American Sports Reward Losers... World Cup First Round Was Beautiful!

The first round of the World Cup is done... and it has been something else. In this one, we run the whole tournament back at full speed. Spain couldn't break down Cape Verde. We got four games and four draws in one day. Messi, at 38, dropped a hat trick and broke five World Cup records in a single game (and somehow the headlines only want to talk about a red card that wasn't a red card).

Then it gets real. US coach Mauricio Pochettino told El País that American sports "reward losers," and we've got thoughts on why the rest of the world plays hungrier. 

Plus a group-by-group breakdown, the refs finally letting them play, and the Vozinha story that reminds you football is more than a game.

Be part of it at thefootball.show.

Chapters: 

• 0:00 — Welcome + what a World Cup
• 0:47 — Round one highlights (the quick hits)
• 1:16 — The first round is done... and it's beautiful
• 1:43 — Heritage, migration, and the talent boom
• 2:52 — France is supplying the whole World Cup
• 3:52 — Packed stadiums and the fans bringing the energy
• 4:29 — What America can learn from the world
• 5:57 — Turbo group-by-group rundown
• 12:37 — Colombia's wild winner + refs letting them play
• 13:57 — Portugal flops + the Ronaldo question
• 15:33 — England, Croatia, and the Panama vs Ghana war
• 16:48 — Who's qualifying right now (best thirds)
• 17:04 — The Messi red card debate
• 18:01 — Pundits, LinkedIn, and being civil online
• 19:19 — Pochettino: "American sports reward losers"
• 20:37 — Why the rest of the world plays hungrier
• 22:54 — Vozinha's mom is coming to the World Cup
• 23:55 — What's next + Korea tonigh

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Hey guys and welcome back to the football show. We are here at the end of round one or the second round of all the games are just starting out. We just had uh South Africa play against the Czech Republic, uh, and now we have Switzerland and Bosnia at the time I'm recording this. But we wanted to do a quick recap. Has this World Cup been amazing or what? I mean there's there's many things, many many, mini episodes, I think that we can talk about, but you know, this is the day I'm recording this is the day after the Portugal game. Uh and um I have some thoughts. I have some thoughts, but before we get into it, uh a couple highlights. Spain could not beat Cape Verde. I'm excited to see what's gonna happen with those two teams. Um there was a day with four four games, four draws, first time in history, I think. Messi at 38, breaking five World Cup records in just one game, some say seven, you know, up for discussion. And then there's a post, a controversial post with uh Pochettino saying that American sports rewards losers. So we're gonna dive into this and more in today's episode. Alright, so first round done. It's beautiful. I can't believe we're like past the first games already. It's gonna go so fast, it's crazy. But every team uh, you know, has played once has showed us what they got, and honestly, man, um there's mixed feelings about a long world, you know, with more teams and so on, but I think it's giving us an opening our eyes to the incredible talent that we could find out there. Granted, there is many teams with a lot of players that are not born in that country, which you know I don't think is a bad thing. I think is an opportunity for those countries to maybe develop more talent or bring those guys that are now representing their comp their their countries and doing so good, like covered, like Curaçao, like all these teams that have from other countries and now start creating a very strong foundation. So I think it's a good thing, uh, especially with you know the heritage we live in a very small world now, you know, there's many migrants all over the world, and I think it just makes the the you know the sport a lot better. I saw a graphic with one of the Argentinian streamers, Dabo, and it's incredible. It's like uh basically the top countries contributing players to other nations, and uh everybody everybody kind of makes fun of France because they have a ton of players and they call it like the the new team in in Africa because they have so many people that are coming from those countries, but France is contributing so many players uh to the other teams. It's crazy. I mean, maybe we can do a quick Google, I can't remember the exact name. So, like, how many players is France contributing to World Cup? Let's see, let's see if something comes out. Okay, so here it is. Um there's a total of 98 players born in France, which is crazy. So 23 actually represent France, 76 are representing other nations. Insane. Uh so 76 like out of how many players? I mean, something like how so we like yeah, I mean, there's a total of like 1200 players-ish. So I don't know what that percentage is. I don't do public math, but you know, it's a big percentage. That's crazy. 78 players. Okay, so you know, kudos to France, whatever they're doing in their you know, youth is great. Uh, they have definitely a pet degree. I mean, two world cups in a row, get into the final. So don't discount them. Absolutely. So, um, apart from obviously the the obvious reasons on on the game and the things that are happening, which we're gonna go on turbo mode here with the groups in just a second, but uh I think the gap is so much closer now with with all the teams, and I want to highlight not only the teams but also the fans. We've seen pack stadiums, we've seen uh incredible stories from like local people from the US and international people all coming together and saying, Hey, what's out there in the world? Uh you know, don't really listen too much to it because the people are amazing, uh, from outside or from here. So I think the unity that this World Cup is creating, it's it's incredible. I mean, just this morning I saw a post from uh Barsu Sports, the pre El Presidente, right? And this guy who's a big sports fan in general, he said that he he's never really paid attention to sports here in America or soccer or football here in America, and he's just such a big fan of like fans. So he's like, I love the Scottish and what they're doing, I love the people from the Netherlands and what they're doing. I love uh the the you know what was it in in Philly. I love the South Americans with uh, you know, with their chants. I he's becoming a fan of these countries because of the hype that these other countries. So I think there's so much to learn here from from the Americans, and uh, there's been a few discussions online that I've been a part of, not discussions, but conversations with people where it's like, you know, we are the best in everything. I'm like, yeah, it is an incredible country that we have a lot of opportunity, and yes, whenever you put your mind to it, you could become the best as a country, as a person in general, but you are not the best at this sport, and I think there's a massive opportunity where people can take advantage of having this tournament here and looking at all these players, especially if you're a dad, if you have your kid playing right now, if you have you know small children that are like exposed to this tournament and uh putting the fire for them to then go and and pursue the dream of maybe becoming a professional player or be involved with the sport at a higher level. So lots of opportunities, the future is bright, anyways. That's my that's my personal take here. But um, it was hilarious. Uh, you know, let's let's go a little bit more punctual in in what we want to talk about. So um obviously with the groups, uh the Mexico group, South Korea, Czechia, and South Africa. Game tonight. I'm going for Korea, baby. I think it's uh surprise. Uh Korea versus Mexico. Uh Mexico playing home home turf. So I think it's gonna be an incredible game. I saw Korea really, really well. I love their fast transitions. I love how disciplined they are. I love the fact that they are going through the middle and not on the outside. I love that they're they're brave, and I think it could be like a really good open game. So uh prediction, I think it's gonna be something like a 3-2 type game, hopefully. Uh and Mexico, of course, Humterf. I don't think they're gonna try to, I don't think they're gonna disappoint, they're gonna go all out. Uh, because right now they're sitting first uh in their group with three points. So whoever wins here is probably automatic promotion because uh Czechia and South Africa, they both tied, so they both have one point. So uh interesting group. A tie 3-3 will be great too, to be completely honest. But Switzerland, Bosnia, Canada and Qatar, uh Switzerland and Bosnia are playing as we are here, but um Canada and Qatar, they're both tied, it looks like, and uh they're all with one point, so everything is close in this group. I would love to see Canada obviously go through. Wife is from there, and they're the host country. I would love to see Bosnia go through. We have a lot of Bosnian friends, and I think you know, as a small nation, the way that they qualified against Italy, it will be really cool. Uh, group C, we got Scotland, Morocco, Brazil, and Haiti. Uh, so obviously the only win here from uh from Scotland, uh, which is crazy. I mean, the fact that we could see these fans kind of going all the way through, it will be interesting. But you have a tough group with Morocco, Brazil, and Haiti. So the next game here is uh what's the next game here? To do two fixtures. So I think is was Brazil Haiti, which I think I'm very excited to to watch just because Haiti, even though they lost, I think they have a lot of potential there. Um, and then Morocco Scotland is gonna be incredible. Morocco is gonna, you know, go out and kill. So USA, Australia, Turkey, and Paraguay. Uh, shame on Paraguay. Uh, I I need you guys, South Americans, to like pick it up, man. What's what's going on? We keep saying everybody that we have better, better, uh uh you know, better teams in general, but so far, not so good. But USA, obviously, home turf, I think that is an exciting team. The way that they played their first game, it's incredible, it's exciting. It's high pressure, speed, physicality. I think they have it all. Is can they hold it together? And Australia, surprise of the tournament, I think. Like winning that 2-0. We'll see. They play US, so that's that should be a fun game this weekend, and so on. And Paraguay will come back to Turkey. Turkey has a massive, incredible team. I mean, the fact that they lost 2-0 against Australia uh is massive upset. I think one of the biggest upsets in the tournament. Let me go. Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curacao. Uh, Germany obviously leading this group with gold differentiation, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. I don't think Curacao is gonna do a lot more if he can give us a surprise or a good result against uh Ecuador. I don't think so. Ecuador is gonna go bite. I mean, they were very close against Ivory Coast, and uh the physicality of the Africans. It was matched by Ecuador, which was it unexpected, I think. But those games are gonna be good. That's gonna be a tough group to go through. Maybe there's a best third there, for sure. I mean, with the eight best thirds that can go through through the next round, I think a lot of teams were gonna have the opportunity. Sweden, Japan, Netherlands, and uh, Tunisia. Tunisia with a brand new coach. It is the South, it's the coach that was coaching um that was coaching uh Saudi Arabia uh in the last World Cup, which has a viral video with him, you know, uh encouraging the players when they were playing Argentina, which they end up winning that game. So I'm very curious to see. I mean, he took this this team over after one World Cup game. So let's see. I don't know how well he's prepared for for this, but it'll be interesting to see if he can revive the players. I mean, the fact that they got the coach fired. Um, I don't know, there might be some internal problems there, but who knows? I mean, Netherlands and Japan, tough group, man. They're both with one point, and um, and Sweden, you know, Sweden showed showed up. They are they're looking strong. So Netherlands, uh, sorry, new New Zealand, Iran, Belgium, and Egypt. Everybody with one point. This group is wide open. Uh, anything can happen. Um yeah, I think anything can happen. I mean, on paper, Belgium and Egypt probably are the ones that are gonna be moving through, but uh Iran, I think, played a little bit more solid than New Zealand. We'll see how it goes. Uh Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Cape Verde. I mean, I'm rooting for Cape Verde on this one. Uh, they're playing Uruguay, but Uruguay, man, they're gonna go again by everybody on this group has one point wide open on paper. Like I said, Spain should do it. They're playing Saudi, Saudi Arabia, which you know, they're always trouble. Uh, the last couple works ups, you know, you showed, and and they they've shown that they can play big teams. So hopefully, Spain can get their crap together and they can move forward in this group and they can play instead of like death by passes. We need them to maybe uh Danny Almo, maybe somebody that could go through the middle a little bit of how we describe against um Korea, for example. Then we got Norway, France, Senegal, and Iraq. Tough group, man, tough group um in here. So that Norway-Senegal game is gonna be an interesting one, and uh France, of course, they're looking super tough. Uh, Argentina, Austria, Jordan, Jordan, and Algeria. I think on paper, Argentina should be fine, especially after that first game. They look strong, they look like a unit, they look like they're playing four Messi, so he can have an incredible World Cup. I mean, the hat-trick uh and the five records on that game showed it. Uh, so I don't think that should be an issue for them going through, but I'm excited to see what's happening with the other teams, especially because you know they have full people, full stadiums when they were playing. This is one of the groups that people were not expecting it to show up, and everybody was so surprised. And last night, Colombia, Congo, Portugal, and Uzbekistan, that Colombian game against Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan coming in one time and they score the goal, and then Colombia trying to do everything in their power to try to win. That last goal, incredible. Shout out to the freaking referees for letting people play. Uh, this has been a comment in all of the games where the referees are letting play, letting more aggressive plays. And I think is the way that they crafted the rules where it's like, hey, if you're gonna come and uh you're gonna stay on the ground, you're gonna get booked, you're gonna get kicked out. Um, if you're gonna stay pretending to be injured, you have to be out, and you're gonna be out for a couple minutes before you can get in. If you talk back to me, is a is a booking card. I am liking those rules because now players were like, okay, well, there's no way out, we have to actually play. And they're letting play go. They're letting like if it's rough. I mean, the the last play where Colombia scored that goal, the defender tackles his forward. They go over each other, they're in the ground. The referee does, and you can tell, like, there's a slight second there that the the forward's like waiting for a foul, or even the defender, but they don't hear the whistle, and they get up, and this guy just like fakes one side, goes to the other one, massive cross, and it's the 3-1 for for Colombia, and like that goal specifically, I think, depicts what's happening in the games where the referees are letting these players play and be rough and be tough, which is football, is a is a physical game, right? You we get the crap that we get online in general, is because they're calling these fouls and people are protesting, and we're seeing in these World Cup that that's not the case. So, shout out to that, really cool, and then closing it out with Portugal versus Congo. Oh, what a flop on that one. Um, there's a big difference, there's a lot of conversation talking, Messi, Ronaldo still, I think that's gonna be the last dance for both. But even there's a Congo player coming out and be like, hey guys, this was very easy for us to do it. He's older, uh, he's not what he used to be. I don't know if it's a team setup, but there's a couple replays out there that he really wanted to score some goals, and by doing that, the movements in the area or inside of the small box were not as sharp or deny some opportunities for his team members. There's a very, very cool analysis by Henry that he does um in one of the Fox uh streams where he's talking about a specific play where Bruno Fernandez was right there coming to the ball, and uh Ronaldo is coming kind of going backwards with a different angle, tries the shot and doesn't get it. But um, I mean there is a balance, right? A good striker will always go trying to find that goal. But at the end of the day, are you playing for yourself? Are you playing for your team? So, uh, benefit of the doubt, obviously, you know, these players things happen in a split second in these games, and they are prepared, they're professionals, they're the best for the reason. So it's it we'll see. Uh, it's easy for us to talk here behind a microphone and and coach these guys when they've been you know doing this for years, you know, Ronaldo for more than 20 years. So um hopes, I think he does have a good workout. I I don't think he deserves a bad workup. I think that team specifically is very strong, so we'll go forward. And then obviously with the last group here, England, Ghana, Panama, and Croatia. England, uh England, Croatia. What a game. That could have been a final, to be completely honest. And England looking strong. That uh that score 4-2 does not show what the game was actually like. Croatia was very, very close on um on tying that game, and they look strong. Uh, they have a slightly veteran team, I believe, but it's really good to see New Talent, especially when Madrid came out. And uh I'm excited to see what they can do against Panama. Panama and Ghana. What a what a physical game, man. Um there's this funny clip online where there's like these guys were like crashing against each other, boom, to get those balls, and it's like five people falling in a row. The cut the play continues again. Shout out to these refs doing that. Uh, but it's like really it's really intimidating, man. The fact that these guys are done. We had uh my our my brother's father-in-law walks in and he's like, is this like a different sport? What are these guys? These are huge, but I think Panama is always uh good for a good party here. Uh so hopefully they can surprise. But that Panama Correction is gonna be good and England, Ghana. I mean, Ghana, you know, both with three points. So whoever wins that again probably will move forward. So right now, as qualified as best third teams is the Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Czech Republic, and Ecuador. I think those are the ones, the top eight that are qualified right now, if everything stays the same. So, cool thing, that's a fast recap. I don't think it leaves us much time to do anything else, but I want to maybe highlight a little bit on uh on the Messi issue with a lot of people are saying online and the media saying online that he should have got a red card. I encourage everybody that's hit it for this that says that the FIFA is in favor of Messi, they want him to win again. I encourage, go look at the red uh at the rule book. I saw a ton of clips from professional referees analyzing uh the found why it's not a red card, maybe a yellow card, but you could tell there's many things that we're gonna do. I'm not gonna go here in the show respectively, but I do think it was not uh it was not a red card. And the fact, here's what here's what pisses me off the fact that a headline uh chooses this, like a not a red card versus the fact that he did a master performance at 38 years old with a hat trick and breaking five world records says everything. There's a LinkedIn post of all these, anyways. I'm in the business side, I'm like obviously, you know, I produce podcasts for a living, that's what we do. And yeah, so we follow a lot of these people that are commenting on the sport, commenting on the World Cup with like no background information, with no context is the first time that they're seeing uh this level of sport, and they're commenting and making these things where uh one of them was quoting a ton of like high media AI opinions, and uh the fact that all these things collecting information from the pundits and the people that are there on TV to comment on those things, those people are there to grab the attention to create discussions. You're always gonna notice two people that are gonna have opposing points of view, they can be political about it, but they're gonna have an opinion, and everything here is an opinion. And at the end of the day, what happens on the fields, stay on the field, and the revs they have a tough job to make these calls, especially and this thing. But, anyways, just be civil, especially online. And I got a lot of fire because I said that I wasn't uh I share my opinion in there with you know what I thought about that, but anyways, uh all right, to close out the episode, this is a cool one, and I think when we posted it and we had a conversation, I actually had a conversation with a couple parents when my in my kids practice about this headline American sports rewards losers. Who said this? Alright, if you got it, awesome. Is Pochettino, the head coach of US national team. So he said I mean he was blowing up, and again, like don't take it out of context. But the key here is uh he gave an interview to El País, this is a Spanish uh newspaper, and he got asked about the US team style, and he his answer turned into uh a little bit of a shot to the American sports culture. So his point no promotion or relegation, no real price of losing. Uh, this is mostly aimed at the MLS. Uh the hunger is different for local players, right? Like you, there's like there's no hunger to get promoted to the first division. Like, if you lose, there's no consequence, right? So he says American play uh players are very disciplined, of course, like everybody here it very is, but uh comfortable. And and he said that you know it it took him about a year and a half to change the mentality, and now I understand like the results of things that he was trying to do, and he's an Argentinian, he comes from that. He uh he grew up with the this the age of Maradona, for example, uh, so it's tough for him. So you see this all over the world where these players are if they don't make it, it means that their families do not eat. This is crazy, right? Coming from Venezuela, we're very um we're very lucky that we're in a family that provided for us, but we also saw a lot of people that sports was the only option, and in the rest of the world, that's what it is. In Africa, that's what it is. In South America, that's what it is, and these guys are there to compete, and there's consequences, like real consequences, if you lose, if you do not perform. So until here in America, we create something like that. Nothing, if we mimic that type of scenario, and that can be mimicked, like not in the social economic aspect of the country, but in the in the game, in the in the league. Uh, if we have MLS teams, if we have like these 20 teams that there's no consequence if you lose, if you have the worst season ever, you actually get rewarded because you get best pick on the on the next player. That's not the point that we're trying to make. Like, if you get if you lose, like you get rewarded. What what are we talking about? So these players online, and and even on teams, like whoever plays on on the youth, whoever pays is the one that's playing. So, how can we now recreate an environment and uh you know this is more on the personal side because obviously I have my kids playing here, and and I wish I had so many opportunities and fields and places to be able to do it, but here whoever doesn't have the money, I don't think is gonna be able to do it. And then if competition is not rewarded or the success is not rewarded with a trophy, then we are in a very tough spot to do it to do it here. So very excited that Pochettino is like putting this out in in the media, having a conversation, a real honest conversation. Probably a lot of people are gonna get offended, especially all the MLS owners. I think USL, the second and third tier here in the US, are doing a good job with um relegation and promotion and trying to grow that. We have a local team here in Jacksonville that does it. So I'm I'm excited to see where he goes and maybe be a part of it. All right, so I'll leave it to that. If you guys want to have a conversation more about that, I'm I'm happy. You know, inbox is is open, and I would love to chat with anybody that wants to chat about that kind of stuff. Uh, or even if you guys want to be part of the show. Uh, last thing that is really cool, that is emotional, is Bocinha's mom, Kate Verdez goalie. She is doing her paperwork and is gonna be coming here. Apparently, the US government uh made a little bit of an exception uh to expedite her visa and help her helping her with the fees of doing all this paperwork so she could be with the with the star goalkeeper, which I think is like a 9 million followers. Uh, so very, very cool story. Hopefully, they're also doing good with other people that cannot make it here. But at the end of the day, that's uh you know, for this guy that is 40 and playing his first World Cup and and the the kind of performance that he did, I think is very impressive. So this is more of the stories that we want to see. This is the spirit of this sport, this is what we want to be experiencing every single day, and um I cannot be happier about you know for him. Hopefully, this moment goes in history as like one of those moments that him reuniting with the mom, and you know, maybe they can take uh they can take a victory. But all right, what's next at the time of this recording? Mexico Korea. We'll see, we'll come back tomorrow and we'll talk a little bit about it. But quick recap my opinions. Uh things are getting heated. Things are wow, as I'm recording this, there's a massive bicycle kick from Switzerland. Uh watch another replay. But good seeing you guys, and I'll see you tomorrow in the next episode. Bye.