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WCAD 4-33: Azteca Magic
1 Plays4 seconds ago
Austin and Amit recap the tremendous atmosphere at the Azteca in Mexico's well-earned 2-0 win over Ecuador, cover Norway's 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast, including an insightful discussion on substitution management, then close by asking if anyone can beat France, because Sweden surely couldn't.
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Transcript
Americanized Atmosphere of World Cup
00:00:01
Speaker
I think it's fair to say that we here at the World Cup After Dark are of the opinion that this has been a very good, maybe even a great World Cup so far.
00:00:11
Speaker
But I think we would both maybe caveat that by saying that it has been a very Americanized edition of the World Everything on the pitch has been fantastic for the most part. i think we've enjoyed all of it. But I think we can say that there's maybe been a little something that's been lacking in the atmosphere. There's too much loud music. There's a hydration pause.
00:00:32
Speaker
The crowds have been good, but it hasn't quite been that jump off the television. I want to go to their type feeling.
Highlight: Knockout Match at Estadio Azteca
00:00:41
Speaker
Enter a knockout round match at the historic, hollowed grounds of the Estadio Azteca and am admit we have, I think, our first true, real, I want to be there atmosphere of the World Cup.
00:00:54
Speaker
What an atmosphere that was. That's a special, special atmosphere, a cathedral of soccer or football. And yeah, I'm with you a hundred percent that like we've been waiting for something like that and to see that's like what the host nation can be about. And when's the last time we see an atmosphere with that much historical context at the world cup, not going to like knock the last two, but it says as he proceeds to knock the last two. yeah yeah Like there's a lot of ah history at the Azteca and it's a crazy soccer country that's hosting this match that's behind its team. And
00:01:41
Speaker
Austin. It's been how many years? We've got a home soil boost. The long-awaited home soil boost that never turned up for guitar. Yeah, long time listeners, hopefully if some of you are out there, back in 2022, we used to joke about it's going to show up somewhere. The host team always gets a bump, right? And I'll tell you what, as we talk about, as we get into this podcast, right, um that looked like home field advantage to me last night at the Azteca. The other thing I'll say, it was very funny you said, this loud music. And I was like, oh, look at us. We are sore so washed complaining about the music at the World Cup. But to your point, to your point,
00:02:16
Speaker
It has been very Americanized, over the top, bigger, better. You know, the giant, giant flags. I see them on social media all the time. Looks great. But this, I don't, if you didn't have the flags, if you didn't have all the pageantry, you just turned on the noise of the crowd and had just that, it would have sufficed.
00:02:34
Speaker
Like, that's what, you don't need to to dress that up in all these different ways. You just roll that out and let it go. So, that was That was really awesome. He's a bit Malik. I'm Austin
Mexico's Unexpected Dominance Over Ecuador
00:02:45
Speaker
Miller. This is the World Cup After Dark podcast. You know why you're here. Let's get into it. We have to start at the Azteca. imit A 2-0 win for Mexico.
00:02:53
Speaker
And 2-0 is, I think, a fitting scoreline for this game. It's also maybe a bit flattering to Ecuador because Mexico were very good here. And I think kind of in a way that you and I didn't necessarily expect they were forward.
00:03:07
Speaker
They were ruthless. They took their chances that they created and they really limited Ecuador into not a whole lot in this game. And they were very well deserving of their two no way.
00:03:20
Speaker
A hundred percent. And the crowd is is a big part of this, like as part of the, on the field thing, that energy, that moment is feeding in for this team to play bravely.
00:03:31
Speaker
I think that is the the biggest thing is that, uh, look, some of the players on this field for Ecuador are are bigger profiles, bigger statures, bigger names. You've got a champions league winner. You've got the Chelsea a hundred plus million dollar man.
00:03:47
Speaker
and Mexico are not scared. They played five in the back to start this group stage, right? The very first game. And you're like against South Korea and you're like, well, is this going to be a very cagey, cagey game between two American North and South American teams just trying to do nothing? Right.
00:04:05
Speaker
That is not the case. Javier Aguirre sets his guys up to fly out of the gates. This is a very, very go-for-it type opening. And his players are really, really energetic and effective in moving. And I think the speed at which they open this game... was just stunning to Ecuador.
Strategic Brilliance: Aguirre and Team Tactics
00:04:28
Speaker
Like they, behind the crowd, behind the energy, like just kind of ran them off the field in 30 minutes. And that was enough. And then i think the thing for Ecuador is these guys were a one game state team.
00:04:41
Speaker
They were built to muck. And i think they thought they could just kind of grind Mexico slowly over 90 minutes. And It's very rare that you see the manager go, I'm going to break you early and then sit on it. And it actually works. And credit to Javier Aguirre, because i think his whole thing has been, we're going to make less mistakes than you. And that's kind of also how they win this game. But at the same time, like this was really, really bold.
00:05:10
Speaker
I think the contrast to to the opening game against South Africa, I think, is really good because that game, Mexico, were fairly defensive, but it also kind of made sense in that they said, South Africa is going to make mistakes. We're just going to pounce on their mistakes and we're to score and we're not going to open ourselves up unnecessarily. And here, I think they...
00:05:30
Speaker
took the initiative to force Ecuador into the mistakes. And I think that's a ah pretty big contrast into how those two games were set up. But I think the overarching theme of the first half hour of the first half here is Mexico played through Ecuador's press. And I don't think Ecuador thought that Mexico were going to try to do that, or that if they tried to do that, they would be successful doing that. But time and time again,
00:05:54
Speaker
That's where it felt like this game went to is Ecuador has these runny midfielders that we've bigged up and we talked about. You you mentioned Caicedo, there's Vita, there's the defenders and Mexico just kind of played through them, over them and around them. And it didn't really affect them.
00:06:13
Speaker
Yeah, and this is a great game for Quinones as the danger man. Obviously, he's involved in both goals, but his ability over the top was the way they beat the press on the left.
00:06:25
Speaker
Jimenez's movement is great because he's such a good combiner when he drops in. And then I thought a really great game from Alvarado on the right. He was floating into space and combining and letting these guys go wide.
00:06:39
Speaker
And the the back line, the fullbacks were really, really sharp too. And something we we saw from the United States in that very first game against Paraguay, who's the only other kind of my reference point for just being shot out of a can in 30 minutes, like, and operating off the the home energy is the speed sharpness movement off ball runs. And when you do that at a level that the opponent isn't expecting you to their press, or in that game, Paraguay's block looks really, really like a step slow. I think you nailed it. Like Ecuador can press. We've seen them press
00:07:16
Speaker
Germany, fine. We saw them hang with Ivory Coast, fine. Two teams that aren't here anymore, but like two teams that are really good. and i think echo I think Mexico just brought a gear that they weren't expecting. and Man, I don't know like where where to go with it, but I i do i think it's Quinones' Guy's in Saudi Arabia and his tape has been good. But this is like a superstar threat level, like Luis Diaz level performance from him. To me, the comparison I saw and how you know dangerous he was in that left wing.
00:07:54
Speaker
And the decision to to start Gilberto Mora, the young Mexican, you know, budding superstar who like this guy's going to be the face the team for for cycles and cycles to come, I think worked for Aguirre. And i was I was talking a bit with, to name drop friend of the show, John Arnold last night. So it always felt like Mora was going to have to start at some point in this World Cup.
00:08:14
Speaker
But even still, like Aguirre is, you know, traditionally fairly slow and kind of making those sorts of changes but he made the change here and I thought it just gave Mexico even another layer of that attacking threat it's it's the layer tank threat and I think it's like the double belief in him from McGire and him projecting onto the team because the thing I I really like about more you can tell he's he's really talented is he oozes confidence at 17 he's like I'm I'm the most dangerous player on the field. You give me an in interest space, I'm
Rising Stars: Young Mexican Players Shine
00:08:48
Speaker
going hurt you. And he takes two shots from distance in this game that don't come off and in the first 15, 20 minutes, but they are both close. And you can see that he demands to be marked.
00:09:01
Speaker
And that's a 17-year-old doing that in his like a knockout round at the Azteca. And it's like, uh-oh, this guy is a superstar. And sometimes, like...
00:09:13
Speaker
we were doing the whole, like, let's count better players. And like, this is a stupid exercise because soccer is not necessarily that kind of sport. It's much more team sport than an individual sport. But on on the field yesterday, i saw Quinones, Jimenez, Mora, right? And I'm starting to count. I'm like, uh-oh, this Mexico team has more of the good guys on the field. And that's the way they played, right? And so that's the beauty of a match like this is it just turns everything you think about player talent upside down. And that is like...
00:09:47
Speaker
that's That's the Azteca magic. Look, I don't want to speak to to the podcast listening habits of the Mexico team, but I will say our numbers are up throughout this tournament, right? We're getting more and more people listening. So I don't know, maybe Quinones and Jimenez and more, they had the World Cup after dark in their ears and they were thinking...
00:10:04
Speaker
Who are these guys talking about? We're the best players on the field. Put us in the count. And like you said, on last night, on the evidence that we saw, I think those are the guys you have to mention. You talked about the the two early shots Mora. Mexico also had a chance for it from Romo early on that that blazed over.
00:10:21
Speaker
Ecuador are kind of out of system, out of rhythm. They're looking to go long. Yeboah got a look off the bar for Ecuador, but the early part of this game was largely Mexico. Yeah.
00:10:37
Speaker
luis diaz style run and play where where alrez with a really nifty piece of work to to drift under the line ecuador trying to squeeze their press and play it up and kenyonas just sees green grass on the left wing and he makes his run and he times it perfectly where he's behind the last Ecuadorian defender, but he's still in his own half. And when you're in your own half, obviously you can't be offside. And so he makes this run. He gets in behind the ball to him is perfect. And all of a sudden it's just all right in front of it.
00:11:09
Speaker
he that Everyone in the stadium sees the space too. It's like ah this crazy moment. And you think, uh-oh, is Pacho going to catch up? Is Galinda going to make the stave? And this is where Quinonez, I think what I like about him...
00:11:25
Speaker
is that he always is decisive about his attacks. He's hunting his shot, but even if he's not hunting a shot, he knows what he wants to do before. And so, so many of these guys, you think they've got 35 seconds to run in the shot, they're going blow it. and he jest And he just gets to his spot, and you think he's going to open up to curl it into the back corner, like cut in, curl of wide. And instead, he just goes power near post, and Galindez is...
00:11:52
Speaker
Totally, totally stranded. And also, he beats Pacho here. There's a second right. Pacho makes up the ground just enough to contest the shot. And like this is where I'm like, Quinones is now combining decision-making, defender manipulation. The pace is obviously there, plus ball striking. like He took this with conviction.
00:12:15
Speaker
And you're looking at a guy and in Willy and Pacho like, that's a super high-level guy. That's a PSG guy. That's a Champions League guy on the other end. And like you said, he just beats him on this play. And and where Pacho could have maybe closed down a lesser attacker, doesn't get back in this play.
00:12:29
Speaker
So that starts the momentum for Mexico. And then Ecuador, emit from there, they just start to look really out of sorts. And as we kind of alluded to earlier, it's proactive play from Mexico that forces of a mistake and then ruthlessness once they win the ball back.
00:12:46
Speaker
Yeah, like literally less than 10 minutes later, Mexico's pressuring on the back line. Pacho just kind of gives it to the Mexico press, which is like four guys. It's not like a crazy, crazy press. But Jimenez picks it up, nicks it, like just holds up the play, slides to Quinones, and the two of them just have this this really good synergy off each other.
00:13:07
Speaker
Quinones is waiting at the top of the box. He's driving. You've just seen him shoot on his right foot. And so you're thinking, ah is he going to shoot? Oh, there's a left. ah back overlapping run. Is he going to go there? And Jimenez keeps moving off the ball and gets right into that pocket where he's now lost Caicedo, Pacho, or Doña's really great striker movement. Canunas slides it back to him and Real time, you think, oh, he's wide open. You watch it again. like he's He's not open. There's like three guys around him. Galindez is set up, but there's an angle on his right foot, and he hits it, and it spins out like a really, really good technique, and he scores 2-0, and the Azteca erupts.
00:13:51
Speaker
And this is just like super, super ruthless. A team gives you the ball. You still have to... like finished the play. And it shows you this is the quality of these two players in this in this spot.
00:14:03
Speaker
This was a really, really ruthless goal. like That's the word to me for taking advantage of your mistakes, pouncing on it. And Pacho, it's just shocking. I think he does Ecuador, and not in the first goal, maybe 100%, but this is a mistake you cannot have at this level. Yeah.
00:14:19
Speaker
And you're looking at these are the Ecuadorian high level players that are getting beat here, right? Jimenez is making this run through like the combination of Caicedo, Ordonez and Pacho. It just speaks to the level I think that Mexico were on.
00:14:32
Speaker
So 31 minutes into this game, it's 2-0 to Mexico and Ecuador emit have scored two goals the entirety of this tournament. And now they're looking at having to score two to get back in this game, three to win it.
00:14:43
Speaker
And this then is the perfect situation for Javier Aguirre because
Ecuador's Struggles in Progressing the Ball
00:14:47
Speaker
he was on the front foot. They were attacking. They were proactive. And now they have a two nil lead. And now they can be reactive from a position of strength.
00:14:58
Speaker
It's exactly how you draw it up. If you're Aguirre, he got his mistake, too. And. One thing that was impressive the rest of this match is that they don't like just bunker bunker. right They really like make it difficult on Ecuador to progress the ball, to do anything. And they deal with, I think, a the the the Ecuador front line, who as we kind of shift to through a second half where not a lot happens...
00:15:25
Speaker
They were really pedestrian on this game. They were kind of pedestrian through the group stage. And I think one thing we did mention is circling this matchup. How can Mexico do better is the nine play. Jimenez could be an elite player.
00:15:38
Speaker
And Valencia was really, really pedestrian this whole tournament. He didn't offer a lot of movement. He didn't offer lot of finishing when they could have had finishing chances in the group stage. In this game, he's really not getting free. And I think you have to say that Cesar Montez was really good. Vasquez was really good. And well, no one's to confuse them with Champions League level center backs.
00:16:01
Speaker
you You let them, you take away space for the other team. Like Mexico could sit on a lead as to your point. Like they just worked this game state perfectly. It kind of just felt like Ecuador, for the most part, fizzled out. There's never really a big push. that They go through the motions, right? that They bring on a more attacking fullback option at halftime in Jaimaru Medina. He takes off Ordonez, shifts in Gapier Center. Alain Franco comes off, right? Eventually, Kevin Rodriguez comes on for Valencia, who I think was maybe Ecuador's best attacking player in this tournament. yeah Rodriguez gets gets one look off a long ball that almost comes off. And maybe if that works, it's 2-1 with 15 minutes to go. But other than that, it's not like Ecuador had Mexico scrambling. It's not like they were creating chances. They were just kind of there and they just didn't have the answers on this night.
00:16:54
Speaker
Yeah. so the biggest things for Ecuador is their progression was poor. They really were like, give it the ball to Caicedo and make things happen. And when you're only building out with one guy, like it's ah it's really hard to access the front line. And so Ecuador would just kind of circle around and then be like, oh, nothing's open. Hit a ball into the box and hope you get enough guys there. And that was fine, but not enough down two. And Mexico saw every long ball coming. And They weren't even winning those long balls, and they couldn't get four on fours in a difficult angle.
00:17:24
Speaker
They never, never stretched Mexico out of shape. they They had a little bit of that in the first half when Yeboah can take a guy on, and he beat a guy inside, and then you saw Mexico's defense have to scramble in rotation. But outside of that, there was no Player elimination is what we can call it, whether on the dribble or or or in the air. And so outside of one long ball to Kevin Rodriguez, it's it's really, really stale. and I think this is kind of the flaws of the Ecuador team. laid bear I think you play this game multiple times. It doesn't always end up like this. Like there's a lot more games where it's zero, zero for longer and they're just hanging. But it turns out that like what Ecuador did worked for CONMA ball qualifying and translated really poorly to this format. Yeah.
00:18:13
Speaker
And they came up against an opposition that I think played at a really high level in Mexico. like it It has to be said, this was as high level of performance as we've seen from Mexico in a very, very long time.
Mexico's Confidence for Upcoming Matches
00:18:24
Speaker
Their first World Cup knockout round win in a very, very long time. And right, it's maybe not quite quieting that the the quarterfinal demons that have been haunting this side for so long, but it has to feel really good. and as we kind of shift into moving this forward for Mexico, right, they have another game at the Azteca in and the round of 16. it's either going to be a game where they're favored against DR Congo or against a big giant in England that has to come into this environment and deal with it.
00:18:51
Speaker
And given what we saw last night, you're feeling OK about Mexico's chances in that game. They're feeling great. I mean, this whole... They've bought themselves, first of all, like a party of a week to be like, wow, that was awesome for Mexico, for soccer in Mexico, for the team, the players, the fans.
00:19:09
Speaker
And now, I don't want to say it's a win-win because if it's Deer Congo and then the pressure starts to build, then you you like absolutely have to. And I think maybe it the whole vibe shift a little bit to, oh my gosh, we we better do this. If it's England, I do feel like it's a win-win because...
00:19:28
Speaker
you're just kind of like you're in this, like the whole world is rooting for you, like to take, take England to a place they don't want to be role. And I think that suits up very well. Cause if you lose, unless you like really get blown out, which I i don't think Mexico could get blown out right now. Like certainly not by England's, Certainly not England, team that doesn't blow people out. like Unless you lose in a no-show, which again, I just like don't see that coming, you're going to feel like really good about it. so And if if you lose to England, it's going to be like, it was England. So we need a bit to get there. like Let's see England-DR Congo, which is going to be happening probably as you're listening to this podcast, or ah maybe it already happened. We'll know. Yeah.
00:20:10
Speaker
it's all gone perfectly for Mexico. And I think credit to Aguirre, like he really was the manager for this team. He tapped into the, the energy of his team, the energy of the crowd. He got every decision right. And look, Mexico, the path here, like good path, but you have to play the path in front of you. And i think before the tournament, if you had said Mexico, Ecuador, who's the better team, I would have said Ecuador. And so very, very wrong.
00:20:38
Speaker
Yeah, I would have too. And look, they they got the home field advantage by winning their group, right? And that's fundamental to them. And I think, like you as you said, that that really, really helped them. One final note on this game, not one, but two South American players now sent off for covering their mouth in a confrontational situation after Pierre Incape does it to end this game. It's fitting, I guess, that this is the way Ecuador went out. like Come on, guys, we can't be making that mistake.
00:20:59
Speaker
It didn't really affect the game, but still. Yeah, I think it just shows the the frustration and trollingness of Hincopye and Ecuador, who just probably were left like...
00:21:11
Speaker
feeling really sour like they couldn't have done anything in this game and we've kind of already talked about it like it was the game state it was the way they were built look I think what's interesting is the final xg does not end up in some like massive overwhelming win for Mexico it's like 0.8 to 0.6 because that Rodriguez chance is 0.3 and so Ecuador end up if you if you just look at the numbers you'd be like oh this was a grimy game and Ecuador almost were there and Mexico scored two bangers. And that was, it was lucky that they rode the game that way.
00:21:44
Speaker
And that's one way you could look at it from the numbers, but like, i think anyone that watched the game would would agree that like Mexico kicked their butt and then was able to play the rest of the game on their terms. And that's how feel is a very much more accurate reflection of the game.
00:21:58
Speaker
The 15 minutes from Santiago Jimenez here were very clearly like, get under the skin 15 minutes. And it worked. He got into to him gap year with that. What Mexico Ecuador maybe lacked in drama and tactical intrigue of it, I think we got from the first game of the day in Ivory Coast in Norway. This was one of the games of the round of 32 that you and I were in particular really looking forward to And it delivered and it also delivered. And I think a very World Cup knockout roundy way, if you'll allow me to use that phrase in that one team was maybe better
00:22:33
Speaker
In air quotes, one team was more clinical. That one doesn't need air quotes. And that's what leads to a 2-1 win for Norway Well said. This game kind of went exactly as we thought it would go. I think Ivory Coast is the better team in the team sense in terms of 11 players on the field and more dangerous. And Norway had a few stars on the field and leveraged those stars. And they got enough from everyone else.
00:22:59
Speaker
And they were more efficient in this game. And the XG ends up at around 2 to 1.4. So a really just good high-level game. And the chance Norway scores, the second goal in the 85th minute, is basically all of that difference. And we'll talk about that chance as we get through the game. But two really good teams. And I think I expected this from Ivory Coast. I really wanted them to play well.
00:23:23
Speaker
And i it's not that I wasn't rooting against Norway. But I think what would really impress me about Norway is that... Players 4 or 5 through 10 really stepped up today. They defended their box as well as they could really against a tough Ivory Coast attack. They really did.
00:23:43
Speaker
And they got movement and chemistry from their other players to free up their best players. And that kind of team... Attacking patterns we we talk about at this World Cup, right? You've got to be sharp, moving off the ball to drag an opposing defense out of out of their structure. That's what happens on the second goal. And that second goal is really, really emblematic of what this Norway team can do. So color me impressed. Like, i you know, I really wanted to see Norway. France didn't get it. And yeah, they beat Senegal. And I thought that was a game that could have gone either way. This game could have gone either way, but at the end of the day, Norway deserved to win this game. They create in the freezing point, and so you just got to tip your cap to them.
00:24:28
Speaker
So it was very clear, right, what Ivory Coast was trying to do here. They wanted to pick on the Norway defense. And i think in particular, they wanted to pick on the Jan Diomande-Holmgren matchup. That's what they had circled. And kind of through the first half an hour of this game, Ivory Coast really controlled possession. They really bossed things. They have the ball. They're playing through the press that Norway has. They're getting into spaces. Pepe and Diomande are causing havoc on the wing.
00:24:55
Speaker
But, and this is a crucial but here, they just can't really find the final ball. And that leads to all of this possession, all of this passing, not really going anywhere dangerous.
00:25:06
Speaker
Yeah, Ivory Coast do a really good job of setting up their midfield press, of physically winning every 50-50 they can in the first 30 minutes of this game. Sorloff, Noosa, Odegaard are out of the game. It's kind of what you said, had to had a slowdown Norway, and they're just controlling the ball. Diamande is going at Holmgren because Ryerson is out. This is their their second choice right back.
00:25:30
Speaker
Nicolas Pepe has a great game, taking on his guy, and they're getting... to the cutback spot. The fullbacks are overlapping now as they feel more confident on the ball.
00:25:42
Speaker
But there's just kind of that missed final pass. And then I think Bonny, who's work rate is really good in this game, but he's not doing like the perfect nine movement or making himself available. And that's the one thing where the nine position for Ivory Coast was good, but not great. And they don't turn this dominance into better shots.
00:26:04
Speaker
It's also remarkably unfair, right? But you compare the nine performance that the Ivory Coast got, the nine performance, like and like, look, that is maybe the world's best number nine. But yeah, it did kind of feel like if there was a hole in this Ivory Coast team, they could have used just a bit more. And Bonnie was a big get for them, but it just didn't quite click. And that kind of felt like that might have been the difference here. Also, your momentary slip up there just gave me a very haunting image of Peppa Pig in an Ivory Coast shirt on the field in this game. So... I'll just put that out there for all the listeners on on this fine Wednesday morning. So Ivory Coast have the dominance. They have the ball. They're not creating in the final third. And do you know why our number one maximum of knockout round football is take your chances, Amit? Because the other side is probably going to. And that's what happens here.
00:26:49
Speaker
Norway kind of out of nowhere get their talent into a space. And it's Nusa who makes a quick touch to his right foot. He's got a half space on Niklas Pepe, and he just top bins it.
00:27:00
Speaker
Top bins. It's an excellent finish, like a really, really pure finish from the way he curls it around. and this is what we're saying. got to double these guys. Like all of them demand help in the box. And Pepe is the winger stranded on an island. And you see the help coming. The midfielder is making his run to help, but he's five yards off. And but what do you and I call this? It's the half space. And some of these guys are too good that they they hurt you in a moment.
00:27:29
Speaker
And I don't know. like it's exactly like Sometimes the narrative just fits. like You dominate, you dominate. The other teams, one of their star players gets a moment and he he he hurts you. He kills you.
00:27:42
Speaker
And Noosa, really, really good player. And I think the subplot of this is like everyone's big up at Diamande on the other side. These guys are teammates at RB Leipzig. I think they both will have quite a big price tag when they leave RB Leipzig. Diamande is actually already off to PSG. He's ah intrigued by the project there. You can't be intrigued by the project of multiple Champions League winners, buddy. But to be fair, like... I too would be intrigued by millions and millions of dollars. we want to call that a project, we can call it whatever we want.
00:28:14
Speaker
Yeah. But... Both of these players are really good. And I think you see for Nusa, like his level up for Norway is part of the reason that this team is ahead of schedule. Like, yes, you know, Holland, you know, Odegaard, but there's other good players here too. And Nusa is super dynamic and he's not even like the top goal scoring contributor at Leipzig because he plays a different role. Here is the winger spot when you unleash him and he can cut inside on his right foot. Super dynamic. And so,
00:28:44
Speaker
It's you can you can't lose. It's an individual moment of brilliance. But like in the in the first half, which team had it? It's no way, right? Yes. Yeah. And that I think was kind of the fear for Ivory Coast coming into this game is there were those moment makers on the other side. And that's what happens here. And that's what's going to happen on the second goal when we get to that. But I thought the response from Ivory Coast was was good, right? Pepe gets gets ah ah finally gets one on target. It's it saved. that They bring on Ahmad Diallo. They bring on Wai at halftime. They clear a Norway chance that could have been 2-0 right off the line. We're seeing an astonishing number of these goal line clearances where it looks like there's no other option but for the ball to go in the back of the net and it's cleared away. I have no idea what the big picture takeaway there is, but we're seeing that a lot.
00:29:30
Speaker
It just means more in the World Cup, Austin. then you Of course. Fend your goal line. There you go. That's what the numbers say, too. yeah Of course. Naturally. And so then it's the substitute Ahmad Diallo who breaks through for for Ivory Coast. And this is a moment of brilliance. This was a game of moments, right? A game of these individual moments.
00:29:48
Speaker
And this was so, so good for from Diallo. He plays a give and go with Nicolas Pepe, and he just takes the Norwegian back line, which to their credit had played strongly all day. But on this effort, he makes him look pretty foolish and it finishes in the back of the net.
00:30:04
Speaker
The one thing we had said is that this Norway backline can be had. Like player for player, they're not elite. They're not great, right? And it's tough though, because sometimes you say that about a team, you can defend as a structure and be much more than the sum of your parts. It's something we said we say about Ghana, something we we're going to ask about DR Congo today. And the thing about Norway is yeah, okay, the individual defenders might be bad, but to beat it, you need...
00:30:32
Speaker
The moment. And this is what Ahmad Diallo does. Just super low center of gravity, gets his head of steam going, and he he's gone. And the 1-2 is also just fast enough that the Norway defender leaves a step behind. Diallo takes it, but then also he leverages that step in the box to cut back on his left foot. And then a really, really good finish. And this is just...
00:30:53
Speaker
One of ah the best solo goals you've seen all tournament. I know it's one-two, but like this is a moment worthy of getting to the next round type thing, except you're down one and you needed this moment to tie the game.
00:31:06
Speaker
And gosh, what an excellent goal. like This shows you the the quality Ivory Coast had. This is their third attacker of the game behind Diamande and Pepe. And it just from there feels like Ivory Coast had spent so much to get back in this game at 1-1.
00:31:24
Speaker
And the the secret secret thing under all of this game is Norway rested their guys for the end of the group stage. And I think the last 20 minutes of this game, Ivory Coast is the team hanging on. And we talk about the freeze point on this podcast.
00:31:39
Speaker
Is one team playing for extra time? Are you trying to win it in 90? Is it both teams not trying? And I think you have to give real credit to Norway for after getting punched from Ivory Coast, they could have like totally let Ivory Coast take over the momentum. Their subs and their legs put them in the indescendancy for the last 10 minutes here.
00:31:59
Speaker
And it gets exactly like you said, Amit, to what we're terming on this podcast as the freeze point, right? Where, okay, the game is now tied. There's 15 minutes to go but are there 15 minutes to go or are there 45 minutes to go? And you don't know which it is and you're just kind of in this nebulous spot. And as you said, the the changes that Norway actually make before the Ivory Coast goal.
00:32:20
Speaker
They bring on Oscar Bob and they bring on Andreas Sheldon for Noosa and Sorloff. And these are more attacking legs. And as you said, they're they're countering that with a more general freshness than what Ivory Coast had in this game because of the rest they'd gotten. And so when this game opens up and it's there for both sides, then we're kind of coming into a moment where individual brilliance and talent can shine through. Right.
00:32:44
Speaker
And we also get Orsnes on the right back spot, who's their third right back. And this guy is like a converted former midfielder that retired from the national team and came back. And you're like, I want to pick on that guy. He might be the worst player in the field. And that's not the case. His run...
00:33:01
Speaker
on on the this second i or Norway goal that's coming is what frees up the channel for Berg to run into. And the ball into the channel is from Bob. And it's like, those are two subs making a really, really smart contribution. And We were like, who has the better bench here? I think it's Ivory Coast. The only play you're worrying about is Bob. Well, it turns out Oscar Bob is a very, very smart player. And in a way that Sorloth is not a winger and is just kind of like a hammer you throw at the other team. Finally, after pushing them back for 80 minutes, you bring on a player who actually like can play the ball. And so that kind of mix up is totally different for Ivory Coast. Yeah. And this is, I think, a really good collective play from Norway that just ends with the ball with their best individual player, right? So you so you mentioned the run from Auschwitz. Bob sees the pass and Berg just makes a really, really good run into the channel.
00:33:56
Speaker
And his run just sucks everybody in. And when it sucks everybody in, you know who's standing basically unmarked at the penalty spot? Oh, it's that guy. It's Erling Haaland, the best nine in the world. And this chance, I think, of it was so good, was so open. Holland doesn't really even know what to do with it. And I think he kind of gets it wrong. It just kind of ricochets off him. And you can see there's this momentary half second of panic where Holland is like, oh my God, that was wide open and I just missed it. And he starts to like chase after his own chance out of fear that he got it wrong. But the net was so open that there really wasn't any way to get it wrong. And this ricochets off him and and goes in and it's two one to Norway.
00:34:38
Speaker
Even his mishits are goals. And so that was a look, half the game is being in the right spot. And Holland just kind of watches this energy flow away from him on this play and knows it's coming back. And he's a great number nine. And again, to the point like Berg, Bob, Osnes, like even, you know,
00:35:01
Speaker
this this whole play is really, really sharp. And you just feel for the Ivory Coast midfield here that this run from Berg, it's the 82nd minute, it's your starters. I don't know if it's Singare or Kessie here that just is a step behind him.
00:35:14
Speaker
But you're tired. You're tired. And you're thinking like... these As Norway attacked in these last 10 minutes, Ivory Klus was like, we're just going to sit. We know you're going to have the ball. We're just trying to survive 10 minutes.
00:35:27
Speaker
But the one thing you can't do is let it get over you. And you don't think it's going to be Berg as the guy that's going to get over you. Odegaard is also here too, and you're worried about him. And hittting like you're're you're stuck trying to get him. So it's just like a really, really high IQ tactical movement from from Norway. And...
00:35:46
Speaker
I think that in the end of the the day, like that's the difference in this game is that the the rotational you know fringe players for Norway were capable of pulling this move off.
00:35:56
Speaker
I think we really like Emerson Fay and the Ivory Coast manager. I think we like a lot of what he's done. i think he's really impressed just for his his tactical ability, for how he sets up this team. I don't wonder if there was maybe a bit of a mistake here to not make changes after the goal, right? So so he's made the changes before the goal, right? He gets Diallo on. He gets Wahian at the hour mark for Bonnie and Christ to Ulai. But then he's got three changes in his back pocket. And by the 86th minute, he hasn't used any of them.
00:36:22
Speaker
And so we're in we're yeah this freeze point where you're kind of looking at extra time. What is it? But they probably could have used a couple more legs in this moment. You know what? I think you're 100% right. and And we're not saying he should have like put on three subs to ice the game to like defend to 90, but he needed some legs. And it's tough because I do think where you would have wanted the legs is in midfield. And you don't feel like you can take off Sangare and Kessie. And so that's maybe where the depth in the midfield is tough or those aren't the players are taking off. But very clearly, they're the ones who are a step behind on this goal. And same thing with the center backs too. so
00:37:02
Speaker
it's It's kind of a lose-lose situation, but I'm with you, right? he He has three subs and he's going to get another one. or are Sorry, he has two. He has a yes three. so like At this point, he's got three subs. At this point, he's got three subs. He's got one if he goes to extra time. so he he probably should You were right the first time. Yeah, fair enough. And it's ah it's unfortunate, right? Because you know if this one movement doesn't happen, then he's reloading for extra time. But you don't go back. Listen, not go back. But on the last podcast, we kind of say you've got to be more aggressive towards the game state in these last 15 minutes. You can't be managing for extra time for 30 minutes that might not come. You deal with the situation in front of you. And then what ends up happening is he doesn't have enough time to rest this thing back once he's down.
00:37:48
Speaker
Because, look, it's a goal in the 86th minute, and so he has to make the pitches, right? And he brings on Diakete, he brings on Gasani, he brings on Torre, takes off both Diamande and Pepe because those guys were just kind of gassed and he needed to get legs on. But I think it's a really interesting kind of bigger picture, philosophical, tactical point here that we're kind of leaning on is...
00:38:08
Speaker
At the end of extra time, I think you can always kind of get defensive and penalties can always kind of be forced if you need it to be in the last kind of five or 10 minutes there. But in these five or 10 minutes, I don't think you should really play. I don't think you should ever play for extra time unless you are woefully overmatched like a team like Paraguay is against Germany in a situation like that. But in a game that's fairly level,
00:38:31
Speaker
I don't think you should be afraid of extra time. And I don't think you should be thinking that you're going to make some tactical masterclass in extra time. Play your guys now, play them when you can make these changes, be proactive about it. And maybe a goal like this doesn't happen. And maybe you're not completely scrambling. Ivory Coast to get one good chance in stoppage time here. And it's a free kick for Ahmad Diallo.
00:38:52
Speaker
And he he's lining up over it and you're thinking he couldn't possibly could it. It's a really good effort. And to his credit, it's a really good save from the Norwegian goalkeeper. It was like an awesome save worthy of protecting your advancement into the next round. And this is a tough one, too, on the whole discussion is that Diamande and Pepe are clearly their two best wingers, but they also their legs are gone by like the 70th minute and they're not tracking back because the way Ivory Coast is defending is four and three and then you leave the three high. And that's where that run from Osnes, like Diamande is not tracking back to get that run. And so Conan, who had a great game at Lathathack, is also tired and can't get into the channel here. And like it's just an attrition thing. So I think the legs part of Ivory Coast was ah was a big difference. And it goes back to like, OK, yeah, this goal can happen. But you had Diamande and Pepe in that first half just going at them, at them again.
00:39:52
Speaker
you needed to get up one in this game, I think is where where, where you're kind of ruining the way it went because you work so hard to get back into it. And then, right After that goal, Diamande and Pepe are super ineffective, I think, in trying to release pressure from Norway to counterattack because they don't have the legs to carry the ball forward. And that's where you're just like hanging on. So even if it's not the midfield, could you have taken them off earlier in that last 10 minutes before being down one to try to relieve some pressure? And look, you maybe you don't want to take those guys off, but I think this is a very fair point here. Well, and look, if your reaction to going down 2-1 is to take them off, right was that like that kind of answers the question of right if when we really need a goal, these aren't the guys we want, why are these the guys we have on now? but Yeah. yeah you Leaving them on, theoretically, in the case of, oh, we really need to go score, those are our best players, but then when you really need to go score, those are the guys you take. Again,
00:40:50
Speaker
I don't want to be unfair to Emerson Fay, who I think is a really good manager and i think has done really good here. But I think these kind of little tactical things can really make a difference in a game like this, in a game where it felt even, it was even, and it was individual players making plays that that decided it. Norway go through to the round of 16, they'll play Brazil. I think this was a really good World Cup for Ivory Coast. And like I think they can rue the fact that they got a harsh draw. like the The ping pong balls were not nice to them and that this was their round of 32 game.
Ivory Coast's Missed Opportunities
00:41:20
Speaker
But that's the way it goes. and And there are lessons to be learned. 100%. And it's it's pretty fair, I think. It's a bummer. But like they met a team in the same exact situation tier as them who had a little bit more individual bri brilliance. like Better team or not, like they didn't have the star players on the other side. And so when you're in that situation of this kind of team, you can you can go out in this round. in this round Look, I think they're a super exciting project. I think they're doing some of the best stuff in Africa in terms of building complete 11. They're building guys that positioned.
00:41:56
Speaker
they're going to keep They're going to keep being around, but you might regret, like, you're going to feel the regret for this game for a long, long time. That's that's part of the way the World Cup goes. Like, it's a bummer.
00:42:08
Speaker
Last game of the day for us to break down. admit It finished 3-0 to France against Sweden. Sweden, I think for a half of this game... I don't know that I can say that they got the game that they wanted, but I think they got the best game that they could have had, which was France for 43 and a half minutes on a poor finishing day and Sweden creating chances.
00:42:29
Speaker
The fact that at the end of those 43 and a half minutes, it was nil-nil probably spelled doom for Sweden. They needed to steal one of their attacks in the box. I think Isak has a good game trying to get across Saliba and Ufa Meccano. He has some looks.
00:42:45
Speaker
Anthony Alanga was really good. And we said, can he do something against the left back? It's Luka Dean. And he's really good at getting past his guy and getting crosses on on the Sweden right.
00:42:56
Speaker
There's some moments here for Sweden. And as you said, like it's not that France played poorly. like They still were revving up their engine. They just were finishing poorly. There's scenarios where you could have bought yourself some time with a goal, right?
00:43:10
Speaker
So I count in kind of the first 45 minutes before the first Mbappe goal. I count five really good chances for France. Six, if you count the one that the flag goes up on Mbappe, where the two Swedish center backs are just leaving this wide open channel and Mbappe runs into it and he's marginally offside. It's like, do not do that again. That is not the game plan you should be running at in this game.
00:43:32
Speaker
But I count, I think from my notes, I count five very good chances for France, right? Rabiot save, Mbappe rattles the post. Olisse had a goal of the tender goal of the tournament contender bike that goes off the post. Dembele puts a rebound just wide. Actually, it's six because Olisse is saved by Zetterstrom. There's another chance in there.
00:43:51
Speaker
Sweden, though, as you said, had a couple chances themselves. and They run a really good set piece routine to get Isak a look, but but he's well covered after some delivery from Ayari. Good tracking by Saliba. Isak had another miss for Sweden. And then we get to the 45th minute and it kind of just feels like Kylian Mbappe says, all right, that's enough. We had our poor finishing. We missed our chances. Sweden, we we gave you a couple of looks. You maybe could have gotten a foothold in this game.
00:44:16
Speaker
And they just run a corner kick routine of death here where they take their three best attacking players and they put them in a triangle on the corner kick. And the corner kick then ends up with Viktor Yacras defending Kylian Mbappe one-on-one. I know who I'm taking in that matchup.
00:44:33
Speaker
Yeah, he got cooked by Mbappe. And this is ah like an illegal thing that France could do is have all three players involved in the play at the same time. But it's smart. It's something you could do on a corner kick. And also the other thing on a corner kick is the...
00:44:48
Speaker
Defensive players aren't exactly where they're supposed to be because all the the good defensive players have to go to the middle of the box. And so you might know you're going to get one on one mismatch here. And generally what you're hoping for is a defense like, OK, yeah, that's Victor Giacara is out there on an island, but it's in a spot where they can't hurt me.
00:45:05
Speaker
Unfortunately, there are very little spots in the field where killing a Boppe now cannot hurt you from. And we talk about superpowers. What can he do? Well, his burst, his burst from zero to, to beat his man and his little quick steps, and then his body control to off the burst, fire a powerful shot. Yeah.
00:45:23
Speaker
I mean, he is looking very, very, very scary. This is this is mean. I believe the term for Yacras on this goal of it is Grilad Kickling, which if my research is correct, is Swedish fruit barbecue chicken.
00:45:38
Speaker
Thank you. Yeah, he is barbecue chicken on this play. and we've seen this kind of now. I've seen this the Premier League a little bit this season where the set pieces and the second phase of set pieces is where you get these mismatches.
00:45:54
Speaker
I think it's actually a really smart little thing from DeChomp or from the players to to to use that. but That mismatch is, look, it's 45 minutes of maybe you're you're laboring and now you're like now you've got a really, really high quality shot off of it. So something to keep an eye on, I think, is you can go back to the well because how can you defend this three-person triangle?
00:46:16
Speaker
Is it you need six defenders to go over there because any one on one matchup for these guys is getting to be a problem. And it's you're demanding doubles at all times. It's getting to be that scary. Yeah. so then you're running the math and and now you have four guys to be left in the box and then to just whip it in the box. they're They're changing the math on these set pieces and it's just really difficult to handle.
00:46:40
Speaker
They are. And I think the other thing is that Bailey and Elise, as this game goes, particularly Elise is just proving that like, you can't defend them with even two defenders sometimes. I mean, this, we're going to talk about France a second after the game, but the individual quality here of these three guys has been, I think the most impressive thing all tournament. And it's not really close.
00:47:04
Speaker
And the shift, the the subtle shift that they made from the first couple of games to now to flip where Elise and Dembele are has just unlocked an entire new level. And they were dangerous and they were scary to start. But now with Dembele more naturally on the wing and Elise coming in in kind of ah a 10 center role, like good luck, just absolutely good luck trying to stop these guys. And it's Elise on the second goal in the second half who just unlocks an absolutely perfect pass to Bradley Barkula.
00:47:34
Speaker
He's seeing these 10 passes that are everyone is good. Like he's got his timing of the runs down and he knows just when to slide it through the back line. And look, it's the international game. There's not supposed to be space behind your back line. That's a bad thing. And you're playing France and you're like, I don't want to give space behind your back line. And at least he knows that he's finding it anyway. His, his knowledge of the geometry of the channels and the ability to slide it through the channels, um,
00:48:04
Speaker
It's some of the best 10 stuff we've seen. And because of his passing ability, because of his his timing and his delay and his control on both feet to slip it in it's really, really, really hard to stop. And yes, the Sweden back line is not an elite back line, but it's getting to be at this level where you've got to be bunkered at all times against France because any space is getting destroyed.
00:48:30
Speaker
And what happens here is it's a Sweden turnover, right? So they're they're trying to kind of build up and go long and they turn it over and and within 10 seconds, it's in the back of their net. And that's what France can do is they just absolutely win it and boom, it's back the other way. And a player like Elisa is unlocking this pass. I think there are still legitimate questions maybe about the France midfield and maybe about some of their defense, but this is the best attacking play we've seen in this tournament. I don't think it's particularly close. And look, you're starting to ask yourself,
00:48:58
Speaker
is any team going to be able to limit this team from scoring two or three goals? Because then if not, then you have to score two or three goals to beat this team. you that's a great question. And so the teams that you're looking at on this side of the bracket is is Spain, Morocco, two questions I want to see. And then maybe Argentina or England, if one of them get through, you think could pose a game.
00:49:21
Speaker
And so I do think we can't forget France, Senegal, the first 60 minutes where Senegal press them and use their midfield physicality. I think one of Senegal's plus traits um to to deny them the ball and to keep the ball. And I do think Rabiot is very good in this game, but I think Choumeni, Rabiot, and then the back four can be forced to chase. And then you can force the front four who are so good with the ball to chase without the ball and neutralize them little bit. So you need a midfield that's good enough to keep the ball and win the ball, but there's not that many teams at that level who who could do that. And then also Senegal sure didn't, weren't ruthless enough. Nico Jackson did not have a good finishing day, but
00:50:03
Speaker
Can Morocco do that? I think Morocco can keep the ball. They're very, very silky on the ball. Can they win the ball enough? Can they defend enough? That's where they're they're going to you know come up against it. Spain?
00:50:16
Speaker
I mean, let's see. I need to see a good performance from Spain. I have not seen it yet. But if you're saying who could keep the ball, number one team could keep the ball is is Spain. And Argentina's team, team IQ, England's... England are going to have a tough time getting through each game. But if somehow it works, right...
00:50:35
Speaker
Tuchel is exactly thinking of how he can grind that game into a control game for his players. And Rice and Anderson could could really like boss this France midfield. But that's kind of the list, right? And I think France-Germany would have been a really interesting measuring stick.
00:50:53
Speaker
But based on what we saw, i'm not sure it would have been, right? like France right now are a wood chipper. So you've got to stop the machine where it starts in the back before the ball gets the front four. It's very clearly now once the ball gets to the front four, it is over for you. So the way to win is to beat them another way. Look, it's a team sport. Like someone in one of our chats was saying, is this the best France? Is this the best team you've ever seen? it certainly feels that way and and based on what they've done. The answer is no, because they have to prove it. And I still think this back six is is vulnerable.
00:51:24
Speaker
Look, go look at Spain's a roster from 2010, like the guys they were putting on the field. It's 11, like best in the world players. France, as good as these front three are, and I think it's not three, like it's three the best Ballon d'Or levels playing at that level.
00:51:43
Speaker
You're still like you can circle left back as an area that you can attack. Second midfielder as an area you can attack and maybe center back too, right? So ah don't think this is an impervious team. They've just put on a display that that's really, really hard to match. And the last thing is that Kylian Mbappe in a French shirt is a different player.
00:52:02
Speaker
You just have to like throw out kind of what you're seeing at Madrid where he's the sulky guy butting heads with Vinny. He is super, super committed to playing like the best player in the world.
00:52:13
Speaker
And that is that is a factor that that it matters here. And I think France-Borocco is a really interesting quarterfinal. If we get that, I'm simply begging Morocco to take their chances in that game, which is the one question you left out there. I think for Morocco, that looms probably over all of this.
00:52:31
Speaker
France-Paraguay is a truly thrilling round of 16 game because Gustavo Alfaro is going to attempt to answer the question, can you somehow get all 11 of your players between the France front four and the goal? And if you do that, can you limit them for 90 minutes? I think the answer is probably a resounding no, but we're going to get to see it. There's one more goal here for France, and and'll I'll let you try and guess who got it a bit.
00:52:53
Speaker
Was it the man I just said is playing with the best player in the world in a French shirt? It was. It's killing Mbappe's 18th World Cup goal, which has him one off Lionel Messi. These guys might be trading the record a bit during this tournament before Mbappe takes it definitively going forward.
00:53:08
Speaker
The man just can't stop scoring. His movement in behind is really, really good. His ball striking is really good. really good And um yeah, we didn't mention him on this goal enough. Bradley Barclay is also having a great, great tournament.
00:53:21
Speaker
Douay is good too. And it's like the fourth guys here are are super, super electrifying. Barclay is so direct and he... He does small footwork with big strides. And so like you can't really cover him. He's a really, really nifty player. And he's just kind of like the fourth winger at PSG hanging out behind Kovicic Kvart Scalia. like This guy on the stage is showing he he's awesome too. So...
00:53:48
Speaker
and don't think there's enough good things you can say about the France front four. You've also like reached the point where Didier Deschamps cannot contain them in his sufferable. I think you have to give him credit. like He's let his team do exactly how they should do things. He can't get in their way. And so...
00:54:06
Speaker
it's all really clicking and France are doing this in the heat. They're not doing this in in controlled environments. yeah Um, and they're also getting to preserve their legs and make teams chase them. They're getting goals without having to labor. They're avoiding extra time.
00:54:20
Speaker
Um, I mean,
France's Potential to Win the Tournament
00:54:23
Speaker
they're the favorites. They are the favorites. And I think we've said that this whole time. um We haven't been shaken off of that. Things can still happen, right? Just don't like lose sight of that knockout football is fickle. And like you have a bad finishing day against a good team.
00:54:38
Speaker
You get exposed in the back against a good team. Yes, but those are ifs. And right now, if things go the way they should go, France should win. This wasn't too terribly surprising from a Swedish perspective. I kind of keep coming back to the fact that they almost got the game they were looking for for a half, right? Like their only path to this game was a bad finishing day for France. They were never going to be able to contain France with what they had defensively, but they had a couple of chances to take the lead and maybe you take the lead and you put some pressure on, but this is, it's a fitting end for Sweden.
00:55:08
Speaker
Yeah, they didn't have the midfield. They didn't have the defense. And I think crucially, the midfield is what you're going to need to stop France. And they didn't have that. So France just walked into six, as you said, good chance in the first half. Even if they had a bad finishing day, it felt like it was just like getting the weapon system calibrated just right. Because Mbappe on the goal by the time he took that one. Oh, man, he was he was feeling it.
00:55:29
Speaker
And that's how it ends. So France into the round of 16, they will play Paraguay. We'll preview that at a later date, but it is a pretty hilarious mismatch. I think it should be said. So that's it for us today on the World Cup After Dark. Three more games today. You've got England, DR Congo, Belgium, Senegal, which is, I think, kind of flying under the radar, but is a very, very good game. And then, of course, the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina to close out the night. If you want previews of those games, you can check the feed for the round of 32 preview. It's all divided into chapters. You can just click on the game that you're looking to get to and go direct to that and not have to listen to the games. Obviously, that already happened.
00:56:03
Speaker
Amit and I will be back tonight post the U.S. game to recap that and the other two games as well. If you want to support us directly, you can do so at patreon.com slash WCAD. You can find all our other stuff on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.
00:56:18
Speaker
We are going to enjoy the games today. i am sure that you will as well. And we will see you back here at the end of it. Thanks for listening. Chat soon.