That R32 Episode: Robbie Keane reflects on ICONIC career & thoughts on England's chances! | Ep. 411

0:05Hello and welcome to That Peter Crouch podcast. Tom Fordyce and Sid's is with me. I'm going with Sid's now. Come on. I'm going with it. Love it. How are we lads? Are you alright? We're having a good time aren't we Sid's? Good, good, good. We are in the knockout stages now and it's that strange thing isn't it where we were all enjoying the group stages and then the serious stuff starts and you go ah now we're cooking.

0:27Tom Fordyce: It's just notched up a bit isn't it as well. What games did we watch last night? It was Morocco that entertained, wasn't it? Really good. Yeah, it was good. Paraguay, incredible performance. Yeah. That shootout, that Morocco-Netherlands shootout, there's an argument it was both the worst penalty shootout of all time, but also the best because it was so dramatic. I mean, some of the misses. I thought the Jonathan Tarmis for Germany was up there with Arida Balaga. I mean, the ball, or Steve Stevenson, and the ball's still travelling into outer space. But that Netherlands one, I mean, there were so many misses.

1:03Tom Fordyce: Yeah. What are we saying about the view from behind? Are you liking that? Yeah, I do. You're not a fan? I prefer the old offset one a little bit. I think you're a purist. You both are. I am as well. But we change. I don't know. There is something nice about it. It feels like you're involved in it. It kind of comes, it goes in with it. You're almost like the next taker because you're not with the players on halfway, but you're almost like you've begun your walk. I'd like to imagine myself as one of the players in the huddle. I quite like that. The only thing I don't like about it, the first time I remember seeing that angle was the United-Chelsea Champions League final.

1:41And I think I was travelling somewhere weird like Bolivia and I was watching in a hotel room on an old-fashioned TV, like the 4-3 aspect ratio. And for the John Terry penalty, the decisive penalty, they've gone to behind the goal and the posts are not visible on the TV. So he's taken it and I've just gone, has he? Hasn't he? Absolutely. Absolutely no idea. There's been some shockers over the years. You know, when you've missed goals. I remember the early years of TV. Yeah. You know, when they go to, they've shown a replay or something and you go, that's a goal. And you go, fucking hell.

2:12Tom Fordyce: Talking of missing goals, it's good to see that the lads clipped up a bit of what I said about me. You know, every time I step out, there's a goal. It's good to see that loads of people have messaged. It's not just you. It's not just me. that happen to them all the time as well. That's good. It's nice that I'm not the only one. No. I know people that have actually had to step out because it's a boring game. Yeah. And it's happened. Yeah. Right, lads. So we'll get into it pretty sharp today because we've got a great guest. Someone I know very well and top player. It's Robbie Keane.

2:52right and we're joined by uh by robbie keen hello lads oh good how are you welcome robbie yeah good mate good so this this was your home yeah for a little bit yeah literally this was your home it wasn't far from here was it close yes how much do you enjoy out here i loved it I was here for five and a half years. My little lad was born here, Hudson, as well. So, yeah, we spend a lot of time here in the summer. It's a difficult place to live, as you probably well know. We've been here for a few weeks. But amazing experience. The lifestyle is incredible, the people. So, yeah, it was an enjoyable time.

3:30What was the club like then, when you first arrived and stuff? Obviously, I feel like the MLS is probably like US soccer in general, football has moved on. Yeah, I think when David came, David was here two years before me, and he started obviously getting the MLS massive at the time. And then as a couple of years went on, you could see the crowds full houses nearly every game. A few teams now, but most of the clubs full houses. So you could see the growth was getting bigger. And of course, then we started winning championships. And then you could see the buzz around it. Of course, that's a lot down to David in terms of who he is and what he brings to the table.

4:13But people also forget how good of a football player he was as well. I always say that. I always say that. I think a lot of people think he's kind of overrated. And I disagree, you know, because he's obviously a global icon now and whatever he is. But as a footballer, when you train with him day in, day out, he was top level. He's definitely. I used to love because I knew I'd make a run. and they'd find me and my very first golf by the Galaxy was him quick free kick over the top so and right into your path he was incredible and also a grafter as well even how technical ability he was he was so good his passing was ridiculous but I tell you what he didn't stop running and even at the end of his career he was still getting after people had that still willingness to want to win and obviously him coming here there was a lot of pressure on him because they didn't win for two years.

5:07And people expect him to be like a Messi, you know, where he's going to take people on. He's a completely different player. So it was like, I think me coming kind of helped a little bit because just the final piece of the jigsaw, the goal scorer with Landon Donovan as well was brilliant. And then we start to win championships. But he's made the MLS.

5:26Tom Fordyce: Did you speak to him before you come just to get adjusted or did you kind of come in a little bit dry? He signed me, basically. Because you remember we used to come to train at Tottenham and Arsenal on the off-season. We trained with us, yeah. I was there. So we came and then me and him became close. And he kept asking me, just like, would you fancy going to the MLS? And I said, yeah, you know, I'm in the Premier League. I was 31, nearly 32. I said, yeah, maybe. And then all of a sudden, one week later, they put an offer in. And I was in 48 hours I was signed. So he filled me in on everything.

6:04And he was the one that he said to me, listen, I want you to kind of run the dressing room. I'm not like, he's not like a show. You know what I mean? Where the difference, when I first came, and this changed a little bit because we played a game against Seattle. And I could see all the lads joking and laughing because this lifestyle is incredible. Most of the players lived in Manhattan Beach. And I could see the standard not the way I wanted it. and then we lost Seattle 1-0 and then I was only there 10 days and you're trying to be kind of nice aren't you at the start because you're trying to get a feel of way in a little bit and everyone was laughing and joking in the dressing room straight after and then then I stood up and then I said I'm not here to I'm not here for a holiday I'm here to here to fucking win basically so and I think that changed the mentality a little bit and then the training was a bit more the standard was every day was getting after people keeping the high standard.

7:02So I think you had to, that was the difference between in the Premier League and then at this level, you know, it wasn't, it wasn't where it probably is now. I think certainly in the last, you know, 10 years it's gone, it's changed a lot. How's the demographic as a designated player? how does it work? Like work, I think, in a team environment, like, are you a designated player? I tell you what, I, this is, I was like sweating because, first of all they accept it right it's normal here right so that's fine the americans but the hardest bit was when we used to fly oh yeah no we used to get we used to be in first class me and david and the rest of the lads are walking past you and i'm like pretending to be on my phone so i don't want to look at them because i'm embarrassed uh yeah so that was uh yeah that was at the start i found that a little bit weird so then as you kind of get to know the lads and you have a bit of banter but a lot of times as well I would if a young lad scored or something like that I would swap room that's a nice touch uh but for the whole flight or just give him a quick half an hour taste then send him back yeah yeah send me a cookie there but it was that was a bit weird to be honest with you what did you find when when you arrived because you've clearly played at the absolute top level you played some of the best clubs the greatest clubs in in world football if we go back to your time at Inter Milan as well so when you just arrived what were your expectations of the standard of football and what surprised you?

8:31I knew because obviously speaking to David he kind of gave me insight before so I think you have to understand if you're going to come to the MLS you have to understand that it's not going to be the Premier League and also the quality of the players not in the hard work, in the graft because they put it in that's one thing that surprised me I mean they run and they don't stop they're not technically as good as you know obviously back home but you can see the change now I think so you had the hard work that's one thing they did so you have to understand the travel that it's your five hours on a flight to New York but you'd fly two days before so if you understand that and accept that it's an incredible place to play football and especially if you live in LA as well you know for your family and stuff it's amazing Were you tempted Crouch?

9:21I remember you telling me once that there was a sniff of an offer from somewhere in Washington, wasn't there? And you scoped out a house. And then six months later, Wayne Rooney's living in that house. Yeah, I said, Washington had been on, DC or whatever, United. And yeah, there's an opportunity for me to go there. And I said to Av, they've gone for Wayne Rooney. Obviously, he's at United at times. There's no way he's going. So we started looking at houses, everything. Yeah, I was close to it. And then turned on Sky Sports News. Did he give you a heads up? Put them hands on ice, eh? Did he give you a heads up?

9:56No, no heads up. I just had a look. And then the worst thing is, Ab showed Killeen all the places she'd been looking at. Oh, yeah. She had all the info. So you did all the work for them. Me and Ab were playing a liaison office. Oh, that's brilliant, that is. Different temperature living there, bro. Especially in the winter. Exactly right. Keel, what about your early days, mate? because you've had a strange career, like an amazing career. But like going from kind of Wolves and playing as well as you did, then a big move to Coventry and all of a sudden into Milan. How does that all come about? It's so young as well.

10:31Yeah, well, listen, people say you move quickly in the space of time, but to leave Wolves in the Championship to the Premier League was always going to happen if you're good enough, of course, and who's not going to leave? And the Coventry one, that was a strange one because I actually wanted to go. there was Villa who was interested at the time as well but Doug Ellis wouldn't pay the extra half a million and so I met Gordon Strachan and first thing he said because you know Strachan he's got a bit of great humour and he's brilliant first thing he said to me I'm going to make you a millionaire that's the first thing he said and he started laughing on the phone and I was like 18, 19 years of age so but he kind of made it easy for me so then I met him and he was brilliant and then I'm delighted I went there it was it was Amazing club.

11:18We had, at the time, some great players. Hadji. Yeah. I played with him at Villa. Hadji was unbelievable. Yeah, he was incredible. And we had Gary McAllister, who was... Before he's moved to Liverpool. Yeah, so I think both of us said to each other, he's helped me get the Inter move, and I helped him get the Liverpool move. And he was like 35. Yeah, he was coming to the end. Unbelievable. He was incredible. And then, had that one year, and Gordon did say to me, I don't think he'll be here after a year. In the first month I was there. Really? Yeah And he said I'm fine with that But just keep doing Focus on what you're doing He said that literally In the space of a month And then As I started doing well Scoring goals Then He gets a few Get fewer interest from I think there was talk of Arsenal and Wenger at the time And then But Inter And I'm one Apparently they were watching me For six months I didn't Wow Obviously now Which is probably a good thing For a young player You know You don't really want that That pressure on your shoulders And then End of the season Pulls me into the office Gordon says we have had an offer from Inter Milan for£13 million we can't refuse it so you're gone and he goes I don't want you to but he goes for you and for the club it's amazing so yeah so it was at that time it didn't really happen did it we were saying earlier there was that period where the best players in English football went to Serie A but that had sort of started coming to an end because you obviously had Gazza, you had David Platt you had Paul Ince and then there was the point where the big Italian names were coming to the Premier League.

12:48So we were saying you were almost the last big name to do that Premier League Serie A match. Yeah, I think the league just before me, I think was probably even better, to be honest with you. Because I used to watch it when I was growing up as a kid, you know. Sunday afternoon, yeah. Channel 4. Yeah. Used to love Roberto Baggio was my favourite player. So I used to love it. And then when I went, yeah, different football. It was different. Yeah. It was a bit more slow. and yeah, there wasn't high energy football and I was kind of that kind of player. So it was more tactical all the time. That's why a lot of the games have won.

13:27One nils, yeah. You know, so it was different. I tell you what, I know I wasn't there for long, but it definitely gave me a good outlook to becoming a real professional football player because they were doing everything right. Yeah. We had, you know, we trained in the morning. we stay in the training ground the afternoon have lunch training the afternoon and just the food the difference the food how do you how do you eat as well like you know they'll have a pasta first a little bowl of pasta and then they'll have to fish out and then the strange thing was is that used to be at lunch lunchtime in the training ground bottles of red wine on the table the lads are just like I'm gone like where's the manager so it was different and the lads night before game we just have like one glass where you know in the UK they'll have one or two they'll have ten yeah it's just not going to escalation it's just not going to be one is it no it's level one so that gave me a great perspective of me then when I came back to England now how to do the right thing how to recover properly would you say

14:31Tom Fordyce: that that short time there even improved you as a player because look I've played against you and I've seen like seen unkempt kind of goals and stuff but I think one of your super strengths is your movement. Your movement off the ball is like outrageous. When you, when you people, when they go to watch games, they just watch the ball, don't they? But if you actually take your off the ball and you see your movement or you're just dropping a shoulder going in behind. Back then, obviously the Italian league, the defenders were obviously again a step above, wasn't they? Always seeing like those Rolls Royces.

15:00Tom Fordyce: Did you have to then think even more different? Yeah, probably, yeah. It's weird to move with one because I always had that when I was younger. And then, I remember when the force went to Coventry and Strachan said to me, where did you learn your movement from? I said, I don't really know. So, what I used to always do in the play, every time I'd play against a defender in the first few seconds and he'd be close to me, I'd just drop the shoulders just to see what he would do. So if I could see him dropping off, then I'd not have him. So I used to always do it every game at the very, very start and the ball was never even near me or someone, I know I'm not getting it just to see his reaction.

15:41I used to do it every, every game. Listen, I wasn't the quickest And I agree I think that was my biggest strength Was my movement I wasn't the quickest But I was sharp Yeah Over 10, 15 yards But anything after like 40, 50 yards Like No, I wouldn't be so I had to be clever I had to think differently I wasn't Mike alone I couldn't push through from 50 yards You know, so everything with me was like How can I get a yard away from him If I play against Rhea, for example I mean we're in a foot race He's going to do me Yeah But if I drop the shoulder and he goes three, four yards that way, I know I have him.

16:15Those little movements that you used to do, obviously, you know, I've trained with you as well. And like, it reminded me of Robbie Fowler as well in some ways. It was like, it was just so quick over like the first two, five yards, those little overs, little one, twos around the box. Like just a clever player in and around that. Is that something you just grew up with? Is that natural? Yeah, I think it was just because I played on the streets all the time. You know, we had friends on the street and in tight spaces and you had to be clever. He had to, and I know it sounds weird as well, but I remember he was a kid, I don't know what it's called, an England boy, he used to do the Bulldogs charge, remember?

16:48Yeah. And he used to lift the drum shoulders, little small things like that that people probably don't realise that helps you when you become a football player. And, yeah, I was big on movement, I still am now as a manager. I try and help the strikers as much as I can, because if you get that just half a yard away from someone, if you're not the quickest, it makes a huge difference. Pete, give us, as another international striker, Give us an appreciation, those of us who have done the watching rather than doing in terms of football. Give us an appreciation of what Robbie brought as a striker. Well, number one, he was a leader.

17:20Someone in the dressing room I think everyone would look to to lead by example and off the field as well. Tactically very good. But the main thing was a player. I think a top goal scorer, I don't know the amount of goals he scored, but brought everyone into play. team player very clever and like you said always got like kind of half a yard and I think we'll get into Tottenham now but when I think of Robbie and I think of Jermaine Defoe for instance I think probably the two best I've played with at creating a space when you think there's no there's no room whatsoever Jermaine was probably the best at kind of getting out and just getting a shot off from nowhere incredible whereas Robbie I mean I always remember one guy at White Hart Lane it must have been one of your favourites where you're going down that line and you just, you bring it back and then bang it in.

18:11Do you know which one I'm doing? When I chipped off the savage's head, Where you flick it over. Yeah, there's a couple. There was one on the touchline as well. Yeah, back one, yeah. From the throw. That's it from the throw. Sorry, yeah. There's no space there. Like at all.

18:24Tom Fordyce: It shouldn't be done. Yeah. I mean, I think, again, you have to, I think being a football player also, you have to be like a snooker player. You have to always think a couple of shots ahead. You have to see what's happened, you know, before it does. So, and again, in short spaces, I was, that was my game. Everything short spaces. So I was always, ever seen me playing, I was always watching. Always seeing what's around me. But see about what you said about, he always had time and space. You know where I learned that from? It was Teddy Sharnham. So when I first went to Tottenham first, at the start, you know, I used to be running around everywhere, like chasing the ball.

19:01And then I think, and Teddy just goes, no, sometimes just stand still. So then I'm watching Teddy when I'm playing with him for that year. It was amazing. I'm thinking, he can't run. He's not the quickest, but he's always free. So I was almost playing behind him. So I could see I'm watching him and learning from him. So I learned a hell of a lot from Teddy. And sometimes he looks like he's moving around, but he's not really. He's moving like three, four yards, but still on the same spot. And then eventually he'd always have to ball out of his feet. So he helped me massive with that. When I was looking at the five asides, I reckon five asides, I think, at Spurs, I reckon we'd have won the Premier League five or six times.

19:43Is it Harry Special, the five asides? Yeah, well, like, granted, yeah, we did them probably too often. Yeah. But if you think about the foe, Lennon, yourself, Modric, Van der Vaart. You're not getting the ball, are you?

19:55Tom Fordyce: No. Like, that, if you've got a few of them on one team, I think it's unbeatable in a five asides. Because in short spaces, short areas, You can't get the ball off the shots. Luka was incredible. I remember Luka came in the first week and he was skinny. He four signed. And we were in Spain. And the lads were like, I'm not really sure. And then we played a five-a-side game. And then all of a sudden, he did two or three things. And I said to the lads, this guy is different. He is different. As you said, it was the five-a-side that he just came. He came alive. Short spaces. couldn't get near him wasn't strong but couldn't get the ball off him just clever in tight areas so yeah the five sides at times if you're on the wrong team I taught them in the five sides yeah you're getting taste you're getting done I remember we had a 2v2 once and I think it might have been myself and Michael Dawson top centre half by the way but against Azza and Jermaine Defoe got all the best two two big oafs five foot five I've never seen him like it.

21:05So sharp. What about Hazard? You go down once, and you know what he was doing. He just drag you in and go wide. He'd run out here, drop the shoulder left, and go to the right and get across it. Every time? Yeah, unbelievable. What was your fact? Obviously, your period, you know, you had two periods at Spurs. What was your favourite moment in a Spurs shot? We've got a Spurs fan here who's very keen on meeting you. No pun intended. It's... Yeah, what was your favourite time in a Spurs shot? I think you know Tottenham it's a special club isn't it it's special with special fans the whole time I was there was amazing but ultimately you want to win things and you know winning the at the time Tottenham wasn't winning trophies winning the Carlin Cup against that Chelsea time were you in that squad at Tottenham

21:51Tom Fordyce: yeah you broke your hearts there's 2-1 no there's the other one where it hit Carvalho's back and then you just I think that killed the league for you yeah he did yeah he did broke my heart yeah it was good assist from Carvalho I think winning the top because that wasn't for they haven't done it for so long and trying to I think that was to gave the club you know motivation now to go a little bit again if they could and then unfortunately then usually what happens at Tottenham is you know they sell players so when I was there it was incredible me and Berbatov together for that couple of years was amazing and then selling him and then he went and I said like after creating this unbelievable partnership so then that's when I went to Liverpool but then came back with him playing with yourself and completely different players you know you have to I think as a striker you have to adapt to who you're playing with all the time so anytime the ball will come to crouch I have to make a run behind because I know he'll win it you know with Berbatov I play with Berbatov I know he would like to play close enough to me where we can do stuff together and similar to similar to Jermaine Defoe.

23:02So, yeah, you have to, I think as a striker, you have to adapt as much as possible and try and play to each other's strengths. Yeah. Can I just ask you what you think of Spurs at the minute? You know, obviously, you know, winning the Europa League was so amazing, right? But then finishing solo down in the league. And again, they've gone again, you know, this season and it's only just stayed up. I mean, what are your thoughts on that? And did anyone speak to you about the manager's job? No, there's been obviously a lot of talk about it. Of course, if they needed help, I definitely would have done it.

23:34But at the time, also, I was in a good job. As you know, I resigned from that post. But if I could ever help Tottenham, of course, I would have. You have a great manager now. I think that after winning the Europa League, you would think, here we go now. We're going ahoy. And then the last two years, to be honest with you, has been a disaster for a club like Tottenham and the players that they have. In the facilities that they have, there's no way they should be finishing 17th. I think that's two years in a row. Yes, I understand that they had a lot of injuries last year, but I still think the squad that they still had was good enough to be in the top 10, even with the players that were injured.

24:15I think with the players that they signed this year, I think they'll be strong. I think the manager is good, but they can't be in that situation again. There's not a big club like that. You cannot go from Europa League winners to 17 and twice in two years. It can't be possible. Have you got, Robbie, because you have all these different clubs you've played for and you've played with some great players and your record everywhere has been outstanding. Is there one point in your career, one club or a season or even a spell within a season where everything just flowed for you, where you hit that? They talk about flow states, don't they, Sid, in all sports, where you're not thinking about it, where you're scoring your goals, you're making your runs without thinking about it.

24:54Any particular little period that you look back on? I think that two years before I went to Liverpool, I think with Berbatov together, to be honest with you. But I started with Jermaine first, and obviously Jermaine went to Portsmouth. Yeah, I think that was the spell between me and him. We scored a lot of goals, and it felt like you feel like everything you touch, you know, you're going to score. I think that's having the confidence as well in the team as well. And the team at that time was strong. and we had players as well who was very creative that can help you. So I'd say that window, absolutely.

25:32The real frustration I know from Tottenham fans is they don't, rather than add to that, they take away from it. And that's been the case for too long. When you look at some of the teams with the Kane and the Son team or maybe the team that we had under Harry there and before that with Berbatov yourself. Why is that? I realised at the time, the one was, it started off with Michael Carrick. Michael came from West Ham to Tottenham and Michael was top player one of the best players to play with especially as a striker because he always finds you through that gap always looks forward and then straight away they saw Michael and then you're starting starting again then then the you get get Jermaine then we can start myself and Jermaine then Jermaine goes yes we get Berbatov in then Berbatov goes then I go and then you said with Sonny and Harry you know yesterday he did get the Champions League final playing against Liverpool of course was difficult but again settling near Harry Kane's but these players want to win trophies these players want to win trophies and if Tottenham want to go forward and want to be taking a real serious club they have to start keeping these players but also to keep the players you have to get top players around them and also win things because if you don't start winning things Harry Kane he started winning trophies in the last two years since he's gone to Bayern Munich someone like him should be winning trophies five, six, seven, eight years ago yeah

27:00Tom Fordyce: you said it must have been frustrating times then at Spurs but obviously you said earlier on about there was a possible chance that you could have gone to Arsenal earlier on in your career no I didn't go to I just talk yeah just talk yeah yeah during your career was there anywhere that come up about you obviously winning trophies that was potentially on the cards that didn't come to fruition that no one really knows about or did you look back on one and go, well, that could have been one that's still high? No, not really. There's always speculation, isn't there? Not really. Obviously, me going to Liverpool, that was that.

27:36Because they were winning trophies. Yes, they were in the Premier League, but they were still winning the Champions League, you're in the FA Cup, the Carlyle Cup, whatever it may be. So that was kind of my club, if you like, to win things. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. What was the deal? I've got to touch on Liverpool and Leeds your time there you enjoyed I mean Leeds you're on fire Leeds is great good group of lads actually probably that Tottenham the dressing room we had there I think two of the two of the top I mean we have a WhatsApp group we have a WhatsApp group now we have a WhatsApp group now and actually yesterday I showed you after if you remember this Jonathan Woodgate bought a car what they called a little three wheeler yeah Reliant Robin.

28:22Yes, yeah. He bought one of them, right? He was in a garage coming down from Middlesbrough to Leeds because he lived in Middlesbrough. It was only 40 minutes away. And he was in a garage and he asked the guy, how much for your car? And the guy went, what do you mean? He said, I'll buy a car off you. So he bought it off him and him and his mate, 600 quid. So we brought it to the club. So it was the worst player on the Friday. had to drive into the stadium. So the first person was Ian Hart. And he was raging. He didn't want to do it. But Gary Kelly is his uncle. Remember that? Gary was like... He said, if you don't, I'm going to tell granny on you.

29:08So there's a picture on my phone the guys sent in yesterday. All of us standing around the car with Harty. And this was the morning of the game. So you've got to drive to the game in this. You've got to drive to the game in the year. Brilliant. But that time at Leeds, that was another club, actually, because I reckon we were still together for a couple more years, the team. We would have won something. We were just in the late semifinals. Yeah, the squad was incredible. And then that was another selling club, if you like. Of course, they were in financial ruins at the time, and I was actually in the car with Rio when it started happening.

29:45Me and him was in the car, and so Alex Ferguson called to sign him. said Leeds are in trouble they need money so me and him would have forced two people to go to get money into the club and the year after they got relegated but what a club great fans great place to live yeah so yeah that was a special time of course and then obviously going to Liverpool was incredible because the team and the players that was there you know unfortunately didn't work out as well as I would have liked it's a World Cup now mate I just want to give you your thoughts really on who you think is going to go through, who's going to do well, who's going to do well, who's going to do all right, and obviously your Ireland career.

30:23I was actually having a look at your Ireland career, right? 19 consecutive years you scored goals. It's insane that stat, isn't it? That's some longevity. There can't be many others, you've got that. Yeah, no, listen, at the time Ireland was, I always said it was the Green Jersey was the one that fit me the best. And, you know, to play for your country and to play in tournaments in the World Cup, I was lucky enough in 2002 and some Euros, but playing for your country is something special. To score that many goals and have that many caps, who would have ever believed as a kid when you're growing up in Dublin that this would ever be, you could ever even achieve this.

31:04But thankfully I did. I said it was great times. Again, we're talking about dressing rooms, we're talking about a group that's at times overachieved because of the players that we had together. When you talk, when we were growing up, you said about England and stuff, and obviously a lot of you guys talk about quite a lot with the Chelsea, the Liverpool and Arsenal and all this. In Ireland, it's not like that at all. Everybody's just in it together. And, you know, the first thing you do, meet up together, have a pint at the bar, and then just get seven of the new players coming in. So I think that's why we've done so well because of the gettingness of the group.

31:47And as I said, playing the World Cup was amazing.

31:49Tom Fordyce: I was going to just go on to that. So we've seen in this World Cup alone, some strikers score their first goal for their country in a World Cup. When you scored in a World Cup finals, what was it like for you? Because you can see that it's like a bucket list, it's a box tick, it's a massive thing for any striker to do. But the emotional side of it must go, I've scored in a World Cup finals. Well, I remember growing up in the streets, you played World Cup teams, didn't you? Yeah. And then all of a sudden, you're playing in it. And then the score, if I could bottle that feeling up and have it, and again, I would love it because that was probably one of the greatest feelings that I've ever had as a football player, ever.

32:33And even see, that was in the 92nd minute against Germany to equalise. And you see me even, you see that I was knackered. I mean, I was roasting. but you see me spritzing off this elevator the cartwheel is probably the best one I've ever done because if you see how it flowed so fast but I was absolutely shattered but the adrenaline and that feeling was incredible I was lucky enough to score three three goals we got knocked out by Spain but it's Spain the top team at the time but I think we should have beaten Spain especially at extra time there's a point you know with the cartwheels there's a point in life where you go I might just do the old guns instead now.

33:13You know what? Looking back now, I wish yes because my back is killing me. But, incredible, to play at a World Cup like that. I mean, the experience at that World Cup as well, like, phenomenal. Yeah, yeah, it was incredible. I said, I was 21 at the time myself. Me and Duff were the kind of new young kids at the time. Duff had an incredible World Cup as well. So, yeah, it was something special. It's hard to describe it. And then you're here, and you're watching the games, you wish you could go back and be in that moment again. Yeah. Sorry, Pete. Rio was talking about coming up in that World Cup, coming up against Ronaldo, wasn't it?

33:55The original Ronaldo. So for you, Ruby, were there any players you came up against in that World Cup where you had a similar pinch yourself moment when you're like, that's them. That's them in the flesh. We played Cameroon, played Germany, played Saudi. so they didn't didn't really have at that time they had strikers and stuff like that but you mean in the terms of defenders and stuff like that or just an aura yeah you know what I never really looked the only one I had was when we played a friendly game against Argentina I played against Messi that's the only time I went this is something special did you get the shirt yeah we swapped shorts yeah it was my 100 cap actually for Ireland and I was at Liverpool that time and Mascherano and Mascherano said to me he just landed yesterday he landed yesterday he played against us in Ireland he played 60 minutes and I'm telling you it's probably the best 60 minutes I've ever seen a footballer play he got a stand ovation from the Irish crowd it was basically like us playing against four year olds and just going past them walking past them it was just I've never seen anything like it yeah First step forward to this World Cup I mean he's still going right he's top goal scorer at the moment what who's favourites for you who's going to win the golden boot can he still do it for Argentina I think it's going to be between Messi and Mbappe for the golden boot I just want Messi six goals in three games I mean even 39 he's still kind of yes he's not maybe as sharp as he was but he's still gone past people like easy easy enough like yeah it's incredible and Mbappe is just his pace and his goals is incredible so I think between I think Harry will be close as well especially for tomorrow you could have a chance to score a few goals against against Congo but the big players are showing up aren't they and that's what we want to see especially me as an ex-striker I love seeing the striker score goals I love it and then who's going to win it I think it's going to be between Argentina Argentina, France.

36:10I think England could come close, but I think they need to improve. And I think he needs to get a fixed team to go forward. I'm not too sure whether he's sure about the midfield at the moment. If you could play Robbie, let's say you've got the choice of having Piquet or Robbie Keane playing up front in any of the teams you've seen in the World Cup. So you're hunting your own personal golden boot in this scenario. Which team do you want to play? Play for? Yeah. which midfield, which wide men, which striker, what's the perfect team for you?

36:42Tom Fordyce: I'd say France. Yeah. France would go. I'll tell you where I could see him super as well. Morocco. Lovely. High energy. They are high energy down there. Portugal's not bad. That midfield with Bruno Fernandes. Yeah. Yeah. Listen,

36:59I just think France, if you look at this, like Dembele, Elicia. I mean, he's just, he's just, to be honest he's just come out of nowhere hasn't he really I've seen him at Crystal Palace but I didn't see there wasn't really that much talk about him because he was a top player but then he goes to Bayern Munich and you see him there in the World Cup he's similar and he's just drifting past people like they're not balanced we've been to a few of the stadiums we've been seeing a game in Dallas which was amazing we went to the first US game in LA which was unbelievable plenty made about the Scottish fans being out here how good would it have been if the Ireland fans I'm the Scottish Rofi.

37:36You know, every time I see the videos and see what they're doing, it just takes me back for the Euros when we were, with the Euros team when they're helping change some guy's wheel of his car and everything and singing to the baby on the train. I'm very, very similar to the Scottish fans. You know, they've been incredible. Just a shame that they're not got to the next level again, you know, because you want fans like that around. and he behaves himself incredibly and so does the Irish fans especially. And also what I've noticed here I had a pint of Guinness out here not bad at all. Oh yeah? Yeah.

38:15Really? Quite enjoyed it yeah. You'll have to take me I look forward to that. Robbie we do a little quiz every episode of the pod we've done it with Rio we've done it with Brad this one in honour of you Robbie is simply called Name That Robbie okay it's a simple case of shouting out if you know the answer okay we're not going to take it in turns between three of us between the three of you the first one I'm going to give you a clue okay a simple clue if you don't get it I'll give you a second clue so your first name that Robbie Stoke on Trent Robbie Williams yeah one point to Robbie name the Robbie God Fowler he's sharp he said his movement was shit it's as quick as his movement Downhill from here.

39:04Okay. 2-0 Robbie Keane. Name the Robbie. Neighbours. Oh, Robbie. I want to say Robbie Jackson. I was going to say Jackson as well. No, he's from EastEnders. I'll give you the second clue. First clue for name Robbie was Neighbours. Second, Wall Street.

39:27I used to watch Neighbours with my mother as well. Wall Street. started on neighbours, moved to Wall Street.

39:36Margot. Oh! Oh, good. Like that one? It's a curveball. It's a curveball. Come on, hey. Like it. You know what? I was a lot slob. I got there. Like it. I'm not surprised you got there. It's amazing. It's similar to a football game. He's going to go two feet. I've been back in the blocks yet. I want to get a yellow card. Oh, he's getting a red, definitely. Question number four. Name the Robbie. Port Vale. Blake. That's a good one. It's not the right answer. I'll give you the second one. Wimbledon. Robbie Earl. Robbie Earl. Sorry, it was a helicopter going over it. Was it Earl? It's Robbie Earl. Sid's got that one, fair flow.

40:20So we've got Sid's one, Robbie two, Crouchy one. Tell you what, Blake was not bad. He was bad for the way. Yeah. Great quiz, mate. Loving it. Your final one, we're mixing it up for question five. Name the keen. Okay? Everybody's changing. The band. Correct answer. It was simple. I was trying to point it out. It's effective. That concludes the quiz. And I think appropriately for a name the Robbie, our winner is Robbie. There you go.

40:48Tom Fordyce: Cheers. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Cheers. Brilliant. Cheers. Well done, my man.

40:58Right, the next part of the podcast is supported by Paddy Parrots, the big World Cup fixture. I've got a letter from the Mystery of Issues. Do you want to? Yes, please. Yeah, please. Hi, Crouchy Tom and Notorious SID. Let me start by sharing some deeply concerning news. One member of the league, who shall remain anonymous, has made the worrying allegations that two other members have besmirched the sanctity of the competition by illegally tipping off their other halves in order to gain a competitive advantage. I made a formal complaint. It's you. About you two. Yeah. Have you? Yeah. I wonder what this knife in my back was.

41:42I felt like the knowledge that you received or your girlfriend received was... I just think it was a lot... It felt like it was very much coming out of your mouth. Obviously, I'm disgusted by these allegations that you will be hearing from my attorney as soon as we come off air. But in the meantime, I just need to delete some things off my phone, which have got nothing to do. All right. Well, it says here, I'm sure you don't mean to tell you these are very serious claims. We investigated with the utmost rigor. In meantime, let us look at the results from a thrilling encounter between Brazil and Japan, in which the latter would desperately are lucky to find themselves on the wrong end of a late Gabriel Martinelli winner.

42:21We'll start with Sids and Chrissie, who notched a point for correctly predicting a Brazil win, along with a further three thanks to Vinicius Junior's two shots on target. Vinicus, sorry, it's Vinicus. He's actually spelt it Vinicus. I just read it wrong. That was my fault. Bruno Guimaraes failed to find his way into the book, meaning that a total for the game week was a respectable four points. Yeah. On to Ton and Philippa. Then the latter of whom sounded like she should be on ITV with a slick pre-match analysis. Quite how much of this was down to illegal tip-offs from Mr Fordyce will only become clear once the investigation concludes.

42:59But until then, she will, of course, be presumed innocent. As correctly. Yes. A good job, too, as her predictions of a Casemiro card and the same for Vinicus. Shots on target earned the duo a cool six points. Which brings us on to Crouchy. And it was panic stations from the big man when Abby admitted she didn't know what a player to be carded or two shots or more on target even meant. But boy, did she come good at the end. calling correctly the 2-1 scoreline. The Vinegar shots on target to land and an impressive six-point tie with Tom and Philippa for the game week. What this all means is that the first time in five rounds, Sid has failed to bag himself any bonus points.

43:41Instead, Crouchy and Tom take home five extra points each, closing the gap on our runway leader who remains out in front on 39. Tom has 30 and Crouchy on 21. I'm coming for you. Let us look ahead then. to the next Paddy Power big fixture, which will be England versus Dr. Congo. A game the three Lions are expected to make light work of, but will it really be that simple? Either way, one thing that will be simple this week is our next Chaos card, Wall Street Crash. It could be a nervy one for SIDS too. As the loser of the game, we will see five points wiped from their tally. All to play for then, just how I like it.

44:20Best of luck, lads. The Paddy Power, Minister of Mischief. please remember to gamble responsibly. Yeah, the leaderboard, 39-30-21. Wow. Always a curveball. I think we have tended to start off with you, Sid, or me. So, Pete, are you happy to lead us out with this one? Do you want me to do a score prediction? Score prediction, please. I'm going to go with England 2, Dr Congo 1. I was also going to go 2-1. I can see it going England 1-up 1-1 late winner OK

44:55Tom Fordyce: I'm going to go clean sheet I'm going to say 2-0 England OK OK player to have two more shots on target I will go for you've got to go for him Harry Kane because you've gone for Harry Kane I will therefore go for Jude Bellingham yeah see this is a tough one now isn't it because you've got to be thinking who's going to start does he start Rashford he's got to start Rashford does he start Morgan Rodgers I'm going to go Anderson for shots for two or more shots that feels like a curveball to me you never know he's top of the league he is top of the league for a reason yeah okay I'm going to go for a player to be carded I'm also going to go for Jude Bellingham to be carded okay I'm going to go for Aaron Wan-Bissaka yeah you like that don't you yeah I like that okay I'm going to go double bubble I'm going to go Anderson to be carded he's having a hell of a game listen he could he could score he could have two shots on target and he could get carded do you know what I've seen this coming because when we were watching the game the other day Sid's quite rightly highlighted how good Elliot Anderson was and it became a little bit of a loving didn't it rightly so of course he's flying high the boy okay

46:24Right, so lads, I mean, I'll be honest with you, I could talk to Robbie all day. You know, like, he kind of started before me, though we're pretty similar ages. I mean, he was 17, 18. I remember watching Robbie and thinking, like, that's the level, you know, you've got to get to.

46:38Tom Fordyce: Yeah. Top player. Classy. Amazing career. Goal scorer, wasn't he? yeah it was be nice to have a chat off camera to see obviously he's like chaperone as such giving him recommendations out here you know there's not going to be bad recommendations we need some tips I think we should go second hand you know where there's some few cheeky pups I like it the other thing Crouchy that I always think when we have a guest on like Robbie or someone that both of you have met before it's a bit like because you will have told me stories about Robbie and I can see when you've enjoyed playing with someone it's a bit like when you meet a mate and they go you've got to meet my mate Dave, you'll love Dave and then you meet Dave and you go, I see what you mean about Dave yeah, did you get that?

47:22everyone loves him

47:23Tom Fordyce: what, from Robbie? did I get that? did you get that? did you get that feeling? 100%, I could see why you would enjoy playing with Robbie I could see why he'd be popular in football also I think the thing that would surprise people about Robbie, and you've told me stories like this, Crouchy, when he was at Spurs driving those standards, because people generally think our strikers are the ones who take it easy and it's the glamour pussies you can see with Robbie he would drive standards that really fierce determination that you need to get from talent in Dublin all the way to the clubs that he went through you can see that as well from from definitely from a Tottenham perspective like he ran that dressing room I would always go I mean Ledley was kind of the captain when I came back and he was maybe vice but like Ledley was quiet and very much um lead by example and everyone respected him like obviously he was definitely the captain but I think Robbie kind of did run a dressing room he was very good at it yeah it's a hell of a career sit as well isn't it brilliant you know when you play that game where you list a load of clubs and you have to guess the player from the moves like Robbie's career path is pretty remarkable but so many big clubs but also those big clubs at big points in their history we've played that game and we've got the badges if we done his first three clubs I'd get straight away yeah straight away well as well we got we got DR Congo playing against England I would imagine us going through there's a rumour that I might potentially be going to Mexico City to if I don't want to say it because we've got a round to go through but you know people do have to put plans in place who are hopeful if not I'm perfectly happy to watch Congo Mexico but I've got to admit I am hoping that England don't throw that would be some experience that stadium looks brilliant But let's get through this one first.

49:08Let's get through this one first. It's a good one for everyone back home as well, isn't it? So it's a five o 'clock kickoff in the UK. That to me just speaks of the World Cup because it's going to dominate if you're a kid at school, if you're going to the office, if you're at home. That is all anyone is talking about on Wednesday back home. And then five o 'clock, you're straight into it, aren't you?

49:27Tom Fordyce: Well, for us though, it's the other round. It's a stellar at nine o 'clock in the morning. Is that what we're doing? We've decided. It's not, is it, Sid? It's England, isn't it? Come on. Yeah. I suppose it has to be, doesn't it? Is there any possibility whatsoever? Because look, we've seen... Well, not having Estella. No. Sids and Estella is nailed on. But this has been a World Cup. There has been quite a few shocks. Germany were beaten by Paraguay. Morocco, I think, fully deserved to beat the Netherlands. Japan pushed Brazil pretty close. Is there any scenario, not being negative a bit, is there any scenario at all where two thirds of the way or halfway through that second half I'm sending Sids out for a walk to conjure up a goal for England potentially yeah Sids I'll just go Sids tap the watch I think we could do that we could just capture that can't we if Sids does go out and we score you'll know we've re-round it it's going to happen I will do a video if we're 0-0 if England 0-0 with DR Congo second half and you need to walk I'll do a video okay I'll do I'll do the time of the match the score, switch to Sid like I'm on RefCam.

50:38Sid, you'll say, I'm going for a walk and then we'll come follow you back in the room and see the score.

50:42Tom Fordyce: I'll go to the bar. I'll go to the bar, get a tactical point. Yeah. Alright, on that note, I'm going to go to the bar and get a tactical point.

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