- 8 minutes ago
After weeks of drama, upsets and unforgettable moments, the Star Sportcast's T. Rahul, T. Avineshwaran and S. Saktesh break down the World Cup final and make their predictions.
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:04Welcome back to the Star Sportscast. I'm your host Rahul and this is the penultimate episode.
00:09With me, to discuss the final, we have our brilliant host, I mean brilliant guests as always, Avi and Saktish.
00:17Aren't you bored of us?
00:18We are running low on sleep.
00:19I mean, it's okay, I like talking to you guys.
00:23Because we were talking about World Cup, if there was anything else, we would have left already.
00:26Yeah, if we would have left, I guess, yeah.
00:28I would have left also, probably.
00:30I mean, maybe he doesn't like us.
00:32Oh no.
00:35So guys, one last game.
00:37Avi, how has the tournament been for you?
00:41Minus the sleepless nights.
00:42Has it already been 102 games?
00:44Because we have only two more games to go.
00:46Only two games.
00:47102 games.
00:48Doesn't feel like it.
00:49Just we muster, huh?
00:51That's what, a bit more than a month?
00:53A month of World Cup?
00:53Yeah, a bit more than a month.
00:54Oh god, feels like it just started a week ago.
00:56Yeah, correct.
00:57It's a lost track of time already.
00:59It always feels like, at the start you feel like, oh there's so many games, there's so many things.
01:03And then it just...
01:03I don't know what else has been happening around the world in this past month.
01:06And then we've been watching games like 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock, 1 o'clock.
01:10Now we're watching 3 o'clock and all that, yeah.
01:12It's been...
01:14The body's screaming, hey, enough is enough.
01:16I'm like, no, no.
01:17Two more days.
01:18It's okay.
01:18Let's watch.
01:19So much of good football.
01:19Yeah, good football.
01:20True, true.
01:21Good football, good amount of drama, controversies as well.
01:24And then now we have a president who says that he wants to have 64.
01:29I mean, just as every country then, man.
01:31Like, why not?
01:32It is the World Cup of a reason, I guess.
01:34Yeah, but 48 is perfect.
01:36Good enough.
01:37Good enough.
01:38Alright, so before we go into the final, let's have a look around memory lane.
01:43So, when I say World Cup final, what's the one game that comes to your mind?
01:48Sakthish, let's start with you.
01:50I mean, we were treated to an absolute gold fest the last World Cup in Qatar.
01:54So, I mean, just based on freshness of my memory, that one.
01:58It was a proper...
02:00What a final, honestly.
02:02If you, you know, everyone who watched that final were just losing their minds.
02:05So, I think that was...
02:08This World Cup final will have a lot to live up to
02:11in terms of drama for an average fan or any other fan.
02:15But for the players and the teams involved, it's going to be a nail-bite.
02:19Yeah, from start to end, it was quite chaotic, if you ask me.
02:24Penalty shootout.
02:25And then Kylian Mbappe says, fine individual performance.
02:28And then the save towards the end had a lot of elements in it.
02:34That was one final to be...
02:37I mean, that's one final that I wouldn't forget.
02:41But the one that I'm going to talk about is the 2002 World Cup
02:47in Japan and South Korea.
02:49Why that particular World Cup?
02:50Why that particular final?
02:52Because we saw Ronaldos' brilliance up front.
02:55Because you're a Brazil fan?
02:56No, I'm not a Brazil fan.
02:58I'm a Sweden fan.
02:59Sure.
03:00I mean, you did have Brazil as winners, right?
03:02Yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:02Because most of our family members are Brazil supporters.
03:06So, when I saw Ancelotti as the coach, I thought they would be the favourites.
03:09But I didn't get that prediction right, unfortunately.
03:13But I've been supporting Sweden for a long time.
03:15I mean, coming back to the final...
03:16Yeah, heyday, it was a two.
03:17Yeah, 2002.
03:18Ronaldo's brilliant performance.
03:19And also, Oliver Kahn.
03:22Before that particular game, he was having a sensational tournament.
03:25He was going to be the player of the tournament.
03:26I haven't heard that name in so long.
03:27Oliver Kahn.
03:28That particular game, especially the second goal, he made a mistake.
03:31So, people started saying that, you know, you can't be indomitable all the time.
03:35That kind of thing.
03:36So, but a lot of people defined his performance based on that one performance.
03:41I'm like, no, you should watch his every performance.
03:44That time, I was only 11 years old.
03:46So, I was like, wow, this guy is such a great goalkeeper.
03:49And then that final...
03:50He was six.
03:52Sorry, I did the math.
03:54Yeah, so that particular final was something that I can't forget,
03:59because of Ronaldo's brilliance and Kahn's performance.
04:02And then, yeah, at that time, you know, I remember writing down names of each and every player at that
04:08age.
04:08So, yeah, that one was a good final.
04:11I think even...
04:12But one more thing about the last World Cup.
04:13Not just like the match drama, but there was so much at stake for both sides.
04:18Obviously, France there, but obviously it was Messi's side, I guess.
04:23Because, you know, cusp of the one thing he hadn't gotten yet.
04:26And to do it at that stage of his career.
04:29And I mean, he's still doing it now, but...
04:31I think it's the fandom.
04:32Like, you know, you have the Cristiano Ronaldo fans and the Leo Messi fans.
04:35Even till now, they're debating each other.
04:37Sometimes I feel like it's very toxic.
04:39That particular tournament, a lot of the Ronaldo fans said,
04:42he must win the World Cup.
04:43Then we can only consider him as the greatest of all time.
04:45I don't know if they said that or not.
04:47But some players have said it.
04:48But they said that for Messi.
04:50Messi.
04:50And he delivered.
04:52He won the World Cup.
04:52But now they'll move the goalposts again and say,
04:55oh, if he wins two, then he's the greatest.
04:56They'll keep moving the goalposts.
04:58No, he must now get 1,000 goals.
04:59True.
05:00True.
05:00But I think if he does win this World Cup,
05:04no other...
05:04He will be...
05:05It's a bit hard to argue then...
05:07He is the greatest of all time.
05:08Yeah.
05:09If he wins another one, sure.
05:10You can't...
05:11No, for me, he is already the...
05:12For me, in my eyes, he's already the...
05:14We know...
05:16We know that very well.
05:18We'll get to know it more later.
05:20Coming to that.
05:23So, let's get back to this tournament now.
05:25How have the hosts been for you?
05:27US, Mexico, Canada.
05:29Have they delivered on their promise of a good World Cup?
05:33The players and coaches have delivered the promise.
05:36That's one way to put it.
05:38Mexico as well.
05:40I personally feel the final should have been in the Azteca.
05:43Yeah.
05:44Yes.
05:45But I feel like that was...
05:47When you know the three hosts, I feel like that was never going to happen.
05:50But in terms of overall, like, fanfare, and from what I've heard from friends who have gone for matches and
05:56all,
05:56not much to complain about.
05:58Like, everyone's had a pretty decent experience and all.
06:01Sure, there are issues.
06:05But it's...
06:06I mean, at the start, we talked about it.
06:08There will be issues.
06:09But at the end, when the whistle is blown, people watch the football.
06:12And when the match is over, the issues will still be in conversation.
06:15Disgust, yeah.
06:16But that's about kind of the thing.
06:18But overall, I feel it's nice to see that football is now a common thing to say in North America,
06:25specifically.
06:27You know, that divide of football and soccer for the Atlantic divide has now...
06:33But I really...
06:34Some have already started using football, right?
06:37Not soccer.
06:37No, I mean, just like general terms.
06:39General terms.
06:40Because you see, normal Americans are also starting to call it football because of the World Cup.
06:44They as I hear it, I guess, it's weird to call it soccer.
06:46But the whole world is calling it football.
06:48But I just feel like it's nice to see a whole new fan base for the sport.
06:54Sure, they might not care about it for the next four years while the rest of the world does.
06:57But I think they should.
06:59And I think they will.
07:00There's a proper following for the team because also they played well.
07:04They made it to a stage, you know.
07:05Not just the US, but Mexico and Canada.
07:08And then you have characters like Haaland who went to Dallas.
07:10And everybody started following him.
07:12And now girls are going gaga over him.
07:14Which I'm like, great.
07:15He's a good person.
07:16Good ambassador for the game.
07:18He's the poster boy for the tournament.
07:20For the tournament, yes, exactly.
07:21People are bummed that he was out.
07:22I'm like, so was I.
07:24Like my neighbour's daughter, she actually came.
07:28She was like, I'm very sad.
07:29I was like, why?
07:30No way, he's out.
07:31Haaland, he's not playing.
07:32I was like, why do you like Haaland so much?
07:34He's a good player.
07:36And then she started saying, why Sorlot didn't give the pass?
07:38I'm like, wow.
07:40That's how.
07:41That's the impact he has actually created.
07:43So in that sense, I think, yeah.
07:45You have a lot of new fans also now.
07:47He's a very good role model for a new generation.
07:50New generation.
07:51Because he's funny.
07:52He does a lot of things.
07:53But it is my hope that these fans will actually watch football out of the World Cup.
07:57Instead of just waiting for another four years.
07:59I hope so.
08:01I hope that happens.
08:01They might follow him off the field.
08:03Like his YouTube channel.
08:05I want them to follow the US team.
08:07Follow them and, you know.
08:08Correct.
08:09Give them a proper fan base that they can be proud of as well.
08:13At least now in the US, they've been debating about...
08:17In the US, they have the academic system where you have to pay to play.
08:20Right?
08:20So now they're actually disputing that it shouldn't happen.
08:23We should allow every kid of all walks of life to actually play the game.
08:27So in that sense, it's going to help boost development in the States.
08:30And I think World Cup has opened that opportunity.
08:33It's another catalyst for it.
08:34Correct.
08:36Catalyst, yes.
08:36That's the word.
08:37So when you look back in a few years' time at this tournament, do you think the controversies
08:42will come to mind first?
08:43Or the games?
08:44Or Haaland?
08:46I mean, depending on the conversation you're having for that.
08:50But if you're looking back, sure, I feel the controversies will definitely be up and
08:54centre as well.
08:54It will be a talking point because they'll use that as an example.
08:57Like for example, when the league start, like the European League start and so on,
09:01they'll be using the World Cup as a case in point.
09:04Yeah.
09:04Like why this happened, why that happened.
09:05It's going to happen, it's bound to happen.
09:07And I think until the next World Cup also, even when the next World Cup happens, and
09:11most, wherever the US team plays next, that one phone call will haunt them for a long
09:17time.
09:17Unfortunately, it's going to happen.
09:19But, Folarin Balogun has carried himself well after that incident.
09:22He spoke to Rudy Garcia, he spoke to the players.
09:25And I think because of what he did, people are not talking about the controversy anymore.
09:30Again, I'm saying, players and coaches make the game and you see what he has done.
09:34Yeah.
09:35No one, not blaming them at all.
09:37They carry them.
09:38The issues that are happening, you know, off-field issues.
09:40The off-field issues, yeah, we're going to see what Gianni Infantino is going to do
09:44soon, how he's going to lobby support because elections are coming up.
09:47Yeah, that is another story to be told one day in another podcast.
09:53But yeah, the World Cup, there'll be lots of talking points.
09:55It's normal.
09:56Yeah.
09:58Okay.
09:58So let's get on to the field now.
10:00The finals are Spain, Argentina.
10:04Let's talk Spain first.
10:06How have you seen their tournament so far?
10:09They've considered only one goal so far.
10:12I mean, when they started, they do nil-nil against Cabo Verde and everyone was like, oh.
10:17Sure, it was also Cabo Verde played a good game, but everyone was like, well, what does
10:20that mean for Spain?
10:22To be fair, Argentina had a similar thing in the last World Cup.
10:25Yeah.
10:26And I think now that Spain have made it here and to take down, you know, the teams they
10:33took down on the way here.
10:36Yeah.
10:37It's...
10:38If anyone did underestimate them, they've done their job by proving them completely wrong.
10:42Completely wrong.
10:43Yeah.
10:44I think before the tournament started, no one put an eye on them.
10:49They're like, kind of feeling like, is this team going to go all the way because they are
10:53young?
10:53And then people are like, you know, Luis De La Fuente is just lucky to be blessed with
10:58this kind of players.
11:00But that coach knows this, has worked with this players for almost 10 years.
11:05He knows them in and out.
11:07And Spain is always blessed with lots of tactical geniuses.
11:11And I believe De La Fuente is one of them.
11:13Yeah.
11:14With the way he has, you know, presented the Spanish team to the world.
11:18In the past, we don't talk about wingbacks that much, but this team is being trusted by
11:23two of the best fullbacks in world football right now.
11:26Right now, in terms of Mark Kukurea and also Pedro Poirot.
11:30And then in midfield also, they are blessed with lots of tactical players.
11:34If Rotterdam is injured, they have Zuby Mendy.
11:36Right?
11:36If...
11:37You see, the fact that they didn't start Padre in that game, the last game shows that
11:40he...
11:41They could afford to not start.
11:42Correct.
11:43He's beginning to...
11:44He's beginning to build his 11 based on the teams he's facing.
11:48So that shows his astuteness as coach, Luis De La Fuente.
11:53So, yeah, I'm not surprised to see how they've been...
11:56I mean, sorry.
11:57I want to apologise to them because I thought they wouldn't go all the way to the final,
12:00but they are in the final right now.
12:01They have performed so well.
12:03And I've enjoyed watching all their games, especially the game against France.
12:07People say it's not free-flowing football and so on, but the way they played it, the
12:12movements, the passes...
12:15Some form of tiki-taka.
12:17And they also have that doggedness in terms of their defending, the way they cut those
12:21through passes, the way they celebrate those challenges, the clearances.
12:26It shows that this pain is versatile.
12:30It's not all about passing, passing, passing, passing and killing teams.
12:33But it's more like, we can also do this, we can also do that.
12:36We can also do this, we can also do that.
12:37That's how strong they are at the moment.
12:39You mentioned that you didn't think they'd go far.
12:42They're the European champions though.
12:43So why does everyone have this?
12:44Because of their form in the qualifiers and also in the friendlies.
12:48It didn't look convincing.
12:49It didn't look convincing.
12:50Yes, I took that into account.
12:52Yeah, they're the European champions.
12:53But also I remember, before the tournament, Nico Williams and Lamine were injured.
13:00The first few games, they didn't perform to expectations.
13:05But they somehow turned up.
13:06Nico is still injured by the way.
13:07He's coming in only in the second half.
13:09So in that sense, that's why we say that, you know, they couldn't go all the way.
13:13But yeah, I mean, Dilafuente has shown that I'm the coach.
13:16I know what I'm doing.
13:17So shut up.
13:17We'll get them to that stage.
13:19You'll see us in the final.
13:20That kind of persona he's already presented.
13:24So last one on Spain.
13:26Do you think the coach is underrated?
13:29Quickfire answer.
13:29He basically just answered the whole thing.
13:32He's underrated.
13:33Yeah, definitely he's underrated.
13:35I mean, he's, he has the experience, he's, you know, played clubs there before and he's
13:40been in the system since quite a long time or so.
13:43And yeah.
13:44He's been part of the system.
13:45He worked with the under-21s to wear and then bringing them, bringing the national team
13:49now shows how good the system is in Spain.
13:53You don't need to have, you don't need to have coached big teams to coach the national
13:57team.
13:57You understand how the system is.
14:00You understand how we play the game.
14:01You understand the whole ecosystem of Spanish football because you have the Catalonia's,
14:06you have the Bilbao's and a few other teams.
14:09You have a lot of.
14:09And he's been like, been coaching through the system as well.
14:12He has a very humble upbringing and like players like Lamin Yamal who was, you know,
14:18so overhyped for a good reason.
14:23But he's a, I think a good coach for like players like him to be under because keep
14:27him grounded.
14:28Yeah.
14:28Lamin has got a big ego.
14:29And, but on the pitch, that ego isn't like, to me, it's not obvious because he passes
14:35the ball.
14:36He's always looking out for other players.
14:37He's more part of a system.
14:39Yeah.
14:39Yeah.
14:39He's more part of a system and he allows the ego to also get the better of him in games.
14:43Yeah.
14:43Which he allows it.
14:44So I think De La Fuente has, has found that balance.
14:47Like I know Lamin is going to do this, but these other players will be able to cater to what
14:51I want.
14:52And for Lamin, I want him to unleash his creativity on his own, this one.
14:56Because for example, like before the France game, Lamin Yamal posted three Insta stories
15:01posting the previous result against France.
15:03And then he's saying that, then he wore one cap saying that, you know, it shows his persona,
15:09his character, like his, yeah, his confidence, that kind of thing.
15:13And some coaches don't like that, but De La Fuente is able to manage that.
15:17Yeah.
15:18Yeah.
15:19So let's move on to who's in, in the way of, of Spain.
15:23Hmm.
15:24Argentina.
15:25Avi, I know you're going to have a lot to say about this.
15:28Because, um, as discussed earlier, your favorite players there.
15:31Hmm.
15:32So I'll let you take over and start off.
15:35How was Argentina's tournament so far?
15:39Argentina's tournament in the group stages, they were good.
15:41They were dominant.
15:42But in knockout stages, yes, they had their struggles.
15:45We have to agree to that.
15:47But what defines this team is the resilience and also the fact that they can go all the
15:55way till the end.
15:56The never say die attitude.
15:59Even Messi also, when he's underperforming, somehow in the last 15, 20 minutes, he comes
16:04up with some kind of magical moment.
16:05Because everyone steps up around him.
16:07Yeah, around him as well.
16:07And the fact that he's, uh, Lionel's colony is bringing on Lautaro Martinez towards the
16:13end shows the depth up front.
16:15Julian Alvarez is the pressing machine.
16:17Lautaro is like the killer.
16:18Hmm.
16:19That kind of thing.
16:19And he did kill.
16:20He did kill in the last game.
16:22He was.
16:22Right.
16:23So, in that sense, I think you have, you, Spain is a team that is tactically refined.
16:32Argentina is more like, we will play according to the occasion.
16:38If this is what you're going to present to us, okay, we will bring our swagger.
16:41They're more adaptive into any situation.
16:44Like what they did against England.
16:46See, for any team, when they see a low line or a low block, they will start panicking.
16:51Like, what are we going to do?
16:52What are we going to do?
16:52It's Argentina.
16:53That's not the case with Argentina.
16:55Against Switzerland.
16:56So, the way that the many, they broke down the Swedish, I mean the Switzerland defense.
16:59Julian Alvarez has a goal.
17:00So, they have that, they have that in the arsenal.
17:04There's a variety of plays and so on.
17:06So, right now I feel like everybody is talking about Messi.
17:10But I want to see, I want people to see Argentina as a whole.
17:12How they function as a team.
17:13How these plays can turn up and all that.
17:15And that unity.
17:16Yeah.
17:19So, are the two teams deserve finalists?
17:22Or would you have preferred to see maybe France get through?
17:26Maybe France-Spain as a final instead?
17:28Would you have preferred that?
17:29If you asked me at the start, yes.
17:31I would have wanted to see France go only based on paper.
17:37But is Spain and Argentina a good final?
17:40Yeah, definitely.
17:41Without a doubt.
17:42But would it have been fair, nicer to see any other teams?
17:45Of course.
17:47But it's again, it's either side is going to happen.
17:49If Spain wins it, they deserve all the win.
17:53But if Argentina wins it, they also deserve all the win.
17:55And we're going to be witnessing something many people have never witnessed in their lifetime.
18:01Back-to-back World Cup winners.
18:04Personally, I wish it was France versus Spain in the final.
18:09Because of the way they're performing.
18:11And some would argue that, yeah, you saw how France performed against Spain in the semis, right?
18:15So why do you want them in the final?
18:17Final is a whole different ballgame.
18:20The motivation is different.
18:21Players will be going in with a different swagger and everything.
18:24So I felt that would have been a perfect final.
18:27I think my hope was another France-Argentina final.
18:31But maybe bias based on the last one.
18:32But also just looking at it on paper.
18:35I was like, yeah, it looks like a France-Argentina final.
18:37Yeah, actually.
18:38Even Mbappe would be like...
18:39Close.
18:40It was close to it.
18:40Yeah.
18:41If it happened, Mbappe would be like, it's a revenge match for him.
18:43Like, I performed so well and I didn't get the cup.
18:45This time around, I want to perform well and I get the cup.
18:47Yeah.
18:48But Argentina versus Spain would be a good game.
18:50I think it would be...
18:51Would be a nice game.
18:52It's...
18:54Lionel is going to meet the baby he wants.
18:58Yeah.
18:59I see that post so often now.
19:01I mean, it's also like the coincidences of all that.
19:03To me, I think it's just...
19:05It's football, right?
19:06It's the football gods.
19:07It's the destiny, you know.
19:09Football gods would have wanted it to be that way, I guess.
19:11Yeah.
19:12It would be interesting to watch that encounter.
19:14Yeah.
19:15So, guys, let's put on our prediction hats round.
19:20Score lines for the game and winners.
19:24Sakthish, we'll start with you.
19:26I'd rather make it safe or maybe like 2-2, extra time, penalties, and then...
19:33And then?
19:355-4 Argentina.
19:37You think there's going to be another penalty shoot win out?
19:39I mean, win for them.
19:40I would rather see a penalty there, to be honest.
19:43I know it's a hot take, but it's only the fairest thing I can think of.
19:48I hate predictions.
19:49I'm feeling very taunt, to be honest.
19:51Not that I want it to happen as well, but I'm just like, yeah, that's the safest option
19:54I can think of.
19:55At least he's clear with his answer.
19:56I am dishevelled at the moment.
19:58Like, I'm okay with any team winning.
20:02But, okay, let's just keep a prediction out there.
20:06It'll be a 1-0 draw.
20:08Normal time.
20:09It'll go into extra time.
20:11Mikkel Merino to score the winner.
20:13So, you both think it's going to go to extra time?
20:15Yeah.
20:15You don't think it's going to be a 90-minute?
20:17I think I just wanted to go to extra time because it's the World Cup final.
20:21I'd be like, please don't end yet.
20:22Unless the players tell themselves, hey, people in Asia, they have to wake up so late,
20:26sleep so late, let's finish in 90 minutes.
20:27Even the last World Cup, I was like, please don't end yet.
20:29Please keep going.
20:30Please keep going.
20:32What time was that World Cup in our time?
20:34It was late.
20:34It was night.
20:35It was like a…
20:35It wasn't as late as this.
20:37It wasn't as late as this.
20:37Night, but like before midnight, around that time.
20:39I mean, I wish it…
20:40I wish games to end in 90 minutes, but, you know, these teams, they always battle it out.
20:44They want to go till the end.
20:46Like, both sides really want it, that kind of stuff.
20:49So, yeah, I think I'll go to extra time.
20:51You said penalty shutout.
20:53I hope so.
20:54Mine would be extra time.
20:55I think, I believe Marino will score Winnerla, but I see Spain going for another title after the Euros, based
21:02on form.
21:03I just wish there'd be more goals.
21:05I feel like, I don't want to see teams just, like, sit back and just defend throughout.
21:11I want to see them attack and try to win it.
21:13I believe the first half would be KG.
21:15Would be KG.
21:16Then the second half onwards, things will start opening up.
21:18Yeah.
21:19Then players will play according to the tempo.
21:21So, yeah, let's wait and see.
21:24But I'm looking forward to a cracking final.
21:27Same here, same here.
21:28So, thanks guys.
21:30This has been the penultimate episode.
21:33We have one more, probably after the final.
21:36We'll be back after the final.
21:37After the final.
21:37And then we can see whether you got it right.
21:40Yeah, we'll know, before we start, we'll know whether who won, based on Avi's reaction.
21:46I mean, he might come in, like, in all black, like how I am, and just mourn.
21:50Then we know who won.
21:51I mean, you know.
21:52Wow.
21:53Benta, huh?
21:55Comes in, light baby blue and white.
21:57It's like, ah, okay, we lost everything then.
22:00Okay.
22:01So, that's been the Star Sportscast.
22:03I'm your host, Rahul.
22:04We have one more game left, the finals.
22:06Let's hope it's a good one.
22:09Bye.
Comments