What Now? with Trevor Noah - WORLD CUP Bonus Episode: The Round of Sixteen

Episode Date: July 7, 2026

The knockout rounds have turned the 2026 FIFA World Cup upside down. In this week’s World Cup bonus episode, Trevor and Joe break down Germany’s stunning penalty shootout collapse, Cape Verde’s remarkable performance against Argentina, and FIFA’s decision to overturn Florian Balogun’s red card suspension, before making their predictions for the next week of matches. New bonus episodes drop Mondays at 10pm ET / 7pm PT on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. 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 brought to you by Fabriz, and we're coming to you from the official Fabriz-sponsored bootroom, which, if you know anything about soccer, is usually the last place you want to hang out. This is What Now with Trevor Noah. In the infamous words of Ealing Harland, well, well, well. What a week. Welcome to the podcast, Joe. And welcome to a crazy week of knockout football. We have so many things to get to in this episode. We've got to talk about the results. We've got to talk about Brazil.

We've got to talk about the Netherlands. We've got to talk about Germany. We've got to talk about Norway. We've got to talk about France. We've got to talk about Mexico and England. We've got to talk about Belgium and the USA. We've got to talk about who else. Who else do we have to talk about Argentina and Cape Verde.

And we have to talk about. about France and Paraguay, but let's kick things off with the freshest news. Oh, my God. You know, they say that football, what makes football such a beautiful game is that it can bring out sides of people we didn't know existed. Who would have thought Team USA would have Donald Trump fighting for a birthright citizen? Yes. Who would have thought?

Who would have thought? I mean, we've seen some pretty crazy decisions in a world. I don't think since, what was it, like Garincha, we've seen a decision overruled like this Team USA player getting a red card, Balagon, for Florian Balagan, which shouldn't have been a red card. We all agree on that. He was hard done by. But the World Cup has never cared about what should have or shouldn't have been.

The punishment is doled out. You take it. You got to deal with the punishment. You got to deal with the effects. And it turns out if your president is Donald Trump and if your country is the United States and if Infantino's in charge, anything is possible. The impossible is possible, my friend. FIFA is usually like an African parent. Once you've gotten the punishment, you get the punishment.

Oh, yeah, that's it. You can't go like, oh, but can I appeal, but mom, you see, no, no, no. You get, and then we can talk afterwards. But yeah, what happened with pro rlema, so we all agreed hard done by. But political interference into the judicial system of FIFA, FIFA normally comes and takes over your judicially, not just footballing decisions, but everything from copyright and all this. And so this was

it's the thing you said, we haven't seen like a country, we haven't seen a host country, lean on FIFA like this since 1978 when the dictatorship in Argentina hosted the World Cup, because even people still say actually Holland or the Dutch, led by

the famous Johann Krave, should have won that final. Yeah. But they didn't, because apparently the dictatorship made sure they need to be. They need to that win and they leaned on everyone from FIFA down to the referee. That's why people say the first World Cup won by Argentina was very tainted. I wonder what this does for the conversation around the game. So if you're a team USA fan, it's great.

Yes, yeah. I'm happy because I think the red card itself was trash. Yes, you're saying justice has been served. Yeah, but then like the way that justice has been served isn't my favorite. You know what it feels like to me? it's almost in many ways like the real justice system where the rich, powerful kid

got off with the crime but if it was a kid from like a developing nation a kid who was struggling they wouldn't have gotten off Yeah, yeah, they wouldn't have gotten away with it because I would, I've always said I would love for FIFA to go over its rulings

because the World Cup has so few games that they should be able to look at a ruling during the match and say, you know what, that decision actually maybe that was a little harsh maybe that decision was wrong, maybe that decision. I don't think that decisions should be set in stone like law. Yes.

So, okay, two things. So for me, I don't mind that they did it with Ballaghan, but I wish they would do it with other games as well. So for me, two things. One, first of all, FIFA has always insisted that the referee's decision is sacrosanct. It's sacrosanct. It can be messed with. It stands as it stands because FIFA has always been very big at empowering the referees. The referee is knowing that our decision is final.

So that's disappointing from that end. Another reason is FIFA has always insisted that politics and football should be separate. Yeah. If actually, if you're, I think they recently banned one country, I can't quite remember. It wasn't Kuwait or one of the countries. If your government interferes with the FAA of your country,

FIFA bans you immediately, automatically. Because they want the government to not interfere in the running of football in any country. So again, disappointing on that front. But also third and most importantly, I went to law school. I didn't pick up much. But one thing I picked up was justice cannot just be served. Justice needs to be seen to be served.

So you can't just make a decision that just, it has to be seen. So in this case, if you're, again, as I said, if you're maybe Ghana, or if you're a small emerging African country, or if you're Asia, you're going like, oh. So just because you don't have the clout, to lean on Gianni Fatino. we can't get decisions with us. It's very, very disappointing. You see the Belgian Football Federation put out a post online. They responded, but all they did was they responded with the rules. Oh, that's very petty.

Yeah. And also very Belgian. Very Belgian. All they did was respond and say, per the rules, regardless of whether FIFA suspense or does, one match ban has to be served for a red card minimum. The player has to miss the next match. Yes, yes. That is the rule.

And they cannot change that. And so like FIFA now, it almost feels like FIFA has invented a rule. Yes. Just for the scenario, they've gone, we haven't overridden the ref. But we've overremen. We've overridden the effect of the rest decision. Which is, for all intents and purposes, that is the punishment of the ref. And I'll say this.

You know what I mean? Because football has a very cruel and twisted sense of humor. Baragon is going to score in his next game. He might score the winner. against Belgium. And now you're going, you know, you know,

when you watch games and the player we're supposed to have gotten a red card and got a yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

And they stay in the game. Football has such a twisted sense of humor that might happen. Very disappointing, but, but not unexpected because we've seen

throughout this process. Normally FIFA is very independent. Yeah. But we've seen throughout all this process, the Somali referee, the way they treated the Iranian delegation, the visas,

they kept denying funds from Africa or from some smaller countries. We've seen that the US has consistently, consistently thrown its weight around. It has consistently bullied FIFA into accepting its decisions. And so for me, when I watch Gianni Infantino at a press conference, when they asked him, until you embarrassed by how much you bent over backwards

to accommodate the Trump administration, when I watched him go like, yeah, you know, FIFA really cannot be in charge of the immigration system. I wonder, Jenny, are you kidding me? You always take over the immigration system of the country that's hosting. You did it with Qatar. When you invented the higher cards, Weppo would just come in if they had the higher card.

You did it with Russia. When you invented the fan pass, where fans, so long as they had the ticket, they could just march straight into Russia. So, for me, it's been, people say FIFA is always disappointing. So the bar is on the seaflo, but they have managed to somehow dig under.

And yeah, go under the bar. Very disappointing. Not unexpected, very surprising. But, you know, as I told you, I see Barlogon scoring. against Belgium and that's just going to add now fuel to the fire. It's really... Enough to leave you speechless.

It really is. Here's what it is for me. I don't expect them to not make certain decisions. I just would have hoped that they would find a way to make the ruling seem a little bit more equally distributed. I would have liked it if I had just like put their thumb on the scale for a few more decisions. in this World Cup. I'll say this.

Then we would go there's a trend, you know. But look, I mean, all it seems like to me is we've realized that FIFA's real crypto-lites or rather their weakness is not the power of the country that's hosting the tournament. It's the power of the market that the country has. Oh, interesting.

Okay. Because if you think about it, you have, FIFA will host its tournament anywhere. Brazil, France. It has its speed, yeah. Yeah, South Africa, you name it. There's only one nation in the world where football is like nowhere in terms of like market share. Yes.

Right? And it's the United States. The United States is one of the biggest markets in the world. Look at how much NFL players earn. Look at how much NBA stars earn. Besbo. They are shocked when they see the followings. that football players have in the world.

Like whenever an American athlete sees how popular and how big a footballer is worldwide, they're shocked when they realize sometimes they're earning three times their money. Not just sports players, not just sports or ball players. Everyone, I remember when there was the whole

fight about who is bigger, Taylor Swift or Messi or Ronaldo, who is bigger, Beyonce. Beyonce fans were shocked when people are posting like Instagram followers for Ronaldo. They went like, oh my God. Yeah. So it's that.

But for me, the one thing I want to say, though, for me, this even goes outside. So you're saying FIFA is trying to tap into desperately, trying to tap into the American market, I get that, but for me this goes outside football. It's way bigger than football. Because if the US can throw its weight around

at the UN and make the UN bend its rules in a way South Africa can't, in a way Uganda can't, in a way Kurasaw can't, then what's FIFA? The US can veto things. The US can do whatever it wants at the UN. But that is, but that is what the big countries do

the UN, not just the United States. Okay, okay, no, you're right. You get what I'm saying. That's exactly what they do at the UN, right? At the UN, if you're not one of the major countries, you can veto any bill that another country or another, you know, whatever motion another country wishes to pass. It's up to you. But you're saying when it comes to football particularly.

Yes. What I'm saying is we make it seem like FIFA, like the US leaned on FIFA. I think people are making it seem like FIFA bowed to the US. And I argue Donald Trump and Infantino. It's just quid pro quo. They've gone, this works for both of us. The interests align. Let's keep it going.

Trump is going, keep America and its fans happy. Infantino's going, yeah, I actually do want America to stay happy because America has paid so much money. How many ads is Christian Pulisich in? Oh my God. Think about how much money. I think it's between him and David Beckham. I can't turn on the screen. David Beckham.

David Beckham is just. David Beckham, I was counting. He's American by now. I was counting his ads. Oh my God. It starts in the morning with like coffee and breakfast. He works you up. And then in the middle of the day, it's like Bank of America and Home Depot.

And then by the end of the day, it was like Lenovo AI and Stella Artois. He's in every block. Every block has David. You'd swear David Beckham's playing now, by the way. Yes, yes. With how popular it is. Like, I've never seen anything like it. But Christian Pulis is another one.

And Team USA is another one. Like if you think of the value and like how much this is worth. Not just in money now, but like in value of the game. Think about the MLS. Like, if we think of this in isolation, I think we can miss the forest from the trees. The longer Messi stays in the World Cup, the better it is for the MLS.

That's true. The longer, the Mexican players stay in the World Cup, the better it is for the MLS. Yes. The longer, any of these teams in a... The longer team USA stays in the World Cup. Although they have eight players from Europe, they've also got other players,

but now they can say the world, they went into the whatever stage, the World Cup player, the world. it adds value to the MLS. So that adds, like, it's that, what is it, rising tides? Yeah, all boats.

All boats, yes. So if you think of the value this is adding to the US, I can see it from everybody's point of view. Gianni Infantino's going, I can't let this thing. It's insane. I can't let this thing cock block all the money I want to make. It's insane to your point that you're saying,

because yesterday I was watching Morocco. I made the mistake. I made the mistake. Sorry, I apologize. I made the mistake of watching the Morocco versus Canada game on Fox. And Morocco scored and the comment I went like, Morocco takes the lead on this 4th of July holiday. And I went like, what?

What does 4th of July have to do with Morocco at all? But it's the thing you're saying, it's the thing you're saying it's more profitable to see everything through the prism of the US, yes. It's actually funny. If I was to bet, I would have said that Canada will get knocked out first of all the host nations. Oh, okay. It would have been support on. They were the first ones.

Because they just seemed like, I know it's a stereotype, but like the most polite host nation. in a way. Because I don't know if you've seen, by the time this episode comes out, England will have played Mexico. But did you see what the... We're tapping it right before, right? Did you see what the Mexico fans were doing

outside the England team hotel? Classic. Shooting fireworks. Classic. Playing music, screaming at them in the lobby. Trying to ensure that they don't sleep the night before. We just don't want you to sleep.

It was crazy because I've seen Eastern European clubs do that, club fans, but I've never seen a country do that, a host country. So what happened actually was England, booked 15 hotels to throw them off. Which is pointless. To throw them off.

They went like, we don't want them to know where we're staying. But then remember, the hotel that they booked in, I feel like the hotel manager had a patriotic duty to snitch. But, Joe, you don't even need to switch. Snitch, if you've been to a World Cup,

you know, every single team moves around like a diplomatic delegation. It's hard to sneak around where you've got a giant bus written England on it. And also with lead cars. With, like, police cars. Then like, oh, I wonder which hotel there is. Is it the one that has a giant.

bus with police police escort or is at the hotel where nobody's there? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. No, the Mexican fans really brought it because they spent I don't think any English player slept a wink unless you're one of those players who can sleep through like the apocalypse. Because it was

insane outside the hotel. Yes. You should see the videos. And speaking of insane, if we look at some of the results Germany since we last recorded an episode, knocked out and you know what for me it's the full It's the full sentence, not just knocked out by Paraguay. Knocked out in penalties. Penalty is the most un-German-like way to go out.

Yes. I'll say this. We both did favour Germany for that match-up, but we both also did say German was in transition. Germany was having an identity crisis. And for me when I watched that game, especially the penalty shootout, I couldn't believe this was Germany

because you saw the videos that came out afterwards. Joshua Kimich trying and begging and pleading with Leon Goretzka, who has... won a Champions League has almost 80 cups begging him to take a penalty. He refused. You're not trying to have to step up, take his first penalty.

Okay, but here's my question. Maybe I don't know when the game changed this. When I first started watching football, penalty takers were decided before game started. That's right, you're very right. So the coach, long before the game started, like literally they knew coming into the game.

The way I understand football, a coach knows who's going to kick. by the way, penalties even in the match no one should discuss anything. They go, first kicker is this one, second kicker might be this one, third kicker. They know who takes corner kicks out. Yeah. So if we get three penalties in a match,

this is going to be the order. And then when we go to a shootout, this is the order. So to me, I couldn't believe that the German captain was begging his plate. The man looked like he was selling like goods in a flea market. Oh my God. I thought you were going to say he looked like a guy, you know, you know, those activities.

handing out flyers at the sub-boy, Greenpeace. Yeah, but it was worse. No, but they, at least the people have the power. People can engage with you, yes, yes. The man was begging people, say, please, buy the, please. I'll tell you what happened. I'll tell you what I think happened. So I think this is what happened.

I think Germany were a bit like us. I think they thought this wouldn't go to penalties, which is very irresponsible and very un-jerman, because you have to plan. You have to plan for everything. You've got a plan for everything. But also, I grew up with a German team, and I told you this.

Man, the current generation of them, the current generation of them, generation of German players are what I call, and you laughed, but I call them walk footballers. They are too soft and too pretty for their own good. So when I was growing up, you remember Klisman, Oliver Biahoff, Rudvora,

when I watched Euro 96 against England, the semi-finald. German penalty takers. They played at Wembley. And German penalty stone-called killers, they scored five out of five. Stephen Router, Thomas Strans, who are the others

you don't even have to go over that far you don't have to go over that far back Christian Ziga you don't even have to go that far back Miroslav closer Thomas Mullah Mario Gomez you need have to ask those guys

who's going to take a penalty they were all who did you want to face with those you know what I mean No but I'm saying back then because again I remember that team Christian Ziga

Andrea Smola Andrea Smola scored the winning penalty against England at a packed Wembley when everyone was singing it's coming home. And you know what he did?

He strutted around like a peacock. Back to Wembley, this guy had no fear. And so I'm saying back then, you didn't even have to ask the German Zuz going to take a penalty. All of them would be volunteering. All of them would be putting their hands up. What do you think's happened?

I think what happened to German football? No, no, no, no. In general, what has happened to penalty takers, like, or penalty taking? Is it that, like, because I wrestle with this. I'm like, have players become I was really trying to break this down and I was like

is this is this like the is this like the Roberto Bajo effect? Is this like a second system effect? You and I grew up at a time when Roberto Bajo was widely considered the best footballer in the world when he was playing right incredible player

he was the best he was a number 10 he ruled the game every kid was trying to grow their hair into a ponytail the divine ponytail yeah to try and match him he goes to the final drags Italy, kicking and screaming. To the final.

To the final, yes. And in the final, it's a penalty shootout and he has to kick. The final kick against Brazil. And he's... Fun enough, USA-94. Yeah. And he boots that ball, skies it.

Into the sky's out. Into the sky you can't. He misses that penalty so badly that his name is essentially forgotten. He became a byword. From the, like, you know, the halls of fame. No one really speaks about him.

him, if you talk to any football, any people today when you talk about football, they're like, if they know him, they go, the guy who's the penalty. Or they don't talk about him at all, which is pretty crazy. His career disappeared pretty much after that. He did redeem himself in 98 because he scored a penalty in 98. And then they used him in the John Walker ad. Oh, the making up for it. Yeah, maybe that's a deep cut for a soccer.

But they're going to keep walking, given if you're a deep cut for. But I mean, I think that's a deep cut for. But yeah, but what I'm saying is, though, like. I wonder if that moment lived in the heads of so many players that that generation, when they got to an age, where they were now playing the game, they went, the worst thing you can do is miss a penalty. Because, for instance, let's even look recently.

Gabriel Martinelli, he has not lived that penalty down, not him personally bought it. I mean, is if you go online, the amount of like memes and jokes that have come out. You're saying, Maguerre, Margueris of Arsenal. Gabriel, not Martinelli. Gabriel of Arsenal, yes, not Marcellar, Gabriel from Arsenal. He misses that

penalty. In the Champions League Final against PSG, right? Skies it. If you go online now, there's still those jumps, you know those jump memes where they make it seem like it's something else and then all of a sudden it's him missing it? He's become the missing guy in that way. You know what I mean?

I almost feel like players would rather let the goalkeeper take the trophy than to be the player who missed it. Because if you let the goalkeeper save it, no one remembers you as the kicker. But if you miss it, no one forgets you with the kicker. No, but I'll say this.

I don't understand why players don't step up personally. Because when I played, and I didn't play to that level, but when I played, I used to have this mentality of, if someone is going to make the team sad by missing, it would rather be me. Ronaldo has that attitude. It would rather be me. Do you remember that penalty shootout?

When he did. Portugal, when he went and fetched guys off the bench, not off the bench, but off the sideline. And he said, come and kick. And he chose, I think it was Neves. I think it was Ruben Nevis. He chose him to take the first kick, like the first kick. And he said, Ruben, come kick. And Ruben said, no.

And Ronaldo said, hey. And then he looked at him. He said, hey, you kick really amazingly. He said this all in Portuguese. He's like, you're an amazing kicker. Come and kick that ball. He said, if you miss, you miss, it doesn't matter. But go out there, be brave, kick the ball.

And I was really, it was amazing. amazing to see that Christiano Ronaldo said this because you saw, you saw that attitude. I think he has learned from his lesson because Ronaldo, I think three times in his career now, I've seen him want to take the fifth penalty and he didn't reach there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And his team lost because he was waiting. Messi always takes the first penalty. Miss or not Missy, he always takes the first penalty.

Oh, that's interesting. Because you need to set the tone. So me when I was playing, and again, I didn't play at a high level, I used to go like, I would rather miss than Trevor misses. And then I spent the whole night going like, oh, maybe if I take it and yeah, great thing. So for me, I'd rather you step up. Because now Leon Goretzka will keep asking himself, maybe if I'd take an instead of Jonathan Ta, instead of Jonathan Ta, maybe. So I don't like maybes. Step up, take the penalty. Here's another question

I have. Like, staying in the world of penalties, why are the Dutch so bad at penalties? And what I mean by this is like, this is not the first World Cup where the Netherlands has gotten knocked out in penalties? Like, what is it about penalties that the Dutch, are they just unlucky? Are they, are there is it not something that is I don't get it like we can go back in time to the greatest Dutch teams against Brazil they lost in 2008 against Brazil

Qatar against Argentina there is I think it's a national for me and that's why I was surprised by Germany because I think penalties have a national character attached to them their teams who are killers when it comes to penalties for the longest time Germany were and England sucked at penalties for the longest

time so I don't know with it that I was surprised that Van Dyke didn't step up. Everyone was. He has missed penalties, yes. Messi has missed more. You always joke about this. You always tell me

Messi needs to work on penalties. But Messi still steps up every time. He does. He does. Van Dyke as a leader, you need to step up. Why is Bruno Himari's taking a penalty? I still don't get that, man.

Why? I don't know what Brazil... Vinny, you're on the pitch. You're the leader. Step up, take a penalty. Zidan always stepped up. As a leader, you need to say the tour.

But now, but now, We were watching this game together, Brazil versus Norway. I didn't see a moment where there was confusion. It didn't seem like Vinny didn't step up. It seems like he was there holding the ball. It almost seems like Bruno Gimerich was like, no, I'm supposed to kick this. He was a designated, yeah, you're right.

And then again, maybe I don't know things, but in my head I don't, I just don't understand why your striker is not kicking the penalty. You're right. Like for me, I just feel like a player, a forward who spends more time kicking a ball in a box. Into the net. Is the player I would choose to kick it.

That's why with Belgium, you could even see there was like so much tension when Tillamans took the ball and said, I'm kicking it. People around him were like, what are you doing? And it's a great technique. So when I was playing, and this is how we used to look at it

and I agree with you. When I was playing, the most technical players, the technicians are the ones who should take penalties first. So the strikers, then you come down to the defence, to the midfield.

and then defenders and then keep alas. Yes. Keep a last. So when you see so many defenders stepping up, there's a problem with that team. Because technicians can pass the ball into the neck. Yeah. a technician spend the whole time trying to pass the ball into the net.

Yeah, they kick the ball as far as they can and as high as they can. I don't understand why. He Gabriel McGeress date. That's what you call it these days. You see, he's Gabrielle did. We're coming to you from a bootroom sponsored by Fabriz, which if you know anything about soccer is usually the last place you'd want to hang out. Because this is where all the gear lives.

The cleats, the jerseys, the socks, the bags, everything that probably never sees a washing machine until it's too late. But right now, it actually smells. fresh in here. That's because Fabri's fabric is built for exactly this kind of odor. The stuff trapped in fabrics that you can't just throw in the wash.

It doesn't just cover it up. It actually fights the odor. And I have to say, this is one of the more confident sponsorships I've ever seen. Usually brands want to put their names on the nicest room in the building. The VIP lounge.

The luxury suite. The hospitality area. Fabriz looked at the bootroom and said, no, no, no. Put us in there. And honestly, I respect that. Because this room contains decades of bad decisions. Wet cleats.

Forgotten gym bags. Socks that should have retired years ago. The kind of smells that don't just enter a room, they sign a long-term lease. And yet somehow it smells fresh. Yeah. Can you smell that, Joe? Smell what?

Exactly. That's what is so impressive. about this because a lot of the things in here are exactly the things that you can't throw in the wash. None of it, the cleats, the bag, the car seat, off the practice. That's the whole point. Fabri's fabric is for the things the game touches that the washing machine can't, and it's made with no dyes,

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Is it over for Brazil? I think Brazil... Like in this moment in time, and the reason I ask the question is... And you can ask any if you have... But like... Why do you think it's over? No, no, I'm asking.

I'm not saying it's over. What I'm saying is this is the first time I've seen Brazil where I don't know who's next. I don't know who's in the pipeline. I don't have an obvious... idea of where Brazil's next generation is going to come from. I'm not worried about the next generation.

Yeah. I'm not worried. They have Hendrik, they have Estevao. I think if Estevao was in this World Cup, he would have added a dimension to the attack that they were missing. Yeah, but what about the midfield? The midfield is aging. The midfield is killing them.

It's killing them. It's killing them. It's killing them. Brazil has never, though, had. What about the wingbacks? I'll say this. Okay, I'll say this. I think, I think you, you know what you're doing right now.

I'll say Brazil has never really relied on having the flashiest. defensive midfielers. Claiberson and Grubato Silva helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup because they had Ronaldinho. So what they need is that guy in the hall. Pacheter can't be your guy. And today because Pacquiter was out, who did they play there? You can't play Matineer in the hole. He doesn't have the vision. He doesn't have the balance. Matinear is a wing guy. He can't play in the hole. In the hole, you need a certain finesse, a certain vision, special awareness. He doesn't have that. So they're missing that player there. They were able to win the World Cup in 2002 because they had Cleberson, who was good but not spectacular.

They had Gilbatosilva, but ahead of them they had Ronaldino, Rivaldo and Ranae, phenomenal. So they need a guy in the hole. But who did they have as their wingbacks? They're also missing because they produced Carlos and Carfou. But that's what I'm trying to say.

That's what I'm saying. If you're playing Danilo. If we look at Brazil's game, if we look at Brazil as we know it as a team, yes, they've not focused on defense, but the wingbacks, They've created the most legendary wingbacks. They'll kill you, yes.

They've created the most legendary wingers, and they've created the most legendary forwards or attackers. That's how they have won the five. Yes, the five stars on their share. Now, I don't know any Brazilian wingbacks who are special. The fact that they're playing Danilo, 600-year-old, Danielo, at this point in time. 600-year-old.

It should have been a nursing home. Oh, man, 600-year-old Danilo. A country that gave us Meikon, that gave us Danny Alves, that gave us Carfou, that gave us Roberto Carlos, to go back in time that gave us Carlos Albatto is now playing Danilo. It's a damning indictment on Brazil.

Yeah, but you know what we've also got to talk about is the other side of the coin, Norway. Frankly, I called it, and I know it sounded crazy when I said no way would win. But nowhere, I knew Norway would win because, one... No, it didn't sound crazy though. No, no, but let's be honest, it didn't sound crazy. Okay.

If anyone who knew football, it didn't sound crazy. but what sounded crazy was the idea that like Brazil wouldn't even in the game let's say Norway 1 like when we were talking about I said I said 2 2 I didn't even say that the fact that you said 2 1 the fact that I said 2 2 2

tells us that we both didn't assume that Brazil was going to win the game in that way right but I don't think anyone thought Brazil was going to fold the way they did. But on the other side, Norway is playing a type of football that almost feels deceivingly good if there's such a thing. Deceptively good. You're right?

You know what I mean? Yeah, deceptively good. You know what I'll say this? I'll say this. So part of the reason I fancied Norway is Norway has a very good front three. Nusa, Haland and Soloth. When I don't know about Soloth. Listen, no, no, no, no, no. But when I saw, my point was Nusa, I knew Nusa was going to expose Danilo. And I knew you didn't call that,

yes. Nusa's dynamic, man. But the thing that made me fancy no way even more is I knew that when Soloth eventually comes off, Oscar Bob is coming on. Oscar Bob is your boy.

You love him. Yeah. Then I knew that on the left, when Nusa comes on, comes off, they're bringing on Andrea's shoulder up. Yep.

I've seen Sheldar up kill teams in the Champions League. He's a 23-year-old kid, but he plays for Benefica and he's incredible. And so I knew that when Sholder up comes up against Daniro,

after Nusa has run him rugged. He's going to kill them. And showed up, Camon, created two goals. So for me, when I looked at the benches, I said, Brazil, who do you have coming off the bench? Enric and Neymar. I said, Noah, who do you have? I went like, no way has two killers coming off the bench.

That's why I fancied. Plus the mid-field battle, but that's why I fancied. You know what they also really have that gets overlooked? They have a structurally defend, like solid defensive line. Like, Norway's defense is focused, is together. No names, by the way. All of them, no names. Yeah, all no names.

Yeah. You can't pick them out of a police lineup. Yeah. Yeah. Also because they can never be in a police lineup because they are white. But they're white-blown men. They will never be in a police lineup. But they play like a solid, boring, good football at the back.

Okay, so I'm going to tell you something about Norway that also is, and I know we're getting into this letter or maybe it's a good segue. I'm going to tell you something about nowhere that. reminds me so much of Cape Vard. Yeah. Their team, who are like brothers, they will lay their body on the line that's true.

For themselves. So for me, they remind me of Greece in Euro 2004. Greece was unfanced coming to the tournament. Otto Reha got the iconic German manager, got this Greek team of dreamers. Yeah.

And they were fighting. Like, you posted the Sparta meme. Yeah. But this was real Sparta. Theos, Zagorakis, Thelios, Angelou, Kaira Stairs, this was a team of like

dreamers who hadn't had like great footballing careers at their clubs and my friend they came in, beat Portugal in the opening game, beat France in the quarterfinals. They were winning 1-0-1-0. Met Portugal again. Portugal was hosting. Beat them again in the final and they were just

fighting for each other. When you saw that Cape Vard team, they don't have a star. They don't have a star name. Their only star name is I think Bozina who is a go-tipa and maybe Piccol Lopez. Yeah, but that's not even not to your point. They're not stars. fight for each other.

These are guys who are, so nowhere, when you look at that Greek team of Europe 2004, and when you look at Cape Vard, these are guys who are bonded. These are guys who are going to be brothers.

80 years from now, they'll be in the same WhatsApp group. You know when you're going to be to have a WhatsApp group for forever? These are guys who have bonded. And teams like that in a tournament are a menace. Because when you can trust the man on your,

like they say in 300, when you can trust the man on your left to never run. Then you, or when you know, like if the franc collapses, the whole team collapses, these guys fight for every ball. Cape Vard made Argentina earn every goal.

Every goal. There were no gifts. Every goal that Argentina scored, except the last one, which was, that's where it's like football and its luck. That kid I was going out by the way. Messy's goal.

It had to be perfect. It was so good. It was so good for so many reasons. First of all, it's good because you watch Messi start the play. He's facing his team. He's standing on. on the edge of the box, he's walking with the back line.

He starts orchestrating his players and starts moving the ball around from his position. He's not on the ball. He's not on the ball, yes. He's just pointing, telling people what to do. Very pedre-esque. Yeah, very yes, yes. You know, he's just telling people what to do, where to move, how to play. And then in a split second, the centerback takes his eye off Messi.

Runs back on side. Messy runs back on side, then runs to get the ball, traps that ball on a half volume. The first touch had to be path. That was beyond perfect. And then flicks it at the goalie's head. Because the keeper has to, they flinch every time. At an angle where you just don't think that's going to happen, gets the goal. Now you're like, oh, okay, this is now Argentina they've unlocked.

Before you go on, you know, Zlatan said that and I think they teach it everywhere. If you're striker, smash that ball at the keeper or just put it, because naturally they have to flinch. No keeper is going to, the natural's body reaction when something is coming at. it is to do this. So I have a different opinion on that funny enough. Okay, but first, yeah, first go. I don't think goalkeepers are necessarily flinching. I think goalkeepers spend so much time practicing, choosing a side.

Okay. They never think up is the side. So if you, if you, when you, when you shoot a ball, they're like, they're always left or right. Yes, okay. But very seldom are they thinking it's coming like straight here. Do you, do you know what I mean? Okay, but I interrupted you. I was going like, okay, so after a mess his course, we now think.

It's done. The layman would now think... It's done. Oh, okay. The game's done. Yeah, put a fork in them. That's what. Put a fork in Cape Verde.

They are done. But this is Cape Verde. Cape Verde. Not only comes back, they play a beautiful football. They don't pull like a haram ball. They're not just kicking the ball over the top. They're not just like spamming crosses.

They're not... No, they move the ball. They pass the ball. They play the ball. They move the ball. They pass the ball. They come back. They get a goal.

Not just a goal. They're not. made two defenders. The first pass, the first pass, not made Medina, the shot into the goal, not made Lysandro. The second one was more lucky. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, it was more lucky. I don't think it was.

It was more lucky. I don't think it was. The first one was very much enough. Yes, but I don't think it was. When I watched Duarte shoot that ball. Really? I don't think it was, man. Like, I watched it, he didn't just, because sometimes players shoot and in Shala.

Okay, got it. They shoot in hope and go like, let me just shoot and inshalla. He, like you could see him, not making two. great defenders like that is never by lack. I was impressed. I thought both kept at goals. Brother, you can't take anything away from them. Then you go to the other side of the field.

Argentina has the ball again. Lesandro Martinez gets it. You're like, you're like, oh, what's he going to do? He's a defender. He's a defender. It's on his left foot. Okay, I don't know what is. He scores a banger again.

Similar top corner. Yes, yes. You're right. In the top. Vosigno not there for it. Kind of expected, though, because he learned his trade. Martinez, Desandro. They called him the butcher.

Yeah. But people forget he learned his trade at Ajax. You don't play for Ajax if you're not technically sound. Well, I didn't think of that, actually. If you're, Hayax doesn't just sign anyone. You have to be technically sound on the ball. So he has scored some bangers. He has.

Yes. But, yeah, again, you say. Again, you got the game's over. Yeah, again. And then Cape Verde comes along. Strings together. What was it, like 15, 20 persons? 20 persons, yes.

Coming up the field, moving. the ball beautifully. Argentina chasing shadows. Argentina chasing shadows. You see them running from the top right corner of the box. Cape Verde passes it forward. The man brings it down, brings it around. They move. They switch positions. They slowly come creeping down the left side of the field. They move the ball. You think, okay, there's nothing. What are they going to do here? And then the left wing against the ball. One-on-one with McAllister. Shake of the hips.

But so far away from the goals. that the worst you're thinking is a good cross. And that man... A shake of the hips. Your man, he released... He sent Macalista back to Buenos Aires. A banger. My God.

I'll tell you... Goal of the World Cup. I'll tell you two things about an instant... Instant contender for goal of the air. That's goal of the World Cup. Yes. No, goal of the year. You know the award, the famous award.

Yeah. That they give out goal of the year. Are the Pushkas? Yeah. from Fereng Puska's immediate container just not because of the goal by the way the whole play. They built up. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And the team they were up against. Yeah, in the moment. I'll say two things about that game. One, that goal that you've just described reminded me so much of the goals Saudi Arabia scored against Argentina to win in 2022. It was almost the same goal. Into the top corner.

Al-Sawali, Alda Waze, sorry. And then the goal, Mesa scored reminded me so much. of a similar goal that Messi scored against Nigeria. If you remember, Messi checked, it was a 2018 World Cup, the one that had Diego Marlona praying to the gods.

Messi checked, ball over the top. That time I think it was, the great midfield, and I'm ranking on his name. Ball over the top, brought it down, and it was off to the races. But again, Cape Verdecan take it. Even the celebration from that goal

makes it for me, Pushkas. Because he didn't just celebrate. He ran to the court. proud and looked for his girlfriend. He was, yo, that moment after the guy was, like, he forgot there was a game. He forgot. He forgot the game, brother.

He forgot there was a game, brother. He forgot there. He was getting him, he made, yes. He could not believe what he had experienced. No, I was reading the story. It's a beautiful story because he was playing in the German third division. Yeah. Just, I think, 18 or so much ago, this guy stood by him. It was a great, it was a great moment.

I'm not even a romantic like that. I'm a cynical, cynical, cynical, cynical football fan. I'm a cynic. I don't have a ten. tender spot in my heart, but that really, really did bring it here to your eye. I saw, I saw the rumors Fabrizio Romano said, apparently into Miami might be signing Vosignia. They should. He was incredible.

That would be amazing for him. He's the messis-stopper. Can I tell you? He's the messis-topper. I also think that would be like a beautiful, it's just a wonderful reward for a player. I saw him with a jersey with David Beckham. It would be great. He's 40, he would earn some good money.

He's a star. He's definitely a star. Social media otherwise. He's got 20 million followers now on social media. Yeah, he would be good. But the thing I love about that game, Trevor, even if they lost. Cape Verde, those players, first of all, will never buy a dinner or buy a beer in Cape Vard ever again. Chances are they are grandkids who never buy a beer.

If you represent your country like that, if you make your country that proud. Yeah. Because now everyone knows what Cape Vard is. Actually, for me, if they are dumped out Argentina, they didn't, they came close, but for me, that would have been the biggest upset since Cameroon. to Maradona's Argentina in 1990. It was incredible. Yeah, yeah. It was.

It was a beautiful game. It was. It was the game of the tournament. Were you sad? Because on the one hand, you've got your goat, Messi. On the other hand, you've got Cape Verde, who you've been pushing from the beginning of the tournament. Are you happy with the results?

I'm happy with the results because I want Messi to win back-to-back championships. But if they had lost, for me, I've told you this, Trevor, and you did say that me when Barcelona loses, I never get down. It's because for me, when you beat a team, team with Messi, you've earned the victory. I love Messi, I support Messi, but Messi is such a good player

that if you beat him, I can never be sad. I go like, you've earned it. Because it takes a special team to beat Messi. When Liverpool beat us 4-0, when Liverpool beat Barcelona 4-0 and they came back from a 3-0 down, I want like, fair play, because I love the game. I love Messi, but I love the game

of football more than Messi. Let's talk about another player that you love talking about, Christiana Rinald Yes. In our last episode, we said something that I would argue has now proved to be true. We said, if Portugal wants to go through,

by hook or crook, Ronaldo is going to have to be off the field. Portugal was playing against Croatia. Yes. It was a tense, tense match where Portugal never looked like they were going to pull away. They get awarded a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo steps up,

takes the penalty, brilliantly. Scores the penalty. High pressure penalty. Yeah, yeah, scores the penalty. but then again the match goes back to a tense game where anything can happen Croatia could have won it Mateo Kovacic

Yeah yeah yeah Covertich made a crazy run Hit the post yes And then Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez That woke him up Makes a ballsy decision Substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo

And I'm sure you remember the moment Yes I remember you like that week We'll remember this moment Rinaldo looks up at the board showing who's being substituted. He looks at the sideline. He looks at the boards. He looks around him.

And you can see he's going, guys, I think this is a malfunctioning because I see my number. Yes. But there is no world where I would be getting substituted. When the team needs a goal. Yes. When your team needs a goal.

He looks up, he looks down. He looks up. He looks around. He was in disbelief. He's always waiting for someone to say, sorry, sorry, sorry, not your seven, another number seven. He comes off the field.

It doesn't throw a tantrum to his career, But you can see he's in disbelief though. He has like a, okay, I guess. I guess that happened. Yes. I guess that happened. And then a few moments later, Portugal gets their goal.

Raffa Liao swings across in. Your boy. He had swung crosses in. And he had swung. Your man, Ronaldo again. Say what you want. He had missed so many chances, so many crosses up until that point. And then there you go.

Ramos comes in. Ramos, one cross and boom. And a fantastic goal. And not just, okay, I'll say this, first of all, before I talk about Gonzaro Ramos's goal. I have to give kudos to Roberto Martinez. I'm one of his biggest critics. I think he wasted Belgium's golden generation of Kevin DeBrona and Tibbo Kotoa and Romero Rukaku and Eden Hazard.

Yeah. I think you, and Dries Martins, I think he wasted them. And I thought, even coming to this tournament, I think, I still think he might waste Portugal's golden generation But on the day He made a boldie Gatsy decision Because before he took Ronaldo off

Portugal was being overrun in the middle Because they had one man less in the middle Because another doesn't track back That's why when Matteo Kovic got that ball He just ran through the middle So he realized we need another body In the middle To staunch the flow

He brings on Ruben Neves And I think you saw what happened The game settled back into a 50-50 So that was bolzy For me, that was an incredible. I didn't think Martin has had it in him. He brings on, so when he brings on Ruben Nevis, Ruben Nevis goes in the middle,

then Gonzalo Ramos plays as the nine, which is where he thrives. The last time he repressed Ronaldo, he's called a heart trick in Qatar. So when he scores that header, part of the reason why I screamed that Ronaldo would never do that was one, I'd seen crosses coming in, and Ronald was not getting to the end of them.

But also, too, Gonzalo Ramos, that was a tough head. He jumped in between three defenders. And to get that much direction and power on it. And power. And also like, but he's jumping in between three defenders. I saw, I saw the former Liverpool defender, Croatian defender. Talking about it, I think he remember him.

He was a great Liverpool defender, kind of chaotic. And he said, I think Croatia gave the ball away. Because there's no way in my days a strikeer would have jumped between three defenders. one of yours to get to that ball. So it wasn't an easy head as you think it was. And so for me, that's what Gonzalo Ramos gives you. Gonzalo Ramos gives you a target man. Gonzalo Ramos gives you deadly finishing.

Gonzal Ramos gives you the ability to track and press. That Ronaldo doesn't. I feel Ronaldo should be doing what Neymar did. I feel Ronald should be coming in the last 15 minutes, last 20 minutes. Again, it's aging, tired defenders. Yeah, we've said to be a talism player. Against tired minds. Yeah, be a talisman player.

Let's get into a few predictions Before we get into the prediction I just want to talk about this one and we disagree and I don't like when we do a podcast and we don't disagree the Croatian goal you called it immediately

you went like it was offside I disagreed immediately and I still disagree The reason I disagree is this I feel everyone focuses on the snickle the board was it touched by Matanovich or not I think they're focusing on the wrong thing

the focus should be on was Renato Vega trying to make a defensive play because if you say it was unintentional then the Croatian player was offside. Passaric was offside but for me I argue that Renato Vega was making a defensive play. Why?

So let me tell you why I think you lose this argument if you're going to do that. I think by the strict interpretation of the game the player jumping that close to a ball in an offside way is offside in my opinion. It is offside.

You cannot, this thing of like, did they touch the ball or not is irrelevant. Okay. When the player is actively trying to play the ball and is this close to playing the ball, you know why? We have to defend them. Yes. The whole field has to shift with them. The purpose of the offside rule is to protect the game from an unfair advantage or

disadvantage, right? So if a player is jumping to head of the ball and they happen to miss it by a hair, let's say they didn't touch it. How is that not offside? You made an active effort to play the ball, right? You made an active effort. people had to defend you because of your positioning, the ball might have been missed by somebody else

or somebody got thrown off. The same way if you blocked the goalkeeper's view and it's off sides, you interfered with the play. To me, whether you touched it or not, that is an offside. Okay, so here's the way I disagree with you. For me, if it was a midfield in that situation, and if Renato Vega hadn't stooped, if it had hit him while you were standing upright,

it's an intentional and accidental. Renato Vega stooped, I've played as a defender. Listen, no, I'm saying I'm saying I've played as a defender. Some people are saying he was darking. A defender's troops to head the ball. So let me ask you, if I'm a defender, let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. Joe, I'm saying if that ball at hit.

You're measuring the wrong part of time. No, no, I'm saying they focused on the wrong thing. They focused on Matanovich. They should focus on Renato Vega. It's like a mathematical equation. Okay. If, if, if. Okay, Trevor, let me ask you.

So let's start with the first thing. Yes, okay. Let me ask you a question. Simple question. Did the first man try to play the ball in an offside position? If he, yes. Did he or did he not? If Renatovika doesn't touch it, yes.

No, no, no, no. No, no. The first man, the men who jumps. He wasn't in offside. He wasn't offside. Matanovich wasn't offside. The offside player is Pasarik behind. Because when Matanovich touches the ball,

Oh, yeah, okay, so you're saying if he doesn't touch it on the other side. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a goal. No, no, no, no, no. But he wasn't playing it. No, no, listen. So when the ball comes in, listen, when the ball comes in, Pasarik is on side. When Matanovich touches it with the hair, Pasarich is offside.

But then the ball hits on the. So the reason I think Renato Vega was making a defensive play and it was intentional is because if that ball hits Renato Vega on the forehead and goes out and goes back, it's a defensive clearance. But he screwed up his head and the ball hit him on the top of his head went to pass at it. That's why for me I'm going like they focused on the wrong play. The right place is, is Renato Vega. I think those things are all offside to me.

I think they've made the offside rule too complicated. Too complicated. You're right. You're right. I think they've made it too complicated. Can you talk about the African teams, please? because many of my friends were traumatized. By who?

By the way African teams crashed out. Senegal, African teams kept crashing out with 10 minutes to go. They were winning most of their games with 10 minutes to go. And most of my friends, because I picked, when we made the predictions, I got all the African teams right. I said Egypt and Morocco were progressing. I said the rest were going to be dumped out. And so my friends were asking me, why did I do that?

And also part of this is right. I wasn't heartbroken when African teams lost out. it's because I've been traumatized enough by African teams. In fact, Trevor, we shouldn't be holding this podcast in a chair. I should be on a couch because I'm going to trauma dump on you. So I've watched enough football to know that when it comes to the knockouts, African teams always find a way. For some reason, it could be structural, it could be psychological,

I don't know what's happening, but African teams always find a way. And unfortunately, mostly black African teams, find a way to snatch defeat from the joys of victory. It started when I was a wee lad. I was really young. I think I was around five, six. I remember Cameroon, 1990 World Cup.

I remember my father and my uncles and the whole village going crazy when Cameroon with nine men beat Diego Madonas, Argentina, in the opening game. And this was the Cameroon team. That's when we thought it was coming. Pelle in 1977 said an African team is going to win the World Cup by the year 2000. In 1990, we all believed.

I remember I was young. And I think maybe it's not just my memory. Also because I've watched like clips and afterwards, I remember when Umambique scored that header because that team was good. It had Roger Miller, Umambique, uh, Cyril Makanaki, Tomas Sinkono, all these great players. When they beat Argentina with nine men, we went like, they're going to win it. They topped their group.

They went into, they beat Romania 2-1, Roger Mera scored and a double. I remember the village going crazy. I was young, but you know, I think that's when I fell in love with this game. They went into the knockout round. round of 16, beat Columbia. Roger Miller. I remember clearly watching Roger Miller

steal that ball from René Guita scoring, going to the corner flag and just doing the dance. Yes. And we went like, this is it. They played England. Cameroon was eight minutes away from winning it.

They considered a penalty. Garcinica scores goes into extra time. Garinika scores another penalty. Cameroon out. I remember the way the village felt after that. Nigeria? 1994. Nigeria.

A famous Nigerian team, Peter Rufat. and Rashid Yekin, Samson, Sia, Sia, Sia. That was Amanuera Monique, Daniela, team. They had won the Nations Cup. They won the High. Everyone thought, this is it.

They go. Win their group again. Win their group again, Trevor. They reach the round of 16. Play Italy. They are winning with, I think, two minutes to go. Roberto Baguio scores a goal.

Extra time, Roberto Baguio scores again. They are out. I got like, okay, maybe that was bad luck. Ninety-98, Nigerian team, Same Nigerian team now even better because that Jeju O'Kochia, a better team. They humiliate Spain in the opening game, winning 3-2, famous goal by Olise, Long Ranger, winning that.

I remember I was in high school and I went like, this is it, this is the team. Trevor, round of 16, because they had played so well. They were given Denmark. Everyone thought, this is a walkover. Denmark beat Nigeria 4-1. The game was over by the 15th minute. And I went like, you know what?

I think I'm done. But then because football keeps giving you hope, 2002, Senegal, first game against France. They win 1-0. Papabubadiop, great team with Kaliru Fadiga, El-Hajid Jouf, Salif Jow of Liverpool, incredible team. They beat, they beat Zidan wasn't playing, but they still beat France who are the world champions.

We got like, this is it. They go on defeat Denmark. We are like, this is it. They reach, they play tucky. Now we are just playing for an African. team to reach the semifinals. They meet Turkey. Taki beats them.

Last minute goal by Iran Mancey. Yeah. Ghana against Uruguay. That's the one that... They missed the penalty. That's the one that broke my heart. Yeah, they missed the penalty. That's the first time...

2010 World Cup. That's the first time that every African got really traumatized by an African team. Because Ghana get a penalty. Swares did what Soros did what Soros had to do. Yeah, but they had the penalty. Penalty. Trevor, I was watching that game. I was in South Africa as part of a delegation of African journalists who were like

picked by Uttas to come and cover that game. I was watching it with my African friends. Gonna get the penalty with a minute to go. And As Samoa Gian stands up, steps up, and I tell my African journalist friends, I tell them he's going to miss. Then I go like, no, I tell them, guys, precedent, he's going to miss.

I've watched enough games. He's going to miss. He steps up, hits that ball against the crossbar, Ghana loses later. That's the first time I realized, all soccer fans hate the bitter truth. Because my friends did us, they didn't ask. So why do you think this?

Why do you think this happens to African team? I don't know, man, I can't place. I don't know whether it's structural or psychological. Witchcraft? Why don't you look at witchcraft, Joe? White people, white. Witchcraft never works on us. What are you talking about?

Why are you ignoring the elephants in the room, Joe? No, but I remember that day, because no one asked me how did you know why? People were just, they felt like I was trolling them. They went like, why did you have to say it? They felt like, people felt like I had made him miss. And then. Witchcraft. And then you saw what happened in 2014 as well.

You saw what happened. Algeria and Nigeria both make it. and they both lose with, both of them lose with like two minutes to go in their matches. For me, it's, it's, it's, and so that's why when you asked me last week, which team is going to make it through, I was so sure all the black Afghan teams would let us down and lose in heartbreaking fashion, and I was only sure Morocco and Egypt would go through. Because Morocco showed me in 2022 that they don't have the psychological mental block. They will win games. And I think you saw them against the Netherlands. Morocco against the Netherlands, another team, I'm sorry to say,

but I think another African team would have collapsed. Morocco didn't. Netherlands took the lead. Yeah, they did. And Morocco went like, okay, the Moroccan, first of all, let's just give, for me my man of the week, and I know the Cape Vard coach is amazing, but my coach of the week, Mohamed Owabi, the coach of Morocco, he was paracuted in with three months to go to handle this team in the World Cup

because he helped Morocco win the under 20 World Cup just in last year. He was paracuted in and has made this team his own against the Netherlands. when Gakpo scored with just like what, 14 minutes ago? No, I mean, he played it. He brought on three 20-year-olds, Trevor. He didn't just bring on, he played it. He played it.

He played it. He played it. He played it. He played it. He brought on 321. Trevor, the amount of bravery takes to bring on 3 20-year-olds, Morabat, who are the others, Gesami Hassan and Tabli.

One of them ended up taking a penalty. A 20-year-old stood up and took a penalty. forward it. For me, that takes a certain amount of mental and psychological bravery, and that's why I'm back in Morocco, not to go all the way, because I think they are four years too short. I think they'll win when they host it. Yeah.

And I think they're going to fall short. I think they're going to beat France. I think they'll fall short. I think they'll fall short this year. But they have such a young cracks. They have such a young core. Like when you look at their midfield, we've been, we've been raving about are you body, right? And yet there's other stars that have shown in the midfield.

Every midfielder in Morocco has stepped up. Ayubu board was amazing against Brazil. But then when I watched Netherlands, I think El Anawi is even a better midfielder. I think she should be playing for Barcelona. He's incredible. I haven't seen a midfielder break up play and launch attacks like that since Chavi. And then in the game, last game,

Ghes who stepped up against Canada. Onahi, every midfielder is stepping up. Brahim has four assists. Every midfieler is stepping up. El Canals, who plays on the left. He's incredible tracking back all the time. So for me, I think this Moroccan team has something. It has like a resilience to eat.

But I think they're too short. I think they're winning in 2030. There's only one prediction I'm looking for here, Joe. USA Belgium. I think Belgium. Because this was the game. I think Belgium is going to win. You think Belgium is winning.

I think USA has run its course. I think all the host countries. What has Belgium shown you that makes you think they're going to win? They have shown me that they have character. You think team USA doesn't have character. My friend, they came back and beat Senegal. That was character. Yuri Tillman's.

No, my friend, you're going to say that they've shown that they have character. I think. When they came back against teams that you say crumble consistency. What has Team USA shown you that doesn't say character? Okay, let me explain it. So I feel like in tournaments, in tournament, no, no, let me say. So here's what I think. Here's what I think.

I think if Team USA runs them ragged in the first 45, Team USA wins the game. I think Team USA has to take the game away from Belgium early. because I think Belgium is relying on their prowess as a footballing like nation or rather the individual players like Lukaku Kevin DeBroner, Trossard, Tilemans, etc. But I don't think that they have the legs nor the stamina to win the game

but if the USA lets them play the game for enough time I think that's why they'll lose. The reason I disagree with you is I think you're judging Belgium on how they've been playing the tsunami. Yeah, you're not wrong. That's exactly how I judge them.

I think, I think, I think. That's exactly how I judge them. And you're right, and you're right. But I think why you're slightly wrong is the result against Senegal changes everything. Oh, that's interesting. In tournament football, you think that's given them the turn. In tournament football, you need a moment that trauma bonds you.

Okay. For the team to come out. Yeah, you're a big fan of trauma bonding. So for Argentina, it was the loss to Saudi Arabia. And now you think it's Cape Verde for Argentina. It's Cape Verde for Argentina. Now for Belgium, it was the... You need that thing where you go like, yo, we've been forged in fire.

Okay. And then so for Morocco it was the Netherlands? Yes. For France, it's Paraguay. Yes. Okay. Okay. So for you to win a tournament, you can't just stroll through the tournament.

You've got to have your rocky moments. Yes, you're going to face a setback at some point. And whether you stand up or not, that's what tests you. So for me, I think Belgium, that moment, you remember they were fighting before that moment? Yeah. That moment bonded them as brothers. and also makes you believe that, hey, we are invincible. The Knicks, the NICS, let's go back to basketball, baby.

The Knicks, when they won that game when Oji Ananoi came in and, you can't come back. There's something that that makes to it, that gives to it him. There's a certain invincibility. So for me, I think, I'll see. We'll see what happens. I don't need it against... We'll see.

Yeah. We'll see what happens. I mean, look, it's one of those games. I don't know who's going to win. It's not an obvious one, but I just wonder if having the president and the nation and Belegan and like having that whole thing behind you and I wonder if Belgium feels a little hard done by does it work against them?

It's just going to be an interesting one but let's wrap it then. Let's wrap it then go watch a game. I think the hosts, their race is run. Mexico, the US, their race is run. Okay, well let's watch the games and we'll see. I think Hurricane is going to kill Mexico today because they're going to try to play attacking football

when they should be sitting back. Then let's watch the game. It's going to be fun. It's always fun. This has been fun, my friend. It's always fun. Let's see how the games play out. This segment is

Brought to you by Fabriz. You know what's funny about soccer's growth in America? Everybody talks about the stadiums, the fans, the television audiences, the stars coming over to play here, but nobody talks about the smell. Think about it. More kids are playing soccer. More adults are playing soccer. More leagues, more tournaments, more gear.

And every piece of that gear eventually ends up in a room exactly like this one, which is why today we're doing an official smell draft. That's right. With the overall pick in the draft of smells, I am taking soccer cleats. No hesitation. Those things spent 90 minutes running through sweat, grass, mud, rain, sunshine, and occasionally somebody else's foot. Joe, what are you taking for the second pick?

Oh, with the second pick, hands down, I'll take the gear bag. Because the gear bag isn't just one smell. It's an entire ecosystem. Actually, that's a good pick. I was hoping you wouldn't go with the gear bag. For the third pick, I'm going with the backseat of the car after practice. Yeah, parents, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You open the door and immediately you realize the game has followed everybody home.

Honestly, that's why this room is so confusing. Every instinct tells me that a professional bootroom should smell terrible. This should be the place where we experience one of the strongest home field advantages of sports. and yet somehow it smells fresh. That's because Fabri's fabric is built for the things you can't throw in the wash. The cleats, the bags, the car seats, all the places where the game really leaves its mark. If your soccer gear is starting to smell like its own locker room, it's time for Fabri's fabric. It doesn't just mask odors.

It helps fight them. Oh yeah. Find Fabri's Fabrice Fabric at Walmart. Man, you nailed that spray. That was amazing. See how pressure got in this room? 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. Join us every Monday during the World Cup for bonus episodes of What Now with Trevor Noah. Thanks again to Fabriz for sponsoring this episode. Fabriz is the official odour fighter of Major League Soccer.

That's the point. Fabriz fabric is for everything the game touches that the washing machine can't. You're not changing anything. It was really fresh after the first spray. I feel like you're just having fun with the bottle now. I just have too much. No one man should have all that power.