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WCAD 4-13: To The Stables, It's Prediction Time
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The guys close their World Cup previews with the traditional predictions show! It starts with a trip to the Dark Horse Stables as Austin and Amit make their picks to surprise. Then they draft fantasy five-a-side teams as a way to preview individual successes. The show closes with a big bracket reveal as Austin and Amit give their tips to lift the trophy.
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Transcript
World Cup Overview and Excitement Build-up
00:00:01
Speaker
12 World Cup group previews in the books, a big picture World Cup preview. It's all there on the World Cup After Dark page. You can find every show that we've done.
00:00:12
Speaker
This is the last one before the World Cup kicks off. Mexico, South Africa, and Mexico City, a thoroughly intriguing South Korea-Czech Republic game to close it out the first day of the World Cup.
00:00:26
Speaker
I bet you can feel it all building and it's time for us to have some fun and put some
Predictive Challenges and Past Successes
00:00:30
Speaker
predictions. It's time to put our money where their mouth is. We've done 12 very in-depth group preview podcasts. We'll back those against anyone. And now we're in the dangerous zone of having just done 12 preview podcasts where we've talked ourselves into every team. and the hardest part is trying to put your money where your mouth is. And who do you buy? Who do you not buy Listen, I think if you've listened to those 12, you know the teams we like, we don't like. And if you're just joining us for this one, hey it's a good one to to get some great advice from your from your World Cup after darkers.
00:01:02
Speaker
But it's a very, very tricky exercise. And I'm sure both of us have talked us into everyone, talked ourselves out of everyone. And just a spoiler alert, till the end of the podcast, you're going to have to listen. Austin and I have the same two teams in the final. So hive mind things alike. That's how it goes.
00:01:19
Speaker
Make sure you see where we end up. But it's a delight to be here. i really enjoyed the preparation, the process. And now is some of the fun to be very, very wrong as we are every time. You and I are are swimming in in just way too much information here. And it's just not going to end well because it never ends well. But I will say four years ago, you and well, I guess three and a half years ago, because it was ah ah a summer World Cup here, a winter World Cup for you.
00:01:44
Speaker
Four years ago, you and I sat down and on this exact show, we pegged the World Cup champion. You and I both said, Argentina, we're going to win 2022. So maybe we know a little bit. you You would hope we do And we were we I guess we were spot on there. We had kind of went through a lot and thought about that. So might be another lucky winner handed out on today's show.
Dark Horses Debate: Who Qualifies?
00:02:06
Speaker
Do not listen back to the rest of my semifinals for that show. But. I got the Argentina part right. So on today's show, look, we've teased it on all of the preview podcasts. Again, this is a show for for us to kind of loosen the reins a little bit. See my horse reference there that I did. And we're going to have some fun because, again, there are 12 World Cup preview podcasts. We'd highly encourage that you go and listen to that.
00:02:27
Speaker
Don't let this show be ah what you get from the World Cup After Dark pre-World Cup. Get all those 12 ingested and then, you know, listen to this one and and have some fun. But on today's show, we're going to pick some dark horses.
00:02:39
Speaker
We're gonna pick some disasters. We've got a five-a-side World Cup fantasy draft that Amit has already been game theory-ing. So tune it in for that. And then at the end of the show, we're going to give a partial at least review reveal of our brackets, and we're goingnna talk about who we have as World Cup champions.
00:02:56
Speaker
ah So Amit, look, the people are here for the Dark Horses. They know your record on this subject. It's not particularly good. They've been waiting all preview sessions to get to this point.
00:03:10
Speaker
I think we have to start by defining what can or can't be a dark horse, right? Like I'm not looking for a a lukewarm. I think Portugal could win it take from you. Like I'm looking for a bit more than that here.
00:03:22
Speaker
Yeah, we went back and forth on where this cutoff line is. And I think I feel pretty good about where we settled, which is a right around the top 10 to 12-ish. So obviously you have your your top four seeds.
00:03:34
Speaker
Then you have your next four tier of teams. we can We can name the top four. That's going to be Argentina, England, Spain, France, in some order. The next four in some order, right, you've got Netherlands, Brazil, Germany, Belgium-ish. And then we've decided to extend the Dark Horse protection to about another group of four teams, which is Colombia, Morocco, Ecuador, and Croatia.
00:03:57
Speaker
Listen, I think the mainstream media might... see ecuador particularly as a dark horse morocco made the semi-final last time as a dark horse croatia have made two semi-finals right including a final in 2018 um colombia to me is again debatable but i think they're right there so listen i think both of us really like all four of those teams i think they have a great chance so if you believe in them, like, great, great. I just don't think either of us find that as fun. And then from there on, anyone could could fit the bill in this exercise. So I think, right, like the top eight is pretty clear. Like you can't call any of those teams dark horses. That four team group, I think they have to make a semifinal really for it to be like a kind of outside dark horsey like thing. and And as you said, look, Morocco made a semifinal. Croatia made two semifinals. Ecuador were the second best team in South America qualifying and Colombia made a Copa America final.
00:04:54
Speaker
It would be slightly surprising, but I don't think it would be as far out of left field for it to qualify as a dark horse for us who, again, have been just immersed in this. Right. And so these are teams that we kind of really like to make quarterfinals maybe more, I think is the best way to put it. So in that sense, Columbia and Ecuador are not dark horses to us. Again, they could end up at a semifinal. I think Ecuador in particular would be a surprise. Everyone else kind of has the pedigree. But listen, it's not really a surprise for their their record so far. And again, you could go listen to what we said about them. I feel pretty good about this exercise with that constraint.
00:05:30
Speaker
So how we're going to do this a bit, because look, or we're at the core. We're content creators, right? like Like you dig all of this in. We're not just going to reveal it at the start of the show, right? we've We're going to draft because that's what you do in this day and age of of modern media. um We've created four tiers here. and And one tier is a bad tier. You don't want to be in that tier. So we've we've created kind of four, three tiers of dark horses and then one tier of some people could think of them as dark horses, but we think they might be significantly worse than expectations. Right. And we're going to go through with these tiers of teams and and you and I are each going to probably highlight a team here and we're going talk about them. So I think our first tier is the boring, good European team. Right. So this is not spicy. You're not going to impress anybody with your world knowledge. You're not going to dropping names from a different league that people aren't familiar with.
00:06:22
Speaker
ah But if they overachieved, you'd you'd be surprised. Right. If this team is in the round of 16, if they're in the quarterfinals, Yeah, it'd be kind of surprising, but it might not be that fun. And we start right at the top in Group A with Czechia, who might be the worst team in Europe to be here, but that still probably counts for something. The analogy that you have really gone back to here is...
00:06:44
Speaker
They are the 18 and 15, 11 seed in March Madness that is from the SEC or the Big Ten. They get into the tournament and they just start winning games. And you're like, this team isn't very good, but they are kind of good, and but they're not good. And that could work here.
00:07:00
Speaker
Yeah, I'm kind of enamored with that analogy, reminding me of a team that wins a play-in game. and And look, in March Madness, an 11 seed almost always makes the Sweet 16, at least in the old March Madness. ah Now in the NIL, I don't know. And perhaps there's a whole larger context about this 32 World Cup, and we'll get to that at the brackets.
00:07:21
Speaker
But... To talk about Czechia, the way they got through the playoff was just very like snuck through the conference tournament. one you know Won three games on three days in a row. Don't really know how they did it. Again, just not the talent level, but they got here somehow and they're going to keep getting there somehow. And that's how I feel about that team. So maybe the group is also soft enough in Group A.
00:07:45
Speaker
Yeah, that certainly plays a role here. ah Scotland in Group C, right? It's Scott McTominay. They're kind of the the one star player that's looking for them, played solid soccer. That's the case to be made there. I think Sweden are in this tier, right? They're a completely different idea of this tier because instead of the kind of boring basic soccer, they're going to play super wide open with with three at the front. Switzerland are the quintessential team in that you could maybe argue that they shouldn't be in this tier. But look, we've never really seen them make an extended run in a major tournament. They've never won two big games, right?
00:08:18
Speaker
Yeah, two big games. That's the team that maybe gets to the round of 16 every time and then just bows out. So I think it's fair to put them here and don't expect them to be a quarterfinalist. And then the last team is from Group B, and they're kind of in that Czechia vibe, and and that's Bosnia. ah So who do you like from this group of teams if you're picking somebody to to make a run?
00:08:37
Speaker
Man, got to go with Czechia. I don't love it. i really don't I actually don't like this team at all, but they're cockroaches in ah in a in a complimentary sense. You can't kill them. Something about this team, look, they've they've got the set piece threat. I think that really goes for them. Specifically, you're looking at Thomas Susak, who is a weird, weird type of player, and Patrick Sheik. And maybe there's some some vibes in in the goalkeeper. this is Again, this is the the tier I don't feel good about any of these teams. I think Switzerland is the best of them. But I'm going to ride with Czechia for that group. And you know maybe they could upset Netherlands in ah just a very European-ish game. And you know who knows?
00:09:17
Speaker
We've seen them play plenty of European-ish games and have some modicum of success. I think I've talked myself into Bosnia, right? I really enjoyed that segment on the group brief preview that we did.
00:09:29
Speaker
I thought Bosnia were better than Italy for most of the match that they played, and that is pretty significant. um I think Sergei Barbaras is a fantastic case at manager, right? Like, look, he's a professional poker player who's now managing a soccer team. He was a soccer player before that.
00:09:45
Speaker
And I think i'm I'm kind of intrigued by some of these attacking guys, right? Bahar Tavovic, Alia Begovic. And look, you can't help but fall in love with the old talismanic striker in Njekko, who might not have any juice left, but can still maybe get into a spot to score a goal. And much like Czechia, right? They're in a group with a host that is a pretty favorable group.
00:10:09
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's maybe a great reason why we pick two of these teams, check some boxes in that way. Alebegovic could be a breakout star. I kind of like that in a lot. Listen, I think that team, like Czechia, is old and slow in the back, but they're experienced. We saw them kind of game- their way through the playoff really well. And honestly, I think the, the poker shout there for Barbara asz is a great, great little, ah little nugget to to hook on and that he might be a very good in-game manager. And we saw him kind of outdo Italy. So, you know, I like that one too.
00:10:41
Speaker
So then our next tier here, we've got some fun teams plus home
Surprising Teams to Watch
00:10:45
Speaker
soil boosters. These are kind of maybe outside-ish candidates to to make a dark horse run, and they're outside-ish for all kind of various things, right? So Japan, I think, count here. We love their style, but they're missing their best attacking players. It's a difficult group draw. Mexico might not have any service for Oro Jimenez. They might be very set-piece defendants. Dependent, there is no major star.
00:11:09
Speaker
They have ah a draw in there. They have a good draw, which I think works in their favor. Turkey here, right? No defense, but they have those attacking players that we've fallen in love with. Egypt have two good attackers, but are just not at the level as maybe the other teams that we've mentioned.
00:11:23
Speaker
Canada have that home soil boost. They're very athletic. There's a lot of questions about Alphonso Davies. We'll see. And Algeria are in here as well. Where are you kind of leaning among this tier of teams? Yeah. Yeah, this is an interesting tier of teams. I think if Japan was healthy, I would i would really, really like them. But that group is hard. The draw is hard. They might be in that Morocco like group of teams that we don't even consider dark horses.
00:11:47
Speaker
Yeah. Turkey really, really fun. And maybe their defense is better than we're giving them credit for. Again, they're in that host group. So that checks a box. And listen, we could have thrown Turkey into the boring European team, but they're not boring at all. Like they just aren't. So they're really fun. Yeah.
00:12:06
Speaker
You know, i also, am I'm kind of in love with Algeria. The issue is they just got bullied by the, by the most most physical teams and ivory um in the AFCON. So like, I think they're going to be really fun on the ball. And listen, I love Ryan. i norie He is like my guilty pleasure of a fullback. That's basically a wigger and just going to go cook guys on one wing, but I can't really, you you know, buy it all the way.
00:12:32
Speaker
I don't know. i Turkey seems like a bit of a cop-out, but I think I'm leaning leaning in that direction. I know there's a team here that I didn't mention that you're about to take that you really like. I really think I like Egypt, and this is very dangerous for Egypt because like they could just revert to being fairly boring, basic, and it not really going anywhere. But look, you talk about the the boxes for a dark horse, right? You talk about the things we're looking for.
00:12:58
Speaker
Favorable draw where they might be the second most talented team with a very weak top team in their group in Belgium that they could on a day beat. And then the draw is probably the most favorable of any of the group winners outside of maybe the host countries.
00:13:13
Speaker
um And so I think I like Egypt. I was impressed by what I saw at AFCON. It didn't go all the way, but it went far enough for me. I think Marmouche and Salah can combine and for, you know, one month can be a really, really good attacking pair.
00:13:28
Speaker
And i I like the all-Ali formation they've got working behind them. I'm in on Egypt, I think. Yeah, I like it. I really like that team. Honestly, if I had to pick from this tier, I think I'd be with you on Egypt. And now I don't really love any of these other options, but I'm going to take Turkey. i'm Between Turkey and Canada, I think the draw out of these host groups is just one of the big themes of those three groups have a really good chance to get to a round of 16 and then anything can happen. Listen, Turkey could win the group and play Belgium. And I think Turkey-Belgium is a winnable game. Even in second, I think Turkey has a shout here. So... um
00:14:09
Speaker
I think their manager is also kind of solid. Montella? Montella, yeah, there you go. I think he is also a plus manager, and I think the rap for Turkey has been they can't defend, but I think when healthy, if their back line is healthy, that's a pretty good team front to back. Listen, they have a minus striker issue. All these teams in a tier have an issue. I'll take out Aguilera and see what happens. I think he's is a breakout player.
00:14:36
Speaker
They have a lot of options for getting to the the quarterfinals. So I'll take them. Listen, I think Canada are dangerous. I really think they are. And I was this close. Like as you were talking about Egypt, I was like, oh they were they were kind of a dark horsey in 2022. They're a host now.
00:14:49
Speaker
But I just I just think there's some some limitations for that team at the highest level in terms of like quality on the ball around the field. And I like March as a manager, but I just I can't get all the way there.
00:15:01
Speaker
And it's again, what you're asking of them is can they beat the highest levels of teams or get really fortunate with their draw, right? If we're saying quarterfinals is is what we're looking for as far as a dark horse outcome, right? Like you need Canada to kind of pull that off. And and the case for Egypt, I think is is that they can somehow win the group. I think there's a pretty big wall standing between if they finish second, like round of 16 is probably their ceiling because I don't think Egypt have what it takes to beat Argentina. But if they win that group and you're looking at this wide open path the quarterfinals, I think they're the type of team that can take advantage of it.
00:15:35
Speaker
And I think for me personally, if anybody outside of the top kind of what we're going to talk about the thoroughbreds in the dark horse category in a second, right? But if anybody outside of that group is making a quarterfinal, I think Egypt might be my pick.
00:15:50
Speaker
I'm with you. it Listen, even against Argentina, I wouldn't back them either. But you know Egypt can really try to grind that game into penalty kicks and kind of go back to some of the the stuff we've seen. And look, Salah Messi, like it's a great game if we if we get there. So I wouldn't count Egypt out, even even against the big dog in the round of 32. I think it's a it's a very good shout. So we'll get to the the thoroughbreds in a second, but I think there's a fourth tier of teams here that you and I are very intrigued by. And this isn't a dark horse category, but it's a world cup.
Teams That Might Disappoint
00:16:20
Speaker
There's a lot of expectations on everybody. And yes, 32 of the 48 teams are going through. but somebody is probably going to flame out, right? There's going to be dressing room issues. There's going to be managerial issues. There's going to be somebody that is not in the Curacao Cape Verde tier of teams that you say this team should have done better and they didn't.
00:16:40
Speaker
So who do we think are some of the candidates for that? And I'm not talking about a big major team falling in the round of 32 in a knockout stage game or anything like that. Like, I know that you have your problems with with Spain and and maybe some of the other big teams, Belgium, but like, I don't think that group stage exit is really on the cards here. It would take something really, really spectacular for that to happen.
00:16:59
Speaker
But Uruguay, I think, are a team that it's just kind of swirling. Bielsa has already said, this is it. It's the end of the cycle. The players might not be all that bought in. The group is really favorable. I understand that. But still, like that's all just out there.
00:17:16
Speaker
And then, right, it's kind of the the big money Petro states, right, with with Qatar, Saudi Arabia. They're probably, like, those are lower-ranked teams. But you could talk me into those teams maybe coming out of this with zero points.
00:17:30
Speaker
Yeah, i've I've got some stock on Cape Verde being better than Saudi Arabia. I don't know if Cape Verde is going to get out of the group, but I'll go on the record now. I feel pretty good about that one. I would i would fade Saudi Arabia. And then you've got Ghana, where we just had this super weird mishmash of Carlos Karros and this Ghana team and a month of prep and seeing if it all works and kind of understanding that the most the easiest answer is that it doesn't, right?
00:17:56
Speaker
And then Iran, who have off the field and on the field issues, right? They're really old on the field. I think they fit in this category. And South Korea also fit in this category. They're a team that hasn't always impressed us, I mean, and it kind of feels it feels like there's a little bit of stink coming there.
00:18:13
Speaker
Yeah, I think specifically with South Korea and Iran and Qatar to an extent, they kind of fit this model of a team that is four years past what they're trying to do. And they're still counting on those guys in Qatar. It's Afif and Ali. In Iran, it's Taremi and Osmond, and Osmond is not here. yeah yeah And Korea is counting on Hyung-min Sun. And i just all of those star players are named are not at the level to elevate this team and their issue is the team is counting on them to be that they haven't really pivoted into a new style or rebuilt it so I think all of those teams you can fade pretty hard um I think the interesting thing about all of those teams that you mentioned is they all have pretty favorable group draws and that's kind of why Uruguay fit in this as well is like the expectation is for at least some success to come there because of the way that the group has has spun out
00:19:08
Speaker
Yeah, South Korea should think that they could get out of Group A second or even first. It's Mexico, Czechia, South ah south Africa. Iran is in the group of life, right, with with Egypt and New Zealand and Belgium. And I think Iran is a top 20 team. So specifically, those two would feel like a surprise.
00:19:28
Speaker
Qatar, less so. Yeah, yeah I mean, Qatar, like I I'm out. I'm very much out on all of this. I i've watched Qatar play Ireland and it just was bad and like look it's going to get harder than Ireland. So is there any one team among the others here that that you want to highlight?
00:19:46
Speaker
Kind of Korea. And I really, really like Korea. Actually, I really like Kyungmin Sun. He's one of been one of my favorite players. I'm a sure and i'm fan nominally. He has been for a long time. And just the project is a little stale. The ideas were tough and qualifying the team to play the style they need to have needs a little bit better defenders. I think it's center midfield. They're they're not drawing good. Well, I think they're going to try to play three in the back.
00:20:11
Speaker
And Son, listen, at LAFC, I've seen him. He's still a good player, but he's lacking that full high-end burst and conditioning. It's an interesting team. I think this is the type of team that could flame out of the group stage. And if they get through, i suspect they'd be one of the easier round of 32 teams. I would not expect them to go through.
00:20:30
Speaker
Yeah, I think the Ghana thing is just not going work. I just can't see Carlos Harrell. Like, I just can't see that working. And it didn't make sense from the start. I don't think it's going to make sense of this World Cup.
00:20:41
Speaker
There's two high-level European teams in that group. Yeah, I'm out. The other thing is like, listen, they have Semenyo and Inaki Williams, but Mohamed Kudus is their their best player and they're missing him too. So it's ah similar to Iran missing maybe one of their top two players. Like it's an easier fade.
00:20:57
Speaker
I'm really in on this not ending well for Uruguay, but I think that's in the round of 32 against Argentina. Like I think they could still get through Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde and then it probably just goes pretty poorly of the round of 32. Before we get to, i know I've been teasing the the thoroughbreds. I'm sorry. I just keep going.
00:21:14
Speaker
There are, I think, probably nine teams here who are either from pot four, non-European playoff category, or i think South Africa. Of those kind of nine bottom tier teams, is there any, i you mentioned earlier you're kind of big on Cape Verde, is there any one of those teams that you might be thinking could make a shock knockout round appearance?
00:21:36
Speaker
I mean, not a shock, but DR Congo is good, and they kind of could fit in the fun team tier, I think. They're not very fun, honestly, in what they do. But they're exactly of the level of your Algeria, Canada, Egypt of the world. i don't know like exactly how they fit. I think the thing with DR Congo is they have one gear, but it is a very, very tough gear. i think they're trying to do something like the Egypt game model with slightly worse players. I think WESA has had a really tough year, and so there's a lot riding on Cedric Bakumbu. You know, they're in there they should have maybe been in that tier, but I find them just kind of tough to buy any stock and getting out of one, two knockout games.
00:22:23
Speaker
I think I can see Cape Verde making the knockouts. You made the case earlier, right? Like it's a head-to-head clash with Saudi Arabia and keep the goal differential down. i don't know.
00:22:34
Speaker
Yeah, the other two teams I'm just intrigued by is Australia and New Zealand. yeah Specifically, new zealand like both of those teams are rated fourth in their groups. Australia's got Paraguay and then US s and Turkey. New Zealand's got the Group of Life with Belgium, Egypt and Iran.
00:22:49
Speaker
You know, i I specifically New Zealand, I think, really could surprise. is Does that mean getting out? Listen, i like I don't want to put that on them, but I think they're intriguing. And that group, right? If you're going to fade Iran a little bit, maybe Belgium is is an opening. That team could beat Iran and get in third somehow and sneak into the knockout round. Same thing with Australia, right? Australia, Paraguay, at best, is a toss-up.
00:23:12
Speaker
So we've talked about all the other teams.
Analyzing Top-Tier Non-Favorites
00:23:16
Speaker
It's time to go to the stables. of it These are, I think, the thoroughbreds, right? These are the kind of 12th to 20th, somewhere in there, teams in the world that fall outside of the top tier, but above that kind of middle or bottom tier. i You've got Austria, who are going to play this Red Bull style of soccer in a group that is intriguing and that are going to go full gas every game that they play for as long as they play it. You've got Senegal, who are probably the exact opposite of that, right? They are just as elite of a defensive, grimy team as you can see. They're mentality monsters, but they have a tough group.
00:23:52
Speaker
You have Ivory Coast, who are kind of Senegal-lite, with maybe a bit more younger attackers, but a bit less pedigree. And they're also in a tough group. You've got Norway who might have one of, if not the best attackers in the world.
00:24:08
Speaker
He might not have a ton of help. They might not have a defense, but they have been absolutely flying. And then the one host side we haven't mentioned is the United States who have a very favorable draw and on the right day could put it all together. Where are we going here?
00:24:25
Speaker
I love all of these teams. I mean, I think if you just you shouldn't do this, but if you put a little bit on all of these teams to make the quarterfinals, I think you'd end up in the plus. i't I actually don't know the math of that. Do not trust me. um Listen, Austria has been a dark horse team before. Senegal is one of my favorite, favorite teams in this tournament.
00:24:45
Speaker
But I've got to do it. I've got to go to the bell curve and stake my claim that this team, this United States team with a manager who is already thinking about his next job in Riso Pochettino is beating the bell curve and dark horsing the home soil boost, the United States. The reason why is the draw and the talent.
00:25:05
Speaker
I think it could surprise if We haven't seen it before, but there's no reason that it can't work. I'm If they can get out of that group in first, right, they should have a decent round of 32 game and then Belgium, a very beatable team. And that quadrant is also open. That is Spain's quadrant. I think you could see Spain. I wouldn't back them to beat Spain, but you could see a Colombia or an Austria in that quarterfinal. There's real potential for the United States to make a semifinal.
00:25:35
Speaker
Again, it just feels like they've been selling hope for, what, the fifth cycle in a row now? And it's so we've been burned before, and we we joke about them as the bell curve team, the most out of the bell curve team.
00:25:47
Speaker
But I think one of these hosts has got to make a quarterfinal, right? I mean, not the home-style booth doesn't work like that, but I just feel like one of these teams is going to surprise. Maybe you should go look at Mexico or Canada. But I think on talent, it's the best one here. endless And listen, truthfully on talent, it's not that crazy of a dark horse thing if they're just...
00:26:03
Speaker
the best team outside of the constraints we put up. It's a bold, it's a bold claim for you because you're invested multiple times here. You're invested emotionally in what happens with the U S at this world cup. And now you're invested with, with the, the admit Malik dark horse brand, which is really in need of a pickup.
00:26:20
Speaker
I don't love that for me. And maybe it's a it's a win win, because if they lose, I could just say I stunk them. like This is all on you. Nothing to do with anything else in the world. it was you.
00:26:32
Speaker
Or perhaps it's a lose lose. They look bad. I look bad. Like, we'll see. It's I think it's a really funny pick. I think it's kind of on brand. But, um you know, they're a really good team that has the window here. All of these teams have the window, but they have the window.
00:26:46
Speaker
So a quick spoiler for what I have in my bracket. I have Canada as the host nation that I have going the furthest. I don't feel super great about it, but look, I think Canada can play South Korea in the round of 32 and that's a winnable game for Canada. And I don't have either of the other hosts getting out of the round of 32. So yeah, there's that.
00:27:06
Speaker
Of these thoroughbreds, I have both Norway and Senegal in my quarterfinals. I don't feel great about Norway. No. but I think they can beat Morocco. and And that's kind of where my bracket spits them out is they're beating Ecuador and Morocco. Look, Norway, Ecuador, I think would be a truly fascinating round of 32 game if that's what we end up getting. So, you know, keep an eye there. And then Senegal, look like the, the defensive stability there, I just think is going to be able to go a really long way at this world cup.
00:27:37
Speaker
And I don't think they're going to have to do all that much to make a quarterfinal, right? Like they need to do well in the group that they're in against France and and Norway. We'll see how it all breaks out. But there's a path here for Senegal where they're playing Turkey and Belgium in the round of 32 and the round of 16. And I think I might even favor Senegal in both of those matches. so had them making the quarterfinals. And then in a theoretical quarterfinal against Spain, I almost talked myself into Senegal semifinalists.
00:28:06
Speaker
I think the the path is there. Where the teams spit out of the Senegal group, the Ivory Coast group, Norway group, like are fascinating. Really, the Ecuador Ivory Coast group, sorry, and the Senegal Norway group.
00:28:21
Speaker
Where those teams spit out in the bracket, I think, is going to be one of the biggest, biggest themes of the group stage. You expect all three in both groups to go through. i think that's really going to set up the, you know, the paths for surprise quarterfinals and semifinalists. Right, and so that path for Senegal is finishing third in their group even, and then playing a Turkey team that I think will win the U.S. group. And like it's all dependent on which of the third-place teams come out and which of those 445 combinations we get.
00:28:52
Speaker
And that is going to go a long way. And so I think it's hard to pin down what the exact bracket looks like now. I think it will be a really good exercise for you and I after the group stage to get back together and kind of run some of this back when we know what the round of 32 actually looks like.
00:29:05
Speaker
But yeah, those are the two teams that that I think i I have, at least on first glance, going going pretty far here. You ready to game theory me a little bit? You're over talking a little bit, but yeah, i've I've got a better five aside than you based on all my research.
00:29:20
Speaker
All right. So this started as a bit and I trying to do something based off the golden boot, but then that's not that exciting because the golden boot candidates is not that long of a list to be completely honest with you. And so then we thought, okay, can we make this kind of fantasy like where you get goal contributions, goals and assists?
00:29:38
Speaker
We didn't want to do an entire 11 man team because that's just too long of an exercise. So What Amit and I are doing is we are going to draft a five-a-side World Cup fantasy team. The criteria here is simple. Goal contributions, goals, and assists. And we're picking one defender, two midfielders, two attackers.
00:29:55
Speaker
And one of those five players has to be categories as categorized as an outside pick. And the idea there is you know it when you see it. You get first pick. I'm being benevolent.
00:30:06
Speaker
Thank you. i will take Harry Kane, the England speaker. You knew it was covered. I can't quit. I really like England. I think they've got a good chance in this bracket. And listen, he even if he has a bad tournament, he walks into pens. He stands in the box. The ball pops on his head. Someone leaves him open on a set piece.
00:30:27
Speaker
This England attack is very high octane with Saka, Rashford, Bellingham. i know Tuchel is going to... try to ne nerf it a little bit, but I think Kane with Byron this year is scoring goals at will. Listen, I think at the top of the sheet of goal scorers in this tournament, he's right there with perhaps maybe your pick. So I feel pretty good about that one.
00:30:50
Speaker
So I feel like i have to... pick killing Mbappe because you have to pick him. But I want to kind of make the case for why I don't feel great about it and why I actually had Kane ranked higher than Mbappe in bape and this little thought exercise. Because like, I think there's a chance that those motors just aren't quite humming for France to start this tournament. I feel more confident about Kane bagging four or five in the group stage than I do about Mbappe bagging four or five of the group stage.
00:31:17
Speaker
And so like if we're thinking about this as, all right, there's, you know, three group stage games and then potentially five knockout round games, right? That's what it is. 32, 16, quarter, semi, final, right? Five, eight games total.
00:31:29
Speaker
Of those eight games, how many games is Killian and Boppa going to be actually playing full strength, full gas, full go? I don't know. But I think you still have to take him at number two. You do. And listen, the France front three, I think, is a little bit more variable in where the goals come from than the England front three or four, right? Because Dembele and Alise also are very good shot monsters. So there's a little bit of risk there, too. But but listen, the guy the guy wants the score goals at the World to Cup. He is looking to add to his legacy in that way. And I mean that a couple ways. He's a goal hunter. So you can't really go wrong.
00:32:05
Speaker
Then from here, we're doing this snake style because I was benevolent with a minute and gave him the first pick. So that means I get picks two and three. From here, I think I'm going to go back into the midfield and I'm going to take Vinicius Jr., who I think is...
00:32:19
Speaker
If Brazil have a successful World Cup, it's going to be on his shoulders, right? He's going to be their goal scorer outside of set pieces. Maybe more on that a bit later in this draft. ah But I think it's Vinicius Jr.'s team to go for. I think he's probably the top-rated midfielder. I don't know Maybe you're going to prove me wrong, and there's somebody else that I should have had have had rated higher than him. But I'm taking Vinicius Jr., and we're filling in a midfield spot.
00:32:44
Speaker
I think it's also he's an interesting tweener in terms of midfield forward. He's a winger. To me, that's a midfielder. He is not a pure striker. So I, you know, I'm fine with that. Listen, it's a good choice. I think that my midfielder that I'm about to take is maybe the conversation, different kind of player. I'm going to go with Bruno Fernandes at Portugal, perhaps the best assist giver in the world right now, set the Premier League assist record. like He almost was comically hunting assists down the stretch for Manchester United to to try to pad those stats, but he's in a Portugal team where there's guys to score the goals for him, like Liao, like Cristiano Ronaldo, um whoever plays the the right wing for them. It should be a high-octane team. I think Roberto Martinez needs this team to score chances, and crucially, he is the set-piece deliverer for them. So I think they've got a chance there. um he He might not get the goals, but if Portugal score a bunch, I think he should be providing many of them.
00:33:42
Speaker
So this goes one and one now the rest of the way, right? Yeah, that's fine with me. okay All right. So then I'm going to go back in my defense and I'm going to take who I think. I think there's there's an interesting theory in defense. Do you go for an attacking fullback looking to kind of pad the assist and maybe take a pen or two? Or do you go for a big bulky set piece center back that might score goals? I'm going for the big bulky set piece center back. I'm taking Gabriel. I think he's the best set piece threat in the tournament. I think Brazil outside of an issues junior are going to be very dependent on set pieces. I'm hitching my five a side wagon to Brazil, which I don't feel super great about because I don't think I feel super great about their tournament chances. But I think there's very good cases to be made here.
00:34:20
Speaker
I mean, he was the top defender for sure. Him and Marquinhos. I definitely would have done that if i was going this way. Listen, I even had Igor Tiago as as a striker shout here because Brazil are going to score somehow. And it's funny. You you went Vinicius and Gabriel, but could be striker. i don't We don't know exactly, but I think Brazil or should be very set piece defendant. He's the best set piece threat in the world right now. Right. So that's a good shout. Um, Man, I was debating between bulky center back, big bruiser, or or ah you know more of a fullback-y type player. i'm going to go
00:35:00
Speaker
with Denzel Dumfries from the Netherlands. Give me those crosses. Give me that guy who gets in the end of the box to score some goals. Listen, I think there's a lot of great attacking fullbacks the world. Atrof Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, even...
00:35:15
Speaker
like even you know just Joshua Kimmich is a fullback now for Germany. But I think Netherlands are going to be pretty open. I think as a wingback, if they he gets far up the field, he's a great crosser. um It could backfire. He could get nothing. But I think he generally ends up in the box for a fullback quite a bit. So i like that a lot.
00:35:36
Speaker
Who are all those crosses going to? and That's a great question. Maybe that is where Virgil van Dyke comes in and it's the second phase of set pieces. No, that's a good point. Maybe you can't get assists if he's, maybe he'll cross it to Gakbo who gets hot. I don't know. yeah Memphis Depay hanging out. could be him. We'll see. All right. So I've got one attacker. I've got one midfielder. I've got my defender taken care of. um I'm going to go back into the midfield and I'm going to take Luis Diaz at Columbia. Who I think is a super hot player.
00:36:07
Speaker
I think he's at one of the best clubs in the world, playing some of the best football in the world. And I think he's coming to this world cup and exactly the form that you would like to see him come to this world cup.
00:36:18
Speaker
And he's going to do exactly what you're looking for a gold contribution. He guy to do. i'm I'm big on Luis Diaz here. I don't think this can qualify as a breakout world cup because I think he's already broken out, but he could 100% be a star of this tournament.
00:36:34
Speaker
It's a great shout. I have got, i also think there's a lot riding on him to be a star. I think he's Columbia's X factor. I'm expecting a lot out out of him, especially in open play. He's their vertical threat for a winger. He's very forward. He he's not a forward, like he is a winger, but he he's definitely added that goal scoring. I like Columbia a lot.
00:36:52
Speaker
Good choice. A lot of options here for me. And I've got a midfielder and a striker left. um Between a few, but I think I'm going to go striker and I'm going to go Julian Alvarez at Argentina. hi i'my I think he's going to be haunting shots for this team. Messi or no Messi, I think you know Argentina are still one of the best attacks in the tournament, even if they're not in the top three or four.
00:37:15
Speaker
He is maybe the most like heliocentric striker left outside of Erling Haaland, who I think you you also maybe maybe could choose. Someone could choose. But I think the whole team is good. I think he should get lots of opportunities. And he's just loves to get on the ball. And. create his own opportunity so I really like that he could be on pens too at a certain point so I know you were you were probably thinking that one too right he was very high on my list and look I i was gonna go with the Kane the Kane Alvarez double at two three if if you had taken Mbappe at one he was high on my list I don't know if I was actually taking this very seriously you probably would have taken him earlier instead of whatever but That leaves me with my outsider pick. It's going to be an attacker.
00:37:59
Speaker
ah You know where I'm at in this World Cup, right? I'm taking Omar Marmush of Egypt. Like I know Manchester City, maybe he's not the outside, outside pick, but he's my guy here. I'm in on this Egypt team. I've talked myself into it.
00:38:11
Speaker
And I think he's dependent to their run, right? Like I think Salah is the very easy kind of fallback. Oh, Egypt are good. It's because of Mo Salah. look, he's going to have to be good, but I think the the link up play with Marmush is going to be huge. I think he is the X factor agent, and if they're making a run, he's going to be a key. I think they're making a run. I think he's key. He's my outside pick.
00:38:31
Speaker
I had Salah and Marmouche on my list as ah as a good outside pick. Again, because of the same reasons you did, I think he actually should be getting a lot of shots for Egypt in this system. So a good one. So I'm down to my outside pick, and I have a midfielder. And perhaps I have un-game theory there, because I should have set my outside pick for a striker. but i think there's a lot of good choices there. You could have had ah Suarez at Columbia, maybe not not an outsider. Patrick Schick at Czechia could have been one. um Even Eddjecko, if you like the talisman. Nico Jackson for Senegal, a good shout.
00:39:04
Speaker
Those are all forwards. Even would you have considered Victor Jokerez as an outsider because he's on Sweden? nicey hey would have been right on the line. Right on the line, I think. He's right on the line. um Yeah. So anyways, not going a striker. I've got to go a midfielder. Um, I'm going to go with a mod Diallo here. yeah got some ivory coast stock. I think he's ah really, really tricky player. Could be getting some shots, mostly assists. Yandiamande also would have been a good shout here, but I'm not sure the minutes exactly where that lines up. I think a mod is going to be nailed into the lineup for ivory coast. Uh,
00:39:38
Speaker
Listen, he's not as elite as the other wingers in the world. He's you know he's on Ivory Coast, but he's probably their primary chance creator. I kind of like this team. Listen, you could I could have also went Ilman and Dai at Senegal, and I think that also would have been a fun pick too. But I really like Ahmad. He's really fun to watch. ah This would have been, you know, if Karu Motoma was here for Japan, i would have also really liked him. He's injured for this tournament, so that's a boner bummer.
00:40:04
Speaker
Listen, I also think I don't think you would have counted Brahim Diaz or Arda Goulair as outsiders, right? They're too good at Madrid. Yeah, Brahim, certainly not. Arda Goulair is kind of on the line. Funny in my notes, I actually had Diaz and Brahim. And so when I picked Luis Diaz, I had to remind myself that I was going not Diaz here was Luis Diaz and and not Brahim Diaz. ah All right. Those are our five aside fantasy teams. Anything else here?
00:40:27
Speaker
No, I think the midfielders that are player you didn't see us pick was Yamin Lamal, which is it was is a crazy one. His hamstring is hurt. so we buts spot in that Look, I think Saka, Wurtz, De Bruyne, Debele, Musiala, Doku, all great midfielder choices. We didn't pick Erling Haaland as well. Maybe we're not back in Norway to have enough chances. Stayed off Cristiano Ronaldo, but... We did pick, did have a Portugal player in there. So, you know, I think that was fun. I think it's kind of a breeze through some of the top attacking fun threats.
00:41:01
Speaker
It's a loaded tournament. Like this is awesome. Yeah, it's fun. You like, so I think with what you and I do so often here at the World Cup after dark, we're trying to give equal credence to everything. Right. And so when we do, 48 team group stage pre like we're talking about everybody. And it sometimes you get so buried deep down into the Cape Verde, Curacao, Hades of the world that you sometimes forget just how fun the top level of international soccer can be. And that's where a world cup is great because you get that mix of everything all coming together under one big FIFA roof. And yeah, the top level talent of this tournament is so, so good. It's just going be so, so fun to watch it. All right,
Quarterfinal Predictions and Bracket Dynamics
00:41:45
Speaker
it's picks time. i mean, it's bracket time.
00:41:47
Speaker
i don't think it's a useful exercise for our listeners to run through the entire round of 32 matchups and look at it. I think it works to pick quarterfinals slash anything else surprising that you may have. I'll go first here. I have France and Netherlands meeting in one quarterfinal matchup. I have Spain and Senegal meeting in the other. That is dependent on Senegal somehow spitting out there in the third place thing. But I think Senegal might be a quarterfinalist regardless. Norway, England in another quarterfinal. I have Norway beating both Ecuador and Morocco. Those two results would probably hurt my soul. But i think I'm kind of buying this Norway run. They've been so, so good. And then Argentina and Portugal in that last quarterfinal. Look, it's hard to pick against the the messy Ronaldo quarterfinal vibe. it would just break everything.
00:42:34
Speaker
Yeah, I'm with you. I have that one. i have Portugal, Argentina as one of my quarterfinals. um I've got France for sure in a quarterfinal. I have them against Czechia kind of as a bit. I think it'll probably be France, and Netherlands. But listen, I had, you know, I picked the dark horse stock. I got to throw them in. Maybe they could win two games. Yeah. Yeah, that one's kind of silly, but ah I do, you know, I feel good about France there. So, and then the other two, I think it's England, Senegal. That's where Senegal ended up in my bracket. Again, that one, that spot could be Brazil. I think Brazil, Senegal is might maybe be the game I picked to really physical, nasty teams.
00:43:12
Speaker
Again, i I think Brazil should be favored, but... got to ride with some of these fun teams, right? Put some chaos somewhere in the quarterfinals. And to to really amp up the chaos, no Spain for me. My fourth quarterfinal is Colombia, United States. ah Colombia really like. I think they can beat Spain, and i think the United States could beat Belgium. I feel not so good about my quarterfinals. I think I was kind of doing some some chaos to do chaos, but...
00:43:41
Speaker
this is where I want to talk about kind of this bracket format of 48 and the longer and the more matches and with two reference points that I think you'll be amused by is one is the champions league that now has an extra round and kind of what we saw that quarterfinal look like. And also March madness, what we saw in kind of this NIL more stratified era. And I know soccer is a different sport than basketball, but it does feel more stratified than ever in terms of our terms of teams.
00:44:10
Speaker
I feel like generally this could be chalky. I'm afraid it's going to be chalky. It's honestly like I really truly believe it could be Netherlands, Brazil and instead of Czechia and Senegal and that we maybe get six, even seven of the top nine teams in the world in the quarterfinals. I will not be surprised if that is the case this year.
00:44:32
Speaker
And the reasons for that are obviously many. It's the resources that those teams have both domestically and internationally. It's where modern international football is going. You know, the set piece of occasions, the general amount of commitment in it from international teams. So, yeah, I think there's a bit of fear of that, but I don't know. It's it feels like there's still some surprise out there for us. And even if there's not the road to those quarterfinals probably won't be straight and narrow for all of those teams. And that's where a lot of the fun comes in.
00:45:02
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. And look, um I do think like of the top four seeds, one of them will probably dip out before quarterfinal. So you know I do think we'll get our shocks. We'll see. This is going to be one of the things you and I are most, most watching this entire tournament. Do you have anything else in in your bracket that that you want to highlight? I have Morocco topping the Brazil group. I think Morocco, I'm pretty big on Morocco winning that first game against Brazil, which is probably a bad news for my fantasy five aside, but more on that later. um And then I have the U S and Egypt meeting in the round of 32 and I have Egypt winning that game. I also have Sweden taking out Mexico in the round of 32. I think I might've mentioned that. And I have both Columbia and Ecuador losing in the round of 32.
00:45:47
Speaker
i don't know how I feel about that, but maybe that defensive local style kind of comes up against a couple of scoring teams in Norway and Croatia and great shit it goes poorly.
00:45:58
Speaker
We'll see. No, I don't have anything too much, honestly, before outside of the the things I gave that were a little crazy. It's pretty chalky for me. You know again I, again, really have to come back to, I think where Senegal, Ecuador, um Ivory coast and Columbia all come through is really, really fascinating to change everything.
00:46:17
Speaker
And you have kind of staked your claim here that you think of the big teams you find Spain to be the most vulnerable. I do. I think it's Lamine Yamal. There's so much riding on him to be elite for them and Rodri too. And I just think they're a little frail in the back.
00:46:33
Speaker
They could prove me wrong. Like they really could, but I just am kind of, kind of fitting in. They just won the Euro. Like, yeah, they did have that one stretch where they went Euro world cup Euro and eight, 10 and 12 and we're the peak of the world, but it's just so hard to do that. And I think, um,
00:46:50
Speaker
There is a striker question there. i I just feel better about England and France. I think Spain and Argentina you know are are dangerous. And I also, as we talk about the quarterfinal results, I have Argentina losing to Portugal because I think they're vulnerable. But if I had to fade a top-four team, I just really don't trust this Spain team at all.
00:47:12
Speaker
What are your semifinals then, now that you've spoiled that you have Argentina losing? Yeah, so I have Portugal beating Argentina. That one's fascinating. Portugal also could lose before there. But I think as a team on the team strength, if they saw the Ronaldo thing, they could win that game. would be a high watermark for Bobby Martinez. I have Colombia beating in the United States. I think that's where the you know the home soil boost comes an end. I really, really like this Colombia team.
00:47:36
Speaker
They'll feel great about that one. The two I do feel really good about is I have England beating Senegal. I have France beating Czechia. Even if you take out my fun Senegal and Czechia picks and put in Brazil and Netherlands, I would back England and France. They are the teams I feel the most rock solid about ah to get to the semifinals. I'm taking chalk in my semifinals. I'm taking France, Spain, England, and Argentina. I almost talked myself into Senegal over Spain, but I think that's just too, like having Senegal the semifinals is too dependent on a weird bracket situation that just came out when I simmed everything. Uh, so I have those as, as the four top teams in the world. And I think they're the four semifinalists. I think France beat Spain and i unfortunately think England beat Argentina. Uh,
00:48:20
Speaker
Again, we talked about it on the Argentina pod. I think there's just so much that went right for Argentina last time around that asking all of that to coalesce and come together again is a lot. That said, it's really hard to envision this whole messy thing ending against Ronaldo. Like that would just be really, really unfair for everything.
00:48:38
Speaker
So I think they can get through that game, but England might be a step too far. And then I have France beating England because I just can't allow England to win the World Cup. And I think France are the best team here. And when in doubt, you go with the best team.
00:48:51
Speaker
I agree. We have the same final England, France. I have England beating Portugal, which is you know, a tight game, but I think England are there. And then I have France beating Columbia. They'd be favored in that game and should. We both agree. These are the two best teams here, even for you not wanting to buy into England as much, but it just feels like whoever comes out Portugal or Argentina, you have Argentina. You'd feel better about England at that game. And listen, in my final England versus France, I'm going with England. I think it's coming home. Do I feel good about it? No. Do I like anything Thomas Tuchel has done? No. But I do feel that England are the team that you just get to this round as many times as you do with the talent they have. One of them comes right. And I do think France is a little better than England. I agree with you there. But i also, you know, i think Tuchel was brought in to be super pa pragmatic and knock out football and elevate this team. And crucially, this England team is close to France, right? That is a
00:49:50
Speaker
Really close final. I think they're really good on talent. I think Harry Kane has help. And i think I'm a little biased, too, from the way Arsenal's stuff this year worked in the Premier League and in the Champions League, and that you could win with set-piece and control, and Tuchel is going to go for set-piece and control. And DeChamp is...
00:50:12
Speaker
Also trying to do that, but maybe a little bit less good of a manager than Tuchel. So I don't know. I also just think France have the the tiniest edge on vibes. Look, England have been close before, right? They made the Euro final in 20, lost on pens, made the final in 24, lost in extra time to Spain.
00:50:29
Speaker
I feel like if they get to the final four again, it could just go well for them. um I don't know. I feel this year specifically, I feel the least good about my picks, I think.
00:50:42
Speaker
And it's a really, really hard exercise.
Final Predictions and Tournament Excitement
00:50:44
Speaker
I do think we clearly there's something to both of us seeing England and France as the top two undisputed teams. So maybe the answer is go put money on that as your exact final, regardless of your winner. um But yeah,
00:50:57
Speaker
Listen, I think the the the parody within the top eight is close too. And like, we're taking our best guess. I think I kind of feel the same way about you and that I maybe don't feel great about any one particular team. And so I'm just defaulting to what I think is maybe the cop-out pick, but I think France are probably the best team pound for pound at the world cup.
00:51:19
Speaker
I know that that team doesn't always win the world cup, but I think France is at a moment where they are that good that I think they are probably the safest pick to win the world cup.
00:51:30
Speaker
And so I went with them. It's not like I had this super strong conviction that they will win, but I think they're the best team here. And when in doubt, go with the best team. made the final in 18, won, made the final in 22, lost, made it to the semifinals on penalties, made it to the semifinals of Euro. And again, an out of body Spain experience, like France, not getting to the semifinal would be incredibly shocking, even more than England. I just like their floor is so high.
00:52:02
Speaker
It's boring. We agree, but like, it's just bankable. Yeah, I think of the four major teams, like they're the team you certainly feel the best about, like have the least chance of crashing out early, right?
00:52:14
Speaker
We talked about England, the vibes might just completely fall apart and it breaks down. Spain's style might not work. And in Argentina are maybe kind of riding on a lot of things that as far as whether it's repeatable or not, you're asking that question. And we have that lack of a data point against an elite team over the last three and a half years.
00:52:33
Speaker
So of the major teams, I think France are probably the safest bet. you You feel the best about them going the furthest in this tournament, having the the highest chances of of going furthest, if you will. So I think the important point here is that this is going to be really, really fun. You and I are very, very excited for it.
00:52:50
Speaker
And this doesn't stop here, right? The World Cup After Dark is so much more than just a preview podcast. There will be plenty from Amit and I during the World Cup itself. but what we have for the first couple of days of the world cup, just to to give you a brief preview. Uh, I'll be back on on Thursday night after the the first two games of the world cup.
00:53:08
Speaker
I'll be back on, on Friday with a U S recap. We'll see if Amit ends up joining or not. Uh, we'll have a Saturday recap and then full schedule service returning at the start of next week, uh, Monday night, uh, Amit and I will record. And then from there on, we'll be pretty much regular throughout the, uh, the rest of the world cup.
Accessing Content and Support Options
00:53:25
Speaker
Uh,
00:53:25
Speaker
If you are still looking for some World Cup preview content, if you're looking to cram, if if you've got a big appointment on on Thursday or Friday, or maybe you're getting together watch the games on on Saturday and and you want to to know as much as you can, there are 12 group stage preview podcasts that are out there.
00:53:40
Speaker
ah You can find them on on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your stuff, or you can go to patreon.com slash WCAD. And right there, front of the page, is our World Cup hub. And if you want to support what we do throughout the World Cup, you can also do so at that pitch on site. $3 a month subscriber only content. It's time a minute. It's World Cup season. Are you ready?
00:54:00
Speaker
Man, i'm I'm so buzzing. I'm just so ready for this. weve We have really, I think this is the most we have like been in depth and prepared for this World Cup. And it's just so many good teams, so many good players.
00:54:16
Speaker
it's It's open. I know we've picked like France and England, but when that ball gets on the field, right that energy is so real. And man, I mean, it's kind of babbling for how excited I am. This is going to be great.
00:54:28
Speaker
gotta to be great. We're both really looking forward to it. And we hope that you will join us for the journey as we go from 48 to one throughout the world cup. Enjoy the games and we'll talk to you guys soon.