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Road to World Cup 26 - Ep15 - Qualifying update
4 Plays9 days ago
Join your hosts Nick Britten Ken Davies as we take the deepest of deep dives into everything related to the FIFA World Cup 2026 held in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
All the news, analysis and comment from every team, every qualification process and of course the tournament itself. The biggest festival of soccer in the world.
This week we take a look at a busy couple of weeks of qualifying – who’s reached WC26 and who’s still floundering? We bring you bang up to date with qualifying right across the globe. We do all the research, so you don’t have to!!
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, bonjour, ciao, ni hao, brevet, hola, g'day, and today, salam, maraban, annion, ha seyo. I don't know do this.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know why I try and ah to introduce this podcast in all the languages of the world, because it's only getting going to get me in trouble. ah You're listening to Road the World Cup 26 podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
the only place to find your regular soccer content on the top English Premier League teams, women's football, and because you know this because you're listening to it, the World Cup 2026.
Solo Hosting and Episode Focus
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm your host Nick Britton and there's a bit of a difference about today.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two things, one is we're not going to do our usual deep dive into qualifying countries because there's been a load of qualifying games over the last 10 days, two weeks. ten days two weeks And lots of teams are qualified and we're going to bring you a whistle-stop tour and bang up to date with all the qualifying teams so that you don't have to spend hours doing the research that I have.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah and Secondly, I'm flying solo today because my esteemed colleague and friend, The Beaver, also known as Ken Davis, is not here. He's not with us today, which is a real shame. I shall miss him. And let's face it, it's no fun taking the mickey out of myself.
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i'm'm really hoping I'm really hoping he'll be back this week so I can go back to taking the mickey out of him. But you're here now. You're here now. And it's all about the teams that have qualified for the World Cup. So congratulations, in no particular order, to Uzbekistan, Jordan, Korean Republic, Australia,
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ecuador and also to Brazil and let's face it it's Brazil That's the main story of the week,
Brazil's World Cup Qualification Strategy
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
isn't it? It's Brazil or Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil as we now must call them What I'm gonna do then over the course of the next 20 minutes, I reckon this will take us I'm gonna go through all of the qualifying confederations and just bring you up to speed with everything that has happened.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to start with Conmebol. Oh yeah, I'm going to say, although Ken's not here, by the way, I am going to do Kenny's quiz so that he can listen to it wherever he is and you can play along at home.
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
because i know you like to play a lot at home with Kenny's quiz, and I know most of you get it right when he gets it wrong. So we'll carry that on. And at least Singh's not here today. He can't get it wrong. Right, we're going to start with Comet Bowl.
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
The big story is, of course, Brazil, who have qualified for the World Cup. So congratulations to them. um We know it was always going to happen. okay So realistically, it was always going to happen. But no World Cup is complete without Brazil, let's face it. So very, very pleased that they made it.
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've had two games now under kind Carlo Ancelotti. He's unbeaten. But neither game, it's got to be fair to say, it's got to be fair to say, neither game was anything to write home about.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Elsewhere, Uruguay made it all but sure and Colombia edged closer as Bolivia also stacked themselves a lifeline. So there's still a little bit more to play in the Commonwealth region.
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Brazil and... Ooh, Ecuador joined Argentina. I'd like to say that Brazil qualified in style, but let's face it, they didn't. In their two games since Ancelotti
South American Teams' Progress
00:03:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
arrived in the last couple of weeks, they drew 0-0 with Ecuador and then edged home 1-0 against Paraguay in what was Ancelotti's first home game.
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It wasn't a great game. Vinicius Junior scored the goal, at but, you know, it's their... That's what they needed to do, and they've done it. So after a pretty wretched qualifying campaign, they are there.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let's face it, all that matters. And Ancelotti's got a year to whip them into shape. It also means that Brazil have only just lost one of their last 70 World Cup qualifiers at home.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know who's the only team to have beaten them in Sao Paulo in the last 70 World Cup qualifiers? Any ideas? It was pretty recently, November 2023, when Argentina beat them 1-0. In the Paraguay game, by the way, where they won 1-0, in the Paraguay, that thus sealed it for them.
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It started with an unusual formation. It was a 4-2-4. We had Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli, Rafinha and Mateus Cunha, who was just signed for Manchester United, by the way. ah Not just this minute, it was yesterday.
00:04:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So four-man match. Strike force. There was no Neymar. He's injured again. No Rodrigo. But it was a bold move because he had a two-man midfield of Casemiro and Bruno Gimaraes. And, you know, Bruno can get around a pitch.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Casemiro can't. So it was a bold move. It was one of those moves that... so smacked of, we've got to go out and win this game. And they did, albeit only just. The previous game, the 0-0 against Ecuador, was a more conventional 4-3-3. Ancelotti already starting to move the pieces of the chessboard around, seeing what works, seeing what doesn't.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's worked for him so far. So fair play. And I expect Brazil to get a lot better than they have been in recent times. They've also extended their record as the only team to play every World Cup.
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
with the five-time winners in line to make their 23rd appearance in next year's World Cup. So, well done to them. Elsewhere in the group. Uruguay have got 24 points, Paraguay have got 24 points, and Colombia have got 22 points. They occupy the the remaining three automatic qualification positions behind, obviously, Ecuador, Brazil, and Argentina.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
The playoff spot, which is seventh, because remember, Commonwealth Bowl is just one league. It's just one one qualifying league. it's not It's not like Asia, where there's loads and loads of groups and, indeed,
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
others like that. It's just complicated. This is a straight up and down league. it's much easier. So the playoff spot is the seventh spot. That goes into the playoff competition next year.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's going to be between Venezuela, who have got 18 points, and Bolivia, who have got 17 points. So it's really tight down there. Venezuela have got Argentina and Colombia to play. Bolivia have got Colombia and Brazil. So it's all very much up for grabs. I would like to say who's going to come out on top in terms of winning that final playoff spot. But Venezuela have got whip hand at the moment.
00:06:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah To qualify, Uruguay i play the bottom two, Peru and Chile, and they only need a point, so they're going to do it, let's face it. And we want Uruguay, we want Uruguay to be at the World Cup because their manager is Marcelo Bielsa, and we like him here at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it would be very good to see a Bielsa team at the World Cup. So that is Conmebol. Congratulations to Brazil and Ecuador. Good job.
CONCACAF Qualification Insights
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, let's crack on then with CONCACAF, who are still in their group stages qualifying, although... The last couple of games have ended the most recent stage of qualifying and we now go through to the final stage of qualifying. So lots of teams have been eliminated.
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's probably easier to tell you teams who made it rather than the ones who have and been eliminated. So going forward, we've got now three groups of four teams each. This is how it works. You're into three groups of four teams each.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The winners, sorry, I'll start again. They'll play each other home and away. So they'll play a total six games, three at home, three away. The matches will be played during September, October and November.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the three group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup, joining hosts Canada, Mexico and USA. So that will it to six teams from CONCACAF. The two best runners-up going into those playoffs, they'll go into the the playoff competition after that group stage.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've still got eight teams. There's a possibility that can reach the World Cup finals. ah But the yeah the the teams that finish at the top of the next three teams Groups, stages will qualify automatically.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Group A, out of that is Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Suriname. So Suriname. So that's interesting. One those will be at the World Cup. And it'll be interesting who gets out of that group. The Group B is an all-Caribbean line-up of Jamaica, Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Group C, Costa Rica, Honduras, Haiti and Nicaragua. Costa Rica, I think, out of all all of those teams have probably got the biggest World Cup pedigree. So we're going to see some new faces, I think. going see some new faces at the World Cup ah next year.
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's kind of CONCACAF. Before we leave that... it will be It's worth saying, by the way, it's worth saying congratulations, but farewell to the Bahamas, who played for and lost for, sadly, with a goal difference of minus 21. They did manage a couple of goals during the qualifying campaign, but they finished with minus 21, goal difference, played for, lost for.
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the reason why I am saying so sad to see say farewell to the Bahamas is that they have a young midfielder called William Bales. who plays for them.
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lovely lad, good player. And I know William Bales because I coached him. I coached him when he was 13, 14, 15 at our local club here in Derby, Little Over Dazzlers.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he he was always ah is always a very good player. And he went on from Dazzlers to forge a fantastic career internationally with Bahamas, though not that fantastic because they've been spanked in their group and they're out of the World Cup.
00:09:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But unlucky, Balesy. Come back and play back in Derby, mate. Come back and play with Derby. So that is CONCACAF. That's what's going ah on in there. We look forward, obviously, to the September, October and November rounds, which will come the end of November. We'll know three more teams have qualified for the World Cup.
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well done. Right. Let's have a quick word from our sponsors.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, he's playing it again. Blimey, it's bad enough the first time. ah that was That was like a voice from beyond the grave. That was Ken. He's not here, and yet he's still hounding me ah with his with his voice.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so there you go. Bionic ad as read by the not-present Mr. Ken Davis. So at least he's contributed something to this podcast. At least he's done something. ah Right, let's crack on.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's crack on. with Africa.
African Teams' World Cup Journey
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, the African qualifiers have reached their halfway point over the last few days and after six match days, not really that much exciting to tell you, I'm afraid, because the main takeaway is that all the big sides who we expect to qualify are indeed on course to qualify.
00:11:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, none of the African teams that competed in the previous World Cup in Qatar lost during the most recent round of games among the top formers are Morocco Ghana and Tunisia and South Africa who are firmly installed at the top of their respective groups Cameroon Senegal are doing all right.
00:11:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, by the way, we're gonna come to this a little bit later on Senegal played England in a friendly the other day And they were really good. They were really good. They were very, as but as poor as England were. Senegal were was very impressed.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, Cameroon, we're going to talk about that in a minute. Cameroon and Senegal both currently sit in second place. One point off their respective group leaders who are Cabo Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Other favourites, either because they're favourites or because they've played in lots of World Cups, ah Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, they're also all top of their groups, having taken maximum points in the last round of games.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it is pretty much business as usual in the African nations. Not too many surprises. But the one underperformer of note remains Nigeria. They were doing OK until the ninetieth minute.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
of their game against Zimbabwe where they conceded an equaliser to a young man called Tawanda Chayriwa. He plays in in England, plays for Wolves, came on loan at Derby, actually, our club, came on loan at Derby for a few games last season before he disappeared back to Wolves.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's their fourth draw in six qualifying games. They need to start picking up. I'm afraid the Super Eagles are neither soaring nor very super. Six points adrift of the leaders South Africa in their group, and they are stuck in fourth place.
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Group C is not going well for Nigeria, and they're going to need a strong finish their campaign if they're going to secure a direct qualification to their seventh World Cup. A word also for the mighty Seychelles, who have played six, lost six, with minus 28 goal difference.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I managed a couple of goals in qualifying, so well done to them. But thanks for turning up, lads. Right, so that is Africa taken care of. In a moment, we're going to move on to Asia, where four teams have qualified in the last few days.
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But before we do that, it's everybody's favourite time of the week. Even though he's not here, we're still going to play Kenny's Quiz.
00:14:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, in honor of the great man, we're going to have, well, I'm only going to one question. i normally do two, three, four or four, but I'm only going to do one. But to play along at home, play along. If you know the answer to this, I'm sure you can. Just a shout out at your phone, wherever you are.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, we all know that Uruguay became the first ever World Cup winners. We all know that. Everybody knows anything about football and the World Cup knows that Uruguay were the first ever winners of the competition.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But my question is to you. Who was it against? And what year was it in? And there's a bonus point and an almighty slap on the back for you if you can get the score right as well.
00:14:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we know Uruguay were the first ever winners of the World Cup. Who was it against? And what year was it? And a bonus point if you can get the score. I'm going to count to five and I want you all to shout out as loudly as you possibly can. Here we go. One. Two.
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
one two three four five and the answer is of course 1930 was the year the year And Uruguay beat Argentina.
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the score was 4-2. So well done if you got that right. Well done. Uruguay, the first ever World Cup winners in 1930. And they beat Argentina 4-2 in the final.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you got all of that right, you have extreme football knowledge and my undying respect. Well done to you. As always, we're very keen to hear from you here at Road to the World Cup podcast, 26 podcasts. Find us on Instagram at Road to the World Cup 26.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even better, drop us an email, which is Road to the World Cup 26 at gmail.com. I think. We normally get some emails in every week. and So I presume that's the right email address.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, do drop us an email. We'll do a postbag when Ken's back next week. we've got a few in this week. So very nice to hear from you. Thank you if you're one of those who've dropped us a line. ah Right, let's crack on then. And our next up is Asia.
Asian Teams' Qualification and Australia's Transition
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And four teams have qualified from the Asian Federation. So well done to Jordan.
00:16:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well done to Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, and Australia.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Jordan, they won 3-0 against Oman to seal victory. Ali Olwan there with a hat-trick. Well done them. Uzbekistan, well, they only had to draw with United Arab Emirates, and that's exactly what they did.
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Korea Republic also back in the big show. Congratulations to them after they beat Iraq quite comfortably. And Australia, well... They did in style, actually.
00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
They did style because they beat Japan, which was quite a big win, and then they beat Saudi Arabia. So well done. And the Saudi Arabia game, by the way, they were 1-0 down and goals either side half-time. Conor Metcalf on 42 minutes and just after the break, Mitch Duke on 48 minutes sealed them the win and sealed them the qualification. So well done to Australia. We always wonder, and we talked about this the other week, whether Australia did the right thing by quitting the Oceania group.
00:17:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
because it offered them such an easy route to the World Cup finals. Almost as easy as England's qualifying groups year after year after year. ah But they didn't. They went into the Asia qualifying group, where there are obviously much better teams.
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's much better competition for them. But I always wonder whether, if they don't qualify, they'll be scratching their heads and wondering, well, why did we bother doing that? But they have qualified. They have qualified. So well done to them.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Japan, meanwhile, beat bounced back from last week's defeat to the others with a 6-0 hammering of Indonesia. to send them on their way. So well done to them. ah China actually won a game. We talked about China before and the the paucity of what is happening in football in in the Chinese nation.
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
they They are world leading in so many ways, but they are world rubbish at football. They did finally win a game. So well done to them. It was a last-gast victory and it was over Bahrain, but you know what? They all count.
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it did allow them to move off the foot of Group C in in their final third round qualifier. So at least they didn't finish bottom of their group. So if that doesn't spark wild celebrations and national pride right across China, I don't know what does, but it probably won't.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interestingly in Asia, that's the end of the third round. So we are we are there in terms of third round qualifying, which means 34 teams are out. I'm not going to go through them because it I'll be here all day.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
34 teams have been eliminated and they don' they're not worthy of a mention because they're all the World Cup anyway. So tough luck on them. Six teams are qualified out of Asia, Australia, Iran. They were obviously Iran were through already Japan were through already ah Jordan Korea Republic and Uzbekistan So what happens now? I hear you say Six teams will play in the fourth round Indonesia Iraq Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia and the UAE United Arab Emirates They will form two groups of three
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
with the winners of those groups going on to the World Cup. The runners-up of those two groups go into yet another qualifying round. oh So that'll be the fifth, and mercifully,
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
the final qualifying round, they'll play each other home and away. And the winner of that game, no, you're still not there, I'm afraid. The winner of that game goes into the FIFA playoff tournament, which takes place next year.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's still loads of kind of games to go in Asia. They have made it, I've got to say. They've made it unnecessarily complicated. there's just I know there's loads of teams, but there's also just far too many qualifying rounds in Asia.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there we are. So well done to those who made it through. Unlucky to those who didn't. Enjoy your summer off. And it rumbles on. It rumbles on.
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00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So two more confederations then to talk about. One is Oceania. Now we know they have finished because we know that New Zealand have qualified.
00:19:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And New Caledonia have reached the playoffs. So that brings us finally then to UEFA. But before that, before that...
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:20:26
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Now, yeah, it's not going to edit. It better edit this bit out because I've misread the ad. So I'm going to try that one again. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing, there you go, that automatically removes those ums and ahs, but not Ken's rubbish jokes, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:20:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're very impressed. We've enjoyed using Zencastr. I've got say, it's good. So if you are ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencastr. Right, to finish the podcast. and this is so See what happens when Ken's not here.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It goes really smoothly. yeah it goes quickly, more importantly. because we've got no bluster from him and rubbish gags and him taking an eternity to get Kenny's quiz wrong, which he normally does.
00:21:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I promised you a whistle-stop tour. This is a whistle-stop tour, but it brings you bang up to date. So we're going to move on to UEFA. Not too much going on here. Half the teams haven't qualified yet. Oh, sorry, haven't started qualification.
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Never mind qualifying. They haven't started yet. That's because the Nations League's been going on. More on that in a moment, because there are some cracking Nations League games this week, by the way. Anyway, there have been a couple of big scoring games in the latest round of qualifying.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Croatia put seven past Gibraltar. Without reply, I should have. While the Netherlands went one better, they beat Malta 8-0. The Netherlands in their two games are scoring goals for fun. So maybe they're finally um yeah back on the up.
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We hope so. We like a good Netherlands team in the World Cup. The two games, though, of of note for different reasons, really. Both involved UK teams. The first one was England's victory over Andorra.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
which um you're going to struggle to believe me when I say they won this game because the torrent of abuse and hand-wringing and misery from the English media and English supporters.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
you would have thought You would have thought the World Cup was over already. Anyway, they did actually beat Andorra,
England's Performance Against Andorra
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
but they only beat them 1-0. And fair play, Andorra a bunch of part-time players, but they put up a good fight and England were rubbish.
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it was described by the British media as the worst victory in the history of English football. I mean... They may be right, I don't know, but come on.
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
win is still a win. Okay, we've got a new manager in Thomas Tuchel who's trying to get to know his players. And believe me, he will know a lot more about them after this Andorra game and the 3-1 home-friendly defeat to Senegal three days later.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
In both games, victory in and defeat, England were booed off by their supporters. And, well, it was just a predictable meltdown in the media.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Some people are already saying, bring Gareth Southgate back, which is utterly ludicrous. The media need to grow up, you know, they need to get a grip on all of this. it's England's qualifying in World Cup is always painful. Nobody nobody ever wants to watch them because they just play rubbish teams.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... After a long, hard season, the players just looked really, really not bothered. They looked a little bit sort of unmotivated. Now, there's no excuse. You could argue. you could argue every time you put on the international shirt, whoever you play for, you should play with passion and pride. But in a half-empty stadium and in a game that they were always going to win, you know, I don't know.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. We had this. was talking to Ken about this before he disappeared. And his view is we should have beaten them 25-0. My view is, look, at least we beat them. So congratulations to England for beating Andorra 1-0, but they've got to do a lot better than this. The good news is Thomas Tuchel came out afterwards and he went through his players.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like a manager who will come out and go through his players in public when it's blatantly obvious they need it. Yeah, they need it. and And interestingly, friendly with Senegal two or three days later saw 10 changes.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there are players in that line-up in a friendly game that... And I'm talking here particularly about Eber Echeese, who I love, Declan Rice, who's our best midfielder, and Will Colwell, who I think, you know, he's he had a good season with with Chelsea. He's got a lot of he's got a lot of talent.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think he'll probably replace Darren Byrne in the end. or Harry Maguire, who's not even in it at the moment, but yeah one of the one of the older England players. Who surely would have been better starting against Andorra because they're just better players. you know They're just better players.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And I guess the good news out of that is that the likes of Jude Bellingham, And Cole Palmer, who spent most of the game against Andorra milling and wandering around a pitch as if it was a pre-season kick around, should at least be looking nervously over their shoulders.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I mean, I would put Eze in front of Palmer anyway. I think he's a better player and I think he's had a better season. um And as I say, there are others who should be starting, perhaps. so and Morgan Gibbs-Wyatt. Oh, before I get an email off angry Matt, Matt from Nottingham, who likes to email him in a bit of a temper, just if we don't mention anything to do with Nottingham Forest.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Morgan Gibbs-Wyatt came on towards the end of the friendly against Senegal and and made a real difference. So he's kind of staking his claim. It's it's going to be really hard in the midfield because we have got Bellingham and we have got Rice. But let's have a bit of competition in there.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it will probably signal the end of Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker as England players. Both have been brilliant for England down the years, but time, I'm afraid, has caught up with them. I've no issue with having him around the camp. I've got no issue with Thomas Tuchel when he says that Jordan Henderson is an incredibly important player for England, sort of off the pitch, which I know is ah a bit of a paradox.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the importance of it having him at training, he lifts the level up at training. He's brilliant with younger players. He's obviously got a lot, a lot of experience. So fantastic, having him around the camp. But should he be starting World Cup qualifiers?
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not sure. I'm not i'm not convinced. And the same goes for Karl Walker. you know Both have had great England careers. Walker's what, four caps? Shive is 100 caps. So, you know, is he going to get that? I don't think he's. I don't We'll see.
00:26:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, so that's England um with flea in their ear, ah booed off the pitch and hated by everybody, even though they won in the World Cup qualifier and have now won three out three. So we'll see what happens
Wales vs. Belgium Match Recap
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
there. They've got to do a bit better, but they'll qualify.
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And finally, Wales lost for the first time under Craig Bellamy in an absolute thriller against Belgium. I don't know if you caught this game. It was a cracking game. The hosts pretty much walked.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was so easy for them. They walked into 3-0 lead within half an hour. They were so good, Belgium. They were so good. And they clearly thought the job was done as they just eased off and didn't expect Wales to do precisely what they did, which is come roaring back into the game.
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
they They were helped by... A penalty just before half-time, which, ah look, I think it was dubious at best. You see those sorts of challenges happen all the time.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Balls up in the air, keeper comes to claim it, keeper gets a kind of hand on it, but then also collides with the with the opposition player. No penalty is ever given for that, but a penalty was given for for Wales, so well done. They scored it. Harry Wilson, what a guy.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then after half-time, Wales were unbelievable. They were rampant. They were rampant. And one of the sad things about today... is Ken is a massive Wales fan. He would have enjoyed waxing lyrical about that.
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they came back and they pulled it back to 3-3 and Belgium looked absolutely shocked to the core. But fair play. They upped the game. They came back into it and a late Kevin De Bruyne goal handed them the points and they won the game 4-3.
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was such a good game. it really was. And ah ah more encouragement, to be fair, for Wales that they can compete at the top table. And if you look at Group J... which they're competing in. It's got North Macedonia top with eight from four game four four games.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wales second with seven from four games. And Belgium third with four points, although they've got two games in hand. So that group's shaping up nicely. So good luck to Wales.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they yeah certainly show that they can mix the big boys. Of the other European giants lately, then, let's have a look at Italy.
Italy's Struggles Post-Euro Victory
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
who, let's remember, haven't qualified for the last two World Cups. You always kind of feel Italy should be up there.
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
They should be qualifying. They should be getting to court as a semi-finals, but they' they've just been off it. They've been terrible ever since they won the Euros. When was it? 2020?
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
21, somebody tell me. and Nobody's here. So it was around then. You know what I mean. You all know what it is. But so they've been pretty poor. They finally got off to the mark and they they won again, thankfully.
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they're already nine points behind Leaders Norway. They've got two games at hand, but they're nine points behind Leaders Norway in the group. So they need to back up their ideas as well. But at least they've finally won a match. ah Spain, Germany and France, who are the other big teams in in Europe who would expect to make a big impact to the World Cup next year, they haven't even started their qualifying campaign because whilst others were playing recently, they were playing in the Nations League, which, by the way, produced an epic semi-final between Spain and France.
Spain vs. France and Portugal's Nations League Victory
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Spain were 5-1 up going into the last 11 minutes of the game. 5-1 up. This is Spain. The European... Champions, a team who many expected to go and win the World Cup last year, a team who are always, always, always in and around the semi-finals and finals of global competitions.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
the best team in Europe. And they looked it, by the way. they superb against France. Anyway, France scored three times in the final 11 minutes of the game. And it was a really, really nail-biting finish. But they pulled it back to 5-4.
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that is indeed where it finished before a good, if slightly less epic final between Spain and Portugal. And that finished 2-2. Cristiano Ronaldo, notably getting on the score sheet and forcing the extra time in a penalty shootout, which Portugal duly won to become National league champions. So well done to Portugal.
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
think a lot of people just expected Spain to win that game. And during the game, they actually did look like they were going to win it for most of the game. They had couple of really good periods where they were all over Portugal. But fair play to Portugal.
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
They stuck in. Ronaldo's on the score sheet and they took it to penalty season one. so So well done. But all of those teams finally kick off the World Cup qualifying campaign in September.
Episode Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's it. There you go Half an hour whistle stop tour to bring you completely up to speed with World Cup qualifying. You can thank me now or you can thank me later.
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't mind either or but please like and subscribe and do all of those can follow and do all that kind of stuff ah because let's face it by bringing you completely up to speed. I've saved you so much time doing all this research.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I have, and you know I have, because it took me flipping ages to do it. So please be grateful, and please like us and follow us. But we'll be back next week. I very much hope that Ken will be back with me.
00:31:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for now, look after yourselves, look after each other. Thanks for joining us, and goodbye.