Trevor Noah: Turkey’s World Cup Disaster & Ronaldo’s Portugal Drama | WORLD CUP Second Week

This episode is proudly sponsored by. Mazda. Consumer Reports safest new car. brand. Mazda stands for more of what. matters most to you. Visit mazdausa.com. to learn more. This is What Now with Trevor Noah. All right, well, welcome to week two of the World Cup. >> Mhm. Yeah, we can't believe cuz. it feels like one.

We've watched so much football. It feels. like a week four, but then again, time. rushes when you're having fun, so it. doesn't feel like a week two yet. It's. like a week I I know it sounds like a. weird contradiction, but it feels like. we've watched four weeks worth of. football, but then it doesn't feel like. we've reached week two yet. >> I think it feels like that because. yes, we've watched probably more games. per capita than ever in our lives, >> Mhm. >> but because we haven't moved in the. group stages, >> Yes. >> it doesn't feel like the tournament has.

moved in a good way. >> Yes, yes, yes. >> feels like it's still exciting. It's It. feels like it's still new. It feels like. it's But But you know, before we even. get into the results, I I noticed something about the World. Cup. >> Mhm. >> And I don't know if you'll agree with. this or disagree. >> Okay. Probably disagree, but on. principle, but okay. >> The World Cup. >> Mhm. >> is a lot like New Year's Eve. >> Okay, in which it's. >> Everyone talks trash about it in the. build-up. >> Mhm. >> Everyone says they don't care. >> [snorts]. >> Everyone says they don't they're not. going to make plans. They're not going. to participate. Ask somebody what their.

plans are for New Year's Eve. They'll be. like, "Ah, is that even a thing anymore? New Year's Eve, I'll probably just. sleep. I don't even care what's. happening. I'm not into it.". >> Yes. >> The day the clock strikes 12 and it's. the 31st now, then you start getting the texts. "Hey, what's happening? Have you heard of. anything? Are you going anywhere?". >> Where's the party at? >> "Maybe we should go to a party." And. then when it gets close to 12, it's on. And once it's on, all you're left with is joy and regret.

I feel like the World Cup does that. No, because I was I was thinking about this. Every single World Cup. starts with the scandal. >> Or more than scandals. >> And. by week two. people can only talk about the World. Cup. So go South Africa 2010. Everybody was saying can this country. host a World Cup? Is Africa ready? There's too much crime in South Africa. They don't have the infrastructure. It's. going to be a bad World Cup. It's not. going to go World Cup started week two.

All we knew was football. >> Actually, the moment Tshabalala scored. that goal. >> Finished. >> Everything shifted. >> Qatar. >> Oh, before that Russia. >> Oh, yeah. Russia? Russia was before. that. People like oh, no. >> Uh 2014 years. >> Brazil, they were like oh, no, the. infrastructure, things are not going to. work. It's a. >> The favelas and these and that. >> Russia, people like oh, the visas are. going to be a disaster. Russia's not. going to let people in. >> Should Russia even be hosting a World. Cup? >> Yo, World Cup came.

People were just like it's World Cup. time. We'll we'll we'll we'll get back. to that later. >> Yes, yes, yes. >> Qatar was the same. US, week two. I don't know about you, maybe it's just. my feed. Everything is World Cup now. >> No, I'll say this and that's I think the. beauty and also the curse in a funny way. of the World Cup because. that's what gives FIFA so much power and. so much leverage. They are in control or they're the. custodians of this thing that's so. powerful that can shift narratives. So.

the World Cup, when you look at Qatar. like before it happened. some people are going to go even going. to boycott it. >> Yeah, I mean the English English media. English media was essentially. threatening to boycott Qatar. >> But then the moment. the moment the ball is kicked. >> You you know what it is? Actually, before the ball is kicked, once people. see David Beckham. >> Yes. >> They change They change all their. geopolitical views. >> Yes. But it's it's funny that you. >> I In fact, I think it's like any party. >> Mhm. >> You [clears throat] can say what you. want about a party. If David Beckham.

walks in. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Now, you know, let's. start. >> a sudden the party's changed. >> Let's start up. Yes. No, but like it's. uh. I As As I was saying, it's the great. power of this beautiful game. And FIFA. funny enough has done so much to. disfigure the face of the beautiful. game, but because the game is so popular. and once it starts. everything is out of the window. So, the. US, people are going about, you know, what. everything that's wrong with the US. Then the moment the game started, now.

everyone's just talking about the games. People are discovering different sides. of America cuz they want to They're. going to They're getting to meet real. Americans as opposed to Americans being. represented by their government. >> Can I Can I say that's something that. has truly made me realize how powerful. the World Cup is. I've always known that the World Cup has. the power. to. um introduce. you know, people from all over the world. to a nation that they may have had a.

one-sided opinion of or like a. one-dimensional opinion of, rather. >> Mhm. >> I didn't think the same would hold true. for America. >> Oh. >> And yet. >> Mhm. >> if you've been online. >> Mhm. >> the fan experiences of the World Cup and. the fan experiences of America, funny. enough. >> Mhm. >> uh there's the German guy Freddy, I. think his name is. >> Oh, who's going out? Yes. >> He's become like the most adored fan in. America now. >> Mhm. >> Freddy um is a German guy who's just in.

America, just having a great time, just. loving everything about America, meeting. people, shocked at how friendly they. are, discovering how big the portions. are, enjoying like the like. >> All the things we love about America, yeah. >> Giant trucks, giant cars, giant worlds, giant supermarkets. He's gotten so popular. I think he got. an invite to the White House. They uh. He was on a flight that was delayed and. he was going to miss a game. And then airlines just stepped in and. they were like, "No, Freddy, we got you. We're going to get you on another. flight. We're going to". That's when I was like, "Okay, this is.

power." When when an airline in America. is actually trying to help people. >> a customer, yes. No, but also I agree with you because. America, unlike other countries, has been. overexposed. We watch it in pop culture. Watch it in movies. We watch it in music. videos. So, you would think there would. be nothing to discover. Qatar, you've. never heard anything about it. So, when. the World Cup goes there, there's a. chance to discover a side of Qatar that. you haven't seen before. But America. >> I didn't think that for America, yeah. >> with America. >> I honestly didn't think that for. America.

>> Like the people in Florence, Kansas, yeah, they are like. funny, weird, meet-cute. >> Yep. >> with Algeria and then [clears throat]. this romance that has gone under and. unknown and unknown. You know, >> Scottish fans have drunk Boston dry. >> You never thought that would happen. You. never thought Boston would go like. >> I didn't think it was possible. >> Boston would go like, "There's not. enough alcohol in Boston." Yeah, they. were. >> didn't think it was possible. >> The bars are now but I think also like. if you combine Scottish people with. Irish people, cuz there were the Irish.

people in Boston who were drinking the. bars dry. And then there's No, it's It's. been beautiful. It's um. It's why. normally they go like, "Oh, you can't. use the World Cup to sportswash. or sports launder your image." And. that's why I think part of it is. >> Okay, but this is Okay, let's let's So, let's get into this. >> [snorts]. >> Is it sportswashing? Or Or rather, let's let's let's ask the. question this way. Cuz people will say. the World Cup is sportswashing. You use. a major world tournament to show you.

Yeah, to to to to lighten or brighten the. image of your country in the world. despite what's going on. But then there's a part of me that goes. Is it sportswashing or is it is it maybe. doing not the opposite necessarily, but like those Americans who are. experiencing or rather those Europeans. and those Africans and those, you know, South Americans and the very few. Africans. You know I'm not wrong. You're. not wrong actually. Yeah, way more. Europeans, but they are experiencing.

America in a way that they wouldn't have. otherwise. And I think America's also. experiencing them in a way that they. wouldn't have otherwise. Like the effect. that the Norwegian fans have had on. Americans. for the first time in my life I've seen. Team USA people trying to come up with. actual chance for their team. >> Yes. Apart from. >> Yeah. I believe that we I believe that. we shall win. >> They see the choreography yes. >> That is terrible. >> Yes, they see the choreography from. >> That's objectively terrible. Or just USA. USA. That's fine for like 3 minutes.

>> Yes, you can't chant it for an entire. game. >> 90 minutes. >> Defense. >> Come on man. >> Defense. Yeah, you need a few. >> Come on. Come on. Come on. I still say. if you have to tell the team what their. job is. >> To remind them. >> Come on. Like football fans you just get. to sing and like reminisce about the. beauty of your team and its legacy. You. get to sing joyous songs. Meanwhile in. American sports you have to like. literally tell the people what to do. This is the part where you defend. This. is the part where you defend. This is. the part where you defend. You know what.

I mean? What are you doing? >> goldfish. >> No, but they're not. I'm saying the. chance. The chance are terrible. >> No, like the oh the choreography. >> so I understand yes, I'm not I'm not. saying the sports washing isn't a thing, but I I I'm often torn. because we live in a world where people. say we as humans need to spend more time. getting to know each other so that we. form opinions of each other and places. and ideas. Let's let's become less. rigid. And then when we have events that do. that we then say the events shouldn't.

happen. because. >> I think it's because. >> Cuz cuz when When would it happen? >> No, I think it's because. thousands of Norwegians be influencing. Americans. When else would thousands of. Scottish people be influencing Look at. Look at And not just in America, look at. the love the new romance between Korea. and Mexico. Have you seen the Korean and. Mexican fans? There are going to be so many Korean. Mexican babies born next year. >> Funny that you talk about the impact the. external impact on the inside does and.

then the inside impact on the on the. outsiders cuz when we went to Qatar. remember having a conversation with one. of the top guys in the organizing. committee. And he told us Qatar actually. didn't want the World Cup. The people of. Qatar didn't want the World Cup because. they thought all these foreigners were. coming in. They had only seen videos. English hooligans and they went all. these animals are coming into Qatar. They're going to rape our women. They're. going to vandalize our buildings. And then people came over and then I. remember he told me distinctly that he.

remembered the turning point was when. Qataris were turning up and actually. giving fans water cuz Qataris realized, "Oh, not all foreigners are English. hooligans." And then foreigners also. realized not all Qataris. think the same as their government. They. don't think LGBTQ people should be. executed. They don't think all these. things that we were told or they don't. think that immigrants should be Like so. that's very interesting. But the reason. I think people talk about sportswashing. is. when you look at the countries that.

normally vie to host the World Cup. they're countries in need of a. reputational cleanup. So for example, Russia. they just invaded Crimea when they got. the World Cup. Uh yeah, but they I'm not. saying that's not true, but they had to. bid for the World Cup long before they. invaded Crimea. >> But I'm saying when the World Cup came. it helped their image. They went from. all Russia. not a candidate for neighbor of the year. to all [laughter] Russia. they're not as cold as they seem. I'll.

say. Look at Qatar. "Okay, so now it was. Russia, Qatar, the US, then it's going. to be Morocco, Spain, and then it's. going to be Saudi Arabia. And I think logically the next stop. should be North Korea.". >> Man, a North. North Korean World Cup would be. something. >> Did you see, by the way. >> By the way, did you see there was um. there was a piece that I was reading or. I saw something online. It's funny you. brought up North Korea. Apparently, North Korea has experienced.

like a boom over the past few years. Like a major and please don't get me. wrong, this is this is relative to. itself because North Korea is still like. extremely underdeveloped. There's a lot. of poverty in it. But apparently, they've really been. doing well ironically because of the. wars that are being fought. People forget how many um how how much. how much money they make from arms. >> And from troops and yeah. >> And from yeah, but apparently so you. never know, maybe North Korea could be. but okay, but. >> I know I saw this video cuz you're. talking about North Korea. I saw this. video that I was showing how North Korea.

has changed, has developed, and they're. just using a parking lot. And you could see the number of cars. >> Yeah. >> The technology the technology. >> Not the technology like but but this is. what I mean. As much as people will say you should. keep a state a pariah to punish them for. their actions, I sometimes wonder if the opposite isn't. more true. Can you keep a state a pariah if you. bring them into the fold? >> That's FIFA's argument. FIFA's argument.

always is you can bring the. football can help bring a country into. the international fold. >> Right. >> So like when. outsiders go to Qatar, >> Mhm. >> Qatar just by that interaction alone, it's almost like you know when you hear. about Europeans going and meeting these. uncontacted tribes in the Amazon, just. the interaction alone has like benefits. to opening up. the way. uncontacted tribes. >> think you can I don't think you can. start diplomacy without diplomats. >> That's a very good Yeah, that's that's.

the first argument every time. When we. take football to these places, those. places are always almost like it's an. eye-opening moment for. >> Yeah, but even even not even taking it. to the places, look what the World Cup. has done. How many people in the world knew Cape. Verde was even a thing before the World. Cup? >> How many people knew Curacao was even a. thing? Speaking to you now, Curacao has. a point. They have a point at the World. Cup. >> Yes. Yes. >> You know what I'm saying? And they got. that point against Ecuador, a team that. did extremely well. in the in the qualifying.

>> Like So, for Curacao. >> for like a heartbeat there. They were. toe-to-toe with Germany. >> And for them, it was a win. >> it was a win. But then again, as you see. Cape Verde, their goalkeeper going from. what? A few hundred followers to 9.4. million, 11. It shows Yeah, it shows. that power of the World Cup, but. again, man, you know, I can see what the. activists are talking about cuz the. government will always use because. anytime you give something as powerful. as the World Cup.

to. a power-hungry maniac, they'll always. abuse it. But as you're saying also, once once it brings people together cuz. if you look at the people, the people. who love the beautiful game or in the. case of America, the people who didn't. love but now have fallen in love because. they're seeing Norwegians choreographing. this Viking rowing thing or they're. seeing like Scottish people just having. >> Yeah, man. I think I think I think it's. Look, I I think both arguments have. merit, but I think we shouldn't take for. granted the lasting legacy. >> Yes. >> and the impact this will leave of just.

bringing humans together. We live in a world where so many people. form their opinions. based on, you know, digital Yeah, digital information. How many people can say their opinions. of others are formed by an actual. experience? That's all I'm saying. You know? So, I'm I'm loving that part. of it. Like I actually love how for the. World Cup. the scandals go away from geopolitics. and they just go to the pitch. You know, cuz now like the scandals are. all on the pitch.

I would say the biggest scandal at the. World Cup now over this past week Turkey. The Turkish team. >> Yes. >> came in. >> Yes. >> If you think about it, like the Turkish. team came into this World Cup. I don't. know if you saw their send-off. >> Mhm. >> Right? They got one of the biggest. send-offs I've ever seen a country give. their team. >> I saw that they were given mansions in. one of the most exclusive seaside. resorts. >> My friend. >> Every player for just qualifying. >> My friend. >> Yes. >> Cuz how many years has it been since. Turkey was there? >> been like I think. >> 26 years or something like that? >> a long time. I think the last time wait,

was it 2002? It was when they made it to. the semi-finals. >> very long time. They were driven out of the city with. the most beautiful It looked like they. were going to like like a like a war, but a a good war in a way. >> But that's what the World Cup feels. like. >> Yeah, they were like. >> Cup To go back to your point, the World. Cup is the only time I feel and the. Olympics, but especially the World Cup, is the only time you're allowed to be. xenophobic. Well, or nationalistic. Maybe not xenophobic, but nationalistic. >> Nationalistic, yes. >> Where you're supposed to Where you go. like, "Yeah, I'm from Curaçao and I'm. going to talk Germany. We hate the.

Germans." And everyone goes like, "Yeah, we agree. We hate the Germans." It's the. only time you're allowed to be. patriotically proud. >> Yeah. >> without it having like very negative. undertones. >> the one time Germans can fly their flag. >> Oh, yes, proudly. >> Yeah. >> Proudly, yes. >> one time Germans can be like, "And now, am I allowed to bring out my flag for. this moment? Yeah? >> And the English And the Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. >> And the English are like, "Yeah, come. on, come on." The French are like, "Yeah, yeah, we can do it, but just for. this one.". >> the World Cup, yes. >> That's probably why Germany always does. well in the World Cup, cuz the longer. they get to be in the World Cup, the. longer Germans get to fly their flags.

And they just They're like, "Yeah, this. is so much fun. We're having a great. time.". >> We get to do this once every 4 years. >> 20th, put it away. Okay, we'll see you. in 4 years. We're going to continue this. conversation [music] right after this. short break. 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 everything's going right. Yeah. You. only notice it afterwards. At the end of.

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Go and do it. Go and do it now. >> No Turkey here. You always talk about. Turkey here. You know what? That that. >> You look at it. Team comes in. >> Mhm. >> that has one of the highest team values. per capita. As in like the value of the. players, where they play their football, how they are seen in the world, how they. >> youngest. >> rated. >> Two of the brightest young talents in. world football. In Kenan Yildiz and Arda. Güler. >> Yeah, Arda Güler and Kenan Yildiz.

>> And also they mix care of experience. with Hakan Hakan Çalhanoğlu. >> Çalhanoğlu. Yeah. And you think of a team like that. Everyone expected everyone Also everyone. was like, "Oh, their group is easy.". >> Yes, yes. >> So so every pundit expected them to. cakewalk the thing. Instead, they are. now. confidently out of the World Cup. >> Without a goal. Curacao has done better than them. >> That's wild, man. >> Haiti is doing better than them than. them. Cape Verde is doing better than. them. The thing is that's wild.

>> You you do realize you do realize like. if you think about like their story I. was thinking about it like. Turkey is basically the reflecting pool. of. >> [laughter]. >> of national teams right now. >> The reflecting pool. The DC reflecting. pool. >> Yeah, DC reflecting pool. >> this. Elaborate. >> It was released to much fanfare. >> Okay, yes. >> There was a massive overhaul. >> Yes. >> Tons of money was pumped into it. They made this grand announcement with. extreme expectations and much sooner. than people predicted the paint started.

peeling off. >> Things fell apart, yes. >> And it fell apart and it became one of. the biggest disasters we've ever seen. In in a. like a space that really no one. >> The reflecting pool, yes. >> It would've been one thing if they said. oh the reflecting pool after like two. years. It it it happened in a comically. short amount of time. That's what. happened with Turkey. >> It would be great if also Turkey had. Abraham Lincoln just looking on very. disappointed. >> from his seat. >> I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. No, the thing is I'll say this about Turkey. So I've had a chance and probably you. have too. I've had a chance to visit.

Turkey, to visit Istanbul three times. >> You have? >> Yes. >> Why is your hair still like this? >> They went like. >> [laughter]. >> we are miracle workers, but come on. We can we can only do so much. Even the. Turkish doctors went. >> Within the realms of within the realms. of like science and okay, okay. >> Yeah, we yeah, we don't we don't make. wonders here. No, but the thing is I've. had a chance to visit Istanbul three. times. On a cruise by the way. And. every time I visit Istanbul. I feel it's like the Brazil of Europe. >> Huh.

>> The fans breathe, live. and sleep football. They have the three. biggest clubs, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe. and Beşiktaş. And the fans. they're very passionate people, fiercely. passionate. So, I feel for them cuz this. is very devastating. This is traumatic. for them. They came in, they thought. they would win, they got embarrassed. And if you've also had like we grew up. watching European football, if you ever. had the chance to watch like those. Turkish games. >> Yeah. >> when let's say. >> It's massive. >> I mean a Man United visiting. >> visiting Galatasaray uh the Ali Sami Yen.

Stadium. And it's basically welcome to. hell, that's what they call it. >> Yep. >> And when you would watch like teams go. to the you know, the way Fenerbahçe used. to play, it was called the Şükrü. Saracoğlu. Those stadiums would really feel like. I I wouldn't even I wouldn't even know. how to describe them cuz an American. wouldn't get it. They feel like you've. entered You know when they say the fan. is the 12th man? It genuinely feels It's. like Anfield but with with flares. >> But why didn't that translate into the. World Cup? >> No, so they have And this is why This is.

why. >> Zero goals scored. >> No, so this is why I feel for them. because the 2002 team was their golden. before this golden generation. And if. you remember that team, they had Hakan. Şükür in front. >> Yeah, yeah. >> They had Hasan Şaş, Ümit Davala. >> They had like Tugay and Emre and Alpay. >> to you is what happened now? >> So, when they came in, they thought I. think they were shocked by their also. they don't have a. a natural number nine. I don't I think. they're struggling. >> but chill. We are at we are at a stage. where we're just asking about a singular. goal. >> No, I'll say this about the World Cup.

Remember every team that shows up at the. World Cup. like they're not pushovers at the World. Cup. That might sound weird when you've seen. some of the scorelines. >> Yeah, but people people forget that. every team beats a bunch of teams to get. here. Like Italy is not. >> is not here because of Bosnia. >> Yeah. >> And Bosnia hasn't had like a good World. Cup. But the thing is every team at the. World Cup is playing every game like. it's a World Cup final. So, when some. people go like oh it's 48 teams, they're. going to be small teams. No, my friend, when Curaçao is playing, that's the. biggest game of their lives. When Cape.

is playing, that's their World Cup. final. >> I think maybe that's that's something. people forget. whether actively like subconsciously or. consciously. I think a lot of people. forget how many teams. are at the World Cup not because they. were chosen but because they won. >> Yes, they won their under place. >> team is here because they won. But I. think sometimes people make it seem. like, "Oh, that's cute. They went and. fetched Cape Verde. Oh, that's cute.". They think it's like a Cinderella story. like America's. >> is here.

>> America's Got Talent or something. It's. like, "No, no, no. This is This is like. an active active story." But But this is. this is this is why I think like. Turkey's really going to have to It's. It's There's going to be a lot of um. uh what do they call it? There's going. to be a postmortem. >> Yeah, so Vincenzo Montella, the coach, is certainly going to lose his job. And. I loved him as a player. >> It's going to be It's going to be It's. going to be massive because here you. have a team. that maybe wasn't expected to win the. whole thing by their fans, but the fans. expected. >> At least the middle rounds, yes. >> A late run.

Because of the expected expanded format, by the way. Because of the expanded. format, there's actually a high. expectation on on teams because there's. easy There are easier games. There are. easier moments in groups. >> Also, you don't have just to finish. second. >> Exactly. You This eight third-place. teams are going to go through. So, their. fans are saying "Yeah, we didn't expect. everything, but we we expected. something." And then you've got that. happening. And I find it interesting how. I think a lot of the pressure is.

compounded by the fact that this is also. the World Cup It's like the Cinderella. World Cup. >> Yes, yes, yes. >> So, it would be one thing if Turkey was. losing their games and that was that. It's something else when you're a. Turkish fan watching your team lose its. games while Curaçao is scoring against. Germany, while they're getting a draw. against Ecuador, while Cape Verde is. getting a draw against Spain, while. you're watching Japan go toe-to-toe with. the. thrashing Tunisia, while you're watching.

you're watching clubs, Team USA. >> Mhm. Also, [clears throat] the. embarrassing Also, I feel like the second game I feel the. second game they lost was very. embarrassing because. uh Paraguay were reduced. Paraguay, first of all, had lost to the US. badly. >> Yeah. >> So, they went like, "Oh, this is a game. we should be able to win.". Cuz you went like, "Okay, Australia, maybe Australia sucker punched them cuz. they dominated that game.". >> Yeah. >> They created all the chances. So, you. went like, "Okay, that's a bad day at. the office, you know, we got sucker. punched." But if you watch Uruguay get.

dominated the way they were dominated by. the US, you went like, "Oh, this should. be a cakewalk. for Turkey.". They lose 1-0. You Paraguay plays most. of the game 10 men because Miguel. Almiron was sent off for that. >> Yeah. >> And still Turkey couldn't find a way. >> By the way, do you think that that. should be a red card offense? >> it should be. I think it should be. I. think. >> Why? >> FIFA is saying you should say it with. your chest. >> I don't think it should be a red card. >> with your chest. No, cuz when you do. these, and you know where it comes from? It comes from Vinnie. >> I don't think it should be a red card.

>> Mhm. No, I think it should be. I think. it should because when you say. >> I think it should be a yellow card. Okay, let me tell you why. Okay? For me, a red card. and and I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll preface. this by saying. I choose this because of when the rule. was enforced. >> Okay. Mhm. >> Whenever there's a new rule in football, >> Mhm. >> I think we shouldn't take for granted. how reflexive so many actions are in in. the game, okay? >> [clears throat]. >> Athletes all over the world. >> Yes.

>> have gotten very comfortable doing this, even on the bench when they speak to. each other. You know, they do this. Watch the New York Knicks at the at the. victory parade. They're doing this the. whole time. They're speaking to each. other because they don't want their lips. to be read, okay? You you get taught to do this. Put your. hand in front of your mouth. Put your. hand in front of your mouth. Now, it's a new rule. that gets brought into the World Cup a. few months before the World Cup, not. like years before. Right? So, you don't. get to like play in the leagues. You get to the World Cup. There's a moment.

You just do your default. You put your. hand. It's instinctive. Red card. I. think it should be a yellow. Because the game itself. the game. is disrupted so much by this decision. that you should give a nation an. opportunity to be like, "Oh, no, that. person You know what I mean?". >> Also, by the Miggy Almirón, one of the. nicest guys in the game. I hate I hate. agreeing with you. But, now that you put. it like that, you're going to go, "There. should be an off-ramp.".

>> Because also And it would be like You. know what? Even if they said to the. opponent, "What did he say to you?" Even. [clears throat] if the opponent said, "No, no, no, he he said something about. my mother or whatever." Whatever, it's. fine. Yellow card. >> No, I agree with you. >> But. >> I hate it, but I agree with you. Yes. >> If the player says he said something. racist, oh, then the ref can say red. card. >> No, cuz that was that was the origin of. the rule. Vinny said Prisciani said. something racist. Prisciani said I. didn't say anything racist. The. referee couldn't prove it because. Prisciani had But, the thing is where I. agree with you, and I hate it. I hate. it. I hate this moment. Where I agree.

with you is the off-ramp. This was a. decision. This was a rule created. basically 2 3 months ago. >> Yes. >> And the players have been doing this. their whole lives. >> Yeah. >> Cuz even Messi when he Messi is talking. to you. >> taking your shirt off after you. celebrate. >> Yes. Yes. >> You can't go to red card. >> Yes, there should have been an off-ramp. >> You know what I mean? You can't go red. card for time. >> Mhm. >> I mean now time wasting is like more. common, people understand it. But, I. think there are there are certain things. where we forget that it's just like part. of the game. >> Mhm. It was a very reactive rule as. well. It reacted to a particular.

incident because that incident involved. a star player. >> Do you remember when they said, um, "Only captains can speak to the. referee?". >> Yes. >> They made a new rule. The players Players can't swarm the ref. Only the captains can speak to the. referee. >> Players did re-. >> Players still ran to the referee. >> And then they said, we'll give you a. yellow card for this. Imagine if they. said red. >> Oh, the other rule as well was you can't. ask for a yellow card. >> Yes. >> And players every time they are fouled. >> Yeah, they would do this. And then they. would get yellows. >> Yes, yes. >> But then over time they stopped doing it.

except Vinicius. They stopped doing it. And it But imagine if it was guys red. card is such a A red card for me. is such an egregious offense. >> It changes the dynamic of the game, changes the complexion, conditions the. whole game. The good thing for Paraguay. is it didn't cost them ultimately. >> And that's Now [clears throat] imagine. Now we're going back. Imagine if you're. a Turkey fan going We gave this We got. these guys got a red card. >> But I But I have a question for you. Turkey and Tunisia, who is having a. worse World Cup?

>> Turkey. >> Turkey? >> Yeah, Turkey. >> Cuz Tunisia fired their coach after. losing 5-0. And we'll say they improved cuz they. they lost 4-0. >> [laughter]. >> No, but Turkey Turkey's having a worse. one cuz Turkey had Look at the team. Look at the team. Look at the. footballing heritage. Look at They have. They're in a moment. Turkey's having the worst one. >> No, but I'll say. >> You know who has spared actually the. blush is funny enough. Um I think. Turkey would have wanted to do what many. of the other clubs who had a shaky start. did. >> Other teams, yeah. >> So, Brazil.

>> Oh, I see. >> You know, like Brazil came out and said. we've seen every meme. We've seen every critique. We've seen. every pundit Carlo Ancelotti switched. out his front line, put Cunha in, benched Igor Thiago, said okay, let's play this game, let's. get out there, and very quickly they. were on top of the game. >> when you're playing Haiti though in your. second game. >> But we say that until you draw against. Cape Verde. >> right. Yes, yes. >> You know what I mean? And I think that's that's the biggest. thing I've noticed at this World Cup is.

the big teams. in this second week, especially the ones. who didn't have a good like. >> Spain and. >> Yeah, even Netherlands, etc. They came. out swinging now instead of allowing the. game to develop and thinking the. Netherlands scored two goals in the. first like 20 minutes of their game. >> Uh. >> Sweden turning Brian Brobbey into prime. Kluivert and also Cody Gakpo into prime. Ruud van Nistelrooy. >> But that But that game will we'll talk. about That game should have. Uh who else um. >> with Scholes there, yes.

>> scored Brazil scored their first two. goals how quick? Do you know what I. mean? It's like I think I think a lot of. the teams are realizing this isn't a. league match, it can't have the pace of. a league match. You want to get in, get. your goals as quickly as possible and. then get into the game. And and Spain, you saw that in their. game, right? >> Came out here first two minutes. >> First game, they were like, "Oh, no, let's build it up. Tiki-taka, let's feel. the game." They're like, "No, this is. not" because they forget that their. opponents are so happy to get a draw. You know what I mean? You can't A draw. is is valuable at this World Cup,

especially when third place gets you. through if you're in the the top eight. third teams, you know? But now the teams came out Brazil, guns. blazing. Spain, guns blazing. >> But I think also the thing with. opening games. opening games are always very cagey. affairs. Mhm. Cuz no [clears throat] one. wants to I mean like when it's your. first game in the World Cup, it's almost. like. >> Look at England. Look at England and look at France. >> Croatia, though. >> Yeah, but look at England and France. >> Yes, yes. >> They were like there's nothing cagey. about this. >> Mhm.

>> You In my opinion. no team that's a big team. >> Okay. >> should ever believe that the first game. should be cagey because a first game. literally means nothing. >> It also means nothing. >> You lose it, you can still qualify. >> lose it, you can still go on to win a. World Cup. We've seen many winners do. that. >> Argentina, yes. >> the first game is a game where you. should just come out, swing as hard as. you can and then calibrate. >> But I think you're just saying that as. as a monolith as a team, but I'm saying. the players, the individual players. don't want to get affected by the first.

>> You think they're a. >> game nerves, yes. No player wants to be. seen as a player who made a mistake, who. made. >> My friend. >> You know you know come on as a. substitute and they go like let the. first touch just be safe enough. >> My friend, this is the World Cup. You can't you can't put on a Brazil. shirt and [clears throat] not be sure of. yourself. Matheus Cunha, that guy did not look. like he was just trying to feel out the. game. He was fighting for his place. You got. Thiago put him on the bench. >> Look now. >> But now yeah, but I'm saying second game. things have settled now. >> Yeah.

>> The worst that could happen has almost. happened. >> But not Lamine Yamal. Lamine from the. first game. >> He came on as a substitute as well. But. Lamine. Lamine has the fearlessness of youth. though. >> No. Show. Messi. Messi. Messi first game. Messi first game. >> Messi has the fearlessness of a veteran. >> No, you're going to make excuses for. everyone. You're going to make excuses. for everyone now. >> Yes, no no, you're right. >> Harry Kane. >> No, you're right. No, you're right. You're right. You're right. It's. You're you're basically saying fortune. favors the brave. >> Yes, it does.

>> Yes, come on. >> It does. And and by the way, that's. another narrative I feel like needs to. change especially after the second week. of the World Cup. This whole narrative. around like David versus Goliath. I think we need to switch it up. >> [laughter]. >> Like. >> As it as regards African teams. >> Yeah, when they go like oh, Côte. d'Ivoire against Germany. David versus. Goliath. Senegal versus David versus Goliath. I. feel like pundits, commentators, the. news media. It's patronizing but more importantly. it's also inaccurate now. Okay? First of.

all, physically, if you look at the. actual players. >> [laughter]. >> The roles are reversed. >> Yeah, the roles are definitely reversed. [clears throat] Like Germany was. struggling for size. >> So you're saying it's wrong both. metaphorically and also literally. >> and quite literally. And secondly, it I. think we've we've outgrown that metaphor. David versus Goliath because it's not. David versus Goliath, you know? It's not. like oh, can David defeat Goliath? No. David is now a world beater. David has. multiple players from Europe playing in. his squad. David now has some of the.

most talented footballers. David's been. in the gym taking steroids, taking. creatine, doing his thing. David is like. on top of it. David's got a few belts. under, you know what I mean? On his. waist. >> story anyway. >> Why? >> I thought David was. I thought David was a wimp. He was just throwing things, you know, like come on. >> No, man. Can I tell you It's actually. funny you say that. I I remember reading. something that says we might have. misunderstood that whole story. If it. was a real story that happened. cuz it was saying by all accounts.

Goliath may just have been like this. very big lumbering man. >> Oh, okay. >> And David was actually nimble, was like. super quick with the slingshot. It was. actually a bad It was a bad match up for. Goliath. >> Okay. >> Like Goliath, it was actually bad for. him. Even if you read it in the story in. the Bible, like David comes there and. he's like, "I don't need all this armor. I don't need. >> Oh, cuz it will weigh me down. >> like, "It will weigh me down." And so. like Goliath is there this lumbering, you know what I mean? >> I see your point. >> And that's that's what I think it is. In. a weird way, it shouldn't be.

you know, will David beat Goliath? It. should be like, is Goliath still what. he's hyped up to be? >> Oh, okay. >> I feel like a lot of host nations or a. lot of the big nations, let's you know, the old winners. >> European nations and South American. nations. >> old Goliaths. Like England, England. They're. [clears throat] considered a Goliath. >> Yes. >> But when was the. When was the last time. they won a fight? Like the big fight. >> That's what I'm thinking. It comes down. to the recognizability. >> When was the last time Brazil won its.

big fight? >> Yes. It comes down to how recognizable. your players are. >> When was the last time Italy Italy still. Italy's still considered a Goliath. When was the last time Italy. Think about it. >> Since 2006 they won. >> Come on. We're still calling these teams. Goliaths. At some point we've got to like change. the term now. It can't be like It can be. like, "Yo, is this Goliath still a. Goliath?". >> make it out of the group two consecutive. World Cups, 2018 and 2022, and still. yet. >> You You get what I'm saying? >> No, no, I hear you. >> I think. >> all of these all of these games like you. can't look at Senegal anymore. Even like.

the way the pundits talk about it. I I. mean not that I should be like It's not. like I'm offended by this, but I even. find it weird that even like the. commentators and the pundits are still. like and Africa look at the Africans. doing it the No one says that about the. European teams. >> You know in in movies that is has been. so good they cost. on the hype of their success for the. longest time and then you go like yeah. you Do you know many bad movies Nicholas. Cage had to put out for us to finally go. like yo guys. I think Nicholas Cage is no longer star,

but for the longest time it was Nicholas. Cage box office superstar and we were. like guys. >> No, yeah, I I I think we need to stop. We need to stop because okay, let's look. at the Germany Côte d'Ivoire game. Germany Ivory Coast. Coming in. people would go ooh David versus. Goliath. Can Ivory Coast stand up to. them? Watch the actual game. Watch the chances created. >> The man was struggling, yes. >> There's a specific moment that we all. remember. If Simon Adingra.

>> Yeah, yes. First time that ball, yes. First time shot. >> on target. >> Nicolas Pepe by the way late in the game. as well. Late in the. >> a sudden the game has changed. You know. what I mean? It's not like Germany was. all over that team. Germany scores. a. phenomenal goal, but even that tells you. something. If you have to score a. phenomenal goal to win the game, it. means that you weren't the Goliath you. thought you were. >> Yes, but I think. >> Like Spain against Saudi Arabia. That's like okay, you can. [clears throat] see that this is a. lopsided competition, but if you have to.

put together the most amazing pass, the. most amazing touch and turn and shot to. get your goal. then my friend this wasn't a mismatch. >> No, but I think it's still and again I. agree with you, but I think it's also. about the legacy. How many titles you've. won. >> But that's my point. >> I'll give you an example. Germany versus. Ivory Coast. >> Yes. >> When Germany scores when Dennis Undav, you know, quick turn and that first-time. shot. First of all, by the way, a. natural finisher because he didn't even. need to look where the goal was. He knew. where the goal.

was. So, when he scores, almost every. person I know who has who is a student. of the game, every person who has loved. the game for a long time, immediately. went back to Gary Lineker's quote. You. know that famous quote by Gary Lineker? Where he went like, "Football is a. simple game where 22 men chase the ball. for 90 minutes and in the end the. Germans win.". >> That's so funny. >> So, everyone went back to that. Everyone. remembered that, "Oh, this is what the. Germans do." There were so many Dutch. fans. cuz Holland and Germany have or the. Netherlands and Germany have that weird. rivalry. There were so many Dutch fans. who went like, "Yeah, we've seen this.

happen so many times. The Germans always. do this. It's almost like they give you. hope and then a dagger." So, it's I. think it's about the legacy. And you're. right. >> you, but but at some point we're going. to ask ourselves like, is is Goliath the. underdog now? >> You know what. You know what's happening cuz Americans. would relate to this? It's the legacy. admission. You know when they go like, "Oh, your. father. >> Yes. >> alumni Yeah, he was an alumnus at this. college. Oh, he the library's named. after him.". >> Yes. Just because [clears throat] your. dad went to the school doesn't mean you. deserve to be admitted. >> have the grades even, but they go like, "Oh, right this way.".

>> have Germany won the World Cup. >> Not this generation, yes. >> You get what I'm saying? This current. Argentina squad won the World Cup. >> Yes. Yes, that's different. >> This current French squad won the World. Cup. That's different. When you look at. like the pieces. >> a lot of it Italy shouldn't be getting. into college. >> You can't. >> [laughter]. >> You can't still be going to a community. college somewhere. You can't still be. riding on the coattails of a generation. that doesn't exist anymore. Oh, we've. won the World Cup. No, we. Who's we? That's why That's why if you had like an. African parent, they would be quick to. tell you. You'd be like, "Ah, we bought.

this house." They'd be like, "Who's we? You live in this house. I bought it.". >> This is my roof, yes. >> Yeah, this is my house and my car. >> Yeah, but that's why we don't. >> You live in it. >> Yeah, but that's why we don't have nepo. babies in Africa. The concept of the nepo baby is spoiled. It's a totally. >> So, for me. >> on an African parent. Cuz an African. parent goes like, "What do you mean This. is my [laughter] stuff.". YOU BETTER GO OUT THERE AND LOOK FOR. YOUR OWN STUFF. Cuz I think I also. remember African parents love struggle. They go like, I I struggled. >> Yeah, do you know what I did to get. here? >> you have to struggle as well. You will. appreciate it when you struggle.

>> Maybe that's why we appreciate team USA. so much now is because it feels like. their struggle is bearing fruit. >> Mhm. And so so disconnected. They don't. have that legacy. They don't have a team. they can point to. Where they go like, oh this team. Like. they have some. >> Man, they did well, man. >> had some teams like in 2002 that maybe. lost to Germany, but they still don't. have that team. Yes. >> It was great. >> No, they have. >> It was great. It was great for football. Again, they're through now. Two games. By the way, >> is through. >> By the way, how do you how do you feel. about um the new format?

Goal difference used to be the. determining factor. Now it's. head-to-head. >> I think it sucks. >> Because now it means like a team. immediately know. that the third game means nothing. >> nothing. Cuz back then when goal. difference is the determinant or is the. decider, then the teams go like, okay, third game we're going to give it our. >> Yeah, because it might determine where. you end up. >> Now it's yeah. >> Now Mexico has Mexico literally. >> Yeah, they don't need to. >> can walk onto the pitch against Czechia. and they can sit down and it does not.

change their outcome at all. >> And Czechia can score as many goals as. they want. Yes, I think FIFA. tried to do head-to-head to avoid. I I think it backfired. I think I think. it backfired, but. Mexico making it through is good. I. watched that Mexico game. I. think I think I think the Mexican keeper. made the save of the tournament. He made a he made like an incredible. double save when he was on the ground. >> Oh, he did that. It was yeah. He did the. first save down and then the second save. he was falling. >> Yes, and he saved it out. Managed to get.

it. It was like we celebrate like the. strikers with their golazos, but that. >> This has been the the. the World Cup of goalkeepers. >> yes. >> No, goalkeepers are looking good in this. World Cup. >> Wasinya. >> Yeah, no, they're they're actually. looking very good in this tournament. >> mom was allowed into the country. That's. that's how good a performance. he gave in that game. >> That's when you know. >> That forget about the. Also Also forget about the following. His mom. >> You know. >> And. >> That's that's when you go like, how good. were you? I was so good that America. changed its immigration policies for my. mom. >> also how the mom was received as like a.

some kind of returning conqueror in the. United States. >> But also like Vazgen's story is so. interesting and I think we touched about. this. >> Yeah, we we we did last time. >> He got like millions of followers and. he's almost like the reverse Spider-Man. cuz with great power. came great irresponsibility. So he. received 14 million followers and the. first thing he did was follow everybody. Every Instagram body that he could find. >> Hey man, live your dream. You know? >> Also at 40, yeah, you know, this is his.

last dance. And he's going like I'm going down. swinging. Yeah, no, the keepers have. been outstanding. >> What are we excited looking forward? What are we looking for? >> Looking forward, I'm very interested. one in how Sweden navigates their last. game. >> You know, let's talk about that game. before we go into what's coming up. >> yeah. >> I don't know what your analysis was. I. think that's one of those games where. the score doesn't reflect the chances. So Sweden Sweden is a very spiky team. and what I mean by that is. you know, like I think a team that's.

well balanced has a very smooth shape to. it. So. its good moments and its bad moments are. not particularly far from each other. So. it creates like a really beautiful. smooth shape. >> Okay. >> Then there are teams that are just like. bad, so it's like a small circle. But. then you have spiky teams. Amazing. moment, terrible moment. Amazing moment, terrible moment. Amazing moment. Because Sweden is so spiky, they. conceded in every terrible moment. But they had like really good spikes. where they could have scored and they. didn't. Like I thought Isak was.

fantastic feeding the ball to Gyökeres. I think Gyökeres was fantastic feeding. the ball to Ayari. Ayari should have put. a ball on target. Gökres I think should. have been a little bit more clinical. >> [snorts]. >> There were like three or four chances. where Sweden could have scored and. should have scored in my opinion and. they didn't and that turns the game. because when it's two nil. and you make it two one. >> Yeah, yeah, of course. Now it's a. totally different game. Shaky now. >> And we've seen them against Japan. Yes. >> If it's two one or three one and you.

make it three two, again momentum. shaking it. I just [clears throat] felt. like Sweden I think people are writing. Sweden off prematurely. >> I think they ran into a Dutch team again. cuz also you are talking about teams. that start that started in a cagey. manner and then turned on the style. The. Netherlands did that in the second game. I think they ran into. a Dutch team that finally got its. tactics together cuz I mean the first. game they played Donyell Malen. as the. lone fellow as the lone forward and then.

because in this game. some of it was struggling with a knock. They moved Donyell Malen to the wing and. then they brought in Brian Brobbey. >> And also. I always thought he's Malen is better on. the right. >> Yeah, no. So they So that's what they. did and then they brought him cuz. Brobbey killed them. He killed them with. his physicality. He killed them with his. strength. He killed them with his. running and I think for the longest time. for the longest time especially in the. first half Lindelöf and his defensive. partner couldn't handle that much power. >> You know what has made me wonder. actually? I wonder if.

you know, Brobbey and Haaland and a lot. of these even Lukaku for. >> Big strong boys. Yes. >> I wonder if football like fashion is. experiencing its come back to bell. bottoms moment. >> Oh, it went through this more forward. phase. >> Where we we had a game for a long time. where it was all about have a big man up. front. He powers through. He makes space. He. gets you goals. Then that man became shorter and shorter. and shorter. >> Yes. >> Messi basically eclipsed like basically. deleted that position from the game.

And now it was the David Villas and it. was you know the Agueros and but it was. really like the point of that player was. not to like overpower a defense. >> Mhm. It was kill them through their. movement. >> Right. But then because the game became. about movement and passing, defending. became tighter. It became about a block. It became about shapes to cut off the. passing lanes and the triangles. But now. because of that, one of the only ways. you can get a goal and you can score is. to whip the ball in behind a defense or. to whip the ball in or to create some. sort of running chaos. Because that's. where numbers don't help you. If you.

>> [clears throat]. >> Yeah, if you if you have six defenders. running towards their own goal, it doesn't really help them as much as. six defenders facing away from their. goal. >> But I think that's the thing about. soccer soccer or football, it's very. cyclical. >> Yeah, and so now now it feels like you. know like looking at Brobbey like I. think five, six years ago, that. [clears throat] player is not on a squad. anywhere. >> So it's he was endangered or even almost. extinct. Yes. >> Yes. And now. it looks like there's a space for him in. every squad in the world. Even like a.

Gyokeres. >> Yes, yes, yes. There's like the space. for like this big fast strong player who. just is going to. >> like cause chaos up top. It's one of the. reasons I actually think Mbappé is only. being saved by his pace. Not [clears throat] I think Mbappé is. one of the greatest players we'll ever. see. I still think he should be playing. on the left. In the middle. without his pace, he just gets like. knocked off easily. Yes. Just he gets. knocked off balance. He just gets he. doesn't like he he's not a battering. ram. Do you you know what I mean? >> I was looking at.

So for me, when I look at Sweden cuz. Sweden does Sweden has gone back to. that. First of all, Sweden uses two. strikers, which is a rarity in this. game. >> I don't think they should. I don't know. what you think of it, but they. shouldn't. I like the way Isak played on. the left. >> No, but then but then also Norway uses. two strikers, Sørloth and. Håland. >> Yeah, but I feel like they're like they. sort of. >> have to. >> Okay. >> No, but I'm going like so when I. >> Sweden had nothing. It wasn't just Okay, let me put it this way. It wasn't about. the two strikers. It was about the. formation behind it. If you have two. strikers, but then you play an attacking. midfielder right behind them. So, you're. playing [clears throat] a 4-3-1-2.

Your wings are so wide open. Gakpo and. Dumfries are having the time of their. lives. Yeah, because now your wings are just. And the game is on the wings most of the. time anyways. So, people are going. around you. You know what I mean? You've. built like a really strong front door. with no walls. >> But that's what I'm thinking. That's why. That's why I'm very interested in how. Sweden handles their last game because. Graham Potter. in the game against the Dutch, he showed. that he's no Harry Potter. But in the. final game in the final game, yeah, he's. going to need to like whip some magic. man because it will be very. disappointing with a team that Elanga.

and Lucas Bergvall with a team that. talented. >> Why don't they start Elanga? >> He scored like goals for them, but I. think maybe they have Maybe Maybe here's. what I'm thinking. With his raw pace, Graham Potter is going like, "Oh, I need. him against tiring legs." That's the. only explanation. >> My friend, that makes no sense when you. look at his record. Elanga's playing. from minute one. >> He has. >> So, here's Okay, here's what I mean. >> But sometimes he runs head down. Sometimes he has a road runner quality.

to his game where you don't know what is. going to go next. >> Maybe I have a I have a differing. opinion here. I go. bringing in. impact players in those types of. situations can work in your favor. sometimes. I think what a lot of coaches. take for granted is you might bring them. in when you're down now. And now you're. playing And now you're playing against. somebody who can afford to sit back and. and rob you of yards. >> Yes. >> So, now this person gets to go, "Okay, Elanga's faster than me. I'm going to. stand 10 20 yards further back. Let's.

move everything back.". And Robin more space. But if you start. Elanga and he's running from the very. beginning, and we need to attack at the same time. We now have to choose, do we attack? Look at what PSG did Look at what PSG. did to Arsenal. Bukayo Saka spent the whole game. defending. >> Defending, yes. >> Because Kvaratskhelia on that on that. left wing, he [clears throat] needs a. double team. So, now Bukayo Saka, one of. the best like wide players doesn't get. to do play his trade. He spent 60. something minutes defending and then he. comes off the the field. That that's. what pace does from the very get-go.

>> And also I'll tell you as someone who. has played defensive positions, pace is. scary. When you're playing against a. player who you know in. >> Pace is terrible. >> know in a foot race can beat you. It's. like the worst. >> Because they just kick the ball and they. run. >> Cuz like a player who dribbles you go. like oh maybe I'll touch the ball or. maybe when a player cuz also remember. foot races are like the most natural. almost most alpha male like you think. about when someone can beat in a foot. >> the most primitive competition. >> earliest like you know primitive lizard.

brain. So like the goal he scored once. he's running through the middle cuz you. know he's beating you for like pace is. not something you can. Someone is either faster than you or. >> Yeah that's it. >> It's like very yeah no so I'm very. interested now you handle that. >> Okay so we're looking forward to the. Sweden game that's that's going to be a. big game. Germany's games are done. Never. >> looking forward to the Egypt game as. well. Not because it could be Salah's last. game if they don't make it but also. because Egypt for me has you did ask me. last week about my like most.

heartwarming moment. or and I I remember. for me I didn't say this and I think I. should have said this last week. For me. it's seeing the Egyptian coach on the. bench Hossam Hassan. He's a legend he. used to be the face of Egypt before. Salah came along. He helped Egypt to win. most of those. and now he's coaching at the World Cup. and he's coaching the guy who replaced. him. >> as the face of all over. two million yeah I didn't know that. >> He was part of that team that had you. know Mohamed Aboutrika Mohamed Barakat. and all these legends but seeing him cuz.

he never. he never got a chance to go to the World. Cup. So you imagine if Salah never got a. chance to go to the World Cup. He kept. winning all these nations cups but for. some reason or another Egypt could never. make it to the World Cup and now he's at. the World Cup he's the coach so I'm. really looking forward to at least him. making it to the knockout rounds. It. would be like a beautiful like way to. bring his story all around. He's a. legend of African football. So for me. that was just watching him. it's like almost remember when Maradona. was coaching Messi?

>> It was a weird It was a That was. beautiful. >> Yeah, no it's it's a beautiful You see. it was beautiful. It was dysfunctional, yes. But like it's almost like you see. this person It's like almost a passing. of the torch. Yeah. But like in a game. like no not like outside the game. >> Yeah, yeah. Actually active in the game. >> Yes, so I I would really I would really. love for Hossam Hassan to make it to the. knockout rounds. And also for Salah. Like that would be a good send-off. >> Yeah, man. We need We need as many of. them as possible. We need. um what about your boy CR7? Do you think. he's uh.

>> The funny thing is I'm a huge admirer. And people might not might find this. hard to believe. I'm a huge admirer of. Cristiano Ronaldo the person. Cristiano. Ronaldo the human being. >> Yeah. >> He's like a superlative human being when. you hear about the things he has done. for charity. When you hear about the. fact that doesn't have tattoos. cuz he likes donating blood. That's the. reason he doesn't have tattoos. He's. like a superlative But then because he's. a competitor, I think like. Cristiano Ronaldo the competitor and. Cristiano Ronaldo the human being.

especially when they come on the pitch. >> Yeah. >> There's a reason why people call him. Homelander. Cuz I think Cristiano Ronaldo. >> Did you see that meme by the way? >> It was like It was like. word for word. Yeah, no. So I feel like. the competitor Also give someone has. like an alter ego. You know, so like. you know, Clark Clark Kent and Superman. and Bruce Wayne and Batman. But then if. Batman takes over cuz I think that makes. Superman very human is Clark Kent. The. thing that makes Batman human is Bruce. Wayne. So.

I feel like with Cristiano Ronaldo. the alter ego sometimes takes over when. he's actually most times takes over when. he's on the pitch. And so what happened. in the first game was Of course he no. longer has the legs. So he's no longer. as mobile as he should be. The midfield. can't feed you if you're not making runs. in behind. The midfield can't feed you. however superlative that midfield is. Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, Vitinha, they can't feed you if every run you're. making you're in an offside position. So. they spent most of the time despite. having 80% of the possession just.

passing sideways. And then what happened was after the. game they asked João Neves about. Cristiano Ronaldo and he said something. that I thought was diplomatic. >> I actually thought it was. >> Yeah, but because he went like "Oh, he's. just another player." You don't want to. heap pressure on Ronaldo to go like "Oh, he's our only hope. He's our prince and. slayer. Please save us." No, he went. like "No, he's just he's just one of us. We have to deliver." Ronaldo fans didn't. take it like that. And remember João. Neves had scored the goal that spared. their brushes. They've been flooding his. Instagram. Comments were coming in a.

hundred comments of hate per minute. They didn't just do that, they went and. flooded. >> His girlfriend's. >> And they're doing that to Bruno. Fernandes. They're doing it to João. Neves. They're doing it to Vitinha. And. they also are doing it to you won't. believe this and this is going to hurt. you. They're doing it to. the Liverpool player. I don't even know whether I should say. his name. >> Who? >> Who passed away? >> They did it to Diogo Jota? >> That's it. Yeah. They're going to his. comments and they're leaving comments.

Now I know it's it's And some people So. they they even they're coming to Neves's. Instagram saying "It should have been. you.". >> Jeez. >> Instead of Jota it should have been. That's what I'm saying. >> That's like the that's That's the. downside of football. >> That's one thing I didn't even think I. should mention. >> Yeah, yeah, the fans get so you know. >> Cuz I went like "Should I bring up Diogo. Jota?" Cuz it's. >> No, it's I mean you don't bring him up. in this circumstance. >> Yeah, yeah, they're flooding. And so I'm thinking. I'm thinking how is that affecting How. is that affecting the chemistry? >> That's what I was wondering. I was like. does this Is this one of those moments.

where you hope a coach can like shut the. whole thing down and say "Team, we have. to do this." Or does it put too much. pressure on Portugal now? >> too much pressure cuz now they're going. to be watching every pass. Now either. you pass to Ronaldo or yes, either you. pass to Ronaldo or you know what's going. to happen off the pitch. But also I'm. going like these players these days. are online constantly. So they're seeing. all this. And for me, I'm just thinking. how does Roberto Martinez. >> people forget is. in footballing nations, there's also. like a strange um entitlement that fans.

have. where like footballers will talk about. how they can't go to the grocery store, their their families can't go out. because people go to their families or. them in public and curse them out for. their performances. >> It's not just footballers. I think. Arsene Wenger did talk about he can't. pick. Coaches have talked about not being able. to pick their kids from school cuz a. parent comes up to you. >> But that but you see I don't I don't I. don't hear maybe it happens and I don't. hear but I don't hear stories like like. that in American sports. >> Americans are very good I think at.

sometimes. >> They go like you're trash. But I don't. see. Yeah, I don't see them I don't see. stories like that. And like that's the. one thing about football where it's like. It's very intense. The weight of a. nation. is not born easily. You know what I. mean? Like literally carrying the weight. of your nation is one that's Yo, man. It's no joke. >> So now I'm just thinking about how toxic. that is for the cuz now Portugal, the. same way you said Spain, the same way. you said the Dutch Portugal really needs.

to win its next game. >> Yeah, they do. >> They really cannot afford not to cuz the. pressure's only going to intensify. And. some people are saying and I'm one of. those people, you're one of those people. who are saying maybe Ronaldo should be. taking on a lesser role. Maybe should go. from being, you know, the you know, you. know when they go like, "Oh, they need. him on the poster." Yes, they need him. on the poster. Maybe should be a. supporting character. Cuz. also when you think about the major. trophy the one major trophy Portugal has. won. Ronaldo was forced off by injury. And he. spent the entire final against France,

Euro 2016. He spent rather Euro 2016, he. spent the whole final cheerleading from. the bench. And who scored the goal? Eder. No one knows him No one knew him. before. No one knows what happened to. him after. But guess what? Ronaldo was a. European champion. So, by that time he. was forced by injury. to go off the pitch. >> you're saying is someone someone in the. Portuguese team needs to slide tackle. Ronaldo in the changing room. >> No, their family will be fine. >> Make something happen. >> Your family home. >> Make.

>> be deported from your home country. >> All right. Well, this has been it. Another week of the World Cup, another. exciting one. >> Yeah. >> It's going to be fun, man. Yes. No. No. I I I can't wait cuz. normally it would be like 2 more weeks. to go now. Cuz normally the World Cup. used to. >> Yeah, now now it's done. >> Yes, now we have like 4 more weeks to. >> Yeah, yeah. We're not even pace. yourself. >> Pace yourself. >> I tell everybody who's watching the. World Cup now, I'm like, "Pace yourself. This is the longest World Cup we've ever. had. This is the most packed World Cup. we've ever had. Pace yourself. Uh don't. get too angry. Don't get too happy.

Unless you're Turkish fan. Unless you're. Turkish fan. Yeah, you you can go crazy. But. otherwise, enjoy it. >> I'll say this. The reason I. I'm enjoying the also the fact that we. have 4 more weeks is, you know, our. watch parties. You know, we've built We. built a community, actually. It really. feels like a family. And then every week. that passes cuz you keep reading out. certain names. >> Yeah, yeah. >> And I think every week that passes feels. like, "Oh, we're getting to to know more. and. >> Yeah, we're building It's like a little. It's a little village. >> Yeah, no, it's really it's really. beautiful. And I I don't know where 4. weeks are going to take us. Maybe we're. going to be eating this because it feels.

like now we're dating, you know, but. we're not even meeting. [laughter]. You know, you're you're you're dating, but I don't trust you yet to meet my. friends, but maybe 4 weeks from now. >> You never know. You never know. We'll. see how it goes. But Joe, this was fun, man. As always, my friend. >> Pleasure. I just hate the fact that I. had to agree with you at some point, but. >> Ah, man, you know, as as Gianni Infantino says, "The World. Cup brings people [music] together who. never imagined they could be together. And even Joe and Trevor can agree. [music] sometimes because of the World.

Cup. >> No, it's beautiful, man. It's beautiful. I'm looking forward to more of these, man. >> 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.

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