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Road to World Cup 26 - Ep19 - Ecuador
3 Plays5 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 Ecuador – who are they, who are the key players and how will they get on next year? 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 and Podcast Background
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, bonjour, ciao, ni hao, privet, g'day, and welcome to the Road to World Cup 26 podcast. Ken's got his pipe in already. He's ready.
00:00:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's ready for his quiz.
00:00:18
Ken Davies
already
00:00:19
Ken Davies
I'm ready and raring to go. Kenny's quiz. Can't wait.
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very, very pleased to hear that. Part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only place to find your regular soccer content on the top English Premier League teams, women's football, and because you know this, because you're listening, the World Cup 2026, which is another week nearer.
00:00:37
Ken Davies
This is the classic podcast, isn't it, on the World Cup?
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
is Exactly.
00:00:40
Ken Davies
No one gives you this kind of depth of insight. This kind of analysis, this kind of data, and this kind of just wordplay, all to do with the
Hosts' Personal Updates
00:00:51
Ken Davies
World Cup. This is the this is the this is the big one
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. and and And we are a couple of days late recording this. Apologies for that. by way We normally record on a Friday, but extreme, and I mean extreme personal circumstances meant we couldn't do it on the friday this Friday. So we're recording on a Sunday. So only 48 hours late. But apologies if you like to listen to us on a Friday or Saturday.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But hey, what a great way to start your next week. I am your host, Nick Britton. As always, I'm joined by my esteemed colleague, the cleverest man in the world. And I'll tell you why, because he managed he managed to get me standing out in the sun yesterday, in the beating sun.
00:01:19
Ken Davies
Oh yeah.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
was about 45 degrees.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Doing... Like I am the sun. ah Coaching kids football for like three or four hours, whilst he sat under an umbrella in the shade, selling raffle tickets as part of his village fair.
00:01:25
Ken Davies
You look like you caught the shot actually.
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:01:40
Ken Davies
This was quintessential England.
00:01:42
Ken Davies
If you're listening to America, if you're listening in Australia, this was the epitome of Englishness. I was sat there selling rapid tickets on the cricket field next to the church, blazing hot day, bunting, teas and coffees, just brass band playing. It was just idyllic.
00:02:00
Ken Davies
I loved it.
00:02:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was.
00:02:02
Ken Davies
It was in the blazing of 32 degrees trying to teach 10-year-olds to do keepy-uppies for three hours later.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well it was hot. It was a classic. I was thinking last night, it was a classic setting for an Agatha Christie murder film, wasn't it? You know, the vicar coming out of church.
00:02:15
Ken Davies
Yeah, mid-summer murders, isn't Midsummer murders.
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, the vicar comes out of
00:02:19
Ken Davies
Someone get that in the back of the head, right, by Stray Football.
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yes, not by me, isn't doing it. Right, ah okay.
00:02:26
Ken Davies
Oh.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome, welcome, let me say this.
00:02:30
Ken Davies
Hmm.
Episode Overview: World Cup and Ecuador
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hoy estoy muy emocionado porque hoy vamos hablar de Ecuador.
00:02:32
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ecuador.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ecuador
00:02:59
Ken Davies
You could dance to this.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:03:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I could go on.
00:03:14
Ken Davies
That's lovely.
00:03:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I could listen to that. That's good.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Isn't it?
00:03:16
Ken Davies
That's the only one we've had that's in waltz time.
00:03:19
Ken Davies
You could dance to that. You imagine swirling around, couldn't you?
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:23
Ken Davies
And I think we're going to hear a lot of that in the World Cup.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
but we're going to come to that, of course, during the course the day, because today's episode, if you didn't understand that little bit Spanish there, Ken, I was introducing Ecuador by saying how excited I am about this episode, because I think Ecuador are going to go and do really, really well.
00:03:28
Ken Davies
I'm obviously fluent. I don't know.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we're going to come to that, of course. the
FIFA's Heat Management Strategies
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's coming up? Well, Ken, we've got ah oh we've got our usual wrap-up of World Cup news coming up first for you. So we do the hard work, so you don't have to. Some good news over the last week or so.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken's going to talk you through the history of Ecuadorian football. I'm going to look at five key players. It was a hard job this week because there I could have picked 10. They're a very good side. We're having a look at formations, how they're going to line up.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Got an interesting postbag this week. around extra time because we're expecting, i think, a lot of it next year. And what's the point of it We're going to talk about that. Kenny's quiz, always everybody's favorite time of the week, let's face it.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And finally, after a look at, except Ken, oh, you're doing all right. You're doing right. you're hitting You're hitting level plateau.
00:04:16
Ken Davies
Except me.
00:04:21
Ken Davies
but last week
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
This week's quite easy.
00:04:23
Ken Davies
I've got no homework there.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
them
00:04:24
Ken Davies
I've got absolutely no homework on Ecuador.
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:04:27
Ken Davies
And you can ask me anything.
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
You won't need to.
00:04:28
Ken Davies
Yes. Yes. i
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's quite easy this week. I think you can okay. Sebastian Beccele is the manager, and we'll look at predictions on how they're going to get on. So let's kick off with your World Cup news. Now, hot off the press, because one of the benefits of delaying this recording by two days is we've got some really hot news, which has only come in this morning, in last few hours, and that's FIFA's president, Gianni Infantano, who's reacted to complaints that we've been talking about a lot, actually, over the last few weeks, raised at the Club World Cup about the heat.
00:04:57
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everybody's been saying how hot it is, how impossible the player is. It's had a massive effect on the players and the supporters and everybody else associated with it. So FIFA have said that so the indoor air conditioning venues, which are at Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Vancouver, will be used as much as possible for daytime kickoffs when the heat is is is at its most extreme.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
they Those venues have roofs, they have air conditioning, so that those air-conditioned venues are going to be used as much as you possibly can. it's not It is only four venues, so it's not going to have an enormous effect, Ken, but at least it shows they're listening.
00:05:30
Ken Davies
It does. It's a small victory for common sense. Emphasis on small. um It's good that they're listening.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:36
Ken Davies
It's good that they've taken some action about that. it The action that they are envisaging is not without its own little problems.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:05:47
Ken Davies
I think the first thing is, of course, you've got to remember that ah it's being played in Canada and Mexico as well as USA.
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's just a reaction.
00:05:55
Ken Davies
So it's only going to be a relatively small proportion of the games. And the question is that I immediately thought, is is that going to favour certain teams?
00:06:05
Ken Davies
Are certain teams going to find themselves playing in those locations in much more favourable conditions in the early stages of the World Cup than other teams? And are we going to find, actually, the end of this competition, people are going to complain that it wasn't a level playing field?
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:06:21
Ken Davies
Just a thought, but I'll put it out there.
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, if you... No, it's fair enough. If you've been listening to the Club World Cup coverage, there isn't a level playing field anyway because the pitches have been absolutely terrible. But I see... Yeah, I hear you. I don't know if you've caught up with Enda Fernandes. So he said recently, Chelsea's Enda Fernandes, that's...
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was the latest of voices concerns. And he's got a little bit he's gone a little bit further than what we've seen so far when we've seen players sort of say, it's horrible, it's really hard, and it's quite difficult and all that. He's actually called conditions very dangerous.
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He said he felt dizzy trying to play football. Now, that's a kind of escalation of the type of language we've been hearing ah thus far. So it's good to see FIFA taking action, although, as you say, not without its controversy itself.
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Next up, now this is a week old almost now, so this is not a benefit of recording a couple of days later, but just to cover it off, two of the hosts for next year's World Cup, of course, met in the Gold Cup final this time last week.
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Almost this time last week. Mexico beat the USA 2-1. No real surprise there, if I'm honest with you. The USA got to the final. They've never really hit the ground and and getting into top gear this this competition.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I know they've had some key players missing and and and some very senior players missing, and they had to push through some youth and inexperience. But nonetheless, defeat, I think it's not going help Pochettino, is It's not going help the pressure he's been under, and he's been feeling quite a lot of pressure over the last few months.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think he would really...
00:07:46
Ken Davies
It was quite a one-sided game, wasn't it?
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Massively one-sided, yeah. 60% possession on Mexico. They got 12 corners. USA got none.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, it's just, I could go on. yeah I could go on. They absolutely battered them. It was a game made in the Premier League, by the way. So, all three goals scored by Premier League players.
00:07:52
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chris Richard at Palace got so the USA off to a a great start. school They're all good goals, by way. He scored a lovely header after four minutes. It was a really, really good header. Mexico replied through Fulham's Raul Jimenez on 27.
00:08:01
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then West Ham's Edson Alvarez scored grabbed the winner on 77 one of those annoying ones it's a good diving header but nobody could celebrate because initially it was given offside and then VAL decided it was onside and then everybody has to celebrate etc etc so three good goals not a great game go on
00:08:27
Ken Davies
But it just
00:08:31
Ken Davies
it does suggest that our belief that Mexico could be yeah a real force in this World Cup is undiminished. we We really think they could be.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, I think they can be. think they can be.
Debating Dynamic Ticket Pricing
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And finally, ticket pricing. We've talked a lot about dynamic ticket pricing because that's what World Cup's going to be all about next year. That's what FIFA are going to do. And they've trialled all this through the Club World Cup this year.
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... Interestingly, I've been looking at some of the ticket prices ah ah in the last couple of rounds and ticket prices for Chelsea's semi-final against Fluminense, which of course they won finals tonight, as it turns out. They're playing Paris PSG.
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah. So Chelsea semi-final against Fluminense, some of the tickets went on sale for $474.
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the out the semifinal, they're on sale for $13 in New Jersey. Now, we'll...
00:09:16
Ken Davies
Right.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
in new jersey now
00:09:26
Ken Davies
Well, that's the upside to dynamic pricing, isn't it, for from a fan's perspective?
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
not
00:09:31
Ken Davies
My only thought is the World Cup isn isn't a competition that no one's got any interest in. And I suspect the the only thing that's going to happen with dynamic pricing for the majority of games is that it's going to go upwards.
00:09:43
Ken Davies
That said, if we are if we do end up with New Caledonia versus um Iran, ah you might get a you might get a bargain.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
like make Well, the thing is, there were even cheaper tickets on sale here. So, the quarterfinal between Fluminense and Al-Halal, and indeed Chelsea and Palmeiras, you're looking tickets for less than what it costs for a pint of beer in the ground. So, they're like $11 or so. Now...
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
now If we get group games, you know, dead rubber games or games or group games where teams don't have any representation because they're either banned from entering the US or there's just not much interest, you can easily see ticket prices being dropped to this.
00:10:12
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:10:28
Ken Davies
You could.
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's the thing, by the way.
00:10:28
Ken Davies
ah Do you reckon we'll ever get to a...
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
does' one that's what you You want people to go in and watch the games. You want and you want crowds in. so ah you know, whilst there's a downside to dynamic ticket pricing, which is it just prices people out of going to games and rewards the rich and wealthy, the upside, I guess, is that that when you get games with very, very little support, ticket prices go through the floor.
00:10:50
Ken Davies
It makes sense. There's a
Ecuador's World Cup Journey
00:10:51
Ken Davies
couple of things that spring to mind. It does make kind of two-tier football for me in the sense of you end up with the the the very popular games just being priced out your standard fan, and ah they're only allowed to see the games that nobody else wants to see. I don't like that as a matter of principle.
00:11:07
Ken Davies
The only other issue is, do you reckon it's ever possible to get, in dynamic pricing, a negative price where people actually pay you to go?
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
grant one yeah
00:11:16
Ken Davies
Because I'm all up for that.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, when Darwin... He wrecks them next year, we'll have a look, shall
00:11:19
Ken Davies
a
00:11:22
Ken Davies
Come on.
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
we? Anyway, that's your news of the week. I'll play the string now because I forgot to do it at the start.
00:11:27
Ken Davies
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going that going, because just see what else you would do. Because you you always shuffle your papers there, and then you add a phone to your head. You were proper acting out the news.
00:11:48
Ken Davies
got a phone from studio. I've got a phone from the main studio desk because they do with sometimes, well, they used to in the on news programmes. Yeah. news program
00:11:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, when you had to dial up the studio next door. Yeah, yeah I remember those days. Right, should we move on? Should we move on? Let's go look at the history of Ecuadorian football, mate.
00:12:06
Ken Davies
Well, I'm going to give you three things, Ray.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:08
Ken Davies
going to give you the history. I'm going to give you bit a bit of form. i' going to give you a bit of ranking. So Ecuador, la tricolor. So we call tricolor, three colors.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
on
00:12:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah so
00:12:20
Ken Davies
That's about their kit. So essentially,
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
names did you say Did you just say two colours?
00:12:23
Ken Davies
up three.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
thought you just said said two colours, then you said three colours.
00:12:27
Ken Davies
Three colors, la tricolor. Tricolor to three colors. Did I say two colors? It's feasible.
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
thought, right, come on.
00:12:35
Ken Davies
Three colours. yeah know Yellow shirts, blue so blue shorts, red socks.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
True. is
00:12:40
Ken Davies
That's Ecuador. Same as on the flag.
00:12:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nice.
00:12:43
Ken Davies
hope that's coming up in Kenny's quiz. so So, obviously, member of CONMEBOL. We underestimate Ecuador at our peril. Now, history.
00:12:55
Ken Davies
They were invited to play in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Where was that, Nick?
00:13:05
Ken Davies
Great. Correct answer. so They didn't participate.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uruguay.
00:13:09
Ken Davies
They didn't. No, thanks. You let us know. it We'll think about it next time was their kind of response. In fact, they didn't participate until in terms of trying to qualify until 1962.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's a very important thing.
00:13:21
Ken Davies
They made their World Cup tournament debut in 2002.
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
think that's very important thing.
00:13:25
Ken Davies
So they'd had 10 attempts to qualify, all ended in failure, until 2002.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's a very important thing. I think that's very important thing.
00:13:31
Ken Davies
They had a very strong World Cup in 2006, getting to the round of 16, relatively strong.
00:13:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's a very important thing. I think that's very important thing.
00:13:39
Ken Davies
ah So they've kind of developed and we'll come to bit more detail on this. They've kind of developed from a struggling smaller South American nation to a very major force in South American football. And we know because we've covered it a few times on this podcast series, South American football is about as competitive as it gets.
00:13:57
Ken Davies
So it's a pretty strong place to come from. Now, need to raise something with you. So Ecuador still got two games to play. They're in second place in their qualifying process, but already qualified.
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
just to
00:14:12
Ken Davies
So they've played 16, they've drawn one, seven, drawn seven, lost two. Now, that should give them 28 points, but a fact, they're on 25 points.
00:14:23
Ken Davies
And that's because they started the World Cup qualification campaign on minus three points. And they still ran away with second place.
00:14:34
Ken Davies
So, and they'd be absolutely clear in second place if they hadn't been docked to those three points. It was punishment, by the way, for fielding Byron Castillo, who had falsified passport information in the previous World Cup qualification.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think a good thing.
00:14:48
Ken Davies
So it's nothing to do with this one. It's all historic. They're fined 100,000 Swiss francs and deducted three points from this qualification process.
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
think it was good thing.
00:14:58
Ken Davies
So we've got a to talk about a team starting on minus three and just...
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it a good thing. I think it was a good thing.
00:15:04
Ken Davies
Won seven, draws seven, lost two.
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
think was a good thing. I think it was good
00:15:06
Ken Davies
Outstanding, outstanding qualification.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think was good thing. think was a good thing.
00:15:09
Ken Davies
In those 16 games, conceded five goals.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
think was good thing. think was a good thing.
00:15:13
Ken Davies
We'll come to every the root cause of their outstanding defence in a moment. So, ah excuse me. Their form since the start of 2024 is, as you would as we've suggested, very strong.
00:15:27
Ken Davies
They've won four, they've drawn five, they've lost one.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's interesting.
00:15:31
Ken Davies
Again, it's very good competition, as we've said.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's interesting.
00:15:35
Ken Davies
They've drawn five. Here's the interesting little actoid. Five of those 10 games were draws. All of them were 0-0. They are a very nil-nil orientated football team. Probably tells us a lot.
00:15:49
Ken Davies
Don't expect fireworks from Ecuador, but expect absolutely watertight defence. And they're not without a threat. And this is a very interesting balance of the team.
00:16:02
Ken Davies
ah In those 10 games since the start of 2004, they've conceded twice. Gives you a pretty good idea of that.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:16:10
Ken Davies
And they lost only on penalties to Argentina in quarterfinal of the Copa America in July 24.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:16:19
Ken Davies
They lost some penalties.
00:16:22
Ken Davies
0-0, lost some penalties. So great qualification process.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um ah
00:16:28
Ken Davies
Ranking-wise, they are ranked 25th. The new rankings only came out on the 10th of July, so they're hot off the press. They're ranked 25th, so you might be wondering, well, why are we making a fuss about Ecuador? They're ranked 25th.
00:16:43
Ken Davies
They have been ranked as high as 10th.
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
like And do with the first time I'm going to do that.
00:16:45
Ken Davies
They have been ranked as low as 71st in 2017, but they've rapidly ascended ah in the course of the last few years.
00:16:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to do that in the last few years.
00:16:55
Ken Davies
Just bear in mind... From Combo Mall, there are five teams.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's very long.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to do that in the last few years.
00:17:01
Ken Davies
There are four teams ranked above them.
00:17:03
Ken Davies
Argentina, first. Brazil, fifth. Colombia, 14th. Uruguay, 16th. Ecuador, 25th. But, of course, Ecuador ran away with second place, really, in their World Cup qualification.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:16
Ken Davies
So... It is, I think, indicative of a team very much knowing what they're doing. Their rankings haven't caught up with how good they are, in my opinion. And I think we're about to see ah some very interesting Ecuadorian football in the course of the next 12 months.
00:17:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very interesting. Thank you very much. And it's worth noting of the two games that they lost in qualifying, one was 1-0 to Argentina, one was 1-0 to Brazil.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's kind of it's really solid.
00:17:42
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really solid. That's because they've got a lot of good players. And we're going to move on to those
00:17:45
Ken Davies
Super solid.
Key Players and Tactical Analysis
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
players now. So as always, I have picked out five key players.
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But actually, this week, I picked out seven.
00:18:00
Ken Davies
wow
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not going to go through them all in massive detail. I'm going to brush over them because it kind of plays... I've tried to look at... I always like to look the goalkeeper, as you know, and then I've tried to focus on various different parts of the pitch. So let's have a look at the goalkeeper then, Hernan Galindez. He's 38 years old, which is a bit of a theme with goalkeepers at the moment. We're seeing quite a lot of them in qualifying. He's Argentinian. Sorry, he plays... Sorry, he's Ecuadorian, because he plays for Ecuador. He plays in Argentina for Huracan.
00:18:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
In 2025 season, this is an indication of his form. This kind of you know helps, I think, when we look at how ah how Ecuador get on defensively. In 20 games in the league, he's got a clean sheet in 10 of them, so 50%.
00:18:30
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's put him top of those stats in those leagues. He also scored very heavily on goals prevented and errors leading to goals. So he's very, very solid at the back. um Only 58% accuracy with his passing only 34% accuracy with his long ball game. So it'd be interesting to see how Ecuador use him most effectively in terms of how they, do they play out from the back?
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do they not? You know, what do they do? Because his long ball kicking isn't great and neither particulars is his passing, but his shot stopping is is really good. He's very, very solid. He's very dependable and he's very experienced.
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So a good man, very much a good man to have ah between the sticks. Now, I wanted to just mention very, very briefly the two centre-halves because they're both two excellent players. And that's one is William Pancho, who's a centre-back who plays for PSG.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah He's just become the first Ecuadorian to win the UEFA Champions League. So, well done to him. Always solid, never really below an eight out of ten. He's he' is described as having the composure of a veteran and the energy of a debutante.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's kind of what you want.
00:19:42
Ken Davies
wow
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
No problem with that. ah so So he's one. And the other centre-half that's worth mentioning is Piero Hincha-Pierre, who's the centre-back for Bayer Leverkusen. He's only 23 years old, but already played 115 games for Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. And that's you know that that that's really good.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's really good at that age. And he's very much, even at 23, the main store of the Ecuadorian So the mainstay of the Ecuadorian team, very reliable centre-half. He's scored 46 caps already.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's only 23 years old. So you can see how they rely on him.
00:20:17
Ken Davies
Yeah, she's a
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
High up the pitch. High pitch is one of the best midfielders in the world right now, and that is Moises Caicedo. And, I mean, Can say, just had a great great season for Chelsea, a great second half the season for Chelsea particularly.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
A little bit of a quiet start following £115 million move from Brighton, but he's now looking every every penny was worth of that.
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had a cracking season. Cracking season. And he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world right here, right now. And he is, again, he's only 23, so he's got youth on his side. And we've talked a lot about the heat.
00:20:41
Ken Davies
great player.
00:20:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know young player You're going to need young players in your team next season. ah Sorry, the World Cup, just because of the heat. He started every Premier League game last season. It's not easy at Chelsea, particularly. It's quite a hard thing to do.
00:21:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
55 caps.
00:21:03
Ken Davies
well they've got such an enormous squad sales haven't they but absolutely relied on him
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they have. They've got a massive squad. I mean, nobody since Asper Coeleta in 2018-19 started every game for Chelsea in an entire season.
00:21:15
Ken Davies
yeah
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you can see you know how how difficult that is. 55 caps for Ecuador since making his debut in 2020 and one who is crucial, absolutely crucial to their success.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And from a young man who's really making his way in the game to the other end of the scale and an Ecuadorian legend, and that is Ena Valencia, who is now 35 years old And he's come to the end of his career, Valencia, but he remains a prolific goal scorer and a great leader. Everybody Ecuador loves him. He's a national hero. The teams, the players love him, the fans love him.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's he's one of those sort real charismatic figures that they can really get behind. He's Ecuador's all-time leading goal scorer. He's known for his hard work. He's the team captain. And quite frankly, he's the nation's biggest star.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
98 caps, 46 goals, which is great because they play some decent sides. We've talked about the competitiveness of Conor Bol. ah Played the majority of career in his Brazil and England and had a good spell at Fenerbahce in Turkey. So he's currently international in Brazil playing his club football. He's still going strong. He's had a great World Cup qualifying campaign.
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
One hopes that at 36 at the World Cup, as he'll be, he can still do it. He can still do it.
00:22:31
Ken Davies
Wow. Watch him.
00:22:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Next one. Next one is Gonzalo Plata. He's a right winger, 43 caps for Ecuador and eight goals. He plays Sporting Lisbon, well, has played in Europe rather than Sporting Lisbon.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's played Portugal, played in Spain, at Valladolid. He's had a year in Qatar. He's currently in Flamengo and is considered to be one of the main emerging talents in South America. 24 years old ah But he's linked with lots and lots of Premier League teams in recent years. a lot every year Every year, you look back the last three or four years, there are Premier League teams who he's linked with.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So he could be one of the sort of hold our stars at a World Cup, we think. It's a big stage for him, but he needs to make that next big move. It'd be interesting see how he gets on. Because if he was 20, for example, I'd be going, yeah, fantastic.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
The guy's got the world at his feet. At 24, he hasn't quite done what we want him to do. Does that mean you see what mean?
00:23:27
Ken Davies
Last chance to lose maybe for him to get a big Yeah.
00:23:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might be. It might be. Equally, if he has a good World Cup, if he breaks out on that world stage, he could he could pretty much sign for whoever he wants to sign for, i think. ah because he's he's he's got real talent, real talent. So he's certainly one to watch out for.
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then lastly, well, Ken, have you ever been described as a wonder kid?
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have you ever been described as a wonder kid?
00:23:48
Ken Davies
ae
00:23:49
Ken Davies
Not since about 1973, no.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you're already middle-aged, right? So you'll have to go back a little bit.
00:23:58
Ken Davies
No, I haven't.
00:23:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i'm going to bring you, folks, I'm going to bring you the wonder kid of Ecuador football. And he's an 18-year-old who goes by the name of Kendry Paeth.
00:24:10
Ken Davies
Wow. Is he the Ecuadorian Messi by any chance?
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's broken.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, um that yeah'll we'll stick him in the messy team.
00:24:15
Ken Davies
He is now then. He is now.
00:24:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
we're We're creating a team full of...
00:24:20
Ken Davies
Unless he's a keeper.
00:24:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, no, he's not. He's not. But... He's broken records here, there, and everywhere already. So February 2023, when he was aged 15, yeah, 15 years and 297 days, he made what was a very highly anticipated debut for Independiente de Valle in the Ecuadorian Serie A.
00:24:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And scored.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And scored on his debut. So therefore, not only becoming the youngest debutant in that league's history, but also the youngest ever goalscorer in the Ecuadorian top fright. Not only that, it gets better.
00:24:42
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:24:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Later that year, in October 2023, he became the youngest ever scorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualification history.
00:24:54
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:25:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
When aged 16 years and 161 days, he scored in a 2-1 win over Bolivia for Ecuador. He's now 18, okay, and he's just moved to Chelsea in the Premier
00:25:13
Ken Davies
We've passed it then now, isn't it?
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:16
Ken Davies
He's on a downhill slope now to retirement.
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
League. Yeah. He won't get a game now because he's moved to Chelsea. But there's actually, I don't know if you've followed this story a little bit, there's been real controversy about his move to Chelsea because he moved there... he says on the understanding that he was going to be taken to the Club World Cup and they didn't take him.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there was ah there was a bit of a fallout from his end. And actually, although massive things are expected of him and, you know, £17 million pounds signing, which is good money for, you know, an 18-year-old from the South American League, that's that's a decent fee.
00:25:33
Ken Davies
and
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Big things are expected. ain't going to be playing for Chelsea next season because he's been he's loaned out to Strasbourg for next season. So that's where he's expected to play.
00:25:53
Ken Davies
Very good. day It looks like he's a player, though.
00:25:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unbelievable. Yeah, under one of the managers we know very well, Ken, manager of Strasbourg, Liam Rossiniar, assistant manager at Derby, interim manager at Derby.
00:26:02
Ken Davies
He's talking about people who haveve done well for themselves.
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did really well because he got treated appallingly by Hull, I think, in my opinion. When he went to Hull, he did really well. Got him into the playoffs and then got...
00:26:11
Ken Davies
Didn't get treated that well by Garby County, to be honest. But let's so let's not park there. park there
00:26:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, indeed. So there are five-stroke-seven players... who we think will be certainly of note heading into the World Cup.
00:26:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Players to watch, exciting players. Keep your eyes open for them because they could do very, very well. Very, very well.
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, Kenny, have you got an advert for us?
00:26:35
Ken Davies
Very good.
00:26:36
Ken Davies
Let me read an advert. Let me read an advert. and yet Because, as Sebastian Bekaseise would know, Bekaseise would know, it is...
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
<unk>t so I think that's the right pronunciation.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not. and since No, it's not.
00:26:51
Ken Davies
Bekaseise would know.
00:26:53
Ken Davies
It is...
00:26:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Bekaciese.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Bekaciese. It's not. It's Bekaciese.
00:26:56
Ken Davies
Bekaseise would know.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was listening to... It's pronounced...
00:27:00
Ken Davies
It pays to get...
00:27:02
Ken Davies
It pays to get your team right, Nick. It pays to get your team right. Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, Becca Sacey rang us and says, how do I get my team right? I said, what you need to do, Sebastian, is spend a lot of time selecting your delivery partner.
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:27:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
pronounce yeah
00:27:16
Ken Davies
That's what we said. And we chose Zencastr. Zencastr makes it easy to bring your vision to life and share it with your audience, wherever they are.
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to go ahead and get the results.
00:27:23
Ken Davies
And with 4K video recording, easy AI editing, Top tier distribution tools, all in one place. If you've got a story to tell, like Sebastian Becker-Saysay has, tell it with Zencastr, because it's all in the show notes. Go and check them out for more details.
00:27:41
Ken Davies
Becker-Saysay.
00:27:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Well, I think Sebastian Beccheso would be really pleased to know that we are about to do our weekly post-bac. So we had a lovely letter in from Michelle in Houston. If you're new, by the way, if you're new to this podcast, A, where have you been for the last 19 episodes?
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah go and listen to them now. ah But B, I say we have letters in when we have to do our postbag because I'm old fashioned. I like a letter. It isn't obviously a letter. It's an email. It's Instagram messaging. There's lots of ways to get in touch with this which Kenny will go over in just a moment.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But thank you to Michelle in Houston in Texas in the good old USA. who raises the question with us, look, what on earth is the point of extra time? We've seen in the Club World Cup at a moment, seen in the Gold Cup. In fact, three and three out four before, not four out of five.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'd be weird if there was five semifinals in a competition. Three out of four semifinals in a Gold Cup went to extra time. She says, look, what's the point? What's the point of extra time? ah She says, so i've I've always wondered about the point. What's the point? Because teams just play for penalties. It's never interesting. Not much happens.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Should extra time be scrapped? what do you think, Ken?
00:28:44
Ken Davies
I am all over it. I think it's a great idea. I'm not a massive fan of extra time. I find extra time. Extra time should be exciting. People go into extra time with a slight expectation of it might be actually exciting. It never is. ah Essentially, it turns often two attacking teams into completely defensive teams.
00:29:01
Ken Davies
If we look one day, I'm going to do the analysis on this.
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's
00:29:04
Ken Davies
In fact, I'll do it for next week. Actually, I reckon far fewer goals scored in that time of extra time than in normal play in terms of the average goal per minute, if we put it that way, because teams just get defensive.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
a good idea.
00:29:16
Ken Davies
Players start to get really nervous. Everyone starts playing for penalties from about minute three. And it's the most boring watch ever, just about.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:29:25
Ken Davies
And it shouldn't be. it should be really exciting. So, yeah, I think, particularly in the light of what we're looking at at in terms of conditions, FIFA could do something really radical, really strategic and say, you know, for this competition, there ain't no extra time straight to penalties.
00:29:39
Ken Davies
And no one would be any worse off.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
apart from England, without extra time, who would never have won their one and only World Cup.
00:29:49
Ken Davies
This is true. This is true. Maybe you should have it in the final, just in case England get there.
00:29:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know whether that, actually, England winning the World Cup, I've never worked out whether it's been a blessing or a curse, because it's hung over the England team like ah you know like a like a thing that hangs over you very heavily for 70-year-old year.
00:30:07
Ken Davies
Balloon.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not a balloon. Balloons are light. Balloons don't hang over you. But a really heavy shroud.
00:30:13
Ken Davies
Thundercloud. Thundercloud.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thunder cloud of expectation. That's what it's been.
00:30:17
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:30:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which rains on you.
00:30:19
Ken Davies
nice like
00:30:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
some
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. you
00:30:21
Ken Davies
We should have that as our strapline on this Road to World Cup 26, thunder cloud of expectation.
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
what's up
00:30:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
In brackets, which rains on you from time to time. It's got a certain zing about it, hasn't it?
00:30:32
Ken Davies
Could do worse.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We can do that. Yeah, look, you're right. I think you're right in some respects. i think you're right in some respects. But equally, they can be very, very exciting. They can be really, really exciting. And when you see when you see goals scored in the last two or three minutes of of extra time, it's absolutely brilliant. it's well it's it's kind of far It's more exciting than seeing them scored at the end of 90 minutes because you know that if goals scored, it's just got that something else about it.
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I don't know. i mean, one thing I'm very concerned about is the heat next year. as Because let's face it, we talk about very little else in this podcast half the time. ah Because what's it going to be like for teams playing 90 minutes to then have to play an extra 30?
00:31:13
Ken Davies
100 minutes. 100 minutes, Nick.
00:31:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no game is 90 minutes. No game is 90 minutes. Yeah. like no guess
00:31:19
Ken Davies
100 minutes, and we haven't even included the extra at the end of the first half. Because it's 45 plus then.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
not and the
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's not normally a lot of extra time at the end of first half, two or three minutes maybe.
00:31:34
Ken Davies
isn't that weird why does that
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, because second half, loads more happens that that demands time be added on, substitutions.
00:31:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Injuries, you get more injuries in second games, you get more substitutions, you get more tactical wasting time, players going down not injured. It takes longer on throw-ins, it takes longer on goal-ins.
00:31:45
Ken Davies
yeah
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everything just slows down as teams try and tactically...
00:31:57
Ken Davies
I hate it when you write, Nick. I have to say you're probably right about that. That is actually quite a good analysis of why there's more extra time in second half.
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Muchas
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
gracias. ah So, yeah, look, I think, Michelle, you're quite right to raise this issue. It's going to be very interesting to see next year when there's, particularly in knockout stages where there's lots of extra time, potentially, because it normally is these days, how teams play. How are coaches going to set their teams up?
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are they going to deliberately not pick players on the basis that it might get to extra time and they need to bring them on, you know, late in the second half? There's a real gamble there. How are coaches going to actually now think having to start having to think about managing ah a 120-minute game plus you know plus whatever injury time's added on because of the heat?
00:32:45
Ken Davies
I think you're right.
00:32:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
because of the heat. We know, discussed the fact they're to have to rotate squads a lot more in in the the constant heat that we've been talking about. They're going to have to, they can't, you just can't pick the same 11 to play week in, week out, game in, game out when you're playing, particularly in the group stages.
00:33:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
we've got three games in pretty quick succession and not much recovery time in between. So let's see. Yeah, let's see. But what a radical idea. Scrap it all together for the World Cup. Just go straight to penalties.
00:33:10
Ken Davies
michelle Michelle, you should be working for FIFA. And just a thought that um just occurred to me. Do you think FIFA might go for unrestricted substitutions?
00:33:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, because that really does put the smaller teams a massive disadvantage.
00:33:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
We talked a lot about this on another podcast, Ken, where we looking the Premier League. And back in the day when the Premier League, look, you and I remember football when there was one sub in England. Then it kind of went to three.
00:33:27
Ken Davies
Fair enough.
00:33:37
Ken Davies
I remember when it was no subs.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, yeah, you'd remember that. Yeah. You'd remember there was no crossbars either. ah the the the um Then it's gone five now, and you could have like 2,000 people on the bench, and they'd be mooting going up to nine and seven and stuff like that.
00:33:46
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:33:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know
00:33:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that only benefits the big teams because they've got the big squads. so
00:33:56
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:33:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really unfair on small teams. it maybe got, don't know, two or three real quality subs, and then they're just filling the bench with with academy players as opposed to a big club.
00:33:59
Ken Davies
Hmm. Hmm.
00:34:06
Ken Davies
nico's got into you i think the sun has affected you youre talking common sense like there's twice there in about five minutes you've actually said something sensible
00:34:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well,
00:34:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
well I'll tell you what, let's not let's like ruin the prospect of the all's going wrong. And let me hand over to you to talk about formation and let's get back onto Ecuador.
Ecuador's Coaching Insights
00:34:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
What sort of formation do they play? Do they chop and change or are they pretty solid in what they do?
00:34:27
Ken Davies
Well, before I do that, I'm going to do two things. I'm going to just finish off Michelle's point by saying, if you are enjoying the Road to the World Cup 26, and let's face it, you are, or you wouldn't be here, please subscribe.
00:34:40
Ken Davies
I mean, please subscribe.
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
not sure
00:34:42
Ken Davies
that that's a That's not on order.
00:34:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
saying.
00:34:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
not sure I'm saying. saying.
00:34:44
Ken Davies
it's It's a request, but it's a very fervent request.
00:34:48
Ken Davies
Please subscribe.
00:34:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not I'm
00:34:49
Ken Davies
Subscribe, leave a review, share the podcast.
00:34:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
sure saying. sure
00:34:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
sure not
00:34:52
Ken Davies
We want to hear your thoughts.
00:34:53
Ken Davies
we were Just like Michelle, who's a superstar and has made a very, very valid point, we want to hear your thoughts of the whole World Cup process, wherever you are in the world.
00:34:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
saying.
00:34:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm what I'm not I'm sure I'm what saying. I'm I'm
00:35:03
Ken Davies
And the further away from Derby, they're better.
00:35:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
sure what I'm saying. not saying. not saying.
00:35:06
Ken Davies
For you, obviously, and for us.
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
not not sure what
00:35:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not sure I'm I'm I'm saying. I'm
00:35:07
Ken Davies
So if you want to email us, email us at roadtoworldcup26 at at gmail.com.
00:35:18
Ken Davies
We'll definitely...
00:35:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
miss
00:35:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
in
00:35:19
Ken Davies
Get you on the show.
00:35:21
Ken Davies
So that's that. ah Now, quick one. ah Right. Interesting about formation.
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:35:28
Ken Davies
So two most recent games, Peru and Brazil, both ended. Surprise, surprise. Nil-nil. ah These were both post-qualification.
00:35:39
Ken Davies
So they were probably making changes, probably doing some rotation that we've just alluded to, because you picked out the goalkeeper and you picked out Ener Valencia.
00:35:50
Ken Davies
playing up front goalkeeper didn't didn't play so galindez didn't play in either of those games valet did interesting because they're probably blood in a new a new alternative because obviously we know glindus is not in the first flush of youth let's put it that way so they went 4-4-2 in both of those games
00:36:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
hot
00:36:12
Ken Davies
Valé in goal.
00:36:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:36:14
Ken Davies
Estupinian, who we haven't mentioned.
00:36:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:36:16
Ken Davies
Pervis Estupinian plays for Brighton. Great, great, great full-back. um Hinchcapié, Pancho, Ordonez, solid back four. Angulo, Ville, Caicedo, Franco in across the middle. And Rodriguez and Yeboah up front. Essentially exactly the same team played against Brazil.
00:36:37
Ken Davies
The only difference is they had Minder in for Rodriguez. Going back to a couple of games which were were more important because they were pre-qualification, Chile, guess what the result of the Chile game was, Nick?
00:36:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
No,
00:36:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
no. no
00:36:54
Ken Davies
Yeah, it was nil now. They played 3-4-3. Galindez was in goal, as you mentioned. ah ah Hinn, Capier, Pancho, Ordonez at the back. Estepinian was playing in midfield with Ville, Caicedo and Franco across the midfield. The four across the midfield.
00:37:14
Ken Davies
Wawa, Valencia and Plata up front. So... Very solid 3-4-3.
00:37:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:37:20
Ken Davies
When they beat Venezuela 2-1, the game before that, they played a 4-2-3-1. So what we know is Becaseze, Sebastian Becaseze, can be fairly flexible with his formations.
00:37:34
Ken Davies
So in the last four games, he's played different four different three different formations, 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3, 4-4-2. My betting is they're going with the 3-4-3. That's the formation they played when the chips were down, when they looking to qualify.
00:37:49
Ken Davies
But one thing I will say about Becker Seise, you're going to talk a bit more about Becker Seise, aren't you? Becker Seise is because that's a different bloke.
00:37:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I'm not. I'm talking about Vicar Chasso.
00:37:59
Ken Davies
That's a different fellow. So the one I'm dealing with anyway, who who happens to be manager of Ecuador, is was a defender and he was a right back. He was never a top level player.
00:38:10
Ken Davies
So he recognized he wasn't going to be a top level player very early, like I did, very early in my football career.
00:38:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
but you didn't do anything about it, though, did you?
00:38:17
Ken Davies
But what he did was,
00:38:20
Ken Davies
Yeah, are you I decided not to become a top-level football player as an embryo.
00:38:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was worth telling all listeners what i is it Is it worth telling our listeners what happened on Saturday, Ken, yesterday?
00:38:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i turned up and I turned up at the Village of Fate where you had me in 45-degree heat teaching kids how to play football, which I do, by the way.
00:38:31
Ken Davies
No, don't.
00:38:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm a qualified. Yeah, you said that.
00:38:39
Ken Davies
I'm getting ready for the World Cup, mate.
00:38:41
Ken Davies
I'm just acclimatising you for the World Cup.
00:38:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
guy who's done no exercise for 65 years, ah said, here, kick us the ball. So I passed him the ball, landed it on his toe, because that's what I'm like. I've got a wand of the left foot.
00:38:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
He kicked it back, and within about two minutes, struggled off go and sit and sell some raffle tickets, holding his groin, thinking, saying to me, I I've done my groin. I think I've done my groin.
00:39:08
Ken Davies
it was ah it it was a little bit It was a little bit tender this morning, the old groin area.
00:39:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:39:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:39:14
Ken Davies
But were you not impressed by the accuracy of my passing yesterday?
00:39:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but next
00:39:17
Ken Davies
I thought that pass to Bill was particularly impressive with the left foot, and I say, not just the right foot.
00:39:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah it would have been. It would have been particularly, but only if you'd intended for Bill to jump the fence into the next field. That was good one.
00:39:31
Ken Davies
Well, there you go. So, yeah, let's let's move on.
00:39:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:39:33
Ken Davies
So, Becker Seissé was a defender, right back, wasn't ever going to be a top player, became a coach very early in his 20s, and he's done a fantastic job, and he's now a very successful manager Ecuador.
00:39:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:39:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you haven't left me much to say, have you? So you've done most of it.
00:39:51
Ken Davies
Oh, sorry, mate. Have I totally done that about Becker Seissé?
00:39:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I've got a little bit to add, but not too much more. But for now, now, let's get on because, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is everybody's favorite time of the week.
00:40:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is time for Kenny's quiz.
00:40:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's up?
00:40:22
Ken Davies
That music, as far as I was hearing, it was going slow and fast and slow and fast.
00:40:26
Ken Davies
You may be hearing it different. might be some through my speakers, but it was like, it was a strange time.
00:40:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
think it's something with your speakers.
00:40:31
Ken Davies
don't
00:40:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, think it's to do with your speakers. Anyway, the pipe is out, which is good to see.
00:40:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's time for Kenny's quiz. He normally does well.
00:40:36
Ken Davies
Oh yeah, the pipe of intelligence.
00:40:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is, because you normally do well. I've started with a really easy one to start with, really easy one.
00:40:44
Ken Davies
Come on.
00:40:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then I've got a couple that are guessable.
00:40:46
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:40:49
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:40:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you play along, as always, play along at home, shout out or your phone, transistor radio, if you're in the car, doing whatever you want to do, just shout out the answer, because you'll probably know this, right?
00:40:57
Ken Davies
Transistor radio.
00:40:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
what's one That's what people listen to. no, they don't listen radio, do they? Why am I saying radio?
00:41:03
Ken Davies
Transistor radio.
00:41:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nobody's listening to this on radio.
00:41:05
Ken Davies
Yeah, they might do if they're time travellers and they've they've landed here from 1954.
00:41:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:41:10
Ken Davies
Don't tell them about JFK. You just spoil it for them.
00:41:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, don't know why said that. ah Phone, laptop, ah what else? What else do you listen to? What else? Computer, la iPad, i what else are you listening on?
00:41:23
Ken Davies
A gramophone, gramophone, ear trumpet.
00:41:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ear Trumpet. If you're listening on Ear Trumpet, ah please do shout out ah the answers to these questions. Right, number one one is, la mitad del mundo is a famous landmark in Ecuador marking what?
00:41:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kenny boy. This is the easy one. La mitad del elunddo is yeah laitad emmo id
00:41:45
Ken Davies
This is easy.
00:41:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
mundo is a famous landmark in Ecuador marking what?
00:41:53
Ken Davies
Well, del mundo means of the world. So what's the first word again?
00:41:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
La mitad.
00:41:59
Ken Davies
La mitad. La mitad, I would imagine that sounds like... La mitad means friendliness, something like that, in amigo. Amigo. So I think it's like a welcoming thing.
00:42:13
Ken Davies
I would imagine it is ah statue of Christ.
00:42:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh Oh, very good. want Do you want to elaborate it at all
00:42:29
Ken Davies
Do want to elaborate on a statue of Christ? well I mean, yeah, it's made of...
00:42:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
at all?
00:42:35
Ken Davies
It's made of marble and it was it was carved by the Incas in 300 BC.
00:42:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I'm not...
00:42:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, well done, mate. Well done. Although I can't give you a point because it was actually cardboard incas in 298 BC. none of that is correct.
00:42:49
Ken Davies
Oh man, feel such a fool.
00:42:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
no yeah None of that is correct. Look, the name, the answer to this question is in the name. Why is Ecuador called Ecuador? Yeah?
00:43:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
La mitad...
00:43:03
Ken Davies
It's on the equator.
00:43:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, La Mitad del Mundo, the middle or the half, if you like, of the world. So La Mitad means the half in Spanish. So La Mitad del Mundo in the name, half of the world.
00:43:05
Ken Davies
It's on the equator.
00:43:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's ah it's a monument and a very famous landmark in Ecuador, which marks the equator.
00:43:22
Ken Davies
I got that wrong.
00:43:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you did. I thought you'd get that right. I thought La Mitad del Mundo would be fairly straightforward.
00:43:27
Ken Davies
I feel such a fool, to be honest. I mean, you're right.
00:43:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know as well as I do, Ecuador's on the equator. You know that.
00:43:33
Ken Davies
I do know that. That's it's called Ecuador.
00:43:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:43:35
Ken Davies
If it wasn't on the equator, would be called ah near Ecuador.
00:43:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bob. yeah
00:43:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:43:40
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:43:41
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:43:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:43:42
Ken Davies
Argentina. Yeah. Come on.
00:43:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Okay, question two then. i hope you got that right. People listen to this on your ear trumpets. What ocean is to the west of Ecuador's most populated city, Guayaquil?
00:43:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
What ocean is to the west of Ecuador's most populated city, Guayaquil?
00:44:03
Ken Davies
Well, Pacific. It has to be the Pacific.
00:44:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It does, but, Ken, that's not the answer to the question. So you've got a 50-50 chance here yeah because equi part of Ecuador's – No, but half of Ecuador is like on the coast of the North Pacific, and then you've got the South Pacific because it's got the equator running through it, as we've already discussed.
00:44:10
Ken Davies
What? Have you made up new oceans?
00:44:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got a 50 – I'm going to give you it, by the way. i'm goingnna give you the I'm going to give you a point for this, but as a bonus, kind of not a point, but see if you get it right.
00:44:30
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:44:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it North or South?
00:44:32
Ken Davies
North.
00:44:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He only had one in two. No, it's too late. the north yes
00:44:36
Ken Davies
south south south west west pacific east pacific
00:44:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
South Pacific, maybe. It's in the South Pacific.
00:44:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you studied... all these All these questions were just like really obvious questions if you spent any time at all looking at Ecuador.
00:44:46
Ken Davies
um by um
00:44:57
Ken Davies
I haven't.
00:44:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you're clear...
00:44:58
Ken Davies
Well, I have, but I've been i've been bit up to my eyes in formations, haven't I? I've not been looking at the geographical landmarks.
00:45:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Okay.
00:45:05
Ken Davies
It would spoil it, wouldn't it? if i If I'd done a degree in Ecuadorian geographical landmarks in the last week, it would just spoil it just spoil the the the air of excitement, wouldn't it?
00:45:16
Ken Davies
Thank
00:45:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
It would, certainly would. Anyway, listen, have ah have a puff on your pipe, mate, because I've got one more question coming up <unk>s a bit of ah it's ah This is a fun one, okay?
00:45:20
Ken Davies
you.
00:45:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is for no points, but play along at home, see if can get this right. Because of its location on the equator, there's a theme running through all these questions, you see.
00:45:31
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:45:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
equator form because it's ah of its location of ah at the equator this is interesting fact as well ecuador experiences very little variation in the daylight hours during the course of a year in other words for the majority year both sunrise and sunset occur each day at the same clock time in the morning and evening yeah what is the clock time what is the clock time
00:45:44
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:45:52
Ken Davies
Yeah, that would make sense.
00:45:58
Ken Davies
Six o'clock.
00:46:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
is the correct answer. Well done, mate. It's shame that was for no points.
00:46:04
Ken Davies
thank
00:46:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you can have ah you can have a valedictory puff on your pipe. Yeah, 6 o'clock. Sun comes up at 6 o'clock in in the morning and goes down at 6 o'clock in the evening.
00:46:14
Ken Davies
You don't exactly have to be Stephen Hawking to work that one out, do you?
00:46:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, didn't have to be Stephen Hawking to get La Mitad del Mondo wrong, but you seem to manage it. So, I don't know if you're a valedictor.
00:46:23
Ken Davies
That's true. That's true. So there you go. I feel somewhat vindicated by that.
00:46:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
A little bit, mate. A little bit. Not too bad, but to good effort for this week's Kenny's Quiz.
00:46:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Nearing the end of the podcast, we've got a couple of bits and bobs to do. Just a little spotlight.
00:46:49
Ken Davies
I want to do a bit and bob. I want to a bit and bob, Nick.
00:46:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, okay.
00:46:52
Ken Davies
This bit bob.
00:46:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
you You do that, then, Bob.
00:46:56
Ken Davies
Yeah, because Global Sports Podcast Network has partnered with Bionique, the world's most personalized supplements because your body, Nick's body, you should see it.
00:47:07
Ken Davies
I saw a bit of it, anyway, yesterday. day It's pretty unique, to be honest. It is pretty unique and not necessarily in a good way. Let's just say that.
00:47:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was drowning in sweat, that's why.
00:47:15
Ken Davies
Because...
00:47:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was so hot yesterday.
00:47:18
Ken Davies
Well, no, that's not what I was referring to.
00:47:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it was hot.
00:47:20
Ken Davies
Let's move on. um Because without knowing what deficiencies you have, and believe me, he's got a few of them, taking off the shelf supplements means you're probably not getting enough of the nutrients you need and maybe too much of the ones you don't need.
00:47:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:47:33
Ken Davies
Nobody wants that. So Bionique provide 100%, not 99, not tailor-made supplements designed to deliver precisely what your body needs, exactly the right levels, optimize your health, no guessing.
00:47:47
Ken Davies
You know what you should do? should go to the show notes, use the code GSPN2025. You get a 40% discount on your first order. Can you believe that?
00:47:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can believe that, yes, because I know what the ad is.
00:48:02
Ken Davies
That's true. and That's true. And you actually are quite senior in GSPN, so you would know that, wouldn't you?
00:48:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
i yeah co-founded the business. So, yeah, I kind of know what.
00:48:09
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's true. That is quite senior, isn't it, Ron?
00:48:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am, though, slightly worried about which part of me you saw yesterday because I thought I'd lock the door. And now I'm kind of worried about which bit of me. Because I thought, you know, the last time saw you, I was trudging my way out, ah baked in sweat whilst you were enjoying a cold bottle of water sitting underneath your parasol, counting the counts.
00:48:27
Ken Davies
I wasn't. It was a beer. It was it was a beer, mate. If not, it wasn't water.
00:48:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
That doesn't make me feel any better. does not make me feel any better. Anyway, mate, I'm glad I did you favor. I was glad was able to help out because you know we're all mates and that.
00:48:42
Ken Davies
Hey, you proper help me out. So I really appreciate that.
00:48:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Always willing. Always willing. Right. Let's have a quick look at the Ecuador manager, Sebastian Becachesi. Now, Ken's already talked about a little bit, covered about a little bit on this. He's 44 years old.
00:48:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got more and I've got better, honest to be honest you.
00:49:00
Ken Davies
we go.
00:49:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like it. A bit like you, Kim, he's instantly recognizable for his long blonde hair.
00:49:04
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:49:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah so let Anybody who watches international football will know this guy, even if you don't know who he is. They'll know him because he's got long blonde hair and he leaps around the touchline like a manic person. And I love all of that.
00:49:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm kind of in love with this guy because I think he's he's everything I'd want my football manager to be. i He's really good and very powerful.
00:49:25
Ken Davies
You like long blonde hair, they don't you? Let's be honest. That's always with that but with a tick in your box, isn't it?
00:49:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's why That's why we're such good mates. He has actually got some... yeah has I can remember when Ken had long blonde hair. Yeah. Back in the day.
00:49:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or was that just a wig he had on last night? I don't know. He's he had is that previous international experience. ah this is worth no This is worth noting. This is not his first radio in terms of international international football.
00:49:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was and had indeed some good success previously when he was assistant manager to Jorge Sampaoli when they took over the Chilean national team in 2012. And this is really important because he studied his his, he did his kind of coaching apprenticeship under two amazing managers, ah Sampaoli and also Marcello Bielsa.
00:50:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
who are two you know great managers.
00:50:16
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:50:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when Sampioli and Becatece took over the Chilean national team in 2012, consider what Chile are like now, not very good.
00:50:27
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:50:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
They went on to not only qualify for the 2014 World Cup, but they got to the round of 16. And they only lost in the round of 16 to Brazil on penalties.
00:50:35
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:50:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they had a really, really good tournament. um They carried that on to 2015, winning the Copper America on home soil. Now, obviously, Sampioli was given of the credit, but Becky Chaser was very much recognized you know in that part of the world for being the yeah the the the power behind the throne, if you like, the brains, a lot of the brains of the operation.
00:50:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he kind of started making his his reputation from that. From there, he stepped out into the managerial spotlight and did it at club football. So one of the other things I like about this guy, he's not just managed at the top level. He's kind of got down and dirty and done it at lower levels and learned.
00:51:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it has been a bit of a roller coaster. He's been up and down, up and down. He's had periods at Universidad de Chile, at Defensa in Argentina, ah hit and miss at the first one, did well at Defensa. He's had a spell at Independiente, which is one of Argentina's top clubs.
00:51:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you'd think there he'd do well, but he did all right. But there's such high expectations. It's been like when you go and manage Chelsea or something that, you know, in the UK, you don't last long unless you do really, really well.
00:51:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he did all right, but he didn't but didn last long.
00:51:35
Ken Davies
Mm-hmm.
00:51:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Went back to defensor, he's managing Spain. And so he's kind of got that, he's kind of done it both ways. He he entered as an assistant manager at international level and then went into club football. It's kind of the other way around normally, isn't it It's normally you do one before whatever.
00:51:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I think it took quite a it took it took a lot of people by surprise last year when he got the Ecuador job. ah Equally, a lot of people saw it as a good fit because Ecuador has been a bit of a crossroads in terms of its football. They wanted...
00:52:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
a more progressive coach. They wanted more attacking player. They wanted flair. they wanted They wanted somebody who's going to modernize the game, both philosophically and tactically.
00:52:17
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:52:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So be able to switch formations. And we talked about that a little bit more. And what you'll see with Ecuador when they play is they play with a lot of energy. They play with a high press. He wants to win the ball back very, very early.
00:52:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fullbacks bomb on, midfielders rotate. So he has got that real kind of sense of a modern football coach. and And that's great. You know, that's great. And you can see, I think you can see when you watch Ecuador play, you can see there's early influences of Bielsa.
00:52:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can see there's early influences of Sampioli. Just by the way, it's that high press, high energy, flood forward, you know, all of that. But at the back, and you've you've talked about this already on this podcast, they are rock solid at the back.
00:52:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they've got a really good mix there. They've got a really, really good mix. um So I love the way he's done it the hard way. He's had a bit of success. He's been up and he's been down. He's got into a great job. As I said before, he's always crazy on the sideline and that always helps.
00:53:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's definitely a coach for for the future. He's definitely coach for future. I think he's going to have a great tournament next year. And we talk we talked previously about the fact that South American teams might benefit from the the weather and the conditions and the heat because they're used to playing in it.
00:53:19
Ken Davies
Interesting.
00:53:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
This could, you know, I think Becker Chazy could become a top, top coach. I really do. and if he has a good World Cup next year, you can go anywhere wants. So I'll be very interested.
00:53:38
Ken Davies
It's interesting. I mean, they play on the equator. They play, literally play on the equator.
00:53:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:53:44
Ken Davies
You know, you if it's any team's going to be acclimatized to warm conditions, it's Ecuador.
00:53:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:53:49
Ken Davies
They probably also play altitude and that's going to help them as well.
00:53:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:53:52
Ken Davies
So, yeah.
00:53:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
think they're playing stadiums next La Mitad del Mundo.
00:53:54
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:53:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
because you know what that is?
00:53:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know what La Mitad del Mundo is?
00:53:59
Ken Davies
That's a big statue of Jesus.
00:54:01
Ken Davies
That's the big statue of Jesus smoking a pipe.
00:54:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:54:04
Ken Davies
It's an unusual one, but not many people know Jesus smoking a pipe.
00:54:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah but It was modeled on you, quite clearly.
00:54:10
Ken Davies
It was.
00:54:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ae Yeah. so So, yeah, I think he's great. I think this guy's great. absolutely He's got an awful lot going for him. So I'm very keen to see how he gets on next year.
Ecuador's World Cup Predictions
00:54:20
Ken Davies
Well, that's an interesting segue into how exactly is he going to do next year?
00:54:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:54:27
Ken Davies
ah because the rank 25th, that would indicate that the team is going out in the early stages. So you do you go first time this time.
00:54:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so, yeah.
00:54:40
Ken Davies
Nick, where do you reckon they're gonna finish?
00:54:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
with Okay, I think... Do you know what I'm going to do for next week? I'm going to get little sting for our predictions. We need a bit of excitement build-up sting for our predictions. I think this is a bit of a perfect storm for Ecuador.
00:54:49
Ken Davies
Oh, God.
00:54:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
i really do. They've got a modern, progressive, high-active coach with a young, progressive, high-active team. ah It's packed full of quality players, and we've talked about a few of them here today.
00:55:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's a good match between coach and players, think they're going to surprise a lot of people. In terms of South American success, I think it's going to be very, very close between them and Brazil. kind of still trying to work out the Ancelotti effect on Brazil because that might just elevate them slightly. But I expect Ecuador to have a very good World Cup and going to pitch them into the quarterfinals with a kind of maybe if things go their way and they get a fair win behind in the semis. But I'm going to go for quarterfinals.
00:55:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
What about you?
00:55:31
Ken Davies
Good shout. I'm not far away from that well. You're right. To the rank 25th, that's... that's that That really isn't accurate in relation to their actual form.
00:55:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah.
00:55:42
Ken Davies
and They are really the second best team in South America. And the first best team is Argentina. And if you're the second best team in in South America, you've got ah pretty good chance of winning the World Cup.
00:55:53
Ken Davies
Let's be honest, then wouldn't that be something? Yeah. particularly because we're playing the World Cup in the Americas and we're playing it in hot conditions and we're playing it ah sometimes altitude.
00:55:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:56:03
Ken Davies
So I could say say, young coach, flexible, destined for big things, knows defence like the back of his hand.
00:56:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um thousand
00:56:12
Ken Davies
He is, you know, it's no accident that he's a right back. He knows how to organise in defence.
00:56:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
email
00:56:18
Ken Davies
Midfield and up front, extremely competent. No one will want to play Ecuador. No one will want to play them. They're going to... they're going to give a lot of teams a very, very, very difficult game.
00:56:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
thankfully
00:56:30
Ken Davies
Very difficult to beat. So ultimately, I'm not sure they've got enough goals on them.
00:56:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm 36 by
00:56:36
Ken Davies
They're very, very dependent, certainly in terms of the conversion ratio on ah Valencia. ah That is, i mean, he scores a lot of goals for them. They're going to have to find another alternative goal scorer to Valencia.
00:56:49
Ken Davies
I think he's going to be 35, I think, by the time he gets 36, I think.
00:56:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
the time it kicks
00:56:54
Ken Davies
thirty thirty six per howut comes that's a big ask. That's a big ask. So whilst not going to concede many, I can't see him scoring four or five every game.
00:57:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
seven
00:57:03
Ken Davies
Ultimately, that's going to catch up with him. And I agree.
00:57:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:57:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:57:06
Ken Davies
I think they're going out in the quarters.
00:57:08
Ken Davies
I think they're going out in the round of eight.
00:57:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent. oh well we're quite We're in agreement, mate. We're in agreement. Interesting.
00:57:16
Ken Davies
going to make a note.
00:57:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
interesting What I like about it is one of the reasons I'm confident about them is that because Obviously, the yeah know the coach only started
Episode Conclusion and Next Topic Preview
00:57:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
last year. He's got a whole he's got a whole year to kind of really impose his philosophy on the team and find a find a new striker, if that makes sense. Now, I know finding a new striker not the easiest thing go to do, but if he is a coach, he's going to bring in high press, high play, you know flood flood the yeah the wing, all that kind of stuff that we like to see.
00:57:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got a year, or less than year, but you know what i mean. He's got ah eight months or so to to find somebody who can get on the end of those... along with Valencia. So, yeah, yeah, I think we're both...
00:57:51
Ken Davies
i think I think the other thing we should mention, I reckon he'll play a 3-4-3 because he's so confident in his in his in his defensive setup. He's got a very very good midfield.
00:58:01
Ken Davies
If he plays three up front, there's a chance there of actually releasing you know some some some goals.
00:58:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:58:07
Ken Davies
So I think, yeah, think he's got he's got a great chance.
00:58:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's exciting times, is it not, for Ecuador football?
00:58:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exciting times. Right. Well, listen, well because that brings us to the end of today's episode. I hope you've enjoyed it. Now, we've only got two more we've only got two more teams to look at.
00:58:14
Ken Davies
It is.
00:58:21
Ken Davies
Where do you fancy next week?
00:58:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've only got Australia and Korea Republic to look at and before, by the way, well it's Korea Republic, actually, before we branch out into a very exciting new chapter of Road to World Cup 26.
00:58:27
Ken Davies
South Korea.
00:58:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
because we would have reached at this stage, at this point in time, that we would have covered off all the teams who have qualified so far. so we've got exciting things to bring you once we do those. Two weeks to together go, we've got Korea Republic and Australia. Which one do you we want to do next week?
00:58:49
Ken Davies
I'd like to do South Korea of the Republic, please.
00:58:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, okay. You can see where this is going to go. going to spend the entire time arguing what we should be called. I'm going to go with the official correct version, which is Korea Republic. You go with the outdated and wrong version, which is South Korea. Entirely up to you, my friend.
00:59:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But until then, until then, we hope you've enjoyed this deep dive into Ecuador. We will be recording again on Friday in five or six days' time. So, Ken, thank you very much indeed for joining us.
00:59:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as always, look after yourselves, look after each other,
00:59:19
Ken Davies
Bye-bye.
00:59:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goodbye.
00:59:24
Ken Davies
by bye