1 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,039 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Away And 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: my name is Danielle Alercone. My co host, John Green 3 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,479 Speaker 1: is indisposed at the moment, and we're going to do 4 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,600 Speaker 1: something a little different, do an episode without him, and 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: sitting in for John Green is our producer Sean Titan. Hello. Sean, Hey, Daniel, 6 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: how you doing. I'm doing great? Sean. You are renowned 7 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: and celebrated around the world for your encyclopedic soccer knowledge, 8 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: which will surely be on display in today's episode. And 9 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: what we've decided to do, well, what'd you explain what 10 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna do today? That's just a little bit different. 11 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess we're The bulk of today's episode is 12 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: going to come from listener emails, which is not necessarily 13 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: something completely new to the show, something we normally relegate 14 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,760 Speaker 2: to the end of the episodes, but we are gonna 15 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: make it the full episode because we've been getting so 16 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: many thoughtful. 17 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 3: Emails from our listeners, which again, you guys can email 18 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 3: the show at a wayendpod at gmail dot com. Thank 19 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 3: you all so much for everything you've sent in. But yeah, 20 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 3: I think we're going to just go through some of 21 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 3: these questions for today's episode. 22 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, and I should say our next episode, John 23 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: had prepared a deep dive into the US men's national team, 24 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: which I'm excited to hear. I have a storytell which 25 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: is related to that, and we're going to just table 26 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: that discussion until next week. But in the meantime, here's 27 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: Sean and I answering some questions. I think mostly me 28 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 1: answering the questions. 29 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, that would probably be best for our listeners. 30 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: Yes, okay, all right, so let's go. Why don't you 31 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: start with the first email. I'm so excited to hear 32 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: what's been written. All right, here we go. 33 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,919 Speaker 3: First email, Dear John and Daniel. I am a Brazilian 34 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 3: football fan and was very surprised to see that a 35 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 3: Brazilian coach was announced as the new Peruvian national team coach. 36 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 3: I'm curious to see what Daniel thinks about this. In Brazil, 37 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 3: he is regarded as a reliable coach for helping clubs 38 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 3: avoid relegation, but not much beyond that. He saved my 39 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 3: team Fluminense from relegation in twenty twenty four, so I 40 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 3: have a soft spot for him. Follows up follows it 41 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 3: up with this news combined with Ancelotti becoming the Brazilian 42 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 3: national team coach got me thinking about how strange it 43 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 3: still feels when a national team hires a foreign coach. 44 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 3: On the one hand, I'm very happy Brazil has a 45 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 3: coach as great as Ancelotti, and it's making me a 46 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 3: little hopeful for Brazil's chances for the first time in 47 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 3: a long time. But at the same time, it still 48 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 3: feels strange to me that he is not Brazilian. What 49 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 3: do you guys think about this trend? Best wishes, Helena. 50 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: Helena, thank you for your question. I love this question 51 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: because it makes me think a lot about national identity 52 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: and stylistic footballing identity as it relates to the personality 53 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: and character of a nation. I think Ancelotti. I'll start 54 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: with the Ancelotti question because I do think that if 55 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: there's if there is a non Brazilian who can get 56 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: Brazilian football, I think it would be Ancelotti. Having coached 57 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:26,839 Speaker 1: across Europe had many many Brazilian players. I think he, 58 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: you know, in his most recent job was at Real Madrid, 59 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: where he worked really closely with Vinessis Junior and we 60 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: have a great relationship. I think that he sort of 61 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: understands the need for Brazilian players to really express themselves 62 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: and to take risks, and he trusts his players and 63 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: I think that for those reasons he'll do well. Now. 64 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 1: It does raise a lot of interesting questions. Helene is 65 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: referring to the proven coach Manu Meneses, who's the new 66 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: coach of the national team. I think it's really interesting 67 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: because you say that he's an ex spurt in saving 68 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: teams from relegation. Let's be honest, if there were a 69 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: relegation for national teams, Peru would have been relegated in 70 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: the last World Cup qualifying season, so we ended up 71 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: second to last. It's the head of Chile and it's 72 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: kind of brutal. So you know, it's not exactly the magic. 73 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: You know that we're not necessarily need a coach who's 74 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: going to bring us up, you know, and make us 75 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 1: champions of South America. But to raise our level from 76 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: the bottom, you know, there's there's almost nowhere to go 77 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: but up. He's got to oversee a complete overhaul of 78 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: the team, a generational transformation, bringing new players, and it's 79 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: a it's not it's not gonna be an easy task. 80 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:49,040 Speaker 1: I will say this, while we as fans often want 81 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: our coach to be from the country, to represent the country, 82 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:56,919 Speaker 1: you know, are Our most successful coach of modern times 83 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: in Peru anyway, has been gad Eka Argentine, who took 84 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 1: us to the twenty eighteen World Cup. And I do 85 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: think there's something about having an outsider come in and 86 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: sort of tell you sort of what you need to 87 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: do without the kind of romanticism of being tied to 88 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: the national project in the same way that that can 89 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: be super useful. I mean it's almost like like hiring 90 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: a consultant, you know, to come in and tell you 91 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: who's the dead would And I think in that sense 92 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: it can be useful. 93 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 3: What do you think, John, Yeah, I mean I think, 94 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 3: you know, I think about a team like Brazil, who 95 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 3: just seems to always be a favorite any World Cup 96 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 3: that they're in, paired with a coach who has such, 97 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 3: you know, an amazing record, you know, working with so 98 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 3: many different teams. Do you feel like this pairing puts 99 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 3: them in a place to have to be a favorite 100 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 3: heading into the series World Cup? 101 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: I think you never discount Brazil and I wonder, however, 102 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: as you know, his pedigrees you mentioned is incredible. He's 103 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: coached at all the biggest clubs in Europe, but he's 104 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: never coached the national team, which is a different beast altogether. 105 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:11,159 Speaker 1: You know, when you coach a club team, you work 106 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: with the players you know, ten months a year, you know, 107 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: six days a week. You see them in training every 108 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: single day. You see them in games, you know, and 109 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: at those top leagues you're watching, you know, they're playing 110 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: two games a week. For a national team, you get 111 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: camps that are one week long, you know, in the 112 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: middle of the season, and then maybe a longer camp 113 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: in the summer for a tournament, you know, in preparation 114 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 1: for a tournament. But you're basically you're you're sort of 115 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: like a scout because you're always going to the stadiums 116 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: or watching the games to see how your players are doing. 117 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 1: But they a player might be playing badly because they're 118 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,799 Speaker 1: in a bad team with a bad coach with bad tactics, 119 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: but they might still be a good player for you, 120 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,680 Speaker 1: right or your best player might be you know, had 121 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: a falling out with their manager of their club team 122 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 1: and their not playing and they need to be playing 123 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: to be at you know, tip top shape for the tournament. 124 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: So it's like this really interesting balancing act that's so 125 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: different from what Angelaties used to and I think that's 126 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: gonna be really interesting. But to Helene's question, I think 127 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 1: Brazil will do very well this time. They're they're just 128 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: too good to have too many good players, too many 129 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: talented players to not pull it together. I'm not saying 130 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: they're gonna win. And actually, one of the problems I 131 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: think with Brazil is that if they don't win, it's 132 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 1: a failure, right, because they're so historically such a powerful team. 133 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: But I think, you know, getting to the Semis would 134 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:38,240 Speaker 1: be incredible for this Brazilian team, considering the kind of 135 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: disappointments they've had in the past. 136 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 3: All Right, well, thank you Hilen for such a great question. 137 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 3: Should we go to that? Should we go to the 138 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 3: next one? 139 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's do it. 140 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 3: Let's do it, all right, Dear John and Daniel. Really 141 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 3: enjoying the pod, looking forward to hearing more. Well, thank 142 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 3: you last episode admids to your criticism of the away 143 00:07:56,200 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 3: goals rule, which it admittedly deserves parentheses theirs, you neglected 144 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 3: to mention the rule's greatest upside. It was the only 145 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 3: way a team could go directly from losing to winning. 146 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 3: In a single kick. While the game is probably better 147 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 3: off without the rule, many of us will miss moments 148 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 3: like Andreas Niesta's goal against Chelsea in two thousand and 149 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 3: nine or Lucas Mora's goal against Iyaks in twenty nineteen. 150 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 3: Both goals took teams to the Champions League Final directly 151 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 3: from losing positions, a beautiful level of drama that is 152 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: unfortunately no longer possible. My question is do either of 153 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 3: you support or follow any clubs here in the US. 154 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 3: That's a pivot from that. It's quite a point. 155 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 1: Let me, let me, let me address the first one. 156 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: I completely agree with you. There there was such drama 157 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: in you know, in one goal changing everything, and I 158 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,120 Speaker 1: agree that the Lucas Mora goal for sure. I remember 159 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: then there's the goal. I remember mostly for the image 160 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: of of Chelsea's captain, the German guy running after the 161 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: ref shouting uh in his face, demanding that the goal 162 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: be called off for a foul. And I can't remember 163 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,559 Speaker 1: the German players name actually, unfortunately, Yeah, no, that's gone. 164 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,080 Speaker 1: That's gone. I just don't think it's as fair as 165 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: it used to be, you know, it's it's it's no 166 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: longer necessary and it's not not super fair anymore. Okay, 167 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: the other question, do you support a follow new clubs 168 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,559 Speaker 1: here in the US? Yes, I uh. In the first episode, 169 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: so longtime listeners of the away and will know that 170 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,720 Speaker 1: I made fun of MLS a little bit in the 171 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: very first episode and made fun of Red Bulls New 172 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,719 Speaker 1: York Red Bulls. But I actually ask my team, I 173 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 1: actually really love them. They're they're not great, but the 174 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:53,560 Speaker 1: stadium experience is so lovely. People there are so so nice. 175 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: We have a nice little rivalry with ny CFC. We 176 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: have a new player. I remember watching, for example, Tyler 177 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 1: Adams play there, who's now one of the best players 178 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,920 Speaker 1: on the US men's national team, when he was like seventeen, 179 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: and just thinking he was the best player on the pitch. 180 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: So I feel like I've had really great experiences watching 181 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 1: that team. There's a new kid now, Julian Hall I 182 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 1: think his name is scored Brace in the first game 183 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: of them last season the other day, and so yeah, 184 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: it's good. It's a good academy. They have lots of 185 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: good young players. They don't have a huge salary budget, 186 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: and that's one of the reasons why they never do 187 00:10:34,280 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: as well as you would like them to do, being 188 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: theoretically a big market team. But yeah, they're fun to 189 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:43,960 Speaker 1: watch and I like teams who are red. So there 190 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: it is the New York Red Bulls. I can't answer 191 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: for John, but we'll pose that question to him when 192 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: he gets back. Sounds good, all right, Moving on, next 193 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: email here, love the podcast. I fell in love with 194 00:10:57,520 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: soccer as an adult and probably will never catch up 195 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 1: the growing obsessions. So this could not have come at 196 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 1: a better time. Maybe you've noticed, but a lot of 197 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:08,439 Speaker 1: media around soccer is super lame, toxic, ultimately really depressing 198 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: and all that noise. It's lovely to hear the uplifting 199 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: bits highlighted and the tough realities of the sport discussed thoughtfully. 200 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: Thank you, that's so nice. That's so nice. Yeah, very nice, 201 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: very nice. 202 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:23,199 Speaker 3: All right, they go on. I was lightly devastated by 203 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 3: your Uruguay analysis. As a Bielsa appreciator and Darwin believer, 204 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 3: Sue me, I do appreciate getting the chance to quash 205 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 3: hope in advance and can root for the best case 206 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 3: project get out Argentina. Prompted by your talk on Hames Rodriguez, 207 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 3: I'm curious if there are any other standout players who 208 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,720 Speaker 3: play notably better for country than club. I'd love to 209 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,719 Speaker 3: hear more of their stories. And then my side and 210 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 3: equally important question is why do players hate Mark Kuquarella 211 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 3: so much? He seems like an alright guy who doesn't 212 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:01,199 Speaker 3: reach even close to Bruno Fernandez. Love of annoying anyway, 213 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 3: I love the pop Let's go Columbia, Uruguay and never England. 214 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 3: I don't have a name for that email, so I 215 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 3: don't know. Thank you to whoever wrote that. 216 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: Though, Oh shoot, we'll find out who that was. But 217 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: that's a great question, okay, Jamas Rodriguez. Players who notably 218 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 1: play better for a country than club, I mean, the 219 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: first one that comes to mind is Landon Donovan. Unfortunately, 220 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: like I remember watching him when he'd come play every 221 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: few months, you know, once a year, every few months, 222 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: play a few months for Everton in the Premier League, 223 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 1: and I never thought he was up to much. Yeah, honestly, 224 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 1: that's the one. But you know, he scored some incredibly 225 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: important goals for the US in major competitions, including that 226 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: glorious last second winner against Algeria, which I'll never forget 227 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 1: and I celebrated vociferously and frightened my neighbors. So yeah, 228 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 1: he's the one that stands out for me. Okay, Sean, 229 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: Before I answered Mark co corella question, can you google 230 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 1: Mark Corella to just sort of see what we're talking about? 231 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: Who we're talking about hair? 232 00:13:09,880 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 3: Yes, let me do that right now. 233 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: Okay, So now you're looking at a picture of Mark 234 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: co Corella, do you want to know? I want you 235 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: to just guess. Why do you think people hate him 236 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: so much? I mean, he has glorious hair. He has 237 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: glorious hair, he does. 238 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I can't imagine they would hate him for 239 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 3: his flowing locks. That can't be any reason to for 240 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 3: somebody to hate somebody. 241 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: I don't know. Okay, I'm gonna suffer there. I think 242 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:48,959 Speaker 1: my theory is that it does have to do with that. 243 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 1: I feel like players with long hair stand out so 244 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: much and long and he has beautiful hair, like gorgeous hair, 245 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: you know, And I think that, uh, he stands out 246 00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: on the pitch so much that he draws a lot 247 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: of attention to himself by having that hair. There was 248 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 1: a player for Arsenal a few seasons ago, last name 249 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: Gwendoozi and uh he also had He had similar hair, 250 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 1: and I think he also sort of became a pantomime 251 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: villain for other teams. So there's something about the long 252 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 1: hair that just is like, hey, look at me, and 253 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: other teams fans, uh, sort of don't take kindly to that. Look. 254 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: I'm sure he seems like I'm sure he's a nice guy. 255 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: I have no question, And I'm sure Bruno Fernandez is 256 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: also a fine human being, like I have no reason 257 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: to think otherwise. I think that players hate Mark Cucurella 258 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: in part because he is very good. He's a very 259 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: good defender. He has that long hair that calls attention 260 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: to him and uh, and he does do a lot 261 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: of like to me, I mean, Chelsea players, Chelsea fans 262 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: love him the same way that that that man. United 263 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: fans will love Bruno Fernandez. But Marco Gorilla is uh, 264 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: you know, he he does a lot of like fowls, 265 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: like Nigley fowls, and then falls over and flops a 266 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 1: lot and complains a lot. You know, he's a very 267 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: passionate player, and he has that you know, beautiful mane 268 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: of of of curly hair that I think that combination 269 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: just makes you'll hate him, you know, And it's probably 270 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: not fair. Nothing about fandom is fair or logical. But 271 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: there it is. There it is. You should take a 272 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: quick break. Uh, come back and read some more emails. 273 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 1: Sounds like a plan. All right, we'll be right back. Okay, 274 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 1: we're back on the away end on the nil alert 275 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: Sean Titan. Our producers here sitting in he got called 276 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: up to the first team, subbing in at the last 277 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: moment for uh, for John Green. This is a question 278 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: from Andrea Voss. You want to read this one. I'd 279 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: really like this question. 280 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 3: Andrea says, if Kurusaw can field a team with the 281 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 3: quality for the World Cup, could the Upper West Side? 282 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 3: It's about the same population, referring to New York City, 283 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 3: the Upper west Side of New York. That is a 284 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 3: callback to our last episode. I think when Daniel was 285 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 3: talking about playing on a playing on a team on 286 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 3: the Upper west Side. That check out that episode. Thank 287 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 3: you for the high quality of humor and quality and 288 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 3: your take on the game. Middle age expat who spent 289 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 3: the first half of his life in Germany, in the 290 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 3: second half on the Upper west Side. 291 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: All right, so this is andre Loss. I wonder if 292 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: I've played with Andreas, So I've played a lot on 293 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: the Upper west Side, in Riverside Park, in Morningside Park, 294 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: at Booker T. Washington Park, Annunciation Park which is up 295 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: over by City College, basically anywhere green that has a 296 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: soccer pitch between, like fifty ninth Street in one hundred 297 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: and forty fifth Street. I've played there at some point. Now, 298 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: could we put together a team that could play against 299 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: Coursau because let me rephrase the question, because you know, 300 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: could a team from the qualify for the World Cup? 301 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: Like if we had been in the place of Courrosow, 302 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: could we have beaten, say Jamaica or turn it down, Tobago, 303 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: you know, those teams that Coursau would have been playing against. 304 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 1: I don't think so. I don't think so. It's an 305 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: interesting question. It's not just a matter of population. I 306 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: feel like players on the Upper west Side very in quality, 307 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 1: age sort of how seriously they take the game. Fitness, Uh, 308 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 1: you know, I don't feel like I've seen I've played 309 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 1: with a lot of really quality old people on the 310 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: Upper west Side, like and multiple I mean like people 311 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 1: of my age and older, and I always end up 312 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 1: saying they're very good for their age, which I can't 313 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,199 Speaker 1: even say about myself. Anymore. But I don't think that 314 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,159 Speaker 1: we could do it, at least not the players that 315 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: I'm coming across. The younger player. You know, maybe there's 316 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:23,199 Speaker 1: a there's a kind of undiscovered, you know, crew of 317 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: players ages eighteen to twenty eight on the Upper west 318 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,840 Speaker 1: Side who could really put it together. But we'd have 319 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: to find twenty two of them. No, no, I'm going 320 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,240 Speaker 1: to go I'm going to say no. I'm gonna say no. However, 321 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: I have played some really incredible games with some really 322 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: wonderful players and most importantly wonderful people on the Upper 323 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 1: west Side. So in the World Cup of lovely people, 324 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: the Upper west Side would be at least make it 325 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,119 Speaker 1: to the quarterfinals. Nice. 326 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I would imagine if you are in that eighteen 327 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,240 Speaker 3: to twenty eight range, and you are actually really good 328 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:03,639 Speaker 3: and talented, you're most likely not playing in a league 329 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:05,280 Speaker 3: on the Upper west Side. 330 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: Where I would be playing. Is that what you're saying. 331 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 1: It's like we're like ships passday night. So there are 332 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: good players that are World Cup levels, just that I 333 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: would never see them because I'm playing with a bunch 334 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: of old people with bad knees. That's probably true, Sean, 335 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:19,880 Speaker 1: That's that's that's a fair point. Okay, So how about 336 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,679 Speaker 1: Moving's question, No, Dondrew's question. You know, we'll have to 337 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: do more research. We'll have to do more research. Just 338 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: not sure. 339 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:36,439 Speaker 3: All right, thank you Andre. Let's see all right, this 340 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 3: comes from Tyler. Hey, guys, loving the away and so 341 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,959 Speaker 3: far never listen to a football pod before. Well, welcome 342 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 3: Tyler as a new fan. One thing that keeps confusing 343 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 3: me about the tears of English football will be when 344 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 3: I hear about some town I've never heard of, and 345 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 3: then you say that they lost to Arsenal or some 346 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 3: super world famous team coming from the world of American football. 347 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 3: That's like hearing that some random suburb beaten by the 348 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 3: New England Patriots. Is Arsenal playing random teams like this 349 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 3: all the time? Do they ever lose? Is it a 350 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 3: flatter competitive level than I think in Manchester? United just 351 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 3: happens to have better pr people. Thanks Tyler. 352 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 1: That is a great question. Okay. So these are kind 353 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: of basic structural questions about how European leagues work, and 354 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 1: I think it's kind of fascinating, especially if you are 355 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: sort of a you know, if you're customed to American 356 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:32,680 Speaker 1: sports leagues, they're closed basically, and there's no promotion or relegation, 357 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: and so you can you know, in the NBA now 358 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 1: and I know there's only tangentially people are you know, 359 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: like one of the big conversations about tanking in a 360 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: European league or any sort of soccer league that has 361 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: promotion relegation, there's no tanking because the teams are fighting 362 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: to the last day to stay in the league, because 363 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 1: the bottom three teams usually go down. Right. So now, 364 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: how is it then that you know a team like 365 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:04,400 Speaker 1: you know, Arsenal is playing like some small suburban team. 366 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: So in addition to regular sort of the season, the 367 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:12,199 Speaker 1: league that you know what we would call like the 368 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: regular season, that is its own championship, right, that's its 369 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 1: own tournament. Right, So every team plays every team home 370 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: and away, three points for a win, one point for 371 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: a draw. Whoever has the most points at the end wins, 372 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: and that is the most coveted trophy in the land. Right, 373 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:32,439 Speaker 1: It's a very big deal. And my team, for example, 374 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: Arsenal hasn't won in twenty two years, and it's the 375 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: source of much anxiety and hope and expectation and despair. 376 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: Every season will will just be the year that Arsenal wins, right, 377 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,360 Speaker 1: And it's just there's no playoffs at the end. It's 378 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,639 Speaker 1: just you know, who has the most points at the 379 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: end period, right. So that's one thing what makes a 380 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: lot of these leagues interesting I think. And this happens, 381 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: you know, again not just in England or in what 382 00:21:58,080 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: we call the Premier League, but all over Europe and 383 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: a lot of national leagues in Latin America as well. 384 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 1: Is it simultaneous to the regular league. They're playing cups, right, 385 00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 1: So in the UK they play the League Cup and 386 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: the f A Cup, right, and that's where you're gonna get. 387 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: So you might see Arsenal playing you know, a Wigan, 388 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,640 Speaker 1: you know a team like Wigan, right, And Wigan has 389 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: been in the Premier League. They've they've fallen out of 390 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: the Premier League and they're currently I think languishing and 391 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:28,919 Speaker 1: like the what would be the second or third division. 392 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: But they get they the in the in these cups. 393 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: Basically all the teams get put in the in the 394 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: pot and they you know, they pick random teams and 395 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: they have these playoffs and that is structured like a 396 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: playoff where it's like a knockout tournament. Two teams play 397 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 1: each other, the winner goes on and blah blah blah. 398 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: And so that's where you get these these these kind 399 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: of strange, exotic matchups of the team a gigantic team 400 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,880 Speaker 1: like Manchester United with a small team like Macclesfield or 401 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 1: or whatever, Lowton Town, et cetera. And it can be 402 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: really fun because that's when whenever people you'll hear the 403 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,959 Speaker 1: phrase and I've become very attuned to like English soccer cliches, 404 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 1: which I love. And you know, people talk about the 405 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: magic of the Cup, and I think that's what they 406 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,960 Speaker 1: refer to, is when you get these minno's beating up 407 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: on these giants. So it isn't really that Manchester United 408 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: has better pr people. It's that they have bigger budgets, 409 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: bigger stadiums, you know, many more trophies, huge fan bases 410 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:34,399 Speaker 1: that are not just local but international, and and and 411 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:38,439 Speaker 1: those teams you know, will occasionally get drawn against smaller 412 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 1: teams in these cups and they can be huge paydays 413 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,520 Speaker 1: for the small teams because they get you know, TV money, 414 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: and they get ticket you know, ticket money, and they 415 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: also a huge sense of pride. If a small team 416 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 1: knocks out a big team, it's always really fun unless 417 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: it's your team and then it sucks. Yeah, but I 418 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 1: think it's fun. I think it would be fun to 419 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: see the New England Patriots play against you know, I 420 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 1: don't know, some Pop Warner Pee Wee football team. Will 421 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,159 Speaker 1: be fun to see what the upper west Side, possibly 422 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: the upper west side you know in football, would be 423 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,520 Speaker 1: would be really great. Yeah, So I hope that answers 424 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 1: your question, Tyler, and you know, welcome to the world 425 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: of football and football pots. All right, before we go, 426 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: we actually look this up and our apologies and our 427 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: gratitude to Libia Mars who asked the question about Mark Upurella, 428 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,720 Speaker 1: which was my absolute favorite. So let's take a quick break. 429 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 1: We'll come back with a couple more questions before we 430 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: wrap up. Okay, this is the away end here with 431 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: Sean our producer, Sean, how you doing man? Enjoying me 432 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: his emails. We got a couple more questions before we 433 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 1: wrap up this special episode. 434 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,360 Speaker 3: Okay, you want to hit me with this one from Jonathan? Yeah, 435 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 3: this comes from Jonathan aunt Shryl. He asks why are 436 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:17,639 Speaker 3: China not a powerhouse? Why is why is China? Well 437 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:19,160 Speaker 3: it's not correct, Jonathan. 438 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:28,760 Speaker 1: Here, why is China. Why is yes? Okay, fine, it's 439 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 1: why is China not a powers in football? Okay? 440 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 3: Go on. It's a pretty big sport over there, unlike 441 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 3: say India, where a few other sports are more popular. 442 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 3: They have the amount of people and skill, they have money, 443 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 3: they have good work ethic. I studied and lived there 444 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 3: for a year. So what's up with that? What's up 445 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 3: with that? That's a great question. And I am not 446 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 3: a Chinese expert on Chinese soccer or an expert on 447 00:25:55,160 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 3: Chinese anything. My first response to this, uh, you know, 448 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 3: having said that I know nothing, I'm going to say 449 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 3: something anyway. My first reponse this is that it feels 450 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 3: to me like China is good at whatever they want 451 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 3: to be good at. Uh. 452 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 1: And so maybe they haven't just committed to this sport yet. 453 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:15,399 Speaker 1: I was just remember, I mean, just a couple of 454 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,480 Speaker 1: weeks ago, I was watching the or that might have 455 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: been last week. I guess even a lot of these 456 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 1: like snowboarding, you know, half pipe, lunatic sports in the 457 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: winter in the winter Olympics that were amazing and there's 458 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: Chinese athletes at the very top of those sports. And uh, 459 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: and it's just really amazing to see I have no 460 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: doubt that the the that if China sort of decides 461 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: as a nation they want to be really good at talcer, 462 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: they will be. There is a Chinese Super League, and 463 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: and I wonder how much of it is related to 464 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: the sort of boom and bus cycle that the Chinese 465 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: Super League had. There was a time, and it wasn't 466 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 1: very long ago, uh, you know, maybe fifteen, you know, 467 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:04,880 Speaker 1: twelve years ago or something, when the Chinese Super League 468 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:07,320 Speaker 1: was the equivalent of what the Saudi Pro League is now, 469 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: where they just had, you know, gobs and gobs of 470 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:14,720 Speaker 1: money and were throwing crazy contracts at European based players 471 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:20,119 Speaker 1: and luring them away from top teams, you know, teams 472 00:27:20,160 --> 00:27:23,880 Speaker 1: like Chelsea. You know, thinking of a wonderful Brazilian player 473 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: named Oscar who kind of disappeared into China and I think, 474 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,959 Speaker 1: as far as I know, continues to play there. But 475 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: it did feel like a fall off in skill and 476 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:37,600 Speaker 1: sort of technical level that players that went off to 477 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:39,199 Speaker 1: play in China kind of like were never heard from 478 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: again because they weren't then called back to their national 479 00:27:40,960 --> 00:27:44,680 Speaker 1: teams because they had dropped a level or two or three. 480 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: My understanding is that the Chinese Super League has had 481 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:48,919 Speaker 1: sort of cycles. They no longer have the money to 482 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: throw around like they did, so they're not bringing in 483 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,320 Speaker 1: that kind of talent. And in any case, I mean, 484 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 1: those leagues end up thriving when they have you know, 485 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:02,200 Speaker 1: the eyeballs and the attention of local audiences, right, and 486 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: sometimes bringing in a foreign player who's a star can 487 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 1: jump start that process. Sometimes it can lead to a 488 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 1: raising of the level that makes the local players better. 489 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:20,400 Speaker 1: Sometimes it can lead to distortions that don't really sort 490 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: of lead to sort of grassroots soccer excellence. So I'd 491 00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:25,440 Speaker 1: have to know more about, like how much are the 492 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,679 Speaker 1: Chinese clubs investing in their in their academies, you know, 493 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 1: because that's where the next great generation of players are 494 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 1: always going to come. And that sort of remains to 495 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 1: be seen. But yeah, basically you're right. They have the 496 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: people in skill and the money, so you would think 497 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: they'd be able to do it. We'll see you did 498 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: have You did have thoughts on that. See, I have 499 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: thoughts on lots of things, man, It's one of the 500 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:51,680 Speaker 1: things that I do just sit around and think. 501 00:28:52,760 --> 00:28:57,080 Speaker 3: All right, let's see, last but not least, we have 502 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 3: a wonderful note here from Simon Simon Ben. He says, Hi, John, 503 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 3: Daniel and Sean, thank. 504 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: You for yeah, yeah spell three spelleries. 505 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:14,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, he got it right with one of the three, 506 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 3: so that's good. Not sure if you'll be doing any 507 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:21,760 Speaker 3: deep dives into Australia for the podcast, but I felt 508 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 3: compelled to email in due to Daniel being Peruvian and 509 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:28,000 Speaker 3: how we Australia came to qualify for the twenty twenty 510 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,959 Speaker 3: two World Cup. Perhaps Daniel can retell the story of 511 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 3: the Peru versus Australia inter Confederation playoff from his perspective 512 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 3: in Australia. The quote gray Wiggle was instantly enshrined in 513 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 3: our footballing folklore thanks to Andrew Redmain's dancing antics during 514 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:49,719 Speaker 3: the penalty shootout, especially as he was substituted on just 515 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 3: for the shootout despite Peru's ultimate loss. Sorry, I do 516 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 3: believe that read, I do believe that Redmain did actually 517 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 3: becomes sort of a cult figure in Peru following the game. 518 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 3: I'd love to hear about how Daniel experienced everything surrounding 519 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:09,160 Speaker 3: that game, including the lead up and aftermath, if he 520 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 3: can bring himself to looking forward to the World Cup 521 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 3: and Australia playing the USA. Thank you, and you'll never 522 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 3: walk alone shout out to John and his favorite song. 523 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:22,600 Speaker 3: So yeah, thank you Simon. 524 00:30:23,240 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: All right, well, if I can bring myself to answer 525 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: this question, that's good. Thank you Simon for this and 526 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: for reminding me of a truly terrible day. No, so okay, 527 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: So for those of you who don't know, and I 528 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:41,120 Speaker 1: presume that most listeners weren't glued to their televisions watching 529 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 1: the Inter Confederation playoff toe in Peru in Australia four 530 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: years ago, but I was, and so were most of 531 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: my cousins and family and many friends. So what he's 532 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 1: referring to, what Simon's referring to is the goalkeeper Andrew Redmain, 533 00:30:58,600 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: the second string Australian goalkeeper. They played, the game had 534 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: gone to a zero zero fire remember correctly, it was 535 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: going went to extra time, then went to penalty kicks, 536 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: and it was decided on penalty kicks. They bring on 537 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:19,440 Speaker 1: Andrew Redmain specifically for the shootout, which is something that 538 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: isn't often done. And when he says the gray wiggle, 539 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: it's because this guy you've seen Sean these kind of 540 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: like in front of a used car dealership. They have 541 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:33,320 Speaker 1: the air guy that they just like that inflates and 542 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,480 Speaker 1: its arms flap around. So imagine that in the form 543 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: of like a six foot six Australian guy with a 544 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: beard sort of flapping about, and you can't come off 545 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,280 Speaker 1: your line in a soccer shootout, like as the penalty 546 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:50,320 Speaker 1: is taken. When the penalty has taken, your foot has 547 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 1: to be at least one foot has to be on 548 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: the line. So he's moving side to side, flapping his 549 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: arms like like a deranged giant, you know, pterodactyl or something, 550 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,800 Speaker 1: and completely freaked out the Proven players. I don't remember 551 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: how many players missed or who missed. I've blocked it 552 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: all out. I just know that as soon as he 553 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 1: started flapping his arms, I knew that we were going 554 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:14,080 Speaker 1: to lose, and we did. So now how do I 555 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:15,880 Speaker 1: feel about that? I have a lot of thoughts about this. 556 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:18,800 Speaker 1: I happened to be at the twenty eighteen game when 557 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: Peru qualified playing New Zealand, and there's a huge difference, 558 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: and the difference and the core difference is in twenty eighteen, 559 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,960 Speaker 1: those games were played home and away, So the proven 560 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 1: team flew to New Zealand played there zero zero, then 561 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: the flew back to Lima. The New Zealand team flew 562 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 1: to Lima and was completely overwhelmed by playing in a 563 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:51,560 Speaker 1: Peruvian stadium full of Peruvian fans. They must have been 564 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 1: jet lagged. When they were trying to rest, the Peruvian 565 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,480 Speaker 1: Air Force flew a plane over their hotel to keep 566 00:32:57,520 --> 00:32:59,960 Speaker 1: them from resting. There were fans camped out their home 567 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:04,000 Speaker 1: till all night long, playing and singing drums. You know. 568 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:09,120 Speaker 1: I remember being at the stadium and just I could 569 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: tell how overwhelmed the Kiwis were with the with the atmosphere, 570 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,520 Speaker 1: you know, two hours before the game, the stadium was 571 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,000 Speaker 1: full and everyone was singing. I mentioned that because it's 572 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:22,600 Speaker 1: a huge disadvantage for us to play a game in 573 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:25,240 Speaker 1: a neutral territory. And I can't remember actually where they played, 574 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 1: but when we played Australia on neutral ground, we lost 575 00:33:30,560 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 1: all the atmosphere and that we lost it was like 576 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:37,520 Speaker 1: playing a man down for Peru. Having said that, we 577 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 1: you know, we didn't we didn't do great. We didn't. 578 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 1: We didn't we didn't get we didn't really deserve to 579 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: get through. We didn't play with any sort of authority 580 00:33:48,040 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: or attacking verve. And when it went down to penalties shootouts. 581 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 1: You know, when it goes to penalty shootouts, anyone can win. 582 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:57,280 Speaker 1: And and as soon as Andrew Redman started throwing his 583 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,400 Speaker 1: arms around, it was obvious to me what was going 584 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:03,040 Speaker 1: to happen. So there it is. That's the story. Very 585 00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: painful to remember, but thank you Simon for your question 586 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,280 Speaker 1: and for making me relive that trauma. 587 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 3: The gray wiggle reminds me of I know, we've talked 588 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 3: a little bit about how John was sort of the 589 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:20,640 Speaker 3: ultra in our high school during soccer matches when he 590 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 3: would come to watch. But I also have feel like 591 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 3: I have memories of him doing that during basketball games 592 00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 3: to try to rattle whoever was shooting free throws on 593 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:37,640 Speaker 3: the other team, doing a similar dance, as well as 594 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:41,880 Speaker 3: yelling to to try to, you know, rattle the shooter. 595 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:45,080 Speaker 1: Does that bring all? Yeah, And I think these are 596 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:49,440 Speaker 1: the kinds of skills that the intangibles that John brings 597 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:52,880 Speaker 1: to any sporting sporting endeavor. 598 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:54,200 Speaker 3: You know. 599 00:34:54,719 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 1: Uh, it's his ability to or his willingness to embrace 600 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:06,279 Speaker 1: the absurdity and his complete lack of shame that really 601 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:12,120 Speaker 1: make him the expector in all kinds of sports. But yeah, 602 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,879 Speaker 1: we having said that you know here we're talking about John. 603 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 1: We miss him. We'll see him next week, I'm sure. 604 00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 1: And in the meantime, Sean, thanks for filling in. Man. 605 00:35:20,440 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, this was this was awesome. I appreciate you 606 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:26,719 Speaker 3: bringing me up to read through some of these emails. 607 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:31,560 Speaker 3: And yeah, I please everyone out there keep sending them in. 608 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 3: We we love reading them and maybe yours will end 609 00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 3: up in a future episode. But yeah, we look forward 610 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 3: to having John back with us next week. 611 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: And thanks so much to everybody for listening. Thanks so 612 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 1: much again. Our note is away endpod at gmail dot com, 613 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:49,399 Speaker 1: and we'll see you next week.