DISCUSSION: USA vs. Australia; Scotland vs. Morocco; Brazil vs. Haiti

On-the-ground reports from Cookey and Gordon Mousinho, plus regular chat from Declan Link and Paul Schmidt-Trsochke, plus Jon Bonfiglio stuck on a bus. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:25

Hi everyone, and welcome back to World Cup Football, etc. And uh, if it sounds as though Garfield, the film, is playing uh really loudly in a small room in which I am to all extend to trapped in, that is exactly what the situation is. I am stuck on a bus which has been uh not moving in traffic for an extensive period of time, and the driver, in all his wisdom, has decided not just to put the Garfield the animated movie on, but to put it on at crazy levels of um of volume. What's what's nice, I suppose, is that Garfield appears to be uh getting to a point where he's understanding his father's absence during his childhood, as far as I can work out. Uh anyway, but I'll keep you posted on any interesting developments through the film as we as we record. Um I'm joined hopefully tonight in uh in in better technological surrounds by Declan Link. Hello, John. How are you? Uh I've been I've been better, but uh you know, I am where I am, and uh let's just push through. And uh I'm also joined by Paul Schmidt Troshka. Hello, Paul.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

Good evening, John.

SPEAKER_05 1:32

Um big day football, uh obviously, uh Declan, especially for you early on in the in the first game between uh between USA and Australia. Uh but before we get to thoughts on that, uh I know that uh Cookie, longtime friend of the podcast, was there in Seattle, and here is a couple of minutes of thoughts of his after the game.

SPEAKER_00 1:54

Hello, Declan, your favorite USA supporter in Seattle. There are thousands of very happy USA supporters in the streets right now here in downtown Seattle, screaming and hollering, having a good time. I want to tell you about our march to the match, full of spirit, full of songs, and the spirit was matched inside the stadium. You know, it was a hard-fought victory, I think, for USA, and the fans where we were sitting really appreciated the effort. They were missing a little bit of creativity. I think Pulisic um would have provided that, but they made up for it in grit and determination, kind of an old-fashioned USA win. First time they've ever won two games in a row in the World Cup, if I'm not mistaken. After the game was over, our family got hugs and high fives from George Washington. He was nice enough to attend. Also, Lady Liberty was sitting near us, and she was uh she was very pleased with the victory, and I got a big kiss on my forehead from Captain America. So it's uh it it's it all happened inside the stadium. Um America loves winners, and right now I think a lot of people might come on board and come inside the tank. And uh USA soccer could get a lot uh of fan support from this run. We'll see how long it lasts. That's all we got from Seattle, Declan. Back to you.

SPEAKER_05 3:28

So those were Cookie's thoughts, um, Declan. Uh what's your what was your sense of the game? Was the 2-0 a surprise for you? Because Australia, there's they certainly seemed a strong side in that in that first round, or uh, or or or was it kind of something a result that you expected?

SPEAKER_04 3:45

Quite frankly, it was a very unexpected response. I was feeling that it was going to be a a 2-2 or a 1-1, and it was gonna be a slug fest, and I thought that the US were going to be somewhat nervous, even though they had the 12th man with you know the vast majority of the fans in that fantastic Seattle stadium. And I thought the Australians would be rolling up their sleeves and they would be giving it a good uh fist of it, and they would be really trying hard. And I thought both teams would um ultimately cancel each other out, and I figured it would be a draw, and then they'd move on to the last uh group game. But you know, the the the hosts, the US men's national team, were extremely dominant. You know, they scored in the 11th minute and they scored another one just before half time to go 2-0 in the break, and had ultimately 63% of the possession, and really the Australians never really threatened. They finished the game with zero shots on target, and although there was a little bit of handbags towards the end, the heated finish saw five yellow cards. I think the US were well worthy winners today, and and frankly, it was a little bit of uh uh an anti-climax that whole game.

SPEAKER_05 4:58

So full wind in the sails of the of the US, uh Paul, and um and arguably they've really been exceeding expectations in this World Cup so far.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

Yes, I mean uh the the the listeners might be familiar with my uh not so enthusiastic um let's say mood in in regards to the USA men's national team before the tournament began. I mean it was also uh mostly based in uh in their real uh real performance on the pitch, and what they've shown today uh was that um yeah, I mean Pulizych, of course, is this big name, and he was not able to play and might be might not be able to play in in even the the upcoming games, if at all during the tournament, as we uh spoke about that already. Um, but that uh didn't stop the US team to to be uh despite uh despite of that, a complete uh unit, I would say, and uh a unit with a with a shared goal, a determination. Um today quite unshakable, I would say. Um and yeah, it was a was a really really good performance, dominant, um, also just uh very uh very attentive uh during all times of uh during all times of the game. Um they didn't really leave Australia any room to take take advantage um or to like shift the dynamic in in a meaningful way, and I think that was really um a way in which you visibly could also see that this was just uh very frustrating for for the Australian team, that no matter what they uh what they tried to maybe do a little little bit different and and see what works, just every attempt uh was was just shattered by by the US side. And uh yeah, that was definitely um uh a recipe for success, I'd say.

SPEAKER_05 6:51

And of course that means that the USA qualify for the knockout stages declan at the first possible opportunity.

SPEAKER_04 6:58

Yeah, and again, a lot going according to script with the way Canada played, with the way Mexico played, and now the U way US USA played, you know, we're all hoping they go into you know the the the round of 16, the the uh the quarterfinals and and beyond. So fair play to them. I mean, when all is said and done, I was I was just really quite disappointed with the Australians. Now, you know, there is a scenario where you know if if um the result goes uh a certain way tonight, we're in the in the last game that the Paraguay against Turkey came, that the USA could already, you know, after the game tonight, be uh top not top of the group and automatically qualified. Um and that means they'll stay out in the west coast for the early games, which is gonna benefit them massively. So um, yeah, I mean it was it was a great result for the home country, and and obviously I'm I love Cookie's report, and I'm so proud of him putting himself and his family through you know what was at a very emotional time. I think we're gonna get him on tomorrow uh or today later. So um, yeah, all in all, very, very, very good performance. Maybe actually, John, we could get Garfield to uh chip in because Garfield will probably have more of an opinion than us, Muppets.

SPEAKER_05 8:10

Let me give you an update on the Garfield situation. They appear to be in a farm uh trying to steal 2,000 litres of milk, uh, and they're being accompanied by a massive uh purple bull with a nose ring. So that's the latest at this end as regards uh Garfield. But worth clarifying as well in a World Cup context that um because we did some uh uh case information the other day about what happens in the groups if uh teams are tied on points and and so on. But just to clarify, the first uh divider is head-to-head results. So that's why Mexico automatically qualify as the group leaders, because even if Korea get another three points and Mexico lose the last game, they would each be on six points, and Mexico, of course, by virtue of having beaten South Korea, would then go through. Um so that's the that's the primary differentiator between uh between sides. Um let's move on to um to Scotland uh Morocco Paul. Uh what was your sense of uh of that game?

SPEAKER_02 9:10

Um surprise as well. I mean uh a little bit similar to to uh how the US managed to yeah just um just uh yeah not not letting Australia develop um anything. Um Scotland was surprised was surprisingly strong. And I think the result um definitely definitely shows that of one-nil. And also uh player discussions um on the Moroccan side, right, um right after the final whistle showed that this team was uh had uh not maybe great difficulties uh to win, but definitely to uh to expand beyond beyond uh beyond a single goal. And um yeah, it was uh quite quite stunning to me. I would say um best match of Scotland uh um I've seen in a long time. And uh considering where Morocco finds itself in in the world ranking, um really kudos, kudos to to Scotland. They they gave a brilliant brilliant performance today. It was not rewarded, um, but I think the players know what they what they brought onto onto the pitch today and gave there the Scottish fans to see, of course.

SPEAKER_05 10:22

Yeah, Declan, I thought that it was a it was a really distinct game of you know that old cliche of two halves, although of course it wasn't necessarily uh broken up into the two halves, but but initially um it was Morocco came flying, scored the goal, of course, in the first uh couple of minutes, and then were all over Scotland. Uh and in the first quarter there was sort of a 75% uh 25 possession split in in Morocco's favour. But uh Scotland gradually grew in confidence, and by the end, uh by the end of the match, they had Morocco on the ropes and had a number of opportunities to really make it one all. John, did you say first quarter?

SPEAKER_04 10:58

Uh is that adding to the mystique of the Americanization of our game?

SPEAKER_05 11:04

Do we now not officially think in uh in quarters uh as a result of uh another FIFA intervention at this World Cup?

SPEAKER_04 11:12

If you love the game, you don't think in quarters, and hopefully after this World Cup we'll go back to the normal conditions as that we've grown up with the game. But yeah, you talking about cliches, I actually think the cliche was Morocco scored too early. You know, the old cliche about scoring too early in a game, and I think although they did have a dominant period towards the beginning of the first half, um, you know, on my different WhatsApp groups with uh, as we call them affectionately, the sweaties and the jocks, the the banter, the stick was going back and forth. And I must admit to my friends, both here in Orlando, back in Scotland, back in the UK, and around the world, I do apologize after um the first two minutes when it that was a fantastic goal by the Moroccan. Uh, I said the score was going to be 12-0 to Morocco. So um that just backs up my point that over the course of the next 90 plus minutes, uh Scotland to Paul's point, definitely uh contributed to uh an okay game. Um, you know, the US uh the uh the Moroccans had ultimately 60% of the possession and a 12 to 6 shot advantage, while Scotland, although they had a lot of the ball in the second half, they didn't actually muster a single shot on target for the whole of the game. So, you know, to me it was a comfortable professional win for Morocco that actually you know ultimately puts them on points level with Brazil at the top of the group. But it was again it's the same sort of feeling in many respects of from the USA Australia game that both of the games could have been more exciting for the um football enthusiasts and the neutrals, and it never really took off. Fair play to Scotland, it's a respectable depeat, but Scotland needed a point because you know they look at their uh their next fixture, and it's only Brazil.

SPEAKER_05 13:03

Now the jocks obviously is a term for Scots arguably derogatory. What on earth are the sweaties?

SPEAKER_04 13:10

Uh it's a bit of rhyming slang. The sweaty socks rhymes with jocks.

SPEAKER_05 13:18

Well, I don't know that one. Hold on, Jox. Thank you, thank you so much. Um Paul, um uh you said uh obviously before that uh you thought Scotland uh were really strong in in this game. What's your I mean I are you thinking that they might be able to get something out of the out of the last match against Brazil?

SPEAKER_02 13:39

Let's see, considering um, I mean we we're gonna speak about of course uh the last game um today, uh which is already finished, uh, is of course Brazil Haiti. And uh but before that, um I would say that after this game, if you play like this against Morocco, and uh considering how Haiti um managed to stand their ground against Brazil, um within within their uh abilities, I would definitely say that that Scotland um should play for a for a draw. That is definitely a possibility. Um and I mean i it I said that that Scotland played a great game because it wasn't against uh against uh any like nation which is not known to to play uh play good football or is on par with Scotland, but it was Morocco. And to to lose against the Morocco only one uh uh null-one is I think a great achievement for Scotland. Um so to like put things a little bit uh in perspective. Um that that's that was uh that was my reasoning, uh reasoning behind it.

SPEAKER_05 14:44

Um we uh Gordon Mutinho, uh friend of the podcast and uh future uh British ambassador to Costa Rica was at the Brazil 3 Haiti nil match, and here are some thoughts of his subsequent to the game.

SPEAKER_01 15:04

Okay, we have just finished the game, left the stadium 3-0 to Brazil, walking towards public transport. It was an incredibly disappointing second half, a training exercise for Brazil that they didn't actually perform very well, and they may suffer for it if Morocco score more than three against Haiti. My overall feeling is one of disappointment coming here. Thousands and thousands of plastic supporters here, and basically I think they came for the party at half time and before the game and um during the hydration breaks, and they weren't really interested in the football, uh which to a football fan like me is anathema. As Katie, my wife would say, you get much more interesting nil-nils than that sort of training exercise. My other feeling is that, and this may be sticking my neck out, is that Brazil Brazil have got no chance of winning this World Cup. They'll become one of the favourites now because they've scored three goals, but honestly, I think most championship teams in England would have beaten Haiti more comfortably than that.

SPEAKER_05 16:39

Declan, just uh building on on Gordon's thoughts, um uh Brazil deeply underwhelming at this World Cup at the moment. Um, alongside your sort of view of the match, uh, is your sense that Brazil might be able to pull themselves together into something approaching a professional footballing outfit? Or are they going to fail at the first hurdle when they meet any other sort of serious team in the knockout rounds?

SPEAKER_04 17:06

My thoughts are that uh with Ancelotti coming in when he came in, uh with the squad being a little bit disjointed with some injuries, the whole nonsense with Neymar being there, even though he's effectively on a stretcher. I don't think Brazil are going to get into the semi-finals or final. Now, those words might come back to haunt me, but I sort of agree with what Gordon was saying. You know, it was a fairly ruthless first half, you know, with them scoring in the 23rd, 36th, and 45th minute to basically put Haiti to bed and effectively knocking them out of the whole World Cup competition. But they might well, as Gordon said, rue the fact that they didn't score more goals than they needed to, and they basically played this training game in the second half today, because there's a very, very good chance with Haiti being out of the competition and Morocco being an extremely good team who didn't really turn up tonight, um, that they could easily uh score more goals and and and and and and be the first team in the group, the winning the winning team in that group, group C. So I'm I'm not I'm uh not sold in any way on Brazil the way they've started off the tournament. However, you know, once they get into the knockout rounds, it's it's that game that we all know and love. Anything can happen in 90 plus minutes.

SPEAKER_05 18:31

Well, and um just uh some thoughts for the for the Haitian side. Obviously, they've lost two games now, but um, but they've looked, you know, they've they've looked a decent enough side, and they certainly have their chances against Brazil today.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

Yeah, definitely. I mean, uh this was uh um, I would say uh close come came close to an upset. Um by like we have a uh like um how do you say that like a a private betting group um with with with the lads, and my tip today for Haiti Brazil was actually um Brazil 6 Haiti nil. But uh what I've seen on the pitch uh didn't come even close to that in in any any way, shape, or form. I mean, remember remember when we were in Haiti and we experienced Haiti qualifying for the World Cup, and uh I said that this already felt like Haiti won the World Cup, basically. Um and so just the fact that they were there, and then that they could could play against the their favorite um like uh outside team uh apart from Haiti, Brazil, their idolized football nation, um, with also a sizable Haitian diaspora in Brazil. I think that was just um the biggest football gift you could you could have uh given to Haiti in the group stage. And um, and I mean they still have have have one game to play. Uh no, but today was a was a stark difference, uh stark difference to to their uh to their first game, um, I would say, and uh uh against Scotland. They were much more organized. Um of course they they were not um I think they had in in the end one shot on goal, and they came close, close to scoring, um, and and and were able to really push Brazil um into their side. And uh and I just did not expect this, of course, from from a Haiti playing playing against the the not so big um anymore, not so big a football football nation of of Brazil, or definitely a football nation, uh football nation in in decline. And um, yeah, the Haitian fans were just uh just partying the fact that they were there, that they could be there, watch, watch their team in the World Cup for the first time in 50 uh 50 years. So um, yeah, all in all a big success.

SPEAKER_05 20:55

And in the final um match of the day, as uh last I saw, uh it was a Paraguay one, Tokia nil. Uh Tokia definitely uh not really firing on any kind of cylinders at this World Cup. Uh but interestingly, just before half time, there was a sending off on the Paraguayan side, uh, which seems to have been a result of the new FIFA rule of people covering their mouths when uh when speaking, we'll of course sort of debrief and talk about this over the course of the next few uh days, no doubt. But that's the that's the latest from from there. Um we're also coming to the end, thankfully, of the Garfield film. But uh any any final points you um either you, Paul or Declan want to want to bring up before we sign off tonight?

SPEAKER_04 21:40

I mean it would that it was definitely 100% by the by the law the new laws of the game. Um Almerin, the uh the Paraguayan, he literally put his hand across his mouth and spoke in the ear of one of the Turkey players, and the Turkey player called him out immediately, the referee called him out immediately, and uh, you know, it's such a stupid thing for him to do, especially an experienced pro like Elmer. He's been in very successful with the MLS, been very successful with Newcastle, and then back again with Atlanta in the MLS. So I I he could be enemy number one in Paraguay if they end up losing this game tonight. As it stands right now, uh 53 minutes into the game, they're still winning 1-0, which means interestingly that Turkey will also be out of the competition, which will be a major surprise. So um we'll be talking about that one tomorrow. But um all of the three games today, from my perspective, were I was really looking forward to them all. Good start to the weekend, especially here Eastern time with the USA playing um Australia. The pub was packed, the harp and kelp was packed, and it was sort of just like um you all got dressed up to go to the disco and nothing happened apart from the USA won. So let's see what happens tomorrow because we've got some good games coming up tomorrow.

SPEAKER_05 23:00

And Paul, just as the the Garfield credits begin to roll on this interminable bus ride that I feel as though I'm never going to be able to um to leave. What are your final thoughts on the day?

SPEAKER_02 23:12

Um yeah, I just like that um that today the the difference um in skill between uh was was not as expected between Scotland and Morocco as well as Haiti and Brazil. And I always appreciate that. Um of course it it's much more tense and enjoyable uh to see teams uh really um really fight for something and not win like uh in in in a very very decisive way, or that um one of the biggest underdogs in this competition uh plays against Brazil and uh doesn't lose uh really uh too bad. So that is like um a kind of kind of uh my my takeaway from that from that day again.

SPEAKER_05 23:54

Well, at my end, uh apologies for my my predicament. I will make sure that uh in our next recording that I am neither on a bus nor stuck in some kind of animated movie L hole. But for the moment, uh gents, I look forward to John.

SPEAKER_04 24:08

For all we know, you're John, for all we know, you're making this story up completely about being on a bus. You might be you might be in your playroom in your CASA, and uh you've been a bad boy, so you've been told to go and watch a Garfield movie.

SPEAKER_05 24:22

Yeah, my playroom, which doubles as my panic room. Uh yeah, you're up you're absolutely right. I have a nice cold beer and I'm sitting in a massive couch, and I've got Garfield on uh at maximum volume because that's what I like to do on a Friday night. All right. All right, Jebs. Talk soon. Thanks, Jebs.