The Mentality Gap: African Teams' Early Exit at the 2026 World Cup and Other Stories

Another World Cup, another set of early exits for African teams, and this week on Grit and Beyond, we're asking the hard question: is it a lack of concentration, or something deeper in the mentality of these teams? We break down where things went wrong on the pitch, and why talent alone isn't translating into results.

We also shift gears to talk about the energy around Afronation, what the festival means for African culture on the global stage, and how it contrasts with the disappointment on the football field.

Plus, we dig into the classic debate: the eye test versus statistics. Can you really judge a player or a team by what you see, or do the numbers tell a truer story? We break down both sides and where the balance really lies.

Tune in for an honest, no-holds-barred conversation on football, culture, and everything in between.

THE GRITS AND BEYOND PODCAST

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:08

Right, a beautiful day to you guys. Um, welcome to the Great and Beyond Podcast. Uh, I know you must have been missed this beautiful faces, these amazing voices. Um, it's just been a whole lot going on, to be fair. Like, bruh. First of all, I need to um welcome uh the two amazing gentlemen back on the pod, talking about uh Sor Simone himself and um Star. Um you guys are welcome back to the Great and Beyond Podcast. Once again, my name is Ulua Tobuloba, and I miss you guys as much as you missed us, actually. And it's been the World Cup season. I'm sure you guys have must have been seeing the world, and I'm sure we we always talk on the pod, anyways. I know you guys have been following the World Cup like crazy, and um, it's just been a whole lot of talking points, you know. Um, from the African teams qualifying to the um round of 32. We had nine African teams qualifying to the round of 32, and unfortunately, a whole lot of them crashed out. Out of nine, we've got two persons left, seven um African teams that have crashed. Before we go into that, basically, I mean, how you guys doing? How are you guys doing? So, say what's up with you? How's everything? How's life?

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Come on, life is good, you know, enjoying the World Cup season, you know. But unfortunately, that's all of the good games are happening so late.

SPEAKER_03 1:17

I mean, that's that's what you get when you have loads of games, about 104 games. Emista, what's going on with you, brother? Back to back, also, you know.

SPEAKER_00 1:26

Soft, softs, you know, the story now. Sub-sofs, it's everything.

SPEAKER_03 1:30

It's been it's been crazy in the last couple of days. I know how it is, to be fair. Like, bruh. I know how it is. So, I mean, it's Afro Nation already. You guys are not in Portugal. What's going on?

SPEAKER_00 1:45

I'm not in Portugal. I mean Portugal. We're in Portugal, bro.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Crazy, yeah. We're in Portugal. This is not, you know, some other boy do his thing yesterday.

SPEAKER_03 1:58

Uh my boy Wheeze is gonna turn up tomorrow, innit?

SPEAKER_02 2:07

No comments. It should turn up now. King of Afrobi.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

If you've really studied up, you'll talk about it. King of texty afrobect. Why you know that's so much of a word?

SPEAKER_03 2:17

I mean, bro, you know, sometimes you you you plan life, life, life is doing according to the the life that is dealing with me is beyond this podcast right now, to be honest. But I will circle back to that. I mean, bro, I want us to to first of all talk about this African teams. Like, it's really, really disheartening for me when we have about, you know, seven African um nine African countries, countries qualified in the round of 32, and right about now, we have just two left talking about Morocco and um Egypt, the likes of Iricos, Diaro Congo, um, the likes of um Ghana, they've all crashed out of this tournament. Like for me, I mean, I want to know you guys' opinion. Do you think like um, because if we look at the game between Diar Congo and England, for instance, amazing game of football by the Diarro Congo guys? This I think they scored first before the you know the English guys equalized and then Arikana had to make it 2-1 again. Like, what is it a mentality problem? Is it um an imposter seed run problem? Is it um not being good enough that is that we feel because these are games that we felt like, I mean, look at the Belgium game against um Senegal. This is a game, Senegal was two goals ahead, and at the end of the day, they ended up losing that game, three goals to two. The same thing happened with Ivory Coast against um Norway, 1-0. It became 1-1 and 2-1, and it just faltered at the end of the day. What's going on? Is it like we're not good enough? Or is it the coaching? Um, I mean, I want to start with Manuel on this one. What do you think is the problem with Africa? Because on the good day, on paper, on power, I think we are matched to these guys. I mean I'm I mean, I mean, this African nation can play anybody they want to play. Do you get like what's the what's the major issue that's affecting them in this World Cup Super and has made um about seven of them crash out or eight of them crash out of this tournament so far? Aside from this year, that's that's a disgrace to all of us in Africa anyway.

SPEAKER_00 4:23

To be honest, on on field, I really can't say this is the exact problem because I feel we have what it takes. When I mean we as Africans have what it takes, especially from the match we've seen.

SPEAKER_03 4:35

We have what it takes to go head to head with these guys, you know, but for some reasons, maybe spiritual it's not just it's not just because I mean we were talking on the group the other day from 1-0, 1-1-2, or like just last minute.

SPEAKER_00 4:54

I don't, yeah, because all I could just say is we just need to do better. On field, I don't think for me, I don't think it's a decision that has to do with you know, on-field tactics or anything. Because if you notice the time, they usually concede these goals. It is six minutes, golden time. But at the same time, I'm like, I don't think it's I don't think it's an issue of fatigue, and also I don't think it's as an issue of um game management. I really just cannot say probably it's a problem that has to do with the whole off-field, you know, decisions that are going on, but on the field, I really can't see. Is that coaching? Bro, football is football starts away from like uh off-field decisions, you understand? The football doesn't just start when you kick the ball from the first whistle. So it might have to do with management, not just coaching, like you know, the whole footballing federation, you know. There are so many things involved. For example, the Senegalist team, it might be a rumor, but I heard they are going through some like internal crisis as well.

SPEAKER_03 6:10

But uh, so I don't know this. I wouldn't disagree because I you can't be leading two ghosts to new and for some reason. That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

That there is no for me personally, I don't see any decision, like there is no unfield decision I can link to the problem that is happening with these guys. I don't know if people are not just calling. That's what I'm saying. I said I think they can go head to head with these guys. We saw even Ghana did it against England, we saw Dr. Congo almost replicate that. We saw Senegal almost do it. We have the talent, we have the individual talent, we have the individual brilliance, but bruh, I don't I don't know. I have no clue on field to what's going on with those guys.

SPEAKER_03 6:56

Sussi, what do what do you think in this situation? Because I mean, the Rudigarcia, the manager of Belgium, made a controversial statement during the week about, you know, the African team is not lacking something of it. I can't quote him right now, but he says something of, you know, lacking the resilience or the mentality to hold on to the end because um you could just tell that the geotherapy towards the end and they were feeling inferior. You know what it feels like when you know when I play you on FIFA, sorry, for instance, I know this guy is better than me in FIFA, like, and I'm too tuning up for instance. I just knew like there's still something in me feels like you're still gonna beat me because I know you're better than me. Right? Do you feel like that's also like a situation with the African teams? Are they being inferior? Because I mean, shout out to Ari Kane with what he did against Diar Congo. I mean, taking responsibility, finding ways to get the goals, you know, two amazing goals. But the Aro Congo had chances as well. We saw what Wisa did. Wisa should have scored good goals. What's this issue? What do you think is the major problem with the African teams so far? I mean, aside Morocco, we I mean, Morocco, because before you continue, I see like Morocco has elevated their way of football. They were in the semifinals of the last World Cup in 2022, they were in the finals of the African Nations Cup. And we talked about in the group as well, the way they've developed their football in the last 10 years. Do you know? I feel like they are miles ahead of every African team. And we could see the way they were going ahead to where we everyone they're facing so far in this world. What's the major problem of African football?

SPEAKER_00 8:32

And I mean, for me, sorry to enter, that's what I was saying. Like, I feel these issues is way beyond what's happening on the pitch. If you mention Moroccan football and the kind of upgrade or improvement Moroccan. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. You know, it has come from like things that have happened way off the field to start with, in terms of investment, in terms of, you know, them making this conscious effort. So, again, like I said, football starts way beyond the first whistle. So if we want to trace everything, we might need to go as far back what's happening in these individual nations. You understand? Yeah, but because for me, I don't think it's a I know on on the internet we are all seeing this all inferiority complex. They are scared. I don't believe in all those things, to be honest. But I mean, Susi, over to you.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

Yeah, because I think it's a mix of so many things, though. Like, even as much as off-the-pitch problems. But I think like when they get on the pitch, they have a job that they have to do. And we can see, especially in the way all the games are played out. Like, for example, see Ghana last night or this morning. No chances created, no big chances created in the whole of 90 minutes. It was I saw it. It was it was pathetic. Like it's just like, let's just try and hold on, but they're not trying to actually play football. There are some teams that I've actually tried. Like, you know, you see the game with um was this Senegal and um Belgium that's like.

SPEAKER_03 10:04

I don't know what they tried. They were disgusting to me, bro.

SPEAKER_00 10:10

Because that was that was pro fine.

SPEAKER_03 10:17

I was I thought it was gonna be like 4-0.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

Yeah, this was a bad and this is a bad guy.

SPEAKER_03 10:24

Do you get what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 10:24

Like, yeah, Belgium stars. That was terrible even in their group, their group phase. You only had one win. Oh. So just lose 2-0 in the final minutes of the game. It's it's terrible.

SPEAKER_03 10:35

And the thing about comeback is once you score one, you always have that beat that you can always score another one.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

And once you get into extra time, the the better players, the people that have been there and have done it before, they were always at that edge, the winning mentality. And and if you notice, when the African teams, when they concede, they just tend to fold. Fold. The only team that I saw that's that was that even put up a fight was Cape of Verde yesterday.

SPEAKER_03 11:04

But when you concede, they they gave a run for their money.

unknown 11:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:09

No one told that comment to the earth. Yes, it is. It's because they played off. I won't say that Australia was the bad side, but the Australia, you could say that they were two to two, and there wasn't really much of a difference between both sides. It was just unfortunate. Yeah, unfortunate for Australia in the penalties. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it was unfortunate for Australia and penalties.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

But again, for me, why I yeah, why I still need to like go back to the off-field decisions is you said you mentioned people like Ghana, and I'm like, who's Ghana's who's Ghana striker in this World Cup? Are you that is old enough to be my grandfather? That's why Ghana is World Cup.

SPEAKER_01 11:51

Which young man is compared to the case. Compared to Ronaldo now, he's young now.

SPEAKER_00 11:58

Well, as I was saying, bro, it goes a long way to like tell you that's what I'm saying. Everything preparation wise, look, preparation-wise, because you need to go for the guys that are hungry. You understand? You don't need to, you need to, first of all, from your team selection, from the guys you carried. If tomorrow, if for instance, uh England does well in this World Cup, everybody will praise Tucho for the bold decisions he made. And if they if they fuck up at any point in time, everybody will still blame Tucho for the decisions he made. The old Kopama this thing is already coming up, and Trent Alexandria and not coach. So, in as much as I feel fine, when you are here, you need to do the job, you're on the field. But are these guys guys that are really hungry? Are these guys guys that have been prepared? Are these guys guys that have been mentally prepared? Football is psychological as well. You know, have they gone as far as knowing how to like see out games? You know, all these things is all part of preparation for me. So when you come out and say, oh, they need to do things on the field, I 100% agree, but yeah, that's where the way mentality comes out.

SPEAKER_01 13:22

That's where the better players, the better teams, with resilience. Exactly. Where you have world class coaches. Those are the kind of decisions they make.

SPEAKER_00 13:30

Well, these are all part of the investment I'm seeing. You understand? Because if you look at it, I don't think like when we see games like that Senegal behavior game was it was ridiculous. Bro, these are games that were pissed. When you see games like uh Dr. Kong going, they're like, they should at least take them to extra time.

SPEAKER_03 13:56

Extra time. And the Ivory Coast game as well.

SPEAKER_00 13:59

Anyway, all those ones. I mean, yeah, yes, no way.

SPEAKER_03 14:03

Yeah. Um, yeah, I mean, so far then we've got like only um Morocco, you know, and Egypt still representing Africa. And um, we look forward to seeing um, you know, how it's gonna be with them um going into the next round of the fixtures. And um the round of 16 is literally gonna be starting today, tonight with Paraguay against France. I mean, it's gonna be a very, very interesting one. Um, I think Morocco is gonna be playing against Canada, Brazil, Norway, Mexico against England. Wow, the big one is the Portugal, Spain, that everyone is looking out for USA, Belgium, Argentina, Egypt, and um, Switzerland, Colombia. I mean, for me, bro, what's what are you guys on about? What are you guys on about, bro? Messi. Bro, I don't know, bro. Like, I don't I see I always avoid this comparison thing, but bro. We were talking about it last night in terms of we're talking about the most marketable people in this tournament. Obviously, we're talking about Lionel Andres Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kilan Mbappe. Even Yama's dropped a little bit because of like his injury and everything, but still, Spain is still firing also the Indas regardless. And Argentina's performance yesterday shows that on a level, Messi still carries that team highly. But we can't say that of the Portuguese national team. This is not about Ronaldo, yeah. And this is about, you know, how have they been playing as a team? Because to me, I don't feel like the Portuguese national team has been exciting at all in this World Cup. Forget the Ronaldo club back or things people were saying about Cristiano Ronaldo and everything. And I feel like this game against Spain will be like a major test for them. What do you guys think in terms of the comprise and everything? Because Messi's technically has got six goals in this tournament already. Ronaldo's got two. In terms of legacy-wise, Ronaldo has they've both been in, you know, five, six World Cups, technically. And I want to bring this debate on because we we've been avoiding in some ways in the group. For me, this is not a good thing. I think Messi Messi tops Ronaldo in all applications when it comes to the World Cup.

SPEAKER_00 16:30

Well, as the great philosopher Socrates said, he said every man is entitled his own opinion, didn't it? Oh, that's for you. That's on you, bro. Bro, that's on you. You again, and to be honest, it's you. I can't change your decision. We're not even talking about someone who takes yeah, but we've not even talked about a boy.

SPEAKER_03 16:55

Wait, before you continue, we've not even talked about a boy who takes the World Cup as Cristiano Ronaldo's UFO Champions League. We're talking about Kaliano Mbappe. The way Mbappe scored is scoring in this World Cup, bro. And it's been in three World Cups, his numbers. I think it's got about 16 goals right now or 17 goals, bro. It's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 17:20

It's the best to do it in the World Cup. That's Chelsea Trends. It's the best to do it in the World Cup.

SPEAKER_03 17:27

I was trying to say together, like, I'm not even doing a comparison, but you think I was. I said it might break Messi's record in this same World Cup that we have. Because Messi has like six goals. He's got like five goals. And Messi's on 18 goals, I think. 17 or 18 goals. And Mbapped is on like 16 goals. So there's a possibility he might still beat that record this same season.

SPEAKER_00 17:47

Why I'm not too bothered about that is he's definitely gonna beat it. Whether he's now Mbappy still has at least two World Cups. At least two World Cups. So he would definitely beat it. For me, that's not a you know, I don't really bother myself much about that. But you said something about Messi still needing Argentina or Argentina still needing Messi and otherwise for Ronaldo. But I'll correct you quickly. Actually, Argentina, number one, are playing to Messi's strength and are playing for Messi.

SPEAKER_03 18:24

Why is why is Portugal not doing the same thing?

SPEAKER_00 18:29

I could ask the same question. Why is Portugal not doing the same thing? Why why do you have to ask me the same question? Don't always ask that. Because you asked me as well. Because you asked me as well. That's it.

SPEAKER_03 18:40

Let's say when it seems when it what is when it seems playing to your starman's strength and is delivering to you on instead, why is that a bad thing? That's not even so so why. Why is it why is it Portugal? Why is it Portugal problem? Why is what? I said, why is it a problem with Portugal? Why can't they play to Ronaldo's strength?

SPEAKER_00 19:11

That's the same question I'm asking you. Why can't they play to Ronaldo's strength?

SPEAKER_03 19:15

But you are the one speaking on behalf of Ronaldo here.

SPEAKER_00 19:17

And of course, I'm speaking on behalf of Ronaldo's. Because Ronaldo is the goat. You said something, and I corrected you. You said Messi's Messi Messi does Argentina will do well without Messi, regardless. But at the moment, they are just playing to his trend and they are literally playing for him. And I don't want to, I said I won't say much about Messi because there are so many things we could have said concerning Messi. Against Saudiat, it's not now. Now it's not the time it's when? It's when it's hot, you should tell me. It's not now, you'll be telling me. It's not now you'll be telling me. But yeah, that's it. That's all I'm gonna say. If you have, if you feel, you know, bro, that's on you. Like, that's your opinion.

SPEAKER_03 20:04

You get you haven't you have a I mean it's it's a it's a conversation we're gonna start again.

SPEAKER_00 20:09

It's it's it's it's it's something that you know it's obvious that the federation of fever is playing also to Argentina's advantage, yes. I mean, I disagree with this statement, bro.

SPEAKER_03 20:24

Because every four years you can disagree, but it's it's okay. Are you saying are you saying Argentina going into the four Argentina has been in four finals?

SPEAKER_00 20:35

What I'm not saying is what we are seeing. Whenever I say something, I come with facts and stats. Go ahead. Where's the facts? Because facts and stats.

SPEAKER_03 20:44

Okay, wait. Before you back up going to that back up, there wasn't where's the facts on see what we're talking about.

SPEAKER_00 20:51

Argentina has been in four finals, been in four finals in recent times. He has been two against who the team messes have been in six world cups, yeah, and he somehow has avoided all the big teams about in 2018.

SPEAKER_03 21:10

Who took them out of the world cup in 2018? Who took them out of 2018? Was it not France?

SPEAKER_00 21:14

Who did they play?

SPEAKER_03 21:15

It was France, it was France that took them out of the 2018 World Cup, yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:20

Who did they play in the final last last three?

SPEAKER_00 21:22

Who did they play in the last final? In the final how did they get to the final? I'm talking about who are they supposed to play in the final before?

SPEAKER_03 21:28

Bro, I'm saying 2018.

SPEAKER_00 21:32

How did they get to the final?

SPEAKER_01 21:34

In 2018. So how did they win the final? So you're saying that the whole the whole thing have not yet finished first place.

SPEAKER_02 21:43

If it didn't finish first place, if it didn't finish first place in the group stage, what do you expect him to play against?

SPEAKER_00 21:50

They got to August. Everything has been set down.

SPEAKER_03 21:56

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

Which which group did they play in? Who did they play in? Which group who were in their group in 2018 that they would not finish first to go and meet the people they met. But it's normal now.

SPEAKER_03 22:10

When you finish first, you always meet a second team. It's not normal.

SPEAKER_00 22:13

It's not normal for them to be on that part of the group and have an easy draw to the semifinal. It's not easy. That's crazy. It's easy. It's easy. No, that's easy. You're being serious. You're being serious. As far as I'm concerned, the whole this twin and this world cup is still not too addictive. It's not to identify.

SPEAKER_03 22:38

And if you guys are listening, you mentioned something. You mentioned something when we when we did the last podcast. You said there are going to be so many surprises in this World Cup. And we've seen some couple of surprises. Why I'm not really surprised with so many things is because it's a new format. We have so many teams and we have so many hotelists, like newcomers, like the somehow the new format had to put all your big boys surprisingly in your words.

SPEAKER_00 23:07

Surprisingly, the new format put everybody on one side and put mercy among with the hotelists. Surprisingly, we are stupid. I'm on top of something else. Fever is so f that. It's a rubbish tournament. It's we all know the winner.

SPEAKER_03 23:24

I don't want us to go into that. I know this sport is not really going to be low because I know you guys are I've got other things to do. I just want to quickly talk about something quickly before we I let you guys go. I know we're going to do another episode that we're really going to go more in depth regarding this World Cup thing. And um there's a conversation I saw online, basically. It was about you know, football nowadays is, and I want to start with you, Sorcy. You know, football nowadays is like statistics based, how many goals has it scored, how many assists has it done, how many this, how many that, which that is what even generally, even in the world of um office-based everything, everything is about statistics, it's about numbers right now. Even though there's a difference between quantity and quality, there's a difference between in football now, in football terms, for me, in the way I see it, there's a difference between eye tests and statistics. This is where a comparison of someone like Mohammed Salah and Edinazad is, whereby you look at Edinhazard and Mohammed Salah's numbers, and you'll be like, oh, Salah is better. Oh, Edenazard is better. For us that we're judging on IT tests, we will never agree that Salah is better than Edinazad. But someone who is judging based on statistics will feel like, bro, Salah is way better than Eden Hazard. Like, I feel like it's a conversation we really need to talk about. Does statistics really determine how good a player is? Or, bro, based on eye test, bro, let's watch football. You know there's a difference between when you hear the score line, like, oh, they played 3-2, but you didn't know what happened in the field. Like, it was just, do you get what I'm trying to say in terms of like eye test and statistics? Like, oh, or people will rate maybe a Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry, and you look at Terry Henry, and fantastic players, well, it's got more numbers. But based on eye tests, me and you know say we go pick Ronaldio anytime, any day. Because they do things where we say they give us memory, where we they enjoy going forward, you understand all these dribbling, all these skills. Do you understand? Like, why I'm bringing this up is like, do you feel like statistics has sort of ruined football and has taken away the beauty of eye tests? Or some of us still believe in high tests. And we feel like with the reality of your statistics, what we see was always going to be what we're judging our football on. What do you think about that, Sorcy?

SPEAKER_01 25:55

The thing is, huh? To watch, it's sweet, but numbers, that's what wins you games, that's what gets you titles. It's the numbers at the end of the day that will make you great in terms of not just as a player, not as a player as a club. Even if you sabor, but if you're not producing anything, if there's no like end results, you could just buy bone and the donate tests. Well, you have to you have to provide something at the end. That's how we were talking about Arsenal last season. Their football was not beautiful. The end of the day, they were Premier League champions. So it depends on what you what you prioritize more. Trophies or to just they pass eye tests. But there are some that's why that's why the greatest footballers they pass the eye test and they have the numbers.

SPEAKER_03 26:39

I think based on what you just mentioned now is one of the reasons why personally I don't read JJ Oko. Because he passes the eye test, but he has he does not have the numbers in any way. Trophies to show for it, goes to show for it, but amazing footballer. But if you look at Umwakokwana, for instance, individual titles, goals and everything is there. But does it pass the eye test?

SPEAKER_01 27:09

The footballer is not as beautiful as JJ, you have to start and but at the end of the day, who is the who will be remembered as you know the most successful player?

SPEAKER_03 27:18

It depends on how we see football, basically. I mean, I feel like people see football in different parts. That's why I just started to raise that conversation up quickly. Like, for you, okay, now in this context, you Sorcy, is it is it more of an eye test thing for you or the numbers in the long run? Because me, it depends for me. Like, some players passport eye tests and stats. You look at someone like R9, for instance.

SPEAKER_01 27:43

It's it's it's situational. It's just like how, like now, Chelsea, for example. You know, there was a pro that would not go like CTM without scoring. Even if we're playing well, and let's say the boys were good putting in a good performance and they are not scoring, you won't be happy at the end of the day. But let's say all those games we played terrible football, but at the end of the day, we struggled one one nil, one one nil, one one nil, and we got into a championship. It should have been a much better season.

SPEAKER_03 28:11

What do you think, Emmanuel?

SPEAKER_00 28:13

Oh, it depends. For me, it's always that's my watch for the stats and facts. I believe in statistics, but at the same time, there must be facts to back those statistics up. You understand? You can't tell me, I don't even care about your eye test and everything. If there is no stats and facts to back it up, it's it's it's useless. So, how do we rate you by what we see? What we see is it's not it's not a truth, it's not a true test of what's happening. It's what is on ground or what is on paper that will really tell us. That's how the boy no book, you know, pass. What was that one? The answer is the question of the thing.

SPEAKER_03 28:55

Your handwriting is fine.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

Nobody cares about your handwriting.

SPEAKER_01 29:03

It's the result, I think.

SPEAKER_00 29:04

You understand? That's why, in as much as you mentioned Salah and uh Hazard, I have a strong hazard supporter, but based on start, I feel like far better primarily. Yeah, you know, because the fact is I will bring the two of them and I'll judge them based on their Premier League numbers and everything. And Salah is more more ahead. So at the end of the day, only based on stats. Based on stats now. If it's ahead based on stats, then he's ahead generally.

SPEAKER_03 29:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

But for can you tell me about hazard if without the stats to back it up?

SPEAKER_03 29:47

But for me, I'll choose hazard based on eye test.

SPEAKER_00 29:50

It's not a true test of anything.

SPEAKER_03 29:54

So are you saying Salah is an all-round better player than Hazard? I agree. I disagree though.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

If you want, like the thing is if you want if you want results, like if you're picking between Salah and Hazard, if only like across the whole season, Salah will get you more productivity than hazard.

SPEAKER_00 30:16

So what's football all about? I don't understand. What are we playing football for? You go just watching. You go and watch all these Brazilian football things.

SPEAKER_03 30:32

Bro, you could just look at some players and you'll be like, wow, see player. You don't be like, you know, that nostalgia, that feeling, that that memory that gives you, like, bro.

SPEAKER_00 30:44

The only the only thing, also, you mentioned some like who did you compare? Ronaldino and O again?

SPEAKER_03 30:51

Thierry Henry.

SPEAKER_00 30:52

Oh, again. Okay, Terry Henry. Bro, before you compare, there must be some common ground. You understand? Number one, did they play in the same era? I'm not sure. Number two, did they play in like what I mean? Oh, they play in the same era, right? Yes. Quite alright. Did they play in the same league? Well, is there any common factor? Barcelona, they play.

SPEAKER_03 31:20

They played together in the final in 2006. They faced each other in the final 2006. 2006.

SPEAKER_00 31:33

No, he never goes back. Okay, you mean against each other? That's uh back as now 2006.

SPEAKER_01 31:41

Yeah, the one that they got.

SPEAKER_00 31:45

So if we are to compare them, then so it's based on Champions League. But that's what I'm saying. Why it's difficult is two different leagues. They play the same time, but two different leagues, maybe one season.

SPEAKER_03 31:55

No, just speaking generally, in terms of like the kind of numbers they produce and what they do on the field of play.

SPEAKER_00 32:00

It's difficult, but if you want to look at the numbers for whatsoever reason, who has the more numbers? That's the person that will tell you he did well, and we can back it up with facts. And it was able to do that.

SPEAKER_03 32:11

I feel like Eric has more numbers, but Radio has more Ballon d'Or.

SPEAKER_01 32:17

Rodio still has numbers, though. Yeah, he has numbers to produce anyway.

SPEAKER_00 32:22

That's what I'm saying. Uh okay, so what you mean numbers? So now we now have to like compare what numbers. It comes with the eye test. So those those those are the things beyond.

SPEAKER_01 32:41

Because even if even Balando statistics too.

SPEAKER_00 32:44

Acelona was winning everything in Spain as well.

SPEAKER_03 32:48

True, though. Yeah, true. Even the Balondoma is not have the numbers that Henry had at the time, but it was dazzling. He has he has the stats to back his own eye test, if that makes sense. I think that was what gave him the edge.

SPEAKER_01 33:02

The thing about this numbers test is it's still depends on the team he play for. Like, see Hurricane at sports now. Bro, that really messed that guy's career up. That that's even if you discover 20 billion goals, if your team is now winning.

SPEAKER_00 33:18

Exactly. That's why that's why I'm saying there is a you there is a basis you need to judge them on. You will not just say, that's why for me, I can never judge, I can never judge a PSG player and a Barcelona player. Because fine, it's all about numbers, but are they placed under the same conditions?

SPEAKER_03 33:42

Conditions, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 33:44

Those are the things we need to look out for. I mean, that's why for for situations like that, it's quite difficult. But when you come to say the JJ Okocha and the Khan, JJ is a very useless footballer. It's no serious, bro.

SPEAKER_03 33:57

Like you share my sentiments, bro. He's not serious.

SPEAKER_00 34:01

As a footballer, it's not serious. Kano is a more successful footballer and a better footballer than him, like it or not.

SPEAKER_03 34:07

Because to me, JJ just marked the itess, beautiful player to watch, but there's nothing to show for it.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

We have the likes of uh Coresma that they shake like that. We had the likes of Nani that will shake like that.

SPEAKER_01 34:22

But if Valencia will still be benching the nanny in United, yes, I'm called sometimes the access, they're not even go straight to the point. Sometimes we need to say we need to give the nail on the head.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

This reminds me of Saint Maximine of Nickasu that yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:40

No end product, no product zero say, ah, this guy they dribble low.

SPEAKER_03 34:45

Ah so so technically, so that means we could see it's safe to say like exceptional players will always back their items with numbers, then there must be something where the facts come in.

SPEAKER_01 34:58

Back it up the facts if not if not if you know if you know back them up with that fact. Exactly. You could just very circumstances. You could just give you one of those the streets will forget players. Where uh that guy did that time with the boat, uh you know what charm?

SPEAKER_03 35:19

I get the ball. That's where me I'm coming from, actually. Like, that's where I'm coming from. In terms of you know, I mean, it's it's really amazing to have you guys on the pod today. I really really enjoyed the little. I know you guys have a whole lot going on with you guys, even me too. Like, bro, I'm in my new space, nothing, empty accommodation.

SPEAKER_01 35:40

Yeah, my life, what TV where they where they do uh TV D T V D W logo TV D where I'm literally in the my house is echoing right now because it's empty. The should not be Portugal you did, so at the same time.

SPEAKER_03 35:57

Oh boy, I wish.

SPEAKER_00 35:58

I swear, I wish it can't be in Portugal now. How would it be in Portugal? I wish when there is joy everywhere, joy comes up. They've done it again, Spain, they'll do it again.

SPEAKER_03 36:11

You know what I'm saying? You rest, you rest. Ah, it's really nice. No, uh, that conversation we're still gonna go to the game. We're still gonna go in depth into it. We need to have like a proper weekend where like we're gonna have enough time to like discuss you know that in depth. We need to find out another time, to be honest. I I want to allow you guys gonna, I know you guys have got stuff to do right now. We just had to do this quickly. Um, thank you so much, Sorcy, for coming on the pod today. Thank you, Mr. Yeah. Thank you so much, guys. Um, don't forget to um check out the new episode of the Grease and Beyond Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcast. Thank you guys for joining us today. My name is Elohobilaba. Once again, I will see you on the next one. Thank you. Peace out.