World Cup Semi Final and Final Reviewed with Brisbane Football Review

0:00 Foreign. Hello and welcome back to the Aussie football passport. I am joined for the final edition of our World cup specials with Scott and Adam from Brisbane Football Review. How are you, Scott? I'm good, but it is a bit of a bittersweet feeling Taser now the World cup has come to an end. Yeah, it really is. I'm going to have to go and get a life now apparently. So, you know, talk to people outside and things like that, which is going to feel a bit strange, isn't it Adam? I'm sure you're probably feeling the same.

0:43 Yeah. 104 matches done and completed. The global festival football is over. And yeah, look, I'm actually a bit sad that it's over, but in a way, yeah, let's move on to the next. Yeah, yep. And, and this time we've got four years to wait and so the three and a half of course, like we did after Qatar. So that should be interesting. And of course the potential of 64 nations taking part in the next World cup which will be held all over the world. FIFA's global tour. But anyway, we'll save that rant for later. Before we rip into it, Adam, I'll get you to plug your wonderful podcast of Brisbane Football Review.

1:24 Yep, you can find us on Facebook review or Brisbane Football Review on Twix at bnefootball, Instagram and threads. Brisbane Football Review or lowercase. You can drop us an email personfootballreviewmail.com and you can find this show and all of our other shows on podcasting platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Brilliant. Thank you, Adam. And of course, as you are well versed now, Brisbane Football Review is your place to go to find out about all things happening in Queensland football from the Brisbane Raw all the way down to the state leagues here in Queensland. Now before we get into the World cup action that has taken place over the last week, we want to just give you some news on our socceroos and the first transfer domino has fallen. We expect that there'll be a few more and in fact there is a couple to discuss. But let's kick it off with Patrick Beech to tois on a five year deal, meaning we will have another player in the top five leagues in Europe which is fantastic stuff and on the back of a wonderful World cup, don't you think, Adam? For Patrick, very well deserved and we all, we all called it that, that Melbourne City were probably going to be on the hunt for a goalkeeper given the way Patrick beach performed during the World Cup. Full of Socceroos. And look, this is a interesting move. I think we actually all had him probably pegged going to probably New

2:54 York City if, if he was going to stay within the City football group. But move to Troy is probably not a bad thing and again he's got, he's going to get plenty of practice playing against some of the best in the world and that will only increase his skills and hopefully a long stay in there even further for him. So congratulations to him. Just rewards for a very for a breakout tournament at, at the World cup. And we wish him well as we do with all our Aussies. Indeed. And off the bucket some strong performances domestically for Melbourne City here in the A League as well, which is really great to see.

3:35 And of course we did see Matt Ryan go to Londs about a year ago from memory because he went to Levante after that and really revive his career after being in a bit of wilderness before. So it's a great place for young, talented players to develop. We know how many fantastic footballers come from Liga. It's just a production line and you saw it with the French, you know, making a semi final yet again in this World cup and we'll get to that later. But I know Scott, you also wanted to talk about Luka Ivanovich's move to the mls, which is again sound reward for an A League player.

4:15 The one of the joint Golden Boot winners from this season. A good move, do you think? Yeah. Oh, it isn't a bad move for him. Again, he was the A League Golden Boot winner last year. He did really well in that competition. He's done well for the last couple of years and he was one who was primed for a move to either Europe or the mls. He's followed the well trodden path now of young Australian players going to the mls. As we saw with Jake Goodwood. Right. He can use that as a springboard to get to European competition. I'm sure Lucas Harrington won't be too far behind on that as well that it's not a bad move if you can go over there and get some quality, quality experience at that level over there. That's a really good thing. With Patrick beach, it's very interesting. They have two experienced goalkeepers over the age of 30, including one they just signed last year. So I imagine there will be a bit of competition there for him if the initial stages. But it's just great to have players moving from the A League straight to a top five league, isn't it? In terms of the way he has done that We've seen a lot of players go to clubs overseas. He's one of the first who've really gone to clubs in the top five leagues and I, Paul Oon did it last week. Last week as well. And it's nice to see that group of players in the top five leagues really building up now, isn't it, Alex? There's a lot of young players who are coming through at academy level who you can't really talk about and build up at this point in time because you never know what, what they're going to achieve. But to have first team players at top five leagues around Europe, that's how we are going to get better as a football nation. We need more of that to happen and there's some good players we've got overseas who are primed to get there, like a Jordy Boston nester in

5:48 Kunda. But it's so nice to see players like Patrick beach make that move. And one young player who did move, actually I think Adam might be keeping an eye on is Max Anastasio who moved to AC Milan's B team as well. So that's a really nice thing. Good to see more players moving to that level. But we need more of it. Definitely. Yeah. And it's a bit of a throwback, you know, I'm hesitant to make the comparison to that generation from the, the early 2000s, but there's some similarities there in terms of players starting to make those moves. They've just got to make them as successful, we hope, as that generation and as you said rightfully, Scott, that will make the Socceroos such a better team.

6:31 So it's fantastic. We've got Patrick beach there in Liguer. We've got Paul Oak on Angstler. Hopefully this week the, the paperwork will be sorted for his move to Cologne in the Bundesliga. I think we'll have Dylan Leonard at Schalke in the Bundesliga as well. Yes. We'll have Christian Volpato in the Serie A swallow. Well, whether it's at Seswallo or another club, that's to be decided. And of course Ali Chicati as well with Palmer or potentially another club, Villa as well. You shouldn't, we shouldn't forget about him either as well. And Casey Boss I think's on loan this year but he's also contracted at mine, so that's another player at our top five league. So we are building that list and we should also Antonio arena, he is an Aussie. Yes, yes, yes, he is. And he's on the books at Roma So hopefully he can sneak into that side. Of course. Casey Boss, as you mentioned, out on loan, funnily enough, at Excelsior Rotterdam. So there's a potential to play his brother in the Rotterdam Derby in the air of a dizzy this season. So it should be quite spicy that one.

7:35 So mark that one in your calendars. Will the football public of Rotterdam forgive his parents wearing a half half jersey? That would be interesting. That would be very interesting. I'm not too sure of whether that is, yeah, a bit of a taboo or not. So I think the general rule is no half half jerseys and yeah, particularly if it's too rotte and teams right, they might be in some serious trouble there. From what I, from what I little know about Rotterdam, I was, I was there in November last year. Excelsior. I didn't really get much of a sense that anyone really sort of noticed. The big rivalry of course is Faroo and Spartan Rock Dam. So the fact that you.

8:22 We're gonna have a, a Boss brothers derby, there might be one to keep an, keep an eye on. I think, I think it's been a while or if ever Excelsior has actually made it to the area to visit. So. But either way, yeah, pretty good to have two very, very talented Aussies rule Rotterdam. Yes, indeed. It should be quite good. It should be quite good indeed. Now some unfortunate news for a couple of our midfielders and teammates in the MLS for New York City. Aiden o' Neill and Kai Truan both have had ankle surgery, I believe, so they're going to be out of action. We don't have a timeline on that, so that's very unfortunate. But you could probably understand Aidan o' Neill's ankle injury running those long, long distances that he covered for Socceroos over those four matches. Just incredible to think that he might have actually had this injury while that, while he was playing the World cup. Just really I think shows a testament to the man, don't you think, Ganondham? Yeah, look, I know Neil, he is, he is very, very tough. And look he, he would have run all day and then some for the Socceroos and look, it's, it's, it's a shame, but then again it's, it's a bit of time off after another. Yeah. Another player that I think that it's going to get a lot of recognition. I. Look, I do think that if, when he returns, if he has a solid season, mls, I think he may be

9:55 one of the next ones to maybe head towards Europe. I think that it'll Be very hard to ignore him, especially his exploits for the soft bruise in the coming years. Hopefully he's fit for September, Alex, because it's a home game for him in Brisbane. He's never played here in Brisbane as a Queensland kid, so fingers crossed he gets that chance because they don't play here very often, as we know, Alex, so hopefully he can get that chance. Yeah, that'd be lovely to see Aiden strutting his stuff on home turf. And to round out the soccer since there's some rumors of friendly matches being organized against Uruguay in October. And I'll throw this one to you. Hang on, hang on a second. Can you even use. Can you even use the word friendly in Uruguay in the same sentence? Sorry. Yes, you're probably right. Match. Some other. That's some other South American team you're thinking of, Adam. Yeah, yeah. Uruguay, I mean, don't even have the ability to kick lumps out of people. They were that terrible at this World Cup.

10:53 I think most your Haguayans will even agree with me there, so. Oh. Oh, yes. Thank you, though, for picking me up, Adam. But Scott, I'll throw to you on that one. What. What are your thoughts on, you know, another South American outfit that will. A South American nation, I should say, that will play in upcoming windows. I think it'd be terrific. I imagine this would have to be at the Olympic Stadium down there in Sydney just for the. To historical purposes, but that would be a fantastic game, wouldn't it, if we had two games against Brazil and then maybe one or two against Uruguay after that in that elongated September window. It'd be a really nice way for the football Australia to capitalize on the World Cup. The. The growth soccer is. Have made in terms of getting attention around Australia. To have two really big nations like this coming out here and playing will be fantastic. It's good competition as well for our players to see how Tony Pockford uses that building up to the Australia cup, the Asia Cup.

11:48 Sorry, but. Yeah, I'm very much looking forward to that. I hope it is. I hope that's true. I'd love to see Uruguay come back to Australia with their divine right and all the rest of it. Yes. Yeah, I think flying commercial. Yes, yeah, yeah. Making sure that they. They fly commercial. No sheep stations involved in those games. So that. That's. That's not too bad. But yes, I think it's good opportunity for the soccers to develop as well. Of course, we know that terrible record we have against South American nations. So this is a good Opportunity I think to get Uruguay and Brazil probably at, at the most vulnerable times that you'll ever get them. Don't you think, Adam? I do. I absolutely agree with that statement. I think that both Uruguay and Brazil will be rebuilding after what they would believe abject failures for them at, at the World Cup. But again we can't really talk, you know, about in the same breath about where Australia's performances performs at the World Cup. But then again our, the bar of expectation for us is so much lower than those football mad nations. So they would be looking to rebuild and not, not, not a bad, not a bad series for them as well to sort of start the rebuild against a progressive football nation like, like the Soccero. So I think the very interest is. And look, I, I hope we get four sellout crowds.

13:11 Yeah, I think that, I think that the Australian football public hopefully will reward the Socceroos for, you know, for what was a great last couple of weeks and to get out there and support them because this is a, this is a very good team. It could be the start of something big as, as we've said. But over this whole, this whole series you think Sydney, Melbourne, wouldn't you Alex if, well he still be played if it's going to be two games. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Yeah. As you said, I think Sydney is a shoe in with the sort of nostalgia around 2005 there and the World cup playoff and yeah, Melbourne just because Melbourne I guess really do we need to say anymore? Yeah, exactly an hour, an hour flight. So not too, too far. Now Scott, you've just sent through some interesting news there around Harry Sutar and some rumors.

13:57 I know there were rumors that there are a couple of clubs looking at him, the likes of Stoke, Wrexham. So he could even feature on welcome Direct which would help with the Australian viewership even though it is quite strong here. But West Ham look to be sort of in the lead there. So I mean what are your thoughts around that? Well, it's come from a Scottish reporter so that's probably where it's probably back in, you know, Scotland on holiday at the end of the World Cup. So yeah, West Ham apparently made him with their top transfer target, Wrexham, Stoke and Sheffield. I think it'd be great for him. Again I move away from Leicester. It has to happen, doesn't it? They clearly do not value him even if they're in league in the League one. I don't think they're going to play him very often.

14:37 He needs to get out of there for his own sake and a move to a club like West Ham, which will probably be one of the prime contenders to get back to the Premier League. If he can get in there and have a solid year to get them back to the Premier League, it could be a way for him to really emerge as a Premier League defender, which he's got the talent to do. He certainly has got that. It just didn't work out for him previously when he was there. So I moved to a club like West Ham or Rex would be the same situation because they're probably both going to be in that same basket of clubs. They'll be there or thereabouts. So either of those would be a really nice move for him. Yeah, I, I like it. Either of those. The two W teams, I think that's the, the preferred clubs to go to. And let's hope they could suit him, though, with the long ball and all the rest of it from back in the day. We fit, fit into that team. They still play that way. Yeah, well, I, I certainly think Wrexham do. And I guess Nuno doesn't mind playing a bit of that as well, does he? And yes, I know one particular West Ham fan who is a friend of mine who will be very happy if that does happen. So, anyway, I guess we probably should talk about these last four games of the World cup, shouldn't we, gentlemen? So let's start with the semi finals, which were about four or five days ago now. It's all been a bit of a blur.

15:51 And let's start with Spain versus France. And I'll throw it to you, Adam, but I thought Spain were very impressive in this game. I know we talked up France a lot this time last week, but the way Spain just seemed to suffocate France with their press was just incredible to watch, wasn't it, Adam? I think the one thing for all the hype that we had for France and look, it was justified too. Their midfield was found to be very, very fragile and rugby and Petrie in the middle there just absolutely, absolutely served. You nullified that the, the French midfield, which means they cut off the service to tell to that dynamic front four of France led by Killian Mbappe. And look, I think it was a perfect game plan and they, they showed, look, you might say what you want to.

16:44 I, I know in the last show I did say something a bit anomaly about they're traveling to Dallas in to play indoors and whatnot, which look could have been a factor, but at the end of the day, this was a master striker tactical by Luz del Fonte and they're just absolutely just shutting down at midfield. And then Spain were able to take control of the game and really there was only. It was only one contest. Yeah, I really completely agree with your point around the midfield, Adam. I think it was the BBC pundit, Gilhome, I can't think of his surname, but he talked about the idea of the French midfield pretty much ever since 98, how they just sort of have those ball carriers. They don't really do anything too expansive.

17:35 They just sort of play those sort of safe passes. And I think this is again where that idea, they sort of go, oh, okay, we've probably got to change that idea now because they've got talented midfielders there that aren't just athletes or ones that can do that tidying up. They've got really creative players in those positions. Whether someone like an Eduardo Camavinga could have done something a little bit different or offered something a little bit different compared to the profile of central midfielders that they had. Maybe, maybe not. That's, I guess to be debated in French pubs around the world, but I don't know if you saw it differently squad or if there was something that caught your eye in this game.

18:19 I think you're absolutely right. I did say before when we did our last show, I said France had a gear that no one else could reach. Unfortunately, they left that gear on the east coast of the United States and put it completely in reverse because they look nothing like the side we'd seen earlier in the tournament, didn't they? And you're both absolutely right. It was a game one in the midfield. A bit like the final, which we'll get to later on as well. The numerical advantage and the quality of what Spain have in that midfield. I think France have a Spain problem. We saw it. I think they got beaten semi finals of the Euros two years ago. They got beaten in the nations, they got beaten now in the World cup. They have a problem with that. They've got unbelievable attacking talent, but that doesn't make a difference if you can't get the ball to them often enough. And Spain dominated the game through the midfield and that was the big difference. The three on two overload and the way they just moved the ball, just completely threw them. It was, it was just a very much a dominant performance from Spain. And yeah, the opening goal came from a penalty.

19:14 That was a really clear cut penalty. But the goal was coming anyway. The way that Spain were playing and they were very, very impressive in this game. They completely dismantled a very good French side Yeah, definitely. And that's probably the other weak spot, I guess, with the French side. I think that left back spot is a bit of a problem for Luca Ding. I mean he's had a wonderful season with Filler, but I still think he's a little bit susceptible and, and we saw who's gone to psg. Yes, I believe the, I'm not sure if it's official yet, but I believe he is off to psg. So, I mean that's. The Duston Villa fire sale is well and truly on at the moment. You know, Morgan Rogers also heading off for a massive fee, which is just insane. But anywho.

19:59 Yeah, yeah, I, I thought Luca Dean was a bit, a bit susceptible on that left side. Theo Hernandez is probably not much different really. Defensively he's very susceptible. And, and yeah, another, another area of the pitch where Spain pulled them apart really. And that's why they ended up 2 nil. And just a quick shout out to Pedro Poro as well. He looked like he's been coached by a good coach again like a couple of years ago. Just wanted to get that subtle dig in there. Now to the point, by the way, it was a, it was should CR Del Fuente because he has absolutely coached this group perfectly as well and this was a great encapsulation of that. Yeah, definitely an unheralded coach as well.

20:42 Someone especially compared to another coach we're about to talk about. Yes, indeed. So, yeah, that's, that's a perfect segue to the next result. Of course Argentina to England won in the other semi final and yeah, you're right, Scott Thomas Tuchel got that one horrendously wrong, didn't he? He did get it completely wrong. Look, I'm going to start. I'm not a fan of England so I'm not disappointed in the slightest of what happened to them. But if we're looking at it in isolation for 17 minutes, they were definitively the better team. They had the running of the play, they deserved their lead and they, to me, I look, I thought they looked like they were going to go on and make a World cup final, as much as I didn't want to see them do that.

21:25 And then they decided, now we're just going to sit back and park. Not just one bus, but park about four of them. And it was, it was just crazy watching it. You watching them, you're thinking push up, stop sitting back. At one point they had their defensive line not on nearly 18 yard box, on the six yard box. It was just crazy. And look, this Argentina side was probably a bit limited in hindsight, but if you're going to give players like Lionel Messi and company that much space in and around the edge of the area, at some point they're going to put in a good quality ball to, to unlock you. And that's what ended up happening. And, but it was a. A result manufactured by England. I can't believe they were that negative. And they had plenty of players that could have brought on in this game to be a threat going the other way, who could have done it, like players like Pakaya Saka never got involved in the game. You could have put him on to have a threat going forward in the. Just as an option to have a super Argentina to worry about.

22:16 There was nothing for them to worry about. The more the game went on, they just kept bringing on more and more defenders. I know it worked in the azteca for what, 20 minutes or whatever against the side that ran out of ideas. This Argentina side was never going to run out of ideas with Lionel Messi out there. And look, look, we'll talk about Argentina shortly. But for me, England completely bottled this, this was, this was their moment to make a World cup final and they threw it away. Yeah. And, and let's be honest, this is why they brought Thomas Tuchel in after Gareth Southgate. There was that. That whole thing about Gareth South Southgate doing the same thing, playing negative football, playing five at the back, you know, not really making the most of the. The. The attacking talent that England have. And here they are again, exactly the same spot, the. The new boss, same as the old one. It's, you know, it's really, it must be so frustrating for English fans. I mean, like, it's the same stuff over the same thing, isn't it? It's the same as us with Egypt. We sat back as well. Not to that extent, but we sat back as well. So there's a lesson there for Australia as well. Look, yeah, you can, you can think you're out, you can think you're overmatched, but you've got to have a threat going the other way and otherwise that's what happens to you. So I hope if we learn anything out of this World cup as an Australian national team, please let it be that then you can't just sit back and park the bus with nine defenders and try and hang on Brimley because it just doesn't work. England can't do it with all the quality they have at the back. We can't do it either. So we please never do that again. Yeah, well said Scott, really well said.

23:48 Look, I'm going to throw you under the bus now Adam. Try and follow that one up with your thoughts on the Argentina England game. Look, I can't, I can't, I can't disagree with both of you on that. I think you've got something absolutely perfectly. This was a game that England butchered and to Scott's point as well that again it's, this is where sometimes is the, is the coach more worried about, about you know, sue the egos than see the egos than you know than actually trying to win a football game or you know, doing what's best for the team. I absolutely agree with you that at some point while the changes should have been Harry Kane off Bukaya Sacco or Marcus Rashford or someone on have that fast counter attack, especially with Jude Bellingham which, which is a more shot we shot. And we'll talk about the third place playoff game as well. They showed that they had that in the locker that they could play counter attacking football. But why in the biggest game in a decade for England did they absolutely bowl it? And it comes back to Tuchel and again it's, I said yes, it worked in, it worked in Mexico City.

24:57 But you cannot tell me for a second that Mexico, the Mexican attack, you know you're a player like Punanis is not the same player as a Messi or Natara Martinez or Julian Alvarez or any of those players. So I just, it just boggles the mind and you know I, it looks like that the FA at least are going to come out and said yeah to kill two Chelsea for, for the Euros. But look, if I'm a, if I'm a die hard English fan, geez I, I would have been screaming for his head and rightly so too because yeah, it's their football. But look, he's not the only coach, top line coach in this World cup that's actually got the tactics really, really wrong.

25:38 There's some been some absolute howlers for managers across this World cup where you think wow, what I'm thinking, yeah, that's a good point. It has been the World cup for managerial bottle jobs, hasn't it really if you think about it, you've got you know, Bielsa at Uruguay, there's Ancelotti you could probably throw in there as well. I mean there's a few, there's a few other Nagels Nugglesman at Germany as well in Portugal. Yeah, yeah. Martinez is a, is a bottle job specialist. Sold Back into Norway as well. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. Okay.

26:21 Yeah, I. I thought, I thought he got it wrong. And look, I'll, I'll even, I'll even throw Pochettino and, and Popovich in that as well because I think at various times they also got it wrong or just. And then obviously the biggest ball job of all being what we saw happen this morning. Yes. And just before we rip into him, by the way, can we give him credit for what he did in the semi final? Because the way he, the way they went after bringing on Nico Gonzalez and. Yeah. DePaul and Lyle Toro, that was very impressive. The way they went on one the game as bad as England were and we've just given them the appropriate treatment they deserve. We've got to give Argentina credit because they were very impressive in the last 20 minutes. So before we completely rip apart Scaloni in the final, we should give him credit for at least getting him there. That's true. That's true too. And there's one other bottle job of a manager I want to throw under the bus. He's the Korean, the Korean coach.

27:13 Absolutely horrendous and he should be put in jail for what he did to that side. I think the Koreans agreed. Didn't they get when they got home? Yeah, I'm pretty sure they did. Yeah. Yeah. And I think he pretty much lost his job. I can't remember if it was joke. I wouldn't joke about that for you. I actually did hear that apparently that the Korean president is actually ordered in quarry. So he may go to jail. Yeah, he should. He. Honestly, I. I'm not backing down from that statement. I want to make that statement. I feel very strongly about that. And he absolutely ruined their tournament for me. Obviously. Might be volunteering for military service. I was him. Yeah, probably too. Yeah, he might. He might be the first in South Korean to go across the border. Tenuk Korea.

28:00 Yeah. Wouldn't that be a turn of events, wouldn't it? Hi, Kim, how are you? Anyway, yes. So before we get to the final, let's have a chat about the third place game. Because this was just absolute mayhem and yet it was the best game of the tournament in my opinion. Anyway. England 6, France 4. And as you talked about, Scott Buka. Bukayo Saka had an absolutely brilliant game. Where was he at the semifinal? Seriously, the guy scored a hat trick. I know he's battling fitness issues, but seriously, like even 45 minutes, surely you throw him on, you know, like it's. It's just boggles the mind yet again. But, Scott, what. What did you think of this one?

28:43 Well, I. I'm not a big fan of the third place Plath as a concept, although I was reminded of the way that both Belgium and Croatia celebrated it when they finished third in the last two tournaments. So maybe it does have some meaning. But this was a game where you could very much tell, for the most part, neither side really wanted to be there. The French showed up in the first half and they were just walking around, just doing next to nothing, and England just ran right over the top of them. And then in the second half, the French brought back at halftime. They brought the four guys in who they took out, who they gave rotation in this game. And all of a sudden, the intensity of the French sub we've seen throughout the tournament was back. And if we'd had that in the first half, it would have been an unbelievable game. But unfortunately it was. It was a high scoring game. But look, it's a nice showcase and all the rest of some nice goals, but the intensity just wasn't there.

29:30 And I get it because the fact it's the end of a incredibly long season for these guys have been over 12 months since I last had a break. If you count preseason, I understand it, but there was just no intensity. It's hard to analyze it because there were times where it looked like in the first half, France look like they weren't really into it. Second half, England look like they weren't really into it. I think England deserve to win the game. They were the more consistent side over the 90 minutes, so their best results since 1966. Saka was very good in the games, no question about that. And I think it would have been nice to see Kane or Bellingham involved more than what they were, because it could have been interesting to see the way that. The way that England were playing, the way France were playing. Kane could have had four goals on his own and got the golden boot. So for that case, it was a bit of a missed opportunity, but it was a game where, look, it happened. I'm not a big fan. It's the first time I actually sat down and watched the. The place game. And I only did it because I woke up early enough to do so on the Sunday. I normally give this game a miss. And it was. It was entertaining. I'll give it that. It wasn't my cup of tea, but it was entertaining. Yeah, look, it's probably not one for the purists, but it. It was a. It was a game nonetheless that that showed maybe what can be done when you're not so hell bent on parking the bus and so nervy and, and trying not to bottle it and end up following? It was telling that they came out on the front foot in the first five minutes, wasn't it?

30:54 Like that A point to proof. Yeah, yeah, I, I, yeah, I think England did sort of want to stick it up a few people and it certainly showed in, in their performance, particularly in that first half. And Adam, what, what did you think if there's anything in particular that stood out for you in this game? Look, this, this game would like, I know for football purists like us, we hated it. It was killed if it come down to it. But I tell you what, for the casuals, for the American audience, especially those that crap on about, oh, new all ties and all that. Well, didn't, didn't these two teams show them? And this was like a headed about to what, like a 49, 42 scoreline in the NFL game. This is just, it was just the fence was optional almost, but it was a lot of fun to watch and I, I, my personal story is that I was very upset when Jude Bellingham was going to step up and take the penalty.

31:53 Yeah. And then Bukaya Saka got end up scoring to the hat trick that, that would have cost me 200 bucks responsibly and but then Jude Bellingham scores that breakaway goal for the sixth goal and boy did I celebrate that. So look, look, at the end it was a bit of fun again, I think the crowd were entertained but look, it's one that will remember for more. So as sort of a nostalgia actor and sort of off the fish rather than sort of a great guy football because look, it wasn't that great and it was two sides that clearly were playing in exhibition mode. Yeah, I think that's pretty fair to say, to be honest. And we're going to remember it. We've already forgotten most of it, to be honest with you.

32:42 Yes. Yeah, we shall see. I'm sure England will remind us that they can third at this World cup in the future when they don't make it this far ever again. Anywho, now to the final and well, Spain are our world champions in the men's and the women's game. So the first time that that's happened in football history, which is kind of cool, but yes, Spain 1 nil over Argentina in extra time. Ferran Torres almost called him Fernando Torres G the Liverpool heart. And he was strong, isn't it? Yeah, it is. Yeah. Even though He's a complete Judas. But anyway, yes, Ferran Torres with the goal in extra time there. Fantastic result, Football one.

33:31 But Adam, shall I start with you and your thoughts on this one? Because, gee whiz, this was very interesting game. I got a question. Did Argentina show up to play football? They show up to try and get the penalties or like I said, it just is for a team with probably one of the greatest will go down. One of the greatest players in football history to this point, and a couple of very handy players as well. To be held to no shots on goal for 107 minutes is incredible to me. I just do not know tactically what was going through their heads. Look, Spain were good, don't get me wrong about that. Look, defensively.

34:18 And another player that we sort of don't seem to give players, and we don't seem to give enough credit to this in this World cup was the center half pairing Laporte and Kubasi as well for Spain, they've been Devon lights out as much as Rodri in front of them, who is probably a very deserving Golden Ball winner. But again, that doesn't sell the amount of creativity that it should be in that team. The fact that they get only two shots on goal. And on the other hand, Spain, 20 shots on goal, 12 on target. Look, I really, it really begged the difference did only one team turn up to actually play football and win this game? Because I just do not know for life of me what were Argentine thinking going into this final, how they prepared. And as I said, Spain were good, but they weren't that good. Yeah, well, I mean, Argentina looked at. They didn't. I mean, we got a preview in the semi final. You know, they. They were more interested in brawling with people, weren't they? As they did after the whistle as well. But we'll get to that later on. So I, I don't know.

35:24 I think it's probably a sign of this Argentinian side. I think they realize that they don't have the legs anymore. It's an older generation of players. Let's. Let's be honest here, gentlemen. I mean, you know, Lisandro Martinez goes off with an injury and you bring on Nico Otamendi and he's what, you know, mid-30s, that they knew they were in trouble and they knew that they had to unsettle Spain from, from my point of view, now that I've had a, you know, sort of over 12 hours to, to think about this now, and I think that's. That's really what it was. And I think Scott, you, you probably have some similar thoughts around that. Yeah, they're an aging side. Argentina at the end of what's been a historic runner.

36:05 We should give them credit for what they have been over the last eight years. As a international side they have been one of the best sides. They won a World cup. But the majority of these players are now very much at the end. And I said this to Adam actually over the weekend that Argentina had a problem in this game before kickoff and that was the fact that defensively they defend with nine, nine outfield players. Because as great as Lionel Messi is and you have to have him in the lineup, he just does not do the defensive work. And in addition to that, he doesn't do the defensive work. You had the same problem that France had. You were overmatched numbers wise in midfield and Spain just played through them for fun for the entirety of this game. This was as one sided of a final as I can actually remember. Normally both sides in a final will have moments. Think back to four years ago. That was an unbelievable game. France going one way, Argentina, Diablo. It was brilliant. This was just a one sided game.

36:54 There was very few times Argentina got the ball in the front then you thought they were going to do anything until the last 10 minutes where they just threw everything at it. It was so one sided that Spain just had so much of the ball. I thought they were although really wasteful as well. Spain, they should have put this game away inside 90 minutes and it was only the, the heroic defending of Argentina and the say some Emmy Martinez that kept them alive. They were defending bravely but at some point that was always going to run out. And Argentina, they ran out of legs, they ran out of ideas as well. They weren't set up to compete with Spain. That lineup they put out there, the way in that 4, 4, 2 with the two wide midfielders, they just didn't have enough in midfield to be able to compete with that, that Spain side to get on the ball, to get Lionel Messi to do anything. That's the quietest game I've ever seen him have. He didn't have much of an involvement. You had to play because it's his last game and he was the real ticket to get you a second World Cup. But it just that the setup was never going to work.

37:54 The way that Spain play, once they got hold of the game there was only going to be one winner and the way they play, I enjoy watching so I'm very glad they're able to do that, but that's as one side as we've seen a final in a very long time. Alex. Yeah, I think Peter Drury summed it up pretty well in that call. I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was something along the lines of this is the most dominant performance and yet the margins are still so small. And you know, Peter Drury, I think my personal favorite commentator, he just nails it with things like that. And you know, that comes from many a year of watching football as Peter has. And he sums up the situations in games so eloquently. I just wanted to continue on your point. Scott, too. Around the Argentine midfield, if you look at it really, Enzo Fernandez is the only one with a bit of legs there. The rest, you know, Leandro paredes and Rodrigo DePaul both the wrong side of 30.

38:50 And you know, yeah, they're both 22, McAllister's 27, but he doesn't have the legs, as you know, as a Liverpool fan. Yes, yeah, he, he has no pace whatsoever, I can, I can rest assure you. And yeah, I mean he, he's only really turned up for eight games so far this year, this season. So let's, let's make that clear and, and arguably only seven because, I mean, this game. Did he really show up? I don't think so. It's more of a hack back to his Liverpool form. But I guess for, for you, Adam, you know, this is, I think there, there was another stat I saw floating around that, you know, Argentina, no shots on target. And it's the third time that the team has done this in a final. All three times have been Argentina. So where, where to from here for Argentina? Look, I, I actually fear for Argentinian football sp being sort of, you know, that they look, look, I agree. Scott made a very, very good point before about, look, you can't, no matter our feelings about Argent, the way they play the football, everything that surrounds that they have been, they have been very, very good for, for probably for two cycles now, building up especially, you know, through the World cup in Qatar as well. I know we got a very, very good look at them as Australians as well, twice actually.

40:12 And, but again, this is a, this is a shell, this is a team that I think is at the end of their, their window. I, I, I look at this team at the moment and the big problem was that it's almost, yes, having probably the best player in the world in Lionel Messi in that side is a blessing and a curse because it's a, and it's, it's history repeating itself as well. Yeah, I'm not sure you boys old enough to remember. Even I can barely remember as well. Argentina after Diego Maradona was the same where because there was no wide character, because Maradona was such a cultured personality that there was not really the next one coming through. And this is. And they've allowed it to happen again, Lionel Messi, where you really cannot see who the heir apparent in that team is. Look, maybe it's during the Elephants. I don't know. It doesn't seem to me you look at young players as well and this sort of little statistics factoids that I sort of picked up that, you know, the. The next two highest rate young players in the world under 24 years old are Thiago Armada and Alejandro Gamacho. And I know Scott is about to absolutely crack because.

41:26 Yeah, but you. But then, but then one of those can play football. The other is a bit of a space waster. But you. But then you look at the, the other. You look at the other three teams in the semifinals as well. Spain, Lamina Mal, Paul Kubasi, Pedri. Yo. They're Both all under 24. You know that they're going to be a big factor in 2030. You even look at France, you know, Warren, Zaya, Emery. That's not to mention you've also got, you know, Desire Douay and, and you know, and a number of other players, you know, Jude Bellingham for England and yeah, you could probably throw in a number of other players as well. They got to be the linchpins of that side. I don't see that with Argentina, so I think they need to draw what lasts I it. Even. Even Brazil have got, you know, an endrick and a. And a rayon coming through as well.

42:15 And I know Brazil are even there even that confident that those who can really support pull it up. So it's a. It could be a very interesting time where the, the dynasty of this Argentinian sort of football team, I think it's come to a close and there's something really major changes with them. And look, I think that's the immediate ushering at the door of Lionel Messi. He's been the greatest since Maradona, but it's time for him to move on for the sake of Argentinian footballers. And I know there's probably a lot of Argentinians that probably now, you know, probably hate me for saying that, but look, if you care about your. Your team, that's probably what needs to happen. I think he's probably outside his welcome, probably two years too long. And I think that the national team is going to suffer for it because of it. I think it's suffered to this point. I think it will suffer if he continues on. Because we saw today, Alex, what happens when you're trying to carry a player defensively in the biggest of moments. Like, he could get Argentina to the next World cup, he could get them through the. The group stage in the early knockout rounds, but we saw this tournament, he didn't have the. The ability to defend at the front, and that was lacking for them in this game here today. And again, I don't think they get any better in four years. So been unbelievable to Adam's point. But this is the right time for him to step aside. A number of his teammates as well, guys like DePaul and Parades, who we'll get to in a minute, and guys like Otomendi and many of the other players who've led this team in the last eight years, and even Scaloney. Probably time for him to go and test himself in club football in Europe somewhere because he's got a great resume behind him. So I feel like this is the end of this Argentina sub. Whereas to

43:48 Adam's point, Spain, England, France, etc look like they've got more to give in terms of what they have. So this is the beginning of the end for this Argentinian group. It's been amazing, but unfortunately all things come to an end. And for the great Messi, it's a situation. You got the three finals, you could unfortunately only win one, but that's the one that he'll always be remembered for. Exactly. And it puts him in the conversation, of course, as one of the best of all time. And it's hard to dispute that because he did win a World cup, whereas certain someone else didn't. So, yes, I mean that. Anyway, that's a whole other story. There is one Argentinian player that I do want to talk about that is highly rated, Nico Paz. Now this, this young man is playing at Como, so he has Fabregas as a coach. A lot of big grabs on him. I think he only got very few minutes in this game, is in this game, in this World Cup. I think he's 20, 21. Lot of big raps on him. So where, you know, again, it's always difficult, but the main issue I think Argentina have is because they've built completely around Messi. Yeah.

44:52 And now Messi is. Well, let's be honest, he's over the hill and he's done how do you. How do you put a football team together that doesn't have Messi striker at Madrid as well? Like the lot. Is it master Antonio or something? Master, yeah. I think he's another. I feel like he could be a part of his slim as well. Yeah. So there are players there but again it's, you can't, I don't. It's always dangerous that you build around one player. I know that mess is a once in a generation talent, once in a even more sort of talent, but that's the danger. So you know, hopefully with a couple of these young lads they can come through and, and you know, divvy up the workload, so to speak, and make it a more pertain performance.

45:36 Because that's ultimately what Spain did. They showed the way that modern football and football should be played. It's a team sport at the end of the day and it's, it should be a collective and you should all be buying into the coaches ideas and, and that's what Spain did. But let's go on to the dark arts of Argentina and I mean look, it's, it was pretty disgraceful, let's be honest, wasn't it Scott? I mean I, I, I just, it was, I'm really disappointed. I, I thought Argentina, maybe I was a bit naive, I thought they were better than that. But they were, they were horrendous. We've given Argentina credit for what they've been over the last eight years. Now let's assess what they did today because they didn't play much football at all. They were very much there to try and get under the skin of the Spanish side.

46:19 And before we tear into Argentina, credit to Spank, they never bought into any of it the entirety of the game. They were just going about their business, ignoring the Argentinian tactics which were to try and get under the skin a lot of physicality from them, a lot of leaving a foot in or a shoulder or whatever it might be. It was very much a physical situation. Enzo thoroughly deserved his red card for that challenge. He sent the guy into a somersault. That's a pretty clear yellow card. So that's a hard to argue that one. I know he tried to argue it, but really that was clear as dam. Some of the other guys could have been sent off as well, including Brady's. When he came on at halftime, he was more interested in kicking people on the ball. So that was clearly the focus for Argentina. They were using all the tricks of the trade that they've got. We know they are the masters of the dark arts, not just in this tournament, but in tournaments prior as well. And all that stuff caught up with them today because once you strip away all of that, what have you got? And they didn't have enough out there and there was too much that today from them. And it was very disappointing to see a great nation like Argentina resort to that as their almost sole weapon in this game. So they didn't have much else. It was very disappointing to see the game descending into that from their perspective. And I was glad Spain didn't allow themselves to engage in it and they just played their football to lose.

47:31 One side out there was trying to play football because I don't think Argentina tried to play too much of it. No, they were trying to play a bit like lust Pumas, I think a bit of rugby union out there from, from what I could see. So. And then, yeah, I mean even the, the off field stuff after the game, Adam, I think it was disgraceful. I saw Molina sort of doing a half coat hanger to one of the Spanish players. We saw it was a. Our friend Paredes taking on Gavi as well. Was that. That was the one you wanted to talk about, Adam, I believe. Yeah, I think after full time as well. Look, I don't know if Gabby gave. Gave him a God gave paraded golf ball. That's how he's reacted. But still you try.

48:18 So if you're punching and choking, all that's just unbecoming of a football, that looking. And look, he did get shown a red card after, after the, the whistle. So we'll. We'll see. We'll see. It should be a long ban, but it looks like. To be honest, I don't think at this point it's either a factor. I probably think he's done as a international footballer anyway. He can just go, he can go around, be a thug of Boca Juniors for the rest of his time. It's, you know, outside had a mind almost. But look, yeah, it's. Look, I agree that it's just, it's disappointing but, but also in a way, Argentina, they. It just, it just devolved for them and it's a sort of sh. Even. Even the sort of class of stuff like turning their back on the presentation. I think what I said to you boys before the, before, before we started recording as well. Look, how, how would they feel that, you know, France did that to them four years ago in Qatar and. Or three and a half years ago.

49:18 And again, I, I look, I know that. Disappointed. I get that. But that's that is the ultra side of disrespect. When you just turn your back on them, I'm sure there'll be some spin saying that, oh, they'll celebrate with the fans, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But, you know, come on, you know, don't, don't try to code at any word. And to. The funniest thing is, is that maybe we talk. Talk generalized terms. This is probably not the most egregious thing that actually happened on this day during the, during the final. I think that there's a. I think there's a lot to unpack this whole final. And for the only the bright spark was Spain play football, which I don't know what is about Spain this second World cup final.

49:58 And they seem, they seem to attract teams that, that all they want to do is kick and kick and not play. Because I, I think that we saw similar this deja vu to Johannesburg in 2010. Oh, my Lord, Adam, you're so true. But Scott, I'll throw it to you because you were red hot on wanting to join the conversation here. I was just going to add. The parallels between Spain's two World Cups are uncanny, aren't they? They drop points in the first game of the group, then they cruise through from that point on with their football doing the talking. Adam's point. Yeah. Johnny Heitiger kicking everything in sight in Johannesburg. And now we've got Enzo Hernandez sending players doing somersaults. So they are very similar to the way the two games are played. And I agree, by the way, the stuff after the game was absolutely disgraceful. There's a, There's a way to lose. I understand it's a World cup final and it must hurt to lose a game of that magnitude, but there's a way to lose.

50:52 You have to show a bit of humility. And at least, even, even if you're just shaking their hand and moving on, just. There's a way to lose in Argentina, unfortunately, they didn't play very well in the game and they weren't much better after the game, were they? No, they weren't. And I just want to also draw people's attention to that wonderful bit of karate that Nigel Diong executed on Xabi Alonso in 2000. My bad. Apologies. No, no, you're right. No, I think I did get shown red. Yeah, he. Yeah, high Tinger was kicking everything. You're right. But it just wasn't the most famous kick from that game, that's all. I just, I, I just want to put that image in people's minds out there because it's absolutely fantastic. And if you haven't seen it, seen it, do yourself a favor and get on Google and, and check that out. But that's, I think that might be a good, good spot to leave it with the Nigel Diong fly kick to Xabi Alonso. What do you reckon, gents? I mean, it's been a pleasure doing this with you over the last four or five weeks and I am going to miss it.

51:50 I am going to miss the World Cup. I'm going to have to get a hobby or something and I don't know, it's. It's going to be weird, but. Okay, we'll have to do it. So. All the best, Scott. I mean, you've got plenty to do with MPL coverage, so I'm sure that'll keep you. Thanks for the reminder of that. Frontier got plenty to do in that case. Also with the national teams, we have the soccer is coming up in September, but also the Asia cup coming up in six months as well. And the, the road to 2030 begins today. The World cup final descended, what, 12 hours ago, give or take. And now the long road to 2030 in the. The centenary edition of the World Cup. It begins now. And there's a lot of things happen between now and then and bring it on. I'm looking forward to that World cup in a. I would like it to be a bit sooner because it's. You always miss it when it's gone, don't you? You get yourself into that rhythm of watching all the games and once it's gone, you got to figure out what you were doing six weeks ago to try and fill that timing game. But it has been a lot of fun doing these World cup shows. Would be nice for Australia to go a little bit further, but it's been fun nevertheless, Alex. Yeah, that's right. We made the knockout stages, which was the main thing. I think it's a pass mark. But yeah, it feels like we could have done better. You're 100, right?

52:55 And I'm sure you agree, Adam. Yeah, look, I do, yeah. And again, it's actually been, it's been a lot of fun that I know, especially Scott and I actually jumping on actually talking about stuff that we don't normally talk about. You know, we don't normally get to have free shots at, you know, every, every country in the world. You know, obviously we, we're very Queensland focused or socceroos focused or, or, or so or such. So, yeah, there's actually been a lot of fun to talk about the world game and talk about the brightest stars in the, in the world of football. But look, also let's, let's not forget as well that we are only just under a year away from the Women's World cup as well. So the Matilda's, that could be a very, very interesting road as well.

53:41 So that. But look, at least in the meantime, Socceroos against Brazil in, in September. That should be a lot of fun. Yeah, it should indeed. Two very interesting trajectories both countries are on. Brazil on the slide, Australia hopefully on the up. Also just want to make mention that we do have under 17 women's and under 17 men's World cup coming up later in the year, which I'll look to cover as well. So I might need to enlist you gentlemen to help me out with that in the future. But we can discuss that off air and we will let the good people go. Thank you very much for listening. Really appreciate you. I hope you've enjoyed listening to these rambles on world football, the Socceroos and the World Cup. I can't wait.

54:30 We'll pencil it in for four years time, hey gentlemen. Sounds like a plan. Ciao. Brilliant. Thank you very much, Scott and Adam. Really appreciate it. All right, that's it for the last of The World Cup 2026 review shows with the Aussie football passport and Brisbane football review. Thank you once again for listening and goodbye