Will Harry Kane win the World Cup for England?

This episode is brought to you by Gemini, Google's personal AI assistant. If you've listened to the show for a while now, you'll know we love to debate the finer points of football. Let's bring in Gemini, shall we? Did Garylinnika ever leave six-year-old box? That's a common joke about Garylinnika. While he was known for scoring a lot of goals from close range, he was a very talented player with more than just poaching abilities, his positioning and finishing world class. Take it! For any goal, download the Gemini app today to unlock the power of Google AI on your phone. Sequences shortened, check responses, setup required, compatibility and availability varies, 18 plus terms and conditions apply. Hello and welcome to the RESTYS football with Mike Richards, Alan Sheeran, the Garylinnika all in the same room. Oh, feels good today! It feels really good. Nearly there, we're nearly there. The big ones coming up very shortly. We're going to have a little bit of a chat about possible winners by looking back a little bit. So I think we should probably start a tie first. It's the best of senior. You're matching. Didn't get the memo on them. I just thought I'd go with a little bit Argentina. Do you think? Should we start there? I'll just do this. Do you think that was the best? I think that's definitely the best final we've seen. Yeah. I was sulking there, wasn't I? Do you remember how I told you this? Because I didn't get picked for the big one dinner, the World Cup Final and I was supposed to do radio. And the radio binned me too. World Cup Final effort to Jeff into myself, I'll think you. How big mix not on the big stage? I've gone there. I remember when the guys came up and said, "Champ about the final team." You got to pick the pun. How could you not pick me? You must have been so bad. You mean it's fine to be an radio. And he wasn't on either because he was co-commentating. Oh my gosh. So what's your excuse? You know who did the final? Argentina. He's all nicely nicely, Pablo. He's so good. He's such a great player. What a lovely guy. He does a lot of work with you. No, you preferred me. Come on, say it. We do know. Finally. He was a better player. No, it's all the game though. It was ridiculous. What do you remember about the game? What was it? It was one of the most comfortable World Cup fans I've imagined. Or I've ever seen. And they were dominant throughout the game, Argentina. And then one of the most terrible things. The penalty. Then they got nervous. Then I'm back here because the brilliant ball were the kind of volley finish. Volley? I didn't go over your shoulder and didn't bounce. So I think even you would call that a volley. But then it's two, two out of nowhere. And then he said, "Oh my God. I'd written because I generally, when I'm covering any big game, just three, four minutes before when it looks like it's all done. I write down all the little 30 seconds, 60 seconds, because you want to get it right." And I'd written it all down and then the back he does that. And I just. I just. I just. Yeah, we're ripping up again. And then, then Argentina got a head in extra time. So I thought, "Right, so it was different now. It was comparing it to the final in 1986. And I was going to do a whole comparison with Maradona and Messi. How the finals were almost identical. I mean, you weren't born. In 1986, Argentina went ahead, right? So they went two goals clear. And then they were cruising. And then Germany came back and scored two goals in the last ten minutes or so. So similar to this game. And then it went through extra time. Maradona pushes through and burrow each other scores. They went three, two. So then when Messi scored, I thought, "This is Christ, this is three, two, it's going to be exactly the same." So I wrote this whole big thing. And then they give it a penalty. And it makes a three, three again. I said, "Oh, Christ, I've ripped it up again and then I wait until it's out and it will." But it was some game. Probably the best. Yeah. I mean, I've been doing it on TV for 20 years. And that's the best final that I've been involved with. Because it was just so much to talk about. It was brilliant. It was amazing. I know, you must have been getting into it. I might as well get a ticket. He was demoralising. I was back because of all the radio things there. And I was sat just, I don't know, five seats down. And then I could see the studio. You numpties in there. So I was just, but then the game made up for it. So can we just say from that rejection, your bounce back so well? I mean, but I'm like, "You sure? Great attitude." Before I do. Right, let's bring it on to this year's competition. Let's bring in today's sponsors, Gemini. Gemini. Who do you think are the top teams to look out for this summer? According to recent rankings, France and Spain are considered top contenders. Argentina is also highly ranked with England and Portugal close behind. How would you compare the Argentinean squad of 1986 with the present Argentina? The 1986 squad was famously driven by Maradona, who had a monumental impact on their success. The quarantine has different strengths with star players like Messi leading them and a more balanced approach across the squad. Both had periods of great cohesion and success, but the style and key figures are quite different. I mean, I think the real parallels between '86 and the team that won it four years ago. And it's not really much changed since then except for Messi leading four years. That's the only thing is that is it one World Cup too far from Messi. Well, that's one World Cup. Absolutely, yeah, but will we see that same incredible player? I'm still ability-wise, I guess, but will we see that same player in the latter stages when you're going to need him most? You two have seen him both, haven't you? Who's better? Messi or Maradona? I think it's a really, really hard question to answer because there are real similarities. Both got great left thoughts, diminutive. I never thought I'd ever see a better player than Diego because he just did stuff that I'd never seen anyone do and I've never seen anyone do subsequently until Messi came along. I think Messi's all-round game and his longevity of career because Maradona had a flaw. His personality was addictive and he got into trouble with you know, prediction, etc. So you have to sort of take that into account. Ability-wise, so similar, but I think Messi's probably been more professional, lived better and has made him, he's given himself a best possible chance. I think, but Messi's just. Are you played against him, didn't you, and Maradona? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm in the aura. What are you, I mean, were you talking about him before the game, before the tournament, before it's like, what was he's aura? I actually played with him half a game for the rest of the world, at Wembley. And I was playing for the rest of the world because I was in Barcelona at the time. I used to play for Barcelona. Three years, yeah. So I'm taking block, but the thing is all these players that, you know, this world class player and me were in the dressing room in there. Diego walks in, he's present. Honestly, you could see people like Ziko and that old guy, who, you know, does that. Incredible. And he walks in, he just sits in his chair, like just his shorts on, and he's, you know, you roll your socks up, he's just. Prepared to everyone's looking at just flicking his socks up, then he gets out, doesn't do his laces, it walks onto the pitch and he starts his thing where he bashes the ball right up in high sky, when he came straight down, bashed it straight up in the sky, again, he did it back to overtime. We barely move, and he had to walk a little bit to get the. And even we were just like, "Sounds simple." I've seen that in a loop. It's ridiculous. Yeah, we have you tried doing that, kicking the ball up high and then doing it again for a time. It's not a child. Within a few yards, it's like, if you did two or three, which we tried in training the next day at Barcelona, we were all went back. We, we, we do two or three, that was the best anyone did. And that's running after it. But he just had this incredible aura and his ability. It didn't win the World Cup single-handed. I think that's quite unfair to say that about Diego in '86, because, you know, they were good side. They're all here, Val Dano. You know, lots of really good players, the backroosery and brown, but a chuggo is really good, a lot of good chair. A lot of excellent players, but he was so, so dominant in that tournament, you know, without him that I've had no chance. But even then, you know, what do you score five goals in the tournament? It's one behind the guy who got the. - We lost a bit. We said it was gonna be what, two or three minutes before we lose in that. - What were your goals like? - Were the top ones? - Yeah. - Of course the were top ones. - The same combined yardage would have, there were six, so probably about an average maybe four or five yards. So yeah, probably 25 yards. - Just a matter of a lot of people. - They'll count the same. - What were the goals then? We're talking punctures and backpoles from point- - You never seen them. Come on, I'm gonna miss Seven. - The first goal was against Poland and in the Mexico World Cup we would, we would struggle in the first two games, did nothing. I thought it'd leave me out, it didn't last in public. Stuck with me. - The first goal, it was an ever-tongue goal at the time. To ever-st even got it knocked out to Gary Stevens and then I'd made a dart, just move and darted towards it and it was gambled on where it was. It was my classic goal. Fun I'd be out, probably. And just going from the defender and the keeper, not to you then. St. Goals a great move as well. I think Hodgie was involved and Beasley hit the great, no, Beasley hit this great ball to Steve Hodg. He went down, left uncrossed. That's why he never scored that many World Cup goals because he couldn't ever concentrate. That's why. - What's he doing? - I'm going to say it's a round. - Just go. - He has to beat the top he's doing the goals, what he's supposed to do. - I like it. - Well, yeah, that and brilliant finish actually the second one because the ball bounced before and had to take away top it. - Just guy-be. - Yeah, I mean, honestly. It's so good. And the third one, it was the goalie dropped it. Chester Hart Foley. - Hart Foley. - Hart Foley. - Genuine Hart Foley. - Yeah, I don't want to take it to Paraguay, Goldska Stain. - Are you still having goals and boots? - Yeah. - And how does that work the Golden Boot? I know. It's generally interested to me. So you go up and get it at the end or how does it work? - No, there was a kind of, well, this is a function. I think it's a bar. It's Marvin and Barrett. - Where J. Go received his Golden Ball for the best player. And I got the Golden Boot for Scoramal, Girls and Maradona, really. Honestly, he was not. He must have been proud though. - Oh, that was close. - Change my life. Change my life. Genuine he changed my life. You know, I was doing one in the English League and stuff, but then to use something on the world stage, within two weeks after the World Cup, I mean Barcelona. I mean, that's what it does. I mean, do you tap in, Zay? - All count, girls, the all count. - Yeah, all count. - That's enough for that, my goal. I don't want to talk about my Golden Boot ever. - Can I touch it? - I don't want to play that a World Cup. So moving on, so if you think. (laughing) England has another Golden Boot winner, of course. Harry Kane, who's going to be, I think, really important for England. - Yeah. - Let's get, let's get, Gemini's opinion. Gemini, why is it so difficult for defenders to mark Harry Kane? - Harry Kane's versatility is a huge factor. He's not just a pure Gold Scorer. He can drop deep to create play, as excellent passing skills and is very effective in the game. Is there a specific aspect of his game you're curious about? - Yes, actually, there is a aspect of his game I'm curious about. Is Harry Kane better than Alan Scherah? (laughing) - That's a tough comparison, as they played in different eras. Alan Scherah was a phenomenal pure striker for his power and incredible finishing. - Well said. - Harry Kane has also achieved great scoring heights, but offers more versatility in terms of the game. (laughing) - It really depends on what qualities you value most. - Interesting. - Yeah. - I've always thought Harry Kane's way more versatile than Alan Scherah. - It's even a stiff, but basically, I think you're stiff. Number nine, that could have moved. Is that fair? - No, that's not fair, no. But I understand the comparison. I think there's no doubt if England are going to go far in this tournament, that Harry is going to be key to that. And also, how other players react, because I think in the last tournament, what we lacked was players running off Harry Kane, then running beyond him. And it's perfectly summed up business, that he does love to come deep. But when he comes deep, if you don't get runners going in behind, then it won't work. (upbeat music) - I mean, Tuckle obviously coached him. - Yeah. - That by and me, which is that an advantage? - Yeah, he knows his game, doesn't he? - Yeah, I totally agree with your point in terms of coming deep. But when you've got fingers like Alisa, who constantly running in behind, it helps, doesn't it? Or Gnabri, or whoever it may be. I think at the World Cup, Harry Kane is key, isn't he? He's England's main man, essentially. - Yeah. - So, you've got to work around his strengths or weaknesses. He knows he wants to go on a ball. You know he gets frustrated. You know he goes really deep. Just play two wingers. I'm looking at Rashford. Rashford, Rashford now, he loves to get behind. - For Barcelona, unbelievable running behind. - And Sacka can do that. - Yeah, Sacka, Sacka can do it. But he likes to get on the ball too much. You can't have two come in towards the ball unless you play someone who's running behind from a midfield area. And that's the sort of conundrum with Jude Bellanham, because he wants to get on the ball. And he wants to arrive, so it's just getting that balance right, isn't it? - But Jude will bump forward. - But he's at the right time, you know, he wants to be involved in the play. And then he wants to get, if Harry Kane gets the ball in the middle, then Bellanham has got to go. - No, that's right. I think that's key. I mean, whether he starts, whether Rodgers or whoever that may be, they have to get beyond him and they have to get into forward positions when Harry vacates that area. - Who are you picking, Prime Eleanor and Shera Prime, Harry Kane? - No pressure, big mix. I won't be offended. - Oh, I don't mind fending you. - That's very true. - I've always said Alan Shere, you know, always. - Yeah. - Alan's my man. - He's my man. - Don't change your mind. - However, Michael, I don't think that Mike, he says, however, you know something's coming. - England stats. How many goals have you got for England? - 30. - It's not good enough. - Well, for the great Alan, Alan the man. - He will back me up on this. I think with the number of countries you play against now and smaller countries, it's perhaps easier to score goals. - He's finally agreed to be on that. - Yeah. - Would you agree with him, wouldn't you? - Well, yeah, that's why I only scored 18 more than you. - Well, in World Cup, somebody scored two in four games. - Yeah. - Harry Kane scored 78 goals for England. - Eight. - Eight in the World Cup. - But 78, yeah, but most of them again, for others. So the only way you can really judge it is in tournament football, I think. So in World Cup. - Don't need to say that a minute ago, the old count. So you're going to use the argument for which which part? It's scored 78 and it's scored eight in World Cup finals. So if you just not off that, you have to say Harry Kane. - But you was my guy. - Yeah. - But it was. - Yeah, it was. - It was 10. - Mikey, you know what you discover who scored 10 goals in World Cup finals. - You just scored 10. - Yeah, Harry's going to go past many, but he has like, it more World Cup. So it'll be, it'll be number one. - Isn't then what we brought up again on TV screens where Harry goes past it. - Yeah, well, he's has a way of going the way past. - We need him to scored for England to do well, then. - 216 to Prem No. - No, that's good. - No, that's good. - I never heard of it though. - He's not good. - He's not good. - He's a stony should. - So it is. - No, I'll say, I'll say Alan Premially. - Alan's, Alan's more of a platform flat track bully. Just Premially. - Yeah. - Kane goes next. - Kane is the master. - Yeah, I've got to go with you, Patrick. - Yeah, it's funny comparing people. - And with the season he's had as well as like your season's had. - Not, not. - It's been a long period of slashing. - Yeah. - All round football. I mean, he's a 10 really. - Yeah. - He's a 10 really. - You know what, you could play batting him and Kane just switching around. - Exactly. - Yeah. - Yeah, so that'd be quite interesting to do that. (upbeat music) I think one thing we can say we've got a very good goalkeeper who's those perform brilliant for England. I wonder what Gemini thinks. Gemini, how important do you think Jordan Pickford will be for England in the fourth coming tournament? Gemini says the following about Pickford. Quite interesting. His importance often peaks in the knockout stages. Statistically, Pickford has saved twice as many penalties in major tournament shootouts, four out of 14 as all the other England goalkeepers combined between 1990 and 2012. In a tournament where margins are raised, then his big game temperament is a massive security blanket for the squad. - Yeah. - You have to agree with that. And every player in big tournaments is not afraid of it. It's confident. I think he's one of England's great strengths. - Yeah, he's never done more than that. If anything wrong for England, it's all been very, very positive for him. And let's hope that continues because again, if England are going to go far, then he's going to have to play a major part as an old old keeper's do, whether it's in a penalty shoot or what, because you almost can see if England are going to win it, which we hope, then there will be a penalty shootout. He's brilliant not then. One of the big favourites at the World Cup, France, obviously the talent they've got right across that squad. They've got the best team, best individual talent right the way through. They can implode that occasionally. Yeah, sometimes having the best team and best players isn't enough to do that at all. Sometimes he goes, don't they? At the time, you can see that possibly happening. You've got people like him back there and he's hard because I'm bad pays my favourite player in the whole football now. I think he's got all the attributes to be the best left-winger, best striker, whether he's running behind, whether he's taking someone on, however, however, off the ball, it doesn't do his work. It doesn't and it affects the whole team. And if I was looking at France, I'd be looking at targeting that area. And remembering that last tournament where Bacola was playing on the left, we did it many times. And then Bappi was going out there and then when they lost the ball and Bappi was just going to stand up front. They never really worked out. They didn't. They're still in charge. I think probably he's lost to them. And then the only thing now is we've got a ball and door winner, Dembele as well. If Bappi's not doing his work, it sounds ridiculous but he's enough to go on the bench. It could create a problem in the camp. You can imagine if he's not playing then. Similar sort of thing, possibly with Portugal and Cristiano maybe. I agree with that. If he's not going to be playing, I think that would be a big issue. Another one. You know where I'm going. Go on. Say, there must be City Cherokee. Of course it is. How good is he in this season? He's been really good. He's got some. We're talking about Maverick. Maverick. He is a Maverick. How many Mavericks can you have in one team? It depends how much you keep the ball. If you keep the ball, you can have a couple. Yeah, but you're going to lose the ball on occasion. Does anyone have a recovery pace? Do we think the word Maverick means basically a little bit on the list? When you get the ball, you entertainers off the ball, you're useless. But, Cherokee's a lot better off the ball now. He's running back. He looks terrible. He won't stand for that one. Exactly that, but he's my favourite player to watch in the Premier League just for skill and taking risks. Take his feet, isn't he? Yeah. Quick feet. Right left. Fancy the French. Is that your tip? After your France or Spain, yeah. Well, that was two. Yeah, I'd probably do that. He played in the World Cup, then you went France's first World Cup win, the home country. Yeah, it's a done best player ever played against. Zezou. No doubt about it. He was beautiful football. It's so elegant. Rageously good. Do you think he was the best ever midfielder to touch the grass? He's up there. Depends what you call Maradona. It's like a 10. No, it falls. Leave it. Leave it. Leave it. He's a midfielder. Zezou. Zezou. Actually, that's a good champion. Best player to have. His feet are all good. Left foot and right foot. Yeah, he's balanced, it's like, just the best. You can't have the major tournament in Otis Gough, Brazil. Five times winners. What does he do? Yeah, let's find out, um, I'm gem of my fences, their chances. Just wondering what kind of system they might play in the Antelotti. Antelotti often favors a flexible style, possibly building on a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 setup, adapting to get the best from his players. Given the talent Brazil has, especially in attack, you could see a system that allows creative players to flourish and potentially dominate possession. Who are the most likely goal scorers for Brazil this summer? Right, the frontrunners, not Benessius Jr. Those prize there. So their main man is me for Brazil. After that, you've got, uh, Rafini, obviously got injured a little bit lately, but he's just coming back over 30 goals or season and Mateusz Konya. They've got real options up front. Remissions is the one that isn't there. Is it a superstar? Yeah, it's definitely a superstar. What do we think about Brazil then? I mean, they've got individuals, but they're not really highly fancied. Are they this time around? But they've got an Antelotti who's one more than even the likes of Fabri Pepp Guardiola across the board. He's one everything. I watched him in the week. I feel as though they've got individual talent, but they don't play as a unit. I feel like when the ball goes to him, everyone's expected, finish to do something great. In that game, Denilla was amazing in midfield. It was, it was at forest. He was really good. It was on the one at forest midfield. It was really good. It's got you, Gabriel, Mockini, that's good. Mockini also is good. Subconsciously, I think Brazil is going to be good, but then when it comes together, I don't know if it's going to click individual talent they've got for sure. I'm not too sure how that's going to play first game. Is it? Yeah. For Core Coms, yeah. Brazil. Brazil and Morocco. That's a good game. Yeah, first one. Don't forget Bruno Gamera. He's a good player, though. Do you think they've got the superstars that they've had in the past stuff? I mean, you know, can they have some of the great Brazilian talent? Well, that doesn't mean they can't win it, because they haven't got the superstars. But they haven't. No, no. But expectation. Yeah, well, it's always going to be high. It's just priceless. It's the impressions of them. Go on the games with their fans. There's another level as well, isn't it? It's 24 years since everyone in World Cup and they've won five. So they, I think the pressure mounts as well. Yeah. It's a team, though, over and out. Revolved. 2002 team was incredible, wasn't it? Even going back further, Dunga. Mamadoga. Nobody in Europe is feeling stubborn. He has a leader in midfields, a leader. Oh, can't be down. Yeah. And coach. I met him in Mexico when recently when I went out there and no member for to get accepted into the world football. You're in that voice. I actually wrecked. Do you know what they asked me? Who do you recommend? Right? I'll mention you are. Really? I was just about. I genuinely did. And they went, who should, what Englishman? I think what Wayne Rooney was already in. One or two others. Who should we have? Which one? I went, oh, is he? So we give all pie to say the ball. That's, we couldn't say it. Yeah. Well, we're really looking forward to the World Cup. We might need a bit of Gemini's help along the way at some point, I'm sure. But for this episode of the rest of football, that's it. Goodbye for me. Goodbye for me. Goodbye for me.