Everybody Hates Belgium | The Beautiful Pod

Summary

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The Adam Friedland Show: "Everybody Hates Belgium | The Beautiful Pod"

Date: June 24, 2026
Host: Adam Friedland
Guests/Co-hosts: Chris Ryan, Ben Foster, Sam (Producer)

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Episode Overview

This episode of "The Adam Friedland Show" dives deep into the chaos and hilarity of the 2026 World Cup. Adam and Chris dissect matches from across the tournament, take aim at under- and over-performers (especially Belgium), riff on football culture, and examine the legacy of all-time greats Messi and Ronaldo. Later, Adam sits down for a candid, funny, and sometimes irreverent interview with former England and Premier League keeper Ben Foster, touching on everything from national team chemistry to the psychology (and trash talk) of professional football.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

World Cup Atmosphere and Fan Culture

• Adam shares his excitement at finally attending a World Cup match (Senegal vs. Norway at MetLife) and describes the energy, the flags, and anthem (“It’s so sick. It’s so sick.” - Adam, 05:25).
• Chris notes the buzz in Philly, particularly around the iconic Rocky Steps (06:06), highlighting the way the city has rallied around the tournament.

Match Analysis: Lightning Round

Adam and Chris riff through a series of matches, blending legitimate analysis with comic commentary:

• Senegal vs. Norway

  • Adam calls the match “herky jerky,” both sides overly cautious, and Norway’s approach “British, almost Anglophiled now” (03:53).
  • Mendy’s injury and the Norwegian royal family’s scandal get a side mention (03:23).

• Morocco vs. Scotland

  • Steve Clark “on the hot seat”; Adam: “He’s a man who has never smiled...in the Guinness Book of World Records. Longest time without smiling. It's been his entire life.” (09:00)

• Brazil vs. Haiti

  • Star players like Vinicius and Jude Bellingham finally liberated and thriving in roles that suit their skills.
  • “It's like the team is built to get everything out of Vinnie and Jude or whoever.” – Chris (10:10)
  • “That’s what’s really dope about this tournament.” – Adam (10:32)

• Paraguay vs. Turkey

  • Chris’s beloved “dark horse” Turkey are in shambles, “Montella's getting canned. This didn't work.” (11:11)
  • Adam delivers a running joke about Turkey’s national football and Ataturk “turning in his grave” (13:13).

• Netherlands vs. Sweden (5-1)

  • Adam calls out Brian Brobbey as a “pre-tournament shout of mine,” and admires his physicality: “He looks like an RB1... he’s got a little Saquon neck in the neck.” (14:43)
  • Chris misses having “hench” strikers in elite teams; wishes Arsenal would sign Brobbey.

• Germany vs. Ivory Coast

  • A match full of tension; Ivory Coast impresses despite heartbreak. Adam highlights professional-level German play: “Germany look great, but do they have enough firepower to knock France out?” (16:42)
  • Chris points to the massive impact of “depth” in squad rosters (17:14).

• Japan vs. Tunisia

  • Hilarious riff on sacking Hervé Renard and bringing in Sir Alex Ferguson for “one last job” (18:34).
  • “Japan is a real team and I love them.” – Adam (20:19)
  • Concern about inappropriate player “boy” lists, adding to the comedic energy.

• Belgium Hate

  • Adam goes off: “I hate them. They stink... Another Adam prediction: they are the worst, most terrible.” (21:03)
  • Riffing on the Belgium national identity crisis: “Just choose a fucking language. What are you, Flemish? What are you, Walloon?” (21:27)
  • Chris: “If I was Doku, I would go back home to watch literally anyone give birth rather than play for Belgium. It didn’t even have to be my wife.” (22:16)

• Uruguay vs. Cape Verde

  • Cape Verde gets praise as the real Cinderella story. “Their fans are amazing. It's been like a deep pleasure to see these guys.” – Chris (23:58)
  • Sam shares a quote from Marcelo Bielsa: “I am toxic. Associating with me makes you worse.” (24:09)

• Egypt, New Zealand, and the Curse of Cosmetic Surgery

  • Adam riffs on Turkey “infecting the football world” with designer teeth and hair plugs: “Anytime when Salah got the hair plugs, he started to suck. Can we agree?” (27:43)
  • Extended Joey Barton quote about dental work killing football careers (28:05).

Messi vs. Ronaldo—World Cup Narrative

• Discussion about the legacy-defining moments for Messi and Ronaldo:
  • Messi’s penalty miss—“Is he a good penalty taker?” (29:53)
  • Adam crunches the numbers: “Penaldo is at 84%. Messi is at 78%... Slide Victor Giokoris, 93%!” (30:00)
  • Both hosts reflect on how this tournament is really about “the end of these two people’s stories.” (31:12)
  • “Does Ronaldo realize that he could easily just come on at 75 [minutes], give a 15 minute cameo every match and ride a very good team deep into this tournament?” – Adam (31:30)
  • Chris: “He would also be a folk hero if he did that.” (32:00)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Cape Verde:
  "They are a team that qualified at the top of their group. If it was a regular 32 [teams], Cape Verde would be in this tournament. And I love to fucking watch them play."
  – Adam (23:58)

• On Belgium:
  "I hate them. They stink!"
  – Adam (21:03)
  "If I was Doku, I would go back home to watch literally anyone give birth rather than play for Belgium. It didn’t even have to be my wife."
  – Chris (22:16)

• On Football Aesthetics:
  "Anytime when Salah got the hair plugs, he started to suck. Can we agree?"
  – Adam (27:43)
  [Relating to Joey Barton’s infamous theory on cosmetic dentistry hurting careers.]
  "When you get your teeth done... it realigns your bite... that starts to offset your spine and your spinal cord. Before you know it, a domino... like a domino chain reaction goes down your spine into your soft tissue. Before you know it, body starts coming apart."
  – Joey Barton quote, read by Ben/Chris (28:20)

• On Messi’s Last Dance:
  "The main thing we’re going to remember about this World Cup... is that this is the end of these two people’s stories"
  – Adam (31:12)
  "The first goal was just vintage straight Barca. It was vintage Barca. It was so cool. Honestly."
  – Adam (33:00)
  "Is he still the best player in the world?... He is, yeah. I think, honestly, I watch it and I'm like, this is still the best player in the world."
  – Adam (33:55)
  "It doesn’t matter how fast he is if he’s always in the right place."
  – Chris (33:45)

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Featured Interview: Ben Foster (43:42–end)

Interview Highlights

On Roy Hodgson’s Temperament

• “He’s like a bit of a granddad father figure... but if somebody acts a way that’s probably a bit unprofessional... Oh my God, he had a filthy, filthy snap in him.” – Ben (40:25)

England Then vs. Now

• “We played in an era where a lot of nations were top heavy... big names and big hitters. Now... we are one of the top nations.”
  – Ben (41:46–43:05)

Football Slang Lightning Round

• Ben quizzes Adam on English football lingo:
  • “He’s had a Reggie blinker.” (“A stinker.”) (44:09)
  • “He’s got a 50p head.” (“Your headers go sideways like a stop sign.”) (44:31)
  • “He’s hit the beans on toast.” (“He hit the post.”) (45:13)

On Ronaldo, Messi, and the Endgame

• “I think if you’re going to be the main striker for your nation... you’ve got to be able to run around very, very hard for 95, 100 minutes... That’s probably just the bit that’s missing a little bit from Ronaldo now.”
  – Ben (47:32)
• On Ronaldo’s post-football future:
  “He dedicates... a lot more of his time to perfecting his craft and being the best he possibly can be for as long as he can be.” (50:39)

Locker Room Dynamics at Man United

• On Fergie keeping egos in check:
  “He had the changing room already set. They knew where everybody stood and nobody would get too big for their station...” (53:35)

Penalty Techniques

• “It’s been proven that you shouldn’t be stuttering up to penalties. Just run up. Well it as hard as you can. And even if the goalie goes the right way, he’s got a very small chance of saving it.” (55:02–55:47)

The Psychology of Keepers

• “You have to be a little bit crazy... we’re the good ones! The defenders are normally good guys... then you get into midfield and they start to become a bit of a baland [dickhead]... Then you get to the front lads... egos are out of control.” (56:19–57:13)

Most Ruthless Fans

• “Some of the things Wolves fans used to say to me were absolutely rank double... hope your dog died, Foster... As soon as they said something about my dog, honestly, I was like, you’re an absolute...”
  – Ben (58:39)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:02 — Intro starts (skip ads)
• 01:02–03:23 — Welcome, Adam & Chris riff on wardrobe and World Cup “stars”
• 03:23–07:32 — Norway-Senegal, Norwegian royalty, and MetLife experience
• 07:32–14:22 — Lightning round: Morocco-Scotland, Brazil-Haiti, Turkey troubles
• 14:22–20:54 — Netherlands beating Sweden, Germany vs. Ivory Coast, England expectations, Japan’s rise
• 20:54–24:41 — Japan’s realness, Belgium bashing, Switzerland, Cape Verde’s Cinderella story
• 24:41–30:35 — Messi & Ronaldo, hair plugs, and the “teeth/soft tissue” bit
• 30:35–34:39 — Messi’s legacy, Argentina analysis, final game roundups
• 38:15–59:43 — Interview with Ben Foster: Roy Hodgson, England squads, locker room culture, Ronaldo/Messi legacy, fan abuse stories

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Tone & Language

Throughout, the show maintains its wild, irreverent, and comically candid tone. Adam and Chris blend real footy analysis with relentless riffing, offbeat tangents, and insider banter. As one example, the recurring “Belgium hate” motif is punctuated with over-the-top pronouncements (“They stink!”) and comic analogies.

The Ben Foster interview is warm and playful, Adam poking fun at his own expertise, while eliciting genuine football stories and colorful traditions from Foster, who is equally game for banter and insight.

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Summary

This episode encapsulates peak "Adam Friedland Show" energy: smart, irreverent football analysis mixed with authentic fan joy, sharp humor, and off-the-wall cultural riffs. Whether talking about England’s hopes, Messi’s sublime twilight, or Belgium’s existential miseries, Adam and Chris deliver a thoroughly entertaining World Cup pod—punctuated by Ben Foster’s candid, revealing view from inside the beautiful game. It’s a must-listen for any sports fan seeking World Cup banter, footballing insight, and hearty laughs.

Transcript

[Adam Friedland]

This episode is brought to you by NOS Energy. Every ounce of dirt, sweat and gears, every checkered flag and trophy raised, every lap, every race, every hard fought place. They're all jammed inside every can of NOS Energy. High performance energy for burning the midnight oil in the garage and pedal to the metal. Human horsepower for the streets. Go ahead, crack open a can of NOS Energy and get after it. Let's talk about Peyronie's disease or pd. It's not widely talked about and some men may feel reluctant to bring it up, but it's more common than you'd think. PD can happen when scar tissue builds up under the skin of the penis causing a curve with a bump during an erection that for some men may lead to pain during intimacy and impact mental health. A trusted urology specialist can help diagnose PD and walk you through your options, including non surgical treatment. Visit talkaboutpd.com foreign. Hello and welcome to the beautiful pod. I'm Adam Friedland. You're Chris Ryan.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Has anyone said that to you? You are Chris Ryan.

[Chris Ryan]

I just realized you're wearing a blazer. Is that because you're a men in blazers official now?

[Adam Friedland]

You're coded by those guys. This is the first time you've looked at me since we started the show. I've worn a jacket a nice. I've dressed for the job I want. I thought that it would start rubbing off on you and you could. Those hoodies. How are we doing? How are we enjoying the cup?

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah, we're loving the cup. And the reason we're loving the cup is because the stars have come out like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, your three favorites in my opinion.

[Adam Friedland]

My three favorite players are Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe. But I'm a hipster. Okay. Yeah, we're gonna do a lightning roundup of the matches. Get. We're gonna do some amazing analysis. We have our gaffer segment. This one is gonna be really good today. And then at the end of the show, I'm gonna be joined with the Foz himself, Henry Winkler,

[Chris Ryan]

Ben Foster.

[Adam Friedland]

Ben Foster. Okay, well, I'm gonna have to change a lot in my interview. Ben Foster. And then we're gonna wrap it up. I was at Senegal, Norway last night. The level. The level.

[Chris Ryan]

You didn't like it. You did not like the quality of play?

[Adam Friedland]

Well, I would say that I was, Yes, I was there with two lovely Norwegian men. I don't want to put it that way. Why would I put it that way. I was there with my two pals that are Norwegian. My one new pal who's the Zoron of Norway. Apparently I'm collecting zorons.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

All over. Yeah. Next week I have a lunch with the Zoron of Israel. Okay. Jesus Christ. What am I doing when the monster scores? It's. I can't. I can't celebrate it. I was wearing their red thing with the cross, with a Christian cross. And, you know, I was there, you know, with them rooting against Africa. The royal family were in attendance. Apparently they have a scandal right now.

[Chris Ryan]

The royal family of Norway?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Of Norway. What's the scandal going on in the. With the royals there? I guess the stepson did something not. So he's a nonce. He. Nonced.

[Chris Ryan]

Oh, no.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay. So they're. So they get. They're becoming Anglophiled. Might be the fact that Holland was born in. In England. It's really. They're. They're. They're really doing British stuff these days. Yeah. I got to say that Senegal were poor. I was really excited to see them. They started three sixes, and it was just incredibly.

[Ben Foster]

Both.

[Adam Friedland]

You could see both teams were trying to hit the other team on the break.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

And then so it's like, well, we don't want possession. Right? It was just like the first 20 minutes were odd. It was kind of like, what did they say in boxing? Where they're feeling.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah, they're feeling each other out. They're trying to find each other's distances.

[Adam Friedland]

They were feeling each other up and. Yeah, yeah.

[Chris Ryan]

No, that's actually the son of the Norwegian prime minister, I think you're talking

[Adam Friedland]

about, or the royal family. The son of the Prime Minister, not the king. Nonst.

[Ben Foster]

Stepson.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay. We're gonna break this story later on with a member of Parliament and the Nathan Fielder of Norway, which apparently the government just gives you money. You could go to the government and be like, I want to be the share of Norway.

[Chris Ryan]

Are you gonna start collecting Nathan Fielders around the globe, too? Is there a Nathan Fielder in Israel?

[Adam Friedland]

I don't know. No. That intimidates me, to think of it. A Jewish guy that's better at comedy. No, but no, granted. Yeah, it was. It was like herky jerky. We had a mendy injury. My Sam, the producer was celebrating a little bit, so. Loudly. It's a man's life. Okay, Sam, why would you. Why would you cheer for that? I don't know. I regretted it as soon as I did. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Sam.

[Chris Ryan]

What was. What was MetLife like as a. As a. As a football arena?

[Adam Friedland]

I gotta say. I drove there 17 hours early, and I went to the Norway fan section, and I was like, it's gonna take forever to get back. And I took the train back instead of getting the ride that I got. And it was pretty convenient. Okay, I have to say. From Penn Station, there's a bus to Secaucus, and then you take the 405, and then you change to the 5 and the 10. Yeah, this is really good content anyway. But, no, I will say, it wasn't as big a pain in the ass to get there as I had suspected. It's cool. It was the first ever World cup match I'd ever been to. And it's really. The anthems and the flags. I mean, it's sick. It's so sick. Have you been to it? Have you been to a match?

[Chris Ryan]

I haven't. I hope I get to go to one of the knockouts. I've been really jealous of all the footage from Philly because it seems like the countries are really showing out in Philly, especially in. Everybody's, like, gathering on the art museum steps, which is right down the street from where I grew up, so I wish I was there.

[Adam Friedland]

The Rocky. The Rocky steps.

[Chris Ryan]

Rocky Steps, Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Is that, like, a thing in Philly where people are, like, just snobs about it? They're like, oh, God. These tourists think that they're doing a thing from one of the coolest movie scenes ever.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah. No, we suggest that they go running through Southwest Philly like, Creed.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you throw coins at them, perhaps?

[Chris Ryan]

No, we don't throw batteries.

[Adam Friedland]

Just as an aside, I know this has nothing to do with soccer, but my friend said he went to a strip club in, like, in Germany, and, like, a euro is a coin. And I was like, aren't they through? So they have to, like, exchange them for paper currency, because otherwise they'd be throwing coins at the strippers, which would be obviously terrible. Holland is fucking amazing. And the presser, the press conference afterwards where they're like, you got France coming up. And he's like, yeah, we're getting smoked. They're gonna kill us. And they're like, they're the best. They're probably gonna win the World Cup. It really made me like him. I was actively, maybe a little bit the Odegaard Experience chirping a little bit until that brilliant reverse pass chirping.

[Chris Ryan]

What were you chirping like? Get out of my car.

[Adam Friedland]

I was like, welcome to the Experience, boys.

[Chris Ryan]

Oh, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I've had 55 matches of this. Actually hasn't been available, but, yeah, apparently they're getting sick of him too. And then he had that brilliant revers. Earland our friend was like, this is going to be big. Like the big Odegaard game or whatever. Yeah. And we're like, no, it's not, dude. He stinks. And then he was pretty good. Okay.

[Chris Ryan]

It's funny watching these guys get rejuvenated. This happened with me with McAllister on Argentina, where I was like, you shaved your head. You look like prime. You klops down there on the field dapping you up.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, because they're playing against the Kurds and, like, they're playing against like, the Canary Islands. I mean, like what? Like that's why these guys that we get so frustrated with are playing against, like a Sunday league team from Blackpool or some shit. I don't know.

[Chris Ryan]

Blackpool is sending a team to the World Cup.

[Adam Friedland]

Blackpool is in the World Cup. Right. Gianni Infantino has expanded the field to include Blackpool.

[Chris Ryan]

That would be great if random cities got to have their own World cup team.

[Adam Friedland]

Apparently Blackpool is, and I'm sorry if this offends anyone, the most shit place in England. Apparently. It's shit. I thought. I don't know. At least they have a pool. Okay, we'll clean that up. Let's go through lightning. Round of games, Morocco. Scotland. I don't really want to talk much about it other than I want to introduce our Gaffers segment again.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah, let's do it.

[Adam Friedland]

Is Steve Clark on the hot seat?

[Chris Ryan]

Okay, so. Yes. And I also thought that this was an interesting example of how sometimes somebody who can be like a beloved cult figure then immediately turns into an incredibly annoying man almost instantaneously after not getting much, many goals.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. As. As he said before, it's a new Steve Clark in this tournament. He's considering a 4. 42 and letting them speak to their families. So he's really letting his hair down in this tournament. For those of you who don't know, Steve Clark is the manager of Scotland. He is a man who has never smiled. That is, he's. He's actually. There is in the Guinness Book of World Records. Longest time without smiling. It's been his entire life. All right, let's keep moving. Brazil, Haiti. Vinnie, is he free of the dictator? Are we seeing. Are we seeing Vinnie and Jude? Are we seeing these guys who were once just living for themselves, you know? You know, are we seeing them out of jail a bit?

[Chris Ryan]

They're playing in teams where their positions actually make sense. Whereas that last Real Madrid team was like 18 square pegs and round hole. Holes or whatever. It's. It's. It's actually like the coolest thing about this tournament so far is almost every star seems to have the perfect platform to perform from. Like, it's. It's like the team is built to get everything out of Vinnie and Jude or whoever.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, I think it's. That is. It's a great point. Like, that is what's really dope about this. And I think we were mentioning this in the last episode. Everyone's. That's sick that we want to see Cook now, including Ronaldo, who has. Let's just check on it.

[Chris Ryan]

Six goals.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, no. Borat scored two one.

[Ben Foster]

No.

[Adam Friedland]

As is John Ganlev. Okay, we're. I'm not okay. Penaldo. Gotta score the opener. So now all of my favorite players are playing really well. Paraguay, Turkey. Chris, your dark horse, Turkey.

[Chris Ryan]

I'm in tatters, into it, in shambles.

[Adam Friedland]

How many shots through two games? I think it's like 58 shots. They've taken 58 shots.

[Chris Ryan]

Well, their XG would have been good then.

[Adam Friedland]

Who are they? Mads Mikkelsen in that movie. Another round. Who are they? I thought that was haram to take 58 shots.

[Chris Ryan]

They're going home. Montella's getting canned. This didn't work. Sorry, I was. My bad.

[Adam Friedland]

Armenia is. Is having a fucking cup right now, right? Turkey's in the mud. Iraq's in the mud. The Kurds are having a fucking cup right now. Although Iran. The Kurdish goalkeeper was a. Or the Iranian goalkeeper was a Kurdish shepherd, which I think he's a wall.

[Chris Ryan]

He's amazing.

[Adam Friedland]

He's incredible. This has been a no name keeper tournament. I think that is a great subplot. Eloy room from USL2's Miami FC, which they have another one. What is it called? Fort Lauderdale FC, I think. Look it up. It's Miami. Never disrespect me in front of Chris again.

[Chris Ryan]

Do you know who else is standing on his head? Was the Xenia from Cape verde.

[Adam Friedland]

He has 5 million followers now on Instagram and apparently he's followed like 2,000 women. That is a true thing.

[Chris Ryan]

Good for him. Good for him.

[Adam Friedland]

If that doesn't work. Just like being a hero in public like that. How dare they? He's. He's. Yeah, he's dating. He's dating. He's in a love triangle right now with Pepe and Teanna Trump. Okay, I want to get to Pepe. Let's Go real quick. Paraguay. Turkey. Pathetic. Just. Just cancel the country. Listen, like, I'm a. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big Tayyip Erdogan guy.

[Chris Ryan]

He's your guy. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I love his supermarket in la. I get all my sea mosses there.

[Chris Ryan]

All your smoothies.

[Adam Friedland]

I get the Hallie Bieber smoothie from Tayyip Erdogan's supermarket. Guys, this is a. Ataturk just turns in his grave. Suleiman the Magnificent literally would. Would vomit and. And his. His boy consort would. This would make them sick. Honestly, a lot of their players do look like Suleiman the Magnificent's boy consort. If you. I'm. I. Can we put that in the episode? Can we make that joke? Can we make that joke?

[Chris Ryan]

What are you. Who are you asking?

[Adam Friedland]

Erdogan? I don't know. Spotify. The joke that I'm pitching right now and leave this in, if this is funny, is that I want to say that. What's his name from Real Madrid? Arda Guler. Arthur Guler. Looks like he would have been the boy consort.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah, I see.

[Adam Friedland]

Suleiman the Magnificent.

[Chris Ryan]

So it's sort of a Jenga tower of a joke. If you can't make the first part, you can't make the second part, right?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah. And honestly, shout out to the Ottomans. They were the only place that tolerated Jews after the Spanish Inquisition. Why does everything have to be Jew? Okay, Netherlands, Sweden, 5 1. Brian Bravi. Pre tournament shout of mine.

[Chris Ryan]

No big deal.

[Adam Friedland]

No, the boy, he looks like an RB one. Yeah, he's like, got a little Saquon neck in the neck. Right?

[Chris Ryan]

And I miss strikers like this. I feel like, you know, this is sort of like, you usually get it in the lower third of the Premier League and then in the Championship, but, like, the top six have kind of dropped dudes like this. Somebody should. Somebody. Somebody should sign this guy.

[Ben Foster]

Why you.

[Chris Ryan]

Arsenal should sign him.

[Adam Friedland]

Who's that hench guy that was, like, in League 1, like, you know who I'm talking about. Look up, buff man. What? Look. Look up the buff man. Yeah, there's Akin Fenwa. Akin Fenwa.

[Chris Ryan]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

His, his, his. Like, if you, like, leveled him up in FIFA, you could, like, actually make him into a God. You could, like, have him, like, win you the Champions League. Where do you see this team going in this tournament? I think they are for real team. I think that we forgot how at the first two phases of play, they are fucking stacked, and then they have serviceable dogs up front. I mean, that is a formula for a World cup success.

[Chris Ryan]

I'm unfamiliar with this version of Cody Gakbo. He has not played like this in 18 months for Liverpool. It feels like.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, because he's playing against Sweden.

[Chris Ryan]

We liked Sweden.

[Adam Friedland]

No, I like Graham Potter. But now he's going three piece suit and he's trying to do a Peaky Blinders thing. That's the problem. Just pull up the picture of him in the three piece suit. Listen, just pick a look, pick a look. And he's sucking his thumb like a baby. Okay. Germany, Ivory Coast. This is one I want to talk about more. I enjoyed the hell out of this match. Ivory Coast, I think, really impressed me. Despite losing, obviously there was a terrible, terrible missed opportunity right at the end.

[Chris Ryan]

This is like when you watch something like that, there's those little, little moments of like. I don't know whether you want to call it experience or class or whatever where it was just like, God damn it if that dude just goes one time. They beat the Germans.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. The winning goal. Heartbreak for Ivory Coast. The turn so professional. I loved it. Who. Who dished that in? Was it Kimich? Who. Who gave him the dish that was in flow? It was Felix Nemecha. Oh, obviously Felix Nietzsche's beautiful, brilliant line breaking pass. Who could forget it? I. I think Germany look great, but if, like we're going to get to France, like, do you think that they have enough firepower to knock them out?

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah. You know what was impressive about them? Yes, I do think they have enough firepower to knock them out. And I do think that I do too. But I thought that the Germany Ivory coast game was indicative of how much depth matters. Ivory coast didn't have that extra, extra wave of talent coming off the bench like Germany did.

[Adam Friedland]

That's really what came across as depth. I mean that's the top tier. Like nations have just. You look at the bench and it's like city. Like when. When they. You. We were. Do you just remember playing those and then you just see Mahrez sitting there. They'd be like. You'd be like, they also have him. Yeah, it's not fair. Yeah, they have like. I mean England, we said this when they made their substitution. Obviously England are playing later today and we. I think we will find out the level. I think, I think I'm now I convinced myself after the first England match that that it's coming home. And now I've gone through the cycle

[Chris Ryan]

where you're like, I'm not sure, maybe they peaked. Like maybe the. Or like they had too much juice coming out of that first match and now they have to come back down to earth.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, yeah, and also they're on this, like, Vegas vacation style. They're at the Hoover Dam and. Yeah, they're getting.

[Chris Ryan]

Did you see Declan and the, like, police officer doing yokoras out in the streets?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Why would he act like that's a guy that should be his teammate next year? Okay. Japan, Tunisia, Herv Renard in the mud. I'm thinking we fire him. I'm thinking he's out. And I'm thinking, sir Alex Ferguson, one last job.

[Chris Ryan]

Would you take Tunisia for the last group stage match? Would you manage them?

[Adam Friedland]

I would, yes. Listen, I would sit down with the boys and listen, I know that it's obnoxious as a Yank for me to speak in my. If I was with the Tunisian national team, I would sit them down. Harry should have him out here. That's true.

[Ben Foster]

No deal.

[Adam Friedland]

Doing gay relationship with Draco. Draco Malfoy.

[Ben Foster]

That would have been sick.

[Adam Friedland]

Malfoy having been gay and repressed is good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not with Ron.

[Ben Foster]

Why?

[Adam Friedland]

Draco's not bombing around that.

[Sam (Producer)]

Yeah, he is.

[Ben Foster]

Because Ron's ginger. He's a little.

[Adam Friedland]

No, he's not. So, yeah, I mean, that's the point is, like, you listen, Herbert is coming in there, he's doing this like. He's doing this fucking French, like Charles de Gaulle. It's kind of like this is Paths of Glory or something. He's yelling at these fucking poor guys. They've been through a lot, okay? They played their right back as the. He was the kit boy. They had their last. Their last guy, their last manager. Forgot everyone's position the day before the World Cup. I would sit them down and just talk to them about. Do you think Ron would be bumming Draco?

[Chris Ryan]

You know, you just like, relate to them. Try to. Try to really just keep it real. Do you think Japan is actually a threat?

[Adam Friedland]

Japan is a real team and I love them. I love them. Yeah, I. I love seeing them play. Sam's. Sam's boy Sano, who's like, on an early. What? Sam's list of boys. Why would you have a lit. Why? Come on, he's like 25. You kept. He's 25.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

How old are you? 26. Okay, so, yeah. Inappropriate. It's not appropriate. There's a problematic age gap kind of situation there. I only rank men that are Ronaldo. He's the only one that's older than me, I think. Okay.

[Chris Ryan]

Adam, you know how you're like, Japan's a real team and a threat.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Chris Ryan]

You know who's not a real team? Who I never want to watch play football ever again is Belgium.

[Adam Friedland]

I hate them. They stink. And honestly, another Adam prediction, they are the worst, most terrible. They're mad at Dooku for wanting to see his child born. Swiss are pissing me off too. In this tournament. Just choose a fucking language. Okay? Like, what are you. What are you, Flemish? What are you? Like, just. What do you Walloon? Okay, right, like, listen, they've been through a lot. They fought both world wars, basically, in Belgium. Right. That's crazy. It's crazy to think that just like, twice they were like. I had a friend actually, once where I was like, can you do. Like, he's a French guy. I was like, what does a Chinese accent accent sound like? Oh, my God, stereotypical. And it just sounded like French to me. Right? And I was like. And he's like, what? I was like, what about African? And it just sounded like French. And I was like, you're not doing it. And he's like. And then he did Belgian and he was like, it was the only. It was the only one that he

[Chris Ryan]

was saving any performance.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's like, I could do a really good Belgian. And he's like, yeah. And it was like, wow, these people have been through a ton.

[Chris Ryan]

If I was Doku, I would go back home to watch literally anyone give birth rather than play for Belgium. It didn't even have to be my wife.

[Adam Friedland]

I would. Exactly. And it would be beautiful. Okay, yeah, let's just. I just saw a joke that he wrote in the notes. So let's get your big Iran joke. Let's do it. Sam's Iran joke. I need a new manager. Just put it. Can we get the image? Sam's trying out comedy. He's done writing his dossier on Burnley. Yes. Okay. No. Christopher Moltisanti. That was a really funny joke. Let's keep going. Uruguay, Cape Verde. What a match. What a team. Cape Verde. Like, listen, they are not products of an. Yes. They called him the Shah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thought it was funny. It's funny.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

He looks like the Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi. You know, it's incredibly brutal, you know, CIA bash. I don't know about that. I just know about Phil. Okay. Uruguay. Kate. Verde. Cape Verde. I just want to say, guys, like, if you think that they're like, a product of an expanded field, they're not. They are a team that qualified at the top of their group. They would be in the World cup. We're at 64 teams or what? Not 64. How many fucking 32. 32 teams. If it was a regular 32, Cape Verde would be in this tournament. And I love to fucking watch them play.

[Chris Ryan]

This is the Cinderella story of the tournament. They play their asses off. They've got a really good keeper. Their fans are amazing. It's been like a deep pleasure to see these guys.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And all of his dming with Lisa Ann hasn't distracted from the heroic save Marcela Bielsa. Sam, you put this quote in here. I'm a generator of tension. When I arrive, the atmosphere becomes tense, and that's why I appear infrequently. I am toxic. Associating with me makes you worse. That's very funny. Honestly, that shout out to Sam on that. What, like, what is he like? He's just like. He goes a hot topic. He, like, wears Invader Zim stuff. I'm toxic.

[Chris Ryan]

He hates being here. He hates this tournament. I don't think he very much likes this team. He seems miserable every time he's on camera. And this is one of my favorite managers ever.

[Adam Friedland]

Where's their next game? Can we rescue Marcelo Bielsa and make him just chill live? Live in our Hollywood Hills house with the Scottish guy?

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah, seriously.

[Adam Friedland]

I think that's the fourth.

[Chris Ryan]

He could be Turtle. Yeah, no, he could be.

[Adam Friedland]

He's drama. He's like, yeah, tell us about Viking Quest. Tell about. Tell us about his days with the Chilean national team coaching Sanchez. Yeah, yeah. Ask him about the guy that had the Jordan Jumpman neck tattoo. Who's that guy on Gary Meddell?

[Chris Ryan]

Oh, Gary Meddell was the. Was an absolute pitbull. He was great. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And they. And they had Arturo Vidal. Ask him what that guy's deal is. Like, does he actually think that that look was good? Yeah, yeah, he. I guess he. He has to sit on this blue bucket, right? That is his. Yeah. He says it's the best view. And honestly, if you're watching football, that's one of the worst views.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. I can understand, like, being an offensive coordinator, like, up high, seeing the formations. For sure. Yeah. But, like, Sam. Okay, you just deleted. You got embarrassed. Okay. Sam had Sam victory lap on Maxi Arahuo. Wait, did you say that on the show?

[Chris Ryan]

I. I saw a video of Beelsa sitting with Arahu. Like, where he was like, this guy's mediocre. And I didn't. I didn't pick him. He was given to me, but I couldn't tell if that was fake or not.

[Adam Friedland]

That's just how he talks.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, it is kind of how he talks. And that's why they miss him in

[Chris Ryan]

leads, because he hasn't been doing the show with me. He's like, I didn't pick this guy.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, no. You say that about me.

[Chris Ryan]

No, that's what you say about me, you know?

[Adam Friedland]

No, I would never say that about you. Well, listen, sometimes an arranged marriage can result in love that blossoms for 40 years. And we can announce our Premier League podcast, the Beautiful Pod Pram Pod. Yeah. Which we are doing every single day throughout the rest of the transfer window throughout the rest of the summer. Five days a week. Here we go. We're gonna get Fabrizios. We're gonna be. Listen, this is. This is how I met your mother. Okay, guys. Egypt, New Zealand, don't really care. Your boy Mo had a moment. That's nice.

[Chris Ryan]

That was dope. He then partied with the crowd out in the streets. It was awesome.

[Adam Friedland]

What was it like rooting for that guy on your team? He's truly. He's a beautiful person. I love him. And the problem was I really want to get into Belgium. I forgot this. The problem is Turkey is infecting. Yes. I want to go back to Belgium. Turkey is infecting the entire world of football. Because anytime when Saleh got the hair plugs, he started to suck. Can we agree?

[Chris Ryan]

You're starting to sound like Joey Barton who was saying that Kevin de Bruyne sucked because of his veneers.

[Adam Friedland]

Yes. And I would like to play that clip. And I think that there is something to this. And I think that Turkey is just infesting everyone with these teeth and these hair.

[Ben Foster]

Arguably the best player in the Premier League, but got the teeth done, got the teary teeth in.

[Chris Ryan]

Big mad quiff going on. And as.

[Ben Foster]

As is. As is normal when you get them teeth done. For any young players out there who come into a few shilling you, when you get your teeth done, all right, your body compensates for your mouth.

[Chris Ryan]

You sleep, you run, your body compensates for your mouth.

[Ben Foster]

You get the teeth done. As soon as you get your teeth

[Chris Ryan]

done, it realigns your bite.

[Ben Foster]

Once you realign your bite, that starts to offset your spine and your spinal column and your spinal cord.

[Chris Ryan]

And before you know it, a domino,

[Ben Foster]

like a dominoes chain reaction goes down

[Chris Ryan]

your spine into your soft tissue. Before you know it, body starts coming apart. Kevin de Bruyne's problem at Manchester City

[Ben Foster]

was getting his teeth done. Every player I see get the teeth done within a short period of time. Soft tissue injuries start out.

[Chris Ryan]

It has nothing to do with pep. Making them sprint for seven yards at a point, like a hundred thousand times.

[Adam Friedland]

He's right.

[Chris Ryan]

It's too bad he's a racist scumbag, because it would be funny to put him on the pit next season and have him just coming into people's emergency room stalls. It's your teeth.

[Adam Friedland]

Can you imagine what it would be like to be fouled by him?

[Chris Ryan]

Joey Barton?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Chris Ryan]

Like, outside of a pub or on the football pitch.

[Adam Friedland]

No, in front of everyone. Like, I mean, not quite Duncan Ferguson, but, like, it would. It would hurt. I'd be like, hey, man, come on. I know we're wearing different shirts, but, like, we're wearing different costumes. But you don't have to hurt me so much. Let's talk about Messi siempre. Messi siempre. Leo. Argentina to Austria nil. Let's get to it real quick because we. And then we gotta go. The real question is, does the missed penalty affect his legacy? I think no. Okay.

[Chris Ryan]

I do feel like I've seen him. Is he like a. Is he a good penalty taker?

[Adam Friedland]

No, he's. In fact, I've crunched the numbers. You know, if you want to show the graphic. Yes. Penaldo is at 84%. Messi is at 78%. Does this do? Are we ignoring Ronaldo's better?

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah. No, I think he does. It makes me rethink all. All of my priors.

[Adam Friedland]

But perhaps there is someone else that needs to enter the goat conversation. Slide Victor Giokoris, 93%. 40 for 43.

[Chris Ryan]

Did he take one against PSG?

[Adam Friedland]

Yes.

[Chris Ryan]

And he scored.

[Adam Friedland]

Buried it. He doesn't miss. Honestly, he is the worst striker in human history. Other than this one thing that he does, the best in the world. He's incredible at penalties. The other best penalty taker I've ever seen is Ainslie Maitland. Niles, I wish we had a clip of it. Listen, I don't care if we keep bringing it up, what we're seeing. The main thing we're going to remember about this World Cup, I mean, I don't think necessarily that Ronaldo's legacy is affected by this right now either. Right. But the main thing that we're going to remember about this World cup is that beyond the winner, maybe even more than the winner, is that this is the end of these two people's stories. Right. I'm gonna talk to Ben Foster after this. But he. Who is with him at United? Everyone that Plays with him, says he's. Says that he's a great teammate. Yeah. For the most part, we don't know anything.

[Chris Ryan]

Like, most of these guys are friends.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah. Not Bruno, but he would die for his guys. Apparently before Ben Foster had a penalty shootout, he's like, this is your moment. Like, you G'd him up. Like. But the thing is, is, like, does he. Does Ronaldo realize that he could easily just come on at 75, give a 15 minute cameo every match and ride a very good team deep into this tournament and potentially have a shot at a World Cup? That. That is. That's my main question.

[Chris Ryan]

He would also be a folk hero if he did that. People would be like, this is incredible that if you turned into like late period Henrik Larson or something.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, no, well. Oh, they disallowed. Fuck. They disallowed Borat's goal and Ronaldo has two. Okay.

[Chris Ryan]

I knew this was gonna happen.

[Adam Friedland]

I knew. We knew this was gonna happen.

[Chris Ryan]

Harry Kane's gonna, like, break his leg. England's gonna go home. Penaldo is gonna go nuts.

[Adam Friedland]

Penaldo is gonna get the group. Sage Merchant is back in the group. He's playing Borat. Yes. Let's wrap it up here. I think let's. What were your takeaways from the Messi?

[Chris Ryan]

The Messi goals that Argentina is like now actually like a real, like, back to back threat for me. And that, like, the way that they're playing feels like incredibly connected and that they. They left goals on the table that match. So I'm like, I still feel like their best football is to come and they've been among the more impressive teams.

[Adam Friedland]

The first goal was just vintage straight Barca. It was vintage Barca. It was so cool. Honestly. It was like the Kobe 60 point game. It was like our friend. We didn't think we'd see our friend again, but like, he's doing it now. He's done it five times. Like the rebound. The second goal from the first match was just like a vintage predatory. Him knowing the future, knowing where the ball would ricochet. The third goal or the second goal yesterday was just like, he's still. So. He's not fast, but he's quick, you know? And like, he's still. It's so innate within him.

[Chris Ryan]

It doesn't matter how fast he is if he's always in the right place.

[Adam Friedland]

Is he still the best player in the world?

[Chris Ryan]

He might be.

[Adam Friedland]

He is, yeah. I think, honestly, I watch it and I'm like, this is still the best player in the world. It's Shohei, but I guess Shohei pitches.

[Chris Ryan]

He's the best. Messi's the best baseball player in the world.

[Adam Friedland]

Let's get to Ben. That was a lightning round of games. Chris. We're, let's, we're looking forward to England today, and it's going to be a disaster. We know that Saka's gonna just, his Achilles is gonna explode and he's gonna hit two free throws and then he's gonna take Percocets and write a Facebook post where he's like, God damn it, I'm so fucking pissed off right now. All right, thanks a lot, Pardo. See ya. Yes. Yes.

[Sam (Producer)]

Backbone Are you looking for support in your weight management journey? Zepbound Tirzepatide may be able to help. Zepbound is a prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to help adults with obesity or some adults with overweight who also have weight related medical problems to lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Zepbound is Approved as a 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 or 15mg injection. Zepbound contains Tirzepatide and should not be used with other Tirzepatide conditions containing products or any GLP1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children. Don't share needles or pens or reuse needles. Don't take if allergic to it or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or if you've had multiple endocrine neoplasia Syndrome Type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop Zepbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes before scheduled procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing pregnant, plan to be or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems. Talk to your doctor, call 1-800-545-5979 or visit zepbound.lilly.com Are you looking for support in your weight management journey? Zepbound Tirzepatide may be able to help. Zepbound is a prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to help adults with obesity or some adults with overweight who also have weight related medical problems to lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Zepbound is Approved as a 2.5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 or 15mg injection. Zepbound contains Tirzepatide and should not be used with other tirzepatide containing products or any GLP1 receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if Zepound is safe and effective for use in children. Don't share needles or pens or reuse needles. Don't take if allergic to it or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or if you've had multiple endocrine neoplasia Syndrome Type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop Zepbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes before scheduled procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing pregnant, plan to be or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems. Talk to your doctor. Call 1-800-545-5979 or visit zepbound.lilly.com this episode

[Adam Friedland]

is brought to you by Paramount. In the world of espionage, truth is a moving target and every decision carries a dangerous consequence. In the HC season 2, Martian has a new mission as a double agent. Twice the lies, twice the risk. The lines between ally and enemy blur like never before. And survival depends on trusting no one. Starring Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, Jody Turner Smith and my man, Richard Gere. Don't miss The Agency Season 2, all episodes now streaming on Paramount. Plus Ben Foster, thank you for joining me.

[Ben Foster]

Absolute pleasure. Lovely to be here.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah. He has no idea who I am. I am the foremost expert on footy in America. In fact, I'm. I'm the Ted Lasso of. I wouldn't say that I'm actually funny.

[Ben Foster]

What is this called? What's the name of the podcast? What is it?

[Adam Friedland]

I'm doing the World cup coverage for the Ringer. So I'm doing. Yeah, so for Bill Simmons. So. Yeah, it's called the Beautiful Pod.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm Adam Friedland. I'm a. I'm a comedian.

[Ben Foster]

I've seen you. I've seen you on some stuff. Before. I like it. You're like that weird, sort of like, awkward comedian. It's good. I like it.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, yeah. I would say. I would say incredibly, just brilliant. Fascinating. Thanks for joining us. I. I know you have to get back because you're. You're your old mate from Old Trafford. He's doing the remontado right now. He scored two against Borat,

[Ben Foster]

mate. People were writing him off. See, there you go. He can always score goals.

[Adam Friedland]

I think you. His staunchest supporter, perhaps may have said that he should get benched.

[Ben Foster]

I think after the last game, then he had a good chance of it, to be fair. But I think the manager might have been a little bit. What's the word? Strong arms. He doesn't get much saying that. He's playing regardless. All right.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. What is it? What is the. What's the. What's the. Kind of. The consensus on Roberto Martinez is he just. He just wants to be like, what are you guys doing after the game? Like, do you guys want to hang out? Great abs. Ronaldo. Great quads. Great.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Great delts.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah. I think he's like that with Ronaldo, isn't he? I think Ronaldo does the team talk. The halftime team talk talks. The water break team talks. And it tells Roberta Martinez where to stand as well.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Carlos Quiroz takes training. So you, obviously, you were in the World cup in 2014. That was. That was the. The Roy year, correct?

[Ben Foster]

Yes. Roy Hudson. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

He's. He's managed you a couple times, if I'm not mistaken.

[Ben Foster]

Three times, actually. West Brom, England and Watford.

[Adam Friedland]

What was he like? Memories of Roy.

[Ben Foster]

He's like a bit of a granddad father figure. He's the loveliest man. Actually, you know what, he's lovely. But in a football setting, if somebody does or says or acts a way, that's probably a bit unprofessional. Oh, my God. He had a filthy, filthy snap in him. And he would give it to you and he would not beat about the bush and he would not hold his words and he would be horrible, but he needed to. But I liked it as well.

[Adam Friedland]

Did he ever. Did he ever chew you out? Like, did you ever. Were you ever a victim of the. Or a target?

[Ben Foster]

No, it's usually somebody who was being a little bit unprofessional. So basically just being sloppy, not working hard enough. If he's doing a team talk. They were talking and mumbling. That was one of his big pet peeves. If he was doing a bit of a team talk. If it was like on the side of things, mumbling. No, if, if, say, say, if, say, if the manager, say. If Roy was doing a team talk, it could have been outside of a training pitch. It could have been in the change room and you have a couple players sort of sat next to either. To each other, just sort of mumbling away to each other, still talking. Oh, my God. Honestly, I just remember watching and thinking, he's going to go in a minute. He's going to go in a minute. And then all of a sudden he returned and snap in front of the whole team, 30 men, and he would absolutely snap at them and give it to him. So I always knew not to do silly things.

[Adam Friedland]

What, what's different about the England camp now than what you remember? 2014, you guys didn't quite qualify. Is that correct?

[Ben Foster]

Yeah, we didn't qualify. We lost our first two group games against Italy and Uruguay and then the final game against Costa Rica. We were already out, so it didn't really matter. But I'd say the difference, the difference now, this team to what we had, we. I feel we've got one probably a better team as opposed to what the other nations have got. I think we played in an era where a lot of nations were top heavy. Honestly, they were so good, real good teams like Uruguay and Ali. We had a.

[Adam Friedland]

We had for lawn, right?

[Ben Foster]

Yeah. We had a group of Luis Suarez. We had a group of Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica. And Costa Rica topped our group. Costa Rica won our group. We came bottom. So it was a World cup full of big names and big hitters and big teams.

[Adam Friedland]

Now Italy isn't even in the World Cup.

[Ben Foster]

Italy's not even in the World Cup. The football landscape has probably changed a little bit, to be fair. But we are one of the top nations now. So we go into. There's a lot of expectation in England. There always has been. We've always had. If we don't get past like the quarters or semis, then it's like the world has ended in England, honestly. So nothing's changed really in that respect. But we are doing a lot better in tournaments now. I think our last three tournaments, we've done final, semi, final, final. So it's not. Not bad to be fair, is it?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah. Do you, you mentioned Italy, like, do you. Do you worry that they're in Ibiza right now chirping like, chatting your birds like. Because you guys have to. They have to be here playing football. Yeah. And all the Italian guys, like, I don't know, Califiori might be Picking up some. Okay. Anyway,

[Ben Foster]

in England they say chirps and chirps and. They do.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Ben Foster]

It means chatting to a bird, giving some wrist to the girl. That's what the kids say.

[Adam Friedland]

I think nowadays everyone gets to be on holiday except for Harry Maguire, who

[Ben Foster]

somehow he was in Times Square the other day selling panini stickers, I think.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, he's right. He's ready to go. He's. He's got his kit with him. He's got his. He's got his molded studs.

[Ben Foster]

You know, you said at the beginning, you said that you know your football, you're like really big into your football. I've got. If you want, I could give you a load of English football sayings if you want and see if you know what they actually mean.

[Adam Friedland]

I know all them probably already and around any of the ones I don't know. Okay, continue. Let's go.

[Ben Foster]

Do you want me to give you some?

[Adam Friedland]

Yes.

[Ben Foster]

Okay then. He's had a Reggie blinker.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay, so it's a stinker bark.

[Ben Foster]

Am I that?

[Chris Ryan]

Swear.

[Ben Foster]

Sorry. Very good.

[Adam Friedland]

You can swear. You could fucking cuss. You could. Yeah, well, it's a cockney rhyme scheme, right?

[Ben Foster]

Yeah. Very, very good. Very good.

[Adam Friedland]

You might try to play it, mate.

[Ben Foster]

Well done. Well done. He's got a 50p head.

[Adam Friedland]

It means it's. He's dead. No, no, he's. He's. He's red. Fergie. Fergie. Fergie's got a 50p head.

[Ben Foster]

I'll tell you. You know where?

[Chris Ryan]

Nearer.

[Adam Friedland]

Wait, let me guess.

[Ben Foster]

What? See, that's cheating. That's cheating.

[Adam Friedland]

Dumb. He's. He's. He's half a. Yeah, he's half a pound sterling.

[Ben Foster]

No. Right, I'll tell you. Okay, so the 50p coin in England is kind of. It's like what, like octagon shaped or something?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Ben Foster]

And if you've got a 50 period, it means you're trying to head it there, but you headed it there. Yeah. You're trying to score but it's gone over there.

[Adam Friedland]

You have a head like a. Like a. Like a stop sign.

[Ben Foster]

Like. Yeah, like a stop sign.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ben Foster]

What is. The beans on toast. He's hit the beans on toast.

[Adam Friedland]

He just. He hit the post.

[Ben Foster]

Yes. Well done. Well done.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Ben Foster]

Do you want me to keep going?

[Adam Friedland]

No, Well, I have, I've. I've hard hitting questions for you about. No, keep going. I mean, we can. I. No, I mean, it's. You're the guest. We could do. We could do anything. Right.

[Ben Foster]

If I said he Couldn't trap a bag of cement. What would that mean?

[Adam Friedland]

That he's a. He's Harry Maguire. You know that the Arabic announcer that calls them, like, Virgil Van Maguire. Like, the guy just has it out for the guy on, like, be in sports like that. I kind of want to see if he's working the World cup and just listen to him, because we don't have Ray Hudson anymore, so it's kind of like he was always the best to listen to. Speaking of Hudson, you were at Old Trafford, famously, with Cristiano Ronaldo. What you did by saying he should be benched is you motivated him. I think that was, like, old school. Very Allardicean of you, but I guess, what do you make of, like, there's this story that I've watched for 20 years, and now we're seeing it kind of, Ronaldo says he wants to play in the next World cup, but we're seeing this being the conclusion of it. We're seeing Leo be perhaps, is he still the best player in the world? I mean, I asked myself that every. I asked myself that every time I see him play. It's. It's. It's. It's insane. And then we're seeing Cristiano, who, granted to his credit, I was saying this earlier. He could just be coming on at 75, making cameos and then riding a very good team very deep into the tournament. Right. And instead, he wants to be the main man. Like, what do you make of, like, as someone that knows Cristiano Ronaldo and has praised his work ethic and, you know, and I think you liked him. He was a good bloke, Good lad. Yeah, yeah. What do you. What do you make of the story of, you know, these two men right now? Pause.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah, I like the. There's always, obviously, that conversation of who's best. Messi Ronaldo. But I think even in this World cup here, you start to see, like, the real emergence of all the other big boys as well. Haaland scoring goals, goals for fun, and Mbappe scoring goals for fun. I think if you're going to be the main striker for your nation, a big nation, top nation, you've got to be able to run around very, very hard for 95, 100 minutes. You've got to be able to put a real shift in for your team, and I think that's probably just the bit that's missing a little bit from Ronaldo. Now, he's not going to be the type. He never really has, really, but he's not going to Be the type to chase back and defend and help his other teammates out. But in fairness to him, he scored two today against as. Becky. Stan. So Ronaldo's back, baby. He'll score your goals.

[Adam Friedland]

I guess, like, the question is, is, like, from knowing Ronaldo, like, do you think maybe I'm speculating here because obviously people think they know these guys. Messi seems to be a guy that just likes hanging out with his family. Cristiano Ronaldo seems like. Like they've. They. They've clearly motivated one another to achieve the greatness. That's why we're all so lucky to have watched the this. But, like, do you think that there. I mean, one thing that I have floating around in my mind is like, is there a fear in him of what comes after the one thing you do your whole life, which is banging it in the back of the net, you know, and granted, can you relate to that as someone that, you know, let it into the back of the net? I'm sorry, why did I say that? It's rude of me. The League cup, finally, 2011. How dare you.

[Ben Foster]

But I'd say Bernardo is a slightly different character to a lot of people. Yeah. He very much has dedicated his whole life and his craft to his craft. Sorry to be the utmost professional, you know, 3% body fat, and a lot of people just aren't built like that. Like, I couldn't think of anything worse to try to be 2% body fat. Like, you wouldn't be able to have a beer. You can't have a burger. You can't. We went to a Chinese place for crispy duck last night, and it was phenomenal. Do you know what I mean? Like, he doesn't do that. He doesn't get to enjoy those little luxuries of life, but he does.

[Adam Friedland]

Maybe text him a picture of the duck.

[Ben Foster]

I'll put it on my Instagram. You can follow me and have a look at the stories if you want.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, but text it to Ronaldo. Do you have his number also?

[Ben Foster]

I don't have Ronaldo's number. No, I don't have Ronaldo's number. No, no, I'm just kidding. I think if I followed him as well, I don't think he'd see it. I think he'd get lost amongst is how many younger.

[Adam Friedland]

He's the most famous person in the world.

[Ben Foster]

Also, it's like half a billion Instagram followers, isn't it? Or something.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, but continue. So, like, so his life is regimented in this way. Like, do you think that there's a consideration in him that, like, what. What do I do after this shit? I mean, like. Like, I don't think Messi knows that he's going to retire. Like, I think Messi is just like, I'm going to my job and I'm, you know, just like, I have to score the goals. He hates talking about being the best ever, right? And it's nice that he got a World cup at the last one because he's so relaxed now in the press conferences. Messi's like, I'm fucking tired, you know, so.

[Ben Foster]

But.

[Adam Friedland]

But, yeah, I mean, like, what do you make of, like, knowing Cristiano, seeing that process and, like, just speculating, like, what. Where is his head at right now?

[Ben Foster]

What's he going to do after football, Jimmy? I'd say probably.

[Adam Friedland]

Or do you think he's afraid?

[Ben Foster]

Maybe. You know what, it'd be really good if somebody could ask him and get an honest answer out of him. I don't think you would ever get an honest answer. We give you the top line professional answer, what everybody wants to hear. Whereas if you ask that to Messi, he would blur, man. Maybe. Like, I don't know. I've really thought about it, to be honest with you. You know, he loves his family, and even when that day does come, he'll be absolutely fine because he's got that support network around him. He's got his family, he's got his friends, and it seems like that is the most important thing in his world. Ronaldo, still, I'd say he's a very good sort of father figure, you see, always seeing his Instagram with his family. He obviously loves his family an awful lot, but he dedicates, I'd say, a lot more of his time to perfecting his craft and being the best he possibly can be for as long as he can be.

[Adam Friedland]

A question for you. When, like, when you were at United, Rooney obviously came after Ronaldo was there, right?

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah.

[Ben Foster]

No time.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, but, yeah, but, yeah, Rooney came from Everton, I think, a year or two after Ronaldo came in 2004.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Was there. Was that, like, did they. Was that a precursor to the Messi Ronaldo thing? Like, obviously, we all remember the wink in the World cup, you know, like, how did. Did that. Did Fergie just, like. Like, put that out immediately? Like, how did that bleed into the culture of the locker room with those two men, like, competitive with one another or.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah, that's the way Rooney is. Rooney's like a different beast to any of these guys. Rooney has Got the nastiest side of football to him ever. The reason why Rooney was so good at football was because he was a filthy winner. Like a filthy, dirty, nasty winner. Where everything, everything he. He did was aggressive based, but he was an incredible footballer to boot with it. He wouldn't have been as good as a footballer if he didn't have the aggression, but he didn't. It was the best I've ever seen. He would always be one of the first people I wanted on my team because, oh, mate, you'd follow Wayne Rooney into war. Seriously, he was a sicko. Absolute sicker. The other players have got probably more natural ability, but Wayne Rooney, my goodness. But again, that's an era. Like you're talking what, 22,000? Five? Four, mate. Like the, like the, the nations then back then, you think about some of those Brazil teams and Italian teams and, and French teams, Zidane and Ronaldinho and Ronaldo and proper big boys, proper big names in world football. That probably before, like the Ronaldo and Messi thing really took, took fire, didn't it?

[Adam Friedland]

But having two young, like, star boys, like, both on the come up with their, like, paternalistic character, like Fergie, like, did. Were there bust ups? Like there was, you know, like, did Fergie. How did he keep that under control?

[Ben Foster]

It wasn't even a thing. It wasn't even a question back then. I think it was easier back then to try and control players like that. But Fergie was the boss of everything, so it's not like he had to try and step in and put fires out. He. He had. He had the changing room already set. They knew where everybody stood and nobody would get too big for their station. But because that's around, they're surrounded by massive personalities as well. You know, when you're surrounded by Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville and Roy Keane, proper big, like real strong men, none of them would have stood a chance of trying to, like, get above their station. Do you know what I mean? You've got no chance.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, I mean, if Roy was the. Was there, I wouldn't try to go.

[Ben Foster]

You got no chance. You can get nowhere.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, my older brother is there. He's gonna beat my ass if I do anything. Question for you. You're an England supporter, but you saw the retake in the first match. Did that hurt as a keeper? And also, what the fuck are you supposed to do if they're stutter stepping? Like, it's honestly, I support England because we have five, five Arsenal players there, you know, like, yeah, we're getting, We're English. We're English. It's amazing. Lord Wenger would be turning in his grave as a keeper. Were you like, come on, that's bullshit. Or are you like, oh, yeah, come on. Here we we go again, Harry, let's go. That's clearly a great retake.

[Ben Foster]

I'd always bank on Harry Kane scoring a penalty as well. But it's just like you saw it in the like Champions League final with the penalties that they missed, the players that missed it, doing that silly stuttering step up kind of waiting for the goalkeeper. And I think you've got to be some player to be able to execute that. Because if the goalie calls your bluff and he just stands there and waits for you, you haven't got any pace with your run up to be able to really put it into the corner and really get some players pace on the ball. So you can really wait and just. If as long as you go the right way, you're saving it. Leo Messi yesterday did the same thing, didn't he? Horrific penalty. I'm thinking, what are you doing? That's the best player in the world. And it's been proven that you shouldn't be stuttering up to penalties. Just run up. Well, it as hard as you can. And even if the goalie goes the right way, he's got a very small chance of saving it.

[Adam Friedland]

Unless you're Ainsley Maitland Niles, who somehow I don't. Have you seen his.

[Ben Foster]

How he techniques?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, he just, he, he's, he's like. It's like that game where you're like with a girl at summer camp. You're like, stop me when my finger gets here. And you're like going like this and like, yeah, the keepers just like, just fucking kick the shit. Kick the fucking ball. And he's like, yeah, whatever. I mean, I. What is your mindset? Like, you guys are weird. Are keepers strange? We're the good ones.

[Ben Foster]

Now where the good ones where? The good ones where? Where?

[Adam Friedland]

I mean, you're getting just 100 mile an hour, like missiles fired at you. You have to be a little bit crazy.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah, we're the good ones. I promise you. We are the like, like. So in a soccer team. I hate saying soccer, it sounds so shit.

[Chris Ryan]

Yeah.

[Ben Foster]

In a football team, right?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Ben Foster]

You have the goalies at the back. Who are the good ones? Honestly, we're cool. We're down to earth. We can talk. We've got good personalities, approachable. And then you go your defenders just in front and they're the defenders are normally good guys, like nice guys. Down to earth, no egos. And then you get into midfield and they start to become a little bit of a baland. They start to be a little bit like ego. And then you get to the front, lads, the ones at the top, the strikers. Jesus. Egos are out of control. Honestly, they are massive time. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

They go to Saudi for a billion dollars to do press ups.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah, exactly.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, I guess. Last point. As an Arsenal supporter, we loved Rambo. Top lad, great guy. Do you feel like a little bit like in that podcast you were like, a little bit like. Don't, don't just stop saying it. Just say you pay attention the whole time. Just say you pay attention to concentrate

[Ben Foster]

on a game of football for 90 minutes.

[Sam (Producer)]

I'm finished.

[Adam Friedland]

I can't do it.

[Ben Foster]

No, because I know what. I know what that's like. I'm exactly the same as that. Rambo is very similar to myself as a goalkeeper, as a personality. I find it's what they call it nowadays. Everybody seems to have ADHD or something anyway. And I can't sit still. I can't. I love my own company, but I have to be doing something. So I make sure I'm either running or cycling or something in the gym. I can't sit still. And that's what it's like in a football match because you get bored. You're just watching the game and you get bored. So you either have to sing or you have to commentate yourself or you have to talk your way through the game so that you stay in the game. Because it is boring sometimes to just stand there and watch.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. What? And just final question, like, who are the most ruthless fans in any stadium you played at? Like to you. Because the other thing about the keeper is that you're stationary. So you have the. You have the. You have the geezers just going, having a go at you the entire match. What's the worst thing you ever heard?

[Ben Foster]

I had, like, when I used to play for West Brom, our arch rivals were Wolverhampton Wanderers. And some of the things the Wolves fans used to say to me were absolutely rank double.

[Adam Friedland]

I was just saying you could cuss, mate.

[Ben Foster]

I'm talking about, like, hope your dog died, Foster, because I'll put an Instagram picture. I hope your fucking dog dies, Foster, you bastard. Me? You're an absolute bastard. Oh, dang.

[Adam Friedland]

Because you put us in Instagram that

[Ben Foster]

you're dog dies, Foster. I'm like, you're a twat. Like, so they can say anything that they'll be saying stuff about my family, my wife, my kids, my this and that, but as soon as they said something about my dog, honestly, I was like, you're a. You're an absolute.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, man.

[Ben Foster]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I wonder if, like, it'd be like having a. Being a psycho. Enough guy to have a dossier on the keeper, like, his entire personal life, know who his sister is having sex with. I mean, you could really get in into their heads. Ben Foster, it's been great. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure, as always.

[Ben Foster]

Thanks for having me on. Appreciate it.

[Adam Friedland]

All right, peace.

[Ben Foster]

Bye.