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Football Weekly
England qualify and Republic of Ireland keep World Cup dream alive – Football Weekly podcast
00:46:07
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Ali Maxwell and Dan Bardell to discuss World Cup qualification and Jack Wilshere at Luton Town
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- [00:00]
Guardian Announcer
This is the Guardian.
- [00:13]
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- [00:37]
Guardian Announcer
Visit us@ericsson.com Enterprise not all journalism is the same. Take the Guardian. Our coverage has something unique. Fierce independence. Nobody owns us or tells us what we can and can't say, so we're free to report the whole picture. We connect what's happening in Washington to the rest of the globe, expose corrupt wherever we find it, and give fresh perspective on everything from wellness and soccer to culture, the climate and more. Read, watch and listen to the Guardian for free@theguardian.com.
- [01:18]
Max Rushden
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. England qualify for the World Cup. Six wins from six. No goals conceded. Every time we qualify comfortably before we win the tournament. Here we go again. It was only Latvia, but there was more good stuff from a balanced midfield. Harry Kane was back and scored a couple. Perhaps the back four is the only place where Tuchel himself isn't certain who goes where. Also, it took one Armenian headbutt and one Irish header, but the Republic are still in it. Evan Ferguson with a decisive goal, which means a playoff spot is still within reach. Wales took the lead against Belgium, who equalised with one of those handballs. Perhaps it would have been different if they'd held on for longer. Jeremy Doku was magnificent. And there's a classic. Lost bravely from Northern Ireland at home to Germany. Elsewhere, we'll round up Europe and congratulations. Congratulate Kate Verde, who qualified for the first time. Also, Jack Wilsh has confirmed at Luton. Millie Bright retires and Barry's half marathon quest begins in earnest. All that plus your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Dan Bardell. Hello.
- [02:13]
Dan Bardell
Hello. Max.
- [02:14]
Max Rushden
From not the top 20, Ali Maxwell.
- [02:16]
Ali Maxwell
Hello, Good morning.
- [02:18]
Max Rushden
And from running, Barry Glendenning. Welcome.
- [02:20]
Barry Glendenning
Hello. Hello.
- [02:21]
Max Rushden
Let's start then with latvian hill England. Five, six wins, no goals conceded. That's 37 World cup qualifying games without defeat since 2009. Rich on blue sky says, do we even need to play the World Cup? It's so obviously coming home. It all seems a bit pointless. Mark says. Does the panel have any views on Barry's cynical ploy to run himself to death to avoid it coming home next year? So look, we've qualified for the 2026 World cup in USA, Canada and Mexico with two games to spare. It was very comfortable, Dan, wasn't it?
- [02:52]
Dan Bardell
Did you say 2009 was the last time we lost a qualifier?
- [02:56]
Max Rushden
That's what I read somewhere and put it in.
- [02:59]
Dan Bardell
That is a long run. A very, very long run, isn't it? Longer than the run Barry's about to. About to undertake. Yeah. Look, what do you say? We've qualified. We should qualify. We always seem to qualify now but I think we're starting to see a little bit more now about what Tuchel. Tuchel's England is about that that settled 11 making people have to hard to get back into the squad to to get the shirt. If you play well, you keep the shirt. If you play well in one game you, you play the next. Now I think it's all looking pretty rosy at the moment. So like everyone else is saying it's undoubtedly coming home and I'm getting ready for my, my summer celebrations already.
- [03:38]
Ali Maxwell
Yeah.
- [03:39]
Max Rushden
I mean that's the thing though, Ali. I feel like I've had this conversation before, you know, as we round off a comfortable qualifying campaign and we say it's only insert patronize smaller nation and then say we should qualify. But this time it feels different. I've def said that before.
- [03:57]
Ali Maxwell
Possibly. I mean this has felt different because we're still learning about Tuchel and his stewardship and I thought it was really funny actually looking back that after a good solid home win in a friendly against Wales, Tuchel like got the flamethrower out to talk about the atmosphere at Wembley. He did not need to say anything like that and stir that up. But I think you just have to accept that Tuchel is going to be a bit like that last night. You know there's not loads to report support is there? Other than we now know that John Stones is sort of akin to Harry Kane. Just a complete lock to start for England at the back whenever he's fit. He probably joins Pickford and Rice as the. The absolutely nailed on starters and you'd probably put Rhys James and Bukayo Saka in that as well. Albeit James was injured in this camp and Saka has been injured previously.
- [04:48]
Max Rushden
Probably, probably Harry Kane probably put Harry Kane in.
- [04:50]
Ali Maxwell
Yeah, I think I did. But maybe, maybe, maybe maybe we take Kane for granted so much which is the, the often used expression that I missed him out. Yeah. And Kane's finished with his left foot from 20 yards into the corner. Like it's amazing that we have a player who can do that. And I think there's signs that Anthony Gordon is the left sided forward that complements Kane the best and that's obviously been a big talking point ever since. Sterling's form for club and country has kind of fallen off a cliff. He was the only player that's really probably clicked with Kane in an England shirt the way that you'd want in that position. And Gordon came into the international break saying, I don't feel like I've shown even half of what I can do in an England shirt and I'm really desperate to do that. I thought that was quite sweet and vulnerable in a way. And then he's absolutely backed it up with, with both performances against Wales and last night against Latvia and I think he's probably the star of this international break. So, you know, because we're always looking for some negatives even when we're winning every game to nil. I would point out that qualifying, with two qualifying games to spare is almost a bit annoying when there's now no competitive games until the World cup. In that, in that sense just two games next month where we've already qualified. Not much jeopardy on them. The two friendlies in March and then the warm up games that I think will be in Florida before the tournament. And then the other negative, if you're really digging, is that the one team we thought were going to be a sort of sturdy opponent in this group was Serbia. We beat them five nil and we thought maybe we're just amazing. And then subsequently they've proven that they are just in an absolute shambles and their coaches left during this international break. So yeah, we still haven't had a particularly stiff test but feeling pretty good about things overall.
- [06:31]
Max Rushden
Yeah, somebody did message and I, sorry, I didn't write it down so I don't, can't remember the name but it was, you know, will the next international break be the most international break ever given that there is literally nothing riding on it for England? I mean I would go further perhaps and ally Barry to say that that front six looks really obviously injuries aside and dramatic losses of form aside, but that front six looks very settled with Elliott, Anderson and Rice behind Rodgers and then Saka, Kane and Anthony Gordon.
- [07:00]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, certainly none of them have done anything wrong. Rogers wasn't as lively last night against Latvia as he has been in the past, but that's severe nitpickery on my part. I mean I just keep. Some brilliant players are going to be left out of this squad and that's. That is a fact because I don't. I think it's probably going to be 26, I don't think that's nailed on yet. But whether it's 23 or 26, some really top quality players are going to be left crushed by their omission. It's a problem. Oh, God. I'd love if Ireland had problems like that, but I. I can't boring myself now. I can see Drew Bellingham not being in the team. I think he will be, but if I was him, I'd still be a bit nervous. I don't think Thomas Tuchel, he doesn't strike me as an even remotely sentimental man. I don't think he'll have any problem leaving out big names if he has to. He. Big names will be left out. The problem for England is they haven't really faced anyone good. And I don't think the weather in the States is going to be a big problem. I think that's going to be the most problematic factor at the World Cup. That, and if England come up against a really good team in stifling conditions, that could be their undoing.
- [08:30]
Max Rushden
Which I guess means you need a midfield that keep the ball right. Which is why Ellie Anderson is so key. I suppose the interesting thing about. If Roger starts and Bellingham's on the bench, Dan, it's going to be a real test of Morgan Rodgers, how he deals with pressure. Because he will know that basically as soon as the game, whichever it is, isn't going quite right. Whether it's breaking down a low block or it is we, you know, we're losing to France in the quarterfinals. Everyone will be. There'll be the clamor for Bellingham or the clamor for whoever isn't on the pitch, I guess.
- [09:01]
Dan Bardell
I think that's the way it always is, though. I think that was the way it was in the last Euros, when we weren't exactly pulling up trees, excuse the pun, after the. After the stadium last night. But there was.
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Max Rushden
Oh, they were love. They were so nice.
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Dan Bardell
They were very, very nice. I. I enjoyed watching them. In. In fairness, there was. There's always players to come in. There's always club bias. There's always people wanting the player from their team, saying that they. They should be the one starting. I think what Tuchel's doing well at the moment is he's just kind of proving to all the players in this kind of short spell that if you play well, you. You will keep the shirt. I don't mind leaving big names out. Whereas previous England managers have maybe been a little bit guilty of shoehorning players in maybe Trying to get not the, not the best 11, but apparently who the best 11 players are into a team. We saw it with Foden in, in the last Euros and, and it didn't really work. I think Tuchel like, like Ali says he can, he's almost prepared to throw a flamethrower at things. I think the difference is, is that because Thomas Tuchel knows he's going to be so short term he doesn't mind upsetting people. Whereas again maybe previous England managers, they're so desperate to keep, to keep the job, they're probably doing things that they wouldn't normally do or that they don't necessarily think is the right thing for the team. So the way Tuchel's behaving and what he's actually doing is the right thing for England and we're seeing that because we're seeing better performances and, and more balanced performances now. Know people will be left out. There's going to be so many players that don't even go to this next tournament. There's going to be so many good players sat on that bench. We're in a, in a really, really healthy position. There's maybe only a, a few places in the team, as you said earlier that there's maybe only a few places in the team where we don't know who the guy is in, in that position. But things are, things are looking good, things are looking fresh and you know, these last two international breaks, mate, whereas I wasn't quite seeing it before the last two, now I'm starting to see it.
- [10:46]
Max Rushden
Ali, interestingly, Mark Gay didn't keep, you know, played well and didn't keep his shirt. I don't know if that's a fitness thing or you talk about Jon Stones being a lot but I would run as Stones and Gay would be your starting partnership at centre back.
- [10:58]
Ali Maxwell
Yeah. Konza starting over Gehe last night definitely gave me sort of pause for thought. Gehe's more comfortable as the left sided centre back but Stones played left center back with Konza alongside him. So if Gahey was playing, would Stones play on the right and Gay on the left? You know, this is where we're at at this stage and it's a good position to be in kind of really drilling down on that sort of thing. But Stones looked incredibly comfortable. Look, Konsa and Gay are both exceptional and I think in any other era both of them would be playing for the major teams in English football. And I think it just shows the strength of the Premier League that and the kind of heft of clubs such as Aston Villa and Crystal palace that you know, they are able to, to keep these guys, they're both unbelievable and would have, you know, such bigger and better reputations if they were playing for bigger and better clubs. But when you watch them play for England they, they're pretty flawless, both of them every time they play. Konsa in particular I think is just an unbelievable defender. Great recovery tackle last night and if you consider that centre back partnerships are more important really than the individual players themselves, what's more important is that they work well as a duo. I think it is significant that Konsa started last night and got that that time alongside Stones and, and looked exceptional because I wonder if he might be a slightly better fit, maybe being a bit stronger aerially, a bit more sized to him than Gahi. It's. Yeah, that's. That is one of the interesting decisions for Tuchel to make as we get towards the. The tournament.
- [12:24]
Max Rushden
But interestingly that a club that is as tin pot as Aston Villa have, you know, a couple of players starting down in this team. I'm kidding of course.
- [12:32]
Dan Bardell
Won the Wales game. Villa two goals and an assist from Aston Villa players.
- [12:35]
Ali Maxwell
If Oracle are Aston Villa going to be the 2023?
- [12:39]
Dan Bardell
Well, we wear claret and blue so you know, we're halfway there.
- [12:41]
Max Rushden
Well we can say one thing for sure is West Ham aren't going to be the 2026. Well, I mean unless Jared Bowen pulls it all out. What did you make Barry of Thomas Tuchel? I thought the way how brilliant to diffuse the situation over, you know, the fans singing, you know, you know, are we loud enough for you? We'll sing when we want. Etc, the two and a half thousand traveling fans. And he just laughed about it and said yeah, I got some stick. Well done. It was good humor. I accept it. See ya.
- [13:06]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, fair enough. I mean I think there was a bit of an edge to the, the chanting and he. It was quite funny. But fans creating an atmosphere isn't going to be. Well, it might. It will be an issue in the States and Canada and Mexico insofar as only very rich people are going to be able to attend games. Traveling fans generally make noise. Although I did read from Jacob. I think it was Jacob's analysis last night or maybe Dave Heitner's piece that quite a few the fans left before the end last night because the game was very late and it was difficult to get back into town. So I'm not sure what Tuka will have made of that. But traveling fans generally do their bit. If, even if the atmosphere at Wembley can be extremely lethargic to non existent at times.
- [14:00]
Max Rushden
What does Ali. What does Tuchel do in the next two games? Because they don't. It doesn't really matter. He could pick anyone.
- [14:08]
Ali Maxwell
Yeah, there's some sort of mental gymnastics I've been trying to do here because he was so adamant that he wanted to keep the same group that had done so well for him in September. That same group, apart from Saka coming in for the injured Madueke, which was very convenient by the way, Madueke's injury. Because would Saka have come into this squad otherwise? Thank goodness for Tuchel that he didn't have to answer awkward questions like that if he'd picked him and, and not Bellingham. But obviously in the next camp he, he may be able to claim that although that group of players have been excellent now for two subsequent camps, it would be worthwhile for him to have a look at people like Jude Bellingham, who I guess would come in for Morgan Gibbs White, Adam Wharton potentially, who would probably come in for Reuben Loftus, Cheek, Jack Grealish maybe. Albeit Gordon and Rashford at the moment seem pretty locked in on the left hand side of the attack. Foden possibly, but it kind of feels like he's barely part of the conversation at the moment, England wise. Because, you know, as all these conversations come back to, there's only, you know, there's a cutoff point at some point, whether you have 23, 26, 100 players in a squad, there's going to be a cutoff. There's going to be people that miss out. We tend to focus on those that miss out. But I just wonder if there's any scenario where the English football public could approach a major tournament and just be like, yeah, I like this team, I like this team. And I'm not that worried about the 24th man who's not. Who's sad not to make it. Like, I wonder if we could ever.
- [15:45]
Max Rushden
Get to that point.
- [15:46]
Ali Maxwell
I don't think we could, but based on the last two camps, we've certainly got a group of players playing really, really well. Way more attacking verve than we've seen for the last few years. And currently looking pretty solid defensively, albeit famously not very tested. And when we were against Senegal looked incredibly wobbly, actually.
- [16:04]
Max Rushden
Just finally Dan on Jordan Pickford, who set some. It's the most number of clean sheets in a row.
- [16:11]
Ali Maxwell
Yeah.
- [16:11]
Barry Glendenning
Nine clean sheets in a row.
- [16:13]
Max Rushden
Nine clean sheets in a row. And Lee Dixon made a point on Commentary about he hasn't conceded goal since Lee Carsley was in charge and I wonder why. Maybe it's a bit like Ali was talking about ESRI concert that no bigger club than Everton has gone in for for Pickford because he has an im. He has a reputation that he's got a mistake in him, but he doesn't. So he doesn't really make them.
- [16:34]
Dan Bardell
No, I can't remember the last big mistake he made for Everton either. I'm sure Everton fans can, but. But I don't remember it. I think I remember covering England before, before the Euros in, in 2021. And I remember at that point being worried about Pickford because he was making mist league and thinking if you're going to win a tournament, you're not going to win a tournament with a goalkeeper like that. And England still haven't won a tournament since then. But it's not because of the goalkeeper. He is just ultra consistent. He seems to put on that England shirt and almost be flawless every time. He must be hard in those kind of games, like last night as well, when you haven't got much to do and then suddenly there's a period where you called into action and he, he dealt with what was thrown at him in the brief periods that he was busy. Really, really Well, I think in my lifetime, certainly, as much as I love big David Seaman, and I'm sure we all do, I think Jordan Pickford has been the best England goalkeeper that we've had. Just, just ultra consistent, knows what he's doing. A big part of the. The dressing room as well. A leader and probably could have gone to play for a bigger team than Everton. But I guess if nobody ever comes in for you, you stay where you are. The Everton fans will be delighted to have him because there's teams that have got higher aspirations at Everton than Everton that have struggled and scratched around for a goalkeeper for the last few years who would have loved to have had him. I'm Chelsea. Hello, Manchester United.
- [17:51]
Max Rushden
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway, he just signed a new deal with Everton. Anyway, that'll do for part one. Part two, we'll do the rest of the home nations, beginning with the Republic of Ireland.
- [18:03]
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- [18:27]
Guardian Announcer
Visit us@ericsson.com Enterprise not all journalism is the same. Take the Guardian. Our coverage has something unique. Fierce independence. Nobody owns us or tells us what we can and can't say, so we're free to report the whole picture. We connect what's happening in Washington to the rest of the globe, expose corruption wherever we find it, and give fresh perspective on everything from wellness and soccer to culture, the climate and more. Read, watch and listen to the Guardian for free@theguardian.com.
- [19:10]
Max Rushden
Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. Would I get in trouble for referring to Republic as a home nation, Barry? That's how I like to see them, in a neighborly way.
- [19:19]
Barry Glendenning
You won't get in any trouble from me. You might get in trouble from others.
- [19:22]
Max Rushden
Okay, fine. Well, my apologies. But look, you could still make it, Barry.
- [19:25]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, we could. I mean, we beat Armenia 1 nil. It was another grim watch. Ireland are a team with no confidence, and there's no reason why they should have any confidence, really. The first half was diabolically bad, and then Armenia had a player sent off for sticking the knot on Finazzaz early in the second half. And after that, things got easier for Ireland. They scored with a. Evan Ferguson scored with a header. That proved to be the winner. But as soon as they scored, they sat back. Low block, invited Armenia on. Armenia, you know, they're, I think, 103rd in the world. We've scraped a win against them. It leaves us in contention to qualify. But I think we need to get something against Portugal at home in our next game, and then we need to be hungry in Budapest to have any chance of qualifying. I think that is highly unlikely. But if we were to pull off the unthinkable and qualify, picking our squad of 26 will not be as difficult for Hymer Helgrimsson as picking England's squad of 26 will be for Thomas Tuchel.
- [20:48]
Dan Bardell
It might be difficult in terms of finding 26 good footballers.
- [20:51]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't see anything. They won. That's the only positive you can take from that game because the performance wasn't good. They just look scared all the time, and that's not, you know, there's no reason why they should be. But we. We often talk about the weight of the England shirt, but these guys really seem to be. It's like they're playing in green chain mail. Even if we did qualify, I couldn't see us doing anything other than make.
- [21:20]
Max Rushden
Up numbers for those who aren't across every single player. Like, what's the midfield like? Like, what is the quality of play. You know, we sort of talk about the home nations going well. You have a good level of player and they need one or two superstars. And so, you know, at the moment, none of the sides, you know, Wales obviously have a really. Actually a good level base level of player. I think Scotland, you could say the same. You feel like there's a bit of a step down to who's actually in the island team, short of, I don't know, Nathan Collins and Quavin Kelleher, maybe Evan Ferguson.
- [21:51]
Barry Glendenning
Hal Grimson plays five at the back. I would say three at the back, but it's generally five. And I think that's a mistake because last night we really struggled to dominate the midfield. The midfield last night. So you had Seamus Coleman playing right wing back. He was really good, actually. Will Smallbourn, Jason Malumbi, Ryan Manning, Festi Ebasele, Finaz. None of them world beaters. Evan Ferguson up front and the back three was Jacob Ryan, Nathan Collins, Darrow Shea. But Alon also, despite the PA of quality players at his disposal, doesn't seem to know. Have a clue what his best team is. And he keeps, you know, people who are left out the last squad are back in. In this one. And I thought he would be better. I must say I've been disappointed with. With Hymer. I. I expected a lot better from him.
- [22:50]
Max Rushden
Let's go to Wales then. They lost 42 at home to Belgium. They took the lead by that Joe Roden header after eight minutes. And I know, Barry, I mean, I. We can't have this conversation again about the handball. But like, if they hold on to that lead for much longer, it. It does change the game, perhaps. I mean, Belgium were really good. Docu was brilliant in this game and they deserve to win. But it feels like a pivotal moment to me and it's just such a ridiculous. It's so ridiculous. I can't believe that. And I. I think people now think it should be a handball. I'm just furious about it all.
- [23:22]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah. And for anyone who didn't see it, it was Charles de Ketler struck the ball against Ethan Ampadu's outstretched arm. There was no possibility of Ampadu getting his hand out of the way in time, but I knew straight away it would be a penalty. It pretty much is a penalty these days, whether you like it or not. That's the way the game is. We constantly moan about handballs. The second one, I wouldn't have a problem with.
- [23:51]
Max Rushden
No, same.
- [23:52]
Barry Glendenning
That was a handball because he. He leaned into it. Who's Jordan James? But the first one, it was harsh, but them's the breaks. I mean, Wales started the game brilliantly. They scored and it was a textbook. If anything, Clive, they've scored too early and Belgium were just better than them and Belgium deserved to win. I don't think the game or the outcome of the game hinged on that penalty.
- [24:21]
Max Rushden
No.
- [24:22]
Barry Glendenning
Being given or not.
- [24:23]
Max Rushden
Yeah, I think you're right, but I think. I don't know what you think, Ali. I think the catalera is playing for it. I think we're now at a stage where players are like, I'm in the box, I'm not sure what to do. If I just flick this up, it could hit someone in the hand. We don't want footballers doing that.
- [24:34]
Ali Maxwell
I can see how you'd see it like that. I mean, was he trying to pick someone out? It was, yeah. It's. It's really tough to take it. It ruins what can be good. Interesting spectacles. It's incredible that with so much scrutiny on the game and the laws of the game and tweaks to certain laws that we still still have not got this right and very, very frustrating, I think. You know, it's Wales. There was a handball in the. In the first game they played against Belgium as well, that they have just had a historically bad run of handballs like that. You know, they lost narrowly in the last game against Belgium. They lost relatively narrowly in this game as well. Lost to England, lost to Canada and scraped a win in the last international break that wasn't hugely convincing. So I think I've been quite taken by Craig Bellamy, Wales manager, to be honest. I like the way that he talks about the game. I think he's a really interesting character, a great example of a. A manager not fitting in the box that people put you into, based on what you were like as a player and various stories from within the dressing room. But you have to say it's been a really bad last two breaks and I kind of feel like some of the air has been let out the balloon both. The way that they started the game at Wembley was obviously unacceptable for the Wales fans. And as you say, that they are not as good as Belgium, so losing this game is not a disgrace by any means. I was talking to some Wales fans who basically said, look, we're basically a playoff team in qualification campaigns. You know, we're rarely going to win a group if we're in a group with Belgium or another nation on that level. So we are a playoff team. And so Success for us depends on whether we make the playoffs and then obviously how we do within them and they still have a chance of that.
- [26:22]
Max Rushden
Dan, Jeremy Docu was brilliant. He's having a good season, but he was brilliant. Tom Lockyer on 5Live said it was the best performance he'd seen in his lifetime. Which is, I mean I'm, I'm kind when if I'm asked that question, I can't think of an individual performance where I've gone. That's the greatest performance I've ever seen in my lifetime. But it seems like hyperbole because I've seen lots of performances and lots of good ones. But he, but he was, he was really excellent.
- [26:48]
Ali Maxwell
Yeah.
- [26:49]
Dan Bardell
Like you say, he's got off to a good start to the season to man for Manchester City as well. Kind of seems to have started to deliver that, that end product that was maybe missing from his game in previous years. I think what Ali says, you know, you're coming up against footballers who are at a different level to you. It's really difficult for the Wales players and when player like Docu's on Song, they're gonna struggle to deal with him because Belgium have got upper end Champions League players playing for them and Wales, with all due respect, have maybe got lower end Premier League players and top end championship players in their 11 over player like Docus on Song. It's going to be difficult for them to deal with. But I think what Bellamy is trying to do generally is Matt Wales a bit more easier on the eye. He's got this ethos, he's got this way of playing. And Ali said the Wales fans say that they're a playoff team. Well, you can either get to the playoffs, kind of backs against the wall, losing games 1 nil, or you can have more exciting international breaks where you lose a game 4, 2 and you actually have a go. And I know which side of the fence I'd rather be out of those two options.
- [27:49]
Barry Glendenning
Bellamy made the point after the game that he said we've scored five goals against Belgium. We haven't got a point in, in the two games. So you know, Belgium are just better than them. Yeah, that's. It's an inescapable fact. It's not an insult. They're just better.
- [28:05]
Max Rushden
Yeah, I mean there was that, you know, and Broadhead scores and you think, okay, we're gonna have real fun in this injury time. And then Trossard just scores a second later. And so that was a, that was a bit annoying, wasn't it?
- [28:16]
Barry Glendenning
But there was There was an interesting delay in this game, Max, I don't know if you saw, but a rat. Oh, yes, ran onto the pitch and Thibaut Courtois tried to pick it up and Thibaut Courtois just soared in my estimation at that moment, because that'd be me. And a rat was coming for me. I just sprinted to the touchline, jumped into the stand, Eric Cantona style to get away from it. And yeah, eventually the rat had to be ushered off the pitch by Brendan Johnson, at which point a ball boy tried to pick it up again. Tip of the hat to him.
- [28:55]
Max Rushden
He doesn't even have. He doesn't even have gloves on, does he?
- [28:57]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, exactly. And then the rat escaped. And then afterwards the Cardiff City Stadium sort of head of operations was. Seemed to have to give this apologetic interview to explain as if it was in some way his fault. There was a rat. Rat. Anyway. Yeah, it was a quite bizarre interlude in an already entertaining game.
- [29:29]
Ali Maxwell
He described the rat as a freak of nature, which I thought was one of the funniest things I think I've ever read.
- [29:36]
Max Rushden
The Erling Haaland of rats, isn't it? You know, there's just no stopping this rat, is there? Wales can finish second. They've got games against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia. North Macedonia three points ahead, have one game left to play. So a win or draw against Liechtenstein would mean winning the final game against North Macedonia would put Wales in second. A draw could be enough if they thrash Lichtenstein by six goals or more. Not impossible. It means that game will be fun. And finishing second matters as they'd be in a pot one for qualifying, meaning a playoff against someone like Moldova. Finishing third would mean a playoff against someone like Italy. Yeah. Which is harder.
- [30:12]
Barry Glendenning
Not necessarily.
- [30:14]
Max Rushden
No, you're right. Northern Ireland lost 1 nil at home to Germany. I thought, Dan, they were unlucky in this game. Like, you know, Germany scored Voltimaru's shoulder. Michael o' Neill was funny afterwards when he said, you know, they played no more long balls than us after, you know, the Germany manager, Julian Nagelsman had talked about how many long balls Northern Ireland play. But in that Last sort of 15, 20 they create, they had a few openings, didn't they? And just one nil. No really clear cut chances, but just. It just felt like, oh, they were close.
- [30:43]
Dan Bardell
Yeah, I watched that game and I thought Northern Ireland were, were really, really good. I think maybe Republic of Ireland fans might be watching Northern Ireland thinking, why don't our players play like that? And I think the difference is the manager, Michael o' Neill is in his second spell there and he just knows how to get the players playing, playing above themselves. And they did that again against Germany at the end. Germany were literally clinging on a mixture of nice football and direct football from Northern Ireland and they quite easily could have got something out of that game. I remember last time I was on Ali spoke about Shy Charles and he probably didn't have his best game. But you could just say that there's a, a classy operator in, in the middle of the park there. And I think Northern Ireland were playing three at the back as well. But it's, it's not the five that Barry talks about with the Republic of Ireland players are coming forward and trying to, trying to cause problems and I think they were unlucky to lose. And from watching Germany I don't think I'll be putting them among my, my favorites to, to win the World cup in, in the summer because it's an unrecognizable Germany side. They were pretty dull, pretty dower and I don't know, they were probably missing a couple of players but they just weren't a good watch at all.
- [31:50]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, yeah.
- [31:50]
Max Rushden
And I agree with you. I mean Michael o' Neill early at the end of this game was absolutely furious, wasn't it? Sort of lots of finger pointing at the ref because I think there was. There was like two minutes or three minutes of injury time and there were.
- [32:01]
Ali Maxwell
That.
- [32:01]
Dan Bardell
That was a joke.
- [32:02]
Max Rushden
Yeah, it was ridiculous. It was. I really agree with my clonal and I feel he's sort of quite mild mannered. He's not a man to go pointing just for the sake. It's not performative pointing. He's not a performative pointer, I'd say. O'.
- [32:14]
Barry Glendenning
Neill. Yeah. And the very last action of the game was Northern Ireland had a shout for a penalty. Josh. Josh McGinnis was Bond. Well, it looked like he'd been bundled over by Robert Andrich. Well looking at the replay I think he was looking for it and he, he kind of charged into the, the German and then the very short amount of added time at a time when Germany were on the ropes. So I could understand his frustration. But it was a very sloppy goal. They gave away Volta. Maddo was four yards out. Rolls on challenge Bailey, Peacock, Farrell stayed rooted to his line. Probably should have come for the ball. So they will be furious with themselves for conceding a goal that easily. But it was a good performance from them.
- [33:06]
Ali Maxwell
Again I think it was a good international break because they were, they were really good in their previous game and won that deservedly so. And I think, you know, almost. One doesn't wish to be condescending, but Barry, you mentioned two Northern Ireland players in that answer, and that's Josh McGinnis and Bailey, Peacock, Farrell, both of those players playing in League One. Peacock, Farrell having a torrid time at Blackpool, who just sacked Steve Bruce. Not helped by the fact that Peacock Farrell's had a really start to his time there and they're in the relegation zone in League One. And Josh McGinnis plays up front for an Exeter team who are among the favourites for relegation in League One as well. So, you know, it's been interesting to cycle through all of these nations and you get a different feeling with Northern Ireland doing a lot with a sort of talent level of player that is probably the lowest of all the teams we're talking about, if we're honest, but who seem to have found something, an energy and a sort of pride and also a way of playing that's working really well. And I think, yeah, Michael o', Neill, it's really good to see him doing well because as you say, he is genuinely one of the nice guys, even if he was raging here.
- [34:09]
Max Rushden
They're three points behind Slovakia. They go to Slovakia next and then Luxembourg at home in the next break. So they could still do it. A huge game that Slovakia game.
- [34:18]
Barry Glendenning
Slovakia beating Germany earlier in the campaign has turned out to be awful for Northern Ireland.
- [34:24]
Max Rushden
Yeah. Yeah. Simon says if Norway are the new Belgium or Sweden, the new Norway.
- [34:27]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah.
- [34:27]
Max Rushden
Sweden's World cup hopes took another big blow as they lost 1 nil against Kosovo. John Del Thomason has been sacked. Graham Potter's said he's interested. He was in his house in Sweden telling the Swedish press that he was interested in the Sweden job, which might actually. I don't know what you think. That'd be quite a nice fit. Like. I. I think he probably needs to leave the Premier League, doesn't he, for a bit. I mean, he has not through choice.
- [34:50]
Dan Bardell
Yeah. I think his methods might be well suited to Internet international football. I could be wrong with that. That's an assumption that I have in my head. But I think. Jean Dale time I was reading something y. John Dar Thomason's spell has been so bad that it may be unlikely that. That the. That the Swedish FA will appoint anyone who isn't Swedish ever again based. Based on how badly that appointment's gone. So Graham Potter could suffer by the fact that he's not Swedish.
- [35:17]
Barry Glendenning
Give it Benny from Abba.
- [35:20]
Max Rushden
I was gonna say and they probably, because some people probably thought John told John Doll Thomason was Swedish and they will probably know that he isn't, won't they? They. They won't be thinking that. I mean look, they've got loads of. They've got Isaac and Yokerez and Elanga and Bergwell and you know, Kulisiew's when he's fit, like when they have their full squad, they should be at the World Cup. Mikael Marina scored two more for Spain as they beat Georgia 4 nil. 8 and 8 for his country. Now Cristiano Ronaldo got twice has now scored the most goals ever in World cup qualifiers. 41 for Portugal, breaking the previous record holder, former Guatemala striker Carlos Ruiz on 39. They drew 22 with Hungary. While we're on Hungary. Well, well done to producer Joel who ran the Budapest marathon in three and a half hours. More interestingly, Chris Kavanagh and Wright said Fred were on his flight. Hopefully Chris Kavanaugh is joined to become the third member of. Right, said Fred. But I, I can't confirm that Kate Verde qualified for the World cup for the first time after being eSworttini3 nil on Monday night. Paul Watson is on tomorrow so let's do the full Cape Verde tale there. But Barry, look, there is an Irishman there who did have a good international break.
- [36:30]
Barry Glendenning
Yes, very good international break. Roberto Lopez, we've talked about him on the podcast before. Plays center back for Shamrock Rovers. He was recruited through LinkedIn. Someone messaged him having heard his dad was Cape Verdean and he thought it was either someone winding him up or just spam, but. And ignored the message at first. But eventually contact was made. He's been playing for them for some time. I think he's a Dubliner, almost certainly if he's playing for Rovers. But big week for him because he helped Cape Verde qualify for the World Cup. Then he had to dash the airport to fly back to Dublin because his wife was about to give birth. And he could win the Irish League with Rovers on Friday night as well. So that would be quite a memorable week for the man they call Pico.
- [37:26]
Max Rushden
Yeah. In the huge football weekly second and third biggest market, the USMNT beat Australia 2 1. Coventry's had you Wright getting two goals for the US I. I had no idea.
- [37:41]
Barry Glendenning
Had you Wright was American.
- [37:42]
Max Rushden
No, you do now. What, what about Kobe Jones?
- [37:46]
Barry Glendenning
I I was aware of that. All right. Yeah.
- [37:48]
Max Rushden
Okay. John Hawks. I mean, just going through Coventry. Americans. I think I'm out. Yes. Producer Joel says if the people at Wendy's and Castle Main Forex want to get in touch, we're always happy to hear from. From you lot in the World Cup's going to be good, isn't it? Donald Trump has threatened to move World cup games. If somebody's doing a bad job, I feel there's unsafe conditions. I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who's phenomenal, and I would say, let's move it to another location. And he would do that. I don't know if that is FIFA's role. So the National Football association of the host country determines the stadiums. In other news, Gianni and Trump news. Infantino was at the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt. Gianni said FIFA's here to help, to assist and put ourselves at disposal for whatever we can do to make sure that this peace process comes to fruition and to the best possible end. Football's role has to be support, has to be to unite, has to be to give hope in the region. In Gaza, in Palestine, we will, of course, help to rebuild all the football facilities. We'll help bring football back together with the Palestinian Football association in every corner of the country. We'll bring footballs, we'll build pitches, we'll bring instructors, we'll help organize competitions, we'll launch a fund to help rebuild football infrastructure in Palestine. Tariq Panda wrote an interesting piece, actually, in the New York Times. Amen. About the fact that the Palestinian FA are still waiting for an answer from FIFA about the fact that the Israeli League is still playing games in the west bank, which goes against FIFA regulation. But it's okay because Gianni's there to bring world peace for everyone.
- [39:14]
Barry Glendenning
I mean, the bromance. Well, it's not really a bromance. It's total obsequiousness by Infantino in the face of Trump or in the company or orbit of Trump. It is. Is quite funny, but it is also a little worrying because FIFA is supposed to be absolutely neutral. And the way Infantino has aligned himself with Trump and indeed Netanyahu is almost sinister at this stage. You know, there isn't supposed to be political interference in football, international football, but the levels of bias he shows both Israel and the US is, is a source of concern. The thing about moving games that you said here, I think that's like, that's old news. Unless Trump reiterated.
- [40:05]
Max Rushden
I think he said it. I think he said it yesterday. I think he said it yesterday.
- [40:09]
Barry Glendenning
But, yes, I've already come out and said, look, he, he cannot move games on a whim. We won't stand for that. Which is not to say that, that they might if they're for. If he insists upon it. But what it's difficult to see happening from a logistical point of view.
- [40:27]
Dan Bardell
I don't remember anyone ever thinking, you know, what football really needs? Donald Trump. That's what it, that's what it's missing.
- [40:33]
Ali Maxwell
Right.
- [40:33]
Dan Bardell
Right now it's a, it's an incredible crossover.
- [40:35]
Max Rushden
It is. And I just. The idea of, you know, the World Cup's all planned, you've got your wall chart and then suddenly, you know, you know, Argentina versus Romania has just been moved just to like a, just a low, just a Stevenage. Why not? And you're just gonna really, we've got to go there. That's odd. Anyway, that'll do for part two. Part three will begin with the confirmation of Jack Wil Newton.
- [41:02]
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- [41:30]
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- [42:08]
Max Rushden
Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Phil on Twitter says, with Jack Wilshire at the wheel, are we still dirty Luton? You always will be to me, Phil. He's been appointed the manager replacing Matt Bloomfield who was sacked last week. We chatted about it a little bit but. Ali, what's your, your take on this?
- [42:22]
Ali Maxwell
I think it's a brave appointment from, from Luton. Gary Sweet is their CEO and he's kind of, you know, when Luton were going from League two to the Premier League and in doing so promising a, a new stadium that would create a new future for them. Everyone was, was pretty into Gary Sweet and now that they've suffered back to back relegations and seemingly at risk of ending a two year stint with parachute payments very much still in League one, people aren't so keen on Gary Sweet. So I think in that context it's pretty brave to appoint a 33 year old first time senior manager. Obviously Wilshire's name and his connection with Luton, which is he spent a year or two in the academy when he was eight before Arsenal gobbled him up and he is and his family are from around that part of the world that's being leaned on quite heavily in the announcement as like a kind of welcome home vibe which I find a bit of a stretch and frankly won't matter at all unless he gets the team playing well. The good news is I would suggest one of the best possible jobs for a first time manager is a job where you have the biggest budget and most expensive team in the league by miles. Luton have like a massive squad, basically two starting 11s if everyone's fit, who should be, you know, really strong League one players. Now everyone hasn't been fit, they've struggled with injuries and Matt Bloomfield just could not work out a way of putting a team together on the pitch with round pegs in round holes playing a style of play that was. Well, it was neither effective nor easy on the eye. So there's lots of, there's lots in Wilshire's in tray if you like. But I still think this is a smart move from him. It's a bit cynical to say but Kieran McKenna going into Ipswich when they were in a very similar situation where yeah, things hadn't gone very well under Paul Cook but they just had way more money than, than almost every team in the league. I think it's just smart because you're generally going to have a good, you know, a decent win percentage. There's a good chance that they still win promotion this season although they haven't started that well. There's a long way to go and I just think that's quite a smart choice from, from Wilshire rather than maybe a struggling championship club where the ceiling's a bit lower. So yeah, I think Brave from Luton but I'm pretty excited about it. I don't necessarily think that just because they've been in a bit of a spiral they needed someone with experience of the league or an older head. I don't know, maybe they do, maybe they don't. But I quite like they've gone for this approach.
- [44:47]
Dan Bardell
Quite smart to get Chris Powell in alongside him as well. Someone who is experienced and will bring that know how.
- [44:53]
Ali Maxwell
Yeah, one of the greatest men in football, Chris Powell. So, you know, never a bad thing to have him involved.
- [44:58]
Max Rushden
Nicer than Lindvoy Primus. Not possible.
- [45:02]
Ali Maxwell
Can we. Is Lindvoi Primus still involved in football. When does the statute of limitations expire?
- [45:07]
Max Rushden
Oh, I think, think. I think if you're a footballer, you're always in football.
- [45:11]
Ali Maxwell
Okay.
- [45:12]
Max Rushden
At some.
- [45:13]
Ali Maxwell
At some level, I'd say. I'd say Chris Powell's worked a little harder to, you know, to still be in the category of in football.
- [45:20]
Max Rushden
Don't knock. Primer.
- [45:21]
Ali Maxwell
Sorry. Limbo.
- [45:21]
Max Rushden
Former Lioness captain Millie Brights announced her retirement from international football. She was kept 88 times. Captained England to Euro success in 2022. Second became the second ever England captain to reach a World cup final in 2023. Injuries have made her a bit more of a peripheral figure for the Lionesses. Ruled out. Ruled herself out of the summer's Euro success. She says, physically, I'm at a crossroads. Can I be 50% for each for England and for Chelsea? I want to be all in to give myself the best chance of doing that and be the best for my club. I probably need to rein it in a little bit. I'm really proud of my England career. I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for your support, especially over the summer. It's never an easy decision. It feels like the right one. Of course, the Guardian Women's Football Weekly will cover that in great detail, so download that wherever you get your podcasts. Candid on X says, does Baz know how effing long half a bloody marathon is?
- [46:10]
Barry Glendenning
I do. It's 13.1 miles. Yeah.
- [46:15]
Max Rushden
We spoke to you on the pod, of course, already about this, but you officially launched your campaign on Instagram after doing a run. Yes. How far did you go and how are the calves and how are you feeling?
- [46:26]
Barry Glendenning
Well, I mean, we. You emotionally blackmailed slash golded me into running a half marathon back in April on the grounds that I said it was probably quite easy. I was belittling the efforts of a friend of mine, Gavin, who'd run one the previous day. So, having aborted several attempts to start training, I realized at the weekend that there's only six months left to go, so I no longer think it's going to be easy. But, yeah, I went for my first official run yesterday, ran two miles. I can't bail out now because I set up a just Giving page. I've set myself a target to raise £13,100, which is ambitious, but hopefully some of the listeners can help out. And I've already raised through the generosity of loads of people, most of whom I don't know, or nearly three grand. So thank you to everyone who's contributed so far.
- [47:32]
Max Rushden
Yeah, I was devastated that someone you don't know who's donated £500 because now.
- [47:37]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, that was incredible.
- [47:38]
Max Rushden
There's huge pressure on how much I should donate and I'm a long time thinking, yes, considering I goaded you into doing this. You know, the eyes will be out. Can I put. You know, when you just fill in the thing but you don't put the amount, you know, which is.
- [47:52]
Barry Glendenning
No, you have to put the amount. You can't claim that some anonymous person who donated a large amount is you.
- [47:59]
Max Rushden
Oh, I see. But you know, it's a bit like Larry David in the hospital wing if I'm anonymous, but I've actually given more. Or do you think you put anonymous but I only give you 50p?
- [48:07]
Dan Bardell
Anyway, I'm about to donate a fiverr and sign it off as Max.
- [48:12]
Max Rushden
Shame on you whoever donated 500 quid. But that guy might be a billionaire, Barry. You know, like it's all relative, isn't it? I've got children to feed.
- [48:19]
Barry Glendenning
That is true. Look, Max, you can give whatever you want. I. I will be judgmental, whatever the amount is.
- [48:26]
Max Rushden
Okay? Okay, noted. Well, look, good luck. Keep going. Now the first run is the hardest. They get easier from now.
- [48:32]
Barry Glendenning
I very much doubt if the first one was the hardest, then it should be a doddle because I'm not in any pain today or anything. So looking forward to the second one.
- [48:41]
Max Rushden
But will you have a big T shirt that says Barry so the hordes of people going to watch can cheer you on?
- [48:46]
Barry Glendenning
Yes.
- [48:47]
Max Rushden
Good. Okay. Well, look, we'll obviously keep you, but it'll be the most exciting thing that happens on Football Weekly in the next six months, that's for sure. But that'll do for today. Thanks everyone. Thanks, Dan.
- [48:55]
Ali Maxwell
Thank you.
- [48:56]
Max Rushden
Thanks, Ali. Cheers, Baz.
- [48:58]
Barry Glendenning
Thanks.
- [48:59]
Max Rushden
Football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove and Jesse Howard. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens. We'll be back on. What day is it today?
- [49:05]
Barry Glendenning
Thursday.
- [49:06]
Max Rushden
We'll be back tomorrow. We'll be back tomorrow. That's it. Yeah.
- [49:10]
Barry Glendenning
See you tomorrow.
- [49:15]
Guardian Announcer
This is the Guardian.
- [49:24]
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