Loading summary
Transcript109 lines
- [00:01]
Michael Owen
Queen Carvania stood haloed by the morning sun. An army hung on her every word.
- [00:08]
Carvana Advertiser
My champions, I have sold my chariot on Carvana. Twas a lovely suv, an inexplicably queenly offer. They're even coming to the castle to collect it. Tonight we feast. An offer you can feast on. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pick up fees MAY apply.
- [00:40]
Gary Lineker
Hello and welcome to the Rest Is football. On today's show, we're discussing France's march towards the semi finals. Kylian Mbappe and all of those French superstars will be with Joe Cole, Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker, the core. And don't forget, if you'd like to watch the show, it's available on Netflix every single day.
- [01:07]
Micah Richards
France. So impressive killing Mbappe a game. Joe. I mean, wow.
- [01:11]
Joe Cole
He's superb. Wow. He's almost unplayable. I think we're seeing his peak years at the moment because he's got that explosive speed, but he's got this maturity about him now. He's just like. He's a scorer of. He's a goal scorer, but he's a scorer of great goals. The way he took that one, we whipped it around. Beautiful.
- [01:30]
Alan Shearer
Gotta work on his penalties a bit though.
- [01:32]
Joe Cole
What is that with these great strikers? Just like missing. Stop start.
- [01:36]
Alan Shearer
I'm not.
- [01:36]
Michael Owen
I'm not.
- [01:37]
Alan Shearer
I'm not a. He did score.
- [01:38]
Micah Richards
I think he did score 15 in a row.
- [01:40]
Alan Shearer
But I'm not alone.
- [01:41]
Micah Richards
I think what it is that we've seen a lot of penalties, haven't we, missed at this World Cup. But I think the stuttery thing. I think goalkeepers have worked it out. They wait. They wait. It's the first, you know, as I said, it's the first he's missed in 15.
- [01:53]
Joe Cole
But.
- [01:54]
Micah Richards
And when you do that kind of penalty, it just looks worse where the
- [01:58]
Joe Cole
goalie's hands is a really bad penalty. Zve was odd. The floor in the middle of the goal.
- [02:02]
Alan Shearer
You know what the brilliant thing is though, is that you have that setback. We said the other day about Messi. You have that setback. Yeah, but the very, very, very best. It doesn't affect him. And his goal was brilliant.
- [02:15]
Joe Cole
So you two, both goal scorers. Did you have that? If you'd missed a chance? Well, how did you get your mind set on it like. Cuz I think it would affect. It would affect as a. Affected me of being missing a big.
- [02:26]
Alan Shearer
Absolutely desperate for another one to come along straight away. Give me another chance. Give me something to go at. Yeah, it hurts but that's. I mean, those two, I said Messi and Mbappe, that's the very, very best. The elite mentality is give me the ball again, let me make amends, let me do something different to try and get the team back to whatever. And that's, I think, the difference.
- [02:49]
Micah Richards
It's just missing a chance. As a striker, you know you will miss chances. Therefore, the more chances you get, eventually the more goals you score. So you know you're also going to miss. So you've just got. That's just part and parcel of being a striker. There's interesting stats here. There's only been four occasions in the last 60 years that a player has scored, assisted and missed a penalty in a World cup match. Two have been in the last three days. There's Messi against Egypt, obviously. Mbappe against Morocco. Can you get the other two? Anyone? If any of you get one of these, I'll be so impressed, really.
- [03:28]
Joe Cole
Benzema, Joe Cole.
- [03:31]
Micah Richards
Joe Cole, Kareem Benzema versus.
- [03:33]
Joe Cole
I can read it. I can read it.
- [03:35]
Micah Richards
You read it from there?
- [03:37]
Joe Cole
Yeah.
- [03:37]
Alan Shearer
He's got better eyes than us, too.
- [03:38]
Joe Cole
I play midfield. I can have a look.
- [03:40]
Micah Richards
Can you see the other one? No, I can't. Asamo Gam.
- [03:43]
Joe Cole
Okay.
- [03:43]
Micah Richards
Yeah. Remember him?
- [03:45]
Michael Owen
Just on the. The penalties while he was talking about them, you know, the stop start that you mentioned. But did you actually see, correct me if I'm wrong, when he actually was taking the penalty, he wasn't looking at the goalkeeper. So what is the point of the stutter of the run up there? Is he just doing a stutter and then picking his place? But I thought the whole point of the stutter of the run up and slow down is to watch where the keeper's gonna go. I don't think he could only dive to one side and he went there.
- [04:12]
Micah Richards
Yeah. Do you know what I think it is, Mike? I don't think that is necessarily the case. Some players, one or two, obviously we've seen, do genuinely wait and watch the goalkeeper. But I think what the stutter does and the reasoning behind it is that a goalkeeper is on the line when you stutter and they don't know exactly when you're going to kick it. They can't afford to go early, so they have to wait until you kick it. So what it does, I think it just gives you a little bit more space because you know the keeper can't get to the corner. So I think it gives you an extra yard to score in. But Mbappe obviously still didn't put it wide. Enough.
- [04:49]
Alan Shearer
Just before we go any further on that point, by the way, he had nearly three and a half minutes to wait. It was an absolute shambles for the referee. He put him on the spot, he walked back. He had to go again, he had to walk back again. All while they were checking whatever they were checking. I mean, I thought it was a Argentinian. Nonsense.
- [05:09]
Micah Richards
Yeah, but the Argentinian. It was also the Argentinian ref that gave the penalty immediately.
- [05:14]
Alan Shearer
I'm not saying that's an excuse for missing the penalty, but when you're under huge pressure in that situation, in the World cup quarter final, the last thing you need is a referee to go. Yep, go. And then. Stop it. Stop. Stop. I thought it was ridiculous.
- [05:30]
Micah Richards
It took them a while, didn't it, France, to break down that low block? They had the chances. They had way more shots than Morocco. But when it does open up a little bit, as it inevitably does in football matches. Mike, can anyone cope with them?
- [05:47]
Michael Owen
It's going to be tough. I mean, Al called them, didn't he, as his favourites. I said Spain before a ball was kicked, but they're electric when there's no space, I think they find it a little bit difficult, but as soon as the space opens up, it's a nightmare because they can run in behind. They've got individual brilliance. They've got Alice, who's always looking for the ball, to Fred, to Mbappe. If that's not Mbappe, then you've got Dembele. They're just too good. They're definitely the favourites for this competition because they can increase the tempo like no other team at the tournament.
- [06:27]
Alan Shearer
The one thing that I was slightly concerned about with France is how do they get all the big hitters into the. How does Deschamps keep all of them happy? And I tell you what, he's done a brilliant job up to now because Barcolo's been left out, Shirky's been left out, but he's used them and when he has brought them on, they've moved more than played their part. But that front four is pretty unstoppable.
- [06:51]
Micah Richards
Interesting thing, of course, despite the fact if they do make it to the final, it'll be their third consecutive final in World Cups, and Deschamps been obviously in charge of all of them. There was a little bit of unrest around the fact that he was still in charge, because I think the Euros two years ago, when he didn't get that, couldn't get everyone buying into the system and they were a little bit negative. But what a job he's done in turning that around. Micah?
- [07:19]
Michael Owen
Yeah, I think he's been outstanding. Obviously, I'm very close with Thierry and they talked about that sort of disconnect. It was sort of square pegs in round holes in terms of the way they play. A lot of the talk in France was, yes, we've got great players, but we don't play great football. I think that's turned now at this World Cup. Everyone knows their jobs. I like the little tactical tweet that the champs did in the first game where he switched Dembele and Elise around. I think it just helped. A lot of managers might have persevered with the same, but he is a top manager. We're talking about one of the best in international football. If he goes and wins it again, it's a real talking power.
- [08:01]
Alan Shearer
I also think he's got a great rapport there now because, you know, he went back for his. The passing of his mother, the funeral. I think when all the players got together and they sort of hugged and got. I think that was a great sign that they were going to be brilliant in this tournament. They have been. They haven't disappointed.
- [08:20]
Micah Richards
I think all the other teams in the competition were hoping they'd all fall out, but it's not happening. France in 2026 are the first team to have two players score five plus goals in a single World cup since Brazil in 2002. And they're only in the quarter finals. Mbappe and Dembele have got eight and five. And then Brazil's were Ronaldo and Rivaldo. They got eight and five. They also had Ronaldinho. Who's your front threes here? Ok, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho or Mbappe, Dembele and Elise.
- [08:54]
Joe Cole
I was in the squad for that game. I was on the bench. I was at the game and watching them free. I remember one when Ronaldinho had done his move on Ashley Cole. It was so fluid and beautiful, about three players from the England bench. Just naturally, because it excited, stood up and they're going to score it and then they scored, but they could take your breath away. And I've never remembered the movement and I think the similarities with this year, I think this France team are quite clearly the best side left in the tournament. In 2002, they had four Ballon d'Or winners because Kaka was a young man as well. So, like, watching them play, I think the 2002 Cafe and Carlos, like, it was like the Harlem Globetrotters watching them play. And then this France team's a bit
- [09:40]
Micah Richards
like That I still think at the moment. I mean, obviously Elise's still quite young. I think Mbappe's definitely in his absolute prime. But those three, I mean, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo's tasty Mico. Are you having.
- [09:56]
Michael Owen
No, it's too hard to call. Is it? Because it's different generations and you mix in that nostalgia. R9, apart from Messi and Ronaldo and probably Pele. R9 was just ridiculous. He's my favorite ever football footballer. Messi's probably the best, but Ronaldo's the best. And then you add in Ronaldinho. Watch his documentary, it was just incredible. And then Rivaldo too, with his left foot. Oh, my God. I would. It's too early to say. They're too young, they've not finished yet. I would go with Brazil. I have to go with Brazil because it was just mesmerizing.
- [10:32]
Micah Richards
It was so good. So good. Do you think? I know it's difficult. Could Morocco have more of a go miss? Saibari, big miss up front. They really struggled going forward. Three goals in the tournament.
- [10:47]
Joe Cole
Saibari, Gaz up front. So important for them because he's a big lump and he gets so he puts himself about. And I thought the thing that they got wrong today, I don't think they was humble enough. I thought because they're so good, because they've been on this mad unbeaten run and they've been so successful. I think you need a game plan for France and I think they didn't do the low block as well as they could. They didn't make it uncomfortable. They wanted to play with. You can't play with France. You've got to. You got to stop them first and take whatever you can at the game. Cuz they're just so good. And if you, if the game becomes end to end, you're. Because of the, the pace and the strength and the speed. So you got. They got it wrong.
- [11:26]
Alan Shearer
I. I just think sometimes you say, you know what, they were better than us and what, whatever way they set up today, France are going to beat them. Yeah, they just had better players individually. They've got the most exciting front players in the World cup, there's no doubt about it. So I just think they were too good. And whatever way Morocco tried to play, France were going to beat them.
- [11:48]
Micah Richards
Do you agree with that, Micah?
- [11:51]
Michael Owen
Yeah, totally agree with the guys today, which is an absolute shame, to be honest. But in terms of. I thought they, they grew into the game a little bit and I started getting confident because I had a few counter attacks. But the difference was they didn't have Sybari to run in behind so when they went forward they didn't really have an out ball. I would have done a Cape Verde where just go ultra, ultra low, force France to have shots from outside the box. That was the only way really that was going to win. And Hakimi was getting pushed back also, wasn't he? So that he's normally an outbound for them and it didn't really have the effect that maybe we all expected. But he's playing against France and he's constantly having to defend. I think that was a difference. But what would I have done different? I would have just stuck to my guns in that low block and not worry about it. Try sort of see out the game as long as we possibly could and then just wait for that counter attack
- [12:49]
Joe Cole
go and make them cross the ball big Meeks. That's what you got to do with France. I think if England play France you have to go to a five, you have to play with a back five. Really I would because you're going to need W. You have to double up on both flanks, whether it be due Mbappe and then and as best you can frustrate and make them lob it
- [13:10]
Micah Richards
into the box because Mbappe's not going to score too many heads.
- [13:12]
Michael Owen
But did you see that though? Did you see that though, Joe? That's a really interesting point with the players on the pitch. I think you're absolutely right. But did you see as soon as Mateta came on they started changing the way they played. They started getting crosses. I'm thinking to myself if they sacrifice one of their wingers and say okay Alisa, you go one side, they're better, you go the other side and just get crosses into box to Mateta and have Mbappe just running all over. That scared me because I don't think France are one dimensional because they've just got so much quality. But one thing I thought that they're not that great at is getting the balls into the box. And then as soon as Mateta came on the pitch I was like oh my God, they've got a plan B, C, D, E and F. Oh my God. It's going to be, it's going to be difficult for anyone against France.
- [14:02]
Micah Richards
Definitely difficult, Michael. So I think before the tournament we're going well. If there is possibly a weakness it's can they cope with playing four up like they do but then with a two man midfield. But even that's working at the moment. I know it might Be different against Spain, that will be a real, real challenge. If Spain obviously get past Belgium, which I expect they will.
- [14:25]
Michael Owen
You know who needs a lot of credit in this tournament? Rabiot. He was sort of, oh, he can't really run now, but the way he controls that midfield. Obviously Tchouameni's been in and then out because of injury. But Kone, who I told you before the tournament, lads, you did tell us, I give you it, and he's been outstanding. I think against England or a Spain, they'll find it more difficult because there are areas in which you can get up front. I think upper Mocanu at the back. Saliba looks nice and solid, but if you see one of his clearances and if you watch him for Bayern Munich, there is areas where he can get out. I mean, he's prone to mistake at times, but I just think they're too good going forward. If you have Kone and Robbie had just sat there and say, you fought, go do it. It's going to be very difficult for anyone.
- [15:21]
Micah Richards
Z Emery came off the bench as well. He's a. He's a talented individual. Tchouameni's fitness, he's not quite right. A word on Morocco because, you know, they've had a good tournament. They've had two good tournaments now, that's a semi final and a. A quarter final. I suppose the positive, I think they're unlucky with the Saibari thing, the injury, but I think we've got an emerging star in Bodi. Youngest player to play in a quarter final of a World cup since L A in 1958.
- [15:50]
Joe Cole
Big shoes to fill. I went to. I went to do to interview Giroud and so I went and Mile Club Lille, lovely it was. Saw all the old masseurs and the doctor and all that. And I was. And I was chatting to them and different times in the day, I said, what players have you got here? All of them said, yeah, unbelievable. And so often in a mathematics degree. Yeah, yeah, it's mental. And often at football club, the people that have been there for years and seen all the great players at the club, so they know, they watch him every day and all of them eyes lit up when they talk about. So I watched this kid.
- [16:24]
Micah Richards
He's even impressed you, Alec.
- [16:25]
Joe Cole
Brilliant.
- [16:25]
Alan Shearer
Well, when Morocco played Brazil early in the tournament, I did that game corms and he was man of the match. He stood out massively. And if it's not this summer, it'll be next summer that he'll go for 70, 8090 million. I'm pretty certain of that.
- [16:43]
Micah Richards
I think a lot of clubs will be chasing him. Micah, where do you think he'll end up?
- [16:47]
Michael Owen
It's tough. He's a young superstar, isn't he? He's so calm on the ball. You know, when you're looking at attributes as a player, can they pass, can they track runners, all them sort of things. But it's his calmness on the ball. For me, you know, in that team, for someone so young, like, everyone's gonna be after him. Absolutely everyone. But just quickly, Joe, you was at Lil. What was that like? You know, I've not heard you speak about that many times, but what was it like going over there and enjoying France?
- [17:20]
Joe Cole
I loved it. I loved it, mate. I was. Like I said, I was at a difficult, difficult time in my career. And then you go somewhere and you see. I feel like now I played. We've all played with French players, but you don't really understand the French players who. You go over there in their culture and how they are, you know, I went over there, big man. I. I started drinking coffee. I got liquip every day, pretended I was reading Liquite. Started drinking because they had a lovely facial. No, they did at the training ground. You had like a middle bit, right? And they all went there and they all had the paper and had a little coffee. That's why I'm missing out here. I need to get myself a involved. So I didn't drink coffee until I went to France. Now I can't get off the stuff.
- [18:00]
Alan Shearer
I was just about to say you got. What about the football?
- [18:02]
Micah Richards
Yeah, I love the football. When was it you went to Mexico and got the mezcal?
- [18:09]
Joe Cole
I bring back the great things from everyone's culture and bring it into my life. The Mexicans have given me mezcal, the French have given me coffee. I'm happy.
- [18:20]
Micah Richards
He's quite known for the red wine and champagne.
- [18:22]
Joe Cole
Yeah, yeah. Look at.
- [18:23]
Micah Richards
What's he doing there? Love it, love it. Big on there, the brandy out the bottle. Good man.
- [18:29]
Michael Owen
That's what the Caribbean taught me, Joe.
- [18:31]
Joe Cole
Yes,
- [18:35]
Micah Richards
brilliant. What's your French?
- [18:38]
Joe Cole
A little bit, yeah.
- [18:42]
Michael Owen
Everybody know.
- [18:43]
Micah Richards
Everybody knows what that means, right?
- [18:46]
Joe Cole
Don't worry about me.
- [18:47]
Micah Richards
I can.
- [18:48]
Joe Cole
I can get by in a French restaurant. That's enough for me.
- [18:51]
Micah Richards
Yeah.
- [18:52]
Joe Cole
And I've got. I've got Derek Trotter. I thought you were going to chuck
- [18:55]
Alan Shearer
geese on the end.
- [18:56]
Micah Richards
Joe. Joe, what's your order? What's your order? Let's not do this live. Let's not do this live.
- [19:01]
Joe Cole
But the football I got to play with, Eden Hazard.
- [19:04]
Micah Richards
Oh.
- [19:04]
Joe Cole
Who I think's the. The best player I've ever played with. He was a genius.
- [19:09]
Micah Richards
He played with some great players.
- [19:10]
Joe Cole
Played with some great players.
- [19:11]
Micah Richards
England as well.
- [19:12]
Joe Cole
He.
- [19:13]
Alan Shearer
He's absolutely another level.
- [19:15]
Joe Cole
Another level, mate. If he had the mentality, he, you know, all footballers were all very competitive and you got that little bit of fire in you. He had none of that. He didn't like training. He didn't win.
- [19:25]
Micah Richards
He didn't even do his boots up. Is that right?
- [19:28]
Joe Cole
It was a struggle. Sometimes you have to remind him, we got a game now, guys. But the bell's going no in the dressing room. He'd just be in his own world. He's a genius.
- [19:37]
Micah Richards
Do you think if he'd applied himself, he could be up there with the absolute greats of the game?
- [19:41]
Joe Cole
Absolutely. I think he's messy without the. The drive. Messi's got like a drive. Some of the things he'd done with a ball on a day to day. And I've played with some great players, been lucky, blessed to play with some great players. He was the best.
- [19:54]
Katie K
Hello and welcome to Doing It Anyway, a brand new series from Goal Hanger. I'm Katie K. I've spent years studying the science and art of confidence, writing books about how we can close the confidence gap between men and women, and talking to experts and younger women, women about how to pass it on. Confidence means taking risks, acknowledging your fears and, well, doing it anyway. In this series, I'll be talking to psychologists, entrepreneurs and business leaders to unpack how you can rethink challenges and grow your own confidence. We'll talk about how to spot the difference between confidence and competence, how to deal with office politics and stolen credit and yes, handle handling rejection and ultimately how you can become a better leader, teammate and yes, a better person. Doing It Anyway with Katie K. Every Friday, wherever you get your podcasts,
- [20:52]
Micah Richards
The quantum ban. I mean, they've given him two games and it's a similar sort of issue to. To obviously Balagan. That obviously happened and it was called serious foul play. The same offence as Baligan. He's got two games. Balogan's offence got suspended, not overturned. So it's not like they've gone, actually, that's a bad decision. You're not having it. But they've just suspended his sentence and you go, hang on a minute. You can't have rules for one, rules for a host nation and then rules for another. Let me read you something out here. The head of the White House World cup task force. Andrew Giuliani, who was son of the mayor, funnily enough, says the US Wanted things to be fair on the pitch. Especially when you consider all the federal dollars we laid out for this when discussing Baligan suspended suspension.
- [21:43]
Joe Cole
We did that.
- [21:43]
Micah Richards
He said you had that red card, which never should have been administered, reversed. You didn't get it reversed, actually. And we stand by the actions that we took. I mean, what's going on that FIFA,
- [21:56]
Alan Shearer
and they've brought all this on themselves, they really have. And all the conspiracy theories, all the anger that's directed towards them, and rightly so, because once they've done that with the Baligan, everyone is going to start saying, well, hang on a minute. Exactly. You did it for that. So what on earth is the difference now? How on earth does Quanta now get two games? He got one suspended. It got him taken away. Yet Quansah now has to to miss if England get through the two games, it's absolutely scandalous. It's such a bad look.
- [22:28]
Micah Richards
Let's hope that Infantino decides to suspend it. If not, I think his position at FIFA now is. I mean, I think it's almost untenable.
- [22:36]
Joe Cole
He's got one job. If you're in charge of FIFA, the one thing you need to do is make. You shouldn't be front and center of everything. You need to make it fair, right? And then by being fair, you're going to have to stand up to power at some times a golden. And I don't care if you spent how much money you spent. This is sport. And you know, and then he just get. He gets it wrong. He's just like Basil 40, falling over himself all the time, making. Just messing it up. He needs like. You got to be honest, like.
- [23:04]
Micah Richards
No, it just.
- [23:05]
Joe Cole
You need to be fair.
- [23:07]
Micah Richards
It's a mica.
- [23:10]
Michael Owen
It's an absolute fast, though, isn't it? I mean, how many times? How many times? All the good things that have happened in this competition, all the success stories, we keep talking about them, but this is just. It's just ridiculous. And I'd be complaining. I think it's not fair. Joe's exactly right. And when the integrity of the competition is in question, and that's a problem because one rule for one and another rule for someone else. If I was England, I'd be fighting that all the way. And if they were to go out against Norway, I'd fight even further because it's absolutely ridiculous and it's not fair. And we keep talking about the same things over and over and over again. And yeah, something needs to be done now.
- [23:56]
Alan Shearer
Everyone will just keep on appealing, everyone will keep on complaining, everyone will keep on reverting back to that situation when the president rang FIFA up and said, well, we all know what he said. And then they suspended that decision. He was able to play in that game, which ironically, worked against the usa. But that doesn't take away from this decision and other decisions that everyone will say, hang on, you've set the precedent, so you have to now answer to what you have done a few days ago.
- [24:26]
Micah Richards
A precedent set by allegedly a president. But anyway, that's it for this episode of the Rest is football.
- [24:33]
Gary Lineker
France are through to the semi finals. Who will join them? We'll find out soon.