Welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast World Cup Special! (S14 E15)

        Welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast World Cup Special!  (S14 E15)

The GP Soccer Podcast is a proud member of the Sports History Network and endorsed by the National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada.     

Host Giovanni Pacini welcomes a stellar panel of soccer professionals to the show for this World Cup Special! 

Renato Capobianco

Former Team Administrator for the 1994 USMNT.

Former Head Men's Soccer Coach at Regis College (MA).

Rob Ellis

Author of the book-m "The Soccer Coaches Toolkit".

Former coach with the Chelsea FC Foundation.

Current Head Men's Soccer Coach at Imperial College in London, England.

Ralph Ferrigno

Former Head Men's Soccer Coach at Tufts University (MA).

Member of the New England Soccer Hall of Fame, Class of 2016.

Current contributor to the GP Soccer Podcast European Report.

John DeBenedictis

Executive Director for the National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada.

Author of the book- "The Last Nine Seconds: The Secrets to Scoring Goals".

Founder and director of the "Golden Goal Scoring Course".

The GP Soccer Podcast will feature World Cup reports every Wednesday beginning on June 24th throughout the tournament.

                    GP Soccer Podcast enjoys continued support from-
United Goalkeeping Alliance - Music Meets Sports - National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada - The Sports History Network - Feedspot.com - GP Voice Over Services - Zone 14 Coaching

GP Soccer Podcast welcomes a new sponsor- Zone 14 Coaching! Check it out at Zone14coaching.com. Use promo code GP20 for 20% off!

To purchase a signed copy of Dr. Joe Machnik's book- "From the Sandlots to the World Cup: 7 Decades of American Soccer", e-mail "Dr. Joe" at joemachnik@no1soccercamps.com. Be sure to mention the GP Soccer Podcast!

Enjoy the show!

Transcript

SPEAKER_09 1:23

And welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast conversation with the well, the panel. The panel, our expert panel that I have put together to discuss the upcoming World Cup. Super excited to have this group of folks on the show this week to talk about All Things World Cup. And it is a special edition of the GP Soccer Podcast where this is all we're going to be talking about. And by way of introduction, I've got some terrific folks as I noted. We have good friend Renato Cababianco, who is the former team administrator for the 1994 U.S. men's national team. He is the former headmen's soccer coach at Regis College, where I proudly served as his goalkeeper coach. We also have Rob Ellis, who's the author of the book, The Soccer Coach's Toolkit. He's a former coach with Chelsea FC Foundation, and he's the current headmen's soccer coach at Imperial College in London, England. We have the terrific Ralph Rignow, the former headmen's soccer coach at Tufts University, member of the New England Soccer Hall of Fame class of 2016, and he's the current contributor to the GP Soccer Podcast European Report. You know his voice so very well. And last but certainly not least, from our friends up in the north, John De Benedictus, who is the executive director for the National Soccer Coaches Association of Canada. He's the author of the book, The Last Nine Seconds, The Secrets to Scoring Goals, and he's the founder and director of the Golden Goal Scoring Course. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is just a I'm scratching the surface in terms of these folks' backgrounds and their credentials, because if I went through the whole thing, we'd be here for a long period of time. So, first and foremost, um, welcome to the group and welcome to the GP Soccer Podcast World Cup uh uh panel discussion here from all of you. So, folks, here's where I'd like to start this is kind of generic, and it has to do with the recent, oh, I don't know, controversy, if you will, with uh Mauricio Pochettino notifying the players who did not make the squad, notifying them by email. Now, my last show I had a little a little of audio back and forth with Maurice Pochettino's uh uh news conference and then Jesse Marsh talking about the same type of thing, and they were very, very, very different. So, my opening question to all of you how do you think that should have been handled? How do you typically handle a situation where you've got to pick a squad and there's gonna be players that make it that and don't make it? Um John, I'll start with you, Johnny Benedictus. How how do you how would you handle something like that?

SPEAKER_06 3:53

Well, I mean, for me, I'd I'd go talk to the player personally rather than send an email. Um and if it's uh in uh youth soccer, you know, obviously you gotta talk to the parents as well. But I wouldn't just send a general email.

SPEAKER_08 4:10

Rob, what about you?

SPEAKER_03 4:12

Um it's funny. I mean, I saw Pochettino's um interview where he used a you know, if you a bit of choice language, so we shall we say. Um it's just funny with okay. So I mean if you look at if you look at um, you know, you're selecting a team for the World Cup, he's selecting his squad, I guess you know, in any other industry, if you go for an interview, even if you don't get the job, you expect to be notified. I'm not saying that's that's always going to be the case. But I guess when you're a professional soccer player, your interview is never ending because he's he's watching you all season, whether you're called up to the national team, whether you're part of a training camp. And I think the point he was trying to make is almost well, you know, it wasn't just you're invited in and then I have to respond to you. Why would I need to notify you? I need to notify the players who are in, and then potentially I could be, you know, where does the list stop? I guess I know there's preliminary squads, but you know, in theory, you could be contacting players who are close to the squad, players who are mentioned by the press and the media. And I think maybe what he was trying to say is, do the players actually want to hear it? Um, so I don't think an email is the way to do it. I don't think that's the way to do it. But yeah, I was just musing on that, thinking how different it is in other industries, which is you know, when it's professional sport, it's never ending because players play all the time, he can watch them, he's got access to them all the time. And maybe he was just sort of saying, I don't have to go to that to that extent. They were my thoughts on it. But he always comes across since he's had the job, I remember him at Tottenham, he never seems particularly happy. I don't know what it is, but he comes across as he seems a bit unloved and a little bit tense the whole time he's had the job, and it kind of filled into that, I thought.

SPEAKER_09 6:07

You know, but back in the day when I started coaching a thousand years ago, and this was a classic way of of announcing this the this the uh the final team, we used to put a list up on a bulletin board outside your office. And the kids or the players used to have to just go up and find their name, find their name if they were on the on the list. They made the team, and if they didn't, they didn't. And that was that. Now, I'm going back a number of years, um, as time went on, I I became I evolved and became more sophisticated and more sensitive to the fact that these these kids were trying off on my high school team or my college team, you know, put forth a lot of effort and their emotions and they wanted to be a part of the program, and then I started to talk to players, um, make sure that everybody knew why you why you didn't make the team. Ronaldo, how how did you how did you handle this that type of thing?

SPEAKER_05 6:54

Well uh what I do and what the men's national team coach in a World Cup year should do are totally different. And and I think a lot of people I I I mean, I just went to Dick Sporting Goods this weekend and uh Diego Luna's face was all over the place. Now you're telling me he doesn't warrant a phone call. Uh you know, to me, n not only do I think it's wrong for um Ponchettino not to think it, but I'm really surprised that whoever Punchettino's currently r uh um uh uh answering to, whether that's Batson or whomever, didn't say, hey, listen, this is gonna take a half hour, we're gonna take the it doesn't have to be everybody on the list, it doesn't have to be 25 people, but there's people like Diego Luna that were probably the last cut. So there's maybe six of those guys that you can give a phone call to and say, Hey, listen, I really appreciate everything you did, you gave a hundred percent. It just wasn't enough of what we're looking for, and I really want to thank you and wish you the best of luck moving forward. That's it. And then the other half a dozen that maybe were semi-close, if you want to send an email and say, hey, if you want to call me, here's myself, but I w and just say the same thing. But I think the Diego Lunas of the world who were really close, um I just think it's the right thing to do because again, as Rob says, it's never ending. How do you know Pachettino that Diego Luna or one of these players may turn into a phenomenal player and you may want to sign them 18 months from now? If I'm Diego Luna, maybe I think twice. I just don't think it's the right way to do it, and it's a half hour of your time to tell maybe a half a dozen players, I really appreciate that you gave it your best. I'm sorry it wasn't good enough. You know, I wish you the best of luck moving forward and hopefully you'll be on the squad in the future. And I think he would have came out smelling like roses as opposed to what you know he's brought on to himself right now. That's just that's just my thought.

SPEAKER_09 9:08

You know, you you touched upon a a sore spot for a lot of people who were big Diego Luna fans. Um you know, he was the poster child for for all intent and purpose of U.S. soccer, uh, and social media, or if you're looking for posters and sporting goods stores or that that type of thing. I was I was at the Boston Garden this past weekend in all the pillars that are uh you know around the garden that were advertising for the World Cup, you saw you saw Diego Luna. You know, so to use him as a poster child, I guess, uh if that's the appropriate phrase, and then to subsequently cut him, it kind of just kind of hurts. Now, on the plus side for him, he's 22 years old. And there are numerous players like Diego Luna who were 22 years old and got cut. Landon Donovan, his first go-round, got caught before he finally made the squad. So he his his best days might be in front of him, and I and I hope he he sees that. Ralph, how did you handle situations like that when you were coaching?

SPEAKER_01 10:04

Uh we tend to be face-to-face, uh, but but um coming coming to the situation with Pochettino, um I don't think he's staying on after the World Cup, is he? So I don't know how invested he is in trying to uh look at the future. And and maybe Rob can help me here. Did did uh Thomas Tuchel do phone calls or or FaceTime?

SPEAKER_03 10:28

Uh I I believe um I believe it was phone calls. I believe it was phone calls.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

So so so Tuchel now is staying after the World Cup. So I mean cutting a Cole Palmer, obviously, who's a great player, uh I mean like Palmer can come back into the equation in uh Tuchel's reign, as it were. Whereas I think with Pochettino, and I'm not saying it's right, maybe he's not quite invested in the same way. And and and um basically this is his squad, this is his tournament, and then he's done. So so um uh I don't think email was ideal, but but maybe from Pochettino's point of view it is.

SPEAKER_09 11:06

Yeah, the uh he's got well, it appears to be, appears to be that he has got one foot or one toe out the door already, uh, as his uh his representatives uh you know were were speaking to the folks at AC Milan. So you're right. I think you make a great point there, Ralph, that he maybe a part of him has already kind of got one foot out the door, and he might be saying to himself, heck, I don't need to go to such great lengths to to talk to all these players who didn't make it. I'm gonna focus on the players that that did make it. I hope that's not the case. I hope that's not the case. Um U.S. Soccer says uh they've had conversations and he's he has entertaining thoughts about staying on over the next cycle. Um's truly being Italian, I I I sense that uh AC Milan, um the Rossonero may be the shirt he's wearing going forward. Gentlemen, let's get into the tournament. There's lots of teams to talk. We're not going to cover every one of the teams, but we'll kind of go through each one of the brackets, um, you know, and we'll kind of get your two cents in. Let's look at uh the the the uh first group with Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and and Chechia. Um what are your thoughts? I'll I'll open it up to any of you. You know, what are your thoughts on that first uh first group with Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and Chechia? What do you think uh the group uh the the the uh the team that comes out of that one or the teams that come out of that one?

SPEAKER_03 12:21

I th I think um I was looking at the groups a couple of days ago. I think that's arguably the weakest group. That's the first thing. Um I think there are other weak groups, but I think I don't think South Africa will qualify, but I think three of the other four have got a chance. I'd I'd say Mexico are probably the slightly the stronger, stronger, strongest of the four, but I think potentially all four could qualify. But um if I had to put, I'd say South Korea and Mexico probably come out of that group. Uh they're my thoughts.

SPEAKER_09 12:55

Yeah, I'm I'm kind of on board with you as well. Certainly Mexico uh would be the odds on favor to maybe win the group. Um and South Korea might be that that second one. And then heck, who knows what the third place uh situation might be. It's a the third place uh selections are you know, I think there's upwards to eight teams, so maybe one of those teams will come through. Um and in the uh second group, in group B, we have Canada, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland. John D. Benedictis, I gotta go right to you, my friend, uh, since you're up there in Canada. What are your thoughts on uh that group? And what are your thoughts on the current state of the uh Canadian men's national team?

SPEAKER_06 13:32

Well, Canada just won last night, so that's uh that's a good sign, and they actually scored uh a couple goals in in regular play, which has been a problem for them. The interesting thing is that uh all their starters are pretty much injured, and uh it saw their second uh group of players that came in yesterday and dominated uh Uzbekistan. And in the first half, when they had their supposed top eleven, they they weren't doing so good. It wasn't for the keeper, they might have been down a couple goals. So that's kind of interesting. I think there's a good depth there. I think Canada will come out of that group. I mean, Switzerland is probably the favorite, um, and Bosnia. I don't think Kataro will will do too well, but I think Canada will do well. I like the way Jesse has them playing, and uh they're all hungry for uh for success and they're also on home turf, so I think I think we'll go through. After that, I'm not a hundred percent.

SPEAKER_09 14:28

So Jesse's kind of made his mark up in the North Country up in Canada. What has been the since his his arrival, John, what has been the reception and continued embrace, if you will, of Jesse Marsh overseeing the the Canadian national team? Is he still a popular guy? Is he still a controversial guy? What's the uh what are the thoughts about Jesse Marsh?

SPEAKER_06 14:48

I think uh I think the Canadians all love him. Um you know, uh the first thing I liked is that uh he uh he uh acknowledged the good job that John Herdman had done before. Um and he's so he's taken over a pretty decent squad, and he's just uh found a lot of great players. But what he's done is he's he's almost exemplified the Canadian Canada and their personality, how we play. We almost play like a hockey team in a way, you know, uh high pressure most of the time, uh hundred percent effort, uh and and he's got him passionate, and and I think uh he's very accessible to the public. He's he's on every talk show that you can see or podcast, big or small. He's making himself available, and uh, and I think the Canadian uh people like that. So uh I so far here he's doing great, and his results have been pretty good, you know. Now we'll see what happens if they're not so good, but um right now he everyone uh I think is quite happy with him. Johnny, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Can I just interject here and say before he moved to bigger and better things? Uh Jesse Marsh sent me a recruiting letter at Tufts, and then he moved on. Going way, way back.

SPEAKER_09 16:06

Ralph, I did not I've known you for a long time, my friend. I did not know that. I just learned something like so. Jesse Marsh tried to try to recruit you.

SPEAKER_01 16:14

Well, I did you know, no, he he was interested in Tufts, but he eventually went to Princeton, so I can't for that.

SPEAKER_09 16:22

Interesting, interesting, interesting. Yeah. Uh Ronaldo, you and I have have chatted uh quite quite often, uh uh formally and informally about about Jesse Marsh and and uh you know his personality. Where what are your thoughts on you know Jesse Marsh uh as as an American guy going up north and coaching in Canada and his his place um uh with the Canadian national team?

SPEAKER_05 16:43

Um I think the fact that he's very outgoing serves what he's trying to accomplish very well. Um he's a very gregarious person. I mean, I remember last last summer when he had some really special results and he was all over the field after the game and and you know, some people may you know, the people that are close to Jesse here in the United States say, well, you know, Jesse's being Jesse. But I think it serves him well because he recognizes that you know, in in second tier soccer countries, which the United States, Canada is uh are, um, you know, you you gotta be carrying the flag upwind all the time. And and I think I think Jesse's personality is never gonna run out. And I think that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_09 17:35

Yeah, it certainly you know infuses uh emotion into the program. Maybe there's something that might have been lacking, and John, you could speak to this better than I can. Maybe that was something that was lacking with the Canadian men's national team or Canadian soccer in general, and all of a sudden you bring in a guy like Jesse Marsh who does infuse emotion and passion. John, is that is that something safe to say?

SPEAKER_06 17:56

Yeah, and like I say, John Herdman did do the same, but uh you know, Jesse's the perfect guy in my opinion. I think he's you know, he's he's even looking at the youth and and he just uh You're right, the passion is there, and uh we need that here. You know, we we need someone who's uh good on air, not afraid to uh in interviews, because we need to build, you know, the the passion for the game so that we can fill stadiums not just now but after the World Cup and and uh and have those uh stadiums full every time our national team plays. And yesterday, you know, forty six thousand in Edmonton and it didn't stop raining. It was coming down in buckets and uh and it was full. And I think Jesse's been a good part of that. And and the way the the players behave and and uh the way they play. They play with 100%. But when I watched the US national team, they don't seem to have that same togetherness and passion uh compared to Canada right now. I think Jesse is a big part of that.

SPEAKER_02 18:55

Indeed.

SPEAKER_09 18:56

Let's move along pretty quickly here, guys. We got uh group C Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. Ralph, what are your thoughts on that that that group there with Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland?

SPEAKER_01 19:05

Well, I should confess from the outset, um while my family is from Liverpool and I grew up in the city and everything, I was born in Scotland. Um when my father was working up there for a couple of years, and when I was growing up, and I suspect I'm the oldest here because I went to a World Cup game back in 1966, um, Scotland actually had such a wealth of players to choose from. I mean Liverpool in particular, if I was to pick my all-time team for Liverpool FC, I'd have five Scots in it. But um I think it's gonna be difficult for them. Um they do have some good players, I think they're strong in midfield, but uh weak, weak central defense and uh they don't really have strikers that I think at the w at the world stage level that can really well put the ball in the net basically. So I think their first game is key for them, Haiti. But I think uh that if we cast our minds back to 1990, the first game was against Costa Rica and it's kind of has a similar vibe to it. So uh we'll have to wait and see on that, and and obviously both Morocco and Brazil are are powerhouses right now. So I think the best fate for them is third place, and maybe to qualify via that route.

SPEAKER_09 20:31

And the general consensus out there, Ralph, and please uh correct me if I'm wrong, the best fans in the world. The absolute best fans in the world. Uh we look forward to having them here in the Boston area, descending upon uh the Boston area and Providence for that that uh that matter as well. But um, yeah, the the best fans. So let's move on here, guys. Now we get into we get into our territory, group D, which is the United States, Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. Uh let's spend a minute or two on this one for the obvious reasons here. Um, you know, we got the U.S. Um So we'll start with you, Renato, since you've got some history here with the U.S. men's national team, I'm gonna take this from a little different angle with this group. Off share with us your perspective, your historical perspective on what the environment was like in 1994 when you were the team administrator and the type of players you had then, the personalities of which were obviously in abundance, compared to this group that we have uh here uh representing us in 2026.

SPEAKER_05 21:28

Well, in some ways it's it's a little unfair because I spent three years with those players. Um, but those of you that are old enough to remember them, I mean, that ninety four team had about six to eight players that had a gigantic chip on their shoulder. John Harks, Tab Ramos, Eric Winalda, uh Marcelo Balboa, Tony Miola. Um you know, you're you're talking uh even Fernando Clavijo, the great Fernando. Clavijo. These guys had a huge chip on their shoulder, and every time they walked on the field, they had this this attitude of, oh yeah, watch me. You know? And I think the uh the same thing can be said of the the World Cup team, I think it's 202 that Busserina had that did so well in Korea. They they had a lot of guys that seemed like they ha always had something to prove not being immediately, you know, connected to this team. That's the one thing I see this team missing. I just don't see that Moxie that you know watch me do this, I get no respect, which you know the New England Patriots were notorious for up here, even though they would win all the time. They always felt it was us against the world. I I don't see that with this team. It may exist, and maybe behind closed doors it does. Um you know, John was saying that he didn't see the American team with that same passion, and I kind of agree with him. I mean, I I could see them I could see them losing all three, and I could see them winning all three, because I just you know, these guys are gonna rush up and and try to make things straight. Um and I'm not saying that that's needed all the time, but I just I if I look at the 94 team that was just a collection of people that felt they didn't get any respect, and that really drove them. And this team, this team just seems a little vanilla. Very talented, but a little vanilla.

SPEAKER_09 23:50

Yeah, it's gonna be uh interesting to see how this this particular group that has been selected by Pochettino, you know, kind of galvanized, if you will. Um everything will be will be you know seen on the field. Moving on, group B, Germany, Curosa, Ivory Coast, Ecuador. Robin start with you. So you're situated there in in uh London, you're there in Europe, and you might get uh more information about certainly Germany, being the representative uh from uh from Europe. What are your thoughts on that group and what what insights can you can you share with us regarding Germany being somewhat in your in your backyard there in Europe?

SPEAKER_03 24:23

Um well, I mean, you know, I I'm not by by no stretch of the imagination am I um encouraging any of your listeners to gamble, but uh I was looking at some of the odds for the tournament um a couple of days ago, and I think Germany are down as 14 to 1, which is um long odds for Germany. I mean, because even if Germany aren't great, um it doesn't really matter. They seem to they seem to find a way, and they're you know, and they're they're behind you know the odds, they're behind Portugal, they're behind France, Spain, England, Brazil, Argentina. So basically they're not particularly fancied at the moment. I don't think they've been great, probably for this last 10-year cycle. Um, you know, they've got they've got some some talented attacking players, you know. I think one of the players to really look out for is um Jamal Mustiala. I mean, we don't need you know, that's being ex um an expert to know what a talented player is. He's been brilliant for buying Munich. Uh, he's kind of they've got so many good attacking players of people like Elise and Gnabry. He's kind of found himself more as a number 10. So Mustiala is is a really talented player. Gnabry's a really talented um player as well. But to be honest, um I think they're a little bit ordinary. Um, I think they'll win the group, but again, I think I said earlier that I think group A is very weak. I think this is equally weak. Um Corasau is their first tournament. I mean, we don't know what to expect. If you're being really cynical, I think we do, which is probably zero points, I'm being completely honest. Um Ivory Coast are you know can be dangerous, can be dangerous, but I I've always found um the African teams in the World Cup, it always seems to be a problem with scoring goals. When you look at the stats, there seems to be um not a lot at the top end of the pitch. And I think you know, I think they're they're a very fit and functional team, Ivory Coast. Some good wide players, but I don't think they'll put the ball in the back of the net enough. Um I see Ecuador probably coming through second. Um, but I I think this is a I think this is a weak group, and I think Germany will just intimidate the other teams. They're Germany, they'll find a way through to the knockout stages, but you know, I can't see them going beyond the last eight, if I'm honest.

SPEAKER_09 26:44

I'd be curious to see the match that's coming up between the United States and Germany on June the 6th. Um that's gonna be a real test for the U.S. uh going into the World Cup. They had a good result against Senegal the other day, 3-2. And Senegal is a good side, but Senegal is not Germany. Uh so that's gonna be very, very interesting. So, gentlemen, in the interest of time, I'm just gonna hit maybe two or three brackets because there's a lot of things I want to pick your brains on. Um, and you'll see why I picked these brackets for the obvious reasons. Uh, these are some of the teams that that are considered some of the odds on favorite. Let's go to uh group I with Spain, Kate Verde, the Saudi Arabia, uh, and and Uruguay. Uh Renato, I'm gonna tap into your your Spanish roots and um what are your thoughts on that group, particularly with Spain?

SPEAKER_05 27:25

Well I I you know I would l I'd like to see Spain win it. I think there's you know France has a lot to say about that. Uh Spain is playing um you know they always play good soccer and I think they're gonna be ready for this. I think they have some nice depth. Um but hopefully I'd like to see them I I'd like to see them get to the final because they you know, you you look at what they did at the last uh Euros, they were they were you know, they they just played tremendously well. As did other other teams as well. Uh but they they have to have they seem to have more balance. They seem to play a little bit more direct than they did six years ago. I think the new coach, uh while yes, he does stress possession, also is like, okay, that's wonderful, but let's get behind the defense, which is what you know, complaint of watching Spain. It got to a point I remember at one point I refused to watch Spain play because it was just it was just watching like paint try. It was horrible. But I think now they have attacking players. Now they look to get behind um the defense, and now it's fun to watch Spain play, whoever it is they uh play. So I you know, I I gotta put them in the top, definitely top two, for sure top four. Um, and I think everybody's dream matchup is seeing Spain France and thinking about that, what that would look like.

SPEAKER_09 28:56

Speaking of the French, uh I I have them winning the whole thing. Uh I was very lucky to see them played here in the Boston area. They played a friendly match against Brazil uh a little while ago. And um I was impressed with this French team, not only for their creativity, um, but the athleticism. They have a dangerous combination of size, athleticism, creativity, uh, and speed that that blew me away when I was sitting there, sitting sitting there in the stadium. And now this was my first time to seeing Killian Mbappe play. I did not realize the, and you don't can't really capture this when you're watching it on television, but when you're there live and you see his explosiveness, um, it was really, really impressive. Um France, France uh for me is uh you know uh a team certainly to look up for, and certainly my prediction. And last but not least, we're gonna bounce right to the end here, uh, because again, I have some things I want to cover. And uh this is for both Rob and for Ralph. The last uh the last group, L England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on um on that bracket? Ralph, I'll start with you. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 30:05

Um well, as I'm sure that Rob will attest to, England are always under tremendous pressure and expectation. And and obviously they had a good run under Garrett Southgate where they were they were close, but they never quite made it at the last minute. And and um clearly Tuchel has been brought in with the thought that he's gonna take him that extra step, and uh he's certainly gonna do it his way, and and we saw that with the squad that he picked, leaving out so many players that were considered to be top. But I think there was a lot of common sense to it because if you're sitting there and you've got a squad of 26 players and you've got uh Phil Foden and Cole Palmer sitting on the bench, if things aren't going well, then yeah, you you know what's going to be happening in terms of the media and what have you. So I think I I think it's better not to have them there in a sense. And I mean, thinking about it anyway, with any World Cup squad, there's 26 players. How many of them are actually going to play? So a player like uh Jordan Henderson or or John Stones that's been injured, I don't know how much will they play? Are they there for other reasons? Are they there for the training situation? Um Tuchel is doing it his way, and and and Rob, would you kind of concur with that?

SPEAKER_03 31:33

Yeah, I I think so. I mean, I think that's a really good point of Ralph. Mate, I mean, I'm sure every coach to some degree probably has their ideal 11 in their mind, and then probably four or five subs that they really draft. I'd imagine the rest of the squad, there is a little bit of transferability, it could have been him, it could have been him, and so on and so on. And I think the selections of people like Henderson, I mean, everyone I I know said Jordan Henderson's in the squad. That's obviously for morale reasons. You know, he was a very, very uh good player, in my opinion, but that's for I think the morale of the group, and I think Tuchel's whole philosophy is is based on that. Uh I think one of the question marks about Tuchel is I think Southgate did such a good job for so long, and in some ways he could have just carried on and nobody would have complained. I don't think Tuchel quite knew what to change. I don't think it was um a real mess and he came in and put his stamp on it. It was in very safe hands. But I think he's come in and his approach has been uh my way or the highway kind of thing. He comes across as that kind of character, and I think leaving Foden, Palmer, Jared Bowen, all good, left-footed, talented, creative players at home, is basically saying more about what I think he might think of character above anything else. And also his relationship with Bellingham. I'm not even sure Bellingham will start. I think Morgan Rogers might start, and I think that is Tuchel's approach, which is if you cross me, um, I will not select you. I'm selecting you on attitude and and work ethic. And, you know, he's he's left there's some really questionable selections, in my opinion. There's Conter at Villa, I think is questionable. Uh Quanta at Leverkusen, I think Jed Spence from Spurs is questionable. Livermento at Newcastle, questionable. Kobe Minu, Man United, questionable. Ivan Tony, questionable. You know, I think I don't know, I'm not I'm not sure about this squad. I haven't I haven't been blown away by it. And I see quarterfinals and out for England, if I'm honest.

SPEAKER_01 33:36

Ralph? Yeah, yeah, I think again, uh Rob is making good points, but uh I think the only one that can answer the question at the end of the day is Thomas Tuchel and then how he does ultimately. So so uh I mean like he's he's a proven winner to use uh an expression you know that a lot of pundits uh like to bring up. So let's see if he can win on the bigger stage. I think it will be tough, especially when you look at the French and the Spanish, but um, but yeah, I think the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, won't it?

SPEAKER_09 34:12

Staying with England and staying with with uh Rob and Ralph, um, there's pressure on every every nation, every country, every team that that participates in the World Cup. And this pressure in varying degrees, certainly. England has a very, very unique pressure, and please correct me if I'm wrong, in the respect that they they we always talk about each and every cycle, it's coming home. It's coming home. We hear that we hear that quite often. Share with the audience, my audience out there who might not be familiar with this idea of it's coming home, and then the associated pressure, if indeed there is, of what that actually means.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

Either one of you, go ahead. Do you want to go round? You're you're in a 1966 World Cup round, so you knew what it was like.

SPEAKER_03 34:58

Do you want to go first?

SPEAKER_01 35:00

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I mean, look, going going even beyond 66, I mean, England uh football, association football was born in England, so so so I think that's kind of in the roots, and there's been kind of this history of the game, and and uh 1950, USA. Uh England, England had never bothered to turn up previously, and uh yeah, yeah, they get beaten by the USA, and perhaps the biggest shock ever in a World Cup game, or or certainly up there, but then 66 it it actually did come home and and and England went the whole way. They had a lot of advantages in the tournament, inasmuch as every game was at Wembley. Um but but it was a great day, it was a great day, and what is it now, like 60 years of hurt, they say. So um so they're still waiting for it to come home again, wouldn't you say, Rob?

SPEAKER_03 35:57

Funny because when you look at this sort of typical English person's relationship with a national team, there's all this stuff on one hand about it's coming home, and I cringe when I hear it, because I just think, what must other countries look at when they see us every time get a massive custard pie in the face? You know, I I kind of back off from from all that a little bit. Um, but at the same time, I don't think any England fans really actually believe that we're ever gonna win it. So at the same time as it's you know, it's all this coming home stuff, there's such a sort of, I think deep down a bit of pessimism. Maybe that's just being, you know, English. I don't know, maybe we're all pessimists. But um, but it just seems to me a little bit like there's this massive wave of euphoria, but underneath it at the same time, there's this feeling of we're gonna lose in the semi-finals on penalties, you know. So it's kind of um, yeah, it's a bit of a double-edged, it's a bit of a double-edged sword, really. Um, but yeah, it's always huge pressure. I I you know, again, they're they're third favourites for the tournament. Um, I'm not sure they are, but you know, on paper, I think you know they are third favourites. So as I said, I think they're going out in the quarterfinals, but that's just me being pessimistic, I guess.

SPEAKER_09 37:09

Well, gentlemen, you are you're both lucky. You're all lucky that you have representative teams uh participating in the World Cup. You could be me, Giovanni Piccini, with no Italian team participating for the third cycle. The third cycle. And what little hair I have left has been pulled out because it's been extraordinarily frustrating uh to not see Italy in a World Cup. It's like it's like how in England in the World Cup. John, Di Benedictus, my Italian, my Italian friend. My pain, you feel the pain, don't you?

SPEAKER_06 37:42

It's very painful, especially uh had Italy gone through, they'd be playing in Toronto. Uh we have a huge Italian, uh, you know, at least half a million Italians in the Toronto area, and we're all looking forward to it. In fact, they said that Italy won the World Cup in 2006, even in 82. Uh the biggest uh World Cup party after they won was here in Toronto, with a quarter of a million people closing down streets and having big parades. So we were really disappointed. So um, yeah, England at least they're there. And just uh going back to England there and the pressure, you know, here in Toronto, uh, we're this is the hockey capital of the world, they say, with the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. And uh same with us. We haven't won a cup since '67. So we know the frustration, the things that you mentioned, Rob, about uh you know, the expectation and the stress, and uh we feel it here in our city. So I I can concur.

SPEAKER_05 38:42

Hey hey John Yeah. Is there a statue of Roberto Beth anywhere in town?

SPEAKER_06 38:49

No statues, no. No statue, okay. No, I mean people know him, but uh you know, no, no statues, unfortunately. Unfortunately, they they kind of almost uh erased the past here. It's um some people have been in the game a long time or forgotten quite quickly.

SPEAKER_05 39:07

Well, they've done that in the United States, believe me.

SPEAKER_06 39:10

Oh, have they? Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 39:15

I think if you were to ask the average um MLS player uh if they even knew who Marcelo Balboa was, or forget about the NASL. That that's just the they I don't even think that they would think that's an app. Uh it's unfortunate that that that's been uh that that's been erased.

SPEAKER_06 39:34

Yeah, yeah, no, same here, all the history. It's it's and you know, our association really should uh Canada soccer that is, I think should do should do more to to you know live history. We know I knew a I know a few people here that are uh Hall of Fame, uh Ontario and Canada Hall of Fame, but they get no financial support to do anything. It's it's very uh depressing. But it is what it is. It's uh you know, soccer's way down on the totem pole here in Canada in terms of media coverage.

SPEAKER_09 40:07

And on that note, it's a perfect opportunity for us to take a brief break, uh sh sneak in a couple of commercials uh here in the GP Soccer Podcast. You'll listen to Giovanni Piccini's GP Soccer Podcast, our World Cup panel. Uh we'll break for commercial too and we'll re-engage on the other side. Don't you dare go anywhere. Youth soccer has changed. Expectations are higher, but systems haven't kept up. Coaches juggle endless tasks, players chase progress they can't measure, and clubs struggle to create consistency across teams. Zone 14 Coaching was built for this moment. A company built by coaches for coaches, Zone 14 coaching next generation journals of coaches and players help plan every practice, reflect on what worked, and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, Zone 14 coaching brings structure and purpose to your training. The founders of Zone 14 Coaching watched in awe as some of the game's best tacticians and mentors spent every precious moment with a simple pen and paper, meticulously sketching, writing, and planning in a journal. It was a powerful and humbling sight. The foundation of great coaching was a commitment to preparation and a passion for player development. This simple observation sparked a question What if we could give every coach, from the passionate parent of the recreational level to the club coaching director, access to the same level of structured, thoughtful planning? Zone 14 Coaching is the answer. Visit zone14coaching.com and use the promo code GP20 for 20% off. And if you want to outfit your entire organization or even just one team, contact Zone 14Coaching at zone14coaching.com for bulk pricing. Zone 14 Coaching for high-level soccer knowledge and structured planning is accessible and simple. Soccer is known around the world as both a sport and an art with players of all ages and abilities enjoying the game. Now, the art of the game is only realized after hours of mastering ball skills, learning to communicate with your teammates, and receiving support and instruction from the right coaches. With over 100 years of coaching experience, Director John Barada and the coaching staff at the Beautiful Games Soccer Academy are pleased to offer their expertise to players and their parents. Coach Barata is one of the most decorated and accomplished soccer coaches in the Northeast with a proven track record of development of talented players and coaches. The Beautiful Games Soccer Academy believes that success on the soccer field breeds success elsewhere in a young adult's life. Players who attend learn the importance of forming good habits, attempting new challenges without the fear of failure, and seeking out support and advice from others. The program fosters the creativity within each player and encourages them to experiment, improvise, and problem solve on the fly. At the Beautiful Game Soccer Academy, every day starts with a smile on our face and a ball at our feet. To learn more about the Beautiful Game Soccer Academy, visit www.beautifulgamesa.com.

SPEAKER_07 43:27

Hey, this is Alexi Lawless. Uh I am uh well, I'm a legend. I'm frickin' awesome. Are you kidding me? Well, anyway, you know where you are. You're listening to the GP Soccer Podcast with Giovanni Pacini. Que bello.

SPEAKER_09 43:42

And welcome back to the GP Soccer Podcast, World Cup uh discussion, World Cup panel with Renato Capabianco, Rob Ellis, Ralph Rigno, and John Di Benedictis. Um, gentlemen, kind of shifting gears a little bit here. Um, there was a lot of discussion, controversy, discussion, or if you will, regardless. The tournament expanding to 48 teams, correct me if I'm wrong, up from 30, 32, or whatever it was. In your collective opinions here, has that been a good thing in terms of increasing the number of teams participating? Has it watered down the tournament? Has it allowed other countries and an increased opportunity to participate? What are your thoughts on the on the expansion of the uh of the tournament? Um Ralph, I'll start with you. What are your what are your thoughts on that one?

SPEAKER_01 44:34

Um oh gosh. I think I think it's good that they provide the opportunities, but but at but but at the same time, one thing that I don't like about the World Cup now is they play one game at a time, and then it goes on for days and days and days, and it gets drawn out. And I mean going back to 66, uh, there would be a lot of games played at the same time. And okay, you you may not need to do that anymore, but but but I think that when they have the group stages, I personally I would prefer that um all four teams play at the same time like they do for the third game. And basically to cut down the timeline. And I don't know if anybody else in the panel feels the same, but but I just think it's too drawn out, and it in some sense there's just so many games it becomes tedious.

SPEAKER_09 45:27

Renata, what do you think?

SPEAKER_05 45:29

Well, I I I think it's great. I mean, if you think about it, it used to be only be sixteen teams. And you that would be unheard of now. Um I think at some point you have to draw the line. I don't know where that is, but remember they're about to they're about to expand again. Um and it does affect I think the overall feel of the the tournament. I mean, you look at now, most teams have at least five days. Some teams have six in between matches. And yes, that's great that they have extra rest um because it used to be just three and s and then it went to four, I think. But um I I I think at some point you have to start to asking yourself um does this does this become a blatant money grab? I don't know if if I mean it's it's been reported each federation gets fifteen million dollars to stage their World Cup experience. Now I'm sure some teams will use every penny of that and some teams may or may not. And it'll end up in the wrong place, as as has been in the case in the past. I don't know that expanding it again is is a good thing. I think expansion is good, but I think at some point you have to you have to say, hey, the World Cup is a un is a special place to be, and not everybody's gonna be there.

SPEAKER_09 47:03

I was listening to uh some pundits talking about this very this very uh this very topic, and there was some discussion, serious discussion about expanding it to 64 teams, you know, going forward. That that's an absolute uh that's absolutely on the table in terms of expanding the the tournament um you know e even further beyond the the current number of I think it's 48. Rob, what are your thoughts on this one?

SPEAKER_03 47:23

Um I you know I take on board what Ralph and Renato both said that you know there's there's an argument for both, but I was just sort of thinking of what Renato was saying, you know, about um you know development and is is the thing behind this, is this about developing um smaller nations, smaller footballing nations, that is, or money. Um and you know, a cynic would say it's the money, uh, someone more generous of spirit would say it's for you know for global development. But I just look at it, you know, two other sports that are very popular in England, which are we've got rugby and we've got cricket. Now, every year we have an annual tournament called the Six Nations now, which were the British powerhouses plus France. And then I don't know, maybe 15, 20 years ago, Italy were introduced. But because it's an annual tournament, Italy have really closed the gap now. And they, you know, they're competitive, highly competitive, and so that's been successful. Well, first they took some competing, and then the same with cricket, you know, we've had teams like Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and even going back further Sri Lanka, who were minnows, but because there's so much international competition, the gap gets smaller and smaller and smaller, and now they're competitive. I'm just not sure if you're playing an international tournament every four years and you are, say, Uzbekistan or Haiti, I think you're going to get beaten up, and then you're gonna get beaten up four years later because you're not getting enough competition regularly to suffer the beatings, go again, learn, compete, you know, in, out, in out. I just think it will dilute it. I think it's great that they're given opportunities, but I think the average fan will be turned off a lot of the games and think this is not a competitive match, and that could backfire on FIFA.

SPEAKER_09 49:17

You know, back in uh not the last Women's World Cup cycle, I think the one previous, we saw a United States, I believe it was Thailand. The match, the score was 13 to 1 or 13-0. 13. Um might we, and I'll digress for a second, might we see a score line like that? Is is there a team or a game that comes to your mind that, my goodness, this could be one of those debacles uh like the U.S. women's national team in that in that Thailand match where I think it was 13-1. Uh John, what what are your thoughts on on both those those thoughts?

SPEAKER_06 49:53

Do I not recall Germany beating Brazil uh seven something a few years back? Uh so of course it can happen, and it's probably more likely to happen, but uh I like the idea of making the tournament as long as possible. Uh just get my fill. I like uh spreading them out so I can watch more than one game because they're all played at the same time, and you can't. Um maybe we don't get enough here in uh in North America, soccer fans, and coverage, that this is just like the best. So I I I like more teams, I like a longer tournament, I like watching, you know, we'll be able to watch four games in one day without without any overlap uh because of the time zone. So uh love all that stuff. Uh, you guys out there in the UK don't understand uh that we just don't get the coverage here uh that you guys do there. I mean, if I'm gonna turn on my radio today, they're gonna talk about uh the basketball team that's playing, they're gonna talk about the hockey playoffs, our Toronto uh and Major League Baseball, they'll talk about uh football, even though it hasn't started American football. They'll even talk about college American football and uh and maybe even curling, who knows? Before they talk about soccer uh on our radio and our main broadcast. So it's it we love this attention to soccer. Um so for us maybe we're in a different boat. But uh this this is great. And and the you know, the world has come closer together. I mean, you know, I don't I don't think you're gonna see those blowouts on a regular basis, like maybe you may have before. But uh and like uh Rob was saying with Italy and and uh was it rugby? Same same thing, you know, in soccer, some some of these countries that that at one time would get clobbered, like Canada, you know, we're a hockey country, and here we are. Uh I think we'll get out of our group, I think we'll we'll compete. Um things are changing. So I'm I'm happy for this longer tournament.

SPEAKER_09 51:56

I think uh talking about you know the uh one team getting pounded on the men's side versus the women's side, then the men's game globally has developed at a much faster rate than on the women's side. Um when you look at the comparison, we see, and I'll use that U.S. score line with Thailand 13 to 1. The disparity between the top teams on the women's side and the bottom teams is is vast. It is absolutely vast. Therefore, you you might see score lines such as that one. Whereas on the men's side, um, we don't see that that uh vast a disparity between the top teams and the bottom teams. I look at, for example, Brazil will play, will play Haiti, you know, in their bracket. Now, you know, Haiti is one of the you know, maybe one of the lower level teams, but then they're not gonna get pounded 13-0 or 13-1 like that US, you know, Germany, uh, U.S. Thailand match. Um, but there's gonna be there's gonna be some disparity. And to Renato's point uh regarding money going going to the respective federations, yeah, I mean, you've always got to be concerned about corruption. And and FIFA, let's see here. FIFA has been known to be stick their toe into corruption every once in a while, or a respective federation, and I'm not naming names, I'm not naming countries, but there's been a federation or two that has stuck their toe in the corruption waters, and monies that are earmarked for the development of the game in their respective countries somehow don't find it their way there. They find it into the pockets of other people. And we just hope that that's not the case. If there is a positive serval lining to expanding the tournament, it is that, uh, and maybe a being pie in the sky and idealistic here. But if those monies truly go to developing the game in the smaller countries, and I'll use Haiti or I'll use the Ivory Coast as examples, good for them to get that infusion of cash, that infusion of money that can help build infrastructure, educate coaches, uh, apply more modern methods of player development, and the disparity between the tops and the bottom starts to close. Starts to close. Again, uh naive, maybe, pie in the sky, maybe, but uh, you know, we hope uh you know that's that's certainly certainly the case here. So let's let's uh shift gears again. Let's take a look at some of the players. Um share with me, gentlemen, who you who your your your top, let's go with the top scorer. We've got some prolific goal scorers uh in this tournament. Um I'll start. Um you you can't dismiss someone like like Killen Mbappe, um who's a goal scorer.

SPEAKER_05 54:24

Although it would be really nice to do so. What's that? Although it would be really nice to do so.

SPEAKER_09 54:30

This is true. Um but I'm gonna go with Harry Kane. I'm gonna go with Harry Kane as as the uh is the golden boot, the top scorer. That that'll be that'll be my pick. He has been, as you all know, on fire domestically. I mean, on fire. Like the goal is twice the size. Um so uh John, I'm gonna start with you. Who do you think you could be our our our our golden boot, our top scorer of of the of the tournament uh might be? Who's your favorite? And is there maybe even a dark horse out there that might uh rear his head uh as a goal scorer?

SPEAKER_06 55:02

Uh I don't know about dark horses, but you know, I look at uh Halland there from Norway. Um that guy seems to be able to put the ball in the net, doesn't he? Um and he's got uh a couple of I think Iraq and and Senegal, he can put some goals in there and get get the ball rolling. Um always for me, always Messi. Every time I watch Messi play, I've seen him play live now here in Toronto. He's he's just an amazing player, and I think he'll always be there. And then I guess all the regulars. I don't see any other that's gonna surprise too much.

SPEAKER_08 55:34

Rob, what do you think?

SPEAKER_03 55:37

Um, well, I mean, all of all of those names have been mentioned. There's no surprises there, you know, Kane, Haaland, they just make it look ridiculously easy. But I'm I'm gonna go just to uh buck the trend a little bit, I'm gonna go for a non-central player just because I think he's so brilliant to watch, and also looking at his group, I think he might fill his boots in a couple of games. I'm gonna go for Vinicius of Brazil. I know he's a winger, but I could see a hat trick against Haiti, I could see another one against Scotland, and I think he's gonna have six goals in before he leaves the group stages, and he's gonna finish on 25 goals for the tournament. No, not really, but I think I think he's gonna I love watching him. I know he yeah, controversy seems to follow him, but he's so talented, and uh, I think I think Brazil might be last four. I've just got a feeling he's gonna get a lot of goals, so that guarantees he'll score none. So there we go.

SPEAKER_05 56:34

It's funny the way you were talking about that. I thought you were gonna say um the right winger for France is it Olysse?

SPEAKER_02 56:41

Olysse, yeah, another great player.

SPEAKER_05 56:43

I thought you were gonna go there.

SPEAKER_02 56:44

Yeah, yeah, he's a brilliant player. Just I think he's as prolific as Vinicius. I think Vinetius is a bit better better finisher.

SPEAKER_05 56:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 56:53

Ronaldo, who's your golden boot golden boot uh award winner?

SPEAKER_05 56:57

Um, it's it's funny. I think I if you look at the names we brought up, right? Norway, right, they have Iraq and Senegal. So there's an opportunity for Holland to get two goals. Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan. You know, a couple of guys from Argentina could could, you know, uh Alvarez or Messi could get a lot of goals. Uh Martinez could get a lot of goals, and then you look at again England. He could he he's playing against Ghana and Panama. He could have four goals in you know before he even touches Croatia. So I think it's gonna be I think it's gonna be really interesting that the main players have an opportunity to uh to do some nice finishing.

SPEAKER_09 57:40

And that's a byproduct of our our previous uh discussion about expanding the tournament. Uh teams like that, you know, the other ones that uh you know folks like you know uh Mbappe or Harry Kane or uh any one of the players we just mentioned can can score a boatload of goals.

SPEAKER_08 57:54

Ralph, what do you think?

SPEAKER_07 57:57

Um I I don't have a clear face player.

SPEAKER_01 58:04

Uh wish Liverpool would sign him actually, but um I think uh putting putting that to one side, I think the matchup that we you know that we're gonna have here in Boston between Norway um uh Norway versus France is obviously being billed as Mbappe versus Erling Haaland. I think that that's gonna be an intriguing game. So uh I think we'll all be keeping a close eye on that one.

SPEAKER_09 58:32

So let's uh we'll shift gears again. Uh the best player, the Golden Ball Award. Um John, who do you think? Who's gonna be the best player winner of the Golden Ball Award in this this upcoming World Cup?

SPEAKER_06 58:44

I'm just gonna go with Messi.

SPEAKER_09 58:48

That's always a good call. You can't you can't listen, if you're a betting person, you really can't go wrong with Leno Messi in in any of these categories. Uh Rob, who have you got the goal, the best player in the tournament?

SPEAKER_02 58:59

I'm gonna go for Desiree Duet France.

SPEAKER_07 59:04

There's a good call. There's a good call.

SPEAKER_05 59:06

Ronaldo, who have you got? Uh it wouldn't surprise me if uh Yamin Lamal. I think he has an opportunity to to maybe, you know, obviously we're talking about players that need to make it to the at least semis, if not the final. But I think Messi's a great choice. Uh Durey's a great choice. Uh I I think on Spain's side, I think Yamin Yamal could do something. I think if England goes far, could King be that player? I think I think there's I think all those names are valid.

SPEAKER_08 59:47

Ralph, what have you got?

SPEAKER_01 59:49

I think the obvious one would be Lemin Yamal, but if one of the Dark Horse nations does well, I think Germany, Musial, I think he would be in with a shout. And and uh Portugal, uh Leao, Rafael Leao of AC Milan, he's a very talented player.

SPEAKER_09 1:00:09

Yeah, I've got Lemin uh Lemin Yamal as the best young player. They do give out an award for the best young player, and I think he's hands down as as an 18-year-old, um, what he's been able to do with, you know, arguably for what we saw a 17-year-old Pele did back in 1958. Uh, I I can see him as the as the uh running for the best player and certainly as the best young player. So let's wind down here, folks. We're gonna put our money where our mouth is, gentlemen, and um your predictions as to who is going to win the 2026 World Cup. Um Rob, we'll start with you. Who's your uh winner for the with the World Cup coming up?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:48

Uh I think Argentina are going to win it. Um I I just go with teams that find ways in tournaments, and I put Germany, Portugal, Argentina, and Brazil as just teams who, once they get into a tournament, know how to win. Um and Argentina, don't blow me away. I think they've got some very good players, as always, but I think Argentina are going to win it.

SPEAKER_09 1:01:15

Interesting. I see them as maybe the third the third place team. Um but then again, you make great points, and there's Leela Messi, even though he's what, 36 years old, he's still Leonel Messi and still does still does phenomenal things. So you can't you can't discount Argentina. Renato! Who's your who's your your prediction to win the World Cup?

SPEAKER_05 1:01:33

I'd love to see Spain win it. Um France is just so stacked. I mean, you could literally take away Mbappé from that team, and they would still be favored to win it because they have so much talent. Uh I think what Rob says is true about Argentina. Argentina comes into a tournament, you know, and they automatically turn it into a night fight and see who wants to get down and dirty. They're very good at that, and they got messy. Um so I I see it between Spain, who I'd like to see win it. I think Spain, France, Argentina, um are are are I think the ones that are probably gonna lift the trophy, and and selfishly I'd like to see even though my parents are Argentinian, I'd like to see Spain win it.

SPEAKER_09 1:02:22

And uh Johnny Benedictus, um, might you predict uh Canada or might you predict somebody else? Who who's your call?

SPEAKER_06 1:02:30

My my son was in Vegas not long ago, and I said, uh, can you put $10 on Canada?

SPEAKER_09 1:02:37

What's the payout if they pull it off?

SPEAKER_06 1:02:39

And he did $1,500, so that's not bad. 10 bucks?

SPEAKER_09 1:02:44

I'll give him I'll give him 20 bucks for that one.

SPEAKER_06 1:02:46

Yeah, I should have actually. It's not a bad odds. But anyhow, uh no, Argentina for me, and uh I think the surprise, like Morocco was surprised last time. I think I'm gonna give the surprise one to Norway that Helen can put some balls in the net. And then, of course, all the others that you guys have already mentioned, but for me, Argentina is the is the winner. Norway's the surprise to make it to the quarters, or uh sorry, maybe the final four.

SPEAKER_09 1:03:11

And Ralph, we saved the best for last. Who's your call for the uh winner of the 2026 World Cup?

SPEAKER_01 1:03:17

Well, France has the best squad. Uh Spain, you could say, plays some of the best football. Um, Dark Horses, Portugal, Germany. But I think uh the Ancelotti factor, uh, if he can get his midfield sorted out, uh I think it's about time for really to Brazil to make a comeback. So um I think I might put my money on the Brazilians this time.

SPEAKER_09 1:03:41

Well, that's the only connection Italian will make in this World Cup. So I in with that argument, Ralph, I would say yes. Yes. Uh Ancelotti has a has a way of whirling his magic. And uh, yeah, as an Italian, that would that would be that would be terrific. So there you have it, folks. Uh our GP Soccer podcast, uh World Cup panel discussion. We have a wonderful panel with uh Renato Capabianco, Rob Ellis, Ralph Rigno, John De Benedictus. Gentlemen, thank you so much for taking time out of your collectively uh busy days um and uh contributing to our discussion. We're gonna break for a commercial message and then we'll get some commentary on the other side. This is Giovanni Pacini. This is the GP Soccer Podcast. Don't you dare go anywhere. In the soccer coaches toolkit, those who teach the game will find a wealth of coaching activities to improve, stimulate, and provide enjoyment for players of all ages and abilities. UEFA B license coach and Chelsea FC Player Development Center head coach Rob Ellis has drawn on more than 20 years of soccer coaching and physical education teaching experience to provide only those activities he has successfully used time and time again to engage and inspire his players. Each activity is greater from beginner to advanced, and they foster fresh and exciting ideas to coach the main techniques and tactics of soccer. The 252 coaching activities included in the soccer coaches toolkit are also accompanied by an easy-to-understand description and diagram. The activities require only basic coaching equipment and can be adapted to challenge players of varying ability levels and needs. Soccer coaches at all levels of the game can use the activities to create one-off sessions for their players or use the activities to deliver regular sessions as part of a competitive training program. It is an ideal resource for both grassroots and elite youth coaches and will enhance both the players and teams' development. The book is on sale worldwide and has scored a massive hit with professional coaches and players alike. Former Tottenham Hotspur youth coach John Rowan described the Soccer Coaches Toolkit as an astounding book. I consider it the Bible of soccer coaching. Head of football and methodology at Monaco said of the Soccer Coaches Toolkit, it is a very useful book for coaches to widen their session database and provide variety in their coaching. Head of soccer development at Christ College Secondary School in London, Daniel Nielsen called the Soccer Coaches Toolkit a truly comprehensive library of drills and sessions for the whole spectrum of soccer techniques and tactics. In addition, the book has already been purchased and endorsed by former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sunderland defender Jody Craddock, as well as ex-Lester City striker Trevor Benjamin and Sutton United defender Joe Kizzy. The Soccer Coach's Toolkit is the ticket to a life of soccer coaching ideas, a must-book to include in your soccer coaching library.

SPEAKER_08 1:06:33

This is JP Della Camera from Fox Sports, and you're listening to the GP Soccer Podcast with host Giovanni Piccini.

SPEAKER_09 1:06:42

And once again, a great thanks to uh Renato Capabianco, Rob Ellis, Ralph Arigno, and John De Benedictus for contributing to uh the GP Soccer Podcast World Cup panel discussion. That's our show for today. If you like what you hear, well please tell everyone. And remember, those likes matter. You can follow the GP Soccer Podcast, all of the social media, and new episodes are available every Wednesday morning. What a great way to start your Wednesday morning. Don't forget, don't forget, don't forget, to check out my website at GPSoccerpodcast.com. And if you're interested in advertising on this show, then email me at GP4Soccer, and that's the number four at Yahoo.com. This is your host, Giovanni Pacini, and I will catch you later.