Messi's All-Time World Cup Record! 🐐🇦🇷 + Mbappé Matches Klose | World Cup Daily #22

[00:00:00] It was another night of the Giants. Haaland scoring twice, Mbappé scoring twice and of course Messi scoring twice, hitting the World Cup record. Also, Messi missing a penalty and how much advantage do the Argentina team has from all the referees? We'll find out after the news.

[00:00:28] Welcome back to yet another episode of FUT IN REVIEW, World Cup Daily. This is episode 22 where we will discuss the 12th of the World Cup. Of course, if you're listening to this and you want to support us, look at the links below. Buy us a cup of coffee because we'll definitely need that with this jet lag schedule we're on currently.

[00:00:51] Or join the Patreon at patreon.com slash FUT IN REVIEW. My name is Jung and I'm joined by the man, the mid-legend. He's back. Mr. Blue himself with a blue microphone this time as well. None other than Graham Homer. Welcome back, Graham. How are you doing? Thanks for having me back on. I'm not bad. Thanks. How about yourself? I'm quite alright. I'm getting used to this. Time schedule though. Went to bed at 4.30, woke up at 7, brought the kids to school, got some breakfast in, took a wee nap.

[00:01:19] Come back fully alive. There must be a consequence somewhere for no sleeping, but so far, I'm working out pretty well though. I'm not enjoying the lack of sleep. No, me neither to be fair and I definitely don't like two-hour breaks for matches, but we'll talk about that in a moment. Because let's start at the first match played yesterday. That was Argentina versus Austria. Lionel Messi missed a ninth-minute penalty, dragging it wide, right? Or if you're a goalkeeper, to that left side.

[00:01:48] He responded by scoring the 17th and 18th goals of his World Cup career to become the all-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history. His 38-minute finish drew a level with then surpassed Miroslav's closest record of 16. And he added a second in a 19th minute plus fifth from a scramble in the box. Argentina won 2-0 and qualified for the round of 32. Austria has just one shot on target of the game.

[00:02:14] Graham, what are your thoughts on Argentina versus, or should I say Messi versus Austria? And I know I've got some unpopular thoughts, so I'll refrain from pointing that out after you're done. It was another game. It was a bit scrappy at times. A bit sloppy as well. So generally, if Messi was known, I don't think Argentina would have won that.

[00:02:38] Just his genius, two moments to be in the right place, right time, and obviously do what he does. Got them the win. They got a bit lucky with a few decisions. The referees have been a bit weird this World Cup with their decision-making, but it was an okay game in general. So let's start with Messi. Of course, missed the penalty. I mean, that can happen. Do you think he felt the pressure of his record while taking that penalty? Or is it just unlucky? Obviously, it's been in his mind.

[00:03:08] I don't know. But the Austrian keeper was playing a few of the main games with him beforehand. It was being very vocal, so I don't know if that maybe put him off. He's a keeper, by the way. He just waited. He has had a record of not obviously scoring all these penalties, so he's not like one of these guys that you can say, oh, he's definitely going to score it. I think it was just a bad miss. I think he was just a bit too relaxed with it, to be honest. Yeah, it could be.

[00:03:35] The other thing about Messi is we know he was actually beat after the match. You know those moments where you're that tired that you should talk, but you can hardly think about things? So whenever your word comes out, like just with me now going on, you're like, I'm so tired. I can't hardly think and whatever. His interview after the match sort of showed that. He also played the full match, of course, this time around. But if you know Messi's on the record, and if you know this whole thing was built around Messi,

[00:04:04] and if you know all of the players will always just look if they can find the famous number 10, how can you be so free? Is he that good, or is it just so unfocused by the Austria team? Because that was a, just give him a ball, he can walk in and take a shot. So that's more just how good he is. We've seen that people analyse his game, and where players would run to find the space, or run to keep up with the game.

[00:04:30] He's just like, I'll just tow back here for a few minutes, or stroll, watch, see how it's going, and then the last minute makes that break. That's just more his talent, his ability to read and analyse the game in real time, and bind that pocket. Like I said, most players will rush for things, where he's just like, nonchalant, I'll just stroll, and I'll be there. That's cool, I've got it. But if you've got a talent like Messi, you're always going to rely on him.

[00:04:56] Even like smaller teams, you're going to look at Rangers versus Feyenoord, you've got a star player. You're always going to rely on that guy to drag you out of a hole, so you can't blame Argentina players for not wanting to be the greatest player, or one of the greatest players to do it all for them. Yeah, well he did definitely perform well again. Five goals from Argentina this tournament, five from Messi. Out of two matches, I think that's a pretty cool record. I think Argentina, well, I said it before, I don't think it's a very good team,

[00:05:25] but they were compact, they were extremely aggressive, they were fighting Messi, and Messi performed. And of course, Messi showing his skill off, like in the second half especially, getting the ball, turning circles around people. Second goal was very good. Of course, he gets found, but the main thing which I want people to pay attention to whenever Messi takes a shot versus most of the other players that take a shot

[00:05:49] in this World Cup is when Messi takes a shot, he immediately runs towards his shot. He's not waiting to see if it goes in. And especially on the second goal, you saw him take that shot, he runs in right after. It bounces off, comes back at his feet, and so he can get another attempt in. I think he's one of the only players, not the only one, there's someone else. But most players you see take a shot, they look at how the shot goes, then they react towards that. He takes a shot and he runs in no matter what.

[00:06:18] I think that's something you could pay attention to if you're not aware. But that definitely gave him the second goal as well, right? Yeah, again, like I said, it's not down to chance. It's all by design. And he sees everything, like I said, in real time. He analyses everything so well. So, like you said, players will hit a shot and just watch, see if it goes in, run away, celebrate, where he has hit the shot, get in for the rebound or the follow-on.

[00:06:47] Same as if everybody else takes a shot. That's talent. That's not luck. That's by sheer design. Similarly, the goal, his first goal, Amada, everybody's like, oh, did Messi shout for it? Now, Amada, you watch him scan, he sees Messi behind him and goes, he's in a better place. So, that's just talent. That's just sheer mentality to be able to see things that a person won't actually notice.

[00:07:14] So, again, like I said, that's just sheer great play. So, I mean, you get rewarded by things like that. Definitely. Do you think, or maybe I'm too critical here, that Argentina gets rewarded by referees as well? Or is it just me seeing that? No, that was an argument in the last World Cup in Qatar as well,

[00:07:38] that referees were, shall we say, lenient towards certain indiscretions by certain players, especially Messi. A lot of people clambered him in the last game where he covered his mouth, who wasn't red-plodded like Miguel Almaron. He's stamped on, I can't remember the player's name, but he's stamped on the back of his leg and there was nothing done. Martina's stamped on someone's leg now as well, very clearly. There was another one yesterday. No, maybe not yesterday, the day before. He stamped the hand in his face as well.

[00:08:08] And yes, Martina's stepped on, I think, the right-back's calf as well. Yeah, but there was one in the Germany game yesterday as well. And your man's whole sock was ripped and you could see they cut down his calf as well. So there is some, like I said, the last World Cup there was a few things where people were like, oh, they're obviously favouring Messi or Argentina.

[00:08:31] There's a few things this year, or the last two games, that if it was somebody else you probably would see. But like I said, for balance, we have seen it in other games like the Germany game, where players are stamped on the back legs and nothing's really happening. So I think poor refereeing and a lot of bias might be at play. Well, it can be unwillingly balanced, like bias, right? I don't think referees have been told, hey, whatever happens, don't poke Messi or don't go into that.

[00:09:01] I don't think that happens. But I do think that referees have something in their back of their mind. Like if I send Messi out of this tournament for two matches, I might not officiate another match. And we've seen Muckley, for example, last year at PSG doing it, being very harsh there and never got a, or two years ago, and never got a match in the Champions League after that again. So maybe that's an unconscious decision by referees saying, well, maybe let's not go there.

[00:09:29] Yeah, this is the big thing for them. They want to referee the final. So they don't like sell their reputation by making a decision that will be contentious and throw them out of it. Because, I mean, players train all year, all for the four-year cycle to get to this point. So do the referees. So it's not an intentional bias with like, ah, it's messy. I've got to let them go, hopefully get shot after the game. But he's best mate. But I think there is a bit of conscious, like, maybe it's this time in the game.

[00:09:59] It isn't that bad. Certain things, like just having that discretion where they just go, I'll just leave it now. Because, again, like I said, you want to be available for the biggest game. And if you are the one that sends them messy off or makes the wrong decision, that puts you in a position where you're not going to get chosen. So that's a little bit biased. But I think there's a little bit of inconsistency in the rules. Let's see how it goes when they progress further. Because they will. They are true for the next round. Rightfully so.

[00:10:29] Don't get me wrong, though. I mean, this Austria was very sloppy. I think this Austria was nothing compared to two years ago when they were going nuts at the European Championships. And, yeah, I just think that it felt a little bit unfair at times. That's all. And nothing to go against Messi. Because, of course, when you see him play like this, he is. And I'm a big Ronaldo fan, but he's probably. He is most likely the best player we've ever seen play. Right.

[00:10:58] So can't really cope. I'll pass that. And it comes from me as a Ronaldo fan saying that out loud. It definitely shows this week. So talk about another superstar, though. Ferranc and Mbappe and Dembele and you name it, Barcola. And they're all like Olisse. They were shining yesterday as well. They started off really well. What an amazing strike with Mbappe scoring the 1-0. In the end, they won 3-0. But this match had a lot to go in.

[00:11:25] Graeme, your thoughts on this match, which took almost four hours. I had to watch the second half this morning. As soon as they announced that it was going to be delayed, I was like, I'm not staying up for that. I get the safety rules. We were both big F1 fans who were fully aware of the rules in America when it comes to lightning. Especially when it's a race day. But a bit of lightning, the whole race is suspended. So I had that knowledge in my head that this could be at play. The game itself was good.

[00:11:55] France were absolutely wonderful to watch. Some of the passing, the speed, the movement. Everything was just brilliant. Yeah, I know Iraq's not the best team in the world. But I will give Iraq a lot of credit. Unlike the other teams, a lot of them were sitting back and trying to hold up. Actually, if Iraq tried to push forward, they were trying to play. They did play some nice moves. They got through France quite well on the counter, which then helps the game because they're making it more open. It allows France more space.

[00:12:25] So it was a good spectacle. Yeah, I think France was playing still 40%, quite honestly. And just showing some details about Mbappe's goal. This one he struck with his left foot. Or with his right foot. But I think the other goal he scored last match was with his other foot. And he is a properly, doesn't matter which foot he gets. Strikes are equally as fast and accurate. And this was one heck of a strike. Dembele scoring.

[00:12:55] There's a couple of players I want to highlight. I don't think, do you think Olisse can pass a ball with the inside of his foot? Or do you think it always has to come from the outside of the foot and be just as accurate? Because that's some insane passing that man does in a match. Obviously he can. I've watched him quite a bit with Bayern. I think he just... In a game where it was quite open, where he could be fancy.

[00:13:20] Obviously they weren't playing at the full potential. So there was that ability to be a bit more luxury. With your choice of passing and whatever. But it just shows off how good he is. Where the normal player, the ordinary player, would need to be playing at 100%. And with the inside of the foot, he can just nonchalantly flick it with the outsides. But that's just how good he is. Yeah. Is there any chance this France team won't make the final?

[00:13:52] I think there is a chance. I don't think they've been tested too much. Like you said, they're not playing at 100%. So they could get a bigger team. And you never know. But knockout football is one of these weird and wonderful things where a freak goal could put you out. True. On the form, it's hard to say no. But realistically, there's every chance they could not make it as well. Yeah.

[00:14:22] I think there's so much potential in this team. There's so much. The eagerness, it wasn't even there. They weren't playing. They were hardly breaking the sweat. It doesn't look that good if you analyze the second part of the first half or the second quarter, as we could say, this year. I think that wasn't a good play at all. Of course, the weather doesn't help when it started raining cats and dogs as well. But it wasn't a good watch either. But then they come back.

[00:14:51] They just spend five minutes pushing. And it's a done deal, right? And I think it is about time, though, Graham, that we get proper matches going on. Because this group phase has taken a little bit too long for my likeness. Four games a day. And there's still a little bit more than one round left. And there's been little to no surprises except maybe Cabo Verde and a Curaçao point. That's basically about it so far.

[00:15:20] So I'm eager to see France perform against a proper team. Like a really good team. I'm eager to see Norway, which we talk about in a moment, play against a proper team. Argentina being faced with an opponent that has that same grinta in them as well. Because now it's a little bit too comfortable for most teams. And we'll see that with the Dutch Thursdays as well. They'll play a reserve squad probably just because it doesn't matter if you're first or second. And probably Japan will do as well.

[00:15:49] Most of the third matches for these teams don't even matter anymore. So it's a little bit much for me currently. So let's bring on the big game, shall we please? And let's have a proper look at the teams then. But the France team, it looks really comfortable to me. Yeah, I'm not a fan of extended tournaments, to be honest. I prefer the shorter tournaments where the best play the best. And that's it. I find these extended tournaments drag a little bit.

[00:16:18] And then you get too many of these that's defective training matches. So Norway, France is the last game of that group. So we'll start getting some of the good games actually coming up. Both already through. So they probably don't even do their utmost best. So yes, we get a good game. But it's nothing to win or lose from either of them. So yeah, no one's going to risk an injury when you're already through, right? So it's going to be hard. Talk about Norway though.

[00:16:48] They want three versus two for Senegal. A goal by Mark Spaderson. Yes, a substitute that wasn't even good enough for Feyenoord. He opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. After Koulibaly again, just actually went... His play has been abysmal so far. Graeme, I'm sorry. But he's not fast enough. But he's also definitely not accurate or focused enough this tournament yet. Haaland making a 2-0 goal, of course.

[00:17:15] And another Haaland goal later on, which was, I think, a beautiful one touch. Which is just too easy. Basically, it just looked so easily. Saar scoring two goals though. So in the end, it ended up 3-2. Senegal is a really good team. But this Norway is just awesome to watch, don't you think? Yeah, Senegal are pretty good. They're really good on the counter. It helps when you've got people like Saar that's fast and clinical.

[00:17:42] One of the key pivotal players for Palace. Obviously, doing so well on Darth Glasner. But like you said, Norway is just a little bit above the rest. But then that obviously helps when you've got the most clinical striker outside the hurricane. And Haaland, you've got an absolute magician. And Odegaard that can unlock that first goal for Haaland. How many times would you see that pass go to the right? Because it's the easier option.

[00:18:12] But Odegaard forces through a pinpoint. It's like a surgical blade just right through the defence. No doubt. I think Mitchell either. Just don't bother as well. Just no stopping either. But then when you've got a guy like Haaland, I think you can trust yourself to... When you've got that ability to cut through a team like that. And then you know there's a guy like Haaland that's got to finish it off. You've just got that confidence and that safety net. You can try this sort of thing. So, yeah.

[00:18:41] And then that's before you even start talking about guys like Nusser. I can't remember how you pronounce the other guy's name. The winger that plays for Benfica. I'm not going to attempt it. Oh, kudos. Yeah. But you've got Oscar Bob. Their team, attacking-wise, is so good. Yeah. I'm looking forward to see them progress and see how we should play. Haaland said afterwards, if we play France, we'll probably lose anyways. They wouldn't do them in any way.

[00:19:10] And the match doesn't really matter. So, they put themselves in the other duck position. That's for sure. But, yeah. I'm a fan of big rowing now. I might do some rowing in my time. And if you don't know what we're talking about, have a look at some of the videos that came online after that. It's time for a daily... I would say it's time for a daily topic. But there's one match we need to discuss. But we're not going to discuss that in all too much depth. It was Jordan versus Alteria. Alteria didn't put Hans Moussa in the base this time around. But Mahrez was back again.

[00:19:40] Didn't perform at all, if I'm quite honest. I think Mahrez's time is pretty much done now, Graham. In my opinion, I think it's time to let Hans Moussa take the reign and just play him as much as he can. Algeria won two versus one. A good football fight, I think. And in the end, I think it's fair as well, right? Jordan first tournament here. But the Algeria team is a pretty cool team, actually. Yeah.

[00:20:05] Like you said, Mahrez, I think Pep and City called it quite cleverly. Let them go to Saudi to basically wind down his career. But they do have some good other players. Like you said, Moussa at Leverkusen is really good. The game itself, it was okay. It wasn't anything too amazing. It didn't help for me that I had to watch that with half-night closed because, well, sleep depreciation. But it's okay. And I think there was a fair result.

[00:20:35] I predicted it as well as well. So that does help. Yeah. I think it's time for daily topics, Graham, because we want to make sure we get this handled. The baller. I mean, we have notes that are made by Shaq. So you could imagine him putting Leon and Messi as the baller of the day. Do you reckon that's a fair baller of the day? Or do you want to highlight someone else? I think you could arguably pick Messi, Mbappe or Haaland. Like, pick your poison. All three of them were clinical.

[00:21:05] Like, all three of them were fantastic. So I think it's hard to pick one, to be honest. Yeah. Let's pick Messi because I think I'm not welcome in Argentina anymore. Maybe that helps a little bit, shall we? You want? Go on. The butler of the day. In the notes, it says Edward Menny from Senegal, the goalkeeper. He didn't look all that well, did he? No, wasn't great at all.

[00:21:31] I've seen a few people try to defend him with the argument that the ball this year isn't a good ball. But we get this argument every World Cup. I haven't seen so many goalkeepers performing so tremendously well. Yeah. It wasn't great, but I don't think the ball was the reason. Like, we were discussing it before we came on. A lot of the keepers this year, I find their footwork is appalling for being elite-level goalkeepers.

[00:21:59] Unfortunately, he's recovering the game in his recovery wing after getting Spursinger broken. So he's had surgery on that, so I don't think he'll play the last game either. So I don't think he was helped either, to be honest. Like you said, Koulibaly didn't have a great game. How many times did he dive into a challenge on the ground and just get swept by so easily? So it's a bit harsh, but he didn't have a great game either. Yeah, his best days are behind him, I think, as well, though.

[00:22:29] He played tremendously well with Ajax. After that, everything went a little bit sideways, no? I don't think, I've never really highly rated him as a good keeper. I know, obviously, a lot of people, he won the Champions League with Chelsea, and that maybe clouds a few things for people, but I've never really rated him as a great keeper. He would never be in my top five or top ten keepers at any time. I think it's one of those goalkeepers, Graham, sorry to interrupt you,

[00:22:57] but I think it's one of those goalkeepers who are extremely athletic, hence make some incredible save, but their technique is lacking which costs them goals. Like you said, his footwork, it's not all there. His cleanness on the ball, like if he low shots, low-driven shots often are pushed or blocked, but not to help either. And then if you look at the top-notch goalkeepers in Donnarumma, which we don't see this tournament, but a Gourtois is a prime example of that.

[00:23:26] How good his footwork is and how good his technique is. Next to the fact they're very athletic as well. I think that's a massive difference. And you see that with Neuer, he can still perform because his technique is just so good. But yeah, you said before we recorded the podcast about footwork, the main difference being that many goalkeepers stand still before a short gets taken, and the good goalkeepers take one extra step before they actually dive. Yeah. That's what Algeria's goalkeeper, Lucas Zan,

[00:23:55] I don't know how many times he was stationary, the Iraq goalkeeper from Bappi's goal. I know he was sort of slightly blocked, but even at that, he's still standing on his toes. There was no side step to spring in. He just tried to spring in to save. So the footwork's been really bad for a lot of goalkeepers. Like it really shows the clear difference. Like you said, Quatar's probably the best keeper in the world for me. Donnarumma as well. So, like you said, when it comes to making saves, it's that extra step down springing.

[00:24:24] They get down or they can get across and they can hold the ball. Like Mendy is one of these athletic goalkeepers. He makes the great saves for the cameras, but technique and everything, this World Cup is really showing who the good goalkeepers are and who are not for me. True. I definitely agree. Mendy is goalkeeper special when we are closing the group stage off. Tomorrow we'll talk about, of course, the ratings after round two for the teams. We have the last, but not to mention, we also have the drama of the day.

[00:24:53] I think the drama of the day is the France match taking four hours to complete, right? Yeah. How do you stay fit as a player? Because you can't like sit down and have lunch during that break when you're not knowing how long it will take. I think that's the hardest part, no? Yeah, it is. Like I said, we were quite used to this with being F1 fans. I think that's what, again, it separates who's the elite and who's not the elite. Obviously, especially when it comes to backroom teams.

[00:25:21] So you've just got to get into the chess room, get your, where are they? Do we tabs? The electrolyte tabs, bananas, things like that. You just got to keep your energy stored up. Play for fun in the catacombs. Most of the stadiums nowadays, they have a wee inside training area. So they'll be in there just doing wee warm-up drills, passing the ball, keeping sharp, keeping warm,

[00:25:48] and then get back out to get that extra 15 minutes to re-warm up properly and then get going again. So I think it's just down to elite-level mentality and how to look after yourself and be ready to switch back on. Yeah. And like you said, this isn't uncommon for the U.S. Last year, they had the World Cup football there. And I think we had several matches going over four hours. And I saw many people surprised yesterday. But I was surprised this was just the first to happen. I expect way worse so far.

[00:26:17] So let's knock on wood and hope this might be the only exception. It sucks, but they are extremely safe concerning lightning in the U.S. That goes for every single sporting event. I heard some commentators at the Dutch or Anna saying at a Dutch broadcast, like who's going to decide when they continue? It's clear rules. If the storm hits, lightning hits within eight miles of the stadium, you take 30 minutes counter.

[00:26:43] If it hits again within those 30 minutes, we start counter from 30 minutes once again until we're clear for 30 minutes and then we can start again until the next lightning storm hits. And this one was just unlucky because it sort of kept going over the stadium and really slowly creeping over. So it wasn't canceled due to rain. It was delayed because of lightning storm. I like that. Because there were a lot of incorrect information being sent out, I think, as well.

[00:27:11] Tonight, we have Portugal versus Uzbekistan. Can Ronaldo come back or is he not even playing? We don't know yet. England versus Ghana. That could be an interesting match to watch. Then we have Panama versus Croatia. And, of course, Colombia versus Congo, right? I might not stay awake for Panama versus Croatia or Colombia versus Congo. I might watch them in the morning, if I'm quite honest. Because, yeah, the schedule is getting to me.

[00:27:40] Any highlight matches you want to say something about there, Grimm? I think England-Ganner is going to be some game. Ganner's not got the best generation, per se, like a couple of years ago. But this new generation is still decent. And if England underestimated them, I think Ganner could give them a bloody nose. But then I think if England show up and play, they could absolutely wipe the floor with Ganner. It could be a quite heavy scoreline.

[00:28:07] So it'll be interesting to see, again, when it comes to mentality, whose mentality is the right one. Yeah, definitely. I'm looking forward to seeing Portugal play. See if they can gather themselves and play as a team. Or if that whole dream collapses and our dark horse might be terminated from this tournament. So we'll figure that out after that's done. Grimm, thank you so much. See you tomorrow. Bye-bye. Bye-bye. Bye-bye.