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World Cup 2026: Bigger, Hotter… Worse? · Football is Life

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from north london lights to the mercy rain to
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sky blue nights when the champions rain three
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voices arise when the whistle blows same beautiful
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game different colors we chose from the terrace
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to the mic football Hey folks, welcome to our
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latest episode of Football is Life. We're back.
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Mike, I like the little, here we go. He's got
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his FIFA World Cup background. We are building
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up now. We're one day away from the opening game,
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which is a pretty underwhelming game. And we'll
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maybe start with that, Waza. What do you think
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about the runners and riders for the World Cup?
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Are you excited? Do you think this is going to
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be a quality tournament, Waza? I think this is
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actually one of the... And this, like, I've been
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to, I went to a baseball game when I was visiting
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New York and I actually had a pretty good time.
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It's mainly people eating and it's quite fun.
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And so, like, I was excited for, like, the fanfare,
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the entertainment and everything that this World
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Cup would bring. But two things have just completely
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just killed my enthusiasm for it. And one, like,
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one is so many games are at two in the morning.
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Why are so many games at two in the morning?
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That's... It's hot. It's hot as balls, Mike,
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right? Yes, yeah. The weather is going to play
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a factor in this tournament. People are going
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to pass out of heat exhaustion. Get well, Christian
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Eriksen. Yes. Yeah, it's going to be rough, but
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they also do this tournament in, like, Brazil,
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right? Like, they've done it in other countries
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where it's just as... ridiculously hot and humid
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they just changed the dates yeah yeah that too
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um and the other thing is is the amount of shite
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like in this tournament is sensational i've just
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been clipping up some teams for a sweepstakes
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that i'm organizing and some of the some of the
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teams i didn't think could ever make it to a
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world cup but here we are like cape verde iraq
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Curacao. England. Even let Scotland in. This
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is the thing. It's going to be one of those things
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where it's like, okay, wake me up after the group
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stages is done. I want to be excited about the
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group stages. The thing that I love the most
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about the World Cup is turning a game on and
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going, oh, I'm going to find an absolute screamer
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or a worldie of a game because it's going to
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be some level of underdog versus Goliath. But
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this is like, it's not even underdog. It's like
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sort of bottom feeding like krill almost. What
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are you complaining about? You've got a great
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opening slate. You've got Mexico against the
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mighty South Africa, followed by the mighty South
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Korea against the Czech Republic. Then you've
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got Canada playing Bosnia and the USA playing
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Paraguay. I mean, yeah, that's pretty bottom.
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Wall to wall, it's banger central. Yeah. Not
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great. Yeah, but they have opened it up. There's
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lots of teams there. Yeah, I think there's going
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to be some. Some groups will come to this are
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easier than others, which is always a factor.
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We'll talk about bets and who we think is going
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to be the people to look out for. But let's start
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with the obvious one. Let's start with the obvious
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one. I believe, I've not checked, I need to check
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it now. I think France are... are probably installed
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rightly so as favorites. I think Spain is actually,
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it depends on who you look at. It's like one
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or 2%, but it's Spain and France. Yeah. You know,
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France closely followed by teams. Then you've
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got kind of England coming just after that. Right.
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Which is interesting. But who do we. Who are
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you backing? And again, you don't have to pick
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one of the favorites. Who are you backing? Right
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now, you've got to go, right, we can look back
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at this end of the World Cup. Who are you picking
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to win this based upon everything you know right
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now in terms of the schedule, the groups, the
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squad, health, all that stuff? Current form.
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Mike, who do you like? There's no hot take here.
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I think Spain wins. wow okay well well convince
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me i don't think they'll win but convince me
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i i well i now that they've put the the best
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goalie in the world in as their starting keeper
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that makes a difference have they done that yet
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yeah i've everything i've read said that he's
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taken it but maybe i'm wrong could be it's happened
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before once i think i i just i just think that
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they're they're a better team Then I posted something
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about this yesterday on our Instagram feed. So
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like and follow gang. But just that there's I
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think France is a dysfunctional bunch of individuals,
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not unlike England, that that I just don't I
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don't know if they'll be able to get it done.
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So I think Spain makes it happen. He's going
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to come in with some wild take. Wait till you
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hear this. Say Ivory Coast. Go on, do it. If
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only. No, I'm going for Germany. I'm going for
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Germany. Just because Nagelsmann's had another
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tournament under his belt, you tend to see the
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experience of certain managers come out in these
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tournaments more than anything. Look at Deschamps.
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um what is it uh bosco like that you're gonna
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have managers who have actually been tenured
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more do pretty well here i just don't have faith
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in like for example france i don't have faith
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that they're gonna do okay because they're gonna
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try and just pass it to mbappe and bit of my
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line that's gonna be fine and the amount of funk
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around mbappe before this tournament is gonna
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be it's we're gonna see a repeat and we love
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to see it as well because we love to see us a
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guy So I'm going for Germany. I think that Germany
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actually have a pretty decent chance here. Okay.
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I hate that take, but that's fine. Anyway, surprisingly
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wise, I'm going to go... If you're asking me
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completely objectively, just into who the best
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team, I find it hard to see past France, but
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I'm not going to pick them. I am going to pick...
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I think, you know, sometimes a team that gets
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slept on, people aren't really talking about
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them. And I think part of the factor is the climate,
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as you mentioned, Mike, is going to be a big
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factor. If you're playing at altitude in Mexico
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City, in the Azteca, which is, by the way, maybe
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one of the greatest stadiums on planet Earth,
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then, yeah, I mean, if you're a team like England
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or you're like Germany, you're in trouble. You're
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going to melt. You're in trouble. So I am going
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to pick a team that I think people forget. Argentina.
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For similar reasons, I think they're a collective.
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Even though you look at Porto or Ronaldo, he's
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a problem, I think, for them. Messi's not a problem
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in the same way. And I think he'll be wrapped
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in cotton wool and used accordingly. And I just
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look and go, I think Julian Alvarez. When I look
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through, they've just got... They're collectively
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good together. Romero is a different player for
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Argentina than he is for Spurs. Like he is like
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other, I mean, Amy Martinez, I would argue is
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the same. Everybody is a different player for
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the national team than they are for Spurs, but.
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Well, that's true. Yeah. Yeah. But you know,
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some players like Beckham did it for England.
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There's players that elevate for their national
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team, I think. And I think they have a number
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of those players that elevate. And I think the
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fact that the climate, they will be able to handle
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it better. I think they've, they've, they've
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obviously won it very recently. Like the last
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of the holders. And I just think people are sleeping
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on them because I don't know if you saw their
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qualifying campaign, but they absolutely scooshed
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it. Their group, their group, look at who's in
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Argentina's group right now. Waza, right? And
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tell me how many get like, they are going to
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scoosh that group. Read out the three teams that
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are in their group. I'm just going to bring that
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up. Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Jordan. Good
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Lord. The one thing is, To me, there's a path
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there. Win the group. Again, look, sometimes
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it may get a tough draw. I just think they're
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a team that's been slept on. I don't understand
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how they're such long odds. I think that they're...
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Look, Spain definitely have, like, with Yamato,
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they've got a few maybe... They've got some...
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I understand why you picked them out. And they
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are a collective unit. I just think Argentina
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maybe are defensively a bit better than Spain.
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I don't want to pick a super obvious team. I'm
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glad nobody picked the hot favourites. Spain's
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OK. I don't think a lot of people don't fancy
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Spain for this one because Jamal's health is
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in question. There are some question marks there.
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I did think that Simon would start. I said they
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have to start Raya. I think if they don't, it
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will be madness. But let's see what happens.
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Why have none of us, why have absolutely none
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of us said Belgium? Because if you look at their
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World Cup group, I argue that Belgium has the
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easiest World Cup group out of anyone. Can I
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give you some context on Belgium? Their window
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with their generation is gone. We talk about
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these windows for success, it's gone. They're
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not that team anymore. They're an average team.
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Yes, they'll get through the group, they should,
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but they don't have anyone. De Bruyne has passed
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his peak. They had that generation where they
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should have done something. They fucked it, to
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be honest. It's decent. It's not terrible. There's
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worse teams. Don't get me wrong. A lot of worse
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teams, Waza, because it's diluted. But let's
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talk about teams that we think are going to underperform.
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So, again, to me... England, next. I want it
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to be like a relatively hot take, so I can start
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us off on this one. And this is as usual. You're
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going to laugh. Germany is my pick, actually.
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I don't think they're going to underperform because
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I don't think that they have huge expectations
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on them. Listen, they're quite well fancied.
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But hear me out. Hear me out on why. There is
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some reasoning behind this. Again, I always look
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at the path to get to the qualifying campaigns
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as the kind of form guide, right? Germany struggled
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and toiled in a lot of those games. They weren't
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impressive and convincing. They have some special
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players. I look at, like, Florian Wurz is a Liverpool
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fan he's not had a particularly good season right
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so I don't think he's another one though national
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team wise that shows up he's looked so much better
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playing for Germany than he did for Liverpool
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this year he has but my point is Mike how many
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German players would you say right now in that
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squad you go they're banging form right you go
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Kai Havertz not Kai Havertz no not Kai Havertz
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he's had a pretty underwear but you would say
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that North London But no, but yeah. So I think
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that, I think defensively they are, I don't think
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they've got a lot of quality at the back at the
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moment. I don't think their centre midfield is
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particularly strong either. And I just think,
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yeah, I think that they will, they might struggle
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a little bit in this World Cup. Yeah, that's
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my reason. I don't think they've got a lot of
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players that are in form. And yeah, I think their
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qualifying campaign causes cause for concern.
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So I think they'll do more poorly. than um when
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people think what about uh you mike who do you
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who do you think is going to underperform so
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um i i was a swelled it with the joke but i do
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think that that england will underperform really
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yeah i look i and and this is it i find it ironic
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that again the token yank is the one that has
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a soft spot for england and you both hate the
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club but um well either not a club and be like
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the team yes but b what's to like I can't fault
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Ross there. I can't disagree. This just goes
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back to my youth and the teams that I grew up
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following. My best friend growing up that got
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me into the sport was from Derby County. And
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so I supported England with him. And so it's
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just something that's happened from my youth.
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You always pick better friends as you got older.
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Well, I did pick better friends. Shout out Gary
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Jackson. Love you, buddy. But just, yeah. But
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I just think that they are... They won't do well
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in the weather. They will struggle in the heat
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for sure. They are. I mean, I posted it this
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morning. Saka still nursing injuries like the
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team's not healthy. He's always been limping.
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These are all the reasons why I think that they're
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Jude Bellingham. None of us like Jude Bellingham.
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Morgan Rogers should start ahead of him and then
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he'll throw his, he fit in a lot of fall apart.
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Yeah. So I just think that there's a lot of personalities
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and a lot like Tuchel's got his hands full with
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this. And, and we talked about it a few weeks
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ago, like the starting 11 that didn't come with
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them, that America would bite your arm off to
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have as their entire starting 11. I, I just think
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that they'll they're underperformed, but I, I
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still can't, you know, change that. I have a
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spot soft spot for them. So you do. love and
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support teams that are basically unlikable which
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is a common denominator it's a common thread
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that's right arsenal and england so and boston
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sports teams you ask any americans that's right
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that's right so it's just it's part of my dna
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yeah at least you're consistent mike but is is
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you're also your reasoning for england is it
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because of thomas tickle's unforgivable hair
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like it's unforgivably bad like it doesn't have
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anything you can't go there because arteta has
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beautiful hair so you know he's got lego hair
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he's he's also got terrible hair and for a different
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reason but just like To me, Tuchel is like he
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got caught in that middle of like, dude, you're
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so bold now, you just have to go. Like, you just
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have to go. You're way beyond that. Yeah, not
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a Tuchel fan. Okay, Waza, who are you going for
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for your underperformers? So, I've just been
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looking through all the teams and you know who
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I really, really like the look of? I really like
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the look of the Netherlands. They have actually
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a pretty... Huh? I said... Oh, yeah, yeah. Because
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they have a good team. They are primed to underperform.
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Like, you look at that squad. Like, there's going
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to be some absolute howlers from so many players
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in that team. Like, there's no way that Virgil
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does a stupid thing. You're going to probably
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also get Memphis Depay having a fit somewhere
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as well. Like, there's just too many. There's
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a lot of Liverpool running through that team.
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I think that there's going to be a lot of mishaps
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happening around there as well, like Gakpo, Grabenburg.
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I don't know. I feel like they've had it too
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smooth too recently. They've been doing consistently
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well. There's got to be some level of controversy.
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There's got to be some level of national outcry
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against a certain player being played. I don't
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know. I think that when a team is in a good spot
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when they arrive at the World Cup, they always
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do badly. Okay. I want more turmoil. Okay. I
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don't mind that. I think you'll have plenty of
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that. I think you'll have plenty of turmoil.
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The thing is, I think it's less about... Because
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the problem is the team can underperform, but
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it's always like the star players. And I'm keen
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to hear from you guys. Which player do you think
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has the most hype around them that will underperform
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massively? Oh, a player. Okay. Hmm. Boy, there's
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so many to choose from. Let us come back to that.
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Every number nine. We're going to come back to
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that one, but let's now go to, I want us to talk
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to teams like a dark horse. So a team that you
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think you go, like people aren't talking about,
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you go, I think they, and again, I'm not suggesting
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you go, but they're going to go. surprisingly
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deep in the tournament, right? So again, it depends
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on the team you pick. Like, so for example, if
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you pick like, I don't know, you know, like Haiti
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or Krakat, one of the worst teams, they're going
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to get out of the group. You might think they're
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going to overperform, right? That would be, you
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know, but just who do you think is going to be
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a bit of a surprise package that nobody's really
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told? Who are people sleeping on in this World
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Cup? Do you want me to start? I reckon Norway.
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Okay. Dude, like get out of my head. I just think
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that they have some like really, some really
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exceptional players. And when you bring just
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some exceptional players with people with a good
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team ethos in mind around them, like you build
16:32
around those players and you make that core and
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then you drive the team forward with that. Like
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they've got Haan, they've got Odegaard, they've
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got, who's that defender who's really, really
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quite good. Like they have a few very good players.
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Did you just say Odegaard was good? Huh? Did
16:46
you just say Odegaard was good? Like, stamp that.
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We'll need it. No, no, no. Because the thing
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is that he's playing in a team which is actually
16:51
doing more aggressive football. Fair. Like, when
16:55
he's actually allowed to wander freely and enjoy
16:57
his life, like, he's actually pretty good there,
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right? So, I don't know. I think they can do
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all right here. Just that Viking picture they
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posted was like, oh, that's good. Well, and I
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do think, though, that if you look at the sequencing
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of their games, they have France last. And so
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you would certainly expect them to beat Iraq,
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you know, Senegal. I think they're going to pick
17:21
up some points. And just because of resting players
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and all that stuff from a France perspective,
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I don't think you're going to see their full
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11 in that last match. There's going to be some
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time for rest. And Norway's going to – they could
17:38
be sneaky win that group just because of the
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sequencing of the games. They're not going to
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get out of the group. Iraq's going to take them
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off? They're crap. Okay, Mike, who do you think?
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I really, I mean... Do you want me to go? Give
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you some time? Yeah, because I was going to say
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Norway, so now if I need to pick up another one.
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I'm going to go, surprise, surprise, Wazahoo,
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the Netherlands. And I already decided this before
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this call, like, I think that there is another
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team. I do think Senegal are another. That's
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why I don't think... nor we get the group i think
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senegal will do well as well um even though they're
18:18
a bit mental um but yeah i think the netherlands
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are a team that are i know what you're saying
18:24
was i actually think the thing is they don't
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really have any massive superstars in that team
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but i think that they are in terms of their current
18:33
form the way that they're playing i think they
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are gonna maybe go deeper and surprise a few
18:38
people i don't i'm not saying that they're gonna
18:40
win it But I think that they will get into the
18:43
quarter semi -final. I expect them to go to that
18:46
depth in this tournament and be a little bit
18:48
of a surprise because not many people would fancy
18:50
them to go that far. Mike, any more? I mean,
18:56
I'm just looking at some of the... Ecuador is
18:59
another one, by the way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So
19:00
like Ecuador and Japan keep popping for... Turkey
19:04
for me. Yeah. I think Ecuador, they've not been
19:07
beaten in something like 18... Over 18 months
19:10
They're unbeaten But they're very defensive It
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draws They're low scoring They've got some good
19:15
players So they get an honourable mention Maybe
19:19
they're your pick Mike Japan I don't think are
19:20
good enough No No they're not good enough Morocco
19:23
Nobody's seen Morocco I'm surprised Who even
19:26
is it Because the thing is After like Who even
19:29
is it Scotland and Haiti So Morocco Are a good
19:35
team Who they actually got? Because all they
19:37
had was Maserati. Okay, they've got Hakimi. Yeah.
19:41
Cool. Great. One person does not make a team.
19:46
They won the African Cup of Nations and were
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controversially, but maybe they didn't win. They
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got to the semifinals last time. So it's another
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team. If you're looking for some value in the
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market. There you go. It's an old team. Dear
20:04
God, there are some old players in that team.
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There are. Let's hope they're crap, because Scotland
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are in their group, so I really do like it. Scotland
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don't get out of the group. Okay, what about
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the... So before we come to Waz's question about
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underperforming player... What would top scorer?
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That's always a big betting market is who's going
20:21
to be the golden boot. Obviously, hot favourites
20:23
will be Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane. Who do we
20:26
like for that? I've got a couple of guys that
20:28
I think are worth keeping an eye on. At number
20:34
one, Julien Alvarez. Who? Julian Alvarez. Argentina's
20:40
group is so easy. Yeah. And he's going to get
20:43
a lot more time than Messi is for sure. This
20:46
is my advice to people on your golden boot market
20:48
is most, if you look at all the world cups, like
20:51
close to one for Germany, they tend to score
20:54
like 70 to 80 % of their goals in the group stages.
20:56
Right. So you have to look at the group and you
21:00
see, if you've got like that game against Jordan,
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you're going, it's going to be six. No. He could
21:05
score individually. I'm not saying he will, but
21:07
he could score. So he's the one that I picked
21:09
from that. I think he plays every game and I
21:12
think he's their best striker. So I think that's
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one. And then the other one is another team that
21:17
I think are sneaky good is Colombia. So either
21:21
their striker or Luis Diaz. I think Luis Diaz
21:23
is like 40 or 50 to one. He is a player in form,
21:27
scores a lot of goals, scored a lot of goals
21:30
this season for Bayern Munich. I think he's one
21:32
to have a little look at. So that's my two tips
21:35
for top scorer. Yeah, those are long shots. Looking
21:41
at just some of the Vegas odds right now. They
21:43
are long shots, mate. Do you know why? The other
21:44
thing as well, factoring penalty takers, there
21:46
are things to factor in too, right? Like Harry
21:48
Kane takes the penalties and Bappy will take
21:50
the... Right, right. And they're probably going
21:52
to go deep in the tournament. So obviously that
21:54
does factor in. I mean, even Holland is, from
21:57
looking at FanDuel, is plus 1 ,400. No, no. How
22:01
long is launch? Cause again, they don't go deep
22:03
in the tournament. Yeah. How long did not in
22:05
those, I mean, in those group games for sure.
22:07
Yeah. CB scores four to five goals. That, that
22:09
can be enough. That could be enough. Yep. It
22:11
could be. So what do we think? So you're picking
22:13
out how long does a bit of value anyone else?
22:15
Yeah. Just, well, just to, to not go with the
22:18
top two common ones for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
22:22
Was any. Dominic Calvert -Lewin didn't get selected,
22:26
mate, just so you know. Morgan Gibbs -White.
22:29
The problem that I have is that Harry Kane definitely
22:32
has to be there just because they're going to
22:34
arsenal it all the way to the semifinals, right?
22:37
They're going to have every turgid 3 -5 -2, 1
22:41
-0, have your vanilla ice cream with your cup
22:44
of warm water. match that you could ever have.
22:48
And it's going to be an awful sight. And they
22:50
will get to the semifinals by doing that. It's
22:52
like, Tuchel is just Southgate without the vest.
22:57
Like, it's going to be, they're going to get
22:59
far just because they're going to do that. Which
23:02
means that Kane has to be there, which is a bit
23:04
annoying. But if I was to go for a slightly spicier
23:06
take, I would actually probably, I'd actually
23:10
probably go with, and this is, you're going to
23:12
love this, Victor Yocarez. Just because he's
23:17
not playing in that team. That's the thing. I
23:21
think if we're going for ridiculous takes, if
23:29
we're going for spicy takes, I think that the
23:32
Swedish national team is actually pretty decent
23:34
and they can do some work. What is wrong with
23:37
you? Well, he's coming. Is Isaac suddenly healed
23:42
and perfect? Ross, I don't know. I've just been
23:46
had this propaganda thrown at me throughout this
23:48
entire season by every ounce of social media
23:51
that Victor Yocarez is the second coming of Christ.
23:53
I did not say that. In fact, I think categorically
23:56
I said I never said he was. I think it wasn't
23:59
a drop to his head. It wasn't the group. They've
24:01
got Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia. They aren't
24:03
getting out of that group. I think they can.
24:07
I think the thing is, it's going to be out of
24:08
like, I mean, Tunisia, let's not even do that.
24:13
Tunisia is not. You have to keep in mind, Ross,
24:15
when you keep saying they won't get out of the
24:17
group. They'll get out of the group. And a bunch
24:21
of third places get out of the group because
24:23
there's 900 teams in the tournament. It's true.
24:28
I can't believe he's taking that. Listen, do
24:30
you know what, Wazza? I love you for that. You
24:31
always come out with something that I just don't
24:34
ever think. I always try and guess who you're
24:36
going to come out with, and I never get it right,
24:38
which is what I love, because you always keep
24:40
me on my toes. So I love that. I'm just looking
24:42
at those odds then. Nobody picked Kai Havertz.
24:45
I think Germany will do well. You might want
24:47
to think about him. So Alvarez is 25 -1. How
24:50
long does he say 15? Yeah, 15 -1. Again, the
24:53
odds are different. It works differently over
24:54
here. Igor Thiago at 50 -1? No? Nobody? Brazil?
24:59
I'm not here for that one, no. No, I don't fancy
25:02
it either. And in terms of the World Cup odds,
25:04
Spain, our favourites, Mike, say a 5 -1 just
25:06
ahead of France and England and Portugal at 9
25:08
-1. I think that's generous. Argentina out at
25:11
11 -1, the same odds as Brazil. That is ridiculous.
25:14
And you've got Holland at 22 -1, which I think
25:16
is fantastic odds. And then who else? Ecuador
25:19
100 -1, Norway 150 -1. Wow. Senegal, 150. I love
25:26
some of those odds. What's the U .S.? 3 ,000
25:28
to one? Yeah. The U .S. are, USA, 80 to one.
25:33
Ridiculous. That's absurd. Why everyone said
25:36
Darwin Nunes, by the way? I saw that. 70 to one.
25:39
Darwin's a better shot than Gokor is. But let's
25:44
go. Wazza, your question was who's going to underperform.
25:46
I'm going to say Jude Bellingham, just because
25:48
I hate him, and I think he's overrated. So, yeah,
25:53
I'm going to say Jude Bellingham is going to
25:55
be in Morgan Rogers' shadow and is going to be
25:59
a wah, wah, wah. And going to be whiny about
26:01
it the whole time. A little bitch. He's going
26:03
to be a little bitch. I like Killian Mbappe for
26:05
that, by the way. I think he's primed to botch
26:09
it. Well, look, they've got Dewey, Dembele, Olise.
26:11
They don't need him. Like, honestly, they don't
26:14
need him so much. They're not as reliant. So
26:15
I think that's a great shout. Get Olivier Giroud
26:17
back in there, mate. He was much better. Yes,
26:19
that meaty French corner. There's a player. Sexy
26:22
man. There's a player. Wazza, what about you?
26:24
You asked the question. I sense you've got some
26:27
of your things going to be utterly crap. I think
26:29
it's going to be Bruno Fernandes. Fernandes?
26:32
No. I think because he's had such a good season.
26:36
Padding every stat under the sun like a World
26:38
Cup organiser in the US, Mexico, Canada World
26:42
Cup. He's had a year of padding. I think he's
26:47
going to catch up with him in this World Cup.
26:50
It's a team that is managed by Roberto Martinez.
26:56
Do you know what, Wazza, you're saying? As much
27:00
as I was like, wow, I'm kind of going... The
27:02
Cristiano Ronaldo factor does impact. You're
27:05
the guy getting the ball all the time. Ronaldo
27:07
demands some of that. So it does take away that
27:11
focus. It'd be interesting to see. That dynamic
27:14
with them has always been interesting. It has,
27:17
yeah, because, like, Fernandes should be the
27:18
one that's the guy that's like, Cristiano, just
27:19
get in the box. Like, he'll just put the ball,
27:21
like, where you need it to be. But Ronaldo needs
27:23
to be at the centre a little bit of everything.
27:25
Maybe with age, maybe he realises he can't do
27:27
that. But I like that. That's an interesting
27:29
take. OK, well, let's switch focus now to, like,
27:32
look, like, there are three home nations, Canada,
27:35
United States and Mexico, even though, so all
27:37
playing like your friends, even though you're
27:39
not. I don't know. Yeah, maybe we'll put some
27:42
walls up and, you know, let's see. But in terms
27:46
of the home nations, obviously, you're a US fan,
27:48
of course. You've got Pochettino there, one of
27:52
your favourite managers, I know. As I said, I
27:55
was talking to that guy, my boy Marcus in Atlanta,
27:57
and he is just like, he's an Arsenal fan, but
28:01
he knows his football. But he's just like, I've
28:06
not met any USA football fan that's remotely
28:10
optimistic about this work. Why are you so glass?
28:15
Cause you're, you're always like, let's go USA,
28:18
USA. I don't know if I'm a flag waving obnoxious.
28:22
I mean, generally as a nation, right? You are.
28:24
Yeah, sure. It feels like everyone's just like,
28:27
we're crap. Like what's happening? It's just
28:32
the squad is underwhelming. And the. The problem
28:40
is the way we build our teams. It's just not
28:44
good, right? So we have this pay -for -play structure
28:49
that is how we build our youth. And so the best
28:53
players don't necessarily play because if you
28:56
can't afford to play for a club, then you're
28:59
not part of it. And so the squad's underwhelming,
29:03
I think. You know, guys like Kristen Pulisic,
29:08
who I like, is getting on in age. Like, it's
29:11
just, they're not good enough. They'll get out
29:17
of the group because of the way the group is,
29:20
but they will not do well after that. Okay. Yeah,
29:24
looking at the squad, I know what you mean. I
29:25
mean, there is zero. There's Ardinson who plays
29:27
in the Premier League. Yeah, I mean, Chris Richards,
29:29
thankfully, is well and can play because without
29:32
him, he'd really be screwed. Timothy Weah? We're
29:36
kind of starting to scrape the battle. Anthony
29:37
Robinson, I like him a lot. He scored a screamer
29:41
the other week. But yes, it's a bit under, a
29:46
bit like where's the real quality? Yes. Yeah.
29:49
But just a bunch of, as normal, just a bunch
29:51
of athletes. That's all it is. Yes. Yeah. And
29:54
we're used to the weather, right? So like from
29:56
a fitness in obnoxious heat standpoint, we're
30:01
used to that. It is a bunch of athletes, yes.
30:05
So out of the three, we're going to pick Mexico
30:07
to do the best, right? Surely, just because of
30:09
the altitude advantage. I think they've got a
30:11
huge advantage, and they're playing games in
30:13
that stadium, I believe. I think if they win
30:14
their group, they stay there for at least two
30:16
more games. Which is crazy. That would be a huge
30:19
advantage, right? Playing in that stadium, I
30:21
think. I don't think they've been beaten there
30:23
very many times. But yeah, not that they're a
30:25
brilliant team. Okay, so I'll talk about Scotland
30:27
and then Wazza, because you're a Republic of
30:30
Ireland fan, right? So your team didn't make
30:32
it. They didn't make it, but I'll find a team
30:34
to wax lyrical about. You can, but that means
30:37
you're going to support Scotland because the
30:38
other way around, we do the same thing. That's
30:40
just how it works. And then obviously anyone
30:42
that's playing England, which is normal. But
30:45
yeah, so Scotland, I'll talk about it. Obviously
30:46
a big, big smash Bolivia. Yeah, I mean, I'm optimistic
30:51
because our squad is like as good as it's been.
30:54
This has been a great time for Scottish, you
30:56
to be a Scotland fan. I don't like our manager.
30:59
He's so negative and pragmatic that I just...
31:01
worry that against Haiti, we've got to go out
31:04
and just... As you said, Mike, see if we went
31:07
and beat them 3 -4 -5 -0, which we should be
31:10
able to. That might be enough. Three points,
31:14
third place, with a good goal difference, that
31:17
could be enough. And then the Morocco -Brazil
31:20
games, the good and the bad is, I think Morocco
31:22
are... actually quite a good team that's a tough
31:25
game but I just I think in terms of Brazil as
31:27
a top seed they're not that good so they're not
31:30
a France a Spain a team I go oh right you know
31:34
England Argentina even I actually think Brazil
31:36
is like a game you go that could be a tight game
31:38
so look I'm always glass half full at the start
31:42
of these things so I'm back in Scotland to go
31:43
with the group I hope Steve Clarke lets the handbrake
31:47
off and just lets the attacking players play.
31:50
He has taken young Finlay Curtis as a winger,
31:52
which is good. Ben Doak's back, which is huge.
31:54
We've obviously got McGinn, McTominay, Robbo.
31:58
And look, Che Adams looked good in that Bolivia
32:01
game. I think Lauren Shanklin, the heart striker,
32:04
he has to start every game. in as good shape
32:07
as I've ever seen him. He's always carried a
32:09
bit of weight, but he's a, he is a goal scorer.
32:11
He's a finisher. And that's a rare thing in,
32:14
in, in the modern game and just, you know, generally
32:16
in football. So yeah, I think that the biggest
32:19
concern for Scotland is probably defensively
32:20
at centre half is like, is where we're the weakest.
32:23
And it's whether we can, yeah, cope with some
32:26
of these, yeah, these, these attacking players.
32:29
But look, I'm going to back us to qualify the
32:31
group. I actually think in the knockouts, we
32:33
could be a bit. of a team that's a banana skin
32:36
for people because we do have talk about form
32:38
players Shanklin's banging form young Finlay
32:42
Curtis is playing with loads of confidence in
32:44
the wing we've got McTominay and McGinn McGinn's
32:46
been in phenomenal form phenomenal form and obviously
32:48
McTominay's Still riding this. He's in the habit
32:52
of scoring goals at Napoli. He's the main guy
32:54
there. So look, we do have the quality to trouble
32:57
teams. So let's see. It will take something.
33:00
But yeah, I'm feeling optimistic about this one
33:03
for Scotland. So yeah, let's hope the boys can
33:06
get out of the group this time. And to be honest,
33:09
at least just go out. go out on our shield. Let's
33:12
just go for it. I just wanted to go and have
33:14
a proper go. But yeah, Waza, who are you adopting
33:17
as your team, apart from Scotland, of course,
33:18
who you're supporting? I don't know. I can't
33:20
focus on more than one team at one time. I'm
33:22
going to have to focus on Scotland. But if I
33:24
was to focus on another team, it'd be Norway,
33:26
just because you know what? I just like tall...
33:31
angry people running up the pitch. That's just
33:34
a fun sight to see. And they play very aggressive
33:36
football, like Haaland getting the most goals
33:39
in qualifying kind of emphasises that they're
33:42
just here to play aggressive football and not
33:44
sort of lie back and take it. But with regards
33:46
to Scotland, honestly, I think the biggest, the
33:49
worst, the weakest link in that entire chain
33:52
is Steve Clarke. Like, no doubt about it. Like,
33:55
if you could manage to empower Scott McTominay,
33:57
I genuinely think that you would. Absolutely
34:00
fly. Don't get me wrong. I don't think that Andy
34:02
Robertson is a bad captain to have, but you have
34:05
an opportunity where you have a young, young
34:07
guy that you could put the armband round and
34:10
then next World Cup could take them potentially
34:13
a bit further with a better manager as well.
34:15
But hopefully, you know, they take the handbrake
34:18
off McTominay and let him actually like run up
34:20
the pitch a bit more and be a bit more of like
34:22
a, like more, not, not quite a number 10, more
34:25
like a floating number eight kind of thing. Just
34:27
like have him run up a bit more and just. I don't
34:29
know. I think he's going to be where you're going
34:31
to get your sizzle from. Like with him and John
34:33
McGinn, I think you'll get some pockets of brilliance.
34:36
And that actually might see you through. Like,
34:39
for example, remember Columbia with James Rodriguez?
34:41
Like that scene was largely shite, apart from
34:45
James Rodriguez and a couple of other people.
34:47
And James Rodriguez pulling out the old worldy
34:49
is what really sort of got them. further up.
34:53
I love that. Yeah, McTominay's built for big
34:55
moments, it seems, right? Yeah, exactly. And
34:57
that's what I really, really hope to see. I know
34:59
we spoke about the players who underperform,
35:01
but talking about players that I think will overperform
35:04
slash become the highlight of the tournament
35:09
from teams that aren't really expected to, I
35:12
would definitely be putting McTominay up there.
35:14
I want him to have an exceptional workup. I'm
35:17
going to tip if Shanklin plays every year, I
35:18
think Lauren Shanklin could put some goals up.
35:21
I think he's just in that confidence. He's playing
35:23
with such confidence, but I don't, I'm just not
35:25
convinced. I think Clark will start like Lyndon
35:27
Dykes, who's just a big pile of shite against
35:30
Brazil and that, and Morocco maybe. So yeah,
35:33
that's more of the concern for Shanks because
35:34
he should play every game. He's just, he's playing
35:37
really well at the moment. But yeah, Dykes is
35:40
just dreadful. So, but look, listen, Lyndon,
35:44
prove me wrong. Like go and light up, do something.
35:46
But we will see. Okay, any other points you want
35:51
to hit? You want to talk about the rule changes
35:52
a little bit? We touched on it before a little
35:54
bit. I mean, it seems it's like they're going
35:56
to try and speed the game up a little bit and
35:57
try and stop some of the nonsense that goes on.
35:59
I think we're a little bit concerned about some
36:00
of them. It'll be interesting to see how hard
36:03
they are, what hard line they take in some of
36:05
these time limits, right? I actually, Ross, if
36:11
I may, I'm curious to ask Mike a slightly more
36:15
probably sensitive question here. Buckle up,
36:20
Mike. I think there's obviously been a lot of
36:23
news and a lot of media around the build -up
36:27
to this. How much of a presence slash concern
36:32
do you think ICE will be at this tournament?
36:39
That's a great question. Because we're already
36:43
seeing Iran's coaching staff. get blocked from
36:45
coming into the country well and scottish fans
36:48
were scottish fans got canceled and stuff like
36:51
yeah so and one of the officials was not allowed
36:54
to enter so um which is not ice that's border
36:58
patrol right so those are two different things
37:01
um the the noise around that not noise the news
37:08
around that has subsided over the last month
37:13
or so. It is not like, I mean, part of it is
37:16
because I just can't watch the news anymore because
37:18
it just makes me want to rip my hair out. But
37:21
it's not as prevalent as it was two months ago.
37:25
I think, I don't know how much of a presence
37:31
ICE will have. I do think that, I mean, we're
37:35
seeing it in terms of ability to enter the country.
37:38
I think you're going to see a lot of news around
37:40
that. and just like for stupid completely invalid
37:45
reasons other than border patrol is governed
37:50
by anyway moving on we're not a political podcast
37:53
I won't go there no we're not a political podcast
37:55
but I guess just from like a fan perspective
37:57
like I guess it'd be interesting to hear from
38:01
like boots on the ground being yourself like
38:03
how does it like what is the what is the build
38:06
up like what's the atmosphere like for foreign
38:10
fans. Yeah, I mean, there's certainly a hype.
38:15
And like I said last week, I think there's excitement
38:18
about the tournament being here, for sure. But
38:22
it doesn't feel as exciting as I remember it
38:29
in 94. Yeah. Do you think, Mike, that's partly
38:33
because... I mean, I think partly... I think
38:37
part of it's just because we don't think the
38:39
team's going to do well. Because the hype around
38:43
the Olympics for the men's U .S. hockey team
38:46
was totally different, right? And so you felt
38:50
like they could win and then they did. But I
38:53
think part of it is, and this is just the way
38:56
U .S. sports fans are, like if your team's not
39:00
favorited, then there's a level of disinterest
39:03
that... And so I think that that is playing a
39:11
part in, and, you know, bless him Miller beer
39:13
and others are really trying to hype up this
39:15
American team, but it's just, it's like, stop
39:17
it. Pick a different horse. So, yeah, I think
39:21
on the ice stuff, I do think that my feeling
39:23
was always on the ice piece that they're going
39:25
to roll. Like, I think they're going to not.
39:26
say it but i think they're going to relax that
39:28
because they want people in spending money they
39:29
want to like so i do but i think that this border
39:32
patrol thing has become the thing now you're
39:34
right like that again there's a guy on the radio
39:36
scottish guy he's like spent 10 grand and he
39:38
can't get in the country to see a criminal record
39:40
i think because he's like he's a musician or
39:42
something like again it's just the quirks of
39:44
the rules that are like that's a high -risk thing
39:46
because he might come in and not leave or try
39:47
i don't know why that is but there's like some
39:50
weird stuff but i'm i'm hopeful that they just
39:53
have a process to go, people, sensible people
39:55
can look at it and go, yeah, he's coming for
39:57
the world cup. Like he's got the, he sent a picture
39:59
of tickets, like just stupid. Like it just feels
40:03
unnecessary. Yes. But I don't expect us to hear
40:06
a lot of stories. I feel like they want the fans
40:08
to enjoy themselves, spend. I mean, look, America's
40:10
about making it easy to spend money. I think
40:12
they'll do that. I think the fans will have a
40:14
good time. And let's just hope, I think. And
40:17
I think there could be a fair few empty seats.
40:20
I mean, just looking at the, like the ticket
40:23
price stuff in everything I'm reading, they came
40:26
out and they were madness in terms of the price
40:29
and they're dropping and literally tens of thousands
40:32
of tickets have just flooded the system for resale
40:35
and they're not getting picked up. No, because
40:37
it's a booking fee, not $180. Somebody said like
40:41
somebody. Yeah. Depending on which, which site
40:43
you're using. And then if you're, you know, selling
40:45
it on StubHub or whatever, like it's the, the
40:48
prices are. Absurd. Absolutely absurd. Which
40:52
is why I'm not there. I want to take my two boys,
40:54
but it was like, I've got to times it. See if
40:56
it's just me. I might've done it, but like times
40:58
it by three. Yeah. It's out of control. Yeah.
41:01
Like buy a small house for so. I mean, I know
41:06
that this is, this hasn't necessarily been me
41:08
being the most uplifting segment just because
41:11
it's worth addressing like some of these bits,
41:13
but let's also like highlight. And this isn't
41:16
me like, like. The Qatar World Cup was actually
41:19
very good. In terms of a visual spectacle, it
41:23
was very good. It was organized really well.
41:25
There was no problems in terms of loads of arrests
41:29
or people... The lead -up was horrific, but the
41:31
event was fine. Yeah, exactly. The lead -up was
41:34
horrific, but the event was fine. And it was
41:37
actually, strangely enough, similar with Russia.
41:38
Russia had... criminally low numbers of arrests,
41:44
right? Like it was all actually done pretty well.
41:47
And like, it was televised brilliantly. I still
41:49
remember that as being one of the best World
41:50
Cups I've seen. It was a good tournament. Like
41:54
it was the football. If you take everything else,
41:56
there was a lot of noise. I think you're right.
41:59
When the games start, there is a dilution of
42:02
quality. I do worry about that a little bit.
42:03
I think it, let's see. Cause again, I'm looking,
42:07
I was looking at my son going like, what games
42:09
I'm going. There just wasn't that many compelling
42:11
games. I go, oh, that's it. You know, I'm really
42:14
excited to watch. So look, sometimes like the
42:16
South Africa, Mexico could be a 3 -3 or 4 -3.
42:20
Like, so obviously I'm still going to tune in
42:22
when it's on. But yeah, look, I think the tournament
42:24
should be good across the three. I think that
42:27
the weather is going to be in certain locations
42:30
is going to be such an important factor. But
42:34
yeah, I think it's going to be, let's hope it's
42:36
a good tournament. Again, let's hope there's
42:37
lots of drama, twists and turns, surprises. Let's
42:42
hope for goals. After a season where football
42:44
died, let's hope for some revival. Let's hope
42:47
for some goals galore. I want to see championship
42:50
-level keeping happen, where you watch a championship
42:54
game because you know all the keepers are shy.
42:56
I want to watch those games where someone does
42:58
a bicycle kick or a boner into the net. I want
43:00
to see players just using imagination. See every
43:03
World Cup, Proborsky's flick. There was always
43:05
somebody who did something. Blanco's crazy. He
43:08
got the ball to his legs and jumped through to
43:10
it. That's why I'm a big Neymar fan, even though
43:13
I know he's not. His attitude may be questionable,
43:15
but he's just so fun to watch because he just
43:18
tries things. How do you even think about that?
43:21
I think I would love to see some of these phenomenally
43:24
skillful and gifted players express themselves
43:27
at the World Cup. I just think it's so fun to
43:31
see. We used to have the clash of styles. Now
43:32
it just feels like everyone plays the same way.
43:35
So I do want to see a bit of that. And listen,
43:37
sometimes on these big stages, things can ignite.
43:41
And let's hope that that happens and that it's
43:44
a good tournament. And listen, we're going to
43:46
see how the predictions work out. Let's see who's...
43:48
who's done their homework, whose instincts, whose
43:50
spidey senses are right. So either Waza or one
43:53
of us are going to look really stupid. Holy me.
43:56
I mean, I was like, I was looking through, I
43:59
was refreshing myself on the Germany squad and
44:01
I was like, oh yeah, they did lose Muller. They
44:05
lost just about every other decent player, I
44:08
think. I mean, they have Goretzka. Great. They've
44:11
got Musiala. Musiala's the bright spot for them.
44:13
Musiala, yep. Not there. But for example, like,
44:17
Volta Mada. I've both had crap seasons. The only
44:22
thing saving Germany as a team right now is the
44:26
Bayern Munich spine that they have. Maybe. Maybe.
44:31
OK, well, listen, we'll wrap it there, boys.
44:32
Look, buzzing for the World Cup to start. We
44:34
will be back next week. We'll then have a reaction
44:37
to a lot of the round one of games to see what
44:40
we then... We'll start to be able to see some
44:41
of these teams in action and probably give a
44:43
lot more analysis and insight into who we think
44:46
is... Yeah, who we think are... Maybe some of
44:48
these predictions change quickly after that,
44:50
but let's see. But enjoy the game tomorrow if
44:53
you're staying up for it. Mike, it's easy for
44:55
you. You'll enjoy it. What 2 a .m.? What are
44:58
you talking about? Although 11 p .m. is objectionable
45:05
for an American. What are we doing? Some of the
45:07
stuff on the West Coast time, the time slots
45:10
are a little bit crazy. Yeah, they are. But listen,
45:14
let's hope I'm happy next week when we meet Scotland
45:16
against Haiti. If we don't win that game, honestly,
45:19
we should just leave. We have to win that. We
45:22
have to win that game. But yeah, listen, good
45:25
to chat to you boys and we'll see you next week.
45:28
Sounds good. Perfect.