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Road to World Cup 26 - Ep 24 - Spain
3 Plays16 days ago
Join your hosts Nick Britten Ken Davies as we take the deepest of deep dives into everything related to the FIFA World Cup 2026 held in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
All the news, analysis and comment from every team, every qualification process and of course the tournament itself. The biggest festival of soccer in the world.
This week we look at the European Champions Spain; how will they get on after a series of disappointing World Cups? Plus all your World Cup news, Kenny’s Quiz and lots more.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Introduction to the New Season
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, hello and a very warm welcome to Road to World Cup 26 podcast. You may have noticed something different about that intro because got a new intro to start the new season with.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So very excited about that. I'm your host, Nick Britton. As always, I am joined by my esteemed colleague, football genius, according to him, ah handsome man, according to him, Mr. Ken Davis. How are you, Kenny?
00:00:41
Ken Davies
I'm good, mate. I tell you what, I'm pleased to have you back. I did Paraguay on my own last year. out Last year? Last week? felt like last year. It was...
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It certainly felt like it went on.
00:00:50
Ken Davies
oh It's hard work doing it on your own, you know.
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
sound like it would
00:00:53
Ken Davies
know you've ever done it on your own, but it's not as good as when you do it with someone else.
Nick's US Travels and Podcast Return
00:00:56
Ken Davies
I'm just saying that. What have thought?
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that going to be the tone of today? Are we already starting down that road? Yeah, ah listen i've just i'm I'm back. It seems like I've been away a long time. I've been back from a two-week stint in the mighty United States of America, where I had a little tour around the north sort of bit, the northeast bit in in Rhode Island and in New York City. and Niagara and ended up in Rochester, where I spent a few days in Rochester. Very nice ah town there. And yeah, it seems a long time since we did Road to World Cup podcast together. but It's only been a couple of weeks, mate.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's only been a couple weeks.
00:01:31
Ken Davies
I know, but I'm looking forward to getting back on it. And we've got an exciting one today, haven't we?
Is Spain the Favorite for the World Cup?
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got a very exciting one today because... Today, we are looking at a team that a lot of people think are going to win the competition. A lot of people think certainly they're going to be there amongst the hot favourites.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're going to progress very, very far. And that it is, of course, the European giants, Spain.
00:02:13
Ken Davies
so
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
The National Anthem of Spain, ladies and gentlemen. I'm looking at Ken's face when that's going on. That's always a good telltale sign of whether he likes this particular national anthem or not. I'm not getting good vibes, Kenny.
00:02:38
Ken Davies
I thought it was dreadful. I was thinking all the way through that, i thinking, how could that get me slower? And it did. It's like the kind... If someone said... This is what was going through my mind when i was listening to that. And I'm sure people in Spain love it and it's and all that.
00:02:50
Ken Davies
Great. it's It's way too slow. It's a dirge. It's the kind of... If someone said to me, I'm filming Star Wars 9... I need a national anthem for the, I don't know, the Zonkerland. And we're set in Zonkerland. We need a national anthem. Just randomly think of a national anthem.
00:03:15
Ken Davies
ah And you've got 15 minutes. That's what I would come up with. I mean, it was it was it was just out-of-the-box kind of ABC National Anthem.
00:03:29
Ken Davies
It's not getting anywhere past round of 32 in the world of National Anthem, World Cup of National
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, well, let's hope. We might not have to if Zoncalan don't qualify for the World Cup because we'll never hear again. Right, as always, we're going to have a little bit of your World Cup news.
Current World Cup Betting Odds
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's been going on ah this week? Ken will have a brief history of Spain in the World Cup and it's not as good as you might think.
00:03:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I'm going to pick out five key players who I think are going to make a massive impact on the World Cup next year. Ken will then tell us how exactly how they're going to play, man for man.
00:04:02
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We've got Kenny's quiz, of course, everybody's favourite time of the week, and a little bit about the manager. And we'll close the podcast, as we always do, by predicting how we think Spain are going to get on. So let's kick off proceedings by looking at this week's weekend.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
couple of bits of news that caught my eye this particular week. And what's interesting is the bookies are starting to gird their loins on this, Ken. The bookies are starting to to pick their favourites and starting to work out quite what's going on. Because suddenly over the last couple of weeks, certainly since I've been away, there has been ah more and more bookies now starting to offer odds.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I've had a look at a kind of a number of a number of bookmakers. I'm not going to name any of them because I'm quite anti-betting. ah But it's interesting nonetheless. It gives you an indication of what what people are thinking.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Spain are the favourites to win the World Cup, 5-1. No, I'm
00:05:04
Ken Davies
I am buying that. i am I am laying Spain.
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
my um Right. OK.
00:05:11
Ken Davies
What's the odds?
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've then got five to one at a certain betting company and another betting company. They've got Brazil as second favorites, along with France and England. so So three joints offering seven to one.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Current holders, nine and Argentina, another bookies is nine to one. And then you go out to Germany at 11s, Portugal at 12s, and the the Dutch at 20s, and Italy at 25.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the early indication is people think Spain, Brazil, France, England, and Argentina are the five to beat. That's the early indication.
00:05:41
Ken Davies
Well, I'd swap Argentina and Spain, and I think we might be close. I'm going to go have an each-way bet on Mexico, FYI.
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so fair enough. Okay, well, you can do what you like.
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:05:51
Ken Davies
but
00:05:51
Ken Davies
But i don't we'll come to why yeah why Spain should not necessarily be the favourites a little later in the show.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think those best... don't think that bookies... Let's get these words out right. I don't think that betting is going to change much in the next year.
00:06:06
Ken Davies
No.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think we're going to see a lot of movement on that. I think that'll broadly stay as we are. Argentina at 901 is not bad. Shout out.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Okay. Just a story...
00:06:14
Ken Davies
That's the bet on that.
Controversy: Italy's Stance on Israel
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, an interesting story that caught my eye this week in World Soccer Talk. and And the cynic in me, the cynical journalist in me ah raised my eyebrow on this. The Italian Football Coaches Association, the AIAC Nacionale, sent an open letter urging the Italian Federation to petition both UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel from the World Cup.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, according to the AIAC, the ongoing war, we all know what's going on in that part of the world, ah warrants, and I'm not going to go into great detail here, but it warrants Israel getting booted out. and And on the face of it, right, on the face of it, you go, well, that may sound like a worthy thing.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
kind of idea and you can you can never kind of you can never separate football and politics, can you, ah completely? and it may sound and But then, and you may think, well, the Italians maybe are kind of striking ah striking a blow for human rights, etc.
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But then it turns out that ah Italy and Israel are in the same group. Israel are above Italy and And suddenly you're thinking, oh, right, OK, maybe there's an ulterior booting story.
00:07:30
Ken Davies
a
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when they get Israel booted out, then they're then going to go for Norway, who are top of the group by miles, and go, right, let's find a reason for Norway to get kicked out of World Cup. Because quite frankly, it's it might be the only way Italy qualify.
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, um yeah.
00:07:44
Ken Davies
Yeah, pollution in the fields. Terrible pollution in the fields. Kick them out.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, all those wind turbines. and the So they play each other on September the 8th, by the way, Italy and Israel.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it
00:07:58
Ken Davies
That's a really interesting one to follow that, isn't it?
00:08:00
Ken Davies
But it's, uh,
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
m yeah could be a tasty one.
Snoop Dogg's Role in the World Cup
00:08:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Right, Ken, this isn't in Kenny's quiz, but I'm going to throw one early at you. ah Who is Calvin Cordazar Broadus Jr., better known as? corpsdazar proru junior better known as
00:08:07
Ken Davies
Oh,
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Calvin Cordazar Broadus Jr. Who's he better known as?
00:08:21
Ken Davies
uh, well, um, well, count Calvin, uh, Is he an entertainer?
00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's an entertainer, yeah. He's a very, very well-known, world-famous entertainer from Los Angeles.
00:08:36
Ken Davies
Yeah, I'm thinking. And he's and it's kind is it is his first name actually still Calvin?
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
not No, that's not his given name. It's how we all know him. Lots of people are shouting at their phones now going, yeah, I know exactly who this is.
00:08:49
Ken Davies
Is this in the world of hip hop or something like that?
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
but umm Yeah, it is. i got Hurry up. we Otherwise, we'll be here all day.
00:08:53
Ken Davies
I mean, what's the chances of me knowing hip-hop? Okay, I'm going to make up the name of a hip-hop artist in Los Angeles and hope it's him. I'm going to call him, just on the basis of all the other hip-hop things I've heard, I'm to call him Big Easy.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, you're close. Snoop Dogg.
00:09:12
Ken Davies
ah Is he really?
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Snoop Dogg, yeah.
00:09:15
Ken Davies
Is Snoop Dogg Spanish then?
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
so and spen Snoop Dogg, no, he's from Los Angeles, but his real name is Calvin.
00:09:20
Ken Davies
What's that good you in Spain then, Nick?
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
but No, this is World Cup news.
00:09:23
Ken Davies
What's that value?
00:09:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
so And this week, Snoop Dogg has been appointed as the official Los Angeles Community Chairman for the upcoming World Cup due to his deep roots in Los Angeles culture. So he's going to be running the Los Angeles but los angeles ah bit.
00:09:38
Ken Davies
Can you imagine what it's going to be like run by Snoop Dogg?
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, do you remember there Yeah, there was there was a story last year. um It wasn't a story, by the way. it was ah he kept on He kept on appearing at the at the Olympics in Paris.
00:09:52
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he was doing commentary and all that kind of stuff. So he's kind of in there already. He kind of knows what he's doing. But if you're in l a look out for Snoop Dogg. He might still be in the United States team, to be honest.
00:10:00
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got a problems up front. So you never know. You never know.
00:10:06
Ken Davies
I'd pay a lot of money to watch Snoop Dogg leading the line against Ecuador, I must have admit.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:10:11
Ken Davies
Snoop Dogg's kind of reinvented himself.
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It would be good, wouldn't it?
00:10:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you That's your breaking news. i was cutting you off there by playing the Sting.
00:10:20
Ken Davies
No, it's okay. I wasn't saying anything of any importance anyway, but there you
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's reason I was cutting you off. That's the reason was cutting you
Spain's Past World Cup Performance
00:10:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
off. Right. Okay. So, as we said, we are looking at Spain this week. I won't play the national anthem because I don't want to upset Ken too much because I'm going to go over to you, mate.
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tell us a little bit in a very brief way, because we've got to keep this to 45 minutes, how the history of Spain in the World Cup.
00:10:44
Ken Davies
Right, I'm going to have to whistle through it then because here we go, history. Right, didn't qualify oh, no, didn't enter in 1930.
00:10:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
lucky in the world.
00:10:52
Ken Davies
ah But actually the World Cup record is pretty mixed as we're going to In 34 quarter finals, they were busy in 1938. I think they were involved in a war. Don't talk about that. Fourth place in 1950 didn't qualify, 1954, 1958. Group stages 62 and 66 didn't qualify 1970 1974. So it's been pretty patchy up then.
00:11:08
Ken Davies
group stages in sixty two and sixty six didn't qualify in nineteen seventy s or nineteen seventy four so it's been pretty patchy up to then 78, they went out in the group stages. 82, group stages.
00:11:21
Ken Davies
86, quarterfinals. 1990, round 16. 94, quarterfinals. 98, group stages. 2002, quarterfinals. 2006, round of 16.
00:11:32
Ken Davies
2010, they were champions. Well done, Spain. champions. Round of applause. But since then, 2014, the group stages. 2018, round 16. 2022, round of 16, where they lost in a penalty shootout to Morocco.
00:11:48
Ken Davies
That led to the... ah the loss of the resignation of Luis Enrique and the appointment of Luis de la Fuente, who we're going to come to later on. So what you've got to say is that when you look at the World Cup statistics, it's properly mixed.
00:12:04
Ken Davies
It doesn't shout champions to me, by the way. They have, I should say, a much better record at the Euros, where they've been the champions four times. fact, they've three out last five. But it suggests to me that they don't travel well outside Europe.
00:12:18
Ken Davies
And for whatever reason, ah that that seems to be the case. Now, the form in the course of the last ah two years, 2024 and 2025, pretty good.
00:12:30
Ken Davies
Played 10-1-5, drawn four, lost one. That loss was on the 8th of June to Portugal in the final of the Nations League. But you know what? They concede goals. Spain concede goals.
00:12:42
Ken Davies
So for example an example, in the last five games, two against Switzerland, two against Netherlands, three against Netherlands, four against France, two against Portugal. 13 goals conceded in the last five games.
00:12:54
Ken Davies
So, yeah, they play a lot of great teams. Yeah, they generally win, but they're not without their issues.
Analyzing Spain's Current Form and Key Players
00:13:00
Ken Davies
Finally, and we are spinning through this at a kind of rate of knots, ranking.
00:13:07
Ken Davies
Everybody kind of works on the basis that they're perpetually at the top of FIFA's rankings. But it's a bit more nuanced than that, as that World Cup performance would suggest. They're ranked second in the world at the moment.
00:13:21
Ken Davies
They were first, clearly first, between 2008 and 2014. But it's been very mixed ever since then. Even as recently as July 2023, so only two years ago, they were ranked 10th in the world.
00:13:37
Ken Davies
And when I went into this, I thought of Spain just going to be first, second, second, second, third, second, second. It's not the case at all. 1998, by the way, they were ranked So if you compare their ranking over the years, though, which has generally been pretty good, certainly since 2008, with their World Cup performance, the only conclusion you can come to is that they generally significantly underperform when on the big stage of the World Cup. So that's a little spin through Spain's history, form, and...
00:14:10
Ken Davies
kind of performance ranking.
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:14:13
Ken Davies
And I hope you'd agree. It's a little bit more nuanced than we originally thought.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so, because you're quite right, as you point out, that everybody kind of assumes Spain are number one at everything. i and And yet, I was looking at the World Cup record this week. I was a little surprised. It didn't really... I've forgotten. You just kind of assume they're going to be in finals and win stuff all the time.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no.
00:14:33
Ken Davies
It's not like that at all. Round of 16, round of 16 is pretty much where they average out at.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's...
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
but their form is very good. Their form is very good.
00:14:42
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they are building a young, energetic, and very, very skillful team. And if the World Cup was now, I'd probably not give them that much hope.
00:14:50
Ken Davies
yeah
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Next year, I wonder whether actually it might all kind of come together at the right time. So i'm going to choose now, and this has been quite a difficult job because there's been lots and lots and lots of players to choose from.
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm going to pick out five key plans to star for Spain at the World Cup next year.
00:15:16
Ken Davies
move
00:15:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, we're going to start as we always do with the goalkeeper.
00:15:39
Ken Davies
That's new music, Nick. Where did that come from? I missed that the editorial meeting.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's my new that's my new player intro.
00:15:46
Ken Davies
Oh, right, you just randomly introduce new things to the show now, do we? Just, um well, let's do something else. I'm going to introduce this to the new show.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, Mr.
00:15:55
Ken Davies
Right, listen to this. This should be the Spanish National Anthem, right? There you go. Spanish National
00:16:05
Ken Davies
Anthem. I'm just going to introduce that to show.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's very good. That's good. If you're not watching this on YouTube, and by all means, please do watch on YouTube, ah Ken just literally plucked a guitar off his wall, gave us a little bit of Spanish castanet style music that that almost got me up on my feet and and put the guitar back. So very good.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate, nobody asked you to bring a pipe. That was never in the editorial. You suddenly produce a pipe and your Sherlock Holmes bit and you're always chucking in new stuff.
00:16:32
Ken Davies
Fair enough.
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
and this was That's the whole point.
00:16:34
Ken Davies
and That's okay.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Finally.
00:16:35
Ken Davies
That's okay. That's fine.
00:16:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, you've now ruined my player's intro because it's like five minutes ago.
00:16:37
Ken Davies
I like that. Sorry, mate. Play again. Okay.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
no I'm not going to play again. No, i'm going to get on with this. ah So these are the five players. I always like to start with a goalkeeper. And the Spanish goalkeeper is very, very well settled. Unai Simon, a very good goalkeeper.
00:16:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's 28 years old, so he's the youngest goalkeeper we've had, i think, so far in 24 episodes of this podcast.
00:16:59
Ken Davies
a baby.
00:17:02
Ken Davies
And he ain't that young.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's played for... No, well, 28 for a goalie is kind of... It's not young, but it's not...
00:17:08
Ken Davies
That's the sweet spot. That's the sweet spot, i would say.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I always think kind of 30-31 is for a keeper. ah Anyway, by the by. He's played for Athletic Bilbao since 2018. He's had 201 appearances for them. He came in for Spain in 2020 to replace David de Gea, and he's been very much between the sticks ever since.
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
There have been... They're having grumblings, you know, they're having grumblings because Spain have got sort of two or three very, very good keepers. And he's not had the best season this season. He missed the first part of it through injury.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He hasn't played that well. It's been a little bit hit and miss. And there are questions over whether he should be Spain's number one. But he does have the shirt. He's pretty nailed on. And the great thing about him when it comes to World Cup competitions and European championships, he's brilliant at saving penalties.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's one of those that, you know, when you've got a team and you go, right, our keeper will save penalties. And we look at team like England and go, our keeper won't.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's that. and And in a penalty shootout, it's absolute gold dust.
00:18:10
Ken Davies
Absolutely matters in the World Cup.
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um In penalties, yeah, it does, yeah.
00:18:12
Ken Davies
You're guaranteed a penalty shootout in the World Cup.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, this is it. And in in the penalty shootouts in the last five years, or since he's come into the team, he's had 22 penalties fired at him. He saved eight of them. That's a 37% save rate, which is not bad at all.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is not bad at all in penalty shootouts.
00:18:28
Ken Davies
No. No, it's very good. No.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we do expect him very much to be in goal.
00:18:30
Ken Davies
i' say good
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Then I've got a couple of defenders to pick out for for differing reasons, really, because one coming towards the end of his career and one very much at the start of his career. Dani Carvajal, who's the 33-year-old, he's the captain of the team, so he gets his rightful place in this list of five.
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
of Obviously, the the veteran right-back. And he'll have a very important role, I think, because in a team that's full of youth and flair, you're going to need some experience in there. You're going need some experience on the pitch and off the pitch and during games. And Carvajal certainly brings that. He's won loads of titles with Real Madrid, including a six-time Champions League winner, 290 appearances Real.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's been there all his career, other than a year at Bayer Leverkusen. So he's very much a one-man club, almost. and His international career, though, has been blighted by injury. And he's missed a couple of major competitions in the last... He made his debut 11 years ago, but he's missed a couple of competitions since then.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's only got 50 caps, which surprised me because I would have thought we'd have 80, 90 by now. But the injuries kind of take their toll and tell a story. But if he can stay fit, I think he's going to be a very, very important influence for Spain, not only as captain, but off the pitch, on the pitch, around the young players at the World Cup next year.
00:19:39
Ken Davies
and
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then And then kind of going down to the other end of the scale, but playing next to him is very much expected to be a young man who's really just breaking through at a moment. And that is Pau Kubasi. And he's only 18 years old, ah but he's already the linchpin of the Barcelona defence.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente, says he's called him a special player with an unnatural talent. Now, for an international coach to say that about an 18-year-old,
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
is something special. And for 18-year-old to come into team like Barcelona and, as I say, nail down that centre-half spot, again, is something special. He won the Olympics with the Spanish under-23 side laststs last summer. we didn't get included in the European Championship squad.
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Played for the under-23s in the Olympics and they won that. But in recent times, he is becoming a first choice for the national team as well. Played in the recent Nations League games.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was on the final for the defeat against Portugal, but played against France in the semis.
00:20:41
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, listen, he's got the world at his feet. He's got the world his feet and he's a player who will get better and better and better. And I think in the next yeah five, 10 years, we'll be hearing a lot about him.
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot of them. He's an outstandable outstanding talent. ah So that's Paul Kubacy. ah The next, we're going to move up to midfield. And the man at the moment at the moment in midfield is Pedri, another Barcelona player. And he's another one who's had his injury issues a little bit.
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But he's had a very, very good season with Barca this year. And that's kind of elevated elevated him up the rankings very, very much. His game has very much improved, I think. Everybody kind of recognises improved under Hansi Flick at Barca.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at the moment, he's currently he's regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. Again, youthful, 22 years old, 34 caps for Spain. And what we like about him here at the Road to World Cup 26 is that he's in a world of football, Ken. And we've we've we and we've talked about this before.
00:21:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Players kind of now in modern football kind of get pigeonholed into inter position. So you've got to be a DM or an AM or, you know, yeah all this kind of stuff. Remember, you know, when footballers just used to run around a pitch.
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, Pedri runs around a pitch. He gets around a pitch incredibly well. He's box to box. He's side to side. He generally plays in the setup with a bit of freedom to roam because you'll have a player holding.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then And then he allows him that that freedom to move. And as I say, only at 22. If you can get through this season without any injuries, he'll be massive, I think, in the World Cup.
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there's you you talk about the other Spanish midfielders, of Rodri, of Fabian Ruiz. they They're gifted.
00:22:23
Ken Davies
Hmm. Hmm. Hmm.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
got so many good midfielders, Spain. ah Pedri seems to be, as I said, the man at the moment. And then my last player has to be, I mean, there's only one player to talk about in so in many ways, even though you could talk about several hundred when you come to Spain. It's been very difficult picking out five.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But my last player has to be Lamine Yamal. the Spanish Messi, the Spanish Ronaldo, the Spanish anything you want, the Spanish Pelé, the Spanish anything you want.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can call them anything you want. This is the most exciting young talent in the world.
00:22:54
Ken Davies
Big dog.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the world.
00:22:59
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he he was ah he only turned 18 a couple of weeks ago, but he's already, obviously, he's been playing for Spain for a year or so.
00:23:05
Ken Davies
Yeah, feels like he's been around for ages, doesn't it
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And does, doesn't he? Yeah, it does.
00:23:09
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's an absolutely sensational player. He was scouted by Barcelona when he was six. And, you know, what a player this kid is. It'll light up, it'll absolutely light up the World the world Cup.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Called by his boss, Luis de la Fuente. He was touched by the wand of God. Hopefully not the hand of the God, ah but by the wand of God. He's been given the number 10 shirt at Barca.
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
worn by Diego Maradona, but certainly worn by Lionel Messi at his time. And there are so many comparisons now. There are so many comparisons. um I read something the other day by Marcus Rashford, who's just moved to Barcelona, obviously from Manchester United.
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Rashford said he's the most talented young player he's ever seen. And Rashford's seen a few very talented young players in his time. Indeed, yeah he was he was very, very much one of them.
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um the the the I don't know if you caught this, actually, but La Liga kicked off last week. And... Jamal scored an unbelievable goal right at the end of game. to to it was Well, Barcelona were already winning 1-0.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he drifted from the right-hand side, sort of ghosted around two other players, to to put himself just outside the area, but in a central area, and then just bent it left foot into the top corner, top bent.
00:24:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, hey, let's do that, mate.
00:24:24
Ken Davies
He's a special player. He's a very, very special player.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's nothing this young man can't do. I'm very, very excited. i'm really he's He's one of the kind of key players. I think at some stage during this podcast, we're going to each pick out you know five key players who we want to see at this World Cup, and I'm pretty much sure he's going to be one of them.
00:24:39
Ken Davies
Yeah, he's...
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
there's question.
00:24:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, what happened to my music? There you go.
00:24:57
Ken Davies
what
00:25:02
Ken Davies
you right to point out ah yeah You're right to point out the the the age profile of the players there.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:25:09
Ken Davies
Certainly in relation to all the other teams that we've talked about, Spain seem to be focusing on youth and seem to be building ah an extraordinarily energetic and youthful side. That's going to be, I think, that's going to be you know very positive for them in terms of the the upside for them. It's got a potential downside as well. but I suppose we'll come to that a little bit later. But yeah, what an exciting team.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
How do they set up, Kenny?
Spain's Tactical Approach and Youth Focus
00:25:33
Ken Davies
They set up consistently in a 4-3-3. I looked at two most recent games, which was the semi-final of the Nations League. the The amazing 5-4 game against France, that was.
00:25:47
Ken Davies
And the yeah the final then against Portugal, which they lost on penalties. Yeah, it's 4-3-3. As you say, Simon at the back.
00:25:57
Ken Davies
Yeah. In terms of, then obviously four across the front, Cuccarello, we haven't spoken about more.
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
employee
00:26:03
Ken Davies
Cuccarello, who and played for Chelsea, their left back. They've got Pedro Porro, who played for Spurs, right back, ah certainly in the semi.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
done here
00:26:16
Ken Davies
Then you've got Pedri, Zubimendi, and Ruiz, Ruiz, across the middle. And then Jamal Alathabal and Nico Williams, another player we haven't talked about in terms
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I had Williams, had a Luthabelle, I had all sorts. I mean, I must have six players who ah started making notes on and then came across a player I thought, no, this yeah this would feature and for the reasons i've given.
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, you could
00:26:38
Ken Davies
Yeah, I mean, that's the 4-3-3. They're a very fluid system. It's a very fluid 4-3-3. There's people moving all over the place all the time. They've got that kind of energy. They've got those kind of legs in in in the team.
00:26:49
Ken Davies
The one thing I'd just point out on that is ah I just wonder whether they've got enough goals in the team, enough goals up front. I mean, your mouth's 18, so we've got to give him some some some credit.
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:27:02
Ken Davies
but But he's you know six and twenty one i just We just compare the goals-growing records of... of Lathabal and Nico Williams. They don't really, they don't compare with the greatest.
00:27:15
Ken Davies
And I just wonder whether that's going to be, ultimately, that's going to be the Achilles heel. But it's a very fluid 4-3-3. That seems to be, and those pretty those two games are pretty important games. So I think we're looking at the starting 11 and I think we're looking at the the yeah the formation that De La Fuente is going to use.
00:27:33
Ken Davies
So work on the basis of a 4-3-3, but a pretty flexible and fluid one.
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep, absolutely. Absolutely. And that needs to be, that's still because that's the way that's the way ah they play. We're going to talk about the the style of play that De La Fuente likes in just a little while. But before we do that, let's have a word from our sponsors, shall we, Ken?
00:27:52
Ken Davies
Oh, shall we? You know, as Luis de la Fuente knows, Infootball.pays to get your team selection right. And here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery partner.
00:28:04
Ken Davies
We chose Zencastr because Zencastr makes it easy to bring your vision to life, share it with your audience, wherever they may be. So with 4K video recording, very easy AI editing, superb distribution tools, and all in one place.
00:28:19
Ken Davies
If you've got a story to tell, you want to tell it with Zencastr. So check out the show notes for more details.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll
00:28:43
Ken Davies
That's got to be the per but worst piece of music i think I've ever heard in my life. It's the of stuff you hear in a lift, isn't it?
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
take it.
00:28:49
Ken Davies
And you want the lift to crash.
00:28:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, itll it'll be much if it does crash, it'll be much like your efforts at Kenny's quiz. so Because it is everybody's favourite time of the week. you got yeah You got your pipe out a little prematurely there, didn't you?
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
You got it out before you had...
00:29:05
Ken Davies
be part of it.
00:29:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
You were you were ready you're ready for this.
00:29:06
Ken Davies
Oh, I see what mean. Yeah, I'll put me part it.
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, put your pipe back, mate.
00:29:11
Ken Davies
No, i need to I need to focus because actually I think I've been getting slightly better at this, but my knowledge of Spain is not great and and I never do any homework, so it's random.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no, no. but
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have you been watching the news this week?
00:29:23
Ken Davies
No.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. you're not going to get the first one right then, are you? Right. I've got three questions for you.
00:29:30
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got three questions for you. ah Number one, beaches in the Alicante province were closed this week after what was found to be in the water?
00:29:33
Ken Davies
Good.
00:29:42
Ken Davies
ah Well, what can it be? It's going to be a shark.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah such If you haven't seen this, by the way, you've got no chance of getting this right.
00:29:46
Ken Davies
kind
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
You needed to have seen this story.
00:29:52
Ken Davies
Okay, it's going to be a shark. It's going to be human effluent. It's going to be jellyfish, crabs, or oil.
00:30:06
Ken Davies
So I'm going for jellyfish.
00:30:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:30:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you were talking about your Saturday night there when you're about crabs, crabs, oil.
00:30:15
Ken Davies
That's a pretty good setting, to be honest. Crabs, jellyfish and oil.
00:30:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No. and
00:30:22
Ken Davies
None of those, i would any of that, any resonance whatsoever with what actually happened?
00:30:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Anyway, you're wrong, obviously.
00:30:31
Ken Davies
No.
00:30:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah the yeah The answer is a rare blue dragon was found. In fact, several rare blue dragons were found in the sea off the beaches in the Alikente province.
00:30:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they had to shut the beaches for about day and a half whilst they worked out.
00:30:47
Ken Davies
To protect the dragons or to protect people from the fire-breathing dragons?
00:30:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. No.
00:30:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
to protect the people, not from the fire-breathing dragons, but from the dragons themselves. Now, the rare blue dragon is a type of sea slug, which has a very venomous skin.
00:31:00
Ken Davies
Yeah, exactly. You knew that was coming. You know, everybody thinks it's a dragon, a Welsh dragon, but a blue one. and And in fact, what it is, is just a ah little bit of squished up membrane on the bottom of the sea.
00:31:14
Ken Davies
And shut the beat up, everyone.
00:31:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you look at...
00:31:16
Ken Davies
It's a blue dragon. No, it's not. It's a blue slug, just with a fancy name.
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's not quite Yeah, it's not quite a Jaws, is it? But um this this actually happened.
00:31:23
Ken Davies
No.
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
The beaches were shut. Now, the rare blue dragon, as I say, it's a sea slug. It eats, here's an interesting fact, it eats things like jellyfish and retains their sting and concentrates all all that poison.
00:31:35
Ken Davies
um so it Sorry, what's the interesting fact?
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then...
00:31:39
Ken Davies
what's the interesting I heard that fact. What's the interesting fact?
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah That is interesting. You're just muddy because you didn't get it right. So it's quite it's quite venomous. um It causes a lot of pain if it stings you. So the authorities decided it was better to get people out of water.
00:31:53
Ken Davies
Can you imagine, can you imagine, before we get to number two, can you imagine Game of Thrones?
00:31:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Number two.
00:31:58
Ken Davies
Like you're in you're organizing Game of Thrones, okay? and And the the the producer says to you, we need dragons, Nick. We need some more dragons. Could you get us a blue one?
00:32:10
Ken Davies
And you turn up at the next editorial production meeting of Game of Thrones with a two-inch slug and say, there's your blue dragon.
00:32:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:32:17
Ken Davies
Get on with it.
00:32:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I can't really, no. ah Equally, I can't imagine in Game of Thrones when you've got all the armies dashing towards the sea, stopping and and going, whoa, steady lads on the beaches, we can't go in the water.
00:32:28
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:32:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah some There's some blue dragons in there.
00:32:33
Ken Davies
It's a small slug. Right, OK.
00:32:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
The amazing thing that they are, if you wanted to Google this, people listening, if you wanted Google this, they are beautiful.
00:32:35
Ken Davies
Got it. Yep.
00:32:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are beautiful little creatures. They are they are spectacularly nice looking. So do Google them. And when you do, think of Ken seething in his chair, seething that he didn't know the answer to that.
00:32:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Question number two and what year
00:32:53
Ken Davies
god yeah
00:32:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
In what year did Spain become a democracy?
00:33:03
Ken Davies
Well, i can that must be when ah Francisco Franco ah died and Juan Carlos, King Juan Carlos I, took over.
00:33:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Correct. Yeah, good. but
00:33:18
Ken Davies
That... Oh, dear. I remember Franco being in charge. So that must be 1975.
00:33:26
Ken Davies
nineteen seventy
00:33:30
Ken Davies
five
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, I'm going to give you another stab because you all of everything you said was right. And I'm very impressed by that, by the way.
00:33:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very impressed. ah Francisco Franco, General Franco, died in 1975. And then obviously you've got that you've got that little bit of transition to democracy. So i'm going to give you another stab at it.
00:33:37
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:33:52
Ken Davies
then.
00:33:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, incorrect. So don't say that well I didn't give the chance. The answer was, I thought you'd...
00:33:58
Ken Davies
Don't tell me it was 73 or something. No, it was after that.
00:34:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:34:02
Ken Davies
was after that. 77. seventy seventy seven
00:34:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, it's not. Keep going, keep going.
00:34:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, 78.
00:34:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're an absolute idiot.
00:34:12
Ken Davies
Yeah. yeah
00:34:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
75, 76, 77. No, keep going. 81. I what sort of fool I am?
00:34:19
Ken Davies
I feel such a fool. I'm such a fool.
00:34:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
You are. You are.
00:34:23
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:34:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, keep sucking on your part.
00:34:23
Ken Davies
I must get half a point for flipping all my knowledge of Francisco Franco.
00:34:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:34:28
Ken Davies
Thanks, mate.
00:34:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm tempted to do that. I'm just out so of pity for you, to be honest. ah Right, okay, last question. What is the Spanish region, or which Spanish region, I suppose is the best way to put it, is the most famous for its sherry and indeed produces the country's most sherry?
00:34:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Spain, very famous for its sherry. Which Spanish region produces the most sherry in Spain?
00:34:50
Ken Davies
Well, I'm predicting it's going to be somewhere around Jerez, which is that that the... so um It's like Jerez de la Frontera, isn't it? It's the actual place. But is that the actual region?
00:35:03
Ken Davies
Is the region called Jerez? Or is it Extremadura or somewhere like that? I'm going to say... Heref.
00:35:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that your final answer?
00:35:14
Ken Davies
Do you want the street? i mean, it it's...
00:35:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
aye and Okay, if you and if you're goingnna me like that if you're going to be like that, no, you're incorrect. Okay?
00:35:26
Ken Davies
What is it?
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you were because yeah I was giving you a chance then, mate, because I'm really feeling for you today. I was giving you a chance, but you didn't take it. You just threw your toys straight out of of pram like you always do.
00:35:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Jerez is not a region.
00:35:38
Ken Davies
Sorry.
00:35:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a town.
00:35:41
Ken Davies
No.
00:35:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
a city, actually.
00:35:42
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:35:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay? And it's a city in in a region, and that region is Andalusia.
00:35:47
Ken Davies
And Lucia.
00:35:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the answer the question is, which which region produces the most sherry in Spain? The answer is Andalusia.
00:35:53
Ken Davies
And Jerez produces like 99.99999% of it.
00:35:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
That doesn't matter.
00:35:56
Ken Davies
But it isn't the region. No, it's... but it isn't a read
00:35:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It doesn't matter. the question though It's not region.
00:36:00
Ken Davies
yeah know it's
00:36:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
if ah If I said to you, what is the biggest city in Spain that produces sherry, and you went Andalusia, you'd probably expect me to give you and an answer for that as well, wouldn't you? Or a point for that? No, you're nothing there, mate.
00:36:14
Ken Davies
Half a point then for all those efforts and all that knowledge.
00:36:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
of and I'm to give you, I'm going to bump that up to three quarters of a point I'm going give you a quarter of a point for your knowledge of ah the full name of Jerez, which is, of course, Jerez de la Frontera. So you've got good Spain knowledge there, but not nearly enough.
00:36:29
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:36:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not nearly enough.
00:36:34
Ken Davies
Okay, brilliant.
00:36:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm afraid.
00:36:35
Ken Davies
Anyway, there you go.
00:36:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, we're going to talk in just a moment about ah the manager, get a flavour of Luis de la Fuente. Before that, I think, Ken, a word from our sponsors.
00:36:46
Ken Davies
Yeah, a couple of things actually that I want to mention.
00:36:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:36:50
Ken Davies
Global Sports Podcast Network has partnered with Bionique, the world's most personalized supplements. Your body's unique, my body's unique, Nick's body's unique. And because without knowing exactly what deficiencies you have, taking off-the-shelf supplements might mean that you're getting not enough of the nutrients you need and maybe too many supplements.
00:37:08
Ken Davies
of the ones you don't. So, Buy Unique provides 100% tailor-made supplements designed to deliver precisely what you need. No guessing. So, check the link in the show notes. Use the code GSPN2025 for 40% discount off your first order. But before we move on,
00:37:25
Ken Davies
Hope you're enjoying the Reds World Cup. If you are, we're having a lot of fun doing it. i Hope you enjoy it and are listening every week. The listenership is growing rapidly and that's lovely to see.
00:37:36
Ken Davies
Please subscribe, leave a review, share the podcast. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole World Cup qualifying process. Whether you think Nick has been a little bit tight on his marking in the Kenny's quiz section, I think that's an important thing to raise.
00:37:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and see what happens.
00:37:49
Ken Davies
If you want to get in contact with us, you could do so at roadtoworldcup26 at gmail.com.
00:37:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
going go ahead and what happens. I'm going to ahead and see what happens.
00:37:55
Ken Davies
And we very much look forward to your emails.
00:37:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
even We do, yeah. RoadToWorldCup26 at gmail.com is the email that if anybody out there says that I'm tight on Ken's market, I'm not having it. Just get the answers right.
00:38:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Luis de la Fuente is a 64-year-old former player. He was a left-back, good player in his day, to be fair. He played 254 games in La Liga for Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla.
00:38:21
Ken Davies
um Yeah. Remember?
00:38:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He won a couple of league titles and indeed a Copa del Rey. with Bilbao. So well done for him. He went into management and he was in club management for 12 years. this is what Now, i like I like these kind of stories, by the way.
00:38:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He went into club management and he was there for 12 years, but it was all lower league stuff. And I like managers who start and learn their trade at the lower league. And there's a kind of theme running through De La Fuente, which I see a lot when he's doing his interviews, when I see him kind of just the general way he behaves.
00:38:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that he's very grounded. He doesn't let any of his superstars get above themselves. He always talks about being good people as well as good footballers. He's always talking about learning and progressing and education and those kind of things. And i love that that. That really, really appeals to me.
00:39:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So he started working with the national set-up in 2013. He's been through the ranks. He started with the 19s, then the 21s, then the 23s, and in 2022 became the senior first-team manager. And, of course, they won in his first major tournament, which was the European Championships last year when they beat England 1-0.
00:39:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think by general recognition, unless you want to disagree me with me on this as well, ah by general net recognition, and They were the best team in the competition.
00:39:52
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah, I wouldn't disagree i wouldn't disagree with that.
00:39:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:57
Ken Davies
What i like about De La Fuente is he's like a father figure, I get the impression, in in Spanish football. He's been through everything. he's He's grown with the players.
00:40:08
Ken Davies
He knows the players in a completely different way than most ah coaches, I think, youre of national teams, who tend to see the players very infrequently, really, compared to...
00:40:21
Ken Davies
ah club coaches. so Delefonte is different in the sense of he's been with them 19, their teenage years all the way through to their professional years.
00:40:33
Ken Davies
he's He's very much focused on youth, very much focused on promoting youth, very much focused on developing players as characters, if you like, developing the character, if you play, as well as the technical proficiency of the player.
00:40:45
Ken Davies
So he is a unique, he's a unique fellow, he's a unique perspective, he's got a unique background. And I think that really, I think Delefonte is one of the main reasons why Spain maybe have got a chance in the course of this World Cup.
00:40:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he's gone off to a good start. He's won 24 of his 32 games in charge. He plays, as we know, a very possession-based game, but he's increasingly moving away from what I think a lot of people associate Spain with, which is that
00:41:12
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:41:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
on the wings, so Yamal and Williams, and just let them run and let them play, let Pedro buzz around, let them do their stuff. So it's a bit more of a direct attacking style ah than we've perhaps been used to Spain maybe, don't know, 10 years ago, where it was just past everybody to death.
00:41:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's very much a coach. and I think we've we've really touched on this today. He's ah he's a coach who embraces youth. He loves bringing young players through. he wants to promote youth. He wants to nurture them. He wants to grow them.
00:41:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we might see some players who could break through in the next year, like Gonzalo Garcia, who had a great Club World Cup for Real Madrid. A lot of people clamouring for him to be involved. but he's But De La Fuente said no. you know He's still young. He's still got a lot to learn.
00:42:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
it comes it comes across to me as humble, as philosophical, as very grounded. And for that reason, I think he's exactly what Spain need. And i kind of i do agree with you on this.
00:42:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
If they've got any chance of winning next year, a lot of it's going to be down to him. A lot of it's going to be down to
00:42:28
Ken Davies
I think that's true. So where do you reckon they will finish next year?
00:42:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so predictions then to finish the podcast. I think come next year, Spain will have arguably the best squad in this new generation. kind of generational team now. I think we're seeing a new team emerge from the last one.
00:42:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
There'll be a lot of young players. They've got a wealth of talent and there'll be a lot of players who are left out of the Spain squad who will probably get into most other World Cup teams and squads.
00:43:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, their recent pedigree in the World Cup is not good.
00:43:09
Ken Davies
Interesting.
00:43:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
They don't travel that well. And amongst the vibrancy, enthusiasm and pace and talent of youth also comes inexperience. And if there's one thing you do need at a World Cup, if you're going to progress and win it, is experience.
00:43:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm very much looking forward to seeing them play. But I'm not sure they're going to go all way. I've got them down as semi-finalists.
00:43:36
Ken Davies
interesting
00:43:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:43:39
Ken Davies
We're very rarely miles apart on this, and i' i when we're not miles apart on this one either. um Looking at the last five games, which I did a bit of a deep dive into in preparation for this podcast, there's an air with Spain of we'll score more than you.
00:43:58
Ken Davies
they're obviously outstanding going forward. And a lot of that's from the midfield runners and things like that. They're just overwhelmed going forward. and've got some incredible talent. But I think they are a little bit brittle at the back.
00:44:10
Ken Davies
And they do concede against the better teams. They do concede. And I just think that's going to catch them out. I think you've pointed out the fact that their World Cup pedigree is not as good as it might be.
00:44:22
Ken Davies
They clearly aren't. They don't travel well. But, I wonder whether their style of play is going to be suited to the conditions. I've got a feeling it's going to be a slower-paced game over there, in the in particularly the games in Mexico, ah simply because of the conditions.
00:44:41
Ken Davies
So I'm going quarterfinals. I think it will be a surprise. I think everybody's going to say, oh, my word, it's been a disappointment.
00:44:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:44:49
Ken Davies
But you know what? In the context of all the other World Cups that Spain have played in, it's pretty standard. I think they're going out in quarterfinals. I can see them running up against the Uruguayan losing.
00:45:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good. Very good. Well, put it in your pad and we will discuss when we've got all the qualifiers. We will will revisit all of this and we'll revisit where early on in the yeah in this part of the World Cup build-up we think the teams are going to finish.
00:45:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, me, Semis, you, quarters.
00:45:18
Ken Davies
Yeah, think about right.
00:45:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good.
00:45:20
Ken Davies
think it's about right.
00:45:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Well, there we go. Very good. Well, back on 45 minutes, Ken. We've done it again.
00:45:25
Ken Davies
Professional.
00:45:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or do we have done it?
00:45:26
Ken Davies
What a pros we are.
00:45:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
we've done it for years. Yeah. ah Indeed. Where are we going to go next next week, mate? Where are we going to go? You're in charge of the calendar.
00:45:34
Ken Davies
and I don't know, where you fancy?
00:45:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're in charge of the world. should we do Should we stay in Europe and France?
00:45:38
Ken Davies
i
00:45:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or should we zip over to the other world and do something?
00:45:41
Ken Davies
Yeah, let's do France. Let's do France. Let's do France.
00:45:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, let's do France then. Another favourite for the World Cup. Another heavyweight in Europe. So we look very much look forward to that.
00:45:53
Ken Davies
with a great national anthem.
00:45:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for now,
00:45:55
Ken Davies
In fact, the only national anthem that isn't the English one, I can actually sing word for word. But I'm not going to do it
00:46:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we'll be listening to that next. Well, I think you've just laid down ah you've laid down your hat on that, Ken, my friend.
00:46:06
Ken Davies
do it.
00:46:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah i think we'll be listening to you.
00:46:06
Ken Davies
All
00:46:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
i won't play the intro next week. I won't play the the the yeah national anthem next week. I will just let you sing it.
00:46:13
Ken Davies
right, brilliant.
00:46:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we'll take view. We'll take a view.
00:46:17
Ken Davies
brilliant
00:46:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So until then, i hope you've enjoyed that, by the way. ah hope you've enjoyed that so deep dive into Spain. Some great talent in there, a few surprises. And until we meet next week when we're talking about France, have a great week.
00:46:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look after yourselves, look after each other. Goodbye.
00:46:36
Ken Davies
Bye-bye.