It's about time we talked about the World Cup. The Socceroos have (arguably) defied expectations and made it through the group stage. Now we play Egypt in the first knockout round on Saturday morning. Is it winnable?
Niav Owens thinks so, and she knows her football. The host of SBS' World Cup coverage joins us to chat our chances of progressing to the round of 16 and meeting Messi and Argentina (unless Cabo Verde pull off the biggest ever World Cup shock), why this squad is so exciting, and what the A-League does with a $30mil player when Barcelona come calling.
Plus, Harry Kewell captured our hearts in 2006 and now he's doing it again 20 years later, how we can shut down Egyptian superstar Mo Salah, Norwegian crowd rowing vibes and World Cup knockout-round tactics.
And of course France are looking unfairly good, England haven't quite got into gear, and why everyone suddenly thinks they’re a football expert.
The only place to watch the FIFA World Cup is on SBS and SBS on Demand.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Oh, dear listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
In the absence of Georgie Tunny, I have chosen to
punish her by having one of her absolutely favorite human
beings on the podcast to talk about one of the
biggest sporting events in the world. And if I am
going to give you an idea of how many people's
eyeballs have been on this individual in the past eighteen days,
we're talking fourteen million. It is the most viewed sporting
(00:29):
event in Australian sports history.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
As the socceros have charged.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Into the round of thirty two and everyone's gone, oh,
they're too young, they're not going to make it. Well
they have and the person who sat on the panel
alongside the experts and has shown that she is in
fact the expert is Nemos and she joins us this week.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Neba, I'm so good to see. Thank you so much
for having me on. It's lovely to see your face.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I had to put some mail on that because you
are literally Georgie's favorite person and she will be filthy
about this, but suckshit Georgie.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
You went to Europe. You just have to deal with it.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
We love you, George Nivo.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
You look radiant for someone who I can imagine has
not slept talk to people about what your hours are
like when you're covering a tournament like this, do you know?
I think one of the things to own right off
the top, ABS is that with those incredible numbers of
ossies who have been tuning in, and it's just so
amazing to see the love that the World Game and
this soccer's side have been getting. We have had daylight
(01:27):
hour games, we have had Friday pub lunches.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
We've had Sunday vo games, which is just mind blowing
for Australian football fans because we're used to doing the
hard YAKA in the middle of the night. It gets
a little bit tougher from here on in, but we
have actually had broad daylight football loving fans in pubs
and watch parties around Australia. And I love that for
all of us, including me so much. Because last World
(01:51):
Cup was almost entirely overnight, right like we were, we
were living on that opposite schedule to the norm. This
time round feels like a gift in so many ways.
There's still you know, the old one thirty am call time,
and you know how ridiculously early as chicks we have
to get in there before all of the on set
(02:12):
stuff happens. So there's still of.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Your call times are one thirty am nevo.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, well there's yeah, one thirty, two thirty, three thirty.
That's true for some of those for some of those
early games.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
But it's been worth it, hasn't it delivered as a
tournament so far? We had so many questions coming in
about the increased number of teams, the insane number of
games across the course of this five week tournament, and
we've had so few blowouts, We've had so much excitement,
so much to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
I think it's delivered ass So you are on board
because the biggest thing contention part of this tournament has
been the forty eight teams. It's the first time that
we've had a tournament like this and people laugh going yeah,
and Italy still aren't there. The joke's there to be had,
but we're not going to have it right now because
Italians will come for me. But there is something beautiful.
You need to have the minnows to be able to
(03:02):
have those upsets. I mean Cape Verdo's clean sheet against Spain.
That's just one of the highlights where you go, what
do you mean, if you are going to compare the
lives of some of these players, it's David and Glyath
but on steroids one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
And it's one of the things I have always loved
about the World Cup is that it introduces us to
these different nations around the world that we're not visiting
on holidays traditionally, that we haven't heard of. When Curasau qualified,
I was one of those people doing the old Google maps.
Where is Kurasau?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Where are we talking about here? These nations have the
population of Tasmania.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, and have made five thousands or Currosau. Isn't that
wild smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup?
And yeah, they met four time champs Germany in Game one.
That score line was a blowout, which was still a
school line that Germans are familiar with and we've seen
at World Cups gone by, But you did think, oh, oh, like,
(03:56):
what a baptism of fire for this team. But ahabs
from there on in therese players who a number of
whom were born in the Netherlands and they've got kuros
our heritage, but they've lent into those Dutch colonial roots
to put together this side. They have absolutely performed and
played that football that we know the Netherlands are famous
(04:16):
for as well. So yeah, lost to Germany, but then
drew with Ecuador. So in their first two games they've
scored a goal on the world stage, they've got a
point on the world stage as well. Lost to Coote
Devoirs in the third game, which have been playing incredible
football and they're in knockout stages. So absolutely no shame
in that.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
But what about carba Verde, as you said, the the
goalie that said he couldn't afford to fly his mum
there and the shots with the tears.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I mean, it's it's almost too much.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
But as much as we love the minnows, Australia were
very much considered by some people, loudly Americans, to be
a layup or a minnow coming into this given the inexperience,
shall we say, of the side when we be Turkey
two nil. The level of love and immediate experts that
(05:05):
happened across the country is something that I think is
unique to the World Cup, right it was, and especially
when people considering Turkey or the US to be the
two teams that were the most competitive in our group.
All yeah, talk to us about the elation that you
felt in that broadcast where you're.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Like, oh, we've a riped, We've ripped and we're here.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And if you thought those selections were stupid before the game,
now doesn't pop a look like a genius.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
My mind was blown when that team sheet dropped, by
the way, yeah, those selections pre game. But Turkey considered
a dark horse by so many coming into this World Cup,
on their return to the world stage. To go deep
into the tournament. We know here in Australia we have
got so many sports that we love. There's so many
footy fans, there's so many league fans around the country,
and we split our sporting talent in Turkya. It is football, Yeah,
(05:53):
from go to woe. They absolutely froth over it and
that's where the best athletes end up. And the expectations
were so high coming in. So that win the manner
of the win, the two goals even starting nessa Iaron Cornell,
which was such a question mark in the lead up
to the tournament, because we know he has this incredible
flamboyance and creativity and I love watching him ads.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
I love that you say flamboyance in creativity because that's
how someone describes a naughty, kidding class when they don't
want to say they can be a slight little shit.
And let's be honest, he can occasionally be a little
bit petulant.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
But I love that.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
One of the things I love is that you never
know what he's going to do next. And I think
he doesn't know what he's going to do next. So
you tell me how a defense is supposed to figure
out a way to stop him when none of us
have any idea what his next move might be. And
we saw him in that first game on the edge
where he loves to play his football running at defenses
or indeed using his insane speed to get on the
(06:51):
end of one of those long balls in behind, some
beautiful touch, some amazing moments. Connor Metcalf, who is a
newie boy, and you know, I'm very proud and overcast.
He scored an absolute banger and came out afterwards and
said he'd watched the replay and I was watching the
game alongside Harry Cule and in that moment Harry was like,
pars it, pass it inside. Next meet, he takes his
(07:13):
shot from distance and it's a screamer. He watched the
tape back afterwards gone and Metcalfe and was like, oh, yeah, man,
I was a long way out, wasn't I. That was spicy.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I love that He's like, I watched it and I
was also like my arms pinned in the celebration. I
didn't know what I wanted to do, Like I like,
it was all just a moment where He's like, I
watched it go in almost like a fan and went,
oh my god, it's gone in. I don't quite know
what to do, but you did just drop a name
there that's so big that I might just pick it up,
Harry Cule, Like the people that are alongside you on
(07:42):
the panel, Nevo, you're very much in good company in
that they are Australian Football Royalty or Football Royalty. Tell
us a little bit about what that's like and the
years that you've put into getting to that spot so
that you're like, yeah, this is exactly where I should be.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's I've loved I've loved watching football alongside Harry Kule.
I texted my brothers at one stage during the tournament
and you know what it's like, Abs. There's that green
room where you sit before you go on air and
there was another game on at the time and we
were talking about whether goalkeepers are just reaching that next level.
So many of the stories around this World Cup have
(08:21):
been about the goalkeepers as opposed to the out and
out strikers and whether that nine, that traditional kind of
nine role is changing in football and the way the
game is played has changed, so we don't have as
much need for the Earling Harland style finisher, who is
still such.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
A say how dare you but continue with your story?
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yes, player on the world stage. And so I'm having
this chat with Harry in the green room before and
just sitting chatting football for half an hour, and I
text my brothers afterwards and I was like, two thousand
and six, mind blown? What is this life? Right? How wild?
And he is just such a beautiful human who sees
(09:00):
the game in this really special way. And I love
One of the things I love about our talent on
this broadcast is they're all so different and they bring
different things. So Kevin Prince Boutang, who has just lived
the wildest footballing life. It's crazy, the teams that he's
played with, the players he's played against throughout his journey.
He brings such great stories and charisma and character to
(09:24):
the broadcast, and so many people connect with that. My
ten year old said to me after the first game,
she was like, Mummy, he's just really real and it's
so true. He is really real, and I love that
of you.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
You know that when the camera stopped, that's exactly who
you get.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Exactly the same. And also Harry cule the same. He
has this beautiful, thoughtful way and he slows things down.
And you know when TV we're always like say whatever
you're gonna say, say quickly and moving on to that
next year.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Because you've got voices in you. You'd be like, get
to the break, get to the break. That's it.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
And he just slows everything down and he thinks about
it and he kind of ponders and he looks away
and he brings it back to the coach and the
tactics and what they're trying to achieve, and in this
beautiful way that I think has really resonated with people
and not just mums around the country. I did send
him the be Tutor Advocate article at one stage and
he wrote back and he was like, oh, that's really nice, Nevo.
(10:15):
I'm like, no, no, what You've got to understand, is
anyone who's in the Buttuda It's it's sarcastic, Harry, like
you're in there because they're taking the piss out. Yeah,
this is unheard of. You've got to take this moment.
This is crazy. So no, it is. It is amazing ABS.
And I think in terms of that journey to get
to hear, I feel like one of the things I've
(10:37):
learned really clearly over this journey is that we all
have different roles in a broadcast, and as the host,
I think a key part of my role is to
set the tone and the energy for what we're doing,
and to bring that vibe and then to hold space
so that our experts get the opportunity to share that
incredible knowledge that they bring. So knowing and keeping the
(11:00):
audience front of mind at all times, what's the audience
talking about, what do they want to know more about
when they're on their couches at home, what are those
debates that are happening, And then looking at the panel
alongside and deciding who's best to have that conversation at
this time, who's got an alternate opinion, so that we
can have those same discussions because across all sports, right,
the wonderful thing is that we can feel so differently
(11:21):
in the same moment about the same decision or the
same piece of action that's happened. So I think I
kind of feel so happy and fortunate and grateful in
that role that I get to have a front row seat,
to hold space to hear these incredible experts who at
the top of their game for a reason share those stories.
(11:41):
Andrew Redmains spoke the other day we'd watched Argentina play Jordan,
and Redders spoke about the socc Ruse up against Argentina
at the last World Cup and one of his biggest
memories from that whole World Cup experience was going out
of the dressing rooms afterwards and the World Cup was
over for the SoC Ruse at this point. His mum
and dad were there in the crowd and had really
(12:02):
only been in Australian football crowds in the past, and
he sat with them in the stands, listening to the
Argentinian fans who remained in that stadium, singing and dancing
and chanting for hours after full time. And they sat
there and experienced that together, and it's like those spine
tingling kind of moments that even for professional footballers, are
(12:24):
so special that we then get to share and experience
and get the goosebumps by hearing those yarns.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
When you talk about those moments and especially those fan movements.
It was the USA game in particular, where there was
the shot behind gold where it was gold and only gold,
and I just thought there was something so beautiful about
hearing Australia have such an impact on the world stage, because,
let's be honest, there was a lot of talk about
a can people get into the US at the moment,
(13:03):
A lot of questions about the US even hosting a
world sports event given.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
The current climate.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The tens of thousands of ozsi's that have shown up
in full voice, they are having the most unbelievable experience
and I just think having that Ossie, I don't know,
there's something about the soccero's love that sometimes you need
a World Cup to put these faces and names back
in the Australian psyche where we fall back in love
with this side. We saw it with the Matildas, which
(13:30):
obviously was in a different way because it was a
home World Cup. But have you felt that love just
grow exponentially from the first kickoff in the game against
Turkey to where we are now.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yeah, and I love it so much. I think I
felt I've absolutely felt it grow across the course of
the torn I love the messages that I'm getting from
people saying that they're not normally football fans, they haven't
tuned into a lot of football in their lives, but
they're loving going on this journey.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I think that is so special that there is this welcome,
you know, welcome to the World Game. We are so
happy you here come and experience this with us. But
for the SOCCERUS fans going over their abs. Out of
all of those nations forty eight in the world to
qualified for this World Cup, a whole heap of very
big nations who are there ticket sale wise pre tournament,
(14:15):
the SOCCERUS Australia came in at number nine in terms
of the ticket sales. Like, we just punch above our
weight in so many different ways, so that Green and
Gold Army who are over there making themselves heard on
the streets as well as in the state.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
I was about to say, they punch above their weight
and they drink above their weight. Ah, they're very, very
impressive the soccer U's army, there's no question about that.
But you do mention that we've got some early rises
coming up because it is four am, which four am
is not a bad time. My theory is, if there's
anyone in the world that would wake up at that
time to exercise, it's not too bad. There are some
secos that get up at four am to go to
(14:51):
the gym, so therefore four am for football not too bad.
That's against Egypt this Saturday. The whole question is around
Mosalla and his general fitness. And for those who may
not follow football closely, just give us an idea about
how big a name Mosala.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Is in because there's really he is the pin up
for African football, isn't he?
Speaker 3 (15:14):
He has and has been for so long. Yeah, that's
the other thing we're seeing it this World Cup. A
number of players like Mosala, like Luca Modrich, like Lionel Messi,
who we have enjoyed watching on the world stage for
kind of our whole living memory, Right.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Messi, who if he's not touching the ball but then
gets it an explode like.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
He's thirty nine and looks about nineteen.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
It's a tack it's an a tat it's wild. I've
got some mates are over there who are Argentinian and
that joy that they are feeling again to watch Lionel
Messi on the world stage at the top of his
game once again. I mean six goals in counting right
in this World Cup. He's like, hey, another golden boot,
come at me. He's scored in seven consecutive World Cup games,
(15:57):
which is wild. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has got so many
question marks around, became the first football a male or
female to score in six consecutive World Cups. He's forty
one ass.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Which I'm like four, eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty twenty four
years from Yeah, when what at the top of his game?
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Which is wild?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
And so many question marks right around the balance within
this Portugal site, and whether he is adding value or
indeed with that quality of creative player around him, whether
he's actually a little bit of a handbreak still remarkable
regardless of where you fall. And most Salah is in
that ilk. People who watched him play for Liverpool understand
the quality of the player, and we saw him for
(16:38):
so much of his footballing life, like cutting shapes down
that right edge just incredible, the speed, the dynamism that
he brings. He's shifted into the middle of the park
a little bit more now, playing in a different role
for Egypt than we've seen him play in clubland. He's
also getting a little bit older, not as old as
those other blokes. I think he's mid thirty's most Salah,
but still a player that is leaning into other parts
(17:00):
of his game now, not just that outrageous speed.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
He's old enough that now he's got a soft tissue.
We're very wrapped with that, nevo.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Do you know what, Look you never you want to
play the best, you want to beat the best at
a side.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Don't mind him being injured, I mean might don't mind
him named being injured hamstring.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
That's got the whole world talking, even in the aftermath
of Egypt's last game. Was subbed off inside sixty minutes
and you saw him on the bench with that ice
pack around the left hammy. You can't help but having
that conversation around the fact that Egypt are a very
different team withoutout him. Yes, most football fans who are
dipping in and out of the world game are going
(17:39):
to name one Egypt player and that's most Sala and
they might talk about oh Mama Moosh from Manchester City,
but outside of that, where we're talking a guy that
their entire creative game, everything they do going forward is
based around where most Salar is his touches on the ball,
the creativity that he brings, which is imat.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Because Egypt gonna want to have the ball, They're gonna
want us to be in possession. And we've seen a
side like I mean, Papa made six changes going into
the last game, so we don't even know. He probably
doesn't even know who's going to be putting on the park,
so how Egypt meant like we're wondering, obviously who's going
to go on Sala what will that match up look like?
But also I just love the way that Tony Popovich
(18:20):
has been like I'm going to use every tool in
my kid. And some of the criticisms that we've seen
of the Matildas you know in years gone by, was
that we saw the same eleven over and over again.
It's this idea of like we just we just don't know,
and how great that is for the depth. I love
that Lucas Harrington's what like three years old, like like
the best is he's eighteen in a couple of days
(18:42):
and he's like, you know, I've been dreaming about this
since I was a kid.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
I'm like, cool since last.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Year, and that is you're going to be asked for
ID in every bar he walks into the.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Next day to drink in the States.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
And then on top of that, that was his fifth
ever game for Australia and he did not look even
the slightest bit rattle by the stage. And it's this
sort of stuff, Nevo that's really exciting me. We fielded
the youngest team. We don't have the younger squad, but
we have taken the youngest team to the field at
this World Cup, as we well know, as we just
sold our mate Leno is what thirty nine. The future
(19:15):
that we have ahead of us for the soccer US
is what's exciting. And I will play Devil's advocate here.
I think that there has been a lull in love
for the soccer Use since I think when you ask
people about soccer Use, they still do think of Harry
Cule right like in terms of those household names that
have permeated. I think this squad, the way they're going
about it, the way they're carrying themselves and also the
(19:37):
lack of selection grumpiness if that's a technical.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Term, like as in they seem to like even Maddie Ryan, who's.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Got the captain's armband, who hasn't been selected to this
point because Beach is doing such an unbelievable job, as
goalie has sort of said, you know, the boss has
been transparent with us, and I'm happy to be here
and there's just something beautiful about that.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Nevo wasn't that wild in Game one? By the way,
I think the first name on that team sheet is
Maddie Ryan, over one hundred games for his country, has
done everything he could at Levante in the lead up
to make sure he is in peak condition coming into
the world carp and neck minute as this guy from
the A leagues who's starting on the world stage, I
think that is world. Lucas Harrington, a ball playing center back,
(20:18):
talk about things you love to see in Australia. At times,
linking up those different areas of the park has been
really tough for us ABS. So what he brings from
the back going forward as well is super exciting. He
did not look overall for a single second in that
clash with Paraguay. He is so ready to be on
this stage and Nevo, there is a story about this kid.
(20:38):
And granted, I say kid, he's only just eighteen, but like.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Apparently Barcelona have made a twenty three to thirty million
that's the window that we're given by Vince Regari and
he's reporting we love Vince high Vince twenty three to
thirty million dollar transfer fee, which would be an Australian
record for this kid that has been turned down by
the Colorado Rapids to say no, he's worth more than that.
And let's not highlight how much the Brisbane raw absolutely.
(21:04):
Do you know when ABC did the Bluey deal and
said it's okay, we don't need royalties, no worries and
that last year cost the ABC over two billion dollars.
I think this is the equivalent A league deal for
the Brisbane Rawle.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
That's just peak a league. And this is one of
those times ABS where you go, that's just peak a league,
isn't it. They must be sitting there going And there
were signs were there right when he played for Brisbane
raw The signs were there that this was a defender
who has going to go places. We've seen it in
the MLS. His stats in his first year in the
MLS for Colorado Rapids are wild. He is punching right
(21:45):
at the top of defenders in that league in terms
of passes completed, in terms of touches. He is an
incredible young footballer. We're getting to see it now. For
the soccer US, he was the youngest soccerw ever to
debut when he made his debuts, younger soccer use defender
ever to debut. He's now the youngest soccer to play
at a World Cup finals, and he's completely at home there.
(22:05):
He's ready.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
The fact that a club's turning down thirshy million for
a transfer for and all I care about is that
he can't defect anywhere, and that he identifies as Australian forevermore.
And not that I not that I really want to
play this game, but hypothetically, when we do win to
get Egypt and then we progress and we're going to
(22:27):
be playing Argentina, he could line up against Lionel Messi.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I'm just saying.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
I'm just saying, if we're looking at where the Magnets
may fall, and I know that football fans hate this,
take it one week at a time stuff that I'm
getting excited.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm getting excited and so we should right, like.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Totally fair, totally fair, And that's one of those times
we're talking about whether Mosalad does or doesn't play. But
how wild as an eighteen year old who came through
the ranks at Brisbane Raw to be thinking about lining
up against Mosalah against Lionel Messi on the world stage
a couple of years later, Like, is it is mind blowing?
For Patrick Beach is going to come back and play
(23:02):
for man City in the A Leagues? For Melbourne City
Andale I've given you with it?
Speaker 1 (23:08):
What are you going to do?
Speaker 3 (23:10):
Isn't isn't that wild to think? Even Tokia the fact
that one player within that Turkia side, Artagula was worth
more club dollars than the entire Australian team. Yes, we're
punching well above our weight. Can we keep doing it?
I think we can. Abs. Can I ever name Tony
Popovich starting eleven? Absolutely not. I never never get it right.
(23:33):
He shocks me every time. Even Kushtich came out of
that game and said, I don't think the boss is
named the same starting eleven in two games in a row,
but we trust him, he knows what he's doing. We've
got his back. We believe in this approach. So I
think there are two arguments, and yeah, you use the
Matilda's example, and I think that depth is really important,
(23:54):
and he's looking at that depth and he's looking at
horses for courses and who's going to suit whatever prospect
on the other side of the comes up on that day.
I also think if you look at the teams who
win international tournaments, they have thirteen or fourteen key players,
they have nine key starters who remain their key go
(24:14):
to players throughout the duration of the tournament, and those
combinations that reliability is a really important factor and that's
what's worked in the past.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
So we're building towards that.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Yes, and in four years time, maybe we have that.
In four years time, these young fellows who are coming
through now and blowing our little minds. In four years time,
maybe they are that core team that are starting each
in every game and have ninety minutes in them. One
of the questions about Nesta and whether you start him
or whether you use him as an impact player off the.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Ball, about him not starting against the US, he used
as an.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Impact player at Clubland all the time, and he comes
on and he's got this incredible speed in dynamism against
a tiring defensive line, and I can see that argument.
I also think, why bring him on when we're already down.
Let him start from the get go. So let him
score early like he did against Takia. Put him on
the edge, give him a striker and out and out
forward like Moturey in the middle, but Motoray not.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
There's question marks about his fitness right like that. How
sparingly he's been used. There has to be something going
on there, that's it.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
And we don't know all of those comings and goings
as well.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
So there is a love We are experts on the couch.
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (25:22):
I'm basically in the camp at this point, Nevo. I
could talk to you forever, but we are sadly running
out of time, and I think someone's about to bash
down the door to get into the studio.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
However, margin against Egypt for me go on.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I love asking this question because you can look like
a genius in retrospect and or will never highlight it again.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
I think we win. I think we win one Nill.
I think we score in the second half I think
the first half is super cagey. I love that we
actually looked comfortable in possession against Paraguay. Yes, so like
a real confidence boost for me that against a team
like Egypt we will be like we can hold onto
the ball. We're good with this, we can play this
kind of football. But I think it will be super
(26:01):
tired early on and it's knockout football now. Abs that
goal has to come at some point, Please God, not penalties.
I hate penalty penalties. You talk about physically ill.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
If I could choose one occupation to never have in
my life, it would be a goalie for a national side.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Sorry vomit Ti, I'm just way.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
You're young boys. If they show any interest in football,
you've got to be like good work lads. But outfield
players all the way.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
They are domestic competitions because they are not leaving me
for Europe. I don't care how much you're earning. But Nevo,
that's a conversation for another time. And if you were
a betting woman, who would you have winning it?
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Overall?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I had France from the moment they got off the
plane looking that chic, and they have not looked like
they've got out of a cant.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
It's scary how good they are totally fair.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
I mean Embarpey and this French side.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
The attacking riches and the fact they don't really need them,
like you know, it's not built around him totally.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
And I think the question for France is how much
they're allowed to play that football that they could play
with those creative players within their team. I think that's
a good shout. I really liked Spain as well from
the get go, and I know the group stage hasn't
gone all Spain's way. That often happens at a World Cup,
though there's a stumble in the group stage and they
come home strong. I really like Spain. England I found
(27:12):
disappointing so far, but in that one good half of
football that I have seen through the group stage, I
was frothing over the kind of football that they could
play and the expectations there.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
You can't say football's coming home. You just can't. It's not.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
It's not break, not't break in the semifinals. Sorry all
of our English friends out there, but you know, there's
just there's just a way of things. There's just things.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
I can leave it there, and I am going to
say my fun fact is that Erling Harlan's collection of
just Ermez is worth over seven hundred k Australian or
I'm saying it's nice to see rich people doing rich
right because in some he hasmez, he has burkins inside
his burkins. And also it looks like a toxin has
never entered that man's body.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
And the row, can we do very? The Norway Row is.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
The best thing in world sport. Come at me with
any other suggestion.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
No, like the Times Times Square doing the row just
blew my mind. And then the pictures of primary schools
back in Norway practicing in the primary school so that
they understand how it all works going forward. I love
the players sitting down on the field at full time
doing the row themselves with the crowd.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Love.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
My fun fact is while Tony Popovich is monitoring everything.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Every salt, every calm that they he's doing these tournaments personally,
he just slid up yep one the Argentinian approach, and
who says they don't go back to back by the way,
the kind of football they're playing is have all the
family and friends around for an Argentinian barbecue free game.
I in my mind there's a glass of red wine
there as well. Perhaps not factually correct, but I love
(28:50):
that approach. Abs bring it in.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
I now identify as Argentinian with a little side of Harlenomez.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Love you, Thank you, keep doing amazing things. What are you?
Your seventy three matches into one hundred and four. I
hope that boys you, but you're not
Speaker 3 (29:10):
Who
Oh, dear listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
In the absence of Georgie Tunny, I have chosen to
punish her by having one of her absolutely favorite human
beings on the podcast to talk about one of the
biggest sporting events in the world. And if I am
going to give you an idea of how many people's
eyeballs have been on this individual in the past eighteen days,
we're talking fourteen million. It is the most viewed sporting
(00:29):
event in Australian sports history.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
As the socceros have charged.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Into the round of thirty two and everyone's gone, oh,
they're too young, they're not going to make it. Well
they have and the person who sat on the panel
alongside the experts and has shown that she is in
fact the expert is Nemos and she joins us this week.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Neba, I'm so good to see. Thank you so much
for having me on. It's lovely to see your face.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I had to put some mail on that because you
are literally Georgie's favorite person and she will be filthy
about this, but suckshit Georgie.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
You went to Europe. You just have to deal with it.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
We love you, George Nivo.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
You look radiant for someone who I can imagine has
not slept talk to people about what your hours are
like when you're covering a tournament like this, do you know?
I think one of the things to own right off
the top, ABS is that with those incredible numbers of
ossies who have been tuning in, and it's just so
amazing to see the love that the World Game and
this soccer's side have been getting. We have had daylight
(01:27):
hour games, we have had Friday pub lunches.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
We've had Sunday vo games, which is just mind blowing
for Australian football fans because we're used to doing the
hard YAKA in the middle of the night. It gets
a little bit tougher from here on in, but we
have actually had broad daylight football loving fans in pubs
and watch parties around Australia. And I love that for
all of us, including me so much. Because last World
(01:51):
Cup was almost entirely overnight, right like we were, we
were living on that opposite schedule to the norm. This
time round feels like a gift in so many ways.
There's still you know, the old one thirty am call time,
and you know how ridiculously early as chicks we have
to get in there before all of the on set
(02:12):
stuff happens. So there's still of.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Your call times are one thirty am nevo.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Yeah, well there's yeah, one thirty, two thirty, three thirty.
That's true for some of those for some of those
early games.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
But it's been worth it, hasn't it delivered as a
tournament so far? We had so many questions coming in
about the increased number of teams, the insane number of
games across the course of this five week tournament, and
we've had so few blowouts, We've had so much excitement,
so much to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
I think it's delivered ass So you are on board
because the biggest thing contention part of this tournament has
been the forty eight teams. It's the first time that
we've had a tournament like this and people laugh going yeah,
and Italy still aren't there. The joke's there to be had,
but we're not going to have it right now because
Italians will come for me. But there is something beautiful.
You need to have the minnows to be able to
(03:02):
have those upsets. I mean Cape Verdo's clean sheet against Spain.
That's just one of the highlights where you go, what
do you mean, if you are going to compare the
lives of some of these players, it's David and Glyath
but on steroids one hundred percent.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
And it's one of the things I have always loved
about the World Cup is that it introduces us to
these different nations around the world that we're not visiting
on holidays traditionally, that we haven't heard of. When Curasau qualified,
I was one of those people doing the old Google maps.
Where is Kurasau?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Where are we talking about here? These nations have the
population of Tasmania.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah, and have made five thousands or Currosau. Isn't that
wild smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup?
And yeah, they met four time champs Germany in Game one.
That score line was a blowout, which was still a
school line that Germans are familiar with and we've seen
at World Cups gone by, But you did think, oh, oh, like,
(03:56):
what a baptism of fire for this team. But ahabs
from there on in therese players who a number of
whom were born in the Netherlands and they've got kuros
our heritage, but they've lent into those Dutch colonial roots
to put together this side. They have absolutely performed and
played that football that we know the Netherlands are famous
(04:16):
for as well. So yeah, lost to Germany, but then
drew with Ecuador. So in their first two games they've
scored a goal on the world stage, they've got a
point on the world stage as well. Lost to Coote
Devoirs in the third game, which have been playing incredible
football and they're in knockout stages. So absolutely no shame
in that.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
But what about carba Verde, as you said, the the
goalie that said he couldn't afford to fly his mum
there and the shots with the tears.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
I mean, it's it's almost too much.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
But as much as we love the minnows, Australia were
very much considered by some people, loudly Americans, to be
a layup or a minnow coming into this given the inexperience,
shall we say, of the side when we be Turkey
two nil. The level of love and immediate experts that
(05:05):
happened across the country is something that I think is
unique to the World Cup, right it was, and especially
when people considering Turkey or the US to be the
two teams that were the most competitive in our group.
All yeah, talk to us about the elation that you
felt in that broadcast where you're.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Like, oh, we've a riped, We've ripped and we're here.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
And if you thought those selections were stupid before the game,
now doesn't pop a look like a genius.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
My mind was blown when that team sheet dropped, by
the way, yeah, those selections pre game. But Turkey considered
a dark horse by so many coming into this World Cup,
on their return to the world stage. To go deep
into the tournament. We know here in Australia we have
got so many sports that we love. There's so many
footy fans, there's so many league fans around the country,
and we split our sporting talent in Turkya. It is football, Yeah,
(05:53):
from go to woe. They absolutely froth over it and
that's where the best athletes end up. And the expectations
were so high coming in. So that win the manner
of the win, the two goals even starting nessa Iaron Cornell,
which was such a question mark in the lead up
to the tournament, because we know he has this incredible
flamboyance and creativity and I love watching him ads.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
I love that you say flamboyance in creativity because that's
how someone describes a naughty, kidding class when they don't
want to say they can be a slight little shit.
And let's be honest, he can occasionally be a little
bit petulant.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
But I love that.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
One of the things I love is that you never
know what he's going to do next. And I think
he doesn't know what he's going to do next. So
you tell me how a defense is supposed to figure
out a way to stop him when none of us
have any idea what his next move might be. And
we saw him in that first game on the edge
where he loves to play his football running at defenses
or indeed using his insane speed to get on the
(06:51):
end of one of those long balls in behind, some
beautiful touch, some amazing moments. Connor Metcalf, who is a
newie boy, and you know, I'm very proud and overcast.
He scored an absolute banger and came out afterwards and
said he'd watched the replay and I was watching the
game alongside Harry Cule and in that moment Harry was like,
pars it, pass it inside. Next meet, he takes his
(07:13):
shot from distance and it's a screamer. He watched the
tape back afterwards gone and Metcalfe and was like, oh, yeah, man,
I was a long way out, wasn't I. That was spicy.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
I love that He's like, I watched it and I
was also like my arms pinned in the celebration. I
didn't know what I wanted to do, Like I like,
it was all just a moment where He's like, I
watched it go in almost like a fan and went,
oh my god, it's gone in. I don't quite know
what to do, but you did just drop a name
there that's so big that I might just pick it up,
Harry Cule, Like the people that are alongside you on
(07:42):
the panel, Nevo, you're very much in good company in
that they are Australian Football Royalty or Football Royalty. Tell
us a little bit about what that's like and the
years that you've put into getting to that spot so
that you're like, yeah, this is exactly where I should be.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
It's I've loved I've loved watching football alongside Harry Kule.
I texted my brothers at one stage during the tournament
and you know what it's like, Abs. There's that green
room where you sit before you go on air and
there was another game on at the time and we
were talking about whether goalkeepers are just reaching that next level.
So many of the stories around this World Cup have
(08:21):
been about the goalkeepers as opposed to the out and
out strikers and whether that nine, that traditional kind of
nine role is changing in football and the way the
game is played has changed, so we don't have as
much need for the Earling Harland style finisher, who is
still such.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
A say how dare you but continue with your story?
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yes, player on the world stage. And so I'm having
this chat with Harry in the green room before and
just sitting chatting football for half an hour, and I
text my brothers afterwards and I was like, two thousand
and six, mind blown? What is this life? Right? How wild?
And he is just such a beautiful human who sees
(09:00):
the game in this really special way. And I love
One of the things I love about our talent on
this broadcast is they're all so different and they bring
different things. So Kevin Prince Boutang, who has just lived
the wildest footballing life. It's crazy, the teams that he's
played with, the players he's played against throughout his journey.
He brings such great stories and charisma and character to
(09:24):
the broadcast, and so many people connect with that. My
ten year old said to me after the first game,
she was like, Mummy, he's just really real and it's
so true. He is really real, and I love that
of you.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
You know that when the camera stopped, that's exactly who
you get.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Exactly the same. And also Harry cule the same. He
has this beautiful, thoughtful way and he slows things down.
And you know when TV we're always like say whatever
you're gonna say, say quickly and moving on to that
next year.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Because you've got voices in you. You'd be like, get
to the break, get to the break. That's it.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
And he just slows everything down and he thinks about
it and he kind of ponders and he looks away
and he brings it back to the coach and the
tactics and what they're trying to achieve, and in this
beautiful way that I think has really resonated with people
and not just mums around the country. I did send
him the be Tutor Advocate article at one stage and
he wrote back and he was like, oh, that's really nice, Nevo.
(10:15):
I'm like, no, no, what You've got to understand, is
anyone who's in the Buttuda It's it's sarcastic, Harry, like
you're in there because they're taking the piss out. Yeah,
this is unheard of. You've got to take this moment.
This is crazy. So no, it is. It is amazing ABS.
And I think in terms of that journey to get
to hear, I feel like one of the things I've
(10:37):
learned really clearly over this journey is that we all
have different roles in a broadcast, and as the host,
I think a key part of my role is to
set the tone and the energy for what we're doing,
and to bring that vibe and then to hold space
so that our experts get the opportunity to share that
incredible knowledge that they bring. So knowing and keeping the
(11:00):
audience front of mind at all times, what's the audience
talking about, what do they want to know more about
when they're on their couches at home, what are those
debates that are happening, And then looking at the panel
alongside and deciding who's best to have that conversation at
this time, who's got an alternate opinion, so that we
can have those same discussions because across all sports, right,
the wonderful thing is that we can feel so differently
(11:21):
in the same moment about the same decision or the
same piece of action that's happened. So I think I
kind of feel so happy and fortunate and grateful in
that role that I get to have a front row seat,
to hold space to hear these incredible experts who at
the top of their game for a reason share those stories.
(11:41):
Andrew Redmains spoke the other day we'd watched Argentina play Jordan,
and Redders spoke about the socc Ruse up against Argentina
at the last World Cup and one of his biggest
memories from that whole World Cup experience was going out
of the dressing rooms afterwards and the World Cup was
over for the SoC Ruse at this point. His mum
and dad were there in the crowd and had really
(12:02):
only been in Australian football crowds in the past, and
he sat with them in the stands, listening to the
Argentinian fans who remained in that stadium, singing and dancing
and chanting for hours after full time. And they sat
there and experienced that together, and it's like those spine
tingling kind of moments that even for professional footballers, are
(12:24):
so special that we then get to share and experience
and get the goosebumps by hearing those yarns.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
When you talk about those moments and especially those fan movements.
It was the USA game in particular, where there was
the shot behind gold where it was gold and only gold,
and I just thought there was something so beautiful about
hearing Australia have such an impact on the world stage, because,
let's be honest, there was a lot of talk about
a can people get into the US at the moment,
(13:03):
A lot of questions about the US even hosting a
world sports event given.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
The current climate.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The tens of thousands of ozsi's that have shown up
in full voice, they are having the most unbelievable experience
and I just think having that Ossie, I don't know,
there's something about the soccero's love that sometimes you need
a World Cup to put these faces and names back
in the Australian psyche where we fall back in love
with this side. We saw it with the Matildas, which
(13:30):
obviously was in a different way because it was a
home World Cup. But have you felt that love just
grow exponentially from the first kickoff in the game against
Turkey to where we are now.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Yeah, and I love it so much. I think I
felt I've absolutely felt it grow across the course of
the torn I love the messages that I'm getting from
people saying that they're not normally football fans, they haven't
tuned into a lot of football in their lives, but
they're loving going on this journey.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
I think that is so special that there is this welcome,
you know, welcome to the World Game. We are so
happy you here come and experience this with us. But
for the SOCCERUS fans going over their abs. Out of
all of those nations forty eight in the world to
qualified for this World Cup, a whole heap of very
big nations who are there ticket sale wise pre tournament,
(14:15):
the SOCCERUS Australia came in at number nine in terms
of the ticket sales. Like, we just punch above our
weight in so many different ways, so that Green and
Gold Army who are over there making themselves heard on
the streets as well as in the state.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
I was about to say, they punch above their weight
and they drink above their weight. Ah, they're very, very
impressive the soccer U's army, there's no question about that.
But you do mention that we've got some early rises
coming up because it is four am, which four am
is not a bad time. My theory is, if there's
anyone in the world that would wake up at that
time to exercise, it's not too bad. There are some
secos that get up at four am to go to
(14:51):
the gym, so therefore four am for football not too bad.
That's against Egypt this Saturday. The whole question is around
Mosalla and his general fitness. And for those who may
not follow football closely, just give us an idea about
how big a name Mosala.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Is in because there's really he is the pin up
for African football, isn't he?
Speaker 3 (15:14):
He has and has been for so long. Yeah, that's
the other thing we're seeing it this World Cup. A
number of players like Mosala, like Luca Modrich, like Lionel Messi,
who we have enjoyed watching on the world stage for
kind of our whole living memory, Right.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Messi, who if he's not touching the ball but then
gets it an explode like.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
He's thirty nine and looks about nineteen.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
It's a tack it's an a tat it's wild. I've
got some mates are over there who are Argentinian and
that joy that they are feeling again to watch Lionel
Messi on the world stage at the top of his
game once again. I mean six goals in counting right
in this World Cup. He's like, hey, another golden boot,
come at me. He's scored in seven consecutive World Cup games,
(15:57):
which is wild. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has got so many
question marks around, became the first football a male or
female to score in six consecutive World Cups. He's forty
one ass.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Which I'm like four, eight, twelve, sixteen, twenty twenty four
years from Yeah, when what at the top of his game?
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Which is wild?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
And so many question marks right around the balance within
this Portugal site, and whether he is adding value or
indeed with that quality of creative player around him, whether
he's actually a little bit of a handbreak still remarkable
regardless of where you fall. And most Salah is in
that ilk. People who watched him play for Liverpool understand
the quality of the player, and we saw him for
(16:38):
so much of his footballing life, like cutting shapes down
that right edge just incredible, the speed, the dynamism that
he brings. He's shifted into the middle of the park
a little bit more now, playing in a different role
for Egypt than we've seen him play in clubland. He's
also getting a little bit older, not as old as
those other blokes. I think he's mid thirty's most Salah,
but still a player that is leaning into other parts
(17:00):
of his game now, not just that outrageous speed.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
He's old enough that now he's got a soft tissue.
We're very wrapped with that, nevo.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
Do you know what, Look you never you want to
play the best, you want to beat the best at
a side.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Don't mind him being injured, I mean might don't mind
him named being injured hamstring.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
That's got the whole world talking, even in the aftermath
of Egypt's last game. Was subbed off inside sixty minutes
and you saw him on the bench with that ice
pack around the left hammy. You can't help but having
that conversation around the fact that Egypt are a very
different team withoutout him. Yes, most football fans who are
dipping in and out of the world game are going
(17:39):
to name one Egypt player and that's most Sala and
they might talk about oh Mama Moosh from Manchester City,
but outside of that, where we're talking a guy that
their entire creative game, everything they do going forward is
based around where most Salar is his touches on the ball,
the creativity that he brings, which is imat.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Because Egypt gonna want to have the ball, They're gonna
want us to be in possession. And we've seen a
side like I mean, Papa made six changes going into
the last game, so we don't even know. He probably
doesn't even know who's going to be putting on the park,
so how Egypt meant like we're wondering, obviously who's going
to go on Sala what will that match up look like?
But also I just love the way that Tony Popovich
(18:20):
has been like I'm going to use every tool in
my kid. And some of the criticisms that we've seen
of the Matildas you know in years gone by, was
that we saw the same eleven over and over again.
It's this idea of like we just we just don't know,
and how great that is for the depth. I love
that Lucas Harrington's what like three years old, like like
the best is he's eighteen in a couple of days
(18:42):
and he's like, you know, I've been dreaming about this
since I was a kid.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
I'm like, cool since last.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Year, and that is you're going to be asked for
ID in every bar he walks into the.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Next day to drink in the States.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
And then on top of that, that was his fifth
ever game for Australia and he did not look even
the slightest bit rattle by the stage. And it's this
sort of stuff, Nevo that's really exciting me. We fielded
the youngest team. We don't have the younger squad, but
we have taken the youngest team to the field at
this World Cup, as we well know, as we just
sold our mate Leno is what thirty nine. The future
(19:15):
that we have ahead of us for the soccer US
is what's exciting. And I will play Devil's advocate here.
I think that there has been a lull in love
for the soccer Use since I think when you ask
people about soccer Use, they still do think of Harry
Cule right like in terms of those household names that
have permeated. I think this squad, the way they're going
about it, the way they're carrying themselves and also the
(19:37):
lack of selection grumpiness if that's a technical.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Term, like as in they seem to like even Maddie Ryan, who's.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Got the captain's armband, who hasn't been selected to this
point because Beach is doing such an unbelievable job, as
goalie has sort of said, you know, the boss has
been transparent with us, and I'm happy to be here
and there's just something beautiful about that.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Nevo wasn't that wild in Game one? By the way,
I think the first name on that team sheet is
Maddie Ryan, over one hundred games for his country, has
done everything he could at Levante in the lead up
to make sure he is in peak condition coming into
the world carp and neck minute as this guy from
the A leagues who's starting on the world stage, I
think that is world. Lucas Harrington, a ball playing center back,
(20:18):
talk about things you love to see in Australia. At times,
linking up those different areas of the park has been
really tough for us ABS. So what he brings from
the back going forward as well is super exciting. He
did not look overall for a single second in that
clash with Paraguay. He is so ready to be on
this stage and Nevo, there is a story about this kid.
(20:38):
And granted, I say kid, he's only just eighteen, but like.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Apparently Barcelona have made a twenty three to thirty million
that's the window that we're given by Vince Regari and
he's reporting we love Vince high Vince twenty three to
thirty million dollar transfer fee, which would be an Australian
record for this kid that has been turned down by
the Colorado Rapids to say no, he's worth more than that.
And let's not highlight how much the Brisbane raw absolutely.
(21:04):
Do you know when ABC did the Bluey deal and
said it's okay, we don't need royalties, no worries and
that last year cost the ABC over two billion dollars.
I think this is the equivalent A league deal for
the Brisbane Rawle.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
That's just peak a league. And this is one of
those times ABS where you go, that's just peak a league,
isn't it. They must be sitting there going And there
were signs were there right when he played for Brisbane
raw The signs were there that this was a defender
who has going to go places. We've seen it in
the MLS. His stats in his first year in the
MLS for Colorado Rapids are wild. He is punching right
(21:45):
at the top of defenders in that league in terms
of passes completed, in terms of touches. He is an
incredible young footballer. We're getting to see it now. For
the soccer US, he was the youngest soccerw ever to
debut when he made his debuts, younger soccer use defender
ever to debut. He's now the youngest soccer to play
at a World Cup finals, and he's completely at home there.
(22:05):
He's ready.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
The fact that a club's turning down thirshy million for
a transfer for and all I care about is that
he can't defect anywhere, and that he identifies as Australian forevermore.
And not that I not that I really want to
play this game, but hypothetically, when we do win to
get Egypt and then we progress and we're going to
(22:27):
be playing Argentina, he could line up against Lionel Messi.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I'm just saying.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
I'm just saying, if we're looking at where the Magnets
may fall, and I know that football fans hate this,
take it one week at a time stuff that I'm
getting excited.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
I'm getting excited and so we should right, like.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Totally fair, totally fair, And that's one of those times
we're talking about whether Mosalad does or doesn't play. But
how wild as an eighteen year old who came through
the ranks at Brisbane Raw to be thinking about lining
up against Mosalah against Lionel Messi on the world stage
a couple of years later, Like, is it is mind blowing?
For Patrick Beach is going to come back and play
(23:02):
for man City in the A Leagues? For Melbourne City
Andale I've given you with it?
Speaker 1 (23:08):
What are you going to do?
Speaker 3 (23:10):
Isn't isn't that wild to think? Even Tokia the fact
that one player within that Turkia side, Artagula was worth
more club dollars than the entire Australian team. Yes, we're
punching well above our weight. Can we keep doing it?
I think we can. Abs. Can I ever name Tony
Popovich starting eleven? Absolutely not. I never never get it right.
(23:33):
He shocks me every time. Even Kushtich came out of
that game and said, I don't think the boss is
named the same starting eleven in two games in a row,
but we trust him, he knows what he's doing. We've
got his back. We believe in this approach. So I
think there are two arguments, and yeah, you use the
Matilda's example, and I think that depth is really important,
(23:54):
and he's looking at that depth and he's looking at
horses for courses and who's going to suit whatever prospect
on the other side of the comes up on that day.
I also think if you look at the teams who
win international tournaments, they have thirteen or fourteen key players,
they have nine key starters who remain their key go
(24:14):
to players throughout the duration of the tournament, and those
combinations that reliability is a really important factor and that's
what's worked in the past.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
So we're building towards that.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Yes, and in four years time, maybe we have that.
In four years time, these young fellows who are coming
through now and blowing our little minds. In four years time,
maybe they are that core team that are starting each
in every game and have ninety minutes in them. One
of the questions about Nesta and whether you start him
or whether you use him as an impact player off the.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Ball, about him not starting against the US, he used
as an.
Speaker 3 (24:46):
Impact player at Clubland all the time, and he comes
on and he's got this incredible speed in dynamism against
a tiring defensive line, and I can see that argument.
I also think, why bring him on when we're already down.
Let him start from the get go. So let him
score early like he did against Takia. Put him on
the edge, give him a striker and out and out
forward like Moturey in the middle, but Motoray not.
Speaker 2 (25:08):
There's question marks about his fitness right like that. How
sparingly he's been used. There has to be something going
on there, that's it.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
And we don't know all of those comings and goings
as well.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
So there is a love We are experts on the couch.
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (25:22):
I'm basically in the camp at this point, Nevo. I
could talk to you forever, but we are sadly running
out of time, and I think someone's about to bash
down the door to get into the studio.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
However, margin against Egypt for me go on.
Speaker 2 (25:34):
I love asking this question because you can look like
a genius in retrospect and or will never highlight it again.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
I think we win. I think we win one Nill.
I think we score in the second half I think
the first half is super cagey. I love that we
actually looked comfortable in possession against Paraguay. Yes, so like
a real confidence boost for me that against a team
like Egypt we will be like we can hold onto
the ball. We're good with this, we can play this
kind of football. But I think it will be super
(26:01):
tired early on and it's knockout football now. Abs that
goal has to come at some point, Please God, not penalties.
I hate penalty penalties. You talk about physically ill.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
If I could choose one occupation to never have in
my life, it would be a goalie for a national side.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Sorry vomit Ti, I'm just way.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
You're young boys. If they show any interest in football,
you've got to be like good work lads. But outfield
players all the way.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
They are domestic competitions because they are not leaving me
for Europe. I don't care how much you're earning. But Nevo,
that's a conversation for another time. And if you were
a betting woman, who would you have winning it?
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Overall?
Speaker 2 (26:33):
I had France from the moment they got off the
plane looking that chic, and they have not looked like
they've got out of a cant.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
It's scary how good they are totally fair.
Speaker 3 (26:41):
I mean Embarpey and this French side.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
The attacking riches and the fact they don't really need them,
like you know, it's not built around him totally.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
And I think the question for France is how much
they're allowed to play that football that they could play
with those creative players within their team. I think that's
a good shout. I really liked Spain as well from
the get go, and I know the group stage hasn't
gone all Spain's way. That often happens at a World Cup,
though there's a stumble in the group stage and they
come home strong. I really like Spain. England I found
(27:12):
disappointing so far, but in that one good half of
football that I have seen through the group stage, I
was frothing over the kind of football that they could
play and the expectations there.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
You can't say football's coming home. You just can't. It's not.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
It's not break, not't break in the semifinals. Sorry all
of our English friends out there, but you know, there's
just there's just a way of things. There's just things.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
I can leave it there, and I am going to
say my fun fact is that Erling Harlan's collection of
just Ermez is worth over seven hundred k Australian or
I'm saying it's nice to see rich people doing rich
right because in some he hasmez, he has burkins inside
his burkins. And also it looks like a toxin has
never entered that man's body.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
And the row, can we do very? The Norway Row is.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
The best thing in world sport. Come at me with
any other suggestion.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
No, like the Times Times Square doing the row just
blew my mind. And then the pictures of primary schools
back in Norway practicing in the primary school so that
they understand how it all works going forward. I love
the players sitting down on the field at full time
doing the row themselves with the crowd.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Love.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
My fun fact is while Tony Popovich is monitoring everything.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Every salt, every calm that they he's doing these tournaments personally,
he just slid up yep one the Argentinian approach, and
who says they don't go back to back by the way,
the kind of football they're playing is have all the
family and friends around for an Argentinian barbecue free game.
I in my mind there's a glass of red wine
there as well. Perhaps not factually correct, but I love
(28:50):
that approach. Abs bring it in.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
I now identify as Argentinian with a little side of Harlenomez.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Love you, Thank you, keep doing amazing things. What are you?
Your seventy three matches into one hundred and four. I
hope that boys you, but you're not
Speaker 3 (29:10):
Who
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