Quote · The Rest Is Football
England v Argentina & France v Spain - who reaches the final?
Where this was said
Pedri's Inconsistency and the Bigger Picture
At 12:24 · chapter starts 9:30
Amid the praise for Spain's system, Mikel John Obi offers a candid assessment of Pedri: he simply hasn't been the player Spain fans know him to be in this tournament. Joe Cole had been waxing lyrical about Pedri's ball-handling genius, comparing him to Xavi and Iniesta, but Mikel is blunt — it hasn't shown up. Alan Shearer suggests that playing against the very best, where there is more space, might actually bring Pedri back to life. The panel also agrees that the sheer number of one-on-one battles across the pitch — from the midfield duel between Rodri and France's enforcers, to Yamal vs Digne, to Mbappé vs Spain's centre-backs — makes this one of the most compelling semi-finals in recent memory.
The panel splits 2-2 on France vs Spain: Shearer and Cole back France, Mikel and Micah back Spain. Gary, who had tipped Spain to win the tournament, sticks with Spain — but admits he privately wants England.
