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- [00:00]
A
Foreign. Welcome to the Beautiful pod. I'm Adam Friedland. We got a hot show for you today. Wasi Lombre joins me. We're gonna talk England. We're gonna talk the big four, which is of course France, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil. And of course, we're talking the U.S. men's National Team. Say goodbye to the teams that lost. And we close with the official. Actually, don't close. I'm gonna say it higher in the episode. Don't worry. This is going in. I'm not retaking this intro. I'm going to debut the new anthem for the World cup for the English men's national team. It's really been the element that they've been missing. So I think I've cracked it. This is the song of the summer that I think, should I play it on guitar? What do you guys think?
- [00:50]
B
All right.
- [00:50]
A
Yeah. Not for a word from our sponsors. I have to text. The beautiful pod is brought to you by FanDuel. This summer, America's number one sportsbook is making it easier than ever to get in on the action across all your favorite sports. Think you've got today's home run hitter picked? Check out FanDuel's HR props, including moonshots and lasers for a chance at even bigger payouts. Late to start. FanDuel has you covered with all the live betting options all game long. Download the FanDuel Sportsbook app today and play your game. Disclaimer 21 select states 18 DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800- GAMBLER Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut. This episode is brought to you by Viori. I got to give Viori some credit. They don't make you choose between comfort and looking sharp. Their core shorts work for basically everything, whether you're working out or just creating the impression that you work out. And the stratotech tee is so soft that you'll want to take it off only to wash it. Really good stuff. Get 20% off your first purchase at vuori.com tafs and discover the versatility of Vori clothing. Exclusions apply. Visit the website for full terms and conditions.
- [02:12]
B
Foreign.
- [02:20]
A
Welcome back, guys. I'm here with Wasn't Alambre hailing from New York in Los Angeles.
- [02:25]
B
That's right.
- [02:26]
A
And I'm, of course, Adam Friedland hailing from Los Angeles in New York. We traded places.
- [02:31]
B
How you doing?
- [02:32]
A
How you enjoy the cup, my friend?
- [02:34]
B
I'm loving it. Incredible result after incredible result. Like the last Minute nature of a lot of this shit. It's been really, really fun and we could get into it, but, like, a lot of my black homies are very invested in the African nations doing well.
- [02:53]
A
It's been tough.
- [02:55]
B
Well, I'm just like, I want to see them do well, but that's not my main rooting interest. You know what I mean? Watch and have fun.
- [03:05]
A
What is your main interest in this cup, you think?
- [03:08]
B
America.
- [03:09]
A
America. Okay, cool.
- [03:10]
B
America. And then seeing, like, you know, like, I. I'm also not one of these people who want to see England suffer for the rest of time.
- [03:18]
A
Well, yeah, in 1776, 250 years ago, of course, we played a game of soccer against them and we won.
- [03:24]
B
We kicked their independence.
- [03:26]
A
Yeah.
- [03:26]
B
Yeah.
- [03:27]
A
I believe it was a hat trick for. For. What's the name? Eric Adams. John Adams. John Adams. Not Eric Adams. Did you miss all of Eric Adams? You were living here. No, it was awesome.
- [03:39]
B
Now I was gone for four years. By the time that guy got elected, I was a Bloomberg baby.
- [03:43]
A
Dink, you should have come back for Adams.
- [03:46]
B
Giuliani, he had eight phones on him
- [03:49]
A
at all times for different crimes. He was the best. Anyway, let's. I want to get to the Cup. I've been enjoying a lot, too. I guess I don't really have a loyalty in the Cup. I think I just. For me personally, I just want to see. Well, I mean, I want to see Carl either. Carlo kind of like shithouse it to it to complete football and like, he has all the other trophies and then just this, the last piece left. Incredible. And he would do it for, like the legacy country, like Brazil. And I just. Like all the casuals and hipsters would be like, actually, they don't. If you look at the statistics. I want to see Casamiro just literally just like dog shit. And then score, score. Hat trick. Somehow we're like, I thought you were dead in the first half. Yeah. And I think I would like, whether or not this is a farewell, it might be a farewell to Messi. And it just feels like we got.
- [04:36]
B
God, I hope it is. Yeah.
- [04:37]
A
Why? That is just insane.
- [04:40]
B
Just, come on. You're going to get clipped.
- [04:42]
A
You're done with Messi. You're done.
- [04:44]
B
I'm done with it.
- [04:45]
A
And the rationale being.
- [04:48]
B
There's no real rationale. I just always took the Ronaldo side of things for swag factor. Yeah.
- [04:57]
A
Hotter guy.
- [04:58]
B
He's just cooler to me. That was it. It's. There's no debate about who's better. Yeah. Like, it's Not. I don't even think it's. It's not even close. Right. Like, in terms of who's been the better player.
- [05:09]
A
So you think, like, better body, better abs, better muscles, you're gonna go Ronaldo?
- [05:14]
B
Yeah, for sure.
- [05:14]
A
I mean, I can't argue there. I guess.
- [05:16]
B
I guess it comes down to I'd rather Ronaldo than Messi.
- [05:19]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So what do you make of Ronaldo's tournament thus far? Is. What do you think? It's.
- [05:25]
B
It's kind of a. I thought the best. The po. The best part.
- [05:30]
A
He scored on Borat. He got two.
- [05:32]
B
He scored two goals against Uzbekistan.
- [05:35]
A
They had a. They had a plumber. They had a literal plumber.
- [05:39]
B
I'm back at the camera. That was. Yeah, that was.
- [05:42]
A
Yeah. That's why he's.
- [05:43]
B
That's a perfect Ronaldo.
- [05:44]
A
That's really cool. Yeah.
- [05:45]
B
Yeah, it's cool.
- [05:46]
A
It's cool how they. FIFA made a custom suit, chewy patch that he could have. It's just like, oh, God, he's such a herb. Anyway, we don't have to get into it. This is gonna hold us back. I want to go through. Okay, so here's what we're gonna do today. I'm gonna start with England. Did you watch England? DRC.
- [06:00]
B
Of course.
- [06:01]
A
Dr. Congo. Dr. Congo, as I call him. But, yeah, I. I think I wanna. I wanna hit that one first, and
- [06:08]
B
then I'm gonna go, I think, crazy if Belgium were. Because my girl kept getting that confused all day yesterday. But, like, wait, who played it? Was it Senegal? I was like, man, it would have been kind of cr.
- [06:21]
A
Yeah. This is Belgium, the revenge of King Leopold.
- [06:25]
B
Yes.
- [06:26]
A
It is always really weird because there's, like, the colonialism aspects of things. But now you have the, like, reverse colonialism where you have 75, like, French players playing on different teams. Like, not. Not for France.
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B
Right?
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A
And then so it's just like, who are the real victims? And I think it's the English and the French. I mean, the English. Erling Holland was born there. If only. If only we could keep.
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B
Imagine if England had Olise and Holland.
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A
Olise Holland and what's his name? Semenya.
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B
Yeah, England.
- [07:00]
A
But they slapped us in the face. They slapped King Charles in the face. And they should. And I will never forget it.
- [07:06]
B
I will slap it the English speaking world in the face.
- [07:10]
A
But going back to the. You brought up the African teams. The cool thing is, is that, like the football factory, the world right now, besides South London is like the suburbs of Paris. And, like, they just. They like, literally just print ballers. I mean, they, like, it's. And, like, all these guys are, like, from. From the Paris suburbs. Couldn't get into. Into Clairefontaine, like, into the academy in France, or it started there. And we're like, I can't get into the national side. Alise went. He literally has no connection. Basically, he's the least connection with. And he went. Just because, like, just to be like, I'm going to go for the hardest one. That's like. Which is so pimp of him. Like, he's my.
- [07:47]
B
He's my. I mean, he definitely upped his chances of actually winning the World cup, that's for sure.
- [07:52]
A
Yeah, but it's like. Yeah, but it's like, I have to be so good that I could get into it with him. Yeah. Yeah. So it's like, that's actually just like, put your nuts on the table. Like, just grow, like a very, very impressive thing. But, yeah, I want to start with England because, like, I have four teams right now that could. That could potentially do it. And by that, I mean one team. I mean, Francis is gonna walk it. And they have every advantage in the world. They have eight guys that snipe and they have, like, two. Two that they don't even use. I'm like, I get excited, like, when. When they make a sub, and I'm like, oh, yeah. Like, I'm excited. Like, when I was like, oh, look, thank you for tucking your shirt in, sir. Like, yeah, when Matata makes it on, I'm like, God, I've been wanting to see him. Yeah. Marcus Turam hasn't played a minute yet. Right. And he bags.
- [08:39]
B
I mean, it's just like, garbage time.
- [08:43]
A
Yeah.
- [08:43]
B
And he led the Premier League in assists last season.
- [08:46]
A
What. What tournament football is about is about moments, right? It's about. It's literally about a guy that could just break out of a slugfest. A lot of these matches are nil. Nils 1 ones, they're low scoring. They go to pens. It's about having a guy that is capable of breaking out of just like a heavyweight, like, bout. And they have, I think, five guys that you could argue are like that. The other three teams, of course, are Spain and the Brazil and Argentina. I think those are the four that I kind of like, would put up against one another. I want to start with England because they're outside that group. And then we're going to close on the United States of America. But did you. England. Congo, I thought, was a great match. Like, what I really enjoyed it.
- [09:27]
B
I Mean, it was. It was incredible that. That Harry Kane goal. The winner.
- [09:32]
A
The second.
- [09:33]
B
Yeah. I was screaming in my house, screaming. I know my neighbors were like, yo, what's up with this dude right now? That was for summer.
- [09:43]
A
It's sports summer. We got the finals, then we got this. It's for the boys this summer. It's so great. Yeah. And I'm pissed now that we have three games a day because we were having four for a while and I have to do it for work was.
- [09:56]
B
I'm so. I have to watch. I mean, it's the closest thing we've gotten to, like, a college football Saturday or even NFL Sunday, where basically when you're here, there's football on from 10am to.
- [10:14]
A
Yeah.
- [10:14]
B
Basically 9pm yeah.
- [10:16]
A
So the last. Well, you're in west coast, but yeah, the last kickoff today is at 11:00pm so, like. Yeah, but it's every day, too. It's like if the NFL were every freaking sick. I love sports summer. Yeah, I really enjoyed it, too. Like, Congo impressed me, actually. Speaking of, we should play the. You're saying the K and second goal. Since you brought up. We should play on Reason Analysis.
- [10:39]
B
I watched it in real time, though, where he's just like, the angle and, like, he didn't fall over and just. Yeah. Just generating that much power from that move.
- [10:50]
A
Yeah. From a ball that's behind you and your body's going in the opposite direction, like, away from the goal. The thing that's cool about him is actually if you look at his shot chart from, like, the entire game, the finishes, like, he tries to figure out the keeper, he tries a different finish each time, and it's like he's like, I haven't roofed it yet. And, like, on that one, he was like. But with your body going that direction, it's like that. That processing of those type of choices, which. From your brain to your body to the back of the net, is, like, really impressive. I mean, Kane. Kane is some. Some guys have to, like, hype themselves up in sports, and some guys have to have nothing in their brains. And, like, Kane and Saka are two guys that never, like, get emotional. Jude in the second half when he got that yellow card, I'm like, he might. He might lose his head. And he's. He's on the opposite side of the spectrum. And, like. And I think it's just like, Jude,
- [11:41]
B
it feels like he cares too much.
- [11:44]
A
Well, because he's just gotten a bop the last two years and, like, he was like, the face of England and now he's Kind of like trying to revive things, I think. But like, I mean, he's my favorite. I could. I don't know. Were you watching with the commentary?
- [11:57]
B
Yes, I was.
- [11:58]
A
It was some of the most dog shit commentary I've ever watched. Darren was.
- [12:02]
B
Because the dudes, I feel like they're overcompensating for the fact that everybody watching knows you're rooting for England. And it just kept being like, I'm sorry, you know, I'm going for England. But I gotta say, these guys on the Congo, they're so. It's like.
- [12:16]
A
That's a really good point. I started laughing out loud when you're like, eren Juan Bissaka, he loves to defend. I'm like, what are you talking about? They. But I just want to play your next level. Did you see the. Did you see the clip of. Well, the keeper. Keeper was next level. This is the clip of Danny Murphy. Is he in the uk? He's doing the game itv. On itv. Yeah. This was what we're. This is the best thing I've ever seen. You used to have a cat called Bob. The game's not that bad. Yeah, he jumped in the back of
- [12:50]
B
a Royal Mail van and we lost him.
- [12:55]
A
Sad, really. Anyway, just unreal. Unreal. Unreal. Dude, I wish I was a. I wish I was a colorful commentator.
- [13:05]
B
Just such a different style of calling games than, you know, Mike Breen and Tim Legler. Right? Like, they have the poetry guys.
- [13:16]
A
Yeah, they have the poetry guys and then they have the guy that's like, literally. I mean, that was like an album Partridge or something that was like. Just like. He's like. Forgot he was there. I had a cat once. Jumps in the back of a Royal Mail van. Yeah, Just like, where are you? One thing I thought was cool about the game is like, I really. The thing that I'm tossing around in my head a lot is about two cool system and how resilient it will be forward, like moving forward. But one thing that was cool, the Congo coach needs to get a good job, like a. Like a move upwards after this. Oh, they noticed that because they're playing their winger so high that there was a ton of space like on the. On the. On the far side of the pitch. And they were just. They were like exploiting it constantly and they were like, just driving.
- [14:02]
B
Like, first goal was exactly that.
- [14:05]
A
And the first goal was exactly that.
- [14:07]
B
They scored. But yeah.
- [14:08]
A
Yeah, I mean, I think.
- [14:11]
B
Go ahead. Yeah. No, just again, like, the dude catches the ball on the wing and he's got so much space in front of him, he's able to just like tee off on that shot.
- [14:20]
A
Yeah, and the responsibility goes to the midfielders, right? So because they, because they have to cover that space. And the problem is this is like Tuchel has explicitly stated, this is my thesis on England right now. He's explicitly stated this is a Premier League team, right? And we're going to play like we're in the Premier League. The issue is, is that these guys, a lot of them, like Saka's playing on one leg right now, right? He could barely walk. He's just on for crosses and, and corners.
- [14:45]
B
He's the only one, it feels like that could even attack. Like, Jude has had some moments where he attacked guys 1v1 and actually like won that matchup. But like Saka feels like the only guy that can even attempt the 1v1. Rashford, my God, yesterday he was Wolf.
- [15:03]
A
I mean, yeah, I mean, thank God Princess Diana came on and had two assists. So we're good. But like, no, the thing about saka is he's on 5% right now. So he's literally just like at full strength. He was the best player for England like twice. He was the England player of the season two years in a row. I mean, what we're seeing right now is this team is built to set up Harry Kane, to feed him. The good thing is like, along with Erling Haaland, he's the best striker in the world, he's the best goal scorer in the world. And like. And so that's what. What they have going for them. They live and die by Harry Kane. The issue I have is that if you're going to play a Premier League style, the Prem is stronger and faster than any other league. And like Rice and Saka for instance, are coming off of a brutal 60 game season where they're broken. Saka's on one leg. Rice is at 50% right now.
- [15:52]
B
And it's like Declan Rice shouldn't be playing the amount of minutes that he's playing right now. But they kind of have no choice. It's kind of crazy.
- [16:00]
A
I actually, when he moved to right back, like, I actually thought there was something to it because deck like operating. First of all, Jed Spence is. He's a stinks, okay? He's my least favorite player in England. He's wearing the halo like master, Master commander. Like, what the fuck? He broke his jaw. He thinks he's Roberto Carlos, but he's Phil Neville like that. Like he. But he has the fucking ego. Like he thinks he's the best player in the world and he's just does nothing. He does nothing.
- [16:28]
B
He loves to carry the ball, though.
- [16:31]
A
Yeah.
- [16:31]
B
It's like his favorite shit, but his
- [16:33]
A
bag is just empty. My favorite, my favorite player is like, I'm so glad everyone welcome to the Noni Madawake experience. Because I've been watching this all season. He is. His handle is like world class. Top five in the league. He'll dribble six guys and then he will. It's like if Russia only shot threes, right? It's like, it's like Russ never drove.
- [16:57]
B
Never got to the basket.
- [16:59]
A
He never got to the basket.
- [17:00]
B
Everything is from distance.
- [17:01]
A
He's just, he's just like, he's just handle and just a 213 point percentage. That's his game. That's. That's basically what Nodi is. I mean, I think Nody is actually
- [17:11]
B
a lot of complaining on the Internet about him, but I think it's a little.
- [17:15]
A
It's a little overstated because he's like one of the only people that's creative right now. The issue is the gauntlet that they're about to go through is. Oh yeah, this is my favorite clip. This is from the last qualifier. He missed a point. Just. Ooh. I mean like, just like the movie plays. The movie plays. Is like, he's like one of the only people in the world that could like that can dribble like that.
- [17:45]
B
And.
- [17:46]
A
And then he misses a 99xg chance. Just like that is just welcome. He's. I mean, I love him. He's Nick Young celebrating the three, right? He's like, yeah.
- [17:55]
B
Let me ask you something about the England squad. Because my buddy was like watching the Knicks win the championship makes him believe that England could win the championship.
- [18:06]
A
The problem is the back line doesn't account for it. Right. If they had like a rigid, like, like if they had dogs in the back four, they.
- [18:14]
B
They don't. They have.
- [18:16]
A
And Jordan Pickford is due for a disaster. It's just the first, the first goal could. I think he could have done better on that. But beyond that, like, like, listen, they.
- [18:27]
B
The game.
- [18:28]
A
We're overstating how close that game was. A guy named Lionel, that's worth 200
- [18:33]
B
more than two goals, for sure.
- [18:35]
A
Oh. Guy went on a heater for like in front of the world. Good for Lionel. What's his name? Lionel. Lionel and posse. Whose transfer value according to fat Mob is like 250. 250K. Come on. It's just like so this Guy in front of the world went on an absolute heater. His save on the Jude header, I was like. I mean, I was like. I was, like, so happy for a bit. Like, legitimately, they. And they did attack better in the first half. Actually in the third, in. In quarter three, they allowed Dr. Congo back into it. But, like, that should have been three goals in the first half. I mean, three or four. I mean, like, they. They were, like, peppering him with shots. And this guy just in one moment, just, you know, I mean, there were
- [19:17]
B
moments where defenders were just in the right place at the right time, too. Right?
- [19:22]
A
And, like, credit to Congo, they, like, punch him up.
- [19:25]
B
Adam, we got to remember, because it's England, we're giving the Congo a better chance than what has actually been happening on the field. It's like something disastrous is about to happen because it's England.
- [19:37]
A
It's the back line. It's the back line. What? Actually something disastrous. Listen. Okay, here's the gauntlet. Let me read it for you.
- [19:43]
B
Yes.
- [19:44]
A
Mexico, azteca. Round of 16. Ghosts of the hand of God. Ghosts of Maradona surrounding them at altitude.
- [19:52]
B
That place is gonna be on fire.
- [19:54]
A
Quarterfinal. Brazil in Miami. My friend. My friend. My friend who lives in Miami said he went to go see Brazil during the group stages. He said it was like, it was cold outside. It was like the weather did not affect them whatsoever.
- [20:07]
B
They're like.
- [20:07]
A
They're just built for it. In the semifinal, they have to beat Messi, right?
- [20:12]
B
They have to be.
- [20:13]
A
They have to be Messi in the semifinal and in the final, they have to beat the best team in the world. They have to be France. If they pull it off, it is the greatest football accomplishment I've ever probably seen. Leicester, maybe like, it is. It's just like, do we feel this way? Like they're going to do it? No, like, I. That's why I.
- [20:30]
B
Like, I think Mexico just could sit just, like, the. The circumstances. Feels. I would assume your betting sponsor is whoever they are. I bet you England is favored to win that match.
- [20:44]
A
We have, like, a Offshore kind of. It's a guy with an eye patch and he smokes a cigarette and he has a long.
- [20:50]
B
You got a guy in the Caymans copy?
- [20:52]
A
No, no, we have, like a. Like, yeah, international waters. He has a lot. Like, he never ashes his cigarette, and he's like, yeah, we play Pai Gow. That's. Thank you to Pai Gow. No. And now for a word from Fanduel. The beautiful bot is brought to you by Fanduel on The biggest stage in the world. FanDuel is changing the game. Because sometimes your player gets subbed off and your bet goes with them. Not anymore with FanDuel super sub. If your player is subbed out, your bet stays in. That's right. If your player leaves the match, your bet continues on with the substitute. So you're still in it until the final whistle. Because in matches like these, anything could happen. And now your bet can go the distance. Let there be goals this summer on FanDuel. Visit FanDuel.com Tafs to get started now. Disclaimer 21 select states or 18 DC, Kentucky, Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat In Connecticut this summer, FanDuel is the best place to bet on goals. Including equalizers, volleys. Yep. Headers. Every goal is worth more on FanDuel. So let there be goals. New customers get up to $1,000 and bet reset tokens. When you bet $5 daily, 21 plus and present in select states. Opt in. Required refund issued as non withdrawable bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt. Minimum $5 wager required for five consecutive days. Max refund $200 per day. Restrictions apply including token expiration. See full terms@fanduel.com sportsbook gambling problem. Call 1-800- GAMBLER or 1-800- My reset evening. Buyer's remorse. Buy a new car.
- [22:29]
B
I'll be moving in.
- [22:30]
A
Let's get started. Sorry, I think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana. You what? Yeah, great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it. So there's no. No, no buyer's remorse. More like buyers rejoice. I guess I'll let myself out. Congratulations.
- [22:48]
B
I mean it.
- [22:49]
A
Buyers rejoice. Buy your car today on Carvana. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven day return policy@carvana.com Genuinely speaking, like, if they can survive that, like playing against Mexico. Host nation bump goes to Maradona. And then at altitude against. Yeah, just against an entire country that like, is just. But don't forget Eltri El Tree to make it past the round of 16. They haven't done it in fucking 40 years. And they act like Real Madrid. But they, they literally, they're like incensed. They're like offended every time. El Tree to make it to the quarters. Okay, let's see it happen.
- [23:25]
B
I'm.
- [23:25]
A
I like. I mean, I'm really happy for Mexico. I don't like the team, but guess what? You guys play in the best league in the world. They play League. League mx, right? Yeah, they're starboard plays.
- [23:36]
B
You should beat those guys.
- [23:37]
A
You should beat them. The starboard plays in Tijuana, like, you know, like. Not saying that. It's just not as strong of a league. Right?
- [23:43]
B
Their crest, not comparable.
- [23:45]
A
Their crest is dope. It has a dog on it. Pull it up, Sam, by the way,
- [23:50]
B
here in freaking L. A, after every single. Especially where I live in Mid city.
- [23:56]
A
Yeah.
- [23:56]
B
After every Mexico victory, it's beyond the 4th of July out here. It's like, bag. Yeah, bro. Like, what is going on out there? It's scary, dude.
- [24:06]
A
Yeah, yeah. No, the boys really, like, I think the. The viewership of League MX in the US Is higher than the US like, viewership for. For mls, which is crazy. Like. Yeah, I mean, I. I love. I'm rooting for the boys, but you live in Mid City.
- [24:24]
B
Yes, I do.
- [24:25]
A
I live in Batty City, actually. Let's try that again. Okay. Anyway, they. England played fine. I don't think they can get through that a lot. They're going to die, I think, if they get to the quarters and they're in Miami. Harry Kane, like, literally. You know, I was listening to a podcast. The guy was talking about that when you breathe through your mouth, it triggers your fight or flight response when you breathe through your nose. And I was just. My first thought was like, Harry, he's a mouth breather. Yeah. I don't understand how he's triggering his fight or flight response, but. Okay. And the last point is just like, why was that not a yellow card? And also broke dribble past him. You have a fucking open net there. And also, bro, 2 billion people are watching you right now. Like, it was very. He's LeBron. I think he's LeBron. You had a Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde. You saw him do that. Which is like, come on, come on, bro. You have an open debt, don't you?
- [25:21]
B
I mean, that's my thing with Harry, too. This, this, this. He's not Braun. I mean, LeBron has had, what, he's Jordan. Two bad playoff series in his life.
- [25:32]
A
No, I'm just saying, the dive into the. Dive into the magic. Yeah. No, he's not brawn, obviously, but he's
- [25:39]
B
more like the narrative around Harry Kane is the biggest choker ever. For him to make that shot to put the game away is pretty. It's pretty nice.
- [25:49]
A
No, and talent wise, he's no Braun. He's like, he's Catino Mobley at best. All right, let's go. So now I kind of. I want to try an experiment. I. I think France is the best team in the world. And then I identified three more teams, so I identified Spain. What's going on in that. Is There is the 1 010. All right. That's so boring. They're so boring. Anyway, I love that team, but they're. They just look really slow without Nico Williams.
- [26:16]
B
Exactly.
- [26:16]
A
Like, less dangerous without Nico Williams. So Spain, Argentina and Brazil. So I want to go through and, like, break down what each match looks like. I. I like just as a thought experiment and how each team wins. Right. So what are the conditions that need to happen for anyone to. To upset the best team in the world? Okay, so let's go. We're gonna go France, Spain. Okay, so this is a replay of the semis in the Euros in 2024.
- [26:44]
B
Spain won.
- [26:45]
A
Where Spain won. And now they're on a collision course for the. For ostensibly, if all things go according to the strength, the squad strength, they're gonna meet again in the.
- [26:56]
B
Has Spain look like the best squad in this tournament to you? Not to me. They have.
- [27:00]
A
No.
- [27:00]
B
I mean, Jack is, bro.
- [27:02]
A
Yamal is, well, yep, arguably the best player in the world. So, like, Jamal is just, like, he was hurt and he's coming back to fitness. What has to happen is the boy. The. The. You know, the boy has to ascend to the best player in the world.
- [27:15]
B
They're putting three guys on him, though, because Nico Williams isn't on the other side. Like, they're just tilting the entire shape of their defense to this dude. And yeah, he could. Sometimes he could beat two guys, but, like, I don't know, bro. Like, there's nothing they could do if. If teams are putting three guys on this kid.
- [27:34]
A
I like his. I like his chances. It just depends on fitness. I think he could beat 11 guys. I mean, he's just. He's God, you know? Like, but the problem is, like, France doesn't play D, right? Like, so it's like, we. We don't really know, like, their. Their primary, and we could. We could, like, call back to this each time. Their primary weakness, I think, is UPA MC and Saliba. Saliba needs back surgery after the World Cup. I mean, like, their central defense is weak. Magic Mike in goal, though, is a God, I love him, but, like, I would say, like, that is where you exploit them. Like, you have to hit them. I mean, obviously, if you're trying to score a goal, you're gonna hit them there, but like, it's central defense. I, I think like the way the game would look here, I like, kind of took some notes. The way the game would work is like you have to ascend. But the main difference is Nico was also peppering shots and you would be able to play Danny almost centrally. And I like that front line way better than.
- [28:32]
B
Why is he coming off the bench, by the way?
- [28:34]
A
Who, Danny? I think they're putting him on. Wait, what'd you say?
- [28:38]
B
He came off the bench the last match?
- [28:40]
A
No, no, he was on the left, I thought. No. Was it last?
- [28:45]
B
Maybe it was the third.
- [28:46]
A
Maybe it was because they had already qualified or something like that. Yeah, yeah, I think. Yeah. Right now they're starting Olmo and. How'd you say, Whatever, dude. I'm not gonna learn that, dude. Okay. It's your fault for being from the Basque.
- [29:07]
B
To me, all four of those kids have to play, right? Nico, Lamar, they all got to play.
- [29:15]
A
So that's the difference here. I think the problem is this with the drinks breaks. Like, we've had Cape Verde stories and we've had like, you know, we've had the, the minnows that punch above their weight because Spain is a possession team, right? So they need 45 minutes to. To train you. Yeah. So like, literally. And when you're chasing, chasing a possession team, you get cooked because it takes way more energy than passing the ball around people.
- [29:41]
B
Right?
- [29:41]
A
And that's like, Spanish footballers are like their academy set them up this way. They're like, even if we're not physically the most imposing, we're going to be the smartest.
- [29:50]
B
We think faster than you. Yeah, yeah.
- [29:52]
A
And we'll like exploit space, you know. And so the issue is, is that France is like the champ. It's whether or not he rocks with the front four, right? Because having a two man midfield and then having four, like forwards, you have in Spain one of the, I would say one of the top two midfields in the tournament. And you would need like Pedri and. Pedri and Rodri and then fucking our boy Marino.
- [30:21]
B
Marino, yeah.
- [30:23]
A
Who looks like he works at like, he's like, welcome to Nevada, like shop. No, he's like, yeah, he's like, I'm
- [30:28]
B
at, I'm at the four weekend Panini.
- [30:30]
A
No, he's like the head of, like, he's the head of financing. He's like, all right, guys, I'm going to get you sorted out.
- [30:35]
B
Yeah.
- [30:35]
A
Mikel Burrito. Yeah, yeah, he's like, yeah, he works at A Kia financing event, right? He's like Mikel Marino. He has the office, right? He's just so. Like a polo shirt, black with dockers
- [30:47]
B
at the car dealership.
- [30:49]
A
Going back to the 4/4 point, it breaks, it breaks. You like Spain. Spain, like Spain cannot exploit that 45 minutes of hell of chasing you with.
- [30:59]
B
With the brakes, with.
- [31:00]
A
With a drink break. Guess what? Welcome to fucking America. We. We got four. Four motherfucking quarters. Okay?
- [31:07]
B
Shit is fucked up, bro. That shit is so fucked up. Extra ads. It's so.
- [31:13]
A
Yeah, but like, we got Cape Verde, right? We got like, we got the little guy. We got some Cinderellas out of it. And so that's why Cape Verde needs to write a letter to our sponsors. Aramco. The other problem is this. They for some reason have the best goalkeeper in the world on the bench and they won't play him. I mean, David Rya, like, David Rya could cut. Here's the. I'm an Arsenal supporter. We were not as good as the amount of goals that we let in because this guy was incredible this year. He just was like. It was double save, worldy save after worldy save. And he like covered up a lot of defensive frailties. Gabrielle like, would in possession. Gabrielle would fuck up and David Ryan would have a worldy save. And like, they're not using him. They never use him. And I don't understand why beyond that, the way he claims clearances. He's fucking Jerry Rice.
- [32:06]
B
I'm in a group chat with an Arsenal supporter like yourself and my boy Nando, who is. He's Spanish and you know, he loves Real Madrid.
- [32:16]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [32:17]
B
And they. They argue about riot like on a daily fucking basis. And he's just like, he's not that good.
- [32:25]
A
Why? Why. Why would Real Madrid have smoke with Ryan?
- [32:29]
B
No, he roots for the Spanish national team. He's like.
- [32:33]
A
Yeah, but like the best goalkeeper.
- [32:34]
B
He's the best goalkeeper in the world.
- [32:37]
A
It's like literally is. I mean, like, he. Yeah, he track. He was amazing this year. He won U.S. league kind of like secretly, like everyone wants to say it was him and Rice. It was like 50, 50. And now rice has have to his. He's broken. So like. So what you have to do is you have to boss midfield and like play a possession game and you literally cannot allow space for them to run. But like, it's.
- [33:01]
B
I don't. It sounds like hopeless to me.
- [33:04]
A
Their backline is mid their back.
- [33:06]
B
KD warriors. To me, it's like saying, oh, but their perimeter defense isn't that Strong because they're starting Steph Curry. It's like, all right.
- [33:14]
A
But, yeah, we're trying. We're trying to make arguments. Yeah, I completely agree. It's kind of feels like an inevitability. And. And. But I think there is a chance when they go to, like, the Semis finals, there is a chance to exploit the fact that they are. They're not playing a midfield three. And. And you can deal with that specifically. The way you deal with that is by playing a low block and hitting them on the break. And it's. It's like you have to treat them like they're psg, right? And we saw PSG like. Like hit five every game. And then Arsenal was like, they have better players than us. The only strategy we had is like, we parked the bus. And then what we saw was like, Fariskhelia, who, in my opinion, I think is the best player in the world. He's top five player in the world. Like, that front three are like Riot of the Valkyries. And we. They didn't do shit in that game because, like, Arsenal were like, we are going to make it hell to play against us. But the problem is, when you look at these national sides, can you get 11 guys to lock in and commit that way? Yeah, and that's just. It's.
- [34:18]
B
It's like to play on a string. To borrow an NBA term.
- [34:21]
A
Yeah, exactly.
- [34:22]
B
Yeah.
- [34:24]
A
So that's like kind of the argument. And then, you know, then the other thing is, like I was saying before moments, guys, like, they have five conservatively, and then they have your master.
- [34:36]
B
The O is the thing that, like, just kills me because this guy has no flaws. Like, what. What is he bad at? I'm trying to understand, like, out of possession, baby. Maybe. Yeah, sure. He's not working as hard out of possession. But, like. But, like, what are we talking about? This dude has eyes behind his head.
- [34:56]
A
You got to protect the quarterback. Yeah, that's how it always is. The guys that are offended, I mean, like, I. Whatever. Yeah.
- [35:04]
B
I would say that finishing is. Is insane. Class. He's silk.
- [35:08]
A
I mean, I love watching.
- [35:09]
B
Crazy. His dribbling is crazy. Everything is just. I'm like, this guy's perfect.
- [35:14]
A
He is. He is like, just like. He's a such a beautiful player to watch. I mean, facts. The issue is this. Mbappe we. We'll get. Here's the. Well, I think we do Brazil and then Argentina, right?
- [35:26]
B
Sure.
- [35:27]
A
So what do you think?
- [35:28]
B
Brazil's not beat. Brazil has no fucking chance.
- [35:31]
A
Oh, okay.
- [35:32]
B
Against the.
- [35:33]
A
No, here I I gotta tell you, man. I gotta tell you, man.
- [35:36]
B
You think Brazil is gonna win the World Cup?
- [35:39]
A
No, but you can't say that. You can't say that when they.
- [35:43]
B
Why?
- [35:44]
A
It's Carlo, man. It's Carlos every single time. Think about Pep, right? Pep in the Champions League would be. I say this all the time. He would be freaking out. And the night before, Carlo literally wouldn't give a team talk. He'd say, go out there and have fun, right? And then some, like, bum would. Like, some bum would score in two in extra time, like Deschamps. The one advantage I think France has is that they also have an idiot as their manager.
- [36:12]
B
That's what I'm saying. They're not gonna overthink this.
- [36:15]
A
So two idiots. Two idiots canceling each other out. It's kind of like that. This is the thing. I've become like. Like just a contrarian watching the World cup because I'm. I'm, like, insecure about liking football and soccer. Soccer.
- [36:30]
B
Why? Why are you insecure about this?
- [36:32]
A
Because it's. What is the wack. It's like the guys that said, like, it's office reply all, and they say,
- [36:39]
B
so I think this has.
- [36:40]
A
They said a gift, everyone. And it's whack is a terror. It's like Dwight. It's like Dwight doing, like, dancing. And it's like, I hate this guy. And he thinks it's funny.
- [36:50]
B
I was talking to my boy about this, and I think this has to do with the time that you became a soccer fan.
- [36:56]
A
No, no. I think that everyone that liked soccer
- [36:59]
B
in America were the most insufferable people on planet Earth about npr. Right? I don't think that's the case anymore with this sport here.
- [37:09]
A
I honestly think this World cup has taught everyone that. Has made everyone realize that soccer's dope. Yes, yes.
- [37:17]
B
And, like, people don't need to be convinced of it. Like, well, actually, like, yeah, no, no.
- [37:23]
A
It's like they're hooping. Like, it's just like, we're, like, seeing guys, like, crossovers and dunks. Like, it's awesome. It's everything we like about sports. But in the NBA, you have three months that are abominable to watch. Really?
- [37:35]
B
I mean, yes, they have a way better regular season for sure. What I was explaining that Ethan was like, if you're watching a fucking Man United versus Stoke match, and, like, you see the people that are, like, going nuts for Stoke in the crowd like, to see that and think this is an elitist sport that's impossible to square for me.
- [38:00]
A
Well, in the States.
- [38:01]
B
Yeah, in the States, as an American, like, watching soccer. People in England like watching them enjoy the sport. It's hard for me to see that and think this is a sport for the most elitist, intellectual people on planet Earth. That shit don't square.
- [38:19]
A
It's like you get college ball on Saturday. You get NFL on Sunday. I mean, it's a. What it is is like, it's. It is a reprieve or like, it's a. It's the. You get a rest from having a shitty week at work. The work, like, they. They like it is a. It's a vacation for the working class. In the same way that football is on the weekends. Right.
- [38:38]
B
It's. What it's not, is a bunch of people talking about Jalen Brown is not as good as Derrick White. Yeah, that's what it's not.
- [38:46]
A
I mean, NBA has gotten. NBA has gotten more hipster, I really think.
- [38:50]
B
Yeah.
- [38:51]
A
But here's the thing is like, yeah, these guys, like, you know, I mean, also.
- [38:55]
B
Wait, just one more thing. I know we're getting off tangent, guys.
- [38:58]
A
I like it.
- [38:59]
B
Stop blaming the NBA analytics on white guys. It's Indian guys, too. It's diverse. The dor.
- [39:06]
A
I agree, I agree. I agree.
- [39:08]
B
Indian, too.
- [39:09]
A
Indian guys are better at math. Is that what you're saying? You're also saying that they are. That the Lakers, you were saying that because they had three.
- [39:18]
B
No, I'm just kidding. You got track. You think Brazil has a good chance to beat France? Because they're not.
- [39:22]
A
Here's the thing. It's like this guy's magic, okay? Like, the only analog we can look at is the US 94. Right? Brazil was doo doo cheeks. They. They were unimpressive. They were, like, kind of boring. They, in the final were up against Italy, who were better. And they. They kind of like, they have to go. That model Carlo is someone that can set. They can have. I said those last episode. Casemiro could look like abject in the first half and then just. Yeah. Then score like an equalizer. You're like. You know, the thing is, is, like, he just. Is like, he just. Literally, he just believes in, like, having a heavy pasta meal with wine the night before. And then he believes in just, like, sitting there and not. Not reacting or celebrating.
- [40:06]
B
All that shit you said about, like, the.
- [40:09]
A
The.
- [40:10]
B
The England team, like, trying to operate like a Premier League team or even Spain just, like, barking the bus against France. We know, like, Brazil's not, like, there's no chance in hell that they would do that.
- [40:21]
A
And that's why they are better suited to the World cup than England. That's the problem.
- [40:26]
B
That's the problem against France. They're not. They're just going to play and then they're going to just get beat for doing that.
- [40:32]
A
Like, that's what you have to do. Here's the problem. What you have to do is you have, like, look at the roster. There are four or five guys that are. Can lightning hit you on the break? Like, and you got Upa Maguire in the middle.
- [40:46]
B
You have like, your favorite player of all. Yeah.
- [40:50]
A
Yeah.
- [40:51]
B
So, like, what's up with Rapinia? Is he. Is he coming up?
- [40:53]
A
We don't know. Kunya, like, Kunya. Kuna's lightning fast. Martinelli's lightning fast.
- [40:59]
B
They have Vinnie.
- [41:01]
A
Vinnie, who's. Who's playing against his abuser. Who's playing against. Who's playing against the. The person that's literally just. Sorry. Stalled your career a little bit. Ryan's awesome. Endrick's awesome. Like, and they, you know, Neymar.
- [41:19]
B
What?
- [41:19]
A
Would it be amazing. Wouldn't it be.
- [41:20]
B
If he scored the winning goal, Would it be amazing?
- [41:23]
A
It's just. It would be like the Kobe 60 in the final. Oh, my God.
- [41:26]
B
Like the Kobe 6.
- [41:28]
A
It would be this. It would be the Kobe 60. It would be Kobe 60.
- [41:32]
B
Yeah.
- [41:33]
A
That's the only chance they have is you. Is speed kills. You exploit that and you exploit the back line and you. And you kind of have to be disciplined enough to park a bus. I don't think they have 11 guys that are. That can do that. That's. That's my argument against Brazil. The best chance they have is Argentina. Yeah, for sure. Because that team is set up unlike any other team you have. First of all, here's the. Here's what they need a. They have. God, and then they have a. Just a racist low block. They have like, they have. They have nine guys that will. I mean, just with the fervency of white nationalism. No, no, I mean, they have nine guys that will die for Messi. Right?
- [42:15]
B
Yeah.
- [42:16]
A
And I won't say that that's a. Listen, Messi doesn't even know what racism is. That's the thing is, like, they can frustrate France, but beyond that, there's the psychological aspect. France is going to go like. Mbappe's career has stalled. Like, he's. He won the World cup at 19 and he, like, team on my back. 18 years old, won the league with Monaco. As a resume. That's like starting off your Career. We're like, how far is this going to go, right? His chance at reviving his legacy. Like, when you think of him as a player, you think of France, right?
- [42:54]
B
Yeah.
- [42:55]
A
You don't think of Real Madrid? You don't think.
- [42:57]
B
I definitely don't think of psg, that's for goddamn sure.
- [43:00]
A
No, he's like, his association is Real Madrid. When I think of Wayne Rooney, I don't think of England, I think of Manchester United. Right? So this is his chance in this.
- [43:11]
B
Are you saying he's got to go to England?
- [43:13]
A
No, I'm saying that. I'm saying that the ghost of the last final, right, he looks like the Terminator right now. He's not playing with any emotion whatsoever. And that's what he needs to keep doing. I think the problem, if he hypes himself up too much, if he's like, this is our revenge. I scored a fucking hat trick in the last final. Yes. Mobutu over here. Yeah, the team's calling him Mobutu. That's like. They're playing into the.
- [43:40]
B
I just think the only safe factor is just. It's just, it's. You can't overstate that, bro. Like, yeah, Bobby has to be special, but there's other guys who are. Who have it in them to just do it.
- [43:51]
A
But if he psychs himself up, he could be a black hole on any team.
- [43:56]
B
Just taking all of his fucking. Look at 50 footers.
- [43:59]
A
Why did. Yes. And he's like, I have to do this. If he feels the pressure. I mean, like, he was from the time he's 12 years old, like, up next. And he's been waiting with Messi Ronaldo, like, playing. What. How old is he now? He's 26? 27.
- [44:14]
B
27.
- [44:15]
A
He's 27. So he's been waiting literally 10 years. And he. And he was like, I was expecting maybe three years and then I'd be up next. And, like, so his.
- [44:22]
B
And the Real has been such a dud.
- [44:26]
A
He went to a team with Jude Bellingham and Vinicius, and look how good they look in this tournament. And look at what they look over there. And it's because he.
- [44:33]
B
They all want to play in the same area and do the exact same,
- [44:36]
A
but he is the focal point and he takes everything away from everyone else. The. The issue is, is, like, it will adversely affect the other team if that happens. And also, you just have. Messi doesn't have any pressure on his shoulders anymore. He already won the world.
- [44:51]
B
You think Argentina is actually the team best Position to beat them 100%.
- [44:56]
A
Yeah. Because you have dogs.
- [44:58]
B
Not Spain anymore.
- [44:58]
A
You have. You have violent criminals in, like, their backline.
- [45:02]
B
You have the Butcher.
- [45:03]
A
You have the Butcher and Sergio Romero, one of the most violent people I've ever seen. Christian Romero. Christian Romero. Why are you laughing at me?
- [45:17]
B
He took a great pleasure in that correction. I appreciate that.
- [45:25]
A
You need to have, like, these guys are like, I. I will kill someone.
- [45:29]
B
Rodrigo de Paul, will you. Bill O'Reilly, yelling at your producers. You gotta do that more. We need more of that.
- [45:39]
A
Well, he has a gun pointed at me, so I didn't want to say this on the show, but Sam has a gun pointed at me right now. It's like Ferna Herzog and Klaus Kisky, and apparently there's a. Never mind. Okay, so, yeah, so I think they have the. The best shot. And. And also just in a final, the romance of Messi potentially saying goodbye again. Think about it this way. He's. The way he's scoring right now is like, what we've seen his entire career is this immense pressure that Argentina has placed on him, Right? And now that it's done, he's, like, kind of chilling right now. And. And his favorite thing is just like, I like to play sports, I like to play soccer. And like, he's just like. With all that pressure gone, we have six goals in the group stages, right? Looking at it being first of all, the South American derby of, like, Brazil, Argentina in a semifinal, and then France, Spain, which is like the replay of the Euros semifinal. We're in position. We're well positioned. I mean, that makes me. That makes me, like, really fucking hyped.
- [46:39]
B
Yeah. That makes me want to cream my pants if I'm.
- [46:43]
A
I'm fucking loving that. I love it.
- [46:45]
B
Oh, that would be so good.
- [46:48]
A
All right, let's. Let's talk America. How you. How do you. How do you feel about that match yesterday?
- [46:54]
B
Incredible. It's. I mean, to me, that was overall the best I've ever seen the U.S. men's National Team play.
- [47:05]
A
I think the opening match. I think the opening.
- [47:07]
B
I mean, the opening match in the first half was ridiculous, especially now that we're like, wait, Paraguay's, like, for real? I mean, obviously, the goal scoring, the fucking pulisic. Taking on two defenders, like, routinely and beating them and creating like, he was crazy in that first match. But yesterday, it's like the adversity and the defense still keeps its shape, and then the fucking insane free kick.
- [47:35]
A
Yeah.
- [47:35]
B
And just, like, they just look like a complete team.
- [47:39]
A
They're A real team.
- [47:40]
B
They're a real, real team.
- [47:42]
A
It's the first time we see them be a real team. And I think. And they're. They're constructed. They're. They're balanced. Like, it's. There's a thing Pacha's done is there's intention, like, with the. With the spaces that every player is taking up. The midfield is the main thing for me. The midfield, like, they. They have a real midfield and they're. They've bossed it every game. I don't really care about. What do you call Bosnia? Whatever. Who cares? Sorry. Call me Slobodan Milosevic. I don't. I'm sorry. Sorry. No, I don't like. I don't care about that match. I really am thinking a lot about Belgium before we, like, you know, kind of try to kind of see what that would look like. I just want to give a big shouts to big Rom. Like, listen.
- [48:25]
B
Oh, my God.
- [48:26]
A
When he's fat, he bags. When he's like, has abs. Yeah. Look at Chelsea. Look how, like, he's just. He's in great shape there. He stinks. And then when he goes fat, there's something about. Yeah, he's terrible. He was terrible when he looked like that. And then, like, you need a fat Rom. And he's like, his gold. His goal tally for Belgium is like, he's the. He's the best player in Belgium.
- [48:49]
B
I was actually in the building for that New Zealand match.
- [48:52]
A
Yeah.
- [48:53]
B
And he comes on and two minutes later, he's scoring a header and people are just losing it.
- [48:58]
A
Death taxes Fat Rom. That's what I'm saying. Fat Rom. I love him so much.
- [49:03]
B
You can't play 90 minutes, though, like that. That is something you can't possibly ask this guy to do.
- [49:08]
A
But you just need him, like, sweating it his way out at 65. And then he gives you a hatrick. Belgium, listen, looking ahead to the United States. They stink. They stink, suck. Okay? They play like a team. As like, oh, we're supposed to have a team for our country, but, like, no one wants to be there. It's like it. It's like shockingly like they won that match. But, like, it's like. It's like the Producers. It's like Springtime for Hitler. That team, yeah, they've always been underachievers. Fucking. You know, they like courtois fucking.
- [49:43]
B
I think this is the last year anybody will ever expect anything from Belgium again.
- [49:48]
A
It's the end of their golden generation, right? And. And that golden generation were utter failures. The ent Bob, I gotta tell you true, the one thing that I, I,
- [50:00]
B
they're almost like the team Canada basketball version. Uhhuh. Of world football, right?
- [50:09]
A
Oh my God, it's so true.
- [50:10]
B
We're like, look at all of these NBA guys. Look at Shay and Dylan Brooks and all of these guys and it's like, it's finally gonna happen. Canada's get a medal. They're gonna. And it's just like, no it's not. Yeah.
- [50:23]
A
And like, yeah, their players are like, are fucking each other's wives. It's like a disaster.
- [50:29]
B
The one thing that really was, they
- [50:31]
A
pulled, they pulled Doku and KDB at 60 chasing the game to two goals down. Granted it did turn around after that. I don't know, I don't know what that did.
- [50:42]
B
KDB is good in short spurts, but
- [50:44]
A
like, yeah, he's, he's passing. Doku was amazing though. Yeah, Unreal, unreal. Mad city zone, whatever. Okay, like, let's discuss stakes. I want to discuss stakes. If the US does not beat Belgium, what's your like, takeaway from this tournament?
- [51:11]
B
Still, they're still the best team I've ever seen the US put together. And I believe in Pochettino and his like, yeah, friendlies don't mean shit. It's just another way for me to work on stuff and evaluate stuff and yeah, I just believe in the program. Like it's hard not to believe in what these guys can do.
- [51:31]
A
Now, straight up, I think home tournament, I think you've got an elite world class manager who I don't believe is going to be there in the next World Cup.
- [51:44]
B
Yeah, probably not. I think they're probably going to take a real job.
- [51:48]
A
The stakes are. Yeah, exactly. The stakes are being taken seriously as a footballing nation and they in my opinion have to make the quarterfinals to do that. And we all know that they're playing against a team that's like, don't want to be there. Legitimate.
- [52:02]
B
Yeah. Who more talented though?
- [52:04]
A
Who actually, I don't even know. I don't even know.
- [52:07]
B
Like, you don't think Belgium is more talented?
- [52:10]
A
Ah, no, wait, wait. Who's like their, who's their goat right now? Who's the best Belgian player right now?
- [52:15]
B
Who's the best Belgian player right now? Trust probably.
- [52:20]
A
Trust. Yeah.
- [52:21]
B
I mean Goku's not playing like it. That's for goddamn.
- [52:24]
A
Doku's not. KDB's past it. Big Rob, Big Rob can't play 90. I mean like, yeah, look at what Destin's been doing on the right Wing, I mean, like, they have guys that cook. Like, I think like you, I think.
- [52:37]
B
But like, even for 25 minutes, we don't have a single guy to do what Big Rom does. Like for 20, like, there's nobody that's that big of a threat at any point in any of our matches. Even if it's only for 25 minutes. Right.
- [52:53]
A
I think cross the board, the roster is stronger and I. I think that like, like you gotta win this one.
- [53:00]
B
I think that some of the parts might be greater you. You might be right about that.
- [53:03]
A
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think you gotta say you gotta make your mark on, on this tournament. And it's like.
- [53:08]
B
And what about the fact that our striker is suspended? They should still beat Belgium. Like, you'll be disappointed if they don't.
- [53:17]
A
I think they should. I think they should. I mean, I would put Haji right instead of Pepsi personally, but like, I genuinely speaking, like, Baligan was end product guy. He was just in the right spaces.
- [53:26]
B
I think.
- [53:27]
A
Like, he just knows how to finish.
- [53:29]
B
I mean, that's important, right?
- [53:30]
A
Yeah.
- [53:32]
B
Slug fest.
- [53:33]
A
Well, I mean, in the World cup there's just like maybe like six teams that have someone that can shoot.
- [53:38]
B
Yeah.
- [53:39]
A
I mean, like, maybe I'm being.
- [53:40]
B
Bosnia certainly didn't.
- [53:42]
A
I mean like, it's. It's actually at like a pre. Like we watched Turkey and like. No, like, it's just like we watch Ecuador and like, they just like no one could just bag. Like no one could finish and like, I think they have Baligan like was get like he gets the glory from the goals, but it's about like the build up and how got there and like. And actually like, I'm not worried about it, bro.
- [54:05]
B
That World cup eight years ago, the long ball like where like literally in order to get it into other team's half, it would be the long ball. And pray root one. Yeah, just pray the offense, bro.
- [54:24]
A
We were like the English like league one, like first division. Yeah, we're like. Or. Sorry. We were like, yeah, the championship. Championship. We're in a relegation fight in the championship. Well, I think you're thinking about 12 years ago, but like, yeah, eight years ago we didn't even make it. Right.
- [54:39]
B
Right. So, yeah, it was 12 years ago.
- [54:41]
A
They were direct and we had fun guys. Like, we had. The thing about them is like, like, Clint Dempsey was cool, right? He like, liked him. He was like Crip walking on the. On the pitch, like. And he said, you don't know where I'm from.
- [54:52]
B
Decent rapper. Yeah.
- [54:53]
A
You don't know where I'm from. And we had like guys that were like, hell yeah, that's America's style. These guys are like, they've been playing, they're like media trained. They've been playing sports their whole lives. They're like, you know, they're kind of a little more automaton. It's so different though personality wise like Donovan and Dempsey. I was like. There was something like, like scrappy about it but they're. The comparison between the teams is like miles apart. This is a real team and Pach is like real. I mean they need to like make their mark now and this is like.
- [55:23]
B
Let's hope so.
- [55:23]
A
Yeah.
- [55:24]
B
Where are you going? To watch the match.
- [55:27]
A
Where? Which one?
- [55:28]
B
The usa. Belgium.
- [55:30]
A
Usa. Belgium is. When is.
- [55:33]
B
I think it's Monday.
- [55:34]
A
Isn't that Monday?
- [55:35]
B
I don't know.
- [55:36]
A
Are you trying to watch it?
- [55:37]
B
No, no, I'm just asking you. I'm definitely going to figure out somewhere to go. Get drunk, be around people chant usa usa.
- [55:46]
A
You know what, the England probably get
- [55:47]
B
an eagle tattoo at some point here.
- [55:49]
A
You know what the. The England guys were singing at them. They're like Jeffrey Epstein, he's one of their own. He's one of their own.
- [55:58]
B
He's one of their own.
- [55:59]
A
Jeffrey. Yeah. So they got their asses J. Epstein, he's one of.
- [56:06]
B
But isn't Prince. What's his face. The one that got discarded from the family, lost his title. He's one of their own. Prince. Andrew.
- [56:15]
A
Andrew.
- [56:16]
B
Andrew is the EP guy.
- [56:18]
A
Yeah, exactly. That's better for America.
- [56:20]
B
So he's one of their own.
- [56:21]
A
We had one of the top dogs. We had one of the top dogs. Andrew was just one of his. Beneath him. So. Yeah. Yeah, okay. That's what they get. Good comments.
- [56:30]
B
Andrew, he's one of their own.
- [56:33]
A
Is one of their own. He's non. And they all nonsense each other. It's you know, come on, what do they think? Okay, let's do happy trails.
- [56:39]
B
Real quick.
- [56:40]
A
I want to go through the teams from.
- [56:44]
B
From. From pti. That's what we're doing up here.
- [56:46]
A
Yes. Wilbon. I'm Willbon. You're. You're Tony. You're more than Tony here. I think you're more the. You're more than like. I never like Messi's game. What are you watching? What are you watching? You're.
- [56:59]
B
I didn't like his game. I'm saying I don't like his game. No feelings. It's no different than Wimy. I get nothing. I. I feel nothing watching Wimy pause. Nothing I feel nothing.
- [57:09]
A
I. I feel nothing watching any of these guys because of my heterosexual. Okay, cut that. Okay, that was mean. He's my friend. Please, please cut that. No, you're in la. You're fake. You're fake. You're a fraud. Okay? Why don't you go get a. Why don't you go get a shake? Why don't you go get a shake? Why don't you go get a shake for $28 that Justin Bieber's. Justin Bieber's wife made for him or something.
- [57:35]
B
My lady loves that shake.
- [57:37]
A
Ecuador. I'm sick of looking at this guy. He needs to go away. I can't stand the way he looks. I can't stand this guy. I don't. He looks terrible. Go away. Would you have anything on Ecuador?
- [57:50]
B
No, got nothing. Shouts to. Shouts to my homie Steph, one of the only Ecuadorians I've ever known in my life, honestly.
- [57:58]
A
Really shouts to her. Yeah, okay. Yeah, she's married now, so she's not my friend Brian.
- [58:03]
B
She's not Stephanie Sanchez anymore. She's Stephanie Goins now. But, yeah, she's the only Ecuadorian I've ever been cool with, ever.
- [58:11]
A
Well, shout out to Brian Pinero and my Aunt Vivian. So I got two, actually. Yeah, I got two.
- [58:21]
B
Yeah, you beat me.
- [58:23]
A
Setting all seeing Sadio Mani was great.
- [58:27]
B
Yes, that was great.
- [58:28]
A
I got a. I got a little chant I made. He met his wife at 12 years old. He waited till she was a bit older. Saja Bondi, pedophile. He married 15. His wife, it was 15 or 16. He knew her before that. She was. Yeah, but he knew her. He's. No, but that is. That is what they don't say that he. That he waited. And that's when true love does wait. Okay. Senegal, the African diaspora, like, come back and play for their teams. I mean, like, these guys are all coming from, like, real, real, like, academy adverse situations. I mean, they're. They're coming like they're trained, like, in. In, like, real academies. Like, a lot of them played for the French national side, like, at Clairefontein. Like, so we're seeing the quality go up and up and up and all but one African team qualified, I believe, for the knockouts. And so it's just like. I think it's. It's cool because, like, you know, on paper, like, I saw, like, you know, Yaya Toure and Drogba on the same team, and you, like, you would be like, they're going to be incredible. But, like, there's just A. There's, like, more of a cohesiveness that we're seeing now, so I think that's cool and sad. Pedophile. Okay. Bosnia do not care. Sorry. What do you think? Bosnia? You want to say goodbye?
- [59:47]
B
It's fine. Fine. Yeah. They do nothing for me.
- [59:51]
A
Ivory Coast. I just want to talk about the Pepe Redemption arc. He bagged Teonald Trump. Good for him. He's a brave. Another lesson in true love. He. He fell in love with a woman. And bravely, he left his two children and wife to follow his heart. And it. It's just like. It's. You know, sometimes like the stories around the World cup are the ones that
- [60:14]
B
are most beautiful, heartwarming. Leave your wife and two kids for a porn chick.
- [60:19]
A
A porn chick? I don't. I didn't even know she did pornography, but, yes, that's your nasty mind. Sweden. Oh, God. Victor Gilker. As, of course, was my pick for. He was my pick for golden ball. Golden.
- [60:34]
B
Golden ball.
- [60:37]
A
Golden boot. I thought he was gonna sweep both of them.
- [60:40]
B
You did not pick him.
- [60:43]
A
You know, he left with a. With a massive tally of one tap in against. What was it, two Tunisia or something. Now please go. Please don't come back. Please, Please. Athletico Madrid.
- [60:55]
B
Just take him.
- [60:56]
A
Take him away. I can't watch this guy anymore. It was 50. Literally, he ruined. It was 50 games of him.
- [61:04]
B
You guys should be in a. Julian. But he hates England. He never wants to be in that country ever again.
- [61:11]
A
He knows Mick from City, though, so maybe there's a relationship there. Esac ain't looking good.
- [61:16]
B
I gotta say, I thought he started off pretty decently, but, yeah, it. It tapered off pretty fast for him.
- [61:23]
A
Graham Potter will see you soon. You know, your next job, your next. Your next outfit. I can't wait to see it. Dr. Congo. Shout out to Dominican. Congo. Dominican Republic. Congo. What is Dominican Republic?
- [61:36]
B
The Dominican Republic of Congo.
- [61:38]
A
Dominican Republic. Congo. Shout out to them. They performed really well. I was really impressed with how they were drilled, and we mentioned it already. They, like, really punched them out of their way. And best kits, best kits of the tournament. The Umbro. The blue ones. Fire. I love them. The last thing I want to talk about is the song Wonderwall. People have been debating the England national team. The geezers in the stadium have been singing it after every match. Someone said that it's a bad song, and he said, like, it's the best song ever written. You go yourself. You're a.
- [62:11]
B
That's why he said Wonderwall was a bad song.
- [62:13]
A
Yeah. Yeah, well, people are saying that for that to be their song. They're on Wonderwall. Do you think Wonderwall is a good song or not?
- [62:21]
B
It's a good song. I mean, how is that any worse than Take me home in the country Home In a country home. Yeah.
- [62:31]
A
Yeah.
- [62:32]
B
Our song has the words West Virginia in it.
- [62:34]
A
I mean, you ever hear the toots in the matal version of that? It's like West Jamaica. Mouth, mama,
- [62:44]
B
could you. What's England's version of West Virginia? Do they have one?
- [62:48]
A
I mean, it's the rest outside of London. It's the entire North.
- [62:53]
B
Yeah, the entire.
- [62:54]
A
Yeah, it's like, have you been. Like, yeah. Have you been to Blackpool or Midlands?
- [63:00]
B
And North West Virginia.
- [63:03]
A
They're disgusting. Okay. So. No, no. I mean, I. I kid. I Obviously, I'm. Obviously, I kid. Like, I think it's. It's. It's. It's not good enough. I think of a song and so I kind of like, in 1990. Do you know World in Motion, the song that was new order made. And then John Barnes did the, you know, like, the talk rap part.
- [63:28]
B
We wasn't playing that in Flatbush, Brooklyn, bro. Okay, well, 1991.
- [63:32]
A
So I think you were. I think you were paying attention, but no, we weren't. So I wrote an anthem that's gonna be the new World in Motion. I think Wonderwall is a terrible song. This is gonna be the new song. So I'm gonna sing it to you, Boz.
- [63:46]
B
Okay.
- [63:46]
A
If I sing to you as a man? As a man, is it okay?
- [63:49]
B
Sing to me, baby.
- [63:50]
A
Okay. Rhys James is gonna be the cane that they're gonna throw back to Jude by now you should a gay he realized copy menu Jordan Pig for Dean Henderson and James Shefford are the goalies. Dam Byrd the word is on the street that Ivan Tony in your heart is Gordon Rashford. You've heard it all. Preferred Ollie Watkins Henderson Jordan I don't believe that Morgan Rogers feels the way I do I about Saka and Noni Madaway Ko Nico Riley and Elliot Anderson Stones and Quanza Dan Burn, Jed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Battecla Rice. Cause Eze, you're gonna be the one that saves me. And after all, you're my soccer ball
- [64:52]
B
expert.
- [64:53]
A
So if anyone wants to set that to music, you can.
- [64:55]
B
I pray Liam Gallagher watches that one day.
- [64:59]
A
Well, he does watch this. And if he wants to come over here and say something to my face. I've said this to him multiple times. He could come over here, say that to My Face. That is a better song than you've ever written. Especially it's called you're my soccer ball. Dan Burn. Jazz Spence Ezri. Caught Dan Burn. Chad Spence Ezri. All right, Was. You could. Love you, bro. I love you, too. What are you in New York next? At best. At best, October.
- [65:34]
B
I'm definitely scheduled to be there in October.
- [65:37]
A
Oh, and congrats, by the way. You're. You're obviously from here, from Queens, right?
- [65:41]
B
Yes.
- [65:41]
A
Congrats on your beloved Knicks. Big championship for you. Huge championship.
- [65:46]
B
They're not beloved, but I'm very happy for the Knicks.
- [65:48]
A
Sticking with the Knicks your whole life. Sticking with them, sticking with the loyalty.
- [65:52]
B
Jerome James and Harper and Shannon Anderson. Yeah, I remember when the Knicks signed Shannon Anderson from Utah and you were there with Quincy. People thought that would work.
- [66:02]
A
You were there with Steve Novak, Langston Barnes or Langston or like, Galloway, dude.
- [66:09]
B
Hernan Gomez. I remember Nick fans were telling me Hernan Gomez was actually like, like that.
- [66:14]
A
And you're like, who does he play for? Spade, bro.
- [66:17]
B
Jerry and Grant. I remember when people were mad that the Knicks traded Jerry and Grant because he was an asset. He never. I don't think he signed anything after his rookie deal. He was a Knicks first round.
- [66:29]
A
He had big eyeballs. He was a big eyeballs guy. You remember. You remember when they were, like, trying to make Danilo Gallinari like, a thing? They're like, I think it's gonna happen.
- [66:37]
B
He was nice.
- [66:37]
A
He was nice, but he's like, not that he's not.
- [66:40]
B
Yeah, whatever. Italians in New York.
- [66:43]
A
So yeah, yeah, makes sense. They don't. They don't know Italian. All right, it's been great. Thank you for joining us. I'll talk to you soon, guys. Thanks for watching.
- [66:53]
B
Peace.
- [66:54]
A
Peace. 21 plus and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 and present in D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MESHET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 1-800-327-5050. For 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-85-HOPE New York or text HOPE NY in New York. For Louisiana, call 1-877-770-7867.