What Now? with Trevor Noah - WORLD CUP Bonus Episode: Entering the Knockouts

Episode Date: June 30, 2026

Trevor and Joe can't agree on English striker Harry Kane, the GOAT debate, or how the offside rule is ruining football. In this week's World Cup bonus episode, the football frenemies clash over Kane's place among the game's greats, debate whether FIFA favors Ronaldo or Messi, and who truly deserves football's GOAT crown, and unpack the dramatic aftermath of South Africa's elimination. They also dive into the struggles of midfield stars like Vitinha and Pedri before giving us  their complete Round of 32 predictions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Mazda. Consumer Reports's safest new car brand. Mazda stands for more of what matters most to you. Visit MazdaUSA.com to learn more. This is What Now with Trevor Noah. Welcome to the World Cup, Joe. Wow. The business end.

Win or go home. The heartbreak end. That's what you should call it. Although, to be fair, I say this because South Africa just got knocked out. If we're fair, how many nations already home? Because what are we? Stage of 32.

16 countries are already home. Yeah. South Africa is the 17th. Because it was 48 countries, we're down to 32. Yeah. Man, it's, there's something about, actually, you know, we were talking about this during the game. Of all the ways to get knocked out,

I don't think this is the worst way South Africa experienced it. But it's one of my least favorites. I hate, I hate losing it. a game as a sucker punch and I hate losing a game in the last minutes but I think it could have been worse if we like got thrashed in a game yes yes you know what I mean it could have been out of the game by the 30th minute yeah those are the worst you know they go two kneel up and now of a sudden you've lost so but the thing is the thing about the World Cup is or the thing about any knockout competition is there's no right way there's no good way to be knocked out oh man

knocked out in penalties it's very cool your knockout in 19 it's very the only way the only good way to live a knockout game is by progressing. That's the only good way. Anything else is a sickener, it's a heartbreaker. But man, that's the beauty. That's why we love the game. We're talking about Barcelona. We've seen Barcelona come from five goals down to knock PSG out.

And then we've seen Barcelona lose a three-goal lead against Liverpool. And I didn't sleep that night. It was like, I kept going like, no, it didn't happen. It didn't happen. Corner taken quickly. That's what I think Yeah That's what we love about football

Is football is Football is the OG toxic relationship If we think about it Like if you love football You're in a toxic relationship You're in a relationship With the highs are very high And the lows

The lows will crush you Yes But the thing is that That's a proper analogy And then it just keeps You know when you go like Just Yeah

The Sopranos or Godfather Oh yeah Every time They pull me back in it always does that because yeah you always go hoping this is our time this is our time and right yes

and then the thing is the highest can never be much I actually compare it to a reality TV show that's not scripted it does have all the same elements it has all the exact same elements the dramatic highs the dramatic laws attention it just the good the thing that makes it

way better than Love Island or Love Island or maybe Real Housewives is it's not scripted 100% not scripted so you don't know what's going to happen and then that happens Although, although, although, although this tournament has a lot of people feeling like it's scripted. A lot of Christian Ronaldo fights. I mean, I'm sure, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Let's not run away from it. Let's deal with the elephant in the room so you and I can continue on our friendship. Okay, okay. There are many people who feel like Argentina and Lina L'Nal Messi are the darlings of FIFA. And Infantino does everything in his power to make sure that they have both an easy path in the tournament and an easy path in games. So let's start with the games argument first. Right?

People are people, a lot of people are complaining that Argentina has an easy journey to the final, which shows the bias that FIFA has. I try to disagree. I disagree because I agree because I get. You disagree because you love Mexico. No, no, I disagree because of facts. So Argentina, so when you look at the facts, Argentina actually was supposed to play either Spain or Uruguay

in the next round. But then Uruguay bottled it and Cape Verde came second. Oh yeah, that's true. I didn't I wasn't supposed to play Cape Vard. That's true. So the way FIFA makes these draws is the top teams, the blockbuster box office games should always be in the latter rounds.

Right. But then what happens is, the big teams because soccer is not scripted, the big teams normally mess up. So England fails to beat Ghana. Ghana. Spain fails to beat Cape Verde. Yeah. The Netherlands Uruguay gets knocked out.

Uruguay gets knocked out. And that's how you mess up. Again, on the other hand, they take care of business. So if Argentina had failed to beat Jordan, maybe, now they would have ended up on the other side. So the teams that take care of business always get rewarded with an easier path. So FIFA goes like, we're going to put the big teams to ensure.

Because FIFA doesn't want France to meet Argentina in the round of 32. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They want France Argentina in the final. But football is not scripted. One of the two teams messes up, ends up on the other side of the bracket. you have one side of the bracket very stacked because England didn't do their job

Netherlands didn't do their job Portugal didn't do their job Spain didn't do their job Spain didn't do your... Yeah, no, that's true. If Portugal beats Columbia or Congo. Not even Colombia, Congo. Yeah. Because Colombia was a bit of a tight game. If they beat Congo, the way they beat US backstand. Now, Portugal is on the easier part of the draw.

So that's the way it works. And now when you talk about Messi, for me, I'm going to sound by saying this, but actually, if anything. As opposed to how you always sound. FIFA, yes. FIFA favors Ronaldo. It sounds crazy, but FIFA. Wow. So let's talk about the red card, right?

The red card was contentious, was it, was it not? But coming to the World Cup, there was one player who had a red card. Ronaldo got a red card in one of their last quarterfires. Oh, yeah, you're right. Elbow, yes, an Ireland player. Oh, yeah, you're right. He was supposed to serve an automatic three-match ban. Yes.

But what did FIFA do? What did Infantino do? Infantino went like, we can't miss Ronaldo for the World. Cup. I forgot about that. So he gave him one match and then he suspended the other two. That's the first time. Yeah, you're right, actually. We've never had a suspended sentence in football. That's never, never happened before. Christiana Ronaldo is the first recipient of a suspended sentence on a red card. The one game he missed against what team, a mania. And so he came to the, because FIFA went like we can't lose Ronaldo for the first two games. You're not wrong actually. Now, imagine. Imagine if Messi had received that preferential treatment. I'll go back to another, I'll take you years back, 2013. The ballondo, because sometimes people go, like, like, oh, Messi is favored for the Barando. The Ballando voting was supposed to be closed November 15th. Ronaldo scores a heart trick against Sweden, November 19th. FIFA extends the Barando for the first and last time to November 29th

and goes like, you can change your results to reflect recent performances. There's been a pattern upon pattern of FIFA favor in Ronaldo, but Ronaldo fans always go like, no, FIFA favor is Messi. So for me, Agenda takes care of business. if other teams took care of business. A big team like maybe Portugal or England are supposed to get nine points out of nine.

Spain is supposed to get nine points out of nine. If we're honest, that's how the tournament is designed. That's how it's the time. The tournaments are generally designed in such a way that the favorites are supposed to go up against the smaller teams, which benefits smaller teams, strangely enough in some ways.

You know, it's like a moment to prove yourselves. It's great for box office ratings, etc. for you. But the downside is you're facing a bigger team. but when the teams don't perform When Vosignia does what Vosinia did against Spain Now Spain has to be Cape Verde has won the World Cup

because let me show you the scenarios here Cape Verde has won the World Cup they held Spain to a goal list draw one of the favorites to win the tournament And we thought that was the result We went like oh they are done They have done their beat

Cape Verde can go home happy They went like nope, we're not No They went through in their next game did the same thing Third game They have a goal difference of zero going through which is pretty impressive for World Cup opening rounds.

And then, and then, now they're going to play Argentina in the round of 32. Which is a win-win for that. That's what I'm saying it's a win. Because if Argentina beats them, the players and the country walk away going, well, the only team that could beat us. It took mercy. It took messy to end our run. You've won.

If they miraculously, who score a goal or two against Argentina, did you see how Jordan celebrated when they scored against. It didn't matter that they had lost, they had won. And last but not least, if by all the miracles that exist in the world of football, Cape Verde knocks out Argentina, there is no fathomable emotion that can fully describe. What that team and that island and football fans around the world will be experiencing. No, but I'll tell you one thing.

I think there's one big win. They've won already. No, I think there's one bigger winner than Cape Verde. Who? And that's me. Because I was the only person outside of Kep Vard. You did say. To actually back Kep Vard.

You did say. I did say. I did say they would make the quarterfinals. No, you did say. Now, I didn't know that they would run into Argentina. Yeah, but you did say. What was it about them that you were seeing? No, because I watched them in the Nations Cup.

I watched it, fun enough, I watched them in the Nations Cup. They are strong, resilient, very well drilled side. Do you know who knocked them out of the Nations Cup? They were killing everyone. Guess who knocked them out? Ron Wayne Williams. South Africa. Yeah, saved the penalties.

He had to save three penalties. And so from then I started following them. They qualified top of their group in Africa. And I went like this team, the way they are organized, the way they are world drilled, the way they work together, they don't have a star player per se. I went like this team is going to go far. And I said, Cape Vard, I tip them for the quarterfinals. Now, I didn't know that they would run into, unfortunately, Leonel Messi.

And you'd be a madman to bet against Leonel Messi. But for me, Cape Verde makes it, I'm happy. You know, would you say you'd be a madman? I mean, like, you're messy, man. I'm sure you've seen there's a huge beef on the internet right now between Messi fans and Ronaldo fans. There's always been a... Yeah, but this right now is like...

This is fever pitch. This is a bad feud. It's like, you know when they talk about those mafia style? Yeah, this is full on fever pitch. You know what I'm saying? If you look at the argument, the argument is basically from Ronaldo fans, say Portugal doesn't play for him. They don't support him.

They argue that Messi gets favorable calls. They argue that Argentina is a dirtier team. The Messi fans argue that Ronaldo doesn't show up when it... counts, he doesn't perform. He can't carry his team and he hasn't earned the right to be in the same conversation as Messi. Now, if you're a neutral like myself, I'm neither of Messi nor Ronaldo fan. I love them both as players.

I love them both my entire life watching football. But when I watch it, there's one part where the argument tips in my opinion towards the Messi fans, Messi fans or Ronaldo fans will say, why is it then when Messi scores goals against Jordan and these other teams, people say, oh, you see Messi handling business. But when Ronaldo scores against Uzbekistan, they said Ronaldo's stat padding. I agree with that, except for one part. And it's the fact that Ronaldo doesn't do it consistently. You know what I mean?

Ronaldo doesn't score, score in a game where the scores 1-1, where it's 2-2, you know what I mean? It's like he just doesn't do it. Messy's doing it. To come off the bench, score a free kick. Yes, against a terrible goalie, in my opinion. Terrible goalie. But man, he still does it.

He punishes the people where it counts. For me, Ronaldo should have got a hat trick against Uzbekistan. Does that make sense? Not only that. Yesterday, he had two free kicks and I think you saw what happened. Oh, my goodness. Those were terrible. They were horrible.

I almost wonder if Messi came off the bench just because he wanted to show Ronaldo how to kick a free kick. Okay. Because Ronaldo, because Messi wasn't supposed to play that game. No, he wasn't. And for me, that's the most. frustrating thing about being a messy fan. Messi doesn't care about personal stats. He doesn't care about individual records.

You think that's true? Really doesn't. Why do you base that on? I'll tell you, so I've watched Messi give away penalties when he's on a heart trick. I've watched Messi score two goals and just start giving assists. Messi does that so often. We call him Braithman.

Every Messi fan calls him Breast man. Brace man. He's not interested in heart tricks. He just scores to, it's like a well-known nickname. And the thing is, so yesterday, if Ronald Ronald played 90- minutes. Yeah.

Because Ronaldo is obsessed with a 1,000 gold. He wants to score 1,000 goals. How many does he have right now? He has like 950, 960. So he's 40 goals away. Messi yesterday against Jordan, the weakest team in the group. If you wanted to start bad or if he cared about extending. Okay.

He would have played the game from the beginning. He would have played the whole game. He didn't. He wasn't interested. Messi doesn't care. So now, I'll say this. First of all, Ronaldo fans, viewer, viewer discretion, please. Warning.

Just look away. Look away now. Senses of Ronaldo fans. It's going to be brutal. It's going to be brutal because I'm going to... What do the kids say? I'm going to brutally mug your fake goat with stats and truth in New York's. So here's what happens.

I think, personally, Ronaldo fans are Ronaldo fans. They are not football fans. Messi fans are football fans fast. Wait, Ronaldo fans first. Are Ronaldo fans first? Football fans second. Messi fans are football fans first and Messi fans second? And I will explain why.

So when Ronaldo scored against Uzbekstan, what did I say? I said this is the worst result that could have happened to Portugal. You said it as well. Can I just say, by the way, anyone who has watched this podcast, listen to this podcast, watch clips of it, I don't know about you. My mentions were a mess. I'm not on social media. People were like.

I can just say anything and run away. Yeah, people were like, oh, you idiot, you don't know anything. Ronaldo's going to show you. And I was like, no, you don't hear what I'm saying. I'm saying, Ronaldo. is going to hurt Portugal because he cannot keep up with the game anymore. But that's for me.

But for me, that's a bit farther down the road. The reason I said it was the worst result, and I didn't get a chance to explain. It's because Ronaldo came into the game against Uzbekstan, having not scored in 10 consecutive games in major finals. That's the World Cup and the Euros. He had gone 10 consecutive games without scoring. So when he scores, the two goes against Uzbekstan,

Messi is on seven right now. Yeah, Messi scores in every major final. So when Ronaldo scores the two goals, now you can't drop him anymore. Because his fans will go like, but he has silenced his critics. Ronaldo yells into the camera. I'm back. I'm back. But he was never present.

And the reason I say that is because every major final, Ronald has played. He has played six World Cup finals. He has played six European championships. Ronald has scored zero goals in the knockout rounds in the World Cup. I have as many goals in the knockout rounds of a World Cup as Ronaldo, despite the fact that Ronald has played six more World Cups. Oh, man. What a controversial state with Joe.

In the Euros, Ronald has played six euros. He has scored three knockout goals. That's a reasonable. Ronald has played 25 World Cup matches. Do you know how many matches he has gone sculles? 18. This is supposed to be... Wait, wait, wait, but then if we're looking at those numbers,

that means that Ronaldo's actually overperforming in this World Cup already. He has, he has, he has. Because Ronaldos goes average. Like 1.3. Yeah. The two goes against Uzbekistan. He's already overperformed.

So he's getting better as a player. No, no. No, so he has reached the peak. He can't score anymore. And remember, as I'm saying, he has never scored a knockout goal in the World Cup. Oh, man, that's funny. We are now in the knockout rounds.

Is he going to start scoring now? No. So then Ronaldo fans will say, but Joe, another thing I said that seemed controversial. was I said Ronaldo, Portugal should have moved on from Ronaldo in 2016. And they called me a madman. Why? Because they said, oh, but he helped his squad.

Okay, so two things. They said one, but he helped them win the Nations League. No one cares about the Nation's League. He's a glorified friend and no one cares. Then some people would say, oh, but he helped them win the Euros. I'll say, no, he didn't. Adair won the Euros. By scoring a goal, Ronald was limping helplessly on the sideline when he scored again.

Ronald was off the pitch for 65 minutes. Then some people will say, oh no, but Ronaldo carried Portugal to the final. And I'll say, no, he didn't. He scored in two games in that he rose. Grisman scored double the number of goals. Ronaldo scored in that particular championship. I'll give it to you. No, remember, I'm impartial here.

I'll give it to you. No, no, no. Before you go too far. Before you interrupt, because people will think I'm crazy, I'll give you this. The reason I say Portugal should have moved on from Ronaldo, I mean from building the team around him is because ever since 2016, he's never scored a knockout goal in any major final one. Two, Ronaldo has had two notable performances for me for Portugal.

And I watch every Portugal game. The first one was against Sweden when he scored a heart trick. Yeah. To lead Portugal into the 2014 World Cup. But remember, why did he need to score a heart trick? Because Portugal had gone through the playoffs. They had to sneak through the back door of the playoffs. They were in a group with hunger and I think, Sloven.

And he still come to that group. As I said, I've given it to you, Joe. The only other heart trick is scored. Joe. Listen, the only other heart trick is scored. You're fighting against nobody right now, Joe. No, no, because I want to spare it because Ronaldo fans will go like, you're crazy. So you're trying to drop the stats, but now, Joe, Ronaldo fans don't care about the stats.

They don't care. And in fact... They literally don't care, yes. Yeah, I would argue that most people who are a fan of a player don't care about the stats. What they care about is how the player makes them feel and the stats that matter to them. Yes. If he shows up in big games, Ronald would feel his fan, would make his fans feel a lot better. But for me, as we may see, fans normally say, Ronaldo belongs, not in the God debate,

but on a male carton, missing, because he's always missing. Oh, my goodness. Every major tournament is always missing. Let me deflate your balloon a little bit. You know who does show up? A man by the name of Harry Kane. That's who does show up, Joe.

Yes, he has to. Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, Joe, you've said your peace. You've said your peace. You've said your peace. You can relax into that chair. You can enjoy yourself. Defend this ridiculous choice.

Joe, we had a conversation when we recorded the first episode of this podcast, and we talked about strikers and who the best. strikers in the world are. And I said Harry Kane and you said no. And I asked you to name a striker better than him. Right now.

And you froze. Yes, right now. You couldn't answer. Okay. Right now was the key thing. In the game against Panama, England, we'll talk about their performance second. Weren't doing so well. Two players stood out.

Jude Bellingham. Yes. And my man, Harry Kane. Yes. Are you willing to. concede, as I did. I led by example, I've conceded to you on the Argentina easy part. It's very easy to concede when MES is on the other side of the debate.

But okay. Are you willing? Are you willing? Or how close are you to conceding that Hurricane gets the job done? I'll say this. Hurricane, good striker. He has scored two. This man.

No, he scored. Listen, I like looking at the players where. Oh, my goodness. The man's good. Do they show up in big moments? This is good. Hurricane has got two knockout goals in the World Cup. Joe, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, okay, let's do this.

One of them with... Here's what I don't like about this. Here's what I don't like about this. I think your analysis of the game hinges on a very particular element of the game that can swing depending on how a match is played. So I'll give you an example. Let's look at case and point matches this week, right?

Look at the France game where Dembella gets a hat trick. Okay. It's a group game. It doesn't count in my name. No, no, no, but wait, but wait. People can say, Bapa didn't show up that game. I argue, because... Because Mbapapé was double-teemed that whole game,

because Mbapé was being fouled, because Mbapé was being challenged the way he was, Mbapé had less chance of getting a clear opportunity on goal, and because of that, D'embele was able to put away three. And kudos to him, because they were not easy goals and they were not easy finishes. I'm not saying that. But I'm saying sometimes a player's sacrifice

is such that they're going to have to give up their goals so that the team can win. And that's what I judge you by as a striker. Like Louis Suarez was one of the best at taking players away from the game and letting his team score goals. You get what I'm saying? Your Barcelona boys used to do it all the time as well. So you know that I'm not crazy as saying this.

David Villa. Sergio Aguirreau at Manchester City. You name it. Robert Lewandowski. Robert Lewandowski, you show me a great striker. I'll show you a player who knows that their gravity on the pitch is as powerful as their impact. And so sometimes their power move in the game is going to be to move the centerbacks

out of position so that a wingback can slice in or so that an attacking midfielder like a number 10 or somebody can can um can overlap right harry cane for me the reason i say this is because harry cane is the do everything player when it needs to be done okay right in games where it's scruffy he can get it done in games where you're coasting he can get it done in games where someone needs to come back all the way to the midfield or beyond and get the ball play it forward harry can get it done he's and and and you can put it on feet you can put it on his head you can make it Like, this Panama game, let's be honest, it was an ugly game. It was a tough.

And it wasn't just tough, it was ugly. Agile, yes. Like, Colombia, Portugal wasn't an ugly game, but it was tough. You know, Colombia, in my opinion, should have got the win. Okay. You know? But if we look at the England game itself, I think Harry Kane and Jude, by the way, Jude, who half of the English press were slating before the tournament,

has now stepped up in more than one game, in my opinion, to show that, like, he is that guy. In the England team especially, Jude Belling him. You'll pop up with goals, yes. You know why. You know why, and maybe this will get us into another conversation. Jude Bellingham is not afraid to progress the play. He's not

afraid to take a man on, he's not afraid to dribble a person, he's not afraid. Problem is he lacks the tools to do it. Look, wait, wait, wait, he lacks the finesse of like he doesn't have the most deft touch but man, the boy makes up for it with his decision making. With his lungs,

like in English, he's a passion merchant, I think, and he's a lungs merchant. I'll say this. So, Did you say he's a lungs and passion merchant? Yes. And you're saying it like a bad thing. It's a bad thing. Okay, so I'll say this.

I'll say this. Did he use his lungs to cross the ball? Or did he use his passion to cross the ball? Let me, let me. No, no, I want to answer. It's amazing how when you are talking about, you make the most outlandish statements. I want to answer.

No, my friend. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait, no, answer my question. When Jude Bellingham gets that ball and crosses it to Harry Kane, did he cross it using his lungs or used? using his passion. He used his lungs to get there. He used, which foot did he use to cross that ball?

What I'm saying is if you're, which foot did he use to cross that ball? If you're Jude Bellingham, you shouldn't struggle. You shouldn't struggle. You shouldn't. If you're a great player. Panama's playing five at the back. It doesn't matter.

No, Joe. Messi, Messi. Oh, here we go again. Oh, you want to bring that up. Okay. Actually, this is a perfect time. Let's talk about your boys, Pedri and Vitina. Wait.

Let me ask you questions. Wait. No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, Trevor, I want first answer your question about. No, no, no, no, no. I see you dodging. Let me answer your question about, no, let me answer your question about,

no, let me answer your question about, yes, no, no, no, then we'll go to Pedrian Vitina. No, no, no, no, I see what you're doing. I see what you're doing. I see what you're doing. I see what you're doing. So for me, Ken, you're taking the ball and passing it back to your goalkeeper right now, Joe. Ken has the same problem.

kane has the same problem as Ronaldo. And I'll tell you why. Joe, when you've scored two goals in the knockout on Trevor, a good player, a great player is only, is only, is only determined by how they stand up when the pressure is on, when the lights are brightest. I consider, I consider. The pressure was on with Panama. No, no, no, no, no, no, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, the pressure was on.

They are already qualified regardless. Joe, the pressure was on. Yes, but winning the group was important. Trevor, I'm saying knockout trans. Did Ronaldo win the group? No, he didn't. So, oh, wait, let's play this game. Did Ronald win his group?

No, he didn't. Did Eurogoi win their group? No, they didn't. Yeah. So, I'm saying, there are players where, no. So there are players and teams who didn't show up. Yes. Because winning the group is pressure, Joe.

Don't say it's not pressure. Winning the group is useless if you don't show up in the knockout rounds yet. But we haven't got to the knockout rounds yet. But now we can't judge a man by a round. He didn't get to you. No, no. I'm saying in the past and even now, I'm looking at their past performance. So look, for me, the way I consider Hurricane and Ronaldo, I think of them as the Haddon,

James Harden or Russell Westbrook of international football. They'll put up big numbers in the regular season when the playoffs come, they disappear. You know what you are, Joe? They disappear. You are a hate merchant. No, no. That's what you are. Trevor, they are good players.

No, no, I don't think you heard of me. You're a merchant of hating. Listen. Russell Westbrook and James Haddon are future. You are a merchant. Our future hall of famers and they are future hall of farmers. You are a merchant. But you can never put them in the same conversation as Michael, Jordan or LeBron James.

I'm going to issue you a challenge. You're not allowed to say the words messy. Okay. You're not allowed to say the words Harry Kane. Ah, no, we can't have a conversation. Ah, you see? Okay, let's talk about Declan Rice. Okay, I'm taking all your merchants.

That's all you are. Let's have a conversation. Okay. About Vitinia. Yes. What's going on with Vitinia? Wait, wait, wait, wait. I'm going to break down why we're talking about this.

Vitina has been considered one of the best midfields in the game of football over the past few years. Playing for PSG, the man has won multiple Champions League. He's won multiple La Liga's. He's been viewed as one of the most potent and dynamic players controlling a midfield, right? Coming into the World Cup, I would argue that Portugal has been called one of the favorites primarily because Vitina is running the midfield. Bruno Fernandez is in front of him. People have said, this midfield can shut everything down.

They can create anything. Good luck to any team that faces them. And yet, and yet, in the games where we've watched Portugal play, it looks like Vitina, and this is not like me guessing, if you look at his passing map, most of his passes are lateral passes from side to side, short passes that aren't really creative, they don't move the game, very few incisive passes, very few chances created, very few opportunities, very few... Yes, and what's the difference? And so my question to you is, okay, now remember my challenge.

I'm actually going to add one thing. You cannot say Ronaldo. You cannot say Messi and you cannot say Hurricane. You're asking me to diagnose the problem without actually mentioning the problem. Wait, so when you have a striker who is static, when you have a striker who is not mobile, however progressive a passer you are, there's no one to play the ball into. You need someone to play the ball into however progressive you are. Pedro Netto is there?

Pedro is not in the... So that's why it's sideways, because it's going to the wing. But it's not the same. At PSG, he's playing the ball into Kvarskeria. He's playing the ball into D'Emberg. Yes. Who's on the left? Yes.

But who's on the right sometimes? Yes. But who's making runs inside. Now, when you consider, look, I'm a huge fan of Macy, yes. But you're not allowed to say Macy, though. I'm a huge fan of the God. I'm a huge fan of the God. But I'll tell you one thing.

I'll play Trevor. Trevor, you've seen us play on Tuesday. One of my arguments every time I'm playing on Tuesday is where are the runners. I'm a midfield I'm a very progressive pass of the ball I hate passing the ball back but if there's no one running I have to pass the ball back

I have to pass the ball sideways so that I don't concede possession because if you're midfielder if you concede possession then the counter is on Okay let's now let's go to another player who you love and then let's figure out what's happening with Pedri

Pedri has had a bit of a tough World Cup partly because he has had to switch between two positions so he started as a more advanced pivot and then they took Fabian Louise out then they played him And they played very well in the second game. You remember, they played so well against Saudi Arabia.

But that's because Danny Olmore. They played well against Saudi Arabia. That's because Danny Olmore was in the whole sentence. Yes. Yes, but I'm explaining why? Man, Mike Tyson did really well in that fight at the kindergarten. Against a kid. He was really, really good.

But I'll tell you why. Come on. So he struggled in the next game because they played Mikkel Marino. Mika Merino can't play with him in the same way that Olmo plays with him. Yes, but Joe, this is my problem though. This is what I'm trying to say. How great are these players? And I'm not saying they're not.

Because again, I love Vitina. I love Pedri. I love the way they play. But the question many people are asking is, are we over-inflating the greatness of players around the world because of the teams they're surrounded by? Right. So we can bring other players into this conversation.

Antoine Semeno, he's not showing himself as the Bournemouth guy or the Man City guy. You watch most of the game, and Semino is making random runs. He doesn't seem to like keep the ball at his feet. He doesn't seem to, you know what I mean? There's multiple players where even Valverde at Uruguay And again, some people say it's the coach.

But I'm saying, is that not the true measure of a great player? Is the fact that they can perform in spite of the national team that is around them, right? I totally agree with you because I feel like you're coming around fun enough to my argument, which is the players. So the player, like, you're saying the measure of greatness. So I'm saying, Harry Kane, Christiano Ronaldo, they have been doing it for their club. Then they come to their national team. No, no, no.

Let's not bring them in. No, Joe. What you're doing here is slick. Let's talk about the players we're talking about. Okay. Vitina, Pedri. Yes. Let's just talk about them.

Okay, I'll say this. I'll say this. And you can quote me on this going forward. Pedri is going to come good because Pedri always comes good. He's going to come good in the tournament. Okay. Vitina is not going to because he has a problem that can't be solved. Oh, interesting.

So you think Pedri is having a moment? Yes. Vitinia, it's systematic. It's a problem. Yeah, it's a problem. if he had Gonzalo Ramos in front of him. And I know Gonzalo is not like the best striker, but Gonzalo Ramos has legs to at least be mobile.

There's a reason why. Can I disagree with you? Wait, let me tell you why. I actually think this is what the issue is. And maybe it actually leans. This is where our Venn diagrams might actually overlap. I think when I watch Argentina play with Messi, a player who steps up both for club and country,

which is why he's the God. One of the things I think people miss is this. Messy has an advantage in his position in the team because he is neither the furthest forward player nor is he the last man of defense. The reason I say this is if you are a player who's at the back and you do not perform 100%,

your team is going to concede a goal. If you're a player who's at the front and you don't perform, your team is not going to score goals, right? Everyone goes where the goal is going to come from. I argue that Messi, and I do think this was wise of him and the teams he's played for,

by moving into the position he's moved into, he's now made it that the game is less about his legs and more about his vision, his touch and his talents. He's adapted. And that's part of what being a goat is, in my opinion, is knowing how to adapt to your body to the game. Yeah, yeah, completely, completely. I think when I watch the Portugal team,

one of the biggest issues they face is, let's think of all the great 433 teams and their formations, whether it's Barcelona, whether it's PSG, whoever it may be. even Liverpool in its heyday, Mosala, Faminio, Mane, etc. One of the most crucial things you want to do

is make sure that your wingers have the permission to cut in ferociously. And what often happens is you'll find a switch of play. So if your midfield has the ball, let's say they have it on the rights. You find the most dangerous incisive pass

is the pass that's actually going to favor like that Mbapé run that he loves doing. It's a diagonal run that cuts across players. And the reason I always think that's so hard to defend against is because you don't know whose man it is. Is it the man who was with him when he started the run? Yes. Or the man whose son is running into a...

Or does it switch over to the next man? In many ways, it's like a basketball pick and roll. But it's a much faster version of a pick and roll because you don't stand still. But who's supposed to defend it? Do you mock with the man? Do you mark with... And those things are so dangerous.

Like when Mo Salah would do that, Bobby Faminio would move to one side. Mane or Sala would do it. You see that P. G as well, you see it at Bayern Munich as well. Once a player pulls and the wingers can cut in, all sorts of chaos breaks out. But my issue, no, this is where I say we might be overlapping. I don't see Ronaldo pulling people enough.

Thank you. And then I don't see the Portugal wingers cutting in. The moments where I have seen it is Rafael Liao. Raffa Liao, but only because of his pace, has been making that for himself. Gets the ball on the wing, flies past the defender, cuts back down into the box. but I argue he should be meeting the ball there as opposed to having to run all the way there with it Yeah, but the thing is where I disagree with you

And I see the convergence you're talking about Where I disagree with you is You're making it seem like this is a recent problem For me when it comes Ronaldo No, no no no no let's not talk about that No let's not go back to that No no no listen I don't want to go back to that The reason I'm saying it is

I'm just saying for Vitina specifically And even I'm saying for Vittonetto So I'm saying Pedro Netto and those guys I don't know if this is a coach saying don't go into Ronaldo's zone or if it's Ronaldo saying don't go into Ronaldo zone but my issue is that the game seems like it has a predictable shape

and there's not enough throwing defenders off of their positions and dragging people out of positions in my opinion but I don't want to get stuck on this forever well let's take a quick break to thank our sponsor Mazda for today's episode Safety has a new leader

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I do want to talk about some of the big news that's getting everyone. Number one, yo, one of the saddest stories from the World Cup is what happened to South Korea's coach. Yeah, you hear to see. The team got knocked up with the competition, really put in sub-part performances. And the Korean coach

Hong Mung Bo was, I mean, a hero coming. into this tournament. A legend. Legend of South Korean football. And I was watching clips from Korean national television where they're talking about the team. They've blurred his whole body. Like.

Personal and non-grata. In a very literal way. They've blurred him like a, you know, like the way the news would blur a dead body. They don't, they say he mustn't come into stores. They say like... Okay, so a couple of things.

One. That seems like it's two. Come on. One, so just a little bit of history. Hong Mung Boa led South Korea to their greatest ever finish. At the 2002 World Cup, yes. They lost the third place where to Turkey.

So he was, actually, he won the bronze ball at that World Cup. He was the third best player at that World Cup. He's a legend, legend. So, you know, he becomes a coach. It was a controversial appointment in South Korea. But then the worst thing is South Korea has been fighting with the media. And I don't know whether he saw the reports of the media like mocking, Jung Ming, so they have been fighting to the media.

And then they didn't put up a good enough performance, lost to South Africa. And so this has now happened. They has gone from hero of South Korean football. In South Korea, no matter when you fall from grace, you really do fall from grace. But I think the team came in a bit like Turkey. They came in very high on expectation. It's the curse of the World Cup.

When you come in and people have already chosen you to go through, I do think it's one of the curses. Look at how Team USA has performed because they were not the anointed ones. Look at how even South Africa performed. at how Cape Vard and yes Yeah but those are like small They were always like the

I'm talking about like the middling teams Have sort of done better Because they didn't have the presumptive pressure on them The bad expectation can be too much Yes And I argue that you know It's not keeping your eye on the ball Until it's in your hands

Or on your foot Okay In which way like You know great athletes always say No matter the level of game Whenever you see an athlete make a mistake 99 times out of 100 It's because they took their eyes

off the ball at the last second. They were shooting, they took their eye off the ball. They were trapping, they took their eye off the ball. They were passing, they took their eye off the ball. And really, all it is is keeping your eye on the ball until the point where it feels like it's unnecessary then taking your eye away. Yes. Right?

I think teams that came into the World Cup looking at their next games already. You're right, yes. At the next round, yes. They assumed they're already qualified, yes. They took their eye off the ball. And so, you know, and the opposite of that, though, is African teams. I mean, South Africa's knocked out now.

Yes. But nine out of ten African teams made it through to the knockout stages. It's so funny, it's so funny you brought up that, you know, old adage about, you know, keep your eye on the ball because

it's almost like when you come into World Cup, it sounds like a tired, tired phrase, but they were like, take it a game at a time. One game at a time. Take it one game at a time.

Don't plan for the future, one game at a time. So African teams, they actually expanded and increased, the number of representatives from Africa from 5 to 10. Yeah.

And so many Europeans General Gatosso They slammed the UFO. They slammed the EUF president. They went like, oh, this is a charity case. It's going to make the world come worse. How are these teams going to compete? And look, Africa.

Meanwhile, Italy didn't even qualify for the world. It didn't make it. And then Africa, 90% of our representatives have made it to the knockout rounds. For me, this, you know what Shakira said, it's time for Africa? She was 16 years.

Too early, because this really has been, apart from Tunisia, and Tunisia has been, I feel bad for Tunisia, because they considered six goals, was it five goals in their first game? Yeah. Fired their coach, considered four in the next game, then considered three. So they were like, you could see the improvement coming game by game.

Yeah, but way too late. It was way too late. And I feel sad for Tunisian fans, because they've produced some of the best defenders I knew growing up, from Radeji Jai to, you know, the Hatem and Samutra BLC, the keeper Chokorioroa, They have always had a good defensive side

and to see them fall apart the way they did. But let's not talk about Tunisia. They had a tough world gap. Let's talk about the African. Every African team has really shown up and shown out. But I'm worried now. We need another sport actually. Now we are demanding two more sports.

But now I'm worried now. Because Nigeria stayed behind. Can I tell you why I'm worried? Okay. I'm worried because I don't think the African teams still in the competition. Okay. Maybe barring Senegal have shown, in my opinion,

enough incisiveness in front of goal. That's the problem. That has been the problem. Like, I was waiting for Dior Congo to, like, maybe this is the awakening. I'm really excited for this. But like, like, like, court de Voire. I thought there would be like more, more dangerous in front of goal.

You know, I, I thought that Morocco would be more dangerous in front of goal. Yeah. Yeah. Like, I just thought that there would be more. From Mr. M. M.Siberi, they are really struggled, yes. You know, and I hope it's just a moment. I'll say this way I disagree with you. I think, okay, that. favors African teams.

Going through the knockout rounds. Because then if you get a draw, you're going to do penalties. Yeah, but you see, I think that's why South Africa got knocked out. Yes. Yes. Because I think sometimes African teams, and maybe it's because, again, you know, sometimes you can't win. For a long time, African teams are told you don't know how to defend. You just play the game casually and that's why you lose.

Now African teams actually defend really, really well. Very disciplined, yes. But I think that can lead to a knockout sucker punch like South Africa experienced. Because you only need to concede one goal. So you're saying the pendulum has won from one side. to the other because we used to be very tack-minded

Cavalier and South African, like African teams, African teams used to lose like the final match score would be like

four three. Yes, yes. That was an African match at the World Cup. Yes. Full of excitement, losing, but man,

what a great game. And then now it's always like 1-0. Penalties. 1-0, penalties. 1-0, penalties. And my problem is in the knockout stages,

when you play against a team that has like moments of excellence with maybe players who are slightly better than you, if the Netherlands goes into a knockout match with Morocco I worry more for Morocco than the Netherlands in the knockout part of a game

but in the match itself I think Morocco can come back they can swing things back and forth they can you know what I mean that they can they can survive the momentum shifts but I worry about teams who like who are too structured going into the game I worry that they may not they may not come out on the other side but I think for me that's a huge advantage because if you can stop

goals. And again, it's another of those old proverbs tired. Defenses win your championships attacks, you know, fences win your games. For me, I think, if you're Cape Verde, let's say, you're not going to get into a scoring contest with Argentina. You'll never win it. Yeah, but that's Cape Verde.

Yes, I'm saying you'll never win it. But you can hope to stop Argentina. You can hope. That's like your best hope. But my problem is, but, you know... You need the structure to stop Argentina. People use this. So, if you, let's say you're in a boxing match with somebody. Yes, blocking is a great way to stop them from hitting you But you know it's also a great way to stop them from hitting

It's punching them out, yes Not even knocking them out The fact that you throw a punch It means the other person has to think about throwing a punch At the same time You know And I just worry that in some of these games The teams are less worried about throwing punches

And more worried about blocking every punch And I think that gives the other team A lot of time to figure out what's happening To build momentum Calibrate the attack, etc, etc. In fact, the one thing I will say that might help them is the hydration breaks, actually. I do think the hydration breaks

are going to help African teams. Break momentum, yes. Because it segments the game into four and it's a lot easier to keep your concentration in 20 minute periods than it is to keep it over 45 minutes. Let's survive 20 minutes. Okay, boys, let's do it. 23 minutes, well done. 23 minutes, well done. Okay, 23 minutes. Well done. I do think it's easier to defend four quarters of a soccer game. As a course of two halves, then two halves, which brings me to another rule change since we're now changing rules,

since we now play football in quarters. I love how they tricked us into that, by the way. Slowly dangled it, dangled it and then before we knew it. I mean, they tricked us, let's be honest. Is it time to change the offside rule? I think here's what I believe. So I'll answer and then I'll, and then I'll, you can,

so my answer is yes, but tell me why I'm right, Joe. I think it's become too much draw lines, this and that and this part of the body and this tiny little nailed does he have a longer foot. Toes, yes, toes.

I think the offside rule. I think Venger is trying to change it. Yes, he is. And I like it. But here's what I believe. I believe if the referee goes, I feel it should be the way it is, but if the referee goes to the VAR monitor

and can't see it in 15 seconds, the goal should be given. Oh, interesting. We should remove the lines. If the referee can't notice his mistake in 15, if he can't see it and go like, oh, it's offside, then it should be given. That's a, no, I don't like that one.

Instead of spending three minutes, drawing lines. I don't like that one because now we've put the burden on the referee to notice or not notice them. No, I feel 15 seconds in front of the monitor is enough. Yeah, but Joe, let's just make it simple. If there's daylight. Because remember the origin of offside was a specific one. The origin of the rule is we did not want one player to sit on the other side of the field, which they used to do, by the way.

They would just sit on the other side of the field. And goal hand, like you see it in basketball sometimes. You are all the way on the other side of the court. They just throw you the ball. You're under the hoop. Nikola Yokic. Yeah. And you just drop it in.

Okay. That's why we have offside. When you understand what a rule is for, I think the logic behind the rule is as important as the application of the rule. Oh, you're saying the spirit of the rule. Yes. Is the spirit of the rule was not about, is a body part of yours edging out over mine? No, it's denying an advantage.

Are you playing the game in such a way that it's not like, you know, I don't want to say like fair, but it's like you're spoiling the game. You know, because really you could also just wait in the goals, wait for the ball, step in front of the goalie, et cetera, et cetera, right? So that's why the rule exists. I think it's time to change the rule. I think we lost great goals and great results because of this rule. You know, I think Iran didn't deserve to get knocked out.

I think that Colombia deserved to beat Portugal. Yes. And what I mean is like football gets robbed because even as a neutral, I'm watching that game going, wow, what an ending. No, it's not an ending because of a toe. Because of a toll, yes. No, I'll say the off-side rule has been the most controversial. And, you know, for people who are not like fans of the game,

every time they change it. They have never changed it and everyone is on board. Every time they change it, it's always like, ugh. Remember when you guys broke it at Bosneman? Yes, it's always like everyone, it's like, they have tried. You know, I'll give the international, you know, football associations board. They have tried time and again to try to figure the thing out. But it's like,

Because footballers, every time you change it, guess what footballers do? They try to find a loophole around it, a way to exploit it. Yeah, but I mean, here's not even a loophole. Here's just feet. I don't think somebody shortened their foot to find a loophole. I just think this didn't, it just didn't help the game. It hasn't helped the game. And then now you have teams getting knocked out.

And Iran, by the way, you know what I mean? I think the only team that has had such a cruel roller cost of emotion. than South Africa. Now worse, way worse. No, way worse. I don't think South Africa comes close. Yeah, no, it was brutal, man. Iran comes into the World Cup.

They don't stay in the U.S. They have to fly in for every single game. They're getting visas checked and they're doing like immigration, customs and immigration, which is already a nightmare if you're traveling with your family. Imagine now trying to go play a World Cup match. You know what I mean? And you're worried about all your documents and stuff like that.

You don't just get to just like drive to the game. We'd even make it into the country. Yeah. And then on top of all of that, and this is something we need to figure out. There needs to be like a blanket, in my opinion. It needs to be a blanket agreement because it has to be applied uniformly.

Iranian players were constantly being forced to answer questions about Iran, the country and its politics. And then at some point they're like asking them about LGBTQ issues, which in my opinion is like a trap by the reporters. And I'll tell you why. You can't ask Iranian players about LGBTQ rights

when you know what the rules are in their country. Because people are quick to have that arrogance now. People forget, like, America hasn't had like gay marriage for 100 years. Yes, yes, yes. You know what I'm saying? America hasn't had gay marriage for, you get what I'm saying? So for them to now be like so arrogant about it, like, oh, your country doesn't, it's like, no, guys, guys, guys, we have to be fair.

If you're going to do it, do it to everyone. If you're going to ask, if you're going to ask Taremi, if you're going to ask Taremi about gay rights and if you're going to ask Taremi about what's happening in the the Strait of Hormuz, then you must ask Christian Pulisage about gay marriage in America and the possible ending of gay marriage and the Strait of Hormuz. If you're going to ask Tarrami those questions, then you must ask Messia about Argentina. You're going to ask, then you must ask people about what's happening in Europe. You can't, I think that's an extra level of pressure.

But the player doesn't need when they're playing at the outcome. Yes, but not even need. It's just the fairness for me is the issue. Yes. Some people will say with great power comes great responsibility. But the greatest of the powers don't have any responsibility. Yes, I understand it's selective. I'll say if I'm Iranian, the reason I feel is unfair is because people are never, especially like sportsmen, and I understand where Pogolaco, but they need to speak out.

But people are never representative of their governments. There are people on the Iranian team who love the IRGC. There are people who don't like the RGC. The same way they point of the American team who love Trump and people can't stand. Trump. Yeah. So it's when you reduce people to their government. Because actually most times people go like, no, the government sucks.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Most people everywhere go like our government sucks. Yeah. But we ask people, which is why sometimes we go like, oh, that's, I think they don't want us to meet because when people meet, they realize, oh, the one thing we have in common is we all think our government sucks. So it's very funny. I mean, that's happened. That's happened like this whole round. Yeah, this whole round cup.

Everybody's going to get our government. Oh, you know. There are so many Europeans are like, wow. actually Americans are great people. And Americans are like, wow, so many Europeans are great people. And people like, oh, wait, wait, wait. The one thing we have in common is we think all our government, all our politicians are the ones who actually suck.

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

he gave, but I, you know, this is why I give credit, I'll tell you why. I can see a player losing their cool, I can see a player feeling. No, every press conference where they asked him a question, I felt like he was measured, he was classy, and the question they asked him in Seattle about

LGBTQ and pride and everything, he said, and I'm sure he'll get flat for it. He said, I respect anyone who's from the LGBT community live your life. You have your opinions and your life and your preferences. Some other people have different ones. You get them saying.

It wasn't even like anti- No, he was like, but I don't understand why we're not talking about the game. Now they push back who will be from the anti-Teremie people. They go like, oh, but Teremi is a representative of the IRGC. But then that's the thing with national teams. National teams are representatives. Yeah, but I don't... The country, not the government.

Yeah, but I also think we need to be fair as well. We also have to be, I think we have to have a little bit more leniency and a little bit more compassion for teams and players and athletes who come from countries where you can't just speak your mind. Because that's some bullshit as well, Joe. First Amendment. Yeah, we're going to get like, no, we're going to get some North Korean player and be like, so what do you think of Kim Jong-un?

Tell us what you really think. With your chest, yes. Go back. My family is back there. Their family is back there. I think sometimes we make it seem like they can just talk shit with no, like, don't make it. I feel like Western people make it because Western people go like, as an

American, I can go there, say crap about my government and nothing would happen to my family. Good for you. It's almost like privilege. You're going to, hey, you need to check your privilege. Yeah, man, good for you. I just think we need to be like, it's like just be a little bit more understanding and compassionate in those situations. Because

people say, oh, you should speak out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You say that. But please understand that. Not every situation has the same level of speak out ability as yours does. And that's what one of the joys of having the freedoms that you have. Yes. Is that you have those freedoms? I don't know whether it's a wrong attribution or not, but

the former Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin, used to say, you know, I'll give you, you have freedom of speech, but what we can't guarantee is freedom after speech. You know, you can say whatever you want, but after you've said it. Yo, man, dictators. Yes. Ooh, they have bars. Your dictators have some other bars.

So, okay, this is it, man. Round of 32. Let's make it fun, Joe. Let's go through the bracket together No, no, let's just make it We'll just make it interesting You know what, we'll just do it until the next We won't even go too far Okay

Let's just do it until the next episode of the podcast Okay, so South Africa Canada has played Yeah, that has been clear We're recording this before the next round of games So let's go Brazil Japan I think Brazil will have too much individual quality

You know, Japan is very organized Very well drilled But all it takes is a vinny masterpiece I think it should be I see 2-1. Okay? 2-1, yes. 2-1, Brazil.

I think I go 3-1 Brazil or 3-2 Brazil. Germany, Paraguay? Germany on this side as well. I'll be shocked if Paraguay... I'll be shocked the Paraguay scores, to be honest with you. German, Germany, yes. They are still struggling with their identity, Germany. They don't know whether they are...

Because you know, the old German team, but now they have so many what people call walk footballers. Kai Havert is a half-fors-fors-fossed night. Germany used to have natural killers. Clean's men, all the beer, for Rudy Vola. Now you have like these half-nines, yeah,

no, so much work. It is, it is a team, it is a team that's experiencing a transition in how they play football. An identity crisis. Yeah, identity crisis.

But I think they still have too much quality. Yeah. Netherlands and Morocco, that's an interesting one. I think Morocco is going to take it. I think Morocco have enough individual quality.

Damn, they are struggling to score goals. Their only outlet is Ismar Saibari. Who fun enough played, plays for PSV? He might be moving to Bayern Munich, but he plays for PSV in Holland. So that might be an advantage. Yeah, yeah.

I don't know, man. I disagree with you there. I think the Netherlands is going to take it. I think the Netherlands... I think the Netherlands... I think the Netherlands... I think the Netherlands... Yeah, but the Netherlands, when it gets to knockout games,

they are giant killers. I think they've gone as far. And they kill big teams. The only time they lost in Qatar was when Messi robbed them. Messi did that handball. You know that was a handball, Joe. Yes, it was a handball. Okay, thank you.

That's all I needed. All right. Moving on. Next round of games. Let's go through them quick. Cote de Vuan Norway. Norway. Norway has too much quality.

France. France Sweden. France. France. Both off the bench. Yeah, on and off the bench. France, Sweden. France, Sweden, come on.

That's easy, France. Mexico, Ecuador. This is a tough one. That's a tough one because Mexico is playing. I'll only chime in when I disagree, by the way, so I agree with all of these. They haven't lost a game at Azteca, but the one advantage they have a dazteca, which is a high altitude. Oh. Comes from Quito.

For them, that's all they know. So their advantage of playing, like, you know, because you need Oxford here at high altitude. Equida is good with that. Equida struggles with goals as well. They have a great deal. defense, but Anna Valencia is leading their line. I think Ecuador is going to shed it. I think Kewa is going to shed it. They're going to win it. Yes, I think

they're going to shed it. I think they're going to progress. I think Mexico is going to beat them just because the home ground is too much on the sun. Mexico also has a class. They never make it past the first knockout phase. And so they either this is where we break cursive. They've also never won their first game, remember? Yeah. Real right. Yeah.

So this is the year of breaking cursors. I think I think Kua is going through. I think Kewa is going through. Okay. England and D. England. D.D. Congo. I think England England always makes heavy a way of progressing like they did against. But I think England will have a little bit too much quality. Even without a right back? Yes.

They have too much quality. If I was Congo, I'm just pressing that left side. Yeah, but then Congo also has iron one bisaka this side. So England also be concentrating on that side. I think England is in trouble. I think England is that was that in karate kid. You know, and like the leg is... Oh, yeah.

When Roth Mackey has the... I think they're limping through the rest of the... tournament. I think they struggle against the low block and Dara Kong are going to play. And by the Dara Kong, use the low block to frustrate. Yeah, Portugal. Portugal and Ronaldo.

So I think England will struggle, but they will shed it. Okay. They have enough quality to shed it. Belgium, Senegal. Belgium. That's a tough one. That can go either way. I think Belgium is going to win.

I think Belgium is going to. What? I think Belgium are slowly, slowly gaining momentum. I think you're wrong. Senegal is winning. I say Senegal is winning. I think Senegal is scoring more and I think they look more confident. USA Bosnia.

I say USA is winning. I think Bosnia is going to. surprise the US. I think Bosnia is going to surprise the year. Do you remember Bosnia, people forget Bosnia is the team that dumped Italy out. People forget that.

They had a shaky start with the world cup. Yeah, but Italy was playing trash. Yes. But Italy's playing trash. USA is not playing like Italy, bro. I never thought I'd say that phrase. Yes, you're right. My mouth even now was like, it almost protested, yes.

But it's true. USA is not playing like, Italy was not playing U.S. Okay, let's go. Spain, Austria. I think Spain, easily. Okay. Portugal, Croatia. that can be tough

that can be surprisingly tough actually because Portugal hasn't shown me they can be Croatian no that's going to be tough but whatever happens a legend is going back home Maudrick on one hand Christian Ronald on the other

I think I think Christiano O'No does never scored a goal in a knockout stage I think Portugal is going to win And if that continues Croatia is going to win it I think Portugal is going to win

and I think they'll bring somebody on like Liao I think Liao is going to be their star and he's going to make it happen Rwanda Sunnaud is going to play 90 minutes Switzerland Algeria Switzerland will have too much quality for

Hey those Algerian boys with fire on the way They have that boy in Mazambi No no Manzambi is fantastic I'm rooting for Switzerland But Algeria is looking strong Controlling things in the middle All right I think Switzerland

Two more, two more Australia Egypt I want Egypt to go through I think Egypt Argentina Cape Verde Oh come on Wow Cape Verde you're that confidence The thing is I really tipped Cape Verde But I can see past Mesa

Colombia Ghana Colombia Colombia Colombia Colombia showed so much quality in the game against Portugal. All right. All right. That's what we have for now, man. It's going to be exciting.

Oof. We're just, I think we've, right, but around maybe 30 more games to go. Yeah, this is it now. Man, time does rush when you're having fun. This is. Because I wish there were actually 90 more games.

I'm having so much fun. I'm having so much fun with a live stream. We're getting extra time. Yes. We're getting extra time at the World Cup. No, but now we're in the business end. Win or go home. How does it?

How do they say at American Idol? go bigo go home so there's going to be lost more heartbreak for people who are just starting to get into the game what you saw

with South Africa today is just going to keep happening and happening but I'm proud of my boys we did it man no because this is what I keep saying only one team

wins the World Cup but every nation has an opportunity to make their country proud make your country proud but finally I did make your country proud you lose

it's respectable whatever don't lose badly play well do your thing walk with your head Make sure that when your coach goes back home, he's not bloud. Yeah, just don't get your coach.

Don't get your coach blurred. Yes, that's the only job. That's all it is. That's all right, man. This was fun. I'll see you next week. Yeah, this was a pleasure. Just a pleasure.

Thank you again so much to the sponsor of today's episode, Mazda. Mazda delivers confidence and control in every single drive. And Consumer Report's safest new car brand award proves it. You know, there's a phrase I really like. A lot can happen. when an accident doesn't. And that's true. A calm drive home,

a conversation that continues, a trip that stays exactly what it was supposed to be. That's what we're looking for. Mazda has been named Consumer Report's safest new car brand in America. Mazda's safety features are designed to bring more enjoyment to every drive, not to take away from it so you can do what you feel like doing. Mazda has been named Consumer Reports Safest New Car Brand People, safest.

Visit MazdaUSA.com to learn more. Consumer Reports does not endorse products or services. What Now World Cup bonus episodes are produced by Day Zero Productions in partnership with Sirius XM, executive produced by Trevor Noah, Sanaz Yamin, Ryan Harduth and Rebecca Shane. Music, mixing, and mastering by Hannes Brown. Thank you so much for listening. every Monday during the World Cup for bonus episodes of What Now with Trevor Noah.