In short
England’s loss to Spain at the Euros warm-up/competition, with discussion of tactics, standout players, and what it suggests for the upcoming tournament; also a segment on Manchester City’s ongoing 115 charges and possible relegation ramifications.
Guests/backgrounds
Micah Richards (former England defender, ex-Man City). Alan Shearer (former England striker, Newcastle/Blackburn legend). Rob Jones (roving reporter from the World Cup). Anthony Gordon (England winger, interviewed). Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel are referenced.
Key claims
Spain’s coaching and ball comfort create constant attacking patterns; England’s first-10-minutes mistakes were punished, but England improved with higher pressing and aggression after halftime. Jude Bellingham was the key catalyst; Anderson and Lewis-Skelly controlled midfield phases. City’s legal case could lead to major point deductions affecting relegation; nothing is official yet.
Notable examples
Spain’s early tactical circulation; England’s chances and missed/decisive moments (including a Kane slip and a missed penalty); Spain’s near-dominance (13 goals conceded by England in six games); Gordon’s “weeks to get over” World Cup trauma; Cole Palmer’s omission due to injury.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOWeekend Recap and Wedding Stories
0:04 to 0:52
Hear personal anecdotes about weddings and family life.
“Whether you're living abroad, paying someone overseas or just trying to manage your money across borders, you want a fair exchange rate, an easy transfer and no surprises along the way.”
Weekend Recap and Wedding Stories
1:22 to 1:43
Hear personal anecdotes about weddings and family life.
“Every game day, you show up for your team.”
Weekend Recap and Wedding Stories
2:22 to 3:45
Hear personal anecdotes about weddings and family life.
“there were lots of positives that Thomas Tuchel could take.”
England's Performance Against Spain
3:46 to 5:40
A detailed analysis of England's game against Spain and key player performances.
“So the celebrations are still ongoing and will be until tonight.”
Tactics and Player Growth
5:40 to 9:06
Discussion on tactics used by England and standout players in the match.
“A defeat against a very, very good side, Micah.”
Manchester City’s Charges and Implications
9:06 to 13:10
Exploration of the ramifications of charges against Man City and player concerns.
“Because you've got Nico O 'Reilly, who's really a midfield player, turned left back.”
The Importance of Wanting the Ball
14:01 to 14:25
Discussing the necessity for players to actively seek the ball under pressure.
“And I know that sounds daft at most players, but when the pressure's on as well, you need players that you know that want it and will keep making themselves available, right Al?”
Reflections on England's Performance
16:27 to 18:59
Rob Jones shares insights on England's recent match and the team's mood.
“Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, And now our roving reporter from the World Cup, Rob Jones joins us.”
Comparing England's Disappointments
19:01 to 20:38
Analyzing past England tournament disappointments against current performance.
“So for both of you, how long did it take before you felt that such a disappointment was totally out of your system?”
Media's Role in Team Dynamics
20:41 to 22:35
Discussion on media interactions and their impact on player morale.
“But at the same time, we, we, we didn't let ourselves down.”
Show all 16 chapters
Goalkeeping Changes and Performance
22:36 to 27:32
Examining the impact of goalkeeper changes on England's recent performances.
“I spoke about it before the game about in the World Cup.”
Managerial Comments on Player Commitment
27:33 to 28:00
Debate on Thomas Tuchel's comments regarding player dedication to the national team.
“Obviously, he deserved his chance out there tonight and I thought he'd done really well.”
Debate on Cole Palmer's Commitment
28:00 to 33:44
Discussing the implications of Tuchel's comments on Cole Palmer's dedication to the England squad.
“And I just wonder what benefit that would serve.”
Spain's Football Dominance
33:45 to 35:58
Analyzing the strengths of the current Spanish football team and comparing them with past champions.
“Is it as good as the Spain team of 8, 10, 12?”
Tactics and Media Coverage in Football
35:59 to 42:00
A discussion on media interactions with players and the change in coverage of football highlights.
“and obviously I spent three years in Spain, and that wasn't their way of playing back then, right?”
Tactics and Media Coverage in Football
42:07 to 42:31
A discussion on media interactions with players and the change in coverage of football highlights.
“As you celebrate the game, Take a deeper look at its roots.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01Alan Shearer:This episode is brought to you by WISE. It's only when you start moving money between currencies that you really think about the exchange rate, the fee and what might be hidden away in the small print. Whether you're living abroad, paying someone overseas or just trying to manage your money across borders, you want a fair exchange rate, an easy transfer and no surprises along the way. WISE keeps things simple. Wise is a smart way to move the currencies you need around the globe. It works in more than 160 countries and with over 40 currencies. Most transfers arrive instantly. Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate, like the one you see on Google, with no markups or hidden fees.
0:42Alan Shearer:So when money needs to move, you can see the rate, know the fee and get on with it. Join millions saving billions on hidden fees by downloading the Wise app today. Be smart, get wise, T's and C's apply.
1:22We Go V! Every game day, you show up for your team. Now, it's your time. We Go V! We Go V! Ask your prescriber about We Go V, semaglutide injection 2.4 milligrams, a GLP-1. Call 1-833-4-WEGOV or visit wegovi.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about We Go V. Why wait? We go deep!
2:21Alan Shearer:and although we've lost again chaps to the world champion Spain, there were lots of positives that Thomas Tuchel could take. We'll come to that shortly, but how's your weekend been, Micah? I knew you was going to start with this. Nothing has changed. Can we see it? There's been nothing from the Premier League. Man City stances, there's still the same statement that they released in 2023. And until then... You're still a Premier League winner. Exactly. So until then, I will hold my judgment until everything is announced. Oh, what a mess. Incredible. Obviously, we're jest on here, but it has serious implications and ramifications, this whole thing.
3:04Alan Shearer:It's not official yet, like you said, Micah. So I don't think it's something that we'll go into in depth now. but as soon as it is official and it does appear that that would be very likely that they've lost pretty much all of the cases of the 115. So we'll cover that in due course. But more important things, Alan, another wedding yesterday, another daughter gone. Yeah. How was it? Slightly blurred this morning, guys, a bit of a hangover. Yeah, it was an amazing day. I loved it. we all had a great day and obviously very happy the new couple so yeah it was it all went really well the weather was great everything was was brilliant had an amazing day now it's quite unusual to have two daughters married just over a month apart yeah did they get a bit competitive over the wedding who had the best wedding or did you no no no they're not I mean they're very different girls they're not like that at all obviously one we had last month was in France and Provence and this one here is in North Yorkshire where I'm still here.
4:12So the celebrations are still ongoing and will be until tonight. So God, I'm looking forward to a holiday. They're on the bank balance. This summer's taking a deep battle. Can I just pull you up on something? One got won a wedding in Provence, as you pronounce it, and one's in Yorkshire. How does that work out? Your neck of the woods. Are you seeing Provence as better than Yorkshire? Is that what you're seeing? I didn't say that. I just said that. You intimated it. You intimated it, Michael. There are stark differences. We've seen Provence, and you put on this silly accent, and then you say, Yorkshire.
4:47So I'm guessing, I'm guessing there's a difference. No, they were very different weddings, yeah. Obviously, you saw the pictures of the ones in France. Yeah, very different. But I have to say, the weather yesterday was amazing. Blue sky, so the pictures, I'm sure, will be great, yeah. What about your speech? Do you do both speeches? Did you get emotional? did you do the same? I mean, I got emotional before I even said a word yesterday. I just looked at my daughter when I had my speech ready to go and I just looked and I went, I could feel myself welling up. So yeah, very emotional. Really, really is.
5:23Alan Shearer:I suppose having got emotional with the first one, if you hadn't with the second, you'd have gone. You don't care enough as I was getting back to say about me. Anyway, congratulations to all concerned. And let's turn our attention to the England game. A defeat against a very, very good side, Micah. Oh, I mean, Spain are excellent. I just love, you know, in the first 10 minutes of the game, I was looking at tactics, what they do. Because I know we all know the brilliant players, but what do they do differently? So the centre-half go really deep to get the ball. I once at the time, I saw Simon rolling the ball just to draw England out a little bit.
6:07Then they will go pop to the left, pop to the middle, right. And everyone is so comfortable on the ball. It was a joy to watch. And even if it didn't happen, where it would have got cut out with England's press, they would try it again and they would try it again. And you can see the coaching and how they've been drilled all the way from youth to now. And it was just great to see them constantly do the same things, even when it wasn't working. but then they believed in their ability that it would happen and if they constantly try it they could get out at some point and then you've got obviously Williams and then you've got and then you've got Torres I just think they were a joy to watch but I actually think England were very good too
6:51Alan Shearer:I agree they really were I thought they played some really good football after 10 minutes I thought oh crikey this could be embarrassing and then we kicked into gear I thought the midfield did really well played some really good football ourselves at times, penned them in on numerous occasions, created chances, had lots of shots. I thought it was a much more encouraging performance. Obviously, doesn't have quite the pressure of their previous game. Well, actually, one before the third place playoff. Obviously, I'm talking about Argentina, but England played some really good football, sometimes on the counter-attack, sometimes keeping them in there.
7:28Alan Shearer:And star of the show for me again, Jude Bellingham. I mean, there were some really great performances I thought, but I thought he was, he's such a good footballer. Yeah, it was pretty concerning, I thought, what I saw in terms of how many chances England were given away in the first 10 or 15 minutes. But then after that, I thought they played really well. Obviously, defensively, they were punished for their mistakes. See, I told you you should have played Lewis Hall and them would have been all right. Well, hold on. O 'Reilly got an assist, actually, if he was watching the highlights correctly.
7:57Great cross as well. Great cross. But I thought, Anderson, you know, when I talked to him at the World Cup, And you're talking about when you're supposed to jump, when you're supposed to stay. I thought it dictated the game so well. It was dropping into the centre-back positions. He's playing short passes, but then playing long passes. But then, because Jude, like you said, Gav, had such a good game, Anderson had to actually be more disciplined. And when you're watching the game, you're actually looking at the star players. You want to see Lamine the dream. You want to see Bellingham. You want to see Gordon, who started really well for Barcelona to see if he can replicate that.
8:33And then he gets his goal. But actually, I was looking at the discipline of Anderson and I thought he was amazing. He was so controlling what he was doing and he was reading when to go, when to press, when to jump, but then getting back into position. And like his way of his passing was so good yesterday as well. In there with Louis Skelly, who I thought was doing really well. His energy in the midfield was good. I come away from that game thinking if England play like that with confidence we'll win the Euros
9:05Alan Shearer:well I mean let's not go too far you know what I mean let's not go too far but it was so enjoyable to watch and if Harry Kane would have scored that to make it 3-1 we're talking about a different game we're talking about England were even better than we're giving them credit for now I know he played in midfield last season but his rise like this season to go into the Arsenal into England into the midfield has been remarkable hasn't it? It has really, isn't it? It's funny, isn't it? Because you've got Nico O 'Reilly, who's really a midfield player, turned left back. And then you've got Skelly, who's a fullback, seems to have turned into a midfield player.
9:40Alan Shearer:Obviously, when they grow up nowadays, they kind of play everywhere, all these positions, which is really good for them. But two exceptional footballers. I think he's done really well in that midfield role, filling the boots of Declan Rice. Big responsibility against Spain, especially when you've got, obviously, one of the midfielders, Jude was primarily in forward positions. So I thought both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Anderson in there were, I thought, exceptional. As you said, Anderson was all over it. Really, really, really impressive. Yeah. To see his growth from when he was at Newcastle. And I have a little bit of laugh with Al said, I've seen him at Newcastle.
10:18He's really good and all that sort of stuff. But the development, first you've got to go from Newcastle. Then you've got to go to Forest. And then prove that you can do it week in, week out. in a team which has got good players, but can you be consistent? Then it goes from Forest to Man City. And then now it's a step above. Do you remember the...
10:38Alan Shearer:It's a step above until they go to the championship. Yeah, the puns have started already. Sorry, Michael, but on a serious point there, I wonder what Elliot Anderson is thinking. I mean, you have to be concerned. I mean, there were three City players, weren't they, in the starting line-up last night? And I wonder, you know, does it affect your mind? the doubt, are we going to be relegated? I mean, no one knows at the moment. They must have known that though, guys. There must have been that element of, for the new signings that city have had, they must have known that this is a possibility that this could happen.
11:10I mean, whatever gets thrown at them, they must have known, or their agents must have spoken about this scenario.
11:18Alan Shearer:I mean, when it's the legal process, once they announce their findings, they don't tend to leaked them earlier on. And I suppose this is very last minute. So maybe it wasn't, you know, maybe they've said to the club, what's going to happen? Are these charges going to be a thing? And the club may have said, well, as far as we're concerned, we think we're going to win or you don't know, do you? What's actually been said? Because it's hard to imagine if you knew this was coming, the potential, you know, a massive point reduction that would ensure relegation or whatever might happen. You've got to bear that in mind.
11:50Alan Shearer:If it's not the players themselves, their advisors, you would have, it's almost like doing kind of due diligence in some ways. I'm sure it's purely coincidental that the two big mistakes for two of the goals were both from, obviously one was Mark Gay and the other was Nico O 'Reilly, but I'm not suggesting for one minute it affected their play, but there must be stuff going through their minds. They must be worried. Yeah, maybe as players, there's uncertainty. Of course, you're going to be worried. But going back to the point that you said with the players signing, if Khal Doon says the letter that he wrote in 2023, he's pleading their innocence.
12:26So as a player, you know, all you can do is concentrate on your football. That's up to your representatives. And if they've been given that information, everything's going to be all right, what more can they do? You know, what more can they do? Whatever's going to be thrown at them, whether the appeal or what, I don't know, but it's huge, isn't it? I mean, the ramifications for the football club, for who works at the football club, for the sponsors, everything. It could, I mean, it's huge news, that is. And I mean, everyone is, we're all sat waiting to see what's going to be given to them as a punishment.
13:05And I would guess they would appeal, I don't know. But it's just, it's massive. It's so huge, isn't it?
13:11Alan Shearer:It's not just for Manchester City. it's also the ramifications for other clubs if they feel like they've been robbed of a tournament win or a Premier League. Anyway, as we said, let's wait until it's absolutely official before we go into it in more depth. Anyway, before I was rudely interrupted... Sorry, Micah, that was my bad. ...Anderson and his growth to then go from Forest to Man City and then remember the Community Shield where Arsenal absolutely battered them and it looked like he was out of his depth. And then to go and start his ad for Man City and then take that into his England performances, it just shows me that he's adaptable, that he's willing to learn and he's a top quality player that can only get better.
13:58Alan Shearer:He's confident as well, isn't he? He's confident on the ball. He wants the ball a lot. And I know that sounds daft at most players, but when the pressure's on as well, you need players that you know that want it and will keep making themselves available, right Al? No, you're right. I mean, it's easy to play if you're 2-3, 4-0 up, aren't you? But it's when it gets a bit sticky. You see good players who still want to get on the ball and he, without doubt, always does that. Yeah. Let's take a break there and discuss more of the game when we come back. This episode is brought to you by Hotels.com.
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16:27Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, And now our roving reporter from the World Cup, Rob Jones joins us. All right, Rob, how are you? Good, thank you. Yeah, it was nice to be in a stadium not sweating profusely last night watching England compared to all those trips in America. It was a lot cooler, but a good game nonetheless, I thought. You saw a couple of players after the game. He gave us a little insight into the loss, but I think there was a lot to be encouraged by. Before you go to the insight, before you go to the insight, guys, are we allowed sponsors on the end now?
17:01We've been doing it for how many years? He's rocked up with Adidas. Is that allowed?
17:06Alan Shearer:I'm not sure. What does that say on your cap, Micah? Exactly. What does that say? You can't see it. That's the whole point.
17:15Alan Shearer:Apparently, there are different rules for roving reporters. Slightly, yeah. No, I just, you know, I need a deal. I need as many deals as Micah's got. So I'm trying my best with this jacket. Well, I've got my George on now. Just in case, you know. Of course you have. If you like this, I can send him to the last. That's the price.
17:36Anyway, sorry I interrupted you, Rob. Yeah, you're most welcome, Mike. No, to sort of reference something that Thomas Tuchel said in the build-up to the game, it was something that I asked both Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon about last night. And Tuchel said, the vibe in the camp is different and let's not pretend that it's the same as the World Cup where there was a lot of hope and a lot of expectation. And I think what he was referring to, which Anthony Gordon basically admitted straight after the game was that what happened took a lot of getting over and maybe that some of the players are still yet to get over that.
18:10Anthony, do you feel that the manager spoke about it being a different mood since the World Cup? Have you had to rise yourself again because of the disappointment of the semi-final and get yourself going for this set of games? A little bit because it feels a bit weird being back here so fast. I still, like I said, it took me weeks. I don't know about everyone else. It took me a good few weeks to get over that trauma in a way of losing the way we did. So it felt weird being back. Obviously, it's a new team with a lot of new players, a lot of the lads who are at the World Cup aren't here. So it's been a bit of a mixed bag, but I don't think you've seen it out there.
18:44I think you've seen a competitive team, a hungry team. And I think to play like that in a first game back after that crazy summer, I think probably is a testament to our character. For both Alan and Gary, you would have been there. Euro 96 would have been like that and probably the World Cup too, Alan. I'm sure. Italia 90. So for both of you, how long did it take before you felt that such a disappointment was totally out of your system? Yeah, I think for me, you couldn't wait to get back into the squad. I think because of the pain and the hurt, what went on, particularly in 96, where we genuinely thought that we were going to win it.
19:19But it was just getting back straight onto the pitch, getting back into the team again and trying to erase those. I mean, they're never going to go away completely. It's like when you've been beaten on a Saturday, you want to play on a Tuesday again. So it's just a matter of getting into these games as quick as possible.
19:36Alan Shearer:I think they're also slightly different to this England squad. This England team were going really well, obviously, in the tournament. They got to a semi-final. They got to a lead in a game. and then they sort of capitulated. I think they all know that they sat back way too deep and they let Messi have loads of... And they kind of botched it, as my sons would always say, botched it. Whereas I think you in 96 certainly didn't. You're a whisker away. You kept going. You were the better team in that game, probably should have won, I think. Obviously with us in 86, there was the hand of God and the brilliance of Maradona.
20:11Alan Shearer:So it didn't feel like we'd caved in. And likewise in Italia 90, we gave a good account of ourselves in the semi-final. I thought it was marginally the better side against Germany. And ultimately we just lost on it on a penalty shootout. So I think, I think their disappointment is different. I think, you know, people say, what's your biggest regret in football? I think regret's the wrong word, but I think my biggest disappointment was Italian 90 semi-final. I'm sure it's the same with you. It's because she, that close from football immortality. But at the same time, we, we, we didn't let ourselves down.
20:45Alan Shearer:And I think England, albeit some brilliant performances in the World Cup, that's why it will stay with them perhaps a little bit longer because of the way they sort of capitulated in the last half an hour against Argentina. Rob, just another question for you is because of that, what Gaz has said, was there questioning from the media and from the press both before the game and probably after? Were there any aggressive questions towards Thomas Tuchel? Yeah, I think he's been asked so much about that. In a way, it was really interesting listening to Micah on Friday's episode talking about perhaps one of the issues, and it's maybe not an issue as much for a reporter as it might be for guys who've played and do play the game, about him being too honest.
21:34The one point where I'm wondering, are you being honest, is when he says in the build-up to the game, 99 % of people are asking me about the Mexico game or talking about that. And that can't be the reality. The reality is surely that, you know, maybe people are too worried to go up to Thomas Tuchel and say to him, what did you do in the Argentina game? And that was the other interesting thing about what Harry Kane said last night about the Spain game and said, that's the perfect game for us because we're playing the world champions. And I imagine that if you strolled into that and weren't quite at it, you could have got absolutely hammered 4 or 5-0 last night.
22:11Whereas had you turned up to a qualifier against Faroe Islands or San Marino, there's a concern that you just sort of coast your way through that game a little bit and you still feel a little bit flat. The way we were without the ball, the pressure we put on them, they made a lot of mistakes and it doesn't matter who you are, what DNA you got. If you press with intensity and win the duels and come out with a ball, you're going to create chances and that's exactly what happened. Yeah, I think that period, like I say, from probably 20 minutes to 60 minutes, it's what we need to take from it. I spoke about it before the game about in the World Cup.
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22:45We didn't quite put a 90 minutes together. We still haven't quite put a 90 minute together, albeit against a very good side tonight. But yeah, when we're in that moment, it's just being able to take the bigger moments. And that's probably the difference right now. I actually thought England were outstanding yesterday. You know, you was at the game, Rob. Now, anyone stand out for you? And what was the feeling in the camp after the game? I don't think they were outstanding. I mean, you saw the game live, Micah. I think parts of that game were brilliant. I mean, they couldn't have been outstanding and then conceded three goals and then missed it.
23:23It's weird to say. I know it sounds weird, but they were aggressive. You know, all the things that we wanted them to be at the World Cup. They were aggressive. They were brave. even when it looked like Spain could have been three or four, they kept going. And then they started playing through the lines. Then they started pressing a lot higher, forcing Spain into mistakes. And then Bellingham grew into the game. And then Gordon was fearless. And then Lewis Skelly was up and down. Anderson was getting on the ball. So all the things that we wanted to see in the World Cup, which we got in spells, I think out of all the games we've seen England play, apart from the Azteca, in terms of their greater determination, all the things that we wanted to see were in this game against the world champions.
24:13And that's why I said they were outstanding. I guess the penalty miss was a big thing and the game changer as well, wasn't it?
24:19Alan Shearer:The one thing you would say, to call it a performance that's outstanding, is that there were a couple of very bad individual errors. Yes. So, you know, you'd have to say that aside, they were outstanding. That aside, but if you look at, and because I always, when I look at a game, I don't just look at the results. I look at, there's so many factors within a game that can give you confidence going forward. And how many times when I was accused in the World Cup of being negative, you know, I'm being negative about, but there was things in the games that I didn't like. And when it comes to the moment, all the things I talked about came to fruition.
24:59In this game, yesterday, all the things that they didn't do in the World Cup, they did against Spain, which give me so much confidence. And that's what I mean by that.
25:09Alan Shearer:Well, you're the oracle.
25:14So anyway, Rob, how was the camp? How was the mood after the game? I think that Harry Kane totally agree with the point that all three of you sort of just touched on, that they've not knitted 90 minutes together, particularly against one of the elite teams. That's what Harry Kane said afterwards. And I think that was the point last night that I think you probably could use the word outstanding for the 20 minutes after halftime where they could have gone 3-1 up if Harry Kane doesn't slip. The pressing's great. When you asked about which players stood out, it's not razor-sharp analysis, but Jude Bellingham is some footballer, isn't it?
25:48I mean, he just had that game by the scruff of the neck for a little spell after halftime. But I think that aggression, whether it be Anderson or Lewis Skelly, stepping onto Spain in midfield and trying to stop them play. And the feeling I had walking away from it was, I'd rather lose like that than everyone camped on the edge of your own penalty area just waiting for Lionel Messi to do something special. And again, Kane said afterwards, you can have a game where Mark Gehe doesn't make that error, Nico O 'Reilly doesn't give the ball away, and suddenly Harry Kane doesn't slip and you win that game rather than lose it.
26:24And they're the margins you guys know when you play against the proper elite. It's very tight.
26:28Alan Shearer:One thing you have to say is England have now conceded 13 in the last six games. And the back four has moved around a bit different individuals. It's the one part of the pitch really, isn't it? Where you go, what is England's best back four? I think by and large now from midfield forwards, we're more or less there. But at the back, there are certainly issues. And obviously the goalkeeper's changed as well. I thought Trafford did well. He'd made a couple of good saves. He wasn't at fault for any of the goals. And he looked confident with the ball at his feet as well. I thought he did really well.
27:00That was a big call in picking Trafford instead of Pickford, wasn't it, after what Jordan's done and the number of caps and all of that? Hey, I did tell you. I did tell you, Al. You did? No, I didn't tell you. I don't think this is the end for Pickford. I just think Trafford, you know, looking forward, you always want to give someone an opportunity, don't you, to see how they fare at the highest level under pressure. How impressed have you been with James Trafford so far? Because for all the big England games you'll have played, it would have been Jordan Pickford in goal. What have you made of him in and around training and a big night for him tonight?
27:32Yeah, he's been great in training. Obviously, he deserved his chance out there tonight and I thought he'd done really well. Made some big saves for us. They obviously had some big chances themselves as well that we got away with. He's good with his feet. He plays out well. Yeah, and it's never easy coming into a game of this magnitude as one of your first games. So, yeah, credit to him. I thought he handled it really well.
27:54Alan Shearer:Obviously, Cole Palmer pulled out the squad and Thomas Tuchel, I thought, he does tend to say what's on his mind and what he thinks. And I just wonder what benefit that would serve. I think Tuchel wanted to make it clear to everyone and he did it, not in a sneaky way, but he basically said he doesn't feel that he really, really wants to play for England. I want players there that are completely dedicated. And then he said, well, he's been injured, but obviously that's not something. But there's clearly something between there. And I think because he got so much stick for not taking Cole Palmer, I think this was his way of telling us why.
28:41Alan Shearer:But I'm not sure that... I don't like it when coaches or managers do that to players, particularly if he's... I mean, I'm sure he's genuinely been carrying an injury for the whole, most of last season. So I thought that was a little bit unfair. I think I get it from the manager's point of view, because as you said, there's lots of discussion of, shouldn't you have been in this squad? Yeah, he's had a good start to the season. The manager's put him in and for whatever reason, whatever injury, clearly he wanted to get a point across to say, I'm not 100 % certain that you perhaps won it enough. I want players that are massively committed and will run through a brick wall for me and I think that was his way of saying I'm not sure about it Can't he pick up a telephone and tell him that though rather than tell the world Maybe he's had that conversation already maybe he's said that after and why he put him in the squad I don't know I think there might have been a feeling from England's perspective that because it's this longer break and you play there's almost two and a half weeks between the games if you've got a slight niggle you can come and you can still get your treatment at St George's Park or at Spurs where they're training for part of this and then maybe Cole Palmer could have played in that final game against Czechia on the 6th of October which is still what 10 days away so there was an option to be in and around the camp and you looked at the World Cup, Jordan Henderson gets injured there was no way he was ever going to go home and not be part of the rest of the tournament so I think there was maybe if they there's no doubt that he is managing a groin injury and I think Cole Palmer doesn't want to be where he was last year where he played a couple missed a few played another few but I think there is possibly a feeling that he could have been in and around the camp had he been totally desperate to I think I'd have understood it stood it slightly more if Cole Palmer would have actually come out and said anything negative in any way or or said publicly that he was so pissed off he wasn't in the World Cup that I didn't want to be part of this squad.
30:46Alan Shearer:So I don't know. I didn't think it was entirely necessary. Yeah. Again, what did I say? Too cool at times. He's too honest, isn't he? And he gives us all something to speak about, which is great, but he doesn't need to. I would be on Cole Palmer's side on this occasion, probably because he's been injured, hasn't he? And he's not been up to scratch. He started the season well, and he got an international break. Let's be honest. Yes, we're building up to the Euros, but he's not right, is he? He's not 100 % right. And Chelsea have been trying to manage his minutes. Remember last season when he was getting taken off after like 60 minutes and all that sort of stuff.
31:28So Rob, you're right. He's obviously nursing still his groin. I don't think it needs to be that big of a story because they've got so much players in that position. How many times in the match where you started a match, you were 100 % fit. That's a very good point. But I think it's different now. I think the players are playing more games. I think the games are more high intent. So when you've got a chance to deload, then if I was a player of Cole Palma... Well, Declan Rice has done it. And by the way, he was still there watching last night, Declan Rice, which again, I think tells you the sort of commit to the camp.
32:08I just wonder though, Michael, whether if you've been left out of the squad, would your attitude as a player not be, well, I want to show you, I want to show you and show everyone that you were totally wrong to leave me out of that squad by being the best player for two or three Nations League games? So in 2012, when we won the league, and I always talk down about my career because that's the way I am. I like to self-deprecate. That's the way I am. We know you don't mean it though when you say it. In that season, I performed really well. I'm five or six from fullback. I was strong as a knock, got important goals.
32:44The season before I'd won the FA Cup. I was consistent throughout the whole season.
32:49Alan Shearer:That's one of the least self-deprecating statements I've ever heard. No, I'm building myself up now. I'm self-deprecating. And then I got a call from Hodgson and says, well, I didn't even get a call from Hodgson. I got a call from Stuart Pearce, who was my manager at Man City. And he said, oh, you're not going to be in the squad. Bear in mind, the fullback got injured. I think it was Glenn Johnson or Kyle Walker injured or whatever. So there's only one fullback going to the tournament at the time. So he asked me to go on standby. At the same conversation with Stuart Pearce, he said, I'm going to the Olympics.
33:21Would you want to go to the Olympics? And then I got trashed through the media saying, I've turned my back on the country. I didn't turn my back on the country. I wanted to go play where I was loved in the Olympics. And it was the best experience of my life. So I'm with Cole Palmer on this. If you're not 100 % fit and you've got a manager who doesn't believe in you, then take the rest.
33:44Alan Shearer:I wouldn't disagree. Before we go, let's talk Spain. Unbeaten in 39 games now. World Cup, European champions. Is it as good as the Spain team of 8, 10, 12? Oh, I'm not sure. I'm not sure. I mean, the last couple of decades, I mean, the teams they've produced. What was that? The Busquets, Xavi, Ineer? Busquets, yes. Oh my God. Cesc Fabricas, David Villa. David Villa. Oh my God. No, you can't beat that. You can't beat that midfield. It's ridiculous though. At that level, to go unbeaten that many games against the quality they're going up with is remarkable. The other thing I liked about last night is you talked about all the flair players, Lamal and Williams and Pedri.
34:35They've got a little bit of devil in them as well. Mark Cucureo, even though now he's club teammates with Jude Bellingham. And once he left him on the floor and they were chuntering at each other as Jude ran back across the pitch. And I think you guys would know that to have a successful team, you can't just have the flair and the quality on the ball. You need the horrible side of the game. And they've got a little bit of that about them as well. You're totally right. And I think Al was right to raise the point defensively. So when you say outstanding, okay, outstanding moments within the game, what I like to see.
35:05but Spain could have had four or five or six. You know, the way they moved the ball, the timing of the pass, the weight of the pass, the timing of the runs from Torres and then, are you after that? Are you after that? Are you after that? Oh my, his finish, he's at Sociedad. He's at Sociedad and Spain, what they're producing, it's not normal. Then Pedri comes on and flicks the ball around the corner. Then we've got Fabio Norris who goes off. Yeah, no problem at all. Just win the Champions League the last two years. Their squad is incredible.
35:43Alan Shearer:Yeah, since 2008, that's five major trophies. They've now won. Prior to that, they'd only won one in 1964. And I think that the European Championship, well, there are only about four teams in it. So, I mean, Spanish football has come a long way. Even when I played in my time, and obviously I spent three years in Spain, and that wasn't their way of playing back then, right? It wasn't. That's kind of been reinvented because of probably with the improvement of playing surfaces and stuff over the years. But, you know, it all came in around, well, probably a Dutchman started it in many ways at Barcelona and then this has become their way of playing.
36:25Alan Shearer:But, I mean, I could watch them all day. And, I mean, Lamin-Jumal, I know he didn't have his best shooting boots on, but boy oh boy a couple of the bits that he did I mean a couple of the passes through and the little finish for his first goal and that little kind of back heel-y thing that he did oh it was tasty that was it was tasty it's his drop of his shoulder isn't it I wanted to see five replays of that it frustrates me when you know you get in nowadays and there's not much directors and they do a brilliant job generally but you know they do a brilliant job but he's about to slaughter them.
37:03No, I'm not slaughtering them at all.
37:04Alan Shearer:But this is right across the board, right? So every single free kick, every foul, however soft, gets a replay. A little bit of skill on the halfway line never gets a replay. And I go, I want to see that again. I want to see that again. I don't want to see a foul again. It's just one of the things that's crept into the coverage of our football, which irritates me a little bit. But they all do it, everyone. It's right across the board. So maybe there's a little message out there. If you see a breathtaking little bit of magic from someone like Laminjimao, we want to see it three or four times. Are we letting him get away with that?
37:42I mentioned he used to play for Barcelona again, Micah. Well, I mean, I didn't want to interrupt him. He was in flow, wasn't he? But he could wait to get it in. He couldn't wait to get it in.
37:51Alan Shearer:I'd almost forgotten, actually.
37:56Alan Shearer:I mean, look how young that team is as well, the Spanish team. I mean, they are going to be the side to beat over the next 10 years, probably. At all, you're absolutely right, yeah. You're forgetting the other player, though. Firmin Lopez. Oh, Lopez is good. We didn't even get on yesterday what a player he is. You've got Hoyssen, or Hausson, however you pronounce him. Even David Rea doesn't play. Yeah, Pedri comes on at 70 minutes. Baena comes on. It's just, it's not fair, is it? It's not fair. I mean, England have not got a bad squad as well. We've got lots of talent coming through, but I think Spain definitely going to be the side to me.
38:34Alan Shearer:Just one question before we go for you, Rob. You know, at the end when you're obviously in the, what do they call it, the mix zone? Mix zone of players. Do you also, is that just for England or do you get a chance to speak to any, the opposition, the opposing players? No, the Spanish players came through as well last night. So it was the chance, Oyathabal was one of those who stopped and had a chat. The Spanish media were there en masse. We were sort of tucked in and waiting for the England players. And if you move to get a Spanish play, you probably lose your seat and miss out on a Harry Kane or an Anthony Gordon.
39:06But no, it's a big old area and English journalists, one end and then all the Spanish at the other.
39:12Alan Shearer:And is everyone shouting questions out? I'm just not sure. I can't remember from... It wasn't like that when I played. It's a little bit more structured. When I played in Barcelona. It's a little bit more structured than it used to be. I have to say there was one time in Kansas City during the World Cup where the Argentinians had an off day. So all their journalists came en masse to ask questions. I think it was Bakayo Saka and Nico O 'Reilly that day. As England were preparing for the quarterfinal against Norway, Argentina hadn't even got through their own quarterfinal yet. And they're already asking them questions about a potential semifinal.
39:46And poor Nico O 'Reilly is quite young, quite shy. And I think, bless him, like a bit of a rabbit in the headlights. But the Argentinians didn't mind. and they were there and they were playing with their elbows out as they did on the pitch for most of that World Cup, actually. While we're on that, though, first interviews, I've seen an interview of you the other day, Alan. I don't know if it was AI or not, but it was hilarious. Why? Just because I had a bit of hair? Well, that was funny too, but you were so softly spoken back then. Are you saying that's changed over the years? Yeah, he was less angry, I would say.
40:25so softly spoken so articulate so shy but engaging and now you're just a bellend
40:37must have been ai oh dear do you remember your first interview guys before we go i remember mine obviously mine was when i swore wasn't it everyone remembers that yeah i was i sounded
40:48Alan Shearer:a bit squeaky, a bit posh. Did you? I don't know why I spoke. I spoke a little bit like that. It was so weird. I listen to them now. I go, oh my God. It's so different with a bit of Leicester accent as well. A lot of Leicester accent which has drifted away over the years. Okay, let's call it a day there. That's it for this episode of The Rest is Football. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Have a great week, everyone. Goodbye from me. Walter, you're not supposed to do that. That's not how it goes. Well, there's four of us. Rob is the one to say, have a great week, everyone. Come on.
41:23Should we go again, please? Let's do it again. Let's do it again. Oh, God. Shall I get a third then and Alan can go last and do his trademark? All right. Okay. Oh, well, I've got to work on how I say goodbye. For me, that it's not the same. It's sort of, I get it up for Alan to finish. So, go on. Go on, guys.
41:41Alan Shearer:This is the least smooth closing ever on Netflix. Ever. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Have a great week, everyone.
42:06Before this,
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From the publisher
Why was England’s performance against Spain much more encouraging than how things ended at the World Cup? Who was ‘star of the show’ for England yet again? What’s next for Cole Palmer and his England future?
Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by Rob Jones to dissect England’s defeat against Spain. The group also discuss how the recent news around Man City’s charges will be affecting their current players.
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