World Cup Round of 32 Begins!

In todays episode we discuss:

Brasil beat Japan 2-1 in the 90th minute

Paraguays massive win in penalties over Germany

Morocco's win in penalties over European giants Netherlands

Colombia's game versus Portugal

Tune in!

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:27

And it's another day of the World Cup and another friendly foes episode. And what a day of knockout games we had today. A slate of three games. We had the first one yesterday, and every single one of them has gone down to the wire. It has been beautiful. We had some upsets today. I absolutely love this sport. It couldn't get any better than this. The World Cup is living up to the hype, and the knockout rounds are just getting started. And man, we're we're here to break it down here with me, my broski. Juandi, man, how you been? What you think of these? What you think of these games so far? It's been uh it's been crazy.

SPEAKER_00 1:06

Football. This is the World Cup. This is what we wait for every four years. Every four years we wait for this beautiful tournament that just brings the whole world together. This is the beautiful sport, the beautiful game. We love this game. Like Patrice Eura says, we love this game. Oh man. Did you expect Paraguay to be Germany? Did you expect that? Did you have that in your bingo card?

SPEAKER_03 1:33

You know what? You know what's funny is that originally in my bracket, I did not select Paraguay. But I woke up this morning with a small hunch and I said, you know what? If Ecuador did it, why not Paraguay? Why can't Paraguay do it? And a lot of people doubted Paraguay because Paraguay lost 4-1 against the U.S. But that was just because they played a really poor game, and also the U.S. played a fantastic game. But Paraguay has been doing really well under Gustavo Alfaro. They did really well in qualifications. And I just had this hunch, man. Germany looked great against Curaçao, but that was Curacao. They didn't look that convincing against Ivory Coast. They didn't look that convincing against Ecuador. And they didn't look that convincing tonight. And Paraguay 100% deserved to go through. What a performance by all the Paraguayans. That Garra, Guarani, La Albiroja. Just making South Americans proud, man. I love to see it.

SPEAKER_00 2:33

Yeah, that's awesome. It's always awesome when Cornwall meets a or they beat a team from UEFA. It's always awesome.

SPEAKER_03 2:39

It's always great because the Europeans always think that their football is better. They're always saying, oh, our World Cup qualifications are so much harder. The Euros are better than Cop America. And look at this. European teams are getting knocked out one by one by one. Turkey finished last in the group. Czechia finished last in the group. Netherlands just got knocked out. Germany just got knocked out.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Man.

SPEAKER_03 3:09

Love to see it. Love to see it. This is why the World Cup.

SPEAKER_00 3:13

The past eight years, they've just been going downhill. Ever since the 2018 World Cup. They haven't made it to a round of 16. Actually, since 2014, my bad. Since 2014.

SPEAKER_03 3:24

Well, I was going to say since 2014.

SPEAKER_00 3:26

They haven't gone a knockout game since 2014.

SPEAKER_01 3:32

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 3:33

What's going on with Germany? They're about to be right there with Italy.

SPEAKER_03 3:37

Man, I don't know about all that, but I do think that there's obviously something that they have to change. If you look at their squad, they have some really good players, but it's not like the players that they had back in 2014 or in 2006. Um it's a different thing.

SPEAKER_00 3:57

They're just not a force anymore. It feels like they're not as much of a force as they were anymore.

SPEAKER_03 4:02

And obviously, Manuel Noyer is 40 years old. He's not the same last tournament. I mean, he came out of retirement because Der Stegan has been dealing with a ton of injuries, so they had to call him and say, we need you for this tournament. And he did his best. He saved the penalty to keep him in at the end.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

He did. I think now at 40 years old, he's just kind of inconsistent. For example, the first game against Real Madrid, he killed it. Killed it. That was vintage Noyer that we saw in the second leg. He was terrible. And we we kind of saw the same thing in the World Cup. There were some really good saves, really good moments from Manuel Noyer. He did save a penalty there against Paraguay in the shootout, but then there were other moments it was like, oh man, Noyer, what's going on? What's going on? You look rusty there. You look like you're 40. You know? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 4:50

But yeah, but this entire game, man, I think obviously Germany controlled the entirety of it, but Paraguay just was not letting him have it that easy. And this, I mean, they started off winning with Julio and Cisa with that header. Germany came back, but there was not much to not nothing too exciting out of Germany. I will say that Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Hill. Oof. Man of the match. Man of the match performance. They're gonna have to build a statue for that guy over in Asuncion because he saved. I can't, I don't have the actual stats pull though, but he saved almost everything that came his way during the game. And then on the penalty shootout, he got he's he saved two against Kai Howards and uh Waltemade. And Voltemada is supposedly a really good penalty uh kick taker. So was Kai Hobbit, and he man, he read them like a book. He knew exactly where they were gonna go.

SPEAKER_00 5:46

Yeah, I could tell he was getting in their heads a little bit with how he was clapping, moving. You know, and in these type of games, that really makes you nervous. I think that that really gets in the penalty. You could tell those German guys head for sure.

SPEAKER_03 6:00

Yeah, they were those German guys were very nervous. Very nervous. They were anxious. Yeah. So he he deserves a statute of himself out in Paraguay. Um Jonathan Ta, I kind of feel for him, man. He went from hero to villain pretty quickly, scored the winner in the overtime. They called it back. What were your thoughts on that? Did you think that was a foul? Did that deserve to be called back?

SPEAKER_00 6:29

I mean, uh, it's tough, but I I do see the obstruction there because I do think the keeper maybe could have got to the ball. You know, he definitely disrupted the keeper there a little bit. So maybe if he didn't disrupt him like that, I think like he he could have actually got to the ball. But I think it was uh the right call by the referee. It was hard, but I think it was the right call at the end. Because yeah, I mean the keeper is the one who's always gonna be protected the most, and you can tell that it was obstruction and it could definitely interfere with the play. So I think it was it was rightfully nullified.

SPEAKER_03 7:11

I thought the same thing. I thought that as soon as I saw the replay and I saw that he was obstructing a goalkeeper from getting to that ball, I would I I said this this has to get called back. Now there were a lot of people online, and specifically Jurgen Klupp said on the on German television that this is how Arsenal won the Premier League. And it is true, this is exactly how Arsenal won the Premier League. So it's pretty annoying to see the inconsistencies from refereeing. It's either a foul or it's not a foul. So uh everybody's gotta be on the same page. Exactly. That's why a lot of people were upset with the way Arsenal was a few.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

But to me, it was but it was definitely a foul for sure.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

I thought so too. I thought that was a clear foul. Uh, I thought that deserved to get called back.

SPEAKER_00 7:57

So I thought so because I mean, you know, they're already celebrating and they think they're gonna win. Dang.

SPEAKER_01 8:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:07

Yeah, man. Unfortunately, with VAR nowadays, you can't be celebrating too much. We've seen it one too many times the past few years. We saw it today, we saw it with the Columbia game, we saw it with Iran versus Egypt. Uh, you can't start celebrating too much, man, because the smallest of margins. Uh, you slow everything down, you take everything frame by frame, you see all the different points of view and angles, and referee starts changing his decision very, very quickly. Yeah. So you can't, it's almost like you score and you have to sit there and like, okay, let's let the referee take a look at this thing before I can actually go and celebrate, which is really frustrating, by the way. It takes away, it's ruining the game.

SPEAKER_00 8:47

But it's just it's it's part of the game now. There's really nothing you can do. It's been implemented for a while now. It's kind of like we're used to it.

SPEAKER_03 8:55

It sucks. Anyway, Uruguay with a huge upset against Germany. Like you said, I don't think anybody had that on their bingo card. I thought Germany, I I'm pretty sure Germany thought this was going to be an easy win and getting to the round of 16 and play France there. And I thought this was gonna be kind of like a scrimmage, a good warm-up round for them. And boy were they wrong. Boy were they wrong. And now, man, now it now things are getting crazy. Now things are starting to get spicy because a lot of people's brackets are probably messed up. Nobody thought Paraguay.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

It's probably messed up my bracket.

SPEAKER_03 9:31

Absolutely. And we'll see. Obviously, we'll have to see what happens between France and Sweden, but more than likely France is gonna be the one making it through. We'll see if Paraguay, how Paraguay does, man. We'll see how Paraguay does.

SPEAKER_00 9:43

I mean, I'll tell you what, after seeing that game against Germany, I don't think France will take him lightly. No way.

SPEAKER_03 9:48

No, you can't. You can't. You have to go out there and pounce on them and completely try to destroy them in Dolphins.

SPEAKER_00 9:55

Which, if there's a team that can do that, it's France.

SPEAKER_03 9:57

It's France, yeah. France is probably the scariest team right now.

SPEAKER_00 10:00

Paraguay plays a very, very low block, and I think France does good against teams that play low blocks so France can definitely do some damage against Paraguay. Especially they're hot right now. They're hot, they're hot. Yeah. But everybody thought it was gonna be France-Germany. I had Germany get knocked out against France. I didn't have him going too much further after this round, but still very disappointing from Germany. Very, very disappointing. A complete failure. Don't know if Julian Nagelsmann is gonna stay. He wants to stay, but this was a failure. Complete, utter failure.

SPEAKER_03 10:35

Well, let's say he leaves, who do they even bring in? I don't know. I have no idea, but I have no idea either. It was a complete failure. I think I think it would have it's it's a deeper issue than the manager, right? I think he did the whatever he could, he did the right things. It's just you know, the players. That is true.

SPEAKER_00 10:54

There's more to fix in Germany than just the coach because obviously they they really haven't done anything since they won the World Cup. They've been not at the Euros, not at the World Cup, yeah. They've been absolutely terrible. They haven't showed their their talent. Germany is a team that's usually known for going far in international tournaments. I remember growing up, Germany was always at least in the semifinals of a Euro or World Cup up until 2014. They were always there. And I don't know what's going on with them, but they they've had a big drop-off as well. Big, big drop-off. If a team like Paraguay can beat you, I mean, I'm not saying no disrespect to Paraguay. Paraguay is a decent team, they're a respectable team, but Germany should have absolutely whooped their ass. I mean, a team like Germany, on paper. Yeah. In a World Cup, I mean, that that should have been Germany's game. Easily, easily. I mean, they I know when when they saw that they they were gonna face Paraguay, I'm like you said, I'm I'm I'm sure they they they took it way too lightly. They were super stoked to play Paraguay, and look, it completely backfired on them.

SPEAKER_03 12:04

They completely bit them in their ass, and they should have they should have had a rude awakening against Ecuador because that's back-to-back losses to South American teams. So South American teams are up, baby. Let's go. Yeah. Let's go, man. So yeah, huge upset there. Uh Paraguay moves on. Shout out to them. And then we had uh let's talk about what we just saw, man. Uh, because we had two penalty shootouts today. Uh Paraguay, Germany, and then we just watched the Netherlands Morocco game. That was a pretty exciting game. Yeah, a lot of back and forth. Uh Cody Gakpo scores, a very emotional moment. Uh, after everything that happened this week with him and his wife losing their baby, super sad. Uh our hearts go out to them. But seeing him score and seeing all his teammates go out there and celebrate with him, it just meant a lot. That got that got me into it.

SPEAKER_00 12:52

See how much it meant to him for sure.

SPEAKER_03 12:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:55

A lot of weight off his shoulders when he scored that goal. Yep. And then you throw the whole team, the whole country was just behind them. So it was definitely beautiful to see it. It would have been nice to see him get the win two with that goal, but Morocco, they're a good team.

SPEAKER_03 13:11

Don't you can't ride them off, man, because at the last minute, at the last minute, they scored that goal off a header, and it goes to overtime. Then it beautiful penalties. Yeah. Beautiful. Beautiful cross. Amazing cross. Great header. It goes to overtime. Goes to penalties. We get to penalties. By the way, before we get to this, what's this freaking Dutch goalkeeper's name? I want to make sure I'm saying this guy's name right. Uh guy that plays for Brighton. Plays for Brighton, 23 years old. What's his name? Bart Verbruggen. I don't even know if I'm saying that right. What a fucking performance you had, guy. I mean, this guy's coming his way.

SPEAKER_00 13:55

Yeah, that save at the end was crazy. That was probably the best save in the World Cup right now. I would have to say. I can't think of a better one right now. That that comes to my head. That was absolutely insane. I mean, Morocco should have ended the game right there, and this guy just hit the knee, then hit the foot, and he was able to save the game.

SPEAKER_03 14:21

I thought his confidence was going to be way up high for the uh for the penalty shootout. And he did, he made, he made a save. He could have had another save, and this is something that I've never seen before. He saved it, then somehow it like ends up underneath him, hits off the back of his leg, and then it goes into the goal. I've never seen an own goal in a penalty shootout ever in my entire life. So unlucky, man. Very unlucky because had he saved that, we're we're talking about a different story right now.

SPEAKER_00 14:55

Yeah. Yep. Yeah, you know he's gonna be thinking about that all night. But at the same time, after the game he had, sucks up. That's what you're gonna be thinking about all night.

SPEAKER_03 15:05

But at the same time, I don't know if he should be too worried about that because what the hell is Timber doing taking a shot like that? He almost hit the corner flag with that shot from the PK.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Yeah, yeah, that was pretty bad. That was embarrassing.

SPEAKER_03 15:19

Idiot.

SPEAKER_00 15:20

Him you can tell Coleman regretted it instantly picking him up as one of the BK tech takers.

SPEAKER_03 15:27

I would have too, man. Yeah, Coleman started looking down, he's like, Alright, this is over.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:32

He knew he knew he knew that it was over.

SPEAKER_00 15:35

He was pissed.

SPEAKER_03 15:37

Ridiculous.

SPEAKER_00 15:38

I'm trying to find a good team, man. They have a solid midfield. Those two midfielders, um Ayyib, and what's the other guy's name, man? The guy that plays for Roma. Ayyeb and uh El Anayui. I believe that's how you pronounce it.

SPEAKER_03 15:57

Oh well, yeah, and then Onahi too for Judona. I like those guys. They play fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 16:06

Um and Saibadi, their leading goal scorer, has been playing phenomenal for them, too.

SPEAKER_03 16:12

I thought he had a bit of a quiet game. I mean, he nailed that penalty at the end, but uh had a bit of a quiet game.

SPEAKER_00 16:18

He had some chances though.

SPEAKER_03 16:20

Right, but you should finish.

SPEAKER_00 16:22

He gave that ball into um what's his face? Whoever shot it for that keeper to save it. Number nine. Yeah. I think I forget.

SPEAKER_03 16:32

Yeah, yeah, true.

SPEAKER_00 16:34

Rahimi, Rahimi, Rahimi.

SPEAKER_03 16:37

But man, this shootout. It did during the penalty shootout, it looked like both teams wanted to lose. Started off with Morocco, uh uh what's it? The the the guy who just mentioned LA uni, he missed it, hits the post, hits the crossbar, excuse me. Then Justin Cluiver misses it, and then we're back to 1-1, and then Timber misses it, and then Hakimi misses it, and then Somerville misses it, uh, or not misses it. Uh freaking the wind ball that saved it was pretty sick.

SPEAKER_00 17:10

That was good. That was good. That was good. But what I was gonna say is that every time they try to cross the penalty is when they just completely whipped it. It either hit the post or completely wived to the corner flag, like this guy, Timber.

SPEAKER_03 17:28

Timber was in it was embarrassing, dude. So so it was Kluvert. Same thing with uh Justin Kluvert. Um he I think he hit the post, but man, like that that was a great opportunity for you just for you to take advantage of Morocco and you don't do that. And then uh Somerville, man, he didn't look up us one time to see where the goalkeeper was. That was a great strategy by Bono, just going straight to where he knew the ball was gonna go. That was crazy. I don't think I've ever seen a goalkeeper do that either. Where he just goes directly.

SPEAKER_00 18:01

Yeah, literally he he completely it was a power shot by Somerville, and then he went to go dive, but then he's like, Oh shit, it's actually coming this way, and he just stuck his hand out. Yeah, it was pretty sick.

SPEAKER_03 18:14

It was sick. He read he knew exactly where he was going. He was already standing there before the ball even got there. All he had to do was just stick his hand out to save it. That was pretty that that was pretty gnarly. That was pretty cool. So uh, yeah, these these Moroccan and Dutch Dutch players didn't know how to take penalties. Uh yeah. That was but it was a good game.

SPEAKER_00 18:36

I think it was probably the best game to look forward to in the round of 32.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Yeah. I think so.

SPEAKER_00 18:45

I think everybody had this game circled on their calendar.

SPEAKER_03 18:50

This game is good. Um I'm trying to think of another one. Yeah, this is probably the best one, you're right. This is probably the best one. I thought it was gonna be a lot more high scoring, but it was a good game. The Netherlands still have their undefeated streak in World Cups for the past like 10 years. They haven't lost a game in regular time or overtime, they only lost in penalty shootouts. Isn't that crazy? I didn't know that stat. And then say they lost in a penalty shootout in 2014 to Argentina, they didn't go to the World Cup in 2018, they lost a penalty shootout to Argentina again in 2022, and then they lost to um what's it called? Morocco in penalty shootout, and they lost to Spain in the final in 2010 in overtime. Yeah, so they haven't actually lost the game in regular time in a long time.

SPEAKER_00 19:47

Dang. What about 2006? Did they lose in overtime? I think they lost an overtime too in 2006 against Portugal.

SPEAKER_03 19:54

Was that an overtime?

SPEAKER_00 19:55

I think it was an overtime.

SPEAKER_03 19:57

Let's check it out.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I believe it was an overtime.

SPEAKER_03 20:04

Uh no, it was full time.

SPEAKER_00 20:06

It was full time?

SPEAKER_03 20:07

It was it was one nil, full time. Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_01 20:11

Never mind that.

SPEAKER_03 20:12

That's what it looks like, yeah. One nil, goal by my Nietzsche in the 23rd.

SPEAKER_01 20:18

That's what I'm looking at here.

SPEAKER_03 20:20

But uh, yeah, no, the Dutch, the Dutch undefeated streak at the World Cup sound. That's why I had them winning. I was like, no way they they lose this streak. That's kind of a crazy stat.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

Yeah, you forgot about PKs, though.

SPEAKER_03 20:32

I forgot about PKs, and I forgot that Ronald Coleman was a terrorist when it comes to coaching teams. This guy has no idea. I don't know why he decided to change up the lineup.

SPEAKER_00 20:43

Don't talk about your Barca legend like that.

SPEAKER_03 20:45

He's a Barca legend. I'm not gonna lie. Like, he's a Barca legend as a player. When it comes to being a coach, I would I think it's probably best for him to sit this one out, uh, go do something else, because as a coach, he's not that good. He just I'm not gonna lie, I kind of miss him at Barca. Well, of course you do, right? Of course you do. He had us in like eighth place before Xavi came in. I missed in terrible condition. But uh, nah, he he played too defensively, changed the lineup. As soon as he had made the substitutions, that's when they scored. That's when Vet Horse flicked it over to Somerville. Somerville passed it into Cody Gappoon and he scored.

SPEAKER_00 21:31

Yeah, he went five at the back this time.

SPEAKER_03 21:33

Yeah, which is so weird to me.

SPEAKER_00 21:34

He put in Nathan Ake for um for Raiders.

SPEAKER_03 21:39

Yeah. I don't know why. And Raiders didn't even come in once. Memphis DePai didn't come in once.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

Yeah, surprising. I mean, which is very he didn't really play much this uh this World Cup.

SPEAKER_03 21:51

But no, he didn't. His level has dipped a little bit in the Brazilian League, the all time.

SPEAKER_00 21:57

He could be a game changer, like in the last yeah, like I mean, I don't know, put him in the Last 10 minutes or something. I'm sure he can give you a little bit of juice. Yeah, I'm sure you can give you a little bit of juice.

SPEAKER_03 22:06

I'm a big fan of Memphis DePai. I really like him. I love the way he plays.

SPEAKER_00 22:10

He's I'm not gonna lie, Somerville reminds me a lot of a young Memphis DePai.

SPEAKER_03 22:15

Yeah, he's good. I like Somerville a lot. He plays really, really well. He was the main one creating something for them.

SPEAKER_00 22:21

Yeah. I think I think West Ham will not be able to keep him this summer.

SPEAKER_03 22:26

No, there's no way. There's no way they do. He's gone. He's gone. Anyway, the Dutch go home. Uh who knows if Ronald Coleman is going to stay in charge of the Dutch of the Netherlands. But they go home. Morocco goes through, and we officially have our first round of 16 match set up. Canada versus Morocco. I think it's like in four or five days or something. I think Morocco should win this one.

SPEAKER_01 22:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:56

I think Morocco should win this one. I don't know if Canada will hold up, but shout out to Canada, man. I mean, they played yesterday. Yeah, he was. He said he was going to watch the game. But shout out to Canada, man. They not only did they get their first point at this World Cup, they got their first win, and they got their first knockout win against South Africa at the last minute, like the 93rd minute of the game. Steven Ustakio with a phenomenal goal. What a crazy story this guy had. He lost his parents uh a couple of years ago. They were asking him about that in the press conference afterwards, and he obviously got very emotional about it. So it's crazy and it's super exciting to see that happening for him. So good for him. Shout out to him, shout out to Canada. It's crazy to see how far Canada has come. I would say even five to ten years ago. I would have never guessed that Canada was ever going to win a game at a World Cup, let alone a knockout win. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:57

I'll tell you what, man. I'm really looking forward to this Alfonso Davis versus Akraf Hakimi duel. That's going to be.

SPEAKER_03 24:06

That's if Alfonso Davis plays.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

He should. He was playing against uh South Africa.

SPEAKER_03 24:11

Yeah, he yeah, that was his first couple minutes. He hadn't been playing any group state matches.

SPEAKER_00 24:17

Yeah, but now I mean why would he be sitting on the bench? I mean, unless his injury is that serious. But if he came on against uh against South Africa, he's gotta start against um oh my god, whoever's Morocco. He's gonna start against Morocco.

SPEAKER_03 24:33

I don't know if he'll start. That'll be crazy if he does, because I don't think he's completely match fit for that game. I it depends on his fitness level, but I I don't know. I doubt it. He hasn't started he's this is the those the first minutes he's gotten this entire World Cup, so who knows if he'll start. Well, I mean now it's the round of 16.

SPEAKER_00 24:49

Now it's the round of 16. I mean, what what else do they have to lose? You know? Well he's got to lose a lot if he gets injured again. So that's why I mean if he if he's playing though, if he played those last minutes, I think I think he's ready to go.

SPEAKER_03 25:03

He's gotta be ready to go. He might play, but I don't think he's gonna start. I I genuinely doubt he starts.

SPEAKER_00 25:09

I hope he does, because that would be a very good duel between him and Hakimi.

SPEAKER_03 25:13

Oh, it 100% would, but I don't know. I he hasn't started any any game this World Cup. That was his first uh I don't even know how many minutes he played. I'm trying to look at it here. Uh he came on in the 75th, so he played like the last 15-20 minutes. Uh so he'll probably maybe get 45 minutes or so. I don't think he'll play the full 90. We'll see.

SPEAKER_00 25:35

We'll see. He's the captain and the their best player in the world.

SPEAKER_03 25:39

He's he's their best player in the history of the sport. So uh it's crazy to see how Canada, how how much Canada has improved over the years. Getting players like Fonsey Davis, getting players like Jonathan David, uh Kyle Laren, these players that are playing in big leagues in Europe, playing Champions League. Jesse March has done a really good job. They went far in the Cope America two years ago. They've made it pretty far this this World Cup. I don't think anybody would have had Canada go into the round of 16 in this World Cup. And now they're playing against Morocco. Another African team. We'll see how they do. Uh I kind of hope they do well. I kind of hope they keep winning, you know, rooting for the CONCACAF teams.

SPEAKER_01 26:23

But Morocco's gonna be a very tough opponent for them.

SPEAKER_00 26:27

And that's for sure. Set up perfectly to meet up with France in the quarterfinals for a rematch from Qatar. So I think that'll happen.

SPEAKER_03 26:36

Yeah, I'm excited for that. It will be, it will be exciting. Uh, we also had Brazil-Japan earlier today, and that was also a game that came down to the wire. Because it was man, I'll tell you what. I thought Japan was gonna pull an upset for a little bit. Those first 45 minutes from Japan were amazing.

SPEAKER_00 26:58

Yeah, Brazil was struggling a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 27:00

Yeah, Brazil was not playing well, and along came Gabriel Martinelli and made things happen and saved Brazil from falling off an abyss from a huge upset, from going back home and being ridiculed.

SPEAKER_00 27:22

Can you imagine if they would have lost?

SPEAKER_03 27:24

Can you imagine? It would have been terrible. Yeah, it would have been terrible.

SPEAKER_00 27:30

What they would have got back home, all that heat, my goodness. I think Anchorati would have been fired already.

SPEAKER_03 27:37

I think he wouldn't have even made it on the plane. I don't think he would have made it on the plane. But yeah, no, I uh it's crazy to watch Brazil play nowadays because from when whenever I we we were kids in 2002, 2006, you know, the the late 90s, early 2000s, Brazil that Joga Bonito was insane, man. Yeah, it was insane to watch these guys play. Everybody wanted to be like a Brazilian, and nowadays it's like they're losing their flair, they're not really playing that Joga Bonito anymore. Uh, you know, they won this game, but it's not really a team that I can that I that I think can make uh that deep of a run. I have them in the semifinals, but I don't know, man. Like they snuck out this win against Japan. I don't know how many more of those are gonna do.

SPEAKER_00 28:36

They're not a team that really puts fear in another team at all. You look at Brazil, and it's yeah, you gotta respect Brazil because of all the history that they have, but they're not a scary team at all. Right now, it's it's just Vinny. They have Casemiro, of course, Cunha is doing good.

SPEAKER_03 28:53

And they've named got hurt today, so who knows if he's gonna play next round?

SPEAKER_00 28:58

Yeah, yeah, I don't know, but they don't have fullbacks anymore. They used to have Danny Alves, they used to have Marcelo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos. Now they got freaking Douglas Santos and Danilo. Danilo. Which the goal that Japan scored was all Danilo's fault. He lost that ball in the middle of the field. So he he if you've seen him play this whole World Cup, he really hasn't been match fit, but that's the best right back that they have. And it's it sucks. It sucks to see because Brazil is known to have really good fullbacks, and right now they're not producing any good fullbacks, but they just have good center backs, good defensive midfielders, and then they have Vinny and Rafinha, but Rafinha is injured right now. And I mean, if if Neymar, I don't I mean, we'll see how he is. Who knows what to do with it. Or if he does come in, yeah. I don't I don't know. I mean, Ancelotti says that he he's good to play, he just didn't fit in the scheme that he had planned for today. But I mean, maybe next game he'll come on. We'll see, but we we haven't seen Neymar in a while. So I mean, I feel like in the last 15 minutes, if he comes on, he can make a difference for sure. But it's something that we have to see. Uh I haven't really seen it yet. And if Rafinha was there, I think it would really help out Brazil so much because Rafinha is a difference maker. He's he's one of the stars of the team. So that that's a huge loss for them right now. That is a big, big loss.

SPEAKER_03 30:28

It is a huge loss. They they they don't have Rafinha. Who knows what Casamito's injury looks like. Uh and Neymar. Obviously, Neymar's the leader of that team. He's the difference maker, and he's only played 15 minutes this entire World Cup against Scotland. I thought we were gonna get to see him today against Japan. I was very smells weird to me. That smells fishy. Uh, it smells like.

SPEAKER_00 30:56

Yeah, Ancelotti was saying that if they didn't tie the game up, he would have came in. But when they tied the game up, he didn't want to change anything, and he decided to keep him on the bench. That was what Ancelotti said afterwards.

SPEAKER_03 31:10

Yeah. I just, yeah, I don't know, man. It seems weird to me. It seems weird. But Bruno Gui Marais played really, really good, had great through ball to Martinelli to win the game. At the end of the day, the substitutions that Ancelotti made made sense. Andrick came on, Martinelli came on, Martinelli made the difference. Endric had a pretty good game. After the halftime, Brazil started playing a lot better. Um they just gotta tighten things up. But yeah, like you said, they're not a team that puts fear into opponents anymore. People don't really fear Brazil like they used to. They just got a lot of history behind them. And that Joga Bonito, that flair, the Brazilian flair, is gone. Vinny's the only one that kind of keeps it up going. He had a pretty he's had a pretty good World Cup. I'll give him that. He's had a he's had a good show instead of phenomenal World Cup.

SPEAKER_00 31:58

He had a really good opportunity too, which if it would have gone in, oh that would have been a goal of the tournament. That would have been yeah, Florentino would have had to sign the contract that Vinny was proposing.

unknown 32:14

Whatever.

SPEAKER_03 32:15

Yeah, that was a that was a great save by Suzuki. That was such a good save. He would he had a really good game. He kept Japan in for a long time. He had a good tournament. Yeah, he had a really good tournament. Feel bad for Japan, man. I feel like they always get they always put on a good showing in the group stage. They get to the first round of the knockouts and they get they get bounced. It happens. It's happened the last like two or three World Cups.

SPEAKER_00 32:40

So I mean they always play against tough opponents. Last World Cup, they be Who did they beat? They they were in the same group as Spain and Germany, right? And then they beat I think they beat both of them.

SPEAKER_03 32:54

Uh let's check. I don't remember that off the top of my head. But yeah, they finished first in the group ahead of Germany and Spain. And then they went to the knockouts and they got awarded with Croatia, and they lost in uh penalties to Croatia. And then they lost at the last minute against Brazil this time in 2018. They went uh uh toe-to-toe with Belgium, lost at the last minute to Belgium in 2018.

SPEAKER_01 33:28

Uh let's go back to 2014. They didn't make the knockouts in 2014.

SPEAKER_03 33:35

So three World Cups in a row where they make the first knockout game and they lose. So there they were a lot of people's dark horse. They're always a tough opponent, but they always make it really difficult for people. And yeah, they just get awarded with a really tough knockout stage, which sucks.

SPEAKER_00 33:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 33:58

It sucks for them.

SPEAKER_00 33:59

Yeah, Japan is always a respectable team.

SPEAKER_03 34:02

Very much so.

SPEAKER_00 34:03

They're always hard to go up against, but they they can never get the dub. They can never get it done.

SPEAKER_03 34:09

No, no. So now Brazil moves on. Uh more than likely they're going to face uh who are they going to face? More than likely. Where am I at?

SPEAKER_00 34:19

Ivory Coast of Norway.

SPEAKER_03 34:20

Ivory Coast of Norway, which a lot of people got Norway because of Hollywood. I got Ivory Coast.

SPEAKER_00 34:27

I got Ivory Coast, man.

SPEAKER_03 34:28

You got Ivory Coast? Yeah, I said Norway because of Holland.

SPEAKER_00 34:33

I want to say Ivory Coast is probably the best African team in this tournament, other than Morocco. I like them a lot. They're strong, they're fast, they got some flair on the wings.

SPEAKER_01 34:48

They play well. I like watching him play.

SPEAKER_00 34:51

I like it.

SPEAKER_03 34:53

I like watching them play.

SPEAKER_00 34:54

I I think Norway will struggle against this team. I got the players.

SPEAKER_03 34:58

They're a thousand percent will struggle. But they just got Erling Holland, so I you never know. That guy can change the game instantly.

SPEAKER_00 35:04

Um he can. He can, but he's gotta be on point scoring his goals. And Norway's defense, too, can't let Yan Diamande do anything. Because that guy's just been unplayable.

SPEAKER_03 35:20

On fire. That guy's been on fire. Yeah, they play tomorrow, 1 p.m. Ivory Coast, Norway. That we got a good slate of game tomorrow. Ivory Coast, Norway, France, Sweden, Mexico, Ecuador. A lot of uh tension between Mexicans and Ecuadorians. I've been seeing apparently Ecuadorian fans were only given like 500 tickets or like a thousand tickets, something like that, to attend the game. Yeah, and Mexicans are really trying to keep these Ecuadorians out of the stadium. They want that Mexican, they want that stadium full of Mexicans.

SPEAKER_00 35:54

Yeah, they want that home advantage, which it's gonna be completely full of Mexicans.

SPEAKER_03 36:00

Oh, it's gonna be insane. I think it's this is at Guadalajara, I think.

SPEAKER_00 36:04

No, Mexico City in El Azteca. The next two games. It would be crazy if Mexico and England win. That game at the Azteca would be absolutely insane. It would be insane. It would be crazy.

SPEAKER_03 36:22

Absolute scenes. Movie. Get the popcorn out because that would be an amazing game. I listen, I want I want Ecuador to do well. I always root for South American teams. I think on paper, Ecuador has a better team than Mexico, but I think the home field advantage that Mexico has this World Cup has helped them so, so much that they're gonna be so hard to beat at home, even though they haven't played all that well. Sheesh, man, like they still haven't been scored on nine points out of nine in the group stage. Ecuador struggled to even get out, but it's not gonna be easy for Mexico, man. Ecuador, Ecuador plays tough. They finished third in Colmewell. They got the least amount of goals scored against them in Conmewall in the World Cup qualification. It's gonna be tough for Mexico, but I do think Mexico might edge them out just a little bit just because of the whole field bench.

SPEAKER_00 37:19

Yeah, that's huge. Huge, huge, huge. And you can tell it's working in their favor because they have just Mexico isn't really a good team, bro. The past years, ever since what, like 2018, ever since they lost that really good generation, they they haven't really been good. And I don't I don't know. This this home field advantage, you can tell that it's really helping them a lot, a lot. It's because the whole crowd is getting behind them and they got that energy, they have the momentum. So Ecuador on paper, yes, they are a better team, but Mexico, I think, has the momentum. Even though Ecuador did beat Germany just now, but they gotta go to the Azteca and face basically all Mexico because against Germany that's the difference. Yeah, yeah. Against Germany, you saw all yellow, all yellow, I think, at the MetLife. Yeah, they were at the MetLife. It was all yellow. A bunch of Ecuadorians in New York. Now you're gonna go to Mexico's turf. That's gonna be tough.

SPEAKER_03 38:19

It's gonna be really difficult, man. They're already Mexicans are already making it difficult for them. Apparently, they already found out where the Ecuadorian players are staying at, and fans are gonna go there and try to keep them up all night. Uh that's always a quite the tactic to do. Uh you can argue whether it's unsportsmanlike or not. I personally don't like it. I think it's pretty shitty. But uh these fits.

SPEAKER_00 38:46

I guess obviously, if I was uh playing for Ecuador, I'd be fucking pissed. But as a Mexican fan, dude, I'd be doing that all night. I'd be doing that all night, bro. Yeah, man. Just make sure they get no sleep.

SPEAKER_03 39:02

Yeah, it sometimes it works, man. Sometimes it works. If I honestly, if I was if I was an Ecuadorian and or part of the Federation and I saw that, I would try to figure out a way to get us out of that freaking hotel, figure something out, find a back door, get us to somewhere else, and just fool all the Mexicans, keep them up all night for no reason. Um I would try to figure something out, man. Take everybody out in like a black van one by one, put like put all the players out with the uh take the players out with a bag over their head so nobody sees them, stick them in a black van and take them to, I don't know, some Motel 6 down the street or something.

SPEAKER_00 39:41

Ooh, a motel six? Damn.

SPEAKER_03 39:43

Maybe not a motel six. I wouldn't do that. That's kind of messed up. I wouldn't do that. Sleep in the bus wide, don't you, bro? Yeah, yeah, yeah. At that point, yeah. Take them to a different hotel. Take them to a different hotel. Uh but anyway. That does happen a lot, though. It does.

SPEAKER_00 39:59

They'll they'll like, I don't know, put out like a fake hotel or something, and they'll end up staying somewhere else.

SPEAKER_03 40:05

That's what I would do. I would just start putting fake hotels everywhere. Anyway, France, Sweden tomorrow. I think this is, you know, it's got France written all over it. Yeah. To get this dub. I mean, Sweden got destroyed by Netherlands. I think they're gonna get their ass whooped by France. I don't think they even have a single shot. I mean, it would be it would be incredible. And I think the entire world or the entire remaining teams at the World Cup would thank Sweden. They would bow down and thank Sweden if they if they knock out France this early.

SPEAKER_00 40:44

Or maybe they'll just save it for Paraguay. Maybe Paraguay's gonna knock out France.

SPEAKER_03 40:49

Hey, Paraguay might be the they might they might be the true dark horse here.

SPEAKER_00 40:53

Dude, Paraguay has no work tomorrow. The government gave them the day off. Did they really?

unknown 41:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:02

Dude, this is what I love. You better be celebrating tomorrow, man. Everybody better be celebrating tomorrow. And same with Mexico. Nobody's working in Mexico tomorrow because of the game. Yeah, I don't blame them, man. How cool is that?

SPEAKER_03 41:14

Nobody should be working. It's the World Cup. Nobody should work between June 11th and July 19th. It should be illegal across the world. But especially if you're a host nation, there's no reason why we should be working tomorrow. 100%. There's no reason. What's the reason to work?

SPEAKER_00 41:29

Even if we do work, even if we clock in, it's not like we're gonna work. We're just gonna be watching. You're getting us to watch the World Cup. I mean, which is cool, I guess.

SPEAKER_03 41:37

Whatever, but yeah, don't tell my boss that. Um hopefully he doesn't find this podcast. Um anyway, so yeah, France is probably gonna get that big win. Dembele finally showed up in that last game uh against uh scored a Hattie. Oh, Norway. Yeah, scored a Hattie, showed up. The stars are all showing up, and Dembele showed up. So we'll see who shows up tomorrow against Sweden. And then we already talked about a little bit about Ivory Coast Norway. I think uh the fact that Norway has Holland is gonna help them out a lot, but it's gonna be really difficult. It's gonna be a really difficult game for Norway. It's gonna be a difficult game for Ivory Coast. I'm interested to see it. That's probably gonna be I don't know. Maybe Mexico Ecuador might be the best matchup tomorrow. I'm excited to see that game. That is gonna be Mexico Ecuador is gonna be intense, man. It's gonna be super intense. I'm excited about it, but man, we keep we keep going. So who do you got? Who do you got making it all the way? Who do you got in your final?

SPEAKER_00 42:39

In my bracket, I put Columbia, baby. I just got him going all the way. In the second chance bracket that we did, I got Columbia. I love it. I said, fuck it. I'm just gonna have him going all the way. I got way too excited, bro, after seeing them play against Portugal. Way too excited. Bring me that cup.

SPEAKER_03 42:58

We didn't get to talk about the Columbia game too much uh after they played, but boy did we play amazing against Portugal. We just needed a goal, man. We just needed the goal. We got to get better at finishing, but we fuck we did score. Uh yeah, we did we did get robbed at the end. That was a that was fucked up. There was no reason that shouldn't be a goal. There's no reason. That's ridiculous. But no, we dominated Portugal. I mean, Portugal had a few chances, don't get me wrong, like they also played pretty well. But Portugal, if Portugal was playing like they were scared of us, Portugal was playing like they were playing Argentina. Every time we had the ball, everybody was behind their own half. They were defending completely. But oh man, everyone.

SPEAKER_00 43:42

They gave us too much respect, to be honest with you.

SPEAKER_03 43:45

They did. They let us play a lot. They let us play a lot. And at the at the end of the day, we did not take advantage of that because we should have won this game easily, easily by two or three goals. Luis Diaz, I thought had a very Quiet game. I think he should have played.

SPEAKER_00 44:02

Yeah, it wasn't his best performance.

SPEAKER_03 44:03

No, every time he it looks like he didn't have confidence. Every time he got the ball, he would try to take a player on, and he's like, ah, I don't know. And then he would play the ball back. And then he would take one too many touches in the box when he should have been at least a one touch shot to try to get a goal. I don't know. But Hamas.

SPEAKER_00 44:21

I feel like that happened a lot too, like with John Adias. John Adias had a couple opportunities and he should have just shot it like one time. And instead, he would take like two, three seconds, or it would take an extra touch, and I'm like, fuck John. Like it was right there. You could have just shot it, but he had a partidazo though. He had a really, really good game.

SPEAKER_03 44:37

John Adias didn't finish. My man of the match. John Adias was my man of the match.

SPEAKER_00 44:41

Him and Hames. Hames had a freaking phenomenal game, too.

SPEAKER_03 44:44

Hames had a great game. Quintero came on and played amazing. Whenever the starting lineup came out and I saw Muñoz was on the bench, I was like, what the hell is going on? Why is Muñoz on the bench? But Santi Arias played amazing.

SPEAKER_00 44:57

I think he just wanted to see what I think he wanted to test this arsenal. I think he just wanted to see what Santi Arias and Machado could offer him. That Muñoz or Mojica can't offer him. Because everybody else was still.

SPEAKER_03 45:14

I think Mojica didn't play because Mojica had a yellow card. So that's why he didn't want him to get a second yellow and miss the next game. But I liked I like David Machalo better than Mojica. I like him better. I think that with Daniel with Santiares instead of Munoz, I think what he was doing is that he was trying to be better defensively down that wing because of Nuno Mendes. Because Nuno Mendez was going to be attacking a lot. And because Danny Munoz attacks a lot, that was going to leave a lot of space in behind him. And it was going to be a lot of work for Davison Sanchez and Jeffes Orderman to break to make up for. And that was going to leave Cristiano and Joao Felix alone on their own. So I think he did it more as a tactic to be more defensive down that flank. And I mean it ended up working out because Joao Felix and Nuno Mendes were completely shut down by Santiarias. I think Santiago had a great game. Davidson Sanchez and John Lucomi. The best center back World Cup. The best center back pairing at this World Cup. Yeah, I agree. Nobody's been better. Davison Sanchez to me has been the best center back this World Cup. No, he's he hasn't been dribble past this entire World Cup. Nobody can get past him.

SPEAKER_00 46:25

He's so underrated, man.

SPEAKER_03 46:27

He's so underrated. Every time he puts on the Cupalum jersey, he does well. He did really well while he was at Ijax. He went to Tottenham, and I mean that was a terrible decision. It's Tottenham. Everybody's shit at Tottenham.

SPEAKER_00 46:38

So I think he did good. He had some, you know, some moments where he was struggling to get some playing time or being the starting 11. But I mean, for the most part, I thought he did very well in Tottenham.

SPEAKER_03 46:50

I mean, I don't know. If you ask Spurs fan, they don't really like him too much because he he didn't really play all that well. He had a couple good games here.

SPEAKER_00 46:57

That's because Spurs fans are freaking stupid.

SPEAKER_03 46:59

Well, I mean, that is true, yeah. That is true.

SPEAKER_00 47:03

They're missing out on one of the best center backs in the world.

SPEAKER_03 47:06

Yeah, but now he's killing it in Galatasaray. He's killing it at the World Cup. He killed it in Copa America. And I love that pairing between him and Lukumi. Lukumi also is oh my god, he's amazing. I think he might be going to Juva this this offseason. There's a lot of talk about it. Yeah, but man, I'm so glad we have him now. And and that that I'm I'm so glad that they're playing together because they play amazing together, and nothing got past them in against Portugal. So Columbia played amazing. We should have won that game. I wish we would put our chances away. I'm glad that we came out first in the group, just like we said we would. We said we would come out first. Nobody believed us. People thought Portugal was gonna come out first. Portugal ain't coming out first. They they they don't got they don't got it like that. They're they're a team that's overhyped, in my opinion. I think Portugal, the way they're playing, they're not gonna get far. It's an overhyped team.

SPEAKER_00 48:04

Well, their coach is terrible, man.

SPEAKER_03 48:07

They do have a terrible coach.

SPEAKER_00 48:09

You got the best midfield in the world and you can't find Cristiano Ronaldo? Like, how can you not find probably the greatest striker in history and you have the best midfielder midfield in Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandez, and Vitinha, and you're telling me none of those three players can put in a decent ball for Ronaldo? That's crazy to me. That's crazy to me. Yeah, Ronaldo was completely shut down. Yeah, I mean he was, but a part of it too was because midfield wasn't doing absolutely anything. Midfield wasn't finding him at all.

SPEAKER_03 48:48

Yeah, because our midfield completely dominated them too. I mean, Joan Arias. Give me Jonarias over Vitina any day. Give me Gustavo Puerta over Joao Neves any day. James, James, let me tell you something. Bruno Fernandez wishes he was James Rodriguez. He wishes he was half the player James Rodriguez is. Don't miss me with that whole best midfield in the world bullshit. I give me our midfield any day of the week over them. I don't care.

SPEAKER_01 49:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:23

Yeah, no, this World Cup Hamas has been top, top. Been very good performance, and and Bruno Fernandez hasn't been seen anywhere. Anywhere. I think the only thing he did good was that free kick against uh who was it? Uzbekistan. Chipped it right over the wall for Ronaldo. That was sick. That's probably the only thing he's done this tournament.

SPEAKER_03 49:46

Yeah. That's it. He tried to do the same against Colombia. He tried to they tried to do a little chiparoo. I saw that. They tried to do a little chip aroo. Didn't work out. Davison Sanchez was he was on top of it, man. I'm telling you, Davidson Sanchez. Cristiano Laura's gonna have nightmares about Davidson Sanchez and Lucumi. As a matter of fact, Cristiano, from now on, you will you will address Davidson Sanchez and John Lucumi as your fathers. You will say yes, sir, no, sir. You will ask permission wherever you want to go, and they will let you know if they'll allow you because they completely owned you that game. Okay? Relax, bro.

SPEAKER_00 50:21

Relax, bro. I mean, yeah, he didn't do shit, but I honestly think it was more because of the midfield couldn't find them.

SPEAKER_03 50:32

Yeah, I mean, that is true. That is true. But it's doing anything. But their midfield wasn't doing anything because our midfield didn't really allow them.

SPEAKER_00 50:39

Yes, that's true. That's true. Yeah, yes.

SPEAKER_03 50:42

Jefferson Lerma, another one. Another one.

SPEAKER_00 50:44

Yes, he had a phenomenal. That's probably the best game that he had all World Cup.

SPEAKER_03 50:49

Very, very, very underrated player as well. All of our players are underrated. I don't know. Give me that way. Bro, give me that. Give me Juan Fer Quintero over Bruno Fernandez any day of the week. Juan Fer Quintero, whenever he comes on, he's probably the most talented. He's probably the most talented player on that field when he comes on. He gets the ball and somehow finds the spaces that nobody sees. He does.

SPEAKER_00 51:14

That's probably the best cheap code that we have. Just putting this guy in for the last 20 minutes, he's the same exact profile as Hamas. So it's like, okay, Hamas is getting tired. He's done. Get in those fresh legs with the same exact profile, bro. Yeah. And it's like he that's how he killed him. He he made the assist of Davis O Sanchez. Which was a beautiful assist, by the way.

SPEAKER_03 51:41

Beautiful, beautiful. And he put he put in a couple through balls at the end, too, like to Danny Munio's.

SPEAKER_00 51:46

He always does, bro. Like he always finds the spaces that I'm like, I love you. And it's awesome too because he like they feed him and then he gets pressured. He just hides the ball, and then boom, he just finds he finds the perfect channel for either Luis Diaz, John Córdoba, Luis Suarez, whoever the hell it is that's playing up there, bro. He just finds him. And I just love how he hides the ball too. Like they feed Quintero, he hides it, he does whatever he has to do.

SPEAKER_02 52:17

Boom, boom, boom. And he's like a he's he's like a little quarterback, dude.

SPEAKER_03 52:21

He like sits in like that middle of the field, he gets the ball, he hides it, he looks up, and somehow he finds somebody making a run. I don't even know. He's got like some eagle eye. It's amazing. I'm telling you, man, people don't know him that much because of the fact that he wasn't really that much of a star in Europe. But I'm telling you, man, he is probably one of the most talented Colombian players. What am I saying? One of the most talented South American players that I've ever laid my eyes on. He is a joy to watch play. He is my what do you say? Uh in Spanish, we call it Miderilida Futbolística, my my weakness. I I freaking love watching Quintero play. Every time Quintero comes on, all is right in the world. Everything is right. I love watching this guy play. Give me Quintero every day of the week. I don't know. You guys can keep your Vitinas, your Joao Neves, your Bruno Fernandez. Give me Quintero. Give me Juan for Quintero.

SPEAKER_00 53:21

But specifically for like the last 20-30 minutes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 53:25

For like the last 30 minutes.

SPEAKER_00 53:27

30-21 minutes. I love him, but that motherfucker can't run for shit, bro. He doesn't need to run, man. He doesn't need to, which is what I love it. Like you just see this short little stocky guy just making the best through balls you've ever seen. Nobody can touch him. It's like, damn, bro. Like this guy is just he's different.

SPEAKER_02 53:52

No, he's he's built like a little fire hydrant, bro. And he just just give him the ball. And like he's like a little mini French, dude. He's he's like running around. He's not fast. But that brother, oh, he can play. He's like, ah, yeah, you look at him and you're like, this guy can't be that good.

SPEAKER_03 54:11

Like he's not that tall. He's kind of short, stocky. He's not that fast. Yeah. Nobody knows he's the most talented player on that field. Nobody knows that. Incredible.

SPEAKER_00 54:21

Yeah, that left foot is blessed. What sucks for him is that he's in the same or that he is the same age as Hamas.

SPEAKER_03 54:29

Yeah, he's in the same exact spot.

SPEAKER_00 54:31

Five, ten years younger. Oh, bro. It would be perfect. It's like, all right, Hamas is gone, and now we have this guy.

SPEAKER_02 54:41

Oh my god, it would be amazing.

SPEAKER_03 54:44

It would be amazing, but unfortunately not. Yeah. Like you were saying, like we have a double-edged sword in the fact that we have um two great number 10 midfielders with a majestic left foot. The only problem is that neither one of them is fit enough to play 90 minutes. But the the how we solve that problem, we just play one in the first half, we play one in the second half. That's all we gotta do. Play Hamas for like 50, 60 minutes, and then let Juanfer come on. That's it. Juanfer has to come on. Juanfer has to play every single game. Okay? Listen, the Hamington Kampas experiment worked against Uzbekistan. Don't you dare do that against Ghana, okay? Nestoro, don't do that. Alright?

SPEAKER_04 55:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 55:32

Maybe put him off, but Juanfer has to play. Juanfer has to play.

SPEAKER_00 55:36

Yeah, we need somebody to slow down the game. Because you know these African teams come in hot, bro. Dude. We need someone to just give us a little bit of pausa when everything's getting a little hectic, and that that's Quintero. That's Quintero. He's gonna be the one to just calm everything when things are gonna just, you know, when shit's gonna hit the fan. Because it could. It could.

SPEAKER_03 55:58

Yeah, it could. It very well could. I'm I'm uh I'm a little um I wouldn't say I'm scared, but I'm nervous. I'm nervous for Ghana because they're they're a good opponent, they're a good team. They give England a tough, a tough start, they give Croatia a tough start. They have good players that play in the Premier League. Yeah, so they it's gonna be a very similar game to to uh DR Congo. So you know what?

SPEAKER_00 56:26

Colombia usually does good against African teams.

SPEAKER_03 56:28

We know how to handle them. That is true. We do. We are pretty good against African teams. We got a pretty good record against them.

SPEAKER_00 56:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 56:36

I man, so you got Colombia going all the way to the final. I got them in the quarters. I it's gonna be really difficult against Argentina because the so it's pretty easy. I would not I don't want to say easy, but it's a doable path to get to the quarters because after if we beat Ghana, we would play the winner of Switzerland, Algeria. I have Algeria winning that game. And then we would if we win that game, more than likely it's gonna be Argentina, and that is going to be tough for both of us. Argentina don't really want to face Colombia, man. I'm telling you right now. No, they're gonna be able to do it. Argentina's after the wave. Yeah. Argentinians, what they saw against Portugal from Colombia, they're starting to shake in their boots. They're starting to shake in their boots.

SPEAKER_00 57:28

The whole world. Nobody wants to play Colombia. Colombia is a team that they're like, shit, bro. I do not want to play them. That is the one team that people are like, damn. Actually, I think Colombia and Morocco, those are the two teams that any big team is just scared to play.

SPEAKER_03 57:50

Those are the two teams that are. That is true. And I guess Paraguay now. And Paraguay now, too, yeah. Yeah. But no, Colombia, I think Colombia is a lot of people's dark horse. And I think they've lived up to that expectation. Oh yeah. And man, allow me to dream. Allow me to dream. Let me let us make a run, man. It's Hamas's last one. I need Lucho. I need Lucha to lock in a little bit. Lucho. I need Lucho to lock in. Everybody else has been playing outstanding. As soon as Lucho locks in, we are unstoppable.

SPEAKER_00 58:31

Fuck. As soon as both Luchos lock in, dude. Luis Suarez, too. He could lock in right now. Oh my God. I really forgot he existed. We need him to lock in, bro. He's been so mid.

SPEAKER_03 58:42

He's been very mid. Mid? He's been he's been forgettable. I think Joan Córdoba had a really good game against Portugal holding off the center backs. I think he's a he did a really good job at that. Camilo Walkers would send the ball to him and he would win it probably 75% of the time. He would win it right.

SPEAKER_00 59:00

At this point, I think that's just what we need because we're not getting goals from our strikers. So I think at this point, we just need him to hold the ball there and just have Luis Diaz make runs off of him. Luis Diaz or just Diaz running behind him. Or Muñoz, too. Muñoz from the right wing back position. Just make those runs off of Córdoba, bro.

unknown 59:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 59:22

Just have him hold the ball, man, because that's what Cordova can do. He's a strong, strong.

SPEAKER_03 59:26

He's a strong, strong dude, man. He's like a bull.

SPEAKER_00 59:29

Just feed him. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 59:31

And you'll hold it there. And I want to see Cucho Hernandez again, man. It's crazy to me that Cucho Hernandez against Uzbekistan did amazing and hasn't seen the field since.

SPEAKER_00 59:43

I would love to see him, but I just I know Nestor is not going to start him. For whatever reason.

SPEAKER_03 59:47

No, he's definitely not going to start him. And he shouldn't. Against Ghana, he should not start him. John Córdoba should be the starter against against Ghana. Yes. But Cucho definitely has to come on. Cucho has to come on because he's like a little energizer bunny. He's got that, he's got that grit, that determination. He's not going to give up. And he's going to go after every ball. And I think bringing him on instead of Luis Suárez, because Luis Suárez has already gotten way too many opportunities. He's still living off of that game in Venezuela where he scored four goals. That was great. I'm glad he did that. He had a great season with Portugal, but I'm going to need you to lock in now. And he hasn't he hasn't showed that. He hasn't displayed that the past few games, even in the friendlies leading up to the World Cup. And now this World Cup, he's been very quiet, very silent, hasn't really done much. So I'm going to need Cucho Hernandez to get some minutes. I would like to see him get some actual minutes.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:45

I think all of Colombia would love that. Yeah. Because we haven't seen much from Luis Suarez, John Córdoba. I don't mind him, but he doesn't score goals like that. So we need a striker that scores goals.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:58

Yep. We do.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:00

I think we're down to Cucho Hernandez now.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:03

Cuchito. Vamos a ver Cuchito.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:06

Alright.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:07

Um. But yeah. No. So wait, who do you have Columbia in the final against?

SPEAKER_01 1:01:16

France. God damn. France, Colombia. And Mbappe doesn't want none of this, bro. Nah.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:26

Mbappe and Dembel, they want none of this. Cherky.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:32

Dewey.

unknown 1:01:34

Nobody.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:34

All of them. Chuameni.

unknown 1:01:36

Nobody.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:37

They already beat us once. Their B team beat us. They killed us. But they're not going to do it in the World Cup final. Nope. Absolutely not. Not with this team.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:48

Hey man. We just let them win that game. We let them win that game. We were like, hey, let's let them win this one. We'll play a little rough. Let's let them win this one.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:59

Yeah, no, those two friendlies before the World Cup was just to fool everybody. Yeah. That was just to fool everyone. Psych. Columbia's here, baby.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:10

We're here to play. We're here to stay. And we're going to make a good deep run into this World Cup. I hope. I hope. Man.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:20

Think we can?

SPEAKER_03 1:02:21

Allow me to dream. Let me dream a little bit. Let me let's see if we can do it. Let's shock the world. Let's shock the world. Let's do it, man. But alright, bro. I think it's time to head on out. It's late over here because freaking Netherlands and Morocco decided to go in overtime. We got more games tomorrow. Guys, feel uh be sure to tune in uh to the podcast. Subscribe, rate, review the friendly foes. Tell your friends, tell everybody we're here breaking down the World Cup. Uh giving you guys everything that has to happen with between uh Columbia, US Men's national team and everything else related to that. We're putting out a lot of content as well on our social media channels at friendly foesfc. Be sure to follow us on there. We're almost to 600 followers on Instagram, guys. Let's get there. Let's get to 600. Let's get to a thousand. Let's make it a thousand. All right, tell everybody to follow us on there. Okay, at friendly foes FT. The YouTube channel's up. No actual like long four videos there. We got the shorts, little, you know, little shorts going on right now. Also at friendly foes FC. Make sure you subscribe. We're still trying to figure out this whole live situation. We're trying to go live before one of the games, but uh, we for whatever reason have. But we'll get it all figured out. Uh, guys, we appreciate all the love and support, and we'll see you guys next time.