Messi + Mbappe electrify again as England get set for Ghana

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1:59men's national soccer team and the fan capsule of jerseys, polos and jackets in national colors. Wear your passion your way and be your own boss at Boss.com or at your nearest Boss store. From Los Angeles, it's totally at the World Cup, day 12, and here's what we're talking about today.

2:23Argentina-Austria brings Messi-mania. France beat team from Mesopotamia, with two more from Kylian Mbappe in a game featuring a two-hour hydration break. With Erling Haaland banging in a pair two in Norway's win over Senegal, we salute the aces with braces and look ahead to Tuesday with more familiar faces, Kane, possibly more rain and possibly more pain. Monday evening in LA. Tuesday morning I'm guessing in UK as another Totally Football show gets underway from the World Cup. We've got Tom Williams with us, we've got Duncan Alexander with us and welcome back Laurie Whitwell Lovely to see you Laurie.

3:05Thank you for having me again. No not at all I think everyone was so delighted. They were thrilled with my appearance last time so you know left it a few days but now I'm back. England are on the field tomorrow as you know I do know that. So we're going to be previewing their game. We're also going to be hearing about your latest adventures here in USA land. What have you been up to this time? Well, I went to Vegas since I've last seen you. Tough game. Yeah. Honestly, editorial decision to send me. Wasn't my idea. Right. Go and find out what Vegas is like when the World Cup's on. So specifically, you went to see a USA game in a very unusual circumstance.

3:39This is Stadium Swim. Stadium Swim. We like stadiums. We like swimming. In Vegas, you can do the two things at the same time. Bring them together. People were doing it as well. They were in the pools, they were cheering their team, they were drinking with USA cowboy hats, sparkly ties, USA dungarees. There was lots of stars and stripes everywhere you looked. But yeah, it was a good atmosphere. I'm sure it was. I mean, it looks fantastic in a way. Not for everyone, probably, but yes. Theoretically, you can do that at Fulham now,

4:05Michael Cox: because they've got a swimming pool. They do, don't they? Or this Monday, you could do that in that France... Yes. The France-Iraq game. Yeah, we'll be getting on to that with that massive rain delay. Is there going to be more of that in the days to come? What we also saw was that it was raining goals. Raining goals, Tom, on this Monday. All the different kinds of rain. What a go-and-the-boot race we're set up for. Yeah, incredible. Messi got a brace today, Mbappe got a brace, Haaland got a brace. Woof. Yeah, I mean, we reflected on this after the first round of matches, how great it was that practically all of the superstars turned up for the first matches, and they've all turned up again today.

4:50Remind me. Cristiano Ronaldo was slightly underwhelming in his opening fixture, but, I mean, everyone else showed up, and, yeah, and they've produced the goods once again. It's been another incredible day. All right. Don't forget David and Undab. They have been magnificent. Leo Messi, though, leading the way. Argentina have scored five goals, and he has claimed all of them, Laurie. Yeah, yeah. I mean, broke the record today, didn't he? Went above. Marisov closer. Mr. Pen even doing so. Could have had another hat-trick back-to-back. Yeah, that was my moment of the day in terms of him. I don't know if I've gone too early there, James.

5:22No, no, let's have a moment of the day. Yeah, love that. Okay, so which of his... Is it one of his two goals you're going to go for? It's his first one, yeah. I mean, the second one was brilliant just because it felt like how's he scored from there, you know, that kind of determination that he's got late in the game. But that first one, I just thought But the way that Argentina built up into that moment, they clearly know their roles in this team. Almada, I wondered if he'd had a shout from Messi to leave it. He's a brilliant dummy. But I think he checks his shoulder. I think he knows that he's in space behind him so he can get onto Medina's pass and slot it into the back of the net.

5:56But I was a little bit... He was giving a lot of space. I wasn't anticipating that much space. There was Paul Wanner who was letting him run free. We didn't really track him. didn't want it enough is where I'm building to this one there James I know you do the puns better than me but I thought I'd try and chip in so yeah but it was a great moment and obviously I think the whole world have been perhaps waiting for this and enjoying it

6:18Michael Cox: Why not Marisol closer to be fair? Did I think even he would go fair enough you know He put out a lovely message on social media He said congratulations champion Yeah but I think someone else has typed that Imagine for the last 15 years he's been able to go around to barbecues to Christenings and be like, yeah, I'm the top scorer in World Cup history. Now, two players have caught him and one's overtaken him. Christenings, you think he's that desperate to steal the thunder? Yeah, I reckon he's up at the front, nodding in stuff, because that was his main strength. Do you know what? It's a fate that may soon befall Messi, because, of course, there's a certain Kylian Mbappé hard on his heels.

6:54What, two goals behind, Tom? Yeah, reminiscent slightly of the marathon runner who also ran a sub-two-hour marathon, but not as quickly as the other guy who did it. So Mbappé has now levelled Marislav Klose's old tally of 16 with his brace today and yet Messi is still out in front. Incredible. Tom, what was your moment of the day? I feel like it would be a massive failure of imagination if I picked another Michael Alisse through ball and yet that is exactly what I'm going to do. This was in the build-up to France's third goal against Iraq. We all saw how Alisse changed the game in France's opening fixture against Senegal when he was moved into the number 10 role.

7:39He started in the number 10 role today, almost scored with this beautiful feathery chip at 2-0 that came back off the crossbar, but then played this absolutely exquisite outside-of-the-foot pass for Dembele, who took a touch, finished with a low shot across the goalkeeper. Dembele's first ever World Cup goal and more Michael Alisse magic. How would you rate that assist, that pass, among the great passes that we've seen? Yeah, it's right up there. I mean, probably not quite as incredible as his pass for Mbappe against Senegal, because I don't think anyone on the pitch even saw the possibility for that pass, apart from him and maybe Mbappe himself.

8:16This felt like it was a pass that was on, but it was still the perfect execution. Less out of perfectly appropriate noise at that moment as well. We were watching the Norway-Senegal game and we had to rush in because you were so delighted by at least doing it again. Yeah, yeah. I was probably making more noise than I would have done if everyone hadn't very kind of obviously voted with their feet and decided to go and watch the Norway game next door. It was my way of kind of telling you, well, you made the wrong decision. To be fair, it was an amazing game. Did you give it the full Telemundo? Michael, or Lisa?

8:50No, I didn't. Next time I will. And I'm so pleased that Phil Hay, friend of the show, has found the legendary Telemundo commentary clip of the commentator saying, Patrick, bitch. And he sent it around on our WhatsApp group today. I've been playing it on a loop. Can you post it on our socials? I certainly will, if we're allowed to do that. Well, I don't know where it is. Social media, do what you want. Do what you like.

9:16Michael Cox: It should be fine. Okay. Duncan, what was your moment of the week? I bet it's something really uplifting. Yes, my moment of the day is some weather. quite a long moment a day of a 131 minute moment of the day um the storms rolled in the feared storms that everyone talked about before the tournament um rolled in over philadelphia and they took the unprecedented step of cancelling the hydration break once the teams got back on the pitch for the second half so it can be done it can be done presumably the players were if they were thirsty were licking moisture off the pitch but um they seem to get through the second half The pitch, to be fair, needed a dehydration break more than a hydration break because it did look very much stadium swim there when they came out.

9:57They did a terrific job of getting it ready because, boy, was it bucketing down there. Yeah, the squeegees and the mops out and everything. Wow. All right, let's check on the results from day 12 of this magnificent tournament. France and Norway in Group I both sealing their place in the knockouts. Norway had a slightly nervy ending to their game with Senegal. It finished 3-2. France, more comfortable in a 3-0 win over Iraq. In Group J, Argentina beating Austria 2-0. Both goals from Leo Messi, of course. That guarantees Argentina a place in the knockout round. If Algeria beat Jordan later on in one of those classic games that will take place after we need to get this show published, then if Algeria beat Jordan later on, that confirms Argentina as group winners, which means they'll go into a last 32 clash in Miami against Cape Verde.

10:52I'm sure the details are out by now if you want to Google that. Probably we'll cover it tomorrow anyway. We're going to start though today with the other group, Group I. And first off, I think Norway Senegal. After 28 years away, Norway have reached the knockout stages of this World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Senegal. Got a bit nervy at the end. It certainly looks like this was a really exciting clash. Who was watching this one? I started watching it, and then Tom's yelps invited me to stand in between the two screens, annoyingly for you people trying to get in between the kitchen and the outdoor space.

11:32But yeah, I was watching this game. It started at a fast pace, and so Norway started probably this strong, but then Senegal really dominated possession, I think, actually, but were indebted to Mendy making two great saves with his feet until he then threw one in. Okay. So I had the impression that Senegal were better to begin with and then better at the end, but Norway did enough in the middle to take the win. Yeah, I think so, yeah. They just had more about them in terms of putting moves together, a bit more clean with their actions. I think Senegal really were let down by looseness in defence.

12:04I mean, it was, you know, Koulibaly error for the first goal and then Mendy also doesn't really cover himself in glory. and then Mendy again actually nearly allows Haaland another goal where he's trying to play it out from the back and Haaland's straight onto him. So, yeah, it was kind of loose moments from Senegal, really, that I think undermined them because actually they had sort of two penalty shouts in the second half, which had they gone another way, which they could easily have done, sort of a kind of close line at one point and then a handball maybe, then obviously the scoreline could have been different.

12:31But, yeah, I think Norway had a lot of attacking potential, obviously, with Haaland up top. They've always got a big chance of scoring, haven't they? So Pedersen, the player born the furthest north who features in this competition, always important to get that. I'll never sing that. No one else will. Only he may sing that. He got the first goal, then Hurling Haaland with a brace on a day of such things. A bad day for yet another of the dark horses. Senegal's future in the competition looks very much in doubt.

13:03Michael Cox: well I think well they're okay because they if they beat Iraq in the last game okay they should they should go through okay what did you make of Norway uh well we mentioned Martin Odegaard yesterday in terms of hasn't quite hit his his former heights but he played a lovely through ball for Erling Haaland who took it with typical aplomb so that was promising um yeah I think it's a strange role for Norway they did look good for much of the game but as Laurie said they they looked a bit panicked at the end and that goal obviously the the second Senegal goal moved Norway down from first to second which is kind of debatable I think the path where you're on if you finish top is probably Germany in the last 16 if you get through the last 32.

13:47Okay I hadn't looked that far certainly in the last 32 whoever finishes top is going to be facing probably Sweden in the next round whereas whoever finishes runner-up currently that's Norway will be up against Ivory Coast.

14:00Michael Cox: Yeah, but then that little pairing will probably play Brazil in the last 16. Would you rather play Germany in the last 16 or Brazil? We talked about this. I need to get those big matches. What was your conclusion? Brazil or Germany? I would say Brazil. You'd rather play Brazil than Germany? I think so. Laurie? I think the Brazilians have got quite a lot of support, haven't they? Maybe more than the Germans. In terms of facing a team that might have a bit of home in a very common advantage. Brazil look quite good against Haiti, shall we say. No, not the best opposition. But I just think it's quite interesting that in a team of, a 48-team World Cup where it's the last 32 and the last 16, you get these quite big matches, it feels like, quite early on.

14:42No easy matches at this level. Tom, Brazil or Germany, who do you want to face? As in me personally and with my team of mates, I think they both absolutely batter us. But which would batter you more? probably Germany I think from what we've seen it's hard to judge because they've both played they've had one game against kind of decent opposition and one game against less decent opposition so it's hard to say but I think one of the advantages of our increased ability to predict likely paths through the tournament thanks in part to Duncan and his machine friends you think they're friends his acolytes Duncan's machine he serves them acquaintances he serves them

15:27Michael Cox: they told me I was their friend but the fact we've now got an idea of potential last 16 ties all of a sudden you get an idea of the Jeopardy that might be just around the corner and I think a fear about this tournament was that because it's the first 48 team World Cup we might have to wait a long time before any sense of Jeopardy crept in and thanks to the rise of the machines actually we're already seeing where the Jeopardy might come so no idea the Jeopardy that's ending up. Well, indeed. That's just the start. But it's true. France against Norway. It sounds like they're both going to go for it because, yeah.

16:00Michael Cox: Yeah, I think so. And, you know, Mbappe versus Haaland. I mean, it's interesting, isn't it? Because we talked the previous tournament, maybe even the tournament before, about how the Messi-Ronaldo era was gone and it was going to be Haaland versus Mbappe, which it kind of is, but certain Mr. Messi is still hanging around doing stuff. Mr. Messi. Yeah. A fellow by the name. Yeah. Remember the name. Yeah. We'll talk about him very shortly, but Tom, let's hear about France and how well they performed against Iraq. Two goals for Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele entering the game with a goal for the Ballon d 'Or as well.

16:36That was the one with that gorgeous assist from Michael Alisa that you mentioned before. How long is Deshaun going to continue with this exciting attacking line-up? I mean, so far it's working, but I just instinctively feel that when it comes to the crunch, he's going to lose his nerve and decide that having the four attacking players on the pitch at kickoff is a gamble that he can no longer stomach. because there were times in the game today where Iraq threatened and we saw in France's opener against Senegal that in the first half France were under the cosh quite a lot and playing with only two central midfielders does expose France to the risk of being overrun in central areas and it felt like there were periods of the game where Iraq were able to get at France's fullbacks with more ease than Deschamps would have wanted so I would not be surprised I don't know whether he'll do it in the Norway game or in the round of 32, but would not be surprised if he takes out one of those attacking players, puts in another central midfield, because that is Deschamps football.

17:41It's not about being spectacular and blowing the opposition away. It's about just having control and grinding your way through. But they were decent again today. Mbappe scored a lovely goal, teed up by Alise early on, left foot shot from the outside of the box. then we had the big long rain delay and in a manner that for Iraq was unfortunately reminiscent of their opening game against Norway they were only a goal down and the game still felt like it was in the balance and then their keeper dropped a complete clanger and this was a different keeper so in the first game against Norway it was Jalal Hassan who somehow failed to C, six foot five inches of Erling Haaland, bearing down at him at great speed and had his kick charged down.

18:28Norwego 2-0 up and the game is over. On this instance, the replacement goalkeeper, Ahmed Basel, it actually was less his fault than the centre-back that took the goal kick, but he was kind of surprised by it. It wasn't really paying attention. It didn't seem to be paying a huge amount of attention. And the ball ran to Dembele, who squared it from Mbappe to tap in. And that was 2-0. Do they have another keeper that they're going to try for? I mean, they do. They do. So, I mean, you know, third time lucky maybe, you know. Let's see. Meanwhile, that's the unfortunate Basel there. Kylian Mbappe is up to 16 goals in 16 World Cup appearances.

19:06That's phenomenal. Yeah. I mean, he's clearly very good.

19:11Michael Cox: He should have taken Messi at some point, you'd think. All right. I'm talking to Dechamps. I noticed that when the rain was falling very hard and they left, he covered up his head with some notes. And I thought, it's good to see a genuine dossier in an Iraq situation for once. Ooh. Fun fact, Lucadene made his second World Cup start against Iraq 12 years after his first. And the first one was against Ecuador at 2014 World Cup. I was there at the Maracanã, absolutely terrible nil-nil. And here we are 12 years on, Luca Dean's still playing at the World Cup and Ecuador is still boring people with nil-nil draws.

19:51It's like nothing ever changed. Nothing ever changes. All right, let's move on then. Next up, we'll get on to another of football's eternal elements, Leo Messi. Hi, this is Jonathan Fields, host of The Good Life Project. What if your home could welcome you at the door, energise your kitchen and calm your bedroom all automatically. With Pura's family of smart diffusers, you can scent every space perfectly. Choose premium, clean fragrances, adjust the intensity, and set schedules right from your phone. It's whole home scenting designed for the way you live. Build your Pura system today at pura.com slash whole home.

20:33I sold my car in Carvana last night. Well, that's cool. No, you don't understand. It went perfectly. Real offer, down to the penny. They're picking it up tomorrow. Nothing went wrong. So what's the problem? That is the problem. Nothing in my life goes to smoothie. I'm waiting for the catch. Maybe there's no catch. That's exactly what a catch would want me to think.

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21:36Monday morning in Dallas there was a Leo Messi show with a football match in support Argentina 2, Austria 0 it was it saw Leo Messi miss a penalty and then score two goals to break the World Cup goal scoring record twice in one game Michael Cox was there and he joins us now Hello Michael Hi James Lovely to see you Have you been having a good time so far? Yeah, it's been great. We've been really lucky in Dallas with the games we've had, both the fixtures on paper. This was probably the city that had the best games. And also how they've played out. Croatia, England, obviously six goals in that, four goals in Japan, Netherlands.

22:17Today's game was probably the least exciting of the three, but to be there for what felt like a pretty big occasion with Messi breaking the goal scoring record was very exciting. Excellent. You came to see Messi today. You saw about 50 ,000 of them, though. Yeah, I've never been at a game with so many fans wearing the same shirt, the same Argentine number 10 shirt. I think probably over 50 % of people in the crowd were wearing Messi 10 on the back. And another 30 % were other Argentine shirts and probably about 10 % were Austria shirts. Yeah, it's a massive event, clearly, for a lot of people.

22:54I mean, Argentina's last group game is here as well against Jordan. so there's been a lot of Argentines in town. I think the nature of Dallas music probably hasn't had the buzz of some other World Cup cities because it's very spread out. The city's 20 miles out of town but the Argentines have provided the atmosphere you want from a World Cup. How surprised are you, Michael, to see Argentina at this level but most of all Leo Messi three and a half years on from the last World Cup which we all thought was his swan song hitting maybe even higher levels? yeah I mean I think he's a more limited player now in terms of mobility but the burst when he get the ball are pretty familiar from from past tournaments and past years for him um I must admit I'm not a big major league soccer watcher so I didn't really come into this knowing what his level was but having spoken to a few people who do watch it particularly our colleague Paul who's written as a very good book on Messi and his impact on MLS I mean it seems like really he's just been gearing his whole last few years around this tournament.

23:57And in terms of his fitness levels, in terms of his motivation, I think more than anything else. I mean, having won it, like you say, three and a half years ago, just didn't expect him to still be around. But, you know, as well as the most goals in World Cup history, he's also got the most appearances. And in a way, I think that's more impressive because you tend to think the most appearances is kind of your, you know, veteran right back who just is always there. So for it to be a player who, you know, played so many minutes as a teenager and has got a bit of a kicking over the years from defenders, the fact that he's still going and to have played more games than Lothar Matthias and all those other names, OK with a bit of an expanded tournament.

24:38You know, these days there are more matches to play, but I think that appearance record shouldn't be underestimated. It's quite remarkable. You were harking back, Tom, earlier on to some of the earlier tournaments with Leo and how difficult they were. The Copa Americas and everything and the fact that he was regarded as a player for whom it was just never going to click at an international level. This supposed joke that they had in Argentina that he should play the Euros instead because he was essentially regarded back home as a European. It's completely turned around and at a very late age as well.

25:11Yeah, well, I mean, he was 34 when he won his first international tournament, which was the Copa America in 2021. Obviously followed that up by then inspiring Argentina to glory at the last World Cup, then won another Copa America in 2024. And here he is now in sensational form at his fifth World Cup, sixth World Cup, sixth World Cup. and yet prior to the age of 34 his achievements on the international stage could basically be reduced to a gold medal in the olympics in 2008 it's incredible that he's had the career he's had won the ballon doors he's won lifted all the trophies he's lifted scored all the goals he's scored and then almost as an afterthought in his mid-30s decided i think i'll complete international football and he's done it in the space of five years he's on five goals after two games are we going to see somebody get double figures in world cup goals this is an expanded tournament so this is the time to do it i mean hasn't been done since gert muller in 1970 most goals at a tournament since then have been the eight that ronaldo scored in 2002 that mbappe got in 2022 if i'm not forgetting anyone so already halfway there after a couple of matches extraordinary watching him today watching argentina michael another clean sheet for them and they keep doing that.

26:28That's five games in a row they haven't conceded in. The last team to score against Argentina, anyone? The Netherlands? No. Michael? What are we talking about? Mauritania. Yeah. Mauritania. Yeah. Classic Mauritania. Classic Mauritania, yeah. But watching them in action today, sorry, in Dallas, clearly there's a good manager there. There's a bunch of players who would be stars in any other team, but here are very much the Messi's supporting cast. What do you make of them as a team and their prospects? I'm unsure I really like watching them play I think they play really good slick one-touch football I think the approach they got with the wing is actually almost like number 10s is quite fun the fullbacks push very high they play a lot of passes and good combinations in central positions and I think that actually helped against Austria who I think are quite a limited side not much creativity or imagination but they do counter press very well they do get men around the ball.

27:25Argentina, really good at just kind of buzzing past that and then switching the ball wide to the opposite flank where there's lots of space. The concern would be, probably more so than four years ago, they do just seem very dependent on Messi. I mean, they've scored five goals, he's got all of them. You probably can't win a World Cup in this day and age depending on one player that much. So you kind of expect that at some point others will step up. I do think they have very good players, but they haven't quite provided the individual contributions in the final third. I mean, I think Martinez up front does seem to do this a lot.

28:03Like, I mean, his job really is to work hard and bring the best out of Messi, the same as it was for Alvaro four years ago. But yeah, at some point you do need others to chip in with goals. But defensively, they seem quite solid. I mean, them and France, watching them today, you know, it's a bit of a boring thing to say, but it's about clean sheets. I mean, there's five knockout games in this tournament if you want to win it. And I think keeping clean sheets is the main thing. And neither of those sides can see many chances. I mean, Austria, a couple of set pieces maybe, but they didn't create anything.

28:35So, yeah, I'm quite positive about them, Argentina. I think that in terms of how watchable they are, I think they've been a breath of fresh air, really. And probably it's basically the same group that won the World Cup four years ago. And to me, it feels like they're playing with less pressure. and even the atmosphere in the stands like four years ago there were so many argentines in qatar and it was a real it felt like there was tension and there was pressure and they thought it was the last chance for messi to win it and now it just feels like a kind of victory lap and if they win it then all the better but people have just come along to enjoy it really

29:11Michael Cox: oh sorry duncan i mean other players might chip in the goals if messi let them take penalties which might be an advisable thing. So, Lotharo Martinez was brought down rather robustly by a couple of Austrian players and then, as you say, Messi stepped up to take the spot kick which would have seen him break the record for most goals at a World Cup. Which would have been a little bit unsatisfying doing it with a penalty so it's kind of good that he missed. But yeah, Liam Thames done a good piece on the Athletic breaking down Messi's penalty record and his historic conversion rate is 77 % which is essentially what the XG of a penalty is.

29:43Michael Cox: So, he's like an average player at penalties. So it's good that he's not great at everything. But in terms of World Cup records, no one has taken more penalties in the World Cup and no one has missed more penalties in the World Cup than Leo Messi. I think that was his 33 penalty miss of his career out of 149 attempts. Almost as bad as Ronaldo with free kicks, essentially. We're in those kind of levels. But nobody really minds, or do they? I'm not sure. No. I mean, it's a very minor point. I had a bittersweet moment because I kind of wanted him to miss that penalty and for Austria to win because that would have meant potentially Argentina finishing second and then they would come to LA to play their last 32 match.

30:21So that was very selfish of me, but yeah, obviously he did the business anyway. He certainly did. Julian Alvarez is one of the other attacking options for Scaloni. A little bit of news about him. He's confirmed today that he wants out of Atletico Madrid. Atletico Madrid say there's no amount of money for which Barcelona, his intended destination, can buy Julian Alvarez before continuing to confusingly name an amount of money for which Barcelona can buy Julian Alvarez, although it is 500 million. So we shall see. Michael, Austria, any thoughts on them? I wasn't very impressed, really. It's the same Austria we've seen before.

31:02I just don't think they've got any flair, creativity, really. They're very... I mean, they basically want to give the ball away because then they can counter-press and tackle someone and win the ball that quickly. But they don't have any spark about them, really. I mean, the other two teams in the group are relatively weak. I don't think Algeria are a good team at all. I know Austria beat them in the first round. I mean, I saw Algeria at the AFCON, and I just couldn't believe how... I mean, Riyad Mahrez can't run anymore, so I don't think they'll have any problems getting through. But yeah, Laurie will have a great time watching him in LA in the round of 32.

31:40too. You'll be riveted. Thanks, Michael. I thought you might go on to Ralph Rangnick at that point. I know you're a big fan of his. Well, the interesting thing he said in the post-match press conference was that he's in favour of the hydration breaks, which is a pretty rare take from what I've seen. I could be wrong. Well, opinion is divided. There's me and Ralph Rangnick. There's everybody else. I'm actually not anti - hydration breaks. And I mean, I can give you my rationale if you like. You can poke holes in it. Well, okay, it stems from this. If a game were 90 minutes long, everyone would be totally shagged out by the end of it.

32:22And effectively, it'd be a worse spectacle than a game of 245 minutes. And I think you can extend that, even though it's a bit of a shock because we're all used to 45 minutes and 45 minutes. I think you can extend that same principle. I think these football matches are better because A, the players get a bit of a rest. Beyond the hydration, they get a bit of a rest. three four minutes they're a bit more energy when they go out for the second quarter or fourth quarter but also the managers have way more impact on games so rather than say one team setting up badly and you've got 45 minutes of it or maybe they can tweak it a bit you get a reset and as a result you get better football matches i think michael told me why i'm wrong no i mean i'm not as anti them as some people i actually agree on the break and just the hydration aspect and going again I mean in in very basic terms like you say this has been a good world cup so far if we keep on having hydration breaks and all the games are really good there is a bit of a pattern there in terms of the coaching I'm a bit more skeptical I just think modern football teams are so coached and so prescribed and I think sometimes in football there's actually some level of beauty and kind of the players going a little bit off piece and the manager's not controlling absolutely everything but I do take your point because I mean to go back to the Sweden Netherlands game if there hadn't been a hydration break Sweden hadn't changed system maybe Netherlands would have I mean they did walk it in the end but Sweden had two really good spells of pressure so I'm not as anti them as some people and I must say I'd take this over this practice of goalkeepers pretending to go down and there's a timeout and that kind of thing so they seem hugely unpopular from people I've spoken to but I'm a little bit more on the fence you and Ralph Brannock are in favour there we are team Rainier is there anything from this World Cup that has exercised you particularly or anything you've really enjoyed to be honest I've really enjoyed the whole tournament so far I think both almost at the bottom level the sides we thought were outsiders and underdogs have by and large cope really well and at the top level I don't think we can say that there's any great teams yet but obviously all the big players have stepped up or most of the big players.

34:38No, there's nothing that's annoying. I've really enjoyed it, to be honest. There's been so many games, because it's four games a day. It's quite tough to watch four games back to back, but there's been so many games where I've been like, I'll half watch this or I'll give it 20 minutes. And then I've just been like really got into it, found it quite enthralling. And yeah, to be honest, I can't think of anything that annoys me about the tournament so far. All right. Favourite game so far?

35:04I mean, maybe not the best game, but I think the one that sums up what I just said would probably that Iran-New Zealand game. I mean, opening round of fixtures, two teams who aren't going to come close to winning it, not teams I had down as being exciting on paper. And yet they played out a brilliant two-all draw. Both were going for it later on. Both probably knew they had to win, because they probably wouldn't beat the other two teams in the group. I thought that was maybe not the best game, but the game, it sums it up. just the teams you didn't expect to be exciting have have all contributed something really and to be honest even the teams some of the teams have gone out I mean Turkey have been really entertaining Ecuador haven't scored a goal have they they've been really entertaining and poor old Senegal who I've just seen um lose to Norway I think they've played quite well against France and in patches against um Norway and and they've got zero points so I think it's been great so far but at the end of the day if the knockout stage is boring no one's going to remember this in five years time but for the record I think it's been great yeah.

36:07They will if England go deep in it of course Michael and you saw England in that opening performance against Croatia so before we let you go what's your take on England and the game on Tuesday against Ghana? Yeah I thought they were pretty good against Croatia I think even in the first half when there was a few murmurings at half-time, that bad defending. I thought they'd been the better team.

36:31My view is that it's not as strong a group as people think. I don't think Croatia are a great team this time around. I don't think they've got that many good players. And even though Ghana have a reputation from 2010 in particular, and of course they've got Semenyo, who's been one of the best players in the Premier League, I think it's a fairly gentle group and I think England basically should win this quite easily. But I also think it's been at the right level where, without being disrespectful, they're not. You don't want to play like a Cape Verde or a Curacao, in my opinion, because I don't think it really prepares you for the last stages.

37:05I think it's the exact right level of teams for England to probably beat and have had a bit of a test. So, yeah, I think they've looked good so far. Okay, excellent. Michael, that's fabulous. Hope you enjoy the action coming up in Dallas. and we'll catch up with you again soon. Nice one. Thank you very much. Thank you so much, Michael. Anyway, we'll talk more about England very, very shortly. Just a couple of messages from you, the viewer stroke listener.

37:39Lunamatic9775 says, you mentioned Norwalk Elvis. Well, Norwalk is where I'm originally from. It's a suburb of Los Angeles and Norwalk Elvis is definitely a thing. Perhaps you should hire him for your World Cup rap party.

37:54Michael Cox: Elvis wasn't a rapper. Oh, right, I see. Yeah, fine. Rap party at your house. Well, I mean, there's an idea. Isn't it? And we've checked him out. We looked him up. He's legit. He's on the internet. Yeah, and he's for hire. We know he can perform because he's got stadium gigs. Yeah, excellent. That would be fabulous, wouldn't it? Mr. Nice and Smooth also writes in regarding stuff from yesterday's show. we talked about potentially the largest trionder, the World Cup ball in the world, and Mr. Nice and Smooth says, no, it's not the one you stood next to. It's the science world building in Vancouver, which has been transformed into a massive trionder.

38:32Really? Do we have a picture of that? Yeah.

38:35Michael Cox: Oh, my God, that's huge. Enormous. Right, so, and Tom, back me up here. The one we saw yesterday had all the grooves and everything in it. I'm not sure that has the grooves. Would you be able to tell from this distance? Perhaps not. But it was a very faithful replica, the big one that we encountered. What is that made out of? Hope. Football. Blomange football. It is a football. XG. You can use it. If you're a giant, you can actually play with that. Yeah. Practical as well. Excellent. More messages about yesterday. We discussed the whole controversy over commentators taking a breather once a goal is scored to let it breathe.

39:11Carlin Connolly says, no, you have to say that's magnificent. the boys are genius both from the 86th World Cup and both after the goal is scored and definitely added to the memory of that experience you know what you're right on that and we're maybe right on some other examples so I think having a hard and fast rule is maybe not the best way but it should be a general I think a generally sensible policy that when a goal is scored you maybe just let the crowd scenes you know the excitement of the crowd and it's not like the commentators are being denied the opportunity to say anything about the goal they don't have to just shut up as soon as the ball hits the net.

39:46They can still say there, they think it's all over, you have to say that's magnificent. They just then have to immediately be silent for a period of time.

39:53Michael Cox: But my point would be that the period of time is about three to four seconds too long. So if it's five or six seconds, you don't notice, but now it sounds like... It's gone too far the other way. The mic's fallen off. Right. Was that your biggest commentary gripe today, Duncan? Yeah. Okay, then. That didn't sound true, did it? All right, then. Oh, this from Cero Bueno, by the way, says, I can't believe that Duncan, of all people, has fallen into the Mandela-affected trap of thinking that West Germany, Austria, was a draw back in 1982. Duncan? Poor. The disgrace of Alexander. I've had a word with the staff in my head.

40:35It was a one-nil. I was going to say, it was one-nil. Machines that helped you out there. It didn't help me out there. Yeah. Well, the day that Duncan is replaced by a machine is really once and closer. happened? We just don't know. Okay. Thanks very much for your messages. Do write in and tell us what we got wrong in today's show and we'll get on to that tomorrow. Next up though let's get on to Tuesday's action which we'll see the second round of matches at this World Cup completed. This episode of the Totally Football Show is brought to you by the FIFA World Cup meal at McDonald's. Right now at McDonald's you can get one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup meal.

41:15These cups feature some of the biggest legends in football like David Beckham, Hon Alginho and Thierry Henry and current stars such as Laminia Marle, Christian Pulisic and Alphonso Davies. The FIFA World Cup meal is available all tournament long so see if you can collect all nine cups. That's the FIFA World Cup meal only at McDonald's and participate in McDonald's for a limited time while supplies last. All rights reserved. 2026 McDonald's at FIFA World Cup 2026 is a copyright and trade.

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43:13Tuesday at the World Cup, second round of matches gets completed. We've got groups K and L for you. K has Portugal up against Uzbekistan and Colombia against DR Congo, Dr Congo. L has Panama against Croatia and England against Ghana, which I guess raises the question after the antics of your Messi's, your Mbappé's and your Harlins. How will Harry Kane and anybody else follow that on Tuesday? Do you want to start, Laurie? Oh, yes. With England-Ghana? Yes, I do. Yes, my beloved England. What have England been up to since that big 4-2 win over maybe not that strong Croatia? Well, Harry Kane and Dan Byrne and I believe Jason Steele went to an Ella Langley concert.

44:02Okay, who's that? She's a very famous country singer. I say very famous. She's, you know, she's come into my consciousness in the last few weeks. 29 million odd streams on Spotify each month. That's not like her PR, don't I? No, but apparently Harry Kane's a big country music fan. He went to her concert just outside Kansas City, had a few pictures. Her big song is called Choosing Texas, which I have listened to a lot, to be fair. And it was nice that Harry Kane chose to start his campaign well in Texas. In Texas? In Dallas.

44:32Michael Cox: So I can talk to the theme tune. Yes. He's chosen Texas for the whole duration, hasn't he? Very much so. So they went to a country music show. I believe so, yes. Thomas Tuchel went to see the Kansas City Royals and threw the first pitch. There he is. And there's Carrie Kane and Danburn again. Oh, yeah. They've not stopped moving, have they? Are they like the cultural attachés in England? They have to go to every sort of patriotic American event. They're being good tourists. There was also footage of Declan Rice and Ebrechezi playing baseball, which, given Rice's ongoing lower back issues, seems risky to me, but why not?

45:10Absolutely. Harry Kane's sunglasses are an interesting choice, don't they? They look like the flip down ones, so you don't see them so much these days. I'm not sure if they are, but, I mean, yeah. Maybe they should rest his eyes so they're super focused for the next game.

45:22Michael Cox: They look like two cops who are a week away from retirement and they've just got to bust one guy. and then yeah big crowd as well anyway there you go that's what they've been doing ahead of the Ghana game and of course they're smiling because it was a brilliant start to the tournament hey Tom the question I guess now or one of them is can they maintain that incredible intensity they showed in the second half against Croatia in this match against Ghana what do you think? we think it's going to be warmer is the warm weather going to be an issue or not so much that's always a concern for the English yeah Well, the first game, and this is perhaps to your point, took place in the air-conditioned confines of that stadium that Michael was at before.

46:07Yeah. Whereas this next one's in Boston. But I think what we saw today is that the eastern seaboard is more like buffeted. But it's probably very humid there as well, isn't it? Is that right? I should have checked. I'm guessing so. Yeah. But you'd think if any nation is used to playing in heavy rain, I mean England have got to be right up there more so perhaps than Ghana yes you would think so

46:32Michael Cox: alright Duncan yeah I was just thinking Rome gets more rain annually than London so you can't make these yeah it does Paris does Rome does as well Rome gets more rain annually I'm just going to keep repeating until those words sink in is he definitely right about this has he been misguided like he was with West Germany more water from the sky in the Italian capital than the English capital per annum because when it rains in the rain it's heavier so if it was drizzly tomorrow then England are fine but heavy rain maybe not but it might not even rain but tactically I think this is going to be a very different game to the first one because England are going to have a lot of the ball Ghana only had about 35 % possession in their game against Panama so the big question is does Thomas Tuchel he'll bring in Saka because he's probably better against a low block and he has said that the squad is entirely fit so he can pick from anyone.

47:32Pick anybody he wants. As for Garnacalus Kuros has faced England before at the World Cup. It was with Iran three and a half years ago. Did that go well for him Tom? Not so much. No. They lost 6-2. You were there? I was there. Yeah, in Qatar. I did two matches in well, a couple of hours. I thought you never went to England. This is where I need to correct perhaps a misconception that I you know I admit I perhaps gave off in the last one that's my debut I slightly misinterpreted your question in the sense of the Croatia performance being the best since I kind of went really recent I thought you know under Thomas Tuchel in friendlies and you know that's where I confessed my error but I do watch England I've watched them at all the major tournaments and I'm going to say since Germany to answer your question from five days ago at the Euros so the Croatia game was the best England performance since since Germany at Wembley.

48:24Oh, right. In the Euros. It's like a major tournament moment, the calibre of opposition, the quality of the play. I think it probably stands up there for that, which I think he's probably... And listen, I know Michael's just said that Croce aren't very good and maybe in hindsight that will then become true. But, you know, I think still they were a good opposition for England to dispatch. One of the reasons... Sorry, yeah. One of the reasons that people were excited about that performance, apart from the intensity of that, was that I think it's the first time in 15 attempts that they've beaten...

48:51Sorry, let me get this right. It was the first time in nine games that England had beaten a team ranked in the top 15 in the world. So there was a slight sensation of...

49:01Michael Cox: And first time in a World Cup since beating Argentina back in 2002. Really? Which is just a penalty. You know, it wasn't very good. Another England match I watched. But England have frequently disappointed in tournaments. No, it's true. And I think another thing was the sense of, you know, Tuchel's plan taking shape. It was, okay, England conceded a couple of goals, which is not something presumably he would have wanted. But particularly in an attacking sense, you got a sense of how this team is supposed to fit together with Kane in this very free role, Bellingham driving into the box, Maduweke ditto.

49:37I suppose the one disappointment in an attacking sense was Anthony Gordon. But then when he yielded his place to Marcus Rashford, Rashford comes on and scores. So interesting to see who gets the nod on the left wing. That is interesting because obviously Rashford's probably best skill is running in behind. And having a game that's broken like that, like it was against Croatia and finishing off, is that great against a low block? And then also Gordon is kind of out of possession work, high up, pressing. Is that going to be a feature? So it'd be interesting. He spoke really highly of Drew Bellingham actually today, Thomas Tuchel, in terms of his connection with Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice and saying, that's what I want from him.

50:12He needed to improve that. He has done that. It was a stellar performance. So it's interesting that he's even, he still seems quite hard on these players, even with compliments. And I think that's perhaps a testament to the calibre of players that he's had before and where he's been. And speaks to Harry Kane's point about him sort of speaking like a proper manager, a big manager at half-time of the game when he wanted more from them against Croatia. OK. Ghana, of course, narrowly squeaked past Panama in their opening game. We'll see how it all goes tomorrow. the other game in that group is Panama against Croatia, which will see Luka Modric if selected, becoming just the fourth player in international football history to reach 200 caps.

50:53The others being, well, Leo Messi, obviously. Cristiano Ronaldo, also obviously. And an unexpected name. Could it

51:04Michael Cox: be Beda Almatoa? What? How does he do it? Of? Q8 Bingo Yeah Anyway that game Also coming up in Group L And then you've got in Group K Portugal against Uzbekistan And Colombia against DR Congo Portugal against Uzbekistan Any big talking points there Regarding their line-up Diogo Dallo didn't start the last game So I think he should probably be in the team Here's your headline Ebola strangely Portuguese paper Have gone with an entirely different Headline of this They said captain under fire as the debate rages in Portugal too about whether Ronaldo should step aside and whether he's effectively a hindrance for the rest of the team Roberto Martinez came to his defence which may have pleased or not pleased some Portuguese fans saying that the stats show that Ronaldo stretches the defence more than anyone else and creates space for others which I don't think we saw lots of evidence of in the first game but who am I to doubt data?

52:09Michael Cox: Stretching his teammates, patience perhaps. Wow. But I mean, obviously we have perhaps been slightly amused by Ronaldo's difficulties. I don't know, maybe not all of us but I genuinely think this game tomorrow is absolutely pivotal for him. He's clearly going to start. Martinez is still backing him particularly with the context of every other superstar attacking player turning up and delivering the goods at this tournament. I think if he has another disappointing performance, the pressure on Martinez to drop him might reach a point where it becomes impossible to resist. And, you know, this could become the beginning of a sad international swan song.

52:52So he kind of needs to turn up. Crikey. What a dramatic game in prospect then tomorrow. Of course, when all the dust has settled on the action, we're going to be here with a brand new Totally At The World Cup. So I do hope you will join us for that. but kind of reached the end of today's show. So many thanks to Michael Cox, who joined us earlier on, to Tom, to Laurie, to Duncan. Where are you off to next, Laurie?

53:18Well, I've actually got quite a few days. I might be watching the England game with Rio Ferdinand. That's a possibility. So I'll let you know how that goes. Okay. Very good. Many thanks anyway for being with us today. To the production team and you, viewers and listeners, See you in a day's time. From all of us here, it's goodbye.

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