Rodri and Elliot Anderson: best midfielders at the 2026 World Cup? | What is the point of the Third Place Playoff?
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What did Alex and Simon say about City’s midfield being the best at the 2026 World Cup?
I think City have had the best two midfielders at the tournament. Yeah. So for all the sort of there is a lot of uncertainty around City's midfield and what might happen and they need to sign another player. But they can say they've had the two best midfielders at the World Cup, I think. But I saw people talking about him, oh he could win the Ballon d'Or again and it's like Oh my oh my word, like where's it?
Yeah but I saw people talking about Dan Byrne with a win door, so Yeah.
Uh but it it was it was it was unbelievable. It was like he was an adult in a kid's game and it was a World Cup semi final. He was just so in control.
So there the the fact that we're just mocking it here shows how ridiculous it is. And you've got Touchhalit. The last thing he wants is a third fourth place playoff game. Deschampu, yeah, it's his last game for France. Uh and Bappe, anyone, anybody, uh defy to find anybody apart from FIFA who will make money out of it to think this was a this was and is a good idea. NordVPN cybersecurity built for every day. And just before we get started, a word from our sponsors, NordVPN. To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan, go to Nordvpn.com forward slash talking city. Our link will also give you four extra months on the two-year plan. There's no risk with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee, and the link is in the podcast episode description box.
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Talk in City podcast with myself Alex James and Chief City Writer Simon Bukowski. Simon, good day. Hello. Hello, how are you? I'm okay, how are you? Not too bad, thank you. Battling well not literally battling wildfires, but the wildfires are in the area where I reside. Nice. Uh very much not nice. Not nice. No. No. Um smoky, in fact. Very smoky, yeah. Uh but other than that.
I have no complaints. I would say you've got your health, but you haven't 'cause of the wildfires.
Why do the hosts think the third‑place playoff between England and France is pointless?
So Yeah, don't know anymore. No. The air quality meter. Yeah. The air quality in New York doesn't look very good either. So um didn't need to be at the World Cup final.
No, that's true. And I did go on a air quality website, which didn't know it was a thing until it's been uh broadcast widely. And the air quality in the area where the wildfires are was significantly better than A host of international cities. Toronto, New York, fine, Tokyo. So uh not so not not sure I saw Seo on the list, but I wasn't actively looking for it, but maybe we should I'll do some research. Check that before you go out there. Yeah. The smogometer. Yeah. Um should we start with what should we start with? A bit of the tour or a bit of England? Yeah, should we get England out of the way? Should we get England out of the way?
Yeah, let's get England out of the way. Yeah. Um Which first twenty seconds or whatever, when Elliot Anderson kind of had three battles with Messi and then got punched in the back of the head by Enzo Fernandez, you're like, Oh my word, this is gonna be eventful. Uh and and it was eventful, just kinda not for the right reasons.
Yeah. Um
Slightly surprised Nico O'Reilly didn't start.
Mm.
Yeah. Jed Spencer thought did really well.
Oh, he did, yeah.
But also did the thing that Nico O'Reilly can sometimes do where he kind of does he do he he makes a very good recovery, but it was probably him that messed up in the first place to Yeah, to allow to put the team in that situation, that kind of thing. But um yeah, and then O'Reilly kind of came on, didn't he, and was fighting a losing battle to do anything. Did he I think he was he was responsible for one of England's only like completed passes. Well he came on straight away, didn't he? Pickford's blocked
I think he did he block one and then he sort of half cleared it and chased it himself.
Yeah, like 'cause everyone else was just in the penalty box. Just like, let's wait, let's wait. Um yeah, I was very Very angry at my not my good friend, but um that I've I've gone public in saying how to do that. He's like down there, hasn't he? Yeah. However, on on reflection Uh, I don't think it was all him. I think it was a lot of the team as well, just kind of inherent.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What did Alex and Simon say about City’s midfield being the best at the 2026 World Cup?
0:00–2:11
2
Why do the hosts think the third‑place playoff between England and France is pointless?
2:11–6:35
3
How did the hosts react to England’s semi‑final defeat to Argentina?
6:35–11:19
4
What are the concerns around ticket pricing for the next season?
11:19–16:55
5
How will Manchester City’s new £10‑£7.50‑£5 ticket scheme work for local fans?
16:55–21:46
6
What impact could affordable tickets have on attendance and community spirit?
21:46–28:15
7
What are the hosts’ predictions for City’s squad and preseason after the World Cup?
28:15–28:47
8
How do Alex and Simon wrap up the episode and tease future content?
28:47–28:54
Speakers
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