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Straight from Thomas Tuchel's pre-match press conference from the Bowels of New York and the Metlife Stadium.
In this episode, John and Harry break down more bombshells out of the England camp: the injuries and troubling news of Reece James' hamstring, the mood in the camp and what Panama could potentially turn up with!
Plus, John gives his honest prediction on the result and matchday squad Tuchel will select for the game!
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Same old England? Just when we thought the Three Lions were building serious momentum after defeating Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s side turned in a ponderous, frustrating 0-0 draw against a resilient Ghana side in Boston.
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, Harry Brent is joined by the Mirror’s Chief Football Writer John Cross straight from the stadium to break down where it all went wrong. They dissect England's historical struggle with "second game syndrome," ask why the attack looked so incredibly sluggish against Ghana’s low block, and question some baffling tactical decisions—including the inverted fullback dilemma and leaving Ivan Toney on the bench.
Plus, John delivers his definitive Match Player Ratings, highlighting a stellar defensive display from Mark Guéhi, an erratic night for Jordan Pickford, and a frustratingly quiet outing for captain Harry Kane.
What’s inside this episode:
The Low Block Conundrum: Why England couldn't move the ball quickly enough to stretch the Ghanaian defense.
Tuchel’s Selection Critique: The weird dynamic of right-footed fullbacks on the left flank and the benching of Marcus Rashford.
The Striker Dilemma: Harry Kane’s three-touch frustration in the box and why Ivan Toney was custom-made for this exact game.
Panama Preview: What needs to drastically change on Saturday to secure top spot in the group.
00:06 – Intro & Post-Match Reality Check
Harry and John react to a very "drab" 0-0 draw against Ghana and the immediate comedown from the opening-day joy against Croatia.
00:36 – The Curse of "Second Game Syndrome"
A deep dive into England's historical trend of slipping up in their second group games (2020, 2022, 2024) and why 2018 was the last time they avoided the trap.
02:30 – How to Break a Low Block
John explains why blaming a defensive opposition is a cop-out, criticizing England's ponderous, slow, and labored passing.
05:14 – Weather Excuses & "Sunday League" Mentalities
Debunking the heat myth in a chilly Boston and why England's sluggish opening five minutes set a complacent tone.
07:06 – The Winger & Rashford Mystery
Why was Anthony Gordon so ineffective, and why did Thomas Tuchel leave it so late to bring Marcus Rashford into the mix?
07:45 – Official Player Ratings: The Starting XI
John passes judgment on the team, detailing Pickford's nerve-wracking moments, Guéhi’s Man of the Match performance, and Kane's 5/10 display.
10:00 – The Inverted Fullback Debate
A tactical breakdown of Jed Spence and the awkward positioning of right-footed players dominating the left flank.
12:18 – Substitutes & The Benched Strikers
Rating the impact of Saka, O’Reilly, and Rogers, and calling out the "utterly bizarre" decision to leave Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins on the bench.
15:01 – Are England Genuine Contenders?
A sobering look at whether England belongs in the top tier of tournament favorites or the "second tier."
15:57 – Looking Ahead to Panama
What England must prioritize on Saturday to fix their rhythm, secure the group, and trigger a much-needed team reaction.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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England are flying high after an emphatic 4-2 opening-day victory over Croatia, but can Thomas Tuchel keep the momentum going?
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, Harry Brent is joined by The Mirror's Chief Football Writer, John Cross, fresh out of Tuchel's pre-match press conference.
John gives us the inside track on the mood in the camp ahead of Tuesday’s crucial World Cup clash against Ghana. A win guarantees England top spot in the group—but history shows the second game is always a banana skin.
We dive deep into Declan Rice’s ongoing injury management after playing an obscene 63 games this season, the tactical selection dilemmas on the left wing between Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon, and why John Stones remains indispensable to Tuchel's blueprint. Plus, we address the highly uncomfortable Thomas Partey handshake controversy and break down how England plan to stop Ghana’s dangerous superstar, Antoine Semenyo.
Will England secure back-to-back World Cup opening wins for only the fourth time in history? Let us know your score predictions in the comments below! 👇
⏱️ Episode Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to Massachusetts: Inside the England Camp
00:32 – Croatia Aftermath: Has the World Cup Tension Lifted?
02:51 – The Complacency Trap: Avoiding Past Tournament Slumps
05:19 – A Rare Record: Can England Win Their First Two Games?
06:44 – Declan Rice Injury Alarm: The Lower Back & Hamstring Issue
08:37 – 63 Games and Counting: Player Burnout & Squad Rotation
10:15 – Tuchel’s "Reverse Beret" on World Cup Hydration Breaks
11:51 – The Defensive Dilemma: Why Marc Guéhi is Being Left Out
13:50 – Rashford vs. Gordon: Who Wins the Left-Wing Battle?
15:45 – Harry Kane Chasing Messi, Mbappé, and the Ballon d'Or
17:38 – The Thomas Partey Controversy & The Pre-Match Handshake
20:32 – Stopping Antoine Semenyo: The Familiarity Advantage
21:54 – John Cross's Official Predicted England XI vs. Ghana
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Harry Brent is joined by John Cross to react to England's 4-2 win against Croatia.
The World Cup opener for the Three Lions featured the "sensational" Jude Bellingham, an "exquisite" finish from Marcus Rashford, "off the scale brilliant" Harry Kane, as well as a defensive unit that did not click.
Can Harry Kane carry on breaking records? Will we expect more "white knuckle rollercoaster performances" from Thomas Tuchel's side? And should we be worried about Jordan Pickford between the sticks for England?
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Straight from Thomas Tuchel's pre-match press conference from the spectacular AT&T Stadium in Texas, The Mirror’s Chief Football Writer John Cross joins host Harry Brann to preview England’s massive World Cup opening clash against Croatia.
In this episode, John and Harry break down the massive bombshell out of the England camp: Tino Livramento’s tournament-ending injury and Thomas Tuchel's surprise decision to call up Trevoh Chalobah straight from his American vacation. They dive into the internet-breaking FaceTime drama surrounding Harry Maguire’s exclusion, debate the tactical headache on the right wing between Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, and share some wild behind-the-scenes stories from the team hotel—including how the squad handled a midnight Texas tornado warning.
Plus, John gives his honest verdict on where England ranks against heavyweights like France and Spain, and defends the controversial role of football journalists in leaking team lineups ahead of matchday.
Timestamps
01:33 – The Livramento Bombshell & Chalobah Call-Up: Breaking down the injury gamble that backfired, why Trevoh Chalobah was called up from his holiday, and the looming Trent Alexander-Arnold question.
03:56 – The Maguire FaceTime Drama: A look at the viral social media fallout from Harry Maguire being dropped via video call and whether the defender’s reaction was justified.
05:54 – Predicting England's Starting XI: John reveals his predicted lineup, analyzing the 50/50 toss-up between Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon’s defensive work rate, and the centre-back pairing.
08:19 – Inside the Camp: Tornadoes & "Robberies": John laughs off reported camp security issues and recounts the chaos of mid-tournament Texas tornado sirens sending hotel guests into underground garages.
10:30 – Tournament Favorites & Where England Ranks: First-week highlights from the US-hosted tournament and why England sits firmly in the "second tier" behind France, Spain, and Argentina.
13:34 – The Great Lineup Leak Debate: John addresses the criticism aimed at journalists who leak team sheets early and explains why the public always craves inside information.
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England completed their pre-World Cup run with a convincing 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in Orlando—but it wasn’t without a bit of classic Florida weather chaos!
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, Harry Brent is joined by the Mirror’s Chief Football Writer, John Cross, straight from the humid grounds of Florida. From torrential rain delays and bizarre pitch-watering spectacles to tactical masterclasses on the field, we break down everything you need to know ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
In today's episide:
• The Match: Goals from Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and Ollie Watkins seal the win.
• The Standouts: Why Jude Bellingham completely owned the midfield and staked his claim for the No. 10 shirt against Croatia.
• The Miss: Noni Madueke’s open-goal blunder that he won't want to watch again.
• Injury Update: The latest on Bukayo Saka’s Achilles tendonitis and how Thomas Tuchel plans to rotate the squad.
• Transfer Gossip: Is Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson really worth a £100M+ British transfer record? Man City and Man Utd think he might be.
• Player Ratings: Full starting XI breakdown, including why Harry Kane needs to stop playing like an NFL quarterback.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - England 3-0 Costa Rica: Match Overview
00:32 - Torrential Rain & American Lightning Rules
03:28 - Performance Review: Pace, Tactics & Tough Tackles
05:01 - Man of the Match: Jude Bellingham Locks Down the No. 10
06:00 - Noni Madueke's Performance & That Infamous Miss
07:49 - Bukayo Saka Injury Update & Squad Rotation Under Tuchel
09:25 - Transfer Talk: £100M Elliot Anderson to Man City or Man Utd?
11:41 - England Player Ratings: Why Kane is Dropping Too Deep
14:45 - Predicted Starting XI vs Croatia & Selection Dilemmas
16:35 - Tuchel’s USA Training Camp & Moving to Kansas City
17:53 - 2026 World Cup Kicks Off Today!
With the World Cup officially kicking off with Mexico vs. South Africa, make sure you're fully clued up. Check out our 48-Nation Scouting Report available right now on the channel, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts!
Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode.
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John Cross joins Harry Brent to react to Thomas Tuchel's press conference ahead of England's friendly against Costa Rica before the 2026 World Cup.
He discusses what he learned from the Three Lions boss, including concerns over Saka's fitness and why England cannot rely on singular players to win the World Cup.
Plus: weather, weddings, darts, and barbecues in a happy England camp.
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Make Football Great Again is the definitive 48-nation roadmap to the 2026 World Cup, combining deep-dive interviews from across the globe with legendary tournament anecdotes from our veteran reporters.
Read all of the latest football news: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/
Subscribe to our new Make Football Great Again newsletter for everything World Cup 2026: https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=c4fc9b20-3be6-4105-9f07-3ae274c4031b&utm_source=solusarticle
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In the final instalment of our 48-nation roadmap, Harry Brent speaks to his colleagues Daniel Caw and Darren Cooney from the Daily Record about Scotland.
Can Scott McTominay become Scotland's GOAT? What are the expectations for Steve Clarke's side? And who is the OAP in the Tartan Army?
Daniel and Darren discuss auld rivalries and potential history making at the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada, which is only days away.
You can watch Hotline Live, the go-to place for unfiltered opinion on the biggest talking points in Scottish football, on the Daily Record channel: https://www.youtube.com/ @scottishdailyrecord
Make Football Great Again is the definitive 48-nation roadmap to the 2026 World Cup, combining deep-dive interviews from across the globe with legendary tournament anecdotes from our veteran reporters.
Read all of the latest football news: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/
Subscribe to our new Make Football Great Again newsletter for everything World Cup 2026: https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=c4fc9b20-3be6-4105-9f07-3ae274c4031b&utm_source=solusarticle
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On this Episode of the 48 Nation Roadmap Harry talks to soccer aficionado Lee Wingate, host of the The Sweeper Podcast. They talk Dutch routes and winning records as they look to score their first World Cup Goals.
Make Football Great Again is the definitive 48-nation roadmap to the 2026 World Cup, combining deep-dive interviews from across the globe with legendary tournament anecdotes from our veteran reporters.
Read all of the latest football news: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/
Subscribe to our new Make Football Great Again newsletter for everything World Cup 2026: https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=c4fc9b20-3be6-4105-9f07-3ae274c4031b&utm_source=solusarticle
#England #ThreeLions #Football #Soccer #WorldCup #WorldCup2026 #2026WorldCup #podcast
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Welcome to Make Football Great Again! 🌍⚽
In this episode, we sit down with Hassanane Balal, host of the Iraq Football Podcast, to explore one of football's greatest underdog stories.
From winning the 2007 Asian Cup against all odds to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after 40 years—Iraq's football journey is unlike anything you've ever heard.
Iraq Football Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hassananeIraq
Football Podcast on X: https://x.com/IraqFootballPod -
What You'll Learn:
✅ How Iraq won the 2007 Asian Cup with players sleeping in airports and no training facilities
✅ The incredible story of national unity—how football brought together Sunnis, Shias, Kurds, Christians, and Arabs
✅ Iraq's dramatic 2026 World Cup qualification journey (including the controversial Asian Cup quarter-final loss to Jordan)
✅ The challenges Iraqi fans face traveling to the US World Cup
✅ Key players to watch: Ali Al-Hamadi, Ayman Hussain, Zidane Iqbal, and more
✅ Graham Arnold's tactical masterclass and how Iraq plans to compete against France, Norway, and Senegal
✅ Why this World Cup is about so much more than football—it's about changing global perceptions of Iraq
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Will the co-hosts shock the world, or repeat past heartbreaks? 🇨🇦⚽
Welcome back to Make Football Great Again! In today’s 2026 World Cup preview, Harry Brent is joined by Footy Prime podcast host James Sharman and Canadian Soccer Hall of Famer Amy Walsh to profile co-hosts Canada.
Despite a historic generation of talent playing across Europe’s top tiers, Canada faces massive questions heading into Group B against Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar.
From tactical breakdowns to off-pitch controversies, we cover everything you need to know about the Les Rouges this summer.
🚀 Drop a comment: How far will Jesse Marsch's side go this summer? Can they make it out of the group stage for the first time ever?
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On this episode Harry is joined by Sudesh Baniya, co-host of the Asian Game podcast, as the 48 nation roadmap brings us to 2022 hosts: Qatar.
Eager to take advantage of an interesting group, and with an attacking prowess described as "the best Asian football has ever seen", Qatar could surprise fans at this summer's tournament.
The Asian Game podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4t1TlqXUhyRVExWcYVD88A -
The Asian Game podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Uu7bDa2nIrpLVIeHLBR2E
Make Football Great Again is the definitive 48-nation roadmap to the 2026 World Cup, combining deep-dive interviews from across the globe with legendary tournament anecdotes from our veteran reporters.
Read all of the latest football news: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/
Subscribe to our new Make Football Great Again newsletter for everything World Cup 2026: https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=c4fc9b20-3be6-4105-9f07-3ae274c4031b&utm_source=solusarticle
#Qatar #Football #Soccer #WorldCup #WorldCup2026 #2026WorldCup #podcast
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Can South America’s ultimate clean-sheet machine stun the global powerhouses and go deep into the 2026 World Cup? 🇪🇨🛡️
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, host Harry Brent is joined by Copa Club podcast host Nathan Joyce to deliver the definitive team preview for Ecuador.
We skip past standard roster sheets to explore the mind-bending reality of legal escape stunts, geopolitical qualification drama, and the world-class youth academy turning street football into £100M blockbusters.
🔥 Inside this episode, we unpack:
The Valencia Great Escape: The unbelievable true story of how Enner Valencia faked a medical emergency on the pitch to escape law enforcement.
The Valley of Dreams: A deep dive into Independiente del Valle—the revolutionary academy building multi-million-pound pipelines directly to Europe.
The Golden Left-Side Block: Sizing up the monumental defensive solidity of Piero Hincapié and William Pacho.
The Gift of Caicedo: How Moises Caicedo’s record-breaking move to Chelsea fundamentally transformed the infrastructure of Ecuadorian grassroots soccer.
The Star Boy's Burden: The split public opinion inside Quito surrounding Chelsea's teenage phenomenon Kendry Páez.
🔗 Follow Nathan Joyce and the Copa Club Podcast: https://youtube.com/@thecopaclub?si=ScaDBjpnomAO7cgz https://x.com/TheCopaClub -https://open.spotify.com/show/55qUiyYLD4wQWYiCtbeYKa?si=yT8-ZxonS1efeAXfMD5HFQ - https://thecopaclub.substack.com/ - https://x.com/TheCopaClub
🔔 Subscribe to Make Football Great Again so you never miss a stop on our global scouting mission down to the opening match of 2026!
#WorldCup2026 #EcuadorFootball #MoisesCaicedo #EnnerValencia #KendryPaez #PieroHincapie #SoccerPodcast #RoadTo2026
⏳ The Timecodes
0:00 – Teaser: Slaying expectations & South American football as a religion
0:13 – Welcome to Make Football Great Again!
0:41 – Meet Nathan Joyce: Identifying the dark horses of South America
1:10 – Segment: One Truth and One Lie (Guinea pig healers vs. the faked ambulance escape)
3:56 – Historical Context: David Beckham’s free-kick trauma from 2006
4:26 – Segment: The Travel Log – Who is Ecuador's definitive GOAT?
5:47 – Overcoming Poverty: Antonio Valencia’s legacy at Old Trafford
6:39 – Continental Warfare: Squeezing past Brazil and Uruguay in 2002
8:02 – Geopolitical Beef: Why Chile and Peru tried to get Ecuador banned
10:54 – The Altitude Fallacy: Sizing up the thinning air of the Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa
12:16 – Deep Dive: Inside the global talent machine at Independiente del Valle
13:42 – The Caicedo Clause: Tracking contract kickbacks from Woking to Brighton
15:02 – Segment: The Scouting Report – Roster sheet and defensive metrics
16:30 – Relishing the 36-Year-Old: Why Ecuador still heavily leans on Enner Valencia
18:44 – Under the Radar: Tracking Alan Minda and Kevin Rodríguez in Belgium
21:02 – The Polarizing Wonderkid: The shifting public opinion on Kendry Páez
23:48 – Safety First: Is manager Sebastián Beccacece too defensively rigid?
26:04 – Sizing up Group E expectations & navigating knockout permutations
27:55 – The England Swap: Giving Harry Kane to an attack crying for goals
28:26 – Rapid Fire Predictions: World Cup Winners & Golden Boot
30:44 – Outrageous Hot Take: Danilo tracks as the next break-out icon
31:40 – Outro & Next Nation Preview
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Can Saudi Arabia recreate the magic of Qatar 2022 and navigate past Spain and Uruguay? 🇸🇦
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, host Harry Brent sits down with Saudi football expert Mo Fayed to trace the definitive 48-nation roadmap for the Green Falcons.
From their dramatic historical managerial turnovers to the structural realities behind the massive investments in the Saudi Pro League, we explore what it will take for this squad to rise above domestic pessimism and make a splash in North America.
We dive deep into the unique fan culture, domestic bottlenecks, and tactical system variables, breaking down:
⚽ The Mancini Walkout: The dramatic, unedited story behind Roberto Mancini abandoning his players during the 2023 Asian Cup shootout.
⚽ The GOAT Paradox: Why Asia's Player of the Year, Salem Al-Dawsari, faces internal club vs. country scrutiny.
⚽ The Cristiano Ronaldo Effect: How training alongside icons like Benzema and Ronaldo is physically shifting local training standards.
⚽ The Athletic Deficit: Why the traditional regional "family night" coffee culture poses a distinct physiological challenge to high-level sports development.
⚽ Roster Hidden Gems: Why breakout full-back Mohammed Abu Shamat is currently tracking as one of the best domestic options in the country.
Follow Mo Fayed for expert Arab football coverage:
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4t1TlqXUhyRVExWcYVD88A - https://www.instagram.com/fayadzinho/
🔔 Subscribe to Make Football Great Again on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify to follow our global scouting mission down to the opening match of 2026!
The Timecodes
0:00 – Teaser: Roberto Mancini walks out & an audacious Argentina prediction
0:17 – Welcome to Make Football Great Again!
0:46 – Meet Mo Fayed: Tracking the Green Falcons' narrative trajectory
1:15 – Segment: One Truth and One Lie (Managerial turnover volume vs. the shootout abandonment)
3:32 – Analyzing Mancini's 2023 Asian Cup exit controversy
4:54 – Segment: The Travel Log – Who is Saudi Arabia's true football GOAT?
7:55 – Most Celebrated Result: Slaying Messi and Argentina in Lusail
8:39 – Banter Rivalry: Why Saudi fans closely watch Egyptian football
10:32 – Roster Bottlenecks: Are domestic stars losing essential game time to foreign icons?
13:56 – Foreign Manager Bias: Why the Middle East constantly imports tactical celebrity
15:42 – Look Ahead: Infrastructure, expectations, and hosting 2034
18:35 – Segment: The Scouting Report – Roster breakdown & Ultimate Team gems
20:17 – Sizing up the Talisman: Salem Al-Dawsari vs. Firas Al-Biraikan
21:10 – Under the Radar: Why Mohammed Abu Shamat is a proper threat
22:09 – Group H Breakdown: Surviving Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde
23:37 – Managing Expectations: Sizing up the tactical system under Georgios Donis
25:45 – The Pro League Balance: Living, breathing, and training with Cristiano Ronaldo
28:34 – The Cultural Friction: Coffee culture, late nights, and physical peak ceilings
29:16 – The England Swap: Inserting Harry Kane into the attack
29:47 – Rapid Fire Round: 2026 Tournament Winner & Golden Boot
30:39 – Outrageous Hot Take: Lionel Messi's early exit
31:22 – Outro & Next Nation Preview
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John Cross joins Harry Brent straight after England's 1-0 friendly win against New Zealand ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
He discusses what it could mean for Thomas Tuchel's selection, and who shone for the Three Lions in Florida - and who needs to up their game.
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Make Football Great Again is the definitive 48-nation roadmap to the 2026 World Cup, combining deep-dive interviews from across the globe with legendary tournament anecdotes from our veteran reporters.
Read all of the latest football news: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/
Subscribe to our new Make Football Great Again newsletter for everything World Cup 2026: https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=c4fc9b20-3be6-4105-9f07-3ae274c4031b&utm_source=solusarticle
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Fresh from Thomas Tuchel's press conference, ahead of England's pre-World Cup friendly against New Zealand in Tampa, Florida, John Cross shares the mood in the Three Lions camp with Harry Brent.
He discusses how rivalries in the camp could beneficial for England, starters for the Three Lions, and whether Thomas Tuchel's side could literally weather the storm.
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Make Football Great Again is the definitive 48-nation roadmap to the 2026 World Cup, combining deep-dive interviews from across the globe with legendary tournament anecdotes from our veteran reporters.
Read all of the latest football news: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/
Subscribe to our new Make Football Great Again newsletter for everything World Cup 2026: https://www.mirror.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/?view=Solus&mailingListId=c4fc9b20-3be6-4105-9f07-3ae274c4031b&utm_source=solusarticle
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The definitive 48-nation roadmap to the 2026 World Cup continues! 🌍🏆
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, host Harry Brent is joined by renowned African football journalist Ali Howorth to deep-dive into West African powerhouses Ghana and the Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire).
From incredible dressing room trivia (did a squad really get thrown in prison?!) to the lingering legacy of Luis Suarez's infamous 2010 handball, we cover the culture, the chaos, and the tactics shaping these two incredible teams ahead of the tournament.
Ali Howorth: https://x.com/ahoworth97 & https://alasdairhoworth.substack.com/
We break down Ghana's reliance on Jordan Ayew, the tactical shift under Carlos Queiroz, and why the incredibly talented Ivory Coast squad might just be the ultimate dark horse—if they can survive a brutal tournament path.
Who are you backing to go further this summer? Let us know in the comments! 👇
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Can Ralf Rangnick’s tactical rebuild carry Austria past Argentina and the heavyweights of Group J? 🇦🇹⚽
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, host Harry Brent is joined by the host of The Other Bundesliga podcast, Tom Midler, to trace the definitive tournament preview for Austria.
We discard routine statistical analysis to unlock incredible pieces of administrative hubris, political friction, and the historical coffee house culture that invented modern tactical movements.
🔥 In this episode, we unpack:
The Euro 2008 Petition: The bizarre, true story of tens of thousands of Austrian fans who formally begged their own team to withdraw from the tournament to prevent a national crisis.
The Invention of Total Football: Why the intellectual coffee house circles of Vienna’s Ringstrasse deserve historical credit for inventing tactical fluid movement long before the Netherlands.
The Miracle of Córdoba: Tracing the legendary 1978 win over West Germany that sparked the most unhinged, emotional commentary in sports broadcasting history.
The Rangnick Friction: The ongoing strategic war between a demanding German manager and an old-school Football Association resistant to structural evolution.
The Roster Pipeline Changes: Sizing up Carney Chukwuemeka’s choice to acquire an Austrian passport right before a massive international flight.
The Scandal of Gijón: The long-standing, bitter historical rivalry between Austria and Algeria rooted in an explicit 1982 non-aggression pact.
🔗 Follow Tom Midler and The Other Bundesliga Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@OtherBundesliga - https://x.com/mid_5 - https://x.com/OtherBundesliga
#WorldCup2026 #AustriaFootball #RalfRangnick #DavidAlaba #CarneyChukwuemeka #HarryKane #LamineYamal #SoccerPodcast #RoadTo2026
⏳ The Timecodes
0:00 – Teaser: Emotional commentators hugging on air & the ultimate fan petition
0:17 – Welcome to Make Football Great Again!
0:44 – Meet Tom Midler: Celebrating Austria's long-awaited return to the world stage
1:12 – Segment: One Truth and One Lie (Alpine yodels vs. the formal withdrawal petition)
2:07 – The Psychosocial Malaise: Exploring the fallout of Euro 2008
3:03 – Historical Context: Sizing up the modern Group J matrix
3:30 – Segment: The Travel Log – Who is Austria’s true footballing GOAT?
3:58 – The Paper Man: Tracing the tragic, mysterious legacy of Matthias Sindelar
4:59 – Slaying Champions: Explaining the lingering passion behind Córdoba 1978
6:11 – Banter Rivalry: Why Austrian fans closely look at German and Swiss football
7:43 – Intellectual Pioneers: The tactical architecture born on the Vienna Ringstrasse
9:09 – Striking the Maverick Balance: Marco Arnautović vs. Bureaucratic Elegance
10:37 – Domestic Boundaries: Why Christian Fuchs' Premier League medal feels distant
12:32 – The Shadow of Germany: Why structural change faces stiff local blockades
14:53 – Segment: The Scouting Report – Roster standouts & Ultimate Team additions
15:51 – Rising From the Ashes: Sasa Kalajdzic's emotional Bundesliga double campaign
17:39 – Meet the System Talisman: David Alaba's core center-back transition
19:06 – Under the Radar picks: Sasa Kalajdzic and Michael Gregoritsch
20:33 – Rebuilding the "Gegenpress": Rangnick's tactical war against the local FA chiefs
22:35 – Expanding the Pipeline: Parachuting Carney Chukwuemeka into the roster
26:11 – Group J Analysis: Facing Argentina, Algeria, and Jordan
28:09 – The Scandal of Gijón: Inside the non-aggression pact of 1982
29:34 – Swashbuckling Forwards: Sizing up massive recent results under Rangnick
31:18 – The England Swap: Giving Harry Kane to a forward line crying for goals
32:36 – Rapid Fire Round: 2026 World Cup Winners & Top Scorers
33:58 – Outrageous Hot Take: Inflationary metrics ruin the modern World Cup viewing framework
34:54 – Outro & Next Nation Preview
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Can the defensive masterminds of North Africa survive the most chaotic groups at the 2026 World Cup? 🇩🇿🇹🇳
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, host Harry Brent sits down with African football journalist Ali Hawa to map out the definitive tactical and cultural profiles for Algeria and Tunisia.
We discard standard group previews to unpack unbelievable tales of historical arrogance, legal exile, and the modern systemic frameworks defining Maghreb football.
🔥 In this episode, we unpack:
The German Hubris: The unedited story behind West Germany's disrespectful promise before falling victim to Algeria's legendary 1982 upset.
The No-Look Fugitive: The fascinating, under-reported truth about how an Algerian football icon spent twenty years running from international extradition laws.
The Talent Plunder: Explaining the complex socio-political reality behind why the absolute elite of French football hold Algerian heritage.
The Star Boy's Burden: Sizing up Michael Olise's growth at Bayern Munich and why he tracking as a tournament game-changer.
The "Haram Ball" Mechanics: A granular look at Tunisia's defensive discipline, set-piece traps, and structural identity.
The Hannibal Manifesto: How Burnley's young midfielder went viral in Tunis by publicly demanding a root-and-branch formatting of the national setup.
🔗 Follow Ali Howorth For Elite African Football Coverage: https://alasdairhoworth.substack.com/
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Croatia is a country of just 3.8 million people, yet they have reached consecutive World Cup semi-finals. How do they keep doing it?
In this episode of Make Football Great Again, Harry Brent sits down with Croatian football expert Lovre Nikolaicic to map out Croatia’s definitive roadmap to the 2026 World Cup.
From Group L tactics against England, Ghana, and Panama, to Luka Modrić's final tournament at 41 years old, we break down everything you need to know about the Vatreni.
We also dive deep into Croatia's next generational talent, Tottenham-bound center-back Luka Vušković, and explain why his potential is completely "through the roof."
https://x.com/CroatiaFooty
https://x.com/CroLovre
Who wins the opening match: England or Croatia? Let us know your score predictions in the comments below! 👇
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