Latest / Tectonic Takes / Episode 174: Is Daniel Leaving???
Transcript
- Tectonic Takes: What's up Quakes fans? We are back today with another episode of Tectonic Takes. It has been a minute. ⁓ it's been about two weeks to be exact. We're back with Devin. Devin, how you doing today? ⁓ I'm World Cup ready. Been watching the World Cup since day one. I'm excited. Ready for this podcast. I believe Devin has seen every single World Cup game. ⁓ have you seen them all at San Pedro or are they like on your phone or a mix of the two? I've seen a mix on my phone, I've seen a mix at San Pedro, and I've also seen a mix with my family on the big screen TV and that's right. But didn't didn't you go to one of those games? Yeah, we actually went to the ⁓ shout out Austria. ⁓ I think it's upside down. I was not prepared for this moment, but yeah. ⁓ we are Austria. Other side says Austrich. ⁓ yeah. I I wasn't really in favor of supporting Austria for this World Cup, despite the fact that they're German and I have German roots. ⁓ but it was one of the only games that we could really afford to go to. Right, yeah. And that's like the main factor. Yeah, that's the biggest factor. And s and so, you know, like what what else can you say of like I've been to a World Cup game, you know, it's just a c it's a couple of hundred dollars, it's a lot of money. you know, albeit there are some games like England that are like two thousand dollars, you know, but ⁓ at the same time, like, you know, it's it's a World Cup event. You never know when the next time you'll be able to to go to one of those. So you just gotta kinda you know, pull the trigger on on a game. Yeah. Kind of like how how Ivan is is doing tonight. He's going to the Algeria Jordan game. ⁓ I hope he enjoys it. But for me, yeah, I went to the Austria Jordan game. ⁓ watched three goals. I learned a lot of the Austrian chants before leaving just so I could, you know, immerse myself better and have a better time. and then sure enough, like we got tickets unbeknownst to us right next to the the Austrian Ultras. So that was even better because, you know, I I love kinda like the the that dedicated ⁓ fandom environment and ⁓ yeah, really enjoyed the game, to be honest. Yeah, ⁓ as you guys might have guessed today we're gonna ⁓ discuss the World Cup. We've been trying to keep it purely Quakes for a while, but ⁓ there is no Quakes to talk about. So we I gotta talk about something and ⁓ might as well talk about the biggest sporting event on earth. ⁓ But we also have a rumor to discuss. We're gonna be breaking here. ⁓ we also are just gonna talk about ⁓ former earthquakes still playing in the World Cup. You can probably guess who. And ⁓ also just the thoughts of the World Cup. It won't be a super long episode, so we s hope you're able to stick around. ⁓ first up on the list, Devin, you said you wanted to shout out some people who you've ran into at San Pedro Square. Yeah, man, the beauty of the beauty of the San Jose Earthquakes and hosting this event is you're gonna meet a lot of people that you never thought you got to meet. ⁓ sure enough, went to San Pedro Square Market. There's a season ticket holder area specifically dedicated for us. ⁓ walked inside, bunch of couches laid out ⁓ in kind of like a ninety degree angle, all across some private areas of of the ⁓ the the Irish bar. I'm I'm Irish and I I can't even O'Flarities. I think it's O'Flarities. met a bunch of Earthquakes fans there ⁓ I didn't really necessarily want to promote Tectonic Takes. I don't want to like shove it in people's faces, you know. Exactly, yeah. But during conversation, you know, ⁓ some family and I had brought brought it up and they're like, ⁓ yeah, what is the name? And then, you we're like, ⁓ it's Tectonic Takes and ⁓ we'd showed ⁓ the podcast and I had watched them subscribe to us. So, you know, shout out everyone that I met at San Pedro Square Market. and shout out to everyone who I'll meet after this video is is posted out and you watch this later on. ⁓ excited to have met you and will meet you. yeah, no, really cool environment. Just point them exactly to this part of the video and be like, shout out to you actually, specifically. ⁓ Devon, I should hand you like a few of these stickers so you can ⁓ hand them out to to QuakesFans you meet out in public. ⁓ these are the ⁓ the current official Tectonic Take logo stickers. ⁓ only a limited amount, but ⁓ I think this would be a good ⁓ you know opportunity to get them out there for free. ⁓ I'm still working on the design, so ⁓ I I wanna have a more official one before we start selling any kind of merch. But ⁓ regardless, ⁓ before we talk ⁓ anymore World Cup, I think that there's a very important rumor that I have to bring up. ⁓ and I wanna be clear that this is a rumor. ⁓ but god it hurts to say, doesn't it? ⁓ so it looks like Daniel could potentially be on his way out. ⁓ at this stage. ⁓ he posted on his story, a now deleted story, and it's been a few days anyway, so it wouldn't be up, but it was only up for a few hours. ⁓ it was a jersey, a goalkeeper jersey that was signed by the whole team, wishing him good luck, ⁓ with frowny faces, stuff like that. And the song that he had playing over the story was a song called Memories. I don't remember the artist or or any more details other than that. ⁓ So that's pretty damning in itself, but also I did notice ⁓ separately that ⁓ Daniel's wife was also ⁓ listing a lot of their belongings on Facebook Marketplace to be sold. And obviously when I saw that initially I was like, ⁓ well that's not they're just ⁓ you know, downsizing, whatever. But those two things in combination, it it's you know it gives you a lot to think about. ⁓ and obviously Daniel is one of those players that we can't really afford to lose at this stage. I would assume that if we're moving him on, we gotta bring someone in because we don't have anyone right now even close to Daniel Standard. ⁓ but what do you make of this ⁓ you know, evidence? also not not confirmed, but you know, I just wanna keep making that clear. Yeah, I mean it is unconfirmed, but it's also a not it it's a non nothing, if that makes sense. Like there's gotta be something in those combination of events, you know, selling on Facebook marketplace and then a jersey of people saying their goodbyes. Like you don't just say goodbye to someone and not have them leave, you know what I mean? Right. Like we've seen instances and moments in the past where Daniel was potentially on his way out, but then nothing kind of came of it. Right. But I think this is a different story. And obviously there's not really much else to go on because the earthquakes like to keep their lips sealed. But ⁓ Yeah, ⁓ a goodbye a goodbye post is is definitely, you know, something to be of concern. And the fact that we have very little goalkeeper depth, not to say that our current goalkeeper depth is not up for the task. I just think that there's a big disparity between the level of talent from Daniel to the next level. We need to find someone in replacement if Daniel goes to to match that level of of talent. ⁓ in goal because man, if you want someone important, you'd want him in goal. Yeah, ⁓ a hundred percent. ⁓ this is you know, obviously we love Daniel. He's always been super nice. ⁓ but this is a big impact on the field. ⁓ he's probably well for you know, quick stands are gonna tell you he's the best keeper in the league. ⁓ he was robbed of that award ⁓ last year or two years ago was two years ago, ⁓ Roman Berkey ended up winning. But we all knew that it should have been Daniel, even though he was playing for a worse team at the time. ⁓ but ⁓ we we're in a really strong run right now, and it would be super weird to move your starting keeper and you don't have a a secondary keeper who is close to his caliber. Like, you know, we've seen good moments from ⁓ Earl Edwards. I don't want to disparage his name at all. I think that he's been great for us in in the times he's been called upon. But I d I think that it's even if we were to buy a keeper from another team, I don't even think that they could match Daniel standards because of how good Daniel is. And that's the the issue here. Is there any keeper other than like Hugo Loris, ⁓ who you would be looking at from another MLS team to to potentially bring in? I'm thinking like ⁓ maybe Johnson, but he's really old at this point. ⁓ And I I don't think I'd want an international slot on someone like Gayese from ⁓ Or Orlando. Yeah, Orlando. I I can't really think of anyone. I'd I want Daniel. That's what I'd want. I think Daniel is the the the main priority. I know we were we were in talks with Johnson, I believe, in the off season and and potential ⁓ in a potential move to, you know, evict Daniel from the San Jose earthquake spot, but ⁓ that didn't happen. And then we retained Daniel and ⁓ You know, obviously no we're now in this predicament. I would love to have an American overseas goalkeeper come to the San Jose earthquakes. I ⁓ like looking at Matt Fries' record right now with the US national team and the World Cup, I would love to have someone of Matt Friese's quality. But I think just pulling them away and convincing them to join one of the the MLS's ⁓ previously worse ranked team or teams in the last ten years is a daunting task for anyone in the front office. ⁓ so you know obviously that's just my hopes to to bring someone like Matt Freeze. That i if there's a name it would be that. Yeah, from ⁓ New York City FC. Very strong ⁓ goalkeeper obviously bringing out a lot of, you know, big name keepers I I think for for the task. ⁓ people probably would have thought that Zach Stefan would have been nailed on. ⁓ a few years ago and obviously that hasn't really worked out. Strong keeper, I think, in this league, but it he was playing for City a few years ago. So the the kind of the difference in level where he we would have thought he was gonna be and where he actually is ended up being is is you know a big difference. ⁓ Sean Johnson, ⁓ someone mentioned he thirty seven thirty seven years old, sorry. ⁓ I was gonna say seven years old, it's not correct. ⁓ thirty seven years old is playing for DC United, probably too old at this point to really ⁓ replace Daniel for any kind of long term campaign, you know. I have I have a a shout. Hear me out, Abram. Bring back JT Marcinkowski. I know he's competing for a first team spot in LA. Even though he plays for LA. Wasn't necessarily his fault to leave San Jose in the first place. Right. LA may want to cling on to him, but I would love to have him back here in San Jose. ⁓ Won't be a homegrown deal, but, you know. I think it'd be lovely to bring him back. I mean, if I'm thinking like, you know, emotionally, I would love to have J T back. ⁓ and I think that he does, you know, come closer to bridging that gap between our first keeper Daniel and our second keepers. I don't think that, you know, probably about seventy five percent of the way there. I especially after his injury is, you know, probably not as good as he was. Still very good and, you know, he's been successfully fighting for the first team spot at at Galaxy. It would be kind of really hard to de prime away from them, but that's obviously a move I would love to see. another keeper I thought of ⁓ if we could possibly make that happen, I don't know his status right now, Ethan Horvath. I don't know if you ⁓ remember that name, Devin. ⁓ but let me actually see where he's at, Ethan Horvath. So I I remember that one call and I I think it was from the Gold Cup. Where he had made an incredible save and and the commentator was like, Ethan Horvath, what the save of his life. And I I think it was like the semifinal or final of the Gold Cup or Weeks Cup, and I can't remember what it was. So he he's a keeper that has played ⁓ abroad. He's currently at New York Red Bulls. ⁓ you obviously I know you're a new ⁓ Red Bulls fan, not a New York fan, ⁓ Red Bulls fan. ⁓ he played in Mulda and Norway. ⁓ played Club Bruges, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, Carter City, Sheffield Wednesday. Now he's back in MLS. ⁓ made two appearances so far for New York Red Bulls. ⁓ again, not probably as good as Daniel, but is somebody with some kind of resume who you know I don't think two games at Red Bulls has is really like showing me that he's solidified there. So obviously a keeper that Some people thought was going to end up playing at this World Cup ⁓ when he was a teenager. kind of a similar ⁓ hype back in the day as ⁓ Gagas Lonina. ⁓ that's a player who would be great, but I don't think that we can have that reach. ⁓ I don't think Bruce you know, maybe maybe he does and maybe I'm wrong, but ⁓ Hey if if Bruce can pull Timo, I think he can pull just about anyone at this point. That that's what I was thinking. Like Bruce has done things that I never thought he would be able to do. ⁓ so Slonino would be really, really nice, especially 'cause he's not super old at this point. ⁓ so that would be that would be interesting. ⁓ but the point is we're we're like scrubbing through these names and I don't think anyone really sparks joy the way that ⁓ Daniel does. Like I would love to keep Daniel ⁓ ahead of everyone we mentioned ⁓ I think my favorite ⁓ is who you mentioned, JT Marznikalki. That would be really good to bring him back in. ⁓ I just again, it's really hard to reach the level that Daniel has. You know what I mean? Yeah. I mean if any of the viewers out there, if you guys have any any mentions, honorable mentions for goalkeepers, please write it down on there or type it down in the comments down below. I'd love to hear your opinions on on what goalkeepers you guys want to have signed. ⁓ I think Emiochoa is not the idealist choice. But it was weird to to kick him out at like nineteen, twenty years old. He seemed like he was promising. ⁓ probably wasn't a first team candidate for the next like three or four years, but ⁓ you know, now that we're having a goalkeeper crisis, I think it would be cool to to have kept him on and replaced him with, you know, anyone in the depth chart just to see how good he was doing. But I guess he's he's at Cruz Lazul now, having a good time. ⁓ winning championships with the team. So maybe maybe he's happy he moved on from the earthquakes and is lifting trophies. I think so. ⁓ when he left we weren't doing very well. ⁓ and we got what a few million for him. ⁓ like someone who never played an MLS match. ⁓ only O open cup and ⁓ some friendlies. ⁓ but I I just thought of somebody who I'd really like ⁓ for ⁓ a replacement for Daniel and that's That'd be great. But no. ⁓ although ⁓ that would be interesting to use the D P slot on a goalkeeper. ⁓ my thought was Andrew Thomas. ⁓ good shot. The the backup at Seattle, ⁓ who is basically the starter now because he is better probably than than ⁓ the current starter there. ⁓ is it Smetzer? Is it Smetzer who Brian Schmitzer? Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's that's who I was thinking of. ⁓ let's look at some of his ⁓ That's he actually was born in Russia, but he ⁓ spent some time as a Stanford Cardinal, played fifty five games for Stanford, so obviously knows the Bay well. ⁓ he he was at one point contracted to Watford, ⁓ but you know, he obviously never made an appearance for them. ⁓ played for San Francisco City in twenty nineteen, ⁓ but has been very solid as a backup for ⁓ Seattle Sounders, ⁓ was the keeper that you did not want to face ⁓ for Quakes two when he was playing for ⁓ Tacoma Defiance. He was like if you're going into a ⁓ penalty shootout like after a tie, ⁓ and you're facing Seattle, it's like, ⁓ my God. Like this guy won them games. Yeah. It it's it's crazy. He is an incredible goalkeeper. That's someone who I would love to bring in. But ⁓ I can't see Seattle wanting to let go of somebody this good, ⁓ who's only twenty seven and in goalkeeper years that's very young. ⁓ yeah, we can dream. But ⁓ that that's probably n my number one. I had a JT even. Plenty of dreaming over here in San Jose Earthquakes territory. Yeah. I mean we're take we're saying names like Tristan, so why not Andrew Thomas? I was just about to say as a Spurs fan, we have a a brand new first team goalkeeper even though we had a He had a a big mistake last year that almost cost us a game. ⁓ e or did cost us a game, I guess. ⁓ you know, Vicario has found his way out of the Tottenham Pottsburgh first team and he may be looking for for moves elsewhere. I think it would be cool if we can bring Vicario to to San Jose. ⁓ i again, like you said, might be a D P contract. Long shot. And weird to put a D P in a goalkeeper position, but You know, ⁓ defense wins championships and if you know, goalkeeper's a pretty damn good start at winning a championship. Yeah. I'd say we can bring in Ficaria. Yeah, I agree. I think people would say it's very risky, but ⁓ I think that if it's like a keeper where you're guaranteed to have the best keeper in the league, it's better than not using all your D P slots. I don't I I understand that you get a financial incentive for not using all D P slots, but ⁓ I don't see that financial incentive impact me at all. Like, you know, I'm not ⁓ I I'm sure Fisher would like to not, you know, have to pay for all three D Ps, but I don't care what he pays for. I'd like him to pay more money, please. Fisher wants the money, no matter what. Right. but ⁓ that's all for Quake's news ⁓ at this moment in time. it was Nico's birthday recently at the San Pedro Square And I know that you were at that Devin. ⁓ and he did he look okay? Did you see him walk around at all? Yeah, he was walking around, I think with a very small, noticeable limp. But he didn't he didn't have any like brace or anything on his leg. He just kind of walked out with with shorts, socks and shoes. So ⁓ looked like a a normal guy. If you hadn't if you didn't think he was a football player, then you would have just thought he's just a a healthy dude walking around. ⁓ So I think in in in the construct of things, ⁓ Nico's road to recovery is looking pretty healthy and stable. So ⁓ you know, I'm kinda looking forward, excited to to his return potentially for for the s the San Jose earthquakes in probably two or so months. Yeah. ⁓ not expecting to see him anytime soon. Yeah, just because you have a brace off doesn't mean like he's gonna return against the galaxy or Orlando City. Like it's gonna take some time to to rebuild that muscle, et cetera. So ⁓ excited though to see him outside, you know, out of a boot and walking about. Exactly. I wonder if they put you in a boot when you have a ⁓ a groin injury. It's just like it's just like a pair of pants. Just like don't move this. ⁓ no, I I have no idea. ⁓ but somebody who we do know did wear a boot at one point was Dewan Jones, who was seen up walking around at a ⁓ earthquake's ⁓ camp. I I I don't really know the specifics of the event, but Duan was there and he was ⁓ walking, no crutches. ⁓ he apparently did have a slight limp, so that shows us where he is in his ⁓ road to recovery. ⁓ we knew that that was gonna be a season ending injury, so you know no surprises there, but it's good that it's it's going in the right direction, right? ⁓ that's what we want to see. ⁓ but speaking of ⁓ San Pedro Square, ⁓ the earthquakes are hosting all hundred and forty two I believe, games. ⁓ how has that been? Has that been like what it's been hyped up to be, Devin, as someone who's been there? I I think it's been more than hyped up to be, to be honest. If if I'm giving you like my genuine honest truth, like as someone who who mainly supports ⁓ I say mainly, I support like seven international teams. ⁓ US national team, Germany, etcetera, like I go to see a lot of those games for to choose a side and to to to kind of immerse myself in the passion. But as a a USA fan, as a Germany fan, as a ⁓ f you know, ⁓ just a fan of of You're wearing Austria right now. As yeah, a newly found Austrian fan. ⁓ but there's not many Austrian fans around the Bay Area, unfortunately. ⁓ it is I I think the numbers of attendees have been overwhelmingly positive for the earthquakes anyway, in terms of like recognition and and whatnot. ⁓ but I think overall, like holistically, just being surrounded by what was that number a couple of days ago when Mexico had played their game? ⁓ it's like thirty thousand fans at San Pedro Square Market. Wow. And things got rowdy. You know, there was just a buzz and energy in the air. Like when Colombia and Brazil played, it's the same exact atmosphere. Like a lot of noise, a lot of hype energy. That's what you go to see to watch those, you know, when watching those international games. Like you you love to be surrounded by those things. And and I'm just like thrilled that the earthquakes had managed to pull this off and and decided to to kind of take a risk in going to San Pedro Market and and giving these viewers an opportunity to watch with other fans and make new friends like I did and and whatnot. ⁓ I I would highly recommend. going to San Pedro Square Market. If you're out there listening to this podcast and you haven't done so yet, please make your way to San Pedro Square Market. Bring a chair. get there early. Bring a chair. Sit near the front row, etcetera. ⁓ bring like a blanket. They have grass out there for you to sit on, but, you know, ⁓ bring a cushion just in case. Yeah, it's it's a fun atmosphere. I I love ⁓ I I like this it's it might just be a personal thing, Abram. I don't know. Some people like sitting isolated watching games just for, you know, the personal atmosphere, but being in a crowded, surrounded area with people who have like minded, you know, emotions towards the the things that you like as well. Yeah. ⁓ is just incredible. Have you have you made it out to a game yet there? No. It's impossible for me to do so 'cause I work, you know, all week. Every weekday I'm working. And I start in San Jose and so I'm like so close to the action. But then I always end my day away from San Jose. I never like start away and then end up in San Jose. And so it's just like I I drive all day and then I'm like I'm in San Francisco. I don't wanna drive back to San Jose for a game. And and by that point I only get like the six o'clock game and it's like only one game. I would love to go for to watch, you know they probably show like three games a day or four games a day. I'd love to watch all of them. Like I want it to be like a a big thing and I wanna 'cause it it's a trip for me, to be honest. Like I I go to the Earthquake Stadium and that's like I do that weekly or it did there's no games there right now, but ⁓ I did that weekly and and it it does take a toll, especially when w if I driving that day, right? ⁓ and the weekends have been really ⁓ busy for me as well. ⁓ so it's it's been tough to see ⁓ just how fun it looks. Like ⁓ the earthquakes are posting videos and ⁓ I see all the people there having a good time and ⁓ I'm just in my car in my little Prius ⁓ delivering medical supplies for for the people. but ⁓ obviously this World Cup has brought a lot of ⁓ unity to the world. ⁓ like a lot of people are really enjoying the this called the sleepover as the Europeans and African nations and and all them come and ⁓ support their teams and it's been really cool to see, especially the the Scottish people in Boston. I don't know if you've been able to see any of those videos, Devin. ⁓ the Tartan army having a great time over in Boston. Yeah, and the Koreans in in Mexico. Love the Tartan Army. I mean, my my hi my blood is is part Scottish, so we keep a close eye on the Scots ⁓ tartanar tartan army. I might have to buy a kilt at some point just to to to go along. Twenty twenty eight actually is is a family goal to head out to the UK and watch a bunch of the Euros yeah ⁓ Euros games in all Ireland, Scotland, England, etcetera. That's a that's a big goal of ours. So we're keeping a close eye on a lot of the European teams and most specifically Scotland, who are unfortunate in their most recent game, ⁓ against Morocco, which I thought they could have walked away with a point, to be honest. ⁓ but, you know, it this is the World Cup, like anything can happen, you know. I think one of the the dark horse teams that we were talking about just before starting was Cabo Verde. And, you know, there's a former San Jose Earthquake on the team. Jamiro Montero. ⁓ who's actually looked quite good. Yeah. For them. ⁓ I mean, yeah, he's he's his physicality hasn't changed at all. He's getting bodied off the ball. But that's something that earthquakes have been. Yeah, he's got the heart of a line. But you know, they've they've drawn two games. First against Spain and the second one against Uruguay. Like, I don't think anyone walked into this tournament thinking Cabo Verde was gonna walk away with a single point, nonetheless two. And ⁓ just to so that's the team that if you're a Quakes fan and you have no other affiliations for some reason and you're just like I just want former Quakes to do good, that's a really interesting group, group group H, ⁓ because Cabo Verde is in third place and they are facing Saudi Arabia who they can beat. ⁓ you know, obviously nothing is is promised, but they can beat Saudi Arabia, but I don't know if Uruguay can beat Spain. And so they might end up being ahead of ⁓ Uruguay. ⁓ and obviously there's there's so many ways that this can go, but that would be very interesting to see ⁓ former Quakes player ⁓ into the World Cup knockout stages. ⁓ I don't know if we count I mean we're gonna take credit for him anyways, but Max Arvston ⁓ hasn't played any time yet, I don't think. ⁓ I've I've seen both ⁓ USA games and I I don't remember seeing Max Arston at all. But he is a a player who is officially into the knockout stages. So congratulations to Team USA. That's been they've been one of the best teams to watch. Like, you know, I'm I'm Mexican but I'm also American. ⁓ USA I haven't seen a better team than USA, at least from some of the games that I've seen. Yeah, I mean there definitely are better teams. I think France is a better team. I think a good point. ⁓ Argentina have been fairly lucky ⁓ with having Leonel Messi on the team. If it wasn't for Leonel Messi, this might be my tectonic take. I don't see Argentina getting past the group stage. Let's talk about that. Because we look at this Argentina team, I'll I'll put them up on on Fatma while I speaking. They don't look that good. Like like they have ⁓ Julian Arve Julian Alvarez, I'll say it in Spanish so that I can actually say it out loud. ⁓ and then they have Rodrigo DePaul, who is effectively a MLS midfielder at this point. ⁓ they have ⁓ good goalkeeper. But I wouldn't say that like, ⁓ this this team is World Cup winning, you know, caliber. ⁓ Portugal looks better than them on paper, like by a lot. Like that midfield is incredible. ⁓ Turkey A, I would have said looks better than them on paper without Messi. You add Messi to that team, it's like, ⁓ what are we talking about? Like this is the best team on earth. And and it's crazy, but it just takes one guy and they all just run their ass off for him and make everything work for him, right? ⁓ and then he's been delivering on that. ⁓ you know, 'cause you don't wanna run that much for someone who's not gonna actually like produce, but he's producing. So that's probably their their game plan. ⁓ and so everyone facing them is like, Okay, how do we stop Messi? You don't you know, nobody's ever been able to do that. Except for Daniel Mooney. So, you know, that's something to consider. ⁓ but ⁓ yeah, it's been it's been interesting to to see how Messi just like because prior like a few years ago it's been like the narrative was that Messi couldn't do it on the international stage and he's had better Argentina teams. He's had Aguero with him, he's had Mascarano. ⁓ obviously last World Cup he still had Di Maria but not to the same extent that he would have in years prior. ⁓ but this isn't the best Argentina team we've ever seen, but they're performing, you know, better than any of the team that I previously mentioned. Yeah, sorry. So for for context, for the viewers who are watching this episode on YouTube rather than Spotify, ⁓ you just saw me react in a weird way. It's because ⁓ the ⁓ Norway is currently playing right now and I can hear I can hear my dad watching the TV on the other side of this door and he's screaming because something just happened. I don't know what's happening, but it's very muffled in my ear. But yeah, someone must have just scored right now. Two zero Senegal. ⁓ I it does why doesn't it show me who scored? ⁓ let's see. ⁓ might show it just below. But Holland. ⁓ actually no, it's two one, Ismail Asar just scored. ⁓ so it they are back in the game. ⁓ live updates ⁓ here at Technology. You now you know exactly when we are recording this. ⁓ exactly. But ⁓ no, it obviously t this tournament has had a tremendous amount of parity. ⁓ you don't know who's going to win any game. ⁓ was it Curaça? No, it was Kate Verde who who, you know, drew Spain zero zero and got their first point. And then they they drew to a Uruguay getting their first two goals in the World Cup. Is that right? They're two That's correct, yeah. And they they scored the first goal and then Uruguay scored two and then Calvo Verde had to score the second goal late in the game. Which was an amazing celebration. I freaking love that celebration on the second goal. ⁓ my god, I need to recreate that somehow with ⁓ with the boys. But yeah, we'll we'll we have some stuff like planned ⁓ for doing outside outdoors activities ⁓ with a soccer ball instead of just sitting here ⁓ with a microphone talking about it. ⁓ we have ⁓ videos planned, nothing in concrete, but ⁓ stay tuned for that. ⁓ subscribe for that actually. That would be a great way to phrase that. ⁓ yeah, it's been a very fun World Cup so far. Who's been your favorite team that is not one that you are like 'cause you are, you know, a little bit German, a little bit Scottish, a little bit Irish, a little bit, you know you know what I'm saying? So what team that you are not affiliated with by blood have you been enjoying watching? And I think I I know your answer. Apart from the obvious, my newly found ⁓ team here. ⁓ I honestly I wanna say Bosnia and Herzegov ⁓ Herzegovina, ⁓ you know, entering the World Cup, they had posted a an like an incredibly like attractive song. It was like I I am from Bosnia, take me to America. Yeah. ⁓ I I think that that made me want to follow Bosnia more, and then I was listening to like their ultras supporters groups, and I'm like, wow, like they're super serious about this. And then you watch Bosnia play. And like they're an entertaining team. They really take you know, especially like not necessarily versus Switzerland 'cause they they got kind of blown out after their red card, but ⁓ I think their first game, they they looked pretty pretty threatening and promising. ⁓ I I would love to see Bosnia ⁓ and Herzegovina ⁓ kind of go take it to the the next step. ⁓ hundred percent. yeah, and obviously we have ⁓ ties to that team because of Benji. And Benji has never appeared for Bosnia, ⁓ never been called up. But he's just so passionately Bosnian that we identify with that team as Quakes fans. And I think that's beatable. San Jose Earthquakes entire like as a whole identifies Bosnian for the next couple of weeks. Exactly. ⁓ so I'm looking at at this ⁓ the the all the groups as a whole to see who I've enjoyed watching. ⁓ like I said, USA, I I love the style of play, but I am American just by birth, so ⁓ by my rules I can't pick them. But ⁓ I really like ⁓ Japan. I I found I like aspects about South Korea. I like the way that ⁓ Lee Kangan ⁓ drives through the midfield and he controls the whole match, but it was really boring. Like they didn't go forward enough and Mexico isn't gonna go forward either. So ⁓ it's hard to be like, ⁓ that that that game's fun. It it the very like cool sleeper team to to watch. ⁓ and Hyungmin Sun did play well. I don't know why he was subbed off. I was very interested in that decision because he almost scored if not for a ⁓ offline clearance like a bicycle kick clearance. He w he almost scored. And then he was called outside, but he, you know, did a step over, beat the keeper and got a shot on target. He was playing well and he was one of the only players I was scared of, ⁓ in that match as a Mexican. So ⁓ South Korea, let him play more. Like figure that out. ⁓ But ⁓ no, it it's again, it's been hard for me to watch too many ⁓ World Cup games because I drive for a living and ⁓ I'm sure most of you don't want me, you know to get into a car accident and potentially hurt myself, so I'm taking I'm taking one for the team and staying alive ⁓ rather than watching all of these World Cup games. But Morocco, again, we we all knew that they were strong from the last World Cup. They got to the semifinals. But they I I think that they deserve to be at the top of this group. ⁓ I don't think Brazil has shown that they are, you know, the leaders of group C. I think that Morocco should be at the top of the group. ⁓ I don't know if you you've seen every game. What do you think? ⁓ yeah, I actually do think Morocco should be top of the group. Their first game against Brazil, I genuinely did not think Brazil was up for the task to beat Morocco. I thought Morocco had more chances, they had a higher quality of chance, and they they outplayed Brazil from first minute to ninety. ⁓ they I think a lot of fans would agree, the World Cup fans in general would agree that they are kind of like the underdogs of the World Cup, they're the dark horse. Yeah. But I think What is it? Their U twenty just won the World Cup and ⁓ eliminated Nico Sakaris' United States from that tournament. ⁓ so they are a talented squad from youth to national team level. ⁓ youth the first team level. ⁓ and I think they'll be a strong force from from now and for like the next ten to twelve years, honestly. ⁓ Morocco could be a third place team this tournament. Yeah. Apart from France Argentina, England, and ⁓ Germany potentially. And Spain, like they haven't really shown like, ⁓ this is like a killer team. But they have the quality. Like it it's clear that they have it. It's just like when are they gonna bring it out? When are they gonna start proving that they are Spain? ⁓ but Yeah, not even just Spain too. I think the Netherlands. Netherlands haven't even won a World Cup ever in their lifetime. And you would think based off the quality they have on their team and that they've had Since like two thousand ten when they I think they they they finished like third place or was it twenty fourteen they finished third or something like that. ⁓ barely missing out. You know, with with the s the squad depth they have, like they could win it all this season. This season as in like this is like a fifteen thirty five game league. Right. but you know what I mean. I I know what you mean. ⁓ no, Morocco is is they've been incredible. They've been really good. ⁓ they're actually like The way that ⁓ South ⁓ not South African North African teams like they have a a very specific culture in the way they dribble and I've actually wanted to write a book like an entire book as a journalist about the ways that different cultures dribble. Like the the way they move the ball. Because the way that ⁓ a Moroccan will move the ball is closer to an Algerian than it is to a Brazilian or an Englishman. Like they they they move the ball in very different ways, they move their body around the ball in different ways. And I think Morocco right now is showing of the North African teams, ⁓ the most the the best way to to balance that affinity with the ball and also just ta tactical acumen and and clinicality. ⁓ is it Unahi, ⁓ the number eleven. I I saw him on FIFA, you know, like a seventy eight rated player. He's been incredible. He's been, you know, making teams pay for not, you know, rating him. He he just been getting in behind and able to finish really hard chances. I've been super impressed with him. So that's who I would pick, ⁓ probably as my team that I've been impressed with that I'm not affiliated with ⁓ ethnically. I think that's a good choice. Very fair choice as well. I wanted to ⁓ I I wanted to shout out, sorry, no before you continue on. ⁓ the ⁓ I think Democratic Republic of Congo or just DR Congo. I'm not sure I think that's correct. Yeah, okay. Any Democratic Republic of Congo, they're a really interesting team to watch, specifically because I haven't really heard of their presence before this World Cup, to be honest. But I think what's really fascinating is they have kind of like what many would call a mascot, but he's he's just been a fan And there's a van, he'll s he'll stand and he holds his hand up because he's honoring someone. Yeah, it was like the leopard super fan, Mikhail Nkum Inkuka Embola Dinga, ⁓ sorry if I butchered the name. ⁓ he stands completely still like a statue during the entire match as a living tribute to ⁓ Patrice Lumumba, ⁓ which is Congo's first prime minister, who was apparently was shot by the CIA. ⁓ ⁓ so fun fact. ⁓ I I keep a very close eye on Democratic Republic of Congo Congo for that specific purpose. Yeah. ⁓ because they they play in honor of that man standing there for ninety minutes, and I just think standing there is impressive enough, but the fact that they they played to him ⁓ is is another step. Yeah. They they you know, surprise a lot of people getting the draw against Portugal. ⁓ they're actually another team where the way that they dribble the their their Culture around dribbling is very distinct. ⁓ I've actually known ⁓ players from ⁓ the Congo in real life who who you know emigrated to the states and ⁓ incredible players on the ball. and you know, players you might have heard of, like ⁓ Yannick Bolasi or ⁓ Masuwaku. Very good dribblers, ⁓ very good players. and ⁓ I just want to give a ⁓ kind of a shot at Ronaldo. ⁓ I feel like you know people were saying that ⁓ Messi getting a hat trick versus Algeria is like well he's playing a lesser team. I feel like Algeria on paper is stronger than Congo, so what's Ronaldo's excuse for not getting hat trick against them? You know, what's what's he what's he doing? He's looked absolutely poor this World Cup, I gotta be honest. What's he doing? Yeah, I'm interested to see if he 'cause he he's somebody who second best player To ever live, right? Incredible player. A little old at this point, but I'm I'm curious to see if this criticism of how he's played so far will feed into the monster that he is inside that we know he is, but he's kind of a an a hole about it. I I wonder if he will become better because of how much everyone's been dogging on him. ⁓ probably not, but it is interesting to to think about. ⁓ I'm just saying, of all the top players in the league, Ronaldo Is probably one of the only ones that hasn't scored a goal yet in this tournament. ⁓ as I say this, Erling Holland a couple of minutes ago just bagged his brace. So ⁓ you got you got a brace? Wow. You got a brace, yeah. Fifty eighth minute. They're now in the sixty fifth. But it it's it it does show something. It kinda shows Ronaldo's age and and mindset that it Maybe it's just because I've been watching these these football edits online on like social media. Right. But you can see when his teammates score a goal, he's like calling for offsides, like, hey, call it back. I didn't score it. Like, what are you doing, man? It's your own team. You you just gotta rack up the scroll. It's it's really crazy. Like, people who I respect and have learned about the game from genuinely think Ronaldo is better than Messi. And you know that like that's just an emotional response. That's not like ⁓ analytical response. And I I grew up around a lot of Portuguese people and that could explain it. You know, they know a lot about ball, but they don't wanna admit ⁓ the truth about Messi being better. ⁓ which I I understand. I do understand. You know, if Mexico ⁓ if Ronaldo is Mexican then I would have a really hard time as well. But ⁓ but no the we all know the truth. This this podcast is ⁓ in the ⁓ debate about Ronaldo be Messi. We're we're all messy, even though We hope that he doesn't do well when we're facing him in the MLS. ⁓ it's not like we hate Ronaldo. It's just more of more along the lines of like, you know, this Messi is just statistically better and provides more for a team. I hate the I hate the debate because I don't think there should be one. I think that is like, well, if you know the game then you should know what's going on. You know. It's very clear too. Yeah, I think you can appreciate both players for what they've contributed to the the beautiful game. Ronaldo's in most comments and social media that is not the case. No. So we are not social media. We are here to tell you that we do appreciate both players. Yes, Ronaldo's an incredible player. If Messi didn't exist, it would be like no question he's the best. Unfortunately for him, Messi exists at the exact same time as him. So ⁓ Yeah. Ronaldo's got all those Ballon d'Or's for a reason. He he does have a lot of Ballon d'Ors and if you it w if it weren't for Messi having eight He would have the most ever. ⁓ but Messi has eight. You know, so it it's crazy. And if he keeps going at the rate that he's going, ⁓ he has five and two right now. ⁓ he might get another one. Like and that would be crazy for I I hope not. I really hope not. I ⁓ you know who deserves deserves a Ball and Dor among all these years of playing with a shit team? excuse my language. ⁓ Harry Kane. Yeah. I mean Harry Kane deserves a Ballandor this season. If he can get a lot of goals this World Cup Yeah whether the England wins or not, I think he deserves the Ballon d'Or. I think I think if he can win the World Cup and be like the the big you know, the the the b main guy, I I'm trying to say. ⁓ then he has a shout. It's hard because they didn't win the ⁓ the Champions League. ⁓ so if France ends up doing any kind of if they get to the final even I think Dembele has got it in the bag. ⁓ and that's just That's just where the Ballador is right now. ⁓ just if you win the the Champion League, yeah then you're basically you know, you win it. ⁓ but ⁓ that's ⁓ do you have any closing thoughts, Devin? ⁓ I actually ⁓ yeah, I had one. I had one. Go for it. ⁓ I wanted to shout out the ⁓ restaurant owner that you mentioned. ⁓ was ⁓ they said that we could record there any time. I don't know if we will be recording there because we record these over ⁓ you know this the software but ⁓ Havano Cuba ⁓ Jennifer Echeveri is the owner ⁓ in San Pedro Square can you describe like where well that's our we're cutting this that's not public information yet she's not in San Pedro. But Havana Cuba is located just on the other side of the convention center. ⁓ you can Google the address I can't necessarily provide it for you right now. But what's the secret about it? Can you tell me like we'll cut this, but like what's secret? So the secret is she's she's relocating from her current spot, which is across the street from the convention center, and she's working on construction for a spot in the San Pedro Square market. Got it. Okay. So yeah. But that's not public. Go ahead and and say the shout out in the way that it should be said then. Yeah, yeah. ⁓ so I want to shout out ⁓ Jen, who was sitting next to me for the the USA game, the second game. We were at San Pedro Square Market in the season ticket holder section. she was talking to me about her her restaurant and ⁓ I have yet to go. I have yet to go, but I know I've looked at the menu and the menu looks great. ⁓ lots of Cuban food, can't go wrong with Cuban food. Incredible cuisine. Yes, incredible. ⁓ an incredible person as well. So ⁓ if you if you find your way in Find your f your way out in in downtown San Jose and you're looking for a spot to eat, ⁓ go to Havana Cuba. ⁓ I I don't think you will I mean I don't think you'll be disappointed. Yeah. And this is not a sponsorship, we're not being paid to say that. ⁓ it's purely ⁓ because of the kindness that ⁓ Jen showed Devin ⁓ during their their time, you know, together at the ⁓ the World Cup watch party. you know, just wanted to shout out the community because that's what this podcast is about ultimately. ⁓ but ⁓ any closing thoughts, David? Nope, I think that's that's about it for me, other than my my ⁓ my Harry Kane propaganda finishing second in ⁓ in the scores for the Champions League. No, ⁓ that's about it. England is the team that usually I I root for b just because of ⁓ you know, I know that you can relate. ⁓ all the YouTubers I grew up watching as a kid are English and they love England. And so they would be rooting for England and I'd be like, Yeah, go England. ⁓ I have no affiliation with them. But I always want them to do well. ⁓ so I am I don't think I I haven't I didn't get to see their their their previous game. ⁓ but I will try to watch the the one PM against ⁓ Ghana. ⁓ obviously that'll be in the past by the time this goes up, but ⁓ yeah, ⁓ I will be watching that one whenever I can. ⁓ but that's gonna be it for today's episode of Tectonic Takes. We'll be back in another two weeks. ⁓ we do have that friendly against Tijuana coming up on July third. ⁓ so ⁓ I will try to be there. ⁓ and any Quees fans who are there, I hope to see you guys at the stadium. ⁓ because it would kinda suck to be outnumbered at our own stadium again by a Mexican team fans. ⁓ but that's kind of what I'm predicting at this point, just because of the nature of Mexicans in the Bay Area. They they come out and they support Which is a good thing but not good for us. If we if we learned anything from San Pedro Square Market viewing parties, the Mexicans and the Colombians show out. There is there is no second or third place trophy. It is Mexicans and Colombians number one and basically no one else for another like fifty eight tiers below. Right. ⁓ but we I'll be at that game. I don't believe Domin can make it. ⁓ but ⁓ yeah, until then we'll see you guys next time and go quakes. Go quakes.