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Fury and controversy over World Cup ticket prices; Groups of deaths; England and Scotland hopes
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Nick and Ken discuss the global fury over World Cup ticket prices released this week, we look at the groups of death and have a dive into England and Scotland's chances.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network.
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and a very warm welcome. You're listening to Road to World Cup 26, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only football podcast that concentrates solely on the World Cup in the entire world, in the entire world.
Ken's Return and World Cup Anticipation
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
My name is Nick Britton.
00:00:31
Ken Davies
On the entire planet.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am your host.
00:00:33
Ken Davies
Probably not only on this planet, any other planet as well.
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I don't know. Apparently, that's quite a good one on Mercury, but we don't like to talk about it.
00:00:39
Ken Davies
Oh, blimey.
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't like to talk about that That was the voice, as always, of Mr. Ken Davis, who has returned from his holidays, he's returned from this, he's returned from that, and he's finally back behind his desk where he
Technical Issues and Impact on Coverage
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
should be. So, Ken, a very, very good day to you. How are you?
00:00:53
Ken Davies
I'm well, actually. I am returned from my holiday and rested and slightly, well, not tanned, but more pinked. and And yeah, looking forward to this because there's been a lot going on in the world of the World Cup in relation to the World Cup draw, in relation to tickets, prices, locations.
00:01:13
Ken Davies
A lot's moved on in the last couple of weeks.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it has. And I should say that we have been a victim here at Global Sports Podcast Network of the cloud flare issues, which you may have seen in the news if you're a tech news follower, which essentially means or meant, should I say, that we were unable, despite recording podcasts, were unable to actually publish any of them.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We recorded Road to World Cup last week.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we it it was the best one we've ever done.
00:01:35
Ken Davies
That was a great one, wasn't it, that?
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But nobody will ever hear it. And it was all around, obviously all around the draw, because the draw was going on at the time, and it was just finished. And we just could not, for because of technical issues that are way out of our control, it simply would not save or publish.
00:01:37
Ken Davies
Oh, no way.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that was a real shame. So we're back this week anyway.
Outrage Over High Ticket Prices
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
All of those issues have been sorted. The gremlins are dispelled. And we're back to... The norm. Back to the norm. It means we've got a packed show to bring you because we're going to look at the most up-to-date situation with the World Cup.
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is, of course, the breaking row over the last 24 hours on ticket prices, which were released yesterday. to Today is Friday, the 12th of December. They were released yesterday to an absolute Well, a storm of protests.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the nicest, most politest, family-show-friendly way I can put it. A storm protest. So we're going to have a look at that.
00:02:27
Ken Davies
Cacophony.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going have a look at some of that. And then we will...
00:02:30
Ken Davies
Cacophony is another word you could use.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another word is what, Ken?
00:02:33
Ken Davies
Cacophony.
00:02:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is a cacophony of protest.
00:02:37
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it doesn't quite work. And um he's at it again. If any of you listening to, yeah, any of you are listening to our daily Premier League podcast yesterday, he's Ken's. He was mixing his metaphors like you've never seen.
00:02:50
Ken Davies
Oh.
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was like he had a bowl. He had a bowl marked metaphors and he ripped them all up, chucked them all in a bowl and was just picking out random words, trying to fit them together.
00:03:01
Ken Davies
ah thought they were right as well.
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he invented our whole new language, I think.
00:03:03
Ken Davies
It was like words bingo, really, wasn't it?
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was. We're also going to have a look at England, because you won't have heard our little deep dive into England england last week, and Scotland, of course, as as the home nations, see how they're going to get along, and a couple of the groups of death, a couple of the the most interesting groups in the World Cup.
00:03:18
Ken Davies
There are some great groups.
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Without a doubt. Without a doubt. So we're going to do that. But listen, let's start with the absolute furore over ticket prices. You'll be aware by now. If you are following this story, that they are around seven times in some cases, seven times higher than the tickets for the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
00:03:33
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
The cheapest
Fan Backlash and Calls for Change
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
realistic ticket is over $200 per game. which is a lot more because they were meant to be 60, but it turns out there were $60 tickets, but they there were about 10 of them and they were in the car park and they went to local people anyway.
00:03:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got no chance of getting getting any of them. The statisticians have been busy at it and will tell you that if you want to go and watch, for example, England, who are one of the fancy teams, one of the seeded teams, and therefore it costs more to watch them than than some others.
00:04:04
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:04:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you want to watch England from start to finish on the basis that they reach the World Cup final, even for the cheapest, lowest category tickets, some of which look at the pitch, some of which I fear don't, and will cost you £7,000.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
seven thousand dollars or about 5,200 pounds. Now, bear in mind that it's not taking taking into account flights, which have gone through the roof, as you can imagine, hotels, which have gone through the roof.
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can imagine. I mean, you're you're looking at, you know, 20 or grand just if you want to go the World Cup.
00:04:45
Ken Davies
20 grand I reckon yeah will be it will be for the full tournament I think it's ah
00:04:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
What
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let me yeah let let me read you out something from the, and this is going to be the basis of discussion, Ken, on this. Let me read you out a statement released today by the Football Supporters Association here in England, but it will be echoed by football supporters associations right across the world. of
Economic Analysis of Ticket Pricing
00:05:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've called for a halt in ticket sales, and whilst whilst the um Football Association, which is the governing body here in England, work with fellow football associations around the world to directly challenge these disgraceful prices,
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And they said this. They said this is scandalous. They said it's a step too far for many supporters who passionately and loyally follow their national sides at home and abroad. Everything we feared about the direction in which FIFA wants to take the game was confirmed.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gianni Infantino only sees supporters' loyalty as something that can be exploited for profit. This is a tournament that is supposed to be celebrated by the world.
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
where fans of all nations come together for the love of football. FIFA have decided to make it all about the money and the elite who cannot afford it. For FIFA, loyalty is not the hardworking fan travelling thousands of miles in support of their team at qualifiers around the tournament.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
A game that should be for all is now only for those who can afford it. Ken, it's hard to disagree with that, but what's your take?
00:06:15
Ken Davies
Uh, Well, it is hard disagree with that. ah It is... I was just looking in at some of the cheapest prices you can possibly watch these games at if you're an English or or Scottish supporter.
00:06:29
Ken Davies
ah First game, Croatia and Dallas for England. Cheapest price is £198.
00:06:35
Ken Davies
ah that's a lot of money. ah For Scotland, cheapest price there, first game at Haiti, played in Boston, is $134, which is still, obviously, considerably less, but still eye-watering in comparison to what we normally pay. I think there's a couple of things that's to stay here. Firstly, in the US...
00:06:56
Ken Davies
uh u.s sports customers are used really to paying top dollar for any kind of live sporting event it's it's expected it's part of the you go to just a general nfl game you're going to be spending more than 100 pound under dollars a ticket so it's it's it's extraordinary it's extraordinary in comparison to what the other other people pay I think, let me take you back to my A-level economic course.
00:07:25
Ken Davies
And there's such a thing as elasticity of demand. And the problem...
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's also such thing as quill and an ink pot. a quill and an ink-pot
00:07:36
Ken Davies
ah Yeah, it was a long time ago. So di the problem for supporters is that... ah Demand is inelastic. And what I mean by that is because people are so committed to their teams,
00:07:52
Ken Davies
and so they are supporters, they're not customers, they're supporters. Unfortunately, that makes the demand for tickets extremely inelastic. What that means is that actually, doesn't matter what you're gonna charge, demand will still be high because you said you could charge anything. And so because of that price inelasticity of demand, what you're gonna find is that, let's say,
00:08:20
Ken Davies
particularly commercial organisations
Comparisons to Other Sports Events
00:08:22
Ken Davies
will take advantage of that. And unfortunately, FIFA have showed themselves to be a pretty unscrupulous dealer in this. They've so seen that, the fact that people will essentially pay anything to watch Mexico or Scotland or...
00:08:38
Ken Davies
America and and essentially they can charge anything. So ah it is outrageous, the the the increase in terms of in comparison to Qatar. Qatar is slightly different, I suppose.
00:08:51
Ken Davies
But you know where does this go? i mean, if you're charging this in America, what do we what's what's it going to be there next time? So it is.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i was i I was having a look. I was having a look at the FA's response to this because the FA's response has been pretty slow. But to be fair to the FA, they only found about that i found out about this when we found out about it yesterday. They have already sort of said that when England host the Euros in 2028, there will be no dynamic pricing.
00:09:25
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:09:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And essentially essentially said, we'll go back to charging people a reasonable amount of money.
00:09:26
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:09:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, look, Ken, you mentioned it a moment ago. Is this a competition that has been priced at an American market, at at an American standard?
00:09:37
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And therefore, therefore they expect expect the the people to go to these games, either expats who live in America or American people.
00:09:41
Ken Davies
It might be.
00:09:48
Ken Davies
No, i i mean, there'll be an awful lot of people going to these games who've never seen a game of football before in their life, I would imagine as well. it is it it is It's priced to reflect what a global competition in America would normally be priced at, I think. if you ah If you go into the World Series of Baseball, it'd be these prices. If you go into the Super Bowl, it's definitely these prices.
00:10:14
Ken Davies
And what slightly surprised me, things like the quarterfinals. Okay, quarterfinals, it's round of eight. Cheapest price at quarterfinal, £507. I mean, it's an extraordinary amount of money.
00:10:26
Ken Davies
I can't imagine what...
00:10:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and you mentioned You mentioned the Super Bowl. You go to you pay these sort of prices at Super Bowl, but that's a one-off game. And therefore, yeah this is this is potentially, what, seven games? You've three group games, round of 32, round of 16, quarters, semi, final, six games, six games.
00:10:36
Ken Davies
Yeah, but even in the playoffs, the playup c NFL, even the... Yeah, ah it's it's an extraordinary amount of money. And yeah, I mean, I think from my perspective, it's way, way, way too high because it might reflect culture in the US. It doesn't reflect the values of FIFA, I don't think. it doesn't really reflect the values of the World Cup, which is about being an inclusive game, about being the world's game.
00:11:03
Ken Davies
And this is very much taking it out of being the world's game and making it the elite's game, which i don't like. ah But, yeah, I think from my perspective, I can absolutely understand why it's happened.
00:11:15
Ken Davies
It doesn't justify the fact it's happened. I think it's ah actually there's – I can't understand why, though you know, from a from a pound sterling perspective, you shouldn't be able to get a ticket for less than £100. should.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I wonder if this though, if we go to a game here in the UK, that's a big game. So an FA Cup final or a playoff final. They're the two kind of highest profile games this season, championship playoff final, the FA Cup final, would argue the two biggest, what I call a competition game, if you like.
00:11:50
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:11:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
What are you paying for a ticket? I'm just trying to think what I paid few years ago.
00:11:54
Ken Davies
75? Yeah.
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, about 75, 80 quid the last time I went, when Derby were in the playoff.
00:11:58
Ken Davies
yeah No, I think you'd get a ticket, at any one of those games, for for less than £100.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 70 or quid. Yeah, yeah.
00:12:01
Ken Davies
100%.
00:12:03
Ken Davies
a' public said
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yet for these so some these games are inconsequential. i mean, there'll be dead rubbers, some of these games that you're paying £150, £200 for. there' be dead rubbers
00:12:13
Ken Davies
Well, there's an interesting point. I mean, Scotland against Morocco in Boston, cheapest price, £163. Now, is this dynamic pricing? because Because this doesn't feel dynamic pricing to me. This feels like they've actually put a price, three levels, three tiers of price in each of the games.
00:12:31
Ken Davies
If it is dynamic pricing, one must can expect that these will fluctuate significantly.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let me tell you what's happened. Let me tell you what's happened here. So so the first two million tickets for the World Cup went on sale a few months ago.
00:12:45
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:12:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then there was another tranche of sale in October. And then obviously this week, and once we know who is playing who, the kind of final tickets, the kind of prices were were decided. So I could have bought a ticket I would have no idea who on earth, through the initial ballot, I would have no idea who was watching or where. You could get lucky or you could get unlucky and you've got no idea of the destination, just buy a ticket to a game.
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
the ah What FIFA have done here, essentially, for the and this is the first time this has this has ever happened, is they've watched they've they've looked at who is playing who.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And kind of charged an amount for that. So for Scotland versus Brazil, the ticket is a lot more expensive than the the other other two Scotland games. England versus Croatia, yeah.
00:13:37
Ken Davies
198 pounds.
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
England versus Croatia, the ticket is more expensive than England versus, yeah, than England versus Panama or against Ghana.
00:13:42
Ken Davies
umy eight pounds
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they've actually, they're actually, this is kind of dynamic pricing in anticipation, if you like which And I guess you then see initially want what what those sales are like and then react accordingly. So, I mean, I wonder that if the the price the prices might even go up yet.
00:14:10
Ken Davies
i i think I think that's true. And and and it's it's slightly, ah it's a bit callous, isn't it? That you you actually are pricing games at the same round.
00:14:25
Ken Davies
So for example, Scotland, you've got Haiti priced at £134 a Brazil, £198 ticket. round. brazil ah hundred and ninety eight pounds tickets same round
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this is the cheapest ticket, by the way. This is not...
00:14:36
Ken Davies
These are the cheapest tickets.
00:14:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
this is the cheapest
00:14:37
Ken Davies
These are the absolute cheapest tickets. On the same round, it would be far better if there was one price in each round and and and those kind of things. This does look like it's a it's a pretty hard-nosed business, callous way of just maximizing revenue.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is. They based it on anticipation. They based on anticipation, the bigger games cost more to go and watch. It's a simple...
00:14:59
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
is that Although, of course, in reality, that might not be the case because the big game might be might end up being England's last group game, for example, against Panama. If they draw with Croatia and beat Ghana and Croatia draw with England
FIFA's Pricing Strategy Critique
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and beat Panama.
00:15:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
When England play, for example, in the last game, Panama and Croatia play Ghana, it might be shootout... to see you not who wins because they'll both win but who wins by the most to get through on goal difference and top the group so actually the final game might be the biggest game but they've done it on names anticipated interest well they tend to be we don't want to lose games don't they tend to be generally cagey I think and we're going to talk about England in a minute but I think that might not be the case with England this time around and we'll talk about that in just a moment so so there's lots of lots of stuff to happen the tickets aren't actually on sale yet
00:15:35
Ken Davies
They typically are. First games first game you tend to be fairly conservative.
00:15:45
Ken Davies
Yeah, they can.
00:15:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there is a chance here for FIFA to do something and they're going to be under under pressure from certain organisations. But I think what we would need to see over the next two, three, four weeks is, is there going to be enough pressure, both from a football sense and from a political sense, for them to budge?
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think there will be.
00:16:21
Ken Davies
Absolutely no chance. Absolutely no chance.
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think there will be.
00:16:27
Ken Davies
Infantino's in Trump's pocket. trump Trump is not interested. it There's no way Donald Trump's going to ride into this and demand people pay less.
00:16:38
Ken Davies
Absolutely no chance. He's absolutely... market forces red in tooth and claw there's no chance infantino won't do anything uh just won't uh this is what it will be this is what it'll be you might as well get used to it in my opinion
00:16:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely, absolutely crackers. um Worth noting, we're going on about England. For the opener, Mexico versus South Africa, category three tickets. This is Mexico versus South Africa, by the way. all right, just let me leave that there for you.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Category three tickets, $1,020. Category two, $1,705. Category one, $2,355. category two one thousand seven hundred and five dollars category one two thousand three hundred and fifty five dollars
00:17:25
Ken Davies
It would serve them right the place is empty, but it won't be because Mexico will fill it.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Canada.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It won't be. I know. I know. and i I mean, the USA versus Paraguay, which is the USA's opener, even more expensive. $2,735 for category one at what could highly inconsequential opening game World Cup campaign. seven hundred and thirty five dollars for category one seat at what could be a highly inconsequential opening game of a world cup campaign
00:17:45
Ken Davies
Yeah. And you'd be miles away from the pitch.
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely ridiculous. So there we are.
00:17:50
Ken Davies
Crackers, stay at home and watch on the telly.
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we'll see. We'll keep an eye. We'll keep an eye on it. Yeah, watch it on the telly. Yeah, exactly that. Right, Ken, before we move on, um let's have a word from our sponsors, if you have it hand.
00:17:59
Ken Davies
Can we do that in about two minutes when I've actually got what the sponsors want me to read out? And then we can come back to that.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll tell you what, why don't you have a listen?
00:18:06
Ken Davies
Let me...
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
lord No, no, no, no, no. We'll carry on because we'll carry on with this.
00:18:10
Ken Davies
want to go and grab it me
World Cup Group Analysis
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that wasn't Ken reading it out live because if anybody's watching this video, you can see him suddenly having forgotten to bring the ads to the podcast, scuttling back and ferreting around in his drawers for the podcast. There was a pre-recorded one of Ken sounding highly, highly sumptuous.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Reading out. Mate,
00:19:17
Ken Davies
I tell you what, I'm slightly aroused by that, which is very weird, because that was me I was listening to.
00:19:21
Ken Davies
But yeah, he's got he's good at that, isn't he
00:19:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
mate you're the only person who's aroused by you, so don't worry about it.
00:19:28
Ken Davies
he? Yes, but that's a bad writer to me.
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Right, okay. For the Phantom, the Ghost World Cup, Road to World Cup podcast, which we recorded but you've never heard last week, we looked at some of the groups and we're just going to recap, we're not going to all of it, we're not the podcast, but we are going to have a look very quickly at a couple of the most interesting groups in the World Cup next year, known in a very cliché and popular manner as the groups of death because anything can happen, quite frankly.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Ken, you've had having a look at a couple of particularly interesting groups, I believe.
00:20:03
Ken Davies
Yeah, have. And it's important before we set off on this little journey about groups of death, just to mention that obviously there's still some qualification to happen. And that's primarily through UEFA's playoff situation and FIFA's playoff situation. The FIFA ones generally are low-ranking teams.
00:20:23
Ken Davies
The UEFA qualifications involve some extremely highly-ranking teams. For example, Italy. who are 12th in the world. So there's some, depending on where these people fall, these people, these teams fall in the groups, it really changes the dynamic of some of these groups.
00:20:41
Ken Davies
So what i'm going to what I'm going to do on these groups of death, I have a little rule on groups of death, which essentially is, if the four teams are in the top 50, well, you've got to...
00:20:54
Ken Davies
It's going to be tight. It's going to be tight if all top top teams are in the top 50. So couple to point out, three to point out, really, ah Canada's group looks particularly tricky because the Canada themselves are ranked twenty seventh The next team in that group will be whichever team qualifies in UEFA's A qualification.
00:21:20
Ken Davies
ah That's probably going to be Italy. They're 12th in the world. Qatar, 51st. Switzerland, 17th. Switzerland are a good team. I think Canada are looking at third place in that group, quite honestly, and they've got to beat Qatar in order to do that.
00:21:35
Ken Davies
So I think that's going to be a really tricky group for them. Similarly, in fact... even worse for the USA. Because the USA ranked 14th, Paraguay in their group 39th, the lowest ranked in that group.
00:21:51
Ken Davies
Australia ranked 24th and UEFA group C qualifies, likely to be Turkey. who are ranked 25th. So you've got four teams there in the top 40.
00:22:06
Ken Davies
So that's going to be an extremely competitive group. The other group that I think I really pointed out to... that really looks like an interesting one, is Netherlands group. Netherlands are ranked seventh. Japan, 18th.
00:22:22
Ken Davies
UEFA qualification group B, likely to be Ukraine, who are ranked 28th, and Tunisia, who are ranked 40th. Tunisia are a very, very good team. and They absolutely smashed their way through qualification. So that's another group where you could see all kinds. yeah Any of those teams could win it.
00:22:44
Ken Davies
And you can see all all types types of combinations of results there. ah So, you know, Japan, Netherlands could find themselves very easily at the wrong end of that group.
00:22:55
Ken Davies
So three groups to look at, B, Group D, and Group F, where all the teams are in the top 50 and are likely to make them extremely competitive.
00:23:08
Ken Davies
Bad news for a couple of the hosts there.
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think Group F particularly, Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, and likely Ukraine.
00:23:16
Ken Davies
Ukraine probably.
00:23:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
is good Yeah, and Ukraine, I think, will be the weakest in that group. But yeah we've we've talked about Japan quite a lot. And I really like Japan. I think they are not far away from kind of joining the kind kind of not quite the top table, but the mid top table.
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So in other words, they're not far, i don't think they're far away from being a top 10 to 12 team.
00:23:40
Ken Davies
Oh yeah.
00:23:43
Ken Davies
Some outstanding players playing for them.
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Team World? Yeah.
00:23:45
Ken Davies
Outstanding players.
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as we've discussed them, we've done a deep dive into one of the podcasts on Road to World Cup 26. um One of their big successes in recent years is by having one of a lot of their players now playing in Europe, top teams in Europe, including the Premier League, and they're playing in the good leagues, they're playing the goodop with the good teams.
00:24:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's really helped Japan. I think, what what was their World Racket 30-something or other? I think that's a false...
00:24:09
Ken Davies
China 18th, China
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, 18. No, it's not quite full thing. Yeah, sorry. might might Forgive me. Yeah, I think they've got propensity to go higher. And I think they will go higher in in in the next few years.
00:24:16
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:24:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got they've got top 10 written all over them. And then suddenly become quite a major player on the global stage, which is the first time we'll have a a proper Asian team in yeah know on on the world stage competing for world titles. Netherlands we know all about.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're always a strong side.
00:24:35
Ken Davies
But can be inconsistent.
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but not a top, top side. And Tunisia are decent. yeah i mean, that is that is a difficult group.
00:24:43
Ken Davies
You've done good.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's interesting that the other two involve the host nations. Now, you know my feelings, Ken, about host nations and World Cup.
00:24:50
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think... that it's really important that host nations do well in World Cups, certainly that they get out of the group stages. And less so perhaps Canada and, well, Mexico, I think, are a good side. They'll get it they'll do well this World Cup.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
They'll certainly get out of the group stage. But Canada's not so important.
00:25:10
Ken Davies
You've met Kobe for
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think it's absolutely critical that the USA get out of the group for the good of the competition.
00:25:18
Ken Davies
Tell you what the prices will fall if they don't.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, nobody will want to go. Yeah, it' be easier to get tickets.
00:25:23
Ken Davies
Yeah, prices will be like £2.50 and get a free hot dog.
Prospects for Scotland and England
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you won't get your, well well, price of beer in a stadium is around $20 for a pint.
00:25:32
Ken Davies
Yeah, well, just want to come back to just one thing on the Netherlands group.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:25:37
Ken Davies
We mentioned that they likely qualify as your Ukraine from UEFA B. But actually, you look at the other teams who are in qualification for UEFA B. Sweden. Sweden. They've they' had a terrible qualification, but they're not a bad team.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
it oh They've had an awful qualifying campaign. For a team that, yeah.
00:25:53
Ken Davies
Terrible. But then was they can't be as bad as that.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I agree.
00:25:58
Ken Davies
They can't be.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:59
Ken Davies
Poland, 31st, Albania, rule them out. But if it's not Ukraine in Netherlands, du Japan, Tunisia's group, it's going to be Sweden or Poland. All of them could beat the Netherlands.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's good. It's what we want. It's what we want.
00:26:16
Ken Davies
It's going to be interesting. There's some incredibly competitive groups here. there's FIFA, whatever they've done, they've done a good job in making sure that nearly every single one of these games is going to be ah of some kind of value to the competition.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I agree with you. I agree with you. right we're going to finish the podcast in just a couple of moments with a look at England and Scotland, our two home nations here in the UK. Before we do that, now that you've actually got them in front of you and you haven't got them hidden away in your drawers, perhaps a word for our sponsor, Kim.
00:26:48
Ken Davies
Yeah, because as we know in football, it pays to get your team selection rights. And here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery partner. And we chose Zencastr because Zencastr makes it easy to bring your vision to life, share it with your audience, wherever they may be. It's got 4K video recording. It's got easy AI editing tools. It's got fantastic distribution tools, and they're all in one place, all in one platform.
00:27:12
Ken Davies
So if you've got a story to tell, tell it with Zencastr. Why don't you check the show notes and you'll find some more details.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're listening to Road to World Cup 26 with the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Nick Britton, my colleague Ken Davies, as always by my side. Now, we'd like to hear from you here at Road to World Cup 26.
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And please drop us a line. I know a lot of you do around the world where you're listening. Road towards wrote to World Cup 26 at gmail.com is, I believe, Ken, the email.
00:27:57
Ken Davies
Correct.
00:28:00
Ken Davies
It is road to world cup 26 at gmail.com. That's where you'll find us.
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's...
00:28:04
Ken Davies
And that will, I'm sure in the course of the couple of weeks, we're going to have a yeah post bag because we haven't had one for ages.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's right. And we always, that's the best way. You can leave us, you can get in touch with us via YouTube. You can get in touch with us via Instagram, stuff like that. But the year best way is just to email in. I know it sounds a bit old fashioned in this day and age, but you know, we like it. Keep it simple.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good old email. So there we are. Right, we're goingnna finish the podcast by looking at England and Scotland. Now, let's start with England, shall we?
00:28:34
Ken Davies
Thank
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
In with Croatia, in with Ghana, in with Panama. Opening game of the competition is against Croatia. That takes place on the 17th, Wednesday the 17th of June. It's in Dallas. It's a 10pm kickoff time UK time, which is 4pm kickoff time in the USA.
00:29:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it looks like, Ken, England versus Croatia is almost, albeit game one, the group decider.
00:29:08
Ken Davies
It's the group winner. Whoever wins that, I think, will will beat the other two teams. Croatia are ranked 10th, of course, in the world. So a decent... In fact, interestingly, ah of the second teams, if you like, the non-seeded teams, ah Croatia are highest. So so England are ranked 4th, Croatia ranked 10th, Ghana 72nd, and Panama 30th. Yeah, it it all rests on that game in terms of who wins.
00:29:36
Ken Davies
ah Two issues. Firstly, of course, when England played Croatia in the qualifiers, which they did, they thumped to them. They absolutely destroyed them. And it was one of, I think, Tuchel's best performance or Tuchel's team's best performance. Of course, things are slightly different when you're playing in the USA in the World Cup itself.
00:29:55
Ken Davies
ah but ah But I think even if England win... and therefore top the group, actually their route to the World Cup final is pretty difficult as ah as a group winner.
00:30:08
Ken Davies
And so, i mean, it all is not lost if they don't win that game. It all is not lost, far from it, if they end up second in that group. Because actually, the route to the World Cup final looks, sir if anything, slightly easier if you finish second row than you finish first. But I suppose you've gotta to beat everyone. So so but as so I expect England to beat Croatia based on current form.
00:30:30
Ken Davies
And I think they'll top the group quite easily.
00:30:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm dumb um'm intrigued by what you said then, because you said that they're in qualifying they beat Croatia 5-0. They didn't have Croatia in qualifying at all.
00:30:39
Ken Davies
Oh, sorry.
00:30:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
They had Albania, Serbia, Latvia and Andorra.
00:30:40
Ken Davies
Who am I thinking about there?
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh
00:30:43
Ken Davies
Oh, right, forget what serbia I Serbia. Don't ever tell anyone Croatia.
00:30:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
my God.
00:30:47
Ken Davies
I'm mixed with Serbia.
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
A
00:30:48
Ken Davies
They'll kill me. They'll kill me. yes that makes absolutely Yeah, that Yeah, that's a different one.
00:30:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
a whole a whole war was started when somebody got Croatia and Serbia mixed up.
00:30:55
Ken Davies
No, you're right. Well, actually, that's a different kettle of fish. they clue Well, they beat their neighbours, but, I mean, Serbia clearly aren't Croatia because Serbia aren aren't featuring any of this. so So, yeah, maybe it's a tougher assignment than i then I had down. They are 10th in the world.
00:31:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and they are they are a good team. um They are a good team, Croatia. I mean, we had a look at them in our recent Road to World Cup. By the way, if you listen to that episode, that was at the start of all these wretched technical technological problems we've been having.
00:31:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And therefore, you can hear it, but I warn you, there's a a heck of an echo on it. So I think we'll we'll we'll re-record Croatia.
00:31:32
Ken Davies
We'll do that again next week, actually.
00:31:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
at a suitable time. So you can give it a go, but I wouldn't, it's it's a bit, so it's very echoey.
00:31:35
Ken Davies
We'll do that next week.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I pick out, I like to pick out three key players for Croatia. And I picked out Luka Modric, Josko Vardial and Ivan Perisic.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there are, you know two or three more that I could have picked out. So they're a good side, Ken.
00:31:54
Ken Davies
Great.
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
with Very, very good players.
00:31:55
Ken Davies
I thought he was great.
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course, they you know, the yeah, they've,
00:31:56
Ken Davies
He's a great player. Modric is legend. its just a is your legend
00:32:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is. I mean, he'll be 40 at the time in the World Cup, I think 41, if Croatia ah get to certain stage the World Cup. But they beat us in the last World Cup.
00:32:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
They knocked us out the last World Cup.
00:32:16
Ken Davies
Well, koatia Croatia have a fantastic World Cup record. A fantastic World Cup record. ah So, you know, they did we can't take them lightly. i think i think I think England will have too much for them.
00:32:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:28
Ken Davies
I think in England are playing very, very well at moment. And I think if that form continues, they'll have too much. But, yeah, it's going to be a huge game, that first game. Don't be surprised if we lose it.
00:32:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, if we do lose it it's going to be, it's going to be difficult, isn't it? It's going to be difficult. I mean, it was the, it was 2018 Russia. They knocked us out, wasn't It was France who knocked us out last time. um But yeah, that was in the semis and, and,
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I worry about Croatia. I'm not going to lie. I worry about it. But England's england's route, if if England win their group, they get ah they've got a difficult route anyway.
00:33:02
Ken Davies
really difficult
00:33:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think, you know, it pairs them up with some mighty teams, including you know Brazil pretty early on in the knockouts. I don't, I wouldn't, it wouldn't be the worst thing if they finished second, put like that.
00:33:15
Ken Davies
it would not it's not great it's not great news if they finish third but let's be honest they're going beat Ghana and they're gotta to beat Panama
00:33:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It wouldn't be the worst thing.
00:33:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to beat Ghana. They're going to beat Panama. Ghana, they're playing on Tuesday the 23rd of June in Boston. um And that's a nine o'clock UK time kickoff, four o'clock American time. And the final game is in New York itself.
00:33:35
Ken Davies
New Jersey.
00:33:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
New Jersey Stadium, 10 p.m. kickoff UK time, 5 p.m. local time. Ken, what do you think of England's chances?
Scotland's World Cup Journey
00:33:49
Ken Davies
ah Good. I think I like Tukul. Tukul's really... There's a lot to like about what he brings to the to the team. I think he's quite a assertive, ah confident, tactically astute coach.
00:34:07
Ken Davies
he's He's very level-headed. He's very intelligent. I think he's he's got the respect of the players. I think all the players, and um you know there are some big egos in that team, and I think Tuchel's really managed that situation extremely well.
00:34:22
Ken Davies
i think he's I think he'll be popular amongst the players because he he he has absolutely no favouritism, which I think is good. So I'm a big fan of Tuchel. I think England have got their best chance since 1966, be honest.
00:34:38
Ken Davies
I really do think they're going to go a long way in this competition. ah I think they'll win the group. I think they'll beat a couple of good good teams. It all really depends on ah penalties, quite honestly.
00:34:52
Ken Davies
we come across you know where If we're going to get knocked out, we're going to get knocked out on penalties.
00:34:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Yes, well, there's a chance. There's every chance. Although England's penalty record, which was woeful for a long time, and if you're not in the UK, you ought to know that it was a laughing stock.
00:35:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
We laughed at ourselves because we like doing that a lot here in the UK. But it became a laughing stock, our inability to win penalty shootouts. And then suddenly we started winning them. So in about in 2018, we won, didn't we?
00:35:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was the first one for ages. I remember Eric Dyer scoring.
00:35:24
Ken Davies
Mm.
00:35:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah,
00:35:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it depends on Harry Kane. Everything up top kind of goes through him, but it also depends on where else the goals going to come from. I think he's integral to, I know you laugh and you snigger, but it's true.
00:35:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he is such a focal point for the team. I'm not necessarily just about talking about scoring goals here, but he's such a focal point for the team and he will worry defenders. Duke Bellingham is back in the mix after his time in exile.
00:35:54
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:35:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
That seems to be well and truly over, so he's going to play. Declan Rice. We've got but yeah the wide players. We've got, you know, Eze, players like that coming into coming into the fold.
00:36:04
Ken Davies
Yeah. soft
00:36:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got a lot of attacking options.
00:36:08
Ken Davies
We've got we've got a great attacking options. We've got great attacking options.
00:36:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, there's every chance. Right, every chance. Scotland. Hooray for Scotland. Goodness me. They qualified in spectacular fashion and they bucked the trend because it was all set up at Hampden Park for an absolute classic Scotland glorious failure where they play Denmark in the final group game.
00:36:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pretty much winner takes all, winner winner qualifies, loser goes in playoffs. Denmark were top of the group, so draw would have done them just fine. draw would have been enough for Denmark that night. Scotland took the lead through, a sensational overhead kick from Scott McTominay.
00:36:43
Ken Davies
It was amazing.
00:36:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Denmark equalised and you go, okay, fine. Frustrating. um Then with 10 minutes to go, Scotland score again, Chirantini. with ah with ah With a really, really good hit from the edge of the box.
00:36:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you think, brilliant. Congratulations, Scotland. you You've done it. Denmark by in the end, they're down to 10 men. They're looking a bit out on it out on their feet a little bit. And you're thinking, fantastic. Just for 10 minutes, shut the door, play it cool, nice and easy.
00:37:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
All you've got to do is, oh, it's 2-2. Because that's about as long as it took for them to let another goal in.
00:37:18
Ken Davies
I know, dreadful. four
00:37:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was an terrible defending. And you're just then, tooto thinking, classic Scotland. They've had it in a bag twice. They've thrown it away twice. And they're going to fall short at the last hurdle.
00:37:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Glorious failure, et cetera, cetera, cetera. And then and then then, yeah, accept, accept.
00:37:34
Ken Davies
Except.
00:37:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
They went on, nabbed another one. that Actually, no, that third one was Chiarantini's hit, wasn't it?
00:37:43
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:37:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
in fact the The second goal was, ah who's the lad? it's the lad from Hearts who scored from the from the the goal line. I mean, talk about dreadful defending. Corner comes across, keeper misses it, defenders miss it. Shankland it was, wasn't it? Who is standing on the goal line and taps it in.
00:37:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ridiculous. No, it's Kearney's third. and And then you're thinking, oh, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. And then Kenny McLean wraps up with a wonder goal from the halfway line and the entirety of Scotland goes nuts.
00:38:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, four to it finished.
00:38:10
Ken Davies
The cherry on the icing of the cake.
00:38:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:38:12
Ken Davies
That was good.
00:38:13
Ken Davies
It was amazing game. Amazing game.
00:38:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, thought it finishes just when it looked like Scotland might make a hash it. But well done to them. So they play Haiti on the 13th of June.
00:38:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when I say the 13th, what I mean is it's the 13th in the USA, but it's the 14th in the UK because it's a two a m start.
00:38:33
Ken Davies
That's really crap, isn't it? If you're scholar the book.
00:38:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really crap because now actually, ultimately, this is Scotland's most important game because if they don't beat
00:38:42
Ken Davies
Massively.
00:38:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
they don't beat Haiti and they don't beat them by maybe three goals, there up if they don't beat them, then thanks very much. It's Jock Steen all over again. Get on the plane and come home, lads.
00:38:54
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:38:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
1978 all over again yeah, we're on the March of Ali's army.
00:38:57
Ken Davies
That was Ali, wasn't it, rather than Jockstein? We're on the march with Ali's army. Ali and Mildia.
00:39:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
course it is. Yes, yeah, course it ah And um they've got to beat Haiti because they're up then against Morocco and against Brazil. And I reckon if they can get a point out of Morocco, they're doing well, they're not going to beat Brazil.
00:39:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it does come...
00:39:20
Ken Davies
Don't to beat me up, guys.
00:39:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I don't think they will, but...
00:39:23
Ken Davies
They're not going to get a point out Morocco. Morocco 11th, they are a proper team Morocco.
00:39:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are, they are, but I would say they're not as good as Brazil.
00:39:31
Ken Davies
No, they're
00:39:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I think Scotland will look at that and they'll go, we want four points out of this group and three of them have got to come from that opening game against Haiti.
00:39:42
Ken Davies
not. Yeah.
00:39:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if they can get four points out of this group, there is every chance that they will qualify for the knockout as one of the eight out of 12th best placed third placed teams.
00:39:57
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's right. So you've got a round of 32 and essentially you get 24 and then you get out of of the third.
00:40:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eight out the 12, best placed third.
00:40:07
Ken Davies
my
00:40:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and that's And that's going to come down to goal difference mostly. um
00:40:12
Ken Davies
basic you will
00:40:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
but ah but But some teams might qualify with three points from that. So you get four, I think, you know, stands you it stands you in good stead. even If they don't, if they so if they get beat by Brazil, Morocco, it means they've got to put a good number of goals past Haiti to stand any chance of going three.
00:40:29
Ken Davies
I can't see it. i've got I've got Peru vibes about the Haiti game.
00:40:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
you think right
00:40:33
Ken Davies
I've got massive Peru games behind.
00:40:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
now So you think Hyti are going to beat them?
00:40:37
Ken Davies
No, think i I think it's going to be a draw.
00:40:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that what you're saying?
00:40:40
Ken Davies
I think it's going to be a draw. I think it's going to be i think it's going to be Haiti scramble a goal and Scotland go go and try and equalise, eventually do equalise, Scott McTominay from the stand or something.
00:40:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't say that to me.
00:40:55
Ken Davies
and And that'll be it. 1-1.
00:40:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:40:59
Ken Davies
and and Scotland are going to end up with one point. Now, I've got a feeling there's a team with one point who are going to get through when you've got eight out of the three, eight out of the 12 qualifiers.
00:41:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
That terrible.
00:41:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
12, dear
00:41:12
Ken Davies
There's going to be a team with one point who gets through. Two points will get you through, I think.
00:41:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really?
00:41:18
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:41:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, there will be there will be that, won't there? Because you'll have the top two winning all the games, and then it comes down to the bottom two drawing each other.
00:41:23
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:41:26
Ken Davies
Yeah, I'm sure one point.
00:41:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:41:28
Ken Davies
There'll be a team that gets through the round of 36 with one point.
00:41:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know whether I'm in favour, mate. I don't know if i' whether but I'm in favour of the expanded World Cup, but I am in favour.
00:41:40
Ken Davies
You're in for a shock at the next one then, mate.
00:41:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, yeah, yes.
00:41:43
Ken Davies
It's going to be 64 teams, isn't
00:41:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I know. Yeah, local but so local park teams get me in favour.
00:41:47
Ken Davies
We'll have to start tomorrow.
00:41:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'll tell you what i am in favour of. I'm in favour of greater jeopardy in the in the group games because the group games can become very boring very quickly.
00:41:57
Ken Davies
Yeah, they do.
00:41:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um but But having that jeopardy of knowing that you've got a great chance of finishing in third spot brings a different dimension to it. And I like that.
00:42:05
Ken Davies
Every single game is going to matter in this World Cup.
00:42:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's that's the point.
00:42:08
Ken Davies
Even Cape Verde against Saudi Arabia will
00:42:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Conclusion and Future Episodes
00:42:11
Ken Davies
matter.
00:42:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:42:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's my point.
00:42:12
Ken Davies
wonder what the price is for that game.
00:42:14
Ken Davies
Cape Verde against Saudi Arabia.
00:42:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've just had a look at it. Yeah, it's 19,000 pounds. That's the cheek.
00:42:19
Ken Davies
a Can you imagine? There'll be literally no one there.
00:42:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, the Saudis can afford it
00:42:27
Ken Davies
Yeah, the sound is good, but you can't in Cape Verde. There's only 12 people live there and 11 of them are playing.
00:42:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah And the other one's the coach. So I, yeah
00:42:34
Ken Davies
And the other is the country, exactly.
00:42:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So, yeah, we haven't done yet a deep dive into Scotland, kents but I'm going to ask you to, where where is it? Yeah, so it's it's Haiti, Morocco and Brazil. Yeah, Brazil's 24th of June. Sorry, I should say this. Morocco's the 19th in Boston for Scotland, which is at 11pm UK time kickoff, 6pm local.
00:42:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brazil is on the 24th of June at 11pm again, UK time. I'll tell you what, the pubs are going to do but good business in Scotland, aren't they? at 6pm American time and that is in the Miami Hard Rock Stadium and let's hope Ken for Scotland's sake it's not the Miami Hard Luck Stadium about it just came to me it just literally
00:43:14
Ken Davies
ah How long have you been working on that one? ah ah Very, very good. Well, I think they're going to get stuck between a rock and a hard place, to be honest, ah Scotland.
00:43:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
hard a hard rock at a hard place oh no
00:43:26
Ken Davies
Hard rock and a hard place. I don't think they're getting out the group.
00:43:32
Ken Davies
I don't think they're getting out the group. i think I think the wheels are going to fall off against Haiti. ah And, you know, the only the only argument... No, the wheels are going to fall off against Haiti. They're going end up with one point and someone else is going to end up with two and get past them in the yeah in the eight out of 12 third places.
00:43:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Are you ready?
00:43:54
Ken Davies
They'll get third place. I think they'll get third place, but they won't get through.
00:43:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. I think they beat Haiti and they draw with Morocco.
00:44:00
Ken Davies
Not a chance.
00:44:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if they do that, they might even finish in second.
00:44:04
Ken Davies
They'll finish second. Yeah, they do that. But that isn't going to happen.
00:44:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. But i do think they'll beat Haiti. I think they'll qualify. I think they'll qualify in third.
00:44:14
Ken Davies
Yeah, okay. Well, we'll wait and see.
00:44:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:44:17
Ken Davies
I have no confidence in Scotland.
00:44:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
You look at it we like I've just said one of those things that
00:44:19
Ken Davies
I have no confidence in Scotland.
00:44:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
that I'm going deeply regret.
00:44:21
Ken Davies
Oh,
00:44:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there we are. Right. Okay. That brings an end to proceedings today. Thank you very much. great to be back, Ken. It's great to be back after a couple of weeks of techno nightmares.
00:44:28
Ken Davies
oh yeah. Are
00:44:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
So thank you for joining us. Thanks for being patient over the last couple of weeks when I know you've been checking your phones every day going, where on earth are those two World Cup idiots?
00:44:33
Ken Davies
you?
00:44:40
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:44:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where are they? Well, are missing my Road to World Cup podcast. Well, the good news is, folks, we're back. Hurrah.
00:44:46
Ken Davies
Right. And next week, we're doing Croatia again. Not Serbia, but Croatia.
00:44:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it'd be good to get the team right, yeah.
00:44:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:44:55
Ken Davies
Yeah, I'm terrible if went through the whole podcast looking at the wrong thing.
00:44:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, I shouldn't have told you, should I? I shouldn't have told you and just let you make a complete fool of yourself.
00:45:00
Ken Davies
Never done that before.
00:45:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then again, i think you were doing that already, so no harm done.
00:45:03
Ken Davies
I'm dreadful. Thank you. Thank you very much. So, yes, Croatia next week. Look forward to that because it actually is quite interesting – they are proper team.
00:45:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
are a good side. They are a good side, so we look forward to that. And until then, have a great week, everybody. Thank you for listening. Thank you for your time. Look after yourselves. Look after each other.
00:45:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goodbye.
00:45:24
Ken Davies
Bye.