Second Captains

it's been an eventful World Cup for our man on the ground. Ken was on hand to watch Messi inspire his team to the top of Group C with a display that flew in the face of everything we know about attacking football. 

We also discuss Pulisic's knee to the groin which brings up painful memories for Murph. And Ken gives us the rundown on what delights Doha has to offer. 

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It’s been another bonkers weekend of World Cup action and there’s only one way to cover it all…. that’s right, it’s a double helping of His Ken-ness!

In the big game of the day Germany saved their bacon by going FULL KRUG while Spain forgot to keep playing football. 

There’s also golden Mbappe, Croatia crushing Canada, “relish it Rabat” and Messi to Miami.

Don’t forget we’ve another show out earlier today on Argentina’s win over Mexico.

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Lionel Messi saved Argentina again last night with a stunning goal to break the deadlock against Mexico. They're back in contention, but can they go all the way? 

Tim Vickery is far from sure, but the arrival of Enzo Fernandez in their midfield gives them a chance. 

Plus there's misguided vox pops, Eoin's favourite dressing-room moment of the World Cup so far, and a short audio history of Argentinian post-match celebrations.

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Ken has been on hand to witness both Japan's victory over South Africa in the 2015 RWC and their recent win over Germany in the 2022 football World Cup, but the king of world cup upsets didn't stop there as he was also at the Saudi Arabia Argentina game.

We discuss Germany's silent gesture, the joyous positivity of Cameroon's Joey N'Do and have a new bed for Ken's glass door incident.

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Ireland laboured to a win over Australia to make it three wins from three in the autumn internationals, and yet again a backrower won MOTM. Murph has a theory on this trend.

We talk to former Ireland stars Gordon Darcy and Shane Horgan about Ireland's muddled attack, strange decision making, but also their guts and defiance. How did debutant Jack Crowley do, have we an issue with taking high balls, has our phase game been worked out and will we be the better for these hard fought wins?

We also look at how the Nic White concussion was missed by those responsible and if the independent doctors are relying too much on the Head Injury Assessment process while missing the key information seen by all 50,000 people in the stadium.

Plus there's the rise and rise and rise of Josh Van Der Flier, ROG for England and the Welsh football song that made Murph weep at breakfast time.

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The 2022 World Cup has begun and Ken was at the Al Bayt stadium to see the hosts lose 2-0 to Ecuador with a hopeless display. You still can't buy success in international football, well not yet anyway.

We catch up with Miguel Delaney to talk about Gianni Infantino's outlandish press conference performance on Saturday, and the bizarre scene of an opening world cup match being played in front of an almost empty stadium.

And with Ken's world cup barely 12 hours old he's already had his first traumatic travel tale to tell.

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Tim Vickery, Miguel Delaney and Jonathan Wilson joined us on the World Service this week to preview the first ever winter World Cup - who will win it, and why.

AND, with three days to go before the tournament starts we spoke to anthropologist John McManus whose new book, Inside Qatar, offers an insightful portrait of the host nation. 

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It was a limp display from Ireland this weekend and Andy Farrell wasn't shy about showing his displeasure with the performance, the attitude and the decision to kick their last possession into touch.

We talk to Andrew Trimble about Farrell's post match reaction, Jack Crowley's rapid progression, and Rassie's latest tweet tirade.

Plus there's fan trouble at the FAI Cup Final and in Parnell Park and we marvel at the charisma of NZ's Ruby Tui as her team shocked England to win the WRWC final.

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Six days left until the start of the World Cup, but there's one last weekend of Premier League to talk about, and City's defeat to Brentford means the first part of the season has ended on a cliffhanger...

Then we're joined by Dion Fanning and Rory Smith to talk about Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan, Newcastle's win over Chelsea, and whether Todd Boehly knows something FSG doesn't.

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No World Cup build-up is complete without a chat with our friend in Nigeria, Oluwashina Okeleji. We asked him about Senegal's chances, if Mane will play, Cameroon's WC build up, and attitudes in Africa to Qatar's record on human rights.

Ireland's first Gymnastics World Champion Rhys McClenaghan popped into studio with his medal during the week. We spoke about the inevitability of mistakes in Pommel Horse, the lessons you learn, and the questions of identity he was forced to face when it looked like he wasn’t going to be allowed to compete for Northern Ireland at this year’s Commonwealth Games.

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