BTY Episode 2: A chat, A chinwag and a prediction

On this episode of BTY I have a bit of a chat about the current situation at the ‪@CentralCoastMarinersYT‬
I'm also joined by ‪@thecommonfootballfan‬ and ‪@melissamuscat4090‬ as we talk about the first week of the World Cup. We talk Socceroos, Beaches and is it really coming home?
#itscominghome #englandfootballteam #socceroos #worldcup2026 #centralcoastmariners #football

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:34

G'day everyone. Welcome to uh Beyond the Yellow. And uh well, what an interesting week it has been since we spoke last. The uh the World Cup has uh kicked on in earnest. Uh, I think everyone has played their first games now, I'm pretty sure. And uh been some very interesting results. And uh well, make sure you stick around to uh the the second part of the show today, where I'm joined by a couple of legends in Kode O'Deja and Mel Muscat, who are going to talk through uh that first week, some of the results, some of the uh the standouts, maybe some of the misses. And uh I'm sure we'll focus on a team called the Socceros and a team called England the Three Lions as well. So uh both had uh fantastic results in their first games, but we will get to that very, very soon. Now, you would have noticed in the uh in my Facebook post, I think I put it on Instagram too. Look, let's talk a little bit of Central Coast Mariners. Let's talk the the good, the bad, and the well, maybe the not so pretty. Plenty of uh rumors, noise, not too much coming out from the club, although we did get something today. We'll touch on that very, very soon. Um and I just thought, look, I'll let you know what I can't say what I know, what I've heard, what what's been spoken about, what bits and pieces have been around, because everyone sort of you know will message and say, hey, what's what's going on with the club? And you know, and I get it. I I really do get it because you know when we when we don't get any information at all and it's it's silent sometimes, it gets a little bit scary. Um, and I totally get that. And uh I don't work for the club. Um, I know there's people there behind the scenes who are doing a fair bit of stuff, but um, yeah, I I get it. It it is really hard. And the more the the the silence goes on, the more the rumors, the more the I heard this and I heard that. And yeah, let me tell you, I've heard some uh really weird and wonderful uh things coming out of uh well around the club, people around the club who've uh heard this, heard that. So I thought, you know what, rather than you know, answering everyone's questions and what do you think of this and stuff, let's just put it on the pod. So uh let's talk a little bit of uh Central Coast Mariners, the good, the bad, and maybe they're not so pretty. Okay, so let's talk some Central Coast Mariners. And I know um a number of you have uh have messaged and asked questions, and you know, what's happening with this, or what do you know? And and as I put in my uh my Facebook post, you know, I think there's some good, I think there's some bad, and I think there's some maybe not so pretty. And so let's uh let's put it all in the pod today so everyone uh can sort of hear my my thoughts and my opinions. And I stress these are my thoughts and my opinions. These are based off things that I've heard, conversations. This is not coming from the club. This is not a club directive to say, hey, put this on your show. They have never done that, and I'm sure if they did say that to me, there wouldn't be a show. Um, I very much pride myself on this is what I think, and getting people on to tell me about what they think, and that's entirely what we're all about. So, you know, these are just my thoughts. I'm putting two and two together. Maybe I get seven. Maths has never been my strong point, but uh I want to work through a few things and just a few thoughts that are going through my head, um, you know, just with the current situation at the Central Coast Mariners. Now, as I said, um communication sometimes, you know, we have it's been periods of nothingness. And that's always scary. I think that's a scary thing. And I'm guessing in a in a business changeover kind of perspective, we know that you know we're not running our own race at the moment. So you've got the existing, the current, the the babysitters, if you like, um, and the next tenants, if you like. So there's gonna be changes over and there'll be new staff coming through who I believe have um, well, I think they've pretty much um started as of recording, but um there'll be there'll be there'll be time taken and it's gonna it's gonna take a bit of time. We want to get this right. The last thing we want to be able to do is see the mariners come in and it's just an absolute mess. Um, no one knows what's going on. Um, we want to start with a bang, don't we? We want to be able to you know get into this thing and say, right, the mariners are back, the future is secure, let's get on with it, and we move forward. Not three months down the track or six months, oh, this is not right, or this isn't working out. I do know some of the people that are around the place, and I know how hard they are working. And um, you know, people can only do so much. Uh the mariners have never been fully blessed with thousands of stuff. Um, people have worked there for many, many years, putting in many, many of their own hours. And I don't think that has changed, even though we're in caretaker hands at the moment. But look, it will happen. Um, it it will, you know, start trundling out. There, there's been some communication today, which I'll talk about very soon. So look, I'm not the one who's going to tell you to be patient because I fully understand. I'm on board with you there. But I can say that uh things, the wheels are turning. A bit like when I'm thinking sometimes, the wheels are turning, not necessarily as quick as they should be, but the wheels, the cogs are uh are turning as as we go. Look, we know about the um the ownership. Uh, yeah, there'll be a Central Coast Mariners Club next year. It's uh it's all been happening. Um, as everyone has pretty much already said, QPR are in the picture there. I I'm not gonna go into the fine details of ownership because A, I don't know every single bit about it, and I don't want to say something that is wrong and say, oh no, that's not the case. But we know that there's a new owner coming in, and we know QPR are the you know, the major force behind that. That makes me happy because we're gonna have a Central Coast Mariners Club. The the A-League itself, the community itself wouldn't function as well if we don't have a Central Coast Mariners. We are an integral part of this competition. We are, you know, the the the little train that could. We've we've climbed many hills, we've we've batted outside of our depth, we've you know, many a time have performed well above our weight division um in the league. And you know, we've had our peaks, we've had our troughs as well, but we've fought and and we've managed to uh to stick around and and be very successful. And there are clubs in the A-League who would love to have had the uh the trophy cabinet that we currently have. And um, you know, the the club would the the the A-League would be uh a worse place without the Central Coast Mariners. The Central Coast would be a worse place without the Central Coast Mariners, but the only national team that represents the Central Coast, and you guys have been there. Yeah, I know. We we've been there when there's barely been anyone there. I I've I've made that point many a time, you know, sat there in a few men's games where not only did I have a you know a seat to myself, a road to myself, I've had pretty much a whole bait to myself. I almost went around to get a beer, and the guy was glad to see me because he hadn't seen anyone for 10-15 minutes. We've been there, you guys have been there, you know who you are. And and we've also been there where you can't get a seat, grand final, Melbourne victory. Can you remember that night? Remember how good that was? Semi-finals, Sydney, Newcastle, when Western Sydney Wanderers come walking over the hill and pack the joint, atmosphere plus, you know, we've been there for them, you know. So we've had our peaks, yes, we've had our troughs, but to me, we've got to make sure things are right because if we're not in that competition, it ain't it the competition ain't gonna be right. So look, for me, it's a it's uh we're with the takeover, um, there's a couple of things that uh are really standing out for me. One is yes, I'm glad that we are there. That is the major thing, right? But secondly, I I do have a concern, and it's only my concern, that when you get a foreign team or a team that's from overseas that comes in and and fundamentally invests in a club, a smaller club than what they are, do you then become uh a training facility? Uh or almost like it's another academy for their own club, as in, we'll bring these young fellas in and we'll give them a bit of a run in good competition. And if they're going well, we'll take them back. Or we might be able to sell them for a few dollars. We need a Centric Coast Mariners team that's going to compete. Now, I'm not saying the two things can't be correct, because they can be. You can get a young side with some good experience around them, some good players. And I know we've got uh, we'll talk about player departures in a second, but I know that there are some good players at this football club, and if players come in, they gel. Um, good things can happen. Look what Warren Noon did last year. That influx of players that came in, it just lifted that whole squad. And you imagine if that had stayed together and we'd have just added a few more, we'd be top six for sure, in my in my view. So look, as long as um we're not an investment to manufacture players, then I'm all in because we need a competitive team. We need a team that's going to be able to go out there. It's not fair on the other players in the team if if we're not investing, it's not fair on a coach, it's not fair on the it's not fair on the members. You know, you it's it's not cheap to be a member of any club at the moment, especially not to be a member of the Central Coast Mariners. We're not there to watch a training academy, we're not there to watch uh a young fella see how he goes in in the leagues. We've seen players come over from different different clubs before, and it just has not worked at all. This needs to be the Central Coast Mariners in their own right, developed, working hard, competing with the best in the league, and um, you know, looking for semi-final football, looking to win things, and and that's where we need to be. So if that's the uh modus operandi of the new owners, I'm all in. But I'm always wary. We'll see how that goes when it comes to signings, re-signings, and and stuff like that. We'll see how this uh this quad shapes up. Now, speaking of which, let's just have a bit of a look because uh there was a post that came out from the uh club today to uh to thank uh a number of players who've uh who've moved on. Um 10 in in total. Um Nathan Paul has already announced, uh, I think it was last week that he announced, he'll be sorely missed. Nathan Paul is an absolute gem of a bloke. Um and I know I'm not I'm preaching to the converted, right? You know when these guys walk around the outside, the time they take to talk to you, the kids, everybody, right? It's um it's something I I'm just so proud that our club has done over the years and it's generic. It has never been forced upon them, it's never been told they have to do it, but they do it. And I've been to other games where other clubs have just gone over and waved and off they go. Um, I've seen Mariners players out there an hour, hour and a half after the game, signing, getting photos. It's just incredible. It's it's the appreciation they have for the Central Coast. They got it, they understood that the community is so strong behind them and they need the community behind them. Um, so you know, Nathan Paul was someone when I had the 12-hour uh podcast for the uh the Cancer Council for the Stars of the Central Coast thing that I did. I said, mate, would you happen to have a shirt? You know, I can and straight away, bang, yeah, here you go, mate. Appreciate it. Just such a top bloke, lovely family as well. Um, he will be greatly missed, and I'm gonna definitely keep an eye on that guy wherever he goes, which just happens to be down the road to MacArthur. I've already told him I might need some panadol for all those cowbells. And sorry, mate, I might have to give him a bit of a bit of curry if he comes down and plays at Gosper. But uh look, he's an absolute top fella. I think we're gonna miss him uh a fair bit. Um, yeah, one of the one of the top guys. Um Miguel Dupizio, exactly the same. Um, I wanted him on a podcast uh last year, and um we got uh you know we we got him on and he and he was just great to uh to to chat to. And you know, you can just tell when you talk to players about their ambitions and what they want to do. Um, and he has that. And you know, injury has him in kind, but um yeah, he's a top player. And if he develops somewhere else, I'll always wish players luck when they move on. Um if they've given us their service and they've given it everything and they're gonna apply their trade elsewhere, they'll be uh they'll be all all good in my book. And uh yeah, it won't be for us, but uh maybe one day he'll come back. But uh I know when um I I surprised him with Max Ballard on the uh the podcast um end of last year. Uh it was it was awesome because I know how well they those guys gone on, and I'm sure he uh he appreciated that too. So all the best with him. So with Christian Theharis. What a what a what a player that divided the crowd. It was either a uh a lover or a hater of Christian The Haris, but no doubt, absolute ball skill and uh uh uh a baller. And uh it'd be interesting to see what uh what happens with uh with Christian. James Dodickey I I I'm actually surprised he's moved. You know, cement in the middle of the defense there. Um yeah, interesting one that, but again, people make decisions. Uh we'll talk about that in a sec, too. But uh he's moved on. Sabot Newell uh became a bit of a super sub there at the end, coming on and scoring some vital goals in some big games. Um, absolutely wishing him all the best. Nathaniel Blair, who came over from Perth, speed to burn that guy. Be interested to see where his next move will be. Um it'll be uh, yeah, I think it's a shame. There's some talent there. There's absolutely some talent there. Will Kennedy as well, definitely put that in the same bracket. Again, sort of in and out and didn't uh quite get the minutes I'm I'm sure he would have wanted uh through various reasons. But um again, one to uh keep an eye on. Um our good old Japanese friend, who who let me say is um you know probably most known for hitting our scoreboard and breaking one of the tiles, uh, which is probably not the uh the greatest memory that he would want to have of the mariners, but it's quite funny on the go on the uh on the day. So all the best to uh to Kato and uh to Logan and to uh to Seth as well. So um look, there's there's been some um announcements made, the club has moved these out, which um which then brings a question up for me. Who made that decision? As far as I'm aware, last I checked and last time I had conversations with some people, yes, the list of coaches had you know was pretty much reducing down in numbers, which is great. Um, a couple of candidates in particular, I think, were getting close to may well have been appointed by now. Maybe they came in in this last day or so and they've made these decisions. I don't know. Maddie Simon definitely got his finger on the pulse when it comes to these contracts and stuff, right? So obviously he must know um a bit about you know who who was not gonna be re-signed and and thoughts behind it. You'd think the coach would be there for that. Um, if not, if the coach isn't there, does that then give us an indication that there's a whole heap of players that they already know are coming in, maybe from overseas who are going to take some spots? I don't know. Again, I could be putting one-on-one together and getting 96 here. And I and you know, that could be one thing. It could also be that we've spoken to a number of players in the A-League, a lot of movement in the A-League, um, a number of players moving on from clubs. Have we picked up some bargains along the way? Have we been still been able to negotiate? Obviously, the uh the owners have been having a say and as and things have been playing out. Maybe we've already picked up some players and gone, right? Oh, well, we can start having a bit of a transformation here as well. I don't know. It'll be remained to be seen. But I just hope that uh with the the talent, because there is some definite uh talent in that uh in that list, that uh we're with them moving on and again wishing them all the best, that we've got some uh some quality lined up for them um in the in the future. So interesting. Um great that the club put it out and they um then put a further post out um regarding uh Nathan, uh Miguel, and also Christian for their time at the club, which I thought was uh was a nice touch for the for the club to uh to do so. So look, communication coming out, which is great. That's what we you know we want to want to see, um, but probably not the news that we wanted to uh to hear. So look, on the men's side of things, um interesting. I'm gonna guess that over the next few days we're gonna hear a bit more about ownership, and I think we're gonna hear more about a coach um because then I think we will start to hear some talk of players. I I I definitely think this next seven days, um between now and between now and the end of July, I think we're gonna get a fair bit of news that's gonna come through. I think um, you know, cogs are turning, as I as I said previously, and I think um, yeah, I I think uh enough is known now to be able to start going right, this is this, this is this. Because once you start putting stuff out, obviously the questions come back and you want to be prepared for that, and that leads on to this. So I I it's getting all your ducks in a row. Is that the same? I'm pretty sure that's the same. Getting all your ducks in a row. Now, the second part. This is not the good, the bad, but it might be the not so pretty. Not so sure about this one, but I know when QPR first came around, there was talk about the women's side of things, the women's squad. Now, I am self-appointed, one of I love our women's team. The the the inaugural season that we had, it was just such a even though the guys are traveling well, but was a breath of fresh air that we had our women's team out there. Some of the the players that we saw come to the club, um, some of which are still here, um, the Annabelle Martins, the Izzy Gomez, the Sarah Langmans, people who, you know, were so endearing to the fans, and it was just something that was, and it was great seeing our Mariners women out there playing. Second season, Emily Husband guides them to a grand final win. Think about that. The second season of this thing guides them to a win. That will be one of my greatest Mariners nights ever. And I've been to grand finals for the for the men's, and I've been to many a semifinal and at uh at uh industry group and you know, been to a number of different things. But that night in Melbourne, that result, that atmosphere, the tears, I saw so many people, and I was one, just to clarify, so many people in tears about uh the result. It was brilliant, it was absolutely brilliant. I shall never forget that night. Um, I think Corey did a decent job last year. You know, when you think about suspensions, injuries, and different things, I actually think and the changeover that he had, massive changes over. Um, I think Corey did a uh a pretty decent job in the role, and I, you know, would hope that that would be the case again moving forward. But as I said at the start, before I totally sidetracked myself, QPR didn't seem that keen first time around about a ladies' team. I hope that has changed. I'm a bit worried about a few bits and pieces that maybe that hasn't. Again, me putting two and two together and maybe getting, you know, 43. I I would love things to be a little bit more concrete in that sort of area. And I'm sure the news will come out and it'll hopefully put my mind at ease and our mind at ease that everything will be okay. But I just, you know, when you get that nagging feeling, like I just hope this is gonna be okay. Well, I'm just hoping this will be okay. Look, you think about our women's squad, Annalise Rasmussen is overplaying for Juventus. She scored for them. I mean, she's back in the country now. How great is that? I mean, I still get the uh get to watch her online and stuff in the team. She's playing for Juventus. There will be other players that will be playing in Europe next season. We'll probably hear about that soon too, I would imagine. We have some talent in this squad, and we need to have a little bit of, and maybe they've been told internally, but by the sound of it, I'm not sure everyone has. But look, you just need to get some traction in there. There's nothing worse than a player. And this was a conversation I had with a player, and it was at the end of last year, not the end of this year, um, who spoke about certainty, just the unknown of being a professional footballer or uh a part-time footballer, or you know, people who are, yeah, they play, but then they have to work, and you know, especially in our women's team. The uncertainty is just incredible. Because then when you think about injuries and missing work, it's it's a it's a crazy old thing, right? So, you know, certainty is one of those big things that you hope we can give these players. And maybe they have, maybe by now they've come out and said, yep, this is this, this is this, whatever, whatever. I don't know what assurances they've been given. But I I sincerely hope from the bottom of my heart, because I will be absolutely filthy if anything happens to our women's team. Because I think the work that has been done, we have members who I know are here for our women's team. We have people who are involved with the club because they just love our women's team. At the end of those women's teams, I talked about before the players going around at the end of the posters, pictures, that the girls love it. You know, I I'm fortunate I get to speak to them and they love it. You know, they they take photos themselves and they they're just so blown away by sometimes the the crowd reactions to different things and the fans that are there. It's um it's awesome. And we we can't lose that because that is the magic of the Central Coast Mariners. That is what creates our community. Those young people grow up and they want to play for our men's team, but some now want to play for our girls' team. They want to represent the mariners' women. The work that was put in over the last couple of years hasn't been put in to stop. And again, I hope I'm barking up the wrong tree. I hope someone's gonna come out now and say, Martin, don't be a goose, wouldn't be the first time. And would say, Yeah, there's gonna be a women's team. Don't worry about it, it's all good. Corey's in charge, got this, got this, and we are all sweet. I don't know. I'm hoping that is the case. Let's just wait and see. But I just want to put it out there that for me personally, let's Little bit of a concern. I don't know. Maybe again, I haven't I haven't looked in the right places, maybe. Who knows? We'll we'll just see. But yeah, expect some news. I think there'll be again some player changeover. And well, I think you know, Europe may well be the beneficiary of that. And as I said for the men's, if there's our players are playing over there in Europe and they're doing an awesome job, I'm gonna be following them. Um, I think it's great. Um, you know, when you think about, you know, just you think about players who pulled on the shirt for the Mariners who are now playing for Juventus. I mean, let that sink in for a second, you know. And we have other players doing it, obviously, but you know, how can you begrudge someone to have that opportunity? And they've come through our own nursery. Annabelle, uh, Annabelle, um Annalise was the first Mariners player signed for the women's team. And to go from that, a local junior, to now doing what she is, it's just the best story. And if they've come in and they've put in for a couple of seasons and they take off and they go do something else, I'm 100% behind them. She won't be the last. I guarantee you that she won't be the last. But whatever squad there is, I just want a women's team out there because I know they're gonna give it everything. I know they're gonna give it a crack. And uh, yeah, let's just hope. Fingers crossed, my toes are crossed too. You just have to trust me on that one. That uh we get some news on that one very, very shortly as well. Look, I think um, in general, in wrapping up, in concluding, Your Honor, there's gonna be a Mariners club. New people are coming, investment, there'll be staff. It's it's all it's all happening. So for those who are worried that we're not gonna have a Mariners um club next year, you don't have to worry about that. That is all happening. For those who are worried now because they've seen a list of players who are departing the scene, don't. It's okay because there will be players coming. Now, I don't know who. You hear little words of some players from the A-League who are interested who might be coming, uh, and I guess that'll be okay. But let's not even speculate about that just yet. Others may. I just want to see how the functionality of this thing goes first. Let's just take it one step at a time. We will field the team. Um, I have seen in the Facebook comments you guys are funny about um, you know, I think it was under eight teams and someone from the was it you, Mr. Egleton, about the over 35s or something still knocking in goals. Mate, keep those boots shining, pull those stocks up, son. You never know you're like in a big city, but um no one's gonna come in and invest in a club and then say, oh, sorry, we're forfeited, we've only got seven players. There will be players there. And I'm gonna throw this out nice and early too, that even if it is, it might be some young kids coming in to have a crack that we might go, never heard of him, never heard of him, let's just let's support him. Because I don't know about you, you guys, but I also support Tottenham Hotspur. And um oh and this year we almost got relegated. It came down to the last game of the season, and the sick feeling that I I had every now and then in my stomach that my side was gonna drop to the championship. Can't tell you how bad that was. Now, we stayed in the Premier League, hallelujah, we'll live to fight another day, but that's what this thing does to you, right? And you know, we've done it with the Mariners too. We've sat there when there's been no one there, we're losing, it's wooden spoons, it's just crazy times, right? We know what it feels like, but knowing that it might not have been there, that maybe an owner wasn't gonna come in and we might not have had a club, that would be the absolute worst. So, whatever 11 get out there to start that first men's game, and everything is hoping that for the first women's game as well. Let's give them everything we've got. I get it. I totally understand it when I talk about memberships and staying behind the team. You're there for the club, and the more we're there, the more we're cheering, the more it resonates with the players that this is something worth fighting for. Sure, a player might come to the club and never have heard of us before. What the hell are those palm trees and giant sauce bottles doing at the end of the ground? What is going on? I've heard players say that. We've had plenty of interviews on the Marty Mariner show with players who, you know, I talked to about palm trees and sauce bottles, and they're like, I'd heard a little bit about it, but wow, I didn't realise this because it's, you know, the central coast of uh New South Wales and they've come from overseas and different things. But when they hear that the fans are so passionate and getting behind them, it it helps them as well. We have to play our part because if a new owner comes in and we go whatever and disappear, well, do you think the club's gonna stick around? And then we're just gonna be fighting again just to you know be in the league. We all need to play our part in this, we all need to get behind it. Um, however, which whichever way it goes when it comes to new players coming to the club, existing players re-signing, people coming from different places. We just need to get behind it and give it a crack because that's what we do well uh when we're all uh on that same page. So look, let's keep our fingers crossed that we get some news. As I said, I'm gonna say that probably definitely in this next week, before the end of the month, I think we'll learn a lot more about the uh on and off business of the club. I dare say coaching-wise, we will hear a lot about that, particularly maybe, not particularly maybe, does that make sense? Probably not. In this next week, I would I would suggest that that would probably come forward. Now that we're definitely talking about players that have gone, um, we want to be able to see the coach come in and say, yes, but this is the good stuff, who's coming back? And um hopefully we get some more traction and some news when it comes to our ladies' team, too. If anyone from the club, if it happens to be that they're happening to be watching this or listening to this and they're around a boardroom and they're just debating whether they're, you know, is there any doubt about a women's team this year? There is no doubt about a women's team. You have to have it. It is an integral part of this club. And uh, yeah, you can't take the heart out of a body and expect it to uh keep on living. And I think that would be the case with a women's team. I just think they bring so much to the club. Maybe others will disagree with that. I think they've been a breath of breath of fresh air, and I think that um, yeah, we can't do without them. Anyway, that is my little rant. Little rant, as he says. He looks at the clock. Let's uh let's move on now to the world game and uh well, let's catch up with uh Mel and Cody and let's talk a little bit of World Cup 2026.

SPEAKER_03 28:20

Welcome to becoming Yeah, well, uh welcome back to uh Beyond the Yellow.

SPEAKER_00 28:35

And uh I thought I'd get a couple of geezers in to talk a bit of the World Cup. You know what I mean? It's going on at the moment, and there's been a couple of really good results, and I thought let's get a few of the fellas, the girls together and have a bit of a chat, a bit of a chin wag, a bit of a conversation. I'm gonna have to stop there because I can't keep talking like that. I'm confusing myself with what I'm gonna say next. How bad is all that? Um, first of all, what a distinguished technologically advanced panel we have. That'll make a lot of sense to us. Absolutely nothing for you. Mel, how are you doing, mate?

SPEAKER_02 29:06

Oh well, thank you. How you going, Marty?

SPEAKER_00 29:08

I'm going great, man. I'm going great. What have you been up to lately? Is it been is it quieter now that the the soccer season is it still on fire for you? What's going on?

SPEAKER_02 29:16

You know what? I have had a chance to breathe, which is nice. Um breathing's good. Yes. Uh, you know, especially because I follow both codes and they overlap. So now there's a little bit of breathing space. Um, but in saying that, you know, waking up early for the World Cup and you're gonna hate me. But this morning I woke up and I fell asleep before Michael Rashford scored his goal, so I missed it.

SPEAKER_00 29:37

It's it's been nice having you on the show, Mel. We'll see you later. That's fine.

SPEAKER_02 29:41

Everybody knows how much I love sport, but there's one thing that I love a little bit more, and that's my sleep.

SPEAKER_00 29:46

I thought you'd say Marcus Rashford. But anyway, that's fine. And uh and a nice shirt you're wearing too.

SPEAKER_02 29:53

Thank you. And look, I'm gonna say that I'm pleased that you um opened up with that English accent because otherwise, uh yeah, not too impressed that you're wearing that today, Marty. I I'm all for second teams, but come on, not while our Australia is still in it.

SPEAKER_00 30:08

It's coming home, baby. I was born there. What do you expect? I was born in the place, mate. What do you just gotta happen anyway? Moving on. Cody, speaking of shirts, um, this guy, the common football fan, that it's a it's a bad name, mate. I've said to you before because there's nothing common about you. What what have you been up to lately?

SPEAKER_01 30:23

I appreciate that. No, um, I've been pretty busy. Uh I've done my first year of football New South Wales commentary, so a lot of the um a lot of my time's been directed out that way between that, doing the social media work for them. Yeah, uh, it's kept me busy, which you know is both good and actually I'm not even gonna say bad. It's it's good. You know, it's kind of busy. It's kind of busy you want to be, I guess. Um I've got to say, Mighty, for someone who was born and raised in England, terrible English accent. It wasn't good. Sorry, Mum. Yeah, it's um not not that's almost a mock mockery of your ancestors, but you know what? Considering we're all Australians, I kind of like the fact that it was like look, it's good for the ratings, mate.

SPEAKER_00 31:04

It's good for the ratings. Now, speaking of shirts, let me guess. That looks like a Haiti shirt to me.

SPEAKER_01 31:09

Haiti, yes. Um, I have should probably clarify not Haiti Haitian by any means whatsoever. Okay. Um, I got this during the 2023 Women's World Cup. I was at Tumblrong for um, I think it was the first weekend that the World Cup was on. Uh watched three matches back to back. I can't remember what the first one was. I believe it was Japan's NBA. The second game was England Haiti, and you know, classic Australian trait root for the underdog. Sorry, Marty, it was back and against your English girls.

SPEAKER_00 31:37

You started so well, mate. You started so well, you bagged me out about my accent, and now you've gone against my team. I'm gonna kick you both up and see what's going on here.

SPEAKER_01 31:45

You're doing this on your own soon, mate. But um, honestly, England played well. Haiti, they had one player in midfield by the name of Melchi Dumone, and she made me fall in love with the country. So since then, Haiti's kind of like a third or fourth team behind, you know, Australia, then Spain, Scotland as my background, and Haiti, who was playing Scotland as well, and put up a good fight.

SPEAKER_00 32:06

Go figure. We might even touch on that a little bit later, too. But um, yeah, good to have you guys on board. Thanks for joining me for the uh for the for the World Cup show. We're uh what we've about a week into it now. I think everyone's played their um their first game now. I think everyone's uh yeah pr pretty much kicked off, which is which is great. And it kind of leads me to um my first question. Could it be someone a conversation I've had before? Mel, I'm gonna kick off with you. Does the World Cup have too many teams in it now?

SPEAKER_02 32:32

Um if you asked me that question eight hours ago, I would have hell bent said yes, absolutely, what's going on? Right. Um but look, yes, I uh to me, I I think my issue is going from 32 to 48. I think if we're gonna do that, I think increase it slow uh slowly. Um yeah, 48 maybe is a bit a bit much. I think it takes to shine off it a little bit. And my argument is I personally believe, and I've been saying this for years, that the World Cup should take place every two years, not for it's too long to wait. And then people will say to me, Oh, but then it doesn't make it a special or exclusive. But I mean, if you're letting every Tom Dick and Harry in right, it takes a little to shine off that as well. Um in saying that, you know, from what we've seen, we saw this morning, um, what we saw against Spain, like those smaller countries are really creating some magic, aren't they? And so I think to myself, well, like yeah, all right, maybe we have a few too many teams at um at 48, but it does allow those smaller countries to shine. And you know, it does, it makes the World Cup a little bit special, I think, to see all those good news stories. Who was the opponent against Spain? What country was it?

SPEAKER_01 33:43

Cabo Verde.

SPEAKER_02 33:44

Yeah, okay, yeah, that goalkeeper, you know, just the like the stories that are coming out of it. I'm like, okay, I'm warming to the idea, but 48 teams, yeah, maybe a little bit too many.

SPEAKER_00 33:56

I know I'm trying to I'm trying to finish off my Panini sticker book, and it's costing I'm gonna have to sell the house to get enough stickers to fill it because it's like it's like the encyclopedia. It's like it's just crazy. Cody, I'll ask you the same question, mate. Uh, are there too many teams in it? And it yeah, what's your thoughts? Because I'm the same. I I I love the little underdoggy kind of we talked about Haiti before, right? Never seen him play before, seen the World Cup. But it is the World Cup the stage for it.

SPEAKER_01 34:20

Ah, see, I'm I'm I'm actually the complete opposite. I love it. It's right. I remember when it was first announced, it was first announced, I think it was somewhere in either the early it was just before 2018, actually. I believe that's it, that's when they first announced that it was gonna be 48 teams. And I remember thinking the same thing of okay, yeah, it's going from you know adding an extra 16 teams, although when you think about it as well, the same percentage increase as when they went from 24 to 32, 50% increase. But um, I remember thinking at the time, okay, yeah, it's a bit drastic. If you're going to increase, maybe go to 40%, kind of find a nice little middle ground. That was the World Cup that we saw, Italy, Holland, Chile, USA all miss out. And suddenly you start asking the question, okay, if we're at a point where you're running the risk consistently of big teams missing out, is there is that the argument for expansion there? The last thing that I would have wanted to see from this World Cup would be those smaller teams that people are using as okay, why is the World Cup 48 teams and you're just going to allow a nation like Haitian or okay, Verde in. And the only one that's really been disappointing so far is Kudashell. But you look at Kudashell as well, they had the best record in Conquer Cap qualifying. If it was still a 32-team tournament, technically they're probably the one that would have made it. Although if their qualifying format was different, maybe it's a different story. It's it's not necessarily a matter of it there's too many teams. I think a lot of confederations have really poor qualifying methods, so you don't always necessarily get the best teams. We're in a position now where a 48 World Cup, and we still got Italy, Denmark, Costa Rica, nations that you're used to having there still struggling to qualify. So I think between that and the fact that a lot of nations like Qatar have stepped up really well, Iraq were doing well up until a certain point, of course. Cabo Verde, absolutely fantastic. Kudash is the only one that's probably been a bit of a letdown. And other than that, the only other side that's been you know quite poor was Tunisia. But they're a regular at the World Cup and they move they move swiftly on that result, and they sack their coach after one game of a major tournament, which doesn't happen very often. So I I think there's enough from this tournament so far to say that to justify the increase. I understand the arguments against it, but I I love watching a lot of island nations. I love watching sides like Uzbekistan. Um I think that's his first name, Fazulayev, who scored against Columbia this morning. Absolute boy. Love to see him on a stage, although Uzbekistan probably could have qualified for a World Cup even with 32 teams. So there's a lot of good to come out of it, and I think overall it's gonna be a positive. For me, the final evolution of the World Cup is 64 teams, but I think you're about 30 to 40 years away from that being capable.

SPEAKER_00 37:08

Maybe we go to 120, so the small countries like Italy might be able to make it. How good's that? Sorry to all my Italian friends out there, but I had to get them anyway. We'll drop the numbers.

SPEAKER_02 37:16

Well, my first thought, okay, when I saw it's funny, Cody, when did you say it was announced? 2018.

SPEAKER_01 37:21

18, yeah. Uh 2017 or 2018, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:24

Okay, well, I just realized like last week, so whenever I've been living, but anyway.

SPEAKER_01 37:29

But there was a lot of um there was a lot of things that I was doing when I should have been doing my school work that I wasn't. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 37:37

Well, my first thought with 48 teams was and Italy still couldn't make it. Yeah, sorry, Italian fluids.

SPEAKER_00 37:42

That was the first thing I thought when Italy was. They're done. They're done. Actually, that does leave me. Mel, keep going with this one because we're now in three countries. I I my view is I I'm all about the the country that hosts it. Get everyone out. I know it's stadiums, and obviously there are more teams, you need more stadiums and stuff like that. But to me, having it over three different countries, um, I'll be honest, I'm not a fan. What's your thought?

SPEAKER_02 38:11

I'm okay with that. At first, I I had an issue when um it was announced that Australia would host the World Cup, Women's World Cup with New Zealand. I'm like, oh, we got the short straw. Why is it us that has to share? It's usually that's not done. It's in one country. Um, but you know, experiencing the Women's World Cup like I did, um I went to uh pre-tournament, I think I had two tickets for two Matilda's games. I still ended up getting to eight games. I got to see Colombia, Netherlands, England, so many wonderful countries. Um so I think that there is um enough love to share around. Um and yeah, I mean I would say three countries, but they're you know, pretty close proximity. Um and yeah, like with the again, the 48 teams now, I think that it's I think it's okay. I yeah, don't have too much of an issue with that um because I experienced the World Cup in two countries for the women's and and I thought it worked fine.

SPEAKER_00 39:16

I don't know. I I just I mean to me, you know, Mexico 70 or Italia 90, it kind of gave it that thing, and now it's like half the world, now they just call it FIFA 2026 because it's just like can't put it anyone. Cody, what's your thought?

SPEAKER_01 39:29

Yeah, look, uh probably along the side the same wavelength of Melware, it's okay. I don't know if I want it to be like a regular thing where it's got to be spread around here, there, and everywhere. If you're gonna share it with someone, share it with a neighbor. I don't I don't mind that as long as it's not every single World Cup. True. I think half the problem with it is obviously with more teams, you're gonna have you're gonna need more stadiums, of course, as well. And there's only a select few amount of countries that can that can do it. So to an extent, you're gonna have to share eventually. But FIFA stadium regulations uh are a bit of a pain in the backside too. That's that doesn't help when you're asking for 16, 40,000 seater stadiums. It's unrealistic to expect any country on their own to do that. I think with an expanded World Cup as well, you'll find when it's moved to a country that doesn't have a population of 380 million people, you don't need 16,000, 40,000 seater stadiums. You can start putting games in at maybe anything 25 and up. And that's not that's not a much more realistic number for a lot of countries. And I think if FIFA bite the bullet and go, you know what, we don't need grand stadiums, we can have it at maybe one or two local grounds, and it will still be okay.

SPEAKER_00 40:37

Still be okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

If you bite the bullet and you do that, you're gonna be able to still spread the World Cup to a lot of other nations that would usually host it with a 32 team tournament. And it's gonna be within their scope to be able to do because if you ask people to build 16 stadiums, the only country that I think can do that is Saudi Arabia. And otherwise, you're gonna end up in a position where USA, Saudi Arabia, and five European nations just no one else can do it.

SPEAKER_00 41:03

Are we gonna end up with um the World Cup in 2038? It'll just be Europe.

SPEAKER_01 41:07

Well, 2038 apparently is going back to America, it's the only they're the only country that can host it.

SPEAKER_00 41:12

Uh can't wait for that one. Playing at Disneyland.

SPEAKER_02 41:17

Do a little Europe crawl. I'd I'd do that.

SPEAKER_01 41:19

I did it in 2020 Euro and it didn't turn out too bad. It's um it'd be interesting, but obviously no one made a qualifier as well. And who gets the final? Well, exactly. Well, I know I know I know what you'd say, Marty.

SPEAKER_00 41:31

You'd put it at Wembley. There's not even it's not even a question. Uh actually, if you go to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, actually, it's probably one of the best stadiums in Europe as well. And you probably couldn't have it in Italy either because they hate us now, so they're not gonna they're not gonna even be part of that either. And Mel definitely won't be able to get into Italy if it goes across to Europe. Um we'll stick with you, Mel too, because you're wearing the shirt, the Socceros. Um, a great result. Now let me get this right. Is it now Turkia? Is that how it's pronounced properly now? Turkia.

unknown 41:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 41:58

How do you say it, Cody?

SPEAKER_00 41:59

Turkia. Turkey.

SPEAKER_02 42:02

I I was saying Turkia, right?

SPEAKER_01 42:05

Oh, that sounds a lot better than me. I'm still saying it with an Aussie accent.

SPEAKER_02 42:08

Turkia. Yeah, I don't know about Gia. I think it's sort of a little bit more meshed with the two syllables, but anyway, that's how I'll say it.

SPEAKER_00 42:16

No, mate. I've tried, I can't even do my old English accent. I've got nothing else now. I just shut up and get to do this one. Um, the game. Um just out of the what was your thoughts?

SPEAKER_02 42:28

Uh I thought it was amazing. I I think and I think what made it more amazing is that I I don't think many people were expecting what was delivered.

SPEAKER_04 42:36

True.

SPEAKER_02 42:36

Um, you know, going into those matches. Uh it was a very different style, wasn't it? We played very defensive, if you like, a little bit boring if you want to call it that. Um I mean, look, in the actual game, the defense was amazing. It just stood up to everything that was thrown at us. And that impressed a lot of people. However, the execution of those two goals to me was superb. And I think that's what added uh, you know, the icing to the cake there, because that's what I feel Australia and the Socceros has lacked for many years. We haven't had a Harry Kehl or a Tim K Hill, you know, since they've gone in terms of attack. But the way that Iran Kunda and uh what was that? Um Metcalf just yeah, like delivered it so perfectly. And you know, the assist by Paul O'Conn Jr. Oh, it was just it was beautiful. We did exactly what we needed to do. We didn't play boring. Um it's just it's phenomenal. The the way that it's got the country talking, people saying, you know, oh, I never really was into football before now. Yeah, big fan. It's amazing. That's what we wanted. We didn't want to just park the bus for the most of the game, and we didn't. But we stood up defensively and we did it to such a bloody high standard when it was required.

SPEAKER_00 43:58

No, we didn't park the bus. We just threw it on the beach. Go work that one out, kids. Um, Cody, your thoughts too. Now, let's be fair that you know, selection-wise, before the game, there was you know, Maddie Ryan and but you know, just talking about Patrick Beach. Yeah, there's a bit of um well, what's he doing? What's he doing kind of stuff going on before that game? What was your thoughts pre-game? And then how did you how were you going during it? Like the guy's a genius now.

SPEAKER_01 44:23

Well, I was um I was working during this the game actually, which does sound a little bit unustralian, unfortunately.

SPEAKER_02 44:28

I saw that, Cody. I'm like, what are they doing? Nobody should have been playing at that time.

SPEAKER_01 44:35

Unfortunately, that's a decision that uh made by people that get paid a lot more than what I do. But yeah, yeah, my um, it's it is my own fault. I volunteered for the shifts without realizing the date. Um, so this one is completely on me. But in saying that, I saw the lineup, I think it was just before I left the house for the game. You know, the lineup come through comes through. A mate of mine sends me a message going, Beach is starting. And I looked at him, I'm like, Footmob's got it wrong. That's it's not legit. They they've they put a predicted line up and they screwed up. And then I saw the Instagram post and that it was actually legit and that Irvine wasn't playing either. And I'm sitting there, and my first thought was okay, I don't mind working now because this is gonna this is gonna be horrible. Yeah, I'm there, I'm talking to people from my calf, and I'm like, what the hell's going on? What what decisions he's made? I was talking to my mum on the way, and I'm like, Tony Popovich is either gonna look like a genius or he's gonna look like an idiot. Absolutely. Looks like a genius now, doesn't he?

SPEAKER_00 45:29

Yep, absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 45:29

I rang my mum after um I finished work and I'm like, I think we all owe Tony Popovich a very big apology. And to an extent, I shouldn't be surprised because this is it's Tony Popovich to a T. This is how he won the Champions League. He won by being a side that's very difficult to break down and being a student what he what he wants, and having confidence in his decisions and to make big calls. I remember for a lot of years Champions League campaign that had Vittor Saba, a brilliant midfielder, who really could be pulling the strings for wanderers, and a lot of the times he wasn't getting played because Popovich had faith in other players. So you know, Popovich time and time again has a knack for proving people wrong. Yeah, I'm hoping he does it again on Saturday morning because I would love nothing more than to beat the USA. Um, hopefully, lightning strikes twice. I I can only echo okay your sentiments, Mel, because it was it was a brilliant performance, it was exactly what we want to see from the soccerers, and it unites the country. This is every four years we see Australia at its most united, and it's beautiful that it's happening because of our game.

SPEAKER_02 46:35

Yeah, and you know, one thing I'm just gonna add there. So Ron was surprised with the whole Maddie Ryan thing. Can I tell you I was not? So before the World Cup, um, I was saying why Joe Gouch, like, why was Joe Gauchy not there? And I understand, I think he's it's just been lack of game time.

SPEAKER_01 46:50

If you ask him, he's played in League One, though, so he's had game time.

SPEAKER_02 46:53

Well, if you asked me, and I think I put this up on X, I said, why has Joe Gauchy missed out? Like I would have had him there. And so when I saw Patrick Beach, I was surprised purely for the lack of experience, I suppose, in those big games. But he's a freak of a goalkeeper, and we've seen that in the A-Leagues, and all those people that only watch the World Cup, you need to watch the A-Leagues because Patrick Beach performs like that in the A-Leagues because he does. So for me, I was at first I was like, okay, that's a very big gamble, and that's where I maybe would have had Joe Gauchy as a happy medium. But like, wasn't over like I like Maddie Ryan and he's still great. There's nothing to take away from him. But in terms of freakish, you know, ability and the like the really big moves. I I was not overly like or disappointed or what's he doing. And I was so pleased to see that he started Erin Kunda because I wasn't expecting that. I thought that he'd bring him on early in the second half, like so we'd change the tactic up completely and he didn't do that. So I was pleased. On that, one thing I want to ask both of you. Um Erin Kunda, he's 20 years old. Is that correct? We know he's gunner, yeah, gun of a player. So there's this whole talk of like him getting exhausted. I want to know why. He's he's young, he's quite athletic. So Popovich pulled him, I think, at the 60th minute, and then there's talk that perhaps next game he won't start because of a fatigue issue. What's the go there? I don't know. That's why I'm asking both of you. Like I wouldn't I wouldn't expect that. There are players that are older than him that are staying on 90 minutes. And yeah, well, so what's the thing?

SPEAKER_01 48:30

Yeah, it's an interesting one. I think Erin Kunda's one of those players that they work best when they're at peak fitness. You know, you play a you play 90 minutes, eventually you're gonna fatigue, you know how young or fit you are. So I guess it's just a matter of probably which one he wants Erin Kunda. I guess at his best, at his at his at peak physicality. For a player like him, I remember when he was in the A-League and there was a a journalist that actually asked a um Adelaide's manager or someone in someone in Adelaide, is Erin Kunda just going to be a career bench player and be one of those players that just forever comes in and impacts games? And I thought that was highly disrespectful because you know this is the young talent eventually. Yeah, you know, once he gets beyond 17, 18, he's a starting player, and there will come a time where he can do it for 90 minutes. Maybe he's not there yet. As much as you're you're young and you're fit to play a lot of minutes at a young age is still probably detrimental down the track. So it might be it might be a thing of being maybe risk averse. But saying that, if a game calls for him to be on for 90 minutes, I don't think there should be a reason why we don't. I can see why he's taken off a little bit earlier against Turkey. But um I could I guess we're up 1-0, it's about being a bit conservative. But if we're still chasing the game, I wouldn't be pulling him off because oh, he's only out, he's only gonna get through so many minutes. You use him as you need to use him. The reality is he's at least one of our top three, top five players, and I think that's even being conservative because I think a lot of people now would be saying he's number he's outright number one.

SPEAKER_02 50:00

So, what do you think, Marty? Like, what's your thoughts? And I'm surprised at that reason. A lot of people are talking about his fatigue, and I'm like, why? 20 is is he's at the peak of his game.

SPEAKER_00 50:10

I mean, it could be, I mean, we don't know. I mean, there could be underlying conditions too. We we don't know. There could be a number of things physically that would be that case, but I mean, I know even when I've played it, well, nowadays I get fatigued after five minutes, so I can understand what fatigue can do to a body, but you'd think that someone of that age and in that bracket would, even without game time, the amount of training and and you'd think that would be a level of fitness that you would be able to get to to get through a game. So I don't know. I I and to me it's all it's gonna be something that I would imagine would take away from a potential value because a club who is going to look at, you know, and we're talking in the next two, three, four years, five years, whatever, he's gonna look at a player who can, yeah, it'd be a great impact, but we can't ever get 90 minutes off them. And if we can't get 90 minutes from a player, geez, we're taking a bit of a risk because of other injuries and stuff like that. So I don't know. Uh it could be an underlying thing. I haven't heard of anything that it could be. Um, I I wouldn't imagine it's a it could be a mental thing. I don't really know, but it's um it is quite because when you look at him, he looks like the fittest player out there, too. When they line up, he looks the fittest player.

SPEAKER_01 51:17

That's probably because they tell him running myself ragged for 60 minutes, and then we'll give you a breather as well. Look, with what food I know he was hitting in 80 minutes regularly, and now with the five subs, we're all usually uh replacing your whole front line with a new one, which is true from the back.

SPEAKER_02 51:29

And look, he was up there in terms of he was up there in terms of the top players for speed, but he wasn't even the first. Who was the first? Who's the fastest in the whole World Cup? Someone in the Socceros.

SPEAKER_01 51:42

I can't might have even been Italiano.

SPEAKER_02 51:44

Sorry, yeah, that's it. Yeah, Italiano, right? So Italiano is is the fastest in the entire World Cup. He's out, it's his soccer roo. Um, but and I think Urin Kunda was fifth or sixth, which okay, like that's still pretty fast. But that's not what so how long how many minutes did Italiano play the other day? Did he play the whole game?

SPEAKER_01 52:02

I think he might have got through a full 90. Let me have double check.

SPEAKER_02 52:05

That's what I'm saying. Yeah, and I'm I'm wondering if if there's something underlying that perhaps we don't know because he just seems very strange to me.

SPEAKER_00 52:13

It's it's gotta be. Italiano got 75. 75, yeah. Yeah, okay. Yeah, I'm surprised he's a fast. I thought Harry Kane would have been the fastest. But anyway, that's just me.

SPEAKER_02 52:21

If I get an exclusive with Tony Popovich, I'll ask him.

SPEAKER_00 52:24

Can you do that? And then um let us know too, so we we can figure this stuff out. Two quick questions for both of you guys. I want to know, Cody, I'm gonna start with you. Will what will the result be against the US and will Australia get out of the group? Do you want me to answer with my head or my heart? Both. You guys, whatever overall.

SPEAKER_01 52:42

I'll go in my head before the World Cup. I would have said we win this game 3-2. We go down 2-0 half time. I was hoping Erin Kunda actually comes in for the second half and scores a hat-trick, but the way we started the fact that the US are now going to be on their toes against us, and Erin Kunda may be in there from the get-go. I'm actually kind of leaning towards the draw. Two-old draw, high scoring, high intensity. My heart says five-nil. We win. I I it's not that I want to beat them, I want to demolish them and I want them to be embarrassed.

SPEAKER_00 53:10

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 53:10

I have never wanted to win a game of football more in my life. And we've played around a 16 match only four years ago.

SPEAKER_00 53:17

Yeah, so yeah, wow.

SPEAKER_01 53:19

There's uh sorry, you want to pay out the winner as well for the tournament? Not yet.

SPEAKER_00 53:24

Oh, hold that one, hold that one back. No, what are you adding? No. Well, are we gonna get out of the group?

SPEAKER_02 53:31

Yeah, in terms of World Cup prediction, you know me, I love a prediction, especially in the A-leagues. I I cannot predict a World Cup um result. I just cannot. It's too difficult on in a tournament where we only perform once every four years, and also our opponents are very different. Okay, so we you know uh qualify through the is it the Asian Confederation? Is that correct? Um, and then we, you know, we're meeting USA and European opponents. How do you how do you even go there? I can't even go there. I don't even know what's gonna happen, honestly. Um will we get out of the group stage? I'm I'm really before the tournament, I would I actually was saying I don't even know if that's gonna happen. I'm quite confident now, yes. That I think that 2-0 win. I would have been happy with a draw um on Sunday, but the fact that we won convincingly 2-0, yes, I I am confident that we will get out of the group stage.

SPEAKER_00 54:24

Right, come on. Picking results for the World Cup is easier, huh?

SPEAKER_01 54:28

If you're talking about the group stage as well, I think personally I've always been confident purely because there's options for third place teams to go to get out of the group as well. A lot of them do. But you look at our group, Tokyo, USA are good, but I don't think we're losing to both of them. I would have thought maybe we'd have to cop a loss to one of them. And then you've got Paraguay, who the talk around them is just purely how good they are defensively, how tough they are to break down. Yeah, and then they've got a couple good players going forward. But what do the people say about Australia? We're really good defensively, we're tough to break down, we've got good players going forward. They've got a slightly better front line to what we do. Um, Al Madron, obviously, is a big name, and Kisor, very, very good player. Yep. We've got a better back line than them, and we've got a much better back line than them.

SPEAKER_02 55:11

So they're but our back line, uh but Cody, our back line really has not been the issue, I don't think, is soccer. It's more our attack, right? So it depends what you know our yeah, our forwards can do. Um Ocon Jr. killed it in midfield, which was so beautiful to see for a youngster. Um but it's like I said, we we've had issues executing, right? Scoring goals. Okay, so yeah, well, and that's what I'm saying. Like if we can if we can pick up where we left off, I I think personally we're capable of a draw. Um yeah, uh some sort like a point. I don't know if we're gonna beat the USA. I think they're they're the highest ranked in our group, right? So not a hundred percent sure. I hope I'm wrong. I don't know if we'll beat the US. Uh for me, if we if we got a draw um or a narrow win, I'd be super happy with that. But I don't think even a loss to the USA, given how how I mean them they're ranked quite a bit higher than us. I don't think there'd be a shame in a narrow loss to that.

SPEAKER_00 56:10

Oh, and and I think too, I mean, you're definitely right about um Paul Ocon Jr. as well. I mean, he just wants to he just needs to go and play for a decent club. That's all he needs to do. But he was up, he was absolutely a City FC match.

SPEAKER_02 56:22

I'm not going on this show anymore.

SPEAKER_00 56:24

There's the Italians and also now the Sydney FC fans who've just switched off. Sorry guys. Um, I think I read a stat someone said the other day, I think we're 85% chance now of getting through the group, which I don't know how they work out. That's honestly.

SPEAKER_01 56:34

I'm not surprised. You know, looking at how Paraguay played against the USA, they were they weren't good. And like I said, I think if you if you match us up man for man, yeah, Paraguay's definitely got a good side, they've got good players, but I do think we can edge them out.

SPEAKER_00 56:47

Yeah, I'm not worried about that. I think personally, I think if uh if Australia gets a point against US, I think that'll probably be enough to go through, even in the top two, maybe even as a third. But they're you know they're being coached by a former Tottenham manager, so we probably will beat them 5-0 because the way Tottenham's going at the moment.

SPEAKER_02 57:01

Is it Pochettino who's the US coach?

SPEAKER_00 57:04

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 57:05

The pots that's impressive, that is truly impressive.

SPEAKER_01 57:09

Depends which way you look at it. Well, you want to hear impressive. You see who's coaching Uzbekistan. Who's coaching Uzbekistan? Fabio Canavaro.

SPEAKER_02 57:18

Oh, he was my favorite Italian player, a favorite-looking Italian player.

SPEAKER_01 57:23

He's he's coaching Uzbekistan. They made their um World Cup debut this morning. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 57:28

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 57:29

What a wealth of knowledge you are, Mr. O'Dejar. Loving it. I told you. Nothing common about this common football fan. All right, we'll quickly touch on England because obviously it's coming home. They're gonna win the World Cup now. Did you guys see the game this morning? I thought personally, it should have been a lot more idea. I thought Croatia probably a little bit disappointing. Probably ran out of legs too. They're an older side now, and I think there's a bit of a change going on there. But tell me your thoughts, Cody. Start with you. Did you did you watch the game? See any highlights? Yeah. What did you think?

SPEAKER_01 57:54

I did see it. Um, I'm not I'm actually not surprised with the result. I thought maybe a drawer England gets gets on top of them. England do traditionally in big tournaments, especially World Cup, struggle against big nations. So I thought there might have been a draw waiting, but I'm not surprised we're starting to see Croatia fall off a little bit. Yeah, I think next couple of years we'll start seeing them going through a transition phase, but I think this will be the tournament where that we start to see them kind of fall off a little bit. They've been drew a bad tournament for a while, but at that with the fact that they do have an aging squad, not surprising when got over them. And I think a result like this means it's coming home, unfortunately, Marty.

SPEAKER_00 58:28

Absolutely, absolutely, it's coming out, it's coming out.

SPEAKER_01 58:30

Mel.

SPEAKER_02 58:31

I was expecting a draw this morning, to be honest with you. Uh, I thought it would be I thought it'd be a little bit more even. Uh yeah, I just you know, Croatia have impressed the last uh few World Cups. But I yeah, what Cody's saying, I suppose, you know, the yeah, the squad is a little bit aging now. But and look, let's be honest, right up until the end of the first half, right? It was pretty even. It was it was one for one. Um absolute banger of a goal by the Croatian player, that second one. Um, it was good. I oh my gosh, I can't believe it. I fell asleep at the 60th minute and I yeah, missed Marcus Rashford's goal, but I heard it was good.

SPEAKER_01 59:07

It was a nice goal. I was watching on my way to work. I was like, yeah, okay, but um, I think he scored just as I pulled in as well, which was nice. Um my thoughts with England.

SPEAKER_02 59:18

I I said this to you, Marty, off-air a few days ago. I think that England has the players to win it this year. They generally always do though, but for me, the fact that Arsenal uh you know firing last season, Man United, all their players are back up there. Uh so I think definitely, I think they're at a time where they can utilize their play. And we saw Harry Kane again demolished this morning. You know, he's just such a freak of a player. For me, I don't know about the coach. I'm not sure about this coach. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on it. Don't know about Thomas Jukel, if that's how you say it from Germany, I think.

SPEAKER_00 59:54

Thomas Dougal, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 59:55

What are your yeah, what are your thoughts there?

SPEAKER_00 59:57

I I I think for that squad, I I think he is close to being the perfect manager. I don't think he cares about um reputation. I don't think he cares who you're playing for. He knows the style, he knows who he wants. There's players who didn't go to the World Cup, who everyone was like was on their list to go. Um, you know, Carl Palmer and a whole range of different players that just didn't go on that that trip. He he picks who he needs. The strength he's got off the bench suits that team perfectly. There was um there was a fair bit of of long ball in there, which is, I guess, very unengled, but it just turned Croatia around and he knew if he ran them ragged that he was going to run over the top of the second half, and that's exactly what they did. Tactically, I think he knows exactly what he wants. And yeah, he he doesn't care who is your name, your reputation, who you're playing for, what salary you are on, he knows who he wants, he knows who can do what. And I I just thought that uh England looked stronger. Take away the Croatian component to it, but I thought England just looked stronger. The more that game went on, the more in control, the more fluid. Um yeah, I'm you know, I I do throw the whole it's coming home and all that sort of stuff around a fair bit. But I genuinely think out of all the games I've seen so far, which will be now my prediction, because I'll do my prediction first. I think England have probably been the most impressive um out of everybody. And um, yeah, get that trophy cabinet open up at Wembley because it's gonna need a bit of a dusting and there's gonna be a World Cup there soon. So that's my prediction.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:25

And just on that as well, like and again, like Marcus Rashford's experience um yeah, at Barcelona, right? He's a he's I've always loved him, he's been a phenomenal player. But that experience as well in that league, I think that is also going to be to England's advantage.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:39

Yeah, and and Declan Rice in the middle of the park. He he plays that part. It's like Tuchel has it's like a jigsaw. He needs this bit, this bit, this bit, you're the best in there, you're the best in there. Yeah, there's players on bigger, as I said, bigger salaries, bigger reputations. They're watching on the TV because they they're not the best in the specific spots that he wants. And I had I think that's where England has missed in in previous times. I think there's been named players that we've thrown in there, oh, he's got to play, he's got to play, and they just haven't performed. And I think this year there's a squad there that's been assembled that it it's working. So could be totally wrong, could lose their next game 3-0 and 3-0 and be out. And everyone will go, Marty, what are you talking about? But at the moment, from what I'm looking at, I think they're looking, uh, I think they're looking pretty, pretty strong. So, your predictions, guys, Katie, I'm gonna start with you. Who's gonna look at the bigger one?

SPEAKER_01 1:02:27

Yeah, I think um I don't disagree with what you said about England. Out of the out of the first round games, yeah, probably looked one of the strongest sides. Um, my question is is that the bottle to go the whole way through? My prediction before the tournament would have been Brazil. I said a couple weeks ago on a podcast, I was leaning towards Portugal. Uh, it was a friendly they played against Chile, and the way they reacted when things weren't going their way, turned me off them completely. But Brazil, they've probably got a more balanced squad than what people realise, although I'm not sure if I got Thiago's the right man to lead the front line. But I think as they work their way into the tournament, particularly in the heat, they'll be a tough team to beat. And I think eventually they'll come out on top. It wasn't a good opening game, but I'm still leaning towards them just based on uh overall quality, the conditions I play in, and even the path I take, I think that they'll when they go up into a big game, they'll be tough to beat. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:17

Before I ask for your prediction, Mel, I've got to ask you guys a question because I threw this out the other week. Who has the most iconic international World Cup strip? Argentina or Brazil? Cody, you answer first, then I'll go to you, Mel, and then you can do your prediction. So just out of Brazil and Argentina, what's the most likely?

SPEAKER_01 1:03:35

I'd probably I think it's just they want there's many jerseys they won a World Cup in. It's it's another level.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:43

Didn't use their hand to do it either. But not that I'm bitter, not that I'm bitter. Mel, who's gonna win the world? Brazil, Argentina first, and then give me a winner.

SPEAKER_02 1:03:54

Yeah, I I don't know. Like in terms of nicest favorite, I always love the German jerseys. I think Germany, it just like beautiful class. Um, but iconic. Oh, I don't know, I don't know, like yeah, they're I for me, they're almost equal. I don't know. I'm thinking the the stripes, Argentina stands out a little bit more, and it's also maybe because I'm a little bit anti-Brazilian jersey because you know the green and gold belongs to us, okay?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:23

So you're gonna you're gonna make the statement on the show that Brazil needs to back down from that green and gold because it's an Australian show.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:28

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:29

Wow. So there goes the Brazilian audience, the Italian audience, the Sydney SD audience, and everyone else. Yeah. Who's who's gonna win the world? Now remember, Melton, you're gonna be on the show again next week, because we're gonna do this again next week. Mel, you're already gonna be here. So be careful what you say because you might change it next week. Who's gonna win the World Cup?

SPEAKER_02 1:04:44

Um, sorry, who beat Kurushau? Was it Germany?

SPEAKER_00 1:04:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:48

Okay, so Mighty, I'm look, I love England as much as the next person, okay? England, my second team, in Netherlands. Um, I would love to see England win the World Cup. I think it's a very bold statement from you though. Um, they haven't won it in sixties. Very under that's very difficult to believe in itself. That's very underachieved. Um I I don't know if they're the best team that I've seen so far. I like I said, and I understand again the opponents, but for me, Germany looked very good. Um and like you honestly, you believe that England looked better than Argentina?

SPEAKER_00 1:05:25

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:27

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:27

Because I'm like when when I look at these first games that have been played, I just kind of go, is Argentina gonna do the whole back-to-back thing? Uh I didn't really think much about Brazil. Like, I'm not, I'm not I'm indifferent to that. I'm not sure either way. I'm not saying they won't.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:42

But for me, I'll say it, I'll say it on record here. Argentina started well. Jordan beat Argentina.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:49

Yeah, but looking at it. Yeah, but what about the last World Cup, right?

SPEAKER_01 1:05:52

Argentina, like they're like Saudi Arabia went on to win it, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:56

Yeah, so I don't know. I don't know. For me, and the way that freaking Messi is firing, like insane. I don't know. Uh but I hope I'm wrong. Marty, I'm England all the way, so after Australia.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:11

Good. After Australia, okay. Yes. So the the soccer who's beat England 1-0 in the final. Okay, I'm writing that one down.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:17

And um, we'll score it. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:19

In the 90th minute after playing 90. There you go. Puts a puts a bow on that whole show. Guys, um, it's been a lot of fun. As I said, Mel, you're gonna be coming on next week, Cody. We'll get you on again in a couple of weeks' time just to uh update and totally change all our predictions and everything that we've probably said tonight, which has been uh a lot of fun. Uh thanks a lot, guys. Um, we'll catch up with you soon.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:40

Thanks, guys. Enjoy me for the next week or so. We'll we'll see we catch up again.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:44

Until we catch up again soon. Bye.