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World Cup 2026 preview: Groups A-D – Football Weekly
00:54:28
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen, Mark Langdon, Ewan Murray and Jack Snape to preview Groups A-D including Scotland and Brazil
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- [00:01]
A
This is the Guardian.
- [00:09]
B
Hi pod fans. Max here. Barry's here too.
- [00:11]
A
Hello.
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B
Football Weekly is supported by Hotels.com Now, Barry, question. When you're booking a hotel, do you use hotels.com actually, you're probably just going to say, I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [00:20]
A
I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [00:23]
B
Well, I think you should give it a try for yourself. Obviously, it's a massive summer of soccer and loads of our listeners will be traveling to watch the tournament and and needing to book somewhere great to stay. So it's good to know that when you're a Hotels.com member, you can save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels. Plus you earn rewards on every stay. So each trip you take helps pay for your future trips. Just use those rewards like cash. And importantly, there are never any blackout dates.
- [00:45]
A
What's a blackout date?
- [00:47]
B
Well, it's a date where you can't use travel rewards frustratingly, usually on or around major holidays or other peak travel periods. But there are no blackout dates with hotels.com rewards.
- [00:57]
A
Superb.
- [00:57]
B
Yes. So next time you're booking somewhere to stay, just book it at hotels.com hotels.com it's all in the name. Hi pod fans. Max here. Football Weekly is supported by contentful marketers. No matter what pitch you play on, a big win feels the same electric. It's that moment when you read the play before the trend even starts. Beat the clock on a campaign, a little help from AI and connect with customers in real time like you've trained for it your whole career. That's contentful. World class digital experiences built fast, built beautifully. Create and launch personalized content in an instant across every channel your customers are watching. No chaos, no limits, just open field. Take your shot@contentful.com. Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Here are your World cup previews. It's your tournament guide pullout without the hassle of reading four groups per pod in alphabetical order. So group A hosts Mexico alongside South Africa, King Min Son and pals, South Korea and Czechia. Patrik Schick, Tomas Soucek and presumably Karel Poborski. Group B quite exciting. Canadians and Swift Swiss. We've never said that before. Edin Dzeko and Bosnia and Qatar. Group C Euan Murray in for some optimism as the Scots play Haiti, Morocco and Brazil. And then group D will get a socceroos perspective as the Aussies line up against host the US Paraguay and the dark horses of Turkey. Let's get on with it. This is today's Guardian Football Weekly. Alongside me for the whole pod. The Racing Post. Mark Langdon. Welcome, Mark.
- [02:42]
C
Hi, Max.
- [02:43]
B
Hello. Lars Civitson.
- [02:44]
D
Hello, Max.
- [02:45]
B
And Barry Glendenning is here.
- [02:47]
A
Hello.
- [02:48]
B
Yeah, we should probably point out we're recording these a week before they go out, so just in case Harry Kane pulls a hamstring or something, we apologize. But let's get into it then with group A, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Czechia. Mexico managed by Javier Aguirre, known as El Vasco. His third time managing El Tree in the World cup, the best ever quarterfinals in 1970. And Mexico 86. Well, Mexico 70 as well. They lost out in the group stage in Qatar behind Argentina and Poland. South Africa managed by the Belgian Hugo Brus. Best ever is the group stages in 2010. Didn't qualify last time out. First World cup since they were the hosts. South Korea, managed by Hong Myung Bo, legend of Korean football. He captained their side to the semi finals in 2002, the first former captain to manage South Korea at a World cup. And that's their best ever. 2002. And last time out they got to the round 16. Czechia managed by Miroslav Kubek, who is 74 and a spring chicken compared to the 78 year old. Did Dick Advocate. But more of that. And Kurosawa Non. They've lost the final twice. Czech yet. 1934 and 1962, obviously, when they were Czechoslovakia, of course. Lars, how do you see this group?
- [03:58]
D
When I was doing my sort of brackety thing that we do, I do think this is one of the groups where I am the least confident in picking a top two, to be honest. I think this is kind of an even group. Mexico have this great history of always qualifying from the group stage, which they didn't at Ed Qatar, but before that I think it was like seventh straight World Cups or something crazy that they've gotten out of the group stage. The Czechs are not great, but they've got a good sort of punchy physique about them. They've got good spirits, you know, they're not terrible. And then I'm not entirely sure what to expect from South Korea and South Africa, to be honest. But they're not bad, I don't think. I don't think they'll be outright bad, any of them. So I do think this is one of those groups where a lot of teams can take points off each other and I think it's a little bit, little trickier to predict how it turns out than a lot of the other groups.
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B
Mark, what do you think of Mexico.
- [04:50]
C
Well, I, I disagree with Lars early doors and say that I think Mexico here like this, this is a really good opportunity for them to win the group, to stay at home in Mexico. Last 32. If they win the group, you then play a third place team. Last 16 would potentially be England in the Azteca. I think like about 1am on a Monday morning in UK time and everyone's talking about this being the US World cup, you know, because that's where the latter stages are. But I mean, Mexico can definitely use home advantage. Altitude is something that they'll be used to if you look around. I'm not sure you could say the same. I mean, I mean, Thomas Suchek looks like he's played 90 minutes before he starts. So he's quite, he is quite tall.
- [05:39]
B
So he is at altitude. Generally he is.
- [05:42]
C
But South Korea have already been moaning about the fact that they've got to play a whole tournament effectively at altitude as well. But yeah, as well as the planning for Mexico, most of their players now play domestically, but I don't see that as a negative. Most of them don't need to leave home because in that part of the world you get paid really well. So I don't know if you're in kind of Brazil or Argentina and South America, you have to make that move early because you have to do it for the financial gains. But if you're Mexican, you can start at home as long as you want, really, because you can make serious dough. And also their playoffs this year domestically, the coach pulled basically all of the players out. So they've been in camp since early May, which again I think is an advantage. When you look at Champions League final, you know, finished, you know, just recently and Mexican players, the home based ones, have been fully focused. So I think it's a big opportunity for Mexico to win the group to stay at home. Interested to see, I think you pronounce it Quanez, a forward that's the top scorer in Saudi Arabia this sort of season. So we'll see how that form stacks up. Ivan Toney was the second highest scorer and Cristiano Ronaldo was third highest. So, you know, I'm not even certain he'll start, but it's really hard to weigh up that league just in terms of fitness and quality. So, yeah, he's the top scorer in Saudi this season.
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B
Baz, presumably you'd like to see England have to play Mexico in the last 16 as we get ahead of ourselves
- [07:22]
A
already in Mexico, I don't think that's a fixture. England would Find easy. I don't think Mexico's home advantage can be overstated. You've got Monterrey, which is one of the hottest cities which the World Cup's been played at. Then Mexico City is 2,240 meters above sea level. Guadalajara is 15, 566 meters above sea level. If you're not used to those conditions, it's going to be hard. Breathing is hard, running is hard. The heat is oppressive. Czechs seem to have been sold a real pop in terms of the draw in that they play South Korea at altitude in Guadalajara. Then they have to fly three and a half thousand kilometers to play South Africa in Atlanta, one of the hottest venues. But I believe the stadium there is aircon so that might not be too bad. And then they have to fly 3 1/2/2,000 kilometers back to play Mexico in Mexico City. And the Czech team are based in New Jersey as far as I know, which means they don't seem to be making any effort to acclimatize to the conditions they're going to have to play in. Mexico by contrast are have been as Mark said, they've been together for ages at a place called the center, the Alto Randimento. So the Alto there would suggest they will be perfectly well set up to deal with the conditions. So yeah, the, the Czech Republic that you know there but for the grace of God go Ireland and that's what we'd have got. And I shoulder to think how the tasty Irish fellas would have go on in that group but I, I think Mexico will, will win the group. I suspect South Africa will probably come last and then it's, it's take your pick for second and third between South Korean Chechya.
- [09:19]
B
Yeah, last on South Korea. Obviously Sunny is 33, only scored twice for LA this year. I mean I don't know how much of him you've seen in. In MLS. They lost 4 nil to Ivory coast recently and 1 nil to Australia in recent friendly. So I mean you sort of always give South Korea a punches chance of, of doing something. But maybe this is a tournament too far for Sunny.
- [09:43]
D
It might be. But again, okay, Mark and Barry rate this Mexican team slightly higher than I do. It's possible that the home advantage will be as pivotal as Barry and Mark have made a very good case for. But I still think the Czechs have issues. Like you said they are there. I mean I watched both of their games against Ireland and Denmark in the playoffs and they have a lot of like strength and they're. There's Quite spirited, but there's a real lack of, like, there's a bit of a lack of skill. I think they're not the best ball playing team in the world, so playing in high heat, potentially at altitude seems bad for them. So I think that'll mitigate some of their strengths. And I'm not familiar enough with South Africa to really make any sweeping. But my point is I don't think South Korea have to be brilliant to get out of this group. I think there's something there to be gotten from them. And I think Mexico have the advantages that you've all mentioned, but I'm not convinced it's that good a team on paper compared to previous Mexican generations who've made a fist of it at the World Cup. So I would stick to my. I, I will go along with the idea that Mexico are the most likely group winners, but I do think it's pretty open beyond that. And this is why I think it's entirely possible that South Korea can get out of the group.
- [10:57]
B
As long as they bring back the Mexico 86 goal nets, then you know, they can do, frankly, whatever they like. I want to see big, deep goal nets with you stretch for miles from in Guadalajara, Monterey at the time of
- [11:10]
A
recording, their squad has just been announced. And whatever about goal nets, they have brought back everyone's favorite Mexican goalkeeper. Gil yes is in the squad and this will be his sixth. Sixth World Cup.
- [11:25]
E
Yeah.
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A
What an achievement that is for him.
- [11:28]
C
There are some players that just pop up at World Cups like Achar and of Valencia. You kind of don't hear about him
- [11:34]
A
for four years, only ever gets wheeled out for a major tournament, then when it ends, he gets put back in a box for another two years.
- [11:44]
C
Just on South Africa, max. I'll do one, one little bit on South Africa because the Sundowns won the. From South Africa won the African Champions League. And you know, there's a kind of heavy contingent of Sundowns players, but I saw their coach was complaining they've arrived later than they wanted to in the US due to visa issues for some of their players that he was unhappy with. And probably not the only country that's kind of going through that at the moment, which is suboptimal, you would have thought for, you know, a World Cup.
- [12:15]
A
I read somewhere that any South African fans who want to travel to the States have to go to the American Embassy in Pretoria to get their visas. Pretoria is obviously, you know, a very, very, very long way from a lot of parts of South Africa. So, yeah, they're just one of any number of countries whose citizens are going to struggle to get to the South
- [12:42]
D
Africa is another team that because the domestic league is comparatively solid for the region not that many of their players go abroad compared to other nature so that there's a. There's a certain comparison to Mexico there. My whole thing is I don't think that's a positive. I think when that happens what you end up is with players who don't get matched at the highest level and I'm not convinced it's a strength at all. So I don't that's. But it also means we haven't seen them a lot, most of us. And you should never assume players are not good just because you haven't seen them. So I actually really look forward to watching the team from that perspective.
- [13:16]
B
Yeah, absolutely. And this gives it a Mexico 86 feel where there are some players in a World cup that you that you haven't heard of. Now on to brilliant Bolo Barry. Group B Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland. Canada managed by Jesse Marshall, former Leeds boss, first non Canadian to take charge of their team. Recently signed an extension to 2030. Best ever is in the group stages which happened last time out. Bosnia hurts coming and managed by Sergey Barbarez. Again, best ever is the group stages back in 2014. Qatar managed by Julian Lopetegui. That's where he is. Their first World Cup I believe was 2022 when they hosted it and went out in the group stages qualified via the Asian fourth round playoffs. And Switzerland managed by Murat Yakin. They've got to the quarterfinals in 1934, 1938, 1954 and 2022. Francis says to Canada represent the best chance of the host nations. I thought they were good in the last World Cup, Barry. They excited us without actually doing anything special. So be quite interesting to see how far they've come in four years.
- [14:21]
A
If they want to stay in Vancouver, they need to top this group. I'm not going to claim to know a huge amount about Canada. I don't remember them in the last World cup, so they didn't make that much of an impression on me. Much of their hopes for this World cup seem to be hinging on the fitness of Alphonso Davis. Whether or not he will be fit. I don't think he'll be fit to play in their opening game, maybe not even their second game. They've got Johnson David, Juventus striker born in Brooklyn to Haitian parents, so he could have played for any number of countries. Tajan Buchanan Villarreal winger. It doesn't look a massively difficult group. It looks quite open to me. But they will want to top it to stay in Canada.
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C
I mean, Jesse Marsh is quite a positive person. I think everyone would agree that.
- [15:17]
B
So vibes. There are lasso vibes, aren't there?
- [15:20]
C
There definitely are. He is talking a good game. I think the general view is that this is the best Canadian team ever. Unlike Barry, I thought that they did do well four years ago, just struggled to put the ball in net.
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A
I'm not saying they didn't. I'm just saying I literally cannot remember.
- [15:39]
C
It was. It was. It was a long time. It is crazy because, like, we'd never talk about a kind of, you know, in terms of form. You'd never go back four years to discuss a team that was playing in the Premier League. And yet it's what we do at the World Cup. But they, they were unfortunate back in Qatar because they played well, but. But, you know, just struggle to make the most of their opportunities. Like, I agree that this is quite a balanced group. I would expect Switzerland to win it, but then that kind of second spot I think is there for Canada's taking. And then just in terms of the. The question, I think that all three host nations have, you know, I expect them all to qualify and I wouldn't be that amazed if they made the. The last 16, all three of them. And then from there, who, who knows, maybe even one of them gets to the quarterfinals. I think that home advantage potentially been slightly underrated. I just think that it is going to be a very foreign tournament for. For a lot of teams.
- [16:36]
B
Switzerland have Granit Jacques at his fourth World cup, but no curves of Shaqiri. How you know, they've got some decent names that people know of. Noel Okafor, Danon Doi, Zaki Amdouni as well. What do you reckon to the Swiss?
- [16:49]
D
So Switzerland, I mean, you joke about players that you only really see at these big tournaments. There's a few of them in the Swiss team and the funny thing is that, I mean, the amount of games these guys have played together. Granit Xhaka has played 123 games with Ricardo Rodriguez for Switzerland, which is mad. Granit Xhaka has played 72 games with Remo Fleuriler in the Swiss midfield. So the amount of experience that you've got in this group is pretty extraordinary. Even though Sherdan Shaqiri and the goalkeeper Jan Sommer and Fabian Scher have retired from international duty, akanji had played 73 games with Ricardo Rodriguez. So these are guys who know each other really well, who know the way they play really well. There is maybe a lack of spark in the group. There's a reason Sheridan Shaqiri kept getting in the team even as his club career was was declining because that little bit of creativity and something extra they, they haven't really found consistently from, from, from anyone else. In the same way, the aforementioned braille and Bolo is really important to them up front. They don't have that many difference makers in attack. But I, I do tend to think these tournaments come down to who can screw up the least defensively and who can then go on and take their chances. And in the screwing up the department, I think the Swiss have got something and they are often a little bit more punisher than we expect at these tournaments and it wouldn't shock me if they did that again.
- [18:19]
A
They only conceded two goals in qualifying. I mean that's pretty impressive, isn't it?
- [18:24]
E
Yeah.
- [18:24]
B
On to Bosnia, owning their second World cup as an independent nation after defeating Italy and Wales in the playoffs. So the team that denied it at least three Ellis James voice notes Mark, we are happy to see a 40 year old Edin Jekyll, but beyond that, do you have any strong thoughts?
- [18:40]
C
Yeah, very surprised that they came through those playoffs. First of all, I expected them to lose to Wales in Cardiff and Italy shot themselves in the foot as well with the red car. But actually Bosnian was playing well even before that. There's a teenager, I hope I pronounce his name correctly. Kerim Ala Begovic plays for Salzburg who definitely caught the eye in those playoff matches. There's quite a bit of hype around him as somebody that can maybe add that dynamism because when you play somebody like Jeko up front, he's got many qualities but he's not going to be running in behind and you need other players to do a fair bit of Jeko's running, particularly in the conditions that they're going to face. So he might be somebody that kind of emerges out of this tournament and gets that move from Austria. And you know, we know that RB Salsburg is a bit of a talent farm anyway and you know, kind of a lot of players do start there and then go on and and kind of make their market in bigger leagues.
- [19:43]
B
Barry, any thoughts on Qatar?
- [19:45]
A
Well, as you mentioned, Julian Lopetegi is in charge. I think they went through three coaches in qualifying. He got them through the most win game against the UAE to qualify. Players of note Akram, a thief Alad, he's coming off a title winning season in the Qatar Stars League. They basically want to win a game first and foremost. Their third group game is probably the most realistic opportunity. Not a particularly big side physically and could get bullied. They played Ireland recently in Dublin in a friendly and lost one nil. And they were playing against 10 men for I think most all the second half. So they weren't impressive in that performance.
- [20:33]
B
All right, that'll do for group B. Group C includes Scotland and you and Murray will join us in just a second. Hi, POD fans. Max here. Barry's here too.
- [20:42]
A
Hello.
- [20:43]
B
Football Weekly is supported by Gradient fc. Now, Barry, we've talked a lot on the POD about football analytics, XG and all that. And all those POD fans who are deep into football analytics will probably already know Gradient Sports. They work with pro clubs across Europe's top leagues to provide player performance insights. But they're now bringing that same pro level analysis directly to fans through the Gradient FC app.
- [21:03]
A
Sounds interesting, Max. What can it do?
- [21:06]
B
Well, each match is graded by a team of experts who evaluate over 2,000 player actions per match, not just by outcome, but by execution. So, for example, a completed pass that leads the receiver into danger is graded negatively, while one that puts a receiver in on goal is graded positively.
- [21:22]
A
Sounds like common sense.
- [21:23]
B
Yeah, and with Gradient fc, you get some of the deepest metrics available to ordinary fans, like line breaking passes, dribbles into dangerous positions and chance creations. Now, I know you hate making match predictions, Barry, but maybe all that could change range with Gradient fc. With head to head player comparison tools that show you who's best across more than 100 grades and metrics, it's easy to build and defend any prediction. And here's something else that will appeal to you, Barry. It's free.
- [21:47]
A
Okay, I'm surprised to hear that, Max.
- [21:49]
B
Yeah, well, explore it for yourself@radientfc.com or download the Gradient FC app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Hi, POD fans. Max here. Barry's here too.
- [22:04]
A
Hello.
- [22:05]
B
Football Weekly is supported by Hotels.com. now, Barry, question. When you're booking a hotel, do you use hotels.com? actually, you're probably just going to say, I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [22:13]
A
I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [22:15]
B
Well, I think you should give it a try for yourself. Obviously it's a massive summer of soccer and loads of our listeners will be traveling to watch the tournament and needing to book somewhere great to stay. So it's good to know that when you're a Hotels.com member. You can save up to 20% on hundreds of thousands of hotels. Plus, you earn rewards on every stay. So each trip you take helps pay for your future trips. Just use those rewards like cash. And importantly, there are never any blackout dates.
- [22:38]
A
What's a blackout date?
- [22:39]
B
Well, it's a date where you can't use travel rewards, frustratingly, usually on or around major holidays or other peak travel periods. But there are no blackout dates with hotels.com rewards.
- [22:49]
A
Superb.
- [22:50]
B
Yes. So next time you're booking somewhere to stay, just book it at hotels.com hotels.com it's all in the name. Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So, Group C, then Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. Scotland, managed by Steve Clark. Best ever. The group stages famously never ever got to a knockout game. This could be the year at Brazil, managed by Carlo Ancelotti. They've won it five times. 58, 62, 1794 and 2002. Got to the quarterfinals last year. Morocco, managed by Mohamed Wbi, got to the semifinals in Qatar, of course. And Haiti, managed by Sebastian Mina. Last time they were at The World Cup, 1974, knocked out in the group stages. Let's bring in Scottish football correspondent Ewan Murray. Hey, Ewan.
- [23:45]
E
Hello, Max.
- [23:47]
B
Daniel says Scotland win the group, then the lot. Or slow start, then win the lot. Mitch says how many goals will Scotland beat Brazil by to offset the defeat to Haiti? How are you feeling about Scott? Obviously lost Billy Gilmour in that friendly, which is a real blow, isn't it?
- [24:01]
E
It is, yeah. I mean, this situation, it's hugely exciting. First time since 1998. Although. Although we've been in the Euros, obviously the World cup feels different, it's a bigger deal. So there is great excitement around this. And it's also, I find it strange because it's so heavily predicated and focused on this first game, you know, because now three points and three points with a two goal, when there are three goal, when puts you in such a strong position. If, and I'm saying if Scotland can do that against Haiti, they're in a very, very strong position. But if we glance towards history and what could go wrong if that first game goes wrong, not only would I not fancy the chances thereafter, but I would worry for the mood around Steve Clark and the team in that situation. So it's strange because I just think there's so much emphasis on game one.
- [24:49]
B
But they should win that game, shouldn't they?
- [24:51]
E
Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, notwithstanding a Curacao red card and the fact that Scotland struggled for 40 odd minutes of that game on Saturday, Curacao beat Haiti 51 and qualifying. And Scotland, I think in normal circumstances are better than Curacao. So, yes, I mean, I don't think we should be in a situation where you say, oh, here's why, this could go horribly wrong. If it goes wrong, it's a major, major blunder for Scotland. They should beat Haiti and as I say, given the opportunity in front of them, where they know that three points and three points with a decent margin of victory puts them in such a strong position, I think there's no excuse for them not to win that game.
- [25:31]
B
It obviously is a tough group beyond Haiti. Right. Morocco and Brazil are both good and we'll get on to sort of previewing them in just a second. I just suppose the, the pressure of history is the players shouldn't feel that, but you sort of wonder if they might. Right. Just because there is just, you know, you mentioned there have been blunders before. You think about Costa Rica is in what, 1990? Etc. There are just moments where the Scots have shot themselves in the foot.
- [25:55]
E
Absolutely. I would only say, I think now, and this also applies to Morocco, who everyone there recognizes a very good team. I mean, Morocco embarrassed Scotland in 1998 at the, at the World cup and it was seen at that time, certainly in Scotland, as a terrible result and a bit of an upset. And I think also Costa Rica, Peru, Iran, previous things, I, I think there was a including in the Scotland setup itself, a bit of ignorance about these teams and what they had and a few bricks. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It was, oh, we are better than them, we'll go out and play our game and beat them. I don't think that exists across football now. So even I'm comfortable and confident saying Scotland have better players, the better team than Haiti. But I don't think there's any sense that those players will underestimate that or won't be prepared for that. I think that that has kind of been removed. And the historical thing is funny because of course it's a bare fact if they come out the group, they will be the first Scottish team to come out of a World cup group and they will make history. But I would also regard it as faintly ludicrous to then regard them as the finest Scotland team of all time. Of course, compare them with the teams that didn't make out the group and the players they had. So while that, again, undeniable black and white fact, I think there's probably a bit of nuance to that element as well.
- [27:12]
B
What do you make of the squad, Ewan?
- [27:14]
E
Squad's fine, apart from goalkeeper. Well, that's slightly unfair. They have goalkeepers. One of them, Craig Gordon, who's 43, and Craig Gordon is still capable of playing, but hadn't played for Hart since January until he played against Curacao. Angus Gunn at Nottingham Forest, basically no football either. So goalkeeper is a problem. Their midfield is strong. Center back, I think is a bit of a problem. Center forward, I think they can get by, including because Lawrence Shagland is in a rich way to form and I think now Steve Clark is inclined to, to turn towards him. So it's. It's center back and goalkeeper where I think that they may have a problem. And also this will work both ways. They have quite an experienced squad by way of, you know, a lot of players with a lot of caps. And I actually think, I think it will help that they will be hugely motivated one, to do well in this tournament because they feel that they didn't represent themselves fairly in the last two Euros. But two, I also think there's a good few players who will believe this is their best or final World cup chance. And I don't think we should underestimate that this will, this will motivate them hugely. Going into this tournament, we should talk
- [28:23]
B
about the tartan army. I mean, there's obviously, you know, a cliche about how brilliant they are. I remember going to England, Scotland in Euro 96 and at half time, status quo rocking, all the world was over. The world was playing and every Scotland fan was like doing this for the guitars. And all the England fans sort of standing going, I wish we could have fun like them. But for some reason we, we can't do it. We can't bring ourselves to let ourselves go. But obviously it's one of those World Cups where, you know, if you're a side that go to lots of World Cups, you might give it a miss because of the cost and, and the politics etc. But how many Scotland fans do you think will go? What will their presence be like? And obviously there's a huge Scottish contingent in, in the States anyway.
- [29:01]
E
Absolutely massive. Yeah, it's funny you mentioned Wembley in 96, in 99, where Scotland lost the Euros playoff to England. Although they won that game, they won the second leg, one nil at Wembley. Don Hutchison's goal. One of my favorite images actually of Scotland fans is after that game, rocking over the world was played and Scotland had just been knocked out and the entire contingent, they weren't celebrating defeat. They were, they were Just enjoying themselves. It's a brilliant. You find it on YouTube. The footage there is as great. Yeah. Listen, the Scotland fans are terrific. Wherever they go, they will travel in immense numbers. I know. I'm slightly surprised at this, given the first game is 2:00 in the morning, but maybe I shouldn't be, but bars across Scotland are having lunch parties. Ticket only. They're all sold out. These events are sold out to watch that game. I'm not sure. As a seasoned pub goer, I don't know what time one goes to the pub for a 2am kickoff. That's maybe one for. Do you have a sleep beforehand or what do you do?
- [29:54]
A
Anyway, I would say you go to the pub at your usual time. What your usual closing time would be have a couple of hours sleep and then get up and go back out again.
- [30:05]
E
Go back? Yeah. Because you can't realistically go at 6 or 7 or 8 o', clock, can you? You'd be absolutely minced. Yeah. Anyway, sorry. That's something for other people to worry about. Their profile in Scotland and in America will be huge and they're rightly renowned for how well they behave. They don't cause trouble, there won't be any aggravation. And they are the kind of supporter base where there will be thousands of people going there without tickets just to enjoy the experience. And partly, Max, as I said, linked to the fact you haven't been there for 28 years and it is, for Scottish people, quite an accessible country. There's people just going to be part of. The. Part of the party and they will bring a great deal to the World cup scene. Even if the team don't, the fans will bring a great deal to it.
- [30:46]
B
Yeah. And they get to play Brazil.
- [30:47]
D
Right.
- [30:47]
B
And, you know, it's a great thing if you're in a World cup and you get to play Brazil, obviously. And we'll move on to them. Barry, you know, Ancelotti, we know, is a great manager. So much noise about Neymar and people weeping in the streets when he was selected and his view in Brazil being slightly different to elsewhere, but there might be a calf injury for him. But how do you reckon Brazil will go?
- [31:09]
A
I think they'll be all right. I mean, the. The Neymar fitness saga does threaten to overshadow their campaign, but I don't think there's any question that they will get out of the group. They're missing Rodrigo, they're missing Estevao. The mission through injury. Alisson has had a rough trot this season with Injuries, they lost sixes or 18 qualifiers. Xiao Pedro obviously was left out of the squad as well. But when you look at who they have, Vinnie Jr, Bruno Guimares, Endrick, they have quality. Rayan, I think from Bournemouth, he made the cut, so he's an exciting player. I, I don't think there's any question that they won't get out of the group and I think they could go quite far in the competition.
- [32:01]
B
Mark 24 years of hurt for Brazil.
- [32:04]
C
Yeah, I think when you pick a 26 player squad, it used to be 23, didn't it? Now you're up to 26. I think you can take one or two gambles and the Neymar one. I think Ancelotti thought if I don't pick him, every single question, the press conference will be why is Neymar not there? Why is Neymar not there? So if you just have him, you know, he doesn't even need to play. And I think you kind of just calm that noise. I think Ancelotti's got the potential to be a very clever and sort of perfect international manager because he's not wedded to a system. He doesn't really have like a footballing philosophy or beliefs and I think that that helps when you're an international manager. Just don't have the players for long enough. So put them in positions where they can succeed and make them feel comfortable. All the things that Ancelotti, you know, did very well when he was at Real Madrid and you know, all the other places he's been. When you've got Raphinha and Vinicius up front or in sort of forward positions, you can just win, you know, any game with players like that. So I think they'll leave their qualifying form behind and I'm not sure that they'll win it, but I definitely think that they're better than sign of that qualifying form. And just on, on SC looking at kind of some modeling been done on what you need to do to kind of be one of the best third place teams. And I do think that Scotland will finish third in this group. If you can get a goal difference of zero with three points, you're almost certainly there. Once it gets to about minus two, that's where they think the cutoff point might be.
- [33:35]
E
I would be embarrassed anyway. You can't get to with a minus two goal difference.
- [33:40]
B
But that is a really fun way you take it. The greatest Scotland team of all time.
- [33:48]
E
Exactly.
- [33:48]
B
But you know, it will be a really funny. What's the order of Ewan, is it. Is it. It's Haiti.
- [33:53]
E
What's your second game in Morocco in the middle and then Brazil last. So we're hoping that Brazil are. Brazil are hopefully home and dry. No interest, nothing to play for. Yeah, one thing. This is a boring point, but I think maybe an important one. Climate like. Climate is in a team like Brazil's favor, of course, where it isn't for quite a lot, including England, for example. You know, we can't underestimate, mate. I've had a rough look at the temperatures and the heat and the humidity in some of these stadiums. That, that, that won't affect Brazil as much as it may well do a lot of the other big nations.
- [34:23]
B
Yes. And you know, Scotland is not famously that hot, is it? So, you know, it, it could be an issue. Lars, we haven't talked about Morocco yet. It says here after an eventful afcon, which is quite the understatement.
- [34:35]
D
Yeah, eventful. Yeah, yeah, let's. Let's go with that. Let's go with that. Eventful.
- [34:38]
B
We. We know they're good, don't we?
- [34:40]
D
I think they're. They're good and I think they're good in a way that could be suited for this tournament because they've, they're. They league quite solid and they're quite canny. And then they've got a couple of players who can make a difference going forward. I mean, it's, it's really sad for Brahim Diaz that it ended up being him missing the Panenka is the sort of the defining moment of that tournament because he was very good in the tournament like he was, and he is a very good player. I. The time, I think when you, when dropping points against Morocco was seen as a shock or an upset, I mean, we've definitely moved on from there. I mean, they're, they're, they would be actually, they're not entirely uninteresting as dark horses in the tournament, I think, actually depending a little bit about how they got about it, because I think this is a tournament that. Because the climate conditions you've described will reward patient teams that are quite solid and well organized and don't. As much as we love the sort of a front foot high pressing teams in club football, I'm not sure that's going to be the best thing this summer for, for very obvious reasons. And I think Morocco is one of those teams that has a lot of defensive solidity, a lot of canniness, and just a couple of potential game changers in attacks. They're Kind of set up to be an interesting dark horse. I think.
- [35:54]
A
I actually think Morocco are too good to fall into the dark horse bracket there. Eighth in the world.
- [36:00]
E
Yeah.
- [36:01]
A
And semi final last time. So I don't have them in dark horse territory. They're just. They're horses. They're white horses.
- [36:08]
D
We're going to have this discussion later in the episode. Where's the cutoff for dark horses? Where do you have to be?
- [36:14]
A
They changed their manager after Afcon obviously. I think they're still the holders are there. Has got given back to Senegal again. I find it hard to keep track. But anyway they were there thereabouts or else they won. I can't remember. I can't keep up. But they the, the new guy in charge, Muhammadu Abi, he coached Moroccan Under 20 team to the World cup. Won it with them. And he's brought a lot of those youngsters into the senior squad and he's apparently more adventurous than Walid Ragugi, his, his predecessor. And I think there could be a real force to be reckoned with so
- [36:54]
D
that I don't like the adventure. The adventure I think is bad. I'm not sure adventure is going to be what you want to go for in this tournament. I, I understand like getting rid of a coach who had been very successful but a little pragmatic and boring. Because he was pragmatic and boring is, is not a move I like. Yeah. If you can suck the life out us spectators. Not amazing. But I think for your chances in the summer might be very good. There's also one thing I wonder about Brazil. Ancelotti has picked a pile of attackers here. Like this is, I mean he's, he's also, he's. They've played some games where they basically played a, a 4, 2, 4 system with Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield and just four attackers in front of them. I, I, I understand when the, the, the, the talent available is what it is, but you're gonna have to convince those four to all run an awful lot for that to like make any kind of sense. So that I think the bal interesting. I think if I'm Scottish, you've got a really good midfield. Like this would be the. I think the sort of. This is where I would have a little bit of a ray of hope when you come up against Brazil is that you're going to be very competitive in that midfield area. If they're playing two midfielders, one of whom is Casemiro and potentially High Heat,
- [38:02]
E
you could have Tyler Fletcher Taylor Fletcher versus Casemiro. What a story Tyler Fletcher is. Have you picked up one up?
- [38:08]
B
He's in for Billy Gilmour, Darren Fletcher's son.
- [38:10]
E
So what happened was because obviously, obviously seasons finish at different times, some players got a break. The Scotland squad to train for the lead up to the Curacao game was pretty diminished in number. So Steve Clark brought in five young players just to boost those training numbers. Now, Tyler Fletcher was one of those, having never played for Scotland's full team, never been in the squad, but from what I'm told, he was the best player in training all week, which might imply something about the rest of them. However, he was a bit. He was the best player in training, training, and he's on the bench against Curacao. Billy. Billy Gilmore. Horrid luck. Horrid episode. Hurts his knee, injures his knee out the World Cup. Now there are others that Steve Clark has had in the squad, midfield players who you might assume was ahead of Tyler Fletcher, but instead Fletcher's performance against Kurosai was excellent. As I said, his performances are training seemingly similar and I wonder if there's a little bit of politics involved because his brother plays for England youth teams and both brothers can play for England or Scotland. I wonder if they're trying to convince Tyler and maybe Jack to play for Scotland, although that's maybe overly cynical on my part. But lo and behold, he's been added to the World cup squad and flew out with the Scotland team. So it's a great story and he just looks to me straight away a player who will be so comfortable in any environment that I wouldn't be surprised if he features at some point in the World Cup.
- [39:31]
B
Um, well, imagine if Scotland beat Brazil. It'd be unbelievable. We needed you to be over cynical at one point in this. All right, just do a word on Haiti. First time They've qualified since 74. We covered it with Paul Watson, but incredible. They managed to qualify with huge security risks in the state of emergency in the country. Played their home games in Curacao. Yes. Baz.
- [39:51]
A
No. It's interesting that the Haiti manager, Sebastian Mean, and I think most if not all of the players have never actually set foot in Haiti ever. And Jean Rickner Bellegarde is pretty much my sum total knowledge of Haitian football. He plays for them and their goalkeeper is a fellow called Johnny Placet.
- [40:15]
C
There's a Sunderland player, Barry is there up front?
- [40:19]
D
Yes.
- [40:27]
A
Oh, sack me. Sack me now.
- [40:30]
B
I, I reason that's the reason, Barry, why people love you.
- [40:34]
E
They also Haiti, they also that 1974 was when they played Italy and Dino's off hadn't conceded a goal for something like 1500 minutes. And Haiti went 1 nil up against Italy and Dino Zof in this shock moment in the 1974 World Cup. So they're capable of upset. They did lose the game, but they ended Dino's off's run.
- [40:54]
B
Anyway, Ewan, thanks for coming on. Appreciate your time, pal.
- [40:56]
E
Speak soon, no doubt. Thanks you.
- [41:00]
B
Hi, POD fans. Max here. Barry's here too.
- [41:02]
A
Hello.
- [41:03]
B
Football Weekly is supported by Gradient fc. Now, Barry, we've talked a lot on the POD about football analytics, XG and all that. And all those POD fans who are deep into football analytics will probably already know Gradient Sports. They work with pro clubs across Europe's top leagues to provide player performance insights. But they're now bringing that same pro level analysis directly to fans through the Gradient FC and app.
- [41:24]
A
Sounds interesting, Max. What can it do?
- [41:27]
B
Well, each match is graded by a team of experts who evaluate over 2,000 player actions per match, not just by outcome, but by execution. So, for example, a completed pass that leads the receiver into danger is graded negatively, while one that puts a receiver in on goal is graded positively.
- [41:43]
A
Sounds like common sense.
- [41:44]
B
Yeah, and with Gradient fc, you get some of the deepest metrics available to ordinary fans, like line breaking passes, dribbles into dangerous positions, and chance creations. Now, I know you hate making match predictions, Barry, but maybe all that could change with Gradient fc. With head to head player comparison tools that show you who's best across more than 100 grades and metrics, it's easy to build and defend any prediction. And here's something else that will appeal to you, Barry. It's free.
- [42:07]
A
Okay, I'm surprised to hear that, Max.
- [42:10]
B
Yeah, well, explore it for yourself@radientfc.com or download the Gradient FC app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
- [42:26]
D
Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.
- [42:34]
C
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- [43:05]
D
Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.
- [43:21]
B
Welcome to part three of The Guardian Football Weekly let's do Group D then. The usa, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. Usa, managed by Mauricio Pochettino, of course. I got to the semi finals in 1930 in the first ever World Cup. Last time I got to the round of 16. Australia managed by Tony Popovich. Best I've ever done is round of 16 in 06 and last time out, Paraguay managed by Gustavo Alfaro, best ever, the quarterfinals in 2010. And the dark Horses of Turkey managed by Vincenzo Montella came third, of course, in 2002. Guardian. Australia's Jack Snape is going over there, joins us now. Hey, Jack.
- [43:58]
F
G' day, Max.
- [44:00]
B
So look, we've done a lot in the US and we'll get to them, but let's start with the Socceroos then. How, how do you see them going in this one, Jack?
- [44:07]
F
I have this increasing sense of optimism, would you believe?
- [44:12]
B
Yeah, it's.
- [44:13]
F
It's wild. You know, Australia traditionally underperform at World Cups. We've only made the round of 16 twice and the last time in Qatar was a team of journeymen who somehow got through. But this team is full of, yeah, really solid young talent. And yeah, all of a sudden we're wondering, yeah, how far can they go? Not just get out of the group but yeah, maybe push all the way to the round of 16 again.
- [44:39]
B
Yeah, it's an open group, isn't it? Who have they got? They do have some young, sort of quite raw, talented players, don't they? Because, because there's been a kind of dearth of like we think of the classic Socceroos, right, and you think of Vaduka and K and you know, etc. Etc. But they don't, they haven't had any real stars for quite a while.
- [44:57]
F
Well, yeah, I think Yan's gone, so we, we can be a little bit more rude about the Scottish Premier League now, but it would have leaned heavily on. On talent in Scotland. But yeah, now we've got a number of great young players, 23 or under, led by left wing back Jordy Boss, who's playing at Feyenoord. He could be our best player and he's really got a future ahead of him. Alessandro Chiacati, who plays in Serie A, he's a central defender, another one to watch. And up front, Motore has been scoring a bunch of goals for Norwich in the championship. And the wild card is a guy called Nestori Rankunda. He's a winger, attacker, explosive player. I think he had a bunch of gold of the season nominees last season for Watford So, yeah, we're feeling pretty good. We're upbeat. We're wondering just how far they can go.
- [45:52]
B
Yeah, there's this guy, Christian Volpato who basically said he wanted to play for Italy and then switched his allegiance. I don't know. How do Australian fans feel about someone who's. Who turned their back on the flag and now has come back or like beggars can't be choosers and is that, is that too rude?
- [46:09]
F
It's been wild the last few days because no one saw this change of allegiance coming with Christian Volpato. He, I believe was looking to play for Italy. That call up didn't happen and it's really been in the last few days that he's come and joined the squad. He's never actually played for the Socceroos, so a lot of Australian fans haven't really watched him. Apart from a few nice goals he scored in Serie A. Do they feel aggrieved that, you know, it took for him to be rejected by Italy to turn his mind to the Socceroos? I think it's mixed. He did post on social media a few years ago when Australia lost a crucial match to Japan with an image of the loss and two emojis. One was the smiley face laughing with tears and one was the upside down smiley face face. And that was seen as deeply offensive to the Australian football community. But you know, he was a young guy then and I'm sure he'll add a bit of quality to the squad.
- [47:12]
A
Yes, Jack, he's done what we call in the trade a reverse rice. Jack Riley McGree, who is the most Australian sounding Australian I think I've ever heard of. He's very unlucky to miss out. Hurt himself in the playoff final which ended up being a complete mess that, that whole playoff. Playing for Middlesbrough, is he a big loss?
- [47:38]
F
Yeah, huge loss. He was probably one of the few locks in our starting 11. And right at that right age, you know, 27, we've got a lot of players under 23 and a whole bunch over 30. So he was really going to be a crucial player. Yeah, it was an extraordinary scene or moment of tragedy there for McGree. I think he got through about 70 minutes in that playoff final, but had Southampton not cheated, he wouldn't even been playing. So yeah, the poor guy. Awful has played the match, lost, so he didn't go to the premiership and now he's also out of the World Cup. So he's probably the unluckiest footballer going around back home.
- [48:13]
B
Actually some of the Games. Because quite often in Australia games are not on at perfect times. But I think a couple of the games are on at quite good times, sort of midday and one's at 2:00pm and, and, and there was a decision that they weren't going to put the games at. There is a paranoia in Australia that the other codes, Rugby league and AFL like push football down. And when I got here I didn't believe it at all, but there might be something to it. And there, and they said there's no football on big screens at Fed Square in Melbourne, which thousands of people go to at ridiculous hours of the day. And I tweeted saying this is a decision and other people did and then the Premier of Victoria turned around and changed it and Jack, you think I was played by politicians, didn't you? You think, you know, I was just, I of like a stupid SAP in a bit of politics here.
- [48:58]
F
I don't know why you're raising this, Max, but for people who aren't plugged into the politics of the state of Victoria in the bottom end of Australia. Max. Max tweeted some sort of frustration about this decision and was replied by the Premier's Twitter account when she reversed the decision. And so Max was the recipient of all his goodwill. You know, he was the, he was the trigger point. He was the reason that the, the most powerful woman in the state changed her mind. And so I can only imagine, Max, that's why you're raising it. You don't really care what I have to say in response. You just want me to talk about your tweet?
- [49:41]
B
No, I'm, I'm more, I'm. I think it's funnier that actually I was just part a victim of, of some real sort of cunning politics and actually they knew what they were doing the whole time. And, and you know, I'm happy to play the, the, the, the, the foreign idiot weighing in on things. We should not talk about the other countries. I mean, you talked about host nations, Mark, and you know, it being a home advantage being, being important and the US obviously have that.
- [50:08]
C
They do. And I, I think could go either way for them, but it's, it's one of them. If you start well and you suddenly feel like, you know, a country's behind you, it doesn't really matter what you've done before. We've seen that with, with a lot of host nations, they can, if you go back to Russia, they were going to be the worst so ever and actually when it came to it, you know, performed above expectations. Qatar not so much, but was watching the recent friendly they had against Senegal. Pulisic was just on fire in, in that game. And so you can. This feels like it could be his kind of poster boy moment. He's been sort of so heavily relied upon, you know, to be this figurehead of, of a country's football team. And you now get the opportunity to deliver in a home, home World cup. And it's a very open group. But if you win the group, the path towards say the last 16 and you know, and then you're really into the tournament sort of opens up. So I think winning this group will be absolutely key and pretty close, I would say, between you, the USA and Turkey for that honor.
- [51:19]
D
Just to expand on what Mark was saying there. To be clear, if you win group D, you meet one of the third place runners up. But if you get through there, your likely opponent is the winner of group G, which is Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand. So it is one of those groups where if you win it, suddenly, you know, it opens up for you. And this is why I like Turkey. I know it's become a meme, it's become a joke, but I'm ready to be hurt again. I think the Turkey dark horses, I think it makes total sense. They got to the quarters of the last Euros. They've got some absolutely sparkling talent in Arda, Gruller in particular, but also Kenaniel these, they've got some pretty rugged defenders behind them. Vincenzo Montella appears to put all this stuff into a little bit of a system that works. They got absolutely done by, by Spain in the qualifiers. Lost six nil to Spain. That was bad. But apart from that, their results recently have been pretty good. And I think just because they have a slightly fortunate draw, I think this sets up beautifully for Turkey to get something going here. And, and you can clip this and make fun of me if yet again they fail to live up to that billing. But I think it's it for Turkey.
- [52:25]
B
Barry on Paraguay, something I've always wanted to say. Can you, can you help a brother out?
- [52:32]
A
They beat Brazil, they beat Argentina, they beat Uruguay in qualifying. So they will be hoping for a spot in the knockout. I like hoping they have a realistic chance of getting a spot in the knockouts. Managed by Gara Al Fara, whose nickname is the Left us. I don't know why I don't like him.
- [52:52]
C
I don't like it.
- [52:57]
A
They're a counter attacking team, like to give the opponents the ball, try and strike on the break. Notables include Miggy Almaron, formerly of Newcastle. Raymond Sosa from Nottingham Forest plays on the wing for them. They don't score too many goals. That could be a problem for them. And that is about all I know about Paraguay.
- [53:23]
B
Well, that you've enlightened me, Jack. Finally. Where do you. Where do you have.
- [53:26]
A
They probably have six Sunderland players in
- [53:28]
B
the squad
- [53:30]
A
that I've overlooked. Yeah, Brian, bro.
- [53:37]
B
Exactly. Jack, where do you have the Socceroos finishing in this group?
- [53:41]
F
Yeah, Socceroos. I think they'll probably squeeze into third, struggle against Turkey, benefit from the imminent United States implosion as hosts, and then probably Jag a result against Paraguay, but probably won't go much further than that.
- [53:58]
D
Paraguay do have one Sunderland player, I should stress.
- [54:00]
A
I know. I'm just checking that. It's the full back, isn't it?
- [54:05]
B
No.
- [54:06]
D
Aldirecte. The center half.
- [54:07]
A
So bad. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [54:10]
B
God, that's all right. The season's end. You get a week off after this. Barry. It's okay.
- [54:15]
A
Oh, man. As soon as said that, I knew. I know.
- [54:20]
B
I was just checking. Jack, I'm trying to say goodbye to you in a polite way, but I can't. Anyway, we'll catch up with you during the tournament, pal.
- [54:28]
F
Bell up. Thanks.
- [54:29]
B
Jack Snape there from Guardian Australia. Before we end this, gonna do this with all our panelists, Lars and Mark. Who's going to win the tournament?
- [54:36]
D
Lars, I've got Spain. When I did my bracket, I ended up with Spain winning the tournament. I think, listen, European teams don't always do as well as expected in World Cups outside of Europe, but I just think these conditions, the heat, can really suit Spain because they're a team who know how to look after the ball. We know this. They can play patiently. And as we've seen in recent years, they now also have the option of shifting gears, playing slightly more directly when they have to. I think Spain are the complete package. I think they look more like a club team than really any other national team in the tournament. And I think they'll win.
- [55:09]
C
Mark, I'm going to go for Portugal. Nice section of the draw for them. Hopefully Roberto Martinez doesn't obsess over Cristiano Ronaldo for every minute of the. Of this tournament.
- [55:21]
B
He did.
- [55:22]
C
He did substitute him in both Nations League matches when they. They won the Nations League. Portugal beating Germany and Spain. Ronaldo actually scored in both of those matches as well. But I just. The quality sort of there throughout the team, you know. And Bruno, Fernando Mendes, coming off such a great season, he didn't have Europe either, so he'll be relatively fresh. The PSG continuing, Joe Neves, Vertinha, Nuno Mendes, they don't have to work that hard in Ligue 1 every week as well. So I don't think they've had the kind of season that maybe some others are coming into it. I just, I think they're really well stacked apart from this obsession over Cristiano, which hopefully won't sort of go on for the whole tournament.
- [56:05]
B
Well, hopefully it will if you ask me. But Golden Boot. Quickly, Lars, give us a name.
- [56:12]
D
I think if I'm right and Spain get all the way to the final, I think Lamina Mall is a good shout here because they don't get maybe that many goals from center forward. And I think if you're a betting man, you can get him at prices as much as high as 20 to 1, which I think is a lot for the guy who's probably the most potent attacking threat of a team that I think can go all the way to the final. So let's go with the ML.
- [56:33]
C
Harry Kane don't think England will win it, but should go relatively deep. And he looks sort. The team looks set up to kind of play to his strengths. And the, the particularly the group looks fairly soft.
- [56:46]
B
How deep do you think England will go, Mark?
- [56:48]
C
I've got them going to the, the semi finals. I've got them, got them winning last 32 against the third place team. I've got them scraping past Mexico in the Aztec attacker in the last 16, but at altitude takes a lot out of the legs. I've then got them going to Miami to play in the heat against Brazil where again they come through that. But I think they'll then be. I think they'll then be absolutely shattered by the semi finals and that's where Portugal will beat them.
- [57:16]
B
Fair enough. What about you last, where do you think?
- [57:18]
A
England?
- [57:18]
B
Yes.
- [57:18]
A
Karen, Buzz, Laris, you say Lamina Malbot. There is a chance he won't play Spain's two first games which mean he wouldn't get to pad his stock stats against Cap Verde and Saudi Arabia. That could be a factor.
- [57:32]
D
You're. I agree. I, I am aware of the injury situation. You're. You're correct. It's probably why his price is that high.
- [57:38]
B
Where do you have England going, Lars?
- [57:40]
D
Exactly the same path as Lango I arrived at in my bracket, except I had them lose to Brazil.
- [57:45]
B
So, you know, fair enough, fair enough. And some dark. Give us some dark horses then. Or you know, horses that might be dark horses. You might, you can go first, Mark.
- [57:54]
C
I think me and Lars have got the same one Turkey for the fear of mockery. I. That's the only reason I'm not, was not going to put Turkey up as, as the dark horse because, you know, it, you know, just become a running gag when, when they lose their first two matches. But I, I really, you know, they've got a good coach in Montella. They've got players in Yildiz and Goulet that are just, you know, players playing at the very highest level now. And I thought they were unlucky in the Euros last time around. They lost a very tight quarterfinal to Netherlands that, that might have gone either way. So soft enough group. And Lars, are you Turkey as well?
- [58:33]
D
Yeah. It's a combination of having a draw that opens up okay with them and also having the, the talent. I think everything is there. I mean, obviously I feel like I'm sort of duty bound to say Norway. Trouble with Norway is I think we've got two interesting dark horse candidates in the same group and France also in the that group. And that's not ideal. Like Senegal are a proper good team. So I think as much as I Norway have a lot of strength, I think there's a very real risk that we end up having to be one of the best third place teams because Senegal are good and then you get into a, a draw that's unfavorable. So I, I think that could be our, our downfall. We. We've ended.
- [59:11]
E
We.
- [59:11]
D
We're obviously very good Norway in terms of the talent we have, but we've been absolutely done by the draw. It's going to be an adventure, but it's not compared to some of the groups you could end up in. It's not good.
- [59:20]
B
Of course. Mickey Gray plays for Turkey. I surprised Barry didn't know that. But anyway, I'll do for our first four groups. We'll be back again tomorrow to stay across all of our content as we go daily from Friday. Find us on Tic Tac, Instagram, Reddit, Blue sky, lots of behind the scenes.
- [59:37]
A
Did you just say Tic Tac, old man?
- [59:40]
D
He did.
- [59:40]
B
Did I?
- [59:41]
A
Yeah. And after.
- [59:43]
E
All right, Daddy O. I thought it
- [59:45]
C
was a. I'm an old man. I'm going to go call it Tic Tac. I didn't realize it was a faux park. Yeah,
- [59:52]
A
always take some of the heat off me.
- [59:56]
B
Or as Mike Parry called it, a fox Paz. But anyway, I'm just trying to, you know, trying to deflect my own mistake. Tick tock. Of course Although I have never logged on, so why should I know? But look, we'll be putting stuff out on these platforms. We have no idea what happens on them as we descend into madness of me and Barry living together. But that'll do for today. Thank you, everybody. Thank you, Lars.
- [60:17]
D
Thank you, Max.
- [60:18]
B
Thanks, Mark.
- [60:19]
C
Thanks, Max.
- [60:20]
B
Thanks, Barry.
- [60:21]
A
Thank you.
- [60:21]
B
The Football Weekly is produced by Ty Papula. Executive producer. Is Joel Grove back tomorrow?
- [60:33]
A
This is the Guardian.
- [60:44]
B
Hi, pod fans. Max here. Barry's here, too.
- [60:46]
A
Hello.
- [60:46]
B
Football Weekly is supported by Hotels.com. now, Barry, question. When you're booking a hotel, do you use hotels.com? actually, you're probably just going to say, I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [60:55]
A
I don't know. Producer Joel does it.
- [60:57]
B
Well, I think you should give it a try for yourself. Obviously, it's a massive summer of soccer and loads of our listeners will be traveling to watch the tournament and needing to book somewhere great to stay. So it's good to know that when you're a Hotels.com member, you can save up to 20, 80% on hundreds of thousands of hotels. Plus, you earn rewards on every stay. So each trip you take helps pay for your future trips. Just use those rewards like cash. And importantly, there are never any blackout dates.
- [61:20]
A
What's a blackout date?
- [61:21]
B
Well, it's a date where you can't use travel rewards, frustratingly, usually on or around major holidays or other peak travel periods. But there are no blackout dates with hotels.com rewards.
- [61:31]
A
Superb.
- [61:32]
B
Yes. So next time you're booking somewhere to stay, just book it at hotels.com hotels.com it's all in the name.
- [61:45]
E
Hey, this is Pablo Torre from Pablo Torre finds out.
- [61:47]
C
And today I want to talk to you about Boost Mobile. In sports, there's always pressure to chase the next big thing. But sometimes the smartest play is sticking with what's already working for you. Boost Mobile gets that if your phone is running fine, you should not have
- [62:00]
E
to buy a new one just to get a better deal.
- [62:03]
C
Bring your phone to Boost Mobile and get unlimited wireless for just 25amonth. Forever. No contracts, no price hikes. Visit Boost Mobile, unlock your phone. $25 forever requires customers to remain active on the Boost Mobile unlimited plan.
- [62:18]
D
Howdy, howdy ho, and welcome to Fantasy Fan Fellas.
- [62:20]
B
I'm Hayden, producer of the Fantasy Fan Girls podcast and your resident lover of all things Sanderson. And I'm Stephen, your bookish Internet goofball. But you can call me the Smash Daddy. And we are currently deep diving Brandon Sanderson's fantasy epic Mistborn. But here's the catch.
- [62:35]
C
Steven here has not read Mistborn before.
- [62:38]
B
That's right.
- [62:39]
E
Hey.
- [62:39]
B
Hey. So each week, you'll get my unfiltered
- [62:41]
C
raw reactions to every single chapter.
- [62:43]
D
And along the way, we'll do character
- [62:45]
B
deep dives, magic explainers, and Steven will even try to guess what's next. Spoiler alert.
- [62:49]
C
He'll be wrong.
- [62:50]
B
News flash.
- [62:51]
C
I'm never wrong.
- [62:52]
B
Episodes come out every Wednesday, and you
- [62:54]
C
can find fantasy fanfellas wherever you get your podcast chests.