World Cup review
I think it has been a really good World Cup
I think it's been a really good World Cup. I was a tad worried in terms of the lack of quality in the early parts of the competition, but there's some great stories that have come out of it and Cape Verde have been one of them. I mean, not losing to Spain and Argentina over 90 minutes was incredible for them. That was a great success story, and it's had some great moments.
Clearly the travelling has been an issue. The heat hasn't been an issue as much as we thought it was going to be. I haven't liked the hydration breaks at all. We know why they were brought in. Some of the refereeing decisions and VAR decisions were baffling to me as we knew they would be. But in general, I think it's been a good World Cup.
Final weekend
World Cup Final prediction - Spain v Argentina
Honestly, I think it's such a difficult one to predict. If I was to talk about Spain, I would say, the way they played against France in the semi-finals they were outstanding. Bear in mind, it's the same Spain that in their first game of the tournament, they couldn't beat Cape Verde. But they got beaten off Switzerland in 2010 when they won it as well. I wouldn't be worried about Spain and that performance then. So, they're a great team. The way they manage and keep the ball is unbelievable.
But then you look at Argentina and think they've been in some really sticky situations. They were 2-0 down to Egypt and 1-0 down against England and they just come back and there's just something about them that you have to admire, whether you like them or not, you've got to admire how gutsy they are. And when Lionel Messi i in your team, you've always got a chance. I'm just going to say Argentina just because of how gutsy they are.
Third placed play-off prediction - France v England
I'm just going to stick with what I've said about France. I think up top, I think they'll cause any team problems. They didn't against Spain and the way Spain managed that was the best I've seen for a while in terms of performance and keeping the ball. I'm not sure whether England will be able to do that. I think with the attitude and how hurt England will be, I'll probably say France win it.
The third placed play-off game is absolute nonsense and should be scrapped
The third placed play-off at the World Cup is ridiculous. FIFA go on so much about player welfare yet they're making two teams that are out of the tournament travel to Miami to play in 37, 38 degrees heat for a third-place playoff. It's absolute nonsense.
The players should be on their way home, if not home now and already and on a holiday rather than hanging around for another three or four days to play in a meaningless game, which is only there to make more money.
It's utter nonsense. People say it's a chance to finish third in the world. No, let me tell you, all the players want to do now is get off on holiday and get away from the tournament. They're knocked out and they're not going to look back in 20 years' time and say, we were proud finishing third or fourth.
It's nonsense for both France and England. We all know what this game is about unfortunately and it should be scrapped.
Lionel Messi has been the player of the 2026 World Cup
It has to be Messi. At 39 years of age, sat joint-top of the Golden boot charts with most goals, and most assists, dragged Argentina back into the game the other night with an incredible cross. I just think he actually defies logic really with what he's doing at 39 years of age, and he's been doing it for God knows how long. So, for me, it has to be Lionel Messi.
If he helps Argentina retain the World Cup I think he will win his ninth Ballon d'Or. If they win the World Cup and he plays a major part in it then without a doubt he is hard to look past.
Germany were the flop of the 2026 World Cup, they were hopeless
For the flop of the World Cup I'm going to give you two, starting with Germany who I thought were hopeless. I did two or three of their games and on both occasions they were hopeless. They were terrible against Paraguay when Paraguay knocked them out. So, Germany for me, he's got big job on his hands has Jurgen Klopp.
And also, you can say Tunisia, they got pumped three, four and five! And they lost the manager after the first game as well. Germany and Tunisia were the flops of the tournament.
Team of the Tournament
My team of the 2026 World Cup
Goalkeeper - Vozinha (Cape Verde)
I think that was a great story. Some of the saves he pulled off in that Spain game and I think it was a great story. I know I should probably put Simon in there from Spain because he'd only conceded one goal. But I'm going to put the whole of the Spain back four in there instead. So it'd be hard to put the goalkeeper in there as well. So, Vozinho gets the nod in goal.
Defenders - Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, and Marc Cucurella (all Spain)
They've conceded one goal all tournament up to the final. I just think that's incredible, I was going to put Hakimi in at right back instead of Porro. But that's incredible to play that number of games at this level and in these conditions and just concede one goal. So that's why I'm going to put the whole of the Spain back four in.
Midfield - Rodri (Spain), Jude Bellingham (England), Enzo Fernandez (Argentina)
Rodri's going in there as well. I think he's without doubt back to his best. He's been outstanding this tournament. Jude Bellingham, I'm going to have in there. He was England's go-to player, I think he was incredible as well. Enzo Fernández more than played his part for Argentina as well with two big goals late on in the tournament.
Forwards - Lionel Messi (Argentina), Erling Haaland (Norway), Kylian Mbappe (France)
Messi in the 10-role, how can you not have him in? And then Haaland and Mbappé and they speak for themselves with their goals at the tournament.