Episode 3 - Tackling Spain vs Argentina (2026 World Cup Final)

Transcript

Speaker: Messi got the ball, Messi got the ball, eee-eye tiddly-eye, Messi got the ball.

Speaker: Welcome to Penalty, the podcast where we chat football and spill the tea. My name's Janaye, I'm um'm back again, and surprise, surprise, my guest this time is Superwag!

Speaker: Woo! Turns out, very hard to find someone at short notice that is free on a Sunday evening and wants to give up their time to watch football.

Speaker: So Superwag, if you could just give us a quick introduction on yourself again for anyone new listening. Yeah, of course. Hello, I'm Superwag. I am a football, I wouldn't say I'm quite a football novice, but it's not been a lifelong passion of mine. I've learned a lot through you over the last 12 years. so And i am Janae and I am an all-round queer legend. Let's just go with that.

Speaker: ah Super wag, and I may refer to you as Luth throughout this. um Could you let everyone know your pronouns? Yeah, of course. Thank you for asking. My pronouns are she, her. And my pronouns are she, her, they, them, king, queen, as we have already addressed. Your majesty.

Speaker: The majesty. The majesty, sorry. As a little reminder, while we're still in the early stages of this project, Penalty is a queer-friendly football podcast where we are aiming to make the game more accessible and have the conversations that need to happen in and around football.

Speaker: It felt like a great time to start this up with the World Cup and with the upcoming Premier League season being the first time that every Premier League club has an LGBT supporters group, which I think is very exciting. Shout out to all of them and particularly to my Fulham group, full of pride.

Speaker: So as usual, I'm going to ask you some questions. Superwag, what's been your red card of the week? So my my least favorite thing this week has probably been having to do my tax.

Speaker: I wasn't so much worried about paying it because I have been sensible and been putting that money aside every every month as a freelancer, but it's just the general anxiety that comes into communicating and logging into HMRC. I think that having to pay on account is is a really stressful process. And yeah, that's been my red card of the week.

Speaker: And there's something about the HMRC logo that just induces a whole other type of anxiety, I find. Yeah, as somebody who's never actually gotten any trouble for anything, I think it's an irrational fear, but I just always get scared around tax. And yeah, it's one of my least favorite things to do.

Speaker: i didn't like doing it once a year. Now it has to be done twice a year. What about you, Ne? What's been your red card? So my red card of the week, I've given it a little alliteration name. Are you ready? Oh, yeah.

Speaker: Two Cools Twatty Tactics. Oh, oh. Yeah, we're going with that. We're going with that. So, yes, England... got knocked out in the semi-final.

Speaker: And the defensive tactics that were put forward were diabolical. And I'm not going to delve that much further into it other than his response about the issue being, English football DNA is disgraceful.

Speaker: And that's hugely demonstrated by the fact that well done to the England men's team. They won the third place payoff. and Did he actually say that? Yeah. He was questioned about his defensive tactics and what he did, which meant we lost to Argentina. And he stood by his his tactical decisions and said the issue is with English football's DNA and their fear of failure.

Speaker: Oh, what a um what a comment to make when you're somebody's manager. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Wow, okay. Yeah, and in the third place playoff, suddenly he plays the creative players who should have played all tournament and we played brilliantly. So that's my red card.

Speaker: Fair enough. In the interest of nice things, I know you know what a nutmeg is. A nutmeg is a really fun skill where you kick the balls through someone's legs and it's really, really fun and successful. So what's been your nutmeg of the week, Superwag?

Speaker: My nutmeg this week has been going to an event which I went to yesterday. It was called As One in the Park. It's a Pride event sort of day into evening in Ealing, which is really close to where we'll be doing Middlesex Pride in a couple of weeks. And I was going around with Sabah, who's one of our co-organizers of Middlesex Pride. And we were handing out flyers and talking to loads of wonderful people. um talking about middle sex pride but also enjoying the event ourselves and I got to see an array of UK drag race royalty so i saw Kitty Scott Claws, Bones, Kyron Thrax, Tace was there oh it was just wonderful yeah why did I choose to stay on dog care duty instead of coming with you what is wrong with me you took one for the team I took one for the team spot on

Speaker: What about you? What was your nutmeg this week? So my nutmeg this week was that it was my birthday on Monday. Yes, it was. And what that meant was that I got to do a barbecue and I got to spend the week eating leftover barbecue food for dinner.

Speaker: And then when I ran out, I decided to do another barbecue. So I've got another few days worth left. There's my nutmeg. Gorgeous. And there was me thinking it was going to be our anniversary, but you take your birthday. Okay.

Speaker: So full disclosure, we are recording this episode on myself and Superwag's 12 year anniversary. Did you think 12 years ago at my birthday party when I was dressed as Olaf the Snowman from Frozen that 12 years later we would be sat on our sofa in our home with our sausage dogs recording a queer friendly football podcast?

Speaker: No, I think I'd have asked you what the hell's a podcast. And I'd have been like, we're not going to get married, you creep. Well, no, I wouldn't have been like that because, you know, without going too personal, our backstory is that we were actually friends for a few years before we started dating. And it's incredible to think, you know, how much we have seen the world change in the last 12 years, you know, podcasts are these huge things now. And when you and I first knew each other,

Speaker: Actually, legally, we couldn't have even got married. That's such a good point. A lot has changed. um So, no, I would not have thought that that's what we would be doing to celebrate our anniversary. Well, my real nutmeg of the week is 12 years of you. No, no, I appreciate that I'm beaten by a burger. That's fine.

Speaker: It's come to the time for another football knowledge quiz. Now, you did quite well in the last episode, so... Let's see how we go today, shall we? Yes. Are you ready for question number one? Mm-hmm.

Speaker: In a standard league game in football, how many points does a team secure for a win? is it It's three, yeah? But I think what actually threw me there was the question of what you meant. I don't know what you mean by a standard league game, but I know that if you win, you get three points, so... Fair enough. So...

Speaker: Right now we're building up to watching the World Cup final, which is a tournament. Right, okay. If you look at, say, the Premier League season or the Women's Super League, those are league games. So it's all about how many points that you're winning in the table to where you finish.

Speaker: But there were points in this, weren't there, in the group stages? There were. Those were kind of like mini leagues within the tournament and the point system was the same. Okay, so three for a when one for a draw.

Speaker: Oh, that was my next question. Well done. Oh, stop it. Perfect. So, what is a back pass? When you kick the ball backwards? Like, do you kick it with your ankle backwards rather than with your tippy toes? Yeah.

Speaker: So a back pass is when, let's say you're a defender in your team or any player in your team and you pass the ball back to the goalkeeper.

Speaker: He cannot then pick it up with his hands. I thought he was the only person, sorry, he or she, hopefully in the future they, um is the only person who is allowed to touch the ball with their hands. You've told me that. Unless it is one of their teammates passing the ball to them, then they cannot pick it up with their hands. That's for the back pass. Okay, and you would tactically do that. Why? So that your goalie can do a big fat kick towards the other end. Yeah, but he cannot pick it up or they cannot pick it up with their hands. Okay.

Speaker: I will definitely not retain that. Right, next question. Are you ready? Yes. Which country has won the most World Cups as it stands before this final?

Speaker: Was it France? No. Oh. It was an answer you gave in the previous quiz. Brazil. It is. It was Brazil, okay. They have won the World Cup five times.

Speaker: Wonderful. Final question. As it stands, so prior to this World Cup final kicking off, Kylian Mbappe has broken the record as the all-time World Cup top scorer across all tournaments that he's played in in the World Cup.

Speaker: So how many World Cup goals has he scored? Across all his tournaments? Yeah. And do you know how many World Cups he's been in? He's played 22 World Cup matches.

Speaker: I was going to say 22 World Cups there every four years. How old is this man? Okay, he's played in 22 matches. Okay, I would make a guess at 15? 22. Oh, wow. Congratulations. Yeah.

Speaker: It may well be broken tonight by Lionel Messi because he is on 21. Oh, and he's going to want that, surely. He is, but then Mbappe will break it in the next World Cup because Messi's 39 and Mbappe's 27. Oh, OK. All right.

Speaker: Well done. That was that was informative.

Speaker: Right, so here come the teams. they're coming out. We've got Spain versus Argentina, World Cup final 2026. OK, school prediction, Superwag. What's it going to be? Spain versus Argentina.

Speaker: Am I right in thinking it's the same sort of setup as all the other World Cup games as in like if it's a draw at 90, they'll do an extra 30.

Speaker: If it's still a draw, they'll penalty. Yeah. Okay. I'd love some penalties. I think it's going to be 3-3 at the end of 90 minutes. I think it's going to be 3-3 at the end of the extra half an hour. Then I think it's going to go to penalties. And then I think Spain is going to win.

Speaker: Oh, I like it. Thank you. What do you think is going happen? I think that Spain are going to win 3-2. I think it's going to finish 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes and then I think Spain will win it 3-2.

Speaker: Right, here we go. World Vidal 2026 has kicked off You know what? I am sorry for England that they're not in it.

Speaker: I do think it's easier to watch this without having such an invested interest. If England were in this final and we were recording a podcast episode, i would be a mess. Well, this is sort of part of the reason why you've got me as your guest today, isn't it? Because we... We didn't know. Well, we believed that England would get into the final, so we didn't reach out to any of our um sort of queer fabulous friends.

Speaker: until yesterday yeah and yeah as it transpires people are ah busy on a sunday night so that's why you've got me again but i guess it's probably quite nice with it being our anniversary hey yeah what a lovely anniversary date don't know it's better than some of them there's nothing wrong with a 50 off taste card dinner all right Oh, there we go. First shot on target from Spain. It was Laminya Mal.

Speaker: And what was really lovely to see is that came from a free kick for Spain. So four minutes into into the game and the referee has set the tone. Bit of argy-bargy from an Argentinian player to a Spanish player.

Speaker: And the referee gave a free kick. And the Argentinian players were not happy about it, but he did it. So I'm guessing there's no way this is the same ref that we had against Argentina because they were borderline playing rugby that first half, in my opinion.

Speaker: Maybe they brought in a rugby referee for it. But no, it wouldn't be the same ref. No, you can't do that. Can you? No. Oh my God, why has he run so far from his goal? Because Lionel Messi was speeding towards the goal with the ball and he was a very confident Spanish goalkeeper going, no, no, no, I'm coming out and stopping you. Fair play.

Speaker: Is there um a maximum amount of the pitch that the goalie's allowed to run? are they allowed to go over the halfway line? they can go wherever they want, just if they're using their hands to touch the ball, it can only be in that box, in the big penalty area box. Use the proper phrase. Oh, the goal mouth is the six-yard box. That's the smaller little box the goal Oh, I thought it was the whole area that was the goal mouth. Because that makes sense. You know, that semicircle coming out, oh it looks like a tongue.

Speaker: So in theory, a goalie... could get the ball and sprint all the way to the end and score a goal themselves, or would they not be onside? No, they could absolutely do that if no one tackled and stopped them in the process and then did a counter-attack over to an empty goal with no goalkeeper in it.

Speaker: I just think sometimes it's good to think outside the box and maybe someone should get a goalie who is a sprinter... to just try that as a tactic one day. I'd like to see that. That would be exciting for me. Okay, we'll see if we can convince some more local teams to do that because that's never going to happen in a huge game like this.

Speaker: Like if you had Usain Bolt on like a charity football match? Yeah. I'll tell you what, I know what we're going to We are going to reach out to Maisie Adam and say, next time you play in Soccer Aid, can you ask to go in goal for just two minutes?

Speaker: And try this, he's got a great idea. Yeah, I think Maisie would be up for that. Spain are pressing really, really well. Like, every time Argentina are kicking it back out, Spain are winning it straight back.

Speaker: You know how the teams have their kit, which is... Everyone's wearing the same kit in the same colour. Do they have to wear the same shoes? Are there like different brands of football boots? Yeah. So the football boots is each individual player's preference for, you know, what feels comfortable for them, what shape they prefer, material, what studs they prefer, etc. Oh, yeah. Because didn't we see a guy who had like the back of his boot missing and you looked it up and it was for an ankle to a allow space for his ankle. For his heel.

Speaker: His heel. And yeah, some of them will have studs, which are like the round ones, and some of them will have blades, which are more of a kind of oblong shape. And often when they're training, they'll be getting a feel for the surface of the pitch and deciding, it might be that they're deciding between which of their preferred boots they're going to wear. Are they going to wear studs or blades, depending how the playing surface feels? Mm-hmm.

Speaker: um You know, it's a bit like a drag queen going, well actually, I'm going to be doing a lot of somersault, so I'm not going to wear my platforms. Okay.

Speaker: Out of all of the games you've watched this tournament? Yes. If you could have been at one of them, which one would you have liked to have been at? I think I'd be at this one, if I'm honest, even though we haven't finished watching it yet. Yeah. It's still going, but it would be quite something to be at a World Cup final. Yeah. um Other than that, I'd love to be at the England-Mexico game.

Speaker: Partially for the game, but partially because it was at that Azteca stadium, which is one of the most famous and historic stadiums in football. Oh, is it? That would have been amazing. And you'd have seen a few Fulham players as well, wouldn't you?

Speaker: Or ex-Fulham players? Well, have seen Raul Jimenez. Yeah, we love him. I love him. I've seen him play at the cottage. Oh. I'll tell you what, that was a really nasty foul just then from McAllister. I can't believe he wasn't booked for that.

Speaker: But I can believe he wasn't booked for that because he's got the Argentina shirt But it was g nasty. Oh, but OK, right. And now a Spanish player is just elbowed Messi in the back. You can't... no It's going to get heated again, isn't it?

Speaker: Yes. And interestingly, they're obviously um all going to be speaking in Spanish, aren't they? So they can really, really communicate with each other in a way that maybe some of the other World Cup games haven't had. I know, unfortunately, English is a bit of a universal language, even though it's not the most spoken language in the world. It's like, if it if I'm correct, it's still Mandarin, Spanish, then English. But I know English is kind of more widely spoken professionally. Mm-hmm.

Speaker: But yeah, I hadn't even considered that. But this is their mother tongue for both of them. So they could be really kind of quickly and subtly poking each other. Oh.

Speaker: Empanadas versus tapas. Well, yeah. And I don't want to live in that world. I want empanadas and I want tapas. I want empanadas as tapas. Empa tapas.

Speaker: Oh. He kicked it to his teammate, who then kicked it back the other way. Why did he not kick it towards the goal? Was he not onside? Yeah, he gave was offside there, but also it would have just been kind of passing around tactically.

Speaker: Nah, this isn't about tactics. This is about scoring goals. So over the last 12 years, since you've been, know, having a growing love of watching football, have you got like a favourite football player from that time?

Speaker: The lionesses. All of them. All of them. Perfect. Perfect. Any of them in particular? i mean, I love Leah... well What's her name? Leah Williamson.

Speaker: I love Leah Williamson. And Jill Scott was always really fabulous. um I know she's retired now. Ellen, what was her name? Ellen White. Ellen White.

Speaker: Kelly. Chloe Kelly. Yes, Chloe Kelly. Fantastic. You quite enjoy Lucy Bronze as a character as well. Oh, I love Lucy Bronze as a character, yeah. I mean, also as a football player. isn't she um Didn't she have that fracture and just kept playing like an absolute legend? Yeah. Is she retired yet or is she still playing? No, no, still playing. Yeah, she's wonderful.

Speaker: She was the one who, when the physios were busy treating two other players, just got someone to grab the shrapping so she could strap her own leg up. Yeah, what a great like attitude and commitment to her craft. And the sapphic social media accounts went wild for it.

Speaker: is she gay or queer? I'm not entirely sure, of but that doesn't mean that the sapphic social media accounts didn't love it Oh, because she was strapping her own leg? Oh, i okay, yeah, that is funny.

Speaker: And who's the the other one who's going out with Jess Glynn? Oh, Alex Scott. Alex Scott. Queen, and she was such a phenomenal footballer. Yeah, I don't think I've seen her play, but I've seen her on a lot of TV stuff, and she's wonderful, and also what a great power couple. Right. I've still got a lot of respect for Jess Glynn for like not turning up to the Isle of Wight Festival because she got so messed up with the Spice Girls after their tour, and I know people were like really upset with her, but Hands down, if you've got the opportunity to spend all night partying with the Spice Girls, you let down anybody the next day. You do it. You take that opportunity.

Speaker: Like, in fairness, if you had told me you were going to be late for our wedding because you've been partying with the Spice Girls, I'd be like, go on, girl. Yeah. Have fun. There's no thing that is more important than having the opportunity to spend the night with the Spice Girls, even if it's just the four of them.

Speaker: Right, so we've got four minutes of added time at the end of the first half. And Argentina repressing. Spain's defence is looking very, very, very solid.

Speaker: It will be really interesting to see how this goes, because Spain and the whole World Cup tournament have only conceded one goal. i assume that's very good. That's insane, because you had like the group stages and all the knockout stages.

Speaker: Only conceded one goal. Right, so there you go. That's the first half over. Lionel Messi's not happy about something. Argentina still haven't had a shot on goal. Is that the same as on target? Is it the same phrase? just not a shot on goal, full stop. They haven't had a shot.

Speaker: What does that mean, sweetheart? so How is that different to a shot on target? So a shot on target means you have shot towards goal and if it hadn't been blocked or saved, it would have gone in. It was on target to go into the goal. Yeah. um That's what on target is. If it's just a shot towards goal, shooting, but it was going over or it was going wide.

Speaker: So what, they just haven't had any shots towards the goal at all? None. Spain have had three shots and two of them were on target.

Speaker: OK, so it's half-time, which means it's time for our team talk while Spain and Argentina are having their team talk. Yes. And we're going to go with something very relevant to this game for for team talk this time.

Speaker: So, for the first time ever in a World Cup final, there's going to be a half-time show. yeah. Uh-huh. On the pitch?

Speaker: I believe By the looks of it, yes. Oh, yeah. Because it seems like they've brought out a massive colourful banner. That's not a normal thing. Well, I don't i don't want to sound rude. I don't mean not normal, but that's not a typical thing, is it? It's never happened before in football. I'm not sure what is going on, to be completely honest with you, because tournament regulations state that half-time can be no longer than 15 minutes. But...

Speaker: but It is beyond me why Gianni Infantino and FIFA have gone, yeah, let's do a halftime show and extend how long a halftime normally is. like That's not what players are used to.

Speaker: and it's much much more aligned with like American football, isn't it? Because I know the halftime show... It's a Super Bowl thing. It's the Super Bowl thing, and that is like a thing. Yeah. um I would imagine part of the reason for it is advertising because we are watching this on BBC, which doesn't have adverts.

Speaker: But for a lot of other channels around the world, the advert slots while they're doing these changeovers in preparation for the halftime show are going to be worth so much money.

Speaker: That's the main point of why they do the Super Bowl one. And for me, I'm like, half-time, the point of half-time is the players' rest period, regroup and team talk, right? And they are professional athletes.

Speaker: They're now going to have to double the amount of time that their muscles are stopping for. I think the real issue here is how are they supposed to focus when they all want to watch Madonna? That's a very good point.

Speaker: I take all back, Ted Lasso. Ted Lasso, yes. ted lasso yes Okay, you know what? I agree. Take it back. I get it. it's It's nice bringing the arts into it and also I suppose it's going to attract non-football fans to watch this.

Speaker: I would prefer this to be before the match darts. Not at half-time. Okay. Well, when you're in charge of FIFA, you can make that recommendation.

Speaker: I'll call it G-fer. G-fer. Better than Q-fer.

Speaker: And here's Shakira. Queen of the World Cup herself. So I would imagine she is doing the ah the official World Cup song for this tournament because know that was her and Burner Boy, I believe it is, that have done that.

Speaker: Is it Serena Vigwin who absolutely loves Burner Boy? Yes, yes. Didn't they bring him out to Serenade her when we went to watch... the Lionesses come back. Yes, they did. They brought him out to surprise her and she lost her mind. It was the first time I think anyone had seen Serena Veem and lose her call.

Speaker: That was really interesting, that experience of watching the Lionesses come back with, it was the Euro Cup, wasn't it? Yeah. Because I think The organisers had like grossly underestimated the amount of people that would turn up. Yeah. Like the crowd control there was quite shocking. Like it was really hard to move anywhere, get close, get even get out. Yeah. and you couldn't see anything. So the area they had where you could view them on stage,

Speaker: was, I would say, probably only about a quarter of the size they needed. and then outside of it, there was no crowd control. I think it was actually quite dangerous and scary. And considering how many children were there, and rightly so, children should absolutely be able to come to that kind of thing. But take note, whether that's the Mayor of London or whoever it would be responsible for that, people watch women's sport, people care about women's sport, people will come and celebrate the women's team get that trophy.

Speaker: Exactly. Because they have. The women have done it. Oh, and now we've got some children singing. I'm quite pleased it's on mute. usually wait You love children singing. I find it quite terrifying.

Speaker: I think I'd find it quite terrifying being one of those. Oh, Miss Piggy. Miss Piggy and One. ah ah ah How many goals, Count Dracula? None. ah

Speaker: Oh, love. I mean, it is a really nice kind of message that they're portraying here. Yeah, I think portraying is the right word. So with all this positive love messaging on the screen, it feels like a good time to do our grassroots shout out.

Speaker: Yeah, go for it. So we have discovered on social media some some great organisations, some great groups. One that really stood out to me is called Mental Health Football.

Speaker: Love it. So Mental Health Football was founded in 2019 by AFC Oldham. Okay. It's an initiative which aims to help improve mental health using physical activity and peer support in a friendly, easygoing atmosphere.

Speaker: In August of 2021, Manchester's Football Association announced mental health football as their grassroots Project of the Year award winners.

Speaker: Oh, well done. So that's fantastic. um In their own words, football is more than just a game. It keeps you physically fit and it has a positive effect on your mental health too.

Speaker: Turn up and play or watch and have a chat in a pressure and judgment-free environment. So Mental Health Football is held every Friday at the Hathashore College in Oldham. You can follow them on Instagram at mentalhealthfootball.

Speaker: Big shout out to you. Lovely. And wouldn't it be nice to have lots more of those kind of mental health football spaces all over the country. Oh, I couldn't agree more. Couldn't agree more. It brings it back to the roots of community.

Speaker: Yeah.

Speaker: Okay, so we're finally kicking off the second half after about 27 minutes of halftime. Okay. Do you think that will have impacted the players' mentality?

Speaker: Like, will it impact how they're feeling... Yeah, I think physically and mentally, absolutely would have impacted them. That's not what they do in this sport that they're professionals at.

Speaker: That's nearly twice as long as they're used to their muscles having to rest for. I would just like to say that obviously I've come into this game as a neutral. However, I am quite openly now rooting for Spain because after seeing how Argentina's players...

Speaker: have approached the game and their attitude and their just unreasonable physicality and shoves in the last game I saw them in and this one. don't want them to win a World Cup.

Speaker: Kind of sends the wrong message, doesn't it? 100%. is no, like, inverted commas sportsmanship whatsoever. It's disgraceful. You elbow someone in the back, they go down, another player complains to you about it and you push him over in front of the ref. It's disgraceful.

Speaker: There's passion and there's hunger and there's that coming out. in sport, then there's what these guys are doing. So obviously this is a statistic from just one source, but on the Sky Sports Football app, they have done a poll in the commentary of half-time show, yes or no. 6% said, yes, much needed entertainment. 94% said, no, get on with the football.

Speaker: So we've got the last hydration break of the World Cup. Wow. Potentially. it depends if they go to another half hour, doesn't it? but Because it's 15 minute halves, they wouldn't stop in those for a hydration break. That would just be the standard half time.

Speaker: couple of minutes between. How how frequently are they stopping for hydration breaks? Halfway through each half. So around the 22 minute mark in the first half and around the 67 minute mark in the second half.

Speaker: Yes. I mean, I'm obviously always going to advocate for anyone being healthy at work and if they do need to be stopping to have these drinks go for it but I do question how much it's interrupting the flow of them playing them stopping so frequently and like you said having that massive time during half time yes I'm with you in terms of you know their health and conditioning and fitness you know it's important they stay hydrated if they're playing in this kind of climate and

Speaker: I would argue, why don't they go and do it on the other side of the pitch, away from their dugout, where the coaching kit team can't talk to them? You've got neutral officials there to hand over their drinks and nutrition that they need, and that is it. And the players can talk to each other, that's not a problem.

Speaker: But not the coaching staff. Interesting. Yeah, that would make... Either that, or rename it a hydration and tactical break. is it Okay, now an Argentina player is going to get booked for dissent because he went down thinking it should be a foul.

Speaker: Wasn't given. So he started throwing his arms up at the ref. So he's just been booked for dissent. what What does that mean? Sorry, what is dissent? Dissent is when you are showing disrespect to the referee. Okay. So he thought that should be a foul and he's turned around and gone, oh, waved his hand in the air like that, hand gesture at him and he's got a booking.

Speaker: Luckily for him, the referee didn't see that afterwards he sarcastically clapped him because that is also a bookable offence. So Argentina are playing out from the back. Spain is still piling the pressure on.

Speaker: Ball's flying around like a hot potato. hot potato, hot potato. can't believe how many pushes in the back the ref hasn't stopped. Like, I know he's only got one set of eyes, but there have been so many times someone doesn't even have the ball.

Speaker: Yeah. And they're getting, like, shoved in the back. Yeah, it's it's insane, to be honest. you You can see why people are asking questions about what is going on here.

Speaker: Why is there such favoritism? Four minutes. Four minutes of added time. oh oh Oh, what just happened there? Was that a second yellow and a red card for Enzo Fernandez? Correct, correct. No, stop wagging your finger.

Speaker: And they don't review a second yellow. Well, actually, know in the Premier League they don't review second yellows. flew like a cartwheel. Yeah, that looked horrible. From what I have seen, they have played really aggressively. And i I feel proud of you, referee, for modelling that that's not cool.

Speaker: You've got Luminiumau and Pedro Porro after the ball. This is quite possibly going to be the last moment of the game. This is either going to be a really magical moment or they're going hit it straight at the wall or flying over. Let's see.

Speaker: Yeah. So Argentina have really delayed the buildup to this free kick with a bit of tomfoolery or shithousery as we like to call it. So again, this is where the mental attitude comes in where you're just like, right. Yeah. Oh, brilliant shot. Brilliant save.

Speaker: That was on target, hey? Yeah. Wow. Wow. Gorgie. Are they going to take the corner or is he going to call? Oh, they've taken the corner. Oh, this is going to be it now. is going to go to extra time.

Speaker: There we go. Final whistle. We're going to extra time in the World Cup final. It's probably good no one else agreed to do this, Nay, because we promised them we'd be done by 10. We weren't expecting a full performance from Madonna and Shakira.

Speaker: Okay, so Spain kick off the extra time. Spain have got 11. Argentina have got 10. This is going to be very interesting. wouldn't be surprised to see another red, to be honest. I think Paredes probably should have had another.

Speaker: Who does he play for? Argentina. i guess it depends how het up and angry they are, or if during that short time before this extra time, the manager was like, you guys need to take a breath.

Speaker: Spain straight on the front foot and attacking. In and around the goal box. I wonder if Argentina were just going to try and see this out to a penalty hut out.

Speaker: Maybe. Maybe. If it goes penalty shootout, does it have to be the players that are on the pitch you can't bring any more substitutions or any other players on?

Speaker: Correct. So once the full-time whistle has gone at the end of extra time, yeah whoever your players on the pitch are, are the ones that can take penalties. Okay. That's why you'll sometimes see like 30 seconds before the end, they might make a substitution because they want that player to be one of the penalty takers.

Speaker: I appreciate it might sound like um haven't given the Argentinian players a huge amount of compliments on how they've been playing. I think it's fair to say their goalie has done very, very well. Oh, 100%. And he is one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world, full stop. Yeah.

Speaker: Amazing. Ooh, ooh, ooh. Oh, is this going to be it from Spain? Yes! Oh, wait, hang on Is the goal allowed? Has it been disallowed? I think he's disallowed it. Why? Let's see.

Speaker: Is he saying there was a foul in it? It looks like they're saying there was a foul on the goalkeeper. i wonder when the ref blew his whistle, because if he blew his whistle before the ball went into the net, then it can't be reviewed. If he blew it after went into the net, then VAR can review it.

Speaker: Oh, no, they're saying that was a foul? I don't know if that is a foul, is it? Isn't that just part of the tumbling? Yeah, I don't quite understand what's going on here. Oh, and that would have that's a nutmeg. If that does go as a goal, that was a nutmeg goal.

Speaker: Oh, I feel really, really sorry for that player. He's played really nicely, that number 17. Yeah, Nico Williams. He deserved that goal. I could not agree more.

Speaker: So to confirm, the referee blew his whistle before the ball got to Nico Williams, who scored. Right, so he didn't hear it then, we would imagine. Yeah, but either way, right, so that's why VAR can't review whether that should have been disallowed or not because the ref had blown his whistle before the ball went into the goal.

Speaker: Referees are ah meant to let play like that continue in case the goal is scored so that VAR can then review it and disallow it if there was a foul. Oh, okay. Yeah, that the referee has been completely played there.

Speaker: I think this game is probably a good example for me as to why you know, when you've described to me how disappointing it can be when a game has to go to penalties, because let's say if it this does go that way and Argentina end up taking it, I think I'll feel quite disappointed from having watched the whole game.

Speaker: i personally think Spain have been the better team skill-wise and they've been the less perpetrators of the aggression on the pitch. Spot on, Superwag.

Speaker: Spot on. But there's still time. They could still score. So, yeah, we've got another 15 minutes to go. We are at half-time of this extra time.

Speaker: And Argentina still haven't had a shot on goal. Wow. Spain have had 19 shots, 11 of which have been on target. And possession. So,

Speaker: Get that up by 2%. That'd be nice. You said they weren't going get a hydration break. This isn't. This is half time. Oh, what? This is half time of extra time. I'd love to know what he's saying. He's probably saying to them, keep your heads.

Speaker: Stay calm. You know what they're doing. and know you're frustrated with the officials. Keep your heads. Don't do anything stupid. You got this, boys. I love you and I'm proud of you.

Speaker: Maybe not that last bit. Be nice, though, wouldn't it? Hurry up. I want to go and meet Madonna. What do you think the Argentina manager's saying? Killer!

Speaker: Next time, stamp on them in the face with your stads.

Speaker: I mean, that's really the next level of escalation. I don't know See, this might be a problem, now watching more football. It's the same reason I don't drink coffee. I don't think it's good for my heart.

Speaker: Good point. Good point. like I guess that is an interesting point to raise. like A lot of the time, football is deeply frustrating. Yeah? Yeah. Especially... in the early stages of our relationship, I remember if Fulham would lose, you would be in a really foul mood and kind of, cut we coached out of you a bit, didn't we? yeah Like given the amount of frustration and irritation and injustice that seems to exist within it, why do you love it so much?

Speaker: Because I have been watching football since probably the day I was born. Okay. So it's just like ingrained in you. Yeah. It's the kind of, had I not, it would not have been something I would have got into off my own back as a teenager or an adult.

Speaker: But it was just such a part of my life growing up. I see. And tie it in with, you know, spending time with family and family friends watching football. I see. Right. Second half of Extra Time.

Speaker: And Spain have scored. Disallow that. Go on. Well done, number seven. Well done to you. oh thank goodness. Right, keep your heads, keep your heads.

Speaker: And just for super joyful factor for me, run up into the crowd right now, find your boyfriend and kiss him. Oh, what a moment that would be.

Speaker: Well, it it it's happened in women's school, hasn't it? Yeah, yeah. Hopefully, like we said in him about the last episode, in our lifetime. I'd love to see it. Fingers crossed. Yay, look at that big smile.

Speaker: But it's not over yet. It's not. It's so far from over. Replay of the goal. Beautiful. Yes. Grum yum delish, that number seven.

Speaker: Spain have stayed on the front foot, the opposite of what England did. They've just stayed on the front foot. They have not sat back to defend, which is what Argentina want you to do, because they can break that. So do you think the coach or coaches in general play close attention to the team...

Speaker: you're playing against previous game. Oh, 100%. There will have been a lot of kind of studying and watching it tactically to see what they do. What do they shift to when the game goes more this way or that way, et cetera, to prepare for eventualities. Okay.

Speaker: Oh, wow. That's a statistic. Passes completed. Spain, 744. Argentina, 324.

Speaker: Wow. What does that mean by passes completed? so where you pass the ball and it is your player that gets it. Is this about to be a second for Spain? That's a second for Spain. That's it wrapped up. sha Oh, they disallowed it.

Speaker: Offside. Oh, God. Will they check it? Yes, they will. Oh, no, they've checked it already. It was offside. Close. All these boys need to stop pushing and shoving each other. Right, another messy corner. Let's go.

Speaker: Oh, Skyder. What have you done to me? Why do I know that? So proud of you. You'll know it's a problem next time we're at a musical theatre show and you refer to the interval as half-time. Right, so Messi's blasting it forward straight to the Spanish goalie.

Speaker: so we've got a free kick to Argentina not far before the halfway line. This may well be the final move of the game. Why's the goalie taking it? so that the rest of the players can all get forward.

Speaker: But that's quite risky for him being that far from the box, or is it arguably they've got nothing to lose by this point? Nothing lose by this point. I see. Yeah, Spain hoof it. There you go, Spain have won the World Cup. Is the whistle gone? Yeah, whistle's gone. Well done. Well done. Very, very much deserved from that game, I would say.

Speaker: Yes. Oh, yes. Good on you. You enjoy your celebrations. Feliz cumpleaños España. Hey, there we go. World Cup winners, 2026, España.

Speaker: Actually, I think I might have just said happy birthday in Spanish. I'm pretty sure you did. yeah You know what? It is a day of birth of joy. So I'm going to stay with that. Thank you, GCSE Spanish. Woohoo!

Speaker: Okay, super wag. Let's hit the showers and wrap it up quite quickly because that that's been quite long, hasn't it? That's been lots of hours of football. Yeah. so any key takeaways from the match? How would you sum up your your overview of it?

Speaker: I think I said it quite recently, so it may get edited out. Apologies if I'm repeating myself, but I think the team who have played the best football and the fairest football have won. I am delighted that Spain won that over Argentina. I love Argentina as a country. i love Argentinian people. But as a team, I don't like the way I saw them play today and I didn't like the way I saw them play against England.

Speaker: Agreed. That's also my key takeaway is... I'm so pleased that the right team won. Yeah. They were the better team. They were the fairer team. Very, very happy for them. Very happy for Laminya Mal.

Speaker: I mean, our point is being proved here. Argentina players going up to Spain players and trying to kick off at them and have arguments. Leave them alone. Let them enjoy their moment. Go away. Yeah. If I was one of the Spanish players, I i think just walk away from them right now. They're trying to steal your joy Exactly that. Take that as a message for life, people. If you're winning and someone's just shouting in your face and being nasty to you, turn your back. Don't let them steal your joy. Preach.

Speaker: Preach. What a message to close on.

Speaker: Well, that's a wrap on the World Cup 2026. It's a wrap on this episode. Superwag, thank you for for joining me for another episode. You are welcome. And, yeah, notice is out there. Get in touch if you're interested in being a guest and keep your eyes peeled for what I'll be tackling next.

Speaker: Bye!