What Now? with Trevor Noah - WORLD CUP Bonus Episode: Week Two

Episode Date: June 23, 2026

Trevor and Joe tackle Week Two of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In this episode they debate whether the tournament is an incredible global block party or a giant exercise in geopolitical sports washing, whether the David vs. Goliath fable needs some adjustment,  and dish on the week's most entertaining World Cup drama, from Turkey's tragic scoreless exit to the fanboys currently making life difficult for Portugal's players. Through it all, they remind us that few things bring people together quite like 22 humans chasing a ball. 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. All right, well, welcome to week two of the World Cup. Yeah, I can't believe because it feels like one. We've watched so much football.

It feels like a week four. But then again, time rushes when you're having fun, so it doesn't feel like weak to yet. It's like a weird, I know it sounds like a weird contradiction, but it feels like we've watched four weeks worth of football, but then it doesn't feel like we've reached weak to yet. I think it feels like that because, yes, we've watched probably more games per capita than ever in our lives.

But because we haven't moved in the group stages, it doesn't feel like the tournament has moved in a good way. So it feels like it's still exciting. It feels like it's still new. It feels like it's... But, you know, before we even get into the results, I notice something about the World Cup. And I don't know if you'll agree with this or disagree.

Okay. Probably disagree, but on principle, but okay. The World Cup is a lot like New Year's Eve. Okay. Everyone talks trash about it in the buildup. Everyone says they don't care. Everyone says they don't... They're not going to make plans.

They're not going to participate. Ask somebody what their plans are for New Year's Eve. They'll be like, is that even a thing anymore? New Year's Eve, I'll probably just sleep. I don't even care what's happening. I'm not into it. The day the clock strikes 12 and it's the 31st now,

then you start getting the texts, hey, what's happening? Have you heard of anything? Are you going anywhere? Where's the party at? Maybe we should go to a party. And then when it gets close to 12, it's on.

And once it's on, all you're left with is joy and regret. I feel like the world Cup does that? No, because I was thinking about this. Every single World Cup starts with the scandal. Or multiple scandals. And by week two, people can only talk about the World Cup. So go South Africa 2010. Everybody was saying, can this country host a World Cup? Is Africa ready? There's too much crime in South Africa. They don't have the infrastructure. It's going to be a bad World Cup. It's not going to go. World Cup started week two.

or we knew was football. Actually, the moment Shabbalada scored that goal. Finished. Everything shifted, yes. Finished. Qatar? Oh, no. Oh, no.

Russia. Oh, yeah. Russia was before that. People were like, oh, no. Brazil as well. 2014 years. Brazil, they were like, oh, no, the infrastructure, things are not going to work. The favelas and business.

You name it. Russia. People like, oh, the visas are going to be a disaster. Russia's not going to let people in. Should Russia even be hosting the World Cup? Yo, World Cup came. people were just like it's World Cup time

we'll get back to that later Qatar was the same US Week 2 I don't know about you maybe it's just my feed everything is World Cup now

No I'll say this And that's I think the beauty And also the curse In a funny way Of the World Cup Because that's what gives FIFA so much power And so much leverage

They are in control Or they're the custodians of this thing That's so powerful that can shift narratives. So the World Cup, when you talk about Qatar, like before it happened, some people are going to go to boycott it.

Yeah, I mean, English media, English media was essentially threatening to boycott Qatar. But then the moment, the moment the ball is kicked. You know what it is? Actually, before the ball is kicked, once people see David Beckham, they change all their geopolitical views.

Yes, but it's funny that you compare it. In fact, I think it's like any party. You can say what you want about a party. David Beckham walks in. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, you know, let's start up. All of a sudden, the party's changed. Let's turn up, yes.

No, but like it's, as I was saying, it's the great power of this beautiful game. And FIFA, fun enough, has done so much to disfigure the face of the beautiful game. But because the game is so popular. And once it starts, everything is out of the window. So the US, people are going about, you know, everything is wrong with the US. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Then the moment the game is,

started now everyone's just talking about the games. People are discovering different sides of America because they're getting to meet real Americans as opposed to Americans being represented by their government. Can I say that's something that has truly made me rid of how powerful the World Cup is? I've always known that the World Cup has the power to introduce people from all over the world to a nation that they may have had.

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

Freddie is a German guy who's just in America who's just having a great time just loving everything about America meeting people shocked at how friendly they are discovering how big the portions are enjoying like All the things we love about America

giant trucks, giant cars, giant worlds, giant supermarkets he's gotten so popular I think he got an invite to the White House he was on a flight that was delayed and he was going to miss a game and then airlines just stepped in and they were like, no, Freddy, we got you,

we're going to get you on another flight. That's when I was like, okay, this is power. When an airline in America is actually trying to help people. To help a customer, yes. No, but also I agree with you because America, unlike other countries, has been overexposed. We watch it in pop culture, watch it in movies, we watch it in music videos.

So you would think there would be nothing to discover. Qatar, you've never had anything about it. So when the World Cup goes there, there's a chance to discover a side of Qatar that you haven't seen before. But America. I didn't think that for America. Yeah.

With America. I honestly didn't think that for America. Yes. Like the people in Rollins, Kansas, they are like funny weird meat cute. Yep. With Algeria. And then this romance that has gone and no, no, no.

You think of. Scottish fans have drunk Boston dry. Oh my God. Yes. You never thought that would happen. You never thought Boston would go like. I didn't think it was possible. Boston would go like there's not enough alcohol.

Yeah. In Boston. I genuinely didn't think it was possible. The bars, no, but I think also like if you combine Scottish people with Irish people, because the Irish people in Boston were drinking the bars dry. And then they're going, no, it's, it's been beautiful. It's why normally they go like, oh, you can't use the World Cup to sports wash or sports londer your image. And that's why I think.

But okay, but this is, okay, let's, so let's get into this. Is it sports washing or rather, let's let's ask the question this week? because people will say the World Cup is sports washing. Yes. You use a major world tournament to, you know, to lighten or brighten the image of your country in the world despite what's going on. But then there's a part of me that goes, is it sports washing or is it maybe doing not the opposite necessarily? But like those Americans who are experiencing, or rather those Europeans and those Africans and those, you know, South Americans. and very few Africans, you're not wrong.

You're not wrong, actually. Yeah, way more Europeans. But they are experiencing America in a way that they wouldn't have otherwise. And I think America is also experiencing them in a way that they wouldn't have otherwise. Like, the effect that the Norwegian fans have had on Americans, for the first time in my life, I've seen Team USA people trying to come up with actual chance for their team. Yes. Apart from, we, we shall win. I believe that we shall win.

I believe that, yes. That is terrible. Yes. They see the choreography. That's objectively terrible. Or just USA. U.S.A. That's fine for like three minutes.

Yes. You can't chant it for an entire game. 90 minutes. Defense. Come on, man. Defense. Yeah, you need a few. Come on, come on, come on.

I still say if you have to tell the team what their job is. To remind them. Come on. Like football fans, you just get to sing and like reminisce about the beauty of your team and its legacy. You get to sing joyous songs. Meanwhile, in American sports, you have to like literally tell the people. what to do. This is the part where you defend.

This is the part where you defend. This is the pot where you defend. You know what I mean? You make it seem like American athletes are like goldfishers. No, but they're not. I'm saying the chance. Yes, yes. The chance are terrible.

No, like the choreography. So I understand, yes. I'm not saying the sports washing isn't a thing. But I'm often torn because we live in a world where people say we as humans need to spend more time getting to know each other so that we form opinions of each other and places. and ideas, let's become less rigid. And then when we have events that do that, we then say the events shouldn't happen

because... I think it's because... Because when else would it happen? No, I think it's because... When else would thousands of Norwegians be influencing Americans? When else with thousands of Scottish people be influencing? Look at...

And not just in America. Look at the love, the new romance between Korea and Mexico. Have you seen the Korean and Mexican fans? Beautiful, yes. That's beautiful. I'll say... There are going to be so many Korean-Mexican babies born next year.

I'll say... Funny that you talk about the impact, the external impact on the insiders and then the insider impact on the outsiders. Because when we went to Qatar, remember we were having a conversation with one of the top guys in the organizing committee and he told us,

Qatar actually didn't want the World Cup. The people of Qatar didn't want the World Cup because they thought all these foreigners who are coming in. They had only seen videos of English hooligans. Oh, yeah, that's true. And they went and all these animals are coming into Qatar. They're going to rape our women.

They're going to vandalize our buildings. And then people came over. And then I remember he told me distinctively that he remembered the turning point was when Qataris were turning up and actually giving fans water. Because Qataris realized, oh, not all foreigners are English hooligans. And then foreigners also realized not all Qataris think the same as their government. They don't think LGBTQ people should be executed. They don't think all these things that we were told.

Or they don't think that immigrants should be said. So that's very interesting. But the reason I think we talk about sports washing is when you look at the countries that normally vie to host the World Cup, their countries in need of a reputational cleanup. So, for example, Russia that just invaded Crimea when they got the World Cup. Yeah, but I'm not saying that's not true, but they had to bid for the World Cup long before they invaded Crimea. But I'm saying when the World Cup came, it helped their image.

They went from all Russia. Not a candidate for neighbor of the year. To all Russia. Spasibo. They are not as cold as they seem. I'll say, look at Qatar. Okay, so now it was Russia, Qatar, the U.S. Then it's going to be Morocco, Spain.

And there's going to be South Arabia. And I think logically, the next stop should be North Korea. Man, a North Korean World Cup would be something. We'd be like, oh, we did. Did you see, by the way. Did you see, by the way. By the way, did you see there was a piece that I was reading or I saw something online. It's funny, you brought up North Korea.

Apparently, North Korea has experienced like a boom over the past few years, like a major, and please, don't get me wrong, this is relative to itself because North Korea is still extremely underdeveloped. There's a lot of poverty in it. But apparently they've really been doing well ironically because of the wars that are being fought. People forget how many, how much money they make from arms. Yes, yes, yes. And from troops.

And from, yeah, but apparently, so you never know. Maybe North Korea could be, but okay. I saw this video because you're talking about North Korea. I saw this video that was showing how North Korea has changed, has developed, and they're just using a parking lot. And you could see the number of cars. Yeah. The technology even.

No, the technology. But this is what I mean. As much as people say you should keep a state, a pariah, to punish them for their actions. I sometimes wonder if the opposite isn't more true. Can you keep a state a pariah if you bring them into the fold? That's FIFA's argument. FIFA's argument always is you can't bring the football

can help bring a country into the international fold. Right. So like when outsiders go to Qatar, Qatar just by that interaction alone, it's almost like, you know, when you hear about Europeans going and meeting these uncontacted, tribes in the Amazon. Yeah.

Just the interaction alone has like benefits to opening up. Yeah, I don't, I don't think you can start diplomacy without diplomats. That's a very good. Yeah, that's the first argument every time. When we take football to these places, those places are always almost like it's an opening moment for them. Yeah, but even not even taking it to the places. Look what the World Cup has done.

How many people in the world knew Cape Verde was even a thing before the World Cup? How many people knew Curacao was even a thing? Speaking to you now. Curacao has a point. They have a point at the World Cup. You know what I'm saying? And they got that point against Ecuador, a team that did extremely well in the qualifying.

Golden generation as well of Ecuador. So for Curacao. For like a heart bit there, they were toe to toe with Germany. And for them, it was a win. No, no, it was a win. But then again, as you see, Cape Vat, their goalkeeper going from,

what, a few hundred followers, to 9.4 million, 11. Yeah. It shows that power of the World Cup. But again, man, you know, I can see what the activists are talking about because the government will always use. Because anytime you give something as powerful as the World Cup to a power-hungry maniac, they'll always abuse it.

But as you're saying, also once it brings people together, because if you look at the people, people who love the beautiful game, or in the case of America, the people who didn't love, but now have fallen in love because they're seeing Norwegians choreographing this Viking rowing thing, or they're seeing like Scottish people just having. Yeah, man. I think I think it's, look, I think both arguments have merit, but I think we shouldn't take for granted the lasting legacy.

Yes. And the impact this will leave of just bringing humans together. We live in a world where so many people form their opinions based on, you know, digital, yeah, digital information. How many people can say their opinions of others are formed by an actual experience? That's all I'm saying, you know. So I'm loving. that part of it.

Like, I actually love how for the World Cup, the scandals go away from geopolitics and they just go to the pitch. You know, because now, like, the scandals are all on the pitch. I would say the biggest scandal at the World Cup now over this past week. Turkey, yeah? The Turkish team...

Yes. Came in. If you think about it, like, the Turkish team came into this World Cup. Yes. I don't know if you saw their send-off, right? They got one of the biggest send-offs I've ever seen a country give their team. I think I saw they were given mansions in one of the most exclusive like

seaside resorts. My friend. Every player for just qualifying. My friend. Yes. Because how many years has it been since Turkey was in? Yeah, it's been like I think 26 years or something was there? It's been a long time. I think the last time wait was it. 2002. It's been a very, very long time. They were driven out of the city with the most

beautiful, it looked like they were going to like a like a war, but a good war in a way. But that's what the World Cup feels like. Yeah, they were like. To go back to your point, the World Cup is the only time I feel and the only but especially the World Cup, is the only time you're allowed to be xenophobic. Or nationalistic.

Maybe not xenophobic, but nationalistic. Nationalistic, yes. You're supposed to, where you go like, yeah, I'm from Kurosawa and I'm going to shit-talk Germany. We hate the Germans. And everyone goes like, yeah, we agree. We hate the Germans. It's the only time you're allowed to be patriotically proud

without it having like the negative undertone. It's the one time Germans can fly their flag. Oh, yes, proudly. Yeah. Proudly, yes. This is the one time Germans can be like, and now am I allowed to bring out my flag for this? moment?

Yeah. And the English are like, yes, of course. And the English are like, yeah, yeah, we can do it. But just for the tournament. Yes. That's probably why Germany always does well in the World Cup. Because the longer they get to be in the World Cup, the longer Germans get to fly their flags. And they're just there like, yeah, this is so much fun.

We're having a great time. We get to do this once every four years. July 20th. Put it away. Okay. We'll see you in four years. We're going to continue this conversation right after this short break. Well, let's take a quick break to thank our sponsor, Mazda.

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www. Iiihihis.org to learn more. Do it. Do it now. No, Takiya, you are used to talk about Takiya. You mean, that, you look at it. A team comes in that has one of the highest team values per capita, as in like the value of the players, where they play their football, how they

seen in the world, how they're rated. Two of the brightest young talents in world football, in Kenan Yieldies and Adagouler. Yeah, Adagoule and Kenan Yielders. And also the mix of experience with Hakkhan Chalanoglu. Yes. Yeah. And you think of a team like that. Everyone expected everyone. Also, everyone was like,

oh, their group is easy. Yes. Yes. So every pundits expected them to cakewalk the thing. Instead, they are now confidently out of the World Cup. without a goal. Kurosah was done better than them. That's wild, man.

Haiti is doing better than them. Cape Vard is doing better than them. The thing is... That's wild. You do realize, you do realize, if you think about their story, I was thinking about it.

Turkey is basically the reflecting pool of national teams right now. The reflecting pool. The DC reflecting pool. Yeah, the DC reflecting pool. Okay, explain this. elaborate. It was released to much fanfare.

Okay, yes. There was a massive overhaul. Yes. Tons of money was pumped into it. They made this grand announcement with extreme expectations. And much sooner than people predicted, the paint started peeling off. Things fell apart, yes. And it fell apart and it became one of the biggest disasters we've ever seen.

In a, like a space that really no one... They're reflecting pool. It would have been one thing if they said, oh, the reflecting pool after like two years. It happened in a comically short amount of time. That's what happened with Turkey. It would be great if also Turkey had Abramese. Lincoln, just looking on, very disappointed. Just judging from his seat.

I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed. No, the thing is, I'll say this about Turkey. So I've had a chance. And probably you have to. I've had a chance to visit Turkey, to visit Istanbul three times. You have? Yes.

Why is your haste like this? They went like, we are miracle workers, but come on. We can only do so much. Even the Turkish doctors went like, no. It has to be within the realms of like science. Yes. Yeah, we don't make wonders. Yeah.

No, but the thing is I've had a chance to visit Istanbul three times. On a cruise, by the way. And every time I visited Istanbul, I feel it's like the Brazil of Europe. Huh. The fans breathe, live, and sleep football. They have the three biggest clubs.

Galatasaray, Fennabash, and Besiktas. Yeah. And the fans, they're very passionate people, fiercely passionate. So I feel for them because this is very devastating. This is traumatic for them. They came in, they thought they would win, they got embarrassed.

And if you've also had, like, we grew up. watching European football. If you've had a chance to watch like those Turkish games. Yeah. When they say an English team. Oh, it's massive.

Oh my God. It's massive. Visiting Garata Sarai. The Al-Samien stadium. And it's basically welcome to hell. That's what they call it. And when you would watch like teams go to the, you know, the way Fenerabach used to play,

it was called the Sakor of Sarokogru. Those stadiums really feel like, I wouldn't even know how to describe them because an American wouldn't get it. They feel like you've entered You know when they say the fan is the 12th man? It genuinely feels. It's like unfilled, but with players.

But why didn't that translate into the World Cup? No, so they have, and this is why. Zero goals, Joe. No, so this is why I feel for them, because the 2002 team was their golden generation before this golden generation. And if you remember that team, they had Hakk and Shuka in front. Yeah, yeah. They had Hassan Sasson, Sussum, Davala.

Yes, yes, yes. They had like two guys and Emory and Alpa. And my question is, what happened now? So when they came in, they thought, I think they were shocked. Also, they don't have a natural number nine. I don't, I think they're struggling. But Joe, but Joe, we had a stage where we're just asking about a singular goal. No, I'll say this about the World Cup.

Remember, every team that shows up at the World Cup, like, there are no pushovers at the World Cup. That might sound weird when you've seen some of the scorelines. Yeah, but people forget that every team beat a bunch of teams to get here. Like Italy is not in the World Cup. It's not here because of Bosnia. Yeah. And Bosnia hasn't had like a good World Cup.

But the thing is every team at the World Cup. is playing every game like it's a World Cup final. So when some people go like, oh, it's 48 teams, they're going to be small teams. No, my friend, when Kurosawa is playing,

that's the biggest game of their lives. When Kep Vard is playing, that's their World Cup finals. I think maybe that's something people forget, whether actively, like subconsciously or consciously, I think a lot of people forget how many teams

are at the World Cup, not because they were chosen, but because they won. Yes, they won. Like, every team is here because they won. But I think sometimes people make it seem like, oh, that's cute. They went and fetched Cape Verde. Oh, that's cute.

They think it's like a Cinderella story. Like America's got talent or something. It's like, no, no, no. This is like an active, active story. But this is why I think, like, Turkey's really going to have to, it's going to be a lot of, what do they call it? It's going to be a post-mortem. Yeah, so Vincenzo Montelaela, the coach is certainly going to lose his job. Yeah.

And I loved him as a player. It's going to be, it's going to be a lot of him. massive because here you have a team that maybe wasn't expected to win the whole thing by their fans but the fans expected a late run because of the expected

expanded format by the way because of the expanded format there's actually a high expectation on teams because there's easy there are easier games there are easier moments in groups also you don't have just to finish second exactly this eight third place teams are going to go through

so their fans are saying yeah, we didn't expect everything, but we expected something. And then you've got that happening. And I find it interesting how I think a lot of the pressure is compounded by the fact that this is also the World Cup.

It's like the Cinderella World Cup. So it would be one thing if Turkey was losing their games and that was that. It's something else when you're a Turkish fan watching your team lose its games while Kurosau is scoring against Germany. while they're getting a draw against Ecuador,

while Cape Verde is getting a draw against Spain, while you're watching Japan go toe to toe with the Netherlands, thrashing Tunisia, while you're watching, you're watching clubs, Team USA. Also, turning into Prime Barcelona.

I feel like the second game, I feel the second game they lost was very embarrassing because Paraguay were reduced. Paraguay, first of all, had lost to the US badly. Yeah. So they went like, oh, this is a game we should be able to win.

because you went like Australia, maybe Australia soccer punched to them because they dominated that game they created all the chances so you went like, okay, that's a bad day at the office you know, we got soccer punched but if you watch Uruguay

get dominated the way they were dominated by the US you went like oh this should be a cakewalk for Turkey they lose one nil Paraguay plays most of the game 10 men because Miguel Alminon was sent up for that and still Turkey couldn't find a way

By the way, do you think that that should be a red card of faith? I think it should be. I think it should be. Why? FIFA is saying you should say it with your chest. I don't think it should be a red card. No, because when you do this, and you know where it comes from. It comes from Vinny and Christiani.

Yeah, but I don't think it should be. I think it should be because when you say... I think it should be a yellow card. Okay, let me tell you why. Okay. For me, a red card, and I'll preface this by saying, I choose this because of when the rule was enforced. Okay.

Whenever there's a new rule in football, I think we shouldn't take for granted how reflexive so many actions are in the game. Yes, yes. Athletes all over the world have gotten very comfortable doing this, even on the bench when they speak to each other. You know, they do this.

Watch the New York Knicks at the victory parade. They're doing this the whole time. They're speaking to each other because they don't want their lips to be read, okay? You get taught to do this. Put your hand in front of your mouth. Put your hand in front of your mouth. Now, it's a new rule.

that gets brought into the World Cup a few months before the World Cup not like years before. So you don't get to like play it in the leagues. You get to the World Cup. There's a moment. You just do your default. You put your hand, it's instinctive, red card.

I think it should be a yellow because the game itself, the game is disrupted so much by this decision that you should give a nation an opportunity to be like, oh no, that person, like, you know what I mean. Also, by the Migi Arameroon, one of the nicest guys in the game. You also, I hate, I hate agreeing with you.

But now that you put it like that, you're going like, oh, there should be an off ramp. Because also, and it would be fine. You know what, even if they said to the opponent, what did he say to you? Even if the opponent said, no, no, no, he said something about my mother or whatever, whatever, it's fine. Yellow card. No, I agree with you. But. I hate it, but I agree with you.

Yes. If the player says he said something racist, oh, then the ref can say. say red card. No, because that was, that was the origin of the rule. Yes. Vinny said, Presiani said something racist. Presbyani said I didn't say anything racist. And you can't prove it out. The referee couldn't prove it because Christian had, but the thing is, where I agree with you, and I hate it, I hate it. I hate this moment. Where I agree with you is the off ramp. This was a decision. This was a rule created basically two, three months ago. Yes. And the players have been doing

this their whole lives. Yeah. Because even Messi, when it mess is, it's like taking your shirt off after you celebrate. Yes. Yes. You can't go to red card. Yes, they should have been around from. You know what I mean? You can't go red card for time wasting. And I mean, now time wasting is like more common people understand it. But I think there are certain things where we forget that it's just like part of the game. It was a very reactive rule as well.

It reacted to a particular incident because that incident involved a star player. Do you remember when they said only captains can speak to the referee? Yes. They made a new rule. The players can't swarm the ref. Only the captains can speak to the referee. Players still ran to the referee. the referee.

And then they said, we'll give you a yellow card for this. Imagine if they said red. Oh, the other route as well was you can't ask for a yellow card. Yes. And players every time they are fouled. Yeah, they would do this. And then they would get yellows. Yes, yes.

But then over time, they stopped doing it. Except Vinicius. They stopped doing it. And it, but imagine if it was, guys, red cards are such. A red card for me is such an egregious offense. It changes the dynamic of the game, changes the complexion, conditions the whole game. The good thing for. What a guy is it didn't cost them.

Ultimately. And that's now, imagine, now we're going back. Imagine if you're a Turkey fan going. Yeah. We gave this, we got, these guys got a red card. But I have a question for you. Turkey and Tunisia. Who is having a worst world cup?

Turkey. Turkey? Yeah, Turkey. Because Tunisia fired their coach after losing 5 nil. And we'll say they improved because they lost 4 nil. No, but Turkey. Turkey's having a worse one because Turkey had, look at the team. Look at the team.

Look at the footballing heritage. you look at, they're in a moment. Turkey's having the worst one. You know who I sped, actually, the blush is funny enough. I think Turkey would have wanted to do what many of the other clubs who had a shaky start did. So Brazil. You know, like Brazil came out and said,

we've seen every meme, we've seen every critique, we've seen every pundits, Carlo and Chalotti switched out his front line, put Kunja in, benched Igor Tiago, said, okay, let's play this game, let's get out there and very quickly they were on top of the game. It helps when you're playing Haiti though in your second game.

But we say that until you're drawing against Cape Verde. You're right, yes, yes. You know what I mean? And I think that's the biggest thing I've noticed that this World Cup is the big teams in this second week, especially the ones who didn't have a good

like Spain and India. Yeah, even Netherlands, etc. They came out swinging now Instead of like allowing the game to develop and thinking the Netherlands scored two goals in the first like 20 minutes of their games. Sweden turning Brand Broby into prime cliveat and also Kodi Koppco into prime Rudh Vanisteroi. But that game, we'll talk about. That game should have, who else? Defercial Sclerosa, yes.

Scored Brazil. Scored their first two goals. How quick? Do you know what I mean? It's like I think a lot of the teams are realizing this isn't a league match. It can't have the pace of a league match. You want to get in, get your goals. quickly as possible and then get into the game.

And Spain, you saw that in their game, right? Came out here. First two minutes. First game, they were like, oh, no, let's build it out. Tika-taka, let's feel the game. They're like, no, this is not, because they forget that their opponents are so happy to get a draw. You know what I mean? A draw is valuable at this World Cup, especially when third place gets you through if you're in the top eight third teams, you know. But now the teams came out, Brazil, guns blazing. Spain, guns blazing. But I think also the thing with opening games opening games are always very

Kedger affairs because no one wants I mean like when it's your first game in the World Cup it's almost like Look at England Look at England

And look at France Yeah but look at England In France Yes They were like There's nothing cagey about this You In my opinion

No team That's a big team Okay Should ever believe That the first game Should be KG Because a first game literally means

nothing. It also means nothing. Yes, yes. You lose it. If you lose it, you can still go on to win a World Cup. We've seen many winners do that. So, the first game is a game where you should just come out, swing as hard as you can, and then calibrates. But the thing is just saying that as a monolith as a team, but I'm saying the players, the individual players, oh, okay, okay, you think they're a bit...

My friend. No player wants to be seen as a player who made the mistake. My friend. Who made... It's almost like, you know when you come on as a substitute and they go like, let the first start just be safe enough. my friend this is the World Cup you can't put on a Brazil shirt and not be sure of yourself

Mateos Kunya that guy did not look like he was just trying to feel out the game He came as a substitute He was fighting for his place Yes He got here to put him on the bench Look now

But now But I'm saying Second game things have settled now Yeah The worst that could happen Has almost happened But not Lamin Yamal Lamin from the first game

He came on as a substitute as well Yeah but he didn't settle Lemin has the fearlessness of youth though No You know, Joe, Messi. Talk to any teenagers. Messy.

Messy first game. Messy first game. Messi has the fearlessness of a veteran. No, you're going to make excuses for everyone. You're going to make excuses for everyone now. Yes, no, no, you're right. Hurricane. No, you're right.

No, you're right. You're right. You're basically saying fortune favors the brave. Yes, it does. It does. It does. And by the way, that's another narrative. I feel like needs to change, especially after the second week at the World Cup.

This whole narrative around like David versus Goliath. I think we need to switch it up. As much as regards African teams. Yeah, when they go like, oh, court de voir against Germany, David versus Goliath. Senegal versus David versus Goliath. I feel like pundits, commentators, the media. It's very patronizing, by the way. Yeah, it's patronizing, but more importantly, it's also inaccurate now.

Okay. First of all, physically, if you look at the actual players, yeah. Yeah, the roles are definitely reversed, right? Germany was struggling for size. So you're saying it's wrong both metaphorically and also literally, yes. And quite literally. And secondly, I think we've outgrown that metaphor, David versus Goliath, because it's not David versus Goliath, you know?

It's not like, oh, can David defeat Goliath? No, David is now a world-beater. David has multiple players from Europe playing in his squad. David now has some of the most talented footballers. David has been in the gym. Taking steroids. Taking creatine, doing his thing. David is like on top of it.

David's got a few belts under, you know what I mean on his waist. I always had a problem with the original story anyway. Why? I felt David was, I felt David was a wimp. He was just throwing things, you know, like, come on. Nah, man, can I tell you, it's actually funny you say that. I remember reading something that says,

we might have misunderstood that whole story if it was a real story that happened. Because they were saying, by all accounts, Goliath may just have been like this very big lumbering man. Oh, okay. And David was actually nimble was like super quick with his slingshot it was actually a bad matchup

for Goliath Like Goliath It was actually bad for him Even if you read it in the story In the Bible Like David comes there And he's like I don't need all this armor

I don't need Ours it to weigh me down Yeah he's like it'll weigh me down And so like Goliath is there This lumbering You know what I mean I see your point yes And that's what I think it is

In a weird way It shouldn't be You know Or will David beat Goliath It should be like Is Goliath still What he's hyped up to be? Oh okay yeah

I feel like a lot of host nations or a lot of the big nations, you know, the old winners. European nations and Southameter nations. They're just old Goliaths. Like England, England, they're considered a Goliath. Yes. But when was the last time they won a fight? Like the big fights.

That's what I'm thinking. It comes down to the recognizability. When was the last time Brazil won its big fights? Yes. It comes down to how recognizable your players are. When was the last time Italy? Italy still. Italy still considered a Goliath.

What was the last time Italy? Think about it. Since 2006. Come on. We're still calling these teams Goliaths. At some point we've got to like change the term now. It can be like, you, is this Goliath still a Goliath? German didn't make it out of the group.

Two consecutive World Cups, 2018 and 2022. And still, yes. You get them saying? No, no, I hear you. I think all of these games, like you can't look at Senegal anymore. Even like the way the pundits talk about it. I mean, not that I should be,

it's not like I'm offended by this, but I even find it weird that even like the commentators the pundits are still like, and Africa, look at the Africans doing it. No one says that about the European teams. You know when a movie star is, has been so good, they cost on the hype of their success for the longest time. And then you go like, yeah, yo, Nick, do you know many bad movies? Nicholas Cage had to put out for us to finally go like, yo, guys, I think Nicholas Cage is no longer star. But for the longest time, it was Nicholas Cage, box office superstar.

And you're like guys. No, yeah. I think we need to start. We need to start because, okay, let's look at the Germany Cote d'Ivoire game, Germany Ivory Coast. Coming in, people would go, oh, David versus Goliath. Can Ivory Coast stand up to them? Watch the actual game. Watch the chances created.

German was struggling, yes. There's a specific moment that we all remember. If Simon Adingra. Yeah, yes. First times that ball, yes. Just puts it on targets. Nicholas Pepe, by the. late in the game as well.

All of a sudden the game has changed. You know what I mean? It's not like Germany was all over that team. Germany scores a phenomenal goal. But even that tells you something. If you have to score a phenomenal goal to win the game, it means that you weren't the Goliath you thought you were. Yes.

Like Spain against Saudi Arabia. Yeah. That is like, okay, you can see that this is a lopsided competition. But if you have to put together the most amazing pass, the most amazing touch and turn and shot to get your goal, then, my friend, this wasn't a mismatch. Does that make sense? No, but I think it's still, and I agree with you,

but I think it's also about the legacy, how many titles you've won. But that's my point. I'll give you an example, Germany versus I've got a course. Yes. When Germany scores, when Dennis Unda, you know, quick turn and that first time shot,

first of all, by the, in natural finisher, because he didn't even need to look where the goal was. Absolutely out of this world. So when he scores, almost every person I know was, who is a student of the game, every person who has loved the game for a long time immediately went back to Garrilyneka's court You know that famous squad by Garrilynika?

No. Where we went like football is a simple game Where 22 men chase the ball for 90 minutes And in the end the Germans win That's so funny So everyone went back to that Everyone remembered oh this is what the Germans do There were so many Dutch fans

Because Holland and Germany have Or the Netherlands and Germany have that weird rivalry There's so many Dutch fans who went like Yeah We've seen this happen so many times The Germans always do this It's almost like they give you hope and then a dagger. So I think it's about the legacy.

And you're right. I hear you. But at some point we're going to ask ourselves, like, is Goliath the underdog now? That's what we're going to ask ourselves. You know what's happening? Because Americans would relate to this. It's the legacy admission. You know, and they go like, oh, your father was an alumina.

Yeah, he was an alumina at this college. Oh, the library is named after him. Yes. And just because your dad went to the school doesn't mean you deserve to be at the school. You don't have the grades even. But they go like, oh, right. You don't have Germany won the World Cup. Yes.

Not this. German squad. You get what I'm saying? This current Argentina squad won the World Cup. See, that's different. Yes, that's different. This current French squad won the World Cup. That's different.

When you look at like the pieces, a lot of it. Italy shouldn't be getting into a college. You can't. You can't be going to a community college somewhere. You can't still be riding on the coattails of a generation that doesn't exist anymore. Oh, we've won the World Cup. No, we. Who's we?

That's where if you had like an African parent, they would be quick to tell you. Yeah, they would be like, oh, we bought the South. They'd be like, who's we? You live in this house. I bought it. This is my roof, yes. Yeah, this is my house and my car. Yeah, but that's why we don't have-

Nepal babies in Africa. Yeah, that's exactly. The concept of the maple baby is spoiled. No, no, no, no. It's like, totally, it's wasted on an African parent. It doesn't work. Because an African-Pan goes like, what do you mean? This is my stuff.

You better go out there and look for your own staff. Because I also remember African parents love struggle. They've got to care. Are you I struggled? Yeah, do you know what I thought to get here. Yes, you have to struggle as well. You appreciate it when you struggle. Maybe that's why we appreciate Team U.

say so much now is because it feels like their struggle is bearing fruit. And it's also disconnected. They don't have that legacy. They don't have a team they can point to where they go like, oh, this team. Like they have some. They have had some teams like in 2002 that may be lost to Germany. But they still don't have that team, yes. It was great.

No, they are. It was great for football. Again, they're through now, two games. Mexico is through. By the way, how do you feel about the new format? goal difference used to be the determining factor. Now it's head to head. I think it sucks.

Because now it means like teams immediately know that the third game means nothing. Because back then when gold difference is the determinant or is the decider, then the teams go like, okay, third game I'm going to give it out. Yeah, because it might determine where you end up. Yes. Now Mexico has, Mexico literally. Yeah, they don't need to feel. Can walk onto the pitch against Chequier and they can sit down.

And it does not change their outcome. And Chekker can score as many goals as they want. Yes, I think FIFA tried to do head to head to avoid I think it backfired. I think it backfired. But Mexico making it through is good.

I watch that Mexico game. And I think I'm happy. I'm happy Mexico made it through. I made the save of the tournament. He made like an incredible double save when he was on the ground. That was insane. That was insane. He had the first save down and the second save he was falling. Yes. And he hit the ball. Yeah, yeah. That was a great deal.

It was because we celebrate like the strikers with their golatsos, but that... This has been the World Cup of goalkeepers. Yeah, goalkeepers, yes. No, goalkeepers are looking good in this World Cup. Vosignia. Yeah, no, they're actually looking very good at this World Cup. His mom was allowed into the country. That's how good a performance he gave in that game.

That's when you know. That forget about the following. His mom. You know, and... That's when you go, like, how good were you? I was so good that America changed its immigration policies for my mom. And also the mom was received as like a some kind of returning

like a dignitary. Yes. But also like Vosignia's story is so interesting. And I think we touched about this. Yeah, we did last time. Yeah. He got like millions of followers. And he's almost like the reverse Spider-Man

because with great power came great irresponsibility. So he received 14 million followers. And the first thing he did was follow everybody, every Instagram body that he could find. Hey, man, live your dream. You know? Also at 40.

yeah, you know, this is his last dance and he's going like, I'm going down swinging. Yeah, no, the keepers have been outstanding. What are we excited looking forward? What are we looking for? Looking forward, I'm very interested, one, in how Sweden navigates the last game. You know, let's talk about that game

before we go into what's coming up. I don't know what your analysis was. I think that's one of those games where the score doesn't reflect the chances. So Sweden is a very spiky team, And what I mean by that is, you know, like, I think a team that's well balanced has a very smooth shape to it. So it's good moments and its bad moments are not particularly far from each other. So it creates like a really beautiful smooth shape.

Okay. Then there are teams that are just like bad, so it's like a small circle. But then you have spiky teams. Amazing moment, terrible moment. Amazing moment, terrible moment, amazing moment. Because Sweden is so spiky, they conceded in every terrible moment. But they had like really good spikes where they could have. scored and they didn't.

Like, I thought Isak was fantastic feeding the ball to Giorkees. I think Giorkees was fantastic feeding the ball to Ayari. Yes. Ayari should have put a ball on target. Gokerez, I think, should have been a little bit more clinical. There were like three or four chances where Sweden could have scored and should have scored, in my opinion. And they didn't. And that turns the game because when it's 2-0 and you make it to 1.

Yeah, of course. Now it's a totally different. The Netherlands is a bit shaky now. And we've seen them against Japan. Yes. If it's 2-1 or 3-1 and you make it 3-2, momentum, shaking it. I just felt like Sweden,

I think people are writing Sweden off prematurely. I think they ran into a Dutch team again, because also you are talking about teams that started in a KG manner and then can't understand. The Netherlands did that into the second game. I think they ran into a Dutch team that finally got its tactics together.

Because I mean in the first game, they played Doniel Marin as the loaned. follow as the loan forward. And then because in this game, Somerville was struggling with a knock. They moved Donnell Marin to the wing and then they brought in Brian Broby. Who's like a handful?

I've always thought his... Marlon is better on the right. Yeah, no. So that's what they did. And then the Broby killed them. He killed them with his physicality. He killed them with his strength. He killed them with his running.

And I think for the longest time, for the longest time, especially in the first half, Linderof and his defensive partner couldn't handle that much power. You know what it made me wonder, actually? I wonder if, you know, Brobie and Harlan and a lot of these, even Lukaku for glimpses. Big strong boys, yes. I wonder if football like fashion is experiencing its comeback to Bell Bottom's moment.

Oh, it went through the small fours. Where we had a game for a long time where it was all about have a big man up front. He powers through. He makes space. He gets you goals. Then that man became shorter and shorter and shorter. And smaller, yes. Messy basically eclipsed, like basically deleted.

that position from the game. And now it was the David Vias and it was, you know, the Aguirros and it. But it was really like the point of that player was not to like overpower a defense. To skew them through their movement. Right. But then because the game became about movement and passing, defending became tighter. Yes, yes. It became about a block.

It became about shapes to cut off the passing lanes and the triangles. But now because of that, one of the only ways you can get a goal and you can score is to whip the ball in behind a defense or to whip the ball in or to create some sort of running chaos because that's where numbers don't help you. You need a battering ram, yes. Yeah, if you have six defenders running towards their own goal, it doesn't really help them as much as six defenders facing away from their goals. Yes, yes, you're right, yes.

Do you get on thing? But I think about soccer, football, it's very cyclical. Yeah, and so now it feels like, you know, like, we're going to be. Looking at Brobie, I was like, I think five, six years ago, that player is not on a squad anywhere. So he was endangered or even almost extinct. Yes. And now, it looks like there's a space.

for him in every squad in the world. Even like a gyokere's. Yes, yes, yeah. There's like space for like this big, fast, strong player who's going to like cause chaos up top. It's one of the reasons I actually think Mbapé is only being saved by his pace. Not, I think Mbapest is one of the greatest players we'll ever see. I still think he should be playing on the left.

In the middle, without his pace, he just gets like knocked off. Easily. He gets knocked off balance. He just gets, he doesn't like, he's not a battering ram. You know what I mean? I was looking at, so for me, when I look at Sweden, because Sweden does, Sweden has gone back to that. First of all, Sweden uses two strikers, which is a rare issue.

They shouldn't. I don't think they should. I don't know what you think of it. They shouldn't. I like the run. It's like played on the left. No, but then also nowhere uses two strikers, Soloth and. Yeah, but I feel like they're like they sort of have to.

Okay. No, but I'm going like, so when I... Sweden had nothing. It wasn't just, okay, let me put it this way. It wasn't about the two strikers. It was about the formation behind it. Yes. If you have two strikers, but then you play an attacking midfield the right behind them.

So you're playing a four three one, two. Your wings are so wide open. Gakpo and Dumfries are having the time of their lives. They're just overloading. Yeah, because now your wings are just, and the game is on the wings most of the time anyways. So people are going around you, you know what I mean? You've built like a really strong front door with no walls. But that's what I'm thinking.

That's what I'm very interested in how Sweden handles their last game. Because Grand Potter, in the game against the Dutch, he showed that he's no Harry Potter. but in the final game, in the final game, he's going to need to, like with some magic man, because it would be very disappointing with the team that Elanga and Lucas Bagva, with a team that talented. Why don't they start Elanga?

He scored like goes for them, but I think maybe they're... Joe, why don't they start Elangar? Maybe he's what I'm thinking. With his rope pace, Graham Potter is going like, oh, I need him against tiring legs. That's the only excuse. My friend, that makes no sense when you look at his record.

Elanga is playing from Minute. one. He has... So here's, okay, here's what I mean. Sometimes he runs head down. Sometimes he has a roadrunner quality to his game. Where you don't know what he's going to do next. Maybe I have a differing opinion here.

I go, bringing in impact players in those types of situations can work in your favor sometimes. I think what a lot of coaches take for granted is you might bring them in when you're down now. And now you're playing against somebody who can afford to sit back. and rob you of yards. So now this person gets to go, okay, Elanga's faster than me. I'm going to stand 10, 20 yards further back. Let's move everything back.

And rob him of space to run in the rest. But if you start Elanga and he's running from the very beginning and we need to attack at the same time. We now have to choose. Do we attack? Look at what PSG did. Look at what PSG did to Arsenal. Bukhaya Saka spent the whole game defending.

Defending, yes. Because Kavaskeria on that left wing, he needs a double team. So now Bukai Asakaa is one of the best, like, wide players, doesn't get to do play his trade, he spends 60 something minutes defending and then he comes off the game, the field. That's what Pace does

from the very get-go. And also, I'll tell you as someone who has played defensive positions, Pace is scary. When you're playing against a player who you know in... Pace is terrible. Who you know in a foot trace can't be true. It's like the worst. Because they just kick the ball in their eyes. Because like a player who dribbles, you go like, oh, maybe I'll touch the ball.

Yeah, yeah. When a player, because also remember foot traces are like the most natural, almost most alpha male like you think about when someone can beat in the It is the most primitive competition

Yes Alias like you know primitive lizard brain So like the goal he scored once he's running through the middle because you know he's beating you

like place is not something you can someone is either faster than you or not Yeah that's it It's like very yeah I know so I'm very interested now here and of that

Okay so we're looking forward to the Sweden game that's going to be a big game Germany's games are done I'm looking forward to the Egypt game as well not because it could be Salah's last game if they don't make it,

but also because Egypt for me has, you did ask me last week about my most heartwarming moment. And I remember, for me, I didn't say this. And I think I should have said this last week. For me, it's seeing the Egyptian coach on the bench. Hossam Hassan. He's a legend. It used to be the face of Egypt before Salah came along.

He helped Egypt win most of those stars. And now he's coaching at the war camp. And he's coaching the guy who replaced him as the first. Oh, who overtook him. Yeah, I didn't know that. He was part of that team that had, you know, Muhammad Abutrika, Muhammad Barakat and all these legends.

But seeing him at the war, because he never got a chance to go to the World Cup. So he imagined if Salah never got a chance to go to the World Cup. He kept winning all these nation's Cups. But for some reason, another Egypt could never make it to the World Cup. And now he's at the World Cup. He's the coach. So I'm really looking for it to at least him making it to the knockout runs.

It would be like a beautiful, like, way to bring his story all around. He's a legend of African football. So for me, that was just watching him. It's like almost remember when Maradona was coaching Messi? It was a weird. That was beautiful. Yeah, no, it's a beautiful.

It was dysfunctional, but it was beautiful. It was dysfunctional, yes. But like it's almost like you see this. It's like almost a passing of the torch. But like in a game, like not like outside the game. Yeah, yeah, yeah, actually actively in the game. Yeah, so I would read, I would really love for Hosama'san to make it to the knockout rounds

and also for Sala. Like that would be a good send off. Yeah, we need as many of them as possible. We need, what about your boy, CR7? Do you think he's... The funny thing is, I'm a huge admirer and people might find this hard to believe. I'm a huge admirer of Christiana Ronaldo the person.

Christian Rolandovalo the human being. He's like a superlative human being when you hear about the things he has done for charity. When you hear about the fact that doesn't have tattoos, because he likes donating blood. That's the reason doesn't have tattoos. He's like a superative.

But then because he's a competitor, I think like Christiano O'Nornaudor, the competitor and Christianaeronault, the human being, especially when they come on the pitch. Yeah. There's reason why people call him Homelander. Because I think

Christiano Ronald- Did you see that meme, by the way? It was like, it was like, word for one. Yeah, no. So I feel like the competitor. It's almost like if someone has like an auto ego, you know, so like,

yeah, yeah, like, you know, Clark, Kent and Super. Superman and Bruce Wayne and Batman, but then if Batman takes over, because the thing that makes Superman very human is clarkint. The thing that makes Batman human is Bruce Wayne. So I feel like with Christiano Ronaldo, the alter ego sometimes takes over when he's, actually most times takes over when he's on the pitch. And so what happened in the first game was, of course, it no longer has the legs,

so he's no longer as mobile as he should be. The midfield can't feed you if you're not making grants in behind. the midfield can't feed you however superative that midfield is Bruno Fernandez, Yaw Nevis, Vitina, they can't feed you if everyone you're making you in an offside position so they spent most of the time despite having

80% of the position just passing sideways and then what happened was after the game they asked you our nevis Christian O'Node and he said something that I thought was diplomatic. As you thought it was diplomatic yeah but because he went like oh he's just another player because you don't want to hear pressure on Ronaldo to go like

oh he's our only hope he's our prince and slayer Please save us No he went like no he's just He's just one of us We have to deliver Ronaldo fans didn't take it like that And remember Yo-Nevis had scored the gold

That spared their brushes They have been flooding his Instagram Comments were coming in a hundred comments Of hate Per minute They didn't just do that They went and flooded His girlfriends

And they're doing that to Bruno Fernandez They're doing it to Yahu Nevis They're doing it to Vittina And they also are doing it to You Won't believe this And this is going to hurt you they're doing it to the Liverpool player I don't even know whether I should say his name

who passed away they're doing it to Diego Jota that's it yeah they're going to his comments and they're leaving comments no I know it's and some people so they're even they're coming to Nevis's Instagram saying it should have been you geez instead of Jota it should have been that's what I'm saying

that's the that's like that's the downside of football that's what I'm saying I didn't even think I should bring up Yeah, the fans get so, you know. Because I went like, should I bring up Diogo, Jota? Because it's, no, it is, I mean. You don't want to bring him up in these circumstances. Yeah, but it is like the. They're flooding.

And so I'm thinking, I'm thinking how is that affecting, how is that affecting the chemistry? That's what I was wondering. I was like, does this, is this one of those moments where you hope a coach can, like, shut the whole thing down and say, team, we have to do this. Or does it put too much pressure on Portugal now? It puts too much pressure because now they're going to be watching every pass. Yeah. Now they're like playing for a nation, by the way. Either you pass Ronaldo or, you know, it's going to happen off the pitch.

But also I'm going like, these players these days are online constantly. They are. So they're seeing all this. And for me, I'm just thinking, how does Roberto Machin? You know what also people forget is in footballing nations, there's also like a strange entitlement that fans have where like footballers will talk about how they can't go to the grocery store, their families can't go out. Because people go to their families or them in public and curse them out for their

performances in matches. I think Asen Venga did talk about he can't pick. Coaches have talked about not being able to pick their kids from school because a parent comes up to you. But that, but you see, I don't, I don't hear, maybe it happens and I don't hear, but I don't hear stories like that in American sports.

Americans are very good, I think, at some times. They go like your trash, but I don't see them. Yeah, with your kid, yes. Yeah, I don't see them. I don't see stories like that. And like, that's the one thing about football where it's like, the way, the way, the way of a nation is not born easily. You know what I mean? Like literally carrying the weight of your nation is one that's,

yo man, it's no joke. So now I'm just thinking about how toxic that is for the... Because now Portugal, the same way you said Spain, the same way you said the Dutch, Portugal really needs to win its next game. Yeah, they do. They really cannot afford not true. Because the pressure is only going to intensify.

And some people are saying, and I'm one of those people, you're one of those people, who are saying maybe Ronaldo should be taking on a lesser role. Maybe should go from being when they go like, oh, they did name. Yes, they lead name on the poster. Maybe it should be a supporting character. Because also when you think about the major

trophy, the one major trophy, Portugal has won. Ronaldo was first off by injury. He was. He spent the entire final against France, Euro 2006. He spent, rather Euro-2016. He spent the whole final cheerleading from the bench. And who scored the goal?

Edia. No one knows him. No one knew him before. No one knows what happened to him after. Yeah. But guess what? Ronald was a European champion. So by that time he was forced by injury to go off the pitch. So what you're saying is someone in the Portuguese team is to slide tackle Ronaldo in the

change room. No, their family would be fireball. Make something happen. Your family home would be fire bomb. Yeah, you'd be gone. You'd be deported from your home country. All right. Well, this has been it.

Another week of the World Cup, another exciting one. Yeah. It's going to be fire, man. No, no. I can't wait because normally it would be like two more weeks to go now. Because I'm like the World Cup. Yeah, now it's done. Yes, now we have like four more weeks.

Yeah, yeah. We're not even pace yourself. Pace yourself. I tell everybody who's watching the World Cup now. I'm like, pace yourself. This is the longest World Cup we've ever had. This is the most packed World Cup we've ever had. Pace yourself.

Don't get too angry. Don't get too happy unless you're Turkish. The Turkish fans have every reason to be angry. You can go crazy. But otherwise, enjoy it. I'll say this. The reason I'm enjoying also the fact that we have four more weeks is, you know, our watch parties.

You know, we've built a community, actually. It really feels like a family. And then every week that passes, because you keep reading out certain names. And I think every week that passes feels like, oh, we're getting to know more. Yeah, we're building, it's like a little village. Yeah, no, it's really beautiful. And I don't know where four weeks are going to take us. Maybe we're going to be meeting this because it feels like now we are dating, you know, but you're not meeting.

You know, you're dating, but I don't trust you yet to meet my friends. But maybe four weeks from now. You never know. You never know. We'll see how it goes. But, Joe, this was fun, man. as always my friend. Brother, pleasure.

I just heard the fact that I had to agree with you at some point. Ah, man, you know, as Gianni Infantino says, the World Cup brings people together who never imagined they could be together. And even Joe and Trevor can agree sometimes because of the World Cup. No, it's beautiful, man. It's beautiful. I'm looking forward to more of these, man.

Thank you again so much to the sponsor of today's episode, Mazda. Mazda delivers confidence, and control in every single drive. And Consumer 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 Reports' 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, 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.