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Ep 28 Colombia: Has James Rodriguez still got? How did coach Lorenzo end up at Swindon Town?! And is their goalie Kevin Kier actually better at entre half!!
3 Plays25 days ago
Join your hosts Nick Britten Ken Davies as we take the deepest of deep dives into everything related to the FIFA World Cup 2026 held in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
All the news, analysis and comment from every team, every qualification process and of course the tournament itself. The biggest festival of soccer in the world.
This week we take a deep dive into Colombia - who are they, who are the key players and what chances do they have at the World Cup? Plus your World Cup news roundup, Kenny’s Quiz and much, much more.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Introduction to Road to World Cup 26 Podcast
00:00:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, bonjour, ciao, ni hao, privet, g'day, and wherever you are in the world, welcome to the Road to World Cup 26 podcast. Part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, are the only place to find your regular soccer content on the top English Premier League teams, including your daily Premier League roundup.
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was now going out seven days a week, you'll be glad to hear.
00:00:37
Ken Davies
Absolutely.
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah so well that's how many days there week, that's why it's daily. And as you're here now, you know that this is the road to World Cup 26. And I say this every week, and I'm going to keep saying it, we are still we are still the only regular World Cup podcaster out there.
Nick Britton Welcomes Ken Davis Back
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am your host, Nick Britton, and I'm joined and i'm very pleased today to be to be joined because I've missed him the last few days because he's been... He's been under the knife ah yet again. He's got a face. he's like Hannibal Lecter. He's got a new face every time I see him.
00:01:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah My esteemed colleague, my greatest mate, the man who knows more about football than pretty much nobody at all, Mr. Ken Davis. How are you feeling, Kenny?
00:01:10
Ken Davies
I'm a little bit sore. A three-hour operation Friday night. I emerged triumphant from that. ah Ken Davis, one, Gore-Blade and nil. ah So Gary the gallbladder has gone into some kind of, I don't know, medical waste dump somewhere in in the North Sea.
00:01:28
Ken Davies
And I'm now, me and the gallbladder have been separated. ah We've done it amicably. I get access to the kids. So there's gallbladder. But we've just got to go our separate ways. you Eventually, after a long period of time, relationships just break down, don't they?
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I say you go separate ways, but only after he tried to kill you.
00:01:46
Ken Davies
Well, yeah, that was that was why we had to get a divorce, really, because Gary Goldblad had tried to assess ah assassinate me about three months ago.
00:01:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not even to assassinate you, yeah. Yeah, well, I think that's good reason. That's good reason to get it whipped out and chucked in the bin.
00:02:00
Ken Davies
Thank you, Barton.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:02:00
Ken Davies
Okay. Yeah, so, yeah, I'm back. I'm back. um I wouldn't say I'm on 100% form, but I'm 10%. um ten percent
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's about
Colombia's World Cup Potential
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
as normal. Nobody will notice the difference. oh We are, of course, as we always are at the moment, looking at doing deep dives, deep dives into teams who qualified for the World Cup. I'm quite excited about today because these this is a team that I think has flown massively under the radar, but a finished third in their qualifying table in CONMEBOL in South America.
00:02:20
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've got some great players. They've got a great manager. And I'm just wondering... I'm just wondering how are they're going to get on and whether they could surprise a few people. I am, of course, talking about Colombia.
World Cup Ticket Sales and Kit Leaks
00:03:15
Ken Davies
YK. I
00:03:18
Ken Davies
ah like that.
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a favour of me, Columbia. I could see you dancing along there, Kenny.
00:03:21
Ken Davies
I think that is ah that's got excellent credentials for a winner of the National Anthem World Cup.
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:26
Ken Davies
that is it's got It's got that but but which we all need. It's got definitely a bit of a South American feel. So we kind of know where it's coming from. And it's got that nice little quietness down a bit, but quite jolly.
00:03:40
Ken Davies
da da da da da da da da And I bet Columbia fits in there somewhere. it's I think it's got, it's ticking all the boxes for me.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's it's a good one. It's a good one. It took me a bit by surprise, like the whole Columbia thing. It took me a little bit by surprise first time I heard it.
00:03:54
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's got a chance. It's got a chance of going far in the competition of great World Cups that we're going to do when everybody's qualified. We're going to do a World Cup National Anthem. And let's see how Columbia because I think they'll do well.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. As always, we're going to have a look at your World Cup news. See if there's anything knocking around in the last few days. On the World Cup, but Ken will give us a history of Colombia in the World Cup. I will choose five key players.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought this was going to be quite hard, but actually it was very easy because Colombia's got full of good players. I just didn't really think about who they might have in their team. They've got some good players. We have, of course, everybody's favourite time of the week. That's Kenny's quiz.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was thinking about when I setting Kenny's quiz, mate, was thinking about because you've been poorly and you've been in hospital the last few days and you've had this operation and all that, should I go easy on you and just give you pretty much a straightforward three out of three?
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So,
00:04:43
Ken Davies
That's what a reasonable person would have done, I think.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, but nobody ever calls me reasonable.
00:04:47
Ken Davies
That's true.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We'll have a look at the manager and see how he's going to do. And we're going to end the podcast, as we always do, guessing. I'd like to say predicting, but let's face it, it's a wild stab in the dark. Guess about how Colombia are going to get
00:05:01
Ken Davies
I don't consider it a stab in the dark, mate.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
on
00:05:03
Ken Davies
I think it's more of an incision just to kind of expand expand the medical theme. I think we do it with absolute precision.
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you've had plenty of incisions in here the last few days, so you'll know all of them.
00:05:14
Ken Davies
Five, five in me at the moment. i Five, five. Five in six.
00:05:22
Ken Davies
Five, five in six.
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Five incisions.
00:05:33
Ken Davies
Five, five in six.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Five incisions.
00:05:36
Ken Davies
I'm like my own personal drive-by. It's five in six.
00:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was nice. That reminded me, do you remember 19, the song by port hark Paul Hardcastle back in the day?
00:05:42
Ken Davies
Yeah. but some
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you were going to ah yeah start rapping to that.
00:05:45
Ken Davies
If I'd had 19 in seasons, I'd just be like a teabag, wouldn't I? Honestly, there'd be water spurting out of everywhere.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:51
Ken Davies
Honestly, I looked like a dice when I saw gown with the spots of blood on there. It was like one, two, three, four, five. Anyway, moving on.
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, that was good. That was the wrong sting anyway, but it was good. That's your player sting, but I'm going to... I was too quick. Too quick on a button.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
First of all, your breaking news. I won't bother playing your breaking news sting. ah During the 10-day visa pre-sale draw for the World Cup tickets, more than 4.5 million fans worldwide applied for the opportunity to purchase tickets.
00:06:07
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:06:23
Ken Davies
wow
00:06:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, Ken, there's been lots of talk in the media around nobody wants to go because it's Trump and it's America and you're not going to get in anyway, even if you do. Well, it doesn't feel like that at all.
00:06:31
Ken Davies
just feel like that
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I always think there's moments in these things. um Every single, every single major competition in the world, I'm not just talking about World Cups here, Olympic Games and things like that. the the The media...
00:06:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the year beforehand is always really negative. And I remember years ago when I was at the Daily Telegraph and I went to go and cover some Olympic Games. Before the competition, you're always sent out there, you know, six months before the competition and essentially told to write a report about how none none of the stadiums are ready and this isn't ready and it's never going to happen. and You know, just trying to find got a of bad things to write about.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I kind of feel That's been the case with this World Cup. A lot of it's focused on the negativity in the politics. There's also always a moment where you just go, no, this is going to be good. It's going to be fine.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I wonder if this is it. I wonder if this is at four and a million. And by the way, this is only the visa pre-sale. So you've got to have a visa card. i don't want to mention visa anymore, given too much publicity here.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got to have a card even just to take part. So, you know, it's only the start.
00:07:30
Ken Davies
wow
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's only the start.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's going to be very, very popular.
00:07:33
Ken Davies
Great.
00:07:33
Ken Davies
I hope it's the biggest and best one ever. Because we've been there.
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Visa.
00:07:37
Ken Davies
We're the original best podcast. We wanted to be the best one.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are. And we still are. It's certainly the biggest ever FIFA World Cup, of course, because it is expanded. um The other bit of news to bring you is some kit leaks. Now, I don't know if you've seen this kit, because obviously you've been otherwise detained.
00:07:52
Ken Davies
No.
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
The England kit for next year's World Cup has been leaked. And you know what it looks like? Do you know what it looks like?
00:07:59
Ken Davies
I'm hoping it looks like white with a bit of blue and a bit of red on it.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly that. It looks like every other England kit that's ever been produced.
00:08:07
Ken Davies
Good.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't even know why they bought the
00:08:08
Ken Davies
What were you expecting?
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Something a bit jazzier. It's just white kit with like...
00:08:12
Ken Davies
Is it boring?
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's just what it's just like every other England clip. what what what I mean, it's so boring that the manufacturers or the media have kind of made a point that the George's cross on the back of it has returned to its natural colours because there was ah ah it was that kind of ridiculous...
00:08:26
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:08:29
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah.
00:08:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was a ridiculous, pathetic kind of story.
00:08:31
Ken Davies
Shaped red, then, wasn't it?
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I'm not even going to give it some credibility with by calling it a story. But it was that ridiculous thing where... They changed the color of it last time, and it was all, you're woke, and you're this, and you're that, and blah, et cetera.
00:08:41
Ken Davies
yeah
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, it's back to what it is. ah The Spain kit has also been leaked.
00:08:49
Ken Davies
That'll look a bit better, I would imagine.
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that looks that looks rare like a Spain kit. It's red. It's a bit different. it's got white.
00:08:56
Ken Davies
There is a bit of a theme developing on these kit launches that they look like they're kit.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's got a... Yeah, I know, yeah. Yeah, it's got a yellow sort of stripes down it, a bit like the old Liverpool kit the 80s, you know, with the...
00:09:07
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, that's grim.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
as it But I've saved the best to all last because France have... They are going to release their home and away kits fine, but they're also producing a kind of what they call a lifestyle retro jersey.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm hoping that this is true and this isn't just some sort of really weird AI fake, but it's so nice that...
00:09:31
Ken Davies
I can't laugh too much, by the way, just FYI.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, well, that sounds like a challenge to me.
00:09:35
Ken Davies
I'm not so allowed to.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
will ah Will all your various holes and incisions open up and you'll start...
00:09:40
Ken Davies
Honestly, I'll explode on live TV.
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's okay, we can do that. ah But France have kind of got this retro jersey, which is a football shirt, it's black, but it's got kind of pictures of the Empire State, the head of the top of the... Not the Empire State, the head of the Statue of Liberty on it and all that. It is beautiful.
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to buy one. I'm not even French. I'm going to buy one. It's so nice. It's like a black football shirt.
00:10:00
Ken Davies
Is it a sports kit? Is it a football top?
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's like football shirt. It's like a football shirt.
00:10:04
Ken Davies
That sounds...
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if well it's a fusion. i'll tell you how it's been described in the report i'm looking at. It's a fusion of home and away inspirations with a retro feel and a Statue of Liberty inspiration.
00:10:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's so nice. So I think it's the away kit with all this stuff kind of printed on it. It's so good.
00:10:22
Ken Davies
So we should do a competition, Nick. We should... Anybody who writes in and says nice things about us gets in automatic draw and you can buy em one
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we could do that. Yeah, can do that. We can do
00:10:31
Ken Davies
Okay, brilliant. Okay.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, write in. Yeah, that's good. Yeah, so we're going to give away, we're going to buy and give you away one retro France top to whoever writes in and says nice things about us.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that rules Angry Matt right out of door.
00:10:46
Ken Davies
Yeah, absolutely.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although, to be fair, I've got something from him a little bit later on, which I'm going to bring to him.
00:10:48
Ken Davies
Yeah, and when we say retro France kit, we don't necessarily mean this one. We mean one we can find on Vinted for £13.99.
00:10:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm not paying 39 times for it. Five are at most. ah So yeah anyway, that's your... there so it's lots of kits, lots of kit leaks. It's that time of year, It's that time year as we head up towards the the competition.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's your World Cup news.
Colombia's World Cup History
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are now going to dive, dive into the marvellous country in South America called Colombia. And Ken, you're going to bring us a bit of history of Colombia in the World Cup.
00:11:22
Ken Davies
Bit of history, bit of form, bit of ranking. And we know how much Nick likes ranking. ah So don't laugh. Don't laugh.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
You said it.
00:11:33
Ken Davies
Don't laugh.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah And I'm just going to keep laughing so you keep laughing and then you're fall on the floor in agony and that will make me laugh even more.
00:11:34
Ken Davies
Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh. I nearly did that. Right. Columbia, no, that's... Las Cafeteros, which stands for what, Nick?
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
The cafeterias.
00:11:50
Ken Davies
Don't be ridiculous. The coffee coffee grinders. The coffee merchants.
00:11:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was wrong. I'll take it. I'll take it. I'll take a yes for
00:11:57
Ken Davies
So they started playing football around the turn of the century. It's supposedly English engineers who are working on the Colombian railway company got people in Colombia interested in this strange game they were playing, kind of caught on.
00:12:14
Ken Davies
That's really, let's be honest, how football did spread around the world. um And it caught on like a house on fire. Their history of qualification for the World Cup has been, ah well, mixed, but not without interest and incident.
00:12:27
Ken Davies
ah Originally, the first qualification was 1962, went out in the group stages, and then nothing until 1990. And the 90s were a bit of a golden era for Colombia under Francisco Maturana.
00:12:43
Ken Davies
They got to the 1990 World Cup. They got to the round of 16. They got to the group stages in 94 and 98. So they qualified throughout the 90s.
00:12:54
Ken Davies
Then they had a bit of a quiet period. And then, by the way, the 90s was kind of Valderrama era. Do you remember that? Valderrama, the midfielder with the wacky hair. habit one
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely, yeah. And Higuita, the goalie as well.
00:13:07
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
zika and I mean, he was a German Scorpion kick.
00:13:09
Ken Davies
Rene. Oh, yeah. Nutcasey.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
come on Yeah, brilliant.
00:13:12
Ken Davies
but But fantastic.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
is Yeah, it was a golden era club football that was.
00:13:14
Ken Davies
um It was. And then there was another golden era in 2014-2018 under Jose Peckerman. ah In 2014 in Brazil, they got two quarterfinals.
00:13:27
Ken Davies
And, you know, they won three out of three of their group games. They beat Uruguay in the round of 16. They only lost to Brazil 2-1 in the round of eight. Brazil famously going on to lose the next match. By how much?
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Five goals to one.
00:13:44
Ken Davies
seven goals to win against Germany in the at home in the semi-final. Well, of course, final, it would have been. Anyway, that was that was sad. Round of 18 in 2000. Sorry, round of 18. They didn't have a round of 18. Round 16 2018. So, actually, when they've qualified, they've generally you know it' been a good account of themselves.
00:14:06
Ken Davies
Form... Now, the form has been pretty good because dave they've qualified, as Nick said, in third place in Conbe Mall. You don't do that by accident. But it's fair to say that three, four, five and six all finished on the same points. So it's yeah it's difficult to put a thread through through many of those teams.
00:14:28
Ken Davies
In the last 10 games... which is what we tend to look at, which have all been World Cup qualifiers. They've won three, drawn three, lost four. So isn't it isn't spectacular.
00:14:39
Ken Davies
They lost to Bolivia, lost to Uruguay, lost Ecuador, lost to Brazil. But in the same time, they've drawn away Argentina. They won their last two games very handsomely, including that incredible 6-3 victory away at Venezuela.
00:14:53
Ken Davies
That's meant that Venezuela couldn't qualify for the qua for the qualifying playoff round. So it's been you know it's been it's been a good competition for Colombia. Scored 29. They scored a lot of goals.
00:15:07
Ken Davies
They scored a lot of goals. But they've conceded 18. Entertaining. They're the second most goal scorers out of the top six. They're the second most goals conceded out of the top six.
00:15:18
Ken Davies
I think we're seeing a bit of a pattern emerge there. Now, finally, Nick's favourite, the ranking. ah 14th currently World Cup ranking, surprisingly high.
00:15:29
Ken Davies
Between 2000 and 2006, they were consistently in which place of the rankings, Nick?
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fourth or eightieth You're either going to say they're really good or really bad.
00:15:43
Ken Davies
Okay. Okay.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they were quite high. i think they were quite high in the early 2000s. I seem to remember Columbia being...
00:15:48
Ken Davies
No, this is 2013, 2016.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, this is 2000.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I see. um In that case, because they go they are cyclical as as ah as a nation. um Low then. and low low. I'll go yeah i'll go eightth I'll stay
00:16:03
Ken Davies
to Third.
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
You swine.
00:16:08
Ken Davies
Third.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
You led me down a garden path there. Well, I knew they were... I cut ah did say fourth, didn't I?
00:16:13
Ken Davies
Yeah, but then you came to the early 2000s.
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah said that. then you gave the Yeah, but then you gave me a face and...
00:16:17
Ken Davies
I thought, here's my chance.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
You just stitched me up massively.
00:16:21
Ken Davies
So they were third for three years in I can't imagine Colombia third in the world, but they were only 10 years ago.
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I remember Oh.
00:16:28
Ken Davies
They kind of slipped back since. But, you know, the average really has been 14th. So they are where they are. They're 14th. They're playing in the Americas. they're They're a decent team, incredibly entertaining, very good manager.
00:16:43
Ken Davies
And I expect them to do quite well.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, well, we'll find out exactly how you expect them to do a little bit later on. Thanks, Ken.
Colombian Players to Watch
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So from the history to the present then, and five players who should, should catch the line at the World Cup.
00:17:00
Ken Davies
Do I should I do an advert first?
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're not.
00:17:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're not.
00:17:04
Ken Davies
Yeah, it's like the advertiser.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, minus Ken's little wrapping on top of that, we're going to talk about five key players. Now, I like to start with a goalkeeper, as we always do. it's bit of a It's a bit of an up-for-grabs position, the goalkeeper, I think, because we've seen the coming and the going of the Colombian goalkeeper who's been in goal for ages and my computer's just gone can't remember what he's called.
00:17:44
Ken Davies
David Ossinger, ex-Arsenal, good keeper.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who's the really... ah so That's right, yeah, David Ospier. Yeah, that's right.
00:17:49
Ken Davies
Got get him on a bit.
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
My phone just appeared off the screen there for a bit. Yeah, David Ospier. So it's kind of up for grabs. And he's still around, but very much in a kind of background advisory role. So at the moment, the shirt belongs to Kevin Meir, who played in goal for Cruz Azul in the Mexican League, League One, the Premier League.
00:18:09
Ken Davies
Place for who?
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cruz Azul.
00:18:10
Ken Davies
You're placed for who?
00:18:14
Ken Davies
ah thank to
00:18:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ruth Azul in the Mexican Liga.
00:18:19
Ken Davies
Great. Carry on.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
but What, do you want to do better? That's actually how you pronounce it.
00:18:24
Ken Davies
That's very good.
00:18:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you. And he is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the league. he had a brilliant year last year. ah He yeah it was the goalkeeper of the season in the in the in the league team and all that kind of stuff.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's only 24. Well, no, he's 25.
00:18:38
Ken Davies
Ooh.
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, he's 25.
00:18:39
Ken Davies
By far then.
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's 25. He's the youngest keeper we've had in our in our goalkeepers of the World Cup qualifying teams that we've looked at so far. There's been a very general theme, hasn't there, of keepers over the age of 30.
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there are many who are younger than 30, and he is one of them. He's only 25 years old. But he's only made three appearances. but he's played two out of the last three, and I'm wondering whether having had...
00:19:01
Ken Davies
He played against Argentina away. If you're playing against Argentina away, you're the number one.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I think that's i i mean, look, he's not he's not nailed down, but the reality is he's had a brilliant league season. He's come into the team. He's played in the last two qualifiers. He's played away at Argentina. So that would suggest he's got the shirt at the moment.
00:19:18
Ken Davies
I think so.
00:19:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is, however, ah reasonably... Interesting figure. He's highly entertaining. He's highly entertaining because he's he's well known for his outfield skills.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's one of these proper kind of sweeper keepers.
00:19:32
Ken Davies
I would tell you.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't know whether you've seen this video, Knock It Around, Ken. a there's ah There's a video made of him playing ah last year where essentially he's playing as a centre-half. So his team, you know, when we watch England or Derby and most of the time they just go from left back to centre half to centre half to right back and then sort back again, occasionally give it to the midfielder who then passes it back.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're all going, yeah, this is good. Let's do this for another 90 minutes. He's playing one of the centre half roles.
00:20:00
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's not like he's behind the defence. He is in the middle of defence.
00:20:03
Ken Davies
This is the future. This is the future of the keepers.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And they're up near the halfway line.
00:20:05
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So presumably the the other defenders pushed into midfield to give them more bodies in there.
00:20:07
Ken Davies
yeah
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's on the almost almost on the halfway line, just receiving the ball from the left back, bit pitching on. as And then it comes back to him one stage and the team he's playing press him. And he just does this. is Bear in mind, there's nobody behind him. He's the last man.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just whips around him, just little sidestep, takes around one, cuts inside another and plays the ball back to his other defender.
00:20:30
Ken Davies
They'll be playing for Man City before the end the season.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fantastic, isn't it?
00:20:33
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fantastic. So we like him, and that has obviously obviously drawn comparisons to the great Rene Higuita, he of the scorpion kick. And yeah, let's go dig it out. It's worth watching.
00:20:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's also known He's also known to keep a figure. i I don't want to say this, Ken, but I'm going to. he's also and He's also known to keep a figure of a virgin in his goal ah during matches.
00:21:01
Ken Davies
The Virgin Mary, the Virgin Mary, not just a random virgin.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, there's a
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, ask it yeah, I know, but then then you can't do the gag, can you?
00:21:08
Ken Davies
Oh, right.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't do the joke if you just... Well, now you've ruined it. Oh, you've ruined it. can't
00:21:15
Ken Davies
It hurts too much, it hurts too much tonight. What, no, please do the joke, please do the joke.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
the like you No, I'm not going to now because it's completely wasted. I'm moving on. he's ah He's a good keeper. Thank very much. Good luck to you, Kevin. me Is it Kevin or Kevin?
00:21:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
this yes
00:21:36
Ken Davies
Keep going. Keep going.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's spelled M-I-E-R.
00:21:41
Ken Davies
Yeah, Mia. Mia.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i presume it's that. Yeah, i just want to be sure.
00:21:43
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. um We're going to move up the pitch to the defence. And a player who's well known to us here in the UK is Davison Sanchez. And he's their main centre-half.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's 29 years old. He's currently at Galatasaray, but before that made 143 appearances for Tottenham in the Premier League. He's got 73 caps for Colombia. He's their mainstay defender. Good player.
00:22:05
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
play He's a good ball-playing centre-half. You know, he'll do well. And this is what I mean. When you kind of look down, if I asked you to name like five Colombian players, you kind of scratch your head.
00:22:16
Ken Davies
It's struggle.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'd probably probably do want ah one or two.
00:22:16
Ken Davies
It's a struggle, yeah.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But actually, when you look down the list, you go, oh, yeah, I know all these players. I all these players.
00:22:21
Ken Davies
All these days have had really good careers at a very high level.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's right, yeah.
00:22:24
Ken Davies
And the spine of the team particularly.
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's what we're talking about now because we moved from that goalkeeper to centre-half to midfield and we're talking about Richard Rios, who's recently moved from to Benfica from Palmeiras in Brazil.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He is the kind of linchpin in many ways in the midfield area.
00:22:42
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great stamina, gets around a pitch very, very well. He's fast, he's quick, he's got good skills and um very much able to play in tight areas and good use of the ball.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know he's good you you get He move just keeps the ball me he's one of those. You see, I like midfielders just dot around a pitch and Break up play, win the ball, keep it moving, keep it moving, keep it moving. And he's definitely one of those.
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely one of those. And that allows you the the creative players to get on the ball and create. And therefore, we move up the pitch to two highly, highly rated attackers.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
One is Luis Diaz, who is currently at Bayern Munich, having moved there in the summer from Liverpool.
00:23:18
Ken Davies
ye ah Yeah.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
At Liverpool, he played 103 games, and that's where he really made his name. He obviously won the Premier League with them last year. And he's very much the main man of the Colombian front line. He was only the second Colombian to win the Premier League. The first one was? Any ideas, Ken?
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:40
Ken Davies
So
00:23:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you won't. There's no way you'll get this. and a million You won't get this in a million years.
00:23:45
Ken Davies
repeat the question. Repeat the question.
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
whos yeah right So, Luis Diaz became the... When Liverpool won the the title just gone, twenty four twenty five title in the Premier League,
00:23:53
Ken Davies
yeah I was thinking it was that guy in Newcastle.
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Luis Diaz was the second Colombian to win a Premier League title. Who was the first?
00:24:02
Ken Davies
Newcastle never won the Premier League title, did they?
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
you thinking Tina Aspirilla? That's you're thinking of.
00:24:07
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, not him.
00:24:10
Ken Davies
He was Colombian, though, wasn't he, Espiritu? I think.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah
00:24:15
Ken Davies
and No, I don't know, then.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I didn't think you would. and And yeah, you'll never get this. So it's Juan Cuadrado, who won it with Chelsea in 2015.
00:24:24
Ken Davies
Yeah, no chance.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Last season, he scored 17 goals in the Premier League, which was brilliant. That was his personal best. And he started well in Bayern. He scored three in the first four games of his career.
00:24:34
Ken Davies
Scored a goal against Argentina in the game they they played there.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he got seven goals.
00:24:38
Ken Davies
Went one hole. It's good player.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah know, he got seven goals during qualifying. So, yeah, he's definitely one. He's good player, Louis Stieres. I was surprised Liverpool let him go, to be honest.
00:24:45
Ken Davies
know, it's great player. But they've got an abundance of pitches, haven't they?
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
but please Yeah, they have rejigged their front line, though, big time. i mean, Mo Salah's the only one who sort stayed out of that, out of the churn of that. Do you remember those three?
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
live I know we digressed a slightly, but Firmino, Firmino, rather, and Coutinho and Salah.
00:24:58
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:03
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Salah stayed. And then they've had Darwin Nunes. They had Diogo Jota. They had, of course, we know what happened there.
00:25:10
Ken Davies
yes
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Luis Diaz. They kind of just churned him around. Anyway, good player, Diaz. And I hope he does well in Germany. And then the last one, and no no talk about Colombia can really be done and completed without James Rodriguez.
James Rodriguez's Impact
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you may say, blimey, is he still about? Is he still around? Because he burst onto the international scene 11 years ago. And do you remember goal he scored, which absolutely announced him to the world?
00:25:33
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was sensational.
00:25:34
Ken Davies
And what a player he is. What a player is.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:36
Ken Davies
I still rate him. I think he's great. i and
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he's had a really interesting career. Yeah, no, he's got he's got a great touch. And that goal, it was at the Americana, if you remember it, 25 yards away, took took a header on on one of his teammates onto the chest, turned and volleyed it off the underside of the bar.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's one of the great world-classes.
00:25:54
Ken Davies
He was going to be the next big thing, wasn't he?
00:25:55
Ken Davies
He was the next big thing.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, this is it because that moved him, that that earned him a, probably wasn't that goal, but generally, yeah, he went to Real Madrid, didn't really happen there, went to Everton, didn't really happen there.
00:26:00
Ken Davies
To Real.
00:26:06
Ken Davies
It's not going to be out there, is it?
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, mate, not this year, they're doing well this year.
00:26:10
Ken Davies
No.
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah good i think they're a good side this season. So, fast forward to today, well, a few months ago, he found himself at Real Vallecano in La Liga.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in January, he got released from there after only four months.
00:26:22
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was the sixth season in a row in which he's been released on a free transfer. Six seasons in a row, he's been released on a free transfer. And as he went from Madrid, obviously he went to Everton, then he went to Qatar, he played in Greece, he played in Brazil.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there's very much ah sense of of of a career kind of going absolutely nowhere. Yet, curiously, and this is what I like about him, curiously, during all of that time, he continued to play for Colombia and play really, really well.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He continued to star for them, and it's really difficult to kind of balance his league form and his inability to hold down a place at any team he's played for the point where he just got released, you know, year on year on year.
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the fact that he's still a superstar for Colombia.
00:27:11
Ken Davies
Needs to try Derby County, doesn't it?
00:27:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, more what?
00:27:14
Ken Davies
I'm not mistaken.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah. yeah I would go to him.
00:27:17
Ken Davies
is he Is he still unattached then? Is he still unattached like my callback?
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes he's Yes, he's now back in Brazil. He's playing he's playing at Brazil um now.
00:27:23
Ken Davies
Right.
00:27:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, yeah, let's see let's see you know how how how long he lasts, if you like. He's 34 years old. He'll be 35 at the World Cup. He's got 118 caps and scored 30 goals. look Everything points to the fact that if he's managed properly, he's somebody who can make a real impact. Now, whether he lasts all the games, whether he starts games you know at that stage, who knows?
00:27:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think he's still got one to add. And when you look down the list, and you mentioned some earlier on, like the likes of Valderrama, the likes of Higuito, I think James Rodriguez sits in that list of great Colombian players of our time.
00:27:56
Ken Davies
I think he does. And this is his swan song. And I wish him well because he's been a great player. One player that that I did know, of course, you all know well, is Jefferson Lerma, who plays for the Alps.
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, yeah it was a toss-up between him or Rios. I didn't want to be too Premier League-based, so that's why i went for Rios.
00:28:13
Ken Davies
No, but Lerma's good player. And he's been very consistent for Colombia. Colombia have got a lot talented players.
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:22
Ken Davies
They really do.
00:28:23
Ken Davies
So...
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there are two playing for Palace at the moment.
00:28:26
Ken Davies
Yeah. Munoz.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jefferson Lermott is one of them. Can you name the other one?
00:28:30
Ken Davies
Munoz.
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Daniel Mounietz, yeah, who's actually one a real star for Palace, playing at the wing-backs.
00:28:32
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:28:35
Ken Davies
Yeah, it's
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I kind of toy with him, but I don't know how he fits in the Colombian team because although he's a Colombian international, he's not really been playing for them of late. so
00:28:45
Ken Davies
a very good play. No, he played the last game against Venezuela and he played...
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah do I looked down the team sheets for the last few games.
00:28:50
Ken Davies
Yeah, and he played right back against Argentina. If you're in the team against Argentina away, you are in the team. And Munoz was right back for that game in a fourth.
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, good. I'm really pleased about that. I'm really pleased about that because he's ah he's a quality player and it'd be bit ridiculous if he wasn't. You know, he plays in the Premier League every single week. It'd be a bit ridiculous if he wasn't for clubbing.
00:29:07
Ken Davies
no Yeah, no.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, so, yeah, there are five, indeed, seven players we've mentioned there very briefly.
00:29:08
Ken Davies
Really?
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken, what formation do they play in and then you can do your advert?
00:29:16
Ken Davies
Really? okay up Formation is quite a straightforward one, really. It's a 4-3-3. They are quite an attacking setup. Mier in goal, as we've said.
00:29:29
Ken Davies
Generally, it's Munoz, Sanchez, Okumi and whoever that person is. Mercado, left back. Don't forget Mercado, left back. um Rios, Lerma, Castaño across the middle.
00:29:42
Ken Davies
Rodriguez, Diaz and Campas up front. Strong team, very attacking. Lerma's holding it together. Rios pushing forward.
00:29:53
Ken Davies
stay yeah yeah It's it's a team full of goals. Team that can lead goals, but they've got some they've got some talented tons of players across across the back four as well. So 4-3-3, expect entertaining football, I would say.
00:30:08
Ken Davies
That's what they've played against in the last game against Venezuela. It's what they played against Argentina when they drew 1-1 and only conceded late on. Great performance. I think that's ah think that's what they're going to be playing in the World Cup.
Colombia's World Cup Strategy
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, yeah, we look forward to that. I like attacking teams in the World Cup. They'll be well suited to the temperature. They'll be well suited to the conditions. So let's see some fast-flowing attacking football. Right, Kenny, have you got a word from our sponsors?
00:30:32
Ken Davies
I do. Because as you know, Nick, it pays to get your team selection right. And it does. And Nesta Lorenzo knows all about that. Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery partner.
00:30:47
Ken Davies
We chose Zencastr because Zencastr makes it easy to bring your vision to life, share it with your audience, wherever they may be. With 4K video recording, easy AI editing, and top-tier distribution all in one place, if you've got a story to tell, tell it with Zencastr.
00:31:02
Ken Davies
Check the show notes. You'll find some more details there.
00:31:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
You are listening to Road to the World Cup 26 podcast with me, Nick Britton, and the newly recovered, newly gallbladderless, Mr. Ken Davis.
00:31:31
Ken Davies
Lazarus to his mates.
00:31:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome Lazarus to his mates. Yep. Thanks for being with us. Thank you for making us your regular weekly listen. And thanks for making us, quite frankly, the best place on the entire planet to be genned up for the World Cup.
00:31:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is no problem.
00:31:44
Ken Davies
We are the most popular a place to go, aren't we? If you want to be talking to your mates about the World Cup, round the water cooler. Make sure you listen to us every week.
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. You can find all our episodes because we're now on episode 28 now. They're all on Spotify. They're all on Apple. They're all on YouTube. Do find us and do drop a line ah because we're always keen to hear from you. ah mc Ken, what's the what's the ah what's the email?
00:32:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you know these emails. What?
00:32:10
Ken Davies
RoadToWorldCook26 at gmail.com RoadToWorldCook26 at gmail.com ah gmail dot com
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, drop us a line. Before we move on, one of our regular contributors has been in touch, as he is quite often the moment. Angry Matt has been in touch.
00:32:24
Ken Davies
not
00:32:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just need to kind of correct something that Matt had said to us just the other week, and covered this on the previous podcast, whereby he was lording Ken. He was lording Ken, saying he was the voice of reason and the voice of common sense on this podcast.
00:32:41
Ken Davies
I've always, always rated Angry Matt's point of view on most things.
00:32:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, then he listened to a little section around England where you said that his beloved Nottingham Forest superstar, Anderson, had zero chance of playing for England.
00:32:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Had zero chance of playing for England. Elliot Anderson, this is.
00:33:04
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He then went on to play in those two games, which which you said he wasn't going to play in at all. He started the ah the Andorra game and was man of the match. And then he started the Serbia game and wasn't far from a man of the match at all.
00:33:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Angry Matt got in touch, essentially ah taking back
00:33:21
Ken Davies
As he rescinded, as he rescinded is...
00:33:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
pretended yeah He said, yeah. And he said he said to me,
00:33:26
Ken Davies
You're right, he is an idiot.
00:33:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
i know can Ken, usually the voice of reason, in brackets, didn't expect to get Anson two Man of the Match awards then, presumably, did he?
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
The voice of reason, no chance.
00:33:39
Ken Davies
No. No, he did surprise me, to be honest.
00:33:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
So,
00:33:42
Ken Davies
To be man of the match against Andorra, it's not exactly, you know, World Cup final. but But fair enough. ah the And the rest of them were pretty dreadful. But, yeah, he did make an impact both time in both games. So hats off to Elliot.
00:33:55
Ken Davies
Hats off to Anguimac. Hats off to...
00:33:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, the good news is that Angry Matt now recognises what everybody else has known all along, that I am the and the voice of reason and knowledge, it must be said, on this football podcast.
00:33:57
Ken Davies
Oh, you're the voice of the reason. Right.
00:34:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, there we are from Rob.
00:34:08
Ken Davies
We're about to find out, aren't we?
00:34:22
Ken Davies
I can't do much dancing because my core, my core is in pain.
00:34:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was going to say, don't do anything wrong. Yeah. Yeah, you look in pain. Or that was just your dancing. I don't know.
00:34:31
Ken Davies
Now it's a little bit of physiotherapy gonna do.
00:34:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know.
00:34:33
Ken Davies
I can't t twist though.
00:34:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
it Okay. yeah No, don't. Don't, don't. Right. It's everybody's favorite time of the week then. It is time for Kenny's quiz. Three questions lined up. Do play along at home and shout out your answers.
00:34:44
Ken Davies
Hang on.
00:34:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got... I don't know what's in it. There's strange things coming out of it. i don't know what's in it. His magic pipe, which helps him amazingly come up with the wrong answers. so Right. Question one.
00:34:47
Ken Davies
Doctor told me not to, but I better.
00:35:01
Ken Davies
hu
00:35:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Question one. Are you ready?
00:35:03
Ken Davies
yeah
00:35:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Columbia produces 60% of the world's supply of which precious stone? Columbia produces 60% of the world's supply of which precious stone? If you know this at home, shout out the answer to your mobile phone or your laptop or whatever you are listening to this on.
00:35:21
Ken Davies
That's a great question, by the way. I was thinking coffee, coffee, coffee.
00:35:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you very much.
00:35:26
Ken Davies
coffee No, it's not going to be coffee. ah Crack cocaine. No, no, it's not going to be crack cocaine.
00:35:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's what's more polite, the way you're looking.
00:35:34
Ken Davies
it's It's crystal meth. No, no, no, it's not that that's not a precious stone. ah I'm going to say, <unk>s not diamonds. I'm going to say the only other one I can really think of is sapphires.
00:35:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're close on the basis that sapphire is a stone, but you're not close in terms of getting the answer right because the answer is
00:35:52
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:35:54
Ken Davies
ah Emeralds!
00:35:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Emeralds, yeah, emeralds, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:35:58
Ken Davies
um
00:35:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, you're too late, mate. Good effort, though, not too late. At least you gave me the name of the precious stone.
00:36:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Number two, and this is a multiple choice question. What is...
00:36:04
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:36:08
Ken Davies
See.
00:36:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
what is it What is the sea?
00:36:14
Ken Davies
Go on.
00:36:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um What is ah Valia Nathor? What is Valia Nathor? Is it A, a drink, B, a type of bird, C, a type of music, or D, a speciality Colombian rice and beef dish?
00:36:33
Ken Davies
I'm going to go for D because that sounds like you've put the most homework into that because it involves more than two words. So, yeah, it's a speciality meat and rice dish ah famous across Bogota.
00:36:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I knew you'd fall for it. I knew you'd fall for it. It's a type of music. and knew I knew if I put one in there, it would be...
00:36:53
Ken Davies
Don't tell me that was C. Was that safe i said C at the start.
00:36:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll see, yeah, we'll see, yeah.
00:37:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I knew that I one one like little bit extra information into one of them, you'd go for it.
00:37:00
Ken Davies
Oh, no.
00:37:05
Ken Davies
I have hook, line and sinker.
00:37:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're totally hooked in there, mate. and Now, the last question, which I think you will get, is how many stars are on the Colombian flag?
00:37:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Remember, shout out at home if you know the answer to this, how many stars are on the Colombian flag?
00:37:23
Ken Davies
Okay. None.
00:37:27
Ken Davies
It's trick question.
00:37:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
None. ah You think I'm giving you two questions?
00:37:30
Ken Davies
None. It's just a blank. Is that true?
00:37:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's true, yeah.
00:37:37
Ken Davies
You're such an evil person.
00:37:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I thought it would be welcome home present from the hospital.
00:37:42
Ken Davies
um like There are no stars on me.
00:37:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. you know the colours of the Colombian flag?
00:37:48
Ken Davies
the
00:37:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a bit weird, actually.
00:37:50
Ken Davies
The three of them...
00:37:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a bit weird, the layout of it. It's not like a normal flag that's got three colours on it.
00:37:55
Ken Davies
Striped.
00:37:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So there are there are three kind of vertical, no, sorry, yeah no, horizontal stripes, but half of it is yellow, and then the ah and then the other half is cut up into blue and red.
00:38:04
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:38:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's kind half yellow, quarter blue corners.
00:38:08
Ken Davies
yeah I think the three colours yellow, red and blue.
00:38:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but that wasn't the question.
00:38:13
Ken Davies
all
00:38:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, well done, mate.
00:38:13
Ken Davies
okay That's a very evil thing, how many stars on the flag.
00:38:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
You got one out of three there. That's okay. That's good. I told you For five.
00:38:18
Ken Davies
Like I'm thinking 31, no, no, no, 19. I thought, no, it's Nick, isn't it There aren't any, are there?
00:38:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, you're quite right. You're quite right. ah Right. Okay. Now, Ken, you you are perfectly placed now, perfectly placed to read out the next advert because your body is absolutely right here, right now, unique.
00:38:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:38:39
Ken Davies
It is. My body is unique. And Global Sports Podcast Network is partnered with Bionique, the world's most personalized supplements, because guess what? Your body, my body, Nick's body, but my body in particular, is particularly unique. Because without knowing what deficiencies you have taken off the shelf, supplements might need.
00:38:56
Ken Davies
you're probably not getting enough of the nutrients you need and maybe too many of the ones you don't. So Bionique provides a 100% tailor-made supplements designed to deliver precisely what your body needs at exactly the right levels to help optimize your health. So no guessing is involved. Click the show notes, use the code GSPN2025.
00:39:15
Ken Davies
You'll get 40% off your first order. You can argue with that.
00:39:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
no but Nobody can argue with that. I think it's a very fine deal. And and i hope you I hope your body is is slightly little.
00:39:23
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:39:26
Ken Davies
I don't want my body to be any more unique than it is right now, thanks.
00:39:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah, true. On the basis, it's full of holes.
00:39:32
Ken Davies
I'm just going to be taking stuff by the handful, buying unique stuff. Just ramming it down there. I'm going to be smoking it.
00:39:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right before. Well, you just about smoked everything else by looks of you. Right. OK, before we get on to boyco our predictions ah i to finish the podcast, a quick look at the Colombian national team manager,
Nestor Lorenzo's Coaching Journey
00:39:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nestor Lorenzo. what do we There's a great story, by the way. There's a great story coming up.
00:39:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
about Nestor Lorenzo. He is an Argentinian and he's a former footballer, he's a defender who played for Argentina. He got 13 caps for Argentina and he played mostly in South America.
00:40:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But as I say, there's a great story. At 24 years old, so he's absolutely banging his prime, in July 1990, Italian 90, he played the full game in the World Cup final for Argentina, playing alongside Diego Maradona.
00:40:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
against West Germany, as it was called in those days. couple of months later, he got yeah he got a move to England. where did he where did he Where did he play, Ken? where did he When he came to England, who did he play for?
00:40:35
Ken Davies
i It's going to be a massive team, isn't it, if you just play in the World Cup final? So I'm going to go for, oh, I don't know, Swindon Town.
00:40:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
You swine. You knew that already. You absolute swine.
00:40:48
Ken Davies
got my own back.
00:40:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
you You've done me. To be fair, it was worth it just to see the look of your cheeky little face, Kenneth.
00:40:56
Ken Davies
ah Ah, I love that.
00:40:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So pleased with yourself, aren't you? You're so pleased. You've ruined, that's the second story today that you've ruined of mine. So yeah, bizarrely,
00:41:02
Ken Davies
Great.
00:41:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And bizarrely, having played World Cup final, ah he ended up a couple of months later at Swindon Town in the sort of third or even fourth at that stage tier of English football.
00:41:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just a really bizarre...
00:41:16
Ken Davies
I imagine he must have had a pretty difficult conversation with his agents at that point, do you not think?
00:41:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, how did he end up at Swindon?
00:41:23
Ken Davies
Yeah. for
00:41:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know how he ended up at Swindon?
00:41:25
Ken Davies
Well, I have got, if I remember, if I remember rightly, it was something about Brian Clough, wasn't it?
00:41:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
and No, forget it. no No, no, go away. Don't go away. You know this. Shut well
00:41:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, okay, just shut up there. Yes, it was something, well, it was and it wasn't. It was, all right, go on, and you tell me, and I'll tell you whether you're right or not.
00:41:39
Ken Davies
find it worth it.
00:41:44
Ken Davies
I just think Brian Clough tried to sign him for Forrest and it fell over. And then I think Ozzy Ardiles went from Spurs to Swindon and Ozzy Ardiles liked him because he was an Argentinian and he said they'll come and play for us When you're sitting there in your hospital bed, you've got nothing to do.
00:42:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that, ladies and gentlemen, is going to say, this this is my bit of podcast, and you've researched this much better than your own bits of the podcast.
00:42:11
Ken Davies
This is the kind of stuff you can... I wish had some more research on Colombia, like, but...
00:42:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So when you're lying in your bed with nothing to do, A, you have got something to do because you're meant to be like researching Columbia, and instead all you're trying to do is trip me up by like researching my best stories.
00:42:31
Ken Davies
That was great. It was great.
00:42:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, okay, fine, yes.
00:42:33
Ken Davies
Imagine when the nurses came around and said, what are you doing? You're like two hours out of surgery. I'm just practicing my Columbia questions for Monday night.
00:42:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:42:43
Ken Davies
Anyway, there you guys
00:42:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there are worse things you can be doing. So, yes, he ended up, he's a mate he was a mate of Aussie Ardiles, and of all places to end up, only a couple of months off in the World Cup final, Swindon Town. and he played And he didn't just come for a game, he stayed there for a couple of years.
00:42:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah His football management ah career has been pretty straightforward. He has coached across the levels and across the age groups at Columbia in 2022.
00:43:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was appointed the first team coach there. He's done a good game. He's done well, I think. Yeah, he's won. He has.
00:43:12
Ken Davies
60% win rate.
00:43:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah He's won 23 out of his games in
00:43:14
Ken Davies
He's played.
00:43:17
Ken Davies
Yes, I mean, that's good going. He's only lost five games in 38 games. I mean, he's considered a very, very talented coach.
00:43:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is. And they are considered, i know you said their World Cup pat form in qualifying was a bit patchy, but they are considered one of the ah form teams. i was looking down a form team's guide going into this World Cup and all of that in the last few days.
00:43:37
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:43:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they are considered to be one of the form teams of the world at the moment. Now there's ah a long way to go. But we talked about Ecuador, didn't we? We talked about Ecuador and how well they're doing. They finished second in Commonwealth. Well, Colombia finished third.
00:43:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And might they be dark horses too? carry on and have a good run in the World Cup. Let's...
00:43:58
Ken Davies
Well, we both had Ecuador going out in the quarterfinals.
00:43:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:44:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we did. Let's have our feeling, then now that Ken has ruined my section of this podcast, by having a look at the predictions then. What, Ken, do you think Colombia will do at the World Cup next year?
00:44:18
Ken Davies
I think... and I'm torn between round of 16 and round of 8. But I think, based on what I've seen in... I watched the highlights of the last four games.
00:44:32
Ken Davies
It's round 8. I think they're getting quarterfinals. think they're good team. think they're well-managed. I think their first team is very good. I think... I think once you get past the first team, you start to get to two maybe players who aren't going to be at the very highest level.
00:44:48
Ken Davies
But I think if they keep the first team together and it continues to progress, I think they're getting to the quarterfinals.
00:44:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, good shout. I actually kind of went through the same thought process as as you did, but but maybe a round back. I'm thinking, are they going to get round of 16 or round of 32? And I think they'll get through the round of 32 okay, but I think the round of 16...
00:45:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
is probably as far as they will go. Now, I'm going slightly hedge my bet because we're still waiting for some of the major teams to ah qualify and we don't quite know what it looks like.
00:45:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there is there is a quarterfinal shout in there, but I'm going to go round of 16. Well done, well played. See you later, Colombia.
00:45:32
Ken Davies
Good. Well, that gives us a couple that we we don't absolutely agree on, which is always good news. Next week, Morocco. Get your camel out.
00:45:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Marvellous. Get your camel out.
00:45:46
Ken Davies
We're off to the sand dunes.
00:45:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know what state you'll be in next mate, the way you're going.
00:45:52
Ken Davies
I'll be in Derbyshire.
00:45:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and You'll be in Morocco on your camel and full of holes.
00:45:57
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's great. Looking forward to Morocco.
00:45:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yes, Morocco will be good. ah So that brings an end to Colombia. Well, not literally an end to Colombia, but it brings an end to this podcast all about Colombia. And will always say I'm sincerely hoping, 46 minutes after you first tuned in, that you are far more knowledgeable about Colombia than you were 46 minutes ago.
00:46:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah goat
00:46:18
Ken Davies
I know I am.
00:46:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good. Very glad to know that, Ken, because you've done all the wrong research in all the wrong bits. So I'm glad you whatever you do know is not what you should have known at the start. So thank you very much indeed for joining us, mate. It's great to see It's great to see you back on your feet.
00:46:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i hope you're recovering.
00:46:32
Ken Davies
My pleasure. You haven't seen my feet, to be honest, have you? Let's be honest.
00:46:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:46:37
Ken Davies
They took my feet off. i know Thanks for mentioning it. I wasn't going to mention on the podcast about the the loss of the feet.
00:46:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he always wants to be you always wanted to be footloose and fancy free.
00:46:44
Ken Davies
Now, going ask.
00:46:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there you are. So thank you.
00:46:49
Ken Davies
bye
00:46:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you for joining us on Road to World Cup 26. We'll see you next time. Until then, look after each other. Look after yourselves. Goodbye.
00:46:58
Ken Davies
ah bye
00:47:08
Ken Davies
and yeah