SPEAKER_01 0:10

Round two. Welcome back to Hey It Sports. We are here for our second part of our group stage preview here with Sam and Henry again. Boys, how are we?

SPEAKER_02 0:19

We are great.

SPEAKER_01 0:20

We are great. World Cup. Let's go. Fresh off USA's 2-1 defeat to Germany.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

Yeah. Friendly. That means it didn't count. It was a practice game. I didn't watch the second half. Or really the first half. Y'all tell me. Y'all got to watch it.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

Well, they in the first two minutes, um, Germany got a good breakthrough, and um Kai, I forgot his name, Kai Hastards.

SPEAKER_01 0:44

Havards.

SPEAKER_02 0:44

Havards got a good score. And then Anthony Robert Robinson had a ferocious volley into the top. Ferocious.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

We call that a screamer.

SPEAKER_02 0:55

Ferocious.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

Germany scored in under two minutes. Normal USA, you think they're gonna probably just kind of roll over and take it the rest of the match. But they didn't. They responded pretty well. They they were aggressive, had like 12 corners. Which to Germany's, I think they had four or five.

SPEAKER_02 1:12

They had two.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

Oh, only two? So uh positive things, exciting things from the USA today, even in a loss to a very good team, as Sam highlighted last week. Very good. So last week we did groups A through F, right, Henry?

SPEAKER_02 1:29

That would be A through F.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

F. We're gonna go G through L today.

SPEAKER_00 1:35

We're doing the second groups six groups today.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

So lots to go over, so let's just get right into it. Henry, who's our first group?

SPEAKER_02 1:42

We have Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand.

SPEAKER_01 1:46

Group G. Belgium, I was trying to think of a good NFL comp for them. Belgium really reminds me of the Bagels. I was gonna say the Bills from the 90s. They couldn't they couldn't just make it over the past decade, it's been this golden era for Belgium. And like they have had so much expectation, so much hopes, and it just always falls through. And this kind of feels like their swan song. They're all kind of older now. Um, a lot of those guys don't play anymore, and so um kind of a sad sad for Belgium. I know y'all have a a player for them that y'all really like as Man City fans.

SPEAKER_00 2:21

Two, multiple, yeah. And I think I think Doku, uh, who plays wing for Man City and then De Bruyne, obviously, a former Man City player. Those are electric players, and I think you know, when you think of that golden generation, you think of Courtois the goalie, you think of De Bruyne, you think of Alderwild, who's gone. Um Hazard and Hazard. Very good, thank you. Vincent company, and most of those guys are gone. You're in uh this transitional period here for Belgium where you could see them doing one of two things, right? You could see them soaring, like today they beat Tunisia 5-0, right? Tunisia is in the World Cup. You play a World Cup that you've been by five, not bad. You take that. Uh, you also could see them just absolutely stink. But this group stinks. Yeah, it's not a good group. And this this is gonna be an easier group. I think it's perfect for Belgium to get their sea legs, rest the Bruina, and get them ready for the knockout stages. Um, again, Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, the bottom two, you know, Iran, uh, their best players not coming to the World Cup because of um political reasons. They said that um uh Sardar Asmoon. Um he is kind of their talisman. Uh 31 years old, 57 career goals for Iran. He is um very, very good player. And they're keeping him at home because of some things he said about the regime. Uh obviously a lot of conflict uh in Iran. You know, they've been under uh some pressure. Um it's a team, it's usually pretty stout, um, pretty uh it does well, hard team to break down. They're very defensive usually. So I would say they'd probably remain the same. I don't think much is different there. Um but you have Egypt and Belgium, the two better teams in the group. I think in Egypt, you have obviously Mohammed Salah, um, you have Omar Mamush. Uh it's a good team uh that does well in AFCO. Yeah, I think Belgium Egypt best. I hate to even leave out New Zealand. But like Tim Payne, can we yeah, Tim Payne? Uh so if you don't know this, it's almost like a meme at this point. But this Argentinian podcaster.

SPEAKER_02 4:33

Very famous.

SPEAKER_00 4:34

Yeah, very, very famous at Argentina. We don't know him because we don't live in Argentina, but he's a very famous guy. He made a list of like the top ten or whatever most um, I guess like the Davids. Underdogs. Oh, yeah, the underdogs, right? And he picked Tim Pei from New Zealand as his number one underdog. And he went from having like a hundred thousand followers on Instagram to five million.

SPEAKER_01 4:53

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

And like he has uh he it's blown up. And uh New Zealand stinks, they're not good. Uh I will be very surprised if they score a goal in this World Cup. Um Iran is not uh they're not as good as Egypt and Belgium. I think Belgium win this group well. I think also group H isn't good either, really. You're you have your top two Belgium. They're good, Iran, New Zealand, not as good.

SPEAKER_01 5:17

Yeah, you know. I think having a player like Mohammed Salah in such a bad group, like that may be just all you need to make it through. Because there's like you said, there's not a lot there otherwise for any of the teams other than Belgium.

SPEAKER_02 5:30

So an easy prediction, Belgium then Egypt.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

I think so. Yeah, I think I think that's good. We move on to H. Henry, tell us about H.

SPEAKER_02 5:38

Let me get there. And H would be Espanya, Hispana, Capo Verde, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.

SPEAKER_00 5:48

Okay, so Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. Uh, Carter, Cabo Verde, total population of their country. What would you say?

SPEAKER_01 5:58

It's less than um Vermont. I know that because I don't remember what the number was, but I saw it as like there's more people in Vermont or like one of those states up there than Cabo Verde.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

530,000 people in the whole country. That's crazy. They are the smallest country to ever make the World Cup, I believe.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

What where are they? Like what uh continent is it?

SPEAKER_00 6:15

That's a great question. It's an archip archipelago, archipelago nation featuring a largely urbanized demographic, but maintains a massive, vibrant diaspora, uh, particularly in the United States. A lot of people that have moved around. Where is it though? You want to know where it is? It is Africa. Um Europe. No, Africa. It is like a uh island makes sense. Yeah, around Africa. It's um among the least populous countries in Africa. No, yeah, no duh. 500 times out of it. Of course, it's you know, one of the least almost that's not that much more than Monroe.

SPEAKER_01 6:51

Yeah, in the grand scheme of things.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

Yeah, pretty much.

SPEAKER_02 6:53

Let's get right into it.

SPEAKER_00 6:54

Spain is good. Spain's a favorite for the tournament. I think um uh EA Sports just picked Spain as their winner, and they've been right the last few World Cups. Cabo Verde, thanks for coming. Saudi Arabia, okay. Sure. I don't think they beat Argentina last time. Doesn't it? They beat Argentina last time.

SPEAKER_01 7:14

They beat Spain.

SPEAKER_00 7:15

Beat two World Cups in a row of some great stuff, but still no groups or no knockout rounds. I do they're not bad, but Uruguay is good. Uruguay are very good. Yeah, as a good Uruguay's very good. I think Uruguay is probably one of the more underrated teams in the World Cup, Carter.

SPEAKER_01 7:27

So would you them and Colombia are my two underrated teams?

SPEAKER_00 7:31

Henry, give me some give me some Uruguayans.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

Uruguayans, Darwin Nunez.

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Yeah, very famous. Everybody knows him.

SPEAKER_02 7:37

Ronald Areguero. Arahu.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Is Luis Suarez on this team, Henry? The answer is no. He is not. Thank goodness he will not be there to bite anyone. Uh handball.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

He bit someone?

SPEAKER_00 7:52

Yes. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:53

It's like a Mike Tyson.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

He's like Mike Tyson. Yeah. So this is a very, very good team. Uh well managed. They do very, very well in South America. Again, I think I agree with you, Car. I think them and Colombia are two of the better teams uh that people aren't talking about. Yeah. You know? But we're still saying Spain, Uruguay.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

Yeah. Henry, do you know about Suarez's handball in the World Cup?

SPEAKER_02 8:13

Um, I don't. Sounds like a Mer Maradona hand of God.

SPEAKER_01 8:17

No, it's actually the opposite. So he was defending a corner kick, I think. A corner, yes. It was like the end of the game. Or free kick, I can't remember. Something like that. It was at the end of the game, and he intentionally handballed knowing he was gonna get a red card because he just wanted the chance for the penalty. And like, I don't remember who they were playing.

SPEAKER_00 8:35

2010 against Ghana. I was gonna say Ghana.

SPEAKER_02 8:39

That's I don't understand.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

So if the it was going in, yeah. He blocked the ball with his hand so that at least the other Ghana was gonna have to do a penalty kick. And he was hoping his goalie would save it. And guess what? He didn't the goalie saved it.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

The goalie saved it. The Ghanaians were so mad. Very, very mad. So cool.

SPEAKER_02 8:59

Another underrated player, Edison Cavini.

SPEAKER_00 9:03

Addison Cavani. Uh and also it hit the crossbar, by the way. It did not get saved. It hit the crossbar. Got it.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 9:10

Um the match remained tied one to one, went to penalties, and Uruguay won four-two in penalties. Um Suarez was vilified in Africa.

SPEAKER_02 9:18

I would have rioted.

SPEAKER_00 9:19

Can you imagine that?

SPEAKER_02 9:20

I would have rioted.

SPEAKER_01 9:22

Fortunately for Ghana, he's staying home.

SPEAKER_00 9:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:24

Spain and Uruguay. Spain is my pick to win the group. Yeah. Really? So they got Lamar, he's hurt, but he's supposed to come back with the knockout start.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

I bet, yeah. I don't think he's gonna play in the group stage. They're gonna walk through this. I mean, the Uruguay game is gonna be tough for him, but they're still so good.

SPEAKER_01 9:41

Unless worst case near they lose that game, then they're just second and they still advance. And so um Spain and Argentina are the two teams that like their players up their game the most when playing for their country. True. Yeah. Danny Olmo, uh Mark Cucarea, some other guys like that, like Nico Williams. These are really good players. Nico Williams, they're very good players when they're playing like for their team, but when they play for their country, they turn into a completely different player. Beast. And I think that's something you gotta have at the World Cup. Yeah, I think that's why Argentina won last time.

SPEAKER_00 10:13

Yeah, you have Rodri, um, you know, uh David Raya will probably be obviously be the goalie for them. Pedri. Um Pedri Cugiera, uh Lorente. Yeah, I mean, this is this is a great team. Very good team. Zub Mindy has been playing well. Ferran Torres has been good this year for Barcelona. Um, you know, it's a good team. Um you you you have some guys on this team, well, I say some, almost all these guys, would start for almost every other team. Yeah, and they won't even start for Spain. This is a great space. They are the defending European champions. They won the European Championship two years ago. And who did they beat in the final? Henry?

SPEAKER_02 10:50

No idea.

SPEAKER_00 10:51

England. Ah, so I knew that.

SPEAKER_01 10:53

Spain lost for a second time in a row.

SPEAKER_00 10:55

Yeah. Spain is very good. Uruguay number two, maybe Saudi Arabia three, probably.

SPEAKER_01 11:00

Sure.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

If Cabo Verde scores, I'll be excited. Make them a day. All right, group I, Henry. Tell us about this group. This is one of my favorite groups in the whole World Cup, right here.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

Must have England.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

Ooh, sorry. France, Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. Let me tell you, man.

SPEAKER_01 11:18

This is probably the closest to a group of death that there is.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

What a fun group this is. I I I I I argue this is possibly the group of death. I think group L is also pretty rough. Uh, the group of death, by the way, if you don't know what that means, that means that's like the group you don't want to be in.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

Yeah, it's like the most stacked.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

It's stacked. And France is France. Yep. France is the defending uh World Cup runner-up. Uh, and uh they won the World Cup year but the four years before that. This is a great team. Um, I would say Mbappe probably was not as great as he probably wanted to be for Real this past year uh in club. So I expect a spectacular World Cup from him. Uh PSG is the world champions. Um UEFA champions, European championships. Chelsea's the world champions. Yeah, oh boy. And most of those guys for PSG play for France for France. Yeah, uh Dembele has been just out of his mind. No. So good. Yeah, France is great. Uh, and they're deep. They are like Spain. Uh again, you can't just people are just not talking about. I don't understand. France is so good.

SPEAKER_01 12:23

It's one like they just they've been there, like it's kind of just understood. I think they kind of people are tired of France to some degree, kind of like the Chiefs.

SPEAKER_00 12:30

Who isn't tired of France? Uh keeping going, that group. Um, Senegal. Senegal is a very good team as well. This is again one of those African powers that's gonna come and they are going to beat you up and um they're they're gonna they're gonna outrun you. They're gonna with pace, they're powerful, uh, with a lot of uh guys, some um people that people know. Um however, losing to the US last week, what was that say about Senegal, Henry?

SPEAKER_02 12:57

Deny good enough for America.

SPEAKER_00 12:59

Yeah, if you're if you're not beating the US, I don't think you can feel very good about yourself.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

I don't know. I think it's hard to judge all friendlies because it's like not a full game of like your best players and kind of thing. Uh and America had all that momentum of of that being their second to last game before the World Cup, which is on their home soil. That game was in Charlotte. And so I think America's kind of a lot going right for 'em. Um I I'm I think Senegal makes it through this group. Really?

SPEAKER_00 13:27

You think Senegal gets second or wins?

SPEAKER_02 13:29

I don't think you're right. I think that's not good.

SPEAKER_00 13:31

Well, let's get there. So you think so again, let's just talk about Senegal. Kulabali, Kulabali and Mane. Great play, uh, Mindy, Mindy, two Mendy's. Uh, yeah, obviously, yeah, you're right. Nayade, uh, Papa Gay, uh, Gwaii, Sadio Mane, Nick Jackson of Chelsea. Uh, this is a good team. This is a very, very good team. Uh a hard-to-pronounce team. Maybe the most unpronounceable of all the teams. Um, but yeah, look, they're good. This is a good team. It's another team. It's gonna beat you in a lot of different ways. Let's get to Iraq. Um, a place that I personally do not want to travel to, but at the same time, I I do actually like Iraq. Um, I think the team is not bad. Uh they did well in the last uh Asian Cup. I I just don't think. I just don't think what are they gonna do against these teams? Yeah. Is Norway their best opportunity to score get points?

SPEAKER_01 14:27

Pro I think so. I I couldn't name a single Norwegian defender.

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:32

I know Holland, I know Odegaard, that's pretty much it.

SPEAKER_00 14:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Off the top of my head. I just it's so hard to score. And when you're only um It's hard to score in the World Cup. Especially in the World Cup. And when even with a guy like Holland, who is a top three goal scorer in the world, yeah, you know, even if even if he scores two goals a game, are they gonna be able to keep out three or keep out less than two?

SPEAKER_00 14:55

Norway, well, okay, well, since we're talking about Norway as well, Norway is great uh in terms of like who they have, right? So they have the names, you know, like they've got the dudes that you're thinking about. They've got Odegaard, they have Holland, um, they have um Oscar Bob of Man City, um Strand Larsen, great player as well. Uh I don't know. It's their first World Cup in a very long time.

SPEAKER_01 15:22

Yeah, that too. Like Senegal's been there, you know, and they've yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:28

I want Norway. I know y'all do. I do for Holland. We love Holland. Um, we're we're excited about it.

SPEAKER_02 15:34

Personally, I kind of like Ugart too.

SPEAKER_01 15:36

But think like Poland. Like they had Lewandowski in his prime and they couldn't do much. Yeah. You know, and so I just think it's very similar uh things there.

SPEAKER_02 15:45

But he didn't have a playmaker.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

True.

SPEAKER_02 15:48

That was it was only him.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

Yeah, still two guys. I I agree with you, Carter. It's probably France and Senegal, although I would love France and Norway.

SPEAKER_01 15:56

I see Norway as a third place team.

SPEAKER_00 15:58

Norway would be a very dangerous third place. Advance on the third place team. Very, very dangerous third place team. But again, you gotta score points. And to score points, you have to win. Yep. If you get again, like I said last podcast, if you if your team gets four total points, a win and a draw, you have a really, really good opportunity to go forward. I can see Norway beating Iraq. I don't think they can get points off France. I don't know if they can get points off Senegal. And if you can't get points off them, you're not getting four points, you won't advance. So um Norway's gonna have to go go out of some teams. I I think the France, they just can get not worry about France game, and you've got the Senegal and Iraq game to really go for.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

True.

SPEAKER_00 16:34

You know. Um, okay, so group J, this is the uh really should be doing predictions? We said ours.

SPEAKER_01 16:43

What do you think?

SPEAKER_02 16:43

Oh uh France, Norway, and Senegal.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

I just France is to me. They they probably have the best team, but what I said about Brazil, I think France times like 10. Like they have like so many like just locker room issues. Who? Like Mbappe and you think for you think France gonna really like you know Griezmann's not playing because of like the toxicity. Like he's he's all but said that. Because like there's so there's like I want to be captain, I want to be captain, or like, you know, if somebody's gotta take a penalty, like who's gonna take it kind of thing, you know? And it's not gonna matter in the group stage, but I think which of course they've made the final the past two times. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:26

I mean, let me just give you let me just run down Francis Squad real quick, right? Yeah, Meteta. Okay, you got Olis, Mbappe, Dembele. Yeah, okay, it's just the Fords. Ryan Shirky, Kone, Chimini, Conte, Rabio.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

I forgot Conte's play in. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:47

And then defenders, LaCroix, Kanate, Saliba, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Opamenche, Dinye, Conda, Augusto. I mean, you have every one of those dudes is a starter. Well, at least for me. I mean, I'm sure other people would know. Those are dudes I know every one of those guys. Um, and then goalie, um Samba's good, but Risier probably Rister's gonna start. But um, man.

SPEAKER_01 18:12

That's probably that is probably the best top-to-bottom roster.

SPEAKER_00 18:15

It's a really good team. They and Spain probably have the best two squads. We'll get to England in a minute, but I do think France's squad is really good. Yeah, they're creative, they are going to wear you down. You know, you think about how old, by the way, is Mbappe? Tell me how old he is. I know the answer.

SPEAKER_01 18:30

29.

SPEAKER_00 18:31

You tell me how old. Henry said 29.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

He was 18 in 2018. So that put him at like 24, 25.

SPEAKER_00 18:37

He was born in 1998.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

Oh, so he's I guess 20 and 18. Yeah. So he's 26, 27.

SPEAKER_00 18:46

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 18:46

That's pretty close.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

Crazy.

SPEAKER_01 18:48

Yeah, he was a little older than me. No, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:51

Crazy, man.

SPEAKER_01 18:52

No, probably got he probably got at least another 10 years or something.

SPEAKER_00 18:54

He's got at least he's got at least two more world cups after this. Unbelievable. Um, so okay, France, let's move on. This this next group, group L, I wish it was group A. Just for like the vibes. Here's why. Henry, give me all of the people in group K.

SPEAKER_02 19:10

Argentina. Oh, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 19:12

J Group J. I lied. Group J. Go, Henry.

SPEAKER_02 19:14

Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Wow. Wow. I think what we're saying is it's Argentina's group.

SPEAKER_01 19:21

Man. He's talking about all the teams that start with an A.

SPEAKER_00 19:23

Yeah, all these teams start with an A. Argentina, Algeria, Austria. Don't sleep on Algeria. I'm telling you. I really did.

SPEAKER_02 19:30

It's my.

SPEAKER_00 19:31

Get ready. Get ready. Algeria's gonna stun some people. They're not gonna win the World Cup.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

No.

SPEAKER_00 19:35

They're good. It's a very, very good team. Um, Austria, meh. Take it or leave it. Jordan, meh.

SPEAKER_01 19:42

Austria's got uh David Aliba. They they usually compete in the Euros.

SPEAKER_00 19:46

Yeah, I know. I said David Alaba the day for Switzerland. I really apologize.

SPEAKER_01 19:49

Yeah, I was wondering if you meant him or if there's like some other Aliba I didn't know about.

SPEAKER_00 19:53

So I was gonna let it go, but no, it was really pathetic. And I really listened to I apologize. I promise you nobody would have to do it. I apologize to our listen. Our listener, I apologize to you. Um Jordan I couldn't name any Jordanese people. Jordan Jordanians.

SPEAKER_01 20:07

Jordanians.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

Um David Alaba. Um Algeria is good. And let me let me talk about Algeria for a minute because obviously all eyes are gonna be on Argina, Argentina. But uh you know, Algeria has some some guys um that there are not bad. He's trying to think something. Uh Ryan Eight Nori from Man City, right? Uh lockdown defender for them. Um, you've got from again another former uh Man City guy, Ray Edmarez, um as well. So that's the reason I kind of know anything about that's what I was thinking about.

SPEAKER_02 20:41

I was like, I've heard that name before.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

That's why I'm thinking about Algeria. You know, I think they're gonna be really solid. They do well in AFCON every year. Again, I I just I just don't I just don't want to let people sleep on them. I think they're good. Is Argentina better than them? Yeah, yeah. Argentina's better than them.

SPEAKER_02 20:57

3 million percent better.

SPEAKER_00 20:58

Duh. But like at the same time, what Argentina are we really gonna get? It's true. Are we gonna get the best version of Argentina? True. Because I mean Messi, Messi might be hurt. Are they are they hiding Messi right now?

SPEAKER_01 21:12

I don't think so. I don't think so. He's not hurt. He got he like did tweaks his hammy probably a month ago now, playing Clifford uh intra Miami. That was his fault. And like literally, he didn't like ask for a sub. He didn't wave it, he just walked off the field and said, I'm done. And so I think he's done taking the necessary precautions to make sure that nothing happens. Beyond that, I think uh I think he's fine.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

Yeah, you still have a lot basically the same team. That's that's kind of where I'm at. I think it's getting older. They lost the Marillo. Ona Mendy is old, and he's still probably gonna start center back. But just still Christian Romero, Odomendi, Molina, Lissandro Martinez, Taglifico, Alvarez, defenders, and then midfielders. You still got DePaul, uh La Celso, Nico Gonzalez, Alexis McAllister. Again, I thought Nico Gonzalez was spam. And he's good. You would think he's Algerian. Uh Alexis McAllister, Enzo Fernandez. Uh Paredes. It's so good. This team. Forwards, Joan Alvarez, Alamada, Almada. Simeone is a good player. Nico Paz is a good player. Jose Manuel Lu uh Lopez, very good. Latorro Martinez is very good. And then of course Messi. Montiel on the team? Huh?

SPEAKER_01 22:25

Monteel. Monteel?

SPEAKER_00 22:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:27

And Messi. This is also a very good team.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

Yeah. I mean, they they were the world, they were the champions last year, last time for a reason. Um, like I said earlier, just one of those teams like the way that their players elevate for I think they elevate for country, but they elevate for Messi as well. Yeah. Like they they so desperately wanted to win for him.

SPEAKER_00 22:46

But do you think it's over? They won one for Messi. Do they care as much now?

SPEAKER_01 22:49

That's what I was gonna say. I don't think they can they I don't think they can physically give as much as they did last time. And I know it was like that was four years ago.

SPEAKER_02 22:57

Like you can recharge on that, but last time they just gave all of it. They put everything in.

SPEAKER_01 23:02

Yeah. You kind of they went to like two shootouts. Um there's a lot went right, and it was a great run. And like I it was awesome. But it's so hard to go back to back as well. And so I don't I don't think they're I think they win this group pretty handedly. Um but I don't see them winning the whole thing again.

SPEAKER_00 23:23

Yeah. So Argentina and I don't know who you want to get second place. Algeria, Austria, Jordan.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

I'm gonna go Austria just because they they're used to the uh the European competition. They they play better teams.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

You say Austria, you say Algeria. I'll break the tie with Algeria.

SPEAKER_01 23:37

We got in the next group, Henry.

SPEAKER_02 23:39

Portugal. I don't know how to say it. Congo, Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

SPEAKER_00 23:47

Alright. Carter, you mentioned one of these teams earlier as one of your sleeper picks. A team people are sleeping on. Who is it?

SPEAKER_01 23:54

That is, of course, Colombia.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

Dude, let me tell you. Nobody loved their football more than Colombians, man. Uh Ames uh uh what is his name? Rodriguez.

SPEAKER_02 24:08

James Rodriguez.

SPEAKER_00 24:09

Yeah, Amis Rodriguez is back, baby. He's back. It's about World Cup magic. Oh my gosh. I I I there's nothing I love more than a team than a guy you've never heard of before become world famous. And that was him in 2010.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:22

And or was it 14? I don't remember. It was 10, South Africa. It's crazy. People fell in love with a guy.

SPEAKER_02 24:27

What did he do?

SPEAKER_00 24:28

He just went nuts, scored a bunch of goals, they got to the quarters, and he ended up getting bought by Madrid. It was unbelievable.

SPEAKER_02 24:34

Um, was he good at Madrid?

SPEAKER_00 24:36

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

Not as good as he was in the World Cup.

SPEAKER_00 24:37

No, but can never reclaim that World Cup. And I think there's something about that. You know, knockout tournaments like this do create cult heroes, they create these guys who come from nowhere and just do something insane for their country. I think that's why we will the World Cup. We love the World Cup because uh people are playing for something bigger of themselves and bigger than their clubs. Most of these, most people now, most players that are playing professional football are not playing for the club they grew up supporting. And they're playing for the country though. You know, you got Portugal, Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia. Portugal and Colombia are the two best teams here. Uh, Congo, thanks for coming. Uzbekistan. I mean, happy you're here.

SPEAKER_02 25:18

You know, you got Kusanal from Mancity.

SPEAKER_00 25:20

We got Kusanal from Man City. Again, we're Man City fans, as far as we know that. But otherwise, thanks for being here. You know, it's gonna be the Portugal Columbia game is gonna be insane. It's gonna be Miami, it's going to be insane. One of the most expensive tickets ever for a group stage game is this Portugal Columbia game because Columbia has a ton of people that live in Miami, and they have a great flight from Columbia. And like it's insane. It's it's going to be crazy.

SPEAKER_01 25:44

They showed out Miami for Cope America. That was when like they were they were like trampling security guards and stuff like that. We knew every now and then you can have a good trample. That was like the like it kind of started like a should USA keep the World Cup because they couldn't handle the way that those fans were.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

I'm telling you, it it's it I'm very astrayed. Uh $2,500 is the cheapest ticket right now for this game.

SPEAKER_01 26:04

You know how much that is to get into the Madison Square Garden?

SPEAKER_00 26:06

Yeah, for the for the how much?

SPEAKER_01 26:08

The cheapest ticket is $10,000. You're joking, right?

SPEAKER_00 26:12

For the NBA finals? Well, yeah, it's New York.

SPEAKER_01 26:16

It's like over $100,000 for a ticket for one ticket.

SPEAKER_00 26:19

That's crazy. Um, anyway, back to back to uh a sport. Uh Portugal, Colombia, we good there. Yeah. All right.

SPEAKER_01 26:26

I think Portugal has the best midfield in the tournament.

SPEAKER_02 26:29

They're pretty solid. And uh Fernandez and Silva.

SPEAKER_00 26:32

I I'm gonna say this. I'm gonna make a very controversial statement. Portugal's gonna have to win without Ronaldo. They're gonna have to without him.

SPEAKER_01 26:39

I don't think that's uh they kind of had two last time.

SPEAKER_00 26:41

Yeah, he can't he can't play all 90. He he's playing in Saudi Arabia. Yeah, you gotta play some up.

SPEAKER_01 26:48

But they have up top, Henry.

SPEAKER_00 26:50

Well, Rafael Leo will play up there, but he got he just fought a dude.

SPEAKER_01 26:54

Really?

SPEAKER_00 26:55

Yeah, he literally got it red.

SPEAKER_01 26:56

Punched him.

SPEAKER_00 26:57

Yeah, punched the guy. Yeah, the friendly yesterday.

SPEAKER_01 27:00

I didn't know I didn't see that.

SPEAKER_00 27:00

Portugal chili. Sorry, it was this morning. Raphael Leal sent off for punching chili defender, and Portugal win.

SPEAKER_02 27:08

Why'd he punch him?

SPEAKER_00 27:09

What do you think? Felt like he had been fouled. Leo was spotted throwing a punch, and the other guy angrily, and they he they both got straight. In a friendly. Yeah, inner friendly. Uh Bruno Fernandez obviously has had a great season for Manchester United. I expect him to get a bunch of goals. And it's a good team. It's a good team. It's a good game. Uh, they're they're gonna play well. It's Portugal. What can we say? Yeah, final group. Um, a group I'm very excited about. I think the other group of death, in my opinion, Henry, hit us.

SPEAKER_02 27:42

England, Croatia, Gwana, and Panama.

SPEAKER_00 27:46

Ghana? Ghana.

SPEAKER_02 27:47

Ghana, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_00 27:49

England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama. Is it coming home, boys?

SPEAKER_02 27:57

I don't know. I don't know. No, it's not coming home, boy. They always choke, but I like it. I like the I like the chances.

SPEAKER_00 28:03

You like them?

SPEAKER_02 28:04

I really do.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

What do you about you, Carter?

SPEAKER_01 28:06

There's always bigger fish in the sea. They they're gonna run into a team that just outmatches them, like they do every year. They're gonna look good against the weak teams, and as soon as they play a a good team, they fall apart. Yeah, they lost to France last time. I think they do something like that again. And they weren't bad against France either. No, but it's just again, they're kind of like the Bills of now. Like they're always in it, and then they just are out.

SPEAKER_00 28:28

Yeah, I thought Tootchol was uh was really gonna kind of change the way that England play, and they they're the exact same as Southgate. It's it's Southgate ball with the same people. Um, you know, not a lot of creative guys did not bring Cole Palmer, did not bring Phil Foden, um, you know, chose some guys I probably wouldn't have chosen. Um, you know, he's he brought Matoweke, which he has a great season. Uh Ivan Tony, has he really done enough to be on this World Cup team? I don't think so. Anthony Gordon, new Barcelona. New Orsa man. Man, unbelievable. Rashford had a great season at Orsa. Harry Kane's Harry Kane. Sokka had a great season. Ollie Watkins was fine. But man, I don't know there's a couple of guys here. I felt you need creativity. I mean, especially in the in the midfield, you got Eze's great. I like Eze. Uh Mainu was good, but Manu didn't play through the middle, though. I mean Bellingham, I can't literally probably one of the players I really just don't like is Jude Bellingham.

SPEAKER_03 29:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:23

I just don't like the way he plays. He's whiner. He I he plays, he's so pretentious the way he plays. It's just the way you carry yourself with the ball. You know, you have a dude like Declan Rice or Jordan Henderson, these just no nonsense, you know, defense CDMs that just win the ball and make their passes. And Jude just plays with such, I don't know, it's hard to Royalty. Yeah, I don't know. Something like that. But like struts with the Nico uh O'Reilly had a great season for Man City, uh Stonesy, uh Gahey, Livermento, Reese James. Reese James is a good defense. I don't know how deep they are at at center back, so I think that might hurt them. Well, they left Harry Maguire at home. Left Harry left the old slab head at home. So that old slab head. Is he in your book? No, he's not. No, Harry Maguire did not make the book. Wow. Um, goalie, Jordan Pickford again. See, I don't think he's good enough. I'm I'm I'm I'm the best they got. I mean, I think James Trafford is better than him. Uh I thought Dean Henderson had a better season than Pickford. I think at this point, Pickford is like vibes.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

I mean, like how many how many tournaments are you gonna get to the end and lose with the same goalie before you just try something?

SPEAKER_00 30:31

Yeah, I mean I don't think I mean England had you know the same goalie for 30 years. I I don't think it's necessarily Jordan Pickford that's losing these games. I think they're they're getting beat. They're just getting beat. Yeah. And they're just not as good as people think they are. I would love for them to go deep. It's always better when England goes deep. It just is. Um, but I just don't think they'll do it. I don't think they got it in them. I would love for them too. I again I want to say that. My pick for this group is England winning the group. Um, but that England Croatia game is gonna be really good. Ghana is good. Panama's Panama's not that great, but they're not, they're a hard CONCACAF team to play. I I wouldn't want to play a ConcaCAF team. They play crazy. They're nuts.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

You never know what they're gonna do. Who's the fourth team? Ghana, Panama, and who?

SPEAKER_00 31:17

Croatia.

SPEAKER_01 31:18

It's kind of that's another team though. They're like they're kind of towards the end of their sort of era, they've had. Yeah, I agree. Uh it's kind of like their last last good run before they kind of have to reset.

SPEAKER_02 31:27

Like uh Luka Modric. This is this is his last.

SPEAKER_00 31:31

Yeah, oh it's gotta be. Yeah, you still have some some a lot, a few of those guys, uh Kovacic, uh, Gavardial, uh Modric, um Posalik, uh Suchik, um, and those guys were there from the uh the big run they had of uh eight years ago. Uh I apologize. Gvardial wasn't on that team. Kovic was. Kovacic was. But they're they're at a point where you're right, Carter. Um, they've been a shoe-in for the for the knockouts, you know, and and they're winning in those knockout games, but they're old. Um, they're transitionally, I'm not sure if they can do it. And I worry for Croatia, I do think they're good enough to play with England. Yeah. Um, and again, I don't know about the group state. I think, or in the knockouts, I think group states are gonna be fine. I think they'll beat Panama. I think I I don't know. It's gonna be really, really fun to watch this group because I want to say Ingram, Croatia Ghana. Like, I just want to go in order, but I also can really see England, you know, Croatia, Ghana, England. I don't know. I can see I could see it.

SPEAKER_01 32:35

I watched Ghana play Wales the other day in a friendly. Yeah, they did not look good.

SPEAKER_00 32:39

You didn't look you didn't like the Ghana?

SPEAKER_01 32:40

No, they had a very sick goalie jersey.

SPEAKER_00 32:43

Yeah, is that kind of what's kind of all they had going on? Which would you look forward to?

SPEAKER_01 32:47

And I don't think Wales even made the World Cup. Wales did not, and so I don't know. Yeah, it's pretty cool.

SPEAKER_00 32:54

Yeah, I I just you have Simeeno, uh Thomas Party, uh Sinanya, Okuku, um, you have some dudes on that team. I I uh Jordan Aya, I I I can't remember how you spay it. AU, Jordan AU, um some household guys, people knew. You have a four named Prince. Prince Adu. I mean, dude, it's awesome. It's like in Aladdin or something. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. But like, I I I I do think this Ghana team is not bad. I I don't think they have the guns to stay with Croatian England, though. So I do think it's gonna be Croatian England at the top two. Take or leave, whoever wins that match is the one who wins.

SPEAKER_01 33:30

Croatia's another team that like the talent doesn't jump off the page, but they play so well. Absolutely almost a boring style of football, but like a team. And they they they're very efficient. So all right. That that concludes all our groups.

SPEAKER_00 33:46

We got them all, boys. So I I guess we'll have to meet, we'll have to we'll have to another app soon, and we'll talk about the knockouts because that's gonna be really, really fun. Um, again, we we have a lot of matches. Carter, how many total matches this year?

SPEAKER_01 33:58

Do you remember 134?

SPEAKER_00 34:01

No, less. 100, something like that. It's 104. 104. 104. 134. Okay. 104 is our total matches. That is a lot. It's a lot of games. A lot of matches. I'm gonna watch all of them. I'm gonna really try to watch a lot. I uh you know, we're gonna be out of town for a couple weeks. It's gonna hurt us, but it's all right. We're gonna be aware of that. Which one? Oh, yeah, you're gonna be there, bro. Yeah, we might have to have a pod after that. Yeah, that's right. Let's come over here and talk about it.

SPEAKER_01 34:30

Okay, real quick, before we give our official final predictions, I have a quick game for you, Henry. And then if if you need help from your dad, he can help you. There have been eight winners in the World Cup, which is kind of crazy. Only eight different countries have won. Only eight. Can you name the eight countries that have won a World Cup since the first one in 1930?

SPEAKER_02 34:50

Uruguay.

SPEAKER_01 34:52

Correct, they won the first one. Very good.

SPEAKER_02 34:54

Germany.

SPEAKER_01 34:55

Germany, France, yep.

SPEAKER_02 34:58

England.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

England, yep. Argentina, Argentina, Italy. Italy, good. You're missing two more.

SPEAKER_02 35:06

Brazil.

SPEAKER_01 35:06

Brazil, and one more. Easiest one, right? All right. We said this is the one as a favorite.

SPEAKER_02 35:12

I gotta think. Favorite to win this year.

SPEAKER_01 35:14

Good job, Henry. Let's go, baby.

SPEAKER_02 35:16

That was one of the easiest things we've ever done. Wow, I'm impressed.

SPEAKER_00 35:19

That was very good. If you are excited about the World Cup and you want your kids to get excited about it, or maybe you're a kid and you're listening to this podcast, go do the Panini sticker books. It is excellent. I'm looking at it right now. In the back, it has um a picture or something from every World Cup. So this is the World Cup champions from every World Cup, which is really, really cool. Um, yeah, it's why Henry knows. That's why Henry knows, yeah. Man, that 2010 World Cup is so good.

SPEAKER_01 35:48

Uh from Barcelona and Real Madrid, pretty much. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:51

Two teams making Germany, France, uh, Argentina. Yeah, we did. Henry and I were talking about that today.

SPEAKER_01 35:56

All right, Henry, give me your official final prediction of like the two teams in the final and who wins the 2026 World Cup.

SPEAKER_02 36:04

I don't know why. I just like England's chances.

SPEAKER_00 36:07

Oh my goodness. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 36:08

I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_01 36:09

Sam, who's your uh who's your dark horse for let him finish. Let it finish. Okay. And we'll talk about it.

SPEAKER_02 36:15

Um on the other side.

SPEAKER_00 36:16

You got England versus who.

SPEAKER_02 36:18

I'm I can't remember anybody.

SPEAKER_01 36:21

Um Pick because it it it it they we don't know who's gonna be on what side until the groups are over. So just pick a team.

SPEAKER_00 36:29

Any other team?

SPEAKER_02 36:30

Spain and Spain coming out on top.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

A repeat of the Euros? Okay. That'd be crazy. That'd be insane. Okay. Well, you can ask me, Carl.

SPEAKER_01 36:39

You mentioned there's always a player who just kind of comes out of nowhere. Yeah. Like James Rodriguez. Yeah. Who do you think that could be for America?

SPEAKER_00 36:47

Well, I think last time Tyler Adams It was definitely Tyler Adams last time. You know, I think people know Anthony Robinson. Um, I think he could be a guy that is going to really make a big splash. You know, he played for plays for Fulham, so he plays in the Premier League. People know him. Um, I don't think he's one that people think about a lot.

SPEAKER_03 37:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:07

He's a guy that I can definitely see. Honestly, I thought it was gonna be Diego Luna if he made the team. Yeah, you know, and now no Diego Luga, uh Luna. Um, I I do think you're gonna see a lot of Timothy Wea. Um, I think you're gonna see him play well.

SPEAKER_02 37:21

We were looking at that today. He all got a fight today, too. He had some fight, he was feisty.

SPEAKER_00 37:26

I'm a big Balogun guy, too. Yeah. So uh there's some guys, you know. Let me let me let me give my my final four. Okay. I'm gonna give my final four of them my final two, right? I'm going to go because I think somehow the spirit of 1776 is going to go through the it's gonna rush through the the blood of our boys, you know? I think they're gonna make it all the way to the 16. You just um the five I I think um yo, some I'm look- I'm looking through all of them because I'm trying not to do all Europeans. It's really hard not to. Um They're so split up, you know? Yeah, I do think Spain, Spain, Argentina, Germany, and France will be the final four. I think Argentina, huh?

SPEAKER_02 38:21

You said that again, I didn't hear it.

SPEAKER_00 38:23

France, Spain, Germany, and Argentina. I think Argentina loses, and I think France loses, and then you have Spain, Germany. Uh yeah, Spain and Germany. Um, and I think it'll be entertaining as heck. And I think Germany win it.

SPEAKER_01 38:40

I think you see uh a tier two team in the Final Four. Okay, it always happens. Uh yeah, Croatia, Netherlands, um man.

SPEAKER_00 38:48

Can I can I pull back? Can I pull? I'm gonna pull out um France. I'm putting Netherlands in. Yeah, I'm a I'm a Netherlands guy. And I think I think Belgium make the eight and they're losing the eight again.

SPEAKER_01 38:59

I would like that.

SPEAKER_00 38:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:00

And then you have uh Morocco too. I think Morocco's gonna make Final Four. You are so high on Morocco. They did they made it last time. I know. I might as high on Morocco. I like it. Well, actually, you know, that's a good point. They're in the group with Brazil, and so if they don't win the group, they're gonna have a tougher road. Yeah. So I'll take out Morocco. I'm gonna say the Netherlands. Oh, I like it. Give me Spain, okay, um, Tardio against France because they've just it's so consistent. Yeah. And Colombia. Oh, I love it.

SPEAKER_02 39:27

I'm gonna go against all my predictions because I've thought about them. Um I'm gonna go France in the top four. France, Spain, I like Colombia and Argentina, and Argentina. So you just said England. I know, I know, and I changed my predictions.

SPEAKER_00 39:46

Okay. So who's gonna win?

SPEAKER_02 39:49

Um, I'm gonna take Colombia.

SPEAKER_00 39:52

Oh my god. Wow. I just think that this That would be incredible. I would love it. I would love it. I would be so happy. Yeah. I I'd I would love that. Like, I am so excited for this World Cup. I'm so excited to watch teams that we are used to winning. I like to watch them lose. I think it's great. I love a good upset. Um, I love to see the those Wonderkins come out of nowhere and stun the world, become household names, get bought by big clubs, save little. I think I love it, and I think the World Cup is the best time ever in four years.