Tottenham - Home and Away

Home and Away World Cup Special Episode 7

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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

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Tottenham - Home and AwayBy Graeme Spice and Glen Cowie