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England Set to Qualify for the World Cup! But... have they been challenged enough?
12 Plays3 days ago
Michael Grahamslaw is joined by Iain Mackay and Nicola Pringle-Adams to preview England’s final World Cup qualifier in Riga, where a win over Latvia would confirm their place at next summer’s tournament in North America.
The panel assess Thomas Tuchel’s near-flawless qualifying campaign — five wins, no goals conceded — and discuss what’s changed under his leadership since Gareth Southgate’s tenure.
We ask the question, has it been too easy for the new manager? Will our first test come at the World Cup?
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast and World Cup Qualifier
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Dean of Newcastle podcast. I'm Michael Grameslaw and as always it is lovely to have you with us. England are on the brink of securing their spot at next summer's World Cup and all that stands between them and a confirmed ticket to North America is one night in Riga against Latvia.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But before we get to all that I'm joined by the brilliant duo of Ian McKay and Nicola Pringle-Adams.
Welcoming Guests Ian McKay and Nicola Pringle-Adams
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ian I'll start with you. How are you doing?
00:00:40
Iain
doing great Michael thank you very much for such a warm welcome how are you doing
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, I'm doing all right. um I was better until about two minutes ago when we started recording this for the first time. um But we'll we'll skip that and we'll go
England's Performance Under Tuchel vs Southgate
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
into Nick. How are you doing, Nick?
00:00:59
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yes, I'm well, thank you. Yes, I'm very good.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great stuff. So we'll get into the game. Thomas Tuchel's side have been near perfect in qualifying. Five wins from five. No goals conceded in a real sense of momentum building.
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go through it all today because it's all very exciting stuff.
00:01:15
Iain
Okay.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll start with where things stand. England top group K, 15 points from 15. And because Serbia lost in Albania, which all of a sudden makes the 5-0 win look pretty tame, really.
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Winning Riga tomorrow will guarantee qualification. Now, we've seen some pretty good performances recently, as I mentioned, the 5-0 against Serbia, the 3-0 over Wales last week, and it feels like England are finally clicking into gear.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Ian, I'll start with you. Obviously, the Southgate era, a very good one for England, but since taking over, has there been any major differences you've seen in Tommy Tuchel's side in comparison to the one that's failed?
00:01:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
to win World Cups and European Championships, but got so close.
Tuchel vs Southgate: Management Styles
00:02:01
Iain
Oh, it's a little bit... It's difficult to compare directly, isn't it? Because Southgate steered England to some incredibly
00:02:10
Iain
straightforward...
00:02:12
Iain
competition qualification groups in the same way that Tuchel has.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:17
Iain
I do think that within Tuchel's reign, which was which here I agree was quite stolid performances, quite boring to watch.
00:02:28
Iain
But the last two games, that win in Serbia and the way they dismantled Wales, certainly in the first half, it It is exciting and and particularly exciting because I think maybe five of England's best players aren't in that team, which is quite exciting stuff, isn't it?
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%. Yeah.
00:02:50
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, agreed.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
What about you, Nicola? i mean, you weren't exactly a fan of England under Gareth Southgate. You've mentioned numerous times you didn't really like the football, in industry unless it was a tournament, weren't bothered. Has that changed under Thomas Tuchel? Are we playing a little bit better?
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or is it saying of, ah, I'm still not really England, Newcastle through and through?
00:03:11
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um I think my love for international football is just a bit stagnant I don't really enjoy watching it anyway however I will agree with Ian is particularly the Wales win I enjoyed watching them um and I don't know if it's because we're seeing a team like Ian just said, um, with different players.
00:03:31
Iain
Thank you.
00:03:32
Nicola Pringle-Adams
And obviously we're missing what five or six key England players, like you'd say.
00:03:38
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Um, and I actually really, I always really enjoy when managers, to and this is international or, you know, league football, always take a bit of a leap of faith and pick players that they wouldn't normally pick.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:51
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I know some of them have had to be picked because of injuries and things like that, but, um, Yeah, I always really in enjoy when a manager does that.
Are England's Matches Truly Competitive Before the World Cup?
00:03:58
Nicola Pringle-Adams
And I don't think Tuchel is scared to do that anyway. We've seen that when he first joined um as an England manager. He picked players that were like, but oh, Gareth Southgate would have never done that.
00:04:08
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So um I think from that aspect of things, I get a little bit more excited because I like seeing different players get a different chance.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:15
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Whereas Gareth Southgate would just still pick the same old team because he... I don't have any idea why he would. But yeah, so in that aspect, I am... i am I wouldn't say enjoying watching them more because I still don't, but um it's an improvement.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an improvement.
00:04:31
Nicola Pringle-Adams
We're making progress.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:04:33
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah To be honest, that's that's if we're not going to win trophies, that's the thing that matters the most, really, getting people to want to watch the nation again. And although trophies are the most important thing, let's be honest, if England were playing, let's say, Georgia in a friendly...
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah you are realistically going to be sitting there under Southgate and going, I don't really want to watch this.
00:04:56
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But under Tuchel, there's a likelihood that you'll see players make their first
Tuchel's Player Selection Strategy
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
cap, see how they do. I mean, there's probably a David Nugent 2.0, one cap, one goal.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know there's been a couple like that. But, you know, you get players like that in those kind of games, it makes it a little bit more exciting. And Tuchel's clearly able to do that.
00:05:17
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ye
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have decimated our last two put opposition, as we say, Serbia and Wales. We've been really ruthless um early on. But for me, the last couple of games is where it all clicked. I didn't feel any difference at all originally. um Defensive stability, priority numero uno.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was for Southgate and you know it it kind of was for Tuchel in the opening games as well.
00:05:37
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Thank you.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone loves three nils over Latvia and what was it, one nil over Albania or something, might have been two. But it's starting to kick into play. We're getting ruthless. But we haven't really played anyone of any note that could cause us problems.
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
We thought Serbia were that kind of opposition. And then they didn't get do anything at home against Albania. So... That's kind of, you know, put a little spanner in the works there.
00:06:08
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Mm-hmm.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm going ask, does it feel like there's potentially a concern that England might not play any sides in competitive football that could cause us any problems before the first World Cup game next month? Because all we have between now and then will be friendlies.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think, Ian?
00:06:31
Iain
For the first World Cup game in at the World Cup, do you mean?
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah.
00:06:38
Iain
ah yeah So you're counting the final qualification games as friendlies because we're already have qualified.
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, they're not going to be tests, really, are they?
00:06:44
Iain
Because there's still two matches to play, isn't there? No, there won't be.
00:06:48
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Three, I think.
00:06:48
Iain
I mean, it's ah it's an easy it's an easy group, isn't it?
00:06:49
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Two, yeah.
00:06:51
Iain
It's an easy group. about that I think it's just the way of the world. I think we've never been clinging on and getting through on the last game of the qualification. We do a lot of that. And ah think... I think Tuchel's been quite clever.
00:07:05
Iain
I think there's... The incumbent, the squad that's there now, is playing well, have earned those shirts, and he's making it bloody hard for half the guys that Southcourt would already have written down on the team sheet before he'd had them in for training.
00:07:16
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:07:22
Iain
He's making it hard for those to get their place back. So hopefully that will elevate their performance um and also inspire the guys who are in there, the Elliot Andersons, for example, the Dan Burns,
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:35
Iain
Hope that will inspire their performance in these matches that come up. ah I think it's healthy, healthy competition, real competition, which I don't think under Southgate would have had because I think Kane would walk back into the team.
00:07:47
Iain
You know, Bellingham was fit. He would have walked back in the team for these two and he hasn't. I think it's quite clever.
00:07:52
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Mm-hmm.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I agree, to be honest. um For me, it's it's just a case of ah I've got a feeling this tournament's going end up coming a bit too soon for Ketuchel because the only team we've played that had any threat whatsoever was Senegal.
00:08:07
Iain
Thank you.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they put three past us.
Squad Competition and Performance Impact
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's a friendly, you know, let's be honest, we weren't really seeing the best of England. But it's one of those that when, let's say, first, well, in the group, there's always a chance you could play the likes of Brazil.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
England at the minute are ranked, I believe, tenth So it wouldn't put us in the top eight, I believe, of World Cup qualifying. I mean, you're going to play one of those top teams. So is there still, ah for you, Nick, is there still a little bit of a concern that, you know, we haven't seen us tested against any top teams?
00:08:37
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, always. Always, always. um Sorry, my attitude towards England isn't great, is it? Maybe i need to change up. um
00:08:45
Iain
you
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:08:46
Nicola Pringle-Adams
No, I think what happens with England is they get very complacent. um And like you say, Ian, they're playing in a very, don't want to be disrespectful to them teams, but they're playing in a very low calibre group.
00:08:58
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So, um and you see it in the past where, you know, they become complacent.
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I mean, I don't know. this is going to be Thomas Tuchel's first proper test, I guess. Um, well, it is going to be his first test. Um, we might be pleasantly surprised. Obviously I've just sat and before and spoke about how he always picks people that he's not afraid to pick.
00:09:19
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Whereas like Ian's just touched on Southgate, got very complacent in his, um, squad picking. Was it a case of that? Was it a case of, you know, we would, didn't take any tests or any risks with the squad, um, prior to Thomas Tuchel coming? Um,
00:09:33
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I always get a little bit worried when we, you know, like you say, we get the likes of, I don't know, Germany, Spain, you know, the the big teams like that.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:41
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I mean, I know Germany are not the same team as what they used to be, but it's still a test. um
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:47
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, I guess ah guess we'll just won't know until the World Cup comes around. um But what i would like to see is, like Ian said, um yeah I'm not saying Jude Bellingham should be picked for England. Obviously, I think he should be, but What I like is Thomas Tushel isn't afraid to be like, no, I'm not picking him. He's not ready yet.
00:10:05
Nicola Pringle-Adams
You know, and he's picked the likes of Elliot Anderson and people like that. So ah hope he continues to do that um when it gets to these big tournaments. I hope when it gets to the big tournaments, he doesn't just do what Southgate does and become complacent because that's not what it's about.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, 100%. Mm-hmm. Cemented.
00:10:22
Iain
um thank I think Southgate would have 18, 19 of his 23-man squad going to the World Cup, already written down.
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:32
Iain
There'd be very few places up for grabs, and yet it feels like so both full-back positions are up for grabs.
00:10:32
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah. Yeah, you probably right.
00:10:39
Iain
There's probably three or four of them fighting for the centre-back positions. We know we've got, I think Saka's place is probably safe, but down the left...
00:10:44
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Mm-hmm.
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ceman that
00:10:51
Iain
Gordon's in there at the moment, but you know if he throws in a dodgy performance and that you know we've got Ezra or Rashford that are doing well at club level that can come in there. I think, and and in midfield, we've just got such an embarrassment of riches in midfield.
00:11:06
Iain
Midfield has been superb. Rice and Anderson. But then then you're thinking of a midfielder that doesn't have Palmer or Foden or Bellingham. and
00:11:15
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:11:17
Iain
It's incredible, really. and And Adam Wharton. Palace, who maybe in club form is the best of the lot. He's not even in the squad yet.
00:11:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, so true.
00:11:26
Iain
i think it's I think it's healthy. and And i think that i think everything I think everything is up to grab instead of people playing in this last season before a World Cup almost already being on the plane, which is what it would have been under Southgate.
00:11:40
Nicola Pringle-Adams
You've also got, um which I was surprised to see him not picked, and I know people are going to disagree, but Jack Grealish, who's playing really well for Everton at the minute. um
00:11:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's been exceptional.
00:11:50
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So, yeah, he's been, obviously, he's been real good for them. um So I will be very, if he continues this season, I'll be very surprised not to see him in the England squad. um
00:12:00
Iain
And
00:12:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So, yeah, yeah, competition is hot, I guess. So, the yeah, just have to wait and see.
Predicted Lineup and Strategies Against Latvia
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. We'll get into a bit of team news and we can talk about a bit more about potentially in Catrice Grealish. Does that make Gordon, you know, is that going make Gordon push himself a little bit further for these games? But first, we're going get to an advert from Bionique.
00:12:36
Iain
Yeah.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great stuff. So, Harry Kane didn't feature against Wales due to that ankle injury, but Tuchel's convinced he'll be fit to start in Riga. oh Which is essential because Ollie Watkins is out with injury.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But, other than that, do you both think it'll be pretty much a full-strength side? Maybe of few rotations in defence where maybe a Dan Byrne would come in?
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do you think?
Tuchel's Influence: Club-Like Atmosphere
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It'll be pretty much stronger side, Ian?
00:13:27
Iain
and it's the It's the main event on this little international break isn't it? Wales was a friendly, this has got World Cup qualifying points against it, ah good news of Kane is fit to come in.
00:13:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:39
Iain
um I think It's hard to think that he's been saving Dan Byrne in reserve and letting Gay and Stones play centre-half because I quite like Gay and Stones. um I quite like Gay and Stones at centre-half.
00:13:53
Iain
But yeah, I mean, there will be rotation. dampper Dan should come in. Maybe Konza gets a go at centre-half as well at some stage.
00:14:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Instead of right left, yeah.
00:14:01
Iain
and Yeah, he played right back. can't remember who... who With missing Tino and Lewis Hall... Lewis Skelly could even get a kick-off at left-back.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think you Yeah.
00:14:15
Iain
ah So, yeah, I think there'll be some rotation, but I think you've got Rice and Anderson in midfield. You'll have Saka and Gordon down the wings.
00:14:23
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, agreed.
00:14:27
Iain
and You know, I think the creative side of the of of the team will largely start as they finish, because they did so well in the first half against Serbia, in the first half against Wales.
00:14:41
Iain
He'll want that. He'll want to be two or three up halftime. And then he can coast through to the end again.
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%. I think that's one thing that England have got really good at in these games is getting the lead early and actually just, you know, ending the game in the first 25 minutes. um
00:14:57
Nicola Pringle-Adams
ye
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
think the the big one is for me is going to be on the left where it's Rashford or Anthony Gordon. Now, Ian, you've said there you think it'll be Gordon. Nicola, do you think there's potential that Rashford takes Gordon's place there, given Rashford's in good form and Gordon, well, we know how he is for Newcastle.
00:15:12
Iain
Thank you.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
He hasn't been in great form, has he?
00:15:15
Nicola Pringle-Adams
it's very up and down um i actually think we'll probably see pretty much the same lineup as what we did against wales obviously minus the likes of um
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
What happens?
00:15:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Ollie Watkins, yeah, obviously I would 100% put money on that. Harry Kane will probably take that position. um
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:34
Nicola Pringle-Adams
But no, I think we'll probably see Anthony Gordon start. And then, like you guys have just touched on, um England are good at getting a hold in the game at the minute, and whereas under Southgate, they would go one up and then they would sit back for the rest of the time.
00:15:46
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:47
Nicola Pringle-Adams
So, yeah, so no, I think we'll probably see pretty much the same. And then if, and obviously when... um Well, hopefully if our if it's going our way, I think we'll probably see some early changes, um like from halftime.
00:16:00
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um I think we'll probably see the likes of Dan Burton come on, which I'd like to see. always like to see our own in and England shirts. um Rashford. Because I wouldn't necessarily say Gordon's in horrific form for Newcastle.
00:16:14
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not good.
00:16:16
Nicola Pringle-Adams
I wouldn't. Just not good. i'm so I think this international break which is actually probably going to do him the world of good, getting some game time and things like that. So, yeah. um Sorry, Ian.
00:16:26
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Go.
00:16:28
Iain
While Tuchel's watched this season, he will see that I think Gordon's best two performances this season have been his last two performances for England. So that's what that's that's how harry Harry Maguire kept his place all those months when he wasn't even getting a game at Man United, because he was excellent when he came in for England and Southgate trusted him.
00:16:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:43
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:16:48
Iain
And I think that's what Tuchel's trying to foster.
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:48
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah, true.
00:16:51
Iain
He's trying to foster a club feeling at international level. And if you trust them, then, you know, i wonder whether he's going to trust Elliot Anderson when Cole Palmer and Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are all knocking on the door, super fit, asking if they're coming or not.
00:17:10
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Yeah.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:10
Iain
It's interesting to see how it'll unfold. But I don't think Elliot Anderson's done anything to to play himself out of the starting position.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I completely agree.
Final Predictions for England vs Latvia
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he's been fantastic and he compliments Rice so well in that position that when it comes to the World Cup, you almost think he'll be this year's Calvin Phillips where you've got the midfielder in there just to make the other two tick and Anderson is so good at doing that. But we'll wrap this up with our prediction for the game.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nicola, I'll ask you first, do England qualify for the World Cup tomorrow night? And if they do, what do you think the score will be?
00:17:46
Nicola Pringle-Adams
um Yes, I think they will qualify tomorrow night and I'm going to go 3-0. um three no
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
3-0, same as in the first game. Ian, what about you? Do we qualify for the World Cup tomorrow night? And if we do, what's the score going to be?
00:18:02
Iain
Yes, I was going to say 3-0-2. So that's three scores. No, I was going to say 3-0 as well. However, if I can't have that, I'm going to go one more four now
00:18:15
Nicola Pringle-Adams
oh
00:18:15
Iain
comfortable way.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there you have it. As you can probably imagine, all three of us are very confident in another strong England performance. I'll go for a 5-0 because I do think I'll go one back.
00:18:25
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Wow.
00:18:26
Iain
I'm appalled.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just think we're that good. No, it's it's more the fact that Latvia have played 14 games in a row against top 10 nations and lost 14 in a row.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah They've scored once and it was in a seven one defeat to Germany. So if they're going to get anything against England, it would be... Really, really quite embarrassing for Thomas Tuchel.
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But whatever happens, it's arguably the smoothest qualifying campaign I've ever seen.
00:18:50
Nicola Pringle-Adams
It worked.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jordan Pickford has made about three saves in the entire tournament so far. ah But Tuchel does deserve credit for how quickly he's reshaped the side. We saw how difficult Lee Carsley found it against the likes of Greece.
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So that really can't be overstated. ah We'll have the full reaction and analysis right here on the Daily Newcastle podcast after the game. Maybe some ratings, maybe some talking points, maybe a bit of celebration because we'll have qualified for the World Cup.
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
From all of us here, Ian, Nicola and myself, thanks for listening. Enjoy the game. And as always, come on, England.
00:19:27
Iain
I think I'm going to go.
00:19:32
Nicola Pringle-Adams
Thank you.