Both England and Scotland suffered UEFA Nation's League defeats as their Group A1 future hangs in the balance. With Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and more still missing - we ask how Sarina Wiegman can remedy the recovery from some shaky recent form?
We also look at Scotland under Pedro Martinez Losa - two and a half years into his reign, is it working?
All that plus the reaction to Aitana Bonmati's Ballon d'Or win.
We also look at Scotland under Pedro Martinez Losa - two and a half years into his reign, is it working?
All that plus the reaction to Aitana Bonmati's Ballon d'Or win.
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00:00 Yeah, Bon Marti fanboy, happy with it, delighted, deserved.
00:04 I don't think anyone disagreed with it.
00:06 She has just stepped up another level.
00:09 I think no one wants to see the best players in the world get injured, like PĂ©rez.
00:14 And obviously she had her ACL last year.
00:17 But I think in some ways, if there was any positives from that,
00:20 it was the way that Bon Marti stepped up.
00:22 Her game went up another level, both for Spain and also for Barcelona.
00:26 But for me, she's the best player in the world.
00:29 I've said it for a long time.
00:31 I think that when everyone's fit, she's still the best player in the world.
00:34 Like, there's certain players, it's a real cliche right now,
00:38 I'll probably bash out about four cliches here and throughout the whole episode,
00:40 but there's certain players you would pay to watch.
00:43 And like, I would pay big money to see her play.
00:45 What is it about her play that makes it so special?
00:49 Oh, she's just graceful.
00:51 Like, her range of passing is brilliant.
00:54 The way she finds space, the way she can drive forward,
00:56 the way she can hold back, she can play.
00:58 In my opinion, a four, a six, an eight or a ten,
01:01 she can play anywhere in that midfield.
01:04 Like, she's just...
01:06 Do you know how good players are two steps forward,
01:08 like two steps ahead of the play?
01:10 She's about five every time.
01:12 The best thing I've ever heard in my life,
01:14 I spoke to Hayley Lourdes, Scotland international,
01:18 Glasgow City player,
01:20 about what it was like to play against Bon Marti and Peteas
01:22 when she faced them in the Champions League in, I think, 2018.
01:26 And she described that it was like being inside of a washing machine.
01:29 And I think that describes Bon Marti and Peteas.
01:33 I think they're arguably the world's best two.
01:36 I know Peteas wasn't really involved because of her injury,
01:38 but I couldn't see anyone getting near Peteas.
01:41 And I'd be...
01:41 I haven't looked at, like, the vote and how far ahead she was,
01:46 but, like, if she wasn't clear, I'd be really surprised.
01:49 I think it's really nice for her as well to have that ceremony
01:51 because I was obviously at the one in Monaco.
01:54 And at the time, a lot of it was surrounded by
01:59 you-know-who and his actions at the World Cup final.
02:02 And it kind of felt...
02:04 It was right that it was spoke about,
02:05 but I felt sorry a little bit for Bon Marti
02:07 that it was slightly overshadowed because it was really her moment.
02:10 So it was nice to see that the Ballon d'Or was kind of, like,
02:13 all about her and the season that she's had,
02:15 but fully deserved.
02:16 I mean, an amazing footballer.
02:17 And yeah, you're speaking to a Bon Marti fanboy, as you can probably tell.
02:21 Well, George, of some of the other names in the top five,
02:24 we've got Sam Paroluelo from Barcelona.
02:28 We've got Fridolina Rolfo, also Barcelona.
02:31 And then our very own Mary Erbz.
02:34 Now, we've spoken numerous times on this show
02:38 about how good Mary Erbz is.
02:41 But what does it mean to have a goalkeeper sort of so high up in the mix?
02:45 Well, she's the highest ranked goalkeeper that there's ever been.
02:49 That just says everything.
02:50 Excuse me. I think, you know, the years she's had...
02:52 Sorry, do you know if that's men and women?
02:54 It's just women.
02:57 I mean, you know, obviously it's only been going for a few years.
02:59 So I think the whole firsts are coming thick and fast
03:04 because it's still very early and it's run.
03:07 But yeah, no, I think Mary's just had a...
03:11 This has been her redemption year.
03:14 Well, her redemption season, I think.
03:17 I couldn't have probably...
03:19 I mean, is she going to get higher than that?
03:22 Probably not. I think where she's placed is perfect.
03:25 She deserves that spot because it shows how much she's done.
03:29 But it's unrealistic to think, "Oh, she was going to win the Ballon d'Or."
03:32 Everybody knew it was going to be Bon Marti.
03:35 So yeah, just absolutely fantastic.
03:37 Like, she really, really does deserve it after how much she's...
03:41 I said redemption, you know, she was down and out for England.
03:44 She really was. She was so not in the picture.
03:47 And now she's untouchable.
03:49 It's just the most brilliant little story.
03:52 And she is so inspiring. And she's an absolute laugh.
03:55 If anyone doesn't follow her on TikTok, please, please do.
03:58 Oh, my God, it will absolutely make your day. She's brilliant.
04:01 But I just wanted to touch on Salma Parloelo as well.
04:05 What a year. She's won, like, everything.
04:07 She won treble with Barcelona.
04:10 She won the World Cup.
04:11 And she's up for Golden Girl Award as well.
04:14 And then third in the overall Ballon d'Or.
04:17 Like, what a player.
04:19 Like, Barcelona and Spain are just absolutely dominating right now.
04:22 Like, what a time for the Spanish.
04:24 I mean, everything...
04:25 - And Barcelona as well. - ...has powered, you know?
04:27 I mean, my head, she's been around for ages,
04:28 just because she's sort of a face you see quite a lot.
04:31 - She's 19 years old. - Yeah.
04:33 - I know. - That's crazy.
04:35 It's crazy. And it's so good to see young stars who, as you say,
04:39 you look at them and think, "Oh, this is such a senior player."
04:41 And she's really, really not.
04:43 Like, it just shows the talent that Spain and Barcelona have at the moment.
04:47 It's a very, very frightening time.
04:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]