Football Daily - World Cup: The Pants Rule & The Semi-Finals

Episode Date: July 14, 2026

Ian Dennis was the very first guest on the podcast before the World Cup began, giving Rick and Lloyd some important advice before six weeks together in Los Angeles.Now he's back to find out how much of it they actually followed. Did they stick to the infamous 'pants rule'? What happened with the bedroom arrangements? And after all those big tournament moments... how is Denno feeling about his upcoming World Cup semi?Ian also looks ahead to all four semi-finalists, with France v Spain and England v Argentina on the horizon, before heading out to cover the biggest games of the tournament.Plus, Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure joins the pod to talk about how Silence Is Golden became the unofficial anthem for England fans.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The United States is about to mark its 250th anniversary. And so on the global story podcast from the BBC, we're telling surprising tales of American influence on the world stage and in ordinary people's lives all across the globe. We have this ability to export our story, and a lot of people have bought it. I feel like the American dream is alive, but not well. From the BBC, it's the United States,

2.50. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. The Football Daily at the People World Cup 2026 with Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith. Live from LA. Hello, you're listening to the Football Daily with Rick and Lloyd. Now, we had a day off yesterday and no football. So we're sort of at a bit of a loose end. Yeah. You arrived, you arrived home.

From Miami. Safely, from Miami. Having had a splendid time. And you were in surprisingly good form, given where you had been the night before. So do you want to... Yeah, just been to the game. And then you said, did the podcast in the room. Finished at 1 a.m.

finished at 1 a.m. So just straight to bed, was it? Straight to bed. Yeah, straight to bed. Straight to bed, was it? Yeah, straight to bed. And then maybe... What about the photos are you behind a DJ booth?

Yeah, I went to a club till 5 here. Incredible. You're 42, Michael. I'm 42. I was there with my friend, John, and we just looked at you and we're 42. What are we do? What are we doing? And then he just did another slammer.

What's the slumber? Like a tequila slumber. Oh, no, no, no, no. I don't drink. Yeah. And then we just decided to go home and got a popular burger. Yes. And fell asleep.

Yeah. Very nice. We all went out for dinner last night. We did. We finally got producer Lizzie on a hog. On a hog. That shouldn't be as big a moment as it was. But it was fantastic.

There were five of us just cruely. cruising down in Santa Monica well actually more in Venice actually just cruising along on our hogs and he just thought this is this is a wonderful life I don't have children yet and I hope it would do but I imagine it was what it was like when your

child first rides a bike yeah yeah yeah I mean certainly it was producer Lizzie as a grown woman yeah it was as unsteady at the start it was as unsteady I don't know why she's wearing a nappy but it was fantastic and it was great and then she was like I can't believe I've not did and so

so far I can't believe it's taking me this long as I had to buy and I was like that's great in it so I mean it's great that she managed to ride hogs

what with four days left to go in LA so yeah it was lovely she's a hog convert now that's the main thing hot convert you can be able to keep her off of other other big news

is when I just arrived back this morning you were unpackaging your new Grimsby kit and you were so it's the happiest I've seen you honestly and it is very nice

And I didn't see this in my future, but I am currently wearing a Grimsby fleece. Yeah, if you want to see how fantastic we look as Mariners, then go to the BBC YouTube channel. I think I'm wearing leisure wear. I think this is leisure wear. Yeah, mine is a bit more sort of like I'm going for a hike, isn't it? And then I've got a shirt, which is what they travel in.

And I actually saw, and I saw Leonel Messi wear the Argentinian equivalent the other day. This is great. So, yeah, look. Well, when he sees this, he'll be like, Oh yeah, we've got. Oh, So Lloyd. Yeah. Well, you know, he'll probably email him just to say how much it likes the kit.

But yeah, it arrived this morning. So I was like, do you want to wear someone? You're wearing someone. We, like, I never thought I'd wear another team's, but for you. I'm 42 years old. I cannot tell how exciting I still get when a kit comes out. The Grimsby tail on a way it came out this morning. And I was like, I've watched the video four times.

I mean, you sent me the video. I sent you the video. I'm absolutely over the moon. So, oh, well, I'm, you know, for now. You can't keep it. No, I don't want to. Okay. Thank you for letting me wear it for now.

Whilst we're talking about shirts and kits, I got so much grief for a video that I put up of me being at the England game of the day for wearing a Grimsby town top. We've already established that's the lucky Grimsby shirt. It's the lucky Grimsby shirt, which England haven't lost whilst I've been wearing it. Okay, and I've been washing it. I got so much grief from people online going, club shirt at an England game, you're a disgrace. I'm like, there's no rules. Also, I put a video up online.

There's a man naked next to me with his bosoms out, okay? and they're more angry with me wearing a 1994 Grimmisbury Top. My lads. I think that anger is misplaced. Take back your crusaders outfit to the fancy dress shop. Have a madri and chill out. Yeah. There are no rules.

At least get his other lion costume. Those guys must have been hot. My God, they must have been hot. That's the one thing I didn't mention either day. There was like maybe 20, 30 people in line costumes at the Miami Stadium. My eyeballs are sweating. What were they thinking? It's like those people that walk around, like, do the marathon with a fridge on the back.

Yeah. Grow up. But well done. Thanks for raising money. Now we've got Ian Dennis with us today. Hello, Dano. How are you? Rick, I'm very well. How are you? Nice to see you too, Lloyd. Hello, mate. How are you? We're not spoken to you since day one, like before we even came... Before the World Cup. Before the World Cup, before we came to the United States of America. How's your tournament been?

It's been a very good tournament, thank you. I've enjoyed it immensely. I've got to say, I thought after my debut appearance on your first ever podcast, I thought it was then deliberate that I have not appeared since. Yeah, well, I think it was. It was sort of won and done. But you would not believe how many people we've tried to call around to, genuinely. And then in the end, we've landed on, we have landed on you, unfortunately. So thank you for your time, obviously appreciate it.

There was a point early on in the tournament, Deno, where you were making the point quite vociferously online that this was not a good tournament. And I liked it. Well, no, what that was against. That was against the hyperbole of American TV, saying this, it's the American water. It's the greatest tournament ever. That's just American tell. You've got to let them get on with it.

I know, but it was really winding me up. I know it was. So that was what I was doing. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Any tournament that has four quarters is it's not for me. You're old school, don't I? Old school is new school. What I will say is a lot of people have been talking about the inconsistencies at this World Cup.

But I think the one constant is that still, as we go into the semifinals, everyone in the stadium is still booing the hydration breaks. Oh, yeah. And it's lovely. lovely to hear. Yeah. Yeah, I agree with that, Lloyd. And I believe some people are making quite a lot of money out of them. Now, you said on our first podcasts, basically some words of advice for us on how to survive a tournament away. So just pouring over the stuff that you said. One thing you mentioned was, it's nice to have someone alongside you to perk you up. I'll be

honest, Lloyd has done that for me. That side of it, that side of it you've taken care of. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, sort of personally, I think you've had a great tournament, professionally less so, like personally it's been nice nice to have you around who's been your perker who's been perking you who's been fluffing you don't I well you would think wouldn't you that I'm finishing the tournament with Chris Sutton and you'd be thinking that's somebody who drags you down but I've got to say in defence of Chris he does like a moan he does like a little whinge but he is also extremely hilarious he's got a real sense of dry wit and he makes me laugh on many occasions but I've been I'm not trying to get the violins out here but you know how obviously I have

this is my first appearance since the opening show. Yeah. I've been unwanted since that. Yeah, we've run out of people to ask. That's right, yeah. Yeah, but at the start of the tournament, Chris was with Alistair Bruce Paul. Yeah.

John Murray was with Paul Robinson. Yeah. And I didn't seem to have anybody. I sort of like had a little bit of Pat Nevin, a little bit of Robbo. I then had Dean Smith, Stephen Warnock. Nobody wanted to travel with me. So I've been traveling on my own.

And I was thinking, is that deliberate? I think are they sharing you, around nicely? Do they know that you're promiscuous? What do you reckon? I'm not sure about that line of questioning, to be fair, Rick. Well, maybe it is. Maybe everybody wants a little bit of dinner. I think I do. I think you can just come out and say that. There's nothing wrong with that. I also completely agree with you about Sutton. For all that I enjoy bickering with him, the guy's fantastic company. He is. He is, yeah. I mean, you've got to look after him a little bit. I helped him checking at the airport the other day.

So in that sense, he does need a little bit of mothering. But also going back to that debut appearance, and I'm still awaiting the payment for that as well, incidentally. The top boss, and I mean the top boss, got in contact with me. Didn't say,

nice to hear you, he just said £300 for perfume, question. Yeah. That was, I think everyone's main takeaway was, what are you talking about? What's it called? The Governor's Island or something? The Governor's Elbow?

Governor's Elbow? No, Governor's Island bond number nine. Yeah. Although I need to point out, I should have pointed out to Alex. It wasn't perfume. It was a fragrance. Lloyd calls it perfume still, so. Yeah, but I've been informed that Lloyd has brought something like eight or nine different aftershaves with him. Well, it was eight. It is now nine.

I bought one at juice three the other week when I went to Vegas. A little bit of, well, I went mention it. Treat yourself. a little bit of pear, if I was asking. But a bit of what? You smell of pear? Essence of pear, yeah, that's what I worked for.

Is that? I don't know, this is your area. Does people go around smelly of pears? Is that a thing? Not for me, no. I don't think that would cost you 300 quid normally. No. But I actually feel vindicated, though, Rick,

because the aftershave that I did bring out leaked on my opening day. When I arrived, it had gone all over my clothes. So I've since had to go out and buy another cheap aftershave because I've had so many intents. eternal flights as I travel the states on my own. It wasn't the governor's island, was it, that leaked? Because you said you weren't going to bring it with you?

No, no. That's right. That's why he was vindicated. Presumably, when the big boss got in touch about your fragrance, he was thinking, am I paying dead-o too much? That might explain the lack of payment for the pod. No, they're actually not paying me enough. I think you'll find.

Right. I'll get that message to him. Well, I reckon there'll be another text. Come in soon,ish. The next thing that you mentioned... Yeah, followed by a P-45. Is the importance of room selection. Now, I arrived here two days before Lloyd and one day before producer Lizzie.

So I had the pick of the three rooms. And let me tell you, I took full advantage of that. Well, I would say that's naughty. It's not naughty, actually. Because in that situation, what are you doing? They're all nice rooms. They've all got an onsuit. They're all got an onsuit.

Yeah. So I just picked the one that's got a walking wardrobe. Am I so wrong? Yes, you are wrong. Because producer George, when he did that with me four years ago in Qatar, he waited. He could have easily taken the best room. He waited. And then because he waited, I said to him, no, George, you have the best room. So it still worked out for him.

But he showed a degree of care. He was being thoughtful. Well, listen, this is what I did. I texted both producer Lizzie and Lloyd and described the situation. and said this one room is absolutely fantastic, I think we should sort of rotate in it. Now, obviously, my hope was that they wouldn't want to do that, but I offered it up.

Yeah, he did. I did offer it up. He did offer it up. It was quite canny. But it was one of those offers that you kind of go, no, it was a genuine offer. He doesn't mean that, does he? Like, he doesn't.

If you'd taken me up in it, I would have said fine. It'd gone to, it was a calculated risk. He'd put up his own art. He'd put up his own posters, um, some T4 on the beach kind of stuff. Yeah, I painted the walls. I painted the walls. it'd retiled the kitchen from his days at Toll Academy he'd really gone to town on it

and so we're fine but what I will say though Dano he's working the pod but then he has to go and do the little breakfast show as well so not a little breakfast I am working more yeah so I just thought actually do you know what fine fair play give him it the only thing I will say you've got a stool in your shower

which I do quite like no it's a bench he's got a bench in his shower and that actually I think is the way that I've never had a bench in the shower before done it, but it really does make you feel like you've made it, but you just have a little sit down in the shower, and you're still washing?

That's incredible. I'm still getting clean, but I'm sat down. I think it's so you can shave your legs. What a treat. Can I just say, Lloyd, I don't feel too much sympathy for Rick when he says hardworking, because he's getting paid for both the podcast and doing the breakfast show.

Yeah, I know. He's basically sat outside a pub in Santa Monica speaking to, let's be honest, drunk football fans. Look, I think we're all having a nice time, aren't me? Yeah, fundamental. We're all working now, aren't we? We are all working. We are all working.

Some of us harder than others. We have asked everyone that's been on the pod so far, and it's a bit of a hack question. What has been your favourite stadium so far? Are you deliberately causing trouble? No, why would I cause trouble? Because you've spent time with Rick Edwards. That's what Rick does. No, no, no, no, no.

I am not an ajon provocateur, don't know? Unless it's osmosis, it just happened without me knowing. The reason I hesitated, Lloyd, is that when I first, arrived I went and this has been told many a time on on five live and it was also told on that other very popular podcast the commentator's view that when I first arrived and I went to the MetLife and I said what a great stadium it's got the wow factor and it went viral it had over five million views in America and I was called a Euro poor by a lot of people in America was a Euro poor it's a derogatory

slang term for somebody who's from Europe because the Americans feel that they are superior to Europeans. You've been nice about their stadium and they don't like it. I don't get it. Yeah, because it turns out that most people in America despise the MetLife Stadium. Ah, really? Well, that's on them, not you. In answer to your question, I would say, Dallas is nice, but from a commentator's point

of view, I preferred Boston. Why specifically? Why Boston? Well, only because the sun was shining, it was an open-air stadium. I wouldn't want to be there if it was raised. but it gave you a great view of the actual pitch. There's the number of stadiums, Atlanta, Dallas, you actually can't see the near touchline.

So as a commentator, that's a major floor. So I would say Boston and also it's a great city as well. We did notice that with LA, didn't we? Yeah, LA, same thing, like all of the commentators sort of peering over so they can try and see the near touch line. That feels like a design floor, doesn't it? Can I just have one more bit of advice from the first pod, please? You said there has to be a pants rule,

which is don't walk around in your pants. And we have avoided that. There was one moment where I had to rush out of the shower in my towel because there's been a goal. Egypt discord, yeah. I heard producer Lizzie and Lloyd celebrating. So I just had to get out there. And that was, yeah, that was the most uncomfortable we've all been, I think. But we have, and I've just noticed you've done it literally, I think, this morning.

We have been hanging out each other's smalls. Yeah. We're just, without sort of wordlessly as well. It just sort of, it just happens. So did you do this or was this, Lizzie? Well, producer Lizzie, I've, you know, I've not touched any of your boxes since we've been here. I've touched so many of yours. I know, I know, but that's just because... Very little thanks. Of the timing, but, Denno, they are exactly what you think Rick Edwards

wears. If you think of a boxer short, don't say the brand, but they're exactly what you think he might wear. Basically, I saw someone in a curry house in Southampton wearing these boxer shorts, and I was like, come on, those are fantastic. And was that person smelling rather fragrant from that? Oh, were they? Fantastic. They smell, I'll say $100, $400, actually, given the conversion rates, $300. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, well, I couldn't stop sniffing and put it that way.

I mean, given that we've got here, we might as well talk about a football. Four teams left in it, the four top seeds, France, Spain, England, Argentina. You're doing France, Spain tomorrow. And I'm not saying you're old, but you've got a wealth of experience. You have done a lot of tournaments, Deno.

what is the feel like for you of a World Cup semi? Don't snigger. That's, you know, to quote your friend, you're better than that. Come on. Talk me through your World Cup semi. Don't know. Don't know. He's not even buffering to this won't speak.

That's a yellow card offence, by the way, Mr. Edwards. Yes, I have. I've got the first one. I've got I mean it really is it's charmed, it's pure old It is, it's pure old But it's good fun, isn't it?

It's good, clean fun It's taken 34 days to reach the first semi of the World Cup Oh dear Can I just say though I keep referring back to that first show That we did And I actually said something

That'll get edited out And it didn't Not by producer Lizzie I do worry that This little bit of dialogue might actually remain in the actual finished edition, which is a little bit concerning. I think some of it will. That episode that we're referring to, it was the first time ever that I've seen that I've appeared in a podcast where it said, Warning.

It contains explicit content. Anyway. Yeah. Well, as you can see, we've really moved on from that kind of thing, that are you? You're a man who's experienced a lot of tournament football. What is it like stepping into the stadium for a World Cup semi-furt? final. It's very exciting, I've got to say, Rick. I also think that we could have potentially a really cracking game of football because they met last June in the nation's league semi-final and Spain

beat France 5-4. I was actually watching the game in Barcelona and Spain at one stage were 5-1-up and then France started this remarkable fight back and it was really thrilling and absorbing to watch. So I hope that we get a similar game of football in Dallas for that first. semi-final. France, I think, of just taking it to the next level, though, haven't they? I think they've got better in Spain, maybe marginally worse, but France are just different gravy. Well, they are going forward. I still think, though, that they give you a chance going the other way.

Yeah. And Spain play with a greater control. They've restricted the teams that they've faced in the six games so far to just seven shots on target. So if they can do that, and obviously nullify, whether it be Mbapé, Barcola, Alise, D'A, D'Belé. I mean, the options that France have got are quite scary. Spain have got the upper hand in recent meetings against the French, and I would still back Spain to beat them. Really? Wow. That's interesting. When you're preparing your notes,

how do you make sure you've got something new to say about these players that we've been kind of waxing lyrical about for the last month or so? To be honest with you, Rick, I think at the start of the tournament, you're looking at sort of like statistics of how they perform for their club during the last season. Yeah. But when you get to sort of like the deep waters of a tournament, you're then looking at how many times a player has appeared. And so you're looking at players who may be their first appearance at the World Cup or who's started every game. You're looking for patterns of when the coach makes a substitution.

Rather than, you know, I mean all the statistics about Fabian Ruiz has yet to taste defeat since he made his debut for Spain since 2019. Great. That has been trotted out probably every time that he's played in this World Cup. So I look for trends of, like Mbapé, the earliest goal he scored at a World Cup is 14 minutes. I look for little trends like that rather than statistics that would be trotted out from game one and game two. In terms of the quality on show of this semi-final, this is right up there, isn't it? You couldn't really ask for more than that.

No, you couldn't know. I did the Euro 24 semi-final between Spain and France in, Munich two years ago and that was when La Miena Mal scored that terrific equalizing goal. He came in off the right touchline and hit a left-footed curler. And I still think there's more to come from Laminia Mal as well. But I've seen some really cracking goals at this tournament. Some of them have been from Mbapé. I saw obviously the Alvarez goal of the quarterfinal for Argentina.

The Sydney Cabral goal for Cape Verde against Argentina that I still think for me that remains the goal of the tournament. If you fast forward 24 hours, I think the game against England, Argentina will be a really niggly affair. And so I think if we're looking for the purest, I think the first semi-final will offer the greater game for the purists. I think I'm going to really enjoy France, Spain,

and I suspect I'm going to hate most of England, Argentina. It's going to be awful to watch. Yeah. You mentioned the Argentina-Cate Verdi game, which you were commentating on, Denner, and I think for me, yeah, I think that is the best game of the tournament. The England-Mexico one is close,

but I think Argentina and Cape Verde gets it for me. How about you? Yeah, I would agree with that. And not just because I was there, but I think it was just purely because of the narrative that you had the defending champions against the smallest nation ever to qualify for the knockout stages. And that twice they came from behind to stun Argentina. And it was just the pure astonishment that this is what Cape Verde were trying to do. So I would agree with you. But I do think that there was a great deal of satisfaction about that Mexico-England game.

And then days later, I went into the England camp in Kansas City. and I spoke to Big Dan Byrne and those moments about his header that reached the half over halfway, the block on the Jimenez overhead kick. I love that block so much. Something struck with me as well, Rick, about Anthony Barry, the assistant manager, because back in November this was, he said the team that wins the World Cup will be a team of moments. And now that team isn't France or Spain. That team, a team of moments so far has been Argentina and England.

Yeah, I agree with that. Do you think Thomas Tuchel has said all the way through this tournament that there is more to come from this England team that they can be better? Do you think he's right? Yes, I do. They haven't put in a complete performance as yet. But I go back to the previous answer that they're not bothered about that. If they are the team of moments or that just get them over the line,

get them in those crucial occasions in whatever stage of the game it is, then England not bothered about putting in the complete performance. Thomas Tuchel and Anthony Barry studied the Club World Cup last year. They realized that the heat and the humidity and all those factors are coming into consideration. And you just have to produce. You have to be ruthless when it matters. And that's all they're bothered about. So I don't think Thomas Tuchel will be concerned.

Yeah, he said they were lucky against Norway. Yeah, they have to play better. But as long as that team of moments, that's all they're bothered about. Denner, you mentioned earlier about finding facts and tip bits. One that I found this morning. And I didn't really surprise me, but I was, I guess, shocked. Elliot Anderson hasn't lost a game whilst playing for England. He's our Fabian Ruiz.

It's a lovely little fact. I think he's just had a fantastic tournament. Obviously, he's only played for England for about five minutes. Yeah, but still I think, you know, to come in, like last year, no one really would have said he's going to be a prominent part of our World Cup team. You're going, you're right? Are you sure? Like, he's just been released by Newcastle. He's gone to Nottingham Forest, but I think he's had a fantastic World Cup.

Yeah, he has. I'd also throw Jed Spence into there as well because I think Jed Spence has been, sort of like much maligned at times and yet when he's come off the bench he's been absolutely superb for England he was so good against Norway he's the fastest player in the squad and I think that everything that the way that this squad was

constructed has been borne out how they envisaged it was going to happen you know I knew myself and John Murray knew that Big Dan Byrne was going to be in this squad of 26 back in March and for him then to come off and play such a pivotal role in those closing stages in the Azteca it must have been

a dream come true for him you know to make his will Cup debut in such an iconic stadium and then to play the role that he did. So there's been a number of people who've contributed to England's passage to this last four. I've had a message from Chris Sutton saying that you've got a bit of a dicky tummy. You've got the squits. What's going on. What a supportive friend. I'm not checking in. Are you all right? I'm fine, thank you. I've, I just had a bit of a tricky period for 24 hours. So basically when we were doing the commentary in Kansas City, I was having stomach cramps in the first half. I was nipping my belly, and there's a lot to nip. I can guarantee you that after about six weeks in America. At half time, I had to take an emergency tablet to see

me through the second half, so you can imagine what joy when it went to extra time. I can imagine how much as that would have enjoyed it. So it's basically you and Declan Rice have really been in the wars. Have you been for dinner with Declan Rice? I'm so glad you did finally come back on the pod, Delo. Thank you. Thank you, mate. The United States is about to mark its 250th anniversary. And so on the Global Story podcast from the BBC, we're telling surprising tales of American influence on the world stage and in ordinary people's lives all across the globe.

We have this ability to export our story, and a lot of people have bought it. I feel like the American dream is alive, but not well. From the BBC, it's the United States at 250. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcast. North. The 2023 Ballandor, France footballer is... This is the story of the greatest rivalry in the history of sport,

a rivalry that split football into two fates for a generation. There could be no, oh, Messi and Ronaldo are both great players. There had to be one that was better. They 100 million percent pushed each other to the next level. You know, we were the lucky ones who got to see it. I'm Steve Crossman. This is Sporting Giants, Messi, V. Rinaldo. Listen first on BBC Sounds.

The Football Daily Podcasts at the People World Club 2026 with Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffin. Listen on BBC Sounds. As we're near in the end of the tournament, Rick. Yeah. I wanted to do a kind of... Sad? Yeah.

I want to do a Lloyd and Rick kind of Football Daily unofficial awards. But these aren't like the normal awards that you'll hear on most football podcasts where they'll be talking about the greatest players and the greatest games. Can I guess? we a bit irreverent? What? Are we a bit irreverent? Yeah.

Bless us. So I've got these awards and we're just going to have a little chat about who we might think might win these awards. Should I have prepped for this? No, it would be fine. Potentially, but who knows? Best home shirt. Home shirt.

Germany? Yeah, Germany. Yeah. Yeah. The Germany is up there. Looks fantastic. All of them have got a sort of retro flavor. Very retro flavor.

So there's so many I really like. But Germany is the one that immediately. strings to mind. Brazil. Brazil's got, basically it's like the 98 kit that they've just reissue.

Brazil is fantastic. Brazil of your childhood. Yeah. Yeah, they've done nicely. Spain and Belgium, also quite nice.

Mexico home also quite nice. But I do think... Mexico home's glorious, actually. But I do think for me, I think the Germany one is great. Southern England

as far as they did, but... We'll give it the Germans. We'll give it Germans. Now this one, away shirt. Now, there's far too many. Yeah, but...

Go on. It's Japan, isn't it? I think it has to be Japan. That Japan is beautiful. But there's also Mexico away, which is fantastic. Same kind of vibe. Belgium away, which is what they wore the other day. Is that the sort of...

Like a pinky kind of... Yeah, do you know what? People weren't with me on this. I like Scotland's away. I've got Scotland written down next, Rick. Okay, fine. The Panama away top, absolutely fantastic. I can't remember what it looks like.

Basically, just think of Bolton, JJ Occher. Reebok, white, fantastic colour. Okay. Is it Reebok? It is, yeah. Also, Curisawa Way, we never saw it. But it's worth Googling. The Curacao Away kit is absolutely fantastic.

I do think Japan wins that. Hang on. Okay. I did. For some reason, I'd looked at it before we came out. Yeah. It's a thing of beauty. Well, they played, I think, Scotland.

Yeah, they played Scotland in a preseason friendly. So maybe that's how well. But you must have seen it then, because it looks great. I've never worn another countries, and we have a disagreement with producer Lizzie over this, I've never worn another country's shirt, producer Lizzie regularly parades around this house in an Argentina shirt, unacceptable. But I did look at that and thought, well, Curacao, I'm very unlikely to play them, maybe ever. So is that safe? It's that nice.

I did think about it. Didn't pull the trigger. I don't know where you'd buy it, but I'm thinking about purchasing one. Okay. Yeah, what's next? Best hair, I'm calling this the Salon d'Or. Well, don't leave me hanging. Okay.

That's actually very good. That's good. The Salon d'Or, best hair. Yeah. Couple of contenders for this. Well, hang on. Go on. So, I think it is the precise two minutes after Erling Harland's second goal against Brazil when the hair comes down.

Yeah. That's the hair moment of the tournament. Yeah. That's, that's, I don't even think it's worth discussing. Look, obviously he was going to win it from the off. He's been knocked out. He's not going to win the Golden Boot, but I think he's going to win the Salon d'or. Other contend.

Other contenders, Jackson Irvine, the Aussie lad, who just looked like he'd come off the beach from a surf. Yeah, with the Tash. Fantastic Tash. Yeah. Just look like he drives a Ute around New South Wales. I think he's one for the ladies as well, I understand. These are all for the ladies and men, actually, if I'm honest. Alison Becker, his hair, this, like, this was a long hair tournament.

Yeah. Really, really long hair tournament. I also... I mean, he's just, to me, the man's a car. He is a god. beautiful hair, beautiful man. I also think Memo Echoa with that perm.

Essentially, he just looked like my mum's mate, Sue. Yeah. But just played in gold for Mexico. Fantastic do, as they call it, back in the 90s. Oh, I love you do, Sue. Oh, thanks, yeah. Got it done at avant-garde down Lady Smith Road. How long is that perm last?

Do you think that's where a show gets this done? Yeah, he goes avant-garde. It's actually no longer around. Oh, that's a shame. You can't imagine him in the old that thing. Yeah. The dome thing. Bounces out.

Best slapstick moment. I think we both agree on this. I haven't given you any kind of heads up, but. Michael Oliver, body checking Danny Olmo. Yeah, Michael Oliver, essentially a UFC. Yeah. Is it a hexagon? I don't really into it.

Oktigant, isn't it, I think. Biggest head loss of the tournament so far. There were two, I think there were two, really. The Egyptian manager, towards the end of the game, just absolutely losing it, bless him. Yeah, I mean Yeah Stand with him

Stand with him But he did lose it a little bit But I think it has to be The Uruguay team Who Oh yeah Essentially all lost the plot Yeah

Red cards galore Got told they've got to fly back Via Raina Yeah Can I can I say As an option for this one Go on All of the

Norway staff And team When they're all going Oh, it hit the cable, it hit the cable. Boo-hoo. How about that? Yeah, you can do. Yeah, yeah, you can do.

Yeah, yeah, fine. Funniest moment. I think there's a number, but I think down to two. Harry Kane, Harry Kane's voice. Oh, that a great tournament. Harry King. I can't speak. I think, done.

Done. But also, Mexico manager. Oh, too, Anthony Gordon. Oh, Gordon. Off. It's what makes it. What makes it is his reaction. How much he enjoys it?

It's so funny. Yeah, it's wonderful. And then finally, best chant of the tournament so far. Oh, I know this. We believe that we will win. We believe that we will win. Absolutely. I really miss that.

Yeah, it's a great. It's just, yeah, it's got so much. I love it. Even there's a plane flying over to try and drown out that chant. Because even the American pilots are like, we're not having any of that anymore. We're not having any of that. Yes, that's a contender. We believe that we can win.

I also think the... Well, no, we will win. Okay, we believe that we will win. will win and well they didn't we believe that we will lose and then I think the Norway chant with the Root the Rooh yeah

but I think that the best chant and it's going to keep going as we sail all the way to the final is the England chant and actually to know what who can do it a little bit better than me please welcome John McClure from Reverend of the Makers John thank you for joining us

hello boys lovely to talk to you both thanks for coming on Now, look, this chant has been doing the rounds at England Games. Just talk us through how it started, how it's kicked off, and how buzzing you are that this, I mean, for this tournament, might have taken over three lions. It's unbelievable. So obviously, the song is from the 70s, originally.

The riff, should I say it, is from the 70s. We used on the Marmite advert when we were kids. Yeah. That's good. I forgot that. So we, it was in a song that we released in 2008. nine. It's a massive part of our kind of festival sets.

We closed the sets with it. And then a gentleman from Sheffield called Steve Bracknell, who you may know. Yeah, yeah. He's out there. He's been out there singing it. And then the England band, we know them fellas of it, John Eming and all them lot,

they've been playing it. And then obviously the song's picked up traction from there and it's just gone bonkers. It's everywhere. It really is everywhere. If you look back through the Amble, Apart from this one, favourite England song. I'm a world in motion, man. Yeah, love it.

Yeah, love it, love the whole. Although I do like the Peter Beazley. You've heard the Peter Beazley version, right? Yes. I've got a real, and I feel like I shouldn't have, because of Keith Allen's involvement, but I do really like Vindaloo. Do you remember Black Grape's England song?

I used to like that, me. What was it called? England's Irish. England's Irish. England's IRA. Remember that one? Yeah. Bring it back.

John, where are you now? I am backstage in the fire, what's it called? The old fire station in Carlisle doing a special album show, small intimate show. It's part of we got in the charts with the number one album the other week. So we have got a bunch of in-store dates to fulfil. And then back to Sheffield recording a bunch of stuff. And then we're going to play in the fan park on Wednesday before the England anthems in Sheffield do a thing there. and play the songs so it's a busy time lots going on have you you mentioned steve bracknell earlier on

have you have you listened to the pod have you have you met him what do you think of him i have met him a lot of people say that he looks like my brother chris mcclure which i can see yeah yeah a lot of people say that i look like paul sampson the manager yeah and you got the same voice it's got the same voice the same head yeah um it has been said that we have same attitude same stinking views on things. So, yeah, it's been great fun doing that. And my brother, Chris, does look like Bratnell. And he's out there loving it at the World Cup.

I believe from what I hear from Samson and Bracknell, the logistical difficulties in doing it because obviously he's over there in the States, doing the thing. But it's wild. I mean, he's bigger than Jesus now, Bracknell. Everywhere he goes, he gets mobbed. Yeah.

And it's great to see. It's great for Sheffield because... We spoke to him the other week, and it seemed that he was in the back of a van on a lay-by. Yeah. Sleepy in the back of a van. Yeah. And I'm not sure if Jesus did that.

No, but, you know, even the Messiah has to stop for fuel and... Yeah. And sods of rolls, don't... You know what I mean? It happens. Yeah, and it's effectively, it's just 40 days in the wilderness sort of vibe, isn't it? Yeah, same. I like that.

I like the biblical references, Rick. Yeah. No, no problem. I'm not actually a biblical man, but I pulled that out somehow. Where are you going to be watching the England-Argentia game? So in another guys, apart from being reverend and podcaster, I am the chairman of the world's oldest football club, Sheffield FC, and we are doing a kind of bit of a collaboration with some friends of ours

to do a big fan park thing on Devonshire Green in Sheffield. They're going to show the game there. Oh, that's great. And the band are going to play the song. and hopefully we're going to stuff the argy and progress to the final it feels so exciting

I've got to be honest I've completely been caught up in the Azteca was the I weren't really feeling this World Cup until the Azteca and I've just been obsessed ever since that that changed everything for me that game was huge

and that that setup that you've got sounds really really good as well very nice setup and also do you know what where are you boys oh we're just in We're in Santa Monica. Santa Monica.

Yeah. He says. Yeah. It's quite similar to Sheffield, actually. It's quite similar to Sheffield. Quite hilly. Very hilly. There's a dry ski slope down the road.

I appreciate that from you, Lloyd. Yeah. It's not making me feel any better. I'm terribly jealous. I do miss the new Barrack Tavern, though. I love that. Love a niche cultural reference. Awesome.

It's a cracking bozer. It is a cracking bozer. John, thank you so much for coming on. Also, thank you for bringing us a new song. And hopefully, it is associated with England winning the World Cup in 2026. It will. See if trouble's on, lads. I've known John for a very long time.

And he's just one of the all-time great guys, I think. I love the fact that he sort of has various iterations of success as well. He's got his fingers in many, many pies. Yeah, yeah. And also just the loveliest bloke. Such a nice man. Very nice guy. And an absolute unit, let's we forget.

Don't forget if you want to get in touch with us, you can send us a WhatsApp or a voice note on. on 08-0-0-08-0-089-369 or 08,000-289-369. Thank you. So we've got commentary of that huge semi-final between France and Spain for you later today from 8 o'clock. And we'll have a podcast afterwards, reacting to that and looking ahead to England's semi-final with Argentina. Do you want to say something about push notifications? Please make sure that your push notifications are enabled on your phone, so you never ever miss an episode.

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