Valverde Dominates, Premier League Disappoints & Pep’s Odd Choices

10:15Micah Richards:The difference between studs and moulds, it makes you feel different.

10:20Alan Shearer:That was around my day. and it's always been I mean the thing is we played in a lot of bogs and mud baths and stuff you had no choice but I hated the feeling of not being able to turn really quickly to dig my feet in and churn so yes they're a more comfortable mould they always have been but I mean if they're going to give away a couple of goals because you're falling over

10:44Gary Lineker:hey by the way there must those must have been some set of mouldings making you feel like fucking Cafu what the magical boots are what

10:59I thought

11:00Alan Shearer:the most probably surprising for me was Real Madrid thumping City I mean that first half was extraordinary Pep came even when his team came out I thought this is a bit odd there's no fullback in the side no natural fullback obviously O 'Reilly was playing on the left who's really a midfield player and he's been playing midfield in recent weeks really well we've seen him play fullback before but he's not a natural fullback on the other side Kusinov I guess he played there because of Vinicius Junior's pace and he's really quick but he's a central defender and then obviously he played you know three wingers really it was I thought it was a strange formation and the way that he played he left out eight nor he's been I think coming back to fitness played really well.

11:49Alan Shearer:What do you make of it, Micah? It's easy in hindsight, obviously, when it's gone tits up.

11:56Micah Richards:No, I didn't think it was so bad because, you know, when people say Man City playing this 4-3-3, they basically play 4-4-2. That's exactly what they do. Ireland's the many up front. I think the idea was to get the ball wide as early as possible to Doku, who's been really good up against Trent in recent games. And then, Sabino, maybe. That's the one I was thinking could you have gone with a Foden could you have gone with a Shirky could you have gone with another midfielder in there because if you watch Madrid the players that they have out as well and it's so frustrating because people just see the result and say oh typical Madrid if you'd watch any of Madrid's games before that game Man City was by far the favourites in this game

12:42Alan Shearer:oh yeah they've been really poor Madrid really really poor

12:46Micah Richards:and in the first 20 minutes Man City could have, I would call them clear-cut chances, but you've seen Man City put them away. Doku going down the left and someone tapping them in. And when they didn't take the chances, I'm thinking to myself, this is Real Madrid. You don't get these chances at Madrid. You've got to take them while you're on top of the game. They didn't take them. And then Valverde, who we've talked about many times, whether he's playing on the right, whether he's playing in the middle, whether he's playing right back, left back, off the front. He's just got something different.

13:16Micah Richards:I've sort of praised City in recent weeks in the way it has defended. I think Mark Gay has been outstanding. But yesterday, the defence were all over the shot. They didn't know the positions. The first goal, Nico O 'Reilly, I don't want to give him an excuse because he's gone then into midfield now. He's been playing full-back and he's been getting plaudits for playing full-back too. And what Real Madrid did on the goal was very smart. They did what Man City, they did what they were going to press and they sort of went wide and thought, okay, if Man City want to press in one part of the pitch, we're going to go high and wide in the 1v1 situation with the wingers.

13:54Micah Richards:And goes to Valverde. And all Nico O 'Reilly needed to do was just stay on the halfway line. You know? He sort of crept forward a little bit and was anticipating where the ball was going to go, not realising Valverde's just right behind him on side because he's on the halfway line. So it was just little details that let City down. And then once again, get stretched. They couldn't get back into it.

14:21Alan Shearer:Very odd one with Donnarumma coming out as well, wasn't it? I mean, A, should he have come out that? I don't think so necessarily, flying out like that. If he does, he has to get the ball. And the weird thing, he took his hands away. I think he obviously thought he was outside the box. So he's thinking, oh, I'm going to get a red card. And so I'll leave it. He was clearly comfortably inside the box, those sort of things. do happen but I mean Fede Alverde I don't know whether you saw the quotes that Trent said after the game that he thought he's the most underrated footballer in the world's game I don't think he's underrated here particularly but I get his point he's not a kind of household name you know he's along the lines of Mbappe or Vinicius Junior etc I

15:06Gary Lineker:think that's the problem isn't it the way there's superstars yeah that they've they have there but in terms of ability fantastic I I mean, that is as good as a hat-trick you're going to see for a long while. I mean, the finishes were just... The last one. Oh, my word. The flick over the top and then the finish was just incredible. I mean, even the one that he went around, Donnarumma, that isn't an easier finish to get that on target and to finish it as he did. It was a brilliant, brilliant hat-trick. I think a key moment in the game was Vinicius missing the penalty because 4-0 it's all done, I think.

15:38Gary Lineker:Do you still think they're in it, City? I do, yeah. I mean, next goal, you can imagine if you get that first goal, it's game on. We're doing that game, Amazon as well, so it should be a cracker. But I don't think it's over. I do think that with the ability City have, if they can get that first goal, then pressure will be on.

15:56Micah Richards:Can I ask you something, guys? Because it's been, I want to say, annoying me for a while, but I'm finding it hard to see Haaland not be involved in the games. So when he's not involved and he used to score, but now he's not involved and he's not scoring so

16:14Gary Lineker:does seem a little bit different with him doesn't it yeah it does seem a bit with him too up top he seems yes does seem different with him doesn't he

16:21Micah Richards:I feel like he's not he's not in the game but I don't I don't necessarily think it's actually his fault this time you know I don't know if players are running into his spaces and Semenyo's been doing so well and he's scoring a lot of goals but he's taking a lot of shine away from Haaland and even the runs that he used to make Like, Gary made a good point when Vaaland, and look at all the runs that he makes, and it's not just the goal he scores, but even the runs that he used to make, he's no longer making them runs, and you just feel really frustrated. So what's the difference between playing as number one and then having, obviously, two up there?

17:00Gary Lineker:Just before you come in, I thought that last... You know what you mentioned about those balls going across the box in the first 10 or 15 minutes, Man City? I think, where are you? Normally you'd see him running in and just having a tap in for two or three yards, wouldn't you? Yes, exactly that. But it is a different skill set, Micah. It's a different skill set playing up front on your own, having the ability or authority to basically go where you want, when you want. But when there's someone else up there alongside you and with you, it's very different because you can't run into that space where he is.

17:37Gary Lineker:you can't, if he's gone short, then you have to work in tandem, you know. And there's definitely a difference in his play whilst Semenyo's been there to the difference when he's up there on his own. Unbelievable.

17:51Alan Shearer:Yeah, Semenyo, even though he plays up with him most of the time, I mean, obviously he's switched it a bit in the second half, but when he's playing up there with him, he also gets a lot of the ball, Semenyo. He still does, whereas you go, well, where's, you know, Harland's not getting... He's probably not really accustomed to playing that way. I mean, I thought there was a lot of players on that pitch yesterday for City that were not necessarily accustomed to playing that way on a regular basis. We've already talked about the two fullbacks that played. One's a midfield player, one's a central defender.

18:22Alan Shearer:You know, you're talking about elsewhere on the pitch as well with Haaland. Semenyo, I've not really seen him playing up front much prior to this. He used to play wide left mostly, didn't he, for Bournemouth? Or he could play as a 10 or either side. But Semenya, when he's playing up there, he's getting a lot of the ball because he's a player that kind of likes to be in possession. He's used to it. So Harlan's like, well, I'm not going to get a touch here. Now, we're used to seeing him play in a way with three up top, aren't we? Either side. The supposed forwards, right side, left side forwards.

18:58Alan Shearer:And Harlan just has the rein and he can spin behind. and he'd largely do what he wants. Now, he's never been a player that gets involved too much in the build-up. I wonder how many times in his career he's played with two up top. And it is a different skill because you've got to make your runs off your partner in many ways. If he drops in short, you want to get behind him. If he goes behind, you can perhaps go short. Or he goes left, you go right. But if he's not played that way very often, because he's always been the main focus up front, it's not necessarily easy for him. You talked about in the first 15 minutes where he would normally be making, maybe he's thinking, well, is Semenya going to go?

19:39Alan Shearer:Do I? I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud. But, you know, Alan would have grown up playing with someone else alongside him. I grew up playing with someone else alongside me. And then it was only in the latter stage of my career I played up top on my own for quite a bit. And it is different. It's a different skill set. And he's also probably, you know, he always strikes you as a very confident lad, but he will be hating this moment. He will be hating the fact that he's not scoring goals. It's the worst, Alan, when you're going through these kind of spells. All strikers will do it. But what you've got to do as a striker, I think you've got to keep getting in there.

20:17Alan Shearer:You've got to make the runs that score you the goals. Don't shy away from it.

20:21Gary Lineker:No, I totally agree with that. Yeah, I wouldn't take any of that back or go along with it. It is different. You do have to make your runs off someone else and understand that when he goes, it's a different ability to be up top with someone else. Do you think Pep got it wrong yesterday? Well, the result will tell you that. He will argue to the one or two chances that they had early in the game, but I thought defensively they were far outdone. I mean, ability-wise, they were up against it because you're playing against top players. But the chances that they gave up, then you were going to get punished.

20:58Gary Lineker:And we've always said, I don't think City are the same defensively. And they were punished for that last night. But it was a very attacking system he played.

21:06Alan Shearer:It was. And the other thing I thought was that, you know, normally he tries to boss midfield, doesn't control the game from midfield. But you only had two midfielders in there. And one of those is not really a... I mean, Bernardo Silva is not a quintessential midfield player. is more forward thinking. So basically, Rodri was kind of managing that on his own. But, I mean, he still had a lot of possession, but I don't know, there just seemed like a lot of square blocks in round holes.

21:33Micah Richards:Yeah. I think Pep always tries something unique, didn't he? You remember, I think a couple of seasons ago, he put Fernandinho right back, didn't he? Against Vinicius, we're all scratching our head. But when it works, he looks like a genius. I don't necessarily think he did anything that wrong. I understand Kusunov. Maybe O 'Reilly into midfield for a little bit of energy just to get the ball back and put 8-0 left back. Maybe the Sabina one. I understand why he played Doku. But yeah, I think it was just the individual brilliance of Valverde that turned the game. And when he scored, if you watch the game, turn then Man City would dominate in the game and then it's the same old thing with individual errors in Man City, we saw at Leeds with Manchester City Calvert-Lewin could have scored a few goals and against top teams you're going to get punished I will not blame Man City for trying to play good football, there's times where you have to be overloaded in certain areas and you are going to be exposed so maybe another midfielder in there Gaz, yeah maybe but in terms of the game I just thought well Verdi took the game to a different level he was just the best player on the pitch and he made the difference when he scored you know and then the fans got up the players started to lift and then the quality shone through

23:02Gary Lineker:I've seen Real Madrid live a couple of times and there's no doubt that that performance last night was the best is it is it just because Real Madrid come alive at this stage in this competition

23:13Micah Richards:maybe yeah

23:14Gary Lineker:maybe yeah

23:15Alan Shearer:Yeah, I've watched a lot of them this season, obviously, because we do an episode about La Liga. That was probably their best display by some distance this season. You know, Valverde has been pretty good overall, but most of the players have been a bit short. You know, you still don't, they're still not playing the football of the team that had Modric, Kroos and Casemiro. No, no. Yeah, I mean, also you've got to point out that Real Madrid have an awful injury list at the moment. You know, a lot of players. Mbappe, Bellingham, Militao so many of their players there's about eight or nine of them missing so you have to bear that in mind having said all that they beat City comfortably and looking at all the English teams I don't know whether there's anything in this but in Spain they have a little break in the football in a lot of these countries it's not as dynamic as physical as the Premier League we go into this round of matches having played through that mental Christmas stage where the players, loads of matches, FA Cup, Carabao, two-leg stuff.

24:24Alan Shearer:All our big teams are in those competitions. And I don't know, it's like PSG at the start of the season. They're not looking that great, but then all of a sudden they burst into life after they don't have the commitments that the English clubs have. You'll also notice that Spanish clubs, German clubs, French clubs, they don't play on Saturday and Sunday before Champions League. I know it's FA Cup then anyway, so it doesn't already apply. But they always look after their teams. They play, they give them the break before the Champions League. We don't necessarily think that way. So I don't know whether, you know, you run out of steam, trying to make an excuse here, obviously for the English clubs.

25:03Alan Shearer:But let's take a break here and discuss the other sides when we come back.

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28:15Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Mike Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker, discussing a tough night for English clubs in the Premier League. and I thought it was not predictable but not entirely surprising that Spurs got battered at Atletico. Atletico have been scoring goals in recent weeks and playing quite well. Spurs have been in turmoil but I didn't expect, well, the shambolic events on the pitch and obviously I've felt for the Kinski, the goalkeeper who's brought in by Tudor. I mean, it's a mess there at the minute. I'm really, I'm really, I'm really worried as a Spurs, former Spurs player.

28:58Gary Lineker:My take on that is, is that he has to also accept responsibility, by the way, Tudor for, because he's made, he's made the decision. I know Vicario's been poor, but he, he must have seen enough to think, well, I'm leaving you out and I'm going to put Kinski in for his Champions League debut. 22-year-old. He's, he's thinking that that's the right decision. Yet, clearly he's made two huge errors, cost the goals and after 16 or 17 minutes I have no problem with him, he probably had to bring him off but the one thing for me would be is that the lack of care or the lack of even just to blank him on the way past, just totally totally blank him you can imagine how they keep us feeling he's embarrassed, destroyed everyone would have to feel for him but But for Tudor to just blank him on the way past him, that was the most cutting thing for me.

29:57Micah Richards:Yeah, the whole thing was quite embarrassing. The game was embarrassing from Spurs. The run is quite embarrassing. And it's not nice to see footballers going through this, is it? Especially that moment with Kingsky. And players have had it. Some players have been brought on and brought back off. It's not the first and it's not the last. I think he could have waited till half-time. Do you think he was influenced by Romero?

30:22Alan Shearer:He obviously had a chat with him. We don't know what was said in that chat.

30:25Micah Richards:I don't know, but at the end of the day, the manager's got to make strong decisions, haven't they? The game, like bringing the goalkeeper on or off is not going to change the course of the game, is it? Let's be honest.

30:39Alan Shearer:Not when you're 3-0 down.

30:41Micah Richards:Vicario's not been great of late. Kintzhi's come in, you've played him, stick with it. have a word with him at half time and say you know what it was too early for you and then change it the embarrassment to go through that it's just whether he's able to come back from that I'll ask you a question now where's Karius now? I know remember the Champions League final and then his career just I don't want to say nosedive I played with Karius I was with him at Manchester City

31:10Alan Shearer:yeah he never played for Liverpool again did he Karius after that this is what I mean

31:15Micah Richards:and it's just It's one of those moments where as a goalkeeper, you get scrutinised a lot more. You don't need your manager than, you know, adding fuel to the fire, which I just thought was, it was out of order and he could have done it at halftime.

31:32Alan Shearer:That's the way to do it. Well, he could have done, but even when he did it, I agree with Alan. He showed no empathy whatsoever. He just like let him walk past. There were a couple of players. Romero put his arms around him. One or two of the other players did one. but Tudor didn't do anything at all, didn't go towards him. I mean, they weren't ones where, the weird thing was both the mistakes were actually him slipping again, and other slipping events really. It's not like he's let two goals go through his hands, he's just slipped and made bad decisions at the wrong point. But certainly, I don't know what studs he had in, but I mean, you had to feel, I mean, I can't ever remember a goalkeeper being taken off that early for anything other than an injury.

32:18Alan Shearer:Was it 17 minutes?

32:21Gary Lineker:No, I mean, outfield players, I guess, have come off and been taken off. But the manager was the one that thought it was a great idea to put him in. So he's clearly got that wrong. I mean, not all the problems at Spurs are Tudor's fault. And he's walked into a really, really difficult situation. but it seems to be getting worse not improving not getting any better whatsoever and they've got a trip to Anfield and you think oh my god

32:46Alan Shearer:After that there's an international break do you think they'll probably stay in charge of this one if they don't get a result then the Tudor age could be over

32:55Gary Lineker:Tudor age Well they've got the Champions League game which I think is probably done and then they've got Forrest after that and my guess is is that if they're not already speaking to someone just in case then they should be So I would think that even if they're sounding someone out, because if the result goes against them at the weekend, which I've got no confidence to say that it won't, Liverpool will beat them. Then they should already, I guess, just be getting ready in case.

33:27Micah Richards:They brought him in, though, for his bounce effect, didn't they? That's what Eber was saying, because he would get results early doors. And it's not happened. And I think for his career, Igor Tudor, and for Spurs to get saved, I think they need to make the change. I do. I think after this game, international, they've looked at it. It's not worked. Shake your hands and said, I tried. It's not happened. But the most important thing is Tottenham. They've got to stay up.

33:55Alan Shearer:They've got to stay up. They've got to give themselves the best chance.

33:58Micah Richards:They've got to stay up. It's as simple as that. And I still believe they will do because I think they've got a goal scorer in Solanke who will get them goals in tough times however I just feel like they need to make the change now

34:13Alan Shearer:they've got what three games before the international break to get that absolutely accurate

34:19Micah Richards:is it three games is it well they've got Liverpool away then their second leg

34:22Alan Shearer:second leg is next week they're all next week and then Forest we're not counting

34:26Micah Richards:the Champions League forget Champions League they did so well to get that

34:30Alan Shearer:no but I'm just saying there are three games before the international but they're all within a week so yeah

34:38Gary Lineker:my guess my guess would be is that if they get beaten at Anfield which we all think then I think then the change may come after that if that's what happens because they've then got Forrest before the international break Mika and then that is that is I mean that size of that game if as I expected they don't go to Anfield and get anything

35:00Alan Shearer:Julian Alvarez look something back to his best he's had a really tough run over there in Spain, but seems to have got back to full form in that game. So they're looking good. Arsenal probably in decent shape. Wasn't a particularly good game, really. No. But it was very Arsenal.

35:20Gary Lineker:Yeah, they looked a bit flattish, didn't they? Hit the bar early on, maybe after 15, 20 minutes with Martinelli creating one or two chances. But they found it tough. Leverkusen were decent. actually, better than I thought they would be. But then they got the penalty, and then one you thought, hit home, they'll have enough. So they're sitting okay, Arsenal. I don't think they'll be too worried about that result.

35:42Micah Richards:I tell you who's a player, and I might have said, the Oracle might have told you before, Grimaldo. Grimaldo from Leverkusen. His left foot, it's not normal. It's not normal. The precision he puts on his crosses, I just love watching him. And when he had that corner, I was thinking, this is going right on someone's head, this. I called it in the green room before, not with you guys, on CBS. I said, Grimaldov's going to get assists today. And I was like, no, Arsenal are not conceding. I said, trust me, they're not watching him. His delivery is ridiculous. He's one of my favourite players to watch at the moment.

36:25Alan Shearer:Can you see him moving? Cage, how old is he? Because he's not a little bit older.

36:30Micah Richards:Because I think he's already had... he's you'll know how old is he? He's 30 yeah so he's

36:39Alan Shearer:no he's been around a bit yeah

36:41Micah Richards:but he's really at home he's really at home at Leverkus

36:43Alan Shearer:I look at Arsenal it's hard to be too critical because they've done so well this season but still think they are a bit short up top I prefer Haberts up there personally I think if he can get in fit because he gives you it's more of a false nine but gives them a bit more I think I don't know So, yeah, it's one to watch, but they're going better than everybody else. Yeah, they're in a good position. They're in a fabulous position in terms of all the competitions. Liverpool could turn it around. It was a game where there should have been loads of goals, but there were only one. You could see why in the last round of matches when they played Juve Galatasaray, why it was, I think, 7-5 on aggregate, because they're very good up top.

37:30Alan Shearer:Ossiman is a real handful. A handful, isn't he? He really is. A lovely moment before the game with the Tifo, with his mother, who obviously passed away. And he was in tears before the game. But he is a handful. At the back, though, they look very vulnerable.

37:48Micah Richards:We've seen Sanchez before, haven't we? At Spurs.

37:51Gary Lineker:That wasn't a big surprise for me, Liverpool, going there and Galatasaray winning. But I would still fully expect Liverpool to have enough to beat them because I think they'll be too open and Liverpool will score goals at Anfield and have enough to get through.

38:06Micah Richards:I actually thought Liverpool were excellent in the first 25, 30 minutes. I thought the game part, the press did a little bit higher.

38:15Alan Shearer:Yeah, the press did a little bit higher.

38:17Micah Richards:I mean, Galatasaray was struggling a little bit. On another day, I don't think it was similar to the City game, but on another day, Liverpool could have scored three in that first half, put the game to bed, gone back to Anfield and happy days. and then second half, it was similar to what we've been seeing with Liverpool, good in spells and bad in other. But they could have put that game to bed early doors. But then it just looks like another bad result. Actually, I mean, watch the game. It's not as bad as everyone thinks. I still think they go through in that second lane.

38:51Alan Shearer:Verts had a couple of good chances. Or Viertz, I think, as they commentate. Or Viertz? Well, that's what these commentators, or they completely... Vietz. Vietz. Vietz. It was like, hang on a minute, you've invented something else here. Both the commentator, I can't remember who the commentator was, and the co-commentator were throwing that one in. And I thought, oh, blimey, that's a new version of it. But, you know, he had one he probably should have scored with early on. What about the two decisions in the second half, though? A, I thought they were both... I mean, the offside Ossiman goal, I watched it 50 times.

39:26Alan Shearer:and it's absurd. There's no impact on... It was just a terrible, terrible decision. VR just waved it on.

39:37Gary Lineker:I didn't see that because I was up in the stands getting ready for the game because that was the early kick-off, wasn't it?

39:43Micah Richards:Were they talking about the interference?

39:45Alan Shearer:Yeah, there was no interference though on whatsoever.

39:48Micah Richards:He had a little bit of it, didn't he?

39:49Alan Shearer:No, he didn't. He really didn't. It was the wrong player as well. They got completely wrong. They got it completely wrong. I've made sure I've double-checked it a thousand times.

39:59Micah Richards:You don't think the guy who was running back from an offside position, you don't know. And then you're trying to say it's minimal contact.

40:08Alan Shearer:No, there was no contact, which I've checked. And also, it wasn't that player that went through. He had no impact on the game whatsoever. No, but I think what they're trying to say,

40:21Micah Richards:the guy you said... Well, they can say what they like, Mike. If we didn't touch him, on the angle that I saw, obviously that wasn't our main game, but the angle that I saw, it looked like it impacted the player turn. No, no, no, not at all.

40:35Alan Shearer:Have another look, honestly. That was weird. But at the same time, the handball nonsense again, because it wasn't the hand, it didn't come off his hand to go into the net. So it came off the backside, I think, of the goalkeeper or the defender. So that was also a poor mistake. So I suppose, you know, honours were even on that one. Yeah, more mistakes, eh? I thought Chelsea did all right for quite a bit of their game, but Kravatschkeliya came on and made a massive, like a massive impact. I mean, brilliant goal and assists. Two goals, actually, but one brilliant one.

41:11Gary Lineker:Chelsea, goalkeeper defensively again, though. Yeah. We've said it before, haven't we, about the money that they've spent and not having top quality in those big positions. and I would go along with that. And I think they were punished for that last night.

41:25Micah Richards:I think, guys, honestly, I think Resenia or Resenia, I think he's cooking. I think he's cooking up a storm. I'm telling you now. Here we go. Here's the oracle. This guy, honestly, tactically, this guy has got it. I've seen everything I need to see. The way they build up, I was completely right. Mistakes again. but Sanchez, he probably should have played the other night. Jorgensen comes in, but the way they want to build, once they, if whatever happened in the goalkeeper situation, if they get an unbelievable number one, who's good on the ball, who knows what he wants to do, I'm telling you, Chelsea, the way they play through PSG and the way they can open up teams, want to play through the middle, then they get it wide and then they've got runners from the midfield, Enzo, fantastic.

42:17Micah Richards:Neto was brilliant. Jao Pedro's playing some of the best football of his life. Cole Palmer's now getting involved, like the old Cole Palmer we need to see. There's just certain aspects which he needs to tweet for them to be competitive. And Al's completely right. Defensively, sometimes you're going in, sometimes you're dropping off. For one of the goals, Hakimi burst through, and I think it was Chalabah who went all the way in. It's like, no, relax. You've done the hard part. everyone's doing what they're supposed to do if you're going to press go all the way in but the way Rasenia can pick teams off by his style of play honestly I think tactically he's got it I think because he come in and it wasn't a big name in the vertical and because he come from Strasbourg people are thinking he doesn't deserve actually I see it I see it and obviously it has to be something at the end of that they've got to go win something You can't just play good football.

43:16Micah Richards:But the way they went to Paris and opened up them, when Paris was sort of on the ropes, I thought, okay, yeah, I see. And then Jorgensen makes a mistake, and then Claviskelia, of course, give those boys chances, you're going to get punished. But no, I'm liking the look of Chelsea. I'm telling you. Remember I say it here. Remember, what day are we on? What day? I want to get the 12th of March. It is a big call when they've just been dumped 5-2. When you've won some sort of trophy, and you come back and you say, oh, now you're jumping on a bag of big meat's totally right now.

43:57Gary Lineker:I love it. It's a big call, isn't it, guys, when you've just been dumped 5-2. 5-2, I know. Exactly.

44:02Micah Richards:But it's not a bag. This is what I mean. It's short-sighted.

44:06Gary Lineker:I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying it's a big call when you've conceded. You've got to look at the overall picture, guys.

44:13Alan Shearer:I think it's a good time to do it, Micah. That shows how bold and what an oracle you are. Yeah, I mean, we need an oracle in terms of the World Cup looking ahead. Iran have now pulled out of the World Cup. It's a bit worrying. Obviously, we're going to be covering it. We've got the Netflix show out there. We don't quite know what's going to happen now and who will replace Iran, if anyone, or whether it'll escalate any further. The world's in a bit of chaos, and obviously a lot of that chaos has been caused by the country that's hosting the World Cup. Infantino, obviously, he's got himself in a situation.

44:59Alan Shearer:He just granted the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, obviously, to President Trump, so he looks like he's probably got some egg on his face at the moment. But it is worrying. Now I've covered a lot of World Cups and there's generally going into the World Cup, there's always some kind of issue or scandal or concern. You know, going back to Brazil, there were massive demonstrations, if you remember, around across the country that they thought they shouldn't be invested in football stadiums, they should invest in their country's infrastructure. There was, you take it on to Russia. I remember they'd invaded Crimea just a couple of years before that.

45:44Alan Shearer:And that was a massive issue. Even going back to Qatar and you had the LGBTQ rights and people dying, making the stadiums and there was uproar over those sort of things. And now we've got another one. Now I just hope, you know, somehow we can get peace and the world gets a bit more stable. but obviously at the moment it's looking a bit worrying, really.

46:10Gary Lineker:Well, it's impossible to say because you don't know how or if it's going to escalate, doesn't it? So you don't know what can happen in between now and the World Cup. I know.

46:19Micah Richards:It's just sad, isn't it?

46:20Gary Lineker:Very sad.

46:22Micah Richards:It's just sad. The world now just seems, everything just seems so extreme. I know you give a couple of examples of previous times, Gaz, but everything just seems so extreme. You know, you want to just do your best and you want people to be treated equally. And, you know, that's a big reason why I come off X, you know, just because you can have a clear mind. You could wake up in the morning happy. You go on there, you see what's on. It's just, it's a sad, sad society we're living at the moment. And yeah, when you see a team having to pull out because of what's going on, the politics, you know, we always say stick to football.

47:03Micah Richards:You know what I mean? This is what we do. This is what we like to talk about. But the politics is dictating what we are talking about, which is very sad, you know?

47:12Alan Shearer:Yeah, it's impossible to keep, you know, people say you should separate sport and politics. You can't because it's everything. It's all consuming. Politics is involved in everything. So I don't know. Let's hope it. I mean, I've got a feeling that I think he'll just pull out and claim victory shortly. but I mean this is going to do massive damage to that area for a long time to come but in terms of football and the World Cup hopefully it all calms down and normally the World Cups once they start everyone focuses on the football and if only tribalism was left to football just not everything else in life yeah worrying times but hopefully peace will come soon on that note goodbye from me

48:02Gary Lineker:goodbye from me goodbye from me