for our neighbors to the north
Belgium against Canada. Canada are making their long-awaited
return to the World Cup has been a long, long time. And we
are, I think really excited along with most of the soccer
World about this young Canadian team.
I mean, it's difficult for them, right? Andy against
the golden generation of Belgium, who are going for pretty much
one last chance at winning the trophy. And
even without romelu Lukaku being fittest,
Stuff. So many great attacking players, the broiler, and
the former's life, and I really settled team, but Canada. We
know Jonathan David LeRon up top. You've got the Fonz
Alfonso Davis. Just just
a superstar down, the wing there, and just really solid.
And I think that's my question to. You can Canada be solid
enough against Belgium,
to actually cause an upset. And
in this world cup, get out the group that's going to be key,
right? Because we know they could go in for we know, they
have talented individuals, but their success. And actually
getting to the World Cup was built on.
Defensively solid
don't mind sitting back Ten Men Behind the ball and then launch
encounters. I mean can they do that against Belgium?
They're going to have to I mean what a what a welcome back to
the World Cup that is okay. You know it's been awhile. Great to
have you back here is arguably the most or one of the two or
three? Most talented teams
in the entire world for your very first game. And by the way,
based on how the rest of your group sets up, you're probably
going to want to get a really good result in this for. It's
a lot of pressure coming. Into this first game, it is
obviously, you know on this stage completely inexperienced
squad for Canada, but at the same time
they do have an identity. They do know who they are. And like
you say Joe, they can sit back and defend and defend and
defend without looking bothered or uncomfortable doing it.
That's the thing that I think sticks
out when you've got a good defensive team you can see you
can just look back at 24 hours ago to what the US Men's
National Team tried to do second half against Wales where
they were a little less aggressive. They were a little
all too defensive and they weren't comfortable in that
defensive shape, and it ended up costing them a couple
points. If Canada ever find themselves in that position,
I don't think it will be for lack of comfort defending that they
can't. Hold on to the lead. Now, if they get a lead,
another story for another day, they will give Belgium a little
bit of trouble. I think defensively, but I don't know
where the thread is going to come from Alfonso Davies as
good as he is and exciting to see is you can take that type
of player with a talent that Belgium have
out of the game, pretty easily.
Talking about the type of talent and
the amount of talent Belgium has Nick. I mean, just looking
through their roster as pretty scary, obviously, de bruyne is
the main, man. But then you look at your ET Le Mans. You
look at
up top Lukaku is not fit, but it could be later at ornament
Eden Hazard, dries Mertens is brother thorgan Hazard, Leander
atrocities ripping up in the Premier League. I mean
there's a lot of tan
and gold courtois. One of the best goalkeepers in the world
as we saw last season in the Champions League final. So
the one issue, I I have a Belgium though
is defensively. You're looking at the center back situations,
Toby out of our R & D and the Tongan
still going strong. They're both in their mid-30s, right in
the Twilight in their career. Is that sort of weak area for
this Belgian side and,
and can David and Laren really get at them and cause them some
problems because they are two players who just loved playing
on the counter-attack and getting balls and behind. And
this seems to be a bit of a bad matchup for Belgium. And in
that particular battle,
Sure. I do think you do. No listen
my child say, this is going to be another incredible upset at
the World Cup. No, listen, I think we saw the recipe and
it's Goofy and it was eight years ago and it was
a different Belgium team, but they
have a great veteran goalkeeper much like, the US had in Timmy
Howard. A guy who has stolen champions league, and Europa
League games for his,
for his Red Star Belgrade. And I think if they get
an excellent goal, keeping her Performance. They can maybe
pick up a couple goals and it won't have to go to extra time.
That's the good news. This is the group stage so I do think
there
is an opening there, but I just
it's going to take so much resoluteness
from a resolved, excuse me
from this. And I don't want to call them a no-name Canadian
side because he's are very good players but none of them have
faced
romelu Lukaku in a game that matters.
None of them have had to deal with Kevin, De bruyne in a game
that matters and I know there's
Strength and being the team that's under the gun. And no
one expects anything from us. But I just think if
the goalkeeper board Jean doesn't have an amazing game that this
could be a four or five goal game for Belgian.
There's Something About This Canadian team though that there
is your write them off of it and it's just that momentum.
They have as a team than the way they searched up and was so
good and World Cup qualifying
and how many of their players are playing really well in
Europe at different levels. I mean Tasia a cannon as well,
just just having a really, really good. See Season.
So there's enough pieces there for me to think, like you said
naked, the goalkeepers are great day defensively, they're
solid and belgians players some time, looking at some of that
Squad, they've kind of, at up and down seasons and little bit
injury-prone.
Asian back line.
I'm not saying they're gonna
win the game, but
I think they'll push them a lot closer and then
it's a tough group, the right group f
with Croatia with Morocco.
That is like, I only said, welcome back to the World Cup
but I'm excited to see all the watch parties. Canada
and I'd love to be there with them as well and
they win if they win. John heard means going to be hired
by like a premier league or a championship team.
The Young Will Young is English is so if they win he will be
every our every front page
in England will be talking about John herdsmen, and
frankly, he's probably earned it. Yeah, I agree. What
an incredible job. He's done with the program, obviously, like
I said Roberto Martinez, I think it is. This is
the time right for this generation. It's now or never
pretty much for them.
I think they get close but I think once again they're just
some of their flaws will get exposed on the world stage.
Okay, quick prediction. I'm going to go
To all Belgium Canada and
it's
okay. Since you said to to also 30 because that's what followed
my time. I just don't see it. I can't see it. You made me
little John four to nothing your Belgium forward and
that's fair enough, that's fair enough but
mostly I just, you know,
I love pancakes, love maple syrup. I want that old Ranbir
so just pull out together. I'll be when I'm watching that game.
I'll be having that. That will be
my
my lunch when I'm watching that. Great game between
Belgium and Canada.