The JOE World Cup Minipod #4 featuring the rise and rise of Russia, the fall of Mo Salah and Alan Shearer tackling the intellectuals

How far can Russia go?

The team described as possibly the worst hosts in the tournament's history are cruising into the last sixteen. How has this happened and will Vladimir Putin take the credit? For Egypt there was nothing but disappointment. A tournament which promised so much when Mo Salah scored the penalty which qualified them for the competition last October has fizzled into nothing. There was little they could do about it and it had been unravelling from the moment Sergio Ramos pulled Salah to the ground in the Champions League final on May 26th. England, meanwhile, continue to consider the correct reaction to the victory against Tunisia. Are Lineker and Shearer right to try and protect Gareth Southgate's team from a mauling? https://soundcloud.com/user-916195899/4-salahs-misery-russia-on-the-march-and-alan-shearer-tackles-the-intellectuals On episode 4 of the JOE World Cup Minipod, Paddy McKenna and Dion Fanning were joined by JOE.co.uk's Melissa Reddy to discuss Egypt, Mo Salah and the form of African teams in the competition.

• How will Salah feel having watched his dream season come apart at the seams?
• What are the consequences for Liverpool of the way everything has unravelled? This is focused on from minute 10 onward.
• Are Russia the only team in the competition who can stop England?

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