Trevor Noah Breaks Down the World Cup Chaos ⚽🌍

This episode is proudly sponsored by. Mazda, Consumer Reports safest new car. brand. Mazda stands for more of what. matters most to you. Visit mazdaausa.com. to learn more. This is what now with Trevor Noah. Welcome to the World Cup, Joe. >> Wow. The business end. Win or go home. >> The heartbreak end. That's what you. should call it. Although to be fair, I. say this because South Africa just got.

knocked out. If we're fair, how many. nations already home? Cuz what are we group stage of? 32. So. >> 16 countries are already home. South. Africa is 17th cuz it was 48 countries. We're down to 32. >> Yeah, it man, it's there's something. about. actually, you know, we were talking. about this during the game. Of all the ways to get knocked out, I don't think this is the worst way. South Africa experienced it, but it's. it's one of my least favorites. I hate I.

hate losing a game as a sucker punch and. I hate losing a game in the last. minutes. >> Mhm. >> But I think it could have been worse if. we like got thrashed in a game. You know. what I mean? >> It could have been out of the game by. the 30th minute. >> Yeah. Yeah. Those are the worst. >> You know, they they got two nil up and. now all of a sudden you've lost. But the. thing is the thing about the World Cup. is or the thing about any knockout. competition is there's no right way. There's no good way to be knocked out. Knocked out in penalties. It's very. cool. You're knocked out in anything.

It's very the only way the only good way. to leave a knockout game is by. progressing. That's the only good way. Anything else is a sickener. It's a. heartbreaker. >> But man, that's the beauty. That's uh. why we love the game. >> We're talking about we're talking about. Barcelona. We've seen Bersona come from. five goals down. >> Yeah. >> To knock PSG out. And then we've seen. Basa lose a threegoal lead against. Liverpool. >> and they didn't sleep that night. It was. like I kept going like no, it didn't. happen. It didn't happen. It didn't.

happen. Corner taken quickly. >> That's what I think quickly. >> Yeah. That's what that's what we love. about football is um. >> football is the OG toxic relationship if. we think about it. >> Like if you love football, you're in a. toxic relationship. You're in a. relationship where the highs are very. high and the lows. >> the lows will crush you. >> Yes. But the thing is that's a proper. analogy and then it just keeps. >> you know when you go like just what was. it? Yeah. The Sopranos or Godfather just. when I thought I was out. >> they pull me back in. It always does.

that cuz Yeah. You always go hoping. >> this is our time. This is our time and. >> Yes. And then the thing is the highs can. never be matched. I actually compare it. to a reality TV show that's not. scripted. >> It does have all the same elements all. the exact same dramatic dramatic. tension. >> It just the good the the thing that. makes it way better than Love Island or. Love Island or maybe Real Housewives is. it's not scripted. We don't know what's going to happen. And then.

>> although although although although. this tournament. >> has a lot of people feeling like it's. scripted, >> a lot of Ronaldo fights. >> I mean, I'm sure Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Let's not run away from it. >> Let's let's let's let's deal with the. elephant in the room so you and I can. continue on our friendship. >> Okay. Okay. There are many people who feel like. Argentina and Lionel Messi. >> are the darlings of FIFA. >> and Infantino does everything in his. power to make sure that they have both. an easy path in the fin in the in the.

tournament and an easy path in games. >> So let's start with the games argument. first, >> right? People are people a lot of people. are complaining that. um Argentina has an easy journey to the. final. >> which shows the bias that FIFA has. >> Mhm. I disagree. I disagree because I. >> You disagree cuz you love me. >> No, no, I disagree because of facts. So. Argentina [laughter]. >> So when you look at the facts, Argentina. actually was supposed to play either. Spain or Uruguay in the next round.

Yeah. >> But then Uruguay bottled it and kept Vad. came second. >> Oh yeah, that's true. wasn't supposed to. play Cape Vad. That's true. So, the way. FIFA. >> makes these draws is the top teams, the. blockbuster box office games should. always be in the latter rounds, right? >> But then what happens is the big teams. because soccer is not scripted, the big. teams normally mess up. So, England. fails to beat. >> Ghana. >> Ghana. >> Yeah. >> Spain fails to beat Cape. The. Netherlands fails gets knocked out.

Japan, Uruguay gets knocked out. And. that's how you mess up. A on the other. hand, they take care of business. They. go. So if Agenda had failed to beat. Jordan, maybe now they would have ended. up on the other side. So the teams that. take care of business always get. rewarded with an easier path. So FIFA. goes like we're going to put the big. teams to ensure cuz doesn't FIFA doesn't. want France to meet Argentina in the. round of 32. That's not they want France. Argentina in the final, >> but football is not scripted. >> One of the two teams messes up, ends up. on the other side of the bracket. Now. you have one side of the bracket very.

stacked because England didn't do their. job. Um, Netherlands didn't do their. job. Portugal didn't do Portugal. >> Spain didn't do their job. >> Spain didn't do their Yeah. Well, that's. true. >> If Portugal beats. >> Colombia or No, not even Colombia. Congo. cuz Colombia was a bit of a tight game. If they beat Congo, the way they beat us. back. [laughter]. >> Now, Portugal is on the easiest part of. the draw. So, that's the way it works. So now when when you talk about Messi. for me. I'm going to sound by saying this but.

actually if anything. >> as opposed to how you always. >> yes FIFA favors Ronaldo. it sounds crazy but FIFA so let's talk. about the red card right the red card. was contentious was it was it not but. coming to the World Cup there was one. player who had a red card Ronaldo got a. red card in one of their last qualifiers. >> oh yeah an Ireland player. >> oh yeah you're right. >> he was supposed to have an automatic. three match ban but what did FIFA do. what Infantino do Inferno went like we. can't miss Ronaldo for the World Cup. I. forgot about that. >> So we gave him one match. >> and then he suspended the other two.

That's the first time. >> You're right. Actually, we've never had. a suspended sentence in football. It's. never happened before. Cristiano Ronaldo. is the first recipient of a suspended. suspended sentence on a red card. The. one game he missed against what team? Armenia. >> and so he came to cuz I went like we. can't lose Ronaldo for the first time. >> You're not wrong actually. Oh, that's a. good argument. >> Imagine if he had received that. preferential treatment. I'll go back to. another I'll take you years back 2013. the Bondo cuz sometimes people go like. oh Messi is favored for the Bondo. >> the Bondo voting was supposed to be.

closed November 15th. >> Ronaldo scores a hat-tick against Sweden. November 19th FIFA extends the Bondo for. the first and last time to November 29th. and goes like you can change your. results to reflect recent performances. this there's there's been a pattern upon. pattern of FIFA favoring Ronaldo but. Ronaldo funds always go like no FIFA. favors Messi. So for me, Agenda takes. care of business. If other teams took. care of business, a big team like maybe.

Portugal or England [clears throat] are. supposed to get nine points out of nine. >> Spain is supposed to get nine out of. nine. >> If we're honest, that's how the. tournament is designed. That's how. >> the tournament the tournaments are. generally designed in such a way that. the favorites are supposed to go up. against the smaller teams, which. benefits smaller teams, strangely. enough, in some ways. >> You know, it's like a moment to prove. yourselves. It's great for box office. ratings etc for you but the downside is. you're facing a bigger team but when the. teams don't perform. >> when does what did against Spain. >> man.

>> Cape Verde has won the World Cup because. because let me let me show you the. scenarios here. Cape Verde has won the. World Cup. They held Spain to a goalless. draw. One of the favorites to win the. >> and we thought that was the result. We. went like oh they're done. They have. done their bit. Keep you can go home. happy. They went like nope we're not. >> No. They went through in their next. game, did the same thing. Third game, they have they have a goal difference of. zero going through, which is pretty. impressive for World Cup opening rounds, and then and then now they're going to. play Argentina in in the round of 32,

>> which is a win-win for them. >> That's what I'm saying. It's a win. because if Argentina beats them, >> the players and the country walk away. going, "Well, >> the only team that could beat us, >> it took Messi. >> It took Messi to end our run. >> You've won.". if they miraculously. score a goal or two against Argentina. >> Did you see how Jordan celebrated when. they scored against? >> It didn't matter that they had lost. They had won. >> And last but not least, if by all the.

miracles that exist in the world of. football, >> they knock out. >> Cape Verde. >> knocks out Argentina. There is no. fathomable emotion that can fully. describe. >> describe. Yes. What? [laughter] That's more team and. that island and football fans around the. world will be experiencing. >> No, but I'll tell you one thing. I think. there's one big They've won already. >> No, I think there's one bigger winner. than Kevad and that's me. >> Cuz I was the only person outside of Kev. Vad. >> You did say. >> to actually back Kev Vad. I did say they.

would make the quarterfinals. Now, I. didn't know that they would run into. Argentina, >> but if they had What was it? What was it. about them that you were seeing? >> No, cuz I watched them in the Nations. Cup. I watched it, funny enough, I. watched them in the Nation's Cup. They a. strong, resilient, very well drilled. side. Do you know who knocked them out. of the Nation's Cup? They were killing. everyone. Guess who knocked them out? Ronwin Williams. He saved three. penalties. He had to save three. penalties. And so from then I started. following them. They qualified top of. their group in Africa. And I went like. this team, the way they organized, the.

way they well drilled, the way they work. together, they don't have a star player. per se. I went like this team is going. to go far. And I said ke, I tip them for. the quarterfinals. Now I didn't know. that they would run into unfortunately. Lionel Messi and it you'd be a mad man. to bet against Lionel Messi but for me. ke makes it I'm happy you know you'd be. a mad man. I mean like yo Messi man I'm. sure you've seen there's a huge beef on. the internet right now between Messi. fans and Ronaldo fans. >> There's always been a Yeah. >> Yeah. But this right now like this is.

fever pitch. >> This is a blood feud. It's like you know. you know when you talk about those mafia. style. >> Yeah. This is full on fever pitch. You. know what I'm saying? If you if you look. at the the argument, the argument is. basically from Ronaldo fans say Portugal. doesn't play for him. They don't support. him. They argue that Messi gets. favorable calls. They argue that. Argentina has a dirtier team. The Messi. fans argue that Ronaldo doesn't show up. when it counts. He doesn't perform. He. >> hasn't earned the right. >> Yeah. He can't carry his team and he. hasn't earned the right to be in the. same conversation as Messi. Now, if. you're a neutral like myself, I'm.

neither Messi nor Ronaldo fan. Yes. >> I love them both as Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I've loved them both my entire life. watching football. >> But when I watch it, there's one one. part where the argument tips in my. opinion towards the Messi fans. >> Messi fans or Ronaldo fans will say, "Why is it that when Messi scores goals. against Jordan and these other teams, people say, "Oh, you see Messi handling. business, but when Ronaldo scores. against us, they say Ronaldo stat. padding." M.

>> I agree with that except for one one. part and it's the fact that Ronaldo. doesn't do it consistently. >> You know what I mean? >> Mhm. >> Ronaldo doesn't score like score in a. game where the score is 1-1. >> where it's 2-2 where it's you know what. I mean? It's like he doesn't he just. doesn't do it. Messi's doing it to come. off the bench score a free kick. Yes. Against a terrible goalie in my opinion. Terrible goalie. >> But man he still does it. He punishes. the people where it counts. For me, Ronaldo should have got a hat-tick.

against Usbakistan. Does that make. sense? >> Not only that, yesterday he had two free. kicks and I think you saw what happened. >> Oh my goodness, those were terrible. >> They were horrible. They were horrible. >> I almost wonder if if Messi came off the. bench just because he wanted to show. Ronaldo how to kick a free kick. >> Okay. Why? >> Cuz Ronaldo cuz Messi wasn't supposed to. play that game. >> No, he wasn't. And for me, that's the. most frustrating thing about being a. Messi fan. Messi doesn't care about. personal stats. He doesn't care about. individual records. >> You think that's true? really doesn't. base that. >> I'll tell you. So, I've watched Messi.

>> give away penalties when he's on a. hattick. >> I've watched Messi score two goals and. just start giving assists. Messi does. that so often, we call him braceman. Every Messi fan calls him Braceman. >> Braceman. He's not interested in hat. tricks. He just scores. It's like a. well-known nickname. And the thing is, so yesterday if Ronaldo played played 90. minutes cuz Ronaldo is obsessed with the. 1,000 goal. He wants to score 1,000. goals. >> How many does he have right now? he has. like 950 960 so he's 40 goals away. Messi yesterday against Jordan, the.

weakest team in the group. If he wanted. to start bad or if he cared about. extending his record, he could have. played the whole game. He didn't. He. wasn't interested. Messi doesn't care. [clears throat] So now I'll say this. First of all, >> Ronaldo fans, viewer viewer discretion, please warning. Just look away. Look. away now. >> Sensitive Ronaldo fans, look away. >> It's going to be brutal. It's going to. be brutal because I'm going to What do. the kids say? I'm going to brutally mog. your fake goat with stats and truth. nukes. So here's what happens. I think.

personally Ronaldo fans are Ronaldo. fans. They're not football fans. >> Messi fans are football fans first. >> Wait, Ronaldo fans. >> are Ronaldo fans. >> Ronaldo fans first and football. >> Football fans second. Messi fans are. football fans first and Messi fans. second. >> Yes. And I will explain why. So when. Ronaldo scored against us, what did I. say? I said this is the worst result. that could have happened to Portugal. You said it as well. >> Can I just say, by the way, >> anyone who has watched this podcast,

listen to this podcast, watch clips of. it. >> I don't know about you, my mentions were. a mess. >> I'm not on social media. So, >> people were like, >> I can just say anything and run away. >> Yeah. People were like, oh, you idiot. You don't know anything. Ronaldo's going. to show you Ronald. And I was like, no, you don't hear what I'm saying. I'm. saying Ronaldo is going to hurt. Portugal. >> Mhm. because he cannot keep up with the. game anymore. >> But that's because he's not a good. >> but for me that's a bit further down the. road. The reason I said it was the worst.

result and I didn't I didn't get a. chance to explain. >> It's because Ronaldo came into the game. against us having not scored in 10. consecutive games in major finals. That's the World Cup and the Euros. He. had gone 10 consecutive games without. scoring. >> So when he scores the two goals against. >> Messi is on seven right now. >> Yeah. Messi scores in every major final. So when Ronaldo scores the two goals. now, you can't drop him anymore cuz his. fans will go like but he has silenced. his critics. Ronaldo yells into the.

camera, I'm back. I'm back. But he was. never present. >> And the reason I say that is because. every every major final Ronald has. played, he has played six World Cup. finals. He has played six European. championships. Yeah, >> Ronaldo scored zero goals in the. knockout rounds in the World Cup. I have. as many goals in the knockout rounds of. a World Cup as Ronaldo. Despite the fact. that Ronald has played six more World. Cups. >> Oh man, what a controversial statement.

>> In the Euros, Ronaldo's played six. euros. He has scored three knockout. goals. That's a reason. Ronaldo's played. 25 World Cup matches. Do you know how. many matches he has gone scores? >> [clears throat]. >> 18. This is. >> Wait, wait. I mean, but then if we're. looking at those numbers, that means. that Ronaldo's actually overperforming. in this World Cup already. >> He has. He has. He has cuz Ronaldo's go. average like 1 point something.3. The. two goals against against us, he's. already overperformed. >> So, he's getting better as a no. So, he.

has reached the peak. He [laughter]. can't score anymore. And remember, as. I'm saying, he has never scored a. knockout goal in the world. That's. funny. >> We are now in the knockout rounds. Is he. going to start scoring now? No. So then. Ronaldo fans will say, "But Joe,". another thing I said that seemed. controversial was I said, "Ronaldo, Portugal should have moved on from. Ronaldo in 2016.". >> And they called me a mad man. Why? Because they said, "Oh, but he helped he. scored." Okay, so two things they said. One, but he helped them win the nations. league. No one cares about the National. League. He's a glorified friend. No one.

cares. Then some people say, "Oh, but he. helped them win the Euros.". >> I'll say, "No, he didn't." Aa. >> Yeah. >> won the Euros. >> by scoring a goal. Ronaldo was limping. helplessly on the sideline when he. scored again. Ronaldo was off off the. pitch for 65 minutes. Then some people. say, "Oh no, but Ronaldo carried. Portugal to the final." And I'll say, "No, he didn't. He scored in two games. >> in that rose. Griezmann. >> scored double the number of goals. Ronaldo scored in that particular. championship. I'll give it to you. I'll. give No, remember I'm I'm I'm impartial.

here. I'll give it to you. I'll give you. this." No, no, no. Before Before you go. too far, >> before you interrupt because people will. think I'm crazy. I'll give you this. The. reason I say Portugal should have moved. on from Ronaldo, I mean from building. the team around him, is because ever. since 2016, he's never scored a knockout. goal in any major final. One, two, Ronaldo has had two notable performances. for me for Portugal. And I watch every. Portugal game. The first one was against. Sweden when he scored a hat-tick to lead. Portugal into the 2014 World Cup. But. remember, why did he need to score a. hattick? Because Portugal had gone.

through the playoffs. They had to sneak. through the back door of the playoffs. They win a group with hunger and I think. Slovenia and still for that group. >> As I said, I've given it to you, Joe. >> The only other hattick he scored. Joe, >> listen. The only other hat trick he. scored, >> you know, you're fighting against nobody. right now, Joe. >> No, no, but I No, cuz I want to spit it. because Ronaldo fans will go like, "You're crazy." So, >> so you're trying to drop the stats, but. now Joe, Ronaldo fans don't care about. the stats. >> They don't care. And in fact, they. literally don't care. Yes. >> Yeah. I I would argue that most people. who are a fan of of a of a player don't. care about the stats. What they care. about is how the player makes them feel.

and the stats that matter to them. >> Yes. If if he shows up in big games, Ronald would feel his fan would make his. fans feel a lot better. But for me, as. we me fans normally say, Ronaldo belongs. not in the god debate, but on a milk. carton missing, cuz he's always missing. >> Oh my goodness. Every You know who does. show up? I see you. Let me let me let me. deflate your balloon a little bit. You. know who does show up? >> Okay. >> A man by the name of Harry Kane. >> That's who does show up, Joe? >> Yes, he has. >> Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Joe, you've you've said your piece. You've said your peace. You've said your. piece. You can relax into that chair.

You can enjoy yourself. defend this ridiculous choice. >> Joe, we we had a conversation. Yes. When. we recorded the first episode of this. podcast and we talked about strikers and. who the best strikers in the world are. >> and I said Harry Kane and you said no. and I asked you to name a striker better. than him. >> right now. >> And you and you froze. >> Yes. The right now. >> You couldn't answer. >> Okay. >> Right now was the key thing. >> In the game against Panama, England, we'll talk about their performance. >> second.

weren't doing so well. >> Two players stood out. Jude Bellingham. >> Yes. >> And my man Harry Kane. >> Yes. >> Are you willing to concede. >> as as I did? I led by example. I've. conceded to you on the Argentina easy. >> It's very easy to concede when Messi is. on the other side of the debate. But. okay. >> Are you willing? Are you willing or or. how close are you to conceding that. Harry Kane gets the job done? >> I'll say this. Harry Kane good striker. He has scored two man.

>> No, he scored. Listen, I like looking at. the players where. >> Oh my goodness. The man they show up. Do. they show up in big moments? Hurricane has scored two knockout goals. in the World Cup. >> Joe, where wait? Okay, let's do this. Let's do one of them. Here's what I. don't like about this. Here's what I. don't like about this. I think your. analysis of the game hinges on a very. particular element of the game that that. can swing depending on how a match is. played. So, I'll give you an example. Let's look at case in point matches this. week, right? Look at the France game. where Dembelea gets a hat-tick.

>> Okay. >> Okay. >> It's a It's a group game. It doesn't. count in. >> No, no, no. But wait, but wait. People. can say Mbappe didn't show up that game. I argue because Mbappe was double teamed. that whole game because Mbappe was being. fouled. Because Mbappe was being. challenged the way he was. >> Mbappe. >> had less chance of getting a clear. opportunity on goal. And because of. that, Dembele was able to put away. three. And kudos to him cuz they were. not easy goals and they were not easy. finishes. I'm not saying that, but. [clears throat] I'm saying sometimes a. player's sacrifice is such that they're.

going to have to give up their goals so. that the team can win. And that's what I. judge you by as a striker. Like Luis. Suarez was one of the best at taking. players away from the game and letting. his team score goals. You get what I'm. saying? Um, your Barcelona boys used to. do it all the time as well. So, you know. that I'm not crazy saying this. David. Via, Sergio Aguero at Manchester City, you name it. >> Robert Leandowski. Yes. >> Robert Lewandowski. Show me a great. striker, I'll show you a player who. knows that their gravity on the pitch is. as powerful as their impact. And so. sometimes their power move in the game.

is going to be to move the center backs. out of position so that a wing back can. slice in or so that an attacking. midfielder like a number 10 or somebody. can can um can overlap. Right? >> Harry Kane for me, the reason I say this. is because Harry Kane is the do. everything player when it needs to be. done. >> Okay. >> Right. Mhm. >> In games where it's scruffy, >> he can get it done. In games where. you're coasting, he can get it done. In. games where someone needs to come back. all the way to the midfield or beyond. and get the ball, play it forward, Harry.

Kane can get it done. >> And and you can put it on feet, you can. put it on his head, you can make it like. this Panama game, let's be honest, it. was an ugly game. >> It was a tough game. Yes. >> And it wasn't just tough. It was ugly. >> Ugly. Yes. >> Like Colombia, Portugal wasn't an ugly. game, but it was tough. >> You know, Colombia, in my opinion, should have got the win. >> Okay. you know, but if we look at the. England game itself, I think Harry Kane. and Jude by the way, Jude, who half of. the English press were slating before. the tournament. >> has now stepped up in more than one game.

in my opinion to show that like. >> he is that guy in the England team. especially. Jude Bellingham. >> pop up with goals. Yes, scored so far. >> You know why? And maybe this will get us. into another conversation. >> Jude Bellingham. >> is not afraid to progress the play. He's. not afraid to take a man on. He's not. afraid to dribble a person. He's not. afraid. And I I. >> problem is problem is he lacks the tools. to do it. >> He look wait. He lacks the finesse. >> of like he doesn't have the most deaf. touch. >> but man the boy makes up for it with his.

decision making. >> with his lungs like any English uh he's. a passion merchant I think and he's a. lungs merchant. I'll say this. So. >> did you say he's a lungs passion. merchant? >> Yes. That kind of. >> Can you say it like a bad thing? >> It's a bad thing. Okay. So I'll say. this. I'll say this. Did he use his. Wait, wait, wait. Did he Did he use his. lungs to cross the ball or did he use. his passion to cross the ball? >> Let me let me let me No, no, I want It's. amazing how I want to answer. When you. are you make the most outlandish. statements and I want No, my friend. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, no. Answer my question. When Jude. Bellingham gets that ball and crosses it. to Harry Kane, did he cross it using his. lungs or using his passion? >> He used his lungs to get there. >> He used which foot did he use to cross. that ball? What I'm saying is if you're. did he use to cross that Jude. Bellingham, you shouldn't. struggle to create chances against. Panama. You shouldn't. If you're a great. player's playing five at the back, >> it doesn't matter. No Messi Messi. Oh, here we go. Vitinia. These are. >> You want to bring that up? Okay. Actually, this is a perfect time. Let's. talk about your boys Pedri and Vitinia.

Wait, let me ask question. But let me I. want No, I want fast answer your. question. No, I want fast first fast. first fast answer. You dodging. Let me. ask you a question about No, let me ask. you a question about Ken K. Let me ask a. question. >> Now we're going to Kane because we. brought up then we'll go to Ped. You ask. me about K. Ask me about Kane. So for. me, Ken, >> you're taking the ball and passing it. back to your goalkeeper. >> Ken has the same problem. Kane has the. same problem as Ronaldo. >> And I I'll tell you why. when you when. you've scored two goals in the knockout. trans a good player a great player is.

only is only is only. determined by how they stand up when the. pressure is on when the lights are. brightest I consider. >> with no it wasn't that's not the. knockout TR that's Jojo the pressure. >> already qualified regardless. regardless but winning the group was. important. >> Trevor I'm saying knock out TR. >> did Ronaldo win the group. >> no he didn't. >> so wait let's let's play this game. Did. Ronaldo win his game? No, he didn't. >> Did Uruguay win their group? >> No, they didn't. >> Yeah. So, I'm saying there are players. where No. So, there are players and.

teams who didn't show up. >> Yes. >> Because winning the group is pressure. Joe, don't say it's not pressure. >> Winning the group is useless if you. don't show up in the knockout rounds. >> But we haven't got to the knockout. rounds yet. You can't judge a man by a. round he get to. >> No, no. I'm saying in the past and even. now, I'm looking at their past. performance. So, look, for me, the way I. consider hurricane Kane and Ronaldo, I. think of them as the Harden, James. Harden or Russell Westbrook of. international football. They'll put up. big numbers in the regular season. When. the playoffs come, they disappear. >> You know what you are, Joe? Can I tell. you what you are? You are a hate.

merchant. No, that's what you are, Trevor. They're good players. No, I. don't think you Westbrook and James. >> You are a merchant of hating. >> Listen, Russell Westbrook and James. Harding. You are a merchant. Future Hall. of Famers. And they they're future Hall. of Famer, but you can never put them in. the same conversation as Michael Jordan. >> I'm going to issue you a challenge. Okay. >> You're not allowed to say the words. Messi. Okay. >> You're not allowed to say the words. Harry Kane. >> Ah, no. We can't have a conversation. Ah, you see I'm talking about your. merchants here. You're a country. merchant. That's all you are. >> Let's have a conversation. >> about Vitinia.

>> Yes. >> What's going on with Vitinia? >> Vitina. >> Wait, wait, wait. I'm going to break. down why we're talking about this. Vitinia has been considered one of the. best midfielders in the game of football. over the past few years. Playing for. PSG, the man has won multiple Champions. League. He's won multiple La Ligas. He's. been viewed as one of the most potent. and dynamic players controlling a. midfield. Right. >> Coming into the World Cup, I would argue. that Portugal has been called one of the. favorites primarily because Vitinia is. running the midfield. Bruno Fernandez in. front of him. People have said this. midfield can shut everything down. They.

can create anything. Good luck to any. team that faces them. And yet. >> and yet. >> in the games where we've watched. Portugal play, >> it looks like Vitinho, >> and this is not like me guessing. If you. look at his passing map, >> most of his passes. >> are lateral passes from side to side, short passes that aren't really. creative. >> They don't move the game. >> Very few incisive passes, very few. chances created. Yes.

>> Very few opportunities, very few. And. what's what's the difference? >> And so my question to you is, >> okay, now remember my challenge. I'm. actually going to add one thing. You. cannot say Ronaldo. You cannot say. Messi. And you cannot say Harry Kane. ask me to diagnize the problem without. without actually mentioning the problem. >> So when you have a striker who is. static, when you have a striker who is. not mobile, however progressive a passer. you are, there's no one to play the ball. into, you need someone to play the ball. into. However progressive you are, >> Pedro is there. >> Pedroto is not in. So that's why it's.

sideways cuz it's going to the wing. But. it's not the same at PSG. He's playing. the ball into Vascaria. He's playing the. ball who's on the right sometimes. >> Yes. But who's making runs inside? He's. playing the ball into Dembele though. Dembele is very mobile. Now when you. consider, >> look, I'm a huge fan of Messi. Yes. >> But you're not allow. I'm a huge fan of the goat. But I'll. tell you one thing. I play Trevor, you. Trevor, you've seen us play on Tuesday. >> One of my arguments every time I'm.

playing on Tuesday is where are the. runners? I'm a midfielder. I'm a very. progressive pass of the ball. I hate. passing the ball back. But if there's no. one running, I have to pass the ball. back. have pass the ball sideways so. that I don't concede possession cuz if. you're a midfielder if you concede. possession then the counter is on. >> Okay, let's now let's go to another. player who you love and then let's. figure out what's happening with Pedri. >> Pedri has had a bit of a tough world cup. partly because he has had to switch. between two positions. So he started as. a more advanced uh pivot and then they.

took Fabian Ruiz out then they played. him and he played very well in the. second game. Remember they played so. well against Saudi Arabia. But that's. because Danny Almo played well against. Danny from Arabia. That's because Danny. Almo was a full sentence. Yes. >> Yes. But I'm explaining why because. >> man Mike Tyson did really well in that. fight at the kindergarten. He was really. really good. >> But I'll tell you why. So this so he. struggled in the next game because they. played Mik Marino. Mik Marino can't play. with him in the same way that plays with. him. >> Yes. But yo, this is my problem though. This is what I'm trying to say. How. great are these players? And I'm not.

saying they're not cuz again I love. Vitinia, I love Pedri, I love the way. they play. But the question many people. are asking is. >> are we over inflating the greatness of. players around the world because of the. teams they're surrounded by. Right? So. we can bring other players into this. conversation. Antoine. >> Semeno, >> he's not showing himself as the. [clears throat] Bournemouth guy or the. Man City guy. You watch most of the game. and Semeno's making random runs. He. doesn't seem to like keep the ball at. his feet. He doesn't seem to, you know. what I mean? There's multiple players. where even Valv at Uruguay.

>> and again some people say it's the coach. some but I'm saying. >> is that not the true measure of a great. player is the fact that they can perform. in spite of the national team that is. around them. Right. >> I totally agree with you cuz I feel like. you're coming along around fun enough to. my argument which is the players. So a. player like. >> you're saying the measure of greatness. So Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo,

they've been doing it for their club, then they. bring them in. No, what you're doing. here is slick. Let's talk about the. players we're talking about. >> Okay. >> Vitinia, >> Pedri. >> Yes. >> Let's just talk about this. >> Okay. I'll say this. I'll say this and. and you can quote me on this going. forward. Pedri is going to come good. because Pedri always comes good. He's. going to come good in tournament. The is. not going to because he has a problem. that can't be solved. >> Oh, interesting. So you think Pedri. Pedri is having a moment? >> Yes. >> Vitinia it's it's systematic. >> It's a problem rather. Yeah. It's a.

problem. If he had Gonaro Ramos in front. of him. >> and I know Gonzalo is not like the best. striker but Gonzalo Ramos has legs to at. least be mobile. There's a reason why. >> Okay. Can I disagree with you? Wait. Let. me tell you why. Let me tell you why. I. actually think this is what the issue. is. >> And maybe it actually leans. This is. where our ven diagrams might might. actually overlap. I think when I watch Argentina play with. Messi, >> a player who steps up both for club and. country, which is why. >> one of the things I think people miss is. this. Messi has an advantage in his.

position in the team because he is. neither the furthest forward player nor. is he the last man of defense. >> The reason I say this is if you are a. player who's at the back and you do not. perform 100%, your team is going to. concede a goal. Mhm. >> If you're a player who's at the front. and you don't perform, your team is. going to he's not going to score goals, right? Everyone goes where the goals. going to come from. >> I argue that Messi, and I do think this. was wise of him and the teams he's. played for. By moving into the position.

he's moved into, he's now made it that. the game is less about his legs and more. about his vision, his touch, and his. talent. He's adapted. And that's part of. what being a goat is in my opinion is. knowing how to adapt to knowing how to. adapt your body of age. Yeah. Yeah. Completely. Completely. I think when I. watch the Portugal team, one of the. biggest issues they face is. let's think of all the great 4-33 teams. and their formations, whether it's. Barcelona, whether it's PSG, whoever it. may be, even Liverpool in its heyday, me, Mosal, Firmino, Mane, etc.

>> One of the most crucial things you want. to do is make sure that your wingers. have the permission to cut in. ferociously. >> And what often happens is you'll find a. switch of play. So if your midfield has. the ball, let's say they have it on the. right, >> you find the most dangerous incisive. pass is the pass that's actually going. to favor like that Mbappe run that he. loves doing. >> It's a diagonal run that cuts across. players. And the reason I always think. that's so hard to defend against is.

because you don't know whose man it is. >> Mhm. >> Is it the man who was with him when he. started the run? >> Yes. Or the man who's switch over to the. next man. In in many ways, it's like a. basketball pick and roll, but it's but. it's a much faster version of a pick and. roll because you don't stand still. But. who who's supposed to defend it? Do do. you mark with the man? Do you mark with. And those things are so dangerous. Like. when MoSalah would do that, Bobby. Firmino would move to one side, man or. Salah would do it. >> You see it at PSG as well. You see it at. Bayern Munich as well.

>> Once a player pulls and the wingers can. cut in, all sorts of chaos breaks out. And my issue, no, this is where I say we. might be overlapping. >> I don't see Ronaldo pulling people. enough. And then I don't see the. Portugal wingers cutting in. The moments. where I have seen it is Rafael. >> Rafael, >> but only because of his pace has been. making that for himself. Gets the ball. on the wing, >> flies past the defender, cuts back down. into the box. >> But I argue he should be meeting the. ball there as opposed to having to run.

all the way there with it. >> Yeah. But the thing is where I disagree. with you and I see the convergence. you're talking about. Where I disagree. with you is you're making it seem like. this is a recent problem for me when it. comes to Ronaldo. >> No, no, no. Let's not talk about that. No, let's not. I'm only No, no, no. Listen. I don't want to go back to that. No, no, no. Listen, I don't want to go. back to that. The reason I'm saying it. is. >> I'm just saying for Vitinia specifically. and even um I'm saying for So, I'm. saying I'm saying Pedro Netto and those. guys. I don't know if this is a coach. saying don't go into Ronaldo's zone or. if it's Ronaldo saying don't go into. Ronaldo's zone. But my issue is that the.

game seems like it has a predictable. shape. >> and there's there's not enough throwing. defenders off of their positions and. dragging people out of positions in my. opinion, but I don't want to get stuck. on this forever. >> Mhm. [music]. >> Well, let's take a quick break to thank. our sponsor Mazda for today's episode. Safety has a new leader. You know what. I've realized? Most people don't. actually think about safety when.

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www.ihs.org. to learn more. Do it and do it now. I do want to talk about some of the some. [music] of the big news that's getting. everyone. Number one, yo, one of the. saddest stories from the World Cup is. what happened to South Korea's coach. >> Um, >> yeah, you had to see it. Team got. knocked out of the competition. Really. put in subpar performances. >> and the Korean coaching. >> was, I mean, a hero coming into this.

tournament, a legend. >> And I was watching clips from Korean. national television. >> where they're talking about the team. They've blurred his his whole body. >> like No grat but in a very literal way. >> They've blurred him like a you like the. way the news would blur a dead body. >> They [clears throat] don't they they. don't they say he mustn't come into. stores. They say like. >> okay so a couple of things. One. >> that seems like it's too come on. >> one. So just a little bit of history. Hongyong led South Korea to their.

greatest ever finish at the 2002 World. Cup. Yes. They lost the third place of. Tutaki. So he was actually he won the. bronze ball at that World Cup. He was. the third best player at at that World. Cup. He's a legend. Legend. So you know. he becomes a coach. It was a. controversial appointment in South Korea. but then the worst thing is South Korea. has been fighting with the media. >> and I don't know whether you saw this. the reports of the media like mocking. Hong Ming so they fighting the media and. then they didn't put up a good enough. performance lost to South Africa and so. this has now happened. He has gone from.

hero of South Korean football you like. to like and in South Korea normally when. you fall from grace you really do fall. from grace. Uh but I think I think the. team came in a bit like Turkey they came. in very high on expectation and when you. it's the curse of the World Cup when you. when you come in. >> and and people have already chosen you. to go through. I do think it's one of. the curses like look at how team USA has. performed because they were not they. were not the anointed ones. Look at how. even South Africa performed. Look at how.

um. >> Cape Vad and. >> Yeah. But those are like small they were. always like the I'm talking about like. the middling teams have sort of done. better. >> because they didn't have the presumptive. >> expectation can be too much. Yes. >> And and I argue that you know um it's. not keeping your eye on the ball until. it's in your hands or on your foot. >> Okay. In which like. >> you know great athletes always say no. matter no matter the level of game. whenever you see an athlete make a. mistake n 99 times out of 100 it's. because they took their eye off the ball.

at the last second. >> they were shooting they took their eye. off the ball they were trapping they. took their eye off the ball they were. passing they took their eye off the ball. and really all it is is. >> keeping your eye on the ball until the. point where it feels like it's. unnecessary then taking your eye away. >> right. >> I think teams that came into the World. Cup looking at their next games already. >> You're right. Yes. At the next eye off. the ball. >> They assumed they already qualified. Yes. >> They took their eye off the ball. >> And so, [clears throat]. you know, they and and and the the. opposite of that though is African.

teams. I mean, South Africa's knocked. out now. >> Yes. >> But nine out of 10 African teams made it. through to the knockout stages. It's so. funny you said about it's so funny you. brought up that you know old adage about. you know keep your eye on the board. because. it's almost like when you come into. World Cup it sounds like a tired tired. phrase but they were like take it a game. at a time. >> one game at a time. >> take it one game at a time don't plan. for the future one game at a time so. African teams they they they actually. expanded and increased the number of.

repres representatives from Africa from. five to 10. >> and so many Europeans they general. the UEFA president they went like oh. this is a charity case it's going to. make the world come worse how are these. teams going to compete and look. >> didn't even qualify for the world. >> it didn't make it and then Africa 90% of. our representatives have made it to the. knockout rounds for me this you know. when Shakira said it's time for Africa. she was 16 years too early because this.

really has been apart from Tunisia and. Tunisia has been an I feel bad for. Tunisia because they considered had six. goals. Was it five goals in the first. game? >> Yeah. >> Fired their coach, conceded four in the. next game, then conceded three. So they. were like, you could see the improvement. coming game by game. Yeah. But way way. too late. >> It was way too late. And I I feel sad. for Tunisian fans because they produced. some of the best defenders I knew. growing up from Rad to you know the. Tra. They have always had a good defensive.

side and to see them fall apart the way. they did. But let's not talk about. Tunisia. They had a tough World Cup. Let's talk about the African. Every. African team has really shown up and. shown out. >> But you but I'm worried now. >> We need another sport. Actually, now we. are demanding two more sports. >> But now I'm worried now. >> cuz Nigeria stayed behind. >> Can I tell you why I'm worried? >> Okay. >> I'm worried because I don't think the. African teams still in the competition. >> Okay, >> maybe barring Sagal. >> have shown in my opinion enough.

incisiveness in front of goal. >> That's the problem. That has been the. problem. >> Like like I was waiting for for Congo to. like maybe this is the awakening. I'm. really excited for this. >> But like like Deivo I thought they would. be like more more dangerous in front of. goal, you know. I I thought that Morocco. would be more dangerous in front of. goal. I thought that like I just thought. they really struggled. Yes. >> You know, and and I hope it's just a. moment. I'll say this where I disagree. with you. I think actually okay that. favors African teams going through the.

knockout rounds cuz then if you get a. draw you're going to penalties. >> Yeah. But you see I think that's why. South Africa got knocked out. >> because I think sometimes African teams. >> and maybe it's because again you know. sometimes you can't win. For a long time. African teams were told you don't know. how to defend. You just play the game. casually and that's [clears throat] why. you lose. Now African teams actually. defend really really well. >> Very disciplined. Yes. But I think that. can lead to a knockout sucker punch like. South Africa experienced because you. only need to. >> also you're saying the pendas from one. side to the other cuz we used to be very.

attack minded. >> South African like African team not just. South Africa African teams used to lose. like the the final match score would be. like 4-3. Yes, >> that was an African match at the World. Cup full of excitement losing but man. what a great game and then now it's. always like 1 nil. >> penalties. >> 1 nil penalties 1 nil penalties and my. problem is in the knockout stages. >> when you play against a team that has. like moments of excellence with maybe. players who are slightly better than you. if the Netherlands goes into a knockout.

match with Morocco. >> I worry more for the for Morocco than. the Netherlands in the knockout part of. a game. >> yes. >> but In the match itself, I think Morocco. can come back. They can swing things. back and forth. They can, you know what. I mean, that they can they can survive. the momentum shifts, but I worry about. teams who like who are too structured. going into the game. >> I worry that they may not they may not. come out on the other side. >> I think for me that's a huge advantage. because. >> if you can stop goals because you know. when and again it's another of those old.

proverbs tired defenses win your. championships, attack, you know, offenses win your games. For me, I think. let's say you're not going to get into. it. But you can hope to stop Argentina. You can hope. That's like your best. hope. >> But but my problem is, but you know, >> you need a structure to stop. >> People use the So, if you, let's say. you're in a boxing match with somebody. >> Mhm. >> Yes. Blocking is a great way to stop.

them from hitting you, but you know. what's also a great way to stop them. from hitting them is punching them. >> Knocking them out. Yes. >> Not even knocking them out. the fact. that you throw a punch. to think about throwing a punch at the. same time, you know, and I I just worry. that in some of these games, >> the teams are less worried about. throwing punches and more worried about. blocking every punch. And I think that. gives the other team a lot of time to. figure out what's happening, calibrate. the attack, etc., etc. In fact, the one. thing I will say that might help them is.

>> the um hydration breaks. Actually, I do. think the hydration breaks are going to. help African teams. >> breakum because it segments the game. into four. And it's a lot easier to keep. your concentration in 20-minute periods. than it is to keep it over 45 minutes. Survive 20, boys. Let's do it. 20 23. minutes. Well done. 23 minutes. Well. done. Okay. 23 minutes. Well done. 23. I. do think it's easier to defend four. quarters of a soccer game, football game. than than two halves. Um, which brings. me to another rule change since we're. now changing rules. Since we now play.

football in quarters, I love how they. tricked us into that. By the way, >> slowly dangled it, dang it, and then. before. >> I mean, they tricked us. Let's be. honest. It's Is it time to change the. offside rule? >> I think here's what I believe. I think. >> so. I'll answer and then I'll and then. I'll you can So, my answer is yes. But. tell me why I'm right, Joe. I think it's become too much draw lines. this and that and this and that and this. part of the body and this tiny little. nail. Does he have a longer foot? >> Toes. >> Yes, toes. I think the offside I think. Wenger is trying to change it.

>> and I like it. >> But here's what I believe. I believe if. the referee goes I feel it should be the. way it is. But if the referee goes to. the V monitor and can't see it in 15. seconds, the goal should be given. >> Oh, interesting. >> We should remove the lines. If the. referee can't notice his mistake in 15, if he can't see it and go like, "Oh, it's offside." Then it should be given. >> That's a No, I don't like that one. instead of spend instead of spending 3. minutes drawing. >> I don't like that one because now we've. put the burden on the referee to notice.

or not notice their. >> 15 seconds in front of let's just make. it simple. >> If there's daylight cuz remember the the. origin of offside was a specific one. The origin of the rule is we did not. want one player. >> to sit on the other side of the field. which they used to do by the way. >> They would just sit on the other side of. the field. >> like you see it in basketball sometimes. You are all the way on the other side of. the court. They just throw you the ball. You're under the hoop. >> Nolic. >> Yeah. And you just you just drop it in. Okay. >> That's why we have offside.

>> When you understand what a rule is for, >> I think the logic behind the rule is as. important as the application of the. rule. >> The spirit of the rule. Yes. >> So the spirit of the rule. >> was not about is a body part of yours. edging out over mine. No, it's. >> denying an advantage. Yes. Are you are. you playing the game in such a way that. it's not like you know I don't want to. say like fair but it's like you're. spoiling the game. >> you know cuz really you could also just. wait in the goals wait for the ball step.

in front of the goalie etc etc right. >> so that's why the rule exists. >> I think it's time to change the rule I. think we lost great goals and great. results because of this rule you know I. think Iran didn't deserve to get knocked. out. >> I think that Colombia deserved to beat. Portugal. >> yes and and what I mean is like football. gets robbed. >> because. >> even as a neutral I'm watching that game. going wow what an ending. >> no it's not an ending because of a toe. >> because of a toe yes no I would say the. offside rule has been the most. controversial and you know for people.

who are not like fans of the game every. time they change it they've never. changed it and everyone is on board. every time they change it it's always. like h. >> remember when you guys broke it at. >> Barcelona yes it's always like everyone. it's like they have tried you know I'll. give the international fed you football. associations board. They have tried time. and again to try to figure this thing. out, but it's like a because footballers. every time you change it, guess what. footballers do? They try to find a loop. a loophole around it, a way to exploit.

it. And. >> yeah, but I mean, here's not even a. loophole. Here's just feet. I don't. think somebody shortened their foot to. find a loophole. >> I I just think this didn't. it just didn't help the game. It It. hasn't helped the game. And then now you. have teams getting knocked out. And. Iran, by the way, >> you you know what I mean? Like. >> I think the only the only team that has. had such a cruel roller coaster of. emotions than South Africa. >> now. Worse, way worse. >> No, way worse. I I don't I don't think. South Africa comes close. >> Yeah. I know it was it was brutal. Iran.

comes into the World Cup. They don't. stay in the US. >> They have to fly in for every single. game. They're getting visas checked and. they're doing like immigration, customs. and immigration, which is already a. nightmare if you're traveling with your. family. Imagine now trying to go play a. World Cup match, >> you know what I mean? and you're worried. about all your documents and stuff like. that. You don't just to get you don't. get to just like drive to. >> make it into the country or get here. >> And then on top of all of that and this. is something we we we need to like. figure out. There needs to be like a. blanket in my opinion needs to be a. blanket agreement cuz it has to be.

applied uniformly. Iranian players. were constantly being forced to answer. questions about Iran the country. >> and its politics. And then at some point. they're like asking them about LGBTQ. issues, which in my opinion is like a. trap by the reporters. And I'll tell you. why. >> You can't ask Iranian players about. LGBTQ rights when you know what the. rules are in their country. >> Because people are quick to have that. arrogance now. People forget like. America didn't have hasn't had like gay.

marriage for 100 years. You know what. I'm saying? America hasn't had gay. marriage for 50 years. America hasn't. had gay marriage for you get what I'm. saying? So for them to now be like so. arrogant about like oh your country. doesn't it's like no guys guys guys guys. guys guys. >> we have to be fair if you're going to do. it do it to everyone. If you're going to. ask if you're going to ask if you're. going to ask Tammy about gay rights and. if you're going to ask Tammy about um. >> what's happening in the street of Humuz. then you must ask Christian Pulis about. gay marriage in America and the possible. ending of gay marriage and the street of. Hummus. If you're going to ask Tammy.

those questions then you must ask Messi. about Argentina. you're going to ask. then you must ask people about what's. happening in Europe. You you can't I. think that's an extra level of um. pressure. >> that a player doesn't need when they're. playing at the World Cup. >> But it's not even need. It's just the. fairness for me is the issue. >> Yes. Some people will say with great. power comes great responsibility. >> But the greatest of the powers don't. have any responsibility. >> Yes. I understand it's selective. I'll. say uh if I'm Iranian, the reason I feel.

it's unfair is because people are never. especially like sportsmen and and I. understand but they need to speak out. but people are never representative of. their governments. >> There are people on the Iranian team. >> who love the IRGC. There are people who. don't like the RGC. >> The same way the pond American team who. love Trump and people can't stand Trump. >> So it's uh when you reduce people. to their government cuz actually most. times people go like no the government.

sucks. Most people everywhere go like. our government sucks but we as people. which is why sometimes people go like oh. that's I think they don't want us to to. meet because when people meet they. realize oh the one thing we have in. common is we all think our government. sucks. [laughter]. So it's very funny. >> I mean that's happened that's happened. like this this this whole World Cup. Everybody's going to get our government. >> There are so many Europeans are like, "Wow, actually Americans are great. people." And Americans are like, "Wow, so many Europeans are great people." And. people like, "Oh, wait, wait, wait. The. one thing we have in common. >> is we think all our government, all our. politicians,

>> all our politicians are the ones who. actually suck.". >> Because I had a friend tell me the one. thing, the one job that Trump had this. whole World Cup is to not make me root. for Iran. But because of the way they were. treated, they he turned them into. underdogs. And Americans love and. >> America made history. Americans love and. >> America made history, though. First. nation to bomb a country that they're. also hosting at a sports tournament. It's pretty wild, man. What a wild time. we're living in. And by the way, I don't. know if you saw the the answer that that. that he gave, but I you know, that's why.

this is why I give credit. I'll tell you. why. >> I can see a player losing their cool. I. can see a player feeling No, every press. conference where they asked him a. question, I felt like he was measured. He was classy. And the the question they. asked him in Seattle about LGBTQ and. pride and everything, he said, and I'm. sure you'll get flack for it, he said, "I respect anyone who's from the LGBTQ. community. Live your life. You have your. opinions and your life and your. preferences. Some other people have. different ones.

>> like live." You get what I'm saying? It. wasn't even like like anti. No, he was. like, "But I don't understand why we're. not talking about the game.". >> Now, the push back will be and this will. be from the anti people. They go like, "Oh, but TMY is a representative of the. IRGC.". >> But then that's the thing with national. teams. National teams are. representatives of the country, not the. government. >> Yeah. But I also think But I also think. we need to be we need to be fair as. well. >> We also have to be I think we have to. have a little bit more leniency and a. little bit more compassion for teams and. players and athletes who come from.

countries where you can't just speak. your mind. Yes. >> Cuz that's some as well, Joe. First amendment. >> Yeah. We're going to get like No, we're. going to get some North Korean player. and be like, "So, what do you think of. Kim Jong-un? Tell us what you really. think with your chest. Yes. Go back. >> My family's No, I don't need to go back. My family is back. >> Yeah, bro. Like I think sometimes. sometimes we make it seem like they can. just talk with no. >> You don't make it. I feel like western. people make it cuz Western people go. like as an American I can go there say. crap about my government and nothing. will happen my family. So it's it's.

almost like privilege. Hey, you need to. check your privilege. It's not the same. everywhere. I just think we need to be. like it's like just be a little bit more. understanding and compassionate in those. situations because people say, "Oh, you. should speak out." Yeah, yeah, yeah. You. say that, but please understand that not. every situation has the same level of. speakout ability as yours does. >> And that's one of the joys of having the. freedoms that you have is that you have. those freedoms. >> I don't know whether it's a wrong. attribution or not, but the former. Ugandan dictator Idiamin Yeah. used to. say, you know, I'll give you you have.

freedom of speech, but what we can't. guarantee is freedom after speech. You know, you can say whatever you want, but after you've said it, >> yo, man, dictators. >> Yes. Oh, they have bars. >> Yo, dictators. Yes. >> So, okay, this is it, man. Round of 32. Let's uh let's make it fun, Joe. Let's. let's let's go through the bracket. together. >> No, no, let's just make it let's just. make it we'll just make it interesting. You know what? [clears throat] We'll. just do it until the next We won't even. go too far. Okay, >> let's just do it until the next episode.

of the podcast. >> Okay, so South Africa, Canada has. played. >> We're recording this before the next. round of games. So, let's go. Uh, Brazil, Japan. >> I think Brazil have too much individual. quality. You know, uh, Japan is very. organized, very well drilled, but all it. takes is a Vinnie masterpiece. >> I think I think it should be I see 2-1. >> Okay. >> 2-1. Yes. 2-1. >> 2-1 Brazil. >> I think I go 3-1 Brazil or 3-2 Brazil. Germany, Paraguay, Germany, Germany on. the side. >> I'll be shocked if Paraguay. >> I'll be shocked if Paraguay scores to be.

honest with you. >> German, Germany easily. Yes, they still. struggling with their identity. Germany. they don't know whether they cuz you. know the old German team play the old. German team but now they have so many. what people call walk footballers you. know Kai Hav [laughter] is a half false. n German used to have natural killers. cleansman Oliver. now you have like these half nines yeah. know so much work. >> it is it is it is a team it is a team. that's experiencing a transition in how. they play football. >> identity crisis they still have too much.

Netherlands Morocco that's an. interesting one. >> I think Morocco is going to take it I. think Morocco enough they are struggling. to score goals. Their only outlet is. Ismar Sar who funny enough played. >> plays for PSV. He might be moving to. Bayern Munich but he plays for PSV. >> in Holland. So. >> So that might be an advantage. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think. >> I don't know man. I disagree with you. there. I think I think the Netherlands. is going to take it. >> I think I think I think the Netherlands. have been very shaky. >> I think the Netherlands Yeah. But the. Netherlands when it gets to knockout. games, they are giant killers and they. kill big teams. The only time they lost.

in Qatar was when Messi robbed them. Messi did that hand ball. You know that. was a hand ball, Joe. >> Yes, it was hand. >> Okay, thank you. That's all I needed. All right, moving on. Next round of. games. Let's go through them quick. Civ. one, Norway. >> Norway. No way. Has too much both off. the bench. Yeah. On and off the bench. Uh Sweden. >> France. Sweden. Come on. That's easy. France. France. Mexico. Ecuador. This is. a tough one. >> That's a tough one. Mexico is playing. when I disagree by the way. So I agree. with all of these. haven't lost a game. but the one advantage they have which is.

it's a high altitude ground. >> oh. >> comes from quto for them that's all they. know so their advantage of playing like. because you need oxygen at high altitude. >> is good with struggles with goals as. well. >> they have a great defense but Anna. Varencia is leading their I think is. going to shed it I think is going to. shed it. >> they're going to win it. >> yes I think they're going to shed it I. think they're going to. >> I think Mexico is going to beat them. just because the home ground is too much. has a cast. They never make it past the. first knockout phase and so they break.

curses. They've also never won the their. first game. Remember? >> Yeah. Real this is the year of breaking. curses. Arsenal. >> is going through I think is going. through. Yes. >> Okay. England and Dr. Congo. >> I think England will have England. England always makes heavy of. progressing like they did against but I. think England will have a little bit too. much quality. >> even without a right back. >> Yes. They have they have they have too. much quality. If I was Congo, I'm just. pressing that left that uh that left. side. >> Yeah, but then but then Congo has iron. one Baka this side. So the England also. be concentrating on that side. I think.

England. >> But I'm saying I think England is in. trouble. I think England is is is is um. that uh what's it um in Karate Kid, you. know, when like the leg is. >> when he's I think they're limping. through the rest of this tournament. >> I think they strong against the low. block and Dongo going to play and by the. Dongo use the low block to frustrate. >> Yeah. Portugal. >> Portugal and Ronaldo. So I think England. will struggle but they will shed it. They have enough quality to shed it. >> Belgium Sagal. >> Belgium Sagal. >> That's a tough one. >> That can go either way. >> I think Belgium is going to win. I think.

Belgium I think Belgium are slowly. slowly gaining. >> I think you're wrong. Sagal momentum. >> I say Sagal is winning. >> Um I think Sagal is scoring more and I. think they look more confident. USA. Bosnia. I say USA is winning. >> I think Bosnia is going to surprise the. US. Really? >> I think Bosnia is going to surprise the. US. Remember Bosnia, people forget. Bosnia is the team that dunked Italy. out. People forget that they had a shaky. start. >> Italy was playing trash. >> Yes. But. >> yeah, but Italy is playing trash. USA is. not playing like Italy, bro. >> I never thought I'd say that phrase. Yes, you're right. I My mouth even now.

was like. >> it almost protested. Yes. >> But it's true. USA [clears throat] is. not playing like Italy. Italy is was not. playing US. Okay, let's go. Spain, Austria. >> I think Spain easily. Okay, Portugal. Croatia. >> That can be tough. That can be. surprisingly tough actually. >> That's going to be tough because. Portugal hasn't shown me they can beat. Croatia. >> No, that's going to be tough. But. whatever happens, a legend is going back. home. Modric on one hand, Christian on. the other. I think I think Cristiano has. never scored a goal in a knockout stage. Portugal continues,

>> Croatia is going to win it. >> I think Portugal is going to win and I. think they'll bring somebody on like. like Lao. I think Leo is going to be. their star and he's going to make it. happen. Switzerland, Algeria is going to. play 90 minutes. Switzerland, Algeria. >> Switzerland will have too much quality. for. >> Hey, those Algerian boys, >> bro. They have that boy Mazambi. >> No, no, fantastic. I'm rooting for. Switzerland, but you know, controlling. things in the middle. I think. >> two more. Two more. Australia, Egypt. >> I want Egypt to go through. I want more.

>> Argentina, Cape Verde. >> Oh, come on. >> Wow. Cape Ver. You that confidence. The. thing is I really tape, but I can Ghana. Colombia Ghana. Colombia. Colombia. showed so much quality in that game. against Portugal. Yes. All right. Mhm. >> All right. That's all we have for now, man. >> It's going to be exciting. >> We're just. I think we've like what around maybe 30. more games to go. >> Yeah. This is This is it now. >> Man, time does rush when you're having. fun cuz I wish there were actually 90. more games. I'm having so much fun. I'm.

having so much fun with the. >> Well, with the hydration breaks, we're. getting we're getting extra time. So, we're good. We're getting extra time at. the World Cup. >> No, but now we're in the business end. win or go home. How does it how do they. say American Idol go big. >> or go home? >> Go home. So there's going to be lots. more heartbreak. >> for people are just starting to get into. the game. What you saw with South Africa. today is just going to keep happening. and happening and happening. >> But I'm proud of my boys. We did it, man. No, >> cuz this is what I [music] keep saying. >> Only one team wins the World Cup, but. every nation has an opportunity to make. their country proud. Make your country.

proud. >> But did make it proud. >> Yeah, man. Make your country proud. You. lose. It's respectable. Whatever. Don't. lose badly. Play well. Do your thing. >> Walk with your head held high. >> Make sure that when your coach goes back. home, he's not blowed. >> Yeah. Just don't get your coach Don't. get your coach blurred. >> Yes. That's all it is. That's all it is. That's all. All right, man. This was. fun. I'll see you next week. >> Yeah, this was [music] a pleasure. Such. a pleasure. >> Thank you again so much to the sponsor. of today's episode, Mazda. Mazda. delivers confidence and control in every.

single drive. And Consumer Reports. safest new car brand award proves it. You know, there's a phrase I really. like. A lot can happen when an accident. doesn't. And that's true. A calm drive home, a. conversation that continues, a trip that. stays exactly what it was supposed to. be. That's what we're looking for. Mazda.

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