England’s Semi-Final Heartbreak, The Romero & Spence Dilemma & The £50m Bergvall Valuation (feat. Baker)

Jack is joined by Baker to digest a dramatic few days of international heartbreak and Tottenham Hotspur transfer news. We open the show with a painful autopsy of England's 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, questioning Thomas Tuchel's in-game management and whether he is to blame for the team dropping too deep after Anthony Gordon's opener. We then switch our focus to Spurs, tackling the massive squad dilemmas facing the club regarding Cristian Romero and Djed Spence. With Luka Vuskovic officially heading to Brighton, did Romero's performance against England prove he is simply too good for the club to even consider selling? And with Spence in such incredible form on the international stage, would letting him leave this summer be a huge mistake? We also marvel at Pedro Porro's unbelievable Team of the Tournament-worthy form for Spain, reflecting on how inspired of a move it was to keep hold of him. Finally, we look at the breaking news regarding Nottingham Forest's rejected £38m bid for Lucas Bergvall. With Spurs reportedly holding out for closer to £50m, we debate whether the club should rinse Forest for every penny or just keep hold of the talented midfielder. We wrap up by briefly touching on our forward options, highlighting Will Lankshear and Mikey Moore as exciting prospects we are desperate to see feature under Roberto De Zerbi this season. Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Rule the Roost World Cup Digest! We have reached the final four. Gavin joins me to unpack an incredibly strong set of quarter-final results, dissect the manufactured media narratives, and look ahead to a deeply personal and highly charged semi-final for England. France's Flaws: Morocco’s incredible World Cup run ends in a rather forgettable match. France get the job done and are brutally clinical, but do they actually look invincible? We're not so sure. Spain Squeeze Through: A hard-fought 2-1 win for Spain over Belgium. The Belgians showed up and gave a great account of themselves, but Spain’s relentless possession game sees them through—even if Lamine Yamal and the squad look to be lacking a little bit of magic right now. Surviving the Miami Heat: England beat a very handy Norway side in gruelling 34-degree heat. It is funny how quickly the media narrative shifts to downplay the opposition the absolute minute we get a result. Bellingham the Monster: Jude Bellingham is simply operating on another level. Gavin compares his swagger and low centre of gravity to Zinedine Zidane, and we look at how his immense maturity is actively lifting up teammates like Djed Spence. Manufactured Media Drama: Why are Gabriel Clarke and certain sections of the press so desperate to create friction between Thomas Tuchel and the squad? We call out the gutter journalism and offer a timely reminder of the massive foundation Gareth Southgate built to get us here. The Argentina Semi-Final: Argentina take Switzerland to extra time before finally putting them to bed. With my dual English and Argentinian heritage, I explain exactly why I utterly despise this fixture, the toxic historical narratives that always surround it, and why the Falklands chants from the Argentinian players are a total disgrace. A Spiritual Lift: Beyond the football, we discuss why this England team going all the way could provide the exact unifying, positive lift the country desperately needs right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack is joined by lifelong Spurs fan and actor/puppeteer Chris Thatcher for a wide-ranging chat about finding the funny side of following Tottenham Hotspur. We kick off by discussing his brilliant Instagram series, "A day in the life of a Spurs fan," and he shares how creating those comedy videos during the absolute misery of last season's relegation battle actually helped him feel much more attached to the wider Spurs community. We look at the start of a massive new era at Tottenham. With Sandro Tonali officially unveiled and Mateus Fernandes already secured, we spend a good chunk of time discussing the massive potential signings still being linked to the club. From Rafa Leão and Savinho to Cody Gakpo and Antonio Nusa, we debate our dream additions as Spurs finally act like a big club in the market. We discuss whether it's time to truly trust the Lewis family's vision now that they are opening their wallets, and what the expectations should be for Roberto De Zerbi’s first full season in charge.Attention then turns to the World Cup, where we discuss the immaculate vibes coming out of the England camp. We chat about Djed Spence hilariously gatecrashing Morgan Rogers' press conference, before touching on a more serious point about how Spence has been unfairly vilified by the media throughout the tournament and what that says about certain press narratives. Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to the Rule the Roost World Cup Digest! It is a massive Round of 16 bumper edition today, and I am thrilled to be joined by Phil to go through the thrills, spills, and the biggest talking points from an absolutely wild knockout stage. On today's 15-minute briefing: Morocco's Fear Factor: Canada gave it a valiant effort, but it is safe to say their race was run. Meanwhile, Morocco are officially announcing themselves at the top table—they are truly a team to be feared now. Are France the New Brazil?: France seem head and shoulders above the rest of the competition right now against Paraguay. But the South Americans showed that there might just be a glimmer of hope for the other nations. Trump's USMNT Intervention: The USA vs Belgium match was completely overshadowed by Trump intervening to have Balogun play. Has this set back the global perception of US football, and who are the real victims of that? On the other side, Belgium seem to be growing into this competition—perhaps leaving their so-called 'golden generation' behind is the best thing that has ever happened to them. Ronaldo's Embarrassing Exit: A total snorefest between Portugal and Spain. Did Portugal sacrifice their own tournament ambitions just to see Cristiano Ronaldo bow out in fairly embarrassing fashion? Honestly, it might be a good thing he's gone now for them. As for Spain, they've been underwhelming to watch, but they are quietly having a strong tournament and haven't conceded a single goal yet. Could they go all the way? Haaland's Majesty: Brazil were ruthlessly put to the sword by a majestic performance from Erling Haaland. After completely dismantling them, where does he now rank amongst the pantheon of world greats? The Swiss Wall: Another snorefest between Switzerland and Colombia, but the Swiss look organised and decent enough. The big question: could they be the team to stop a stuttering Argentina? Argentina Survive Egyptian Masterclass: A sublime performance from the Egyptians, who just couldn't quite get it over the line. But just how good are Argentina actually? Do they have what it takes to go all the way through sheer force of will alone? A Different England?: Are England genuinely a different beast now after getting past Mexico? Jude Bellingham at 23 is already one of the greats, and the chance to see Harry Kane lift the trophy and be immortalised is a joy to behold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack is joined by Gavin for a jam-packed episode covering all the drama on the international stage and the latest movements at Hotspur Way. We kick things off with a deep dive into the World Cup, reacting to England's absolute heroics in their thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. We discuss the tantalising prospect of Harry Kane lifting the trophy and being immortalised as a World Cup-winning captain, and debate where this brilliant tournament ranks among the best in recent years. We also tackle the bizarre political backdrop of the competition, looking at the troubling reports of FIFA seemingly being coerced into allowing Folarin Balogun to play following pressure from Donald Trump. Attention then turns back to Tottenham Hotspur, as we share our sheer excitement over the impending arrival of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle. We break down how he will mesh with Mateus Fernandes in Roberto De Zerbi’s midfield, what this new-look engine room means for the season ahead, and the wider implications of the Lewis family finally embracing a free-spending approach. Are we finally witnessing the dawn of a massive new era for the club? Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Ornstein has dropped the bomba this evening that Spurs are spending around the £100m mark for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle... THEY SHOULD HAVE RELEGATED US!! Finally, we're acting like a big club... unreal times!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack is joined by football.london’s Alasdair Gold to escape the sweltering UK heatwave and take a welcome step back from the frantic transfer window. In a relaxed, wide-ranging discussion, we explore Alasdair's personal journey on the Tottenham beat, looking at what it really takes to cover the club through recent turbulent seasons and finding reasons to look forward to brighter days ahead. We chat about the shifting landscape at Hotspur Way following the confirmation of the Mateus Fernandes deal and the ongoing pursuit of Sandro Tonali. We also reflect on the broader strategy behind Roberto De Zerbi’s squad rebuild, touching on the breaking news of Luka Vuskovic’s move to Brighton and what it means when a manager is given the backing to shape a squad in his own image. From debating whether fans can place their long-term trust in the Lewis family’s ultimate vision for the club, to exploring Alasdair's deep love of cinema and his passion project YouTube channel Gold Goes To The Movies, this is a close-season conversation focused on the bigger picture. Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack is joined by Ricky from Lads Anon and The Fighting Cock to digest the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news and international talking points. We kick things off with some England World Cup chatter, focusing on the frustrating media fallacy that Harry Kane is only now being recognised as a truly great player because he left Spurs, completely ignoring the world-class levels he consistently hit during his time in N17. We also discuss exactly what this England side needs to do to go all the way and win the competition. Attention then turns back to Tottenham, starting with the news that the club has turned down several serious bids for young striker Will Lankshear. Does this show a commendable faith in youth, or is it a worrying sign that we aren't in the market for a new number nine? We evaluate whether a striking rotation of Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, and Lankshear is enough firepower for the upcoming campaign. We also dive into our midfield hunt following the news that Manchester United have entered the race for Mateus Fernandes after Manuel Ugarte's injury at the World Cup. Does this signal game over for Spurs? We look at the wider strategy of putting all our eggs into the Sandro Tonali and Fernandes baskets, and debate whether a pivot to Bournemouth's Alex Scott—a boyhood Spurs fan—might be the smarter move. Finally, we wrap up the show as Ricky answers your listener questions. Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's 15-minute briefing: The Pepe Mystery: Côte d'Ivoire secure a 2-0 win over Curaçao, lit up by a couple of absolute belters from Nicolas Pépé. Watching him strike them makes me wonder all over again: why on earth was he so poor during his time at Arsenal? Germany Stunned: Ecuador confirm their place in the Round of 32 with a thoroughly impressive 2-1 victory over Germany. This is exactly the kind of result that Scottish fans would have had a very keen eye on as the groups shake out. Dutch Dark Horses?: The Netherlands pick up a 3-1 win over Tunisia, featuring a lovely goal from Jan Paul van Hecke. It begs the question: are the Dutch quietly turning into genuine dark horses for this competition? Elanga's Math Blunder: A 1-1 draw sees both Japan and Sweden confirm their places in the next round. The funniest moment came from Anthony Elanga, who genuinely thought Sweden were knocked out at the whistle... spoiler alert, Anthony, they weren't! A Bump on the Nose for the USA: Turkey finally show the world what they are actually about, giving the USA a proper bump on the nose on their way out of the tournament with a 3-2 win. It's a timely reminder for Pochettino's men that they absolutely have to stay sharp if they want to go deep. Get In, Australia: A gritty 0-0 draw against Paraguay means the Aussies are officially through to the knockout stages! Well in. They’ve lined up a tie against Egypt next, which promises to be a cracking game. Norway’s Bizarre Rotation: Norway, with qualification already secured, decided to rotate their entire starting eleven against France and got soundly beaten 4-1. I have to ask: isn't the entire point of being at a World Cup having the opportunity to flex your best lineup against one of the greatest sides on the planet? Baffling decision. Senegal Smash Iraq: Pape Gueye hit a couple of eye-catching screamers as Senegal gave themselves every chance of a best third-place berth, dismantling Iraq 5-0. I can confirm their progress was officially locked in a few hours later following the conclusion of the Group G fixtures. Cape Verde’s Glamour Tie: A 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia means Cape Verde's absolute fairytale World Cup dream continues. They have lined up a massive glamour tie against Messi's Argentina in the Round of 32... and honestly, who knows? The way this tournament is going, maybe they could spring a monumental surprise. Bielsa in Meltdown: Spain navigate a tricky 1-0 match against Uruguay to top the group, a result that completely sent Marcelo Bielsa into absolute meltdown on the touchline. Belgium Finally Show Up: A comprehensive 5-1 routing of New Zealand sees the Belgians finally look like a football team, driven by an inspired, top-tier performance from Leandro Trossard. Injury Time Chaos for Iran: High, unadulterated drama between Egypt and Iran. Iran have more than likely secured their place in the Round of 32, but it was pure chaos at the death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Phil and Jack brave the sweltering UK heatwave to bring you a comprehensive update on all things Tottenham Hotspur. We kick off by reflecting on England's stuttering World Cup campaign before diving into Jan Paul van Hecke's outrageous, record-breaking performance for the Netherlands. After smashing tournament statistics for touches and passes, did Spurs pull off a masterstroke by paying a premium to secure him before his value skyrocketed? We then unpack some defensive dilemmas, discussing reports that Cristian Romero is encouraged by Roberto De Zerbi and wants to stay, and what Micky van de Ven's awkward left-back appearances mean for his structural role at Spurs. We also look at the latest on the Sandro Tonali saga following Craig Hope's exclusive update, question whether Newcastle's stubbornness will ultimately break, and analyse the stats behind West Ham's Mateus Fernandes to see if he's the perfect technical engine for our midfield. Finally, we wrap up with thoughts on Martin Dubravka arriving as our new passing goalkeeper. Theme is Ghost Cat by Gillen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices