Midfielders from the EPL Headed to the World Cup | Unfiltered Soccer

Summary

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Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan & Tim Howard

Episode Summary: "Midfielders from the EPL Headed to the World Cup"

Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: Tim Howard, Landon Donovan
(With commentator Ian Dark contributing throughout)

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Tim Howard and Landon Donovan (joined in-depth by Ian Dark) focus on English Premier League midfielders poised for major impact at the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The hosts break down the conversation by sorting players into three engaging categories—headliners, breakout stars, and question marks—offering tactical analysis, experience-based anecdotes, and candid opinions on each. The central theme: Which EPL midfielders will define their national teams’ fortunes on the world’s biggest stage?

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Headliners (01:11–03:47)

Declan Rice (England/Arsenal)

• Why He’s a Headliner
  • "He's playing for arguably the best club in the world right now...as he goes, so goes England." (Ian Dark, 00:35)
  • Tim credits Rice’s evolution from West Ham leader to Arsenal lynchpin, not just for his technical improvements but also his increasing production (goals, assists) and leadership:
    • “His goals and his assists and his production have gone up and up...If England do great things in this World Cup, Declan Rice will be massively behind that.” (Tim, 01:35)

Bruno Fernandes (Portugal/Manchester United)

• Ian highlights Fernandes’ leadership for both club and country despite United’s recent struggles, adding that he’s “incredibly productive in that position.” (02:05–02:41)
• Tim views Portugal as his World Cup dark horse, given “the experience top to bottom across that team,” noting Fernandes’ steadiness "in a time at Manchester United where it's been up and down and more down than up." (Tim, 02:43–03:47)

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Breakout Stars (03:47–07:17)

Martin Ødegaard (Norway/Arsenal)

• Praised for leadership qualities and technical intelligence.
  • “He really, really makes this team [Norway] go.” (Ian, 03:53)
  • Tim points out Ødegaard’s “ball-dominant” instincts, always checking his shoulder, finding space, and serving as the probable creative supply if Haaland contends for the Golden Boot. (Tim, 04:24–04:58)

Moisés Caicedo (Ecuador/Chelsea)

• Lauded as Ecuador’s “engine,” although Tim cautions: "My only issue with him...he quite literally is on a booking every week...he's rash...he might get a red card in the first game." (Tim, 05:42–06:29)
• Ian suggests his edge is both a strength and a risk: “You can't take that away from him...they need to be on the edge a bit." (Ian, 06:22)

Ryan Gravenberch (Netherlands/Liverpool)

• Described as key to both Liverpool’s and the Netherlands’ midfield.
  • “He sort of anchors that midfield, allows everyone else to go forward, makes late runs. He’s literally been brilliant for Liverpool Football Club.” (Tim, 07:17)
• The hosts question whether the Netherlands can finally “put it all together in the big moment” at a major tournament. (07:45)

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Question Marks (08:08–11:09)

Cole Palmer (England/Chelsea)

• His status oscillates between world-class and invisible due to patches of injury and inconsistency.
  • “If he really plays well and England play well, man can he...he’s one of those guys that could be the player of the tournament. He’s got that kind of potential.” (Ian, 08:39)
  • Tim raises his high ceiling: “I had him sort of picked as the best player in the Premier League.” (09:13)
  • But warns: "He could light it up. He could also disappear. So that's why he's a question mark." (Tim, 09:45)

Florian Wirtz (Germany/Liverpool)

• Noted for a slow adjustment at Liverpool, but essential for Germany.
  • “If Germany want any chance of being good, he is their star man, he really is and he makes everything go for them.” (Ian, 09:46)
  • Tim adds: "I don't think he has that pressure with Germany...he'll be more sort of free flowing and the Florian Virt that you expect to see right from the off." (Tim, 10:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Evolution of Declan Rice:
  “He had the engine, he had the leadership qualities. Arsenal see the potential…and his goals and his assists and his production have gone up and up.” (Tim, 01:12)
• On Portugal as a ‘Dark Horse’:
  “If they can put a run together, I think they have an opportunity to surprise people. Not surprised because they're household names, but get really deep in the tournament.” (Tim, 03:22)
• On Caicedo’s Risk-taking:
  “He quite literally is on a booking every week...he might get a red card in the first game. Crazy. But hopefully…” (Tim, 06:08)
• On Cole Palmer’s Ceiling:
  “He can easily be...what Mo Salah is to or was to Liverpool, like Cole Palmer is that to Chelsea.” (Tim, 09:17)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• EPL Midfielder Categories Introduced: 00:20
• Declan Rice Analysis: 00:35–01:54
• Bruno Fernandes Discussion: 01:56–03:47
• Breakout Star: Martin Ødegaard: 03:47–04:58
• Breakout Star: Moisés Caicedo: 04:58–06:41
• Breakout Star: Ryan Gravenberch: 06:41–07:45
• Question Mark: Cole Palmer: 08:08–09:46
• Question Mark: Florian Wirtz: 09:46–11:09

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Tone & Style

The episode is a blend of tactical depth and player-centric storytelling, with Tim and Ian providing honest, experienced-based commentary. Their banter is candid, sometimes lighthearted but always on point, with a focus on what makes each midfielder’s contribution crucial—or in question—for their nations at the World Cup.

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Summary Takeaway:
If you want to know which EPL midfielders could electrify, steady, or stumble on the world stage this summer, Donovan and Howard’s “Unfiltered Soccer” gives you not just a list, but the stories and insights that bring these players to life.

Transcript

[Tim]

Foreign.

[Ian Dark]

This bonus content is brought to you by Virgin Atlantic

[Tim]

ld. We're going to break down some of the English Premier League's most talented players and how we think they'll perform at this summer's World Cup. Now, we've done the goalkeepers, right?

[Ian Dark]

Yep.

[Tim]

Took a little deep dive into that. Today we're focusing on the midfielders. So we have three categories. Headliners, breakout stars, and question marks for headliners. I like where you're going with a lot of these. Declan Rice of England and Arsenal. Why will he be a headliner?

[Ian Dark]

Well, he's playing for arguably the best club in the world right now, and I think I watched him very closely during the Euros. Ian Dark and I did a lot of England games. And as he goes, so goes England. He's just one of those guys, Tim. You know, these guys that they just make you win. And I know he takes a lot of heat in England for. You know, he's not this, he's not that, whatever. When he's on the field, your team wins. And I just think he's the type of guy that if they make a deep run, it's going to be because of him.

[Tim]

Yeah, look, I couldn't agree more. He has gone from strength to strength, and it's sort of been impressive because we don't see this. Right, so he was at West Ham ld and he had everything. He had the engine, he had the leadership qualities. Right. He's a bit young. Arsenal see the potential. We interviewed him with NBC a couple of times, and he's so brilliantly candid. And he said, I want to add more production, I want more goals. Coaches asking me, I've got good technique to work on this and I. I gotta. I gotta do more. Gets to Arsenal 100 million plus pounds or. Or dollars, and you're like, it's a big fee. They're buying him to win them a championship or help can he do it? And his goals and his assists and his production have gone up and up, which have turned him into this, like, leader and stalwart. So I'm. I'm with you. I Look, by the way, if England do great things in. In this World Cup, Declan Rice will be massively behind that. I. I couldn't agree with you more.

[Ian Dark]

Yeah, I agree. One next one.

[Tim]

One that I sort of think we disagree on slightly, even though I love him, is Bruno Fernandez of Portugal and Manchester United. Talk to me about him.

[Ian Dark]

I mean, look, he. He plays for. I know Manchester United's recent history, not good. But if you ask American Soccer fans, or even just American sports fans, they'll go, manchester United. I know that he's the captain of Manchester United, captain of the Nations League winning team in Portugal. And he's, he's a, he's been, I think since the coaching change at United, he's been fantastic. And so he, like Declan Rice, makes that team tick and he's productive. I mean, he's incredibly productive in that position. So.

[Tim]

Yeah, well, I was. Why?

[Ian Dark]

Do you disagree?

[Tim]

No, no, I, I, I, I wouldn't. Because I think that team, that Portugal team is also filled with star names. And so, yeah, look, I don't disagree that I think he's a fantastic player. I think he wears his heart on his sleeve. I think he's in a time at Manchester United where it's been up and down and more down than up, but it's like a roller coaster. He's been steady and that's a really tough thing. And as you mentioned, his sort of role within the Portugal squad. The reason I do agree with this ld is because I have. Portugal is my dark horse in the World cup, sort of. If they can, given the names that they have and names don't win new games, but the experience top to bottom across that team, if they can put a run together, I think they have an opportunity to surprise people. Not surprised because they're household names, but get really deep in the tournament and then you're just going completely on sort of adrenaline and, you know, a high. So I think, I think they could be my dark horse.

[Ian Dark]

Yeah. Okay. Okay, let's move on to the breakout stars guy. There's a few on this team. I mean, everyone knows Erling Holland, but I think Martin Odegaard for Norway is a, again, Arsenal, like, fantastic leader, productive, and he really, really makes this team go. And Norway is a team that I think a lot of people think might surprise some people in this tournament. So I think he's going to have a great tournament. I think between Sorlot and Erling Haaland, they have a really potent attack. They're really well coached, so they could surprise some people.

[Tim]

Yeah, look, Odegaard for me is, you know, he's one of these sort of ball dominant midfielders who gets attracted to the ball. Any team he's in, you know, he drifts to the left or to the right on the, whatever strong side the ball's on. He gets the ball at his feet, he finds pockets, he's always checking his shoulder. In a World cup where you would imagine if they can go on a run and Erling Holland can be sort of in the conversation for the Golden Boot. Where is a lot of that going to come from? Right. Like a lot of that production most likely will come from Odegaard. So yeah, I'm on board with that one.

[Ian Dark]

The only question mark for them is they have a really tough group with France and Senso. So it's going to be challenging. The other guy. I was at the game in Austin, the US game against Ecuador. And in the stands, I was sitting next to the Ecuadorian sort of contingent in the box next to me. And they were obviously they're biased, but caicedo wasn't on the field that day. He was left back and. And they were just. They were just raving about him and how important he is to that team. And when you see him with Chelsea as well, you realize how important. And I think a lot of American fans don't know him. He's not the type of guy who's going to be a breakout star because of all this production. Anything does. But if Ecuador find a way deeper into the tournament, he is their engine. I mean, he is the guy.

[Tim]

I say this with all due respect, he is a proper Ecuador player. Like, if you know when he walks on the field and you look at him like, oh, okay. My only issue with him is, and I cover him every week and the talent that he brings, the raw ability and he's added goal. I mean, by the way, he's a thunderbolt of right foot. I mean there's like. There's two or three this season. I think he struck that just fly into the top corner. I mean, he's not afraid to hit the ball. I just question his decision making. Yeah, he quite literally is on a booking every week.

[Ian Dark]

Y.

[Tim]

And then. And then he's just. And then he's rash. So then after that I'm like, you gotta go. You almost gotta hook him. Which the manager doesn't.

[Ian Dark]

Then how. You can't take that away from him though. Right. Because that's what makes him good. It's. Guys like that are so frustrating because they need to be on the edge a bit.

[Tim]

Well, they can. They can be taught. But anyway, my point is like my one. My one caveat to him being a breakout star is. Is he on the field the entire. He might get a red card in the first game. Crazy. But hopefully. But I. I definitely hear what you're saying.

[Ian Dark]

Yeah. Okay. All right. Our last one here is Ryan Gravenberg from Liverpool. Goes a little under the radar too with this team because of all the star power they have with Liverpool. But for the Netherlands he's a really, really key piece of everything they do along with Johnny Reinders too in the midfield and Xavi Simon. So I think he has a chance to really be a star. The Netherlands are one of those that like you're always sort of wanting more out of them because you look at the players on the field and you're like wow, they're really talented, really good. You know Cody Gakpo and Virgil Van Dyke and. But I think he has a chance if they do well to be a real star.

[Tim]

Yeah, I mean for me he is. Liverpool won the Premier League last year and he was far and away their best player On a team that had really good players and production and seasons he was their best player far and away and sort of he got brought to the club and then under slot. We've sort of seen this evolution, right. He's kept him in the number six role. It's all him. They don't play a double pivot. He sort of anchors that midfield, allows everyone else to go forward, makes late runs. He's literally been brilliant for Liverpool Football Club. So will that translate to the Netherlands? Absolutely it will. Again a bit like you said, they sort of have powerhouse names. Can they put it all together in the big moment? So the big question mark.

[Ian Dark]

But yeah, that's a question mark. And these are our other question mark players. So this one's a little weird to say as a question mark because when he's healthy and he's playing well he is so electric. And again I'll reference the Euros and people, you know he's special because of the way other people in England talk about him and that's Cole Palmer and they talk about him like he's like this God and you in and sometimes you see it and then other times you go I didn't even really notice him or he's been injured. So I think he's a big question mark. If he really plays well and England play well, man can he. I mean he's one of those guys that could be the player of the tournament. He's got that kind of potential.

[Tim]

Well we saw that at the club world cup, didn't we?

[Ian Dark]

Yeah.

[Tim]

Finally single handedly took over. Look, I think he's untouchable and unplayable at times. And you know to what you just said about what people say in England, I minus sort of the injury layoff and sort of sort of the. The patch where he didn't do a ton. Right. And every player has that I had him sort of picked as like the best player in the Premier League which,

[Ian Dark]

which you know that's a wild thing to say.

[Tim]

It's a wild thing to say.

[Ian Dark]

But if you go, if you go

[Tim]

back like a season and a half where he scored, I don't know, 20 plus goals and they're like he can easily be, you know what Mo Salah is to or was to Liverpool like Cole Palmer is that to Chelsea. I mean two massive clubs. So like, so it's not far fetched to say he is or has the ability to be the best player in the Premier League. I mean he's shown that, he's shown that. Now can you do that on a consistent basis? So agreed on the big stage he could light it up. He could also disappear. So that's why he's a question mark.

[Ian Dark]

Well not dissimilar from this last one here too. Florian Wirtz who plays at Liverpool, he's had a tough adjustment to the Premier League. He started to find his feet a bit. But if Germany want any chance of being good, he is their star man, he really is and he makes everything go for them and we've all been sort of wanting and waiting for more out of him. Can he put it together? Maybe it's a little easier with Germany than it is with Liverpool and maybe he becomes a breakout star. It's going to be interesting to watch.

[Tim]

Well I think the question mark is you see you, you see the talent, right? Like now is that a rough start to a Liverpool career? I don't think that's unfair to say. But also a lot of the Premier League's different man. It's hard people find people. There's a betting in process. You can't, you don't blame him for that. The price tag was astronomical so of course there comes pressure but he, he's come good recently. You start to see why the price tag was so high. But I, what the take I agree with is I don't think he has that pressure with Germany. Like he's already bedded in. Like he, you know he gets to, he gets into the squad, into the German squad and it's like this is his home. Right.

[Ian Dark]

He feels comfortable.

[Tim]

Yeah. So I think, so I think that we won't see obviously the World cup in and of itself produces anxiety and angst. But like I don't think he'll like I think he, he'll be more sort of free flowing and, and the Florian Virt that you expect to see right from the off. So yeah, question Mark because of the way he started with Liverpool.

[Ian Dark]

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[Tim]

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[Tim]

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[Ian Dark]

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[Tim]

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[Ian Dark]

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[Ian Dark]

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[Tim]

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[Ian Dark]

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[Tim]

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[Ian Dark]

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