First Things First - Argentina beat Egypt in historic comeback, Switzerland upsets Colombia, Pulisic issues, Nick’s Tiers

Episode Date: July 8, 2026

(0:00) Argentina beats Egypt, Did Pulisic’s image get damaged?  (27:02) VAR concerns from Egypt, Who is on upset alert in the quarterfinals? (42:06) Baker or Purdy will have a better season? (47:57) NIck’s Tiers (01:08:21) Should LeBron return to the Heat?  (01:18:53) Who will win the Golden Boot? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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First Things First is sponsored by Ram Trucks. Nothing stops Ram. Argentina versus Egypt here in Atlanta. It does come in this time. What a start made by Egypt. The challenge coming in there, and it's a penalty. All eyes on Leonel Messi, and saved by Shabir.

Goodness gracious me. And Mohammed Salah and he. Is it going to be a second goal? It is Zico! After review, KLS-P committed by 19 of Egypt in the offensive phase. Final decision is going to sail breaking. Hassan, ball plan and surely that won't be taken away. Reflection there on the way through.

Can they line something up here, Argentina? Oh, it's gone in, it's two-turn. Who else? sending it over Enzo vanander will continue at this World Cup penalties in Vancouver all the drama to come

to give Switzerland the lead in the shootout stut to step penalty brilliant calm as you like ice in his veins Campas gets it under kerbal just got it under curbel brilliant safe by the Swiss goalkeeper Ixen scores down the middle Advantage Switzerland.

Columbia now have to score. You can reach out and grab the tension in this stadium in both hands. This to send Switzerland through. And he does score. Switzerland heads of Kansas City to meet Messi and Argentina. Live from New York, it's the show that's going to take a quick one minute before we start to talk about our different penalty. kick personalities and strategies.

Straight down Broadway. Straight, with a stutter or no? No, just straight down Broadway. The same way I bowl. The same way I bowl, just straight down Broadway. Brew? I think I'd be like one of those cool cats just kind of softly kick it. Yeah, like that was it the second guy?

Yeah, that was, that's what I want you. Yeah, like, you know, just. Okay, just boop right to the lower corner. Yeah. I'm going as hard as possible. hard as possible, top left. So you would just shoot it 30 yards over the goal? No, I would never, I would never miss.

I would never miss. I just wouldn't be nervous. Well, that's the, even the best players in the world don't trust themselves enough to go top corner that often because that is the only spot that's unblockable. If you can go perfect top corner, it can't be blocked. But the reason guys don't do it is because they might blast it over the goal. Messy has missed four of his. last eight.

I know. The athletic today postulated should they stop having him do them? Uh, yeah. But then Josh brought up. That's his one weakness. Josh brought up the great point if you do that and then you end up in a shootout. Have you shattered the goat's confidence? It then you're, come on.

You can't shatter the goat's confidence. Yeah. We're just not great at it. No. You're doing half of them. You got to let him. No. Look at that.

You're going to take this guy. One of these guys. Yeah. You missed another thousand. Round like a round like a. What if they had dropped it? Epic win for Messi, but is Argentina flirting with disaster? What are the instinct I've ever seen?

Meanwhile, LeBron free agency watch, is he flirting with Philadelphia? Bob Myers. That's what the Lakers should have been doing for LeBron after the rocket. Bob Myers is out there just like pitching rich ball and max. And finally, special quarterfinals edition of World Cup tiers. Some controversy here. Why? Are there, is it?

Brew loves them. Well, not really. What? Actually, I do. I like the top. You love them. I like the top. I like the.

I don't know why he did that. I don't think he believes that. Oh, I agree. We're not going to say what it is, but we got a little tears, but it was, it's not just me, brew. It's a whole committee. It's a whole committee. Max and those guys. Yeah, full committee.

Max a million. Max and yeah. We start in Atlanta, down two O to Egypt deep in the second half. Argentina scores three goals. in 13 minutes taking the lead on Enzo Fernandez's header, the latest game winning goal in Argentina's history. Historical context from the athletic. No team had ever been trailing by two or more goals in the 78th minute

and then come back to win before extra time until Argentina did it yesterday. Here's Henri. He reminded us that he is human, that he is human, because he missed some penalties and four out of eight. four out of eight. And then he reminds us again that it's not human. I don't, I mean, I played with him, as you just mentioned. And what happened with Leo is that sometimes do not work up the beast. That's what happened. When his team needs him, he raises his game. This is a guy that played 120 minutes the other day. He raises his game. He started to take the ball and dribble pass almost

everybody to try to change the game. A historical context from the goat, Tom Brady, Yeah, so that might top 28 to 3. Nick, you had just picked Argentina. The group chat curse was on. We were making fun of you. And then all of a sudden, Argentina won. Did you think they were done? For a moment, I was concerned.

I even did something I almost never do, which is the conciliatory preemptive tweet. I tweeted out, I'm sorry, Argentina. Because I was worried that I had somehow cast a blanche. cloud over them. And had that been the case, I was going to have no other choice but to segue over to the only

South American team left, Columbia, and they got clipped later that afternoon. Even thinking about it. So while I was concerned in all seriousness, I never gave up hope. And I'm not going to act like I'm a big, long-time Argentina fan, but I didn't pick them.

I do like messy. One day. One day. But I didn't lose hope because of him. And yes, part of it is I do think Argentina is a better team than Egypt. And when the better team is desperate, you always give them something of a chance. You saw Belgium against Senegal erase a two-goal deficit in the final 10 minutes. They needed the extra time for the third goal, but they do something similar.

We've seen these things happen or come close to happening. But it felt to me while I was watching, it was like, man, if they can get one, they're going to win. I didn't think they'd win in regulation or in the 90, but I thought as soon as they, so whatever anxiety I had, brew, once it became 2-1, went away entirely. I thought, I was like,

they're going to find another one because this guy at 39 years old is still the best player in the tournament. And I know Holland's been amazing, Harry Kane's been amazing, your guy in Boppe has been out of this world. I think he's still the best guy in the tournament. And the last two goals, brew, he has scored in this World Cup,

the one against Cape Verde and the one last night. I don't know that there's another player in the tournament that would have scored those two goals. The power of that goal combined with the absolute amazing finesse and touch of being able to just kill the ball there and make it easy. So it's just, so yeah, I didn't think they were done. I was concerned, but when you are watching the greatest to ever do something who still, even if he's not at his athletic peak, seems to have full grasp of all of his powers,

they're not going to be done. Yeah, and I mean, that's the difference you see between him and, and, uh, Ronaldo. Like, Ronaldo, when his physical abilities lessened, he just wasn't the same player. Whereas with Messi, the mind, the technique, the skills, all that is still there and he's still great. I definitely thought it was over. And I sent to the group chat, I honestly, and I didn't even mean it as a dig. I honestly think Nick's the kiss of death right. When it was 2.0 with 78 minutes, you know, at the 78 minute mark, I was like, this is unbelievable.

Even when they did score to go, and I know you keep hearing, 2.0 is dead. The worst lead. Yeah. The most dangerous. Which I guess you get, you're confident, you get complacent, and the other team can make a run. But I still thought at 2-1 that they had them. And this was going to be a tremendous upset.

See, I, and I'll throw it back to you. And it's a little bit off of Brady's 28 to 3. Once the first goal happened, like I started to feel confident. And then they start knocking on the door, knocking on the door, knocking on the door. it started to feel like, oh, Egypt feels this too. And it reminded me of, it did remind me of Falcons Patriots. Or like, oh, you're not an unwilling participant in this comeback. Felt little spurs nicks to me.

And I wonder, Brew, how much of the overturned goals, they, even though they had a pre, even though they had gone up to nothing after this. it felt like this haunted them. And in the post-game comments, they were like, we're being treated unfairly. Did they just feel the world was against them? Well, I think you're right.

You bring up Spurs, Knicks. That's a great comparison because, I mean, Egypt's never been this far, you know? And so. Like we're about to do it. Right. And you're doing it against a veteran team, a guy that's clutch, obviously,

and messy Jalen Brunson. So yeah, I think that's similar. And if you look at just the, I wanted to get to this. But the last goal, the third goal, which was a breakaway, like a fast break, look at Egypt. Egypt's players were not running full speed like Argentina's was. And the guy that ended up scoring the goal, you know, he just outran everybody. And like he ran away from these guys.

And so I do think they were, once they tied it, at 2-2, I think they felt deflated. That I totally agree. I totally agree. I don't think it was the VAR thing, which we'll get to later, only because they got that goal right back. It'd be what, yeah, and so I...

Yeah, I don't think at this point, I agree with you at that point. Yeah, it's, but lingers, I don't know, I think it was lingering. I do, I, here's the, I think it went over, here's what I think happened. They go up to nothing. They feel like they got robbed, they got stolen. Yeah. So they're like,

Here at 2-0. Yeah. Rob stolen here. Get it back. Now they're higher than they were from the 2-0 before. And then Argentina scores, and then all of a sudden it's the combo of, oh, my God, we should have been up three and this happened. And now, oh, you see a self-fulfilling prophecy of they're going to.

We should have been up three, one. Right. This should be over. Now it's high. We should be 3-2. And so I do think, I think it temporarily went away. And then as soon as Argentina got back in the game. And it also is, I just, I do think sometimes we do, you know, we give too much credit to the superstars.

Right. Sometimes you can't give enough. Like, I think there is an element of Argentina digging deeper because, like, this can't be his last game. This is my, can't be the last time we get to play with him, those things. I think there's an element of Argentina believing the impoverimps. possible as possible because of him. And I think on the flip side, there's an element of Egypt, you know, bouncing on in their head, oh, my God, we're going to eliminate Massa.

Tiger Woods effect, I guess. Yes, the Tiger Wood, not just. Scoreboard watching. And so I think all, I think he just, because it's not just the living legend piece of it, it's that he is playing at this level that I think it is, they're just going to be a hard team to beat because of that. They keep flirting with getting beaten. I think they're going to get beaten.

Well, that's the thing. I do think, and I'm not writing them off, but I do feel like if they were playing, had played better teams, they probably are, I mean, they have had a very light run to the final eight. So, yeah, so.

The thing is, that's going to continue. Yeah. Like, they, they now get Switzerland. Yeah. In the biggest game Switzerland's ever played further in the tournament than they've been in 70 years. And I think most, the world rankings at least would say Switzerland and Norway,

the worst team remaining, not trying to be disrespectful, during the final eight. Then you get England where all the anxiety and pressure and all of history, you know what I mean, is weighing on England's shoulders or Norway, which if they get there, it's unbelievable, but Norway themselves, I think, is like kind of like in, you know, extra credit portion of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Spain and France are on this collision course where they both have brutal games just leading up to it. I just think that, They have not been the best team in the tournament, but they are the most likely team to be playing in the final. And then if you're playing in the final, like they got a shot, especially with Messi. Yes, with Messi and what they beat France in the final last time? That game is in Kansas City on Saturday, picking up the pieces from Team USA's exit. The good news, USA Belgium game did record ratings.

30 million people, the bad news, 30 million people watch politics ineffective and injury-ridden performance. Here's Landon Donovan. There's reporting that he asked to get subbed out of the game. I can't confirm that. So I don't know if that's true or not. But the reality is, Tim, he came out of a World Cup knockout game at home with his leg still intact. Because I'm saying this to you, Tim, and you know it because you played with me,

you would have had to drag me off the field. And I would have punched the doctor in the face and said, you're not taking me off the field, put whatever you need to put in me, and I'm staying on the field. I told you this before. I never shared this publicly until a few months ago. I played with a torn hamstring against Ghana after the Algeria game, right? And nobody knew about it. I didn't have to tell anyone. It was no drama around it. I just did it. Carly Lloyd, referencing politics saying that he gets to rest now. You rest when you're playing career is over, period, your reaction

to this, you know, now that the dust is settled on Polisic. Look, this World Cup has done major damage to Christian Polisic's image. It's one thing, and I'm not belittling our

opinions, but it's one thing when non-ex players or ex-coachers or something, who are just pundits like we are, criticize you. But when ex players, like darn near

kind of American soccer heroes Donovan, Carly Lloyd, when they criticize you. And Donovan, I listened to a good chunk of that podcast. He was kept saying, look, I'm not trying to kill the guy. I'm not trying. But he just had to be honest. And

I won't say irreparable damage because he's in four years, he'll have another shot. Now, he will be 31. I've said even yesterday, injuries seem to be taking a toll. So who knows what type of player he'll be in four years. But Donovan was even saying he's texted like with one of his ex-teammates who has been saying for years when the games are the biggest, he's not going to show up.

Polisic will not show up. He'll be great against the Bosnias and, you know, the teams that don't really matter. And it's kind of like a James Hardin type thing where he has. He hasn't stepped up in the big moments. And so, yeah, this is, and look, with the injuries maybe, he hasn't been good, not just for Team USA, for the most part in this World Club. And I guess with the injuries, you could say he was injured. But apparently a lot of people think there were stuff he could have played through, and you've said that. But he also hasn't really been playing great on the club level, at least for the past several months.

So no, his star. It's possible we may have seen the best of Christian Polisic already. Listen, his star on the, take U.S.S. men's national team outside of it, on the European club level, his star is dimmed. You know what I mean? Was it ever even a star? Well, no, listen, he was when Chelsea signed him at 19.

When he went there, right. Yeah, when he went there. And then with Chelsea, he was a bit of a disappointment. Goes to A.C. Milan. And A.C. Milan, he was excellent for a couple years. Yeah. He was considered their best player. They're one of the best teams.

And then this year has been a tough year for him. And now there's this. And there is, listen, I'm just going to play for you guys something else from this podcast. Here's Tim Howard. You guys read what you want into these 15 seconds from Tim Howard on Christian Polisick. What I would say about him is, you know, when someone tells you or shows you who they are, you believe them. So I think he's a nice footballer. I do.

I think he's a very nice footballer. I still think he's the best player on a team. Outside of that, you'd have to ask me very direct questions, to which I could give you very direct answers, but ultimately, he's a nice footballer. Landon, I love you. I would have loved some of those direct questions. He doesn't need to ask.

No, neither. Right. And so that speaks for itself. The old guard does not appear to be super fond of Christian Polisic. all of us saw how he suffered the injury that knocked him out of the biggest game of his life. And this is now, there are two buckets of criticism available if you want to criticize Christian Policist. One is his World Cup performance, which was undeniably beneath his standard, peppered with, you know, missed opportunities and disappointed.

Oddly, that is the less sticky criticism. The greatest players in the history of every sport have had bad moments or bad months or bad, you know, a bad... That is undeniable, but it's also understandable. The other bucket is what we're all hinting around. toughness. It's more nebulous. It's a more dangerous criticism

to levy. It's impossible to prove. But it's also the far stickier, more stinging indictment. That these guys are saying I'd have played through that and it wouldn't have been a question.

Right. You won't. When you add to it the lack of team credibility that he is built up by skipping the gold cup by being not necessarily

as beloved as some less talented but more, whether it's charismatic or just one of the guys. This part, I don't know, but he doesn't seem to be a beloved figure the way some of our other guys have been a la Clint Dempsey who gets brought up a lot.

Those guys, you have a very easy and in my opinion fair target because as soon as Pochitino got there he got off to a bad foot with him because he didn't play in the gold cup

Landon criticized it sins of the father not sins of the son but his dad going after Landon Donovan I can't imagine super endeared him to everybody else his utter nonchalance you know throughout in all all the media stuff throughout this tournament culminating in,

now at least I have time to rest. That is going to be the lasting, what like the thing Colin did a year ago that was maybe a little unfair, but it was really good, which was close your eyes and think a step. Close your eyes and think of LeBron. Like you have an image and it was a Tatum take.

He's like, close your eyes and think of Tatum. But the close your eyes and think of something is, I think, useful. If you close your eyes and say what is the lasting image of Christian Polisic from this World Cup, it's him limping around and asking off. That's what it is. Well, to that point, and obviously the Cup has brought in tons of casual fans who just heard, oh, Christian Polisic is our best player, he's a superstar, whatever.

And this is pretty much all they've seen of him. And then you see the criticism from other, like I said, American soccer heroes of the past. And yeah, this is big time damage. Can I ask you a question, Brew, since you're the elder statesman of the show, and I'm getting up there? When I was watching this, it was so incomprehensible that he was going to walk off in the biggest moment of his career. it actually made me think of other not seizing the moment moments that I've seen throughout sports history. And what it made me think was we're watching the chapter, the literal chapter of his book that gets written in 20 years when he talks about my lowest point in my career. And I've read those books.

I've read the Agassi book. Landon Donovan just released a book. We love Landon. Landon also took a sabbatical because there's a lot of pressure. And you see, you know, LeBron is on a different level. I'm trying to think of other. No, but there's guy, yeah. Just real low moments that are like, oh, man, we're not even talking about the soccer player,

you're talking about the person. Did that hit your radar at all in your history of like, man, this is so bad. Maybe there's something else going on, physical, mental, like, His whole world is just, it's too much for him. Well, you never know what might be going on. These guys are human beings. Guys go through all types of things. But that's where I had to go to.

Now I'm in like the human being level. I do, and I could be wrong, I do feel like he, and I don't know if he, I don't know. Him, I don't want to say he doesn't love the game. I'm not going to say that. But saying you want to rest, you know, pulling yourself out of games. I didn't go to something off the field.

I just think there's a... Listen, it would appear to be very, very basic on it. I'm not sure he has that dog in him. I mean, that's not that. Again, I think that sounds too simplistic. And the only counterpoint I would give to your, I think, salient point, which is in the great sports books, they're usually, and certainly the right sports movies,

there's the fall, the lowest moment, and they pick them back up. There's also a lot of books that never get written because the fall is just, there's no pick back up and nobody cares about that book. And so you're right, this does not guarantee at all that he won't have a great 2031, and at 27, or 2030 when he is 31, pardon me,

or even 2034 when he's 30. and that we look back and say, hey, he had to learn from this, all that. Yeah. But it's also on the board that that's just who he is, that he's a wildly talented guy who doesn't play his best against the biggest competition. And in a contact sport, if you contact him, you can knock him out of the game. And if that's the case. And that his best years and experiences are already behind you.

Yeah, it's on the board. That's very much on the board. It's on the board. I mean, 27. And he's got a lot of relationships to men, it would appear. Yeah, that's what I'm lost. If he cares, I don't know. Maybe he might look at this and be like, I'm better than you guys.

And our team did as good as yours did. So give me a break. I mean, that is the back story of when they did like the road. Like they're criticizing us. Like, what did you guys? Yeah. There's some bad blood there. I'll be there tomorrow.

France Morocco on Fox. I'm leaving the show 15 minutes. I heard. One day, five hours, 33 minutes. Never done it. Watching Bob. You're going to, you're going to love this stadium. Yeah.

The old 15 minute early exit just to make sure I can hit kickoff. We're in my Morocco bucket hat. The excitement of the FIFA World Cup is now streaming live on Fox One, the official English streaming platform to catch every unforgettable moment. Fox One brings the action straight to your screen so you never miss a goal. Download Fox 1 and experience the FIFA World Cup live. Welcome back to first things first. Yamal, Spain, taking on Belgium.

I don't know how I feel about the Belgium team. They didn't do anything wrong. They just beat Team USA. But all of a sudden, I'm not a huge fan of Belgium. That's all right. They're going down. Can I tell you at KW, when you're watching the game, what you're going to be rooting for?

Belgium. No way. down you're a little worried about Spain. No. You are. Spain is beat in France. You are worried. And we don't give up goals. No one is stopping France, guys. I don't know if you've seen how good they are at scoring.

It was one old last year riding together. They're just literally unstoppable. I'm a little torn because I like France. You know how good messy is? Three messies on one team. They're great. Argentina pulled off a historic comeback. Egypt team thinks the officials helped.

One goal was taken off the board. Here's that play. Goals going to go in and then it's going to come off the board. Later in the game, the referee doesn't check VAR when Mosala was tackled. I didn't like that either. After the game, Egypt coach Hassan said, we haven't seen respect or fair play. Life is unfair.

The world is unfair, okay? But why isn't there any fairness in sports? I'm not convinced by this outcome, and by the way, things unfolded in this match. Dax, you didn't love this. I don't know if you like, whoa, but you didn't like the VAR stuff, your reaction. Yeah, generally speaking, I think technology to get really big decisions right is the correct usage and the correct implementation in sports. But VAR was not introduced into our game to re-referefery every single moment of a game.

That specific play in general is probably a foul. I think more times than not, a referee would look at that play, especially on the replay and say, okay, this is a foul. Here's my big problem with generally how VAR is being implemented now, specifically in these knockout round games. The referee has a clear view of exactly what is happening on that play. And in his process of going through, is that a foul or is it not, he determines that that is not a foul. So now the play plays out, and I don't care that people say, well, why are you going back so far? It's 15, 20 seconds before the goal was scored.

It is the attacking phase of play. That is the law of the game. So the implementation of that part of it is correct as well. So they would not stop that. No, they wouldn't stop that. The attacking phase of play doesn't reset. Of course, Argentina has chances to make a play. They don't.

The ball goes in the back of the net. My issue is with Big Brother watching, I believe referees are not now reffing the game as they normally would. They know that there's a built-in safety net around them to be able to go back and re-refery all these moments. And my biggest issue is the consistency with which it's used. I could probably find 10 to 15 plays that happened in the group stages that are fairly similar to a guy getting stepped on, a guy potentially getting fouled, a guy getting kicked. The referees, you know what they've done really well?

They've said, no, that's not a foul. Get up, play. Guys have stayed on the ground. Referees say, no, play on. And guys are popping up. It was actually something I was impressed with early in this tournament. I believe there's been, for whatever reason, an overcorrection to use VAR. So while that may be the right call by the letter of the law, I just feel like refs, they're not refereeing games as they should because they know somebody up top will be like,

hey, you made a mistake, come change it. Yeah, I agree with all of that. And look, me, I didn't know that you're never going to stop. Because for me, the time did make a difference. Like, it was like, okay, they let it go. Whether you thought it was a foul or not, they let it go. The attacking phase started so. Yeah, it was like, wait, what?

doesn't matter. Okay, yeah. So, okay, I get that now. But I did feel like if you made that call, you had to make the one. And bro, that's the issue you get is that you can go back through any game and you can get two different refs and you can ask them, is this a foul? Is that a foul? And it's a subjective sight. It's a subjective decision. So now, why would Egypt not argue that that's a foul? Yeah, I think they have a fair. The Argentine player makes contact with the ball first. But he then makes contact with Sala afterwards. That's where we're getting into the nitty-gritty, nitpicky, like subjective nature of re-refereeing every single play.

KW. You want to have done with replay. Listen. Oh, you're a big. I've been telling you guys this for years. Replay always sounds like a great idea. Vinnie Testa Verdi didn't score his helmet did. And therefore, we've, those are the.

Those are the only things we're going to fix. Imagine if we had replay when Diego Maritona punched the ball into the goal. We'll fix that. Oh, of course. What if Dave Roberts had been called out on that slide? World Series history has changed. Only that. But that's never what happens.

Instead, what we get is a combination of sports across sports being played by world-class athletes at world-class speed being broken down on a frame-by-frame damn near molecule-by-molecule basis. Yep. And the added lack of benefit. What's the opposite of benefit? I'm so fired up. I can't speak.

The added detriment. Detriment. Thank you, Brew. That referees get worse because much like, I can't prove this. I know it's true. The world's greatest tight rope walkers fall a lot more when there's practicing and there's a net beneath them than when their life's on the line, that there is a natural relaxation of, okay, I don't, I don't, if it's a mistake, it can get fixed, where you get worse. And you also, you can't, if a referee, we say in the NFL all the time, do businesses, business is being done.

I've set the tone on what is and isn't a foul. Well, VAR doesn't respect that at all. VAR is just, it doesn't matter if you've been playing it one way all game. Now it's this. And now we've opened up the Pandora's box of how far back do we want to go to where there is, there is also the entertainment value of the sport, which is one of the cool things about baseball that it has over all the other sports is a home run is always a home run. There is never a thought process when you're a fan.

favorite team, it's a walk off home run. Is it, is it real? Like, did something happen? But every other sport's been polluted with this, where there's the celebration, but and now, it's no longer just off sides,

but it's okay, hold on, he was off sides, but let's see how we got the ball 17 seconds ago to make sure there was an infraction there. It is a good idea. that human beings don't have the capacity to put a limiter on. And so it's like, well, we have the technology you should use it.

I mean, it's stupid not to use it. We have the technology to use it. Get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right. And it's not getting it right. It's making it worse across all the sports. Across all sports, referees have always had a big impact. And that's why you celebrate great referees because it is one of the hardest jobs you can have in society.

But again, now... Certainly in sports society. In sports, for sure. Well, you're going to be, you're damned if you do damned if you don't, all right? You're going to get criticized. No one's ever like, wow, that referee was great. It's certainly one of the most dangerous job. It's a thankful job.

There's a harder job in society. But again, like to next point, VAR was introduced in soccer to be like, hey, mistaken identity, instances of clear mistakes where. 98% of people watching would be like, yeah, he made a mistake. The problem is 50, 60% of people will think that's a mistake. The other 40% will be like, what are you talking about? That's not a mistake. Guess what? It's subjective. You're taking that away from the refs because they know there's a safety net above them. Can I ask you one hypothetical about this because the plates took so long to develop and end up as a goal for Egypt. If Argentina got possession back

at midfield, let's say. And then Egypt went and won it back and scored. It's a goal. It would have been a goal. It would have been a goal. It would have to be a change of possession. It resets the fees. And if Argentina got the ball back and then they scored,

the goal would have stood. Yes. Yeah, the only thing it is, it was like, no, actually I fouled. Yeah, yeah. Egypt would be like, hey, I found him, by the way. Fowled, so you guys should have a kick from there. That goal would stand. That's a great point. Because there was no change of possession.

That's why they consider it one. And by the way, like, it doesn't matter that it was like a beautiful goal that Egypt scored. Like the implementation of the law doesn't factor in aesthetically pleasing goals or not or distance or not. It's the attacking phase of play. It was it was correct by the letter of the law. It doesn't mean that it's consistent. Our poor guy Fletch said, VAR is the bane of my existence during the Switzerland. Wow.

Well, you call it. And then it's like, nope, everything's off sides. Yeah. All right, quarterfinals are set. France, Morocco, tomorrow, Spain, a Belgium, Friday, England, Norway, and Argentina, Switzerland, both on Saturday. Which of the four faves is on upset alert? So I would love to say it's England because even though Norway ripped my guts out, I, you know, before the tournament, I told you guys how much I like Holland. and being there in person and seeing how terrifying he is.

That's where my heart is. But I actually think the answer is France. Wow. So here's why. One is, of the teams remaining, only Argentina has faced an easier slate of teams. Like, easier competition. Morocco is faced in this tournament. The FIFA World ranked number five and number 19.

teams. Norway's face the number five team. England's played a top ten teams. Switzerland played 11 team Colombia. Spain's played number seven Portugal. France's best team they've played is either Norway's backups or Senegal or Senegal in the group stage. The other one is Morocco has beaten every awesome team they've faced in the last four years or drew with Brazil except for France. Morocco is the opposite of untested. If we show it to you, Morocco at the last two World Cups, these are games against top ten opponents. They beat Belgium, they beat Spain, they beat Portugal,

they lost to France in the semis last year. They drew with Brazil, they just beat the Netherlands. And so again, I think the most likely outcome this week in Dax is all four favorites win. I think that's, but Morocco's the only team that's on the opposite, that's not one of the four favorites, that I think it's good enough to win the whole tournament. So if I think they're good enough to win the whole tournament,

I think that they can, you know, potentially execute the upset. It's less about France and more about who their opponents. I think that's a good argument for Morocco. I will go with England, though. And I pick, remember, I picked England now to get to the final against Spain. But I just think they haven't looked great outside. The Mexico game, I thought they were fantastic.

Yeah. mentally mental toughness and just great physically. But outside of that, they haven't looked great. And Holland just is a scoring machine. I mean, 14 straight games, I believe it is now that he's scored in. And he might get a brace. I mean, that's obviously always on the table. So they're going to have to score to, you know, hold him off

because I think he's going to score at least one, if not two goals. And so I think that they are definitely on. upset alert. I love both of your takes. I went through both of these in my head thinking, I'm going, but Brew, you're spot on yet again. And I know you wanted

to say England, and I understand why you didn't, because England played very well down in Mexico. Like, if you want to tick a lot of boxes that I was really skeptical on the English on, they ticked all of them. Getting contributions from other players, their wide players, Jude Bellingham having a generational type game,

Harry Kane stepping up and still being great. They played adversity. Ten men defended well. They haven't played against a guy like Erling Holland yet. And Erling Holland sees these English defenders in the Premier League weekend and week out. He's actually teammates with one, Margey. And he has a fantastic number 10 behind him. That is a chance creator. He's a Premier League champion with Arsenal in Martin Odegaard. Those two guys, if you have an elite chance creator and an elite goal score, you can absolutely beat an England team who I feel like is still vulnerable defensively.

Mexico still scored two goals on them. And Harry Kane plays against a couple of these guys. Harry Kane will be a danger. It's a matchup of the two best out and out number nines in the tournament. Whoever has a bigger game, that team is probably going to win. I have England going to the final.

But I love your France argument, and I went through it in my head because I really, really rate Morocco. The problem is I made the argument that of the breakout stars of this tournament, Siby, their striker was certainly one of them. He has injury concerns going into this game. Now, I don't know if they've confirmed that he's in or confirmed that he's out.

Him being out would be. Him being out is they fundamentally do not have enough firepower with the rest of the attackers to, I think, be able to keep up with France. I said, you're going to have to score two or three goals at least if you want to upset France, and I just don't think Morocco has the firepower to do it. Did you have a pick KW? Yeah, mine's the same as tier, so I'm going to put it in my back pocket. But obviously, Argentina, another miraculous victory.

That's parallel with upsets. I just think they're always looking for. Well, they played the weakest team. Well, they played the weakest team in Cape Verde. They went ahead and went ahead. I'm on Upsailers. Yeah, that's true. Good point.

NFL top 100 of Baker Mayfield coming in at 77. We discussed after the break in. We're coming down to Norway, England, from Miami. That's in three days, six hours, and 14 minutes. Hey y'all, it's Kelly Clarkson with Wayfair. Ever order furniture online and wonder what if? Like, what if it doesn't hold up? That sofa was four days old.

You should have ordered from Wayfair. With Wayfair, there's no what if. Just style you love and quality you can trust. Visit Wayfair.ca. Wayfair, every style, every home. NFL Top 100. Baker and Mayfield, Rocky's won. They're catching up on the God.

Let's get to this. I know what I got to say it. Let's get tired of all. Baker is the third QB revealed. He's ahead of. Prock, Purdy and Bryce. Here's how Brock did last year compared to Baker. Now, don't forget, Perty only played 11 games because Mac Jones had to come to the rescue.

Wow. And still had more turnovers? Wow. Purdy played nine games. No, that's 11. It's including the playoffs, Brew. Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, Baker didn't. Who's headed for the better season this year? Look, this fight. A Baker Mayfield was something to prove with a chip on his shoulder is tough. Extensionless. Yeah, yeah. He's in a contract year. He didn't come to terms with Tampa Bay.

He's obviously understandably upset about it and bothered, but being professional, going to go out there and prove him wrong and maybe end up somewhere else, who knows? But the first two years in Tampa when he was kind of, he had, remember that epic battle? with Kyle Trask to see who was going to start it. That was really. I mean, he had the show was on the ropes. We didn't know we were going to make. We just talking about Kyle Prasper every other day.

I mean, Trask, you just. The reports out of Tampa were that Trask was looking good, all right? Pushing Baker. All right. But anyway, he had two great early first few years. They're really good. But that said, so I expect Baker to have a really good year. but I am going to go with Brock Purdy

because Brock last year, Nick, when he was healthy, was really good. Second in the league and touchdown percentage and he's always high. You love these percentage. What TD percentage is big? Who was first?

Stafford. And he was tied for second, I think, with Lamar. Yeah, I was going to say Lamar. I knew Lamar was going to. That's why I always hear about touchdown. Touchdown percent. You know that's a legitimate.

You know what percentage of your pass. is that go for touchdowns. How can that not be? No, go ahead. Passer rating, he was at 100 last year, Purdy. So, look, I think Purdy is going to be more accurate.

I think he's going to have a better passer rating and a better touchdown percentage, and he's going to get more wins than Baker. Okay. So I think Purdy is going to have a great year. Look, your boy, Mike Evans there. And even Christian Kirk.

Like, I just think he's going, there's going to now be some stability in his receiving court. Ricky Pierce saw, I really like. We'll see if he's healthy. But I believe Kirk and Evans will be there healthy. Kittle, obviously, a nice security blanket and then some. So I think Purdy's going to have to do that.

Listen, what hurt Baker last year and what Purdy last year had the wherewithal that when he was injured, he sat out games. And when Baker was injured, he played through it. And so that hurt Baker's stats. It might also hurt the team. I'm not even saying it was smart. But it is. I think it definitely did.

Yeah. Well, again, I don't know. I'm not even certain if Kyle Trasky is the way. He might not be in the league anymore. He's probably doing what we do. Baker and 40% might be better than the backup. So I don't know. Here's what Purdy has going for him.

Oh, Jake Browning. Okay. Here's what Purdy has going for him. We know what the floor for the quarterbacks for the Niners, at least where it was last year. and because I don't even know if Pertie last year had the best season of two quarterbacks on the Niners.

Oh, now we're talking about. Well, win loss, pass-or rating. Well, again, the passer rating brew actually goes to Mac. The touchdown interception, the touchdown interception ratio goes to Mac. The yards per game goes to Mac. The completion percentage goes to Mac. Did he win any big games against the MVP, Matthew Stavre?

Yards per pass. He was slightly goes to barely goes to Purdy. And then obviously the win-loss record, he has three more wins, same number of losses. But the, yeah. Purdy was seven and two in the regular season. I'd like you to play your best in the playoffs personally. That's just me.

And so the, I, there is certainly, Baker has a lower floor than Purdy does. I think there is, I think that's undeniable. But I think Baker is a better player than Brock Purdy. I think that Baker is asked to do more than Brock Purdy and has a harder job than Brock Purdy, and I think he'll have a better season. So they should usually like the contract

as a indicator of how much the team respects the quarterback. And Purdy signed a pretty deal, and the bucks are keeping their pocketbooks. Yeah, I don't love that. I don't love that. but I also think I wouldn't have given the contract that they gave to Purdy to Purdy, and I think last year, had they waited a year, they wouldn't have given it to him. You know what I mean?

Like last year, him being injured and not being great was not, yeah, was not, and seeing what Mack Jones did. Mack is, all seriousness, Mac is a, I wouldn't say as high as Darno could be, but I could see Mack resurrecting his career. Resurrection. That's right. Pro Bowl quarterback could do somewhere. Not in the Niners, but somewhere.

Three days, nine hours and 59 seconds until we see Messi in action again, this time in Kansas City, taking on Switzerland on Fox. But are they on upset alert? Find out next in tears. You know, I hear Messi's looking at phones. Oh, wow, who goes? Is that true? The 2026 Chevrolet tracks is the stylish SUV for those on the move.

And with the standard Chevy safety assist package, you have the backup to handle every turn with confidence. The 2026 tracks. Start your build at Chevrolet.ca. Second hour, first things first. Today, Messi has the golden bootlead, but the one part of his game that he might have to abandon,

and it's an easy part. Meanwhile, where is LeBron headed? Bob Myers and the Sixers make their direct pitch for Rich Paul. Very interesting. Let me get you caught up on what's been going on last night in an emergency Zoom session

from the power and light district in Kansas City, while on the verge of dismantling his messy Legos, an elite committee of experts, broadcasters, and fans of gut health, fought and toiled and burned the midnight oil

to deliver the best segment in all of sports. It's an honor, and it's a privilege. It's time for World Cup quarterfinal tiers. Indeed, it is. Only eight teams remaining on the tiers, which whenever we get down to this few, teams, the tiers can look suspiciously similar to a power ranking. Oh, my God.

They better not. Each team. I could have got a USA Today for that much. No, that's for standings. USA Today does not have gotten the FIFA rankings. Duh. Printed in USA Today. So this would not be the FIFA rankings.

And that is an important distinction. However, it is one team per tier because it's another eight mile. These, it's not an eight mile thing. You guys might as well reference one flew over the cuckoo's nest. Do you realize how old eight miles is? No one else has done it. Great move. It is because these 40 teams in the biggest World Cup ever have all been eliminated.

Poor USA. Yeah. And Brazil. You hate to see it. All the hosts. Everybody. Oh, you did it in order, right? I just, you know what?

It's not left to right, but I kind of did it as the, you know, my fondness. My flag knowledge has gone through the roof. Through the roof. That would be a fun game. Can you, I didn't? No, it was probably should be. The R. Congo higher. All right.

There you go. Bottom of the tears. More than watches and chocolate. It's true. Switzerland. Did you know here are the four teams that have made at least the round of 16 at each of the last four World Cups? France, they're pretty good.

Argentina, they're pretty good. Brazil, they used to be pretty good. And Switzerland. Four consecutive trips to at least the round of 16. This is their deepest trip into the tournament since the 50s. They're the bottom of the tiers, but they're still there. There, 2011 Mavs, question mark.

Belgium. People thought they missed their window. People thought their best player was a little past his prime. People thought their other best players were definitely past their prime. We're talking about Dirk Novitsky, Jason Kidd, Sean Marion, Jason Terry, or you're talking about Lakaku, DeBriana, and Belgium. Additionally, the path seemed impossible. For Belgium, it only gets, maybe the U.S. didn't seem impossible,

even though they were the underdogs, but you're staring at Spain. and then probably France, and then Argentina or England, could they be the 2011 maps? Hmm. Odin, aka a literal Viking god. Oh. Listen. During the Norse mythology, Odin was the god of death and warfare. And I'm not saying that Erling Holland is a violent man, but it felt like he inflicted violence upon me Sunday afternoon at New York, New Jersey Stadium,

sitting in front of Ronaldo, Ronaldino and Kaffu watching all of us I gotta be honest. I think I was a little more upset than those guys. Because they knew. I don't think that's why. I think it's a... You don't know how good you had it when we were there.

Yeah. Yeah, I think it's a little... You miss us a little bit. Sure. Listen, I... OdeGard's awesome, and you've done a really good job, Dax, of throughout the tournament, mentioning him, we mentioned Holland.

But I've never... And I don't think this is prisoner another moment, I don't think it's hyperbole to say he's at, I think he's now at 59 goals in 54 games in his career for Norway. It's genuinely incredible. I think it's more. I think it's more. I think it's way more.

In his career for Norway, I'm pretty sure he's at 54 games. And maybe the goal is right around, maybe it's at 60 now. But it's just, it's a huge sample of games played for Norway where he has average. more than a goal a game. It's bananas. That's why Norway is where they are. Slayed all the Giants, but won. We mentioned this earlier, Morocco against top 10 opponents over the last couple years,

but they have beaten Spain. They have, they drew Brazil, they beat the Netherlands, they beat Belgium. They have had such great history against the best European and South American teams in the world. except for the semi-final against France, which again was a good game. France scored immediately and then it was 1-0 until late. France then added one late.

They now, I'm certain, the moment the brackets came out, Norway wasn't looking past anybody, but they knew this was the game where they could get their get back. We'll see if they do tomorrow in Boston. Now or never question mark for England. So listen, England has an awesome group of 20 somethings on the roster.

The Declan Rice, Obviously, Bellingham is phenomenal. But the guy who is considered the best player in the history of the country, Harry Kane, is 32. They have also really good and expensive goalkeepers on their roster, but their starting goalkeeper is also 32. England that has come so close, so many times, including losing back-to-back Eurofinals, being in the semifinals of this tournament. tournament with Harry Kane, but has not lifted a national trophy in 60 years. This might be your best, last best chance to do it with Harry Kane. See if they can.

I'm sure they are very happy about their draw, their side of the bracket, their little region where they are big favorites over Norway. Writing their own fantasy, Argentina. And while writing their own fantasy, they're ruining everyone else's. Cape Verde was a Hollywood movie, up to and including the guy running into the stands, like cartoonishly in a way you wouldn't believe in a movie. And then Argentina ruins it porn. Egypt, after really going through kind of a lot of some tough moments for them during this World Cup off the field,

dealing with different security and things like that, and their players being the deepest they've ever been, being up to nothing late against Argentina. saying nobody believed in us and then Argentina once again writes their own fantasy. It is unbelievable, and Tieri said this himself, from a Hollywood perspective, that this could possibly be that Leonel Messi, who three World Cups ago, it was discussed or two World Cups ago when they lost to France, assuredly, this is Leonel Messi's last game with Argentina in the World Cup, to then come back and win it. And then maybe come back and win it again

while leading the tournament and goals, it's unfathomable. Okay, W, I did this one for you. Last three World Cups for France. 16 wins one draw. That is. This is blasphemy. The, what?

Everyone's gonna get their chance. So here is France at the last three World Cups. They have, scored 44 goals. They've allowed 15. We are excluded. They are two games I'm not including because they were the final group stage game when they'd already clinched the group. Okay. Yeah. So that's why. So in the last 17 games they've played that matter. 16 wins. One draw, the draw was the World Cup final against Argentina. What many people think is the greatest game ever played. And they've been utterly dominant. So why are they not

atop the tiers? Because you can't lose a shutout. Now, let me tell you. I understand. Technically, while it gives zero, zero, you're losing penalty kicks. I'm extending the shutout to penalty kicks. If your goalie never allows a goal, you can't lose. Game could go on for infinite time. To the sun burns out.

But Spain, whose best player is yet to play that well, in my opinion, has just utterly dominated on the defensive end to such an extent, combined with the fact that I do think, you know, they believe they can beat France. They right now, out of respect for what they did against Portugal, are atop the tiers. One nothing against Portugal versus one nothing against Paraguay. To me, Spain gets the nod. Dax, your thoughts. Well, I think we can all at the desk agree that finally, finally,

tears is not tainted by Brazil. You know what I'm looking at. It's big more. Finally. That hasn't been updated in days. That hasn't been updated in days, all right? That needs to get updated probably today. France has to be on top.

You got to flip Spain and France. No question about it. France has been on top of your tiers, the entire tournament. And I understand that the defensive dominance of Spain has been highly impressive. Listen, you're speaking to a defensive midfield. Yeah, exactly. I appreciate a good clean sheet. I appreciate an excellent midfield.

excellent midfield, which is what Spain has, and their backline is excellent. But if we can get the graphic up of France in this attack, it is almost something like we've never seen before. The fact that they are overperforming their expected goals the way they are, the fact that they have three players that have scored more than two goals, Laminia Mall hasn't hit his peak yet. I agree 100%. We have yet to see the best out of him. It does seem to. to me, like he is still trying to ramp up to 100%. He doesn't quite trust his body yet. And he is almost there.

I think that is a scary prospect for the rest of the field. But when you have an attack that is overperforming your expected goals like that, it kind of breaks all the models. And Boppe has an off game. Awesome. You know who's going to score a hat trick? Dembele, the rating Belondeur winner. Both of those guys have an off game. You know who the best playmaker in the tournament is?

Michael Elisa. So you have three players who can all change a game for you. So the Spanish player, the Spanish team, I don't believe, has run into a gauntlet of teams that have really tested them. Even Portugal, who I was like Portugal's maybe a dark horse, best midfield in the tournament. Their attack never really even threatened Spain. We are on a crash course, an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.

And I've been on record and I'll stay on record as saying, you have to be able to score multiple goals if you want to beat France. I believe that if they meet in the semifinal, that shutout straight comes to an end. And then do you trust Ojarzabal? Do you trust Bayena? Do you trust Laminia Mall, who only has one goal in this tournament, to be able to keep up with that attack? I don't see it.

France should be on top. Listen, you make great points across the board. Here's the only thing. When I see, I have a different reaction when I see the actual goals being that much higher than the expected goals. Regression to the mean. My old favorite, cousin, regression to the mean.

Seems like they are playing even by their great standards. This is running a little hot, running a little hot on the goals that they're scoring. That's all I'm saying? This is what elite attacking players do. They break models. Sure. That's just what they do.

That's totally fair. Nick, congratulations on getting the top of the tears right. I thought you love it. I'm telling you guys, Spain, all stuff. cup so that's right you don't score on them um but i have beef with the lower portion of the tears i am moving england ahead of argentina now like i said england i expect england and argentina to meet in the semis and england to prevail i they just showed me i was so impressed

with what they did in mexico first team ever to win in the azteca in the world cup visiting team So mentally, I thought they showed incredible toughness. Obviously, they had the skill on the pitch. And they've got two guys playing great. Harry Kane, obviously, but also Bellingham is now playing well. And Argentina, look, they have gotten by, you know, by the skin of their teeth in these last two games, despite having the easiest path to the quarterfinals, haven't played a top 20 team. and they've been pushed.

And so I do think that's going to come to an end when they meet England. And so I would put England ahead of it. It's interesting because England obviously had as big of, maybe even a bigger scare than Argentina did against D.R. Congo and had to pull one out of the fire there. The Mexico game is fascinating because I picked Mexico to win and I thought that was an amazing game.

and it showed amazing fortitude by them to be able to win. I also felt like at the end of that first half, they were up to one and had been thoroughly outplayed for 40 of the minutes. You know, they had those two, Mexico missed those chances. England had those two brilliant minutes in two minutes, two goals in two minutes, pardon me. So I, it, let me say this, and then go to UKW. I have more confidence that if Argentina finds themselves down two goals,

again that they will find a way out of it than if England goes. I know England, you know, down to Congo, found a way to steal that game. I think it is going to take a, I think, a three-goal deficit for Argentina to be shaken again in this tournament. You know what I mean? Interesting. And so a lot of people thought it should have been a three-gold deficit. Yeah. That's fair.

Right. Not to open up that cat. I'm taking Bruce. and raising it. All right. I don't think Argentina gets to play England. I think Switzerland needs to move up above Belgium, mostly because I'm just upset at Belgium for embarrassing us.

So I'll just move Switzerland up. But it's really about Switzerland, Argentina. You talked about their Argentina's opponents. Here's how total goals given up and scored in the knockout rounds. It is. Argentina has scored six goals. Fantastic. They have given up four, almost five, if you want to count it. France, perfect four and O, Spain, four and O. England's given up a few.

And look at Switzerland. Well, they're playing. That's how they're trying to play. And it works. Two goals, none against. Now let's look at Switzerland in the first, what is it, 75 minutes of the game. Switzerland has scored six goals, having given up a goal. Argentina has scored six, but has given up four. Argentina has scored eight goals in the final 15 minutes.

And then they turn it on a little bit. They never say die, man. That's a heart of a chance. That does, that makes me more confident in Argentina. Well, look, it just feels like they've been hanging in third gear and then can just. Maybe. The defense giving up four goals in the first 75 is what I'm more. It's teams can score them.

Cabo Verde can score. Argentina hasn't played well in the last two games. But it's been exciting. It has been. No, and they're escaping. How many times are they going to allow themselves to do that before they run out of match? And they're yet to play a top 20 team in the tournament. So they, in the world.

One glaring issue here. Go ahead. A lot of these things come down a penalty kicks. And all of a sudden, the best. Okay, it's been eight. Yeah, but you know one of the makes? He's missed two in the World Cup final. It's one of the makes.

Okay. I totally get it. But if you were to be worried, this is the reason to be worried. He missed one. That won't happen again. He missed another one. Dax, he's changed his style. He's kind of changed his run up because it's like in his head.

Yes, absolutely. What do you think Argentina does? I think that he will still take penalties, but I absolutely think that he is questioning himself and second guessing himself. He's the greatest player of all time. should be supremely confident. But right now, the change in tactic and the change in runup shows me that he's kind of waffling a little bit. He's kind of wavering.

And now goalkeepers, like, Messi, the last couple penalties is taking an MLS. He'll stutter. He'll wait for the goalkeeper. He puts in the corner. Right now, goalkeepers, they have the upper hand on him in penalties right now. But I think he'll be strong enough to step up and take it again. Can I ask you how important confidence is when you're taking a penalty from firsthand experience? That is the most important thing.

You're not confident. You can't. Wow. Lock in, dude. Look at that. Now that was confidence. Boom. Bam.

Let's see that face again. Leagues Cup. I knew that was. Same thing. That was a game winner too. Let's go. Go. Elliot Panico legend.

Look at that. That's what I like. Don't breeze that. Oh, yeah. Look at the crowd. That's awesome. No doubt. Great.

No doubt. Counterpoint on Messi. Yeah. He's really only missed won this World Cup. And it didn't even, the goal, he just made a great play. That first one that he missed, and that was to break the record. He didn't want that to be the highlight. Oh, that's amazing.

He didn't want that to be how he passed closer. That's so good. He was like, I got something better for you later. And then he hit it from outside the box. He was like, that's going to be the highlight. Not some silly penalty. LeBron weighing the calves, the heat, and the Sixers. We discussed.

We're also counting down to England. Norway, three days, five hours, 36 minutes. That's on five. So before we get to that, here's Darren Flesser. First thing's first band. Remember he said he's going to work in some catchphrase? Take a listen to this one. Saka didn't get there.

Swarres for Columbia. Poor finish. Shaka wants a free kick, but he has to be stronger there. And that's a really good sight of goal for Suarez. Well, Swares is pointing at the pitch. I think he says it bubbles up. Hamas wanted him to play it into him. He made a brilliant run just to the right of.

Let's have a look. Does it bubble? Get off. No, not at all. No, not at all. That's just a bad swing. Sometimes you've got to point the finger at other people. That's like a lot of your T-shots. What, far right? Do you know what?

10 out of 10 for blaming the pitch. Yeah. I don't mind that at all. You just create an element of doubt. So the manager doesn't know. Hammers was looking at and thinking, why didn't you pass me the ball? To be fair, if I was in, I would have shot it as well. Well, did Nick right?

tell me to say, I don't like that. I love it. He's taken a few games to get it in, Nick, then there you go. I don't mind that whatsoever. I don't know. I didn't like the shot, I'll tell you that. Oh, dear. There are people ducking at the front row of the crowd.

Welcome back to First Things First, Mbapé, feeling confident. One day, four hours. Oh, in their belly. He's saying, don't. Oh, and Elise, my sticker collection is going great. I got to tell you something. What? you keep referencing the sticker stuff.

Yeah. I need someone else to be in enough that I know you've told me about it. Yeah. But it must just be when I tune you out. Because I, every time you bring it up, I have no idea what you're talking about. Yesterday when you mentioned it, I was like, is that the thing Kevin Wilde says its own of? No. That's like a trading card. No, no, no. I don't know what you're talking about. No, this is, if you got into this, you would lose your mind. Well, you keep trying to get me into it. And then I just, I just, I don't know what you're talking. Fresh off of a shirtless workout video on an exercise ball. LeBron still weighing his options with the calves, heat, and sixers as the reported top three destinations. 76ers president, Bob Myers, sat down with Max Kellerman and LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, on the Game Over podcast to make a pitch about Philadelphia.

Take a listen. If I, he was here, I'd say, I honestly believe this is your best chance to win. You have to decide all. the other things that are equally important. What I would just say is if it's about winning and that, let's talk about this team, because you can win here in Philadelphia. Okay, bro. Three favorites.

What do you think about Bob Myers? And is that what do you think, Cavs Heat Sixers? It's a tough choice. I think all three of those teams would be legitimate contenders with LeBron. Yonis in Miami. I mean, the temptation to play with Yonis. is great, right? I mean, can you imagine LeBron and Janis together?

Not to mention Bam, right? Out of biol. Yeah. But their lack of shooting is incredibly problematic. Like, what is the spacing going to look like with that team? I know they got Andrew Wiggins, who they, oh, Tim Hardaway Jr. I still think that's the worst option. And Davian Mitchell, yeah, those Mitchells improved this three-point shooting.

But I agree, I just don't think they have enough shooting. Spacing would really be a problem. Philadelphia, look, if I could trust Joel M.B., it would be a no-brainer. That would easily be your best chance to win. But not only do I not trust M.B. to be healthy, even this playoff run, he missed a bunch of, you know, almost half the games, maybe half of the games, in this run.

And I just think it's really difficult to have a great player in and out of the line. Because with MB, we play one way. Without him, we play another way. And that's just tough to win at the highest level. And I also think, Nick, when you look at those four perimeter players, I'm throwing LeBron in there. Maxie, Edgecombe, Jalen Brown, and LeBron. I know, we know LeBron can adjust.

He showed it in L.A. But all of those dudes won a ball. Like, I mean, really score. Maxie's going to have the ball. Ed's Combe is a young player trying to show he's a star so he can get that max contract. Jalen has a ton to prove now. You know he's got a chip on his shoulder.

And then you got LeBron in there. I just think that could be clunky. Even as LeBron can play the Swiss Army knife, he was doing it as a third option in L.A. Now, I can't even imagine him as a fourth. It just would be, yeah, yeah. Yes, that's a great way to put it. So Cleveland, you look at Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jared Allen, LeBron.

That's nice. That team is a good team. They just don't have the mental toughness. LeBron obviously brings that. Hardin is the clunky fit. But look, in the playoffs, if LeBron were to go there, in the playoffs, LeBron's obviously got the ball at the end of the game. You don't worry about Hardin, struggles.

with it. He's now the fourth option. I'm not worried about him getting eight points, all right? And then in the regular season, I think they kind of alternate handling the ball and stuff like that. Hardin can play off the ball occasionally because he can shoot and LeBron can be off the ball. I don't even think LeBron wants to be the main ball handler for 40 minutes anymore, 35 minutes, whatever.

So I am going to go with, wow. I'm so, I'm so. excited about him returning potentially I think he's going to bear while you give it a try I just it's going to work because it's all about the land now okay again this doesn't make any editorial sense I also think he's going to go to Cleveland yes I'm rooting for him to go to Cleveland yes I like Donovan Mitchell yes so it's not about my belief or anything so this should work yes Doesn't make any sense.

And you broke it again. You always hit it. It'll work for you. I don't know if they're my answer, but I just want to see there's something wrong with the button. It doesn't make sense. It is you. It doesn't make sense. I don't know why we're doing it.

So here's the thing. I've grown to love it, though. I think you are yada yotting, for lack of a better term, the hardened clunkiness a little more than I would. You know, not as big of a deal as it would be. Yes, yeah. And it also does feel, I am, and maybe I am focusing a little too much on the LeBron to the fan, they tried to put me on the shelf. And LeBron to JJ, not JJ, Steve Nash, pardon me, in the pod saying, you know,

I saw what role I needed to play and I was good with it for now, I think he said, or for the time being. I don't think I just think him being in the same back or in the same perimeter players as Donovan Mitchell and James Harden presents a very similar situation

as he could have stayed in in Los Angeles which is let's just put Donovan Mitchell in the Luca position where okay he's aren't he won't have the ball as much but he's the team's best player and going to be number one score you also are asking me to adjust

my game more than a guy who I am better than Austin Reeves or James Harden because they can only play one way and I'm now having to do this kind of weird thing which is why I do think I think from a storybook perspective Cleveland makes way more sense than Philly if Philly's an option then Minnesota's an option then Denver's an option then you know a bunch of places in the west that's probably sure that that could be a big reason why to be fair It's also why if I'm Cleveland, I am really annoying messiahsieri on like, okay, let's really, what do we have to attach to a James Hardin sign and trade to get Kyrie Irving? Can we just? No, I'm very interested in that.

Can we, you know, you know, we can Matt make it to where the contract, like James is happy with the contract, but it also won't be onerous to you guys. You guys are, your window is not this moment anyway. What type of things can we make you? How can we flip out Hardin for Kyrie? Because that, I think, would get them. Let's unpack that. Yeah. No, that's what I'm trying to figure out what's the win for Dallas there.

The picks that. Just a bunch of picks. Yeah, Cleveland. Which won't be great. No. It'll be lower first round. Of course. But again, or maybe far enough down the road that they think they could be great.

You know what I mean? If we're talking about picks for obviously post-Lebron and then the lottery system But I want to go a different route and unpacking that. To me, I don't think Donovan, LeBron Hardin, LeBron is going to be the second guy. It's not going to be like it was with the Lakers where it was like, okay, Luca, Austin, LeBron.

You know what? Like, I think Hardin clearly just becomes the third guy of that trio. And he gets in where he fits in. and then if you were to bring Kyrie now obviously he and LeBron have a great relationship great history and all that but that's not that's still three guys and I think Kyrie at this point is better than Hardin so does LeBron still be in that third role so but I just think he would be more willing to accept that role with Kyrie and with Kyrie's very you very keyre's again it's it's been a while since we've seen in it but his postseason history is so different

than Hardens. Oh, yeah. That we know the fits great. And I think the one thing Cleveland, whether it's Hardin or Kyrie, that's not going to be a good defensive team. You have Donovan and whether it's Hardin or Kyrie or bad defensive guards. You have room protection. We're still not going to be able to stop guys at point of attack.

So the solve for that is what if we are just an A plus offense? And I think Kyrie helps that more than Donovan because I think that, I'm sorry, more than Hardin. Because I agree with that. who's best asset offensively at this point is the playmaking, LeBron can do that. You know what I mean? Like when LeBron's on the ball and Donovan and Kyrie are not spotting up,

so to speak, but, you know, out on the wings, you got the big, that just works. I like that. So if they, if they can't move hard and,

which I agree. I still think he goes to Cleveland. I think Cleveland's most likely. It's just not as quite as seamless as I would like. I don't really want to hit it one more time. Go for it. Please love. Come on, man.

Come on. Nice. Look, I think it's going to work. And Holland steal the golden boot. That's next. We're counting down to Norway, England. Odd box in Miami. I don't get it.

I just don't get why it doesn't work for a lot. I can. I don't understand why it works for the show. This spring, denim gets a softer, lighter update. Introducing Old Navy's drapey denim wide legs. A new fit that moves with you. It's everything you want denim to feel like for summer. Easy, breathable, and effortlessly cool.

With a fit that creates natural movement and a wide leg that feels modern, not overwhelming. Plus, that signature, wait, for this price, moment. Old Navy's drapey denim wide leg. Welcome back to first things first. Argentina, Switzerland, on Fox in Kansas City in three days. Arthur Bryant and some of the other A little worried about Argentina after this game. After this, you think they're going to destroy it?

Well, they're going to beat Switzerland, and then I think they're going to be so sad about having, they've spent so much time in Kansas City that this is their final game there. Oh, yeah. They know they're about to have to leave. Maybe they can get a nice little spot. There's only, you know, a couple nonstop flights a day,

Kansas City to Buenos Aires, so it's hard to get back. Can you get, is there a nonstop flight from Kansas City to Buenos Aires? That would be really. With a goal yesterday, Messi extends his lead in the golden boot race. Eight so far. Mbapap and Holland have seven. Harry Kane has six, but they've all been quality. Dembele, Orozabal, and Jude have four apiece.

We'll start with you, Dax. Who do you think wins it? And bonus question. I'll wait for the bonus question once we go around. The bonus question is interesting. Okay. Okay. Mr. World Cup knockout round himself, Killian Mbapé.

Ooh. I have France winning the whole tournament, meaning I have France playing more games than Argentina. I have France playing more games than Norway. So I think the biggest challenger to that title, if my bracket is to hold true, would actually be Harry Kane. Because they, he has France. He basically doing your prediction. If I'm basing it off that, which I am, I do believe Mbapé is going to win it. And this might sound contradictory, but I do believe having other world-class attacking players around you opens up space for you.

Classic. And if Mbapé... Two great wide receivers theory. Yeah, and I think it absolutely is pertinent for this French national team now, because I believe Mbaparte can score goals in a myriad of different ways. And he isn't the physical profile that Harry Kane and Erling Holland are. He isn't the, let's call it, maybe all-round special player that Lino Messey is, but he is an out-and-out goal score. And this is where he has, I think, adapted in his career.

No, no, no. And if you're going to give him layups, then he's obviously going to take them. But he can score a goal in so many different ways and why I believe that he's going to win the Golden Boot because France is going to win the tournament. He can do things like that one-v-one that other players simply can't. Holland doesn't score goals like that. Kane doesn't really score goals like that. Messi at times, he still likes to go 1v1 and score goals like that,

but a lot of the other players are relying on service and relying on teammates opening up space for them. I think Mbapé is the favorite to win it. I hope you're right because I really like Mbapé. I want him to get it. He's obviously going to end up, well, barring injury and stuff being the World Cup All-time Leading goal score. But I'm going to go with Messi.

Because one, I just, they have the easier path. Like, Mbabe, they got to play Spain. Yeah. And how many goals are they going to score in that game, win or lose, you know? Or Messey, I just think, has the easier path. And so I do think he'll end up winning it. I think Messey locks it up this weekend. Oh, multi.

I think Messey scores two this weekend. Holland is knocked out of the tournament. this weekend. So he's gone. I don't think Kane is going to, you know, score five more this tournament. The tie breaker is assists. Messi is in good position on that front.

And I think, you know, Hakemi and Morocco's entire, not their entire focus, but a focus of trying to slow down Mbapes. We talked about Spain, which hasn't allowed a goal. Meanwhile, Messi gets Switzerland,

again, credit to Switzerland, but I think he is, I think he could get two this weekend and 10 just wins it. Like that even if he doesn't make the final, Mbapé can't get to 11 because Messi's going to be ahead of him. In assists, I think it's not guaranteed, but probably. I also just, can we show the two world, the golden boot graphics I have? One is, show whichever one you want first us.

I don't really care. So again, this is the last six golden boot winners. The fact that eight has been good enough to win at every World Cup this century, and a guy already has eight, it's just, like, somebody could get eight and not finish podium in this World Cup for Golden Boot. Yeah. And then the, well, one more. The extra game, I agree, Drew. The extra game definitely plays a part of it. But not yet.

It's not like, you know what I mean? Like, the extra game has not impacted it yet. And here's the old time race. I mean, again, Eust Fontaine has a sizable lead. And I understand this is, again, an extra game. This is where this would impact it. But that's on the board here. Oh, they breaks the record.

That he ties the record. I don't think he can get, I don't think he can get six more goals. He's got three games left maximum. Well, looking at this graphic, the fact. that you have three players that have gotten to double-digit goals in a World Cup, and you have arguably three or four in one World Cup

that could realistically get there is still a stunning display of quality. And here's the other thing. It has been 60 years since someone scored more than eight goals in a World Cup. 60 years. I would, and I'm not,

I'm excited about the more goals scoring. Like, I love it. But, and I'm not trying to poo-poo with the, guys are doing, it's been great. But not only do you have an extra game, that extra game is against teams that might not even have been in the World Cup. Yes. And, you know, if it was still at 32 teams. No, that's definitely. You heard it here. Brew hates Cape Verde. No, no, that's a fair. That's a fair. You know what it is absolutely fair. But also, those records are from when, if you look in the,

a lot of these World Cup games were like six to four. Like the game, The game has played very soccer in the 60s was not that dissimilar from basketball in the 60s. Like, we're going up and down. By the way, you could pass it back to the goalkeeper, you could pick it up. Yeah. And you just booted up a few. Go, KW. Bonus question.

It's best for soccer worldwide if who wins the Golden Group. Messy. Messy just adds. Absolutely. The story that he is writing at his age right now is incredible. unfathomable, unthinkable, pick any adjective you want. It's truly historic, genuinely.

Let me ask you, can I throw in something quick? Now, he's not in the running, but had Yamae been having like a great term, and he was in the running, would have been better? I think so. He's kind of the guy. It's like, guess what? Guess who's taking the mantle from Messi? By the way, with one goal.

Well, yeah, he's not. Payne is two goals away from tying Closa at 16. Remember, Closa was the all-time. leader going into this tournament. It was the all-time leader for a long time. Harry Kane could end this tournament with more career world cup goals than Closa and be third all-time.

This is the biggest loser of this tournament. Miroslav Closa. You got a loser in the podium spot. Poor guy. It was still up there. It was like when Sammy Sosa was like, by the way, I hit over 61 home runs several times. No one talks about it.