Football Daily - World Cup: Ecuador Through & Rick's Playing Backgammon

Episode Date: June 26, 2026

Ecuador are through to the World Cup knockout stages for the first time in 20 years after a 2-1 win over Germany.With Rick Edwards away at a backgammon competition, Betty Glover steps into to co-host alongside Lloyd Griffith to wrap up another dramatic day at the World Cup where calculators are out as Scotland's knockout hopes go down to the wire.Mario Melchiot joins to reflect on Ecuador's historic victory, explain what makes the Azteca Stadium such a special place to play and looks ahead to the Netherlands' tasty last-32 tie with Morocco.Plus, Betty shares her first impressions of World Cup life in Los Angeles.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Every story is a technology story in one way or another. And on the interface, we decode the tech that's rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite work week? And this year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever. But is it making the game better or worse? Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos?

On Good Bad Billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTuber, Mr. Beast, made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera. And even recreated Squid Games, all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist reshaping capitalism? Or is he just the king of the attention economy? Find out on Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service.

Listen now wherever you get your BBC podcasts. The Football Day at the People World Cup 2026. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to the Football Daily with me, Lloyd Griffith. But no Rick Edwards today. He's got the day off. And you're thinking, what's he doing on his day off? Is he gone to Las Vegas with Steve Jones,

or maybe he's in the Hollywood Hills with all the T4 people he's ever interviewed in the past? And the answer is none of those. He's gone to a backgammon competition. competition in downtown LA. Who with? He's gone on his own. Cause he has. What an absolute legend.

We do have someone in his Birkenstocks though, arguably better and definitely less mean. I'll intro them in a second. But first, a recap on the scores. Ecuador beat Germany 2-1 to finish third in Groupie and secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first time in 20 years. Ivory Coast also reached the knockout stages

for the first time in World Cup history, thanks to a Nicholas Pepe double as they beat Curisout 2-0. out 2-0 finishing second in that group. Netherlands topped the group after beating Tunisia 3-1. Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden to finish second in that group. And Sweden have also made it through to the knockouts. Paraguay and Australia ended goalless and finally already eliminated Turkey. I scored a goal with the last kick of the game to beat the USA 3-2.

And you might be thinking that is all well and good Lloyd, but what does that mean for Scotland? Well, we've been checking the third place ranking table all day and all night. and as I'm sure most of Scotland have as well. And at the time of record, Scotland have a 6.04% chance of still qualifying, which feels oddly specific. It's really quite simple. Honestly, it feels like I'm doing the late night shift on a general election coverage, just waiting for the other results to come in.

A reminder that if you want to catch up on any of the scores or goals, highlights are available on the BBC Sport website and app. Now join me today in Rick's absence. It is the fantastic Betty Glover. Betty, thank you for stepping in. Hello. Thank you so much for having me. And I must add that I am not wearing Rick's Birkenstocks.

I haven't borrowed them for the show because I'm not sure my feet would fit in them. He's got quite large feet. Very large feet. He's a large feet. And, you know, if you're tall, you've got big feet usually, don't you? And he's got a lot of large socks. As producer Lizzie and I have found out, they're absolutely all over the house. It's disgusting.

That's not ideal. How you've been keeping? I've been great. Thank you. Very much enjoying the USA. Very much enjoying L.A. The weather's great. It's incredible, isn't it? Have you been in L.A. for the whole time? I haven't. So, I have been in L.A. for, I was in L.A. for a week. Then I went to Seattle for a few days to cover the USA against Australia. And now I'm back in L.A. How was Seattle? Seattle, I'm not joking, Lloyd. It was next level. It was insane. The atmosphere was ridiculous. The people of Seattle love sports. Which game did you go to? So I went to USA against Australia.

And the people of Seattle just love it. They did a march ahead of the game. So they were just marching down the street and it was just packed. I've never experienced sort of an atmosphere like that before. The loudest game we've ever been to? Probably up there. I don't sort of go to games with one of those, you know, things that measure sound levels. Which I should do.

You've got to get involved. I know. A decibelometer, I think you're referring to. That is the one. Is that right? I'm looking at our audio engineers then. You did a musical degree, you say. I did, yeah.

You should actually know. You should know what measures audio levels actually. Yeah, I live on my own. And what are you doing out here in America for the World Cup? So I'm working for Men and Blazers media network, which is the biggest soccer network in the USA, they say. So it's really cool. So they followed the US team for years and years and years,

followed the sort of highs and the lows, the lows before Maritio Pochitino, the lows when Marichotino took over, and now sort of, you know, it's getting to this like, you know, this high of US fans saying that they're going to win the World Cup. Do you genuinely think they believe that? I think a lot of them do think that they can win the World Cup. I genuinely do think they believe that. What will happen, also I've got to say that both of our audio engineers, I just nodding like the little Churchill dogs. Yes, we can. It does feel like soccer slash football fever is taken over USA. You were all over L.A. yesterday, going to various different games.

What was the story behind that? So I set myself a challenge, Lloyd. Go on. Okay. So I gave myself 24 hours and I was like, how many different games of football can I watch with different fans from all over the world? So I watched the Canada game, Canada against Switzerland with some Canadian fans. I had some Canadian pancakes and waffles for records. Lovely.

Can we do this? It was really good. I then watched the Brazil, Scotland. I ate some Brazilian food. Lovely. And it was insane. What was it? The best food I've ever had.

I had some pineapple. Pineapple? Yeah. Sorry, Betty, have you never had pineapple before? No, no. So they had cabbabs, right? Those are different cabbats. They had been to Sheffield.

They had loads of cabs. One of them was a pineapple cabb. And they had cinnamon on it. So I had some pineapple. No. Why are you saying no? Because that's not a thing. No, it was great.

Pineapple kebab? Yeah, it was really good, right? So I had some pineapple, and then I had some plantain, and I had, I'll just various other stuff. Yucca? Yucca. Yeah, absolutely. I mean, these are all vegetables. Yeah, I know, but I was trying to, you know, be healthy.

I was doing a lot yesterday. I then went to watch South Korea against South Africa at a Korean fan park, and it was amazing. Can I just say the South Korean fans are the best fans that I've ever come across? In what way? They're just so lovely. It's so nice. It was like a family vibe. They all sat on the floor and ate a picnic whilst watching the game.

I know they lost, but... I have felt that being over in L.A., everyone is very friendly. And you can see in the games as well, like there's no segregation. People seem to be embracing each other. There was that lovely little moment yesterday where the Dr. Congo fan was like just encompassed by the fans of Colombia. And, you know, after he sang the national anthem on his own, I think, oh, she's quite nice.

I mean, obviously, as an England fan, you know, it's a very different vibe. It is a bit different. It is a bit different. I think this nice vibe between all the fans is going to start shifting as we get through the tournament, because it always does a little bit. But it has been really great. And actually, I know there's been a lot made about fans are coming over to the USA and the USA are getting to experience, you know, all of these fans from across the world.

And loads of different fans are getting to experience the USA. It is really nice to see. The other day I was in a taxi. And the lad, like late 20s, lovely lad, massively into his football. And he said that the reason he got into football is because at school, all the lads at school basically supported a team. And there was loads of lads from the Ivory Coast that had come over to America. And because of D.D.A. Dragper, they supported Chelsea.

There was loads of kids that were from South Korea that supported Spurs because of Sonny. And he was like, I want to get involved in this. I want to support a team. I was like, well, who do you support? He's like, well, I'm actually from Bangladesh. And at the time, Hamza Chowdry was playing for Lester. And so I chose Lester. I was like, oh, really?

Well, it was great. We won the Premier League. He's like, but next season we're playing Bromley away in League 1. But it is so nice that it is like a melding pot. And there's all these fans from around the world in the USA, which I think a lot of people didn't really realize. You can go all over the world in L.A. without passball. Absolutely.

And one final thing as well, I was chanting to fans in Yoldy King's Head, where we're doing the podcast from, today. And they are Americans who support Premier League team and they're so happy that the World Cup is here. And it's not just because the stars that they love are on their home soil. It's because they get to watch football at a normal time. Yeah, true. Because they just have to get up at the Cracker Sparrows to watch Tottenham versus Bournemouth at like 4 a.m. I've found that a lot of US citizens have started to sort of like come on board quite quickly.

with football. I was talking to a guy the other day who was basically saying like, I'm not, I'm sort of, I wasn't really that bothered. I thought I'd watch like a couple of matches, whatever. Now he's so into it. He's like, okay, Maritre Pochitino must rest Pulisic because we need him for the knockout stage. It's like so involved and it's great. It's so great. Well, should we talk about football? We probably should, shouldn't we? I'm really happy to welcome back, former Netherlands defender and massive fan of the podcast, the Guardian Football Weekly podcast it turns out, Mario Melkart, who turned up last week when we recorded and we looked at his phone and he had the Guardian Football Weekly podcast

on his phone. They've been listening on the way here. At least I'm sticking to your culture. Yeah, you are. I'm sticking to your culture. Mario, that's bad form though. That's bad form. I totally agree. I assume that you'd listen to ours before and then listen to theirs. Exactly. Exactly. That's how life should be anyway.

And I told Max, and he was absolutely over the moon. Mario, we were talking about fans happy that the football is a normal time over here. I'm assuming you're getting up to watch the Premier League games. I mean, you're probably running on the beach at 5 a.m. No, no, no, no, no. Not early. I mean, look, I enjoy my life. I will never complain about my life.

But one thing I do, yeah, I do get up. I set my alarm. I watch the game 7 o'clock. The one that is at 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock, I have to tell you, I'll be honest. They won't pass. Extended highlights. Yeah, extended highlight. Extremely long.

But the other ones? Yeah, I'm on it. Do you know what? We forgive you for that. That's okay. That's okay. We have to start with the Ecuador Germany game today. I mean, what a result for them coming back from 1-0 down to beat Germany to 1.

Did you see this result coming, Mario? Yeah. You know what the key thing is, I think, when you watch the game like that, for Ecuador, they had a lot of passion in it, you know? And I think that was kind of a passion that surprised Germany, too. The speed that the way they were playing, and they were pressing them in a way that they didn't expect. And that's why I think they got themselves under pressure

in difficult situations. And you know, one of the key things, normally when you score a goal, you track back. Ecuador, no, they stepped on going. The second half, like the first half was a little bit less, but the second half, they kept on going. Even when they were leading, they kept on pressing. This is what I thought was just so impressive about them

because obviously, sort of pre-tournament, everyone's been saying, you know, Ecuador, they're the dark horses, they're so good defensively. You just need to look at their defenders and you're like, wow, okay, brilliant. But we hadn't really seen that attacking side to them until this game. Do you think that gives you a bit more confidence in how far they could go in this tournament? Yeah, but also why the defence, why we highlight it, because there's a lot of the guys, you understand, that are important for the defender's side,

is playing in the Premier League, or connected to the Premier League, right? So that was one of the key things why, you know, for the English side, it's more focused on me too, you know. Pachas probably the one that plays at PSG and the rest, you know, Cedo, the one from Arsenal. In Capier. So I expected also a lot more from them. I didn't expect them to be in the situation where they are.

They were celebrating when they were third. And I get it, you understand? And that coach was a different level. Like, I watched that coach. I love passion, guys, because that's why I live on this side of the world. And I see the Latins. One of the key things with Latin have is different than Europeans. I will not call you guys, you know,

the English are a little bit outside, but you have passion too. but what the letters have, it becomes emotional sometimes. And if you see that coach, when they scored one up, he ran to his missus to give her a kid. I love that. I love that. He was just trying to launch himself into the stands, wasn't he? Climed up the stand. I was like, what you're doing?

But do you know what, though? He's been under so much pressure. Because, you know, when you're the manager of Ecuador, you are taking all of that flack. Rather than the players, it's you. And he's finally sort of given them a ridiculous result. And also credit to him, great changes that made the difference as well, didn't he?

But also he's Argentinian and, you know, your country won the World Cup prior to it and now you bring another country to it. So they're going to watch you too. And one of the good things he had, you know, like prior to having the first team, he was in the younger teams. So he knew a little bit about the young development. So that helped him a little bit getting into the first team. But being in the first team, look, Ecuador have made a lot of development in the years going through now. And now they've got really star players.

We cannot say that they don't have star players. But now you're going to make it a team. That's so difficult to do, though, isn't it? Particularly when most of your star players are your defenders. So that ability to go forward and score goals, they've been finding really, really difficult, haven't they? But why could they do it against Germany? The Germans, I felt that the speed of the game for them dropped a little bit.

And I think also they got surprised. You understand? The goal they considered with Tahr and Noir, it was almost like they were hesitating and waiting. Plus, he reacted quicker than them. The way he tapped the ball and they were almost like frozen and when they wanted to react, it was already in. So I think that was one of the feelings that I say, like,

as a German side, I feel like Germany has always been a country, it's always there. Especially for us as a Dutch people, we are connected to them, so we watch them. Even if they have rivalry going on that's been for years, we still will watch them and say like, hey, guys, they are a real country that always turn up. But one of the things that happened in this game, maybe they were a little bit too confident, maybe they were a little bit too slow, and they got surprised. I think it was a mix of knowing that they've already qualified. And it's an age-old cliche, but they just didn't seem to want it as much as Ecuador.

And you talked about, you know, Noir, there were just moments, you know, just on second balls where they just didn't seem at the races. Yeah, but you know what? One of the things, when you're in this situation, rhythm is very important. And the rhythm of winning is more important they're getting a draw. Because even if it's your last game, when you lose it, the feeling that you possess is just not good. It's the same for any country. I'm not talking about only the Germans. I'm talking for everybody at the World Cup now. If you already go through, right, and you have one more game left to play,

sometimes you say, like, the guys that didn't play that much, you want to put them, because you selected them for a reason. So you want to put them, but you're also thinking about, shall I put them in or should I not put them in? Because I want to keep the rhythm of the 11 that are starting normally. So that is where the coaches are fighting themselves. And I always say, like, you can make a couple of tweaks, but don't tweak too much, because if you tweak too much,

you get a whole different rhythm in your squad. They're really struggling to keep a clean sheet in the tournament so far. And again, this was their first kind of like test today. But again, there's going to be weightier teams looking at Germany, knowing they're going to face them going, they can't keep a clean sheet. They'll be licking their lips, surely.

Yeah, but they had some changes to have because they had, what, Schultz? I think he didn't start today, but then you have Ta and Rudiger. You understand? Rudiger wasn't playing the game prior to it? Yeah, he came on, didn't you. So I always say this. There's a couple of players in the team you don't want to change

defensively and some in the middle because when you change that that is the heart of your team. Right through the middle is where the heart is. You can sometimes change the forward but when you start changing in the back and especially in the middle back you understand the center halves

it becomes a divvue, you unsettled the rhythm, the core of the team in any country you mostly see them two positions are rarely changed. I feel like they're really missing Nico Schlotterbeck as well because without his

it feels like they just can't get that ball up the pitch? Yeah, but they play with the you know, Kimi, he slides in, right? From the right, he comes in, he talks right in front of the center half. They play a certain system in the sense of like, they start with four, and he comes in as a right back, and then he plays like, almost like the center mid, and then he picks up the ball at all the positions. But one of the key, he thinks, like, if you break there, he's not there. So he has to do a lot of work.

He knows how to play the game, but sometimes some people also are going to catch you out. I'm gauging quite a lot of positivity, I think, from you when it comes to Germany. Like, you're not that down and out about them. No, because I always feel like they turn up. But I also prep that I don't think they are where they want to be and where they're supposed to be. Yes, I totally agree with you. But you're watching a country now that normally is the top, eh? We're talking about top.

Like, if you go to a World Cup or a Euro, whatever we go into, Germany is always there. And when you turn up and they're not there, you're almost like, hey, what happened there? That's what Germany is for me. The last two well cuts. Exactly. Yeah. And they haven't managed to get to the knockouts, have they? You mentioned about not changing certain areas, and defensively, it's one of them.

We've got to look at Manuel Neuer. Like, I love the man as a goalkeeping fan. I've been a fan of him for, you know, well over a decade now. But he didn't look sharp at all today. Arguably, at error for the second goal, having just made a bit of a flap, which was almost like a carbon copy, about five minutes before. He hasn't looked as a. reliable as he's done in previous tournaments and if you're the German

coach if you're Nagelsman like what what are you thinking do you change him obviously to Stegans out he's been injured all season do you change that at all and bring him one of the others or do you again keep with a goalkeeper that's played so many tournaments and you'd think we'd have got all

those errors out of his system now it's difficult and you know why I say it's difficult you got to look at the person itself it's not only the performance you also got to look at the human right what is behind like how does he feel personally because sometimes we say that oh you don't have to think about it this is football but guys we are still human so you have to also talk to him in a person in the sense of like where are you and if you feel that he's not at the level mentally where he's supposed to be

then you have to have the question but that's the same thing what we're talking about now is what we talked about christiano christiano came up but he answered everybody am i happy that he answered yes i'm happy he answered because we are watching football and we want to see the grades doing well so in a moment moment, I feel like the coach needs to go, Naglisman needs to go to him, talk to him, and said to him, like, look, this and this happens, how do you feel? And if he says like, no, coach, I'm there, then, okay, you will play in the second game. If he doesn't turn up at that game, then you make your choice. He doesn't have the choice anymore. You have to make your choice at the coach.

That's the only thing you can say. But now, take him out straight away. I will not be the guy that would take him out straight away. I want to do that. Every story is a technology story in one way or another. And on the interface, we decode the tech that's rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite work week? And this year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever. But is it making the game better or worse? Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos? On good, bad billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTuber, Mr. Beast, made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera. And it even recreated squid games, all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist reshaping capitalism? Or is he just the king of the attention economy? Find out on Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, wherever you get your BBC podcasts. Five Lights for... I'm Steve Bratnell. Oast of Games Gone, the Steve Bratnell podcast. What's

favourite World Cup moment as a fan. I have to say Michael Owen skinning the whole of the Argentina defence and cracking it in top corner for the very short space of time, I believe. My favourite World Cup player in history, it won't be popular but I'm going to say Diego Maradonna. All right, he unballed it, but the guy was a complete genius. The People World Cup 2026. Listen on BBC Sounds. Listen on BBC Sounds. It does sort of feel like the World Cup for the older players. Do you know what I mean?

It does, yeah. Like the late 30s, early 40s. They're coming into their own. That's why I don't say it. I say they're seasoned. They're seasoned. Don't call them old. They're seasoned.

Seasoned they know more than a regular person. Seasoned. And they're just saying old and I'm going, they're all younger than me. How old are you, Lloyd? I'm 42. I've got a hair transplant. Oh my God, it doesn't matter. I've paid to look young.

It looks great. I paid to look young too. I actually, it was a weird experience for me today. I watched the game in a bar in Venice Beach with a load of Ecuador fans who are unbelievable, by the way, incredible fans. But I was secretly cheering on the Germans in the hope that Scotland might then have a chance of getting in. I felt like it was like a double dose of treason as an Englishman. Yeah. I felt really, I felt really a bit dirty, really.

should really shouldn't you because you are he already jumped on his head now you jump with him hey bro you're good man I said his hair transplant look good I haven't been that meeting have I well anyway at the time of recording there is a 76% chance of Ecuador playing Mexico

in Mexico City in the Aztecatecate in the last 302 I mean what a story in game that would be guys listen in my life you play at stadiums right some stadiums treat you different right I was a 16 year old kid and I went to the Azteca Stadium. Oh my God. Oh my God. I was at Ajax. I come on the field and I'm looking at the stadium. I said, here is where the greats play, Hugo Saitis, Diego

Maradona, Pele. I'm like, I'm a 16 year old, not even younger maybe. I was 15 maybe. I'm like, kid, you made it. Even if you don't go anywhere alive, you made it to the Azteca Stadium. It was unbelievable when I was there. It is a ridiculous stadium. What does it feel like when you walk out and what does it look like I can't look look I've never felt like I could fly but I felt I could fly the only worst thing from the stadium I can tell you it's high up and you got to walk really down down down and at that time at the youth teams you got to carry the kit back yourself so you have your own bag and the kit stuff you got to help you know it ain't like you now we have the luxury someone is helping you out no this is the team's got to bring the bags the balls

the this the dead so we're carrying it all the way down and it's halfway you have to stop Breathe a little bit and carry on again because it's that far down. And also your altitude there as well. Oh, man, breathing, difficult. See, all the guys in it, we played against Niocaxa. They were running around. They were like, okay. When I came back in Amsterdam, I was the fittest guy, the fastest guy.

I've one of the best times of my life. I'm saying, like, anyone that's prepped ever for a World Cup, go and prep in the Estega Stadium. It's unbelievable. Did you win the game? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. We didn't mention it on the pod yesterday, but unbelievable scene yesterday at the Mexico game where Mamo Achoa came on. He's talking about older players, like legend. Seasoned. Season, sorry, seasons. When he came on, he was crying. All the players were crying.

I was like, this is a legend. This is probably the last time he's going to pop on a Mexico shirt. What a lovely moment for him. He's how old is he? I think he's, what is he? I think he's 40. I think he's 40. I'm 50.

I cannot say that. Come on the subject of passion, I just want to talk to you about Curacao as well. What does this mean for them to be at this tournament? It means a lot because you have a lot of the players of Curacao playing in the Netherlands. Yeah. You understand. And it's also connected to the land because it's been a colony for Holland for years now. But the things back to it, like me, myself, I've been to the country a number of times going a holiday there.

And it's amazing. You know, the people are nice and the country is nice. But it's very small. It's like a, you know, like it's a small part. But one of the good things about it is that it's never been. there and when you make it as a country to get to that level it's beautiful in the sense of like you're at the World Cup now you understand and you want to do more and I I totally said they want to do more but this is their first step and I think they should not be too hard on themselves

in the sense of like how how difficult it is for us it's not difficult for you guys you already done that you already are over the line of people not expecting you to be there you are there now now you got to do the next step the next step is like making your name you're A lot of countries did that, like the Moroccans did, making sure that now it's a normality. As mentioned earlier, Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden, which means that they were going to play Brazil, which means Netherlands will play Morocco in the next round. I mean, Mario, that's spicy. Talk us through that, please.

Guys, look, look, if you come from the Netherlands, you know a lot of Moroccans. It's guarantee. If you don't know Moroccans, you're probably living in your house. You're not coming out of your house. So you're going to come out of your house. So me, I come out of my house. You understand? So I have Moroccan, you know, you have friends and people you know.

So I'm always been. I've been to Morocco myself to experience it. But away from that, it's going to be a game. It's going to be a different kind of game. If the Moroccans win, it is a party. If they lose, it's even a bigger party. So I only hope for the Moroccans, whatever the result is, make sure your name is being mentioned because you're good.

And for the Dutch ones, I want us to win. But that's normal. Who would you prefer to have played Morocco or Brazil? I don't know because I don't think Brazil is at the moment maybe in the good run, but it's still Brazil. They look good against Scotland, though, didn't they? But it's not the Brazil. Look, Fini is Fini.

Okay, and Namar. But if you look just in general, I'm saying like, they are not the Brazil that we know now. I'm talking about now. I'm not talking about picking players out. I'm just saying as a team, they're not a team yet. But the Moroccans, I think at the moment, they look more like a team,

especially coming out of the African nations, how they did there and now where they are now. So you think the Netherlands have got a harder draw here then? From the past, yes, I think this is going to be tougher for them. I think it's going to be tougher. But the Netherlands, you look a bit like a force to be reckoned with. You're looking good, you're looking strong. Yeah, but you haven't been tested properly yet.

I think the Japanese set back and waited for you to make a mistake. Sweden was lighter than we expected them to be. Okay, we thought they're going to push back because they won 5'1. And we thought like, okay, 5-1 again, but then we watch Tunisia today. It wasn't like what you expected. So the Netherlands, I think their first test on the tournament, away from Japan would because Japan showed them like how you play against a low block. You got to break us.

And that's what they struggled with today too. But going back to the situation which you ask me, I think this is the biggest test what they're going through now. What's the sentiment like back in the Netherlands? Are people quietly optimistic or are they having doubts? I mean, you had doubts when you came on the other week to be fair. Oh, no, man, come on.

You know, like, people, you know what the thing is in our country? I feel sometimes, and it's also your country. Yeah, absolutely. Because it's like, are you guys backing your national team? Why are you just against them, beating them up? No, we have the same thing, and I'm not. I don't want to be part of the beating them up. I want them to do, because if we, as the people, don't support them and don't stand behind them,

how are the guys going to succeed? And I was a football player, too. So sometimes you also remember where you come from and what you didn't like. I didn't like, I liked them when people were backing us. So, of course, I want to back them too. But the only thing is, like I said, this game is a big, big test for them. And the Moroccans definitely want to win one over the Dutch ones because they are so many influence from the Moroccans in the Netherlands.

So they want to show like, hey, guys, we have arrived. They have invested so much financial capital into the national team as a country. And now look where they are. They've done well. But I'll tell you what, the Netherlands, they've got Brian Brobby. And he's been fantastic. What a player. Three shots, three goals.

Amazing. How good is he? I'm happy. I'm very happy. Yes. You go and do it, kid. I love it. Like, when he scores, he don't know.

He's score for himself. He's scoring for me too. I like it. I'm happy that he scored. You know why? Because they gave him a hard time when he was at IX. They really gave him a hard time.

Yeah, because they were always criticize him, criticizing him, criticizing. And sometimes people forget that you're a human too. It hurts you sometimes. And I know him as a person. person and I know him as a footballer. I understand if you don't play in the game the way it's supposed to be, I get that. But the thing was probably went to the outside, like he left Iax, came back to Iax and that is always a tricky thing. You know, if you come back too early, people are always going to look at you and say, yeah, you failed. But then he made a move to Sunderland. And the move to Sunderland was freedom. And when he started playing for Sunderland, he plays like with freedom. And now he comes back to the national team. He's free in his mind. And that's why he's performing like this. Do you think he's a bit of an underrated player? I feel like he doesn't get that sort of much spotlight on him,

but he's been fantastic so far. He had a lot of spotlight in the Netherlands. He had a lot of spots. It's also because he had Ajax, right? The other ones want to hear it, but it is the biggest team in Holland. Then he moves away, he goes to Sunderland. And Sunderland is a traditional place, right? The people from that city love their club that much,

and they all go to that game. Why I know it? Because I had to find out myself, because before I came to Chelsea, Sunderland came after me, so I had to know about that city, yeah. So I had to figure out, like, who are they? So, because they're trying to get me over to that club. But then, I mean, like, okay, guys, you know, like...

I can't believe you chose Chelsea ever, Sunderland. No, you're crazy. I'm a young boy, 22 years old, never let my mom's home, and then I get an opportunity. You think I want to go to Sondland or London? Come on, I'm thinking about... We love Sondland. I love...

I have nothing against Sunderland, but I thought, Let me go to a city that's similar to Amsterdam. That's why I went to London. I don't know. Sunderland, you can get some good old pies up there, can you? You can be able to get a parma? Yeah, yes. That's what you were missing out on.

But I went to Wigan. I get some pies. Oh, yeah, true, true. Wiggin do good old pies as well. Mario, thank you so much for coming on. My pleasure. Come back soon, yeah? I will.

I will. And please listen to our podcast. Thank you. Betty, thank you so much for joining me today. Have you enjoyed it? I've had a great time with you. It's been brilliant. Yeah.

I got a message, by the way, from Rick. Earlier. Rick Edwards. And he gave me some advice. So he said, obviously he was like, this is advice to deal with you in particular. So he was like, Lloyd is going to mention filming a lot in Australia. So just sort of like feign interest. He said he's also going to talk about, you know, being an elite goalkeeper probably.

So just sort of smile and nod. Otherwise he'll get very upset. And also just try and smile and laugh at some of the. of his little jokes that he makes. Little, little jokes. But I haven't found your jokes bad. I haven't really put any in today. I've just been trying to be charismatic.

I've not talked about Australia. You haven't talked about Australia. You haven't talked about being a goalkeeper. I have not talked about Return to Paradise, which is available on the BBC Eye Player. The bosses will love that if they're listening. Thank you. And I've not talked about me being best mates.

Casper Shemichael followed me today. Oh my God. I knew this was going to come up. We did an interview with Casper Shemichael, which you can listen on the, Football Daily Feed. It was absolutely fantastic. And we talked about goalkeeping,

and it's all relevant to what we just discussed about with Manuel Noyer. And then he followed me on Instagram today. So, I mean... No, but immortalifying, actually, because you didn't even follow him. Yeah, but I was like, I'm playing, you know... Playing it too cool.

I'm playing it too cool. So... Better, you do a podcast with Greg James, who we love, and he's a big fan of this podcast, even though he claims that he doesn't like football. Oh, do you know what that's such a lie? Greg's lying.

He's an Arsenal fan. To be fair, in his book, which is also brilliant, he does say that he's a big tournament fan. He loves tournament. So he's been listening every day. He sends little notes and little feedback every day, which I absolutely love. Do you know what Greg is? Go on.

A glory hunter. He is. I'm sorry. I'm sorry Greg James, if you are listening to this. You are a glory hunter. He's an Arsenal fan. Exactly. You know, likes England when they're in the tournament and one of the favour.

He loves Lewis Hamilton at the moment. Loves Lewis Hamilton at the moment. Exactly. Honestly. Betty, thank you so much for coming on. Thank you. The commentary is for you later today. on 5 live sport are Norway versus France from 8pm with updates from Senegal versus Iraq.

Then it's Uruguay versus Spain from 1am with updates from Cape Verde versus Saudi Arabia. And then Egypt versus Iran from 4 a.m with updates from New Zealand versus Belgium. Rick sadly will be back with me for tomorrow's pod back from his backgammon and all the reaction to those games and obviously the backgammon. See you tomorrow. Pace setter. Hello, Football Daily listeners, Josh Whittickham here bringing you something a little different. Do you keep meaning to go for a run? Perhaps a couple of laps around the football pitch in the park?

Well, I'm the host of a new series of Pace Sitter, the music mix that keeps you putting one foot in front of the other. Join me every week as I curate the perfect running playlist to get you moving. To listen, just search Paceetter on BBC Sounds. Every story is a technology story in one way. or another. And on the interface, we decode the tech that's rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode, is AI pushing us towards an infinite work week? And this year's World Cup is the most technologically advanced ever. But is it making the game better or worse? Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos? On good, bad billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTube YouTuber, Mr. Beast made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera. And even recreated squid games, all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist reshaping capitalism?

Or is he just the king of the attention economy? Find out on Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Listen now, wherever you get your BBC podcasts.