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Road to World Cup 26 - Episode 9 - Canada
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Show Notes
Join Nick Britten and Ken Davies for your weekly guide to all things FIFA World Cup 26 - This week its a deep dive into one of the host nations, Canada
Contact the show by email: roadtoworldcup26@gmail.com
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Hosts
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, bonjour, hola, nihau, privet, g'day and hi.
00:00:14
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're listening to the Road to the World Cup 26 podcast wherever you are in the world. 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 of course, because you're listening to it, the World
Humorous Co-host Introduction
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cup 2026.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
twenty twenty six I am your host, Nick Britton, and I'm joined as always today by my esteemed genius friend, the man who is to football what Donald Trump is to diplomacy, Mr. Ken Davis. How you doing, Ken?
00:00:45
Ken Davies
Heck yeah, Nicky. You've been working on that one all week.
Football Team Updates and Promotions
00:00:47
Ken Davies
Hey, before we get started, can we just say, at the end of the season, congratulations to Derby for staying up. Congratulations for Wrexham for three back-to-back promotions.
00:01:00
Ken Davies
Back-to-back-to-back. So we're all in the same happy league next year. Isn't that going to be exciting?
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you had a smile on your face because that is your dream. Now, if you listen to the the other podcast that Ken and I put out every week, which is called That Saturday Feeling, we go on about this quite a lot. There's always a section at the start of the podcast where we look at Rexham are doing, ah how Derby are doing.
00:01:15
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Ken's dream ah is to have Rexham, Derby and Leicester in the same league. And it's come true. The season's over and they're all going to be playing in the English Championship next season. So more of that at our Saturday Feeling podcast, which you'll find exactly where this on Apple and on Spotify and indeed pretty much anywhere else.
Focus on Canada
00:01:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
and On to today then. So we're going to be having a look at, well, last last week we looked at USA. Today we have a look at Canada as we continue our deep dive into teams who we know will be playing at the World Cup 26. But before we do that...
World Cup News Segment
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
A little bit of news. So we're going to do this every week now because the World Cup is starting to gather pace. ah there's There's news coming out every week. so we're going to be doing a little weekly ah news slot.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's have a look at that.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bit of breaking news music for you, Kent.
00:02:09
Ken Davies
My word. It's not the BBC.
00:02:14
Ken Davies
NBBC, Nick Britton Broadcasting Corporation presents.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was good that wasn't it? Not as good that one. Yeah, I like that. I like that
Ancelotti's Coaching Prospects
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
a little bit of breaking news.
00:02:20
Ken Davies
but
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So what we're going to say, we've been talking quite a lot, haven't we, about the Carlo Ancelotti to Brazil situation. Is it on?
00:02:28
Ken Davies
Is it on?
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it off?
00:02:28
Ken Davies
Is it off?
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is on?
00:02:29
Ken Davies
Is it on?
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:29
Ken Davies
Is it off?
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we had our production meeting like a couple of days ago on this podcast. And in that production meeting, I said to you, it looks like it's all off.
00:02:36
Ken Davies
draw It's all off. It's all gone pear-shaped.
00:02:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
because of various things. One, Carlo Ancelotti seems to be making demands about living in Europe whilst managing Brazil. There was a whole situation about will he, we wooly won't he go to leave Real?
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's going on with with ah Saudi? There was offers coming in from Saudi. And obviously the ongoing furore and controversy about a non-Brazilian coach taking over Brazil. And it looked like negotiations had completely fallen apart. And that was the news we were going to bring you.
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
if we'd recorded it a couple of days ago. But, you know, two days is a long time in football. So it now looks like that is very much back on again, that Brazil have a exceeded to some of his demands. And they they were very, very strict and have been all along that they wanted somebody in place by the start of the qualifiers at the beginning of June.
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So really, we're looking around now, somebody being signed by now.
00:03:25
Ken Davies
May the 20th is the key key date for them.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's right. But it looks very much like, yeah, that it looks so very like looks they're going to wait for him.
00:03:28
Ken Davies
Hopefully it's on day.
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It looks like they're going to wait for him for the La Liga season to finish. It's not been a good season for for Madrid in as much as they they went out in the qualifiers. of the Champions League to Arsenal a few weeks It doesn't look like they're going La Liga. Barcelona are four points ahead with only only four games to go, I think, now.
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it doesn't look like they're going to win that. So doesn't look like Madrid are going to stand in Ancelotti's way in any way. So we are expecting him to take over as Brazil coach, but may not be until the qualifiers are either underway or done and dusted for their June mix.
00:04:07
Ken Davies
Madrid fancy Alonso, don't they? ah Madrid are very, very keen on Xavier Alonso from Leverkusen.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:14
Ken Davies
I think that's what's going to happen. It's going to free up Ancelotti to go go to South America.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it does look that is going to happen. It's just a question of when. So a bit of an on-off saga there.
Listener Feedback on Gibbs-White
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Second bit then from breaking news. isn't really breaking news, but it is good.
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is good. ah Communications from our listeners. So we we love we love you guys getting in touch.
00:04:35
Ken Davies
mar
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And normally, its yeah we're very proud to say it's always good good feedback and nice comments and all that kind of stuff. ah But I'm going to bring you one from Matt in Nottingham who is not happy with us, Ken.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Matt from Nottingham is not.
00:04:49
Ken Davies
Why?
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fact, he's really annoyed with
00:04:51
Ken Davies
wouldn't imagine anybody in Nottingham, presumably a Forest fan, is just going to have a great big smile on their face all the time at the moment.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he is ah he is a Forrest fan, as it turns out, and he's not happy with this because he's just caught up with our UEFA podcast, which we did two or three weeks ago. And we did a little section in UEFA looking at England. Obviously, we're based here in the yeah UK. We're based in England. and We're very interested in how the new boss, Thomas Tuchel, will get on with England at next year's World Cup, provided they qualify, which they will do.
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Matt from Nottingham is not happy that we did not ah share his outrage and fury at the lack of selection of Morgan Gibbs-White, who's a Nottingham Forest midfielder in Thomas Tuchel's squads for the Albania and Latvia game.
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
His qualifiers in March, they were. And it's a little bit of a saga, this,
Nottingham Forest and Listener Engagement
00:05:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
because Morgan Gibbs-White has had a brilliant season for Nottingham Forest, no doubt about it.
00:05:36
Ken Davies
He's got a point. got He's got a point.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
not And he was not included in Thomas Tuchel's initial squad for those two games. Then there was a real furore, and he was included. He was brought in ah late the day, only to be dropped again. And didn't play any part in those two games.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Nottingham Forest fans, and Matt in Nottingham particularly, was incensed that we didn't cover this. But all I can say to you, Matt, is it was only a short segment. And frankly, we covered the players who were there because they're more important than the players who weren't.
00:06:03
Ken Davies
Jordan Henderson got a place, though, didn't he?
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, and little yeah, I know.
00:06:06
Ken Davies
Morgan Gibbs-White didn't.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was a bit nuts.
00:06:08
Ken Davies
I mean, I must admit, a feel a little bit for him.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:11
Ken Davies
I think he makes a good point. I mean, we're just covering who's there, but there is a good argument that Tuchel maybe needs to look again at that. Didn't handle that pick very well.
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I'm sure he will. let let's let's instead of Instead of venting fury at us, Matt, why don't you just be a little more more patient, mate, and see what happens in June. The World Cup is a year and a bit away.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
By then, Morgan Gibbs-White might be the best player in the Premier League, or he might have a ah stinker next season and Forrest might be back amongst the relegation places where they've been the last couple of years. Anybody who follows the Premier League will know how what a brilliant season Nottingham Forest are having. And they will finish probably in Europe this year. It'll be a bit of a bit of a bit of a disaster if they don't.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
They've had a little bit of a fall off, but a lot of teams have just seem to be dropping form a little bit at this stage of the season.
00:06:50
Ken Davies
tight, though.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we'll see. We'll see.
Canada's Soccer History
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we'll probably feature Morgan Gibbs-White. There are others in the England team who or in the England squad who weren't in it who we feel should be. We're going to go come back to that in June for our qualifiers.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, Matt, we may well cover Morgan Gibbs-White. then So I hope you've calmed down now, mate, since you've got in touch. Right. Today, as we continue our look at teams who have qualified for the World Cup, either by playing qualifiers or just by hosting it, we are looking at Canada.
00:07:35
Ken Davies
Should we stand up at this point, Nick?
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can do whatever you like, Ken. You can stand up, you can sit down, you can do a little twirl. It's entirely up to you.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's theca well that's the Canada National Anthem.
00:07:45
Ken Davies
but bit but That's a bit of a laborious. It's not rousing the truth that at all, is it? It's a bit sentimental.
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the Canada National Anthem called, not perhaps incredibly imaginatively, O Canada.
00:07:55
Ken Davies
um Yeah. Yeah.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the second line of that isn't, oh Canada, why is this such a boring national anthem? it's it's a very it's ah It's a stirring national anthem, supposedly. What's unusual about this national anthem, by the way?
00:08:02
Ken Davies
yeah
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know what's unusual about the Canada national anthem?
00:08:12
Ken Davies
um ah Is it that it's a bilingual national anthem?
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Correct, exactly that. is because It's because it was written initially in French and then translated to English, but continues to be played in both languages.
00:08:21
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:08:27
Ken Davies
You know, in in the French version, it's, Oh, la la, Canada.
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
As in ooh-la-la.
00:08:36
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's the joke. Yeah.
00:08:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, was it? Oh, okay. Thanks, Ken. ah I warned you last week. i did I warned you last week about your rubbish gags, all right? That's two in two weeks.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sort yourself out.
00:08:45
Ken Davies
Sorry, mate.
00:08:46
Ken Davies
Sorry, mate.
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Right, so we're going to have a look quick look at the history of Canada. We're going to have a look at some of the players who are going to make the grade and who we expect to see next year and what's going on. We're to have a look at Jesse Marsh, the manager. Of course, we've got Ken's quiz coming up.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we'll both decide where Canada are going to finish in next year's World Cup. But Ken, the history of Canada, if you wish.
00:09:06
Ken Davies
Well, let's say in soccer terms, it's been mixed.
00:09:13
Ken Davies
That's it. No, no, it's not. So they've qualified for two World Cups. Okay. 1986 2002. two But they did win the Olympic gold for soccer, football, in 1904. Now,
00:09:32
Ken Davies
now That sounds an impressive feat. And it is to win an Olympic gold is an impressive feat. Now, I think we need just to kind of mention that only three teams participated in that competition.
00:09:49
Ken Davies
So, you know, it wasn't exactly the World Cup with 48 teams. Question for you, Nick, before we move on. Who were the other two teams in the three-team tournament for the 1904 Soccer Olympic gold medal?
00:10:07
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to say Greece has got to be one of them.
00:10:13
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Only only because that's where the Olympics kind of are from. So I kind of feel that Greece should be. umm very I don't know the answer to this.
00:10:23
Ken Davies
Who does?
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let me think.
00:10:23
Ken Davies
Let's honest. Who does? Who does?
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Who are the only three teams to compete in in the soccer 1904 Olympics?
00:10:31
Ken Davies
Yeah, you'll like the answer.
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Canada are one of them.
00:10:33
Ken Davies
Yeah. Greece is the second, according to Nick Britton.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. And let me think. Probably somebody in, I've no idea, Germany or somewhere like that.
00:10:46
Ken Davies
Jeremy. Okay. Well, no is the answer to that. It was held in St. Louis in in the United States, which is a clue.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, so the USA then.
00:10:56
Ken Davies
The other two teams, in a slightly Trumpian twist, I think, the other two teams in that competition were both from the United States. So there was like a United States A and the United States B and Canada.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they're both lost.
00:11:12
Ken Davies
And Canada 1. I might be able to know that one.
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
In Canada, what? Oh, Trump won't like that. Trump won't like that.
00:11:15
Ken Davies
yeah Imagine if he'd been around then.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:16
Ken Davies
They literally would have declared war.
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:11:19
Ken Davies
Right. So the World Cup pedigree, though, is focusing on the World Cup, is is not great. They've competed in these two World Cups. They've played six games, i.e. three in each one. They've won zero. They've drawn zero. They've lost six.
00:11:32
Ken Davies
So that's not great. But... It's not as bad as it seems because actually they have been CONCACAF Gold Cup champions both in 1985 and 2000. And their current form and their current trajectory, if you like, in FIFA rankings is very, very positive.
00:11:52
Ken Davies
So they're ranked 30th in the world-based tournament. rankings FIFA rankings in ah in la published last month. And so they're justifiably present in the 48-team tournament. they they They would be there, I think, based on ah qualification mathematics.
00:12:11
Ken Davies
And their recent form is really good because only as far back as 2017, which is only just pre-COVID, they were 120th in the rankings. They're now 30th. So you can see the steep rise they've been on.
00:12:26
Ken Davies
And the recent form is is decent. they they They lost to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final, but then they beat the USA in the third place playoff. So they finished third in that tournament, and that's a significant tournament.
00:12:45
Ken Davies
ah So there are no pushovers. And prior to the game that they lost in Mexico, ah they'd only lost one in the previous 10 games.
00:12:57
Ken Davies
and then And that loss was to Argentina, and that's no disgrace. So in that run of 10 games, they defeated Peru, who were 42nd in the world. They defeated the United States, who were 16th in the world.
00:13:10
Ken Davies
They defeated Panama, who were 33 in the world.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:13:13
Ken Davies
So they had a great 2024.
00:13:18
Ken Davies
They clinched a Copa America berth. They then changed their manager. We'll come on to the
Canadian Premier League and MLS
00:13:22
Ken Davies
manager. They had a 4-0 aggregate victory over Suriname in the Nations League. And they finished 2024 17 places higher than when they started 2024. So whilst this is not a team with a star-studded cast or a history of fantastic finishes in the World Cup, it's a team that is going in the right direction.
00:13:47
Ken Davies
Now, just a couple of quick things just to mention in to summarise. The Canadian Premier League wasn't even founded until 2017. So isn't a huge domestic professional team, but they have got three Canadian teams participating in the MLS.
00:14:07
Ken Davies
So that's Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps. So it's an interesting time to be a Canadian football supporter. They're moving in the right direction.
00:14:17
Ken Davies
No great history of success, but the future... Looks bright.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's really, yeah, that's really interesting. Vancouver Whitecaps actually was, but that's, that for for for certain people of a certain age, i.e. you, Ken, and possibly me, although bit younger. Vancouver Whitecaps is famous for for what? Where did Vancouver Whitecaps really burst onto the scene?
00:14:39
Ken Davies
Oh, word. Where did the Vancouver White go?
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Or more importantly, why did Vancouver Whitecaps really burst onto the scene in terms of the the kind of global public consciousness?
00:14:47
Ken Davies
Was it signing? Was it a signing?
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, it was. It was the signing of the world's greatest ever player, Pelé.
00:14:51
Ken Davies
what Of Pele.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pelé played for Vancouver Whitecaps.
00:14:53
Ken Davies
Pele. hold on
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was the first anybody had ever heard, really, the MLS outside of America.
00:14:55
Ken Davies
Yeah, yeah. for they
00:14:59
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's true. They're
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so good history. So it shows they're on the up, aren't they, Canada? They're doing all right here.
00:15:04
Ken Davies
on the march. They're on the march.
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're on the up. Yeah, they on the they're on the Jesse Marsh. ah
00:15:09
Ken Davies
hey
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the manager. Did you like that? ah so
00:15:11
Ken Davies
That's better than my jokes, to be honest.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Well, they're they're all better than your jokes. So that's good. So, well, they might they might challenge in some way. um i don't mean challenge for the actual World Cup, but they might give themselves a decent showing.
Key Canadian Players
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
umve kind come We're going to move on to the players then. I have singled out five players to watch and a couple of kind of sidelined issues, if we like, sidelined players who might be bursting onto the scene.
00:15:36
Ken Davies
Okay.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
These are all really good players. And this might actually kind of fall into your narrative, Ken, about Canada really progressing and being on ah on a almost a transformative journey from where they were historically to where they might be.
00:15:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the first one's Alphonso Davies. I feel like we should have a little drum roll here. ahll do I'll sort that out for for next week.
00:15:57
Ken Davies
I can do that for you if you want. Say it again.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, go on then. Player number one. Go on, Kenny.
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alphonso Davies. He's the captain. He's the right back. He's one of the best right backs out there. He's a really, really, really good player. Plays for Bayern Munich. There's lots of rumours about him. Well, there was a lot of rumours about him moving in the summer and there was a little bit of concern about how that might affect his form.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's just signed a new five-year dealer. Bayern, that's great news for Canada because when the World Cup comes around next year, he'll be nice and settled. And he's expected to just get better and better. He's really, really good. He's capable of playing defensively or indeed as he does for Canada, much more offensively and higher up pitch. So that's our first one to watch out for is Alphonso Davies.
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah The second player to watch out for... Oh, great. Where's my drumroll? Where's my drumroll? Thank you. Ishmael Kone, who's a highly rated attacking midfielder. Now, there's a bit of a question mark over what's going on with him at the moment because he can't really get into the Marseille side.
00:16:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's a bit of a worry. But he's still playing for the national team. he He started the last game, which, of course, was the Nations League third-place playoff against America, the which they won 2-1, as you alluded to, ah bit earlier on. So it just shows how much the manager, Jesse Mars...
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
rates him. But if we fast forward a year, if he's still not playing club football and he's still at Marseille, it's going to be very difficult to select him.
00:17:22
Ken Davies
Mwah.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
We talked, didn't we, and when we talked about the USA last week about the goalkeeper is not just not playing for Palace or for his parent club, Forest, and and how difficult it's going to be. and It does look, as we speak, that he might well move to Germany in the summer and that will probably benefit him because he needs to be playing regular football.
00:17:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that is our second player. Our third player, and you. And so this is where a lot of hope rests on Canada's chances of doing anything next year's World Cup. And that's Jonathan David, who's regarded as one of the best strikers in Europe. He's Canada's all-time top goal scorer with 32 goals in 61 games.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
games
00:17:59
Ken Davies
that's a good That's a good return.
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's only 25 as well. So as loads more to come from him. He's such a good player. Club-wise, he scored 87 in 175 for Lille, his club side. So he he turns it on at club level as well.
00:18:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's currently the Canada Soccer Player of the Year. He scored the winner in the USA game. So a lot rests on his shoulders going into next year and and the continuing build-up to the World Cup.
00:18:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has actually, in the last couple of days, been linked with a move to the newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool. So we'll see if anything comes of that.
00:18:30
Ken Davies
Wow.
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there listen, Liverpool are going to have rebuild their front line, aren't they?
00:18:35
Ken Davies
Yeah, big transition for Liverpool.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because it's just not great. I mean, look, it's good enough to win the Premier League, but there are players like Darwin New Year's who are like, yeah no, not at
00:18:41
Ken Davies
It's not been a great Premier League though, has it? It's not been a great Premier League.
00:18:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not this year. Player number four is... I've given up on the drum rolls now. No, it's too late.
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Too late. You weren't concentrating.
00:18:50
Ken Davies
Sorry, mate.
00:18:51
Ken Davies
I missed my cue. I missed my cue.
00:18:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
You were. You weren't concentrating.
00:18:53
Ken Davies
Oh.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Tejon Buchanan, who's a wide-right player, normally winger, but can also be deployed at full-back. Plays for La Liga... Sorry, plays for Villarreal in La Liga. And he's currently on loan from the Serie A outfit Inter.
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Four goals and six assists in 45 international games, 32 of which will start. Doesn't mean he's prolific in front of goal, but he's a real handful. He's a real handful. At 26, he's coming very much into his prime, so he's one to look out for.
00:19:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then finally, ah Stephen...
00:19:23
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:19:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, thank you very much, Drummle.
00:19:26
Ken Davies
ah
00:19:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stephen Ustacchio, who plays for FC Porto in the Primera Liga. He's played in Portugal all his life, so he's used to playing at a decent level. He's very much Canada's midfield maestro.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not the flashiest of players. He'll be the first. Well, he probably won't be the first to admit, so I'll say on his behalf. Not the flashiest of players, but he's one of them. He's critical to their midfield. He's one of those who controls the tempo at a game.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He breaks up the play. He gets some playing. He's very much the the engine room, if you like, of Canada's national team. He's one of those who, if he doesn't play, you really, really notice it. he's, I think, arguably the most reliable player.
00:20:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
You don't see him have a bad game. If Canada are going to do anything at the World Cup, he needs to be fit, firing and very much on his game. So there five players who I think that will really be worth looking it out for when Canada come next year. But there's a couple of words other mentions that I think are worthy because Canada's...
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
a record ah in tournament football of scoring goals isn't great. And they've suddenly found themselves in the last couple of months with essentially two new strikers, which ah international football is really unusual. You just don't get, it's not like club players, clubs where you just sign players and you can get them at any time from anywhere.
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
International players don't just roll up, but two have rolled up in the space of a couple of months.
00:20:43
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:20:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the first one is Promise David, who's a striker to be, Very much feared. He's 6'4". He's a Hulk, frankly. ah If you watch him play, he's a Hulk. He likes to bully players. And ah he might provide, you know, one of the answers to Canada's lack of of tournament goals.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's only just burst onto the scene, but he played... He's played in Croatia. He's played in Malta's second division, which isn't great. But he's he's now at the Belgian Pro League Club Union SG.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
16 goals in and four assists in 30 games. So he's had a good season there. He's only 23. So, you know, he's is there's he's one to look out for. The interesting thing, it was in January 2025, he's played for Nigeria in the youth set-up.
00:21:23
Ken Davies
Oh, very
00:21:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's come through the ranks in yeah Nigeria. But in January 2025, he's pledged his allegiance Canada, which is where he was born, by the way.
00:21:36
Ken Davies
ah very good. Yeah.
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the other one, again, another striker who's rolled out um and a little bit closer to home, actually, for you and I, Ken. And I recognize this name straight away because he yeah he played and went to school just up the road from us. And that's a guy called Daniel Jebberson, who's 21.
00:21:50
Ken Davies
yeah
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was born in Ontario in Canada, but moved to Little Over in Derby.
00:21:55
Ken Davies
Oh, wait, that literally is a mile away, isn't it?
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly that, yeah. In 2017, he went to the school where I coach my under-18s team.
00:22:05
Ken Davies
And did you pick him out as a future superstar?
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, because I'd never met him, but he went to that school.
00:22:09
Ken Davies
Ah.
00:22:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a few years ahead of the team that I coach because he's 21 now.
00:22:11
Ken Davies
Ah, right, right, right.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
He signed for Sheffield United, but he was also loaned out to Burton Albion. Of course, you know, we we we know about. sign for He's now at Bournemouth. He's playing for Bournemouth now.
00:22:21
Ken Davies
ye
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's one to watch. He was on the bench for the USA game. He's played for England on the 20s until 2023. And in February, a bit like promised David, um in February, he placed himself to Canada as well.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So great for Canada. They've got two strikers out of nowhere. Extraordinary.
00:22:38
Ken Davies
Well, that that's that's going to be very useful. One of the things I was thinking about in terms of, and we'll come to talk about this and in a second, is you know the strength and depth is a key thing.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:22:49
Ken Davies
and yeah They've got some decent players, no doubt about it, and their performances show that. It's just, if anything happens to those players, what's the backup situation like? And as you say, to get to get a ah couple a couple of ready-made strikers off the shelf is...
00:23:06
Ken Davies
It's pretty good news. So that's, yeah, very encouraging, I think, for the Canadians.
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it is. It is. So that's, listen, there's some players to look out for. Before we move on, Ken, I hope you've got a word from our sponsors.
Zencastr Platform Mention
00:23:19
Ken Davies
I do. This podcast obviously is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network that brings you kind of news reviews on your favorite Premier League team and women's football and the World Cup and all those other things. And here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:23:39
Ken Davies
Zencast app came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone, AI editing that automatically removes all them ums and ahs and my bad jokes, well, it's super easy to start our podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. So if you are ready to tell your story, and we all have a story, check out the link in the show notes, learn and more about Zencast stuff.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you very much. If only it did edit out your bad jokes. That would be the best bit of software I could possibly, possibly ever lay my hands on.
00:24:12
Ken Davies
Oh, hello, what's this?
Kenny's Quiz Segment
00:24:15
Ken Davies
but
00:24:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right-o, it is time. It's my favorite. Listen, it's everybody's favorite time of a week apart from Ken's. And that is because it's time for Kenny's Quiz.
00:24:28
Ken Davies
Oh, no, no, no, no. That dreadful music. I don't know where you'd pick this stuff up from.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's proper good 60s quiz music, that is, mate.
00:24:36
Ken Davies
I would hate to look at your Spotify list, Nick.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's proper good 60s quiz music. ah Now, you you get you automatically get grumpy at this part of the show because you've been doing abysmally in the quiz, and you like to think that you're...
00:24:47
Ken Davies
How dare you? I keep getting really right, like nine countries border Germany, and then you say, oh and the part B is name every one of their population or something like that.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Did you watch the ah Nottingham Forest versus Manchester City FA Cup semi-final the other day?
00:25:03
Ken Davies
No.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. Well, in the second half, Nottingham Forest hit the woodwork three times. ah
00:25:08
Ken Davies
Oh, is that the equivalent?
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Strangely, none of them were counted as goals and they lost. So it's all very well you saying, well, I nearly got them right. You either get them right or you don't. you know Hitting the woodwork doesn't count as a goal.
00:25:17
Ken Davies
All right.
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got two questions for you today.
00:25:20
Ken Davies
Two.
00:25:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah and I think they're quite easy. I think you might get on a mark here. okay
00:25:23
Ken Davies
Okay, I hope so.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you might get on mark.
00:25:25
Ken Davies
I need one.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So here we go. And play along at home. Number one question for what is, I've got to do this with a straight face. What is the national animal of Canada?
00:25:42
Ken Davies
Well, I think think two things. There are possibilities, aren't there, for National Animal kind of Canada. One is the beaver ah and one is the moose.
00:25:58
Ken Davies
It's got to be either a beaver or a moose, I would imagine. If I was to pick one...
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why, what sorry, why would the National Anthem of Canada either have to be a beaver or a moose?
00:26:11
Ken Davies
Well, it's just a lot of them. You know, if you've ever been to Canada, I've been to Canada, I saw, I hesitate to say it, but I saw my fair share of beaver. And i yeah i also saw my
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's got to get edited out. Can edit that out, please?
00:26:24
Ken Davies
ah i also saw I also saw my fair share of moose.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zencastr, can we edit that out, please?
00:26:30
Ken Davies
ah I didn't...
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
You do that on every Saturday night when you're out at Derby, to be fair.
00:26:34
Ken Davies
but ah
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:36
Ken Davies
I am going for beaver.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so question one, what is the national animal of Canada? The answer is the beaver.
00:26:49
Ken Davies
Yay!
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well
00:26:51
Ken Davies
It had to happen eventually. i couldn't languish like the rest the city at the bottom of the Quizley.
00:26:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
done.
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ken's finally got beaver eventually. So as you said, it had to happen eventually.
00:27:01
Ken Davies
ah knew my interest in be am i interested Beaver would pay off eventually.
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's finally happened.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I gave it away by saying I had to keep a straight face. Right. Second second question then. That was a bonus question. I think you're going to get this right, actually. ah Canada has only ever hosted the Summer Olympics once, and that was in Montreal.
00:27:19
Ken Davies
You are.
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
In what year was that?
00:27:22
Ken Davies
That was great.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Give you a bit of thinking time here, Ken. Have think at home. What do you say? Shout yourselves out. Hang ion He's coming up with an answer.
00:27:32
Ken Davies
I am going... it's in the 80s. It might even be the 70s. think...
00:27:42
Ken Davies
i think I think it will be 1988.
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Come on, Ken. The World Cup's coming soon. We've got a lot of work to get through.
00:27:52
Ken Davies
right, right, 1987. Right.
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
1988. What do you think at home? Yeah, they're all having a good laugh. They're all having a good laugh. You're miles out, mate.
00:28:00
Ken Davies
What was it?
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're miles out. No, actually, to fair, you're not that far out, but you're the wrong decade.
00:28:02
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're the wrong...
00:28:05
Ken Davies
right
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:07
Ken Davies
what was it
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
1987. It's the wrong decade, but only by one, so that's not too bad.
00:28:12
Ken Davies
yeah
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
The answer is 1976.
00:28:15
Ken Davies
Yeah, it was white it was always going to be one of them.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you would have known that. I thought if you were going to tell me which one of those two that you get right, I suppose in hindsight, Beaver was probably always going to be up your street. Yeah. Right.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Enough of that. Moving on. Good effort, good effort Ken. 50% right, one out of two. That's not bad. You're on the board anyway, so well done.
00:28:32
Ken Davies
Thanks, mate.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well done.
00:28:33
Ken Davies
Thanks, mate. I do notice, I should say at this point, you...
00:28:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah mo More comments.
00:28:38
Ken Davies
just Let's just remember Germany and Greece, can we? Just contemplate Germany Greece from earlier on in this episode. Let's move on.
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I can't remember what that was about, to be honest.
00:28:50
Ken Davies
That was about you having...
00:28:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've no idea.
00:28:52
Ken Davies
There's only three three teams in the 1904 Olympic gold that Canada won.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm not sure I remember that.
00:29:00
Ken Davies
Both were Canadian.
00:29:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll have to listen to that back. Right, let's move on. Let's move on.
Jesse Marsch's Coaching Style
00:29:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's move on to a quick look at the manager, Jesse Marsh.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, it's really quite difficult with anybody in England, as we are, to talk about Jesse Marsh without a kind of a bit of a grin on our face. Because he's a manager who has garnered loads of respect everywhere he's been, except here in England, where he's subject, quite frankly, to utter derision.
00:29:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And very much compared to the Apple TV character, Ted Lasso, after a pretty disastrous spell at Leeds United.
00:29:36
Ken Davies
Yeah. i think I think you're doing him a bit of a disservice.
00:29:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am. Oh, no, I don't doubt it. I don't doubt I'm only reporting you know i'm only reporting the facts here.
00:29:50
Ken Davies
Yeah, but yeah okay. He had a yeah a lower than 30% win rate for Leeds. But this was Leeds in the Premier League. And he kept them up. He kept them up on the last day in 2022.
00:30:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did.
00:30:03
Ken Davies
Who
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, the ultimate yeah his ultimate problem at Leeds United was that he isn't Marcelo Bielsa. That was the problem.
00:30:10
Ken Davies
who he followed. Who he followed.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:30:12
Ken Davies
um And that was a difficult, difficult task.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And is it's the same at Manchester United. Who can fill the shoes of Alex Ferguson? Nobody is the answer to that. It'll be the same at Manchester City when Pep stands down.
00:30:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You would say it was the same at Liverpool, but actually Arnest Lotz had a great first year. But yeah, it was one of those where Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United was such a god and everybody adored him. Whoever took over was going to have a really, really difficult job.
00:30:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
but he But he still made a bit of a pig's ear of it, let's face it.
00:30:39
Ken Davies
he didn't He didn't do great. And the writing was on the wall all the way through the 23-20, 22-23 season. and And he got sacked, didn't he, in there February 23rd?
00:30:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he he did. And that was the last we've seen of him here at the UK. Coaching career, he's been what can only be described as a Red Bull. And when I mean that, he coached at the New York Red Bulls, at RB, which is, of course, Red Bull Leipzig, ah Red Bull Salzburg, and latterly, as we said, at Leeds, who, of course, are now part-owned by Red Bull.
00:31:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although that came after his time, but it's still quite...
00:31:11
Ken Davies
Is there a link there, do you think? I mean, that sounds very weird, doesn't it? i mean, is he?
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he always seems well he always seems very high on energy.
00:31:20
Ken Davies
does, doesn't he?
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Put like that. Yeah.
00:31:22
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Don't know.
00:31:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
it
00:31:23
Ken Davies
It's an interesting thing to point out there, that he's in my life.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you very much. That's the first time you've ever said that. That's literally the first time you've ever said that.
00:31:30
Ken Davies
It is. ah But actually, when actually analyse it, and he's always at these Red Bull teams, has he got some connection to the Red Bull guy? Yeah.
00:31:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, he's now manager at RB Canada. So he's doing all right. He's known for... What are you looking at me like that for?
00:31:45
Ken Davies
No, he's not. Candidate aren't sponsored by Red Bull.
00:31:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, okay. All right.
00:31:51
Ken Davies
You're getting into trouble for that kind of stuff, Nick.
00:31:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Coaching style. It's late to look at me like that.
00:31:56
Ken Davies
You've to make that absolutely clear.
00:31:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:31:58
Ken Davies
Candidate not sponsored by Red Bull.
00:31:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. For legal reasons. Can I point out actually that Canada are not sponsored by Red Bull. It was a joke.
00:32:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. It was a joke because Canada are the only team that he's not been connected with. go Do I really have to go through all of this?
00:32:04
Ken Davies
Go on, move on.
00:32:11
Ken Davies
um
00:32:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Right.
00:32:12
Ken Davies
so
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:12
Ken Davies
move on
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'll tell what, I'll leave the gags to you because they might be rubbish, but at least they're not litigious.
00:32:14
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:32:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Right, okay. Coaching style then. Coaching style. He's known for an aggressive, high-press style. He likes to win the ball up high up the pitch and and playing from there. um This is interesting because that's quite a departure from the previous Canada season.
00:32:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah style under John Herdman, who was far more pragmatic and far more defensive. He liked to play on the counter-attack. ah Jesse Marsh is turning all that around. So, I mean, interestingly, we talked about how they've got on and how they're getting on.
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He hasn't been there that long, obviously. So it'll be interesting to know that given another year going into the World Cup, how, whether he's really got that message across and whether Canada are going to are really going to play like that. The danger of it, and this is always a danger of teams, I guess, like Canada going into a competition with the world's best teams, is that if you want to play that style of football, and if you want to play an all-action, high-press, win the ball up, high up the pitch, you essentially leave yourself very ah naked, quite frankly, and exposed at the back.
00:32:56
Ken Davies
Thank
00:33:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got to have the players to do it If you don't have the players to do it, it's is difficult. And that's where I fear when coming up against the better teams, Canada are going to become unstuck.
Canada's Tactical Setup
00:33:29
Ken Davies
Well, this is interesting, and it's an interesting segue into the formation. Because actually, I don't think they are going to come unstuck, because they have got an incredibly settled back four.
00:33:43
Ken Davies
I was looking at the the the team formations over the course of last few games. It's always kind of the same. Johnston from Celtic, Bombito from Nice,
00:33:54
Ken Davies
Cornelius, who you mentioned earlier from Olympique Marseille. ah David, Alphonse Davis from Bayern. It's the same every single game and has been recently. like And that is a really settled back four and they're doing a great job.
00:34:11
Ken Davies
So, you know, I think... you know, personally, I'd have a little bit of confidence in that. I mean, they play a 4-2-3-1, so they've got a couple of, uh, couple of players sitting back. Kona, you mentioned earlier, as as their defensive midfielders.
00:34:27
Ken Davies
Uh, Ahmed, David, Buchanan, uh, as the as a front three with with choices strikers. They've got Larine, they've got Oluwaseyi.
00:34:40
Ken Davies
ah ah it's a it's It's a well-balanced well-balanced team. Slightly on the defensive side, one might argue, but Great, settled, capable back four.
00:34:53
Ken Davies
And I think that's a... And a settled keeper. Sinclair plays every every time. So I think they've got a they've they've got a ah really good unit there. So it'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.
00:35:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It will be. It it willll be interesting it will it be interesting to see. And and successful managers who play you know high up the pitch, you've got to have... real fluidity in in how you play.
00:35:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't play a kind of rigid formation. You've got to have fluidity. So we'll see. Yeah, we'll see. It'll be interesting to see how see how it gets on. But so best of luck to him. Less, we hope, Ted Lasso.
00:35:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I should say, actually, I mean, it is unfair, but one of the reasons he was a bit lampooned because he didn't do very well at Leeds is because he's an American. And generally, English football fans are very snooty fans. about Americans.
00:35:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
so we have Bob Bradley manage over here as well.
00:35:39
Ken Davies
very particularly American managers talking about defense and offense.
00:35:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, they're just a little bit...
00:35:44
Ken Davies
I mean, it's like red rag to a bull over it.
00:35:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:47
Ken Davies
It's like red bull to a rag, whatever that means ah over here, isn't it?
00:35:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it is. So that's got so it it is a little bit unfair. I hope he does well. hope he does well. I said last week with USA, I'll say today with Canada, I'll say you next week with Mexico. World Cup's are always better when the host nations do well, and we hope Canada do well.
00:36:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, just before we finish, and Ken's going to tell you where Canada are going to finish to the precise
Partnership and Predictions
00:36:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
point, we've got a message from our friends at Bionique, I believe, Ken.
00:36:10
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:36:14
Ken Davies
ah have Global Sports Podcast Network partners with Bionique, Canadian business by the way we should say, world's most personalized supplements because your body, your body Nick, I'm looking at you now, is unique.
00:36:26
Ken Davies
Because without knowing what deficiencies you have and taking off the shelf supplements mean you're probably not getting enough of what you need, you're probably getting too much of what you don't need. Bionique provide 100% tailor-made supplements, imagine that.
00:36:40
Ken Davies
designed to deliver precisely what your body needs. No guessing, exactly the right levels to optimize your health. So check the link check the link in the show notes, use the code GSPN2025, get a 40% discount, and you can thank us later when you look like an Adonis.
00:36:58
Ken Davies
So ah yeah, predictions. I had a bit of a think about this. um I think they're heading for their best World Cup. Now, that's if me and you were in that XI, we'd be heading for our best World Cup.
00:37:11
Ken Davies
Because they're...
00:37:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
bar is not high, Ken. The bar is not high.
00:37:13
Ken Davies
Yeah, the bar is not high. Played played six, won none, drawn none, lost six. But I think they are heading for the best World Cup. So, do I think they're going to get through the group stages?
00:37:25
Ken Davies
Yes. Do I think they're going to get to group 32, the round of 32? Yes. Yes. I think, though, um no, I think that will be where it plateaus.
00:37:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
goodness. Where's he going with this?
00:37:39
Ken Davies
I see them at round 16 stages, simply because I think they'll score enough goals to get a couple of draws, maybe one win, and, you know, that's that that'll be enough to get them where they need to get to.
00:37:56
Ken Davies
I think that'll be good performance.
00:37:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, and so you're saying last 16. Interestingly, i i kind of went last 16 as well, but with a caveat. And my caveat is that they've got to top the group because if they top their group, The round of 32 will be another home game.
00:38:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they'll get to play in Toronto again.
00:38:09
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah,
00:38:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's really, really important for them. think home advantage is going to be massive to help Canada progress here.
00:38:15
Ken Davies
i think that's
00:38:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
If they don't top the group, think going to be very, very hard. So i' would say either round 32, but if they top the group, they'll get a home game in round 32. And with a favourable draw, we'll indeed get to the last 16, but it'll be a little bit of a push for them.
00:38:32
Ken Davies
So going to have to push you on this, Nick, because I want you to tell me what, right because we can might as well make this into a competition. What round are they getting to?
00:38:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. um I might have to do this.
00:38:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just whilst I have a think.
00:38:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Okay. i mean, it's difficult because we don't know who's going to be in the groups. ah So until we know that, it's going to be difficult to predict.
00:39:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think
00:39:01
Ken Davies
The best things aren't easy.
00:39:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Thank you, oh man of many words of wisdom.
00:39:08
Ken Davies
yeah
00:39:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
lot the pearls have you got for us. can barely wait. ah Right, okay, round of 32.
00:39:14
Ken Davies
Round of 32. And just to remind myself, usa USA, I reckon were round of eight. You reckon they're round of, I think it was 16.
00:39:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah so I think I said 16, didn't
00:39:24
Ken Davies
Yes, you did.
00:39:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:39:25
Ken Davies
So we're going to keep a little note of that because one day all these things are going to come back to haunt us. I want to make sure we've got an accurate record of them.
00:39:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good. Right.
Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser
00:39:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Well, that brings us to the end of this episode, taking a dive into Canada, one of the host nations. We've done the USA. We've done Canada. So next time we will be focusing on Mexico.
00:39:49
Ken Davies
Mexico, Mexico.
00:39:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm looking forward to that. you know I'm looking forward to that because I think Mexico are very good side.
00:39:50
Ken Davies
And that would be very interesting. After that, Iran. After that, Japan. So we've got some very interesting content coming up. I can't wait to take a deep dive into all of those three.
00:40:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And New Zealand, by the way. They've qualified as well.
00:40:04
Ken Davies
no you Yeah, definitely. But I think we might be doing a qualifiers one before we get out of the news.
00:40:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, yeah, because yeah in June, obviously, we've got the next round of qualifiers. So we're going to we'll get far as we can with the teams that have already qualified, and then we'll have a couple of weeks looking at just the qualifiers.
00:40:11
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:40:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So thank you very much. We hope you enjoyed that. We hope your knowledge of Canada has vastly improved, even if it's just ah Beavers. And what's the second quiz question? i can't remember what the second quiz question was.
00:40:29
Ken Davies
ah It was... ah so Yeah, when did they do the Olympics?
00:40:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, Montreal, yes. So if you go home, yeah go and tell go and tell anybody who'll listen that the national and animal of Canada is the beaver. And Canada only hosted the Montreal Olympics in 1976, the only time they've hosted the summer Olympics.
00:40:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
What great knowledge, Ken. What great knowledge.
00:40:45
Ken Davies
Every day's a school day with you, Nick.
00:40:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Every day is a school day. Thank you very much indeed for listening. We'll see you next time. Look after yourselves. Look after each other. Goodbye.
00:40:55
Ken Davies
Bye-bye.