Why were England so flat against Ghana?

Summary

The Athletic FC Podcast — June 24, 2026

Episode Theme:
Why were England so flat against Ghana?

---

Episode Overview

Hosted by Emma Peyton with panelists Liam Toomey and Karl Anker, this World Cup episode dissects England's lackluster nil-nil draw with Ghana, contextualizes familiar World Cup anxieties, and looks forward to crucial team selection conundrums ahead of their final group game. The show also checks in on Portugal's revitalized run under Cristiano Ronaldo, explores World Cup bracket permutations, and offers a quirky preview of Scotland’s daunting tie against Brazil.

---

England vs. Ghana: Flatness, Frustration, and Familiarity

[02:33 – 13:34]

Immediate Reactions

• The draw felt “familiar” and followed the pattern of England’s previous three tournaments, where they also drew their second group game after winning the opener ([04:04], Jack Pitt Brook, on location).
• “Ghana were very well organised at the back. They defended deep and narrow. There weren’t a lot of chances.” – Jack Pitt Brook [04:09]

Game Analysis

• Possession Without Penetration: England had 78.8% possession, the highest on World Cup record for them since 1966, and 19 shots without scoring—the most since their 2002 draw against Nigeria ([05:37]).
• Ghana’s Setup: Carlos Queiroz’s notorious “suffer-ball” style—deep, tight blocks, 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 designed to frustrate and stifle.
  • “He is what is known as a master of quote-unquote suffer-ball…no one has any fun. And if you are going to beat us, it’s going to take something special.” – Karl Anker [06:39]
• England’s Mistakes:
  • Lacked width, especially as Jed Spence (not a natural left-back) often cut inside.
  • Ineffective wide rotations compared to the more dynamic display against Croatia ([08:58], Karl Anker).
  • “They kind of let the first half get away from them, didn’t they?” – Karl Anker [07:43]
  • First shot on target after 56 minutes and 48 seconds ([07:59], Emma Paton).

Notable Moments & Quotes

• Touchline frustration: “There were clips doing the rounds of Thomas Tuchel shouting at [Jed Spence] from the touchline yesterday: 'Give it and go. Jed, Jed, come on.'” – Emma Peyton [09:43]
• Southgate-era comparisons: “Gareth Southgate used to use suffer-ball, where they’d score one goal…then sit on that lead.” – Emma Paton [09:51]
• Lack of transition threat: “What threat in transition?” – Emma Paton jokes about Ghana’s rare forays forward ([10:56])
• VAR Controversy: Possible late Ghanaian penalty not awarded—"Carlos Queiroz said maybe VAR took a coffee and was on holiday" ([11:22], Emma Paton).

Historical Context

• England’s second-game group draws: 2020 (Scotland), 2022 (USA), 2024 (Denmark), now again, 2026 (Ghana) ([13:34–14:01]).

Selection Debates

• Big questions ahead for Tuchel:
  • Should Bukayo Saka start? (“Saka feels like the biggest decision…” – Karl Anker [14:27])
  • Is Morgan Rogers ready to unseat Jude Bellingham at #10? (“Jude Bellingham is one of the best midfields in the world…if England are going to win this tournament, it’s going to be Bellingham at the 10.” – Emma Paton [16:41])
  • Who plays left-back? Is Nico O’Reilly an option for greater width and creativity?
  • Could Marcus Rashford come in for Anthony Gordon, who has underwhelmed ([18:14])?

---

Portugal: Ronaldo “Back” and Group Dynamics

[21:58 – 27:41]

Portugal 5 – Uzbekistan 0 (Report by Nick Miller)

• Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, looking “much happier” after a “very dark” week under criticism:
  • “He was also involved in one of their other goals where he acted as a sort of decoy for a free kick…” [22:16]
  • “The finish from Ronaldo is one of those finishes… I’ve seen him score that goal 50, 60 times in my lifetime but it’s really hard to do…” – Emma Paton [24:11]
• “He’s been setting up that fake for 15 years, basically, right? Just taking, like, millions of free kicks he has no business taking just for that moment.” – Karl Anker [24:51]
• Debate persists: Does beating Uzbekistan change the narrative about this aging Portugal side or Ronaldo’s legacy? Jury’s out ([23:40], Emma Paton).

The Messi–Ronaldo Dialectic

• Ronaldo becomes the first man to score in six World Cups, because “Messi blanked in 2010. So we’ll take that one, which is the funny thing, right?” – Emma Paton [26:59].
• The conversation turns philosophical: Even now, would Portugal be better without Ronaldo? Probably, but we’ll never know ([27:08]).

---

Bracketology and Group Scenarios

[27:41 – 31:47]

• Mexico, USA, Germany, and Argentina have confirmed top spots; England are favorites, but need to beat Panama to secure first and favorable knockout draws ([28:26], [31:47]).
• “From an England perspective, you have to top your group because it…puts you in the opposite side of the bracket to France, Spain, and Germany.” – Karl Anker [28:26]
• Emphasis on travel logistics: Topping groups means less cross-continent travel, especially significant in sprawling North America ([29:44], Emma Paton).
• Noteworthy disruptions: Cape Verde or Belgium could still throw up surprises.

---

Scotland’s Slim Chance vs. Brazil and The Joy of Fans

[35:51 – 42:16]

Tartan Army’s Task

• “I’ll give them a boxer’s chance…this is maybe the weakest pair of fullbacks I’ve seen from a Brazil team perhaps in my entire lifetime.” – Emma Paton [36:16, 37:42]
• Scotland’s key: “If they are to get anything from this, they will have to score first.” – Emma Paton [38:19]
• Likely approach: Be cautious for 60 minutes, then chase the game if needed ([38:56], Karl Anker).

Special Guest Clip

• Gordon Ramsay on Scottish fans in NYC:
  “I’m excited for the New Yorkers to see, you know, 5,000 jocks running up and down Fifth Avenue with a kilt and no underwear. God help them all. I hope they like ginger.” [40:29]

Fans and Culture

• Scottish and Korean supporters praised for camaraderie and atmosphere throughout North America ([41:07–42:16]).
• “The joy of the World Cup is realizing even though you are in theory hundreds of miles away from each other… you’re all basically the same. You like football, you like a summer party, you like singing songs with each other.” – Emma Paton [41:34]

---

Standout Performers: Kerem Ali Begovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

[42:26 – 45:03]

• Salzburg’s 18-year-old winger highlighted for his composure (2 penalty shootout goals in playoffs), and effective “smaller menu” of attacking moves ([42:59–44:32], Emma Paton).
• “Young wingers tend to have menus that are way too big. And if you want to make it in the Premier League, you need, like, smaller…Kerem has a smaller menu…” – Emma Paton [44:27].

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s hard to accelerate through a wall, and maybe not that advisable. Don’t try it at home.” – Karl Anker [08:58]
• “If Portugal are going to go far in this tournament…the whole team needs to be built around Cristiano Ronaldo…you need to put in a lot of crosses because understandably he’s not as fast as he used to be.” – Emma Paton [25:09]
• “We’re not dancing in tuxedos.” – Carlos Queiroz via Emma Paton, on the blunt Ghanaian approach [18:14]
• On Scotland’s chance vs. Brazil: “I’ll give him a boxer’s chance.” – Emma Paton [36:19]
• Gordon Ramsay on Scottish fans in NYC [40:29] (see above)

---

Key Timestamps:

• 02:33 — Panel intro; England-Ghana first reactions
• 04:04 — Jack Pitt Brook’s on-location analysis
• 05:37 — Key match stats (possession, chances)
• 06:06 – 08:58 — Tactical breakdown: Ghana’s defense, England’s missed opportunities
• 09:43 – 10:11 — Tuchel, Spence, and the struggle with old England habits
• 12:03 — VAR non-call, possible Ghana penalty
• 13:34 — Historical second-game draws for England
• 14:01-18:57 — Discussion of team selection dilemmas ahead of Panama match
• 21:58 – 27:41 — Portugal’s big win, Ronaldo’s impact, “Are they contenders?”
• 28:26 – 31:47 — Bracketology, advantages of topping groups, travel implications
• 35:51 – 42:16 — Scotland’s prospects, fan culture, Gordon Ramsay cameo
• 42:26 – 45:03 — Kerem Ali Begovic player spotlight
• 46:27 — Preview of the evening’s upcoming games

---

Episode Takeaways

This episode paints a vivid picture of England’s tactical frustrations and historical patterns, while weaving in tournament-wide narratives—from Ronaldo’s perpetual redemption arc to the surging energy of supporters across continents. For England, questions around width, creative midfield selection, and Tuchel’s readiness to adapt remain urgent. The panel deftly blends strategy and culture, offering insight for all fans and setting up the stakes for the rest of the group stage.

Transcript

[Clio Advertiser]

Ever been at the checkout wishing you had more cash to spend? You're watching the total climb, doing mental math, getting ready to put your favorite yogurt back. It's the worst. Clio lets you access an up to $250 cash advance fast so you can cover your groceries without the panic. No interest, no credit checks, just simple flexible repayment. Get up to $250 with Clio and keep grocery shopping stress free.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Depending on eligibility, you can get up to a $250 cash advance. Terms and conditions apply.

[Sponsor Narrator]

This episode of the Athletic FC is

[Sponsor Announcer]

brought to you by Hotels.com when you're

[Sponsor Narrator]

booking a hotel, here's a simple question. Why wouldn't you use hotels.com it really is all in the Name. As a member, you save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world and earn rewards on every single stay. Which means the trips you're taking now help pay for the ones you're already dreaming about. And unlike some other places, there are no blackout dates. So when you want to travel, your

[Sponsor Announcer]

rewards are ready to go.

[Sponsor Narrator]

So whether you're planning a grand adventure to follow your national team around North America this summer, or whisking your special someone away for an escape because you've been glued to the football for weeks, make sure to [e-mail] and start earning rewards. Because when it comes to hotels, it's simple. Hotels.com it's all in the name. This episode of the Athletic FC is

[Sponsor Announcer]

sponsored by boss, businesswear provider for the US Men's national soccer team. Long before kick off, the performance has already begun. For the players, the crest is not

[Sponsor Narrator]

simply worn, it's earned.

[Sponsor Announcer]

BOSS understands what it takes to build something worthy of a crest. Constant refinement, precision in every stitch. And as the USMNT steps into the spotlight on home soil, BOSS is outfitting those who wear the badge, empowering them to step forward with confidence, express their individuality and be their own boss in relaxed, lightweight and breathable tailoring from Boss performance and soccer fans. BOSS has you covered too. Whether you want to look and feel as sharp as your hero's embossed performance or show your pride from the stands in jerseys, polos and jackets in national colors and badges. Own the moment with confidence. Discover the Boss performance collection as worn by the US Men's National Soccer Team and the fan capsule of jerseys, polos and jackets in national colors, wear your passion your way and be your own [e-mail] or at your nearest Boss store, the Athletic FC.

[Emma Peyton]

Hello and welcome to the Athletic FC podcast with me, Emma Peyton. After cruising past Croatia, well, England stalled against Ghana, while Cristiano Ronaldo claims he's back. And later, Scotland take on Brazil. So, is the Metlife ready for the tartan army? Well, here with me in the studio, we have the Athletics, Liam Toomey and Karl Anker. Good morning, guys. How are we doing?

[Emma Paton]

Good morning.

[Emma Peyton]

Good morning.

[Emma Paton]

I think you're probably one of the very few people that was happy with that Nil Nil draw.

[Emma Peyton]

I was going to say honours, even for you. Last night.

[Emma Paton]

A draw for all British guardians everywhere. Stormzy predicted a 11 draw before kickoff because he said that'd be happy for everyone. So you're channeling that? Yeah, it's me, Stormzy, Mainoo, Afua Hirsch, a couple others.

[Emma Peyton]

I saw a few more on X. Yeah.

[Emma Paton]

Grand.

[Emma Peyton]

Grand. What were your sort of immediate thoughts?

[Karl Anker]

I actually thought this was what I expected more of the England games to be like. So I was pleasantly surprised by how open the Croatia one was. And this is often what World cup group stage football is. You know, it's high possession versus low block. You're playing against a team that really knows they only need a point against you and has a plan to get there. And I thought Garner executed it really well. They still could have lost. England still created enough chances to maybe win the game, chiefly through Kane, who I'm sure we'll talk about. But it's not a disaster for England.

[Emma Peyton]

Not a disaster. Okay. Well, Jack Pitt Brook was there for the Athletic. Here's what he made of it.

[Jack Pitt Brook]

I'm outside the Boston Stadium where England just played out their nil nil draw with Ghana, which was a really familiar game to, I think, anyone who's watched England over the years. This is the last three tournaments in a row where England had drawn their second game after winning their first game. They tried to change that story tonight, but I'm afraid that didn't happen. Ghana were very well organised at the back. They defended deep and narrow. There weren't a lot of chances. Harry Kane missing was best one at the end. I think what this means, though, is that England are going to have to beat Panama in New Jersey in their third and final game. And they may have to score a lot of goals if Ghana beat Croatia. And so I don't think we'll see the same number of rotations from Thomas Huckel in that third and final game. Maybe that will be good for England's rhythm because it will mean continuing to play the main players, but it won't Be a much changed team, I don't think, going into that third game. So I think all the discussion really the next few days will be who plays. Does he bring in Bukayo Saka for his first start, who I thought made a bit of a difference when he came on, does he bring back Marcus Rashford? Anthony Gordon has been taken off in the last two games. Didn't think Gordon made a big difference here. Does he stick with Jed Spence at left back? I think that having Spence always cutting in meant that England had less width down that left hand side over the course of this game. Do we maybe see Morgan Rodgers from the start for the first time? Who hasn't? He hasn't got a start so far, but he's been a lively substitute twice. Those are the big discussions I think we'll mainly be having between now and England's third group game against Panama.

[Emma Peyton]

We'll get into the changes that Thomas Tuchel might make for that Panama game and some of what Jack said there, but some of the stats that really stood out from last night. I mean, England had 78.8% possession against Ghana, the highest ever figure in a World cup match on record. That's since 1966. England's 19 shots, their most without scoring in a World cup game since their final group stage game against Nigeria over 20 years ago. I mean, Carl, what, what went wrong for you? Because they had chances.

[Emma Paton]

I think England underestimated one, the historical context of playing against Ghana. So Ghana, a nation that was formerly colonized by English, you know, used to be known as the Gold Coast. The very first game between these two countries. Ghana wasn't actually a country, was a colony. So that was working the background. So Ghanaian players, Ghanaian coaching staff, Ghanaian crowd being especially up for playing against England and wanted to prov themselves against England. Also another factor is Carlos Quiroz, Ghana's head coach. He's most commonly known in England for being Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant manager during a particularly successful stint when they won the champions league in 2008. Had a very, very close relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo at that point in time. But in international football, he is known for making football teams horrendous to watch. So he and to play against, horrendous to play against. So he took Iran to the last three World Cups. He has managed Oman, uae, he took Egypt to an AFCON final. And he is what is known as a master of quote unquote softball, where the team or the team sits deep. It's a 4, 5, 1, it's a 5, 4, 1. But it's very much. We're going to play, as Jacques said, deep, narrow, no one has any fun. And if you are going to beat us, it's going to be because you slung in more than 30 crosses and maybe the ball bounced oddly. So Ghana within, I want to say, 25 minutes, it was very, very clear Ghana were not really going to foray past the halfway line. And it was very much break us down. And if you are going to break us down, it's going to take something special. Unfortunately, England couldn't do that.

[Emma Peyton]

I mean, they had chances here and there. You mentioned Harry Kane's sort of glorious chance towards the end.

[Karl Anker]

Yeah, they ramped up the pressure I felt in the last 20, 30 minutes and maybe Ghana tired slightly and you saw a couple more mistakes creeping in. But England kind of let the first half get away from them, didn't they? I don't think they had a shot on target in the, in the opening.

[Emma Paton]

It was 56 minutes, 48 seconds, which is horrendous to watch if you're a neutral or an England fan. But a testament to how Ghana set up, which was just no one was going to have fun. Senea up against Anthony Gordon out wide was quintessential lockdown defending, where Gordon was allowed to have fun until the final third. And the moment he crossed the final third, someone stuck a boot in. And I think that was Ghana's game plan for quite some time. So Barry Anthony Barry in half time against Croatia mentioned that they want to accelerate clay in. In the 24 yards and. And they just couldn't because Ghana very much like, well, you can accelerate, play all you want. We're not moving, we're not shifting. If you're going to get us, it's going to be out wide. And I think Rhys James out wide with nonimadu. Okay. Didn't really have much joy out wide. I think Jed Spence and Anthony Gordon out wide didn't really have enough time to whip balls in and Ngannis defenders also were just better man for man with the ball in the air.

[Karl Anker]

So it's hard to accelerate through a wall and maybe not that advisable. Don't try it at home. But yeah, England weren't quite as slick either with the wide rotations. I remember Rooney making that point on the TV broadcast and Spence was probably part of that because he's not necessarily a natural left back. I know he's played there a. But he doesn't necessarily have the same instincts in terms of running down the line. And there seems to be a bit of confusion at times in terms of trying to stretch Garner in multiple directions at once, which I thought they did very well against Croatia. And by the time they got it together, England, I think in the last 20, 30 minutes, they, they just ran out of time to win the game. Although you can say the Kane chance should, should go in, no matter the context.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah, definitely should have. Interesting to quite Jed Spence there because they were eclipsed doing the rounds of Thomas Tuchel shouting at him from the touchline yesterday. Give it and go. Jed, Jed, come on.

[Emma Paton]

Yeah, yeah, him. And I believe there was a moment where Tuchel was talking to Declan Rice as well in that. Liam, you mentioned about how it felt like watching England back in the day or previously in previous tournaments. So sort of the Southgate years where I mean, Gareth Southgate used to use suffer ball where they'd score one goal, set piece, Harry Kane penalty and then go, okay, that's enough.

[Karl Anker]

We're just going to kill off 20 minutes. We'll play as much football as it takes to win this game and no more.

[Emma Paton]

Yes, yes, get the goal and then sit on that lead. There was a moment against Croatia when it was three, two and my mind watching that was going, okay, so England now going to sit on three, two and a two show gambled and went for it. I think maybe against Ghana, they were trapped between two competing lines of thought. So if Tuchel's yelling at Spence or if he's yelling at Rice, it's probably maybe in the heat and in the frustration of Ghana not trying to play, they might have defaulted back to Southgates old methods of be patient, don't worry, tease it, it'll be fine. Whereas Tuchel's very much like, no, you've got to play faster. You got to play faster.

[Karl Anker]

They were also clearly worried about Ghana's threat in transition as well, which I think became a bigger factor.

[Emma Paton]

Having watched loads of Ghana games. What threatened transition?

[Karl Anker]

Well, just like the fact that Antoine Semeno is on the pitch I think is slightly worrying. And maybe that informed the selection of Spence in the first place because he is England's fastest defender, recovery wise. But you still had moments in the second half like the ESRI Consa tackle late on, which probably should have been a penalty. I'm sure there are a few people in Ghana making that particular argument.

[Emma Paton]

I mean, it was really strange watching it in real time because in real time, I don't think any Ghanaian players were really appealing for a penalty. I think there was some confusion over whether or not it was offside. So the initial sequence there was that pause where you're going was that offside and because it wasn't. But you only found out after the fact that maybe that would have played in the fact that Ghanaian players and indeed coaching staff weren't appealing too much for for a penalty. Carlos Kira said maybe Var took a coffee and was on holiday after the game, but in real time. I did a tifo live stream yesterday and apparently it wasn't just the English broadcast, but broadcasts from around the world weren't really mentioning how it very much looked like a penalty. When you watch it in slow motion after the fact.

[Emma Peyton]

Definitely feel hard to buy there.

[Emma Paton]

Definitely one where I think the rarity of Ghana attacking and the the offside attempt might have played into it. But even that you say like England were worried about the Ghanaian counter attack. To my mind, England were too respectful of Ghana at halftime especially I think at half time. Tuchel could have been braver and made some substitutions, particularly out wide. Ghana you will see against Croatia, if you want to keep watching them when they do attack, they very rarely attack with more than two players at a time because Kiraz is is so fixated on this very stout defensive shape. Any attack they have is just with two players. So Semeno is very, very threatening in theory, but in the very rare times he gets the ball, he always has to be like two players minimum before anything happens. There was one attack in the second half where Inaki Williams got on the ball and he sort of forayed down the wing and then he stopped, put his foot on the ball and was like, okay, I need to wait for everyone else to get forward because it's the one time going to get the ball. And I think in those moments when Garner when you're playing against a team that wants to defend that deep and doesn't attack that often, maybe Tuchel could have been minded to sacrifice one of Rice or Anderson to get another attacking player in deeper areas. But this is. It is. It's fine. You know, both of these teams are now going to get out of the group. England. I reckon England will beat Panama by more goals than Ghana will try and score against Croatia. So the bracket shouldn't be too worrying if you're England.

[Emma Peyton]

Well, we'll get onto bracket talk later. Don't you worry. I'm gonna be testing both of you. Don't worry about that. It's a really interesting point that Jack referenced as well because it's not actually unusual for England to draw a second group game, which is a strange thing now because it's a fourth tournament in a row. I won't test your knowledge on what the results and who they were against. Yeah, go on.

[Karl Anker]

From Euro 2020, that'll be Denmark 1 1.

[Emma Paton]

2020.

[Karl Anker]

Scotland.

[Emma Paton]

No, no.

[Emma Peyton]

Yes. Then World Cup 2020, 22.

[Emma Paton]

That would be USA. No, no.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah. Then we've got your denmark in Europe 2024. And then now we've got. That was easy. That was easy. What. What do we think in terms of changes that. That Thomas Tuchel will make? Because Jack obviously picked out a number of things there. You both mentioned Anthony Gordon, maybe on that left hand side. Will Marcus Rashford come in there? Will Bukaya Saka start on the right, which is. It seems like he's probably fit enough.

[Karl Anker]

Saka feels like the biggest decision because in both games where he's come on, you've seen immediately that he's physically capable of making an impact. But the question is how long for? So it looks like they're making a real calculation with him of when to hit the accelerator with his minutes in this tournament. They know they probably don't really need him in the group stage to get through, but they may need him just to make sure they top the group and finish where they want to finish. So that's probably the single biggest decision. I also think this could be a game for Nico O'Reilly at left back because maybe he's. He's less of a defensive presence than Spence, but he gives you so much more on the ball, so much more in terms of the way that he interacts with other players on the left. And Tuchel's built this team around those wide rotations and Kane kind of playmaking from the middle. So I think those are. Those are maybe the two biggest ones. It's possible you could put in an essay for a more creative force in the middle. Tuchel, I think, is quite pragmatic about these things, maybe in a lot of cases. And I, you know, watching what I saw of Croatia, Panama, Croatia really labored in that game and I don't really know what to take from that. Whether it's just Croatia, not what they were, or Panama maybe a bit more than what we thought they were because they gave Ghana a good game as well.

[Emma Paton]

Yeah.

[Nick Miller]

Yeah.

[Emma Paton]

I think Panama are better than their zero points in elimination. Already have stated. I think in the first half they really took the game to Croatia there. How do you feel about Morgan Rodgers instead of Jude Bellingham at the 10?

[Karl Anker]

I mean, Bellingham showed against Croatia that he can produce moments that almost no other player can. I thought his goal was fantastic. Rodgers has looked very lively when he's come on and he clearly knows how to play that role. It's quite similar to the role that he plays for Aston Villa where he's off a nine, although nut Kane's a very different nine to Wally Watkins. And we did hear going into the tournament that Tuchel maybe saw them as interchangeable in that position. And we've heard a lot that he really likes Morgan Rodgers. So it wouldn't surprise me if he starts at some point in this tournament and maybe this is the moment to take a look at him, but almost feels like if he comes in, plays really well, then you've got a really big decision in a key role for the round of 32.

[Emma Peyton]

Is that what you see happening?

[Emma Paton]

I think Jude Bellingham is one of the best midfields in the world. I am have been genuinely baffled throughout this Premier League season where people were saying, Morgan rogers at the 10 over Bellingham. I'm going, why? And through talking to people, one, it's Tuchel really, really likes him and maybe Morgan Rogers has better chemistry or an affinity with Harry Kane and that might be, or indeed just might be a little bit more disciplined in holding this position at the 10. Whereas Bellingham is more of that. If he thinks something's going wrong, he's like, just give me the ball and I'll sort it out. And the reason I love Bellingham is

[Karl Anker]

because he's got the Gerrard streak.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah, yeah.

[Emma Paton]

He makes things happen. And that's why I like Bellingham, because if you do give him the ball, he will make things happen. There was one amazing tackle he made in the second half. I think it was against Semenya.

[Karl Anker]

Yeah, Recovery tackle, tracks back and he

[Emma Paton]

stands up against Semenya and Semenya decides to push it forward and Belly's like, no, Mike, he really is the best in the world. So I wouldn't be surprised if Morgan Rodgers plays a bit more minutes against Panama. I do think if England are going to win this tournament, it's going to be with belling at the 10. Because I think he's superior in many things. And also quietly, he's one of those football players where if he's on the field, you get bullied less because he has that. I mean, Gen Z call it aura.

[Emma Peyton]

What do you call it?

[Emma Paton]

I'm a millennial, so I suppose I used to call it swagger. But this idea of, let's say it's a quarter final and someone's gone through the back of Saka. You can imagine Bellings won the very first place to walk over going, don't you ever try that again, otherwise I'll sort that out.

[Karl Anker]

Which he'll lead the high press straight into the face of the assailant.

[Emma Peyton]

But he had a thing with Carlos Queiros.

[Emma Paton]

He did have a thing with Carlos Queiros. Carlos Queiros said, it's fine, he swore a little bit, but it gave us fire and it used the quote, we're not dancing in tuxedos. Which again is Ray Keane said Carlos Carrera has the personality of a dead fish. But if you. There's always one sound bite. There's always one sound bite. In a Caro's press conference. You're like, thank you very much, that's a great line. I think it might be time for Marcus Rascher to play ahead of Anthony Gordon. You can say I'm biased there.

[Emma Peyton]

I was gonna say a player that you've watched a lot, a lot of.

[Emma Paton]

Yeah, worked with as well.

[Emma Peyton]

But it feels like that is the consensus online as well that there's a bit of a. It feels like we get to this point already. I mean we're two games, you know, this is who we need to see is Rashford that player Possibly.

[Emma Paton]

And, and again, if you. If this England team, as Liam has pointed out, is set up to get the most out of Harry Kane and every single tactical decision, squad decision can be easily answered, as does Tuta believe this player can get the most out of Harry Kane. And I think what we saw in the Croatia game was Mado Ake and Gordon running behind every time Kane drops deep and Gordon in particular runs in behind, leads the press very, very well. And up against a Croatia team that wanted to play higher. Gordon worked there. Marcus Rashford is not the same off ball defender that Gordon is and that might have played a role in Barcelona going for Gordon rather than Marcus Rashford. But if you're up against a team that wants to sit a bit deeper and you need someone to conjure something out of nothing, it might be Rashford who we know he likes a flip flop, he likes a nutmeg, he's got two or three other tools in his locker that Gordon at this point in time hasn't been able to access. And I think England did look better a little bit in the second half when Rashford came on along with Saka and other players.

[Sponsor Announcer]

This is the Athletic FC podcast with Emma Payton. I've been getting really excited about all the fanfare surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 and luckily for me, the active cash Visa credit card from Wells Fargo scores unlimited 2 cash rewards on all types of fanfare purchases tickets to a game, Thundersticks to make some noise, commemorative scarves to wave around 2% cash rewards on all of that is a big win in my book. Terms apply visit wellsfargo.com ActiveCash Visa Worldwide Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2026 if you've looked into using AI for customer support, you've probably noticed most existing solutions are off the shelf and don't quite fit your company's needs. Or it's a great custom solution but it takes forever to launch. Decagon helps companies create personalized concierge style customer experiences with AI agents across chat, email, voice and SMS. They're available 24, 7, feel natural to talk to and can resolve customer requests on their own so businesses can keep up with requests without losing their personal touch. Once live, agents can pull up to date information, take action on requests and understand the context behind any conversation. Also, decagon gives your team full visibility into why agents make decisions and what's happening across every conversation so it's easier to spot trends and improve the experience over time. Ready to transform your customer Support? Go to Decagon AthleticFC to get a personalized demo and see what Decagon can do for your team. Check decagon out at decagon AI athleticfc that's decagon D E C A G O N AI athleticfc

[Discover Advertiser]

it's smart to always have a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover you can get this. Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show see [e-mail] credit card.

[Emma Peyton]

Right Away From England, day 13 began with Cristiano Ronaldo getting in on the goal scoring action. Well, Nick Miller was in Houston last week to see Portugal and Ronaldo labor in that opening draw with Dr. Congo. And he was there yesterday to see a very different showing. Here's what he made of it.

[Nick Miller]

Portugal 5 Uzbekistan nil Here in Houston, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals. Did he answer his critics? Did he silence the skeptics? Sort of. He played much better than he did against Democratic Republic of Congo in their first game here. He scored. He took his two goals very nicely. The first neat near Post finish the second, beautiful through ball from Bruno Fernandes that he finished very nicely. He was also involved in one of their other goals where he acted as a sort of decoy for a free kick. Another goal coming from a corner. Really the influence of set piece guru Austin McPhee really coming through for Portugal. Ronaldo said afterwards that the last week or so, and he's received quite a bit of criticism, has been very dark. But he seems much happier now. The Portugal camp in general, I think much happier after a victory like this because there's been a lot of tension around them and a lot of distractions and a lot of what Roberto Martinez called noise. But now they're on four points, they will almost certainly be through. And should they beat Colombia in their final group game, then they'll go through as group winners.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah, I mean, Colombia, a different kind of test, I think, but things looking a lot better for Portugal after last night. How much does a couple of goals for Cristiano Ronaldo against Uzbekistan change people's opinions of his World cup and him?

[Emma Paton]

Look, if you're Cristiano Ronaldo is the best football player in the world, those two goals will support that. And if you're very much like Cristiano Ronaldo isn't as good as he used to be, and he's hanging up. I'm not sure two goals against Uzbekistan is going to change your mind. It was good. It was much better for Portugal.

[Emma Peyton]

It's what they needed, isn't it?

[Emma Paton]

Well, absolutely what they needed. Bernardo Silva didn't start, and I think that might have helped with that acceleration thing that Anthony Barry is pointed out. They were a lot quicker on the transition. That third goal was particularly really good. Great assist from Bruno Fernandes.

[Karl Anker]

That suits Bruno Fernandes as well, doesn't it?

[Emma Paton]

You know, when you. When you open things up in that space. And being a Manchester United fan, I've seen him do that sort of goal more than several times last season. And I think Bruno Fernandez's ball carrying's got a lot better in the last 12 months, probably because he was playing in a deeper role in the Ruben Amren. The weighted pass to Ronaldo is fantastic. The finish from Ronaldo is one of those finishes Ronaldo has done. I mean, I've seen him scored that goal 50, 60 times in my lifetime, but it's really hard to do it, especially at the angle he hits it in that. It goes absolutely far post to the tee is really good there. Quite enjoyed Ronaldo, the sort of dupe decoy, the Decoy with the free kick.

[Emma Peyton]

Free kick, decoy.

[Emma Paton]

So again, having.

[Karl Anker]

He's been setting up that fake for 15 years, basically, right. Just taking a like millions of free kicks he has no business taking just for that moment.

[Emma Paton]

Yeah. And then he points to his head like, ah, got you. You thought I was going to take that.

[Emma Peyton]

It was sort of like the talking to himself and everything, you know, great acting.

[Emma Paton]

My friend pointed out. Should Portugal really be using all these set piece routines against Uzbekistan and not saving them for the knockouts? But we'll see. It will be fine. I think if Portugal are going to go far in this tournament, they're going to have to. The whole team needs to be built around Cristiano Ronaldo because Roberto Martinez doesn't seem to even entertain the idea of subbing him off. And if you are going to build around Cristiano Ronaldo, especially 41 year old Cristiano Ronaldo, you need to put in a lot of crosses because understandably he's not as fast as he used to be. But if you put the ball in the air or you put the ball in around the six yard box, he still has that, I mean, years and years and years of repetition and he still has, for lack of a better term, hops in that. Ronaldo is just a lot higher, a lot better at jumping in the air and getting ahead to the ball than anyone else. So Portugal go far. It's going to be a lot of, a lot of crosses and if Ronaldo's gonna have a good tournament, it's going to be a lot more headed goals.

[Emma Peyton]

You mentioned him doing the sort of the tap to the head. What did you make of him shouting, I'm back down the camera?

[Karl Anker]

Well, he was, he was clearly in his own head a bit as much as Ronaldo ever gets in his own head or questions himself. He did seem to be frustrated down on himself maybe a bit for the long string of chances. And he sees the, the statistics about the number of major tournament games he'd gone without scoring. And he obviously sees what Messi's doing

[Emma Peyton]

and probably sees what people are saying online.

[Karl Anker]

I don't know, perhaps, perhaps. I mean, to varying degrees we are all too online, I think. So perhaps he does. But it was probably good for him to get it out of his system and to pass Eusebio. I think that's a massive thing in Portugal and clearly something he was targeting in terms of World cup goals. He won't catch Messi or Mbappe in that particular list. I think he's out of time on that one. He'll probably add a few more to his tally at some point.

[Emma Paton]

He is also the first man to reach goals in six men's World Cups because Messi blanked in 2010. So we'll take that one, which is the funny thing, right?

[Emma Peyton]

He'll take any.

[Emma Paton]

It's this constant back and forth. There are a bunch of Messi statistics and there are a bunch of Ronaldo statistics. And even now, I mean, we spent. How many times do we use the term last dance in the 2022 World cup about how this was going to be the last time we see him? And they're both here and they're both scoring and they're both still going to be saying it Again, huge amounts of debate around each other. So fascinating. This Portugal team is absolutely fascinating. In Would they be better if they drop Cristiano Ronaldo? Maybe. Probably. Are we ever going to see enough to prove it otherwise? Absolutely not.

[Emma Peyton]

Well, elsewhere then, on day 13, a couple of one nil wins, we had Croatia seeing off Panama, meaning that Panama's tournament is over and Colombia beat Dia Congo. Crystal Palace's Daniel Munoz with his second goal in two games. So with a couple of rounds of matches now complete, we are beginning to get a picture of how the various brackets might unfold for the knockout stages. I said we're going to talk brackets, so here we go. The Athletics World cup tracker is the best place to keep across it all is fantastic. So you haven't, if you haven't checked that out already, make sure you do do that. We know that Mexico, usa, Germany and Argentina have all topped their group for certain. How. I guess the question is how advantageous is that?

[Karl Anker]

Well, I think it's never not advantageous to a degree, at least in the round of 32. It's just a question of how much more difficult, how much more quickly it gets. Difficult. Beyond that, I think the way it's shaking out, certainly from an England perspective, you have to top your group because it in all likelihood puts you in the opposite side of the bracket to France, who I think are the best team in this tournament, or at least the most talented team in this tournament. Spain, who I think are the most confident team in this tournament, having won the Euros two years ago, and Germany as well, who I think are feeling a bit better about themselves and maybe gaining a little bit of momentum. You still have maybe Argentina in the semi final if you get there, but you've got Brazil, who look quite reasonable at this point.

[Emma Paton]

Is the big one looking at Brazil

[Karl Anker]

dangerous but Beatable and Portugal as well, who we've explained, a far from perfect team, shall we say. So I think that the side of the draw that England currently project to be on is the one they want to stay on quite a lot.

[Emma Peyton]

Riding on the final game then in the sense that they're going to have this mindset we need to top the group.

[Emma Paton]

Absolutely. Panama being eliminated will be interesting, I think in terms of knockout brackets. It also plays into travel, which I don't have a map of America in front of North America in front of me.

[Emma Peyton]

But surely the less travel the better, is it?

[Emma Paton]

Yes, you want the less travel the better. So United States topping their group means they will mostly stay on the west coast for their continuing journey. Mexico topping their group also means they should in theory play more games in Mexico.

[Karl Anker]

I think their quarter final, should they get there or round of 16 game is set to be in Mexico.

[Emma Paton]

Yes. Travesty that the Mexico games stop at the round of 16.

[Karl Anker]

That's right, yes.

[Emma Paton]

So travel is also important in terms of topping your group is really important because it does look like this is a tournament where the top teams are all topping their group so therefore should avoid each other in terms. The only real wrenches I can see right now are Cape Verde now having two points and possibly having an outside chance of finishing second in their group if they get a result against Saudi Arabia, which could mean one of Uruguay likely Uruguay end up taking a different route, which might be annoying for a team. Or Belgium are underperforming at this point in time and theoretically that could be a problem if you face them earlier. But much like some other European nations, they're not as strong as they used to be. So facing Belgium in 2026 isn't as scary as facing them in 2018 or 2022, for example. I mean, 2022, they didn't get out of the group. So yeah, top your group, get things done and we'll figure out train planes, trains and automobiles later on.

[Karl Anker]

Yeah, I just really like the athletic bracket. I think everyone should check it out. It's a very, very high tech system in terms of showing you all the percentages.

[Emma Paton]

It's been really, really good. I think there's been two or three brackets I've experimented with that aren't the athletic one that particularly when Spain drew Neil Noah, Cape Verde kept putting Spain in areas like, come on, be serious, they're not, they're not going to end up there and sort this out. Or indeed there's two or three I saw with the United States where they're going, oh, could play Ghana in the round of 16. I'm going if Garner makes it to the round of 16. I love them but let's be serious, you might have to fly out whatever supercomputer Duncan Exalt and the rest of the team have got power in the athletics one. I think it's just been a little bit cleaner. In estimating the strength of random teams, you mentioned percentages.

[Emma Peyton]

England 84% to top group L at the moment. So yeah, if you haven't checked that out already, make sure you Panama putting

[Karl Anker]

up on their dressing room wall as we skip.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah, exactly. Motivation.

[Sponsor Announcer]

You're listening to the Athletic FC podcast with Emma Paton.

[Sponsor Narrator]

This episode of the Athletic FC is brought to you by Hotels.com when you're booking a hotel, here's a simple question. Why wouldn't you use hotels.com it really is all in the name. As a member, you save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world and earn rewards on every single stay. Which means the trips you're taking now help pay for the ones you're already drinking, dreaming about. And unlike some other places, there are no blackout dates. So when you want to travel, your

[Sponsor Announcer]

rewards are ready to go.

[Sponsor Narrator]

So whether you're planning a grand adventure to follow your national team around North America this summer, or whisking your special someone away for an escape because you've been glued to the football for weeks, make sure to [e-mail] and start earning rewards. Because when it comes to hotels, it's simple. Hotels.com it's all in the name. This episode of the Athletic FC Podcast

[Sponsor Announcer]

is brought to you by Framer.

[Sponsor Narrator]

If your team wants a website that

[Sponsor Announcer]

looks and feels handcrafted but is still fast to ship, Framer is built for that you design on a visual canvas

[Sponsor Narrator]

with responsive layouts, hosting and a CMS

[Sponsor Announcer]

built in so the work is production ready. From day one, agents work alongside you to draft pages and polish sections. Then you review and publish what goes live. Framer is the pro site builder for creators, teams and businesses that want a professional site and care enough to get every detail right. With Framer, agents and humans work in tandem. Agents bring speed and scale, while people bring taste, judgment and control.

[Sponsor Narrator]

The agent works in the same place

[Sponsor Announcer]

where the real site is designed, managed, reviewed and published. It lands on the canvas, stays editable and can be published when the team is ready.

[Sponsor Narrator]

Learn how you can get more out

[Sponsor Announcer]

of your site from a Framer specialist or get started building for free [e-mail] for 30% off a framer Pro annual plan. That's Framer F R A M E R.com AthleticFC for 30% off framer.com AthleticFC rules and restrictions may apply.

[Sponsor Narrator]

This episode of the Athletic FC is

[Sponsor Announcer]

brought to you by the FIFA World cup meal at McDonald's.

[Sponsor Narrator]

Right now at McDonald's you can get

[Sponsor Announcer]

one of nine legendary cups when you order the FIFA World Cup. These cups feature some of the biggest legends in football like David Beckham, Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry. And current stars from the three hosts, Christian Pulisic, Santiago Jimenez and Alfonso Davis, as well as everyone's favorite purple player, Grimace.

[Sponsor Narrator]

And I don't know about you, but

[Sponsor Announcer]

I'm hyped to get Lamine Yamar with my 10 McNuggets. The FIFA World cup meal is available

[Sponsor Narrator]

all tournament long, so see if you

[Sponsor Announcer]

can collect all nine of the cups.

[Sponsor Narrator]

That's the FIFA World cup meal only

[Sponsor Announcer]

as at McDonald's at participating McDonald's for a limited time while supplies last. All rights reserved. 2026 McDonald's at FIFA World Cup 2026 is a copyright and a trademark.

[Emma Peyton]

Okay, time now for our do you know daily trivia on day 14. So yesterday I will say that Critch was. He was very quick off the mark. So he's always good at this lot to live. He's been doing his homework. He has admitted that. So day 14. Howard Webb produced 14 cards in the 2010 World cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. Do you know who the only player who was sent off was?

[Emma Paton]

Van Bommel.

[Emma Peyton]

Nope.

[Karl Anker]

Well, it was a Dutch player.

[Emma Paton]

He's a Dutch player.

[Karl Anker]

Yeah.

[Emma Paton]

It's not.

[Karl Anker]

But it famously wasn't Nigel De Jong.

[Emma Paton]

He wasn't Van Bommel. Wow.

[Emma Peyton]

No. And like you say, wasn't De Jong

[Karl Anker]

even though that he wasn't Wesley Schneider.

[Emma Paton]

No. Is it Heitinger?

[Emma Peyton]

It's Heitinger. Well done for a couple of yellows.

[Karl Anker]

The next likeliest candidate.

[Emma Peyton]

That was pretty swift. Now day 14 sees the final round of group games kick off with a number of sides hoping to secure qualification to the knockout rounds. None more so than Scotland, who have never progressed from the group. They have a teeny, tiny task in front of them. The tournament's most successful side in Brazil. So how much chance do we give Scotland in this one?

[Karl Anker]

Lyn Slim?

[Emma Paton]

I'll give him a boxer's chance.

[Karl Anker]

I wouldn't say no because we have seen Brazil's weaknesses already. This is not your grandfather's 1998. Brazil grandfather's is 1998.

[Emma Paton]

Why have you done that to me?

[Karl Anker]

For most people watching this tournament probably is blimey.

[Emma Paton]

Okay, okay.

[Karl Anker]

But it's like a football heritage matchup, isn't it? It's a really fun one. The Scottish fans are going to really enjoy it. They'll throw everything at it. Scotland has just been a very limited team on the ball, I think, I think they'll make, they'll try to make life as difficult as possible for, for Brazil. Steve Clark will have them well organized and they've got plenty of sort of bite and physicality in midfield to, to try and disrupt Brazil's buildup. But, but going forward, losing Billy Gilmour

[Emma Paton]

was such a really, really curb things because Gilmore is the one who can progress the ball in Midfield and Scott McTominay has been fantastic in these years in Napoli, but he's a box crashing player very much now rather than that sort of ball progressing passing midfielder. So they do seem to have an issue at getting the ball between from one penalty area to the other penalty and keeping it there until they score. But Brazil century Midfield is a 34 year old Casemiro and another football player normally Bruno Guimaraes.

[Karl Anker]

And there's only two of them with a vast expanse of space around them usually.

[Emma Paton]

Yep. So if you can maroon Casemiro on an island, as we've seen at certain points at Manchester United, that can be difficult. This is maybe the weakest pair of fullbacks I've seen from a Brazil team perhaps in my entire lifetime. I just looked at iron. When the squad was initially announced, I messaged Jack Lang going, please explain this to me. And he went, I'm going to try. And then the front three is still a movable feast. Vinicius junior scoring against Haiti was good because Vinicius junior hasn't been amazing in a Brazil shirt over the years. So if he can sort of establish himself as the number one option is good there.

[Karl Anker]

It seems like he's risen to the challenge in this tournament so far in

[Emma Paton]

the first two games and it was Kunya up front as number nine against Haiti as well. And that seemed to be good. But again there's, there's been, I mean, I think Gary o' Neill said he's not a number nine when he was at Wolves and there were two or three points where he, he was played up front for Manchester United last season. Last season, I'm gonna call it last season because it's, you know, Carrick and Amaram and there were times like, yeah, you're not quite a number nine, so it'd be tricky. Brazil will be the heavy favorites for this. Scotland, if they are to get anything from this, they will have to score first.

[Emma Peyton]

Well, how do they approach it, then? Is it playing not to lose? Because obviously they want to get something out of this game.

[Karl Anker]

Yeah, it's tricky. Maybe you're cautious for about 60 minutes, and then when the time. When the time comes to risk, you risk. And then it will partly depend on whether Brazil have already produced a moment of magic by that point or just how patient they are in the game. You know, if Brazil are prepared to wait for the game to open up, then they can. Because when we saw against Haiti, a lot of their best chances came from winning the ball back from Haiti. I doubt Scotland will give them that much space in behind, at least early in the game, but we've seen that Brazil can attack quickly in transition. So if Scotland go forward too quickly, they could be really punished.

[Emma Paton]

I suspect now we're in the third round of group games. I suspect this, the post halftime, pre hydration break, the third quarter. I suspect the third quarter will be very boring in a lot of these games where teams will get to halftime go, okay, scoreline's this. Don't risk anything before the hydration break. And then when you get to the last post hydration bit, that's when you'll see what they actually want to do. So, yeah, hold on for 60 minutes. Play really, really hard for first quarter, get to half time, get to the next hydration break, then play good football. Like weird sandwich of boring football.

[Emma Peyton]

Just you talking about quarters. You spent too long in Chicago.

[Emma Paton]

I have, I have. I've been. I've been North America pilled.

[Emma Peyton]

I know. Clearly. Well ahead of the game, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has been telling the Athletics James Horncastle how much he's looking forward to the Tartan Army's takeover.

[Emma Paton]

Miami, are you looking forward to Brazil, Scotland?

[Gordon Ramsay]

I am looking forward to it. It's been a long time coming, nearly 30 years since we've been in the World Cup. But I'm excited for the fans. Okay. And I'm excited for the New Yorkers to see, you know, 5,000 jocks running up and down Fifth Avenue with a kilt and no underwear. God help them all. I hope they like ginger.

[Emma Peyton]

Well, hopefully some underwear will be worn. That's really kind of all I can say about that. But the Scottish fans have been one of the highlights, haven't they, of the World cup so far?

[Emma Paton]

J.J. bull was out in Boston for two days, and he basically described it as like a transcendental experience where the locals were like, oh, please don't leave. You've made it so amazing. So the weather's been good. The Scottish have drunk the bars dry to the point where I think two or three of the bars were shut when England turned up.

[Karl Anker]

I think the Irish may be getting slightly insecure about Scotland's level of enjoyment of Boston.

[Emma Paton]

So look, these are the stories you want. Scotland fans in Boston, South Korean fans in Mexico. The joy of the World cup is realizing even though you are in theory hundreds of miles away from each other and there are times where you probably don't even speak the same language, you're all basically the same. You like football, you like a summer party, you like singing songs with each other. So it's been phenomenal seeing that. And New York this summer has been amazing. I mean, the Knicks have won the title. The Knicks winning the title. In the same day that Brazil played Morocco. You had this wonderful image of Knicks fans sort of spilling out into town and then dancing and then Brazil fans not really knowing Barclays going, we like to dance too. Which, yeah, this is what we're looking for.

[Emma Peyton]

It works.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Yeah.

[Emma Paton]

If you are anywhere in North America or indeed going to any watch party, I highly recommend taking a camera, a film camera and just taking a bunch of snaps of loads of football fans having a great time.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah. That full Gordon Ramsay interview, by the way. You can see it as part of our why I love the beautiful game series over on the Athletic right now. Well, another nation looking to make it through to the knockout stages are Bosnia and Herzegovina who face Qatar in one of the early games today. And our star of soccer for today is Kerem Ali Begovic. Carl, he was, well, only sold from Bayerkusen to Rebel Salzburg last summer and they both already sort of activated this buyback option, which kind of implies he's had a pretty good season.

[Emma Paton]

Oh yeah, he's been very good for Red Bull Salzburg. He's been very good for Bosnia. He was, I mean, Bosnia have this very young wing threat at the tournament. There is another wing whose name currently escapes me, but he plays for psv. I'm not going to try and pronounce his surname because I'll get it wrong. It's quite fun watching those two youngsters play. I, you know, trying to supply a 40 year old Ed and Jekyll. And for Karim, very two footed, very direct. Great thing about when you're watching a young winger, Liam will know this when you get thrown into wy scout and it's go watch this Young winger who doesn't necessarily play.

[Karl Anker]

I have a lot of experience with this on the Chelsea beat. Go and watch this young winger.

[Emma Paton]

Go and watch this young winger and explain why they're good for Premier League watchers everywhere. The thing that when I am looking at, particularly a winger on the age of 23, it's when they are trying to be a fullback, how do they. What's their go to move? Is it predominantly about pace? Is it predominantly about which foot they use? Are they just shoulder barging someone?

[Karl Anker]

Do they have a bag?

[Emma Paton]

Yes.

[Karl Anker]

Yeah.

[Emma Paton]

Yes. And for Karim, it's. He's got explosive pace, but also there are times where he will just keep it simple. Well, it's like I'm going to drag you here, and then once I've got your feet planted, I'm going to shift it or I'll play it through you there. So it doesn't to use a Gordon Ramsay's here. And the one I always use is whenever Gordon Ramsay does Kitchen Nightmares, he has that moment where he goes to a failing restaurant and he goes, your menu's too big. Make it smaller.

[Emma Peyton]

I love that we got to this.

[Emma Paton]

Young wingers tend to have menus that are way too big. And if you want to make it in the Premier League, you need, like, smaller.

[Jack Pitt Brook]

Make it smaller.

[Emma Paton]

Make it smaller. Just have four or five items to beat a fullback. And Karim has a smaller menu because he's very clearly thinking about, I don't need to be the flashiest person when beating a fullback. I just need to be very effective. Bosnia, unfortunately, have underwhelmed a little bit for me. I think they collapsed a little bit in their second group game, so hopefully this can be a good result for them. And I think, I mean, the fans have traveled incredibly well. Some of them travel on, some of them are going around town on horseback in.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah, that's. That's wild.

[Emma Paton]

It's beautiful.

[Emma Peyton]

The World Cup. Talking of his age there, I mean, he's only 18, scored in both of their penalty shootouts in their playoff wins over Wales and Italy. So he's clearly got. Got great composure already at this age.

[Karl Anker]

Yeah, that's the kind of thing you look for. Are you phased by a big stage and a penalty? Technically is nothing to worry about, but it's all about the context, isn't it? And I think that was something I saw with Chelsea, with Cole Palmer that really kick started his Chelsea career. Clearly he had a lot more to his game, which he then showed us in the first 18 months. But it began with increasingly high pressure penalties in high leverage moments. So you want to see that from a young player. And I look forward to Chelsea aggressively.

[Emma Peyton]

Is that what's coming next then?

[Karl Anker]

Well, if he has a good season at Leverkusen, who knows.

[Emma Peyton]

A little reminder for you then that tonight's groups A, B and C will be decided. We won't know whether the third place sides obviously have gone through just yet though, but those six games taking place this evening, we've got Mexico against the Czech Republic and South Africa are up against South Korea in Group A. Bosnia, who we've just been talking about, take on Qatar and then Switzerland against Canada in group B, which may be one of the standout ties. Then Morocco take on Haiti and then to that clash between Scotland and Brazil in group C. So loads to look forward to this evening. Thanks for your company today, guys. It was fun, wasn't it?

[Emma Paton]

Thanks for having me, you know.

[Emma Peyton]

Yeah. Happy to be back, back here away from, you know, you had a wonderful couple of weeks in Chicago, but you're back with us now in the studio.

[Emma Paton]

Yes, I, I'm in the British time zone and getting deeply confused about how late slash early some of these matches are. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, people are watching games at 4am Good on you.

[Discover Advertiser]

Trying.

[Emma Paton]

Good on you.

[Emma Peyton]

Well, thank you to to Jack and Nick for coming on earlier as well. A reminder for you that the AT coverage throughout the World cup is completely free over on our app, so do not miss out. You can watch or listen to us wherever you get your podcasts and do subscribe to our YouTube channel. Adam Levantal will be with you tomorrow. We'll catch you soon.

[Sponsor Narrator]

This episode of the Athletic FC is

[Sponsor Announcer]

brought to you by Hotels.com when you're

[Sponsor Narrator]

booking a hotel, here's a simple question. Why wouldn't you use hotels.com it really is all in the name. As a member, you save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels around the world and earn rewards on every single stay. Which means the trips you're taking now help pay for the ones you're already dreaming about. And unlike some other places, there are no blackout tables. So when you want to travel, your

[Sponsor Announcer]

rewards are ready to go.

[Sponsor Narrator]

So whether you're planning a grand adventure to follow your national team around North America this summer or whisking your special someone away for an escape because you've been glued to the football for weeks, make sure to [e-mail] and start earning rewards. Because when it comes to hotels, it's simple. Hotels.com it's all in the name.

[Vanta Advertiser]

Your team just added its 67th AI tool and also your 67th security blind spot. The good news? The Vanta Agent works like a GRC engineer in the background, finding every app your team uses, scoring the risk, and drafting fixes for you. Vanta is the platform used by over 16,000 fast moving companies like Ramp, Cursor and Harvey who are shaping the future with AI and staying ahead of AI risk. Get [e-mail] it's smart to always have

[Discover Advertiser]

a few financial goals and a really smart one. You can set earning cash back on what you buy every day. And with Discover, you can get this. Discover automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Seriously, all of it. And we trust you to make smart decisions. After all, you listen to this show. See [e-mail] creditcard.