How France and Spain set up the World Cup’s greatest clash yet. Plus, England’s plan to stop Erling Haaland

They were a lot of people's dark courses. Now they're just a flipping horse.

“They're just a horse, charging, you know what I mean?”

They're just charging, galloping, may I gallop? Galloping, arguably all the way to the final. I wish they could be a real horse that flipped. I'm Brendan Hunt. And I'm Rebecca Lowe, and this is off to the whistle from Apple News.

France has handily beaten Morocco and Spain got it out of win over Belgium, setting up a best deal day, showdown for the ages. And we're less than 24 hours away from England taking on Norway here in Miami. I'm letting all my nerves come out and Brendan is helping me through it. Plus we're going to find out why Brendan is the fan.

I'm going to give him all the credit for so-fi stadium being the best stadium at this World Cup by now. Reminder, there will be plenty of adult language. This podcast is brought to you by Verizon, an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. No one gets you closer to the FIFA World Cup than Verizon.

Hello Rebecca. Hello my friends. Lovely to see you again, though. I'm not seeing you personally because here I am alone in the hedgeros. Possibly for the final time, actually. I think definitely for the final time. Yeah, and we are going to be reunited a couple of times together in real life again

before the end of after the whistle season three. So that's exciting. But yes, I'm in Miami. You are there ready for England Norway, which is a game we will talk about later. If we talk about tomorrow, the match is still to come. Oh, they're both tomorrow, actually. They're both tomorrow. But since last we spoke, we've had two

quarterfinals. We had France defeating the good people of Morocco and today, Spain, defeating the good people of Belgium and let's talk about those a little bit. Okay, let's start with France Morocco. I was lucky enough to be at that game yesterday. Oh yeah, how was, how was Foxbro? Once you got there. Once we arrived. It was great. It was great. I mean, I, to be honest with you,

“I know people have very strong opinions about stadiums, don't they?”

I feel like there's a whole side conversation going on social media about well, the stadiums, my favorite of the five. What about you? I don't like the stadiums so old. Like no one seems to like the met life. But everyone loves so far. We do love so far more on that. I think to come. But Foxbro, to be honest with you, I just in England, stadiums are much smaller.

Other than Wimbley and old traffic that has 75,000 year place, the Emirates has 61 and then obviously spurs. Most of them are small, right?

And I grew up going to small stadiums. So any stadium in this country pretty much is amazing to me.

So Foxbro, Foxbro, however, was supposed to say it, not quite sure. It was wonderful. And it's just that we have this amazing vantage point. So they get a platform for us. I'm sure lots of people saw on the coverage. And it's, how do I describe it? Sort of halfway up. So between the pitch and the roof, we're about halfway up in the stand on a platform behind the goal and a little bit

between the goal and the corner flag. I mean, I just sound there. I just sort of breathe it in to be quantist with you. I'm thinking this how this is my life. This is incredible. And then and I don't have to, you know, I wasn't nervous yesterday for England. I can just enjoy my very first ever World Cup quarter final in real life. And it didn't disappoint because I got to see Killing and Bapet and Mike Lilly say. And it was Menden Belly right there.

Yard's away from me. It did not feel like a tense game at all on television. It felt fairly perfunctory, disappointedly perfunctory. I would say it was at the vibe, you know, life. Yeah, because when we got to halftime, even though it was Neil Nill, Bono had had a ton of great moments saved the penalty, hadn't he? Had some other saves.

“And so it was, I think Teary said a half time. This is just a game of when. It's, it's just,”

it's going to happen. And it was never really in doubt. France just don't have to rush.

Today, they don't have to rush. And even when they make a miss a penalty and Bapet can miss a penalty and he can still continue to break records. They are so lovely to watch going forward. I have to tell you. And I was disappointed a bit disappointed with Morocco. You know, they played France six times before yesterday. They've never beaten them except once on penalties, but technically as we know, if you went on penalties, it's not actually seen as a victory.

And the official record books. And it felt to me like, that was in their heads a little bit. It felt a little tiny bit like the USA against Belgium slightly beaten before they started. There was none of the grit and determination that they had displayed, you know, two games ago against Netherlands. And yeah, maybe they're just two familiar with France. And they know that like, even grit and determination isn't going to get us very far against, you know, these thugging

aliens of football who have come to destroy us all. But yeah, it was not, it wasn't a damp squid by any means. I mean, the penalty saved, though, odd that it took so long to take the penalty, you know, through a moment of drama in there. And, you know, it's it's certainly fun to watch France when they're cooking, but like for the quality of games we've had so far and we've been a

little bit spoiled. It was a little disappointing. Yeah, you know, it was. You never thought that there

would be any post-nineteenth minute drama. That was never really on the cards. You know,

you never thought that was coming. Two things, even though you call the aliens in your absolutely

right, called the aliens, the fact that in Bethlehem is the penalty, which is right in front of me.

“And I think I've got it. I think I think I think I was that awful person that got out of my phone.”

I've got to be honest, when killing in Bethlehem, Mr World Cup is right down there in front of you. And he's about to take a penalty. That is the one thing I do want to rewatch on my phone, or send to my little boy or send to my husband. Because I also do think, when you see it, and I wasn't the only one, I mean, I look down. I was like, you know, 10,000 phones all out. And I often think filming something at a game is only to show everyone that you were there.

Very few moments is it for you to then, because no one ever watches back. It's a bit like a concert. I feel like you're filming the concert. And you never watch it back. Do you just send it to people like, or you put it on social media? I was there for this one. I really just wanted killing in Bethlehem to score a penalty on my phone. I just wanted that. Well, obviously it got saved. Because for you, it's a clear exception having to prove you were there. We're pretty sure you were there.

Good point. Well, mate. So anyway, then he misses it. But what's interesting is that he missed it, or he had it saved. Because, and by the way, it wasn't even a save. He just caught the ball. I mean, it was not a good penalty, which, again, we've seen it with Messi as well. What isn't

these penalties getting in these incredible players' heads? I find that really, really interesting.

“And yes, it took a while, and he had to put the ball back down at least twice, I think,”

before he finally got to take it three minutes, 11 seconds from being awarded it to taking it. So that was interesting. And then the other thing, of course, as a crystal palace fan, I watched Michael Lee say a lot. And as crystal palace fans, we kind of knew. He was one of those players, and we haven't had a lot down the years, where you're sitting with him in your squad in your team on the field, and you're like, he's too good for us. What is he doing? Like, how has he not got,

what is he still here? We've got him for another season. How have we managed to pull that off, basically? And when he moved to buy a Munich, only, I think, Chelsea went for him. That was it. So can I just say, how are the Premier League allowed Michael Lee say to leave his actually an abomination? He should be playing in my opinion, and Premier League, because I'm selfish, and I want to see him every week. And obviously, we can watch him at

buy Munich, and he's been amazing. But for me, for me right now, I mean, this is really hard to

say, because I'm back by and back by, but it's been the best player at this world cup. I mean, hard knit out, because I'll haul and belling him. But he has something about watching him play. And that's probably my crystal palace fandom talking as well. But he's a beautiful watch. It is undoubtedly your crystal palace fandom talking. I mean, five assists and no goals are great. But there's some guys with eight equals and a sister too in there. And it might have to go with them.

For those who don't know his story, and I don't know it's super well. But here's the parts that I do know, and I find fascinating. And you know, France has obviously been like the biggest diaspora team in the world cup for going on 28 years. It's been part of their story. But very few of the French diaspora players have been born in London. My man was born in White City, London. Was raised in Hayes, which is where we shoot Ted Lasso, by the way.

And then as a kid, he gets on the the youth team at Reading. And I heard this anecdote the other day. I can't remember from when. But hey, if you're playing for Reading, like, oh, good for you.

“You're doing great. You're playing. Yeah, that's what a little career you're going to have.”

And someone says, hey, you've been invited to play for England, or you could play for England, something of that nature. And Michael Lee say, who is at that age just to be clear, 17 years old, and his 18 in this happens says, no, I'm going to play for France. What? He's born in England to a British Nigerian dad and a Franco Algerian mom. So like he knew, you know, he was eligible and everything. But while you're at Reading to be able to say, like, no, I'm going to play for

France is rather shocking. And now you are not crazy talking about him as one of the best players in the world. It is a bit crazy. There wasn't it. And Gareth Southgate reached out to him as England manager and said, you know, if you want to play for us, you can like it. I kind of love that. I kind of love that. It's a bit like that Anthony Gordon story. The the left wing of the place, bringing into this world cup who has wanted to play for Barcelona his whole life so much.

So he learned to speak Spanish without telling anybody. Then he signs of Barcelona a few weeks ago and his first press conference, he's fluent in Spanish. If that isn't manifestation, I don't know what is. I am absolutely here for this for Michael Alise to become one of if not the best player in the world. And with him being a crystal palace for a few years, I will take some of that credit. But seeing Killing in Backpay, by the way, bearing down on the Moroccan defense,

that's just one of the joys of life. Yeah. Like I'll see him at the at the semi and Dallas. And I am very, very excited to see France and full flow. So there you go. Fairly a fairly fun to your game. And obviously, my busy numbers are now continuing to get crazy, but they're going to keep getting crazier. So, and these still don't race with messy both just for this

Belgium. At what will be the last game for a so-fi stadium in this particular tournament. And heartbreak for Belgium. I know. I know. And it was all about substitutions. This game. Two substitutions. The goalkeeping substitution for Belgium when they had to take off T-book or 12 worlds, best goalkeeper, injured, comes off in tears already pulling at your heartstrings. It's okay, Senna Lawrence, who's the Manchester United goalkeeper. It's okay. He hasn't put a foot wrong,

since or a hand wrong, I should say, since signing for Manchester United around this time last year.

Arguably the first mistake he makes as a goalkeeper in a year was the second Spain goal.

When he paries it out and there is the other substitution of the game, your man, big game player, doesn't even turn up for small games, doesn't need to turn up for small games. Arguably, it's a little bit rubbish and small games. Oh, and he's got a big games. Make Elmerine out. Well, we'll come to all of this. I want to back it up a little bit for a couple of things. One is

“the beginning. Spain in their home kit, best kit of the tournament. I think the colors.”

Socks as well. Socks are amazing. Socks. Yeah. Socks make the whole thing. Spain's color scheme generally is very pleasing, but sometimes they don't nail it. This time they have absolutely nail it. And going up against Belgium, I think worst kit remaining in the tournament, and I'm including home and away. I love the idea of the kit. I love the salute to McGree. On the back, this is not a jersey. Great. hilarious. Wonderful. But you're a little like, you know,

vague blue with pink dots that you deserve to lose. Ruiz. Ruiz scores. And Fabian Ruiz was a surprise start and ahead of peddry. And he has a celebration. I just want to briefly acknowledge, because I've seen chess bump celebrations. And I've seen Baby and the Belly ball under your shirt,

goal celebrations. But I've never seen the Baby and the Belly-Celly lead straight into a chess bump.

Yeah. Which suggests a lack of familiarity with how pregnancy works. Like, that was

“that was very aggressive. And I feel for the child. And I feel for the Ruiz family. And I”

hope we get that sorted out. And then Belgium gets an equalizer from fucking Charles de Catelara. Yet again, this man who, what was it? 620 something minutes without giving up a World Cup goal for Spain up until that point. And this fucking guy, this fucking guy, this is the guy who scored two against the US. He also scored against the US in the front of the early this year. He's nine career goals for Belgium. A third of them are against the states. But one of them is right here.

And like, oh shit. Okay. Game fucking on. And Spain was was absolutely hammering, hammering the Belgian goal throughout. And Cortois, you know, as you would expect out of one of the best keepers ever, though he's getting up there in age. But even over and over again, he is extending himself. He is saving Belgium. And then he just he extends himself just one one oblique. Perhaps whatever it may have been too far. And an office an office comes. And when he has that first moment

of like, you know, the goalie is stopping the game to be injured, which, you know, now there's rules against it because we've seen it abused, particularly, in the, in the, in the, in the Premiership, but it's like, okay, it's Cortois doing, doing the like time killing move because he's such a elder statesman that like, no one's going to call him on it and they'll get away with it. Like, oh, no, oh, no, he's fucking, he's fucking injured. This is, this is bad. This is bad for Belgium.

“Laman's had only had, I believe, this was his third cap only for Belgium, which is kind of surprising”

to say about a guy who starts for, for Manu, but yet, yeah, Marino comes on and scores again for the second round in a row, a late equalizer. I was looking at Marino's goals for Spain. May I maybe speak to you about Marino's goals for Spain? Please. Confirming your point earlier that he's a big game player. He's, he's has 12 goals for Spain. Four of them are winners and one of them, a 93rd minute equalizer. Going chronologically, since it happened two years ago, in the Euro

quarterfinal against Germany, 119th minute winner in the nation's league quarterfinal first leg in Rotterdam against Holland, 93rd minute equalizer. The least sexy here in a World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria. He scores in the 35th minute and the 57th minute. They go on to win for nothing, technically a winner sure, sure, sure, but you know, I could have. And then last week, the 91st minute against Portugal today, the 88th minute against Belgium in around the 16th and a quarterfinal. And

good fucking god. My man is literally redefining the role of Supersev. Oh, I should say, he was a substitute in all of these except for the Bulgaria one where he scored early. He just comes on and does it. And again, not a score. Technically, he's a, you know, mostly defensive midfielder. Obviously, you got moved to striker a lot and very successfully by our TED at our arsenal. But that's not where he's scoring these goals from for Spain. He's still doing it from midfield.

And this is insane. Two things. One, I'm so sorry. How I just always rush to the punch line at the

game and just very quickly give away the ends. And then Paul, you have to actually like go through

I just wanted to like my kid when he's telling me about a film. I mean, he's like, they dies. Like, oh, Jesus. How do we get there? You're dealing with TV schedule. You're like,

“I got 30 seconds. And then I got a throw at his lifetime. Who knows what he's going to do?”

100%. And then secondly, I thought today Spain looked a little scary. And we've talked, haven't we about we wanted to see more from Spain? We wanted to see more from Limeño Marl. We wanted just to see more. Yes, there. We know they're good at the back. Now, they've at least conceded a goal. But we wanted more and today I got more. There was some sequences. I was like, oh, God. And there was one sequence in particular just for half time.

I'm almost felt like the camera couldn't keep up with where the ball was going. And I just

all like, in that moment, all I do is I think by England. And I think, oh my God, we never do that.

But we never played that. Like, they, they look today like, okay, now they're, I mean, if they win the World Cup, this is the absolute perfection of warming yourself into the tournament. Isn't it? You know, you're absolutely right with like those little moments. If I almost just haven't spun out there, you know, mall, like he gained a nonscore, but he's haven't spun out there. You know, I would put the two of these teams ahead of Argentina and certainly England as like

the favorite so far. And now we could see them play in a semifinal end. And you know what, it's on Bastille Day. Is it? On Bastille Day, which is Tuesday, the French national holiday. And I said to Terry, you know, it's on Bastille Day. He was quite like, okay, this is great. This is great. Because that's a, if you don't know, that's a big deal. If you French, big deal. And that's

going to make it extra special. And there, of course, geographical neighbors and their arch rivals,

because they're so bloody good. I mean, it's, it's, it's a beautiful, beautiful semifinal. Well, maybe you could play a trick on some of the Spanish players and tell them it's Bastille Day. Go on. The Bastic members of the team will think they have a responsibility. That's good. Part of their nation. Anyway, huge, huge, fucking semifinal coming up.

“And we're going to come back later. I think talk about so stuff. So if I later, and we got things”

about so far. But after the break, we'll talk about the other two quarter finals that are coming up. Here we go. I'm going to try and get Bastille Day into the full cost and take the credit for it myself. You will owe me 27 cents. Brendan, the FIFA World Cup is now underway and it's already going too fast. It's too much. It's too much going on. How do we find purchase anywhere?

We always, we could get as close as possible to these amazing games and no one gets you closer than

Verizon. In fact, Verizon gave away tickets to the FIFA World Cup for customers, coast to coasts. And some lucky customers are even getting pitchside access. Meaning they'll watch a portion of the gameplay up close from the field. If you're not a Verizon customer, it's not too late to switch. Bringing your AT&T team mobile, Xfinity, or Spectrum Bill for a better deal.

Must provide very recent post-pacons. You may mobile alone in the past, right, even for Dale, digital times, conditions, restrictions, but nice. No one gets you closer to the FIFA World Cup than Verizon. All right, welcome back to after the whistle. Two more quarter finals coming up here on Saturday. Each of us will be at one of them, but not the same one. You will be at England, Norway,

in Yonder Miami. I will be in Damnear, As ball, me, Kansas City for Argentina, Switzerland. And we're not going to talk about that game very much, because let's be honest, if Morocco couldn't lay a finger on France, I don't see how Switzerland's going to do it against Argentina. You were bigger. I didn't think so either. Although the last two games for Argentina, they've flirted with accessing this tournament. They really have been a bit dicey. So that was

“Cape Verde and Egypt. Have they learnt from that? Are they going to start quicker? Who's on penalties?”

We've got some questions. Who's on penalties might be the most interesting storyline coming out of this game for all stuff. Because if they get a penalty, that's going to be, wow. But no, I think your right Switzerland might have run their race by this point. Yeah. But you know, they have to be completely convincing as the World Cup. So let's say, but I can probably agree with you, correct, correct. I will repeat one of many

points I made early in this season that has proven to be of absolutely no value whatsoever. Which is my biggest fear for Argentina is like Messier is still as old as he is and these games are still every four days. And will he eventually wear down despite obviously a phenomenal start? Did you think he's trained at all since that all scammed against Egypt? I mean, do you think he's even put on his football wounds? That many in charge may have to do. It's still mileage.

And like yes, he obviously quite famously concerns his energy during match better than anyone, but you know, father time is undefeated, et cetera. Doesn't mean he'll win, father time that is doesn't mean he'll win tomorrow. But that remains my concern is because they're still

tournament team, but only up to a point. You know, the other day they beat Colombia and Neil

advancing on penalties. They're not afraid to make it boring. They're not afraid to make it ugly. In fact, it's kind of their specialty. They've got some dangerous players, particularly in Bolo, but their top score is not going to be there. Still, he's been announced that he's out.

“He mislasked him to and that's uh, Johan Manzambi. And why is Johan Manzambi not going to be there?”

Because he's he's also the mayor of New York. And as Johan Manzambi can just, I mean, we get it. You love soccer. You love soccer. You want everyone to know you love soccer, but you've got a city to run. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm being handed something here. Oh, that's Zoran Mamdani. Zoran Mamdani. No. I'm sorry about that. I'm sorry about that. Okay. Then yeah. Yes. Switzerland's far. England. All right. That's so good. Garreal England. No. On paper. England are the favorites,

but Brazil was sure the favorite on paper as well. And Norway rushed them aside. Now, there will be no team that can play Norway that is that has a bunch of guys that are any more familiar with the dangers, the threats, the terror that is Erling Browtholum, but still. He is Erling Browtholum. And where is your head? Where is your heart? Talk her back a share. Oh, thanks. Thank you, appreciate. I need safe space around me at all times for the next 24 hours.

On number of things, there's no pressure on Norway. And that scares me. They seem to be having fun that scares me. They look like a team that could win the whole thing. They were a lot of people's dark horses. Now they're just a flipping horse. They're just a horse, charging. You know what I mean? They're just charging. Galloping. May I gallop? Galloping. Arguably all the way to the final. I wish they could be a real horse that flipped. Can you imagine? I like, I think in fact,

“I think that's what being for the benefit of Mr. Kite is about from the Saturday paper album.”

And of course, every the horse does all the flips, carry on. Go on. Right. Deep come. But I'm sure of it. Sure. Okay, good, good, good, good. All those things concern me. Harland is smiling far too much. He's not stressed enough. He's annoying. I don't know. The spectrum. It's annoying. Then from England's perspective, Declan Rises injured. And I don't know if he starts. He didn't train much this week. That concerns me a lot.

But copymano, really good player can come in engine legs in the heat of Miami. I'm okay with that. I'm not so concerned because John Stone's obviously knows Erling Harland really well. We'll play against him in training all the time at Manchester City. He might start against him. But it's a tell you, well, my husband Paul and I were talking about this today. We were talking about the game. He said he would play Dan Burn, up against Erling Harland.

And I've started to think about this. They have been many, many, many moments. Newcastle and I did against Manchester City. And Dan Burn does well against Erling Harland. Erling Harland is six foot whatever. Dan Burn added a few more inches onto that. Burn is a beast. We saw him come off the bench against Mexico. One of his headers went about 70 yards. No clue how he got as much leverage on it. But he did. He is an absolute beast.

He's really good in the other penalty box too. If we have him for a set piece. So there is an argument that he should start this game, especially if gay is injured. To Manmark, Erling Harland because we cannot contain nobody can. Nobody can contain him. You've got to try and stop them all getting to him. But by stopping the crosses, but you know, good luck with that as well. On the topic of Dan Burn, I wondered that as well,

just because he had that incredible cameo against Mexico. And yeah, six foot seven, but not,

you know, not your strongest centerback, you know, he wouldn't be first and most. But again, you're going up against another giant. But you know, who agrees with you that he should start is, uh, is the great Emma Hayes who has a common garden about what she would do and she'd basically calls for the starting of Dan Burn as well. And he was like, okay, oh, it's good enough for Emma. Then it's good. Yeah. Yeah. So he's put Esri Conza right back because he's played it right

back before. And then you'd have Burn. And because someone's got to play there. Yeah, please could someone play there and play there well. And then you could put down Burn with

“gay if he's fit all John Stones. And then you've got, you know, then I'm okay with that. I think”

I'm okay with that. And then Nico and Riley on the left. So then I'm thinking, okay, with Kobe Mayno with Elliott Anderson in the middle, and then you've got your normal front four. I think I'm

okay with that. So the problem is the pressure is all on England. It's going to be super hot. We

know that I just, I've got to heat. I would worry more about the heat if they weren't playing fucking Norway. Sure. Who maybe even more affected than by Ireland against, you know, the swamplands that you're about to be into. And also John Stones, you recovered from that shoulder. How good is that? He recovered my shoulder. Thoughts, find the John Stones. Show my Instagram right now. It's one of the best pieces of quote unquote football content.

You'll ever see. I didn't see it coming. It got me. I've watched it again. I've laughed every time. I have a new family spec for John Stones. Also, Brendan, can I just say that now every time, especially

man toy that you talked about. That's what I can say. Yeah, I wish we had a microphone on our good friend Tattoo. Because you know, it's kind of from behind him. But I want to hear him going, he's like, oh, no. Oh, no, that is a problem. That is, I don't want to make a big thing of it. So we are in a celebration. We are as rightly so. Oh, no. Really? Oh, Declan. Declan is very concerned. Oh, oh, where is my, what is your petal? What is your petal? I got more Dutch

there than German at the end. Okay, so about the right bad situation. Okay. Um, you know, heaven, heaven, I was again, you know, we should remind the world, because they will Norway, not quite a one-man team, but they've also got dangerous players on the left, especially,

“you know, between Nusa, who has scored and and Sheldrup, who has three assists, I believe,”

in this world cup. There is players over there who can, who can do some damage. Oscar Bob, you know, who was not starting every time, but when he comes on, by the way, I came on what friend of mine it was who said like, um, nothing pleases me more than to hear the name

Oscar Bob yelled when it's good name. It's also never one of those names that you just say Bob,

and you don't say Bob, Bob, you say Oscar Bob at all times full name. He's a full name player. That's one of those full name players. When I was just great thing to be, and I think it wouldn't be the end of the world if you call them Oscar Bob, just, just for, just for extra clarity. Sorry, what do I think about what? What about the point, what do you think? I mean, because I can't judge it, you say, I just can't, I'm far too invested, I'm knee deep in this, tell me where you, you know,

objectively are. I am objectively thinking England should win this game, um, they have too many horses and, like, Tuckle, you know, Tuckle hasn't, you know, faced, Tuckle hasn't never faced Holland before, like he's, he's, he's come up against this problem before, and he will have been planning for this for a very, very long time, you know, having said that. There's been talk about this this week,

“and it's something that I agree with. I can't remember where I saw it, but it's kind of an age-old”

idiom about world cups, and for those who don't watch much football outside of world cups, let's just remind you of this, and I'm not even sure if you agree or back about it, but I bet you do. The world cup is not technically speaking about good football. The best football is the Champions League, because these are the best players, absolutely best in the world you can tell by their, by their bank accounts, um, who are working together every single day for a year with

lentlessly seeking perfection in every single way. National teams who gather for tournaments, you know, every couple of years and get together every couple of months for like a week or two if they're lucky, just cannot be as, quote, unquote, good of football. And I'm not talking about as good a show or as good a game or as good to watch, and obviously the stakes of it are beyond anything. The stakes are very compensatory, but the point of that all being, that is one of the

reasons why, at a world cup, the best best players can do so much damage, because it is much harder to to create, you know, like defensive game plans against them, particularly if you're on a team, you know, whose coach is, you know, somewhat new. I think that's one of the advantages that

“France have had is the continuity of dishomp for, for example. So that's why you're able to see”

so much of the emboppays, the messies, the hollins, just like kind of take over, because there are more not to be too specific, but gaps there for them to do so. So this is the kind of

tournament, let us never forget where a team as good as England, as well drilled as England,

can fall prey to someone who just has an incredible day. And as we are well aware, Holland is extremely capable of that. They're more than one person. I know. We all know that. No way, but still, it's, it's not a guinea, but I think in the end, it's, it's an England. I mean, this is off the whistle from Apple News. We've got bits and bobs at my stills to come. I guess so, what gosh? Oh, I hurt myself in my seat belt from that, from that hard stop.

Geez. Oh, yeah, you should. Let's smoke a cigarette before we walk out of the good board. Don't want me to know, it's like, we got a little long. This is after the whistle, we'll be right back. This female world cup Verizon is turning dreams into reality. They're giving away free tickets and pitchside access. Some lucky fans are getting the chance of a

lifetime to watch the action up close on the field during gameplay. All for just being a customer. If you're not with Verizon yet, now's the time to make the switch. This female world cup 2026, no one gets you closer than Verizon. All right, everyone. We are back for our bits and bobs segment of the day. Go for it, please, Brendan. Of course, you know, we're still dealing with the sadness of the U.S. being eliminated, but for those of you who listen to our last pod,

Christian Policic, this is incredible. He has now had sex with over 10,000 Wells Fargo Cardholders.

Rebecca, I can't, I can't see her, Rebecca. Oh my god, once again, once again,

for the second episode in a row, massive, clicked on in terms of where I thought that

bit and Bob was going. If you'd seen the commercial, you'd see it a mile away, but you're too busy doing your little chatty chat with your European friends. A chatty chat. Okay, my bit and Bob is more serious than that. In that, I would like some help from our listeners. So a few weeks ago, we did have a few questions and comments that we reacted to on one of our shows and I have got a little challenge for the listeners and viewers. I've got five shows left personally, five shows. I've got

they've got England, could have final, both semis, the third place playoff and then the final. I'm already feeling like I'm going to struggle on July the 20th for quite a while. I'm already feeling like I'm not alone in that. There is going to be a lot of people with you work to the world cup where you've just watched it from home every single game. It's going to be very difficult to get through those first couple of weeks. I'll be honest with you. Like it's all going to go

quiet. There's no moment of us all coming together. There's no football to watch or any that you'd want to watch. Let's be honest. There's nothing. This is dominated people's lives day in day out for by that time when we get to end a July six weeks, if not longer. I would like some suggestions from viewers and listeners. If there's any way they can help me, if they've got any little tips for

“getting over something like this ending, because I think I'm going to be that struggle bus.”

I'm on it. Amazing shout. Again, those of you who are like newest

girl cups as soon as you will see your life in four year segments and those four years are build up and when it's coming up and when it's happening, like oh my god, it's the best and you forget that at the beginning of that four years, meaning in the end the last four years, it's like it really hits you. Like it's a profound. It's not quite like, you know, the loss of a loved one or something like that, but it is like a certain emotional desolation. There's also like, you know,

I don't know if there's like one of the stages of grief or something, but you start to go especially if your team doesn't win, which is true, of course, about 99% of the world every time. You start to go like why? Why did I, why did I want it? Was it, did it really, did it met? Was it that? That doesn't be the first time I've come to this road now. All arrive at this stop on the road with two children. You know, maybe they can help daddy through it or maybe

or maybe they're they're just not going to be up to the job and they're going to have to get new jobs. I don't know. I don't know. My point is I agree. It's difficult. It's difficult. It's real

“and should not be underestimated. No, and real quick friends, and I think the older you get,”

not you ask we, the older we get, you have an ability to to soak in the moment more. So when you're younger, I remember you're a 96. It just came and went in a flash and you're in it and it's gone,

you never ever sit there and soak it in. And that's most of your young life, right? It just flashes

by and you don't know how to soak things in. You talk about it as a grief, right? Just then you talk about, you know, it's not like the death of a loved one. But, you know, a week on Sunday is the end, and I'm feeling that grief a little bit. I know this sounds really dramatic. I'm very aware how dramatic this sounds. But because I'm old enough to have experienced lots of great things. I'm very lucky in my life, but this thing, the particular I've never experienced before. This feeling,

I've never experienced before, where I'm in it, and I'm also savoring it, and I can feel it ending. And that, I think, as you get older, it's a beautiful thing because you can save us something which you can't do in your younger, but you can't stop it ending, and you can see it ending, and that's really hard. So any tips and tricks please send them in please for the next couple of episodes. Okay, what bit or bit above have you got to finish today? So today was the last game at SoFi Stadium.

I was, have liked to have been there, but like I had to do this, and now we gotta go straight to the airport to get to a tent, Kansas City. I love SoFi Stadium, which we don't have to call it Los Angeles Stadium anymore, which is not its name, because it's now closed for the world cup, so we can go by the comments SoFi. And when they, when I first went to my first game there, which was an NFL game,

“I think it was Rams Patriots, and I think, no, it was Rams Buccaneers, with Brady for the Buccaneers,”

and Rams won that game, and like, you know, I'm a bearous fan, but like, if it's two teams, I kind of equally don't care about the number for the home team. And it's a magnificent stadium. It's incredibly vertical, and as I've said on here before, it's the first stadium I've seen in the states, you know, I hadn't been in the cowboy scene before, or somebody's other ones, but like that is so vertical that reminds me of the like great football temples of Europe that

I have been to, you know, a time of Tucson, Cero, and Camp Nou, etc. So I have a small role, apparently, and SoFi having been chosen for this world cup, which I think was very small, almost minuscule, but, but lately people have been like thinking before it, so maybe it's more than

who knew me from LA FC, Richer Roscoe and Larry Friedman, shout out Richer Larry, Swelf, Swelcats.

“And they say, hey, the FIFA, you know, host scouts, you know, going from city to city,”

look at all the stadiums, you know, that might get chosen. This is their last stop as LA, and this is their last event, and would you mind coming and saying hi and showing your face and like, you know, maybe saying a few words? Yeah, I'm all right, sure, that might be happy to. We get there, get there, it's at Sony Studios, and it's open air, and like, it's kind of uncomfortable as these

things always are. You know, I go have a drink with Rich while we're waiting for whatever's

going to happen. Sidebar, for those unfamiliar with with with the win-a-working of MLS, one of the big rivalries is LA FC versus LA Galaxy, Harkening to Barcelona and Madrid being called El Classico, the LA brother is called El Trathico, which is a wonderful, wonderful grass roots organically composed nickname. But I hear Rich saying to someone like, yeah, actually now we call it, now we call it the California Classic. So they asked me to speak, and like first the mayor of England, we're so

far as speak, and the mayor of Pasadena speaks because the Rose Bowl is in the running as well,

“and they think it's possible that both stadiums might get selected. I think they expected me to say”

hi and sit down. I don't think they expected that I had, I mean, it's off the dome, but still

kind of a type 10 about soccer and soccer stadiums. And I try to be magnanimous about both stadiums and try to say like, hey, when the World Cup happened in 1994, I didn't know a fucking thing about it, but I knew it was a legitimate because the final was at the Rose Bowl, because if it's at the Rose Bowl, then it's a big fucking deal. But I've also now been to sofa, and sofa, as I've just said, you know, very vertical, it's like, you're peeing, I can see World

Cup final being being played there. I also said to the crowd, oh, and by the way, I hear the LA people trying to say that it's called the California Classic now, it's not, it's El Trathico, and it's going to be El Trathico forever. So just put that in your pipe and smoke it. Okay, great. And I talked for a while, and like, you know, the FIFA Retinaue was all like Swiss people, and yet they were truckling and I was like, okay, all right, fine. And I went very well,

though, except afterwards, Rich Roscoe from LASC just stairs at me like this. I'm like, what, what, what the matter? It's like, what are you fucking doing to me? El Trathico! Like, yeah, you're welcome. Yeah, so I've seen some of the, some of the host people since then,

particularly a woman in Katherine, who's always, you know, great to see it at various football events.

And they're always like, thank you so much, because obviously, you know, Pasadena was not chosen, so far, was chosen. And the way that they're thankful about it, I'm like, really, like, kind of like touched by it. And so this is a bit of horned tooting, and, and, but, you know, no, no, no, no, it's about it until now. Once footnote, I got invited to like a World Cup launch party at the Colosseum, before the World Cup started, and go there and like, you know, it's like food

and bands and like, not that many people. And again, one of these people from the, from the host committee comes to me, says, hi, Brendan, great to see you again. Again, thank you so much for those words. You said back in the thing like, oh, gosh, oh, you're welcome, yeah, which was, and what you like to meet Johnny and Fintino, and I look over her shoulder and like 30 yards away, Johnny and Fintino, it's standing there. And I say, no, I would not. And I look away. And, and I leave the party immediately,

which I don't think that she was expecting that as an answer. So anyway, so far, so far, great job. Next time this World Cup is here, is apparently it might be in 12 years. I hope you get the final because it's a fucking great stadium and good job at like committee for, for making it a real, a real treat of a month in this part of the country. There's no one like you. Come out.

“Nobody. Come over to the best. Look, the best, great story and congrats, because I think it was”

the best stadium at this welcome. Yeah, I agree. After the whistle, we'll be back Sunday after Rebecca attends England Norway and Miami and I attend Argentina, Switzerland and Kansas City, advantage Rebecca. Oh, gosh, imagine what life will be like then, imagine. We're also one of them. They could have a really special guest on that show, by the way. Reminder, we're on socials everywhere, but for at, after the whistle, Apple and Instagram, you can watch

video episodes of the show both on Apple Podcasts and on YouTube. Thank you so much. This is after the whistle on Apple News. Goodbye! Every episode ends with just me chuckling in and it just fades. [BLANK_AUDIO]