WORLD CUP Bonus Episode: First Week

26:10Australia had a bunch of players. Oh, yeah. No, Australia, definitely. Right? You had guys who came into Australia when they were teenagers, you know, went to university. Now, I mean, like they're running the attack. You had, who else have we got? Morocco's team was interesting because they made history as, I guess, the first national team at a World Cup where none of the players were born in the country that they're representing. Yes, but that's the thing I'm saying about Morocco's project because they specifically went out to try and bring the standard back home. You know, I was wondering this though.

26:43Do you think it undermines the whole point of a World Cup if a player can just switch allegiances to another country at any point? Or is it, because there's two ways to think of it, right? On the one hand, you can say the whole point of a World Cup is that it's not a competition about which team could get the best players. it's an exhibition of which teams or which national teams were made up of the players they happen to have yes yes another argument is no the world cup is just an exhibition of the team that a country could put together and so whether or not a player is from that country shouldn't really matter how do you what do you which way do you lean the way i look at it is so you said a player can switch but FIFA is very strict.

27:29Okay. Once you play in a competitive game for your country, it's done. Are you sure? It's done. What happened with... If you play friendlies... Wait, wait, wait. What happened with... I feel like he was your boy, man. He played at Barcelona. Laporte, wasn't he on the French team and then Spanish team? He never played a competitive game. He played in a bunch of friendlies. So you're allowed to be called up. But once you play... Oh, okay. Actually, some countries have been accused of calling up players. and then cup tying them. So they call you up for a competitive game. Then they know you can never.

28:01You're lying. Yes. When they see a good enough player. Oh, damn. Because they know. Because now you have. Oh, damn. So you can play. Yeah, you see, but that's messed up then. So you can play in the under. Actually, the French, and I think Americans are still complaining about it because they have so many. So the French have so many players who are born in France who come through the youth system. Yeah. But then when it's time to declare, they go play for Ivory Coast or Senegal. and the French are like, oh, so we're just developing players for other countries. Same thing with America. America is a friend.

28:30My friend, a friend, which they should be. Yes. If the French, yo, the French are going to say we're developing. We're pumping money, yes. Yes. What a nice change, France. France completely. Now you're developing Africa. America is complaining about the same thing because not the best player, but one of the key players for Mexico now is Brian Guiterez who helped get the red card. He plays in the hole, but he played for America. He played for the US through the underage system. then when it came time for the senior team it went like yeah I want to play for my dad's country and it crossed over to Mexico so FIFA is very strict I think FIFA should even change it I think you should just be able to play for any country where you've held a citizenship but that's very easy to get around because you know what happens the country just expedites the papers that's what they do yeah but I mean if the country wants to do that they should do that that's what I'm saying is happening now So if Esmir, a kid from Bosnia, who grew up in America, he grew up in America, played for them.

29:30Then he went and went to play for them. He could have made the American team, actually. He's that talented. They call him the Bosnian Lamine-Yamal. He's very talented. Damn, that's a strong compliment. Is that what they call him? He's really, really good. That's a strong compliment. Remember when you're a kid of immigrants, your dad is pumping. It's almost like your dad is pumping you with propaganda about the old country. He's like brainwashing you from when you were this little. And also mostly, normally, if you're a kid of immigrants, your dad and his entire extended family are still where?

29:59Yeah, they're still home. They're still back home. So if you play for the US, if you're a Mexican kid or if you're a kid of Mexican immigrants and you play for the US, it doesn't give your dad the same bragging rights as it would if you go back. It doesn't. Nor should it. Yeah. So many people, many kids. And I think it's great. Yeah, it's great. You would want your kid to play. If I had a kid in America, I would want him to play for Uganda. Yeah. Because Americans don't care. But my friends back in Uganda would go like, oh, like I would walk in and they would greet me like, like that means that doesn't get the same clout in Spain.

30:36I think, that you would get back home. If it happened, you think about it. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. In Spain versus back home. But he's a weird one. He's a bit of a, he's a bit of a celebrity though. No, no, he is. He's an outlier for that argument, I think. Yes. But I'm saying, Can you imagine if your kid was holding Morocco on his back? On his back. If he was leading Morocco. Yeah, no, that's true. You go back, come and you... He would... Okay, here's how I put it. If Lamine's dad... If Lamine was playing for Morocco, Lamine's dad would have the number of the Moroccan king. On speed dial. He doesn't have the number of the Spanish king.

31:09If that makes sense. If your kid is that good, in your home country, they see you as... Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, they do. They do. That's the thing that drove Messi. Because Messi, Spain really reached out. He spent all his time in La Masia from 13. They really reached out. And they gave him a proposal. They went like, hey, you'll still be playing with Xavi. You'll still be playing with... And Messi went like, no. Argentina, though. Yes, because he's that. But he had a legacy that he could look forward to upholding. I'm more impressed by the people who make that decision, the Messi decision, for the non-legacy.

31:45So I'm more impressed by a player who chooses to play for Morocco, who chooses to play for Curaçao, who chooses to play for Haiti, who chooses to play for... I'm more impressed by those players because they don't have a legacy to look back to. You're meaning legacy by the countries? Yeah, because Messi can see a future where Argentina wins a World Cup with him. Does that make sense? Counterpoint. When Messi chooses Argentina over Spain, and then he has to watch Spain win the 2010 World Cup... I hear you, but... Yes. But even when they were at their worst, if we ask the average soccer fan in the world, the average football fan, do you think Argentina can win the World Cup?

32:24What would their answer be? They would say yes. Yeah. No, no, no. So that's what I'm saying. I'm not saying they wouldn't go through a bad patch. Yes. But when you know something can be possible. Yes. Do you know what I'm saying? Okay, but then the counterpoint is Messi retired before Argentina won the world. He was so frustrated with Argentina. But now he's made the decision. He's locked in. Yes. Maybe he regrets it at that point, but he's locked in. But I'm saying he retired. He had to un-retire. But now you imagine you're Messi. You had a chance to play for Spain. You turned it down. You go back to Barcelona and you're watching Xavi win the Euros, the World Cup and the Euros again.

32:57And in that period, you haven't won anything with Argentina. In fact, you've lost three Copa Americas. You've lost at the World Cup. Part of you is going like, if I had only made the right decision. But the thing is, he persisted and he says it. He says the World Cup I won with Argentina means everything to me. If I had won it with Spain, it would not have meant the same.

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34:43So going back to the games, who do we think should be worried right now? And why? Like, let's start with Brazil. From like all my Brazil friends, all my Brazilian friends, are not like, they're not comfortable. In fact, I would argue they're the least comfortable I've ever seen them at a World Cup. Yes, but that's because Brazil always has a high back. No, no, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe. Let me explain. Wait, wait, but Joe. Brazil always has a high bar Yes You know what Brazil also always has? Great players A world class squad Not just great players Now they have great players But they've got a weird roster of great players Their team looks like a mix of The legends And the youth You've got a team with Endric and Casemiro You know what I mean?

35:28You've got a team with Fabinho and Rafinha You've got a team with Like I genuinely when I watch the team I can't tell what the team is going to be like Because it doesn't make sense to me holistically It's a weird mix, yes. Yeah, like I go, I don't see how Casemiro can play with the other kids on the team. I don't see how... Like, it's a strange one. Yeah, you did say you wouldn't know as a coach what style to adopt. I wouldn't know. Yes. If I was setting the tactics for that team, I go, do we run fast? You can't because Casemiro doesn't have the legs. Do we play physical and fight for everything?

35:59Do we play slow? Do we... But like, Igo Tiago, I still say... I said to you in the first episode of the podcast, and I'm going to say it to you now after the first game, why is Jao Pedro not here? And I know people are going to keep telling me stories. No, I'll tell you. My suspicion is Karl Ankeros had to choose because also you're picking profiles, right? And you don't want competing profiles. You want players who give you different things because at some point you might need different things. Okay. So I think Karl Ankeros looked at Jao Pedro and he said Jao Pedro gives me almost the same thing that Mateos Kunia gives me.

36:32Now I have to pick. I have to pick. Okay. I can see that. No, no, no, you know what? I can concede that. I can concede that. I hear what you mean. Should I have two players who give me the same thing? Okay, yeah. Or should I have... Both good at holding up the ball, both dribblers, both with flair, both with channels. No, no, I can see that. I just think João Pedro is a little more attack-minded in that way. Like, if I was playing Kunia, I'm playing him slightly behind a striker. If I'm playing João Pedro, I can play him as a striker. But it's going to be a... But then the thing is, if you have to choose between, let's say, Kunia and Diego Diego, where they give you different things.

37:08The reason I'm saying Brazil should be worried is the same reason I would say if Barcelona lost a game and they didn't dominate it because of the high standards. So Brazil doesn't just have to win. They have to win playing well. That's true. They can't play terrible football. Many other teams go Germans will go like so long as we win. The English will go like so long as we win. The Dutch and Brazilians are different. They go like We don't care if you're winning. If you're not winning pretty, we're not happy. Speaking of the English, I feel like you and Mother Nature don't like the English. I look.

37:46Yo, can we just talk? Let's just break this down. Let's just break this down. The England team, in the space of four days, had their kit stolen. Yes. Right? Their training kit. All stolen. I think the police eventually recovered most of it or all of it. I think the Klan Royce's shirt was left behind. no one even the thieves are like we're not putting this on no the England had their kids thrown there was like a shooting near the grounds like you know which just became part of the news then there was a tornado warning that was issued and so the players had to stay indoors and it was like a violent storm in Kansas you know people were like this is basically the beginning of The Wizard of Oz yes yes yes that's what it sounded like and then on top of that there's one other thing that went badly for them I'm missing something it was the kit it's the tornado watch was it the bus something with the bus there's something else that happened England though is just this is either like a foreshadowing or it's it's the trials that come before the tribulation look I think England have the toughest group England have the toughest group yeah that's what I believe who do they have in the group they're playing Ghana Ghana they're playing Croatia Croatia and they're playing Panama but they're playing Panama last So if they lose their first opening games, they're out almost.

39:09Because you'd want to start with Panama, maybe get three points on the board. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Then you can relax. Yeah, get confidence. But their first two games are so tough. Maybe not tough, they're so tricky. Anything could happen. Anything could happen. If Ghana turns up, if Croatia turns up, Croatia has had England's number for some time. Yeah. So for me, I think, look, when you tell me they've had all these disasters, part of me just goes like well these are the chickens coming home to roast because of colonialism when you talk about when you talk about their kits being stolen i'm like no that's reparations being taken back but look the it's almost hard to because of what they did i'm like hey you know this yeah this is the english getting their camera pins i i think this is just the english getting a moment of of testing before before they receive their reward mark my words You remember these conversations.

40:05The English are going to do way better than you think. I think the English are going to do way better than you think. I think they always make a deep run. I think way, way, way, way better than you think. I think it's always going to end in a spectacular collapse. Oh, I wrote down a few things I wanted to make sure we get to. Who do you think's got the best player story so far at the World Cup? Without a doubt, Raul Jimenez, for me. Not Ayubuadi? Not Ayubuadi. Why not? Not at all. Raul Jimenez shouldn't be playing football. What do you mean? He should be playing football. Remember he got a fracture when he had a collision with the keeper.

40:38Okay, yes. And then he fractured his head eight months out. They had to do things with him. He wore a scout cap. Oh, yeah, he wore the scout cap. For the longest time. He shouldn't be playing football. He was not supposed to be playing football. And then he scored his first goal for the World Cup. He was crying. He was crying. He was in tears. So for me, that's the most heartwarming story because it shows you the redemptive power of sports. It really does. best goalkeeper moment for me I'm gonna pick Japan's goalkeeper Suzuki I know they conceded two goals against the Dutch but I think they were unstoppable but I think he was phenomenal they were unstoppable you can't blame him for either by the way he had a tough time he's also like another not as big as Raul Jimenez but his story is redemptive because he had a tough tough Asian Cup when he first his debut in a big tournament he was criticized he had a tough time and everyone was going like, oh, he shouldn't be playing for Japan and all this.

41:33And, you know, and then he had a wrist injury at some point. Oh, damn. And then he has bounced back. But for me, it was a baptism of fire when he first started in his big tournament for Japan. Yeah. Many other keepers could have been broken because if they hold... It's a different thing when you're playing for a club because then it's just your club fans on top of you. But when the entire country is questioning your inclusion in the team and you're a black player in Japan. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you still have the character to come back from that and play the way you played. I think that's a beautiful story.

42:06It was phenomenal. Best celebration? I mean, for me, easily. Quinones from Mexico. To do the South African celebration from 2010 when they scored against Mexico. He wasn't even there. But not just to do it, to do it perfectly. But now let me ask, do you think, was he trolling or was he celebrating? C.P. Weshabarada. No, I think he's trolling. Obviously, he's trolling. You don't think he's celebrating? Because that was an iconic celebration. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But he's doing it against the same team that scored against them. And he also scored the opening goal. And I think it's because they think of the stories and the videos and everyone kept on playing that over and over again.

42:47And it was this idea that's haunting Mexico. Oh, here comes South Africa again. And remember the goal they scored against you. And it was this whole thing. But what I was impressed by was the fact that for him to practice the dance means he believed. You need to know that you're going to score. Yes. Yeah, he believed. But he's black. I'll give it to him. I wouldn't call it. You know what? I'll say he remixed. I'll say he remixed Chambanala. He just knew it. Yes. It was in his bones. He has the rhythm. Come on. That's funny, man. The thing you just said, he did it perfectly. That's hilarious. And it's also funny because no other Mexican player joined him.

43:18Because he didn't have the moves. No, he's black. I'll give it to him. Come on. No, man. He did it. I know this is a World Cup podcast, but I feel like part of the World Cup, like a storyline that's been adopted into the World Cup just because of where we are has been the New York Knicks. I know this sounds weird, but it felt like one of the World Cup games. Yes. It just felt like part of the euphoria because you had New York City packed, packed, packed, packed with Moroccan fans, packed with Brazilian fans, and packed with New York Knicks fans. The funny thing about that is Brazil played Moro 4.

43:54Three believing that they were going to win. And all of them very passionate. Truly. And all of them dominating every space. Truly. They come into. The funny thing about that is, I don't come from a basketball country. Yeah. But the thing is, when you're in New York and New York is winning, it's very infectious. It's crazy, man. It's very contagious. The energy in New York is, as you said, people are friendlier. Everyone, it just feels. Yeah. And so when Brazil was playing Morocco, which is supposed to be a huge, big game, it felt like a curtain raiser. for the next game later that night. It actually did.

44:27Yes. It literally did feel like that. Yeah. And I think in many ways it also felt like a curtain raiser for the specter of like triumph in the face of everyone saying it was impossible. I know Morocco didn't win. Yes. The way they played, they played Brazil as the pack. Yes. I mean, they outplayed Brazil. It didn't feel like... By the way, I was surprised that Vinicius got man of the match. Yes, it should have been a job. I was really surprised. But I think also, I feel like when you score a goal, normally that... Yeah, they give you like a little rating boost, don't they? No, I feel like, I mean, I feel like Ayub Bouadi will be appreciated by the purists.

45:07Okay. It's a lot harder to appreciate. Yeah, like literally when you... 16 of 16 passes completed in the attacking third, except... The take-ons, the way it turned under pressure. Purists love that stuff. Yeah. But when you're doing like a poll, when you're choosing the man of the match, normally it's a popular choice. You have to either have scored or assisted. Yeah. Because people look at those stats. They don't look at the intangibles that actually... So that's why, I guess, Brunson, then he was always going to win. If he scored... Oji Anonobi, some people argue, had better impact or had more impact on the Knicks winning.

45:45Especially in Game 4. I don't know. I'm not even going to claim to know basketball like that. Yes. But it felt like one of the most balanced teams. Yes. And what I mean by that is it felt like you didn't know how the house was going to be built, but every player was bringing a certain amount of bricks. Yes, but Oji Ananobi, as you say. No, he was faultless a lot of the time. He didn't miss his shots. But remember in game four, remember his play. Everyone remembers the putback. What people don't remember is that when the Aaron Fox got that turnover and rushed through and he went for the layup, who went with him?

46:19Who blocked him without actually fouling? It was Oji Ananobi. Yeah, but then again, Hart has had some of the most amazing performances. His steals, his blocks. But then he also blew the layup in that game. Man, but did you see his face? Yes. Can I tell you something? He had a meltdown. He saw his life flash before his eyes. One thing I appreciate in all sports is the feeling a player gets when it looks like they've thrown it all away. Hart is one of the smartest, most diligent workers on a team. When he missed that layup in game five to take the lead for the Knicks against the Spurs, you could see he was going, I've thrown it all away.

47:04Do you know what I think has happened these days as well? Yeah. When a player does that, in their minds, because players are so online, they're like, I'm going to become a meme now. They see the memes. Yes. It's like, this is it. This is going to... Did you see Larry David's reaction, by the way? To what? When Hart blew the layup. It was like straight out of camp. I didn't see it. He like, he almost collapsed. He almost, you should see it. It's so funny. He almost died. Like Larry David was this close. Like if you see, because he expects, and then you see him just like, people had to hold him up.

47:36That's how short he was. But I'm saying like every Knick contributed. Even the players off the bench contributed. Yeah, no, no, no. The Knicks were. But for me, Anobi's influence on that game. Remember, Anunobi actually is also the one who threw the inbound pass. He did. And then he ran all the way. The heart and the desire at that time in the game. It wasn't the beginning moment. This was towards the end of the game. You've been running back and forth. The heart and desire for you to run and get that put back. And actually put it back in his... People were debating him and who is the final MVP.

48:08Because also Anunobi really... I think he averaged around 22 points. Branson averaged 24. But remember, Branson takes double the shots. that are no begets. But I think Branson, when he scores 42 in a decider, you can't look past him. My man, you know what I also can't look past? New York City itself. You know, people always say as a platitude, oh, New York, the greatest city in the world, New York greatest. I don't know many cities in the world where you could have a game five of a historic NBA championship, also have a World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco, have all of that happening at the same time as like a Puerto Rican day parade have all of that happening streets packed you know some people were just going out for dinner that night New York is that always packed some people in New York didn't even know all these other things were happening the city is chaos people are in the streets cheering climbing on top of things some people are breaking things you name it and the next morning the city is still there like it never happened I genuinely was like yo nothing New York used to have I don't know if you were ever around in New York around Hurricane Sandy.

49:17Oh, yeah. No, I missed it. They had like the song that they put on and it was like, we are stronger than the storm. And they're like, we're stronger than the storm. And I remember watching that and I was like, no guys, come on. What do you mean you're stronger than this? Yo, sing New York and I was like, okay, New York is, New York is, like it's impenetrable. It doesn't matter what it is. No, there were people complaining because there were people complaining going like, why would FIFA schedule that game? Because we're going to call the NBA playoff schedule. We knew. But why would FIFA? Because they were going to be such a logistical nightmare for the city hosting like all this.

49:51And New York, but also remember New York is so resilient. New York is a city that it bounced back after 9-11. Many other cities would never bounce back. New York, New York. New York has shown, like New York now I'm excited for the final because I want to see what a New York final is going to be. But we're still ways away from a final. But you know what New Jersey people are saying? What are they saying? It's not happening in New York. I don't know why New York keeps claiming that it's New York. is in Jersey. The MetLife is in Jersey. I mean, where the game is played and where the fans are are two totally different things.

50:20Because fans are like, no, we don't want to spend our time. Yeah, I mean, you know, New Jersey can say what it wants, but it's like, like, what is it? New Jersey is the liminal space of this World Cup. I mean, like, you know what I mean? They can say what they want, but like, let's ask the fans. I'm willing to bet money. If you go to any fan who went to any of these games or is going to any of the games, ask them where they were. I'll give you$10 for every person who says they were in New Jersey. No, even people in New Jersey don't want to stay in New Jersey. I had a friend. If we're not careful, we're going to be as hated by Wemanyama, but in New Jersey only.

50:53I had a friend invite me back. I had a friend, he had a partner, he told me to, he invited me to New Jersey and I went like, sorry, but I can't make it because if I came to your party in New Jersey, even Ugandans would go like, dude, you'd rather just come back to Uganda. Why would you go to New Jersey? Why would you leave Uganda and go to New Jersey? But the thing I want to talk about New York, and sports fans love this. we love underdog stories, right? We love Morocco making a run. But the thing that New York taught me, and sometimes we take it for granted, is sometimes it's good for the sport, for a big team with a big passionate base, with big fans to win.

51:29Because what New York has done... Sometimes, always, I argue. No, but sometimes you like Greece winning 2004. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I'm saying the publicity and the contagious energy around New York, you know, the celebrities turning up. Yes, yes. sometimes the sport needs that sometimes let me put it like this sometimes david needs to hoop goliath i'd rather goliath needs to whip needs to whip david's ass yes sometimes yeah but i argue this wasn't i don't think that this was i don't think this was goliath beating david i think it's the other way around okay let's put it let's go with this sometimes the fans of david like they get to such a point like david's fans get so big that david needs to win the fight because i argue that the Knicks weren't going to last in this fight.

52:12No, no, no. But when you look at the way basketball... No, I know what you mean. Big market teams and small market teams. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So San Antonio... No, but for me, I'm like, nah, bro. The Knicks were like... Yo, people said whoever wins the game between OKC and Spurs is going on to win this thing. Yes. But what I'm saying is when you look at the teams when they talk about... So when they talk about big market teams... I hear you. LA, New York... Yeah, but they were small... They were like a small team in a big market and now they've become the biggest team in the biggest markets. No, because the thing is the amount of hype.

52:42Because we've seen OKC win. We've seen Denver Nuggets win. We've seen the Milwaukee Bucks win. We never saw this kind of hype. Because I'll tell you this, Taylor Swift, say what you would about her. She's not going to Wisconsin to watch the Bucks. She's not going to Oklahoma City to watch however good they are. She's not going to watch the Thunder. She's not going to Denver to watch the Nuggets. Yeah, but I mean, to be fair to her, she's also like lived in New York. So people were also making it like she just popped out of nowhere. I understand where they were coming from. Because I can imagine if you were a Knicks fan, even if you were a celebrity, like if you were a celebrity who is below Taylor Swift, which is almost all celebrities, and you couldn't get into that game and then you see Taylor Swift dancing up there with her friends and you're like, which other games?

53:21Where was she when the Knicks was blowing leaves? Yes, yes, yes. You know what I mean? Year after year, where was... I can see why people were angry, but at least... No, no, but for me, it's not just her. Timothy Sherman, currently the biggest movie star in the world. Yeah, but Timothy, yo, yo, yo, yo. No, no, I mean he's a fan of the Knicks. Yo, fan is an understatement. Yo. But I'm saying a small market team like OKC doesn't have a Timothy Sharma. A small market team like Denver Nuggets don't have Timothy. So Timothy Sharma helps the sport go from the back pages to pop culture. Yeah, that's true.

53:50Taylor Swift, all these people. Okay, I see what you're saying then. You're saying it's good for the sport to have moments that pop it into pop. I argue that's what Team USA did. So for me, the biggest reason I was happy for Team USA to win is because the stadium had Tom Cruise, David Beckham. Leonardo DiCaprio Justin Bieber Hailey Bieber I show speed Draymond Green like because of that I was happy for America for Americans for the sport for the global spectacle of it all so that it also didn't become like a sideshow I didn't want people to come and be like is this the soccer you guys are talking about it was like oh this thing is real and we have a real team and we have a real moment that's what I enjoyed about it so for me that's why I say you always need in a way the big match And I know sports fans don't like it, but it's almost like if you want sport to grow and if you want sport to transcend sports, because, you know, a sport doesn't grow.

54:45It's just the diehard fans. Right, right, right. If you want it to go mainstream, you want it to cross over from the back pages to TMZ. You want to see U.S. You want to see Pulisic and all those guys being, like, harassed by the TMZ reporter. You know what I'm just thinking of now? Essentially, this is what you're saying. in order for David's victory to mean something over Goliath we need Goliath to be Goliath yes fundamentally that's what you're saying because if Goliath doesn't become Goliath then David just hits some random dude with a stone in the middle of his head and it's not a story so we need Goliaths to be made so that the Davids can fell them it's the same with Brazil if you don't have that if David hits some random dude if David just hits some random dude with a stone it's like alright do you hear what David did He didn't be a proverb, yes.

55:32Yeah, he hit another guy with a stone. Man, that guy needs to put that slingshot away, man. He just, yes. He's a hell, he's nothing licensed. He needs to hit Goliath. Yeah, you gotta hit that. But for Goliath to be a thing, Goliath has to be Goliath. Yes, yes. The reigning champion of the world. Which game is he most excited for this week? I'm excited for the one we're going to cover, first of all, tomorrow. No, wait, the one we're going to cover, France-Senegore. Yeah. I love that game. That's big. That game has a history. That's big. 2002 World Cup. That's big. Senegal shocks France. And France gets...

56:03France had won the World Cup in 1998. Senegal shocks them. And that set the tone because France didn't make it out of the group. Even with Zidane. Yes, an injured Zidane. But they still didn't make it out. And that by the way, kick-started this trend where whichever team had won the World Cup before didn't make it to the next World Cup. So France didn't make it to the next World Cup. And so for me, this game has lots of history. It has lots of colonial history as well. Because Senegal and France, of course, they have their colonial ties. And I think Senegal is a good team. I think Senegal is good enough with Sadio Mane and all their supporting cast.

56:35They're such a good team that they will give France a game. Because France are the favorites to win the World Cup. But this is going to be their first huge, huge test. Because they lost their last game against Ivory Costes. Yep, which was a massive moment. Yes, which also had the colonial history. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So for me, this is going to be a good test of where France are. I don't want to call them scandals, but the stories around the game. You know, there's been like a few of them. One, we've seen all of these press conferences where reporters are trying to speak to the players in Spanish.

57:04The players are trying to respond in Spanish. And then the FIFA representatives are saying, no, you only speak in English. But the irony of it is they're saying you can only speak in English because that's the only language it can be translated from. So it seems like they just didn't account for the fact that many of the players only speak Spanish. It's one of the most spoken languages in football specifically. But I think FIFA likes encouraging English as a standard language. because... Yeah, there's a difference between encouraging and dictating. But what's FIFA if not a dictatorship? FIFA is not a democracy, I'll tell you that.

57:37FIFA is not a democracy. They've been... I think FIFA... Look... The other thing has been like all the players, the Senegalese fans, like do you think it'll affect the team? Them not having their fans there? I think you need your fans but I also think when you're playing at a World Cup, if you need extra motivation then you shouldn't be at the World Cup. Just being at the World Cup It's almost like asking someone, should your wedding have cheerleaders? No, if you're getting married, you should want to get married. If you want extras to get married, then maybe you shouldn't be getting married. No, no, no.

58:09If none of your family come to your wedding, you might start to doubt whether or not you should be having that wedding. There's just going to be moments. You're leaving your family. There's just going to be moments when you're standing up there and then everyone cheers for your bride. And then nobody cheers for you. And you're going to be like, should I be here? Do I deserve to be here in this moment? You always need your supporters. Look at the Scottish fans. I argue they willed the ball into the net in that game. They like sucked it in. They turned every city they go to. Even Japan. The Japanese fans, I think, are part of the reason that they didn't get tense against the Netherlands.

58:42They carried on singing. They carried on drumming away. I think it's part of the reason. As always, Joe, this has been a pleasure, my friend. No, man. Anytime we have to talk soccer, you know me. We could talk for hours, by the way. And we will. We could talk for hours. We have many more hours coming. Yes, yes. We have many more, but let's save it. Let's save it for then. For now, for now, my friend, it's full time. I'll see you at the next one. No, it's always fun. It's always a pleasure. This was fun. Thank you again so much to the sponsor of today's episode, Verizon. They've given their customers unmatched access to the FIFA World Cup 2026, including thousands of free tickets, people, meet and greets with soccer legends, and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch a portion of the FIFA World Cup from the pitch, from the pitch, all just for being a Verizon customer.

59:33If you're not with Verizon, no sweats. Stop by a Verizon store to get in on the action and learn about their amazing offers for new customers.

59:45What Now with Trevor Noah is produced by DayZero Productions in partnership with SiriusXM. The show is executive produced by Trevor Noah, Sanaz Yamin, and Jess Hackle. Rebecca Chain is our producer. Our development researcher is Marcia Robiu. Music, mixing, and mastering by Hannes Brown. Random Other Stuff by Ryan Harduth. Thank you so much for listening. Join me next week for another episode of What Now?

1:00:21Thank you.