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Episode 322: International Break news!
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Southampton – It's the international break, and there is news and football still to talk about!
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Transcript
Introduction & Host Intros
00:00:13
Zak
Hello and welcome to a late night recording of the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. Today I am joined by my illustrious co-host, Greg Elliott. How are you, mate?
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm alright mate. A bit tired.
00:00:29
Zak
Good.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been a busy weekend.
00:00:29
Zak
I feel that.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just no real football to distract me. There's no F1 to distract me.
00:00:35
Zak
I
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
My American football team don't kick off until a time where I'm definitely going to be in bed. So, just been a drag, isn't it?
00:00:43
Zak
So does it mean that like me, everything else in your weekend has now been filled up because of the fact there's no football, which has ended up meaning I have a significantly busier schedule than I'd ever like.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very much so, yeah. And then Yeah, and then throw a car into the mix and that makes life completely full. You know, what more can you ask for?
00:00:55
Zak
It's like the same thing, right?
00:01:03
Zak
There you go.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Episode Focus & Saints News
00:01:03
Zak
So I am your host, Zach and Giffinch. You're probably aware of that if you've been listening to this podcast for a long time. And the reason I'm hosting today is that I wanted to talk a little bit about the thing that Greg hates, which is international football.
Southampton Manager Odds Discussion
00:01:32
Zak
And that's what we did to the last two manager races. But the problem with this one is that like the names are really like, okay, so Brendan Rogers, because he's out of work.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:01:41
Zak
Russell Martin, because he's out of work. For some reason, Gary O'Neill still, despite the fact that we made sure. And then I was trying to find the odds and it's really weird because it was only like sort three or four days ago, but I didn't really think much of it.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:01:53
Zak
So I kind of said, well, were we're not going to do that. We'll do something else today. And then later on, like you text me because I didn't tell you that they were like three day old odds. But then you were like, yeah, I've just checked. I don't think you can put a bet on that at the moment.
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i was just i I was just idly perusing various betting apps, as I tend to do in my free time, it's it's fair to say.
00:02:07
Zak
And yeah.
00:02:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I thought it was odd. i was like, oh, well, that's weird. It's not on any of the normal sites. So go on, let's go on OddsChecker. And it's like, OddsChecker, next Southampton manager, click the link. It's like, yep, next Newport manager.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm like, first of all, who's betting on that?
00:02:28
Zak
Yeah, that was the same thing.
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who's betting that?
00:02:29
Zak
It's weird, right? Because I'm like, well, where is it? Because you why would you have that link? And then you go into it and it's just telling me that the next potential Swansea manager is Russell Martin. I'm like, great it's great.
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:38
Zak
That's not what I asked for, though, is it?
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
sir So it implies that either the bookies are sick of taking bets on it because they don't think there's any end in sight, which seems unlikely because that's like, you know, such a...
00:02:49
Zak
if
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
with a peculiar a market like that.
00:02:51
Zak
Mate, can you not still... you could still put money on like the next bond, right? Hasn't that been a thing since even when Daniel Craig was still bond?
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:59
Zak
Like, so I, I find it hard to believe that, that a betting company would check notes, not take bets.
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:06
Zak
Cause like,
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's funny because I was looking at the odds of that because I started off, Zach, looking at the James Bond next actor odds jo to draw comparisons in price for funny letdowns. That is how it started.
00:03:21
Zak
Oh, sometimes we're almost too in sync, mate, and I don't know what that says about us, but hey-ho.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, but they think I think that the one that jumped out at me was like 33 to 1 for Jonathan Bailey. So... For all you Wicked fans out there, maybe.
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:39
Zak
It's like a niche reference probably about five people are going to get, but I appreciate it either way, mate. so So, yeah, that was a bit of a weird bit of news, and we don't know what everyone else thinks of that.
00:03:48
Zak
So I thought we might just be worth mentioning, because obviously there was that little bit of like reveal last week where TalkSport were like, Tonda Rackard's been signed up. Wait, no, he's not. No, he's not. Don't click this link. This link doesn't work. never though We never did this, and we've already talked about that.
00:04:02
Zak
So, yeah, just keep just keep an eye. I guess I...
00:04:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just one of those things, isn't it? Because obviously, like, insider information in gambling would be really bad and really frowned upon, and yet, the bookies always know first.
James Ward-Prowse Transfer Rumors
00:04:15
Zak
There you go So that was that was the one of the Saints things we want to talk about. The other was that I don't know if it's if there's any rumour. The rumour mill's real spinning about James Ward-Prowse, right?
00:04:25
Zak
And I don't know if that's just because apparently, like I think it came out in the media that they're looking to move him on. It shouldn't be any surprise. Nuno's not exactly a fan. He worked for Mother Forest. And obviously him now being at West Ham doesn't seem to be going great for Mr Ward-Prowse.
00:04:40
Zak
And there's talk of him potentially moving to Everton. And I don't know ifs that...
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I did see that.
00:04:44
Zak
I could, but also, aren't they going to be pretty packed out in that central mid like central track and midfield area at this point? Just a bunch of ex-Southampton players and also, for some reason, Jack Relish.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:55
Zak
Fine, whatever. like i don't I don't see why they would do that when they spent that much money on Dippling and didn't really... That's not really one of the only the only position he plays, but...
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Diblin's more of a more of an attacking... a wide player, I guess, or a number 10, whereas Prowse is more of a, like i I guess you'd call it a six in modern footballing tactics, or a CDM, or he's more of like a ball player than a forward attacking player.
00:05:09
Zak
Yeah, he's more...
00:05:22
Zak
For sure. just
00:05:27
Zak
i just don't know. i guess I guess my real thing is that I don't know enough about Everton to know if that's a position they need to fill. But obviously the other rumour alongside that is the fact that he's potentially coming back to us. And i would I would...
00:05:38
Zak
It seems to be we're real on the nostalgia bait, right? Like Romelu is a player that we'd all have brought back without a heartbeat because of the fact that we needed him when he left, let alone now where we've got the Shea Charles injury.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:49
Zak
But do we need Gordon-Ros?
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a hard one, right? It's it's a really difficult one because it's it's tricky, right?
00:05:53
Zak
Heart says yeah, right? Because it's heart. That's the problem. Hmm.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because, let's face it, we'd take him back in a heartbeat because he was such a wonderful servant and ambassador the club. And, you know, it's always going to be, as soon as he falls out of favour anywhere, it was always going to be rumours that we were going to bring him back because...
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know in recent years, no player more deserves a bring him home special happy ending the than him, right? like he
00:06:26
Zak
All right.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
He carried a struggling team through a lot as captain and nobody had hard feelings, I think, when he left. Does he actually want to come back to us in the position we're in at the moment?
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know.
00:06:42
Zak
this This is always the thing, right? it seems It seems that we always seem to think that he would want to come back immediately, despite the fact that he never stayed. And I don't really begrudge him for going. feel like it was pretty much some sometimes some of his goals were the things that single-handedly won us games, and and those are really important.
00:07:01
Zak
But he left and then didn't come back when we were in the Premier League and struggling. He could have come back on loan to us rather than Forrest, and that didn't really work out for him.
00:07:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:08
Zak
And And it's like, the say I know there's a bit more than to our relationship with Prowseys and say like a Danny Ings, but like it is exactly the same thing to me where we are constantly linked and then it never but never materializes.
00:07:20
Zak
And by the sounds of it, we even went in for Danny Ings, right?
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:23
Zak
So I don't know if we would go back in for Prowseys or not.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but... But on the other hand, right, like, he's 31 now, which is, you know it's not old, but for a footballer, it's...
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
getting there. i mean, he was always the most athletic professional player. I've no doubt that he is one of these players that will be comfortably able to play until like 40, 42.
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not the issue, but he in himself and in his career might be getting to a point where, you know, he left because he wanted to push on and get to the England team. He might now be at a point where he's like, well, got to West Ham and fallen out of favor with the manager. but you know Maybe the next logical step is to come home and and do it. I don't know either way. i don't know. It's a tricky one.
00:08:13
Zak
but he He was brought in by Moyes, right?
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not in the camp where I'm going to shout and holler and rave about it or expect it to happen.
00:08:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I wouldn't be upset if it did happen. And I wouldn't be upset if it didn't either. It's kind of where I'm at.
00:08:32
Zak
No, yeah, like I guess... That's probably where I land on it as well. But if I remember rightly, he was brought into West Ham under David Moyes, who is now Everton manager. So I don't know if that link is just because his old previous manager that brought him in is at a different club, or there's something more to it than that, because he knows what he can bring specifically.
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:51
Zak
But like, yeah, I don't think... I just wonder if he would want to drop back down to the Championship. You know? like i But they I could have said the same about Romero. Like, Romero one point was playing for Barcelona, and has come back to us.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But then... But then, you know, we've said that what we're lacking is less on the pitch quality and more professionalism, leadership experience.
00:09:02
Zak
So...
00:09:10
Zak
experienced.
00:09:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he has that in it droves. So I don't know.
00:09:15
Zak
and
00:09:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know if he's the answer to any of our problems. I don't know if he would want to come back. I wouldn't. Like I say, I'm not going to sit here and. and vouch for it as the answer to all the problems, I wouldn't be upset either way, to be honest.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It would be great to see him back in a Saints shirt, but more power to him if he doesn't and goes and tries it at Everton as well or or wherever.
00:09:42
Zak
I guess we'll have to wait and see. But yeah, we just thought we'd mention it because it seems to have gained traction in the last few days specifically.
Republic of Ireland WCQ Performance
00:09:50
Zak
But now the thing that you've all come for, which is obviously us talking about some of the stuff that's happened during the international break. Isn't that right, Greg?
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, sure. sure
00:09:59
Zak
After a word from our partners at Bionique.
00:10:42
Zak
And we are back. So, Greg, I wanted to start off talking a little bit about the Republic of Ireland, because that's probably, at this point, the team that has the most of our internationals in it.
00:10:53
Zak
Because between Ryan Manning, Fina Zaz, and Graven Pizzunu, not that Pizzunu gets a chance to play, but that's kind of understandable considering Kelly's...
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
By far.
00:11:04
Zak
you know, form and who he is in comparison to Pizzuto, the goalkeeper. So Republic of Ireland won on Thursday last week, Greg.
00:11:14
Zak
They beat to Portugal 2-0 in quite a fiery game. with a double from Troy Parrott. And in the build-up to the game, the manager of Ireland had spoken about how but they shouldn't let Ronaldo get in their head, right? And this was all to do with Ronaldo winning a penalty, I think, against them last time. He missed it, but it was more to do with the fact that, like, yeah, the refs should stop just giving him whatever he wants every time.
00:11:40
Zak
And obviously, he seemed to have taken that to heart.
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:42
Zak
So after after the Republic of Ireland went 2-0 up in the first half, Second half rolls around, 61 minutes in. Cristiano Ronaldo gives a little sort elbow, lashes out a little bit.
00:11:54
Zak
He's given a yellow, goes to VAR, comes back, gives him a straight red for, i want to say, I think it's like the first time in his Portugal career he's ever had a red card. So yeah, he's sent off and then he goes out and walks off after applauding and trying to basically play the panto villains of the crowd.
00:12:10
Zak
And then I think has a little word with island manager being like, oh yeah, maybe they were listening to you instead of me and this or the other. it's just kind of like, mate, you try just not elbowing somebody.
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:23
Zak
But I feel like that's why. Like, VAR looked at it when he's elbowed that guy pretty bad. Yellow's probably the wrong decision. But either way, that was obviously the focus of the drama as opposed to Ireland beating Portugal 2-0, which is significantly, know, a really good victory for them.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:37
Zak
And in that game... We didn't see Ryan Manning feature, but we did see Finna Saz, who picked up a yellow card in the 38th minute and then eventually came off and was substituted in the 79th.
00:12:50
Zak
But that was that was good. And then I wanted to to briefly mention that Portugal's response to this, after having Cristiano Ronaldo banned from the game, potentially if they get through, I think he might even miss some World Cup games, which is
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I believe actually because of that suspension, because it's for a straight red, it's a three match ban. but means That means it was his last ever World Cup qualifier.
00:13:13
Zak
Man, so there you go. And obviously, obviously like he's he's annoyed about it. like Again, it's his actions that brought him that red card. No one else is just throwing out there. But what it what it showed you is a squad that everybody thought would panic without Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten Armenia 9-1.
00:13:31
Zak
Now, I mean, you've done right. And what could have been a Saints talisman in Spurzian once again scored for Armenia. And I'd just like to point that out on a occasion. Because he always seems to do, again, it's the only reason I now know Armenia is an international footballing team is is basically because of that Armenian guy on Twitter who banged on a about Svetlana so much.
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:52
Zak
but like But, you know, I'm just saying that maybe maybe they don't need Ronaldo if they can beat a team 9-1.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:59
Zak
But also, my favourite thing is when I sent this to Greg, Greg's response was, more reason to not have international football. What's the point?
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:07
Zak
Which is fair.
00:14:12
Zak
But obviously, the other the other big news isn't about Portugal. It's about the the team that we have the most players in, which is the Republic of Ireland, who have now successfully managed to make the World Cup playoffs.
00:14:24
Zak
And this is after beating Hungary 3-2 with a Troy Parrott hat-trick. So after scoring two are the bouns a then of and then a hat-trick in this game, there has literally been talk and buzz on the social media. Like somebody, like a Liverpool fan page that, by the sounds of it, from what other Liverpool past fans have said in like the comments, isn't a very one that has a lot of popular takes.
00:14:47
Zak
I can let you fill in the blanks as to how what they said. But... But he he's like, yeah, sign him up.
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:14:52
Zak
And a lot of people responding with, you have Isak and Iketike and you, after one international break, want to get Troy Parrott. Other people being like, well, yeah, he's absolutely killing it in the Netherlands.
00:15:02
Zak
And you're like, that's not the same as being a striker from Liverpool.
00:15:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:15:05
Zak
Sorry. Either way, it's been highly amusing. But the important thing for us is obviously, Fina Zaz got an assist. in the 80th minute, which is really, really good.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Happy days.
00:15:14
Zak
Ryan Manning also got some minutes. He came on this 46th minute. You can see them all in the celebrations, which is really, really good news. But the reason this is so important, the reason i wanted to raise it, Greg, was obviously we have won two on the bounce.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
awesome.
00:15:28
Zak
They've gone away with their internationals. They've won two on the bounce. as far as Azaz and Manning, yeah, as far as Azaz and Manning and Buzunu are going, they've won four games in a row, which is important.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Confidence is coming back.
00:15:41
Zak
Like, hopefully it means that they can come back and carry that with them because that means that Azaz is now, you know, assisted, scored, assisted again.
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is important.
00:15:51
Zak
and Manning is now, you know, after being sort of out in the cold a little bit, is now sort of coming back into the fold a little bit. And Buzunu was also there, which is always good.
00:16:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Always good. Zach, I've got a question for you, and I don't know if you're going to know the answer. I'm going to put you on the spot.
00:16:07
Zak
Sure. Good.
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
As someone who doesn't particularly follow international football at this stage, what earth is a World Cup playoff? Is
00:16:18
Zak
Well, I think it's the it's the way that the the groups work now. So essentially, you've got pretty pretty much, right?
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
that not just another qualifier? but
00:16:24
Zak
So obviously, automatically qualifies are the people at the top of the group. The people at the bottom, but three and four, those people, I think, don't get a chance at all. And then whoever was in second position then go into essentially a playoff right to then go up.
00:16:38
Zak
And this is all to do with the way that they've changed the World Cup to having like a billion and one teams at this point. So it's significantly easier, right? You don't need to top the group to necessarily qualify.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's, I've just, oh as well as asking you, because I didn't know if you know the answer, I just Googled it. But so yeah, 16 teams now go into a draw for four sets of four.
00:16:59
Zak
Yeah, so so do you know some of those teams now?
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
so So, it's like semi-finals and the finals a right.
00:17:04
Zak
Yeah. Yeah, no, you've got Czech Republic, Albania, North Macedonia, Italy, Bosnia, Herce, Grover, Poland, Republic of Ireland now, Turkey, Ukraine, Scotland, Kosovo, slova and Slovakia, right? And I don't i think there might be potentially other international games that might shift that around, but that's that's where the scores and the doors are currently.
00:17:26
Zak
but But yeah, it's almost as if massively increasing increasing the size of the World Cup kind of makes it pointless really have it even qualifiers at this point, right? But not take it away from the Republic of Ireland.
00:17:37
Zak
Like they might make it to World and that'd be really cool.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, look, the fair play to them. They are two wins away from a World Cup. They qualified to go and qualify for the World Cup, and that is sure a thing that can happen in football these days.
International Matches: Player Performances
00:17:49
Zak
But obviously, that that's the kind of main headlines. is Essentially, our B team at this point internationally is now the Republic of Ireland, whether we like it or not. No longer do we get Chey McAdams and the England Under-21s are no longer dominated by young Southampton players.
00:18:03
Zak
In fact, Jay Robinson pulled out the under-19s due to injury. And the under-21 Englands did have Dibbling and Amo but he's no longer here.
00:18:14
Zak
Neither of them are here. So it doesn' it's kind of, I am once again feeding into that nostalgia bait by letting you know about former Southampton players.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:23
Zak
And I'll let you know about one current Southampton player, Greg, one former Southampton player, and then another current Southampton player after this short break from Zencastle.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner, with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs It's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster.
00:19:00
Zak
And we are back for the final part of today's episode. So Greg, I promised you that you would hear about more current players than ex-players at this point. So current player, technically, he is on loan and he is on loan to Derby County.
00:19:15
Zak
And we have not exactly been big fans of Mr. Ben Ruriton-Diaz, but he did score a bit of a wonie for Derby. Derby are currently doing better than us. So he's in a better team than us, kind of, at the moment. wouldn't...
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
hmm
00:19:33
Zak
I said that specifically because I wanted to see what your visual reaction will be. if none of you are watching this on YouTube, the it was it was i abject horror is the only way to describe it.
00:19:44
Zak
Probably with a little bit of sneering imperialism where Greg was just sort of disgusted in the fact that I would even suggest that Derby County are a better football team than us.
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:19:53
Zak
So, no, I don't believe that. By the way, Berberto Diaz managed to score a goal for his Chile team against the Football Union of Russia in an international friendly, which is baffling because we didn't know he was capable of doing that.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whew.
00:20:08
Zak
But he's now done that for both club and country before he ever even managed, I think, an assist for us. So fair play to the guy. If it gives him some confidence and he goes on to be a better footballer and maybe one day comes back to us, but probably not.
00:20:22
Zak
you know So again, Greg, that's that's a non that's a current kind of footballer, right?
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, I think that we, or I think I said plenty that there's clearly a footballer inside Ben Broughton Dias somewhere.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
We would not anywhere close to getting that from him when he was with us.
00:20:42
Zak
Yeah, it's just never managed to play for Southampton.
00:20:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that doesn't mean
00:20:45
Zak
So if it manages to play on elsewhere, good good for him.
00:20:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but yeah, good good for him.
00:20:53
Zak
So so that was that was Chile. And obviously, you'll notice that we haven't really spoken about the en England game, mainly because we don't have any players that play for England anymore. But one of the things I did want to point out, which which really does suck, is obviously they played Albania.
00:21:07
Zak
Armando Brugia was stretched off, again, having what seems to be another quite serious injury, which I want to say is what, like the second or third of his career now. So obviously signed permanently to Burnley.
00:21:19
Zak
after having, you know, I can't remember where, I think he was at Everton when he he picked up that last quite serious injury that kind of threw him off and then had a bit of a rough time at Fulham. But obviously, it probably by looks of it, looks to be a similar injury to what he's had previously.
00:21:32
Zak
But he was covering his face and everything and, yeah, had to be stretched off. It just really sucks.
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not good. It's not what you want hear. It sucks that a player with such... you know He came when he was with us, had such high promise and such potential. Yeah.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
to have such a career hampered by injuries. It's, uh, it's good.
00:21:51
Zak
Yeah, it's's it's awful. And it's one of the things that unfortunately we would consistently see and it will be just part of the sport forever. It's not just this sport either. But like, he was he was a a genuine fan favourite when he was here up until I think that he realised that he could probably move elsewhere.
00:22:06
Zak
And then not that never quite worked out.
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:22:07
Zak
But yeah, Yeah, so you know, get well soon and fair play to England for, you know, managing this 100% record at this point. So it's definitely not a thing we expected, i think, initially with...
00:22:18
Zak
Well, if but if you go by the way the media treats Tuchel and the way that a vast majority of fans do and the way that Tuchel treats Tuchel, you would think we're terrible, but we've actually done we've actually done all right in all of the, you know, the the proper games.
00:22:32
Zak
Not that I've managed to watch this, but...
00:22:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I don't remember the last time we lost a World Cup qualifier. It's just further adds to the point of what is the point.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:22:43
Zak
All I can think of of of the games that were the worst that we ever lost was that game against Iceland. Because after that, for a long time, my wife would always ask me how Iceland are doing.
00:22:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:53
Zak
Because that basically put them on the map for her. In the sense of, like, oh, that's little that's nice of them. They've got, like, part-time jobs as electricians to beat Wayne Rooney. And I'm like... Yeah! You're right!
00:23:04
Zak
And then another current Saints player, Greg, to to finish out the episode in a another game that I would think you would describe as unimportant, but also important for the fitness and, like again, winning mentality of our players, is that Germany under-21s beat Malta under-21 6-0 in a game that Joshua Kwasi played all of.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:26
Zak
And, you know, that's good because he was, I think he missed out the last one.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
to
00:23:29
Zak
Injury has won been more influential in our squad up until I think he picked up that injury and hasn't been able to work his way back in. I don't think he's going to displace any of the current back three overnight, but it's nice to know that, you know, again, he's gone away on an international break to be surrounded by winning, which is always what you want.
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Clean sheet as well.
00:23:48
Zak
Yep, there you go Even if it is against Malta. So...
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:53
Zak
is what it is. But yeah, that wraps up, the I think, the international games that matter. From a selfish perspective, I'll probably mention that Sugawara played for Japan in their friendly.
00:24:04
Zak
So I guess that move out of our club really worked for him. But I'm relatively sure Japan also have some players that have been playing in the championship in their squad. So who knows what that's about? Yeah.
00:24:15
Zak
And no sign of Matsuki if he's ever, ever going to play for us again.
Player Injuries & Speculations
00:24:18
Zak
But again, that's just a little and it was selfish thing towards the end that i wanted to put in there. But yeah, that's that's how we've done internationally so far. There'll probably be potentially some more news.
00:24:27
Zak
Obviously, we don't get to talk about Northern Ireland because Shea Charles is out. So yeah, don't know if there's going to be anything else international-wise, Greg. But we've got a little bit of Saints news just to cushion the international news. And then I tried to make the international news for you, Greg, be as Saints-centric as possible.
00:24:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I appreciated that because, man, it does not capture my interest otherwise.
00:24:52
Zak
it It really, like, until you get to tournament football, you are just a man that does not care. It's different because when it's tournament, you all of a sudden overnight, we're talking about it nonstop and you're going like, this is how they should set up.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:03
Zak
But right up until that point, like, it does feel like the international break is painful for you.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Give me Kazakhstan versus Greece at 10 o'clock in the morning every day of the week when it means something in a tournament. Like...
00:25:12
Zak
Yeah, it's it's it's great because I still remember us talking about like, what you know, like all of a sudden the Olympics or like the or or the World Cup or the Euros would end and you're like, what do we do our lives now?
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:22
Zak
What am I meant to watch?
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:23
Zak
Why can't I i want to watch Kazakhstan? You know, i want to watch Kazakhstan versus Ukraine at three in the morning. And then I want to switch over to another TV show when the Olympics are on and then also watch someone do like international breakdancing at 4am.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:25:36
Zak
Like that is the level of chaos I want in my life.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah but then its But then it's different, right? Because part of what gets me so hyped and excited about that is not just the the football that's taking place. It's the collective group of fans getting behind their teams, right?
00:25:50
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like the heroes that we like to talk about from Euros and World Cups gone past are like the Moroccos with their like insane fan base that came out of nowhere.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they have these insane atmospheres and you know have all of these fans present. And you know like Japan going and cleaning up behind themselves. like It's the if the atmospheres around it.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas you don't get that when you pause the football season Chex Notes, flies people to random countries around flies Armenia to England.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
like or but You know, whatever.
00:26:31
Zak
yeah you You're right. there are that There are situations that, like, you know, and not only just, like, the cult fan base is right. it's It's things like, I still remember Robson Carnu, who you all know as being adjacent to the Baggies, just because of that time that he, like, played for Wales, scored a couple of goals, and then got signed by West Brom off the back of it when he was a free agent.
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:53
Zak
He was a free agent, but managed to score, like, some pretty decent goals during the Euros, and then off the back of that got signed up to, like, a championship club.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he scored against us for the baggies once.
00:27:06
Zak
Yeah, that checks out.
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And didn't...
00:27:07
Zak
either way, that checks out because when he played for the Baggies, mate, over his entire career, he only scored six goals and one of them would definitely be against us because, again, we love to give a player that's not scored a goal in forever a goal.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:22
Zak
But, like, I still genuinely remember
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here we go. 2017, Hal Robson-Carnu's spectacular first goal for West Brom gave them victory at Southampton as they won 2-1 at St Mary's.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Shane Long ended a run of 23 games without a goal to put Claude Puel's side in front shortly up before the break.
00:27:39
Zak
so Oh, man, you can't write it. it's Reality is sometimes with our club is better than fiction.
00:27:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I vividly remember that game and it is because I had lost a bet to my late father-in-law and that is the only game of football i have sat and watched at St Mary's from the away end.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there you go.
00:27:59
Zak
God. Put yourself in trouble there, mate.
Conclusion & Social Media Shoutout
00:28:03
Zak
But anywho, anywho, that is about all we've got time for today.
00:28:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:28:09
Zak
so yeah, a little bit of chaos, a little bit of Saints news. But I've had to pad out all of the international news so I can keep Greg's attention. And like luckily, there is no NFL on because 100% if not, he'd have been sat watching the Eagles ignoring most of what I'm saying.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:22
Zak
Do you know what?
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:28:23
Zak
Would have really blamed him. yeah But we really hope... We really hope that you enjoyed yourself. We hope you enjoyed the late night chaotic energy that only usually comes to you on a Tuesday night.
00:28:35
Zak
And we'll be back tomorrow with, I'm sure, something football related.
00:28:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Something slightly more structured, I'm sure.
00:28:39
Zak
Hopefully, hopefully something more structured. Hopefully, it's because I've put the structure together and I'm not good at that. Hopefully something a bit more Saints related as well. Good luck naming the episode, Greg.
00:28:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:51
Zak
Thank you all for joining us. We're on the socials on Facebook, Twitter slash X, the everything app. YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Blue Sky, anything that's potentially a social media, we're probably on it.
00:29:05
Zak
If you want to watch us use a lot of hand motions whenever I say things like that, because I talk with my hands. We're also on YouTube. Check us out. Have a wonderful evening. Have a wonderful day. Have a wonderful morning.
00:29:17
Zak
And we will see you in the next one.