The farewell tour

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3:08risks and benefits at SpringSleep.com. Whatever bike you're looking for from mountains to road, either pedal-powered or electric, we've got what you want ready for super fast delivery. Quality gear at prices you won't find in your average bike shop. Hello everybody, it's a wonderful Wednesday here at the football rambles and thanks to Friend of the Rambles Dara, O'Brien Clos. Probably not that close. Clos to being that to getting the big soul free animals though. Early super free animals are pleasing. If you like, Old Dara gave us that intro line. If you want us to submit an intro line for a future

4:10episode, then become a friend of the rambler on our Patreon. You'll also get an extended edition of the rambler today and every single Wednesday. It's called rambler lung cut. Click the link in the show notes to sign up now. England 3, Checkier Nill. England have almost certainly qualified for those quarter finals for the nation's league next year. Croatia would have to win 8-0 at Wembley to prevent that from happening. Is it not going to happen? Is it Jim start celebrating now? Yeah, why not? They're simply not going to beat us 8-0. You pleased though that England have all but qualified for the quarter finals? Yeah, generally this kind of little, well, massive international windows been excellent. Use it from the time please. Sorry, the great international break of November 2026. We're not even in November with that. Yeah, Albert, come on, this autumn now. I'm basically higher than it. Jim did say to me earlier, autumn is my favourite month. Yeah. So I'm just getting stuck into it early. It seems usually has a my like. Yeah, it doesn't matter about the data. It's the great autumn international break of 2026, Jim.

5:12And the thing that's a bit disappointing is it's the most important part of the year for markets. Sure. I think the World Cup was to a point. No, I think you're more of a nation's league purist in my view. Yeah, I think the most important international window to you is either the current one or the current one. The current one is exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Always looking forward, you know me. The World Cup is for you, it's fine, but everyone's into it. Well, I don't need to bang mine. No, I save it for the for the real stuff. Yeah. Yes, England, it was a comprehensive victory, Harry Kane, picking up his 125th cap, equaling Peter Schultan's record, of course. Not as much of a counter, Shelton. No, he's not. Not even slightly. But Schultan did share a nice message on X. Well, you know, it's too little too late. It was quite simply written for him. Yeah, you know, everyone has a speech writer. Yeah, not me, not me, other than Pete Donaldson. And let me be fair, if Pete's got one, Sackie, absolutely, right now.

6:13Yeah, not extreme enough. But it was a good performance by England again. I have a something like a slight annoyance of markets, you might be able to disavow me of, because you're fairly good at doing that. It comes to England. I can't fully enjoy good England wins in these situations, because I'm still smarting a bit from when it really matters. They didn't do it. It mattered in the Aztecca. Yeah. But it mattered more after. You don't even believe that yourself. Of course, I understand. At the time, it did, but in a way, you're still smart in that, that when it comes to the look, you're talking about the, the, the new bar, the new ceiling. There's been there for a few years, but I also still think England are a better team in Argentina. Yeah, I know. And it's annoying. And it doesn't know it. And I can't, and I can't, you get flashbacks whenever you see the players and the kit. It's so annoying, because to me, I couldn't fully enjoy the Croatia battering. And I couldn't fully enjoy the Czechia game last night, because what, what, let me put it in more kind of summarising terms. What have we learnt about England in

7:16the great autumn international break of 2026? I would say other than a few bits and pieces like an Alex Scott here or a little bit, you know, Trent Alexander on me and back in the fold there. In terms of the grand scheme of things, we've learned they can beat the teams they're supposed to be and not beat the teams they can't. Yeah, I, I, I, I, I, and it's annoying. I think it's annoying. That's stasis of it. It's annoying. No, I understand, but you, you, you'll be in that permanent state of annoyance really until England, when, oh my god, my whole life, what I'm, my whole life, that's, that is ultimately what you're saying. Do you have any sympathy for that viewpoint at all? I do, because again, the, the bar has been set and England have been in this place for a few tournaments now where we are ready to win a tournament and we just still can't quite do it. Get to the bit where it's the really really hard bit and go, oh, not sure about this. Yeah, and that's what's so frustrating, it's because there's, there's no possible test of that metal is there until a late knockout stage game. So I, I'm with Luke on this, it feels,

8:18it feels like there's no momentum, even if England play really, really well. It feels hot, yeah, because, because the test that we need is simply not available to us at the moment. Well, I would say against Spain there is, but it had England beat Spain at the end. But not, but not in the same, you're not in the same. Well, there's a lot of us as league groups that are not. Which is what I was going to say is that if you have England beat Spain, you'd still sit there and say the same thing. Yes. Well, that these are the only games that are available at the moment. Yeah. Which is why I'm desperately trying to ramp up these quarter finals of the Nations League. We don't need a solution, Marcus. This is simply a lament. I see. I see. Well, I don't want to, you just sit there and lament your mal this, okay? Because I think that if England were to play France in the quarter finals of the Nations League, for example, which they could, I think that is when you kind of go, okay, that's a proper game. It's when you get your easy, you know. I just checked the slugs last time. I think this competition has a little something. But I do stress it's a little something. My thoughts on this competition will very much be put to the test by a very, very

9:18sort of, I suppose, skillfully asked question and tomorrow's mail bag. But I do think, I understand what you mean. I mean, England beat Czechy 3 and I at home. It's kind of like, well, okay, fair enough. But I think what is reassuring and pleasing for me is the feeling in the squad has continued to be good. And I do think that counts for some people who say, well, there's always a good feeling in the squad and previous tournaments. Fine. But it's always good to have a good feeling in the squad. And that doesn't just happen by chance or it doesn't just happen because, oh, well, it always happens there. You still have to work for that. And I think the way you saw Tuckle, the way he spanked, dude, belling him on the bum when he came off, or the way he was like, you know, hugging Rio and Gamau when he was about to come on. You see Tuckle, he's still got a real desire to do well in this job. And I think these camps, you know, the last three games, even parts of the Spain game have shown, England are still absolutely determined to keep going, keep going. And B, the, I don't know, the third or fourth best international team out there,

10:23Spain and number one, you'd probably still have France number two, maybe third, whatever. And if you keep doing that, surely at some points in our lifetime, it feels like you know, this will happen. Do you remember that kid's TV show, Don't You Just On Drag it? I do, yes. Where the gang would never get home. Yeah, they think they're going to get home. Did they ever get? No, I don't think so. I'm over the finger. I'm not so. Yeah, I don't know. It feels like one of those shows that probably got cancelled before a final episode. Or you're out there often and you're just, yeah, you know, wherever you're watching it. Yeah, the, the, it just feel, we just feel a bit like, you know, the dungeon, the dungeon, the dragon's gang and the dungeon master who is in this case, I guess, Gianni and Pantino, is never letting us win. Yes. That's what it feels like. It's his fault. Just when we, yeah, I'm liking this. You can blame him. I think it's fair to blame him. Don't, don't blame ourselves or our manager. No, no, we're not thinking responsibility for our own shit. Yeah, but I do think though that there is now a little bit of public opinion. I do sure it's just a little bit of we have to move on from what happened against Argentina.

11:24It's the public opinion in the room with us right now. It is that you're, you're looking at it, Jim. And I think that I do have more sympathy with that view because that are the, the semi-file in the World Cup. Again, set it before I'll set it again very quickly. You that there's absolutely no excuse not to learn from that now. Yes. It's not like, oh well, beaten by Spain in the Euro's final or even Italy in the Euro's final week. I think, oh, I'll lie on another day. I don't think on another day. I lost on Pantistusly. I never thought they could have won. Yeah. Well, I'm also going about the Spain game. But what I'm saying is that whole thing of another day. I don't think it's like the quarter final in World Cup 2022, where England, you know, you just in a in a proper battle and unlucky lads against Argentina. It was so stark and so bad that you just, you can't let that happen again. If you're going to go out in a big game, you go out because Spain have produced a masterclass or you've, you've had a good slog and it was

12:24just one of those unlucky days. And actually, one of the positives that take from the window is that England are clearly not on a downward trend, right? Yes. We want them to do this and we do expect them to do it. And they then have to therefore go out and live up to that expression. And they have. I think that's fair. I think part of my frustration, as I said last week, is that the cycle is so long. You have to part of what makes these tournaments so special. Well, Cup every summer is it? No, well, it means England win one. No, but that's why people just not two years to the next major next summer. But the tournaments are so, yeah, the tournaments are so spread out compared to what we used to in club football, the light does feel really difficult to lift yourself after a disappointment. But on the, Marcus, you're one of the thought leaders in the England space. So if you'll send that we should all move on, I think lots of people will listen to you, mate. So you can take responsibility for that. But on the game itself, we have to point out English called one of the great England goals. Ah, lovely. That Elliott Anderson pass was absolutely sensation. It's so good. And that first time Cross from Roger, it's a great goal. And I also

13:27love that Sioux foul give us a little start as well. He did, yeah. He is hard. He's old. Right. He was probably up there in the hardest players in the Premier League conversation when he was a West Ham. He's definitely a little gift, wasn't it? It was a really, it was happening. If you're the opposition team, it was absolutely ideal that gets you off the mark. Because the ultimately, you know, you could make an eye, when Gordon was playing on that position, not S.A. He gets in there and nips you anyway. He's so good at that. We actually talked about that specifically at the start of the way, or in the last week. So perhaps Gordon gets in there anyway. But S.A. is not really putting anywhere near enough pressure on there. Is it? You can find massively help does it out because it's good for him. Yeah, well indeed. But is it the way he sort of pulled out? I was looking at it again. Get in there. You know, I don't know if he's like type of player. Patient to a fault sometimes. Right. Yeah. And I think it's a lack of, and what you would say, Sioux, you know, Sioux foul gets the own goal. There's record and obviously he's guttered about it. But actually, it's one of those own goals where I do think that goalkeeper's to blame if he's not told him. Yeah. Because it's poor execution from Sioux foul. But ultimately, if you were at the

14:30defend, they're going back towards your own goal. That situation. You can't see how closely you've got to try and clear it. Clearly, the execution's wrong. Yeah, but pay for it. But I think he, I absolutely, but I think he waits longer than he needs to because why don't you tell him? Right. If I want you to just say to him, I think Ian Wright said it. He just just say away, away, away, or keepers. One of the two, it doesn't look like he says anything. Yeah. Ian Wright quite enjoyably looked like some sort of secret agent on the way. He was dressed like, he was dressed, yeah, but a French secret agent. Well, obviously, French, if you, put that in the head, he'll be an incredible turnaround, wouldn't it? Imagine that. He's been a French spy the whole time. Spying for the French. Yeah. But so why did he win a La Taune World? That's a lot of story. That's kind of story, isn't it? It's very, very good and then a year later, France wins the World Cup in only one way. No, no, no, no. It's only a sense now. Yeah. As it often does in the years. And why is Ian Wright always wearing that 1998 France World Cup winner's medal? Yeah. Like a like a military battle? That should have been the giveaway. But I thought that I thought that Esa was okay. I think he looked like someone who's not played much football this year because obviously hasn't,

15:31isn't started the game in the Premier League for Arsenal. But what I did like overall is that they can shuffle the pack and still look decent. And that speaks to probably your point about the camp and the mood in the camp. I think if everyone feels like they're playing a role, I just liked the fact that I know he's a really good player, but Alexander Raukums, if what two of these games both against him. He's the man's play against him. And it's got come in good. Unfortunately, he got injured, of course. He's had problems with that injury, injuries like that. I think, I think, did he ever really bad in the injury before he moved to Bournemouth? And everything seems to have been kind of the same because he would have probably played in this game. But Kwanza is placing it back into the OK last night, you know. Finally in his right. Marsle is scaling as well. It's done very well. Marsle is scaling has been great. You say that about Kwanza, but it's not actually is it? He hasn't really played it too. Yeah. So even then he's kind of he's kind of Swiss Army naches of the play. This episode of the football rambler sponsored by BetterHelp.

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19:42to bring it in, but I will just try anyway. Is there an argument now that canesing is best ever applied? I'd say so. For sure. Because obviously you've got two bobbies, legends who want, lifted the world cup. That's not really our lifetime. Hard for us to comment. But our lifetime, would you say is definitely the best thing you could? I think you would. Wayne Rooney said he was. Yeah, I think I mean, 91 goals is crazy. There are very few people who've ever lived who've got more in touch with goals. 38 more goals than Wayne Rooney for England. 38. I know. It plays just like a different position and you can sort of, however much you do it, the gap in the numbers between the two, does it? Yeah. I'm of the sort of hope that he gets to 100 before the euros, just so that narrative's done. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because he's almost certainly going to get 100 goals. He would do before the euros. You would think, I mean, prior to Canes emergence, you would think it impossible that anybody would ever be in the conversation for getting 100 goals for England. And it's not just the goals, is it? He was dropping deep all over the place yesterday. And that side of his game is not changing. Yeah, I'm sure he will modify it as he gets older and he needs to conserve his energy a bit. But he's a proper leader on

20:43the pitch. He was coaching kind of younger players through it last night, just popping up where he was needed. It's absolutely exceptional performance. The goal was brilliant as well. I mean, the ball from Rogers, as you point out, was excellent. You had a funny game Rogers, didn't he? He had a few moments that weren't so great. And then a couple of moments that were absolutely brilliant. I think that's sometimes what you get with him, isn't it? So that's what you get with the wide forward job. Yeah, that's a post. But the finish, I had real sort of finesse to it as well. It looks a little bit like a tapping, but it absolutely isn't. And you can just do that stuff in his sleep. It's incredible. I also think if he maintains his level, which is a bit of an if because of his age, but if he maintains his level for the euros and Bellingham continues on the trajectories on, obviously because he's still so young, you've basically got two players in really key positions. By which I mean position, position where you can affect games, it's not a reactive thing, you know, obviously not defensive position. On their day, they're totally unplayable. But Bellingham on his day is unplayable. Kane on this day is unplayable as well. I mean, so that is

21:44amazing. They need to capsise on that. The problem. Yeah, you're in the way of a history of having like on paper, quite a lot of world class players at the same time. The classic gold generation. It's also very, very good place. And it never really never really happened. So yeah, I know you mean there is a sort of a we have to do this right now when he's in the side, but I I would have a little bit more faith although Kane maybe is an outlier, but I don't think it's a sort of a messy Argentina situation or something. You'd have to have a bit more faith. But I know what you mean, but you know, with Kane, I think it is possible that he could play at the next World Cup just because of the style of his game. And as you say Jim, if he just conserves his energy or he, because his game's not about pace. Yeah, exactly. I mean, but by then you would have to have another strike. Oh, you know, you would have to have a bit more rotation. But look in the here and now watching Harry Kane for England is, it's quite something. And also as well, I know this is a, you might find this a bit of a slight strike point. But if you think about what it used to be

22:46like going to Wembley to watch England in these types of games, sometimes it could be a real drag. It could be what was the point of that? Well, I would think to myself, I've come from another part of London. It's taken me about an hour and a bit to get here. What about the poor swords who want to get there as they call them caps for England Supporters Group, who come down from Newcastle, they come up from Cornwall or whatever, wherever. You know, the amount of money people need to, to play into this and so on, at least give them some kind of performance. So when you do see one of, if not the finest England player doing something like that, at least the very long journey home or the cost of the hotel and the train and all that kind of stuff, you think, well, at least we had something to hang our caps on. And to me, exciting players playing and exciting games. Yeah, exactly. I think it's all, again, England putting in these types of performances, there were times when England was zipping the ball about. You think, this, again, this is so much better than what it used to be from yesterday. People have, they can have short memories. It doesn't translate into a trophy when I understand that, but keeping that standard is very, very important, I think. Purposeful control is, is very different these days, isn't it?

23:49That used to be essentially just kind of passing it around between the defenders. Now, now there's a lot more to it. And it was also, it was nice to see a paper airplane last night because of how much the meaning of a paper airplane it went, it was changed over time. It used to be, people are just really bored. People have come to watch England and they're so bored that instead of watching England, which they have travelled and paid for, they're making paper airplanes and they're all collectively watching that instead. It was an ironic cheer. Yeah, they usually is a cheer when it gets on the pitch. I mean, the absolute highlight, the peak of all that stuff. Was that the Peruvian? It was the Peruvian. They go because all the way down. And everyone was watching, I had a great view. I was in the section where it came from. That is going to hit the Peruvian fallback. Come on, and it did, and it just hits him on the shoulder mic in this. I think the one that came up three years, I think. Exactly. Yeah, but that was my trophy win. Yeah, fair enough. But you're right. And I do think, again, to, to labour the point, dammit, all that the nations league does provide that because these are competitive games. It does add a little bit of a... It's mad that you're not even being paid by

24:51the nations league. You're not even paying for this. Yeah. I wonder how much you're mentioned of this and support for this. Unfaltering support. Unwavering support for the UEFA nations league over the years would be worth in real commercial terms, terms of airtime. Yeah. Because you've done them an absolute solid here. Well, I think it's actually... Because they've done us a solid look. It's true. It's mutually beneficial. Totally the line. Yeah. Now, everyone's favourite England coach in the set up, Anthony Barry, spoken about his halftime interviews during the World Cup. That have been great. I've spoken to him at halftime in one of the games. We've been quite fitting. But he said it was just part of my role and responsibility in the World Cup. Thomas does enough media. We didn't think it was fair to ask a player to do it in the heart of a game. So I said, I would. If it was well received, which obviously I know it was, that's a nice thing for me. It's a nice thing for the fans too. It was giving them some feedback that they understood and liked. They run out of it. Yeah. That'd catch them to get that. I think it was great in retrospect. It was a really interesting kind of novelty to it. Yes. But the way he executed it

25:53was also, which also made it better. He could... It's down to him really. The idea of having that kind of thing in the middle of a game lives and dies by the people you get. Yeah. And Tony Baz absolutely smashed it in totally. If it had been a player who was on the bench who wasn't really going to feature a player who's in the middle of the game, they're not realistically going to be thinking about it and not going to be focused on it. Tony Baz is giving you spot on. Spot on kind of analysis of what England have been doing and what they want to do. But doing it also in a very eccentric way. Yeah, but in the cut, but in the finest British tradition, I think we know that. I think we do. You remember when he got a little bit emotional during the France game in the third place playoffs? Well, he spoke about that. And I love this quote. He said, Thomas and I, with regard to the squad, he said, Thomas and I both fell in love with them from the minute we started working on them. I mean, for spelling this. This is happening. This is happening. This is... Inside the camp for seven weeks, it was pretty special. I think you've seen that come out in the France game for me. I couldn't hide it and I didn't want to hide it because these players just

26:54deserve so much. Oh, he scouts. And English. Exactly. They deserve so much by... We've done third place. They've got a medal. They did. They did get a medal. They did. So it was, you know, I think overall it's been a pretty positive international break for England. I know that they're obviously the Spain game, but you know, Spain are the world. Are you gutted at the Premz back on Saturday? Well, I think I think... He's dead. Look at the full-on game here. This is protest boycott time. This is what we're doing. Well, it's a few more international games. Do you... Do you... What's Marcus Boycott the Premier League? Is it the man's city thing? No, it's not Zimli. It's specifically the nation's league. You want to see more of that. Jim, as we know now, the Premier League is a dirty league. It is. Okay. Whereas the nation's league is still pure. It's full of... Full of them off to Portman Road. Is that warm on the cockles? Ah, I'm blind me, hopefully. Because on one hand... I've enjoyed watching my team win. I was like, I'll... I'll... Yeah, on one hand, it's one of the most boring games in Premier League

27:54history. And that is... Oh, very unnecessary. On the other hand, it's a good chance for Flum to actually win a game. It is a great chance. Yeah. Hopefully they can take the spirit of England and Anthony Barry in there and get the guy later there with the draw. I don't think Anthony Barry will be working there. I think he's got enough on. Now, I tell you something. You said you were annoyed for some reason after that 7-year victory for England against Croatia. Spain. Only a bit Croatia, 2-1. Do you reckon Billets did a lap of honour? Still in a job after that, is that what? That is a victory for me. Well, it was all about you, Van Peresich. We kind of picked out, if it was an England game, he's obviously of advancing years, found a very difficult deal with England's movement and stuff. School's a goal, but then gets sent off. So, a marino does marino things. The second one was ridiculous. Great goal. Great goal. He's such a weapon, isn't he? Yeah, great asset to have. And should have scored in the World Cup final. That would have been the crowning moment of... Yeah. ...of the money. That's the stage to be doing what you're known for. Exactly. Because he had the header and he probably should have scored and he nodded it just wide. It worked out well in the end. He won't be thinking about that now. Yeah. But anyway, he came off at the pension school. And it's kind of interesting because you think of...

28:54We're talking about broadly, I think, and rightly so, of Spain being the best team in international football, right? Mm-hmm. Yeah, they are in a weird situation. They're relying on a player to come on and do the business for them too. I know what you mean. Who doesn't... I mean, he's not an Arsenal's best team. No, he doesn't start that often, but that's kind of a bit of the mystery of Marino. He's not a single game in the Premier League this season. Sure, but he influences games when he comes on and he influences games when he starts. You know, I mean, he starts obviously very, very different standard. But in the car of our cup, he kind of comes in as a leader. And he is that focal point for everybody. That's not what a lot of super subs are like, right? No, but it is as the reference point. But just to keep it on international football, just until we finally can put it behind us. Yeah. And is it weird, though, that Spain don't really have a striker, a very, very... I mean, would you say are you also about this to very top quality? I think he's out there. Right, OK. I think he's a good foyer, isn't he? Because they're real... They're real kind of threat. Comes from your Marlin Williams.

29:55They're not a striker in Asian. They're not. And they never have been. No, no, no. David Villar and Raoul obviously. I mean, Torres was, you know, obviously got the winning goal in 2008. It's actually, yeah, three amazing strikers thinking about it. But you know, back to 2008, really. Because that's five years ago, man. You know, and they did win it. It feels like it. They did win the tournament. But obviously, David Villar was really their main man. And then when they tried to plant Diego Costa in the team, it just didn't work. It's taking a piss, aren't I? Just saying all this for that striker. Also shout out Danny Gweaser as well. Yeah, Danny Gweaser. Well, that was well-cooked 2010. That's a lovely bench. Yeah, that is a lovely... No one talks about him anymore though. Danny Gweaser. But we do. Yeah. We've done it again. We've done it again, everybody. Well, and it's... People said it couldn't be done. Well... A contextual mention for Danny Gweaser. In the fall of 2026. What's over on November 2026? It's not quite sure. I'm going to check in the break. What he's been up to. Oh, he's got a restaurant. He's selling seafood. He's having a lovely old time. What Danny Gweaser's been up to. Speaking of checking things in the break, we got a little update here from producer Rory. No, the characters in the Dungeons and Dragons animated series never officially made it home during the televised run.

30:57How crap is that to do? I know. The cartoon was cancelled in 1985 after 27 episodes, across three seasons before the final episode could be produced. And air, they're still there! There were... A 180 story. Yeah, but he's picked that up. Well, actually, it's actually very fitting for an 80s cartoon that the ending is horrific. Yeah, yeah, true. Danny Gweaser is still playing in the seventh tier of Spicefoot World Cup at the age of 46. That is so good. Yeah, there we go. You've got to hand it to him there. And obviously, he looks great by the way. Do you remember? I don't know. He looks about... He looks about 17 years old. But he's still playing the Spice Seventh tier, so what do I have? And they're going to do a Guinness Edward with his brother on the side right? Don't worry. You'll never lose. Yeah, yeah. He's the ref. He's the line up. That is on side. Yeah. Oh, I wanted to grace that for it's a whole time now. Right, come and go after this. It was a big night for Lionel Messi and in a way, Cristiano Ronaldo.

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33:00So you can build better habits to not just lose weight, but keep it off. Noom. Lose for Keeps. Get started at noom.com. Not all customers will clinically qualify for medications. Individual results may vary. Guessing is for game shows, not your business. Workday is the enterprise AI platform for HR, finance, and IT, with AI grounded in your context to get work done and done right. It's a new workday. We are back with a half-time show after this break. You're listening to the Chicago Fire, on WOS AM 890. Soooo, that sucked. Well, about the footbrava, everybody. That was the Chicago Fire Radio commentator being caught on a hot mic. Oh no. You've been ever caught on a hot mic, Jim? Not to my knowledge. Although this is a hot mic, as I showed you, the whole concept of this is a hot mic.

34:01Do you remember Matt Dyson, friend of the show? Yes, he did. And Pete Dyson's friend, mostly. And what did he do? He got caught on a hot mic on, I want to say, it could have been XFM, might have been absolute. He didn't realise his mic was still out, but after he read the news, and the producer got the fret down, and the whole nation was treated. So I think a minute and a half of him talking about how his daughter, now, eats avocados, was before she didn't eat avocados. Oh, that's it. It was actually quite sweet. He got hot on a hot mic. It could have been worse. It could have been worse. It could have been much, much worse. Right, everybody. Scotland won! Ah, Slovenia too. Sebastian Pockenjolje, which I love pronouncing that way, has lost his first two home games as Scotland manager. This was all set up for a big Scotland win before they returned to the Scottish Premiership. They'd played well in Slovenia, and they probably won the game, but there was certainly the better side. That was a Pawn North Macedonia side, against Switzerland. You know, you can lose to the Swiss, Red Card, etc. It was meant to be the moment.

35:03For big say. And they obviously were a goal ahead as well. Yeah. And what a goal it was. It wasn't to be said, it was actually a nice finish. He backheeled it in. Yeah. But it was... It was that or nothing, wasn't it? It is basically Pimple. He backheeled it in because all the other players around him had basically run out of things to do. But Bernie gets an assist, the fishers are there. For his head it, really committed to it. But then they just... From Scott's point of view, the two goals they conceded, I thought was so poor. They took the second one. They were defending. They got caught out so badly. Now, I wonder whether... Because the first goal, I think, is actually quite poor as well, defensively. There's just no need to concede it because you're winning and you're at home. And the right had been on the wall, because it was already one or two, to be fair at this point, when they scored and it was offside. Yeah. But it's like, okay, you're getting breached now. So you've got... Yeah. And then they just... I guess they just felt they want to go for the win, and they get caught out. And the defending for the second goal, as you mentioned, particularly, I mean, I feel sorry for I forget which defender it was though, but he was caught in between... They basically sprung Scotland, got him behind them.

36:03And the final defender, it could have been Hendria. I can't actually remember, because they played it back through it. It's one of those three. He gets caught between having to go across to meet the ball and also be aware there's a gun about post. He just has to go to the ball. And everyone else is so far behind play that they just get caught out. It was... It was... Yeah, it was a shame. Because I think that... Because the way Pong Kognoli's been talking about how much you loved taking the job and how excited it is to match games at hand in. And obviously it's not gone well. But then I guess they'll start off a new journey, aren't they, after... Because Clark was in there for a long time. Do you know why... Why didn't they play Bowie from the start? I don't know. Um, I think... What... I mean, what I do like, you know, obviously, don't want to overdo this. But I like the fact that he played Gannon Dock on that side, you know, Robinson on the other side with his sort of wingbacks, if you see what I mean, because then Gini likes to sort of... It's a 3, 4, 2, 1, everything. There's a lot of good players, that's the thing. You shouldn't be losing Slovenia at home. Well, it shouldn't be. There were two slick goals from Slovenia.

37:04I think credits then there, but you're right. I mean, they certainly... They left the door open for them to be slick in that regard, right? They... I mean, they zip the ball up the pick pretty fast thing, which I think was a little bit of a shotgun. But most teams do the first one. Sure, but... No, I get what you say. I think, you know, it's difficult. Because Scotland, obviously, the clerk was in charge for a long, long time. So this is a new regime, new manager coming in, and all that comes with that. So I think... I was just disappointed for them, because to me, this was all set up for, right, get that victory. And I'm after what happened against Switzerland, get that victory, and you go into, you know, back to Clubfootborne, and you can look forward to the next... International Breaker, which is just next month, Jim. Yes. That's the one I was thinking of earlier. Yes, exactly. I'm not talking about... I talk to Finnish looks unlikely for Scotland, and every position counts on the Nations League. That's the way they've done it, because this means they will probably have to play a relegation playoff and win to have all gone down to the third tier of the Nations League, which would be quite damning for us for a team, you know... There are second tier sides. There are secondes and it does go into qualification for the European Germany.

38:07It also becomes this sort of kind of negative churn, doesn't it? It's almost like quick sand in this regard, in that they are then regularly testing themselves against. Poor opposition, so the opportunities for progression are less. I'm not being as slightly for their own making, though, isn't it? I thought the keeper has to do better for the first one. I thought about saying that a couple of moments like that have really cost them. Indeed. Indeed. Did you like it, though, that the last four permanent Scotland managers, Gordon Stracken, Alex McLeese, Steve Clark, and obviously, Pock and Yule came together to give Andy Roberts in a shirt to commemorate his 100 caps of Scotland. He's been an amazing servant to them. He's been a brilliant pro. It's a fitting thing. It is a very fitting thing. Elsewhere in the nation's league, let's go all the way down to the bottom tier, where Bulgaria beat Luxembourg to Neil Witness by Pete Donaldson, and Vittorjan Hanzarajas. Are they coming back or not bothering? Well, we shall find out, but I'll tell you something. If you've not been keeping up with their travels and their journey

39:08on our Instagram stories, please do because they're some very enjoyable content. They're having a lovely little romantic time in Luxembourg. It has been quite romantic, hasn't it? It has been a bit romantic. I found it quite... I don't know why I found it so funny, that when they arrived, they obviously went to their Airbnb. And when they went out to have a little drink and go to the match, Vich had a proper, like, nice shirt on his. It was like, wait, it's date night, you know? It's date night. It's not a way. Donaldson, like, the effort... You know, when you get into a certain age and you go, well, we never go out. I know it might only be Nando's, but I'm wearing a nice shirt. Yeah. You know, I never get away with this anymore. It was a bit of that vibe, though. Donaldson was supposed to be wearing some kind of wrestling t-shirt. Some sort of wrestling t-shirt under a suit. So... Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. And also, do Donaldson... Donaldson... He just throws a dart at, like, a list of clothes... He gets dressed in the dark, yeah. He said to me before that... Sometimes he's coming and wearing some proper, rascal stuff. And I've been like, what is happening? He's like, oh, no, yeah, I've got a bit late, and I know I was driving inside. I just put on the... Literally put on the first clothes I saw.

40:11But there's absolutely no thought-catchy clothes, however. Why... But why they laid out... I don't understand. Don't know. But he also sailed way too close to the sundowny, because he cursed Bulgaria. Yeah, I know. And that's a really, really low percentage move in the plain luxury look. But it turned out that they were sat in the Bulgaria end. So maybe the curse... Because of that, transferred over to Luxembourg, we could only assume it did. I believe so. I think sometimes he gets the recipes on the curse slightly wrong. It's like a freaky Friday time. Yeah, exactly. And the wrong... But the wrong host. That's the only reason I can think of the way it wouldn't work. Same. Yeah. Well, anyway, I tell you what, though, the two girls are nice ones, particularly the second one. They're just a smatching volley. They've seen some action there. Yeah, they have seen some action. There's no doubt about that. Two absolute beauties. And that's half... Walking to it. One girl's gonna say... Visch did message us on WhatsApp saying, Donnie might be the first person in nation's league history to come back during the second half with four glasses of Prosecco. Oh, yeah. Optimish. Yeah. Ah, there you go. What I did love, though, they were doing a little cheers with the Prosecco and thanks Andy Boden. Obviously. Again, all good stuff on our Instagram stories. It's good stuff. You check it out.

41:12They will be here on Friday, along with Jim and I to give more details about their trip. Could be X-rated, that show. Might have to be Rambo Knights. Yeah. Might have to be Rambo Knights. You have to get it cut up. Come on first, Fabely. Marcus might have a little chubby on the table here in some of the stories. Just a little one. A little mini Mars bar. Right, gentlemen, let's go to Argentina. Them lot again. They played Benin in a friendly. Three-0. Always pleasing to win. Always pleasing to get a clean sheet. Always pleasing to win. V. Benin. There we go. They say pronounce it as Benin, isn't it? That'll do. Yes, fine. You know, no one's, no one's cheesed. They're not the main story here. They are benign. They are. This will be a pub quiz question in 20 years time. Who is Lionel Messi's final game for Argentina again? Yeah, that's right. In one of the three remaining pubs. Yeah. Yeah. Well, this is a huge event, of course, in Buenos Aires at the Monumental Stadium. Light shows presentations, firework displays. Presentation. You named it as a PowerPoint. I like best moments. No, this is all I did here when I twisted our light defender. I think it's for Cleash. Gordon's track.

42:13Yeah, yeah, yeah. There we go. Still clark. OK, that's a give Messi his final send off. Oh, dear. But yeah, a huge, huge send off. I mean, it was an incredible occasion. And incredibly, to use that word again, the Argentina and FA seem to get all the organisations from up on. Which I think that was the big win, I think, of the day. But Messi, yeah, I mean, 10 minutes into the match. I was in the number 10 Messi was. Play was stopped standing evasion. More fireworks. Every been in player, a shook his hand. Well, you, you guys in favour of when John Terry did this in the 26 minute Chelsea, as well as there was any kind of hypocrisy going on here. Is it me that definitely is? No, democracy. This was different. I hated it when John Terry did it. But I know he was subbed off with a guard of honor. That's what genuinely more ostentatious than this. Fine, OK. Very enough. I never complained at the time. I just stayed quiet. OK, so I could tell all of them. That's all the best people there when they see injustice around the world, you know, injustice. Genuine, hateful injustice. True. Yeah. One man's hate is another man's amusement.

43:13But anyway, Messi, obviously, got his standing evasion. And look, it was a hugely emotional affair, as you would imagine. Messi himself, often wiping away tears during the game. I liked it at the end when they presented him with the Falklands. Malvinos. Sorry, yeah, with last night. No, no, Jim. Falkland. Yeah, just sorry, you're right. They are officially and they are called the Falkland. No one is more passionate about keeping the Falklands British and the Marcus. No, that's not true. In this room. No, I think we all are. Would you, would it be a compromise for you for Messi to have them? Just Messi. No. It's not in that own by Argentina. Messi just has to be like, I'm not joking about this. OK. No, I'm thinking of the fine Falkland Islanders. Yeah, it's fair enough, yeah. Look, they had a vote and they voted 99.4% to remain. For Messi to own it, who's that 0.6%? Yeah. Bring back the Gillotine. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. OK. Last, producer's got his head in his hands. Yeah. Do you know when the last Gillotine in England? It's going to be something like 1962.

44:13No, it's 1650. In France. Sort of. It was in France. It was in France. It was in there. 1650 in the Scudian France. Can I answer? Because I think I know this. In France. I'm going to guess, I'm pretty sure I can get this close. Go on. About 1973. 1977. There we go. There we go. Never mind the Pollux. Came out around that time. Someone was getting Gillotine in France. Pfft. Anyway. The last hangin in England. That was 50s, was it? 64. Yeah. Beatles got albums out. Yeah. It's quite Alan Partridge, was that he knows these off-suffers. Yeah, he's talking about it. We're dad the other day. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we're all, that's right. I mean, someone was great to bring it in though. Someone was just sentenced to death by firing squad in the US. So. Yeah, you can request it in certain states. Wow. Let's not go about the US in the death penalty. Lidemessy. Great. Yeah. Well, anyway, yeah, he absolutely killed it. And it's a way he was obviously, I mean, he always is a man on a mission to score a goal. Yeah. There's nothing changed. He missed some big chances. He did. There was a couple of ones, but of course, been in with very charitable.

45:15There was a definite penalty towards the end of the game. I just did a tune up. And do you know what I loved about this penalty is I thought to myself when I was watching the highlights, did the goalkeeper sort of go, go on then you go that way and I'll go that way. He thumped it into the top. Yeah. And I thought, fair play to you. The only thing I could have asked for when that situation was for Enzo Fernandez to rip the ball off him. You're not having it. I'm dependently taking it. Proving even in that context, he just can't help himself. Pass the bat on. Pass the bat on. I'm the penalty guy now. Well, a number of his former teammates, now former teammates, posted messages of gratitude, including name are of course, we played at club level and Rodrigo de Paul obviously was getting involved saying things like thank you for making me love football even more. Thank you for making me not just a bit of play but a better man. And I felt, I felt, I held him, I went one further by saying about Messi, I thank him for life. Didn't know he was his dad. Like, Lionel Messi is an, and held him, he was father. I didn't realise that. I think it's more that they quite simply are getting him confused with God as they did

46:17with Maradona. But it's nice that that is the true passing of the bat on. It's incredible, the scenes though. Like the scenes in that in Pursehara's generally were just incredible to watch. I'd to witness genuinely felt quite emotional even watching the highlights. Because I mean, so much of our kind of adult lives have been, have featured Lionel Messi doing the amazing things that he's done. And obviously it was frustrating to go out to them in the World Cup, but it even transcends that, you know, what he's done at the club level is unprecedented really. We in our lifetimes it's perfectly conceivable. We'll never see another player like that. I think as you said, you had transcendence of it, you know, that even you had, I mean, how many people, you know, I don't know and I don't care to know, but there were people in Brazil saying, you know, what when Arton's Heena won the World Cup, I was pleased for Messi. Yeah, yeah, I was what showed you. I think everybody, other than maybe one particular individual, would have said that. And I think again, it's that transcendence, you know, with true greatness does that. And it suddenly feels really fast. It must feel like that to him as well, like it's just a flown by and he looks great, doesn't

47:18he? It looks really statesmen like as well. Yeah, I was in the journey. And it's not completely finished because he's still playing club football. It was like a big moment. There was a feeling as well. And I think this, I may, I may have misunderstood this and maybe some people would disagree. But my feeling coming out of the World Cup we've just had as well was that Arton's Heena for decent parts of that tournament basically disgraced themselves. Like they, it wasn't just against Ingun. They were, they were, they came, they went out to play the game in a certain way and that seemed to be, we'll let the referee decide what's infringement and what isn't. This is our best chance of winning another World Cup. We're going to do this. And I felt like Messi was kind of a bit separate from it. I felt like Messi was a little bit kind of just because he's so special as a player and such a massive figure. It, maybe I've projected it, but it felt to me like he was kind of separate from it a bit as well. Yeah, him and, him and Julian Alvarez didn't seem to get involved in any of the shenanigans of the tournament. I mean, whether they did or not, it might be some sort of, it's so good. It's got a lot farther expression on his face where he didn't get a foul early on in

48:18the game and he was saying that that was great. And even after the game, when him and Harry Kane sort of embraced each other, it's like, yeah, I know what you mean. I think that he always carries himself in a way. Again, whether that's true or not, that's certainly the perception anyway. He's the greatest player to play the game. And the fact that he's retired from international football, where he's actually won the World Cup and two copper America's, you know, it's an incredible moment for the people of Argentina and for football fans everywhere just because he is quite simply the best player to ever do it. It needs to be commemorated. And the way that, you know, whatever you think about Argentina, the way they come out for their heroes is kind of unrivaled. I mean, you saw how when the scenes when they won the World Cup, they're just ridiculous. And the scenes here as well last night looked incredible. So amazing. We're still seeing play a bit for Inter my heavy, I'm sure. I'd love, I really, I know, but I'd love a little last minute loan back to a European club for a few months. I mean, we're back and did that for a bit. Twice too. I think Milan. And to be nice. And to be honest, as well, wasn't it? Yeah. I mean, he goes back to Inter Miami and Lewis Suarez looks and goes, right, you can forget

49:25all that. Don't go for it. Exactly. Classic Suarez. I can't help but think back to when Messi retired from the national team as well. And like the almost, it's like we got to see a sliding doors moment where there was the version where it hadn't worked out and it all ended in a sort of disappointing death squeal in the copper America final. And this is how really we all would have wanted it to end for him. Yeah. Indeed. Gentlemen, let us talk a little bit now about Cristiano Ronaldo. You know, maybe to contrast and compare. I don't know. The poetry of this, the symmetry of this is so good how the universe goes together forever right? Say no. Say no. Was that my design? I don't know. One of them is doing what he's just done. He's releasing quite a lengthy Instagram statement about how pissed off he is. Yes, indeed. I mean, it is incredible stuff. He released a lengthy statement after leaving the Portugal camp when he wasn't brought

50:25off the bench against Norway. Yeah. How dare you. It's eight pages long, isn't it? And it's there are so many things in it where you just like, that's not that bad. Chris. Yeah. This isn't that bad. But also what I love about the statement is the eight bullet points that he wanted George J. Zeus to say in a press conference. The paraphonic situation. So good. They read like they've been leaked by like a investigative journalist. Yes. And he would be embarrassed about them. But he's actually, he's actually leaked them himself thinking it's perfectly reasonable. And I want you to, I, there's eight bullet points. I'm sure many people listening and watching would have seen them online. But if you haven't, I'd like to draw your attention to. Oh, my goodness. Statements. Statements two, six and eight. Six is my favorite. I'll come to it. I'll come to it. But let me just do them because essentially because the context is, yeah, that Christiana now, though, claims that George J. Zeus agreed to go to a press conference after this all happened and say the following things that they sat down and agreed upon and George

51:26J. Zeus as the major of Portugal would deliver them. I'm not going to do all of them, but I'm going to do two, six and eight. He wanted George J. Zeus to say the following things. This is point number two. I know how much Christiana lives and breathes the national team. The stature he has in the world and even more importantly, the weight and positive influence he has had on the national team for 24 consecutive years. Right. Point number eight. So you kind of think, well, okay, I don't, I think it's ludicrous that he wants someone to say that. But by and large, it's kind of true. I'd sign off on that. Yeah. Number eight, here's the player who signs the most autographs, takes the most selfies and gives the most affection to the supporters. Right. Yeah. Number six is the best. Let's go back to that. Right. I made a mistake by asking someone of the Statue of Pele or Maradona to warm up and then not putting you into the game. If it happened today, I would not do it. At the same night, Messi's having his send-off. Yeah. So not Messi. Messi was on the microphone for about 10 minutes given a farewell speech to the crowd.

52:30But and even said himself, I know I often don't talk that much. I think it's because I don't want to leave the field. So I just want to keep talking to you all. Yeah. Messi suddenly opened up in a way that we, even the audience didn't in Facebook, never seen him. You know, those tears are celebration to all the rest of it. And Ronaldo's doing this. This whole, this is like, what? It's like, it's like, it's like, it's like watching, it's like hanging out with Don Draper and a fucking in-sell on the same night. And the thing is that really strikes me about this is that Ronaldo is 41 years old, right? He has been in for a long time. He's achieved so much. He genuinely is of the status of Pele and Maradona. It's like, diminishes it if you say it. Yeah. But of course he is. He's another one of the greatest sort of time. Of course he is. He's achieved all that and he deserves those accolades. But the fact that, you know, having to warm up for 30 minutes and then not coming on is like this seismic event in his life. It shows you just how far out of touch of any sort of humility he's become.

53:32And it was always going to end like this, right? Because he's made noise that he won't return to the national team while Jorge Jesus is there, right? Which is kind of ideal for everyone involved. Just what you mean? Exactly. He can just wear that. The other players can play with a strike with his submobility. And their results have actually been fine without him. So I mean, this kind of ignominy feels like it was always going to be the way that this kind of situation ended because he simply won't accept the realities of time. I mean, it is extraordinary. It is. And I think that some of the other stuff he said, and it was the lengthy statement, okay. It's human. I mean, he said, you know, I deserve to be, you know, I walked away from the team, I deserve to be punished for that. So he kind of was trying to be a bit humble and say, you know, but he moved on very quickly from that point. It's incredible how unhumble he can sound. Yeah, after my talking about how humble he is. After my suspension, period ends, I will be available as I always have been to compete and win with our national team.

54:33And he went on and on and on and on and on. And then at the end of the statement, he said, I can promise all my fans naturally and especially all the Portuguese people that we will have one or more farewell matches. There will be time for that. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to sell the American. I'm having a bleed redis Irish. Well, we're going to go bigger than that. You think there's just one. Well, I'm wanting Porto, Lisbon, everywhere else in between Braga. Will we there? Don't worry. And the Ronaldo farewell tour. It feels like he's just never going to accept it. It feels like if Lewis Figo kept going, I'm available for selection. I don't know what's going on here. Yeah, my goodness. He's like he's talking as well. He's talking like he is 25 years old. Yeah. And like, because when he was that age, you know, I mean, think about, you know, 2008, when he went to Champs-Layewy United and he went to Ballon Dore that year for the first time, you know, how I would have been then, I mean, that's 18 years ago. Yeah, he would have been like mid-20s, right? Yeah. And he kind of stuff and then obviously moves to Real Madrid shortly after that.

55:34Like, if you're that age and you're that profile, you're that good, you probably could see off of Portugal National Team Manager. Yeah, probably could. He probably has. I can't remember if I'm talking about, I'm sure he has. You can't do it now. Well, this is it. You thought you wanted to play in Saudi Arabia. So I asked your friend and my name, Andy Brassel, what's the mood like in Portugal? As you know, Andy has his ear to all of the grounds, but particularly the Portuguese one. And I was trying to get Andy to go. Is it sort of a keen versus McCarthy type situation now? Yeah, you know, bringing back now. Don't do it. And Andy said, look, people are very pleased with the way the team's been playing under George Jesus. This is the annoying thing. I wasn't that worried about Portugal previously. Right? I wanted back in there. Yeah. You know, as we get them in the Nations League, big a picture, Jim. But anyway, Andy sort of said that it's not as simple as that. He said, there are obviously you get the few people defending Ronaldo who sort of give away what they probably think about wider things in society as well by doing that. But he said, a lot of people actually, even though he's behaved poorly, they don't want him to just be like kick to the curb because he's so significant.

56:35It's such a huge figure in Portugal for history. And so I have a little bit of a degree of think, but once again, it goes all about my point and everybody else, I'm sure a lot of people have this feeling as well that Ronaldo is one of the greatest players of all time. He is of the stature of Pele Amaradona. He absolutely is, Jim. You're right to agree with Ronaldo in that. And people are saying, well, just because he's behaved badly, this is quite a shame. He's getting in the way of his legacy. He is. He's getting in the way of all the stuff. And he's definitely ruined that. He's definitely ruined that ages ago. But the only thing I would push back on on the stature of Pele Amaradona is that if we are talking about this through the context of an international football break, like an international conversation, he's not of the stature of Pele Amaradona, an international football. And to do that, you're going to have need to have won the World Cup. And Pele is one of the fucking three times. Amaradona won it almost singlehandedly, depending on who you talk to. In international football, he's not in the stature of that. I don't think he is in any way. But I'd like to. He's not far off.

57:36Fine. We're splitting hands. Sure. I'm saying one of the greatest players of all time. I don't think you can be. I don't think you can kind of universally instantly agree with that. I think it's a conversation we had that if he wanted to have it. But I'd like to give the last word on this, if you don't mind, to Peter's Morgan about so kind of. I think that's the only thing we can. And then, the second word has come out and said brilliant statement by a classy honest guy who has been treated very disrespectfully, proud of you, Cristiano. Will you come on my show? Tell us everything you need tonight. Yeah. Indeed. Indeed. Well, we've reached the end of the show. And of course, the end of the great autumn international break of 2026. And it's been a gas. I think we would all agree. It's been absolutely marvelous. Next up, Portman Road. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Where we get back to all that, that Premier League crap. I just wanted to have a load to the great autumn international break. We did another public of 2026. It's another poem going on. Here we go. We've laughed, we've cheered, we cried. We found out that Manchester City lied. The football has been great at England scored goals. In Northern Ireland, have a defence without any holes.

58:39Wales beat Norway and Scotland won a game. England won three, though, were beaten by Spain. But Gordon Excel, the bellion was swell. Kane picked up his 125th cap as well. Alex Scott passed the test. Declan Rice had a rest and Tuckle has plenty of thoughts to digest. But England have a streaming of a new and fresh story. And it's one for next summer. Involving Nations League glory! Come on! Hey, it's the great autumn international break of 2026. It's the one show. It's the absolute one show. From the level, it doesn't want show take over. Thank you, well, it's the done mate. Thank you, well, it's the thing to the football level part. The Kars Grazer Network, friends of the Rambles, don't go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble, I'm cut. Well, I'll be giving you a behind the scenes look of how I came up with that. Maybe not a friend of the Rambles signed up now to patreon.com for a slash football Rambles. It's been a pleasure. Thank you, Luke Mull. Thank you, Jim Campbell. Thank you. And once again, thank you. The UEFA Navy. The GFE1 pills you've been hearing about are on row.

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