Brazil CRASHES OUT?! Germany OUT?! This World Cup Is Absolute Chaos | WORLD CUP Bonus Episode

0:00 This episode is brought to you by Fbreze and we're coming to you from the official Fbreze sponsored boot room which if you know anything about soccer is usually the last place you want to hang out. This is what now with Trevor Noah. In the infamous words of Elling Harland, well well >> what a week. Welcome to the welcome to the podcast Joe. Um, and welcome to a crazy week of knockout football. We have so many things to get to in this episode. We got to talk about the results. We got to talk about Brazil. We got to talk about the Netherlands. We got to talk about Germany. We got to talk about Norway. We've got to talk about France. We got to talk about um

0:46 Mexico and England. We got to talk about uh Belgium and the USA. We've got to talk about uh who else? Who else do we have to talk about? We have to talk about the African. We >> have to talk about Argentina and Cape Verde. >> Um, and we have to talk about France and Paraguay. But let's kick things off with the freshest news. >> Oh my god. >> You know, they say that football, what makes football such a beautiful game is that it can bring out sides of people we didn't know existed. Who would have thought Team USA would have Donald Trump fighting for a birthright citizen? >> Huh? >> Yes. who who would have thought >> who would have thought >> I mean we we've seen some pretty crazy decisions in a World Cup. I don't think

1:34 since what was it like Garinia >> we've seen a decision overruled like this team USA player getting a red card >> balagon >> Florian >> for for Florian Balagon which shouldn't have been a red card we all agree on that we all agree on that >> was had done by >> but the world cup has never cared about what should have or shouldn't have been >> the punishment is doowled out you take it you you got to deal with the with the with the punishment you got to deal with the effects Turns out if your president is Donald Trump and if your country is the United States and if infantino's in charge, anything is possible. The impossible is possible. My >> friend is usually like an African parent. Once you've gotten the punishment, you get the punishment. >> Oh, yeah. >> You can't go like, "Oh, but can I appeal?" But mom, you see, no, no, no.

2:21 You get and then we can talk afterwards. But yeah, what happened with so we all agreed hard done by but political interference into the judicial system of FIFA FIFA normally comes and takes over your judiciary not just footballing decisions but everything from copyright and all this and so this was >> it's the thing you said we haven't seen like a country we haven't [clears throat] seen a host country lean on FIFA like this since 1978 when the dictatorship in Argentina hosted the World Cup cuz even people still say actually Holland or the Dutch led by the famous Johan K should have won that final. >> Yeah. >> But they didn't because apparently the dictatorship made sure they needed that win and they lent on they they leaned on everyone from FIFA down to the referee.

3:08 That's why people say the first World Cup won by Argentina was very tainted. >> I I wonder what this does for the conversation around the game. So if you're a Team USA fan, it's great. >> Yes. Yeah. I'm happy because I think the red card itself was trash. >> Yes. You're saying justice has been served. >> Yeah. But then like the way the justice has been served isn't my favorite. You know what it feels like to me? >> It's it's it's almost in many ways like the real justice system >> where the rich powerful kid got off with the crime. >> Mhm. >> But if it was a kid from like a developing nation, >> a kid who was struggling, they wouldn't have gotten away with Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, they wouldn't have gotten away with it because I I would I I've always said I would love for FIFA to go over its rulings because the World Cup has so few games >> that they should be able to look at a a

3:55 ruling during the match and say, you know what, that decision actually maybe that was a bit a little harsh. Maybe that decision was wrong. Maybe that decision I don't think that decisions should be set in stone like like law. >> Yes. So, okay, two things. >> So, so for me, I don't mind that they did it with Balagan, but I wish they would do it with other games as well. >> So, for me, two things. One, first of all, FIFA has always insisted that the referee's decision is sacrosanked. It's sacrosanked. It can't be messed with. It stands as it stands because FIFA has always been very big at empowering the referees. The referees knowing that our decision is final. >> So that's disappointing from that end. Another reason is FIFA has always insisted that politics and football should be separate. >> Yeah. >> If actually if you're I think they

4:40 recently banned one country. I don't I can't quite remember. It wasn't Kuwait or one of the countries. If your government interferes with the FA of your country, >> FIFA bans you immediately automatically if your because they want they want the government to not interfere in the running of football in any country. So again disappointing on that front but also third and most importantly >> I went to law school. I didn't pick up much. But one thing I picked up was justice cannot just be served. Justice needs to be seen to be served. So you can't just make a decision that just it has to be seen. So in this case if you're again as I said if you're maybe Ghana or if you're a small emerging African country or if you're Asia you're going oh so just because you don't have the clout

5:26 >> to lean on we can't get decisions reversed it's very very disappointing. You see the Belgium uh Belgian Football Federation put out a post online. >> They responded and but all they did was they responded with the rules >> because that's very petty and very and also [snorts] very Belgian very all they did was respond and say per the rules >> regardless of whether FIFA suspends or does one match one match ban has to be served for a red card minimum the player has to miss the next match. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> That is the rule and they cannot change that. And so like FIFA now FIFA it almost feels like FIFA has invented a rule. Yes. >> Just for the scenario. They've gone we haven't overridden the ref >> but we've overridden mess with the

6:11 punishment. Yes. >> We've overridden the effect of the ref's decision >> which >> is for all intent for all intents and purposes that is the punishment of the ref. >> And I'll say this >> you know what I mean >> cuz football has a very cruel and twisted sense of humor. Baron is going to score in his next game. he might score the winner against Belgium and now you you know you know when you watch games and play supposed to have gotten a red card and with it and scores the winner and they stay in the game >> football has such a twisted sense of humor that might happen very disappointing but but not unexpected because we've seen throughout this process normally FIFA is very independent >> but we've seen throughout all this process the Somali referee the way they treated the Iranian delegation the visas they kept denying funds from Africa or

6:56 from from smaller countries We've seen that the US has consistently consistently thrown its weight around. It has consistently bullied FIFA into accepting its decisions. And so for me, when I watched Johnny Infantino at the press conference when they asked him, "And you're embarrassed by how much you've bent over backwards to accommodate the Trump administration." When I watched him go like, "Yeah, you know, FIFA really cannot be in charge of the immigration system." I went, Jenny, are you kidding me? You always take over the immigration system of the country that's hosting. You did it with Qatar when you invented the higher cards where people just come in if they had the higher card. You did it with Russia when you invented the fan pass where fans if so long as they had a ticket they could just march straight into Russia. So for

7:41 me it's been people say FIFA is always disappointing. So the bar is on the seafloor but they have managed to somehow dig under and yeah go under the bar. Very disappointing, not unexpected, very surprising, but you know, as I told you, I see Baron scoring against Belgium and that's just going to add now fuel to the fire. It's really enough to leave you speechless. It really is. Here's what it is for me. I don't expect them to not make certain decisions. I just would have hoped >> that they would find a way to make the rulings seem a little bit more uh equally distributed. Like >> I would have liked it if FIFA had just like put their thumb on the scale for a

8:28 few more decisions in this World Cup. >> I say >> then then we would go there's a trend, you know. But but look, I mean, all all it seems like to me is we've realized that FIFA's real kryptonite or rather their weakness >> is not the power of the country that's hosting the tournament. It's the power of the market that the country >> has. >> Oh, interesting. Okay. Exactly. >> Because because if you think about it, you have FIFA will host its tournament anywhere. Brazil, France, >> it has its South Africa, you name it. There's only one nation in the world where football is like nowhere in terms of like market share right? >> And it's the United States.

9:14 >> The United States is one of the biggest markets in the world. Look at how much NFL players earn. Look at how much NBA stars earn. >> Baseball. They are shocked when they see the followings >> that football players have in the world. Like whenever an American athlete sees how popular and how big a footballer is worldwide, they're shocked when they realize sometimes they're earning three times their money. >> Not just sports player, not just sports or ball players, everyone. I remember when there was the whole fight about who's bigger, Taylor Swift or Messi or Ronaldo. Who's bigger, Beyonce? Beyonce fans were shocked when people were posting like Instagram followers for Ronaldo. They were like, "Oh my god." >> Yeah. >> So, it's that. But for me, the one thing I want to say though, for me, this even

10:00 goes outside. So, you're saying FIFA is trying to tap into desperately trying to tap into the American market. I get that. But for me, this goes outside football. It's way bigger than football. Cuz if the US can throw its weight around at the UN and make the UN bend its rules in a way South Africa can't, in a way Uganda can't, in a way can't, then what's FIFA? The US can veto things. The US can do whatever it wants at the UN. It's >> But that is But that is what the big countries do at the UN, not just the United States. >> Okay. Okay. No, you're right. >> You get what I'm saying? That's exactly what they do at the UN, right? at the UN if you're not one of the major countries, >> you can veto any bill that another country or another, you know, whatever motion another country wishes to passes, it's up to you. >> But you're saying when it comes to football particularly? >> Yes. What what I'm saying is

10:45 >> we make it seem like FIFA like the US leaned on FIFA. I think I think people are making it seem like FIFA bowed to the US >> and I I argue Donald Trump and Infantino >> just quit proquo. They've gone, "This works for both of us. >> Let's keep it going." >> Trump is going, "Keep America and its fans happy." >> Infantino is going, "Yeah, I actually do want America to stay happy because America >> has paid so much money." How many ads is Christian Pulisen? [snorts] >> Oh my god. I think about think about how much money >> I think it's between him and David Beckham. I can't even turn on the screen. >> David Beckham. Yo, I've David Beckham. Beckham is >> David Beckham. I was American by now. >> I was counting his god. It starts in the morning with like coffee and breakfast.

11:32 >> He wakes you up >> and then in the middle of the day it's like Bank of America and Home Depot and then by the end of the day it was like Lenovo AI and and Stella Artoire in every block. Yes. >> Every block has David You Beckham's playing now by the way >> with how popular it is. Like I've never seen anything like it. But Christian Pulish is another one and Team USA is another one. Like if you think of the value and like how much this is worth >> not just in money now but like in value of the game. Think about the MLS. >> Like if we think of this in isolation, I think we can miss the forest from the trees. >> The longer Messi stays in the World Cup, the better it is for the MLS. >> That's true. >> The longer the Mexican players stay in the World Cup, the better it is for the MLS. >> The longer any of these teams in the

12:18 longer Team USA stays in the World Cup. Although they have eight players from Europe, they've also got other players. But now they can say the world they went into the whatever stage the world cup player the world it adds value to the MLS. So that adds like it's it's that uh what is it rising tides the whole boats all boats all boats. Yes. >> So if you think of the value this is adding to the US I can see it from everybody's point of view going I can't let this thing >> it's insane. >> I can't let this thing [ __ ] block all the money I want to make. >> It's to your point that you're saying because yesterday I was watching I was watching Morocco. I made the mistake. I made the mistake. Sorry I apologize. I made the mistake of watching the Morocco versus Canada game on Fox and Morocco scored and the commenter went like Morocco takes the lead on this 4th of July holiday and I went like what what does 4th of July have [laughter]

13:04 to do with Morocco at all but the thing you're saying it's the thing you're saying it's it's more profitable to see everything through the prism of the US. Yes. >> It's actually funny if if I was to bet I would have said that Canada will get knocked out first of all the host nations. >> Oh okay. he would have been put on. were the first ones cuz they just they just seemed like I know it's a stereotype but like the most polite host nation in a way >> cuz I don't know if you if you've seen like by the time this episode comes out England will have played Mexico but did you see what the >> we're tapping it right before right >> did you see what the Mexico fans were doing outside the England um team hotel >> classic >> shooting fireworks >> classic >> playing music screaming at them in the lobby >> trying to ensure that they don't sleep the night we just don't want you to sleep it was crazy because I've seen Eastern European clubs do club fans, but

13:51 I never seen a country do that, a host country. So, what happened actually was England booked 15 hotels to throw them off, which is pointless, >> to throw them off. They went like, "We don't want them to know where we're staying." But then remember the hotel that they booked in, I feel like the hotel manager had a patriotic duty to snitch, >> but you don't even you don't even have to switch snitch. If you've been to a World Cup, you know every single team moves around like a like a like a diplomatic delegation. It's hard to sneak around when you've got a giant bus written England on it >> and also with lead cars >> with like police cars. Then like, "Oh, I wonder which hotel they have." Is it the one that has a giant bus with police uh police escort or is it the hotel where nobody's there? Where do you think England is staying? >> Yes. Yes. No, the Mexican fans really brought it cuz they spent I don't think any English player slept a wink. Unless

14:38 you're one of those players who can sleep through like the apocalypse. It was insane outside the hotel. Yes, you should see the videos. And speaking of insane, if we look at some of the results, Germany, since we last recorded an episode, knocked out, and you know what, for me, it's the full it's the full sentence. Not just knocked out by Paraguay, >> knocked out in penalties. >> Penalties, the most ungerike way to go out. Yes, I'll say this. We both did favor Germany for that match up, but we both also did say German was in transition. Germany was having an identity crisis. And for me, when I watched that game, especially the penalt, I couldn't believe this was Germany because you saw the videos that came out afterwards, Joshua Kim trying to take with Leon Goretska who has won a

15:25 Champions League, has almost 80 cups, begging him to take a penalty. He refused. Yona had to step up, take his first penalty. >> Okay, but here's my question. Maybe I don't know when the game changed this. When I first started watching football, penalty takers were were decided before a game started. >> You're very right. You're very right. >> So the coach long before the game started knew like literally they knew they knew coming into the game. The way I understand football, >> a coach knows who's going to kick. By the way, penalties even in the match. >> No [clears throat] one should discuss anything. They go first kicker is this one. Second kicker might be this one. Third kicker. >> They don't take corner kicks and freak. >> So if we get three penalties in a match, this is going to be the order. And then when we go to a shootout, this is the order. So to me, >> I couldn't believe

16:11 >> that the German captain was begging his place. The man looked like the man looked like he was selling like like goods in a in a flea market. >> Oh my god. I thought you were going to say he looked like a guy, you know, you know those activists handing out flyers at the at the worse green peace and just like >> No, but they at least the people had engage with you. Yes. >> Yeah. The man was begging people say please buy the plea and go >> I'll tell you what happened. I'll tell you what I think happened. So I think this is what happened. I think Germany were a bit like us. I think they thought this wouldn't go to penalties which is very irresponsible and very unerman cuz you have to plan. You have to plan for every also I grew up >> with a German team and I told you this >> the current generation the current >> generation of German players are what I call and you laughed but I call them

16:56 walk footballers. They are too soft and too pretty for their own good. So when I when I was growing up you remember Clayman Olv Rude VA when I watched Euro 96 against England the semi-final >> and German penalty >> they played German >> penalty Wembley >> and German penalty stone cold killers they scored five out of five Stefan routter uh Thomas Str uh who are the others are >> you don't you don't even have to go that far you don't have to go over that far back Christian you don't even have to go that far back mirror love closer to um Thomas Müller Mario Gomez, >> you you didn't have to ask those guys who's going to take a penalty. They were all >> who did you want to face with those? You know what I mean? >> No, but I'm saying back then cuz again I remember that team Christian Zigga,

17:42 Andrea, Andrea Smaller scored the winning penalty against England at a packed Wembley when everyone was singing it's coming home. And you know what he did? He strutted around like a peacock. Packed Wembley. This guy had no fear. And and so I'm saying back then you didn't even have to ask the Germans who's going to take a penalty. All of them would be volunteering. All all of them would be putting their hands. >> What do you What do you think's happened? >> I think what happened to German football? >> No, no, no. In general, what has happened to penalty takers like or penalty taking? Is it that like cuz I I wrestle with this. I'm like, have players become like I was really trying to break this down and I was like, is this is this the is this like the Roberto Bajjo effect?

18:28 Is this like a second system effect? >> You and I grew up at a time >> when Roberto Bajjo was widely considered the best footballer in the world when he was playing, right? >> Incredible player. >> He was the best. He was a number 10. He ruled the game. Every kid was trying to grow their hair into a ponytail ponytail. >> Yeah. to try and match him. He goes to the final, >> drags Italy, kicking and screaming Italy to the final. >> To the final. Yes. >> And in the final, it's a penalty shootout >> and he has to kick >> the final kick against Brazil. >> And he enough USA 94. >> Yeah. And he boots that ball skies >> into the sky into into the sky. >> He kicks that he misses that penalty so badly that his name is essentially forgotten. He became a by word from from the the

19:15 like you know the halls [clears throat] of fame. No one really speaks about him. If you talk to any footballer any people today when you talk about football >> they go oh the guy. Yeah. >> When you say Budo they're like if they know him they go the guy or they don't talk about him at all which is pretty crazy. His career disappeared pretty much after that. He did he did redeem himself in 98 because he scored a penalty in 98 but and then they used him in the John Walker ad the making up for it. Maybe maybe that's a deep cut for soccer, but they're going to keep walking even if you miss. But I think that's a deep cut for >> But yeah, but what I'm saying is though, like I wonder if that moment lived in the heads of so many players that then that generation when they got to an age where they were now playing the game, they went the worst thing you can do

20:01 >> is miss a penalty. Cuz for instance, let's even look recently Gabrielle Martinelli, he has not lived that penalty down. Not him personally, but what I mean is if you go online, the amount of like memes and jokes that come of Arsenal, >> Gabriel, not Martini, [clears throat] Gabrielle of Arsenal. Yes. Not Martini. Gabrielle from Arsenal. >> He misses that that um that penalty >> in the Champions League final against >> against PSG, right? Skies it. >> If you go online now, there's still those jumps. You know those jump memes where they they make it seem like it's something else and then all of a sudden it's him missing it. He's become the missing guy in that way. You know what I mean? I I almost feel like players would rather let the goalkeeper take the

20:47 trophy >> than to be the player who missed it. Because if you because if you let the goalkeeper save it, no one remembers you as the kicker. But [clears throat] if you miss it, >> no one forgets you were the >> No, but I'll say this. I don't understand why players don't step up personally cuz when I played and I didn't play to that level but when I played I used to have this mentality of if someone is going to make the team sad by missing it it would rather be me. >> Uh Ronaldo has that attitude. >> It would rather be me. Do you remember that penalty shootout um >> when when he did >> Portugal when he went and fetched guys off the bench not off the bench but off the sideline and he said come and kick and he chose I think it was Nez. I think it was Ruben Nez. He chose him to take the first kick, like the first kick. And he [clears throat] said, "Ruben, come kick." And Ruben said, "No,

21:33 >> and Ronaldo said, >> "Hey." And then he looked at him. He said "Hey >> you kick really amazingly." He said this all in Portuguese, like, "You're an amazing kicker. Come and kick that ball." He said, "If you miss, you miss. It doesn't matter, but go out there, be brave, kick the ball." And I was really, it was amazing to see like that Cristiano Ronaldo said this. You saw, you saw that attitude. I think he has learned from his lesson because Ronaldo I think three times in his career now I've seen him want to take the fifth penalty and he didn't reach there. >> Yeah. >> And his team lost cuz he was waiting. Messi always takes the first penalty. Miss or not miss always. He always takes the first penalty. >> Oh that's interesting >> because you need to set the tone. So me when I was playing and again I didn't play at high level. I used to go like >> I would rather miss than Trevor misses and then I spend the whole night going like oh maybe if I taken. Yeah. The real great thing. So for me, I would rather

22:19 you step up cuz now Leon Goretska >> will keep asking himself maybe if I taken instead of Jonathan instead of Yonathan Ta maybe. So I don't like may step up take the penalty. >> Here's another question I have like [clears throat] staying in the world of penalties. Why are the Dutch so bad at penalties? And what I mean by this is like >> this is not the first World Cup where the Netherlands has gotten knocked out in penalties. Like what is it about penalties that the Dutch >> are they just unlucky? Are they are they is it not something that is I I don't get it like we can go back in time to the greatest >> 98 against Brazil they lost penalties 200 yeah kata against Argentina there I think it's a national for me and that's why I was surprised by Germany because I think penalties have a national

23:05 character attached to them teams who are killers when it comes to penalty for the longest time Germany were and England sacked at penalties for the longest time >> so I I I don't know with the Dutch I was surprised is that Van Djk didn't step up. >> Everyone, >> he has missed penalties. Yes, Messi has missed more. You You always joke about this. You always tell me Messi needs to work on penalties, but Messi still steps up every time. >> He does. He does. >> Van Djk as a leader. You need to step up. Why is Bruno taking a penalty? >> I still don't get that, man. Why? >> I don't know what Brazil >> Vinnie, you're on the pitch. You're the leader. Step up. Take a penalty. Zidan Zidan always stepped up >> as a leader. Okay. But now, but now we were watching this game together, Brazil versus Norway. [clears throat] >> I didn't see a moment where there was

23:50 confusion. >> It didn't seem like Vinnie didn't step up. He actually held the ball. It seems like he was there holding the ball. It almost seems like Bruno Gimme was like, "No, I'm supposed to kick this." >> He was a designated, "Yeah, you're right." >> And then again, maybe I don't know things but >> in my head, I don't I just don't understand why your striker is not kicking the penalty. >> You're right. You're right. Like like for me I just feel like a player >> a forward who spends more time kicking a ball in a box >> into the net into Yes. >> is the player I would choose to kick it. >> You're very right. >> That's why that's why with Belgium you could even see there was like so much tension when Tielemans took the ball and said I'm kicking it. People around me like what are you doing >> and it's a great tech so when I was playing and this is how we used to look at it and I agree with you when I was playing the most technical players the

24:38 technicians are the ones who should take penalties first. for the strikers, then you come down to the defend to the to the midfielders and then defenders and then keep a last keeper last. So when you see so many defenders stepping up, there's a problem with that team cuz technicians can pass the ball into the neck. >> Technicians spend the whole time trying to pass the ball into the net. A defender, what do they spend most of their time doing? >> Yeah, they kick the ball as far as they can and as high as they can. >> He's trying to not put the ball in the net. >> We saw the We saw the Australian kid do that. The 18-year-old, >> he stepped up. He stepped No, but we even saw the first guy do that as well. >> Sat. Yeah. Yeah, we saw a great game. He was a mess. >> He also booted it out. I don't understand. [music] That's what they call it these days. >> You see, he's Gabrielle.

25:23 >> We're coming to you from a boot room sponsored by Fbreze, which if you know anything about soccer, is usually the last place you'd want to hang out because this is where all the gear lives. the cleats, the jerseys, the socks, the bags, everything that probably never sees a washing machine until it's too late. But right now, it actually smells [snorts] fresh in here. That's because Freze fabric is built for exactly this kind of odor. The stuff trapped in fabrics that you can't just throw in the wash. It doesn't just cover it up. It actually fights the odor. And I have to say this is one of the more confident sponsorships I've ever seen. Usually brands want to put their names on the nicest room in the building. The

26:09 VIP lounge, the luxury suite, the hospitality area. Fabreze looked at the boot room and said, "No, no, no. Put us in there." And honestly, I respect that because this room contains decades of bad decisions. Wet cleats, forgotten gym bags, socks that should have retired years ago. The kind of smells that don't just enter a room, they sign a long-term lease. And yet somehow it smells fresh. Yeah. Can you smell that, Joe? >> Smell what? >> Exactly. That's what is so impressive about this because a lot of the things in here are exactly the things that you can't throw in the wash. None of it. The cleats, the bag, the car SEAT AFTER PRACTICE. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT. Freeze fabric is for

26:56 the things the game touches that the washing machine can't. And it's made with no dyes, no uh forldahhides, and uses a 100% natural nitrogen propellant. If your soccer gear is starting to smell like its own locker room, it's time for Fabreze Fabric. IT DOESN'T JUST MASK the odor, it fights them. [screaming] Find Freze Fabric at Walmart. Uh let's talk about Brazil. Is it is it is it over for Brazil? >> I think Brazil like like in this moment in time and the reason I asked the question is um and you can you can ask any if you have like but like >> why do you think it's over? >> Why? >> No, I'm asking I'm not saying it's it's

27:41 over. What I'm saying is this is the first time I've seen Brazil where I don't know who's next. >> I I don't know who's in the pipeline. I don't have an obvious like idea of where Brazil's next generation is going to come from. >> I'm not worried about the next generation. >> Yeah, >> I'm not worried. They have Endri, they have Esta. I think if Esteo was in this World Cup, he would have added a dimension to the attack that they were missing. >> Yeah, but what about the midfield? >> H the midfield is aging. The midfield is killing them. Killing killing them. >> Where's the new midfield? >> It's killing them. Brazil has never though. >> What about the wing backs? >> I'll say this. Okay, I'll say this. I think I think you you you know you know Brazil right now I would say Brazil has never really relied on having the flashiest defensive midfielders. Claybas and Gatato Silva helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup because they had Ronaldo.

28:28 So what they need is that guy in the hall. Paketa can't be your guy. And today because Paketa was out who did they play there? You can't play Martin in the hall. He doesn't have the vision. He doesn't have the balance. Martinelli is a winger. You can't play in the hole. in the whole unit a certain finesse, a certain vision, special partial awareness. He doesn't have that. So, they're missing that player there. They were able to win the World Cup in 2002 because they had Cleverson who was good but not spectacular. They had Gilbert Silva but ahead of them they had Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Aron phenomenal. That's so they need a guy in the whole but who do they have as their wing backs? >> They're also missing because they produced Carlos and Kafu and But that's what I'm trying to say. You're right. >> That's what I'm saying. If you're if you're playing, >> if we look at Brazil's game, >> yes, >> if we look at Brazil as we know it as a

29:14 team, >> flying, >> they've not focused on defense, but >> the wing backs, they've created the most legendary wing backs. >> They'll kill you. Yes. >> They've created the most legendary wingers and they've created the most legendary forwards or attackers. >> That's how they've won the five. Yes. The five stars on their >> Now, I don't know any Brazilian wing backs who >> the fact that they playing Danilo, 600y old Danilo at this point in time. >> 600y old. It would been a n It should been a nursing home. Oh man, you're very right. 600 years. >> You're very right. The country a country that gave us Mon that gave us Daniel Alves that gave us KFU that gave us Roberto Carlos to go back in time that gave us Carlos Albato >> is now playing Danilo. It's a damning indictment on Brazil. >> Yeah. But you know what we also got to talk about is the other side of the coin. Norway. [snorts]

29:59 >> I I frankly I called it and I know it sounded crazy when I said no way would win. Uh, but no way I knew No Way would win because one, >> no, it didn't sound crazy though. But Joe, but Joe didn't. No, but let's be honest, it didn't sound crazy. >> Okay. >> If if anyone who knew football, it didn't sound crazy. >> But what sounded crazy was the idea that like Brazil wouldn't >> even in the game, >> let's say Norway won like when we were talking about I said I said 22. >> I didn't even say I didn't even say that. You said that would be >> the fact that you said 2-1. The fact that I said 22 tells us that we both didn't assume that Brazil was going to win the game in that way, right? >> But I don't think anyone thought >> Brazil was going to fold the way they

30:45 did. >> But on [clears throat] the other side, Norway is playing a type of football that almost feels deceivingly good, if there's such a thing. >> Deceptively good. You're right. >> You know what I mean? Yeah. acceptably good. You know what I mean? >> I I'll say this. I'll say this. So part of the reason I fancied Norway is Norway has a very good front three. Nusa, >> Harland and Sol when I look No, no, no, no. But when I saw my point was Nusa, I knew Nusa was going to expose Dano and I knew the thing that the thing that is dynamic, but the thing that made me fancy no even more is I knew that when Sol eventually comes off, Oscar Bob is coming on. Oscar Bob is your boy. you love him. Then I knew that on the left when Nusa comes on

31:32 >> comes off, they're bringing on Andreas. I've seen >> kill teams in the Champions League. He's a 23 year old kid, but he plays for Benfica and he's incredible. And so I knew that when Sherup comes up against Danilo after Nusa has run him, he's going to kill them. And Sherup came on created two goals. >> So for me when I looked at the benches, I said, "Brazil, who do you have coming off the bench?" Hri and Neymar. I said, "No way. Who do you I like no he has two killers coming off the bench. That's why I fancied plus the midfield. But that's why >> you know what they als what they also really have that that gets overlooked they have a structurally defend like solid defensive line like the their no defense is is focused is together. >> No names by the way. All of them no names. All names no names. Yeah. You

32:18 can't pick them out of a police lineup but yeah >> but >> also because they can never be in a police lineup because they are white. [laughter] But They're white blonde men. They will never be in the police lineup. But they but they they they play like a they play like a solid boring good football at the back. >> Okay. So I'm going to tell you something about Norway that >> also is and I know getting into this later or maybe this is a good segue. I'm going to tell you something about Norway that reminds me so much of Cape Vad. >> Yeah. >> Their team who are like brothers. They will lay their body on the line. That's true. >> For every for themselves. So for me they remind me of Greece in Euro 2004. Greece was unfancied coming to the tournament. Auto Roa got the iconic German manager got this Greek team of dreamers.

33:04 >> Yeah. >> And they were fighting like you posted the sp the spart meme. >> Yeah. >> But this was real spatter angel. This was a team of like dreamers who hadn't had like great footballing careers at their clubs. Yeah. >> And my friend they came in beat Portugal in the opening game. Beat France in the quarterfinals. They were winning 1 nil 1 nil. Met Portugal again. Portugal was hosting. Beat them again in the final. And they were just fighting for each other. When you saw that Cape Vad team, they don't have a star. They don't have a stand. Their only stand is I think Vin who is and maybe Pic Lopez. >> Yeah. But that's not to your point. They're not stars. >> They fight for each other. Yeah, >> these are guys who are so when you look at Norway when you look at that Greek team of of Euro 2004 and when you look

33:50 at Vad these are guys who have bonded these are going to be brothers 80 years from now they'll be meeting they'll be in the same WhatsApp group you know when you're going to be have a WhatsApp group for forever these are guys who have bonded and teams like that in a tournament are a menace cuz when you can trust the man on your like they say in 300 when you can trust the man on your left >> to never run then you or when you know like if the rank collapses, the whole team collapses. These guys fight for every ball. Cape Vad made Argentina earn every goal. Every goal >> even >> there were no gifts. >> Every goal that Argentina scored except the last one which was that's where it's like football and it's luck. >> That was going Messi's goal >> it had to be perfect >> was so good. It was so good for so many

34:37 reasons. First of all, it's good because you watch Messi start the play. >> He's facing his team. M >> he's standing on the edge of the box. He's walking with the back line. >> He starts orchestrating his players and starts moving the ball around from his position. He's not on the ball. >> He's not on the ball. Yes. >> He's just pointing telling people what to do. Very >> Pedries. >> Yeah. Very Yes. Yes. >> You know, he's just telling people what to do, where to move, how to play, >> and then in a split second the center back takes his eye off Messi, >> runs back on side. Messi runs back on side, then runs to get the ball, traps that ball on a half ball. >> That catch had to be perfect. >> That That was beyond perfect. >> And then flicks it at the goalie's head >> cuz the keeper has to They flinch every time

35:22 >> at an angle where you you just don't think that's going to happen. Gets the goal. Now you're like, "Oh, okay. This is now Argentina. >> They go on." You know, Zlatan said that and I think they teach it everywhere. If you're striker, smash that ball at the keeper or just put it because naturally they have to flinch. No keeper is going. The natural body reaction when something is coming at it is to do this. >> So I I have a different opinion on that. Funny enough. >> Okay. But first, yeah, first go. >> I I don't I don't think goalkeepers are necessarily flinching. I think goalkeepers spend so much time practicing choosing a side. >> They never think up is the side. So if you if you like or very seldom are they thinking it's coming like straight here. Do you

36:08 do do you know what I mean? >> Okay. But I interrupted you. I was going like okay. So after Messi scores >> we now think >> it's done. >> The layman would now think >> it's done. >> Oh okay. The game's done. >> Yeah. Put a fork in them. Yeah. That's what that's what. Put a fork in Cape V. They are done. But this is Cape V. >> Cape Verde not only comes back. They play a beautiful football. They don't they don't pull like a like a haram ball. They're not just kicking the ball over the top. They're not just like spamming crosses. They're not No, they move the ball. They pass the ball. They play the ball. They move the ball. They pass the ball. They come back. They get a goal. >> Not just a goal. They not make two defenders. The first pass and that first pass that made Medina the shot into the goal made. >> The second one was more lucky. No, no,

36:54 no. It was more lucky. >> I don't think it was. >> It was more lucky. >> I don't think it was. >> The first one was very much another. >> Yes, but I don't think it was. When I watched Dati shoot that ball, I don't think it was, man. Like I watched it. He didn't just shoot cuz sometimes players shoot and inshallah. They shoot in hope and let me just shoot and inshah >> he like you could see him not making two great defenders like that is never by luck. I was impressed. I thought I >> both kept bad goals. Brother, you can't take anything away from them. Then you go you go to the other side of the field. >> Argentina has the ball again. Landro Martinez gets it. >> Striker. >> You're like you're like, >> "Oh, what's he going to do?" >> He's a defender. >> He's a defender. It's on his left foot. >> Okay. I don't know what he's he scores a banger again. Similar top corner.

37:39 >> Yes. Yes, you're right. >> In the top. >> Vinho not there for it. >> Kind of expected though because he he he he learned his trade. Martinez desandro. They call him the butcher, but people forget he learned his trade at Ajax. You don't play for Ajax if you're not technically sound. >> Well, I didn't I didn't think of that actually. >> If you Ajax doesn't just sign anyone, you have to be technically sound on the ball. So, he has scored some bangers. >> He has. >> Uh this Andrew, but yeah, you again. Yeah. Yeah. Again. >> And then Cape Verde comes along, strings together, what was it like 15, 20 passes? >> Passes. Yes. >> Coming up the field, moving the ball. Beautiful. Argentina chasing shadows. Argentina chasing shadows. You see them running from the top right corner of the box. Cape Ver passes it forward. The man brings it down. Brings it around. They

38:25 move. They switch positions. They slowly come creeping down the left side of the field. >> They move the ball. You think, "Okay, there's nothing they What are they going to do here?" And then >> the left winger gets the ball >> one-on-one with Mallister, >> but shake of the hips, >> but so far away from the goals that the worst you're thinking is a a good cross. >> [clears throat] >> And that you're praying for a good cross. Yes, >> that man shake of the hips. And yo man, he released >> he sent Malista back to Buenos Iris. >> A banger. >> My god. I'll tell I'll tell you >> go of the world cup. >> I'll tell you two things about an an instant contender for goal of the year. >> That's goal of the world cup. >> Yes. No goal of the year. You know the award the famous award >> that they give out go of the pushkas.

39:12 >> Yeah. >> From fering pushkas. Immediate contender. Just not because of the goal by the way. build up against the moment. I'll say two things about >> that game. One, >> that goal that you've just described >> reminded me so much of the goal Saudi Arabia scored against Argentina to win in 2022. It was almost the same goal >> into the top corner alawi alawi, sorry. And then the goal Messi scored reminded me so much of a similar goal that Messi scored against Nigeria. If you remember, Messi checked. It was a 2018 World Cup. The one that had Diego Maron praying to the gods. Messi checked, ball over the top. That time, I think it was

39:57 the great midfielder. I'm blanking on his name. Ball over the top, brought it down, and he was off to the races. But again, Kev can take even the celebration from that goal makes it for me pushkas cuz he didn't just celebrate. He ran to the crowd and looked for his girlfriend. He was Yo, that moment I thought the guy was like he he he forgot there was a game. >> He forgot. He forgot the game, brother. He's supposed to do >> He forgot there was a game. He forgot that he had Yes. >> He he he could not believe what he had experienced. >> No, I was reading their story. It's a beautiful story cuz he was playing in the German third division. >> Yeah. >> Just I think 18 or so months ago, this guy has stood by him. It was a great It was a great moment. I'm not even a romantic like that. I'm a cynical cynical cynical football fan. I'm a cynic. I don't have a tender spot in my

40:43 heart, but that really really did bring a tear to your eye. >> I saw I saw um the rumors. Fabitzio Romano said apparently Inter Miami might be signing Vinha. >> They should. He was incredible. >> That would be amazing. >> He's the Messi stopper. >> Can I tell you the Messi stopper? They better sign him. >> I also think that would be like a beautiful It's just a wonderful reward for a player. >> I saw him with the jersey with uh David Beckham. It would be great. He's 40. He would earn some good money. He's a star. He's definitely a star. social media 20 million followers now on on on social media. >> Yeah, he would be good. But but the thing I loved about that game, Trevor, even if they lost Cape Vad, those players first of all will never buy a dinner or buy a beer in Cape Vad ever again. Chances are their grandkids will never buy a beer. If you represent your

41:28 country like that, if you make your country that proud. >> Yeah. >> Cuz now everyone knows what Cape is. They actually for me if they dumped out Argentina, they didn't. They came close but for me that would have been the biggest upset since Cameroon beat Maron Argentina in 1990. It was incredible. It was it was it was it was a beautiful game. It was >> it was a game of the tournament. >> Were you sad because on the one hand you've got your goat Messi. On the other hand you've got Cape Verde who you've been pushing from the beginning of the tournament. >> Are you happy with the results? >> I'm happy with the results because I want Messi to win backto back championships. But if they had lost for me, I've told you this and you asked and you you did say that me when Barona loses I never get down. It's because for me when you beat a team with Messi, you've earned the victory. I love Messi,

42:15 I support Messi, but Messi is such a good player that if you beat him, I can never be sad. I go like, you've earned it cuz it takes a special team to beat Messi. When when Liverpool beat us 4-0il when Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0il and they came back from a 3-0 down >> I went like fair play cuz I love the game. I love Messi but I love the game of football more than Messi. >> Let's talk about uh another player that you love talking about Cristiano Ronaldo. >> Yes. >> We in our last episode we said something >> that I would argue has now proved to be true. Mhm. >> We said if Portugal wants to go through >> by hook or crook, Ronaldo is going to have to be off the field. >> Portugal was playing against Croatia. >> Yes. >> Was a tense tense match where Portugal

43:02 never looked like they were going to pull away. >> They get awarded a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo steps up, >> takes the penalty brilliantly. Brilliantly. >> Scores the penalty penalty. >> Yeah. Yeah. Scores the penalty. >> But then again, the match goes back to a tense game where anything can happen. Croatia could have won it. Uh, Matteo Kovic made a crazy run. Hit the post. Yes. >> And then Portugal's coach, Roberto Martinez, >> that woke him up, >> makes a ballsy decision, >> substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo, and I'm sure you remember the moment. >> I remember you. >> Anyone who was watching it will remember this moment. >> Ronaldo looks up at the boards showing who's being substituted. He looks at the sideline. He looks at the boards. He looks around him and you can see he's

43:48 going, "Guys, I think this is a malfunction because I see my number." >> Yes. >> But there is no world. Yes. In >> where I would be getting substituted. >> When the team needs a goal, >> yes. >> When your team needs a goal, >> he looks up. He looks down. He looks up. He looks around. >> He's almost waiting for someone to say, "Sorry, sorry, sorry. That no, not your seven. Another [clears throat] number seven." >> He comes off the field, not doesn't throw a tantrum to his but he's he's in disbelief though. He he has like a Okay, I guess >> I guess that happened. Yes, >> I guess that happened >> and then a few moments later, >> Portugal gets their goal. Rafao swings across. >> Your boy, >> he had he had swung crosses in swung. Yo, man. Ronaldo against Yes. >> Say what you want. He had missed >> so many chances, so many crosses.

44:36 >> I wasn't getting there. Yes. >> And then there you go. Ramos comes in. >> Gonzo Ramos. One one cross and boom. >> And a fantastic goal. and not just okay I'll say this first of all before I talk about Ramos's goal u I have to give kudos to Roberto Martinez I'm one of his biggest critics I think he wasted Belgium's golden generation of Kevin de Bruyne and Tiboka and Romero Lukaku and Eden Hazard I think he and Dre Martins I think he wasted them and I thought even coming to this tournament I think I still think he might waste uh Portugal's golden generation >> but on the day he made a bold Z gutsy decision because before he took Ronaldo off, Portugal was being overrun in the middle cuz they had one man less in the middle cuz Ronaldo doesn't track back.

45:21 That's why when Matteo Kovasic got that ball, he just ran through the middle. So he realized we need another body in the middle to staunch the floor. He brings on Ruben Neves and I think you saw what happened. The game settled back into a 50/50. So that was ballsy for me. That was that that was an incredible I didn't think Martinez had it in him. He brings on. So when he brings on Ruben Neves, Ruben Neas goes in the middle. Then Gonzalo Ramos plays as the nine, which is where he thrives. The last time he replaced Ronaldo, he scored a hat-tick in in Katang. So when he scores that header, part of the reason why I screamed that Ronaldo would never do that was one, I'd seen crosses coming in and Ronaldo was not getting to the end of them. But also two, Gonzal Ramos, that was a tough header. He jumped in

46:08 between. It was so good. >> Three defenders >> and to get that much direction and power >> and power and also like but he's jumping in between three defenders. I saw I saw the former I saw the former uh Liverpool uh defender Croatian defender uh talking about it. I think remember him. Uh he was a great great Liverpool defender kind of chaotic very and he said I think Croha gave the ball away cuz there's no way in my days a striker would have jumped between three defenders one of you to get to that ball. So it wasn't an easy head as we think it was. And so for me that's what Gonzo Ramos gives you. Gonzal Ramos gives you a target man. Gonzalo Ramos gives you deadly finishing. Gonzale Ramos gives you the ability to track and press that Ronaldo doesn't. I feel Ronaldo should be doing what Neymar did. I feel Ronaldo should

46:53 be coming on the last 15 minutes, last 20 minutes against aging tired. Be a tele against tired minds. But >> yeah, be a talisman player. Um let's get into a few predictions. Before Before we get into I just want to talk about there's one and we disagreed and I don't like when you do a podcast and we don't disagree. The creation goal you called it immediately went like it was offside. >> Yes, >> I disagreed immediately. >> Yes. >> And I still disagree. The reason I disagree is this. I feel everyone focuses on the sneaker the board. Was it touched by Matanovich or not? Yes. >> I think they're focusing on the wrong thing. The focus should be on was Renato Vega trying to make a defensive play cuz if you say it was unintentional then the

47:39 Croatian player was offside was offside but for me I argue that Renato Vega was making a defensive play. Why? >> So so let me so let me tell you why I think you lose this argument if you're going to do that. >> I think by the strict interpretation of the game, >> okay, >> of the player jumping that close to a ball in an offside way is offside in my opinion. it off. You cannot like did they touch the ball or not is irrelevant when the player is actively trying to close to playing the ball. You know why? We have to defend them. The whole field has to shift with them. The purpose of the offside rule is to protect the game from an unfair advantage or disadvantage. Right? So if a player is jumping to head of the ball and they happen to miss it by a hair, let's say they didn't touch it. >> How is that not of side? You made an

48:26 active effort to play the ball, >> right? you made an active effort. People had to defend you because of your positioning. The ball might have been missed by somebody else or somebody got thrown off. The same way if you block the goalkeeper's view and it's offside. You interfered with the play. To me, whether you touched it or not, that is an offside. >> Okay. So, here's where I disagree with you. Uh for me, if it was a midfielder in that situation >> and if Renato Vega hadn't stooped, if it had hit him while he was standing upright is unintentional and accidental. Renato Vega stoops. I've played as a defender. No, I'm saying I've played as a defender. Some people are saying he was ducking. A defender troops to head the ball. So, let me ask you. If I'm a defender, let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. If that yours, you're measuring the wrong part of >> No, no, I'm saying they focus on the wrong thing. They focus on Matanovic.

49:12 They should focus on it's like it's like a mathematical equation. If if if so, let's start with the first let me ask you a simple question. Simple question. Did the [clears throat] first man try to play the ball in an offside position? >> If he Yes. Did he or did he not? If doesn't touch it, >> no no no no no no. The first man was jump. He wasn't in offside. He wasn't offside. Matanovic wasn't offside. The offside player is Pasaric behind >> cuz when Matanovic touches the ball. >> Oh yeah. Okay. So you're saying if he doesn't touch it on the other side. >> Yeah. Yeah. No. It's a goal cuz Paric was on side. No, >> but he wasn't playing it. >> No. No. Listen. So when the ball come No, but he wasn't playing it. When the ball comes in, pass is on side. When Matanovic touches it with the hair, pass is offside. But then the ball hits. So

49:59 the reason I think Ronaldo Vega was making a defensive play and it was intentional is because if that ball hits Reno Vega on the forehead and goes out and goes back, it's a defensive clearance, but he screwed up his head and the ball hit him on the top of his head went to pass. That's why for me I'm going like they focused on the wrong play. The right play is Vega. >> I think those things are all offside to me. I I think they've made the offside rule too complicated. >> Too complicated. You're right. You're right. Uh before >> I think they've made it too complicated. >> Can you talk about the African teams, please? Cuz many of my friends were traumatized. >> By who? >> By the way, African teams crashed out. Sago African teams kept crashing out with 10 minutes to go. They were winning most of their games >> with 10 minutes to go. >> And most of my friends, cuz I picked when we made the predictions, I got all the Afghan teams right.

50:44 >> I said Egypt and Morocco were progressing. I said the rest were going to be dumped out. And so my friends were asking me why did I do that? And also part of the reason why I wasn't heartbroken when Afghan teams lost out. It's because I've been traumatized enough by African teams. In fact, Trevor, we shouldn't be holding this podcast in a chair. I should be on a couch because I'm going to trauma dump on you. So I've watched enough football to know that when it comes to the knockouts, African teams always find a way for some reason. It could be structural. It could be psychological. I don't know what's happening. But African teams always find a way. And unfortunately, mostly black African teams find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It started when I was a wheelard. I was really young. I

51:30 think I was around 5, six. I remember Cameroon 1990 World Cup. I remember my my father and my uncles and the whole village going crazy when Cameroon with nine men beat Diego Maradona's uh the opening game >> and this was the Cameroon team of >> that's when we thought the world we thought it was coming. >> Pelle in 1977 said an African team is going to win the World Cup by the year 2000. In 1990 we all believed I remember I was young and I think maybe it's not just my memory also because I've watched like clips afterwards. I remember when big scored that header cuz that that team was good. had Roger Mambik Maki Thomas all these great players when they beat Agenta with nine men we want they're going to win it they topped their group they went into they beat Romania 2-1 Roger scoring a double

52:15 >> I remember the village going crazy I was young but you know I think that's when I fell in love with this game they went into the knockout rounds round of 16 beat Colombia >> Roger Mirror I remember clear watching Roger steal that ball from Reneg scoring going the corner flag and just doing the dance yes and we went like this is They played England. Cameroon was 8 minutes away from winning it. They considered a penalty. Gar scores goes into extra time. Garina scores another penalty. Cameroon out. I remember the way the village felt after that. >> Nigeria >> 1994 Nigeria a famous Nigerian team Peter Ruf and Rashid Samson that was Ammanueliki Daniel incredible Nigerian team that won the nation's cup. They won the high. Everyone thought this is it. They go win their group again.

53:03 >> Win their group again. Trevor, they reach the round of 16. Play Italy. They are winning with I think two minutes to go. Roberto Bagio scores a goal. Extra time. Roberto Bajio scores again. They are out. I go like, "Okay, maybe that was bad luck." 1998 Nigerian team, same Nigerian team, now even better. Jojo, a better team. They humiliate Spain in the opening game, winning 3-2. famous goal by OIS long ranger winning that. I remember I was in high school and I went like this is it. This is the team Trevor round of 16 because they had played so well. They were given Denmark. Everyone thought this is a walk over. Denmark beat Nigeria 4-1. The game was

53:48 over by the 15th minute and I went like you know what I think I'm done. But then but then because football keeps giving you hope. 2002 Seneago first game against France they win 1 nil Papa great team with Khalil Figif Jaw of Liverpool incredible team they beat they beat Zidan wasn't playing but they still beat France who are the world champions we go like this is it they go on defeat Denmark we like this is it they reach they play Taki now we are just playing for an African team reach the semi-finals they meet Taki Turkey beats them last minute goal by Ilan Masses. >> Yeah. Ghana. Ghana Ghana against Uruguay. >> That's the one that >> they missed. They missed the penalty. >> That's the one that broke my heart. I think that's the one that's the first 2010 World Cup. That's the first time

54:35 that every African got really traumatized by an African team cuz Ghana get a penalty. Suarez did what Sorz had to do. >> Yeah. But they had the penalty >> penalty. Trevor, I was watching that game. I was in South Africa as part of a delegation of of African journalists who were like picked by to come and cover that game. I was watching it with my African friends. uh Ghana get the penalty with a minute to go and Jian stands up steps up and I tell my African journalist friends I tell them he's going to miss then they go like no I tell them guys president he's going to miss I've watched enough games he's going to miss he steps up hits that ball against the crossbar Ghana loses later that's the first time I realized oh soccer fans heard the bitter truth cuz my friend >> wait so why so why do you think this why do you think this happens to African teams I

55:20 >> don't know man I can't place I know the structure or psychological. I don't know what it >> Why don't you look at witchcraft, Joe? >> White people white people watch Witchcraft never works on us. What are you talking about? >> Why Why are you ignoring the elephants in the room, Joe? >> No, but I I remember that day cuz no one no one asked me how did you know why people were just They felt like I was trolling them. They were like, "Why did you have to say it?" They felt like people felt like I I had made him miss. And then witchcraft. >> And then and then you saw what happened in 2014 as well. You saw what happened. Algeria and Nigeria both make it and they both lose with both of them lose with like two minutes to go in their matches. For me, it's it's it's a and so that's why when you asked me last week which team is going to make it through, I was so sure all the black Afghan teams

56:05 would let us down and lose in heartbreaking fashion. And I was only sure Morocco and Egypt would go through because Morocco showed me in 2022 that they don't have the psychological mental block. they will win games. And I think you saw them against the Netherlands. Morocco against the Netherlands. Another team, I'm sorry to say, but I think another African team would have collapsed. Morocco didn't. Netherlands took the lead. >> Yeah, they did. >> And Moroco went like, okay, the Moroan, first of all, let's just give for me my man of the week, and I know the Cape Vad coach is amazing. But my coach of the week, Muhammad Oabi, the coach of Morocco, he was paruted in with three months to go to handle this team in the World Cup cuz he helped Morocco win the under 20 World Cup just in last year. He was paruted in and he has made this team his own against the Netherlands when

56:50 Gako scored with just like what 14 minutes. >> I mean he played it. >> He brought on three 20 year olds. Trevor, he didn't just bring like he had he with you. >> He brought on three 21. The amount of bravery it takes to bring on three 20 year olds. Morabat uh uh who are the others? uh Gami Gami Hassan and uh Tabi, one of them ended up taking a penalty. A 20-year-old stood up and took a penalty and scored it. For me, that takes a certain amount of mental and psychological bravery. And that's why I'm backing Morocco to go not to go all the way cuz I think they are four years too short. I think they will win when they host it. Yeah. >> I think they're going to fall. You don't think they're going to beat France? No, I think I think they'll fall short. I think they'll fall short this year. But

57:37 they have such a young cracks. They have

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