In short
The episode is a mix of World Cup build-up, football talk, and food debates. Guests discuss Liverpool appointing Arne Slot as manager, arguing his aggressive pressing style fits Liverpool’s “philosophy” and that the pressure at a top club is harsher than at Bournemouth. They predict World Cup winners and England’s starting XI, with France tipped as a strong contender (and England also backed). They also debate “ghee” vs butter after a farm shop ingredient label sparks disagreement, claiming both are 100% butter but taste different due to processing. Notable examples include England’s 1-0 warm-up win vs New Zealand, concerns about midfield selection, and World Cup memories like Italy 1990’s Tardelli celebration and France 1998/Zidane moments. The “GBF Egg-Off” ends with a blind taste test: Paul Scholes’ talking egg steamer vs Nicky Butt’s pan-boiled method, plus egg facts (e.g., eggshell holes; hen egg-laying estimates).
Guests
Len (audio-book reader; Spanish course story), Nicky Butt (footballer; egg-boiling method), and Paddy McGuinness (hosts/guest; World Cup and book discussions).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOThe Ghee Debate
0:45 to 4:02
A humorous discussion about ghee and its ingredients.
“Some sort of fat like a lad kind of thing.”
Egg Off Announcement
4:02 to 4:38
Announcement of a culinary competition between the hosts regarding boiling eggs.
“because these two are having an egg off and I'm going to blind taste the eggs to tell you whose is the best.”
Liverpool's New Manager
4:38 to 6:55
Discussion about Liverpool's new manager and expectations for the club.
“Hang on, what are you looking at these things?”
Reading Preferences and Audiobooks
6:55 to 10:42
Hosts share their thoughts on reading books versus audiobooks.
“The last book I listened to was actually Barack Obama.”
Book Recommendations and Personal Stories
10:42 to 14:00
Discussion on favorite books and personal anecdotes related to authors.
“Honestly, if you showed me these books and said, who is this?”
Discussion on Picture Books
14:00 to 14:45
The hosts discuss a unique approach to autobiographies through picture books.
“I remember, this is before I started reading, I was somewhere, it was on the table, I started reading it.”
Nostalgia for World Cup Memories
14:49 to 16:39
Hosts reminisce about their childhood experiences related to the World Cup and sticker swaps.
“Now, for me, it's when I see the wall charts come out with all the teams and the little lines.”
Watching Brazil at the World Cup
16:39 to 16:49
Discussion about attending a Brazil game during the World Cup and the unique experience.
Reflections on England's World Cup History
16:49 to 19:44
The hosts reflect on various World Cup experiences and their time with the England team.
“watching Brazil in a World Cup it's an experience it's different were you in the Brazil half?”
Glenn Hoddle's Coaching Style
19:44 to 22:39
The conversation shifts to Glenn Hoddle's coaching abilities and his impact on players.
“I think he got frustrated when people couldn't understand what he was trying to get across because he was so good at what he did.”
Show all 22 chapters
Current England Team Performance
22:39 to 23:24
Hosts discuss the current state of the England team and their recent performances.
World Cup Predictions and Favorites
23:24 to 28:01
Discussion on predictions for the upcoming World Cup and favorite teams to win.
“You think about Croatia next week still and playing Wednesday night is on.”
World Cup Predictions: Team Discussions
28:01 to 29:10
The hosts share their World Cup predictions, including dark horse teams and potential winners.
“No No In fact, you're right What am I on about?”
Golden Boot Contenders
29:11 to 30:39
Discussion shifts to who will win the golden boot, with various player predictions.
Player of the Tournament Speculations
30:40 to 32:38
The hosts speculate on which players might be the standout during the tournament.
“Are you looking at those qualifying, the games where you're playing the last team, you think, right, I'll get a load of goals here.”
England's Strongest Starting XI
32:39 to 35:06
The hosts discuss their thoughts on England's strongest starting lineup for the World Cup.
“It's just starting when I start straight away.”
Memories of World Cup Moments
35:07 to 36:30
The hosts share nostalgic memories and anecdotes from past World Cups.
“Because I don't know what it is with French.”
The Egg-Off Debate
37:10 to 42:00
The hosts engage in a humorous debate about boiling and steaming eggs, leading to an 'egg-off'.
“And this week, I want you to debate what's the best World Cup in history?”
The Egg Off Begins
42:00 to 42:56
The hosts engage in a humorous debate about the egg boiling process.
“Your eggs are not hard to boil Your eggs are there From the cloud Your eggs are boiled They are steamed Boiled It's a three in one egg boiler Steamer Does it say steamer?”
Cooking Techniques and Egg Facts
42:56 to 44:38
Discussion on cooking eggs and interesting facts about eggshells.
“skulls versus butts steamed versus boiled.”
The Great Chicken Debate
44:38 to 47:28
A lively and confusing discussion about chickens and eggs.
“What do you think that needle's for there on the end of it?”
Egg Tasting Results
47:28 to 52:48
The moment of truth as the hosts taste their eggs and reveal their thoughts.
“Two egg omelettes Two egg omelettes Sorry?”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Welcome to the good, the bad and the football, eh? You didn't think we'd leave you during the World Cup, did you? Oh no, we are here. And at the end of this show, we've got a very special World Cup announcement. But before we get into the World Cup chat and a little bit about Liverpool, I was out in a farm shop the other day, chaps, and we all know he's big on food and drink, don't we? He loves a quiz and all that, expert. So I've got a question for him. I picked up you know what ghee is don't you
0:31Nicky:you didn't say about this did you I thought I'd save it you know what ghee is yeah you know what ghee is it's like Indian butter you put in before right firstly you're wrong with that again it's fat isn't it it's like a well ghee is you put in it's like a replacement for oil basically Indian cooking is big on it right so you have ghee I'm right there no you're wrong well you're fucking pronouncing it wrong then no no this is what I'm going to get this is what I'm going to get into how do you spell it G-H-E-E Ghee Ghee Ghee It's ghee Yeah Right But what I'm getting at is I've never really thought much about ghee Right I'm with you You go Indian cuisine Ghee Lovely Rich So I saw a pot of it in this farm shop I went oh Ghee And I thought I'll see what's in that Do you know what's in it?
1:22No idea What would you say? Some sort of fat like a lad kind of thing. Right, what would you say? I've never heard of it. Right, do you know what it is? Butter.
1:35Nicky:That's what I did, I just said that. You just said Indian butter. No, you said fat. I did not, I said butter first. Are you sure you said butter? Can we rewind that? I said butter first. No, you said Indian butter. Indian buttery fat, you said. I said Indian butter. I'm always fucking right when it comes to food and drink. All right, well, this is my point. So on the ingredients, it said butter. that's it well if you pick up a block of butter at the supermarket the ingredients say butter so what's the difference with butter and that butter that's just an Indian butter isn't it no but yeah but there's nothing else in it that's my point do you understand what I'm saying if you pick up if I picked up a block of country life right or yeo valley or whatever on the ingredients it says 100 % butter on that ghee it said 100 % butter so what's the fucking difference do you see my point lads no because they taste different so what's the difference you mean what's the difference between butter and ghee well all butter when you look on the back says 100 % butter some says a little bit of like who looks on the fucking back I'm big on that since I went on the cover of Men's Health very big on checking ingredients lads did you buy it anyway no but it would just I would just kill the time so wait a minute what's your question then well I thought you had a quiz question for him well that was it what do you think is gee I got it right I told you the answer no but do you not understand folks subscribers please help us out here on the comments what I'm saying is I thought there was something else in the ingredient no how can you have 100 % butter but it tastes different and it's exactly the same ingredient like what are they doing to that butter.
3:21I know what you mean now, yeah. Well, it's basically like cheese.
3:24Nicky:Thank you. Cheese is all the same process of makers, isn't it? But I'll taste different. It's just a different, it'll be a different way. Well, no, if you look at cheese ingredients, there'll be different things in it. And it's in a tin? No, a jar. Well, it's in a jar. Jar. I thought it was in a tin, sorry. But, that's a good point. It is in a jar, but you butter off the shelves at the supermarket, pack it. Plastic. It's like a packet in it, like a paper. It's a fiber-lipped thing, yeah. Right, and also as well, Well, on the food theme, you might have seen on the last pod, we got in a slight little, I'd say a little bit of a disagreement about the best way to boil eggs and boiling as opposed to steaming.
3:57Well, at the end of this episode, we're going to find out the answer to that because these two are having an egg off and I'm going to blind taste the eggs to tell you whose is the best. Is it going to be Paul Scolese's futuristic talking egg steamer or is it going to be Nicky Butts old school pan boiling water? Wait a minute though. How can it be futuristic? I've had it about three years. It's not futuristic, is it? Well, I've never seen a fucking talking egg timer in your life. Have you seen the comments and stuff? A lot of people like showing their egg timers and stuff. Not egg timers, egg machines.
4:32What, in pictures? And videos. This is what Paul Scholar is on about and they actually show the thing here. Hang on, what are you looking at these things? I don't see any of this. I think I saw it on Instagram. Right, let's get into the football Little bit of domestic stuff for us lads Iriola named as Liverpool manager Interestingly, an old quarter of his has resurfaced this week He said if he wasn't in football He'd be running a boot shop
4:58Nicky:I think he's a top, top manager from what he did And obviously Liverpool's a massive big pull And he's gone there And let's see what he does But he's proven in the Premier League Which is what I like You've got to go and get a job He's proven yeah he's done an amazing job at Bournemouth I know he's proven he's still got to prove he can do it at a big club don't he this is this is going to be a different world now yeah lads as a football fan surely is it not easier at a big club you've got the best players you've got the best budget I mean what's so difficult it's harder at a lesser club couldn't you not argue that have you not seen Man United in the last 10 years yeah because they brought in the wrong managers I think the expectation on his shoulders would be massive they've won the league apart from obviously this season sorry, this season, two seasons previously and they're like, you're going, well, to come in, he's got success, he's got to win the title.
5:48Nicky:Are they ready to go and do that? No. Unless they go and get a good five or six players and get rid of five or six. So, I think if he gets backed, he'll do well. But Liverpool are what, are they going to win the Premier League again? That's success to them now. I think his style suits Liverpool, doesn't it? The only way he plays, he's very much up on Atom and aggressive and pressing and stuff. I think the fans, will like it now look it's not going to be easy because I think Liverpool fans will expect to win the league they will yeah yeah of course especially with what they're going to do in the summer and I'm telling you now the board will as well they'll have to give them some money to spend they spent what was it 250 million last year or more was it and they won the league the year before that so their expectations will be right down and what Scoles is saying is right it's a massive job for anybody to go in there now because the expectations get what you're saying completely about a smaller club more difficult but if your expectations are a little bit lower and you do a little bit better you look like the best manager on the planet but when you're a top club if you don't win which is the Premier League European Cup even an FA Cup's not enough for Liverpool at the minute with the success they've had over the last few years so it's going to be a tough job for him so the spotlight's going to be massive massive on him at a big club as Nicky said if you're not winning games all of a sudden if he's losing 4 or 5 at Bournemouth nobody bats an eyelid if you're doing that Liverpool it feels to me when I see him doing his presses and post-match interviews he's kind of never seen him lose his rag I've never seen him sort of stress he's quite calm and I've got to say I think it's a really good fit for Liverpool it just you know sometimes you hear a manager yeah you're right but when you just hear of a certain manager I kind of I can see him at Liverpool I can see him doing well the one thing what Scully touched on there is it's a manager that's coming with the right we keep saying philosophy the club has its own philosophy he's going into that club and they're looking at him and going this manager might work because he plays a style that we want to play whereas with slot that wasn't the case with Man United that wasn't the case you see these great managers who are all unbelievable at what they do but certain managers fit clubs better than others and I think he will do that realise this could be a very very short podcast today folks but I will ask the question what's your favourite book?
8:05Nicky:I don't read books never read books I'm an audio book I was with you audio book because I just think when I read a book after about two or three pages I just get tired and then I just fall asleep and it's like well it's actually about a year to read a book so I listen to audio books and I know what it means so when you go for a walk or you go for a on the bike or you're doing something in the gym put your audio book on you can listen to it for three hours you can do a booking can I ask what bike you were on then you went like that well you got the old cow on handlebars you used to have in the fucking 80s so you can put good wheelies with them.
8:38Nicky:So what book did you listen to, Len? The last book I listened to was actually Barack Obama. Wow. Very good book. And he narrates it as well, which is good. That's the key. You've got to narrate your own book. Then I listened to Michelle Obama, which was also unbelievably good. Looking big on the old American politics, this lad, isn't he? It surprises you every day, doesn't it? I know, I'll show you my library and my audio. Did you go Barack first, then Michelle? because does it give you the thing at the end? It goes, we recommend this if you've listened to this. No, I didn't recommend it. It's just, I went on hold and it's like, well, what am I listening to as far?
9:12Nicky:I'll try that. What about Mike Tyson? I have listened to his book, yeah. Has he done a book, has he? Yeah, sure. I knew you had. I knew he had. He loves Mike Tyson. I'll show you all my books. I'll show you all my books. Oh, have you got them all on your, have you got, are you on that? Is it audio Bible? Audio Bible, is it? Oh, I tell you, it's a great book. Arnold Schwarzenegger one. Oh, look at this. is this your last read oh here we go right okay let's start at the top i like this his first one's a classic bravo 2-0 andy mcnab great one have i told you me andy mcnab story no never heard this you play for city him didn't you right so andy mcnab the bravo 2-0 very famous ses operative right and at the time when this boot come out he was everywhere right and it was it was before social media so you'd see it in the papers and people were talking about it and this guy, you build a picture up in your head 6 foot 4 James Bond kind of guy I was at a book launch I had a book out years ago and he was there, Andy McNabb and I knew he was in the room and I thought I've got to meet this guy, Andy McNabb and I said to whoever's been chair i said andy mcnab's here can you introduce me i said fucking sas legend here we go and uh they introduced me to this bloke he was about that tall right literally like not what i'd built up in my head i'm like this is andy mcnab's like oh please to me i'm thinking this guy fucking kite me right and was it it was him and then he's telling me he's talking well lovely guy and then what's amazing like we started talking about stuff and he's talking about you know a few skirmishes he's got into and what's best he's going he goes and yeah and fella come from in the room so I dispatched him fella looked over there round his neck he's gone this guy chopped him in the throat and as he's doing all this he goes chopped him shot him did him in and he went oh volavons and took a volavon off a tree who's this one here Mike Tyson undisputed does he do his own book as well no I don't read it no oh that's a shame oh yeah Michelle Obama set the boy three Johnny Marr Johnny Marr's good very good lone survivor oh this guy Dave Goggins have you heard of him oh I've read that book no can't hurt me have you heard of Dave Goggins have you never heard of him this bloke he's Google him on YouTube so he's a guy he was am I right back in the day he was like really grossly overweight this that and the other and then he had this dream is it the marines in America and then he did he go special forces after that he did an ultramarathon with a broken tibia so he's like all about the power of the mind and what you can achieve but this guy you watch his videos Jesus Christ it's next level But he does, I think, and I'm not exaggerating here, every night, I don't know his crumb stuff in his day, he does three hours of stretching.
12:32Every night. Never stretch in my life. Oh? Spanish. Honestly, if you showed me these books and said, who is this? He'd be last name. Spanish short stories. Are you doing the old Anthony Gordon? He's after us. You're from Germany in Europe.
12:52Nicky:In lockdown, when I was working at United, we had to do something to, I don't know what you want, you know, just keep lively and local with people and speak to people. So about six, seven of the coaches went on a Spanish course online, so we did that for about 18 months. Can you speak Spanish then? No, I can get by and order things and book a table and stuff, but I can't really. Right, so you walk into a bar, you want to go, hello, could I book a table for two? Go. Hola, una mas por favor What day do you want it on and what time? That was English that bit Sabado, 8 o 'clock Saturday night 8 o 'clock Amazing 8.30 I'm like Nicky as well I'd either fall asleep Or I don't have the concentration So I'd read a page I don't think what the fuck happened I forget what I've read I do exactly the same I start thinking about something else all the time What about someone's autobiography?
13:48Could you do that? Yeah, I think I've done that years. I remember doing Paul Gascoigne's actually years and years and years ago. Now, just speaking of which, your book, which would come out years ago, I remember, this is before I started reading, I was somewhere, it was on the table, I started reading it. Yours is an absolute treat to read because it's just full of fucking pictures. Well, that's what it was. It's full of pictures. I thought, this is brilliant. Well, that's the only reason I did it. Was that... That was the only reason I did it. It was a picture book. So you picture it and then you describe the picture.
14:23But it's your autobiography? No, it's not an autobiography. Oh, what is it then? It's called My Story, but it's just about pictures and describing the pictures. What a... That is a genius idea. Especially not into boots because it's just enough little text underneath. Coming to your book star soon, Paddy McGuinness is... My Life in Pictures.
14:44Today's The Good, The Bad and The Football is brought to you by TV Licensing. Now, gentlemen, World Cup getting very close and we're very excited at GBF HQ. What makes you think about a World Cup? Now, for me, it's when I see the wall charts come out with all the teams and the little lines. For me, it's when we were kids
15:04Nicky:and we used to get your sticker book, you pin it in your sticker book and you'd try to fill it and you'd always miss one or two at the end. Come on from school. I remember I span you 82. Come on from school and the football's on it all hours of the day and watch football like every minute of the day. Three games a day, it's brilliant. I was going to say the sticker album. Did you ever fill one? I could be asked. Oh, did you do it? Because you always get to that stage where you're looking for a shiny. No, I wish I still had it, actually. It'd be great to have it on the way. Did you ever take a wad of stickers in for swapses?
15:30Nicky:Yeah. You go, got, swap, keep, got. Do you ever do that with your mates at school? Oh, just go, give me that. We weren't all bones at my school. You do it nice like that. You don't say, got, this, I need that so you swap them. Got swap, keep you must have done that. What do you do then? You've got the ones that you need as well so that's why you swap. I mean you two have got to go bickering it's non-stop this bickering. I've got to say. That's part of swapping them. Another thing on the World Cup stuff and I think it's an underrated football shirt there because World Cup time you always see people walking around with the World Cup shirts on whatever your team is.
16:12One of the nicest World Cup strips for me I forget it was the Brazilian the blue their away kick yeah love that the Brazil shirt was unbelievable yeah when we was with England in France we actually went to watch a Brazil game
16:28Nicky:I remember yeah true no I did not watch the Brazil game in the World Cup and we were playing the next game yeah that's what I mean yeah World Cup I'm not sure what do you mean like on a day off they played yeah on a day off because we were staying in Nantes we were staying in Nantes and Brazil were playing in Nantes and obviously and now we didn't have a game or we had a few days rest we went to watch Brazil and that is an experience watching Brazil in a World Cup it's an experience it's different were you in the Brazil half? I think we were just in the main bit weren't we? so very neutral I'm not talking about that one I was talking about the one in Japan I wasn't at the 98 one but you don't remember going to the one in Japan when he played Turkey and was all there watching them you're always at everyone else's games oh we're having a great day you're like what about our team?
17:12and remember But if you're excited as we are to watch the World Cup this summer, either live on ITV, BBC or BBC iPlayer, you're going to need a TV licence. TV licence covers you to watch over 400 TV channels.
17:28Nicky:Plus all the live sports on your streaming service and everything on the BBC iPlayer. To find out more, go to tvl.co.uk forward slash pod. When you were away at international games, did you ever take a boot were you or anything like that no what was the one thing if you're away with England you go that's always in the suitcase I'm packing that that's my little comfort boots your boots your football boots I used to take a picture of the kids when I had kids I used to take a picture of the kids lovely no I didn't take anything I was saying before to Jack and a few of the lads we call them the mods so basically young people with England we got looked after that well you didn't need anything you just basically pack your boots you know your toilet your bag and that was it you didn't really need you had a tracksuit on you had a kit on you never really needed anything it was just everything was it was amazing when you went to England I never thought about taking pictures out but I saw it when England under 18s I shared a room with a lad I'm not going to mention and he had like there's a picture of a woman next to the bed in the frame better than mine I was 17 yeah 18 on a straight so I thought it was his mum what are you doing bringing a picture of your mum he said no it's my fiance No She was about 20 years old And he was 17 His fiance Oh my god I'd love to know who this is I'd love to know Why you were sharing With someone From a different club Yeah we had Got no choice Did you not Yeah we just got thrown in Did you share with England Under 18s I can't remember I'm really sure I remember I can't remember Oh did they always put you Like a team mate Or someone from your club They used to split us up Alright Not so much with England National team Yeah under 18s You wanted all the kids Under 18s But you wanted everyone to mix Can I go back to the picture?
19:11When he said, what have you got your mum? And he went, that's my missus. Then what happened? Fiancé, he said. Fiancé, but then... He said, all right, I'm sorry.
19:23That was your mum. Do you stay with her? I have no idea, I don't know. Or Glenn Oddle, I see him as a boot reader. Yeah, I do. Very philosophical. Yeah, I do, yeah. Ahead of his time. Yeah. Do you know what? do you think he's one of the great losses in football management as in he does a lot of punditry now obviously we know what happened with England and the press and all that stuff and it all gets you know ramped up to a different level but do you feel as though that affected him that much he thought oh balls are going back into I think he was the best England manager I had I don't know what Nicky would think I thought it was very
20:01Nicky:coach wise he was phenomenal I always we always players they always pick the manager that plays him don't they so I loved Ericsson because he always played me I always played for him when I was involved with England didn't play much under Glenn but as an on-field coach Glenn Hoddle was phenomenal I mean like tactically he was brilliant and was he good at kind of getting it across to you because obviously you can set something up and it's not translated well enough to the players did he have a way with the players where he just got it yeah he had a few issues his communication management wasn't there but his coaching level was like there.
20:39Nicky:He was that good. And his footballing ability. I think he got frustrated when people couldn't understand what he was trying to get across because he was so good at what he did. So it was a bit tricky to understand. How good was he joining in as well? Yeah, brilliant. Still got the torch. Just so stylish, elegant. You forget with him, when you watch some of the old footage when he played and some of the goals he scored. And also as well, and you two know this because you play the game, but way back when, when you look at like the ball and the boots and everything how it was you know really God if you did that in the modern a lot of modern footballers would struggle with all that I'm talking about books actually he sent me his book about a year ago he had a book out who Glenn Odell yeah like I dedicated it what did he write in it I can't remember I've got it I see it every day at home but I don't know I used to love Keegan as well because obviously I played Newcastle with Kevin and he lives near me in Hale as well so you see him all the time, he's a great guy, but proper football man.
21:38Nicky:Yeah. And I was walking through where I live with my son probably about a year ago now and I see he bumped into him. So he's talking to me like this, oh, what are you doing? He's saying he's playing football at League Two and he said, oh, I played League Two, grounding's great, you know, Doncaster, whatever. And I walked off and I said, Ruben, do you know who that is? He went, no. I went, well, do you know like Ballon d 'Or, he won it two times in a row. Like that's how good he was when he was a kid. I remember Patrick Keegan kid boots and all. it was like yeah talk about the difference in managers of Hollywood Keegan Keegan was like you sit down with him Dennis is like an afternoon speaker yeah he's brilliant the stories he has oh he's so good I was talking about Terry Mack oh he's unbelievably brilliant I would we'd play head tennis against him and Terry Mack me and Michael Owen yeah and we got beat because they let the ball down so it goes dead slow so you can't they've still got the touch but you don't have to move yeah so we had a bet I think it was I don't know £1 ,000 or something like that so I went to the bank and got like I ordered like a thousand pounds with five P and two P's slammed them on his table you go on carrying them back I put them on his on his table like that in his office he went he went absolutely mad literally he went from he went from like the nicest fellow on the planet to someone that just wanted to never speak to you again and sack you who is it he's Pauling I was wondering yeah he's getting better he's a lot better now get well soon Kev if you're watching I'd love to meet Kevin Keegan just what you said there about a lot of younger people now you know it's the way the world is they'd be taught they wouldn't know who he is even in football but for us oh my god his stories were unbelievable he sat around they didn't tell amazing right okay let's get into England Chaps firstly 1-0 win against New Zealand by the way New Zealand in the in the current World Cup they've been ranked the lowest team I think them games for me that's it doesn't listen Tuchel will know he's probably 10 starting players now he might be undecided with one but them games are just to get used to the heat get used to the climate and hopefully one player might do great and put a little bit of a seed in the manager's head that's what I used to do Scolzzy was a regular starter I pretty much wasn't until probably 2002 so if I was playing these games you pretty much know you're not going to start the tournament you know that if you're being honest with yourself would the manager speak to you before and go this is what's happening in this game but you're going to be starting no no but what what I wanted to do my mindset if I'm like a squad player which a lot of them were on that game I just want to put a seed in that manager's head to show him that if something happens to one of the starters I'm ready to go and I'm good enough to go and do that and I can be reliable that's pretty much them games are about they're not for the main players all they're going to use that for is to climatise the heat and the altitude and that's all it is it's just what I get them out of the way you've got to play these games and you don't want to get injured.
24:31You think about Croatia next week still and playing Wednesday night is on. The thing about Croatia, I think Tuchel actually said they've got 14 or 15 starters. And the thing is,
24:41Nicky:in the back of your mind, whether you like it or not, you don't want to get injured. And when you're thinking like that, that's when sometimes you do get injured. You know what I mean? I'm not going to go in for this tackle and just pull out a little bit and someone will come right through and you know what you... They're not nice games. Beating New Zealand 1-0, it's not great, is it? I were dipping in a note of it. It's a little bit worrying. To be honest, I found it a little bit... I think Aita, is it Aita? I just said Aita. They beat New Zealand 4-0 last week. You know, because you played in them games, it's fucking horrendous.
25:11Nicky:You look back when you go into the world. No, but I think, I mean, just me, if I were like, you know, one of them players who's on the peripheries, you're just going to make up the numbers, I'd want to really impress in that game. That's what I was saying then, yeah. That's the one. So I reckon if all the players that are... You'd have been better off going, when they're starting 10, they're not even starting this game, put all the little lads on and they would have ended up winning in three or four they didn't have the Arsenal lads either I think his bigger decision which has come this morning is who's going to play midfield do you know another thing for me watching it and I was like bloody hell I've not seen that before Arfurt Arfurt ground was empty it's America do you remember the World Club Championship last year the stadiums were empty and they got Arfurt team names wrong the officials Yeah, I see that.
25:59Nicky:I see that in the news. It's ridiculous. But the thing with that... It's not a football country, though. What are they charging for them tickets? It's ridiculous. I'm telling you now, there'll be a few empty stadiums as well in the tournament. Who's your favourite to win it? France. Would you go France? Yeah. Even in that heat? Yeah. Would you not go South American team? The reason I say France is I think they've got the best team, but also as well, the other night I was with Man City legend, England legend, Steph Orton, and she was telling me when they played in the Olympics, Tokyo and the heat was very similar in fact you could say it was hotter she said the England team were in the summer over here they had them training in sweatsuits they were in a room which was like red hot where they were on spin bikes and she said by the time they hit the ground over there and played their first game they actually found it alright we played in Japan World Cup when I say hot I mean hot we played the game against Argentina which we won was with a closed roof with air conditioning on it was unbelievable I remember Sapporo but then we played a week later or a few days later Nigeria 3 o 'clock in the afternoon it was it's impossible it's impossible to play game normal and Brazil we didn't want to warm up against Brazil we were warming up in a tunnel Sammy Lee Sammy Lee's paler than me if that's possible Sammy Lee was doing the warm up legend we did it in the tunnel remember no against Brazil but you know he went out and he thought not got much of a chance here Brazil all got little vests on two ginger lads from Manchester come running out with this big thick cotton t-shirt I remember with the big England but I was sweating like mad but also as well how do you against Brazil what year were that?
27:412002 so we're talking Brazil we're talking Ronaldo Ronaldo
27:48Nicky:Ronaldo Carlos Ronaldo who's the three guys Ronaldo Romario Rivaldo Roberto or Carlos was Ronaldinho or was he too young Ronaldinho's good oh yeah of course he did but Romaro weren't now was it Ronaldinho Rivaldo Gilberto Silva do you know the Brazilian lads must have come round the corner in the tunnel and gone what's going on here and you're all giving it alright Samuel he's going to stretch him out lads they're all doing the Samba outside in the sun no they've got tops off look like Greek gods and we've got our sun cream going around do you know what actually I say I'm still tipping France but when you just said then about the weather so if America Brazil, Ancelotti Brazil I'm going Brazil You've got to look at them haven't you?
28:29No No In fact, you're right What am I on about? You're right It's not Brazil is it It's not Brazil It's not Brazil But I'm telling you now
28:36Nicky:there'll be a massive threat in that World Cup and I've got I'm with Paddy Alright Well I'll have a little bet off France Well go on give us your team Have you seen Brazil? Brazil yeah Oh you're tipping them Have you seen France's squad? Yeah but I just I think back in January I said England actually and I still think England have got a chance but the squad's put me off a little bit I don't think there's many game changers in it right okay well we've put our little tips in there two for France one for Brazil I've got a World Cup predictions question for you lads and I want you to talk me through your reasoning for each one firstly your World Cup Dark Horse team
29:18I'm going to go Mexico it's not a bad shout but there's yeah I think playing at that altitude as well we did it we did it in Johannesburg but it's horrible really England could play in the last 32 what was the biggest because I know Switzerland lads their training grounds they said be careful because these dangerous snakes knocking about what was it like out there out where what you just said Johannesburg oh no I mean not for danger for breathing because your altitude no I'm on about insects and oh not Nigeria Nigeria is the worst we played a pre-season friendly against you you might have been gone there we flew on the way back from America we played a pre-season friendly against Portsmouth in Nigeria random big fucking things flying everywhere all around the pitch you know when you go to certain places in the world things that we know in this country like wasps where you go wasps no one gets stung have a look at a wasp out there it's like a fucking drone coming flying towards you horrific things yeah that's what it's like honestly you're ducking right so you've gone Mexico who's your golden boot going to Mexico or Ecuador I think Ecuador alright mix it up Mexico golden boot
30:38that's the top goalscorer I think you've got to look at the groups early on and see where the bad teams are and I think it might be a Spanish player but Spain don't really have a brilliant centre forward I'm going to have Farhan Torres but I don't even know if he'll play but Spain in their group have got Saudi Arabia and another not great team Kate Verde I'm going to be positive and go Kane bloody hell that is a big shout I'd love him to have the golden boot we'd all love him to do it but I just think quite a difficult grouping I just think he's a goal machine isn't he if you are a goal scorer and obviously they're a different mentality to the rest of the team.
31:19Are you looking at those qualifying, the games where you're playing the last team, you think, right, I'll get a load of goals here. Are you being selfish? Sometimes you can win that golden boot in them first two games. Really? I think so. Do you think, I think you could have like a 7-8-9-0 in this World Cup. No, I think Mbappe is a shout for the golden boot after the last one. Of course we ask, I just didn't want to name an obvious favourite. Yeah, okay, fair enough. Who's going to be your player of the tournament? Vinicius Junior you're after Brazil aren't you you love a bit of Brazil I'll go a French player I think it'll be France England in the final do you is that possible if that's possible if it's possible France England I love that Dewey who plays for PSG do you know what I've got to say obviously want England to win the World Cup but I will gutted with Wales and Ireland not qualifying but when I see Scotland and the fans go honestly I do I do love it I'm like the passion come on ready no I love it I love it oh yes sir no Scotland
Read the full transcript
32:37Nicky:no party fuck off but it's like true though isn't it but it's like you're going to miss the Irish fan as well of course every World Cup I wish at every British all the whole nations out there yeah but that's only England who think like that we love seeing Scotland and Ireland and Wales they all fucking hate us but we love it don't we want them to do well of course we do look at them they hate us we're a lovable bunch I know look at us three lovely and cuddly they're jealous
33:05right what's England's strongest starting 11
33:14right Cool, should we go through it? Pickford. Pickford, O 'Reilly. O 'Reilly, Rhys James. Rhys James has to play. The only way I worry about him. It's just starting when I start straight away. John Stones, Mark Gaye. I was going to say, I was going to say John Stones. I think the three midfields is the big one for me. I think Rashford will start on the left-hand side. I think Sack will start on the right. Harry Kane through the middle. It's them three in the middle of the pitch. Bellingham and Rice.
33:41Nicky:Bellingham, Rice. Depending on who they're playing, Bellingham, Rice, and Elliot what's his name Elliot Anderson yeah
33:50Nicky:that'd be my three to start and then you bring in the likes of Rodgers on if it's not working they were talking this morning about it's a straight choice between Bellingham and Rodgers for that number 10 role Bellingham's not a number 10 and they were talking about Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson playing together I think you can afford to play just one of them with Bellingham and Morgan Rodgers in the early stages certain games I think it's the hardest course isn't it so one team won't let's say they're playing against Croatia it should be different to the next game that they play and then it should be different to the semi-final and especially with the fullbacks as well so if you've got two attacking fullbacks with O 'Reilly and James then that would be different if you're going up against a Brazil example and you've got a Vinicius Junior running it they might change a really left back target because O 'Reilly is more of a forward midfielder he just plays in midfield the whole time so he's not really a defender so they've got someone on the right hand side who's going to be a real threat he ain't playing he won't play the names that'll start I think you go Pickford Rice Kane Gay and Saka do you not think Saka will start yeah Saka I was going to start over Madowak yeah yeah right okay that's that done I tell you what as well can I just say I'm loving these World Cup cups they get one oh you did get one we did have one we had a little Mexico one for you no Italian where's the Mexico one gone I love the Italian 90 some of these on here by the way that's the standout moment for me he says lifting his glasses up Blanc kissing Bartesi's head I remember that two great lads they played with me in schools at United they were just great lads weren't they brilliant funny brilliant lads were they were they were they head kissing like no I didn't see them I didn't see them they did a little bit but yeah They like a smoke as well.
35:42Oh, yeah. Those French lads. Lauren Blanc used to go mad at him. Because I don't know what it is with French. Like the etiquette or whatever. He used to fart in front of him. He didn't like you breaking wind? Lauren Blanc couldn't get it. He said, no, you have to go to the toilet to do it. No. To break wind?
36:01Nicky:Yeah, but they're sat there like that, right in front of you, giving you some of the sick and you cancel it. Right on your face. So if you farted, he'd be livid. oh I used to go mad and I tell you what else you couldn't you know you'd pass the salt you'd pass the salt he wouldn't take it off you you had to go on a table like that and then he'd pick it up he wouldn't pass the salt I don't know where that's come from what's that all about I don't know I'm superstitious but yeah great both of them were brilliant lads weren't they I like that so good a bit of eccentricity yeah great lads great characters honestly you get to a half time and then the manager would go into because obviously we were so close to us getting brought up at United he'd be like make sure you drink your water you hydrate big game's coming up and you half time them two would be sat in the toilets having a smoke and you'd go like that great them two aren't they and you'd go in fucking hell you haven't got me for not drinking 17 litres of water a day and them two are having 20 fags at half time right chaps that prize guy is back again this week another draw this time straight cold hard cash £100 ,000 £20 to enter head over to thatprizeguy.co.uk for your chance to win£100 ,000 for just 20 pence.
37:12And this week, I want you to debate what's the best World Cup in history? Easy. What? Italia 1990. Unbelievable. That was a good one. Gascoigne. That was a good one. Toto Scalace.
37:29Nicky:Oh. What was the celebration? What was it called, Italian? That was Spain. That was Spain, 82, wasn't it? Tardelli. Tardelli. I don't remember that. remember the celebration yeah great what was the one Roger Miller that yeah 1990 was that that one oh that was a good one do you remember the first game was it Argentina Cameroon the first game do you remember I think Cameroon beat Argentina do you know sometimes a World Cup yeah it was it was in a San Siro sorry was it a World Cup sometimes evokes a memory that takes you to a happy place mine was what was the last one in America what year about that 94 I think it must have been 94 Paul Parker would have been playing then wouldn't he no he was in 1990 oh it might be Mexico then no which one was he well put did England qualify for 94 no it might have been the Mexico one then was it Mexico let's go 86 it might be 86 86 in fact it will be Maradona it will be 86 and I remember I watched England at my uncle Tommy's house in Livam St.
38:38Anne's and my dad and my uncle Tommy got me and this is the really early days it wasn't a KFC but it was like a like you know like Alan's Fried Chicken and all that AFC it was one of them and they give me I'd never had it in my life I watched a game eating my little fake KFC I had a little toy though what my dad had got me while they went to the pub watching it but I was happy as Larry
39:04Nicky:what a memory yeah and mine was Spaniard 82 only because of the sticker book I got it filled so it just sticks in my head and I think you're right all the World Cups they always end up brilliant how do you remember that you're so young it just sticks in my head I remember the sticker books like vividly I remember it vividly yeah and I remember 1990 Gascon and then Mexico 86 I forgot about that I was 12 then 11 would have been but Maradona in England and Peter Reed I just watched the goal again the other day it was on something and there was like a really bad foul on Glenn Hoddle before it and they didn't give it oh there were all sorts during that yeah no but I just mean before Maradona's that unbelievable goal yeah before that there was like a really bad foul on Glenn Hoddle um irrelevant but I just thought no no just with that in mind was there any standout moments er in France because that's the Zidane headbutt one France wasn't it France Italy remember he butted him in his chest oh yeah yeah in the final yeah is that the France one that was the France one I was in France wasn't it I'm sure it was no was it not because the final was France-Brazil Manu Pati scored two headers so was that the semis the head because it was the next World Cup was it I think so it must have been Japan career no it wasn't Germany Germany 2006 Baden-Baden wasn't it 2006 that wasn't it yeah what a way to go out do you think just a little question before we move on we'll ever get the World Cup again in the UK I'd love it here we should do it's a piss take really you think about it now it's been twice in America now yeah not even a football country how much of a football country I know there's different parts of the world Qatar got it as well I'm in at 98 France a standout moment go on David Beckham get it sent off Michael Owen's goal Michael Owen's goal yeah Argentina Simeone yeah yes yeah and you can leave us your favourite World Cup memory in the comments below.
41:03Remember, head over to thatprizeguy.co.uk and enter the draw for£100 ,000 for just 20 pence. That's it for today's Good, the Bad and the Football, but it isn't it, because we're going to play you a little montage now of a debate we had last week about boiled eggs, and when we come back we're going to put the theory to the test. Steamed eggs. Steamed eggs. Steamed eggs. Have you not got a boiled egg machine? A what? A boiled egg machine. A proper boiled egg machine Is there any water in this? You put two lemon You pull the cup out Fill two cups up to the line Tip it in You put six eggs in One egg, two eggs Is there a lid on it?
41:45Yes So you're steaming it I can't remember the name You're steaming your eggs You're steaming your eggs You're not really boiling
41:49Nicky:You're steaming them It's got water in them No, no, water's in the bottom You just said Yeah, but water's in your pan as well No, but you've been on the earth You've been on the earth Yeah, it's surrounding the egg The voice that speaks says Your eggs are not hard to boil Your eggs are there From the cloud Your eggs are boiled They are steamed Boiled It's a three in one egg boiler Steamer Does it say steamer? No it says boiler No I know but they're not boiled are they're steamed Not the fucking boiler Who's ever had a steamed It says boiled It's a steamer It's not a fucking steamer I'm not disputing it's called a boiler But it's actually steaming the eggs it's not boiling you've got to put it in you have them every day it tells you they're steamed it tells me they're boiled not steamed morning Paul would you like your toast yes and how would you let your egg steamed do you know what this house is like three minutes you know Wallace and Gromit it is
42:51so as you've just seen very contentious but finally we've got the thing everyone wanted the egg off skulls versus butts steamed versus boiled. Lads, I'm looking for a semi-soft egg. Wait a minute, it's not steamed, you keep saying that last week, it's not steamed. I'm going to give you a boiled egg. Start it off, we've all been looking forward to this. Two cups of water.
43:17Nicky:My pan's boiling, I'm going to put two eggs in here now, that'll be superb. A little tip into the machine here. God, I'm nervous doing this, I'm scared they don't come out by this. Come on. Right. I'm expecting big things here. Here we go. We've got a few minutes me now. Give us some egg fats, buddy. Number two going in. Okay, I need to see this start first. Right, two in. Have you got yours in? Mine are in. Nick? Mine are in. Right, let's a look at this machine of Paul Scholeses, the steamer. Just press it on. I'm intrigued. Ooh! You like that, don't you? Now what? Right, it'll tell us when it's soft-boiled, so we can have soft meat, medium or hard.
43:58So when it's soft-boiled, somebody will tell me your eggs are now soft-boiled. If you want to leave them in for medium-boiled, leave them in. Hang on, so that's cooking now? Yes. You don't set it go semi-soft? How do you like your eggs, Patrick? I've said I'm going to go semi-soft. What does semi-soft mean? What does semi-soft mean? So semi-soft is when I cut the soft, medium or hard. When I cut the top of the egg off, I want to dip it but not spilling out all over i want a little bit of need to be timing that right lads i've got some lucky he's a lucky bastard he'll be perfect i've got some eggs for you egg fact for you lads uh an eggshell has 17 000 holes in it can i just tell you one thing i didn't do 17 ,001 because he just pricked his can i just tell you one thing i didn't do right there's a little needle on the bottom of him you're supposed to prick him i didn't do it you know you're not supposed to prick and no No one's ever pricked an egg in a bowl.
44:52What do you think that needle's for there on the end of it? That's what you have in fucking... What? Let's have a look at that. There is a needle on the end of that. It's right. I never heard of it. Who pricks an egg?
45:03Nicky:Everyone who uses one of them machines pricks an egg. By the way, that steams pretty quick, doesn't it? It cracked that, Scolzey. Well, can we just discuss quickly? It didn't crack. Not being argumentative, but it's definitely not a boil, that. It's got to be steamed. You're steaming. It's even got steam always touching it. That's boiled. It's a steam. I mean, it's very good. Look at the water boiling. I'm intrigued how it works, but don't touch it. Mine's an old school granny one, isn't it? Here we go. Duck eggs are higher in fat, so they're better for baking. Eggshell colour varies. Commercial eggs are brown or white, but some breeds can also lay blue, green or pink eggs.
45:38Have you ever had a pink egg, lads? Whoa, he's out here already. Whoa. That's how I check. I've done that. I told you. And I've got a blind taste. You can go away, mix your eggs up, bring them back, so there's no cheating. Yeah, let me show you what I was talking about. I'm looking forward to seeing this speak, by the way. See, it's not drying. It's not drying. When that dries, it's done. When what dries? What are you on about when it's dry? The water on it. That's going down. That's going down. Well done. That's going to be marked down. I've been safe to go. Right, I'm giving you, just for that, you're having another egg fact.
46:10If you drop an egg on the floor, sprinkle it heavily with salt for an easy clean-up. To eat it? I like about salt. Just pick it up. Just pick it up and it picks up better. Right, here. How many, on average, how many eggs does a hen lay a year? I reckon... I'll say 250. I'd say 700. He's close, he's 300. 700 eggs? I had chickens. We were eggs, fucking Sellafield.
46:42Nicky:Good game, good game. I had some chickens, I reckon, like five eggs a week. You had chickens This just goes straight into that Oh It's bubbling No the chicken didn't This is bubbling Do you know like Chickens Right Yeah I do know chickens They hatch out of eggs Don't they This is fucking This is insightful Is that true Yes So how do you know Which one's an egg And which one's a chicken What the fuck are you What are you on about At all What are you actually on about So How do you know If there's an egg in it Or a chicken is it not i know what he's saying but i don't know what he's saying at all so you're saying why is there a chicken not in your egg yeah no so how do you know why is there not a chicken in it or an egg because they take them straight out from under the the the hen so when the end lays the egg yeah you take them out yeah that's that's an egg we've got an overflow it's not said a word that yet you've been banging on about that talking right i'll go back to the egg thing if the end stays on it then it turns into a chicken do you know what I mean it's got the embryo and well you say you shove your under and get them out yeah so what if you get the one with the chicken no no because you it's been laid that day we're nearly there lads we're nearly there we're nearly there can I just say chaps don't think this is going to be hard-boiled you know I'm out you down on this you worry about that that's not said a peep all you said was it talks to me what was it once to say oh wait a minute give it look at this have you sure you've set that right boiled on it set it i've just pressed the button yeah steam coming out of the steam coming out of yours as well yeah but mine's a submerged last thing when do you know it's going to speak this what's it doing well i'm telling you now we've been going for about six minutes here no oh it dries what are you doing with that it's dried you know when you pull it out no it's all wet obviously when it evaporates very quickly that means it's done trust my granny's somebody Oh he's getting nervous Right the fastest omelette maker in the world made 427 two egg omelettes in what time?
48:52427? Two egg omelettes Two egg omelettes Sorry? Two egg omelette 427 times? Yeah This is the problem now you see
49:04Nicky:This is the problem now, mine are ready And I'm waiting for him 24 minutes Mine are ready and I'm waiting for him so now mine are going to go hard They're still cooking aren't they? Do you know what I mean? Do you know what I mean? I do think your machine's ghost, Scholesy. That's not said a fucking word yet. We've been boiling these for 10 minutes. Where's your eggs? What's happened to them? It's not said a word. You've been - Hey! How long's it been? Eight minutes. I need you to try mine. That machine's in all kinds of trouble. I need you to try mine. Give us your eggs. It's not speaking. It's not doing anything.
49:38We're all - The punters have been looking forward to hearing this I have, I'm not slept all week
49:43Nicky:I'm going to do this for you pal Alright, alright That's okay I'm just going to Don't want it on you pal Don't want it on you Alright, okay Do you want me to get to him along?
49:55Fucking rock hard Hold up, hold up Jesus Christ Oh Oh my God This Luke's And exactly what I said Semi hard Story of my life You lucky bastard Oh look at this Well done. I'm telling you now You need some kitchen, I'll put some kitchen on the table for fuck's sake Eggs are now soft boiled They're not, they're like bullets Soft boiled? What is it boiling between? There's my eggs Patrick
50:21Nicky:Bring any notes? Did you fucking hear that? I was panicking like fuck by the way Can you try it Paddy, before you're still cooking this, try it, try it Fucking hell alright! Don't ever open a restaurant Jesus Christ You're supposed to be relaxed when you're eating The cups are a bit big Oh, I tell you what, that is lovely, that's lovely, that lads. Here we go. Come on, that's a bit smaller, that one for me, come on. Oh! Try that one for me. That's a lovely silky egg, that. Oh, look at that, look at that. Oh, it's running and everything. They sound nice, them. Right. Open your skulls, eh? Oh, okay, now how loud is that?
51:03Oh, it's a good one. Fucking hell! You know that is fucking magnificent. Look at the circle on that. Look at the circle on that. Look at the fucking circle on that. Look at that. Look at that.
51:19Everyone were gasping. You know what he's done? He's on the pitch, he's played 80 minutes and they've just brought Zidane on. And he's gone, oh we're fucked here. No, I mean, it's very good, I can't say that, but mine's just as good. That is tremendous Look at that circle Nick I've pissed it It's fine They're the same eggs aren't they It doesn't matter taste does it Just look at that I've got to say When you really revealed that Everyone was happy Right Oh Nicky Is that going to say him? No it's not Nicky That's like velvet going in your mouth
51:57Oh fucking hell That is killing me I'm on the side of boiling I mean what's wrong Oh look Oh Nicky look at it The York's coming out
52:09Nicky:You judge it mate It's ridiculous Come on Paddy Well We've gone Traditional Versus the future Boiled water In a pan Versus Paul Scholes He's talking Egg steamer Don't stop And I've got to say come on don't be aggressive when Nicky Butt's eggs came out they met the brief they were lovely and it does break me out of this I never thought I'd like to see the day but the steamed egg maker has won the trophy yes what an heartbreak see you next Monday you can find us on all the usual podcasts YouTube, Spotify, Apple or wherever you get them All funny. .
From the publisher
Paul, Nicky & Paddy explore the 2026 World Cup ahead of the first match on Thursday. What are England's chances? Who do they think will lift the trophy?
Plus, Andoni Iraola lands at Liverpool: is he the right man? And we finally lay to rest last week's argument about Paul's talking egg boiler.
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Email the team at: questions@goodbadfootball.co.uk
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📑CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
04:40 - Iraola In At Liverpool!
17:30 - England
27:45 - World Cup Predictions
43:00 - The Egg-Off
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