping on the bandwagon massively but I was just so I was so excited by the whole situation um and like I say that that kind of embrace with with Harry it was felt it felt like it was genuine yeah I mean I'm just so proud of him and and the team and like there's so much to talk about my day there like strolling in to the Azteca is like something I've never ever experienced before in my life um we had a kind of armed guards.

3:01I mean, listen, I'm over the road. That's the England team hotel literally opposite me, right? Just behind you. Wow. It's literally behind me. And I'm not joking. I don't think you've ever seen more police in your life than us out there. Like full riot gear on. We arrived kind of last night and they were just cordoned off the whole hotel. You had to show your kind of hotel key card and walk through. But then you go to the Aztec and we got this kind of police escort in and you just fucking fly into the stadium and everywhere when you came in I just didn't see I just saw seas and seas of people and then obviously walking into the stadium and it's like like nothing I've ever seen it's like the Coliseum and the noise is just phenomenal it's one of those if you ever get the opportunity to go there Tom I don't know if you've been there but just like an experience that I'll never ever forget well we spoke about it before you know and you obviously experienced um the greatness of there haven't you like we said about the goals of Brazil win 70 and the the Mexico uh the Argentinian uh hand of God and Maradona but Pete just quickly was the night before as crazy for the team hotel you're standing right near the team hotel so there was rumors of like fireworks and uh car alarms and uh people making noises could you hear that was it as bad as that or was it pretty kind of subtle what was what was the script yeah so the thing is they did it right but they did it on a bridge which is like and the bridge is quite far away i'm not joking like you they cordoned off like hats off to the kind of the Mexican police, they formed a barrier all night.

4:48So they did kind of set fireworks off and I think they were singing, playing a band playing, but you couldn't really hear it. But bear in mind, I did, you know, I had been for dinner in Mexico City and I don't think there was much waking me up, to be quite honest.

5:11there is so much to get into with the game i mean the three of us could probably sit around with the drinks that we've got in front of us and talk about this for hours so let's try and summarize it a little bit it felt like one of those epic occasions and it happens with england's in big torments where it's very seldom easy when Quantsa got sent off a lot of us were thinking back to decisive World Cup games, thinking about David Beckham getting sent off against Argentina in 1998, Wayne Rooney getting sent off against Portugal, Pete, when you were there in 2006 and both those games ended in heroic failure or in disappointment tonight was different tonight was different, tonight was the night where England faced probably the toughest test they are likely to get away in Mexico unbelievable atmosphere a team who've been beaten there twice in that stadium in the stadium's history they're a man down they're not getting the run of the decisions they had to face 11 minutes of added time yet this time it had a happy ending yeah can I just say I think I think that was one of England's greatest nights yeah I think back to I think Rome with Paul Ince you know with the bandage around his head.

6:32Euro 96, Italia 90. It's right up there for me because I think Mexico were unbeaten, not beaten there. I think they lost two competitive games in like 50, 60 years. Since the stadium's built. Yeah, like the atmosphere, the humidity, the altitude. Getting a man sent off, by the way. and defend him for their lives. Obviously, our big players showed up with regards to Bellingham and Kane again. But I thought even the substitutes, big Dan Byrne coming on, John Stones, Jed Spence, all the players. Anthony Gordon, who has had some criticism, was brilliant, I thought. Like, just every single one of them stood up to be counted.

7:25And to go there in that kind of hostile atmosphere, you wouldn't believe the atmosphere really honestly it was yeah like and that's why Kwanzaa gets sent off I think you know the blood's pumping you wouldn't have made that tackle in any normal game but the even the way Mexico played like they were just so they were on the front foot when they scored I thought oh no like and we held them off and we were still a threat and I think it was an absolute pleasure to be there tonight and I genuinely think it's one of the greatest nights in our nation's footballing history. Yeah, I totally agree. We watched it back at the hotel, didn't we, up on the rooftop bar.

8:04There's a few Mexicans on our right. That was great, wasn't they? We were having a bit of banter with them. But in terms of what you just said there, Crouchy, like I am so, we're all patriotic here, like even the boys behind the camera now. I am as patriotic as anyone, right? And I was so proud, so, so proud of the boys because like we just said there, not that the odds were stacked against us. Again, on paper, we should be beating these. But like we said about the altitude and the fireworks before and even the delay with the rain, the kickoff. But we have gone in to Mexico's backyard, right? With all the history that they've got there and we've gone in there and we've just gone less of it and we have shown balls we've shown character um and this sometimes can get portrayed a different way because people can jump on the band wagon and go oh well you know people on the front line and army and that and and firemen and nurses I get that and not 100 % but what the lads have shown tonight to go there in terms of what's gone on in previous games as well where we've not been at our best and to go and just go, listen, we are here.

9:22And we spoke about Jude. I'll probably come on to Jolie and let's go on what he said about Jude later on in the episode. And when he's just gone, okay, I'm going to turn it up. He is just gone, boys, just jump on the back and let's just go. And yeah, everyone and a lot of them down to a T was just absolutely brilliant. I love today. What a great day today has been. I'm so proud of the boys and let's go England. Yeah, it was just everything about it. Like being in that stadium, that is emotional, you know, like singing the wonderful at the end there. It was just like amazing looking around, everyone singing, Hey Jude, that kind of thing.

10:11Yeah, I mean, I've so privileged to have kind of been there to witness that. Norway in the quarters now I like it I don't mind it I think you know obviously we watched Harlan today insane what a player but you know some of those players there they play with him you know they play against him every week I know they you know he scores every week he's an absolute machine but I just I just really believe in this team now Tom you mentioned Norway was probably going to edge Brazil yeah you kind of predicted it what are we thinking Norway England do you know what I'd really like to talk about that game in depth but there's also a part of me that just wants to stay in this moment now clearly that is a World Cup quarterfinal and if you want me to summarise it I'd rather play Norway than Brazil even though Norway deserved to beat Brazil and Norway fully deserved to be in the World Cup quarterfinals but you would be very happy to have a World Cup quarterfinal against Norway but I almost want to rewind because i think the game that we experienced um today was one of those occasions that anyone who watched it who supports england are going to be talking about in 10 years time 20 years time 30 years time i almost don't want to spoil it by by talking about what happens next because this was such a big game for the people at home who stayed up who were thinking they were going to stay up till one in the morning they had to stay up till two in the morning it was one of those games where if you're watching tv at home you almost want to stand up because the tension was so much there was so much drama there were so many different emotional points so many dramatic turning points in that game i could talk about it all night long the point where england took the heat out the game in the first 25 minutes thought this is good mexico came back into it jude bellingham as you say sidz just decided pete it looked to me like he's just he's looked at all the things we talked about he's looked at the weight on the game he's looked at the way that England have slightly underperformed at this world cup he's looked at the atmosphere he's looked the history and rather than shrinking from it he's gone I really fancy this he thought I really fancied this and then he's delivered the two goals were brilliant but there was so much drama after that so much drama after that do you know what I mean yeah you know what what he gives you Jude I I think he's obviously a superstar, but he's all action.

12:39You know, like he scores the goals. He's our talisman, whatever. There was points in the game, you know, when Harry Kane goes off and he's our centre forward. And I looked at him, he's like an old school centre forward. So he can play an old school centre forward role where he's like holding it up and, you know, winning things. And then he's kind of like a number 10, ghosting in or setting things up. He plays as a midfielder. but also gets back. And, you know, there was one goal-saving tackle. And you're like, it's like almost Stephen Gerrard in that kind of way. You know, like he's everywhere, all around the pitch, match winner.

13:19And like you say, he just grows into the game. And obviously the Harry Kane as well. I know there's so many players, but those two obviously get all the plaudits, and rightly so. But there's so many other performances in there. I thought the two centre-halves, Anthony Gordon, Darren Byrne when he came, or John Stones, Elliot Anderson. You can go right through them, you know. Got to talk about Pickford as well. Jordan Pickford was immense. Pickford was unbelievable today. The way, the saves are one thing, I think, when you watch a keeper. There's the save from when he goes down to his left. Yeah.

13:53When he timed it. Well, Humanaes. Yeah, yeah. Off the bounce. There's the header where he goes up to his right. And those great saves because they're fantastic saves. For me, it was more what he did in that last 20 minutes. The last, yeah, he came for everything. Like you boys can tell me you played pro football. But I watched that as someone who's just watched football. And I think if I were playing in that game, that is what I want for my goalkeeper. I want to know that we're under the cosh. He's going to come for everything. He's going to get everything. He's going to clear out the striker.

14:26You tell me how valid that is. But I just thought in that last 20 minutes, that was exactly what you want from a top-notch keeper. But even the G up, even like, and Crouchy, you've done that before when you've done that defensive duty, when you've come back for like a corner and like it's been whipped in and you've just cleared one off the line as such. And then the keeper behind you just grabbed you like from the scruff of the neck and just thrown you and just go, get in there. Like you get a sense of buzz better than probably scoring a goal because you've done so much for the team as well in a different aspect.

14:59and you just get that from Jordan but like you said, like Dan Byrne Dan Byrne was at John Stones they were both incredible when they come on like you come off on the sideline you're thinking, right here we go this is a huge game you want to try and get an early touch or like an early positive touch whether that's just, whether it's a simple pass or whether it's a clearing header or a clearing tackle everyone just come on and was so positive and it's just for me it's just spun now England's whole outlook on this tournament on its head like again like we all watched it we've all watched it together like the lads behind the camera here and we was like yeah like it's just gonna be that tournament we're just gonna get it down we're gonna get through but now it feels like we've just earned our stripes a little bit and we've just gone into the deep dark territory and just come our head above the parapet and we've gone listen we're here take us seriously now all france spain argentina we're in this competition yeah you know what was amazing as well right so i've worked with um you know peter schmeichel was there casper schmeichel was there you know alex scott and morris and then but javier landes so i'm sitting next to him watching the game um chikorito obviously uh mental like Like, he was so, obviously, pro-Mexican.

16:20Bearing in mind, we're trying to get out the ground or walk through the stadium and stuff like that with him. I've never seen anything like it. He can't go anywhere. I think it was one of those nights where the extraordinary became commonplace. And that's one of the examples, the atmosphere, the delay, the weather beforehand, the people back home staying up to an ungodly hour to watch it all. It felt like one of those games to me. Sid's like we finished watching it and we were doing a fair amount of jumping around we're not quite as hoarse as Harry Kane was no in his post-match interview one of the best interviews of all time it was amazing I mean maybe he should also have been drinking a small whiskey which is what Sid and I've got to just just to soothe the the throats a bit but you know what it felt like Pete to us one of those games where it finishes and all that adrenaline and endorphin rushes through you and then you almost want to watch it all over again you want to watch it with a calm head a relaxed head because you now know it's going to be okay just to soak up all those little details to soak up those little moments of magic the moments of individual brilliance the moments where someone stood tall where someone someone did something they hadn't done before yeah yeah absolutely special night guys listen i've i'm um here in mexico at the minute but i am coming back to the ranch tomorrow um and i believe what i believe we're going potentially into the england camp as a podcast.

17:45I was going to say, have you laid down some foundations? Have you planted some seeds to try and get some extra English spirit in there? I think we might be able to get in amongst it. And do a pod from within the England camp. Amazing. Absolutely phenomenal. Look at the boys. They're all excited. Do you know what? In all this, like, Pete, it's getting late in the night in Mexico City. It's getting late. This is the first time we've podded this late with our very own Olympic flame behind us and the nighttime view of Los Angeles. But just think about everyone back home. Think about our mates. Think about our families.

18:29There'll be people who've stayed up all night thinking, yeah, I'll watch the game. Then I'll get two, three hours, Kip, and I'll go to work. No one's sleeping after that. No one's sleeping after that. I spoke to my brother after and he's a scaffolder and he said he's going to work in half an hour. The game finished at 10 past four. Crouchy, you've met my brother. He was literally going to go to the yard at half past four. He said, I'm going to work in half past four. He's ready to rock and roll. He was buzzing. He couldn't wait. We could have been calling about half an hour to be a kip. He couldn't wait to go to work.

19:07Seriously. Fair play, mate. Hey, listen. A man in the evening is a man in the morning. He's a man in the morning. you know it i just think it's one of those beautiful nights slash mornings where if your kid and you're allowed to stay up late you are going to be staggering to school you're not going to hear a word that your teacher says and it will be just fine if you're one of the ones who've kept the discipline and you've gone to bed and you've woken up you've not looked at your phone you've caught up with it on iplayer on streaming and you watch that unfold you've had a bit of sleep you watch that you then dance into monday monday morning is not like an ordinary monday morning after that yeah no absolutely special lads right well we actually recorded an interview a few days ago that we recorded we didn't know the result of this game it was a really good chat with joley and lescott um and we were watching the game thinking can we still run this interview actually it's the perfect interview because Jolien's not only obviously played for England in the major tournaments, scored for England in the major tournaments but Sid, he's worked with a lot of these players at under 21 and senior level and some of his insights into big names like Jubalian were superb Well you've got the perfect man I think for the perfect insight because he's seen some of the players that he's worked with from under 21s grow into this national squad now he's seen them develop he's seen the characteristics that's probably going to come out as well that we're going to need in this tournament so um yeah what we're going to hear is going to be brilliant um the insight is going to be class um from a man that's as you said that's been there done it and just riding the wave still i'm high i'm still i don't think i've seen i've seen sid sid Sid is a smiley man, as we both know, and he's naturally ebullient, he's upbeat.

21:04Sid hasn't stopped smiling for the last four hours. I think it's taken hold of us all, hasn't it, to be fair? Right, let's get into Jolian.

21:26Right, Jolian Lescott. Thank you for joining us. Government name Australian Full name Full name He's like his middle name A couple of times The registration You've got history of this You do it to me a couple of times I did do it a few times I don't know It feels like To start formal Works I think You went Stephen at one point Oh did you go with Stephen Yeah I don't think I've ever used Steve Stephen Yeah Are you enjoying it? How are you enjoying LA? I love LA I used to come A lot But as a player I used to Off season was spent Out here to be fair Yeah I used to obviously Come out with friends But work as well And do start my Pre-pre-season Out here So yeah I love it I love it out here So you've been coming A long time Yeah My first year I think it was 2004 And then I think we did A 10 year stretch Every year Back to back Yeah yeah The lads were going Lapper and that I was done Coming out here Doing rehab But obviously Enjoying the life of the lifestyle you can let your hair down here as well because no one no one knows and no one cares there's two things to that so yeah it was just a match made in the middle yeah lovely it's nice isn't it what have you made of England mate because I know you've been around the camp you know you're the 21s obviously with the full squad as well coaching and mentoring what have you made of us so far positive that we've won the games and people made a lot of the Ghana game and yeah, there was probably a decision that could have led to us losing, but I don't think we ever looked like we were going to lose.

23:04Same with Panama. Like, was it as convincing as Croatia? No, but did we ever feel we were going to lose them games? And even to the, to the most recent game, if that, if that game genuinely finishes 5-2, no one's going to complain because we had them chances, they had a couple. And you've got to understand that to these nations, that's the biggest game they're ever playing. like Panama, England, Ghana, England in the greatest respect to them nations it's bigger for them like England is the draw England is the game or the team you want to face might not be the greatest team in terms like you might want to France's level it might be higher but England is different and we have to understand that nations feel that and rise their game raise their game for that occasion and also I think there's an element where they look at it and go although they could play against anyone and still get a move to the Premier League.

23:58But if they play well against England, it kind of feels like it's an avenue to go down there. It's relevant because the players are in the Premier League and it's English players. So the scope for a bigger outcome is greater. We should say that we're chatting. This interview is kind of before the Mexico game. Which makes it a bit weird, doesn't it? Whatever we say, you know, we could look, you know, the way we said, oh, yeah, we're playing well. We could go all the way, this and that. they might have been out by now let's ask every question two different ways so for example we'd go Jolien obviously brilliant what England did against Mexico how impressed were you and then we'll also go Jolien absolute scandal what happened in the Azteca they were discouraged the altitude the altitude was horrendous the altitude got fun it's been a bit mad with the time or I don't know changing the time going back to the time no idea I'm supposed to be flying out there as well which I'm very much looking forward to but Jolien talk us through your role like with England started with the 21s right yeah so lee carsley was the head coach um ashley cole was assistant and i was brought in to kind of create a relationship like obviously cars i knew cars from time everton i knew ash from playing with him so there was a kind of connection between us the three of us and my role was slightly different to theirs they were on grass coaches and really enjoyed the coaching the team and the setup and the build and the whole structure where i don't I didn't really oh that wasn't a skill set of mine I wasn't good at that but the detail with individuals and units so as a back four I might work with them and then individuals I might go okay well this is what the manager wants but this is how you kind of get the best out of that and as I said Cars was great at recognizing all of our skill sets and prior to that I was doing a similar role at Man City so I worked for like two and a half years with Morgan Rodgers going on loan at Lincoln and other various clubs and just kind of like a mentor, but again, development coach.

25:58So it was the same role, but just for a team now, basically. And even the way Man City did it, it was a similar thing. So Kars understood that and knew that. I enjoyed that. And I wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes. I wasn't trying to get any credit for anything. It was just, well, the manager wants me to do this. He wants you to do that, more importantly. And how do we get the best out of the players? How could you see it with Morgan Rodgers like early on? Like, did you think you'd always go right to the top? Yeah, and no, because he was young. So any young player, there's inconsistencies.

26:31And that's the thing that is not given kind of a grace for young players. It's like, especially when they're going on loan from Man City, the amount of conversations I had with clubs and said, you're not getting a Man City player. If he was, he wouldn't be on loan. Like you're getting a player that needs to be developed. You're going to have to bide your time. you're going to have to be frustrated and understand that he can't do everything but there's going to be games where he does everything and then you're going to think well we need to do that again and i'm going to say he can't do that again if he could he'd be playing for man city every week but and it's on and it's also the same for the player is that you are and aren't a man city player you're on loan but you're here to develop the things that you're not great at and get exposed to things that are more relevant to to the level that you're playing at now so So in terms of Morgan, I've definitely seen his appetite, his attitude to the profession.

27:24Again, I think that's misunderstood is that all these players are talented. To be a talented football, you have to be professional. You have to do the right things every day, day in, day out. So I'm not surprised by the level of consistency because he was willing to put in the work. What was the point with Morgan where you became convinced he was going to get to the top? I don't know. because his first loan that we did was Lincoln and the goals he was scoring was crazy and he was there at the same time as Brennan Johnson so he went on loan and the volume of goals and the level of goals was insane but he was getting subbed like most games and the Brennan Johnson wasn't scoring the same but he was playing the full 90 minutes and then that's the conversations and then we were like now the bits that only you can do you're always going to be able to do but the bits that everyone has to do how do we improve them elements because they're the things that allow you to play 90 minutes rather than we're just waiting for you to score that wonder goal and because you know they don't come every game but these are the things that you have to do every game in order to play every week and be trusted by the coaches when you was with the 21s Gareth Southgate manager of the yeah so would like patterns of play or like the way that you played was that dictated from up above that had to filter through in case them boys went into or did no yourself just have your own yeah yeah we had our own cars had his own identity and you've got to recognize that granted it's england and we're trying to play a similar style but we're getting players from liverpool city chelsea and the biggest thing for me was understanding that they're all great in possession but the way they play out possession is so different yeah and that was the bit was like having liverpool players and trying to contain curtis jones from pressing was a real thing because liverpool press and lose the ball we run where other teams are like we get into a structure it's like which one is impacting us in a negative way and helping the team more so it was like a finding a balance of well he's great at that but the two other players can't do that so we might have to stop him from doing it in order to help the team and get a better outcome so they were the biggest challenges really but in terms of possession Carr's created a system that just allowed the players to be exposed in the things they're good at more often than not so we get our wingers 1v1 who impressed you most when you're working on your 21s 21s or seniors 21s first yeah because you know like who's gone on to things Elliot Anderson obviously would have been there.

30:05Yeah, so we just missed Elliot. So like Mark, we had Mark for, I think it was one camp and then he went up and it was like, we're never going to see him again. Like, because I just was aware of that. His calmness, his ability to play at the level, whoever he's playing against, he can kind of match it. So that was a nice one. Big fan of Curtis. Anthony Gordon, again, another one that, again the quality is there for everyone to see but the professionalism dedication to the whole craft um i love that about him like there's there's something different about him isn't there like the learning spanish yeah like yeah i didn't know that was happening yeah well yeah and i don't think he was happening for him to go to barcelona i just think it was happening and just as he said in case yeah and that's the that's the best thing he's like he was preparing for every outcome on the pitch after pitch and he said he's i i'd find it strange how people have questioned it that he's gone there when no one questioned rafina leaving leeds to go there you know what i mean and he went to a point no like why are people doubting him then what what is it because his name's anthony gordon rafina as simple as that yeah it's a better name in it in terms of the champions league like he's he's finished behind island yeah yeah island and beppe these numbers yeah like last season i love the fact like and lee gordon like when i was at the day of the dallas game and he kind of goes to the his position and visualizes oh yeah see him do it yeah yeah and i was just watching him before the game so he's in the inside left position and he's just standing there pre-game routine he walks out That's so good.

31:46Gotcha. He stood in his position and just, I can see him just kind of visualizing. You could see him just, you could literally see him cutting in. Love it. Just walking through it and just like, a lot of them do that. And it was like, I never went out before a game. I just knew what I was supposed to do. I knew what boots I was going to wear. I'm wearing studs. There's no molds going on. Yeah, just crack on. But these lads, again, it's the detail they, the detail they want, probably need is different to our generation. Yeah. What they execute. Yeah. but I've seen Elise do it for France oh my god correct me if I'm wrong here I've seen him walk out we tried hard to get him by the way I've seen him walk out with a pair of slippers are we blaming you for that Lee Carsley tried no I'm not blaming him but to be fair Carr's seen it early Carr's seen that like we need Elise we need him and he yeah he wasn't really he knew he was playing for France he obviously knew what he was going to do before everyone else and he is ripping it up isn't he I mean he's made a good decision but I was going to say I've seen him walk out onto a pitch with a pair of slippers on or sliders and he literally just wiped his feet like he's on a mat a yard on the pitch and then just walked back that must be superstition that must be yeah he's just so calm isn't he as well just knows what he's don't you think that happens a lot though lads are like a lot calmer than we were yeah in situations yeah I always remember it I think it was Trent when I I think it was Champions League final and he was only young in his first Champions League final he hadn't played many games he's only young now isn't he I know but I remember like his first touch someone pinged him and he's just like he like controlled it the outside of his foot the first touch of the Champions League final I thought these young lads are different now yeah like I'd have been like give me the other give me the other give me the other in step only in step only yeah just get your first touch in yeah like outside the foot I was like yeah they are different you must have found that by being around the young lads now like is the mentality is it different to when we were in the 21s for instance yeah it's totally different and more relaxed for more time of the week.

33:48I think we were tuned in from like a Tuesday. Yeah. You were preparing and you were like superstitious from like Tuesday, whatever. They're like, it's calm, it's calm. They're focused. They know what they need. They know what they were going to do. And then they get to game day and it's like on. But again, Lee Karsley, I've got to give him credit for that. He implemented that. It was like, I want it to be a relaxed environment. But match day minus one, now it's on. Like there's no more. it's a lot more focused and I think the lads would dial it up then as well and buy into that. Is there, because you've seen the players when they're younger, Jolion, and you've been that player as well who's come through the ranks and played for England at a big tournament.

34:26Is there something about a big tournament that can change a player? We talk about players growing into tournaments, don't they? So you can know a player but when you see them at a major tournament the good ones grow with it. 1 ,000%. Like, players dial it up when the lights are on. like there's players that thrive on that and i think covid was a massive indicator of that i think a lot more players probably raise their level in covid when there's no crowd but there's then there's players that need that pressure that need it and for me jude is is that guy yeah like the tougher the game the bigger the bigger the responsibility the bigger the status yeah he thrives on that and you know you obviously grew up birmingham as well right did you did you know of Jude as a young kid?

35:11I knew of Jude. I did something with Kevin Betsy. Yeah. He was under 15s. Great coach. They used to get people in just working with different camps and I went into the 15s and Jude was the captain. It was funny like they're playing Belgium and I was like taught me through the players. I didn't know many of them. There's a couple of that were at City so I knew them. and he said, this guy. I was like, his name's Jude. I said, okay, he's like, yeah, it's tough. And then we were playing Belgium, we were losing. And then he just went, Jude, oh, come on. And he just went, okay. Oh, he turned it on. And that was it.

35:52He finished 1-1, but I was like, oh, players can do that. At this age, you can just do that. You can just change the game. Okay. It's that simple. I was like, yeah, but it wasn't like, he was playing as a 10 then in a way that and I think he does it now it's not like the traditional 10 that we see we envision like getting like nice tricky it's like no it's just effective I'm just going to control the game whether it needs a sliding tackle or a late run into the box whatever it needs his ability to do that I think we need to pay a bit of respect to Julie as well because there was a lot of talk wasn't there pre-tournament I was like back then free midfield Anderson Declan Rice they were Stonewalls and it was Morgan Rodgers or Jude weren't it exactly and it was like it's a toss up didn't he earlier in the year yeah and then there was like obviously all the hype that yeah I don't think he should start and then now that we've seen him just step up like you just said he's like okay yeah I think it's actually been a bit disrespectful really to because you we've all played with players that we all want to win all of us want to win no one's playing to lose but then there's players that want to be the guy and he has that ability to oh this is I can be the match winner yeah I want that responsibility that comes with if we don't win it's on me but if we do win it's on me as well what a gift for a manager to have a player like that and you don't need 10-12 dudes you just need a couple of them guys because too many are not enough it has the same effect there's an element of Steve and Gerald about it you know like where you go and smash someone on the edge of your box pick the ball up go past the couple and have a shot change momentum in games It just changes the dynamic of the game, little things like that.

37:37And when I watch him running, like it is amazing. And obviously he's gone to a new level around a big tournament, same as Harry as well. When you're around the first team, I mean, how, and I've worked with Harry Kane as well, but I mean, I worked with him as a young player. The player he is now, I mean, what is it about him around training and as a leader? The leader part, I would say he's got the respect from everyone he's not loud the loudest personality he doesn't want the attention he commands the attention from what he's done and what he's achieved but his ability in training like like I said this to Rida the other day like I don't know if we've seen anything we haven't seen from other players but he's doing it every time every time that touch needs to be half a yard it's half a yard it's not two thirds it's not over it's immaculate all the time but and his ability to replicate game scenarios at the tempo in training is is unique you know when we do you do a drill and you're doing 10 of them exercises you might get four at the match tempo he's doing 10 yeah they're all match tempo they're all at the level that's really required on match day so when i've seen him score that chance i've seen him do that exercise in training at that pace so it wasn't a surprise that that ends up in the top corner because every time it's that, every time it's, I need to take a touch, another touch, now it's a shot.

39:06Whatever it needs, his ability to do the right thing is the world-class element to his game. Yeah, I said something, you know, with the players, you know, I think there might be better players at this tournament, you know, with regards to Mbappe, Messi, Haaland, Ronaldo, but out of those players, they're all top, top goal scorers. I think one chance, right? As difficult as it sounds, I would say he's the best finisher out of all of those, personally. Yeah, because I think if it was on either side, I think it's going in. If it's on one side, I'm still going with Messi. Yeah. Because I just think his ability to just calm himself down.

39:44Yeah, I think players go, they go past players and things like that. They can do things that Harry Kane can't do, but I think right, left foot, header. If all of it is the complete... If all the chances are in a bowl and you've got to pick one, the harry kane's coming out yeah yeah i agree he's he's immaculate yeah so what is it's such an interesting discussion so what do you think it is jolene that makes the single biggest difference for a player really talented player who might be ripping up for the 21s might be a big club quite early what's the single biggest difference between that talented youngster they're not just making it in the prem but becoming one of these players like jude bellingham or harry kane who define tournaments and define games?

40:30That's a good question. Because it's not just that you do all this podcast, man. It's not just ability. I think it's a It's more of a mentality because technically it's they're all at a level and I will compare it to say penalties. Like, I never wanted to take a penalty not because of the technique element. It was walking from the halfway line to the penalty spot. That was the hardest part. But if you're asking everyone to take a pen, I'm sure everyone can take that pen. But that element of pressure and how you deal with that and what that... Some people thrive on it. Some people don't. Some people don't want it.

41:08And I think for me, confidence in my game came from doing... putting in the reps and knowing I've done everything I should have done. So if it doesn't go well, I can't do anymore. And that's what these guys have done. They've done everything. they should have been done from whether it's a monday to a saturday whatever day it is and then they believe well no the outcome is written in the stars i've done everything i should have done to get to this point i also think it's like a borderline arrogance isn't it where they go i belong i belong here like i put myself like in that echelon with these players and it's like everyone like we you say stevie you'd say waza had that kind of belief um real yeah yeah not everyone's got that for sure and you don't want everyone to have it either because it's not a good thing if every player wants to be man of the match they're going to be one because they won't be man of the match so and I think that's why like when you look at France and they they all know they're great but they know Mbappe's the guy yeah like and that's the way Argentina like they they want to win but they want Messi to be the guy and I think that's the hindrance around Portugal is they all kind of are aware well I can be man of the match No, you can't even be one.

42:24And it's going to be Cristiano. So if you play to Cristiano a little bit more, you might get a better outcome. Yeah, so I look at the English squad now, and I think of you as a player, right? You're a centre-half, but you went out to left-back, right? I'm looking at Kwanzaa, I don't know, Kwanzaa, I mean, the right-back, Jed Sprentz. If you're a centre-half and you get asked to play out there, you might even play Declan Rice out of position. But I mean, how did you adapt to it? Because you adapted, well, you ended up with like, I didn't get double figures one year from left-back. Yeah, yeah. He was, yeah.

42:52To be fair, he was mad. It was, uh... I'd never played there. Then, then, had a couple injuries at Everton and then I was just there. I stayed there. But I remember... Yeah. You shot it really well, didn't you? Yeah. To be fair, I used to... Listen, every defender, especially from our era, different now because I think you're coached as a defender in the academy and then you grow into that position where our generation was like, everyone starts up front and then you get to an age where you're not good enough to play up front. So now I'm at the back. Well, I'm going to pop it. I was a winger until I was like...

43:27Everyone was a winger or a four, right? Yeah, 15. And then all of us were like, I'm not going to have to play out there. So you're going to play at the back. So the element of running forward, I loved. But more than any of that, like being 1v1, that was the biggest thing for me because like playing centre-offs, I loved that. And obviously that was my better position. But just being 1v1, it was like, you've got to beat me. So you relished it. Yeah. I loved that. There was someone attacking you. Yeah. I loved knowing, not just the player, because I think nowadays we see defenders go, you're not going to beat me, but the ball can go past me.

44:00Like we were taught, the ball does not pass you. Like whether it's a cross shot or pass, I'm trying to stop the ball going past me. I don't care where the man ends up, but just the ball shouldn't be going past me where, I think that's different now. But that was the bit I enjoyed more than anything was like, just 1v1. There's going to be a five, six second spell. You're running at me. You're going to either go line or inside. and I've got to stop that. It's a good feeling, isn't it? Knowing that like, size of you as well, we're like, I'm stronger than you. Yeah. You're probably not going to be quicker than me.

44:29Or you might just get half a yard. Quicker than me. I was like, nervous about that. But I thought, if I get into arm's length, we're going to be the same pace. I'm going to slow you down. I'm slowing you down. Stay there. Yeah. I fell a couple of them. We all have. Fucking hell.

44:48Who would you play? I mean, who do you play the right back now? I think Spence struggled a little bit if I'm being totally honest in the last game. I didn't get a lot of help from Malawaken either. So here's a question for you guys. Are you critiquing him for the goal? No, I actually don't. I think he did well for the goal because he tracked the man inside. And whoever's man is outside him, like I don't know whether it's he's allowed the centre half to over cover the other centre half or he's not allowed the winger to track him there. but yeah, I think he's getting unfairly critiqued. I think he was left exposed a bit, you know, like I didn't think Madi Wake helped him much, you know, and I think with regards to the goal, he did find, and he actually got out really quick as well once he had gone in.

45:33He saw, and not quick enough, unfortunately, but I don't know where you go in that position. It's a lot of talk been about it. Having worked with Jed and knowing him, I think the better the individual winger is, the better you'll see, the better version you'll see of Jed. Why is that? Because he's an individual, he's a 1v1 defender. So whether it's like a collective defensive unit, it's probably not as strong as Vinicius Jr. running at him five times. He's probably going to stop him more times than he's not. Whether that is enough, who knows? But if it's a build-up phase and there's more an element of concentration thing, like a young Kyle Walker, like Kyle Walker in his younger days was different to when he developed and recognised I need to cover the space a bit more and then he became for me the greatest right back Premier League and possibly England so I think Jed's in that mould of the tougher the opponent he plays against I think you see a better version of him so I don't know the winger for Mexico I don't know if he's I don't know if he's just solely individual and that warrants Jed playing but also there's an element of has he heard the outside noise?

46:47Has it affected him? And that's got to play a part because as much as we want England to win, he's got to think, are they blaming me? Is it my fault? You know what I mean? That's unfair. I don't like that. As Pete said, the England-Mexico game hasn't happened at this point that we're recording this. So I wanted to ask you about France. So as a centre-half or someone who did a magnificent job and switched into the left side, to the left back. How the hell do you stop that France team scoring goals? You don't. You just hope you score more. This is why they're favourites because it's not just their front four.

47:29They've got two on the bench that are waiting to come on. So you've got to stop six players. Arguably the best, all of them are in the top four in their position, top three. You've got to stop six of them from performing. That's like six of them. Because if you can't like them four, we're going to bring on Cherokee and Douai. If you want to, you love Mateta. I mean, so you're probably thinking you're going to have to outscore them. They're going to score. Yeah, if you're keeping a clean sheet against France, you've done exceptionally well. You keep us at the world-class game and all your defenders.

48:01But like anything, it's like them players that are decisive. It's more often than not, you have to stop the supply line. So you probably have to stop Elise more than Mbappe because his runs are based on his ability. So if you prevent that element of it, then it nullifies Mbappe slightly. But I don't know how you stop all of them. I just want to ask, lads, a bit of football expertise here. So again, what you said there, this is going to go out after England have played in Mexico. That's right. So we are all going to look really silly here with what we're going to say or we're going to look like we actually know our stuff.

48:40Let's go with that. How are we thinking the game is going to go in terms of are Mexico going to come at us? Are we going to sit back? Are we going to go on the front foot? I think they come at us. What are we thinking? Yeah. Have you played at Altitude before? South Africa was, there was a couple of games out there, weren't there? Well, we played at Altitude. But yeah, I mean, I trained in it. I didn't really play in it. Experienced it. I re-did it. When I was doing doggies after the game, it was a fucking honour. Yeah, the cover was slow. I mean, there is an argument you played at after you anyway, but I didn't know.

49:13I played at Salt Lake here, pre-season friendly. Yeah. Mate, like lads were getting nosebleeds and it wasn't as high as the Mexico game. Like it's really, it's a real thing that. So you've experienced it then? It's a real thing, like all of a sudden, lactate in your legs, it's like, whoa. Yeah. So that is a thing. And again, when you're watching it on telly, you're not going to be able to see that. You're just going to, it looks like that. You're going to be like, oh, that looks warm. it's not just wall it's hard work so it's sapping but listen I still think we beat them I'm still confident we beat them because because of the quality yeah like greatest respect and I could look stupid I'm going to say something like their players are not at the level like which is true well Jimenez is just crying for walls in the championship it's true and we're talking about how he came yeah like so that element of it I'm saying yeah whether it's a patriotic view or whatever I'm just saying our players should yeah should execute anywhere in the world I think other than Mexico anywhere in the world we play them 10 times we beat them more yeah I think that one game in Mexico we've been a World Cup is a is a game changer crowd's a factor as well right the crowd the atmosphere the altitude yeah we were speaking we went to the the Spain game yesterday and we were speaking to some of the the FA guys and they were saying oh yeah the altitude is a factor but the bigger things are the fans won't let England team sleep so they're going to set off alarms they said fire extinguisher like everything he said they're going to have to bring their own food in because anything's everything's at risk I was like yeah and he was like everything like they take this so serious so all them factors have to play we had Brad Frieda on the podcast and he was saying the same thing like all the factors are against you there it's going to be difficult to go and win without that we're hoping Pete because obviously you are going to the game that maybe you could, because everyone in Mexico City will be trying to find out where England is staying.

51:13So what we need is some brave soul to basically set up like a dummy England hotel. So maybe that can be your role. It's going to ruin you because you'll get no sleep. But just tell, when you get to the airport, tell the cab driver, yeah, I know where England is staying. Give him the name of your hotel. And he'll go, listen, it must be true because Crouch used to play for England. Get yourself some earplugs. When the fire alarms are going off and the fireworks and the marching bands are going past your room, I mean you've saved England not plan to be in my room till about 5am no

51:43yeah crowd you'll be the crowd yeah

51:50let's be having you mate what on a personal point of view what was your favourite moment in an England shirt for you yeah scoring yeah yeah like in the Euros and scoring a goal it's like it's probably a thing that you dream about as well like as a kid you kind of let yourself dream that and then to do it and it's bad because at the time i probably didn't realize what it was and then i think it was the i'd retired and we were watching the euros at home i think it was the one where it changed to england it was supposed to be somewhere was it covid yeah but it's supposed to be somewhere else and then because we had to change it and then rahim scored at wembley it was the first goal for england of the of the tournament and the nation was like obviously cheering I was like wow I've done that I've had a moment of that where the whole country has cheered something I've done which was a bit surreal but at the time yeah against France was it?

52:45yeah against France it was like yeah he just scored a goal for England great amazing but when you realise the magnitude of probably everyone cheering that moment was crazy do you know what like when you put it like that I remember like sometimes it's good to put yourself in those moments and just kind of put it into perspective. I remember my dad saying to me when Franco Baldini called me for the South Africa for the World Cup and he said you called up to the World Cup and I was like I was playing golf for my dad and he said what number would you want? And I was like well you're giving me a choice here.

53:17And I was like number nine. And he was like yeah we're going to get the number nine for England at World Cup. And then my dad put it in perspective and he was like think how many kids play football in the country think how many kids want to play centre forward as you said you get moved back right think how many kids want to play number nine and he said in this particular world cup that's you and I went fucking hell and it turned out to be a massive I didn't play what I played two minutes yeah

53:46when you you have to look at it like that like I remember the physio at Everton and just being called I think it was my second camp and he's like are you proud I was like oh unbelievable he said you should be he said you've been picked as one of the 23 top players in England. At this moment in time, you're like stated as the one. When you think about it, the legacy cap, have you got your legacy cap? No, I'm due to get one though, I believe. Yeah, legacy cap. When I've seen them giving out, I was like, I want one of them. I've got my number, it's 1151. I was like, that's the number. I am in the history of England to play for England.

54:24It's a very small number of people when you think about those caps numbers, isn't it really? and England have been playing international football as long as Scotland, but pretty much longer than anyone else. There's not that many men or women who have played for England. It's a remarkable thing. It's crazy when you think about it. Yeah, it's a nice thing to kind of have, isn't it? Do you know your number? No, I don't actually. Well, you wouldn't have it yet. You'd be definitely before me. Yeah. But yeah, that's a real thing. When I seen them giving out, I was like, yeah, please sort mine out instantly.

54:59Yeah, there's little things like that. Like, even I don't take it for granted that I'm going to Mexico, right, to watch the match. I mean, on the side of the pitch there, and I'm thinking about 86, like Maradona, and what he did on that pitch, the hand of God in that moment. Like, to stand there and actually see that, like, and we're going to be pitch side, right? That's an amazing thing, right? As a football fan, not as a football player, like, just to be, to witness that, being around it. It's going to be special, right? And that's also the pitch that we talked about, That's the pitch where maybe the greatest World Cup team of all, Brazil 1970, where they lifted the trophy, where Pelé takes the ball to his feet and lays it out wide for maybe the most iconic goal in the World Cup final.

55:39Special. Looking forward to it. I've got a question for you. It's a little bit hypothetical, I suppose, because we don't know exactly what's happened. But if we have lost, what do we take away from the tournament?

55:55Is there question marks? Yeah. I think there's always going to be question marks regardless of if we lose in the final to France on penalties. I said this as well. I thank the task for the manager because he's come in, right? Because Gareth Southgate, he felt that we hadn't won one. He's coming to win the whole tournament. It's hard to win a World Cup. It's hard to win a World Cup. Yeah, quarter semis is not good enough. No. I think for genuinely for our fan base. Semis should be though. No, it should be. I agree. I know how hard it is. But I'm talking about, I think from a general perspective.

56:29Because I would, and how I would rationalise that for fans would be, if it was a Premier League, would we be the best team? We'd be the top four. You would expect us to get Champions League. Yeah. And that's top four. That's a nice analogy. So we should get to the semi-finals and understand that's a massive achievement. But to just say we should win it. Like, why do we want to win it more than France? Want to win it? Like, no? And we've got no right to win it more than anyone else. Yeah. And with less experience. Yeah. I think it's just that's gone from the last three tournaments isn't it a semi-final a final and a final I definitely feel the manager's probably been brought in if we get to that stage again is he does he have the ability to do something different then yeah but I also think the ability that or what Gareth Southgate created and achieved is so underestimated and so underrated how he galvanised like the nation I think that the fan base of England over his tenure was as together as I've ever remembered it.

57:31I just think he was unique for that but like you said when you get there then there's probably an element that Tuchel has that he may not have had because of winning stuff in the past Yeah I agree with that Just with regards to the takeaway, what would the question mark be if we have gone out now? I'm going to say it's going to be on the manager and he's probably squad selection I think there's going to be I think we're hearing it now that's where the criticism yeah I think it's going to be hearing it now and we've not lost the game which is crazy so I think that would be where it's going to lie again if we lose to Mexico like we have to recognise they've lost two games in 70 years there like that is a massive thing like so we've got this guarantee to go there and slap them so yeah I just think that was probably the biggest takeaway negative is he'll be criticised for his squad selection rather than how we performed.

58:28But that doesn't matter because we have beat Mexico. It's coming home to you. Let's go. It's coming on. Hypothetical. Yeah. Well, give us a quiz, Tom. These are unbelievable, these quizzes. Let's do it. Let's do it. I mean, the last one was... What was the last one? It was Play. Famous Robbies. Our famous Robbies. Oh, no. Yeah, we did. No, Play. Play. England squad members. Where were they born? Where were they born? Great quiz. So this was the first one, boys, that I've actually struggled with because I came up with an idea and I had to abandon it after two questions. So I've done a second one.

58:57The first one, you'll understand why I had to abandon it. In honour of our guest, it was going to be called The Only Run That Bites and it was things that rhyme with Lescott. So the first question was Walsall home ground. Lescott. Yeah. And then we started drying up already. Deputy Prime Minister under Tony Blair. John Prescott. And then I had no more. Mascot. I had an Ascot one, but I thought it's not as pure. So I've sacked that one off. It's a good decision. Yeah, I think it's a great decision. I think so. This one is name the centre half, and I'm going to give you the clubs that they played for in order.

59:36I love this. Yeah? Good. What I will say is, though, I don't want you to shout and out answers because... Are we all against each other? One answer each other. One answer each. So if you shout an answer and it's incorrect, you're out of that round, okay? so just to give you an example and this is just purely centre-halves centre-halves great centre-halves so for Jolien obviously it would be Wolves, Everton, City West Brom Villa so we all understand the format yeah okay here's your first one I think it's a relatively easy one okay West Ham yeah Fulham San Antonio Thunder Seattle Sounders iconic centre-halves I'm Fulham Bobby Moore 1-0 Crouchy massive I didn't really know you were going that far back yeah that's wild that's proper centre-halves centre-halves who've lifted the World Cup that's wild that's a wild shout I knew it was in America I knew it was in America I didn't even know America was out of the league then question number two okay okay West Ham Leeds Rio yes Rio Ferdinand I was talking to share that out Yeah, yeah, yeah.

1:00:49Snooze your lose around this. Snooze your lose. Okay, okay. I was going to shout out the first one. You didn't say yeah. We just said full of them. I was like, ooh, maybe that. Okay, your next one, slightly harder. Milan, full stop. Maldini. Yeah. I was hoping it was that. One all, one all. One apiece. Similar, Barcelona, full stop. Puyol. All three of us. Yeah, I think that's a draw. Okay, now we're going to step up a little bit, okay?

1:01:18Napoli Parma Nesta Oh he's out He's out He's buzzed out Inter Milan Juve Real Madrid Oh yeah I know it Yeah too late Juve He was very close I mean literally Physically close His answer Calivaro Calivaro If you gifted that to him A little bit I don't like it when he's in these quizzes. I want to play all day. So this one, another tough one, but you should get it, okay? But it might take you a couple of clubs. Okay. Montpellier. Napoli. Nîmes. Who? Nîmes. Nîmes. Saint -Étienne. Auxerres. Barcelona. Marseille. Intermilan. Manchester United.

1:02:17I'm going to say Laurent Blanc. Yeah. He's the right answer. Damn. I'm going to say that, mate. I've got to risk it. I've got to risk it. I've got to risk it. That's good. Another one. Starts off tough, but you'll get it. Okay? Okay. So ignore the first. You need to gamble, mate. You do. Don't shoot. You don't score. The first few, you might not even have heard of the clubs, but go with it. RS Football, Juventude, Porto B, Dynamo Moscow, Fluminese, Milan. Tiago Silva. Very nice. Very nice. Lovely. So beautiful. Yeah. Three a piece. Yeah. Three a piece. This is the decider. And again, a bit like the last question.

1:03:00You might not even have heard of the first few clubs. And suddenly, you'll get it. Okay? Pape Kumu Mira Oh no, no, no, no, no. Yeah. Pronunciation. Very good. Pape Kumu Mira Willem de Liverpool Van Dijk. Oh no. We've come on. We've come on. Leverkusen. Oh yeah. Think about the sound of those early clubs. Pape Kumu Mira then Willem de I'm going to go then Liverpool Sami Hippia yes Sid what was after Liverpool? I actually think that puts me on three I think I had two before that now we remember we got to pull you out and that that's why oh right okay yeah I was just trying to get another one you are gutted aren't you I'm feeling you should have got I thought you would get Sami Hippia I don't know why I gambled I'm going to let it go I wouldn't have got it anyway to be fair I think I will still struggle with that one.

1:04:05Where did Sammy? Is that Finnish team? Yeah. Did you not get my Finnish action? No, I sounded Brazilian. I was in Brazil. Yeah, I was in Brazil. You went for... Pape. Como. Yeah, like Phil's... Como, that was Italy. Mira. I mean, I may well be pronouncing those badly. Yeah, well, that felt Portuguese. I mean, he's just got it. Yeah. And Leverkusen at Liverpool, that's what he got. You literally play with him. I did, yeah. Yeah. I like to pause alongside him yeah there you go alright and that concludes our name the cent and a half quiz yes well done mate it was really well done Sid and listen Joel thanks so much for coming on mate it's an absolute pleasure to have you enjoyed that we'll see you next time cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers cheers

1:05:06Hi, it's Paige from Giggly Squad, and this episode is sponsored by Experian Boost. Summer glow up? Check. Credit glow up? Even better. Boost your credit scores instantly by getting credit for bills you're already paying. Your phone, utilities, rent, and insurance. I wish dating kind of worked like that. Connect your bank account, add those on-time payments to your Experian credit file, and your FICO score updates right away. You could instantly raise your FICO score by an average of 14 points with Experian Boost. Download the Experian app for free today. Results will vary. Users who received a boost improved their FICO score 8 from Experian by an average of 14 points.

1:05:45See App Store or Experian.com for details. Results will vary. Not all payments are Boost eligible. Users who received a boost improved their FICO score 8 from Experian by an average of 14 points. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files. and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost. See Experian.com for details.

1:06:07Right, okay. Earlier in the week, the production team dragged me and the boys out to a diner to give us a debrief on how the pod's going so far. Check this out.

1:06:20Let's roll, let's go. I feel like I'm thinking these don't look like film stars. Nice one. I'm going to personal jukebox here, boys. It's nice. I love this guy. Has anyone got a quarter? You excelled yourself. Well, what options have we got there? Dancing Queen, Albert? We are family and sister sledge. You partial? Partial. Shall we get an order in? What would you say is your best milkshake that you have? The Lana Del Rey chocolate Oreo. Oh, Lana Del Rey. The strawberry chain with the real strawberries. Does Arnold Schwarzenegger actually come in there? Arnold Schwarzenegger shake, yeah. Seriously?

1:06:53Does it come in? Bring it to the table and the muscles start sprouting already. Oh, nice. Fuck, man. I need some of that. Is he going to make me look like Arnie? Is that more than a milkshake? No, no, I do realise that. Can you help me out here? I'd like a milkshake that's mainly vanilla. Late night classic vanilla? I think so, yeah. Oh, boys. How are we today? Are we all right? Really good. How are you? It's good to see you. Yeah, very good. I'm excited, guys, because it feels like you've got something up these little... These little rolled up sleeves. Yeah, it does. What's up, mate? I do. Lads, the pod's been great so far.

1:07:26We've been enjoying it. We're in a beautiful location in the Beverly Hills, right? But I feel like we haven't tested ourselves, right? In the same way, the World Cup everyone's doing, I mean, to be in a World Cup, you've got to have metal, balls of steel, stamina, determination, fearlessness and bravery. And I think where we're sat in the podcast right now, we're not challenging ourselves. I think we could do a bit better. Putting you guys through some various challenges. How does that sound to you? Who's not doing well? Name names. I can't disclose. I think as collective we could be doing a bit more.

1:07:57So I've lined up some challenges for you throughout Los Angeles to test all those different ingredients that you need to be a superstar athlete and presenter. All right? We're going to start with a Bucking Bronco competition. And we've got a friend, Robbie Keane, to come and help us out along the way. Love it. All right? Are we down for that? Fancy myself for that. Okay? Yeah, all right. See how we're going. Yeah. You've been where? You've been to Dallas, haven't you? Texas? I think I've got the body stature. I think I can cope with that. And the metal. Go all the way. Nice. What else, guys? We've got a few more up our sleeves.

1:08:33I will tell you about them each time they come up. All right? First of all, this one is the Bucking Bronco. Has anyone ever done one before? I have. You have? I have done it. I did it at someone's 30th. It was too hard for me. I wasn't very good. Oh, would you look at this. Oh my lord. Oh my lord. Wait a minute, nobody's tired of the music yet? Oh, what? Oh, we'll bang it on at the end. Thank you. Cheers, fellas. Cheers, Arnie. Cheers, Arnie. He's best to be in that butter. Look at mine. All right, boys, are we ready? Ready for the bucking bronco? No. Let's go. Are you ready? I'll finish up, boys.

1:09:13There's no time at the prison, you guys. Let's get bucked. Let's do it, mate. Hey, good to see you. How are you, bro? Good, guys. Robbie, good to see you, man. How are we? Good, good. Sid's my man. Good ride, how are you feeling? I'm blown away. Guys, we're full. We're very full. We can handle this, boys. I'd love to hear it. You're going to love what we have in store, guys. You're not looking happy. I'm not looking forward to it, do I? Welcome to the Saddle Ranch Chophouse. Here in beautiful Sunset Boulevard. Come have a look inside. I'll tell you more about it. Boys. All right, guys. I can imagine you already know why we're here, just by looking over here at this Buckingham Bronco.

1:09:46But you know to make it in a World Cup you've got to have balls of steel You've got to have real cojones So that's why I'm going to put you through your paces and see if you can out ride this bucking bronco challenge one at a time Cool, alright nice guys. Presumming guys. Very good

1:10:03All right nice show who would like to go first

1:10:10Yeah, show us how it's done. He knows the balls name and everything Alright, nice one. I was clowning on it. Hey, it's better, isn't it? I'm partial. Can I control it? No, don't do that. Don't do that, man. Maybe I'll get it. Don't do that. Alright, yeah, yeah. Hey, I've got cash. Can you just allow these to not... I don't want them anywhere near this. You just looked up and down at me like, am I too tall for this thing? Hey, hey. There's your answer. The ball has got to move. Kershaw's got to be standing there. We're all in there. All right, come on. Come on, dude. Come on. Come on, Mr. P. Come on.

1:10:54Come on. Yee-haw. Whoa. Whoa. Keep one in here. Go down and we go back. Oh, Kershaw. Oh, the ball's out. That's right. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Come on baby. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah. Hey, baby. Hey, yeah. Hey, get up. Yeah. Oh, we need to go. I'll take it. You ready? Wow. I only expect it slower than that. Yeah. Pete, any tips? I quite enjoyed that. Yeah, I think that was a really good tip. The lean back. Yeah. Oh, it's quite fun, that. You got one hand on, one hand off. Doing it, yeah. It's fucking fast enough. The first little ball. The first little jig roll.

1:11:53I thought I was going to go. Here we go, boys. You look at home. You look at home. Pete, any tips? Yeah, let's go. Okay. We got a move out!

1:12:06Oh, he looks good.

1:12:11Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! That's a sign of speed! Looking a bit... Wasn't it? Wasn't as good as him. One hand, I think. It's tough. You can move forward a bit. Yeah, yeah. That was a little dicier than yours. That was a little dicier, right? I'd say two points when I thought I was off. Expect the spin. Yeah, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a good shot as well Sid. Come on Sid. Yee ha! Strong start. He said stronger hand. But I think the right hand, put your left hand and your right hand, it's balanced. I had the right hand holding. Yeah, come on Sid. Okay, hold it. Come on, Sidney. Come on.

1:12:58Yeah baby. Whoa. Whoa. Nice technique. Whoa. He's just so good. Oh he's gone, he's gone. He's gone. That's it, come on.

1:13:21Over the front. You were in massive trouble early doors. You can know you. Well. Over the front. Oh, cause I love you. Hey, hey, hey. After the roll I was expecting to get a gunshot. I'm gonna pull down on that one. You've got quicker there, no? I couldn't get laughing on the way. Oh my god. I was in trouble early. I was gone. I was gone early. Go on, Rob. Go on, Rob. Oh my god. Whoa! Whoa!

1:14:05He's not sure what I'm doing. Come on Robbie. Stop hands. Stop hands.

1:14:14Let's go.

1:14:24He's got it.

1:14:30Come on. Keep going. You got it. Come on. Keep going. You got it. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Oh. Yay. Oh, hello. It's a blow, isn't it? Fucking arm sweater. It gets your groin, isn't it? Well done. Well done, son. Well done. Wow. It's all about good content. Yeah, it was worth it. Cheers. Cheers. I'm playing, lads. I didn't realize how I actually did it first. It's like a blow you get on. Are you sweating up there? Yeah. Was it hot work? Have a go. You need to have a go. Come on guys. I will. I'll sign a little... Where's the air quad? You have to have a go. Get yourself on there, man. Which way am I going?

1:15:12Just go with the ball. Go with the ball. Yeah, the whole time. Ride the ball. Ride the ball. Ride the ball. Don't let the ball ride you. No, no. OK. Come on, guys. Don't let the ball ride you.

1:15:28Oh, he's going over. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

1:15:34Okay, what's the plan? What do I do? Go. Okay, I'll go against the ball. Okay. Help me! Don't believe me! Guys, you're nervous. You're nervous. Oh! Strong start. Hands up already, look! Yeah. He's done this before. He has. In the ballroom. You squeeze your legs. Oh yeah, big time. Look. Here we go. Let's go. Fuck me. Very nice. Oh, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa, whoa. Whoa. Fucking bollocks. Oh my god. Fucking hell. I'm Johnny Knoxville. This is Jackass. Oh, God. Take a moment. Yeah. Did you not find you like gross? That was round top, that one. I switched to that. There was definitely more bucking there.

1:16:27There was more bucking going on there. Guys, well done. Thank you, bro. Thank you. Oh, my God. We'll never have kids again.

1:16:36Right, the next part of the pod is supported by Paddy Power. It's the big World Cup fixture. I've got a letter here from the Minister of Mayhem, who says, Hi, Crouchy Tom Notorious, S.I.D. First things first, the new podcast shirt. It's an absolute work of art, gents. Fair play. However, with some of those poses, it looks like you're selling calendars, not shirts. With that mental image moving swiftly onto our predictions league. They are belters, those shirts, though, aren't they? Beauties. More coming as well, by the way. Yes, they are. Yeah, okay. Portugal-Croatia was our last panny-powder big weekend fixture.

1:17:18And what a game it was. It had a bit of everything. But just when you thought you'd turned a corner and finally started showing some football intelligence, you've dragged us all crashing back down to earth Crouchy and Sids both with draws at full time mean they got a whopping zero points but you can count yourself desperately unlucky not to get that draw, censors in football for disallowing goals game's gone, true totally agree and sadly so might have your chances of winning, Tom you correctly called a 2-1 Portugal win, yes I did that's three points plus the extra five the Area 51 bonus for topping the game week.

1:17:57Giving you eight points. Mr. Fordyce now extends his lead. 44. Sid's 35 and Crouchy 30. Tom, smooth operator on the mic. Clear football knowledge. Model, apparently. That's lovely to hear. I can't pretend it's any other way. Okay, Sid, now then, your next Paddy Power big fixture is France versus Morocco. the chaos card is the land of the free after watching you two score absolutely nothing last week we're mixing it up and leaning into the American dream if you can dream it you can achieve it so this time I'm letting you build your three predictions from any markets you like goal scorer, player to be fouled, over and under goals corners, whatever takes your fancy but choose wisely much like your choice of phone provider Your selections say a lot about you as a person.

1:18:54Will you be bold and brave or play it painfully safe? As always, five bonus points up for grabs for the winner of the game week. Best of luck, lads. The Pani Power Minister of Mischief. Please gamble responsibly. Beautiful. Now, whose turn is it to go first? I went second last time. I think you went first, Sid, did you? because me and Pete had to exit stage right and stage left. I think I went. Didn't I go first? Oh, yeah, you did actually. Okay, why don't I open out then? I'm going to say France to go through. I've chosen those words carefully because I think that gives me... That gives you a lot of outs.

1:19:37It gives me a whole lot of outs. Listen, you don't top the table by taking... What are we dealing with here? You're dealing with a league leader, Mr. Subwell.

1:19:50what was that I'm going to have France to go through I'm going to have first goal scorer Kylian Mbappe and I'm going to have last goal scorer Kylian Mbappe you like it I like it but it's a very hedging yeah you're very shit out there I've paraguied it haven't I yeah you've shit hours re there okay I'll go next I'm gonna go I've done a bit of research on this I think this is where you've got to find the man that probably sometimes walks into that bookies and you know grabs that small pen with a bit of paper and I'm gonna go for seven or more corners you have done your research and you look very pleased seven or more corners seven or more corners in this game let me get my my notes up seven or more corners in this game I'm going to go for Mbappe to score at any time and I'm going to go with a France win but with both teams to score he's done more research than us Pete so Paddy Power come back with that bet builder please Jesus Christ I haven't done any research whatsoever you've been busy at the Azteca you've been tugging Harry Kane and dancing with him on the pitch you haven't had time for research yeah I've kind of not done much here I'm going to go Sabari promising start

1:21:38there's a man that's bottom of the league

1:21:45he's fucking unreal two or more shots on target yeah yeah I've got to think outside the box here right you've all got to get yourself back in the game yeah yeah Sabari I think yeah two or more shots on target I can't go Morocco can I I could you could why not I mean that would be the biggest call in history I can't do it What about Morocco leading at some point Yeah Is that part of the bet builder Can I say that You can have anything you want First goal First goal scorer Yeah That makes my odds higher But my chances lower Do you know what I mean So if you get on the bet builder Your odds are higher But it actually doesn't matter If my odds are lower Do they but you can broaden that and you could go Morocco to score first France to win you could do that Morocco to score first France to win the game right Safari two or more shots on target I think I've just I'm high on life as you should be yeah alright if that comes in I want half of his points by the way I don't think there's any chance of that coming in that's why I'm bottom of the league no research absolutely no research just living the dream I tell you what just drop LeBron another text and he'll help us out I could do actually yeah I could do actually it's a good point Crouchy my man my man Crouchy double deuce

1:23:42So that was Jolien. He was really good boys, wasn't he? He's clearly done a lot as a player, but those insights into being players feel they've come at a really good time after the game against Mexico. Yeah, it gives you a proper in-depth feel of individuals as a collective, what they've been through, experiences in tournaments under 21s stepping up interesting about the transition from under 21s to the first team in terms of there's not like that straight line this is how we play these are the formations it was kind of let your own devices go you've got your own team your own players from certain clubs which I found really insightful really so yeah I loved it Joe is always great he's always great value great lad love having him on Lads can I just ask you a question where did you boys watch it today and did you did you have a few beverages good question um we did have a few beverages and uh do you know what we did because obviously we were responsible broadcasters when you had the podcast this evening so the first couple of beers we had were uh the silver specials just topped with a little bit of sprites oh yeah okay i say You basically went tea total.

1:25:01I had a cup of tea at one point. We had a hydration break. We had a hydration break and there's two types of people in this world, remember? After that hydration break, one of us had a cup of tea and one of us had an espresso martini. Can you name them two people? I think I can. I think I can. There was a point, Pete, you would have liked this, where, as Sid said at the start of the show, we were watching the game with quite a few Mexico supporters. There was a point when England scored their first goal where they looked a bit shocked at the noise that we were making. And obviously it was a minute and a half later when Jude Belliam scored his second and the noise doubled.

1:25:49And there was a point where I looked around to see where they were. They'd all gone home places. They'd all gone. Can I just tell you about John's evening as well, right? John's come over to record the pod with me in Mexico. And he's gone to a pub in Mexico, right? He couldn't get a ticket for the game. So he's gone to a pub to watch the game. He said, he's the only Englishman in this pub. And he said, there's people looking at him. You know, when you walk into a saloon bar and everyone looks around. So there's that kind of fun. And then someone sent him over basically half a pint of tequila. and said to come and join them.

1:26:31To be fair, they were nice. He said he sat there with a load of Mexicans and just drank a half a pint of tequila. Love it. Love that. Could have ended in a very, very different way, that, my friend. You could have done, man. You could have done. Right, well, that is probably us done for the evening. It's getting late here in LA. We need to let the boys edit the pod and get it up since then. No, no, no. We need to go out. That's what we're going to do. Okay, well, that's... That's what we're saying. That sounds like a good plan. Cratchy, when are you coming back to us? I am coming back tomorrow evening, yeah.

1:27:05So I couldn't get a flight in the morning. Obviously, I'm going to sample a bit more of Mexico, and then I'll be back. Should the three of us do a little, when you're back, just stick a little text on the group WhatsApp chat. Should we do a full debrief over a couple of beverages, look back on the World Cup so far? I think that's what we do most evenings, don't we? we have a few beverages and have a debrief why change your winning plan Crouchy see you tomorrow my friend right Senor Sidwell

1:27:41adios amigos adios amigos hasta luego

1:27:49hi it's Paige from Giggly Squad and this episode is sponsored by Experian Boost Summer glow up? Check. Credit glow up? Even better. Boost your credit scores instantly by getting credit for bills you're already paying. Your phone, utilities, rent, and insurance. I wish dating kind of worked like that. Connect your bank account, add those on-time payments to your Experian credit file, and your FICO score updates right away. You could instantly raise your FICO score by an average of 14 points with Experian Boost. Download the Experian app for free today. Results will vary. Users who received a boost improved their FICO score 8 from Experian by an average of 14 points.

1:28:28See App Store or Experian.com for details. Results will vary. Not all payments are boost eligible. Users who received a boost improved their FICO score 8 from Experian by an average of 14 points. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian boost. See Experian.com for details.