I'm hoping that you guys continue on,
and we can put all this revolutionary war stuff behind us.
Yeah, that would be great, you know, but we get a moment alone. It is all our back talks about. It's just, she's like so much Monday morning quarterback. I know, like you barely, you barely won. Yeah, you barely can do it better.
Wait, why do you guys waste all that tea? Good team.
“Like what a, what a, what a team doesn't always win, you know?”
You know, I would have been in the Boston Harbor just drinking it up. So, and then swoon with my mouth open. I'm Brendan Hunt. And I'm Rebecca Lowe, and this is after the whistle from Apple News. I'm here in Kansas City with my buddy Jason today.
Here's to talk about the Argentina Switzerland game. We both attended last night, and also Darts. And England, England, Brendan, are through. We'll talk about the victory over the Vikings and the garage match that awaits with Argentina.
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.
Oh, Brendan. We're in the World Cup semifinals. Yep, for just a couple of time in my lifetime. Oh, boy.
I see what I'm talking about third time in my lifetime full-time overall.
You must be delighted. We are here after the whistle. Not immediately after the whistle, but we are after two whistles. So that kind of bounces out. You were back already in Dallas.
I am in Kansas City, but yesterday you were in Miami, attending covering England, Norway, trying to keep a professional face on, through all the trials and tribulations. Please, please, tell us about your exciting day. Well, first of all, I was trying to keep my face on generally,
because the amount of makeup that was quite literally dripping off of this face of mine was quite staggering. So that was hot. That was definitely hot. We were outside the stadium and I was like, OK, this isn't too bad.
And that I forgot that when you get into a place like that, the air never leaves. All it is is 64 and a half thousand people breathing in and out each other's carbon dioxide and oxygen. And it just gets wetter and wetter and wetter.
And my hands were getting more and more gross. In fact, it was gross. However, it didn't matter, none of it mattered because England, flipping one it with a little help from a cable on a camera. But do you know what alleged, which, by the way, was a whole
another situation of denial and, but the evidence, but then denial. But there was evidence, but we'll get to that. I feel like Jude Bellinger might be the greatest player in England's epiproduce. Is that a hot take? I don't think it is.
I mean, I'm in love with this team.
“I think they are so likable when I go through them almost to a man.”
I love the way they are. And then Thomas Tukles kind of rather stressed out, animated, post-match interview, as well, saying that actually weren't very good, but we've got this unbelievable grit. And now, I think I said it on the air.
Now I feel like we have ourselves an England team that reflects the manager. And it's kind of, and it's kind of surreal to be there.
Because it was my first England game in a world cup, as I've said on the pod.
And I got to witness it and see my husband and my child witness it. And the whole thing, which is all a little bit overwhelming, random. May I, I mean, jump in ahead here a little bit. But saying that in this England is a manifestation of their manager, the previous manager, Geris Haltgate, where they also
a manifestation of him and was that by the end a problem? I think possibly, I think possibly, I think, um, they seem grittier. I mean, Geris Haltgate is a lot so giraff, is a lot of fantastic things. I don't know how much, here's a little grit. Here's a little grit.
He's not gritty, though, is he? Of all the things, he's not gritty, Garra, if that isn't how you would describe it. If you meant it, you say, gentle Geris. Gentle, gentle, correct. He's gentle and soft and lovely.
Well, that ain't gonna win you the welcome. We need grit, a little bit of German thrown in for good measure, because they know how to do it, and some metal.
“And that's what this England team have shown at the Azteca.”
And then again, last night in Miami, they were out on their feet. They didn't play very well, we know that. It doesn't matter who cares, I don't care. I don't care if we play terribly and win the welcome. No, who cares?
No, really. So yeah, I think he is, yeah, he's imposed his identity for one of a better word on this team. And it was kind of proper English, sort of blood and thunder. And it was all encapsulated perfectly. In a moment that I am so glad I saw with my own eyes,
when Dan Burn, you know the moment, don't you? Extra time, header, knocks out the geeseer.
No idea who it was on the floor, and then he gives one to the fans like, "Com...
It was better than a goal.
I just slightly lost the run of myself. It was quite near to me as well. And I just, again, what a guy, Dan Burn. Interesting to see. To hear you talk about how by manifesting the personality of the manager,
England is becoming so very English.
“When in fact, the reason why I think they are going to win this is because that manager is, in fact,”
German. And there are also German qualities that you are describing. At least, you know, in footballing terms, particularly. And it just still tickles me. It still tickles me that they may win this thing with... No, I think, I think Brendan, we don't need to talk about anymore.
I don't think, if we win the world cup, I promise you, England will not discuss the fact that he is German. It will very, very quickly just get brushed right on that carpet. And he will be so Thomas Touchell. And he will be a sur, and he will be a honorary Englishman,
which, by the way, will do great things for international relations. Right, so tattoo. So let's walk through a little bit here. Line-up comes out. We think we were hoping, hoping, wondering at least if Dan Burn would be in there.
He was not. We were expecting Sakka.
“I think we got Matt Waike, again, very popular on your set.”
And we didn't think Rice was going to play, but he gave it a go for 45, which was a good honor. Yeah, yeah, so he was second and bed for most of the last three days. We knew that. And Thomas Tughal had said he could probably play more,
but we just needed to save, like, a substitute. So they only gave him 45. He didn't look terrible, but he didn't look his best. The back four was interesting with Conzer at right back.
Conzer being the only player who has never played with Erling Harlan.
So the other three, of course, with O'Reilly and Gaye and Johnson, all Manchester City players, Johnson's leaving now. But O'Reilly spent the last year or two years or more with Erling Harlan. So that kind of gave me a sense of comfort. And then on the right wing, I quite like Matt Waike
in the Premier League for Arsenal coming off the bench. Quite like him starting for England and a World Cup quarter final is one thing.
“But starting over Buckeye of Sakka is, am I missing something?”
I find that highly bizarre. And I think that obviously Tukul owned it half-time by taking him off. I think we're still not getting full metal Sakka for whatever reason. Either it's gone forever, it's just he's not the way back. But he did look better when he came on than he has all a cup.
So there's your England. And then we think, you know, we think it's going to be all about Holland for Norway. And then I tell him we talked about it in the previous pod. Fuckin' sheld her up out of nowhere from this tight angle. It was full disclosure, I was watching this game in the lounge
at CPKC Stadium home of your Kansas City current of the NWSL because we were doing an appearance there. They were having a lot bit of a watch party for the Argentina game that we were going to be going to. So the sound was in and out and driving us mad. But like, what I still don't know for sure, was that a shot? Was that an attempt at a cross?
No chance. Oh, there was a cross, it was a cross, it was a hundred percent a cross. If you look at his body language, his eyes. And you see Holland coming in the back post. And then the way he put the ball in, it was a hundred percent.
I mean, to be fair to him, the reason why we all thought, oh, hang on a second, is it a shot? Was the way he celebrated? A hundred percent. I mean, the celebration was like, look, what I just did in a welcome home. I am sheldered up.
I am mighty. No, yeah. So nobody. But for me, Brendan, the big turning point on the whole night, and I think you're going to know what it is, was after that goal one nail saw lot went through counter attack. He was on the right. Harlam was in the middle. There was what. John stones basically separating the two. And there was a moment. And if anyone's ever watched football more than handful of times, you will know what the moment was to pass the ball and cross it and put it wide. And just just square it. I mean, square it to Holland and it's two nailless game over and he didn't. He missed the moment and then he tried to take it himself.
And John stones did really well at that point, but it was more for me about, oh, God, the glaring window wasn't short window. You had two seconds to do it.
That's when I thought, okay, we might be okay here, because that was one of those, I've seen a million times of you, those turning points in games.
If you don't capitalise on it then, you'll live to root you often, live to root a day and live. And like Sarloth is a good player. He's getting 20 goals a year in Liga and... Imagine. But like, buddy, you know, I know you're frustrated that you haven't scored this world cup, but this was, that was the moment. I mean, going in up to nothing is so different than, well, what end up being one one because, uh, you man, Mr. Bellingham. By the way, America, it's not pronounced spelling ham. You know, I have to ever say Bellingham again. That's, it's really not hard to go Bellingham on that pretty easy, pretty, remember?
What is, remember, um, on a little house in a prairie?
Um, we've talked about this before, but the, the massive importance of it just before halftime goal, um, it came damn near out of nowhere. And what I didn't realize, because again, we didn't have the sound on them. I, like, run around during halftime and only caught the, like, the tail end of this with no sound. You guys talking about it. I was using context clues to be like, wait a minute. Was there a thing with the wire? So it turns out that this goal was a little more controversial than it seemed at first.
Go on. Yeah, it was a, yeah, it was a goal cake. It was always goal cake. And the ball,
allegedly, we showed a video of it and there are lots of angles of it and it does suddenly drop, uh, quicker than it would normally fit, not hitting a thing. Court, the cable leading to the cable camera that is above the stadium. And it drops it drops the feet of Anthony Gordon.
“I think two, three, two passes later. It's the feet of due Bellingham is the back of the goal. Not ideal.”
And to be fair, I mean, I'm not one of those people on a stadium that watches the ball in the air. I do, are you at a goal kick? Like, I, I, I love football. But I don't need to look at the ball when it's up in the air. I'm trying to watch them, you know, jacking for. Where they're moving and who it's going to go to. But the keeper, Nealand, and then Soulbacken and Harlan, they all complained about it. And then it was half time. So they kind of like went in complaining about it. But the way to late by then, um,
the rule, because we spoke to Mark Claytonburg, half time. The rule was if an, if the ball hits an outside object of any nature, then you are supposed to blow the whistle, drop ball and restart the game. But you didn't see it, restaurants see it. So if the restaurants see it, you can't, you can't do it, right? Unless we are getting involved, which they didn't, because I'm assuming they were like, all students here? I don't know. I'm assuming on there on their replays, they didn't also,
anyway, we did it a half time. We showed it. They were furious about it. And then during the
second half reports began to come out that FIFA said, oh, no, don't worry. It didn't hit the cable
wire because there's no evidence. No, the chip in the ball. Because the chip in the ball that
“caught the hat of the player, remember that game when it caught the hat and it helped out. Yeah. Yeah.”
It caught the hat and it could feel the hat, but it can't feel the cable, apparently. That doesn't make a lot of sense. Thank you, people. Um, I'm very happy. But that sounds like one of the takeaways is maybe more of us should watch the ball. Yeah. Maybe it's watching the Jackie position too much. 100%. Oh, go. Good take away. Good take away. So it goes. We have them a score of a second half. Nerves are fraught. I presume in the in the low household. We had two offside goals as well.
Harry Kane, we thought he got a goal. That was offside. Then we thought he had gone and scored,
but that was what um, waved off because there's a foul by Irling Harland in the box. So there's
a couple of moments of like, oh, it's gone and then, oh, no, we've got it. And then, yeah, it went to extra time and um, you know, it's really hard, Brendan and last night was the hardest it's ever been for me to do two things at the same time. I am struggling with the hosting of a television production on network television. What a biggie. Quite a biggie. Well, also being incredibly invested into the main invite. And I have to constantly, I've seen this to my dad on the phone. Yes,
today, I have to constantly double check myself. So the end of the game 90 minutes, we are allowed a little chat before um, extra time starts. So we're going to break, come back and it's me and the three guys. And it's then when I'm double checking my questions, like hang on, there are two teams out on this field. I do need to make sure I cover both teams. It's not just about England. Am I asking too much about England? Maybe I should ask more about Norway, but now I'm asking
“loads about Norway. Am I double, like, double bluffing myself here? Am I overcompensate?”
It's like a whole conversation that goes on in my head when I'm hosting this show to make sure that I was neutral as I possibly can be. And then I get Zlatan or Teary or Lexi going, you're England. How are you feeling? I might know. I don't want to talk about how I'm feeling. Don't open this. Don't open this box. Please. So anyway, that little bit, especially between regular time and extra time was really hard. Then we go into extra time and it takes just three minutes
before so Jude gets the winner. I mean poor, but poor Neil and I did, I did feel a bit sorry for the Norway alkyl. Yeah, because that's horrible. Any other great stuff that's off the top of spill, you feel. I feel bad. I felt a pretty feel bad. But it was a great, it was a great moment. And then I didn't really feel nervous, particularly after that. I felt, is that arrogant? I felt like it was how I would done it as well. He went at half time of extra time at which point I was like,
"Oh, that's a win, a substitution of all time." But I think he was obviously injured. I think he had a dead leg or something, we found out later. But yeah, then when Hala went off, I was like, "Oh, wait, I mean, they still are really good players." And they had mode. They definitely had moments, but I just, they've done so much. And they've been looking at his chops. Here it comes. So a lot of time, maybe. Not a good answer. By the way, even more sympathetic for your
Your torn nature as it is being on fan and a professional.
England game of this entire world cup. Well, baby, well, cup of any world cup. Oh, my gosh, Rebecca. I can't believe your composure. Well, now I've got thank you. And now I've got semi-finals to do, which is plumber. Against Argentina, of all teams, that they're nearly history, literally on the field. Oh, well, well, I literally since the moment the Argentina game ended, I can't wait for me to back up and tell people about England, Argentina. Because it's a family.
So much to say, it's been really hot. Oh, we did a whole segment for that one. Yeah, I did manage to take
“a quick second when they were singing Wonderwall. And I just said, I think, you know, let's just”
listen in. So I, which is basically me just wanting to listen. I mean, let's be honest. So I could
listen, let me just listen in. Um, yeah, and then it, and then it really took until I was in the car on the way back for it to sink in. We've got to just, like I say, fourth ever World Cup semi-finals, third of my lifetime, the previous two absolutely hell on earth. So let's hope that this one bucks the trend, please. All right, that has been England, your new semi-finals versus Norway. We will, uh, we're going to, we're going to, we're going to, we're going to, we're going to shunt Argentina,
and Switzerland to, uh, to our second segment with our good friend Jason's and I guess what's about to join us? Okay, let's do that. This is after the whistle on Apple news. 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”
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Nice. No one gets you closer to the FIFA World Cup than Verizon. Welcome to after the whistle. For those of you watching, well, it's already been spoiled for you. We have a guest here today. Don't we Rebecca? We do the wall and only Jason's a day kiss. Jason, thank you coming back on after the whistle season three, I might add. I mean season three of, of, yeah, that's crazy. Because you did it, what first, what World Cup 2020? Yeah,
then euros or women's in 23. Women's 23 and then here we are. So far so good. How are you guys? Where are you guys? Kansas City. My hometown. Yeah. You know, an adopted son to the city. I would say at this point. Good. I'm in the will. Yeah. You can't take it. Guys, I get 1 percent. It's pretty great. We are here partially for Ted Lasso reasons. There was, you know, the premier is coming up pretty
soon in a few weeks and August 5th on your Apple TV device. It also works on other devices, actually, because it's not just a device. It's also an app, but more importantly, we had a screen of the first episode today, particularly because it is was shot in Kansas City and takes place in Kansas City. But then last night, because of the wonderful synchronicity of the timing gods, we were able to attend Argentina versus Switzerland and they had us on the, you know,
pitch side doing some stuff, getting people to yell, which is something I've always felt a natural
acuity for that you, a natural or unnatural. A natural. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's making people yell. It's like walking from it. Yeah. Making people apologize is my gift. Yeah. Yeah. You owe me an apology. And then I apologize to him. And I don't even know what I did. Yeah.
“Do you rarely do people do anything? That's what they just...”
Guys, he's all right. If I don't contribute to this podcast, I would just like to know genuinely, would just like to just sit and just watch. No, no, no, no. We need some gravitas and we need some guidance as well, probably. There you go. Okay. So I'm going straight and tell me about messy, obviously didn't score. And that means you'll, the thing's gone Brendan, the, the, the record that you've been watching. There's a senior watch. Yes. Yes. There's a senior, wherever he is
in Brazil right now, he's pouring himself champagne and Mercury Morris fashion knowing that his record still stands for another four years. Jersey, you know, the Brazilian who in 1970 became the only person that remains the only person to score a goal in every round of the world cup. Uh-huh. But now messy. He was the last one. He, he, he, company's out. Probably did it on purpose, right, messy. I thought he would do any Brazilian
players and favors. Yeah. But he's kind of like, what? I've got to build another shelf. You know, for like another, sure. Sure. He assumed he gets trophies, you know, he gets trophies made
For the things that they don't actually have trophies for and then he puts it...
Yeah. Fair. Can I also a question, Jason? They're, they're, there are days with with with. No, I'd rather you not. And this has been after the whistle. I mean, I want to thank you for all your support. You're like my kids, you know, hard kids do that. Dad, I have a question. I said, me, I know who I am. And I know what's cooking like just fire away home. Questions work for the only two people in the car. Just talk. Yeah. Okay. So my question is,
well, like Brendan just pings out these like, Jezinho thing. Yes. Right. And for a guy who didn't really know anything about football before he moved to the Netherlands, I'm correct. Dan, so I Brendan pretty much. Not much about football team. If yeah, to Holland, although
“every time he says Holland, I think he's saying Holland, which changes every single sentence here,”
he says, and do you like, are you like me, Jason? Are you just like every now and then just like, how do you know so much? Oh, I take it. It's like, um, oxygen. I know oxygen is here. And I just breathe it. So I do think that I've stopped saying it. Um, what I do more often than not is is as asked him to explain that to me to the point now, I've just noticed he just he knows he just doesn't have to wait for me to ask. He's just like, I got your bud. Yeah, I was so sweet. He did. He turned to you and
he just explained about the Jezinho thing. And it was very sweet. Yeah. But I mean, like I texted, I'll be which before the Mexico England match, I asked her, I asked for my tail of the tape, you know, and he'll spit me out a quick, you know, voice note, if, you know, the surroundings allow at the time allows, we get them on, you know, in the band rides to any match we get to go to
“when when filming in London. It is one of the great experiences. I love sitting between”
Brendan and anyone else who is either inquisitive or knows as much or equal to, like, like, I'll sit in between Brendan and our buddy Ezra and just get every now and then and maybe ask a very
neophyte dumb dumb question. But it's always super helpful. Yeah. I mean, it's, and I've been used to this,
if one can get used to having a friend like that. Since, I mean, it's, it's part of the work in the story of the show. Since 2000, since 2000, and of 2000 when we would play, you know, we've talked about this before, but you know, play station playing FIFA in the dressing room at Boonshikago in Hurling, Holland, Netherlands. Yeah. I mean, but do you be clear? Yes, I lived in Holland and other ones, but I did briefly live in Hurling, Holland. Okay, this icon. He's, he's capacious
down there. Like, I've just had a little studio. He's a big boy. And he's a big boy over the brain. It was great. You got a pairing for the record. The, the time you texted me before England Mexico was the one time I've been like, God damn it Jason feels like trying to get into Azteca. I don't know. Already as it is, like, we're literally walking past not only like a thousand chanting Mexican-themed green shirts and like drummers and like, still walkers and butterfly
costumes and like, where's the sign and like, I lose Shannon for a second and Shannon was
me, but can't find each other's. Hey, buddy, you got a title that takes me. God damn it. Like, yeah, I do win all the time with our friend Rebecca, one just like, you know me, man. I swore off podcast ever ever since cereal. Yeah. Like, and, you know, not until they
“free to add none, because I wasn't, I forget his name. I believe so. Yeah, that's the way I don't”
think it's going to happen. Oh, hell, then I'll do it. I just won't listen to it. Future Brendan here Brendan was confused. An unsaid is in fact now. Finally out of jail. There was a lot of back and forth in my defense. You know, it was in he was out and he was in he was out, but now he's out. We return you to after the whistle. I don't know where this goes. I don't know where this goes. I don't know where these things are
implugged in. I don't know what's happening. This is a good old fashion face time. We're having right now catching up with it. Oh, no, that's a nice thing. I say all the time that Brendan is number one draft pick for your Pud trivia team. Also, number one draft pick for karaoke night. Yeah, it's like, if you're going out and you're doing an activity in the night time, it's a very good chance of Brendan's excellent. I'm the DN Sanders. Yeah.
Passive night time activity. Let's have two sports now coaching. Oh, my gosh. Okay, so I'm getting out back on track guys. Okay. So last night, tell me about Argentina's whistle. And it was it wasn't the best game in the world cup. But it had a little bit of drama. It had an unbelievable goal. And it had the the the dive, the street, the walley, what a walley. Crazy. I would say
as a Kansas City person, it was amazing going in Arrowhead Stadium or the Kansas City Stadium that we call
now. It is the most blue I have ever seen in that stadium. There was like a little tiny,
You know, like when when when when someone has like a little patch of gray, l...
on their beard, there's a little patch of red up that was behind the obstacle. Behind the obstacle,
“but the rest, it was just blue. Like, I mean, even on Royals nights at Chiefs Games, I don't think there's”
that much blue. Only Azteca for Mexico, England, have I have not been having 10 games now this workout. Have I seen a stadium, including, you know, US matches, that was so completely one color. Like, it was it was pretty nuts. It was it was a fully Argentine crowd. And it made the atmosphere, the the second best atmosphere after Azteca as well. Like it was the Argentine singing was constant. And one particular moment, so in extra time, the second half of extra time, you know, hundred
twelve minutes or so there. And like I noticed for the first time, all game like, oh, the Argentine fans are quiet as Argentine is coming down the field. And then it's like they realize they were being quiet too. And as the ball crosses the halfway line, they start singing again and doing this and like, and like all together, all of a sudden, and 10 seconds later, Alvarez scores that
incredible goal. And then, you know, then it's done. But that felt like, and, you know, even though
there had been that pause, you know, the rebound was made it a home field advantage goal, even though technically it wasn't home field. It was a collective inhale and then someone had a pitch pipe in this. Just to get, so they all got right on the right key. After me, everyone. And they're like, all right, seeking inspiration. And there he provides it and off we go.
“That was probably, I don't know, top three goals of the tournament that you think, guys?”
That was unbelievable. Yeah. Yeah. It was up there, especially the importance of it. I think he rocked it up there. It was also like, you know, because you go and, you know, you know, you're a messy close person, friends. Absolutely. I'd be happy to make a little bultra that we did a commercial together. As I once lived inside Erling, Helen. Yeah. Right. Jason Grayson lived inside, lean on messy. More cramped spaces, I remember. Yes,
good. We couldn't visit it still. Yeah. No. Great Wi-Fi. Then like you want the messy show, of course. Anytime. It's my first time seeing Argentina play. And you know, I've seen messy play for Inter Miami. I'm not just going to say what's wrong. You know, without doing more respect to my MLF friends. Not quite the same. And you want him to, you know, you want to have a moment for you. And he had the, the assistant, the first goal. But you know, what Argentina needed
was guys beside messy to step up. You know, like McAllister, Alvarez, Martinez, these are the guys human waiting for, basically, all tournament they are now showing up when messy is in my theory. I know you don't listen to the podcast for you. Yeah. That's a good instrument. Yeah. If messy is getting tired as a tournament goes on, which I suspect he is. Yeah. I would if I was him.
Yeah. It's a lot. You're tired now. Exactly. I barely run. You know, I would say never.
Try to think the last time I actually ran. You want to go for a run after this? Oh, you know, what? It was the chase down the UPS truck. No, it wasn't. Because I, because they, you know, you go downstairs and there was the thing we just missed the liver and I ran outside and I, and I guarded my Oculus. Yeah. And it was horrible. Horrible experience. Don't, don't, don't recommend it. Even if someone's chasing me, I'm going to try to talk it out. First of all, hey,
just here. Here's my watch. Oh my god. Let me ask you about USA. I want to, I want to know, like, how, so Brendan, let me just tell you. So the night that USA went out, Jason, I was worried. I'm not, I'm not going to lie to you. I was, I was worried about him. He was not in a good place. I also made him wait five hours, normally after the whistle is quite literally, after the whistle. And I had to make him wait five hours because that's get back from Seattle to wherever. I'm chosen. And now,
I, he just sat in his feelings for five hours. And so by the time we start the podcast, the poor
“guy, I mean, you know, bereft, I think is how I described it. How far down that line did you go?”
Did it bother you and quite the same way were you sad or like, how did you feel when they got out when they were knocked out? It was a bummer. I mean, it was a bummer after that. And then it was kind of like, oh, and then it was a bummer. But, but I don't know how again, how much I get to listen to the podcast more when I'm in Los Angeles because I'm driving and it's fun to hang out with you guys in that way. But I, they've been in New York and I've been in Chicago for a family reunion.
The whole thing had an asterisk on it before or even began, right? I mean, I just been talked about. And so as a person who both appreciates and has really, really found it to be a lovely like journey of discovery, the football world and the way they've embraced our show. And we make jokes, especially I do as TED about like, you know, the, what feels like the shagginess of rules, like the, you know, the ball having to go all the way over or a guy throwing the, you know, an
In-bounds play and we'll move, you know, 20 yards.
allowed to move your feet, you know, even a pivot foot when you're out of bounds, all those little
“things and then stoppage time, et cetera. But the integrity of those rules, I find to be the ones”
that are strict and strong, to then have those rescinded and, and for reasons, like, it felt weird even sitting down. And I was kind of like, okay, well, maybe sweet lady karma, you know, football karma will, will, you know, we'll see what happens. And even if we would have won four to one, it would have felt, you know, brief, I know, we would have got a, I know, yes, we would have,
but he would always, it would always be there the same way people are with like, you know,
very bonds home runs and, and, and any of that kind of stuff. And, but it was, it took the, it took the win out. We had, we had folks over the house, back home Brooklyn, and we, and, yeah, just a few of us, but yeah, the pizza didn't taste as good afterwards. It was, it was, it was a, it was a, it was a bummer and, and I, and I'm not, it also stinks the way, then everybody sort of, all the finger point and all that when, when really it was kind of that I don't pay too much mine to, because it's
“going to be a while until we get a chance, at least on the mail, on the men's side to see what”
repercussions happen there, but even, like, my buddy, as a, as a, as a, like explained to my little sister Lindsey, like, why the, the, the, the rescinding of the, of the red card was such a big deal
on such such a global scale. It's like it, it made us like the bad guys when we were the underdogs,
and we're already, you know, people have different takes on the, the US, you know, based on the books they've read, the films they watch. So yeah, I mean, I'm rambling and saying stuff, it's been said many times for the last, last week or so, but that's, that's, that's, that's where I was. It didn't take me five hours, you know, to, to get over it, but, but, oh, I'm not over it. Yeah, he's no longer over it, not, yeah. Poor Brendan. Yeah. Thanks, Chris. Yeah, this has made me feel no better at all.
I'm just appreciate it. But it's nice having a team that I do support, you know, I've, you know, but Brendan's wearing the Netherlands hat, you know, but for me, it's any, people are like who do you support? It's like any, any country that I've had the opportunity to live America, you know, Netherlands for a briefer time than Brendan and then, obviously, with the, making of the show, England. So I'm looking forward to that. I'm excited for you and all our, all our friends and I,
and I'm hoping that you guys continue on and we can put all this revolutionary war stuff behind us. Yeah, that'd be great. You know, that'd be great. But we get a moment alone. It is all our back talks about. It's just, she's like so much Monday morning quarterback. I know, like you barely,
“you barely won. Yeah, you barely, you look better. Wait, you, why do you guys waste all that tea?”
The good team, what a, what a, what a team doesn't always win, you know, you know, I would have been
in the Boston Harbour just drinking it up. Swimming with my mouth open. That was, that's the under-reported first British reaction to the Boston Tea parties. I hold on. Swimming in team. That's not the point, Gerald. Of course, of course, of course. No, no, no, it's horrible with that time. It's horrible with that time. Same way that people hate the end of that Batman movie when the methadone addicts, when the Joker blows up the hospital, they're like,
they're like, oh, all that wasted methadone. Same way, British have the same way about the, the Boston Tea Party. It is. It's a bummer. I get it. Are you, I mean, I only asked this because, you know, a manifestation of your resources. There's three games left. We're not, we're not counting the third place game, but no one does or should. Are you going in any games? Only the final, the final, get to you go to the final. In your hometown of New York, New Jersey, New York, New Jersey, New Jersey, York.
It's like, I look, being from, being from Kansas City, I'm down with the confusion. Like, you know, like, we have it here. Are you in Kansas City, Kansas or Missouri? It's like, both, maybe, I don't think it depends. I don't know. I got to look, I got to take a 360 degree look around before I really know. You can see the color of the street sign. So yeah, New York, Jersey, we went to the England match two weeks ago now. Yeah, a couple of weeks ago. Lovely. I mean,
we, the folks treat us real nice. I got to be Luke Comfries, the best dart players in the world. I just seen them the week that night before. I'm loose to Luke Hitler, but, but he was lovely. I was so thrilled to meet him. Like, other people would be, yeah, this last season, I don't know if you were to talk about those Rebecca, but we went, we went, I mean, led by Jason this time. Like, where I was leading the path into Jason and football Jason has now reciprocally led us down
the Zellots path into darts. Yeah. We are now hard into darts. All these paths we've seen. The scene in season three was at season three, right? When season one season one season one, oh, yeah, yeah. But that that point darts was just a past time. You do it pubs. Like, now, we know who Luke Hitler is. Yes. We like Luke and Gurwin is. Yeah, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
It's very, yes.
tell you how them see the US start spasters and yet Madison Square Garden. Yeah. MSG. MSG. It was great.
“Do you have any of the Perter Natural British interests in the darts does, does Mr. Buckle?”
You know what, it's slightly, it has slightly passed me by. It was just starting to kind of get to Ali Pally fever level when I left England and we moved over here. Yeah. Because when I, in my, in my 20s, it wasn't really, it was very much Sunday afternoon, nothing else on put the darts on, a lot of old men. And then they also, a lot of old men presenting it as well on TV. And then in about, I'm going to maybe, but maybe 2010, 2011, some of that, they kind of like flip to on its head.
That's Eddie Hurn and Barry Hurn doing that actually, isn't it? That's weren't, yeah. That's we went from the darks, yeah. That's it revolutionised the whole, the whole game. But so, because it's not really, I'm sure you watch it here as well, though Jason, I can't, I'm not necessarily, I can find it anywhere, but it's not really got me because I wasn't really there at the beginning. But I, I know, I can see, I can see the passion, I can see the love people absolutely love it.
“It's quite footballier, isn't it? The atmosphere? It's, it's like wrestling. It's like WWE,”
you know, they come into their own, and they had lots of chance really clever, like it's a, it's a very, it's a very fun environment. I brought, I went six times including the finals and brought the kids one afternoon. I downloaded draft Kings over the holidays to, in order to gamble. I'm just a gamble on who's going to get more 180s. Like, like just like low, you know,
like 50 bucks, 100 bucks, something like that. Yeah. And when I first got into the darts,
was when we were living, I was living an Amsterdam because the only things that were in English on television were music videos, the darts and the nanny. And so the, the darts scene, yes, I played darts at a place called Crown and Anchor when I was doing second city in Las Vegas, but it had a lot and knowing about the, you know, the 180, like all those callouts, was from our time, you know, watching anything on TV in English. Yeah, the seed of our darts interest is from the
same time as the seeds of our, of our football industry. And it is like, we would, I can't, I mean, all the time, you'd be like, one hundred and eight days. Absolutely. Anywhere, it's the most delightful thing really is. It really is. It is after the whistle, but we talk about darts anyway. There's a lot of custling in our chicken. Still going for another week. Before we go to breakfast, I just need to ask. So Jason, who would your final of dreams be? Spain, France,
Argentina, England, the left? Who would you love? You said England, maybe. So would you do England against who? England's playing. England plays Argentina and Spain. I guess. I guess. I mean, I'll go England, France. Okay, I'll go. You know, I mean, it's fine. Oh, only because if you're going to, it seems like France is just, you know, the kicking button that's everybody's favorites and everybody's saying that that I think if you,
“if you want to do it, like the true underdog of it all, and I don't know, I don't know,”
I don't know enough about European history, but it seems like there's probably some beef there. That would there's a really beef. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I agree. England, England, France is is the most fun one. But England's Spain would have the Euro, Euro 2024 revenge factor. See, that's that stuff that I'm, see, I'm, I think, I go macro. Yeah, and I get that, I get that, I get that, I get that, I get that. I would 300,000 foot view of this.
I'm like, what are they playing? What are they playing? What are they playing? What are they playing? What are they playing? 300,000 foot. Like you said about 30,000 foot? Isn't that like the expressions that you're watching me from 300,000 feet in this guy? From a saddle. Yeah, sitting on a saddleite, eating a croissant, you know, eating some fish and chips. That's it. That's it. That's it. Like, that's a big story lines right there. Yeah.
Look, I mean, look how far up my thighs, you know, this leg crossed the, the fish and chips in space.
Great. You know what I said? The first, the first, the first thing they thought about
on the ISS is like, where do we put the deep fryer? How do we stop these greasy bits from anti-gravity in their way into the, into the, into the worms? Oh, I'll remind Jason was on. The last minute or three, he was actually in space. They shot that in space, right? They shot them me up. That's right. They had the fish and chips for the first time. Not cheap. Oh, he must have been so delighted to find out they also had them on earth. Oh, boy,
what a, that was a blessing. Well, yeah, you look, you know, try to get that from postmates one time and you find out that the delivery fee to get it from space and then they're like, oh, no, there's a, there's a joint around the corner. This is after the list. Well, we talked about darts and canceled television shows canceled before it's time before it's time. Great tell the show. Great tell them, Jason. Well, we don't want to take up more your time. We have to
actually talk about football. You are not helping. I apologize. We should listen to my other, my other, you know, the guest spot on here. We're like, oh, that's right. We are so appreciative.
You are a busy, busy man, honestly.
So thank you so much. Thank you for having me for the head. You got me. Absolutely. Oh,
“they were the present. I stole it. I'll see you in the final. I'll see you in the final. I'll see you at”
the final. Yes, please. Yeah. After the whistle from Apple News will be very mad. This fee who 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 fee will world cup 2026. No one gets you closer than Verizon.
Folks, we're not going to do bits and bobs. That's right. Because what we're going to give you here
is a quick rundown of the Argentina England football rivalry, which they first played while they played
in front of these like, you know, back in the day, but they played in the 62 world cup, which I don't think was that big of a deal. But the 66 world cup is where things first get salty, correct me if I'm wrong or back it. Because I've gone off the dome here, folks.
“But a man, a routine who is the, the, the, the, the, the Argentina player just died,”
who our routine was wearing black arm bands for he gets sent off in that game. But this is before red cards existed. And there was a communication language issue. And he didn't understand what was happening. So he stayed on the pitch, seething at the referee, absolutely furious. And that is the reason why red cards were invented to to cross through language barriers. But
also Alph Ramsey, after the game, said some rather uncouth things about Argentina after that.
And, you know, Argentina, particularly at that time in their footballing history, probably wasn't playing the most beautiful game either. So already things there, a little bit salty. And the saltiness then coming from runner back, a really starts to get a little worse around the time, a little conflict known as the Falcon Islands war. Falcon Islands being a, again, just go out the dome here, Rebecca, you're from there. You're correct, made with above base here. But, you know,
how England used to go around the world and tell people, hey, we're a huge, huge country. And so you're going to have to give us your stuff. Um, one of those places they did that was an island of the coast of Argentina called Las Malavinas, um, that, uh, England, uh, probably took and said, well, you know, we're going to call it the Falclings after our buddy. I don't know, probably Lord Falcland. And, um, in the early 80s, during the time of Fathcher, Argentina decided they wanted
to take that thing back. And then even though it's just a tiny matchbook of a piece of land all the way on the other side of the world, Fairness Fathcher said, like, oh, let's send all the boats. We're going to send all the boats. And there was a bit of a violent takeover of, um, uh, reclaiming of Falclings, uh, which, you know, technically was English territory and everything, but like, you're back in the day, or in the teens, like, you know, family squabbles. And but the
reason why that's important is because then the 1986 World Cup in the round of 16, uh, England plays Argentina. This is Maradana in his pump at the Azteca, um, and Rebecca, please tell people good people about these two goals that Maradana sort of final. It was the quarter final.
“I think that was, yeah, the 1986 World Cup, uh, four years after the end of the Falclings war, which”
as somebody who was born in 1980 was quite prevalent, really, in general conversations of my childhood. I mean, people talked about it a lot. My dad actually reported on the Falclings war as a news reporter. So I kind of like was very knowledgeable. If you like about, um, maybe not knowledgeable the right word, but just, Argentina was just, it was a big deal in terms of, as a country to English people because of that situation. So four years later, quarter final of the World Cup in 1986,
and then it decided to take an entirely different turn in terms of rivalry and add to the off-field antics with some on-field situations Diego, Maradana, with the hand of God Goal, where he quite literally just uses hand to score a goal and put Argentina one in up, um, which, of course, there was no VAR. It was clearly barely a referee and at one one, and then he then to be fair to him, to be fair to him. This is out there, Stecker. He also then scored the goal of the World Cup ever.
Possibly, arguably, a great score of all time. After scoring the worst one, it's as if he said, like, oh, I'm sorry, did you not like that? Then I remind you who the fuck I am. Yeah, Linnica Paul, what, Linnica Paul, what back? But yeah, so England left the World Cup in 1986,
and I have never gotten over the hand of God. So much so far, Linnica later interviewed Maradana
and, you know, a classic little Christar, Linnica was like, frankly, I'm more mad at the rest. Like, the rather one is supposed to make the call. You know, you're just trying to do everything you came for your team in Diego with like, yeah, man, thanks for everybody. Sorry, I'm so then, what, 12 years later, 1998, England, the Argentina in the World Cup in France in the round of 16, that one was, that was the one that was around 16. That was the round of 16. I was on a plane on the
Way to Zekinthos, a very small party island in the Greek islands with my girl...
after doing our A-Lefla exams, and I was on an aeroplane. There was no cell phones. There was no where finding out what was going on until the pilot told us that this had happened and we got out. Ironically, I watched that game in my dreams, my pre-notherlands era, because that was what I was waiting tables at Dublin's on State Street, and we had that game on and like the World Cup games were
always on like between the lunch rush and the dinner rush, so we were kind of like loafing around,
like watching that thing. That is the game where Michael Owen announces presence to the world
“with that incredible solo goal. Who gave him the ball? Who isn't that ball in question?”
Because there's a back and that's pretty cool. Owen puts England ahead, I believe, and then by the sister, by the student, probably the one who then he was a duck. Yeah, there was, then sheer I got a penalty, yeah. I think I'm right in saying, but the big story from the game, when we were England, lots of penalties, that's the bottom line, but the big story of the game was that David Beckham got set off, and he got set off for a leg flick.
I'm still bitter about it. A little flick of his leg at Diego Simione, who, as you may know, listeners and watch has gone on to manage after let's go Madrid for basically the rest of his life, and he was sent off on at which point we just sort of collapsed. And it was harsh, and no you can't kick people, not sure what's a kick. I do think it was a leg flick. That was in '98, four years later, England play Argentina again in the 2002 World Cup, and that was in the group stage
of support, I mean, Japan, and- Between featuring Meritio Puchetino. Correct. And if that wasn't it, Meritio Puchetino, that considered the penalty, that David Beckham, of course, four years on for being sent off,
“I just love football. I mean, does it not give us every story like in the world?”
He steps up to take the penalty and we be Argentina by a golden el. And of course, Beckham has had been absolutely pilloried throughout England, particularly, I mean, after math, you know, because he was a pretty boy who was married to a space girl and, like, he wore a serong, and then he basically choked the Argentine game away. And so this redemption for him was was absolutely massive. And the Beckham documentary,
and Netflix brought out two by Fisher Stevens, is pretty great. And also, that game was at breakfast time, because of the time,
difference. And I always remember John Motson, a really famous English soccer commentator,
saying something on the lines of "Hold your tea cups up as he stepped up to the penalty." And then he went, "You can smash them now!" And it was like, "Well, my God, it was like one of my greats. Oh, good old Motson. I was doing work experience for Talksport Radio in a bar at 7am in London for that game." This is how your life isn't, isn't it? Just chatted by the World Cup.
You just know where you were every year's segments for the rest of your life. Exactly, four years' segments exactly. So that was 2002. Now that Brendan, that is the last time they've played in competitive football, because they obviously don't meet in the Euro's Copenhagen America. They don't meet anywhere else except for the World Cup and they haven't been drawn together
since 2002. I saw them play in Geneva in a friendly when Argentina were winning was just a
“few minutes left by two goals. The one England came back. I think two Michael Owen goals.”
And they won it three, two. That was a crazy game. But that was just a friendly. This has been what that 24 years in the waiting. And now, of course, they have a certain little messy who traveled with the squad to the game I was at in Geneva in 2005. I think it was in the November of 2005. Didn't come on the pitch that day. I remember seeing him. And someone told
me, that's going to be the next big thing. He never came on England have never faced
little messy crazy. In a competitive game. Or even a friendly period, right? Yeah. They have never faced a messy at all. No, that's nuts to me. And so for anyone who was thinking like, "Okay, well, last time they played with 24 years ago, certainly things have simmered. No! No! Argentina is Spanish for grudge. They don't let shit go. This is going to be an extra salty match. And then what's going to try to be extra dignified about it?
Because it's a semi final in the world is watching and all that. But there is so much baggage to this game far more. I mean, I would, would you say that after Germany, Argentina is the number one England rivalry? 100% because Scotland bless them. You know, we don't tend to get them semi finals to the local. So, yeah, Germany and Argentina. That's it in that order. That's it. Oh, God, I hate it. I want to do it. I don't want to go. I don't want to host it. I don't want
to see it. I just want to go. So, it's not just the World Cup semi final. It's not just the Great England and here in the New Belgium against the Great Argentina of Lino, Messey, and now Julian Elvarez am running himself, reminding us that he exists. It is so much more than that. And frankly, we've had a, you know, Trump and Melody on the side. We've had a fairly I dare say, a political World Cup. Like, we haven't had a lot of like big, you know,
knockout matches between two teams with a big history. And that usually happens, you know, every four years, like, all right. These two absolutely hate each other. Like, you know, Switzerland,
Serbia, you know, remember a couple of World Cup's ago.
Oh, okay. All right. Go for it. But now, it comes to a head here at the semi final in Atlanta,
“where you and I both will be. Finally, we'll both be at a game for the first time. Oh,”
no, we'll both be in Dallas, too. But then, I'll be sending you the vibes. Let me send you the vibes. Thank you, my friend. Thank you. Thank you. Yep. Let's go to semi finals. Can't believe it.
Four games left. All three, like you say. No, in case. But that plays play. And as we
come toward the end here, without a few games left. And, no, it's not premature, but hard felt. Hey,
“everybody, thank you so much for listening. Like, this is so fun to be able to talk about this.”
And even though it's, you know, me and Rebecca talk to each other and let's speak for back here. But it feels like we're talking with all of you. Like, you know, even though we can't see you, the fact that you're there is what makes this worth doing. So, so thank you, everybody. And also, just for me, I was going to do, but we wanted to talk about England and Argentina. But look at all these comments that have come in. You know, in the last episode, I asked for some tips and
tricks for getting over the fact that this thing that we're doing is coming to an end, the podcast, the World Cup, the whole thing. I've got so many and they're so lovely. But I am going to save a few and read them out for my next bits and Bob's hopefully in the next episode. The World Cup will
still end. So it's still the right time. Yeah. Correct. So thank you. I, I, I second
what you say, thank you to everybody. It's just such a joy. After the whistle will be back on Wednesday, after Rebecca and I reunite in Atlanta, having just witnessed England, Argentina. I can't even imagine what life will be in that moment. We are both going to go to both of the semi-finals.
“How lucky are we? Number one. Unfortunately, quite, quite fortunate. Remember, if we should give”
us a follow on social, look for at after the whistle Apple on Instagram and TikTok. And if you've enjoyed the show this season, please drop a review on Apple podcasts. Thank you so much. This has Brendan, but I'm reading it. This is off the whistle from Apple News. That's better than I would have done.


