July 15, 2025 • 36 mins
It’s the final countdown.
The group stage of the Women’s Euro is done and dusted, leaving eight teams to compete in this week’s knockout round. On this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive deep on two teams, No. 6 Sweden and No. 10 France, that could finally turn their respective country’s luck around and hoist the trophy. Is this the year a bridesmaid finally becomes a bride?
Show notes:
Episode #473: Women’s Euro: Will England survive the Group of Death?
Episode #475: See ya never: Red Bull fires Christian Horner
More on The GIST:
☎️ Leave us a voicemail! Call us at 1-437-564-5579 or hold down on this link
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod
✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com
📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa
🐦 X: @thegistpod
The group stage of the Women’s Euro is done and dusted, leaving eight teams to compete in this week’s knockout round. On this episode of The GIST of It, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz dive deep on two teams, No. 6 Sweden and No. 10 France, that could finally turn their respective country’s luck around and hoist the trophy. Is this the year a bridesmaid finally becomes a bride?
Show notes:
Episode #473: Women’s Euro: Will England survive the Group of Death?
Episode #475: See ya never: Red Bull fires Christian Horner
More on The GIST:
☎️ Leave us a voicemail! Call us at 1-437-564-5579 or hold down on this link
🎧 Subscribe: thegistsports.com/subscribepod
✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com
📷 Instagram: @thegistca @thegistusa
🐦 X: @thegistpod
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
What's up y'all, Hope you had a great weekend. Welcome
or welcome back to another episode of The Gist of It.
Today is Tuesday, July fifteenth, and it is a squatch
out there.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We're your co hosts. I'm Ellen Hisslop.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
And I'm Sepharrots looking at Ellen wearing a sweatshirt.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Looking at Ellen enjoying the air conditioning that I have
in my sister's apartment that I'm currently hanging out dad,
because that we don't really have but I don't really
have AC in my house, but you also don't have AC.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Well, I have to turn it off for the podcast
because it's.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Very loud, right, It is very loud. That's so true.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
We were hearing a lot of it in the background,
and we thank you so much, Steph for doing that
for us so that we can actually are your wonderful always. Yeah,
we know that it's so hard right now during the
summer months and it's hot outside, but it's also been
so hot in the sports world. Normally summer is slow
in sports, but not this year. It was a very
(01:02):
wild weekend in summer sports. And there's so much that
we could have covered today, but we decided that we
wanted to give our attention to women's soccer because the
UEFA Women's Euro Quarterfinals are set and the competition so
far has been so fierce, the games have been so good,
the players have been providing us with NonStop tape to
(01:25):
tape action. It has been so much fun and so
ahead of the quarters, we're going to call out a
few of our favorite storylines before the knockout rounds be
in and they're beginning tomorrow, so Wednesday if you're listening
to this on Tuesday, and we're also going to shout
out some NWSL stars who are stealing the spotlight in Switzerland. Again,
whether you're a women's soccer fan just on the international side,
(01:48):
whether you're a soccer fan period, or you're just an
NWSL fan. We promised the quarters is worth worth watching
and the knockout stage is worth watching, and that this
podcast is worth listening to as a result as well.
Did you say tape to tape tape to tape, which
would technically be a hockey expression, but I just mean
(02:08):
from start to finish it means the same thing.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, okay, okay, yeah, speaking of eros, I am trying
to convert folks into watching the Euros because I'm on
the sideline taking my constant water bricks at soccer saying
I'm going.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Hey, you're watching the women's eros and I always wondering.
I'm saying, let me.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Tell you about it.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
That'd be so fun to go to a bar and
watch with some friends on your team stuff. Also, how
is playing soccer in this heat? And I think, wherever
you are in North America right now, and assuming the
majority of our listeners are in North America, it's hot,
and so how are you managing playing soccer stuff?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I think I'm starting to reclimatize. Mind you, we play
as the sun is setting, thankfully on mid day. If
it was midday, I think I would actually quit.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah, I feel so bad for all of those kids
playing tournaments in the middle of this day, when it's
the humid is wild, or the sun is beating down
on them. I just hope that they are implementing actual
water breaks in all summer sports like soccer and baseball.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
It feels so needed. Other it's dangerous. It's very dangerous.
And I know that you're about to call inaudible about
something else.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
But I do.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
That's also dangerous.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
On that topic, there was a really really great episode
of Full Time with Meg lennon hand. It's a women's
soccer podcast through the Athletic specifically focused on the effects
of climate change in women's soccer, and I thought, oh,
very important listen. And it felt like, really comforted me
in the sense that there are people talking about the
fact that this is so hot and it affects the
(03:39):
players and the athletic staff and the fans, and that
these discussions can now happen openly.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You even posted that on your Instagram stories. And when
you post something on your Instagram stories, I know.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I loved with it. I know that you love it.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
And that's why whenever I'm in your Instagram stories, I go, oh,
she loves me.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I do love you.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I love calling you out on my Instagram.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Sorry.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I had so many people ask why is Ellen bullying
you because you're wearing a bandana and Soccer said, because
it's not.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
What you wear in soccer a because it's our thing
and because I'm an older sister.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, that's all they do.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
You know, you have to have fun, you have to
poke fun, and I do want to poke fun at
someone else. Actually, right now, Seph, I really want to
call an audible before we get into our one big
story about the Women's Euros and talk about Trump being
booed at the FIFA Club World Cup final and essentially
(04:37):
also what happened at the FIFA Club World Cup final. So, Steph,
I think we chatted about the Club World Cup on
the podcast before, where we were kind of talking about
how there wasn't that many people actually attending, and we
gave background on that it's all the top clubs in
the world playing against each other in the US is
kind of this preamble to next year's FIFA World Cup,
(04:58):
which is international teams.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
We talk chat about that on the podcast, right, Yes,
you did not dream that that happened.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Okay, Okay, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Sometimes, you know when you feel like you're like we
had did we have this conversation or was I talking
to somebody else about it? When you're talking about sports
all the time, it gets less than the sauce.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Also, sometimes I have really realistic dreams, and so I
wonder if this happened while I was sleeping or in
real life.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I love it when you voice to me about your dreams.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Okay, well, then now you're locked in, you're gonna keep
getting them continue that.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
It makes me so happy because I love lucid dreaming too,
and I love it when you can make decisions in
your dreams.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Anyway, this is a.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Decision that maybe I actually would have made it about
dreams too, because in case you missed it, the FIFA
Club World Cup Final was on Sunday at MetLife Stadium
in New Jersey, home of the New York Giants and
New York Jets, and also famously where I got to
watch Cowboy Carter.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And Beyonce in the pouring rain.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Chelsea beat Paris Saint Jermaine three nail, which was I
would say a pretty big upset considering PSG won the
Champions League in the spring. And it was really interesting,
Steph because as part of all sports, somehow, some way,
a president or a prime minister or a leader of
(06:13):
something ends up on the fields.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And Trump walked onto the field with FIFA.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
President Gianni and Fantino after the game and was met
with booze from the crowd, which was really awkward for him.
By the crowd. It's New York, it's New Jersey. They're
going to give you the honest truth. They're going to
tell you how you're feeling. So he got booed.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And then the.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Thing that makes me so frustrated why I wanted to
pick on Trump in this moment too, is that after
that so he gets booed, he goes on with Giohnny
and Fantino, and while the Chelsea team is getting their trophy.
So during their trophy presentation, Trump stood in the middle
(06:57):
of the team and so you can see all of
these teams photo Steph. The fellas are having a great time,
the streamers are coming down, they're getting the trophy, they're
jumping in the air, and Trump is literally in the
middle of it, somehow finding a way to insert himself
into their moment, which just seems so odd to me.
We have never seen that ever before in any celebration
(07:22):
in North American sports history, at least for as long
as I've been alive, Like truly have never seen this,
and so I found it so interesting also how the
teams responded. So Chelsea striker Cole Palmer, who scored two
goals in the final, told the Athletic quote, I was
a bit confused. I knew he was going to be there,
but I didn't know he would be on the stage
(07:43):
when we lifted the trophy end quote. And I really
don't think that anyone thought that he was going to
be there either step, because even Infantino, the FIFA President,
he walked off and he was kind of like, Trump,
come with me, and Trump was like, nah, I'm just
gonna rock out with these guys in the middle of
their trophy presentation.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I really hope this doesn't become a trend because the
US is hosting so many major events in the coming years.
So we have, of course the World Cup coming, we
have the Summer Olympics that are happening in la Like.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
There's just so much that I'm like.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Please someone keep him off those stages, because yeah, it
was so icky and awkward, and obviously the players were
a bit annoyed.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
The players were so frustrated.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
The captain of Chelsea looks like he has there's I
love the lip readers out there.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
He looks like he asked Trump are you going to leave?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Like during the presentation, which I'm like, shout out to
the captain, like Trump literally has nothing to do with
Chelsea winning the FIFA Club World Cup. But I think
to your point, stuff that to me is the zooming
out of this story is what is he going to do?
What is this office going to do during the FIFA
(08:54):
World Cup, during the Olympics, and how does he continually
make it about him and people talking about him as
opposed to I think sports really are the safe space
for or should be, not always are, but sports are
supposed to be the safe space for everyone, regardless of
your race, religion, who you vote for.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
What have you.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
It's supposed to be the space where people are connecting,
regardless over something that they love and this entertainment piece
that they love. And if he continually inserts himself, I
do think that it detracts from sports being this really
unique connector. And we saw that with the NFL and
Colin Kaepernick during his first term, and I get really
nervous about what this could potentially mean for this upcoming
(09:37):
NFL season, even let alone all of these international events.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Like if he keeps showing up, you mean, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It was kind of metaphorical in the sense because this
administration and Trump have inserted themselves so fiercely into the
conversation of women's sports and safety quote unquote, and have
done some really just terrible things in the name of
keeping women's sports quote unquote safe. Obviously you can tell
(10:05):
my tone what my thoughts are about that. So it
is a little bit metaphorical that he is so visibly
inserting himself into this celebration even though it's not women's sports.
I know that, but that's exactly where my brain goes.
It's like, dude, get out.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Dude, get out.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
All right, as we discuss, the group stage of the
Women's hero is complete and eight teams have advanced to
the knockout stage.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Again.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
I love international women's soccer so much. I have been
not able to watch all the game stuff because they're
during the day and we famously have jobs and things
to do at the Gist so that we can record
this podcast. But I've been watching the highlights every single evening,
every single morning when I can, and I have been
having so much fun. And I've also been watching the
(10:57):
highlights in long form, and it's just it's such amazing soccer.
So anyway, let's talk about whose advance to the knockout stage.
World number two, Spain no surprise, World number three, Germany
number five, England number six, Sweden number ten, France number
thirteen Italy and host country number twenty three Switzerland. A
(11:17):
really quick note here. We talked about the Group of
Death being Group D on multiple podcasts. We've talked about
it on our newsletter as well. And England and France
made it out of that group of death, and the
Netherlands didn't, and Vivian Medema, my girl, my goalscorer, didn't
make it out of the group stage.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I'm so sorry.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
I thought you.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
I was really sad about that.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yeah, but of course these are seven of the eight
highest ranked teams, so that group of Death was a
little bit much. But things are kind of as expected
here and the one exception to that might be Switzerland,
who stunned their way into the knockout stage after shocking
number twenty six Finland in the final game of their
group stage. They may have a little bit of a.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
Home court home field advantage.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Do we say that, we'd say home field advantage.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
And this is the first time that Switzerland has ever
made it into the quarters, I believe, of any international tournament.
I am pretty sure will need to fact check me
on that, but I think that that is so freaking
cool that Switzerland is doing it. On to your point
stuff like on their home turf. And also I think
(12:29):
that at the same time, the Swiss are also really
progressive people, and it's been so cool to see the
Swiss people come out and droves to watch this tournament
and to set records and to really be behind all
of their women as well. And I think that it's
setting them up for success for hopefully an amazing FIFA
Women's World Cup two as a team.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
So I just I'm really happy for Switzerland.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
There's just so much to be happy for.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
The four quarterfinal games this very week, one every day
starting at three pm Eastern time again tomorrow, so Wednesday
through to Saturday. So those are your plans? Have them
on the background maybe. So the first match is going
to be Norway and Italy, second match will be Sweden
in England, third Spain and Switzerland, and then finally on
(13:16):
Saturday we have France and Germany.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I can tell that that's what you're most excited for.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Also, all of this, don't you just want you could
we could think about this from a soccer perspective, but
I also think it would be so fun to be
like between each of these, where would.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
You want to travel?
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Oh? Of course?
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (13:35):
You want your okay hot take Norway.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Oh, I did my exchange in Norway. I lived in Norway.
That place is amazing.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Yeah, I mean kay.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
So I've already been in Italy, and I love all
of these pictures coming out of Norway. AnyWho, Sweden, England,
I've already been England, haven't been to Sweden, and so
I would do that. Spain in Switzerland, I've already been
in Spain, haven't been in Switzerland. So there's that in
France and Germany. Been to both Germany.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
I appreciate how at least for the actually for all
of them, you chose the cooler climate.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Obviously.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
When I was in Spain, Ellen, I was bolting to
the car to put the AC on.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I was, I can't not well.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I can't imagine the amount of sunscreen that would have
gone on.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
I had a big throughout that trip.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Big T shirt, all of it.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
All these places would be amazing to visit. Now I'm like, okay,
I'm gonna be watching everyone's European summer. I was more
so just thinking about that. That as a question for you,
I go For me, I really can't decide, Yeah, I really,
I really can't decide right now. I've always wanted to
go to Germany, and I'm too, and so I feel
(14:41):
like Germany is the main one that I'd like to visit.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
There.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
I have had the opportunity to go to every other
country except for Sweden, so I am very lucky.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
We need more beer gardens here, yeah, in North America outside,
come on, get to it.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
It's happening anyway, So travel aside.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Instead of focusing on the big dogs like Spain in England,
we want to focus on two perennial bridesmaids, Sweden and France.
And like they're still big dogs, but they are bridesmaids
in that they both appear poised to make strong runs
literally always, but I feel like they lack that like
final last step to score that winning goal to help
(15:19):
them win an international tournament. Finally, I do feel like
both Sweden and France have a really good chance of
making it on to the quarterfinals. And I would say,
in particular, I think Sweden over England has a really
good chance of making it onto the semi final, but
they always just like miss it by a little bit.
(15:39):
And so we want to get into those two teams today.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
So let's start with Sweden. The question here is are
they finally pecking at the right place at.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
The right time.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
They have not given an inch during this particular tournament,
winning all three of their group stage games, including an
astounding for one one win over Germany to clinch the
group back on Saturday. So it's no small feat to
defeat Germany. They obviously still advance. They are the third
best team in the world, and this was Sweden's first
(16:13):
tournament win against Germany and seven attempts at the Euros.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yes, and that's part of the bridesmaid of a mile
of it all Sweden, Steph. They are such a good team.
You're in and you're out. Their chemistry is insane. Their
defense is undeniable. I love them so much on defense.
You would enjoy watching them so much, Steph, because when
you talk about not giving an inch, it is so
hard to score on Sweden. If you have the opportunity
(16:38):
to score a goal or even get a target on net.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Like you're lucky against Sweden. That's how good they are.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
They've only won the tournament the Euros once in nineteen
eighty four, but they have been runners up three times
in the past ten years, and so that's the thing
that's why we're all that's why we're saying that they
are always the brides made, is that like they just
can't seem to finally win. And that's why it feels
like potentially this year is different. As you said, stuff
(17:07):
like beating Germany is a big feat and it feels
like there's also this huge amount of Sweden supporters in
the stadium that are so loud and are so proud
that are energizing these women potentially to victory.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
So we'll see.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Yeah, and you said ten years, but it's the past
ten tournaments because of course the Euros aren't everywhere. Do
you want to just be their quick live at it there, Yeah,
no problem, thank you.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
So that is the live fact check.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
But their head coach has likened the atmosphere at these
Euros to a home match for Sweden, so that has
to be something to it. For the coach to say
something like that, that's pretty bold. There's just when you
look at their previous games, it's just a wall of
yellow supporters singing from the beginning of the end to
the end of the game. That's what I love about
soccer is I love how participatory it is for the
(17:58):
fans and how into.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
It everybody gets. I love that about soccer.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
That was such a good word to use and to
pull that out that was really good also. Step So
England and Sweden have played each other a lot. In
twenty twenty two, which was the most recent edition of
the tournament, England knocks Sweden out of the euro in
the semifinal en route to their championship win. And so
I do feel like Sweden has this chip on their
(18:22):
shoulder and I think part of that is the biggest
reason as to why I think that this might be
the game to watch this week, which will be on
Thursday at three pm Eastern.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
We're going to highlight two players in this matchup.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Thing, so we're going to talk about one Swedish in
one French.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
So to wrap up things on Sweden, we're going to
keep an eye out on forward Sina Blackstinius, who has
scored two goals in three games. And black Stenius has
also scored the winning goal in Arsenal's Champions.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
League went earlier this year, so.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
She's well known by the English. She's such a powerhouse,
so she's definitely went to watch in this particular matchup.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
It'll be really interesting to see how England shuts her down.
So that is Sweden, and that's a little bit how
we think that Sweden might actually have the opportunity to
be England, and maybe.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
The NWSL is looking for them to be England. So
there's less fandom happening there.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
But let's transition and talk about France and we can
Francophone anything that we want here stuff. We can add
any jinesequa that you want onto any of these.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Names this era.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
One of the hottest stars of this particular tournament is
actually a budding NWSL superstar. So speaking about the NWSL,
French fid Delphine Cascarino. Cascarino plays for the NWSL San
Diego Wave FC and she was the star of France's
final group stage last Sunday, Les Blain. We're trailing two
to one at halftime against your beloved the Netherlands, and
(19:51):
he died at least a draw to top group D
and then boom incomes Cascarino who scored two goals in
four minutes.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Gotta love it.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
People who score like that and people who heard that clutch,
I want to know.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
What's in their DNA, Steff, you know what I mean?
Like there are just goal scorers.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
They just they have this innate ability to put the
ball in the back of the net. I don't know
if you've seen any Leo Messi highlights recently, Steph, but
he has scored two goals in every game for the
last five MLS games, and he posted.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
In your story recently.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Yeah, I posted that my.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Story because I was like, those those goals were diabolical
and it's just messy finding a way to get to
the back of the net. And I don't want to
hear about like MLS being easier than European soccer. We
know that that's nothing new, but still like, he is
that guy, and in this case, Cascarino is that girl
for France, and I think they really need to be
(20:49):
thinking about though, how Germany is going to be defending her,
because Germany, they've they've been touch and go i'd say
a little bit this tournament, Steph. I expected a little
bit more of from their defensive end, but they are
known to play pretty lockdown d i'd say on particular players,
and I think that they will be trying their best
to i don't know, go head to head, but also
(21:12):
potentially play a little bit more zone against Cascarino and
constantly know where she is on the pitch.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
It is really exciting, though, to have an NWSL player
making such a big splash and making such a big
name for herself at the Euros and she's not She's
not an American or Canadian, you know what I mean.
Like talking about the NWSL, eighteen players in the tournament
do play in the NWSL, which just really speaks to
(21:37):
the growth I would say of American football, American soccer,
because every league kind of has their own style and
flare and way that they play, and it is really
exciting to see that melding at the Euros as well,
and not just in Canada and the US, in Mexico.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
I think that is so cool step and that growth
of women's soccer is such an interesting point. We covered
this in our Women's Sports Business News, but Fox at
least through the first couple of games in the group
stage saw their highest ever euro viewership on English broadcasts ever,
and so that I think is really cool.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
It was I think England and France, so it was
a big game.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
There's a lot of controversy, there was that var issue
that we were talking about, but it is really cool
that North America is getting so involved in this tournament,
and it isn't just the Canadian women's national team. It
isn't just the US women's national team that is driving interest.
And I also do think that that speaks to the
mosaic that is North America as well, and the different
types of fandom that we all have from whatever upbringing.
(22:38):
We have to cheer for all of these different teams
that are playing in the Euros.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
So France's matchup here that we're talking about. We did
mention in a previous episode when we were talking about
the Euros that it is in a younger team, a
less experienced team, but they've been playing incredibly well and
Caserino obviously the huge part of that. But nine different
players have scored for the French team so far, and
(23:04):
that is a testament to the team's depth and it
is really showing that maybe this new approach that the
coach is taking this year is perhaps working.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
It is maybe will maybe exactly.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I think it's like it works through the Group of death,
which is a big check mark. But I think the
next is can they play in that knockout stage round,
because that's a big thing with young players and with
new players, they don't really necessarily have that experience on
the international stage in the playoffs, and that's basically where
we're at right now, is that it's playoffs and when
(23:37):
you're playing someone like Germany, who was a twenty twenty
two eurofinalist, that's really hard. Germany also has a really
young team like France, but there are still some key
and core veterans to that team that I think will
really help them as they're entering the knockout stage.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
The good news for frances Germany does look a little
bit vulnerable, having lost four to one against Sweden in
their final group stage game.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
So let's see how this shakes out.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
This particular matchup is going to be on Saturday at
three pm. It's time for our personal training SASH. This
is where we would absolutely love. It would be an
honor and a privilege to answer your heart hidden questions
(24:26):
about anything, and we mean anything in the sports world.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
And it could be questions, it could be commentary, it
could be suggestions. As you've probably listened in the last
couple episodes, we've been lucky enough digesters are so smart
like you guys are asking such incredible, thought provoking questions.
We're loving all of these conversations, and if you'd like
to be featured on a future episode, please call us
and leave us a voicemail at one four three seven
(24:51):
five six four five five seven nine. We also have
that number in the show notes and you can just
hold down the link. You can email us at pod
at the justsports dot com, or you can message me
or Steph on Instagram. I'm Ellen Ethagists and Steph is
at Stephanie Rotts. But in today's Personal Training SESSH, we
are taking a question from Tyli G who dmd me
(25:12):
on IG about our recent F one episode. So the
episode that was released on Thursday.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
So I'm gonna go ahead and read that one out, okay,
so quote. I'm a long time the Gist of It
listener and I had a comment slash thought about the
episode that dropped yesterday for context. I also love Drive
to Survive and I'm also a clinical social worker who
works with survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence. I
found this season so disappointing. In TVH, I stopped watching
(25:39):
after their coverage of the Christian Horner quote unquote scandal.
It felt as if it was true Christian Horner and
Red Bull PR, which was so, so so upsetting. Do
you also have a hard time separating the PR machine
that the show has turned into with some of the
folks lived experience, love the podcast and you and Steph end.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Quote, First Tally, thank you so much for submitting this
question and also for doing what you do that is
not an easy job. But we truly like the world
is a better place because you are in it and
people like you are in it, and you are doing
everything that you can to help survivors of sexual and
(26:18):
domestic violence navigate the trauma that they've experienced. So, first
of all, thank you, We applaud you for everything that
you're doing. Second, this is such a This question really
made me pause and really made me think and also
think about me as a consumer and my consumption habits
and what I fall into maybe being too fanatic potentially
(26:42):
sometimes and not taking a step back and really understanding
what I am contributing to as a fan. I find
it really difficult to your point, Tally of separating I
am a fan of F one, I am a fan
of to Survive and how they necessarily covered everything that
happened with Christian Horner I was not thrilled about and
(27:03):
I did think that it was glossed over. And I
do think that Red Bull glossed over F one potentially
glossed over a little bit. Netflix could have definitely dug
into things in a different way. Where I struggle with
is that I don't want that to take away my
joy of a fan or my joy of someone who
(27:25):
watches that show. And so I really struggle because I
know though that by me watching that show and by
me watching F one, and by people buying Red Bull
merchandise or whatever, it is continuing to make those people richer,
to make the sport bigger, and then potentially cover up
more of these things that might have happened with Christian Horner,
(27:46):
And so I really struggle with that with F one,
and i'd say as a massive NFL fan, I also
really struggle with that too, with certain players in the
NFL and what we've seen there and a big like
men's sports fan, you know, And so I grapple with
that a lot while at the same time trying to
be like, the joy that I have is from these sports,
Like I literally almost cried thinking about football coming back.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
The other day.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
I saw a Montage and I was like, oh my god,
my Sundays are about to change. My life is about
to get twenty times better. I literally cannot wait. So
it's really difficult, and I have a really hard time
being reflective or introspective as much as I think that
I should as a fan.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
And with Red Bull two, because I'm not. I don't
watch all of drives to survive as a disclaimer, not
because I'm knocking it. I just I haven't made the time,
and I will make the time, and I promise. But
with Red Bull two, I think, well, they sponsor so
much of women's hockey, Like Hillary Knight has been sponsored
by Red Bull for so long before there was even
the PWHL that league even existed. They continue to sponsor
(28:48):
so many of my favorite women hockey players, and so
I get really conflicted with the sponsorship piece too, because
there are certain sponsors that step in in certain avenues
and certain sports for women that others don't, and so
there's like a layer of that for me. I was
thinking about this recently because I devoured season two of
(29:11):
America Sweethearts the Dallas Cowboy Chielers, You really did. I
sat down one night it was a heat wave, so
I wasn't going out, and I watched it pretty much
from start to finished, to give or take maybe one episode.
And I really struggle with that show because I find
it so entertaining and I respect the work that those
women do so hold hardly and I believe that they
(29:32):
needed that raise of four hundred percent raise, and I
think the amount of esthetic labor, like just physical labor
that they do from like an athleticism point of view,
but also the emotional labor that they're supposed to do
for their communities, and just the way that they're supposed
to act, and they're upheld to this such a high
high standard that male athletes don't help to. I do
(29:53):
feel a little bit guilty that I'm feeding into that
because there's just so much expectation and there's just so
much embroiled with the patriarchy and misogyny in that show,
with what is expected of these women.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
But I tune in and I'll watch post seasons, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
So it is really really, really hard as a conscious
consumer to be in the sports world.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
I think sometimes too.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Yeah, and I think, like I do think the good thing,
and I think tally people like you, I would say
sports have gotten a lot better since we became sports
fans in the nineties and the early two thousands.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
I think that we have.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Seen major leagues like the NFL, like the NHL, like
the NWSL, like the WNBA, make major strides and make
major statements in ways that they.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Never would have before.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
And I think a part of that is because of again,
people like Tally speaking out and letting them know how
they feel and letting them know that there is this
different consumer, mostly this female consumer or this queer consumer
that wants to be a part of this community and
could be such an asset to this community and really
wants to be a part of that world. And I
(31:03):
do think that finally sports is opening up to.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Us in a little bit of a different way.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
There's still going to be moments of disappointment in sports,
and I think that it's always going to be hard
to reckon with that, and it's always going to be
hard for us to decide where we want to move
with that. And I think that it is a super
personal decision. So I don't know if it will ever
go away fully and I don't know if we'll ever
(31:29):
have that tough decision making being taken out of our
lives as a sports fan period, whether it's men's sports
or women's sports.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
But it's also totally valid if you want them to
turn back your fandom, you know what I mean, Like, Yeah,
you want to be vocal and talk about it and
reach out and say these things and write emails and
comment and all that good stuff, because I do think
that that matters. Like I have a really hard time
watching the NHL as someone who grew up in the
hockey world and knowing so intimately the violence that exists
(31:58):
from men in that space. And so to me, they
need to turn back my fandom. And as long as
the p WHL exists, I just have I just don't
really feel the need to be a die hard NHL
fan at this point in time because but once they
start allowing Pride tape and once they start changing their tune,
then look at my viewership.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Yeah, And I.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Would say, Stef, it's been really interesting watching you as
an NHL fan, I think over the last three years,
because I do think that your fandom has slowly increased
when you're starting to see the PWHL players are part
of all star games, you're seeing justin Bieber and that
crossover and his inner child healing from something like hockey.
But I think to your point too, you are also
seeing you're a fan of those organizations or those players
(32:40):
like a Connor McDavid or the Edmonton Oilers who are like, no,
this is what we stand for in this p Pony.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Club, Pink Pony Club, and.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
You're tuning in and like what Connor McDavid says about
Pride tape, He's like, why this is so silly?
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Why aren't we doing this like that?
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Those are the people and those are the moments that
they're gonna want us to come and watch again.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
And I think that's where F.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
One, there were at least certain individuals and people who
were calling out what was happening with Christian Horner.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
If it was from a malicious intent because they were like,
let's get him out so that we could beat Red
Bull because he is a good principle, you know what
I mean, or if it was from a true intent
of like, if this at all happened, he needs to
be gone, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And so I think.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
I like to believe that someone like a Lewis Hamilton
or a total Wolf is on the right side of
history in that and that there are good actors and
any organization.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
And I'm so grateful for the just because I honestly
haven't worked for you guys for the entirety of your existence,
but I remember it was like the first space on
social media where I could go on Instagram and the
comments weren't flooded with hate and make me a sandwich
misogyny about women's sports. And so I am so grateful
for this question, for your commentary, Tally, and just the
(33:59):
community been built here.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
So thank you, Ellen, this thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
To all of our gisterers in our community. It literally
wouldn't be what it is without all of you. So
thank you all for tuning in and for listening. I
feel like that's a great way to end today's episode.
We truly are so grateful. We will be back in
your feed with a new podcast on Thursday. But in
the meantime, you know the drill. If you enjoyed this episode,
rate review, and subscribe, it really does help us get
(34:25):
into the podcast algorithm so that other people can.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Find the show.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
This episode was edited by Savannah Halt and produced by
Lisa Minutillo and Alessandra Puccio again.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
I'm Steph Ratz and I'm Ellen Hislop. Enjoy all of
the euro action. Give us a show if you have
any questions, thoughts
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Feelings about anything we talked about today, and we'll chat
with you again on Thursday at
What's up y'all, Hope you had a great weekend. Welcome
or welcome back to another episode of The Gist of It.
Today is Tuesday, July fifteenth, and it is a squatch
out there.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
We're your co hosts. I'm Ellen Hisslop.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
And I'm Sepharrots looking at Ellen wearing a sweatshirt.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Looking at Ellen enjoying the air conditioning that I have
in my sister's apartment that I'm currently hanging out dad,
because that we don't really have but I don't really
have AC in my house, but you also don't have AC.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Well, I have to turn it off for the podcast
because it's.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Very loud, right, It is very loud. That's so true.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
We were hearing a lot of it in the background,
and we thank you so much, Steph for doing that
for us so that we can actually are your wonderful always. Yeah,
we know that it's so hard right now during the
summer months and it's hot outside, but it's also been
so hot in the sports world. Normally summer is slow
in sports, but not this year. It was a very
(01:02):
wild weekend in summer sports. And there's so much that
we could have covered today, but we decided that we
wanted to give our attention to women's soccer because the
UEFA Women's Euro Quarterfinals are set and the competition so
far has been so fierce, the games have been so good,
the players have been providing us with NonStop tape to
(01:25):
tape action. It has been so much fun and so
ahead of the quarters, we're going to call out a
few of our favorite storylines before the knockout rounds be
in and they're beginning tomorrow, so Wednesday if you're listening
to this on Tuesday, and we're also going to shout
out some NWSL stars who are stealing the spotlight in Switzerland. Again,
whether you're a women's soccer fan just on the international side,
(01:48):
whether you're a soccer fan period, or you're just an
NWSL fan. We promised the quarters is worth worth watching
and the knockout stage is worth watching, and that this
podcast is worth listening to as a result as well.
Did you say tape to tape tape to tape, which
would technically be a hockey expression, but I just mean
(02:08):
from start to finish it means the same thing.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, okay, okay, yeah, speaking of eros, I am trying
to convert folks into watching the Euros because I'm on
the sideline taking my constant water bricks at soccer saying
I'm going.
Speaker 4 (02:23):
Hey, you're watching the women's eros and I always wondering.
I'm saying, let me.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Tell you about it.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
That'd be so fun to go to a bar and
watch with some friends on your team stuff. Also, how
is playing soccer in this heat? And I think, wherever
you are in North America right now, and assuming the
majority of our listeners are in North America, it's hot,
and so how are you managing playing soccer stuff?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
I think I'm starting to reclimatize. Mind you, we play
as the sun is setting, thankfully on mid day. If
it was midday, I think I would actually quit.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Yeah, I feel so bad for all of those kids
playing tournaments in the middle of this day, when it's
the humid is wild, or the sun is beating down
on them. I just hope that they are implementing actual
water breaks in all summer sports like soccer and baseball.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
It feels so needed. Other it's dangerous. It's very dangerous.
And I know that you're about to call inaudible about
something else.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
But I do.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
That's also dangerous.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
On that topic, there was a really really great episode
of Full Time with Meg lennon hand. It's a women's
soccer podcast through the Athletic specifically focused on the effects
of climate change in women's soccer, and I thought, oh,
very important listen. And it felt like, really comforted me
in the sense that there are people talking about the
fact that this is so hot and it affects the
(03:39):
players and the athletic staff and the fans, and that
these discussions can now happen openly.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
You even posted that on your Instagram stories. And when
you post something on your Instagram stories, I know.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
I loved with it. I know that you love it.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
And that's why whenever I'm in your Instagram stories, I go, oh,
she loves me.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I do love you.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I love calling you out on my Instagram.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Sorry.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I had so many people ask why is Ellen bullying
you because you're wearing a bandana and Soccer said, because
it's not.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
What you wear in soccer a because it's our thing
and because I'm an older sister.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, that's all they do.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
You know, you have to have fun, you have to
poke fun, and I do want to poke fun at
someone else. Actually, right now, Seph, I really want to
call an audible before we get into our one big
story about the Women's Euros and talk about Trump being
booed at the FIFA Club World Cup final and essentially
(04:37):
also what happened at the FIFA Club World Cup final. So, Steph,
I think we chatted about the Club World Cup on
the podcast before, where we were kind of talking about
how there wasn't that many people actually attending, and we
gave background on that it's all the top clubs in
the world playing against each other in the US is
kind of this preamble to next year's FIFA World Cup,
(04:58):
which is international teams.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
We talk chat about that on the podcast, right, Yes,
you did not dream that that happened.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Okay, Okay, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Sometimes, you know when you feel like you're like we
had did we have this conversation or was I talking
to somebody else about it? When you're talking about sports
all the time, it gets less than the sauce.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Also, sometimes I have really realistic dreams, and so I
wonder if this happened while I was sleeping or in
real life.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I love it when you voice to me about your dreams.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Okay, well, then now you're locked in, you're gonna keep
getting them continue that.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
It makes me so happy because I love lucid dreaming too,
and I love it when you can make decisions in
your dreams.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Anyway, this is a.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Decision that maybe I actually would have made it about
dreams too, because in case you missed it, the FIFA
Club World Cup Final was on Sunday at MetLife Stadium
in New Jersey, home of the New York Giants and
New York Jets, and also famously where I got to
watch Cowboy Carter.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
And Beyonce in the pouring rain.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Chelsea beat Paris Saint Jermaine three nail, which was I
would say a pretty big upset considering PSG won the
Champions League in the spring. And it was really interesting,
Steph because as part of all sports, somehow, some way,
a president or a prime minister or a leader of
(06:13):
something ends up on the fields.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
And Trump walked onto the field with FIFA.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
President Gianni and Fantino after the game and was met
with booze from the crowd, which was really awkward for him.
By the crowd. It's New York, it's New Jersey. They're
going to give you the honest truth. They're going to
tell you how you're feeling. So he got booed.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And then the.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
Thing that makes me so frustrated why I wanted to
pick on Trump in this moment too, is that after
that so he gets booed, he goes on with Giohnny
and Fantino, and while the Chelsea team is getting their trophy.
So during their trophy presentation, Trump stood in the middle
(06:57):
of the team and so you can see all of
these teams photo Steph. The fellas are having a great time,
the streamers are coming down, they're getting the trophy, they're
jumping in the air, and Trump is literally in the
middle of it, somehow finding a way to insert himself
into their moment, which just seems so odd to me.
We have never seen that ever before in any celebration
(07:22):
in North American sports history, at least for as long
as I've been alive, Like truly have never seen this,
and so I found it so interesting also how the
teams responded. So Chelsea striker Cole Palmer, who scored two
goals in the final, told the Athletic quote, I was
a bit confused. I knew he was going to be there,
but I didn't know he would be on the stage
(07:43):
when we lifted the trophy end quote. And I really
don't think that anyone thought that he was going to
be there either step, because even Infantino, the FIFA President,
he walked off and he was kind of like, Trump,
come with me, and Trump was like, nah, I'm just
gonna rock out with these guys in the middle of
their trophy presentation.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
I really hope this doesn't become a trend because the
US is hosting so many major events in the coming years.
So we have, of course the World Cup coming, we
have the Summer Olympics that are happening in la Like.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
There's just so much that I'm like.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Please someone keep him off those stages, because yeah, it
was so icky and awkward, and obviously the players were
a bit annoyed.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
The players were so frustrated.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
The captain of Chelsea looks like he has there's I
love the lip readers out there.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
He looks like he asked Trump are you going to leave?
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Like during the presentation, which I'm like, shout out to
the captain, like Trump literally has nothing to do with
Chelsea winning the FIFA Club World Cup. But I think
to your point, stuff that to me is the zooming
out of this story is what is he going to do?
What is this office going to do during the FIFA
(08:54):
World Cup, during the Olympics, and how does he continually
make it about him and people talking about him as
opposed to I think sports really are the safe space
for or should be, not always are, but sports are
supposed to be the safe space for everyone, regardless of
your race, religion, who you vote for.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
What have you.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
It's supposed to be the space where people are connecting,
regardless over something that they love and this entertainment piece
that they love. And if he continually inserts himself, I
do think that it detracts from sports being this really
unique connector. And we saw that with the NFL and
Colin Kaepernick during his first term, and I get really
nervous about what this could potentially mean for this upcoming
(09:37):
NFL season, even let alone all of these international events.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Like if he keeps showing up, you mean, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It was kind of metaphorical in the sense because this
administration and Trump have inserted themselves so fiercely into the
conversation of women's sports and safety quote unquote, and have
done some really just terrible things in the name of
keeping women's sports quote unquote safe. Obviously you can tell
(10:05):
my tone what my thoughts are about that. So it
is a little bit metaphorical that he is so visibly
inserting himself into this celebration even though it's not women's sports.
I know that, but that's exactly where my brain goes.
It's like, dude, get out.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Dude, get out.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
All right, as we discuss, the group stage of the
Women's hero is complete and eight teams have advanced to
the knockout stage.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Again.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
I love international women's soccer so much. I have been
not able to watch all the game stuff because they're
during the day and we famously have jobs and things
to do at the Gist so that we can record
this podcast. But I've been watching the highlights every single evening,
every single morning when I can, and I have been
having so much fun. And I've also been watching the
(10:57):
highlights in long form, and it's just it's such amazing soccer.
So anyway, let's talk about whose advance to the knockout stage.
World number two, Spain no surprise, World number three, Germany
number five, England number six, Sweden number ten, France number
thirteen Italy and host country number twenty three Switzerland. A
(11:17):
really quick note here. We talked about the Group of
Death being Group D on multiple podcasts. We've talked about
it on our newsletter as well. And England and France
made it out of that group of death, and the
Netherlands didn't, and Vivian Medema, my girl, my goalscorer, didn't
make it out of the group stage.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I'm so sorry.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
I thought you.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
I was really sad about that.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Yeah, but of course these are seven of the eight
highest ranked teams, so that group of Death was a
little bit much. But things are kind of as expected
here and the one exception to that might be Switzerland,
who stunned their way into the knockout stage after shocking
number twenty six Finland in the final game of their
group stage. They may have a little bit of a.
Speaker 4 (12:02):
Home court home field advantage.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Do we say that, we'd say home field advantage.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
And this is the first time that Switzerland has ever
made it into the quarters, I believe, of any international tournament.
I am pretty sure will need to fact check me
on that, but I think that that is so freaking
cool that Switzerland is doing it. On to your point
stuff like on their home turf. And also I think
(12:29):
that at the same time, the Swiss are also really
progressive people, and it's been so cool to see the
Swiss people come out and droves to watch this tournament
and to set records and to really be behind all
of their women as well. And I think that it's
setting them up for success for hopefully an amazing FIFA
Women's World Cup two as a team.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
So I just I'm really happy for Switzerland.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
There's just so much to be happy for.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
The four quarterfinal games this very week, one every day
starting at three pm Eastern time again tomorrow, so Wednesday
through to Saturday. So those are your plans? Have them
on the background maybe. So the first match is going
to be Norway and Italy, second match will be Sweden
in England, third Spain and Switzerland, and then finally on
(13:16):
Saturday we have France and Germany.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
I can tell that that's what you're most excited for.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Also, all of this, don't you just want you could
we could think about this from a soccer perspective, but
I also think it would be so fun to be
like between each of these, where would.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
You want to travel?
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Oh? Of course?
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (13:35):
You want your okay hot take Norway.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Oh, I did my exchange in Norway. I lived in Norway.
That place is amazing.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
Yeah, I mean kay.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
So I've already been in Italy, and I love all
of these pictures coming out of Norway. AnyWho, Sweden, England,
I've already been England, haven't been to Sweden, and so
I would do that. Spain in Switzerland, I've already been
in Spain, haven't been in Switzerland. So there's that in
France and Germany. Been to both Germany.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
I appreciate how at least for the actually for all
of them, you chose the cooler climate.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Obviously.
Speaker 3 (14:05):
When I was in Spain, Ellen, I was bolting to
the car to put the AC on.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
I was, I can't not well.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
I can't imagine the amount of sunscreen that would have
gone on.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
I had a big throughout that trip.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Big T shirt, all of it.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
All these places would be amazing to visit. Now I'm like, okay,
I'm gonna be watching everyone's European summer. I was more
so just thinking about that. That as a question for you,
I go For me, I really can't decide, Yeah, I really,
I really can't decide right now. I've always wanted to
go to Germany, and I'm too, and so I feel
(14:41):
like Germany is the main one that I'd like to visit.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
There.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
I have had the opportunity to go to every other
country except for Sweden, so I am very lucky.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
We need more beer gardens here, yeah, in North America outside,
come on, get to it.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
It's happening anyway, So travel aside.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
Instead of focusing on the big dogs like Spain in England,
we want to focus on two perennial bridesmaids, Sweden and France.
And like they're still big dogs, but they are bridesmaids
in that they both appear poised to make strong runs
literally always, but I feel like they lack that like
final last step to score that winning goal to help
(15:19):
them win an international tournament. Finally, I do feel like
both Sweden and France have a really good chance of
making it on to the quarterfinals. And I would say,
in particular, I think Sweden over England has a really
good chance of making it onto the semi final, but
they always just like miss it by a little bit.
(15:39):
And so we want to get into those two teams today.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
So let's start with Sweden. The question here is are
they finally pecking at the right place at.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
The right time.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
They have not given an inch during this particular tournament,
winning all three of their group stage games, including an
astounding for one one win over Germany to clinch the
group back on Saturday. So it's no small feat to
defeat Germany. They obviously still advance. They are the third
best team in the world, and this was Sweden's first
(16:13):
tournament win against Germany and seven attempts at the Euros.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Yes, and that's part of the bridesmaid of a mile
of it all Sweden, Steph. They are such a good team.
You're in and you're out. Their chemistry is insane. Their
defense is undeniable. I love them so much on defense.
You would enjoy watching them so much, Steph, because when
you talk about not giving an inch, it is so
hard to score on Sweden. If you have the opportunity
(16:38):
to score a goal or even get a target on net.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Like you're lucky against Sweden. That's how good they are.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
They've only won the tournament the Euros once in nineteen
eighty four, but they have been runners up three times
in the past ten years, and so that's the thing
that's why we're all that's why we're saying that they
are always the brides made, is that like they just
can't seem to finally win. And that's why it feels
like potentially this year is different. As you said, stuff
(17:07):
like beating Germany is a big feat and it feels
like there's also this huge amount of Sweden supporters in
the stadium that are so loud and are so proud
that are energizing these women potentially to victory.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
So we'll see.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
Yeah, and you said ten years, but it's the past
ten tournaments because of course the Euros aren't everywhere. Do
you want to just be their quick live at it there, Yeah,
no problem, thank you.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
So that is the live fact check.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
But their head coach has likened the atmosphere at these
Euros to a home match for Sweden, so that has
to be something to it. For the coach to say
something like that, that's pretty bold. There's just when you
look at their previous games, it's just a wall of
yellow supporters singing from the beginning of the end to
the end of the game. That's what I love about
soccer is I love how participatory it is for the
(17:58):
fans and how into.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
It everybody gets. I love that about soccer.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
That was such a good word to use and to
pull that out that was really good also. Step So
England and Sweden have played each other a lot. In
twenty twenty two, which was the most recent edition of
the tournament, England knocks Sweden out of the euro in
the semifinal en route to their championship win. And so
I do feel like Sweden has this chip on their
(18:22):
shoulder and I think part of that is the biggest
reason as to why I think that this might be
the game to watch this week, which will be on
Thursday at three pm Eastern.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
We're going to highlight two players in this matchup.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
Thing, so we're going to talk about one Swedish in
one French.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
So to wrap up things on Sweden, we're going to
keep an eye out on forward Sina Blackstinius, who has
scored two goals in three games. And black Stenius has
also scored the winning goal in Arsenal's Champions.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
League went earlier this year, so.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
She's well known by the English. She's such a powerhouse,
so she's definitely went to watch in this particular matchup.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
It'll be really interesting to see how England shuts her down.
So that is Sweden, and that's a little bit how
we think that Sweden might actually have the opportunity to
be England, and maybe.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
The NWSL is looking for them to be England. So
there's less fandom happening there.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
But let's transition and talk about France and we can
Francophone anything that we want here stuff. We can add
any jinesequa that you want onto any of these.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Names this era.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
One of the hottest stars of this particular tournament is
actually a budding NWSL superstar. So speaking about the NWSL,
French fid Delphine Cascarino. Cascarino plays for the NWSL San
Diego Wave FC and she was the star of France's
final group stage last Sunday, Les Blain. We're trailing two
to one at halftime against your beloved the Netherlands, and
(19:51):
he died at least a draw to top group D
and then boom incomes Cascarino who scored two goals in
four minutes.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Gotta love it.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
People who score like that and people who heard that clutch,
I want to know.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
What's in their DNA, Steff, you know what I mean?
Like there are just goal scorers.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
They just they have this innate ability to put the
ball in the back of the net. I don't know
if you've seen any Leo Messi highlights recently, Steph, but
he has scored two goals in every game for the
last five MLS games, and he posted.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
In your story recently.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Yeah, I posted that my.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Story because I was like, those those goals were diabolical
and it's just messy finding a way to get to
the back of the net. And I don't want to
hear about like MLS being easier than European soccer. We
know that that's nothing new, but still like, he is
that guy, and in this case, Cascarino is that girl
for France, and I think they really need to be
(20:49):
thinking about though, how Germany is going to be defending her,
because Germany, they've they've been touch and go i'd say
a little bit this tournament, Steph. I expected a little
bit more of from their defensive end, but they are
known to play pretty lockdown d i'd say on particular players,
and I think that they will be trying their best
to i don't know, go head to head, but also
(21:12):
potentially play a little bit more zone against Cascarino and
constantly know where she is on the pitch.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
It is really exciting, though, to have an NWSL player
making such a big splash and making such a big
name for herself at the Euros and she's not She's
not an American or Canadian, you know what I mean.
Like talking about the NWSL, eighteen players in the tournament
do play in the NWSL, which just really speaks to
(21:37):
the growth I would say of American football, American soccer,
because every league kind of has their own style and
flare and way that they play, and it is really
exciting to see that melding at the Euros as well,
and not just in Canada and the US, in Mexico.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
I think that is so cool step and that growth
of women's soccer is such an interesting point. We covered
this in our Women's Sports Business News, but Fox at
least through the first couple of games in the group
stage saw their highest ever euro viewership on English broadcasts ever,
and so that I think is really cool.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
It was I think England and France, so it was
a big game.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
There's a lot of controversy, there was that var issue
that we were talking about, but it is really cool
that North America is getting so involved in this tournament,
and it isn't just the Canadian women's national team. It
isn't just the US women's national team that is driving interest.
And I also do think that that speaks to the
mosaic that is North America as well, and the different
types of fandom that we all have from whatever upbringing.
(22:38):
We have to cheer for all of these different teams
that are playing in the Euros.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
So France's matchup here that we're talking about. We did
mention in a previous episode when we were talking about
the Euros that it is in a younger team, a
less experienced team, but they've been playing incredibly well and
Caserino obviously the huge part of that. But nine different
players have scored for the French team so far, and
(23:04):
that is a testament to the team's depth and it
is really showing that maybe this new approach that the
coach is taking this year is perhaps working.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
It is maybe will maybe exactly.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I think it's like it works through the Group of death,
which is a big check mark. But I think the
next is can they play in that knockout stage round,
because that's a big thing with young players and with
new players, they don't really necessarily have that experience on
the international stage in the playoffs, and that's basically where
we're at right now, is that it's playoffs and when
(23:37):
you're playing someone like Germany, who was a twenty twenty
two eurofinalist, that's really hard. Germany also has a really
young team like France, but there are still some key
and core veterans to that team that I think will
really help them as they're entering the knockout stage.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
The good news for frances Germany does look a little
bit vulnerable, having lost four to one against Sweden in
their final group stage game.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
So let's see how this shakes out.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
This particular matchup is going to be on Saturday at
three pm. It's time for our personal training SASH. This
is where we would absolutely love. It would be an
honor and a privilege to answer your heart hidden questions
(24:26):
about anything, and we mean anything in the sports world.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
And it could be questions, it could be commentary, it
could be suggestions. As you've probably listened in the last
couple episodes, we've been lucky enough digesters are so smart
like you guys are asking such incredible, thought provoking questions.
We're loving all of these conversations, and if you'd like
to be featured on a future episode, please call us
and leave us a voicemail at one four three seven
(24:51):
five six four five five seven nine. We also have
that number in the show notes and you can just
hold down the link. You can email us at pod
at the justsports dot com, or you can message me
or Steph on Instagram. I'm Ellen Ethagists and Steph is
at Stephanie Rotts. But in today's Personal Training SESSH, we
are taking a question from Tyli G who dmd me
(25:12):
on IG about our recent F one episode. So the
episode that was released on Thursday.
Speaker 3 (25:18):
So I'm gonna go ahead and read that one out, okay,
so quote. I'm a long time the Gist of It
listener and I had a comment slash thought about the
episode that dropped yesterday for context. I also love Drive
to Survive and I'm also a clinical social worker who
works with survivors of sexual violence and domestic violence. I
found this season so disappointing. In TVH, I stopped watching
(25:39):
after their coverage of the Christian Horner quote unquote scandal.
It felt as if it was true Christian Horner and
Red Bull PR, which was so, so so upsetting. Do
you also have a hard time separating the PR machine
that the show has turned into with some of the
folks lived experience, love the podcast and you and Steph end.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
Quote, First Tally, thank you so much for submitting this
question and also for doing what you do that is
not an easy job. But we truly like the world
is a better place because you are in it and
people like you are in it, and you are doing
everything that you can to help survivors of sexual and
(26:18):
domestic violence navigate the trauma that they've experienced. So, first
of all, thank you, We applaud you for everything that
you're doing. Second, this is such a This question really
made me pause and really made me think and also
think about me as a consumer and my consumption habits
and what I fall into maybe being too fanatic potentially
(26:42):
sometimes and not taking a step back and really understanding
what I am contributing to as a fan. I find
it really difficult to your point, Tally of separating I
am a fan of F one, I am a fan
of to Survive and how they necessarily covered everything that
happened with Christian Horner I was not thrilled about and
(27:03):
I did think that it was glossed over. And I
do think that Red Bull glossed over F one potentially
glossed over a little bit. Netflix could have definitely dug
into things in a different way. Where I struggle with
is that I don't want that to take away my
joy of a fan or my joy of someone who
(27:25):
watches that show. And so I really struggle because I
know though that by me watching that show and by
me watching F one, and by people buying Red Bull
merchandise or whatever, it is continuing to make those people richer,
to make the sport bigger, and then potentially cover up
more of these things that might have happened with Christian Horner,
(27:46):
And so I really struggle with that with F one,
and i'd say as a massive NFL fan, I also
really struggle with that too, with certain players in the
NFL and what we've seen there and a big like
men's sports fan, you know, And so I grapple with
that a lot while at the same time trying to
be like, the joy that I have is from these sports,
Like I literally almost cried thinking about football coming back.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
The other day.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
I saw a Montage and I was like, oh my god,
my Sundays are about to change. My life is about
to get twenty times better. I literally cannot wait. So
it's really difficult, and I have a really hard time
being reflective or introspective as much as I think that
I should as a fan.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
And with Red Bull two, because I'm not. I don't
watch all of drives to survive as a disclaimer, not
because I'm knocking it. I just I haven't made the time,
and I will make the time, and I promise. But
with Red Bull two, I think, well, they sponsor so
much of women's hockey, Like Hillary Knight has been sponsored
by Red Bull for so long before there was even
the PWHL that league even existed. They continue to sponsor
(28:48):
so many of my favorite women hockey players, and so
I get really conflicted with the sponsorship piece too, because
there are certain sponsors that step in in certain avenues
and certain sports for women that others don't, and so
there's like a layer of that for me. I was
thinking about this recently because I devoured season two of
(29:11):
America Sweethearts the Dallas Cowboy Chielers, You really did. I
sat down one night it was a heat wave, so
I wasn't going out, and I watched it pretty much
from start to finished, to give or take maybe one episode.
And I really struggle with that show because I find
it so entertaining and I respect the work that those
women do so hold hardly and I believe that they
(29:32):
needed that raise of four hundred percent raise, and I
think the amount of esthetic labor, like just physical labor
that they do from like an athleticism point of view,
but also the emotional labor that they're supposed to do
for their communities, and just the way that they're supposed
to act, and they're upheld to this such a high
high standard that male athletes don't help to. I do
(29:53):
feel a little bit guilty that I'm feeding into that
because there's just so much expectation and there's just so
much embroiled with the patriarchy and misogyny in that show,
with what is expected of these women.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
But I tune in and I'll watch post seasons, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
So it is really really, really hard as a conscious
consumer to be in the sports world.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
I think sometimes too.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Yeah, and I think, like I do think the good thing,
and I think tally people like you, I would say
sports have gotten a lot better since we became sports
fans in the nineties and the early two thousands.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
I think that we have.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Seen major leagues like the NFL, like the NHL, like
the NWSL, like the WNBA, make major strides and make
major statements in ways that they.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Never would have before.
Speaker 1 (30:41):
And I think a part of that is because of again,
people like Tally speaking out and letting them know how
they feel and letting them know that there is this
different consumer, mostly this female consumer or this queer consumer
that wants to be a part of this community and
could be such an asset to this community and really
wants to be a part of that world. And I
(31:03):
do think that finally sports is opening up to.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Us in a little bit of a different way.
Speaker 1 (31:09):
There's still going to be moments of disappointment in sports,
and I think that it's always going to be hard
to reckon with that, and it's always going to be
hard for us to decide where we want to move
with that. And I think that it is a super
personal decision. So I don't know if it will ever
go away fully and I don't know if we'll ever
(31:29):
have that tough decision making being taken out of our
lives as a sports fan period, whether it's men's sports
or women's sports.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
But it's also totally valid if you want them to
turn back your fandom, you know what I mean, Like, Yeah,
you want to be vocal and talk about it and
reach out and say these things and write emails and
comment and all that good stuff, because I do think
that that matters. Like I have a really hard time
watching the NHL as someone who grew up in the
hockey world and knowing so intimately the violence that exists
(31:58):
from men in that space. And so to me, they
need to turn back my fandom. And as long as
the p WHL exists, I just have I just don't
really feel the need to be a die hard NHL
fan at this point in time because but once they
start allowing Pride tape and once they start changing their tune,
then look at my viewership.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
Yeah, And I.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Would say, Stef, it's been really interesting watching you as
an NHL fan, I think over the last three years,
because I do think that your fandom has slowly increased
when you're starting to see the PWHL players are part
of all star games, you're seeing justin Bieber and that
crossover and his inner child healing from something like hockey.
But I think to your point too, you are also
seeing you're a fan of those organizations or those players
(32:40):
like a Connor McDavid or the Edmonton Oilers who are like, no,
this is what we stand for in this p Pony.
Speaker 2 (32:46):
Club, Pink Pony Club, and.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
You're tuning in and like what Connor McDavid says about
Pride tape, He's like, why this is so silly?
Speaker 2 (32:52):
Why aren't we doing this like that?
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Those are the people and those are the moments that
they're gonna want us to come and watch again.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
And I think that's where F.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
One, there were at least certain individuals and people who
were calling out what was happening with Christian Horner.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
If it was from a malicious intent because they were like,
let's get him out so that we could beat Red
Bull because he is a good principle, you know what
I mean, or if it was from a true intent
of like, if this at all happened, he needs to
be gone, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
And so I think.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
I like to believe that someone like a Lewis Hamilton
or a total Wolf is on the right side of
history in that and that there are good actors and
any organization.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
And I'm so grateful for the just because I honestly
haven't worked for you guys for the entirety of your existence,
but I remember it was like the first space on
social media where I could go on Instagram and the
comments weren't flooded with hate and make me a sandwich
misogyny about women's sports. And so I am so grateful
for this question, for your commentary, Tally, and just the
(33:59):
community been built here.
Speaker 4 (34:01):
So thank you, Ellen, this thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
To all of our gisterers in our community. It literally
wouldn't be what it is without all of you. So
thank you all for tuning in and for listening. I
feel like that's a great way to end today's episode.
We truly are so grateful. We will be back in
your feed with a new podcast on Thursday. But in
the meantime, you know the drill. If you enjoyed this episode,
rate review, and subscribe, it really does help us get
(34:25):
into the podcast algorithm so that other people can.
Speaker 4 (34:27):
Find the show.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
This episode was edited by Savannah Halt and produced by
Lisa Minutillo and Alessandra Puccio again.
Speaker 2 (34:33):
I'm Steph Ratz and I'm Ellen Hislop. Enjoy all of
the euro action. Give us a show if you have
any questions, thoughts
Speaker 1 (34:40):
Feelings about anything we talked about today, and we'll chat
with you again on Thursday at
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