Episode 1211: England Find Love Again, Saintly Southgate, Mbappe Lights It Up, France Grind, Bitter Belgium
Ken was in St Petersburg for last night’s World Cup semi-final between Belgium and France, and he’s allowed to be impressed by France… he just doesn’t have to love them.
Ken Early: France’s terminators set to bring football back to Paris https://t.co/ky0Ioc0AMA
— Irish Times Sport (@IrishTimesSport) July 10, 2018
Samuel Umtiti heads @FrenchTeam into the #WorldCup Final ????
???? TV listings ???? https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO
???? Highlights ???? https://t.co/LOdKDX2Cwn pic.twitter.com/PzIZ2OHGmA— FIFA World Cup ???? (@FIFAWorldCup) July 10, 2018
Philippe Auclair happens to agree that this France team has yet to really enflame the imagination of their country. Mbappe has been brilliant but they lack flair and fire….though maybe a World Cup final win, even in similarly grinding remorseless style, against Les Rosbifs, would do the trick.
For that to happen, England will need to beat Croatia tonight – Ken caught up with Jonathan “jocky” Wilson, who used to think supporting England was something kids did, but has found his inner child again as his team march through the tournament.
“Amid all the euphoria, it is perhaps worth remembering that the only teams England have actually beaten in this World Cup are Tunisia, Panama and Sweden” unpatriotic from @jonawils in otherwise interesting “tactical” analysis https://t.co/RDIpGRSZ0N
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) July 11, 2018
Plus there’s Pogba praise, bitter Belgians, terrible World Cup atmospheres, English players now ascending to God-like status, saintly Gareth Southgate, Goran Ivanisevic’s many faces, and Ken starts to wonder if the talent gap between him and Olivier Giroud is as wide as the talent gap between Giroud and the magnificent Kylian Mbappé.
@SecondCaptains Have you seen this??? https://t.co/lomxdoQJ1c
— Greg Ó Ceallaigh (@gregoceallaigh) July 11, 2018
Very very good… and she’s right: Get #Kyling everyone! https://t.co/00X6kaehDT
— Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) July 9, 2018
Click the image at the top of the page to play the show. To listen to our programming throughout the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with daily World Cup shows and lots of added extras.
Go to Patreon.@knbrmurph is back with a bang as he gives the low-down on who he fancies to for the Jules Rimet trophy… and why Lebron is moving to LA for more than just the ???? – he also has Hollywood, and maybe world domination, on his mind
????????????????????????https://t.co/dvBryLsf2m pic.twitter.com/BdUVkHozT9— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) July 10, 2018