First Things First - Portugal beats Croatia, Spain beats Austria, World Cup Title Pie, Should Lakers fans be happy?

Episode Date: July 3, 2026

(0:00) Portugal beats Croatia 2-1, Spain beats AUstria 3-0 (27:27) Would LeBron have been a good fit on the Knicks? (39:06) Faith restored in Portugal? (46:17) Title Pie (01:07:52) Should Lakers fans be happy? (01:17:54) Brazil or England on Upset Alert? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 One and experience the FIFA World Cup live. Cuccarea with a crop. Is there something on the end of all this? Yonka and the Spaniards, Philip Cukurea's ball air, into the round of 16. After review, Croatia player number 13, holds his opponent.

With two arms. Cristiano Ronaldo. Mattiep. Ravichich was right. Take Matavovich. From New York. It's a show that hasn't yet been invited to Travis and Taylor's wedding.

I think it's today. And maybe we're like, you know, on Will Call or something. Tickets will be there or... No, we got invited. We did. Yeah, but we have, you know, we're... Brew work for the... the gray lady. We're journalists.

We can't sign the NDAs. We can't. So I, I respectfully declined on the show's behalf. I don't want to put Brew in a bad spot. That's true. I like Travis a lot. Not that interested in going to know. That's the other thing. Have a good time.

Oh, I was going to go. I didn't. I got to tell you, it conflicted with what has been my schedule for the last three weeks. Just watching 10 hours of soccer every day. Just eyes bleeding. When is this Switzerland game will end? Yeah, I think so. I don't know.

Madison Square Garden, bro. I know it was at the garden. First hour, first things first. Today, messy in action tonight. Will his goal streak continue? One person here says no. Wait to you hear this take coming up. Meanwhile, LeBron to New York. Is there a chance? He joins the chance. Oh my. Ends up playing where Travis and Taylor are getting married. And finally, who's got the largest slice of title pie? Is it France? Will we have a pie? And will Argentina be going home?

Stop. Argentina going home tonight? Tonight? Stop, buddy. Upset alert? I mean, that would be great for Brazil and really clear out a whole quadrant of the bracket. It's very interesting.

It would be awesome for Brazil. It would be awesome for Brazil. That opens it all up for him. Alongside Chris Resort, Kevin Wilde, Nick Wright, new lights, I feel like I'm better. are lit. Wow. You always look great.

I don't know if the lights are new or... Definitely no. It's brighter. It feels different. Start in Toronto. Croatia scores first, but Ronaldo evens the game on a successful PK. Portugal jumps ahead in an extra time. And then in the 100 and second minute, a ball pressure off sides takes the goal off the board.

If Croatia had missed this head ball header completely, the goal would have stood. The goal would have stood, but since it grazed his hair and registered a blip of pressure, called like a heartbeat monitor, was offside, no goal in Croatia and Luca Madrach go home. Were Ronaldo and Portugal lucky to advance, Nick? It's interesting because the first 30 minutes of the game, Croatia was lucky not to be down to nothing. Portugal dominated the first half, but it wasn't showing up on the score sheet. But the second half Croatia dominated them, and that goal got called off. Another goal got called off by off sides that was very, very close.

It was four goals. Right. And two and two, right? Correct. And I thought one of the Portuguese goals was a blatant off sides, and the two Croatian goals were very, very close. And so I'm, listen, Luca Madritch and, you know, relatively speaking, this small country of Croatia had made back-to-back semifinals.

They had made a final. He's the oldest, he's older than Ronaldo. He's the oldest guy in the tournament. And to have their guts ripped out like that, along with mine, my hot street came to an end. Oh, I'm sorry. Croatia, just plus a half goal. Well, you know what? They're connected.

They're connected, bro. And so that, you know, there was some lucky elements to it. But my biggest takeaway from the game was, Portugal is now officially a very dangerous team. Wow. Because their manager, Roberto Martinez, had the courage to take Ronaldo out in what could have been the final game of his career. Right. Like if they lose, it's over.

Potential final game of his career for Portugal. It worked out. His replacement scored. And I think all of us saw how much best. better they look when they have their best players on the field and not trying to play through Ronaldo. And I think now you're going to potentially in their next game against Spain, he's going to be more willing to do that. And if Portugal... To take him out? Yes.

Yeah, I think he would have taken him out before he scored a goal? I probably not. But now he has scored a goal in a knockout round. That, you know what I mean? That box has been checked. And now they're trying to win the damn world. Cup. And he took him out in a tie game. Correct. He wasn't into it. No, he was. He celebrated the goal, but he was not into it at the moment. And so I just think, I think they, they crossed that Rubicon brew of that we can we can take this guy out if the game demands it. They won in large part because of that.

I text my buddy who I also bet Croatia with me. The moment Rinaldo came out, I said, we're going to lose. I said Portugal. Like I, one of the reasons I didn't believe in Portugal was, I thought he hurt them, and I thought he was hurting them yesterday. The penalty is fine. Whatever, he's a great penalty taker still. And so, yeah, I think they are a little lucky, but I also think now they're quite dangerous. And it wasn't his direct sub that scored the goal. No, he was in before, yeah.

But it was one of the sub. It was a group of four they sent in a little earlier. He was one of those. But I do agree with your analysis of the Ronaldo situation. Like they, I'm sure he'll start him in the next game against Spain, but I think he'll be, you know, can take him out earlier because he took him out in, like I said, a tie game. But no, I don't think they got lucky. It was, Croatia is a very good team. It was a tough, hard fought game just like I expected.

But I think Portugal clearly showed there's a slightly better team. And this graphic shows in the statistics, I mean, more expected goals, possession. is pretty significant. Dules. I love duels. One, you know, that's important. So, and then you talk about the late goal taken away from Croatia. We could talk about that goal taken away from Rinaldo. Yes.

That second goal, which I was talking with Josh about it earlier. If you just had the eye test, if there were just referees up in the box looking at it, I think you would have given that goal to him. It was by a hair. But the VAR is so precise that it show he clearly was offside. That was crazy precise. And then if it was, but yeah, so this was, I would have said that by the feeling of the law, that's on side to me. Yeah, because especially think about the NFL rule where it's like, ah, it's too close to overturn.

That would have been in that. Yeah. And that was a great, that was a great play by Ronaldo. But so I just think with all those things considered, again, it was what I expected. I thought Croatia had a good chance to win. I picked Portugal in a tough game, and that's what it was. So, no, I don't think they got lucky. It was just a hard-fought win.

I do think that the second storyline here is replays VAR. I want to see where you land on. I will read you. We just saw a bruise VAR. It's like, okay, his elbow or something was off sides. This is from FIFA media about the final goal. IMU sensors housed within the Trianda ball are capable of deterrential. any slight contact displaying to viewers in the broadcast as a, quote, heartbeat graphic

and allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions. It did kind of hit him. So, but here's, this is my issue. I have a lot of issues with replay in sports, not the least of which is fitness and endurance and being able to play continuously is a huge part of this sport. and the delays and the caused by the reviews impact the game. They alter it in a way because it's like we have these stoppages, their free timeouts, all of that.

But my other issue, and this is one Brew and I have sometimes agreed on, sometimes disagreed on is I have a different definition of getting things right than I think some people. I do not think that because of technology, being able to, to say, oh, for the entirety of the history of this sport, we wouldn't have known that grazed his hair. Now we do. So even so the fact, this would have been a goal for 200 years of soccer. It's not now. I don't think that's getting it right. I think that. But that literally is. So I know, that's what you always say. You always say, no. So that that's where I, so that's, again, I, I,

You can just say spirit of the game or something like that. I'm acknowledging that I, like I said, I have a different definition of right than I think some people do. I think that when if the technology advances far past, this is, this could be a constitutional argument almost. If technology advances so far past where it was when the rules were written, you are not getting it right by applying the written rules to the new technology. And so I don't, so that's where I, this is why I have just always had a hard and fast line. I do not like

replay in sports. Yes, you do occasionally fix an obvious, egregious error. And in those instances, we say, oh, thank goodness we had it. But far more often to me, you have rules, the, offside's rule was written to prevent cherry picking. You know what I mean? To prevent guys from just hanging out by the goal. They're like, we can't have that. And now the mission creep of, well, you have to draw a line somewhere. We have drawn the line.

And the other thing is, I don't know that I fully think the technology's infallible. It's like, okay, the VAR sensor says this. They tell us there's a thing in the ball. They showed us that heartbeat monitor. You know when the heartbeat monitor doesn't move at all? when it bounces off the dudes back right after it. So I don't know, was it turned off for a second? Like, that to me seemed like a recreation, not an actual,

this is what the monitor is showing us, because it shows no other spikes. The ball gets kicked a quarter second later. It stays flat. So I just, I don't like it. Wildet talking. No, I brew, I say this, that's not fair. I say this about replay across the board.

I don't think it makes the games better. It's happened in like there, you can see it in, I think it's happened in tennis where, the ball is in because the compression of the ball when it strikes hits the line. But you would always call it out, but the ball compresses and then it's on the line. It can steal great moments.

How about it? It can definitely, that would have been a great moment. And you're right. Historically, it would have been history. Can I ask you one quick question on the right or wrong thing? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going to take one of these balls.

We have it. This is great. We're playing basketball. and I've used this example before. But this is a good example. I have the ball. I'm going to say, KW, knock it out of my hands, if you will. Just slap it down. Just slap it down.

Oh, down. Slap it down. So he knocks it out of my hands. Right. For every, for all of basketball, all of our lives. Who hit it out? That's out on him. You agree? Like, I have it. He slaps it. It goes out of bounds. That's always been out on him.

What we have learned because of replay is actually quite often, it's not. No, of course. Quite often because it has to hit your hand. was it like goes off the bottom of my pinky. Right. I don't think it is getting it right to call that out on me. And I think- You're trying to change the definition of right.

Well, I think that- But do you think that shit on that? Whoever it hit last. Yeah. But so do you, I guess my question would be, if the technology existed now, when the rules were written, would the rules be written in a different way? Would they not have said it to whoever it touched last?

It's whose forcible contact pushed it. You know what I mean? Because that's supposed to be out on end. I don't know if it's supposed to. I mean, it's who, look, they can change the rules if they want. If it really bothered the NBA in that situation, they could easily rewrite the rules and say whoever forces the ball out or whatever. I don't think that's that.

If it hit your hand, last, it's out on you. I guarantee you, bro, if we played five on five and I did that, You wouldn't be like, you know what? You're not slapping the ball out of my hands like that. It'd be embarrassing. I slap it just doesn't move. You just got it like Sequin Barclay. Okay.

Meanwhile in L.A., Spain cruised to a victory over Austria 3-0. They still haven't conceded a goalbrew on route to booking a date with the aforementioned Portugal. Headline in the athletic. Spain breeze passed Austria into the last 16. Are they starting to look like France's only real challengers? Here's the numbers. 68% possession, best. Goals allow out, zero, tied for Mexico for the best.

Opponent shots on target only three at second best. And high turnovers, 43, basically forcing turnovers, getting the ball back. That is best. Is Spain proving they can win it all, bro? Yes, I said the other day France is the best team in the turn. or in the world, but that doesn't mean they're going to win the tournament. I do still think France is the best team, but Spain absolutely can win this tournament. They're not that far away from France, and in a one and done, anything can happen.

And I think, Nick, I think Spain has the best defense in the tournament. They haven't allowed a goal yesterday. Austria doesn't even get a shot on goal, you know, and then they've got great. great offense. And Yamal is, I think he played well. Yeah. But he hasn't really scored. He'd score one goal in the whole tournament.

And the other guy, Ozab. I said, Yeah. Oh, Yarsabal. Oh, Yarsable. O Yarsable. He's got four goals in the tournament. He's picking up the slack, had a brace yesterday.

So I, we talked earlier in the week about how as great as France is, potentially their defense is a weakness. Correct. there's no weakness on it. Now, I don't think Spain's front line is as strong, obviously, as France is. But I also don't think Spain has a weakness. I think their defense obviously is great. And then offensively, they're great.

Not as great as France, but they're great too. So, yeah, I think they've got a great chance. And I do think Yamal is going to start scoring as this tournament goes on as well. So these graphics I'm about to show you on expected. goals I think speaks to, there's two reasons Spain's, I think, been maybe a little underrated. One is how they started the tournament with the draw against Cape Verde. And the other is because similar, I would argue, to the other awesome team that can win it that's underrated, Brazil, their biggest strength might be that fact that you can't score on them

rather than that they score. So if you see expected goals leaders in this tournament, what you're going to see, oh, turns out Brazil can score too. see, Brazil, France, Canada, a lot of that's the Qatar game. Like, that's skewing a lot of Canada stats. Switzerland and Belgium. These are among the teams that are, you know, in the round of 16 already. But the flip side is expected goals allowed. Spain is running away with it.

Point nine. So when you look at the leaders of expected goal difference, like soccer's version of point differential, Spain leads the tournament. So, like, that's the argument. So even though they haven't had as prolific of an offense. Yeah, so expected goals that they would have scored, minus expected goals they would have allowed. Spain has the best number.

Spain a little bit on the, like how you said, Canada, Qatar, skewed it. Just because I've been digging in on Cape Verde. They didn't, that initial goal, that initial game against Spain, they were like, let's just try to draw. Correct. It's just the end. And so I absolutely think they can win the tournament. I also think they can lose next round of Portugal.

Portugal beat them to win the nation's league. And Spain's unbeaten streak is to me a touch overrated in this regard. The last 14 teams they've played are outside of the world's top 25, you know, leading for this winning streak. So when have they lost? in PKs to Portugal before that 14 game streak. They did beat France, an amazing game, 5-4, so both teams scoring. They drew with Netherlands twice.

When have they lost, right? They lost to Columbia and a friendly. The last times they lost games that mattered, they lost to Scotland in a qualifier for Euros. They lost in the World Cup, they lost to Morocco and they lost to Japan. So they are obviously one of the best teams in the world. I think they went into this tournament. ranked number two in the world and with the second best odds,

they have been, I think, flying under the radar a bit. But I also think... And the injuries. Yeah, the injuries. And your guy, Herro... Nico Williams. I almost said Harrison. I almost said Nico Harrison.

Nico Williams, you know, yes, injured again seems really, you know, doesn't seem optimistic about his ability to come back. But I think that Spain could absolutely be in the final. And Spain also can just lose to Portugal. Like, I think Spain's really bummed out that Portugal won that game and won it in the fashion that they did. Because I don't think Spain was going to be that worried about Croatia. Spain, Portugal will be Monday at 3 Eastern in Dallas.

Finally, today at 6. Messi back in action, Argentina, taking on Cape Verde on Fox. Messi has scored in every game he's played. Last game, he only had one goal. It's kind of a rarity after he came on as a sub. Messy's multi-goal games in his career. His first 25 games, he's like, I'll score one goal and keep it moving, you know?

Last four games, he's had three with at least two goals. Yes, incredible. Are anyone predicting another multi-score game from Messi? It's certainly possible. I mean, the run he's on is incredible. What, seven straight World Cup games where he scored, I believe? Yeah. I think he's going to score, I'm going to say one.

I'm going to say one. Cape Verdi, look, they had a nil-nil draw with Spain, so you can say their defense is tough. Yamal wasn't, I don't even... No, he came on at the very end. I could tell you every single thing that happened in that game. I was locked in. So he was, you know, it was not truly Spain.

But I think their defense is tough. And it's just hard to see this street continuing. Not that messy he's not capable. But, I mean, my goodness, you can't scorn. score like two goals every game. I get it he had one last. But he only played a half hour. Yeah, yeah, exactly. So I think he'll get one. Wouldn't be surprised at all if he gets another brace. So I've never seen anything in the soccer betting markets like Messi's odds to score. He's minus 2.30 to score in this game. So that's what they're saying is he's close to 70% to

score. He is around a coin flip odds to score twice. Like that has not happened in a World Cup field before, but that is in part because for folks that haven't, and this is no judgment here, like if you're 30 years old watching this World Cup, we haven't had a World Cup, you know, in time zones that work for, you know, unless you want to wake up, you know, since you were a teenager. If you're younger, you know, since you were a little kid. So for a lot of people, This is the first World Cup they've been dialed into. Sure. The scoring by the stars in this World Cup is so anomalous.

I wanted to just show it to everyone. So here are this year's Golden Boot leaders. Messies got six and Boppy's got six. Holland's got five. Harry Cain's got five. Vinnie Jr. Dimbele and the guy whose name I said I couldn't pronounce earlier. Ojarzable.

They all have four. Thank you, bro. So again, some of these guys haven't even played their first knockout round game they're at four to six goals here is what the golden boot winners of the last six world cups had 855668 so like you to win the golden boot historically six goals you got a real shot at it here is the most goals scored in a world cup in history it's It's again, only five times ever has someone scored more than eight.

Right now? 13. Yeah, I asked Josh about that. Josh told us, Josh, sorry. You're gonna get mad. Josh called him a one hit wonder. He was a 10th. Josh!

Fonte? No, he didn't. He didn't call him one hit wonder. He said he goes, that was that guy's like one. He just went crazy in this World Cup. Well, it was a good run. Still, point is this. The scoring more, this is every instance of someone scoring more than eight goals in a

World Cup. I understand this World Cup is going to have one extra game. I get that. But how many guys do we think are going to score at least eight? Messi and Mbapé, obviously, if you think England's going to keep advancing, I don't. You probably think Harry Kane's got a real shot. I think Vinny Jr. is going to. Like, so, and I think the way Argentina runs their team, like, let's put it like this.

Argentina scores three goals today, in theory. You'd be shocked if Messi didn't have multiple. Yeah, it'd be surprised. You know what I mean? When they run their team, when he's out there. Yeah. They try to run through him.

I wonder if it's a larger, I mean, it's more of a podcast topic with soccer experts. If this is a larger style of play, is it a, you mean we're just messy or all these? Well, just having a focal point where it's like we're going to, like England's going to run through Harry Kane.

France is a little bit different. No, I mean, a lot of teams. Argentina runs, like, is it stylistically a soccer change? If I were the opponent, I would try to take Messi out of the game. Very challenging. Make somebody else. Obviously, but I mean, you know, make somebody else beat us.

Last week or the start of the World Cup, I asked the producers to hit the lights because I had an upset alert. Curissela over Germany. It didn't work out. Ended up losing 7-1. That being said, Cape Verde. Oh, boy. It's not an upset alert, but it's an alert to the alert.

Does that make sense? Like, this should be an alert. It's like tangential to alert. We just talked about, like literally seven minutes ago, you're like, Spain might be the best team in the entire tournament. Oh, they didn't have Yomal. Well, Yomal had some good nutmegs, but he wasn't, Spain is good enough to be a great team without Yomal. But they were missing a few other guys, too. Well, one of them, they're going to be missing.

Oh, sorry. Nico. No, now we're talking about it. It was zero, zero. Vazina has been playing out of his mind. Saudi Arabia is not a great team. Zero, zero against Saudi Arabia. So statistics happen being the seventh best goalie in the whole tournament.

Messi hasn't played a goalie and a top seven goalie by according to goalie stats yet. One goal would be nice. Tangential upset for Cape Town. Here's, let me ask you this. I'm not calling an upset. I think what's necessary. for an upset alert or an alert to an upset alert. Thank you.

Is that you really think Cape Verde could win. I don't mean anything is possible, all that stuff. I just mean in a day or Goliath, we have seen the goaltending performance of the World Cup. Do you think they could win? Was Viznia against Spain? Bad news. Can he do it again? Bad news. Can he do it again?

Because the last time KW sold us this, what was the final score? We were nodded up. Well, now Germany's won. And guess what happened to Germany? What was the final score? Their coach just quit. It was seven to one.

Australia, Egypt. This afternoon from Dallas. I got Egypt. Three hours, 32 minutes. Let's see how fit Mosale is. Subbed out of the game pretty early. Australia, you know, I might get back in on Australia. When we were playing them in the group stage, I was a little bit upset.

Three hours, 32 minutes, 35 seconds from Dallas. Tonight, Messi back in Miami, seven hours, 28 minutes, Argentina taking on Cape Verde. Cape Verde, huh? Isn't that the team that got outshot, 27 to 6 against Spain, ended up saving all the shots, and Drew 0-0? Could that happen again? Some people are saying maybe. I'm just going to watch it.

Just be on alert. Just be on alert. It's not an upset alert. More likely, Cape Verde wins or Argentina wins by 4 more. Hey, it's called David and Goliath. Is there a chance, Goliath just stomps out, David? Of course there is. Yes, of course.

He's a giant. I gave you a huge delta. David's got a rock. Okay. That's all he's got. Trying to appeal to brew. Yeah, Brulberg. Trying to get me on inside.

It's unfair. Dirty pool. LeBron would be going to New York if the Knicks hadn't won the title according to LeBron's agent, Rich Paul. on the Game Over podcast. Here he is with Max Kellerman. Take a listen. I think it's difficult, right?

Because the last thing you want to do is mess up something like that, right? The Knicks has a good thing going. You know, that'll be, if the Knicks hadn't won, there would be no bored. He'd be going to the Knicks. He'd be going to the Knicks. Jalen Brunson would literally have to pick up the phone

and say, hey man, It's no issue with me. It's no issue with me. We don't know if Jalen Brunson is going to do that, but should LeBron consider New York? No, they shouldn't even be on the board. And even if Jalen Brunson called him, because it's not about what Jalen Brunson thinks.

It's about there is no upside for LeBron beyond the self-satisfaction you get from competing and winning the championship. But outside of that, public image, legacy, there's no upside because they just won the championship. There are some people that would say this is worse than Kevin Durant going to Golden State.

And even to this day, some people, Clyde Frazier said a few years ago, there's an asterisk by Kevin Durant's championships. So there are people that still hold him going to Miami against him. You know, oh, he's not as competitive as Kobe and Jordan and those guys because he went to Miami. This would just add fuel to that fire.

And there really is a big downside. I don't think the Knicks are going to win it next year just because I think they're a great team. It's a great run. And it's difficult in this day and age to repeat other teams. San Antonio most notably are coming up. But everybody doesn't feel that way and everybody doesn't know that. And if LeBron were to go there and they don't win the championship, then everybody's going to put it on LeBron, right?

Even if it's not his fault, they're going to put it on LeBron. Oh, he came. We had the championship team. We should have ran it back with what we had, even though they lost a few guys. And so I don't think they should even be in consideration. And it seems like from Rich. Rich agrees with you. Yeah, that, why?

Yeah, I mean, listen, Rich basically said in different words what you said, because Max was trying to sell Rich. You'll be right. I think the Knicks fan. Max wants him. LeBron there and Rich made the point he's like listen LeBron's just held to a different standard and that's and I

think holistic you know you and I get a little not sideways but when I compare LeBron's Lakers tenure to the other 10 years across the league and you make the point well he's not Joker he's not Janus he's in the goat conversation I get I think LeBron comparing old

holding old LeBron to a you know human standard as opposed to superhuman standard to be as fair but legacy LeBron is held to that standard and that's what Rich is talking about. To me, the most notable

things to come of this pod, one was what Rich said right there, he was going to go to New York if they didn't win the title. That was really interesting. Wow. Like, that is news and that is, now maybe he's overstating it a little bit, but Rich

just flatly said it. Like, I would if I can, if that indeed is the case. And like you say, he's not overstate. And it was like, that was a done deal in his mind. I think that was because if he wins, they're close. Yes. Most everybody thought, oh, they're close. They're not going to win it. Yes.

If he would have went there and they would have won it, which they could have, obviously, with him, that I think honestly, Nick, a lot of people on the Jordan side of the gold debate. Yes, a lot of them would have moved to this side. Because New York, 53 years. What's everything in New York? 54. Everything is magnified. Absolutely. And you know that's the truth. Half the media that influences this stuff is from New York.

So, you know, that to me was like a wow. And it also, the other thing Rich said, and then I want to show the whiteboard was Rich said the point that I have been trying to make repeatedly, which is no, LeBron has not said this is his last year. And LeBron's, you know, historically, he said in your buddy. your own whitesman's book, he talked about how everywhere he's gone, give him two years and he'll win a title.

Like give me first year, figured out and win the title. And so I have been assuming whatever place he decides to go to, he has zeroed in on what can we be this year and next year, which is why this whiteboard image is awesome and this could be the whole two-hour show.

So what you have there is, Top left. I'm just going to, I'm going to go through it. So everybody can see. Stefan Dre, top left, but they don't have anything else there. Kerr's not even listed. Kind of a dissed him. Beneath it, it says Dallas and Maasai.

And then it says under that, oil, golf, Macau, which is the casinos that the Adelstein's own, the Sands in Macau, and then Africa, which I think is Maasai's connection to NBA Africa. I'm just telling you what it says. That's about loot. Right, yeah, of course. That's the oil money and being in Dallas, Macau, the casinos things, like that, that's money. Then it says Brad and Tatum, so that's Boston.

I didn't want to, I'll go to the far right real quick. Well, no, actually, I won't. Then we have Philly, Maxie with a star next to him. Biggs, a star. Because the clutch guy. Correct. Edgecombe, Brown, Embeddead. Edgecombe misspelled to that.

I mean, if that's a great, even without Embededed, I just think Mbley is going to be problematic because he's in and out. But that's a great team. Miami, Mitchell Wiggins, Yonis Bam, Minnesota, Aunt Mello. Wow. If I'm Carmelo, I'm like, come on, bro. Come on, Rich. McDaniel Gobert.

Denver. That's a good team. Gets a whole pop out. Murray, Cam Johnson, Gordon Yokic. Indian House are good. Cavs, Mitchell Hardin, Mobley Allen. Now let's go to the Cavs. Weems is his boy.

It says Dan and I forget the It's like front office guys Kobe Altman Yeah Kobe Altman and then weems his buddy And then it says no garland with a minus sign Because LeBron But also Rich said like LeBron likes garland All right's most likes Maxie if you watch it

Spurs it just says spurs with an underline With the Nuggets I should have set off to the side Is Kronky the owner who he's friends with And then just New York is that listed but with nothing else. So I think we've got LeBron's list, guys. This is just, can I just say a quick sidebar? Yeah.

This is just a great podcasting by Rich and Max. And also like, get me the extendable metal. It's like a teacher. It's just a plus. So when, so if this is, Brew, I know you want, I don't want to say you want them to go to the Spurs. You think that's. Oh, no.

I don't want him to go to Cleveland. Okay. The Spurs, you think it's the smartest. If he goes to the Spurs, they're winning the championship. I think all of these are incredible options. The Nuggets would have a great shot. Not as guaranteed to me as the Spurs. Minnesota would have a great shot.

What do you think of Philly? They'd have a great shot. Like they'd have a great shot. I just think it is tough when a great player is kind of, especially a seven-foot post-player at times, is in and out because you got to play two different ways. But Miami would be, I think Denver would have, Denver and Minnesota would be good spots just to win it.

But San Antonio is guaranteed. I think he'd be good. Look at those four, look at those names. Put LeBron in there. You don't think that's like, you know, again, and I've been harping on this, the chemistry and friendship of the Knicks, I think took them to the next level.

Aunt Mello, McDaniel, Gober and LeBron just seem like guys that... There's no connective tissue between them. I don't know. It's a team that doesn't feel like... Can I tell you... Can we throw that picture back up? I think they'd be great.

I had one other major takeaway from this. I don't think the Warriors right now have much of a shot. No. It was, the Warriors are just. They were getting AD. Right. That's it. And not that if he's trying to win a championship or at least once that of serious consideration.

And as far as if they, let me ask you one other thing. I know the Wizards like Anthony Davis untouchable. I do wonder about if the cabs created an Allen centered trade for Anthony Davis. if that the wizards are interested in that and if that moves the needle for LeBron. Would you even, I mean, look, obviously AD is better than Jared Allen. But there is obviously the injury concern.

I agree. Allen is what he is. I still think he raises the ceiling enough. And healthy, there's no question. And we obviously know those guys work together. I don't know. I just find this to be fascinating. And I do not think we're going to

Let me say this. I think we will find out who won the World Cup before we find out where LeBron is playing next year. I think that's a solid bet. I don't think LeBron. Oh, it's Team USA going on, by the way, I'm signing. That's if he doesn't know right now where he's going in his own mind. This could all be a smokescreen.

Sure. Oh, he's considering all these places. But he may know. Coming up, a lot of people are saying this might be Messi's last game in the World Cup. Probably Bereda. Then hold them to zero, zero and not a tremendous. Don't get me your off.

It's messy in Miami, seven hours and 17 minutes on Fox, taking on. Darling's of the World Cup, Kate Burdo. Top performance presented by Capital One. Capital One, what's in your wallet? Rinaldo scored. Also got subbed out. Portugal facing Spain on Monday. Dax, do you have more faith in Portugal after this close?

win. I certainly do not. Oh, do not have more faith in Portugal after this performance. I thought that they were good in the first half. I thought that was more down to Croatia and a more conservative game plan. Second half, I thought, again, Nick, correct. Croatia was the better team. And I fall back on Portugal with the same things that have concerned me with them in this entire tournament, is that their midfield, which I said before, was the best midfield in the tournament. And part of that was predicated on the fact that Joao Neves and Vitina play together at PSG and they are easily the best team in world football, right? Back-to-back Champions League winners, they don't look the same when they play for Portugal.

I still believe Portugal's biggest issue is there is a lack of balance in midfield. And so when these two midfield players play with PSG, they play with an extreme. extremely mobile front four, guys changing positions all over the field, this Portugal team, they are very stagnant in the attack. And so Ronaldo did his job. He scored a goal. And I don't necessarily believe that if you bring in or start Giancaro Ramos, that anything would be very different. But this is a team that's extremely stagnant in attack. They get to the final third, no problem. They dominate possession. But they lack risk in their play. They lack ingenuity in the final third, which is surprising because of all the great midfielder that they have,

they have too many similar profile players. And Roberto Martinez, we talk about coaching all the time. Ancelotti, Pochitino, Deschamp, they are absolutely earning their paychecks in this tournament, showing why when you make big tactical decisions, that is going to help you win games. I don't think Roberto Martinez does the same for Portugal. He made four substitutions yesterday when they were down a goal, and they actually got worse. They actually loved. They actually lost more control of the midfield. They got the penalty kick. And then when he subbed out Ronaldo and added another

midfielder into the team to get them back control, he corrected his mistake. But I just don't believe at the highest level that Roberto Martinez is setting his team up to win. And then in-game adjustments, I just believe that there are better coaches when they play better teams that are going to expose this Portugal team.

So here, so I my answer to this is drastically more faith. Because I, I, and you can tell me I'm wrong on this. Sure. But my inclination is so much of what you're describing as why the midfielders who play together for PSG don't look the same and why they have no problem getting to the final

third, but then have problems, you know, accidentally. Creating chances. You're right. Executing real quick. Rinaldo. First two games, he have 15 touches in the box against weaker opposition. The last two games, he's had three touches in the opponent's box against stronger opposition. And I don't necessarily think that's a

Rinaldo problem. I think that is an all-inclusive lack of cohesion amongst the midfield and the strikers. So that's, I guess that's where we differ. And you're the expert. I'm just, but for me watching it, it does feel like that Rinaldo, as you hypothesized before the tournament, might be holding them back, has been holding them back. Yep. And Roberto Martinez is having the courage yesterday in a tied game

that could be Ronaldo's final World Cup game ever. I was shocked. To put him to take him off. You know what was also shocked? Ronaldo. To take him off the field. Then watch that work. See them win.

If you were to, I, this sound again, I'm not trying to, he's one of the, at worst, five greatest players in the history of the sport. And a lot of people think he's the best player in the history of the sport. I'm not trying to be disrespectful to what the man's accomplished. But I think there are some people that if he had been subbed out because he pulled his hamstring and we're like, oh, he's done for the tournament. They would have more faith in Portugal. Correct.

That because of how they don't think that's wrong. Yeah. And now I just feel like Roberto Martinez has broken the seal on. I'm allowed to take this guy out. I'm allowed to do what I think is best. And you add to it that their best moment as a club came against Spain, beating them to win the Nations League, right? Sure.

Yep. And that's who they play next. All of a sudden, I picked Croatia to win this game, and I thought Croatia would then just get clocked by Spain. I think Portugal's, you know, a 40-60 dog against Spain. I think they're very live to win that game. And so that's why I do have more faith, because I think they can pull the plug on Ronaldo if they feel they need to.

The problem is you haven't seen Portugal have to play against a team that is going to dominate possession against them. Right. And so that that presents a significantly different task. for Roberto Martinez. Let me ask you this, Dex, because I agree with Nick that there's a better chance that they'll get Ronaldo out early. I think they clearly going to start him, but get him out earlier and maybe have some more athletic guys up front. He looks, he's very inactive as I can, as far as I can tell, you know.

How big of a part you talked about them not really attacking, you know, being stagnant in their attack. It looks to me like a lot of that is just because he's not really moving at times. even getting in guys' way, but he's just kind of staying in that little mid-range that he stays in his part of the field. How much of that stagnant attack is him? I think it's a little bit of both. I think two things can be true. I think that there are times where he makes certain runs and certain movements, and his midfield players, they don't either see it or they don't want to play it because they're scared of losing the ball. Those three midfield players, Vittina, Bruno Fernandez, and Zhao Neves, their past completion percentages in the 90s, mid-90s.

But there's not enough risk in their play. Sometimes you have to take a risk in order to create a chance. And so I think it's a little bit of both. Ronaldo, he is a little bit more stagnant, but when he is in and around the box, his movement in the box is still very good. And if he gets chances, as he did against Uzbekistan, he's still a very high-level finisher. So I do think it's a little bit of a problem with the midfield. I think your wingers have to do a little bit more, which I thought Rafa Liao actually was their most dangerous player. And so I think he needs to start because he provides them something different.

But I think it's both. I think it's a little bit of both, bro. Dax, you're crushing this, dude. You're doing a great job. Does France have this largest slice of title pie? And we're counting down to Messi in Miami. Dax quickly, since I said you've been crushing it. Who had the best goalkeeper performance so far in the World Cup, which is that?

Vosina. Against Spain. And he's the goalkeeper for keeper. Oh, my. Are they on upset alert, alert? They are absolutely not. Wow. Another doubter.

Hater. Live from New York, it's a show that is not saying it's an upset alert, okay? No one's saying it's an upset alert. We're not saying it's an upset alert. But just keep your eye on Cape Verde, Argentina today. We just need to get you a Cape Verde, Jersey. Here's what I really want. Give us 30 seconds here.

And this is what I was trying to get too early. Yes. And you don't gamble so we could just do a lunch or something friendly. Yeah, yeah. If I give you Cape Verde to win, for you to win, for me to win, for me to win, Argentina by four or more. Is that a fair bet? Wow.

I'm not bad. That's a fair bet. You got to change you. I'm just going for the four or more. Four or more. The win by four or more. I don't want. I'm just going for the love.

of the game. You will take the stat. I'm not betting on Kate Verde. I want to watch unencumbered. You would, you certainly think Kate Verde is more likely to win than to lose by 100. That's not the way we're approaching this game.

That's not the way we're approaching the game. All right. Just Rizina, he's 40 years old. He needs a statue to David and Goliath. Stop trying to David and Goliath. All right. To get brought on your side. You have me up, David.

Luca and the New Look Lakers, can this team contend? Meanwhile, is Brazil on upset alert against Holland? That one's real. Erling Holland. Yeah, they're playing more than. And is England going home? They're flying into Mexico City today. Is there a competition going on for the best celebration?

There should be. These guys are getting into it. I read they're flying in Friday, but I'll be honest with you. If you read something different. No, you're not totally, I'm not totally locked me. I thought you said they were only going in a day before. Okay. So that'd be.

But it's been made as conflicting reports. But right now, of course, it's time to find out which teams are cooking, which teams are cooked, and which teams have the recipe for success. It's a World Cup edition of title pie. And because we're on in the morning, we have a circular coffee cake. Which really is delicious. That is, I had some of that. yesterday.

Last week. We smartly bought two pies because it's so delicious. We just eat up the first one. I'm going to eat Francis slice with my hands, but that's not going to be my take. Get back some of that. I eat, listen, I eat numerous pieces every time we do this. That's why I don't eat breakfast. Out of respect to the tournament and the teams remaining, I understand we don't officially have the final 16 left.

There are 19 teams left. I made the executive decision that if you're still in the World Cup and we're in the first week of July, your flag's getting on the screen. That's nice. Now, some of them are in a less than 1% category, but they're still on the screen. But you're saying there's a chance. I'm saying there's a chance. Okay, but here we go.

You know what? You know what? Here we go. I don't even think they can win at all, but you're saying there's a chance. Wow, Cape Barney's there. Canada. Congratulations. Same Barrier.

Australia. Australia, Ghana, Egypt. By the way, at least one of these teams is guaranteed to actually make the final 16 because Australia is playing Egypt. Now I think, and Canada is already in it, by the way. But Australia is playing Egypt. Canada, I guess maybe it's a little disrespectful of me

that you're in the final 16, you're less than 1%. But you are. All right, to the pie. 1%. Belgium. I've been unimpressed. I thought they were a little lucky against Senegal and they're going to lose to the U.S.

I give them 1%. Great take. 2%. Switzerland. Smooth sailing, and they've had a pretty nice path so far. They did steal home field advantage from Canada, which is one of the reasons Canada is on the less than 1% side. Switzerland, 2%.

Now it gets a little more interesting. 3%. I'm going to see this team in person Sunday afternoon in New Jersey, Norway. I'm happy for them. Sadly, tough draw. as Brazil and the best defense in the tournament is going to hold Erling Holland to zero goals. They're not playing Spain?

They're not the best defense. Spain and Mexico haven't given up a goal. Yeah, you know what? I'm an expected goals guy. And I'm also, it's still Spain and expect goals. I do think they have the best defense in the tournament. And we'll see. You know, because here's the thing.

The stats say Brazil has had a, has had a better offensive tournament than France. I don't think you believe that's the case. They, and so again, what's that? What's that? They lead the whole tournament in expected goals. Who scores the most? Who scores? Who's the most goals, though?

Real goals? Real goals might be Germany at this point, because what they did to your pro-or-corazound team. They're out of the tournament. Again, KW, you didn't believe in Norway at all, and now you're tricking yourself into believing them. I came back around with the hat. No, you came back around because you want to pick against Brazil every game.

4% Colombia. That, hey, them getting a draw against Portugal looks even better now. Have you seen Portugal beat Croatia? For real. They are very well positioned to be Argentina's first real competition of the tournament. Like, if I'm Argentina, I'm a little worried. Like, man, is the path too easy? More on them in a moment and will we be ready to be at Columbia's level

when we play them potentially in the quarterfime? finals. Five percent down despite a win. England. Listen, thank God for Harry Kane. You were right. I was underrating. I had him in, you know, not on the level of Holland and Mbapé and Vinnie Jr. Is that because he didn't have a Lego? It's partly. But he's, he was spectacular and saved them. And our guy Fletch said he's the greatest English footballer ever. Just flatly said it. And so, Most goals. With that said, I think the rest of the team's been underwhelming. Very average.

And so even though they won, they are down to 5%. I also think they have a brutal game coming up more than that in a second. 6% Morocco. Man, Morocco's draw is just so tough. In the group stage, they had to play Brazil. In the round of 32, how about the Netherlands? And now they're staring down the barrel at France in the round of in the quarterfinals, I think they're an excellent team.

And if they get past France, there's no reason they can't win the whole damn thing. But that's just a tough spot in the round. And by the way, little revenge spot. That was the semifinal in the World Cup in Qatar. 7% Team USA. If not for Balagans, suspension, they would be higher. So we might have to do a revised. title pie because I don't think it's going to happen well I'm not saying the sports media

ombudsman has influence but I don't know did you open up today's wall street journal let for Valer balligan play calling America's other national team lawyers there's no chance of appeal to get the U.S. men's national team suspended starback on the pitch versus Belgium or is there exactly media start pushing the pressure buttons to try to get balligan out there We have another 72 hours to get this done. If so, we'll do a biceital pie Monday. In the meantime, there's 7%. 8%.

Mexico. I cannot be more excited for this game. The 100,000 people, the biggest game in the history of Mexican soccer. The fact that Mexico, to KW's point, hasn't allowed a goal. They are flying high. The fact that England is scared to show up, doesn't know when to get there. Doesn't know how they're going to breathe. Doesn't know what they're going to eat.

All of it. Oh, there you go. In my notes. There we go. Thank you. So Mexico 8%. It seems like I might be a little higher on this team than the group, even though I think I was the only person of the group that picked this team to lose yesterday.

But I was impressed. Portugal, 9%. To me, In my brain, they've gone from written off to officially scary. And when Portugal has on their resume in the last couple of years, in games that mattered, played France to a draw and lost them penalties in euros. They beat Spain.

They beat Germany in the Nations League. I understand Germany, you know, stars dimmed a bit, but those are some of the, you know, eight best teams in the world. They've gone toe to toe with them. Interesting note, when they drew France in the quarters of the 2024 euros and lost, all the write-ups after that game said in what was assuredly Cristiano Ronaldo's final game with Portugal. That was two years ago.

Yeah. And a couple tournaments ago. So just to be clear, you are completely flip-flopping just because the head coach is willing to sub out Ronaldo. That's the reason. That is correct. Okay. 10% Spain. They're rounding into form.

No one can score on them. They also, and will show this in a moment, have a very tough path all of a sudden. So that's why it's maybe not a larger percentage, but they're at 10%. percent, 11 percent, Brazil. Unlike some of these other, oh man, they pulled it out of the fire at the end games. We've seen the round 16. Theirs came against the top 20 team in the world in Japan, a team that going into this tournament was higher ranked than the U.S. men's national team.

Additionally, they have Norway this weekend in the sweltering heat that they are used to, and Norway is not. Raffinia then should be back. And when he's back, I believe they'll be playing Mexico, a Mexico team that hasn't played in the U.S. the whole tournament. And by the way, the flip side of always playing in that thin air and Estado Osteca is they're going to be like feel like they're running through a wind chamber and gets it. Like, oh, this thick air, we can't move. Brazil's going to be used to it. That's not.

Oh, really? Okay, well, it's thin air down there. So it must be thick air up here. It's not. Oh, why you train at altitude. I'm sorry? That's why like you... That's for your lungs.

I'm talking about for your actual body. They're going to be like, what is this? Am I being pulled backwards? It's just on, man. It's just regular air. You used to that thin air. 16% Argentina.

It's unchanged because oddly since last title pie, they haven't played a meaningful game. They played one game. They had already clinched everything. Here is what they have going for them in just an insane way. Here is the team's remaining. Now, keep in mind, in their quoth.

The quadrant, half to the semis and their world rankings. Columbia is 11, Switzerland's 15, and, you know, Switzerland's advanced. Egypt 26 and then 28, 64, 65. Compare that to the world rankings of the other four quadrants, which already we know who the teams are. Spains, well, that's pretty good. 3, 7, 9, 16. What's the next one?

Or hubs. France, 1, 6. 30 and 34, not so much, but it feels like France, Morocco, collision course. What about my guys in Brazil? What's their quadrant look like? England, Brazil, Mexico, Norway. So Argentina just earned the draw and got a little lucky with how the draw fell. That helps them a ton.

And at 18%, up a bit from the last week is France. Did I skip one? Oh, there we go. Damn. I was like, what happened? Bonus pie. I was like, bonus. I was looking at it.

I was like, am I missing a slice? I was like, hold on a second. And there it is. Thank you. Great fix on the fly. 18% France. Here's what Dax will give it to you. But I think Vegas is right and wrong.

Vegas has France as the favorites. I think that's correct. They should be. But according to the Vegas odds, France should have a 35% slice of the pie. And when their path to the World Cup title is going to likely be Morocco and then probably Spain just to get to the final, I don't think there's any team in this tournament that deserves a better than one in three chance, even if they are the best team. That is the latest edition of Title Pye.

Now that I understand Title Pye. And now that I understand how it works, I don't have a ton of quibble. Thank you. Really? Not a ton. I still think, I'm done arguing with him about Brazil because at this point. Does that just keep it right? Brazil is looking like a team that absolutely can go on and win it.

No, they won't. But do you agree with me that the weather is a huge advantage for them Sunday against Norway? I do. If it's 90 degrees, you know, in the late after. Yeah, I do. I do. I think there's something to that. But my biggest issue, I understand the path.

the path, Morocco has to travel. But I think Morocco should be higher. Really? I think Morocco needs to be higher because of a couple different things. Now, listen, Josh, my guy over there, we're kind of going back and forth, confirmed, unconfirmed. This is one of the teams in world soccer that has the longest unbeaten streets in the world. We're going upwards of three years now since the last time that they... Nick is living under Morocco.

I like that. I always like when Brew, like, over the course of the second. segment when his eyes finally go to the bar. Yeah, it's great. I actually just saw that as well. I really like it. The unbeaten streak. But it's also, it's not just that.

It's also the fact that, to your point earlier, they are battle tested already in this World Cup. And I love the fact that your favorite team, your favorite to win it, Morocco outplayed them, and it was only a draw, but they should have won. They should have beat Brazil. They knocked out Netherlands. And not just knocked them out, but in dramatic fashion, going through adversity. And the balance of their team, they're very well coached,

and they have brought in a lot of younger players, but also players that are just squarely in their primes. They are well-balanced in attack and defense. I don't think they would be afraid. Now, don't want to look past Canada, but I expect Morocco to win that game. I don't think that they would be scared to play against France. I really don't.

I want to pull up a graphic here. I mean, they played them in the semis last year. Sure, exactly. say last year. I think if you want to beat France, you've got to do a couple of things well. You've got to be able to keep possession. You've got to be able to dictate the game so the French have to actually defend. And those front four who are so dangerous in the attack, you have to be able to make them chase. And you cannot let them just dictate the entire game. They're expected goal difference, obviously, I think I've already talked about the path that they've traveled here.

The amount of goal scores that they have, the amount of different ways that they can hurt you, the different ways and variables and variations with which they can attack. I also love Saibari. I think he is a breakout star in this tournament. We're not going to put him in the same category as Messi, Mbapé, Holland, Kane. He's not there yet, but as far as strikers go, who have impressed me the most in this tournament,

it's absolutely Saibari. And they have a superstar in Ashraf Hakimi, who dictated a very good team in the Netherlands, completely changing all of their tactics. and completely throwing everything that they believe in out the window just to stop him. Yeah. I do. If Morocco played France, I would pick France to win that game, but I think it would be a close game. I think it would be not a toss-up, but it would be Morocco. They would have a real chance to win that game. And if they win that game, I think it's a very, very realistic possibility that they play Spain.

And then, you know, I don't pick them against Spain either. But I just think we're under. We're underestimating Morocco a little bit too much. My dream left side of the bracket is a Morocco U.S. semifinal. Yeah, I'm sure it is. You start off hot on Morocco and then you start to sell your stock late. Yeah, because they do have a tough path. It is the path. It is the path.

I'll be quick. Portugal should move down. They're playing Spain next. They're losing that game. I mean, Spain, I think Spain has the best defense in the tournament. And then Spain, we talked, Dax, I said this earlier, about France possibly having a weakness in their defense. Right. Spain, I don't think, has a weakness.

Their front line isn't as good as France is, but it's very good. And Yamal, I think, is getting better and better each game. That defense is strong. So I think Portugal is done. They've played their last game in this tournament, and Ronaldo has played his last World Cup. Man. Well, they won their last game. They won their last game.

They won their last game. Right, one near last game, and Ronald. They shouldn't even show up. Ronaldo has scored his last goal in the World Cup. Out on Portugal. But at least he got his knockout radical. Yes. Well, when this World Cup started decks, we all had to pick teams.

And I cast my lot with the red, white, and blue, obviously. All of France. Well, yeah. But me the most, I think. And the red, white and blue of France. We are friends on the revolution. I had, I, I, I, I, I, Curacao, of course.

Cape Verde. Cape Verde, David and Goliath. And then finally, just because nobody really wanted them, England. I said, ooh, Harry Kane, at least you like Tottenham when Harry Kane was on the Spurs. And then I have slowly lost faith in the English. You think?

Yes, I do. Harry Kane just saved the day against DR Congo. Congo. In the first half, England is collectively over the World Cup down three goals to two. Second half, they come on, they win 6-0. Now they drew against Ghana, not great. And they're like, yeah, that's what we do. We draw. Like, geez, this is not the winning mentality. Now they're going into Mexico City, as Nick talked about. We don't quite know when they're getting there. Mexico at Estadaio Esteka. They just beat Ecuador 2-0. They haven't lost in 26 matches. since the place opened, there's been 89 international matches there.

They are 70, 17, and 2. Scary. In games that we've decided, like yesterday, oh, it touched my hair. That's how close these matches are. You can't, the England won't be able to breathe. Yeah. They're like, we're not going to be able to breathe.

Is the manager saying anything? Well, maybe we'll try our best. Like, no, it's just impossible. And it's underrated, because we always talk about it as sort of, like playing the nuggets, like, oh, breath is kind of an issue. It's also a combination of that and like playing against the Rockies. You can't judge the ball. The balls, they say, is going about five yards further on long shelf.

And it's smoggy. And it's small. Like, no, for real, as far as the breathing goes. And it's loud. Like, all of it. So what is the English manager's Thomas Tuchel's a strategic rallying cry? Have you heard this? The soccer gods owe us one, basically.

Two goals against England, one that was dribbling, and one that would never stand these days. It will reward us. This goes back. We will get it back. It's karma. Karma will come back for us. We will turn it around because Maradonna had a hand of God goal. So England is like, yeah, we'll win this one.

Why? Do you have some good strategy? No. Basically, Argentina, who were not playing, cheated in this building. Shout out to the camel ad as well. Old school. I just, I don't think they win. I think Mexico is unbeatable here.

So I'm out on a tournament. I agree. Quick idea for England? Let's hear it. Steal, steal some ideas from the NFL. You know how when the linemen are all tired and they gotta have oxygen on the sideline? Are you allowed to do that?

I don't know, but during the hydration break, let's get all the English starting 11. Oxygen mask, bam. Where's that? Who's, I'm just curious. I'm in on. Are they importing that from England, or are they asking some Mexican hospital to bring them oxygen? I got to tell you who they're rooting.

This is a whole field advantage in the World Cup matters. We are counting down to Australia, Egypt on Fox, two hours and 35 minutes. This one is from Dallas. Dax, what's your prediction for this one? Egypt in a very low-scoring game, one-zero. Very low-scoring. One-zero. One-nil.

Wow. Two hours, 35 minutes. Our first things first after break. Welcome back to first things first. Fox has got you covered throughout the World Cup. James Corden will have Ray Romano on. And of course, James Winston is on our YouTube. James has just been crushing this.

Yeah. We should get James on. Maybe after World Cup, maybe World Cup Monday since it'll be here. And we're counting down 10 hours in one minute to Columbia, Ghana, on Fox live from Kansas City. Joe's Kansas City. I've never been to Joe's Barber. No, it's over.

It's on the Kansas side, and what's funny is before it got famous, it was called Oklahoma Joe's. And it was just barbecue and a gas station, but it was one of the best in the city. But it was in Kansas? It's on the Kansas side of the state line, yeah. But it was called Oklahoma.

It was called Oklahoma Jones. And it was called Joe's Kansas City. Interesting. Lucas got a new LeBron List team. The athletic saying he's excited about the which features a re-signed Austin Reeves, newly acquired Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Colin Sex, and a Raptor's Big Man, Sondro Mamu Kalashvila. I am going to take the under on that thing, right? Yeah, I call him Mamu.

Me too. Also some rumors that they... I call a Mamu Shadesvili, and I'm just because I feel like when you say Shadesvili, people assume you're right. They might add Jonathan Kaminga. That would be great. That's the rumor. Bruce of Lakers fans be happy with the move so far. I believe so. Obviously you lost LeBron, but you weren't going to win the championship with LeBron on that roster.

And so why not move on from a 41-year-old and start building this team around Luca? And they did build, in my view, the type of team you need to put around Luca Donchish. They got a rim-protecting, rim-finishing big and Walker Kessler. Also, we can step out occasionally and hit the three. they got athletes, athletic, more athletic on the wing and some shooting. In Quentin Grimes, he's athletic can shoot.

Colin Sexton, same thing. And then the rookie, we'll see how much he plays. But Cameron Carr is a projecting to be a 3-&D guy. So all three of those guys have athleticism. If they could get Jonathan Kaminga, I think this is really, considering what's out there, what was out there, I think this would be a fantastic.

job by them and putting a team around Luca. Now do I think they're going to win the West? No, but you now have a team that fits around Luca Donchich and you can play the way you're going to play for the next few years. So this is where I disagree with you, Brew. Because you said you

start to build a team around Luca. Because of what they had to do as far as what they paid Austin, what they paid Kessler and what they gave up for Kessler in the trade, they just started and finished building a team around Luca. This is going to be the team. That's the...

Well, you can make trades. But again, you don't have draft picks. No, no, no, no. They have no, correct. They have no draft picks available to lubricate trades. And so, like, I, and I still, I look at this team, and I don't think there's anyone in the media that likes Quentin Grimes

more than me. I've said it a hundred times on the show. He and my son played basketball together in Houston, and when he was the youngest kid on the team at 15 years old, it was clear he was going to be an NBA player. And I'm so happy for him that he has continued to ascend and he's got a contract. If he is your best, which he is, on ball defender,

you're still shy about three on ball defenders in the Western Conference. Like when you're playing... Sexton can be a pretty good... So I am, as high as I am on Grimes, I'm probably maybe lower than most on Sexton. I just still don't know when you play the wolves who's guarding Ant, when you play the Thunder

who's guarding Shea, when you play the Spurs who's guarding a... litany of their guys. And they are trying to create a team in the image of that Mavs 20204 team, which I understand. I don't know where PJ Washington is on this team, and I don't think they have him. And he was super important. Walker Kessler, it's just a huge roll of the dice and a heavy price for a guy who played five games last year.

But he's been productive when he's played. I like him, but I also don't think he is. You know, I think that he's probably not one of the eight best centers in the league. And he is going to be like, you know, you gave him a four-year deal and you traded four draft picks for him, two picks and two swaps. This is going to be your squad. And I just wonder, if I were a Lakers fan, which as of a couple days ago, I no longer am. Oh, you're all done. I was never a Lakers fan.

I'm a LeBron fan. I'm not, I'm very open and honest about that. I've never, there was, that was a arranged marriage. That thankfully is over. Can I, can I just, just, again, not to be disagreeable. Sure. For a while, you were calling Luca. Oh, I love Luca.

And he's on the Lakers. No, I can love individual players. Like you're kind of out on the Lakers? But I was never, did you ever think I was a Mavs fan? Or that I was a Luka fan? No, I think you rocked with the Mavs? Listen, I rocked with Luca. But the team I, until, from the day I graduated high school to until, until whenever

LeBron retires, if you ask me what team I'm a fan on, it's team LeBron's on. People can make fun of it. I don't care. It's just the truth. Can't sit it and have a team. And so I just think that they are locked into pretty good and I don't see how they get

to great. Top could be a top four seed. Well, what's interesting is... That's up to Luca. Yes. And what's interesting is the West is in a spot where it's like the two best teams are pretty defined and then you could make a case for six teams to be third, and they're one of them. But I just don't see how they break, like how they can beat those teams.

That's going to be a challenge. Luke, I meant, Brew, before the show, you were talking about the sneaky athleticism of the league. Well, look, it's become a big deal. Their three best players projected, obviously their best two are Luke and Austin Reeves. Walker Kessler looks like he could be third. And he certainly is the three highest paid.

Yeah, three highest. are white. And that's become a big deal in some circles. Here's what I would say, because some are saying they can't making fun of them, they can't win with your three best guys being white. Look, historically,

and what I consider modern basketball, the Celtics of 86, who were one of the best teams ever, arguably the best team ever, with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Isaiah Thomas, all just.

these guys in the league. The league was 70, 80%, 75% black then. And the Boston Celtics started three white guys, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Danny Age, won the championship. Not only the sixth man, seventh man, Jerry Sheetching, eighth man, Scott Webb. And sixth man, Bill Wall. Six of their best eight players were white. And they, so that's his history. Some people say, oh, that's not today. Actually, today, it's getting, like, white players are bawling. Things have changed, all right?

It sounds so ridiculous. Nicola, who's the best player in the world by most people's standards? I've said Wimby, but most people say Nicola Yochich. Sure. He's white. All right. The number one draft pick last year, Cooper for white American, look, if 15 years ago, a lot of the sentiment, even maybe 10 years ago,

would have been, you can't start three white guys and be a great team. I had a white GM tell me once, 15, 20 years ago. I'd never draft a white American player in the lottery. White guys. Well, there was a long stretch of white American players being lottery bust. That is true. Kevin Love broke it. That is like you can go through the draft history.

That part's true. And Cooper flag was a no doubt. Who was second? Con Cinnipple, another white guy, second rookie year. And not to mention this. Let me see this photo. That's Serbia. Yeah, that is.

Nothing but white dudes on that team. And they were up on LeBron, Steph, Duran, M.B., all our best players by 13 going into the fourth quarter of the 2024 Olympic semifinal. And USA came back in one by four in a dramatic comeback. That's not even a mention Lithuanian. and Argentina that beat us in 2004. With LeBron, I know they weren't playing much, Carmelo, all these guys on the team. So things are changing.

And I think it's because white American players at a much younger age are playing with black players. If you're a really good white player, you're playing with black players. AAU, you're traveling, all that stuff. You get used to the speed of the game, the jumping ability, all that stuff. Whereas years ago, you might be great playing in your state or your city or your suburb and you weren't consistently playing with African American players.

I think the three point shot has changed it and is skill. So if you can develop that skill, regardless of race, you can be really good. And I do think the international, we're seeing these international white players have incredible success against black players. and that's got to be giving confidence to life with. I agree with all that. It's also a little while. It's unique today, but we'll see how unique it is. It's been a long time.

It's Brazil on upset alert. This countdown is in two days, four hours, 22 minutes. It's the last game in New York slash New Jersey until the final. Messi in Miami, six hours, 18 minutes, taking on Cape Verde. in a David and Goliath matchup that no one believes in Cape Verde. Dax doesn't believe in Cape Verde. Nick certainly doesn't believe in Cape Verde. Brew, I've started to sway him a little bit with my David and Goliath talk.

I'm just trying, we get to PKs and see what happens. Not kidding to PKs, buddy. Well, is Argentina and Spain in the same category? No. They're not? No, I decided just now. You got to stop. Douche then.

Arguments over. Huge games this weekend. Brazil. Oh, my God. Taking on Erling Holland and Norway right across the river. Mexico hosting England where they are very tough to be in Mexico City. We'll start with you, Dax. Who is on upset alert, Brazil, England, or the rare both teams?

Or the even more rare and ruined the segment, really. no one. England. England is on massive up settler. I actually asked you guys before we came on, like, is England even the favorite in this game? They are. Because, I mean, I get it, but I guess I don't get it.

Like, if you were watching the World Cup, I feel very similarly about England, as I do about the U.S. Belgium game. Like, traditionally, you would understand if Belgium was going to be the favorite against the U.S. men's national team. Like, I would understand that based on history, based on quality of players, all that.

But if you actually have watched this tournament, the U.S. has been fantastic, and Belgium hasn't been very impressive, I feel the exact same way about this Mexico-England game. Mexico's been unbelievable. In fact, you would argue a couple months ago, this is one of the worst Mexico teams that we have seen for years.

And now, in the World Cup, they've only won every single game they've played in and haven't conceded a goal in the process. And so context matters. Their group wasn't very strong, and they played against an Ecuador team that was clearly overmatched, but a team that I thought could beat Mexico, the history at Azteca, the statistics behind it, it's almost this mythical dragon of a beast that you can't go in there and win. And now, with all the comments we've already seen from Tuchel, it's almost like he's manifesting

them to have a built-in excuse for why they are going to lose. So I don't love where England's at. I don't love how they have played in this tournament. I don't really love the balance that they have in the backline or in midfield. But they do have Harry Kane. That is kind of the only way. I'm not making a choice yet in terms of who I'm picking to win. Oh, I am.

I got to be honest. I see this as England. I can't believe their favorites. I think Mexico should be favored to win this game. I had a question, but you can go. I'm surprised we're talking about England and Harry Kane, like we're talking about Norway and Holland, that I thought England was...

Oh, like that Bellingham hasn't... Yeah, I haven't seen anybody really like... But England's wingers and central midfield have been very pedestrian in this entire tournament. The wingers aren't really creating a ton of chances for Kane. Anthony Gordon subbed on and got two assists, but before that, they weren't all that impressive. They had one half where Rashford scored

and Saka looked good against second half of Croatia. But it hasn't been near consistent enough. They don't really have a creator in midfield. I just don't love it. I love how England has played for the majority of this World Cup. Yeah, and so listen, I am, when we did our brackets, I had Mexico winning this game. And so I think, you know, I think England is going to get upset. I also think that Brazil is very fortunate in their matchup here.

Norway's not that good. Norway, you agreed with me on this until they were about to play Brazil. Wow. I thought Norway was going to lose to every cup. Yes, that's what I'm saying. And so did you. And so like, and now, so I would like, because I think the reason, you added or both is because you want to make the cases why Brazil is going to lose.

So I'm just with love before we hit the weekend for you to do that. I do not think Brazil's defense is as strong as you've made it out to be. And I think Holland is an unstoppable goal scoring force. And most of my Cape Verde over Norway prediction was me being mad at Norway for benching everyone against France. But it turns out I was wrong. The strategy was right and they were able to get the win. So, so, Hubbs, can we just pull back from the A block those expected goals graphics? Like I, this, and this is why I think that it's the Brazil, you know, whether I'm arguing with you or R. Pell, Darren Fletcher, the Brazil discourse has been disconnected from their performance

in the tournament. They lead the tournament in expected goals. They are top five in the tournament and expected goals allowed. They are second in the tournament. So there they are. That's their offense. I just don't think that, I mean, with all due respect, I don't think anyone has watched these games and thinks that Brazil's offense has looked more impressive than France. Again, I, I, I'm just telling you what, I don't think anyone on literally planet Earth who watch all these games.

Like, you know what? I think Brazil has played a more impressive, offensive game than France. I love you. I don't actually disagree with you. I'm just telling you what the, that, that, wherever they are, I don't know if we can show the next one or not, wherever they are in your eye test and what you feel, this is what I'm saying, where they are in reality. And this, so now here we have the best defensive performances

in this tournament. Spain's been the best, Brazil's in line, and then we have difference. And again, the Canada's the outlier there, if you will, because of the guitar game. And so what you're not seeing anywhere on any of these graphics is Norway. And so I think there is, but you did see Mexico on it. And you do see England. And so I think that I'm just curious how far in the tournament Brazil is going to have to get to where they are discussed on par with all the teams that they have played on par with.

The final. They had to win it.