WORLD CUP Bonus Episode: The Round of Sixteen

This episode is brought to you by Fabriz and we're coming to you from the official Fabriz-sponsored boot room, which, if you know anything about soccer, is usually the last place you want to hang out. This is what now, with Trevinoa, in the infamous words of Elling Harland, well, well, well. What a week. Welcome to the podcast, Joe. And welcome to a crazy week of Knockout Football. We have so many things to get to in this episode. We got to talk about the results, we got to talk about Brazil, we got to talk about the Netherlands, we got to talk about Germany, we got to talk about Norway, we've got to talk about France, we got to talk about Mexico and England, we got to talk about Belgium and the USA, we've got to talk about who else, who else do we have to talk about Argentina and Cape Verde, and we have to talk about France and Paraguay. But let's kick this off with the freshest news. You know, they say that football, what makes football such a beautiful game is that it can bring out sides of people we didn't know existed. Who would have thought Team USA would have Donald Trump fighting for a birthright citizen? Huh? Yes. Who would have thought? I mean, we've seen some pretty crazy decisions in a World Cup. I don't think since what was it like, Garincha, we've seen a decision overruled like this. Team USA player getting a red card, Balagun, Florian, Florian, Balagun, which shouldn't have been. Yes. We all agree on that. He was had done by. What? The World Cup has never cared about what should have or shouldn't have been. The punishment is doled out, you take it, you got to deal with the punishment, you got to deal with the effects, and it turns out if your president is Donald Trump and if your country is the United States and if Infantinos in charge, anything is possible. The impossible is possible, my friend. It's usually like an African parent. Once you've gotten the punishment, you get the punishment, you can't go like, oh, but can I appear, but mom, you see, no, no, no, you get, and then you can't talk afterwards. But yeah, what happened with Florian, so we all agreed had done by but political interference into the judicial system of FIFA, FIFA number comes and takes over your judiciary, not just for boarding decisions, but everything from copyright and all this. And so this was, it's the thing you said. You haven't seen like a country, haven't seen a host country lean on FIFA like this. Since 1978, when the dictatorship in Argentina hosted the World Cup, because even people still say actually, Holland or the Dutch, led by the famous Johann Christ, should have won that final. Yeah. But they didn't because apparently the dictatorship made sure they needed that win. They leaned on everyone from FIFA down to the referee. That's why people say the first World Cup won by Argentina was very tainted. I wonder what this does for the conversation around the game. So if you're a team USA fan, it's great. Yes. I'm happy because I think the red card itself was trash. Yes. You're saying justice has been served. Yeah. But then like the way that justice has been served isn't my favorite. You know what it feels like to me. It's almost in many ways like the real justice system where the rich, powerful kid got off with the crime. But if it was a kid from like a developing nation, a kid who was struggling, they wouldn't have gotten off with this. Yeah. They wouldn't have gotten away with it because I would, I've always said, I would love for FIFA to go over its rulings because the World Cup has so few games that they should be able to look at a ruling during the match and say, you know what? That decision actually, maybe that was a little harsh. Maybe that decision was wrong. Maybe that decision. I don't think that decisions should be set in stone like like no. Yes. Okay. Two things. So for me, I don't mind that they did it with pelagon, but I wish they would do it with other games as well. So for me, two things. One, first of all, FIFA has always insisted that the referees decision is sacrosanth. It's sacrosanth. It can be messed with. It stands as it stands because FIFA has always been very big at empowering the referees. The referees knowing that are the units final. So that's disappointing from that end. Another reason is FIFA has always insisted that politics and football should be separate. If actually, if you're, I think they recently banned one country, I don't quite remember. It wasn't quite one of the countries. If your government interferes with the FA of your country, FIFA bans you immediately automatically. Because they want the government to not interfere in the running of football in any country. So again, this is pointing on that front, but also third and most importantly, I went to law school. I didn't pick up much. But one thing I picked up was just this cannot just be served. Just this needs to be seen to be served. So you can't just make a decision that just it has to be seen. So in this case, if you're again, as I said, if you're maybe Ghana, or if you're a small emerging African country, or if you're Asia, you're going to call. So just because you don't have the clout, pulling on Jan in fatino, we can't get decisions with us. It's very, very disappointing. You see the Belgian football federation put out a post online. They responded. And but all they did was they responded with the rules because they're very petty. Yeah. I know. So very very Belgian. Yes. Very Belgian. All they did was respond and say, per the rules, regardless of whether FIFA suspends or does one much, one match ban has to be served for a red card minimum. The player has to miss the next match. Yes. Yes. That is the rule. And they cannot change that. And so like FIFA now, FIFA, it's, it almost feels like FIFA has invented a rule. Yes. Just for the scenario, they've gone, we haven't overridden the ref. But we've overridden the, yes. We've overridden the effect of the rest of the judges, which is, for all intents and purposes. This is the punishment of the ref. And I'll say this. You know what I mean? Because football has a very cruel and twisted sense of humor. Balogun is going to score in his next game. He might score the winner against Belgium. And now you're going, you know, you know, when you watch games and the player, we're supposed to have gotten a red card. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And they stay in the game. Football has such a twisted sense of humor that might happen. Very disappointing. But, but not unexpected because we've seen throughout this process. Normally, FIFA is very independent. Yeah. Throughout this process, the Somali referee, the way they treated the Iranian delegation, the visas, they kept denying fans from Africa or from some smaller countries, we've seen that the US has consistently, consistently thrown its weight around. It has consistently bullied FIFA into accepting its decisions. And so for me, when I watch Gianni in Fantino at the press conference, when they asked him and he embarrassed by how much you bent over backwards. The Trump administration when I watch them go like, yeah, you know, FIFA really cannot be in charge of the immigration system. I want like, Gianni, are you kidding me? You always take over the immigration system of the country that's hosting. You did it with Qatar. When you invented the higher cards, we'll just come in if they had the higher card. You did it with Russia. When you invented the fan pass where fans, if so long as they had the ticket, they could just match straight into Russia. So for me, it's been, people say FIFA is always disappointing. So the bar is on the C-floor, but they've managed to somehow dig under and they are going under the bar. Very disappointing. Not unexpected. Very surprising. But, you know, as I told you, I see Balogon squaring against Belgium and that's just going to add now fewer to the fire. It's really enough to leave you speechless. It really is. Here's what it is for me. I don't expect them to not make certain decisions. I just would have hoped that they would find a way to make the ruling seem a little bit more equally distributed. I would have liked it if FIFA had just put their thumb on the scale for a few more decisions in this World Cup. I would say this. Then we would go, there's a trend, you know, but look, all it seems like to me is we've realized that FIFA's real motivation or rather their weakness is not the power of the country that's hosting the tournament. It's the power of the market that the country has. Oh, interesting. Okay. Because if you think about it, you have, FIFA will host its tournament anywhere. Brazil, France, you know, yeah, South Africa, you name it. There's only one nation in the world where football is like nowhere in terms of like market share. Right? And it's the United States. The United States is one of the biggest markets in the world. Look at how much NFL players earn. Look at how much NBA stars earn. Best ball. They are shocked when they see the followings that football players have in the world. Like whenever an American athlete sees how popular and how big a footballer is worldwide, they're shocked when they realize sometimes they're earning three times their money. No, not just sports players, not just sports or ball players. Everyone, I remember when there was the whole fight about who is bigger, Taylor Swift or Messi or Ronaldo. Yeah. Who is bigger? Beyonce. Beyonce fans were shocked when people are posting like Instagram followers for Ronaldo. They were like, oh my god. Yeah. So it's that. I think I want to say, though. kakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakak No, just the United States. Ok, no, you're right. You get what I'm saying? That's exactly what they do at the UN, right? At the UN, if you're not one of the major countries, you can veto any bill that another country, or another, you know, whatever motion another country wishes to pass us. It's up to you. But you're saying when it comes to football, but you got it. Yes. What I'm saying is, we make it seem like FIFA, like the US leaned on FIFA. I think, I think people are making it seem like FIFA bowed to the US. And I argue Donald Trump and Infantino, they just could proclaim, they've gone, this works for both of us. Interesting. Let's keep it going. Trump is going, keep America and it's fans happy. Infantino is going, yeah, I actually do want America to stay happy, because America has paid so much money. How many ads is Christian Policician? Oh, my God. I think about, think about how much money I think is between him and David Beckham. Yeah, David Beckham. Oh, my God, it starts in the morning, it's like coffee and breakfast. He works you up. And then in the middle of the day, it's like Bank of America and Home Depot. And then by the end of the day, it was like Lenovo A.I. And and Stella R 12 every block, yes, every block has David. You should do it. David Beckham's playing now, by the way, with how popular it is. Like, I've never seen anything like it. But Christian Pulasis is not the one, and Team USA is another one. Like, if you think of the value and like, how much this is worth, not just in money now, but like in value of the game, think about the MLS. Like, if we think of this in isolation, I think we can miss the forest from the trees. The longer messy stays in the World Cup, the better it is for the MLS. That's true. The longer the Mexican players stay in the World Cup, the better it is for the MLS. Yes. The longer any of these teams in the, the longer team USA stays in the World Cup, although they have eight players from Europe, they've also got other players, but now they can say the world, they went into the whatever stage of the World Cup player, the world, it adds value to the MLS. So that adds like, it's that, what is it, rising tides? Yeah. Or both. So if you think of the value, this is adding to the US, I can see it from everybody's point of view. In Gianni and Pantino's going, I can't let this thing, I can't let this thing cock block all the money out of me. It's sent to your point that you're saying because yesterday I was watching, I was watching Morocco. I made a mistake. I made a mistake. Sorry, I apologize. I made a mistake of watching the Morocco versus Canada game on Fox and Morocco squad. And the comment, I went like, Morocco takes the lead on this fourth of July, holiday. And I went like, what? What does fourth of July have to do with Morocco at all? That's the thing I say is the thing you're saying that it's, it's more profitable to see everything through the prism of the US. Yes. It's actually funny. If I was to bet, I would have said that Canada will get knocked out first of all the host nations. Oh, okay. They would have been stuportoned. They were the first ones. Because they just, they just seemed like, I know it's a stereotype, but like the most polite to host nation in a way, because I don't know if you, if you've seen, like by the time this episode comes out, England will have played Mexico, but you see what they're, we're stepping it right before. Right. You see what the Mexico fans were doing outside the England team hotel, classic, shooting fireworks, classic playing music, screaming at them in the lobby, trying to ensure that they don't sleep. Just like we just don't want you to sleep. It was crazy because I've seen European clubs do that, club fans, but I've never seen a country do that. It was country. So what happened? Actually, it was England booked 15 hotels to throw them out, which is pointless to throw them off. They went like, we don't want them to stay. Yes. But then remember the hotel that they booked in, I feel like the hotel manager had a patriotic duty to snitch, but you don't even, you don't even need to switch to snitch. If you've been to a World Cup, you know, every single team moves around, like a, like a diplomatic delegation. Yes. It's hard to sneak around with you. We've got a giant bus written in England on it. And also with the lead cars. With like police cars, then like, oh, I wonder which hotel there is that the one that has a giant bus with police, police escort or is it the hotel where nobody's there? Yes. Where do you think England is staying? Yes. No, the Mexican fans have really brought it because they spent, I don't think any English player slept a wink, unless you're one of those players who can sleep through like the apocalypse. Amen. It was insane outside the hotel. Yes. You should see the videos. It's insane. Whew. If we look at some of the results, Germany, since we last recorded an episode, knocked out. And you know what? For me, it's the full, it's the full sentence, not just knocked out by Paraguay. Knocked out in penalties. Get out of this. The most and German like where to go out. Yes. I'll say this. We both did favor Germany for that match up, but we both also did say German was in transition. Germany was having an identity crisis. And for me when I watched that game, especially the penalty shootout, I couldn't believe this was Germany, because you saw the videos that came out afterwards, Joshua Kimmich trying and begging and. Yeah, begging players to take the kick. With Leon Goretska, who has won a Champions League, has almost 80 cups, begging him to take a penalty. He refused. So you're not going to have to step up, take this for so long, but here's my question. Maybe I don't know when the game changed this. When I first started watching football, penalty takers were decided before game started. That's right. You're very right. So the coach, long before the game started, literally they knew that this is fast-fast. They knew that this is fast-fast. They knew coming into the game. The way I understand football, a coach knows who's going to kick. By the way, he penalties even in the match. No one should discuss anything. They go, "First kicker is this one. Second kicker might be this one. Third kicker." They know that Skona kicks out. If we have three penalties in a match, this is going to be the order. And then when we go to a shootout, this is the order. So to me, I couldn't believe that the German captain was begging his plate. The man looked like he was selling goods in a flea market. Oh my God. I thought you were going to say he looked like a guy. You know those activists handing out flyers at the subway? It was worse. Greenpeace. Yeah, but it was just like, no, but they at least the people have the power. People have the idea with you. Yes. The man was begging people to say, "Please buy the plebe." I'll tell you what happened. I'll tell you what I think happened. So I think this is what happened. I think Germany beat like us. I think they thought this wouldn't go to penalties, which is very irresponsible and very and German, because of the plan. You have to plan for it. You've got to plan for everything. But also, I grew up with a German team. I told you this. The current generation of German players are what I call and you laughed, but I called them "walk footballers." They are too soft and too pretty for their own goods. So when I was going up, you remember Clizman, Oliver Biahoff, Woodvorah, when I watched Euro 96 against England. The semi-finals. German penalty. They played. German penalty. Wembley. German penalty. Stonkortkiras. They scored five out of five. Stefan Rauter. Thomas Stranz. Who are the others? You don't even have to go over that far back. Andreas Morena. Christian Ziggert. You don't even have to go that far back. Miros love Closet, Thomas Müller. Kiraz. Mario Gomez. You need to ask those guys who's like a penalty. Who did you want to face with those? No, but I'm saying, back then, because again, I remember that team Christian Ziggert and Andreas Morena scored the winning penalty against England at a packed Wembley when everyone was singing. It's coming home. And you know what he did? He strutted around like a peacock. Backed Wembley. This guy had no fear. And so I'm saying back then, you don't even have to ask the Germans who's going to take a penalty. All of them would be volunteering. All of them would be putting their hands up. What do you, what do you think's happened? What happened? No, no, no, no. In general, what has happened to penalty takers, like, or penalty taking? Is it that, like, cause I wrestle with this. I'm like, have players become, like, I was really trying to break this down. And I was like, is this, is this the, is this like the Roberto Bagel effect? Is this like a second system effect? When I grew up at a time when Roberto Bagel was widely considered the best footballer in the world when he was playing, right? Incredible play. He was the best. He was a number 10. He ruled the game. Every kid was going to grow their hand to a ponytail. To define ponytail, yes. Yeah. To try and match him. He goes to the final. Drags Italy. That's crazy. Drags Italy to the final. From the final, yes. And in the final, it's a penalty shootout. And he has to kick the final kick against Brazil. And he's fun enough. It was in '94. Yeah. And he boots that ball, skies into the sky's up into the sky. He kicks that. He misses that penalty so badly that his name is essentially forgotten. He became a by what? From the, from the, like, you know, the holes of fame. No one really speaks about him. If you talk to any footballer, any people today, when you talk about football, they're like, oh, the guy, yeah. When you say budget, they're like, if they know him, they go, the guy was kind of, or they don't talk about him at all, which is pretty crazy. And his career just appeared pretty much after that. He did, he did redeem himself in '98 because he scored a penalty in '98. Yeah. And then they used him in the John Walker ad, or the making up for it. Yeah. Maybe that's a deep cut for it. So, everybody, they're going to keep walking, given you. Yeah. But I mean, I think that's a deep cut for it. But what I'm saying is though, like, I wonder if that moment lived in the heads of so many players that the, that generation when they got to an age where they were now Now playing the game. They went the worst thing you can do is miss is miss a penalty because for instance Let's even look recently Gabrielle Martinelli He has not lived that penalty down. Not him personally born. I mean is if you go online the amount of like memes and joke that you think My gut is of arsenal Gabrielle not much in any like Gabrielle of Arsenal. Yes, not much in any Gabrielle from Arsenal He misses that that that penalty in the Champions League final against PSC right skies. It's If you go online now, they still those jumps you know those jump memes where they they make it seem like it's something else And then all of a sudden it's him missing it. He's become the missing guy in that way, you know what I mean? I almost feel like Players would rather let the goalkeeper take the trophy Than to be the player who missed it because if you because if you let the goalkeeper save it No one remembers you as the kicker. But if you miss it. Oh, yeah, yeah, no one forgets you a kicker No, but I'll say this. I don't understand why players don't step up personally Because when I played and I didn't play to that level, but when I played I used to have this mentality of if someone is going to make the team sad By missing it would rather be me Ronaldo has that attitude. It would rather be me because do you remember them penalty shootouts? When he when he did when you go when he went and fetched guys off the bench not off the bench, but off the sideline And he said come and kick and he chose I think it was never I think it was Rubin Neves. No, no, I chose him to take the first kick like the first kick and he said Rubin come kick and Rubin said no No, and Ronaldo said hey, and then he looked at him. He said hey You kick really amazingly. He said this all in Portuguese like you're an amazing kicker come and kick that ball He said if you miss you miss it doesn't matter But go out there be brave kick the ball and I was really it was amazing to see like that Cristiano Ronaldo said this So you saw that actually I think he has learned from his lesson because Ronaldo I think three times in his career now I've seen him want to take the fifth penalty and he didn't reach there. Yeah, yeah And his team lost because he was waiting messy always takes the first penalty Miss or not miss already he always takes the first penalty. Oh, that's interesting because you need to set the tone So me when I was playing and again, I didn't play at high level. I used to go like Outro the miss then Trevor misses and then I spend the whole night going like oh, maybe if I take in yeah, yeah, the regret thing So for me, I'll rather you step up because now Leon Goretska yeah will keep asking himself Maybe if I take it instead of Junotanta instead of Junotanta maybe so I don't like maybe step up Staying in the world of penalties Why are the Dutch so bad at penalties? And what I mean by this is like this is not the first world cup with the Netherlands has got to knock out in penalties Like what is it about penalties that the Dutch are they just unlucky? Are they are they is it not something that is I don't get it like we can go back in time. Yes, they're not 98 Against Brazil. They lost in 2000 and yeah, they're not like yeah, Katar against Argentina There is I think it's a national for me and I was surprised by Germany because I think penalties have a national character touch to them Their teams who are killers when it comes to the longest time Germany war and England suck that penalties for the longest time So I I don't know whether that I was surprised that Van Dyke didn't step up Everyone he has missed penalties. Yes, Messi has missed more you you always joke about this. Yeah, I'm always so me Messi needs to work on penalties. Yeah, but Messi still steps up every time he does he does Van Dyke as a leader you need to step up. Why is Bruno Himmari taking a penalty? I still don't get that man. Why I don't know what Brazil Vinnie you on the pitch you are the leader step up. Take a penalty. Yeah, man. So they've done already stepped up As a leader but now but now we were watching this game together Brazil versus Norway I didn't see a moment where there was confusion. It didn't seem like Vinnie didn't step up But he was like he was they holding the ball. You're right. It almost seems like Bruno Himmari was like no, I'm supposed to kick this He was a designated. Yeah, you're right And then again, maybe I don't know things, but in my head. I don't I just don't understand why your striker is not kicking the penalty You're right. You're right. Like for me, I just feel like a player A forward who spends more time kicking a ball in a box Into yes, is the player I would choose to kick it. You're very right. That's why I would bulge him You could even see there was like so much tension when two lemons took the ball. Yes, and said I'm kicking it people around him Like what are you doing? And he's a great so only so when I was playing and this is how we used to look at it and I grew with you when I was playing The most technical players the technicians. Yeah, at the ones who should take penalties fast. So the strikers Then you come down to the defend to the midfielders and then defend us and then keep a last. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So when you say so many defenders stepping up There's a problem with that team because technicians can pass the ball into the neck Technicians spend the whole time trying to pass the ball into the net and defender What do they spend most of that time doing? Yeah, they kick the ball as far as they can and as high as they can trying to not put the body We saw the we saw the Australian kid do that the 18-year-old stepped up. He's told. No, but we even saw the first guy do that as well Yeah, we saw him great game. He was he also booted it out. I don't understand. He got me on my get-es-deed. That's what he called it these days. You see he's got real these We're coming to you from a boot room sponsored by for breeze which if you know anything about soccer is usually the last place You'd want to hang out because this is where all the gear lives the cleats the jerseys the socks the bags Everything that probably never sees a washing machine until it's too late But right now it actually smells Fresh in here. That's because for breeze fabric is built for exactly this kind of odour the stuff trapped in fabrics That you can't just throw in the wash. It doesn't just cover it up. It actually fights the odour And I have to say this is one of the more confident sponsorships I've ever seen Usually brands want to put their names on the nicest room in the building the VIP lounge the luxury suite the hospitality area For breeze looked at the boot room and said no no no put us in there and honestly I respect that Because this room contains decades of bad decisions wet cleats Forgotten gym bags socks that should have retired years ago The kind of smells that don't just enter a room. They sign a long-term lease And yet somehow it smells fresh. Yeah, can you smell that Joe? Smet what exactly That's what is so impressive about this because a lot of the things in here exactly the things that you can't throw in the wash None of it the cleats the bag the car seat after practice That's the whole point for breeze fabric is for the things the game touches that the washing machine can't and it's made with no dyes No, uh for melda hides and uses a 100% natural nitrogen propellant If your soccer gear is starting to smell like it's own locker room. It's time for for breeze fabric It doesn't just mask the odours It fights them Fine for breeze fabric at Walmart Let's talk about Brazil Is it is it is it over for Brazil? I think Brazil like like in this moment in time and the reason I asked the question is And you can you can ask any if you have like but like why do you think it's over? No, no, I'm asking I'm not saying it's it's over what I'm saying is this is the first time I've seen Brazil Where I don't know who's next I don't know who's in the pipeline. I don't have an obvious like idea of where Brazil's next generation is gonna come from I'm not worried about the next generation. Yeah, I'm not worried. They have Hendrick they have a step out I think if a step out was in this world cup He would have added a dimension to their attack that they were missing. Yeah, but what about the midfield? Are the midfield is aging the midfield is feeling there where's the way feeling killing there where's the new midfield is killing The brazilas never though. What about the wind back? I'll say this. Okay. I'll say this I think I think you you know, you know, you know, you know, Brazil right now I was a brazil has never really rely relied on having the flashiest defensive midfielders Clebas on and global silver Hope brazil win the two thousand two-out cup because they had run out in you so what they need is that guy in the hole Packet I can't be your guy and today because packet I was out who they who did they play there? You can't play matinee in the hole. He doesn't have the vision. Yeah. He doesn't have the balance Matinee is a wing guy. He can't play in the hole in the hole in the certain finesse a certain vision Special awareness. He doesn't have that so they're missing that player there They were able to win the world cup in 2002 because they had Clebas on who was Good, but not spectacular they had to battle silver, but ahead of them they had Ranardinho Revaldo and Aaron line phenomenal. That's so they need a guy in the hole Yeah, but who do they have as their wing backs? They're also missing because they produce colors and careful and but that's what I'm trying to say That's what I'm saying if you if we look at brazil's game. Yes, if we look at brazil as we know it as a team Yes, they've not focused on defense, but the wing backs They've created the most legendary wingbacks. They'll kill you. Yes, they've created the most legendary wingers And they've created the most legendary forwards or attackers. That's how they have won the five. Yes, the five stars on their now I don't know any Brazilian wingbacks who are playing Danilo 600-year-old Danilo at this point in time. It's 600 years old. It should be in a nation. It should be in a nursing home. Oh, man You're very right. 600-year-old Danilo. You're very right. They can't do that. Give us make-on. Yes. But give us Danny Alves that give us careful That give us Roberto Carlos to go back in time that give us Carlos Albato. Yeah, man. He's now playing Danilo It's a damning indictment on Brazil. Yeah, but you know what we also got to talk about is the other side of the coin. No way I quote, I frankly, I called it and I know it sounded crazy when I said, no, I would win. But no, I knew no, I would win because one, no, it didn't sound crazy though. But Joe, but Joe didn't know, but let's be honest, it didn't sound crazy. Okay. If anyone who knew football, it didn't sound crazy. But what sounded crazy was the idea that like, Brazil wouldn't, even in the game, let's say no way one, like when we're talking about, I said, I said two, two, I didn't even say, I didn't even say that the fact that you said two on the fact that I said two, two, you knew that would be good. Tells us that we both didn't assume that Brazil was going to win the game in that way, right? But I don't think anyone thought Brazil was going to fold the way they did. But on the other side, no way is playing a type of football that almost feels deceivingly good if there's such a thing. Deceptively good. Deceptively good. I'll say this, I'll say this. So part of the reason I fancy it no way is, no way has a very good front three. Nusa, Highland, and Soloth. When I look at them, I'm saying no, no, no, no, no, man. But when I saw my point was, Nusa, I knew Nusa was going to expose Danilo. And I knew they didn't call that. The thing that Nusa is dynamic, man. But the thing that made me fancy no way, even more is I knew that when Soloth eventually comes off, Oscar Bobby's coming on. Oscar Bobby's your boy. Yeah. You love him. Then I knew that only left when Nusa comes on, comes off. They're bringing on Andreas Sheldra up. Yeah. After seeing Sheldra kill teams in the Champions League. He's a 23-year-old kid. But he plays for Benefica and he's incredible. And so I knew that when Sheldra comes up against Danilo, after Nusa has run, he's going to kill them. And Sheldra came on, created two goals. So for me, when I looked at the benches, I said, "Brasil, who do you have coming off the bench?" Endrick and Neymar. I said, "No, who do you have?" I went like, "No, it has two kilos coming off the bench." That's why I fenced it. Plus, they made it world wide. But that's why I fenced what they also really have that gets overlooked. They have a structurally defined, like solid defensive line. Like, they know his defense is focused, is together. No names, by the way. All of them, no names. Yeah, all no names. Yeah, you can't pick them out of a police line up. Yeah, yeah. But also because they can never been a police line up because they're white. They're white, blonde men. They will never be a police line up. But they play like a solid, boring, good football at the back. Okay, so I'm going to tell you something about Norway, that also is, and I know, getting into this later, or maybe it's a good segue. I'm going to tell you something about Norway, that reminds me so much of Cape Vard. Yeah. They're a team who are like brothers. They will lay their body on the line. That's true. For themself. So for me, they remind me of Greece in Europe 2004. Greece was unfancyed coming to the tournament. Otto Reha got the iconic German manager. Got this Greek team of dreamers. Yeah. And they were fighting for like, you posted the spatter meme. The spatter meme. Yeah. But this was real spatter. The Zagoraki, Stereos, Jena and Jero Kai stays. This was a team of like, dreamers who hadn't had like, great footballing colleagues at the club. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And my friend, they came in a bit, what you're going to open in game. Beat France in the quarterfinals. They were winning one near one near. Made Portugal again. Portugal was hosting. Beat them again in the final. And they were just fighting for each other. When you saw that Cape Vard team, they don't have a star. They don't have a stand-in. The only stand-in is I think, Bosnia, who is a good person. Yeah, but they're maybe people who pays. Yeah, but that's not true of point. They're not stars. They fight for each other. These are guys who are. So Norway, when you got Norway, when you got that Greek team of Europe 2004, and when you look at Cape Vard, these are guys who have bonded. These are guys who are going to be brothers. 80 years from now, they'll be meeting. They'll be in a similar subgroup. You know what they're going to be on? Probably what's up group forever. These are guys who have bonded. And teams like that in a tournament are a menace. Because when you can trust the man, like they say in 300, you can trust the man on your left. To never run. Then you all, when you know like if the France collapses, the whole team collapses, these guys fight for every ball. Cape Vard made Argentina and every goal. Every goal. Even there are no gifts. Every goal that Argentina scored, except the last one, which was, that's when it's like football and it's luck. That's it. I was going to go Messi's goal. He tried to be perfect. Was so good. It was so good for so many reasons. First of all, it's good because you watch Messi start the play. He's facing his team. He's standing on the edge of the box. He's walking with the back line. He starts orchestrating his players and starts moving the ball around from his position. He's not on the ball. He's just pointing, telling people what to do. Very, very sad. Yeah, very sad. You know, he's just telling people what to do, where to move, how to play. And then in a split second, the centre-back takes his eye off Messi. Runs back on side. Messi runs back on side. Then runs to get the ball. Traps that ball on the half-body. That was beyond perfect. And then flicks it at the goalie's hand. Because the keeper has to flinch every time. Add an angle where you just don't think that's going to happen. Gets the goal. Now you're like, "Oh, okay, this is now Argentine." Before you go on, you know Zlatan said that. And I think they teach it everywhere. If you're striker, smash that ball at the keeper. Oh, just put it. Because naturally, they have to flinch. No keeper is going to. The natural body reaction when something is coming at it is to do this. So I have a different opinion on that funny enough. Okay, but first, yeah, first goalie. I don't think goalkeepers are necessarily flinching. I think goalkeepers spend so much time practicing choosing a side. Okay. They never think up is the side. So if you. When you shoot a ball. They're always left or right. Left or right. But very seldom are they thinking it's coming straight here. Do you know what I mean? Okay, but I interrupted you. I was going like, "Okay, so after Messi scores, we now think." It's done. The layman would now think. It's done. Oh, okay. The game's done. Yeah, put it for now. Yeah, that's right. Put it for in Cape Verde, they are done. But this is Cape Verde. Cape Verde. Not only comes back, they play a beautiful football. They don't pull like a. Like a Haram ball. They're not just kicking the ball over the top. They're not just like spamming crosses. They're not. No, they move the ball. They pass the ball. They play the ball. They move the ball. They pass the ball. They come back. They get a goal. Not just the goal. They not make it to. Defenders. They first pass. And that first pass, you need to make the Medina. They shot into the goal. Not to make the Sandrope. The second one was more lucky. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It was more lucky. You don't think it was. It was more lucky. I don't think it was. The first one was very much a lot. Yes, but I don't think it was. When I watched "Dewati Shoot That Ball." I don't think it was, man. Like, I watched it. He didn't just. Because sometimes players shoot on the inshallah. Okay, got it. They shoot in hope and go like, "Let me just shoot on inshallah." He. Like you could see him. Not making two great defenders like that is never by luck. I was impressed. I thought, I. Both kept bad goals. Brother, you can't take anything away from them. Then you go to the other side of the field. Argentina has the ball again. The Sandro Martinez gets it. Strike us. You're like, you're like. Oh, what's he going to do? He's a defender. He's a defender. Yes. It's on his left foot. Okay, I don't know what he's. He scores a banger again. Similar top corner. Yes, yes, you're right. In the top. Was he you're not there for it? Kind of expected, though, because he land his trade. Martinez, the Sandro. They call him the butcher. Yeah. But people forget he land his trade at Ajax. You don't play for Ajax if you're not taking Calisandr. Well, I didn't think of that, actually. If you're. Ajax doesn't just sign anyone. You have to be taking Calisandr on the ball. So he has quite some bangers. Yes. The Sandro. But yeah, you're. Again, you've got to get it over. Yeah, again. And then Cape Verde comes along. Strings together. Was it like 15-20 passes? Yes, he passes, yes. Coming up the field, moving the ball. Beautiful. Argentina chasing shadows. You see them running from the top right corner of the box. Cape Verde passes forward. The man brings it down, brings it around. They move. They switch positions. They slowly come creeping down. The left side of the field. They move the ball. You think, okay, there's nothing. What are they going to do here? And then. The left wing against the ball. One-on-one with Makalista. But shake off the hips. But so far away from the goals. That's so, yeah. That the worst you're thinking is a good cross. And that. You're praying for a good cross. Yes. That man is a shake off the hips. You know, man, he released. He sent Makalista back to Buenos Aires. A banger. Oh my god. I'll tell you a goal of the World Cup. I'll tell you two things about it. An instant. Instant. Contender for goal of this. That's goal of the World Cup. Yes, yes. No goal of this. You know, they are what? The feelings are what? Yeah. That they give out goal of their. Are they. Pushcars? Yeah. From foreign pushcars. Immediate contender. Just not because of the goal by the way. The whole thing. They pulled up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what's in the World Cup against. Perfect. And the moment of. I'll say two things about that game. One. That goal that you've just described. Yeah. Reminded me so much. Of the goal of Saudi Arabia scored against Argentina to win in 2022. It was almost the same goal. Into the top corner. Al-Sawali. Al-Dawasari, sorry. And then the goal Messi scored. Reminded me so much. Of a similar goal that Messi scored against Nigeria. If you remember, Messi checked. It was 2018 World Cup. The one that had Diego Marlena praying to the Worlds. Messi checked. All over the top that time, I think it was. Oh, the great midfielder. I'm ranking on his name. Board over the top, brought it down, and it was off to the races. But again, kept value contact. Even the celebration from that goal makes it for me push guys. 'Cause he didn't just celebrate. He ran to the crowd and looked for his girlfriend. - He was, you know, that moment after the guy was, like he forgot there was a game. - He forgot. He stopped taking a brother. He stopped 'cause he was waiting for you. - He forgot there was a game. - He forgot there is a game. - Yes, he could not believe what he had experienced. - No, I was reading there, so it's a beautiful story. 'Cause he was playing in the German third division. - Yeah. - Just I think 18 or so months ago, this got us stood by him. It was a great moment. I'm not even a romantic like that. I'm a cynical, cynical football fan. I'm a cynical, I don't have a tender spot in my heart, but that really, really did bring it here to your eye. - I saw, I saw the rumours Fabrizio Romano said, apparently into Miami might be signing Vosignia. - The shoot, he was incredible. - That would be amazing. - He's the messy stopper. - Can I tell you what? - Yeah, but I was signing. - I think that would be like a beautiful, it's just a wonderful reward for a player. - I saw him with the jazzy with David Beckham. - It would be great. His 40, he would earn some good money. - Yeah, he's a star. He's definitely a star. - Social media. - 20 million followers now on social media. - Yeah, he would be good. But the thing I loved about that game Trevor, even if they lost, kept that those players, first of all, will never buy a dinner or buy a beer in kept that ever again. Chances are there are grandkids who never buy a beer. If you represent your country like that, if you make your country that proud, 'cause now everyone knows what kept baddies. Actually for me, if they had dumped out Argentina, they came close, but for me that would have been the biggest upset since Cameroon Bitmar and Nazar Argentina in 1990. It was incredible. It was, it was, it was a beautiful game, it was. It was the game. - Were you the tournament? - Were you said, because on the one hand, you've got your goat messy. On the other hand, you've got Cape Verde who you've been pushing from the beginning of the tournament. Are you happy with the results? - I'm happy with the result because I want Messi to win back to back championships, but if they had lost, for me, I've told you this Trevor and you asked and you did say that me when Barcelona loses, I never get down, it's because for me when you beat a team with Messi, you've earned the victory. I love Messi, I support Messi, but Messi is such a good player that if you beat him, I can never be sad, I go like you've earned it, 'cause it takes a special team to beat Messi, when Liverpool beat us four-year, when Liverpool beat Barcelona four-year, and they came back from a three-year down, I went like fair play, 'cause I love the game, I love Messi, but I love the game of football more than Messi. - Let's talk about another player that you love talking about, Cristiano Ronaldo. - Yes, in our last episode, we said something that I would argue has now proved to be true. We said, if Portugal wants to go through, by hook or crook, Ronaldo's gonna have to be off the field. Portugal was playing against Croatia, was a tense match where Portugal never looked like they were gonna pull away. They get awarded a penalty, Cristiano Ronaldo steps up, takes the penalty brilliantly, scores the penalty. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, scores the penalty. But then again, the match goes back to a tense game where anything can happen. - Croatia could have won it, Matteo Covasic. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's fun. - Covasic made a crazy run. - He had the post, yes. And then Portugal's coach, Roberto Martinez, that woke him up, makes a ballsy decision, substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo, and I'm sure you remember the moments. - Yes, I don't know, anyone who is watching it will remember this moment. Ronaldo looks up at the board, showing who's being substituted. He looks at the sideline, he looks at the boards, he looks around him. And you can see he's going, guys, I think this is a malfunction because I see my number. - Yes. - But there is no world in which I would be getting substituted. - When the team needs a goal. - Yes. - When your team needs a goal. - He looks up, he looks down, he looks around. - He was in this position. - He's always waiting for someone to say sorry, sorry, sorry. That, not your seven, another number seven. He comes off the field, not, doesn't throw a tantrum to his cup, but he was, he's in disbelief though. He has like a, okay, I guess. - I guess that happened, yes. - I guess that happened, and then a few moments later, Portugal gets their goal, Raffa layout, swings across the, - Your boy. - He had, he had swung crosses in. - And you know, your men. - Ronaldo, again. - Ronaldo, yes. - Say what you want. - He had missed so many chances, so many crosses. - He wasn't getting worse. - And then there you go. Ramos comes in. - Gonzalez Ramos, one cross and boom. - And a few more. - Fantastic goal. - I don't just, okay, I'll say this first of all, before I talk about Gonzalez Ramos is gone. I have to give Kudos to Roberto Martinez. I'm one of his biggest critics. I think he wasted William's Golden Generation of Kevin De Bruyne and Tibokotoa and Romero Rukaku and Eden Hazard. I think he, and Drismattens, I think he wasted them. And I thought, even coming to this tournament, I think, I still think he might waste Portugal's Golden Generation, but on that day, he made a bulzy gutsy decision, because before he took Ronaldo off, Portugal was being overrun in the middle, 'cause they had one man less in the middle. 'Cause Ronaldo doesn't track back. That's why when Mateo Covastich got that ball, he just ran through the middle. So he realized we need another body in the middle. To launch the flow, he brings on Rubén Neves. And I think you saw what happened. The game set it back into a 50/50. So that was balls. For me, that was, that was an incredible, I didn't think Martinez had it in him. He brings on, so when he brings on Rubén Neves, Rubén Neves goes in the middle, then Gonzalez Ramos plays as the nine, which is where he thrives. The last time he repressed Ronaldo, he's quite a heart freak in Qatar. So when he scores that header, part of the reason why I screamed that Ronaldo would never do that, was one, I'd seen crosses coming in, and Ronaldo was not getting to the end of them, but also two, Gonzalez Ramos, that was a tough header. He jumped in between. - It was so good. - Three defenders. And to get that much direction and power. - And power. And also like, but he's jumping in between three defenders. - It was so good man. - I saw the former, I saw the former Liverpool defender, Croatia defender, talking about it. I think remember him, he was a great Liverpool defender, kind of chaotic, and he said, I think Croatia gave the ball away, 'cause there is no way in my days, a strikeout that jumped in between three defenders, one of us to get to that ball. So it wasn't an easy hit as I think it was. And so for me, that's what Gonzalez Ramos gives you. Gonzalez Ramos gives you a target man. Gonzalez Ramos gives you deadly finishing. Gonzalez Ramos gives you the ability to track and press that Ronaldo doesn't. I feel Ronaldo should be doing what name I did. I feel Ronaldo should be coming on in the last 15 minutes, last 20 minutes against aging tiredness. - Yeah, we've said this thing. - Be a talent player. - Against tired minds, but be a talent player. Let's get into a few predictions. - Before we get into a few predictions, I just want to talk about this one and we disagree. And I don't like when we do a podcast and we don't disagree. The Croatian goal. You called it immediate, he went like it was off-site. - Yes. - I disagree immediately. - Yes. - And I still disagree. The reason I disagree is this. I feel everyone focuses on the sneaker. The board was attacked by Matanović or not. I think they're focusing on the wrong thing. The focus should be on was Renato Vega trying to make a defensive play. 'Cause if you say it was unintentional, then the Croatian player was off-site. Pass or it was off-site. But for me, I argue that Renato Vega was making a defensive play. - Why? - So let me tell you why I think you lose this argument if you don't do that. I think by the strict interpretation of the game, the player jumping that close to a ball in an off-site way is off-site in my opinion. It is off-site. You cannot, this thing of like did they touch the ball or not is irrelevant when the player is actively trying to play the ball and is this close to playing the ball? You know why? We have to defend them. The whole field has to shift with them. The purpose of the off-site rule is to protect the game from an unfair advantage or disadvantage, right? So if a player is jumping to head of the ball and they happen to miss it by a hair, let's say they didn't touch it. How is that not off-site? You made an active effort to play the ball, right? You made an active effort. People had to defend you because of your positioning. The ball might have been missed by somebody else or somebody got thrown off. The same way if you blocked the goalkeeper's view and it's off-site and off-site, you interfere with the play to me, whether you touch it or not, that is an off-site. Okay, so here's where I disagree with you. For me, if it was a midfielder in that situation and the Fernando Vega hadn't stooped, if he had hit him while he was standing upright, it's unintentional and accidental. When the Fernando Vega stoops, I've played as a defender. I'm saying, no, I'm saying I've played as a defender. Some people are saying he was lacking. It defends the stoops to head the ball. So let me ask you, if I'm a defender, let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. I'm saying, if I'm one of the players, you're measuring the wrong part of the game. No, I'm saying the focus on the wrong thing, the focus on Matanovic. They should focus on Renato Ganto. It's like a mathematical equation. Okay, if, if, if, okay, let me ask you, so let's start with the first thing. Okay, let me ask you a question, simple question. Did the first man try to play the ball in an off-site position? If he, did he or did he not? If the Fernando Vega doesn't touch it. First man, Matanovic was in. He wasn't in off-site. He wasn't off-site. The off-site player is Pasadic behind. Because when Matanovic touches the ball, oh yeah, okay, so you're saying if he doesn't touch it on the other side. Yeah, yeah, no, it's a goal. Because Pasadic was on-site. No, Pasadic was on, Pasadic, but he wasn't playing it. No, no, listen. So when the ball comes in, Pasadic is on-site. When Matanovic touches it with the hair, Pasadic is off-site. But then the ball hits Renatovic. So the reason I think Rene Rovega was making a defensive play and it was intentional is because if that ball hits Rene Rovega on the forehead and goes out and goes back It's a defensive clearance, but he screwed up his head and the ball hitting on the top of his head Went to pass at it. That's why for me. I'm going like they focused on the wrong play The right is is Rene Rovega. I think those things are all of side to me I think they've made the offside rule too complicated to complicate. You're right. You're right I think they've made it too complicated. Can you talk about the African teams, please? Because many of my friends were traumatized Why who by the way African teams crushed out Senegal African teams kept crashing out with 10 minutes to go. They were winning most of their games with 10 minutes to go. Yeah, and most of my friends because I picked when we made the predictions I got all the African teams right. I said Egypt and Morocco are progressing. Yes, I said the rest were going to be dumped out And so my friends were asking me why did I do that and also part of this on right I wasn't hurt broken when African teams lost out. It's because I've been traumatized enough by African teams In fact, Trevor, we shouldn't be holding this podcast in the care. I should be on a couch because I'm going to trauma damp on you So I've watched enough football to know that when it comes to the knockouts African teams always find a way For some reason it could be structural. It could be psychological. I don't know what's happening But African teams always find a way and unfortunately mostly black African teams find a way to snatch the feet from the Joseph victory. It's that when I was a wheelad. I was really young. I think I was around five six I remember Cameroon 1990 World Cup. I remember my father and my uncle's and the whole village going crazy when Cameroon with nine men beat Diego Martinez In the opening game. Yeah, and this was the Cameroon team was from it. That's what we thought the world. We thought it was coming in 1977 said an African team is going to win the World Cup by the year 2000 in 1990. We all believed I remember was young and I think Maybe some just my memory so so because I've watched like clips and afterwards I remember when my mom beat squad that data because that team was good at Roger Mirau mom beat Ciro Macanacito Massincone all these great players when they beat Agenda with nine men. We wanted they're going to win it They dropped their group. They went into the beat Romania to one Roger met a squad and get double I remember the village going crazy. I was young, but you know, I think that's when I thought I fell in love with this game They went into the knockout trance round of 16 beat Colombia Roger Mirau I remember clear watching Roger Mirau steal that ball from a Renee Guter squad and going to the corner flag and just doing the dance Yes, and we went like this is it they played England Cameroon was eight minutes away from winning it They consider the penalty got it in cascades goes into extra time. Got in cascades another penalty Cameroon out I remember the way the village felt after that Nigeria 1994 Nigeria a famous Nigerian team Peter Rufa and Rashidia Keen Samsung. Yes, yeah That was a man where I'm on Nickie Daniel Amocac in Crebo Nigerian team that won the nation's Cup Yeah, they won the high everyone thought this is it. They go win their group again Win their group again Trevor. They reached the round of 16 play Italy They're winning with I think two minutes to go Roberto Baguio scores a goal extra time Roberto Baguio scores again. They are out. I go like, okay, maybe that was bad luck 1998 Nigerian team same Nigerian team now even better because I did your coach. No, I can't a better team They humiliate Spain in the opening game winning three two famous goal by all this say long ranger Winning that I remember I was in high school and I went like this is it. This is the team Trevor round of 16 because they had played so well. They were given Denmark Everyone thought this is a work over Denmark beat Nigeria for one the game was over by the 15th minute And I went like you know what I think I'm done, but then but then because football keeps giving you hope 2002 Senegal first game against France. They win one meal papar boob at the op Great team with Caliru Fatiga L. Hajj Joff Salif Jow of Liverpool incredible team. They beat The bit Zidane wasn't playing but this little bit France world champions. We got like this is it. They go on defeat Denmark We are like this is it they reach the play tacky now. We are just playing for an African team for the semi-finals The mid tacky tacky beats them last minute goal by Ilan Manses. Yeah, Ghana Ghana Ghana against Uruguay That's the one that they missed. They missed the penalty. That's the one that broke my heart. I think that's the one that's the 2010 world cup That's the first time that every African go to really traumatized by an African team because Ghana get a penalty So what is did what's what is that to do? Yeah, but they have the penalty penalty Trevor I was watching that game. I was in South Africa as part of a delegation of African journalist So I like picked by readers to come and cover that game. I was watching it with my African friends Uh Ghana get the penalty with a minute to go And as someone Jan stands up steps up and I tell my African journalist friends. I tell them he's going to miss Then they go like no I tell them guys president. He's going to miss a board enough games. He's going to miss He steps up hits that board against the crossbar Ghana loses later That's the first time I realize all sorts of fans hit the bitter truth because my friends it's why so why do you think this why do you think this happens to African? I don't know man. I can't please I know the structure or psychological which I don't know what it happened Why don't you look at witchcraft Joe why people why people watch witchcraft never walks on us. What are you talking about? Why why you ignoring the elephant? No, but I remember that day because no one no one asked me how did you know why people were just they felt like I was trolling them The one that why did you have to say it they felt like people felt like I had made him miss and then which craft and then and then you saw what happened in 2014 as well You saw what happened. Algeria and Nigeria both make it and they both lose With both of them lose with like two minutes to go in their matches for me It's it's it's it's and so that's why when you asked me last week which team is going to make it through I was so sure All the black African teams would let us down and losing heart breaking fashion and I always only show a Morocco and Egypt to go through because Morocco showed me in 2022 That they don't have the psychological mental block They'll win games and I think you saw them against the Netherlands Morocco against the Netherlands another team. I'm sorry to say but I think another African team would have collapsed Morocco didn't Netherlands took the lead. Yeah, they did and Morocco went like okay the Moroccan first of all Let's just give for me my man of the week and I know the cape of our coach is amazing But my coach of the week Mohammed Oabi the coach of Morocco. He was parachuted in with three months to go 200 this team in the world cup because he helped Morocco win the other 20 world cup just in last year He was parachuted in and he has made this team his own against the Netherlands when Gakpo scored With just like what 14 minutes. No, I mean he played it. He brought on three 20-year-old stripper. He didn't just play Yeah, yeah, he played it. Yeah, I'm right. I'm with you. He brought on three 21 Trevor the amount of bravery takes to bring on three 20-year-olds Morabat who are the others get some get some he has son and tabli One of them ended up taking a penalty a 20-year-old stood up and took a penalty and he scored it For me that takes a certain amount of mental and psychological bravery And that's why I'm back in Morocco to go not to go all the way because I think they are four years too short I think they'll win when they host it. Yeah, I think they're gonna be France. I think I think they'll fall short I think you'll fall short this year, but There's such a young crack. There's such a young co When you look at their midfield We've been we've been raving about a you body, right and there's other stars that I've shown you this every midfielder in Morocco has stepped up Ayuba board was amazing against Brazil But then when I watched never ends. I think El Anowi is in the beta midfielder. I think she'll be playing for Barcelona He's incredible. I haven't seen a midfielder break up play and launch attacks like that since Chavi and then in the game last game Guess who stepped up against Canada or nahi every midfielder is stepping up. Brahim has four assists Every midfielder is stepping up El Connouse who plays on the left. He's incredible tracking back All of them so for me. I think this Moroccan team has something It has to get resilience to it, but I think they're too short, but I think they're winning in 25. There's only one Prediction I'm looking for here Joe. USA Belgium. I think this was the game. I think Belgium is going to win You think Belgium's winning I think I think USA has run its course. I think all the host countries what has Belgium shown you That makes you think they're going to win. They've shown me that they have character You think team USA doesn't have character my friend. They came back and bit Senegal that was character. You're a tillman's not my friend You're gonna say that they've shown that they have character. I think when they came back against Teams that you say crumble consistently. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. What has team USA show you? Okay. Let me doesn't say character. Okay. Let me explain it So I feel like in tournaments. So I'll tell you no, no, no, no, no, yes, yes, yes, what I think Yes, what I think I think if team USA runs them ragged in the first 45 Team USA wins the game. I think team USA has to take the game away from Belgium early because I think Belgium is relying on Their prowess as a footballing like nation or rather the individual players like Yukaku Kevin DeBroena, Trossa, the Tillamans, etc., etc., but I don't think that they have the legs Nor the stamina to win the game But if if um the USA lets them play the game for enough time I think that's why they'll I think that's why they'll lose Ah the thing the one part what the reason I disagree with you is I think you're judging Belgium On how they have been playing this tournament. Yeah, you're not wrong. That's exactly how I judge this. I think I think I think I think that's exactly how I judge them You're right and you're right, but I think why you slightly wrong is the result against Senegal changes everything because that's interesting you think that's given them the turn the tournament football you need a moment that trauma bonds you okay for the team to come out your big fan of trauma bowling so for Argentina it was the Losu Sadarabia and now you think it's Cape Verde for Argentina it was you need that thing where you go like yo we've been forged in fire okay and then so for Morocco it was the Netherlands for France it's Paraguay yes okay so for you to win a tournament you can't just stroll through the tournament you gotta be lucky you're lucky moments yes you're going to face a setback at some point and whether you stand up or not that's what tests you so for me I think Belgium that moment remember they were fighting before that moment yeah that moment bonded them as brothers and also makes you believe that hey we are invincible the next the next let's go back to basket baby the next when they won that game when Oji Anano became in the tip-in you can't come back like that there's something that that makes to it that gives to him there's a certain invincibility so for me I think we'll see what happens again I need I did it against we'll see yeah we'll see what happens I mean look it's one of those games I don't know who's gonna win it's not an obvious one but I just one day I think I think the president and the nation and belligan and like having that whole thing behind you and I wonder if Belgium feels a little hard done by does it work against them does it's just gonna it's going to be an interesting one but let's let's wrap it up I think that's what the game I think the hosts their race is run Mexico the US their race is run okay well let's let's watch the games and we'll see I think how they can it's going to kill Mexico today because they're going to play attacking football when they should be sitting down let's watch the game it's going to be fun it's no it's always fun this has been fun my friend it's always fun this segment is brought to you by for breeze you know what's funny about soccer's growth in America everybody talks about the stadiums the fans the television audiences the stars coming over to play here but nobody talks about the smell think about it more kids are playing soccer more adults are playing soccer more leagues more tournaments more gear and every piece of that gear eventually ends up in a room exactly like this one which is why today we're doing an official smell draft that's right with the overall pick in the draft of smells I am taking soccer cleats no hesitation those things spent 90 minutes running through sweat grass mud rain sunshine and occasionally somebody else's foot Joe what are you taking for the second pick oh with the second peak hands down I'll take the gear bag because the gear bag isn't just one smell it's an entire ecosystem oh actually that's a good pick I was hoping you wouldn't go with the gear bag for the third pick I'm going with the backseat of the car after practice yeah parents you know exactly what I'm talking about you open the door and immediately you realize the game has followed everybody home honestly that's why this room is so confusing every instinct tells me that a professional bootroom should smell terrible this should be the place where we experience one of the strongest home field advantages of sports and yet somehow it smells fresh that's because for breeze fabric is built for the things you can't throw in the wash the cleats the bags the car seats all the places where the game really leaves its mark if your soccer gear starting to smell like its own locker room it's time for for breeze fabric it doesn't just mask odors it helps fight them oh yeah fine for breeze fabric at Walmart man you nailed that spray that was amazing pressure got in this room what now World Cup bonus episodes are produced by day zero productions in partnership with Sirius XM executive produced by Trevinoa Sanas Yamin Ryan Harduth and Rebecca Shane music mixing and mastering by Hannes Brown thank you so much for listening join us every Monday during the World Cup for bonus episodes of what now with Trevinoa thanks again to for breeze for sponsoring this episode for breezes the official odour fighter of Major League soccer that's the point for breeze fabric is for everything the game touches that the washing machine can't you're not changing anything it was a really fresh after the first spray I feel like you're just you're just having fun with the bottom now I guess I've two my no one mentioned of all that power