Latest / The Calcio Guys / Italy-Albania Reaction & Italy-Spain Preview EURO 2024 - Ep. 232

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Italy-Albania Reaction & Italy-Spain Preview EURO 2024 - Ep. 232 · The Calcio Guys

0:26
A terrible start on Saturday, and that's a terrible start to this show.
0:30
Johnny Nicholas joined by Nick na E john by Nick average Keys Enjoyer on Twitter.
0:36
How's it going. It's going great, buddy, is as good as
0:39
it can be going right now? Italy three points knockdown. That's all we
0:43
can ask for and we move so pretty good. You're surviving, Jenny.
0:48
I'm actually fighting a cold right now. For some reason, only I can
0:52
get a cold and plus thirty five degrees celsius weather, like I don't I
0:55
don't understand if I had the AC on too strong for my life over here.
1:00
Good helps you. I got COVID during like thirty six degree weather like
1:04
two years ago, so that happened to me. The first time I got
1:08
it back in like it was like mayweather, and we got like it was
1:11
it was like like high twenties. It was kind of shitty. But yeah,
1:15
I kind of know you're paid. So anyway, we're a minute seventeen
1:21
into this episode and already plaiting on what we're minute seventeen eight, and I'm
1:26
already complaining, no, no, not that it's the same. Well,
1:30
now we're a minute thirty and by this point on Saturday, Italy was already
1:33
down one nothing actually twenty three seconds ago, y Cokey Maltcoat with the throws
1:38
a ready, let me staunch. I'm stunning stock this year, Cookey Malcoat.
1:56
Man, my blood is boiling just listening to that again. I don't
1:59
know if you guys what your reaction was watching that. Let's I mean,
2:02
Nick, well, what was the reaction just twenty three seconds in, out
2:06
of the blue they score? How did you react? Yeah, So I'm
2:08
gonna give you a little bit of context. So I went to a restaurant
2:12
like where that A lot of my family lives nearby, so we had all
2:15
of our cousins. My girlfriend came. It's like the first time she's been
2:19
like watching watching international football, mainly because I dragged her. And so we
2:24
went to the bathroom, like just because we had to like go to the
2:27
bathroom before the game. And so I sit down and all of a sudden,
2:30
I just see a goal. Hop So like I don't actually really know
2:32
what I saw, So I was silent, basically a little bit of awe.
2:37
And at the same time I was also like mad because like and and
2:40
you know what on like Twitter, as well, you know, fair play,
2:43
I got cooked a little bit. But I was very reactionary because that
2:47
entire goal, to be honest, was kind of like one inter player through
2:52
the ball, the other inter player didn't get the block in. So I
2:53
was very reactionary because I wasn't really happy going down twenty three seconds in.
2:58
But I didn't know that we were gonna come, to be quite honest with
3:00
you, like, I wasn't nervous about the result. It was just,
3:02
you know, I didn't want the players to be shell shocked or anything like
3:06
that. So that was that was a little bit of an interesting way to
3:08
start a game, for sure. I went to the bathroom with your girlfriend,
3:13
eh, I didn't want to see and I didn't oh he loses,
3:23
Like I think, it's like moovies and games like I do not want to
3:25
be interrupted. So I just had to go beforehand. So I literally sit
3:29
down and I just see the shot go in. I was like, okay,
3:30
cool, this is a good start. So you missed the anthem,
3:35
no no, no, no no. So I got listened to the bathrooms
3:38
the anthem for the anthem because I'm like, I'm not missing these players.
3:42
Because everybody knows Missouri when they screamed the anthem. It's iconic. I'm not
3:46
missing that. Yeah, I did that. I saw the lineups come up,
3:49
so I'm like, you know what, I can take a really quick
3:51
I can go to the bathroom really really quickly. So I went, I
3:53
came back. I missed like the first twenty seconds, and as I sit
3:57
down, I see the ball get thrown in from DeMarco and then just a
4:00
near post shot going. So I got the important parts. To be honest,
4:02
I just missed the first like fifteen seconds. You Jenny, it was.
4:10
It was. It was definitely a shock. Honestly, looking back at
4:14
it, I just think it was it was just a communication error. It
4:15
was just like, uh, it was a mistake that they capitalized on perfectly.
4:19
I just I was surprised, honestly speaking, because I was like,
4:24
I did not expect that kind of plague and it and it would kind of
4:27
worried me a bit. I I will say the opposite to what Nick said
4:30
before. I was very worried about the fact that like, oh, they
4:33
did not have their nerves settled, you know, like are they not calm?
4:36
You know, like they don't seem composed. And thankfully they managed to
4:42
recover very well. They they proved me wrong, so as you can see
4:47
by the results. So I think that's just like like, let them have
4:50
that mistake. It happens, It could happen to the best of us,
4:53
So better to have that happen in game one than a final or a semi.
4:59
Finally, you know where the stakes are much higher. But give credit
5:01
to Albania for capitalize on that mistake. That's that's basically what you want to
5:05
see from when you when you're considered the underdog. You want to get and
5:10
score any opportunity that you can get from against the superior team. So you
5:15
know, they came to play and it was my life. Gave me a
5:17
sweat. They gave me a sweat. Yeah, I mean I I I
5:25
gotta say I was pretty emotional, a bit pissed off when it happened to
5:28
just because it's like right when the tournament starts. You know. It made
5:31
me think of the Logan struggle in the final, right third I think that
5:34
was a third minute. But when England scored that goal, I sat there.
5:39
I was like, okay, they're going to come back. Best time
5:42
to get conceded on is third minute. I knew, you know, looking
5:45
back at that final, I knew Italy was going to come back. I
5:46
didn't think that's what was going to happen on Saturday because I wasn't confident in
5:51
their goal scoring ability we saw in the past couple of months, past couple
5:55
of games with this team, and the fact that it was two into players,
5:58
like I tweeted, you know, I was pissed off to Nick,
6:00
like I got you got a lot of shit for it, and I did
6:02
it, you know, fair play And you know what, I even quoted
6:06
the tweet as well. After I said fair play, this tweet was rescinded.
6:10
Like after the two goals, I was like, you know what,
6:12
bygones be bygones, Like, you know what, I can continue. It
6:15
was just very very reactionary, and I was just extremely reactionary. Yeah,
6:18
yeah, exactly exactly, especially because it's two inter players, you know,
6:24
it was it was just too soon, man, Like I literally sat down
6:27
I saw that, and then I watched the replay like not for anything,
6:30
like kind of going into that. I don't know who DeMarco is trying to
6:32
throw the ball to, and if it's Pistoni, there's like two guys in
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between him, so like it was not the right choice no matter what,
6:40
even if the ball slipped, even if he like threw it too lightly,
6:43
that was just a really risky throwing, no matter what. And then it's
6:46
a lot less on the starting to be quite honest, but like I was
6:48
a center back of his quality. I thought, like, you know what,
6:50
maybe he can get like a touch in, maybe he can try to
6:53
get like a block in. And then there's my brother who's trying to blame
6:56
on a room on that, and I don't agree with that to people,
6:59
no, none at all, not at all. So I was just like,
7:00
yeah, no, like this is this is the defense entirely like the
7:04
try. But I liked Italys. I liked Italy's response. I mean they
7:11
came back to it. They almost scored right after. I forget if it
7:14
was Key's a pass it to Schomack. I forget who it was right after,
7:17
so almost scored like second minute. And when I saw that, you
7:20
know, nerves settled little bit more. And then and then we had the
7:24
corner paper staying on my it's not And when that went in, I said,
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okay, you know, let's stop bling me into players. It backfired
7:39
in a good way, you know, but I don't know if you guys
7:42
saw, but so off the corner, so there was a demarc when Pelgreni,
7:46
I forget, I think it was Pelgreeney took the corner, passed it
7:49
to De Marco, passed it back to Pelgreeni, who crossed it in.
7:55
I think it was like that. And then I saw replay from two thousand
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and six. Tati did it, I believe, I forget who it was
8:05
with. Maybe Pierlo Tati passed it to Pilo, passed it back to Taddu
8:11
crossed it in and and Luca Toni was at the end of the the the
8:16
cross and it headed in almost exactly like by Stony's goal, which is actually
8:20
pretty crazy but pretty easy goal defending two wise right from Albania. You know,
8:26
Alstoni just came in, but at least it was an early goal at
8:28
ten minutes later, and they tied it right away. Yeah, it's like
8:35
I said, it's it's something that like, I was really happy that they
8:39
responded back quickly, because they really disproved the point that that I was thinking
8:43
of, like maybe this team, you know, they don't have their nerves
8:45
settled, they don't have you know, like they don't have the full focus
8:48
on but they're quickly able to recover, which is pretty good because it shows
8:52
a very big quality of professionalism from them. You know that they're able to
8:58
not let a simple mistake just get to feel them out of get them out
9:01
of the game. And it's it's a young ish squad, so you never
9:05
know what you're going to get with with with these guys. A lot of
9:07
these guys, you know, uh, some of them it's their first major
9:11
competition, right, like actually playing in a competition, so uh, it's
9:16
a different it's a different ballgame from just from from qualifiers versus actually like getting
9:20
to this position. So I I think they handled it pretty well. I
9:26
think that as we soften the results gives me confidence going forward when you have
9:33
to play against more serious starts. It's just Spain and Greatia, but we'll
9:35
get there when we get there. Very nice goal, well positioned by Bastoni
9:39
to to get the header. Also, I don't know about you guys,
9:43
but I felt like as if Italy did just did just did much much better
9:46
in this game in the air, like we're winning a lot of aerials,
9:48
which I was really impressed by. It's not something it's not something common that
9:52
I that I feel that we have where we could just win the aerial ball,
9:54
like it just it just I don't know, maybe the Sealbania was weak
9:58
at that for at that point or in that aspect of the game, or
10:03
if we were just actually the better team in the air, like we've we've
10:07
definitely gotten improved. What do you think, Vick? Yeah, I agree
10:13
hundred percent with what you said. I think that we actually want a lot
10:16
more aerial duels than normal, which was really good to see. I think
10:20
it's just like kind of going back to the fact that you said you really
10:22
like a little bit like nervous, like once that goal went in. I
10:26
don't know, like even though the team is a little bit more youngish,
10:28
like as you kind of explained, like you don't really know what's going to
10:31
happen. I just feel like this team, like almost as a trade off,
10:35
is also more hungry. Not that like previous teams haven't been, but
10:37
I just feel like everyone is here trying to like prove themselves, especially as
10:41
a squad, and you know what, Like I don't think he's the absolute
10:45
perfect coach, but I do think that Spiletti like really instills a really strong,
10:50
like never give up attitude. It's very organized, it's very strict.
10:54
Everyone knows exactly where they're supposed to be. So as soon as like that
10:58
goal went in, for example, like I kind of just I felt like
11:01
they were just knock going to like lay down without a fight, and like,
11:03
I'm very happy that it only took about what about ten minutes for the
11:07
goal to go in, So I'm very happy that they were able to get
11:09
back into it, and they just seemed like, I don't know if I
11:13
want to say that they were almost like more motivated after that goal, but
11:16
at least they didn't waiver, which was a really big deal and I'm very
11:18
happy to see that. So it shows a lot of character in all the
11:20
players. Scott backup gets a second chance de Marcas it's too with they beautiful
11:33
strike and they have turned this match around in just over a culture of an
11:41
hour. And then as we just heard the Brella goal two one, so
11:46
the game was pretty much done with the goals by the sixteenth minute, but
11:50
beautiful, absolutely beautiful goal. I was a bit worried that either Vierra would
11:56
call back DeMarco a fell in DeMarco, or at least DeMarco being a side.
12:00
I'm happy it stood, deserve to stand. What a beautiful strike by
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Brella. That's I think his second goal at the Euros at a European Championship.
12:09
Now he obviously scored against Belgium last time out. And yeah, you
12:13
know again when an inter player scored that, I said, okay, they
12:16
they made up for their mistakes. Let's let's get this done. You know,
12:20
as you guys just said, I like, I like the response,
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and you know what I think. The rest of the half, they continued
12:26
pressing and they had a couple of chances like for Tessey hit the post,
12:31
Scamaka had a shot in close that was stopped by shra Kosha. Like they
12:37
didn't, they didn't give up. What I wasn't a huge fan of is
12:41
the second half how it progressively got worse, the chances. They felt a
12:46
bit more comfortable just passing around, sitting back a bit, not necessarily letting
12:50
Albania take possession, and they sit back more, just them sitting back with
12:54
the ball. I would have liked a third because look, guys, Albini
12:58
almost scored a right at the end. Right I forget who it was,
13:03
but you know it required Jijo to make a nice save in the ninetieth minute.
13:07
Uh So that's one thing that about the game I wasn't a fan of.
13:11
It almost felt like I was watching you V game. I know Nicol
13:15
would would disagree a bit with me there, but it just I just wasn't
13:18
a fan that it progressively got worse than even the subs that Spilett he made
13:24
were a bit too late. I think it was seventieth minute. They were
13:26
defensive changes. It just once they got into the second half, it never
13:30
felt like they wanted a third goal. I don't know if you guys felt
13:33
the same. Yeah, So a couple of things because I just had a
13:39
couple of points there. First of all, Brella's goal. He's easily a
13:43
top five midfielder on Earth. I'm willing to, you know, absolutely say
13:46
that with Chess. He's he's so good, and he lacked so much of
13:50
the Premier League slash like French English PR. If he had that PR,
13:54
he would be in so many more conversations for best mine in the world.
13:58
And again this as an inter player. So this is how you know I'm
14:01
being absolutely you know honest, because if there was any doubt, I would
14:05
probably, you know, not go that way. But he he's amazing and
14:07
I think he's going to be an absolute key player in this team. Even
14:11
in his quotes like after the game, like him saying that he would like
14:13
spit blood for this squad, like he's showing a lot of leadership, which
14:18
is great. I think he's the most talented player in the squad and he's
14:20
going to be integral if we do make a far run into this tournament.
14:24
I believe we do, but we'll get into that. But what I was
14:26
going to say as well is I agree with you. I feel like they
14:30
did slow down, so I think, like you know what, like that
14:33
that saved from Donal Rummel was fantastic, and that was the most stressed I
14:37
was in the entire game by far, was like the eightieth minute onwards.
14:39
But I was going to say, like, we really should have ended this
14:43
game in the first half, as you did say, like for Tess he
14:46
hit the post, Skamaka should have done better for a striker of his quality,
14:50
Like we really should have been out of you know, out of danger
14:52
by the first half. And what I am happy about is that like and
14:56
again, Nick, you'll probably know more than anyone as well. But like,
15:01
if that was a uve game, like sitting back and getting that one
15:05
goal in like like we would have like praised as players. I would have
15:07
been like, yeah, you know what, this was a good defensive half
15:09
where it's like SPELETTI was like, you know what, like it's good,
15:11
we got the result, but we got too comfortable. We have to go
15:13
for a third, and like that's what I want is here, because I
15:16
know like Italian football is basically like oh, like it doesn't matter as long
15:20
as we win, and that is the most important thing. Like I don't
15:22
care for the amount of goals. I just care for safety, because it
15:26
took one really good safe from Dona Ruma and this entire conversation is different.
15:30
So I'm very happy that at least SPELECTI knows and is like kind of announced
15:33
that, like, you know what, this was too comfortable when we play
15:35
other teams, like we have to continue. Doesn't mean throw everyone forward in
15:39
the ninetieth you know what I mean. Like, at the end of the
15:41
day, the win is the most important part. But I'm glad that he
15:45
basically like realized that it was way too comfortable because we did slow down in
15:48
the second half. We did have some good chances. Like I do think
15:52
that he is as left foot shot. Like I'm very happy he didn't score
15:56
that because I was actually holding a glass of water while like drink, so
15:58
I would have act like so like I obviously wanted him to score, but
16:03
like it would have been such a mess because I would have like absolutely thrown
16:06
a glass cup across the table. But he didn't have some chances. I
16:10
just think that the first half was by far the best, maybe because we
16:11
were motivated like after the initial goal, but as long as they kind of
16:17
you know, fixed up a couple of things, which I think we'll probably
16:18
speak about as well. I was very happy with that game, did I
16:22
do think there was a lot more positive than negatives. For sure. I
16:30
wouldn't say that I didn't feel like if they were trying to push, I
16:32
think they're just playing a much more ball possessive game. Uh, because they
16:37
did have some OPTD it. They did try for some opportunities. I will
16:41
have to echo next point that he said about you know Scoletti's comments after the
16:45
fact, where you know he expects the team to do a bit more going
16:51
forward because they're capable of it, which is good because it instills confidence in
16:53
the team because the team's like, okay, well, our manager believes in
16:56
us. That you know, like despite the result today, a lot of
17:00
people would basically be very They would critique it a lot, and they would
17:04
be very They would you know, hold it in the negative light, which
17:07
I mean, I don't I don't blame them, but I think the team
17:12
knows that's like, Okay, this is just something that that mistake was just
17:15
abnormal and we're better than that. And and our manager believes us and believes
17:19
in us, and he believes that that as well. So that's the way.
17:22
That's that's what I take it as. I take it as the fact.
17:25
It's like, okay, I'm just words of encouragement, uh, you
17:27
know, push them further because they're they're looking at the game ahead. This
17:30
was the game that they needed to get to W. Like if there was
17:33
a game that was like the free w this was it. If for like,
17:37
no disrespect to Albania, but in terms of like your next two opponents,
17:41
you know, their opponents that you have to take seriously. So the
17:45
way I saw it was just essentially like him, like, okay, boys,
17:48
we could do that, we could do better, and I know we
17:51
can. Let's let's get that prepped for Spain on Thursday. And I think
17:56
that's the game that they're really they're they're focusing the most on right now.
18:00
Uh. One thing I want to ask you, Nick Man in the match,
18:03
Kiza, I think there was a lot of questions about that on Twitter.
18:08
I would have given it to Burrella. I think even Jenny made a
18:12
post about it. This this one was a bit of a questionable one.
18:15
He was good, he created stuff, but he didn't stand he wasn't the
18:21
best player, you know, to finish zero goal zero sist didn't even get
18:25
supped off too before the end of the game. Yeah, he got subbed
18:27
off right first. Like how do you feel about that? Do you think
18:33
it should have gone to someone else? Do you think he deserved the man
18:36
of the match? Okay, So like like biased, I'm very happy about
18:41
it. Objectively, no, I would give it to Brella and I did.
18:44
I even did say that, Like I'm gonna shamelessly take that, but
18:47
I am gonna say as well, I do think he was probably one of
18:51
the best three players, Like I would say he was top three and that
18:53
probably top three to four, like he was really good. Like I feel
18:57
like just because because you know what, I do know the football is a
19:00
number game as well, but I feel like sometimes people take it a little
19:03
bit too far. So, yeah, he didn't get the goal contribution.
19:07
He probably should have once or twice gotten the sists and maybe quent honest,
19:10
but like the amount of like incredible dribbles in like space that he opens,
19:15
like that chance, like what it almost went out for like a goal kick,
19:18
and he was able to basically qeep it in with two Albanian defenders just
19:21
pushing on him, like he did do very very well. I would still
19:25
give it to Brella and then anyone between like the stony cal Fiori and Kieza.
19:30
I'd say any of those three would have been like honorable mentions. But
19:34
yeah, I would have given it too. I would have given it Toubrella
19:37
for sure. But I do think that he had a really good game,
19:38
and I think, like this is me being superstitious, but I think he's
19:42
gonna score on Thursday, Like I think he's gonna score Orises. But it
19:45
would just be like poetic for him to score against Spain again like he did
19:49
in Europe, like the previous hero. But I hope he just builds on
19:53
it because I think he did very well. Whether he should be playing off
19:57
the left or the right is a different conversation, But for what he did,
20:00
I think he did a really good job. Then I think you put
20:03
in a good shift. I don't have an issue with him being subbed either,
20:04
because I feel like they kind of said, you know what, we're
20:07
gonna hold on to the lead, and I think saving him full fitness for
20:11
Thursdays integral, So I think it was fine. To be honest, Jenny,
20:18
do you have anything to have from that? Like whore you gave top
20:22
three players, Nick Kenny, if you had to give top three players from
20:25
this game, who would they be? Uh, definitely definitely, but ill
20:30
number one Keeza would be in the top three, maybe second or third.
20:36
Yeah, no, it's the same thing. But all abuts Tony Kiaza.
20:37
I I don't like nobody else really like stood up. Pellegrini like was disappointing
20:42
in the sense that he's trying too hard. I think he needs to simplify
20:47
his game. I think he needs to, like really just you know,
20:51
like I feel like if he has pressure with the number ten, considering what
20:55
other what other Romanista has more number ten before for the national team. So
21:00
I feel like he he has becase, like he has this like you know,
21:03
big shoes to fill, and I think he just needs to calm it
21:06
down and just be simple, because like I admire the effort that he put
21:10
in, and if he didn't really try hard, I think maybe a couple
21:11
of his efforts actually would have gone in or he would have had a dangerous
21:15
opportunity. Nick said it perfectly, the whole Gaza swap. We need him
21:21
to be the best early on. We need him to be our best player
21:22
versus Spain. We need we need the whole team to be good versus Spain.
21:27
I think, uh, it's not just gonna make We can't. We
21:32
can't just rely on one player to to actually help us out here. We're
21:36
not an individual team. We have a roster that's capable of you know,
21:40
fighting success together. You know, and like as though even last eros he
21:47
has a did get that goal and he's a very crucial player. It was
21:48
a team effort that gold on a Uma to forget which defender then it was
21:53
too Insigne, which midfielder. Then it was to Insignia, and then in
21:56
Signa tried to pass it off to Mobile and Mobile like managed to get the
21:59
reflection off the leave it off for Kiezza, and then Kiza just put it
22:02
in. We need something like that. We need a team effort and if
22:04
you look at if you look at their goals, it's usually how like like
22:08
there's it's never an individual effort. Kiss is fantastic managers doing the ball and
22:12
get it in the very very very key spots. So I want to see
22:17
that Remembersuspain and I matter the match. I wouldn't say so. I was
22:26
really kind of wondering why bet Alla didn't get it. But you know,
22:30
to each their own right, I'd say he didn't like he was like I
22:33
said, he was top three. He wasn't as if like it was a
22:36
surprise that he got out of the match. It was just more like,
22:38
okay for what a few successful dribbles, Sure I'll take it, but uh
22:42
yeah, that's all my add to it. One thing I want to see,
22:48
uh from Kisa is he he made some nice dribbles to get into the
22:52
box. I honest see him be better in the box and this is something
22:53
I've always said about him. You know, he's not He's not the player
22:56
who's going to do everything by himself either. He has to create more space
23:02
for himself to get himself in a good, better shooting position, or find
23:06
a better pass. I know there was you know, there was one play
23:07
where he made a nice pass to Pelgreeney who went for the bicycle kick bicycle
23:11
kick and screwed it up. But you know, think about all the nice
23:15
plays cays of me. They were outside the box. Once he got in
23:18
head, he lost the ball, or he made or he made a bad
23:21
decision such as something honestly better for me. Skiamaka I actually played well.
23:26
Obviously not you know, one of the best players, but he's another player.
23:30
I like how he was involved in the build up play, you know,
23:33
his back towards the goal, you know, just that typical number nine,
23:38
and he allowed either pel Greene or or Kiza to continue the attack even
23:42
you know, continue the attack from you know, from the midfielders. So
23:48
him, I'd like to see him build on that against Spain, but also
23:52
be less afraid to shoot. I feel like Scamaca was a bit timid to
23:55
shoot. I know he had a chance, uh, like I said before,
23:57
got saved by struck. But yeah, that's just something that I think
24:04
needs to be better, you know, top top three obviously, Califorti,
24:08
Califiorda. I really liked him in terms of passing even you know, defending
24:14
well, he made an a lot of he made a night a lot of
24:17
nice aerial plays Jenny said before, you know, winning those aerial battles.
24:21
I feel like he did a good job. Obviously Bastoni too, and as
24:25
much as DeMarco screwed up that on that Albinia goal, I think he had
24:29
a great game afterwards. He was really involved in the attack. He made
24:32
up a lot of nice smart passes. He I. I was happy to
24:37
see him there on the left side, you know, so from second twenty
24:41
three until minute ninety, I think he did he did well. But for
24:45
me it still has to be it still has to be Barella as men in
24:52
the match even you know, I'm even give a shout to Fortsi. I
24:55
was, I was present, pleasantly surprised with him. He was a player
24:57
that I wasn't too sure refute start or not. And you know he almost
25:02
scored obviously at the post. I think you could see the chemistry between him
25:07
and Burrella playing all, you know, all season together, so that was
25:11
really great to see. And yeah, you just we just need more of
25:15
that and better versus being so I have. I just wanted to say quickly,
25:21
I have a point on both of those. I think too DeMarco,
25:23
I think after obviously he's like initial mistake. I think he had a good
25:26
game for sure, Like he definitely did have like one or good one or
25:30
two good chances sorry where he put the ball into the box and was just
25:33
waiting for a strikeer' like Skamaka like to come in. I think to his
25:37
standards because he's such a good fullback, like a top five in the world,
25:41
like left back for sure, left wing back. I think it was
25:44
a little bit underwhelming, but I think that he'll warm up into it,
25:48
So that's okay. As for for Tezi, like I I have some problems
25:52
with Like I I don't dislike him, but like sometimes like okay, like
25:59
you you you you guys have played FIFA before, right, you guys have
26:00
played you know, you know when you have like leg where like you press
26:06
a button or an input delay where you press a button and then they do
26:08
something like two seconds later. That's what for Teszi is to me, Like
26:12
maybe he was even just the last friendly we just watched, Like he takes
26:17
so long to shoot sometimes, like where he gets a butt and he takes
26:21
an extra touch or two, or when he passes sometimes he takes like an
26:23
extra touch or an extra second. Like I do like him. I just
26:27
feel like sometimes like I don't know if it's because he's just nervous or if
26:30
you just like a little bit stuck. So I think he did decently well,
26:34
like obviously he hit the post, and you know what, the goalie
26:36
made a great save, Like I initially thought he just missed, but then
26:38
after seeing it, it was a really good save from the goalie. But
26:42
I don't love him, and like somebody basically told me, and I think
26:45
it's kind of funny because like I understand what they're trying to say. Somebody
26:49
basically said that for Tezzi's just like a middle like class striker because when it
26:56
actually comes to like midfield play, like he's great at scoring goals, right
27:00
when it comes to midfield play, I feel like he's not an elite passer.
27:04
He does have an engine, but he's not like a great dribbler,
27:07
like the things that like a midfielder should be good to do, like look
27:10
at Brella right, or even like even if he's not as physical, look
27:12
at like Georgio right. He just like sometimes doesn't do the things that midfielder
27:18
should do as well as scoring, Like scoring is like one of his best
27:22
traits. And I think if our squad was a little bit different in terms
27:25
of what who we called up, like, I do think missing out at
27:27
Worsolin he was it could be detrimental. I'm not gonna say it's like the
27:32
end of the world, but I definitely think you should have been chosen after
27:33
the season he had, I would say he would be like an amazing sub.
27:37
But right now, with the players that we have, especially the wing
27:41
depth, like he kind of has to start. So I hope that,
27:45
you know, like he only builds on this because he did do some stuff
27:47
very well. He did have some good interplay. I just I want to
27:49
see a little bit more from him because I, like, I don't know,
27:52
there were parts of that game that were like kind of frustrating in my
27:53
opinion. Guys, let's let's talk call it Thori because he was the guy
28:00
who stole the headlines pretty much. On Twitter, everyone was tweeting that picture
28:06
of him with the headband, which I kind of have a problem with because
28:11
you know, you could easily post a picture of a guy with a head
28:12
band and nice hair and say, oh, look, this guy's amazing.
28:15
Wait wait till he plays. He's good. Yeah, guys, he's good.
28:18
He's good. Let's calm down on the Maldini comparisons. Let's calm down
28:22
on the Mnuchi comparisons. He's you know, I can't say I watched too
28:26
much of Bologna this year, right, but you know one thing I noticed
28:30
watching him, you know, in this game versus Albania, amazing passer,
28:36
and that's what happens. He was a left wing back. Mata transitions him
28:38
to center back and that's the strength he brings. He's really good at building
28:42
up play. The defensive work is there. It's good, but you know
28:47
it's it could be better. He almost he was the one that got burned
28:52
on the ninetieth minute. Chance that dune room is saved if Albania scores there,
28:56
maybe there's not as much reaction on Twitter about him, right, So
29:02
it's pump the brakes on the comparisons. Let let's let the kid grow,
29:04
let the kid have a good tournament, you know, Bastonia. At the
29:08
end of the day, Bastoni is still italy is best defender, you know,
29:11
full soft, He's not Italy's best young defender. He's Italy's best defender
29:15
right now. He's he's he's taking over the reins from Bernucci and Ki.
29:19
Obviously he still has ways to go to reach their level in terms of legendary
29:23
status. But you know, I even comparing let's say Bastonian Califiori right now
29:32
to Killini and Manucci. You got one guy who's who's you know, more
29:36
of your typical tough defender. That's Bastoni. You got Califiori, who's the
29:40
pastor like Bonucci. But again, Kalma, let's uh, let's see what
29:45
they got the rest of the tournament. Obviously, Italy still has uh,
29:48
you know, Mancini and Bondo available. It will be interesting to start if
29:53
if, if, if Spilati decides to go with alternate players at center back.
30:02
Uh yeah, what did you guys think of of of their play?
30:06
Uh? On Saturday? I think Call of Fiordi was a bit overrated.
30:11
In my personal opinion. I feel like everyone everyone was like super hyped about
30:14
him. It's just like I'm not say he was bad. I'm just saying
30:17
like he got way more praise than he deserved. Like the last the last
30:21
play of the game, there was like like Albania's chance, he was just
30:23
not tracking the guy very well. There was there was a dangerous opportunity or
30:29
don't know it made that safe towards the end, you know that it hit
30:32
off the side of his side of his body. CALIFIOLDI completely lost track of
30:37
him. I think he's good, sure, but I'm not saying he's like
30:40
this like legendary, like oh my god, savior. Bastoni has been there
30:44
for a while. I feel like, like I called it way before,
30:47
Bastoni Mancini would probably be the pairing going forward, and I feel like it
30:52
still might be. But it's good to have Cali Fiordi as a third option
30:56
though that's that's not a bad thing. It's good to have Califildy as if
31:00
options like that, Like you can have a rotation going It's like that worst
31:03
case scenario, if one person goes down, you have somebody's able to fill
31:06
it. Feeling fill in the spot or you know, like if you really
31:10
need to shut them down, you can put a three cbe line back there
31:14
if you want to do a three five too, or more of a more
31:17
of a like more options, more center back options. I think he did
31:22
well, a bit overrated in terms of performance, but still good. But
31:26
he's a he's young, He's gonna make mist mistakes. It just it just
31:30
sucks, you know because like Groma just let him go and it's like,
31:33
okay, great, you know, like that's another player that they just gone
31:38
by, you know, just lost potential. But yeah, whatever, Maybe
31:44
I'm a little bit selty about it. I don't know. Yeah, yeah,
31:52
so I have a little bit of a middle ground to you guys.
31:56
I don't think he was overrated. I do like, okay, sorry,
31:57
let me let me clarify. Compare since the Maldidian like because he has long
32:01
hair, so like nessa and that. Okay, yeah, that's that's what
32:04
we rated one hundred percent. You know what I mean, that's just like
32:07
reactionary Twitter. I don't think like that's too much, you know what I
32:09
mean, Like people like I've seen people tweet and say like, oh,
32:13
he was born twenty years too late because he has like the look of like
32:15
the early two thousand Italian defenders. You know, I do think he was
32:20
very good though, I do think he was very good. Also, I
32:22
know it's not the point of the podcast, but like he's my number one
32:25
target for you they like I would give up on all other transfers that are
32:30
not already done, so like de greg Orio is like pretty much done.
32:32
But like pause, Coop Minors, pause, whoever, like whoever else,
32:37
Like I need him at my club. Like, I think he's great,
32:39
and I definitely think he will develop into an incredible center back. I also
32:44
have his numbers here just to pull it up because the only thing I would
32:46
say is because on the pass that led to that breakaway, I do think
32:51
that he was a little bit caught out. But I also do think it
32:53
was a very good pass because I had a chance to like look at it
32:55
and unlessly he was like three seconds ahead, which we all know, like
32:59
that can't always be the case. It was a very well weighted pass,
33:04
but yeah, he definitely could have done better there. But like in terms
33:06
of the rest of the game, he had one hundred percent aerial duels one
33:09
ninety three percent pass accuracy, which is really really good for a center back.
33:13
Five recoveries, three interceptions, and then two out of two dribbles because
33:16
he's not afraid to push up as well. So I think he's great in
33:22
terms of the Spain game. I don't want to disappoint you, Johnny,
33:24
but like I don't really ever want to see man Cheei's time with you.
33:30
I don't trust him like at all. And I think especially in a game
33:34
that's like a high pressing team like Spain, I feel like you need a
33:37
center back that can pass the ball. And also, by the way,
33:39
just to credit Pistonia, he's an amazing passer as well, Like like I
33:43
know, he's a bit like more of like a like defender defender, you
33:45
know, like old fashion, but he's an incredible passer. So I think
33:49
the ability that both the center backs are so good at distributing the ball and
33:52
especially under pressure, if you have been watching like Bologna as well during the
33:57
season, like Calfurro is showing this almost every single game. He's like pretty
34:00
press resistant for a center back, which is fantastic, and I think against
34:05
Spain that could be really effective. I don't know, so this is a
34:08
different conversation I don't know if they're going to change their formation. I assume
34:13
they're probably gonna keep it the same unless BUTLETI has such a you know,
34:16
an idea that he decides to change it. If they switch to a three
34:20
at the back, then I'm okay with Menheini playing. I don't have an
34:23
issue with that because I think in a three men three men defense, I
34:28
think he is a lot better, especially because you know, Roma plays that
34:30
a lot too, or at least they used to before Dross. I know
34:34
they switched a lot to four. Yeah, but yeah, I don't know.
34:37
I think like that performance was good enough where he deserves to start again.
34:43
I would start the exact same two center backs, to be honest.
34:45
The only question in the entire back line I have any issue about, and
34:49
then it kind of rises a bit of a difference is DeLorenzo. But I
34:52
think that the three of Bestoni, DeMarco and Califiori should probably stay put.
34:58
But yeah, in terms of the hype question, sorry, Like I do
35:00
think like the hype is a little bit much, but I think that he
35:04
can develop into like an extraordinary center back, and like I'm a little upset
35:07
that he's getting all this pr because it's only gonna cause bolone you to ask
35:10
for more, and like that's a bit of a problem because you don't exactly
35:14
have a lot of money at you bay. But I think they'll get it
35:15
over. But that's not the point of conversation. So uh yeah, I
35:19
don't know. I was very impressed with him, though, I think I
35:21
thought he was really really good. What I didn't like was all this Oh
35:24
he has aura. What the hell's aura? Like what? Because he has
35:28
a fancy haircut in the headband, Like, come on, guys, It's
35:30
like it's like I think it's kind of going back to like the like vintage
35:34
Italian center backs because like I know, like you don't like the word aura,
35:37
but like Maldmi was auray. No, of course, Maldini is just
35:40
like aural less I'm sorry, Like he's like on limited sorry oral less Bouffon
35:45
and del Pierro, you know what I mean, Like iconic like vintage players.
35:50
And again I do think his look, uh definitely adds to it.
35:52
I also feel like because it's like handsome tax like some of my he has
36:01
a sleeve, he has a tattoo sleeve. There you go, extra ten
36:06
million, I mean, don't get me wrong, man, I do think
36:07
he's a good looking dude, like quite honest with you. Like like my
36:10
cousins were there and they're like, oh, who's at number five? But
36:13
like my like female cousins that don't really watch often and then like, who's
36:16
that number five? And I was like, oh, like it's the center
36:19
back when he's young, Like I believe he's like what twenty two I think,
36:22
I think. And I was like, oh, like that's like a
36:25
new center back that's coming in, like Calfiory, you know what I mean.
36:29
And they're like, oh, that's my player, Like yeah, that's
36:30
my player, you know. I'm like, oh yeah, because you know
36:34
a lot, right. So I don't know. I think it's between like
36:36
his looks, but I do think he's really good man. And like I
36:39
didn't expect him to start to be quite honest, but now that he's like
36:43
had a solid game, like, I feel like it would be almost kind
36:45
of unfair to like kill that momentum unless let is such a specific plan for
36:50
staying that it's like, Okay, we'll not work as well with him,
36:52
That's fine, you know what I mean. You kind of just have to
36:54
trust that at the moment. Yeah, we actually did get two questions on
37:00
Twitter about that, one from our friend Dead and then another one from our
37:04
friend Jerry, both asking, you know, starting eleven versus Spain, if
37:08
you go back with them. Uh yeah, Personally, I might make a
37:14
change in the midfield. I know, I said, I like for Tessi's
37:15
game, but I think you need more of a defensive player against Spain because
37:22
one thing I noticed in the Albinia game, he was up a lot,
37:25
so that kind of left Georgino and Barrella back a bit and at times looked
37:30
like it was just a two man midfield. So I would either, if
37:35
you go for Tessi, I would either, you know, make pel Greeny
37:37
play a bit more behind Spock Scamaca kind of have like a bit kind of
37:42
like a four man midfield, or I know you're not gonna like this,
37:45
nick I would actually say to start Christante, you know, just put him
37:50
in the CDM role, Just let him cover that that side of the midfield
37:53
led Georgino and Burrella get a bit more up, because you know, we
38:00
can't leave that midfield wide opening against Spain. We're gonna get cooked. You
38:02
see how they played against Croatia, there was so much passing. You just
38:06
just put a guy like Rasconte back there. Make him block the passes,
38:09
you know, tell him don't cross the midfield line on the attack, stay
38:14
back. But yeah, maybe that maybe rom of, maybe maybe Romavangenny can
38:19
can back me up. But I know Nick, Nick disagrees with me there.
38:23
Like the Stante has always been that reliable player no matter which team you
38:28
put him on. There's reason why he's he's a lot of last Euros,
38:30
reason why he's constantly he was played often by Modinho and he's played often by
38:37
basically any manager uses him because he's very flexible and you could use him for
38:40
almost anything that you need him for. So I don't I don't hate the
38:45
idea of putting Tistatte and the CDM role for that game. I think I
38:50
think it's a it's a good enough idea. I say that you really need
38:52
to fill up your midfield for that game though. That's that's what I'm more
38:55
leaning towards. I think that's another game where you need to outstricted their midfield
39:00
because I don't know, Spain feels very lethal to me when they when they
39:06
get when they get the plays going, and if you can disrupt their place
39:08
right at the source, I think that's the best way you can do it.
39:12
I think I think it's a good call. Thanks Journey. So yeah,
39:22
so I don't like him. I think he's like the best compliment I
39:27
can give him is that he's fine. Like I think he's I think he's
39:30
okay. Like here's my thing, right, Like it's it's no bias because,
39:34
like, to be quite honest with you, I have no you know,
39:37
no hard feelings or like dislike for Roma. No, you have total
39:40
hard feelings for you hate everybody I actually want. I've kidding. My brother
39:49
is a Roma fan as well, So like that's why, like, if
39:52
if I have to see a team that isn't you, they do well,
39:53
sorry to hear, Yeah, you know what. A cousin likes two teams.
39:59
So yeah, understands the pain. He used to be a ub fan,
40:02
but now he's a Roma fan supposedly, so he got out good for
40:06
him. Yeah, I mean it's a hard life for him. He's a
40:08
Leaves fan and he's a Roma fan, so it's a hard life for him.
40:10
But I was gonna say, like, you know what, man like
40:15
I think he's fine. I do feel like though, and this is my
40:19
issue, right, I think it goes deeper. I think it has to
40:21
do with the squad that we brought. Because here's my thing. I don't
40:25
think he's very good, like at all. I do think, and I
40:29
know Nick doesn't. Didn't think he had a great season, but I will
40:31
die on this hill. I do think Loca should have been here instead of
40:35
Chissante. I don't. I don't like him that much, but whatever,
40:39
But I'm okay with it. But my issue is is that if we play
40:43
like say Burrella, Georgino and Christante, is that it's more to like stop
40:49
them from passing versus trying to Like I know we're not gonna out play Spain.
40:53
You know I'm not gonna out pass Spain, but I feel like us
40:57
creating could also be good. And I don't think he's a creator, and
41:00
so I feel like if you have, like, here's here's my problem.
41:05
Right, if they play the same formation, Let's say they play a four
41:07
two three one, right, and correct me if I'm wrong, But I
41:08
do believe did Fortesi play as the ten or, did Pellegrini play as the
41:14
central ten with one on the wing a Pellogreni played as a central ten,
41:17
I believe, yeah, and then Forteszi played a little bit more wide.
41:20
Okay, cool. So like my thing would be, if you're going to
41:23
sit for Tesi, I would honestly take a risk with Vijoli. But my
41:28
problem is is that he's not a winger, and I know like it does
41:30
like I know for Teszi's not either, but I do think he's a little
41:34
bit quicker. That would have been a good case where you could have had
41:36
a winer like Orsolini. Like that's where now I have a bit of an
41:38
issue. So I don't know if I would beinge for Teeszi simply due to
41:43
lack of options. But I do like that we do have like a third
41:45
midfielder in that ten spot to help with the midfield, because my initial issue
41:51
is that if we were going to play a two man midfield and one of
41:53
them was going to be Georgino the other guy, so in this case,
41:57
Barrella would get ran over because he now not only has to attack, but
42:00
he has to cover for the deficiencies of like physicality from georgian neal Right,
42:05
So I do think that extra midfielder is huge, and I definitely think we
42:07
need to have a third midfielder playing back. I don't know if we should,
42:13
Like I think Fajoli technically can like match a lot of what we can
42:16
face with Spain, but it won't defend as well, right, So it
42:21
depends if he's trying to just break up and just hope the with creates or
42:24
if he's planning to actually try and create as well through Spain, because like
42:29
Spain is lethal kind of in midfield and like going forward as we saw like
42:32
on I believe it was Saturday as well, but like their defense I'm gonna
42:37
read it to you right now, was I'm gonna say it wrong. But
42:40
Coutrella in left back, he kind of sucks like he was like he's only
42:45
been good like the last two months, and I watched Chelsea quite a lot,
42:47
to be honest with you, and he's like only been good. Then
42:51
Nacho who's okay, lind Nomant who is the French center back that switched over
42:54
to Spain, and Carbajal who's like thirty five. So I think we can
42:59
definitely attack them for sure very well. So I don't know, it depends
43:01
if you if you if Spiletti's interest is to just break up and basically say,
43:07
Okay, I'm gonna play Birella, who's, you know what, a
43:07
work coorse, but he's creative, and I'm gonna have Christante who could defend
43:12
well beside him, or if he's gonna say, like maybe we play for
43:15
Tezi again, or like we take a risk with Vijoli because he really likes
43:17
him, you know what I mean, And it's like, Okay, we're
43:20
gonna try to create, and we're also gonna try to you know, create
43:22
our own as well, right because Viajoli can also move, like apparently he
43:25
may be the regista that you the next season. I don't know. It's
43:29
it's a little bit tricky, to be quite honest. That's the only thing
43:30
that I'm not sure of. I would have liked to bring another right winger.
43:34
That's why I think leaving Orthelini out, especially for like Zack Agni,
43:37
was like really really bad choice. But we'll see. I don't know.
43:42
That's the one thing that I'm a little bit unsure on, to be honest.
43:45
And you know what, I wouldn't be surprised if even a player like
43:49
full of runto comes in as a sub if he's on, you know,
43:52
Spleti Radar like you came in towards the end of the game against Albedia.
43:55
Maybe that was just Spiletti just saying, hey, look you deserve this.
43:59
Here you go. But I think he's a player that's boil at the trust.
44:01
That's clearly why he brought. You know, he brought him, and
44:06
he's someone who could probably come on leading games is and bring that like you
44:09
know Box and Box, uh Spark, But you know, fa Jolie bring
44:14
him on as a sub. You know he hasn't. He didn't play against
44:16
Albinia. I was hoping to see him against Albinia. But I think he's
44:20
a player you know, you bring on as a sub depending where you are,
44:23
where you are in the game. I don't see him starting. But
44:27
yeah, would you guys make any changes in attack? Maybe not no,
44:35
because like I I feel like the attack was fine. It was fluid enough.
44:37
Uh. I like the clown and shout on skamaka a lot, But
44:43
I feel like he hasn't done anything for him to like fully merit, like
44:46
okay, let's try something out. I don't think the attack was the issue
44:51
last game. I feel like as if they were. The opportunities were coming
44:52
and they just like they didn't capitalize, right. It came from spots that
44:57
they were that you didn't expect him to come in. But still that's always
45:00
good when you're secondary scoring is performing. I honestly liked what we had,
45:07
and it depends like if you feel like I feel like I feel like I
45:13
got that Kamaka can can actually be useful versus Spain. Worst case scenario,
45:17
you just swap him off for an aspidality like it's it's it, there's options
45:21
available. I think I think off upfront, I believe it as is,
45:24
don't touch it. What about uh Retagge instead of rasp Dory because I think
45:30
Raspadori is on severe fraud Watch right now. I don't know, I really
45:35
I used to like I used to when he was on Swallow, I was
45:38
like I would love him at you you know what I mean, Like I
45:42
thought he was a really good player and he may still, you know,
45:45
but in his current form of this last season, he was like horrible,
45:47
Like I would put but let's not let's not take last season as a thing.
45:52
I finished thinking overall was just was just in a ship block position.
45:55
Like it was just overall the team was just not forming well, Like look
46:00
at Calzona right now, Like you know, look at a team like look
46:02
look how he managed, you know, versus like outside of it, outside
46:06
haply And I just think overall, Napoli itself was just in a negative environment.
46:10
I just think that's what the issue was. Yeah, but and you
46:13
know, but but you do bring up a fair point because this season wasn't
46:15
one of his best. Yeah back to last year. Yeah, I just
46:19
you know what, Like I don't have an issue with him being called up
46:22
one hundred percent if we do need another sub, like I'm not opposed to
46:24
it. But to be honest, I agree with you, Johnny, like
46:27
I would not change the entire front line, like at all, Like Heza
46:30
has to play Skamaka, I think easily. Like even though he didn't have
46:32
his best game last game, I do think that he's been in good enough
46:36
for him in the last couple of months with Atalanta, and I think he
46:39
offers a lot. And even when Nick was saying like I think against these
46:44
two center backs, which are likely going to be the case again, because
46:46
I don't think Laporte is fit. That's why he didn't start, he can
46:50
dominate in the air. Like Nacho is not tall. I think he's literally
46:53
just on like five foot ten, five foot eleven. I Normand is like
46:58
okay, like you know what I mean. Like, I think he can
47:00
dominate in the air. So if you put enough crosses in. They're a
47:02
relatively short team at the back. I don't think anyone hit six foot maybe
47:06
live them on, but that's it. So I think especially off set pieces,
47:09
he can be very dangerous. We have tall center backs right with Bistoni.
47:14
I don't think Calfiory is too short speed, but be honest, but
47:15
we you have tall players, is my point. So I think we can
47:17
like win in the air for sure, So I would keep them for sure.
47:22
Pellegrini I think still plays one hundred percent. The only issue is if
47:25
you want to sub for Tezi for a different kind of midfielder, like that's
47:29
that's the only thing. But to me, I would keep the exact same
47:32
squad. The only question mark I have is de Lorenzo, and my problem
47:37
is is who would I start. I'd start Cambi also, But the problem
47:40
is is that I think that Spoletti's using him as an attacking sub because that's
47:45
actually who came on for Nick was Canby also, so it's like a direct
47:49
sub like off the wing. So if he's keeping him as an offensive like
47:53
as an offensive sub, I would either do that or Belenova. But since
47:57
we have DeMarco bombing forward, I think we need a little bit more intensive
48:00
solidity, So I honestly keep almost the attack, same team, unless you
48:04
want to stop like one player and advertising or something. But other than that,
48:06
I think you stick with this before we move on. There was another
48:12
question from and we just lost him. Okay, so welcome back, welcome
48:24
back. Yes, another question for Manto. Did inter players carry interplayers carry
48:31
Italy? I guess you mean Italy, not versus specifically for Nick, well,
48:37
I he's one of my friends from high school, so I'm not going
48:40
to give him a pleasure, and I'm gonna say no allowing it. You
48:44
know what, like they you know what, like it is a team effort,
48:47
man, Like I do think it was a team effort. I obviously,
48:51
you know, like the two interplayers scored, so I would say that
48:53
inter did have a heavy influence in US winning. But to say that they
48:57
specifically carried the entire game, I don't know, but they definitely didn't make
49:00
up for the mistakes. So like I'm not here, you know what I
49:02
mean, I'm not gonna slander them or anything like that. Uh, they
49:06
definitely definitely had a big role in that win. So I'll give him that,
49:09
you know, and then if he has any other issues, he can
49:12
talk to me, you know what I mean. So it's okay. I
49:17
don't know. I feel like as if Nick is just kind of like,
49:22
you know, underestimate understate in it. I think I think he knows inside
49:27
that carried kidding, I don't. I don't know anything, man, like
49:32
you know what I mean, Like, you know, like the philosopher Socrates
49:35
is the only thing I know is that I know nothing. There we go.
49:37
Yeah, fair enough that what I'm saying. Another important question from your
49:44
friend Jerry Mancini. Do you like me tell the nick? Yeah, there's
49:46
a really unpopular take, and I know I'm I know, I'm that stuff.
49:49
But no. But the reason why that's the case, so hear me
49:52
out before you guys kill me, is because I actually have grown up my
49:57
entire life not liking chocolate. I know that's strange, but like genuinely,
50:01
like I hate it. I think it tastes bad. Don't worry, you're
50:06
like the thousandth like the thousandth person I have a list right now apparently,
50:08
but like I basically like you're one of the many many people that have said,
50:15
like you're nuts, but like I don't know, man, Like I've
50:16
tried it. I've tried in every form possible, ice cream, cake,
50:21
cookies, bars, whatever it is. I think it tastes nasty. And
50:24
like I know, nutella is like a little bit of a mix of something
50:27
else and it's okay, like I can eat it. But I've never ever,
50:30
ever in my entire life been like you know what I feel like right
50:32
now, you tell and so like I just I don't know, it's it's
50:37
not for me, but I do know that's a very unpopular page. So
50:38
like I'm not expecting to like, you know, cook here, but I'm
50:40
just saying, like it's not for me. Unfortunately, white macadamia nut like
50:45
cookies over like white chocolate. I know some people say it doesn't count.
50:49
Those are fire, Like that's really good, but like that's the only chocolate
50:52
and it's mostly sugar. So it's like whatever this is. This is a
50:57
shocking relevation here on the couch you guys, like I could see if someone
51:01
doesn't like tell us specifically. But it's not like chocolate. Come on,
51:07
dude, listen, like all your now, all your opinions are invalid.
51:12
No, all my opinions you talked about this man is not like chocolate.
51:16
Listen, they're base, they're based. But this is this is why,
51:19
right, this is why. This is why. And I'm not saying go
51:22
out and try this on your own, guys, just before you just before
51:23
you know you want to do a science like you know sign. But I
51:28
was a goalie my whole life pretty much. I play like Repper, like
51:34
competitive soccer for like twelve thirteen years, and unfortunately once or twice I have
51:38
unfortunately have the displeasure of like eating a bit of grass or dirt like on
51:42
a dive or like whatever it was. You know what I mean. It's
51:45
not that different, man, I'm telling you, I'm not like going out
51:47
and eating it, but like I just it just tastes like I just don't
51:51
go out and eat dirt. Is that what you're saying. That's why I
51:53
actually precautioned this, but don't go ahead and do this. This is like
51:58
you don't pass like where they say this is like like trade professionals don't.
52:00
Yeah, yeah, I'm getting I'm getting the warning. I just I don't
52:04
know that. It's just it's just nasty to me. I don't know what
52:07
it is like. And that's why, like whenever I go out with my
52:08
girlfriend, like if we get like a dessert, right, so, like
52:12
we had like that like crumble cookie a couple of weeks ago because we were
52:15
in Buffalo for the day and I got like, I think he's frozen.
52:27
I got, yeah, Nick's frozen. Okay, azing. So I mean
52:30
before we wrap it up, Yeah, yeah, you frozen your back now
52:37
we see you now. O. Sorry, No, it's okay. I
52:43
was just gonna move on to a different topic before we wrap it up.
52:47
The rest of the Euros. I mean, you know, Match Day one's
52:50
almost done. H we've seen some interesting games so far. I don't know
52:52
if you guys really had a chance to watch a lot of a lot of
52:55
these games. I've been watching a lot. Yeah, I've watched everyone.
52:59
I've baited a nice like even like if there's like dream work or something like
53:02
that, like a what like if we can like get get it on the
53:05
phone like Rogers Ignite TV, Like I thought that always as possible, so
53:10
I've've been watching network as well. It helps, It helps for sure a
53:15
good time. You know. I don't know about you guys. My favorite
53:17
game so far is actually this morning's Romania, your Romania Ukraine, just because
53:22
of like the pure vibes, like the fans were crazy, the stadium was
53:25
beautiful, the goals were amazing, like that's peak international football. And that's
53:30
one thing we missed from last tournament last Yuros was Yes, there was fans,
53:36
but it wasn't full and we really missed that. I love. That's
53:39
what I love about these tournaments just all these fans are so passionate about their
53:44
country and and the atmosphere is incredible. Uh. And then you see a
53:47
team like Romania, who I yeah, they weren't there. I forget,
53:52
no, I don't think they qualified in Euro twenty twenty. And you know
53:58
they come out three goals against Ukraine, Like I said, three amazing goals,
54:01
and I love that. Even today Slovakia over Belgium, you know,
54:06
shout out to Calzona. Who who who's managing Slovakia? You know they they
54:12
win one nothing Obviously they got saved by Var twice, you know, both
54:15
on new Kaku's goals. But at the end of the day, three points
54:17
to three points doesn't matter how you get it. So that's that's a huge
54:21
win for Slovakia, probably probably probably the most famous win since they beat Italy
54:25
fourteen years ago. Right, So I'm loving this tournament so far. Yeah,
54:30
but that was lippy fucking up fourteen years ago. I still stand.
54:32
I still will die on this hill. You should have played the label still
54:37
Guardiola Frode. What happens when you put them both on? They scored two?
54:40
They scored too. Fuck this whole yet, keep the fucking propaganda ship
54:45
flipped goals over here. My my, My theory from that game is if
54:51
there was Var Qualia Qualdiarella, this game time goal would have stood. He
54:54
was not offside. Honestly, if you want to have the conversation, if
54:58
you want to have Var, there's so many like games. We can go
55:00
back, like the twenty fifteen Champions League final. Yeah with plug with them,
55:06
I also have We'll go back to the whole Meland thing. Melan,
55:09
I don't know what you're talking about. What I say is like I have
55:15
this theory, not like zeer Off conversation, but if we had bar before,
55:19
I don't know what the first year was introduced, like twenty nineteen,
55:21
twenty twenty, wasn't it around It was a little bit of thing city.
55:22
I was like, twenty seventeen, Yeah, twenty eighteen, hlieve we started
55:27
our podcast when it when it when it was becoming a thing, so yeah,
55:30
cool. So I was gonna say, like, if we if the
55:31
Champions League had bar Real Madrid when they won the three Champions Leagues like twenty
55:37
sixteen to twenty eighteen, they would have lost two of them. And I
55:38
stand absolutely by this, and there's literal evidence, Like I'm not going to
55:43
take up your time that much, but there's so much that Real Madrid Byron
55:46
game is one of the biggest disgraces I've ever seen, where they scored like
55:51
two off side goals, but dal got sent off for a clean tackle,
55:54
Casamiro stayed on, Lewandowski scored an on side goal. He was like,
56:00
oh he was actually like he was on and they called it off. Like
56:04
there's so many games, man like Lara could have changed so many games.
56:07
Are the was it Chelsea versus uh Chelsea versus Barcelona. Yeah, dribbled the
56:15
ball like that was? Was it Maratta's goal versus Bayron in twenty sixteen he
56:21
was onside and they and they called him off. That game was clearly outside
56:24
too. Yeah, that game was That was a that was a terrible time
56:29
that was on side. Like, I don't know, there's so many getting
56:31
randled. I'm getting randled just thinking about that. That was so much shit.
56:36
Yeah, but uh, I don't know. I think like definitely,
56:37
like it's a really good tournament so far. I've really much enjoyed it.
56:42
It's actually funny enough because the two games I've enjoyed the least are with two
56:45
of the book Bookie favorites. I think the England game yesterday was so frustrating,
56:50
Like that was an extremely frustrating game to watch, because one, I
56:52
don't think they were that good at all. No, they just didn't make
56:55
passes, like they were just like messing up basic passes and then Serbia could
56:59
have took something and they have all these tall aerial threats and none of the
57:02
crosses hit like they were either hitting the English defenders or they were over or
57:07
under crossing the ball. Like it was just so frustrating to watch. And
57:09
then even the France game today, like Austria could have got something from that
57:13
game one hundred percent. The only goal was an own goal off a guy
57:16
from point blank range, so it's a little unfortunate to him, Like,
57:20
I don't know that game. Like the two games I had the two clear
57:23
favorites. Apparently according to like you know, like betting odds and all,
57:27
that were the least interesting games to watch. But then like the Vibe games,
57:30
like the Romania game, the Belgian game was fantastic to watching it,
57:34
be honest, because it was like very it was, it was exciting.
57:37
Yeah, I really liked I really liked the Italy game, but obviously I'm
57:39
a little bit biased, but like I did like that game. I was
57:43
about the Germany game, even though it was a little bit of a SmackDown,
57:45
Like that game was actually fun too, Like there was a lot like
57:46
a red card in the first game, bunch of different every goal scorer was
57:50
different as well, and five goals, everyone was all different, you know
57:52
what I mean. Yeah, speaking of by the way, speaking of the
57:55
Belgium game, I don't get why people were just like shitting on the ka.
57:59
Yeah, he fucked up a coup. But the guy you know,
58:01
but he just has the worst luck too, like he it's not as if
58:04
he wasn't he wasn't like as in fact, he fucked up, but he
58:07
still scored when he needed to except bar exists. But bro, I'm unfortunately,
58:13
I'm going to like invent myself. I'm one of those people that like
58:15
enjoy, Like I don't know, dude, like he's so he's so clunky
58:21
man, Like in the first six in the first six minutes, he had
58:23
two clear chances and he just scuffed them. Then he had that pass where
58:29
he literally was on a breakaway and he took it like it would have actually
58:30
hit the fan, like it went so far out of the field. Yeah,
58:34
he tried, because he tried to move it around the keeper and hdn't
58:37
it so hard Like he looked like it was like a shot. But to
58:40
be fair, the goals, I don't think the goals were his fault.
58:44
I actually do think the second goal was a little bit unfair, Like not
58:46
that I want Belgium to like get things, but like that hand ball was
58:50
crazy, Like first of all, I didn't even know they have like a
58:52
heart beat sensor basically that that's crazy that that that was surprise to me too.
58:55
I love that I didn't even know they had that. I was that's
58:57
kind of like cool, but I didn't even know that was the thing.
58:59
And then like if you look at it like in slow motion, like yeah,
59:01
it touches his finger, but like it's natural running, like he's running
59:06
completely natural. It doesn't move the ball at all. It's like completely like
59:09
I thought it was a bit harder to be honest, like I do think
59:12
his second goal could have stood, but if they were like, oh okay
59:15
skinned like the skin on his finger, then sure, Like you know what
59:17
I mean. It's just it's just a rule like any handball and a tick
59:22
attacking build up, Like I think it was Favish this year, same thing
59:27
happened, like just the minors of touch that they probably wouldn't call as a
59:31
penalty going the other way, but because it's in the attacking build up,
59:36
it's just the rule. You know it's the right call, but uh,
59:42
you know that, you know, whatever you want to say, bad rule,
59:44
But yeah, I agree with Jenny, Like people are shitting on Lukaku,
59:47
but like he's the one who scored both of those goals. You know,
59:51
the wingers were bad, like like, Don'tku was horrific like he was,
59:54
he's a bad winger, Like if he doesn't have like a mile to
59:57
dribble with, he's not a great winger. I do think starts pretty good,
1:00:00
but he didn't have a great game. But I do think he's a
1:00:02
pretty good winger. The only other thing I wanted to say really random,
1:00:06
but I think it's kind of cool that if I mean, tomorrow can change
1:00:08
that if anyone scores more than one. But every single top goal scorer only
1:00:12
has one goal, so there's like a twenty place tie right now for Golden
1:00:15
Boot. So I think it's kind of funny. That was kind of funny
1:00:20
because like Germany, all the all five goals are all different goal scorers Italy
1:00:23
all of them, Like every single game has different goal scorers for every goal.
1:00:28
That's a fair point. Yeah, before we wrapping up, guys,
1:00:32
predictions for Thursday, you guys are not gonna like mine. I think it's
1:00:37
a three one Spain game. I think it's given be one of those.
1:00:40
Yeah, I think I'm my optimistic is a one to one draw, but
1:00:47
you know I wouldn't be surprised if they lose, they believe. Of course,
1:00:52
Nick, you want to be the positive guy in this case, want
1:00:54
to be positive guy. Honestly, I really you know what I am.
1:01:00
I am definitely more of an optimist, but I genuinely truly believe they're gonna
1:01:04
get at least to high in this game. I do. I don't know
1:01:07
if it's one one or two two, but I know they're gonna get a
1:01:09
draw at least. I don't think they're gonna lose because, you know what,
1:01:12
they may concede a goal or two, but they're gonna score a goal
1:01:15
or two, you know what I mean. So I think they're gonna like
1:01:16
and to be fair, like I don't love that situation, but they don't
1:01:21
even need a point against Spain, Like if they can just get anything towards
1:01:23
Croatia, like they're fine, you know what I mean. Like, if
1:01:27
they geta tie, they're gonna pretty much finish second unless unless Albania gets killed
1:01:30
like six seven nothing by Croatian. I don't think that's gonna happen. So
1:01:37
even if we were to get nothing from that game and then we tie or
1:01:39
beat Croatia, like we're through second anyways, right, But I do think
1:01:44
they are gonna get something. I'm gonna say like one to one like Nick,
1:01:47
Like I know that's his optimist, but that's what I think. I
1:01:51
think one to one is a good score. In my heart. I do
1:01:53
believe there's like a two to one there, Like, I actually do think
1:01:58
that, like we can make it happen. But I think we'll get a
1:02:00
draw if I had to, like, you know, bet on it.
1:02:01
That's probably what I say. Uh So I think that'll do it for us.
1:02:06
Uh. Nick. One thing I want to tell you before we go.
1:02:09
You know, as much as I could disagree with every single opinion you
1:02:14
have, even on chocolate, I love talking to you on Twitter. I
1:02:16
love have you one on this podcast. So thank you for coming on.
1:02:20
I guess I guess it's in the name. You know, I could your
1:02:24
accept your your Uh I forget what the word is? Not acceptable but exceptional?
1:02:34
No, like you're tolerable, Yeah, yeah, you're tolerable. That's
1:02:37
all right. I got paid to write for a living, and I can't
1:02:40
even think of words that I respect. The banter on Twitter, let's put
1:02:49
it that little boy and and he called it tolerable. Holy ships Nick and
1:02:54
I have good conversations, but back and forth. I don't you know why,
1:03:00
guys like honestly like me, so this this has nothing to do with
1:03:04
you. I do not I do not reflect. My fidios did not reflect.
1:03:07
It is my tweets and my comments are my own. Oh yeah,
1:03:12
not for anything, like me and Johnny like really like really, I know
1:03:14
you guys are gonna end up like really off topic of the then like a
1:03:15
little bit of like a Pokemon like crazy lately because I never used to play
1:03:20
the three DS games because I never had a three DS But now I hid
1:03:22
back to my brothers and I've been playing like the new ones and like like
1:03:25
childhood as Falls is crazy. So I me and Johnny talk about that sometimes.
1:03:30
But in terms of what you were saying, honestly, guys, like
1:03:31
it's ultras banter, you know what I mean. Like, I have no
1:03:34
ill feelings towards anyone, to be honest, and I think if anyone has
1:03:37
ill feelings due to like differing opinions on football, like you just gotta take
1:03:40
a look at the mirror, man, you know what I mean. Me
1:03:43
and you, Nick, I feel like me and you're on the inside about
1:03:45
some things that we're disagreeing on more and more things lately. But to be
1:03:49
honest, like it needs nothing, Like I love talking to you, I
1:03:52
love talking to Johnny the podcast, you know what I mean. Like,
1:03:54
it's always an honor to be on here, So thank you for having me.
1:03:57
It's such a fun time to have you on. I appreciate has been
1:04:01
had. Sorry, an honor has been had. An honor has been had.
1:04:06
Exactly where can people find you on social media? Yeah? I mean
1:04:12
you guys may have already seen, but if you haven't, I have my
1:04:15
Twitter counter or ex account, whatever you want to call it. It's just
1:04:17
average Kieza is the handble, Yeah, basically just all football takes. Usually
1:04:24
you they slash Italy. But like it's a lot now, Like you know,
1:04:27
we've got our we got our prem hate as well and stuff like that
1:04:29
and like agenda hating. So you know, if you just want to,
1:04:30
like, you know, talk football, that's a good place to go.
1:04:33
Uh And you if you find Nick on Twitter, tell him that your favorite
1:04:39
player's Rebio because that's his favorite player too. Don't tell me that because then,
1:04:45
you know what, I wouldn't want to start on a nice page.
1:04:46
But again, even not for example, like Nick me and you have absolutely
1:04:49
hunger degree uh different opinions on him, but obviously it doesn't mean anything.
1:04:54
First, exactly exactly, and you could find us on on Twitter, Facebook,
1:05:01
Instagram, The Couch, the Coucher guys. Uh, you know,
1:05:04
subscribe to us on YouTube for all of our YouTube content, and of course
1:05:09
you can find us on all of our podcasting platforms. And of course uh
1:05:13
for Zuti for the game on Thursday, and thanks for listening. Bye,