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The Road to World Cup 26 - ep7 - UEFA review
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Join your hosts Nick Britten and 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 take a look into the UEFA qualification, analyse the top teams, put Ken to the test on his European geography and our weekly focus is on San Marino, a microstate with a fascinating backstory.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts' Day
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a very warm welcome wherever you are listening in the world. This is the world Road to World Cup 26 podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Nick Britton.
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am joined as always by my great friend, colleague, an all-round good egg, Mr. Ken Davis. How are you, Kenny?
00:00:28
Ken Davies
I'm not great because neither of us are football teams this afternoon have of, let's say, they haven't exactly excelled themselves, have they?
UEFA's World Cup 26 Contenders
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's been a very poor day for us, football-wise. We're recording this on Good Friday, so April the 18th. And um it's been a bad day for my team, Derby County, who lost at home to re ah to ah Luton, rather. And Ken's team.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken, how did your team get on?
00:00:51
Ken Davies
we We had a 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers. That's Wrexham. And we needed to win it. Anyway, it's three games to go, all to play for.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:01:01
Ken Davies
But we've put ourselves behind the eight ball. But there you
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you're out the playoff places now. Sorry, you're out of the automatic places to go up from League One to the Championship in the in the English League. And Derby are probably going to get relegated down there. So, never mind that.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're here to talk about the World Cup 26. Now, as you'll know if you've been listening, we've been doing a global tour of all the various football confederations.
00:01:21
Ken Davies
you
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Today, our final stop is is a home stop, really, because we are we're based in the UK here. And today we're going to be talking and taking a deep dive into UEFA, the European teams, always strong contenders in the World Cup.
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think a couple of them are already favourites in the bookies' early betting odds. That's Spain and France, and we'll be having a look at them, no doubt.
Can England End Its Winless Streak?
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah but In today's episode, we're going to have a look through the qualification process.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, this is going to be complicated, but Ken's going to talk you through that. um I'm going to have a quick look on how qualifying is going. Can England end, what is it, 60 years of hurt, 70 years, 80, however many, I don't know, years of hurt, 1966 was the last time England won anything.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Can we finally break that duck? Which way for team will go furthest? There's a little bit, there's a new feature, by the way, there's a new feature here called Kenny's Quiz, and you can play along at home.
00:02:17
Ken Davies
Oh, good. I'm going embarrass myself...
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep, and we're going to... Well, it's only one question, so you can't go far wrong. And then, as you will know, if you've been listening to this regularly, we always like to step away from the football and take a deep dive, a deep dive into one of the nations that features in qualifying. But we'd just like to have a look and a little introduction to that nation, what it's all about.
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've learned about some fascinating places along this journey, haven't we, Ken?
00:02:40
Ken Davies
we We have. I enjoyed that little segment. I mean, it's nice to step away from the football and, you know, see where football fits in the context of of a particular nation, particularly one of the ones which we don't even or often hear about in relation to their football prowess, maybe.
00:02:56
Ken Davies
I think that's going to be the same today.
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Indeed, indeed. So let's kick it off.
UEFA Qualification Process Explained
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to first have a look at so the, well, what is qualification? But before that, let's have a little bit of this, seeing as we're in UEFA.
00:03:20
Ken Davies
Contre nous de laty ranny yeah let on da song la élevés. C'est the only national anthem that isn't the English national anthem I can sing all the way through, by the way.
00:03:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, well, we won't get you to do that. But I did enjoy that little ditty. That was that was a very good, Ken. that was ah That was a proper Welsh baritone there you were showing off. I like that.
00:03:41
Ken Davies
Bless you, bless you. you singing in French. So, yeah, welcome welcome home, Nick, by the way, to UEFA. Back from the sound of the samba to the sound of ABBA, techno, and status quo. ah it's so It's great to be back. Right, okay, UEFA.
00:03:58
Ken Davies
So, now, you've got a question for me, like, I'm going to throw, I'm going to introduce a question for you. I wasn't planning on doing that, but I'm going to do that now. ah Five UEFA teams have won the UEFA.
00:04:11
Ken Davies
the world cup in it's 22 uh outings which five
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which five UEFA teams have won the World Cup? Right, I'm going to start with England, obviously, won it in 1966.
00:04:24
Ken Davies
yep yeah yeah yeah
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Italy have won it. Spain have won it. Germany have won it.
00:04:29
Ken Davies
yeah
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
A few times. So there's going to be a curveball here, isn't there? and I can see that look on your face. I can see that look on your face straight away. You've got that smug look on your face to tell me that's that it's definitely not Scotland, that's for sure.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's certainly not Wales.
00:04:44
Ken Davies
You've had a massive clue already.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
What, in Scotland?
00:04:48
Ken Davies
No, Scotland hasn't won the World Cup.
00:04:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, France, of course.
00:04:51
Ken Davies
No.
00:04:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
so France won in 1998. I thought I'd already said them. Yeah, so there you go.
00:04:54
Ken Davies
la my da la Yeah.
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was too easy. That's too easy. You've got to make it a bit harder than that, mate.
00:04:59
Ken Davies
Yeah, well, I know you you you said Scotland before you said France.
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got to make it bit harder than that.
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought I'd already said France because they would be top of my list other than Spain.
00:05:02
Ken Davies
Right, okay. yeah so Germany, Italy, France, Spain and England. And now remember, UEFA get 16 for the first time direct
UEFA Qualification Status Review
00:05:13
Ken Davies
entries.
00:05:13
Ken Davies
They don't get any qualification places, by the way. So it's either you get a direct entry or you wait another four years. Eight out of the top 10 ranked teams in the world are in UEFA.
00:05:27
Ken Davies
So it's a highly competitive um qualification process and confederation. And the way it works is this. We've got 54 teams. Everybody get their abacuses out and the calculators on the phones out. 54 teams. How do you get from 54 to 16?
00:05:45
Ken Davies
sixteen Right, this is the way you do it. There are 12 groups. Six of those groups have got four teams in them. So there's 24 teams. Six of those groups have got five teams in them and there's another 30. So that makes 54. So we've got now 54 teams in 12 groups.
00:06:06
Ken Davies
And the way it works, it's pretty familiar. Home and away in the group stages, All the winners qualify. So there's 12. We put them 12. put them Book their tickets on the plane to Canada, United States and Mexico.
00:06:21
Ken Davies
And that means there's four remaining guaranteed places. How does that work out? Well, this is the way it works. The 12 runners-up in those 12 groups plus...
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:06:35
Ken Davies
The four best ranked teams that are not already there or in the playoffs from the UEFA Nations League competition.
00:06:46
Ken Davies
So UEFA, and this is the only example of where I'm aware of this around the world, have kind of included a different completely different competition in the qualification process for the World Cup.
00:06:59
Ken Davies
So 12 winners go, 12 winners up go into this kind of playoff scenario and so do the four best teams who did not finish in the first one and two and they all play off.
00:07:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:07:15
Ken Davies
The top four that emerge from that process join the 12 already automatically go into the World Cup, and there's your 16th. So that's a pretty simple way of doing it.
00:07:26
Ken Davies
Just quickly, as we always like to include every team on this, it won't be that quick. It's going to take two minutes, this. So you've got 12 groups. going take you through the groups. So you've got A, Germany, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.
00:07:40
Ken Davies
B, Switzerland, Sweden, Slovakia, Kosovo. C, Denmark, Greece, Scotland, and Belarus.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:07:47
Ken Davies
Okay, that looks like a yeah kind of division of death, that, doesn't it? I think to me, a group of death. D, France, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan. E, Spain, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.
00:08:00
Ken Davies
F, Portugal, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, and Armenia. That's not going to be an one either. And then you get onto five team groups. G, Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, and Malta.
00:08:12
Ken Davies
H, which is Austria, Romania, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:08:17
Ken Davies
Cyprus and San Marino, our favourite team. Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, estonia and Moldova. Tough group, that one as well.
00:08:27
Ken Davies
J, Belgium, Wales, favourites for the World Cup there. North ma Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. K, England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.
00:08:38
Ken Davies
And finally, L, Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands and Gibraltar. Bet the Faroe Islands against Gibraltar again.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it's a game. I'm not sure it's football, but it's a game of summer.
00:08:51
Ken Davies
So there you are. That's everything you need about qualification. 16 teams go there. And, you know, there's a good chance one of those 16 is going end up winning it.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, nice one, Kenny. and it's so You've done well there, actually. that was that was That was much more. You're getting good at this. You're getting good at this right at the end of our final confederation.
00:09:05
Ken Davies
Yeah, it's a six out of six. in now well
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is it. This is it. it took a but It took a good half an hour to get through Asia. And I was thinking, do I need to nip out and have a cup of tea? But you you got through that very quickly, so well done.
00:09:16
Ken Davies
Albert Einstein wouldn't get through Asia any quicker than I did.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Once you...
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Once you get through actually the kind of process, it becomes quite straightforward and in in Europe.
00:09:23
Ken Davies
want to notice you've not done it.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
but mainly Mainly because ah could have done ah mainly because ah there aren't any teams entering the the playoffs and all of that.
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
There aren't these kind of nonsensical loads of teams. or was it um one of it ah It was asia wasn't it, where there's just loads and loads and loads of games before you finally get to any kind of resolutions?
00:09:43
Ken Davies
Oh, it's madness. And like con-bomob, it's like beautiful because it's just like, everyone play in the league, tell us who wins, see you later.
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah yeah Yeah, top six. Yeah, in South America, it's top six, isn't it?
00:09:50
Ken Davies
That's what you want. That's what you want.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then seventh is in the playoff. That's crazy. Right, well, look, how's qualification going? Well, the answer is UEFA is behind the curve here because some teams haven't even started qualifying. It really doesn't get underway in earnest until June.
00:10:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So all the groups where there are four teams have yet to start. So... played none, lost none, which is great because it means Scotland are unbeaten. So well done for them. ah Once we get into the groups with five, they've already kicked off and they kicked off in March. So that's group G, H, I, J, K and L. Nothing really to report other than in group J. So in group G, Poland play 2-1-2. They top the group. Group H, but Bosnia and Herzegovina play 2-1-2, top the group.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Group I, Norway, play 2-1-2, top the group. ah K, England, play 2-1-2, top the group. And L, Czech Republic, play 2-1-2, top the group.
00:10:43
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Group J is an interesting one because Belgium... who are yeah they always do pretty well in European competitions and in world competitions. They're a force to be reckoned with. ah of They're expected to top the group.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Macedonia have played two and won one of four points. Wales have played two and won one of four points. Kazakhstan have played two won one of three points. That could be quite a tight group, you know.
00:11:08
Ken Davies
yeah
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
belgium however but Belgium haven't played yet, by the way, just in case you think they're not doing very well.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
They haven't played yet.
00:11:12
Ken Davies
So they're bottom.
00:11:13
Ken Davies
They're bottom of group.
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah They're fourth out fifth because Liechtenstein have played two and lost two.
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So, but Belgium yet to get their campaign underway, but that could be an interesting group we want to keep an eye on.
00:11:19
Ken Davies
f
00:11:24
Ken Davies
Yeah, Wales are a funny little team. They're obviously my favourite team, but they are... They're going through a bit of a transition at the moment. I i can't... I'd love Wales to qualify, but I can't see.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I can't. I can't see it. I can't see it. When you say they're going through a bit of a transition, do you mean back to being terrible after having had a little bit of period of being all right?
00:11:43
Ken Davies
Yeah. There will be people from Wales listening to this.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you. and that's um
00:11:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You with your Exum top one. Right, so that's qualification. Obviously, as qualification really kicks off in earnest later on um in the summer, we will certainly bring you more news of how all that
Debate: England's World Cup Prospects
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
is going. But for now, we're going to have a look at a couple of the biggest teams in the UEFA section.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
As Ken said, the top eight there are two top eight are are ah European teams. so and Spain, France, England, Germany are probably the strongest four, I would imagine. Because we are based, and always giving me a look there, Ken, who are you thinking?
00:12:24
Ken Davies
but Germany are ranked 10th in the world. It's been a long time since Germany ranked 10th in the world.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but it is, but they're always still good at tournaments.
00:12:31
Ken Davies
They are. They do, don't they?
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
They always turn They know how to perform in tournaments.
00:12:34
Ken Davies
They do.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um in the In the early bookies betting, they've only just started opening the book on a World Cup, by the way, but Spain and France are the joint favourites. Argentina are third, England are fourth. So it's looking like at this stage, Europe are going to feature strongly as they always do.
00:12:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to kick off by having a quick look at England because we are based in England. So why wouldn't we? Ken, new manager, Thomas Tuchel.
00:12:59
Ken Davies
Yep.
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
replaced Gareth Southgate just in time for the two qualifiers in March, which England won and won quite comfortably, as you would expect them to against Latvia and Albania. England have had a good last few years. They got to the final of the Euros last year, the European Championships.
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Prior to that in France, they got... Sorry, prior to that in the World Cup in Qatar, they got to the quarterfinals, semifinals before that. They're doing well and and and also... the previous final of the Euros as where they lost to Italy.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they've not won anything yet, but they've made they've gone deep into the last four tournaments they've been in. What do you think about their chances?
00:13:37
Ken Davies
i I am not very optimistic, Nick. I have to...
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that just in general or just about England?
00:13:45
Ken Davies
No, but ah but but I'm generally quite an upbeat person, but I'm not particularly optimistic about English, Chelsea. I think I was looking at this in a bit of depth before this we recorded this. I like Tuchel, by the way, and I think he's a good manager. I think he's a very good appointment.
00:14:00
Ken Davies
I had a pretty of a bit of a downer on Southgate. I think Southgate, and I know we kind of got to the final Euros, but I don't think anybody who who is is half an English supporter was watching England play and thinking they're world beaters.
00:14:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:14:16
Ken Davies
ah We just went. and And we were far too passive. We were far too... passing around the midfield and backwards. Tuchel's better at that. He's much more, in my opinion anyway, much more fun for us as a coach, ah much more pressing, much more dynamic.
00:14:33
Ken Davies
And I like all that. So that's good. um I was looking at the squads and we've got some decent players emerging, but I'm just running through the key players.
00:14:46
Ken Davies
Pickford, decent keeper. Defenders. Yeah. Trent, yeah, good.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:14:52
Ken Davies
Trent Alexander-Arnold, great, decent player. ah Midfield's very good. Declan Rice, Bellingham, Phil Foden, Saka. Lewis Skelly, who's kind of emerging as well.
00:15:05
Ken Davies
I just think we're not going to have enough firepower. I was looking at the forwards. Foden, okay, is he a forward? but if Let's conclude him as as a forward, but you know he's not scored tons.
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had a poor season.
00:15:16
Ken Davies
Kane.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had a poor season by his standards, Phil Foden.
00:15:18
Ken Davies
He's had a pause. He's had a pause.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
As have Manchester City, to be fair, but no.
00:15:21
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's right. That's right. Kane. Well, we could talk. i think we need to talk offline about Kane or after this Rashford, Solanke and but Bowen. Now both me and you are big fans of Gerard Bowen.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's one of my favourite players in the Premier League, yeah.
00:15:35
Ken Davies
Uh, He's a great player. He scored one goal in 16 England appearances. So I don't think we've got anything like, in comparison to the other teams are going to be at the at the yeah ah the World Cup, enough firepower.
00:15:49
Ken Davies
We're going to dominate the group stages. We always do. I just don't think we're going to enough up front when the rubber really hits the road.
00:15:59
Ken Davies
ah in in America, Mexico and and Canada in 26. So where do I think they're going to come? think they're going to end up quarter finalists. Can't see them getting further than that.
00:16:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm gonna offer you a little bit more of an optimistic view then. i'm goingnna I'm gonna flip i'm goingnna flip the coin on this.
00:16:12
Ken Davies
oh
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
two Two really important things for me. One is the manager. Now, as you've i I agree with you. I was not enamoured by Gareth Southgate at all. As a football manager, I thought he was passive. I didn't think England played that well.
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even though we got to the latter stages of tournaments, we had good teams and we had chances to win tournaments, particularly that Italy game in the Euros in the last year. period when When it was there, they were there for the taking and it just, you know, the Italy made changes.
00:16:38
Ken Davies
Absolutely.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
We didn't make changes. cetera so I mean, it did go down to penalty kicks. It was the width of the penalty kick that did for us. But hey-ho. The reality is when we played Spain in the European Championship Finals last summer, although in the end it was close, and in the end we almost snatched something out of the game late on, for the vast majority of the game we weren't in it. Spain were just so much better.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we've now got a manager.
00:17:00
Ken Davies
Absolutely dominant.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Gareth Southgate, as a manager, has won very little. He was promoted through the England pathway, did the England under-21s, He's not ah what I would call an elite manager capable of winning the World Cup.
00:17:10
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thomas Tuchel, however, has got a much better CV in terms of his ability to win things. He's won the Champions League with Chelsea, the Bundesliga with Bayern, Ligue 1 with PSG. a load of domestic cups. He's won the UEFA Super Cup. He's won the FIFA World Club Cup.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got a trophy cabinet. He knows how to win tournaments. He knows how to win these big, big club games. That, to me, could be a game changer.
00:17:40
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the second thing that I really like, I think England have got a good conveyor belt of young players coming in who could make a difference. and We've already started to see them in the qualifiers. So,
00:17:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lewis Marskelly, particularly from Arsenal, looks nailed on for a full-back place already.
00:17:57
Ken Davies
Yeah, he does.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's had an excellent season with Arsenal and he will fill a problem spot.
00:17:58
Ken Davies
He does.
00:18:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Morgan Rodgers at Aston Villa has had a great season. He could come in and influence the group. Ebereche Eze at Crystal Palace. he's yeah he's called He's got great talent in his boots, capable of unlocking defences at will.
00:18:09
Ken Davies
That's a good plan.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
In that middle, you've got Declan Rice who's really coming into his prime. You've got Jude Bellingham who's a global sort of superstar now. And i I kind of, I do agree with you.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, in your in your list of strikers there, you missed out, I think, Ollie Watkins, who's Kane's understudy.
00:18:32
Ken Davies
you know I guess
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is the issue. That is the issue. But... Already, Tuchel looks to be playing a lot more progressively than Gareth Southgate in in these qualifiers. It's very difficult, isn't it?
00:18:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's face It's difficult to judge England in these qualifiers because they are against Albania.
00:18:47
Ken Davies
can stop it it is.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. But he did at least release midfielders forward, whereas I think Southgate would have kept two holding midfielders. ah here Here, we kind of had one holder, but but that released sort Declan Rice forward. It released Duke Bellingham forward.
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it may be that the goals come from there rather than all all the time come from strikers. Because without Harry Kane, we are going to struggle.
00:19:06
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:19:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We really, really are.
00:19:10
Ken Davies
With Harry Kane, going to struggle. And we need to talk we need to talk about Kane.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
The problem is...
00:19:14
Ken Davies
Because, you know, Kane in the Euros... 33, it'll be
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
he had ah He had a poor tournament, but he wasn't fit. He wasn't fit. He's had a sensational season with Bayern Munich this year. he's going They're going to win the Bundesliga, I think. But he's going to be another year older by the time the World Cup comes around next summer.
00:19:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree with you in as much as it's it's not good to have Kane as our only real top-level striker.
00:19:41
Ken Davies
We're a long... Yeah, and that that is going to be our Achilles heel or England's Achilles heel. And ah whether we can, you know, between now and, you know, it's the end of next season, you know, someone could emerge and in course of next year that really, you know, lights things up in the box, the opponent's box. But we need someone or we need a couple to really impose themselves because my problem is, as Southgate did recently,
00:20:10
Ken Davies
Tuchel says to Kane, tell us if you want to play, and if you want to play, you can play. That seems to be the case at Southgate.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Southgate, not Southwold.
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Southwold's a place on the on the the English East Coast, yes.
00:20:21
Ken Davies
not that's funny as south cap yeah well, I'm going next week, I see.
00:20:26
Ken Davies
But but that's the problem with Southgate. I don't want that to be the problem with Tuchel. I think Tuchel has to be really... hard about his choices and you know because you've played 185 for England it doesn't matter yeah with if
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if that's the point, is it? The point is he plays because we haven't got anybody better.
00:20:48
Ken Davies
that's the that's the point then that's the problem and I think it's still a problem and I think it's going to be the thing that trips them up so where do you think they'll they'll finish the World Cup
00:20:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go one better than you. I think they're good for a semi-final place. They're good for a semi-final.
00:21:01
Ken Davies
Okay. Okay. Do you think that would be considered success?
00:21:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's very difficult because the only thing that's considered success now by England supporters, who are a hard bunch to please, let's face it, is winning.
00:21:13
Ken Davies
And we don't travel well, do we? Yeah,
00:21:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, and it's going to be really hot as well. It's gonna be really hot over there.
00:21:18
Ken Davies
yeah we're not good in the heat. We're not. ah I was looking at the last five England qualifications the World Cup. 06 quarterfinals. 2010, round 16.
00:21:31
Ken Davies
14, group stages. 18, fourth place, decent. 22, quarterfinals. it's not That doesn't shout World Cup winners to me, I'm afraid.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I don't think it shouts World Cup winners to anybody. I don't shouts World Cup winners to anybody. But I'm hoping that if we are serial quarter finalists, a change of manager and hopefully a bit more of a younger and vibrant side might just see us through to that semi-finals.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But
00:21:57
Ken Davies
Well, it's going to be a very interesting watch.
00:21:59
Ken Davies
It's going to be a very interesting thing to analyse as we go through qualification and particularly in the competition. Wish them well, but I think it's going to be a struggle.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:22:08
Ken Davies
So who do you reckon of the teams that ah ah we think are going to be the amongst the leading UEFA teams?
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
Spain's World Cup Lineup and Strengths
00:22:15
Ken Davies
Who kind of catches your eye in terms of potential?
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
but so i don't think Well, you can't look further than Spain, can you? You can't you just can't look further than Spain.
00:22:20
Ken Davies
and
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are the reigning European Championship ah holders. They're progressing well in the UEFA Nations League, so their form is strong this year. They've got a great side. And there's a reason why the bookies have installed them as early favourites for the World Cup, because they are going to be there and thereabouts.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I sense already, unless we get an outlier here, it's going to be Spain or Argentina again.
00:22:45
Ken Davies
It's hard to look past one of them. i will i will include France in that.
Analyzing France's Team Dynamics
00:22:51
Ken Davies
ah I think France...
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I don't know. Why? Why why why are you going to include Francois?
00:22:56
Ken Davies
Well, ah well again, i was just looking at the team and I just i just think think there's some real standouts there ah in in in in the French team.
00:23:09
Ken Davies
Didier Deschamps, he's been there since, woke up winning himself, been there since 2012. He's got some real stability there. By the way, by the way... This is the level of detail that we, i should say, listen listener, this is the level of detail we go to on this podcast to bring you the kind of nuance and analysis you won't get anywhere else.
00:23:31
Ken Davies
So I was looking through the the coaching staff of the French team. Okay. As I do with most of these teams in prep for this, they're the only one with a chef.
00:23:45
Ken Davies
They've got a chef as part of their coaching staff. Xavier Rousseau is the official chef. ah I just thought that was so French.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
everybody has Everybody has an official chef, there don't they? They take their own chefs and these things, don't they?
00:23:59
Ken Davies
But they're not on Wikipedia as being, that yeah this is the this is the bloke. Click on him and you'll get you'll get is his menu. he's
00:24:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you you try to tell me you try tell me that your research is looking at Wikipedia?
00:24:08
Ken Davies
yeah they
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that it?
00:24:12
Ken Davies
ah Wikipedia, and you've got you've got to look at every source that's open to you. and but And if I had looked at Wikipedia, I wouldn't find Xavier Russo, who is the official French chef, by the way, who probably is still a better striker than Harry Kane.
00:24:25
Ken Davies
Anyway, so, right. So, Deschamps has been there since 22, ranked three in the world behind Argentina and Spain, who clearly we've got favourites.
00:24:35
Ken Davies
Qualification is going to be easy. Azerbaijan, Iceland and Ukraine, not going to be hiccups there. Like the keeper, keeper Mike Mignon, I don't know if you saw the game against Croatia and the in the Europa League thing.
00:24:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's great player.
00:24:49
Ken Davies
ah Penalty shoots out, looks good looks good against penalties. that's That's useful to have. But Great defence. I love Saliba as a player. I see a lot of him at Arsenal.
00:25:01
Ken Davies
He just seems absolute rock to me.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's a great player
00:25:04
Ken Davies
Canarte, great player. Canarte is good at the back as well. Got decent midfield, but I think in attack, Mbappe, obviously, he missed a couple of games, by the way, really just resting him.
00:25:17
Ken Davies
They brought him back. Ollise, Michael Ollise, who's ex-Palace.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Michael Aliso, yeah, ex-Palace place for Bayern, yeah.
00:25:23
Ken Davies
Good player.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:25
Ken Davies
Griezmann can still do it. Ousmane Dembele can do it. Paris Saint-Germain. They've got goals.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Okay, i'll tell yeah i'll tell you also I'll tell you what they've got also, though.
00:25:31
Ken Davies
They've got goals.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
i'll tell you what they've also got. They've got the the ability, more than any other team, to implode and argue with each other. That's probably why they've got a chef. So they can demand... They'll just fall out with each other.
00:25:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Mbappe particularly. Now, Mbappe is an interesting one because um on the um the national stage, he's done very, very well. At club level, he has massively underperformed, both at PSG and at Real Madrid.
00:25:52
Ken Davies
Yeah, i agree with that. Yeah, I'd agree with that.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he can do it. He can do it. But it's noticeable how much club level teams get better when he leaves because he's not a team player. He's not a team player.
00:26:06
Ken Davies
Yeah. No, I agree with that. We see... we shes
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
These things at tournaments, when you're all cooped up together and you're playing loads of games in a short space of time, these things can sometimes come back and bite you. That's all I'll say.
00:26:16
Ken Davies
Yeah, we we we had a similar debate about Ronaldo last time. And I think it's... ah But it's... Yeah, OK. I think I take that on board. think... I can't see him winning it.
00:26:27
Ken Davies
I can't see him winning it. But I think there'll be... I think i think there'll be...
00:26:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. All right. Well, I think if you if you are looking at teams to win it, I'm going to go for so for Spain. i I'm going have a quick look at them. As I say, they are the current European Championship holders. They won it last year, beating England in the final 2-1.
00:26:32
Ken Davies
Semi-finalists.
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've carried on their good form into the UEFA Nations League tournament, where last month they beat Netherlands on penalties. They're in the semifinals there. What they've got and what really like about them, I love their coach, Vincent Del Bosque.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's very experienced.
00:26:56
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's very good. He knows his way. He knows how to win tournaments.
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
That counts. That's that's really big. But they've got a brilliant blend of youth and experience. And I like that. And their players are all, you know, high, high, high, high level.
00:27:00
Ken Davies
He does.
00:27:10
Ken Davies
Hmm. Hmm.
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
They really are. So if you look at the experienced players, you've got Alvaro Morata, who Chelsea fans remember from back in the day, who now playing over in Turkey.
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's the captain. He's 32 years old. He's got 85 caps. He's not actually, and here might be here might be a lesson for England, he's not actually a prolific goal scorer at all. He doesn't score that many. There are others who are more, but he fits their system superbly.
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a great leader and he fits them superbly. Danny Carvajal, 33-year-old veteran, Real Madrid, fullback, what a player he is, and arguably the best player in the world,
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
prior to his ACL injury earlier on this season, was Rodri at Manchester City, who holds everything together as a defensive midfielder.
00:27:52
Ken Davies
like
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everything goes through him. He's 28 years old, so he's in a prime. Absolutely disastrous, his injury. It's been a dis disaster for Manchester City.
00:28:02
Ken Davies
Oh, Man City have been a different team without Roderick.
00:28:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
they have ah They haven't haven't recovered. And I really, really hope two things.
00:28:06
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:28:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope that he gets back fit soon. But more importantly, hope that this injury hasn't in any way negated his brilliance because he's the sort of player that you pay money to watch. He is just great.
00:28:20
Ken Davies
Yeah, it's it's and it's the kind of injury that probably he's got a good chance that it won't affect him because the because because of how he sits and distributes. he's not He's not a box-to-box type in that sense, is he?
00:28:32
Ken Davies
So I think he's got a good chance to recover from that and get back his former glory.
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. Well, I really hope so. Yeah, I mean, we say every a weekend, don't At the World Cup, we we want to see the best players in the world.
00:28:40
Ken Davies
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Rodri is one of the best players in the world. and then And then, you know, they they're not good enough as experienced players. Some of the youth coming through is unbelievable. So, Lamine Yamala, everybody's talking about him.
00:28:49
Ken Davies
Magnificent.
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
17 years old. Hit the stage big time in the Euros last year when he was just 16.
00:28:53
Ken Davies
magnificent
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lit up the tournament. Absolutely lit up the tournament. Having another great season with Barcelona. Plays on the wing. He is rapid. He is rapid. ah Great pace. Great creek key creativity. Scores goals.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's already, at 17 years old, one of the first names on the team sheet. Into the midfield, you've got Pedri, 22-year-old. Engine on him is unbelievable. Passing range is unbelievable.
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is what you call an absolute prime Spanish player. In five years' time, as he hits, or four four years' time maybe, as he hits his prime, this kid is going to be superb.
00:29:20
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's already superb. Slight concerns over his injuries, but what a great player. He is at 22. And then another one who's really been catching the eye over the last few months is Nico Williams, who is a winger.
00:29:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Plays for um Athletic Club. Plays 22 years old. Again, his speed. His speed is just fast and skillful. He can run with a ball. He can attack fullbacks.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was great in the Euros last year. Again, he
00:29:53
Ken Davies
With a name like Nico Williams, though, shouldn't he be playing for Wales? I'm just...
00:29:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's... There is a Nico Williams who plays for Wales and plays for Nottingham Forest, but it's a different player.
00:30:02
Ken Davies
Oh, right, okay. But and if your name is Williams, it should be automatic qualification for Wales, surely?
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not...
00:30:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
is not as good as this Nico Williams.
00:30:09
Ken Davies
No. but um
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sad to say.
00:30:12
Ken Davies
I wish Wales should just be populated by everybody called Nico Williams. It should be 11 Nico Williamses. Can you imagine the commentary?
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, then you have... Yeah, but what a chant. There's only 11 Nico Williamses. 11 Nico Williamses. OK, what do we like about Spain? Well, i like the way they're set up. So they're set up in a 4-3-3, but in a very, very fluid 4-3-3 formation. Players moving around all over the pitch and they they they sort of shift their shape as they go around.
00:30:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um They control the ball. They love possession. But long gone, I'm very glad to say, by the way, long gone are the days of tiki-taka where it's just endless passing for the sake of passing.
00:30:42
Ken Davies
I hate
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
everything they do. there' a big debate about that over in England, by the way, about that form of football and the fact um what Pep Guardiola has done in Man City. But is are the days of Tiki Taggart well and truly over? That's for another day.
00:30:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's for another podcast, Ken.
00:30:55
Ken Davies
them. Let's hope so
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But they they they attack at pace. They attack down the wings. They get the fullbacks overlapping. And they've got wingers who just run and run and run at full. But they're fullback's nightmare.
00:31:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're a fullback's absolute nightmare. And then if that's not bad enough, in the middle of the pitch, you've got Rodri, as we've talked about, just receiving and passing, receiving and passing, playing through the lines.
00:31:13
Ken Davies
yeah
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah The difficulty with trying to play, ah spain is that you've just got no idea where they're going to hit you from next. They'll hit down the wing, they'll down the you just don't know.
00:31:24
Ken Davies
I think also and they've got a great press um I mean the great out of possession the great out of possession as well it great iposition they are a top team and hey if this ends up being Arsenal against ear and Argentina against Spain Argentina against Spain in the finals
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's so difficult to defend against.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they do. Yeah, they work so hard. Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal. Arsenal against Spain is not going to be a great World Cup final.
00:31:45
Ken Davies
It'd be an unusual one. Now, Argentina against Spain final.
00:31:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It certainly
00:31:50
Ken Davies
We can almost predict it now. That'll be a final.
00:31:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. um so So listen, that's Spain. I think crucial to the hopes of winning the World Cup is getting Rodri fit and firing.
00:31:58
Ken Davies
Yeah, yeah.
00:31:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if they do, they've got an unbelievable chance. Right.
00:32:02
Ken Davies
I disagree with that.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Before we move on, let's have a little bit of this from our sponsors.
Geography Quiz: Countries Bordering Germany
00:32:45
Ken Davies
He's sexy
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's quiz time, ladies and gentlemen.
00:32:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
A new bit of this podcast, a weekly set thing we're going to put in every week, it's Kenny's Quiz.
00:32:59
Ken Davies
okay Here we go.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's only one question.
00:33:03
Ken Davies
That is the cheesiest bit music I've ever heard in my life. Where did you get that from? The cheese LP.
00:33:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
quiz It's quiz music, man. It's quiz music. Right.
00:33:13
Ken Davies
Right.
00:33:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kenny's Quiz.
00:33:15
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:33:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It's always, by the way, the theme of the quiz is always about what we're doing podcasting about. So today it's about UEFA and one of the key competitors. So Ken, and you play along at home. So shout out the answer at home.
00:33:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah or ah Or actually, we're now doing all this stuff on Instagram. So come and join us on Instagram at World Cup 26, Rotor World Cup 26. Right. Germany has the most amount of neighbours in Europe.
00:33:35
Ken Davies
okay
00:33:40
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:33:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
How many countries border Germany, Ken?
00:33:44
Ken Davies
Nine.
00:33:46
Ken Davies
Nine.
00:33:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can't hear you, that's too quick.
00:33:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:33:53
Ken Davies
ah
00:33:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
what are but What are they then?
00:33:56
Ken Davies
I would say nine. know if it is nine, but but let's let's go then. Okay, it is. you want me to name them?
00:34:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want you to name them.
00:34:05
Ken Davies
Then I will go Poland. Poland.
00:34:10
Ken Davies
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, ah Austria, Liechtenstein, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Slovenia.
00:34:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's have a look. No, you're just making them up now.
00:34:30
Ken Davies
No, I've missed one. That would be Denmark,
00:34:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You missed loads. like you've named You've just named loads of random countries in Europe.
00:34:35
Ken Davies
andmark Denmark ah and the final one would be Luxembourg.
00:34:43
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all I've got to I've got to play that every week. I love that little D.
00:34:49
Ken Davies
That's a lot more than nine.
00:34:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, you've named 30 countries, and you haven't even named the right nine yet. So I'll give you half a point.
00:34:55
Ken Davies
but Was it nine?
00:34:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll give you half a point.
00:34:57
Ken Davies
Was it actually nine?
00:34:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was nine, yeah. Oh, did you do not know that?
00:35:00
Ken Davies
i
00:35:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
i was just a You said it with such conviction. I presumed you knew.
00:35:04
Ken Davies
Well, i did, yeah. I did that. I did that.
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, listeners at home, did you know it was nine, and did you get them?
00:35:06
Ken Davies
i think
00:35:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
The answers are Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg. And you didn't say that, so don't even make that face.
00:35:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Belgium and the Netherlands. So I reckon you got about four those.
00:35:25
Ken Davies
I got all of them apart from Switzerland.
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then you named... No, you didn't.
00:35:27
Ken Davies
I think you'll find.
00:35:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You didn't isn't say Luxembourg.
00:35:28
Ken Davies
So listeners, what I suggest to you, listeners, is do you can know when it says 15 seconds? You can go back 15 seconds. Press that five times and you'll find out. I said all of them apart from Switzerland.
00:35:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, okay. Well, good effort, mate. Well done.
00:35:41
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:35:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
was super impressed you got nine, actually. I'm to have to make them a little bit harder.
00:35:46
Ken Davies
That was a bit of a guess, but there you
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
A little bit harder. Yeah. Right, okay. ah Finally, then. Finally, finally,
Exploring San Marino's History and Legends
00:35:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
finally. are we going to have a look at San Marino? Are we going to have a look at San Marino?
00:35:54
Ken Davies
Yeah. Let's have quick look at San Marino.
00:35:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
San Marino. What do we know about San Marino? Well, it's a tiny country. with a big story to tell. And one of the reasons why I love doing this podcast, and do say this every week, but I'm going to carry on saying it, is that it gives us an opportunity to really delve down into some of these magnificent countries and find out stuff that you never, ever knew.
00:36:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I actually didn't know exactly where San Marino was. And I certainly didn't know quite a lot about what one I'm going to do. Hang on a minute.
00:36:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Ken, quiz number two.
00:36:32
Ken Davies
i
00:36:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
How many countries border San Marino?
00:36:36
Ken Davies
Nine. One.
00:36:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I have to accept your first answer, unfortunately.
00:36:42
Ken Davies
ah It's Italy.
00:36:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:36:43
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is it Italy, yeah. So, what is it and where is it? it's um is what's It's what's known as a microstate.
00:36:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it sits in land It's landlocked and it sits in northeast Italy, close to Rimini and Bologna. It's tiny. It has a population of just 34,000. And that was just slightly over the number of people at today's Derby v. Luton game.
00:36:50
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:37:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you can imagine how small it is.
00:37:06
Ken Davies
I'd rather be in San Marino, I'll be quite honest with you.
00:37:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
everybody and Nobody at either venue would want to swap. ah Nobody in San Marino go, yeah, you know what I'd rather be watching Derby nil, Luton one. No, nobody wants to do that. 34,000 people.
00:37:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It is considered to be the oldest surviving republic in the world. But it's not the only microstate in Italy, is it, Ken?
00:37:27
Ken Davies
No, it's not.
00:37:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
because you Because the other microstate in Italy is...
00:37:31
Ken Davies
It is, oh my word.
00:37:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quiz time. Quiz time.
00:37:36
Ken Davies
Where? Uh, uh, Andorra.
00:37:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I was just saying, no, no, no.
00:37:40
Ken Davies
No, Andorra Space. No, I don't know. going
00:37:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
The answer is the Vatican City.
00:37:45
Ken Davies
Ah.
00:37:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you should have got that, mate.
00:37:47
Ken Davies
Fair enough. I should have got
00:37:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
The one thing I love about San Marino, folks, is how it came into being. It's a great story, by the way, and there are various stories.
00:37:56
Ken Davies
Come on.
00:37:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So legend goes...
00:37:57
Ken Davies
We'll do the joke of that, Nick.
00:37:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Legend goes that it was founded by ah ah guy called Marinus, hence its name, who went on to be Saint Marinus, hence Saint Marina. sun ah But in the days prior to becoming a saint, he was a stonemason.
00:38:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the story goes, the legend goes that one day he was doing a bit of stonemasoning in a place called Rab, which we now commonly know in the modern times as Croatia.
00:38:23
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:38:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the story was he was doing it with his best mate Leo. So I'm going to play the part of Marinus. Ken, you can play the part of ria ah Leo.
00:38:34
Ken Davies
Enjoy this.
00:38:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay And so, hey, hey, Leo, Leo, put down your little stonemasony things. Put down your stonemasony things. but That's it. Mate, do you fancy going to Rimini to do a bit of preaching?
00:38:47
Ken Davies
Why not? i've got nothing else to do, Darby. I'm playing at home this weekend.
00:38:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, okay, good. So let's do that. So off they went to Rimini to do a bit of preaching. But as a Christian, he was persecuted. And he went into hiding on a mountain called Monte Titano, where he built a church.
00:38:59
Ken Davies
dear.
00:39:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And slowly and slowly, his followers came.
00:39:07
Ken Davies
Who's the stonemason? He had an advantage, didn't he?
00:39:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah so To be fair, yeah, that's good, yeah yeah.
00:39:10
Ken Davies
Let's be honest.
00:39:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think he would have been able to do that if he had been a bus driver?
00:39:14
Ken Davies
No, if it being a fisherman, San Marino would never have existed.
00:39:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he would never have been a saint. Yeah, I'll tell you, mate, sliding doors moment's here.
00:39:21
Ken Davies
No.
00:39:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And slowly and surely, um he people went to kind of listen to him and and follow him and stuff like that. And he became saint. Yeah, don't know.
00:39:32
Ken Davies
What about his mate, though? What mate do?
00:39:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah no no no yeah i don't know the lot nobody Leo, who knows?
00:39:36
Ken Davies
He took all the glory, didn't he?
00:39:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
did did
00:39:39
Ken Davies
Took all the glory. His little mate, what was his mate called?
00:39:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leo.
00:39:42
Ken Davies
Leo, never heard of again.
00:39:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, exactly. Another story was that he traveled from Rab to Rimery. I don't know whether Leo was involved in this one.
00:39:51
Ken Davies
I doubt it.
00:39:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He might have just...
00:39:51
Ken Davies
Not the first time.
00:39:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, true. Yeah, he's go i'm not having that again. Thank you very much. He found loads of Christians ah that had been sentenced to hard labor because they'd been persecuted. And he sought to comfort them and be nice and and help.
00:40:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then in ah old age, he became a hermit. But because of all the good he had done, he was gifted the mountain by somebody, and then he then he went and they built a church and a monastery, and that's how San Marino came into being.
00:40:14
Ken Davies
um Mate, it's every day is a school day with you.
00:40:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's a third. There's a third and my favorite version.
00:40:20
Ken Davies
Oh, good, good. I'm hoping there
00:40:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this is this. Is that one day, he he was he was doing all his preaching and stonemacing and tick, tick, tick, tick in the street. Yeah, that doesn't sound like stonemacing, but...
00:40:38
Ken Davies
was. Go on, Nick.
00:40:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:40:40
Ken Davies
Go on.
00:40:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um anyway, he was accosted one day.
00:40:40
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:40:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
this is this is This is a story that has been published, by the way. He was accosted one day by a mad woman in the street who accused him of being her ex-husband.
00:40:53
Ken Davies
Right.
00:40:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he ran off and became a hermit.
00:40:54
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:40:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he became a hermit in this mountain, built a church and a monastery, et cetera, cetera, cetera.
00:40:58
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:41:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's how San Marino was created.
00:41:01
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:41:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I think there's a bit of a flaw in this story because if somebody came up to me and it was like a madwoman and said, oh, you're my ex-husband, I would just go, go away, you madwoman. I wouldn't run off into the mountains and become a hermit.
00:41:18
Ken Davies
it to be honest it sounds a little bit suspicious
00:41:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
It does, doesn't it? here so out i out of those Yeah.
00:41:23
Ken Davies
I think he probably was.
00:41:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
out of those three versions, which do you reckon which one do you think is true?
00:41:28
Ken Davies
of The second one.
00:41:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Second one. Right. Yeah, that's probably got more credibility about it, to be fair.
00:41:33
Ken Davies
Yeah, I think so. I think
00:41:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, for whatever reason, he built church, monastery, and those are the foundations of today's San Marino.
San Marino's Politics and Football
00:41:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
What I like particularly like about it is it's managed to keep its independence as the whole of Europe has changed very much over the centuries. It's just stayed there and it's got, it's kind of like a bit of history, living history. It's got its own government.
00:41:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bear in mind it's only got 34,000 people. It's got its own government but has two heads of state and those heads of state are elected every six months.
00:41:58
Ken Davies
Good heavens.
00:41:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, um they're called captains regents and they get elected every six months. Now I think that's really smart. I like the idea of that because
00:42:06
Ken Davies
You'd do nothing else but elections all. It'd be constant elections.
00:42:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, to be fair, after a while, you'd probably get a second go at it, wouldn't you? it would have gone through everybody in San Marino, and they're like, it's my turn again.
00:42:16
Ken Davies
Yes.
00:42:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
they go, well, yeah, but you were...
00:42:18
Ken Davies
Because let's be honest, 90% of people aren't going to be interested. There's going to be a handful of power-crazed San Marinos that just want to become the the Captain General or whatever his name was <unk> for six months.
00:42:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Captain's regent, yeah.
00:42:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:42:31
Ken Davies
constant Constant elections sponsored by Viagra.
00:42:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It's...
00:42:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical significance and but and preservation. And it's also a tax haven, Ken. there's a Now your ears prick up, don't they?
00:42:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a tax haven. The main economy there is is tourism, wine and ceramics. The official language Italian. And despite San Marino not being in the Euro zone, it does use the Euro as its currency.
00:42:48
Ken Davies
Oh.
00:43:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was also the first existing state to abolish the death penalty. Now, on to football, because we always like to finish these little looks at how how are they at football. Well, San Marino are officially the worst team in the world.
00:43:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
They sit 210th out of 210 in the FIFA World Rankings. they've only f They've only ever won three games. right They've only ever won three games, right?
00:43:26
Ken Davies
Right. Who did they beat?
00:43:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:43:28
Ken Davies
want to know who they beat.
00:43:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, all of them were against Liechtenstein.
00:43:32
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah, they're dodgy, though, aren't they?
00:43:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:43:34
Ken Davies
And where are they in the in the FIFA rankings?
00:43:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, they're higher than 210th, put it like that. San Marino as a football nation in FIFA was um incepted in 1986. ninety eighty six I don't know whether incepted is a word.
00:43:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were created in... in its Inception.
00:43:52
Ken Davies
Yeah?
00:43:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
i've got yeah I've got Inception written down, but and I think that's the word. So the Inception in 1986, it took until 2004. two thousand and four So they played over 70 games before they won their first ever match. and That was a 1-0 win in 2004 against Liechtenstein.
00:44:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So well done. And then 20 years, again, nothing. Nothing. No wins. No wins. But... But... Last year, something extraordinary happened.
00:44:19
Ken Davies
yeah
00:44:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
in so On September 5th, 2024, they beat Liechtenstein 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League.
00:44:24
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:44:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they beat them away again two months later when they beat them 3-1, which was their first ever away win.
00:44:30
Ken Davies
Is that the first ever away win?
00:44:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also the first time they'd scored them more than one goal in any competitive fixture ever.
00:44:38
Ken Davies
They're on a roll, aren't they?
00:44:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
any compet well Well, they've lost two out of two and then so far in the qualifiers.
00:44:43
Ken Davies
Well, it all depends on whether playing Nictestein again, doesn't it, really?
00:44:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
did Yeah. Yeah.
00:44:46
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:44:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
They must, you know what, you know, when you draw the groups, the World Cup groups for qualification, when they saw Liechtenstein in another group, they must've been absolutely gutted.
00:44:49
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:44:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was literally right.
00:44:53
Ken Davies
Are they in another group?
00:44:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
like yeah they're in Yeah, they're in another group.
00:44:54
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah.
00:44:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So they're like, oh, lads, that's it. It's all over.
00:44:58
Ken Davies
Well, no chance ever.
00:44:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's all over.
00:44:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a great thing about, but a great thing about them to finish with, the great thing about, i always like to finish on a positive, as you know, they are most famous.
00:44:59
Ken Davies
But...
00:44:59
Ken Davies
Oh,
00:45:03
Ken Davies
um yeah.
00:45:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are most famous for, and their most famous footballing moment, and you'll remember this, came in 1996 when they scored against England,
00:45:11
Ken Davies
I do remember.
00:45:14
Ken Davies
In the first minute.
00:45:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
after 8.3 seconds.
00:45:17
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:45:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was David Gualtieri. And at that time, that was the fastest ever goal in World Cup qualifying. So the worst team on the entire planet, and the worst team ever, scored the fastest ever goal in World Cup qualifying.
00:45:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was against England.
00:45:31
Ken Davies
Well, to be honest, if playing them now, i think they they might hang on for a point.
00:45:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that game finished 7-1, but it's only ever remembered for one thing.
00:45:38
Ken Davies
Yeah, I remember it well.
00:45:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And because they're so bad, they have built up a bit of a global cult following among football fans, ah because they are, and they will always be, my friend, the world's biggest underdogs. San Marino.
00:45:51
Ken Davies
Well, I would like to go and see them. You know what like to go and see? The San Marino against Liechtenstein game, the next one. I mean, to imagine the rivalry. I mean, it would be, well, there wouldn't be any, would there?
00:46:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
wouldn't be any and nobody would But, yeah you yeah, you'd be there going, yay.
00:46:03
Ken Davies
Let's build a library.
00:46:08
Ken Davies
Oh, San Marino.
00:46:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:46:09
Ken Davies
Brilliant.
Episode Conclusion and Future Plans
00:46:10
Ken Davies
Hey, thanks, Nick, for for that, those pearls of wisdom about San Marino. I always enjoy that. And that's been ah very entertaining.
00:46:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're all You're very, very welcome. So, folks, that brings us to the end not only of this podcast, but of our global tour of the Football Federation. So by now, if you've listened to all of the podcasts thus far, and I sincerely hope you have, you will know exactly what's going on with qualifying. You'll know exactly the qualifying process. You'll know who's good. You'll know who's bad.
00:46:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And more importantly, you'll and get to know places like San Marino, ah Guam, ah New Caledonia, and others that I can't even remember what we did.
00:46:45
Ken Davies
And every every team has been mentioned.
00:46:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fascinating place in world. Every single team has been mentioned in this podcast so far. What we're going to do from now, and starting next week, is we're going to have a deep dive into the individual teams.
00:46:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we're going to start with one of the hosts. That's a good place to start, is it not?
00:46:59
Ken Davies
I think we will. And we'll probably start with America. And it is... ah So we've got 48 weeks of that coming up. So you've got to look forward to that. That's going to be entertaining because there certain teams we know are going to get through, certain teams who already have got through. we'll be spending the next 48 weeks looking at all of them teams and the qualifications as it's happening right in front of your eyes.
00:47:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Exactly that. So for now, Ken Davis, superstar as you are, thank you very much indeed for joining us and we'll see you soon. Thank you and goodbye.
00:47:26
Ken Davies
Good night.