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World Cup Draw Reaction + Hearts Beat Celtic Again! · Scots With A Mic

0:04
Welcome to the noise, listen to the passion and hunter car
0:07
let's. Jump again.
0:09
It's dying. Let's move on.
0:16
Great done by Dunphy. Chance the one for Scotland.
0:27
So hello and welcome back to the Scots for Mike podcast.
0:31
I'm your host James Scott and it's been another busy week in
0:34
Scottish football. We've had the World Cup draw,
0:36
something that's heart and army we're all getting very excited
0:39
about. And we also had a really good
0:40
result for Hearts. We weren't going to talk too
0:43
much about the club football that happened, but I think it's
0:46
hard to avoid what happened at Celtic Park on Sunday.
0:49
Joining me for this episode is Fenn Crocker.
0:51
Fenn, good to have you on. Good to be back.
0:53
Good to be back. Busy week as usual.
0:56
Yeah, busy, busy night for us. And Friday night after the job
0:58
we were the stress all that. Had to go for a few pints just
1:02
to. Yeah, just a few, just a few.
1:05
Lay off some steam and Adam from Gorky Talk a good episode to
1:10
have you on for. Yeah, glad to be back on the
1:13
pod, mate. Be be a good one.
1:15
I we've seemed to avoid you when Hearts form depth, put your back
1:18
on after I went at Celtic Park. Is that is that from the
1:21
shadows? Do you know I'll, I'll make a
1:23
conscious effort the next time we have a horror show to be on
1:26
there. That part and that by the way,
1:29
that's a guarantee. So I.
1:31
Prefer some of my colleagues. They were like, it's not not too
1:33
much horror shows. They were trying to like die and
1:35
play the the bad results are like, you know, we're just any
1:38
any other season. We'd take some of these all over
1:40
the Kelly one at home. We'll talk about a lot.
1:42
More I was at, I was at the killer game as well.
1:45
Glorious at some point so you can have me on for the action
1:48
when that happened. That's already happened against
1:50
Aberdeen mate, didn't it? One that you made, quite
1:54
literally. Yeah.
1:57
Right. Well, anyway, First things first
2:00
and World Cup draw. Think next.
2:03
Someone feels just a little bit more closer after Friday's draw.
2:07
Just a little bit more tangible, a bit more real though, that we
2:09
know what group, when, who we're going to be up against and where
2:13
we're going to be playing. So yeah, it was a ceremony.
2:17
It certainly was a ceremony. More of a soccer maybe, but.
2:21
Fucking Netflix documentary Jesus.
2:22
Correct. Yeah, it went on for quite a
2:24
while and we eventually got there though I think it was,
2:27
what was it, Corp 6:00 and I went in by I think.
2:30
It was half 6. Half 6.
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Names came out at the heart, Brazil and Morocco were drawn
2:36
together and in Scotland were the team that eventually ended
2:39
up in Group C and then Haiti were the the fourth team to join
2:44
us from Part 4. Before we get decking into a
2:47
little bit deeper, just initial reactions from you both are in
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the draw and you know the group we've ended up in.
2:53
Yeah. I mean, I was at your flight,
2:55
James, obviously watching the draw and soon as Morocco is
2:58
drawn in the same part as Brazil, same group as Brazil, we
3:01
were all thinking avoid that one, avoid that one.
3:04
Although the locations were pretty good on the East Coast,
3:07
just thinking, oh God, here we go again.
3:09
And then as it got to to Group C and we had African team after
3:14
African team and South American team, eventually it was just
3:18
bound to happen. You could see the stars aligning
3:22
and. Me and you were looking at each
3:23
other just as each one of them went by.
3:25
And we're like, we know how this is happening.
3:26
Yeah, we know what's going on here.
3:29
So. Yeah.
3:29
Initial initial despair because of yeah, Morocco is probably the
3:33
the hardest part to a team by far and to a field for the for
3:38
the older guys that have waited 27 years and then been drawn in
3:42
the in a group with two of the three same teams.
3:45
But no, obviously was nervous that we'd get a UEFA playoff
3:51
winner like Italy or Denmark. Luckily those were both drawn in
3:55
Group A and Group B to spare us. And then we got Haiti, which I
3:59
think obviously having them first is a big boost as well.
4:02
Yeah, and I would have been the cheddar on the cake had to be
4:04
drawn Haiti, had we done Haiti had we drawn one of the big guns
4:10
coming in for the playoffs in Europe, I think that was a
4:12
really must avoid. It's not just like at lady
4:15
Marving Turkey and other as well, like just teams that would
4:18
would wouldn't it just pose a challenge to us, But arguably
4:22
Brazil and Morocco probably would have rather not been up
4:24
against as well. Steve Park commented on the draw
4:28
in respect to the fact that we haven't got a European team at
4:30
all. And that's quite nice because I
4:32
think for especially guys in Maine and your generation fan
4:36
possibly use well, Adam Link. We've only really seen us play
4:39
non European teams in friendlies and the lure off this event was
4:44
Scotland getting to play Brazil or Argentina or someone in a
4:46
competitive match and, you know, just getting to getting to
4:49
experience something a little bit different.
4:52
As he said, obviously it's a good draw.
4:54
C plus exact words where it's a good draw.
4:56
It took a long time for them to get on the draw.
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Mind. The draw is fantastic.
5:00
One of the big things in my head was no European teams.
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So we're playing three top sides from three different continents
5:06
of the world and that's what the World Cup is all about.
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So yeah, I think it's a really good draw.
5:12
Pretty much agree with that, Adam.
5:14
Yeah, pretty much. I mean, unfortunately I'm in
5:16
that older category of seen. I seen the previous one, albeit
5:19
I was only the tender aged 9 year old to let you do the
5:22
maths. But yeah, like 28 years to wait
5:26
for two of the same three teams who played in.
5:28
It was a bit of a second or when it first came out.
5:31
But then when you look along the groups as they're getting drawn
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like, and I've just a quick look again, they're like, I remember
5:36
like watching it and the pour and rain, watching my son's
5:38
training and thinking when is this actually going to actually
5:40
be drawn? Like it was taking forever and
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then it got drawn. I'm looking on the groups and
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I'm thinking like there's like Argentina, Austria, there's
5:47
Portugal, Colombia, Spain, Uruguay.
5:50
And I'm thinking, yeah, I'd much rather be in Brazil, Morocco
5:54
than any of those. And obviously we'll go into that
5:56
shortly. But yeah, I'm quite happy with
5:58
it. I agree with the point you
5:59
should have made, Steve Clark, as well as right, as that's the
6:01
point of World Cup, right? You don't want to just be facing
6:04
European teams were used to all levels of European teams.
6:07
So it's good to do something for a change in power.
6:09
What's against like, let's see the other continents in the
6:12
world looking forward to it. Yeah, so you might be a ticket.
6:16
Do you remember, would you watch the last games in any game?
6:18
I mean they they get on at school for a year.
6:20
Do you remember them getting the TV out in class or?
6:24
Nah, man, I mean I can barely remember last week man.
6:28
To be fair, I think I do remember the opening game in
6:31
school. Like I think I do remember it.
6:33
Brazil was it, you know. What I was I think it's more
6:36
like flashbacks because of the moments like because there was a
6:38
penalty. Yeah, there was an own goal like
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it was the usual like well, beginnings for us obviously been
6:45
main understanding that the glorious failures are like we
6:47
get so close and then we we fail and.
6:49
Then that, yeah, that mix up at the back.
6:51
They remember the Norby 1 so much because we've obviously
6:54
we've managed to get the one there, but in the Morocco 1 was
6:56
like the one again where you're like waiting to get through.
6:59
And I think Morocco at the time were like bottom seeds.
7:01
So again. Everyone was like hyping up, all
7:03
came, we're going to get through, we're going to get
7:05
through. And I think it was like 3 no
7:06
Morocco. I watched the high on this back
7:09
just to like, you know, it's not a game of I can recall seen at
7:13
any point and um, it was, you know, I just seemed like one of
7:17
those typical Scotland games, like we had loads of chances
7:19
based on the highlights. Uh, they went one nil up, quite
7:23
a good goal. The second goal was like a
7:25
shocker and then we got mine sent off and you just I've been
7:28
in the stands and these scenarios know exactly how it
7:30
feels. Like a late 90s version of self
7:35
destruction for Scotland that's obviously continued for decades
7:38
of ourselves in the. Brazil game, I'd say it's funny
7:40
you seen about watching that skill and remember in the
7:42
penalty, the penalty is like one of my like claims to like being
7:46
an early Scotland fan for a black moment because I was born
7:49
in 1997. I was 11 months old in July and
7:54
and June of the 98 World Cup and I got taken to the pub for it by
7:57
my mom and dad. So.
7:58
And when John Collins scored, I think he'd taken it sakes a bus
8:01
into tears. I mean, I was I was in tears.
8:04
I mean, Tommy scored at Hamden. But here's a joy, here's a joy,
8:07
here's a joy I knew I was in for.
8:11
So yeah, obviously, I mean, I think overall looking along the
8:16
group, so it was definitely I think me and you fan penned
8:19
Argentina one good Jai. I think Jay, that wouldn't have
8:23
been a bad one to be. And I think I quite like the
8:25
idea that. But yeah, I think 1 like this.
8:31
The appeal of it is I think actually I picked out Morocco
8:34
and Brazil as two teams. I just like to see us play
8:36
before the draw. I mean, if Morocco is in Part 1
8:40
maybe, but I think yeah, Part 2, there was a lot of teams like
8:42
Iran. I mean, I mean like, games
8:44
aside. Yeah, obviously, like talking
8:46
from a spectacle standpoint, that'll be a very good game to
8:49
watch. Yeah, well, hopefully, maybe
8:52
it's not as a Scotland fan, but you've got Iran, Australia,
8:55
Austrian Part 2. Those are the kind of teams
8:57
you're kind of hoping to maybe get Morocco and maybe Croatia,
9:02
the ones you're trying to avoid. Obviously being Scotland, we get
9:05
Morocco straight away, but no Haiti, Kuruko or Kuruso and Cape
9:12
Verde were the three that you were kind of hoping.
9:14
You get one of them and you should.
9:17
I'm really emphasizing the word should be.
9:22
And yeah, hopefully we get 3 points on the board first game
9:24
and a good goal difference and then we can relax and bathe in
9:29
the Miami Heat, which is going to be absolutely scorching for
9:32
the players. Yeah, I saw something today as
9:36
well that every half of every game in the World Cup there will
9:39
be a two or three minute pause for hydration in each half.
9:42
Yeah, so. That a football as you can to
9:45
the 22nd minute or something and.
9:47
That will give us the. Perfect, perfect.
9:49
Good fans, fun as well. I can we have a 2-3 minute.
9:53
Yeah, if they're providing that, no, no.
9:55
Tell beer in America at games, do they not?
9:57
Oh. True.
9:57
Yeah, No, no, I'm just saying that'll give them a perfect
9:59
excuse to to run as many commercials as they say as
10:04
possible. There'll be commercials mid
10:05
water break. I'm telling you 100%.
10:09
I so I mean I touched on the draw again.
10:12
I just thought it was kind of crazy the way it worked out like
10:15
me and fan were like trying to I'll be in.
10:16
I ended up finding a lot of time to book extra accommodation and
10:20
I were from the start of that that we kept looking over and
10:24
like, oh, it's not started yet. And then I'd go back to the.
10:27
Last we were we were eating fajitas.
10:29
I'd booked everything and you're like, oh shit, I should probably
10:32
book something. And by the time the draw
10:33
started, I think you'd booked everything.
10:35
Yeah, that colored like pretty much most of these coasts.
10:37
And then I mean, that was that was another massive benefit, I
10:40
mean for the Tarn army been drawn into the script because of
10:43
all the locations. I definitely think we've landed
10:46
a more affordable group of games.
10:50
Well, if you can call it that, yeah, I mean.
10:52
I know what you mean. I know what you mean.
10:54
Yeah. In comparison to what else you
10:55
could have, Yeah, definitely. So we've.
10:57
In Seattle, prices were out. We were looking and we didn't
11:01
even book anything. But yeah, me and James, we got
11:03
good flights to New York from Manchester, good return flights,
11:07
good price. So we'll be heading out there on
11:10
the 11th to 27th. Think you're 11th to 26th.
11:14
All three games we'll be there for.
11:15
And then, yeah, I think if we can touch on the venues as well,
11:18
Boston. We'll just, we'll just go the
11:21
we'll go to Haiti game, the first one, OK, Say Haiti ranked
11:26
84th in the world game through the World Cup qualifying
11:30
campaign. And I grew up with Honduras,
11:33
Costa Rica and Nicaragua. They topped out on 11 points, 2
11:37
points clear of Honduras. And that got more as a direct
11:41
entry a long way. A couple of other countries like
11:44
Carousel. I don't think I've got the
11:46
pronunciation right. Definitely promised the better
11:48
than Wayne Gretzky did not. Rocco.
11:50
No, no, definitely not. So in terms of the players, not
11:55
a lot of big names people recognize 1.
11:58
You might recognize Fan, but in Aberdeen Fan, you were in Athens
12:02
a couple of weeks ago. The striker Piero Yeah key
12:06
Athens he assessed against using that so night that you'd
12:11
probably rather forget. Yeah.
12:14
Not so welcome reminder for you. Yeah, thanks.
12:16
Thanks for that, James. No, I do.
12:18
I don't remember much of that night.
12:19
I think after I just dragged myself to death.
12:21
No, but I think they've got him. They've got a boy.
12:26
I can't actually remember the name off my top of his name off
12:28
the top of my head, but he played an MLS for Houston Dynamo
12:33
and a couple of teams. Maybe but.
12:36
Yeah. No, I don't know.
12:37
Any of their players, really. The only other guys I've knew I
12:40
got there. I think it's Belgarde or Belgard
12:43
for Wolves, and then Oh yeah, and then there's Del Croix for
12:48
Barnley, but again, apart from the on.
12:51
I thought it was French. Well, there's quite a big link
12:53
there. I think there's a few guys that
12:55
are born in France have changed nationality in the same way that
12:59
kind of. So I think there's.
13:01
Only one there's there's one born on the island and that is
13:03
Teeth Chong and. So he's.
13:06
Also of Dutch heritage, Yeah, but no, I think there's been
13:10
reports coming out from Haiti. Well, from what we can gather
13:14
that they are going to be targeting Jill Nationale
13:17
players, so watch out for that. Maybe their squad will be, well,
13:21
one of the names by the time 1. Of the names, it was 10, no.
13:24
As you know, I'll see it mark some money, yeah.
13:26
But it was someone, I was going to say 20 years old former
13:29
Newcastle player. I think everyone members on for
13:31
the the designer headbands they was flaunting during his games.
13:35
He's now a. Good.
13:36
She ones, yeah. Yeah, he's now at Club America.
13:39
It's not been confirmed yet, but I think, I mean, he's just been
13:42
given a lifeline to appear at World Cup.
13:44
Yeah, he was that Al Akhley in Saudi Arabia as well.
13:47
Yeah. And then he's, yeah, it's.
13:49
A better you turn James like it because I looked earlier on
13:52
today at that and then like there's a few articles for the
13:56
through the search engine. I looked down it was like it was
13:59
done 2 two or three weeks ago. Most that was saying he drooled
14:01
out, not like not all of them were like concrete, like it was
14:05
5050. Like some sources you could, you
14:08
know, like put in the back of a fag packet and then the other
14:11
sources you could maybe see them as kind of like genuine sources.
14:14
But like, yeah, like I'm more than your count for that.
14:17
Like if there's a chance to be a World Cup like then I think is
14:21
he not French chance at Max men? Yeah, yeah, he's capped up to
14:24
under 20 ones for the French. I mean the.
14:26
Chances of getting the French squad?
14:27
That's like, no? Not to be.
14:29
It's just like Harvey Barnes. They talked to him coming over
14:32
to Scotland. National team Mixed depends on
14:34
it from well everyone. If you're not meant, yeah, yeah,
14:39
I'm I'm of the same opinion, I think.
14:41
Yeah. It's hard from players that have
14:44
worked so hard, but I think there's people that have been
14:46
overticked by Steve Clark that maybe that's the only way they
14:49
get forced at the squad. So I'm of the opinion getting
14:52
in, if it makes us a better squad, especially with Ben Doak
14:55
seemingly injured all the time, then I'm all for it.
15:00
We'll focus. We'll keep focusing on Haiti,
15:02
yeah. I know you're of a different
15:03
opinion too. I'm both.
15:04
I hate being like AI, hate being a grump like that, but.
15:07
James that's why we have podcasts mates so we have
15:10
opposite opinions and chat for people like us engaging with
15:13
each other. I mean you're wrong like but
15:16
what? It's not the opinion all the
15:18
same. I don't like he's been asked,
15:22
I'm positive he's been asked already and he's obviously not
15:25
taken up on it because he's waiting on an England.
15:26
Co-op. He said he'd had earlier talks
15:28
with Steve Clark but nothing concrete, so I don't know what.
15:31
Yeah. And for me, like the Navy blue
15:33
jersey is no less valuable than a white 1.
15:37
And I just think if you've been asked once and you've said no,
15:41
you know I've said no. I know see key thing mate.
15:43
Like if for me I'm I'm instantly with you.
15:46
If he's, if it actually comes out that he's been asked before
15:49
and said no, like I'm with you like now, then it kind of just
15:52
turn up just because we're a World Cup.
15:53
Can't. I don't want players, just
15:55
Scotland actually to play. It's because I think it's
15:58
because James, it's not being categorically said.
16:00
And then I think when that what's that reporter guy that
16:02
does the Nuka Scottish reporter does it, Keith, Tony or someone
16:06
like that? Yeah.
16:07
I think it was him though, or somebody that questioned them
16:09
the moment we got through and like.
16:11
Yeah, like the next thing he had a pre.
16:13
Kind of. Schedule interview and he was
16:15
like, and I think he started replying to people that are
16:18
commenting on it. So whatever saying like listen,
16:20
he never said they wanted to be part of Scotland because I know
16:23
at the World Cup he said, I just thought I would ask because he
16:25
was eligible. Like would you like, would you
16:28
be up for that? He's like, so I know, whereas I
16:30
think folk could like jumped on it to see like, oh, I or just
16:33
cares all of a sudden because we're at a World Cup where it
16:35
seems like not all. I as a reporter literally asked
16:38
him. He didn't mention anything about
16:39
until I asked them. So I mean, we'll just.
16:43
Watch this space, I suppose. Yeah, got to March next
16:46
international break, so see what develops over that time.
16:49
Same with Haiti. Obviously you're saying then
16:50
they are looking to draft and guys are eligible, so we might
16:55
have a conversation down the line.
16:57
And we can actually touch on something else that Steve Clark
16:59
said. He said he wants to play a
17:01
friendly with at least one country from each of those
17:04
continents. So there was rumours about a
17:07
friendly against Argentina. Obviously maybe that will happen
17:10
now. I don't know who would play from
17:13
CONCACAF, maybe Jamaica or something like that, or maybe a
17:16
bigger nation like US or something.
17:18
I don't know. And.
17:19
You like the thought of that idea, to be honest.
17:21
Yeah. And then maybe obviously we've
17:24
never, I don't, I don't know where these friends, friendlies
17:27
we played, but obviously we've never, the men's team has never
17:30
played a game on African soil, only the women's team to die
17:34
against Morocco just a couple of months back.
17:36
So maybe, maybe there's a trip to Africa, to the extremely few
17:41
that can afford it. Yeah, I've not got enough money
17:43
for this. The money is all going towards
17:45
the States for me. Very, very little entry for for
17:51
getting tickets to that. I think what it might be as
17:53
well, it depends like, like, so say it's like an African
17:56
country, it depends what country they play.
17:58
Sometimes they'll organize it in such a way that they've got a
18:00
squad that's playing in certain parts of Europe and stuff.
18:04
Because I think like, for example, was it not Brazil?
18:06
Senegal wasn't like Wembley, Yeah.
18:08
And a friendly so like I think. Not.
18:10
Not saying we'll be played at Wembley.
18:12
But like, you know what I mean? We had a.
18:14
Few years ago we played Nigeria at Craven Cottage.
18:16
Aye, so that's what I mean. Like it might be something like
18:18
that. It'd probably be more the most.
18:20
I think that'd be more what Steve Clark would talk for then
18:24
my whatever they would end up in Africa or whatever.
18:26
But yeah, no. Yeah.
18:28
On the flip side though, obviously it's going to be
18:30
extremely hot, so maybe getting a game in where there's extreme
18:34
hot conditions to see how it ends, yeah.
18:38
The game against Haiti as well, I mean it was going to be hot.
18:42
It's in Boston and 1st 2 games in Boston at the Gillette
18:46
Stadium, the Boston Stadium and stuff which is. 25 miles away
18:50
from Boston. Yeah, so if you're, if you're
18:52
Scotland fan looking to get booked up for this game,
18:55
Providence, I was had a few people taking, you know, haven't
18:58
taken pops at me saying why have you booked there?
18:59
But like many of the stadiums for this tournament, they're not
19:03
city centre based, they're not neighborhood based like British.
19:06
Philippines. It's the Hamden in Boston,
19:08
James. Is that what you're saying?
19:09
Oh, it's well, the difference. The difference This was a Hamden
19:12
in Boston. Obey.
19:13
Yeah, it's if what's what's Sterling's going forth?
19:15
Barton Forth. Bank, yeah.
19:17
It's the Fourth Bank of Glasgow, essentially.
19:19
To give to give an example, cool the distance between Boston city
19:23
centre and the stadium is the same as between Manchester and
19:26
Liverpool. Right, there you go.
19:28
So I mean we've booked up, we've booked up me Infinibo from
19:31
Providence for that one. So it's.
19:34
In the House of Glasgow, the fun start that I got told by my dad
19:38
has also come in is that it's got the highest density of
19:41
coffee shops and donut shops in any set of any city in America,
19:44
certainly. What's look at?
19:45
Is that over? Yeah, doughnuts and coffee.
19:48
I'll get me up to noon and then after there I'm going to need
19:50
something a bit stronger. But no, it's about an hour of
19:53
public transport away from the stadium.
19:55
I was hoping to get to Philadelphia for fill a cheese
19:58
steak, but wasn't to be. We're in Boston.
20:00
It gives us a good base. I guess it's good for the
20:02
players and the fans. That's definitely good for the
20:04
fans and the team. 13. It's moving about.
20:07
It would have been. It's a smaller venue of I think.
20:12
65,000 for all three games. Yeah, so the FIFA take a 10% cut
20:17
for corporate 10. 1000 C Cut. 10,000 Yeah, I wish.
20:21
That's the allocation for supporters club members will be
20:28
about 3500 and. 20 I've seen that.
20:31
I've seen that from. Yeah, that's from Gavin at
20:33
Scotland's Confession. All credit to him, he does all
20:35
the hard work. And yeah, we'll, we'll find out
20:38
more. They've released the fans over
20:40
that they said would they'd release and then they'll give
20:43
more details about tickets through the SSC I think in three
20:48
days. So find that more than hoping to
20:51
get a Category 2 ticket, which is not cheap, still $300.00, so
20:54
about £200 a pop. And yeah, flights are booked,
20:58
accommodation booked. It feels a lot more real like
21:00
you said. Yeah.
21:02
So, yeah, that one's 66,000, so well less than 10.
21:06
And you said 3500 for the supporters.
21:09
A good, a good allocation there for the Tarn Army, although one,
21:13
I mean, it's not good for Haiti fans, but it's definitely a
21:15
benefit for the Tarn Army. I'm sure Haiti and Iran are two
21:19
nations that are banned from having traveling fans.
21:22
So the delegates and the players get to come, but most well.
21:25
Early. Well.
21:26
Yeah, FIFA had to stand in to to get Iranian delegates even to
21:30
the draw and they only got 3. So yeah, yeah, Iran and Haiti
21:34
band, obviously that means it'll feel a bit more like a home
21:37
game, if you can even say that. I know there's a lot more
21:40
opportunity for tickets in the resale platforms.
21:42
Yeah, and it's just not going to demand the same interest from
21:45
locals, apart from the fact there might be that people,
21:48
Scottish heritage moles come to watch.
21:49
I hope so. I.
21:50
Feel that's that's half the country, isn't it?
21:52
Yeah, it's a, it's a good. It's a good opportunity for tech
21:58
fans that miss out through the supporters club to get something
22:02
in the resale. And like you said, I mean it
22:04
could be, I mean many, many phases.
22:06
Of Scotland, I was going to say, because in Germany there was
22:09
reports somewhere, but well at peak there was about 100,000
22:13
there, but across the whole tournament there was reports of
22:15
about 200,000 travelling to Germany for the EUR.
22:18
What do you think? Obviously it's a lot more
22:19
expensive. What do you think those numbers
22:21
could look like, both of you for the USA?
22:23
It's a hard one. It's so hard because I know
22:25
people that don't have tickets. Mummy, he's not in the we, I
22:29
think he is in a supporters club.
22:30
He's. Not, I think, the difference
22:31
with. This one is like you've just
22:33
touched the nail on the head a little bit as well as like
22:35
there's so many people with Scottish connections and by
22:37
either Scottish people in America, like people that have
22:40
got family or you know, Americans like their family
22:43
trees and stuff. So somebody somewhere they know
22:45
water kilt for them, however many generations ago.
22:47
So like there's going to be loads of Scotland or Scottish
22:50
related people over there on top of the Tartan Army that are
22:52
common. I really couldn't hang up.
22:55
I can't. On the one hand I can't imagine
22:57
200,000 people going to America obviously.
23:00
But then I'm like, I don't know what number I could put on it,
23:05
but it'll still be a lot I think.
23:07
I think it'll be like closer to 20,000.
23:09
I think that's a conservative estimate, not too high, not too
23:11
low. We can see how many we see in
23:14
Boston and Providence. But no, I mean, like you said,
23:17
I've got someone was born and grew up in Aberdeen and then
23:20
there's been in the States for 25 years.
23:22
So like you said, there's so many connections of so many
23:25
people that are actually Scottish, not like the the group
23:28
that was interviewed that was talking about the Scotland
23:32
result, the Scotland, yeah, Washington, Scotland fan club.
23:36
If you've seen that interview, you'll know what I'm talking
23:38
about. Yeah.
23:40
Yeah, that's who we're going to be competing with tickets for,
23:42
you just know. Exactly.
23:43
The ones that, the ones that ask you what clan you're from, those
23:46
types. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
23:48
Yeah, some interesting dress choices in that video as well.
23:50
I've never seen a suit like that in my life, to be fair.
23:54
Yeah, But yeah, then so we've got first game against 80I mean
23:59
it's a it's a tricky 1. I think we spoke with this just
24:01
before we came on and, you know, in the warm up, when in this
24:04
game is winnable, definitely winnable.
24:07
But we know we've been here with Scotland before.
24:10
It's a lot of stakes right in the first game, you know, I
24:12
mean, how do we approach this? Do you think?
24:17
Is it I? Think it's better than having it
24:19
last because I think that's what really done is in in the in the
24:22
EUR Obviously we can't say we would have beat them if we
24:24
played them first. But I think it's that whole
24:27
sentiment of like obviously we know playing against it or
24:31
Haiti. I don't know how to say it is a
24:33
must win because of the other teams in the group, but it's the
24:36
fact where if it's the last game, it actually is if you lose
24:41
your out. Whereas I think if there's
24:45
certainly there's still pressure, that is less pressure
24:47
on it being the last game at the whole final, the decider.
24:52
So I think getting it first where there's still a lot of
24:56
confidence within the fan group, getting three points on the
24:58
board and then having those two games where if you either don't
25:03
lose heavily or even get a point, then you're through to
25:06
the round of 32. So I mean it could really and
25:10
that what that could do is set up the group going forward
25:12
really well for us. Yeah, I think we're a momentum
25:14
team a lot of the time. I think you saw that in Euro
25:17
qualifiers where obviously got that first one against Cyprus,
25:20
but then that big win against against Spain at Hampden really
25:25
just got us into the flow of things.
25:27
Then obviously Norway would game we we won and obviously even
25:30
could have top that group. And then World Cup qualification
25:33
again, even though performance were bad, I think if we just get
25:38
a couple of results, even then we go we go into this kind of
25:42
slow. And on the on the flip side of
25:44
things, I think it can also happen in a negative way.
25:49
So, you know, at the EUR losing heavily to Germany, I think that
25:52
just kind of sent us into a spiral.
25:55
Obviously Switzerland performance was better, but we
25:58
never really recovered I don't think from that from that
25:59
Germany game. So I think it's vitally
26:02
important to get off to a good start and then I'm confident
26:06
that we can we can finally break that, you know, 100 and what 120
26:11
year curse where we've never got a group stage.
26:14
Yeah, I was. I don't like that start though,
26:17
because, you know, although we've never got the group stage.
26:19
If we've like to be in. No, if you if you go back to you
26:22
donate just like to be at that finals was pretty much you know,
26:30
I think it was like 2 groups of four Yeah, like there was 8
26:33
finals yeah, but like it's it's just the way as right coming
26:38
into the next game. Actually 2 are still up in the
26:40
North East of America, Morocco 11th in the world, just outside
26:46
the top ten. Like we said, unfortunately not
26:49
to be a part one side. They've been doing very well
26:52
completely undefeated and they're African qualifiers.
26:57
It wins from eight games and a group of sex, obviously all
27:03
possession varies massively. I mean they had nowhere near as
27:06
tougher group as us, but you know in terms of our
27:08
qualification. But they can only play what's in
27:10
front of them. And when you look for the team
27:12
as well, certainly lots of call in there.
27:14
I mean, Morocco's really stepped up in terms of being one of the
27:18
best sides in the world. That's in nevermind, one of the
27:20
best African sides. They were the first African team
27:24
to get to the semi finals last World Cup.
27:26
Obviously got massive names like Hakimi and Braham Diaz, Real
27:31
Madrid and PSG. Obviously some some other names
27:34
that maybe if you're not a football nerd like me and James,
27:37
you won't know like Aguerd who's at Marseille.
27:39
I think now maybe you'll know him from Premier League time at
27:41
West Ham, yeah. Yeah, no former I'm forgetting.
27:47
My Amrabat is now at Bettis. Yeah.
27:49
So I'm Robert Former and I'm, I think are you thinking of
27:52
Mazzarowi then as well? Yeah.
27:54
And then obviously and Naziri, who knocked Portugal out in the
27:57
quarterfinals last time. Yeah, and then you've got a
28:01
player that I think a lot of Scottish football will be.
28:04
Oh yeah, the drama. Start the season.
28:07
Egg Imani Leal so and he's been starting for them as well.
28:12
Yeah, he's been really well. And then, Oh yeah, and they're
28:13
keeper Bona or Bona, Yeah. He's getting.
28:16
The best, Yeah, he's getting on, but he's one of the best penalty
28:19
savers in the world, so let's hope we need that.
28:22
No, don't need them. Yeah.
28:24
So. Yeah, quality in that team, like
28:26
you said, I think, I think 11th is their old world rank and I
28:29
think Adjust has had the top 12 because obviously 12 groups of
28:31
four and it's done by world ranking.
28:32
So there must be 13 to 14. No, I'm sure like I don't know
28:36
when they've based. Because because of the hosts are
28:39
Part 1. You're right, yeah.
28:40
No, they are so. They'll go, they'll feel hard
28:42
done by, yeah. Who if it'd been a one host
28:44
situation, Morocco would have been a Part 1 sides, yeah.
28:49
Puts it into scale, yeah. Adam, only one of us here may be
28:52
old enough to members play Morocco or just champion without
28:55
you. Again, what's realistic here in
28:58
terms of this game, assuming we have one first game, Morocco
29:01
could be coming into this with one point, with three or with
29:05
none. It's hard to really see how that
29:07
Brazil game with them could go. I mean, what's realistic for us?
29:13
I don't see why we can't get result.
29:14
I would say Morocco's. We've got a lot of good players,
29:18
a lot of talent and like you said that up and coming, they're
29:20
progressive. I think their main issue is like
29:23
a lot of African teams, they're heavily reliant on their players
29:26
getting to the big leagues in Europe, which they have
29:29
obviously achieved recently. They've got a lot of good talent
29:32
probably people have not even mentioned on top of the ones you
29:34
have. I.
29:38
Don't think that a level that we haven't faced before.
29:40
I don't that a level where we couldn't see ourselves like
29:44
coming away we are a victory. I think every single team in
29:47
that group like we can get something off every team working
29:50
at World Drunken's. It doesn't overly mean that much
29:52
to me to be honest. They won an AO8 and their core
29:55
first doesn't mean much to me. It's a great achievement
29:57
obviously. But then I look at the opponent
30:00
and I think, well, I'm not really that excited about the
30:03
fact, just want to and consider to an African qualifier like
30:06
that doesn't really mean anything to me.
30:08
So, but the differences as I find they have got the talent
30:11
and the quality and and the, I would like to say it, forward
30:16
thinking attitude. So I think like Scotland and the
30:18
EUR, we've seen them and a lot of us were sort of crying out
30:21
for Scotland to just be a bit more aggressive in terms like
30:25
the forward thinking, in terms of attacking mainset, trying to
30:28
get goals. We would always sort of bet
30:30
don't be about how much we didn't really give it a go and I
30:33
don't think that all core that kind of team.
30:35
So like Morocco will give it a go.
30:37
Morocco or more than Keith boy turning us over.
30:39
I think it's more that I'm more than worried about us not not
30:43
turning up. We need to make sure we right
30:45
the wrongs, but I think we have it in US based on the fact that
30:48
like Clark talked about, you wanted to create like a a club
30:51
mentality where people get a lot of caps and a lot of experience
30:54
in it and it's met it and a lot of these guys have met it and
30:57
they're all playing in top leagues themselves.
30:59
So I think we're in a much better place to show we can do
31:02
on a backstage. And like you've just touched on
31:04
earlier, if we can get that one against Haiti and a major
31:08
tournament, regardless of the fact that Haiti, it still then
31:11
gives them that belief that a game in the turn up, no, against
31:14
Morocco, they'll be thinking, right, we can beat Morocco as
31:16
well. And then what?
31:17
You never know for their how it can look, even if they don't
31:20
beat them at the time and a really good performance, then
31:22
they might still feel they can, you know, do damage on Brazil,
31:25
depending on how the results have went.
31:26
So yeah, I'm confident in every game like I would if I put like
31:31
productions on it. I'd be like a win against TT and
31:35
then I'd be hopeful if I draw against one of the other two and
31:39
then I defeat against one of the two, that would be my outcomes.
31:42
Yeah, I think the goal has to be a point in one of those two
31:45
games, obviously, but I think I'm honestly more optimistic
31:48
about getting a result against Brazil than Morocco.
31:52
I think Morocco look really, really good.
31:53
I think Brazil are not the team that they once were.
31:58
Obviously everyone fears them. They're they're the team that's
32:01
one of the most World Cups in history with five.
32:04
But obviously they've got the individual players like
32:08
Vanessa's junior, all these players, but they're not working
32:11
well as a team, I don't think. Obviously, I think people forget
32:15
that going into the last World Cup, they were massive favorites
32:17
as well. And then they had that massive
32:20
collapse against Croatia in the quarterfinals.
32:22
Yeah, Neymar scored an extra time, looked like they were
32:25
going through Sale, and then they had that collapse.
32:29
Yeah, obviously Carlo Angela is their coach now, relatively new.
32:34
He spoke about the draw, said Scotland's a good team and it's
32:36
going to be tough. Yeah.
32:38
And to Steve Clark. See you soon.
32:40
Yeah. I think Carl Angelotti and Steve
32:42
Clark are eerily similar with how little emotion they show.
32:46
But yeah, I think I think it's not the same team as France 98
32:49
with, you know, R9, all those players.
32:52
So I think we obviously we're not going to be confident going
32:55
into the Brazil game, but I think we have to be optimistic
33:00
at least to, to, to be on the front foot or, or get a point.
33:07
I think, I think we can and I think like you said, four points
33:11
is the is the goal. 4 points will guarantee through.
33:15
Now with all the 3rd place teams, 8 out of 12 going through
33:18
three points, you've got a fighting chance and it'll govern
33:20
that the goal difference. And like we said, we're not the
33:23
type of team that will beat IT or Haiti 6 nil.
33:26
So yeah, we've got it in for four points.
33:29
I think him just to touch on the Brazil thing, that that thing
33:32
about Angelotti, I think getting Angela in with obviously always
33:37
accolades, I think like he's a big factor in helping Brazil get
33:41
as far as they can get. I don't for any.
33:44
There's nothing in my mind telling me that they'll want it.
33:46
They're not. I'm not even sure how far down
33:49
the road they'll get with the tournament.
33:50
But as far as they get, I think it'll be more down there how
33:53
Angela is sets them up, but they do not like I'd go as far to see
33:56
like we're more organized. We're more that team than Brazil
33:59
at the moment. And obviously man for man
34:01
quality and all that, obviously we're not we're not necessarily
34:04
near them in certain aspects of the team.
34:06
But like, yeah, like Morocco are far more well drilled, far more
34:11
organized, far more used to like again, that one in mentality one
34:15
in every single game and playing for each other.
34:17
And whereas Brazil, there's always seems to be problems with
34:20
them. There's always issues where they
34:22
got a star player like a Neymar, whoever then falls off the wagon
34:25
somehow, either off the field or just, you know, former club.
34:28
Like you said, even off the field it's like.
34:30
You don't hear anything. I don't like it.
34:32
At all time I. Don't like it, mad at Rangers.
34:35
You could argue with A1 like that, but you know what I mean?
34:37
Generally speaking, you never hear that a bit like a Moroccan
34:40
player or a Moroccan team. Again, it's they're a bit more
34:43
like Scotland that they feel a bit more like a club, they feel
34:45
more organized and they know you know what you're going to get
34:48
from them. But equally that's still a big
34:50
problem because they're really good at what they do.
34:52
And I think I took a couple of things there.
34:54
But Brazil, you mate, again, you could shoot me down if they've
34:56
been putting away somewhere and that's no Brazil.
34:59
But I think then the Cup America that will be in the
35:03
quarterfinals finished 5th and qualifying in the World Cup for
35:06
the World Cup qualifiers to finish 5th.
35:09
And they haven't won outside the Brazil in the last four
35:11
competitive games. So the last thing they won at
35:13
home was against Chile in October last year.
35:16
And then when you look at the actual, when you look at the
35:18
actual, you know, it's like a league table in South America.
35:22
The 18 drew 4, lost six, and they only got eight points out
35:26
of 27 on the road. So again, it makes you wonder if
35:30
they're again, not putting them in Brazil and more so not put
35:33
them in their continent. It'll be a challenge for them.
35:37
So yeah, I'm kind of like you. I'm more worried about Morocco
35:41
than Brazil, but equally feel like there's a point to be hard
35:45
at least one of them or you know, but please be to God that
35:49
we got a one off one of them. That would be even better.
35:51
But yeah, well. I mean, that happens with what
35:54
you're saying about being more worried that Brock Morocco than
35:56
Brazil. I agree with that, but not
35:58
because I don't, you know, I don't see a threat and like in
36:02
Morocco or whatever. It's more because Morocco are
36:04
the Part 2 side if we are to achieve something, they're
36:07
probably the most like, they're like the most likely side that
36:10
we should be taking points from that's not below us.
36:11
And I mean, it's not going to like Brazil.
36:13
It could be Brazil, but statistically the chances are
36:17
lower. And again, people keep saying
36:22
the Brazil. I mean, I've got a French friend
36:24
as soon as the jockey might even or Brazil even, they're not the
36:26
country they want to wear. And I was like, yeah, but that
36:28
sentence means. Stole Brazil the way.
36:31
That sentence means something else that Frenchman than it does
36:33
to Scotsman. There's not been the country
36:36
they wear or came about and Bapi's going to take them to
36:38
town, not been what they want to wear when Comedy and McGann are
36:42
going to need to have the game in their lives.
36:43
And maybe, you know, and you know, and it's good.
36:45
Like we said, it's last game. Obviously we're coming down into
36:49
Miami for that one at the Hard Rock Stadium, 65,000 capacity.
36:54
So good opportunity for the Tartan, our male best seller.
36:56
Similar allocation to what we had up in Boston.
37:00
And then you've also got the Elemental.
37:01
Pricier, slightly pricier. I might just slightly pricier.
37:04
And then unfortunately officer Brazil resale, there's been more
37:08
tech is in demand for a game where Brazil was involved.
37:11
I do think the thinking behind being in Miami was because, and
37:16
someone could pick me up on us if I'm wrong, but I think
37:18
there's some stronger Latin American influence in Miami.
37:22
And I don't mean Mexican, I mean Latin like Argentine and yeah.
37:28
So I think I mean it could be a good atmosphere not respecting
37:31
and be a really nice one for Tartan Army.
37:33
Game kicks off 6:00 PM local time.
37:36
So yeah, in the. UK.
37:39
Yeah. Yeah, we can.
37:41
We can touch on times as well. Obviously the the Haiti game,
37:44
2:00 AM UK time. Hopefully pubs will get special
37:49
licenses in Scotland to stay out, to stay open longer.
37:53
Have to. Obviously, yeah, Friday night as
37:55
well. Like we can't get away.
37:57
Saturday night will be is it game Friday?
37:59
I'm gonna go mental. So no, the game's on Saturday in
38:02
the US, so it'll be a Saturday night in the UK.
38:06
So yeah, obviously is a lot stricter alcohol laws in in
38:10
Scotland and England. England has already said that
38:13
they'll open pubs as long as they need to, so hopefully the
38:16
same happens in Scotland. But yeah, I'll.
38:18
Just get to train a Newcastle and.
38:21
I was going to say they opened them as long as he needed to in
38:23
Scotland with this shot. They'd just be ruling right for
38:25
the next day. 24 hour pubs. But I mean, yeah, come back down
38:29
to Miami, Brazil game, like I said, I mean, in terms of the
38:33
players, it's not when you've looked at Brazil squads in the
38:37
past that really have been some fearsome names.
38:40
They're like just stacked with quali.
38:42
Vinicus Junior, probably the biggest, and Rufina, you know,
38:46
Venekas from Venetius, even from Real Madrid, Rafina, former
38:51
Leeds player. But now Barcelona didn't very
38:53
well. It was a band or nominee along
38:55
with Mctomini. So sort of quality we're up
38:57
against here. Yeah, there's a couple of other
39:00
games names that people may or may not be be familiar with,
39:04
depending on how much. What European football, Rodrigo,
39:07
Real Madrid, you want marking yours?
39:09
PSG captain, I think he's Brazil captain as well.
39:12
Mellitao very strong defender, playing is Real Madrid.
39:16
He's broadcasting the Rebecca and straight away as well.
39:18
Cast me know, Yeah, Notice he played last game over to start
39:21
Manchester United along with Kenya.
39:23
I don't know if I mentioned it already.
39:25
And then there's him and I at Newcastle.
39:27
Very good midfielder. And then name the quiet I was.
39:32
It's the vowel. Yeah, Chelsea.
39:34
Yeah, Chelsea, 18 years old, looking really good and you
39:38
know. Brazilian Ben Doak.
39:40
Well then, well then, let's grab.
39:42
That you say that, not me. No, but he's he said that you
39:47
know, he won't take a player where he cannot start any of the
39:51
three games, which is which was directly aimed at Neymar,
39:55
obviously. So Neymar maybe not at the World
39:59
Cup, That's probably. It's slightly beneficial to
40:02
Scotland, doesn't really make a difference obviously with their
40:05
wingers being so strong and him probably not starting.
40:07
He he's been injured a lot for Santos played through engine to
40:11
try and help him play with injury.
40:13
Yeah. Avoid relegation.
40:15
He got hat trick in the decisive game if they were going to get
40:18
really good or not, but obviously that could do long
40:20
term damage. So yeah, might not see Neymar at
40:23
the World Cup. Obviously do take a lot of
40:25
players from the Brazilian leagues, obviously Flamengo,
40:27
Corinthians, Mayer asks where where Hendrick came from.
40:30
He's been a bit of a disappointment of late.
40:32
But yeah, they've got an extremely strong squadron paper.
40:37
But like I said previously, they've not really clipped as a
40:41
team so long. May that continue.
40:44
I'm just looking at that. You remember I said that Brazil,
40:46
Senegal game earlier on just I know that was in Wembley.
40:49
I think there was a few big cutters in that game.
40:50
So they're starting 11 for that game was Ederson, Edemilito,
40:54
Martinios, Gabriel, Alexandro, Casamiro, Gamiraish, Estevo,
40:59
Vene, Kunya and Rodrigo. So yeah, that's a.
41:03
Fucking great team. I mean, that's that's their but
41:08
again, that's that's their team that's finished fifth in the
41:10
qualifiers. So again, the other point to
41:12
make on that as well as like still shows how strong a
41:15
continent that is that four other teams are finished ahead
41:17
of result. Now I know the obviously the
41:19
different coach, like you said, Kasmir will come back and but
41:23
it's still like there's still a team where it's like, yeah, I
41:25
know every single player and the team pretty much even even even
41:28
the the sort of state they would deem that in themselves compared
41:31
to teams gone by. We still know like all the
41:34
players, we still know that all like world class.
41:36
So yeah, it's. I'll caveat one thing you're
41:40
saying. That you're on the same time.
41:42
All right. What's that?
41:43
I'll caveat one thing. You're saying the 5th place
41:46
possession was actually joined with four other teams on 28
41:51
points. So but at the same time they
41:54
were 10 points Argent off Argentina.
41:57
And that's that's probably the bigger thing than the fact they
42:01
were theft because they could have if it's packed up another
42:04
two points, they've been second, but it's the gap between them
42:08
and Argentina which is where they're so often measured.
42:11
That's. On the road, that's on the road,
42:13
like Adam said, where they're so per, especially in the
42:16
second-half of the campaign where they were really
42:19
struggling to get a win on the road like like Adam said.
42:22
So yeah, hopefully that can continue.
42:25
I think it'll be interesting to see what happens in their first
42:29
game against Morocco because that'll really set the landscape
42:32
for the the group and where we can say where we can finish.
42:35
Obviously we're not going to do, you know, like England have done
42:39
in their coverage and the Scotland's possible route to the
42:42
final. But I thought.
42:43
I was well keen for that. I was well done for that.
42:46
Everything can do it. Why let's, you know, have a 5
42:48
fun where I'm seeing Scotland play, I'm seeing Scotland play
42:51
England and all these paths by the way people seem to be
42:53
expecting us to do yes. So the the projected thing.
42:57
So if if we finish second in our group, then we will. 1st in
43:03
Group F. We'll get first in Group F,
43:05
which is the Netherlands grip I think.
43:07
Which Japan, Tunisia and then the four potential piece of
43:14
yeah, which? Is Ukraine.
43:15
No Ukraine. Yeah, you're right, Ukraine.
43:18
Ukraine, Sweden, Albania and Poland.
43:21
OK. So yeah, if we finish second, we
43:23
get top of that group. If we finish first, then we get
43:26
second in that group. And then if we finish third,
43:30
then we can get a host of countries.
43:32
But the most likely because of complicated algorithms that I'm
43:36
not smart enough to work out we'd we'd face first in Group A,
43:41
which is Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and the winner of US
43:46
playoff D, which is North Macedonia, Denmark, Bosnia and
43:53
Ireland. I think if I'm right into that,
43:56
I can't quite remember. That's off the top of my head,
43:59
which I'm. Yeah.
44:00
OK. Denmark, N Macedonia, Czechia
44:03
and Ireland. There we go.
44:05
That's right. Yeah, I'd.
44:06
Fancy as I get. I think that's probably better
44:08
than if we finish first or second and that would be in
44:12
Mexico that round the 32. And then if we were in that
44:15
path, then around A16 fixture would likely be the winner of
44:21
England versus Senegal. So I'd take that.
44:25
It's mapped. All the way to the final fin.
44:28
That's as far as I looked. And then when I got, yeah, when
44:30
they were doing the the survey poll and they were saying, oh,
44:32
are you planning to attend this match?
44:34
And it got to quarterfinal. I was like.
44:40
I'm going to put up to around the 16.
44:41
I've got faith. That's what I did.
44:43
I put round the 16 I mean. My joke was when my joke I did
44:47
see on Twitter, but it was when I was joking me guys, when we
44:50
drew Brazil went, Oh no, we've drawn first World Cup in nearly
44:54
30 years and we've got to play Brazil twice.
44:57
The female mates went Brazil, what do you play Brazil twice?
44:59
I was like, well, once in a grip and then we'll meet them again.
45:02
Yeah, that's what they're saying on the broadcast.
45:05
So. Yeah.
45:07
Yeah, it was, that was, it was someone.
45:09
It was on some. Yeah.
45:12
But yeah, I mean it like, I mean, overall the group falls in
45:15
a really favorable order for us. I think a win against Haiti is
45:18
not beyond us for sure. Anything can happen against
45:21
Morocco. And you don't know what's
45:22
happened in the first game between Brazil and Morocco
45:24
either. I don't think you could actually
45:25
call that. So going into the final game
45:28
against Brazil, it could be a situation where they really need
45:30
something, you know, and anything can happen in these
45:34
games and I think ideally. They've won and then the rest
45:37
and all the players. I mean, order, order, you know,
45:41
I mean order. There could be a situation where
45:43
they're desperate for one. And, you know, it's hard.
45:45
It was hard for us as Denmark because they knew we need to win
45:48
for that reason. Yeah, You know, we could quite
45:50
make it hard for Brazil. And I think I'd like to hold
45:53
because, yeah, I've always, I've just always got faith.
45:56
And Scotland point to the best I can.
45:58
And I think we've all seen us play some really good football
46:00
when we've been on top form recently.
46:01
I mean, we played Geese and Athens.
46:03
Most of the the first half was poor, but those points in the
46:06
second-half where we played really good football and you
46:10
know, we just couldn't quite find that finishing touch the
46:12
seas little moments we keep producing.
46:14
That kind of gives me faith to think, you know, could we
46:16
achieve something. You know, the last two EUR first
46:19
one back, we kind of rolled that off as, you know, experience.
46:22
It would have been nice to do well but never went.
46:24
The baby water then went to Euro 24.
46:26
There was disappointment in the Germany game.
46:28
We kind of shot ourselves in the foot against Switzerland with
46:31
the past that let Shakira score and then in the game we had.
46:35
Sorry. In the game that in the game
46:38
that we had to win hungry then capitalized on, you know, either
46:43
way, I just said that, you know, Brazil would maybe have to do
46:45
against us. I just, I just feel would would
46:49
you a couple of performances from Scotland.
46:52
I've seen a couple of things online about, oh, you know, it's
46:54
good to be there. Well, if it's going to be a blah
46:56
blah, let's get stuck in, let's go and achieve something.
46:58
I really want to see Scotland take something from these games,
47:02
get the winning and say and kick on.
47:04
So yeah, I mean, that's, I mean, that's my overall, that's what I
47:08
want from the team. And we've got 2 warm up games
47:11
while friendlies March that you said potential Argentina there
47:14
maybe an African country. And there'll be two matches just
47:18
before the World Cup starts in June.
47:21
Hopefully one of them has a hand and send off.
47:24
I would begin to see yeah, send the boys on their way before we
47:28
all catch our flights as well. And yeah, it's just, you know,
47:32
it should be. It feels real now.
47:35
It really feels real now. And forget, like said, fun for
47:37
me guys, mine and your age. It's, you know, it's just what I
47:41
feel special. Yeah.
47:42
It's it's, you know. I don't want to, I wish my life
47:45
away but obviously it's it's now just a countdown until then.
47:49
Yeah, I'm. Sure.
47:50
The league season I'm not even thinking about.
47:52
Obviously as an Aberdeen fan, it's looking on the app.
47:54
I think we can, yeah, maybe touch on the the Hearts game
47:57
now. Yeah.
47:58
Let's move on to that a little bit just quick because we've got
48:00
Adam on and I think unfortunately we had we talked
48:06
we spoke a little bit at the start a bit how heart we don't
48:10
we don't want to say the bubble worst because you know, some
48:12
people are saying what bubble? You know, it's you know, hard
48:14
just been playing well. I.
48:15
Think that was me. Yeah, but you know, they had
48:18
their wobble form, depth, but they had an opportunity to
48:22
rectify that safety park on Sunday, very rainy day.
48:27
It was nonsense. First game as Celtic manager
48:30
said he didn't want to change too much.
48:31
But I think a lot of Celtic fans personally dead and it didn't
48:35
work out from from your perspective, parts obviously
48:38
been an absolute shift and they came away with three points.
48:42
Yeah, absolutely delayed with the result.
48:44
And I actually thought the moment I thought we had that
48:47
actual chance at Barcade was the moment they said that Martini
48:49
was stepping down after that midweek game.
48:51
And to be honest, like I stole as another off field decision
48:57
made by a Celtic board that's just like inept to be honest.
48:59
Like I think Celtic Rangers taking turns for who's got the
49:02
worst board at the moment and that's obviously fallen in our
49:05
favour based on the table, right.
49:08
Yeah, well, obviously tell man like they played really well.
49:11
It's a completely different game for the one I think Castle, as
49:13
you'd expect, obviously a bit more on the back foot, bit of a
49:16
different system where to play. Obviously missing Bengami as
49:20
well, which has been part of the supposed downfall and the games
49:24
we have not managed to get ones recently.
49:28
But yeah, it's one of the games where you talk about a player
49:31
and another player and another one used.
49:33
Obviously start to realize that it's just.
49:34
Everybody done really well that day.
49:37
I mean, could highlight key ones that would highlight probably
49:41
dev one again, like most harsh functionalities.
49:44
Probably our player of the year so far this game a lot from our
49:50
from our standpoint of with the ball, which I think even our old
49:55
nemesis Scott Brown talked about him in such a way as well said
49:58
he's always loved his tenacity and stuff, but just how he
50:00
didn't taste games. Now it's actually on the ball,
50:02
happy with the ball. It actually doesn't misplace as
50:04
many passes isn't as reckless as used to be.
50:07
Once more fouls. So it's just everywhere.
50:10
But yeah, I'll get known. Yeah, market, he said that
50:15
really good. But yeah, I think there's.
50:17
Just a hard to go for marketeer. Was that the second one?
50:20
The header? Yeah.
50:21
Yeah. That was an absolute blinder
50:24
ahead of that one. And then, you know, he's really
50:26
reaching for that. Even the first one, like Braga
50:29
school, everyone thought it was off site.
50:30
Celtic practically just stop playing and then obviously
50:32
Braga. So did.
50:34
So did Braga for a minute. That was such a strange.
50:36
Goal Tom say he was on site because obviously the guy came
50:39
back on the patch for the byline.
50:41
Yeah, yes, yeah, really great one pushes 3 points ahead.
50:48
Celtic obviously got keep my hands but yet to go back to my
50:51
point and start like I think it a lot of it is down really just
50:53
that that little bit of a change for Nancy also want to bat his
50:58
favorite system very much instantly even though they just
51:01
take a session on the Friday. But regardless, like are the
51:03
following win, lose or draw for us in that game still follows a
51:07
mad decision for Celtic managers who are the fans love and who's
51:11
was getting results and cut the deficit to nothing.
51:14
And for this game like that it was heavily staked for Celtic
51:17
doing that if he was in charge. It's just he's a mentality
51:21
animal as well. Like he's my management is an
51:23
experience that will get Celtic over the line and has been
51:26
getting online. But it's clear and obvious that
51:28
they've not got the personnel that they should have.
51:32
And now they have a manager that it comes again with potential
51:37
like what role does for Rangers instead of like, like a
51:40
guaranteed, like, you know what you're getting from 1 character.
51:44
And so, yeah, we'll also see what comes from Nancy going
51:47
forward. But obviously, like McInnes
51:49
pointed out for the starts, just about every week that comes just
51:54
obviously looking at beat whoever's in front of us.
51:55
And obviously the longer up then the longer it goes on, the more
52:00
likelihood that they start believing they've got a chance
52:04
to win on it. But yeah, I've never, I've never
52:09
believed it. We're definitely going to win
52:13
it. We are going to win it.
52:14
We're in a title race. I've never said that either.
52:17
Bubbles a meth. So like what will be will be.
52:22
Yeah, I think it was like you said it was a mad decision with
52:24
two massive games obviously that Hearts 1 and then the the League
52:28
Cup final against St. Mirren, the first time since
52:32
1980 five 1986 season where Hearts have won at Celtic Park
52:37
and Ibrox in the same season. So that's massive obviously beat
52:40
Celtic twice now and still a game to go and then another one
52:45
in the split. Well, for Nancy yet tough.
52:50
His finest hour, little reference that Claudio Braga
52:53
chant and he had, he had a quote after the game saying I'm not
52:57
worried about losing or winning, I'm worried about having good
53:01
performances. A lot of Celtic fans didn't like
53:03
it, a lot of them didn't care. Performance either so.
53:06
No, I know he got neither. A lot was made of them.
53:09
I don't know if you guys have seen it, I know you have had
53:12
them, but a lot was made of nonsense, putting, pulling out
53:18
the tactics board. He got a lot of stick from it
53:21
across social media. Very Russell Martin esque, I
53:25
mean. What are your thoughts on it?
53:26
I personally have nothing wrong with it I think.
53:29
I don't think anything's wrong. I think it looks silly.
53:32
Yeah, I think it looks. Silly when they lose.
53:34
When they win, he gets his plaudits like.
53:38
Also I will say one thing they could packed up on the tailor
53:40
was the fact that the Celtic players were blue on it.
53:42
I'm sure. Yeah, yeah.
53:44
So. I think to be honest, like the
53:46
tactic wars, like for people like me, all the sun social
53:49
media, it gives us our momentous and something like this like fed
53:53
to Celtic fans, whoever as they'll jump on me the moment,
53:56
you know, hearts are losing points, call me out for whatever
53:59
I've said. It just gives me an opportunity
54:00
to sort of throw one back. But yeah, generally speaking,
54:03
like a manager getting out of tactics board, you know, it's
54:05
like it's like like I don't like a policeman have in handcuffs.
54:09
You know what I mean? Like it's not something you
54:11
would. I'm going to be like, I can't
54:12
believe they've got a tactics board.
54:14
But like, I think the funnier one was that was it Paul test
54:18
deal. Having a nap like halfway
54:20
through the game when the camera cut to him.
54:22
Is it Paul? Is that his name?
54:23
Paul, I've not even seen it. Oh, I did see that.
54:25
Yeah. Yeah.
54:25
One of the. Is that the Celtic?
54:26
Directory football or something? Yeah, so they basically cut to
54:30
the camera like live and he was like having some shot eye for
54:33
about 10 seconds and he's like head the recruitment.
54:36
So obviously again, it was given people like Amway for for
54:39
obviously all the all the wrong reasons.
54:41
And that was at 2 nil as well. Cursory just had a chance to
54:44
make a three nil at one point. That's where I go.
54:46
Yeah. So like, you know what, they're
54:48
all helping themselves and they're just people keep going
54:51
up. It's giving us like a this whole
54:53
you're not going to have a better opportunity.
54:55
And it may be right to be honest.
54:57
But like for us, it's probably came out a wee bit too soon in
55:02
terms of expectation. But the expectation is more
55:05
coming on the fact how bad deal for them are.
55:08
Not to politically play a stone, obviously.
55:11
You know, for that amazing start and it's we're nearly halfway
55:13
through now, but like it's still heavily to do with how poor they
55:16
are. And they surely, I think
55:19
numerous pundits have said that they can't have as bad a windows
55:22
as you've started looking cannot be possible.
55:24
And it'll just be interesting to see obviously what we do
55:27
ourselves and it makes it interesting, right.
55:30
The longer it goes on, the more it becomes interesting, the more
55:32
football point comes on the power game and domestically,
55:35
which can only be good for for, you know, the financial reasons
55:38
and and whatnot. So yeah, long may continue.
55:42
Because I mean, as long as Hearts can, I don't think by
55:46
saying Celtic could have an extra 5 points on the board if
55:48
they're playing better. And I don't think Hearts would
55:50
be getting the same heat they're currently again if they were
55:53
chasing Celtic. And I think as long as Hearts
55:56
just keep themselves ahead, the longer this will go on.
56:00
But I mean, like you said, is is a glorious opportunity for you
56:03
because I don't. Think it'll be that much longer
56:05
if they can't win against Kilmarnock though.
56:07
True, sorry, had to get it. Obviously four games before the
56:11
Celtic game they didn't get a win so it's strange I think.
56:15
Yeah, I mean, you weren't. Awful.
56:17
You weren't awful in those games, but I think it was just
56:20
the big moments where 91st minute, you can see it against
56:25
Kilmarack at home. Those are the big moments where
56:27
if you're trying to go for the title, I think you need to be
56:29
winning those games. But on the flip side, Celtics
56:31
lost three league games already and then the season gone by
56:34
they've they've lost 3 the whole season so.
56:37
Yeah, I think like if you look at the way of like a lot of the
56:40
reasons people are jumping on us for everything, any point we
56:43
drop is this whole that you can't do this, you can't do
56:45
that. So I think like it feels very
56:46
much like as we went off at the games, they're telling us we're
56:49
going to the league. There's never nobody's ever had
56:52
to do that to the enemy. So like I think I think it's
56:56
more that like the reputation of the teams that we're up against
56:59
and equally our own reputation of, you know, I think like the
57:03
two other teams we've been closest has been, strangely
57:06
enough, 20 years apart. So 86 last day of the season,
57:10
2006 on the runoff and no will be 2026 for forever reason.
57:14
We keep the every 20 years, but like so they'll farmer there
57:17
every year. Well, barfy Rangers in there
57:21
financial problems, but like, you know what I mean?
57:23
Reputationally, people know come April May, they'll still be
57:26
there. And whereas I think people are
57:28
jumping fat delay. If hearts drop points, they'll
57:30
fall away like other teams have in the past.
57:33
And it's us trying to sort of beat that drum of like Tony
57:36
Bloom's just and Jamestown just and This Is Us like and proven
57:41
and and it's it's looking like we're maybe a flash in the pan.
57:45
But our actual expectations is that we want to be up in the
57:49
positions nearly every year. How how close we are every year.
57:53
Nobody obviously will not we can't see in the future.
57:55
But like that's that's Tony Bloomsey.
57:58
So like it's just because it's half it straight away.
58:01
People are, you know, wants to be there.
58:03
They're just kidding to jump on at the moment.
58:04
Any points are dropped but they aren't as keen to jump on go
58:07
from if it happens to them because they think, well,
58:09
they're going to be back anyway, so always.
58:11
Well, well, maybe you'll have about a really bad 1A forum and
58:15
you'll keep up the relegation every six year that you've been
58:18
currently having 2014 relegated, 2020 relegated and you're due
58:22
one now in 2026 like you said. That'll be a challenge.
58:27
Yeah. I mean, to be fair, like you
58:29
said though, it is about the expectations entirely at Hearts
58:33
and the fan base. And I've spoke to a few jambles
58:36
and like yourself, they have kept the feet on the ground and
58:40
said, you know, this is not about when the tail for Celtic
58:42
gates, this was Celtic gates. That what we want to do is try
58:45
and put a healthy number of points on the board that will
58:48
help, you know, whether even if Rangers packed up form and you
58:51
know, we ended up third if we are strong, third, if we're
58:54
getting close to 2nd, 3rd, you know, that's progress and that's
58:58
something that can be measured and improved on year on year and
59:01
get you that point. It just wouldn't be like you
59:05
said, I don't find a bit of pressure and the sort of pokes,
59:09
you know, coming in the jibes coming in from other teams as
59:11
much if the old farm hadn't both completely collapsed in the same
59:14
season. Like that's just, you know,
59:16
we're in prey unfamiliar territory here.
59:19
But I mean, we'll see how it goes, but we'll be talking about
59:22
a lot and imagine because we're about to domestic football for
59:25
quite a while now, sadly, no Scotland talk until whether we
59:29
play Scott and talk, but nothing concrete to talk about until
59:33
March apart from maybe ticket prices and other things.
59:35
But I'm sure we'll bring all that to you on the socials and
59:38
maybe on the pod as well. But I think we'll wrap up there,
59:40
boys. Thanks very much for both Coming
59:42
on. It's been in our great episode.
59:44
Excitement continues to build for Scotland.
59:46
Like I say, and hopefully over the mums we'll be able to bring
59:48
you other little snippets, get guests or even We've already
59:51
started trying to hunt down Moroccan Arizalian accounts.
59:55
I don't know how we're. We're going to get.
59:57
Even I'm even allowed to speak to any Haitian people.
1:00:01
Yeah, I don't know. I can't.
1:00:03
I'll leave that off my visa application for my ticket.
1:00:06
We mark that one. Yeah, we've we've got a Brazil
1:00:10
English speaking Brazilian podcast lined up.
1:00:12
So we'll have all the the previews ready for you and maybe
1:00:16
a wee sneaky documentary that is in the works.
1:00:19
Like that I would say. Once again, thank you for coming
1:00:21
on. Fun being good to have you on
1:00:23
again Adam. Good to hear you mate.
1:00:26
Hopefully, hopefully next time that the title race is still
1:00:30
alive and kicking when we chat. Hopefully it's not so.
1:00:33
No, but hopefully there'll be two.
1:00:34
On to the next pod then. We'll still be in it in some
1:00:35
shape or form, just literally. But yeah, we'll see how it goes.
1:00:41
Perfect, perfect then catch you later mate.
1:00:45
Thanks for listening guys, take care.