England v Argentina & France v Spain - who reaches the final?

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0:58Alan Shearer:The Rest is Football Every day. That's it for this episode of The Rest is Football. The next time we'll be with you, well, it'll be after England have played Argentina. Let's hope for some good news. Bye. I think this promises to be one hell of a game, Mikel. You've got the best defence in the tournament in terms of goals conceded. And I think you've got the best attack in the tournament. Can Spain deal with that French attack? I think they can. How do they do that? Number one, they have to make sure they but that's the way Spain play. Obviously they take the ball away from you. They control the game.

1:35That's how they've played. I know a lot of people talk about their defensive always. They've only considered one goal so far in this tournament. Well, if you have most of the ball, you know, they just know you're not going to concede. And also the way they once they lose the ball, the way they counter press. I know we haven't talked about it so much the way they press. They press high. They don't let you dictate the game. Once they lose the ball, it's like a bunch of them. They go, they chase you, and they make sure they recover the ball. I think that's the only way they can deal with this French team.

2:06But, wow, what a team they have, don't they? The French. Some individual qualities. Olisse has been playing really well. Kylian Mbappe. I just hope he can be able to get off the mark. You know, Olisse hasn't scored a goal yet. He's just given some chances. All of assist. You know, but hasn't scored a goal yet. But if you talk about a team, a squad with depth, You have to talk about France, you know, you look at the players they have on the pitch, the players they have on the bench, players that can come on and change the game. It's just incredible to watch.

2:35Alan Shearer:Alan, how important will Rodri be? Because he does appear to be back to the Rodri that we've enjoyed so much.

2:42Gary Lineker:Yeah, we sort of looked at him for City, didn't we? It wasn't quite what we saw beforehand. But as the tournament's gone on, I think he's got better and better and better and goes back to his very, very best. I just think after the injury, he had ACL, didn't he? And it took him a while to get back up to speed. But in terms of controlling the game, he's been the best at the tournament. I feel as though you're a big Pedri fan. I'm a big Vettini fan. We talked about that as well on the show. But Rodri's been the best.

3:12Alan Shearer:Can I ask you, Micah, because Spain like to crowd the midfield a little bit and at the minute France are only really playing two midfield players, Is there a chance that they might switch tactics a little bit to cope with being outnumbered in midfield? No, I don't think so. I think France are so good, they'll stick to their plan. Don't forget, Alise sort of got the free roll in there as well. Yes, France have had a lot on the ball, but defensive work, he can do it if need be. I feel like it's going to be such an interesting game because I did the Spain-Belgian game, and Spain, although in terms of they've only conceded one, They did concede a lot of chances.

3:52Remember the ball coming for the Catullari? Not that much movement in the box. And he scores a goal. I just feel as though France are going to have too much firepower. And Spain were my favourites before because of the way they dictate the play. Sabal's not been at the level we all expected. So I think it'll be a tough game. But I think France maybe just got the edge.

4:14Alan Shearer:Joe, I think Spain will probably have the most possession in the game. can they have enough possession to stop France? It's a rhythm game. I actually think Deschamps will consider putting an extra midfielder in, because I think over the course of 120 minutes, he'll expect he's one of his front three, or all of his front three, to have moments where they're going to do some magic. But what you've got to do, you can't let Spain get the rhythm and the routine. Every game they've played at this World Cup, they've dominated possession. So I think he might think to himself, maybe Kone, Tishimane. Well, it's one of the front four, isn't it?

4:48Alan Shearer:So it won't be Dembele or Mbappe. Or Lissé. It could be Due. It could be Due or Bacol. Due or Bacol. Do you know, just to go like... Because they don't need to win the game in the first 30 minutes. But where do you go? If you go all four of them and you go a goal down, where do you go? And so much of what Spain do is rhythm. And you have to break that. And you need a couple of enforcers in there. The only thing is there that that changes the way France play. and it's really worked for them. So it's not too much of him making a massive change. Yeah, I agree with that.

5:24Gary Lineker:I understand what you're saying. You also don't want to show them that you're giving them way too much respect as well. I think they're that strong and they're that good, France, at what they do. I think they'll say, this is who we are. You come and try and beat us with our front four.

5:39Alan Shearer:But Al, just like said, my thing is no-one's laid a glove on them, right? If they get to the semi-final and you get that swagger about you, and all of a sudden, the first 30 minutes, Pedri's popping up, and there's a number of people, then where do you go? Whereas I think they can be calm and then go for it at 60 minutes, because over 120, they'll have enough power to win the game. The only thing I would say is that who would you play on the left? Because Mbappe's sort of had the free role. He's played on the left of France before. He doesn't do his defensive work. If you put Dembele there, he will work for the team, but he's on his left foot when he likes to play, in the middle or off the right.

6:19So I take your point. I think it's a valid point. But it's just what France will lose if they do that, you know, attacking-wise. Yeah, attacking-wise, I think they'll lose a lot. I think they just have to come out and play the way they do. I think both teams are going to set up the same way. I don't think they'll make too many changes because once you do that, it's like you're conceding already to the other side. OK, we're a little bit scared of you. I think they both are going to come out and play the way they do. But I just think Spain will have just, because they control the game so much, Rodri just knows how to dictate that game.

6:51You know, it's like a quarterback, isn't it? He just dictates the game. And once they start to do that, they don't give you too many opportunities as well. You've seen that during this tournament. I know you said they're considered. But if you look at that game, exactly. It just came out of nowhere, that goal. But then straightaway, they go back to who they are, which I think they will do. and of course we're waiting for Lamin-Yamal to actually come into the tournament. We know there's been a little bit of flashes here and there, but he hasn't been the Lamin-Yamal that we know. So maybe hopefully in this big game he might turn up.

7:21Alan Shearer:Well, it's interesting because their left-back position is probably not France's strongest. And of course, Dini has been playing. I mean, Dini against Lamin-Yamal, I mean, defensively that's not the strong part of his game, Micah, is it? No, it's not. But I think Dini could push him back the other way, you know, In terms of he gets in a one-on-one battle, how do you defend? I mean, I think what teams have been doing against him is doubling up. So they will have to double up at some point. But if he gets a free run at Diné, it's going to be difficult. But like you said, I feel like he's still growing into the tournament.

7:54He's still got the fear factor and he's still got the quality. We just want to see a little bit more. I feel like when he's playing, he knows he's so good. So he's just sort of waiting for that moment to come. and it's going to arrive, isn't it? Do you think he'll play Dinia? Maybe Hernandez.

8:12Gary Lineker:More defensively, do you think? A little bit more? Probably a bit more pace,

8:16Alan Shearer:because you'd worry about that with that. Pedri didn't start the last game. I expect he'll be a bit fresher and probably start this one, won't he? You'd imagine so. He's such a beautiful footballer. We're talking about it with England's perspective. We would take someone like Pedri to handle the ball. He's the reason. You know, like when we used to play Xavi and Iniesta? And, like, you just couldn't mark them, right? And I used to look at them, and they're the same height as me, slim. I think even I could get into them, but they'd just drop the shot in. And there'd be rotations round. Do you know what I mean?

8:53Alan Shearer:And Pedri's that guy for Spain. He ticks it all over. He must touch the ball the most out of all of the midfielders. Yeah, but he hasn't played well so far in this tournament, if we need to be honest. I was covering that game. He's his favourite. But I didn't try to say this to him. No, he hasn't. He's been good, but he's not been Pedri all expected. He's not been the Pedri that we know. Fantastic footballer. I mean, the talent that he has, the quality that he... We all know that. But in this tournament so far, he hasn't played well. I wonder whether he'll come good when he has to against the very best.

9:25Because that is the true test. Exactly. Sometimes when you play against the bigger teams, there's more spaces than when you play against the smaller teams because they try to block the spaces. So I think this might be the game that he will come and he will be the Pedri that we know.

9:38Gary Lineker:So many different little battles, isn't there? Yeah. You think, I'll look forward to it. Then you look at another one and think, I'll look forward to that battle.

9:45Alan Shearer:I just wonder, Alan, how you stop Elyse and Mbappe to get their own...

9:49Gary Lineker:Well, that's why I'm going for France, I think, because I just think it's not rocket science. When you look at that front four, how do you stop them?

9:59Alan Shearer:We've eulogised about Mbappe in this World Cup, Mikel. We've all had our say. He's been electric. What a player. I mean, what he's done at this age as well, to have taken this team to, what was it now, the third, might be the third World Cup final. Just incredible. You know, we're talking about, I know we say, obviously, Messi is the goal, but if he takes his France team to another World Cup final, he might be the goat of the World Cup. You know, it's just incredible. THE SPEED THAT HE HAS. AND WHEN I WATCH HIM IN THIS TOURNAMENT, IT'S LIKE HE'S SENDING A MESSAGE TO JOSE MORINHOE SAYING, I AM THAT GUY.

10:36YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THAT BAD. I'M NOT THAT BAD AS PEOPLE SAY I AM. YOU NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR ME SO THAT I CAN BE ABLE TO PERFORM IN THAT REMERGY TEAM. IT'S NOT PEOPLE ARE MAKING ME THE SCAPEGOARD. I'M NOT THE SCAPEGOARD. FIND A WAY, A SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR ME AND I 'LL PERFORM. I 'LL SCORE YOU GOALS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, You have Jude Bellingham as well with egos and everything.

10:56Alan Shearer:You two both know Mourinho. Yeah. And how will he handle him? He'll bring out the best of it, won't he? I think, listen, one thing he's very good at, when he goes into a football club, he identifies where the power is. And he'll know. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already not rung Kylian. Maybe if I met him and explained to him how he's going to use him. I think the solution for Kylian is that Kylian and Vinicius, you need to find a way of when you get the ball, it's simple tactics when you get the ball, can we get them two on the ball in the final third happy? Everything else you do should start from that and I think Jose will do that, he'll free them up maybe Jude and people like that will have more of a discipline role to do but Kylian, he'll see that he's the best player in the world and just try and build the thing around him How would you do that though because when they're both playing they both like to go to that left hand side don't they?

11:48It's been interesting seeing Kylian Mbappe playing centrally and actually doing really well. But when he plays for Real Madrid, the way he wants to take people on, they both want to be in the same space. Yeah, well... How do you nullify that?

12:00Alan Shearer:Do you know what? I watched a lot of Real Madrid last season. And he's generally stayed more central than he has done in previous. And he's so good at getting behind defenders as well. I mean, once he's behind you. So many one-on-ones last season he got from... Yeah. You've got to remind him what he's good at, and that's what he's done really well at this World Cup. He's not really come to feet and tried to do things. He's just gone, right, every opportunity I'm going to get, I'm dropping the shoulder and going by someone. He needs to be constantly reminded that's the thing that makes him kill him.

12:32Alan Shearer:He's not Lionel Messi. He's not even Ronaldo. He's this explosive ball of energy that just makes things happen. And I think Jose will get a tune out of him. Have Spain got enough firepower? I mean, they'll heavily rely, I think, on Luminium producing his best.

12:49Gary Lineker:Not compared to France, no, clearly. But they've got players that can produce moments of brilliance. And if it's just whether they turn up and something happens, something can click, there's no doubt they've got ability, but not compared to those four wins. The only thing I will say, though, Spain have played a lot of teams who have been in that low block and they find it really hard to break that down. This game won't be like that. Perfect game for them. It's a perfect game. We've seen a lot of them. This game could be spectacular, I think, this game.

13:18Alan Shearer:I mean, two slightly different styles. OK, before we move on, who's winning? One-word answer. France? I said if Spain can keep the ball away from France, they will have the chance of winning the game. So I'm going to go Spain. That wasn't a one-word answer. I'm going to go Spain. I said Spain before, so I'm sticking with Spain. France? France. 2-2 tiebreak. I do think France are going to win. I have tips for him to win the tournament, so I'm going to stick with Spain. So you're not England? Yeah. Yeah, you know... I don't want to...

14:05I don't want to...

14:06Alan Shearer:Next up, the big one. England versus Argentina. Before we get into it, earlier on, And I caught up with Rob Jones to get the latest news from the camp. Hi, Rob. How are you doing today? Still in Kansas. Not much longer, though, I don't think. No, the final full day for England in Kansas City before they head off to Atlanta for that World Cup semi-final. And we've been speaking to Jordan Pickford today, who has been part of the full England success story since reaching a World Cup semi-final eight years ago in 2018. He's a good guy, Jordan Pickford. He's one of those who will finish his press conference and stick around for a chat for a couple of minutes after.

14:43But those comments from Thomas Tuchel made a lot of headlines, didn't they, in the aftermath of the win against Norway, that other than the mentality, there wasn't much that he enjoyed about that England performance. But you have to say, psychologically, they have been to the well in the knockout stages, twice behind in games, first against DR Congo, then in Miami against Norway, and then that incredible effort against Mexico, a man down after Jarrell Kwanzaa's red card, and to stick it out against one of the co-hosts at the Azteca and see themselves through to the last 16. And that is part of what Jordan Pickford has been speaking about today, just how close and how mentally strong this group of players are.

15:20The togetherness gets you there. Then the ability shows as well. But the togetherness, if you've got that togetherness like we have, that's a great tool to have. And, yeah, it's been great. And Longer may continue and we'll just keep pushing that. We know we've got that. Now it's about the ability of the football. Talking of togetherness, I'll ask you about one of the key members of the group. A new cult hero is emerging, Big Dan Byrne, who has come on in the last couple of games. For the squad as a whole, how much is it meant to see him come on and do his bit in two big wins? Just shows the character he has as a lad.

15:54And, you know, not played much at all. Then coming on from Mexico and making seven or eight challenges with his head and that overhead kick from Jimenez and he just stood there and took it like a man. And, yeah, but that's what you do. You train well. And once you get your opportunity, you take it. And he's been brilliant. And everyone's seen the video of him heading that last ball, but I think I was heading it myself with him. But that's a character he is, and that's a character we have in the squad, and that's a mentality we have as well.

16:23Alan Shearer:A lot of talk, Rob, about the togetherness there. We heard it again from Jordan Pigford about, you know, that brotherly kind of relationship they all seem to have. Was that stirred a little bit? I don't think for one minute there's a problem between Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel, but clear that up for us. I think it's a show of leadership from Jude Bellingham that he's actually saying, do you know what? Me and my mates have been through it here today. It was so hot in Miami on Saturday. Thomas Tuchel was not the man out on the field, but the players put everything into that game. You could see Harry Kane was sort of on all fours, facing the turf at the end.

17:00John Stones, when he was taking his boots off, looked absolutely exhausted. So I think, again, that's a show of togetherness in a different sort of way that Jude Bellingham has said, we have given absolutely everything out on this pitch and there's not much more left in the tank.

17:13Alan Shearer:What's the latest in terms of injuries? Declan Rice over his illness, obviously Saka, the perennial sort of problems that he seems to be having at the moment. Where are we looking? Well, this is two days before the game. It's a quick turnaround for England, but two days before a match is the one training session that you don't get any access to at all. So not really sure who's OK and who isn't. We saw a lot of shots of the England players doing recovery yesterday. They're in the pool. There are bikes within the pool. There are stretch bands as well. But there's a few to keep an eye on. Rhys James, who came back in that game, Thomas Tuchel might have wanted him to play 20 minutes, but he had to play extra time as well.

17:49So that was 50. Nico Riley had a tight muscle. Mark Gehi had a tight hamstring going into it and played the full 120 minutes. Declan Rice looked really, really tired. He'd not been well. so hopefully the last few days will have done him a little bit of a good and I think Bakayosaka, he's just not going to be fit, fully fit for any part of this tournament but maybe not starting him on Saturday, there is a hope that if England get to a semi-final, then the final, he might just be able to start two games this week.