O Canada! The knockouts begin with a win for Marsch’s men: World Cup Daily

Summary

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Football Weekly: O Canada! The Knockouts Begin with a Win for Marsch’s Men

Date: June 29, 2026
Host: Max Rushden
Panelists: Barry Glendenning, Mark Langdon, Jonathan Wilson

Overview

This episode of The Guardian’s Football Weekly delivers an in-depth reaction to Canada’s historic last-gasp win over South Africa, propelling them into the World Cup knockouts. The panel assesses what this means for Canadian football, reviews the drama of the Austria–Algeria “non-biscotto,” and looks ahead to the upcoming round-of-32 ties, including heavyweights and dark horses. There’s tactical analysis, narrative insight, and characteristic banter—plus the much-anticipated conclusion to Vegetable Watch.

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Canada 1–0 South Africa: A Defining Moment

(Segment begins 00:47)

Key Points

• Steven Estacchio’s (Ayostakio’s) Heroics:
  In stoppage time, Estacchio (Ayostakio) scored what’s being called “the biggest moment in the history of Canadian men’s football” (Max, 00:47).

  • “Canada were the only team who tried to win this game and they should have won it more comfortably.” (Barry, 02:09)
  • Game was set for extra time before “Mr. Stecchiow” (Ayostakio) scored with a low drive from outside the area (Barry, 02:09).

• Jesse Marsch’s Celebrations:
  The panel highlights the passion of Canada’s American manager, visible during the national anthem and post-game.

  • “He gives it socks when they're singing ‘O Canada’ before the game.” (Barry, 03:09)

• Canadian Football’s Place in History:
  Max contextualizes the win:

  • "This could be sort of life-changing for Canada… you can forget if you’re from the UK... but this for them, Mark, is just enormous." (Max, 03:38)
  • Previous Canadian highlights include Olympic gold in 1904, Gold Cup 2000, and Women’s Olympic gold in 2012.

• Underdogs Breaking Through:
  Mark frames the challenge for Canadian footballers growing up in a hockey-centric country.

  • “They would have probably been mocked in the playground if they liked football at one stage... So it would have been a hard slog for those players.” (Mark, 04:14)

• Hydration Break As Turning Point:
  Mark notes the tactical shift after the hydration break:

  • “South Africa, I felt, were kind of dangerous in that first 20 minutes... After that hydration break, they just stood there... the rhythm of the game has completely changed.” (Mark, 04:14–05:53)

• South Africa’s Frustrations:
  Wilson critiques South Africa’s passivity and lack of attacking drive compared to 2023 AFCON.

  • “It feels like they’ve been too passive too often. I’m not really sure that’s their strength.” (Wilson, 05:54)

• Grassroots Impact:
  The hosts emphasize lasting effects:

  • “This will mean so, so much... not just for these players. It’s actually for anyone involved in this sport in Canada.” (Max, 07:01)
  • “Next, the Netherlands and Morocco. They fancy their chances against either...or at least more and more eyeballs will be on the screen.” (Barry, 07:51)

Notable Moment

• Watch parties in Vancouver and Toronto receive emotional shoutouts, especially due to the absence of star player Alphonso Davies and his cameo’s impact on the crowd. (Mark, 09:06)

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Austria 3–3 Algeria: Dramatic Draw and Group J Recap

(Segment begins 13:46)

Key Points

• Pre-Arranged Draw?!:
  The panel suspects both sides were happy with a draw, but the game did not lack drama.

  • “If it was a fix, it was the most well-choreographed fix of all time.” (Barry, 16:03)
  • Mahrez’s late goal for Algeria upset the status quo, forcing Austria to rescue a point in injury time.

• Mahrez’s Awkward Honesty:

  • “If the ball comes my way like that, I know it’s football and I have to respect it, but it was awkward.” (Barry quoting Mahrez, 14:14)

• Tournament Format Critique:
  Wilson discusses the “oddness” of the best third-place teams qualifying, revealing the fine margins in group outcomes.

  • “Such an obvious difference between having to play Spain, having to play Switzerland." (Wilson, 17:03)

• Late-game Advantage:
  Mark points out the advantage for teams that play last, able to plan their qualification scenarios more precisely.

  • “The last teams to play...they’ve got the whole picture in front of them.” (Mark, 17:31)

• Argentina’s Progress:
  La Albiceleste finished with maximum points and look strong—as do France.

  • “They just feel like a club team that’s playing international football. This Argentina team has just been together such a long time.” (Mark, 20:01)

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Round of 32 Preview: The Best Ahead

(Segment begins 22:05)

Key Points – Games to Watch

• Brazil v Japan:

  • Wilson: “Japan might have the beating of Brazil in midfield.” (22:21)
  • Barry: “It would not surprise me if Japan won... they’re a brilliant collective.” (23:19)
  • Mark: “My biggest concern for Japan is the psychological barrier... They’re playing the shirts.” (24:05)

• Netherlands v Morocco:

  • Wilson: “Morocco, are they the best African side ever? I think they probably are.” (25:12)
  • “This is 50-50. I think this could go either way.” (26:19)

• Germany v Paraguay:

  • Barry: “Their game against Australia was one of the worst games of football I’ve ever seen in my life... But they will try to contain Germany.” (26:27)

• England’s Route:

  • England faces DR Congo, then possibly Mexico or Ecuador (at altitude), before a likely quarterfinal versus Brazil.
  • “They’d be blowing out their backside by the semis if they get there.” (Mark, 30:11)

• France’s Path:

  • France face Sweden, then could clash with Germany, Netherlands/Morocco, then possibly Spain.
  • “That’s pretty much as tough as it gets.” (Wilson, 30:48)

• Other Notables:

  • Portugal v Croatia, Spain v Austria—Mark and Wilson note doubts about Spain’s attacking threat and Portugal’s fit with Ronaldo.
  • “Portugal have failed to score in five of the last six tournament games. There’s a really obvious problem there…” (Wilson, 35:52–36:50)

• Dark Horse Watch: Colombia

  • Mark: “I think Colombia are the new dark horses for me.” (35:50)
  • Wilson: “Mojica, the left back, stood out for me. Really significant with Diaz.” (35:52)

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Notable Quotes & Humorous Moments

• On Estacchio’s Moment:
  “Everyone resigned to another 30 minutes of not the most entertaining fare we’ve ever seen. Up pops Mr. Stecchiow...” (Barry, 02:09)

• Canadian Sports Bar Experience:
  “If they’re not watching hockey, if it’s the off season, it’s basketball. I asked for them to put on a Women’s World Cup match — they had no idea what the Women’s World Cup was.” (Barry, 07:51)

• Format Criticism/Comic Relief:
  “You'd have to be a fly with compound eyes to watch all those [simultaneous games].” (Max, 18:11)

• On England Fans’ Perennial Hopes:
  “England’s route to the final... said with no belief.” (Max, 28:14)

• On Mark Langdon’s School Hymns:
  “They didn’t sing hymns in assembly, they sang pop songs, including intriguingly, ‘Been Around the World’ by Lisa Stansfield.” (Bruce Millington via Max, 38:05)
  “Eight Days a Week by the Beatles — we sang that as well. I don’t know why.” (Mark, 39:31)

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Panel Banter & Vegetable Watch

(Segment begins 36:50)

• Mark’s vegetable consumption sparks listener engagement. After fried chicken with “lots of pickles” (37:05), listeners joke he’s “basically plant based.”
• Mark recalls pop songs as assembly hymns, delighting the panel.
• Tomato ultras, sheepish admissions of fruit aversions, and school assembly reminiscences lead to playful closing exchanges and goodbyes.

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Key Timestamps

• 00:47 – Introduction and summary of Canada’s win
• 02:09 – Barry on the drama of Canada v South Africa
• 04:14 – Mark on the Canadian football journey; tactical shifts
• 05:54 – Wilson on South Africa’s approach and tournament history
• 13:46 – Group J review, Austria–Algeria draw, “biscotto” debate
• 16:03 – Barry on Mahrez’s “awkward” goal and Austria’s rescue
• 22:05 – Round of 32 preview: fixtures, matchups, intrigue
• 24:05 – Mark on psychological barriers for teams facing Brazil
• 30:48 – Wilson on France's difficult route
• 35:50 – Mark makes the case for Colombia as a dark horse
• 36:50 – Vegetable Watch & school assembly songs

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Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• Canada’s Win is transformative, not just for the squad but for Canadian soccer’s profile at home.
• Round of 32 Preview is loaded with high-wire ties—Brazil v Japan stands out; France and Argentina seem best placed in the bracket, but their paths differ starkly in difficulty.
• Group Stage Drama – Austria v Algeria’s draw was suspenseful, not staged; oddities in tournament scheduling and format spark spirited debate.
• Panel Chemistry is on point, with banter about vegetables, music, and school pulling back the curtain on football journalism’s lighter side.

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“Canada were the only team who tried to win this game and they should have won it more comfortably.”

— Barry Glendenning (02:09)

“This could be sort of life-changing for Canada... this for them, Mark, is just enormous.”

— Max Rushden (03:38)

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Transcript

[Host (Max)]

This is the Guardian.

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[Host (Max)]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Oh, Canada in injury time. Steven Ayostakio. Surely the biggest moment in the history of Canadian men's football. It wasn't a classic, but Canada had the better chances and deserved the win. Then we'll look back at last night. A draw suited Austria and Algeria and it was a draw. But if they planned that, then fair play to all involved. Algerian fans celebrating Austria's late equalizer because it means they avoid Spain. Meanwhile, Leo Messi comes off the bench and scores a free kick. But who's better, him or Ronaldo? Then we'll look ahead to the rest of the last 32. Some great games. We can really get ahead of ourselves and plot England's route to the final semi quarters. Delete as appropriate. It's the final Langdon vegetable count. Get your totalisers out, your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, with me in la, Barry Glendenning.

[Advertiser/SoFi Announcer]

Welcome.

[Barry Glendenning]

Hey, Max.

[Host (Max)]

From the Racing Post for the last time, not ever, Mark, just so you know, just for this tournament, Mark Langdon.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Welcome.

[Mark Langdon]

Hi, Max.

[Host (Max)]

And out in Houston, preparing to go to space, Jonathan Wilson.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Hey, Wilson, how are you doing?

[Host (Max)]

Let's start then with Canada's 10 win over South Africa. I have been practicing Ayostakio so many times because he deserves to have his name pronounced correctly. Colin Miller writing. He's the first ever number seven who's represented Portugal to score a goal in a World cup knockout game. But what, Barry, what a moment for him and what a moment for Canada.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, it was a real thrilling outcome to a game I was certain was going to end in a penalty shootout. I think that's what South Africa set out to to play for. Canada were the only team who tried to win this game and they should have won it more comfortably. They missed a couple of brilliant chances in the first half, were denied a penalty. A correct decision to deny it, I think. But it was 50. It looked 50. 50 at first. And just with the game in added time, everyone resigned to another 30 minutes of not the most entertaining fair we've ever seen. Up pops Mr. Stecchiow to Welly the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the area and win the game for Canada. And it prompted a rousing address from Jesse Marshall.

[Host (Max)]

Good one, I thought.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, it wasn't as, as Mighty Ducks

[Host (Max)]

as you wanted it to be.

[Barry Glendenning]

Well, I, I thought it might be a bit more Jake Humphrey, but yeah, it was, was quite impressive, I suppose, for him. He's clearly very proud of what he's achieved with Canada. He's clearly very proud to be Canada manager. And despite being an American, he, he gives it socks when they're singing oh, Canada before the game. And they thoroughly deserve to win this because, as I said, they were the only team trying to win it.

[Host (Max)]

I, I've been looking up, you know, great moments in Canadian football after this, you know, thinking, where does this sit? Because, you know, you can, you can forget if you're from the uk, right, that, you know, doesn't really matter. How England do football will still be big. But this could be sort of life changing for Canada. They won the Olympics in 04, but that only included three teams in a total of four matches. And Galt FC, based in Cambridge, Ontario, finished first and earned Canada and Olympic gold. They obviously, they won the gold cup in 2000. The women won the Olympics in 2012. 04, by the way, 1904, they won Olympic gold. So this for them, Mark, is just enormous.

[Mark Langdon]

Absolutely. And you're right, mate. I think in Europe you do take it for granted that football, soccer isn't kind of the main sport and it'll be the same in Australia. I remember and postecoglou talking about this exact same thing in terms of, you know, like you become national heroes. And Jesse Marsh said basically the same thing afterwards. You know, all of these players, or virtually all of them would have had to have left the country to kind of make a name for themselves in terms of football, because the standard just isn't there at home. They would have probably been mocked in the playground if they liked football at one stage. Given, like, in Canada, hockey would be huge. Same in the US with all of their major sports. So it would have been a hard slog for those players to have got to where they've got to in terms of this game. You're right to say it wasn't the classic. I actually think the hydration break really helped Canada because South Africa, I felt were kind of dangerous in that first 20 minutes. And then Jesse Marsh, he changed the way that Canada played. They stopped pressing South Africa and South Africa wanted Canada to sort of come onto them. And then they tried to play around them and after that hydration break, they just stood there. And the South African goalkeeper, there were times when he had the ball at his feet for 20 seconds and was just waiting and it never came. So, you know, football is changing with these kind of breaks and turning it into quarters. And it's not the first game where, where the rhythm of, of the kind of game has completely changed after a manager's had that kind of moment a quarter of the way through a game.

[Host (Max)]

How did you see it, Wilson?

[Jonathan Wilson]

I was a little bit disappointed in South Africa. I, I've. I've been disappointed in them all tournament really that, you know, I saw them in 2023 when they got to the semi finals of a couple nations and they were really good then. They were really good with the ball playing in possession. Then the semi final, that one they played a back three. They for the first time against Nigeria and nothing happened in the game and they lost. And then the opening game of this tournament, they, they weren't great at the combinations this year. They looked a bit flimsy and they, they lost to Cameroon, which was last 16, I think. And it's as if that defeat sort of really spooked them. So the, the opening game against Mexico, they played a back three again. I think that's the only time or the first time they played a back three since I came against Nigeria. It was actually in 2024, even though it was the combinations of 2023. And it feels like they've been too passive too often. I'm not really sure that's their, their strength. So I mean they got through and Hugo Bruce deserves great credit for that. But I do wonder if they might have been better served playing their more natural game.

[Host (Max)]

Heroes are made from this, right? And players that we know nothing about. Yes, he played for Porto for about four years until he moved to LA and lost his parents. Recently, both of them quite quickly together played Portugal under 21s until he opted to play for Canada in 2019. I just think what an enormous moment for this guy from living in Australia. I understand. And you touched on it, Mark. This idea that as far as this team gets like every round that Canada get through or Australia through, actually the US has got through and like, you know, Alex and the US guys that have been. This potter mentioned this. It isn't just for these players. It's actually for anyone involved in this sport in Canada, I think we have the. Our fifth biggest audience in Canada. For those people, everyone involved in grassroots all the way up, this will mean so, so much.

[Barry Glendenning]

Oh, it absolutely will. And got next, the Netherlands and Morocco. They fancy their chances against either of those sides. Or even though they'll be underdogs, more and more eyeballs will be on the screen. I mean, my. My sister is married to a Canadian. She lives in Halifax in Nova Scotia. He's a big hockey man. I don't know if he's in the slightest bit interested in the World cup, but he is into sport and if he wasn't watching this game today, I would imagine he will certainly be watching the next one. My experience of going to sports bars in Canada is hockey is the only game in town or the only show in town. And if they're not watching hockey, if it's the off season, then it's generally basketball. That's. On one day last year, I asked for them to put on a Women's World cup match in the bar. They did, but they had no idea what the Women's World cup was. It took them a long time to find the game I wanted. It was England. Women were playing someone. I can't remember who, but yeah, no one was in the slightest bit interested in football.

[Host (Max)]

But we did see Mark and there'll be listeners who were in those fan parks in Vancouver and Toronto. I don't know, I get quite emotional just seeing those moments when that goal went in.

[Mark Langdon]

Yeah, they're definitely special. The watch party that we saw in Vancouver, I think as well the hope will grow because they've reached this stage mainly without Alphonso Davis, their best player. Like the crowd reaction when he came on. Although it was a neutral venue, Los Angeles was mainly full of Canadian supporters. And like, he made a difference just in terms of lifting the team when he came on that Jesse Marsh has been saying throughout the World cup, he's fit, he's available. And then we've not seen him. He did the same before this match and he's managed to get 30 minutes into his legs. I think to stand a chance against Netherlands or Morocco. I'd be less confident on Barry of them being able to give them a proper game. I'd say they're big outsiders. He needs to be fit and he needs to play and he needs to be able to impact and affect the game. Because as Jonathan said, South Africa weren't great. I think we have to say that

[Host (Max)]

even if they weren't great, Wilson, is them getting to the knockouts. We talk about the impact on Canadian football and I know it's a bigger tournament, so getting to the last 32 is not the same as getting to the knockouts in a previous World Cup. But do you think even if they didn't perform brilliantly in this tournament, they will view it as a success when the dust settles?

[Jonathan Wilson]

I think they will. I mean, South African football's gone through a slightly strange process that they won the cup of nations in 96. They were sort of decade after that. They were a pretty dominant side and then they've really faded in the last 20 years. And getting to the semi final in the 2023 cup of Nations played in 2024 was a huge thing. So, you know, the first time they've got to the stage, first time we've got the group, that is a big thing. I don't think people would say this is as good a side as the side that qualified for World cup in 98. Yeah. After 20 years, 25 years away, it clearly is a major thing. I just think they might be slightly frustrated that they didn't give it more of a go. They've got Mamelodi Sundowns who won the African Champions League this year. So it's not that they're not used to success. It just tends to have come at club level rather than at national level. And obviously it is different in an African context to a global context. Sure.

[Host (Max)]

You mentioned they play Canada, play Netherlands or Morocco more in the last 32 in a bit for quite a long

[Barry Glendenning]

time during this game. The most interesting thing about it was the fact that Danny Rojas from Ted Lasso was in the crowd. And I want to know, did that woman get her phone back? The lady who dropped her phone during the Mexican wave had it knocked out of her hand. Out of the top tier.

[Advertiser/SoFi Announcer]

Yeah.

[Host (Max)]

Super slow mo. You could see it just going over the barrier.

[Barry Glendenning]

The look on her face. Did she get it back? I reckon she'll get it back and I reckon we'll hear more about that.

[Host (Max)]

Did it have its cover on it? On that note, I think there was an Argentinian fan who lost his wallet at some stadium and then the fans, a fan found his wallet and started a chant for the person's wallet and eventually it got around all the Argentinian fans and they, you know, they reunited the wallet. It was like a sort of tempered down version of long lost family. Anyway, that'll do for part one. Part two. We'll look back at last night's games in group James this episode is supported by Boss formal wear provider for the US Men's national soccer team. For soccer's biggest event this summer, the US Is playing on home soil and Boss will be dressing the US Players and coach Maurizio Pochettino in Boss Performance Businesswear for their off pitch appearances. BOSS and the USMNT share the same values discipline, precision and the confidence to perform under pressure. US fans can look sharp too in the Boss Performance collection and wear their passion with special fanwear, capsule and embroidered badges in national colors. Own the moment with confidence. Discover the Boss Performance collection as worn by the US Men's national soccer team and the fan capsule of jerseys, polos and jackets in national colors. Wear your passion your way. Available [e-mail] or at your nearest boss store beyourown boss.

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[Host (Max)]

Welcome to Part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Group J the last group to finish, Argentina won all their games nine points, Austria second with four, Algeria third with four. Jordan got no points. Argentina beat Jordan three one, but Algeria three, Austria three and Barry, we were talking about, you know, could this be a draw? You know, it suited everyone involved. But I think it's fair to say this was not disgrace of Hee Haw. This was not.

[Barry Glendenning]

No, as Wilson said on the group chat this morning, it's it's the most complicated recipe for a biscotto there's ever been. If it was a biscotto, this was a brilliant game and a really odd game because I think we all thought it's going to be a draw. But they traded goals. Austria one up, Algeria came back. Austria went two one up, Algeria came back. And that seemed to be that. They seem to have more or less have an unwritten agreement. We'll just finish this out as a draw. And then two minutes into added time, Riyadh Maris pounces to put Algeria 32 up. And everyone, you can see all the Austrians are just like, what the hell are you doing? What's happened here? And Riyad Maris has since said. You know, he's acknowledged it was awkward. He said, I have to score, I have to try to score. If the ball comes my way like that, I know it's football and I have to respect it, but it was awkward. So that, that's kind of what he said. So we thought, right, that's it. And the thing is, this goal he scored means that Algeria, instead of having to play Switzerland in the next round, now have to play Spain. But we're deep and out of time, but Austria go on. And Kladzich scores with his header, his first touch of the game to restore parity. There's no way that the Algerians let them walk that into the net or anything. So if it was a fix, it was the most well choreographed fix of all time. And so now it finished three all. Much relief in the Austria camp and they have to play Spain while Algeria gets Switzerland.

[Mark Langdon]

I mean, Iran have been through every emotion in this, in this tournament. And like to. Raimi spoke afterwards as well, just about kind of how disgraceful he thinks they've been treated off the pitch, but just on it as well, you know, to have had that goal disallowed in the 93rd, 94th minute for VAR offside call, that's so marginal. They hit the bar twice as well late on and they will have expected that Austria game to finish in a draw, but when Mahrez scores, they haven't got that long and they're in. So they've gone through that agony all over again. I think Austria, though, are quite dangerous opponents. I mean, you know, Onoutovic is playing well and Sabitsa scored a brilliant goal as well. So they've got talented players in the team. But I assume this game is going to be a Paraguay, Australia part two, and I'm glad it wasn't.

[Host (Max)]

Yeah. And actually Wilson had this weird moment, then Kalasic scores. The Austrian fans are happy and the Algerian fans are happy. So you just get a situation where just everyone's happy.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Yes, I mean, I guess from their point of view every. Every game is. Every game more they play is valuable, so they wouldn't be looking too far down the line. But yeah, I mean, it's. I think it suggests something about how odd the format with best third place teams going through is that there is such an obvious difference between having to play Spain, having to play Switzerland. But yes, it was a rare instance where the group stage ended with everybody apart from Iran being absolutely delighted.

[Mark Langdon]

I would also say there's a big advantage for those Third place teams when you play last. So Austria and Algeria were the last teams to play and that they've got the whole picture in front of them on what they need.

[Host (Max)]

So we need to play all the games at the same time.

[Mark Langdon]

Scotland have had a lot of criticism, I'd say most of it deserved, but they did have to go out early and try and sort of set a bar or whatever it was. And a lot of those teams that went and played early, South Korea weren't entirely sure what they needed to do. They went out, Scotland went out. So there was definitely an advantage to going late.

[Host (Max)]

I mean, Barry struggles to watch two games at the same time.

[Barry Glendenning]

I can't do it.

[Host (Max)]

The championship cannot do it. You'd have to be a fly with compound eyes, wouldn't you, to watch all of those. Argentina beat Jordan 31 going into the tournament. Wilson. I've said that Argentina weren't really at it, so they've. They've confounded some critics already. I mean, they do look, I mean, Jordan, it's only Jordan this one. But so far, along with France have been the best team in this tournament.

[Jonathan Wilson]

I mean, they finished top of South American qualifying, so I don't think anybody thought they were terrible. I think you look at that side and you'd say, I think the problem a lot of champions have is they. They stick with their champions for too long. And there has been that run of champions going out in the group stage. It obviously didn't apply to France last time, but the three tournaments before that was it that that happened. And I think there was maybe a bit of a concern that would be true of Argentina. I think it was entirely legitimate to wonder whether Messi doing it in MLS was the same as being able to do it in the World Cup. So, I mean, there were doubts, but I'm not sure they've entirely been answered by beating Algeria and Jordan and a slightly patchy win over Austria, where they got quite a lot of decisions seem to go their way. So they've got, they've now got a really easy run as well, haven't they? They've got capper then the winner of Australia against Egypt, which I mean is obviously certainly once you get to the last 16, there's no easy games in the World cup. But still some are easier than others. And I'd say of the. Of the sort of five or six probable contenders, they probably have the simplest run to the semi final.

[Host (Max)]

Yeah, Messi again, Mark.

[Mark Langdon]

He's good, isn't he?

[Host (Max)]

Right, yeah.

[Mark Langdon]

He didn't start. Why bring him on in the first place.

[Host (Max)]

Well, nice to see Gio La Salso. I'd forgotten about him.

[Mark Langdon]

He was somebody that I hadn't realized he was in the squad really. I'm sure it was kind of in the back of my mind, but he just sort of popped up and they were able to rest virtually their entire 11. Some teams have been able to do that, others have been more at full tilt and it could be an advantage later on, particularly with the age of some of their players. But they just feel like a club team that's playing international football. Some of the sides are like thrown together last moment. This Argentina team has just been together such a long time. They all know their roles within the team and the squad and you don't hear of any arguments. Everybody knows that Messi's the star player. It's looking good for them. And as Jonathan said, like, the draw really couldn't have worked out any better.

[Host (Max)]

All right, that'll do for part two. Part three we'll look at the round of 32

[Barry Glendenning]

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Equal Housing Lender Every story is a technology story in one way or another, and on the interface we decode the tech that's rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode is AI pushing us towards an infinite work week. And this year's World cup is the most technologically advanced ever. But is it making the game better or worse? Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Host (Max)]

Welcome to Part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Should do tomorrow's games first. Then we can get into the brackets and the pathways and actually Wilson, it's so nice. Tomorrow is a great day. Brazil, Japan, Germany Paraguay, Netherlands, Morocco. I think Brazil Japan is perhaps the game of the round.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Yeah, and I'm very lucky that I'm going to it. So yeah, really looking forward to that. Slightly annoyed that my flight from Houston to Dallas means I will miss the bulk of The Netherlands Morocco game. But I'd say those two are the. They. They're the two. The two standout games from. From this round. I've now lost all confidence in my capacity to understand Carlo Ancelotti sides because they seem to operate to a different logic to everybody else, that they can play quite badly. And then somebody normally Vinicius does something amazing. Japan I've seen twice, I think they're really good. I think if Kubo is back, which supposedly he should be, that'll give him a bit of creativity that maybe, maybe they lacked in. In that final group game. But I saw them beat Tunisio and they were. They were playing well within themselves in that game. After the first sort of 10, 15 minutes, they could have been three or four nil up and then they eased off, still won it 4 nil. So I think Japan, I mean, it's such an odd sentence to say, but I think Japan might have a beating of Brazil in midfield.

[Barry Glendenning]

I wouldn't be surprised if Japan won this. It's going to be. I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be a great contrast of styles because Brazil are sort of this dysfunctional collective that are inspired by moments of brilliance from star players, while the Japanese team are very much. Quite a few of their star players aren't there because they're injured. So it's just this brilliant collective who have great team chemistry. They all work for each other and it wouldn't be. It would not surprise me if they beat Brazil. I'm not saying it's going to happen, but it wouldn't surprise me. And Japan on their day when they get the ball moving quickly, they're really, really good.

[Mark Langdon]

Yeah. I'm going to go back to what I said before the Scotland Brazil game in that did Japan believe they can beat Brazil? So many countries play Brazil with this psychological barrier there of it's Brazil and you get that in the Champions League with Real Madrid often you think real mad not playing well. And yet the team that they're playing against just is not playing the team. They're playing the shirts and the team that Real Madrid used to be. And that would be my biggest concern for Japan because when Morocco played Brazil, they were all over them. They were playing better than them and they still couldn't beat them. And that would. That's why I'm probably just edge towards Brazil and Ancelotti, he is very good at this, where it doesn't look like it should work necessarily on paper and it doesn't always work. But he's so good at getting the best out of kind of individual star players. And Vinicius has left his Real Madrid form behind from what was, wasn't a good season for him personally. And he's been one of the best players in the World Cup.

[Host (Max)]

How do you see Netherlands, Morocco, Wilson, apart from not seeing it because you're

[Jonathan Wilson]

on the plane, Dutch, one of those teams who slightly surprised me that they shouldn't have done because you look at their players and they clearly have good players in every position and obviously it's great that Brian Brobbie's playing, playing well and has scored three goals and I think he sort of deserved that given his form in the season. In fact, he didn't start the first game. He's coming because of injury to Somerville and I think he's made them better balanced. Morocco, I think, are they, are they the best African side ever? I think they probably are. I wouldn't have said that in January necessarily, but I think under Hoabi they've definitely kicked on that. They now are playing with more belief. I sort of, during the combinations I didn't really take seriously Morocco fans who were frustrated with how they were playing under Rogui. I sort of thought that's a typical fan, you know, fans saying take the handbrake off. But maybe you do have to play a bit more conservatively. But now Huabi's come in and has taken the handbrake off and they look really, really good. So I think it's. I think this is 50 50. I think it's. I was about to say this could go either way, but you know what 5050 means.

[Host (Max)]

I do. Thank you for explaining it to our new list. Barry. Germany, Paraguay. I mean this would be an extraordinary upset if Paraguay got through this.

[Barry Glendenning]

It would be, yeah. I think Paraguay tried to be expensive and play free flowing football against the USA and got seriously bitten on the arse doing so. They ended up getting battered. So in the next two games they ground out the necessary points required to get them to this stage. Their game against Australia was one of the worst games of football I've ever seen in my life. But I, I appreciate both teams for, you know, there was a means to an end for both of them. They will try to contain Germany. They will hope to score from a corner a free kick. I, this just isn't a vintage German side but I, I expect him to have enough to beat Paraguay.

[Host (Max)]

Now we've got to a last 32. That's why we're letting you go, because we don't need to turn to someone and go, if they play there, if they finish there, who's going there? And Mark's just very diligently just. You're not going. Oh, shut up. Like the rest of us.

[Mark Langdon]

No, no, I enjoy it. I enjoy that. The math behind working out where the third place teams are going. And I love a bracket, you know, I don't like basketball, but I feel like I should for March Madness and I can, you know, I can just have the biggest bracket going. But yeah, I think it's a really like interesting last 32, isn't it? Because there are the games tomorrow are the best ones and there are some unusual ties and some weak kind of areas where you think like the US they'll fancy their chances against Bosnia. I think they will expect to beat Belgium or Senegal at home. And then all of a sudden, you know, they're in a quarter final. But then like Portugal could play Spain in the last 16, Germany could play France. Like some real heavyweight tussles early on in the competition.

[Advertiser/SoFi Announcer]

Yeah.

[Host (Max)]

England's route to the final. Cough. Yeah. Said with no belief. So they've got Dr. Congo and then the winners of Mexico, Ecuador, and that is in the same quarter quadrant. Whatever you want to say with Brazil, Japan and Ivory Coast, Norway. If you were going to plot that Wilson, how. How do you see it going from an England perspective?

[Jonathan Wilson]

I mean, I think they should be all right against drc, but that game, whether it's against Mexico, whether it's against Ecuador at altitude, that's a, that's a big challenge. I mean, it's 2000, 250 meters above sea level. That's not nothing. I say having twice tried to go running in Mexico City and found it incredibly difficult. And even if Mexico lose to Ecuador, Ecuador one of a tiny handful of countries in the world who are even better at alpacu than Mexico are. So I think, and then we play Tibet, we'll be real challenge for England.

[Host (Max)]

Yeah, I think you're right. Was someone telling me this on the pod? Were you telling me this, Mark, about how to deal with altitude?

[Mark Langdon]

Yeah.

[Host (Max)]

Did we do that on this? I forget.

[Mark Langdon]

There's a lot of content out there. Maxwell.

[Host (Max)]

Did I do it on selling Sunset? I can't remember.

[Mark Langdon]

Yeah. Christine Quinn was amazed at the kind of the two ways you can deal with altitude. One is to go very early in South American qualifying. Two ways that teams tend to do it is one, you go very early, you acclimatise and you're ready for it as much as you can. Be the other way is to go in late and not let it kind of impact you that way. So, I mean, England, if they get there, won't really have a choice because they're just gonna have so few days to prepare for it. I just think from England's point of view, even if they get through that last 16 game and then say they play Brazil in the quarterfinals, that would be in Miami. So they would have gone. They would play high altitude, last 16. Then you're playing in the heat of Miami in the quarterfinals, I think, and

[Host (Max)]

that'd be like a Brazil home game.

[Mark Langdon]

Yeah, I think they'll be blowing out their backside by the semis if they get there, to be honest.

[Host (Max)]

Well, can Ben Stokes play right back? That's the key. Get him in.

[Barry Glendenning]

Christine Quinn, like ourselves, is used to altitude because she lives in the top floor of the apartment.

[Host (Max)]

Maybe we could all play France, you know, widely seen as played the best. So far they've got Sweden and then it's the winners of Germany, Paraguay, so presumably Germany. And then it will be, you know, Netherlands or Morocco who beat Canada, if. Unless, of course, Canada, with all due respect to Canada, etc. So do you see France as. France are the most likely to get to the semis in that little bit? Aren't they, boss?

[Jonathan Wilson]

They are. I mean, I think that they're the strongest team of the strongest squad, but they've also got the hardest routes in Athens worked out. It's almost like a handicapping system that it works out really well that they then have Spain, I think, in the semi final. So as a route to get to the World cup final, certainly looking at historical precedent, Sweden have been in a World cup final, I mean, admittedly not for nearly 70 years. Then Germany, then the Netherlands, say, then Spain. That's pretty much as tough as it gets. So, yeah, I think France are the best team, but that is the hardest route and maybe they do falter.

[Host (Max)]

Yeah. Important to point out there's nobody from that World Cup Final 1958 team in the current squad. For Sweden.

[Barry Glendenning]

I don't think Sweden are anything to worry about for France. I mean, they've only. They've had one good game against Tunisia.

[Host (Max)]

No, they're not.

[Jonathan Wilson]

I was just trying to pick it up.

[Barry Glendenning]

Oh, sorry.

[Advertiser/SoFi Announcer]

Thank you.

[Host (Max)]

Keep people interested in football. What about the other Portugal? So Portugal play Croatia, Spain, Austria, So we presume Spain would get through. I don't know if you're not sure

[Mark Langdon]

about Spain or Portugal, I think Portugal might be better when they're playing against a better team and like they've not got the ball and are trying to do this thing with Cristiano Ronaldo that's not quite working anyway. No, I just think Spain have been very pedestrian so far. Now, that could change if Yamau explodes into the tournament, but he isn't fully fair. Williams on the other side definitely isn't fit at the moment. And I've not been that impressed with. With Spain so far. Like they should be Austria. But Austria are good at set pieces and might be able to keep it tight if it becomes a Portugal Spain last 16 game. I wouldn't be. I wouldn't be confident that Spain would. Would win that. No.

[Host (Max)]

Belgium, Senegal is a really interesting game, Wilson. I think the winners will play the winner of the US Bosnia. So who are we going to see in the last 16 in that. In that little bit?

[Jonathan Wilson]

Yeah, I mean, that Senegal Belgium game is. I think that's arguably the best balance to these last 32 ties because I think Senegal are better than we saw in their first two games. Those games against France and Norway. I think they possibly have got a problem with a couple of players who've just sort of. You just started to go over the top of the hill just at the same time. So Koulibaly, they left out for the third group game, and I think that was necessary. Mane hasn't had a good tournament either. Now, Mane was very, very good at the Copper nations when something. Or maybe won it, maybe he didn't. We'll find out later. So I wouldn't worry too much about him. But I think Koulibaly's been showing signs of wear for sort of six months or so. So the fact they have finally sort of decided to take that decision is probably good. And Belgium looked really sort of flimsy and flaky and then finally they. They got together in the third group game as well. So I think that's. That's a really tight tie. What I will say about Bosnia is they are defensively very good and we know they're good at penalties. So I look. USA probably should win that, but the longer it goes at nil. Nil, the more you think Bosnia have got a good chance.

[Host (Max)]

And then the other four that we sort of touched on Argentina, Cape Verde will. Then they'll play the winners of Australia, Egypt. I met some Socceroos fans in an Australian cafe this morning. Do you think, Mark, they can get past Egypt?

[Mark Langdon]

I mean, they can. I mean, that looks a difficult one to call. I wouldn't think there'd be many Goals in the game. Australia want to play counter attack. I think Egypt are better when they can counter as well with Mahmouch and Salah who might be a doubt having gone off quite early in that third game. So I think that one might go all the way to penalties.

[Host (Max)]

And you presume Colombia would come out of the Switzerland, Algeria, Columbia, Ghana bit?

[Mark Langdon]

I, I think that they might be Argentina as well. I've got them down now as potential finalists. I, I, I, I think Colombia have been the one of the teams that have impressed me the most so far in this tournament. So many fans there as well, so they're turning games into home matches. But like the defense has been strong. I mean Davington, Sanchez, he's done no look marking before but he was doing no look passes against Portugal. Like the midfield, he's been able to rotate players as well. Like Munoz didn't play in, in that, that last match and was very influential earlier on. Luis Diaz is somebody that can, you know, win matches on his own. Suarez, the, the, the striker who scored a lot of goals in Portugal this season didn't play in that last game. James, he can't do it for 90 minutes.

[Host (Max)]

So good though.

[Mark Langdon]

But he's for 60, 70 minutes. He's still got that ability to open up defenses. So I think they'll get past Ghana. I think they'll, I think be probably Switzerland in the next round. Sets up a quarter final against Argentina where I'd go for red cards and a narrow Colombia win. And I don't see any reason if they were to be Argentina why they should then be scared of an England or Brazil. So yeah, I think Colombia are the new dark horses for me.

[Host (Max)]

Any other thoughts, Wilson?

[Jonathan Wilson]

Yeah, I've seen Colombia twice live and the player who stood out for me, who I didn't know anything about is the left back, Mojica. He gets forward really well, delivers the ball really well. So I think his link up with Diaz on that left side is really significant for them. I mean I've seen saw Spain against Uruguay and they were really disappointing. So would completely agree with Mark that I don't trust them to keep going at all. And Portugal in that quarter. Quarter. It's not quarters. There's just four teams involved. That Oct bit something Oct bit Octave. Octit. Oh yeah, they haven't, they've failed to score in five of the last six tournament games. So yeah, there's a really obvious problem there we don't need to point out again, but it's not going to go away

[Host (Max)]

onto any other Business, specifically Mark Langdon and Vegetable Watch. When you announced you had a McDonald's yesterday, Pete says, was there pickle on the McDonald's?

[Mark Langdon]

No, it was a breakfast.

[Host (Max)]

It was a breakfast, of course. But since then you've had some fried chicken which had pickles in it and you ate the pickles.

[Mark Langdon]

I like, I like pickles. Yeah, very much.

[Host (Max)]

Yeah, well, we saw that on the, on the, the Instagram diaries. McGowda says pickles staying is an absolute earthquake of a revelation. T.R. marshall said pickles. Mark Langdon is basically plant based. So could we have, could we have the final vegetable count?

[Mark Langdon]

Well, today the regular breakfast came back Honey Nut Cheerios. Honey Nut Cheerios. Yep, A solid starter. There was no need for a bridge because the lunch was supposed to be early. The Uber driver seemed to go all around LA before he eventually delivered the fried chicken to me and Barry. So the chips did not survive the traffic that well. But the chicken burger was top standard from, from Gus's Fried Chicken. Add cheese, add mayo and, and pickles, lots of pickles. So for anybody that was worried about my health, you don't need to. I've had my pickles intake and I'm ready to go. And I think dinner is in a steak restaurant tonight, isn't it?

[Host (Max)]

I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, we're, we're finishing early, so all out for dinner together. Very exciting. I might have a little nap first. Barry said, I'm like a cat earlier today. My superpower is just sleeping whenever I can. Bruce Millington's been in touch with former colleague, former boss, former boss. Oh yeah. He says, please, Mark is out there. Here's a great lang o fact that might give you some fodder. He once told us that his school, they didn't sing hymns in assembly, they sang pop songs, including intriguingly, been around the World by Lisa Stansfield. Still can't get my head around a half a school hall full of kids during that high pitched bit she does towards the end, you may be able to glean more.

[Mark Langdon]

Is that it's true. And I mean I've got no, no added info beyond that. But I mean, you know, we, we were told what to do and we delivered it.

[Host (Max)]

Well, so did you have like a hymn book and it went number 64. Lisa Stansfield, been around the world.

[Mark Langdon]

Can't remember, it's in primary school. But I

[Host (Max)]

did they have the bit written down when they go, ay, ay, I can't find my baby. I don't know.

[Mark Langdon]

Oh my God, it Must have done. I mean, we couldn't have known the words, so I'm assuming there was some sort of help there. But, yeah, we. I mean, you know, when you're young and you're in school, you don't realize that that's abnormal, but, you know, we were in school, we did what we were told.

[Host (Max)]

Beats all Things bright and beautiful.

[Mark Langdon]

Barry.

[Barry Glendenning]

It's a hard song to sing, but really difficult.

[Host (Max)]

Do you remember any others that you had to sing?

[Mark Langdon]

Eight Days a Week by the Beatles. We sang that as well. I don't know why. No idea why. You know, I don't know if that's says anything about my education since, and sort of the way I've dragged myself.

[Host (Max)]

If we. If we. If we end up doing karaoke tonight, then you can give us your best. Lisa Stansfield.

[Barry Glendenning]

I met Lisa Stansfield. Did you?

[Host (Max)]

I did.

[Barry Glendenning]

In a bar in Dublin.

[Host (Max)]

All right.

[Barry Glendenning]

Very nice woman.

[Host (Max)]

Well, that's nice.

[Barry Glendenning]

She used to live in Dublin. I don't know, she might still do.

[Host (Max)]

Okay. Did you have a nice chat?

[Barry Glendenning]

We did okay, yeah.

[Host (Max)]

Did you.

[Barry Glendenning]

Did you call me Chuck a lot?

[Host (Max)]

Chuck.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Chuck.

[Host (Max)]

All right, Chuck.

[Barry Glendenning]

She's very northern.

[Host (Max)]

Chuck Glendenning. Chuck Glendenning sounds like someone who comes sort of seventh in the TPC at Sawgrass quite a lot. Chuck Glendenning iii, I'll tell you, I'd

[Barry Glendenning]

take a cop of a seven face. Finishes at Sawgrass too. You wouldn't. You wouldn't be the last genie.

[Host (Max)]

Anyway, Mark, it's been a great pleasure, so thank you for coming.

[Mark Langdon]

Thank you.

[Barry Glendenning]

Thank you. Enjoyed it.

[Mark Langdon]

Yeah, I mean, I suppose the. I seem to have built up. There's certainly an angry community of tomato eaters that have. That have been on, but they're lectures and funnily enough, are not going to. To make me change my mind on whether I should eat so are they

[Host (Max)]

people who love tomatoes? Because you cannot. You're going to upset someone.

[Mark Langdon]

Yeah, but, you know, I was speaking to somebody the other week and they told me they didn't like lamb.

[Barry Glendenning]

Right.

[Mark Langdon]

And I didn't sort of.

[Host (Max)]

You didn't have a go?

[Mark Langdon]

I didn't dress them down for not liking, you know, the best meat around for a Sunday. You know, for a Sunday roast. I just said, oh, okay. And we moved on and both enjoyed the rest of our day. I say, I don't like tomato. Tomatoes. Tomato stands, the tomato ultras can do one. Yeah.

[Host (Max)]

All right. Well, thank you, Mark. Thank you, Wilson. Thanks for your time, pal.

[Barry Glendenning]

The.

[Jonathan Wilson]

The word I was looking for was eight. Eight days a week. Yeah, I was trying to find your octos.

[Host (Max)]

We'll see you in New York.

[Barry Glendenning]

Now. Now he's wondering who Lisa Stansfield is.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Lisa Stansfield's from Rochdale. I know that. And, yeah, I once got death threats from the Oxford University Vegan Society. Like Mark, I have suffered from vegetable eaters. Well, fruit. Although I am one myself.

[Host (Max)]

Fruit eaters don't upset the tomato lot any more than we already have. That'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Wilson.

[Jonathan Wilson]

Cheers. Thank you.

[Host (Max)]

Thanks, Mark.

[Mark Langdon]

Thank you, Matt.

[Host (Max)]

Cheers, Barry.

[Barry Glendenning]

Thank you.

[Host (Max)]

Football Weekly is produced by Rory Simon and Matt Bentley Viney. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. We'll be back tomorrow. This is the guardian

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[Mark Langdon]

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