Is the US Actually Good + Germany’s 7-1 Madness!   Trevor Noah & Joe Opio World Cup Special - video Dailymotion

Shubh Unfiltered

Watch Is the US Actually Good + Germany’s 7-1 Madness!   Trevor Noah & Joe Opio World Cup Special - Shubh Unfiltered on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00:00This episode is brought to you by Verizon.

00:00:02As an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026,

00:00:06Verizon is bringing once-in-a-lifetime experiences

00:00:08to their customers.

00:00:10Free tickets to matches,

00:00:12pitch-side access during gameplay,

00:00:13and meet and greets with soccer legends.

00:00:18If you're not with Verizon, no sweat.

00:00:20Stop by a Verizon store to get in on the action

00:00:22and learn about their offers for new customers.

00:00:26No one gets you closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

00:00:30Than Verizon.

00:00:36This is What Now? with Trevor Noah.

00:00:39We made it, Joe.

00:00:41Oh, we did.

00:00:42We made it. Here we are.

00:00:43What is this?

00:00:45Eight years of planning, four years of waiting,

00:00:48and then one week of chaos.

00:00:51Welcome to week one of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

00:00:56hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

00:01:00You know, even saying it makes it feel as jam-packed as it's been.

00:01:07More countries hosting than ever before.

00:01:10More games than ever before.

00:01:11More countries participating than ever before.

00:01:13I don't remember the last time I started watching a game,

00:01:16in the same country as the games are hosted, by the way, at midnight.

00:01:21Yeah, it's, first of all, the gestation period.

00:01:24When you said eight years, actually it's been eight years.

00:01:26Yeah, it's been eight years of planning.

00:01:28Eight years in which, wow.

00:01:32But I feel like now that we are here,

00:01:35and that's the thing about the World Cup,

00:01:36now that we are here, it feels like it was worth the wait.

00:01:39It does.

00:01:39Yeah, it does.

00:01:40Maybe that's a good place to start.

00:01:42Like, let's jump straight into the games.

00:01:45Who surprised you?

00:01:47Who has underwhelmed you?

00:01:49Who shows promise?

00:01:51I mean, like, if we think of the big teams,

00:01:52the one that comes top of mind, you know,

00:01:54because it was one of the most recent games, Germany.

00:01:57They're the first, like, big team who said,

00:01:59we're a big team.

00:02:00They're the first team who's shown that they're a big team.

00:02:03They needed it.

00:02:03They had a scare, of course, at 1-1.

00:02:06You went like, oh, here it goes again.

00:02:07Because Germany, after winning the World Cup in Brazil 2014,

00:02:11they have failed in the next two World Cups

00:02:14to make it past the group stages.

00:02:16Oh, yeah, that's true.

00:02:172018, they stayed behind,

00:02:18having lost to Mexico in the opening game.

00:02:20And then last World Cup, they lost to Japan,

00:02:22and things went downhill from there.

00:02:24So they needed this win.

00:02:25But then when Curaçao equalized,

00:02:28they went like, oh, here it goes again.

00:02:29Here it goes again.

00:02:30So, yeah, Germany have definitely, definitely,

00:02:32that was a statement win.

00:02:34It definitely was.

00:02:35I mean, beating a team 7-1, you know,

00:02:38you'd think at, like, 5-1, you'd start relaxing.

00:02:40Germans don't show mercy.

00:02:41No, they don't.

00:02:42They really don't.

00:02:42But the funny thing is the reaction from Curaçao.

00:02:45Like, I've been online.

00:02:46And Curaçao fans, credit to them,

00:02:48are like, for us, this was historic.

00:02:49The fact that we were invited to the high table,

00:02:51and we held our own for as long as we did.

00:02:55And we scored our first World Cup goal ever.

00:02:57Smallest country ever.

00:02:59Take part in the World Cup.

00:03:00150,000 people.

00:03:02It means a lot to them.

00:03:03So for them,

00:03:04because we were comparing them to Brazil.

00:03:05Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:03:06We went like, oh, 7-1.

00:03:07Oh, Brazil has handed over the mantle.

00:03:09They went like, no, we are proud.

00:03:11Brazil was traumatized for us today.

00:03:13It was a national holiday.

00:03:15It is amazing.

00:03:15You know, one of the things that I love about the World Cup

00:03:17is how every team comes to the World Cup

00:03:19with a different objective in mind.

00:03:20Yes.

00:03:21Like, every team.

00:03:22So if you come in as one of the big teams,

00:03:25if you're France, if you're Spain,

00:03:27if you're Germany, if you are Argentina,

00:03:30anything less than success,

00:03:32anything less than victory is deemed a failure.

00:03:34Yes.

00:03:34If you come in as one of, like, the middling teams,

00:03:38then it's like, can you get far?

00:03:40Yes.

00:03:41You know, so like, no one's expecting Japan to win.

00:03:43To win, yes.

00:03:43No one's expecting Cote d'Ivoire to win.

00:03:45South Korea.

00:03:45No one's expecting South Korea to win.

00:03:47No one's expecting, you know, Kurosawa to win.

00:03:49But then there's teams like Kurosawa, actually.

00:03:51And like Qatar and all these teams where it's like,

00:03:55if they get one goal,

00:03:56Yes.

00:03:57They treat it like they've won the World Cup.

00:03:59Yes.

00:03:59And I think, in fairness to Kurosawa,

00:04:03they were handed the toughest opening game

00:04:05of all the small teams.

00:04:07You think so?

00:04:07Yes.

00:04:08Because Haiti, you know, they lost to Scotland.

00:04:11But Scotland, you go like, you know,

00:04:12if Scotland had beaten Haiti 7-1,

00:04:14you can be disappointed.

00:04:15But they're facing Germany,

00:04:17who are full-time,

00:04:19it's like the worst way to welcome them

00:04:21to the World Cup party.

00:04:22Or the best way.

00:04:23Yeah, the Germans.

00:04:24Oh, yeah, actually.

00:04:24Or the best way.

00:04:25Because it can only go up.

00:04:26You know, I don't know if you saw this.

00:04:28Because after the game,

00:04:30some of the German players went and prayed

00:04:32with the players from Kurosawa.

00:04:36And I was just like,

00:04:37it was like a beautiful moment.

00:04:38But I was also like,

00:04:39that's when you know someone has demolished you.

00:04:41It's when they're even going to pray with you

00:04:42after the game.

00:04:43You're like, sportsmanship.

00:04:45I like that though.

00:04:46That's when I knew that like,

00:04:48you know,

00:04:48when I got like the biggest spankings from my mom

00:04:50was when she prayed with me afterwards.

00:04:52She was like,

00:04:52Oh, when she was like,

00:04:53yeah.

00:04:53Yeah, she was like,

00:04:54now that you got your beating,

00:04:55come, let's pray.

00:04:55Let's pray that this never happens to you again.

00:04:59Pray for forgiveness, Trevor.

00:05:01You also make it seem like

00:05:01the Germans had a bit of residual guilt.

00:05:04They were like,

00:05:05I've never seen that though.

00:05:06I've never seen.

00:05:07They didn't do it to Brazil, certainly.

00:05:09No, they didn't.

00:05:09And Brazil also has religious players in the team.

00:05:11Yes.

00:05:12Yeah, but they went and they prayed with them,

00:05:13which I liked.

00:05:14It had the spirit of the World Cup.

00:05:15You know who didn't pray

00:05:16after beating their opponents?

00:05:19Mexico against South Africa in the opening.

00:05:21Yo, man.

00:05:22To be fair,

00:05:24I thought

00:05:26South Africans,

00:05:27and I told you this,

00:05:28I think South Africa beat itself.

00:05:30I don't think Mexico beat South Africa.

00:05:32You don't think so?

00:05:33No, I don't think.

00:05:34Okay, say more.

00:05:35How?

00:05:35So they committed an error

00:05:37at the opening.

00:05:38The opening goal was a gift.

00:05:40By the defensive midfielder

00:05:42failed to turn,

00:05:43received the ball.

00:05:44Yeah, turned.

00:05:44Yes.

00:05:45He scanned way earlier.

00:05:47Yes.

00:05:47Received the ball,

00:05:48but his touch was horrific.

00:05:50And then he was chasing the ball

00:05:52and then it was too late.

00:05:53Yes.

00:05:53And then, you know,

00:05:54the two red cards didn't help.

00:05:55So for me,

00:05:56I feel like South Africa,

00:05:57look,

00:05:58I know South Africans think

00:05:59that maybe their team

00:06:00is hopeless after that,

00:06:01but I think the result,

00:06:04I think South Africa was very,

00:06:06first of all,

00:06:06they played way cautiously.

00:06:08Yeah.

00:06:08They were way,

00:06:09they played almost negatively.

00:06:11That's the issue

00:06:12that I think South Africans have

00:06:13is we're not concerned about like,

00:06:15we don't think the team's hopeless.

00:06:17Yes, yes.

00:06:17It didn't look like

00:06:17we were trying to win the game

00:06:18and you don't go through

00:06:20by drawing three games.

00:06:22No, no, you don't.

00:06:22You get what I'm saying?

00:06:23Like you don't come to a World Cup,

00:06:24draw three games

00:06:25and then think that's enough

00:06:26to take you through.

00:06:27No, but also if you go as a coach,

00:06:28if you go,

00:06:29okay, we're going to play conservatively.

00:06:30They were, let's say,

00:06:32Japan played the opening minutes

00:06:34of their game against.

00:06:35Yeah.

00:06:35You go like,

00:06:35we're going to play,

00:06:36you're hoping none of your players

00:06:38makes a mistake

00:06:38because then when your player

00:06:39makes a mistake

00:06:40and then you gift the other team a goal,

00:06:42now your plan goes out of the window.

00:06:44Yeah, but then I would,

00:06:44but then I would argue, right,

00:06:45if you're playing a game like that,

00:06:47you're playing against a team

00:06:48that has way more players

00:06:51playing in Europe,

00:06:52you know,

00:06:52the Mexican team,

00:06:53even on paper,

00:06:54seems like a better team

00:06:55than South Africa,

00:06:56then do what Japan did

00:06:57against the Netherlands

00:06:58in the first half.

00:07:00They didn't waste too much time

00:07:02holding the ball.

00:07:03They made sure they moved the ball

00:07:04to the other side of the field.

00:07:06Get the ball out of your danger area,

00:07:07then play,

00:07:08see if you can get a few shots,

00:07:10see if you can,

00:07:10because the pressure,

00:07:12people,

00:07:12the pressure's on you.

00:07:13Mexico's at home

00:07:14in a historic stadium,

00:07:15their fans are all behind them,

00:07:17all of Africa is up against you

00:07:19as South Africa,

00:07:20so you have like

00:07:21double the fan base against you

00:07:22and there's the nerves,

00:07:24there's the nerves of all of this.

00:07:25Why are you playing a game

00:07:27that relies on calm

00:07:29when you're that nervous?

00:07:30I would have just,

00:07:31to be honest,

00:07:31I would have played that game out,

00:07:32I would have played it closer to Japan,

00:07:35who,

00:07:35yo.

00:07:36They had a great,

00:07:37but you asked me about the team

00:07:38that surprised me the most.

00:07:39Japan,

00:07:40I expected it.

00:07:41Yeah.

00:07:41Because Japan,

00:07:42as I told you,

00:07:43they have beaten Spain,

00:07:44they have beaten Germany

00:07:46in the last World Cup,

00:07:47they have beaten Brazil

00:07:48and they have beaten England

00:07:49in their friendlies.

00:07:50I expected them to hold their own

00:07:52against the Dutch.

00:07:53The team that blew me away

00:07:55was the US.

00:07:57I watched that game,

00:07:59you couldn't recognize the US.

00:08:00You kept asking,

00:08:01who is this?

00:08:02Yes.

00:08:02The United States of Spain.

00:08:03That's what that was.

00:08:04That was incredible,

00:08:05yes.

00:08:05The United States of Golazos,

00:08:07the United States of Tikitaka,

00:08:08the United States of Total Football,

00:08:10the United States of Travelas,

00:08:11the United States of Total,

00:08:13like the pressing up the field.

00:08:15Do you know what I mean?

00:08:16When you look at that team

00:08:17and how they were playing the game,

00:08:19yo,

00:08:19I still cannot get over.

00:08:22Okay,

00:08:22here's what's more interesting to me.

00:08:25It's not the fact that Team USA

00:08:26played the way that they did.

00:08:28It's that Team USA

00:08:29seems to have hidden this until now.

00:08:31They didn't beat Uruguay for one,

00:08:34which was impressive,

00:08:35but I thought it was a one-off.

00:08:36Yes,

00:08:36but beat versus how they played.

00:08:38Yes.

00:08:39Yes.

00:08:40It was very un-American.

00:08:42And I know normally in America,

00:08:43that's a bad thing,

00:08:44but when it comes to football styles,

00:08:47that was a very un-American style.

00:08:50They were,

00:08:50it was Yoga Bonito.

00:08:52It was Yoga Bonito.

00:08:53they were enjoying themselves.

00:08:54Yeah,

00:08:54it was beautiful.

00:08:55Anton Robinson was inviting,

00:08:57Sardino Dest was inviting,

00:08:58they were attacking.

00:08:59Pulisic was having fun on the wing.

00:09:01Yeah,

00:09:01he was,

00:09:01man.

00:09:01You had Weston McKinney making like runs into the box.

00:09:05It was,

00:09:06every player deserved a 10.

00:09:07Can I tell you,

00:09:08if you invested in all of those players before that game,

00:09:12you would be receiving the highest return on investment.

00:09:15Like their stock price after that game has skyrocketed.

00:09:19You would be receiving higher returns than even the SpaceX employees.

00:09:22Yeah,

00:09:23no,

00:09:23no.

00:09:23This is like,

00:09:24this is,

00:09:25there's no one,

00:09:25like Balogon,

00:09:26for instance,

00:09:26he went from,

00:09:27who is this guy?

00:09:28Only like deep football fans knew Balogon.

00:09:31And now he is a sought after striker.

00:09:34He's run off the ball in that game.

00:09:35His touch is on the ball.

00:09:37His touch is yes.

00:09:38He's striking.

00:09:39The goal he scored,

00:09:39the second goal was insane.

00:09:41That touch to him.

00:09:42Oh my God.

00:09:43And again,

00:09:44because now I'm wondering,

00:09:47do we credit Pochettino for that?

00:09:49Because these are the same players.

00:09:51These same players.

00:09:52Yeah.

00:09:53Under the old coach,

00:09:54Greg Belalter.

00:09:55It's the same team exactly.

00:09:57Almost the same exact team.

00:09:58Same team.

00:09:58Balogon,

00:09:59everyone.

00:09:59Yes.

00:09:59But they have changed.

00:10:01Something has changed.

00:10:01Yeah.

00:10:02Then you have to credit the coach.

00:10:03And I think people,

00:10:03that's when people go like,

00:10:04oh,

00:10:05you need a top coach as well.

00:10:06You need a top coach.

00:10:07Because normally,

00:10:08you know,

00:10:08the coaches for the international teams

00:10:09don't get as much time with the players.

00:10:11they don't.

00:10:12So it's sad for them to impose their philosophy.

00:10:14But Pochettino has clearly found a way.

00:10:16No,

00:10:17he's found a way.

00:10:18I mean,

00:10:18has he also found pressure now though?

00:10:20Like,

00:10:20do you,

00:10:21do you,

00:10:21I always wonder if you want to just win

00:10:23versus thrash the opponents

00:10:26going into the next game.

00:10:27Because part of me wonders if now

00:10:29Team USA has put a target on their backs.

00:10:31And at most World Cups,

00:10:33I find the winner is generally somebody

00:10:36who escapes the magnifying glass at the beginning.

00:10:40You know,

00:10:40you escape that focus.

00:10:42You look at Argentina and Qatar.

00:10:44Yes.

00:10:44You look at Spain in 2010.

00:10:46You look at any tournament,

00:10:48even France when they won it.

00:10:49Like,

00:10:49you just,

00:10:50you look shaky.

00:10:51No one's watching you.

00:10:52Everyone's thrashing everyone on the other side.

00:10:54And then you sort of sneak through to the knockouts.

00:10:56And then you win a game here,

00:10:58you win a game there,

00:10:59you win another game.

00:11:00Next thing you know,

00:11:00you've won the finals.

00:11:01I'll agree with you because

00:11:02I think one of the truths about any tournament is

00:11:05the team that wins the tournament

00:11:08has to pick at the right time.

00:11:10Yeah,

00:11:10you do.

00:11:10So you can't pick early.

00:11:12Yeah,

00:11:12you completely want to pick then.

00:11:13Because then this is the thing you're saying.

00:11:13You pick too early

00:11:14and then there's a target on your back.

00:11:16But everyone is watching out.

00:11:17So you have to almost like pace yourself,

00:11:19so to speak.

00:11:20But I think for the UAS,

00:11:21as the hosts,

00:11:22and coming in with the problems they had,

00:11:24like,

00:11:24because there was so much external noise,

00:11:26surrounding the team.

00:11:27Yeah.

00:11:28Fans are not invested.

00:11:29There's the political ramifications.

00:11:31There's all this drama.

00:11:32Amen.

00:11:32That like shut all that down.

00:11:34Let me tell you something.

00:11:35The fans were invested.

00:11:37SoFi Stadium was electric.

00:11:39No,

00:11:39but I mean like...

00:11:40From the national anthem.

00:11:41Like,

00:11:42you know,

00:11:42that's when you know,

00:11:43that's when you know

00:11:43your team's having a good day.

00:11:45From the national anthem,

00:11:47people were like,

00:11:47this might be the best national anthem

00:11:48I've ever heard in my life.

00:11:49Oh,

00:11:50yes.

00:11:50And then the team came out

00:11:51and they were like,

00:11:51this could be the best U.S. performer.

00:11:53This could be the best goal.

00:11:54This could be the best...

00:11:54And then Traveller to top it off.

00:11:56There's a few better ways.

00:11:57That was the best way.

00:11:57Ah,

00:11:58come on.

00:11:58That was the best way

00:11:58because Americans also love

00:12:00a great ending.

00:12:01So,

00:12:02if you're winning 3-0,

00:12:03but you're up 3

00:12:05by the 60th minute,

00:12:06Yeah,

00:12:07yeah,

00:12:07then they're like,

00:12:07yeah,

00:12:08but the last means

00:12:08that was a dramatic way

00:12:09to send everyone home.

00:12:11But I'm saying,

00:12:11the reason I say fans are invested now,

00:12:12there are people

00:12:13who didn't care about football.

00:12:14That's true.

00:12:15Because the hardcore fans

00:12:16were already there.

00:12:17But there are people

00:12:17who didn't care.

00:12:18But we've been in America

00:12:20long enough to know

00:12:21that Americans only care

00:12:22about winners.

00:12:23Hey, man.

00:12:23They don't care what you do.

00:12:25They don't care.

00:12:25That's why he talks about like,

00:12:27you know when you hear

00:12:28Americans going like,

00:12:28oh,

00:12:29this is a comeback,

00:12:30we'll have a comeback story.

00:12:31Well,

00:12:31it doesn't matter what you do.

00:12:33If you can come back,

00:12:35if you can win,

00:12:36America is a country

00:12:37that's built on second acts.

00:12:39Yeah,

00:12:39rocky.

00:12:40Yes.

00:12:41So long as you come back

00:12:42and win.

00:12:42And so for me,

00:12:43there are people

00:12:43who are not engaged

00:12:44with the game,

00:12:45but when they saw America

00:12:46beating another country

00:12:48by four goals,

00:12:49they're like,

00:12:49yeah,

00:12:49we're in.

00:12:50We are dominating.

00:12:51That's what America loves.

00:12:52The only thing I think

00:12:53people love more

00:12:53than a comeback story

00:12:55is mocking the favorites

00:12:57when they don't perform.

00:12:59Like if you look at

00:13:00some of the countries

00:13:01who were meant to win,

00:13:03one that springs to mind,

00:13:04Turkey Air,

00:13:05playing against Australia.

00:13:07Yeah.

00:13:08There,

00:13:08Balogun,

00:13:09one of their players,

00:13:10he gave an interview

00:13:11before the game

00:13:12where they're asking him,

00:13:13how do you think it's going to,

00:13:13he was like,

00:13:14we're going to dominate.

00:13:15He was like,

00:13:16we sound a little bit

00:13:16like Wimbanyama.

00:13:17He's like,

00:13:17we're going to dominate them.

00:13:19You know,

00:13:19we're going to,

00:13:19this is what we do.

00:13:20We got this game.

00:13:21Did you see,

00:13:22there was a clip of Ada Guler,

00:13:23one of the attacking players.

00:13:25Rembrandt player.

00:13:26Yeah.

00:13:27From Turkey Air

00:13:28in the,

00:13:29in the,

00:13:30what do you call it,

00:13:30in the tunnel,

00:13:31right before they come out

00:13:32onto the pitch.

00:13:33And it's just him talking

00:13:34to his teammates

00:13:36and he shouts out,

00:13:38he shouts out,

00:13:39he's like,

00:13:39guys,

00:13:39we're way better than them.

00:13:40Let's prove it on the field.

00:13:41And then you cut to 90 minutes later

00:13:43and they're losing 2-0

00:13:44not even 2-1,

00:13:46by the way,

00:13:462-0

00:13:47to the Socceroos,

00:13:49which,

00:13:49can I just add,

00:13:51like,

00:13:52if you call your team

00:13:53the Socceroos,

00:13:53I feel like you've trolled

00:13:54everyone you play against

00:13:55because it seems like

00:13:56you don't take it seriously.

00:13:57It's actually so funny

00:13:58that we never mocked

00:14:00the Australians for that

00:14:00because we mocked

00:14:02Americans for calling it soccer.

00:14:04And even America went like,

00:14:06no,

00:14:06we'll not call our team

00:14:07the Socceroos.

00:14:08The Socceroos is,

00:14:09yes,

00:14:09it's really,

00:14:10who beat you?

00:14:11The Socceroos.

00:14:12Yes.

00:14:12The Socceroos did this to you.

00:14:13Don't forget about it,

00:14:14mate.

00:14:14The Socceroos did this to you.

00:14:16It sounds like a made up.

00:14:17Yes,

00:14:17it sounds like if an American

00:14:18was writing a script

00:14:20for a soccer movie

00:14:22or a soccer series

00:14:23and they go like,

00:14:24oh,

00:14:24our team is Socceroos.

00:14:25I think it was a terrible,

00:14:27devastating result for Turkey

00:14:28or Takie,

00:14:29as we call it these days

00:14:30because I think

00:14:31they are a very passionate people

00:14:33when it comes to soccer.

00:14:34If you've watched like

00:14:35European games

00:14:36and you've seen like

00:14:36the fans of Garatasaray

00:14:37or Fenerbahce

00:14:38or the Sixthas,

00:14:40a very,

00:14:41like,

00:14:42basketball is big

00:14:43in Turkey

00:14:44but football by far

00:14:46is like the national religion.

00:14:48And for you to lose

00:14:49to a country

00:14:50where football

00:14:52is not even anywhere

00:14:53near the top four sports

00:14:55because remember in Australia

00:14:55it's cricket,

00:14:56it's rugby,

00:14:57it's Australian rules football

00:14:59and then soccer.

00:15:01And for you to lose

00:15:02to that team,

00:15:02I think...

00:15:03Maybe even swimming

00:15:03comes before that.

00:15:04yeah,

00:15:04exactly.

00:15:05I think it was a crushing,

00:15:07crushing.

00:15:07I don't think anyone

00:15:08in Takie

00:15:09or anyone back in Istanbul

00:15:11expected that result.

00:15:12I certainly didn't expect it.

00:15:13You didn't expect that at all?

00:15:14I didn't expect Australia

00:15:15to even compete.

00:15:16I don't know why people say that.

00:15:18Okay,

00:15:18maybe I have a different perspective

00:15:19on Australia.

00:15:20When I've watched them

00:15:21play their games

00:15:22in previous World Cups

00:15:23or when I've watched them

00:15:24in major tournaments,

00:15:26the Australians seem

00:15:28to work hard,

00:15:29they work together

00:15:30and they've never seemed

00:15:31like a walkover.

00:15:32So I don't understand

00:15:33why people were shocked.

00:15:33So they're very Australian team

00:15:34because Australians

00:15:35by nature,

00:15:36these people built

00:15:37a country out of a penal colony.

00:15:39Like they work hard.

00:15:40But I'm saying

00:15:41Takie has some of the brightest

00:15:43talents

00:15:43in world football right now.

00:15:45Yeah, but okay,

00:15:45you know what I've noticed

00:15:46has changed in world football though.

00:15:47Okay.

00:15:48And I mean,

00:15:49maybe you'll disagree

00:15:50with me on this

00:15:51because you know the game

00:15:52better than I do.

00:15:53But like,

00:15:54I feel like

00:15:55the low block

00:15:56has changed football forever.

00:15:58So I feel like,

00:16:00you know,

00:16:00back in the day,

00:16:01a team

00:16:02and its likelihood

00:16:04of success

00:16:05in my opinion

00:16:05was determined

00:16:06by each player

00:16:08and their matchup

00:16:09in that position.

00:16:09Okay, yes.

00:16:10Okay.

00:16:10One-on-one.

00:16:11So it was like

00:16:11one-on-one,

00:16:12you've got a very strong winger,

00:16:14you're going to beat

00:16:14my left back

00:16:15or right back.

00:16:15You've got a very strong striker,

00:16:16they're going to beat

00:16:17my center back.

00:16:17You've got a very strong midfielder,

00:16:19they'll beat mine,

00:16:20et cetera, et cetera.

00:16:21And then with the changing

00:16:22in how the game

00:16:23has been played

00:16:24over the past few years,

00:16:25let's say over the past

00:16:26like five-ish years,

00:16:29now I find a lot of teams

00:16:31are more willing

00:16:32to bring the whole team back

00:16:34to play the game

00:16:35and press and defend.

00:16:37Sort of what people

00:16:38are complaining

00:16:39that like Kylian Mbappe

00:16:39doesn't do at Real Madrid.

00:16:41People were saying

00:16:42that Salah

00:16:43was forced to do

00:16:44the season for Liverpool,

00:16:45didn't do it before,

00:16:45but that's what hurt the team.

00:16:46But it's like there are teams

00:16:48who've gone,

00:16:49oh yeah,

00:16:49we might not be as good

00:16:50as you man for man,

00:16:52but two men for man

00:16:53changes the equation.

00:16:55And if you watch

00:16:56the Australia-Turkia game,

00:16:58there were swaths of the game

00:17:01where Australia had eight men

00:17:03in the box,

00:17:04in a straight line.

00:17:05Eight men

00:17:06and then it was like,

00:17:07you know,

00:17:08another two men

00:17:08just in front of them

00:17:09and that was it.

00:17:10That was their formation

00:17:11in a way.

00:17:12And all they were waiting

00:17:14for was the break.

00:17:15Japan,

00:17:15I could argue

00:17:16was similar in some ways.

00:17:17They brought everybody back.

00:17:19When Cody Gakpo

00:17:20from the Netherlands

00:17:21was trying to cut in,

00:17:22they just had

00:17:23their two men on him

00:17:25the entire time.

00:17:26So it doesn't become

00:17:27like a one-on-one moment.

00:17:28It becomes a

00:17:29can you break through

00:17:30everyone moment.

00:17:32You know,

00:17:32Morocco,

00:17:33I would even argue,

00:17:33did that against Brazil.

00:17:35You know,

00:17:35they frustrated Brazil.

00:17:37The one moment

00:17:38Vinicius got a chance

00:17:38to be one-on-one,

00:17:39he scored a goal.

00:17:41The rest of the game,

00:17:41we didn't hear from him.

00:17:42It's a very interesting,

00:17:43it's very interesting

00:17:44to talk about the low block

00:17:44because it's supposed

00:17:46to do exactly that.

00:17:47It's supposed to

00:17:49make the team

00:17:51better than

00:17:52the sum of its parts.

00:17:53Yeah, right.

00:17:54So,

00:17:55again,

00:17:55as you're saying,

00:17:56if Turkey has

00:17:57Adagoulia

00:17:57who plays for Madrid

00:17:58and if Turkey has

00:17:59Kenan Yildiz

00:18:00who plays for Juventus

00:18:02and the Socceros

00:18:03have no one

00:18:04playing in any

00:18:05of the top leagues,

00:18:06then their only option

00:18:08is to work as a team.

00:18:09And that's the funny thing

00:18:10about football.

00:18:10So,

00:18:10football used to be

00:18:11a team game

00:18:13that had individual battles.

00:18:15The thing you said about...

00:18:16Okay,

00:18:16soccer used to be

00:18:17a team game

00:18:18that had individual battles.

00:18:19Yes, yes.

00:18:19So,

00:18:19it was a team game

00:18:20but then there were people

00:18:21like going one-on-one.

00:18:23Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:18:23So,

00:18:23which made it more

00:18:24like a tennis or boxing match.

00:18:25Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:18:26But now,

00:18:27coaches are realizing,

00:18:28oh,

00:18:28for us to notify a player

00:18:30like Messi,

00:18:31we can't leave him one-on-one

00:18:33because he's going to

00:18:33beat his man every time.

00:18:34Yeah.

00:18:34For us to notify a player

00:18:35like Lamine Yamal,

00:18:36we can't leave him one-on-one.

00:18:38What do you have to do?

00:18:39You have to double.

00:18:40And I think they're taking that

00:18:41fun enough

00:18:42from games like basketball.

00:18:44They have.

00:18:45I think soccer has taken

00:18:46a lot from basketball

00:18:46over the years.

00:18:47Like,

00:18:48we've seen the pick and roll

00:18:48come into the game.

00:18:49Yes, yes, yes.

00:18:50We've seen screens

00:18:50come into the game.

00:18:51I mean,

00:18:52Arsenal dominated

00:18:53a whole season

00:18:53basically playing set pieces

00:18:54like it was basketball.

00:18:56You've seen that switch

00:18:57come over

00:18:57where now

00:18:58teams have also realized

00:19:00that fitness

00:19:01isn't a talent.

00:19:03Yes.

00:19:03You know?

00:19:04Yes, yes.

00:19:04You might pay a lot of money

00:19:05for a talented player

00:19:05but fitness is something

00:19:07that everyone can just work on

00:19:08and so

00:19:09if you have a fitter team

00:19:10than the other team

00:19:12you just make them run

00:19:13you make them recycle the ball

00:19:14you get behind the ball

00:19:15it's a frustrating

00:19:17that Brazil versus Morocco game

00:19:19you could tell that Brazil

00:19:22A

00:19:22was struggling with the fact

00:19:24that this is not their best team

00:19:25but B

00:19:25they were frustrated

00:19:27by the fact that

00:19:28they just weren't getting

00:19:29chances to play

00:19:30and by the way

00:19:31we have to talk about

00:19:33the

00:19:35Moroccan midfielder

00:19:36Oh, are you Bwadi?

00:19:37Man

00:19:37Yeah

00:19:38Yo

00:19:41He's 18

00:19:43and that Moroccan team

00:19:44is very young

00:19:45but I'm saying

00:19:46I love coaches

00:19:47who can trust a player

00:19:49at that age

00:19:50against Brazil

00:19:52because also you need

00:19:53the coach's faith

00:19:54And not just against Brazil

00:19:55look who he's playing

00:19:56in that midfield

00:19:56he was playing against

00:19:57Casemiro

00:19:58Lucas Paqueta

00:19:59Lucas Paqueta

00:20:00and Bruno Guimaraes

00:20:01and then switched out

00:20:02to Fabinho

00:20:03At halftime

00:20:04At halftime

00:20:05they switched out

00:20:06and he still

00:20:07dominated them

00:20:08bossed the game

00:20:09an 18 year old

00:20:10It was impressive

00:20:11who 30 days before

00:20:12was the captain

00:20:13for the French

00:20:14No, that's

00:20:15yeah

00:20:16I think

00:20:17I think it speaks to

00:20:19Morocco's

00:20:20ascent

00:20:21or rise

00:20:21in world football

00:20:22that they can actually

00:20:23now lure

00:20:24tyrants away

00:20:25from bigger countries

00:20:26because

00:20:27I disagree

00:20:28Okay

00:20:29I disagree

00:20:30Why?

00:20:31Give me a reason

00:20:31because I think

00:20:32No, I disagree

00:20:32I think

00:20:33African teams

00:20:34have struggled before

00:20:35Yeah, but I disagree

00:20:36I don't think it's the standing

00:20:38I think

00:20:40the quality of football

00:20:41has risen so much

00:20:42all over the world

00:20:43Okay

00:20:43that now

00:20:44there's a saturation

00:20:46in teams

00:20:46So if you look at

00:20:48let's just look at leagues

00:20:49right, leagues

00:20:49like the Premier League

00:20:50is better than it's ever been

00:20:51Yes

00:20:51Okay

00:20:52Yes

00:20:53the Spanish League

00:20:54has continuously

00:20:55pumped out

00:20:56some of the most

00:20:56talented players

00:20:57Okay

00:20:57Right

00:20:57And then you look at

00:20:58like the German League

00:21:00Yo, they're like

00:21:01slowly coming

00:21:02like you look at

00:21:03Leverkusen

00:21:03who wasn't like a name

00:21:04a few years ago

00:21:05in that way

00:21:06but now are challenging

00:21:07for titles

00:21:08and winning titles

00:21:09You still have Dortmund

00:21:10you still have Bayern

00:21:11you know

00:21:11you go to like

00:21:13the Dutch League

00:21:14where the teams

00:21:14Portuguese

00:21:15all the teams

00:21:16when Bodo Glimt

00:21:17is now in the Champions League

00:21:18Yes, yes

00:21:19in the knockout rounds

00:21:19actually playing

00:21:20I think it changes

00:21:22how many players

00:21:23there are

00:21:24Now

00:21:24when that happens

00:21:25I think you find yourself

00:21:27in a situation

00:21:27where national teams

00:21:29are so saturated

00:21:30that as a player

00:21:31you now risk

00:21:33being

00:21:33number four

00:21:35in a pecking order

00:21:36So if you look at

00:21:37Ayub Bouadi

00:21:38Yes

00:21:39Yeah, he's phenomenal

00:21:40but what did we say

00:21:41he was the captain

00:21:42of the youth

00:21:43French team

00:21:44Yes, yes

00:21:44a month ago

00:21:45Right

00:21:45If he wants to get

00:21:47into the French squad

00:21:48and take a starting position

00:21:49he has to come in

00:21:50ahead of Adrian Rabiot

00:21:52or he has to take

00:21:53Zaire Emery's position

00:21:55and Emery himself

00:21:56comes off the bench

00:21:57or he has to take

00:21:58who else is in that midfield

00:21:59Chouameni's position

00:22:02He has to take

00:22:03Kamavinga

00:22:03didn't even get on the plane

00:22:04Think about that now

00:22:05So now

00:22:06I think what's actually happened

00:22:08is

00:22:08players have gone

00:22:10I'm not going to risk

00:22:11my whole career

00:22:12my international career

00:22:14sitting out

00:22:16hoping to play

00:22:16for a big team

00:22:17or a big country

00:22:18Big country

00:22:18When I can go

00:22:20and play for

00:22:21Immediately

00:22:22Yes

00:22:22Another country

00:22:23that I'm eligible for

00:22:24But the thing is

00:22:24where I say

00:22:25why I talk about

00:22:26the ascent

00:22:27is in the past

00:22:28so a player like Zidane

00:22:29Yeah

00:22:29A player like Zidane

00:22:31couldn't play for Algeria

00:22:32because Algeria

00:22:32wouldn't make it

00:22:33to the World Cup

00:22:35if that makes sense

00:22:36So now players

00:22:37go like

00:22:37oh

00:22:38I can go for Morocco

00:22:39because Morocco

00:22:40is good enough

00:22:40to get me to the World Cup

00:22:42So if Morocco

00:22:43Chicken and the egg

00:22:44If Morocco

00:22:44couldn't make it

00:22:45to the World Cup

00:22:45Brahim Diaz

00:22:46would never

00:22:48have declared

00:22:49for them

00:22:49He would have

00:22:50I'll wait

00:22:51and wait

00:22:51for Spain

00:22:52because Spain

00:22:52will get there

00:22:53So

00:22:54I feel like

00:22:55because they know

00:22:56also it's not just

00:22:57getting there

00:22:58because Morocco

00:22:58is not Curaçao

00:22:59Morocco is not

00:23:00Uzbekistan

00:23:00Morocco is not Haiti

00:23:01They're going like

00:23:02oh we're going

00:23:03with a team

00:23:03that's going to

00:23:03compete actually

00:23:04Yeah but no

00:23:05but Joe

00:23:05this is why

00:23:06I disagree with you

00:23:06I feel like

00:23:07it's chicken and the egg

00:23:08here

00:23:09The reason they competed

00:23:10is because

00:23:10those players are there

00:23:11so the reason

00:23:12Morocco did so well

00:23:13is partly because

00:23:14Hakimi

00:23:15because Hakimi is there

00:23:16the reason they

00:23:17so it's like

00:23:17if they're not there

00:23:18the team doesn't do well

00:23:20so they have to make

00:23:21the decision to go

00:23:22and help the team

00:23:23do well

00:23:23I argue it's because

00:23:24they're looking

00:23:25at their prospects

00:23:26okay because

00:23:27if Hakimi didn't play

00:23:27Hakimi would have

00:23:28played for Spain

00:23:29You think he would have

00:23:30got in?

00:23:30Yes he would have

00:23:30played for Spain

00:23:31I don't think

00:23:32he would have played

00:23:33as quickly as he did

00:23:34but you see

00:23:35that's the point

00:23:36but still

00:23:37I think he was good enough

00:23:38but that's the point

00:23:39and you know

00:23:40when you are a player

00:23:42who isn't necessarily

00:23:43seen as

00:23:44of the country

00:23:45it's also risky

00:23:46because at some point

00:23:47they might say

00:23:48oh but where's the

00:23:49Spanish right back?

00:23:50Yes it is

00:23:51there's always an option

00:23:52for that

00:23:52Yes it is

00:23:52but I'm thinking

00:23:54the fact that

00:23:55they can convince

00:23:56players now

00:23:56again as you say

00:23:57when you're the captain

00:23:58of the under 18 team

00:24:00of France

00:24:01you're on the first track

00:24:02basically

00:24:02to get into the French team

00:24:05Adrian Rabiot

00:24:05is not going to play

00:24:06the next World Cup

00:24:07that's true

00:24:08he's playing now

00:24:08many of the players

00:24:10who are blocking

00:24:10Ayub Bouyadi

00:24:12are not going to be

00:24:13blocking him

00:24:13two years from now

00:24:14at the Euros

00:24:15same thing happened

00:24:16with Lamine

00:24:16Lamine could have

00:24:18declared for Morocco

00:24:19but he went like

00:24:20I'm going to declare

00:24:21for Spain

00:24:21but if Morocco

00:24:23tried to convince him

00:24:24but sometimes

00:24:24it's almost like

00:24:25signing a player

00:24:25for a club

00:24:26you have to convince

00:24:27them of the project

00:24:28that's true

00:24:28that's what the US

00:24:30did with Balagon

00:24:31so if Morocco

00:24:32comes to Ayub Bouyadi

00:24:33and they go like

00:24:34hey

00:24:34we don't really want you

00:24:35to play for our team

00:24:36but we're going to be

00:24:36hosting the World Cup

00:24:38four years from now

00:24:39and this is what

00:24:40we have

00:24:41and we've reached

00:24:42the semi-finals

00:24:43yeah yeah

00:24:43that makes sense

00:24:44it's more

00:24:45that's what the

00:24:46European teams used to do

00:24:46they would just go like

00:24:47no you come to us

00:24:48you're going to go to the World Cup

00:24:49you're guaranteed

00:24:50to go to the World Cup

00:24:51if John Burns

00:24:52who was our guest

00:24:54if Jamaica was good enough

00:24:56back then

00:24:56as he told you

00:24:57he played for England

00:24:58when he had the Jamaican passport

00:24:59but Jamaica was never

00:25:00and if you read

00:25:01John Burns story

00:25:02he wasn't even going to

00:25:03play for England

00:25:04he was just waiting

00:25:05for any team

00:25:06from the United Kingdom

00:25:07if Scotland had come to him

00:25:08he would have played

00:25:09because he wanted

00:25:10to go to the World Cup

00:25:11and Jamaica was never

00:25:12going to go to the World Cup

00:25:13yeah

00:25:14but it's an interesting thought

00:25:15it has become

00:25:16the World Cup

00:25:17of switched allegiances

00:25:19yes

00:25:19because everyone

00:25:20if we go down

00:25:21the running order

00:25:22like the opening game

00:25:24opening goal

00:25:25for Mexico

00:25:25Quinones

00:25:26scored by Quinones

00:25:27and he is

00:25:29he's from Colombia

00:25:30Colombia

00:25:31he should be playing

00:25:31for Colombia

00:25:32but he declared

00:25:33for Mexico

00:25:34he's lived there

00:25:35since he was like 17

00:25:36his family's there

00:25:37his kids are there

00:25:37he's like yo

00:25:37Mexico's my home

00:25:38yes

00:25:39and so here he is

00:25:40as this player

00:25:42the US obviously

00:25:43Balogun

00:25:44born in the US

00:25:45his story is amazing

00:25:46because it's like

00:25:47he was born here

00:25:48and if you can believe

00:25:49everything

00:25:50that it's basically

00:25:50he was just born here

00:25:51because his mom

00:25:51wasn't allowed to fly out

00:25:53yes

00:25:53again

00:25:54because America

00:25:55has birthright

00:25:56birthright citizenship

00:25:56the moment you're born

00:25:57on the soil

00:25:57yes

00:25:58so he was just born here

00:25:59and then that was it

00:26:00I don't even think

00:26:01he like lived his life here

00:26:02but here he is

00:26:03carrying America's dreams

00:26:05now in attack

00:26:06you have

00:26:07I'm trying to think

00:26:08of who else

00:26:08has done this

00:26:09Australia had a bunch

00:26:10of players

00:26:11oh yeah

00:26:11no Australia

00:26:12definitely

00:26:12right

00:26:13you had

00:26:14guys who came

00:26:15into Australia

00:26:16when they were teenagers

00:26:16you know

00:26:17went to university

00:26:18now I mean

00:26:19like they're running

00:26:20the attack

00:26:21you had

00:26:22who else have we got

00:26:23we got

00:26:23Morocco's team

00:26:24was interesting

00:26:24because

00:26:25they made history

00:26:26as I guess

00:26:27the first national team

00:26:28at a World Cup

00:26:29where none of the players

00:26:30were born in the country

00:26:31that they're representing

00:26:32yes

00:26:32but that's the thing

00:26:33I'm saying about

00:26:33Morocco's project

00:26:34because they

00:26:35specifically went out

00:26:37to try

00:26:38and

00:26:39bring this

00:26:39standard back home

00:26:40you know I was wondering

00:26:42this though

00:26:42do you think it undermines

00:26:44the whole point

00:26:44of a World Cup

00:26:46if a player

00:26:48can just switch

00:26:49allegiances

00:26:49to another country

00:26:50at any point

00:26:51or is it

00:26:52because there's two ways

00:26:53to think of it right

00:26:54on the one hand

00:26:54you can say

00:26:55the whole point

00:26:56of a World Cup

00:26:56is that it's not

00:26:58a competition

00:26:58about which team

00:27:00could get the best players

00:27:01it's an exhibition

00:27:04of which teams

00:27:06or which national teams

00:27:07were made up

00:27:08of the players

00:27:08they happen to have

00:27:09yes yes

00:27:10another argument

00:27:11is no

00:27:12the World Cup

00:27:13is just

00:27:14an exhibition

00:27:15of the team

00:27:16that a country

00:27:17could put together

00:27:17and so whether

00:27:19or not a player

00:27:19is from that country

00:27:20shouldn't really matter

00:27:21how do you

00:27:21which way do you lean

00:27:22the way I look at it

00:27:24is

00:27:25so you said

00:27:26a player can switch

00:27:26but FIFA is very strict

00:27:28okay

00:27:29once you play

00:27:30in a competitive game

00:27:32for your country

00:27:33it's done

00:27:34are you sure

00:27:34it's done

00:27:35what happened with

00:27:36if you play friendlies

00:27:37wait wait wait

00:27:38what happened with

00:27:40I feel like he was

00:27:41your boy man

00:27:41he played at Barcelona

00:27:44Laporte

00:27:44wasn't he

00:27:45on the French team

00:27:47and then Spanish team

00:27:48he never played

00:27:48a competitive game

00:27:49he played in a bunch

00:27:50of friendlies

00:27:50so you're allowed

00:27:51to be called up

00:27:52but once you play

00:27:53actually

00:27:54some countries

00:27:54have been accused

00:27:55of calling up players

00:27:56and then

00:27:57capturing them

00:27:58so they call you up

00:27:59for a competitive game

00:28:00then they know

00:28:00you can never

00:28:01you're lying

00:28:02yes

00:28:02when they see

00:28:03a good enough player

00:28:04because they know

00:28:05because now you have

00:28:06so you can play

00:28:07but that's messed up

00:28:08so you can play

00:28:09in the under

00:28:09actually the French

00:28:10and I think Americans

00:28:11are also complaining

00:28:12about it

00:28:12because

00:28:13they have so many

00:28:14so the French

00:28:15have so many

00:28:17players

00:28:17who are born in France

00:28:19who come through

00:28:20the youth system

00:28:21but then when it's

00:28:22time to declare

00:28:23they go play

00:28:24for Ivory Coast

00:28:25or Senegal

00:28:25and the French

00:28:26are also just

00:28:27developing players

00:28:27for other countries

00:28:28same thing with America

00:28:29which they should be

00:28:32yes

00:28:32if the French

00:28:34the French

00:28:35are going to say

00:28:35we're developing

00:28:36we're pumping money

00:28:36yes

00:28:37what a nice change

00:28:38France

00:28:39now you're developing

00:28:40Africa

00:28:41what a nice change

00:28:41America is complaining

00:28:41about the same thing

00:28:42because

00:28:43not the best player

00:28:44but one of the

00:28:45key players

00:28:46from Mexico now

00:28:47is Brian Guiteres

00:28:48who helped get

00:28:49the red card

00:28:49he plays in the hole

00:28:50but he played

00:28:51for America

00:28:52he played for the US

00:28:53through the underage

00:28:54system

00:28:55then when it came

00:28:56time for the

00:28:56senior team

00:28:57he went like

00:28:57yeah I want to play

00:28:58for my dad's country

00:28:59and he crossed over

00:29:00to Mexico

00:29:01so FIFA

00:29:02FIFA is very strict

00:29:04I think FIFA

00:29:05should even change it

00:29:06I think you should

00:29:07just be able to play

00:29:08for any country

00:29:08where you've held

00:29:10a citizenship

00:29:11but that's very easy

00:29:13to get around

00:29:13because you know

00:29:14what happens

00:29:14the country

00:29:16just expedites

00:29:17the papers

00:29:17that's what they do

00:29:18yeah but I mean

00:29:19if the country

00:29:20wants to do that

00:29:20they should do that

00:29:21no the countries

00:29:21always do that

00:29:22I don't think

00:29:22that's what I'm saying

00:29:23it's happening now

00:29:24so if Esmir

00:29:25kid from Bosnia

00:29:27who grew up

00:29:27by the way

00:29:28in America

00:29:28he grew up in America

00:29:29then he went

00:29:30and I want to play

00:29:31for him

00:29:31he could have made

00:29:32the American team

00:29:32actually

00:29:33he's that talented

00:29:34they call him

00:29:34the Bosnian

00:29:36he's very talented

00:29:37damn that's a strong

00:29:37compliment

00:29:38he's really really good

00:29:39that's a strong compliment

00:29:41but then

00:29:41remember when you're

00:29:42a kid of immigrants

00:29:43your dad is pumping

00:29:44it's almost like

00:29:45your dad is

00:29:46pumping you

00:29:47with propaganda

00:29:47about the old country

00:29:48he's like

00:29:49brainwashing you

00:29:49from when you're

00:29:50this little

00:29:51and also mostly

00:29:52normally

00:29:53if you're a kid

00:29:54of immigrants

00:29:55your dad

00:29:56and his entire

00:29:57extended family

00:29:58are still well

00:29:59they're still back home

00:30:00so if you play

00:30:02for the US

00:30:02if you're a Mexican kid

00:30:04or if you're a kid

00:30:04of Mexican immigrants

00:30:05and you play for the US

00:30:07it doesn't give your dad

00:30:08the same

00:30:09like you know

00:30:10the same bragging rights

00:30:11as it would

00:30:12if you go back

00:30:13it doesn't

00:30:13nor should it

00:30:14yeah so

00:30:15many people

00:30:16many kids

00:30:17and I think

00:30:18it's a great

00:30:18yeah it's a great

00:30:19you would want your kid

00:30:21to play

00:30:21if I had a kid

00:30:22in America

00:30:22I would want him

00:30:22to play for Uganda

00:30:24because Americans

00:30:25don't care

00:30:25but my friends

00:30:26back in Uganda

00:30:27would go like

00:30:27oh

00:30:27like I would walk in

00:30:29and they would greet me

00:30:30like

00:30:31like that means

00:30:32that doesn't get

00:30:33the same

00:30:35clout

00:30:35in Spain

00:30:36that you would get

00:30:38back home

00:30:39if it happens

00:30:39you think about it

00:30:40okay yeah

00:30:41in Spain

00:30:41versus back home

00:30:42but he's a weird one

00:30:43he's a bit of a

00:30:44he's a bit of a celebrity

00:30:45though

00:30:45no no he is

00:30:46he's an outlier

00:30:47for that argument

00:30:47I think

00:30:48yes but I'm saying

00:30:48you imagine

00:30:49if your kid

00:30:49was holding Morocco

00:30:51on his back

00:30:52on his back

00:30:53if he was leading Morocco

00:30:54yeah no that's true

00:30:55you go back home

00:30:56he would

00:30:57okay here's how

00:30:58I'll put it

00:30:58if Lamine's dad

00:30:59if Lamine was playing

00:31:01for Morocco

00:31:01Lamine's dad

00:31:02would have

00:31:03the number

00:31:04of the Moroccan king

00:31:05on speed dial

00:31:06he doesn't have

00:31:07the number

00:31:08of the Spanish king

00:31:08if that makes sense

00:31:09if your kid

00:31:10is that good

00:31:12in your home country

00:31:13you're

00:31:14because

00:31:14they see you

00:31:15as

00:31:15yeah yeah yeah

00:31:16no they do

00:31:17that's the thing

00:31:18that drove Messi

00:31:19because Messi

00:31:21Spain really reached out

00:31:23he spent all his time

00:31:24in La Masia

00:31:25from 13

00:31:25they really reached out

00:31:27and they gave him

00:31:28a proposal

00:31:28they were like hey

00:31:29you'll still be playing

00:31:29with Xavi

00:31:30you'll still be playing

00:31:31with

00:31:31and Messi went like no

00:31:32Argentina though

00:31:33yes because

00:31:34yeah but he

00:31:35but he had a legacy

00:31:35that he could look forward

00:31:37to upholding

00:31:38I'm more

00:31:39I'm more impressed

00:31:40by the people

00:31:41who make that decision

00:31:42the Messi decision

00:31:43for the non-legacy

00:31:45so I'm more impressed

00:31:46by a player

00:31:47who chooses to play

00:31:48for Morocco

00:31:49who chooses to play

00:31:50for Curaçao

00:31:50who chooses to play

00:31:51for Haiti

00:31:52who chooses to play

00:31:53for I'm more impressed

00:31:54by those players

00:31:54because they don't

00:31:55have a legacy

00:31:56to look back to

00:31:57they don't have

00:31:58you're meaning legacy

00:31:58by the countries

00:31:59yeah because Messi

00:32:00Messi can see a future

00:32:01where Argentina

00:32:02wins a World Cup

00:32:03with him

00:32:03does that make sense

00:32:04counterpoint

00:32:05when Messi

00:32:07chooses Argentina

00:32:08over Spain

00:32:09and then he has

00:32:10to watch Spain

00:32:11win the 2010 World Cup

00:32:12I hear you

00:32:13but

00:32:13yes but

00:32:15let's

00:32:15even when they were

00:32:16at their worst

00:32:17yes

00:32:17if we ask the average

00:32:19soccer fan in the world

00:32:20the average football fan

00:32:22do you think Argentina

00:32:23can win the World Cup

00:32:23what would their answer be

00:32:24they would say yes

00:32:25yeah

00:32:25but then

00:32:26no no no

00:32:26so that's what I'm saying

00:32:27I'm not saying

00:32:27they wouldn't go

00:32:28through a bad patch

00:32:29yes

00:32:30but when you know

00:32:31something can be possible

00:32:32yes

00:32:33do you know what I'm saying

00:32:33okay but then

00:32:34the counterpoint is

00:32:35Messi retired

00:32:36before Argentina

00:32:37won the World Cup

00:32:38he was so frustrated

00:32:39with Argentina

00:32:39but now he's made the decision

00:32:40he's locked in

00:32:41yes

00:32:41maybe he regrets it

00:32:42but he's locked in

00:32:43but I'm saying he retired

00:32:44he had to un-retire

00:32:45but now you imagine

00:32:46you're Messi

00:32:47you had a chance

00:32:48to play for Spain

00:32:48you turned it down

00:32:50you go back to Barcelona

00:32:51and you're watching

00:32:52Xavi win the Euros

00:32:53the World Cup

00:32:55and the Euros again

00:32:56and in that period

00:32:57you haven't won anything

00:32:58with Argentina

00:32:59in fact

00:33:00you've lost

00:33:01three Copa Americas

00:33:03you've lost

00:33:04at the World Cup

00:33:05part of you is going like

00:33:07if I had only made

00:33:08the right decision

00:33:09but the thing is

00:33:10he persisted

00:33:11and eventually

00:33:11and he says it

00:33:12he says

00:33:13the World Cup

00:33:14I won with Argentina

00:33:16means everything to me

00:33:18if I had won it

00:33:18with Spain

00:33:19it would not have

00:33:20meant the same

00:33:25alright let's take

00:33:26a quick break

00:33:26to thank our sponsor

00:33:28for today's episode

00:33:29that's Verizon

00:33:30now we all know

00:33:31the FIFA World Cup

00:33:32is one of the biggest events

00:33:35on the planet

00:33:36right

00:33:36everybody wants in

00:33:38which means

00:33:39scoring tickets

00:33:40is hard

00:33:41like

00:33:42really

00:33:43really hard

00:33:44well there's good news

00:33:45Verizon is providing

00:33:46their customers

00:33:47with unmatched access

00:33:48they've given away

00:33:50thousands

00:33:51of free tickets

00:33:52and even given

00:33:54their customers

00:33:54pitch side access

00:33:56during matches

00:33:59if you're not

00:34:00a Verizon customer

00:34:00I've got good news

00:34:02right now

00:34:03more people than ever

00:34:04can get a better deal

00:34:06at Verizon

00:34:07if you have a bill

00:34:08with AT&T

00:34:09or T-Mobile

00:34:10all you gotta do

00:34:11is bring it in

00:34:12and if you have a bill

00:34:13with Xfinity

00:34:14or Spectrum

00:34:14bring that in too

00:34:15and Verizon

00:34:16will give you

00:34:17a better deal

00:34:19plus

00:34:20you could get

00:34:21bucket list experiences

00:34:22like free tickets

00:34:24to the FIFA

00:34:25World Cup

00:34:27must provide

00:34:28a very recent

00:34:29postpaid consumer

00:34:30mobile bill

00:34:30in the name of the person

00:34:31redeeming the deal

00:34:32additional terms

00:34:33conditions

00:34:33and restrictions

00:34:34apply

00:34:35no one gets you

00:34:36closer to the

00:34:37FIFA World Cup

00:34:372026

00:34:38than Verizon

00:34:43so going back

00:34:44to the games

00:34:44who do we think

00:34:46should be worried

00:34:47right now

00:34:47and why

00:34:49like let's start

00:34:50with Brazil

00:34:52from like

00:34:53all my Brazil

00:34:53friends

00:34:54all my Brazilian

00:34:55friends

00:34:56are not

00:34:57like they're not

00:34:57comfortable

00:34:58in fact I would argue

00:34:59they're the least

00:35:00comfortable I've ever

00:35:00seen them at a World Cup

00:35:02yes but that's because

00:35:03Brazil always has

00:35:05a high bar

00:35:05no no

00:35:06Joe

00:35:07wait wait

00:35:08but Joe

00:35:09Brazil always has

00:35:10a high bar

00:35:11yes

00:35:11you know what Brazil

00:35:12also always has

00:35:12great players

00:35:13a world class squad

00:35:15not just great players

00:35:15now they have

00:35:16great players

00:35:17but they've got a

00:35:18weird roster

00:35:19of great players

00:35:19their team looks

00:35:20like a mix of

00:35:21the legends

00:35:23and the youth

00:35:25you've got a team

00:35:26with Endrick

00:35:26and Casemiro

00:35:27you know what I mean

00:35:28you've got a team

00:35:29with Fabinho

00:35:29and Rafinha

00:35:30you've got a team

00:35:31with like I genuinely

00:35:32when I watch the team

00:35:33I can't tell what the

00:35:34team is going to be like

00:35:35because it doesn't

00:35:36make sense to me

00:35:38holistically

00:35:38it's a weird mix

00:35:39yes

00:35:39yeah like I go

00:35:39I don't see how

00:35:40Casemiro can play

00:35:41with the other kids

00:35:43on the team

00:35:44I don't see how

00:35:45like it's a strange one

00:35:47you did say

00:35:47you wouldn't know

00:35:48as a coach

00:35:50what style to adopt

00:35:51I wouldn't know

00:35:52if I was setting

00:35:52the tactics for that team

00:35:53I'd go

00:35:54do we run fast

00:35:55you can't

00:35:55because Casemiro

00:35:56doesn't have the legs

00:35:57do we play physical

00:35:58and fight for everything

00:35:59do we play slow

00:36:00do we

00:36:01but like

00:36:02Igo Thiago

00:36:02I still say

00:36:03I said to you

00:36:04in the first episode

00:36:04of the podcast

00:36:05and I'm going to say it

00:36:06to you now

00:36:07after the first game

00:36:08why is João Pedro

00:36:09not here

00:36:11and I know people

00:36:12are going to keep

00:36:12telling me stories

00:36:14my suspicion is

00:36:16Carlin Chiosi had to choose

00:36:18because also you're

00:36:18picking profiles

00:36:19and you don't want

00:36:20competing profiles

00:36:20you want players

00:36:22who give you different things

00:36:23because at some point

00:36:24you might need different things

00:36:25so I think Carlin Chiosi

00:36:26looked at João Pedro

00:36:27and he said

00:36:28João Pedro gives me

00:36:29almost the same thing

00:36:30that Mateus Kunia gives me

00:36:32now I have to pick

00:36:34I have to pick

00:36:36I can see that

00:36:38I can concede that

00:36:40I hear what you mean

00:36:40should I have two players

00:36:42who give me the same thing

00:36:44or should I have

00:36:44both good at holding up the ball

00:36:46both dribblers

00:36:46both with flair

00:36:47both with channels

00:36:48no no I can see that

00:36:49I just think João Pedro

00:36:50is a little more attack minded

00:36:53yes

00:36:53in that way

00:36:54I'd not

00:36:55like if I was playing Kunia

00:36:56I'm playing him slightly

00:36:57behind a striker

00:36:58if I'm playing João Pedro

00:36:59I can play him as a striker

00:37:01but it's going to be

00:37:02but then the thing is

00:37:03if you have to choose

00:37:04between let's say

00:37:05Kunia

00:37:06and Igo Thiago

00:37:07they give you different things

00:37:08the reason I'm saying

00:37:08Brazil should be worried

00:37:09is the same reason

00:37:11I would say

00:37:12if Barcelona lost a game

00:37:14and they didn't

00:37:15they didn't dominate it

00:37:16because of the high standards

00:37:17so Brazil

00:37:19doesn't just have to win

00:37:20they have to win

00:37:21playing well

00:37:23that's true

00:37:24they can't

00:37:24they can't play terrible football

00:37:26many other teams go

00:37:26Germans will go like

00:37:28so long as we win

00:37:29the English will go like

00:37:31so long as we win

00:37:32the Dutch

00:37:33and Brazilians

00:37:34yeah

00:37:35they got to play beautiful football

00:37:36they go like

00:37:36we don't care

00:37:37if you're winning

00:37:38if you're not winning pretty

00:37:40we're not happy

00:37:41speaking of the English

00:37:42I feel like

00:37:42you and Mother Nature

00:37:43don't like the English

00:37:45I look

00:37:46yo

00:37:46can we just talk

00:37:47let's just break this down

00:37:48let's just break this down

00:37:50the England team

00:37:51in the space of

00:37:53four days

00:37:55had their kit

00:37:56stolen

00:37:57yes

00:37:58right

00:37:58their training kit

00:37:59all stolen

00:38:00I think the police

00:38:01eventually recovered

00:38:02most of it

00:38:02or all of it

00:38:03but still

00:38:03I think Declan Royce's

00:38:04shirt was left behind

00:38:07no one

00:38:07even the thieves

00:38:08are like

00:38:08we're not putting this on

00:38:09no

00:38:09the England team

00:38:11had their kit stolen

00:38:13there was like

00:38:14a shooting

00:38:14near the grounds

00:38:16like you know

00:38:17which just became

00:38:17part of the news

00:38:19then

00:38:19there was a tornado

00:38:20warning that was issued

00:38:22and so the players

00:38:23had to stay indoors

00:38:24and it was like

00:38:24a violent storm

00:38:25in Kansas

00:38:26you know

00:38:27people were like

00:38:27this is basically

00:38:28the beginning

00:38:29of the Wizard of Oz

00:38:29yes

00:38:30that's what it sounded like

00:38:32and then on top of that

00:38:33there's one other thing

00:38:34that went badly for them

00:38:35what I'm missing

00:38:37something

00:38:38there was the kit

00:38:39it's the tornado watch

00:38:40was it the bus

00:38:42something with the bus

00:38:43there's something else

00:38:44that happened

00:38:44England though

00:38:45is just

00:38:46this is either

00:38:47like a foreshadowing

00:38:50or it's

00:38:51it's the trials

00:38:52that come before

00:38:52the tribulation

00:38:54look

00:38:54I think England

00:38:55have the toughest group

00:38:56England have the toughest group

00:38:58yeah that's what I believe

00:38:58who do they have in the group

00:38:59they're playing Ghana

00:39:00Ghana

00:39:00they're playing Croatia

00:39:02Croatia

00:39:02they're playing Panama

00:39:03but they're playing Panama last

00:39:05so if they lose

00:39:07their first opening games

00:39:08they're out almost

00:39:09because you would want

00:39:10to start with Panama

00:39:11maybe get three points

00:39:12on the board

00:39:12yeah yeah yeah

00:39:13then you can relax

00:39:13yeah get confidence

00:39:14but their

00:39:15first two games

00:39:16are so tough

00:39:18maybe not tough

00:39:19they're so tricky

00:39:20anything could happen

00:39:21anything could happen

00:39:21if Ghana turns up

00:39:22if Croatia turns up

00:39:24Croatia has had

00:39:25England's number

00:39:26for some time

00:39:27yeah

00:39:27so for me

00:39:30I think

00:39:31look

00:39:33when you think

00:39:33for me

00:39:34when you tell me

00:39:34they've had all these disasters

00:39:36part of me

00:39:37just goes like

00:39:37well these are the chickens

00:39:38coming home to roast

00:39:39because of colonialism

00:39:40when you talk about

00:39:41when you talk about

00:39:42their kids being stolen

00:39:45I'm like

00:39:45no that's

00:39:46reparations being taken back

00:39:49but look

00:39:50it's almost hard to

00:39:51because of what they did

00:39:52I'm like

00:39:53hey

00:39:53you know

00:39:53this

00:39:54yeah

00:39:54this is the English

00:39:55getting their

00:39:56camera pins

00:39:57I think this is just

00:39:58the English

00:39:58getting a moment

00:39:59of testing

00:40:00before

00:40:01before they receive

00:40:02their reward

00:40:02mark my words

00:40:03you remember

00:40:04these conversations

00:40:05the English

00:40:05are going to do

00:40:06way better

00:40:06than you think

00:40:06I think

00:40:07the English

00:40:08are going to do

00:40:08way better

00:40:09than you think

00:40:09I think they always

00:40:10make a deep run

00:40:11I think

00:40:11way

00:40:12way way way

00:40:13way better

00:40:13than you think

00:40:14I think it's always

00:40:14going to end

00:40:14in a spectacular collapse

00:40:16oh I had

00:40:16I wrote down a few things

00:40:17I wanted to make sure

00:40:18we get to

00:40:20who do you think

00:40:20has got the best

00:40:21player story

00:40:21so far

00:40:22at the World Cup

00:40:23without a doubt

00:40:24Raul Jimenez

00:40:25for me

00:40:26not Ayub Bwadi

00:40:27not Ayub Bwadi

00:40:28not at all

00:40:29Raul Jimenez

00:40:30shouldn't be playing football

00:40:31what do you mean

00:40:32he shouldn't be playing football

00:40:33remember he got a fracture

00:40:34with his

00:40:35when he had a collision

00:40:37with the keeper

00:40:37okay yes

00:40:38and then he fractured his head

00:40:39eight months out

00:40:40they had to do

00:40:41like things with

00:40:41he wore

00:40:43a

00:40:43he was still wearing it

00:40:44a scout cap

00:40:45yeah

00:40:45around his head

00:40:46for the longest time

00:40:47he shouldn't be playing football

00:40:48he was not supposed

00:40:49to be playing football

00:40:49and then he scored

00:40:50his first goal

00:40:51for the World Cup

00:40:51he was crying

00:40:52he was in tears

00:40:53so for me

00:40:54that's

00:40:55the most heartwarming story

00:40:57because it shows you

00:40:57the redemptive power

00:40:58of sports

00:40:59it really does

00:41:00yes

00:41:01best goalkeeper moment

00:41:02for me

00:41:04I'm gonna pick

00:41:07Japan's goalkeeper

00:41:08Suzuki

00:41:09I know they conceded

00:41:10two goals

00:41:11against the Dutch

00:41:12they were unstoppable

00:41:13but I think he was phenomenal

00:41:14they were unstoppable

00:41:14you couldn't blame him

00:41:15for either

00:41:16by the way

00:41:16he had a tough time

00:41:17he's also like another

00:41:18not as big as

00:41:19Raul Jimenez

00:41:20but his story is redemptive

00:41:21because he had a tough

00:41:22tough Asian Cup

00:41:23when he first

00:41:24his debut

00:41:25in a big tournament

00:41:26he was criticized

00:41:27he had a tough time

00:41:29and everyone was going

00:41:30like oh

00:41:30he shouldn't be playing

00:41:31for Japan

00:41:31and all this

00:41:32and you know

00:41:34and then he had a wrist

00:41:35injured at some point

00:41:36and then he has bounced back

00:41:38but it was a tough

00:41:38for me

00:41:39it was a baptism of fire

00:41:40when he first started

00:41:41in his big tournament

00:41:42for Japan

00:41:43many other keepers

00:41:44could have been broken

00:41:45because if the whole

00:41:46it's a different thing

00:41:47when you're playing

00:41:48for a club

00:41:48because then it's just

00:41:49your club fans

00:41:50on top of you

00:41:50but when the entire country

00:41:52is questioning

00:41:53your inclusion

00:41:53in the team

00:41:54and

00:41:55you're a black player

00:41:56in Japan

00:41:57and you still have

00:42:00the character

00:42:01to come back

00:42:02from that

00:42:02and play the way

00:42:03you played

00:42:03I think

00:42:04that's a beautiful story

00:42:05it was phenomenal

00:42:06best celebration

00:42:08I mean for me

00:42:08easily

00:42:09Quinones from Mexico

00:42:10to do

00:42:12the South African

00:42:13celebration

00:42:14from 2010

00:42:15when they scored

00:42:16against Mexico

00:42:17he wasn't even there

00:42:18but not just to do it

00:42:20to do it perfectly

00:42:21but now let me ask

00:42:22do you think

00:42:23was he trolling

00:42:24or was he celebrating

00:42:26C.P. Weshabarada

00:42:28no I think he's trolling

00:42:29obviously he's trolling

00:42:29you don't think

00:42:30he's celebrating

00:42:31because that was an iconic

00:42:32it was an iconic

00:42:33iconic celebration

00:42:34yeah yeah yeah

00:42:34but he's doing it

00:42:35against the same team

00:42:36that scored against them

00:42:37and he also scored

00:42:38the opening goal

00:42:39and I think

00:42:40it's because

00:42:40they think of the stories

00:42:43and the videos

00:42:44and everyone kept on

00:42:45playing that over

00:42:45and over again

00:42:46and it was this idea

00:42:47that's haunting Mexico

00:42:49oh here comes

00:42:49South Africa again

00:42:50and remember the goal

00:42:51they scored against you

00:42:52and it was this whole thing

00:42:53but what I was impressed by

00:42:54was the fact that

00:42:55for him to practice

00:42:56the dance

00:42:57means he believed

00:42:57you need to know

00:42:58that you're going to score

00:42:59yes

00:42:59yeah he believed

00:43:00but he's black

00:43:01I'll give it to him

00:43:02I'll give it to him

00:43:03you know what

00:43:03I'll say he remixed

00:43:05I'll say he remixed

00:43:06oh that's funny

00:43:07he just knew it

00:43:09yes

00:43:09it was in his bones

00:43:10he has the rhythm

00:43:11oh that's funny man

00:43:12the thing you've just said

00:43:12he did it perfectly

00:43:14that's hilarious

00:43:15and it's also funny

00:43:15because no other Mexican player

00:43:17joined him

00:43:17like because he didn't

00:43:18have the moves

00:43:19he's black

00:43:19I'll give it to him

00:43:20come on

00:43:20nah man he did it

00:43:21I know this is a

00:43:22I know this is a World Cup podcast

00:43:24but I feel like

00:43:25part of the World Cup

00:43:27like a storyline

00:43:28that's been adopted

00:43:29into the World Cup

00:43:30just because of where we are

00:43:31has been the New York Knicks

00:43:35I know this sounds weird

00:43:36but it felt like

00:43:37one of the World Cup games

00:43:39yes

00:43:39it just felt like

00:43:40part of the euphoria

00:43:41because you had

00:43:43New York City

00:43:45packed

00:43:46packed

00:43:46with Moroccan fans

00:43:48packed with Brazilian fans

00:43:49and packed with New York Knicks fans

00:43:51the funny thing about that is

00:43:53Brazil played Morocco

00:43:54all three believing

00:43:55that they were going to win

00:43:55and all of them

00:43:56very passionate

00:43:57truly

00:43:57and all of them

00:43:58dominating every space

00:43:59truly

00:44:00they come into

00:44:00the funny thing about that is

00:44:03I don't come from a basketball country

00:44:05yeah

00:44:06but the thing is

00:44:06when you're in New York

00:44:07and New York is winning

00:44:08it's very infectious

00:44:09it's crazy man

00:44:10the energy in New York

00:44:12is

00:44:12as you said

00:44:13people are friendlier

00:44:15everyone

00:44:15it just feels

00:44:17and so

00:44:18when Brazil was playing Morocco

00:44:19which is supposed to be

00:44:21a huge big game

00:44:22it felt like a curtain raiser

00:44:24for the Knicks game

00:44:26later that night

00:44:26it actually did

00:44:27yes

00:44:27it literally did feel like that

00:44:28yeah

00:44:29and I think in many ways

00:44:30it also felt like a curtain raiser

00:44:32for

00:44:34the specter of

00:44:35of

00:44:36of like triumph

00:44:37in the face of

00:44:39everyone saying it was impossible

00:44:40I know Morocco didn't win

00:44:42yes

00:44:42but

00:44:42the way they played

00:44:43they played Brazil

00:44:44yeah but they

00:44:44I mean they

00:44:45they outplayed Brazil

00:44:46it didn't feel like

00:44:48by the way

00:44:48it was

00:44:49I was

00:44:49I was surprised that

00:44:50Vinicius got

00:44:51man of the match

00:44:52yes

00:44:52it would have been Ayub

00:44:53I was really surprised

00:44:54but I think also

00:44:55I feel like

00:44:56when you score a goal

00:44:59normally that

00:45:00yeah they give you like

00:45:00a little rating boost

00:45:01don't they

00:45:02no I feel like

00:45:02I feel like

00:45:03Ayub

00:45:04Bwadi

00:45:05will be appreciated

00:45:06by the purists

00:45:07okay

00:45:08it's a lot harder

00:45:09to appreciate

00:45:09yeah like literally

00:45:0916 of 16 passes

00:45:11completed in the

00:45:11attacking third

00:45:12except

00:45:13the taking half

00:45:14the take-ons

00:45:14the way it turned

00:45:15under pressure

00:45:15purists love that stuff

00:45:17yeah

00:45:17but

00:45:18when you're doing

00:45:19like a poll

00:45:20when you're choosing

00:45:21the man of the match

00:45:22normally it's a

00:45:22proper choice

00:45:23you have to either

00:45:23have scored

00:45:24or assisted

00:45:25yeah

00:45:25because people look

00:45:26at those stats

00:45:27they don't look

00:45:28at the intangibles

00:45:29that actually

00:45:30so that's why

00:45:31I guess Brunson

00:45:32then he was always

00:45:33going to win

00:45:33if he scored

00:45:35Oji Anonobi

00:45:37some people argue

00:45:39had

00:45:41better impact

00:45:42or had more impact

00:45:43on the Knicks winning

00:45:44I mean

00:45:45especially in game four

00:45:46I don't know

00:45:46I'm not even going to

00:45:47claim to know

00:45:48basketball like that

00:45:49but it felt like

00:45:50one of the most

00:45:50like balanced teams

00:45:52yes

00:45:52and what I mean by that

00:45:53is it felt like

00:45:54you didn't

00:45:55you didn't know

00:45:56how the house

00:45:56was going to be built

00:45:57but every player

00:45:58was bringing a certain

00:45:59amount of bricks

00:45:59yes

00:46:00do you know what I mean

00:46:00but Oji Anonobi

00:46:01as you say

00:46:02no he was

00:46:02he was phenomenal

00:46:03a lot of the time

00:46:04yes

00:46:04he didn't miss his shots

00:46:05but remember in game four

00:46:06remember his play

00:46:07everyone remembers

00:46:09the putback

00:46:09what people don't remember

00:46:11is that when the

00:46:12Aaron Fox

00:46:14got that turnover

00:46:15and rushed through

00:46:16and he went for the layup

00:46:17who went with him

00:46:18who blocked him

00:46:19without actually fouling

00:46:21it was Oji Anonobi

00:46:22yeah but then again

00:46:23like Hart has had

00:46:24some of the most

00:46:25amazing performances

00:46:25he like

00:46:26his steals

00:46:27his blocks

00:46:29but then he also blew

00:46:30the layup

00:46:30in that game

00:46:31but did you see his face

00:46:32yes

00:46:33can I tell you something

00:46:33he had a meltdown

00:46:34one thing

00:46:35he saw his life

00:46:36flash before his eyes

00:46:37one thing

00:46:37I appreciate

00:46:38in all sports

00:46:39is

00:46:41the feeling

00:46:42a player gets

00:46:43when they

00:46:44when they

00:46:45when it looks like

00:46:46they've thrown it all away

00:46:47yes

00:46:48Hart is one of the smartest

00:46:50yes

00:46:51he has contributed

00:46:51most diligent workers

00:46:53on a team

00:46:53yes

00:46:54when he missed

00:46:55that layup

00:46:56in game five

00:46:58to take the lead

00:46:59for the Knicks

00:47:00against the Spurs

00:47:01you could see

00:47:01he was going

00:47:02I've thrown it all away

00:47:03do you know what I think

00:47:04has happened

00:47:04these days as well

00:47:05yeah

00:47:06when a player does that

00:47:08they see

00:47:09in their minds

00:47:10because players are so

00:47:11online

00:47:11you think they see

00:47:12yeah they go like

00:47:13I'm going to become a meme now

00:47:14they see the memes

00:47:14yes

00:47:14it's like

00:47:15this is it

00:47:16this is going to

00:47:17did you see Larry David's

00:47:18reaction by the way

00:47:19to what

00:47:20when Hart blew the layup

00:47:22it was like

00:47:23straight out of cup

00:47:24I didn't see it

00:47:25he like

00:47:25he almost collapsed

00:47:26he almost

00:47:26you should see it

00:47:27it's so funny

00:47:28he almost died

00:47:29like Larry David

00:47:30was this close

00:47:31like if you see

00:47:32because he expects

00:47:33and then

00:47:33and then you see him

00:47:34just like

00:47:35people had to hold him up

00:47:36that's how shocked he was

00:47:37but I'm saying like

00:47:38every Knick

00:47:40contributed

00:47:40even the players

00:47:41off the bench

00:47:42yeah no no no

00:47:42the Knicks were

00:47:43but for me

00:47:43Anonobi's influence

00:47:44on that game

00:47:45remember Anonobi

00:47:46actually is also the one

00:47:47who threw the inbound pass

00:47:48he did

00:47:49and then he ran

00:47:50all the way

00:47:51yeah yeah

00:47:51the heart and the desire

00:47:52at that time in the game

00:47:54it wasn't the beginning moments

00:47:55this was towards the end of the game

00:47:57you've been running back and forth

00:47:58the heart and desire

00:48:00for you to run

00:48:00and

00:48:01get that put back

00:48:02and actually put it back in his

00:48:05his

00:48:05people were debating him

00:48:06and who is the finals MVP

00:48:08because those are Knick

00:48:08I think he averaged around 22 points

00:48:12Branson averaged 24

00:48:13but remember Branson takes double the shots

00:48:15that are Knick gets

00:48:16but I think Branson

00:48:17when he scores 42

00:48:18in a decider

00:48:19you can't look past him

00:48:21my man

00:48:21you know what I also can't look past

00:48:22New York City itself

00:48:24you know people always

00:48:25say as a platitude

00:48:26oh New York

00:48:26the greatest city in the world

00:48:27New York greatest

00:48:28I don't know many cities in the world

00:48:30where you could have

00:48:32a game five

00:48:33of a historic NBA championship

00:48:35also have

00:48:36a world cup match

00:48:38between Brazil

00:48:38and Morocco

00:48:40have all of that happening

00:48:42at the same time

00:48:43as like a Puerto Rican day parade

00:48:45oh yes

00:48:45have all of that happening

00:48:48streets packed

00:48:48people

00:48:49you know some people

00:48:50were just going out for dinner

00:48:50that night as well

00:48:51New York is actually

00:48:52yeah

00:48:52some people in New York

00:48:53didn't even know all these

00:48:54other things were happening

00:48:54the city is chaos

00:48:56people are in the streets

00:48:58cheering

00:48:58climbing on top of things

00:49:00some people are breaking things

00:49:01you name it

00:49:02and the next morning

00:49:04the city's still there

00:49:06like it never happened

00:49:07I genuinely was like

00:49:08yo

00:49:09nothing

00:49:10New York used to have

00:49:12I don't know if you were ever

00:49:13around in New York

00:49:15around Hurricane Sandy

00:49:16oh yeah

00:49:17no I missed it

00:49:18they had like the song

00:49:19that they put out

00:49:20and it was like

00:49:20we are stronger than the storm

00:49:23and they're like

00:49:24we're stronger than the storm

00:49:25and I remember watching that

00:49:26and I was like

00:49:26no guys come on

00:49:27what do you mean

00:49:27you're stronger than this

00:49:28yo

00:49:29sing New York

00:49:30and I was like

00:49:30okay no

00:49:30New York is

00:49:31New York is

00:49:32like it's impenetrable

00:49:33it doesn't matter what it is

00:49:34no there were people complaining

00:49:36because there were people complaining

00:49:36going like

00:49:37why would FIFA

00:49:40schedule that game

00:49:41because we're going to call

00:49:41the NBA playoff schedule

00:49:43we knew

00:49:43but why would FIFA

00:49:44because they were going to

00:49:45such a logistical nightmare

00:49:47for the city hosting

00:49:49like all this

00:49:50and New York

00:49:51but also remember

00:49:52New York is so resilient

00:49:53New York is a city

00:49:54that it bounced back

00:49:55after 9-11

00:49:55many other cities

00:49:56would never bounce back

00:49:57New York

00:49:58New York

00:49:59New York

00:50:00like New York

00:50:01now I'm excited for the final

00:50:02because I want to see

00:50:03I want to see what

00:50:04a New York final is going to be

00:50:05but we're still

00:50:06we're still ways away

00:50:07from a final

00:50:08but you know what

00:50:08New Jersey people are saying

00:50:09what are they saying

00:50:09it's not happening in New York

00:50:11I don't know why New York

00:50:12keeps claiming

00:50:12that it's New York

00:50:13it's in Jersey

00:50:14the MetLife is in Jersey

00:50:16I mean where the game is played

00:50:17and where the fans are

00:50:18are two totally different things

00:50:20because fans are like

00:50:20no we don't want to spend our time

00:50:21yeah I mean

00:50:22New Jersey

00:50:23they're like people from New Jersey

00:50:24New Jersey can say what it wants

00:50:25but it's like

00:50:25like what is it

00:50:27New Jersey is the liminal space

00:50:28of this World Cup

00:50:29I mean like

00:50:30you know what I mean

00:50:30they can say what they want

00:50:31but like

00:50:32let's ask the fans

00:50:33I'm willing to bet money

00:50:34if you go to any fan

00:50:36who went to any of these games

00:50:37or is going to any of the games

00:50:39ask them where they were

00:50:40I'll give you $10

00:50:41for every person

00:50:42who says they were in New Jersey

00:50:43no even people in New Jersey

00:50:44don't want to stay in New Jersey

00:50:47I had a friend

00:50:49if we're not careful

00:50:49we're going to be

00:50:50as hated by Wemanyama

00:50:52but in New Jersey only

00:50:53I had a friend

00:50:53invite me back

00:50:54I had a friend

00:50:55he had a partner

00:50:55he told me to

00:50:56he invited me to New Jersey

00:50:57and I went like

00:50:57sorry but I can't make it

00:50:58because

00:50:59if I came to your party

00:51:00in New Jersey

00:51:01even Ugandans would go like

00:51:02dude

00:51:03you'd rather just come back

00:51:04to Uganda

00:51:04why would you go to New Jersey

00:51:07why would you leave Uganda

00:51:09and go to New Jersey

00:51:09but the thing

00:51:10the thing I want to talk about New York

00:51:11and sports fans love this

00:51:13they love

00:51:13we love underdog stories

00:51:14we love Morocco

00:51:16making a run

00:51:16but the thing that New York

00:51:18taught me

00:51:19and sometimes we take it

00:51:20for granted

00:51:20is

00:51:21sometimes it's good

00:51:23for the sport

00:51:24for a big team

00:51:25with a big passionate base

00:51:27with big fans to win

00:51:28because what New York has done

00:51:30sometimes always

00:51:30I argue

00:51:31no but sometimes you like

00:51:32Greece winning

00:51:332004

00:51:34but I'm saying

00:51:35the publicity

00:51:36and the

00:51:38contagious energy

00:51:39around New York

00:51:40you know

00:51:40the celebrities

00:51:41turning up

00:51:42sometimes the sport

00:51:43needs that

00:51:44sometimes

00:51:45let me put it like this

00:51:45sometimes

00:51:46David needs to hoop

00:51:48Goliath

00:51:49rather Goliath

00:51:50needs to whip

00:51:51needs to whip David's ass

00:51:52yes

00:51:52sometimes

00:51:53yeah but I argue

00:51:54this wasn't

00:51:54I don't think

00:51:55I don't think this was

00:51:56Goliath beating David

00:51:57I think it's the other way around

00:51:58okay

00:51:59let's put it

00:51:59let's go with this

00:52:00sometimes

00:52:02the fans

00:52:03of David

00:52:04like they get to such a point

00:52:06like David's fans

00:52:07get so big

00:52:08that David needs to win the fight

00:52:10because I argue that the Knicks

00:52:11weren't Goliath in this fight

00:52:12no no no

00:52:12but when you look at

00:52:13the way basketball

00:52:13no I know what you mean

00:52:14but like

00:52:15big market teams

00:52:16and small market teams

00:52:17yeah yeah yeah

00:52:17so San Antonio

00:52:17San Antonio is a sport

00:52:19the Knicks were like

00:52:20yo

00:52:20people said

00:52:21people said

00:52:22whoever wins the game

00:52:23between OKC

00:52:24and Spurs

00:52:25is going on to win this thing

00:52:27yes

00:52:27but what I'm saying is

00:52:28when you look at the teams

00:52:29when they talk about

00:52:30so when they talk about

00:52:31big market teams

00:52:32I hear you

00:52:32LA

00:52:33New York

00:52:34they were like a

00:52:34small team

00:52:36in a big market

00:52:37and now they become

00:52:38the biggest team

00:52:38in the biggest market

00:52:39no because the thing is

00:52:40the amount of hype

00:52:41because we've seen

00:52:42OKC win

00:52:43we've seen

00:52:44Denver Nuggets win

00:52:45we've seen the

00:52:46Milwaukee Bucks win

00:52:47we never saw this kind of hype

00:52:48because

00:52:49I'll tell you this

00:52:50Taylor Swift

00:52:50say what you would about her

00:52:51she's not going to

00:52:53Wisconsin to watch the Bucks

00:52:54she's not going to

00:52:55Oklahoma City

00:52:55to watch

00:52:56however good they are

00:52:57she's not going to watch

00:52:58the Thunder

00:52:58she's not going to Denver

00:53:00to watch the Nuggets

00:53:00but I mean to be fair to her

00:53:02she's also like

00:53:03lived in New York

00:53:03so people were also

00:53:05making it like

00:53:05she just popped out of nowhere

00:53:06I understand where

00:53:07they were coming from

00:53:08because I can imagine

00:53:09if you were a Knicks fan

00:53:10even if you were a celebrity

00:53:11like if you were a celebrity

00:53:12who is below Taylor Swift

00:53:14which is almost all celebrities

00:53:15and you couldn't get into that game

00:53:17and then you see Taylor Swift

00:53:18dancing up there

00:53:18with her friends

00:53:19and you're like

00:53:20which other games

00:53:21where was she

00:53:22when the Knicks

00:53:23was blowing leads

00:53:24you know what I mean

00:53:25year after year

00:53:26where was

00:53:26I can see why people

00:53:28were angry

00:53:28but at least

00:53:29no no but for me

00:53:29it's not just her

00:53:30Timothy Sharmin

00:53:31currently the biggest

00:53:32movie star in the world

00:53:33yeah but Timothy

00:53:33yo yo yo yo

00:53:34no no I mean

00:53:34he's a fan of the Knicks

00:53:35yo fan is an understatement

00:53:37yes

00:53:37yo

00:53:37but I'm saying

00:53:38a small market team

00:53:39like OKC

00:53:40doesn't have a Timothy Sharmin

00:53:41oh okay yeah

00:53:42I'm with you

00:53:42a small market team

00:53:42like Denver Nuggets

00:53:43don't have Timothy Sharmin

00:53:44so Timothy Sharmin helps

00:53:46the sport go from

00:53:47the back pages

00:53:48to pop culture

00:53:49yeah that's true

00:53:50Taylor Swift

00:53:51OK I see what you're

00:53:52saying then

00:53:52you're saying it's

00:53:53it's good for the sport

00:53:54you need Jack Nicholson

00:53:55to have moments

00:53:55that pop it into pop

00:53:56I argue that's what

00:53:58Team USA did

00:53:58so for me

00:53:59the biggest reason

00:54:00I was happy

00:54:01for Team USA

00:54:02to win

00:54:03is because the stadium

00:54:04had Tom Cruise

00:54:05David Beckham

00:54:06Leonardo DiCaprio

00:54:08Justin Bieber

00:54:09Hayley Bieber

00:54:10I Show Speed

00:54:11yes

00:54:11Draymond Green

00:54:12like because of that

00:54:14I was happy

00:54:15for America

00:54:16for Americans

00:54:17for the sport

00:54:18for the global

00:54:19spectacle of it all

00:54:20so that it also

00:54:21didn't become

00:54:21like a sideshow

00:54:22yes

00:54:22I don't want people

00:54:23to come and be like

00:54:23is this the soccer

00:54:24you guys are talking about

00:54:25it was like oh

00:54:26this thing is real

00:54:27and we have a real team

00:54:28and we have a real moment

00:54:30that's what I enjoyed

00:54:31about it

00:54:31so for me

00:54:32that's why I say

00:54:33you always need

00:54:34in a way

00:54:35the big market

00:54:35and I know sports fans

00:54:36don't like it

00:54:37but it's almost like

00:54:38if you want sport

00:54:39to grow

00:54:40and if you want sport

00:54:41to transcend sports

00:54:43because you know

00:54:43a sport doesn't grow

00:54:45it's just the diehard fans

00:54:46right right right

00:54:46if you want it

00:54:47to go mainstream

00:54:48you want it to cross over

00:54:49from the back pages

00:54:50to TMZ

00:54:51you want to see US

00:54:52you want to see

00:54:53Pulisic

00:54:54and all those guys

00:54:55being like

00:54:57harassed

00:54:57by the TMZ reporter

00:54:58you know

00:54:59you know what I'm just

00:54:59thinking of now

00:55:00essentially this is

00:55:01what you're saying

00:55:02in order for David's

00:55:04victory to be

00:55:05to mean something

00:55:06over Goliath

00:55:07yes

00:55:07we need Goliath

00:55:08to be Goliath

00:55:09yes

00:55:09fundamentally

00:55:10that's what you're saying

00:55:10because if Goliath

00:55:12doesn't become Goliath

00:55:13then David just

00:55:14hit some random dude

00:55:15with a stone

00:55:15in the middle of his head

00:55:16and it's not a story

00:55:17yes

00:55:17so we need Goliaths

00:55:18to be made

00:55:19so that the Davids

00:55:21can fell them

00:55:22I like how you went

00:55:23it's the same with Brazil

00:55:24if you don't have that

00:55:25if David hits some random dude

00:55:27yeah

00:55:28if David just hits

00:55:28some random dude

00:55:29with a stone

00:55:29it's like

00:55:29alright

00:55:30do you hear what David did

00:55:30he didn't be a proverb

00:55:31yeah

00:55:32hit another guy

00:55:32with a stone

00:55:33man that guy

00:55:34needs to put that

00:55:34slingshot away man

00:55:35he's just

00:55:36yes

00:55:36he's a

00:55:37he's nothing licensed

00:55:38he needs to hit Goliath

00:55:39yeah

00:55:39for Goliath to be a thing

00:55:41Goliath has to be Goliath

00:55:43yes

00:55:43you know what I mean

00:55:43the reigning champion

00:55:44of the world

00:55:45which games are you most excited

00:55:46for this week

00:55:47I'm excited for

00:55:48the one we're going to cover

00:55:49first of all

00:55:49tomorrow

00:55:51no wait

00:55:52the one we're going to cover

00:55:53France Senegal

00:55:53yeah

00:55:54I love that game

00:55:55that's big

00:55:56that game has a history

00:55:57that's big

00:55:572002 world cup

00:55:58that's big

00:55:59Senegal shocks France

00:56:01and France gets

00:56:03France had won the world cup

00:56:04in 1998

00:56:04yeah

00:56:05Senegal shocks them

00:56:06and that set the tone

00:56:07because France didn't

00:56:07make it out of the group

00:56:08even with Zidane

00:56:09yes and injured Zidane

00:56:11but they still didn't

00:56:12make it out

00:56:12and that by the

00:56:13kickstarted this trend

00:56:14where

00:56:16whichever team

00:56:16had won the world cup

00:56:18before

00:56:18didn't make it

00:56:19to the next world cup

00:56:20so France didn't make it

00:56:21to the next world

00:56:21and so for me

00:56:22this game has lots of history

00:56:23it has lots of

00:56:24colonial history as well

00:56:25because Senegal

00:56:26and France of course

00:56:27they have their colonial ties

00:56:29and I think Senegal

00:56:30is a good team

00:56:30I think Senegal

00:56:31is good enough

00:56:32with Sadio Mane

00:56:33and all their

00:56:33his supporting cast

00:56:35they're such a good team

00:56:36that they will give

00:56:36France a game

00:56:37because France are the

00:56:38favourites

00:56:39to win the world cup

00:56:40but this is going to be

00:56:41their first huge

00:56:42huge test

00:56:42because they lost

00:56:43their last game

00:56:43against Ivory Costes

00:56:45which was a massive moment

00:56:46yes which also

00:56:47had like the colonial history

00:56:49yeah yeah

00:56:49massive moment

00:56:49so for me

00:56:50this is going to be

00:56:51a good test

00:56:52of where France are

00:56:54I don't want to call them

00:56:55scandals

00:56:55but the stories

00:56:56around the game

00:56:57you know

00:56:58there's been like

00:56:58a few of them

00:56:59one

00:57:00have you seen

00:57:00all of these

00:57:01press conferences

00:57:01where reporters

00:57:02are trying to speak

00:57:03to the players

00:57:03in Spanish

00:57:04yes

00:57:04the players

00:57:05are trying to

00:57:06respond in Spanish

00:57:06and then the FIFA

00:57:08representatives

00:57:09are saying

00:57:09no

00:57:10you only speak

00:57:10in English

00:57:11but the irony

00:57:12of it is

00:57:12they're saying

00:57:12you can only

00:57:13speak in English

00:57:13because that's

00:57:14the only language

00:57:15it can be

00:57:15translated from

00:57:17so it seems

00:57:18like they just

00:57:18didn't account

00:57:19for the fact

00:57:19that many

00:57:19of the players

00:57:20only speak

00:57:20Spanish

00:57:21yes

00:57:21it's one of

00:57:22the most spoken

00:57:22languages

00:57:23in football

00:57:23specifically

00:57:24but I think

00:57:25FIFA likes

00:57:26encouraging English

00:57:27as a standard

00:57:27language

00:57:28because

00:57:28there's a difference

00:57:29between encouraging

00:57:30and dictating

00:57:31but what's FIFA

00:57:33if not a dictatorship

00:57:34FIFA is not a democracy

00:57:35I'll tell you that

00:57:36FIFA is not a democracy

00:57:38they've been

00:57:40I think

00:57:41look

00:57:41the other thing

00:57:42has been like

00:57:42all the players

00:57:44the Senegalese fans

00:57:45like do you think

00:57:46it will affect the team

00:57:47them not having

00:57:48their fans there

00:57:49I think you need your fans

00:57:51but I also think

00:57:51when you're playing

00:57:52at a World Cup

00:57:52if you need extra motivation

00:57:54then you shouldn't be

00:57:54at the World Cup

00:57:56just being at the World Cup

00:57:57it's almost like

00:57:58it's almost like

00:57:59asking someone

00:58:00should your

00:58:02wedding have

00:58:03cheerleaders

00:58:03no if you're getting married

00:58:04you should want

00:58:05to get married

00:58:06if you want extras

00:58:07to get married

00:58:07then maybe you shouldn't

00:58:08be getting married

00:58:08no no no

00:58:09if none of your family

00:58:10come to your wedding

00:58:11you might start to doubt

00:58:11whether or not

00:58:12you should be having

00:58:12that wedding

00:58:13there's just going

00:58:14to be moments

00:58:15you're leaving

00:58:15your family

00:58:16there's just going

00:58:16to be moments

00:58:17when you're standing

00:58:17up there

00:58:18and then everyone

00:58:19cheers for your bride

00:58:20and then nobody

00:58:21cheers for you

00:58:21and you're going

00:58:22to be like

00:58:22should I be here

00:58:23do I deserve

00:58:24to be here

00:58:24in this moment

00:58:25you always need

00:58:25your supporters

00:58:26look at the

00:58:27Scottish fans

00:58:27I argue

00:58:29they willed

00:58:30the ball

00:58:31into the net

00:58:31in that game

00:58:32they like

00:58:33sucked it in

00:58:34they turn

00:58:34every city

00:58:35they go to

00:58:35even Japan

00:58:36the Japanese fans

00:58:37I think are part

00:58:38of the reason

00:58:38that like

00:58:39they didn't get tense

00:58:41against the Netherlands

00:58:42they carried on singing

00:58:43they carried on

00:58:44drumming away

00:58:44I think it's

00:58:45it's part of the reason

00:58:46as always Joe

00:58:47this has been a pleasure

00:58:48my friend

00:58:48no man

00:58:49anytime we have

00:58:49talked soccer

00:58:50you know me

00:58:51we could talk

00:58:51for hours

00:58:52by the way

00:58:52and we will

00:58:53we have many more

00:58:54hours coming

00:58:54we have many more

00:58:55but let's save it

00:58:56let's save it for then

00:58:57for now

00:58:57for now my friend

00:58:58it's full time

00:59:01I'll see you

00:59:02I'll see you at the next one

00:59:03it's always fun

00:59:03it's always a pleasure

00:59:04this was fun

00:59:10thank you again so much

00:59:11to the sponsor

00:59:12of today's episode

00:59:13Verizon

00:59:14they've given their customers

00:59:16unmatched access

00:59:17to the FIFA World Cup

00:59:192026

00:59:19including

00:59:20thousands

00:59:21of free tickets

00:59:22people

00:59:23meet and greets

00:59:24with soccer legends

00:59:25and

00:59:26the once in a lifetime

00:59:28opportunity

00:59:28to watch a portion

00:59:29of the FIFA World Cup

00:59:31from the pitch

00:59:32from the pitch

00:59:34all just for being

00:59:36a Verizon customer

00:59:37if you're not with Verizon

00:59:38no sweat

00:59:39stop by a Verizon store

00:59:41to get in on the action

00:59:42and learn about

00:59:43their amazing offers

00:59:44for new customers

00:59:49What Now with Trevor Noah

00:59:50is produced by

00:59:51Day Zero Productions

00:59:52in partnership

00:59:53with Sirius XM

00:59:54the show is executive

00:59:55produced by

00:59:56Trevor Noah

00:59:57Sanaz Yamin

00:59:57and Jess Hackle

00:59:59Rebecca Chain

01:00:00is our producer

01:00:00our development researcher

01:00:02is Marcia Robiu

01:00:04music

01:00:05mixing and mastering

01:00:06by Hannes Brown

01:00:08random other stuff

01:00:09by Ryan Harduth

01:00:11thank you so much

01:00:12for listening

01:00:12join me next week

01:00:13for another episode

01:00:14of What Now

01:00:15what Now

01:00:33is

Is the US Actually Good + Germany’s 7-1 Madness! Trevor Noah & Joe Opio World Cup Special

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended