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Pitch Side

BONUS: WORLD CUP CALL IN SHOW! Ep. 1

12 Jun 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What is the World Cup Calling Show about?

0.031 - 15.174 Theo Baker

Welcome everybody to the brand new show on Pinchside called the World Cup Calling Show! And I am joined by Tobes. Hello. Hello, Toby.

0

15.274 - 15.855 Jonah (Caller)

How are we?

0

15.875 - 26.532 Theo Baker

I was watching your TikTok earlier and he's not very excited for the World Cup. I need the World Cup juices flowing. Yeah, I feel like you're... Do you think it's just too close to the end of the season? Is that what it is?

0

26.552 - 30.377 Tobias Baker

We've watched so much football. I'm just like... And it's not been great football either, has it?

0

30.397 - 31.339 Theo Baker

Give us five minutes.

31.379 - 33.362 Tobias Baker

I'm just hoping, yeah, no corners.

33.494 - 42.344 Theo Baker

I think you're going to be shocked because this World Cup is going to be a bit of a snooze fest. But going forward, I'm going to be joined by Callum Fowler most weeks or every week.

Chapter 2: How do the hosts feel about the upcoming World Cup?

42.364 - 66.655 Theo Baker

I don't know because he's a bit flaky. And that's a little Easter egg for you because there might be a new show coming soon with me and Callum Fowler. You're welcome. But for now, we've got Tobe's cult hero on pitch side and back side now. Yeah. But we are going to start the show, Stanley's thought of a brilliant idea for... Football, beer, connect them. What do we get, Tobes?

0

66.996 - 102.029 Theo Baker

We get the beer battle. We're going to pick a game each match week or just each week? Each week. Each week. And the game we've picked this week is... It's Japan against Holland. Oh. Which means we've got Asahi versus Heineken. Whoever wins the beer off, so if we give Heineken a 10 out of 10, but we give Japan an eight out of 10, we will say Heineken win, which means Holland will win.

0

102.69 - 112.54 Theo Baker

But I am gonna give you a little preview. I do prefer Asahi usually. Yeah. And I actually think Japan are gonna beat Holland.

0

112.925 - 114.186 Tobias Baker

Wow, they are dark horses.

0

114.206 - 125.937 Theo Baker

Oh, I think Holland are going to be one of the teams who struggle in the tournament, as well as the Germans. The Europeans ain't going to deal with that heat, bruh. I'm telling you. I kind of looked at Holland's squad, though, the other day.

125.957 - 140.03 Tobias Baker

I was like, this is better than I thought it was. Still relying on Depay up front, though. Yeah, and Gakpo. But Gakpo, World Cup Gakpo, he's actually quite good. As awful as Gakpo is. For some reason, for Holland, he delivers.

140.05 - 143.028 Theo Baker

I don't think Gakpo's awful, by the way. I think that's right.

143.048 - 143.91 Tobias Baker

Oh, for Liverpool? Yeah.

Chapter 3: What unique idea do the hosts introduce for the show?

144.15 - 146.294 Tobias Baker

He's not awful. Oh, I don't know, mate.

0

146.514 - 147.676 Theo Baker

Awful, he's got a nacho.

0

148.678 - 152.724 Tobias Baker

Yeah, but there's different standards, you know what I mean? We're like a 10th place team at the moment.

0

152.784 - 155.469 Theo Baker

Okay, right. So, let's kick it off. Oh, shit.

0

155.489 - 156.451 Tobias Baker

I can't remember which one was which.

160.557 - 160.958 Theo Baker

Fuck's sake.

161.299 - 162.921 Tobias Baker

To be fair, you can VAR on cameras.

163.262 - 168.21 Theo Baker

That's the Asahi, because I've just poured it. Right, start with the Heineken.

172.223 - 173.104 Tobias Baker

It's nice. It's cold.

Chapter 4: What are the hosts' predictions for the Japan vs. Holland match?

206.783 - 211.129 Tobias Baker

But it's like it's a crime when you go, I don't think he does that much.

0

211.57 - 220.104 Theo Baker

Do you know what really makes me laugh? Anyone I have a debate with or talk to, they go, but he's Jude Bellingham. That's the argument. What the fuck does that mean?

0

220.184 - 223.71 Tobias Baker

They go, he plays for Real Madrid. You go, the worst Real Madrid I've probably seen in my life.

0

223.73 - 227.155 Theo Baker

So did Thomas Graveson. I wouldn't play him over Declan Rice.

0

227.135 - 231.009 Tobias Baker

Woodgate. Woodgate didn't start for England when he was around Madrid.

231.029 - 236.31 Theo Baker

Owen was at the end of his career when he went to... Well, kind of at the end, but... Yeah, that's a bad example because he was starting.

236.631 - 247.665 Tobias Baker

Either way, like him being at Real Madrid doesn't determine whether he starts. And not only that, when you watch, you watch these Real Madrid sides, like Arsenal battered them and he didn't do anything. Yeah, yeah. They went out with a wimpy. Who did they go out to a wimpy with this year? Who did? Real Madrid.

248.025 - 256.315 Theo Baker

Madrid lost to Bayern. You didn't see dude. No, yeah. And that's the thing, but he's a big moments player. No, he had a moment.

256.696 - 258.458 Tobias Baker

One. He had a moment.

Chapter 5: What are the thoughts on Jude Bellingham's role in the England squad?

463.366 - 469.513 Theo Baker

Obviously, he comes up with that moment. But other than that, he was one of our worst players, I thought, over the tournament. I thought the World Cup, he was good.

0

469.493 - 491.839 Tobias Baker

2022 yeah we're going back a few years now is that season at Real Madrid that season at Real Madrid that was three years ago and Rodgers has done it this year yeah I think they're very similar don't get me wrong Rodgers has had a great season um played more games he's playing for a better team Rodgers even like are we still pretending Real Madrid are better than Villa

0

492.562 - 497.109 Tobias Baker

Villa are European champions, man. You've got Real Madrid going out every year.

0

497.149 - 503.098

That is true. I don't want to start on that one. What have Madrid won this year? I am a Birmingham fan, so obviously I've got a bit more on Drew Bellingham.

0

503.118 - 506.803 Killian (Caller)

Oh, now we're getting to the nooks and crannies of it.

506.823 - 526.861

Come on, I'll take the bias off. I'll put an England hat on. I mean, a lot of pressure on Rodgers throwing him into a World Cup, expecting him to perform off the back of a good season. I mean, I still think Drew Bellingham has had a good season. No, he hasn't. I've got to come with some facts to back up my opinion. What's he done this season?

526.901 - 536.114

If you look at the stats per night for Bellingham versus Rodgers... He outperforms him on every metric, goals... What's he done this season?

536.134 - 539.098 Theo Baker

What about screeners? What's he done this season?

539.118 - 558.023

What about screeners per year? Talking about someone who's got to play a role in this system, and, you know, OK, Kane's not going to drop off all the time, and a strong attribute of Rodgers, he's probably his strongest, is driving with the ball. I know Kane's not going to drop forward all the time, but if you take that away from him,

Chapter 6: How do the hosts view the England vs. other teams' chances?

968.825 - 980.657 Theo Baker

I just, yeah, I think you need to put some respect. It's our sport, by the way. You speak in our language. Have some fucking respect. All right. Just because you'll stay. By the way, what happens if it rains? I have no roofs.

0

981.16 - 984.987 Tobias Baker

Well, last year at the Club World Cup, there was a two-hour delay in one of our games.

0

985.207 - 997.871 Theo Baker

That used to happen when I played. It's raining and there's a thunderstorm. No, no, no. Every time there's lightning, you have to wait half an hour. And if you get to the 29th minute and there's another one, you have to wait another half hour. Anyway, we're going to get a caller in. Who have you got for me, Stan?

0

998.311 - 1001.297

We've got an American. Oh, yo, rat!

0

1001.317 - 1002.9 Theo Baker

Yo, buddy.

1002.92 - 1003

Hey!

1005.308 - 1012.422 Theo Baker

What's up, Jonah? Welcome to The Calling Show, buddy. Yo, my dog. What's up, dude? Yeah, bro. Where you from, mate?

1012.442 - 1013.183 Jonah (Caller)

I'm from New York.

1013.384 - 1019.115 Theo Baker

New York. Are you from New York City or upstate New York? I feel like you're upstate because otherwise you would have said Manhattan.

Chapter 7: What are the dark horse teams for the World Cup?

1624.319 - 1625.661 Tobias Baker

Germany are always there or thereabouts.

0

1625.681 - 1626.883 Theo Baker

They're actually my flopper, the tournament.

0

1626.903 - 1630.227 Tobias Baker

I mean, they weren't in the last two World Cup. They're always there or thereabouts.

0

1630.207 - 1655.503 Theo Baker

They haven't got the easiest of groups, but... Anyway, we're going to head to the phone lines now and see who we have and see who they think is going to be the World Cup top scorer. Who have we got? Stanley. Right, Sid Stout, welcome to the show. You're joined by me and Tobes. Right, World Cup golden boot. Tell me your thoughts, buddy.

0

1656.584 - 1659.542

Right. I think it's going to be MbappƩ again.

1660.103 - 1661.785 Theo Baker

Oh, boring.

1661.825 - 1675.081

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Boring. I'm not finished. I'm not finished. Come on, then. I think MbappƩ to win the Golden Boot. And I think MbappƩ will be... France will win the World Cup. And then MbappƩ will be the best World Cup player of all time. And then he'll be in top five players of all time.

1675.101 - 1700.814 Theo Baker

Fucking boring. You've really called... You've called in to say one of the best players in the world in the best team is going to be top scorer. Is that really what you called in to say? He'll get over 10, mate. Over 10 goals? He's not going to get 10 goals, is he? 10? He's going to stat pad, mate. He's going to get over 10. Who's he going to stat pad against?

1701.475 - 1706.221

Over 10 would be like... He's going to stat pad against Morocco and Scotland. And he'll get about four against Haiti.

Chapter 8: Who do the hosts predict will win the World Cup?

2569.484 - 2588.524 Theo Baker

They would, mate. So, okay then. Okay, I'll be generous. Let's say you draw against Haiti because I think... Third can get you through now, can't it? Also, just to let you know, Haiti are ranked 83 in the world. The last time you played... Yeah, the last time you played someone of that ilk, you actually lost...

0

2590.192 - 2594.438 Tobias Baker

The thing is, if they get a draw against Haiti, though, all they have to do is kick the scoredowns against Brazil and Morocco.

0

2594.478 - 2599.084 Theo Baker

Yeah. Can I ask you a question? Do you reckon you could beat England?

0

2602.048 - 2602.648 Nathan (Caller)

I don't, no.

0

2603.249 - 2605.793 Theo Baker

Good boy. Good boy.

2606.373 - 2611.44 Nathan (Caller)

I'm realistic. I'm just hopeful with the... Yeah, but we can all hope, mate.

2611.46 - 2615.946 Theo Baker

I'm hopeful England will win it, but if we come up against Spain, we're going to get absolutely slapped across the park, aren't we?

2617.293 - 2618.254 Nathan (Caller)

Yeah, likely.

2618.274 - 2626.102 Theo Baker

But I also am just having a very biased on Scotland. Ah, well, do you know what, Cillian? I respect it. So, where do you think Scotland are going to get to?

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