Kane to the rescue as England squeeze past DR Congo

0:09Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with me Gary Lineker. On today's episode obviously we're going to discuss the fact that England are through to the last 16 of the World Cup. But to discuss that with me, we've got Micah Richards, Rob Beckett, Brad Friedle and Joe Cole. And don't forget, if you prefer to watch the show, it's on Netflix every day. Kane and Bellingham are our two superstars. And most teams rely on those big moments, big moments players. That's why I think we've got a chance because you've got two of your best players at the top of their powers. Forget everyone else. Declan's a little bit off.

0:48He's carrying something. think, you know, we're not really, we don't look like we're assured at the back. But you've got two best players firing. So you're going into the last 16, you've got a chance.

0:56Brad Friedel:Are you surprised Manu hasn't come on at all? We said today we thought he'd come on when we needed to find a pass. But what I would say with Tuchel, he said before the tournament started, 15 or 16 players, he makes the same substitutions, he's got a way of playing, and he could have quite easily panicked today and thrown Oli Watkins on or Ivan Toni. I was panicking. At one point, we were talking about who's the next England manager. Is it Eddie Howe? Before the hydration break. Before the hydration break, we're trying to change the manager. Micah, it was obviously a slow start for England, and we were all getting a little bit edgy.

1:30But I think after the hydration break, stroke commercial break, he did make a difference. He made a difference again in the second half with his changes and the hydration. And I think that's really important as an aspect of what happened today because he was on the brink, probably, of getting Eddie out of the job. Well, you guys, I think, against Ghana, against Panama, you were saying it was going to get better. And I don't want to debate with you, but I'm still not seeing good enough signs. And I'd like you to put your point across in terms of, do you think this team can get better? Do you think they're going to grow into the tournament from the evidence that you've seen in the first four games?

2:18Yes, I think so. I think I was encouraged by today's display. A lot of people weren't. I was. I think it was a poor start, first 15, 20 minutes. But I think they were thrown by the goal. I think they were thrown by the goal. It had a little bit of a setback. Then you had the little break. And then after that, I thought, actually, the last two-thirds of the match, I thought England played pretty well, created a lot of chances. I know it's not the greatest opposition, but they still, you know, you have to respect them. They're very well organised. They hardly had any chances against England. They had the one that they hit the post, which they hit the post.

2:51But that's going to happen in games. We always think, I think, when we're watching England, that we should score loads of goals and not concede any chances whatsoever. I think there were a lot of encouraging signs in that display. I thought we were on the front foot. We had to be. I thought our centre forward was superb. His changes were really good. All in all, I was encouraged by that display. And we're going to play matches in the World Cup. And you can grow in the tournament. So I was actually mildly encouraged. Obviously, you can look at things like, well, on the counter, we looked a little bit troubled.

3:31But you've got to remember, we played nearly all that game. We're chasing the goal. So you're going to leave spaces at the back. You've got to take chances under those circumstances, which you perhaps wouldn't take against perhaps better opposition, or also if you're not trailing. Joe, I don't... No, I agree. I think, you know, if you're Thomas Tuchel, the one thing that England have struggled with is when you have to play with fear. You're 1-0 down to Congo, and you're the player, 15 minutes in, you're thinking, if we don't win this game, we'll be ridiculed. It's another Iceland thing. And so they mentally have to go over that hurdle.

4:05and I thought they played with composure, they made chances. The goalkeeper for Congo was unbelievable. Yeah, he was. Right? So I think if I'm Thomas Tuchel now, that, like, you're relieved. Yeah, of course. You're coming into the dressing room and I'm going to the lads. You showed massive bollocks there. Correct. You stuck together. You kept going. And that will help England going into the tournament

4:28Brad Friedel:because they've got over a hurdle there, for sure. I'm encouraged with England in a different way because I've co-commentated on a couple of their games now. They really struggled against the low block. As you go on in the tournament, you're not playing teams that sit in the low block. That's all done now. And that's their strengths. So they're going to go to Mexico City. Mexicans are going to come flying at them and they're going to be able to use their strengths and have Bellingham drive with the ball, have whoever plays in the wing drive with the ball and then they'll be able to serve as Kane.

4:55Brad Friedel:I think that'll suit them a lot more. And they could have scored four or five if it weren't those two saves from Bellingham's headers. I mean, the goalkeeper would make great saves. Also, I think it's important to mention that England should have had a penalty. Now, I think VR have had a terrible couple of days. Three decisions in today's, the games that we've just seen. And, you know, this, obviously the Harry Kane one, it was clearly nailed on penalty and that changes things. Nailed on as a penalty, as you'll see in World Cup. Going through on goal, like, the whole point of having the rules of football is like, if you make a mistake, as the goalie did, he'd come out, He's in no man's land.

5:32He knows as soon as the goalie's out there, I'm never going to get there. Harry Kane, all he's done is gone, right, I'm just going to wait a little bit. I've already knocked it past him.

5:41Brad Friedel:The referee's got it wrong. And the goalkeeper put his hand out first. That was the mistake instead of pulling away right away. He put the hand out first, clipped him, then pulled it. Mike is huffing and puffing in the background there. It's like a bond. No, I was just a few. I agree with a lot of what you guys said in terms of having that courage and when you go one down and fighting back and all that sort of thing. If we don't have Harry Kane, we don't win. But we have got Harry Kane. It's the same for Argentina and Messi. It's the same for France and Mbappe. Well, maybe a little less because of all the shades of LA.

6:21Right. Let's put this into context. We have played probably 90 minutes of decent football. Let's have it right. We can all look at the game. We can all analyse the game. And second half against Croatia, absolutely fabulous. Take what you guys say in terms of the conviction, the rotations, really good. And then you go into the next game against Ghana. The game wasn't great at all. You can say low block all we want or whatever, but England shouldn't be able to break down a low block. And then you go into Panama, it's more of the same. You're relying on individual brilliance to get you over the line.

7:01And then you go against DR Congo. If the opposition was a higher-ranked team, I would take your points, definitely. But the defence and the midfield is so disorganised, it's unreal. They don't know if they're staying or they don't know if they're going. The conundrum at right-back is really frustrating me. And we've constantly talked about players who are not there. and we won't have to do that. But the fact that, obviously, Leverimento gets injured, Spence, he's a left-back all season, then he's played right-back. Now we're talking about Shulconza play in that position. It's almost like we're creating our own problems from within.

7:42And I tell you now, if we continue to play like we are playing, then we're not getting to the final. I take your point with the first 20 minutes, 25 minutes of that game. In fact, Jude Bellingham's 30th minute header, where the keeper made a good save, was England's first shot in the game. Their longest wait for a first attempt on record in a FIFA World Cup match. But I think after that, I think they were shook by the goal a little bit, which is not necessarily a good thing. And I get your point in midfield, but you're chasing the game and you're bombing players. I would like to see a change when I think they will change a little bit if England play against, you know, perhaps the more favoured opposition.

8:24the tides that might go all the way in this competition. He might think about his midfield a little bit more because at the moment it's a little bit all over the shop because I'm not sure Anderson's a holder really. And I think Bellingham's obviously a bomber and he's playing at 10. He's all over the place. Rice is a runner up and down. And I just wonder whether he might... I mean, the interesting thing for me is I like Declan Rice as a full-back option. You could then play Anderson and Mainu, which will give you a much more steady midfield and you can play Bellingham in a free roll. He won't do that, but I'm just saying there are options and until you play someone any good, you don't know how he's going to set up.

9:06You can also play Rodgers and Bellingham

9:07Brad Friedel:as two going forward against the low blocks. Yeah, but you're not going to do that now. Isn't it insane that we're trying to work out who's in the starting XI now? Well, we are, but Thomas Tuchel knows his starting XI. Does he? Well, he has done. He's changed it around a bit. But they all do that in tournaments. That's the nature of tournament football. Not this much. It's mad. Isn't it? Well, it's five right-backs. Are we really talking about putting Rice right-back, though? Come on. I know he did well when he... Rice-back? That's his name, Norma. No, we can't be happy. Declan Rice right-back.

9:39It's absolute... It worked today. I agree with you. I agree with you. After the game, he said he didn't want to play there. It works because he's got the energy. and for the goal, that underlapping run, he has got that quality. But you miss his engine in the centre midfield against Mexico. You need him in that central area. I personally would go maybe Spence again, but tell him just, you're not going forward. Or I would play Konza right back, play Stones and play Gehi. I think England against Mexico, even though Brad made a really good point, I think Mexico are going to come out of the blocks.

10:16It's going to be at the Azteca. They're going to be on the front foot, all those sort of things. But England are not good enough to go forward with both full-backs and get back in. That's what I've learned from today's game. I think they need more stability at the back and they need protection. The back line needs more protection than it's getting back. I agree with that. I think they need a little bit more protection in front of them and I think that will come as they grow into the tournament. You mentioned Spence there. I mean, it seemed like Thomas Tucker was constantly berating him from the sidelines.

10:50You could see it most of the time. It reminded me a little bit. Did you ever have that, Joe, when a manager on the sideline give you an ebullying? You must have done, maybe with Jose. With Mourinho. We used to play a system at Chelsea where you'd play a left winger and a right winger, but we were allowed to swap. So, you know, it was me, Robben, Duff, me, right Phillips. But when Jose was at it and he was screaming, like you'd be just go and fucking stand on the other side because I'd just go alright gaffer yeah got ya and he'd be fucking screaming at you what is he saying though I don't know to this day I just go yeah I just put my thumbs up I had one when I was the one thing I used to hate was managers screaming from the touchline so I think I know my job better than they know how to play my job and they talk a great game but they don't know how hard it is I remember one game I can't remember where we were playing but the pitch was crap it was bouncing all over the place.

11:43Bobby Robson was the manager. And I had a similar thing with Terry Venables as well. And I felt bad afterwards. But, you know, he's got... The ball got knocked in. It's like knocked in at the speed of something. He's bounced up. His chest bounced off. I've got a big centre-off smashing me in the back. And Bobby said, Gary, hold it up. Hold it up. And I snapped. I went, you fucking try holding it up. And then... I can't believe you said that to Bobby Robson. And I felt really bad after because Bobby's so lovely, but it's like, I mean... 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.

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13:39Brad Friedel:unfortunately today it was a goalkeeping mistake and he'll know that as well I think defensively center back got sucked in and right back gets pulled over there's a lot that was wrong with it but if you look at it technically from a goalkeeper he just took too high of a jump his feet weren't set and then he hit it with pace and pace will beat you anywhere when your feet aren't set I've made the mistake before and when you win you're relieved if you make the mistake and you lose you're devastated the first goal in the tournament I think he could have saved I'm not so sure he should have saved but he's had a couple of other nervy moments at Ghana game I think he got fortunate he was a little hesitant so this isn't really the Jordan Pickford that I've seen play with Everton the last two or three years and with England because Everton's been under a lot of pressure and Jordan Pickford's been the one that's been consistently making the saves We all make mistakes but when goalkeepers do it but this is a starting I mean, it's three of the four games have been a little...

14:37Brad Friedel:There's been a moment in each of them. Rob, I want to ask you, because you're an Arsenal fan. Yes. It's amazing how many Arsenal fans are coming out now, out of the woodwork. Yeah, I know. We've got so many in this show. You should be at Palace. Yeah. Well, I should be Palace, really. They're my local club. But I loved Ian Wright. And then we got Sky and watched the football and I fell in love with Ian Wright. You just love Crystal Palace. I do like them as well, but you can't really move back. They won't let you do that. You're asking about Saka. Yes. He's had a few injuries this season. Obviously, they're carrying him a little bit.

15:06That's a concern, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, he looked great when he came on. But hopefully, if they're just using him for that impact towards the end. But all season, he's looked like he's been carrying something and he's dragged it out through the World Cup. But he gives us something a bit different. Obviously, you know, like Gordon Rashford and Maduaki will just get down the wing. They want to get across him. But you can cut in and play little balls, which can open them up. But I thought he played well when he came on. I think it was good. Gordon was great as well. Do you think it's a tactical thing or do you think he's genuinely doing it?

15:33Do you think he likes Maduweki because he bombs a little bit? I think he likes Maduweki a touch more than Saka. And I think that's obviously Thomas Tuchel is watching training. He's watching every minute of every game. I agree. I think Saka looks like he's not a Saka of a year ago, 18 months ago, but he's so good and he's done so well. Why do you think he perhaps prefers Maduweki? I think Maduweki has got a little bit more power in his running and he'll run behind Harry Kane. I think it's either or for me. He'll go with whoever. And at the moment, I think he thinks Madiwaki's in a little bit more form than Saka.

16:10But for sure, he's going to play one and the other one's going to come on at 60 minutes. And that's just... Saka just cuts in as well. Madiwaki gets into cross. Madiwaki's done all right. He's got a lot of stick, but he's got crosses in.

16:22Brad Friedel:I thought Madiwaki was better when they brought him on the left against Ghana. He actually went by and got a couple of crosses. I'm really pleased for Anthony Gordon today coming on because I thought in the first two games, it's his big chance. Yes. And he fluffed his lines a little bit. So he needed that game. Two assists. Yeah. And the first time, I thought he looked nervous. And one of the things I like about Anthony Gordon is he plays with his personality. And I thought he'd go to the World Cup because he's a scouse and he's a bit of a lad. I thought he'd go and go, now give me the ball. I'm signed for Barcelona.

16:52But he actually looked nervous. So I think today would have done him the world of good and he'll go and get that swagger back. Who do you start, him or Marcus? You're not happy with the balance, Mike. I understand that. I understand that. But I tend to try and watch a match as though I'm not an England fan, which is impossible, because I am. But I try and look at it as though I was watching another side playing against someone. And I looked at that game today and I think if I'd have been watching France, not France, because France are exceptional, but Brazil or someone like that, I'd go, it's coming.

17:24The goal's coming. the goal's coming but I understand your points I totally get it and I think we do look vulnerable to the counter-attacks etc what would you do against Mexico differently than Tuchel's doing now I'd play a low block I'd play a low block I swear I swear I swear Mexico are a good team I know remember Mora who we discussed earlier on when we was doing the shows he's doing really well 17 years old If that's how you pronounce it. Sorry? 17 years old. He was absolutely superb, Gilbert Amora, wasn't he? Well, if you listen to me, I did give him his age and all that. I give the stats on beforehand, but he wasn't listening to this for a show.

18:08Micah, I'm always listening to you. You want to jump on a bandwagon like everyone else. Oh, that's right now, right? You're getting on my nerves now. You're off. Bye-bye. Oh, the buttons. Oh, it is working. That's good. You know Mexico. I'm going to bring him back because I feel bad because it's late. It's late, so I'm going to bring him back. When Mexico plays... Finish your point, Micah, and then we'll come to you, Brad. No, I mean, I wouldn't go on low block. I just feel, Zoe, we were searching for the right formula to break team down. I think Brad's totally right in terms of the way Mexico are going to set up.

18:43They're going to come out a lot more. So there are going to be spaces for England to exploit. That's a fact. However, I don't trust us enough defensively. I feel as though because we're expecting Bellingham to make them runs forward and Rice has always got the energy where he wants to get involved. I don't think the balance of the midfield is right. I think all three of our midfielders, best positions are number eight. So they're all trying to go. They're all trying to chase the ball when they lose it, which leaving massive gaps to an inexperienced backline with Konza, a Gehi, a Spence, an O 'Reilly.

19:25So I would go back to basics defensively and just go at the right times in terms of one fullback at a time and then the other fullback. It was a bit too all over the place. I would want my wingers, if it's Gordon, if it's Rashford, if it's Saka or Madweke, to have the confidence to take someone on and then wait for the support later. I feel as though today it was, he's going to go there, we're going to try to break down DR Congo and everything's just all over the place. I think we need a little bit more structure to play against Mexico. That's how we'll get a result. OK, thanks, Mike. Can't do a low block.

20:09Not a 1am for the UK audience. Low block? 1am, low block. against Mexico. Mexico is so average, guys. If we lose, they're low blocks.

20:19Brad Friedel:Hang on a minute. This is a neutral voice here. Mexico is so average. I've played against them for years. I know what they do. Because they're playing in altitude, they look faster than everybody. If they're outside of Mexico, I know they're in Mexico, but there's something to this. They're an average team. Below average, actually. They are so beatable. and their fans get on them. If England go there, I don't care whether they play a low block, a high block, anything. They score first, just get through the first 15 to 20 minutes and they will win the game. Low block for 20 minutes? No, anything.

20:56Brad Friedel:Just don't concede for the first goal. What they try to do is suffocate you so you can't get your second breath. And then they try to press and they try to press. Just look at their games that they've played. They've created five chances in each of the games, but the players are dead after 20 minutes because they're always fighting this uphill battle. The altitude's no joke. The heat is no joke. It's hard. But England are so much better than Mexico. And it would be... Brad, you're coming back. It would be a complete shame if they were knocked out because of altitude. Brad, I want to ask you about the US.

21:35I mean, they've gone through. Comfortable victory. Balogun got set. I want to talk to that first. I mean, I thought, I felt for him badly. He got the red card. He looked like all he was trying to do was put his foot on the floor. And it's another terrible VAR intervention.

21:52Brad Friedel:I think the referees have had a disaster recently. Balogun, if you know him, first of all, he's not nasty. He doesn't go as good. There was no intent there at all. No, and they're winning the game. They're winning the game. And he just did exactly as you said. He just put his foot down. And he didn't even know the player's ankle was there. Unfortunate. And I'm sure it didn't feel nice. But no sending off. But they've gotten, and it's VAR, has gotten, I think, You know what it is? I think over the first week or two of the tournament, VAR has stayed out of things largely. And I think we've all been really encouraged by that.