Football Daily - World Cup: Tim Ream On Leading The USA & His Hair Promise

Episode Date: July 1, 2026

What does it mean to captain the USA at a home World Cup?Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith sit down with Tim Ream to talk about leading the United States, the responsibility of wearing the armband, the legacy this team hopes to leave behind and whether he'll keep his famous blonde hair if the USA win the World Cup.The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell joins to look back on another day in the last 16 as Norway, France and Mexico all book their places in the quarter-finals, while Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé continue their tournaments with more goals. They also look ahead to England's knockout tie with DR Congo.Plus, Rick and Lloyd discuss which celebrity they can replace on the 'star wall' in the pub.

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Or has she turned the whole world into a casino? Good, bad, billionaire. listen wherever you get your BBC 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. England take on Dr. Congo later today in their round of 32 game.

We're obviously going to be talking about that shortly. The scores from today. Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 to make it through to the last 16. Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1. France beat Sweden 3-0. If you want to catch up with any of the scores or highlights, to the BBC sport website and app. We're also going to be talking to the USA captain Tim Ream,

ahead of their game against Bosnia, Herzegovina later on. We did that yesterday, and I realised we only had a short amount of time with him. He did. And we got wrapped up, which is fair enough, you haven't agreed him out of time.

But it did mean that we didn't ask him about that game. Not a single question. No, he didn't. But I think... I got a sense he's probably fed up of answering that. Exactly. And we asked him lots of questions about football. Loads of great questions.

And America. But nothing about the really important game he had coming up. But I just think everyone else will be doing that. So boring. Yeah. Like I want to know about him. And he was lovely, wouldn't he? Very nice man.

Very nice man. We, on the way there, we were talking and saying, because they're based in Irvine, which is about an hour south of where we are in Santa Monica. Thanks for driving. And I felt that we had to ask something about his hair. Neither of us wanted to ask something about his hair. Obviously not.

So we rock paper, scissors to see who was going to ask about his hair. And, well, you'll see how that played out later on. But just to confirm, we asked about his hair, but not about the game. Nothing about the game. It's not that we've cut it out. It's not that it hasn't made the edit. We literally did not ask him anything about the game. And I stand by that.

And then the guy who was doing it from the USA was like, you've got one minute left. And I'm like, we've only got the hair question. Better ask him over it. the Bosnia game Simple Hair We'll go for hair Gotta be hair

One other thing Now that we've sort of bedded in To the oldy king's head We've started to eye up Their fantastic photo wall So they have got Photos with so many famous people And there's sort of

A whole wall covered with them And actually there's some sort of spillover onto other walls And they've got some really high-end people Oh this is elite Genuinely it is So Just sort of

Off the top of our heads, really, we just had a quick check. You've got Adam Sandler, you've got Noel Gallagher, you got Hugh Grant, you got Jay Leonard, you've got Vinny Jones, you got Ali McCoyce, you got Rod Stewart, you pick up. Hasselhoff, David Beckham, Dodley Moore, right. Weirdly, I met when I was a kid. Helen Mirren, Diego Luna, Ray Winston, Timberlake, Justin, Price, Katie, Heffner, Hugh, Richard Branson pouring some ketchup onto a breakfast. That's right.

This is the level that we're talking. This is elite. but we obviously feel that we deserve to have a photo up there but it's a question of who we replace and of those people I'm not sure we're making it what I will say is there are five pictures of Noel Gallagher

there are so they could take down a Gallagher we have noticed Little Moe from EastEnders is up there yeah she's got a go and I think she's going to go she's going to little go like we basically our two engineers who are doing the podcast with us are American and when we said Little Mo, there was no reaction whatsoever. No, but no. Little Mo?

Little Mo. EastEnders? From EastEnders? Albert Square. No. No. What I will say is though she is the sister of Gary Oldman. Well, I'm not taking him down. Taking her down. I'm quite scared. Jackson Lamb just turning up my door. What are you done with my sister? How do we engineer them taking down Little Moe? I think we'd just speak to Josh. We just say to Josh, listen. No one has to know. No one has to know. And with the best one in the world, I think between us, we are,

I don't know, actually, I'm about to say, I think between us, we're more famous than Little Moe, but I think we are. Absolutely not,

no. The only thing that I will say is, which in itself is really depressing. Little Moe is a character in East Denver. It's just a character. She's absolutely fantastic. No, she's really good.

She's great, and she's an unbelievable actor as well. Yeah. But the thing is, she's not at the level of the other people on there. In America, you kind of going, well,

you don't know, like Vinny Jones, you have, I mean, Diego Luna, the Gallagher's. Justin Timberlake. Justin Timberlake.

The list goes on. But it's like, who's that? To be fair, what will happen is, we'll say Josh, can you put our picture on there? He'll go,

guys, not a problem. We'll come back. We'll come back. And I was like, who were they? Who were them two? There.

Hail and pace. Little and large. Morkman Wise. Well, I was thinking, yeah, Morkman wise, yeah.

Vick and Bob. No, I was thinking more like it was more like appearance base as opposed to success. So we went, yeah, we drove to the USA camp in Irvine to sit down with the USA captain. Tim Ream, how are you? Very good. How are you? Really well. We're in the US for a World Cup on home soil. You're the captain. This is the dream, right? Yeah, something like that. I think it's more than a dream, to be honest with you.

I'm not sure that this was ever the dream to be captaining a side in. in a World Cup, but listen, we're here and enjoying every minute of it. What was the dream then growing up? Playing in a World Cup, winning a World Cup, of course. That was a dream. Being a captain is a little bit extra. Unexpected, but yeah, listen, it was a great honor. And to be sitting here with a once in a career opportunity, as I've said before,

you don't get many chances to play in a World Cup at home and we have that. Being in America, it's quite obvious that football, soccer isn't the biggest sport here. American football, baseball, basketball, basketball, even ice hockey. Why did you choose soccer? I mean, it was just something that I love to do. I played loads of other sports. I did the hockey thing. I played basketball until I was 17. I played baseball until I was 14. I played everything. And soccer was the one constant that, you know, I always had a ball at my feet, always had a ball in the house. And it was just something that I always wanted to do. It was the one thing that I always looked forward to do and what I

gravitated towards. And, you know, that was obviously something that my family were into the long before I came into the picture and that's just what I gravitated towards. Are you one of these really annoying guys who is just good at all sport? You could say yes. Yeah, probably. Yeah, I mean, I'm athletic enough that, yeah, coordinated enough that I could handle myself in, obviously, not professionally in every sport, but yeah, I can pick things up pretty quickly. Yeah. Sorry.

No, that is a no, yeah, you have to be sorry, it's not your fault. I'd like to be able to just do one. Yeah. And that is actually Lloyd's dream. It will never happen. You were, I guess, six when the World Cup was last in the US. Yes. Do you remember that?

Do you remember the impact that it had? I don't remember it totally. I remember bits and pieces of it. You know, seeing some of the games on TV and, you know, some of the atmospheres. And you get bits and pieces, like I said. I don't remember specifics. I mean, I remember the US beating Columbia. But I don't remember everything.

I do remember how energized and how, you know, crazy the fans in the crowds were, but nothing really more than that. But, you know, from there, obviously, it grows. Yeah. You know, a league gets developed and created from there. And so, yeah, a lot's changed since then, that's for sure. I'd say so, yeah. What do you hope this World Cup does then for six-year-olds now who will watch this World Cup

and think, wow, this is amazing? I haven't really seen football on this stage before. And what legacy do you think it helps them with? Yeah, I think, and I said this weeks ago, we have a chance. And when I say we, obviously, the U.S. team in this country to grow the sport even more so. But I think as players, no matter what national team you play for, you have an opportunity to inspire so many different generations of people. I mean, I start with young adults who maybe don't have kids who, okay, they're thinking of their futures and what sports are they going to put their kids in, right? We have an opportunity to inspire that generation, the older generation who has not been interested in soccer at all.

But, you know, there's so many guys on this team from so many different backgrounds, so many different areas, so many different corners of the country that somebody somewhere can relate to somebody on this team to one of the guys on this team. And then you just work your way down, right? The next generation of kids who have that dream of representing their national team, right, representing their country, playing in a World Cup. then the ones under them who are I don't know if I want to continue to play the sport I need some I need to find some type of inspiration somebody that I can look

up to and then you have the kids who have never picked up a ball and what are we doing on a daily basis but then obviously in the games that inspires them to have that energy to say I like this sport I love this sport I want to go outside and I want to kick a ball

mom dad do we have a ball anywhere because that's all I want to do now so it's just The legacy is how much impact can you have across the generations. And we won't know that until after the fact. But that's the way I look at it. The USA fans, I think, are feeling really confident. I saw a poll on TV the other day. And 85% of USA fans think that the USA are going to win the World Cup.

We're a confident bunch, aren't we? Potitino also said, why not us? Is that the attitude within the team as well? I suppose you have to believe you can win it. What's the point of playing in a game if you don't believe you can win it? What's the point to playing in the tournament if you don't believe you can win it? You don't just go to be a participant. You go to win things.

Listen, we're bold, we're brash, we're American. We believe that we can be the best in everything. And so, yeah, why not, right? Why not us, as Maricio has said? And as players, it's our job to listen, we believe anyway, but it's our job to make others believe. It's our opportunity and our chance to show the rest of the country that we are a team that can do something really, really special, and to have their support backing us and for them

to believe along with us. And it creates this really special feeling in the group stages that we created, and we're looking to carry that through. We've been to a number of games, went to the opening USA game in LA, and the crowd just always behind you. It's, and what's really nice is, like, as you said earlier, there's like young kids, a real mix of ages. Quite family. Very family, and a real mix of genders as well. which is really nice, but they seem to be constantly behind you and very, very positive. Have you noticed a difference from playing in the UK in the Premier League to the crowds here? No, honestly, especially now, listen, there's no getting around and no sugar-coding.

In the games before, I don't include the two friendlies that we played leading up to this World Cup, but in the games before, we have always struggled to have a pro-US crowd. Now, that may come as a surprise to a lot of people. But that's just the way we are. We are a nation of immigrants. And when we play teams, there are so many people from all over the world who live here, who want to see their national team play as well. So we haven't always had that pro-US crowd.

So in Charlotte, then in Chicago, then, you know, as you said, in LA for the paraway game, the crowds have just grown and grown and grown. And we feel that buzz. We feel that excitement. We feel that energy. It's like playing in the Premier League, you have that home support. And it's, you know, if you're not playing in the primary league, you know, if you're not playing well, you're going to be a little bit antsy and a little bit irritable and they'll let you know.

And that is the same here. But more times than not, it's the positivity. It's the chanting. It's feeling their buzz and their energy behind us from the first whistle. And that's been a big thing for us in this World Cup for sure. When you got the call from Pochitino saying that he wanted you as his World Cup captain, what was that conversation like? How surprised were you?

It was actually a sit down face to face. Right. Did you think you're in trouble? In my office, please. Not normally. Not normally with him. It was a little bit of a conversation and it was just like, yeah, like, you know, this is, this is incredible, like a huge honor.

And what really surprised me is that they brought me out and did a whole announcement. That was the kind of reaction that everybody saw. Because I didn't expect that. I just thought we were going to go about the same way we've gone about all the other windows. And, you know, if I play, then, you know, I'll have the armband. And it's not expected, but, you know, anybody could have it. So it was an eye-opener. And that announcement that we did before the May 30th game in Charlotte was kind of a culmination of all the decisions you've made, all the sacrifices you've made.

It's all been for this moment to be on the World Cup team. And then the extra added bonuses is to be, you know, be captain. You're the oldest Americans play at a World Cup. Is it true that you get called Gramps by your teammates? Wow. So they're two impressions of you where they're like walking around with a stick and stuff. Sometimes, yeah, there's a lot that goes around. My kids give it to me more than they've told me that if I score,

I have to actually do that, that celebration. Oh, plenty. But you know what, like, it's all in good fun. I think it comes from a place of love. I would hope so anyway. Because I think they all appreciate that not too many of them are going to get to 38 and be still playing and potentially playing in a World Cup. But listen, I poke fun at myself all the time.

So I think it opens the door for those. guys, listen, being in England for so long, you have that banter back and forth. Like, you just, there's no getting away from it. You've been called worse. So, God, be called much worse. So I'm like, you know what? I may as well join in. And then, well, then what can they say, right?

If you win the World Cup, will you let the hair free? Yeah. I've actually, yeah. I will let it free. There has been discussion if we win that it will, it will be chopped off. But I'm still up in the air debating that. I don't know that I can take it off. I don't know that I can get rid of it.

I'll definitely let it down, though. That's not a problem. It's iconic. It needs to be let down. Yeah. Tim, pleasure talking to you. Thank you so much. Thanks, guys.

Appreciate it. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you. So yeah, Tim Ream there. And yeah, I lost rock paper scissors. And I asked the hair question. And I'm glad I did.

Well, the thing is, the question that I think you wanted to ask, which I saw in your notes, you didn't actually ask, did you? Well, no, I didn't compare him to Alexi Lalas. No. Because I thought, ah, we're getting on. We're getting on. And that's one step two. And that press bloke would have been like, you're never coming back.

Yeah. Also, if he scores a goal, then I really hope he does do the grandpa. There's a stick celebration. That'd be superb. That's better than cord and gang Mbapé doing the flute. It's lovely, isn't it? Look, for Ritz de Romano, might get transfer exclusives, but you've got one that he's going to do that,

and also maybe cut his head. Yeah, I mean, he doesn't He does score a lot of goals So I don't know what you're breath But also, imagine if he does I wouldn't love that I would milk that Yeah

Well I think you should probably move on to the football now Mexico Ecuador In Mexico City Absolutely mouthwatering fixture on paper Didn't disappoint Like proper sort of Latin American Derby feel When in here

It was so Almost exclusive Mexico fans, so like raucous and shouting the whole way through. Although I'm not sure they were from Mexico, because they kept shouting, Mexico. I was like, you're missing the X. And you were, you were correcting them, weren't you? I was like, guys, you're missing the X.

But they couldn't, they couldn't here because they were watching the football and enjoying the football. Two great goals from Mexico. The second red card that we've seen for a player covering his mouth, I, look, I hate I hate the snitch I hate the snitch so much he runs off with such glee Ravs Rav! He covered his mouth

Shut at me! It's proper school It's so school Running off to the teacher They said I was tubby Yeah I just ask a example It's a good example I just thought of

I do get it But obviously the rule is You know it's come in for certain reasons Obviously good reasons Good reasons yeah But there In Capi was obviously just insulting him. It was a very, very fiery match. It was a very, very fiery match. We don't know what

he said, but it's the fact that he's then gone over. But it's very clear that he's not going to the referee and saying, he just said this. He's going over and saying, he covered his mouth. He's covered his mouth. And it could have been, it could have been generic stuff. We don't know. I think leave that to the VAR assistant. The jaunton from the Mexican fans in here was quite good. So just going, Rocco, Rocco, did you know what that meant? Rocker I mean? Red. Red?

Yeah. Who's just chanting red? For the red card. Oh, for the red card. Right. Four wins out of four in the tournament for Mexico. And I feel like they've got better and better really. And I know we've said this quite a bit now.

But if England get through against Dr. Congo and face Mexico in that stadium, I don't fancy it. No. That is such a big ask. I do fancy it. you know, because I'm a, you know, a big believer of the England's setup and the system, and I love the lads.

But it's going to be tough. I mean, I think Mexico have really impressed, especially out of the three home nations, Mexico, no offense to the USA and Canada, I've kind of just excelled there, you know, the group stages for a long time, the only team that took to have got three wins, and they look great.

Yeah. Can I just say, Raul Jimenez, I think he's absolutely brilliant. Lovely lad, obviously gone through, you know, quite a bit over the years. He signed to Wolves just before. the World Cup and he's having a fantastic

World Cup and he kind of think he could have squeezed a bit more money out of someone why did you you're playing in the championship next season do you mean you could have waited you could have been playing for I don't know whole city yeah the Premier League well not not necessarily whole but I think he could have definitely got a decent Premier League move he's

had an exceptional tournament and we've talked about very very popular in here as well very popular in here people went nuts but you know there's been certain certain strikers that have kind of gone under the radio because we're talking so much about a specific five or six set of players. But Jimenez, I mean, he's having a lovely tournament on home soil. I'm really buzzing for him.

One thing that the England team might need to prepare themselves is the serenade that a load of Mexico fans gave the Ecuador team outside their team hotel. It was quite noisy. And the Ecuador, like I've said, well, that's a bit, you know, we can't sleep, lads. over a thousand Mexican fans outside the hotel like they were loud just in Yoli King's head. About 50 of them. Imagine them. A thousand of them going, Mexico.

Yeah, and you're going, ex. Where's the X? If I were England, I'd be going, do you know what, we've heard what's happening. Should we just fly in on the day? Yeah, or... Flying on the day, don't get hotel. Flying some fans, they're all doing wonderful outside the Mexican hotel. And then we'll see who likes it. Oink.

Do you know what I've seen recently? There's quite a lot of lookalikes and a lot of, a lot of them have been bad lookalike is okay. What I think the England team need to do is hire essentially, the bad lookerlike is, put them in a coach, send them to what they think is the official hotel. That's brilliant. And then get the real loud staying at youth hostel just down the road.

Yeah. Have some fun. Bunk up. Exactly. See the stars. You know, the sky is your roof. Is that the thing? The sky is your roof?

I think of it. I think is your oyster. I don't know what I was thinking. Oh, I don't know. I think I'm still high off Mexico winning. Listen, England, the sky is your oyster. Come on, lad. The sky is your roof.

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A couple more games to discuss today as well, and we're joined to discuss them by Laurie Whitwell from The Athletic. Hey, Laurie. How you doing? Hi, hi, guys. Thanks for how many at home. Obviously, we've hung out before, Laurie. But this is Lord. Oh, hi Lloyd. Nice to meet you.

Yeah. We've not hung out this tournament now. Have you? Yeah. Just me and Rick it was. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we had a lovely time. When? I'm not with you 24-7. Sometimes I slip out and have a nice time. Is that when you said you're going out for milk? Yeah. Yeah. And you were...

Lorry up. It was a lovely movie like... Oh, this guy. It was so nice. Yeah. How much longer are you here for? I've only got a few more days. Friday is when I go. Yeah. Well, we're squeezing other lunch in. That'd be nice. Yeah, great. Let's talk about Norway then. They made it through to the last 16.

I only the third time in their head. history and it wasn't just the Erling Harlan show until it kind of was but right but right at the very end do you think Norway shade in it I think so I think that the better the chances really I know that Ivory Coast were were pressing and were good value for coming back into the game and I was excited maybe for having an extra time I enjoyed the all the extra times that were in the first sort of round of 32s but yeah Ealing Harlan did his stuff at the very end although he kind of looked like he may have slightly mishitted. He looked a bit worried for one second

didn't he? He did. Everyone's talking this year about how fast that ball is and how goalkeepers can't get to it. That was the slowest goal I think I've ever seen. It took like three days to get in. There's one bit where I think he went, I'm not sure if it was going to go in and then look to go and get it and then the goalkeeper's like oh I probably could have got that. Why has he done that? I thought he was going to

hit it really hard. He hasn't. Erling Harlan. It's like Erlinghan always has to do something special. And in this case he thought well everyone's sitting at hard. I'm going to score the slowest goal of all

time. He did look very pleased with himself after full time though didn't he? Yeah. He just stood there. And with the

Viking hat. He's having the time of his life and I'm very happy for him. So it's his dad. His dad, the camera

straight to his dad in the stands. It looks like he's on a stagged due when the World Cup's got in the way. He's there with a Viking hat

there's a lot of lads drumming and the Viking Hurting. He's rowing. He's always rowing on a stagdo. He has now

scored in his past 13 competitive appearances for Norway and scored 25 goals in that run. I mean, we've said it before on this podcast. He is an absolute machine. Yeah, joke

really, isn't he? It's sort of ridiculous. It's been great, though, hasn't it? How all the big names have come to the party at this World Cup and he's no different. And yeah, I don't know, just sort of see him at the end of that game and you're sort of thinking he's already thinking about the matchup with Gabrielle, isn't he? He's already thinking about

reigniting that little few. from their club teams onto the international stage Brazil he's licking his lips so yeah I'm fascinated to see how that one goes because that's a such I mean all the last 32 matches have actually been already quite good

they look good on paper they've actually lived up to the expectation so far but that is a last 16th side that I think will be greatly appealing I think I feel a bit gutted for Amajalo because he scored one of my favourite goals of the tournament it's a beautiful goal

and also nearly scored with a sensational free kick. I mean, from a goalkeeping point of view, Lloyd, I did like the attitude. Lloyd is a, as he never mentioned that. Sorry. Yeah, to be fair, he only mentions it. Would you say every day?

Oh, at least, yeah. Yeah, I think it's just good to let people know. Yeah, that and the fact he's been to Australia. So the Norwegian goalkeeper has looked at the position of the free kick and gone, lads, I don't need a wall for this, which is pretty bold. And Amadjalo's gone? Oh, yeah.

Well, I'll say about that, sunshine. There have been some questionable free quick. Free quick. Easy for me to say. Play quick. I'm Jonathan Ross. You wish. I'll be able to get on the wall, though, probably.

There are you working, definitely. There have been some questionable free-quick walls this tournament. And that one, you kind of go, I just... Was that worth the weight, do you think? Is it worth you getting that out? Anyway, France, Sweden. Anyway, the point is the goal kit made a very good save in the end. He did, yeah, but I mean, stick a wall in there.

Stick a wall, mate, come on. It's not a World Cup for walls. You know, Lino Messey didn't need a wall against Jordan. That seemed to just go on. Yeah, have another goal in this World Cup. Amadella, he actually, I cover Manchester United usually, so he has been perhaps underwhelming for United in the last part of the season. And actually, he's come to the World Cup and done the business, really.

I mean, that goal today was absolutely fantastic, wasn't it? And then the free kick as well. sort of thinking, okay, maybe he could take the ball off Bruno Fernandez for United, but I know we're talking about Ivory Coast in their disappointment in this. But it is interesting. A lot of people online afterwards, like, how is he not getting into the Man United team when he's performing like that? Also, how is he not getting into the Ivory Coast team, to be honest?

That's more baffling. And then, as you mentioned, Brazil, Norway, that's going to be a good one. Not just because of the subplots, but I think that's a decent matchup. You've just got two teams that can score different kind of goals. you're sort of feeling Brazil have got different ways to win it like I watched their game against Japan and you know obviously Japan took the lead

look really tidy and you're sort of thinking if Brazil got enough to come back here and okay yeah they do you got Casamero again in the first half he was into Miami's Casamiro from a United perspective MLS ready yeah he was doing what he did for United Endercy just getting in the box and thinking I'm just going to go and score here

and so he did do that and then also the subs as well you got Martinelli and Vinist just they can they can tear teams apart on the countercane Brazil. So that's going to be fascinating. How are Norway going to play it? They all had a load of scrutiny on them for a little bit of scrutiny for resting all their plays in the final group stage against France

denying us that Mbapé versus Harland head off, but then it kind of paid off because they end up going through against Ivory Coast. Yeah. But I think you've got two Brazil, haven't you? You know, look at the other day, you've got the first half Brazil and the second half Brazil and you just don't know which team is going to turn up and they haven't been

massively impressive in the group stage. And I think if you're Norway, you're thinking, well, can we have the first half, Brazil, if that's all right, with Casamiro exhausted, which he looks like he is the majority of the time. I don't know if you get to ask for that, though, do you? Can you not? Yeah. When they do the toss at the start of the referee and just go to the captain, by the way, loved

your first half stuff. Did not mad on the second half stuff. It should be true, yeah. Lads, they've asked for first half. Yeah, okay. Right, France, Sweden. I don't think we need to spend very long talking about this. it's the first round of 32

match that we've seen where it was just a source of procession really France was just too good Embappe's too good and we say it every time they play now their attacking prowess is absolutely frightening

that like Mbapé-A-Lise Linkup is sort unplayable yeah I watch this at a golf club up in Los Angeles Penmar where they have an open air that's where we watch the England game absolutely It's good, isn't it?

Yeah. Did they sort your booking out? Did you have a booking? And were they fine with it? I had a friend who lived around the corner, so he brought some deck chairs and just positioned them in such a way that I then turned up just before kickoff and just sat in a deck chair. Good to know for the future. Just so you know, I can put him in touch if you on.

We had a slight issue. Oh, what was? Well, Lloyd had an issue in it. He thought he booked it and it turned out he hadn't. And I had to mention Rick Edwards and luckily. And then it was all. They knew who you were. It was all fine. We've got a picture on the wall of actually.

But there's actually quite a large French community around that area. So they were loving it. And yeah, I mean, you just sort of think, who can stop them, really? I mean, at least he's passing. I was not aware that he was that good. You sort of get an idea, but there's a joke, isn't it? I mean, five assists he's got those two passes from Bapé and Barclay. You just sort of wonder, how can anyone really stop them from the kind of combinations they've got,

the strength and depth they've got? Yeah, I guess you've watched lyrical enough. and I'm sorry that I'm continuing that. No, I mean, it's fine. And Bappe's now 18 goals in 18 World Cup games. He's got six in this tournament tie with Messi. You'd struggle to bet against him getting the golden boot, I think. Yeah.

I feel like, well, I don't know, I think France will go further than Argentine. Maybe they could meet in the final. Obviously, they could. But, you know, just the French. It's fun to rerun it, wouldn't it? Yeah, yeah, it really would. Yeah. Yeah, it would be very annoyed if he's got another hatch to get lost again.

he's like well this actually isn't fair now well he actually I mean Deschamp left him on as well so they've already won the game but he's like no stay out maybe to go another hatch it seems like he's actually got that understanding with him where he's saying you know I want you to be the leading scoring in this World Cup and beyond as well and he actually gave him

he ran up to him massive hug obviously Deschamps has been home to for the funeral of his mother but so you can see the connection there with him and it's not got stale you kind of think it's been such a long time that Dechamps has been in charge of this French team and you sort of wonder is he actually a allowing himself to let go of that kind of defensive discipline that usually he tries to inject into his team and just thinking,

I've got such an attacking arsenal. Okay, fine, go and play, boys. Yeah, I think he has done that. He's just like, well, there's no point telling this lots of defense. I would also just love to see what he says before. And obviously, he has to take a lot of credit for what's going on. But when you've got players that good, you're going, just take care of it. I don't know. I think if I'm stepping in, I think they're doing fine. Aren't they? Realistically. Sorry, Rick Edwards has just said, he thinks that if he was managing the French national team, they would be fine? For a game, yes.

Do you speak French? Yeah, they all speak English. At least he definitely does. I'm not sure he speaks great French and he still has this whole thing. We were watching today and you're looking at Elisa going, I wish it had chosen England. I was just actually re-looking it. He was always, like 2019, he was playing for France, though. So he never really this kind of tug of war.

But, you know, it came through all the academies in England and you just think, wow, imagine. imagine him supplying Carrie Kane with passes and we can actually imagine that because he plays for Biden. Yeah, yeah, and he does. He made that stupid comment today and someone pointed out my error, so yeah, I'll just repeat it here. Also, I love that way with, oh God, yeah.

Oh, no, yeah, no. Yeah, it does work, does work. Let's talk about England then. They take on Dr. Congo later today, full commentary from 5 on 5 Live Sport. Firstly, it's a nice normal time for everyone back home, but I think it is a slight case of spare of thought for us. Because we're often to watch it

at 9 a.m. eating Cheerios, and necking Stella. Oh. Yeah. It's Stella on the Cheerios. It doesn't have to be. I mean, it's double malt, really, isn't it? Yeah.

I'm always double malt. Yeah. We've been getting up for these games, but we've been getting up with them and not really having, like, any involvement. Yeah. He's making notes for the show, but actually, we're going to have to get up and, you know, properly get up. Yeah.

We drink zero percent, Stella. We do drink zero. We're not animals. But, yeah, we have to get up. So it's nice. loads all of our friends and stuff. They're going, it's great. We can go to the pub at 4 o'clock, like normal.

I've been chatting to people back home, and they're like, we haven't really had a great experience of it so far. So hopefully this is the round that they really get that fever. But yeah, 9 o'clock is a, I mean, please, someone think of us. Right, right. Someone think of us in Santa Monica, please. The lineup is the thing that everyone is kind of slightly concerned about, I think. So Jarrah Kwanza and Rees James both missed training.

too early for East James. What is he going to do on the right hand side? I was really intrigued by him saying to John Murray. I'm not going to tell you, but we've got a strong right back tomorrow. Because everyone's like, have you? Have you actually? How much of a surprise can it be? We know who you've got.

Yeah, it's like you can't. All of a sudden, like Gary Neville pops up. Well, he was working here anyway. And I just thought, well, he's got him some boots. Dean Henderson? Dean Henderson. He is strong. I've seen him squat.

haven't seen the squad. Yes. Surely, Esri Konzer, I mean, listen, I'm pilfering the thoughts of my esteemed colleague Jack Pitt Brooke,

who covers England, and also trying to sort of make sense to it myself. He's played it right back before. You know, it wouldn't need that unnatural for him. John Stones, I think, has done it for City on occasion.

He's not going to do that, though, is he? Stoned back in Centre and Concer is right back? Is that much different to Kwanso? I mean, Quonsonso was a surprise to me to even make the squad.

So is it, it's not a downgrade, is it? It feels like it's fine. Jed Spence, I'm a bit, he sort of, he's been a big supporter of Jed Spence. He's sort of wondering whether that would be something as a threat for Dr. Congo,

down the right, his speed. But, yeah, it seems to me that he's indicating that it's going to be concert. Chalabar? Okay. Well, when Chalabber got called up.

And he likes him. And he has played in certain situations at right back. I've got to say, I wouldn't love it. And that's no offence to Trevor. Dr. Congo did expose Portugal a bit in their game, in that they just managed to completely, partly this is on Portugal,

but they did just shut down Ronaldo. So again, England had presented with a very strong defensive unit and asked the question, can you break us down? I don't know if I know the answer. Yeah, you're anticipating another deep defence a la Garner. Well, they don't play as deep as, Ghana, even as Panama, but they are, they do, they do defend well. I was going through the starts earlier. You've got to go back to September 2025 for the last competitive game,

excluding friendly, where Dr. Congo, less conceded more than one goal. That's a good start. Spends a lot of time looking for him. Well done, mate. Maybe it'll only take one goal. I mean, obviously you've got the players like Wambasak, who is excellent one-on-one defender, but he is also susceptible to crosses over his shoulder, you know, the far post kind of defense. So you could think Harry Kane peeling off. That could be an opportunity for England. They look good. I mean, this has been good, doesn't he? I mean, those finishes that he did against Uzbekistan,

sharp, Newcastle fans are thinking, where was that all season? Can we have him? Can we buy him? Yeah. And we bought him, have we? I'm not sure we have. Tuchel, when he talked to Kelly Summers, was sort of just tempering fans' expectations and saying,

look, this isn't the time to expect glamorous performances. It's just about going through and getting the job done, which is, I guess, you know, I understand that. It's a bit frustrating though because you feel like England could be exciting to watch. They've got the players, haven't they? He left a couple at home. But even so, Morgan Rogers, Drew Bellingham. Bellingham, I thought, really steps up against Panama.

I know it's only Panama, but that sort of showed the kind of Real Madrid caliber that he's got. And okay, he likes to be in that position. So maybe him and Kane. He also said I saw Tuchel that if teams try and attack us or try and beat us, then that's when we'll have our best game. So will Dr Congo do that? I'm not so sure. They'll come out a little bit, won't they?

But I suppose Dukeley is just trying to manage expectations, isn't they? Because ultimately so far, England haven't been great. They've been... It's just those sort of flashes. You sort of do, you know, like a half against Croatia, or ten minutes against Panama. You just want a bit, a bit more than that, though, don't you? Ideally, yeah.

I do wonder, though, like, if France are playing Dr. Congo, is Didier Deschamps coming out and going, look, don't get... It's not going to be exciting football. You know what I mean? We'll only get that when we, you know, I think that France will just play really nice, expansive football and thread passes through their defence and score. And you kind of go, shall tell you why that is? Go on.

France are much, much better than England. They have got insanely good players. England obviously got players that are very good. We've got a photo of Henry VIII here. Yeah. We've got Henry the 2nd. King Charles over there and you're pledging allegiance to France. Why is Henry the Lord?

Why is it out of Henry the 3rd? Well, and Henry the 3rd, do I mean? Rane 1216 to 1272. There's a number of ye oldy king's heads on the wall. I think I know why they've called it now. Is that finally Penny Drugs? I've just realised. Not a smart man.

It's not a little mouth. But if we can get one of these down. Do you imagine? Yeah, so what we've done actually, Rick, we've taken down Henry the 8th. Yeah. And, well, we've gone full regalia. Yeah. And we've replaced it.

I've commissioned a portrait. We replaced it with one of your photos from Toolik. But you did just say that friends are very good. And they are. Thank you for touching me. But also, you can't disagree. No, I'm not disagreeing. You think that this is managing England might also say go and express yourselves?

Ah. Oh, la la. Yeah. Looks like someone does speak French. And we know that they shop's out of a job because I've taken over the French national team. Go out there, lads. Alley, allay, allay. Oh, it's good stuff. Well, you know, we're going to try and get to bed early, I suppose, for this 9 a.m.

Oh, absolutely. Laurie, thank you, particularly for fully embracing calling the DR Congo, Dr. Congo. I was told in unequivocal terms of that. It's, we're, that's our one hard line on this show. I am happy to oblige. Thank you. Thank you. And I'll give you a call.

We'll go for a drink later. Yeah, perfect. Cool, cool. That's the same place, yeah. All right. Yeah. Yeah. I'm busy.

Didn't ask. Didn't ask. The commentary's coming up for you later today are England, Dr. Congo, from five. Belgium, Senegal from nine. USA, Bosnia Hertzegovina from 1am. Go on Tim Rune. It would have been great if we got a sense from Tim Rue of how he's feeling about that game. But unlucky, we didn't ask.

You can listen live with the BBC Soundsap. or ask your smart speaker. The more I say that, the more I think, what's that a mistake? Use your smart speaker to play 5 live. To get new episodes of the Football Daily as soon as they drop,

make sure you're subscribed on BBC Sounds and turn push notifications on in your phone settings if you're an absolute nerd. Am I a nerd? Yes. There's this feeling you get when it's about to go in the net

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