Speaker 1: You're listening to Comedy Central. Wow, Hey, what's up everyone?
Speaker 1: I'm George Guntas. Many of you love The Daily Show
Speaker 1: for its incisive political commentary, but did you know that
Speaker 1: it's also a hotbed for soccer mania. I'm the lighting
Speaker 1: designer here at The Daily Show, and the only thing
Speaker 1: that I love more than making our set come to
Speaker 1: life is the beautiful game. I'm joined by Daily Show
Speaker 1: writer Joe Opio, a guy who loves soccer so much.
Speaker 1: His loved ones one stage intervention. The World Cup has
Speaker 1: been a top training topic in the world not involving Kanye,
Speaker 1: and we wanted to quickly drop a bonus podcast episode
Speaker 1: dissecting all the best action from Qatar. The US men's
Speaker 1: national team has made it through the group and that
Speaker 1: one over the entire nation. How do you think they've
Speaker 1: been doing so far? Well, First of all, America. I've
Speaker 1: been imprison by America because when you think about it,
Speaker 1: America dominates the world in every human indeva you know,
Speaker 1: from commas to gun violence, you know, pot teaks to
Speaker 1: manfunctating Kardashians. Uh So, it's great. The best country ever
Speaker 1: no longer sucks boards at the world's biggest spot. I'm
Speaker 1: also happy to see that Americans have empressed the World Cup.
Speaker 1: The USC Run game in particular was the road Acasta
Speaker 1: right of emotions. You know, there's so much at stake.
Speaker 1: On one hand, America wanted to make it to the
Speaker 1: Sweet sixteen as they call it here. But on the
Speaker 1: other hand, you Run wanted to knock out the Great Saturn,
Speaker 1: you know, lest to America. We watched that game, I remember, George,
Speaker 1: I think at the office and ninety percent of the
Speaker 1: Daily Show was tuned into the game, like you rarely
Speaker 1: see Americans that invested in soccer unless it's the ten episode.
Speaker 1: And so for me, that was very impressive. How fucking
Speaker 1: America goal? That's the question upon is asking, because America
Speaker 1: is playing the Netherlands in the round of sixteen. I'll
Speaker 1: start with the good news. America has the kind of
Speaker 1: air tight defense that even I think Fort Knox would
Speaker 1: be proud of. Um on the tournament. Yes, and that's
Speaker 1: mostly thanks to the impressive young captain Tyler Adams. You know,
Speaker 1: he has been forced to be reckoned with He protects
Speaker 1: that back line like his life depends on it. So
Speaker 1: America only one goal, and that one goal I have
Speaker 1: to point out was a penalty that was caused by
Speaker 1: Walkers Zimmerman's you know, brain fast. He shouldn't have tackled
Speaker 1: gl when needed. Now I'll get to the bad news.
Speaker 1: America can't score goals because only scored two goals. They
Speaker 1: wouldn't buy a goal if as a friend of mine putty,
Speaker 1: they wouldn't buy a goal if they had Opera's credit card.
Speaker 1: They just scored two goals and both have been down
Speaker 1: to christ and Perisic, who is their starman. He played
Speaker 1: the sublime through goal through ball to too much away
Speaker 1: for the goal against Wales, and then you know, of
Speaker 1: course he put his balls on the line when he
Speaker 1: scored against He run. To be honest, I think the
Speaker 1: Dutch will be slight favorites coming to this. You know,
Speaker 1: it's not the best Dutch team we've seen at the
Speaker 1: World Cup, but they have a pretty strong spine. They
Speaker 1: have Video van Dyke in defense, they have Frankie Young
Speaker 1: in midfield, and then of course for what they have
Speaker 1: the one the kid Cordy gapco who has been scoring
Speaker 1: goals for fun. For me, the US's fate will depend
Speaker 1: on only one thing. Can the coach overcome his madness
Speaker 1: and played you Ana. That's the only way I see
Speaker 1: the US making it through, because right now the US
Speaker 1: is struggling to create goals because it has only one
Speaker 1: creative outlet, and the scrit purisic Urina can fix America's
Speaker 1: dependency on politic. I think he's America's gifted player by
Speaker 1: far in the history of America. I think it's a
Speaker 1: scandal that actually Urina hasn't played every second of every game.
Speaker 1: I agree with you in that regard, But the question
Speaker 1: is tactically. It seems that burr Halter is a good
Speaker 1: balance in the team. The pressing well, obviously they're not
Speaker 1: scoring goals, But where do you fit in? Obviously the
Speaker 1: number not the lack of a number nine. It seems
Speaker 1: like the glaring spot to put Rain in and maybe
Speaker 1: play him as a false nine. But who would you
Speaker 1: take off in the midfield to put Rain? If you
Speaker 1: play a minim is more natural position. Now for me,
Speaker 1: do I see George that a coaches job is to
Speaker 1: integrate the best player into the team, and so for me,
Speaker 1: I think Greg has failed at that. I think some
Speaker 1: fans have been saying the fact that During is not
Speaker 1: playing this is the sircup offense I beg to define.
Speaker 1: I think it's a lot more than that. I think
Speaker 1: it's an act of Hyitrizon. This is the best player
Speaker 1: Americans were produced, and I think, if anything, American playing,
Speaker 1: American soccer fans should be calling their senators and demanding
Speaker 1: congressional hearings into Gregg's misuse of rain Now, you know,
Speaker 1: forget bengers, forget the generality six capital insurrection, Rainer wrotting
Speaker 1: on the bench is the televised crisis that the faiths
Speaker 1: need to investigate. Yeah, yeah, because yeah, Because the thing is,
Speaker 1: if you're a player like this, if he was playing,
Speaker 1: you could have played for Gentina, I could have played
Speaker 1: for because of his ancestry. Yeah, he could have played
Speaker 1: for another team, and I think you would have been playing.
Speaker 1: But the fact that he is on the bench for
Speaker 1: me something that Congress needs to get to the bottom move.
Speaker 1: And some people will say, oh, come on, Joe, you
Speaker 1: know it's not that deep, it's just soccer. But for me,
Speaker 1: that would be saying that Americans don't so seriously because
Speaker 1: you know, in other countries, in serious countries, if a
Speaker 1: court refused to play their best player, fans would be
Speaker 1: calling for the firing squad. That can imagine if the
Speaker 1: Brazilian coach somehow failed to put name on the pitch.
Speaker 1: Can you imagine if the Argentine coach refused to play Mascy,
Speaker 1: you wouldn't be out back in the country, you notice.
Speaker 1: And if he was, you know, he would be frog
Speaker 1: matching the streets. So for me, it would be like
Speaker 1: the game of that I feel. I feel like that's
Speaker 1: what should be happening to Gregg Beralta. It should be
Speaker 1: like that scene from the Game of Thrones, you know,
Speaker 1: just matching him through the streets, going like shame, shame, shame.
Speaker 1: This is the best player. He should be on the peach.
Speaker 1: Him not being on the pitch is not only robbing
Speaker 1: American fans of the special magic duringa but so robbing
Speaker 1: America of the things he brings to the peach. That's fair.
Speaker 1: So who do you who do you replace? Who put
Speaker 1: the squad player? I think for me, I would play
Speaker 1: him as a false nine. That's what I would do.
Speaker 1: I'll play much false nine because he has the tools
Speaker 1: in his kids to actually thrive in that role. The
Speaker 1: thing is, you just have to find a place for
Speaker 1: him because also unlike teams now know if you focus
Speaker 1: on Christian politic, then you nualify the United States men's
Speaker 1: national team. But what you need is you need an alternative,
Speaker 1: and during it gives that alpornative because he's able to
Speaker 1: carry the ball, He's able to dribble. If you're under
Speaker 1: pressure the way America was under pressure in the game
Speaker 1: against Iran, He's able to receive the ball holder to
Speaker 1: it and act as relief for the defense. I mean
Speaker 1: for me, having been I was born in America and
Speaker 1: having fouled the US men's national team in previous World Cups.
Speaker 1: I think the biggest difference that you're seeing this year
Speaker 1: is how the majority of Americans are playing for big
Speaker 1: clubs in Europe, for example Christian, Polish Chelsea champions Champions
Speaker 1: like when a Grena Aborigia develpment Western mechanic event is
Speaker 1: Tyler Adams and Brent Anderson leads. Having gone through a
Speaker 1: relegation battle has been a big experience for them. Me
Speaker 1: in the World Cup, Moosa at Valencia, Turners at Arsenal,
Speaker 1: top of the Premier League, servignior desks previously Barcelona, now
Speaker 1: at Milan. All these players now aren't afraid of this
Speaker 1: big stage. They play against these players weekend, week out
Speaker 1: in their respective leagues in the top of Europe, and
Speaker 1: I feel like that's been the biggest um difference to
Speaker 1: the team's past. And it's a huge difference because there
Speaker 1: was a time when I think the best American players
Speaker 1: would be playing at lotty clubs like Full harm Yeah,
Speaker 1: but that's where during as that was playing, I think
Speaker 1: that you know, yeah them was there. I think London
Speaker 1: Donovan was playing at Bacuisine. These players are playing in
Speaker 1: the Champions League week in week out, and you can
Speaker 1: tell the difference that makes when they're playing at the
Speaker 1: you know, in the because they don't they're not afraid
Speaker 1: of the world's biggest lights, the brightest lights. They don't
Speaker 1: shrink from the responsibility. And that's why I think for me,
Speaker 1: and that's why for me, I've been such a huge
Speaker 1: advocate of Urina. If a player like him at his
Speaker 1: young age can force his way into a Blusha document
Speaker 1: team that's really briming with tarent, then he should be
Speaker 1: on the bench just so some player from MLS can
Speaker 1: take his place for sure, for sure. So now let's
Speaker 1: get into it. What are your predictions for the game.
Speaker 1: I want to score US versus the Dutch. I think
Speaker 1: that that you are going to have a little bit
Speaker 1: more uh for the U S. I think the Dutch
Speaker 1: are able to shut the defense down. They're able to
Speaker 1: shut the US out. And then you've seen Code he
Speaker 1: scored three goals in three games, twenty three year older
Speaker 1: phenomen from PSC PSBN. He's going to be the biggest
Speaker 1: I think he's going to be one of the most
Speaker 1: wanted signings after the World Cup. And I think he
Speaker 1: has what it takes to at least score a goal.
Speaker 1: And if the US, I think goes one goal down,
Speaker 1: because we have been seeing the US tasted from being
Speaker 1: go down. They have laid in all their games, and
Speaker 1: I think when you reach the knockout crowns that character
Speaker 1: their bidge to bounce back from falling behind woo be
Speaker 1: crucial and unless you have another creative spark besides police,
Speaker 1: it's going to be very, very very hard for the
Speaker 1: US to be in a position where they can bounce back.
Speaker 1: If the Dutch square goal, I'm gonna go zero zero.
Speaker 1: U S win on penalties. I think if they can
Speaker 1: play like they did against England and just kind of
Speaker 1: keep it tight, keep it compact, take their chances when
Speaker 1: they can. They're young, they can press, They're very magetic
Speaker 1: case for the age. At that age, you don't get out.
Speaker 1: But also I feel like the England game almost prosed
Speaker 1: my point because they dominated England for long stretches in
Speaker 1: the second half, but they still lacked that decisive final ball.
Speaker 1: And that's where, Yes, that's where Reina comes in because
Speaker 1: place you can't do it alone because ivery time he
Speaker 1: gets the board, then all the opponents just swam him.
Speaker 1: It's almost like it's almost like it's almost like the
Speaker 1: bulls back in the nineties. If teams knew that the
Speaker 1: other players can't be them, then they could focus on
Speaker 1: Michael Jordan's. So what Michael and needed was a Scottie pepen,
Speaker 1: and I feel like Grainer would be the Scotty peepen
Speaker 1: to pull six Michael Jordan. Fair enough, fair enough? Okay,
Speaker 1: So what have been your biggest takeaways from the World
Speaker 1: Cup so far? Wow? Where to begin? Uh? Because this
Speaker 1: has been this has been a bonk as World Cup,
Speaker 1: you know, for a tournament where there's no alcohol. I
Speaker 1: could almost say this World Cup has been acting drunk.
Speaker 1: I haven't seen so many upsets, and I think you're
Speaker 1: a group with me since I think the two thousand
Speaker 1: two World Cup, Germany staying home, all these big countries,
Speaker 1: you know, suth Arabia shocking Argentina, Japan shocking both Germany
Speaker 1: and Spain. But for me, the biggest takeaway and I'm
Speaker 1: going to go back, sorry to go on about Urina
Speaker 1: is how coaches are struggling to trust their most talented
Speaker 1: players because they were scoach doesn't trust Orina his most
Speaker 1: guited player. The England coach doesn't trust feel for then
Speaker 1: his most gifted player. Japan's coach has been like tremendous.
Speaker 1: He has outcoached both Ruis Enrique and Hans Freak, but
Speaker 1: he still does trust tackle me. I mean, you know
Speaker 1: who is the most the most guted player and for me, George,
Speaker 1: and you know it's about when we play, so go together.
Speaker 1: And I believe it's called the beautiful game for a reason.
Speaker 1: You need these kinds of players who captivate the imagination.
Speaker 1: Our football isn't a beautiful game when your rain now
Speaker 1: when feel folding our own the bench, And so for me,
Speaker 1: these people should the teams should be built around these
Speaker 1: kinds of players, because when you look at the World Cup,
Speaker 1: the funny thing about the World Cup is the defenses
Speaker 1: at the World Cup are so disciplined and well drilled
Speaker 1: that you can try to pass your way through two
Speaker 1: banks of four. That's going to be hard. What you
Speaker 1: need are players who can carry the ball and penetrate
Speaker 1: and force the defense into some kind of imbalance. And
Speaker 1: that's where all these players coming because they can carry
Speaker 1: the ball. So you play defense and I play I
Speaker 1: mean rather you play striker when we play our pickup games,
Speaker 1: and I play defense, And I think we both all agree.
Speaker 1: Every defender's biggest nightmare is having an attacker running at you,
Speaker 1: of course because you're back pedrolling, but then you can't
Speaker 1: see where you're going. And so for me, actually England
Speaker 1: should even be more ashamed to be solved than the
Speaker 1: US because food then starts every game, almost every game
Speaker 1: for man City. And yet when it comes to the
Speaker 1: national team, we've seen Garrit South to get prefer misson
Speaker 1: amount to him. Yeah, I agree that it's it is
Speaker 1: it's an interesting he's got health. Kate does have his
Speaker 1: favorites in that regard, and I think that if England
Speaker 1: is going to go far they need to, you know,
Speaker 1: he needs to get out of those those habits and
Speaker 1: otherwise he'll end up like he did at the Euros
Speaker 1: or at the previous World. Yeah. And and then the
Speaker 1: thing is I feel like for me, I feel like
Speaker 1: this is an English problem what they're doing with for them,
Speaker 1: because England has always treated gifted players with you know
Speaker 1: that the same kind of suspicions, say that the t
Speaker 1: s A reserves for Brownman current the Koran. They think
Speaker 1: so when you look back, look look back at all
Speaker 1: England squads from the nineties, you know, Matt Letty, see
Speaker 1: Steve mcmahman, Joe Cole, they don't trust these kinds of players.
Speaker 1: They think this players are poor walker Steve McManaman would
Speaker 1: idolized at Real Madrid, yet he was struggling to get
Speaker 1: to the English team because what English players and the
Speaker 1: English coaches unfortunately want are players who rushed into challenges,
Speaker 1: who run around the headless chicken. So when you say
Speaker 1: a player like Mason Mount, he's an energized the banny
Speaker 1: who run around for ninety minutes. But then when it
Speaker 1: comes to technique, you'll give you zero. But when it
Speaker 1: comes to relentless Cardio you'll give you that for ninety minutes.
Speaker 1: And we've seen this judge be follow football. We've seen
Speaker 1: the way the English game treated mess He was idolized
Speaker 1: in Spain and then when he went to England he
Speaker 1: was dismissed as lassie. And for me, that's why I
Speaker 1: I've been telling my friends I think German Musilla, who
Speaker 1: was playing for Germany, I think he dodged the bullet
Speaker 1: by choosing Journey over England, because if he had chosen England,
Speaker 1: I'm sure he would be on the bench and Jordan
Speaker 1: Henderson would be starting ahead of him. So for me,
Speaker 1: I think the coaches are very conservative and they need
Speaker 1: to trust. And that's the difference between let's say a
Speaker 1: coach and I think we defer because you support Real
Speaker 1: Madrid and I upport Barsona. And for me, this is
Speaker 1: a difference between a court like Pepola and the court
Speaker 1: like Jose Mario, because Pepa trusts these kinds of players
Speaker 1: to go and depict and make a difference. He doesn't
Speaker 1: prefer runners technically gifted players. Fair enough, My biggest takeaway
Speaker 1: I think has been um being that's the first time
Speaker 1: that the World Cup has fallen mid in the winter
Speaker 1: mid club season. Agreeing with your point about the conservatism
Speaker 1: of the coaches, I mean they're almost trying to rotate
Speaker 1: in the first games where they haven't putting themselves into
Speaker 1: position to go through yet. For example, Spain heavily rotating
Speaker 1: their squad in the final game against Japan and now
Speaker 1: paying the price. Well, do they pay the price because yes,
Speaker 1: was the second place in the group puts on opposite
Speaker 1: side of the bracket of Argentina and Brazil. That's another
Speaker 1: discussion to be and they still get to face more
Speaker 1: instead of Croatia for sure, for sure, So again it
Speaker 1: could turn out better in the for them in that regard.
Speaker 1: But even even Portugal today rotated heavily. Uh, France obviously
Speaker 1: also rotated heavily. And the other thing that you're seeing
Speaker 1: is the amount of injuries, the amount of great players
Speaker 1: that aren't in the tournament due to playing three days
Speaker 1: a week since August. I think this is the first
Speaker 1: World Cup where the two best players in the world
Speaker 1: aren't there. Yeah, you know, technically that's kind of bends
Speaker 1: and my aunts and so it's like but but but
Speaker 1: the things I will say this about Spain, and I'll
Speaker 1: say this is about Portugal. The teams which you said rotated,
Speaker 1: and I will say this about France, their courteous trust.
Speaker 1: They're technically gifted players, so it played like Pedri and
Speaker 1: Gavin if they were playing for England, they would be
Speaker 1: on the bench. A player like Yallow Felix and maybe
Speaker 1: even to an extent Bernardo Silva would be on the bench.
Speaker 1: But they start for Portugal and they start for Spain,
Speaker 1: and you can see the difference they bring in the game.
Speaker 1: The beautiful, lovely players to watch. We're gonna take a
Speaker 1: quick break and we'll be right back after us. What
Speaker 1: do you think is been the most magical moment of
Speaker 1: the World Cap so far? I think I'm a bit based,
Speaker 1: and you know what I'm going to say. I think
Speaker 1: Messrs Gold for me against Mexico really took the breath away.
Speaker 1: If you're watching it as a Nan took ball fund
Speaker 1: in that way, you would think that goal was ordinary.
Speaker 1: But then Messie of course has like that's what mrs does.
Speaker 1: You know? He makes the extraordinary look routine and I'm
Speaker 1: when I watched that goal, it was very clinical in
Speaker 1: his precision and breath taking in its execution. Because Messi
Speaker 1: had been small at the whole game, right, the Mexicans
Speaker 1: have been on top of him, and he knew when
Speaker 1: he received that ball from the Maria, he knew you
Speaker 1: would never get that much space again, and so he
Speaker 1: needed to practice basically control and bang. And the past
Speaker 1: from the Maria was good, but it wasn't great because
Speaker 1: the ball was bubbling over the place. You know, it
Speaker 1: was bubbling over the place, and we placed over both
Speaker 1: of us and we both know there's nothing hard at
Speaker 1: control than the ball on the bounce. And so that's
Speaker 1: what for me made Messy's first touch for that gold magic,
Speaker 1: because if that first touch was any lighter, that means
Speaker 1: wouldn't have had enough space to create sufficient momentum to
Speaker 1: strike the ball. But then if that touch was heavier,
Speaker 1: he would have been smothered by the battalion of on
Speaker 1: rushing Mixican defenders. So he had to make sure that
Speaker 1: the touch was perfection the first starch and then you
Speaker 1: make matters worse. Remember, I had to score from that
Speaker 1: distance against Memocha of all people, and do both know
Speaker 1: like Ottawa is like when it comes to the World Cup.
Speaker 1: The World Cup is like this, like special serum that
Speaker 1: gives Ochoa superpowers and So for me, the fact that
Speaker 1: Messy would score from that distance against such a keeper
Speaker 1: and against such a defense which had smaller than him,
Speaker 1: all game wrong and he had just taken two touches
Speaker 1: to do that. For me, that was the magical moment
Speaker 1: that took my breath away. I could also say it's
Speaker 1: fitting that the past came from the Maria because he's
Speaker 1: the only player on the argient A team who I
Speaker 1: think is on the same wavelength as Messy. Because you
Speaker 1: watched the game, and I don't know what you remember,
Speaker 1: there's a there was, there was. There was a moment
Speaker 1: when Messi tried to play a one too with Marcos
Speaker 1: Sakna and Kona was sort of band bozoned. He basically
Speaker 1: looked at Messy like Messi had invented fire. So um,
Speaker 1: the only player who is on the same wave length,
Speaker 1: and that shows I think the other magic moment, if
Speaker 1: you ask me, would be Richardson's goal in the opening game. Yes,
Speaker 1: that was that was pure magic, I thought personally as
Speaker 1: a soccer player, I thought the first statue was terrible.
Speaker 1: Of course there the board went higher than he went. Yeah,
Speaker 1: but then you know you have to give him ten
Speaker 1: out of ten for improvisation because another player would have
Speaker 1: failed to add just to the situation. But it was
Speaker 1: a great goal. It should be ferent, it should be
Speaker 1: in the room. That's what I think it should be,
Speaker 1: you know, just crop of their bismotach and just frame
Speaker 1: the goal, and frame the goal and hang it in
Speaker 1: the loop. And I think for me, actually those two goals,
Speaker 1: Massy's and Richarlson's, proved why a magnetic first stage is
Speaker 1: the most important tool in soccer, because get it right
Speaker 1: like Messy did, and you'll score in the brink of
Speaker 1: an eye. But then get it wrong like Richardson did,
Speaker 1: and then you need to become a contusionist basically for
Speaker 1: you to be able to score. So for me, those
Speaker 1: two moments, those were two magical. There was an almost
Speaker 1: magical moment but it didn't happen, and it was when
Speaker 1: in Acchie Williams. Yeah, yes, that almost become best ever. Yes,
Speaker 1: if he hadn't just slipped at the wrong time, that
Speaker 1: would have been I think the most hilarious goal in
Speaker 1: the of the world. Gap. Yeah, So for me those
Speaker 1: two and that in Accuriams almost those were magical moments
Speaker 1: at this world Gap agreed about both I think technically
Speaker 1: Richarleson goal was better after the play. But the thing
Speaker 1: about Messy's goal is He's done that a lot of
Speaker 1: times in his career, so I don't think it's as
Speaker 1: special technically. But what you've the magic about that was
Speaker 1: like the weight of the country coming off. Yeah, that
Speaker 1: was that was what really was like. And then you
Speaker 1: saw how much it mental him as he celebrated right
Speaker 1: into the corner. It was. It was fantastic. Um, So
Speaker 1: what do you think we can look forward to in
Speaker 1: the knockout rounds of the World Cup? The knock on
Speaker 1: trons are going to be very tight because as you've seen,
Speaker 1: this World Cup has had so many opposites. I feel
Speaker 1: like it could almost go the way two thousand two win.
Speaker 1: Do you remember South Korea making that deep run into
Speaker 1: the tournament? But I still think the heavyweight's ha. But Brazil,
Speaker 1: I think for me the fever seeing this World Cup,
Speaker 1: they I saw a team, they have a deep bench,
Speaker 1: but without name who has been Indian, I think they
Speaker 1: lack imagination. Don't get me wrong, they can't turn to
Speaker 1: Venicia's junior and I think Vinicia's Junior has shown us
Speaker 1: or through the champions League that he has road enough
Speaker 1: shoulders to carry a team, but I think carrying Brazil
Speaker 1: to the World Cup is such a massive responsibility to
Speaker 1: place on such young shoulders. Argentina should at least make
Speaker 1: the semifinal because I think they have a bit of
Speaker 1: an easy path if they should be able to make
Speaker 1: quick work of Australia, and then that means they could
Speaker 1: face the winner between the Netherlands and the USA. And
Speaker 1: the good thing about Argentina, I think the thing that
Speaker 1: saves them, ironical enough, is they're opening. The loss against
Speaker 1: saud Arabia helped take the pressure off because remember they
Speaker 1: came into the World Cup on a thirty six match
Speaker 1: and beaten Run and if you bring that into the
Speaker 1: World Cup, at some point it can become a cass
Speaker 1: because you start playing every game like a final. So
Speaker 1: they were able to lose to saud Arabia and then
Speaker 1: they were able to reset. So now they and the
Speaker 1: thing is, I've watched you Scalona and you can see
Speaker 1: his tactics. He's growing into the World Cup and that's
Speaker 1: what I think I get did in the Copper America
Speaker 1: as well, So they're in good state. He has adjusted
Speaker 1: tactically Portugal. Of course, you can't never count out Fernaldo
Speaker 1: and he has a great supporting cast. For once he
Speaker 1: hasn't here. I think he has only scored one goal
Speaker 1: and and then Portugal has had six different scorers this
Speaker 1: World Cup, which means goals can come from anywhere on
Speaker 1: the pitch. The only weakness for Portugal for me is
Speaker 1: their coach. It's almost the state of England. He contend
Speaker 1: to get two conservative at times. You know he should
Speaker 1: unlish the weapons that he has. I think Raphael daw
Speaker 1: should becoming off the bench as quickly as possible. But
Speaker 1: I think that conservatism might actually turn out to be
Speaker 1: a problem for them. When you look at France, they're
Speaker 1: missing France, I think for me, is one of the
Speaker 1: most gifted teams pound for pounds because they're missing Benzema,
Speaker 1: they're missing Papa, they're missing count, they're missing Christopher n
Speaker 1: c coo. But they still when you look at the
Speaker 1: their roster, they're still turn into enough. They're also missing
Speaker 1: personnel Kimpaign baby. But some people will say that's a
Speaker 1: blessing in disguise. Um so I think France are looking good,
Speaker 1: but do they have the ability with all the injuries
Speaker 1: they're faced to. That's the distance, that's the question. As
Speaker 1: Pain have Gavi and Pedri exciting. You love watching them play. Enrique.
Speaker 1: Their coach always Rin loves the false nine, but I
Speaker 1: think Alberta Mortor's form is making him think that. I
Speaker 1: think also look yeah, I think they also look good.
Speaker 1: But buscuits in that role. We've seen him at Basona
Speaker 1: exposed every time he pressed hard, and so we just
Speaker 1: have to wait and see how that will pan out.
Speaker 1: England England. If England trust ful food In a lot more,
Speaker 1: and then if if they can get Hurricane firing, because
Speaker 1: he hasn't scored a single goal this World Cup. He
Speaker 1: was the top scoreless World Cup. Hasn't found the net
Speaker 1: this World Cup. So if they can trust fill ford
Speaker 1: In a bit more and get Hurricane adding, I think
Speaker 1: England also make it deeper and they could make the semifinals. Hey, Jo,
Speaker 1: I'm gonna stop you right there. We gotta take a
Speaker 1: quick break for ads. We'll be right back after this.
Speaker 1: What do you think would be the biggest upset in
Speaker 1: the round and the knockout rounds. I think if the
Speaker 1: games this evening, if Sabia make it through, they will
Speaker 1: face Portugal, and Sabia have the ability to show Portugal
Speaker 1: because they want to think their game in the qualifying
Speaker 1: rounds and they have a good enough team that they
Speaker 1: can pose questions to every other team. But the big
Speaker 1: issue here is you hate if you're if you're the
Speaker 1: World Cup, you hate playing you had playing a team
Speaker 1: from the same confederation because they're very familiar with your
Speaker 1: style and they have their biggest to spring strokes. So
Speaker 1: for me, I think it will be Sabriact if they
Speaker 1: make it through, or Switzerland because the teams that are
Speaker 1: familiar with Portugal's game. For me, that's I see the
Speaker 1: shock coming. I don't see any shock Indiana games. My
Speaker 1: shock of the of the knockout rounds and I think
Speaker 1: is Morocco is going to beat Spain. And I'll tell
Speaker 1: you why. Okay, I don't like Rodrey as a center back.
Speaker 1: I think Rodrey should be playing in the bousquats role.
Speaker 1: He hasn't put a foot wrong though so far. Maybe
Speaker 1: he hasn't been tested yet, hasn't been tested, so Rodrey
Speaker 1: should be playing in the busquats role. I think that
Speaker 1: he should be playing report uh. I think he should
Speaker 1: be playing laport and tour as as the center backs. Okay,
Speaker 1: I think I think Torres is a bit fragi exactly. Sure, yeah,
Speaker 1: but it's it's the same flaws of a Barcelona team
Speaker 1: last year before they had Lewandowski, right, they had Padrian Gavy,
Speaker 1: they had Bousquats. They don't have a number nine, they
Speaker 1: play with a false nine. You got Torres on the
Speaker 1: front side. Where's Aunt by the way, Yeah, he hasn't
Speaker 1: been trusted because I think I think he should be.
Speaker 1: Look that Nemo has been playing with and uh, I
Speaker 1: think he deserves this place on the team, but I
Speaker 1: think should at least becoming going. But remember he's also
Speaker 1: struggling because he just came off. He's not playing, not
Speaker 1: playing well. Yeah, he lacks much fitness, hasn't played long
Speaker 1: enough because he's coming. But I'll tell you one thing, though,
Speaker 1: there's no chance Luis and Ricky is putting. I think
Speaker 1: that is the first name on the team sheet. That's
Speaker 1: how much Lucien Rickie loves him. But that's the same
Speaker 1: stubborn as a guarant south Gate with Mason Mount and
Speaker 1: not playing VHOTO and I think ultimately that's what's going
Speaker 1: to cost him. And I think that you're correct to
Speaker 1: say that when they play with the number nine and
Speaker 1: have you know, the ability not just go sideways and
Speaker 1: back and have the ability to put across in the
Speaker 1: box and someone get on the end of it, that's
Speaker 1: where they seem the most dangerous. So let's let's let's
Speaker 1: see I think that Morocco can stay organized that hit
Speaker 1: them on the counter. It could be like Morocco has
Speaker 1: another cult who he is trusting his most gifted player, Kim.
Speaker 1: Look look at what is doing. Yeah, he has been
Speaker 1: a game changer in every match that Morocov played and
Speaker 1: the old coach, the coach was fired. Vazi basically missed
Speaker 1: up by not trusting him because Akims didn't go to
Speaker 1: the Nation's Cup because he fell out with him. And
Speaker 1: for me believe that if you're a coach like you
Speaker 1: have one road on one road only, it's to make
Speaker 1: your best players shine. You can't afford to put your
Speaker 1: ego before and for me, the Morgan coach has been
Speaker 1: a revelation in that regarding that he has managed to
Speaker 1: somehow extract from Akim z H something that the old
Speaker 1: coach was European, by the way, wasn't able to extract
Speaker 1: for sure, for sure down as you were saying, I
Speaker 1: think we can separate teams in the in the knockout
Speaker 1: rounds into like three groups. Right, There's there's a Brazilian France,
Speaker 1: who are obviously that the clear pot, right, and then
Speaker 1: there's kind of that second tier. You're looking at Spain, England, Portugal,
Speaker 1: Argentina and then the others. Right, So what the your
Speaker 1: brain tell you that the final is going to be
Speaker 1: and what does your heart want the final to be?
Speaker 1: First of all, I'll be I'll being cut up for
Speaker 1: the both for both Porta finals and the semifinals, and
Speaker 1: for my dream matchups barren and upsets, and this is
Speaker 1: going to upset American funds us you always said these
Speaker 1: are my dream matchups I would want to get. Not
Speaker 1: to face the Netherlands, I think that would be an
Speaker 1: exciting game. Portugal, I think it's going to face Spain, England.
Speaker 1: I think we face France, and then Brazil is going
Speaker 1: to play Croatia. And then the semifinals, I think we'll
Speaker 1: have Aginternet Brazil a repeat of that Copper Final, and
Speaker 1: then you're gonna have Portugal France on the other side,
Speaker 1: which means in shallah in Shalla soccer funds can finally
Speaker 1: get a Christiano Ronaldo Messi final. I think it would
Speaker 1: be the greatest event in the history of the World Cup.
Speaker 1: Remember the picture of them, uh they lou with it
Speaker 1: all picture the Yah It's become the biggest memes in
Speaker 1: on the internet yet, Yes, playing can you imagine if
Speaker 1: came to life? It would make a dream come true
Speaker 1: for every football fun But then you know the football guards,
Speaker 1: you know they never then they don't want to make
Speaker 1: that would be a dream come to just like Missy
Speaker 1: and Ronaldo in the biggest game in the world. Agree, agree,
Speaker 1: that would be what my heart would want. I'd want
Speaker 1: to see one of them win the World Cup. And
Speaker 1: then I think if if that were to happen and
Speaker 1: one of those teams would win the World Cup, I
Speaker 1: think that they would retire. I think Ronaldo most certainly would. Okay,
Speaker 1: so that's what you had to say, is what does
Speaker 1: your brain say? My brains say based on how the
Speaker 1: brackets lay out, is I think France Brazil because because
Speaker 1: outside the brackets that two top teams. Yes, I think
Speaker 1: that France can get by England. I think I think
Speaker 1: Spain's gonna get upset I think it's gonna be France
Speaker 1: Portugal in the Semis, and I think France gets through.
Speaker 1: But you know, I'll tell you this, I'll still set
Speaker 1: for that. That's not a bad final by any stretch
Speaker 1: of the imagination. France versus Brazil, that would be a
Speaker 1: repeat correct and to be again as a football fun.
Speaker 1: I would love to watch that. I would and messy
Speaker 1: messy Busses Ronaldo is a great personal battle because of
Speaker 1: all the subplots and the history and the drama surrounding them.
Speaker 1: The two best players in their generation. But France versus
Speaker 1: Brazil also has lots of intrigue and I wouldn't mind
Speaker 1: watching them for sure. And again, if you were to say,
Speaker 1: the other team that I would say has the potential
Speaker 1: to upset somebody, though I don't think it's going to
Speaker 1: happen is Japan, because they've shown that they can absorb
Speaker 1: pressure and not they could have of the ball in
Speaker 1: the game, get dominated and just in five minutes succer
Speaker 1: punch you. So it's like again, even though they're they're
Speaker 1: likely if they were if they were to get past Croatia,
Speaker 1: get Brazil, they're the one team that's set up in
Speaker 1: kind of a Marino style way to kind of just like, yeah,
Speaker 1: have the ball, pass it sideways the backwards. You know what,
Speaker 1: when you make a mistakes, we're gonna punish you. Look,
Speaker 1: I'll be frunk with you if you can beat Germany
Speaker 1: and Spain, because that was supposed to be the group
Speaker 1: of Dave and Japan had absolutely no right imagining from
Speaker 1: that group, and they didn't just emerge from the group.
Speaker 1: They topped it. So they and the respect that they have.
Speaker 1: But I'll say this about Japan. Their coach and again
Speaker 1: I'm sorry for helping gonna learn about this is in
Speaker 1: the same mold as Greg Bell. Uter is in the
Speaker 1: same mold as Guy's Southgate because he doesn't start, you know,
Speaker 1: and then he also doesn't start Metoma, who plays for Brighton.
Speaker 1: Every time Mitoma has come on, because of his pace
Speaker 1: and his dribbling and his ability to control the ball
Speaker 1: in small spaces, he has changed the game for Japan.
Speaker 1: He's the player who actually got that ball the line
Speaker 1: for Japan to make it through the controversial was the
Speaker 1: ball of our note. He's the player who made that
Speaker 1: player and every time they they brought him on. When
Speaker 1: they war behind against Germany and he turned it around.
Speaker 1: They turned it around from from one day to one.
Speaker 1: They brought him again yesterday against Spain there were one
Speaker 1: nil down and he again changed the game, and every
Speaker 1: time he has been repaired with the place on. I
Speaker 1: think you should be starting every game. I don't know,
Speaker 1: want the coach prefers to bring him on when the
Speaker 1: other team has tiring legs, but I think you should
Speaker 1: be starting every game because then you start the game
Speaker 1: in a forward position with your foot on the neck
Speaker 1: of the opponent as opposed or is chasing the game
Speaker 1: from behind. Actually, if I feel I feel if Croatia
Speaker 1: can beat Japan, which is within the ruins of possibility,
Speaker 1: then Croatia could also spring a surprise because they have
Speaker 1: the players who have the experience and they know how
Speaker 1: to put together a deep run. You know, players that
Speaker 1: peristage have been there and done that. Prayers like Modrick
Speaker 1: have been there and done that. I feel like, if
Speaker 1: they can grow into the tournament, because remember they were
Speaker 1: finalists at the last World Cup, so if they can
Speaker 1: grow into the World Cup. Brosovich they have probably one
Speaker 1: of the most technically gifted midfields in the entire World Cup.
Speaker 1: So I feel like if Croatian make it past Japan,
Speaker 1: then they could be the dark horses, could make life
Speaker 1: very very difficult for everything they run into. The only
Speaker 1: problem is they have to run into Brazil in the
Speaker 1: quarter finals. Agreed. I think that you're spot on to
Speaker 1: say that h Croatia does have the talent and the
Speaker 1: experience with the players that you mentioned. I think that
Speaker 1: you have questions. The question I have is how can
Speaker 1: they cope with the pace of ansias, uh, the pace
Speaker 1: of That's why I said the unfortunately that they are
Speaker 1: running into Brazil. So either right right, So again that
Speaker 1: I think that Japan is more suited upset Brazil than
Speaker 1: Croatia based on the fact that they're a little more
Speaker 1: youthful and have a little more energy, and they've kind
Speaker 1: of ship proven that, you know, absorb the pressure to
Speaker 1: have the ball because Brazil wants to also hit you
Speaker 1: quickly on the counter raphenia, you know. And I feel like, again,
Speaker 1: I don't my head telling me that the Brazil or
Speaker 1: Japan or Japan or Croatia won't be Brazil, but I
Speaker 1: think that Japan might be better, better suited to I
Speaker 1: think speaking of Japan, I think we haven't given the
Speaker 1: Asian teams enough credit because this has been an absolutely
Speaker 1: blinding World Cup for them. From South Arabia upsetting Argentina,
Speaker 1: now you have South Korea and Japan making it into
Speaker 1: the letter rounds. It's been a great World Cup for
Speaker 1: Africa as well Snegon and moroccoa in there and camera
Speaker 1: rooms stand a chance to also make it. A Gannab
Speaker 1: almost should have made it, but they're into euro Bayan swarries.
Speaker 1: But I think that this has been for me. This
Speaker 1: has been for World Cup held on their continent. This
Speaker 1: has been an absolutely fantastic World Cup for teams from
Speaker 1: the Asian Confederation. Totally agreed. I know we've been fixed
Speaker 1: on all of the all the on the pitch, but
Speaker 1: what has been your favorite storyline off the pitch. There
Speaker 1: are many great candidates off the pitch, and I think
Speaker 1: the first one that comes to mind is the Japanese fans.
Speaker 1: Everyone loves them, you know, they clean up after themselves.
Speaker 1: They do this after every World Cup, but it never
Speaker 1: see is to make it. That's how, that's how, that's
Speaker 1: how mind blowing it is. I can't believe that soccer
Speaker 1: funs because SoC funs are not the most orderly group,
Speaker 1: and Japanese fans always do this and so for me,
Speaker 1: I always love them for that. Of course, South Arabian
Speaker 1: players beating a and each of them getting a Rolls
Speaker 1: Royce that was a great story. So because they lost,
Speaker 1: they didn't make it out of the group, but they
Speaker 1: really want if I go to the World Cup and
Speaker 1: come back with the Rods Royce, and I think up one.
Speaker 1: But for me, if you ask me the great story
Speaker 1: of the page, it has to be cut up as
Speaker 1: a country. For me, it has to be the cat
Speaker 1: World Cup. And I know some people will say, oh no,
Speaker 1: your cat up is the controversial and all that, and
Speaker 1: Catas received loads of flak for everything, and I think
Speaker 1: they deserved every bit of the criticism. But it also
Speaker 1: didn't help that the national team stunk the whole joint up,
Speaker 1: because if you're hosting the World Cup, you hope that
Speaker 1: your national team at least wins the game. But I
Speaker 1: became the first host to lose the opening game and
Speaker 1: then they proceeded to lose all three games. But for
Speaker 1: all their criticisms, I think that that has delivered in
Speaker 1: an area most people didn't expect, and that's because Carter
Speaker 1: has never been mistaken for a hot bed of feminism right.
Speaker 1: In fact, there many critics who have said that this
Speaker 1: World Cup is the most anti women World Cup because
Speaker 1: women in Carta don't have their full rights. But on
Speaker 1: the pitch, I feel this is the most pro woman
Speaker 1: World Cup because it's the first World Cup that has
Speaker 1: had female referees. For me, that's something that stood out
Speaker 1: because in the past, George Men's World Cups have always
Speaker 1: been notorious sausage best men on the pitch, men officiating,
Speaker 1: men in the stands. But this World Cup, yes, I
Speaker 1: think it was just yesterday Stefan Property became the first
Speaker 1: woman to referre men's World Cup game when she took
Speaker 1: over the game between German and Costa Rica. And what
Speaker 1: made it even better was that was overseen by an
Speaker 1: old woman team because she was joined by assistance from
Speaker 1: Brazil and and Chili. And for me, the optics of
Speaker 1: that it's pretty powerful because you have twenty two test
Speaker 1: restaurant driven alpha mayor's right submitting, submitting to the authority
Speaker 1: of a woman. And the thing that Cat did which
Speaker 1: made this not just historic but symbolic is Cartter to
Speaker 1: their credit, they let the women referrece um officiate the
Speaker 1: games without putting upon them any cultural restrictions, because Carter
Speaker 1: could have gone like, no, you know what, we need
Speaker 1: them to put on scarves or jobs because there are
Speaker 1: women and cutter women need to wear this. But let no,
Speaker 1: these are women referres. Let them referrey the game that
Speaker 1: they would referre it in Europe. And so to see
Speaker 1: these women work and to see men actually submitting to
Speaker 1: the thought of a woman because she has a whistle
Speaker 1: at the world football's grandest stage, for me, that was
Speaker 1: once more step almost forced female refer is, but one
Speaker 1: gently before women in Kata and women in the Middle
Speaker 1: East and women all over the world. For sure, for sure,
Speaker 1: he is there, he is there, he is there's something
Speaker 1: that stood up for you off the beach, off the pitch,
Speaker 1: I would say, yeah, the feel good story would be
Speaker 1: definitely be the Japanese, not only the fans, but apparently
Speaker 1: like the players also cleaned the dressing room and left
Speaker 1: like origami cranes in like in the dressing room. That
Speaker 1: that was kind of that was cool. I think, Um,
Speaker 1: I'm the kind of person obviously a lot of things
Speaker 1: like these events like Olympics or or World Cups, tender
Speaker 1: always have a geopolitical tone to them, and I understand that,
Speaker 1: and that's fair. I try to kind of avoid all
Speaker 1: that and be focused on the football. Uh. And I
Speaker 1: think that this you tried to sit out the art
Speaker 1: from the attist. Agree. Yeah, so it's like you know,
Speaker 1: I'm and try to see the see the games for
Speaker 1: what for just the sporting elements of it. So again,
Speaker 1: I I understand all of the controversy, but and all
Speaker 1: the things and again all the things that you said
Speaker 1: about the women are free fantastic um. But yeah, I
Speaker 1: think yeah, but I think my favorite of the pitch
Speaker 1: story has to be the Japanese. I think I think
Speaker 1: I would leave. I think I think that my last
Speaker 1: my last world would be two American fans. I think
Speaker 1: I think if you're an American fan, you're pretty excited
Speaker 1: about the twenty six World Cup. You have a young
Speaker 1: core players who are twenty twenty one, twenty two at most,
Speaker 1: and they're going to be nearing their peak in four years.
Speaker 1: You're going to have had experience from playing at the
Speaker 1: top clubs in Europe, and this is the World Cup
Speaker 1: you're going to be hosting. I believe that six is
Speaker 1: going to be a far, far, far cry from nine
Speaker 1: America came in. They had no soccer heritage, they didn't
Speaker 1: even have a league functionally league back then, and you
Speaker 1: had players like Alexis being the main coax in the
Speaker 1: national team. So I think, if I'm an American player,
Speaker 1: I wouldn't be so down if we lost against the Netherlands.
Speaker 1: I wouldn't be so down if we didn't make it
Speaker 1: a deep run in this World Cup, because this World
Speaker 1: Cup for me, for America in particular, I remember America,
Speaker 1: by the way, is the only country that made it
Speaker 1: out from their confederation, Mexico out, Canada out. So for me,
Speaker 1: if our an American fan, will be proud of that, uh,
Speaker 1: and I would be proud to know that this World
Speaker 1: Cup is almost like a great curtain raiser. It's almost
Speaker 1: like a great appetizer for six because these players are
Speaker 1: going to be a totally different proposition when they're hosting
Speaker 1: at home and you have Americans fans on their back
Speaker 1: and they're adding them all and the players have grown
Speaker 1: four years. You imagine Tyler Adams in four years. So
Speaker 1: for me, if I an American fan, extremely excited for
Speaker 1: the future and just hoping that when six comes all
Speaker 1: our players who have been full health, and then I think,
Speaker 1: then really really make any ran for sure. I've got
Speaker 1: a few more questions for you, ChIL Uh kind of
Speaker 1: kind of quit fire. Who has been the most exciting
Speaker 1: player for you at the World Cup so far? Most
Speaker 1: exciting player without doubt, Jamal Musia. It's it's a it's
Speaker 1: a title one between Jamal Mausiana and Cody Gapco. But
Speaker 1: the way the mom Siella plays in really tight spaces.
Speaker 1: His frame looks slight, but he's very, very very hard
Speaker 1: to push off the ball. He has incredible balance and
Speaker 1: I think the only thing missing from his game. I'll
Speaker 1: give him nine out of ten. And the only reason
Speaker 1: I don't give him ten out of ten is because
Speaker 1: he lacks gold. He lacks the final product. And remember
Speaker 1: Vinicius Junior his first season at at Real Madrid. Right player,
Speaker 1: but he just can't combat and then he added that
Speaker 1: to his rabbert of skills and look what happened Realma
Speaker 1: did won the Champions League. So I think the Mom's
Speaker 1: Heirea is still missing that. But for me, he has
Speaker 1: been the most exciting player at the World Cup. I
Speaker 1: agree with you and Lucilla. I think the other player
Speaker 1: that has been exciting to me for different reasons, Jude Bellingham.
Speaker 1: I think that it's kind of been a sharp window type,
Speaker 1: you know, tournament for him, where I think that it's
Speaker 1: he's going to demand a lot of money to leave
Speaker 1: Dor in the next year or so. Probably you added
Speaker 1: a few media on Swiss price for sure, for sure,
Speaker 1: for sure okay. And I feel like now that you
Speaker 1: say that when between Musierra, Judie Barringham, Gavy Pedri and Sufati,
Speaker 1: I think the one because because all all football or
Speaker 1: so fans are breading when the moment when Ronaldo and
Speaker 1: Messy hung up their boots, because they were the first
Speaker 1: players to really come up during the social media age.
Speaker 1: But I feel like when you look at the young
Speaker 1: crop coming up, the players have mentioned, players like gap Coo,
Speaker 1: players A two many who might not be as glamorous
Speaker 1: as the players have mentioned, I think, yeah, but I
Speaker 1: think the game is in pretty good hands. Absolutely is
Speaker 1: in good hands. Yes, absolutely, okay. In a hypothetical semifinal
Speaker 1: Brazil versus Argentina, Argentina is a word of a penalty.
Speaker 1: Who takes it? I wouldn't give it to Mezie, he
Speaker 1: would not give give it to messire the pressure of
Speaker 1: the occasion and the pressure that Massy as a person has,
Speaker 1: plus he doesn't have a great record with penalties in
Speaker 1: defining moments, I wouldn't give it to Messy. I will
Speaker 1: give it, of course, MESSI will step up because the occasion,
Speaker 1: He's like Superman. When occasion demands it. You can't share
Speaker 1: away from your responsibility. But I won't give it to Massy.
Speaker 1: I'll give you to another player. I'll give it too,
Speaker 1: if he's on the pitch, I'll give it to Union
Speaker 1: Alvarez because they don't carry as much pressure. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1: I think he can't take the penalty in digital not
Speaker 1: any more penalties as a player who contributes a lot more.
Speaker 1: Even even with missing the penalty in their last game,
Speaker 1: he still was the best player on the pitch by
Speaker 1: a mile. So I would take that kind of pressure
Speaker 1: and responsibility away from him. But I don't think Massy
Speaker 1: will allow agreeing. He's not like Ronaldo. Ronaldo, when the
Speaker 1: pressure is on, he always converts. Mess will convert a
Speaker 1: thirty yard screamer, but then put in twelve years away
Speaker 1: from keep the biggest game. I think, Yeah, I think,
Speaker 1: I think I would be I wouldn't give him the penalty,
Speaker 1: I'll give it someone else. Of all the records, Leon
Speaker 1: Messy holds he has missed the most penalties of any
Speaker 1: player in the twenty one century, miss the most penalties
Speaker 1: of the World Cup as well interest in general penalties
Speaker 1: club country. Yeah, yes, no, but I mean even when
Speaker 1: it comes to front miss the most penalties in the
Speaker 1: Champions League, it's just his one flow. It's almost like
Speaker 1: you don't talk about Shaquillo and they go like Storry, yes,
Speaker 1: count shoot free throws. Yeah. It's almost like every player
Speaker 1: has a chink in their every player has an actor
Speaker 1: is here. And I think Messi's penalties has compared with
Speaker 1: many penalties. But you don't get me wrong, but he
Speaker 1: has missed so many cruisial penalties, and I feel like
Speaker 1: every time he steps up in a big moment, all
Speaker 1: the doubts sit back into his mind and here, you know,
Speaker 1: it's just like almost piteous d You start remembering all
Speaker 1: the penalties you missed, and then it becomes like a
Speaker 1: self fulfilling prophecy that you're going to miss the next one.
Speaker 1: So for me, I would go like Messy, no more
Speaker 1: penalty duties. So you give us a lot more on
Speaker 1: the pitch and away let someone else handle that particular.
Speaker 1: It's like it's a Ben Simmons. Ben Simon's can't shooting three,
Speaker 1: but he gives you a lot more defensively, so let
Speaker 1: him focus on the defensive side of again, how ye
Speaker 1: out keep the penalty duties away from massing? Okay? Fair enough? Uh?
Speaker 1: And I agree with you by the way, um so
Speaker 1: killing about Consequently, if Brazil got a penalty out there,
Speaker 1: Namer to stay out, I'll take out take out the
Speaker 1: restraining order against Nama, Yeah would, because he's also he's
Speaker 1: also a bit spot when it comes to penalty. So
Speaker 1: in the hyperthect CA scenario, or either Brazil or I
Speaker 1: did not getting a penalty, take out a restraining order
Speaker 1: against Mascy and name a stepping up. Okay, take even
Speaker 1: if Ronaldo is injured and is in the hospital, bring
Speaker 1: him in the world chair. He'll convert it. Yeah, for sure,
Speaker 1: who takes it for Brazil in that situation, if that
Speaker 1: name are I would give it to almost Casameo. Yeah, Ice,
Speaker 1: Ice in the veins agreed and they're done that. He's yeah,
Speaker 1: one multiple champion, he knows everything about pressure. Would give
Speaker 1: it to Casemeo. So here we are right now currently
Speaker 1: in the in the Golden Boots standings, Hilly and Baby,
Speaker 1: Marcus Rashford, Cody Gapco of the players who are still
Speaker 1: in the tournament are at the top of the Golden
Speaker 1: Boots standings with three goals, slightly behind Bruno Fernandez, Alvro Maratta.
Speaker 1: MESSI fair on tour? Is that too? Who do you
Speaker 1: see when in the Golden Boot I think great heads
Speaker 1: that and also when it comes to the knockout trowns,
Speaker 1: it becomes hard to score multiple goals because the defenses
Speaker 1: are that much better, the defenses are that much more disciplined.
Speaker 1: Companies are going to be tight games. But I think
Speaker 1: Bobby has done enough. It's said that Harry Kane has
Speaker 1: reduced had no goals so far, and when you look
Speaker 1: at the players who are vuying who in the running.
Speaker 1: I don't think Messy is going to score me. He
Speaker 1: might score, maybe might start bad against Australia, but I
Speaker 1: don't see him scoring more goals as the tournament goes on.
Speaker 1: I don't see Marcus Rushford is not even a startup
Speaker 1: for England right, so he probably won't score many goals
Speaker 1: going forward. Cordy Gapco has squad each and every game,
Speaker 1: but I think he's also still a bit too young,
Speaker 1: and I think his game is going to get sussed
Speaker 1: out as he meets a bit out more will drilled opponents.
Speaker 1: They're not going to making deep enough run for it
Speaker 1: to matter, whereas some of these players on the deeper
Speaker 1: running teams who have the opportunity more opportunity to to
Speaker 1: so for without it out. Okay, fair enough, I think
Speaker 1: that we've touched on most of the questions, and I
Speaker 1: have one last question for you, Joe Opio. Okay, now
Speaker 1: you're making meetings other than watch, other than watch Barcelona
Speaker 1: playing the Europa League on Thursdays, what will you do
Speaker 1: when the World Cup is over with your time? Come on?
Speaker 1: That's it. That's that's that's that's a low low bloh,
Speaker 1: what will look? I'll just you know what I'll do.
Speaker 1: I'll just watch reruns of my messic games. If I
Speaker 1: finds of the Office can watch reruns of your Office
Speaker 1: on Netflix, then I should be jagged for going back
Speaker 1: and then doing the magic. That's messy. You know YouTube
Speaker 1: has most of his clips, so for me, yeah, I
Speaker 1: know that's what I'll be doing. And guess what would happen.
Speaker 1: Because I'm watching Messy every runs of Messy's best games.
Speaker 1: I'm going to watch Massy dunk on your team. Yeah
Speaker 1: in there, of course, Messy has incredible magical moments against
Speaker 1: your Madrid. So I'll just put messic lips on a loop.
Speaker 1: That's what I will do. Nice And then finally, just
Speaker 1: say it one more time, who is your pick to
Speaker 1: win the World Cup? My hat says Argentina for obvious reasons,
Speaker 1: because I think, and I know this can be controversial.
Speaker 1: I think football owes Messy World Cup. He has given
Speaker 1: us so much joy over there as we need to
Speaker 1: return that joy by giving him the greatest and biggest
Speaker 1: trophy that we can. But my brain says Brazil, even France.
Speaker 1: But I wish mess would do it, But I don't
Speaker 1: think the football that footballing goods are going to grant
Speaker 1: us that wish. But my hat, which is mystical, which
Speaker 1: should be a great Swan song, to be a great
Speaker 1: way for him pride off into the land set. But
Speaker 1: I think Brazil and France, yeah, we'll be happy to
Speaker 1: spoil the putty. Agreed, agreed, uh And one last thing,
Speaker 1: if you didn't notice, show, because you did mention during
Speaker 1: the podcast that we do play we do play together
Speaker 1: sometimes and uh, it might be the first year post
Speaker 1: COVID that we do the industry tournament. I'm sporting our
Speaker 1: daily show, our Daily Show, kids, we we we met
Speaker 1: the diep Ran. But this has been a Daily Show
Speaker 1: recap of the World Cup. I'm George Guntas and I'm
Speaker 1: Joe Opio. See you next time. For more on the
Speaker 1: World Cup. Listen to Joe opios full conversation with Grant
Speaker 1: Law at Daily Show dot com, slash beyond What's the
Speaker 1: Daily Show weeknights and eleven Central on Comedy Central and
Speaker 1: stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus. This is been
Speaker 1: a Comedy Central podcast.