World Cup Semifinals & A Beer Company Runs A Free Academy... US Soccer Should Take Notes

For the first time in history, the top four teams in the world are the last four standing... France, Spain, Argentina, and England. Two semifinals. One wild week.

But first, LuisDa answers a TikToker who accused him of spreading misinformation about European soccer. Having played in that system, he breaks down why "pay to play" isn't the model at the top... how clubs develop players as assets, why Barça made €52.5 million just selling academy kids, and how a beer company has funded a free academy in Barcelona since 1954. The answer to "who pays for it?" might surprise you.

Then it's semifinal time. France's scary attack against Spain's historic wall. Messi and Mbappé, the two best World Cup scorers alive, both still chasing the same trophy. And the blue-shirt superstition behind Argentina vs England... a game that carries 40 years of history.

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Chapters:
- 00:00 First time ever... the top 4 in the world are the final 4
- 00:28 Welcome + what's coming (a Puebla coach interview after the Cup)
- 01:34 Called out for "misinformation" on TikTok
- 02:34 Pay to play... why Europe flips the whole model
- 04:56 Where it's broken: US soccer and the $25K problem
- 05:54 Barça's academy money (and answering Alexi Lalas)
- 06:37 CF Damm: a beer company's free academy since 1954
- 07:35 The Break FC tease... and who actually pays for it
- 08:22 France vs Spain: firepower vs the wall
- 09:33 Spain's defense and De la Fuente's unbeaten run
- 12:34 Spain's core and the Fabián vs Pedri debate
- 14:07 Argentina vs England: the blue shirt request
- 15:37 More than a game: Malvinas and the Hand of God
- 17:52 England's revenge + Messi's first-ever game vs England
- 18:42 Close

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Guys, welcome back to the football show today. As we're recording this, the semifinals are gonna start in just a few hours. And uh, I cannot be more excited about I mean it is the first time in history that the top four countries ranked by FIFA are the top four in the semifinals. This is crazy. We got France versus Spain, we got Argentina versus England, two epic matches. We're gonna talk about it in just a second. But first of all, thank you so much for those that are new to the channel. Welcome to the football show by Breakfc. We'll share a little bit later what Break FC is. Uh, but yeah, welcome. We would love for you to like put any comments if you agree with me, if you disagree with me. Uh, if you want more content like this. Uh, we just interviewed also the head coach of Mexican Steam Puebla, which is crazy. I go way back with him, and we talked about youth soccer and development, and uh that was a very, very cool interview that we're gonna be releasing after the World Cup is done. Um, also, thank you so much for those that have been like interacting with us on social media, on Instagram, on TikTok, on YouTube. Super cool to see all points of view. And uh, you by now would know that I feel so passionate about the development in soccer or football, you know, here in the United States, in the world. Um, I've seen firsthand what I can do for families, for kids, for the personal development. And and I think that's the direction that we're gonna be taking a little bit with the show uh down the line and with Breakfc. Um, but there was a comment that like hit, like, oh man, he hit me up. Yeah, and uh on TikTok was that a guy basically accusing me from spreading misinformation. And let me tell you, we do have a team that helps us with the research and making sure that all the sources are there for the things that we do. And again, if we find that that's not true, we'll say it on the show, we'll say it live uh for you to you know to see that we're actually not spreading misinformation. And what he was talking about was about as I fight with my microphone here, um, was about the youth system, right? And there's been a lot of conversations about the US uh football youth system lately, which we're gonna talk in just a second. So I will answer that specific comment, and um, and we'll also be talking obviously about the two uh semifinals that we got going on because lots of stories to tell and fun facts and things that can you know make you a little bit livid. So um one of the claims that we did in the other episodes was that uh European clubs, the difference between America or United States and European football is the pay-to-play model. There's been a lot of conversation in the last few weeks here in the US um about that, and like that is the thing that needs to be fixed. So I made my opinion. I was like, listen, then the way that it the reason why it works in Europe is because the model is flipped upside down, right here. The smaller clubs, let's say you're gonna put a kid to play in your local town, you have to pay a small tuition, not just a small tuition. If you're in a travel team, it can go up to $25,000 for your kid to play and travel and do all the things for quote unquote the best team in there. And our claim was that in Europe, it's not like that. If you are in one of the best teams, uh for whatever club that you're playing in, everything is paid for in that. Yes, there is academies, there are academies or the lower level that yes, you have to pay to get in um and play in those teams for the vast majority. Because the model is flipped, because they clubs develop the players as assets and then they sell them and then make money on them. Then that's why you play for free. So, for example, like uh the club will fund you, like it will give you all the food, it will give you all your uniforms, it will give you like literally everything. It's not the other way around. Obviously, you know, I'm a big Barcelona fan, so La Macia, uh, you know, they they they get in based on merit, they scout him out, they are they hold tryouts, they have people all over the nation trying to do that, and at a different scale, most clubs in Europe have that structure, right? Clubs cover for the coaching, for the travel, uh, sometimes even the housing, um, even schools. Like the the model is very simple. Like they develop the player as an asset because they will sell it later. And you know, there's a topic that we can go very, very deep into it, but there are clubs that have developed this kid when it was seven, and then they move on to the other club, and there's a FIFA clause that every club that that kid or that player has played at needs to be paid every time there's a transfer uh fee, and there's actually all this thing goes through a centralized organism and they track all this stuff to make sure that everybody gets paid. Where this is broken is USA. So we need to do a little bit more research and and go into that because smaller clubs are not getting paid, and maybe that is the reason why the pay-to-play model is happening here. Listen, we live, I understand that we live probably in the one of the most developed countries in in the world, and there's a lot of opportunity, and there's a lot of people to that can afford that kind of stuff, uh, but it's leaving a lot of talent on the table, right? So, like, um, you know, for example, Barcelona made 52.5 million, I think this is Euros, uh, just selling academy players uh in 2000 2024. I don't have the the the latest uh data, but this is crazy. So these are guys that we've never made up like to the first you know team to the main, main, main bars team, which is crazy. And they pulled around, let me move this here. Uh, they pulled about 975 million in revenue last season, second two of the world. So um, here's another example. There's uh uh a lot of comments out there from uh Alexe Ladas, for example, and I think he has been one of the I guess critics, and I haven't seen full interviews, I've seen clips, I've seen uh I've read articles that court him on this, but basically, I'm paraphrasing he's saying, Well, um, who's gonna pay for this? Somebody has to pay for these kids to play soccer. Yes, we get it. And I saw a clip that was so so so so interesting about this one guy that is that knows football and knows European football. And I saw this with my with my own eyes because I was there in Barcelona. There's a team in Barcelona called CF Dam. Like Estrella Dam is a beer in Barcelona, and this beer company is funding an entire like youth academy as a club. Uh, they don't have a professional team, they play until a certain age, but they develop players. I I experienced that because I played against them. I was playing in an academy also in Barcelona and I played against them, and they're incredible. They have like this mini stadium, and uh basically the beer company is what funds like the whole operation since 1954. That's crazy. A beer company has run a free pipeline for 70 plus years. So, who's gonna play for that? Well, there's plenty of companies here in the United States that could potentially do that. All the big tech companies, if they want, they could put in a freaking club or a team and do that for the development of uh of the sport here in the United States. That's just one solution. I'm sure there's many others. So think we're gonna announce this down the road, break of C. We're gonna come in um with a little bit of a tease. There's something that we're gonna be releasing in the next couple weeks. Very tiny, but it's gonna help you as a player if you're listening to these, or you as a parent, if you're listening to this, to help your kid get to the to the next level. So um, so exciting. Uh fact-checked, I am not wrong. Pay to play is not the is not the model if you want to develop your old talent uh here in this country or in any country. So we have to put our heads together and maybe figure out a solution if you are in your own country or United States to uh make it to the to the world stage and perform and not flop uh like they did in the last game. Sweet? Alright, cool. So uh France and Spain, baby, today in Dallas, exciting. Obviously, I am rooting for Spain. I lived there 2008, 2009, I lived in Barcelona. I was there for the first Euro Cup win, and it was crazy. And uh, you know, I have I am of Spanish descent, I guess, many, many, many, many years ago in our in our family tree, and I love the country there, I love the people there. So obviously, you know, rooting for them. But let me tell you, man, France is a firepower. Uh, and uh, you know, how I was describing it this morning, somebody in the coffee shop was like, you know, man, France looks fast, sharp, dangerous. Obviously, they have, I think that they have one of the most scary attacks that we've seen in the last few years. And uh, if there's any team that can beat them, I think I think it could be Spen, which by the way, have uh I correct me if I'm wrong in the comments, but one goal which was against Belgium, scored against in the whole cup, which is crazy. So they have a massive defensive superpowers with Laporte and Kuarcia, and hopefully they'll hold on, but at the same time, it's like the attack is not as sharp, so it's gonna be an interesting game uh to play, and uh I'm gonna spit some games, but uh France, for example, uh won all six games, score 16 goals, baby. Uh, is the third straight semifinal, which for the last like 12 years means that they've dominated world football. And I remember seeing them win in '98. I was 10 at the time, and I couldn't understand that they went through like these few years where they didn't really perform too well. And now, man, it's crazy to think that in the last 12 years they've done nominated. They actually are matching Brazil and Germany on straight semi-finals in the World Cup. So Mbappe has 20 career World Cup goals, one behind Messi. They're both still competing for that golden boot, and they both have a chance to match the record of goals scored in one single World Cup, which is 13 by a French dude. I can't remember the name right now, but we'll get to it. Um and then Mbappe has 12 World Cup knockout goals, most in history. Uh he's just built different, man. Like he's just crazy. I can't wait to see him play tonight against in Spain. And I do hope, I do hope that Spain goes through. Um, I will be like, best case scenario, Spain goes through. We'll talk about Argentina in just a second. Uh, but there's a chance that both of my teams that I that I'm rooting for, that I that I that I love seeing them play and seeing them win will play the final. So um, you know, we'll see, we'll see what happens. Uh, on Spain side, you know, they won all seven knockout games at majors uh major tournaments under De La Fuente, which is a coach right now, which by the way, like if you don't know, he's coming from like the bottom categories of the Spanish natural uh you know national team. So he knows a lot of the players that are in that team right now from since they're very, very young. And that's why Spain has one of the youngest teams in the World Cup. Uh, the defense went 649 minutes without conceding before Belgium finally scored on them, which is what we just talked about de la Fuente. 13 World Cup and Euro games unbeaten. Most by any manager, man. Like, this is great. Hopefully, this becomes number 14. And uh very proud because obviously I'm a Barcelona fan. And by for those saying, Oh, yeah, bandwagon fan, whatever, since 99. You tell me who was playing in 99 and who scored a bicycle kick in Barcelona '99. So that's how long I've been a Barcelona fan. I went through the dark eras of being a Barcelona fan back then. They were actually not champions that season. And if you could tell me right in the comments, uh, you know, what spot, you know, what place they play in that in that Spanish season, um, I'll give you a digital hug. But not a lot of people kind of know. But, anyways, there's a macia core in this team, you know, Yama, Pedri, uh, Gabi, Kubarci, Olmo, Eri Garcia. Um, and you know, for me, if he wasn't injured, he would have been playing here. Um, I actually saw an interview. I think Pedri is not starting today, which is you know, um a little crazy for the media, but I think it makes sense for the tournament. He hasn't been having the best tournament, and I think Fabian is the one that's playing. And there's an interview that's really cool. It's like this journalist talking to Unay Simon the goalie, and he's like, But crazy that Pedri's not gonna start today, and uh and the goalie is like, yeah, but Fabian is, but Pedri is such a world-class player, so is Fabian, but like Pedri is like he helps the team so much, um, and all these stats. I'm like, so is Fabian. Fabian actually were won two back-to-back champions league, and he shuts the the the reporter's mouth, uh, and it and it's incredible, man. So um I think it's gonna be a very interesting, and you know, at this time, you know, every single player that's there deserves to play. They're there for a reason, whether you're a sub or or a starter. Like, I don't think it matters. At that point, you go in, you perform. So uh Messi and Mbappe are the two best World Cup scorers alive. And like I said before, they still have uh they're still both in the tournament, so they could potentially break that uh that record by uh Fontaine, which has been since 1958, which was crazy. Alright, so the game tomorrow, Argentina, England, baby, Inatalanta. So um let's start with this. Argentina asked to wear the dark blue away kit, and FIFA said yes, and uh England, it looks like they're gonna play in all white. So why is this important? Well, in 1986, uh there was a game, quarterfinals, Argentina, England, and Argentina was wearing the dark kit, and that was the game with the mano de Dios, the hand of God. That was Maradona's uh goal. So superstition maybe? I don't know. The two times Argentina wore uh white and light blue versus England at the World Cup, they lost both games in 1966 and 2002. Um, so superstition a little bit. I think Argentinas are known for to being a little bit superstitious, so uh I love the fact that they go to this extent. Uh, you know, and again, you know, reportedly, uh, this is coming from a journalist, uh Gasan Edul, uh, not official uh not official comments, I guess, is what is what it is. And by the time this is released, uh, you know, you know, maybe prove me wrong. Maybe it was official. Uh, but here's the thing I saw a um a press conference recently where they asked Escaloni, it's like with the weight of this game, and uh they're basically putting a lot of weight into this game and and they're trying to push it out of context, and Escaloni stops the reporting, he's like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. J just to remind you and everybody here in this room, that this is just a soccer game. And why does that answer matter a lot? Well, is because uh England and Argentina have not only football history together or against, is they also have a military conflict and a country, you know, conflict that happened way back. So it goes back to 18 uh 33, if I'm not mistaken, and where the United Kingdom actually took the islands La Maldivas, which is a bunch of islands next to Argentina. In 1982, there was a Maldivas war, and uh it lasted about 74 days, hundreds dead, and it was like a real wound for the Argentina. Like they they they feel it for them is really personal. I can never imagine because my country has never been in a in a war, I guess, except against ourselves, Venezuela, so we'll see. But uh, I can never feel this. And then in 1986, just four years later, Argentina won 2-1 with his Maradona hand of goal goal. Uh you know, they they call it goal of the century, some some people, right? And it felt like like a symbolic revenge for for that game, and then they went on to win the semifinals, and then they they are crowned world champions uh in that tournament. So uh, you know, it for for the press, I guess, is just a match, but I think for a lot of Argentina fans, uh, is way more than that. Is is a way to continue on that legacy of you know winning against England, for example, or like it's just one of those international classic games. Uh, I think is very smart of Scaloni and the players to be like, this is just a match, and maybe for them it is like obviously a very important match because they win, they go to the semifinal uh for I think two world ups in a row. Uh but like it's heavy, like it's hard to ignore, right? 40 years of of history. Uh England, I don't think they're gonna settle. I think they're they're gonna fight like crazy. Bellingham is in top top shape, and they have something to settle. They they are probably hurting still from the hand of God because they probably felt that that game was stolen from them, you know, and I completely agree with him. A handball goal that's crazy. So they're still uh they're still hurting for that. So I think they're gonna, you know, go out with some extra fire. Uh, this is actually Messi's first ever game against England uh in his career, even in his six world cups. Yeah, they haven't even you know played against each other. So it'll be interesting to see a new victim, I guess. I guess. So uh lots of emotion. Uh it's gonna be it's gonna be crazy. Uh, if you want to stay tuned, go to the football.show. Uh come join us in our in our platform. It's gonna be a fun couple of games. Probably by the time that you're seeing this or watching this, uh, the games have already gone through. But join the conversation, let me know. We'll we'll come back out after the semifinals and talk about them. And uh so, so, so excited for this last week of the World Cup. It's crazy to think that we've watched something like 96 games already, and uh we're down to the last four. So enjoy the rest of your day, enjoy your games, and we'll see you in the next episode. Take care.