Home and Away World Cup Special Episode 7

In this final World Cup Special episode of Tottenham – Home and Away, Graeme and Glen are joined by returning guest Jeremy Oster from Colorado Spurs to look back on the tournament now that the final has been played and Spain have won the World Cup.

We discuss the World Cup as a whole: the brilliant football, the strange kick-off times, the Americanised feel of the tournament, FIFA’s influence, Trump’s involvement, hydration breaks, adverts, music, halftime shows, ticket prices, and whether the tournament was enjoyable despite everything around it.

There is also plenty of England reflection after the semi-final defeat to Argentina and the third-place playoff win over France. We talk Tuchel’s tactics, the decision to sit deeper against Argentina, taking off Anthony Gordon, not using Kobbie Mainoo, the Messi problem, whether Tuchel should stay, and what England might look like after Harry Kane.

Then we turn to the final: Spain as worthy winners, Argentina’s conduct, Enzo Fernandez, Messi, the controversy around refereeing and discipline, and the wider debate about whether Argentina damaged their image during the tournament.

Finally, we look ahead to 2030, ask whether this World Cup format worked, reflect on the passing of Kevin Keegan, and bring the World Cup Specials to a close before returning to Spurs and pre-season football.

Thanks to everyone who joined us through the World Cup Specials. Normal Spurs service resumes now.

Come on you Spurs.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro — final World Cup Special 00:22 Glen’s relief that the tournament is over 00:36 Back to club football 00:47 Spurs pre-season and MK Dons on SpursPlay 00:59 Jeremy joins from Colorado Spurs 01:12 Enjoying the football despite FIFA and Trump 01:47 Four quarters, hydration breaks and halftime shows 02:25 Denver missing out as a host city 03:01 UK kick-off times and the Mexico pain 04:07 Why US kick-off times made little sense 04:51 England vs Argentina semi-final regret 05:28 Argentina’s early aggression and refereeing 06:07 Was the referee too lenient? 06:45 MLS referee selection questioned 07:31 Was the semi-final fixed or just favoured? 08:20 Argentina’s cards and foul stats 08:45 Two balls on the pitch and tournament organisation 09:05 England at the Azteca and the route to Argentina 09:32 Argentina’s easier travel and fixture times 10:14 Trump, FIFA and trust in the tournament 10:38 England going too deep against Argentina 10:58 Gordon coming off and losing the out ball 11:18 Six defenders and no route back 11:32 Tuchel’s gamble and players dropping too deep 12:03 Messi as the difference-maker 12:19 Giving Messi too much space 12:46 Why Kobbie Mainoo should have been used 13:14 Starving Argentina of the ball 13:42 Inviting pressure with no escape route 14:00 Should Tuchel stay or go? 14:31 Glen says Tuchel failed 14:52 FA contract extensions before tournaments 15:16 Jeremy makes the case for keeping Tuchel 15:55 Third-place playoff and winning bronze 16:23 Was England vs France just Soccer Aid with better players? 16:36 What Tuchel may have learned 17:08 England’s DNA and keeping possession 18:19 Saka in the third-place game 18:49 France collapse and England’s 6-4 win 19:45 Life after Harry Kane 20:02 Is Jude Bellingham the future false nine? 20:23 If not Tuchel, then who? 21:09 Attacking instead of shutting up shop 21:28 Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and midfield control 22:16 England’s striker problem after Kane 22:39 Waiting for the next Owen or Rooney 23:23 Ollie Watkins and Fenerbahce links 23:39 Transfer market chat and Spurs temptation 23:59 Spain win the World Cup 24:25 Argentina’s behaviour in the final 24:56 Argentina, gamesmanship and football culture 25:26 Where gamesmanship crosses the line 26:18 Spain’s cynical fouling 26:34 Enzo Fernandez refusing to leave the pitch 27:07 Messi and Cucurella incident 27:28 Argentina having no shots in 90 minutes 27:57 Argentina vs England in rugby comparison 28:13 Were Argentina desperate to win it for Messi? 28:57 The Argentina semi-final banner controversy 29:07 Falklands, politics and football 30:27 Argentina living rent-free in England’s head? 31:19 Generational differences around England-Argentina history 32:18 Did Argentina damage their global image? 32:57 South American reaction to Argentina 33:12 Richarlison celebrating Spain’s goal 33:20 Infantino’s reaction to Argentina losing 33:39 Argentina after Messi 33:51 Possible 64-team World Cup concerns 34:20 Did the expanded format work? 34:39 Cape Verde and respect for smaller nations 34:50 Germany and Netherlands disappointing 35:15 Were Spain worthy winners? 36:01 Top four ranked teams in the semi-finals 36:11 Looking ahead to World Cup 2030 36:41 One word to sum up the World Cup 37:01 Graeme’s World Cup rant list 37:29 Halftime show and goal music complaints 37:59 Trump, Infantino and unfit governing bodies 38:09 Referee visa issues and ticket prices 38:31 $72,000 final tickets 38:52 Million-dollar VIP seats 39:13 Trump touching the World Cup trophy 39:24 FIFA as football’s drug dealer 40:03 New US fans discovering football 40:46 World Cup vs Super Bowl global reach 41:45 No more hydration breaks? 42:14 Jeremy’s “Britain vs France” rant 42:45 Kevin Keegan tribute 43:21 Keegan’s Superstars bike fall 43:37 Keegan as a trailblazer abroad 44:34 Keegan’s impact in Germany 45:03 English players going abroad then and now 45:30 Final World Cup Specials reflection 45:58 Back to Spurs and pre-season 46:00 Outro — like, subscribe and COYS