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History for Cape Verde as Spain start with a stutter: World Cup Daily
00:40:43
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Barney Ronay, Dan Bardell and Sid Lowe as debutants Cape Verde earn a draw against the favourites Spain
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- [00:00]
A
This is the Guardian.
- [00:13]
B
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Cape Verde holds Spain in Atlanta. Utterly heroic, defending from every single one of their players. An unflappable flawless performance from 40 year old Versinho in goal, who wept at full time. He commanded his box and stopped everything that Spain threw at him with, which ultimately wasn't that much. And they had the chance to win it in injury time, just imagine. Also in that group, Saudi Arabia cling onto a point against Uruguay. Meanwhile in Group I, New Zealand 2, Iran 2. Two great goals by Elijah Wood for the Kiwis, but they couldn't hold on. Iran's equalise were a brilliant header. Their fans booed the anthem but supported the team. Belgium needed Romelu Lukaku to help them to a point against Egypt. An own goal that deserved to be his. Egypt with a better side. If either side deserved to win, it was them. We'll find out how hard it is covering the game from the uk, answer your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Week. CLE on the panel today in the studio with me in la, Barry Glendenning. Welcome.
- [01:06]
C
Hello, mate.
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B
In Dallas ahead of the England game. Barney, Ronnie, Welcome. Barney.
- [01:10]
A
Hi there, everyone.
- [01:11]
B
And in Birmingham, not Birmingham, Alabama, but Birmingham, England. Dan Bardell's been awake all night. Hey, Dan.
- [01:18]
D
Hello. I mean, Birmingham's not the most glamorous of places at the best of times, let alone when you're all where you are.
- [01:24]
B
Well, we'll find out what it's like watching four games through the night. But let's begin with group H in Spain nil. Cape Verde nil. Sidlow was there and I caught up with him earlier and asked him how he found it.
- [01:35]
E
Isn't football great? And my favourite statistic of the game, which unfortunately I'm so stupid because when you're, when you're in the process of writing the match report, you lose track of things. Is that Cape Verde did that, that incredible defensive performance against Spain and committed one foul.
- [01:50]
B
That's extraordinary actually. And the scenes afterwards, I mean, were exactly sort of what you dream of at a World cup, right. For that goalkeeper.
- [01:57]
E
The noise, the noise as well at the full time whistle was, was incredible, I'll be honest. Obviously when you're, when you're working, you've got earpieces in a lot of the time because you're trying to catch up with, with what's been said on the radio or details that you might need and stuff. But then, you know, just before the end you take it out and you get the sense of the noise and the noise at the full time whistle was fantastic. And the goalkeeper crying and saying that, you know, his grandparents had passed away and couldn't be there, that his mother couldn't be there because they couldn't sort out the visa in time. And, and just a real sense of history made the other, the other nice moment. Max, obviously unfor this wasn't, probably wasn't seen, but I'm sure that someone somewhere will have taken a video, even though they're not entirely supposed to. Was the Cape Verde players coming conga lining out of the mix zone at the end of the game. Didn't actually get the Shazam on in time. So I can't claim to be able to tell you what the track was they were listening to, but they were enjoying it.
- [02:43]
B
Yeah, and they defended. I mean in the end like because the keeper was, was brilliant, but he didn't actually have that many unsavable like there were any extraordinary saves. He was sort of unflappable in his box. But it wasn't like Spain really did that.
- [02:59]
E
No, I, I agree with you. I thought there was a, there was a little period, wasn't there? Just after the, at the end of the first quarter, just going into the second quarter, there was, there was a period when K was getting behind them and he put a couple of crosses in and it's, you know, it's. It's his ball that leads to the one that hits the bar. If I remember rightly, I think it's his ball that leads to, leads to Ferran having the really good chance which possibly he should have scored from. And I agree with you, the goalkeeper made I think, two very good saves and lots of pretty solid and bendable saves. And Spain had that little flurry between, between after the water break and until half time and then maybe a little bit of a flurry at the very start of the second half. But after that I would agree with you. I didn't think they made a huge amount happen. I, I felt they were a little bit blunt. I felt that, that Cape Verde defended brilliantly, really, really well. Probably deserved it. Now look, obviously you can look at the stats, you can look at the xg, you can look at the number of the shots and all those kind of things and. But actually in those last four or five minutes the best chances were theirs. It's the centre back, that moment when he's rising in the area and you think, here we go, this is it. And it wasn't to be, but it was pretty, pretty brilliant anyway.
- [04:04]
B
I'M trying to imagine what the reaction in England would be to drawing Neil with Kate Verde. And it would be utter panic. You know, like panic, panic, panic. Will it be the same in Spain?
- [04:13]
E
Look, I don't think it would be panic. I think it would be some concern with some of the things that happened. Luis de la Fuente and this team has enough credit in the bank that I don't think it will be an attack on him. I think there will be a recognition that this team with Nico Williams and Lamina Mile fully fit is slightly different. And I think there's a element there which is that when you have those two missing, it's not just that you're losing two of your best players, it's that the alternatives are of a different style, a different type. So you've got to change the way that you play as well. I think there will be a doubt about how that midfield works. And I felt like Pedri was too far up the pitch rather than a base of what they do. And rather than having the game in front of him, I felt like he had the game behind him a bit. And I think those questions will be asked of Luis La Fuente. I think the starting position for Gavi will definitely be asked of him, and I think there will be big doubts about that. But I don't think it will be panic because, as I say, because this is a good, good enough team. Because I think there are some mitigating factors. I think there will be a recognition that if they take one of those chances in the. In the final bit of the first half, as I say, all the second quarter, if you like, of the game, and I don't like it, but, you know, that's what it is, then. Then. Then perhaps you get a two or three nil victory. And it looks a bit different.
- [05:21]
B
Yeah, I mean, it did look different. Yamal came on and I guess there is a question about up front for Spain.
- [05:26]
E
Well, you know what? In a funny sort of way there isn't now. Now there's always a question about Spain up front and sort of in the back of our minds, that's always been there.
- [05:35]
B
It's Maratha. It's just Morata looking sad. Where's that?
- [05:38]
E
You know, I think that's what it is. And you go back to the. To the. To the European Championships, and there was always this feeling that Morata does lots of things quite well, but he doesn't really score a lot of goals. And he scored against Croatia at the start of the European Championships and that really helped. And you listen to his teammates, and they loved him. They really loved the way that he managed the squad. His kind of sense of empathy and his, his. His. His kind of humanity within the team group. I know humanity is quite an overblown word, but you know what I mean? But there was always that feeling that he kind of had everything to be a great striker, but maybe quite. Wasn't quite. Michele or Thabal is a guy that had played on the wing until a couple of years ago and wasn't really a first choice until MOD Atom was basically left out of the team off the back of that European Championships or after that European Championships, and the fact that he hasn't played well at all for Como, but he had scored in six games in a row for Spain before this. He'd scored 13 in the last 11. So there wasn't a doubt about him. I think you could look at it in a more simple way, which is to say they've still got to find him. Oh, yeah, And I saw a statistic flying around. I really hope this is right or I've remembered it right or seen it right, that he didn't get a touch
- [06:40]
B
in the first 30 minutes in half an hour. Yeah, first class 66, apparently.
- [06:44]
C
Yeah.
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E
And now you could, you can, you can criticize him for that and maybe say that his movement wasn't what it should have been, or his showing for the ball wasn't what wasn't what it should have been, but they've also got to find him. And I think that suggests a system failure or systemic failure today, maybe more than the failure of the striker. So I don't think there's an enormous doubt in terms of saying, oh, if only we had a number nine. I must admit, though, there is one thing which is that in a game like this, when you've got the other team playing deep and when they're defending well and you maybe aren't having the subtleties find a way through them. The alternative, of course, is to go over them, you know, to put crosses into the box, to have someone who pushes the central defenders back. Let's have someone who has a presence in the area. And I think that partly explains the introduction of Mikel Modino, because of course, he plays as a number nine, despite not being a number nine, and he has that physicality and he has that kind of mindset and that aggressiveness. But you do also look at it and think, well, if Borja Iglesias has gone to this World cup, who's a big number nine? A sort of a traditional number nine, a body number nine, you know, someone who bullies defenders, who pushes into them, who leans against them, who, who in theory forces them further and further back. If you didn't get on in a game like this, you sort of think, well, when does he get on?
- [07:50]
B
Yeah. Well, thank you, Sid. America treating you well?
- [07:55]
E
Yeah, it's been all right so far. American people are very, very, very friendly.
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B
No, I totally agree. Well, have a lovely day. We'll catch up with you soon, no doubt. Cheers.
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E
Palace. Nice one. Thank you.
- [08:06]
B
Sidney in Atlanta there. And he's right. Like you said at the top, Barry, football is great and that was great.
- [08:13]
C
Yeah. I said yesterday that I hoped Cape Verde didn't get humiliated in this game and it was Spain who ended up embarrassed, hugely embarrassed, hideously embarrassed by a result I just didn't see coming at all. I thought Cape Verde do well to hold them to 5 nil, maybe. I think I was in tears three times today before 2pm the first was when I saw footage of the Scotland supporters led by bagpipers and drummers converging en masse on Fenway park last night. That really got the. The hackles raised and the tears, the eyes moist. And then at the end of this game, I was genuinely emotional on the back of what Cape Verde achieved in pulling off what I think is arguably the greatest World cup upset of all time. Then a third time, that was a chopping chili related incident, but yeah, three times. By 2 o' clock this afternoon I had cried. I don't cry very often.
- [09:24]
B
No.
- [09:24]
C
So this, this was just sensational. Various Cape Verde players have been singled out as being outstanding. I think every single one of them was just brilliant because that was a real team effort. It was a demonstration of togetherness, unity, organization, concentration, mental fortitude. They could have nicked it at the end, but they didn't, sadly. But what, what a result for them.
- [09:51]
A
Yeah.
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B
It wasn't just you that cried. Their keeper, Bozinha cried. He said. I cried after the game because I grew up with my grandparents when I was a kid and they could not be there. They passed away a few years ago. My mum could not be here either because of a visa issue and the money we had to pay for it. We did not manage to do this in time. We work in life to have moments like this. I'm 40 now. I was not a professional up until I was 25. This is a reward for all this journey. It was just Barney, he was. I thought he was. He was just so. I've seen games like this where the keeper is a bit flappy and eventually cost him. And he was just brilliant for the whole game.
- [10:24]
A
Yeah, I mean, Barry's right. They were incredibly disciplined. And it wasn't. It wasn't simply up backs to the wall, kind of frantic defending. It was a brilliant team performance. I have to say, I do like watching Spain malfunction. You know, Spain have been the most beautiful team of the last 16 years, but when it goes wrong, there's something quite gripping about seeing that kind of glitch in the machine where they just can't stop passing, they can't stop going sideways. It's like someone with a tick who just can't help themselves. And I quite enjoy obviously nodding to myself saying things like the absence of an Ivan Tony like figure and haven't worked on the set pieces enough, but they. They just couldn't stop doing the same thing and hoping for a different result. And it was really gripping. I. I love. I love the. The guy who came onto Mark, Lamina Mal, who plays in Romania. Yeah. And really is just the ultimate kind of I want to have a career in football somewhere guy who's obviously worked so hard and he's up against this kind of prodigy and this. This genius. Obviously little bit injured, and they will be different when he's fully fit, if he's fully fit. But, yeah, the World cup wins again, Dan.
- [11:45]
B
I mean, we picked out the keeper, Pico Lopez, who Barry's talked about, you know, this Irish guy who thought someone was like, pranking him on LinkedIn or something, and eventually said, all right, I'll give it a go. I thought him and his partner, Jose Borges, were just amazing in this game.
- [11:59]
D
Yeah. Like Barney said, I mean, it was back to the wall at times, but the way they defended was actually pretty measured. And I just felt like they had a good game plan. And when you have a. A game plan like that to get a result, everything almost has to go impeccably. And it did. I mean, Barney again mentions Spain malfunctioning. It's not the best version of Spain that we. That we've ever seen, but Cape Verde took complete advantage of that and got a result that they'll remember forever. The World cup isn't one or lost in. In a single game. It isn't one or lost in. In a day. And I'm sure Spain will get better and they've got players missing that obviously make a huge difference to their team. But it did feel like they just kept trying the same thing over and over again they were the 2, 3, 5 in build up, but the 5 always looked very static to me. They've obviously got the solutions on the bench and when they're fully fit, they'll come into the team. I just thought Spain's selection didn't really suit the game either and actually played into Cape Verde's hands a little bit because Llorente at right back, he played the game like a traditional right back. So if they were going to do that, I would have thought Pedro Paro swinging some crosses into the box, who's got a good delivery, would have been more beneficial than some of the players they had out there. But the Spain were poor, but you, you can't take anything away from Cape Verde. I know that's, that's cliche, but they were absolutely sensational. And in my time, I can't remember a bigger upset in a World Cup.
- [13:25]
B
I suppose the definition of an upset, it feels to me like you have to win for it to be an upset. And maybe I'm completely wrong because it's still an unbelievable result.
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C
I don't think you have to win. I mean, if they had won and they had that chance right at the end when Dine Borges headed straight at Uno Simon, if that had gone in the world, the planet would have shook on its axis. I think. I, obviously, I like to think I played my part in this by tipping Michel Orzel Abel for the Golden Boot and he, needless to say, became the first player in, I think recorded World cup history not to touch the ball in the opening 31 minutes of the game and then missed two quite presentable chances. I mean, it's not really his fault. He didn't touch the ball because his teammates couldn't get the ball to him. But if he'd had his head aligned a bit better, he, he might have scored one or ahead or he had a couple of decent chances. But Lamina Mal came on. The very fact they had to bring on Lamina Mal and Nico Williams spoke volumes for the obduracy and stoutness of the, the Cape Verde defense. And what must they have felt like when they saw those, those the numbers gone up. The two lads on the touchline, well, I think it was around the 70 minute mark because defending like that is so mentally draining and physically exhausting as well. But the main Yamal came on, he flickered a bit, threatened with a couple of early moves and then he sort of seemed to realize, nah, it's not our day today, we can't get through this, this wall of resistance.
- [15:18]
B
Yeah, apparently someone put a million dollars on someone. Spain winning this match, which have won £85,000 or $85,000 back. She doesn't really feel. I mean, that is silly, isn't it? Yes.
- [15:29]
A
Barney, can I just put in a word for the Fox coverage of this game? I watched it on Fox here in, in Dallas and I think it's like it was the perfect example of the issues football centos has in this country. Because here you've got a nil, nil draw, which we're talking about in joyous terms as one of the greatest results in World cup history. And to a US sports fan, that's baffling. Like what? It's nil, nil after 90 minutes. But this is an incredible joyful. Everybody's just buzzing from it. There are so many ways of describing it. There's so much detail. And to be fair, you could feel the Fox commentators and pundits trying so hard to communicate this. They obviously understood this, even though they're American and they understood this and trying so hard to communicate to their viewers that what they're watching is incredible. Don't turn off, don't turn off. No one's scoring. Please don't turn off. It's amazing. At one point, the commentator called Lamine Yamal a super duper star, just to make the point that he's a real star and this guy's having to mark him. But you get what he's trying to say. He's really trying to explain that this is important to someone. It's like really, really trying to explain to a classroom of 11 year olds why they need to read every single volume of Proust because it's really interesting. And, and they did it. They did a good job. And hopefully the kind of romance of the stories, the players, the backstories, kind of communicates itself because this is the kind of game that makes people fall in love with football.
- [17:04]
B
Yeah, Just one more stat. It's Colin Miller writing about the keeper. He was born during the 1986 World cup and his dad submitted two options for his son's name inspired by that tournament. The first was Jorge Valdano, rejected by the island's registry, and Josimar, honoring Josimar, of course. And he made seven saves. And the only keeper over 40 to have made more World cup saves since 66 is Pat Jennings versus Brazil in 86 when Josimar scored that absolute banger. So it's quite nice that that went full circle. The other game in this group, Saudi Arabia won Uruguay 1 Dan I don't think I don't know. What time of night was this one for you? I'm just trying to work out where we got this was. This was late evening for you, was it?
- [17:49]
D
This was a. I can't even remember myself.
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C
I think it was 11pm Dan, was it 11?
- [17:55]
D
I nearly said it was 1am Then it definitely wasn't 1am Because I definitely got a little bit more more slate than that. Yeah, it's. It's tough to try and try and cover. Barney asked me what what the mood was like in this country. Some of the kickoff times do make it difficult when you're, when you're working in football and you then have stuff to do in, in the day as well. When I, when I saw the the link to Riverside for us to come on and do this podcast and it was all it's 8:15pm kickoff for for all you guys, I was thinking Surely it's not 4:15. Surely producer Joel has has made a mistake here. Cards on the table. I made that game but did not make the the final game of the run before before this podcast. It just wouldn't have been possible.
- [18:37]
B
So so on that, I mean I, I felt that Uruguay equalizer was perhaps the most deserved equalizer I've seen in a while because they had been Saudi Arabia were good in the first half but then Uruguay just kept battering the door down in the second.
- [18:50]
D
Yeah sometimes you wonder if the goal is going to come and for Spain you, you, you felt that like it would and. And it didn't. This Uruguay won to come though. They were all over all over them. Ben made some changes didn't he for the second half. And your guard weren't terrible in the first half either but they really went at them and the keeper had a good day. He'll probably be a little bit disappointed with the goal. Obviously both goals in that game were rebounds but Uruguay just full of energy and it's not a terrible result in the first game of a group especially in this iteration of the World Cup. And for the second World cup running I'd say Saudi Arabia of out with a a more than credit creditable result in the in the first game.
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B
Yeah look like the keeper had a groin strain so every time he made a brilliant save he then just be wincing in pain I couldn't get out. What did you make of this one Barney?
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A
Well, I watched this game with Lars S in a bar. Yeah while eating a really really massive burger and while Lars told me a story about Thomas Myra doing his Everton Medical in the nude, being forced to remove his pants in a room with a really old man at the top of a terraced house. I'm just being made to do the splits and do like, no, no, take everything off. Because there's an example of how primitive English football. So my mind was kind of reeling with Burger, Lars naked, Thomas, Myra, take your pants off while I was watching this. So that's kind of similarly all I really took from it. I'm always impressed by the athleticism and energy of Saudi Arabia. I remember the last World cup, they were kind of terrifying and you know, there were a lot of strong teams out there and it's, it's kind of, it's one of the reasons this, this has actually been for all the, for all the things around it that frustratingly, not frustratingly, I mean, distractingly good round of games like the World cup is good. I know, I know England are coming, it's going to happen. There will be pain, ball anxiety, you know, terrible feelings of self loathing and all the rest of it and that drum beating really slowly. But the games have been really quite perky so far.
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C
Yeah, I mean, in this game I thought Uruguay were really poor in the first half and I thought Saudi Arabia were really poor in the second. And I think what made the difference was at halftime Fede Ververe was moved from the right wing where they were struggling to get the ball to him into the center of midfield, which is where Fede Valverde should be playing instead of Manuel Lugarte. And that made a huge difference. And I think the half in which Uruguay played well, they played a lot better in that half than Saudi Arabia played in the half they played. So I think Uruguay deserved to win. They didn't. Their goalkeeper alway, I think had to make nine saves, something like that. But it was all right.
- [22:03]
B
It was all right. And that'll do for part one, which was also all right. Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Iran to New Zealand 2. You can have a close. Just shut your eyes for five minutes, Dan, you're all right there. But this was a really good game, Bas. And you know, I don't know if New Zealand, I think it's probably a fair result. I'm not sure. The New Zealand goals were brilliant and the header for the second goal for Iran was great too.
- [22:33]
C
Yeah, well, I mean it was a controversial, quite a political event. New Zealand just happened to be pitched in. But when the Iranian national anthem was played at the start of the game, there were a lot of Boos from the Iran fans. There was a massive Islamic Republic flag on the pitch and loads of the more old fashioned anti establishment line and sun flags in the stands. Even though I think they might have been technically banned. But there was plenty to be seen anyway, these anti regime flags. So Iran were obviously well up for this. Their fans were supporting the players on the pitch, but very much not in favor of the regime. And Iran went behind to win. Elijah, what's his name?
- [23:25]
B
Eliza just.
- [23:26]
C
Yes, I think you called him Elijah Wood in the intro.
- [23:30]
B
I think I did, yes, twice. It's because we would.
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D
It's because.
- [23:34]
B
I'll tell you, right. It's because producer Joel just thought was a fun gag. It's because he's playing alongside Chris Wood. So we had a long chat during the game about Elijah Wood being up front for New Zealand. If you amalgamate Chris Wood and Elijah Wood. But yes, that was just a mistake. But that's okay.
- [23:51]
C
Okay, but now you're going to fix it afterwards.
- [23:54]
B
Oh no, I won't fix it. It's all right.
- [23:55]
C
No, you can if you want.
- [23:56]
B
I don't have to.
- [23:57]
A
No, no, you can't fix it. You have to be natural. Max, just let it go. Is it like with the hobbit who then became the West Ham hard man?
- [24:04]
B
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. A bit like Julian Dix also had the same trajectory. But anyway, yes, carry on with Elijah just. He's, you know, no one has ever scored two goals for New Zealand at a World Cup. I think in total, not just in one game. So we should at least give him his correct name for a.
- [24:20]
C
So he plays for Motherwell. He's apparently had a good season. Motherwell have had a good season. He scored two goals. New Zealand went ahead, were pulled back, went ahead again. We're pulled back again. And I think Iran had the better of it towards the end of the game, if I remember correctly, there was. Sorry, I've seen so many games today. They're all just a jumbling. It's like Irish weddings. You go, you go to an Irish wedding, one of your mates gets married and so it's, you know, church, country pub, country house, bar open till 4 in the morning. Most of the same people are at the mall and you just can't remember which one was which. Anyway, so I'm just going to say yes, Elijah, just two goals, two good goals for New Zealand. Fair play. What an evening for him.
- [25:11]
B
Yeah. And actually Barney, Warren Barton on commentary said just after the second, Elijah just goal. If that had been Spain or Argentina, we were saying that was right off the top shelf, which is not how I would describe it necessarily, but it was a lovely move.
- [25:25]
A
That's the interesting thing about a lot of these teams. There's real sort of quality in them. I just want to, you know, about the booing of the. The flags and. The. The booing and the flags. It's really important to be. I mean, it's very complicated. But. But those are expats booing there. Those are Americans. But they. They have fled the regime that I. I sincerely doubt that those are Iranians who have flown to America to boo. I mean, they can't be, because they would be headed.
- [25:55]
C
Would they?
- [25:56]
A
Yeah, they're not allowed into the country. So, I mean, it doesn't devalue the fact that they are doing that. It's very complex here. You've got people supporting the team who don't support the regime, which has presumably persecuted and caused them to flee, and holding up flags of the previous regime. While also there are Islamic. I mean, it's quite. It's very complex and sort of reflects the strangeness of that. But that it's not exactly a. I wouldn't say it was a revolutionary act for Iranian expats to boo the regime that made them fleet, if you know what I mean.
- [26:28]
B
I know what you mean. Which wasn't exactly an answer to Warren Barton talking about the top shelf, in a way.
- [26:32]
A
I didn't.
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B
That he didn't necessarily mean.
- [26:34]
A
Warren Barton is. Why is Warren Barton. Ron Barton is everywhere. Why is so important? I mean, he's obviously very, very good. Good, you know, great, great pundit.
- [26:44]
B
I think there's quite a few. There's a few sort of clever ex pros who've moved, like Robbie Musto. People in the UK probably don't know. Where's Robbie Musto? I haven't heard him at this World cup, but I know he carved out Danny Higginbottom. Danny Higginbottom, who is really good, actually. And I think Warren Barton and Steve Nichols out here somewhere.
- [26:59]
C
Rebecca Lowe is. Oh, yeah, she's superstar.
- [27:02]
B
She's very, very good at it, isn't she? Anyway, well done to New Zealand.
- [27:05]
C
I mean, they both kind of went for it. They didn't settle for a draw. We've seen some games in which teams have sort of gone. Yeah, we're happy. We're happy enough with the draw. Draw. Do both these teams wanted to win? They were both going all out to try and win this game because winning it would have put them in a Brilliant position, but one of them will probably go out.
- [27:28]
B
Yeah. And actually the Moebi goal, the header, the crossfield pass, the cross. They were all brilliant as well. Worth mentioning. Belgium won. Egypt won. Dan, you're back awake. What did you make of this?
- [27:39]
D
Ah, the glory dies of an 8pm kickoff in the UK. I really, really enjoyed this game. I thought Egypt were absolutely fantastic. I thought the way they. They transitioned and. And got at Belgium and they just should have got a set of second goals, shouldn't. They'd have gone two nil up. I think Belgium would have probably gone under. But credit to Belgium because they have gone under in previous tournaments that go in a goal down to teams that maybe they were expected to beat and they. That they didn't do that. They again, just lacking a bit. A bit like Spain. I just felt Belgium were lacking something. And then Lukaku came on and bit of a. Bit of a throwback goal. Mooney and getting down, getting down the wing and putting. Putting the ball across. I mean, Lukaku will get no goal and no assist, but he was definitely involved in that goal and it was an instant impact. But I thought Egypt had. I think I read that Egypt had five players that play for the. For the same club team and I felt it showed because I thought they were really fluid and the better of the team for the majority of that game until Belgium made the changes.
- [28:41]
A
It does seem unfair that Lukaku won't be credited with that goal, not just because of the movement that led up to it, but he essentially kicked the foot of the defender, thereby making the defender's foot kick the ball into the goal.
- [28:55]
B
Sounds a bit like a foul.
- [28:57]
A
If. Well, if I were. For example, if I were to reach in.
- [29:01]
B
Yes.
- [29:01]
A
Take Barry's hand.
- [29:03]
B
Yeah.
- [29:03]
A
And stroke your head with it.
- [29:05]
B
Right.
- [29:06]
A
Who would be stroking your head, me or Barry? I say me.
- [29:10]
B
It's true. You'd have to have the arms of Mr. Tickle to get here from Dallas, I would suggest. Or be like the. The governor in Catch the Pigeon or whatever. Yeah, I can see your hands coming in. This is great for the YouTube viewers. I see what you're.
- [29:22]
A
You're. This is good. But technically, I would be responsible for the.
- [29:27]
C
Yes.
- [29:27]
A
Crime, slash loving act of stroking your head. Not Barry, who's just an innocent. He's in. Want to do that. He's. He's disgusting.
- [29:35]
B
After a week of. A week of living with me, Barry does not want to stroke my head, I can tell you that. He doesn't even let me eat an apple.
- [29:43]
A
A Great, great tournament player. He has so many goals for Belgium. I mean, it's, it's. He's. He's approaching. I think he's in the 80s now and at a really good rate. And his career has really been defined by appearance at this tournament misses as well as successes. I, I'm. I'm really glad to see him back. I give him the goal. It's morally his.
- [30:09]
B
Tony writes, is it just me or to the panel think that Leandro Trossard looks like the ghost of a Victorian child sometimes spotted at the window of a deserted mansion, which I quite enjoy. Kind of see it. I like Rui Garcia in a baseball cap and suit. Yes, a very strong look. Wasn't. It was a game yesterday. We didn't cover on the pod. We watched Sweden, Tunisia in a pub with the volume down. An ice hockey commentary while Ben Fitter ate a burrito the size of a small market town. Yassin Iari with the goal of the tournament so far.
- [30:38]
E
Barry.
- [30:39]
C
Well, he scored two. So which one are you talking?
- [30:44]
B
The first one.
- [30:44]
A
The first one?
- [30:45]
B
Yeah. Do you think? I think.
- [30:47]
C
Right. Dunno. I mean, Sweden were gifted their first three goals in this game by a very charitable Tunisian side who I believe did not concede a single goal in 10 qualifying matches and then conceded five in their first group game.
- [31:05]
B
And sacked their manager.
- [31:06]
C
And sacked their manager. Yeah. That was. Yeah. Well, the long ball from the back. The goalkeeper beat Alexander Isaac to the ball. Unconvincing clearance. Somebody has a shot block the ball breaks to Iari and he fires into an empty net from the edge of the area. Was it that good?
- [31:24]
B
Is anyone Barney, Dan. Is anyone going? It's more than just firing it into an empty net. That opening goal, if you can remember it.
- [31:31]
D
It's a. It's a bit more than that, but I'm. I'm struggling. I'm struggling because it's 4:49 here. To come up with an alternative to your goal of the tournament.
- [31:38]
C
I did watch the highlights again today and my exact notes were Ayeri fires into empty net from edge of area.
- [31:45]
B
Okay. I mean, I think that's really harsh
- [31:47]
A
on Iari, but yeah, I think goal of the tournament so far is Baligan. The one where he leaves two players on the turf and then smashes it into the top corner with his left foot. Just because everyone wants to score that goal. That. That looks so much fun.
- [32:02]
B
Maybe. I think I prefer Gio Reyna's to his with the outside of the right foot. Anyway, we don't need to worry about Goal of the tournament yet.
- [32:09]
C
Interesting. Iari, because his dad is Tunisian, so he. He respectfully didn't celebrate his first goal, but his second goal.
- [32:19]
B
That was for his mum, was it?
- [32:20]
C
Yeah, that was. That was for mom, clearly. Because yeah, curl shot from. I would argue his second goal was better than his first goal, if I'm honest.
- [32:30]
B
But.
- [32:30]
C
And I wouldn't have either of the best call so far, but it looked. That's by the by. But yeah, he. That curl shot from outside the box. He had no problem celebrating that one. But yeah, Tunisi were terrible in this game. They. They gifted Sweden their first three goals. Keeper wasn't very good and now they
- [32:49]
B
need a new manager.
- [32:50]
C
Now they need. Well, I. I think they might have one already. They clearly had someone lined up.
- [32:55]
B
All right. I was going to say. Is it Graham Potter? But I was. He's already got a job here, hasn't he? Anyway, that'll do. You can't multitask and he's the Sweden manager. Anyway, we're all tired. That'll do for part two. Part three. We'll look ahead to tomorrow's games. Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. So tomorrow, France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway, Argentina, Algeria and Austria. Jordan. Barney, what are you looking forward to?
- [33:22]
A
I mean, that's just such a welter of nations, ideas, concepts. Obviously, France. Senegal looks really interesting for many reasons. I mean, not, not. Not all of them do with France. I mean, Senegal are here on a FIFA revenge mission, aren't they? And they'll be powered by the, I guess, injustice of being stripped of the AFCON title, which they refuse to be stripped off. And France are really interesting. I mean, they. There's a theory that France would be much better off dropping Kylian Mbappe and basically playing the PSG front three with Michael Elise instead of Carishvilia. But because Mbappe doesn't press, he's always a problem in teams that he's in, they won't do that. But I really like seeing teams who aren't England have this problem of too many celebrity players and trying to fit in people who doesn't just jam them all in there and we'll be fine. It'll be interesting to see how that works. You can tell that Deschamp would really like to just have his front three pressing like mad, but they have so much talent. They have a good, solid midfield. Spain didn't look very good, so someone's going to have to stop France and I'm not really sure who that is.
- [34:35]
B
Norway. A lot of people's dark Horses. Dan Erling Haaland's first ever World cup game. Johnny Liu said he'd get the golden boot just because they're playing Iraq. How many do you see him racking up tomorrow? Or could it be another nil? Nil.
- [34:48]
D
That's the thing. The Cape Verde game has put the jitters on that kind of prediction now I would say. I mean a lot of pundits have called Haaland for the golden boot as well and the main reason will be because of this game. But they showed yesterday that you just never know what can happen. And I expect Norway to win but I think it's a bit of a stretch to say that they're dark horses. I don't see Norway coming anywhere near winning the tournament.
- [35:15]
B
38 year old Lionel Messi, his final major tournament, I mean his definitely his final World Cup. Unless of course we are set. We're sat in four years time in a in a bar in Madrid saying 42 year old Lionel Messi wouldn't rule it out.
- [35:30]
C
I mean there's a few couple of 40 year old outfield players at this tournament.
- [35:35]
A
Arthur Eden Jekyll, Luka modric.
- [35:37]
C
It's his 200 appearance tomorrow for Argentina and his 27th at World Cup.
- [35:43]
B
Okay, AOB then the connection I didn't think we'd make of White Power or Malcolm in the Middle but the video assistant referee Sean Evans, he was at the referees hub in Dallas doing the Germany Curacao game for that ridiculous turn to camera with his colleagues and he got his standing arm by his side. He made a little finger with his sort of circle with his right hand and sort of upside down. Okay sign. And it has two distinct meanings. One is connected to an expression of white supremacy. The other is a kids game made by made famous in season two episode four of Malcolm in the Middle. He said the coverage following this incident simply doesn't reflect who I am. I understand how the gesture has been interpreted. I regret this. I want to be very clear and categorically say I did not knowingly or.
- [36:28]
A
Hang on, is this him denying being a Malcolm in the Middle fan?
- [36:31]
B
Well we don't know at this stage. He's saying that it was just a sort of.
- [36:34]
A
Just doesn't reflect who I am.
- [36:36]
C
Yeah, Malcolm in the Middle is criminally underrated sitcom. So I would never deny being a Malcolm in the Middle fan.
- [36:45]
B
He said it was just a sort of twitch. He said images taken later during the match that I repeated this movement many times while holding a pen between my fingers officiating at A World cup has been the biggest honor of my career. I look forward to supporting my colleagues for the rest of the tournament. He's available for selection for the rest of the tournament. The refs didn't turn to camera in the coverage today. They just stared at their screens. So we've been denied that incredibly awkward few seconds each game. Been reported that Donald Trump will be allowed to lift the World cup with the winning team, as he did at the Club World cup alongside Gianni. That's good news, Barney, isn't it?
- [37:17]
A
Yeah, I mean, I guess he's taking his lead from the. In a sense from the Emir of Qatar, who also joined in the celebrations. I mean, it's just. It's just preposterous, isn't it? Why does he want to lift the World Cup? What does it say?
- [37:33]
B
It's a big, gold, shiny thing, I imagine. Point C. Big, gold, shiny thing. I imagine that's why.
- [37:39]
A
Yeah. You're suggesting he's not a particularly humble individual. I suppose it's probably true, yeah. I mean, that tells you all you really need to know. I mean, FIFA have made great play of talking about. I mean, of denying that they're overtly associated with a single divisive political movement within the host, who they've chosen. And this is a repulsive prospect and I hope it doesn't happen.
- [38:04]
D
I'm not a massive Trump fan, but I'd quite like to live the World cup in Venice.
- [38:07]
B
Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll see what we can do, Dan. We'll try our best. We touched on it, but how is. How is, you know, how is it in. In the UK with all these games on at ridiculous times? Does that. Does that affect World cup fever? And. And is. What's the England chat? Or is it. Can you bear to say, Bellingham or Rogers? Are you just going to wait and see what happens?
- [38:28]
D
I think in my world, a lot of people I know are actually at the World cup, so I don't feel like it's a topic of conversation I've had with many people, but I'm enjoying it. Like Barney said, I think the games have been really good. I think there's been few duds so far in the games I've watched. It's just felt a little bit like a long wait for England, which the tournament goes on. We might be grateful of a break from England and watching the other teams, but I felt like the World cup kicked off ages ago and I haven't seen England play yet. There's lots of games, obviously there's Some Larry kickoff times, but I'm enjoying it so far. I just love watching football. The summers when there's no tournament, I really struggle with life. So just great that there's football on from my perspective.
- [39:15]
B
Jonathan writes, Dear Max and Barry, I'm very much enjoying your LA Diaries and the rare peep behind the curtain. My enjoyment is heightened by the hilarious auto subtitles on Instagram. Struggling to keep up with Max's estuary English banter. How dare you? That's a very disappointing description of my accent and Barry's Irish brogue with it. Constantly referring to Barry as Mary and Max and as Mark. Please keep up the great content. Here's to more of the Mark and Mary show. Yes, couple of diaries today, although the one of me eating an apple has yet to be published. Barry, is that because you're unhappy with it or are you waiting for the time where we are most relevant for it to be posted?
- [39:52]
C
I'd completely forgotten about is the answer to that question. I'll post it when I go home.
- [39:57]
B
Oh, how jolly. All right, well, go to Instagram and TikTok for all of that stuff, but that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Barney.
- [40:05]
A
Cheers, everyone.
- [40:06]
B
Enjoy the England game. Cheers, Dan. Thanks for staying up all night for us.
- [40:09]
D
Thanks, Mark.
- [40:10]
B
Thank you, Barry.
- [40:12]
C
Thanks. I can actually see it. Dawn is breaking in Dan's window.
- [40:18]
B
He's had a baby as well, so there's no going back to bed for him. Isn't there? He's straight behind him. A baby.
- [40:21]
C
Oh, thanks, Dan. That's. You're a hero. You're a hero.
- [40:24]
B
Cheers, dad. Football Weekly is produced by Rory Simon and Matt Bentley Viney. Our executive producer is Joel Grove and we'll be back tomorrow.
- [40:36]
A
This is the Guardian.