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Morocco's Amrabat receives 2 yellows and 2 reds in ONE game!! Who's the best BONO? Will Israel get kicked out of the World Cup?
3 Plays17 days ago
Ken and Nick discuss Morocco’s chances at World Cup 26 in USA, Canada, Mexico. Superstar Hakimi, the rising star of coach Waleed Regragi and who’s the best Bono, the goalkeeper or Irish rock star? Plus in news Israel face being kicked out of the World Cup.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, a very warm hello to you wherever you are listening to world. Bonjour, ciao, ni hao, привет, hola, g'day, and welcome to Road to the World Cup 26.
00:00:21
Ken Davies
Thank
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's that time of the week again where we take a deep dive into teams who have qualified for the World Cup. You're listening to, it is the Road to the World Cup 26 podcast. is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place, only place,
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
to find your regular soccer content on the top English Premier League teams, including your daily Premier League roundup and, of course, the Road to the World Cup 26. I am your
Humorous Exchange and Host Introduction
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
host, Nick Britton. I am joined, as I always am, well, sometimes always, that's if he's not in hospital, ah by my esteemed colleague, the man who looks, well, he looks all right. He looks like he's lost about eight stone, but he looks all right.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
The beaver himself is back. Mr. Ken Davis. Hello, Ken. It's good to see him
00:01:03
Ken Davies
I have.
00:01:06
Ken Davies
Hello. Thanks, mate. It's been a rough week, but I'm here. I survived. I rolled a stone away. I raised from my deathbed ah to come and sit here and record Road to World Cup, which wouldn't miss for the world.
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:18
Ken Davies
I'd do it from the other side of the veil if I had to. I'd do it in ghostly form. Hmm.
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be interesting.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be interesting. I'd like to see that. I'd like to see that. Well, no, that would be good. Although I'd feel, I don't know if I could deal with being haunted by you. That would be a bit weird. Like, it would, wouldn't it?
00:01:23
Ken Davies
I don't actually want to try that, by way.
00:01:33
Ken Davies
That would be a bit weird.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, every time I'd had a shower and everything, I'm like, is Ken, is he coming through
00:01:37
Ken Davies
Yeah. Ken's walking through the bedroom wall again.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, again, yeah. I was about to say, is he coming through the bedroom wall? But that has different types of connotation.
00:01:47
Ken Davies
to be honest, Nick, if i could have if I died and had the power to walk through bedroom walls, you wouldn't be close to the top of the list.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have no idea how much comfort that brings me.
00:01:57
Ken Davies
LAUGHTER
00:01:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, okay, so we are, what are we going to do? We are going to, just that thought was just completely
Morocco's World Cup Strength
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
throwing me now. We are going to take a deep dive today into the African, actually, one of the teams which which comes up on the rails a little bit here, because it wasn't until I started doing a proper deep dive into and into this team that I realised, well, hang about, wait a minute, and they're a good team.
00:02:21
Ken Davies
They're a good team.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do, of course, mean Morocco.
00:02:52
Ken Davies
That's
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
the ah The Prayer of the Sharif. That's cool.
00:02:56
Ken Davies
ah nice. It's nice. But the it's a very funny song though, isn't it? The way it starts, like yeah data that da, da. It's fantastic.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I felt like I was watching an episode of Scooby-Doo for a minute.
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was going to turn around.
00:03:08
Ken Davies
It does.
00:03:09
Ken Davies
It sounds like something Scooby-Doo. You know, Morocco is all standing there and it goes da, da, yeah da, da. It's brilliant song.
00:03:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you turn around and there was this big kind of big monster behind you with his arms up like that.
00:03:21
Ken Davies
Ghosty.
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the ghost of Ken the behind you.
00:03:22
Ken Davies
and
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But although it stands there looking at you for ages, it only starts chasing you when you run away.
00:03:24
Ken Davies
Well,
00:03:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It doesn't take the but take advantage of the fact that you are standing there.
00:03:31
Ken Davies
but that's cartoon lore, isn't it?
00:03:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you never notice this about Scooby-Doo?
00:03:33
Ken Davies
Cartoon lore.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm a big i'm a big fan of Scooby-Doo.
00:03:36
Ken Davies
Who isn't?
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
They would see monster... And it stood right next to them going, ah, with their hands up in the air. And they would go, whoa, oh my goodness. And then they'd go, deliverly and run away.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the monster would chase them. And you're going, well, why didn't you take advantage of the fact that you were standing next to them if you were going to kind of eat them or...
00:03:55
Ken Davies
have Have you ever been accused of overthinking things?
00:03:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, well, strangely, I've been accused of many things. over Overthinking is not one of them.
00:04:03
Ken Davies
You may be overthinking that one.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
this No, I don't think I am. It's an interesting concept because surely you just, you know, okay, fine.
00:04:08
Ken Davies
Not really.
00:04:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, well, we'll move on. We've got some World Cup news for today, some exciting World Cup news, actually. some really ah So it's a breaking news, hot running news story that started kind of yesterday in earnest and is continuing today. So we're going to have a look at a bit of that.
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken will bring us up to speed with the history of ah Morocco in the World Cup. I'll pick out five key players and we'll look at how they play. Kenny's Quiz, everybody's favourite time of the week, is back.
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yes. I'm interested to know what your Moroccan knowledge is all about. We'll have a quick speak around, a manager, and then the podcast.
00:04:39
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah.
00:04:42
Ken Davies
It's excellent.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, he's got his pipe. cleaned your pipe, by the way?
00:04:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That looks a bit cleaner. It's a different...
00:04:46
Ken Davies
I beg your pardon?
00:04:48
Ken Davies
Do in hospital for you?
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
and they i even
00:04:50
Ken Davies
Just a nurse, it's nicely. She'll do it for you.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah I don't want to think about your clean pipes.
00:04:55
Ken Davies
This is turning into carry-on podcast, isn't it?
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
it is as I know, let's get on with this.
00:04:58
Ken Davies
It's
Israel's World Cup Participation Issues
00:05:00
Ken Davies
quite focused.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, ah we'll we'll we'll end the podcast, as we always do, by predicting how we think Morocco are going to get on
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, so breaking news in the last 24 hours, really, and that is Israel's participation in the World Cup next year is looking increasingly shaky. And this is on two fronts, really. The first one, after the United Nations Commission of Inquiry said earlier this month that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, there are now growing calls across the political spectrum for sporting sanctions against the country. So there's political pressure going on.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's very much on a kind of global scale. But on a sort of more narrow football scale in the last 48 hours, it appears UEFA, which Israel plays in, looks set to meet next week, possibly, to decide whether to suspend Israel.
00:06:04
Ken Davies
Thank
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah There's been quite a lot of reporting on this in the last 24 hours. One senior source at the European Member Association told BBC that their understanding is that the UEFA leadership wants to see action on this and there's come a real lot of high level pressure.
00:06:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the last sort of two or three weeks on this from other nations. And we've seen Norway wade into it. We've talked previously on this podcast, haven't we, about the Italian Coaches Association wanting Israel ah kicked out of the competition.
00:06:34
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:06:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Others are now getting involved. But of course, added to that, added to the wider situation is the USA have come out and said that they will fight any attempt to have Israel banned.
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, we know that Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantano are very good friends. They're very close. They've been seen together arm in arm almost since the launch of the World Cup.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's an interesting sort of situation. And Ken, I don't know kind of what your thoughts are about this. What is it?
00:07:13
Ken Davies
Well, nobody can see the scenes in Gaza and be untouched by that. I mean, let's let's make that clear. You know, what's going on in Gaza is ah is a war crime and it's a terrible thing and it's an absolute tragedy for humanity.
00:07:30
Ken Davies
That said, I am not really an advocate of... of Other teams choosing or organisations choosing who who does and doesn't play in sporting competitions based on their assessment of a political situation. I don't think the things really mix.
00:07:48
Ken Davies
ah Now, having said that, I was full support of the of the of South Africa not taking part in things back in the 80s. ah But I think we're on slightly dangerous territory here.
00:08:00
Ken Davies
I don't think it will happen. I think, and I think the main reason it won't happen is America won't allow it. And I think obviously with thee a lot of what's going on in America and a huge, obviously, pro-Israel lobby in America, I think whilst I absolutely understand why why people are furious about it and want to make it happen, I actually just don't think it will happen.
00:08:27
Ken Davies
I actually, on balance, don't think it should. I think I would prefer that Israel continued in the World Cup. but But I think it's a very fine line.
00:08:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is precedent, isn't there? Yeah, there's precedent here. in fact, there's a lot of precedent of countries being banned from playing football. and I'm looking down ah list that I compiled earlier on. Obviously, Russia are at the moment and continue to be and and and were banned in 2022.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We've got Kenyans, Zimbabwe, they've been banned from playing football for ah financial mismanagement reasons. Going back, and you mentioned South Africa, of course, for apartheid, Yugoslavia during the Balkan War.
00:09:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chile, Indonesia, Kuwait, Mexico, Myanmar. I mean, there's lots of teams that have been banned for one reason or another from playing in the World Cup. I mean, the interesting thing here, there's a kind of subplot to this, I think, whereby if if people are looking for political reasons,
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you're right. I think America has too much of a stronghold, but America doesn't have a stronghold on UEFA. And if UEFA decide to suspend Israel from but from ah football, it means they can't complete their qualifying campaign, which means they can't qualify for the World Cup anyway.
00:09:41
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So regardless of the the wider political scene, they just isn't and And we're not saying they'll be banned from the World Cup. They kind of are through the back door because they'll be banned from qualifying if UEFA takes the decision that Norway wants it to take, Spain wants it to take, Italy wants it to take.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
know what the UK's position is. We haven't heard from the FA on on the matter, I don't think. But there is growing pressure from senior politicians and senior football people in Europe under the UEFA jurisdiction to remove Israel for the time being.
00:10:13
Ken Davies
Yeah, it could happen. I would say if I'm a betting man, I don't think it will. i think I think pressure from FIFA will be applied to UEFA. But it's a very interesting story, a very interesting watch.
Safety Concerns and Venue Changes
00:10:27
Ken Davies
And it and it is it's a fine choice. you know It could easily go either way. There's no doubt about that.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, interesting. so It is a very interesting one. We'll keep a close eye and we'll bring you an update, obviously, on the next podcast because I think things might be moving by then a little bit. And whilst we're talking about so US and Donald Trump, he has said today, this is a news story today, he said today that he will move matches at the 2026 World Cup from any cities that he thinks are unsafe. There are, of course, 11 cities that are going to be hosting games.
00:10:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
At next year, there's also, if you follow American politics, lots been going on over the summer with the army being moved in to cities, breakdown of and order and that kind of thing.
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Trump has, well, he was asked specifically about games in Seattle and San Francisco. He mentioned also Los Angeles. I have no idea, Ken, whether this is a whether this is a coincidence all three of those are very democratic-heavy cities.
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who would have thought that? ah Who would have thought that?
00:11:30
Ken Davies
you'll see me
00:11:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he said, look, if if any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for to World Cup or the Olympics, ah but for the World Cup in particular, because they're playing in so many cities, won't allow it to go ahead. We'll move it around a little bit, he said. In other words, he'll move the venue. I've no idea whether he has the right to do this.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've no idea whether he has the jurisdiction to just start moving games here, there and everywhere. Obviously, preparations are already underway in those various cities and stadiums. So we'll see. Maybe it's just Donald Trump saying things.
00:11:59
Ken Davies
I think it is. I think it's political pressure being applied to those cities to sort yourselves out or we'll take the games away and all the financial implications of that. I think...
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
which Which, by the way, sorry, which, by the way, I support. I support Donald Trump on this because I think you must be able to put on a safe World Cup. And if there is, and i look, i'm not I'm not pretending to know what's going on in Seattle, San Francisco or Los Angeles in depth. i mean, you see what you see on the news.
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think if whether you're a president or prime minister whatever, if you are the most senior person politically in that country, then you are duty bound to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands, millions of people coming to your country to watch a sports tournament.
00:12:44
Ken Davies
I think that's true. I just think with Trump, as we all know, he tends to use things for political capital. He might forget about this by next Tuesday. it I think we're still at that stage with it.
00:12:57
Ken Davies
And I think it's ah it's very unlikely, I think, given the planning that is required to pull these things off, ah that you know we're not we're well less than a year away now.
00:13:08
Ken Davies
ah you know i can't I can't see happening. I just think it's Trump being Trump.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, maybe so. But interested to what's going on. interested to see that
00:13:19
Ken Davies
When do we support?
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
but game
00:13:22
Ken Davies
Who plays in Orange? Blackpool. Blackpool.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Blackpool.
00:13:27
Ken Davies
Blackpool.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
They do. ah trying to think of any MLS teams that play in Orange. Anyway, lets let's move on. Let's move on from from politics into something a little bit more light-hearted. And that is the mascots for the World Cup have been announced today.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
think it's today. it certainly wasn't around yesterday, so presume it's today. can you um Can you
World Cup Mascots Unveiled
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
imagine? can I should have put this in Kenny's quiz, to be fair. What animals...
00:13:52
Ken Davies
I haven't seen it. Okay.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
you seen them? have you not seen them? Right, in our case, brilliant. This should be Kenny's quiz but part one. Early bonus edition of Kenny's quiz. what three What three animals are the three mascots of Canada, United States and Mexico, which are, of course, the three host countries?
00:14:10
Ken Davies
I'm going to say kind of the beaver. ah ah Billy the beaver, obviously, something I'm going to say the USA will be the Golden Eagle and that's Gordon the Golden Eagle.
00:14:23
Ken Davies
And Mexico, oh, they like it, their Eagles as well. Mexico, I'd say Larry the Lizard.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any particular reason why you've gone for a lizard in Mexico?
00:14:37
Ken Davies
I just suspect there are a few there.
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
are probably a few here.
00:14:41
Ken Davies
um mean, fa is if I a lizard, if I had choice between Derby and Mexico, ah think I'd be in Mexico.
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, the beer is better, to be fair.
00:14:49
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah but Okay, well, this this does actually feel like a proper episode of Kenny's Quiz because you've got none out of three.
00:14:56
Ken Davies
Fair enough.
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the three mascots are, and why did you, i mean, I know you're obsessed with beavers. I know that. And I know that's your nickname on this podcast. You are the beaver.
00:15:03
Ken Davies
I am.
00:15:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But the actual, the Canada one is Maple the Moose. It's a moose. It's Canada.
00:15:08
Ken Davies
Fair enough. And maple.
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maple.
00:15:11
Ken Davies
Maple or maple?
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, maple, as in maple syrup, as in like Canada stuff.
00:15:14
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zayu the Jaguar is from Mexico.
00:15:19
Ken Davies
Yeah, got that.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the United States element of the mascot is Clutch the Bald Eagle.
00:15:26
Ken Davies
I got that.
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
didn't you say the Golden Eagle?
00:15:29
Ken Davies
Oh, that's what I meant. That's what I meant.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you didn't you didn't mean that, otherwise you would have said it So you think of Uncle Sam the Bald Eagle. or indeed my Or indeed my fantasy league team, which is called the Bald Eagles, in memory of the late, great John Smith, John Smith, hey?
00:15:35
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:15:40
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
The late, great Jim Smith, Derby's manager.
00:15:44
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:46
Ken Davies
How are they doing, by the way, Fantasy League?
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it depends which league you're talking about.
00:15:50
Ken Davies
moving Moving on.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
in some of the league and one In one league, I'm third.
00:15:52
Ken Davies
Moving on.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, I'm third in two leagues. I'm third in the league I'm in with you, but that's because there's only three of us.
00:15:59
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm also third in another league with... with
00:16:03
Ken Davies
Yeah, in the derby under fives and infants, Lee.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
what
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, they're much better than me. they They're much more technically advanced than am. No, and and that's about eight of us, and I'm third in that. And I'm top, by the way, I'm top in one of my leagues.
00:16:14
Ken Davies
Please.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there you go
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am the only team in it. I'm the only team in it.
00:16:18
Ken Davies
You're the only one in there.
00:16:19
Ken Davies
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well done.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So anyway, look, it's so much.
00:16:23
Ken Davies
We should have a Roger World Cup one, shouldn't
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why? But we're already in one. There's only three of us. Now we're just creating another um
00:16:29
Ken Davies
we? Can you still open it?
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's two.
00:16:31
Ken Davies
I'm going to do it.
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, you're only, as as we've had this conversation before, you're only beating me because you've got Haaland as captain. That's the only reason.
00:16:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah My other 10 players beat your other 10 players all the time.
00:16:38
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
i i was just so hoping somebody was just nobbing Haaland last week.
00:16:41
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:16:44
Ken Davies
You can have him too.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't because I haven't got a money. id need to literally, yeah.
00:16:47
Ken Davies
and ah Fair enough. front Now we get to the reason the issue. Right, let's go on to Mexico.
00:16:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, what?
00:16:55
Ken Davies
Morocco, I mean. Let's go on to Morocco.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, because I was going to say, get on to the right place. Right, yeah, let's talk about Morocco. And um what are we going to talk about? Should we talk about a players? Yeah, let's talk about the players.
00:17:05
Ken Davies
No, let's talk about the history.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. I'll turn that off. I'll turn that sting off. Yeah, talk about his. us you go I hadn't got that my running order, to fair. ah Because it's...
00:17:13
Ken Davies
All right, okay. I'm being elbowed out of the...
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah thought just um yeah I'm to just slowly cut you out of everything.
00:17:17
Ken Davies
wrote a wonderful podcast.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, history, World Cup history of Morocco.
00:17:20
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go.
00:17:24
Ken Davies
Right. Morocco are known as the Atlas what? The Atlas what? It's an animal.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
the Atlas Lions
00:17:31
Ken Davies
Yeah, there's Lions, well played. um One of Africa's most successful nations, member of FIFA since 1960. nineteen sixty They've had four African Federation titles.
00:17:44
Ken Davies
They won the 1976 African Cup Nations. They were the first African team to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup in 1986. They were beaten 1-0 by West Germany.
00:17:56
Ken Davies
They featured in six World Cups. ah It's a very interesting pattern because 1970, they got knocked out in the group stages. eighty six 86, round 16, we just mentioned it. 94, 98, 2018, all knocked out in the group stages. 2002, fourth place, semi-final.
00:18:12
Ken Davies
all knocked out in the group stages two thousand and two fourth place semifinal They beat Spain. They beat Portugal. They lost tooil to France in the semi-final.
00:18:26
Ken Davies
They then lost 2-1 to Croatia in the third place playoff. But what an amazing performance. In their group, they topped the group. They drew with Croatia. They beat Belgium.
00:18:38
Ken Davies
They beat Canada. ah In fact, the only third World Cup side not from Europe or South America ever to reach the semi-finals.
00:18:50
Ken Davies
So an absolutely fantastic performance by Morocco. And you might think, well, that's that's just a fluke. It's no fluke. If you look at their form for the last, well, as we always do, over 2024, 2025, they've played games.
00:19:08
Ken Davies
how many have they worn it
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of the last 15? Hmm. 15.
00:19:14
Ken Davies
and
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
14.
00:19:18
Ken Davies
forty
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
fourteen
00:19:19
Ken Davies
14.
00:19:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Close.
00:19:20
Ken Davies
On Wikipedia, it says they've won 14 out of 14, but I've checked. You'd never just trust Wikipedia, do we, children?
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you do. That's where you do all your research. That's it.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's why I'm cutting you this podcast.
00:19:29
Ken Davies
I never just trusted those.
00:19:30
Ken Davies
So i I checked a different source, and there was a rogue game that but wasn't included in the Wikipedia one, where they lost 1-0 to Kenya very unexpectedly. but Last 15 games, they've won 14, drawn none, lost one.
00:19:45
Ken Davies
In that time, they've scored 48 goals and conceded five. I mean, you don't get much better than that. It's World Cup qualification. Obviously, it's just, well, not quite finished. They've only played seven out of the 10 games.
00:20:01
Ken Davies
They're already qualified because they've won seven out of seven. Um, Absolutely stellar performance. They've a goal difference in the World Cup group of plus 19.
00:20:12
Ken Davies
And they have literally battered everyone. ah Now, we have to say, because you'd be remiss not to, the competition they're playing in is not always argentinaina So we have to factor that in, but they can only beat what's in front of them, and they always do.
00:20:31
Ken Davies
So rankings-wise, this is one of the most astonishing rankings journeys I've seen, and I know how much you enjoy ah ranking journey.
00:20:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't, don't, don't say it.
00:20:43
Ken Davies
So they're ranked 11th currently. Bear in mind Germany are 12th. That gives you sense of how good they are. It's their highest ever position. In 2015, obviously before the run-up, well, 10 years ago, obviously, they were 90th.
00:21:01
Ken Davies
90th. In the last 10 years, it's just been rise after rise after rise after rise. Absolutely consistent till they find themselves in 11th and deserving every point they get.
00:21:13
Ken Davies
So they are a team. They are a proper team.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good. o Interesting. I don't think people will necessarily think that of Morocco, will
Advertisement Break: Zencastr
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
they? They kind of think, you think, right, who are the big guns of African football? They think Egypt or perhaps Nigeria, Cameroon.
00:21:29
Ken Davies
Cameroon,
00:21:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But to Morocco, ah no, they don't think that.
00:21:33
Ken Davies
Cape Verde.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nobody thinks that except you. Well, very good for them. The question I'm going to ask them is you want to do the ad now or do you want to do it after the players?
00:21:46
Ken Davies
I think we will.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
That wasn't the first thing was going to ask. Let's do it now because last time, went about three quarters of the way through the podcast without doing it.
00:21:49
Ken Davies
I think we will. Well,
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we better get it right.
00:21:53
Ken Davies
but let's do it. Because, as we know in football, as Walid Refragui also knows, it pays to get your team selected.
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Who? Sorry? Who?
00:22:05
Ken Davies
Walid Refragui.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who?
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. That almost goes down as bad as your Julien Lopetegu pronunciation.
00:22:14
Ken Davies
but you upon it Right, here at Global Sports Network, we, and at the head of the Morocco Football Federation, we spend a lot of time selecting our delivery partner. We chose Zencastr. Zencastr makes it easy to bring your vision to life.
00:22:26
Ken Davies
Share it with your audience, wherever they may be. It's got a 4K video recording. It's got easy AI editing. It's got top-tier distributions, and it's all in one place. So if you've got a story to tell, or tell it with Zencastr.
00:22:38
Ken Davies
Check the show notes for more details.
00:23:02
Ken Davies
Your mic's not on.
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, we're going to have a look at...
00:23:07
Ken Davies
Were so professional, you know?
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I turned it off whilst you were reading the ad. Do why? Because I was watching a very short promo for the three mascots for the yeah on the FIFA website for the for the three...
00:23:16
Ken Davies
Were you? Saddo.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're cute. They're nice little cartoons. but You know, sometimes, particularly in the Olympics, you get mascots and you look at you go what is... Literally, what is that?
00:23:26
Ken Davies
At the 2012 one.
00:23:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
What? Yeah, like 2012 or in London. But every year. this This is a proper kind of cartoon that clearly looks like an eagle and a jaguar and a moose. They're cute. They're nice.
00:23:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Okay. Five key players then for Morocco. I'll start as we like to do Start in goal. And in goal, we have Bono. Now, I sent you the little thumbnail I created for the ah for the YouTube today ah posing the question, who's the best Bono?
00:23:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it the Moroccan goalkeeper or the Irish rock star?
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's your answer?
00:24:01
Ken Davies
Well, my answer would be clearly the Moroccan goalkeeper, because I think the other one's bit of a knob.
00:24:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well,
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, in the context of playing a goal for Morocco, I think you're probably right. I think it probably would be the Moroccan goalkeeper who goes by the name of Yassin Bounou, who is actually his actual real name, but everybody calls him Bono.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Age 34, 76 caps, legend player of Morocco. Spent the vast majority of his career at Sevilla, where he played 96 games. And he's in, I'm delighted to say, he's in the club, Kenny. He's in the goal-scoring goalkeepers club.
00:24:34
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Scored a goal. Yeah, scored goal. I'll come to that in just a moment. Now plays for Al Hilal. He's consistently ranked... Very, very high. At the end of the season, you get all these kind of rankings and this, that and the other.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Always, always up there. Year after year after year. In fact, this year, just just passed we've just had the Ballon d'Or the other day, didn't we? He was ranked fifth in the Ballon d'Or Yashin Trophy, which is the goalkeeper section of the Ballon d'Or.
00:24:59
Ken Davies
Wow. Named after who, by the way? Named after who?
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
After Yashin.
00:25:04
Ken Davies
Yeah, what was his first name?
00:25:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was it Len Yashin?
00:25:08
Ken Davies
Lev Yashin.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leveron. Hungarian goalkeeper.
00:25:12
Ken Davies
A Russian. Anything you want to get along while we're at
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:25:15
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay That's so bad, isn't it? I actually know i know who you mean as well. He had a great... Don't start me off. you You'll get me coughing.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had a great Club World Cup in the summer. Great World Cup. In fact, there was a clip. i don't know if you caught it on social media at the time. There was a clip of Haaland. After Al-Halal, you remember beat Man City in the club World
00:25:38
Ken Davies
Wow. Yeah.
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was like one of the biggest sort of upsets in global football. Haaland was caught essentially saying to him afterwards, can you please come and say see to sorry can you please come and play for City?
00:25:50
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think by then the new Edison was on his on his way out.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Harland had to deny it all, that, and the other. But yeah, it's just... So yeah, he'd had a great game. So he was named in the team of the tournament at the Club World Cup. His goal was a brilliant hit in the 94th minute to rescue a point ah for Sevilla at Valladolid. That was back in 2021.
00:25:54
Ken Davies
yeah
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he smashed It it was a proper goalkeeper. Because I always think go goalkeepers make great goal scorers. Because i can just welly the ball.
00:26:18
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:26:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah hard of They don't worry about positioning and place and which part of the foot they want to hit it and fencing around it. They just can smack it. I always think goalkeepers should take penalties. I always do. And... and
00:26:31
Ken Davies
And there's a difference in there between keepers who kick it from their goal, if you like, so penalty area, into the other goal. That happens occasionally.
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:40
Ken Davies
It does. ah But actually, how much prefer a goalkeeper who's from open play youre scoring.
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I mean, I think i presume i presume he's gone up for a corner in the 94th minute and it's just fallen to him.
00:26:46
Ken Davies
Or corner. Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
and hes He's lashed it in. He's lashed it in, Kenny. ah We loved all that. But when I was researching all this, I found out something else, which is why I mentioned him just a moment ago. You know, Julian Lopetegu, the former West Ham manager and Wolves manager in the San Yolo.
00:27:01
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I didn't know this. He was the Sevilla coach when Bono was playing there. But he was also a goalkeeper who played for Spain.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
the national team. He got, yeah, he got one cap.
00:27:14
Ken Davies
but for tank yeah
00:27:15
Ken Davies
you say
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He got one cap for Spain. I didn't know he was a goalie.
00:27:20
Ken Davies
Yes, he was.
00:27:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, thanks.
00:27:22
Ken Davies
I thought everyone knew that.
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, clearly not. Right, player number two is arguably the best right back in the world. Lots of people think he is and that's Ashraf Hakimi. 26 years old, 86 caps, just won the Champions League for PSG.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has a host of domestic trophies. he's one of the essayss He's one of the best. He's one of the best. He's lightning quick, great on the ball, also named the team the tournament for the Club World Cup recently, and he is expected to captain Morocco when they host AFCON, which starts...
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
couple months time played over Christmas late, late December into, well, mid December, really into January.
00:27:53
Ken Davies
correct
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, there is a there's a ah story knocking around about him at the moment, actually because he's facing serious allegations of sexual assault and criminal proceedings against him, which in the last 24 hours, he's released a really long statement, quite a detailed statement, essentially denying all the allegations, but French prosecutors want to proceed with the case. And, uh,
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll see where that goes. Obviously, it's a live case. We don't want to go into any detail on it, but he's released a statement. It's all over the media in the last 24 hours, literally everywhere. i've I've seen it so many times the last 24 hours.
00:28:28
Ken Davies
and saying Yeah, I did it. ah
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just, no, not saying that.
00:28:31
Ken Davies
I'm banterized.
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, if anybody's listening to this, that's not what he said. He denies the allegations vehemently and in great detail.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's let's move on before you get us into any more trouble. ah The next player, then we move, so we've gone from defender to defence, sorry, from goalkeeper to defence, now we're going into the midfield, and that's Sofiane Amrabat, 29 years old, midfielder, 68 caps, plays for Real Batis, had a spell, if you remember, at Manchester United, remember
00:28:41
Ken Davies
Excellent.
Controversial VAR Incident with Sofiane Amrabat
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
him?
00:28:57
Ken Davies
He's good player.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he was good player, a bit, I mean, look, it's like like everybody who goes to Manchester United, you suddenly become a bad player overnight, it's just kind of what happens. yeah yeah He came with a really good reputation, he was only on loan, and it was when he was at Fiorentina, but Yeah, it never worked out for him.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Played 21 games at Man U. Just didn't really happen, did it?
00:29:18
Ken Davies
He's absolutely central to this team, though.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he is.
00:29:20
Ken Davies
To me, to me.
00:29:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:21
Ken Davies
Yes, sir.
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I think he Struggled so struggle a little bit. I mean, he was ah in terms of finding a club because he was at Fiorentina, what, 2020 to 2025, out on loan to Manchester United.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
then out on loan at Fenerbahce. In the summer, just gone, Fenerbahce bought him and immediately if sent him out on loan to Bettis. So I don't really, it's a bit weird, all of that.
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't really understand it. But back in January 2024, it's a good story here. Back in 2024, he was sent off twice, in the space of about 30 seconds.
00:29:58
Ken Davies
Send off the voice.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was sent off twice and he actually left the pitch. and And what happened was was he was given a yellow card. He had already been booked in a game and he was playing for Morocco he going to South Africa in the AFCON.
00:30:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he got booked initially on 64 minutes. And then in the ninety fourth minute, he was penalized again for bringing down kind of, he last man, essentially.
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know the old dogs, I think.
00:30:24
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was last man. and But he wasn't sent off. He was given a yellow card. But because it was his second yellow card, he was issued a red. So off he trudged.
00:30:33
Ken Davies
yeah
00:30:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah only Only as he kind of reached the dressing room to be called back onto the pitch because VAR had looked at it and decided it was a dog service, therefore it's not yellow card, it's a straight red. So having been sent off, he got called back on, his second yellow card was rescinded and he received a straight red.
00:30:52
Ken Davies
What so a utter waste of time.
00:30:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so in in one game, he's received two yellows and a red. That's pretty clever, isn't it?
00:30:58
Ken Davies
Well, he's actually received two yellows and two reds.
00:31:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Two yellows and two reds. Yeah, no, sorry, you're right. Yeah, two two two yellows and two reds. Yeah, sorry. That's what I meant to say. ah So, yeah, fair play to
00:31:08
Ken Davies
Fair play. Well played. I'm right back.
00:31:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah him. Yeah, then we move then we move up higher up the pitch to Youssef Ensiri, who, again, is one of these really, really, I think, important players for Morocco. He's 28 years old, 82 caps, 24 goals. He's the man they look for.
00:31:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
to score the goals for the team. Plays for Fenerbahce, just signed there in 2024 for 19.5 million euros, making him the most expensive player in the club's history and indeed that league's history.
00:31:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's very much, yeah, the goal court I would say he's the goal scoring superhero of the Moroccan team. Last season, it was a bit of a weird one for him because he started on fire, he scored 26 goals, seven assists in 47 games.
00:31:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And everybody's going, this guy is amazing. This is for Fenerbahce, by the way. Then from March, he didn't really score. And everybody was booing him. And he was getting absolute pelts. know what they're like in Turkey.
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was getting pelts from the crowd. So they they were going to sell him. West Ham, they had a 40 million pound or 40 million euros, sorry, bid rejected. Saudi apparently came in with a big bid.
00:32:05
Ken Davies
I do.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
bid But I noticed ah notice when I was doing this that he's still at Fenerbahce and he started the season with them. So... We'll see. But he's going to be key. And the reason I've picked out these particular players, I'll come to you in just a moment. The last one is Ayub El Calbi, who is age 32, 44 caps, 17 goals, plays for Olympiacos and has just been named the best foreign player in the Greek Super League for the 24-25 season, Ken. Yeah?
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:32:45
Ken Davies
Congratulations to him.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. I mean, look, i don' I think you might be able to. You might get named best player in the Greek Super League if you turned up and played. Well, actually, no.
00:32:51
Ken Davies
like to think I'd be on the podium.
00:32:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
from the Podium, yeah. yep As long as it's a podium of 1 to 1,000 and you'd be like, the tiny little step three miles away.
00:33:02
Ken Davies
Yeah, outside the stadium.
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, three miles away with Blair 1,000. 17 goals, two assists, 31 games last season. It's not it's not exactly Erling. that Actually, thats for the that's for the national team. It's not exactly her Erling Haaland standard, not prolific standard.
00:33:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But don't know what constitutes prolific. don't It's pretty good record, isn't it? Pretty good record. And um he's a sort of he'll be, I mean, again, you talked about, didn't you, they score lots and lots of goals.
00:33:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, they've got two good goal scorers in the team. That's why. That's why they score lots and
00:33:36
Ken Davies
Makes a lot of sense. And they do rotate. You see quite a lot of rotation between El-Kabi and El-Naziri.
00:33:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
lots. Yeah. What system do they play then? What formation do they set up as?
00:33:47
Ken Davies
They play with quite an interesting formation. They play with a 4-1-4-1. ah They've played the occasional 4-3-3, but certainly in three of the last four games, and they were quite important games against Niger, against Benin, and against Tunisia, who were a great rival, they played 4-1-4-1.
00:34:05
Ken Davies
So it's ah it's Bono, obviously, in goal. ah the The edge on the wing, no, no.
00:34:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really tried when I was writing this I really tried to not do any rubbish U2 dad jokes and you've just completely ruined it so let's hope if Morocco win the World Cup it will be a beautiful day I could go on all day I've got so many U2 puns I could use
00:34:23
Ken Davies
um um um I'm...
00:34:28
Ken Davies
if You love know what's weird about Rabat in the capital city of Morocco?
00:34:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
go on
00:34:36
Ken Davies
The streets have no name.
00:34:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so we can do this. ah can literally, I can do this all day. As you all know, I know the words. i know every word to every YouTube song ever published, so I can do this all day.
00:34:43
Ken Davies
Yeah, you know better than me.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, get on with it.
00:34:47
Ken Davies
So, they've got Chibi, Yamique, Matena and...
00:34:54
Ken Davies
Bekkah Mahdi across the back. Importantly, Amrabat is sitting there. He's sitting there as a one, defending the back four, if you like, very effectively. Absolutely his role.
00:35:05
Ken Davies
You've got four across the middle, and then either El Carbi, at the point of attack or El Nezidi and they will swap and out those four games El Carbi started two, El Nezidi started two they're just yeah effective and i'll swap those two you around so 4-1-4-1 it serves them extremely well it's a system they know very well
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Do you think they've just been swapping around because they're qualified and and and all of that? and it's
00:35:31
Ken Davies
no no no no they only really qualified in the last couple of games didn't they because they've only played 7 out of 10
00:35:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, but they were always going to. Let's face it, they were always going to. but But do you think that generally seems to be a bit of a tactic, they just move them around?
00:35:42
Ken Davies
I think it is. I think it is.
00:35:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:35:43
Ken Davies
I think you'll see ah lots of game time for both of them.
00:35:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. Well, okay. No, thank you for that. I think the reason why I picked those five players, and this kind of goes to it and then we'll come into this a bit later so when we do our predictions, is the thing about Morocco is they've got these sort of five good players and there are one or two others, you know but behind that, they've got very little.
Morocco's Squad Depth Concerns
00:36:04
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:36:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they haven't got a lot of experience. And my my concern about Morocco is if one or two of these players get injured or are unable to play for other reasons, then that has a massive impact. I don't think they've got good squad depth.
00:36:21
Ken Davies
i think that right you're right after that first 11 it's it's just a desert really
00:36:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, honestly, honestly, I wonder why. really wonder
00:36:49
Ken Davies
That's a truly horrible piece of music, that.
00:36:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
in ah love music I music. It's proper 1970s, which is going to be sooner than you think, if you can't be honest.
00:36:54
Ken Davies
That can be played at my funeral, innit?
00:36:58
Ken Davies
I think it is.
00:37:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah It's proper 1970s quiz music, man. That's what we're all about.
00:37:03
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:37:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. It is time for everybody's favorite time of the week. The pipe is out.
00:37:07
Ken Davies
Come on.
00:37:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's time for Kenny's quiz on the back of a pretty reasonable week last week. Three questions about Morocco.
00:37:15
Ken Davies
Yep.
00:37:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do play along at home. Shout out the answer if you know it. Question number one. What mountain range covers most of Morocco?
00:37:23
Ken Davies
Oh, that must be the Atlas Mountains. Because
00:37:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why must it be the Atlas Mountains?
00:37:28
Ken Davies
they're the Atlas Lions.
00:37:34
Ken Davies
Come on, on a roll.
00:37:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i Yeah, I wonder about it. To be fair, I thought that was probably the easiest question I could possibly ask you, but you know i felt a bit sorry for you.
00:37:41
Ken Davies
Oh. Oh.
00:37:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
and There we go. So number two is, well done if you got that right at home, Morocco's national drink is the mint tea or, as we like to pronounce it in Morocco, thé à la moune.
00:37:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did you like that?
00:37:57
Ken Davies
ah Té à la Monde.
00:37:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that as well. Now, yeah you're a bit of a tea expert. I remember you once held a tea.
00:38:03
Ken Davies
Yeah, I've read it.
00:38:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is why I've asked you this question.
00:38:05
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:38:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
you had ah You put an event on, didn't you, that just involved teas from the world?
00:38:06
Ken Davies
Right?
00:38:10
Ken Davies
I did. It was brilliant.
00:38:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was it?
00:38:13
Ken Davies
It was great. Yeah. Well, no. But it was so was...
00:38:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, i I popped in. I popped into it yeah.
00:38:18
Ken Davies
Yeah, it was great.
00:38:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
was very upset.
00:38:19
Ken Davies
Just having caught in teeth.
00:38:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I said, yeah I just wanted a coffee. I was like, no, nothing.
00:38:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing.
00:38:25
Ken Davies
Came the wrong place there, mate.
00:38:26
Ken Davies
But, right, key question.
00:38:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I had to go at Costa, Ronnie.
00:38:29
Ken Davies
That's good.
00:38:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so Morocco's national drink is the mint tea and the thé à la monde. It's made by adding mint and sugar or honey to which type of tea?
00:38:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which type of tea is it it makes the Morocco's national drink mint tea?
00:38:43
Ken Davies
That's...
00:38:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's got a specific name.
00:38:48
Ken Davies
ah
00:38:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you'd know this because you are self-compliant. Because when you had your tea exhibition, that's all you went on about for flippant months.
00:38:56
Ken Davies
I know.
00:38:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you claim to become an expert in every type of tea. So let's see how much you've spent it all.
00:38:59
Ken Davies
Well, it has to be an African kind kind of tea. So it isn't going to be Assam or anything from India. i mean, it is tea.
00:39:10
Ken Davies
I mean, just let's let's let's be clear. In order for something to be tea, it has to be Camellia sinensis. That's tea.
00:39:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't try.
00:39:18
Ken Davies
Anything else?
00:39:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's got a name.
00:39:19
Ken Davies
If you say, oh, it's like a tea.
00:39:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
and yeah
00:39:21
Ken Davies
it's committed
00:39:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's got a name.
00:39:22
Ken Davies
So if it's comedic synensis, I'm saying what...
00:39:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't just try and make stuff up. is's this has got a name of a T.
00:39:28
Ken Davies
so
00:39:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's something's called something T.
00:39:32
Ken Davies
Okay, I'm going to say...
00:39:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
you'll never yeah you'll If you don't know it, you'll never get it because it's impossible.
00:39:35
Ken Davies
Bergamo. Bergamo tea.
00:39:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, the answer is gunpowder T.
00:39:40
Ken Davies
It's not tea.
00:39:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is gunpowder T. That's what it says on the quiz.
00:39:44
Ken Davies
Right. You're right. I've got to sit here for the next 45 years and not got that one.
00:39:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think you're to be here for another 45 minutes. The way you're going, you're not to be here for another 45 minutes.
00:39:56
Ken Davies
Right. True. But anyway, sorry. So that's one out two.
00:39:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you got that at home, well done. If you live in Morocco, you know what gunpowder tea is.
00:40:00
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:40:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you didn't don't live in Morocco and you got it right, congratulations. What Moroccan city, this question number three, what Moroccan city has a law that all buildings must be red?
00:40:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean the colour red, not as you've got to writing.
00:40:18
Ken Davies
Well, how many, how many Moroccan cities do I know? Well, Rabat, I know. But Agadea, maybe?
00:40:32
Ken Davies
Casablanca? I think it's Morocco. That might be in town.
00:40:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
You will have seen this on loads of films. Without really, like all these things when you watch films, you don't really notice it. But you will have seen this on loads films.
00:40:41
Ken Davies
Right. I'm going to go with Rabat because it starts with a R.
00:40:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very funny.
00:40:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like your thinking. Red starts with R and Rabat starts with a R.
00:40:50
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:40:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Impressive. But wrong.
00:40:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
the answer The answer is Marrakesh. And you recognise it.
00:40:53
Ken Davies
Oh.
00:40:56
Ken Davies
Ah.
00:40:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
you'd'd You definitely recognise it.
00:40:58
Ken Davies
Yeah, would.
00:40:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So one out of three, average, I suppose.
00:41:04
Ken Davies
smartest I reckon it is my average, isn't it?
00:41:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. But so well done, mate.
00:41:08
Ken Davies
Sorry about that. At least I one.
00:41:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
At least you got one. At least you got one.
00:41:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Console yourself.
00:41:12
Ken Davies
No one was getting the T1.
00:41:13
Ken Davies
And
00:41:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I thought you might do because you keep telling me you're the world's leading expert on tea. But then again, you keep telling me you're the world's leading expert on everything.
00:41:19
Ken Davies
I am.
00:41:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, clearly not. Right. Let's get on console yourself with an advert from our sponsor.
00:41:28
Ken Davies
Yeah, let's do that because Global Sports Podcast Network is partnered with Bionique, the world's most personalized supplements because your body's unique. Because without knowing what deficiencies you have, taking off the shelf supplements might mean you're not getting enough of the nutrients you need and maybe too many of the ones you don't need. So Bionique provides 100% tailor-made supplements.
00:41:47
Ken Davies
tailormade supplements They're designed to deliver precisely what your body needs at exactly the right levels. So click the link in the show notes, use the code GSPN2025, you'll get 40% off your first order.
00:41:58
Ken Davies
off your firstt order
00:42:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is Road to Work Up 26 podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Thank you very much for being with us. Thank you for making this your most important weekly listen. You can catch up with all things GSPN on the daily Premier League podcast, which features, if you've not had enough of this by now, by the way, it features Ken and I on several, several of the week's podcasts we do together.
00:42:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why are you making that face?
00:42:40
Ken Davies
i'm um I'm just saying I'm making that face as one of delight, really. That's my...
00:42:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not delighted...
00:42:44
Ken Davies
that's my
00:42:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll tell you what, if that's your delighted face, I'd hate to see if you're feeling a bit peed up.
00:42:48
Ken Davies
No, it's kind of... I was about to say it's it's a it's an absolute... It's like a national treasure, it, that podcast now? Daily, friendly podcast.
00:42:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That's good fun. That's good for fun. there's some There's some news today, which we're going to do on tomorrow morning's podcast, which is which is very interesting. But you're going to have to wait for that because we're doing World Cup today. And just before we finish the podcast with a look at how we think Morocco are going to get on...
Assessing Morocco's World Cup Potential
00:43:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's have a quick look at the manager, Waleed Redgrady. He is the manager of, don't know, I've got it right. I spent ages, be fair, to be fair actually, before we did this. So for half an hour before we did this, I was making sure that I had all the pronunciations of all the players right.
00:43:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah so um And indeed the coach.
00:43:27
Ken Davies
Well done. That's going the extra mile, Nick.
00:43:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
but you know You know, I like to do that. 44 caps for Morocco as a right back, as a player. He took over the national team in 2022, led them to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar, as you were saying a little bit earlier on, Ken. And he's highly regarded. He's regarded as one of the best coaches at the moment, one of the best coaches in the world.
00:43:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Built, of course, on that success in the Qatar World Cup by absolutely rampaging through the qualifying. haven't they i mean And I'm really, really interested to see how they're going to get on at AFCON.
00:44:04
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:44:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um'm ri Because they're hosting it, of course. And it's the first time Rocco have hosted it
00:44:06
Ken Davies
Yeah. If they win it, does that mean we've got a real contender on our hands? is would is it possible for an African nation to win the World Cup?
00:44:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, it's possible. Yeah, yeah. course it's possible. It's 11 v 11.
00:44:22
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:44:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Will it happen in America? Hmm.
00:44:27
Ken Davies
Maybe.
00:44:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know.
00:44:29
Ken Davies
But no other African side This is.
00:44:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But bear one bear in mind the next World Cup is on home soil, isn't it? and So that might be that might be the time. I think it'll be.
00:44:38
Ken Davies
Yeah, that makes a bit of sense.
00:44:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think it'll be.
00:44:39
Ken Davies
But no other team in the African ah qualification has got anything like their record.
00:44:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, that's right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Regragui's style is very much Nottingham Forest 24-25. It's ah solid defence, nice and tight.
00:44:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Use the pace of the strikers to hit teams on the counter. So soak up pressure, bring your opponent in, bang, get in behind them. ah because i've got real good pace up the top end of the pitch.
00:45:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's the kind of way he plays. But it's very interesting to see his his rise to prominence, really, in the last two years, or 25, three years, since he took over in 2022. And it's a big year for Morocco. It really is a big year for them, because there may well be a sense that it's kind of, not now or never, but...
00:45:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It may be a sense that all all roads have been building up to this moment. And with Afton, yeah, Afton now...
00:45:34
Ken Davies
the golden generation. this I think this will put the next one.
00:45:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they're all coming to a good age, aren't they? When when we look to the... I mean, obviously, you got the goalie who's over 30, but then there are very few goalies who aren't. And when he's... He'll 35 next year. and That's nothing to play in the World Cup.
00:45:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's fine. But the players we mentioned, you know, Hakimi's 26. Amrabat is 29. We've got Nsiri, who's 28. ah we've got and
00:45:48
Ken Davies
No.
00:45:56
Ken Davies
Perfect.
00:45:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
and siri who's twenty eight they're all kind of in the prime of their of their footballing lives, careers, journeys, whatever you want to call it.
00:46:08
Ken Davies
They're going to be a very interesting watch. They're going to be a really interesting watch of the World Cup.
00:46:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
o So we'll keep a very close eye on that. Right, let's close off the podcast then by predicting how we think Morocco are going to get on. And I think we've kind I'm too honest with you, I've kind of moved my position. over the course of the last 45 minutes because I researched it all and some of it took me by surprise, some of it didn't.
00:46:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the more I think about them, the more I'm impressed by them. Anyway, I've made my prediction.
00:46:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I have a look um hope I'm not going to look too stupid. but Well, okay. They are, we've talked about them being on a crest of a wave. They're very reliant on their front players. And as I said before, they're reliant on a small group of experienced players who do play at a very high level. but Behind that, there is very little depth. So that is a definite concern.
00:46:39
Ken Davies
what What do you reckon?
00:46:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
They showed in Qatar how they good have good they can be on their day. Some of the maur players are maturing to the right age, as we've just talked about. We will get a better idea when we see how they perform in AFCON.
00:47:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But whilst they have capability of getting to the quarterfinals, I worry primarily about the lack of strength and depth they've got in a competition. And I wonder if Qatar was a bit of a one-off. So i've I've got them going out in the round of 16. Thank
00:47:33
Ken Davies
Very interesting. And I think you're about right. I had round of 16. I do have round of 16.
00:47:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:47:40
Ken Davies
You're absolutely right to point out the squad depth. But they are very solid. They have a very clear system. They know how to play it. They're well drilled. ah It's a well-applied system.
00:47:52
Ken Davies
They've got the players that match the system, which is a very important thing. You don't always get that. They do, and they execute it extraordinarily well. So I think they are a team that's making the most of their talents.
00:48:04
Ken Davies
I think they've got a manager who makes the most of their talent, and that they are legitimately 11th in the world. So if you're legitimately 11th in the world, one would argue you get to around 16. You should do that.
00:48:16
Ken Davies
I think they will do that. kind of see the Can I see them really? The ultimate test for me is if they come across in England, or of France or Spain or things like that. Can I see him getting through that? Well, they did get through that in the last one.
00:48:30
Ken Davies
ah But i think I think it will be difficult in them in the United States. I think it's slightly different in Qatar. ah yeah It's now an Arabic-based country.
00:48:41
Ken Davies
They'll probably have lots of support. It won't quite be the case in in the States. I think around the 16 as well. But I think they'll be a great watch. Looking forward to it. And they could surprise us.
00:48:52
Ken Davies
They could be a real dark horse. And I think in the in the World Cup that follows, it could be completely different.
00:49:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm surprised at that. i had a sense that you were going to have them go a little bit further in the competition.
00:49:06
Ken Davies
I was toying with round eight, round of eight quarterfinals.
00:49:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i that's where I thought you might have them, yeah, yeah.
00:49:12
Ken Davies
Yeah, I did definitely think about that. ah You know, it is... ah There's 48 teams. That means there's actually quite a few poor teams. The chances of drawing a poor team in round 32 is quite high.
00:49:27
Ken Davies
But I just think ultimately they'll come a cropper. Really on the basis of I just don't think they get enough stiff competition.
00:49:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:49:38
Ken Davies
ah Once they come across ah some really good teams, I think it will be quite a different picture for them.
00:49:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's very fair. That's very fair. Right then. That brings an end to our deep, deep, deep dive into Morocco. I really enjoyed that, Ken. i'm not goingnna I thought that was fascinating.
00:49:59
Ken Davies
Fascinating country, fascinating
00:49:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was, yeah, fascinating country, really interesting football stories and a team that we're excited about. And certainly I'm going to keep a very close eye on them in AFCON because that might signal what they're going to be doing next year in the summer. Right, where are we going to go next next week, my friend?
00:50:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do
00:50:16
Ken Davies
people. Uruguay, Uruguay, Montevideo.
00:50:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean Eurocon?
00:50:20
Ken Davies
Uruguay, yeah, Uruguay.
00:50:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, okay, that's really, I was wondering where this place was, whether it had to go to another planet...
00:50:24
Ken Davies
Uruguay. Which will be an interesting one. An interesting one. I'm fascinated by South American countries. I think Uruguay, obviously, where was the first World Cup play?
00:50:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
In Uruguay.
00:50:34
Ken Davies
In Uruguay. So they've got, of all the history,
00:50:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And who won it? And who won it?
00:50:39
Ken Davies
Brazil?
00:50:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, Uruguay.
00:50:42
Ken Davies
Did they?
00:50:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:50:43
Ken Davies
All right. Wow. They've won the World Cup as well. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to Uruguay.
00:50:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:50:49
Ken Davies
It's going to be an interesting one. Lots to talk about.
00:50:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good. Okay. Well, until then until then, thank you very much indeed for joining us. Thank you very much for being part of the daily Premier League vo podcast, Road to World Cup 26. Family, as you are now, and until we speak again, look after yourselves, look after each other. Goodbye.
00:51:09
Ken Davies
Bye-bye.