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England qualify! Record breaking Ronaldo!! Cape Verde stun Africa!!
3 Plays20 hours ago
Nick and Ken discuss the latest from qualifying as Ronaldo breaks records and a host of teams book their seat at the World Cup 2026 table in USA, Canada and Mexico?
Plus a rundown of Tunisia’s key players and chances next summer, and can Kenny build on his shock 100% score in last week’s Kenny’s Quiz.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Introduction and Light-hearted Banter
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome to Road Talk 26. Oh, that was a good start.
00:00:18
Ken Davies
It's
00:00:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome to Road Talk 26. Oh, dearie me. It's one of those days already.
00:00:23
Ken Davies
been a long day, Nick.
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been a long day.
00:00:24
Ken Davies
It's been a long day.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It has been a long day. It's been a long day. I've been up for about 20 hours. it feels
00:00:29
Ken Davies
Cheers.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Ken's got a glass of wine. I thought i was about to introduce my co-host today, Donald Trump, because he had a very Trumpian type hat on, which turns out to be his Cincinnati Bengals baseball cap, I think it's said.
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you are watching this on YouTube, It isn't the American president, although he does look like it.
00:00:41
Ken Davies
No, I thought I'd back.
00:00:45
Ken Davies
They're playing tonight, that's all. The Thursday night football against the Steelers, big game tonight.
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
UK's Autumn Evenings and Spooky Tales
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. That's ah that's so of no interest to soccer fans, I'm sure. No interest to soccer fans. ah Hello, my name is Nick Britton. As always, I'm joined by my esteemed colleague, ah the man who thinks he knows everything about football and doesn't.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's here anyway. Mr. Ken Davis. How are you, Kenny? Hi.
00:01:08
Ken Davies
Good. As you say, it's been a long, long day. The nights are drawing in. It's autumn. It's virtually winter in the UK now, isn't it? And the the nights have got very dark and very cold.
00:01:19
Ken Davies
And they were all snuggled around with hot water bottle and around the fire, telling ghost stories, the kind of thing that we do in the UK all the time. In our castles.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't know if you noticed, by the way, a little bit earlier on when we were recording the a Daily Premier League podcast. We started, well, it wasn't that long a podcast, but we started out and it was like really light. And then by the time we finished, it was pitch black.
00:01:43
Ken Davies
Yeah, um i thought i I thought you were alluding to the fact that when we started, it was really light-humoured.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was really weird. It's this time of year, isn't it?
00:01:48
Ken Davies
And by the end, you clearly needed your tea because you got really, really
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
FIFA Ticket Sales Milestone
00:01:54
Ken Davies
grumpy.
00:01:54
Ken Davies
really Go listen to it on the Daily Premier League podcast, folks.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I didn't get great.
00:01:58
Ken Davies
See what you think. God blimey, he was grumpy.
00:02:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just didn't have to put up with your all your nonsense and talking rubbish.
00:02:06
Ken Davies
Yeah, I got the sense that enough was enough at that point.
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, here we are, couple of hours later, doing it all over again, but looking at the World Cup.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So part of you, we're going to do things a little bit differently today.
00:02:15
Ken Davies
Yep.
00:02:15
Ken Davies
yep
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So part of your normal Road to World Cup 26 podcast listening experience is bits of news, bits of fun, this and that, and a deep dive into the teams that already qualified. But we were going to do that, but actually there have so many teams have qualified over the last...
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
couple of rounds of games for the last couple of weeks. We thought today we would just catch up with everything because I think, Ken, if my maths is correct, we've had about eight qualifiers in the last weeks.
00:02:41
Ken Davies
Well, it there's been eight teams in the last couple of weeks, ah which means we've got our next seven episodes in the back. Or at least we know where we're going. The only one of the eight teams who we have done in our deep dive into the individual teams is England.
00:02:58
Ken Davies
So the other seven of which we want to talk about tonight, we haven't done.
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, correct. Yeah. And we might we're going to have to redo England because I think that's kind of changing anyway. But yeah, England became the first European team to qualify. So tell you what, let's start there.
00:03:11
Ken Davies
The mark was
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
we're goingnna We're going to look at Europe. We're going to look at asia We're going to look at Africa. There are three federations where we've had qualifying teams this week.
USA Stadium Readiness Concerns
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So seeing as you mentioned it, we might as well start with England. But before we do that, as regular listeners to this show will know,
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's always a bit of breaking news. We always like to bring you the yeah the news, things that's going on in the World of the World Cup. And today is different.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the actual news is going to last considerably shorter than that sting because there isn't much going on. There are a couple of things i want to talk about. One of them is about is is actually England. So I'm going to squeeze that into when we talk about England's qualification.
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah The other thing is for the first time since Ticket went on sales, FIFA today, Thursday, the 16th of October, 2025, have announced Ticket sales and and told us how they're doing. And not surprisingly, they're doing extremely well. So over 1 million tickets have been sold already.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
for the World Cup next year.
00:04:16
Ken Davies
wow
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't suppose it's going to be a massive surprise. ah The biggest tranche of buyers, as you would expect, is in the US, Canada and Mexico, the three host nations.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But in terms of other countries in and and interest in tickets and tickets purchased, well, again, probably no surprise. England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, and France.
00:04:47
Ken Davies
Yeah, makes sense. All tipped to do rather well, I think, in in the competition. Good to see. I get a sense. ah I get a sense simply because we get ah we're getting more and more and more people interested in the podcast and loads of emails and things like that.
00:05:04
Ken Davies
General level of interest in the World Cup is warming up nicely. Yeah.
00:05:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it is. And it always does. And there's always stories knocking around. i've I've been involved in sports journalism for many, many, many, many years. And what you always get in front of a big tournament, whether it's the World Cup, whether it is the Olympics, you get a tranche of negative stories.
00:05:18
Ken Davies
All right.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, oh, it's all going it's all doom and gloom and stadiums won't be ready and this won't be built and that won't happen. This time around, because it's in the USA particularly, we don't have the we don't have the stadiums won't be built or stadiums won't be ready.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
What we're having at the moment is... Are games going to be moved? Because today, again, that issue has raised its head with Donald Trump saying, oh, perhaps we're going to move out of Boston because he's fallen out with a Democratic mayor over there and it's not safe and all of that kind of stuff.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, I think we really know it's not going to happen, but it makes for a good story here there.
00:05:56
Ken Davies
Yeah, it's just positioning. It's Trump positioning. He does it on all kinds of different issues. This is just the latest one. It'll blow up.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's very much so. Very much so. ah But in terms of the in terms of the tickets, just to finish off on that, the the data has shown that the lowest price seats, which were $60, we talked about this the other week, are available for at least 40 matches.
World Cup Ticket Pricing Discussion
00:06:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's good. I mean, and that's that'll be all the early, obviously, all the early games. ah There won't be the won't be the big teams and it won't be the big games. The resale side, 3%
00:06:15
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:06:24
Ken Davies
The World Cup, every World Cup game is special.
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but it doesn't mean it's any good. i'm not sure I'm not sure it is, but anyway. FIFA have announced that the resale site, so that's what i was looking for, the resale site has opened and tickets for the World Cup final in New Jersey are available there today with prices ranging from $9,538 to $57,500, Ken. So you can can bag a couple of top seats can't you you'll be right but
00:06:56
Ken Davies
Have a look what's in my wallet. Two old fibres. What can I get for that?
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
tell you what, mate, it's the first time I've ever seen you open your wallet. A load of moths flew out then.
00:07:06
Ken Davies
Yeah, when I say the two old fibres, I mean the two fibres from the nineteen fifty s that you can't use anymore.
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's I've genuinely never seen you open your wallet. That's extraordinary.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
i didn't know you had and So, yeah, so tickets are going really, really well. There are roughly 7.1 million seats to fill for the 104 games that go on. So they've sold over a million already. So they won't have any problem doing that.
00:07:15
Ken Davies
LAUGHTER
00:07:33
Ken Davies
Well on the way.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, a good start. And I like it. I like that because I like these kind of buoyant, optimistic stories. I think get you get all the stuff stuff that's going on with Trump.
00:07:41
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
You get all the kind of negative stuff and stories. There have been stories knocking around that Homeland Security's ICE are going to burst into stadiums and pull people out and deport them and all that kind stuff. They won't do that.
00:07:53
Ken Davies
No, they weren't.
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
They won't do that. If you remember a Qatar, in Qatar, 2022, there's all sorts of stories beforehand, wasn't there, that they're going to ban homosexuals and they'll come throughout and put you in jail if you are.
00:08:00
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:08:03
Ken Davies
gay people, yeah.
00:08:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course it doesn't happen. It's ridiculous.
00:08:08
Ken Davies
No.
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolute nonsense. So that is...
00:08:11
Ken Davies
The football takes over eventually, doesn't it?
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
100%.
00:08:13
Ken Davies
The football, the fact we're all looking forward to the football and the teams and who's playing and the players, that's what the story is going to be about as you go into 2026.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
hundred percent Yeah, exactly that. Exactly that. So that's your breaking news today and good news on the ticket sale. Right, let's talk about the football then.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're going to move on to Europe, who are finally, it must be said, getting going in you know full steam ahead with their qualifying campaign. They are miles behind everybody else.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Miles behind, although the 50 rounds of qualification in Asia is still rumbling on.
00:08:44
Ken Davies
still yeah finishes in 2028
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'll be glad to know.
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It will do. It will do. So qualification in UEFA is doing well. And England have become the, not surprisingly, and not surprisingly, they've just got her pub teams in their group, ah but they've become the first.
00:09:04
Ken Davies
Well, what you i don't think you can say I don't think you can say that. I know they are clearly the strongest team, but I didn't have them bit doing as well as they've done. I didn't have them winning away in Serbia and winning away in Latvia quite the way have.
00:09:17
Ken Davies
I think they've been amazing. They've been dominant in the last over last month.
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Over the last month, yeah. over the last month. But col don't forget they were getting booed off not that long ago.
00:09:26
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And everybody's moaning about, they they have to, why why do we always play Andorra and Albania and Serbia and Latvia? Why can't we play some decent teams? ah
England's Qualifying Dominance
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so yeah, okay. Well, maybe they're not pub teams, but they're not very good.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's no surprise that England have played 6-1-6 and are qualified with a goal difference of plus 18.
00:09:45
Ken Davies
Have they conceded a goal yet?
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well No, they haven't conceded a goal for over a year.
00:09:50
Ken Davies
Amazing.
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they haven't played anybody decent, that's why.
00:09:51
Ken Davies
Amazing. Yeah, well, that's cool.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well done to him. want to say, listen, I want to say well to Thomas Tuchel.
00:09:55
Ken Davies
That's some doing. That is some doing.
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am, mate, I am, I am, as you know, a big fan of Thomas Tuchel. And I was very, very, very pleased when he got the job. And um um I'm even more pleased about two things that are happening now.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
One is we've, since that very, very dull draw, which I had the misfortune, sorry, victory against, wasn't a draw, that very dull victory against Andorra at Villa Park in September.
00:10:18
Ken Davies
It felt like a draw.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It felt like a lot more than that, mate. It felt like a terrible game. Terrible game. But since then, we've had a couple of banging five nils.
00:10:30
Ken Davies
performances.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And not only that, but a football's been much better. It feels like it's starting to click. And very, very interestingly for the this set of games, the squad was very similar to the last set of games.
00:10:34
Ken Davies
Oh, no question.
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Thomas Tuchel's been making lots of noises about, doesn't want to make this is kind of his squad, he doesn't want to make many choices. Sorry, of changes even. Doesn't want to make any changes. So and this brings me around to my little topic of discussion because there's news today that he's going to have a meeting with Jude Bellingham, who of course is out in the cold as far as England is concerned.
00:10:56
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Many rate him as England's best player. I don't really, but I don't know what your thoughts are, Ken, about Jude Bellingham. But we know that they fell out. We know that Thomas Tuchel...
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
doesn't like the way he behaves on the pitch in terms of the way he criticises other players when he deems them to have made a mistake, the way he berates officials. In fact, he went so far as to call ah his play repulsive ah on earlier on this year. And since then, he's never been picked.
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, he did have a shoulder injury, which kept him out for a little while. We know that, but he's been fit and firing of late and he's still out of the squad. I think we'll see him in the next squad next month. But...
Team Management Controversies
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, what do you think, Ken? What do you think? What do you think about the whole Jude Bellingham thing? Is he going to be on the plane or not?
00:11:44
Ken Davies
Yeah, he's going to be on a plane. No, he's going to be on a plane. But ah think what it has shown, Tuchel is like a quiet assassin to me. He's like he's not particularly... doesn't berate players, and he doesn't raise his voice.
00:12:05
Ken Davies
But you just get the impression he's a fairly cold, clinical assassin. no-nonsense kind of fella. And sometimes people like that can be a little bit underrated. You know, people think because they're quiet, because their demeanour is relatively calm, that they're a bit of a pushover. Tuchel is no pushover.
00:12:27
Ken Davies
And in fact, he had a reputation yeah when he was a club manager for being quietly, extremely demanding of his players. And...
00:12:39
Ken Davies
intolerant completely intolerant of what he saw as behaviour which wasn't positive to the team ethos. He's always had that reputation and he's brought that to England. And I think with the Bellingham thing, mean, Bellingham is an extremely good player.
00:12:58
Ken Davies
Whether he's done in enough for long enough to to be considered to be a great player, i think he's he's a long way off a great player. And one of the things I kind of like about Tuchel is that, and I don't think we'd have seen this before Tuchel, if he doesn't fit into Tuchel's plans, sorry, dude, it's not happening.
00:13:22
Ken Davies
And if there's a particular style of play or a particular shape that he wants to play, and Bellingham doesn't fit into that that shape or that style or that theme, he's not going to play.
00:13:34
Ken Davies
He's not going to start. And Tuchel doesn't care. And I think other team managers may have cared more. This thing about the repulsive, this is comment about, which he did say, you know, he said...
00:13:47
Ken Davies
you know, Bellingham's hunger and rage and fire can come out in a way that can be a bit repulsive. That was that was what he said. I think there's a bit of an issue here with the language thing in the sense of, I don't think he quite meant repulsive in the sense of, you know, it would repulse you to see it.
00:14:07
Ken Davies
I think he just meant it could come across as not particularly ah positive. And people could look at it and so and and be and be unhappy with what they're seeing in terms of Bellingham's body language and the things he does.
00:14:21
Ken Davies
So think actually things like that do, particularly when you're a Galactico like like Bellingham, I don't think that kind of stuff sits well.
00:14:33
Ken Davies
And i i've i I'm sure there is a bit of a tension between these two characters. If there is, there's only going to be one winner. That's going to be Tuchel. So I'm kind of pleased to see it because I like big players and big player egos being brought down to size a little bit.
00:14:50
Ken Davies
I think that's happening ah in front of our eyes with Bellingham. ah I think Bellingham will definitely be a key part of the team. But Tuchel's made it clear that nobody's bigger than the team and Bellingham clearly isn't bigger than the team right now.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he's also not going to get in the team right now because Elliot Anderson has come in and absolutely stolen the show.
00:15:11
Ken Davies
Yeah. and No one would have thought that would be a year ago.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
and no one would have thought. No, no.
00:15:15
Ken Davies
Eddie Anderson is going to out position.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. no exactly Exactly. He's come in stolen the show. That's allowed Declan Rice to push on. We saw a 4-1-4-1 formation against Latvia the other day. So if you've got Anderson there, he ain't dropping Rice, that's for sure.
00:15:30
Ken Davies
No.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Bellingham doesn't even get in the team at the moment. I think it's, but I agree with you. ah There's no way Southgate would have behaved like this. There's no way Southgate would behaved this.
00:15:38
Ken Davies
No. No.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'd love to see this from Tukul. I really, really do. i think it shows really good strongman management. He's also been talking quite a lot around people showing what he calls good citizen behavior in camp and print certain principles around work rate.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, that sets standards that that those outside of the squad at the moment who want to get in it, and there's quite a few players, by the way, big name players. We've talked about Bellingham, but also talked about Phil Foden and players like that, who a couple of years ago, you would have thought absolutely first names on the team sheet.
00:16:12
Ken Davies
yeah
00:16:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah they've got ah they've They've got a lot of work to do around those areas if they want to get in. So, I do like it.
00:16:20
Ken Davies
I do like this. It feels more of a meritocracy, doesn't it?
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I do. I do like it. and And I think it's brilliant for those sorts of players like Anson, who they can now see a pathway, whereas before they're just thinking, oh, as soon as Bellingham comes in, I'm i'm out.
00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now they can see a pathway for themselves where that isn't necessarily the case. And if you play well, and if you behave well, and if you do all the things the manager wants you to do, you'll be in the team.
00:16:38
Ken Davies
Which...
00:16:43
Ken Davies
Which I like.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that's, yeah, I do.
00:16:45
Ken Davies
Which I like.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what it should be like. That's what it should be like. How many times down the years have we seen teams, and Real Madrid's a great example, France is a great example on the national stage, and England is, to be fair, chock full of great players, but they're not a good team.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
What Tuchel seems to be doing is building a good team, and it's teams that win World Cups.
00:17:00
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Tuchel is a serial winner. So I'm starting to get a little bit excited about England.
00:17:11
Ken Davies
Oh, there we go. ah i What I would say is often when you see these kind of situations where where managers fall out with players, the focus on it can be on that individual player and the negative effect maybe it has on that player.
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm...
00:17:25
Ken Davies
What you've got to balance it with is the positive effect it has on all the other players when they see the fact that one player... yeah One player essentially isn't being treated differently.
00:17:37
Ken Davies
Everybody gets treated the same. And if you don't perform, if your form isn't where it needs to be, you're going to be replaced.
UEFA Qualifying Overview
00:17:44
Ken Davies
And I think the positive effect that has on everybody else is way beyond, advantageously, the negative effect it may have on on a particular individual.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there's never true there's never a truer cliche or saying than one bad apple spoils a barrel as there is in a football team.
00:18:01
Ken Davies
As the Oswald said in 1974, wasn't it?
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
One bad apple spoils a barrel. I don't think so.
00:18:05
Ken Davies
I think that was their song.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you'll know, mate. You'll know. You'll know.
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
wasn't too young, but you were just...
00:18:08
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:18:08
Ken Davies
For those famous philosophers. Mormon philosophers. Yeah.
00:18:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. ah And that's never truer than in a football team where one one or two bad influences can have a very, very negative effect on the whole of the dressing room. So very good. Right. Whilst Ken prepares to fish out today's word from our sponsors, let me just talk you through very briefly and bring up to me with how UEFA qualification is going.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
No great surprises, I've got to tell you, in terms of the big teams and how they're performing. So Germany top Group A with nine points from four. Switzerland top Group B with 10 points from four.
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Denmark top group C with 10 points from four. Scotland also with 10 points from four, sitting in second space.
00:18:49
Ken Davies
That's a shot.
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Greece to a third have only got three points from four. So Scotland looking nailed on for a playoff place. If not, some kind of automatic qualification, which would be extraordinary.
00:18:58
Ken Davies
Is there a little light in it?
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
for on yeah I mean, that's the Scotland-Denmark game is going massive. In Group D, France top it with 10 points from four games. Spain, ah being Spain, played 4-1-4, 12 points, top of Group b Portugal, and we're going to talk about Ronaldo in a little while.
00:19:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
World record-breaking Ronaldo this week. 10 points from four as well. The Netherlands have done really well. 16 points from six games. but're getting into the We're getting into the groups now that have played six. they're the The previous ones have played four.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're now getting into the groups that have played six. ah Netherlands played Austria played 6-15. ah fifteen They topped Group H. Group I, Norway, 18 from 6. Italy second in that group, 15 from 6.
00:19:34
Ken Davies
Let's see.
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
About time Italy had a good, strong qualifying campaign in the World Cup.
00:19:49
Ken Davies
see
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
they've been They've been missed in recent years. ah Belgium are top of Group J with 14 from... ah six games. England, as we've talked about, have won their group already. 18 points from six games. A complete and utter whitewash there. Played 6-1-6.
00:20:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And Croatia, top group L, with 16 points from six. And when you look around the whole of the qualifying, it kind is kind of going to plan. The only one that stands out, the only outlier in all of that, Ken, is Sweden, who are bottom of group B,
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
with only one point from four games. And they they they're always in and around World Cups. And that's a real surprise because I don't think they're going to qualify.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're going to have to do an awful lot work now.
00:20:34
Ken Davies
i thought They've got ropey strikers like alex Alexander Izak, haven't they?
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we've talked about Isaac, haven't we, on the Premier League podcast.
00:20:39
Ken Davies
People like that playing for Yeah, out sorts.
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've talked about him. and
00:20:43
Ken Davies
He's out sorts.
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he played two games for Sweden ah in this international break, didn't score a goal.
00:20:49
Ken Davies
The only other team I would mention in credit is the Faroe Islands, who I think beat checky Czech Republic, didn't they? Something crazy.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
How extraordinary.
00:21:02
Ken Davies
and and And have played seven and warned won four of them or something.
00:21:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
How extraordinary.
00:21:07
Ken Davies
So, hey, hats off to the... Well, I wouldn't take my hat if I was in the Faroe Islands. You freeze your ears off. But, yeah, metaphorically, hats off to the Faroe Islands.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they they are third in Group L with Play 7, won 4, lost 3, 12 points.
00:21:23
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
They sit one point behind Czech Republic and four points behind Croatia.
00:21:25
Ken Davies
Remarkable.
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
They could get in the playoffs.
00:21:32
Ken Davies
That'd be amazing. You know what would make my World Cup?
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
that would be i mean That would be even more extraordinary than Cape Verde getting through. and We're going to talk about Cape Verde.
00:21:39
Ken Davies
Imagine Cape Verde against the Faroe Islands.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think I want to imagine that if I wanted
00:21:44
Ken Davies
Imagine that. I'd be sitting up for that one. The other thing I'd look forward to is the Faroe Islands against Egypt. I mean, the Faroes everywhere you look, wouldn't
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Faroe derby.
00:21:54
Ken Davies
Yeah, it would be the Faroe Derby. No one else would spot that except us. It would be that known one has become known as the Faroe Derby.
00:21:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is true. This is true. The the only problem is if the game was being played in the Faroe Islands that Egypt would probably miss their boat and wouldn't make it
00:22:09
Ken Davies
Oh, that's true. Yeah. And you have to listen to it every episode, don't you?
00:22:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you need to listen to every episode to understand that gag, to understand that gag.
00:22:16
Ken Davies
But it's funny.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So listen, that's Europe. It is pookling along quite nicely and as expected as expected other than perhaps Sweden and the Faroes. More to come from that as qualifiers carry on. But for now, i can add a word from our sponsors, if you would.
00:22:31
Ken Davies
Yeah, because as we know, Thomas Tuchel knows this very well, it pays to get your team selection right. And here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery partner and we chose Zencastr because Zencastr makes it easy to bring your vision to life, share it with the audience everywhere they may be.
00:22:48
Ken Davies
Now, it's got 4K video recording, it's got easy AI editing tools, and it's got distribution tools, and they're all in one place, all on one platform. So if you've got a story to tell, tell it with Zencastr. If you check the show notes, you'll find more details.
00:23:22
Ken Davies
You know what? I've got a weird sense of deja vu then.
00:23:33
Ken Davies
I think you need to turn your microphone on, Nick.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, for goodness sake, that's... You know
00:23:40
Ken Davies
I'll tell you what, it's this is Pulitzer Prize winning punditry.
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
what?
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's something prize-winning, and I don't know what the prize is, but I don't think it's very good. ah Yeah, sorry about that. My microphone was off. And you are listening to to World Cup 26 podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast and Network, the only place...
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the whole world, the whole world, where you can find regular World Cup podcast content. We still can. We say this every week. We're still the only podcast in the world that is doing World Cup content.
00:24:10
Ken Davies
The original and best. The original best.
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are the original.
00:24:13
Ken Davies
By the way, if you're enjoying it, subscribe, leave a review, share the podcast. You can do that amongst your mates. We'd love to hear your thoughts on any aspect of the World Cup. You can email us at roadtoworldcup26 at gmail.com.
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Please don't email and say, just say, can you please tell that idiot to turn his microphone on? Because I already know that. i I'm feeling that already.
00:24:35
Ken Davies
I've just emailed that, Nick. I actually emailed to a chain you might have gone on, mate.
00:24:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Right. Let's have a look at Africa because africa Africa has kind of crept up on us, I think, a little bit. came we It seems have been going on for quite a long time. then suddenly...
00:24:47
Ken Davies
It's this kind of tectonic plate or something.
00:24:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, it's just suddenly finished.
00:24:50
Ken Davies
Oh, right.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's suddenly finished.
00:24:52
Ken Davies
Oh, right, right.
00:24:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I kind of feel a bit like Asia.
00:24:53
Ken Davies
I can't remember.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been going along a long, long long time. But suddenly it's finished and we know exactly which teams are going to be playing in the World Cup
00:24:57
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
Africa's World Cup Qualifiers
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
from Africa.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
This week, the Ivory Coast, of Senegal and South Africa qualified. They joined the absolute surprise package of the African Federation qualifiers, Cape Verde.
00:25:17
Ken Davies
Cabo Verde.
00:25:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:25:18
Ken Davies
Cabo
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
but cut this is need them as well They qualified last week. Saw off the, I think probably what a lot of people saw as group favourites going into it, Cameroon, who finished second in the group.
00:25:27
Ken Davies
Verde.
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So congratulations to them. And yeah, so we now know that the qualifiers are Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Cape Verde, or, ah so how do you say it, Capo Verde?
00:25:44
Ken Davies
Cabo Verde.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana. Now, there are some big names missing from that list.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a couple of those big names are, they still have a shout, they're still in with it. Because the four best placed second place teams out of all of the various groups go through to a playoff where
00:26:03
Ken Davies
you
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
First place, fourth. Second place, third. Then there's a final. And the winner of that final goes into the big global FIFA playoff where they'll play the winner of of another confederation playoff. So in the playoffs are Cameroon, ah Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and creeping in there at the very, very last second, Nigeria.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, we've talked about Nigeria on this podcast quite a lot.
00:26:37
Ken Davies
um
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they looked halfway through like they were done and dusted. They didn't look like they were going to qualify. They'd had a really poor start to their campaign. But they've come on strong and they actually went into the final game of qualifying below ah Benin, who were sitting in second place and looking like they were going to they were going to do it.
00:26:53
Ken Davies
Benin? yeah Everyone expected Benin to get in.
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they played Benin and they tanked them 4-0. Victor Ossimen with a hat-trick and Nigeria leapfrogged Benin into second spot and get into the playoffs. And that's the highest they've been in the group.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
since it started. So they've timed their run really well, to be fair to them.
00:27:11
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:27:14
Ken Davies
Yeah, and I like an Nigerian team in a World Cup. I just think they're more powerful. um um Well done, Benin, but I just think ni Nigeria just bring a different level of energy to it. So I'm quite pleased about that.
00:27:26
Ken Davies
They're not there yet. and They go through the qualification process, but they're still in with a shout.
00:27:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they are still in with the shout. and you know fair play to them because it's quite a long time. ah They look like they weren't going to be in with the shout. So that is...
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah that Thank you very much.
00:27:41
Ken Davies
I forgot about Garner, by the way.
00:27:42
Ken Davies
Well done for remembering Garner.
00:27:47
Ken Davies
I've completely did completely slipped off my radar. So we have to add Garner. We haven't done Garner.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. No, I mean, they qualified reasonably, um reasonably late in the day. and But yeah.
00:28:03
Ken Davies
Don't know. I missed them.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's good job one of us is doing the job then, it?
00:28:05
Ken Davies
but oh
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's good job one of us is professional.
00:28:07
Ken Davies
sorry on Sorry about that, Garner. I won't be able to show my face in Garner now.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's been the case for many years, to be fair.
00:28:14
Ken Davies
many other countries as well, to be honest.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. yeah gora Yeah, exactly.
00:28:17
Ken Davies
Obviously, since that court case. But, you know.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. There's a reason why he hasn't been out Derby for 45 years.
00:28:24
Ken Davies
I mean, hiding.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh Yeah, so those playoff games take place in November. 13th of November is the 2nd v 3rd, 4th v 1st, and in terms of best qualifiers.
00:28:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Sunday, the 16th November is that final game. So, yeah, that's good. That's good. Well done. Well done to the African teams have qualified, and best of luck to those in the playoffs.
00:28:48
Ken Davies
Question for Nick, before you go further.
00:28:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go for it.
00:28:51
Ken Davies
Two questions. I was having a look at the ah FIFA rankings for all of these teams that have gotten in from Africa. As you mentioned, Cape Verde was the surprise package.
00:29:03
Ken Davies
What's their FIFA ranking? I'll give you five points either side. Five places either side.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cape Verde.
00:29:08
Ken Davies
You get it right.
00:29:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gosh. Cape Verde, Cape Verde, Cape Verde.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, ifve they've probably gone.
00:29:15
Ken Davies
And there's two questions.
00:29:16
Ken Davies
There's a question B, by the way, in this.
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, okay. and I'm either going to say 75 I'm going to say 126. think I'm going to go 126. Yeah, it's one those. You're quite sure,
00:29:28
Ken Davies
seventy 70. You were right the first time, but you know.
00:29:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
see house of honour you're not quite sure yeah
00:29:32
Ken Davies
They are 70th. course, when you've had a campaign like they've had, you probably start off on 135th and you end up 70th.
00:29:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. <unk>ve always Exactly that.
00:29:40
Ken Davies
So, yeah, they are 70th.
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:29:41
Ken Davies
So they're still well outside the 48th, if you like, teams. So they've done very well to get there. But there they are. Now, part B to this was, I thought it might be an interesting question.
00:29:52
Ken Davies
Can you name the top five football, men's teams football, FIFA rankings, one to five, which five teams, in what order?
00:30:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, gosh, no, because I haven't looked at the rankings for ages.
00:30:05
Ken Davies
That's why I thought I'd ask you the question.
00:30:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ages.
00:30:06
Ken Davies
embarrass you.
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, yeah, I know, yeah.
00:30:08
Ken Davies
Millions. You do that, don't you?
00:30:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you do that a regular basis, to be fair. Right, top five. um
00:30:15
Ken Davies
Who's number one?
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think I think Argentina, no, no, they're not, no, they're not, no, they're not, no, they're not. Spain, it must be Spain.
00:30:26
Ken Davies
Okay. Spain. Yes. Who's second?
00:30:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think England are third. So there's a team in there. It won't be, and I don't think it's European team. I'm going to go, I don't think it's Argentina, but i can't think of anybody else. I mean, they've won the, they've won Conor World qualifying.
00:30:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they must've got some record. I know it's not Cape Verde.
00:30:44
Ken Davies
Yeah, well, you know he's not Cape Verde as well.
00:30:47
Ken Davies
and
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So, but I don' think is. I think Argentina or something seventh something like that. Or is that Brazil? I'm going to go Argentina.
00:30:55
Ken Davies
No, they're third.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
A third. of they Oh, in that case, oh, in that case, is it England?
00:31:00
Ken Davies
It's France.
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
France? Oh, are they? Oh, okay. I didn't know that. Okay, fair enough. Look, you're not going argue with that.
00:31:05
Ken Davies
I didn't see that coming.
00:31:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I didn't quite. So, yeah. So, France a second. Spain first. France second. Argentina third. England fourth then.
00:31:15
Ken Davies
You've frozen a bit on me, Nick. I can't hear you properly.
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry. England have got to be fourth.
00:31:17
Ken Davies
i don't know if you can hear me.
00:31:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:31:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Ken's disappeared.
00:31:24
Ken Davies
Hello, Nick.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
think Ken's disappeared.
00:31:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
All the Wi-Fi's
00:31:28
Ken Davies
You sound like a Xiongnathone to me at the moment.
00:31:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Okay, well, that's because I'm playing xylophone.
00:31:33
Ken Davies
Hello.
00:31:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Ken has indeed disappeared. I was about to, well, he wast he was actually just about to about to tell us what the the FIFA rankings were. He's disappeared. We know that Spain is number one.
00:31:45
Ken Davies
so
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
We know that France is number two. We know that Argentina is number three. I think England are number four, but Ken disappeared. But, you know, I think he's back. you back, Kenny?
00:31:55
Ken Davies
I'm back. Yeah.
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well done. um I think England fourth.
00:31:59
Ken Davies
Yes.
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. So fifth, i thought it's not Brazil because I know they're i know they're not a top five ranked side. I think they're sixth or seventh. um So it's going to be, if it's not Argentina or Brazil, it's going to be a European side.
00:32:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We know it's not Germany. It won't be Germany. It won't be Italy. It might be Portugal because they won the Nations League. and what Yeah. They've got a load of ranking points for winning the Nations League.
00:32:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm going to go Portugal fifth.
00:32:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I don't know. Ken's disappeared again. His Wi-Fi has just completely collapsed. ah If he comes back, then he'll tell me whether I'm right or wrong. I've no idea. I've no idea. ah So let's move on, shall we?
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because we've just got a little bit. If i get if ken Ken comes back, we are going to do Kenny's quiz this week. And that's probably the reason why he's run away. We're going to have a look at Asia and Asia qualifying because we've had two teams qualify this week. So congratulations to Saudi Arabia.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have qualified this week.
Asian Teams' Path to World Cup
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Congratulations to Qatar. They've qualified this week. And ah yeah the Asia qualifying is... Rumbling on, I mean, it goes on and on and on and on. There are lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of rounds of qualifying for a Asia, as we know.
00:33:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we're nearly there.
00:33:24
Ken Davies
Bye.
00:33:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're nearly there. So congratulations to Qatar, who have qualified. Congratulations to Saudi Arabia, who have qualified. ah Iraq and UAE.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
are now in the playoffs. So that is another round, would you believe? It's still going on, it's still going on. There is another round of games in in this and UAA will play Iraq in a two-legged playoff, home and away, in November.
00:33:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the winner of that game brings the curtain down, finally, goodness me, finally,
00:34:03
Ken Davies
hello
00:34:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
on the whole Asia qualifying. that'll be the last Asian qualifying games. So UAE versus Iraq in the playoffs. Well done in the little round robin group to Qatar, who finished top of their group with UAE and Oman, and Saudi Arabia, who finished top of their group with Iraq and Indonesia. So congratulations to those.
00:34:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank goodness that Asia is done and dusted. Imbrake is almost. But the whole the whole shape of the big... global FIFA playoff competition is really now starting to take shape, I think. It won't be long before we know exactly who's in it. I think I'm joined again by Ken. Ken, can you hear me? Are you still alive?
00:34:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you with us?
00:34:43
Ken Davies
Kind of. ah but
00:34:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
with your What's going on with your Wi-Fi, mate? You, yet again, have not put 50p in the metre.
00:34:51
Ken Davies
You're kind of sounding like a xylophone. i it's so Obviously, something is happening with the the internet.
00:35:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, okay, that's fine. ah Well, just go home.
00:35:06
Ken Davies
I think I prefer you sounding like this, to be honest, then.
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you're home. Yeah, just go home. ah Right, okay.
00:35:10
Ken Davies
Hello, mate.
00:35:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so.
00:35:13
Ken Davies
Hey, did you get who was fifth, by the way?
00:35:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're back here, your goodness me. um Well, I said Portugal, but I don't know when.
00:35:20
Ken Davies
Yeah, you're right. He was right.
00:35:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is right, okay, I know it was right, okay.
00:35:22
Ken Davies
Well, you did very well on that. I think you only got one the wrong way around.
00:35:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Okay, good. Right. The last bit of this, in fact, before we do, now that I've got you, can we just have a very quick word from our dear friends at Bionic and then we're going to finish the podcast with a look at arguably the world's greatest player.
00:35:38
Ken Davies
Yeah. ah Yeah, because just like this internet connection, your body is unique. And we've partnered with Bionique because what we need and what we need on this internet connection is the world's most personalized supplements.
00:35:54
Ken Davies
And because without knowing what deficiencies you have, taking off the shelf supplements mean you're probably not getting enough of the nutrients you need. You're probably getting too many of the ones you don't need. no one no No one wants that.
00:36:05
Ken Davies
So, Bionic provide 100% tailor-made supplements designed to deliver precisely what your body needs, exactly the right levels, no guessing involved. So, click the link in the show notes. Use the code GSPN2025 for your 30, no, not 33% discount, 40% discount.
00:36:19
Ken Davies
So, off you go and that.
00:36:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:36:23
Ken Davies
so off you go and do that
00:36:35
Ken Davies
That's funky. Get out.
00:36:40
Ken Davies
oh Here we go.
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, was whilst we've got him, at least, it's everybody's favourite time of the week. It's Kenny's quiz. And just because we are doing ah round up all the qualifiers, and apologies for all of that little bit of shenanigans with technology there just a moment ago.
00:36:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Ken, sort of we just lost him completely. then Then I could see him, but he couldn't hear us and all that kind of stuff. So ah apologies for all of that, but we'll keep it all in. We keep it all in. We like to make these podcasts as live as we possibly can.
00:37:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't like to edit them very heavily, as you can possibly tell.
00:37:07
Ken Davies
beliefs late
00:37:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So we're going to do Kenny's quiz. Ken, i'm going to I've got a quiz in front of me courtesy of a website called quizbit.com, 50 World Cup quiz questions.
00:37:20
Ken Davies
fifty
00:37:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Choose, yeah, I'm not going to 50, but I'm going to let you choose three numbers. Choose three numbers and we'll do we do whatever the corresponding question is for that. So your first number, please, between 1 and 50. This is so easy.
00:37:30
Ken Davies
ten
00:37:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
umm I wish I'd ever done this now because i'm looking down at questions and they are so easy. Anyway, let's give it a go.
00:37:36
Ken Davies
ten
00:37:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Number 10. Question number 10 is, who did Zinedine Zidane famously headbutt in the 2006 final?
00:37:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who did Zinazine Zinazine Zinazine Zin
00:37:51
Ken Davies
ah
00:37:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think i'll need to go to bed ah headbar in two thousand and six fine ah see you've got a glass of wine in your hand i think i think i should join you mike i think i should join you
00:38:02
Ken Davies
Yeah, I enjoyed that. I can't even remember who it was against, to be honest.
00:38:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
but home if you know if you know the opposite um mike come on and you should notice on top of your head this is a very straightforward
00:38:07
Ken Davies
No,
00:38:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
you to give you a clue who it's against
00:38:11
Ken Davies
it's not. Yes.
00:38:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
won count it won't count if you get it right now it was against italy
00:38:17
Ken Davies
Yeah, I was thinking Italy. Yeah, was it... Who's going to be... Oh, I don't know. Roberto Baggio.
00:38:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, Roberto Baggio is, of course, of course, not the right answer. If you know at home, shout out now. Yep, quite a few of you were right. The answer is Marco Masarazzi.
00:38:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Marco Masarazzi.
00:38:39
Ken Davies
yeah
00:38:40
Ken Davies
No chance.
00:38:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought I knew I thought you'd know that.
00:38:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:38:43
Ken Davies
Yeah, answer 20.
00:38:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Give me a number.
00:38:44
Ken Davies
20. These are easy.
00:38:45
Ken Davies
twenty
00:38:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Give me a number.
00:38:47
Ken Davies
twenty
00:38:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
the the answers are kind of on a different page. So I can also play along at the same time, to be fair. ah Which, but what animal, what animal was the official mascot for the 1998 World Cup in France?
00:39:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
What animal was the official mascot for the 1998 World Cup in France?
00:39:06
Ken Davies
these are easy
00:39:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's a dead easy.
00:39:07
Ken Davies
So it's going to be a friend French, French animal, a famous French animal. What's a famous French animal? Cockerel.
00:39:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, exactly. That's what I said. These are easy questions. Right. Pick me a number between one and 50.
00:39:21
Ken Davies
Like had to be, didn't it?
00:39:26
Ken Davies
A 30, 30. Oh, 45. thirty
00:39:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
coach Go deep. Go on. Go deep.
00:39:29
Ken Davies
ah forty five
00:39:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, damn. I should have stuck 30. Okay. 45 is, we've covered this on this podcast. Okay.
00:39:41
Ken Davies
Hey.
00:39:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So this will take this will show you how
00:39:45
Ken Davies
yeah Okay.
00:39:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
you how much you listen to this or how much notice you take of any of your own research. Which player scored a record 13 goals in a single World Cup tournament?
00:40:01
Ken Davies
In a tournament, or this was the guy from Australia.
00:40:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, in the tournament, yeah.
00:40:10
Ken Davies
when they beat someone 36-1 or whatever it was in tournament. Oh, it's a tournament. I'm going to say Cristiano Ronaldo.
00:40:21
Ken Davies
All
00:40:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
no the answer was just fontaine the french player mate i'm really disappointed that
00:40:24
Ken Davies
right.
00:40:33
Ken Davies
She's fawning. ah Yeah. i'm glad yeah if If that was the easy 45th question, I'm glad I didn't ask for the 30th because that would have been like, what was the attendance at the 1926 World Cup final? And can you name them?
00:40:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
have you seen this quiz
00:40:53
Ken Davies
So there you are. Yeah. Okay. I didn't do very well. One earth three.
00:40:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which nation has only ever played a single World Cup game? Which nation? did That's it. I mean, would yeah you're not going to know that. um I didn't know. It's just really interesting. That's number 31, by the way.
00:41:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I could do this all night. This is a great little quiz. I like this. Anybody at home?
00:41:10
Ken Davies
Well, we'll do it.
00:41:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anybody at home?
00:41:12
Ken Davies
We'll do it. We'll still play the season.
00:41:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, the answer is me.
00:41:15
Ken Davies
I do know the answer to this. I'm sure I know that. Yeah, because the only one played who played one game and and because you only got to play one game. I think it's something like
00:41:29
Ken Davies
I think it's something like Guatemala.
00:41:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah No.
00:41:37
Ken Davies
Oh.
00:41:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Indonesia is the answer.
00:41:39
Ken Davies
No, I wasn't getting that in the book.
00:41:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
about Miles away.
00:41:41
Ken Davies
right You were right.
00:41:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
they
00:41:42
Ken Davies
I wasn't getting that.
00:41:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Good quiz. maybe Maybe one day when we run out our teams to go through, we'll just do a massive quiz throughout the entire podcast.
00:41:49
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:41:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
right i'm going to finish the podcast.
00:41:51
Ken Davies
We should do it on the night before the World Cup final. A massive World Cup quiz.
00:41:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we should. Oh, we should do, shouldn't we? Yeah, should do. should Let's play this.
00:41:55
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:42:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, we're going to close off the podcast. Oh, no, I'm wondering why it's not working straight.
00:42:12
Ken Davies
Yay! Three of three.
00:42:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not working at all.
00:42:16
Ken Davies
Three out of three.
00:42:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It should stop also, it just isn't. It's been an absolute car wreck.
00:42:22
Ken Davies
I love that.
00:42:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:42:23
Ken Davies
That's great. It's been a shocker, hasn't
00:42:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Disaster today. Yeah, to fair, I preferred to you when your Wi-Fi wasn't working. Right, let's finish the podcast with the question that going to ask you Ken. so this week, Cristiano Ronaldo became the...
00:42:35
Ken Davies
it? Mm-hmm.
00:42:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He brokely made history by becoming the world's leading goal scorer in World Cup qualifying goals. He went into the two the game with Hungary on 39 goals, so he was tied with Guatemala's Carlos Ruiz.
00:42:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he scored twice and he's now on his own 41. He scored 41 goals in World Cup qualifying more than anybody else on the entire planet. So I'm going to ask you, does that make Cristiano Ronaldo the best player in the world?
Ronaldo vs. Messi: The Greatest Debate
00:43:05
Ken Davies
No, because there's more to being the best player in the world than how many goals you score in qualifying. ah Obviously, it there's a lot more.
00:43:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, let me let me widen it out then because there's another great there's another thing that he's edging towards. It should have been, to be fair, it should have been 42, but he missed a penalty against Ireland last week.
00:43:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
948 goals in 1,293 games across his entire career. I mean, don't tell me that that doesn't qualify him, at least in the thinking, at least in the thinking.
00:43:33
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:43:41
Ken Davies
Oh, no question. He's in the thinking. And there's nobody thinks about it more than Cristiano Ronaldo. But I... So I do... Yeah, he's clearly a great... Is he the goat?
00:43:54
Ken Davies
No, but he's in the herd, if you like, of potential goats. I give him that.
00:43:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who else is in the herd?
00:43:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who is the goat and who's in the herd?
00:43:59
Ken Davies
And it's a small herd.
00:44:01
Ken Davies
It's a small herd. But he's it doesn't make him the goat in my eyes. It might make him... In fact, it's probably indisputable that he is... That does make him the greatest goal scorer of qualifying goals of all time.
00:44:16
Ken Davies
I give him that.
00:44:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we know that, yeah, we know that.
00:44:18
Ken Davies
but but But it's not simple as that. Because... He scored 100 and... In fact, if you look at put his record internationally, he scored 143 goals for Portugal. But he's done it in 225 games and he takes all penalties.
00:44:35
Ken Davies
So that's a goal every 1.57 games. If you look at Ali Day, the famous Persian, Iranian goal scorer,
00:44:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah't think you go I didn't think you were heading in that direction, to be fair. But yeah, go on.
00:44:48
Ken Davies
He scored 108 international goals in 148 games. That's one every 1.37. Iran.
00:44:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And who do you play for?
00:44:57
Ken Davies
iran
00:44:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. And who do Iran play?
00:44:59
Ken Davies
oh I'd say I would make the argument that that makes it more difficult because he's playing for a worse team.
00:45:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why?
00:45:06
Ken Davies
If you go, if you look even to a player...
00:45:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Iran don't play top-quality opposition regularly like Portugal do.
00:45:14
Ken Davies
I give them... Yeah, fair enough.
00:45:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:45:16
Ken Davies
but Yeah, fair enough.
00:45:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you could... you grow yeah
00:45:17
Ken Davies
They're a better team. The other team, the other player to mention in this, Romelu Lukaku. 89 goals in 124 games for Belgium. A goal every 1.39. what I'm saying is... ah goal every one point three nine so what i'm saying is Yeah. i like I mean, another is a magnificent specimen. he's a great, great player. I'm not keen on him.
00:45:38
Ken Davies
I'm not sure Thomas Tuchel would be keen on him. That's what I'm saying. i I think he gives out vibes that don't necessarily like.
00:45:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:45:48
Ken Davies
But, you know, he is a great player, but I don't still don't think he's the great test player.
00:45:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Tom Succo probably wouldn't select him because he's Portuguese. He scored 948 goals. I thought everybody listening to this, every entire planet, when you think, right, who is the GOAT? Who's Ken now going to compare him to?
00:46:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
didn't expect to say, ah those two players, Dian and Ali Dian and...
00:46:09
Ken Davies
Ali Dye and Romelu Lukaku. Yeah, but that's why people tune in, Nick, because what they get is, you know, a kind of analysis they won't get anywhere else.
00:46:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
The unexpected, yeah.
00:46:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you're going to compare him to the other goat, obviously Lionel Messi, that's what everybody really wants to do, let's face it.
00:46:25
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:46:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ronaldo's got goals, Messi's got 886. Messi's got more assists, 398, compared to Ronaldo's 258. And goals per game, actually.
00:46:36
Ken Davies
what would um What would it look like if you took the penalties out?
00:46:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's not the point, is it? Because scoring a penalty is still scoring goal.
00:46:43
Ken Davies
It kind of is, I think. I think it is part of the point, though, because I think actually goals from open play are much more difficult to achieve than goals from the penalty spot.
00:46:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
old
00:46:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Well, yeah, but everybody takes everybody everybody who's up there in those charts takes penalties.
00:46:56
Ken Davies
I think that's fair.
00:47:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got to take...
00:47:03
Ken Davies
I don't think Messi's taken as many.
00:47:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
got take
00:47:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he does take him. Messi's got a 77.6 conversion rate, by the way, on penalties, in case you're wondering, to Ronaldo's 84%. So, yeah, look, I think you're being, I think you're being, real just because you don't like him.
00:47:19
Ken Davies
love him. You used to love him.
00:47:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't love him. I absolutely love him. I love Ronaldo. I think he's brilliant.
00:47:23
Ken Davies
Yeah. scored more goals though.
00:47:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the age of 40, yeah, 40, so he's half your age, Ken, but he's still doing it.
00:47:27
Ken Davies
yeah
00:47:30
Ken Davies
i score more goals so
00:47:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, in your own brain. ah Yeah, I mean, the age of 40, to still be doing it at international level, at the highest of international levels, is amazing. And I love Ronaldo. I love Ronaldo.
00:47:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah just I just think he's brilliant. I just think he's brilliant. And ah yes, I love Lionel Messi as well. Before get everybody writes and goes, woow what about Messi? And I love, i don't really love Lukaku that much, but I quite like Ali Dye.
00:47:59
Ken Davies
Ali Dai is great.
00:48:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just think his record year after year after year after year is relentless.
00:48:09
Ken Davies
Ali Dai, you're talking about, aren't
00:48:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I'm not talking about Ali Dye.
00:48:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly. Do you know what?
00:48:14
Ken Davies
you? No, he is.
00:48:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was so much better when i was doing this on my own, when you just disappeared.
00:48:18
Ken Davies
is He is a force.
00:48:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:48:20
Ken Davies
He's a force of nature. No question. We're lucky to have lived. so In 100 years' time, orll say there was a bloke called Cristiano Ronaldo back in the 2020s.
00:48:32
Ken Davies
He wouldn't believe how good he was. And he is great. ah you It just doesn't get to number one for me.
00:48:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:48:39
Ken Davies
Lionel Messi will always be that.
00:48:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's fair. And there's nothing wrong with ah at all. There's nothing wrong with that at all. i mean, I think whoever makes, you can make an argument for both and you can use whatever stats you can to back your argument for both.
00:48:44
Ken Davies
And Louis Moult. Louis Moult.
00:48:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would say in reality, you can't put a fag packet between the pair of them. You'd never be able to argue.
00:48:57
Ken Davies
No one's ever done that though, Nick. No one's ever taken a packet of cigarettes and tried to insert it between those two people. Maybe that should be something we should do.
00:49:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'd be good. That'd be good to watch. That'd make great TV. But the interesting thing about Ronaldo is obviously Portugal are going to qualify, we think, for next year's World
Ronaldo's Goal Milestone Speculation
00:49:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cup. He's still got two years to go on his ah Al Nasser contract in Saudi. So is he going to become the first player in football history to reach 1,000 goals?
00:49:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes or no?
00:49:28
Ken Davies
No, no.
00:49:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. You are just so wrong on everything today. You are wrong on everything to do with the Premier League podcast.
00:49:33
Ken Davies
How
00:49:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
You are...
00:49:37
Ken Davies
many has he got? How many has he got? How many goals has he got now?
00:49:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, sorry, have you not been taking part in this of this conversation? Have I just been talking to like...
00:49:42
Ken Davies
It's the end of a long day. yeah just how many How many goals?
00:49:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got 948 goals and he's 52 goals in the next two years.
00:49:48
Ken Davies
Not a chance, not a chance, not a chance, not a chance.
00:49:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's averaged more than that in every calendar year for like the last...
00:49:56
Ken Davies
Yeah, yeah, he's 41.
00:49:59
Ken Davies
Not a chance.
00:50:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he will.
00:50:02
Ken Davies
He could get injured at any moment. He could pull his, you know, pectoral muscle.
00:50:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah, course could, yeah.
00:50:11
Ken Davies
His neck, i mean, he's got a big neck, hasn't he?
00:50:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. yeah
00:50:13
Ken Davies
He could pull his jugular. pull his jogular
00:50:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
right I think it's probably a good time to finish this podcast because Ken needs to go to bed. I think we've probably worked that one out. So thank you very much indeed for listening to Road to World Cup 26 podcast. The qualifying update episode. I enjoyed it other than that five-minute spell where Ken's Wi-Fi went and absolutely disappeared. So apologies for that.
00:50:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, that's life. That's the way it goes. I'm sure you've all out there had issues sometimes when your Wi-Fi is gone. That's the way it goes. We're going to be back to normal next week looking at qualifying teams. And my, oh my, what a pool of teams you've suddenly got to pick from in the last week and a half.
00:50:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken, where do you want to
00:50:56
Ken Davies
We're going to Algeria. In fact, I can do better than that. I can give you a rundown of where we're going. We've got Algeria, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Qatar, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast in the old money.
00:51:14
Ken Davies
And then, the team I'd forgotten, Ghana. We'll add them on as the 30th team that we've covered.
00:51:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ghana's going to be an interesting one. So I refereed a tournament about three weeks ago.
00:51:26
Ken Davies
Are they actually qualified?
00:51:30
Ken Davies
oh yeah.
00:51:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was like, it was an it was a, although it was a kind of local tournament where I am, it was an African Nations Association tournament. So they all come, they all all the players represented their own countries. And Ghana...
00:51:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the idea was, you know, I was all quite relaxed and all that. and then And then after the tournament finished, there was food and drink and celebrations and all that kind of stuff. Ghana stormed off in the half after I sent one of their players off and then and then disallowed or didn't give them a penalty at the end of the game, which meant they got they got disqualified fairly on.
00:52:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And rather than staying and enjoying the African spirit,
00:52:12
Ken Davies
They got
00:52:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no, no, No, sent one of their players off and then they wanted a penalty right at the end of the game.
00:52:19
Ken Davies
Yeah,
00:52:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I didn't give it and it meant they got, and sorry, not disqualified, they got knocked of the competition.
00:52:23
Ken Davies
yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:52:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And instead of staying around, and that was fairly early on, but instead of staying around to enjoy the celebrations and shake hands with their fellow Africans from other nations, they all stormed off in the huff shouting a abuse at me that as they went.
00:52:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm probably banned from Ghana just as much as you are, my friend.
00:52:36
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:52:38
Ken Davies
oh No, no, no. Ghana have just gone right up in my estimation. Come on, the Ghanaians.
00:52:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:52:44
Ken Davies
ah We're going to broadcast the next one live from, a is it Accra from Ghana? I think so. So brilliant. Hey, come on, you Ghana.
00:52:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, okay, yeah, if you say so, mate, if you say so. I'm just looking to see, by the way, I'm just looking to see where they are, because I am right in thinking they've qualified, because you've now made me doubt myself.
00:53:08
Ken Davies
ah If they are, they've slipped past me.
00:53:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Right, okay.
00:53:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe I'm wrong that.
00:53:15
Ken Davies
But hey, lots of things slip past me as as we've worked out tonight.
00:53:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, absolutely. Mostly mostly your Wi-Fi. ah Yeah, okay. don't
00:53:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah don't know. I'm going to have to go back to you on that. Or maybe completely. um let just I but don't even know.
00:53:33
Ken Davies
Don't worry about it. We're not covering Ghana for another 10 weeks, by which time they probably have qualified.
00:53:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
i can't even see them anywhere. Oh, my goodness. Right, I'm going. Goodbye, everybody. No, thanks for listening, and we'll see you next week. Until then, until then, look after yourselves, look after each other.
00:53:50
Ken Davies
Au revoir.
00:53:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goodbye.
00:53:51
Ken Davies
Au revoir.