Football Daily - England end perfect qualifying campaign as Republic of Ireland make the play-offs

Episode Date: November 16, 2025

England wrapped up a perfect World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win against Albania. Victory in Tirana made it 8 wins from 8, with 22 goals scored and none conceded. Alistair Bruce-Ball is joined by former England defenders Stephen Warnock and Conor Coady for reaction to that match and to assess the key questions that lie ahead for Thomas Tuchel.We hear from the England head coach, captain Harry Kane, and Dean Henderson.There’s also reaction to an incredible comeback from the Republic of Ireland, they booked themselves a play-off spot for the World Cup with a 3-2 win in Hungary. The Irish Independent’s Dan McDonnell joins us to discuss Troy Parrott’s hattrick and the emotional scenes at the fulltime whistle.Timecodes: 01:24 – Albania 0-2 England 05:00 – The importance of Harry Kane 08:01 – Harry Kane Interview 12:13 – Who should be England’s 10? 13:07 – Thomas Tuchel Interview 18:50 – MID 19:03 – Dean Henderson Interview 27:29 – Republic of Ireland book a play-off spot

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space, and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. This is the Football Daily podcast with Alastair Bruce Ball. Welcome to the Football Daily in the World Cup qualifiers. England have made it eight wins out of eight. They've won 2-0 away to Albania.

Harry Kane scored both the goals. That is 78 international goals for him. The other game in the group has seen Serbia beat Latvia by two goals to one, but Albania already had the runners-up spot sewn up. So they go into the playoffs. Republic of Ireland into the playoffs with their 3-2 win away to Hungary. Portugal have qualified for the World Cup emphatically today. Bruno Fernandez and Jewell Neves both scored hat tricks in Portugal's 9-1 win against Armenia.

France won 3-1 away to Azerbaijan and Ukraine into the playoffs. They have beaten Iceland by two goals to nil. So let's start in Tirana. England have finished that World Cup qualifying campaign with a 100% record, a 2-0 win away to Albania, scoring 22 goals and conceding none. The former England defenders Connor Codi and Stephen Warnock are with. Stephen is out there in Tehrana. In fact, from you both chaps,

just in terms of the qualification campaign as a whole, Stephen, how difficult is that to do what England have done, what they've achieved there? Eight wins out of eight haven't conceded a goal and have dealt with some relatively difficult situations at times with comparative comfort. Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? When you see the games and you see who the teams are,

they're up against everyone and go, well, yeah, they'll qualify from that. But to do it in such a manner, looking so solid defensively, then looking creative from the front, then looking like they're in control of most games or near enough every game for, I'd say, 80% of the games. I think that is credit to the manager and what he's created in such a short space of the time. I think it's night and day to what the last squads were,

and that's no disrespect to what they were like, but I just feel like there's more control, more dominance in game, more understanding of how to see games out, how to be more comfortable in defence and that's down to the manager. Yeah, Connor, what's impressed you most about Thomas Tugall's England? Yeah, the biggest thing, Ali, and the biggest thing for me is we're talking about keeping clean sheets, which is hard, listen, it's tough to do. It's tough to do. But we're talking about when he's changing players as well.

We've seen numerous players coming and play in the back four, whether it be tonight with O'Reilly, Dan Bairn coming in, John Stones, obviously Kwanza coming in at right back. We've seen Lewis Skelly there. We've seen Jed Spence there. We've seen Geh there. We're seeing Conza there. We're seeing Reese James. So these are all players who are keeping clean sheets. And again, it goes back to the environment

that the manager is creating that every player is competing for a place of that World Cup. And every player knows. So, for example, the two lads who play at Centreback tonight in terms of Stones and Byrne, if Byrne comes in and concedes a goal, same with Henderson,

it'll be absolutely distraught, knowing full well that before the adding conceded a goal. So I think it's full credit to the environment he's creating. He speaks about it all the time, about competition. All these lads within this group are competing.

And that's the biggest thing for me that you all want that place at the World Cup. Yeah, he made seven changes tonight, Stephen. There's a flexibility there, and so there should be with the quality of players that England have. How do you think that the system worked this evening? Loved it. Absolutely loved it because it kept Albania guessing

and wondering how to break England down. I think they adapted it in the second half, England, because Albania then decided to go long. But that's the perfect practice session for England to know what they're going to go up against, what the oppositions might do if they're pressing them high, then how do you counteract that? If you are pushing John Stones into that midfield area, it does leave you a little bit light at the back. Can the back players deal with that?

Do they understand the when to push John Stones into that midfield or to bring a player back in just alongside them? And it was evident down in front of us, the information that Thomas Tuchel is given the back line constantly throughout the game, information like good old. bad and it's just those little points continually just cementing exactly what he's trying to get across to the players. I thought the formation was brilliant tonight. I really do. Connor? Yeah, I think Stephen's exactly right. And I think this is a big factor alley in terms of why they brought Thomas Tuchel to the club in terms of the country and managing the national team because what he's done at club level in terms of being adaptable, being able to change

formation. We've seen first half and Stephen mentioned it there in terms of John Stone going into the middle. Second half, John Stone's day. back and O'Reilly goes into the middle to make the box. So I think he's adaptable in terms of what he wants to do. He trusts the players to be able to do it. He has an unbelievable wealth of talent at his disposal. He really has in terms the players coming in and they all play in different ways

and I think he's the manager to really get this out of the players and take us to a different level when it comes to that situation as well. Let's tackle some of the key issues then, and not only from tonight's game but obviously the qualification campaign is over, friendly still to come ahead of the World Cup next summer.

We'll start with Harry Kane. Connor, you've been in squads with him. You know, you've trained with him, you've played for England with him. Eight goals in eight qualifiers in this campaign. Just seen here, he's surpassed Pele's international goal scoring record. I mean, that is quite something to be able to say. So Pele 77 in 92, Kane has 78 in 112 international games. And at some point this afternoon, we were sort of talking about, right, what do England do if Kane isn't there? Was this an opportunity to try something out? but if he's fit in whatever game, he plays.

Yeah, and of course he does. Of course he doesn't. I don't want to think of England without how he came. I really don't. He's everything to this team. He was everything to the team when I was there. What he was like as a captain, as a player, the way he demanded. I remember after the last camp when Thomas 2 could come out

and he said the first person to speak was hiring, he said, right, everybody turns up to the next camp. And we see it even with players who were injured, they're turning up and then doing the bits and bobs, the staying in meetings, they're listening to the manager. And then they're going back to the clubs even if they're injured. So what he brings to this team, team is unbelievable and his record. I think that was his 78th goal tonight as you just

mentioned, Ali. And I think it was John mentioned on commentary about the 14th time he scored two or more. It's just ridiculous. The way he keeps on producing these numbers is unbelievable. And it's credit to him, by the way. He's the first on the training pitch. He's the last off the training pitch, the way he works for his teammates. And he deserves everything he's getting. So, Ali, my answer to that question, I don't want to see this England team without him. We need to keep him fit as much as we can because he's our biggest hope going into next year. That's true, Stephen. And, you know, and Thomas Tuckold. well knows that but obviously as the manager

you do have to think of backup options so if Harry Kane was injured what would you do who is the best backup to Harry Kane at the moment do England change system or do you put someone in to try and play like Kane does I think he'd alter the system ever so slightly to adapt I think what he's done is he's built this team around

Harry Kane to get the best out of Harry Kane because what he knows is he's got one of the best scorers in world football so why wouldn't you play to Harry's strengths And I think having worked with Harry Kane before at Bayern Munich, he understands the best way to get the best out of Harry Kane. So if you do lose him, then you might have to alter things ever so slightly to make sure that your winger score you more goals, to be more central in positions. You might, it was interesting last night in the press conference. Someone said to Thomas Tuchel, you don't have any other strikers in the squad? And he said, don't I?

He feels that there's obviously strikers within this squad, whereas we're all along. looking at them as wingers. So he believes there's other players who can play that position and do what Harry Kane does to a certain degree, but the first goal, everyone would say in World Football,

I can score that goal where you can't because you haven't got the instinct to be there in the first place. That's not, that's a knack, that's an understanding of where the ball might just fall.

Me and Connor wouldn't do that. We'd be caught on our heels. Cheers, Steve. Nice one, mate. I've seen you, mate. No, but we wouldn't, would we? And that's the difference. Perfect timing.

because John Murray is now speaking to the England captain, Harry Kane. Yes, it is Harry Kane, the England captain. Harry, yet again, you've led England from the front in this match and all the way through this amazing World Cup qualifying campaign. Yeah, what a great way to finish, you know. First and foremost, to win eight out of eight to score, I think 22 goals, conceding zero. It's just credit to all the boys.

The lads who have been part of every squad so far. It was nice to finish in the way we did today, obviously from a personal point of view, really happy to get another couple goals for the national team and help the boys out. But it was a tough game, a lot of hard work from everyone, and in the end it was a deserved win. Yeah, and you know, quite a lot of different things to look at tonight with the changes that Thomas Tuchel made. Yeah, absolutely. I think it was another night where, you know, we needed the guys off the bench to come on and make an impact, and that's exactly what they've done. It was a scrappy game, you know, for probably 60 minutes, it was tough, it was physical, it was hard to break them down. But we just said, you know, be patient.

They're going to get tired as the game goes on. They was running so much, especially in the first half. And that's kind of what happened. The guys come off the bench, fresh legs, made an impact. Obviously, B, with the corner, Rashi with the cross for the second goal. And that's what we're going to need. We're going to need every player to come on and do their part if we want to be successful next summer. You took a little time coming out of the dressing room there, obviously with this campaign done.

What was said there, who was speaking? Did you have a few words again? No, I think Thomas took the stage. You know, he just wanted to say how proud he was of us and everyone involved, the players, the staff. It's been incredible, especially the last few camps, have been really incredible to be a part of. And to finish in the manner that we did, you know, he's really excited. I think he's sad that he's not going to see us now for four or five months. He wish there was another camp next month for sure.

But, yeah, it's, you know, we're all part of the team. We're all part of this feeling together. And he's a big part of that. So, yeah, I left it to him. I gave Jarrell his legacy cap and he was extremely proud and I thought he done fantastic on his debut tonight. And Harry, finally, I mean, I guess you must be aware that every England supporter will be desperately hoping

that England sees the best of you, the best version of you at the World Cup and you're in the kind of form that you are now. You must be only too aware of that. Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, if you're going to be successful in the tournament, you need your best players playing at the highest level. And, you know, we've been really close to.

in recent years, you know, I'll go into every summer with the expectation to try and help lead the team, to try and be the one to score the goals. But I think the big thing about this team, especially, we have different impact from all over the pitch. And from my point of view, I just have to keep doing what I'm doing.

You know, there's a long way from now until the World Cup, but you know, I take as much care of I can as I can of my body and I'll be no different, you know, hopefully you can get a bit lucky, avoid any injuries and then just go full throttle into next summer. Well, for goodness sake, take care.

Well done. Thank you. Harry Kane. John Murray is speaking for lots of England fans. I think there, 78 international goals for Harry Kane. He scored both in the 2-0 win against Albania. It's interesting that last question, though, Connor, the point John is making there about England fans sort of crossing fingers and praying that Harry Kane is in his best form and best fitness. Because I think back to the last major tournament,

England made the final loss to Spain. Harry Kane took no end of stick during that tournament. from, I mean, you know, I'm not saying from, I mean, certainly not from teammates or anything like that, but in terms of his performance, when he probably wasn't actually fully fit going into that tournament. No, of course, of course, but he'll know.

He knows what's at stake. He knows as well, by the way. He's not getting any younger. He's 32 years of age, so he wants to make sure he goes into next summer really fine. And listen, who are we to say anything different about Hurricane? What I can tell you is, the best professional I've ever seen. I've been lucky enough to share a dressing room with him.

I play for England with him, right people around him looking after him. He invests a lot of time in making sure people look after his body for him and he makes sure he's in the best possible condition going into next summer. And like I said, a big part of him will be thinking going into next year how many of these have I got left and listen, he can play to whatever he wants to play. But he'll know going into next year how big it is for him, how big it is for the country and that he's a massive factor in that as well.

Johnny has got in touch on the social says, still struggling to see what Jude Bellingham offers that Morgan Rogers doesn't. Gives the ball away too often, sometimes selfish an attack, I'm more worried about throwing himself to the ground rather than trying to keep a move going. Andy says Jude may be capable of brilliance at times, but he has been sloppy in possession tonight. That is a tricky one, isn't it?

Stephen, picking a first choice number 10 from the players that Thomas Tuchel has got. Yeah, but I think we've got the manager to choose him. I think we've got the right manager to choose that position and not go on a name, but go on what is right for this team. I think he's got a great headache because we've got some great number 10s who can play that position.

But I think it's Morgan Rogers's shirt at this moment in time. However, when you've got Cole Palmer to come back in, big decision. I'm going to have to jump in again. John Murray is now with the England head coach, Thomas Tuchel. Yes, here he is standing in front of me. Thomas, you were able to complete the job, eight out of eight, clean sheets in all eight. Can't be much more satisfying than that. No, cannot be. I cannot believe that I see all of them only in. March is a tough one for me to swallow I have to say I love to be on the sideline

I just told them I love to compete with them to push them yeah this will be a long long period now without these guys they did amazing the investment again from all our players full credit to them and we're very proud I think you've wrestled with this team selection didn't you tonight but you must have got more or less what you were wanting. Yeah. We had a lot of changes. I'm sometimes a bit worried that a lot of changes is maybe not fair to the ones who play because then you miss a core of players who know and who are used to play with each other, but everyone did well. And yeah, you could see that we had a high quality bench to turn things around and to influence things. So why not?

Listen, it's not revolutionary to talk about. You need Harry in this sort of form two goals tonight top scorer in the campaign I think it's nine goals he scored under you what can you say and he runs back and then helps us help the clean sheet

the work at the moment the shape the attitude is just outstanding I have almost no words he's so invested in everything what we do as a leader and speaks for itself but absolutely

crucial can't do without him if we have to we can we we will find solutions but at the moment is not a question can i just ask you as well about jude bellingham and i don't want to make too much of this but you've talked to so much about how behavior is so important and he was clearly unhappy that you were taking him off for what seemed like an obvious reason yeah of course and he has to accept it and he has accepted and we should not make more out of it than it is but You know, Morgan Rogers was for sure not happy when he couldn't start today because he deserves to play for us and he wants to play all the time. So we gave him a bit of a rest because he came with a lot, a lot of minutes in club

and then played for us against Serbia. So, yeah, I also don't want to make more out of it. But, yeah, I stick to my words, behavior is key. Behavior towards respect, towards the teammates who come in and decisions are made and then you have to accept it as a player. So there we are. I bet you can't wait for the World Cup draw. Yeah, true.

Good feeling now to go. Lovely. Thanks Thomas. Yes, World Cup draw. Friday, December 5th. John will be there and you will hear it all on Five Live and BBC sounds. Thomas Tuchel just talking about Jude Bellingham the moment he got taken off late in the game

and said, you know, he has to accept it. To be fair, there was a flash there, Stephen, where he was clearly annoyed and that's what you want to see in, in all your players, but he did accept it, didn't he? He did.

Yeah, I think there was an element where he was thinking, how do I handle this? I think there was probably a couple of words said to him as he left the pitch from Dan Byrne. I think he was one who walked over to him, Phil Foden walked over to him as well

because they could see how annoyed he was and disappointed. And it's almost like, don't do anything stupid. That's probably what was being said to them. But the big word there from Thomas Tuchel was respect. And it is respect towards your teammates.

And I spoke about it before, is that if you're going to win a World Cup, you're going to have to play bit part at times. You might not play every minute that you want to play. You've got to do what's for the good of the team. And the game's changed. It's not your first 11 anymore. It's rotation. There's different ways of looking at it.

The analysis that goes on behind the scenes, making sure that players are ready, fit enough. If they're overloaded too much in games or training sessions, they'll adapt it. but the thing is is that they've got the depth to be able to do that England so he's going to have to take it

on the chin at some point Jude Bellingham and just say okay I'm going to have to change a little bit to fit in and Connor it was the right call in the game at the time we were getting near the end of the game Jude Bellingham was already on a yellow card

during the week we saw Cristiano Ronaldo get sent off for Portugal which means he's going to miss at least one game at the start of the World Cup Thomas Tuggo doesn't want that with Jude Bellingham No when the dust settles doodle know it was the right decision to bring him off I think what it is with Jude Bellingham,

I think he probably thinks at the minute he's playing a little bit of catch-up. He missed the last camp. He knows Morgan Rogers has done really well. He wants to play every minute he possibly can't to show the manager that he can be the main man for England. And listen, I think it goes back to exactly what Stephen said before about him being under pressure a little bit now when he's playing. I think we've seen it tonight with the balls he was losing.

He was losing simple balls. It was as if he was trying to be a little bit too adventurous at times in his own half and doing silly things like that. So I think he feels he's playing a little bit of catch-up. but Morgan Rogers is in a great position. Listen, he's done outstanding. And it's so refreshing to air rally, isn't it? Just a manager so in control.

Five live sports. The Rugby Union Autumn International's. Unbelievable scenes are shell-shocked Twickenham. Rugby Union's elite clash in a bid to close out the year in style. Oh, what a try! Keep up to date with all the insight and analysis with the Rugby Union weekly podcast. The Rugby Union, Autumn,

to nationals. It doesn't stop. Listen with the BBC Sounds app. You're listening to the Football Daily podcast with Alastair Bruce Ball. Let's hear from another one of the players tonight. Dean Henderson was England's goalkeeper this evening. He's talking to John Murray. Yes, we've heard from Harry Kane.

We can hear now from the man at the other end tonight. Dean Henderson, a good feeling to be back in the team, Dean. Yeah, delighted. Found out this morning. and it's always an honour and you've just got to be ready when called up on. Really enjoyed tonight.

Yeah, delighted to get the win. You might not necessarily have been expecting it but you have to be ready, don't you? 100%. You've always got to be ready. You've got to chip away and train and day and day out. Make sure you're up to speed

when you get the opportunity and thankfully it was a good night tonight. Yes. And I suppose there's always pressure in top level football but there was a bit of pressure to keep this clean sheet record going, wasn't it? of saying because obviously I knew about it and I didn't want to be the one that stepped in and obviously conceded so no it's good got big shoulders and enjoyed that tonight and obviously getting another clean sheet the team's been great through the qualifying groups and they've been fantastic and Jordan's been excellent as well yeah there must be a good feeling well tell us what was Harry Kane's already suggested what was said in the dressing room afterwards to the to the squad that has achieved this terrific record over the course of qualifying

Yeah, of course. Obviously, it's an incredible group of togetherness at the minute. It's building in there, and everyone comes in, does the jobs. And it's been great. Everyone's together throughout the camps, which training has been to a very high standard, and you can see that in the games. How much of a career goal is it of yours to be part of this squad out of World Cup? Yeah, 100%. It would be a dream come true. There's nothing I'd love more to be on that play.

It's a funny one, isn't it? when you must be so close to the other England goalkeepers, yet what you have to do is dislodged Jordan Pickford? Yeah, and support him as well. Support him, he's earned the right. He's had the shirt for a long time now. He's been putting in good performances, which makes it difficult to break through.

But as you say, you've got to be there and be available, and if you're there, you can affect it, and maybe an opportunity comes by, and I can be ready to take it with both hands. Thanks, Dean. Well done tonight. Thank you very much. the goalkeeper Dean Henderson with John Murray.

Interesting, Stephen wanted to hear him talk there about, and I didn't think about that until John said it, but actually coming in and the pressure of keeping that clean sheet, given what England have done so far in the group. Yeah, it makes it easier when you've got a really organised team in front of you. But when called upon, he made good decisions. He made a really good one coming out and intercept him when there was a short back pass. He read that situation well.

There was another one when he had to save the ball. It was a relatively comfortable save to his left-hand side, but he did the simple things well. I loved his attitude there where he just said, I'll be a good squad player and I'll back up and I'll push, I'll make sure a push Jordan Pickford to his limit because he understands that. He's desperate to be on that plane and what's the right thing to do? Why does he get his opportunity?

Because he pushes Jordan Pickford and he does the right things in training. And Thomas Tuchel is going to reward him at some point. So there's an understanding of where his position is in the squad. And sometimes those players are invaluable as well. Yeah, and Connor, there'll be players obviously who've not been involved in the squads recently or not for these last two games, you know, thinking about trying to get into it because time is running out before the World Cup. I'm thinking obviously Cole Palmer's injured at the moment,

but you could definitely see him in there, Trent Alexander Arnold, Jack Grealish, we've mentioned Ivan Tony on the programme today. I mean, Thomas Tuchel is going to have some really tough calls and there's going to be some very disappointed players. Danny Welbeck, I think he's another one. I think somebody who's playing outstanding for Brighton. There's going to be some players, Ali, who are really disappointed, of course, and some top players as well, because I mentioned before about the talent pool

that we've got as English people, as an English nation, in terms of the players who we've got who can go to that tournament are incredible. We're talking about Jack Grealish. He's an outstanding footballer. He started the season fantastically well for Everton, and it's really tough for him to get into this squad at the minute because of how well they're playing. So, yes, time's running out.

There's only a couple more camps to go, one camp to go in March, and I think it's something now. Then players will know there's times running out. But going back to Dean's interview, how good was that to hear in terms of how refreshing it was? He's an incredible character, by the way, an outstanding character, he's a brilliant person. And he's somebody, he's the sort of character you want within that squad going to a World Cup because of what he brings every day. So, yeah, there's a lot of good players who will miss out, but that's just the nature of the beast, I think, at the minute. And with two former England defenders here, in terms of that England backline at the moment's sort of first choice.

Obviously, Rhys James didn't start today. He's had a lot of minutes recently. Niccoe O'Reilly got another star. Connor, you've said already on the show today, you think Stones and Gehie is first choice. I mean, Stephen, in terms of O'Reilly again today, so two starts in a row, man in possession? I think so at the moment. I do. I think what's very interesting and kind of reeled off all the names before that have been used in the back line. I think there's opportunities for all the players to play at some point within the World Cup. I think that's going to be the difference in this World Cup.

I think so often we go, what's his first 11? He hasn't got a first 11. He's got a first 11. He's got a first probably 18 or 20 players that he knows are reliable and that he could turn and think he can change the players and adapt the players as and when he needs to. So I think this is the modern era of management and understanding how you can change things and adapting things. But I think Nico O'Reilly's a fantastic player. I think there'll be players who will push him. But at the moment on that performance tonight as well, I think there was a few little bits that he needs to learn. I think Thomas Tuchel again, having been here, and watching him closely.

He was so community to Nico O'Reilly in the second half because he was right in front of him. The levels of communication and advice giving into him and telling him tactically where to go, how to do it. I thought it was absolutely brilliant to watch as well. I know Riley is just one of those players just wants to absorb it all and just wants to take it in and learn as much as he can.

And as a game, as a contest tonight, Conner, do you think that was a good test? And it's, you know, there's not many more games now before England gets stuck into competitive action in a World Cup next summer. Do you think that was a good test tonight because Albania, Albania were a tough nut to crack? Yeah, and it was an interesting test. It was a test where it will go a long way with Thomas Tuchel, his coaching staff, the England players going into next year because it was a patient test. A game where he had to be patient. Harry mentioned it there in his interview after the game about break them down, we'll get tired.

They've done a lot of running in the first half. We've got to keep making sure we make them run to tire. them out and then the lads who come off the bench will do the damage for us. And we've seen it with the goals he set up from Marcus Rastford and obviously Sacker as well. So I think it was a real good test. I think it was a test for England going in, I think especially the group stages

in the World Cup where they might come up against teams we were going to sit off, maybe in a low block, playing two banks or four and be hard to break down. So this will all be valuable experience for Thomas Tuchel and his coaching staff going into next year. And Stephen, somehow this evening you and John Murray have got to try and find your way to that tray of desserts

that was tantalizingly behind the window at some point in the stadium, if there are any left there for you. Ali, they're long gone. They are long gone. They got cleaned up at half time. I was walking to the toilet and as I was walking past it, it was just going down and down. And then as I went to the toilet and went back, they'd all gone. So yeah, it could be the, the radio bar for us again tonight, which has been very interesting. It's a lovely bar. Great to have you on commentary. Stephen. Thank you very much indeed. Stephen Warnock live in Tirana. Connor, Cody, last word to you. It's an obvious thing to say, but England, at the moment, six months, seven months out from the World Cup, are in a good place, aren't they?

Outstanding place. Brilliant place. A place where I think the manager will be super happy. I think we've all got total trust in this England team. I support us at this moment in time. I think we've all got total trust in this England team. The manager is coaching staff to really take us on an adventure come next summer. So I'm super excited. I can't wait for the World Cup draw on the 5th of December like you mentioned before, mate. And let's keep it going, eh? Yes, yes. And I'll see you soon, Connor. I look forward to it. very much for being part of the show today. Take care. Albania nil, England 2. Two more goals for Harry Kane. He's gone past Pelle. 78

international goals takes him past Pelle with 77. 8 wins out of 8 for England. They are on their way to the World Cup next summer. This is the Football Daily podcast with Alastair Bruce Ball. The most dramatic football of the day so far has certainly come at the Puscus Arena in Budapest. The Republic of Ireland came from 2-1 down. to win 3-2 against Hungary. The winning goal in the 96 minute was also the third goal in a Troy Parrot Hattrick. Don't forget he's the guy who scored two in the win against Portugal on Thursday as well. And that victory books them a place in the World Cup playoffs at the beginning of next year.

Dan McDonnell, who's the football correspondent for the Irish Independent, was actually there in Budapest to witness it. And I've seen on social media after the game down, you posted quite simply, that might just be the great. greatest thing I've ever seen happen in a football match. And I've seen the pictures now of the winning goal in the scenes afterwards. Just fantastic. Yeah, look, I mean, I think it's just, like,

obviously football takes you to all sorts of different places and emotions. But I think it was just so completely unexpected. I think that's the main takeaway from this. It was just, look, Ireland come into this week, and they needed the way things panned out to really beat Portugal and Hungary. Portugal at home and Hungary away to get into a World Cup playoff.

A scenario that would have required the best back-to-back results that an Irish team has arguably put together ever, particularly when this would be widely regarded as not an especially strong Irish side relative to maybe previous generations. So, I mean, there's so many firsts that have happened here.

I think that's the first competitive away hat-tricks for an Irish player. ever and beating teams of comparative rankings and so on to Portugal and Hungary look there's obviously a great amount of interest in Ireland around the national team but it's been a very low web and I'll be honest I don't think anyone saw this coming well so the question then obviously then is how on earth

have they done that in the space of you know in the space of less than a week to put those two performances back to back against those those teams. What's happened there? Yeah, I mean, it's just hard to process because Ireland lost to Armenia in September 2-1, very badly beaten. An Armenia team who I think lost 9-1

to Portugal today. So if you kind of do your form lines, it's obviously, you know, it's not quite a perfect science, but it doesn't really make a huge amount of sense. I think what did listen, if you want to break it down, there's a couple of things that probably have happened that make a little bit

more sense. Seamus Coleman was left, that squad in September. He's come back in to provide, you know, I think real leadership to the group. Troy Parrott didn't play in those games in September either, and he's become a bit of a talisman this year as well for Ireland. But really, I think it is just one of these things

where a team has come together and, you know, in O'Connor's there as an ex-player to just get into the current player, sorry, to get into the situation that there's nothing to lose here. Like there's nothing to lose here. And maybe sometimes like they over, you know,

they've been thinking about permutations and what this means and what that means and it's been more straightforward that they realised, like if they want to play at a World Cup and some of them might never get this opportunity again, they've changed the formation, gone a little bit, you know, back at the five, a little bit more

conservative, but they've been braver in terms of how they've attacked. And they may not have been the better team today, you know, Hamer Hall Grimson, the Ireland manager has said that afterwards. He said, listen, there was maybe a little bit of fortune, but when it came to the last 10 minutes, they were braver.

And that's what got them over the line. And in terms of what it means, I mean, not just the celebrations after the goal is scored there, Dan, or even the celebrations on the final whistle, which, as I say, if you can go and find them, I urge you to do so. But actually, also, if you can, watch the interview with Troy Parrott after the game.

Have you seen that, Dan? How emotional he is about what he and the team have achieved. And let's not forget, this is to get into the playoffs. This isn't qualification for the World Cup. It's to give them a chance to get there. But his emotional, wow. Yeah, no, I did see that interview and I think a lot of people were emotional

watching it. I think the context of it is that this team has probably been described in very negative terms like as a team that maybe has got into the habit of losing. That has been the narrative of the discussion around the games like Dar O'Shea before the Portugal

game on Thursday was speaking about you either win or learn and we've been doing a lot of learning and they face questions about maybe whether is playing for Ireland is that can they cope with the pressure of playing for their country? Because they've had a lot of near misses in recent years and people just think, yeah, this group of players,

they just can't win big games. They can't rescue themselves from difficult positions. So they've completely flipped that around in the space of two games. And I think the outpouring of emotion that you're seeing is almost borne out of relief that they've written a different story now for themselves because there was a story being written that this team just can't, They just can't get it done. The weight of the jersey is too heavy.

That was the line that was used by their manager, potentially after September. And now, well, they're floating home. That's it for this episode of the Football Daily. Thanks for listening. Aili Barber will be here to look ahead to Scotland's World Cup qualifier with Denmark on your next episode of the Football Daily.

Welcome to the brand new podcast series Rugby League Top 10 with me Mark Chapman. It's where John Wilkin, Brian Noble and Jamie Peacock will discuss, debate and argue over lists of the best players, games, finals, iconic moments and plenty of other categories that will no doubt leave you screaming at your device. The most entertaining parts of our sport are these, the jeopardy, the moments. He made rugby league look cool. Yeah, I mean that's the difficult thing to. do, I think. It is really, is. Yeah, no.

We've all managed to carry that bathroom. Rugby League Top Ten. Listen on BBC Sounds.