Scotland's crucial win and Niall Horan's rondo with Neymar

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2:22Alan Shearer:Look forward to talking to him. We'll also discuss a win for Scotland in good shape now to qualify for the knockout stages. We'll also have seen Brazil. We'll chat about that. And don't forget, if you want to watch the show, just get us on Netflix.

2:39Alan Shearer:Joining us tonight, we've got Alan Shearer, who's hot-footed it straight from the Brazil match. Joe Crap-at-Darth Cole is also here. and making his debut global superstar, dare I say, Niall Horan. Hello, lads. Welcome. Thanks for having me. Yeah, it's great to have you here. Before we get into today's matches, Niall, what do you make of this town? Are you enjoying New York? I love it, yeah. I mean, right at the moment, the weather's so good. The city's obviously on wheels at the moment with the finals going on and the Knicks and it's just a great city. I sense the final, did they call it a final whistle in basketball?

3:18Alan Shearer:I think we're imminent, so we might get a reaction any second. You can hear it. No, you've been on Jimmy Fallon. You've got a new album that's number one, isn't it, in the UK? Number one, yeah. NBC Today's show. I've seen you ever. You're flying. I've even seen you on the, I don't know what you call these, the billboards or Times Square all over the place. No, it's been a busy couple of weeks getting around the album launch and all that kind of stuff, but you have to put the graft in and then it's worth it in the end to get number one album this week in the uk which is very cute very cool yeah yeah life must be bonkers is it it's mad yeah there's a lot obviously a lot travel and stuff that involves in it and but uh yeah it's it is mad to be honest for the last 16 years yeah you you're a genuine football fan yes that's why you're here exactly obviously yeah um the hobby county fan trying to work that out why my uh my dad is 65 so and when he was So when he was 9 or 10 getting into football, it was Cluffy era at Derby County.

4:24So it was either Derby County or Leeds really. And he chose the right one. And then from then on, he was bringing us since we were kids. He worked in, wasn't made of cash, but any cash that he had spare, it was for us to get on the ferry to Hollyhead, train to crew, swapping crew and go to Derby every week. So we were there all the time. He still had it all the time himself.

4:48Alan Shearer:Having said that, you've got a slight Chelsea connection as well, haven't you? I do, yeah. Something about you being injured and then Jose Mourinho, what was that story? Yeah, I had to get basically a knee reconstruction done about 10 or 11 years ago. And I was thinking about where I could do, what I was going to do for my rehab. And I actually had Jose Mourinho's daughter's number because she used to come to the One Direction shows. So I just messaged her and asked her would her dad know anybody. I was worried because I had to be back on tour in about four or five months. And within an hour, I got a message off Jose saying, come down to the training ground the next time you're here.

5:26And I went down, had my surgery, came back the next week and spent the next four or five months there. Getting completely looked after by the whole first team. You know, the sewers and the physios and all that kind of stuff. Had my own kit with NH on it and everything. I ran the place. I ran the place. How was Jose with you? He was so good. He brought me into, on day one, I was wondering why. Because I wasn't sure. I just thought I was going to meet him. He brought me into the room with the doctors and physios, brought them all in. They all had a look at my scan. And he basically said to them, treat this like I need him back towards the end of the season.

6:08Like, the real deal. I was just sat there going, what?

6:11Alan Shearer:This is my... I'm slightly disappointed you didn't make it back into the first time. You don't realise how pampered footballers are. They have a lovely time down there. Who do you want to win the World Cup? Because obviously Ireland are not here. You better think about that carefully. God, I don't know. I think France would probably do it. Who are you cheering on? That's what I want to know. Who are you supporting? I would like to see England do well. you know it's a very likeable group of lads Tuchel doesn't take any prisoners either does he he's a proper manager I mean he knows what he's at and I'd like to see them do well I'm not sure if I'd like them to win it because I have to live in London I don't know if I could listen to it forever but yeah and I'll be cheering on the Scots as well want Scotland to do well obviously they've just got their first three points in their top of the group of Brazil and Morocco so You must have done a bit of this stuff before because that's a perfect little link into our chat.

7:15Alan Shearer:We're segwaying, are we? Yeah, segwaying into Scotland. I think we'll start with the National Anthems and singing. Go on. I mean, is there anything? I'm not going to sing. I'm not going to ask you to sing. But before the game, I know they've got their three points and it was such a big game for them because obviously the other two teams in the group were really strong. And to get that win was vital. but I mean that goosebump stuff when they think Flower of Scotland. Flower of Scotland is special. Awards were given out now for national anthems. They'd win it hands down. You could feel the emotion coming through.

7:49It was brilliant. I think that and the French and the Italian. But I think the Scottish is the best. You were with Steve Clarke at Chelsea. Yeah, I mean I was really pleased with Clarke. Yeah. When we, like, he was always a great number two in terms of like, because the sessions were great. you know he's one of them if he'd have a word if he wasn't going well he could set the tone but I was always I remember the moment we played Man City under Avram Grant and Avram Grant was very much he would let it go and he you know but we had a good dressing room we carried on winning games but there was a moment in the game where we were going for the title and Avram we needed something at half time and Avram didn't do anything and Clark he stepped up and I thought he's got a chance being the number one here do you know what I mean he's gone on and I think he's I think the stats were he's the best, the most decorated Scottish manager of all time now.

8:40Three tournaments. Yeah, really pleased with him. He's a top geezer. And not only that, I mean, obviously the fact they've got three points, Alan,

8:48Alan Shearer:means they're pretty assured of getting through. And also, I think it's worth pointing out, they're top of a group that's also got in there, Brazil. They are top of the group currently. I've been enjoying that tonight, the jocks, weren't they?

9:02Gary Lineker:It didn't matter how they played. It wasn't a high-quality game. They won't care one bit. All it was, this was their game. This was their game to win, to almost get through to the next round. And they had to win it, and they did. And it would be an incredible party.

9:19Alan Shearer:I mean, it wasn't the most thrilling goal I've ever seen to win a game. But it will be for all the Scottish fans. Absolutely. And of course, it was John McGinn. They'd want that for him, too. So, yeah, absolutely brilliant stuff there. It was great to see Scotland getting off to a good start. Loads of Scots here in New York as well. And it's so harmonious. I wish if only all the world could be like that, that'd be perfect, wouldn't it? But Scotland, well, if they go through, which is now very likely, it'll be the first time ever in the knockout stage. That's why they had to win it, guys.

9:56Gary Lineker:That's why they had to win this game, because they are then now coming up against two a lot better sides in Morocco, albeit I wasn't that impressed with Brazil this evening. But this is the game they had to win, and they did. So they'll be having an incredible party.

10:14Alan Shearer:So they should. It's funny in those games, we had three Scottish people, didn't we, in the room watching the game, and they were just so tense. So tense all night, so tense. And then they had that one chance, didn't they? Haiti with the header and it just went wide. There's always a chance in those games. That was the one.

10:34Gary Lineker:That was their big chance and you missed it. They were poor up front, weren't they? Once they'd given that chance away I thought that was it. Scotland had done enough.

10:43Alan Shearer:Absolutely. Well in case you hadn't noticed, the shy, wavering Micah Richards hasn't been with us so far as it's the middle of night back home. But we caught up with him earlier to chat about the Brazil-Morocco game.

11:00Alan Shearer:Hello, Micah. How are you? Bit tired. Hey! How we doing, guys? You don't look tired. Finally some star power in the studio. Niall, how you doing, my man? Hi, Big Migs. Good to see you, fella. Yeah. You know each other, do you? Oh, you're looking... Well, I mean, we exchange texts on Instagram every now and then. A little bit of Twitter, you know. You mean you're sliding into his DMs? Yeah. Sliding all over. What are you doing, mate? Oh, yeah. I've slid in a couple of times. You don't know you're beautiful. Hey, I was a big 1D fan, you know. I loved it. Maybe you light up my body. Oh, my God. You was always my favourite, though.

11:45That's not bad. Thanks, brother. Thanks. I don't believe you, but thank you.

11:49Alan Shearer:He said that about Frank Lampard. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When Steve Gerald wasn't here. No, no, no, I did not. I basically acted like a little coward. Yes, I did. Yes, you did. But I did say Steven Gerrard. Yeah, Stevie G. Mikey, you watched the game closely, obviously. Brazil game, talking about here. I quite enjoyed it, actually. I thought the first half was really entertaining. Morocco were very good at the start, weren't they? Yeah, I thought Morocco were excellent. I think someone said Dark Horses, but I didn't think we actually said it on the pod. You know, they got to the semifinals last World Cup, didn't they?

12:23They were a real quality team. I think they've improved, though, going forward. I think we always expected them to be organised and really good in terms of duels and tackles, all that sort of thing. But I thought it was really good going forward. Had they had a little bit more composure, they'd have been fantastic. Sabari up front, his little dink over Alisson as well. And you've got to watch that because when you watch Alisson, how many times, Joe, you'll know on this as a pundit, Alisson waits to the last moment to make up his mind. And normally he reads that situation. It looked like he was going to go round him.

13:00He didn't. And then even to send Alisson the wrong way at the split second, I just thought it was a fantastic finish. But Brocco in that first half were excellent.

13:09Alan Shearer:From a striker's perspective, I would say that Alisson made it very easy for him. I mean, it's still a difficult skill to do, but what you want when you're going through is a goalkeeper to rush out. and particularly in the modern game, rush out outside the box because then they're screwed. What do they do? If they use their hand, they get a red card. If you try and go around them, which you try and do, and then if they bring you down, they get a red card. The worst thing when you're going through one-on-one with a goalkeeper now is when the goalkeeper doesn't come out. If he comes out between maybe the six-yard box and the penalty spot and then you've got to, do I have another touch?

13:48Alan Shearer:and you've got a defender chasing you. But when they rush out like that, I was surprised because he doesn't usually do that. He's like one of the best one-on-one goalkeepers in world football. Yeah, I would totally agree with that, Gaz. But I think if you watch Alisson in terms of his positioning, yeah, sometimes he goes, I'd say maybe five yards higher up and reads it, but he was sort of waiting for him to make the decision and then he just made it a little bit too late. And then, yeah, the finish was fantastic. I've got a question for Niall, actually. Have you seen Brazil play, Niall? Yes, I have seen Brazil play.

14:27I've seen him play in Ireland. There was like a friendly just after that World Cup that they won. 2002, was it? Yeah. And they came and they were obviously told to field the proper team. So I've seen all of them. You had Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo. I tell you what, knowing them boys, Carlos, and then when you're on gigs with them, they would have loved the Guinness in Dublin after the game. Them boys love it, yeah. Yeah, I've seen Roberto Carlos play a couple of times at Soccer Ed with him. Oh, he loves it. He loves it. He loves it more than many. He does. Going back to Morocco meets, like, I fancy them and they do look better.

15:06There's more shape in the attack and the movement. You see Maserawi today as well. He was doing a bit. So even like, I think sometimes these players, they go and play for their own national team and it frees them up a little bit. Hakimi was always brilliant, but he was like, he was finding little pockets. I thought they were, listen, 1-1's a fair result, but over the course of 90, I thought they probably shaded, look a little bit more organised than Brazil. I think there's a few worrying, not worrying signs, because I fancy Brazil. I think Carlo would sort it, but I think there's a few little, yeah.

15:37Alan Shearer:I need to ask you a question, right? You tipped Brazil. Yeah. You tipped for the tournament. Yeah, he did. That's a brave one. Well, it looks brave now. I'm going to give you the opportunity, go on, to change your mind. That's very nice, yeah? I'd give Alan a similar opportunity four years ago because he tipped Argentina and they lost their opening game against Saudi Arabia. He went, no, I'm sticking because you know what Al's like. He's stubborn, isn't he? Yeah. What about you? No, no, no. I'll stick with Brazil. I think he's picked the team today. I think Paqueta didn't quite work in the midfield with Casemiro and Guimarães, They looked a bit leggy.

16:14I think the substitutions made them better. And I just think as the tournament goes on, the climate will come into play. They've got enough quality. Vinicius looks sharp. And knowing Carlo, he's the perfect man in that situation to just be calm and just keep that going. OK, well, I'm sticking. OK, that's fine.

16:33Alan Shearer:I know it's a little bit of small talk here, Narl, but somebody told me you met Neymar. Yeah, I met Neymar. I went to Barcelona. I was going to see a Barcelona game about 10 years ago and someone got in touch that Neymar was a fan. And I went to the game and they'd actually just lost the league to Atletico Madrid on the last day of the season. But still, he was like, yeah, come back to the house. Really? Went back to the house with all his mates, played a game of pool. Really? Had a few drinks. It was such a great life. Hey, Niall, come on, come on. you're not getting off like that. We went back to his house to play pool.

17:15We actually did. But I'd had a few drinks and we were kind of playing a little bit of a Rondo thing and he'd just come back from injury and I did a slide tackle on him. He was in his garage. I was like, oh Jesus, what am I doing? I had a few beers on board. I'm going to break the ankles of the best Brazilian footballer in the world.

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19:34Alan Shearer:Thanks for listening to today's episode of The Rest is Football and we've got a little proposition for you. If you'd like to enjoy the show totally ad-free then you can join the Players Lounge for just£2.99 a month at therestisfootball.com or sign up on Apple Podcasts to enjoy uninterrupted listening.

19:58Alan Shearer:Micah, what did you make of Brazil? I thought they looked a little bit leggy in midfield. Casemiro came off at half-time. I know he got a yellow card, but he had a really poor first half. Even Gabriel at the back looked a little bit off the pace. Why do you think that is? Yeah, I think tactically, and I don't want to question Anceletto's tactics, but Joe mentioned it a little bit there. So when I watched them against Egypt, they were very good in the friendly. They were pressing high. Bruno and Casemiro were fantastic. But today, I think the system was wrong. So in the first half, they had Pakata, who was on the right.

20:40Then they had Bruno and Casemiro sort of in the middle. Then they had Rafinha on the left. But Vinicius was sort of playing a free role, but going on to the left, where Rafinha wanted to be. then Thiago wasn't holding up the ball and the balance of the team was all wrong. As soon as he put Rafinha on the right and he put Pakhita in that number 10 position, he put Vinicius left and Thiago up front, the balance of the team just looked a lot better. And I remember we worked together. I remember France and we talked about it. Mbappé and Barcola. It was a similar thing where they both wanted to operate the same space on that left-hand side and they were sort of getting in each other's way a little bit.