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The Preview Show: Thomas Tuchel's Chocolate Factory

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It was a sickening night for the Kingdom and our friends in the Republic of Ireland. Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all saw their chances of World Cup glory slip away from them. Those brave boys will have to watch on from home, but not England and Scotland, they march on!


Marcus, Luke & Jim are here to discuss all of last night's action, including the Bosnia manager setting us all a little puzzle. Plus, the England boys are back in action at Wembo tonight with a chance for those young cubs to grab a golden ticket from Thomas Tuchel. You might need to sell your second home for one. Just ask big Andy Milne.


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The Preview Show: Thomas Tuchel's Chocolate Factory

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Football RambleThe Preview Show: Thomas Tuchel's Chocolate Factory. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

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Hello, everybody. It's Friday. It is a slightly solemn Friday in the kingdom, of course, because two of our brave bunches of boys are out of World Cup qualification. We need to strike us some baton for the next hour or so. Well, we'll try and pick it. I mean, England are playing tonight in a crucial friendly. So it is still a preview show. It is still a preview show. How? We've got them. Yeah. The Trage Description Act bunch. We will be previewing a game at some point that perhaps many, many people don't care about. Oh, this is disappointing. Oh, these people. You should be careful. We will get onto Wales and to Northern Ireland, Northern rest of it. But I do think, you know, I saw a little bit of negativity yesterday around England playing tonight, because this is just a general bit of rhetoric, and people are falling

into that kind of old trope of, oh, another England friendly. No, no, no. This is the key friendies now. Yeah, yeah. This is where the World Cup starts now. This is the Dojo. It is. Absolutely. The Dojo that like Dad's in the 80s, he's really got into karate, something that's start opening Dojo. Is that? Yeah. And BLs is there. Yes. And what more do you want? Jim. I think you've won everybody. He's just previewed. The preview. Exactly. Yeah. Lovely teaser trailer, Jim. You should be able to show his description and just go home. Just go home. You can't keep it. It's still warming for us. Exactly. We've left the EU now. Brexit means Brexit. We don't want any more trade descriptions. All right. Stop gloating. Welcome to the Gold Medal show. Right. Gold Donkey show. Exactly. There we go. Right. And let's start with Wales. They drew one all with Bosnia-Herzegovina, but of course lost four to. On penalties, they miss out on World Cup qualification. They will not be playing Italy in that final playoff. Of course. It's a sickener for Wales, an absolute sickener.

Where do you begin, Jim? I suppose maybe the penalty shootout. I would begin earlier than that with actually with the birth of Craig Bellin with the birth of Craig Bellin. And then I would take a huge, huge time jump right up to the beginning of this match. And I think all three, obviously we're going to look at Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and they've all gone out in unfortunate fashion. I think this might be the hardest one to take, because Wales are really, really attacking in this game. They really, really took it to Bosnia. They hit the bar twice, and obviously Bosnia had some chances themselves. Well, Darlo had to make a really, really good save, but they did everything they promised to do. They did everything Craig Bellin asked of them, and they were just so unlucky to be kind of essentially pegged back by the immortal Edin Jekko. And sickener is right, because you look at that and thought they were brilliant. They played really, really well. They were, it was fine margins that mean they're not going through to face Italy. They should have won the game. Yeah. They should have won the game.

Edin Jekko said after the game that he felt that Bosnia hurt the governor with the right forward. And then Jekko plays for Bosnia, though. Yeah. I don't play for either of these nations, so I'm more neutral. Right. I haven't got a drop of Welsh blood in me, no Bosnia. Right. So you can trust me. Yeah. Welsh should have won the game. What is your blood type, eh? Not sure. Actually, I've got, I've got the really rare one. Said. No, I can't remember what it is. I actually don't know what mine is. Okay. And I have a... Sorry. Come back after you. I've got a very mild condition that means my blood clots quite slowly, so I really should know what it is. Don't you know what I can't remember it? You know me have it written on the inside of you, but look, proofest. So you're at when you're at about... For English people. Yeah, that's in the wash. For English people, you've always got type A, type B, type Irish, and... They're your options, really. Yeah. I think I'm AB, negative or something. That's apparently the rareest main blood type, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Well, why are we talking about this? Oh, Edgy said you didn't have a drop of Welsh blood in you. I don't. So I was keen to know what type of blood you think. I think if you watched that game, you would agree with me that Wales made all the...

Look, Wales got themselves into the position to have the home tie. Yes. And they put... And Bosnia are a beatable team. We have to be clear about that. And it was one of those nights, as Jim has said, which just didn't quite happen for them. But I don't think, you know, Bellamy's comments themselves would probably suggest as well. I know there's a huge amount of regrets. It's just one of the regrets I'm not going to be going to the next phase, of course. But it's not like they chuck six behind the ball, don't try and try on Nick one, or play for penalties or something. They tried to win the game and they held on for a long, long time. And on another day, they were the scored more than one. I do think the Dan James Goal is fortunate. I don't think he's as good as everyone says it is. Isn't the Keeper has to save that. Oh, come on. It's the Keeper has to save them. Yeah, but he doesn't, and it's a glorious moment. It's a great hit. A lot of hard work was making, though, Jim. Sure, but... It's a great half-folly. I'm pleased that he scored it, and I'm pleased for Wales, broadly. It's a lovely goal. But it's one of those goals you have to admit that when you first sit, you go fucking what a goal. Then you watch it again, you go, mm, okay. Yeah, but I think James only hits it from there because the keeper's out, right? So I think you surely got a factor that in. I think it's so slow to react. I think from James's point of view, it's a great goal.

From the goalkeeper's point of view, he would think that if he had his time again, he would do a bit better. That's too diplomatic. Are you team Campbell or team Moore? Are you Luke Nation? Or are you Jim Barbwy? Well, look, I think I've moaned myself very clear on that point. Did you threaten to overrule the minister? Why could I have not, did you threaten to overrule the minister? I'm not going to be dragged into this again. I've said what I've said. All right, and history will judge me. It's a good, I'm not going the other way. Oh, duh. I'm not going the other way by saying it's a shit goal to be, to be like, competitive. I just don't think it's as good a goal as ever. I get what you're saying. It's not sort of kissing the bar into the top corner perfectly. For me, a goal from that distance, you have to look at it again and go. No keeping the one to say that. But I think, though, when all said and done, for that goal to be the goal that opens the scoring, to hit it in such a manner in which he did, probably catches the keeper of guard. So you've got to do that. It's a fabulous goal from James and Wales's point of view. And with that home advantage as well, the crowd were up for it. As we've come to know over many years now with the Wales national team,

you did think they were going to go on and win it. When Dan James is deflected and hits the bar, the tells are up. No, but I do think, though, in that second half, you have to say, that Bosnia Herzegovina were also very much in the time. They grew into a game, yeah. And at times, I thought they had much more better control of it than Wales did. But look, you know, right at the end, if you fast forward to extra time, right at the end of extra time, Bosnia Herzegovina were hanging on for penalties. And could they get through? And there was that moment, wasn't there when Brennan Johnson? I actually thought he perhaps should have gone for goal, but although I get what he's doing. He heads back across the goal. He heads back across the goal and it's agonizing. Even when it went to penalties, I thought Wales are not going to be denied here. And Darlow saves the first one. And Bellamy said after the game, he said, we practice penalties. And you know what? Bellamy's a proper student of the game where he was before. He certainly is now without a doubt. And I think we've all enjoyed Bellamy as Wales manager and the way he's conducted himself. But he said with that penalty shootout, he said, we did our homework, we did everything right. And he said, and when the goalkeeper saves the first one, I thought we're on for it here.

And he said, I'm just scratchy. He said, I don't believe in luck, but I can't remember the exact words he said, but I was scratching my head going, what else could we have done to win that penalty shootout? And so it's all out on the field for them. I think Craig Bellamy is, I know what you mean. Craig Bellamy is the acceptable face and manner of self-improvement. Yeah. He's got a little soups on of the Jake Humphrey Lee and Rosina Jean. But he bludges it, bludges you over the head with it. And it's so straight talking that it doesn't annoy you. Well, that part of it is a little bit more from yesterday, good old-fashioned stuff. But he is a product of his own environment. So there is a little dollop of it. Well, you mean, I will give you some motivational stuff. But please be warned that the golf club might come out. Yeah, possibly. Yeah. You know? A bit like yourself during golf. Yeah, yeah. I think the real mischance, the head across the goal was a good point to reference. I don't know why I can't remember who the forward was.

I don't know why I just didn't throw myself at it, because it was really close. Yeah. You know, it's like trying to judge where it's going to go. There was a moment before that where Harry Wilson gets the freedom of the penalty here and for some reason takes up two or three touches. I think that one was that first time as a goal. Yeah. Yeah, maybe, maybe. I wonder if that was one of those where the chance was never truly open for him when he was it back. But possibly, Jimmy, he's one of those ones where, yeah, if you actually had, you know, a camera which you could see it through his eyes. Yeah, I don't know what you mean. Imagine that. Like, cameras in his head. That's the future. Contact lenses. Well, I will get the Google cams just to start. Yeah, so we could see something for you to think about your wafer. But probably the only place you'll get the highlights. Well, I was about to say. And while I'm here, you wafer. Why do you make it so difficult? Because I have a login to the uafer.com. Yeah. And it takes me about five minutes to find you anyway. Yeah. Oh, one minute 30 highlights of this five fourth really. Yeah. Why would people want to watch this product?

Yeah. No, I don't know. Yeah, with Wilson, you could have been one of those ones as you said. I think it's such a shame for Wilson in particular. Having had such a great season. We've been able to go on and play in the World Cup would have just been, would have been marvelous, but it wasn't to be certainly. Ed and Jack are though. You can't deny about a goal at international level. Yeah, it's an amazing stack doing the rounds in there that this is the 20th year in a row. He scored a goal in international football. Wow. Well, he's a 40,000. Yeah. He's just evergreen. That goal was an absolutely textbook modern goal. Yes. It's a whipped corner. It's really hard to say. Does that have modern goal nowadays? It is. It used to be an old fashion. It is, but it's now modern again. How about that? It's about 94 people on the near post. Postmodern? It's like, yeah. It's basically the front post in corners these days. Like a slip knocky. Technically. And whoever could jump up the high and avoid the bottles of piss. Yeah. He could just put the fucking board in there. Not the right way. It was like a shit. Yeah. Exactly. Who scored it? Joey Jordanson. I didn't. Look, it was one of those ones where the last person you want it to fall for.

But there's a reason why he has so many goals at international level. And it was, it was a signal for Wales, but look at him. They, they, they still rally, but they, they, they just, they, they couldn't do it certainly. But after the game. What about Brennan Johnson's penalty missed? Don't go after the game. That's pretty much suffered enough. I, I think it's important to say that that was a really poor penalty. Good players can miss penalties. He's not a good player. Simon. Not the point. What? Jim? I mean, he's, he's a funny player. Um, Brennan Johnson. He's obviously scored the winning goal in the Europa, the Europa League final. I actually scored a decent amount of goals for him. Yeah. But he had to be there to do it. He scored a good amount of goals with Tottenham. But basically every club he's played for. You hear fans talking about his lack of technique and the sort of problems with his game. And he does seem like someone who isn't always as effective as they should be in those moments. He had a chance as well. But why? Which wasn't an easy chance to be fair to him. But it is, um, it's an unfortunate evening for him. Why, why are we going to dig it? Brennan this morning. It's a really poor penalty in a key moment. And he says they're going to practice penalties.

He needs a 35 million pound player. He's paying the Premier League. I think he deserves criticism. Right. And he did spoon it over the bar. It wasn't like it was a, a, a poly struck penalty that was saved. It was a, it was a bad technique. Well, again, no, in a big moment. He's not the first player to have done such a thing. No, let's never mention it then. Let's never. I wasn't going to. Right. I'll tell you what. I said they lost on the panel. He's one of them. Where does someone lands on the moon in five years to home? It's not near Armstrong. So we're not going to talk about it. What? First. Well, who was the, who was the seventh person to land on the moon? I don't know. Right. There you go. You see. I probably could probably think about it. Good. I reckon it might have been. Was it Michael Jackson? Yeah. I think it was Michael Jackson. That is his monkey. Right. Was it the monkey the first one ever? Is it a monkey a person? That's a good point. I'll tell you what. We're 10 minutes in. And this is a monkey a person. It's actually longer. I thought it would take. Craig Bellamy said postmatch, trying to rally his troops. It will be a sleepless night, but it makes me even more determined tomorrow. The sun will rise. Oh, I'm going to watch that sun rise.

God. And then we're going to practice panels. And then straight away. How do I go again? How do I improve? But let's get over tonight. There's a bright future. If I was playing, imagine looking forward to what's coming up. You have the nation's league group. I love that he mentioned that. You have a home nation's Euro's coming. It's not a bad time to be a Welsh footballer. And he's right. Yeah, he is. I think again, okay, they've gone out in heartbreaking fashion here. Wales in World Cup qualification. But it's a far cry from years gone by. People might say, is that relevant? I just feel it is slightly because it's a country the size of Wales. It's a very small population to still continue that tradition. And I would say it's a tradition. Really, I mean, the late great Gary Speed probably set in motion back when he was managing. Chris Coleman, Robert Page, all those managers who got Wales to tournaments all within a whisker. Because obviously again, on Euro 2024, it was penalties against Poland, wasn't it? I think Bellamy's right. And I think that it is a disappointing evening for them. There's no doubt about that, heartbreaking.

But still a lot to be. I think Bellamy seems exceptionally well suited to the job as well. Yeah. I think he'll stick around. And I think he's trying to imbue that positivity into the squad ahead of, like he says, some exciting stuff coming up. I don't think it's quite interesting how he has almost redeveloped himself based on what his reputation used to be. It's been quite thoughtful, but motivational and passionate coach. And ticking all the boxes you want from an international coach, like passionate Welshman, thinks about the game quite deeply. Obviously really hard working. I love that. It's an answer he gave ahead of the game about Mo Salah. That was really good. Yeah, good on him. I wish them all very, nothing but happiness. I want to see enough one of those speeches that Michael Sheen did. Yeah, yeah. That's what I want to see. Well, maybe you'll do that before next week's friendly against Northern Ireland. No. But be a waste of his talent. Before the manager trying to get a team up for that. Yeah. Before the game, Bronby manager, Steve Cooper, on the passion at Welshman.

He was accused of sabotaging Bosnian's hopes of reaching this summer's World Cup. Did anybody work with it? Well, the manager of Bosnian Herzegov and a claim to Cooper dropped one of their midfielders for Bronby's two most recent games, because obviously Welsh were playing them in the World Cup playoffs. That's the game. It's actually helping them. Yeah, that's what I thought. Yeah. Well, Barbara, as the manager said, Benjo, the player in question, has told me some things that are hard to believe. It has something to do with the coach's origin. When your coach wishes you, but not your national team good luck, it leaves room for thought. That sounds like it's a sort of, like, dad adjacent joke that's just been lost in translation there, doesn't it? Oh, good luck at the weekend. But I'll do a point there. See you later. Barbara has also said, the only important thing to sort of clarify these comments afterwards. He said, the only important thing for me is that I trust my players. And the idea of all this was to create a puzzle for you. So you can think about all of these things. I had the idea to protect the player. That's where all this talking was from. Is it a mind game if you tell everyone it's a mind game? I mean, it seems to work incredibly.

That would be quite good. You brought a Johnson's head? No. Well, which one? There we go. I think mind games are fine, but you have to state you're going to do a mind game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. Right, this is a mind game. And then you go on to it. I think that's... It could be like a double bluff, though. Well, there you are. Yeah, maybe I really think it. Indeed. So, for example, Jim, if I said to you ahead of luck, what game were you doing like a Jacks or Billy? I'm hosting today. But if I was playing and I said to you ahead of me planning it to you, I think you're a bit of a cunt, right? It could be a mind game. Or it's just you being you again. Yeah, but then that gets in this head as well. Yeah, I think Jim would expect that. I'm always in my head, mate. Got nowhere else to go. True. But are you paying yourself rent, though? No, anyways. Is it rent free? Let us move on. No. Come on. It's a chequeer to... Chequeer? We're all in on chequeer. Do you think I'm a cunt?

You know what I do. Who's that cunt from? Let's have a poll up on the WhatsApp group. On the round of WhatsApp. Isn't we good, isn't it? Chequeer. Not to be confused with Czech Republic. Two, Republic of Ireland. Two, chequeer, one, four, three on pens. And out of the sickener. Yeah. I mean, Ireland's World Cup dreams are... They had the last time pen and World Cup was 2002. And they're turning up in the game. Yeah, I think this is more... A Troy parquet? A Troy parquet? 睡 straight interval three of them because of that exact reason. A Troy parquet of genuinely improved spurs now. Yeah, yeah. I think you would. You'd have to say. Yeah. Anyway, don't look... Troy's had a tough enough time as it is. He doesn't need to be linked to spurs. Do you want those memories being dragged up again? No, certainly not. And yeah, still, vote out the traps. Lot of wails. Two goals to the good. And they saved the first penalty in the shoot after that as well? Yeah, very similar, yeah. But they said then... They had sat back at Tino지만 that that's the problem. But they were to be fair to them, though. I mean you have to remember though that the the first checking goal was was four minutes after they were sure Yeah, I mean and they were good enough second off that check you didn't have much so again

Like they were they I think the way they set up and you'd expect that from a hand grimace inside that you You get your territory right mark the space, you know all good Stuff Canal Oh, yeah, can I just say there was eight minutes this game between Troy Parrish Peltier and Patrick Schicks Peltier Which were just simply a pauling advert for international football Farsi cologne goal and absolutely needless penalty followed by a One of the worst decisions from a defender liver see doing the balls going out of play A little ridiculous and he just pulls him back anyway in in the age of var. Yeah, there's no excuse for Madness was yeah, especially, you know, they beat Portugal and Hungary to get to this point and then they go turn it up and like from there It is again an absolute capital S sickness. Yeah, it really is Jim and I mean, it's been yeah, I don't want to lay with the point, but you know so long since they've been

Um at the at the World Cup and they'd have played Denmark in the next game winable. Yeah, I mean But yeah, it's all it's about talking about winnable games in in international football is weird though because as Jim said Public a vinyl of beats for good teams already. Yeah, and you'd expect and possibly I mean, maybe you wouldn't because it's in Prague, but you If they've beaten the teams of the pro father teams, they've beaten you think okay. We'll check the public's a decent draw Could have got someone hot worse? Yeah, um, but you mean you just never know and if they if they can't get past Check the public then how can they maybe they can't get past their mark either you just I mean it's never gonna find out of course But it doesn't it's not as easy as that is it is what I'm sorry. It's not as easy as that Well, you just you've got to be in the hat, haven't you? You've got to give yourself the chance in the first place It's a shame they weren't able to do that. Yeah, and I mean the fact that they made the playoff, you know such amazing scenes of celebration when they beat Hungry and Budapest of course Oh, yeah, but you know, so I mean, I mean, there's a little something to hang the hats on I know that they won't feel like that this morning. I mean, I helped him send himself said, you know

Again, the futures brighten all that kind of chat because island. It's been so barren really on the international stage for quite a long time now Didn't stop at the Irish fans traveling in numbers. Of course there was apparently a queue outside and Irish by prog at 9 a.m On the morning of the game That's what we like to see Roy King's raging. Yeah, so we're non-farm. Yeah Can I wait for it to open? Can I spare a quick mention for ladders laugh cratesy? You may. Yes Very Despite being a part of what we think may well be one of the worst Premier League teams in history that they have picked up recently. I admit that he's actually had like a strangely good season He's carrying himself with a lot of credit He's done well. He'll get a move to I think if he wants to another Premier League team I think he's good enough. He's obviously been made Captains of Czechia and these obviously scored a really important goal last night When I was looking him up because I thought oh he's the interest He's a player rather than I on and I think he's pretty good. He's a bit underrated and He's a centre-back right for Sparta for Sparta Prague. He's scored 44 goals and 148 games

Including 13 league goals in 19 league games in 22-23. I'd love to know the story of that. Steve Bruce. It is He must have been on pens. Yeah, we have to find out with you some Czechier experts to tell us. Yeah But I mean across across some five seasons in them in the top division in Czechia He's got 34 goals not too shabby. Yeah, not too shabby at all. Not bad When he got another important one last night. That can't move get your moot. That's a kind of form. It gets you a move to Girona lads There you go. Now, let's talk about Italy to Northern Ireland nil This is a second in show. It really is. It's a terrible day for the kingdom and our friends in Ireland I'm glad you're glad it isn't there. It's a terrible day markers. Just call it what it is. It is You set a glorious down the kingdom Where how can it be we're getting for just depressing stuff? Well hang on. That's not quite what I said at the start And everybody's welcome to rewind it and check. So don't you start that granddad? Can I get a rewind now Italy yes there they're through to the next round of the The World Cup qualification process the final if you like at Northern Ireland miss out they haven't qualified

For the World Cup now since 1986. Yeah, which again just shows you how much of a signal is his I appreciate Northern Ireland going to Italy Even though it's not a great Italian side still It's still Italy they've still got quality in there as tonnallis showed when he scored that girl I know and also more is again when he scored a brilliant second. Well tonnallis was a textbook tonnall It was yeah, but like it was it was a tall order this for Northern Ireland And I don't think too many can have many complaints even though I mean they look gutted Of course they did after the final whistle But it's like since 1986 you know despite the expanded toward the expanded euros as obviously helped A few sides of Northern Ireland included and get that tournament experience, but the World Cup Yeah, which is of course that's sort of the holy grail of international for sure to get there It's even with the so far even with the expanded tournament though. These playoffs are brutal Well, they are brutal and the expanded world cup is not really and I understand this is not a complaint But it's it's a did more I think other continents sure You know in Africa and particularly we know five places what it four or five places among you know about 50 teams, you know crazy

So yeah, whatever we whatever we slice it It as you say Jim it's still very very difficult to get through it Particularly if you've not got the home advantage and also they had con and Bradley and Dan ballad missing Which is just terrible timing So let's say Northern Ireland basically advanced through to the playoffs through the nations league right? It was really tough for them to that advance through the first stage of official World Cup qualification because they're Germany and Slovakia in their group and Slovakia who they actually beat at home Obviously lost the way to You know It is I mean despite the fact that it's expanded. It's still really hard for teams of that size as you said in in in the euros It's it's much much easier and the euros is basically now way too big. Yeah, whereas I'm also waiting to see what's like the 48 teams in the World Cup I suspect that'll be pretty dull as well in in places, but You know, it doesn't feel like it's probably for people who are passionate fans of Northern Ireland But you know getting to a playoff and losing to Italy. I mean, it's kind of about par. It's probably better than par

Yeah, based on some things we see you might say. Yeah. Oh, I mean the the nation's league is important because if you wanted to stink out the World Cup qualification like Sweden did and get two points Two points from Estonishingly bad. Yeah, they they now find themselves. They didn't win a game. They didn't win a single game They were shit right you They now find themselves a game away from qualified because they got Poland of course they beat Ukraine Three one last night. I think the job rash hat trick. Yeah, there we go. There you go. You see So it's it's it's a funny out game in it My colonial when asked about his future There's Northern Ireland manager said as things stand I will manage the game on Tuesday nights That's why I was of course and I will manage the remaining seven games for blackbone rovers because less we forget he's got a bit of a job share But my contract is still with the IFA. I'm contracted to 2028 and after blackbone rovers I'll revert back to the status quo, which is the national team manager. I love the way you worded that Yeah, you got a side hustle these days. I've always got to say that sometimes that is blackbone rovers It's hugely respectful to the historic and proud football clubs that is blackbone rovers, isn't it? Yeah, I mean not

He's not his fault. I mean, obviously you're off of the job. But he's taking it fine Um, he's not there under duress Sitting here as a sports event. I really need it to do us a solid Vika that'd be absolutely sensational Because we are looking really really poor at the moment. Yeah, Italy, of course I'm trying to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014. Which is crazy It's absolute madness if you look at the Italian football team in the 21st century So so angry about it. He looks great though, doesn't he? Yeah, he looks really like even more bear-like than he did as a player Yeah, yeah, there is a silver lining is that he will be a big character at the World Cup if they get there Which you would expect them to I think We're seeing Genarega 2's own moving in you know, we talk about old man strength. Yeah Is that man going to be yeah, absolutely he's gonna come for Joe Jordan Let's be fair. He's usually going to the World Cup. He's in a disgrace himself and so on It's gonna be fantastic. Yeah, I mean, absolutely fantastic. He's gonna be good Yeah, Italy. I mean, it's funny. I was reading an article to BBC about the Italian national side and how they've had their shortcomings

for many many years now And it talked about from that 2006 World Cup win and they've done this and then there's a little line They did in the euros and 20 years. Yeah, that's wild man. That's wild man Yeah, our cost Well, expensive us indeed. They did the memories are still painful And did you see though that Italy They before the game and newspaper pictured it a group of young fans with the caption the cover images were generated by AI We couldn't find any young people who were quite as happy to cheer on the national So it's a really bad AI phone like Generation as well. It makes the every fan looks like the same person exactly the same. Yeah, it's absolutely hellish Right coming up after this England are up tonight Hey, this is Adam Grant host of Ted's podcast to rethinking with Adam Grant Let me share with you why smart finance leaders turn to bill

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And news from the premier league to the champions league and all the way to the world cup will have chat more out of the box than a Dominic Subbers like pre-kick more panelists than Chelsea of players and unlike the AR we know where to draw the line for fine margins Fundabates and pool blooded tackles football weekly listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube Hi, this is Matt from P1 with Matt and Tommy and this episode is sponsored by eBay The cars you'll find on eBay are just different. They come with a story that you can't wait to share Like this 1973 Dodge charger on eBay. There's been tucked away in an Arizona barn for over 40 years Only 55,000 miles and somehow in great running order even has a rare sunroof Suddenly a car that was hidden for decades is being delivered in just a few clicks with eBay's secure purchase All the paperwork handled There are thousands of cars on eBay from unique finds like the Pontiac Grand Prix SJ to daily drivers and now with a new way to buy them eBay things people love

Oh Good morning good Tell us something your mum doesn't know Yeah Oh the sound of victory Was that in the last tournament cut I was a catter quite a while ago I think it might have been Euro 2020. Yeah, okay in 2021 of course. Yeah, yeah Look, it was a somber first half and if you wanted to see the sunshine after the rain here It is yeah England against you're a quiet tonight at Wembley 75 kick off. Don't you worry? I'll be there and so will Thomas Tuchel He said this camp is the last opportunity on building in it on this show That is the order of ceremony right if you're looking at a festival line up Yeah, that's the order as you did right or a big capital letters Only festival appearance this summer. Yeah, Marcus better and also special guest Thomas Tuchel I learned to mark as his mind England is so important even in a friendly There are people worrying that Thomas Tuchel won't turn up. Yeah, there's also people worry that he won't be there. Don't you worry? I'll be there

That would cheer on the boys Go away. I'll make no one see first the brand. It's taking you there. No, it's just a friend of mine. Oh, okay You bought it to yourself I did pay for a normal ticket. Yeah, okay. I've got me England dealer. You got your chain mail ready all of it The whole lot Jim the whole lot You'll be up there hanging you'll be up there hanging St George's flags on that post on the Wembley anyway, weren't you? I'd hope that someone's already done that. Yeah, you know one of our lot Anyway, Thomas Tuchel said this camp is the last opportunity for players to compete for their ticket to the World Cup As we know expensive this one is indeed Jim tickets are very expensive I'd love him to dress up as Willy Wonka Would do golden tickets and chocolate bars to the players the so all the players have been in Contention get given a Thomas Tuchel chocolate bar and they have to open it on the England YouTube channel That's how they find out and if it's got a golden ticket in here They have to sing the Charlie buckets song. Yeah, I got a golden ticket

Yeah, and then they get struck on the bus if not the will they get sucked out of a tube like a gust of blue Stuck in the chocolate river. I was in the river chocolate river. It's not a plane. It's a great glass elevator It is very good. There he gets Does get stuck in the tube. Yeah, yeah, we get stuck in the tube. Yeah, yeah, like I might do on the way Let's hope not though. We have a little chocky-be in the pocket. Can you go in? Oh, that's a good idea like the big man himself Yeah, well, you know what it's like in corner shops in London. They are just it's like the garden of Eden A bit of Marzipan Ritter sport there we go. Yeah, very good. You know what I mean? I don't understand how it's related to sport But I don't mind well, it's the most European and to be fair a ritter sport is he's a euro's chocolate box The most European chocolate bar. Go. You want to hurt yourself, mate? No, I'm a ballad. Yeah, they're horrible But it's American, isn't it? Well, why not Reese's piece doesn't like American things. Reese's peaces. They are Yeah, Reese but not butter nuts Reese James Reese James's pieces right. Yeah, one of them Jim

There you go, and I'll have a kind of fenter as well We sound like we're in a nursing home at this point That in the future We'll forget where we actually are Reese's pieces, that's a man Fatter We haven't we have a chocolate bar on the tube I might not get to the ground I might get stuck on the ground Oh, no, was it Augustus? What are you talking about sir? Just take your medicine Where's the pizza to me the other day? Come on, ground down. Let's get you back to bed Right, anyway, England. Yeah, where are we? Oh, jeez, jeez, jeez, jeez on toast. Come on, let's go. Not all of England's 35 man squad will be with England for this game Of course, as is the hectic nature of this particular You guys to remember. Yeah, I know. You'll do well won't he? Eleven players will join the squad for the game against Japan next week Against who sorry? Japan Those players who will join up for that game. So so tonight these players won't be involved Perhaps an easier way of saying it

So we will not see Dean Henderson, Dan Bernmark gay, Ezra concert, Nikoa Riley, Elliot Anderson, Teckland rice, Morgan, Rosentic, Gordon, Harricane and Bacar second Why did I go to this game and not the Japan game? I don't want to watch it. Dean Henderson's not involved. No, I didn't think you would That's a good team there. Yeah, that's a good team right there. It's an excellent team. Yeah Dad win the World Cup that team I think if we just sent those eleven men. You know what? I mean, you're right like that. It's a good starting level Not too sharp, but it misses you. That would win the World Cup if I just sent eleven men. You're right That's how confident the fever is. I think I was agreeing with Jim's point that not yours, but fine Again, you can rewind and have a listen And but there will be plenty of Englishman on display at Wembley tonight on the pitch particularly And Ben White and Harvey Barnes could be involved. Harvey McBarn's Harvey's gone on not anymore To be fair to Harvey shut the kill away, is he? Yeah, Harvey was shocked in the lock I think I'll try you back down to London. Harvey put all his chips or England Didn't he because he

When Stevie Clark was making kissy faces aim Harvey Barnes knows that if he goes, you know what Scotland. Yeah, all right He will be a starting player for them. Yeah, surely he would start these 28 now as well. Yeah, exactly He would be a start player and and and obviously they've qualified for the World Cup I understand how do you have joined up with Scotland after they qualified think that might have been a little bit cheeky But still I would imagine they would have probably said okay I don't know what the conversations were, but he said no he wanted to have a go England and the season he's had I don't think it's unreasonable to think that he you know Make an impact Absolutely He's he's essentially Find that really really hard because the quality of players we've got in that position when his teammate and he gone Yeah, he's certainly one of them, but I do think there's room. This is perhaps a little bit cheeky, but there is room for For someone who's actually in the form because he Look at some of the wide forwards English have got because sack will be one of them. He's not actually in great form But it's that left side where he would I know that but I mean probably speaking they do rotate around a lot play different shapes

Like I can't see my point just being if you were going to take it in the round as wide forwards, right It's unthinkable a year ago to say or because sack is not really great form. He but he hasn't been has he so so There's a little bit of light opening up here or there is what I'm saying Also Barnes is a player who's got a lot of experience of coming off the bench and making an impact and and he's really good Doing that and he's and he's happy seemingly happy doing that that will likely be his role at the tournament If you know, yeah, it's it's I mean he seems like the prime candidate But on that left hand side where he would be vying for Anthony Gordon I think a lot of people probably haven't done as a starter fair enough. Okay Marcus Rashford doesn't start games for Barcelona hasn't done I appreciate that he is playing for Barcelona, but he he was starting games when um was it Rafinha would have been injured Yeah, and since then he's very much a scored player Now too could clearly like Rashford Rashford has got a lot of experience at international level But isn't starting so many games so could there be you know a little bit rusty or what not or you could say well

Is he going to be fresh um and then Some might say you know would ever actually as a play on that left side or is he more central you know All it takes is an injury Rashford or Gordon get injured you know barns is probably in and a heavy barn in terms of goals to game ratio Which I appreciate is fairly unscientific but just to put a counterpoint out there He's been more effective on the right than he has the left. He's very versatile interesting. Yeah, you can play Both sides. Yeah, and that's a good point to make looks yeah, and I think with barns again Look he was called up late. I mean it was What you know it was an injury in the score than then he got a late call up to the 35 man side But look he's still in there so fair play a balance for the holding on his back to himself at 28 He's only had played on one friendly five six years ago very little and that's it and he's still back to himself He could have he could have said yep as you rightly point out I'm going to the World Cup with Scotland and I and it's basically a shoe-in Um, but he's chosen not to do that. He feels English. Yeah, and uh, and and and he's got England in his heart. Of course he does

Yeah, um does Ben White We're not sure We can't go there. Difficult. He needs to he needs to somewhere hot to go I think he's I mean the things in Ben White's heart to me feel like Dubai definitely ITV1 Yeah, definitely in his heart. Right. Oh, no loves. Oh, no. Yeah, it's but he's got a bit. He's got a big ITV energy Yeah, massively. Yeah, yeah, he's he's he's he's he's he's keyer sportage. He's chicken tonight. He's ITV1 Have you seen that video of him chasing Gemma Collins when he's like he's much younger I think he's probably still at Brighton possibly even at Leeds and he's he's running that he's somewhere oven He's running along like just big grin on his face and and he just catches up to her and they're both on camera He's got GC GC and she's like all right. She clearly doesn't know who he is. He is it's it's it's a proper smile in the way I've never seen from him before because he's a very sort of deadpan man. Yeah, um, yeah Lottery in a play. Massively massive I mean, she's the queen of ITV2. Yeah, that is that that's bang right. He's Keith Lemon of football Yeah, kind of yeah, and I love Ben White and you know, I obviously have I've seen Keith Lemon

So you know how I feel about him and it pains me to admit that you're right on that, but you are yeah He's a sort of geezer a pop-up In a Keith Lemon show. Yeah, he loves it Um, he also was absolutely fuming with apparently a quote barbed comment from Steve Holland the last time he was in England camp Yeah, so that's the story isn't it um that that's I'm sure a lot of people have read this or heard this and it's been circulated for a little while But yeah at the 2022 World Cup when Ben White was there apparently Steve Holland Question Ben White It's difficult that you weren't his love and passion for football Yeah, he wasn't in the I wasn't in the room, you know, the tone of voice blah blah blah blah But Sources close to me say that Steve Holland said it was just like a throwaway remark And is if you know Ben White wasn't paying too much attention and it was kind of like well look if you paid a bit more attention Maybe you know, yeah, it was in Paris into another player I think it might have been Kyle Walker. He apparently questioned he asked Kyle Walker

Something about a particular situation that would happen at Man City or whatever and he had an answer He asked Ben White something similar and he said he said he didn't know and then he made that comment And apparently also this doesn't seem to be reported with this story which comes up quite often Apparently Ben White was going through something in his personal life at the time Yeah, that was that was very very serious and very kind of difficult And that often is left out of the reporting So it's a very emotional time for him and he essentially fell undermined in front of a group of peers Yeah, who obviously don't know that well, right? It's difficult things to come into a camp like that But did he go home from the World Cup? He did yeah, so it must have been pretty far long I mean that seems I mean, I have no idea what you're referring to there Jim And I give you the benefit of that of course and clearly him But it feels like it must be pretty serious for him to have gone all the way home from a World Cup camp Yeah, because he was in the Euro 2020 squad That's right, but it's a new broom now, isn't it? Well, yeah, exactly And that's what Tuckle said, he's also said he's confident Ben White won't be booed at Wembley All right, he's right there Well, I mean quite clearly Ben White is wants to play for England You're king of the boo boys, I see you mean you're probably one of the boo boys

Have you ever booed? No, ever booed at football match, ever Ah, I don't, I must it and look at the opposition maybe you're a bad referee in court or something Oh You know typical on the left knee That story is so good All right, carry on But no, I think Ben White clearly wants to play for England But as you say, whatever happened, we weren't there With him and Steve Holland, he felt no, that's it And the relationship was broken and he wasn't asked back into the side But in the here and now Backstarting games for Arsenal What does he bring on the pitch? Because let's be honest, right Whatever's gone before Can he play in this England side? Is he going to add something to the right back position Because that position With Reese James being constantly injured, it's up for grabs Yeah, and you've got Tina Levermento in there So I think a lot of people quite like He's been injured a lot as well by the way But another player who's injured Trent Alexander Arnold is clearly not in Thomas Tuckle's play or not Whatever you may think of that

If this is the last chance for you to get it, then he's not going Trent's not going to the World Cup, barring a load of injuries And even Zed, he probably like Conzer or whoever else Right back But Ben White's in gym, what do you think then Of his credentials and what he could bring to that position for England So this is actually an unusual time I think for Ben White to get this call up Because he hasn't played that And he's had, every time he's put a little run of games together, he's got another injury Traditionally, he takes a bit of time to get back up to full speed after an injury I think he had a bad injury that he played through A few seasons ago and I think it might have affected his Just his body in a way that he's still feeling the repercussions of So I mean, in the Carabell Cup Final, he looks absolutely gasped after about an hour And that's been a sort of facet of his game Fairly recently because as I say, he's still getting back up to speed And getting into the rhythm of playing regularly That said, once he does get into that rhythm, he is an absolute machine And he's really, really sort of really good as an overlapping option as a fallback No, it's a soccer world Absolutely and it's rare I think that you see someone who started as a centreback

Take to that side of a fallback's game so well but he's very, very good at that So you will be getting a very traditional right back Really in that sense of kind of bombing up and down the wing like that It's not always the best in sort of one-on-one situations But he's also not absolutely terrible at it's certainly kind of one of the kind of weakest spots in his game So yeah, I mean, he's a dependable right back He's very, very solid, obviously very sort of calm, headed, very cool and collected We see that just from his personality really So yeah, that's what you'd be getting Like I say, I think he wouldn't get in over Reese James But it's very unlikely James is going to be there The Reese James is such a role's role of a player We all hope that he's going to fit But you think it's unlikely he's going to be there, do you? Well, I don't mean he's going to be there Yeah true, I mean And this injury has got his only apparently a minor one Okay, it's all right All right, I think I think I think that if you're going to gamble on a player We saw Southgate gamble on players that you're a 224 There was one player to who was going to gamble on If it just wasn't, it would be Reese James

Yeah, and also I mean James can do a very, very good job in midfield It's all in the way, because we've seen him do it for Chelsea In the way that it hasn't for Trent The drop off from a fully fit Reese James is absolutely seismic Because another one of the fallbacks in there who could play that right So because he is right for his jet spins Yeah, but again, I can't just play dead, no Well, the cons are going to be another one, yeah So but cons are you would think would be first and foremost He's a center off But can't do a job right back But again, you're in that you're in the The reality is Reese James is a miles better off than any of a plan to do And I think I think next down the line I would think would probably be Tino Levermento But if you Yeah, and I think Levermento is also really good But he's also missed a decent amount of football for injury But there's a little quiz for you there How many games do you think Reese James has played for club and country Since the start of this season if you include the club World Cup Oh, this is this is this is a player you If everyone thinks he's at all the time, I would reckon it'd be about 25 maybe I think probably about 35 47 the other 47 There you go, there you go, there you go He's having appearances Yeah, so so and and in that is quite a lot of start

So he has played he has a lot of players find it hard Understandably so to to to shake off this tag of being injury I know that Reese James was like two seasons ago Missed like six months ago Yeah, I thought he'd had a more serious injury than he does I thought he was a doubt, please not I don't know how how serious it is But I thought it was a much more minor than people are saying But who knows Ultimately that's why Ben White's been called up Because we need to get some cover there And if it turns out that the Reese James can't make it Then he can't make it, I mean he's going to get on with it Haven't you? You've got to get over there So we'll be fascinated to see who he starts for the the game Tonight we'll be there Yeah, wow indeed Yeah, we're going to we're going to enjoy Bielser And the the do you think one of the reasons why Tuckle has left a lot of players who would be Vowing for first team positions and some of them nailed on Obviously Kane and Declan rise You're thinking Friendly gets Euro-wide They could just turn up and kick the shit out of us They're in a bit of a kind of sorry state at the moment as well So apparently Bielser made Darwin Nune's cry at a half time Of a game They went into Nune, but how is Bielser making Darwin Nune his cry

Darwin wait can I have a little sit on your bucket He went no And you find that very surprising to hear Do we know why? Do we know what we said? Really sure Yeah, okay They qualified relatively straightforwardly for the World Cup, didn't they? Yeah We're expected them to get the shit out of us at Wembley But he's agreed a strong referee is what we need We did a very strong referee And we need some strong players Is that why Ben White's been called up as a sort of punishment? Yeah, quite possibly But again, but against Euro-wide Again, he was a late call up It was only in injuries that put him in there So, hopefully England won't suffer any injuries against Euro-wide tonight Well, you'll be there, won't you, to sort of make sure that everything's going on Well, I think it's an injury I'll boo them off of the pitch then If that works Take your magic sponge I should say so I should say so And now speaking of England fans Have you seen the England superfan Andy Miln? You know the guy looks a bit like Steve McLaren Yeah I think he first came to our attention to the 2022 Qatar World Cup If you did If you are listening or who or watching this

And you don't quite know how to picture England's superfan Andy Miln I can give you Pete Dawson's description if you'd like Pete Dawson this morning on WhatsApp described him as A cheeky face for us Gen X's I don't think he connects with the young But he's a proper meat and potatoes 90s He's a proper meat and potatoes 1980s uncle face Maybe did a turn on the opportunity locks back in the day Owned a jag but lost it on the horses That's what he looks like And to be fair you said in reply to that totally agree with this Type of lad back in the 80s in gospel He was either high on the hog and taking the kids to Disney World Or absolutely on the bones of his ass Yeah, that's right And that's right Those two descriptions are absolutely right Rollercoaster of an 80s bloke Yeah That's what he looks like that Yeah Whereas in practice It seems like he's got a spare house doesn't he When I grew up there was a place called Headkill Which is a hard way in Elson district community association Where you go there for events They did like a big New Year's Eve party or whatever And he's 100% when I was about 12

Yeah The type of geezer Who you knew through your dad Who had a gold bracelet And he petitioned out tenors Yes To the kids And he'd buy your coax and tell you to make him last That kind of guy Well, he lives in Thailand then he will Right So a bit more modern than what you're talking about But still I think it's in the same genre He's going to put his second home in Cheshire on the market To go to the World Cup To go to the World Cup He's got tickets for every game up to the final As we know that will set you back over four thousand pounds You must have good England points for that as well Oh, he's got loads of England points But that'll set you back over a four grand in Qatar To give to remind you all That would have been just over a thousand pounds Okay They have again Just to remind you They have hiked the prices of the bastards I mean England's superfan Andy Milne is selling his house So he can Selling a house Which does put it in perspective So yeah, so he can go to Thailand So this is the home he comes back to So I think that puts it in a little bit more respect But look He said the last order in Qatar was a present to myself I have been saving for years We had a second over 27 years

So it felt like the right time to cash in The first World Cup at your tender was in 1982 Incredible But he said I always try to do things cheaply if I can I will couch surf where possible I am lucky to have friends in Mexico, Dallas and Vancouver So he's selling his house And he still having to couch sir That's what this World Cup is Selling his house But Alexey Lannas is really proud of the ticket prices Sure The country He wanted an absolute bellend He's a disciplined bellend Lannas is Because he was He was Proper bellend He's a proper like son I am disappointed In the case back in the day he was like a character He was a 90's and the World Cup 94 Yeah but we didn't know that much about Probably the guitar and stuff, didn't he Yeah but he had a goatee beard Like the father He looked funny Yeah, the father Not bad Yeah, I spoke to my friend He was quite big in the England Supporters Association Not you And But I'm not in England But you look why you're not part of that official make up I love you as an ambassador They would I'd say They would He'll decide Your eyes glazed over there I was a good thing with you Yeah I've got young kids I'm off for seven weeks

So I'm spending everything we own Yeah Fair point Just sell your second house True I've got to get it first But I've set a message to my friend who's involved and that stuff I've asked him what he thinks of England super fun Andy Meal So if I get an update, I'll tell you Well yeah, I have one of my one of my mates who goes to Washington and play they actually met him And he sent a little A little A video note to our back of the day when I was still playing for the football note And he was he was he seemed like a good lad Oh do he Yeah He loves to sell him He's got a book out as well Who's that for? The England boys Is he then Yeah It's just people he's better at games But England boys like England footballers They're like England games Yeah but they don't like this weirdo fan This guy's one of us On the front cover of the book He's wearing a 1998 England top And he's holding the actual one of the actual But he's holding a world cup replica Well you took a replica with him to a cat house didn't you Yeah he loved a bit of that Who's the publisher here Yeah I'll find one You ever looked at him This book in this book There will be celebrity and surreal encounters From chance meetings

With Drugs, Munglers and Football Legends To pretending to be a Romanian journalist To sneak into a stadium The book is packed with offbeat unforgettable moments No he's done his job for it then right Oh all right Andy you've done well out of us I think it's time for a break You're locked into a lot of things you can't change Weather, traffic Hey stay in your lane Your wireless carry is latest price hike But you can unlock a better way Unlock the savings at boost mobile And save up to $600 a year Switch to the $25 a month unlimited wireless plan No contracts, no price hikes And you keep your phone Stop being locked into their games Unlock the savings at boostmobile.com Slash unlock Based on average annual single line of payment Of AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile customers Compared to 12 months on the boost mobile on the minute wireless plan As of January 2026 For full offer details visit boostmobile.com Boost mobile is now sending experts Nationwide to deliver and set up customers new phones Wait we're going on tour We're delivering and setting up customers phones

It's not a tour Not with that attitude Introducing store-in-a-door Switch and get a new device with expert setup and delivery Delivery available for select devices purchase at boostmobile.com Hi, this is Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Caram host of The Watch What Crappens podcast Here to tell you that the HBO original comedy series The comeback is back for its final season On the official comeback podcast Join host Evan Ross Katz along with Lisa Kudrow And Michael Patrick King to unpack each episode Here about the show's origins, real life parallels And why it still resonates with fans After more than two decades Stream the comeback on HBO Max And watch the comeback podcast on HBO Max Or listen wherever you get your podcasts Tomorrow at 5pm it's Scotland versus Japan Against who, sorry? Japan Thank you Doing their British tour Do it like Alex Ferguson would do it Japan Yeah But kind of more up it, up it, more energy Japan

No, but Ferguson was famously very dismissive of Ben I don't think you're going to come over if I do it I know, particularly in that second syllable I am doing it, I've done it about five times You're not being dismissive enough Okay, all right In their British tour Or Tour of Britain Scotland are going to face Japan Yeah, that's not fair I'll wait for Scotland then of course they're playing England on Tuesday Not I think it is Scotland though Returning to the field for the first time since that famous 4-2 victory over Denmark The scenes in that game Oh, that game was amazing It was so good The scenes of a different nature How could you, how can you not like international football Would you witness that It was incredible that was Yeah How many were played with it? It's just thinking ah Poro here in Tini Could you be talking about him now But can you be trying to do that He's thinking he's thinking Ah, I can run it into the corner of nobody's pressure But I can just slip someone in Do you know what? Yalney It's what It's one of those nights Oh, the goal's got on empty Oh, do you remember We all forget about Scotland The top of the day is incredible bicycle kick in that game as well

Well, it's not a mural now, isn't it Well, it's yes It is now Diego Maradona's son, one of his many children, has called Scott McTominay Jesus Hmm, right And now after McTominay scored to secure a 1-0 victory for Napoli over Calgary And Diego Armando Maradona Jr Jr. said After my father, McTominay is the most decisive player in the history of Napoli We had God at Napoli in the form of Diego But for me, McTominay is Jesus He's a completely fundamental player Hmm Yeah, I mean, it's an intriguing quote Diego Maradona officially recognized eight children in his lifetime But according to the Google search, I've just done He has been the subject to several long-running paternity disputes Yeah, so We don't know how many Right But one of them who has come out of the woodwork Is he presumably used to sit at football his son? Is he, doesn't like careers? I don't know He's got a different career, I think Yeah, I think it's probably, it's different when you call that Exactly He made a name as well, fuck's eight Yeah There's a whole thing Is he gone over the top there with Scott? Well, he went over the top of his father

Saying that we had God at Napoli, the form of Diego Yeah I mean, I've But that would make him Jesus, you know, God's True, that's true That's what Neaport is genuine, you think? No, isn't he? Well, there was just a moment, just a moment, just a moment, just a moment I mean, that lasted Argentina Right, okay, fine The Church of Diego Maradona I know you've both read Diego Maradona's autobiography Yeah And I, if you're listening and you haven't read it, I absolutely urge you to do that Because about every 10 pages, he just casually mentions that he's never cheated on his wife Just in all kinds of contact Eight paternity disputes that we know of Just the eight That's the thing, the disputes that we know of Yeah, we got to the children I don't think, it's a part of me to think Your Diego Maradona, I'm surprised it's not more than that Oh, that's what I mean He's a God in Argentina I mean, you've just mentioned almost quite literally To some people Certainly, deified I think Scott Potomac One thing we can all agree on here Go on It's when Scott Potomac left under something of a cloud that man United We didn't expect this We didn't expect this The new We were not prepared for this

We thought he might do quite well Yeah Yeah All of a sudden, he's the new Maradona Right Yeah It's amazing Nothing about him as a player Yeah Reminds me of Maradona No Well, to be fair, I know he said he's the most decisive player Right, okay, fine So that's what you said It's a bit of translation thing there, mate But I mean, you know, we know he's had a great time there And a long way to continue It's great that he's enjoying these chords Because he's having a lovely time But an international liver is having a lovely time as well Out on the town dressed in macularly He looks so good Have you seen that picture of him Just looking like a million bucks No, it's not that one It's another one He's leaning on a wall And Kevin DeBroiner of all people He's looking at him with like, puppy dog eye Just like Just absolutely thrilled by the aura of Scott Potomac We've often said If you had a football career You've unfortunately not to be a player You went overseas You'd have to really embrace it Throw yourself into it What tends to happen Not so much now But back in the day With British players going overseas They just wouldn't get into the mindset But well, they're still different here And I don't quite like it If you immerse yourself in it You could be Scott Potomac

Do you remember the first thing with tomatoes It was like these tomatoes are amazing Yeah, it tastes really good Yeah Maybe that's the secret They do take tomatoes very seriously They're just better out there though Yeah, well, obviously Well, indeed But Scott Potomac Even international level I mean, it's all coming up Him he's got a World Cup to look forward to And I'll tell you something Right now Carla mentioned a lot in Brazil They are making plans on how to deal with this kind They will be But Steve Clark, though Who's done You have to say Despite his critics He's done pretty well at Scott Potomac He's got them to the World Cup He's out of contract after the World Cup Incidentally Yeah, that's funny He's got a chefa Yet to offer him a new contract I think they'll just be basically waiting to see How it goes I mean, let's be honest In that game against Denmark All joking aside It could have gone the other way And Clark has had his critics You know, it's slightly similar In part to what Southgate faced at England You know, obviously improved the mood You know, got them at all And stuff that I doubt But people thinking this football has not been The most exciting And so on and so forth So But I think that that is true

But I think surely the debate is settled Now because the end has justified the measure Yeah, but they're tacking the way Fair tournament is qualified for Which is pretty good But the way they went out of Euro 2024 That pissed off a reasonable amount of Cool, but this fan Sure, but the slate's been wiped clean And they've just qualified for the World Cup And a spectacular way And they're going to be playing Brazil Yeah, it did So I think that is why They're going to see how they get on at the tournament And that's fair enough But in the fans more of you You've got an even this begrudging That you've got to be like, okay fair enough No, I think they are But that's why I don't think he's been off at the new contract Fine All right then everybody We have to wait a bit for England To play this evening And Scotland tomorrow But later today Before that huge game at Wembley Between England And you're a guy There's a huge game In my buddy aunt Which will be available To listen to And this afternoon Make sure to subscribe To the football animal in your podcast So that you do not miss it It is me Versus Jim I'm hosting Been first time in the hosting chair For a while but nervous about it But it's a great game It'll be a great episode And you guys better bring your A-games Well I think to be honest

Yeah I've started to These things have started to turn Into a bit of a one horse race And we need to get some form back We do So I'll be encouraging of you both In the host chair as I will be To see a good quality Level of performance today So we're going to have a little break Before we record it And put it out later You guys need to go and get your heads on Okay You need fire in the belly You need to head in the freezer Right Well, until that huge Grunge match between Jim and I Thanks for listening To the football animal part of the A-games creator Network And let's say my buddy aunt Will be in your ears Later this afternoon to do Not miss that Thank you look more Thank you very much Thank you Jim Thank you I just got the top of that The football rumble is a stack production And part of the A-cast creator network Hi this is Pablo Torre From Pablo Torre finds out And today I want to talk to you about boost mobile

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